Liverpool (21-12-2013)

Liverpool 3 – 1 Cardiff City, Premier League (21st December 2013)

Ticket: £42
Programme: £3
Half-time tea: £2-40
Petrol (£35 divided by 2): £17-50
Tea at services: £1-95
Car parking (£10 divided by 2): £5
Total: £71-85

For the final game of the year, we made another trek to Anfield for Liverpool against Cardiff. As it was a midday kick-off, and we’d be travelling up to Cumbria for Christmas, we drove this time, parking up right next to Goodison Park for £10. Despite the early start we were fairly glad this was an early kick-off as it meant we would be travelling for at least some of the journey in the light – on what was the shortest day of the year. Amazingly, we did the journey in 2 hours 15 minutes from Sheffield, which has to be a new record.

The game had been foreshadowed not by any events at Anfield, but by the palava at Cardiff, where the owner had threatened Malkay Mackay with the sack. A ridiculous situation as this was the same guy who had got them promoted from the Championship with a minimum of fuss. Liverpool, meanwhile, came into this game knowing that a win would probably place them top at Christmas, which had been almost unheard of in recent years. Things are certainly changing at Anfield, and if they can sustain this form until May, they will definitely be on the up again.
For this game we sat in the Anfield Road Lower stand (block 127), about 3 rows from the back. My girlfriend warned me that we would hardly be able to see anything from what were ‘restricted’ view seats. As usual, she was right, and we struggled (particularly in the first half) to see the action in the near goalmouth. A combination of the crowd standing, and the low roof meant that the view consisted of a narrow panoramic slit!

Thanks to my height, I was able to catch most of the first-half, when we witnessed another Luis Suarez masterclass. I have to confess that I had been a bit sceptical as to his striking credentials, but this season has all but buried those doubts. He was at the centre of everything in the first-half, and opened the scoring with a fine volley which had been created by some excellent one-touch passing on the edge of the box. Then, with Coutinho and Sterling, he split the Cardiff defence to create the second goal for Sterling – Suarez could have had it himself, but unselfishly laid it on a plate for the England midfielder. It got better from there, with the Uruguyan at the centre of everything in attack, scoring the third just before half-time. This was a technically brilliant goal, as he was off balance, and at an awkward angle from the ball, when he struck a superb curling shot into the bottom of the Cardiff net. His 19th in the league this year! Three nil and Cardiff already looked down and out, even if their fans were determined to have a good day out.

The second half opened with Liverpool still looking strong, and they threatened more goals but couldn’t quite create anything else. Cardiff managed a consolation header on around 60 minutes thanks to some confused Liverpool defending, making it 3-1. The away side played well in the second half, creating plenty of space and keeping the ball effectively, without posing a serious threat. The second half petered out to be honest, and though this wasn’t as bad as the Palace game, it was a bit disappointing to see it turn so pedestrian. Maybe this doesn’t matter if you are 3-1 up, and cruising, and maybe they were saving themselves for the Manchester City game on Boxing Day. The highlight of the second half was watching two pigeons on the Anfield pitch, who seemed determined to fight each other as close to the game as possible. That, combined with the strange view and the fine goals of the first half, made this a memorable game. Roll on 2014.

Handsworth (14-12-2013)

Handsworth 3 – 0 Oughtibridge WMC (Pete’s Patisserie Sheffield & Hallamshire County League), 14^th December 2013

By this penultimate football weekend of the year (for me at least), I’d pretty much had enough of the long-distance travelling, and with the nights closing in, a local trip had a certain appeal. And so, appropriately, I plumbed for Handsworth FC, where I had started the season for the #Oneclub friendly against Worksop. That was at the end of the July, with pretty much all the game played in the light – what a contrast today! I opted to drive the short distance from Beighton to Handsworth’s Oliver’s Mount ground, which took an impressive 15 minutes door-to-door – a nice treat after a couple of longer recent trips. The only down side was that I’d arrived just before 2pm, not realising it was a 3pm kick off. Not to be dissuaded, I went for a cup of tea (80p) and returned to the car to listen to the second half of Man City vs Arsenal. Incredibly it finished 6-3 to City, in a game which demonstrated the unpredictability of this year’s Premier League. For Handsworth, today’s game was arguably as important as the Etihad clash. Oughtibridge were 12 points clear at the top, but the Ambers had 4 games in hand, so this could be a crucial game today.

The first half was very evenly contested, judging by my record of shots on and off target. Oughtibridge’s number 10 hit an easy shot wide on 3 minutes, before Handsworth’s striker latched onto a backpass and ended up foiled by the keeper. The away side’s number 6 had a curling shot with the outside of his foot saved, and then hit a dipping shot just over. Handsworth had a spell of dominance in the middle of the first half, and sneaked into the lead when their number 7 (Danny Smith) planted a header in from the far post on 22 minutes. He’d been particularly impressive this half – winning the ball all over the pitch, passing and controlling with finesse, and showing great anticipation of movement around him. Handsworth’s grip on the game loosened slightly, but they were still showing great tenacity in tackles and pressing. Some tackles were perhaps a little over-zealous, with their pacy number 10 causing an outcry from the away bench with a sliding tackle just before half-time.

I grabbed a second cup of tea, bringing my outlay for today to £1-60, then trudged back for the second half. If I had wanted to, I could probably have watched this from the car, but decided to get closer to the pitch for a decent view. Handsworth came out looking determined to build on their lead, and their number 11 hit a shot which was tipped round the post by the away keeper, before a header went wide shortly after. Then for roughly a 15-minute spell, Oughtibridge controlled the game and began to look like they would get an equaliser. Still, nothing really materialised from all their pressure, largely due to some determined Handsworth defending. The turning point came on circa 60 minutes, when Oughtibridge’s number 6 received a second yellow for a late tackle. There was a brief flurry of pressure from the table leaders, but they gradually began to suffer with a man down. Handsworth’s number 9 hit a short straight at the keeper, before number 10 hit a dipping half-volley which was well-saved. Then in a mirror image of his first half goal, Danny Smith popped up at the far post to make it two for Handsworth and secure a vital win. Still they weren’t done, and a further 5 minutes of pressure resulted in a last-minute goal, slotted in by Smith after a neat shimmy in the box.

3-0 to Handsworth and it was a deserved win. They had fought hard for every ball, played some pacy attacking football and showed great commitment to win. What impressed me in this game was the way they attacked and defended as a whole team, with the defence, midfield and strikeforce playing as a compact and robust unit. Good luck to Handsworth in their bid for this title again this year.

Glebe FC (07-12-2013)

Glebe 0 – 1 Fleet Leisure (Kent Invicta League), 7^th December 2013

Entry: £3

Tea (x2): £2

Programme: £1

Train ticket (x2): £11-40

Coach ticket (Sheffield-London): £27-20

Total: £44-60

This weekend was a big one for football, with the FA Cup 3^rd Round draw taking place on the Sunday and the World Cup draw on the Friday. I’d been glued to my computer at work to see England’s group stage opponents – Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica – drawn out. The hot humidity of Brazil seems a longer way from an English winter gradually getting colder!

Like last week, I decided to do a ground which was off my radar, and definitely not on my list. When visiting a relative in Bromley, I took the opportunity to find a local match and went for Glebe FC, who play their home games at Holmesdale’s Oakley Road ground. This was about a 35-minute walk from Bromley South, and on various bus routes, so was a fairly accessible one. The ground was located at the bottom of a rocky lane, next to some allotments and a cricket pitch. £3 entry, but unfortunately the programmes had not yet arrived, so I made my way round to the main stand opposite the entrance (it wasn’t really a turnstile to be honest).

