Dropped off by my wife at Southwell City F.C.’s ground early I was drinking a coffee in their new immaculate club house when my phone went. It was my wife to say that when I left the car I had taken the keys with me and she was now parked outside Southwell Minster on double yellow lines and couldn’t restart the car. Initial panic turned into let’s get this sorted but a quick check on Google showed me she was 1.7 miles and 33 minutes by foot away.

Southwell had moved to their new out of town site in the Autumn of 2021, 18 months ago. A taxi would be the answer but after 4 calls and the only chance of collection was by a firm in Newark and they were 30 mins away my decision to start walking was vindicated. 25 minutes later, I reached her, not too much talk of my stupidity, as we quickly drove back to the ground to have only missed a minute. The loo unfortunately called me and coming out of the clubhouse I found that Sothwell had taken the lead. Time to relax and watch the football.

As I said earlier the Centenary Sports Ground is new and still being developed and it certainly looks the part with good car parking space, lovely club house incudingva large TV showing the West Ham v Chelsea game and hard standing for fans. Evidently a seated stand should be erected soon. It’s a shame that only 91 people had paid to see the game and see the home team take on the league leaders, Aylestone Park. Aylestone had only lost three games in the league and their free scoring antics had created a 99 goal difference.

The pitch has a slight slope from side to side and being so new the grass was wearing and the surface caused the ball to bobble. A few years cutting and the use of rollers will create a good surface.

Aylestone Park are a relatively new club being formed in 1980 as a Sunday League club and soon added Saturday football in local Leicestershire Leagues. Things took off from 2010 with a new ground and two years later promotion to the East Midlands County League. The recent national reorganisation has brought them to their current league where if the run in to the end of the season goes as well as results so far should see them move up a step to match their improved facilities.

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

Southwell City 3 Aylestone Park 4

Saturday 11th February 2023. 15.00 p.m. kick off

14th v 1st. Zebras v The Park

Southwell, black and white verticsl striped shirts, black shorts: Aylestone Park, red shirts and red shorts.

I missed the first goal in just 3 minutes scored by George Cudwell to put Southwell ahead. This jolted Aylestone into action and they exerted maximum pressure for an equaliser especially down the left through Aaron Nuttall. Within 10 minutes Nuttall was brought down for a penalty which Tendai Daire took. The goalkeeper dived to his left and kept the ball out but Daire’s momentum kept him running on to blast it home for 1.1.

Within ten minutes Nuttal had scored when the ball had fallen to him after some heavy pressure in the goal mouth 1.2.

Aylestone’s quick skillful forwards kept pressing but it was the home team who hit back on 33 minutes when a long throw caused panic in the visitors defense and lead to a corner that was taken by Oliver McCourt . The corner sailed over everyone straight into the net to put both sides level 2.2. The all out attacking football continued to half time and it looked like any one could win it in the second half.

Aylestone looked sharper immediately after the restart and within 3 minutes they were ahead when Tendai Daire rose above everyone to place a strong header into the net from a corner 2.3. The away side made it four on 66 minutes when Mathew Laugham scored by heading over the advancing goalkeeper into the net after a beautiful cross from the right 2.4.

Aaron Nuttall continued his harassment down the left and drew a yellow card for Edward Munton who had replaced his previous marker.

This superiority was not capitalised on when at the other end a balll in from right caused indecision by the away defense and the Zebras forward, Morgan Shevlin ghosted in to place the ball along groud between many legs for 3.4.

It was now end to end and Aaron Nuttall, referred to as ‘nutter’ by away fans drew another foul from Edward Munton and a red card.

Aylestone held out and despite the difference in league placings there was little between the sides. What a great game and a further example to me that the United Counties Leagues are getting stronger and stronger.

Alas no chips but a coffee instead having forgone the four varieties of pies on offer due to yet another weight loss program.

I saw that there was a hurriedly rearranged fixture between Kimberley Miners Welfare and Anstey Nomads who are bearing down on league leaders Loughborough Students with a hat full of games in hand. So I journeyed south with the anticipation of a good competitive game. Even the program was online because Kimberley didn’t have time to get it printed. Luckily the game was on despite the early morning frost but there was still a chill in the air on a clear night.

