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February 2023

Saint Valentines Day Massacre
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What did I ever do to Dorothy Prewitt?
She sent me a heart with an arrow right through it!
So … if she wants war (well I didn’t begin it)
I’ll draw her a heart with an axe buried in it!

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by Philip Waddell

 

Wednesday 1st February 2023
Northamptonshire Senior (Hillier) Cup Semi-final
Corby Town 0
Peterborough Sports 4
Abduraugne Sana-Sani 1, Joshua McCammon 10, 29, 50, 
Referee: Joe Woolmer.                          Attendance: 334
Admission: OMGDS £5.00 (£8).       Programme: NONE
This Northamptonshire County Cup semi[final pitted Northern Premier League Midland Division, Corby Town, against National League North, Peterborough Sports. Five or six  years ago, the visitors were a couple of steps below the hosts, but this evening they are a couple of steps above them! This game was barely ten seconds old before the first goal materialised and the visitors helped themselves to two more before the interval. The hosts were shell shocked, and conceded a fourth strike in the second half. Peterborough Sports, themselves reeling from the withdrawal of financial support, booked their passage emphatically into the final!
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Saturday 4th February 2023
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division
Sileby Town 3
Stan Logan 19, Shaun Smith 39, Lennon Stephenson 84,
Friar Lane & Epworth 0
Referee: Martyn Jarvis.                              Attendance: 53
Admission: OMGDS £2.00 (£3).             Programme: NONE
“Best ground in the league!” according to the locals! They have a lovely club house and bar, the ground is completely enclosed, fully and substantially railed and with hardstanding on three sides, with covered seating for around 80 or 90 spectators. Whilst today’s hosts are midtable, the visitors are rock bottom with only one win and fifteen defeats from their sixteen games this season. Only one player on the visiting Teamsheet had the correct number and the score line was definitely in their favour. Sileby let them off lightly and really should have scored more goals!
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The German Expedition

