Black in December 2020 I noticed that the nearest club to my house had reopened at Hall Corner Glapwell and in the following May I was happy to watch a game there. My blog at that time ‘Glapwell have more than other teams to overcome’ said it all, and with the redevelopment of housing and other sports facilities for locals the club had no long term future there. I was surprised to see that there was a Glapwell team entered this season in the Central Midlands  League North. Their new playing home though  was at Mansfield Hosiery Mills Sports club utilising its facilities that are available because they have not entered a team in this League this season.

The good good news was that after speaking to some of Glapwell’s officials they are close to announcing a new permanent home, with a club house, not too far from Hall corner. I look forward to making a trip there when it is up and running.

In the meantime I had journeyed south on the M1 to reach the game on the western edge of Sutton in Ashfield. You drive into a modern housing estate down Mill Lane and on your left is a turning into the sports club. There is a good car park here but with the cricket club having stated earlier it was full. On the sunny day, with a few billowing white and grey and a temperature of 22 degrees they were playing cricket on a magnificent pitch showing off what some would call the quintessential British summer. My quest was to the right and what was the home of Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC now temporarily Glapwell FC. This is a fantastic stadium for what is the 11th tier of English football and is kept in very smart and clean condition. It boasts floodlights, a seated stand behind one goal, hard standing around the rest and a clubhouse and changing room on one side. The pitch slopes from side to side and from one end to the other with good grass cover, only yellowing in some patches.

I have written about Glapwell’s history before having once reached the Northern Premier League in their history. AFC Bentley were only formed 10 years ago in 2016 and have developed a local community club with teams of all ages. they have successfully continued to maintain a strong showing in the Central Midlands League and this season after one winand one loss have started well. Glapwell’s start has been somewhat of a contrast, losing all three of their opening games but have only a goal difference of minus 4.

Glapwell FC 4 AFC Bentley 0

Central Midlands Alliance League, Premier North. Saturday 22nd August 2026 !5.00 pm kick off.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills, Sports facilities, The Fieldings, Sutton in Ashfield, Notts, NG17 2TF.

The Glappy v No nickname found. 15th v 11th, Attendance 21

Glapwell; Black and white vertical Striped shorts with black shorts, goalkeeper in all pink. AFC Bentley; Navy blue shirts with royal blue shoulders and green shorts, goalkeeper in all grey.

The first 15 minutes were equal with Bentley just having the edge but on 20 minutes Glapwell showed some promise hitting the crossbar from a free kick and a few minutes later their defender throwing his body at the ball prevented the visitors from going ahead.

Glapwell did take the lead on 29 minutes when striker Callum Price took advantage of a spilled ball to slot the ball into the corner of the net. Against the run of play Glapwell scored again with 40 minutes gone when Oliver Parfitt took advantage of Bentley players standing still and smashed the ball into the roof of the net from an acute angle on the right.

Glapwell went in at half time two up slightly against the run of play.

Bentley’s day was made worse only 11 minutes from the restart when Callum Price scored a great goal, taking the ball down outside the goal area he looked up and lobbed the keeper for three nil. with the game almost up it was four nil when the Glapwell number 3 beat two away defenders on the buy lien to cross the ball for Kyle Collins to touch in at the far post.

An emphatic first win for Glapwell and good news that they will in the future have a permanent home.

No chips here so I had a Bovril which was again offered with pepper. This time I tried it and it did seem to change the taste slightly taking away some of the saltiness. I was also told that some people add paprika, a culinary delight for the future?

I attended the match with my daughter who as a Northampton Town season ticket holder watches the matches with her nephew. He is still at junior school and they measure his growth by him laying on the seats. with just a small crowd at the game i was measured.

They say that ‘Mad dogs and Englishmen go out in the mid-day sun’. That seems to have changed with our hottest time of the day now seeming to have moved to mid or late afternoon.

I set off for Walsall, near to 4pm, with the temperature at 27 degrees, to drive south to Walsall.  The quest was to meet my son and one of my grandsons to go and watch Aston Villa. Not the best of timing with an estimate of journey time rising from 80 minutes to 100 with people making theirvway home from work. 

We met in the official Walsall FC car park, behind the retail park and walked to a nearby Mc Donald’s for a snack. It was packed with Villa fans, queuing out of the door, chatting and relaxed in the warmth and sun.