Kimberley’s ground is very close to the town centre and is just off the main street surrounded by housing. I found my way to the entrance past the Stag Inn, the sponsors of Kimberley, down two alleys whilst all along being able to see the brightly light stadium.

The facilities are ample for this level but look like they could do with some updating should they progress. There is a club house, changing room and an outside bar, not open for the evening, along with some low level covered seating one side and a covered standing area behind one goal with signs on the floor saying don’t stand in this area. The pitch slopes slightly from end to end and side to side in the far corner and the grass covering is beginning to show the effects of the playing season.

Kimberley Miners Welfare have been in existence for nearly 100 years having been formed in 1926 by the Miners Welfare. They played in different leagues around Nottinghamshire until 2014 when they joined the East Midlands Counties League. The league was disbanded 7 years later and they were placed in the United Counties League Division One, due to the Non-League reorganisation, which they won at their first attempt. They now play at the highest level of football they have ever achieved.

Anstey Nomads were started 20 years after Kimberley, being born out of a Methodist Church team and adopted their current name just after. They have mainly played in local Leicestershire Leagues moving up to the East Midlands Counties League in 2008 and the United Counties League in 2018 where they gained promotion to the Premier Division that was split into North and South in 2021. They too have reached their highest league level so far.

Kimberley Miners Welfare 1 Anstey Nomads 1

Tuesday 7th February 2023, 19.45.p.m kick off. United Counties Premier League, Division North.

The Stag Ground, Kimberley, Nottinghamshire, Miners v Nomads 8th v 2nd

Kimberley, red and black vertical striped shirt front, all red at back with white shorts: Anstey, all navy blue shirts and shorts.

With the flood lights glowing in the clear sky it was difficult to make out the referee from the away team but those on the pitch seemed to have no problem as he controlled this pulsating game from the off.

Anstey stamped a superiority on the first 25 minutes though they were repulsed by a committed home defense with their number 3 being heavily involved in vital tackles and blocks. This pattern of play continued, with some very fast breaks by the home side, until the 34th minute when an Anstey free kick from the left corner of the penalty area by Corey Armeni was whipped in. The Kimberley goal keeper looked to be about to pluck it from the air when the ball appeared to be deflected passed him, the stunned look on his face said it all. The to and fro football went on until half time when I retired to the club house for another coffee and to calm down.

Anstey Nomads returned to their dominance in the second half but some well placed balls to the wings meant the fast Kimberley forwards exerted continuing pressure but their lack of a clinical last touch near goal restricted their chances. The continued pace, particularly from Kimberley’s number 7 now caused the Nomads more and more problems and this resulted in more fouls.

When a Kimberley player burst into the box on 80 minutes he was up ended before his shot was put away. You could feel the tension as James Shaw coolly waited and struck his penalty to the left of the goal keeper to make it all square.

Although there was much endeavour the game ran out a draw on what turned out to be a pulsating game that deserved to be a level in the end. The players must have been exhausted after total commitment by both sides and a pace that left me breathless if not them. What an enjoyable game that was watched by only 108 spectators, for those who stayed away they missed a great game.

Unfortunately no chips at Kimberley, I was jealous when two girls left half way through the first half to nip to the local chip shop and then came back and ate them near me. The smell was torture.

A local trip to Kiveton was rewarded by a well contested game with lots of skill at this bottom of the table encounter. I also went to give a previous winner of my chip league a chance to regain their title.

The Kiveton Miners Welfare Club are very new only having taken over the reigns of Renishaw F.C. in the last few years. They are developing a community club that has already added youth teams to their set up.

Phoenix AFC on the other hand started life 100 years ago in the Sheffield and District Works League as Steel, Peech and Tozer. They adopted the Phoenix name in 1971 then playing in the Hallamshire County Senior League. They merged with fellow league members Ash House in 1995 to become Ash House Phoenix which ,lasted only two years before they disbanded and resumed as Phoenix. This lasted until 2007 when difficulties meant another reorganisation and a move to the Central Midlands League where they sit today.

