Dinnington trying very hard to gain a step up to a higher league.

I returned to watch Dinnington Town, which was on my list to revisit for a while. I wanted to see how the club and ground was progressing in its steps towards promotion to either the Northern Counties East League or the United Counties League.

The ground is part of a Community project and to get to the ground you have to go through the Dinnington Resource Centre which also houses the library, a cafe and the neighbourhood hub. It did house a post office counter at one time but this has moved to a new banking hub. It is also home to the local Bowls team.

The ground is a 4 G pitch with great hard standing, floodlights and a good covered seated stand. There is also some new wooden framework behind both goals that looks as if it will be clad to give covered standing. Dinnington’s program is also first class and puts many teams in higher leagues to shame. The push to go up a League is also on the pitch and Dinnington sit top of the league, but with, Kinsley Boys, Brodsworth Main and Harworth Colliery breathing down their necks. dinington’s away game at Harworth looks a 6 pointer for either side. Glapwell in the meantime are fighting a relegation battle.

I have written about the history of both of these teams before so I will not repeat myself now.

It was six degrees as both teams made it onto the pitch but after a beautiful clear sunny morning it was changing fast as black clouds drifted over from the South.

Dinnington Town 4 Glapwell 0

Saturday 31st January 2026, 15.00 kick off, under floodlights.

Central Midlands League, Premier Division North.

Dinnington Town, 131 Laughton Road, Dinnington, Sheffield, S25 2PP

Dinnington Towns nickname is the Yellows but the fans chant ‘Dino, Glapwell appear not to have a nickname but are sometimes referred to as ‘The Hall Corner Outfit’.

1st v 15th, Attendance 92

Dinnington; Yellow shirts with some black on the bottom with black shorts, goalkeeper had an orange top and black shorts.

Glapwell; Blue shirts, black shorts, goalkeeper in all orange.

It took Dinnington only 3 minutes to get in front when their number 10 was put clean through and despite a challenge from an away defender was able to fire the ball past the goalkeeper into the right hand corner of the net. Glapwell playing with many youngsters held out for another 29 minutes, and occasionally looked menacing, when from a corner from the left the ball as headed on for their striker to tap in. The game continued with Dinnington on top with the young Glapwell team keeping it competitive.

Glapwell continued their stubborn defence but just after their left back had been substituted for a midfielder, Dinnington made it 3, on 72 minutes, when Glapwells’ goalkeeper had to go out to an unopposed right winger who played it along the ground for it to be clipped into the net.

The rain finally came along with Dinnington’s fourth again from the right, a hard cross was met by a strong volley to bulge the net. There were no more goal, Dinnington happy with the three points to keep up their title push and Glapwell could not have been unhappy considering the youthfulness of their side.

There were chips in the cafe at half time and these were welcomed to help keep warm. The chips were warm, not greasy, tasty but soggy, a score of 60.

It’s cold in Staveley for the fans and Coalville.

With the freezing weather most local games were postponed. I drove very locally to Staveley Miners Welfare to see an intriguing United Counties Division One game between Staveley Miners Welfare, 7th and Coalville, 4th. The artificial playing surface meant this one was definitely on.

This is a very well run club with top class facilities for this level of football, and even arriving an hour early the main car park was full. Luckilly they have added a tarmacked overflow area. Cash only at the gate was a surprise with many clubs now going cashless. This had also caught a supporter out who followed me in who had no cash. He was obviously a fan, with his dog wearing a blue and white striped jacket. He was allowed in to pay at the bar where there was a minimum £5 purchase level for card purchases.

Even so early, the bar/clubhouse was packed with people drinking, eating, keeping warm and watching the early Premiership game on the TV’s with Villa 3.1 up on Forest.

It was certainly cold with the temperature hovering just above freezing as the wind made the wind chill even colder.

This stadium is spotless with plenty of covered seating and standing, even a fully contained area for the disabled and elderly. It was however the warm clubhouse that everyone wanted to be in.

When the game started the fans were still spilling out of the warmth and it was only then that you could see how many people had been huddling there. From one side of the ground where the seated stand is it was hard to focus, with the bright sun, on the cold clear day, slowly disappearing below the horizon.

Staveley Miners Welfare FC 2 Coalville Town FC 0

Saturday 3rd January 2026. United Counties League Division One. 15.00 pm kickoff.

Attendance 523. 7th v 4th, Trojans v Ravens

Staveley; Blue and white vertical striped shirts to the front with an all blue back. Blue shorts. Goalkeeper in all light green.
Coalville; Grey and white vertical stripes to the front of the shirt with white backs and black shorts. The goalkeeper in all light yellow.

