Driving into Back, just north of Stornaway on the Isle of Lewis you pass a modern sports complex that also houses Back FC. On reaching where we were staying I looked up Back FC to find that in 20 minutes time they were playing in the Jock Stein Cup final. I was off, but realised that they would not be at home so on checking it was Goathill Park Stornaway bound. Luckily the game was delayed by a few minutes with a queue of people at the gate.

Inside a crowd of getting on for 300 had made it a great feat considering that Back’s opponents were Ness FC an hour and a half away right at the Northern tip of the Outer Hebridies. I spoke to a Ness supporter who filled me in on who was who and that Back were favourites having beaten Ness in a recent Highland Cup game.

Back and Ness play in the Lewis and Harris League.

Back are a volunteer run community club playing at the local Community Centre which along with their grass pitch has a community gym, indoor sports hall, 3 G pitch and golf range. The football club runs teams of all ages and abilities. The club have been going since 1933 and won numerous cup and league titles.

Ness FC were formed in the same year and have perhaps a more successful past winning many trophies.

Back FC 3 Ness FC 1

Friday 19th May 2023 19.00 pm

Goathill Park, Stornaway, Lewis. Jock Stein Cup Final.

Back FC, Yellow shirts blue shorts, Ness FC, White shirts and shorts with light orange stripe down shirt sleeves and side of shorts.

My was car abandoned in a side street, like everyone else’s. I rushed to the ground for my first ever Scottish football match. The teams kicked off as I found a space on the perimeter fence at Goathill. The ground is on top of a hill as the name says and the moist wind blew across the pitch. Grey clouds scuttled past with the wind moving them on quickly so each rain burst was only small. The grass had been cut very short but still some daisies poked through and overall the playing surface looked good with a slight slope from end to end.

Back were off to a fast start watched by a lone soaring seagull who seemed like a drone filming the game. It was no surprise when after 8 minutes they went ahead when some skillful running òn the left by Joel Martin produced a cross goal ball that was deflected in off a Ness defender, Cailean Macleod. They kept up the pressure playing some slick, quick passing and dribbling.

The referee and linesmen were miked up and well on top of the game. The referee stood for no swearing or arguing and even blew up for a foul throw, something you so rarely see even though it happens more than once in most games I watch.

There were no more goals by half time and a large contingent of children invaded both ends for shooting practice into the goals.

Rain greeted the start of the second half but again only in small showers as Ness seemed to be getting stuck in more. Their tenseness of the first half had disappeared but the game drifted into a dull midfield battle. The Back forwards were still getting themselves into good positions but their shyness to shoot and Ness’s very competent goalkeeper kept the score at 1 nill.

The pressure started to build on the Ness goal and on 68 minutes Back went two ahead when a corner from the right was expertly met by Chris Macleod as his bullet header hit the net.

Ness now tried hard to get back in the game and after Back’s goalkeeper, Peel, had made two point blank saves Ness were awarded a penalty.
Unfortunately for Ness, Lee Johnson’s penalty was saved. This didn’t stop their pressure and with 10 minutes left of the game they had their reward when a through ball was miss headed backwards over the advancing keeper for an own goal, this time to Ness.

Their efforts came to nothing though as Back wrapped the game up on 88 minutes with a goal fro Joel Martin. Joel Martin had looked quick all night and ran past a defender on the left cut inside and slammed the ball home for a deserved 3.1 win.

This was a great game of football, competitive to the end with some really good skills on show.

On a trip to the Outer Hebrides one of the stopping points had to be the home ground of Eriksay FC. It’s fame was cemented when in 2015 the FIFA World Football Museum featured the pitch along with other world gems in their visual display ‘Planet Football’ showcase.

To reach the pitch you drive past ‘The Politician’ bar, bistro that serves good food being named after the SS Politician that ran aground here and its resultant story that was the basis for the film ‘Whiskey Galore’. Having parked I made my way up a hill with the Barra Ferry and the Atlantic behind me. Eriksay’s nearest rivals west are in North America.

I reached the pitch with a blustery wind behind me as rain started to fall. Yes this is an iconic pitch which you would just love to play on. It is bumpy, has scattered animal droppings, a few patches of exposed sand and a rolling surface that goes up in one corner but the view just takes your breath away. It was well worth the drive and climb just to stand there. I wasn’t sure I was in awe of the players or just jealous.

Eriksay FC have been in existence since the 1950’s keeping going with a small and at times diminishing population. Let’s hope they keep going. They are definitely there this summer season being unbeaten after 5 games and only 2 points off the top of the Uist and Barra Football League.

Shame I was not around to see them play.

Wednesday evening was Champions League semi final night between AC Milan and Inter Milan, a match that the media said had 2 million people wanting tickets to go and see.

It was also Super Wednesday evening in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior Football League with Swinton Athletic at home to Dodworth Miners Welfare in the last game of the season in a winner take all match. This was however complicated because if the game was a draw then Wombwell Main FC would win the league as they were playing Ecclesfield Rose 1915 who had only won 2 games all season. The winners of the League would only have another ten leagues to win and all of the rounds in the Champions League to be where the two Milan giant sat.