Kiveton Miners Welfare FC 3 AFC Phoenix 1

It was a grey day with a gentle breeze that brought just over 30 people to the park on an afternoon dominated by rugby on the television. The end to end sloping pitch looked really well with the grass just lightly cut and rollered to give a pleasing striped effect.

Central Midlands League Premier Division North. Saturday 4th February, 14.00 pm kick off

13th v 15th (Last Place in the division)

Kiveton, red shirts and black shorts: Phoenix, yellow shirts and green shorts.

Kiveton kicked downhill in the first half and unlike the train that sauntered past on its way from Sheffield to Worksop they were soon in their stride.
On 9 minutes they were ahead when a through ball was met by 7 who steadied himself and as defenders caught him up he moved the ball to his left foot and curled it into top left of net.

Some continuous attacks down the right were rewarded on 33 mins when the right back burst forward passed the ball on and the team mate took it to the byline and dragged it right across goal line to be tapped in at far post for 2 nil.

The home side were unlucky not to go farther ahead after 37 minutes when they hit the right hand post with a header from a corner. For all of Kiveton’s superiority four minutes later a Phoenix corner from the right was cleared to another Phoenix player who shot and after some pinball in the goal mouth was finally hit home by Chris Hopkins into roof of the net for 2.1
A good half of football that was really enjoyable for this level.

After 10 minutes of the second half a Phoenix player was sin binned for I believe inappropriate language which led to them coming under severe pressure and it was a surprise to all that the officials did not react to penalty appeals for Kiveton when on 17 minutes their centre forward was bundled down in the penalty area. Phoenix though settled themselves and started to have the best of play but they could not find an equaliser and Kiveton put the game to bed on 37 minutes when a ball was clipped over the Phoenix goalkeeper for a home player to nod it in for their third.

Phoenix finished the game on top and with minutes to go the Kiveton manager was red carded.

A really enjoyable game and there must be some good teams above this bottom of the table struggle as there was plenty of talent on show.

Finally the chips, these were cooked to order, McCains, were red hot, tasty, no greasy after taste and soft in the middle and presented superbly in a paper container. Unfortunately they were not as good as last weeks Bradford chips but scored a brilliant 81.

A last minute decision found me in Eastern Nottingham in the Radford district to see a United Counties Division One game between Radford and Barrow Town

Google maps led me down a cul de sac to announce I had arrived. I could see the lights but no entrance to the ground only three rough sleepers preparing for their night. After driving completely around the ground which is hidden behind shops and houses I abandoned the car and decided to find it on foot. Eventually I could see a small entrance and turnstile that opened up to the pitch.

Radford F.C. weren’t formed until 1964 as Manlove and Allotts. F.C. as a Sunday team, but when the company went to Scotland in 1970 they changed their name to Radford Olympic F.C. They changed to playing on Saturdays in the late 1970’s along with finding their current ground. The name Radford F.C. was adopted in 1984 then competing in the Central Midlands League. A step up to the East Midlands Counties League in 2009 has been followed in 2021 by being moved to their current league due to the F.A. re organisation. They have made great strides in developing the stadium with a club house at the entrance, a covered seating area at one end of the pitch, a tea bar and two covered standing areas on one side. Some high netting is required to try to stop the many balls that go out of the ground during a match. The playing surface is relatively flat but the grass is wearing badly in some areas I’m sure due to the poor weather conditions of the last year.

Barrow Town F C are based in Barrow upon Soar a small town south east of Loughborough in Liecestershire. There has been a team playing there since the 19th century when they played under the name of Barrow Rising Stars based in a local pub. They competed in local leagues and morphed into The Old boys and eventually Barrow Town around 1969 when they also moved to their Riverside ground.

Their next move was to become founder members of the East Midlands Counties League in 2008 and when that league was disbanded in the non-league re organisation of 2021 they were placed in the United Counties League Division 1.

Radford F.C. 0 Barrow Town F.C. 1

Tuesday 31st January 2023. 19.45. pm kick off.

