from: “The Goals of Bingo Boot”
by Allan Ahlberg
The Hades fans were howling
We’re the boys from Beelzebub
While God took Charlie Chaplin off
And brought Jesus on as a sub.
The second half went racing by
The pace was faster still
There was less than a minute left to play
And the score remained nil-nil.
.
Then Bingo dribbled round St Mark
Who never had a prayer
Left frail St Francis on his knees
And danced past Fred Astaire.
The goal was at his mercy now
It seemed he couldn’t fail
When – bang! – a tackle from behind
From Florence Nightingale.
.
A penalty! The crowd was stunned
The Devil’s lot gave thanks
Though God in goal, the angels cried,
Was as good as Gordon Banks
A cruel choice for Bingo
Whatever should he do
Be false to his god-given gifts
Or give the Devil his due?
.
.
.
Saturday 3rd June 2017
FA Women’s Super League Spring Series
Birmingham City Ladies 0
Chelsea Ladies 2
Karen Carney 21,
Fran Kirby 57,
Referee:- Daniel Middleton Attendance:- 1,171
Admission:- OMGDS£5.00 (£8) Programme:- £2.50
This was my third visit to Solihull Moors stadium in as many weeks for a Ladies match and it was also the last match of the mini Spring Series, where Chelsea Ladies confirmed their title with this regulation, if somewhat torrid victory. John Main and I were under impressed – particularly with the lack of atmosphere!
Chelsea sealed the championship of The Spring Series with this victory
Saturday 3rd June 2017
(Ashbourne) Summer League
Bill Redfern Cup – FINAL
Doveridge 5
Oliver Ritchie 34, 76,
Jonathan Atherton 44, 61,
Jake Avery 85,
Rose and Crown 2
Pat Newbold 36,
Rob Thorley 73,
Referee:- Peter Taylor Attendance:- 84
Admission:- £2.00 Programme:- NONE
Osmaston Polo Fields was the venue for tonight’s final and the present leaders of the league, Doveridge, were playing fourth placed Rose and Crown who are but two points adrift. This was a rip-roaring match between two committed teams and made up for the soporific encounter John Main and I had witnessed this afternoon! The deserved winners were Doveridge, but not before enduring long spells of sustained pressure from their opponents. Two goals in the last ten minutes eventually seeing off their plucky rivals!
The Bill Redfern Cup
Monday 12th June 2017
(Derbyshire) Summer League
Biggin 0
Red Lion 0
Referee:- Jim Conway Attendance:- 36
0-0 draws are about as rare as hen’s teeth in The Summer League, so it was just our luck that we managed to find that rarity this evening – and on John Main’s birthday, too! Biggin is tiny! Nestling in the peaks between Ashbourne and Buxton, it boasts fewer that forty dwellings and a square towered church. We were greeted by rain, but the match, for all its dearth of goals, was a pretty well contested encounter. The visitors shaded the first half, but the hosts dominated the second period and smote the woodwork on three occasions.
The main stand at Biggin!
There were more sheep in this field than spectators on the football field!
Thursday 15th June 2017
(Ashbourne) Summer League
Kirk Langley 1
Andy Thornhill 26,
Mappleton 6
Nick Partridge 7,
Sam Birks 30, 33,
Charlie Wibberley 36,
James Ingram 39,
Bill Clews 55,
Referee:- Peter Taylor Attendance:- 16
High flying Mappleton thumped lowly Kirk Langley mercilessly, striking five goals before half-time. They lie second in the league two points behind leaders Doveridge but with a game in hand. Kirk Langley play at The George Barrington Cricket Field, with St Michael’s Church brooding in the background, where the gravestone of George Barrington lies at the entrance. After Monday evening’s 0-0 draw, Chris Berezai, John Main and I were treated to a welcome avalanche of scoring!
Monday 19th June 2015
(Ashbourne) Summer League
Brassington 5
Steve Coates 27,
Ben Cartwright 37,
Harry Delaney 42,
Sam Froggatt 44, 73,
Red Lion 1
Tom Gregory 2,
Referee:- John Ford Attendance:- 32
On a fine, warm summer’s evening, John Main and I, suitably replenished and revictualled at The Rose & Crown in Brailsford, visited Brassington’s impressive home. We’d seen them twice this season, both in away fixtures, one lost by 5-1 and one won by 6-0. Tonight, they went behind early to a goal after only two minutes, by half-time, they had the lead and three second half strikes sealed an efficient victory.
Monday 26th June 2017
(Ashbourne) Summer League
Doveridge 5
Ben Atherton 21,
Ollie Ritchie 30, 54, 79,
Jack Conlon 78,
Brassington 1
Ben Cartwright 63,
referee:- Frank Webster Attendance:- 43
Doveridge is a small village just off the A50 and The Recreation Ground also hosts the Village Hall and other amenities. Brassington were 5-1 victors this time last week, but tonight they were sadly off the pace and a determined and rampant home side ran them into the ground.
The main changing rooms at Doveridge
Other Matches:-
Monday 5th June 2017
(Ashbourne) Summer League
FC Hulland 1 Doveridge 4 Attendance:- 15
This match was played out amidst a constant and unrelenting downpour. Top of the league Doveridge had won it by half time when they were leading 4-0. Plucky Hulland fought well in the second half and deserved their consolation eight minutes from time!
This season:-
Matches:- 250 New Grounds:- 114
TOTAL:-
Matches:-3,696 New Grounds:- 1,341