Coalville looked very lively down both wings, and Staveley were competing hard and launching long throws into the away team’s penalty area. From one of these on 20 minutes the ball was thrown in from the right and headed down for Will Wraith to run on to and ram it into the net.

The sun finally dropped below the horizon and with a third of the game gone the floodlights were turned on. Staveley were on top but when Coalville’s Semachimbo burst into the penalty area 5 minutes before halftime, he was bundled over and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Ronnie Morley stepped up to take the penalty which hit the underside of the cross bar and rebounded out. Staveley were happy to go in for the break ahead.

The second half started with the Ravens applying more pressure, and were certainly on top. However a reckless tackle right in front of the two dugouts by Ryan Singh Sabota with 62 minutes gone initiated a few pushes and shoves, and when they calmed down the referee showed him a red card.

The game now changed and was really open with the away team trying to draw level, but with their one man disadvantage they were being stretched in midfield and at the back. With less than 10 minutes to go a fast through ball fell to Joel Ward, who steadied it and ran on to slide it under the goalkeeper, diving to his right.

Coalville did not look like coming back from that and the game made its way to a fine Staveley victory. The players and the fans were pleased to hear the final whistle. Staveley elated, Coalville dejected and the fans happy to get out of the cold.

On such a cold day, luckily the chips were hot, tasty, not greasy, golden, crispy on the outside but a bit squidgy on the inside. A good score of 72. I did think that the warm clubhouse on such a cold day did have some effect on this score.

Hallam Rarely Disappoints.

I journeyed into Sheffield and avoided the Christmas shoppers and Sheffield United fans, at home to Birmingham, to meet my daughter to visit Hallam.

She completed the ’92’, seeing a match at all Football League grounds in 2022 and has been on a few European ones as well. But she had never been to the FIFA recognised oldest football ground, Hallam FC.

This is a ground visited by people from all over the world and even on this grey day you recognise the history as you approach it. You first see the cricket pitch adjacent to the Football and the reason for Hallam FC’s existence, like many of the other first football clubs.

As well as visiting for the football, and my daughters experience, I was collecting my membership of the ‘1860 Members Club’ which I had joined earlier in the season. The £12 for a years membership helps to maintain this historic ground and club. https://hallamfc.co.uk/product/club-membership-2025-26/

We bought our food from the outside kiosk and then took it inside to the warm and comfortable clubhouse. Unfortunately there was no programme to study or a team sheet to view.

Hallam we’re playing North Ferriby FC who were only formed in 2019 after a previous club, North Ferriby United were wound up .

North Ferriby FC have come a long way in a short time and the game was quite poignant in that they last played against each other just before ‘[Covid Lockdown’ scrubbed out all Football. Both teams were then in the Northern Counties East League Division One and both gained promotion to the NCE League, Premier Division and then to the Northern Premier League East, where they both play today.

The Grey skies over hung the pitch that was also shrouded with some mist despite a cold breeze that made the temperature of 7 degrees feel colder. The pitch has a big slope, within FA rules, which does not always drain well, and the teams warming up were already cutting up the turf.

Hallam FC 2 North Ferriby FC 2

Saturday 20th December 2025, 15.00 pm kick off.

Hallam FC, Sandygate Road, S10 5SE

The Countrymen v The Villagers

13th v 9th

Hallam; all royal kit with some white edging. The Goalkeeper in all orange.
North Ferriby FC; White shirts with green shorts. The goalkeeper in all gold.

Hallam kicked off down hill and immediately you knew that the game wasn’t going to be dull. Both teams played at a quick pace and the pitch looked heavy fro the start. A no holds barred tackle by two opposing players popped the ball after 9 minutes.

Only two minutes later Hallam we’re Infront when a throw in from the right was headed on into the centre of the goal where Brandon Bradbury, making his 200th appearance for the Countrymen, hooked the ball into the opponents net with an overhead kick.

The Hallam team stopped/hesitated when their Central Defender seemed to have recieved a finger in the eye. The referee allowed play to continue and Lewis Dennison curled the ball, from outside the goal area, into the top right hand corner of the goal hitting the underside of the cross bar on the way in. Hallam’s protests were waved away and it stayed 1.1 on 16 minute.

The game was end to end entertainment but was disrupted around 32 minutes after a collision and injury to Hugo Warhurst in Hallam’s goal.

With the first 45 minutes up of the first halt a Hallam corner from right was headed on and on again to far post where it was Brandon Bradley again, nodded it past the away keeper for the lead at half time.

Hallams goalkeeper could not resume in the second half and their number 9 South substituted for him.

