A trip to Gretna 2008 F.C. doesn’t disappoint.

I ventured over the border to watch a Lowland League game between Gretna 2008 and Tranent FC from near Edinburgh.

I arrived at Gretna’s huge car park with 5 minutes till kick off and took some time negotiating the haphazard parking. Although it had been a glorious day the temperature had dropped to 14 degrees and with clear skies was expected to drop further.

The stadium has an all weather synthetic pitch which is very flat. There was a large seated covered stand at one end, a clubhouse for drink and food , changing room and a small covered seated stand down a side with fencing and no standing on the other side. The other end was open with just some flat standing.

The suffix 2008 gives a clue here to one of the most fascinating football stories of the 21st century. I first remember noticing Gretna, a team in Scotland, playing in the English Northern Premier League and at the same time Berwick Ranger, a team in England, playing in the Scottish League system.

But Gretna’s situation was to change and propel them on a roller coaster journey with some amazing ups and downs. They decided to apply to join the Scottish Football league and successfully started in the Scottish third division for the 2002/03 season replacing Airdrieonians who had folded. Brooks Mileson who had made a lot of money in insurance and had invested in football teams decided that there could be an opportunity at Gretna having just failed to invest heavily in his adopted home of Carlisle.

There has been much writing about how with the injection of money they managed to gain three straight promotions to the Scottish Premiership, and appeared in a Scottish F.A. cup final on the way. Their appearance in the top tier of Scottish football shocked the game, they even qualified for Europe, but it had some drawbacks in that home games had to be played at Motherwell’s ground due to their own stadium not meeting grading regulations. A round trip of over 150 miles for home supporters from a town of around 3000 didn’t generate the money to pay for the team which had to be heavily subsidised by Brook Mileson and other board members. It couldn’t last and when Mileson became ill and the money stream dried up they were placed in administration in March 2008. By August 2008 the club was liquidated and in November Brook Mileson had died.

But local football fans did not want to see the club gone forever and formed Gretna 2008, initially playing in the East Of Scotland League but gaining entry to the Lowland league in 2013, where they sit today.

Tranent by contrast were formed in 1911 and were a continual force in Scottish Junior Football joining the Scottish Pyramid System in 2018;. After winning the premier league of the East of Scotland League they were promoted to the Lowland League where last season they won the Lowland League Cup.

Gretna 2008 F.C. 2 Tranent F.C. 2

Tuesday 17th September 2024 19.45 kick off. Scottish Lowland league.

Raydale Park, Dominion Road, Gretna, Dumfriesshire, DG16 5AP

Anvils v The Belters, 12th v 6th

Gretna; Black and white horizontal hooped shirts with black shorts: Tranent; All Royal Blue strip.

The game was fast and furious from the off with both teams going for a result. Gretna had the best of the early play forcing corners and using the full width of the pitch. I was impressed by the speed and skill of the teams and the engrossing play meant that the first half was over in a flash. Although Gretna had had the best of the play neither team had looked like scoring.

Within a minute of the restart some cross passing in front of goal led to Tranent taking the lead with a curling shot from Gray into the top right hand corner. Gretna were stunned and within 5 minutes it was 2 nil as Tranent’s midfield play moved the ball Mc Gowan who drilled the ball along the ground into the net. Tranent looked the most likely to score again as the half progressed although Gretna were still competing. With 10 minutes left the game turned when Gretna attacked down the right and the waist high cross was not cleared by a Tranent defensive mix up that allowed a Gretna player, Dean Brotherson, to sneak in to score. It was now game on and Gretna piled on the pressure and a few silly fouls and pushing by both teams only raised the temperature.

As some in the crowd made their way to the exit a brilliant cross from the right touch line was met by a Gretna forward unopposed at the back post to head the ball down into the net for two all. Although well into injury time there was still time for the referee to give a yellow card to a Gretna defender for dissent after a coming together of their goalkeeper and a Tranent forward. As this was his second yellow he was ordered off.

