Vitai Lampada

There’s a breathless hush in the Close tonight –

Ten to make and the match to win –

A bumping pitch and a blinding light,

An hour to play and the last man in.

And it’s not for the sake of a ribboned coat,

Or the selfish hope of a season’s fame,

But his captain’s hand on his shoulder smote

“Play up! play up! and play the game!”

.

Sir Henry Newbolt (1862 – 1938)

.

The rare sight of a cricket tea at Kibworth CC!

.

Monday 8th July 2024

Ashbourne Summer League

Bramshall 2

Joe Lobosco 40, Josh Ellis 42,

Vaults 3

Freddie Murphy 57, 81, Jake Edge-Lucas 76,

Referee: William Maskery.                                  Attendance: 15

Admission: F.O.C.                                                Programme: NONE

I found the ground, eventually, on the outskirts of Uttoxeter. Little more than a field with a wooden hut for changing rooms – oh, yes, and a stand with seating for about five spectators behind one goal! The playing surface was surprisingly good and well maintained, and the match was a good one, as these two teams – second and third in the league battled it out. The hosts held a two goal interval advantage, but the visitors took the victory and the points with three unanswered strikes in the second half. A smattering of hoppers in attendance, including Martin Hayden and Bob Lillyman.

.

The changing “hut” at Bramshall

.

.

.

.

The main stand with seats for maybe half a dozen (thin) spectators.

.

.

Tuesday 9th July 2024

Pre-Season Friendly

Opening match at the NEW Ground

Shawbury United 1

Ollie Wispen 45+1

AFC Wulfrunians 5

Ryan Bright 1, 45+2, Freddie Cockerell 54, 74, Jake Webb 88,

Referee: Scott Davies.                                              Attendance: 56

Admission: F.O.C.                                                    Programme: NONE

The first match at Carradine Road, the new home of Shawbury Town, perennial groundsharers, they have finally, after a twenty year journey, reached a home of their own inside the town. There was a very friendly reception, but no alcohol, this evening, as they have yet to arrange a licence. The lady behind the bar told me that when the project for the ground commenced, her children were toddlers and that they are now in their twenties! There is also the possibility that the pitch at the new ground will be replaced with a state of the art artificial surface in the future. So, there is still much to be achieved, but there are two fifty seater stands, a substantial metal rail and hardstanding around the pitch, a large bar and refreshment area and floodlights. Their opponents this evening were from a step higher in the pyramid and it showed. Ryan Bright scored the first goal at the new arena in the first minute and scored again in the final minute before the interval. Three further second half strikes completed a comprehensive victory. With John Main and Graeme Holmes.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Wednesday 10th July 2024

Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League (@Irthlingborough)

Finedon Dolben Women 102 for 6 (20 overs)

defeated

Irthlingborough Women (won toss) 96 all out (17.1 overs)

by 6 runs

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

.

Saturday 13th July 2024

Heritage Cup

Cray Wanderers 0

Sheffield 4

Alfie Smith 45, Jack Watson 54, 62, Luke Aldrich 58,

Referee: Jack Smith.                                                    Official Attendance: 466

Admission: OMGDS: £5.00 (£10).                           Programme: £2.00

This was a match between the two oldest clubs in England, and, also, marked the opening of Cray Wanderers new home at Flamingo Park. The new stadium is an impressive work in progress. A 3G surface with hard standing all round and a three hundred seater stand down one side and an older club house with ample bar and catering facilities. It was a pre-season friendly and not too much credit should be put to the score line as Northern Premier League Sheffield overcame their Isthmian League rivals mainly because they were more clinical in their finishing. The hosts hit the woodwork at least three times, but were unable to score. With John Main and a fair smattering of hoppers!

.

.

.

.

.

.

The Heritage Cup

.

.

.

.

.

.

Matchday Programme – £2.00 

Programmes will be issued for all home matches this season, but it is likely that the price will rise to £3.00

.

.

Cricket U-13 National T20 Cup Competition (@Burton Latimer)

Regional Final

Horton House U13 (won toss) 126 for 3 (20 overs)

defeated

Little Shelford U13 100 for 7 (20 overs)

by 26 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

.

Tuesday 16th July 2024

Pre-Season Friendly

ON Chenecks 1

Tom Tyrell 12,

Wellingborough Town 2

Joe Blowers 7, Neo Richard-Noel 13,

Referee: Chris Walton.                                    Attendance: 42

Admission: F.O.C.                                           Programme: NONE

This match was played on a 3G pitch in a cage in the grounds of Northampton School for Boys, a couple of hundred yards down the road from Chenecks usual haunt. Both of these clubs have been promoted this season, Chenecks to the premier division of The UCL and The Doughboys from the UCL to the NPL Division 1 Midlands. All the goals came in the opening fifteen minutes of an entertaining encounter and I expect that both teams will be challenging again this season!

.

.

.

.

.

