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Saturday 18th May 2019



John Treleven
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May 18, 2019, 4:45 PM

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Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Muratti Vase 2019

Guernsey 0, Jersey 0 after extra time (1-3 pen's)

Saturday 18th May 2019

2p.m. at Footes Lane

Officials - Chris Sarginson (Cannock Chase, Staffordshire), Paulo Franco (Jsy), Luke Pattimore (Gsy), Neil Jarvis (Gsy)
Cautions - C.Weir 89 (foul on De La Mare), Curtis 110 (foul on Gauvain), K.Mahon 111 (foul on Pestana-Mendes), Curtis 117 (on linesman's advice) & sent off

Managers - Chris Tardif (G) & Martin Cassidy (J)
Assistants - Kevin Gilligan, John Nobes, Matt Warren & Scott Ferbrache (G), Craig Culkin, Paddy O'Toole, John Carpenter & Bob Richardson (J)
Physio's - Dan Thomas (J) & Mike Hine (J)
Captains - Jamie Dodd (G) & Jack Boyle (J)

Teams/Squads

Guernsey (Guernsey F.C. unless stated) (all white with green trim - Guernsey F.A. 125th celebratory kit)
1. Jason Martin(GK) (St. Martin's), 2. Tom Dodds, 3. Jamie Dodd(c), 4. Frank Tobin, 5. Tom De La Mare, 6. Kieran Mahon,
7. Keanu Marsh, 8. Charlton Gauvain, 9.Carlos Canha, 10. Will Fazackerley, 11. Glyn Dyer
Substitutes
12. Liam Mahon, 14. Matt Loaring, 15. Paris Pereira, 16. Seb Skillen, 21. Josh Addison(GK) (Rovers)
Loaring for Marsh 68, L.Mahon for Fazackerley 78, Pereira for injured Canha 85

An original squad of 20 was announced on Friday 19th April
Marlon Jardim (Rovers) (unavailable to train, Mon 30th April), Dave Rihoy (injured in training, Thu 2nd May),
Tom Strawbridge (Rovers) (Fri 17th May) and Sam Hall (Rovers) (Fri 17th May) were "released" on the dates given

Jersey (all in red) announced a squad of 24 on Wednesday 17th April (St. Paul's unless stated)
(the final 16 was not released before the match - however other than the injured Jack Cannon returning for Jay Giles
the starting team was the same one that played on Thursday 9th May in the Southern Counties Cup final against the Army,
the 9th May final limited teams to a maximum of 7 from any one club)

1. Euan Van der Vliet(GK), 2. Harry Curtis, 3. Jack Cannon, 4. James Queree (Wanderers), 5. Luke Campbell (St. Peter),
6. Kamen Nafkha (Wanderers), 7. Michael Weir, 8. Jack Boyle(c), 9. Craig Russell, 10. Adam Trotter, 11. Calvin Weir (St. Peter)
Substitutes
14. Ruben Pestana-Mendes (St. Peter), 15. Jay Giles, 16. Karl Hinds (St. Peter), 17. Sol Solomon (St. Peter), 21. Danny Birrell(GK) (Wanderers)
Hinds for injured Boyle 28 (Russell became captain), Pestana-Mendes for cramping Nafkha 85, Giles for Trotter 120+1

The remaining 8 players who were included in the initial squad -
Zeljko Martinovic, Keiran Lester, Jonny Le Quesne, Stuart Andre, Fraser Barlow,
Harry Cardwell (St. Peter), Connor O'Shea (St. Clement), George Glithero (Rozel Rovers)

Jersey kicked off (right to left from main stand) 1.59.00 (added time 3.15) and 3.03.00 (added time 4.05)
Extra Time - Jersey kicked off again 3.55.50 (added time 0.50) and 4.13.50 (added time 2.05)

Corners (minutes)
G - 41, 94, 99, 119 (4)
J - 18, 30, 51, 87, 88, 90+2, 120+2 (7)

Shoot Out (at right end) 4.37.30 Jersey went first
J - Campbell, Giles (saved), Cannon (hit bar), Russell, Hinds
G - Loaring (saved), L.Mahon, De La Mare (saved), Dodds (over bar) (5th not required)

Man of the Match award - James Queree (Jersey)


(This post was edited by John Treleven on May 18, 2019, 6:30 PM)


intheshire
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May 18, 2019, 5:06 PM

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Re: [John Treleven] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
SJFA West Region Premiership
Pollok 2-2 Beith Juniors

This was always decent entertainment, but the idea there'd be four goals looked fanciful at half time, when it was 0-0. Beith opened up with an excellent free kick. In the last 15 minutes Pollok gained the lead with a very good header and a scrambled goal, before giving away a needless penalty in injury time to gift Beith the equaliser.

Absolute classic of a ground, as many on here will know. My first Scottish junior game, and hopefully I'll get to many more as this was a lot of fun. I'm going to guess that I'll come home having enjoyed this more than Celtic tomorrow.



Last Ground (245): Brinsford Stadium, Wolverhampton Casuals
2019-20 - 31 games, 31 new grounds


Karb
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May 18, 2019, 6:44 PM

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Re: [intheshire] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Tony Hopper Memorial Trophy
Workington 4-0 Reds Legends
Admission 8, Programme 3

Probably/Possibly/Maybe/Nobody really seems to know whether it is or it isn't* (delete as applicable) the last game at Borough Park.

Tony Hopper played 100 games for Carlisle United, before spending about a decade at Workington. He died last October, at the tragically young age of 42, after a long battle with Motor Neurone Disease. Most of those in the Legends team were his former team mates.

With most of the Legends being well into their retirement, rolling subs were the order of the day. They held out for 40 minutes before conceding the first goal, and three more goals followed in the second half.

The day felt like a lot of fun, and all players appeared to have enjoyed themselves.



"People do not have moments of truth in station waiting rooms"


Dr Love
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May 18, 2019, 7:31 PM

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Re: [Karb] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Not where I'd been expecting to spend my Saturday until only a couple of days ago, but it turned out to be a very good day.

Penygraig United 1-5 Ynysybwl
South Wales FA Promotion Play-offs Round 1

Played at Bridgend Street. The ground is located within the grounds of The Willows School, but is not just a school pitch. The pitch is fully railed, with hard standing on three sides (not the far end) a decent sized seated stand by the dugouts on the near side, and a small cafe near the entrance. The far side is rather overgrown behind the hard standing, meaning it took a while to find all the balls. Looking from this side towards the stand, the view is dominated by the large industrial buildings towards the steel works. They dwarf the reasonably large school too and came as a bit of a surprise as I hadn't noticed them until turning round on an anti-clockwise walk round.

The Ynysybwl #9 had proved a handful for opposition defences on the hop earlier in the season, and today was no different. Ynysybwl took the lead within the opening few minutes, with what turned out to be the only goal of the half. They generally looked more likely to extend their lead, but Penygraig got better as the half wore on and were unlucky not to equalise as the ball came off the underside of the bar. They did equalise from the penalty spot in the early part of the 51st minute, but by the end of it Ynysybwl retook the lead. A penalty with about quarter of an hour made the game safe, before two late goals completed the scoring.

An early finish meant the trip over to game two was very comfortable, arriving well before kickoff.