The stand was probably the most distinctive one I had come across this year. It appeared to be constructed from scaffolding poles which had been bolted together, with corrugated iron on the roof and back, and planks of wood with plastic seats screwed into place. Despite its somewhat rickety appearance, it was a fairly robust structure which had obviously received a lot of attention from some committed member of the club. It did me fine as I sipped on my tea, so well done to whoever built it!

Like the East Midlands game last week, I was somewhat dubious as to how good today might be. The Kent Invicta League had only become part of Step 5/6 in 2011/12, and in fact this was Glebe’s first season in the division. There was a pretty paltry crowd for this one, maybe due to a combination of the cold weather, a local Bromley FC match at Hayes Lane, and various other games in the London area. I guess it must be a challenge for smaller clubs in the capital when there are so many big league and non-league clubs vying for supremacy.

From the off, I was struck not by the game itself, but by the industrial language used by both sides. Every mistake, tackle or miscued pass was greeted with a volley of swearwords – not directed at anyone in particular, but more as a general curse towards an unforgiving football universe.

The away side (in navy blue) looked stronger, fitter and more organised. Their number 7 hit a shot to the keeper’s left which was saved before number 9 headed wide from a cross. Glebe (in red shirts and black socks) did threaten briefly, with their number 11 striker being caught just offside in the early stages, and a looping header from number 8 well saved by the home keeper. Fleet’s number 10 was then at the centre of a couple of attacks, hitting over after a well-worked move from midfield, followed by a stooping header which went just wide. Fleet then had a ‘Frank Lampard 2010’ moment as a dipping shot from outside the box rattled the crossbar and bounced on the line – I’m not sure if it crossed the line, but the incident certainly fuelled the vituperations of the away side!

The second half was dominated by Fleet Leisure, who showed greater fitness, quality and running for the ball. Glebe simply couldn’t cope with their superiority in midfield. Fleet’s number 7 forced another save from the keeper – moments later, number 5 headed in from a free-kick on around 49 minutes to make it 1 nil. They could have buried the game from there, with number 9 firing over when one-on-one, and number 12 hitting wide when clean through on the home keeper. There was a brief threat from Glebe, whose number 11 dribbled into the box before screwing a rare shot wide. The game took a slightly unpleasant turn when Fleet Leisure’s number 4 was handed a straight red for an unnecessary stamp on an opposition player. Despite the protestations of the away side and the provocation he’d received, I think he deserved it. The game was closed out with outraged cries to the referee, until Fleet realised that their 10 men had still easily taken the three points today.

On the final whistle, I was glad to get walking and warm up again. I hope I’m able to go to one of these Kent games again, as it had been good entertainment, and somewhere a bit different to usual. My only suggestion is that these games come with a health warning to those sensitive to the more ‘industrial’ words and phrases in the English language!

Radford (30-11-2013)

Radford 0 – 4 Gedling Miners Welfare (East Midlands Counties League), 30^th November 2013

Train (Sheffield-Nottingham): £12-80
Tea: 70p
Chips: £1
Bovril: 50p
Entrance: £5
Programme: 50p
Total: £20-50

After a few weeks off the ground-hopping trail, I was relieved to be back on track this Saturday. I see ground-hopping as a fatal addition which causes horrible withdrawal symptoms if I am deprived of my weekly succour of a new football ground. I’d vowed at the start of this season to attempt to finish off the remaining (circa) 110 grounds in Northern England over the next 3 seasons. So today’s visit to Nottingham came at a bit of a tangent to that – and, for once, the ground had not been on my list previously…in fact I’d only discovered the club the previous evening.

Radford’s ground at Selhurst Street is located close to a tram route, and for me was a 45-minutes walk from the rail station, through Derby Road and the Heynsham Green area. This was closer to home than normal, and to be honest it was some relief on a colder day like today. The ground was nestled between rows of terraced houses, and could be easily missed from the main road. I handed over a reasonable £5 at the turnstile plus 50p for a programme, entering an intimate ground where a narrow concrete path was close to the pitch. There was a small row of seats next to the turnstile where I had entered (behind the goal), and a covered section of terracing on halfway with a few chairs smattered around. First stop was a cup of tea and some chips, purchased from a rudimentary but friendly tea hut on the right hand side of the ground. As I waited for my chips, the woman who commented that she wouldn’t be able to see the game as the sun was shining directly towards the hut…I joked that she wouldn’t have that problem in the second half as the darkness closed in!

I have to confess that I am not terribly familiar with the East Midlands League, having only been to one match before (at Holbrook Sports in Derbyshire). My impression of the league from that one encounter was that it was considerably weaker than the NCEL and the NWCL, with attendances much lower and the standard of football not as high. The game proved to be a hard-fought and scrappy affair, not helped by a muddy pitch and players who insisted on chasing after the ball like primary school children. For the first 20 minutes, it seemed as if there were no definite formations on either side – almost like jumpers down for goalposts in the park, with everyone having a ‘free role’!

Gedling took the lead on 5 minutes when their number 9 slotted when clean through, and doubled it on 20 minutes when their 11 scored. Radford definitely looked like the weaker team in what was a bruising and fast match. Nonetheless, the 2 goal deficit seemed to kick them into action, and they started creating more chances, with their number 9 firing just wide to warn the away side. Gedling still looked in control, and rattled the cross-bar just before half-time when their number 4 hit a stinging shot.

The second half continued to be a physical affair, with hard tackles flying in (often late and high). Gedling’s number 10 joined in the attacking action on 65 minutes, having his shot saved by the keeper, before Radford’s 7 drew the same outcome at the other end. Then the away side made certain of 3 points when the number 10 flicked a volley on from a free kick to make it 3 nil. They were out of sight now, but I have to say that the home side continued to valiantly plug away (if in vain!). Gedling hit the woodwork once more (the post this time), and then their number 9 wrapped up the game in what must have been the 90^th minute (16:49 by my clock). Radford, rather like Winterton a few weeks before, had been well and truly out-classed, for all their effort and hard work. I’d definitely come to an East Midlands game when I venture down from Sheffield again – although the standard of football wasn’t amazing, the ground was accessible, entry cheap and there was clearly a strong sense of community here.

Liverpool (09-11-2013)

Liverpool 4 – 0 Fulham, Premier League (9^th November 2013)

Tea at services (x2): £3-90
Petrol (£40 divided by 2): £20
Parking (£10 divided by 2): £5
Programme: £3
Ticket: £47
Total: £78-90

As I’ve done previously, I’ll include this trip to Anfield to keep a full record of costs across the season. Today, we decided to drive across, as it was getting colder, and that way there would be less waiting around in chilly train stations or bus stops. We opted for the M62 route (rather than the Woodhead Pass) from Sheffield, and though it proved slightly tedious, we made reasonable time (around 3.5 hours I think). I worked out that to get from Sheffield to Liverpool we had actually travelled round or near to 7 cities (Sheffield, Wakefield, Leeds, Bradford, Manchester, Salford, Liverpool), which was bizarre considering its only 62 miles as the crow flies!

 Liverpool were still flying at the top of the league, and given Fulham’s form, this looked like a home banker today. The Reds started brightly with neat interchanges in midfield and excellent control of the game. Nothing dazzling, but they looked comfortably better than this Fulham side. It’s odd to think that barely 3 and a half years ago, Fulham had run Athletico Madrid very close in the Europa League final. The scoring was opened by a header on around 23 minutes – immediately, the announcer said this was Suarez, while it later transpired that this was actually an own goal. Skrtel, an unexpected source of goals, headed in to double the lead on 26 minutes, before Suarez scored the first of his two goals. Three nil up at half-time and top of the league – this was a nice change at Anfield! In a worrying pattern, the second-half petered out. Liverpool made it 4 when Suarez slotted in from Gerrard’s pass, and then proceeded to coast through the second-half comfortably. They can afford to do this at home when leading by such a handsome margin, but I wonder whether they can do this all year, particularly against the bigger guns. Suarez is on fire at the moment, and if he keeps going at this rate, he will break one or more goal-scoring records in the Premier League. Let’s hope this continues into 2014!