A great exciting half that shows real depth in Lowland football and makes a mockery of the very difficult entry opportunities into the SFL. Scottish football should restructure and open up their pyramid system. I really enjoyed the experience.

Unfortunately there were no chips so I had to partake of a Scotch pie. Not a fan of these I was pleasantly surprised that I enjoyed it.

Sandiacre Town have themselves to blame in another defeat.

I set out to see Stapleford Town, play at home, so following Google maps I reached their ground with 25 minutes to spare. But driving round all I could find was the building of a new sports and community centre. So having circled where I expected the ground to be I checked the Internet to find that they are playing home games at Radfords facility. I knew that luckily Sandiacre Town were at home and that was only 2.2 miles away. So a quick readjustment and I found myself parked in the road and entering the clubhouse with 10 minutes to spare.

The clubhouse is outside the ground so I ordered chips and a coffee and walked towards the entrance. I didn’t realise I was in the players and officials way onto the ground, so I passed the 3 officials with the referee asking for a chip. Luckily a barrier was moved for me and it was back to normality and standing with chips in hand to watch the players walk out.

This ground is in a housing area on the way out of the centre. There is a small car park but plenty of on street parking

It was a beautiful autumn day at 17 degrees, blue skies with a few white clouds, with a light breeze. Three sides of the stadium are lined with trees and the fourth has the clubhouse in the corner with a children’s play area and basketball hoop. The clubhouse is to a good spec, sells drink and snacks and the players changing room. The toilets were outside the clubhouse in a container/portakabin.

Sandiacre town was only started in 1978 as youth teams with a senior team starting in the Central Alliance League the following year. A clubhouse was added to the pitch in 1984 with railings and seated stand before floodlights in 1995. Today there are 39 all ages and sexes teams, run by the club, some games being played at Friesland School’s 4G pitch that they have jointly developed.

Sandiacre Town progressed as inaugural members of the Central Midlands League in 1983 but ground grading saw them drop back. They were back in the Central Midlands League in 1992 after the merger with Lace Web United. They joined the United Counties League Division One in 2023.

Southwell City were formed in 1893 but early records are sketchy with the club believed to have played in the Newark area. The team was devastated through casualties in the Great War and although football was played in Southwell it wasn’t until its reformation in 1955 that the current club truly emerged. They joined the Notts Football Alliance in 1957 where they stayed until the end of the 2002/03 season, when a move to the Central Midlands League was completed. On their journey the football club merged with Southwell United Youth Football and Southwell Amateurs and have created a Community Charter club that caters for all grades of the game. This has been achieved through developing their old and new grounds. Winning the Notts Senior League in 2022/23 gained them promotion to the United Counties Division One.

Sandiacre Town 2 Southwell City FC 3

United Counties League Division One, Saturday 14th September 2024, kick off 15.00 pm.

St Giles Park, Station Road, Sandiacre, Nottingham, Derbyshire, NG10 5DD.

19th (Last) v 10th Saints v Bramleys City

Sandiacre, Red Shirts, light navy shorts; Southwell, Black and white vertical striped shirts, black shorts:

The teams walked out onto a thick carpet of grass, the pitch sloping down to each end from the centre.

Neither team looked settled in the early play but it was the home side who took the lead on 6 minutes when Tom Slade received the ball on the edge of the goal area, turned, and hit it with his right foot into the roof of the net. Sandiacre now dominated being more physical, bigger and stronger, yet it was Southwell who hit the bar with 32 minutes gone. The game continued in this fashion until half time and as they walked off I thought what a poor game.

Within 5 minutes of the restart Southwell were down to 10 men as Haiba Soueyeh was sent off for two yellow cards that looked like persistent arguing with the referee. Southwell now had it all to do.

The introduction of Akand Gangotra was however a turning point as his speed and ability to lose players started to create chances and they equalised through him on 67 minutes when his cut back shot went into the net. Chaos reigned as the home sides centre back argued and pushed a Southwell player on the ground and then walked over and pushed another player in the back who fell to the ground. Sandiacre players now restrained him and the referee gave two yellow cards and a red, why not a straight red I couldn’t understand. The player refused to walk to the club house and after some arguing and encouragement he finally left the field.

