Looking back on last year I was surprised to recall the number of games I was lucky to watch.
The year started in lockdown and television football was the only way of seeing a game but there were still some highlights in the early months and I have put together my favourite football Posts of each month.
January – Reading, Working Class Heroes about Rayo Vallecano.
February – Reminiscing about my favourite football food.
March – All Hope Gone, a low point of the year.
April – watching ‘Finding Jack Charlton’, what a man.
May – Yippee, football was back and just round the corner where Glapwell are making a comeback.
June – Finding the quarterly magazine ‘Nutmeg’. Although about Scottish football the writing in this nearly 200 page publication is superb, engaging and professional.
July – The F.A. publish their re-organisation for Non-League football. Clarity and a chance to plan (dream).
August – Finding Belper Town FC a great local progressive club.
September – Finally making it to Tow Law Town and not being disappointed.
October – Folkestone Invicta and another up and coming club. Great facilities.
November – A trip to see Percy Main, another long term goal achieved but that was trumped by being at Clarence Park to see St Albans beat Forest Green in the F.A. cup.
December – Right at the end of the year the amazing turnout at Hallam F.C. where a crowd of 1128, (The inside cover of the program said the ground capacity was 1000), saw them go top of the League in a pulsating game on a difficult pitch.
2022 beckons and despite Omnicron it looks like football will carry on and I have a lot more journeys and goals to achieve. Thank you for reading my blog and the feedback I get.
I decided this year to quench my thirst for Boxing Day football by visiting Hallam F.C in S10 Sheffield. The Sandygate Road ground has been well chronicled as the oldest football ground in the World. One I have visited and written about before. It is still recognised as then place where the first ever Inter Club game between Hallam and Sheffield F.C took place on a Boxing Day 161 years ago. The purist will say that Boxing Day is the 26th of December but today the 28th is the Boxing Day Public Holiday because this year the 26th fell on a Sunday.
I did not go to bathe in history but to see what is bubbling up in this corner of the city. There have been five crowds over 500 in all competitions in this 10th level of English football so far this season and today there are 1128 to see Hallam play Brigg Town in a second play third in the North East Counties League Division One. With only 3 sides of the stadium available for fans it felt full.
The game was on thanks to a 10.30 pitch inspection and you could see in one corner why the game had been in doubt after the rain of the preceding 48 hours. The clouds were still swirling in on this edge of the Pennines some 800 feet above sea level and the strengthening wind was giving a colder feel although it had been dry for the last 5 hours. The pitch which heavily slopes from one end to another looked very sodden in the lower half of the ground but the goal areas looked well playable.
I have written about Hallam before but Brigg Town are a new team to me and in the special 24 page program for this Christmas game there was a good history of both teams. Brigg have a long history like Hallam being formed in 1864 and like most teams of the era played local football in Lincolnshire. They like Hallam were founder members of the NCEL in 1982 where for 20 years they stayed until 2004 when they were promoted to the Northern Premier League where they stayed until 2014 and off field problems helped to see them slide through the NCEL to the Lincolnshire League but regained their NCEL status in 2019. New owners in 2017 have seen a dramatic change at the club, its facilities and community involvement, you could say that Brigg Town are definitely on the up back to their previous level. Brigg’s history also boasts two F.A, Vase wins in 1996 and 2003.
Hallam FC 3 v Brigg Town CIC 2
The Countrymen v The Zebras
Northern Counties East Division One: Tuesday 28th December 3.00 pm Kick Off
Hallam kicked downhill in the first half and took advantage of placing through ball that hel up in the conditions for players to run on to. They also employed long throws into Briggs penalty area from both sides of the pitch. Hallam took the lead on 19 minutes when one of the through balls was met by Iren Wilson who steadied the ball, burst forward and hit the ball into the top left corner of the net across the goalkeeper. Brigg responded and Myles wright in goal for Hallam made too good low down saves to keep them out. Hallam though were still creating chances and from a corner Iren Wilson popped up to against the bar. The thrilling first half ended with Hallam leading one nil.
Brigg threw everything at the game from the restart and after just 2 minutes from the restart a reckless tackle in the area gave Brigg the opportunity to level from the penalty spot. This was despatched by Scott Phillips and Brigg continued to push forward which gave Iren Wilson another chance to produce a carbon copy of his first half goal which he did in some style.
