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September 2010
3/9/10 Stan Armett - Allenbury's have given notice they have withdrawn from the Herts County Senior League. Their results to date will be expunged and Senior Division I will continue with 16 teams in competition.
August 2010
13/8/10 Tony Incenzo - Due to pitch unavailability, London Colney Blues will be unable to stage the fixture on Thursday, August 26 at their home ground.
The match at Goffs Oak on Tuesday, August 31, is definitely going ahead with programmes on sale at £2.
13/8/10 Brian Buck - Those of you wishing to visit Dunton of the Bedfordshire County League will be pleased to note that the March Hare, the village’s only pub, has just reopened! I think that the club still issue programmes, but am not sure.
5/8/10 Brian Buck - Can I just let everyone know that Potton United will be staging their FA Cup match against Stewarts & Lloyds Corby on Friday 13 August with an 8pm kick off. Admission will be £4. Programmes are £1 extra. Ron’s Snax will be attending to offer a wide range of food. These days Potton United are coached by ex-Spurs legend Tony Galvin and his son, Tom, is player manager.
5/8/10 Tony Incenzo - Two of the new clubs in the Herts County League would like to extend an invitation to groundhoppers to attend their early season home midweek fixtures. The details are as follows…
Thursday August 26 - London Colney Blues v Mill End Sports Kick-off 6.15pm at Morris Playing Field, White Horse Lane, London Colney AL2 1JP
Email contact: rayradioray@aol.com
Tuesday, August 31 - Goffs Oak v Allenburys Sports
Kick-off 6.15pm at Goffs Oak Pavilion, Goffs Lane, Waltham Cross EN7 5ET
Email contact: tolga.huseyin7@gmail.com
Programmes will be on sale at £2 each. Please email the home clubs to confirm your interest in attending so that they know how many programmes to produce.
July 2010
23/7/10 Brian Buck - Cambridge University Press, new to the Ridgeons League this season, hope to have their stand and floodlights erected before Christmas. For spectators it will be a three sided ground and I suspect that the stand will go up behind one of the goals. First competitive home match v Halstead Town on 4 September. Their website states that all their home matches will kick off at 2pm.
June 2010
4/6/10 Brian Buck - The following to be ratified at the UCL AGM on 9 June 2010. Holbeach have been repreived from relegation from the UCL Premier Division due to Stotfold's move to the Spartan South Midlands League. Bourne Town still face relegation to Division 1. Two news clubs in UCL Division 1 next season will be Rothwell Town and Harborough Town.
4/6/10 Brian Buck - Tunbridge Wells Veterans League: It seems that Foresters are now usually playing their home games on a 3G pitch in Paddock Wood, close to their previous venue, (but not this week!) and I’ve heard rumours that Frant may be playing at Rustall. If so then Artois are probably playing there as well. All of this information needs to be checked though. The League secretary has been in Moscow this week and so next week I will try and get the rest of the seasons fixtures off him.
4/6/10 Aleks Hughes from Copland FC - Can I just add my thanks to that sent by Tony. The day seemed to be a great success! Thanks to all who attended and to Tony for helping publicise the event!
4/6/10 Stephen Hosmer - Can I on behalf of the league say a big thank you for the coverage and help you give us, not only this season but the past seasons...the teams really enjoy getting a crowd !
4/6/10 Tony Incenzo - Many thanks to everyone who attended the Middlesex League’s final groundhopper game of the season on Bank Holiday Monday. The attendance was 123 for Copland 0 Interwood 2.
Also, Bethnal Green United ‘A’ manager Brian Lindsay would like to thank all the hoppers who attended Saturday’s game at Mabley Green. The programme sales meant that his club were able to cover the cost of the pitch hire plus the referee’s fee.
May 2010
30/5/10 Brian Buck - Shefford Town and Campton FC merger announced.
The fledgling Shefford Town Football Club, after finishing a creditable sixth place in the Division Two of the Bedfordshire League in their first season as an adult team for 20 years has stepped up its ambitious plans to become a major force in football in Bedfordshire over the next decade.
In an ambitious move they will be joining forces with Campton Football Club for the forthcoming season. Campton, who in their own right have a long a history having been founded in 1922 but in recent years have been a victim of their own success. In order to continue to compete at their level the team will be required to commit to more stringent organisational and pitch requirements. The current pitch at Campton although set in wonderful surroundings and having a good playing surface, parking and facilities will not be adequate for first team football from 2011-2012.