Newcastle Benfield (26-10-2013)

Newcastle Benfield 2 – 1 Benfield (Northern League Division 1), 26^th October 2013

The final game of the Tyneside ground-hop was at Newcastle Benfield’s ground – not far from where I’d started the day at Chillingdon Road. There was enough of a gap between the Team Northumbria-Whitley Bay match and this one, so I had time to get fish and chips of the way. The shop seemed to be doing a good passing trade as many hungry hoppers ambled past. Benfield’s ground was located circa 2 miles from Team Northumbria, at the end of a cul-de-sac, with covered seating on the right, and nets on the near side. This was much what I expected from a Northern League ground.

After finishing off my chips, and the remainder of my oxo, I settled down for this one. To be honest, I was pretty exhausted after the run of games and was looking forward to reaching the B&B in time for Match of the Day. This game again proved competitive and tough. Morpeth threatened early when their number 9 hit straight at the keeper after a poke on the floor. The home side took the lead on 8 minutes, and doubled it almost immediately when number 9 slotted in on half an hour. Morpeth’s 10 scored after a mistake from the keeper to make it 2-1 on 34 minutes, and their number 9 missed a chance to equalise just before half-time. The second half definitely slackened off a bit in terms of pace and aggression and with it went my concentration levels. I discovered how difficult it is to focus on four football matches in a single day - hence the lack of any second half analysis!

I headed off to the B&B in Gateshead, where it turned out the proprietor was involved in Dunston UTS. I was relieved to put my feet up in the warm, have a cup of tea, and settle down for MoTD. On my way back to Newcastle station in the morning (along the banks of the Tyne), I managed to get a decent shot of Dunston’s ground. It was glorious sunshine as I left Newcastle, and even when I arrived in Sheffield. On the weekend that the clocks changed, this trip signalled the end of Autumn, and the imminent onset of winter.

It had been quite an experience, and I’d definitely do this again. Not sure if I have the stamina for one of the Easter hops, but I’d definitely do 3-4 in a day again. Well done to the organisers of this day from a grateful hopper!

West Allotment Celtic (26-10-2013)

West Allotment Celtic 0 – 0 North Shields (Northern League Division 2), 26^th October 2013

Before visiting West Allotment Celtic for the second game of the North Tyneside hop, I had a clear idea of what the ground would look like. I imagined that the team played to the West of an old allotment which was cultivated to give the appearance of green stripes. The reality – I have to say – was far more interesting.

After the Heaton Stannington game, I had begun to wake up from my early start, helped by the short walk to West Allotment’s ground. The club was well-prepared for the influx of today, with a dedicated turnstile for the groundhoppers. The entrance opened out onto a flat section of terracing on an embankment – to my right was a small section of covered terracing, while on the left was a clubhouse and tea bar. The pitch was down a steep embankment, and was surrounded by the usual concrete walkway, sitting next to a cricket pitch which stretched into the distance. No allotment as I had quaintly imagined! I immediately liked this ground as it had a lot of character, and one where there was a friendly welcome from the club. Team sheets were available for 10p, and I even bought a copy of the club magazine ‘Three Miles West’ – pretty impressive to have a club magazine at this level. I was pleasantly surprised to hear the teams announced over a clear and audible PA system, which made a nice change. After sitting to take a break and eat my sandwich, I took my place on the far right corner flag closest to the embankment. This should be a good game today, as both teams were in and around the top 6 and I wasn’t disappointed.

 

The game was played at a high pace, and good quality as both teams kept the ball on the floor. Tackles were enthusiastic to say the least, with the referee clearly deciding to let the game flow a bit. North Shields created the first opportunities, with Holmes and Tait both having shots smothered by the home keeper. West Allotment were equal to the task, and Liam Hudson fired over before Ian Dunn missed another chance on the 40 minute mark. Just before half-time, North Shield’s Gareth Bainbridge took a great first touch to take the ball down in the area before firing an angled shot just wide. This was a very evenly balanced game, turning into a very watchable game of football.

The second half opened out even more, with chances being exchanged tit-for-tat. North Shield’s Daniel Smart rounded the keeper but couldn’t finish, before Sean Reid for West Allotment hit a stinging shot straight at the keeper. West Allotment hit another shot wide, while they had a free-kick deflected just wide. West Allotment were starting to seize control, and created more chances – Paul Stoneman hitting straight at the keeper, while Dormand did fantastically well to rob the ball in midfield, ending up shooting just over. The home keeper (Ryan Beal) was subbed off with around 10 minutes to go, and looking back at my notes, it looked like they had started to lose a bit of momentum. North Shields threatened briefly, scoring an offside goal which had been deflected off a post, before a neat flick from a corner was foiled by the new keeper. It finished 0-0, and it was one of those goalless draws which are thoroughly watchable and entertaining. The reality was the teams had probably cancelled each other out, but they had put on a decent performance.

This had certainly exploded two of the great myths in English football at the moment. Firstly, that English teams play 'kick-and-rush' route 1 football - today's game had been played on the floor, with creative movement of the ball throughout. And (in the TalkSport version of football) the myth that Northern football is in a steady decline. Today I saw evidence of the strength of teams in the North-East, and was really impressed with my first games in the Northern League. In a procession of ground-hoppers, I trudged onwards to the next ground at Coach Lane (Team Northumbria). This was definitely the highlight of the North Tyneside hop – a ground with plenty of character, friendly folk and a decent game of football.

Team Northumbria (26-10-2013)

Team Northumbria 3 – 4 Whitley Bay, Northern League Division 1 (26^th October 2013)

I’ve always liked the idea of a team representing an entire county, so I was looking forward to this game at Team Northumbria. The third game of the North Tyneside ground-hop brought us into the top Northern League division at Coach Lane, in what proved to be something of a classic encounter. A short walk from West Allotment Celtic, Coach Lane is actually on the campus of Northumbria University, as the team are technically part of the university set-up. This is similar to Team Bath, who King’s Lynn had encountered a couple of years earlier in the Southern League. The ground was not quite as idiosyncratic as West Allotment’s, but was certainly modern and neatly laid-out. Entrance was through a turnstile (yes, actually a turnstile, not just a table!) next to a sports centre – to my right was a short section of covered seating, and round the pitch perimeter was the usual paved area. The grounds-men here had clearly looked after the pitch, which was a healthy bright green, with hardly any of the muddy patches we’d seen at Heaton.

After a brief sit-down to gather my energies for this game, I took up my place just along from the seated area – strategically positioned in front of the tea van! The game was terrific, played at a fast pace and with great football from both sides. Team Northumbria took the lead on 7 minutes, with their number 8 slotting in, while Whitley Bay tested the home keeper with a header which was saved. The away side were sending various warning shots, and duly equalised on 15 minutes. This was looking like a very evenly balanced match today. The home side responded with another goal on 21 minutes, following a dribble into the area, before Whitley Bay made it 2-2 with a penalty from number 10. Both teams forced further saves from the keepers before the half-time whistle went.

This had been a frenetic game of football so far, and it continued in this way in the second half. As the shadows on the ground grew a bit longer, Whitley Bay’s number 10 made it 3-2 on 55 minutes, before his opposite number for Team Northumbria made it an incredible 3-3 after a mazy run into the penalty area. The away side looked like they might sneak it, and could have made it 4 when their number 10 rounded the keeper and fired over an empty goal. It wouldn’t matter, as the same player scored to make it 4-3 with a diving header late on. Team Northumbria weren’t done yet, and forced a superb tip over from the away keeper, and then hit the crossbar in the 90^th minute. A crowd of 396 saw this game, in what was another great advert for the Northern League with goals galore. 3 games down, and 1 to go!