Fairwater 2-3 Maesteg Park
South Wales FA Promotion Play-offs Round 1

This one was played at Caerau (Ely), a ground passed nearly two miles before reaching the entrance. The busy road near one corner aside, it's in a rural looking location. Two decent sized seated stands, one on each side. No access to the far end and it looks as though sites for floodlights have undergone some preliminary work. The clubhouse is outside the ground, in a separate fenced in area. Everything has shutters, even the dugouts, but the place is in good shape bar a missing fence panel. It didn't look like an end of season pitch (which has two clubs playing on it).

Maesteg scored with their first two chances early on, but Fairwater looked threatening and it required some decent defensive play to keep them out. The margin should have been increased to three or four late on in the first half but chances were wasted. The lead was increased midway through the second half, before Fairwater fought back, and with one effort late on narrowly missing the goal they weren't too far away from forcing extra time.

Having recent been to Maesteg, plenty of familiar faces at the ground, and I'm pleased to see them get through.


(This post was edited by Dr Love on May 18, 2019, 8:15 PM)


BA21
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May 18, 2019, 7:42 PM

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Re: [Karb] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Kingsteignton Athletic 0 Ashburton Association 1
South Devon League Premier division
Admission 1.00
Programme - none
Refreshments - Tea/coffee 1.00, pasties 1.20
Attendance 79 h/c

Kingsteignton Athletic have applied for promotion to The South West Peninsula League after a top four finish so therefore today's game against lowly Ashburton Association, bottom at the end of play last weekend seemed a home banker, not how it proved however as an early goal from the very impressive visitors saw them take the points back west in this local derby. Kingsteignton is situated less than two miles from Newton Abbot with Ashburton eleven miles away down the A38. Ashburton have been hit with points deductions this season and have on occasion struggled to raise a side, indeed there was even some doubt that they would arrive today. I have not visited many grounds in this league however if there are more like Broadpark then we shall certainly return.

Admission was by donation (1.00 suggested) at a pay gate where the match fixture was well advertised. There is a stand to your right containing two steps of concrete terracing with seats placed at irregular intervals for those who wish to sit. The clubs name adorns the top of this structure, dugouts are either side. The pitch slopes from top to bottom with a large clubhouse behind the goal where an excellent tea bar did good trade all afternoon. There is bench seating in front of this building with high netting in place which came into its own today as the home side peppered the visitors goal in the latter stages. The pitch is railed off behind both goals. A great day out and a ground that is highly recommended.



Grounds 663 International/Football League/Senior non-league
Football League 2019/20 86/92 - last 12/05/19 Tottenham Hotspur vs Everton, Premier League, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Fixtures at 120 Football League grounds
Last new - 23/11/19 Wrexham vs Yeovil Town, National League
New 2019/20 Abergavenny Town, Chepstow Town, Lizard Argyle, United Services Portsmouth, Hutton, Ludgershall Sports, Wrexham


(This post was edited by BA21 on May 18, 2019, 10:41 PM)


Dave 56
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May 18, 2019, 8:10 PM

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Re: [BA21] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Wigan & District Amateur. Premier Division. KO 14:30. (F&N). Crowd 48.


Newburgh Harrock Utd 4 v 1 Winstanley St. Aidans


I decided to arrive here early as the Wayfarer pub was a 10 minute walk away, home of the Problem Child brewery, who produce one of my favourite beers, Good Spankin, an American Pale Ale. Decent food too, so a couple of pints and a meal pre match.

The ground is shared with cricket and has a decent clubhouse. There is plenty of parking as the outfield can be used at this time of year. There is only one dugout which is used by the home side. The pitch has a slope from end to end and the place has quite an enclosed feel. The match was 3rd against 2nd with both in with a chance to win the league.

United went ahead courtesy of a 2nd minute penalty, adding a second quite soon after. Their third came just a couple of minutes before half time. The second period was played at the same frenetic pace but with the visitors much more in the game. Newburgh added their 4th before Winstanley got a consolation with around 10 minutes left.

Impressed with the standard for my first game in this league. Many of the players seemed to be from the Liverpool area judging by their accents and it was great to see players get up after a tackle rather than rolling around on the ground.

So, for anyone looking for a game on Wednesday night, then you could do a lot worse than visit Newburgh where they take on league leaders Rainford United in a title decider. Newburgh need to win to claim the premier division championship. KO is shown as 18:15 and the address is Cobbs Brow Lane WN8 7ND.



barcud-coch
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May 18, 2019, 8:32 PM

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Re: [Dave 56] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Builth Wells Reserves 1 Newbridge 5

Lant Field: Builth Spa Cup Final

The Builth Spa Cup is a long-standing competition organised by the host club, which used to involve in the region eight entrants of more in the past, but in more recent times has turned into an invitational final played at the climax of the season. This season, local rivals Newbridge had been invited to face the hosts reserve team for a 12:45pm kick-off, prior to the FA Cup final being shown in the Builth Wells clubhouse and the clubs end of season awards afterwards. The Wyesiders came into this match after finishing just inside the top-half of the Mid Wales League (South) table and completed their fixtures with a 3-3 home draw against lowly Hay St Marys Reserves some three weeks ago. Newbridge made a strong start to their campaign in the MMP with Norman Lloyd Mid Wales League Second Division but eventually concluded their fixtures in mid-table. The Penbont-based club had not played a competitive fixture since before Easter when they lost 3-2 at promoted Four Crosses. This was my first visit to the Lant Field since the early part of the season when I watched the first team entertain Knighton Town and Radnor Valley in the MMP with Norman Lloyd Mid Wales League First Division.

Despite the final result, Newbridge took until the 24th minute to opening the scoring when a low cross from the left side of the penalty area was deflected past the home goalkeeper by a Builth Wells Reserves defender when he swung a leg at the ball. The lead was doubled on the half-hour mark with an emphatic header from a corner on the left before another goal arrived nine minutes later when a Newbridge forward burs free on goal before lifting the ball over the advancing custodian and into the back of the net. Things went from bad to worse for the hosts when they were reduced to ten men, with just two minutes remaining on the clock before the interval, when a Builth Wells Reserves player was shown a straight red card for comments made to referee Paul Curtis. The Wyesiders reduced the deficit on the hour mark when they pounced on a mistake by the Newbridge defenders playing the ball across their penalty area and fired a low shot past Dave Brown in the visitor's goal. Newbridge regained their three-goal advantage virtually straight after the restart when the home goalkeeper was beaten by a long-range shot from near the halfway line. The scoring was completed in the 73rd minute when a Newbridge forward slotted a low shot past the Builth Wells custodian after being played in on goal.

2018/19 Statistics
Goals: 871
Matches: 196
New Grounds: 16


PaulC
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May 18, 2019, 8:44 PM

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Re: [BA21] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
SPFL promotion play-off
Berwick Rangers 0-3 Cove Rangers (0-7 aggregate)
Shielfield Park, Berwick
Admission 12/8
Attendance 1314 (I'm glad I went)
Pie and tea 4 - the slowest queue I've ever encountered and then I was offered a deep fried Scotch pie ... and the English criticise the Scottish propensity to deep fry everything! It was delicious, but the first thing I did when a got home was brush my teeth to remove the film of grease on them)

I decided to let the train take the strain for this one - 40 minutes for the 55 miles from Waverley. I measured the walk from station to ground - 1.35 miles in 21 minutes. I don't hang about and in fact I had to slow down a couple of times to compose text messages. En route I passed a couple of Cove supporters' buses parked near the bridge. The drivers were remonstrating with their youthful passengers.

