March 2024

Springtime casts a spell of green,

Paints flowers opening to the sun,

Rains falls softly, saying ‘Wake’,

In a fresh world just begun.

Grow and burst, hatch and run.

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From “Seasons’ by Jo Peters.

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Friday 1st March 2024
Premier League 2
Manchester United u21 2
Zac Baumann 31, Ethan Williams 67,
Derby County u21 4
Tony Weston 22, 38, Cruz Allen 44, Bayo Fapetu 45+2
Referee: Elliot Bell.                                    Attendance: 956
Admission: F.O.C.                                      Programme: NONE
On a bitterly cold evening at Leigh Sports Village, Manchester United’s youngsters were well beaten by a rampant Rams team who might easily have added to their already emphatic victory. Entry was free, but complicated by having to acquire an on line ticket. There were no programmes or teamsheets, nor was the official attendance available. Made me quite pleased that Derby County won!
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Saturday 2nd March 2024 11.00am.
North West Counties League Premier Division
Longridge Town 2
Morgan Homson-Smith 20, Mitchell Marshall 45+1
Padiham 3
Jack Price 27, Joel Brownhill 38, Tyler James 78,
Referee: Joe Hind.                                           Attendance: 438
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                  Programme: £2.00
Cold and wet, but a great welcome from the club and a pretty good match with a decent atmosphere. Padiham probably deserved the victory, but the hosts made them work hard for it. All square at 2-2 at the interval, Padiham struck a late winner around ten minutes from time.
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On the far side of the ground was the cricket pavilion with the foothills of the Pennines looming behind.
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There was snow on the hills in the distance, but no more than a thin drizzle below!
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Saturday 2nd March 2024, 2.00pm
East Lancashire League, Bob Little Trophy – Group B
Peel Park 4
Joe Shaw 17, Ryan Bramley 36, Ash Adair 74, Jimmy Broadhurst 85,
Hapton 4
Shane Kennedy 40, 64, Charlie Trickett 70, Steve Burbeck 81,
Referee: James Sykes.                                                  Attendance: 31
Admission: F.O.C.                                                         Programme: NONE
A first visit to Peel Park, former home of Accrington Stanley FC, on a wet, rainy afternoon. The referee had teamsheets, but none of the numbers corresponded to the numbers on the players shirts! This was step ten or eleven, after all. There was some small evidence of the old ground and The Peel Park Inn was serving drinks to take to pitch side. The match was a rip roaring tussle with neither side managing to gain the upper hand on a mud encrusted match. In this trophy, these two teams are 3rd and 4th out of five, so not a lot rested on the outcome, but both sides gave it their all in an eventful match.
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The Peel Park Hotel
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The forbidding brick built changing rooms with not a window in sight!
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Accrington Stanley FC played in The Football League from 1921 until 1962. Their predecessor, simply named Accrington, were founder members of The Football League in 1888, but resigned in 1893 rather than accept relegation to Division 2. They folded in 1896. Accrington did not have a Football League club again until in 1921/22, when the Lancashire Combination’s Accrington Stanley, who used to be rivals of the original Accrington, were promoted to Football League Division 3 North. Accrington Stanley resigned from The Football league in March 1962 (before the end of the season) with debts of around £60,000. The present club were founded in October 1968 and regained Football League status in 2005/06 following promotion from Conference National. Peel Park is the original home of Accrington Stanley, though little now remains to identify it as such.
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Sunday 3rd March 2024 11.45am
North West Counties League Division 1 North
Euxton Villa 3
Dan Singleton 24, 63, Joshua Briggs 37,
Darwen 0
Referee: Sam Oldfield.                                                  Attendance: 618
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£6).                               Programme: £2.00
Spelt “Euxton” pronounced “Exton”, three or four miles from the great metropolis of Chorley, they moved to their present ground in 1986, a gift from a benefactor and joined The NWCL in 2022. The attendance today set a new record for the club, who are presently ensconced in mid-table security. On the other hand, Darwen have the pedigree of being a former football League club, but today it was the parvenu who had the upper hand with a convincing victory on a fine sunny morning.
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Sunday 3rd March 2024, 2.30pm
North West Counties League Premier Division
Charnock Richard 7
Luke Power 5, Spencer Bibby 32, Nathan Nickeas44, 55, 64, Fenton Davies 79, Kevin Spinelli 87,
Skelmersdale United 1
Jacob Rodrigues 89,
Referee: Thomas De Prez.                                         Attendance: 534
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).                            Programme: £2.00
More than just a motorway service station on The M6 and more than just whipping boys for Chorley’s pre-season preparations, Charnock Richard were promoted to the NWCL in 2016 after several very successful seasons in the West Lancashire League. They were immediately promoted to the Premier Division and have remained there ever since gradually improving facilities at their Mossie Park home. Skelmersdale United, despite the inclusion of former Wigan Athletic, Tottenham Hotspur, Sunderland (amongst others) defender Pascal Chimbonda in their defence, as player coach, were no match for the home sides clinical and devastating attack. Seven goals were plundered before the visitors purloined their 89th minute consolation!
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Monday 4th March 2024, 7.00pm
Premier League 2 (at Seagrave Sports Complex)
Leicester City u21 2
Silko Thomas 15, 45+1,
Leeds United u21 0
Referee: Greg Rollason.                                                 Attendance: 260
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                                 Free team sheet
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Saturday 9th March 2024
Western League Division 1
AEK Boco 1
Sam Thomas 25,
Cheddar 0
Referee: David Trevaskus.                                             Attendance: 82
Admission: OMGDS £2.00 (£6).                                 Programme: £1.00
The hosts, with their Greek/Argentinian derivation, too esoteric to explain concisely, are enjoying only their third season at Step 6, and have constructed a small, but comfortable stadium which sadly will not support the team above Step 5. They hope to gain promotion to The Southern League and have plans for an alternative stadium and a 3G surface. Today’s contest was not a classic. Cheddar, along with Bishops Sutton, are well adrift at the foot of the table, but they fought well and the hosts were restricted to a single early strike. The groundsman and Trustee, Jack Winter, was very forthcoming on information about the club and its ambitions. He also gave both me and John Main a club badge!
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The ground (True Clarity Walton Pavilion) is owned by South Gloucestershire Council and leased at a peppercorn rent to the club, who have built the club house and erected floodlights. However, it is in a public park and rights of way have to be observed, so, should the club reach a higher standard than Step 5, they will need to find a new home!
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Yours truly, captured from behind by John Main!
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The 2024 Scottish “Hop”

Took a hire car – a little one litre VW Golf – up to Scotland with John Main doing most of the driving, because I was not feeling particularly well. I’ve had a bad chest for a couple of weeks and I just can’t seem to shake it off! We had booked in at The Premier In south Stirling at junction 9 on The M9 motorway for two nights, but before that we went to the first match!

Friday 15th March 2024 7.45pm
East of Scotland League Division 2
Armadale Thistle 3
Kameron Jackson 13, Colin Strickland 83, Declan Wood 85,
Ormiston Primrose 2
Jacob Riley 11, 42,
Referee: David Gallagher.                                         Attendance: 436
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8).                            Programme: £2.00
Armadale FC once graced the Scottish second tier, but they faded and Thistle took over the mantle without ever reaching those dizzy heights. They presently ply their trade in the eighth tier of Scottish football at their eccentrically named Volunteer Park. This season, they are pushing for promotion, whilst their opponents are several points adrift of safety at the foot of the table. It was squeaky bum time tonight. The visitors, demolished 5-0 by tonight’s hosts on their own ground, twice took the lead, deservedly, in the first half and only succumbed to two very late strikes to save the host’s blushes. They deserved better! Good game, good to see so many friends once again.
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Saturday morning at 9.15am we set out for the first game of the day at Luncarty, north of Perth. It lies between the A9 to the west and The River Tay to the east.
Saturday 16th March 2024 11.15 am
East of Scotland League Premier Division
Luncarty 5
Kyle Woolley 21, Ross McLachlan 33, Jamie Mackie 34, Rhys Davies 41, Ben Scarborough 82,
Crossgates Primrose 3
Jake Sutherland 3, Cameron Muirhead 31, 74,
Referee: Daniel Graves.                                         Attendance: 386
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                        Programme: £2.00
Nestling in the morning sunshine, but with minimal facilities and cover (gravel behind the near goal, the only hardstanding), Scotrail trains chuntering over the viaduct down one side, this match between two of the graveyard sides turned into a thriller, 4-2 to the home side at the interval and a mere two second period strikes provided a healthy crowd, (some eight times the clubs average attendance this season), with a very entertaining encounter!
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A Scotrail DMU passing by on the embankment!
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Michael Squires sitting in noble splendour!
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Saturday 16th March 2024 2.00pm
East of Scotland League Premier Division
Kinnoull 0
Pencuik Athletic 0
Referee: Robert Bowie.                                              Attendance: 356
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£7).                             Programme: £2.50
A very basic ground on Tulloch Road in Perth with no cover, no hardstanding and no floodlights (although new ones have been acquired and will be installed when funds allow). There were no goals, either, in a poor match where neither side seemed to be able to shoot accurately and the home side gained only their fifth point of the season from twenty-one games. The final whistle was a relief!
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Saturday 16th March 2024 4.45pm
East of Scotland League Premier Division
Jeanfield Swifts 1
Fraser Smith 6,
Dunbar United 1
Taylor henry 90+2 (pen)
Referee: Terry Ormiston.                                            Attendance: 385
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                               Programme: £2.50
A compact ground with good facilities, but still no hardstanding round the pitch, apart from a fine covered terrace down one side. This was a dour encounter between two sides on the fringe of the promotion race. The hosts struck early in the sixth minute and the visitors replied late with a penalty right at the death. A fair result. Towards the end of the match, ominously, the rain began to fall.
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The away team strip was turquoise and navy
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The heavens opened on a foul evening and the drive to the final match – maybe an hour in the dark and wind and rain and pot-holed roads was very challenging.
Saturday 16th March 2024 8.00pm
East of Scotland League Premier Division
Sauchie Juniors 3
Danny Smith 10, 35 (pen), 45, Ross Kavanagh s/o 43
Hill o’ Beath Hawthorn 2
Daniel Watt 46, Jordan Tosh 83,
Referee: Chris Hobbs.                                                    Attendance: 447
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10).                               Programme: £2.00
In filthy weather and on a seriously waterlogged pitch, at Sauchie Juniors fine Beachwood Park stadium, these two teams played out a rumbustious encounter with the hosts establishing a three goal first half advantage despite the dismissal of one of their players. Hill o’ Beath started the comeback within seconds of the restart and attacked the ten men with determination. Sadly, their only reward was a Jordan Tosh strike in the 83rd minute and Sauchie narrowly took the points and the victory.
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Sunday 17th March 2024
East of Scotland League Division 1
Whitburn 1
Darren Liddell 65,
Whitehill Welfare 0
Referee: Richard McCartney.                                               Attendance: 540
Admission: OAP £5.00 (£8).                                                Programme: £2.00
Central Park in Whitburn is a generic junior Scottish football ground. Indeed, Whitburn were a junior side until a couple of seasons ago, since when they have enjoyed two promotions. The pitch was heavy and undulating and not conducive to good football as these two sides slogged it out, aided and abetted by a concatenation of drum beating. A 65th minute strike settled the encounter in the host’s favour and they just about deserved it! Many thanks to Chris and the team for a very enjoyable weekend!
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Craig Dabbs at the entrance to Whitburn 
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The main drum band whose cacophony was kept up throughout the match
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Matchday programme
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Sunday 17th March 2024
Scottish AFA Inter League Trophy 1st Round
Scottish Premier AFA 13 (thirteen!)
Connor McCabe 3, Shaun Rodgers 25, 34, Danny McBath 30, Mark Taylor 33, 37, 49, Liam Rowan 56, 86,Brandon Carmouche 60, 67, Connaire Dawson 80,
Andy Gilmartin 83
Dundee Saturday Morning League 0
@ New Tinto Park
Referee: Joe Cheney.                                          Attendance: 52
Admission: F.O.C.                                               Programme: NONE
Scott Struthers found this little tit-bit to round off the weekend oop north and it was a first visit to New Tinto Park, home of Benburb, after visiting the original ground almost exactly ten years ago. Houses cover the earlier footprint and the new home of Benburb is little more than a 3G pitch with no seating and a small covered stand on one side of the ground. The contest was a mismatch. Scotland’s premier amateur association demolished a pedestrian Dundee side with six first half goals and seven second half strikes.
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February 2024

Daffodils

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host, of golden daffodils;

Beside the lake, beneath the trees,

Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

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Continuous as the stars that shine

And twinkle on the milky way,

They stretched in never-ending line

Along the margin of a bay:

Ten thousand saw I at a glance,

Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

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The waves beside them danced; but they

Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:

A poet could not but be gay,

In such a jocund company:

I gazed—and gazed—but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought:

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For oft, when on my couch I lie

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude;

And then my heart with pleasure fills,

And dances with the daffodils.