A new footballing facility is being planned for completion in the Shefford area for the 2011-12 season, and the new club will be able to take advantage of the fantastic facilities that ate planned. They are very hopeful of retaining all the current players whilst also attracting others from the area.
A full press release will be issued within a couple of weeks.
25/5/10 Brian Buck - Revised fixtures, both at Fowlmere. Although the Bambridge Invitation Cup Final, now between Great Chishill and Whittlesford United Reserves will still take place on Thursday 27th May @ 6.30pm, the Foster Challenge Cup Final has now been moved to Monday 31st May @ 11am, because the same two teams also feature in this final.
25/5/10 Tony Incenzo - A one-off programme will be on sale at £2 for Buckhurst Hill v M&B Club in the Essex Olympian League Division One title decider on Saturday, May 29 at 2.30pm.
This will be produced by MK Publications(UK) in conjunction with Buckhurst Hill FC.
Please email MK Publications(UK) at SundayOnly1@aol.com to confirm your interest so that they know how many programmes to produce.
It will be possible to attend the two games with programmes on Saturday at Bethnal Green 'A' (12.15pm) and Buckhurst Hill (2.30pm).
The distance between the two venues should take 20 minutes by car according to the Google Maps web site.
20/5/10 Tony Incenzo - Bethnal Green United 'A' would like to give a warm welcome to groundhoppers attending their home match against Indian Gymkhana on Saturday, May 29 2010.
This fixture will take place at Mabley Green (3G pitch), Hackney, London E9 5HW, with a 12.15pm kick-off.
Please email the club at BLindsay@westex.co.uk by Wednesday at the latest so that they know how many programmes to produce.
20/5/10 Brian Buck - Friday 21st May: Chris Boote Memorial Trophy Final: Foxton v Fowlmere Metals @ Fowlmere (6.30pm)
Saturday 22nd May: Beehive United v Broadway Grange (Grantham & District League Division 1 title decider. Kick offs in this league are usually 1.45pm for league matches, but this needs to be checked. The ground is apparently on a playing field next to Harrowby’s ground in Grantham, but this needs checking as well. Also Grantham United v Caythorpe.
Also at 6.30pm: The Ancaster Cup Final. Teams unknown.
Saturday 29th May: The Grantham Hospital Cup Final @ Ancaster: Beehive United v Whatton United (6.30pm)
Thursday 27th May: Bambridge Invitation Cup Final @ Fowlmere (6.30pm) Great Chishill and Whittlesford United Reserves
Monday 31st May: Foster Challenge Cup Final @ Fowlmere (11.00am) Great Chishill and Whittlesford United Reserves
20/5/10 Tony Incenzo - Two more one-off programmes will be issued this Saturday...
A limited number of one-off programmes will be on sale at £2 for Lakeside v Buckhurst Hill in the Essex Olympian League on Saturday, May 22 at 1.30pm
This will be produced by MK Publications (UK) in conjunction with Lakeside FC.
Please email SundayOnly1@aol.com to confirm your interest so that they know how many programmes to produce.
A limited number of one-off programmes will be on sale at £2 for Hannakins Farm v Bishop's Stortford Swifts in the Essex Olympian League on Saturday, May 22 at 2.30pm
This will be produced by MK Publications (UK) in conjunction with Hannakins Farm FC.
Please email SundayOnly1@aol.com to confirm your interest so that they know how many programmes to produce.
19/5/10 Brian Buck - The Eastern Junior Cup Final between St. Ives Town and Bury Town goes ahead this Thursday 20th May Kick-Off 7.45p.m. at the home of St. Ives Town - Westwood Road, St. Ives, PE27 6DF.
19/5/10 Tony Incenzo - THE Middlesex League final groundhopper fixture of the season has been confirmed as: Bank Holiday Monday, May 31 - kick off 3pm - Copland v Interwood – a Premier Division fixture at Copland’s alternative home ground of Northwick Park Playing Fields, The Fairway, Harrow HA0 3TQ.
Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2. Please email Copland FC at alekshughes@btinternet.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
19/5/10 Brian Buck - Tunbridge Wells Veterans League: Here are the fixtures for Saturday 29th May 3pm ko - League only:-
FRANT v FORESTERS WITTERSHAM v ROLVENDEN FIVE OAK GREEN v SISSINGHURST (formerly Benenden) ARTOIS v RAMSFIELD. Please note Five Oak Green will play their home fixtures at Mereworth.
12/5/10 Tony Incenzo - A one-off programme will be on sale at £2 for Rayleigh Town v Canning Town in the Essex Olympian League on Saturday, May 15 at 11am.