Within one minute of the restart the referee booked Hallam’s 5th player, this time for simulation after a tc#ackle in the opposing box. This didn’t endear the home fans with no North Ferriby players having been booked.
The second half had slowly turned into a rear guard action by Hallam who in theory with the slope should have had a slight advantage. Hallam did go forward and the North Ferriby keeper made a great save with 10 minutes left. At the other end, South in goal, was dealing competently with the Villagers attacks until with just 6 minutes to go a visitors throw in from the right was flicked into the centre and bundled in by Joshua Martin Thacker.

The last few minutes were a nervy time with either team trying not to make a mistake. The 2.2 draw was fair on the day with both teams showing a lot of fight and skill in poor conditions. Both of these teams look unlikely to be drawn into a relegation battle as they look to consolidate themselves at this level.

Considering the weather, and it being the last weekend for shopping before Christmas, the crowd of 622 was excellent.

The other bonus of the game was that there were chips, and these turned out to be hot, golden, tasty, crispy with firm but fluffy centres. Having not eaten any lunch a large portion was called for. A great score of 74.

Thank You Hallam.

Few fireworks on the pitch at Gainsborough.

A weekend of FA Cup 1st round games brought me to Gainsborough on a cooling Sunday evening. Last year at Hednesford, at the same stage of the competition, I watched Gainsborough defeat the home team on penalties after a pulsating 4.4 draw, in what was my game of the season. This was 76 miles by road from yesterday’s game but much longer if I had travelled along the River Trent on whose banks both towns sit.

As we queued, a group of Accrington ultras marched past with flags and chants, making us think that the away end would be packed. When in, this close to the centre stadium, we found that it was the home three sides that had filled up and the Accrington fans had only been a noisy few. Surprised at the good attendance, we found some space behind the goal.

Gainsborough of the Northern Premier League were up against Accrington Stanley of the English Football League Division Two, three levels below their opponents. Gainsborough were once in the Football League but that was back in 1912. Accrington Stanley were founder members of the football league and have been an up and down club that was brought back from extinction in the past. Considering the nearly 60 places in the leagues between the two clubs some divine intervention from the vicar of Holy Trinity Church, who originally formed the club, may have been needed.

Gainsborough Trinity FC 1 Accrington Stanley 2 AET

Sunday 2nd November 2025, 17.15 pm kick off. The Holy Blues/Trinity v Stanley

Gainsborough Trinity FC, Northolme, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, DN21 2QW

FA Cup 1st Round. Northern Premier League v English Football League Division Two.

Gainsborough; Royal blue shirts and shorts, goalkeeper in all light blue.

Accrington Stanley; Red shirts with white shoulders and sleeve, goalkeeper in all fluorescent yellow.

Gainsborough playing up the slight slope exerted the early pressure but the away back line looked strong and soon took control as the game entered a dull period. It was a surprise when Accrington took the lead on 28 minutes when a cross in from the right was nodded down for Paddy Madden to score near the post. Gainsborough couldn’t find a way to test the away defence and Accrington were in charge by the time the break came.

Two blue flares were thrown onto the pitch at half time, that were cleared, and we also had noticed a man with a dog, a spaniel, on a lead. It did not appear to be any kind of assistance dog and seemed irresponsible to have it in such a big crowd.

A few fireworks had gone off in surrounding properties at half time and these continued at the start of the second half. This must have distracted the players along with another flare which stopped play and caused some disquiet in the terrace behind the goal as the fans pointed out the thrower to stewards.

On the field Gainsborough were now pushing and both sides had chances but were either thwarted by the keepers or the post in Accrington’s case. The introduction of Sisa Tuntuwana spurred Gainsborough on with Accrington finding it hard to match his pace and skill. With 15 minutes left a cross was missed by the away defenders and Tuntuwana found the space to easily head the ball home to draw the teams level. Gainsborough tried hard to press forward and gain the momentum but full time came too quickly and it was into a period of extra time.

Throughout the game Accrington’s players had seemed physically bigger and stronger, faster, played the ball quicker and harder, and played a busy pass and run football. This carried them through when Charlie Caton put them ahead with only minutes of Extra Time played. Maddon’s quick burst freed him to pass to Caton who was able to wham the ball into the net.

Gainsborough didn’t get back into the game to challenge the EFL side although the fans felt that the referee was giving all the challenges to Accrington and none to them.

At the start of the second period of extra time Maddon should have done better with a great chance and was duly subbed off. Accrington saw out the game but the good sized crowd walked away pleased that their team had not been overwhelmed.

Perhaps Gainsborough might invest some of their cup run money in new floodlight/bulbs as the pitch seemed gloomy despite it being a clar evening.