What can you say about Shielfield? Well it has a dreaded speedway track around it, but the stadium isn't as grotesque and brutal as Cowdenbeath's Central Park. And I wasn't quite expecting the discernible slope from goal to goal.

From memory I've seen Berwick Rangers once before. In May 1972 at Boghead, Dumbarton. I was doing teaching practice at Notre Dame High School for Girls in the town and stayed on to watch Dumbarton beat Berwick to win the Division Two championship and join the big boys the following season. As an aside, the only memory I have of that teaching practice is the amount of table tennis we played when we weren't actually in front of classes.

Berwick Rangers, of course are famous for their victory over the Govan Rangers in the Scottish Cup in 1967. A year when the big Rangers reached the final of the ECWC, Celtic won the European Cup and Scotland were declared champions of the world after humiliating England at Wembley.

Not much has changed - except from today Berwick Rangers join the big Rangers as former Scottish League teams.

As for the match, well I suspect no one expected anything other than what they witnessed. A decent Cove team inflicted another defeat on a hopeless Berwick one. Cove certainly struck lucky this time in the play-offs. The PA announcer prefaced his reading out of the Berwick team by stating the team had been much weakened by injury. For most of the season they have been weakened by ineptitude.

The home fans made a half-hearted effort to cheer on their team but had it not been for the noisy Cove contingent there would have been a totally funereal atmosphere. Cove were ahead inside 10 minutes with a peculiar goal. The ball seemed to be cleared from the Berwick line and the home team were charging towards the halfway line and developing nosebleeds when the referee blew his whistle and pointed to the centre spot. I suspect VAR wasn't in use today so no doubt the linesman had informed the referee that the ball had crossed the line. Berwick weren't overly impressed but the consensus of those nearer the goal than me was that the linesman had got it right.

Chants of "It's only 5-0" arose from the Berwick fans. A particularly cruel "Are you Fort William in disguise?" came back from the Aberdonian fans. I was pretty unimpressed by the youthful Cove supporters. They had no feel for either history or the sentiment of the home support on such a day. They struck me as the kind of fans you won't see at home games after the novelty wears off.

Berwick never actually gave up but they weren't at the races. Quite how they managed to find someone to give the MoM award to was a mystery to me.

There was sadness amongst the supporters, but the humiliation didn't come as a shock.

A word of admiration for a middle aged woman supporter behind me. She was giving it absolute laldy as she cheered on the home side - and she wasn't even a Berwick fan. She had travelled down from Dundee to lend support to Berwick and described herself as a Cowdenbeath supporter.

Berwick station was Hopper Central as an assorted load of blokes gathered for the 1743 back to the city. Meanwhile, an aged supporter was less than enthused by the prospect of trips to Cumbernauld Colts and BSC Glasgow.

I think it will be very difficult for Berwick to get back into the SPFL. They are now competing with teams closer to Edinburgh for Lowland League players. I can't see Berwick being their first choice.

I also think there must be Chairmen of the lesser lights in the SPFL looking aghast at future prospects. Cove will not be the last team to force out the deadweight SPFL teams. Just wait till the ex-Juniors get going - unless, of course the SFA can think up further ruses to block the impending invasion.


(This post was edited by PaulC on May 18, 2019, 9:37 PM)


gcnc
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May 18, 2019, 8:59 PM

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Re: [Dr Love] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
In Reply To
Penygraig United 1-5 Ynysybwl
South Wales FA Promotion Play-offs Round 1

Played at Bridgend Street. The ground is located within the grounds of The Willows School, but is not just a school pitch. The pitch is fully railed, with hard standing on three sides (not the far end) a decent sized seated stand by the dugouts on the near side, and a small cafe near the entrance. The far side is rather overgrown behind the hard standing, meaning it took a while to find all the balls. Looking from this side towards the stand, the view is dominated by the large industrial buildings towards the steel works. They dwarf the reasonably large school too and came as a bit of a surprise as I hadn't noticed them until turning round on an anti-clockwise walk round.
Also at this one, though I couldn't make the second tie. Well summed up by Dr Love, except to say that admission was 2, which included a 4-page programme, and my headcount was around 120. For two sides from Step 8 in Wales, it was a fine match.

The match was played against the backround noise of the demolition of one of those old derelict industrial buildings that make up the skyline around the ground. Sad to see and hear. The view from the pitch will be slightly different next season.


(This post was edited by gcnc on May 18, 2019, 9:03 PM)


cherryhopper
Chelsea Transfer Target

May 18, 2019, 9:04 PM

Posts: 4885
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Re: [BA21] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
South Devon League Division 4
Ilsington Villa 0-0 Galmpton United
Attendance 66 h/c
F + N - Tea 1

Set off for Denbury Playing Fields at 1130 confident there were no problems with Buckland Athletic Reserves the after they tweeted to anyone in need of a football fix about their home game today at 2:30pm. About 10 minutes after switching my ipad off the news came through that the game was off as Kingskerswell & Chelston couldn't raise a side but it didn't reach me until about 2:25pm when I finally located the ground after driving round in circles for 10 minutes when the postcode I had for the ground didn't agree with my SatNav taking me to a closed entrance east of the village when the ground is beyond the village to the westMad.

With nobody about assumed it must be off so needed to make a mad dash to my original Plan A, 7 miles away. Luckily didn't miss anything in the first 15 minutes but also missed nothing in the last 75 either as the game remained scoreless. The visitors had the ball in the net just before half time but the goal was ruled out for offside. The visiting players were singing 'Championes' at the end of the game so somebody must have told them title rivals Babbacombe Corinthians Reserves hadn't beaten Newton Abbot 66 Reserves by the 14 goals they needed to overturn the goal difference, they 'only' won 6-3. Tim, GHUK Laurence with his fiancee and a few other hoppers also in attendance.

Ground is a nice set up on the edge of Dartmoor not far from Liverton United's ground. Changing rooms and tea bar in a wooden building across the car park behind the near goal separated from the pitch by a wooden fence. A line of trees screening off the east side give the ground an enclosed feel but also deny the stunning views afforded from the tennis court and bowling green behind perched on the side of a hill. Also on this side is a white breeze block dugout with divider in middle shared by both teams. A footpath runs below pitch level at the far end and over the far side is an expanse of overgrown grass which must have once been used as a training pitch as there is a single floodlight pylon in one corner.


Workington FC
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May 18, 2019, 9:45 PM

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Re: [cherryhopper] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
I was another at the Berwick v Cove Rangers game. A sad occasion for Berwick Rangers and a game I'll remember for the classless behaviour from some of the Cove support. You have to fear for Berwick as they are so poor and they are signing some of these players on for next season !!!

