Parkgate (19-12-2015)

Parkgate 1 - 1 Tadcaster Albion (NCEL Premier), Saturday 19 December 2015

South Yorkshire bus ticket £5
Programme £1-50
Raffle £1
Entry £5
Bovril £1
Total £13-50

I had fully intended to do Crewe this weekend, but opted for the easier local option of Parkgate in nearby Rotherham. I hopped onto the 72 at the end of our road, and decided to walk the couple of miles from the bus station. I'd been to Roundwood way back in 2008 so I was looking forward to revisiting another South Yorkshire ground. As I headed out past a cluster of out of town shops, a chap approached me asking for directions to the ground! It turned out he'd asked pretty much everyone, and nobody knew, not even a policeman! I think I surprised him when I said I was on my way there too and also with my Southern accent.

As we walked towards Rawmarsh, he told me almost a life history. He was a 69-year old retired bricklayer, and his grandson Jordan (a welder) had recently moved from Hallam to Parkgate. He also told me how much he was paid, and while I can't recall exact figures, I think it was something like £20 for a goal plus a certain amount for each game. 

Roundwood is very much buried at the back of Rawmarsh, so I think he was grateful of my assistance (and that of Google maps!) The ground is as I remember - you enter behind one goal with some covered seats to your right and terraces - some grass covered - on the long side. Like a couple of grounds I've seen, one side is completely out of bounds to spectators, with a long row of hedges taking the place of any walkway. 

Tadcaster, in the away corner, came looking for maximum points today. Parkgate are a solid team but 'Taddy' are blasting through the league this year. They began in full throttle, with 9's early header rattling the bar and bouncing down very close to the line. On the wing 11 was looking handy, having a couple of decent efforts sAved. But as so often happens, goals come against the run of play. At the far end, Parkgate broke at pace and 10 found himself clean through, finishing with aplomb. It turns out this was my acquaintance's grandson! He was causing havoc every time he got the ball and very nearly nipped through again around the 40 minute mark. 

The second half turned into a real end to end game, and it could have gone either way. The interchanges between Parkgates 9,7,11 were excellent. Taddy are top for a reason however, and 9 lobbed just over, before 16s low cross was gathered in by the home keeper. P10 was booked for a feisty challenge in the middle, and p7 nearly ran clear after blocking a clearance. There were a catalogue of chances at both ends, most notably when t6 hit the crossbar. Despite a brave performance from the Rotherham side, they were pegged back to 1-1 when 10 slotted in a penalty awarded after a handball. There was still time for more, and t10 headed over, while a late Parkgate effort was just tipped over by the Taddy keeper. A cracking game, and while Parkgate maybe warranted more than a draw, this was a fine result against the league leaders. Back to Rotherham bus station for the 72 back to Sheffield. 

Uxbridge (13-12-2015)

QPR Ladies 3 - 1 West Ham Ladies (Women's Premier League Southern), Sunday 13 December 2015

Train £12 (Oyster cap)
Subway £3-27
Tea £1
Paper & gum £1-96
Oxo £1
Fruit £1-70
Entry £5
Total £25-93

As I was in the capital for the weekend, I decided to take advantage and head to a Sunday fixture. It turned out that many Ladies Premier League matches were on, so I planned to head East to Thamesmead. When that was postponed, I switched my attentions to Uxbridge, where QPR Ladies were facing West Ham. The ground was actually closest to West Drayton station, which is not far from Heathrow. This was on the very edge of London, and as I travelled out I had a sense of reaching the end of the universe!

After locating the ground, I headed to West Drayton for a restorative cuppa. There was not much in the town, and it had a very Sunday feel to it, with half the shops closed and few people about. The grey sky and slight drizzle seemed to top it off, finishing my London visit with an anti climax.

So I headed for the delightfully-named Honeycroft, which was next to a small industrial estate at the end of a narrow road. This swept down to the left to a reasonably sized car park. The ground was neat but distinctive, with identical stands behind each goal and two seated stands bang on the halfway line. The pitch was surrounded by a picket like fence, and the dug outs were tidy examples of brickwork. The main stand where I took up my position was partially encased with glass/plastic, reminding me vaguely of the main stand at the Walks before it was revamped.  It was strangely similar to a greenhouse.

The game and surroundings were certainly a contrast to yesterday's match at Upton Park. This was something of a relegation 6-pointer with QPR Ladies, who were being sucked towards the trap door. QPR saw the better of the early chances, with 10 stretching but not reaching a low cross, and 11 teeing up 17, who smashed it over. Q10 made it 1-0 when she slotted in from close range, while at the other end w11s effort was smothered by a strong hand from the keeper. West Ham had a couple of useful players, particularly 14, whose skill was fantastic, although her passing frequently went awry - she also managed to loft an effort over just before the break. QPRs best players so far were the excellent 11, who was at the heart of most offensive moves and 3, who gave a solid backbone at the back.