I journeyed back to Swinton and there had been some changes, the barriers around the ground were mended, the new stand now had a floor and there appeared to be more advertising boards around the perimeter. Swinton are trying hard to up the standard of the Recreation Ground to meet future ground regulations should they be able to progress from this level. Unfortunately I had recently read that their initial planning application for floodlights had been turned down due to an objection by one of the local residents. The nearby social club was this time offering food but I had already eaten having been disappointed at this venue before. There was no charge to get in and there was a friendly atmosphere amongst the over 300 people who had been lured by this crunch match.

There were dark cloud overhead but the rain had cleared although the air still felt damp. The gloomy skies echoed the 14 degrees. The rain had contributed to the muddy goal mouths but overall the undulating long grass pitch looked well.

Swinton Athletic 4 Dodworth Miners Welfare 3

Wednesday 10th May 2023 Welfare Ground Swinton Kick off 18.00 but didn’t start until 18.14

Swinton; Black and white vertical striped shirts with black shorts. Dodworth; Red and black vertical striped shirts with red shorts.

The female referee got the game underway and was soon barking orders to make sure two competitive teams knew she was in charge.

There were no fancy coloured boots here but plenty of passion as Dodworth were the more enterprising team early on. Swinton’s number 7 and Dodworth’s number 11 looked the most dangerous and it was a through ball to Swinton’s danger man that led to the first goal. He received it on the right and his fast pace left some defender in his wake as he hit a low cross. the ball bobbled along the ground illuding defenders and the goalkeeper ending up in the back of the net. It looked all over in the first half as on 37 minutes when the home sides number four chested down the ball, took it to his right avoiding defenders and scored past the advancing goalkeeper. Dodworth did not give up and 3 minutes later from a free-kick on the left their number 6 rose at the far post to head towards goal. It was as if every one froze and time stood still as the ball finally went over the goal line to make it 2.1. Dodworth hit the cross bar with a minute to go to half time in this pulsating match. The news came through that Ecclesfield had surprisingly taken the lead so there was definitely all to play for as the teams regrouped at half time.

Swinton exerted sustained pressure to start the second half but a very strong penalty appeal at the other end could have resulted in an equaliser. The Swinton pressure produced results when with 24 minutes gone a Swinton player ran through to tap the ball to the right of the keeper to restore their 2 goal advantage.

Dodworth seemed to draw on untapped reserves and kept themselves in the game when a few minutes later there was mayhem in the goal mouth after a corner and a Dodworth player manged to get a clear shot at goal for their second. News came through that Wombwell were now leading and they must have thought it would be their title when on 35 minutes a reckless sliding tackle meant the referee awarded a penalty to Dodworth. A long injury treatment on the penalty spot and some over the top protests to the referee and a linesman did not put the penalty taker off as he made it 3.3.

What now for this exhilarating game, well within 2 minutes Swinton’s number 11 ran in from the right to latch on to a through ball and hit it across the goalkeeper into the net to regain the lead.

There were no more twists and the Swinton team were jubilant at the referees whistle.

What a finale to the season, a great game to watch. I can’t wait for the start of next season.

I decided that I would go and watch Derby Singh Brothers again over the weekend.

They were at home to Pinxton but were playing the match at Pinxton because they are looking for a new ground other than their previous home at the old Rolls Royce ground in Derby. I had previously watched them playing away at home in the League Cup at Melbourne earlier this season.

Pinxton’s ground is very near Junction 28 of the M1 and you can see the stream of vehicles pass in the distance. It nestles amongst a housing estate with little parking except outside the houses. It is a picturesque ground on the side of a hill overlooked by St Helens Church and graveyard and looking out over the house rooftops to countryside.

The layout is slightly unusual, the changing rooms are away from the pitch in the left hand corner, a food hut is in the right hand corner half the way up a high banking at one end of the ground. The pitch sloped from end to end with an undulating playing surface that was well covered in grass with no weeds to be seen.

There is a small covered seated area on part of one side and a small covered standing area near the café.

I have tried before to find out about the history of Derby Singh Brothers and have again failed. Pinxton only started in1994 playing local league football. By 2004 they made it to the Central Midlands League where they have stayed in different divisions ever since and in the different reorganisations of that competition.

Derby Singh Brothers 0 Pinxton 0

Monday 1st May 2023. 14.00 pm 6th v 5th

Central Midlands League Division South

Pinxton; Yellow shirts black sleeves, black shorts’ change strip as playing at home. Derby Singh Brothers ; Sky blue shirts and shorts white stripe down the arms.

I sat back in the stand for the first half in the sunshine and a 17 degree temperature watching the blue skies being crossed by blocks of white and grey clouds. The game being home away meant there was no program or team sheet which you would normally get at this venue.