Wednesday 17th July 2024

Northants Midweek Women’s League (@Thrapston)

Thrapston Women’s CC Green (won toss) 117 for 3 (20 overs)

tied with

Thrapston Women’s CC Yellow 117 for 4 (20 overs)

I didn’t realise it at the time, but this match turned out to be very controversial. Thrapston Women’s Yellow team had won all their games this season and were champions. This match was tied and, at the time, I thought it was an exciting match with the last over being a maiden (I could have given a wide, but decided against it!). Later in the month, I got an email from the league (Fay Robinson), suggesting, strongly, that the two teams had conspired to effect a tie so that a) the champions would remain unbeaten all season and b) that Thrapston Greens would gain an extra point to give them a play off place in the league CUP rather than the league PLATE. This was not how the match felt to me., but did the two teams conspire??? If so, I was completely unaware of it.

.

Thursday 18th July 2024

Rothesay 2nd Test Match

Day One @Trent Bridge

England 416 all out

Freddie and I took the train from Corby and were inside Trent Bridge by 10.00am. Great day’s cricket in glorious sunshine and Freddie got what he wanted – to see England bat. In fact, he got to see all of them bat, because, at the end of day one, England were 416 all out! Apparently, Freddie even managed to get himself on TV on one of his walks around the ground. To be fair, although they scored 416, England didn’t bat particularly well. There was an early flashing innings from Ben Duckett (71), a watchful 121 from Pope and 69 from Ben Stokes, the skipper. Zac Crawley was ducked early on and Joe Root managed just 14. It was a very good day out! We only saw Day One. On Day Two, The West Indies scored 457 all out and by the middle of day four, England had replied with 425 all out. Then The West Indies collapsed to 143 all out before the end of Day four and England won by 241 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.

.

Freddie Arthur McGeown

.

Freddie and grand dad, Ed

.

Saturday 20th July 2024

Northants Cricket League Division 7

@Bowden CC

S&L Corby CC IIs (won toss) 224 for 8 (45 overs)

defeated

Bowden CC IIs 159 all out (39.5 overs)

By 65 runs

Bowden is a pleasantly eccentric ground with a tree on the infield, which garners four runs each time it is struck. Adjacent to the ground, East Midland Railways have regular services. This match pitted third against second. S&L batting first set a reasonable, but not too daunting a total, however, young Freddie McGeown, bowling with pace and zest, took four for 29 off nine overs and it was this contribution that settled the tie! Proud grand dad was umpire for the match!

.

.

.

East Midlands Railways run regular services from St Pancras to Nottingham, Derby and Sheffield.

.

.

Sunday 21st July 2024

Cricket @ Oundle School

Northants U12 197 for 5 (40 overs)

defeated

East & Central Yorks U12 (won toss) 167 for 8 (40 overs)

by 30 runs

Umpires: Adam Jeskins & Eddie McGeown

.

Tuesday 23rd July 2024

Pre-Season Friendly

Biggleswade FC 1

Ethan Kessell.

Cambridge United XI 4

Sam Okoye 45,68, Mark Murefu 80, Randy Bulakio 85,

Referee: Johnny Lamb.                                             Attendance: 94

Admission: F.O.C.                                                      Programme: NONE

Biggleswade FC, the youngest of the town’s trio of teams, actually groundshare at Bedford Town’s stadium in Cardington. Tonight, they were playing back in the town at a 3G plastic cage at Stratton Upper School. In a fine, free-flowing, pacy match, the hosts took the lead, but conceded on the stroke of half-time and conceded three second half strikes to give the youthful visitors a somewhat flattering victory. Several hoppers in attendance.

.

.

.

.

Wednesday 24th July 2024

Cricket @ Oundle School

Derbyshire U12 (won toss) 177 all out (37 overs)

lost to

Northants U12 178 for 4 (40.3 overs)

by 6 wkts

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

.

I sat next to a duchess at tea

It was just as I feared it would be.

Her rumblings abdominal

Were simply phenomenal

And everyone thought it was me!

Anon

.

Sunday 2nd June 2024 (at Thrapston)

East Midlands Women’s League Division 1

Ockbrook & Borrowash Women  (won toss) 79 all out (32.4 overs)

lost to

Thrapston Women 80 for 4 (23.2 overs)

by 6 wickets

Umpires: Kate Marshall & Eddie McGeown

An opening stand of 60 by the visitors, suggested that a good score was in the offing. However, the next nine wickets yielded a paltry nineteen runs in almost seventeen overs. The hosts did not start confidently, slipping to 18 for 3 after nine overs, but a confident stand of 54 took them close to the winning tape, and eleven balls later, they romped home to win by 6 wickets, in the shadow of St James’ spire on a very warm afternoon.

.

.

.

.

Wednesday 5th June 2024

Northants Women’s Midweek League (@ Overstone Park)

Thrapston Yellow 152 for 3 (20 overs)

defeated

Overstone Park Women   (won toss) 90 for 4

by 62 runs

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

.

Friday 7th June 2024

T20 Vitality Blast Northern Group Stage (@ Northampton)

Northamptonshire Steelbacks (won toss) 169 for 4

(20 overs)

defeated.