Funny to see the hoppers getting all agitated as the teamsheets had not arrived in the club shop at 2.00pm.


paulh66
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May 18, 2019, 9:46 PM

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Re: [Workington FC] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
SJFA West - Championship
Larkhall Thistle 2-0 Girvan
Just under 100 in attendance
Adm 6, no progs today but they do usually issue

A trip to Gasworks Park to see Larkhall Thistle - sounds evocative to Anglo ears but the reality is even better. Didn't see any gasworks but this is a stonker of a ground, highlight being the cavernous terraced enclosure with its distinctive thistle moniker perched on top of the roof. Beyond and opposite the enclosure is plenty of old terracing, some covered (or even held together in places) by moss or grass and, behind it, an al fresco brick pissoir. The effect is enhanced further by a lovely pair of wrought iron gates with the club's and ground's name picked out, a decent pie shop and a fabulous little bar area with memorabilia aplenty and a few trophies too.

They won't need to make space for any silverware this season, mind. Both these sides have had dismal seasons, both already relegated and, although it wasn't hard to see why, they deserve credit for putting on an entertaining game this afternoon. Hard but fair and, when it wasn't, there was always someone to let you know in no uncertain terms! Rock bottom Thistle deserved the win, sealed by two fine goals - a 20 yard volley midway through the first half and a point blank volley from a lovely cross from the left which topped off a good passing move on the hour.

Larkhall station is at the end of the line, just under 40 minutes from Glasgow Central, and the ground is less than five minutes walk away. No car park but plenty of street parking available. Upon arrival I was taken aback by the sight of a plush coach dropping off a well-heeled contingent, assuming it was the Girvan side, only to be left even more gobsmacked when it turned out to be the opposition for a bowls match in the club next door!


Dribble!
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May 18, 2019, 10:10 PM

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Re: [paulh66] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Basildon Town 2 Shenfield AFC 1
Essex Olympian League, Division One
Basildon Sport and Leisure Club


Admission: free
Programme: 16 page programme for a donation
Attendance: 166 h/c


End of season game with something to play for. Shenfield were already champions but if Basildon won they would also be promoted, and then add in the extra ingredient that this game was being replayed after the first game had been abandoned after 82 minutes because of the behaviour of Shenfield players (according to home programme!)


Was interested to see how serious Shenfield were going to take it. they started the better team and went ahead after 12 minutes and looked the far better team. Basildon seemed to be losing their cool and were lucky that their right winger, number 24 did not see red for tackle that could have left the visitors full back with a broken leg.


Lucky for Basildon he was not sent off as he provided the ball that got the home team back on terms after 43 minutes.


Second half and it was Basildon who were on top without really ever troubling the keeper - so up step the referee, from where we stood it looked like a foul by the Basildon forward however the Ref gave Basildon a penalty, up step number 24 ( who had looked the best Basildon player) but he blasted his penalty kick over the bar! Not to worry as minutes later the Ref gave them another penalty - this time taken by someone else and he scored giving Basildon the lead and pushing them closer to promotions.


Almost 10 minutes added on at end because of all the time wasting and lack of spare balls - and towards the end of injury time, Shenfield almost scored but Basildon held on and are promoted.


Eventually the whistle went and Basildon join Shenfield getting promoted.


The pitch was fully railed, looked in good condition nut is on a distinct slope. Club house close to pitch and plenty of car parking. Next door is the Post Office ground, used by the Town junior teams. over the far hedge is the rugby club with Basildon Utd the other side of the rugby club- some may say this ground is just a pitch however the futuristic water tower gives this ground a great back drop and makes it worth a visit even if at times today we seemed to have been transported to a (bad) episode of TOWE!







Last New ground; Benhall St Mary, Games in 2019/20 Season; 61, New Grounds this Season; 30, Next scheduled game: Ipswich Town v Coventry City - FAC (10/12/19)
http://portmanroadtothesansiro.blogspot.co.uk/


Bigaitch
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May 18, 2019, 10:21 PM

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Re: [Dribble!] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
"and makes it worth a visit even if at times today we seemed to have been transported to a (bad) episode of TOWE! "

Is there any other type of episode of TOWIE ?


Sussexhopper
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May 19, 2019, 6:39 AM

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Re: [intheshire] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
In Reply To
SJFA West Region Premiership
Pollok 2-2 Beith Juniors

This was always decent entertainment, but the idea there'd be four goals looked fanciful at half time, when it was 0-0. Beith opened up with an excellent free kick. In the last 15 minutes Pollok gained the lead with a very good header and a scrambled goal, before giving away a needless penalty in injury time to gift Beith the equaliser.

Absolute classic of a ground, as many on here will know. My first Scottish junior game, and hopefully I'll get to many more as this was a lot of fun. I'm going to guess that I'll come home having enjoyed this more than Celtic tomorrow.
Another one at this. Was over hearing two guys after the game saying how good they thought the game was personally I thought it was rubbish apart from the last 10 minutes. Decent crowd of around 500 at a guess.
Pre match pub was Clockwork Beer Co near Hampden Park.


leohoenig
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May 19, 2019, 8:44 AM

Posts: 13657
Location: Outer Cheltenhamshire
Team(s): Cheltenham Town


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Re: [Sussexhopper] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Regionalliga Mitte
WSC Hertha 1-2 TuS Bad Gleichenberg
Admission 10 (oldie), Programme Free, Attendance 150


A rare day without travel, much of spent in the very pleasant town of Wels, just looking around at the sites, and watching a bit of the music and dancing for a respect and tolerance event. The participants were decked out into various national costumes, with Albanian and Bosnian flags in evidence.

The walk out to the Mauth Stadion is straight forward enough, and much less distance than to Wimpassing. The ground is now known as the HOGO Arena, or as I refer to many of the <insert sponsor here> Arena. The Sponsors name is also embedded into the current moniker of the home club, WSC HOGO Hertha (WSC = Wels Sports Club or similar). The visitors for the clash were TuS Bad Gleichenberg.

The stadium is an athletics track, with a low-slung stand along one side. There is paving all the way around, and also some good viewing angles from the top of a grass bank opposite the stand. There is a much wider area behind the goal as you come in, with a clubhouse and dressing room building at the back. No barriers to stop interaction between players and spectators as they walk out to the pitch, the ground graders would not like this one bit.

I on the other hand thought that the addition of a young childrens play area, with slides and swings behind one goal was a novel feature.
The game is 11th v 6th in the 16-team division, so there is little riding on it. In the first half, this really showed as the teams did little to produce a contest. No question here that 0-0 was exactly the half time score the teams deserved.

It did improve after the break; I am pleased to say. For the second day in a row, we saw a goal by a player called Sulimani wearing a Wels shirt. But while Medis goal was an own-goal and did not help his team, cousin Harun would put his team ahead. Keeping it in the family, Emin Sulimani, the brother of the goalscorer is currently the coach at Hertha. Emin already knows he is on the move in the summer, as Hertha have announced the appointment of Marcus Waldl to replace him. I do wonder about these early announcements, and as we later discovered, Waldls current club ATSV Stadl Paura were knocked out of second spot when being thrashed 5-0 in Wolfsberg. That means Gleisdorf, the winners in the game we saw on Friday were now in second.

Still we did not get much increase in pace. I think Hertha only needed to add a little in order to get the second goal that would tie up the points, but instead conceded a levelling goal with just under ten to play. The goal itself was a great finish, hit into the roof of the net from a tight angle by Daniel Rossman. It appeared both teams were happy with a point, but with two minutes left, substitute Bernd Stocker scored from another tight angle at Hertha were 2-1 down. It turned out we had around seven minutes left, with more injury time than I was expecting, and Herthas attempts to get back into the game, plus a couple of breakaways at the other end meant we crammed as much entertainment into these minutes, as the rest of the game put together.