So now back to equal, with 10 men each the game became open with gaps everywhere and it was Southwell who took advantage taking the lead on 77 minutes when Akrand Gangotra scored again. He tapped the ball in at the near post after a precise cut back along the ground from the right.

With the 90 minutes up there was more drama when a Sandiacre shot was spilled by Southwell’s goalkeeper and Darnell Smith charged through to score. That should have been it but with 5 minutes of added time on the clock Sandiacre were attacking for the winner. This was not to be as a long clearance was not dealt with by the home defender and Joe Aitkin received a pass that enabled him to loop it over the keeper for Southwell to take the win.

That was it and although this was an interesting and exciting second 45 minutes my reflection was that I had watched two poor teams on the day.

Sandiacre should have won this game but for mistakes and madness and they remain bottom of the table with no points out of 8 games.

The chips, served on a plastic returnable plate, were hot, limp, freshly cooked, tasty with a greasy taste that lingered, a score of 56.

As a footnote, Sandiacre Town’s 1st Team Manager, Nick Labbate resigned shortly after the match.

All change in Kiveton

I have visited this ground before and the ground staff had won my chip league in the past.

My last visit 2 years ago was to see Sheffield Town F.C. play their first game as a ground share at the home of Kiveton Miners Welfare F.C. who played at the Miners Welfare ground which is also home to the cricket club next door.

Then in June 2023 it was announced that Kiveton Miners Welfare F.C. had been taken over and would partner with Sheffield Town F.C. An end of season visit in May 2024 I noticed that The Miners Welfare Team seemed to have a smattering of ex Sheffield Town players, which had seemed to have disappeared.

This season, no Sheffield Town playing in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League and Kiveton Miners Welfare ( traditionally a Rotherham team) are playing at the Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield.

Now however Kiveton Park F.C. have taken up residence at Hard Lane. They are the oldest football club in the borough of Rotherham, formed in 1881. They are returning some of their teams after 7 years away. The club will be using three pitches which had previously been their home for over a century. Kiveton Park have been based at Wales High School, where they have developed a partnership with the school, creating new facilities to include a new 3G pitch at the Chapman Fields site. This has meant there are now over 500, men’s, Womens, girls and boys affiliated to the club, some of which will stay playing at Chapman Fields.

So returning to Hard Lane to see the third resident in three years it was great to find that everywhere has been tidied up, mended and painted. The plastic seating in the large seated stand had been rigorously cleaned and mended. The sloping pitch, from end to end, was yellowing and a slight breeze was keeping the temperature at 14 degrees with a light drizzle.

Kiveton Park F.C. 1 Hepworth United Development F.C. 3

Saturday 7th September 2024; 14.00 pm kick off. Hard Lane, Kiveton, Rotherham.

Sheffield and Hallamshire County Football League Division 1.

Kiveton; Red shirts with black sleeves and front and back with faint black stripes down front and back, black shorts.
Hepworth; Deep navy blue shirt and shorts with colour graduation on front from white to blue.

Hepworth United started the game on top but it was Kiveton who had the best chance in the first 15 minutes. As the game progressed with Hepworth playing up the slope they took the lead after 25 minutes when their number 4 saw the keeper off his line and his shot from the edge of the box took a slight deflection and looped over the goalkeeper for the away team to take the lead.
10 minutes later and it was 2 nil as Hepworth number 3 took the ball to by line on left and with a beautiful left foot cross to the far post found a tall forward, with no number on back, who headed it down into the net. Kiveton had the most chances of the half but didn’t put any away.

With less than 5 minutes gone of the second half Joseph Holmes, in middle of goal, hit it with his left foot into top left hand corner of the goal to get Kiveton back in the game.
As the mist came down, Kiveton pressed for an equaliser and hit the bar with 78 minutes gone. But within a few minutes a corner for Hepworth from the right was headed by the home number 5, not clear, but over everyone into the far corner of the net. There was no way back from this and the 50 odd people watching were surprised that Kiveton had not managed to fashion at least a draw from the match.