This will be produced by MKPublications(UK) in conjunction with Rayleigh Town FC. Also, a one-off programme will be on sale at £2 for Ongar Town v Harold Wood in the Essex Olympian League next Tuesday, May 18. Again, this will be produced by MK Publications(UK) in conjunction with Ongar Town FC.
Please email MK Publications(UK) at SundayOnly1@aol.com to confirm your interest so that they know how many programmes to produce.
April 2010
29/4/10 Brian Buck - Just to let you know that this years Cambridge University v Oxford University Varsity match will take place on Friday 30th April 2010 at Cambridge United with a 7pm kick off.
Other cup finals: JO Roberts Cup Final Woolaston vs Coleford Utd On Tuesday 18th May KO 7.30pm To be played at Lydney Town FC;
Geo Sandoe Cup Final Howle Hill vs St Briavels On Monday 3rd May KO 5.00pm To be played at Ellwood FC;
FJ Pope Cup Final Redbrook Rovers Res vs White Horse On Sunday 16th May KO 3.00pm To be played at Broadwell FC
19/4/10 Tony Incenzo - Thanks to everyone who supported the latest Middlesex League 11am groundhopper match on Saturday. It finished LPOSSA 3 Greens United 2 and the attendance was 85 with 130 programmes sold.
Due to the success of the occasion, Greens United have offered to stage a Saturday morning fixture early next season.
19/4/10 John Brailsford - Due to very exceptional circumstances Hilton Athletic are unable to field a team on Monday at Bradley and so the match has been postponed – apologises for any inconvenience caused
7/4/10 Chris Bedford - The 2010 Ashbourne Summer League season gets underway on Saturday 10th April with the annual curtain raiser which, this season, sees Coach Rangers face Bradley. The game, a bit like the Community Shield, is being played at Mayfield's ground (Conygree Lane, Mayfield) with a 6-30 pm kick-off.
From the top of the hill in Mayfield village, next to Motor Movers Ltd, turn into Conygree Lane and the ground entrance is 400 yards on the left just past a short row of terraced houses.
The league season starts on Monday 12th April. Alton and Mayfield have left the league, FC Hulland rejoin and Coach & Horses are now known as The Bridge.
MARCH 2010
30/3/10 Tony Incenzo - Westhamians FC of the Essex Olympian League have confirmed that their home game against Canning Town this Wednesday, March 31, will be on their regular home pitch at Forest Road in Fairlop with a 6.30pm kick-off. A limited number of teamsheet programmes will be on sale at £1. Please email the club at westhamiansfc@hotmail.com to confirm your interest so that they know how many programmes to produce.
26/3/10 Tony Incenzo - Thanks to everyone who attended Saturday's groundhopper fixture at Sandgate FC in the Middlesex League. The attendance of 89 was excellent on a very wet day.
THE next match in the Middlesex League's series of Saturday morning groundhopper fixtures has been confirmed as:
Saturday, April 17 - kick off 11am - LPOSSA FC v Greens United – a Division One (West) fixture at the LPR Club, 136 Greenford Road, Harrow, Middlesex HA1 3QL
Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2. Please email LPOSSA FC at bill.gibbons@sky.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
19/3/10 Chris Bedford - Ryton FC have announced that they have 'written to the Northern League to rescind the proposed resignation and signal their intention to continue as members'.
14/3/10 Gyles Basey-Fisher -
I have the following information regarding ground moves:
Almondsbury Town: With a 12 month extension to their lease on the table and a Southern League ground grading, it would be a surprise if Almondsbury Town are still not at Oakside Park next season, but talks are still on going about a move elsewhere. The Gloucestershire FA has submitted plans, presumably to begin at the end of next season, to completely renovate the existing building, which contains offices and Almondsbury Towns clubhouse, this would leave the football club without a major part of their revenue source. One option is to build a new structure solely for the football club at the far end of the ground, but with the Gloucestershire FA also wanted to replace the existing pitch with a 3G pitch that would seem a waste of money, so a move elsewhere is inevitable.
Silsden AFC: Although I am not up to speed with progress at their Keighley Road ground, a committee member was very keen to point out that it was “5 games and counting” before their move back home.
Westella & Willerby: I know this may have been talked about at the hop fixture last weekend, but a member of the club said on Saturday (13th March) that Westella & Willerby would definitely not be at the Blackburn Leisure Sports & Social Club next season due to the second year ruling on floodlights. Although rumours have been doing the rounds regarding a ground share with Hall Road Rangers, talks about where they will be playing next season are ongoing.