Fat AND Pompous.
The proof that you can have too much of a good thing
Now blogging at http://www.leohoenig.com



Richard Rundle
Man City Transfer Target!

May 19, 2019, 9:14 AM

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Re: [leohoenig] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
East Berkshire League Premier Division

Singh Sabha Slough 3-6 Delaford Colts
Admission/Programme/Refreshments - none

You've heard of the old cliche - "this game had everything", well of course it didn't but this one ran it close. During the 90 minutes we had

Just the 9 goals
One of which was an own goal
One of which was a penalty
Another effort was disallowed
There was a red card....
...and a bout of "handbags"
And above all, a Championship winning performance.

Delaford went into the game knowing that a point would be enough to secure the East Berkshire title against the only club that could potentially catch them. It looked all sowed up when they went 4-0 up but a mixup between a defender and a keeper over a backpass, and a controversial penalty saw SSS reduce the deficit to 4-2.

No worries though as within a couple of minutes it was 5-2, and a secure cushion was re-established, both teams netting once more before the end. Title secured for Delaford.

The ground is just a field behind the Singh Sabha Leisure Centre on the northern outskirts of Slough, there are three pitches marked out with this one being played on the one furthest from the leisure centre itself.

I don't know if three officials are normal in this division, but if not the league certainly made the right call to have them here as tensions were high throughout, the away team in particular being particulary mouthy and their management team kept straying onto the pitch with the linesmen on that side having to ask repeatedly for them to move back a little.

My first time in this league and if every game was going to be like this, I'd be back like a shot!

With the title riding on I was expecting to see a number of hoppers there, but only came across a couple of guys from Reading,


prorege
Man City Transfer Target!


May 19, 2019, 9:46 AM

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Location: Kingdom of Fife
Team(s): Fife teams


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Re: [Richard Rundle] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
SPFL Division Two Play off Second Leg
Berwick Rangers v Cove Rangers, 0-3, H.T. 0-1, Att 1314, Admission 12, Programme 2.50 Deep fried Sausage and Chips 4.50
At Shielfield Park, Berwick

Despite serious misgivings about going to this, I duly turned up in the forlorn hope of an astonishing Berwick Rangers turnaround. I knew it wouldnt happen, so much so that I had a decent bet on Cove (-2) at ridiculously generous odds.

I watched the game from the Ducket, scene of many a skirmish on previous visits to Shielfield dating back almost 50 years. It was mighty subdued today with only a small group of young fans making any noise. The older Berwick fans, some of them doubtless survivors of these same skirmishes, were resigned to their fate. Some turned up wearing back ties for the occasion.

The decline of Berwick Rangers had been steady over the last five or six years but dropped off a cliff edge this season. At the start of 2018/19 I suspect, like many did, that Berwick thought Albion Rovers were so bad, that nobody could finish below them. It looked like that until just after the turn of the year when Albion Rovers had their six point day and suddenly Berwick were deeply in the mire.

They had appointed a new manager early in the season one Johnny Harvey from Penicuik Athletic. It was quickly clear that he was out of his depth. He fell out with experienced players who walked out and left, and his recruitment was disastrous. The team that Berwick fielded in the two Play off games would struggle in the east of Scotland League, let alone the Lowland League where they are now headed.

Cove scored early on with a disputed goal which saw the ball cleared off or close to the line, but the referee was in no doubt and the goal stood. A second just after half time and a third towards the end were scant reflection on the superiority of a Cove team who never got out of first gear. Berwick seemed incapable of getting into gear at all, the synchromesh in their line-up having long since packed in.


It was a strange afternoon. The Cove fans, clustered in the main stand towards the north end, werent that noisy. Most of them are not regular attenders. The daft laddies whom ran across the pitch to taunt the Berwick fans at the end were lucky not to get the proper malkying they richly deserved.

There were dozen of people there who I knew or recognised, in the colours of Arbroath, Forfar, Dumbarton, Dundee United, Cowdenbeath, Albion Rovers and many others all there to show respect for and solidarity with Berwick Rangers in their time of need. There were even a few supporters of Highland league clubs there as well united in their delight at getting the bastard Cove out of their League once and for all, they hope. Cove are not popular up north.

With the financial backing they enjoy, Cove will be a decent side at league Two level. They will be capable of matching the progress of Peterhead i.e. aspiring to League One status, but unlikely to go beyond that.

As for Berwick, they have a few weeks to sort out the unholy mess tey find themselves in. The Lowland League will be no picnic. East Kilbride are still desperate to go up; Kelty are about to announce some amazing new signings; Shire have had an investment boost and are recruiting a better quality of player than before . . . Spartans, BSC, the Colts will all be strong again.

With the overheads of maintaining Shielfield, I think Berwick have one or maybe two years at most to get back up. If they dont, then they could well disappear completely.

As the final whistle went it was hard not to dwell on all the magnificent times Id enjoyed down the years at Berwick in the SPL. LCL Pils in the Black and Gold Club; Fish Suppers on the High Street; the ritual bricking of the bus windows in Tweedmouth; the pub crawl from the railway station to Shielfield; the brilliant atmosphere in the Ducket when it was split down the middle by a huge segregation fence . . . and memorable games when Berwick always seemed to provide stern opposition.

Being the beneficiary of a lift down this time I was able to partake of a couple of pints in the Black and Gold club pre-match. Id ordered a programme on line so didnt need to bother joining the scrum of obsessives worrying themselves to a frenzy that they might not get one. Had a look at all the impressive work that has been going on at Old Shielfield as well hard standing, a covered enclosure, pie hut and the base for a new pavilion are all in place. I wonder if in a few years time Old Shielfield will again be the hub of football in Berwick with Tweedmouth welcoming Berwick as ground-sharing tenants, or indeed Tweedmouth being the only team in town?


Rebel Yeller
Reserve Team Sub

May 19, 2019, 9:56 AM

Posts: 460
Location: Staines
Team(s): Hopper


Views: 5896
Re: [Richard Rundle] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Herts County Senior League

Belstone 3 Evergreen 0

Entry - free. Programme - no. Attendance - h/c 45. Weather - pleasant but a coolish breeze.

Belstone's very pleasant rural ground is on Watling Street just outside Radlett. They have a large car park, a small clubhouse with no food ( not a help for this 1300 kick off), a railed pitch and a small covered area with around 20 stand alone chairs in it. Many trees surround the ground and it is rather nice.

Belstone dominated this game against bottom of the table Evergreen from start to finish. Some comedy defending led to the first goal after just 20 seconds and from then the result was never in doubt. Evergreen did keep the home side out through some better defending, luck and profligate shooting, but finally Belstone were given a softish penalty on 73, which they converted, and wrapped it up on 79. Quite a few hoppers in the crowd judging from overheard conversations.


dottirofhod
Man City Transfer Target!


May 19, 2019, 4:28 PM

Posts: 13870
Location: The North. 'Ich hassen lehm kopfs'
Team(s): Crewe Alex and obviously England.(Unlike a lot on here)


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Re: [Rebel Yeller] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
From blog , unfinished and not proof read but hey ho.


Saturday , May , 18, 2019.