Villa and Walsall have a long history of collaboration and always start the pre-season with a game against each other. However this time they were playing Real Sociedad having played Walsall the previous week. Villa Park is not available with the rebuild of the North Stand and other infill areas to increase the capacity to over 50000.

Real Sociedad beat Wolves 2.1 a few days earlier all part of their pre season preparations with games in Toulouse and two in Koln to follow before returning home to San Sebastian in Northern Spain.

Walsall’s Bescot Stadium was built at the end of the 1980’s all part of a redevelopment that included the adjacent retail park. It has seated covered areas on all 4 sides. Three of which are the same height and the fourth, at one end, is three tiers heigh. We sat in the third tier of the stand which gave us a good view of the stadium but not of the goal below us. It also gave a prominent view of the elevated M5, where a continuous stream of traffic whizzed by. During the game it was a bit disconcerting focusing on the game with the traffic as well.

The pitch looked a magnificent green and was being watered before the game, no shortage of water here. it was set off against a hazy blue sky with very few white clouds to be seen.

9269 settled down to watch the game.

Aston Villa 2 Real Sociedad 4

Tuesday 28th July 2026, 19.30 pm kick off.

Bescot Stadium, Bescot Crescent, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 4SA

Premier League – England (fourth 25/26) v La Liga (tenth 25/26)

Villains v Erreala

Aston Villa, Claret shirts, light blue shorts, goalkeeper in all yellow. Real Sociedad, Black and white vertical striped shirts with white shorts, goalkeeper in black.

The game started at walking pace and a lot of tip tapping at the back from both sides with the game feeling very much like the practice it was.

Villa did start to exert some pressure and were rewarded on 14 minutes when hemmings found space on the left hand corner of the goal area and expertly curled the ball inside the far post for the lead. This only lasted 8 minutes before Real levelled when Soler gifted the ball by the home team defence scored at the second attempt after Bizot had saved.

With the restart it was the spanish team who took the lead when a free in from the left was deflected by a Villa player into the path of Oskarsson who just tapped in at the far post. Almost immediately Villa levelled after Buendia eluded 3 players to pass the ball to the 17 year old, Madgo, who showed considerable strength in holding of a defender and slotting the ball under the goalkeeper into the middle of the net.

This heralded changes by both sides with what looked like 8 or 9 for Sociedad. These changes also changed the game and the visitors took control. It was though good to see Pau Torres back on the pitch and looking his imperious self.

Sociedad went further ahead on 66 minutes when Carrera surged into the goal area and struck the ball along the ground past Bizot. They made it 4 right at the end when a cross was knocked up in the air by Bizot to fall to Ruperez to bundle home.

Madgo impressed with his physicality, speed and ball control, Cisse reminded me of a very young Ugo Ehiog and Pau was calm.

Villa are now off to the Far East with most of their more senior players and new recruits.

There were chips but having just had some in Mcdonalds I couldn’t face any more.

Then the fun started The game finished at 21.15 and we were back in our cars in two minutes but didn’t leave the stadium until 58 minutes later, even behind the two Villa team coaches and the two Spanish registered ones taking them of on their journey towards Toulouse. What must it be like on a Saturday when the Retail Park is closing too? Added to that the A38 was closed for resurfacing, good to see, and with that detour was home 3 minutes before midnight.

It was however great to see my son and grandson, see the Villa and enjoy the continuing start to this seasons journey.

With the publication of the lower league fixtures I decided to start my 2026/27 season with a trip to Goldthorpe.

With the heatwave continuing it was a pleasant evening drive, 22.5 degrees, to the Dearne Valley to watch a Friday night friendly. The dry warm weather meant farmers were out with combine harvesters getting in the wheat. It seems a few weeks earlier this year.

I had watched Dearne and District FC for some time with my first visit back in October 2022 when they were playing on a pitch used by their many junior teams, as they awaited the completion of their current grounds upgrade. They were promoted from the Central Midlands League to the Northern Counties East League Division One, and I visited them again at their current location. They had made great strides to get the ground ready for their new level and having been runaway winners of that league last season I was interested to see how they had progressed.

The concrete walkway round almost three sides is completed, and one seated stand and one standing covered area, made from containers have been fitted out. The transit van that had served as a drinks and food outlet had gone replaced by another converted container. Progress definitely but with costs doubling each level you gain, and ground regulations increasing there will be more to do both on and off the pitch.

The playing surface has suffered from the very prolonged dry spell and although basically flat does have some undulating areas and dry, yellowing patches.