Worcestershire Rapids 163 for 9 (20 overs)

by 6 runs

Umpires: Russell Warren & James Middlebrook

A pleasant evening with bright sunlight at Wantage Road and a half full stadium to see a fairly tepid encounter, only enlivened at the end, when the visitors needed eleven off the last over with two wickets remaining. Three balls later, the deficit was reduced to seven to win. Then the hosts took a wicket and no further runs were scored!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saturday 8th June 2024

Northants. Cricket League Division 1

@ Loddington

Loddington 181 all out (46.2 overs)

drew with

Thrapston(won toss) 156 for 9 (53 overs)

Umpires: Terry Owen & Eddie McGeown

Scorers: Simon Blackett & Ned Kelly

The idyllic surrounds of Loddington Playing Fields hosted this close encounter and after a rain delayed start, Thrapston inserted the hosts who posted a pretty competitive total, which included a half century from Jamie Esler. In reply, the visitors were always behind the clock and indeed with twelve overs to go, found themselves 82 runs adrift with nine wickets down. The final pairing managed to hold out for the remaining overs to claim an unlikely draw. An excellent tea provided by the hosts, which was an unusual occurrence since the COVID-19 outbreak as most cricket teams no longer provide teas!

.

.

.

.

.

.

Sunday 9th June 2024

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League

Division 2 (@ Nassington)

Nassington Women (won toss) 68 all out (31.1 overs)

defeated

Hinckley Women  41 all out (20.5 overs)

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

.

Wednesday 12th June 2024

Cricket @ Peterborough Town CC

Northants Over 50s     (won toss) 240 for 3 (45 overs)

lost to

Huntingdonshire Over 50s     243 for 5 (44.2 overs)

by 5 wickets

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

Scorer: Nathan Armstrong

A closely fought contest which went down to the very last over.  A handsome tea provided by the hosts, Huntingdonshire.

.

Nathan Armstrong in the score-box

.

It looks like an indoor tennis facility adjacent to the cricket pitch. 

.

.

Friday 14th June 2024

@ Billericay Town

Lloyd’s Bank 8

Rhys Tyress (og) 24, Simon Walton 26, Harry Talbot 33, 37, Jack Mead 72, 75, George Nash 87, 90

London Police 0

Referee: Mark Jacobs.                                Attendance: 10

Admission: F.O.C.                                       Programme: NONE

New Lodge, home of, Billericay Town, has changed unimaginably since my only previous visit in 2011. It is now a pretty impressive stadium, albeit with a plastic playing surface. Lloyd’s Bank FC were also pretty impressive in their fine victory over London Police. They led 4-0 at the interval and after making eight half-time changes, they doubled that score in the second period. Indeed, were it not for some impressive saves by the police custodian and some incredibly glaring misses by the Bank’s profligate strikers, the score would have been much higher than the attendance! With John Main.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Monday 17th June 2024

On a cloudless, sunny morning, the way led across the playing field, past the new fitness facility, and over to St James’ Church, standing proudly in the azure firmament. From there, down Church Gap and across the fields – and the railway line – with the village of Thorpe-by-Water clearly visible in the distance. The River Welland was sluggish and opaque, covered in reeds and weeds. Under the railway bridge that once carried the Rugby to Peterborough line and across to the village of Lyddington, passing a convenient resting place en route. More fields with long grass and herds of cows on the way to Caldecott where the parish church of St John the Evangelist, proudly pointed its spire towards increasingly cloudy skies. On the way out of the village, a flower shop by the roadside proudly displayed its colourful wares. The fields were covered in waste high grass and walking was difficult. Gretton Weir was low and cluttered, but it was good to see the tower of St James Church once more and to climb back into Gretton past the new houses on the steep path up to Arnhill. Opposite The Bluebell Inn, the Baptist Church had a graveyard wall bedecked with flowers in commemoration and celebration of two hundred years of service to the community. 8.25 miles and 13 stiles.

.

Wednesday 19th June 2024

Northants Women’s Midweek League @ Geddington

Geddington Women 78 for 6 (20 overs)

defeated

Thrapston Women Green (won toss) 47 all out

by 31 runs

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

.

Saturday 22 June 2024

Cricket @Uppingham School

Uppingham School Girls 117 for 6 (20 overs)

defeated

Oundle School Girls (won toss) 95 for7 (20 overs)

by 22 runs

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

.

Sunday 23rd June 2024

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Division 1

@ Kettering

Kettering Ladies (won toss) 119 all out (34.1 overs)

lost to

Blyth Women 120 for 2 (30.3 overs)

by 8 wickets

Umpires: Michael Carlisle & Eddie McGeown

.

Monday 24th June 2024 Cricket @ Stamford School

Girls Cricket Festival

10.00am Eastbourne College U15 Girls 90 for 9 (100 balls)

lost to

Stamford School U15 Girls 91 for 7 (99 balls)

by 3 wickets

Umpires: Kiran Makwana & Eddie McGeown

.

2.00pm Stamford School Girls U15 144 for 6 (20 overs)

defeated

Framlingham College U15 Girls 89 all out (18.4 overs)

by 55 runs

Umpires: Kiran Makwana & Eddie McGeown

.