There were twelve of us in the party at various points during the weekend, flying out from Stansted to Leipzig on 10th February and staying for two nights at The Premier Inn Leipzig City Oper Hotel, hard by Leipzig Hauptbanhof, the largest railway station in Europe, they tell me. It can be very cold in East Germany, with temperatures dropping to as low as  -30 degrees Celsius, but this weekend, it was a relatively balmy 5 – 9 degrees Celsius! There was time for a snooze before embarking on another short train ride to the outskirts of the city.
Friday 10th February 2023
Deutsch Regionaliga Nordost
BSG Chemie Leipzig 1
Manasse Eshele 63,
FSV 63 Luckenwalde 2
Phil Butendeich 30, Christian Flath 35 (pen),
Referee: Florian Butterich.                                 Attendance:- 3,321
Admission: OMGDS €13.20 (€15).                   Programme: €2.00
A vast sprawling mass of a ground with soft earth underfoot and high fencing around the pitch, this eccentric stadium had a real charm and the fervid home fans behind the goal kept up the noise and chant all the way through the match. The home side started brightly and looked nailed on certainties for victory until two quick strikes, on the break, around the half hour mark, seriously jolted their ambitions. In the second period, they attempted to redeem the mess, but only managed a consolation, just after the hour mark. It didn’t, however, dampen the enthusiasm of the faithful. With sons, Jim, Mike and Liam in a party of twelve hoppers on a weekend in Germany.
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Hallescher is a away to the west of Leipzig, perhaps an hour by train, followed by a tram ride to the ground. Once again, the train tickets and transport were co-ordinated, which made it a cheap journey to The Leuna Chemie Stadion. Interestingly, I got talking to a woman seated next to me and I asked her about the re-unification of Germany. She said that she had been born and brought up in Cologne and came out to live in the former East Germany long after the re-unification. She said that she didn’t feel any difference between east and west, which was in sharp contrast to the woman I spoke to this evening at RB Leipzig, who hated the unification and wished she was back in the old DDR (German Democratic Republic). The other issue that both raised was the perception of Red Bull Leipzig. At the afternoon match, RB Leipzig was a hated team (and equally so last night at BSG Chemie Leipzig). They were the only team in Germany who were run by an outside company (Red Bull), all the other teams in Bundesliga are run by the supporters. In sharp contrast, the woman at the evening match argued that RB Leipzig were the ONLY eastern team in The Bundesliga. Other great names from before re-unification, like Karl Zeiss Jena and Dresden or Magdeburg, were down in Bundesliga 3 or lower. She felt that West Germany only accepted the east on sufferance and resented the huge amounts of federal monies that had been used to bring it up to West German standards.
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Saturday 11th February 2023
Deutsch Bundesliga 3
Hallescher 1
Jonas Nielfeld 28,
SC Frieburg II  3
Andi Hoti 35, Vincent Vereij 55, Lars Kehl 72,
Referee: Patrick Alt.                                              Attendance: 5,067
Admission: (seated) OMGDS €25.00 (€30)    Programme: free newspaper and teamsheet.
The Leuna Chemie Stadion is a smart, neat, new arena (built 2012 on the footprint of the old ground) and holds 15,000. It was just over a third full today, but, unsurprisingly, not a single away supporter – see photo. The hosts (second from bottom) opened the scoring, but were always second best to third placed Freiburg II, who equalised by half-time and popped in two more in the second half for a convincing victory. Once again, the defeat failed to deter the ultra faithful behind the home goal. Good game for the travelling English contingent, including sons, Jim, Mike and Liam.
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The away end at Hallescher, with not a single supporter in it, not surprising, really, when the SC Frieburg first team were at home the same afternoon. They won 2-1 after going a goal down to VFB Stuttgart in the first half.
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The Red Bull Arena was a fifteen minute tram ride from Leipzig Hauptbanhof (railway station), once again, free of charge with your football ticket. This was the biggest crowd of the weekend, but well marshalled and organised so that there was relatively little queuing either before or after the match. Compared to our country, Germany is light years ahead in transport organisation and infrastructure. Trams, buses and trains are co-ordinated and all of them are fast, cheap, clean and punctual – all the things lacking in our own transport system. It made me ashamed to be British.
Saturday 11th February 2023
Deutsch Bundesliga
RB Leipzig 1
Benjamin Heinrichs 25,