The referee had a good game, keeping everything going and it was noticeable that there was a lot of talking but no swearing from the players.

The old iconic wood food wagon had gone and a new portacabin had replaced it to serve just hot drinks and snacks. Hopefully this will develop in the future.

I’m sure that Kiveton Park F.C. will develop their new home and look forward to chart their progress.

Watford Forever

Watford Forever written by John Preston – A collaboration with Elton John

First published in 2023 by Viking ( a part of the Penguin Random House Group).

Having taken a holiday from posting during the later stages of the ‘Euro’s’ I am pleased to be back and with the announcement of the new seasons fixtures for lower level football imminent ready to plan for more adventures.

The England team was packed full of some brilliant individuals but came up short because I believe they lacked a clear team playing plan. It was a stark reminder then when I read ‘Watford Forever’ a book about Watford FC, Elton john and Graham Taylor. Having followed Watford at home and many away games between 1968 and 1980 it was a must read for me.

The book tells the story of Watford’s rise from the Fourth Division to second place in the First Division and beyond. What it reminded me of was that Graham Taylor had a method and strategy to achieve this. A strong back line and an ethos that the only way you can score was to get the ball in the attacking third of the pitch. No tip-tappy from side to side and back to the keeper, repeat, repeat, give the ball to the opposition. Some criticised him saying it was just kick and rush but the balls were accurately received by Ross Jenkins, Nigel Callaghan and John Barnes who shot or laid the ball of for someone else to score. I saw some amazing goals with lots of excitement.

The book though is not just about football but mainly the two men who engineered it all, Graham Taylor and Elton John. The story is one about blokes not only working together but being friends and able to influence each others lives for the better aka as also shown with the recent tragic ending to the male friendship between the ‘Hairy Bikers’. Elton and Graham were two distinctly different individuals who were able to use their talents together to achieve something rarely seen in modern football, a rise from the bottom to the top.

One poignant thing that struck me was how the players who were equal contributors received such little wealth compared to todays not only superstars but some Academy players.

One thing that disappointed was the dismissal of Watford’s previous years when the club reached the 2nd division and then collapsed to the 4th. These may have been terrible football times but the community of the home and away fans throughout was second to none. Where else would you have heard ‘He’s here he’s there he’s in the Rose and Crown, ‘Rodney Green ‘ ‘Rodney Green’.

Thank you John Preston for a great happy read that is not only for Watford fans but for everyone.

Bakers need proving to rise above Popworld.

Butcher, Baker, Papermaker, with help from the Ice Cream Man.

I enjoyed watching football within the walls of Berwick-upon-Tweed Castle last year so I decided to return again.

I have written before about the Berwick Charities Cup and can only admire the dedication of the organisers, referees, and players who keep this tradition going each year. It is also a community builder with family groups of all ages turning up to watch with folding chairs, or just sitting on the walls or grass. Over 100 people watched for some or all of the match and as usual a collection box was passed round.

The ground it is played on is called the Stanks, a piece of land big enough for a full sized football pitch just outside the walls of the Elizabethan, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Castle. Now infilled, it was once part of the moat and has now served as a football pitch where thousands of pounds have been raised in the last 100 years.

There is an interesting exhibition in a local gallery showing 30 seascape by Lowry, who was a frequent visitor to these parts. I’m sure it will bring in many visitors but I think more could be made of the town promoting the Charities Cup which must be one of the wonders of the footballing world.

It was a glorious sunny evening with an onshore breeze keeping the temperature to a comfortable 18 degrees. The pitch is a bit uneven and there are flattened mole hills in one corner, but who cares, the pitch looks amazing.

Popworld AFC 3 Butcher, Baker, Papermaker 8

Berwick Charities Cup Group Stages: Thursday 20th June 7 PM Kick off

The Stanks, Berwick Upon Tweed

Popworld; All Royal Blue Strip Butcher, Baker, Papermaker; All Claret Strip.