Tuesday 25th June 2024 Cricket @ Stamford School

Girls Cricket Festival

10.00am Framlingham College Girls (won toss) 167 for 3 (100 balls)

defeated

Eastbourne College Girls 114 for 7 (100 balls)

by 52 runs

Umpires: David Tress & Eddie McGeown

.

2.00pm Seaford College Girls (won toss) 122 for 8 (20 overs)

lost to

Framlingham College Girls 124 for 4 (14.4 overs)

by six wickets

Umpires: David Tress & Eddie McGeown

.

Wednesday 26th June 2024 Cricket @ Stamford School

Girls Cricket Festival

10.00am Seaford College U15 Girls 123 for 2 (100 balls)

lost to

Framlingham College U15 Girls (won toss) 126 for 7 (100 balls)

by 3 wickets

Umpires: Kiran Makwana & Eddie McGeown

.

2.00pm Framlingham College U15 Girls (won toss) 103 for 2 (10 overs)

defeated

Eastbourne College U15 Girls 60 all out  (7.2 overs)

by 43 runs

Umpires: Kiran Makwana & Eddie McGeown

.

Wednesday 26th June 2024

Northants Women’s Midweek Cricket League (8 aside)

@ Brixworth CC 6.00pm

Brixworth Women (won toss) 104 for 4 (20 overs)

lost to

Geddington Women 105 for 1 (13.1 overs)

by 7 wickets

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

.

Saturday 29th June 2024

Northants Cricket League Division 1

@ Weekly & Warkton

Weekley & Warkton (won toss) 229 for 9 (50 overs)

defeated

Overstone Park 135 all out (35.4 overs)

by 94 runs

Umpires: Graham Lawman & Eddie McGeown

Scorers: Catherine Pringle & Lindsey Bates

After a dull morning, the sun came out in force for the afternoon session as the hosts posted a challenging total at Boughton Park. The visitors started positively, but then lost wickets regularly and subsided to a 94 run defeat. It was good to see two very professional and competent scorers (see below) supporting the on field umpires.

.

.

.

.

Sunday 30th June 2024

Cricket @ Irthlingborough Town CC

Player Pathway fixture

Northampton & South U15  (won toss) 225 for 9 (40 overs)

defeated

East Northants U15 133 all out (24.3 overs)

by 92 runs

Umpires: Jeffrey Beale & Eddie McGeown

.

One Perfect Rose

.

A single flow’r he sent me, since we met.

All tenderly his messenger he chose;

Deep-hearted, pure, with scented dew still wet –

One perfect rose.

.

I know the language of the floweret

‘My fragile leaves,’ it said, ‘his heart enclose.’

Love long has taken for his amulet

One perfect rose.

.

Why is it no one ever sent me yet

One perfect limousine, do you suppose?

Ah no, it’s always just my luck yo get

One perfect rose.

.

Dorothy Parker (1893 – 1967)

Cricket (@ Oundle School)

Wednesday 1st May 2024

Yorkshire u14 128 all out (31.2 overs)

lost to

Northamptonshire u14 130 for 6 (29.4 overs)

by 4 wickets

Umpires: Colin Samuels & Eddie McGeown

.

Cricket (@ Oundle School)

Thursday 2nd May 2024

Oundle School 1st XI 144 for 8 (25 overs)

tied with

Yorkshire CCC Academy 144 for 7 (25 overs)

Umpires: Danny Crowson & Eddie McGeown

.

Despite the heavy and unrelenting precipitation, this was a fine match at a surprisingly good standard. Both these teams were a credit to their league, but Westend had the greater fire power in an entertaining encounter!

Saturday 4th May 2024

Peterborough & District League Premier Division

Tydd 1

Stanground Sports 8

Referee: Phil Hayes.                                                       Attendance: 34

Admission: F.O.C.                                                          Programme: NONE

A small changing rooms and kitchen and a field surrounded by a rope, were the facilities available at Tydd St Mary’s Playing Field (there was an excellent village shop at the end of the road supplying very reasonably priced victuals!). This was the hosts final game and perched perilously, just above the relegation drop zone, they now have to rely on favourable results from elsewhere to help them to avoid the drop. High flying Stanground Sports were in total command throughout, scoring four goals in each half, including a hat-trick for Taylor Duthie. Good to see Paul Jeffrey from Ely in attendance on a sunny afternoon.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Sunday 5th May 2024 (@Thrapston)

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Division 1 

Blyth Women 72 all out (25.5 overs)

lost to

Thrapston Women  75 for 5  (20.5 overs)

by 5 wickets

Umpires: Keith Simpson & Eddie McGeown

.

Monday 6th May 2024

Cricket @ Kettering Town CC

Huntingdonshire u14 157 for 9 (40 overs)

defeated

Kettering & Corby u15 143 all out (33.3 overs)

by 14 runs

Umpires: Colin Megennis & Eddie McGeown

.

.