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by William Wordsworth (1770 – 1850)
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Thursday 1st February 2024
Northants Senior Youth League North
Rothwell Corinthians u18 1
Preston Prins
AFC Rushden & Diamonds u18 6
Cian Shea 2, 29, 68, Jack Kuspert 14, Connor Buswell 42, Tomas Oliveria 86,
Referee: Chris Walton.                                             Attendance: 64
Admission: OMGDS £1.50 (£3).                           Programme: NONE
Corinthians’ youngsters were undone this evening by a Rushden side who have won every match this season. Four first half strikes put Diamonds firmly in control, but Corinthians fought gamely after the interval and scored one whilst only conceding a further two. Good game on a chilly evening.
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The results for the South division were:
Bugbrooke St Michaels White 2 ON Chenecks 1
Wellingborough Whitworth 0 Bugbrooke St Michaels Black 2
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Friday 2nd February 2024
Premier League 2 Cup Group G
Leicester City u21 3
Wanya Marcal 18, Silko Thomas 45+3, Oliver Ewing 75,
Brentford u21 2
Iwan Morgan 48 (pen) Kyreece Lisbie 86,
Referee: Alan Dale                            Attendance: 348
Admission: OMGDS £3.00            Programme: Free team sheet
After months of watching Leicester City u21s struggling and being regularly well beaten at Seagrave, tonight’s match was a welcome change. The young Foxes were well worthy of their victory and the margin of victory would have been even wider were it not for a careless defensive error some four minutes from time.
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Saturday 3rd February 2024
Velocity Wessex League Division 1
Verwood Town 0
Millbrook 3
Archie Greenhough 35, Jamie White 61, 90+2,
Referee: Omid Farjadpour.                                Official Attendance: 43
Admission: OAP £3.00 (£5).                             Programme: £2.00
We weren’t expecting much, but we were pleasantly surprised both by the friendliness of the welcome and the picturesque, rusticity of the ground. There were two covered areas down one side (one with a hundred seats) and hardstanding on three sides, but the ground was fairly open and you could easily watch the match without paying! Top of the table Millbrook eventually achieved a convincing victory, but the hosts competed well throughout and belied their lowly position in the table. The attendance conflicted with our head count of 77. With John Main.
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There were a lot of power cables overhanging the ground!
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Sunday 4th February 2024
FA Premier League
Manchester United 3
Rasmus Højlund 24, Alejandro Garnacho 49, 84,
West Ham United 0
Referee: Andrew Madley.                                         Attendance: 73,612
Admission: £39.00.                                                  Programme: £4.00
Only my twenty second visit to Old Trafford since my first in January 1962, but a lot has changed, yet despite it being an all seater ground, we stood for the entire match! The Hammers showed little appetite for the fight and meekly succumbed in an otherwise entertaining encounter. With son, Jim and grandsons, Sonny and Kingsley.
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I still have the programme from my first visit to Old Trafford in January 1962. Then, it cost 4d, today it cost £4
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Jim, Sonny, Kingsley
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Kingsley, Sonny and Jim
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Tuesday 6th February 2024
EFL League One
Cambridge United 0
Bolton Wanderers 0
Referee: David Rock.                               Attendance: c6,000
Admission: OMGDS £19 (£23).            Programme: £3.50
Quite how this match got started is questionable. It had rained all afternoon and evening and from the start the ball was held up by puddles and areas of waterlogged turf on the pitch. Nine minutes elapsed before the referee bowed to the inevitable and took the players off the pitch. He returned, briefly, with his colleague, but very soon appreciated that no further play would be possible!
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A very soggy Ed, Freddie and Mike!
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The massed banks of Bolton Wanderers fans behind the goal to our left – and the waterlogged goal area!
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Wednesday 7th February 2024
Lincolnshire League Premier Division
Crowle Colts 4
Joe Hare 7, 39, 76, Liam Snow 48,
Keelby United 4
Daniel Scrimshaw 6, Ben Cousins 50, Matthew Darwood 66, Coby Kavanagh 88,
Referee: Robert Elliott.                                              Attendance: 68
Admission: £2.00.                                                      Programme: £1.50
This was ambitious Crowle Colts second game under floodlights and more improvements are planned – hard standing around the pitch (with an avenue of silver birch behind one goal) and even plans for a large seated stand. In tonight’s crazy hotch-potch of a match, The Colts went behind after six minutes but regained parity a minute later, then took a 3-1 lead a couple of minutes into the second period, only to be pulled back to 3-3, taking the lead again with ten to go and then right at the death conceding the equaliser to an own goal! Good match, several ‘hoppers’ in attendance!
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Photograph, courtesy of Crowle Colts Twitter feed.
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The atmospheric avenue of silver birch behind the left hand goal.
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Saturday 10th February 2024
EFL Championship
Hull City 0
Swansea City 1
Liam Cullen 11,
Referee: Geoff Eltingham.                                              Attendance: 21,017
Admission: Hospitality (£154.80).                               Programme: incl. (£3.50)
Excellent hospitality. We were very well looked after and, of course, we all drank far too much! The game was pretty entertaining, but after the visitors scored in the eleventh minute, there was no way back for the hosts, try as they might.
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from left: Freddie (in grey), Kingsley, Jim, Jonny Crane, Liam, Aman Singh, Gary Miller, Rory Clarke, Sonny
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from the top: John Lord, Phil Evans and Mike
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Sonny to the front, then, Freddie, Kingsley and Jim.
From top left: Jim, Jonny Crane, Liam, Aman Singh
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Gary Miller and Rory Clarke
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Sonny, Freddie and Kingsley
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Tuesday 13th February 2024
EFL Championship
Leicester City 2
Abdul Fatawu 4, Jamie Vardy 36,
Sheffield Wednesday 0
Referee: Tom Nield.                                                   Attendance: 31,550
Admission: OMGDS £32.00 (£40).                       Programme: £3.50
A night out with two of my sons and three grandsons at a very wet King Power Stadium. The Owls were very poor in the first half, conceded after only four minutes and then again after 36 minutes, an exquisite strike by Jamie Vardy. The second half was much more even and there were times when the Foxes’ defence was rattled, but there was no question of where the points and the victory were going.
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Ed, Jim and Mike
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Sonny
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Freddie and Kingsley
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Wednesday 14th February 2024
Inter Services Triangular Tournament
British Army u23 1
Owen James 90+8
Royal Navy u23 1
Matthew Iceton 58
Referee: George Salloway.                                         Attendance: 70
Admission: F.O.C.            Programme: F.O.C.       Free team sheet.
The Military Stadium is, really, a one sided arena with a running track around the football pitch and viewing from a fifteen hundred seater stand down one side. The Army lost their opening fixture to The RAF and when The Navy opened the scoring just before the hour mark, it looked like a second defeat looming, in spite of the constant pressure exerted by the hosts. As the game wore on, so the pressure increased, until, eventually, in the eighth minute of added time, The Army clawed back a last gasp goal to draw the match!
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Saturday 17th February 2024, 3.30pm
Bundesliga
TSG 1899 Hoffenheim 0
Stanley Nsoki s/o 45+4
FC Union Berlin 1
Kevin Volland s/o 45+6 Brenden Aaronsson 84,
Referee: Robert Hartman.                                  Attendance: 19,050
Admission: OMGDS €42 (€44).                       Programme: NONE
A fine stadium barely two thirds full and a poor match punctuated by a tennis ball protest which added twelve minutes onto the first half, during which petulant period two players were dismissed (one from each side). The only goal came four minutes from time. The protest was over the increasing influence of money over football in Bundesliga, and it was the away contingent throwing the tennis balls. The walk up to the stadium gives a fine view of a couple of supersonic Concords high over The Sinsheim Technical Museum.
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The Sinsheim Technical Museum, on the way to the ground.
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Gary, Kevin Rory, Daz, Mike, and Adam on the right.
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Saturday 17th February 2024, 8.30pm
(German) Bundesliga 2
Karlsruher SC 2
Igor Matanovic 49, David Herold 64,
Fortuna Düsseldorf 2
Christos Tzolis 37, 51,
Referee: Karl Fritz.                                            Attendance: 26,563
Admission: OMGDS €24 (€26).                    Programme: NONE
A thoroughly rumbustious, raucous, and rowdy match! Brilliant entertainment! Flares, flags and choir masters perched precariously conducting the away fans. The BBBank Wildpark is an impressive stadium with free transport to and from the station. These two teams are perched just above mid-table, with the visitors in the higher position. Twice they took the lead and each time they were pegged back in a match that ebbed and flowed in tune with the enthusiasm of both sets of fans. Wonderful atmosphere.
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The smoke behind the far goal was the result of numerous flares being set off!
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The man in grey top and black trousers is precariously perched to conduct the away fans!
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Sunday 18th February 2024, 1.30pm
(German) Bundesliga 3
SV Waldhof Mannheim 0
FC Saarbrucken 2
Referee: Florian Lechner.                             Attendance: 19,210
Admission: OMGDS €26 (€30).                 Programme: €1       Team sheet: Free
Mannheim, where the first car was driven by Greta Benz, wife of Carl, after whom the stadium is named. However, in a more sinister memory, Mannheim, where Zyklon B was manufactured in WWII. Today’s match ticket came with a free transport pass to and from the town and free tram passage to and from The Carl Benz Stadion. It makes me ashamed to be British when I see how flexible public transport is in Germany. Every tinpot town has trams, buses and underground trains and much of it – certainly for the football fan – is free! We managed a pre-match drink in “Murphy’s Law”, an Irish pub in the town. These two teams are ninety miles apart, but the match – heavily policed – is regarded as a local derby and, today’s crowd was more than double their average for the season. The hosts are in deep relegation trouble. Regionaliga beckons, and on today’s evidence, they will do well to escape the drop. Lovely ground, great atmosphere!
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Before the match all the group met up in an Irish pub in Mannheim. From left (clockwise): Mike, Alan Eathorne, Gary Miller, Rory Clark, Jim, Daz, Adam Vallance and Kevin, with Dave missing with a sore foot and yours truly taking the picture.
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Monday 19th February 2024
U21 Premier League 2
Leicester City u21 1
Will Alves 39,
Crystal Palace u21 1
Luke Plange 26,
Match abandoned after 86 minutes after serious injury to Crystal Palace player. The referee was unable to continue the match because the required amount of medical support was not available having been used to treat the serious injury.
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Tuesday 20th February 2024
EFL League One
Cambridge United 1
Eoin Toal 8 (og), Lyle Taylor s/o 90+1
Bolton Wanderers 2
Paris Maghoma 52, Carlos Gomes 63,
Referee: David Rock.                                    Attendance: 6,525
Admission: F.O.C.                                         Programme: £3.50
Following the wash out of the abandoned game two weeks ago, tonight saw the match replayed and all tickets for the previous encounter were valid for tonight’s match. The Trotters had an appalling first half and were lucky to go in at the interval only one goal behind. Two second half goals in the space of ten minutes turned the game around, but Cambridge fought right to the end and looked the more likely, even after a dismissal for violent conduct. With son, Mike and grand son, Freddie.
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The massed ranks of over 900 Wanderers fans who had made the two hundred mile trip down to Cambridge.
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Son, Mike and Grandson, Freddie
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Wednesday 21st February 2024
Shropshire League: Tony Bywaters Cup Q/F
Dawley Town 3
Ross Jones 20, Reece Evans (og) 29, Sam Rigby 77, 
Ellesmere Rangers 1
Max Jones 81,
Referee: Lewis Tomkins.                                      Attendance: 56
Admission: F.O.C.                                                 Programme: NONE
Lilleshall, the former centre of excellence for the English FA (replaced in 2012 by St George’s Park in Staffordshire), provided the backdrop for this evening’s match in wet and muddy conditions. Dawley Town, nominally the hosts and in second place in The Salop League, are ambitious and currently raising funds for floodlights at their own ground. Ellesmere Rangers lie next to the foot of the division, but have played in The North-West Counties League. Dawley dominated throughout and were two goals to the good at the interval, they added a third, with fifteen minutes remaining, but Rangers had the last word with a goal of their own in the last five minutes. With John Main and a net full of hoppers!
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Saturday 24th February 2024
Cymru South
Abertillery Bluebirds 2
Carmarthen Town 0
Referee: Tegid Richards.                                                Official attendance: 124
Admission: £5.00.                                                           Programme: ON LINE
Bluebirds play their home games in the Six Bells area of the town where a disastrous mining explosion in June 1960 cost 45 miners their lives. In 2010, a statue called “The Guardian” was unveiled to commemorate all miners who lost their lives. It is said to be Wales’ answer to “The Angel of the North”. The ground nestles in the fold of a valley with stunning views all round, and was included in the football magazine 4-4-2s top forty best grounds to visit. They were promoted last season, but this season, they are struggling in the bottom two. Carmarthen, relegated last season from the top table lie in fourth place. Two second half strikes were enough to ensure a very well deserved victory for the hosts, but the win is unlikely to save them from relegation. With John Main.
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This month:- Games: 17       New Grounds:8
This Season:  Games: 112    New Grounds:- 65
Total:              Games: 4,922    New Grounds: 1,985

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January 2024

New Year

What can be said in New Year rhymes,
That’s not been said a thousand times?
The new years come, the old years go,
We know we dream, we dream we know.
We rise up laughing with the light,
We lie down weeping with the night.
We hug the world until it stings,
We curse it then and sigh for wings.
We live, we love, we woo, we wed,
We wreathe our brides, we sheet our dead.
We laugh, we weep, we hope, we fear,
And that’s the burden of the year.

Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850-1919

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Monday 1st January 2024
Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1
Corby town 3
Toby Hilliard 5, 39, Ben Isaacson 47,
AFC Rushden & Diamonds 2
Caiko Taylor 44, Jarvis Wilson 67,
Referee: Joe Woolmer. Attendance: 714
Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£12). Programme: £2.00
Lovely bright sunny morning and The Steelmen, at last, claimed their first home victory of the season in a nervy encounter against bottom club, Diamonds. There were a high number of hoppers there due to the early start and the number of afternoon kick-offs close by. Corby started brightly and were ahead within five minutes. They added a second towards the end of the half, but Diamonds responded with a strike of their own just on the interval. The Steelmen struck in the opening couple of minutes of the second half, but once again, just after the hour mark, Diamonds pulled a goal back. There was no further scoring, but a nervy final twenty minutes before Corby were able to claim their first home league win of the season!
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Monday 1st January 2024
Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1
Harborough Town 2
Tendai Daire 33, Ben Williams 64,
Rugby Town 1
Loyiso Recci 90 (pen),
Referee: Karl Donaghey. Attendance: 357
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10). Programme: £2.00
In contrast to this morning’s match, the rain beat down incessantly after half-time onto Harborough’s 3G pitch. There has been a new seated stand installed since my last visit but it did little to keep the rain out! Considering that the hosts are top of the table and the visitors were third from bottom, this was no one-sided contest. Harborough held a two goal lead just after the hour mark, but Rugby pressed towards the end, and reduced the arrears. As at Corby Town in the morning, there was a goodly gathering of hoppers in attendance!
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Friday 5th January 2023
FA Cup 3rd Round
Fulham 1
Bobby De Cordova-Reid 24,
Rotherham United 0
Referee: Dean Whitestone.                                    Attendance: 15,083
Admission: OMGDS £15.00 (£20).                     Programme: £3.50
By train from Corby to St Pancras and then tube to Putney Bridge. The District Line was particularly busy and is apparently experiencing difficulties due to engineering works. I have not been to Craven Cottage since I went there to see a friendly International match on 3rd May 2014, where Italy and Republic of Ireland drew 0-0. The new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage is not yet in operation, but looks impressive. Kids got in for £1 for this match which pleased my grandsons. Dad and mum were there, too. The match itself was nothing to write home about. A severely depleted Fulham side dealt economically with The Championship’s bottom club and progress to Round 4.
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Craven Cottage
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from the front :- Sonny, Kingsley, Jim and Cora
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The new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage  …. was not in use for this match  ….. or is it not yet completed?
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Saturday 6th January 2024
Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1
Coleshill Town 2
Jonathan Letford 58, Alex Tomkinslon 90+2 Lamin Ceesay s/o 83,
Corby Town 2
Jack Keeble 48, Toby Hilliard 97 (pen),
Referee: Michael Wright.                                Attendance: 215
Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£10).                Programme: £2.00
With so much precipitation over the last few days – and weeks – 3G was the only surface to rely on for a game taking place! Coleshill is a regular watering hole because they play their midweek matches on a Monday evening and, today was an opportunity to visit Pack Meadow in daylight. There was little to report in a goalless opening spell, but the second half burst into life with The Steelmen twice taking the lead, but twice being pegged back. The hosts also had a player dismissed some ten minutes from the final whistle.
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A pensive Freddie at Coleshill Town.
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Sunday 7th January 2024
FA Cup 3rd Round
Luton Town 0
Bolton Wanderers 0
Referee: Andrew Madley.                                                                         Attendance: 10,739
Admission: Hospitality (£85 adults and £35 for children).              Programme: incl. (£3)
I love trains and football days – even when the first train is cancelled when you get to the station! We had a wee spot of hospitality at Kenilworth Road in a packed stadium, creaking and groaning, and seriously in need of replacement. Despite the lack of goals, it was a pretty tense and exciting encounter and Wanderers fully deserved to fight another day.
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Freddie and Ed
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Jim and Sonny
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Freddie, Kingsley and Sonny
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Freddie and Ed
Monday 8th January 2024
Premier League 2
Leicester City U21 2
Harvey Godsmark-Ford 18, Oliver Ewing 90+3
Newcastle United U21 2
Dylan Stephenson 2, Ben Parkinson 74,
Referee: Abigail Byrne.                                       Attendance: 199
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                     Free team sheet
It looked like it was going to be another defeat for Leicester after Newcastle took a second minute lead. We were all thinking if it was a question of ‘how many?’. The Foxes fought back, however, and were level by half-time. In the second half it was just a question of when Newcastle were going to regain the lead – and they did, midway through the half. A scrambled goal deep into injury time at the end of the match, allowed the hosts to grab a draw from what seemed certain defeat!
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Tuesday 9th January 2024
Nathaniel MG Welsh League Cup Semi-final
Guilsfield 0
Iwan Matthews penalty saved 84,
The New Saints 2
Jordan Williams 42, 74,
Referee: Huw Jones.                                            Attendance: 296
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£7).                      Programme: £1.00
Locating the floodlights was fairly straightforward, but finding an entrance to the ground was a tad more fraught – at one point, I ended up in a farmyard. Pleasant ground, seated stands on both sides and hardstanding all round, the bell ringers, from St Aelhaiarn’s church in the town, kept up a cacophony of campanology, but it didn’t help the host’s players. They were well beaten on the night, but their’s was a spirited defeat. They never gave up. However, TNS progress to the final and a prize of £10k plus a place in next season’s Scottish FA Cup at stake.
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Saturday 13th January 2024
Wessex League Division 1
Millbrook 6
Krysiek Krysztofowicz 9, 11, 22, 30, Mark Barker 69, Jamie White 74 (pen),
Frimley Green 1
Ronan Smith 52, Ben Harris s/o 73
Referee: Jack Hussey.                                   Attendance: 53
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£6).               Programme: £1.00
Millbrook – the Southampton variety – are comparative newcomers to the football fraternity having been formed (by amalgamation) in 2021, but they can trace their antecedents back as far as the formation of Bush Hill FC in 2002. They play at The Test Park Sports Ground, part of the Solent University sports complex. They are currently riding high in the play-off places, whilst their opponents are flirting with relegation. Four first half goals for the unpronounceable Krysiek Krysztofowicz set the tone for the match, but the visitors scored first in the second half, before having a man dismissed and conceding two further strikes.
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Tuesday 16th January 2024
Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1
Walsall Wood 2
Joshua Mansell 28, Alec Bradley 72,
Corby Town 4
Jack Keeble 35, 45, 52, Connor Tomlinson 36,
Referee: Richard Walker.                                 Attendance: 136
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£6).                    Programme: £2.00
Ten years since my last visit to Oak Park, the neat and tidy home of Walsall Wood and quite surprised at how reasonable the entrance fee (my grandson was charged just £1). The game was full of goals. The hosts scored first, but found themselves 1-3 down at the interval. In the second half, The Steelmen scored a fourth and then attempted to shut up shop, not a wise decision. The hosts pulled one goal back and could easily have had two or even three more goals, but in the end Corby hung onto and took the victory and the points. With grandson, Freddie.
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Belgium 2024