It took only 13 minutes before ‘Butchers’ took the lead when their number 7 tapped in after the Popworld defence dwelt on the ball, were robbed and the resulting pass was in the net.

Only three minutes later and it was 2 nil when the number 9 waltzed through the defence to clip it into the far corner of the net followed by a screamer from the edge of the box by ‘Butchers’ number 6. Popworld were trying hard and were making a game of it and on 33 minutes managed to get a goal back when their number 10 scored, lifting the ball over the keeper from just outside the penalty area. Already the game was a lot more enthralling than England’s Euros game which had just finished prior to kick off.

Butcher, Bakers, Papermakers had numerous shots and one, with 10 minutes to half time, sailed over the bar, through the serving window of the ice cream van, where it was expertly thrown back to the loudest cheer of the evening.

So at 3-1 at half time it looked like there was still a chance of a Popworld fightback in the second half.

The second half couldn’t have started any worse for Popworld as their opponents scored three quick goals. In the first minute BBP’s number 7 hit the post and scored from the follow up. A few minutes later 7 again scored when he nonchalantly scored after a perfectly placed cross from far out on the right. He scored his third after some neat passing by his team mates.

Popworld scored next with their number 10 making a great turn and a bullet shot past the goalkeeper. This success was short lived when with the second highest cheer of the night, Popworld’s substitute, number 14, went to clear the ball with his head, 25 yards from goal, but it looped off his head over the keeper and into the net.

Popworld came back again when their number 10, again, leathered the ball past the massed defence from a freekick, 5 yard out, after a back pass to the goal keeper was picked up.

There was one more goal when BBP’s substitute, number 15, smashed the ball home and then ran to the crowd with his shirt off.

What a great evening, thank you to everyone. I will be back.

payonthegate Chip League, Season 2023/24

payonthegate Chip League 2023/24

A season of over 50 games meant that I ate almost 25 portions of chips around 7500 calories, all in the aid of research.

There is a new winner in the seventh year of the League, Tamworth FC, who I visited early in the season. Their chips were extremely hot and fresh very tasty, with a great internal texture, covered by a crispy outside.

Strangely this year I found my winners when attending a match with my daughter, when last year she was with me when I left the chips on the terrace at Burton, no bins seemed to be available, because they were so poor.

This league is very subjective and I feel I may have been a bit harsher as the season progressed. Was this down to chip fatigue or were they just not as good, which I think was the reason. Sometime I was lucky to have chips that had just been cooked and other times I was unfortunate to get the last of a batch.

I must stress that the league is not a criticism of the clubs or the helpers that provide food and drink to enhance the matchday experience and I can only applaud their dedication and efforts.

They were served almost always by happy people who I often had a chat with and the food they served was prepared in kitchens of different sizes and equipment.

Thank you everyone I look forward to a new season.


payonthegate chip league 2023/24

Football Club	Score	Comments
Tamworth	74	Hot, Hot,Hot
Worksop Town	70	Hot, tasty, changed from previous
Goole	70	Just
Basford	70	Freshly fried.
S.M.W. Sunday Cup	69	Hot, tasty, golden, soft inside, bit greasy
Hillborough (S&H Cup)	69	Hot,tasty, good texture, slightly limp
Dinnington	69	Pretty Good
Wombwell Town	67	Fries, great golden colour
Quorn (Ashby Ivanhoe)	66	Tasty, hot good texture
Retford United	65	Could have beeen hotter
Dunkirk	65	Hot and crispy
Staveley Miners Welly	64	Bit Greasy
Kings Lynn	64	Good Portion
Beverley	61	Burnt after taste
Shirebrook Town	60	Well down on previous seasons
Villa Holte End	60	Great but unusual Seasoning
Alfreton Town	60	25 minute wait!
Llangefni Town	60	A bit greasy
Hallam	60	hot , good taste but greasy after taste
Bridlington	59	Greasy and soggy
Yorkshire Main	58	Bit limp but tasty
Sheffield Wednesday	58	Hot, ggod but stange spicy taste
Harborough Town	56	Crazy long wait
Hamworthy	53	Some were hard
Wakefield	48	Warm to cold
Garforth	44	Soggy and limp
Stamford	40	Warm, limp, tasteless, didn’t eat all
Heacham	0	No Chips
Retford Fc	0	No Chips
Newark Town	0	No Chips
Newark & Sherwood	0	No Chips
Dearne & District	0	No Chips
Handsworth	0	No Chips
Scunthorpe Utd	0	No Chips
Mansfield Town x 3	0	No Chips
CD Nacional Madeira	0	No Chips
Oughtibridge WMSC	0	No Chips
Parkgate	0	No Chips
Kiverton Miners Welfare	0	No Chips
Loughborough Students	0	No Chips
Manchester City	0	No Chips
Chesterfield	0	No Chips
Fiorentina	0	No Chips
Kirton Brickworks	0	No Chips