There were chips here, after queuing for a long time, the well staffed kiosk serving as quick as possible and adding to Gainsborough’s coffers. The chips were a big quantity for the £3.50, they were freshly cooked, hot, golden, slightly greasy, but a bit bland. A creditable score of 62.

Sometimes you just grind out a result.

Saturday morning saw me watching my grandson lose a match at the great facilities on the University of Northampton Campus. Unfortunately he lost but after some sustenance we made our way to Market Harborough to see their home team play.

I have been here before but they have since moved up a League and further developed their ground. Market Harborough is a pleasant Market town that has grown unbelievably since I lived nearby at Desborough many moons ago. The electrification of the rail link to London has increased its appeal as a computer town for London and the building of the nearby A14 east west link makes it easier to reach the West Midlands and the East.

The ground on the outskirts of the town is part of the Harborough Leisure complex which has been recently updated to feature a brand-new, 115-station gym, three swimming pools, a group fitness studio, a dedicated group cycling studio, a wellness studio, a spacious sports hall, an indoor bowls hall, tennis courts a café and outdoor pitches for sports including rugby and football.

There is great parking, all on the flat, and it is an easy walk to the Football ground. It is an all weather pitch that has had some surrounding hard surface update and two new covered seated areas on one side adjacent a previous existing one. The facilities are now easily ready to enable the club to move up to higher levels and is able to host higher attendances as per their 1813 for the midweek FA cup game. There is a large club house and changing rooms which have solar panels on the roof, which we did not go in.

As we passed through the turnstiles we were handed a token for a Spanish beer. It’s relevance became clear as soon as we were in the stadium with one of the three covered stands down one side crowded with fans from Spain . There was also a clue in a Spanish language insert in the programme. Harborough Town FC’s Spanish connection is due to a friendship with La Media Inglesa. The partnership has grown a large Spanish fan base with live-streamed matches on YouTube to all spanish speaking countries. Harboroughhave also been on a pre-season tour of Madrid. The Spaniards were making themselves known well before the start of the game.

Although a grey overcast afternoon the 13 degrees felt quite pleasant, probably because there was little wind. We debated wether the artificial pitch had a slight slope on it from one end but couldn’t make up our minds if this was an optical illusion.

Harborough Town are a new team, although there have been previous clubs in the town. In 2007 it progressively merged three teams, Harborough Town Juniors, Harborough Town Spencers and Harborough Minis and with the local council developed playing facilities that have benefitted all ages and sexes to create many teams that can use the artificial pitches. After 3 seasons in local Northamptonshire football they gained promotion to The United Counties League again stepping up a league two years later. In 2022 they won the Premier League moving nto the Northern Premier League. In 2024 they won the League play offs and now play at the higher level.

Bromsgrove Sporting FC was founded in 2009 after the demise of Bromsgrove Rovers, saved by local supporters. A restriction of a maximum ten percent shareholding in the club has been introduced to keep a community involvement. The club has gained promotion in local and midlands leagues in a very short time to be now competing in the 7th tier of English football. They reached this level in 2019.

Harborough Town 1 v Bromsgrove Sporting 0

Saturday 18th October 2025 Southern League Premier, Central Division.

Harborough Town Community Football Ground, Northampton Road, Market Harborough , LE16 9 HF.

The Bees v The Rouslers. 1st v 14th

Harborough, all yellow kit with the goal keeper in all green. Bromsgrove, Red shirts with some white vertical stripes on the front and back, and dark blue shorts. The goalkeeper in all green.

Harborough were on top throughout the first half gaining numerous corners and long throws that caused concern foy the visitors. The home sides tall defence were very effective but Bromsgrove did manage a few chances.

The game seemed very stale with perhaps Harborough suffering the after effects due to extra-time in their FA Cup match the previous Tuesday. The game changed for the Bees on 66 minutes when their goalkeeper hoisted a free kick from their half into Sporting’s penalty area. The ball was chested down by Riley O’Sullivan, who had just been introduced as a substitute minutes earlier. He turned and volleyed it into the roof of the net for a well taken goal. Unfortunately his game time only lasted 2 minutes, when a challenge on him in the penalty area was given as simulation, and he was shown a yellow card. He picked up his discarded boot, which looked as if it had come off by the defender treading on his foot. He ran to the official to show him the boot but was waived away. His frustration was shown by him throwing down his boot to which the referee showed a second yellow card and then a red due to the dissent. This all seemed harsh and this added to him being sent off in the seventh minute of Tuesday night’s FA Cup replay.