The 05.35 train from Corby to St Pancras to link up with Jim, Jonny Crane and Mark Sumner for the 09.01 Eurostar train to Brussels. Once in Brussels Midi-Suid, we caught a local train to Ghent.. Lovely city (and we walked a great deal around it, even our apartment was over a mile from the station). It was VERY COLD – much colder than in England – and there was ice and snow all around, but not recent. Lunch, then onto the apartment, I had a room to myself, but they had left the windows open and it was very cold!

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Friday 19th January 2024
(Belgian) Erste Klasse A
KAA Gent 1
Julien De Sart 60,
KV Mechelen 2
Daam Foulon 26, Bill Leroy Antonio 83,
Referee: Jonathan Lardot.                 Attendance: 12,696
Admission: €20.00.                            Programme: NONE, free teamsheet
If you think it’s cold in The UK, it’s Baltic in Belgium, with the temperature never rising above freezing and footpaths treacherously icy. Third placed Gent were out thought and undone by tenth place Mechelen, who attacked well on the counter and made the most of their few opportunities. For all their possession, the hosts carried little threat. With Jonny Crane and son, Jim.
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We heard, early on Saturday morning, that our second game – Erste Klasse B: FC Dender v FC Seraing – had been called off. Postponed due to the icy conditions. So, we entrained for Bruges and spent the afternoon looking round the city, visiting the Club Brugge shop and dining at Delaney’s Irish bar. In the central square, a procession in fancy dress was taking place with horse drawn carriages, but we never did find out what it was all about!
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The main square in Bruges
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The main square in Bruges.
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Naturally, we sampled the local brews
Jonny, across the table!
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Saturday 20th January 2024
(Belgian) Erste Klasse A
Club Brugge KV 3
Thiago 37, 65 (pen),Antonio Nusa 80,
KVC Westerlo 0
Arthur Piedfort s/o 90+1
Referee: Nicolas Laforge.                               Attendance: 18,583
Admission: €35.00.                                        Programme: NONE
Our earlier match at FC Dender having fallen to the icy conditions, tonight’s encounter in sub zero temperatures was our only match of the day. Westerlo started brightly, the little club from the sticks with average crowds of around 6,000 were up against the mighty Club Brugge in their fine stadium and it was the mighty Brugge who eventually prevailed with a first half goal from Thiago, a second from the same player, just after the hour and, ten minutes from time, Antonio Nusa struck the third. The visitors also had a player dismissed right at the end for a second yellow card. With Mark Sumner, Jonny Crane and son, Jim. We had a taxi pre-booked to take us back to the station in time to catch the very last train of the day back to Gent.
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Jonny Crane, Jim and Mark Sumner
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Jonny Crane
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Sunday 21st January 2024
(Belgian) Erste Klasse A
Royal Antwerp 4
Sporting de Charleroi 1
Referee: Eric Lambrechts.                                      Attendance: 12,444
Admission: €35.00                                                  Programme: NONE
The awesome approach to the ground belies the work in progress to bring it up to standard. An entire stand down one side is out of action and in need of replacement. Much has already been achieved, but much still needs to be done! The ground is, apparently, privately owned and there is some discussion about the best way forward to bring it up to modern standards. On the field, the hosts had little difficulty in dismantling the visitors defence, the only surprise was that Charleroi managed a very late consolation goal. With Mark Sumner.
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                                                       Yours Truly, Eddie McGeown
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Sunday 21st January 2024
(Belgian) Erste Klasse A
RWD Molenbeek 0
KAS Eupen 1
Edmond Renaud 58,
Match abandoned after 85 minutes.
Referee: Nathan Verboomen.                                Attendance: 3,500
Admission: €5.00.                                                   Programme: NONE, free team sheet
The match was on special offer at five euros at Molenbeek’s tired Edmond Machtensstadion, but the match was poor entertainment, no shots on target until the visitors struck in the 58th minute and no sign of the drama to unfold. With ten minutes to go and not a single home team shot on target, the faithful became restless and bangers – loud ones – were thrown around and onto the pitch. The referee took the players off for around twenty minutes and then restarted the match and almost immediately, another firework was hurled onto the pitch. That was that. The match was abandoned and riot police confronted angry fans whilst we were kettled in behind them, but eventually let out through a side gate. Fireworks were still being thrown at police as we hurried to catch the tram back to Brussels MidI-Zuid.
In accordance with Belgian FA and league rules, the final six minutes were played out at Molenbeek the following Wednesday. There were two further bookings, but no further goals and KAS Eupen won the match 1-0.
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No spectators allowed behind the goal, but the people in the flats had a good view!
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Riot police facing angry fans at Molenbeek
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The author, martialling his facts on the train from Antwerp to Brussels
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And that was the end of our Belgian sortie. Jonny Crane and my son Jim went to a different afternoon game: Belgian Erste Klasse B – Zulte Waregem 1 Jong Genk 1 (attendance: 5,539). After their match, they made their way to Brussels Midi-Zuid to catch the evening Eurostar back to London. Mark Sumner and I had booked into Appart’City hard by the station for one night, in order to catch the Molenbeek match, and met up with John Higgins who had been at Union St Gilloise for a match in the afternoon, whilst we were at Royal Antwerp. The following morning, we, too, boarded Eurostar for the trip back to London. It had been an exhilarating – but very cold – weekend, highly enjoyable, but also quite demanding.
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Tuesday 23rd January 2023
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division
Aylestone Park Reserves 5
Lewis Turland 27,Aaron Preston 45+2 (pen), 66, Daniel Henry 63, Marley Spencer 72,
Thurnby Rangers 3
Connor Dixon 9, Colby White 47, 78,
Referee: Simon Fradley                                  Attendance:- 44
Admission: OMGDS £2.00 (£4.00)            Programme: NONE
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Tuesday 30th January 2024
Vanarama National League North
Banbury United 2
Manny Maya 10, Charlie Waller 32,
Darlington 1
Mitchell Curry 69
Referee: Eugene Robinson.                                      Attendance: 534
Admission: OMGDS £11.00 (£15).                         Programme: £3.00
Very impressed that 76 Darlington fans made the 400+ round mile trip to Banbury for tonight’s match! The Quakers are seemingly doomed to relegation! The Puritans, meanwhile have just strung two wins together to give themselves a realistic chance of escaping the drop. After Saturday’s 2-0 victory against Hereford, the visitors arrived with positive intent, but they lack a cutting edge and posed little threat until a comical error in the home defence presented them with what turned out to be a consolation goal. Two first half strikes won the game for Banbury..
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December 2023

In the bleak midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago
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Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.
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Angels and archangels may have gathered there,
Cherubim and seraphim thronged the air;
But His mother only, in her maiden bliss,
Worshipped the beloved with a kiss.
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What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

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by Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894)

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Saturday 2nd December 2023
Southern Combination League Premier Division
Saltdean United 0
Steyning Town 3
Charlie Meehan 32, Joe Radley-Martin 41, Tom Chalaye 68,
Referee: Brendan Jones.                                    Official Attendsnce: 102
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£7).                     Programme: £2.00
On a bitterly cold, yet bright and sunny afternoon on The South Downs, this match went ahead despite plenty of evidence of ice and frost. Hilltop Park is a very basic but scenic ground with a spectacular backdrop. There are seated stands on both sides of the pitch, but no other cover. There are changing rooms and a club house and bar. Sadly, this season, the hosts are struggling and were no match for their highly placed opponents. Two goals in the opening period and the coup de grace with twenty minutes remaining saw the visitors leave with the points and the victory.
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Monday 4th December 2023
U21 Premier League 2
Leicester City 1
Kian Pennant 69,
Wolverhampton. Wanderers 3
Owen Hesketh 19, Justin Hubner 47, Leo Lopez 53,
Referee: Aji Ajibola.                                            Attendance: 290
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                     Free team sheet
This was my twenty-third visit to The Seagrave Sports Complex in Seagrave just to the north and east of Leicester and where Leicester City’s impressive complex, costing, apparently, up to £100 million to build, now hosts under 21 and under 18 fixtures as well as being the clubs main training ground. Leicester City have a poor u21 side. Admittedly, they have injuries, notably captain Sammy Braybrooke, who is out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury which will probably last the season! John and I saw Wolverhampton Wanderers u21 side heavily defeated by Aston Villa u21 last August at Bodymoor Park. Tonight, they made short work of Leicester City with a first half strike and two more early in the second half, before The Foxes claimed a consolation. With John Main.
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Saturday 9th December 2023
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Gainsborough Trinity 0
Ilkeston Town 1
Jaime Walker 25,
Referee: Joseph Goodwin.                                        Attendance: 462
Admission: OMGDS £9.00 (£13).                          Programme: £2.50
Despite the heavy rain of the last few days, the pitch was perfectly playable. Northolme is a traditional ground with terracing on all four sides and cover along three sides. They were formed way back in 1873 and were a Football League club from 1896 – 1912. Today, they languish in the lower echelons of the Northern Premier League’s top division. Ilkeston, meanwhile, are handily placed much higher up the table. They took the lead after half an hour and comfortably fended off their opponents for the rest of the game – including well over ten minutes of added time at the end of the match.
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Graeme Askham (1959 – 2020) Fellow “Hopper” passed away today three years ago. Many a happy match and many a ground visited!
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Friday 15th December 2023
Ebac Northern League Division 1
Redcar Athletic 1
Mason McNeil 37, Anthony Bell s/o 57,
Guisborough Town 2
James Frazer 78, Kurtis Hates 82,
Referee: Alexander Bourner.                                Attendance: 401
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                        Programme: £2.00
On a raw evening on the north-east coast, this local derby was a feisty, rumbustious affair. The two grounds are barely seven miles apart and the teams are separated by two points in the lower reaches of the Division 1 table. The ground is somewhat basic, with round 100 seats down the near side and some cover behind one goal, but not a lot else. The hosts led at the interval, but just before the hour mark, they had a player dismissed and that changed the balance of the match. The visitors scored two goals in the final ten minutes and were good value for their victory. With John Main.
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Saturday 16th December 2023
Sunderland & District Mill View Social Club Over 40s League
Premier Division
Seaham Harbour CC Vets 2
Martin Deacon 33, Chris McCabe 44,
Boldon Colliery Old Barrel Vets 4
Graham Bruce 39, Steve Menzies 67, Andrew Yates 74, 79,
Referee: James Marshall.                                              Attendance: 13
Admission: F.O.C.                                                          Programme: NONE
A very blustery morning right on the coast at Seaham, but the ground was a pleasant surprise, fully enclosed with a railed pitch, a modicum of terracing and club house with changing rooms. The visitors are struggling after promotion last season, but the hosts were missing five of their players. The wind played havoc, but in an entertaining encounter, the visitors eventually triumphed with two late goals. With John Main.
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Saturday 16th December 2023
Northern League Division 2
Newcastle Blue Star 5
Dan Lanning 21, 23, Regan Paterson 65, Callum Larmouth 69, Matty Telfer 71,
Washington 1
Flavio Silva 78,
Referee: Nigel Fittes.                                             Official Attendance: 109
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                        Programme: £2.00
The wind howled mercilessly around the marquee which provided Blue Star’s bar and king-sized TV screen. The ground, with plenty of seating and covered areas, felt a little ramshackle, with ad-hoc additions tacked on all round the arena, but, it appears to be a work in progress! Not so on the pitch! Second place Blue Star thrashed bottom but one club, Washington, it should have been more but over elaboration killed off several choice opportunities. With John Main.
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Tuesday 19th December 2023
Vanarama National League North
Banbury United 1
Ken Charles 40,
Chorley 4
Billy Whiehouse 25, Justin Johnson 37,Harvey Smith 53, Marco Rus 78,
Referee: Oliver Mackey.                                        Attendance: 429
Admission: OMGDS £11.00 (£15).                     Programme: £3.00
The Spencer Stadium, or should I say, The Banbury Plant Hire Stadium, has a new stand with around 100 seats on the opposite side to the existing stand. This season, however, they lost their manager and most of their players and after a bright first season in National League North, they are now struggling, despite victory at high flying Tamworth. This evening, they were comprehensively dismantled by a Chorley side fresh from a defeat at table topping Scunthorpe United, but who climbed back to third in the table with this victory.
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The new stand on the far side at The Spencer Stadium
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Ed and eldest son, Jim
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Jim and Mike
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Saturday 23rd Secember 2023
Northern Premier League Midland Division 1
Corby Town 1
Toby Hilliard 61, Dan Wallis s/o 54
Boldmere St Michaels 2
O’Shane Stewart 69, Owen Parry 75, Kai Knight s/o 28
Referee: Joseph Karram.                                           Attendance: 494
Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£12).                           Programme: £2.00
Having spent a lot of time trying, unsuccessfully to locate Coventrians FC in Coventry, I sped back to take in a very local match at Steel Park on a mild and sunny, December afternoon. The home faithful were hoping and expecting a first home league win of the season. Ten home games, three draws and – now – Seven defeats. Fortunately, they have seven away wins out of nine matches! Both sides had a man dismissed and it was the hosts who opened the scoring to raise the spirits of a festive audience, but it was not to be and two strikes by the visitors in the final twenty minutes took the victory and the points!
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Boxing Day Tuesday 26th December 2023
Northern League Division 1 (11.00am)
Boro Rangers 2
David Lofts 47 (pen), 80,
Redcar Athletic 2
Brandon Holdsworth 37, Lewis Ritson 77,
Referee: J. Payne                                    Attendance: 254
Admission: OMGDS )5.00 (£7).         Programme: ON LINE
On a bright, sunny but cold morning, a plastic pitch in a cage with around 100 seats flanking a covered standing area. With such strong sunlight, viewing from behind one goal was the best option. Promoted from Division 2 of The Northern League at the end of their first season in that league, they formerly played at Stokesley FC and are now strongly placed in the upper echelons of Division 1. Local derbies don’t always go to form and this was no exception. Lowly Redcar were full value for the draw. They led twice and deserved their point. With John Main.
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Boxing Day Tuesday 26th December 2023
Northern League Division 2 (3.00pm)
Boldon CA 3
Levi Collins 39, 90, Jude Harrison 70,
Jarrow 3
Luke Hudson 12, Lutfur Karim 32, Chris Brennan 35,
Referee: T. Dutton.                                          Attendance: 144
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                 Programme: £1.00
Alongside the ground where I once saw Jarrow Roofing bow out of the FA Vase at the semifinal stage in front of a crowd of well over a thousand, The Villa is home to Boldon CA. The covered stand on the far side has twice been blown down by wind and there is little or no shelter – or seating! Both of these teams are becalmed in mid-table and it was the visitors who were the more lively in the first half, taking a three goal lead before conceding just before the interval. The second half was a totally different vintage, the hosts pressed incessantly but, it finally took a goal deep into added time at the death to retrieve a point from the game. With John Main.
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John Main
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Wednesday 27th December 2023
Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1
Cambridge City 1
Mikey Davis 60,
Corby Town 1
Connor Tomlinson 7,
Referee: Jorden Gibson.                         Attendance: 287
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10).        Programme: £2.00
Cambridge City are still waiting for their new stadium in Sawston to be completed, hoping to get in there some time this season, but, in the meantime, they are groundsharing on the 3G at Westwood Road, home of St Ives Town. It has been a less than auspicious season for both of these clubs. The visitors. have yet to register a home victory and the hosts were thrashed 7-0 the last time they played here. Perhaps both sides were satisfied with a point, but in truth, neither side deserved to win. With son, Mike, grandson, Freddie and Gary Miller.
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Freddie, Gary and Mike
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Saturday 30th December 2023
United counties League Premier Division North
Loughborough Students 4
Joe Fountain 2, Josh Wicks 51, Dylan Edwards 20 (pen), 56 (pen), 
Hucknall Town 1
Ayleul Dill 90,
Referee: Oliver Morton. Attendance: 134
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8). Programme: NONE
Eldest son, Jim and grandsons, Sonny and Kingsley, were definitely impressed with their first visit to The Holywell Stadium – as, indeed, they should be! There were no programmes, but a teamsheet was posted in the clubhouse behind the main stand. Poor old Hucknall are already somewhat adrift at the foot of the table and, they were lucky to catch their high flying hosts in a generous mood. Two goals in each half and several other acceptable chances spurned, before the visitors grabbed a ninetieth minute consolation.
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Sonny and Kingsley preferred to lurk behind the goal …….
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……. Ed and Jim preferred to view from up in the stand!
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Sunday 31st December 2023
JD Cymru North
Mold Alexandra 3
Steve Watkins 39, Jake Roberts 68, Daniel Warren 74,
Prestatyn Town 0
Referee: Aled Williams.                                        Official Attendance: 224
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£7).                       Programme: NONE
Alyn Park is an old fashioned ground with a high traditional stand on one side and club house and bar, but that is the extent of the facilities. There is a huge car park, but the only realistic spectator viewing is down one side of the ground. The hosts are handily placed fifth in the league, but the visitors are struggling at the bottom, some five points adrift of safety. For all that, the visitors made the better start, but by the interval, they were a goal down and two further second half strikes sealed their fate! With John Main and a good gathering of hoppers.
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November 2023