Well rested after a nice day in Bakersfield on the Friday with a few beers and lunch outdoors with an early night by my standards.

Had an early Continental breakfast with a couple of rolls in a doggy bag and away just after 07-00 for the projected ( Rome2Rio ) journey of 3 hrs 34'. This was a reasonable guess and we arrived at Avaya at 11-00.

Major League Soccer. (Western Conference).
12-30.

San Jose Earthquakes 4 v 1 Chicago Fire.
@ Avaya Stadium , 1123 Coleman Avenue , San Jose.

Another nearly 42 years since last visit , that time it was for San Jose Earthquakes on 27/ 06 / 77 with the visit of Tampa Bay Rowdies in the NASL , Rowdies winning 4 -1 @ Spartan Stadium in front of 17,612.

The early kick off as is the norm around the world was for TV purposes.

It was to be a MLS history making game , all season long 36 year old San Jose striker Chris Wondolowski has been after a goal to equal Landon Donovan's goals total of 145 in MLS games. Today after 20 minutes he did just that.
Not to be content with that he went on to beat that record to stand all alone as the MLS's leading goalscorer with an assist by Chicago Fire keeper David Ousted on 47 minutes , Ousted kindly dropping the ball at Chris's feet so he could tap the ball in for 146 . Two more followed and now the record is 148 with more to follow. Only 2 players are anywhere near him and still playing , they are Colorado Rapids striker Kei Kamara with 119 and Bradley Wright Phillips on 107 for New York Red Bulls , both are aged 34 and nearing their Americanfs end.

Chicago Fire , rubbish on the day pulled a goal back but the 4-1 certainly flattered them !

Then it was an 85 mile / 2 hour slow drive to Napa for Saturday game number 2. Arrived at planned 3253 Browns Valley Road , Napa and the Hop Creek Brew Pub. Good hour to kill and had a couple of 'Cheater' pints , one of their own 'Sucker Punch' IPA @ 7-5% ABV followed by another 'Cheater' of 'Block Party' @ 7-8% ABV. 'Block Party' brewed and paid for by host Stacey. Ta.
Driver not impressed with my drinking but at least his coffee was only a $1 for as much as he wanted. Had a quick sandwich as well , bloody hell I had to take half to the game as it was enormous.

&

N P S L . West. ( S W Conference).
19-00.

Napa Valley 1839 1 v 4 Sacramento Gold.
@ Dodd Stadium, Justin Siena H S , 4026 Maher St , Napa.

Arrived at 18-15 and settled down in Press Box , mate got himself in too, then just to rub it in , it was eTannery Bend Beerworksf day at Dodd Stadium with free samples upstairs for officials , although it was in half pint plastic glasses. It did not affect the alcoholic effect of the 7-0% ABV 'North Eastern IPA', in olden days I would have been a meess , today just happy.

Sacramento Gold made short work of Napa winning easily , first half was a fair contest with Gold only 2-1 up at half time but they were well on top for the second half and won easily 4-1 . Rainy night and the far side of ground not being used.
Long drive back to Bakersfield , the sandwich went down well.

Got back at 01-50 to Bakersfield and in bed by 02-00 with a decision to be made in morning as to how we feel whether to do the morning game which means a departure of about 08-00 .

I went to bed with a feeling of why not , last day with an early finish and in hotel on Sunday night by 20-00 with no rush to get up on the Monday , just the driver to convince now !

EDIT. En route by 08-05.



July 1, 2019 to June 30,2020 = 127 / 107 / 20 / 5 x 0-0's. (You know my rules) @ 07 / 12 / 2019 . Belgium top 5 tiers 0-0-0-(0-1-0)-(0-1-1-2) / Holland top 4 tiers - 0-0-0-(0-0) / Lux top 2 tiers 0 -2. England top 10 tiers - 0. Now blogging at https://eccentricity.video.blog/



(This post was edited by dottirofhod on May 19, 2019, 4:33 PM)


hotchkiss
First Team Sub

May 19, 2019, 9:30 PM

Posts: 1039
Location: birmingham
Team(s): wolves,non league


Views: 4539
Re: [dottirofhod] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
HEYFORD ATHLETIC (6) 8 GARSINGTON (1) 1 OXford Senior League Premier Division.No admission.Programme by donation.Att: 91. One sided game with Heyford in complete control against a young visitors team.The ground is situated in Lower Heyford.Sloping pitch with a new clubhouse and dressing room in one corner.Both touchlines were partially roped off.The dug outs we're really tiny with room for about 3 adults in each one.The programmes were available in the clubhouse and there was plenty for all the hoppers.Even the rain kept off.


Honky_Tonks
Youth Team Regular


May 19, 2019, 10:39 PM

Posts: 203
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
Team(s): Newcastle Benfield, the Cabbage, da Boez & Newcastle


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Re: [hotchkiss] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Northern Alliance Division 2
Coundon & Leeholme 8 Wideopen 5
Free entry, no programmes, team sheets or refreshments, other than a cold drinks vending machine in the cricket pavilion / changing rooms.
Attendance: 20 or so

It must be about 30 years since my one and only previous visit to Coundon, which was during my deeply inglorious playing days, when I seem to recall a 7-0 (or thereabouts) hammering for Brinkburn CA in a Wearside League game versus Coundon TT. While the adjoining villages seem unchanged, the local Rec, shared with Coundon CC, is blessed with a new set of changers and a good car park, where cars are screened from much chance of damage by the cricket nets.

This game was the only one in the North East today, bar the Berwick funeral, and I was surprised at the paltry turn out, given the fact that Coundon & Leeholme may well pack up as the management, players and most crucially committee, are decamping en masse to Brandon in NL 2. Ironically, my final English game of last season also involved Wideopen, and their magnificently named Hertfordshire born player / manager Leeroy Odd, who lost at home to Spittal Rovers. The presence of the latter outfit in Tweedmouth hints at one reason why C&L may prefer to switch to The Wearside League D2 if they continue.

Because of having to work around cricket fixtures (Coundon CC were away to the aprly named East Rainton on a day when play wasnt possible), this game had to be played on a Saturday. In the past, many Alliance sides have simply conceded meaningless kickabouts like this, but Im glad they didnt. Despite both sides being unable to move up or down the league, they somehow put in a blood and thunder classic where 13 goals were scored and possibly half a dozen others ruled out for specious offsides by the club linesmen, whose tit for tat tetchy semaphore in the second period suggested that catenaccio had made a comeback in rural West Durham.

C&L were young, fast and able to play to feet. Wideopen were older, stronger and able to boot it further. The game exploded from the start, to the extent it was 4-2 after 21 minutes, with some quality moves and skilful finishes adding to the enjoyment. After the shortest half time Ive ever come across, literally a minute, the two sides were at it again, trading goals and insults. Contentious offsides were met with barrages of daft insults, but the only nasty foul of the day saw the Wideopen victim get straight to his feet and hobble away smiling. He had to stay on as they brought the bare 11.

The home side had some subs, who were the fingiest of fringe players to be generous. One came on for the star striker, who was a Tow Law player (many NL lads drop into the Alliance at seasons end to help out their mates). He was so disgusted, he didnt just hit the changers, he got his stuff together and zoomed away, with 2 slabs of Stella that were promised to his team mates to oil the end of season celebrations.