What struck immediately was there was no end of season blues on show here as both sets of players showed that they were pleased to be there and wanted a win. The crowd of about 70 were entertained but neither side bothered the respective goalkeepers. Fans either played football behind the goal, drank a few cans by the refreshment hut or chatted about the season just gone or the proposed changes that might be made to the league next season. The first half closed with ‘DSB’ having played the best more pressing football but with Pinxton coming closest to end the deadlock.

At half time with it being the last game of the season some local children were on the pitch shooting into the goal living future exploits in the game. I went to get a KitKat but all food except chips were sold out which seemed reasonable as the Pinxton catering lady did not want to take stock into the summer recess.

For the second half I sat on the high earth banking behind one goal looking out over the countryside just enjoying the view, game and life. I counted the crowd which I estimated to have been about 70.

Still no goals but this half Pinxton gained the advantage playing down hill with a breeze behind them. Derby didn’t looked troubled until around 65 minutes when a player hooked it off the line when a clear goal seemed the outcome. The line official waved away the appeals and his good positioning meant that he had a good view of the ball. The battle continued and the nil nil score line showed two very well matched teams.

Lets hope that Derby Singh Brothers find a ground share for next season and in the long term a permanent home.

The chips were very tasty, medium hot but a bit soggy. If they would have been hot they would have been up there near the top of this years chip league, a score of 60.

I made my way to the edge of town to watch Wisbech Town play their last game of the season. There was good parking at the front of the ground and the turnstile opened up to a large open ground. At 12 degrees it was a long time since I hadn’t needed a scarf or gloves as the sun shone, only occasionally blotted out by some cotton wool clouds tinged with grey. The pitch sloped slightly from end to end and was thickly grassed with daisies and dandelions in bloom showing it had not been cut for a while. There was little wear on the very good surface.

The stadium has a small seated stand in the middle of one side and covered standing behind both goals with a few seats at one end. The other side has open standing but also hosts the club house and the changing rooms. The club house was large with a big bar and catering facilities that were busy and offered a large menu.

Behind one goal was a full sized training pitch and smaller goals for all ages. At one side of the ground was a large drainage ditch, needed in this low lying flat area of the country.

Wisbech were formed in 1920 with the merger of three local teams, they initially played in local Peterborough and Kings Lynn Leagues but soon embarked on a nomadic journey around leagues, United Counties League, East Midlands League, Eastern Counties League, Midland League for starters.

The club stepped up to the Southern League in 1958 but just over a decade later were back in they Eastern Counties League, promoted back to the Midland League in 1997 but 4 years later they were back in the Eastern Counties League and by 2013 back in the United Counties League. Their decline was partly due to financial problems and they had to sell their old ground , moving to their current home in 2010. 2018 saw an upward trend again with promotion to the Northern Premier League East, a lateral move to the Northern Premier League Midland Division due to a reshuffle of clubs led on to their last change a demotion in 2022 to The United Counties Premier Division North. A truly eventful history when it comes to playing in different leagues but in the FA vase competition they have done better reaching two semi-finals and more quarter finals.

Eastwood Community FC have only been in existence since 2014 when they took on the mantle of football in the town after Eastwood Town folded. Eastwood Town had reached as high as the Northern Premier League. They have risen through the Central Midland League and are now placed in the United Counties League. They look certain to be contenders in this league in the future.

Wisbech Town 3 Eastwood Town 2

Saturday 22nd April 2023 15.00 pm kick off

Fountains Park, 380 Lynn Rd, Wisbech PE14 7AL

United Counties League Premier Division North Fenmen v Red Badgers 12th v 16th

Wisbech, all red shirts and shorts: Eastwood, all fluorescent yellow shirts and shorts.

Eastwood made all the early pressure but a break down the wing by Amir Ward saw him beat the full back but his point blank range shot was well smothered by the goalkeeper only for it to rebound to him so that he could roll it into the net.

Amir Ward continually put pressure on the Eastwood defence and they deserved to go in at half time leading by the odd goal. They had been more penetrative and not shot shy on goal like the visitors. Like Eastwood I had a touch of end of season blues as I reflected on what seemed like a practice game.

All was to change when after only six minutes into the second half Tyler Blake for Eastwood burst through and hit a strong volley connecting with a ball from the left. It flew past the goalkeeper whose right hand touched it but didn’t keep it out.

After another 6 minutes Eastwood had created what had seemed like an improbable turn around as Ryan Tait took control of a bobbling ball in a congested goal area and dribbled forward to place the ball under the Wisbech goalkeeper for their second goal. Wisbech now tried to get back in the game but Eastwood’s defence was much tighter although it was now playing much of the game in their own half.

As I walked towards the exit for a quick get away a long range shot was parried down into the path of Mo Janneh who calmly stepped forward to score. The home fans were happy but went delirious a minute later when the ball ping ponging around the Eastwood goal area fell to the near post where Owen Howard was standing to nudge it in.

All over and a great second half for all, which if it had been earlier in the season would have felt like a major set back for the visitors. The 189 fans cheered the end loudly. It’s never over till its over and the 2022/23 season was over for these two teams.

The chips were a big portion, red hot, tasty, not greasy but could have been cooked a little longer, scoring 62.