Tuesday 7th May 2024

Cambridgeshire County League Division 1B

Exning United 3

Alex Prigg 64, 69, 71,

Needingworth United 3

John Gifford 10, Ben Carter 33, Charlie Whitehead 35,

Referee: Carlton Joseph.                                                         Attendance: 18

Admission: F.O.C.                                                                    Programme: NONE

Hansel & Gretel country, the little house in the woods where the players get changed and a football pitch surrounded by trees. The population of Exning is less than 2,000 but they have a football club competing well in the Cambridgeshire League even though the village is situated in Suffolk! The visitors, playing their last game of the season, drew their playing position out of a hat, which meant that their top striker was in goal and central defender in attack! It all worked well in the first half as they powered to a three goal advantage, but the hosts had the better of the second period and the match deservedly ended all square.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Wednesday 8th May 2024 (@Geddington CC)

Northants Women’s Cricket League

Overstone Park Women (won toss) 103 for 3 (20 overs)

lost to

Geddington Women 106 for 0 (11 overs)

by ten wickets.

Umpire: Eddie McGeown

.

.

.

Thursday 9th May 2024

Central Midlands Alliance Premier Division South

AFC Normanton 1

Josh Manifold 38,

Linby Colliery Welfare 2

Ashton Bernard 1, Ashley Mellor (og) 76,

Referee: Richard Thompson.                                             Attendance: 49

Admission: £2.00.                                                               Programme: £2.00

Not much to see at Boundary Meadows. There was a railed pitch and a building with changing rooms and a window for refreshments and drinks. This was the host’s third game in six days and a very end of season affair. The visitors opened the scoring within the very first minute. The hosts replied before half-time. A draw would have been a fair result, but, with fifteen minutes remaining, the home centre-half walloped a clearance against the head of his own custodian and the ball ricocheted into the net to give the visitors victory. Good to see Jack Warner in attendance!

.

.

.

.

AFC Normanton

.

Linby Colliery Welfare 

.

Matchday programme

.

Friday 10th May 2024 

Cricket @ Stamford School

U13 National Cup

King Edward School Birmingham (won toss) 191 for 6 (30 overs)

defeated

Stamford School 43 all out (18 overs)

by 148 runs

Umpires: Martyn Dobbs & Eddie McGeown

.

Saturday 11th May 2024

Cricket @ Oundle School

Oundle School U15A (won toss) 172 for 9 (35 overs)

lost to
Rugby School 173 for 4 (22.4 overs)

by 6 wickets

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

.

Sunday 12th May 2024

Cricket @ Kettering Town CC

East Midlands Women’s Cricket League Division 1

Kirkby Portland Women (Won toss) 157 for 4 (40 overs)

defeated

Kettering Ladies 140 for 6 (40 overs)

by 17 runs

Umpires: Keith Timpson & Eddie McGeown

.

Monday 13th May 2024

Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior County league

Premier Division

Houghton Main 0

Jubilee Sports 1

Jay Evison 39 (pen),

Referee: Andrew Price.                                                       Attendance: 60

Admission:- F.O.C.                                                             Programme: NONE

Quite an attractive ground, railed on three sides with the fourth side open to the cricket pitch and, behind it, the cricket pavilion which serves both football and cricket. There was a quite substantial 120 seater stand on the far side of the pitch, but no hard standing. The match wasn’t a classic. The hosts are in relegation trouble whilst the visitors sit comfortably in third place. The only goal came from the penalty spot around five minutes before the half-time whistle.

.

.

.

.

The only goal came from the penalty spot  ………….

.

…………….. around 5 minutes before half-time

.

.

Houghton Main

.

Jubilee Sports

.

.

Wednesday 15th May 2024

Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division

Adderbury Park 5

Jimmy Hunt 11,  Joe Thornton 15, 21, Durrell Lives 73, Jack Welch 77,

Launton Sports 4

Charlie Bateman 40, 76, 86, Mike Dann 71,

Referee: Adam Morris.                                                          Attendance: 22

Admission: F.O.C.                                                                  Programme: NONE

Tucked away in the far reaches of the village on the edge of the Northamptonshire/Oxfordshire border, in the shadow of the 13th Century parish church of St Mary The Virgin, The Adders ply their trade on a field with a changing and refreshment facility. They raced into a 3-0 lead in the opening half-hour, but were pegged back by the interval. In the second period, Launton came back strongly, never actually reaching parity, but giving a good account of themselves. With son, Jim, and grandsons, Sonny & Kingsley.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saturday 18th May 2024

Northants Cricket League Division 1 (@Peterborough Town CC)

Burton Latimer   (won toss) 219 for 7 (50 overs)

lost to

Peterborough Town II   223 for 5 949.1 overs)

by five wickets

Umpires: David Brackenbury & Eddie McGeown

.

.

Sunday 19th May 2024

East Midlands Cricket League Division 1  (@ Thrapston CC)

Kettering Ladies 190 for 5 (40 overs)

defeated

Thrapston Women (won toss) 118 all out (38 overs)

by 72 runs

Umpires: Alan Pearce & Eddie McGeown

.