Hallam’s defence held firm despite a constant battering and in the gloom at the Brigg goal end Hallam went further ahead when Craig Mitchell squeezes home a third for the home side in a goalmouth scramble with 7 minutes left. Johnathan Oglesby however made the large home crowd nervous 4 minutes later when he scored with a superb long shot.
Hallam ran out 3-2 winners and have gone top of the League with North Ferriby losing at home. The S10 stirrings continue and if the rest of the season carries on like this 1128 may be beaten. It was great to be there and enjoy the atmosphere to lift the Covid gloom.
I did not buy any chips as the queue was very long and I decided to be careful with the ultra Omicron striking many people I know.
Unfortunately Christmas time is again disrupted for many by the pandemic but luckily for me I received the gift of The Non – League Club Directory 2021/2022 which will give me endless hours of exploring the 880 pages for statistics and venues for future football away days.
Unexpectedly I was also given British Football Grounds – one hundred must – see football venues, written by Mike Bayly and published in 2020 by Pitch Publishing. This compliments another of my favourite references, The History of Non – League Football Grounds by Kerry Miller and published in 1996 by Polar Print Group Ltd. Going through the new book I am on my way to already visiting nearly 40 of them but there are some great new grounds to visit.
With regards Christmas football, every year I see an article about the football matchplayed in No Mans land between the trenches on the first Christmas of the Great War. However this year it has not cropped up but a new Christmas story has emerged from 75 years ago when Hatfield Heath F.C. played a team of PoWs who were marched to the game at gun point. The game was watched by a good crowd that was swelled by other PoWs and resulted in Hatfield Heath suffering their worst ever defeat 11-0. The Pow team was a mixed contingent of Austrians, Germans and Italians.
With games being called off again through Covid and the feeling that we have been here before I chose to watch the highest level of football in Northamptonshire on Saturday. Hopefully this will not be the last for a while.
It was grey, wet, still, cold and foggy as I walked across the large car park to Steel Park to watch Corby Town play Bedworth United in the Midlands Division of the Northern Premier League. Steel Park is a modern arena opened in 2011 with great facilities including a large seated area and good banked covered terracing behind one goal. The playing surface is flat but the grass is beginning to wear and there are some muddy areas.
Contiuous Christmas songs sung out to lift the gloom but the fog was thickening.
Corby have been struggling recently and have parted company with 5 of their players in the last 7 days.
Corby Town were founded in 1948 and have developed well since moving from local Leagues through the United Counties, Midland League. Southern League and now Northern Premier League (Midland Division) through promotions, relegations and F.A. reorganisations. Floodlights were added to their Rockingham Triangle ground in 1958 when they stepped up to the Southern League and their current modern stadium was opened in 2011.
Bedworth United are based in Bedworth, between Nuneaton and Coventry and were formed in 1968 due to the demise of Bedworth Town. They joined the Southern League in 1972 and have switched between the Southern and Northern Leagues on numerous occasions partly due to their location on the border of League territories and on going Non League reorganisations..
Corby Town 0 Bedworth United 2
Steelmen v Greenbacks Saturday 18th December 2021 3.00pm
Bedworth Town were off the blocks quickly and caused problems for the Steelmen.
It was no surprise that they took the lead when a very long throw in from the right was headed out to only fall at the foot of Bedworth’s No9 Brian Nesbitt who hit it into the top corner of the goal for the lead. Bedworth pressed on and Brian Nesbitt was on hand to meet a very good cross from the right with his head and the ball rocketed into the top left hand corner of the net.
Bedworth continued to cause Corby problems with long balls beyond the Corby defence but the home team settled and stemmed the tide but had little in the way of an attacking edge.
By half time the fog was getting thicker and colder and after 15 minutes of the half it was nigh impossible to see end to end. The local crowd were calling for an abandonment and there were two chants for the Manager to resign but after 20 minutes more the fog cleared a little. The fact that you could only just make out what was going on did not disguise the fact that I cannot remember one near miss for Corby in the whole game.
Everyone was pleased when the referee blew for time and the 389 fans could make their way to some warmth.
Perhaps it was the weather but the chips from the Steelmen Refreshment Bar were the worst I have tasted since AFC Mansfield a few seasons ago. They were cold, limp and soggy and even a covering of tomato sauce could not induce me to finish them. By contrast the very hot coffee and free mince pie from Baxters at half time certainly helped to revive me.