Like rain it sounded till it curved

And then I knew ’twas wind –

It walked as wet as any Wave

But swept as dry as sand –

When it had pushed itself away

To some remotest Plain

A coming as of Hosts was heard

That was indeed the Rain –

It filled the Wells, it pleased the Pools

It warbled in the Road –

It pulled the spigot from the Hills

And let the Floods abroad –

It loosened acres, lifted seas

The sites of Centres stirred

Then like Elijah rode away

Upon a Wheel of Cloud

by Emily Dickinson (1830 – 1886)

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Wednesday 1st November 2023
United Counties League Division 1
Blackstones 4
Birstall United 0
Referee: Ryan Allison.                                               Attendance: 94
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).                            Programme: £2.00
The floodlights glowed down from the treetops and leaves scattered the field like a golden harvest of poppies. Blackstones have an atmospheric ground which stirs the spirit and, tonight, their team were electric, too. Both of these teams are there or thereabouts in the play-off places and it was the hosts who leapfrogged their rivals with a stunning and decisive victory.
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Atmospheric as the moon glows behind the giant triffids rising above the trees to light the game!
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Tuesday 7th November 2023
Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1
Spalding United 1
Jordan Graham 21,
Corby Town 2
Connor Tomlinson 33, Daniel Gordon 73,
Referee: Dan England.                                     Attendance: 279
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10).                 Programme: £2.00
On a mild November evening at the well appointed Sir Halley Stewart Field, something had to give. Five home wins for the hosts in second place in the table, five away wins for the mid-table visitors. It was the Steelmen who took the honours, coming from behind to take a winning lead from a free kick in the 73rd minute following the dismissal of the offender for a second yellow card. With grand son, Freddie.
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A large contingent of Corby Town supporters cheered their side on!
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Saturday 11th November 2023
West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1
Wyrley Juniors 0
Wellington Amateurs 2
Rune Corinaldi 32, Joshua Wycherley 50
Referee: Mark Owen.                                       Attendance: 34
Admission: £5.00.                                           Programme:- NONE
Barely a hundred yards away, across the road and over the railway bridge from Sikh Hunters’ Long Lane Park, is … Long Lane, home of today’s hosts, Wyrley Juniors, sadly struggling in this division, with only one league win all season. Their opponents, sit proudly atop the league, with a couple of games in hand. A goal in each half was enough to garner a regulation victory for the visitors, but they really should have scored more!
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Monday 13th November 2023
Birmingham FA Senior Cup 2nd Round
Coleshill Town 0
Redditch United 0
(Coleshill Town won 4-2 on penalties)
Referee: Lewis Smith.                                   Attendance: 144
Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£10).             Programme: NONE
An eminently forgettable game on the Pack Meadow 3G surface, where defences dominated and chances were extremely thin on the ground. The visitors had two spot kicks saved, the hosts scored all of theirs! With John Main and Lee West.
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Tuesday 14th November 2023
Northants Senior (Hillier) Cup 2nd Round
Kettering Town 4
Will Mellors-Blair 65, 76 (pen), Huw Dawson 81, Kieran Dawes 87,
Corby Town 2
Daniel Gordon 4, Toby Hillard 48,
Referee: Harry Price. Official                                 Attendance: 183
Admission: OMGDS £10.00 (£15).                      Programme: NONE
A pricey night out at Kettering Town’s shambles of a stadium in Burton Latimer. The visitors were good value for a half-time lead which they doubled at the start of the second period. They then gave away a silly goal from a custodian’s error and shortly afterwards, the referee intervened to award the hosts a dubious penalty. It was more than the visitors could bear and two late strikes sealed the victory for The Poppies.
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Wednesday 15th November 2023
Eastern Counties League Division 1 North
FC Peterborough 3
Holbeach United 1
Referee: Rhys Taylor.                                          Attendance: 162
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                     Programme: £2.00
The last time I was at Chestnut Avenue, Peterborough Northern Star (now defunct) were the hosts and FC Peterborough were plying their trade in the lower echelons of the PDFL. This evening, I was gifted a club badge on entry and accosted (in good heart) by a batsman I’d given out LBW last May! The hosts were clearly the superior side and it was only after they introduced a plethora of substitutes that the visitors were able to claim a consolation strike.
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Saturday 18th November 2023
Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Hollands & Blair 2
Dean Grant 12, Frankie Griffin (pen) 48,
Rusthall 1
Jesse Hammond 3,
Referee: Kristian Kaczala.                                      Attendance: 115
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8).                         Programme: on line
Not a fan of 3G, but this small, cramped ground with hardstanding all the way round, cover behind the near goal and covered seating down each side, was quite attractive, despite black being the dominant background colour. These two teams occupy places in the bottom half dozen of the division yet, surprisingly they produced a competitive and evenly matched contest. A goal apiece at the interval, the hosts scored from the spot almost immediately after the break and just about deserved the victory and the points. With John Main.
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The penalty, just after half-time which sealed the victory for the hosts.
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Tuesday 21st November 2023
Southern Combination League Premier Division
Crawley Down Gatwick 3
Sam Clements 30, Oli Leslie 56, 59,
Shoreham 0
Referee: Patrick Joliffe.                                           Attendance:- 61
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                          Programme: NONE
Fine repast at The Duke’s Head, prior to the match, then onwards to the ground hidden behind The Haven pub cum cafe in the village of Crawley Down. There is a substantial seated stand down the near side, covered standing behind one goal and hard standing all the way round the pitch. The visitors are rock bottom of the division and the wonder is how they managed to escape with a mere 0-3 defeat! The hosts were profligate and wasteful and that piece of tautology is nearly as bad as the title of the competition.
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Number 4 for the away side is: Tom Bold.
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Wednesday 22nd November 2023
Norfolk FA Senior Cup 2nd Round
Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers 0
Heacham 1
Nathan Davies 8, Nathan Davies s/o 39. Charlie Royle s/o 78,
Referee: James Sneddon.                             Attendance: 106
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).               Programme: £1.00
The hosts play their home matches at “The Nest”, a community hub and sports centre close to Norwich airport. There are two floodlit 3G pitches and a host of other sporting facilities and opportunities. Dussindale are newly arrived in the Eastern League, whilst Heacham, in only their second season, are already a division above them. A single goal separated the sides, the visitors had a player dismissed in each half, yet were still able to keep the hosts at bay and defend an eighth minute lead to proceed to the next round. With John Main, Paul Proctor and Chris Garner.
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Saturday 25th November 2023
Isthmian League South East Division
Broadbridge Heath 0
Burgess Hill Town 0
Referee: James Kerten.                                       Official Attendance: 228
Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£10).                    Programme: £2.00
The hosts moved into their purpose built stadium just four years ago. Previously, they had been playing at the athletics stadium adjacent to their present new ground. There is an extensive club house with changing rooms and social/catering facilities, a stand with a hundred seats on the opposite side of the ground, and a small covered area behind one goal. The game was competitive and entertaining, but chances – never mind goals – were few and far between!
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Tuesday 28th November 2023
NCEL League Cup 2nd Round
Louth town 5
Sam Swinn 45+1, Bailey Wright 74, Harry Crawford 79, Reece Southwood 84, Harry Jacklin 86,
Armthorpe Welfare 0
Referee: Robert Nunn.                                                   Official Attendance: 105
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                                 Programme: £1.00
The last time I saw Louth town play was at Park Avenue, back in 2009, when a crowd more than twice the size of tonight’s gathering saw a thrilling FA Vase tie which Sleaford Town won, after extra time, by the odd goal in seven. It is quite a story how Louth United went out of action in 2007, reformed and continued to play at Park Avenue, lost their ground and reformed again to play at their present location. When I first came to see them, I happened on this ground before being directed to their then ground! Tonight was Louth Town’s first match under floodlights at their new ground, which, sadly, is not even in Louth, but down the road at Saltfleetby. In a lacklustre first half they laboured against relegation threatened Welfare, but four second half strikes sealed the tie decisively. Nice touch in the urinals in the men’s loo!
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The only available seating was in a 50 seater Meccano stand down one side.
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Improving accuracy in the loo!
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Originally, when I asked at the turnstile for a programme, they told me programmes were “on line only”. Then I discovered this sitting behind the bar and purchased the official matchday programme for £1.00. Free team sheets were also available.
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October 2023

October Poem

The month of carnival of all the year,
When Nature lets the wild earth go its way,
And spend whole seasons on a single day.
The spring-time holds her white and purple dear;
October, lavish, flaunts them far and near;
The summer charily her reds doth lay
Like jewels on her costliest array;
October, scornful, burns them on a bier.
The winter hoards his pearls of frost in sign
Of kingdom: whiter pearls than winter knew,
Oar empress wore, in Egypt’s ancient line,
October, feasting ‘neath her dome of blue,
Drinks at a single draught, slow filtered through
Sunshiny air, as in a tingling wine!

by Helen Hunt Jackson (1830-1885). She was a poet, a novelist and an activist who campaigned on behalf of native Americans. Her “Calendar of Sonnets”, offered a sonnet for every month of the year, accompanied by illustrations.

 

 Francis Lee (29th April 1944 – 2nd October 2023)

When I were a lad, I were a big supporter of Bolton Wanderers. They got relegated from th’ old First Division around 1964 and, that season, Franny Lee were Bolton Wanderers’ top scorer. It were also round about then that they had these two wingers. “Tiny” Taylor on the left wing and Franny Lee on the right wing.

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I think I first saw him play in an FA Cup 3rd Round replay against non-league Bath City at Burnden Park on 6th January 1964 . There were a big crowd that night (26,500) and Franny scored a penalty in Bolton Wanderers 3-0 victory.