FC Union Berlin 2
Jannik Habegär 61, Robin Knochen 72 (pen),
Referee: Daniel Schlager.                              Attendance: 47,069
Admission: OMGDS €35.00 (€40)            Programme: NONE
The ”wow” factor at The Red Bull Arena is massive. As soon as the tram stops, it fills the horizon, and it continues to impress all through the match. These two clubs are locked in 4th and 3rd place respectively and Red Bull could overtake Union with a victory. In the first half, a thunderblaster from the hosts put them comfortably in front. The second half was a different kettle of fish. Firstly, another shot from outside the area equalised for Union. Then, VAR handed Union a penalty which they converted and finally, an RB equaliser was ruled out by VAR for offside and Union hung on, deservedly, in my opinion, for a significant victory. Jammed like sardines in a tin on the tram back to Leipzig Hauptbanhof. A fine bottle of red wine to round off the evening.
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The roving camera scoured the pitch capturing every possible angle and suspended on four wires high (and low) above the playing area
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A lunch time “ICE” train (the German High Speed train), took us from Leipzig to Berlin Hauptbanhof in just under two hours and we had time to decant our bags at The Hotel Amano, just outside the station, before catching the tram (once again, free with your football ticket) to Olympiastadion, the massive amphitheatre that Adolph Hitler built for the 1936 Olympic games. Nearly one hundred years later, it is still a very impressive stadium, a little tired and in need of some TLC, but, nonetheless, a fine arena. There were drinks stops on the (short) way from the tram station to the ground, but with Hertha not enjoying a particularly good season, the ground was just over half full (official capacity just under 75,000). Despite their lack of success this season, the crowd was in full voice and blue and white were the dominant colours.
Sunday 12th February 2023
Deutsch Bundesliga
Hertha Berlin 4
Borussia Monchengladbach 1
Referee: Christian Dingbert.                                Attendance: 40,973
Admission: €25.00.                                               Programme: NONE
The vast, sprawling , but still very impressive Olympiastadion, built for the 1936 Olympic Games, is a vast cauldron of waving flags and scarves despite being dated and weary. Today, the hosts, next to bottom in the league conceded an early goal to mid table Gladbach, equalised after half an hour, took the lead with a classic thunderblaster on 51 minutes and finished strongly with two more goals in added time at the end of the match. Brilliant atmosphere, especially under floodlights, and no hurry to get the tram back to Hauptbanhof!!!
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Large swathes of the stadium were empty!
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Our party consisted of Gary Miller, Jim McGeown, Mike McGeown, Liam McGeown, Matt Miller, Phil Miller, Adam Valance, Kevin Nolan, Alan Eathorne, Rory Clarke, Daz Bibby and yours truly, Eddie McGeown
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I enjoyed a lovely Italian meal at a restaurant in Friedrichstrasse in the evening, washed done with a fine bottle of Italian white wine. Friedrichstrasse is only one stop down from the hotel at Berlin Hauptbanhof. The following day, we took the train to Berlin Airport and the 14.10 flight back to Stansted. Brilliant weekend! Thoroughly enjoyed it … and here’s to the next time!
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Thursday 16th February 2023
Spartan South Midlands League
Gladwish Trophy 3rd Round
Potton United 0
Arlesey Town 0
Referee: Sophie Dennington.                                     Attendance: 95
Admission: OMGDS £4.00 (£8).                              Programme: NONE
Arlesey won 5-4 on penalties.
This was my seventh visit to The Hollow, but the first since December 2018. There is a large car park at the ground and a fine clubhouse, but there was no hot food, this evening, and Potton United no longer produce programmes. They were playing Arlesey Town from maybe six or seven miles away and there was a considerable Arlesey supporter presence. Arlesey might be considered a larger club, having previously grace The Southern League, but on this evening’s showing, they were less effective than the hosts, who really ought to have won the tie. In afractious, niggly match with frequent stoppages for minor injuries and a couple of handbag melees very little was achieved. Add to that some atrocious finishing and eventually the match, thankfully, drew to a close with nothing on the scoreboard. Arlesey won the penalty shoot out, despite having been behind through most of it  and advanced, somewhat fortuitously,  to the next round.
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Saturday 18th February 2023
Sky-Bet EFL league One