2023/24 another fantastic Season.

Another fantastic season which began many months ago in early July at Llangefni on Ynys Mons (Anglesey) with a friendly against Chadderton. It was a glorious sunny afternoon as I sat watching two teams enjoying a good kick about in their first game of the season. I had no idea that 49 games later, after one of the wettest winters on record I would be again watching football in the sun, but on a chilly evening as Brampton Rovers beat The Butchers Arms in the final of the Chesterfield and District Sunday League Cup.

To mention all 49 would take too long, so here goes with the highlights. Murder on Zidance Floor won through to the final of the Berwick Charities Cup played next to the walls of an Elizabethan Castle with the sunshine glistening on the sea in the background (the football wasn’t bad either.

Shirebrook at home kicked off the league season, two Norfolk games were squeezed in whilst on holiday and Wombwell Town featured early, played at their ground with a Go Kart track behind one goal.

The Retford derby was in bright warm sunshine and notable by the warmth of the supporters who were there for an afternoon out and a chat to friends from whichever camp. Tamworth had great facilities as well as good chips and went through in the FA Cup, Tamworth was the last team Paul Merson played for. The start and completion of a Mansfield evenings trilogy gave me a different perspective on this town.

The early games of the season were memorable particularly when I was adopted by some aged season ticket holders at CD National on Madeira. High fiving all of the five goals and a conversation by sign language and facial expressions was wonderful.

The best named teams were found north of Sheffield, Oughtibridge War Memorial Spots Club v South Emsall Services Firsts and the most improved ground at Dearne and District whose efforts off the field to pass grading rules were just surpassed by their team winning their league and promotion to The Northern Counties East League Division 1.

Wakefield’s new stadium, sharing with Wakefield Trinity (Rugby League) is a must go to for anyone in the area and where I will go again.

The reverse Retford Derby drew a large crowd on Boxing day and another Retford United big score (Maybe my new Boxing Day go to).

Goole AFC was an old ground with a running track round it that is due to be totally rebuilt as part of the Town Centre regeneration. I hope that this will come to fruition. Great chat with a Goole fan born and bread who now lives in Leeds but comes back for most home games.

The weather thwarted me seeing football within the Kirton Brickworks, the game being moved to a nearby village pitch to beat the weather. A must for next season. The weather almost beat me a few weeks later as I waited for the rain to stop in Florence to see Fiorentina play Lazio. Luckily it did but I will remember the fan who showed me the bus, where to get off, walked round the ground with me and was so, so helpful, all in a biblical rain storm. Football fans everywhere I salute you.

A great run in to the end of the season saw me see two Villa games, they didn’t win either but qualified for next seasons champions league, up The Villa. Loughborough Students put 7 past Skegness to win the United Counties Premier Division North play off final and right a wrong that I felt they suffered the previous season. It will be great to see them in the Northern Prem.

Shirebrook beat Wakefield in the Northern Counties East Division one semi final play off and despite losing in the final still gained promotion. A County Cup Final at Hillsborough saw Worksop Town outclass Penistone Church and a fitting engrossing end to the season at Staveley as Brampton Rovers beat the Butchers Arms in extra time to lift the Chesterfield and District Sunday Cup.

