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!

Although the rain had stopped the game I had hoped to see at Brodsworth was called off late morning. Needing a quick solution to my problem I drove locally to Shirebrook. Shirebrooks’ season had not been going well and they had an intriguing fixture against the team just below them. What a change from recent weeks with clearer skies and the sun shining through at times. Pulling up to park at the ground I was faced with a full car park and lots of parking on the overflow grass area. I was not surprised that as previously the field directly in front of the stadium was being used by the local Whippet Society to train their dogs to race. The field is used for formal racing during the year. Three dogs were being readied to run the course as I walked to the football, although I think that they were greyhounds. Both the devolved governments in Scotland and Wales are moving towards banning greyhound racing. There are no registered greyhound tracks left in Wales or Scotland and below 20 in England, with two major venues closing in 2025.

As I walked into the ground I realised that the slope from end to end most probably meant that the drainage here had saved the match. The grass surface though was cut up in places and the goal mouths were heavily sanded, added to this players warming up were getting used to the ball bobbling on the uneven surface. The grey clouds building in the distance looked ominous and were moving in line with the strong breeze. Luckily the sun was occasionally peeping through and the temperature was up to 10 degrees.

Although this ground shows its age, it has two good seated stands on one side and covered standing down most of the other. with a snack bar and entrance taking up the rest of the side. The snack bar is open to those inside and outside the ground so that the earlier whippet/greyhound group could use it as well.

Both Shirebrook and Gedling, are from ex mining communities and now play their football in the United Counties Division One, a strong league in these parts.

There have been Shirebrook teams for over 100 years but the current club dates back to 1985 when it was formed as Shirebrook Colliery, changing its name to Town in 1991 when the colliery closed. It had played in the Northern Counties East Leagues for nearly 20 years but recently has found it hard to progress further with a limited amount of resources. It was placed in the United Counties League at the last F.A. reorganisation of local football.

Gedling Miners Welfare were started in 1919 playing in local football they changed their name to Mapperley St Judes in 1930 and took on their current name during the Second World War. Continuing after the war in senior local football they became ever present Amateur Cup entrants, setting ground attendance records in the 1950’s against Pegasus and Bishop Auckland. These heights were not maintained and by 1999 they were relegated down a Division bouncing back the following year. Gedling were accepted into the Central Midland League five years later and soon gained promotion to the Supreme Division. In 2008 they became founder members of the East Midlands Counties League where they stayed until its demise in the League restructuring and at that point were placed in the United Counties League Division One.

Shirebrook Town FC 1 Gedling Miners Welfare FC 0

Saturday 21st February 2026, United Counties League, Division 1, 15.00 pm kickoff

Shirebrook Town FC, Langwith Road, Shirebrook, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG20 8TF

19th v 20th, The Steel Men v Gedling/The Miners

Shirebrook; Red shirts, Black shorts, goalkeeper in all light grey.

Gedling; All light blue strip, goalkeeper in all pink

The first ten minutes of the game saw Gedling push the home team back, playing up hill, and their wide players looked to have the beating of the home defence. However Shirebrooks confidence changed when they hit the post following a corner on ten minutes.From then on Shirebrooks defence seemed to strengthen giving their forwards more support to attack Gedling. Both teams were finding it hard to control the ball on the uneven pitch but just before halftime Joe Godfrey made space for himself outside the right hand corner of the goal area and let go of a shot that zoomed across the goalkeeper ito the top left hand corner of the net, a great strike. Shirebrook maintained their lead until half time.

Immediately play was resumed the rain came back.

The second half saw the home defence get fully on top of the Gedling attack which made continual efforts to force a draw. This left Shirebrook to mount some good counter attacks and with 15 minutes left should have made it two when a beautiful ball from the right along the ground was tapped towards goal only to hit the post. A follow up shot just grazed the outside of the post again and ended up in the side netting. Gedling forced the play for the final 15 minutes but the home defence were not to be beaten.

The result meant that Shirebrook move further away from the relegation battle, but Gedling like a few others have a few games in hand on them. It looks like a nervy finish to the season for up to 10 teams in the league.

The chips were really tasty, crisp and didn’t taste greasy, unfortunately they were only warm as my serving was the last in the tray having been previously cooked in a fryer. The lack of temperature meant I only scored them a 64, it could have been higher.