Eventually, the whistle blew; smiles and handshakes all round. Another season done and I was back in the house for the second half of Qos v Raith. Preparatory work for Kilsyth v Girvan next week.



Newcastle Benfield programmes 1.50 inc P&P or 1 for PDF.

Newcastle United fanzine "The Popular Side" PDF 1 or 2 inc P&P

Cheques payable to Ian Cusack or via PayPal to [email protected]



http://payaso-de-mierda.blogspot.com/


LeedsPhil
Chelsea Transfer Target

May 20, 2019, 12:53 AM

Posts: 3021
Location: exiled in Aberdeenshire
Team(s): Leeds + groundhopping


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Re: [prorege] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Mallaig 2-4 Balloan Compass
Highland Amateur Cup R1

f&n, h/c 11

Option 1 would of course have been Eriskay, until b~ggers Barra moaned at less than a week's notice, scuppering that pilgrimage.

So which of other considerations to do?
A day when I thought I'd be taking advantage of the 17 Scotrail Club 50 deal to get the only Junior tick on today done - Dalry Thistle (receiving promotion-chasing Rossvale). Fair enough giving that one up since Yorkieexile was up here and offering to chauffeur.

Option 2 : the unusual bracketed tick of St Laurence using the Laurencekirk school 3G (a tick I couldn't count when at a previous use of it that was A-A in the 85th for a leg break). Didn't float his boat, so nope. Checking the results later, they beat title chasers Woodside 6-5 (!!, b#gger), which sends it to the last game of the season when the top 2 face each other.

Option 2 : the Perthshire Amateur FA title showdown - Letham (top, 100% record) v St John's (2nd, had won all this season's except 1 - the home game v Letham). Checking results later, that one was 5-4 (!!, which sounds like it was a cracker). Letham champions for the 6th year on the trot.

Whereas against my better judgement I agreed to Yorkieexile's preference of Mallaig, despite it being a Saturday summer football club, so one I could easily have relied upon later in the sunny months when no winter-football options. Originally of the Lochaber Welfare League, which has now folded, they switched to the Skye & Lochalsh Welfare (with wonderful Saturday evening KOs) of which they are the reigning champions.

Not a hardship to make the superb four-hour drive across to the West coast of course, albeit a shame that low cloud lopped the tops off the Nevis range.

As I had forewarned him, after all that beauty, the pitch Mallaig use is a disappointing end to the journey. Just a tight 3G cage at the back of a small sports centre and the school. The 'changing rooms' were the players pulling shirts on in the school's open-sided bike shed. The ref from Skye had spent the night before at a local campsite. Perched on a cliff edge, when the ball went over the cage fence and part-way down the cliff, one intrepid little kid scooted off to scramble part way down to fetch it back. Oof - no Health & Safety Officer here, helluva drop onto the railway line at the bottom, with its tourist steam trains.
The view would normally be great though, but it was just that bit too grey today.

And despite the club's facebook page hoping that there'd be a big turnout at their first ever home Highland Amateur Cup tie, it didn't fire the imagination of the locals. Just a few WAGs plus Yorkieexile, me, and Tram - for whom the 2pm KO would have been tight from his 1:50pm train, so he got a 77 taxi from Fort William. Good decision - the ref kicked us off early at 1:52 !
What were in large attendance were the infamous midges. I thought we'd be early enough in the year to not be troubled, but as I write this a couple of days later I'm still scratching. GRRR!

And surprising to us all, S&L Champs Mallaig who had won their previous match by double figures, did not cruise to victory today - Balloan Compass were worthy winners, despite being only level 2 in the Inverness & District.
Some great quality 'keeping kept the total score down, so it was certainly decent entertainment.

Back the same way, so another pleasant four hours.
Both feeling hungry, and in rare possession of a designated driver, I detoured him to the wonderful New Inn at Aberchirder where great food, good Yorkshire ales, and proper Yorkshire conversation with the fellow-exiled owners rounded off a long and tiring day. Not much enthusiasm in being up at silly o'clock the next morning to get down for a dose of 11am Fife Sunday Amateurs at Savoy Park, Methil.

Another good day out, but I'll struggle to overcome the feeling that we should've done either St Laurence or Letham...


miswell
Reserve Team Star

May 20, 2019, 9:49 AM

Posts: 773
Location: Tring, Hertfordshire
Team(s): Aylesbury Utd, Tring Athletic, Watford


Views: 3813
Re: [LeedsPhil] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
FA Cup Final. No more words to add Unsure


Steveb
Chelsea Transfer Target

May 20, 2019, 9:36 PM

Posts: 4114
Location: Prestwich
Team(s): England, Leicester City, Bedfont & Feltham


Views: 3198
Re: [miswell] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
11.30am
Highland Amateur Cup, First Round
Southend 1 Point 2 (att 25 h/c)
Free admission, no progs

Like several others my plan A had been Eriskay v Barra in this marvellous competition, but that was scuppered by the switch to neutral Benbecula. Frustrating though it may be, it's worth remembering that amateur football in this part of the world is often subject to late changes, and isn't organised for the benefit of groundhoppers like us who choose to travel hundreds of miles for a game.

I had a look at Eriskay's pitch, which is not just small but also seemed to lack proper pitch markings, with no sign of a six yard box. Anyhow, experience has taught me not to head to this part of the world without a plan B, and Southend v Point was a decent alternative.

I saw Southend v Barra 25 years ago on a pitch at Benbecula Airport, so it was nice to finally see them play in South Uist. I've no idea whether they had a proper home on the island in 1994, but these days they're on a pitch behind the school in Daliburgh, a scattered settlement that, other than the school, has a hotel, a Co-op, and not a lot else. It's a scenic setting though (hard not to be in this part of the world) and the single pitch is enclosed and has dugouts.

The early kick off was to allow Lewis-based Point FC to fulfill the fixture and get back home the same day, and necessitated a 6am departure for their players and handful of supporters. After a good start and a 2-0 half time lead they made rather hard work of winning the tie, a second half penalty giving the home side hope and keeping things interesting for the neutrals.

Spend the game in the company of Veteran and the 'other' SteveB, who'd left their Lewis base even earlier than the Point contingent, and who also had the disappointment of Carloway's home tie not taking place on Friday night as they'd hoped.

Still, there's worse parts of the world to be if there's no football to watch, and after a couple of nights on South Uist I headed home via the wonderful island of Barra, still my favourite of the inhabited Hebridean islands (it's second to St Kilda overall).

Usual stuff on my blog https://stevebthegroundhopper.blogspot.com/...outhend-v-point.html




http://stevebthegroundhopper.blogspot.co.uk/




(This post was edited by Steveb on May 20, 2019, 9:38 PM)


pokal02
First Team Star

May 21, 2019, 12:45 PM

Posts: 2325
Location: Cockfosters
Team(s): Barnet, Cockfosters, Truro City, Udinese


Views: 1293
Re: [Steveb] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Real Valladolid 0-2 Valencia
La Liga
Att 23,455 (officially 900 away but plenty more in home areas) Adm 60 euro Prog No

Newish-looking all seater some two miles (8 bus stops) outside the town. Nearly full for this one, RV selling tickets for 10 Euro members to celebrate staying up. Valencia needed a win to guarantee Champions League qualification. They didn't have to work too hard for it in the end, both goals (on 38 and 53 mins) coming from home defenders giving away possession cheaply near their own box.