United Counties League Division One

Oakfield Arena, Speldhurst Street, Radford, Nottingham.

Radford, claret shirts and light blue shorts: Barrow, yellow shirts and blue shorts.

6th v 18th. The Pheasants v The Riversiders

Radford started the game by being quicker and mobile in defense which enabled them to push forward at any opportunity. They missed their best chance of the first half when the away keeper parried out a free kick that had been swung in from the right and the attacking number 15 missed a great heading chance. Barrow stayed very strong to see out the half.

Radford resumed their stronger activity level but with 6 minutes gone into the second half Barrow’s number eight headed on the ball for Tom Mangan to loop head it over the stranded goalkeeper to take the lead.

The home side thought they had drawn level with 18 minutes gone but the goal was ruled offside. Two large shouts for handball in the penalty area were turned down to the groans of the fans.

The crowd of 60 became more and more vocal towards Barrow’s time wasting and their frustration at not being able to break down their dogged defence.

Barrow saw out the onslaught and went away with a hard earned 3 points.

An enjoyable game that I felt all the players left a lot of sweat and endeavour out on the pitch.

The chips were hot, all sizes, with some black bits on the top. They were squidgy in the middle and had a greasy taste as I ate more which also had a burnt fat after taste. Such a disappointment after those at Bradford on Saturday, score 56.

After missing a game at Carlisle City the week before, due to frost, I traveled to Bradford not to see City whose Valley Parade ground dominates the Skyline but to see Bradford Park Avenue. Unfortunately they no longer play at their historic Avenue ground, now a sports centre, still home to the cricket club and was until 1996 a venue for some Yorkshire Cricket Club games. Still I had wanted to visit this club for a long time and here I was.

For those with a long memory you have to go back to the 1969/70 season to remember them playing in the football league. It was in 1970 that they were voted out to allow Cambrdge United to take their place.

Bradford P.A. now play at Horsfall Community Sports Ground to the South of the city where they move to in 1994. They share the Bradford Council owned ground with an athletics track and West Bowling ARLFC with whom tthey will jointly experiment in a few weeks when Bowling will kick-off in a Challenge Cup match in the morning to be followed by a Bradford P A game in the afternoon. One interesting fact about the ground is that the seats in the main stand once watched cricket at Lords.

Bradford started life as a rugby league club in 1863 and were very successful in being finalists in the Challenge Cup twice, one of which they won in 1906 and were winners of the league in 1904. However all changed when a vote in 1907 was narrowly won by those wishing to change to association football in a move that was known as “The Great Betrayal”. They had started playing football in 1885 as part of the rugby club but were disbanded after a few years.

When they were reformed they first played in the Southern League but were elected to the Football League in 1909 and during their over 60 year stay their highest ranking was 9th in the top tier of English football and reached as far as the quarter finals of the F.A. Cup. Their voting out of the football League was the start of a downhill slope that eventually led to them stopping playing in 1974. The supporters would not give in and restarted the club playing in Sunday football where they gained promotions in the local leagues and in 1988 Saturday football was resumed. The Sunday club eventually stopped as everyone through themselves into the Saturday side which went through a nomadic period of ground shares and League changes as they clawed themselves back up the football pyramid. They have been in the National League North since 2012 where they sit today. perhaps in a few years and two more promotions it will bring them back to the football League.

Chorley like Bradford started life as a Rugby club switching in 1883 and played at the highest level of Lancashire football with many ups and downs. They were founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968 but yoyo’d between leagues having one short two season spell in the Football Conference. In 2014 they were again promoted upwards to the Conference North later to be named the National League North and made it to the National League by the playoffs in 2019. People in the Non-League family will agree that they were harshly relegated in 2021 back to the National League North during the Covid curtailed season.

Bradford Park Avenue 0 Chorley 0

January 28th 2023 15.00pm kick off at the Horsfall Community Stadium

National League North

Bradford, peppermint shirts with white shorts: Chorley Black and White vertical striped shirts with black shorts.