Brigg Town, I watched early last season when they had a disastrous start, later recovering to finish 6th in the NECL Division One. I sat in the covered seated stand behind some of their supporters who were not happy. They had seen their team lose all of their pre-season friendlies by at least 3 goals and were fearful of their line up in this fixture. They also were bemoaning the fact that not everyone had turned up.

Dearne and District FC 6 Brigg Town FC 2

Friday 17th July 2026, 19.30 pm kick off.

Dearne and District FC, The  Century Cladding Community Welfare Ground, Furlong Road,  Goldthorpe, S63 9EH.

Northern Counties East League Premier Division team v Eastern Counties League Division One team.

Dearne, in all red shirts with some thin white stripes down the front wit red shorts. The goalkeeper in all fluorescent green.
Brigg, all royal blue shirts with  some cross fading and blue shorts. The  goalkeeper in all yellow.

A good crowd was present, briefly increased by regular passing trains on the banking behind one goal.

The Brigg fans were adding up the pre season goals against after just 4 minutes  when a
ball through to Jordan Kershaw, I thought he was very offside, allowed him to stroll forward and roll the ball to right of Brigg’s young goalkeeper, into the net.

With 16 minutes gone it was Jordan Kershaw again who found space to shoot but this time hit the post. However he was not denied 12 minutes later when he took advantage of the goalkeeper hesitation and chipped over his grounded body into the open net.

It was not all one-way traffic though and Brigg grabbed one back when a low hit corner was steered into the Dearne goal by Josh Batty with 33 minutes gone. Dearne, a big team, in comparison, scored again, 4 minutes later, when Justin Circuit collected the  ball on right, shaped to shoot and curled it out of reach of the goalkeeper into the top left hand corner.

A Dearne player now shouted loudly that the young Brigg keeper couldn’t  kick far so move up. The keeper then struck the goal kick so that the ball landed just in front of  Dearne’s 18 yard line and the Brigg  keeper shouted “Can’t kick, fuck off”. This drew loud laughs from the players and crowd.

The teams left the pitch at half time with the home side leading 3.1 but with Brigg not crumbling.

D&D pressed hard again at the start.of the second half with their number 2 launching throw ins from the side to beyond the penalty area which were proving effective with their height superiority.

Justin Circuit made it four on 56 minutes when from the right corner of the goal area he curled the ball just inside the far post.

Brigg kept trying and with a penalty awarded to them, for a trip, Josh Batty despatched it for his second goal.

Thirteen minutes from the end one of the amazing long throws was met by Owen Fieldsend, whose bullet header screamed into the net for a 5.2. lead.

Just 2 minutes later a headed clearance was headed back to goal by a trialist and it looped over everyone increasing Dearne’s goal tally to 6.

Dearne and District were happy with their win although the two goals against could have been defended better. For Brigg, back to the drawing board, although they never gave up and have a base to build on.

No chips to start the season, instead a great cup of Bovril but a very dry sausage roll of which I only ate a third. Not a good start to the season.

I found a game on Tuesday night which was my last of this season, 2025/26, SJR Worksop v Teversal. Some might say really, but to me a true reflection of football in the 11th tier of English football. I had been there before, it survives as a sports club recreation ground for football and cricket and has not been sold to put up a warehouse or housing.

You can luckily park next door in Asda for three hours free and a walkway has been made through the hedge to get to the ground. Not aware of this I parked in the wrong part and took the long way round.

Many clubs at this level have fallen behind in their fixtures due the the heavy rains and postponements we had around the start of the year. Some have not finished all of their games within the time agreed and have forfeited the points. This game was on even though it had no bearing on the league, with the teams being placed seventh and eight in the league. With no lights at the venue the kick off was at 7pm and on the Teversal social media they suggested it might start early because of the light.

This ground is open one side to the cricket pitch and surrounded by fencing on the other sides. There are two small areas under cover one of which has some banking with paving slabs to sit on. An umbrella was at hand in case the very dark clouds, which made it very gloomy, decided to drop their rain. It was also a chilly 8 degrees.

The pitch slopes slightly to one corner and the grass cover was recovering well in the spring weather.

These two clubs had played the previous Saturday where SJR had won 3 nil.

As I have said on a previous visit the best way to explain the history of the club is to show a board that is displayed by one of the corner flags. The name St Josephs Rockware indicates the previous background to the club having been born out of St Joseph’s’ Catholic Church and the Rockware sports club. They have developed into a multi age and sex club with their women’s team playing in the English 5th tier of womens football.