Wycombe Wanderers v Bolton Wanderers

Today’s match is sponsored by footballhopper.com and the visitors are appearing in their 5,002nd match since The Football League started. This is only my second visit to Adams Park since a Johnston Paints Trophy 2nd Round match on 8th October 2013, when Wycombe (Billy Knott and Matt Bloomfield) defeated Bristol City (Brendan Moloney) 2-1 in front of a mere 1,279 spectators. I have made a previous visit to Loakes Park on 17th December 1988 to see Wycombe draw 1-1 with Chorley in The GM Vauxhall Conference (what is now The National League). That day, the attendance was: 1,577. Durham scored for Wycombe and Brady for Chorley.
Saturday 18th February 2018
Sky/Bet EFL League One
Wycombe Wanderers 1
Lewis Wing 45+8,
Bolton Wanderers 0
Referee: Andy Woolmer.                               Attendance: 6,544
Admission: Hospitality.                                Programme: NONE
footballhopper.com sponsored this match and our party was splendidly looked after in a private hospitality suite. All my sons and grandchildren were there and the only downside was the result! Bolton and Wycombe were evenly matched, and it took a wonder strike from Lewis Wing eight minutes into added time at the end of the first half to win the match. Bolton huffed and puffed mightily in the second half, but couldn’t find the equaliser.
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Lydia, Freddie and Tess
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Chris Berezai, Eddie McGeown, John Main
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Freddie McGeown
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Daz Bibby with daughter, Lydia and niece, Tess
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John Main & Eddie McGeown
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from left: Rob Hardcastle, Ian Widdowson, Mike McGeown, Alan Eathorne, Gary Miller, Ed, Lewis Wing (man of the match and winning goalscorer, Jim McGeown, Daz Bibby, Aman Singh, Liam McGeownJohn, Main, Chris Berezai, Jonny Crane. in front, the children, left to right: Sonny McGeown, Freddie McGeown, Tess McGeown, Kingsley McGeown, Lydia Bibby-McGeown
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Tuesday 21st February 2023
Northern Counties East League Division 1
Wakefield 1
Jake Morrison 90 (pen)
Nostell Miners Welfare 2
Joe Wood 3, Nicky Laloulis 9, Rhys Westcarr-Toft GK, s/o 88,
Referee: Joshua Drake.                                     Attendance: 242
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).                    Programme: £2.00
Wakefield may not be staying much longer at Featherstone Rover’s Millennium Stadium, so it was an opportunity to take in the match and the ground. In a disastrous start for the highly placed hosts, they conceded two goals in the first nine minutes and for the rest of the half, they looked distinctly second best to their lowly opponents. They were better in the second period, but it was not until the visiting custodian conceded a penalty, two minutes from full time – and got himself sent off – that the hosts found some hope, but it was too little, too late.
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Wednesday 22nd February 2023
Central Midlands League Premier Division North
Retford United 1
Jon Froggatt 69,
Kiveton Miners Welfare 3
Ben Harriot 4, Connor Chapell 34, Alex Moth 39,
Referee: Lee Clarke.                                     Attendance: 134
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).              Programme: £1.00
This was a seismic result! Seventeen victories and one draw in their eighteen league matches this season, with opposition from the bottom three in the table, the hosts were stunned by a fourth minute opener and two further clinical strikes in the first half. After the break, they did, at least, provide more sustained pressure, but their only consolation was a strike on 69 minutes. They were comprehensively dismantled by a determined Kiveton side who thoroughly relished their unexpected victory!
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Saturday 25th February 2023
Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1
Stonehouse Town 2
Nick Humphreys 6, Finley Fowler 15, 
Clanfield 85. 0
Dylan John GK, s/o 45+1
Referee: Roger Smith.                                Attendance: 54
Admission: OMGDS £3.00 (£5).            Programme: £1.50
This was a pretty well equipped ground for this level of football, there was a seated stand down one side and a substantial covered terrace behind one goal. Next to the seated stand was a small clubhouse with bar and refreshments. The hosts scored two first half goals playing up the slight incline and, on the stroke of half time, the opposition had their custodian dismissed for handling the ball outside the area. The second half was a non-event and the ten man visitors, now playing up the slope, had the better of the exchanges with nothing to show for it!
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Tuesday 28th February 2023
Emirates FA Cup 5th Round
Leicester City 1
Kelechi Iheanacho 67,
Blackburn Rovers 2
Tyrhys Dolan 33, Sammie Szmodics 52
Referee: Tim Robinson.                          Attendance: 23,379
Admission: £20.00.                                Programme: £3.50
There was a good atmosphere inside The King Power Stadium for tonight’s FA Cup 5th Round tie. The hosts had rested half of their team, but the visitors had also given opportunities to fringe players. It was a fine match and the visitors deserved their victory and a first visit to the 6th round in eight years. The hosts were woeful, outplayed for long periods and missing the spark that could have given them some inspiration. A goal in each half for the visitors, with the hosts only response just after the hour mark and even a late introduction of mainstream players could not make any impression on the Rovers well drilled defence!
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