Bromsgrove saw their chances and pushed forward but the home defence stood solid and saw out the game. It was more like grinding out a win,and not a classic, but Harborough were happy to retain their top spot in the league. After the extra time on Tuesday they were relieved to not have had a reaction.

After missing a few weeks it was back to some chips, and they were hot, tasty, golden, not greasy, crispy outside with a soft middle and a score of 73. Because I was with family I was talking and forgot to get a picture of them until after I had finished. As I continued eating them they became a little dry, perhaps due to the large portion.

Sheffield-Home of Football

During Heritage week, I joined the end of a tour of Crosspool, the area of Sheffield where Hallam FC is situated. We then moved into the clubhouse to listen to some facts about ‘The Oldest Football Ground’ in the world.

Looking across the football pitch you see the cricket ground bordering the open side. The Sandygate Road cricket pitch dates back to 1804 a year before the ‘Battle of Trafalgar ‘ and like many emerging football teams Hallam FC were partly born from the cricket club in 1860.

The Sheffield Home of Football group are forging ahead to promote Sheffield’s football Heritage being the birth place of the oldest team in the world, the oldest ground, the first cup and competition, the publishers of many of the original rules and many more firsts.

I had arrived at Hallam via Sheffield Town Hall where three cabinets of items relating to the history of Sheffield were on display. ‘Home of Football Group’ now have enough to display many more cabinets as they move towards a permanent museum in the city. One item in a cabinet was one of their latest blue plaques that are being put up all over the city in conjunction with the council to identify football/social history places that pioneers, events or places frequented. There is now a trail of these shown on ‘Home of Football’ web site.

Interesting in the cabinet are two pictures of the women’s game in the early years of the sport.

Some unusual facts that came out of the Hallam talk were:-

Football shirts in the beginning were either in a block colour or hoops as a loom to make vertical stripes had not yet been invented.

Hallam’s famous pitch slope is 1 in 26 but FA rules will allow up to 1 in 40.

The Youdan Trophy, the first football cup in the world, was not a cup but a ‘Coffee Jug’ bought off the shelf, because the designed cup was not ready in time for the competition.

The football club and cricket club have only 67 years left on their lease.

The exhibition goes on at Sheffield Town Hall until the 2nd of October and pilgrims to see the Hallam ground are always welcome.

Look up sheffieldhomeoffootball.org for all of the many interesting programs and projects that are going on.

Chesterfield win the Battle of the ‘rites’.

On my way back from visiting the impressive Locomotion, I called in to the Wetherby Road ground to see Harrogate Town play Chesterfield in the EFL Two.

Although there was high grey clouds cover it was dry and warm with the temperature hitting 22 degrees. This is a stadium shoe horned into a piece of land next to the main road and surrounded by houses. Because there isn’t a car park, the residents have to endure supporter parking outside their houses and slow moving traffic before and after the game. A move to an out of town site would most probably benefit everyone.

The stadium has 3 covered seated stands down one side, covered, half standing, half seating behind one goal with all covered standing at the other end. The other side of the ground is all covered too with a small seating area, the rest standing apart from some portacabins in one corner. A lot packed into the space.

The pitch was a brilliant green flat expanse of grass.

Having been impressed with what has been achieved here, I was shocked to find my seat was behind a floodlight pylon. This not only affected me but also others around me. I put up with it for the first half but moved to standing behind the goal for the second half.

In comparison to Chesterfield, Harrogate Town didn’t form until mid 1919 but only a year later they were one of the teams to start the Yorkshire League but remained in the West Riding League before moving that team to the Midland League and folding it soon after. concentrating on the Yorkshire League they became champions in 1927 but moved again to the Northern League but disbanded in 1935. The use of the Harrogate Town name was first used with a resumption of a team after the Second World War then playing in the West Yorkshire League and a move back to the Yorkshire League happened in 1957.

With the re-organisation of local Leagues in 1982 Harrogate town were inaugural members of the newly formed Northern Counties East and just five years later were founder members of a new League again, this time the Northern Premier League, First Division. In 2002 they were promoted to the Premier Division as league champions of Division 1 and continuing their innovations were founder members of the Conference North in 2004.

2011 was a transformative year for the club with the take over by Irving Weaver father of Simon Weaver, the manager. After the club changed to full time contracts in 2017 they went on to win the league play-offs. Covid now played a part in their rise when with the season curtailed and with an average points per game of 1.78 were put into the play-offs where at Wembley in 2020, they eventually overcame Notts County to claim a place in the English Football League. They have remained in the EFL League Two ever since, an amazing rise.