Teversal have been going since 1905 and had the words Miners Welfare in the name for many years, reflecting the two local pits of Teversal and Silverhill. The miners influence, but not the heritage, ended in 1989 when the local district council took over the complex and still run it today. They maintained a period of stay in the Northern Counties East League despite a few ups and downs but were relegated to the Central Midlands League.

SJR Worksop 3 Teversal FC 3

Tuesday 5th May 2026, 19.00 pm kick off

Central Midlands league-Premier North Division

SJR Worksop, Rockware Glass Sports and Social Club, Sandy Lane’ Worksop, Nottinghamshire.

SJR; Blue and Black vertical striped shirts with all blue backs and black shorts, goalkeeper in grey top and black shorts.

Teversal; Red and black vertical shirts with all red back and white shorts, goalkeeper in all green.

Despite this game having little significance in the league at this stage of the season both teams seemed up for it with the home team dominating in mid field in the early stages. SJR lifted the gloom first when Joe Bean headed in a beautifully accurate cross from the right. Playing on the left he continued to harass the Teversal defence with his fast pace and tricky footwork. However it was Joshua Parfitt for Teversal who levelled the scores with three minutes remaining until half time when he took the ball down from mid air and turned to hit the ball across the goalkeeper.

The half time whistle went and the referee, the other officials and the Teversal players initially remained on the pitch expecting a quick turn round to beat the darkening skies but the SJR team marched off to the dressing room. To make thing more difficult in the fading light the games restart was held up by a loose dog. Once the game was underway Teversal took full command and scored after 8 minutes when a cross from the right was hooked over the home keeper by Alex Ferraday. Two minutes later Teversal made it three when Joshua Parfitt scored his second after making space for himself.

Teversal looked comfortable at this point but Joe Bean continued to cause problems and finally with 74 minutes gone he collected the ball on the edge of the centre circle and ran free to round the goalkeeper to get SJR back in the game. Again, only eight minutes later, he was terrorising the Teverwal defence when he took the ball to the dead ball line and cut it back for Tom Mullen to roll it along the ground into the net for the equaliser.

Expecting the home side to push on for the winner, it was Teversal who pushed hardest at the end and nearly avenged their defeat of the previous weekend. A quick retreat from the ground to the car to warm up and a reflection that even end of season non matches can be enjoyable. Well done to both teams.

No chips but a good, strong, hot coffee, it was needed.

A late April holiday brought me to Prenton Park to see Tranmere Rovers v Grimsby Town. A ground I have always wanted to visit and I was not disappointed. Dropped off in Prenton Road, a long old brick wall greeted me with large old style floodlight pylons at each corner. Having collected a ticket bought from Grimsby because Tranmere wouldn’t sell me one,  missed the cut off date, even though people were buying them at the ticket office before the game, I entered the ground to be greeted by a large contingent of Mariners fans.

The stadium is first class and reflects Tranmere having played their football much higher up the pyramid in the past. There is covered seated stands on all sides with the home end, behind one goal, particularly impressive and the main stand down one side also looks good. There is a small covered stand on the other side the back to which was the wall outside. I was in the away end, the Cow Shed, that for away fans was very good. The noise that greeted me was tremendous as over 1900 Grimsby fans had crossed the country to cheer on their team. Their rhythmic chant of ‘Clap’ Fish ‘Clap’ Fish ‘Clap’ Fish, and on and on was inventive and amusing. They were making most of the noise in the stadium with the Tranmere fans a bit subdued considering their predicament.

The game looked to offer a very competitive thriller, Tranmere needing points not to drop into the National League and Grimsby needing points to stay in the play off position they held. It would also depend on the performances of teams around them in the league. The weather had changed a little after a very warm week to end April with greying skies , little wind and a temperature of 13. The pitch was in great condition and the striped grass shone a bright green.

Tranmere were formed in 1884 assuming their current name a year later, they moved to Prenton Park in 1912 and joined the Football League in 1921. They have spent most of their time in the lower two divisions but have played in Division Two and had good runs in the League Cup. They have spent time in the National League returning to the EFL in 2018.

Grimsby have been in existence since 1878, moving into their long term home, Blundell Park, Cleethorpes in 1899 and reached their highest level in the 1930’s and 40’s playing in the highest English League. Most of their play has been in the lower two leagues of the Football league although they have spent times in the Conference/National League returning to the EFL only in 2022.