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I saw him many times playing (and scoring) for Bolton Wanderers, but I particularly remember seeing him at Bolton Wanderers on 19th November 1966 when he scored both goals (one a penalty) in a 2-1 victory over Hull City. T’ following day, the newspaper comment was:
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“Forget today, because yesterday, I saw the player of tomorrow”.
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On 25th February 1967, I were at Deepdale to see him score a hat trick against Preston North End. For his hat trick goal, he stopped t’ ball on the goal line with his foot and knelt down and headed it into the net.
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What a player,  and the next season, he joined Manchester City for a club record transfer fee of £60,000!
Rest in peace, Franny
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Wednesday 4th October 2023
EFL Championship
Leicester City 3
Kiernan Dewsbury Hall 60, 90,, Kelechi Iheanaco 76, 
Preston North End 0
Referee: Darren England.                             Attendance: 30,380
Admission: OMGDS £32.50 (£40).
Programme: £3.50
After a torrid yawn of a first half, the hosts woke up and smote three past a very defensive and lacklustre North End side, to take The Foxes back to the summit of the EFL Championship.
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Saturday 7th October 2023
LeicestershireSenior League Premier Division
Burbage & Huncote 9 
Tom Mason 11,22, Cameron Atkinson 32, 64, 65, 70, Liam Pescott 41, 51, 81,
Barrow Town 3
Tramaine Byron 17, Dean Hopewell 28, Joe Smith 57,
Referee: Martyn Jarvis.                                             Attendance: 35
Admission: F.O.C.                                                      Programme: NONE
A warm Indian Summer’s afternoon at well equipped Huncote Sports Club which has a cricket pitch and two football pitches, one railed and with substantial dugouts – and a large bar and refreshment area and equally large changing rooms. The visitors used to grace The United Counties League and The Midland League, but are now languishing in the lower reaches of the LSL Premier Division. There were six goals in each half. The first half was the more evenly balanced, with the hosts taking a 4-2 lead, but after the break, they ran in five more to one in reply to claim a stunning and deserved victory.
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Tuesday 10th October 2023
Isthmian League North Division
Bury Town 2
Lewis O’Malley 89, Darren Mills 90+8,
Gorleston 2
Dion Frary 28, Ryan Curtis 88,
Referee: Chris Hastings.                                       Attendance: 485
Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£10).                     Programme: £2.00
Lovely old fashioned ground at Ram Meadow with lots of cover all round the arena and seating down each side. Gorleston should have won this match. They led from the half hour mark and comfortably fended off the hosts until the 88th minute when … they scored again to double their lead. Quite how the hosts managed to grab two goals – the second in the eighth minute of added time – when they had been so inept earlier, is quite incredible. Good atmosphere and healthy attendance.
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Wednesday 11th October 2023
United Counties League Premier Division South
GNG Oadby Town 2
Lamar Parkes 48, Tyrel Francis 90+6
Lutterworth Town 5
Benjamin Adomako 3, Nick Reeves 17 (pen), 47 (pen), Ben Bradshaw 36 (pen), Luke Wilson 65,
Referee: Adam Crosby-Smith. Attendance: 68
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£6). Programme: £2.00
A new seated stand has appeared at Narborough Road since my last visit, and seeing as Oadby Town no longer really exist – even their ground has apparently been taken over by Leicester Tigers – I think the time has come for GNG to revert to their original status. Tonight they were well beaten by a side struggling and fourth from bottom in the league. Three unanswered first half strikes, including two penalties, were followed by a third penalty immediately after the restart. The visitors added a fifth before the hosts redeemed some pride with the final goal deep into added time at the end of the match.
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Saturday 14th October 2023
Northants Combination Premier Division
Heyford Athletic 0
Corby Strip Mills 4
Oak Mapson, 23, Bradley Marshall 48, Liam Brown 66, Louis Martin 71,
Referee: Nathan Japp.                                           Attendance: 16
Admission: F.O.C.                                                  Programme: NONE
A decided chill in the air in the Northamptonshire village of Nether Heyford and a fine repast at The Sun hostelry before repairing to the Heyford Playing fields (football, cricket, tennis, bowls, netball/basketball) for the afternoon match. There was a large club house with bar and refreshments and a railed field with hardstanding down most of one side, but precious little else, apart from a tiny covered area at the far end of the clubhouse. The match was fairly even until half-time when the visitors led by a single goal, but after the break, they ran riot, scoring three but missing many more gilt edged chances!
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Monday 16th October 2023
MMP Central Wales League South
Knighton Town 2
Callum Stead 43, Declan Beddoes 64,
Aberystwyth University 1
Adam Carey 88,
Referee: Christopher Corfield.                          Attendance: 95
Admission: £3.00.                                              Programme: NONE
A quaint ground, with an air of genteel decline and a pitch that looked as if it had hosted a herd of cows earlier in the day! Despite all that, there was a friendly welcome a bar and catering hut that did a roaring trade and a cracker of a game with no time wasting, no feigning of injuries and no need for the physio and his wet sponge. The hosts led at the interval, doubled their lead just after the hour mark and the visitors consolation came with three minutes to go. Plenty of ‘hoppers’ there and a really enjoyable evening!
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Tuesday 17th October 2023
Premier League Professional Development League
@ Nene Academy, Orton Longueville, Peterborough
Peterborough United u21 3
Donay Obrien-Brady 50, 70, Jacob Wakeling 60,
Burnley u21 1
Joe Westley 9,
Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant.                               Attendance: 56
Admission: F.O.C.                                                           Programme: free team sheet
The ground is situated on the site of two schools (Nene Academy) and, as the game finished at school closing time, there was a pretty hefty traffic jam trying to get away from the site! There are (at least) five pitches, two with seated stands (both featured below) and the main pitch is fenced in with high green fencing. The entrance is guarded by stewards who are very friendly, show you where to park, offer you a team sheet and indicate the portakabin which has shelter, seats, coffee and snacks (no cash). Burnley looked the team in the first half and were good value for their interval lead. In the second half, they were blown away by a spirited Posh revival.
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Wednesday 18th October 2023
West Midlands (Regional) League Division 1
Gornal Colts 5
William Slater 19, Alistair McCue 26,Elliot Davies 55, 59, Max Powell 66,
Wyrley United 1
Luke Harrison 86,
Referee: Thomas Wiley.                                         Attendance: 41
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                         Programme: NONE
There are two pitches at The Dell Stadium in Brierley Hill, a 3G pitch and, tonight, a grass surface surrounded by an athletics track. Heavy unremitting precipitation, before during and after the game was not conducive to good football, but the playing surface held up well and the hosts made the most of it, two goals to the good in the first period and three more added after the break before the visitors scored a late consolation four minutes from time.
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Saturday 21st October 2023
Isuzu FA Vase 1st round
Hamworthy Recreation 4
George Deem 12 (pen), Chris Long 28, 43, 56,
Bovey Tracey 0
Referee: Lewis Ward.                                                Official Attendance: 82
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£6).                            Programme: included
Strange place, the BJM Stadium, wonderful clubhouse facilities (there was even a wedding reception going on all afternoon), we enjoyed a pre-match meal and could have watched the game from an outside balcony! However, access to the ground was haphazard – you could easily avoid paying an entrance fee – the ground itself was very open. There was a fifty seater stand on the far side but the only other cover was a small roofed terrace down the near side. The ground is shared with a cricket club. Hamworthy Recreation are enjoying an unbeaten season in the league and are comfortably top with twelve wins and a draw this season. Their only reverse came in the Wessex League Cup when they lost on penalties to more highly placed Moneyfields after a 1-1 draw. As for this match, no contest! The hosts led 3-0 at the interval, took their foot off the pedal after the break, but still ran out 4-0 winners to progress to the FA Vase 2nd Round. With John Main.
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Tuesday 24th October 2023
Vanarama National League South
St Albans City 3
Abby Akanbi 13, 79, Dylan Fage 18,
Slough Town 2
San Bayliss 60, Josh Jackman 74,
Referee: Michael Robertson-Tant.                             Attendance: 1,138
Admission: OMGDS £9.00 (£16.50).                       Programme: £3
Six years since my last visit to Clarence Park, but a first visit for son, Mike and grandson Freddie. Lovely old fashioned ground, with cover on all four sides, but the new-ish plastic dugouts just add to the restricted vision most of the way along the side of the main stand. Good match! Slough’s shambles of a defence let in two early goals, but after the interval, they came back strongly and had equalised with a scant fifteen minutes remaining, only for the defence to let them down again and, rather fortuitously, the hosts held on for victory!
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The view from the main stand was fairly badly obstructed. The ‘dug-outs” should have been below ground level
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Grand Dad and Grand Son – Eddie & Freddie
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Wednesday 25th October2023
EFL Championship
Stoke City 1
Wesley 80,
Leeds United 0
Referee: Paul Tierney.                                 Attendance: 25,871
Admission: OMGDS £20.00 (£30).        Programme: £3
A first visit to the Britannia Stadium for grandson, Freddie and he was mildly impressed with the ground, where before the match all sorts of tricks were played with the floodlights and other coloured lighting. The match itself, was enthralling. Two competent sides generally cancelling each other out, but the hosts had more ambition in attack whilst the visitors had clearly come for a share of the spoils and they were undone, ten minutes from the end by a flashing header from a rare corner kick. The goal and the result sent the home faithful into raptures at the end! Things might have been a little different had Patrick Bamford not missed a 75th minute penalty!
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ITALY 2023

This year it was the turn of my eldest son, Jim (and his friend Jonny Crane) along with grand sons Sonny and Kingsley to make the trip to Italy. We all flew out of Luton Airport on the 06.30 flight and landed safely at Milan Malpensa at 09.40 CET. Straight to Milano Central on the Malpensa Express and met up with Maggie (my sister), briefly, before entraining once again for Genoa. We stayed overnight in Genoa in an airbnb in the San Giorgios area of the city and returned by train the following morning to Milan.
Friday 27th October 2023
Italy Serie A
Genoa CFC 1
Albert Gudmunsson 35,
US Salernitana 0
Referee: Davide Massa.                               Attendance c30,000
Admission: €60.00.                                    Programme: NONE
Genoa Cricket and Football Club, the oldest club in Italy, originally founded as the English cricket team abroad, hence, the cross of England on the club logo. Neither of these two teams are enjoying successful seasons, with but two wins between them from their combined total of eighteen matches – both wins to the hosts, who made it a third victory, albeit a trifle fortunately, this evening, having scored in the 35th minute, they had to withstand a savage second half onslaught from the visitors. Excellent atmosphere with much coloured smoke, flag waving and continuous noise! Great evening!
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Saturday 28th October 2023
Italy Serie B
Feralpisalo 0
AC Reggiana 3
Janis Antiste 7, Luca Cigarini 44(pen), Edoardo Pieragnolo 55,
Referee: Antonio Rapuano.                                    Attendance: c1,750
Admission: OMGDS €10.00 (€15).                      Programme:NONE
Faded glory, genteel poverty, what once must have been a magnificent stadium looks tired and forlorn, great chunks of the running track have disappeared and who knows what happened to Piacenza, a strong member of Serie A in the 1990s but now plying their trade in Serie D after bankruptcy in 2012 and re-formation in 2019. In the meantime, newly promoted Feralpisalo are finding life tough in Serie B, currently occupying a relegation spot. Today, they were well beaten by a side also in the lower echelons of the league. The weather was so mild that many of the visiting faithful declined to wear anything above the waist! VAR was used to determine the penalty that led to the second goal.
We were very much indebted to an Italian friend of my sister Maggie (who lives in Milan). Mario Spizzico lives in Piacenza and he was very generous in driving us from the railway station to the stadium AND returning at the end of the match, to take us back to the station in time to catch a very tight connection back to Milan Rogoredo.
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Saturday 28th October 2023 k.o.: 6.30pm CET
Italy Serie C Girone A
AS Giana Erminio 1
Maguette Fall 54,
SSD Pro Sesto 1
Nicolo Bruschi 32,
Referee: Luigi Catanoso.                                 Attendance: c 2,000
Admission: €5.00.                                            Programme: NONE
Another lovely ground that has seen better days, and, despite the paucity of the attendance, we had to queue for half an hour, overseen by a strong carabinieri presence, for the privilege of purchasing a 5 euro ticket, but only after each of our passports had been scrutinised and the details entered on the computer. Once inside the stadium we were met with a three metre high metal fence and viewing high up in the stand was obligatory. This was the third tier of Italian football, but I doubt if any half decent Conference North or South team would have had much trouble in disposing of either side. A goal to the visitors before the break and an equaliser early in the second period, this match had 1-1 stamped all over it! The nearest Metro station was Gorgonzola, home of the cheese, I believe, and that took us back to Milano Centrale.
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Eldest son, Jim with my grandsons, Kingsley, left and Sonny, right.
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On the platform at Gorgonzola Metro and only seventeen stops from Milano Central!
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Sunday 29th October 2023
Italy Serie A
AC Monza 1
Andrea Colpani 27,
Udinese 1
Lorenzo Lucca 66,
Referee:- Alessandro Prontera. Attendance: c10,000
Admission: €30.00. Programme: NONE
A quite impressive ground, but with cover only down one side, the rest of the spectators were open to the elements like Feyenoord in the old days or La Romareda at Real Zaragoza. However, it is a relatively small stadium, accommodating only around 18,500 spectators. Today, it was barely half full. The hosts were the more impressive in the early stages and took the lead after 27 minutes, but Udinese were never out of it and had chances before their 66th minute equaliser. The draw was a fair result.
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Back on Monza Station after a two mile walk from the stadium, grandsons, Sonny, left and Kingsley, right, display their newly acquired Monza scarves.
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Tuesday 31st October 2023
Abacus Lighting g Central Midlands Alliance
Black Dragon North Division
Dearne & District 7
Glapwell 1
Referee:- Richard Trinder.                                 Attendance: 164
Admission: OMGDS £1.00 (£3).                      Programme: NONE
The Dearne Miners Welfare park in Goldthorpe, near Barnsley, is a work in progress. There is hard standing down one side and being constructed behind one goal. There are floodlights, of course and plans to build changing rooms behind the opposite goal. At present, the club house and bar are outside the ground, although alcohol and pies and peas are available inside the ground. They are an ambitious club and unbeaten in the league this season and with ambitions to gain promotion to The Northern Counties East League. At a recent match against second placed Doncaster City, which they won 1-0, there was an attendance of over 700. On a pretty miserable evening, the hosts scored seven, but the visiting keeper played a blinder and kept the score line down. Several hoppers were there and the Alliance president, Eddie Pearce, very optimistic about the future of the league and it’s ambitions.
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September 2023

‘September’.

Lo! a ripe sheaf of many golden days
Gleaned by the year in autumn’s harvest ways,
With here and there, blood-tinted as an ember,
Some crimson poppy of a late delight
Atoning in its splendor for the flight
Of summer blooms and joys­
This is September.

Lucy Maud Montgomery (1874-1942) is best-known for her classic novel for children, Anne of Green Gables, set in Montgomery’s own country of Canada (on Prince Edward Island). But Montgomery was also a poet, and in this short poem about September (quoted above in its entirety) she pays tribute to the ‘late delight’ of the month.