Tuesday 21st May 2024

Herts Senior County League Premier Division

Chipperfield Athletic 6

Charle Danks 16, Dan Griggs 17, 48, Adrian Abramian 56, 72, Louie Griffiths 76, 

Cuffley Seniors 1

Dan Jones 61,

Referee: Ben Soll.                                                                 Attendance: 34

Admission: F.O.C.                                                               Programme: NONE

Heavy, unremitting precipitation, overcast and gloomy, but, a pitch in surprisingly excellent condition, despite the rainfall. There was a wooden clubhouse with a veranda which provided some protection from the elements (and a cup of coffee), and a railed pitch with dugouts, but no hard standing. The visitors started the match with eight players, but it was only after they had increased their numbers to ten, that they began to leak goals. 0-3 down at the interval, they conceded three more in the second half, but did manage a consolation. With John Main, Paul Proctor and Phil Evans.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Thursday 23rd May 2024

Peterborough & District Sunday League Division 1

Thorpe Wood Rangers 1

Edmunds Grunstein 88,

Orton Wanderers 6

Jamal Nyang 27, 57, 85, 90+2, Spencer Hawkins 30, Louis Freeman 83,

Referee: Jonathan Clayton.                                                     Attendance: 17

Admission: F.O.C.                                                                     Programme: NONE

I once dropped a slip catch off my eldest son’s bowling at The Pearl Assurance ground in Castor. The majestic building is still there, but looking very decrepit. The short, stubby tower of St Kyneburgha’s parish church peaks over the treetops as this evening’s visitors enjoyed a well deserved, heavy victory, going 3-0 up shortly after the interval, but then four more goals were packed into the final seven minutes! With John Main.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saturday 25th May 2024

Northants Cricket League Division 1 (@Weekley & Warkton CC)

Weekly & Warkton(won toss) 206 for 6 (50 overs)

tied with

Thrapston 206 all out (49.2 overs)

Umpires: Richard Nuttall & Eddie McGeown

.

Sunday 26th May 2024

Rutland League Division 1 (@ Uppingham CC)

Newborough (won toss) 132′ all out (39 overs)

drew with

Uppingham 27 for 3 (7.2 overs) RSP

Match abandoned

Umpires: Andy Watson & Eddie McGeown

.

Monday 27th May 2024

Cricket @ Nassington CC

Notts U11 Girls (won toss) 108 for 3 (20 overs

defeated

Northants U11 Girls 47 all out in 18 overs

by 61 runs

Umpires: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

____________________________

Northants U11 Girls (won toss) 110 for 1 (20 overs)

defeated

Notts U11 Girls 76 all out (18 overs)

by 34 runs

Umpires: Simon Clark & Eddie McGeown

.

Tuesday 28th May 2024

Cricket @ Raunds CC

Northants Over 60s 98 for 8 (20 overs0

defeated

Berkshire Over 60s(won toss) 48 for 9 (20 overs)

by 40 runs

Umpires: Paul Bartlett & Eddie McGeown

This was a rain affected game which started off as a fifty overs aside contest, due to begin at 1.00pm. It was reduced to 30 overs aside from 3.00pm and when the rain continued, and it was further reduced to the minimum of twenty overs aside from 5.00pm.

.

Wednesday 29th May 2024

Cricket @ Finedon Dolben CC

Horton House Women (won toss) 92 for 5 (20 overs)

defeated

Finedon Dolben Women 89 for 5 (20 overs)

by 3 runs

Umpires: Eddie McGeown

.

.

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.

.

From “Seasons’ by Jo Peters.

.

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.

.

.

On the far side of the ground was the cricket pavilion with the foothills of the Pennines looming behind.

.

.

.

There was snow on the hills in the distance, but no more than a thin drizzle below!

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

The Peel Park Hotel

.

The forbidding brick built changing rooms with not a window in sight!

.

.

.

.

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.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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

.

.

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!

.

.

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!

.

.

.

Yours truly, captured from behind by John Main!

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

A Scotrail DMU passing by on the embankment!

.

Michael Squires sitting in noble splendour!

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

The away team strip was turquoise and navy

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

Craig Dabbs at the entrance to Whitburn 

.

.

.

.

.

The main drum band whose cacophony was kept up throughout the match

.

.

.

.

.

.

Matchday programme

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saturday 23rd March 2024

Velocity Wessex League Premier Division

Hamble Club 1

Clayd Roach 77,

Brockenhurst 1

Ronan Moore 90+3

Referee: Christopher Cass.                                         Attendance: 95

Admission: £7.00 (£4).                                               Programme: On Line

Twelve years ago, I went to see GE Hamble play Fareham Town at Folland Park. Today’s team have no connection with that side (who are now called Folland Sports). Hamble Club play at The Abbey in Hamble-le-Rice in Southampton and are nicknamed (not surprisingly), ‘The Monks’. Brockenhurst, the visitors, are considerably higher in the league, but, today, they were fortunate to escape with a point, garnering an equaliser in the third minute of added time at the end of the match, having had a first half penalty saved.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Tuesday 26th March 2024

Northern Premier League Midlands Division 1

AFC Rushden & Diamonds 4

Cairo Taylor 31, Tarik Dallas 35, Ryan Inman 69, Scott Jacob 79,

Cambridge City 1

Ryan Ingrey 6

Referee: Manesh Gupta.                                       Attendance: 269

Admission: OMGDS £8.00 (£11)                       Programme: On Line

The heavens opened on approach to the ground and the precipitation continued all evening. Hayden Road has been considerably improved by the hosts, but the iconic main stand is still out of use. Diamonds have endured a hellish season and before the match were rock bottom of the division. They went behind early on, but recovered to take a 2-1 interval lead. Cambridge then lost a player to a second yellow and the hosts drove home the advantage to win deservedly and convincingly …… but they only moved up one place and the threat of relegation still hangs over them!