Tranmere Rovers FC 1 Grimsby Town FC 1

Saturday 2nd May 2026 15.00 kick off , English Football League Two

Prenton Park, Prenton Road West, Birkenhead, Merseyside, CH42 9PY

20th V 7th, Rovers v Mariners, Attendance 11141

Tranmere; All white kit except for a band of green down the sides of the shirts, goalkeeper in all green.

Grimsby; Red and blue vertical striped shirts with royal blue shorts that had red edging, goalkeeper in all yellow.

The game started with Grimsby attempting to dominate play but Tranmere did counter. It all seemed a little edgy, not surprisingly, and as it progressed Grimsby squandered the better chances. With half time approaching Grimsby finally scored when on 43 minutes some fast pressure play on the left led to a neat ball being slipped through to Justin Amaluzor near the left hand post and he hooked it, with some force, into the centre of the net.

The teams went off at half time with Grimsby on top and their fans chanting ‘You’re going down’ to their rivals.

Luckily for both teams results were going their way.  However Tranmere couldn’t take any chances and came out in the second half with more fight. Even their fans had woken up and seventeen minutes into the half they thought they would see an equaliser when Grimsby’s outstanding defender Cameron McJannet gifted the ball to a Tranmere attacker who looked to only have the goalkeeper to beat when McJannet somehow ran back to just whip the ball of the Tranmere player. Rovers now had the momentum and kept pushing forward, gaining corners, from which they scored in the 64th minute. One from the right missed everyone except for the leaping Nathan Smith who soared above the pack at the far post to land a well placed header for the equaliser. With the home side now marginally on top their crowd became more vocal, but the away end chanted back as their team were still having chances, and Chesterfield had scored again at Swindon to guarantee Grimsby would be in the playoffs.

With both sides safe at 1.1 the game petered out in the last minutes and the final whistle was greeted with joy by the Grimsby fans and a pitch invasion by the home faithful who knew that relegation to the National League was averted. To get promotion from the National League gets harder and harder each season with some very well financed teams in that competition.

Another great end of the season match in the EF League Two,

No chips. with only pies and hot dogs available. I decided on a steak pie that turned out to be delicious, soft, not dry, pasty, was filled with some meat and a lot of thick gravy that oozed out onto my fingers. The paper napkins provided were very necessary. If I was compiling a pie league this would have been up there at the top.

With the season end fast approaching its end and other commitments making time precious I was pleased to head into Sheffield to the Steel City Stadium. I have tried to watch a game here before but postponements have defeated me. Luckily the game was on, however I was wrapped up with the temperature only 8 degrees and a frost forecast overnight. It was a grey evening, but sat in the large seated stand any rain wouldn’t be a problem. The full size all weather pitch was being used by juniors from Burngreave United to play and train right up to minutes before the start  of the game. The officials came out to clear the odd water bottle and cone so the game was delayed by 5 minutes. Many of those playing before the game sat in the large covered stand to cheer on their team.

Burngreave started out in 2017 initially in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County league, name changes to Sheffield Town, and mergers with Kiveton Miners Welfare , then in the Central Midlands League, but plans to upgrade the ground foundered and the club was moved to the Steel City Stadium in Sheffield. For the current season the team changed its name to Burngreave United to reflect its geographic roots and the community it represents.

Dinnington by contrast have long history dating back to 1908 which I have written about in the past. Like Burngreave they are keen to make it to the next level of the football pyramid.

Burngreave United FC 2 v Dinnington Town FC 3

Tuesday 14th April 2026 19.45 pm kick off.

Central Midland Alliance League Premier, North Division.

Steel City, Stadium, Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park, Worksop Road, Sheffield, S9 3 TL

Burngreave; Red and yellow vertical striped shirt fronts, all red backs, black shorts, goalkeeper in Maroon top with black shorts

Dinnington Yellow shirts with lower black  pattern leading to a black band at bottom, white shorts,  goalkeeper  in an orange top with black shorts.

Where do you start with this game, I’m still breathless a day later. The first ten minutes were energetic, setting the pattern for a very free flowing game. The large all-weather pitch suiting the home sides running play.

However with 13 minutes gone, while Burngreave were appealing  appealing for offside, a Dinnington forward broke to his left, checked, put in a near post cross that was knocked in by a home defender under pressure, to take the lead.

