Keswick, what a beautiful day for some.

On a bright sunny afternoon, with the temperature registering 17 degrees, I made my way to one of the most picturesque grounds in the country, Keswick FC. The sky was bright blue with a few white, thin clouds across the sky. Just over 30 others had turned up to watch, often swelled momentarily by passing walkers in the park.

The pitch in Fritz Park has the backdrop of Lake District hills on all four sides. Down one side is the river Derwent that flooded the park and much of the town in 2015, like Cockermouth, their opponents this afternoon. Cockermouth is only 14 miles away, and the game could be called the A66 derby.

The park was devastated, and a new club house has been built that is set up from the pitch and gives a good view from the veranda. The club house and changing room have been built to a good spec, and the facilities are complimented by a large nearby car park that does unfortunately get full very quickly with local park users and tourists.

Keswick FC 1 Cockermouth 5

Saturday 8th March 14.00 pm kick off. Cumberland County League, Premier Division
5th v 1st, The Cumbrians v The Cockers

Keswick; Red shirts with black shorts, goalkeeper in all luminous yellow.

Cockermouth; Yellow shirts with a series of black stripes vertically down the front with grey shorts, goalkeeper in Grey top with black sleeves and grey shorts.

Keswick began the match with only 2 substitutes to Suckermouths 6 and with a first game, 16 year old goalkeeper, between the sticks.

The game started evenly with each side having early chances. Cockermouth playing from right to left took the lead on 12 minutes when a ball was whipped out to the left, and a curling cross from their unmarked player was passed on to Robert Cox, who just had the keeper to beat.

The home side held their own against the league leaders, but disaster struck on
35 minutes when a ball crossed from the right was fumbled by the goalkeeper at left hand postand it was squeezed in from a difficult angle 2 by Luke Graham.

Cockermouth’s 2 nil lead at half time was a bit flattering and after the short interval Keswick were right back in the game. Within 5 minutes, they had reduced the deficit when a free kick from the right was met by Alfie West who stooped to head over the keeper into the centre of the net.
The game swung back in favour of the visitors when the referee gave a penalty, which caused consternation with the Keswick players who felt their man had won the ball fairly. The home sides number 7 received two yellows for what appeared to be arguing. The referee then checked with his linesman, and after a long discussion the penalty stood. The keeper dived to his right of Luke Grahams spot kick but the ball went into the left side of the net to restore the away teams two goal advantage.

Now playing with 10 men, things only became harder when on 65 minutes, a corner from the left by Kyren Bertram was knocked into the goal by the keeper.
Despite 10 men, being 1.4 down and substitutes refreshing their opponents, Keswick kept battling. A Fifth was added for Cockermouth at the death when a crossed ball from Lewis White deceived the home goalkeeper sailing over his head and into right hand corner of net.

Cockermouth stayed top of the division, and although Keswick let in five, they were not disgraced. The young keeper should not be disheartened by his performance, he will have better days for sure.

No chips here or food to discuss.

Knaresborough upset Thackley’s flow.

On the way down the A1 I popped into Knaresborough to see them play Thackley in the Northern Counties East League. Thackley from the northern outkirts of Bradford were on a run of five wins in a row and sat third in the table whilst the home team, Knaresborough Town were eighteenth , only one place above the relegation zone.

The ground is on the edge of town, not far off the A59, and easy to reach. I was dropped off and walked into the ground on what was a cold day, Google saying it was just above freezing, with patchy grey and blue sky, but with no wind. There was a small covered seated stand in the middle of one side, open behind one goal, a small covered standing area offset from the goal at the other end and down the other side the changing rooms, clubhouse, a food kiosk, a small area to stand and a wall from a neighbouring building. The pitch was grass that sloped slightly from end to end with undulating areas and mud showing through the grass after our wet winter. There is less than 20 miles between the two clubs so it was almost a local derby.

Knaresborough have been established since 1898, then known as Trinity, playing local football, before being elevated to the Northern League in 1909 for only 2 years, before going back into local York leagues. After World War Two they reformed in the Harrogate League and returned to it after another spell in the York League. By the end of the 1960’s they joined the West Yorkshire League where they played mainly, except for one excursion back in the Harrogate League again. It was in 2012, that after investment in the ground they were elected to the Northern Counties East League and six years later won promotion to the Premier Division where they play today.

Thackley were not founded until 1930 when members of the Thackley Wesleyan Methodist Church set up a Sunday League Team. They stayed in the West Riding County Amateur League for 25 years from 1939, After a brief stay in the West Yorkshire League they joined the strong Yorkshire League and became founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982 where they still remain.

Knaresborough Town AFC 3 Thackley 2

Saturday 18th January 2025, 15,00 pm kick off, Northern Counties East League, Premier Division.

Knaresborough Town AFC, Manse Lane, Knaresborough, North Yorkshire, HG5 8LF,

18th v 3rd, Knaresborough have no nick name but Thackley are known as the Denny boys.

Knaresborough; Red shirts with white horizontal line on the backs with the sponsors name, black shorts, goalkeeper in lime green top and black shorts: Thackley; All royal blue kit and goalkeeper in all orange.

The first 15 minutes play was even with Thackley looking the most positive. Thackley forwards put one ball just wide and a header over the bar from a corner but neither side scored and they left the field for half time with little indication of anyone scoring.

The floodlights came on for the second half, which showed how quickly the days have lengthened since December 21st, winter is slowly seeping away!

The light must have sparked the player as with 4 minutes gone Knaresborough’s Ben Parkes curled a ball, from outside the goal area, with his right foot, into the top right hand corner for the lead. Four minutes later Ben Parkes was pushed down in the penalty area and Jack Lazenby stepped forward to make it two nil.

There looked no way back for Thackley but they kept pressing and with 19 minutes gone Slater Barnes reduced the deficit after a fast break that meant the ball was whipped across the goalmouth for him to tap in. Thackley now pressed forward and despite having their Manager sent off equalised in the 86th minute when a corner from the right was headed back at the far post for Muhammet Tektas to steer into the net to equalise. Play became frantic with Harry Parsons for Thackley sent off a minute after their equaliser. Thackley pushed on despite their reduced numbers, hoping to retain their winning streak but despair hit them when with time up a freekick was headed back across goal, which Phil Milson stroked home.

The 186 spectators had been warmed by the pulsating second half, with the home side ecstatic but Thackley annoyed at not taking at least a point. Thackley though didn’t deserve the spoils with very little cutting edge up front.

A coffee and a portion of thin cut chips cost only £3.70, but the chips were disappointing being only warm with little taste although they were not greasy, a score of 56.

I didn’t win the meat raffle either.

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.