.

.

.

.

.

The South West Peninsular ‘Hop’

Thursday 28th March 2024. 250 miles to Exeter, booked into hotel. 25 miles to Honiton Town v Sidmouth Town. Arrived in plenty of time. Despite torrential rain, earlier in the day, the pitch looked perfectly playable. A lot of work had been undertaken by club volunteers, and yet, the referee called the match off at 6.45pm. He should have been at Sauchie juniors or Whitburn Juniors, two weeks ago. THEY PLAYED on surfaces substantially inferior to Honiton’s pitch. He could AT LEAST have started the match and called it off if conditions demanded. Was he frightened of a league referee’s assessor?

.

.

Friday 29th March 2024 – 11.30am

South West Peninsular League

Premier Division East

Torrington 1

Tom Davey 19,

Crediton United 0

Referee: David Middleton.                                                 Attendance

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).                                      Programme: £2.00

The parish church of St Michael and all the angels commands the skyline at Vicarage Field. In 1646, after the Roundhead capture of Torrington, the Royalist captives were imprisoned in the church …. along with 80 barrels of Royalist gunpowder. Sadly for the captives, they were blown to kingdom come when somehow, the explosives ignited! The hosts – The Supergreens – considerably lower in the division, nonetheless took a deserved interval lead. They contrived to miss a penalty in driving rain in the fiftieth minute, but hung on till the end for victory and the points. Yours truly won the raffle worth£50.00!!!

.

Eddie McGeown at the gates of Vicarage Field, Torrington.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Eddie McGeown adorned in his Doctor Who scarf

.

.

Friday 29th March 2024 – 3.00pm

South West Peninsular League

Premier Division East

Torridgeside 0

Okehampton Argyle 3

Brad Ausden 8, 12, Luke Mortimore 23,

Referee: Krzysztof Wegrzynowski.                                   Attendance: 451

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).                                     Programme: £2.50

The only hard standing at the ground is down (most) of the near side, but there is a good covered area and a small seated stand. Torridgeside are the junior of the two Torrington sides having been formed in 1989 and the major improvements to the ground were begun in 2020. They are struggling however around the foot of the table and a first half comical error by the home custodian started a mini goal spree for the visitors who held a three goal advantage at the interval. In the second half, the hosts were considerably more competitive, but the damage had been done and the hosts, try as they might could not pull back even one strike!

.

Laurence Reade, right next to the stand with his satchel.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Friday 29th March 2024 – 7.00pm

South West Peninsular League

Premier Division West

Holsworthy 0

Bude Town 0

Referee: Luke Dennis.                                                              Attendance: 906

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).                                           Programme: £1.00

The ground staff worked wonders on the sodden turf and the referee allowed play on a pitch that was not as good as Honiton, last evening. These two teams, less than ten miles apart served up a rip roaring first period, but lacking in goals despite the visitors having the edge, playing up the slope. The second period was more of the same, except that the hosts contrived to fluff two clear cut chances. Good game, despite the lack of goals!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saturday 30th March 2024 – 11.30am

South West Peninsular League Premier Division West

Liskeard Athletic 2

Ruben Kane 23, Max Gilbert 50

Dobwalls 0

Referee: Paul Redding                                                                Attendance: 508

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6)                                              Programme: £1.00

Liskeard are flying high in the West division and took this game very comfortably despite the match opening with a monsoon of Biblical proportions. That had died away by the time the hosts scored the opening goal. After that, it was all plain sailing.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saturday 30th March 2024 – 3.00pm

South West Peninsular League

Premier Division East

Elburton Villa 1

Bentley Alcantara 56 (pen), Bentley Alcantara s/o 90+10

Bovey Tracey 2

Josh Haynes 15, 31, Mitch Thomas s/o 56, Neil Last s/o 90+10

Referee: Murat Kaymaz.                                                Attendance: 311

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).                                 Programme: £2.00

A minimalist ground with no cover, except that provided by a fifty seater Meccano stand. Two mid table teams and the visitors were comfortable winners despite having a man dismissed around the hour mark. The referee was exceptionally fussy and did not endear himself to a host of hoppers, and there were a further two dismissals deep into stoppage time!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Saturday 30th March 2024 – 6.30pm

South West Peninsular League

Premier Division East

Ivybridge Town 6

Connor Rush 40, 90+3, Owen Pritchard 64, 74, 82, Bailey Mabin 79,

Dartmouth 0

Referee: Brandon Hawkins.                                                        Attendance: 388

Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£6).                                               Programme: £1.00.