Just 7 minutes later an equaliser, when the  ball was slid  along ground by United, from the left, causing a mix up by defenders and goalkeeper, to allow Christian Tientcheu Ndeugoe to sneak in and hit it into the top of net
Queue wild jubilation by the enthusiastic Burngreave fans.

A quick response by Town led to the awarding of a penalty for a foul on the corner of the penalty area and as a tram trundled past behind the goal, the keeper dived to his left missing the ball that had been sent straight down the centre by Jordan Turner.

With Dinnington ahead Burngreaves’ task was made more difficult when the home sides keeper rushed out of his area to confront a breakaway forward. The kamikaze  tackle drew the foul and a ref card for the goalkeeper. A Burngreave outfielder went in goal and with 30 minutes gone it looked like Dinnington had all the advantage.

Even down to ten men United continued to play at breakneck pace and equalised with 33 minutes gone when a freekick from out on the right was headed into the centre of the net by a leaping Hisham Awadah.

What a first half, skilfull, speedy, a penalty, a sending off a game you couldn’t keep your eyes off.

Burngreave matched Dinnington in the second half and with the pace continuing there needed to be someone who just slowed down and dominated play. I reflected that after 35 minutes of the second half the away team had not tested the substitute goalkeeper and he looked calm and assured with crosses and through balls.

With about ten minutes to the end, ill discipline set into the home team. A player was sent off for a second bookable offence followed by a booking for the team in the dug out. The noisy Burngreave fans vented their anger at the referee but they held on despite Dinnington making the keeper make his first save.

With people edging to the gate, a high ball forward was taken down by Jordan Turner and with his back to goal he pivoted, and struck a right foot shot inside the left hand post, grazing it, and just beating the outstretched hand of the diving keeper.

Before the referee blew for full time another Burngreave player went into the book which meant that his second yellow drew a red card too, down to 8.

The referee soon blew for full time and as I left the home team, officials and fans were loudly expressing their displeasure to him.

A really enjoyable evening watching a game that ebbed and flowed and kept moving at pace. Joy for Dinnington with them maintaining a slim chance of winning the division over the last few games. They would hope that they don’t come this close in each of their remaining matches. Burngreave must be proud of their performance considering the times on the pitch when they were reduced in numbers.They are a skillful quick team that with a little more discipline and the need to keep the team together could challenge for the tittle next season.

This is a fantastic glossy and informative program and shows the way it can be done.

No chips here but a very trendy cafe that has been just opened at this facility, the coffee was much better than the usual at grounds.

N.B. I found out after that another Burngreave player received a red card at the end of the game making it 4 red cards on the night for the playing team.

There is a lot of change at ‘The oldest football club in the world’, Sheffield FC. There has been a recent buy in and change of CEO that has immediately seen physical change. I saw that they were at home to Tadcaster in a semi-final playoff match so it looked an interesting game to see.

Immediately I noticed that the large car park was now fully open again after being restricted on my previous visit. As I walked in there was a buzz around in the just over 1000 crowd. The old seated stand, behind one goal, had been redesignated for ‘the yoof’, their terminology, and a new sectional seated stand erected behind The Coach and Horses. This along with free entry for under 16’s had been a success with a clutch of noisy ‘yoof’ in residence in their new home. Despite these initial well planned changes the clubs goal is still to move back into a true home in Sheffield rather than Derbyshire.

The Grey skies and fierce cold wind, from end to end, made the choice of a large coat and scarf a good one. The pitch looked a spring time green with the grass perhaps longer than normal. The goal mouth were sanded and dust was being stirred up on the pitch by the teams warming up.

Sheffield FC 2 Tadcaster Albion FC 2

Tadcaster win 4.3 op penalties.

Saturda11th April 2026, 15.00 pm kick off.

Northern Counties East League Premier Division Play off Semi-final.

3rd v 4th,  The Club v The Brewers

Attendance originally given as 902, later updated to 1031.

Sheffield; Their traditional black and red quartered shirts with black shorts, black socks,
Goalkeeper in all very pale pink.
Tadcaster; Yellow shirts with some graded dark blue vertical stripes at bottom with navy shorts and yellow socks, Goalkeeper in all dark green.

Sheffield played with the strong wind at their backs in the first half and this gave the Brewers problems clearing the ball despite looking a well organised side.

Sheffield had the first clear chances of the game when Alex Harwick beat the offside trap but didn’t have the composure to beat the goalkeeper. He put this behind him when with 19 minutes gone a great Cross from Luke Mangham was crispy headed home. A fan behind me said that the goal made Hardwick the top goal scorer in the league for the season.