There was easy parking at the ground where the car said it was 6.5 degrees and this temperature matched the grey overcast sky which just hung due to no wind. The football pitch is within a synthetic running track and is very flat being a modern 3 G surface. I am not a lover of this type of set up and like Newcastle Towns pitch I visited last year it gives me a feeling of disconnect. The 491 who turned up, Bradford City season ticket holders were allowed in for half price, did make some atmosphere from the back of a large seated stand which hold 1500 and runs for the full length of the pitch on one side. All other parts of the ground are open apart from a small covered standing area behind one goal. There is an old, what looks like a cricket pavilion, in the middle of the open side where the teams change and in one corner a group of facilities for the fans. There is a hospitality suite, warm friendly club house, club shop, the green army cafe and a program shop with old books and programs, all of which were being well used.

The football was unfortunately not inspiring with Chorley taking control of the first 20 minutes attacking on both flanks with Bradford getting back into the game with their own forays down the wings. Chorley could have gone in at halftime one ahead as on 44 minutes they hit the corner of the crossbar and upright with the home defense well beaten.

Chorley again came close when within 5 minutes of the restart they headed just over from a corner. Chorley maintained the pressure but in the last 15 minutes the home side came to life and put the visitors under constant pressure. Bradford’s manager was booked for comments about the referee’s decisions after he felt they should have been awarded two penalties in the space of a few minute. Chorley hung on for a point each which helped neither side with Chorley vying for a play-off place and Bradford trying not to get dragged into a relegation scrap.

My player of the match was the home sides goalkeeper, not for spectacular save but competent catching of many high crosses and his marshaling of his defense. He just seemed calm all afternoon.

Well onto the chips and they made the journey all worthwhile, cut from real potatoes, hot, tasty a good consistency and a good portion. They were very slightly greasy but who cared they had just scored 83 to go top of my seasons chip league. The chips still had skins on and they were delicious, something that the judges on ‘Master Cheff’ get sniffy about. The football was dull but the afternoon was one to savour.

Continuing my journey to some ex mining football clubs I ventured to Harworth Colliery F.C. in the northern corner of Nottinghamshire very close to the South Yorkshire border.

I recently attended a talk at Worksop Library about the history of Harworth Colliery and its interesting history by David Amos a Nottinghamshire mining historian. The pit had an chequered past having been developed by a German company in 1913 and at the outbreak of war caused a lot of local intrigue. Some locals were convinced that the owners were going to install surveillance and disruption on the A1 which is very close. The German sinkers were interned and the pit was nationalised during the war and sold to Eastwood based Barber Walker Co after it. They ran it until nationalisation and was latterly developed as a super pit which never lived up to its promise, being closed in 2006 when under the ownership of UK Coal. The football club was started in 1931 playing locally but rising to the prestigious Yorkshire League in 1946 where they stayed for 4 years before droping back into local South Yorkshire Football.

By the 1980’s they had progressed well to the Northern Counties East League but were relegated after a short while droping back to the Central Midlands League but were again promoted back into the NCEL in 2018 after 32 years. This uplift was only to last one year and they have stayed in the Central Midlands League since being proud to develop young talent in the Under 21’s, reserves and senior team.

What is noticeable is the development of the ground over recent years, situated off Scrooby Road along with other sports pitches and not far from the modern Bircotes Leisure Centre, the large tarmacked parking area is exceptional.

The land around here is very flat and on entering the ground this is continued with a lovely thick grass covered pitch. There are new LED floodlights, Toms tea rooms, a Shaft Side bar with outside fan zone, a small 50 seat covered stand on one side of the pitch mirrored by a similar standing area opposite. I’m sure the facilities go a long way in attracting the 118 hardy souls who were there to watch. You had to be hardy as the car temperature said 6 degrees but the biting strong wind blowing straight down the pitch cut you in quarters not half. This was despite the sunshine and clear blue skies.

I have written about Staveley Miners Welfare before having visited the ground more than once. They have been going for over 100 years.

Harworth Colliery FC 2 Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves 2

Saturday 14th January 2023. Kick off 15.00 pm

Central Midlands League North Division

5th v 7th, Colliery v Miners

Harworth Colliery orange shirts, black. shorts: Staveley blue and white vertical stripes shirts with blue square on the back, blue shirts.