Heaton (26-10-2013)

Heaton Stannington 3 – 0 Birtley, Northern League Division 2 (26^th October 2013)

Total costs for the Newcastle ground-hop = £142-10

Ground-hop ticket: £20

iPaper: 30p

B&B accommodation: £30

Metro ticket: £2-50

Train ticket: £61
Taxi: £11-60

Tea and sausage sandwich at Team Northumbria: £3

Fish and chips: £5-60

Tea at Heaton: £1
Tea at Newcastle Benfield: £1

Team-sheet at West Allotment: 10p

‘Three Miles West Magazine’: £2
'Northern Conquest Magazine’: £4

Game one of my first ‘ground-hop’ weekend in Newcastle – the North Tyneside hop, organised to celebrate the 125^th anniversary of the Northern League. I started at the pre-dawn time of 5.45am to make the 10.30am kick-off, and after a 2 hour train journey from Sheffield, just made it on time. Heaton Stannington’s Grounsell Park is located a short walk from Chillingham Road on the Newcastle metro system, and was fairly easy to find. The ground was positively bustling with ground-hoppers from all over the country judging by the accents.

After collecting my programmes for the day (in a pack of 4), I took up my place on the corner flag and surveyed the ground. The ground had the usual metal pole round the pitch, and on the opposite side to the entrance there was a grassy embankment which looked fairly muddy this morning. The entrance side had a short section of terracing, and an even shorter section of wooden decking, with spectators crammed in. The club had only recently joined the Northern League, so obviously hadn’t had the capacity to develop facilities as they might have liked. Still, I had received a friendly welcome on entering, and the atmosphere was jovial and relaxed.

The game was rather less friendly, and was fiercely contested by both teams. Heaton, in black and white stripes, took the lead early on when their number 9 slotted in a penalty. The away side – in light blue shirts – created a couple of chances, with numbers 5 and 9 missing half-chances. The home side made it 2-0 shortly after, and were looking like they would add to their tally when their number 3 (a Joe Hart lookalike) hit over from just inside the box. Birtley’s number 9 missed a chance when clean through on the keeper, and so they went in 2 nil down at half-time. It was a good competitive game so far, if made a little bit scrappier by the state of the pitch.

Heaton came out looking determined to get the third goal, with numbers 8 and 9 firing over just after the break. Birtley did create the odd chance, but their 9 wasted another chance when he took too many touches in an over-elaborate dribble inside the penalty area. Then – in the controversial moment of the match - a Birtley player swung a fist at one of the Heaton attackers, catching him in the jaw. The referee missed the incident, and was consulting his linesman on what had happened when the Birtley bench signalled a substitution, conveniently of the offending player. To much outrage from the home bench, and even the neutral ground-hoppers, the referee let the substitution go ahead, and the hot-headed Birtley player escaped a certain red-card. The moment was captured on video, and ended up on the Northern Echo website! It later transpired that the player had broken his opponent’s jaw in the attack, so there must have been some impact for that to happen.

There was still a game going on here, and Birtley’s number 15 had a shot well-saved by the home keeper, before missing an absolute sitter shortly after. Heaton looked fired up by the injustice of the missing red card, and made it 3 nil on 83 minutes, with their number 9 grabbing his second of the game. Thanks to the bobbly pitch, their number 5 almost gifted a consolation to Birtley late on when a back-pass went awry. Then Heaton’s number 11 hit the away post on 90 minutes after an excellent dribble into the box. This had been a tough game, and not exactly entertaining, but had been a good start to the day. Time for a breather before the next game at West Allotment Celtic at 1.15pm.

Winterton Rangers (19-10-2013)

Winterton Rangers 1 – 5 Maltby Main (NCEL Premier), 19th October 2013

Train (Sheffield-Scunthorpe) = £14-20 minus £8 travel voucher = £6-20
i-Paper = 30p
Bus = £4-90
Entrance = £5
Programme = £1-50
Tea = £1-10
Total = £19-00

October is definitely one of the best months for ground-hopping – by then, the season is in full swing, but still with all to play for. And of course, the ground-hopper’s great foe – the British weather - is Autumnal, and landscapes are colourful (if a bit wet at times!). Today I was off to Winterton, which is located on Humberside, 6 miles north of Scunthorpe, and is one of a cluster of clubs on the Humber – along with North Ferriby and Barton Town Old Boys. To get there, I caught a direct train from Sheffield to Scunthorpe (Northern Trains naturally), before catching the 350 ‘Humber Fast Cat’ service (which runs from Scunthorpe to Hull). This was the first game of the season which was slightly out of the way, and I was looking forward to seeing one of the harder to reach grounds.

The West Street ground did not disappoint, as I found a club with excellent facilities and a decent pitch. Unlike many clubs in this league, the pitch was surrounded by a wall of breeze blocks, rather than a metal bar. A small covered terraced section (2-3 terraces) on the halfway line faced a seating area on the far side. The highlight of the ground was a neat and clean café serving hot food and drinks – this may a pleasant change to the usual tea hut or kiosk. I was impressed by the ground, and pleasantly surprised too.

Today’s match had all the hallmarks of a scrappy affair, with Winterton sitting near the bottom of the league with a goal difference of -30 (and Maltby not doing much better). Winterton started brightly, with 4 hitting a shot wide before 10 sliced over a clear-cut chance on 11 minutes. Maltby then gradually grabbed hold of the game, and created opportunities of their own – no 11 hitting wide on 17 minutes, before they deservedly took the lead on 22 minutes with no 9 scoring a header. I was impressed by the way the away side seemed determined to keep the ball on the floor and to play neat one-touch football. They created chance after chance, but Winterton just about held it to 1 nil at half time. Perhaps the most bizarre chance came when the Winterton goalie caught a header back before the Maltby striker hit it from his hands..only for it to cleared off the line! It got worse for Winterton when their number 2 was stretchered off with what looked like a twisted knee.

Maltby really took charge in the second half, with their no 11 (George Conway) hitting an easy shot wide before no 8 forced a save. Conway made it 2-0 on 55 minutes, sliding the ball neatly underneath the oncoming keeper. For once, I knew the exact time of the goal because it was announced very clearly on the PA system – again, a rarity at similar grounds, where I usually found announcements either non-existent or inaudible. Poor Winterton were doing their best, but Maltby’s superior organisation and quality was starting to tell. Two more followed on 62 and 74 minutes, with an own goal from 6 and a header from Conway.  Winterton still showed some fight, and grabbed a late consolation when their no 15 showed persistence in hassling for the ball in the box. Maltby rounded off proceedings with no 9 making it 5-1 on 81 minutes.

Something of a rout, but a good game nonetheless - the first half in particular was really competitive and attractive football. As I made my way out of the ground, a couple of kids asked me the score, and who Winterton were playing. ‘Maltby, ah – isn’t their badge like Chelsea’s but in red?’ I wasn’t sure of the similarity between a colliery and a lion but agreed anyway – I’m sure that Maltby would be flattered that they were being favourably compared to their London cousins.

England (11-10-2013)

England 4 – 1 Montenegro (World Cup Qualifier), 11^th October 2013

Match ticket = £32-50

Coach = £34

Programme = £6

Tea (x2) = £3

Taxi (Sheffield-home) = £15 (approx.)

Total = £90-50

I write this several months after the event, so forgive me if details are a little unclear! This was my third World Cup qualifier of the 2014 qualifying cycle (after San Marino and Ukraine), and was a crucial game in ensuring England reached Brazil safely. Montenegro had done incredibly well in this group, and could have easily beaten us away when it finished 1-1 back in March. Now England were two home wins from topping the group after a key draw in Ukraine and an easy win over Moldova. It sounded so simple!