The wind continued to pose the away defence problems and Sheffield went further ahead 15 minutes later when Sam Greenhouse curled a high ball towards goal from out on the right that was misjudged by the keeper and he helped it on into the back of the net.

Sheffield came off at half time to strong applause.

The wind favoured the away team in the second half but Sheffield still looked dangerous, creating chances. With 75 minutes of the game played it looked as if Tadcaster had found a way back when the referee awarded them a soft penalty. The referee adjudged that Jordan Greaves fouled Tadcasters striker when he collected the ball away from his goal line. He redeemed himself by saving the penalty kick diving to his left.

Within five minutes Tadcaster did have a life line when Miguel Cassama tapped the ball over the goal line after a clearance from a cross presented him with his chance. Sheffield looked like they would hold on but on 90 minutes with the board being held up to show 6 minutes of added time Miguel Cassama looped a curling shot over the home defence and goalkeeper to equalise.

Neither side could force a winner and it went to the dreaded penalties to decide who would be in the play off final. After some great saves by each keeper, step forward that man again, Miguel Cassama, to roll the ball from the penalty spot into the right hand corner of the goal having sent the goalkeeper the wrong way, for Tadcaster to win 4.3

A great win for the Brewers who march on to the final. But for Sheffield,  defeat by penalties after a long season that saw them finish ahead of the team that had beaten them a time to regroup in close season.

With all the momentum that Sheffield now have on and off the pitch you can see them coming back much stronger next season.

I knew that there would be chips here so I joined a lengthy queue. With all the other positive improvements at this clubs the chips have gone backwards. The portion was small, some were hot, some cold, some golden, some anaemic, some were soggy. All were greasy and average taste. Unfortunately score of only 50.

An intriguing Easter deby beckoned me to Retford on Easter Monday. Retford United second in the league were at home to near rivals Retford FC. Retford FC sat top of the table with United second, Retford needing the minimum of a draw to be champions and United needing to win the match and their last fixture and hope that their rivals slipped up in their final game.

Retford United’s ground is on the edge of town and although it bosts a large car park and overflow parking area many ha8d parked by the side of the road as we approached. Having previously purchased a ticket we missed the turnstile and were let in at the back of the ground.

It was a beautiful clear day with a  vivid blue sky and little wind. Still being at the beginning of April it was only 16.5 degrees.  United’s ground has a character and history and is well kept and tidy. Despite it being nearly the end of the season the flat grass pitch still had a lot of cover.

The large crowd of 1080 were scatered around the ground. Most were on the two banks either side of the covered seated stand or on the opposite side around the food kiosk, club house and changing rooms.  On the same side hamburgers were being cooked on an open grill.

One end has covered standing and the other is open.

I have written extensively before about how these two teams were formed so I will not add to it here. For a town that has a population circa 24000 it does very well to maintain these two sides and draws such good crowds.

Retford United 2 Retford FC 2

Monday 6th Apri 2026, 15.00 pm kick off.

United Counties League Division 1
Cannon Park, Leverton Road, Retford, Nottinghamshire, DN22 0DR.

2nd v 1st, Badgers v Choughs

United; Black and white vertical striped shirts, black shorts. Goalkeeper in all red
Retford FC; All orange strip,  Goalkeeper in all fluorescent green/yellow.

Considering there was much to play for the first 20 minutes were a bit dull as both teams were cagey looking for an opening.

This all changed in the space of five minutes starting on the 27th minute when a long high free kick from within the choughs half sailed over everyone except for Liam Bennett who unmarked stooped at left hand post to nod the ball down and into far cornerof the goal for the lead.

Four  minutes later a long ball to the right lead to a tustle inside the penalty area and with both players falling over the referee awarded a soft penalty.  This was expertly dispatched when Rory Coleman sent the keeper the wrong puting the ball in the top left corner of the net.

With the two goal lead it looked all over, but the Badgers rallied and started to pressure, and eight minutes later their number 10 made space to shoot but his shot hit the post, rebounded to him and his cross was headed in at the far left post by Ross David.

With half time just a whistle away, Woodward in goal for the home side kept a shot out by a fully stretched dive to the right and parried the ball behind for a corner. Retford FC could have been out of sight but at half time it was anyone’s game.

United started the second half with a purpose and switched ton playing the ball along the ground rather than long high balls forward that were just meat and drink for the big back four to head clear.