18/3/10 Steve Kennedy (Sandgate FC) - We have a well run snack bar with bacon rolls, burgers etc and a nice little clubroom with large TV. Pitch will be fenced off so groundhoppers will be free to roam where ever they want. Sandgate Under 8s will be playing on another pitch kicking off at 10.00am to provide a bit of pre mens match entertainment.
11/3/10 Brian Buck - I’ve heard on Radio Cambridgeshire this morning that despite only recently agreeing a ground share deal with Newmarket Town for next season the club have now signed another deal to remain at Milton Road for a further season
11/3/10 Tony Incenzo - Some important travel news ahead of the Middlesex League’s next Saturday morning groundhopper match on Saturday, March 20 - kick off 11am - Sandgate v Grosvenor House…
The main access of Bourne Avenue is undergoing roadworks on this weekend. It will a lot easier for everyone if they use Pinkwell Lane from Dawley Road. The U4 bus service from Hayes Station will be operating normally though.
Confirmation that this fixture will take place at Bourne Farm Playing Fields, Bourne Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex UB4. Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2.
Please email Sandgate FC at Steve.Kennedy@ba.com to confirm your interest in attending so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
11/3/10 Roy Mason - Steeton AFC will again be producing a programme for Saturtday's home game against Salts AFC, kick-off 2-30 pm
5/3/10 Bill Berry - I've just heard that Clyst Rovers have resigned from the Premier Division of the
South West Peninsula League with immediate effect.
3/3/10 Chris Bedford - It was announced in tonight's Express and Star that the first game at Stafford Town's new Evans Park ground will be this Saturday, 6th March, when Shenstone will be the visitors, kick-off 3-00 pm.
FEBRUARY 2010
26/2/10 Tony Incenzo - THE next match in the Middlesex League's series of Saturday morning groundhopper fixtures has been confirmed as:
Saturday, March 20 - kick off 11am -
Sandgate v Grosvenor House – a Division One (West) fixture at Bourne Farm Playing Fields, Bourne Avenue, Hayes, Middlesex UB4
Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2. Please email Sandgate FC at Steve.Kennedy@ba.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
16/2/10 Brian Buck - I have spoken to the Sporting Hackney secretary (v St Johns Arsenal Deaf this coming Saturday morning, kick off 11am) as I noted from aerial photography that the pitch seems to be inside a 'cage' with very little room inside it for spectators to watch the match. I asked him to confirm that spectators will be allowed inside the 'cage' and not have to watch the game through a wire mesh fence and he has replied: "There is plenty of room inside the cage, and while you'll be close to the pitch, it shouldn't be a problem."
5/2/10 Mike Sampson - Philip Hiscox has this afternoon authorised a reversal of the SWP Premier Division fixture between Saltash United and Buckland Athletic. The Match was due to have been Saltash United v Buckland Athletic but Saltash have stated that they don't think Kimberley Stadium will be playable and have taken up Bucklands offer to replace the fixture with Buckland Athletic v Saltash United.
Kick Off will remain at 3pm at Homers Heath and Buckland have been given dispensation to produce a teamsheet rather than a programme due to the short notice.
JANUARY 2010
26/1/10 Tony Incenzo - THE next match in the Middlesex League's series of Saturday morning groundhopper kick-offs has been confirmed as:
Saturday, February 20 - kick off 11am
Sporting Hackney versus St Johns Arsenal Deaf FC – a Division One (Central & East) fixture at Haggerston Park, Yorkton Street, off Hackney Road, London E2 8NH.
Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2. Please email Sporting Hackney at Ben.Watson@coi.gsi.gov.uk to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
26/1/10 Chris Bedford - SatNav users trying to locate Barnoldswick Town’s Silentnight Beds Stadium will find BB18 5LJ is the best post code to use. The main car park is accessed from Greenberfield Lane (off Gisburn Road) which differs from the address of West Close Road and post code provided in many places at the start of the season. Spectators visiting on foot can still reach the ground from West Close Road via the original entrance inside Victory Park.
22/1/10 Chris Bedford - The game tomorrow (Sat 23rd) between Silsden and Squires Gate is OFF as the ground is unavailable.
15/1/10 Brian Buck - According to the Dagenham & Redbridge website their youth match against Leyton Orient on Saturday on the 3G pitch opposite the Orient ground has now been postponed.