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Saturday 2nd September 2023
Emirates FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Eastbourne United 2
Callum Barlow 49, Hayden Beaconsfield 89,
Epsom & Ewell 1
Ashley Snadden 79,
Referee: Billy Woods.                                     Attendance: 144
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8).                 Programme: FREE
After a superb repast at Bistrot Pierre, in the centre of town and next to a Steampunk festival taking place on the front, we repaired to The Oval, on Channel View Road, a well looked after arena with two seated stands and a standing covered area (all of the Meccano variety, but very suitable nonetheless) on a sunny and warm afternoon. There was confusion over the team lists, which bore no resemblance to the team board written up before the game and no-one, initially, appeared to know who the officials were. However, the stage was set for an FA Cup tie that was ….. underwhelming for the first hour, but which then produced three goals and a victory for the hosts. With Phil Evans and Giles Ashman.
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Tuesday 5th September 2023
Vanarama National League North
Tamworth 2
Dempsey Arnott-John 21, Kyle Finn 32,
Chorley 1
Jack Hazlehurst 90+2
Referee: Darren Rogers.                                    Attendance: 921
Admission: OMGDS £14.00 (£18)                  Programme: £3.00
Eighteen years since my last visit and the obvious difference was the installation of a 3G pitch. Apart from that, it was the rip off prices that were charged! £14 for a concession to sit in the stand and that didn’t include £2.00 for the car park! Three pounds for the programme. A carton of curried chips was £4.50 and a cheeseburger was £6.00, not to mention the price of a pint of beer! The team sheets were free, however! As for the game, two early goals for the hosts rather settled the match but Chorley pulled one back in the 91st minute and were unlucky not to equalise a few minutes later.
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Wednesday 6th September 2023
FA Women’s National League Division 1 Midlands
Loughborough Lightning Women 3
Jessica Collyer 17, Hannah Plumb 21, Lauren Purchase 58,
Notts County Women 0
Referee: Charlotte Spalding.                                     Attendance: 126
Admission: OMGDS £2.00. (£5).                            Programme: on line
On a very warm and humid evening, a drinks break was taken in each half as relegated Lightning continued their fine start to the season with a convincing victory over Notts County Women, who have yet to record a victory. With John Main.
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Saturday 9th September 2023
Toolstation Western League Premier Division
Nailsea & Tickenham 0
Manager dismissed 38 mins (foul & abusive language)
Barnstaple Town 2
Billy Tucker (c) 38, Harry Foster 45+6,
Referee: Rebecca Halford.                                Attendance: 118
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£7).                    Programme: On Line.
Just south of Bristol across the Avonmouth bridge and into the North Somerset villages of Tickenham (pop 900) and Nailsea (pop 15,500), although Tickenham has the more impressive parish church of SS Quiricus and Julietta and right on the edge of Nailsea is the football ground, formed as recently as 2015. Most of the facilities (changing rooms, bar, toilets, refreshment areas) are housed in portakabins and the only stand (and covered area) is a scaffolded structure with maybe fifty seats. The club has done well to reach these dizzy heights in just eight years, but they were undone today by a club who recently graced The Southern League. Two first half goals and the dismissal of the home manager for foul and abusive language was enough to clinch the victory for the visitors in desperately hot and humid conditions which necessitated two drinks stoppages in each half! With John Main.
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Monday 11th September 2023
Pitching-in Southern League Premier Division Central
Hitchin Town 3
Stan Georgia 48, Finley Wilkinson 58 (pen), Daniel Idiakhoa 80,
Nuneaton Borough 0
Referee: S Kyle. Attendance: 435
Admission: OMGDS £9.00 (£13). Programme: £2.50
It’s Monday, so it must be Hitchin and around 35 other hoppers joined me for this step three clash at their iconic Top Field stadium. The first half was fairly evenly matched and Borough maybe even shaded it, but they ran out of steam after the break and conceded three times to a rampant Canaries.
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Tuesday 12th September 2023
Servio Hampshire Senior Cup 2nd Round
Alton 3
Nasim Regragui 10, Luke Perkins 19, 33,
Aldershot Town 2
H. McKenna 58, Tommy Willard 61,
Referee: Ant Cross.                              Attendance: 562
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).      Programme: £2.00
15.08 train from Corby to St Pancras (16.22)and then Waterloo (17.25) to Alton terminus at (18.31). The ground is a short (ten minute) walk from the station.
Not a fan of plastic surfaces and this one looked a tad worn. It played well, however, and a large crowd were treated to a well fought local derby in which the underdogs ran their visitors ragged in the first period and took a three goal advantage into the interval. After what must have been a tough half-time altercation, a far more determined Aldershot side came out for the second half, laid siege to the hosts goal, pulled two goals back, but, in the end, couldn’t manage to draw level. Excellent game, big crowd!
The reverse journey was a tad more complicated. 21.44 from Alton to Woking (22.21) and was there, supposed to transfer to a non-stop faster train to Waterloo. When I got to the platform, I found that it was eight minutes late! Hence I got into Waterloo five minutes later than if I had stayed on the original train! A fifteen minute wait on the platform at 23.15 for a Piccadilly line tube to St Pancras, but I got there in time for the 23.54 to Corby from which only two passengers alighted (including myself) when it arrived at 01.40.
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Wednesday 13th September 2023
Nottinghamshire Senior League Division 1
FCV Grace Dieu 2
Emiriu Hafeez 19, Danield Brooks 45,
Hucknall Town Reserves 2
Bradley Evans, 28, Kieran Orange 43
Referee: Dave Southern.                                   Attendance: 59
Admission: F.O.C.                                             Programme: NONE
Named after a local 12th century Augustinian monastery close by (but sadly, now, no more than a ruin), this was the host’s first league match at their new home, in their first season in The NSL. By the end of a feisty opening session, all the goals had been scored and the second half was a bit of a let down. There was a goodly smattering of hoppers in attendance, John Main, Martin Hayden, Peter Abbott, Greg, the pencil man, and Kizz Everard! Quite why FCV chose to play in the NSL when they are a Leicestershire side, isn’t known, except that they may have been offered a higher status in The NSL than they might have achieved in The Leicestershire Senior League. The ground is very basic. Two good sized “dug-outs” on the far side and a metal barrier with mesh surrounding the pitch, with viewing down (mainly) one side, but plenty of scope for development for someone with deep pockets.
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Friday 15th September 2023
Premier League 2 League Cup Group G
Leicester City U21 3
Wanya Marcal 31, Amani Richards 56, Silko Thomas 90+4
BurnleyU 21 4
Joe Wesley 45, 80, Basilio Sokoliche 61, Lewis Richardson 64
Referee: Dale Baines.                                               Attendance: 253
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                           Free team sheet
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Saturday 16th September 2023
Velocity Wessex League Premier Division
Bournemouth FC 5
Joe Freak 12, 30,James Stocker 22, Cam McMonagle 85, Jayden Medcraff 88, 
Lymington Town 1
Mati Grybowski 90
Referee: Catalin Tanage.                                            Attendance: 104 (official attendance – 83)
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                             Programme: £1.50
Victoria Park, the quaint home of The Poppies, Bournemouth’s “other” team, is situated in a quiet residential area and is relatively open on three sides, with the fourth side housing a stand to seat around 200 souls, a bar and clubhouse with minimal food options and changing rooms. Today, they were playing bottom of the table Lymington Town, recently of the Southern League. 3-0 at half-time and 5-0 until the ninetieth minute when, belatedly, the visitors pulled one goal back. With John Main.
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Tuesday 19th September 2023
Northants Senior (Hillier) Cup 1st Round
Desborough Town 2
Archie Elmore 74, Rico Duggan 81,
Bugbrooke St Michael’s 2
Johnny Carey 13, Eddie Panter 49,
Desborough Town won 5-3 on penalties.
Referee: Ben Bright.                                                  Attendance : 76
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                            Programme: £1.00
Lovely evening with a cooling breeze at The Waterworks Field as Desborough Town who had taken the visitors apart on their own ground by 5-1, just three weeks ago, found themselves 0-2 down with but half an hour left! They clawed their way back into the match scoring two late goals and then despatched all five of their penalties, whilst the visitors missed their fourth! Good to see Stuart Long at the game. Won a box of chocolates in the raffle, but came out to a flat tyre on my car and had to summon the assistance of the RAC. Didn’t get home until 12.30am!
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The impressive old style floodlight pylons at The Waterworks Field
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Desborough Town Programme – priced at £1.00
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Friday 22nd September 2023
Cymru South
Ammanford 0
Goytre United 1
Ben Cripps 39,
Referee: Alex McInch.                                         Attendance: 208
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£5).                      Programme: NONE
It is the rugby club that dominates in Ammanford, but the football club has the handsome stand with seating for around 300. There were a couple of hundred spectators there, this evening, with but a single portakabin toilet to service them all! There was no programme, this evening, but they do provide programmes more often than not. The hosts sit fourth in the table, but this evening, they were easily contained by visitors from the other end of the table, who snatched the victory and the points with a solitary 37th minute strike.
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Saturday 23rd September 2023 (11.00am)
Macron West Wales Premier League
Pontaddulais Town 1
Ash Johns (og) 36,
Rockspur Fords 6
Kian Griffiths (og) 2, Harry Price 19, Daniel Williams 24, Sam Keefe 45+3, 65 (pen), Colin Harris 54, Ryan Morgan s/o 70,
Referee: Gareth Williams.                       Attendance: 260
Admission: £5.00.                                    Programme: included
The entrance to Coedbach Park from the small but bustling town of Pontaddulais has the atmosphere of Hansel and Gretel wandering into the woods. The ground, at the other end is very basic. A railed pitch and some changing rooms. The match was very one-sided. The visitors led 4-1 at the interval and should have added more than their two second half strikes. There was a red card for the visitors after 71 minutes and, unusually, a sin-binning for the home goalkeeper!
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Saturday 23rd September 2023 (2.00pm)
Macron West Wales Premier League
CK Swiss Valley 1
Thomas Lewis (og) 65,
Garden Village 6
Calem Rees 2, 5, Nathan Logan 38, 54, Tobias Jones 39 (pen), Jack James 56,
Referee: Pascal Neale.                               Attendance: 169
Admission: £5.00.                                    Programme: included
A field with a rail around it, not much more to add to that, except to say that the quality of the refreshments was less than expected from previous ‘hops’ when clubs made a real effort to put on a ‘spread’. The hosts were never in this match. They conceded two goals in the first five minutes and two more before half-time. Even the lone score for them was a gift from the opposition!
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Saturday 23rd September 2023 (4.45pm)
Macron West Wales Premier League
Dafen Welfare 0
Joshua Morgan s/o 29,
Ynystawe 8
Casey Coughlin 5, 54, Can Owens 14, Ben James 25, 33, Michael Morgan 45+1, Ryan Gibbons 69, James Towell 90+1,
Referee: Paul Jones.                                Attendance: 252
Admission: £3.00.                                   Programme: £2.00
Another field for this third match of the day and another game where a bottom half of the table team were thrashed by a top half side. The hosts had a player dismissed on the half hour mark which made an uphill task even more difficult, but, by then, they were already three goals adrift, with two more to come before half-time. The second half was an anti-climax with a mere three further strikes as the visitors eased their foot off the accelerator!
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Sunday 24th September 2023 (11.00am)
Macron West Wales Premier League
Bryn Rovers 3
Adam Campbell 45+2, 53, 62, missed penalty 69,
West End 1
Dale Griffiths 29,
Referee: Robert Fulford.                                      Attendance: 153
Admission: £5.00.                                                 Programme: included
High up in the valleys of South Wales, Bryn Rover’s small ground has no cover and a portakabin changing rooms and toilets. Heavy, unremitting, wind driven precipitation accompanied this contest on a mudbath of a pitch, and at times it was all spectators could do to gain some respite from the rain. For all that, it was a good match. The hosts took the lead in the first half, but were pegged back by the interval and Adam Campbell, the scorer went on to claim his hat trick in the second half, but also smote the bar with a penalty.
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Heavy, unremitting precipitation!
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Adam Campbell’s 69th minute penalty hits the crossbar!
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Changing rooms and toilets, the only furniture at the ground!
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Sunday 24th September 2023
Macron West Wales Premier League
Cwm Wanderers 1
Harvey Ranford 63,
Clydach 4
Ryan Thomas 28,72, Cam Jones 63, Zahid Islam 90+1
Referee: Ryan Kenny.                                   Attendance: 280
Admission: £5.00.                                        Programme: included
Park Afon Twrch is considerably superior to several other grounds in this league. There is a stand with seating for around 200 souls and an extensive clubhouse with bar and a wide range of food and drink available including helpings of the local Welsh broth. It was a good match, too, but the hosts were, eventually, well beaten. However, the score line, maybe, flattered the visitors.
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Monday 25th September 2023
Premier League 2
Leicester City U21 1
Amani Richards 87,
Miiddelsbrough U21 3
Calum Kavanagh 19, Nathan Simpson 54, Max Howells 77,
Referee: Aji Ajibola.                                     Attendance: 216
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).              Free team sheet
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Tuesday 26th September 2023
Combined Counties League
Premier Challenge Cup 1st Round
Yateley United 2
Tom Rudall 75, Fin Scott 90+8
Camberley Town 4
Mason Taylor 37, 45+2, 47 (pen), Stan Jones 78,
Referee: Matthew Childs.                       Official Attendance: 427 (ground record)
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).          Programme: £2.00
Very friendly welcome at this relative newcomer to Step 6, Sean Devereux Park was heaving for this first match under floodlights. They have yet to install seats, but the club house is substantial and with hard standing on two sides of the pitch and a small corrugated covered terrace behind one goal, the club is moving in the right direction, one suspects there is a sugar daddy in the background! Tonight, they were taking on a side from Step 5, same league, but a division higher. The visitors achieved a comfortable victory, but the hosts put up strong resistance and were not disgraced. Several hoppers in attendance.
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The teams were displayed on a screen adjacent to the entrance to the club house – an excellent innovation that I’ve not seen elsewhere!
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Wednesday 27th September 2023
United Counties League Premier Division South
Rugby Borough 1
Sam Lockley 90+3
Cogenhoe United 0
Referee: Daniel Haywood.                             Official Attendance: 106
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                  Programme: £2.00
A bit of wind and a bit of rain, but these two teams provided an entertaining encounter that could have gone either way with both sides unleashing regular shots on goal, but with time running out a nil-nil draw seemed inevitable. It took a ninety-fourth minute strike to settle the contest! With John Main.
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Saturday 30th September 2023
EFL Championship
Watford 2
Vakoun Bayo 19, Wesley Hoedt 52,
Middlesbrough 3
Riley McGree 5, 12, Josh Coburn 64,
Referee: Oliver Langford.                                Attendance: 18,446
Admission: hospitality.                                    Programme: incl. (£3.50)
Youngest grandson’s ninth birthday present and both he, his brother and dad were cheering a Middlesbrough victory after the hospitality failed to live up to their expectations! The visitors were clearly the better side, but two goals in the opening 12 minutes had been cancelled out by the hosts barely five minutes into the second half! There was still gas in the tank for a winning strike with twenty-five minutes to go, to earn a deserved victory.
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From left:- Kingsley, Ed, Sonny and Jim
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CRICKET:-

Sunday 3rd September 2023
ESCA (English Schools Cricket Association)
U-15 Schools T20 Finals Day at Arundel Castle
1st Semi-final:
Sedburgh School 115 for 8 (20 overs)
lost to
Trent College 116 for 0 (13.1 overs) by 10 wkts.
2nd Semi-final:
Whitgift School 164 for 4 (20 overs)
lost to
Kings College Taunton 168 for 2 (18 overs) by 8 wkts
FINAL:
Kings College Taunton 178 for 4 (20 overs)
defeated
Trent College 142 for 8 (20 overs) by 36 runs
An excellent day’s cricket at an iconic venue!
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picture courtesy of the Arundel CC Twitter page
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picture courtesy of the Arundel CC Twitter page
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picture courtesy of the Arundel CC Twitter page
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The score box, where a lot of recording of the day’s events took place
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Sunday 10th September 2023
East Midlands Women’s Cricket League
Division 2 South (at Nassington CC)
Nassington Women (won toss) 184 for 8 (35 overs)
lost to
Market Overton Women 185 for 3 (24.0 overs)
by 7 wickets
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
In a match affected by heavy rain, and thunder and lightning, at Nassington’s tight little ground on the banks of The River Nene and not too far from Peterborough, the visitors eventually cruised to victory against the plucky hosts, for whom Sophie Lawrence posted a not out score of 112 off 96 balls which included 16 fours.
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Sunday 17th September 2023
East Midlands Women’s Cricket League
Division 2 South (at Nassington)
Nassington Women 262 for 4 (35 overs)
defeated
Shepshed Women (won toss) 80 all out in 12.2 overs
Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown
Last game of the season at Nassington and last week’s hero, Sophie Lawrence smote another ton, this time scoring 117 off 73 balls with 19 fours and one mighty six! Her opening partner and team captain, Holly Hammond-Lewis, scored an unbeaten half century off 99 balls with 4 fours as she watchfully carried her bat throughout the innings after the opening stand, between the two, of 188. The visitors subsided dramatically, to 80 all out. Last match of the season!
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Holly Hammond-Lewis and Sophie Lawrence beneath their respective individual scores!
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August 2023