I don’t know why these turnstiles were parked in one corner of the ground but they really represent Payonthegate.
I shouldn’t have said that it was amazing how mild it had been at recent football matches this autumn. My trip to Burnley was wet but Saturday’s visit to Mansfield Woodhouse to see Sherwood Colliery play Knaresborough Town was almost monsoon like. Getting out of the car to avoid puddles was the first hurdle and I made my way through the club house to the ground behind in gloomy light at only just before three in the afternoon. The 50 brave souls were able to take cover under the two covered areas on opposite sides of the pitch.
Sherwood Colliery were reformed in 2008 and they moved into Debdale Park at the same time. Fate took a turn for the better for the club when in 2012 local ex builder Gareth Bull won on Euro millions and he has helped guide the club through successive promotions to now play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. However they are developing sustainably and money is not being thrown around for the sake of it. The pitch has been dug out of a hill and is quite flat with a few undulations. The grass is beginning to cut up and there were some mud patches on the sides. The rain just kept falling and the 3.5 degrees felt colder in the breeze.
The opponents Knaresborough Town FC have a long history going back to 1902 and although they have played local Yorkshire Leagues football they are enjoying their highest level of competition having been promoted to The Northern Counties East League Division One in 2012 and to the Premier Division in 2017.
Sherwood Colliery FC 5 Knaresborough Town FC 3
Wood v The Boro Saturday 4th December 2021 Kickoff 3.00 pm
Sherwood dominated the start of the game taking complete control and it was no surprise that they scored first on 20 minutes when Gareth Curtis steadied himself after a blocked shot and shot home from close range. Eight minutes later Ryan Ingram ran onto a through ball and when he reached the penalty spot side footed the ball into the net to the right of the advancing keeper. Another 8 minutes and it was three nil when Will Norcross, who was a skilful dynamo all game, sold the Knaresborough defender a dummy to pass him and pass the ball across the goal for Kiernan Wells to side foot home.
A walk out of the ground to the clubhouse in the pouring rain was greeted by an enormous function room with as many people watching the two TV’s as watching the game. The deccor was plush with a good bar and I ordered my coffee and Chips from a friendly bar staff.
As I sat down for the second half I wandered how many Sherwood would score but Knaresborough seemed to have found some fight and they scored on 57 minutes when Jack Carr scored a classy goal when from the right he turned and kicked the ball across the goalkeeper into the top left hand corner.
Sherwood’s domination was resumed when Charlie Taylor came forward for a corner and dominated the ball to head it into the net. Only three minutes later with the rain still lashing down Carter Widdowson was awarded with a goal after a goalmouth melee which I thought had been helped in by a Knaresborough defender.
Knaresborough had made some substitutions and the rain stopped as they suddenly took control and scored two goals in the last 4 minutes. in fact I felt that if there would have been another 10 minutes they may well have drawn the game. Both goals were scored by Mitchel Hamilton the first following a mistake by the Sherwood keeper and the second right at the end of play.
It was great that there were eight goals as it kept you well entertained in the miserable conditions.
The chips were a good quantity, hot, large, crispy and tasty with a score of 69.
Written by John Firth. First Published by Peakpublish 2009
This is a book about a Sheffield Wednesday fan, how he was bitten with the football bug in 1966, not the World Cup Final but Wednesday losing 2-3 to Everton in the FA Cup Final. Although he went to see both Sheffield League clubs it was Wednesday that hooked him which was not a surprise with his parents being ardent fans.
Sheffield Wednesday are a truly YoYo club since John Frith started supporting them and he really gets across the true emotions of elation and despair that he has experienced.
They were long standing members of the old First Division and were one of the initial teams there at the start of the Premier League. However after 8 seasons they slipped down to the Championship and John quite eloquently explains the new disconnect between the Premier League and the rest and the elite mega rich teams and those that make up the numbers.
John eludes to the fact that the most satisfying game and trip of his football career was to Cardiff for a Play Off Final which they won but was also an amazing football friendly experience.
Players, managers and owners are rightly praised and pilloried and John is able to get to meet some of the main actors.
Throughout there is a thread through the book about the club and pub scene in Sheffield which he explains was lively, enjoyable and sometimes confrontational.