For once, the coach down from Sheffield was delayed on the M1, and we only reached the ground at about 7.30, so it was a bit of a rush to get in, grab a programme and get set for this one. I barely had time for rolls before the game kicked off. As is so often the case, England couldn’t get a breakthrough before half-time, and the crowd began to get a bit nervous. This was in spite of a very attacking line-up which included Andros Townsend. I couldn’t contemplate the anguish of a World Cup play-off, or indeed, missing out entirely.

Rooney settled nerves on 48 minutes when he tapped in a rebound from a Danny Welbeck shot to make it 1-0. Perfect start to the second half. The game’s intensity strangely dropped off after 62 minutes when an unfortunate Montenegro player scored an OG to double England’s lead. It felt odd to be comfortably ahead when we had struggled to break the away side down in the first half, and when they carried so much of an attacking threat. In the next 15-20 minutes England began to relax more and attack with more fluidity. It seems we do best when playing with a comfortable lead, and little pressure. Up stepped Andros Townsend to make it 3-0 with a wonderful rocket of a shot into the goal, which left the away goalkeeper with no chance. This was terrific, and vindicated Hodgson’s decision to play him ahead of Milner, who has been described as more ‘yeoman-like’. A Sturridge penalty in the last minute made it 4-1, and gave a slightly undeserved gloss to the scoreline. In truth, we had definitely deserved to win, but had got some good fortune at key points in the game to make it look like a better win than it had been. This was good for the goal difference, and great for confidence going into Tuesday’s game with Poland. This hadn’t been a classic, and the atmosphere around Wembley (particularly in the first-half) was tense and almost angry. But this was another key win at the right time, and backed up Hodgson’s confidence that we would make it to Brazil.

Liverpool (05-10-2013)

Liverpool 3 – 1 Crystal Palace (Premiership), 5th October 2013

Train (Sheffield-Liverpool): £21
Bus to Anfield: £4
Match ticket £41
Programme: £3
Tea: £1-85
Total: £70-85

Second game of the season at Anfield, and it was against newly promoted Crystal Palace. After the disappointment of the Southampton game, we were not sure what to expect of this one. We sat in the Anfield Road end, almost directly above the away supporters, who we could hear but not see. This may explain why a steward at the turnstile thought it necessary to confiscate a bottle lid from me – meaning that I had to quickly drink half a litre – and there went a trusty ground hopping tool for the season!

Today was definitely colder and wetter than our September visit, and it threatened torrential rain – before breaking into odd moments of bright sunshine. In a terrific 25 minutes spell at the start of the match, Liverpool raced into a 3 nil lead, with an angled goal from Sturridge, a poked goal from Suarez. This was what Liverpool could play like, and it looked like today might turn into something similar to the 5-0 win over Swansea and the 6-0 Newcastle win last year. This Liverpool side are like a rusty racing car which can struggle to get going at first, but when they do hit top gear, they really do get going. Today typified this, with an astonishing start gradually slowing down to a somewhat pedestrian performance, as Liverpool knew they were winning comfortably against a poor (if spirited) Palace side. It could have been more, but you can hardly complain at being 3 nil up at half-time!

Proving the point that they struggle to maintain intensity for 90 minutes, Liverpool really took their foot off the gas in a flat second half. Disappointingly, the clean sheet went to pot when Palace scored a consolation, and put on a determined performance. It seemed churlish to boo a 3-1 win, but most of the ground seemed non-plussed to be honest. Still this was another 3 points wrapped up, and hopefully showed that this Liverpool team were able to finish off games much better than last year. The highlight of the second half was listening to the groans of an old Irishwoman behind us (who had apparently not seen a football match before) – making it sound as though Liverpool were losing poorly. So a bit of a strange day out, all in all, and not a classic game. The next time we’d be back here would be in November, when winter would be nearly upon us….

Dronfield Town (02-10-2013)

Dronfield Town 2 – 1 Shaw Lane Aquaforce (NCEL League Cup), 2nd October 2013

Train (Sheffield-Dronfield): £4-20
Entrance: £3
Chips: £1-50
Tea: 60p
Pasty & fruit: £3-48
Total: £12-78

After the somewhat dull game on Saturday, I was looking forward to tonight’s NCEL cup game at Stonelow Road. This was to be the first floodlit match at the ground, and appropriately it was between two teams in their debut NCEL seasons. Dronfield had been playing in the Central Midlands League, while Shaw Lane Aquaforce had been in the Sheffield & Hallamshire County – and as far as I am aware, had not met before tonight. Last season in April I saw an impressive game between Shaw Lane and Handsworth, which ended up being the home side’s near title parade.
Dronfield is a town just south of Sheffield (on the way to Chesterfield) and sits in Derbyshire rather than South Yorkshire. I travelled straight from work in Manchester, catching the Nottingham-bound service which took about 10 minutes. Rather foolishly, I hadn’t prepared any food, so ended up buying a Cornish pasty and fruit at Sheffield station, before being tempted by a chip shop outside Dronfield station. It was about a 15 minute walk to the ground, which is actually located on Shirebrook Road. Visitors to the ground should note that the entrance is through the car park and across a field (I made the mistake of walking all the way down the road, before realising the way in).

The entrance was past the club house and down some steps, where I parted with £3 for entry – probably the cheapest competitive game I’d been to this season. Sadly, on such a major night for Dronfield, there were no programmes (problems with the printers apparently), though the kind woman at the entrance did offer to post it on if I gave her my address. This was a friendly ground, where the locals did seem genuinely pleased to see new faces. In terms of set up, the ground was fairly standard for this level, with a small covered area of terracing on the halfway line (with DTFC painted on the back wall), and the standard metal rod round the pitch. There were quite a few here tonight – including a handful of groundhoppers, identifiable through their professional looking cameras, and umbrellas. I overheard a conversation next to me, and heard that one of the blokes was off to Bradford the next day, and regularly did tours of the country.

The first half was very eventful, far more so than the weekend game. On 7 minutes, Shaw Lane’s no 5 headed over, before Dronfield’s no 2 hit a shot over 15 minutes. Shaw Lane opened the scoring on 22 minutes with 5 making sure of his header this time. The game was fiercely contested, and the away side’s no 8 was booked for a rough and late challenge. Dronfield were holding their own against a strong Shaw Lane, and (in quick succession) hit the crossbar and forced a clearance off the line. They deservedly equalised just before half-time, when no 11 slotted in a free kick from just outside the box.

After a cup of tea (priced at 60p!), I took up my place for the second half. I was quietly hoping that today’s game didn’t go to extra time, as I had a train to catch at 22.07. As I hoped, Dronfield took the lead almost after half-time, with their 11 slotting a penalty in after a foul in the box. I still felt that Shaw Lane could score, and they continued to threaten when no 10 hit a shot just wide. The game had turned into a really feisty affair, and tackles were flying in from all angles. Yellow cards were flashed, and both sides were complaining to the referee about perceived injustices. The only real ‘chance’ of note was when Dronfield’s no 3 looked like he had handled the ball in the box – only for the appeals of Shaw Lane to be waved away by the referee. It finished 2-1 to Dronfield, who had done well to beat a strong and well-organised away team. I’d like to visit this ground again, probably worth seeing in the daylight to appreciate it more. Good luck to Dronfield in their maiden NCEL season – I’m sure I’ll be back, hopefully with a programme next time!