The Lake Isle of Innisfree
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I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made.
Nine bean rows will I have there and a hive for the honey-bee,
And live all alone in the bee loud glade
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And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings,
There midnight’s all a glimmer, and moon a purple glow,
And evening full of linnet’s wings.
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I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore,
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I heat it in the deep heart’s core.
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William Butler Yeats (1865 – 1939)

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Tuesday 1st August 2023
United Counties League Premier Division South
Desborough Town 0
GNG Oadby Town 1
Lamar Parkes 86,
Referee: Ryan Allison.                                        Attendance: 89
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                     Programme: £1.00
Fresh from a 5-1 thrashing at home to Godmanchester Rovers on the opening day of the season, GNG were in determined mood this evening. Ar Tarn started their season with a creditable 2-2 draw at Racing Club Warwick, but tonight in a tense, determined encounter, they lost to a Lamar Parkes 86th minute strike.
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The new stand built to replace the famous old structure and brought into use in August 2022.
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After the old stand and club house at the near end of the ground were destroyed by fire in 2009, a new structure was completed by 2014 and “bricks” were available for purchase and installation at the entrance to the new building
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Saturday 5th August 2023
Emirates FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Sutton Coldfield Town 3
Rhys Hilton 53, 69, Lamin Ceesay 90+3,
Wolverhampton Casuals 1
Max Lee 85,
Referee: Joel Kinghorn                           Attendance:- 125
Admission: OMGDS £7.00 (£10)         Programme: £2.50
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Tuesday 8th August 
Midland League Division 1
Sutton United 2
Joe Gildea (pen) 71,Thomas Cullen 90+1,
Nuneaton Griff 2
Archie Gallacher 16, Kaine Donald 45+3 (og)
Referee: Jake Richards                        Attendance: 109
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5)        Programme: £1.50
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Friday 11th August 2023
Premier League 2
Aston Villa U21 0
West Bromwich Albion U21 3
Rayhan Tulloch23, Jamie Andrews 69, 83,
Referee: Andrew Humphries.                                    Attendance: 298
Admission: £5.00.                                                        Free Teamsheet
The opening game of a strangely structured Premier League 2, with twenty six teams seemingly in one division. Villa were swept away by a powerful Albion side, but were not helped by a two yellow card dismissal just after the hour mark. With John Main.
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John Main at Bodymoor Heath
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Monday 14th August 2023
Premier League 2
Leicester City U-21   2
Amani Richards 34, Zach Booth 45+7,
Derby County U-21  1
Owen Oseni 82,
Referee: David Richardson                 Attendance: 201
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5)       Free Team Sheet
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Tuesday 15th August 2023
Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division
Cuffley 0
Hinton 2
Cameron Hough 32, Fabian Brown 87,
Referee:- Les Moody. Attendance:- 56
Admission: F.O.C. Programme: NONE
These two teams are barely five miles apart, the hosts near Potters Bar and the visitors from Enfield. The rivalry is intense, but there was only one winner and with a goal in each half, the visitors, comfortably, took the victory and the spoils!
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Wednesday 16th August 2023
Noerthern Premier League Division 1 Midlands
Corby Town 0
Shepshed Dynamo 1
Reece Morris 89,
Referee: Harley Hetherington. Attendance: 570
Admission: OMGDS £6.00 (£10). Programme: £2.00
A large gathering watched the hosts striving mightily to make an impression on this game and they kept the visitors penned in their own half for long periods without ever looking likely to score. Smash and grab in the 89th minutes and the visitors went away considerably the happier!
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Saturday 19th August 2023
Emirates FA Cup Preliminary Round
Stockton Town 2
Adam Nicholson 73, Kevn Hayes 90+6,
Ashington 1
Jordan Summerly 53,
Referee: Sam Ross. Attendance: 321
Admission: OMGDS £7.00 (£9). Programme: £2.00
A modest 3G caged arena that nonetheless boasts two seated stands down one side and a hospitality suite as well as a small covered area behind one goal. Two cans of beer/lager/cider for a fiver was a bonus! Today, the hosts were a tad fortunate. They fell behind to a 53rd minute strike which looked likely to win the game, huffed and puffed to equalise with ten minutes remaining, and scored the winning goal in the 97th minute after their opponents had been reduced to ten men.
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Thursday 24th August 2023
Anglian Combination Premier Division
Aylsham 0
Yelverton 2
Jack Watson 13, Dan King 81,
Referee: Leon Howard.                                              Attendance: 94
Admission: F.O.C.                                                      Programme: NONE
Aylsham first played at their new home – Youngs Park – in the 2016/17 season and already plans are afoot for a £1.25 million 3G stadium to be constructed adjacent to the present site. After tonight’s performance and a pointless three game opening to the season, they may have been relegated from the premier division when they take possession of their new arena! Paul Proctor, Martin Hollands and mxhornet were also in attendance for this league match, unusually played on a Thursday.
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Saturday 26th August 2023
Isuzu FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
Sutton Athletic 1
Jack Kirby 27,
Pagham 1
Dan Simmonds 57,
Sutton Athletic won 4-3 on penalties
Referee: Bruno Marques. Attendance: 59
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£10). Programme: £2.00
Unusual to find such a rustic arena so close to the capital and just over the Thames crossing at Dartford. There was a small scaffolded covered area down the near side and seating (also scaffolded) for around 100 souls on the far side. A small club house, (with changing rooms)and bar completed the amenities. Not a great advert for teams from The SCEL and The SCL, this was a dour contest of few opportunities and the penalty lottery shoot-out was won by the hosts!
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Monday 28th August 2023
Hellenic League Division 1
Tytherington Rocks 1
Kyle Head 43,
FC Bristol 2
Rick Davis 14, Kristian Miller 77,
Referee: Simon Turner. Attendance: 88
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6). Programme: On line
Tytherington, a small village in south Gloucestershire of less than a thousand souls, does very well to support a step six club. The ground, visible from the M5, is situated at the end of a very narrow single track road, with a moderate stand of maybe 50 seats and a small club house with changing rooms and a bar behind the far goal. Today’s visitors, FC Bristol, we’re formerly known as Lebeq and play at the Glos FA HQ in Almondsbury. Today, they had the measure of the hosts and won more easily than the score suggests. The referee added on a total of 25 minutes added time!
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John Main at the entrance to The Harwicke Playing Field
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Tuesday 29th August 2023
Peterborough & District League Premier Division
Stanground Sports 5
Louie Venni 14, 38, 48, 75, James Stainsby 72,
Ramsey Town 0
Referee: Neil Smith.                                                    Attendance: 52
Admission: F.O.C.                                                       Programme: NONE
A railed pitch with substantial dug-outs and a minimum of cover from the persistent precipitation. The hosts were in total command throughout with three second half strikes to add to their 2-0 half time lead. With John Main.
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Wednesday 30th August 2023
United Counties League Premier Division South
Rugby Borough 1
Sam Lockley 58, Max Proudlock (c) s/o 38
GNG Oadby Town 5
Camen Bhanda 33, Mussa Bham 62, 75, 80, Lamar Parkes 73.
Referee: Daniel Miller.                                           Attendance: 88
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£7).                          Programme: £2.00
On their 3G pitch on the night of the super moon, the hosts were given a footballing lesson from a very composed GNG side. The 38th minute sending off, for a second yellow card, of the home captain contributed to the heavy defeat, but in truth, the visitors were always the better side. With John Main.
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CRICKET

 

Tuesday 1st August 2023

District Pathway Cricket at Wellingborough Old Grammarians CC

Kettering & Corby U-11 211 for 7 (35 overs)

defeated

East Northants U-11 (won toss) 61 all out (17.4 overs) by 150 runs

Umpires: Colin Samuels & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 2nd August 2023

District Pathway Cricket at Rushden & Higham Town CC

East Northants U13 (won toss) 77 for 6 (20 overs)

lost to

Kettering & Corby U-13 78 for 4 (16.1 overs) by 6 wickets

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

In a rain affected match reduced fro the original 35 overs per side, East Northants U=13 were worst affected as the had already completed 10.1 overs when persistent rain showers reduced the match overs.

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Wednesday 2nd August 2023

Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League

Geddington Women  125 for 2 (Caitlin Connelly 50 no) (20 overs)

Brixworth Women (won toss) DNB – match abandoned, RAIN.

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

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Friday 4th August 2023

County U-15 Match at Oundle School

Buckinghamshire U15 101 all out (35.1 overs)

lost to

Northamptonshire U15 (won toss) 104 for 4 (23.4 overs) by 6 wickets

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 6th August 2023 (at Burton Latimer)

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Premier Division

Burton Latimer Women 174 for 7 (45 overs)

defeated

Welbeck Women (won toss) 90 all out (32.1 overs) by 84 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 7th August 2023

County Development Match (at S&L Corby)

Kettering & Corby U-11 (won toss) 100 all out (28.2 overs)

defeated

Northampton & South U-11 50 all out (14.1 overs) by 50 runs

Umpires Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 9th August 2023

County Pathway matches at Oundle School

  1. T20

Nottinghamshire U-13  Girls (won toss) 95 for 5 (20 overs)

defeated

Northamptonshire U-13 Girls 92 for 5 (twenty overs) by three runs.

 

2. The Hundred

Nottinghamshire U-13 Girls (won toss) 82 for 5 (100 balls)

defeated

Northamptonshire U-13 Girls 78 for 7  (100 balls) by seven runs

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

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Saturday 12th August 2023

Northants Cricket League Division 8

at Great Bowden

S&L Corby II (won toss)  240 for 8 (45 overs)

defeated

Great Bowden 157 all out (34.5 overs) by 83 runs

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 13th August 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League

at Nassington

Houghton & Thurnby Women 160 for 6 (35 overs)

defeated

Nassington Women (won toss) 106 for 9 (35 overs) by 54 runs

Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 14th August 2023

District Development Match

at Rushden & Higham Town CC

Northampton & South U13 239 for 8 (35 overs)

defeated

East NorthantsU13  (won toss) 90 all out (24 overs) by 149 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

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Thursday 17th August 2023

District Development T20 Matches

at Wellingborough Old Grammarians CC

Kettering & Corby U-11 119 for 9 (20 overs)

defeated

Northampton & South U-11 104 for 5 (20 overs) by 15 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

East Northants U-11 76 for 5 (20 overs)

lost to

Northampton & South U-11 77 for 5 (16.4 overs) by 5 wkts

Umpires Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 20th August 2023

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League 

at Thrapston CC

Ockbrook & Borrowash Women  92 for 9 (40 overs)

lost to

Thrapston Women   93 for 0 (17.4 overs) by ten wkts

Umpires: Bob Inchley & Eddie McGeown

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Monday 21st August 2023

U-15 T20 Festival 

at Burton Latimer CC

Kettering & Corby U-15 133 all out (18 overs)

lost to

East Northants U-15 137 for 4 (18.4 overs) by six wkts

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

Northampton & South U-15 94 all out (19.2 overs)

defeated

East Northants U-15 78 all out (16.5 overs) by 16 runs

Umpires:- Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

Northampton & South U-15 139 for 2 (20 overs)

defeated

Kettering & Corby U-15 131 all out (19.2 overs) by 8 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

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Tuesday 22nd August 2023

County U-14 Match

at Saffron Walden CC

Essex U-14 (won toss) 227 for 9 (45 overs)

defeated

Northants U-14 145 all out (36.4 overs) by 79 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 23rd August 2023

U-10 County Match

at Rushden & Higham Town

Warwickshire U-10 117 all out (29.2 overs)

lost to

Northamptonshire U-10 118 for 8 (33 overs) by 2 wkts

Umpires: Steve Dickinson & Eddie McGeown

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Wednesday 23rd August 2023

Northants Midweek Women’s Cricket League Plate FINAL

at Kettering Town CC (6.00pm)

Geddington Women (won toss) 116 all out (18 overs)

lost to

Brixworth Women 117 for 2 (17.1 overs) by 5 wkts

Umpires: Nick Beesely & Eddie McGeown

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Sunday 27th August 2023
Cricket at Barby CC
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Herts U11 Girls 117 for 6
lost to
Northants U11 Girls 118 for 2 (16.4 overs) by 8 wkts.
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Northants U11 Girls 125 for 4 (20 overs)
lost to
Herts U11 Girls 128 for 5 (18.1 overs) by 5 wkts.
Umpires: Alan Pearce and Eddie McGeown.
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Barby is on the Northants and Warwickshire border, and their main team play in The Warwickshire League Division 2. They do, however, amongst their many other teams, have a side in Division 13 of the Northamptonshire League. It is a lovely ground with two full sized pitches separated by a line of trees, a club house with changing rooms and a bar and a substantial score box. Today’s matches were played by enthusiastic sides from Herts and Northants and it was fitting that each team had a victory. Better than that, it was good to see so many talented and enthusiastic young cricketers!
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July 2023

My heart aches and a drowsy numbness pains

My sense, as though of hemlock I had drunk,

Or emptied some dull opiate to the drains

One minute past and Lethe – wards had sunk.

Tis not through envy of thy happy lot,

But being too happy in thy happiness,

That thou, light winged Dryad of the trees,

In some melodious plot

Of beechen green, and shadows numberless,

Singest of summer with full throated ease.