Chesterfield formed in 1866 claim to be the 4th oldest league club still in existence. A chequered history of league status and liquidation led to their reincarnation when they re-joined the football league in 1921. They have been up and down the leagues in their history but reached a low point in 2018 being relegated to the National League. Off the field problems were resolved by a take over in 2020 by a Community Trust who with great local support have steered the club to a new era of major ownership by local Paul and Ashley Kirk. Now back in the EFL they look to rise up the leagues again.

Harrogate Town 1 Chesterfield 2

Saturday 22nd August 2025, English Football League Two. Kick off 15.00 pm. 9th v 4th. Town/Sulphurites v Spireites.

Harrogate Town FC Wetherby Road, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG2 7SA

Chesterfield looked sharp from the off, playing long balls out wide for a speedy front 3 and overlapping full backs. It was the left back who swept forward after 5 minutes with the ball eventually being passed to Ronan D’Arcy who changed direction 5 times before slotting the ball along the ground into the right hand corner. Chesterfield’s three front runners continued to put pressure on the home defence and caused them continual problems. At the other end Harrogate came more into the game but apart from one shot that whizzed by the right hand post didn’t look like scoring. Duke-McKenna playing out wide on the left was Harrogate’s main threat and managed to whip in some good crosses, but no one was there to connect with them. The Chesterfield supporters, 1050 out of a crowd of 3276, continued to make the most noise as the teams left the field at half time.

Something in the waters in Harrogate they say, and Harrogate must have drunk some at the interval because they looked a different team. The back four started to tie up Chesterfields front runners after an early burst and push forwards themselves. The home crowd silenced the away fans when on 50 minutes Duke-McKenna collected a pass on the edge of the goal area and drilled it past Hemmings in the Chesterfield goal.

Harrogate kept up the pressure and gained the initiative which Chesterfield tried to stem with substitutes. On 80 minutes Harrogate substituted Bradbury, who looked like their tallest defender, and only two minutes later from a corner on the left the ball came to Dunkley, the tallest player on the pitch, who unopposed headed in from the centre of the goal to give the away side the lead for the second time. Chesterfield played out the game for a good win on the road to move them up to second in the league.

This was an enjoyable game and a friendly ground with good facilities apart from the floodlight post. One of Harrogate’s nick name is the Sulphurites and Chesterfield The Spireites but neither of their fans would chant that. However you could say that Chesterfield won the battle of the ‘rites’.

Unfortunately no chips but there was a really good food selection. I chose a free ice cream, an Oreo Ice Cream Sandwich. Not a fan of Orio’s although I know they are very popular and have not changed my mind after this.

At half time I had a coffee and a KitKat at the Hydration Station, a nice touch that.

The mascot was an alligator? I have since researched that they are Harri-gator, I should have guessed that.

The programme was £5 and was packed with 70 glossy pages, very informative. It was the same one for all Harrogate’s home games in August, a novel good idea, maybe stats a little out of date by the time of this game.

A4 size was great as a magazine but a little large to put in a pocket

Speedy South Normanton Athletic.

A check at lunch time about my planned visit to Rotherham United soon turned to dust as I found that the game against Burton Albion, for which I had bought a ticket, had been postponed. Evidently, Burton’s lights had failed in a league Cup game, and the replay of this took preference over their league game.

A quick search for a substitute brought up South Normanton Athletic at home to Rainworth Miners Welfare in Division 1 of the United Counties League. South Normanton had been promoted to this league at the end of last season as champions of the Central Midlands League South, whereas Rainworth had finished just above the relegation zone of the United Counties Division 1. The season had started differently for these two clubs, only 10 miles between them, with South Normanton 2nd and Rainworth bottom of the league.

I had not been to this ground for 6 years. It is only a short distance from Junction 28 of the M1, and after driving through some houses, you come to a very large car park. Unbelievably, after 3 official heat waves this summer and droughts proclaimed in some areas, I arrived with the sky overcast with some very dark clouds. There was some faint drizzle in the air, and the new floodlights since I was last here were on from the start. Surprising for mid-August. The temperature had also dropped to 15 degrees and felt colder in the strong breeze, and with the stadium being on top of a hill, I was glad I had put on extra layers. There are good views over distant Derbyshire hills.

My first impressions were how much tidier it was with the new floodlights and a new seated stand in the middle of one side. This seated area complements the two others behind one end with the rest of the ground surrounded by a wide perimeter path. The grass pitch slopes slightly from end to end, with the grass looking stressed in some areas. The club house in one corner is large and well decorated with what looked like newly updated toilets. Outside the clubhouse is a very tidy food kiosk, which did not open until 15 minutes before kick off.