The Hoops came out looking to extend their lead, and did so on 53 minutes when 3 planted it in. Their opponents briefly responded with some pressure of their own - w9 hit a left footer just wide, before 11s lob went in to make it 2-1. It was end to end stuff now, and QPR continued to create chances aplenty. On the counterattack, West Ham looked dangerous, and quickly transitioned with 9 and 11 at the heart of it. Then to the relief of the home side, QPR's 15 made it 3-1 with a looping header. She very nearly created another goal when she squared to 10, who fired wide. The Hammers were not done, and a decent effort from 14 was pawed away by the home keeper.

So my first hop taking in a Ladies match, and it was a decent and entertaining one. It was a fairly open game with flashes of quality, much like you'd expect the average non league game to be.

I trudged back to West Drayton for the train back to Paddington, and after a brisk walk managed to make my 5:35 train up to Sheffield.

West Ham (12-12-2015)

West Ham United 0 - 0 Stoke City (Premiership), Saturday 12 December 2015

Train £12 (Oyster cap)
Ticket £27
Chips £3
Tea £2-30
Programme £3-50
Total £47-80

After much planning, preparation and keying F5 to get a ticket, I finally managed to get to Upton Park. This joins a few grounds I've done in their final season, including Chesterfield, Morecambe and Worcester.

I decided to make a weekend of it, staying with a friend in nearby Hornchufch and visiting my Nan in Bromley in the morning. I arrived at the ground at about 2, and had some time to be a tourist, taking photos of the Boelyn Ground gates, the Bobby Moore statue, and the turnstiles on all sides. The stadium sits very much in the centre of a local community, with rows of terraced houses and classic London pubs on street corners. This is the kind of thing which is lost when clubs move to new stadia, no matter how shiny and sparkly they may be.

Today I was in the East Stand, which consists of a single sweeping tier under a somewhat low roof. Inside, the stand felt similar to Anfield's Main Stand, with a slightly wider walkway. I was almost on the back row, and sat pretty much next to a girder holding the roof up. All other stands have 2 tiers, and I managed to get some half decent shots of the empty ground before kick off. My ticket was actually 'restricted view' but in reality I had a good view of the pitch, which seemed to stretch a long way from left to right.

So to the football! West Ham came into this one having had a decent few months, and starting to play the attractive football associated with 'the West Ham way'. Their opponents Stoke have had a solid season so far, in what has proved to be a highly unpredictable league so far. West Ham had the best of the early exchanges, with Antonio looking a real handful in the attacking midfield. Stoke began to find a foothold in the game when Can Ginkel started to dictate some moves from the middle. They created the most notable chance of the first half when Afellay forged a half chance for Arnautavic, who couldn't convert. This was a rough-and-tumble game at times - Andy Carroll and Ryan Shawcross seemed to be having a running battle in the Potters' defence. West Ham's only real chance came when Mark Noble looked like he had been fouled, only for the penalty appeals to be waved away.

The match opened up considerably in the second half. Carroll's theatrical diving header went wide, and Arnautavic hit the cross bar with a free kick. The game see-sawed, with Cresswell having a shot saved, while an excellent move between Glen Johnson and Diouf was foiled by Adrian. Matching Stoke all the way, West Ham hit the post through Zarate with Enner Valencia unable to make anything of the rebound. In the closing stages, Diouf went clean through for the away side, only to be foiled by more excellent keeping from Adrian. West Ham then very nearly sneaked it when Valencia's effort was cleared off the line.

0-0 was probably a fair result. Like Liverpool vs Palace in November, this had been a good Premier League game. It had been a bit of a tourist trip I must admit, but I was glad to have seen a game here before the club move to the Olympic Stadium. I made it back to Hornchurch on the District Line, and kindly my friend picked me up at the station. As I waited in the cold and wet, I followed the Euro 2016 draw as it happened - Wales, Slovakia, Russia. I love this game!

Bradford City (06-12-2015)

Bradford City 4 - 0 Chesham United (FA Cup 2nd Round), Sunday 6 December 2015

Train ticket £12-30
Tea £1-85
Tea at stadium £2-20
Entry £15
Programme £2
Total £33-35

Taking advantage of the weekend's FA Cup ties I decided to head to Valley Parade. By chance Mrs 'Hopper was off to York to see a friend so we travelled together for once. I arrived in Bradford at 11am so had a couple of hours to kill before KO. After wandering up to the ground for some exterior photos, I found the National Media Museum and its cafe for a cuppa. The air was crisp so I purchased a cheap woolly hat from a Primark, before heading to the ground.