There are some parts of the book concerning fan confrontations that I was not comfortable with but on the whole the book was entertaining and truly put across the love/hate relationship that you endure when following Sheffield Wednesday.
Those who have read payonthegate will know that my first duty at any football ground is to check out the Tea Bar. This calendar for 2022 caught my eye. I’m sure I could provide images for many seasons to come.
I finally visited Turf Moor to see Burnley play after a 60 year wait. Back in 1961 Burnley were the Liverpool or Man City of the day and were playing in the European Cup having won the League the previous season. They had received a bye in the first round, beaten Reims in the next and now faced Hamburg in the quarter finals having won 3.1 at home the second leg was on TV in the afternoon. Getting home from school in time for the match I unfortunately saw them lose 1.4 and and were elimimated on agregate. The tears just rolled down my face, the first of many football disappointments that you learn to endure that is all part of the football experience.
So my son and I travelled north to Burnley on a dull day and it felt colder as we walked to the ground with the first spots of rain falling on us as we went through the turnstile. Inside a coffee and a Hollands meat and potato pie was welcomed (no chips here) as we chatted about the game and our last visit to a Premier League ground which had been to Everton nearly two years since, where today’s opponents Crystal Palace had been the visitors then. We hoped that the dull draw we saw then would not be repeated and noted Palace’s better results this term under new manager Patrick Vieira. We made our way to our seats 30 minutes before the game but decided to return to the concourse as the rain was now in full force and where we were to sit, although under cover, was getting soaked. We left it till near the start and found that everyone in the area of our allocated seats stood. This was a blessing as the seats were wet through. The supporters in this area of the ground were a noisy bunch which added to a good atmosphere. Although the supporters around us shouted, sang, chanted and chided the referee and third official, for what I have to say were some bemuseing decisions, it was all good hearted with very little swearing.
Burnley have a proud history having been formed in 1882 and have won the top English League twice and the FA Cup once. Their last top League win was just over 60 years ago and after a period in the doldrums have recently been constant members of the Premier League under no nonsense manager Sean Dyche.
This is an old ground that has been developed with individual stands on each side that has a good atmosphere and is adequate for their supporter base. The pitch was beautiful but the constant rain made the pitch slippery and the light wind blew the rain onto the first rows of supporters.
Burnley 3 Crystal Palace 3
Saturday 20th November 2021. 3.00pm kick off.
Crystal Palace have thrown off their dull play mantel dominating the play from the start to the delight of their large contingent of travelling fans who were matched and bettered by the Turf Moor locals.
The rejuvinated Christian Benteke latched onto a ball in the box in the box, turned, and hit an unstoppable left foot shot that seemed to take a deflection that ended up in the corner of the net having grazed the left hand post on 8 minutes. Palace kept up the pressure but unexpectedly from a corner on the left a static defence let Ben Mee rise above everyone to head home the equaliser at 19 minutes. Only 8 minutes later the same disconnect in the away teams defence allowed Chris Wood to head home when some confusion after a free-kick left Wood to score with a perfectly placed header past the leaping goalkeeper.
Benteke should have done better and drew Palace level when he had an open goal but headed wide.
Although ahead, Burnley couldn’t stem the away teams dominance and it was no surprise they were level when Benteke easily scored after receiving a great measured pass from the impressive Conor Gallagher. The move had been started by the Palace goalkeeper and passed through the field with no Burnley player getting anywhere near the ball.
It was now anyone’s game but it was Palace who went in ahead at half time when Guehi’s shot was deflected in after some frantic play following a corner.
Expecting another all action half the play calmed down with Burnley getting on top and back in the game when James Tarkowski’s run and high cross was met by Maxwell Cornet who hit a goal of the season by volleying the cross into the top left hand corner. Turf Moor erupted and Burnley stayed in charge and players and fans were incensed by some strange decisions from the officials.
Wilfried Zaha had a shot tipped onto the bar by Nick Pope but Burnley should have taken all three points at the death when substitute Hydra should have scored when put through with only the keeper to beat. Vincente Guaita bravely saved and the breathtaking game came to an end. Both Managers will have felt that they should have taken all three points.
I have had Holland’s pies before and would say that they are one of my favourites but this meat and potato pie was a disapointing mush.
This book is a really good read in content flow and uncomplicated English.