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from “Ode to a Nightingale” by john Keats (1795 – 1821)

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Monday July 10th 2023
Pre-Season Friendly
St Ives Town 5
Jonny Edwards 20, 31, Tiago Nussancolo 76, 84, Enoch Andoh 88,
Baldock Town 0
Referee: Josh Croft.                             Attendance: 83
Admission: £6.00 (no concessions, no programme).
My first football match for thirty-two days! A fairly regulation victory for the home side in The Premier Division of the Southern League, over their Spartan South Midlands League rivals. First time that I’ve seen the (comparatively) new 3G surface at Westwood Road (this is only the second season it has been operational). Each side sported a rash of “trialists”. Enjoyed a fine bottle of the local brew!
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Tuesday 11th July 2023
Pre-Season Friendly
Lutterworth Town 5
Nuno Gomes 21, 32, 48, 65, Bruno Capella 79,
Nuneaton Griff 0
Referee: Sam Anderson.                                             Attendance:- 64
Admission: F.O.C.                                                        Programme:- NONE
Lutterworth gave away free admission to this match, calculating that the bar receipts would cover expenses. Down one side of the pitch, the covered standing area had its roof removed and new hard standing installed in preparation for an extension. On the field, the step five side predictably dismantled the step six team with four goals from Nino Gomes, but it was a very entertaining tussle with the interjection of a half-time monsoon!
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You can just see the outlines of the covered area that is being re-developed
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Saturday 15th July 2023
Pre-Season Friendly
Hythe & Dibden 1
Krysztof Kruztafowier 38,
Basingstoke Town 3
James Clark 9, Bradley Wilson 17, Paul Hodges 52,
Referee:- Derek Pratt.                                                Attendance:- 116
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£7).                            Programme: NONE
Having arrived reasonable early after the 150 mile journey, we dined quite reasonably at “The Hunt” in Dibden Purlieu. Fish and chips was on the menu and I had a couple of glasses of (red) wine. A couple of miles away was the ground we had come to at the end of last season, only to find that the match had been called off and we had to hurry down the road to take in Fawley v Petersfield Town (April 15th 2023). The visitors, today, two steps higher in the pyramid, were by some distance the better side, but they failed to make the most of their chances. Two up in the opening quarter, they allowed the home side to get back into the game before half-time. The hosts were well organised and fought hard until a shower of second half substitutes killled off the match – and the scoring! With John Main.
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The author sits in the only chair in the covered area down the near side of the ground!
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Thursday 20th July 2023
Pre-Season Friendly
Thurlow FC 1
Aidan Leach 73,
Thaxted Rangers 0
Referee: Stuart Watson                                                            Attendance: 26
Admission: F.O.C.                                                                     Programme: NONE
Thurlow’s Wratting Road ground in Great Thurlow, is actually just inside Suffolk, but they play in The Cambs County League. Last season, they were undefeated in the fourth tier and won promotion as champions to the third tier, whilst tonight’s rivals play in the second tier of the same league. Despite the paucity of goals, this was a good game and the hosts fully merited their narrow victory.
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Saturday 22nd July 2023
Pre-Season Friendly
AFC Stoneham 1
Jake Thompson 57, 
Camberley Town 1
Charlie Oakley 79,
Referee: Derek Pratt.                                                                       Attendance: 54
Admission: £5.00.                                                                           Programme: NONE
Heavy rain fell on the 3G surface all the way through this public practice game at The home of Hampshire FA. In an evenly contested match between Wessex League Premier and Combined Counties League Premier, the spoils were shared.
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Tuesday 25th July 2023
Pre-Season Friendly
Desborough Town 1
Adam Randall 86,
Kettering Town 0
Referee: Kevin Seckington.                                               Attendance: 250
Admission: £4.00                                                               Programme: NONE
Back to one of my very favourite grounds for the first time in two years. A truly traditional and magic ground. However, gone is the graceful old stand and, in its place a 100 seater Meccano replacement. Tonight’s match was to mark the official opening of the new stand (it has actually been in situ for a season!). To be fair the new stand is perfectly functional and the old one was riven with asbestos. Pretty good match, despite the paucity of goals and the hosts were good value for their win against a side two divisions higher in the pyramid, the only goal arriving in the 87th minute.
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Thursday 26th July 2023
Pre-Season Friendly
Whitchurch United 3
Ash Neal 15, Harry Long 60, Louis Wilson 73,
Newbury 1
Jamie Goddard 86
Referee: Neil Hussey                                                         Attendance: 64
Admission: F.O.C.                                                             Programme: NONE
Longmeadow Sports Centre contains this small ground with character. A hundred seater wooden bench stand and a mini covered area in front of the bar (but none of the bar proceeds benefit the club). A slight slope from right to left and lots of additional pitches beyond the ground on the far side. It was an easy victory for the hosts, one step higher than their visitors in the pyramid. Good game!
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Saturday 29th July 2023
Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Snodland Town 2
Ben Davisson (pen) 12, and an own goal on 29,
Stansfield 0
Referee: Simon Cutler.                                                       Attendance: 239
Admission: OMGDS£6.00 (£8).                                     Programme: £2.00
A first ever match for Snodland Town at step 5, after entering The SCEL in 2015, at their neat little Potyns Field ground. We were welcomed like royalty by some very friendly officials and, early though we were, we decided to enjoy the tea bar offering rather than repair to a local hostelry. There is a hundred+ seater stand and an extensive bar, hard standing on three sides and (sadly) plans to install 3G. They won today’s match at a canter without really extending themselves! With Paul Proctor and John Main.
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CRICKET

Saturday 1st July 2023

T20 Competition at Peterborough Town

Peterborough Town 161 for 8 (20 overs)

defeated

Burton Latimer 144 for 8 (20 overs)

by 17 runs

Umpires: Chris Dunn & Eddie McGeown

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Stony Stratford (won toss) 165 for 5 (20 overs)

defeated

Burton Latimer 130 all out (19.5 overs)

by 35 runs

Umpires:: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

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Stony Stratford 177 for 6 (20 overs)

defeated

Peterborough Town 46 all out (11.4 overs)

by 131 runs

Umpires: Simon Clark & Chris Dunn

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Sunday 2nd July 2023
East Midlands Women’s Cricket League
Premier Division (at Burton Latimer)
Burton Latimer 81 all out (23.3 overs)
lost to
Spondon (won toss) 82 for 5 (27.2 overs)
by 5 wickets
Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown.
Title chasing Spondon had the hosts on the ropes with four wickets in the first four overs and they never really recovered. Burton Latimer did battle hard in defence of their meagre total, capturing five wickets and extending the contest into the twenty-eigthth over.
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Tuesday 4th July 2023
Northants Schools U-15 FINAL
at Burton Latimer CC
Bishop Stopford School U-15 182 for 6 (20 overs)
defeated
Northampton School for Boys U-15 150 all out (18.4 overs)
by 32 runs
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
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Wednesday 5th July 2023
Northants Schools U-13 FINAL
at Burton Latimer CC
Bishop Stopford U-13 98 all out (19.3 overs0
lost to
Northampton School for Boys U-13 99 for 4 (19 overs)
by 6 wickets
Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown
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Saturday 8th July 2023
T20 Competition at Horton House
Horton House 97 for 3 (13 overs)
lost to
Kettering 98 for 2 (11.1 overs) by 8 wkts
Umpires: Trevor Finch and Eddie McGeown
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Weekley & Warkton 120 for 3 (15 overs)
lost to
Kettering 121 for 2 (13.3 overs) by 8 wkts
Umpires: Jeff Beal and Eddie McGeown
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Weekley & Warkton 85 for 9 dec. (18.5 overs)
defeated
Horton House 69 all out (17.5 overs) by 16 runs
Umpires: Jeff Beal and Trevor Finch
A day of unpredictable weather and rumbling thunder at Horton House’s beautifully appointed arena, just outside Northampton, saw rain affected matches, but also, some powerful batting and determined bowling.
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Sunday 9th July 2023
Development Pathway County Match
at Wellingborough Old Grammarians CC
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Surrey U-12 Girls 105 for 0 (16 overs0
defeated
Northants U-13 Girls 78 for 5 (16 overs)
by 27 runs
Umpires: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown
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Surrey U-12 Girls 111 for 2 (16 overs)
defeated
Northants U-13 Girls 84 for 7 (16 overs)
by27 runs
Umpires: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 12th July 2023
Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League
at Chancery Lane, Thrapston
Kettering Town Women (won toss) 153 for 4 (18 overs)
abandoned
Thrapston Women (Yellow) 98 for 1 (12 overs)
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
Match abandoned after twelve overs of the second innings following a serious injury to the Kettering wicket-keeper who was inadvertently hit in the face by the Thrapston player’s bat. NHS East Midlands First Aid responder attended and the keeper was later taken to hospital.
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Wednesday 19th July 2023
Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League
at Kettering CC
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Brixworth Women 77 all out (16.4 overs)
lost to
Kettering Women 78 for 3 (10.2 0vers)
by 4 wkts
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
____________________________________________________________________
Sunday 23rd July 2023
East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Division 1
At Kettering Town CC
Kettering Town Women 182 all out (39.2 overs)
defeated
Cutthorpe Women (won toss) 103 all out (29.5 overs)
by 79 runs
Umpires: Kate Marshall & Eddie McGeown
Rain threatened at the start, but the afternoon turned out increasingly sunny and warm as the hosts, invited to bat, racked up a very respectable 182 all out. The visitors started their innings diffidently reaching 64 for 2 by the halfway mark. An excellent spell of seven wickets for twelve runs from Anna Stevens in the next ten overs, saw the visitors subside to 103 all out!
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__________________________________________________________________________________

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Tuesday 25th July 2023
Cricket at Oundle School
Yorkshire U-14 126 all out (32.3 overs)
lost to
Northants U-14 (won toss) 127 for 9 (29.5 overs) by 1 wicket
Umpires: Steve Dickinson & Eddie McGeown
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Wednesday 26th July 2023
Cricket at Oundle School
Yorkshire U-16 347 for 5 (50 overs)
defeated
Northants U-16 101 all out (26.4 overs) by 246 runs
Umpires: Chris Dunn & Eddie McGeown
_________________________________________________________________________________
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Friday 28th July 2023
Cricket at Oundle School
Staffordshire U10s 111 all out (37.1 overs)
lost to
Northants U10s (won toss) 114 for 5 (24.1 overs)
by 5 wickets
Umpires: Colin Samuels & Eddie McGeown
_______________________________________________________________________________
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June 2023

Adlestrop

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Yes, I remember Adlestrop –

The name because one afternoon

Of heat the express train drew up there

Unwontedly. It was late June.

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The steam hissed. Someone cleared his throat.

No one left and no one came

On the bare platform. What I saw

Was Adlestrop – only the name

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And willows, willow-herb, and grass,

And meadowsweet, and haycocks dry,

No whit less still and lonely fair

Than the high cloudlets in the sky.

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And for that minute blackbird sang

Close by, and round him mistier,

Farther and farther, all the birds

Of Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

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Edward Thomas (1878 – 1917)

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Thursday 8th June (at Farley Way, Quorn)
The Friendship Trophy
UK Armed forces 4
Jack Wright 25, Jake Gosling 36, Joe Spalding 43, 64,
Irish Defence Force 1
Adrian Rafferty (pen) 23,
Referee: Martin Mitchell (RAF).                                Attendance: 133
Admission: F.O.C.                                                        Programme: NONE
On a chilly Leicestershire evening, these two armies played, incongruously, for The Friendship Trophy! The Irish started very positively and kept the UK penned in their own half. They scored first after 23 minutes, but couldn’t hold onto the lead and by half-time, TheUK had scored three times in reply. In a substitute littered second half, only one further goal was scored and The UK Armed Forces took the trophy with a convincing victory …. but not quite as convincing as the women’s team who won their match against the Irish earlier in the day by 4-0. With John Main.
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CRICKET:-

 

Thursday 1st June 2023

Player Pathway Match at Burton Latimer

Northampton & South U13      224 for 7 (40 overs)

defeated

Kettering & Corby U13      117 all out (30.4 overs)

by 107 runs

Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown

_______________________________________________________

Friday 2nd June

U12 County Match at S&L Corby

Essex U12      110 all out  (28.5 overs)

defeated

Northamptonshire U12      97 all out  (32.3 overs)

by 13 runs

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

______________________________________________________

Saturday 3rd June 2023
Northants Cricket League Division 1
(at Haddon)
Rushden & Higham      223 for 9 (50 overs)
defeated
Haddon (won toss)      184 a/o (44.1 overs)
by 39 runs
Umpires: Nick Beesley & Eddie McGeown
Former cricket clubs, East and West Haddon and Guilsborough combined to form Haddon CC and they play at the War Memorial Ground in East Haddon. Rushden & Higham are also a combined club and today, they proved too strong for the hosts in a very competitive match and stretched their lead at the top of the table.
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A lonely fielder under the tree that overhangs the ground – a six if you hit it on the full!
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__________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 7th June 2023
Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League
at Thrapston (won toss)
Thrapstpon Women(Green) 122 for 7 (20 overs)
lost to
Haddon Women 123 for 2 (15.20 overs) by five wickets
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
_________________________________________________________________
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Saturday 10th June 2023
Northants Cricket league Division 1 (at Thrapston)
Thrapston (won toss) 118 all out in 34.5 overs
lost to
Haddon 123 for 4 in 23.4 overs
by six wickets.
Umpires: Chris Dunn & Eddie McGeown
Thrapston CC share their ground with Thrapston Town FC, as the floodlights bear testimony. On a pitch with a bit of softness in it, the toss was a difficult choice and, perhaps, the hosts paid the price. 74 for three after 21 overs, 102 for five after 28 overs and 118 all out ten overs later. Haddon polished of the target in 24 overs, finishing with a big six into the woods.
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Thrapston Town Football Club
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Umpires: Chris Dunn & Eddie McGeown
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__________________________________________________________________
Sunday 11th June 2023
Northants Player Pathway Fixture
(at Weldon – Northampton & South U11 won the toss)
Northampton & South U11 230 for 5 (35 overs)
lost to
Kettering & Corby U11 231 for 6 (32.2 overs) by 6 wickets
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
_______________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 14th June 2023
Northants Women’s Cricket Midweek League
(At Guilsborough CC – Haddon won toss)
Haddon Women 149 for 3 (20 overs)
lost to
Thrapston Women (Green) 150 for 2 (19.3 overs)
by 6 wickets
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
_____________________________________________________________________________
Saturday 17th June 2023
Northants Cricket League Division 1
(at East Haddon Memorial Playing Field – Haddon won toss)
Old Northamptonians IIs  138 all out (44.4 overs)
lost to
Haddon 144 for 2 (35.2 overs)
by 8 wickets
Umpires: Martin Field & Eddie McGeown
____________________________________________________________________________
Sunday 18th June 2023
U-10s County Match
(at Stowe School – Northants U-10s won toss)
Oxfordshire U-10s 173 all out (40 overs)
defeated
Northants U-10s 89 all out (21.4 overs)
by 84 runs
Umpires:Chris Boilrigg and Eddie McGeown
Sonny McGeown, playing for Oxfordshire scored 5 with the bat, did not bowl (but fielded well and took a catch).
__________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 21st June 2023
Northants Women/s Cricket Midweek League
(at Irthlingborough Town CC – Irthlingborough Town Women won toss)
Irthlingborough Town Women 46 all out (13.5 overs)
lost to
Thrapston Women (Yellow) 47 for 2 (8.4 overs)
by 6 wickets
Umpire: Eddie McGeown
______________________________________________________________________
Cricket at Stamford School
Friday 23rd June 2023
Stamford School 236 all out (47.5 overs)
defeated
Kings School (Sydney) 147 all out (42.5 overs)
by 89 runs.
Umpires: David Tress & Eddie McGeown.
Saturday 24th June 2023
Bedford School 162 all out (42.4 overs)
lost to
Stamford School 165 for 6 (37.4 overs)
by 6 wickets
Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown.
Couple of good games this weekend at Stamford School, the first a mini Ashes fixture, the second a tight, tense and cagey encounter between two evenly matched local rivals. The sun shone heartily on both matches!
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Sunday 25th June 2023
U13 Girls County Match
at Great Oakley (Bucks U-13 Girls won the toss)
Bucks U-13 Girls 189 for 4 (30 overs)
lost to
Northants U-13 Girls190 for 6 (26.3 overs)
by 4 wickets
Umpires: Kiran Mackwana and Eddie McGeown
________________________________________________________________________________
Wednesday 28th June 2023
Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League
at Dallas Burton Cricket Ground, Brixworth (Brixworth won toss)
Brixworth Women 117 for 4 (20 overs0
defeated
Thrapston Women (Green) 101 for 6 (20 overs)
by 16 runs
Umpires: Eddie McGeown and Martin Batchelor
_____________________________________________________________________________

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