At half-time you would not have thought that more than 70 points separated these teams as top of the table Ivybridge held a slender single goal advantage over a spirited and challenging Dartmouth. The second half was a completely different kettle of fish. First of all, the rai s came and livened up the pitch, the visitors got tired and towards the end, the hosts piled on the pressure and the goals. They deserved to win, but one felt a certain admiration and sympathy for the visitors

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Sunday 31st March 2024 – k.o. 10.15am

Exeter & District Sunday League

Premier Division Cup Group B

Ide Green Rovers 3

Logan Burns 7, Sam Chapman 32, Jack Pullman 49,

St Martins AFC 2

Jake Langmaid 52, Matt Titmarsh 64,

Referee: Ashley Horn.                                                    Attendance: 11

Admission: F.O.C.                                                          Programme: NONE

Played at St Martins Minster Park ground which hosted a ‘hop’ match exactly six years ago today. The match had been switched because Ide Green Rovers haven’t been able to play a home match since January! It was a very good match. The hosts took a two goal interval lead and increased it within five minutes of the re-start and then had to withstand heavy St Martins pressure. Indeed, it is a miracle how they survived to achieve the victory. With five minutes to go, a St Martin’s player suffered a broken leg.

.

.

.

Sunday 31st March 2024

FA Women’s National League

Division 1 South West

Torquay United Women 2

Kate McKane 32, Anthea Kaptein 45,

Maidenhead United Women 3

Izzy Stockton 22, Jade Hockney 82, Trinity Esprit 84,

Referee: Nuria Bonet.                                                             Attendance: 98

Admission: £5.00.                                                                  Programme: NONE

This match was played on the 3G surface at The Devon FA County Ground on Coach Road in Newton Abbot. The hosts are firmly ensconced in the relegation places whilst the visitors are ten points and four places better off. The visitors opened the scoring, however, against the run of play, but back came the hosts for a 2-1 interval advantage. The second half was an entirely different matter. The visitors ran the show, but it took two late goals to @claim the victory!

.

.

.

.

.

Tuesday 2nd April 2024

Staying at Garth Ucha, a lovely, but lonely old farmhouse near Llanyblodwel in The Welsh Marches, south and west of Oswestry. Our walk took us down to the fast flowing river and across a rickety footbridge. A false turn brought us into contact with an alpaca, before we encountered a steep bridleway with a bubbling stream cascading downwards which making the footage fairly risky. High up at the top was the tiny hamlet of Soar with its own Methodist Chapel … whilst far away, across the valley, we could espy another, much more conventional religious establishment. We descended by waterlogged fields and a narrow road which drew us toward the church of St Michael the Archangel. The rector, Kathy Trimby, has been in charge for ten years, but is shortly moving to Australia. Across the narrow bridge over Afon Tanat (River Tanat), is “The Horseshoe Inn”, but, sadly there was no sign of life. A mile and a half along the riverside and a steep rise brought us back to Garth Ucha. 6.2 miles and three stiles.

.

.

.

Tom Parkin & Matt Knowles

.

.

.

.

Tom Parkin & Matt Knowles

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Eddie at the front and Matt behind

.

.

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

.

.

.

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.

.

Craven Cottage

.

from the front :- Sonny, Kingsley, Jim and Cora

.

.

The new Riverside Stand at Craven Cottage  …. was not in use for this match  ….. or is it not yet completed?

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

Freddie and Ed

.

.

.

.

Freddie, Kingsley and Sonny

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

The main square in Bruges

.

.

The main square in Bruges.

.

.

.

Naturally, we sampled the local brews

Jonny, across the table!

.

.

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.

.

.

Jonny Crane, Jim and Mark Sumner

.

.

Jonny Crane

.

.

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.

.

.

.

                                                       Yours Truly, Eddie McGeown

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

No spectators allowed behind the goal, but the people in the flats had a good view!

.

.

.

Riot police facing angry fans at Molenbeek

.

The author, martialling his facts on the train from Antwerp to Brussels

.

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.

.

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

.

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..

.

.

.

.

.

.

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)

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.

.

Atmospheric as the moon glows behind the giant triffids rising above the trees to light the game!

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

A large contingent of Corby Town supporters cheered their side on!

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

The penalty, just after half-time which sealed the victory for the hosts.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Number 4 for the away side is: Tom Bold.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

The only available seating was in a 50 seater Meccano stand down one side.

.

.

.

.

.

Improving accuracy in the loo!

.

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.

.

[…]

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.

.

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.

.

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.

.

.

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.

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.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

The view from the main stand was fairly badly obstructed. The ‘dug-outs” should have been below ground level

.

Grand Dad and Grand Son – Eddie & Freddie

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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!

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

Eldest son, Jim with my grandsons, Kingsley, left and Sonny, right.

.

.

.

On the platform at Gorgonzola Metro and only seventeen stops from Milano Central!

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

Back on Monza Station after a two mile walk from the stadium, grandsons, Sonny, left and Kingsley, right, display their newly acquired Monza scarves.

.

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.

.

.

.

.

.

.