Curzon Ashton (28-09-2013)

Curzon Ashton 0 – 0 Lancaster City, FA Cup 2nd Qualifying Round, 28th September 2013

Train (Manchester to Ashton-under-Lyne): £3-20
Entrance: £7-50
I Paper: 30p
Tea: £1
Bovril: £1
Total: £13

Ashton-under-Lyne is located just to the East of Manchester, next to the ring road (the M60), and is home to two non-league clubs – Ashton United and Curzon Ashton. Again, I took advantage of my monthly trans-Pennine season ticket to get to Manchester for ‘free’ from Sheffield, before walking to Manchester Victoria for a 10-minute train ride to Ashton (return £3-20). On a busy train from Sheffield, I sat next to a drunk and cheerful Man United fan in a tie-dye t-shirt, who gave me his thoughts on the sports headlines as I tried to read the paper. He even gave me regular updates from the Spurs-Chelsea game! I didn’t have a chance to explain my destination for the day – I think he assumed I was also off to the Theatre of Dreams!

Curzon’s ground is about a 15-20 minute walk from the rail station, located within a sports village which includes athletics fields and racing tracks. The Tameside Stadium was similar to Nantwich and Witton in its spaciousness and modernity, with a stand of seating faced by a row of 8-10 terraces. Both ends had terraces with crush barriers, which probably put it ahead of Nantwich in terms of capacity. The only really distinctive feature of the ground was a statue outside which looked like a couple of rugby or football players grappling for the ball.

Like the game at Nantwich, today was an FA Cup Qualifier – only 10 games away from Wembley. I’d decided to attempt to follow the FA competitions wherever possible up till Christmas – even at these early stages (as I’d found out at Knaresborough) there is a certain magic to these qualifiers. The game was slightly disappointing to be honest, as the teams seemed to cancel each other out. Curzon Ashton oozed quality on and off the ball, while Lancaster were clearly a well-organised outfit who communicated well with each other. The main events of the first half were when the Lancaster number 10 skied a good opportunity over the goal, and when the Ashton goalkeeper was substituted on 20 minutes.

The second half was similar until the teams started to realise this was a knockout game – and it began to open out in the closing stages. Lancaster had a header tipped over from close range, before their number 9 had a right-footed shot saved by the replacement keeper. Curzon threatened, and nearly scored when their number 8 hit a deflected shot, only to be foiled by the away keeper. It finished goalless in front of a crowd of 302. Not the worst game in the world, but not exactly the most thrilling either. Perhaps I was paying the price for that brilliant game at Knaresborough! I sprinted back to the station for the 17.05 back to Manchester – one more ground ticked off in the North West…

Liverpool (21-09-2013)

Liverpool 0 – 1 Southampton (Premiership), 21st September 2013

Train: £21
Programme: £3
Match ticket: £42
Bus to Anfield: £4
Tea x2: £3-70
Total: £73-70

Normally I wouldn’t record a match at Anfield as it’s a ground I’ve been to many times before, and for once, we are not neutral supporters. Mrs Groundhopper is a massive Liverpool fan, and over the last few seasons we’ve been able to get tickets. I bought these tickets back in July, when the club holds a members’ sale, when you basically buy in bulk for half a season. I figure I’ll record this match to be comprehensive with my costings for this year – and it proves a real contrast to non-league costs and atmosphere.

For this game we sat at the far left of the Main Stand, which has to be one of the most cramped stands in the top-flight. Almost immediately as you enter the turnstiles, you end up facing a wall, and have to navigate your way through a narrow corridor and a maze of steps to enter the ground. The block we were in today – MZ – is directly opposite the away end at the Anfield Road end of the stadium, to the point where you can make eye contact with the away supporters.

I won’t go into detail about the game itself as its been reported widely already. Suffice to say that Liverpool had masses of possession, and started the game brightly. How they didn’t score is beyond me, with Sturridge, Victor Moses and even Jordan Henderson looking dangerous. Even without the suspended Luis Suarez, they looked like a team in form and going for a win today. Southampton, particularly in the first half, looked inferior and like they would be in for a tough day today. Still they went in at half-time at nil-nil. This was a bad sign – invariably, if Liverpool don’t score early under Brendan Rodgers, they end up either losing or drawing. I didn’t want to point this out to Mrs Groundhopper as we started the second half!

Liverpool again started the half well, and just seemed to lack incisiveness in the final third. The ball was on the floor, and some great passing followed, but no goal. Inevitably Southampton took the lead on the hour mark. From then, they grew in confidence and, as the frustration began to affect Liverpool, they started seizing the ball in midfield and intercepting more passes. As we approached the final whistle, the ground started to empty, which I’d rarely seen before at this stadium. This was a reality check to Liverpool’s credentials as top four contenders this year. It says a lot that the highlight of the day was being able to use advance train tickets at £21 each for Sheffield to Liverpool (return)!

Nantwich Town (14-09-2013)

Nantwich 1 – 2 Rugby Town (FA Cup 1st Round Qualifying), 14th September 2013

Train (Stockport to Nantwich) £12-30
I Paper 30p
Entrance £9
Programme £2
Tea £1-30
Bovril £1-30
Sandwich £3-99
Total £30-19

Today I was off to see Nantwich play Rugby in the FA Cup. But isn’t this blog about football I hear you ask? Bad joke I know. Nantwich Town, like Witton, is one of the many grounds in Cheshire which has been on my list for a while. I have to confess I am somewhat ignorant of the geography of the county (and neighbouring Staffordshire), despite a large non-league set-up in the area. This was an ideal opportunity to learn my geography today. Nantwich is just outside Crewe, and can be reached by an 8-minute ride on the Arriva service to Shrewsbury. Like Knaresborough, I’d recommend a visit to the town itself, which is full of independent shops, and has a marina alongside the Shrewsbury Union canal.

Weaver Park is located about a 10-15 minute walk from the centre of the town, and sits alongside the River Weaver. Another ‘W’ to continue the theme from Worksop and Witton. The ground was modern, having been built relatively recently, and wasn’t dissimilar to Wincham Park in Northwich. I am ambivalent about newer grounds, as sometimes they lack character and atmosphere. I handed over my £9 entrance (not bad for a club at this level) and asked for a programme from a kiosk just inside the ground. I was just about to hand over my £2 when the bloke said ‘just one second’, and proceeded to swat a wasp with a copy of the programme, making sure it was dead with a deft swipe. And of course he handed me the programme used to kill the wasp – not often I’ve been sold a murder weapon at a ground! Inside, the ground was neat and spacious, but lacked terraces at either end. A main stand of seating was directly opposite a section of terracing of about 5-6 terraces high. I wasn’t enamoured by the ground, and as I munched an egg sandwich, wondered whether this might be a memorable day today.

For the start of the game I took up my place almost bang on the halfway line in front of the terraced section. My fears about the ‘flatness’ of the ground were soon allayed when it became evident that the Nantwich fans were in good voice, and determined to generate an atmosphere. One chant, directed at the cluster of Rugby fans, ran ‘Ten fans on your big day out…’ In fact it was closer to 15 I would have said, but maybe that wouldn’t have fit into the bars of the song! The game started a bit flat, but gradually turned into a decent match. Rugby’s number 11 had a low shot saved, while Nantwich missed a sitter one-on-one with the keeper. There was an equal distribution of chances between the teams, with Rugby’s number 9 having a further shot saved, before the number 10 fired over. Nantwich took the lead just before 30 minutes, with a fine surge into the box from the Nantwich number 9.

The second half was as open as the first, and both teams looked like they would score. The key moment came on 50 minutes, when a legitimate free kick goal from Nantwich’s 11 (and a fine free kick at that) was disallowed. It was unclear what has happened, as the ball had clearly gone in, and the linesman appeared to be flagging for offside. It looked like the home side were in control of the game, and it would only be a matter of time before a second one. The Nantwich fans were in high spirits, with second half chants including ‘Your kit’s too big for you’ (directed at a short Rugby midfielder).  Another missed opportunity came when the home side’s number 19 just couldn’t quite connect with a cross from the left.