Immediately it was noticeable that it was two young teams and both displayed some good skills in a well matched first 10 minutes despite the windy conditions. It was however the home side who scored first when with 13 minutes gone a Staveley defender turned in his penalty area and lost the ball to Bailey Lowe who made no mistake in finding the net.

Staveley did not lose heart and they drew level on 22 minutes when a ball was chiped over the top of the defence for Charlie Bingham to run on and score placing the ball across the goal keeper.

The pitch was drying with the wind and 1.1 at half time was a fair reflection of play.

8 minutes into the second half the Staveley substitute for the centre back, who had been injured through a tackle in the first half that had resulted in a booking, brought down a Harworth player, Mason Laws, in their penalty area. It seemed to me a soft penalty but it was dispatched easily by Bailey Lowe , sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.

Harworth were now on top but the visitors equalised on 65 minutes when the Harworth defence momentarily stopped appealing for a free kick. Staveley kept going and the ball was put through to Reece Clegg who fired it into the top of the net.

Staveley took the initiative for the rest of the game partly helped by a 10 minute sin binning of Harworth’s number 10 who appeared to argue with a linesman and the fact that he had been booked in the first half for kicking the ball away. Despite his return to play and some substitutes Harworth were on the back foot and the woodwork saved them in the last few minutes.

The end to end game had helped to fight off the biting wind along with the facilities that gave some shelter and the opportunity for warming food and drink. With players as young as 16 you have to say that there is luckily some great future talent coming along.

The chips were cooked for me and they were hot, crispy, tasty with no oily after taste. A good score of 68 would have been higher but sor a soggy inside.

Having missed Kimberley Miners Welfare for my first match of the New Year due to a waterlogged pitch I planned to meet my daughter to see Derby Singh Brothers at home in the semi final of the Derbyshire Cup against Melbournre Dynamo. A day before the game was switched to Melbourne and the drive there was through driving rain until 20 minutes before the end. Even driving over the river Trent made me feel apprehensive as the level was near the top of the banks. Walking towards the distant pitch you had to dodge the sodden grass but when we reached it the surface was drained and looked ideal for football. Infact the sky had cleared to a bright blue and with a little wind it was the ideal day. The pitch with a very slight slope from end to end was covered with thick undulating grass and to add to it there was a great view over some of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, the Trent valley as well as planes from East Midlands Airport taking off over you.

This is the Melbourne Sports Complex which is home to Melbourne Town Cricket Club, Melbourne Tennis Club, Melbourne Rugby FC and Melbourne Dynamo FC with a central modern two storey changing rooms and bar area that is open 7 days a week. A brilliant community venue.

While the rugby players chanted motivational chants Derby Singh Brothers kicked off against Melbourne Dynamo FC in the DerbyshireFA Divisional Cup South 2022/23 Semi-Final.

I had noticed Derby Singh brothers last year as they were promoted to the Cebtral Midlands League 1 South but missed a visit for some reason.

Derby Singh Brothers FC 2 Melbourne Dynamo FC 2

Derby Singh Brothers go through to the final 3.2 on penalties.

Saturday 7th January 13.30 pm kick off.

Derbyshire Divisional Cup South – Semi Final played at the Melbourne Sports Complex

Derby Sing Brothers from mid table of the Central Midlands League South Division v Melbourne Dynamo from second of the Central Midlands League Division One (West)

Derby Singh Brothers, Dark Blue shirts and shorts with white collars, Melbourne Dynamo, Blue and Black vertical shirts with black shorts.

Derby Sing Brothers started the game the strongest but it was Melbourne who took the lead when Jack Goodband received the ball on the right of the penalty area, moved forward, drew the goalkeeper and lifted the ball into the net.

It fell to Derby Sing Brothers’ number 9, Darnell Smith, to equalise on 17 minutes when he took the ball wide and slipped the ball between the goalkeeper and his left post. But it was Melbourne who went in at half time in the lead when on 37 minutes Carl Allsop rose above the rest from a free kick to head goal wards. The Singh Brothers keeper seemed to have it covered but the ball slipped out of his hands into the net. Melbourne had taken their chances whereas Derby had created more but not made the best of them.

