Liverpool (25-05-2025)

Liverpool 1 - 1 Crystal Palace (Premier League), Sunday 25 May 2025

Liverpool (11-05-2025)

Liverpool 2 - 2 Arsenal (Premier League), Sunday 11 May 2025

A game of two halves with a champions' 1st half performance by Liverpool, followed by a resilient 2nd half by Arsenal.

On a side note, I never thought I'd hear the tune of anti-fascist anthem 'Bella Ciao' at Anfield but it has become a mainstay for Luiz Diaz this season. One for our tumultuous times.

Liverpool (27-04-2025)

Liverpool 5 - 1 Tottenham Hotspur (Premier League), Sunday 27 April 2025

Champions! Exactly 11 years to the day since 'that' Chelsea match, Liverpool seal the title with an imperious performance. A special day on Merseyside.

Retford (26-04-2025)

Retford FC 4 - 0 Clipstone (United Counties Division 1 play-off semi-final), Saturday 26 April 2025

The United Counties now stretches a long way North of its traditional base in Northamptonshire. I'd be interested to see a map of the geographic distribution back in the days when King's Lynn reserves were in it. I wasn't too surprised therefore to see Retford in this league, although I was intrigued that there are now 2 teams in Retford. As it happened, today Retford United were also playing across town in the other semi-final. Pub quiz question - what would a Retford derby be called?

Retford FC is a relatively new club, but their ground is very prominent as it is right next to the East Coast mainline. Numerous trains sped past during today's action.

Retford had finished 20 points ahead of the visitors Clipstone, and this gulf in class was evident from the start. They just looked stronger, more alert and more organised. Two headed goals either side of the break looked like they would see them through. Clipstone had a bright period when 2-0 down and had a golden chance when they were awarded a penalty. But the player could only hit it over the bar. After that Retford again took a stranglehold on the match with 2 more headed goals. They look a decent side and will be a tough proposition for their next opponents - as it turned out, Blackstones had beaten Retford United across town so the next Retford derby will have to wait.

This was another play-off to add to my list - I must make a note of this kind of match in my spreadsheet. A 40-minute drive back home, mostly on familiar roads, so not a bad trip all things considered.

Rising Ballers (08-04-2025)

Rising Ballers Kensington 1 - 1 Windsor (Combined Counties 1), Tuesday 8 April 2025

On one of those strange April evenings, when the air is chilly but full of hope for Spring, I found myself in Greenford (West London) for a 1st Division Combined Counties match. This was my first in this league and indeed one of only a handful of matches I have seen in the West side of London. The Combined Counties covers Berks, Bucks, Hants, Herts, Kent, Oxf and the western bit of London - so I guess its footprint is 'the westerly bit of the South East'. 

Rising Ballers Kensington (great name) share the ground of North Greenford United, located between Sudbury Hill and Greenford. Upon arrival I was about to hand over the entry fee (to a group of away fans!) before realising this was FOC. I had a cup of tea (including complimentary biscuits!) from the bar and surveyed the league table. Two points separated Rising Ballers and the visitors (Windsor - not Windsor and Eton!), both hovering over the relegation zone.

The match was full-blooded to say the least and started with a bang when Ballers had an early penalty saved. After this, Windsor dominated much of the half with their sharp passing and took a slender lead into the break. I nipped into the bar to see the end of the 1st half of Arsenal-Real Madrid (and to warm up!). 

The second half was more even and Ballers really upped their game to match Windsor. Ballers - in a distinctive white and gold Madrid-esque kit - seemed like they wanted it just a little more. They deservedly equalised when they successfully converted a penalty, and after this either side could have won it. 1-1 was a reasonably fair result, although it didn't do either side any favours. Meanwhile, across London, it transpired that Arsenal had beaten Real Madrid 3-0 - a strange evening all round.

Stocksbridge (02-04-2025)

Stocksbridge Park Steels Reserves 1 - 0 Oughtibridge (Sheffield & Hallamshire Premier League), Wednesday 2 April 2025

Kimberley (28-03-2025)

Kimberley Reserves 4 - 1 AC United (Notts Senior Division 1), Friday 28 March 2025

Avro (01-03-2025)

Avro 3 - 1 Clitheroe (Northern Premier West Division), Saturday 1 March 2025

Three scrappy (but well-deserved) goals for Avro and a penalty for Clitheroe. The home side's defence stood firm in the face of second half pressure.

I didn't realise that Avro was an aircraft maker (the now defunct energy company is completely different) so I have learnt something today. The ground was an odd collection of different styles and design, with a 3G pitch at the centre. I made it over the Woodhead Pass in time for tea and with some daylight left. Spring must be round the corner.

 

Stocksbridge (08-02-2025)

Stocksbridge 1 - 0 Ossett United (Evostik East Division), Saturday 8 February 2025

South Leeds (25-01-2025)

South Leeds 1 - 2 Selby (NCEFL Division 1), Saturday 25 January 2025

Staveley U21 (17-01-2025)

Staveley MW U21 2 - 0 Buxton U21 (North Midlands Development League), Friday 17 January 2025

A masterly performance by top-of-the-table Staveley - rock solid in defence, fast and creative in attack. They played well against a capable and threatening Buxton side. My first game of 2025 and it was another chilly evening at Inkersall Road.

Workington (26-12-2024)

Workington 2 - 2 Morpeth (Northern League Premier), Thursday 26 December 2024

Alvechurch (14-12-2024)

Alvechurch 0 - 1 Spalding United (Southern League Premier Central), Saturday 14 December

A lovely non-league West Midlands ground, near to Redditch, on the South side of Birmingham. Is it Birmingham or Worcestershire? A scrappy match which Spalding edged in the 91st minute. I enjoyed my first ‘daytime’ match in a while, even though most of it was under the lights. 

Kiveton MW (08-11-2024)

Kiveton MW 1 - 1 Hatfield (Central Midlands Alliance), Friday 8 November 2024

An absorbing game between two sides who came to play good football. Fast, skilful play and very little play-acting. Kiveton did brilliantly to get a point against 5th-placed Hatfield. A decent atmosphere at Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park too.

Liverpool (02-11-2024)

Liverpool 2 - 1 Brighton (Premier League), Saturday 2 November 2024

Leyton Orient (30-10-2024)

Leyton Orient U18 1 - 0 Aldershot U18 (FA Youth Cup), Wednesday 30 October 2024

Stockton (27-10-2024)

Middlesbrough Ladies 3 - 0 Durham Ladies (Women's National League Division 1 North), Sunday 27 October 2024

In a game played at Stockton FC's ground, 1st placed Middlesbrough put a tough game to bed in the second half. Durham - 8th out of 12th going into the match - fought hard but could not capitalise on midfield possession.

This is the second time I've been to a match in Stockton - the previous one was Norton & Stockton Ancients in 2011.

Thorncliffe Villa (24-10-2024)

Thorncliffe Villa 3 - 3 Dinnington (North Midlands Development League), Thursday 24 October 2024

A high-quality encounter which looked like it had edged Dinnington's way when they took a 3-1 lead. But a spirited Thorncliffe found a way back in, despite being reduced to 10 men.

The quirk of the venue was that there was a wire suspended across the halfway line - play had to be stopped 3-4 times as the ball bounced off it.