A brilliant season for me although in the game as a whole there were some worrying trends. Teams still battling with the aftermath of loss of revenue during Covid, high levels of inflation in all areas particularly in energy. reducing local authority support where local budgets have been squeezed, lack of continuity planning, a cost of living crisis hitting the pockets of fans and extra costs and administration as teams have expanded their women’s senior teams and teams for all ages and sexes. This has led to Nuneaton Borough, Marske, Hamworthy United etc to not complete their fixtures and Loughborough Dynamo and Coleville moving down leagues to reduce costs and re-group. There could be more to follow.

On the positive front a re-organisation of the United Counties Premier North League has produced very local games that should result in some competitive football and bigger crowds, bring on 2024/25, I can’t wait.

A Great End to the Season.

I normally count the F.A. Cup final as the end of the season but this year with many postponed games there was some lower league carry over and I planned to visit North Gawber on the last day of May. Their game like some others was in the end was not played but declared a draw as the result would not have changed the league placings. So with my lip out I searched for another ending and I was lucky enough to find what looked like an interesting game a short hop from me at Staveley Miners Welfare.

The Butchers Arms FC 3 Brampton Rovers AFC Mens 4 (AET)

Chesterfield & District Sunday Football league, Alma Cup final.

Staveley Miners Welfare, Inkersall Road, Staveley, S43 3JL Friday 31st May 2024 Kick off 19.45

The Butchers Arms; Blue Shirts with white shorts, Brampton; Red Shirts with blue shorts.

The artificial pitch and ground looked immaculate (as it always does at Staveley) as the teams came out in some evening sunshine. The sun didn’t help the temperature which read only 14.5 in the car as I managed to get the last space in the large car park.

Both teams looked nervy as they settled down to the surface and it was the Butchers arms who found their feet first when after only 4 minutes a scrappy attack saw the ball drift to the right of the goal where their unmarked number 9 who steadied and placed the ball across the goalkeeper into the left hand side of the net for the lead.

Brampton equalised 10 minutes later when, after three headed attempts from a corner, the ball was headed in at the far post. Butchers Arms re-took the lead after a drinks break but Brampton pulled level again on 25 minutes when their lively number 10 was pulled over in the penalty area by the centre back and the resulting penalty was despatched straight down the middle.

The Butchers Arms keeper denied the number 10 with a brilliant save 10 minutes before the interval but it was the Butchers Arms who finished the half the strongest.

Butchers came out all attack at the restart and pressed hard but a break away after only 6 minutes saw the ball slotted through to Brampton’s number 10 again, who from 20 yards out to the right of the goal, slammed the ball into the right hand side of the net. With 63 minutes gone The Butchers Arms equalised when their lively number 9 was bundled over in the penalty area and he picked himself up and strode forward to convert the penalty for 3.3.

The game seemed to lose a bit of its intensity as neither side wanted to make a mistake and there were no clear chances as the time ran down to 90 minutes.

The first half of extra time saw lots of endeavour and it was Brampton who came closest. With just 7 minutes left Brampton’s number 10 crowned a great performance when he ran on to a ball between two defenders and slid the ball home to take the lead. The Butchers Arms tried hard to get back on equal terms but some basic defending and time wasting saw Brampton home.

What a great advert for Sunday league football and a fascinating last game of my season. The crowd was over 500 and made up of all ages reflecting the young age profile of the teams. Brampton’s win who were second in the Second Division, shows the depth of the leagues by beating The Butchers Arms who were second in the First Division.

I had a warm glow from the game as I left the ground but a hat and gloves were needed with the temperature drop to 9.5 degrees, was it really less than 2 hours until 1st June.

The Staveley club house did brisk business for drinks and food all night and the chips were some of the best of the season. they were hot, tasty, golden, crispy on the outside and soft in the middle but a bit too greasy and therefore a score of 69.

The scramble to finish the season.

With so many local leagues disrupted by our wet, wet, wet winter there are some games that need to be finished.