Melbourne held out under pressure for 22 minutes in the second half until Derby Singh Brothers number 7 played a beautiful cross along the ground which was met by Tyla Johal who squeezed between two defenders to score. having equalised they now put on more pressure and stout defending, great goalkeeping and the woodwork kept them out.

With a draw at the final whistle the dreaded penalties took place and when both teams missed their first attempts it looked like a long shoot out. Derby however took the lead on the next round and two great saves by the Derby goalkeeper, making up for his earlier mistake, saw them through eventually 3.2.

This was a great game for the level of football, good facilities and great footballing weather. Melbourne although they lost could be proud of getting the game on considering the recent weather and that they had held a team a division higher than themselves. derby Singh Brothers showed some good skills at time s but must know that their poor finishing nearly cost them the game. 60 plus fans were on hand to see an exciting game that seemed over in a flash. It turned out to be a great start to the season and one worth waiting for.

With very little football scheduled in England for Christmas Eve the Central Midlands League, 10 promotions from the Premier League, gave their clubs the choice of playing or not. Dinnington Town and Retford United agreed to play and were well rewarded with a crowd of 269, much, much higher than normal. There was the fact that Dinnington had won five in a row and were third, at home to Retford United, who were top and so far undefeated in the league although they only just maintained that record last time out when they equalised in the 90th minute against Haworth Colliery.

The large mainly male crowd may also have been helped by getting a pass out with the children to be out of the way. It may have been because after the torrential rain that swept across the UK the day before, Christmas Eve was a beautiful sunny day, with clear blue skies but with a chill wind. There also seemed to be a good many groundhoppers taking advantage of visiting Dinnington where the midday kick off didn’t disrupt the day too much.

I decided to go to see if Retford could maintain their record against in form opposition and because the ground had been majorly updated since I was last there. A new 3G pitch has been installed with new floodlights and tarmacadam hard standing on three sides. Gone are the covered areas but I’m sure that is a future priority not only for the fans but to achieve ground grading criteria. What has been achieved is outstanding and gives the club a firm financial base to progress.

They have also updated the facilities by the fact that you now enter the playing area via the resource centre which provides food an drink before, during and after the game. This was not available before and is a great idea to bring together two community assets. There is also unusually a Post Office in the building. The bowls club is also next door.

The new pitch does appear to slope slightly from end to end and is covered with multi coloured lines marking out various smaller pitches for juniors.

Dinnington Town 1 Retford United 3

December 24th 2022, kick off 12.00 (Midday). Central Midlands League North Division

Dinnington Yellow shirts with black edging and fading with black shorts. Retford United Grey shirts with darker grey vertical stripes and grey shorts.

Dinno v The Badgers

The game was very competitive as expected but it was Retford who created the best chances. They had a disallowed goal on 20 minutes and hit the cross bar 7 minutes later when the rebounding ball was just scrambled away only to be hit back in but only into the side netting. Dinnington had their own period of pressure and were denied by a point blank save by the goal keeper on 32 minutes.

Retford though went ahead on 41 minutes when a cross in from the left was met by the number nine Joe Froggat who tapped in. This seemed to coincide with the sun disappearing behind some cloud which certainly increased the chill factor. It was soon colder for the home side when in the last minute of the half a Retford player was fouled in the penalty area and Mark West took charge and dispatched the ball into the net for Retford to lead 2 Nil at half time.

As the teams walked off the pitch the Dinnington Manager walked over to argue with the ref and was shown a yellow card, unfortunately this added to one he had collected earlier for the same offence and he was red carded and sent off.

Dinnington came out in the second half with renewed vigour and deservedly pegged a goal back after ten minutes of the restart when Brad Sedgwick collected the ball near the penalty spot and struck it straight into the top right hand corner of the goal. They continued their pressure and for a while Retford looked a little rattled.

With 21 minutes left Retford’s impressive Mark West was put through on goal and running on to the ball he clipped it across the home keeper, Best, into the top right hand corner. This goal steadied Retford and they kept control of the game until full time.