It is about the demise of sport in Yorkshire brought about by the reckless de -industrialisation of the county in the last 50 years whether it be cotton, steel, coal or fishing.
The decline in the involvement of communities that supported the teams whether close to the grounds, in the workplace at the local welfare club, the pub or over the fence is brilliantly portrayed. A dash to a culture of the individual enabled people to take control of sports teams allowing them to borrow against a new tomorrow leading to the liquidation of clubs or over burdening them with lasting debt of which some have not recovered. The growth of Sky and their domination through money and changes to suit their broadcasting in Rugby League Rugby Union, Cricket and Football detached the paying public often turning them from spectator/fan to consumer. Recent domination by the top teams through being owned by Oligarchs, Countries and Corporations, with no links to national or local communities has enhanced the disconnect and poor performance of the local team on top of the local de-industrialisation. This has further emphasised the left behind culture that has blighted the country particularly in Yorkshire.
There are great references to Kes, Billy Elliott and The Full Monty how their portrayals referenced the times and changing attitudes.
Leeds may have now returned to the Premiership but other clubs such as Sheffield Wednesday, Rotherham and Sheffield United have gone backwards and Halifax and York are no longer in the football league structure. Featherstone Rovers may never again be able to compete for the Rugby League Challenge Cup.
A foray back into the Central Midland Premier North Division this week found me at Kiveton Miners Welfare to see them play Collingham.
The ground is reached through a modern housing estate and a gate leads to a very large car park with the ground and other pitches beyond.It was a grey overcast day with very little wind but still mild for mid November. The scarf and had to be dispenced with as the game began. The pitch here slopes from goal to goal and slightly side to side with the pitch looking really good and as if a lot )of nitrogen had been put on it because of its vibrant green colour. The Worksop to Sheffield railway line runs down the end of the pitch.
Kiveton Miners Welfare are a recently formed team not to be confused with the very long established Kiveton Park. They are trying hard to develop their new ground with water ground works underway and planned floodlights as a future goal. The seated stand is very good for this level of football and if friendlyness and enthusiasm is anything to go by then they will surely suceed.
Collingham are from near Newark and were formed over 100 years ago (1887) but concentrated mainly on Youth and Sunday football until forming a senior Saturday team in 1994. They have since then played their football in the Central Midlands League.
Kiveton Miners Welfare 2 Collingham 2
Saturday 12th November 2021 kick off 14.00
A two minutes silence was observed before the start of the game.
Kiveton were steadily gaining confidence when against the run of play Collinham forced a corner and some continuing attacking football led to the ball falling to Gary Clarke on 21 minutes who cooly rpolled the ball along the floor, bouncing over the goalkeepers outstretchd arm to end up in the bottom left hand corner of the net. Kiverton continued their pressure but were unable to equalise before half time as their aerial assaults were amply dealt with by the Cottinham defence.
Kiverton must have had a talking to at half time because they started keeping the ball on the ground and after 10 minutes some good work on the right was rewarded when the resulting low cross was headed into the net with some force by Dan Neath. The home side playing up hill in the second half deservedly took the lead 15 minutes later when some good work on the left was rewarded when the ball fell to Elliot Fox to place home.
Collingham didn’t give up and fortune helped when a misplaced back pass was picked up by Olly Presley who took the ball wide to the right of the goalkeper to then find the net from an accute angle.
This equalising goal seemed to invigorate Collingham and when the Kiveton stand in goalkeeper rushed out of his area to upend the on rushing forward there was no other outcome but a sending off. Collingham failed to trouble the new keeper and it was Kiverton’s 10 men who finished the game the strongest. In the dying minutes of the game in the increasing gloom the away teams goalkeeper picked up a back pass and a free kick was awarded on the penalty spot. With their team lined up on the goal line Collingham faced down the freekick and the game was ended a minute later.
Great end to end football and a good advertisment for this improving league in terms of football and facilities.
Finally to the chips which I was not expecting. A food stall was available but the generator was getting up to speed to fire up the deep fryer. I paid my money for chips and a coffee and took my place in the stand and when I saw people with coffees I went back but still the fryer was not up to power. Sitting in the stand watching the start of the game the chips and coffee were delivered to me. You wouldn’t even get that at Tottenham in their new mega bucks emporium. The chips were hot, golden long, delicious, no oily taste and served in a cardboard carton that could be recycled. I have to score them an 85.
payonthegate 