Nantwich couldn’t make their possession and dominance count in front of goal, and were punished on 80(ish) minutes when Rugby’s number 10 hit a venomous shot from outside the area, which deflected off the keeper before hitting the back of the net. Now it was anyone’s game. With the momentum swinging their way, Rugby took the lead on 85 minutes with a shot from number 6 rocketing into the bottom corner of the net. Their supporters were delighted, and finally started singing on their ‘big day out’ (all 10 or 15 of them!). Nantwich were perhaps a tad unlucky in this game, with the deflected equaliser, and the disallowed free kick just after half time. Rugby, on the other hand, should be proud of their dogged determination and grit to get back into the game. I’d recommend a visit to the Weaver Stadium, if only to experience the humorous and witty chants of the Nantwich crowd.

Worksop Town (11-09-2013)

Worksop 1 – 4 King’s Lynn (Evostik Premier), 11th September 2013
Train (Sheffield to Worksop): £5-50
Entrance: £10
Programme: £2
Tea (x2): £2
Total: £19-50

I was back on the King’s Lynn away trail at Sandy Lane, Worksop, for a wet September evening. My second away of the season and it was another ‘W’ – maybe a trend was developing?   I’d been there on three previous occasions – for a photos outside the ground in 2009, a Worksop Parramore vs Pontefract NCEL clash in 2012, and a King’s Lynn FA Trophy game in November last year. After Worksop Town’s financial difficulties, and I understand a dispute with the owners of the ground, Worksop played in exile in Hucknall for a couple of years. As a result, Sandy Lane is actually owned by Worksop Parramore, originally a county league team, and promoted to the NCEL in recent years. And of course, Parramore are planning a merger with Handsworth. Worksop Town, on the other hand, are at a higher level in the Evostik Premier, and have arguably ‘found their level’ in this league.

I travelled straight from work in Manchester, and met my Mum at Worksop station at 7.15, arriving at the ground in plenty of time for kick off. It made me realise that evening games will be a stretch now that I have a trans-Pennine commute to contend with! Entry, like last year’s FA Trophy game, was £10, which seems the going rate at this level. It sounds like a lot compared to the £6 I paid to see Dr Martens football in the late 1990s, but I guess that costs have gone up for all clubs these days. After the obligatory tea, we took up our seats at the far end behind the goal we were attacking; in fact we were almost directly behind the goal, and the saw most of the first half through the net. Actually not a bad spot to take up if you have good eyesight!

The game started just after 8 due to delays on the A1 – when it did begin the teams looked evenly matched. King’s Lynn, as in the game vs Witton, were keen to get the ball on the floor and forward quickly, but lacked enough penetration to break down a physical Worksop defence. Worksop looked strong in midfield, and created a few chances before the deadlock was broken on 27 minutes when Cottingham hit a fantastic shot into the top corner. I could appreciate the skill involved because we could see the ball arrow into the back of the net. King’s Lynn looked superior after that, and did look like equalising before half-time, but couldn’t quite convert their chances, so went in 1 nil down at the break.

Almost from the second half kick-off, King’s Lynn looked hungry for it, and quickly equalised through a great reflex volley from Shane Tolley. Shortly after, Fryatt headed in a corner, and we had a 2-1 lead. The home side still looked dangerous, particularly after they made a double substitution. The King’s Lynn goalkeeper Danny Gay made a terrific save to deny them, tipping a goal-bound shot round his right-hand post. The game was very open, and we left gaps at the back as we powered forward for a third. There was some crisp passing in King’s Lynn’s midfield, who were creating neat triangles all over the pitch. Then, just after 75 minutes, Worksop were reduced to 10 men when their defender gave away a penalty to King’s Lynn as the last man. Rob Duffy converted the resulting penalty to make it 3-1, and by now we were all over the home side. As the home crowd shuffled to the exits, King’s Lynn grabbed a fourth, with Duffy slotting in from close range. A great result and a deserved win before I headed off to an FA Cup qualifier at the weekend.

Knaresborough Town (07-09-2013)

Knaresborough Town 4 – 3 Westella Hanson AET (FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round), 7th September 2013

Total: £29-60
i-paper: 30p
Train ticket (Sheffield-Knaresborough): £21-30
Entrance: £4
Programme: £1
Raffle: £1
Tea (x2): £2

Knaresborough is located just North of Harrogate, roughly a 45 minute train ride from Leeds. The town was quite picturesque, with waterside cafes, an impressive stone railway bridge, and the remains of a castle. As I explored the riverside before the match, I wandered to the top of the castle, where I saw a woman dressed in full chain mail! This was a real contrast to the less illustrious surroundings of Clipstone and Atherton.

Knaresborough Town, like Clipstone, entered the NCEL in 2012/13, and are very much the new kids on the block. Today was a historic one for the club as they entered the FA Vase for the first time against Westella Hanson of the Central Midlands Northern Division. Today was also non-league day (with home internationals played on the Friday), so there could be a larger than average gate for such an historic game. The ground was fairly similar to Clipstone’s (albeit a bit smaller), with one small covered terrace behind the near goal, and a small stand of perhaps 30-40 seats just on the halfway line. I struggled to capture a decent photo of the ground with the dark clouds looming ominously in the distance – this could be the first day of genuinely bad weather this season.

The game turned out to be the most thrilling I’ve seen so far this year, made all the more exciting by the fact that this was knock-out football (with the distant carrot of Wembley), and that these two teams had not met before. Westella belied their status as underdogs, and more than matched the home side in the first quarter. They took the lead on 6 minutes with a header, and made it 2-0 on 20 minutes with a curling left-foot shot into the bottom corner. The second proved particularly controversial, as Knaresborough felt play should have been stopped for a foul – it wasn’t, and it seemed as if time had frozen when the ball hit the back of the net. A classic example of playing to the whistle - whether you agree with the referee’s decision or not. Gradually, Knaresborough started to assert themselves, and scored a deserved goal on 34 minutes, drilled in by their number 10. This set up an intriguing second half.

From the restart, Knaresborough looked like the more likely to win today, despite trailing. They scored an equaliser almost immediately, with number 7 getting on the end of a cross to slot in. Given home advantage, and Knaresborough’s league position, it now looked like they would take advantage of a tired-looking away team. Just when it looked like they would take the lead, on 55 minutes they were reduced to 10 men after a fracas in the far corner. Westella started to get back into the game, and with the home team disorganised for a short time, they made it 3-2 on 69 minutes with their number 10 slotting past the keeper one-on-one.

By this point, Knaresborough were furiously barracking the referee for almost every decision – no doubt feeling aggrieved about the second Westella goal, and the red card. This was compounded when the Westella left back flew into a thigh-high tackle with his studs up, only to be booked rather than sent off. It now looked like the home side had the ‘bit between their teeth’, and were determined the defy the one-man deficit and the what they saw as a poor referee. Late on, a cross was swung in, and Knaresborough’s number 10 volleyed a magnificient overhead kick into the roof of the net to make it 3-3. Judging by the grimace afterwards, it looked like he had pulled his hamstring in the process. Extra time beckoned, and I learnt one of the quirks of this competition – apparently if it was even after 120 minutes, it would go to a replay rather than penalties. I couldn’t help but think that neither team would want a replay after such a draining match.

After I grabbed a quick cup of tea, and extra time began, the heavens opened, and I was grateful that I had my trusty Quechua coat with me. The second half of extra time saw brilliant sunshine, and I quickly dried off as the game continued on a knife-edge. It still looked like anyone’s game, until (around) 110 minutes, when Knaresborough’s number 15 curled in a superb goal – which was almost a carbon copy of Westella’s controversial second. He slid on the grass, and you could feel this game had gone into the annals of the club’s history. They closed out the game confidently, and while Westella had one or two close chances, it was clear that Knaresborough had wrapped up a famous win. It is a credit to both teams that I’m not writing about the ground, but the game itself which was an absolute epic. My first game of the season in Yorkshire, and what a game it had proved to be!