South Normanton AFC were formed in 1926 as South Normanton Miners Welfare, which they changed in 1990 to South Normanton Athletic FC. Following a fire, lack of money and an ageing committee they were forced to fold in 2008 but since a new start they have been able to steady the ship and move back into the United Counties League this season.

Rainworth is South East of Mansfield, an ex mining village like South Normanton. The club was formed in 1922 and spent most of its life in the Nottinghamshire Alliance League, sometimes known as Rufford Colliery F.C. Their greatest achievement in the last century was reaching the FA Vase final in 1982, where they lost to Forest Green Rovers who were at the start of their major climb from almost obscurity to the Football League. More recently, their fortunes have faded.

South Normanton Athletic FC 7 v Rainworth Miners Welfare FC 0

Tuesday 19th August 2025 17.45 pm Kick Off, United Counties League, Division 1,

The Shiners v The Wrens, 2nd v 23rd

South Normanton: Kit all Royal Blue, the goalkeeper in dark pink top with black shorts.

Rainworth: White shirts with a black stripe on the shoulder, the goalkeeper in all purple.

South Normanton played the first half down the slight slope and immediately showed their pace on both wings. It was no surprise that with 19 minutes gone, Billy Whitehead passed retreating defenders to slip the ball along the ground for Archie Brown to find the back of the net.

Rainworth kept battling, mainly defensive, but out of the blue on 27 minutes George Morris hit a fierce shot from outside the goalkeepers area into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. This was after some neat inter-passing to create the space. Neither side added any other goals before half time and at the away team must have been pleased to be only 2 goals behind.

The ‘Wrens’ continued to stand firm until with 13 minutes of the second half gone, Marc Bright showed his speed, once again, racing on to a long ball over the top of the defence to whip it past the goalkeeper. Rainworth did now apply a little pressure but going forward left further gaps at the back and a ground pass to Billy Whitehead was despatched with ease past the outstretched legs of the keeper. At four nil this prompted mass substitutions by the home team and the flood gates opened , a fifth being added 6 minutes later by Josh Pickering, a substitute, again a home player outpacing the Rainworth defence.

Only a few minutes later and it was six when Albie White rose to head the ball down and into the net from a corner on the right. To add the icing on the cake Billy Whitehead made it seven on 84 minutes after another pacy run presented him with the ball to tap in.

Rainworth were pleased that it was soon all over, and even this early in the season they are rooted to the bottom of the table with no points after 7 games, with a goal difference of -27. It’s a long time until next May, lets hope they re-group and find some form soon. It may seem silly to say but with a seven nil loss I though their goalkeeper looked a good player.

The Shiners on the other hand went joint top after their win and look a very speedy team that will be a handful for any of their rivals in the league.

The Chips were good too, as first in the queue I received a hot portion, which were not golden but crispy, tasty, no greasy after taste and a nice texture. A score of 69. I nearly gave them one more for the serviettes available on the counter.

The Berwick Charities Cup Final 2025.

Having watched Berwick Rangers play Cowdenbeath in the afternoon, I made my way to ‘The Stanks’, the area just outside the Elizabethan Castle walls. Berwick Rangers played some of their early games here.

This is the third year I have been to this competition, but the first final I have been able to attend.

Thanks to the community, this cup has been played for over 100 years, raising funds for local charities. Much needed today as it has been in all its years.

The match kicked off early, 18.56, after the teams had been led onto the pitch by a lone piper.

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As normal, it was an amazing sight to see the pitch, restored every year for this competition, enclosed on two sides by castle ramparts, and lined by a narrow local road on the other two. Looking beyond, you can see a beach and the North Sea. A good crowd had gathered. Mainly sitting on the wall or standing pitch side or on the road. A collection was taken for the fund, and a table heaved with the donations for the raffle.

As usual, an ice cream van was in attendance behind the goal.

The evening had cooled from the 20 degrees of the day, except if you were playing. Evergreens were from Chirnside north of Berwick in Scotland and Hadda Mad Dogs from Amble in England. So it looked like the normal borders rivalry and skirmish.

Evergreens 4 Hadda Mad Dogs 2

Saturday 26th July 2025, 18.56 kick off. The Berwick Charities Cup Final, The Stanks, Berwick Castle, Berwick Upon Tweed.

Evergreens, all green with the goalkeeper in all pale blue.

Hadda Mad Dogs, black shirts with lime green shoulders and sleeves, lime green shorts, goalkeeper in yellow top black shorts.

The referee had a lime green shirt and socks with black shorts. There was a lot of confusing green everywhere.

The first 14 minutes were very even with the full backs playing nearest the road, making some fierce tackles.

On 15 minutes, a ball was hit down the left for Evergreens number 6 to run past all defenders and Cross for a forward to score unopposed.