I was lucky to find one very local to me at Kiveton Park, so a 15 minute car ride and I was there.

I have been to Kiveton Miners Welfare before a couple of times and they were winners of my Chip League in the past. I also visited the ground when Sheffield Town ground shared a few seasons ago. Sheffield Town don’t seem to be in existence any more but I’m sure that the Kiveton team had more than a few faces from that team.

43 spectators had ambled along to see the game that was a dry but cool, breezy, early evening. There were some very sporadic spots of rain from a blue sky that was mixed with grey and white clouds. The recently mowed grass pitch was already looking good after some better weather.

This ground is reached via a housing estate and is bordered by houses on two sides, a practice pitch and cricket ground on another and the Worksop to Sheffield line at one end. The seated stand in the centre of one side is the only area that is not open.

Kiveton Miners Welfare FC 1 AFC Bentley 2

Wednesday 15th May 2024; 18.30 kick off. Stone Close, Kiveton Park, Rotherham, south Yorkshire, S26 6SQ: 14th v 7th.

Central Midlands Alliance League Premier Division North.

Kiveton M.W.; Red and white vertical shirts with black shorts; AFC Bentley; Navy blue shirt body with one sleeve a lighter blue and the other sleeve green, green shorts.

For some reason the home team were late in coming out of the distant changing rooms and then stopped for a discussion on the way. This meant that the game did not kick off until 18.37. The game was furious end to end football but misplaced passes abounded and meant that neither side was able to totally dominate. This all changed around 23 minutes when the away teams number 5 hit a pile driver of a shot from 30 yards that hit the cross bar and bounced down with the Kiveton goalkeeper struggling. His attempts to finally scoop the ball away were of no avail as the officials ruled the ball had crossed the line.

Approximately 5 minutes later Kiveton’s tricky number 7 exploded into the penalty area on the left hand side and was immediately floored, gaining a deserved penalty. Solly Limb stepped forward and easily levelled the score from the penalty spot.

There were some strong tackles from both sides but the referee kept the game flowing and it soon reached half time.

The second half continued in the same end to end fashion and with the game drifting to a stalemate, Bentley went ahead again when a corner kick sailed over everyone to be met by one of their team who, unmarked, clipped it into the net. There was a final burst by Kiveton in the added minutes as they came close to scoring when they hit the post, it was not to be their evening. Bentley returned to Doncaster with three lucky points that should have been shared and both teams only have one more game to complete this truncated season.

It was an impressive game in the fact that both teams went for it in what was to some degree a dead game as neither side had anything to play for.

No Chips tonight as the food van looks like it is in a state of refurbishment.

Played in Germany

Played in Germany – A Football Journey Through a Nation’s Soul

Written by Kit Holden Published by Duckworth 2024

This is an amazingly well researched book about football in Germany ahead of the 2024 UEFA European Championship as it takes you on a journey to the centres of football that will be hosting the9 many games.

What is marvellous is that the book is not just about football but about what makes up and has fashioned the German state that presents itself to the world today.

You are swept along in a learning fest about geography, history, economics, politics, industrial development but most importantly people and their culture.

Surprising to me was the revelation about local dialects, which can lead to peoples of some areas not being able to understand others and the fierce regional rivalry that exists. This regional patriotism feeds through to the football community culture that sticks closely to areas which are clinging on to these roots, propelled by a defence of their fan ownership model, under threat from capitalist forces.

The book describes the passion of the fans through interviews with those who live and breath their club’s traditions and customs in an ever-changing environment.

The growth and decline of different clubs is true in Germany as everywhere and this is well put near the end of the book, “But you cannot preserve everything in aspic, and even the most romantic traditionalists must at some point move with the times”.

Bring on the Euro’s.

If you are interested in reading this book then it can be pre-ordered from Stanchion Books (a cracking little football bookseller), where you can get 24% off with the code PROST24:

Played in Germany: A Footballing Journey Through a Nation's Soul – **PREORDER, SIGNED COPIES AVAILABLE**