Valley Parade can be seen from some distance away, largely due to its elevated position and the steep L-shaped stand. Presumably this is a legacy of their time in the Premier League at the turn of the century. Due to the relatively low key opposition today the club had only opened the lower tiers of 2 stands for the home fans. £15 entry laterand I was in the bowels of the stadium. Like Burnley the ground has a lot of history, and has also seen its share of developments over the years.

Today's opposition were the lowly Chesham United, who are in the Southern League - the same league as Kings Lynn. To them this was understandably a massive game, and it reminded me fondly of Kings Lynn's run to the FA Cup 2nd Round in 2006-07. The King's Lynn connection continued when I realised they had Matt Nolan (a former striker) on the bench.

Chesham did themselves great credit in this game and the 4-0 score line flattered the home side. There were few chances in a slightly cagey first half, though Bradford had made it 2-0 through goals from Reid and Hanson. Chesham's Blake looked most impressive for them, with a calm assurance when on the ball. Their 8 - Youngs - on the right also looked dangerous, although he couldn't muster any chances of note.

The game gradually opened up a bit on the second period. First Chesham's Blake charged down a clearance from the goalkeeper, then at the other end Darby squared to McMahon who could only fire over. Bradford's Clarke then had a diving header which flew wide of the away post. They looked in charge but were being well contained by Chesham's high work rate and organisation. Chesham had a couple of half chances of note, with Pearce curling wide from the edge of the box and Blake having a one on one shot foiled by the home keeper. They deserved a goal at least but it was the Bantams who grabbed a couple late on. Liddle made it 3-0 with a simple header from a corner and then Cole made it 4-0 when the home attackers outpaced the tired away side. It was an unfair score line though Bradford were probably worth the win.

I headed back to the station with the sky already half-dark, and was glad I'd managed another double header this weekend. Upon arrival at Leeds I discovered that half the trains down to Sheffield were cancelled. After finding Mrs 'Hopper we found a packed and slowish Northern train down to South Yorkshire.

Burnley (05-12-2015)

Burnley 0 - 1 Preston NE (Championship), Saturday 5 December 2015
i paper 50p
Ticket £32
Bus to Burnley £9
Tea at bus station £1-25
Bovril £2
Programme £3
Provisions 81p
Pasty £3-99
Tea £1
Total £53-55

'Christmas is coming / The geese are getting fat...' After almost a 3-week sabbatical (my mid season break!) I headed back to the cradle of the game - Lancashire, where so many founding football league clubs came from. I read an interesting feature in the paper on the decline of Lancashire clubs, exemplified by the recent financial difficulties of Bolton and relegations in recent years.

I've visited Burnley a few times in the last season or so, for games at Colne, Nelson and Padiham. So it seemed only natural to complete the set with a trip to Turf Moor today. The ground is a 10 minute walk from the bus station, so I arrived in plenty of time for a few external photos. This was a derby with Preston so I was conscious I should be careful today - though my accent would cause confusion if I was mistaken for a Preston fan!

Entering the ground at about 2pm, I took up my place in the far right of the Jimmy McLlroy stand. Turf Moor is a classic stadium, with 4 separate stands making this somewhat exposed to today's wet December weather. The James Hargreaves stand to my right  immediately drew my eye, with two tiers stretching back at a steep incline. The away fans were gathered at the far end, and seemed to have brought a decent crowd today.

The Clarets started quickly out of the blocks, and dominated the midfield for the first 15 minutes or so. But Preston somehow got a foothold in the game, with efforts by Tom Clarke and Neil Kilkenny sending a warning to the home side. This was no game for the faint hearted and Preston's Marnick Vermijl received a booking for a rough tackle. Burnley's Andre Gray looked like their real driving force, but the away side were overwhelming them in midfield with their pace and aggression. The home side's best opportunity came when Jordan Pickford punched a loose ball away, only for Burnley to rattle the bar with the follow up.

The second half was a more open contest. Preston's Vermijl fired an early volley wide, before Burnley's Joey Barton forced a tipped save with a lovely free kick. Andre Gray was at the heart of many forays forward but could only skew a half chance wide. Preston then took the lead when Kilkenny found himself in space in the box and finished well. Burnley huffed and puffed but couldn't quite respond. Sam Voke's shot flew straight at the keeper, and Matthew Taylor looked like a real threat. As so often happens in these situations, the side defending the lead actually doubled it when Daniel Johnson scored from close range. The 2-0 score line meant that Preston had beaten Burnley at 'The Moor' for the first time since 2007. I headed back to the bus, and passed a row of coaches presumably bound for West Lancashire. This was another League ground ticked off, in spite of the cold, wet and windy weather.