Witton Albion (31-08-2013)

Witton Albion 1 - 0 King's Lynn (Evostik Premier Division, 31st August 2013)

Total: £23.80
Train ticket (Manchester to Northwich): £10.30
Entrance: £9.50
Programme: £2
Tea (x2): £2

Today brought my first King’s Lynn away of the season at Witton Albion, and (based on my records) my first King’s Lynn away in Step 3 since Kendal Town in 2009. It was just less than 4 years, but that felt like an age away now.  Witton play in Northwich in Cheshire, and I reached the town by two trains from Sheffield, changing at Stockport. The trains were surprisingly quiet; perhaps as this was the last weekend of school holidays, this was the calm before the storm.  It felt good to have a couple of grounds under my belt in August already, and I was pleased to be on my way to a King’s Lynn game so early.

Witton Albion are the less famous club in Northwich, and are often overshadowed by their neighbours Northwich Victoria. In recent years, the latter have built a new stadium, before falling into financial difficulties, and in fact currently play their home games at Stafford Rangers. Looking back at Mike Blackstone’s book The Brown Sauce is Off (on North-West non-league grounds), I note that in 2003-04, Northwich Victoria were ground-sharing at Witton’s Wincham Park (where I was today). I wanted to see the stadium that Northwich Vic had built, and what remained of it now they no longer played there. This is a groundhopper’s dream, as both grounds are located within a short walk from Northwich rail station (across Wade Brook), and are less than quarter of a mile apart. 

The Northwich Victoria ‘stadium’ has fallen into a decrepit state, and I can only assume that this is because it is slowly being demolished. The floodlights were clearly visible from some distance away, but the ground itself looked like a building site. Nothing remained of any of the buildings or any of the stands, and the terraces had been partially flattened. There were sections of the old perimeter wall, and it was just possible to make out the pitch. The only remnants of anything to do with Northwich Victoria were a couple of weathered plastic signs on the ‘Ground regulations’. This was a sad sight, and it made me feel for the fans of this beleaguered club. It was one thing to see a club go out of business, and quite another to see a stadium demolished.

It was therefore a great relief to find a neat ground at Wincham Park a short walk away. The only major quirk of this ground appears to be that you cannot access the social club before or during the game, so have to go there first. Hardly the worst problem in the world, and I was happy to have a tea instead of a beer before the match anyway.  The ground had three sides of partially-covered terracing (6 levels of narrow terracing on each side), and a stand on one side with 5 rows of seats. The set-up and colours reminded me vaguely of Hyde United’s Ewen Fields, though that was set in the middle of terraced housing rather than an industrial estate. The pitch looked in mint condition, and was almost bright green in the sunshine. The players were warming up on nearby pitches, which may explain why the ground was in such good condition. 

King’s Lynn started most brightly, dominating possession in midfield and looking most likely to score. Witton had some physical players, and we did struggle at times to contain them, but we still looked like our skill could tell. It was particularly pleasing to see the ball played on the floor rather than hoofed into the air. The clearest chances came when Dan Jacob was twice put clean through, but was foiled by the Witton keeper on both occasions. Witton had one or two opportunities towards the end of the half, perhaps a warning that they were still dangerous on the counter-attack.

As the second half wore on, the away side looked a bit tired, and like they had run out of ideas. For all the possession they had in midfield, there were few clear-cut shots at goal, and it looked like the Witton defence had us well-contained. The most notable chance came when Danny Gay tipped over a looping left-footed shot from the Witton midfield.

On came Shaun Tuck for the home side and judging by the cheers from the Witton fans, I wondered if he was some kind of local hero. A quick Google revealed he had been jailed for a series of anti-Muslim Tweets, and had recently been making the headlines for the wrong reasons in non-league circles. He was a quick and wiry striker, and on 87 minutes made the most of a loose ball to make it 1-0 to Witton.

This was disappointing as we had done well all afternoon, but had just lacked a cutting edge up front to convert the possession into goals. I cannot fault the players for effort, but there was a real lack of width, pace and physical presence up front. Too often we lacked the aerial power to make the most of set pieces, and Witton knew exactly what to expect from us. All in all, a solid performance from King’s Lynn, which nonetheless produced a disappointing result.  Wincham Park was a nice place to start my away season. Maybe I’ll be back here some day when Northwich Victoria return to the town?!

England (14-08-2013)

England 3 – 2 Scotland, International Friendly (14^th August 2013)

Coach travel: £34

Ticket: £32-50
Tea (£1, £2): £3
Taxi (Sheffield centre-home): £15 (approx)
Total: £84-50

Officially, this game perhaps shouldn’t make it onto this blog. I’ve been to Wembley Stadium a few times before, so this wasn’t a new ground, and of course purists may argue this isn’t really ground-hopping. However, I’ve decided to include it for posterity, and as it juxtaposes neatly with non-league games, in terms of cost, atmosphere and attendance.

I’d taken a few days off work before we flew off to sunnier climes for our holidays, and made the coach trip down to London on the National Express service. Setting off at just before 2pm, the coach arrived at about 5.30pm. I’ve used this service a couple of previous times, and have found it a convenient and inexpensive route to Wembley – at £34 for a return it represented good value for money. England had not played Scotland since 1999 in a Euro 2000 play-off when a Scholes double had won the game at Hampden, while a Hutchison strike at Wembley was not enough to stop England progressing. Back then, Scotland had only recently played in the World Cup, and on June 10^th 1998, had put on a plucky performance against Brazil, only to lose on an unfortunate own-goal. This was one of the games that first piqued my interest in football.

Wembley is a complete contrast to the grounds I usually visit, and maybe that’s why I like it. I love the atmosphere at England games there, and particularly enjoy how close you feel to the pitch. By all accounts, the old Wembley (which I never visited) had a pitch which was too far from the spectators. It’s definitely enjoyable to go to more major games like this, perhaps because it isn’t very often. Maybe that’s why many England fans also follow non-league teams – along with the lower costs of weekly matches, they have the enjoyment of going to a bigger game in a bigger stadium once in a while.

Although some England games can disappoint for atmosphere and results, this one was an entertaining and open game. Scotland opened the scoring early on to put the cat among the pigeons, with Joe Hart making a mistake with James Morrison’s long-range effort. I was intrigued by the Scottish tactics in the lead-up to the goal, when four players had stood within a yard of each other on the edge of the box in response to a corner. If it was meant to cause confusion as the players dispersed it certainly worked. England were behind for about 20 minutes, before Theo Walcott slid in a superb angled shot to make it 1-1. Walcott has come on leaps and bounds over the last couple of years, and is really delivering on the big-stage now.

We made it to half-time at parity, and then fell behind again when Kenny Miller took advantage of a poor defence to make it 2-1. Within 4 minutes, we were back on level terms again, this time Danny Welbeck heading in from a Gerrard free kick. Scotland were certainly giving us a game tonight! They were strong in midfield, and were doing everything to stop us getting the ball into their half, as well as making some neat passes of their own. Rooney went off on 67 minutes for Rickie Lambert, and made way for a comic-book finish to the game. With what must have been his first touch in international football, Lambert headed perfectly past the Scottish keeper on 70 minutes, putting us into the lead for the first time that evening. Quite a meteoric rise from a beetroot factory! Scotland bravely continued, but England’s superior quality finally told in the final quarter of the match, as we held on for the 3-2 win. This was a great game to start the new ‘international season’, and a good one to catch before our early-season break to Morocco.