Retford went home with their unbeaten league run intact but Dinnington played well and showcased their great new facilities that will surely improve the game of football for the community in the future.

The officials should also be commended keeping very tight control of the game and the referee was quick to explain any of his decisions on the pitch. All in all a happy start to Christmas.

Tuesday 20th December 2022, Technique Stadium Chesterfield, FA Trophy Kick off 19.45pm

Having been to see Chesterfield FC bow out of the Derbyshire Senior Cup the night before I thought I would give myself an early Christmas present and watch two games in two days.

I don’t know why turning up for an evening game is so magical, but it is.

Chesterfield’s FA Trophy match against Coalville Town FC had been postponed on Saturday due to the hard ground and to ensure that fixture congestion would not build up it was quickly rescheduled for Tuesday night. The draw had already been made for the next round and each team knew that a win would bring them an away tie with the winners of Banbury v Bognor Regis which was being played on the same night.

The evening was so different from the night before in that there were now clear skies and the temperature had dropped by 7 degrees.

This stadium, one of the newly relocated grounds of the past 10 years, is one of the best, which was amplified by the fact that England under 19’s have played here in the last 12 months. Those who will remember Saltergate will have loved its homely charm, but it’s cramped near town centre location could not survive and the housing that has replaced it gives no indication of football’s cultural loss. The Spireites have not had a good time in the new stadium having dropped down to the National League but the club is now more focused locally and on a much steadier foundation.

Coalville Town play in the Southern League Premier Division Central which is two levels below Chesterfield. They have been a successful Non League Club for some years since originally establishing in 1926 and have been known as Ravenstone Miners Athletic, Ravenstone Swifts and Coalville Town from 1998 when they moved into the Town after having local difficulties in being able to install floodlights.

When I looked at the program and heard the teams over the sound system I had that eerie feeling that I’d seen this before, in fact at Staveley the night before. Chesterfield were not playing their first team but their second stream squad which when I compared it to who had featured in their league games this season there was little comparison. There was a place for Lawrence McGuire, brother of the England centre back who I had seen previously play for Illkeston Town.

Chesterfield FC 1 Coalville 3

Isuzu FA Trophy Third Round Proper

Chesterfield, Light Blue Shirts , White Shorts: Coalville Town, White and back vertical stripes to front of the shirts, plain white back with black shorts.

This seemed familiar as Chesterfield stroked the ball across the back finding no outlets for a final pass while Coalville buzzed around as if their life’s depended on it. Coalville also played quick tempo direct running and passing that unnerved the Chesterfield defense. All the same as Belper the previous night.

It was no surprise that Coalville took the lead on 10 minutes when their number 2, Alex Dean, took the ball past defenders and crossed it beating the goalkeeper for Ashley Chambers just to tap in. This brought some response from Chesterfield who seemed stung by the visitors and they drew level 8 minutes later when a curling free kick from the left was met by George Wilkinson at the far post.

The night was getting colder and I thought that Chesterfield would now show their dominance and take control of the game. They did however fall back into their previous lethargic pattern and Coalville renewed their lead on 22 minutes when a poor clearance by the home defense meant the ball fell to Tom McGlinchey who curled the ball across the keeper into the far corner of the net. Again the goal sparked a Home response but Coalville looked well prepared and organised and little came of some shots from long range.

Coalville were worth their 2.1 lead at half time and within 5 minutes of the restart were 3.1 up when Ash Chambers again scored with a deflection after some good interplay with McGlinchy after Banks sloppily gave the ball away.

Chesterfield and Coalville made changes but there was little change to the pattern of play and the outcome. Many of the Chesterfield fans had drifted away before the final whistle but the away fans stayed to celebrate. Coalville are off to Banbury in the next round but Chesterfield’s two matches highlighted that they have little in depth beyond the first team. Hopefully at the end of the season they will be in with a shout of promotion otherwise these two games will be seen as a waste.

There were 2107 fans there with 287 from Coalville but listening to the reaction in the main stand when they scored I think there were a few more away fans than identified.