Evergreens didn’t hold the lead for long when 6 minutes later, number
11 sored a similar goal for Hadda, receiving a pass from the left and clipping the ball past the goalkeeper.
Just before half time, the Hadda goalkeeper made a crucial save at the foot of the post to keep it at 1.1 at half time.

Evergreens came out strongly in the second half, and within 25 minutes they had added three more goal to lead 4.1.
First, a header through to 12 who coolly drew the keeper to score. A few minutes later, 11 received the ball on the centre spot and fired home. The fourth was a tap in by 9 who had been left on his own.

Madda did get one back on roughly 40 minutes when their number nine received the ball nearly 30 yards out, turned and smashed it into the top right-hand corner of the net. The best goal of the evening, but too late as Evergreens saw out the rest of the game with ease.

As usual, it is always a joy to watch football in this location, a community event, competitive to the end and in good humour. Please keep it going. We need more things like this.

A great start at Berwick Rangers.

My first League game of the 2026/26 season was a Scottish Lowland League game between Berwick Rangers and Cowdenbeath. It has not been long since both of these teams were playing in the SFL. Dropping out is a big disadvantage because it is so difficult to get back.

Although Berwick Rangers are based in England, they continue playing in the Scottish football system like their nearby neighbours Tweedmouth Rangers FC, who play in the East of Scotland League. Berwick don’t only play in Scottish football rather than English they also play in Tweedmouth rather than Berwick, the river Tweed separating the two. Cowdenbeath have the nickname of ‘The Blue Brazil’, a little irony, I believe. They do play in blue. I have, in previous years, reviewed a book about the fall of the ‘Blue Brazil’.

I started my afternoon with a Haggis and cheese backed potato at the Riverside Café with a short 10-minute walk from there to the ground. The café was also feeding a fan from Aberdeen who had travelled down for the game.

The ground is behind housing with a large area for parking and is shared with Berwick Bandits, the Speedway team. Once through the turnstiles, where they were collecting for new floodlights, the ground looks large with a main seated stand on one side and covered terracing on the other. The pitch was a lovely green looking to have been well prepared for the new season. It had been cut in circles around the centre spot for a pleasing pattern.

Although it was 20 degrees, it seemed chillier in the wind, which was making grey and white clouds scurry past. The big reveal of the match was that Berwick would be wearing their new third kit for the first time.

Berwick Rangers 2 Cowdenbeath 0

Saturday 26th July 2025 Lowland League, 15.00 pm kick off . Shielfield Park, Tweedmouth, Berwick Upon Tweed, TD15 2EF. The Gers v The Blue Brazil, Attendance 541

Berwick Rangers, All black kit with some yellow edging, goalkeeper in blue top and black shorts.

Cowdenbeath, Light blue shirts with white shorts, goalkeeper in all yellow.

The game kicked off, and the first 20 minutes were uneventful as both teams looked to find rhythm and pattern after the break from competitive football. Cowdenbeath scored after 23 minutes, but it was disallowed for off side. the game now stopped while an official walked round the ground to deal with a blue flare that had been thrown onto the edge of the pitch in celebration. Some players took advantage of the stoppage through an unofficial drinks brake.

The game continued in a dull fashion, but on 38 minutes, Berwick took the lead through Mikey Mbewe, who stroked the ball along the grass into the net after a corner from the left and two blocked shots. At half time, I felt that both teams were trying to blow away early season cobwebs.

The second half started much brighter with Cowdenbeath’s attacks coming from mainly down the left, and both teams had more chances in that period than the whole of the first half. The more competitive game was ended with 20 minutes left when Rangers, number 8, Stuart Mair, controlled a strong pass, turned and from 20 yards hit the ball sweetly into the top right hand corner of the net. With less than 10 minutes left a heavy tackle by a Cowdenbeath defender caused some reaction, and the resulting ruck was reviewed by the referee and his linesman with only one yellow card being issued.

Cowdenbeath scored with 2 minutes left but were again denied by the linesman’s offside ruling.

Berwick fans seemed happy with the result and felt that the team would do better than a relegation battle this season. They deserved to win, but Cowdenbeath need to go back to review how they can be more effective and proactive upfront.

The chips were a great start for this seasons chip league with a healthy score of 70. They were golden, crisp, tasty, no taste of fat, soft inside, if anything a bit dry. I decided against a Scotch Pie as I was not in Scotland but then foolishly bought a Bovril at half because, as I revealed in a recent blog, it was invented in Scotland. I made a mistake there.

Great to visit a friendly ground and hope that either of these teams can challenge this season to return to the SFL.