Will it ever stop raining I thought as I journeyed south to watch one of my grandsons play under 8’s football. Yes it did, 10 minutes before I arrived at a school in Northampton with an all weather pitch. His side won 7.3 but all three matches I had identified to watch on the way home were postponed, due to the rain, after early pitch inspections.

Luckily the family have season tickets at Northampton and their game was on. I have been to Sixfields before but to see my son in the final of the Northamptonshire Sunday Cup and a semi-final of the FA Sunday Cup, but not to see Northampton Town.

Sixfields Stadium is built into a hill from the top of which you can get a good view of it. It has separate. covered stands on each side, 3 seated, and one standing. High up in the rafters of the stand I was in is a dummy owl to frighten off pigeons and the like.

Northampton Town were formed in 1897 and immediately their biggest rivals, the local rugby club objected to their name. A compromise was eventually reached when they added ‘Town’ to their name.A short stay in the local league was followed by time in the Southern League until they were elected to then Football League in 1920. Northampton Town have spent their life yo yoing up and down the 3rd and 4th leagues in England, apart from a purple patch in the mid sixties when they made it to the First division. By 1967 they were back in Division 3 (League1) to continue their ups and downs. An Administration in 1992 was followed from a move from the old County Ground, shared with the cricket club, to a new stadium at Sixfields.Despite good attendance at games they continue to struggle in the face of many financially richer clubs.

Stevenage Borough Football Club was only formed in 1976 after the demise of Stevenage Athletic, after some years in the Isthmian league they moved up to the Conference in 1994. Ground issues stopped them from progressing higher but after these were resolved and the club won the Conference in 2010 they made it to the English Football League Two. Promotion to League One was soon won but 3 years later in 2014 they were back in League Two. It took until being runners up in 2023 to regain the higher status where they sit today.

With the rain stopped, it had turned out sunny at 10 degrees but menacing clouds were still in the sky threatening yet more drenchings. Despite the weather the grass pitch remains in very good condition.

Northampton are having a poor season sitting second from bottom of League 1 whilst Stevenage, in mid table, still have the opportunity to press on and maybe make the play offs.

Northampton Town 3 Stevenage 1

Saturday 7th February 2026.  15.01 pm kick off.

English Football League Division 1

Sixfields Leisure, Northampton, NN5 5QJ

Northampton Town; Claret shirts with a white stripe down the sides, white shorts, goalkeeper in all green.

Stevenage Borough, All sky blue shirts and shorts with goalkeeper in all bright yellow.

23rd v 8th, Cobblers v The Boro

The game lacked any pattern or momentum in the early stages with the Stevenage defence towering over their opponents.

The deadlock was broken though when with 28 minutes gone, a teasing cross, from the left, was met by Michael Forbes who squeezed it over the away keeper into the far top corner of the net. The euphoria didn’t last long when a ball over the top of Cobblers defence was missed by a defender allowing Jamie Reid to run onto it and flash it past the keeper.

As half time beconned the home team were awarded a penalty when Cameron McGeehan, bearing down on goal, was clearly fouled and a penalty awarded. As the Stevenage players objected their number 19 scuffed up the penalty spot but was spotted by the linesman and the referee awarded him a yellow card.The penalty kick from Tom Eaves was aimed directly at the goalkeeper who parried it only for Eaves to run in and tap it into the net. Cobblers fans were delighted that their team went in ahead at half time.

Stevenage tried hard to stamp their authority on the new half and on 64 minutes the home keeper managed to force a shot onto the bpost and away. Stevenage again came close to equalising with ten minutes left but with numerous bodies in the Northampton goal mouth they twice managed to scoop the ball away off the goal line.

Northampton’s fans were in heaven and relieved on 89 minutes when they wrapped up the game with their third. Keeping the ball on the right side if the penalty area a sprint to the by line secured the ball to be accurately cut back onto the head of Sam Hoskins to score.

The third goal heralded the Cobblers first win of 2026 and moved them out of the relegation places although they have a though ask to remain in League One. Stevenage missed the opportunity to get closer to the play off places and on this showing will find a mid table finish the likely outcome for their season.

No chips here and I decided against any food. The program though was glossy, informative and full of pics.