The different tactic paid off and the Badgers forced corners but didn’t draw level until the 58th minute when Ross David was tripped and he easily scored from the penalty spot.

United kept up some pressure but substitutions meant larger players were now up front and the high ball again played into the Choughs hands and they took back control. Retford FC controlled the last 20 minutes with injuries, substitutions and clever play.

With only minutes left the players surprisingly walked to the side for a drinks break. Perhaps everyone had decided that the game was going to be a draw.

A fantastic result for the Choughs who became champions and look forward to life in the Premier Division North next season. United have to go again in the play offs but on the back of an eight game unbeaten run they should be well set.

Despite the large crowd the two staff manning the food kiosk were working like lightening. My chips were a good portion, hot, golden, tasty, not greasy but very crunchy. Had the chips been cooked more than once? A score of 62.

After the morning game in Baslow I headed south to Ashby de la Zouch via Loughborough to watch my second game of Non-League-Day. I have tried to see a game at Ashby Ivanhoe at least three times before but have always been thwarted by the weather and the resulting postponement.

It was still cold in Ashby made worse by the biting wind. The ground is out of town and id bordered by the A42 a major cross midlands road route. There was a large car park and it was filling and in the ground 242 fans had turned up, Ashby’s second largest gate of the season. This was their third game of the week as they catch up on their backlog of fixtures and try to move away from the relegation places which at the moment they are just avoiding.

The pitch was of grass, mainly flat, with a slight side to side slope, and with some areas being worn and heavily sanded. Walking through the entrance you soon notice that everything is compact at one end of the ground. There is a clubhouse with an outside awning for extra seating and a food shack that faces it. In front of these is a seated stand right behind the goal where we sat and found it an unusual view being so close to the goalkeeper. Next to this stand is a covered standing area. One end and side is open, the side onto some training and junior pitches. The other side has the two dugouts and another compact covered seated stand that looked as if it was for officials only.

Ashby Ivanhoe were formed in 1948 playing initially in local leagues and moved up to the East Midlands Counties League in 2018 and a year later to the Midland League. League reorganisations and on field performances moved them further up the league ladder in 2023.

There was an original Newark FC in 1886 but by the second world war they had disbanded . Briefly resurrected in the 1970’s it’s current form dates to 1991. Since joining the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1997 they have progressed through the Central Midlands League and up to the Premier Division, North, of the United Counties League. It is a community owned club and now plays in very modern community facilities.

Ashby Ivanhoe FC 1 Newark Town FC 3

Saturday 28th March 2026, United Counties Football League League, Premier Division North.

Ashby Ivanhoe FC, Lower Packington Road, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Leicestershire, LE65 1TS

16th v 4th, The Knights v The Blue Army

Ashby Ivanhoe, Light and dark blue vertical striped shirts with two white stripes in the middle of the front with a red stripe in between and dark blue shorts. Goalkeeper in black shorts with a green and black vertical striped top.

Newark; Pink shirts with black shorts, the goalkeeper in all orange.

The first 30 minutes of the game had no pattern and neither side dominated and the crowd seemed more interested in chatting to each other.

It came alive though on 33 minutes when William Robson was set up by a pass along the ground ground pass from the left. He gave the home side the lead with his left foot stroking the ball across the goalkeeper into the right hand corner of the net.

Both teams came alive with Ashby looking comfortable. However right on half-time, from out of a group of players on the edge of the box Tristan Drummond smashed the ball into top left hand corner of the net for the equaliser.

Ivanhoe came out in the second half with renewed vigour but after 16 minutes they fell behind,for the first time, when Harry Allcock, against run of play, on the edge of the box, and his back to goal, turned,  swivelled his left foot and put the ball to the left of the keeper.

Only seven minutes later a corner from the left was headed on to centre of the goal where Harry Allcock, again, unopposed, headed  the ball home, to the right.

Ashby now looked a beaten team as Newark controlled the game to the end, which felt like it was never coming, with the referee adding on many minutes that didn’t appear to have been needed.

Ashby should survive this season but their end of season glut of games does not help their cause. Newark by contrast will have been happy to increase their play off chances. Talking of end of season, it’s always amazing that once we reach the New Year, a few postponements, and the season is almost over. Where has it gone.

The chips were a large portion, hot, crispy, perhaps too crispy, a bit greasy gaining a good score of 63. Mine were quite thin but later others were walking by with much fatter chips, must have been a different bag. You can see that I forgot to take a picture of the chips before I ate them!