Valladolid is a pleasant, safe place to stay but not a tourist hotspot - very little English is spoken. It is fairly easily reachable from Madrid (about 70 min train journey).


royals26
Man City Transfer Target!


May 21, 2019, 8:51 PM

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Team(s): Reading


Views: 1091
Re: [Richard Rundle] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
In Reply To
East Berkshire League Premier Division

Singh Sabha Slough 3-6 Delaford Colts
Admission/Programme/Refreshments - none


Delaford went into the game knowing that a point would be enough to secure the East Berkshire title against the only club that could potentially catch them.

The ground is just a field behind the Singh Sabha Leisure Centre on the northern outskirts of Slough, there are three pitches marked out with this one being played on the one furthest from the leisure centre itself.

I don't know if three officials are normal in this division, but if not the league certainly made the right call to have them here as tensions were high throughout, the away team in particular being particulary mouthy and their management team kept straying onto the pitch with the linesmen on that side having to ask repeatedly for them to move back a little.

With the title riding on I was expecting to see a number of hoppers there, but only came across a couple of guys from Reading,
CoolCoolAngelic
+2 .... That was us!

Directions N off A4 nr Slough Town Centre up Stoke Poges Rd - Centre clearly marked off to the right (formerly known as the Falcon Centre)

Ye Old Cherry Picker Pub on the left at the previous junction.

Couple of observations:

Delaford making a habit of title brinkmanship - they did this to Langley 12 months ago - I think - hope it wasn't longer but my memory is patchy Tongue - winning handsomely on the ground of the only team able to catch them.

Leisure Centre appeared closed for most of the game so quite a challenge to the bladder -especially having popped into the Cherry Picker just down on the corner pre-match - wouldn't recommend it strangely deserted SL1 type pub and Car Wash - with an unpleasant background aroma and nowt much but John Smiths on offer - reportedly do food too but would seem unduly perilous to opt for.

Dashed to Garage incl Spar (& loo) at HT.

RE Officials -probably league felt beholden to supply three but in some ways -well in particular two - this rather backfired.

i) one of the linesman arrived about 15' late

ii) the one mentioned above was a very unpleasant belligerent individual who really wound up the HOME side and was positively abusive towards them at times. Authoritarian maybe but somewhat out of place at this level and with a very ethnically mixed host side, was bound to engender further hostility. Delaford didn't help his cause either playing up to him regularly throughout.
He certainly alienated them and knew it - fortunately SSS rather resigned themselves to the absurdity of the situation - the home keeper in particular made some hilarious observations - all in a very strong Eastern European accent - and their bench/subs made a point of NOT confronting him finding his aggressive stance rather bewildering.
He missed a couple of offside calls whilst bickering with people on the touch line too.

Spotted a local 'mystery hopper' who occasionally lurks about Scours Lane and other grounds I frequent - he's probably perfectly normal but does not seem to engage with anyone - each to his own of course - sadly he had not picked up on the earlier KO time arriving at about 14:50.


umbria99
Junior Team Star

Jun 3, 2019, 6:28 PM

Posts: 76
Location: Hampshire
Team(s): Northampton Town, Romsey Town


Views: 541
Re: [hotchkiss] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
In Reply To
HEYFORD ATHLETIC (6) 8 GARSINGTON (1) 1 OXford Senior League Premier Division.No admission.Programme by donation.Att: 91. One sided game with Heyford in complete control against a young visitors team.The ground is situated in Lower Heyford.Sloping pitch with a new clubhouse and dressing room in one corner.Both touchlines were partially roped off.The dug outs we're really tiny with room for about 3 adults in each one.The programmes were available in the clubhouse and there was plenty for all the hoppers.Even the rain kept off.
Also at this one and enjoyed my final game of the season despite it being so one sided. Lovely setting and friendly club with half time cuppa and generous slice of homemade cake (See tannoyboy Twitter for pic) for 1.50 and excellent company..


Chris1963
Man City Transfer Target!

Aug 30, 2019, 3:52 PM

Posts: 7067
Location: North London
Team(s): Oxford United / Groundhopper


Views: 353
Re: [umbria99] Saturday 18th May 2019 or Reply Privately
Would you believe it, I attended the FA Cup Final on this day rather than ticking a new ground somewhere! Why would a serious groundhopper like myself do such a thing, you may ask? The answer is that ever since I started attending matches in the mid-1970s, I had always considered it very important to attend an FA Cup final at least once, and this idea pre-dated the concept of groundhopping, which did not come to me until a few years later. Many of you will probably think Im crazy, and I suspect that many, if not most, hoppers probably couldnt care less if they went through their whole life without attending the final. Getting a ticket was, obviously, the biggest difficulty. Buying a ticket from a tout, whether in person or via the internet, is never a wise option because you might be sold a forgery and be refused entry. However, before Wembley became all-seater in the early 1990s, another option would have been to bribe a turnstile operator and then watch the game from the standing areas where your presence would not arouse suspicion. Apparently quite a lot of people who couldnt get tickets through the usual channels did this, but unfortunately this idea never occurred to me until I read about it in the press a few years after Wembley had become all-seater.


So how did I get a ticket? I was fortunate really in that firstly, a relatively poorly supported club like Watford had reached the final. Secondly, their ticket distribution policy was surprisingly generous. First priority, of course, went to 13,500 or so season-ticket holders. This was less than half of the ticket allocation to each finalist (about 28.000) Now, most finalists with this low number of season ticket holders would allow a limit of two per person. But, perhaps rather surprisingly, Watford only allowed their season-ticket holders to buy one ticket each. This would have been very disappointing to many of them who would have liked to bring along a partner/child/friend, but it gave me a great chance because next in the queue were people on their database who had attended home games in recent years. I had attended just one home since 2015, which was acceptable to them. This game had been against Southampton which I attended mainly because it was on a Sunday when there were no other games on, and also because I wanted to see what their new East Stand was like. It was just about the worst 0-0 draw I have ever attended in professional football, and at the time I wondered why I had bothered! Anyway, I took this opportunity and logged onto the Watford site at 9am on the first date that I could buy. There were several hundred seats still available so I had no problem in buying one for 70 in the north-west corner of the stadium. Watford were also allowing people on their database the opportunity to buy in person at Vicarage Road at the same time, which was the right thing to do because some of their older supporters might not have internet access.


However, if you really want to attend the final, there is always the option of Club Wembley which costs at least 1,000 a year for a seat in the middle tier and this gives you free entry to nearly all, if not all, games at Wembley during that time. I believe though that you still have to pay extra for certain big games, such as European finals and possibly the FA Cup final although obviously you will get priority ahead of the public. During Saturdays game, it was noticeable that there were many thousands of empty seats in the middle tier, and the official attendance of 85,854 seems to suggest that many Club Wembley seat holders had chosen not to attend the game regardless of whether or not they had to buy a separate ticket for it. I suppose that if I reached the age of, say, 80, and had not yet been able to buy an FA Cup Final ticket, I might have been tempted to spend some of my life savings on a Club Wembley seat. Thankfully I no longer have to worry about that. And whod have thought that the game would have equalled a record of over a hundred years for the biggest winning margin in the final? Even the betting coupons inside the stadium only showed odds of up to 5-0!