14/1/10 Brian Buck - On Saturday 16th January Dagenham & Redbridge Youth have switched their Football League Youth Alliance match against Leyton Orient to the Score Community Building 3G pitch, 100 Oliver Road, Leyton, E10 5JY (opposite where the junction of Buckingham Road meets Oliver Road, on the other side of the road to Orient's ground) (11am kick off.)
On the same day Histon Under 16's play Cambridge United at Comberton Village College 3G pitch, West Street, Comberton, CB23 7DU, (10am kick off - 40 minutes each way)
8/1/10 Steve Ayre - Leamington v Atherstone friendly now off - Unfortunately even the 3G has been frozen off, not much left now!
7/1/10 Steve Ayre - Potential game on Saturday from the Leamington Website and one would preesume a new ground for most: in the event of the Leamington v Stourbridge fixture being postponed, provisional arrangements have been made for a competitive friendly match against Atherstone Town to be played on the 3G All Weather Pitch at the Rawlett Community Sports College, Comberford Road, Tamworth B79 9AA.
The facility has been booked from 12 noon to 2pm. Kick off will be approximately 12.15pm and spectators are welcome although they will not be able to gain access until 12 noon. Their is a substantial barriered viewing area with standing for spectators within the fenced off pitch. Toilet and refreshment facilities are available. Spectators should park at the front of the College and walk to the rear of the College where the pitch is located. A nominal charge of £3 Adults, £2 Concessions will be made to help cover the cost of pitch hire and match officials.
DECEMBER 2009
18/12/09 Tony Incenzo - The Middlesex League groundhop match at Greens United scheduled for tomorrow has been postponed due to the frozen weather conditions. It is hoped to rearrange the fixture with an 11am kick-off for later in the season
18/12/09 Chris Bedford - Stafford Town hope to complete their new ground in January and play their first game there in February, reports the Express and Star
11/12/09 Kirkburton AFC - Tomorrow (Dec 12th), Kirkburton kick-off at 1pm against Athersley Recreation, a programme will be issued.
9/12/09 Mark Wyver - Tues 15th Milton & Fulston v Sevenoaks at Sittingbourne FC KST Programme will be issued
7/12/09 Brian Buck - Godmanchester Rovers have recently erected an 'Atcost' 45 seater stand, where the dugouts were. They have been moved over to the other side of the pitch. However they have also extended the original covered standing towards the new seated stand.
Also in the last week or so Storrington (Sussex County League) have become the latest member of the Sussex County League to erect floodlights.
4/12/09 Tony Incenzo
Saturday, December 5: Due to the Indian Gymkhana pitch being unplayable Marsh Rangers F.C. have switched this M.C.F.L.Premier Division fixture to their home ground at Rosedale College, West End Green Road, Hayes, Middlesex. UB3 2SE on the 3G pitch with an 11.00am kick off.
3/12/09 Brian Buck - There are two games coming up which may interest people. Firstly tonight (Thursday 3rd December) there is an FA Sunday Cup match between Unity Nirankari and Club Lewsey being played
at Hitchin Town FC.
Also on Friday (4th), in addition to Whitworth v Irchester United (UCL Division 1), Chatteris Town are playing Mildenhall Town Reserves (Kershaw League Senior A Division) All games kick off @ 7.45pm and with the weather as it is they all need to be checked out prior to travelling.
3/12/09 Tony Incenzo - Thank you to everyone who supported the first Middlesex League groundhop of the season at Grange Park FC on Saturday. The attendance of 67 was a record for Division Two in this league.
The next Saturday morning groundhopper fixture is…
Saturday, December 19 2009 at 11am in Division One (West) Greens United v. Harrow St.Mary's at Byron Recreation Ground, Peel Road, Harrow, Middx HA3 7QT
Admission to this match is free and match programmes will be available at £2. To register your interest in attending the fixture and to let the club know how many programmes to produce, it is essential that you send an email in advance to greens.unitedfc@googlemail.com
NOVEMBER 2009
23/11/09 Lisa Parker - Kenningwell United v AFC Orpington – GAME NOW OFF. Please note that due to recent adverse weather and postponements, the above game has now been cancelled. We do however have a London Sunday Cup match at the same venue, Kenningwell United versus New Salamis. This match will be a 10.30 kick off on Sunday 6th December 2009.
18/11/09 Pete Midgley - Invitation to all Groundhoppers and programme collectors. Kenningwell United are a Sunday League club in South East London with a good reputation locally for playing attacking attractive football. We are a fast growing club and this is now the second season that we have been producing a decent sized matchday programme (£2.00) for all of our home games.
I would like to invite you to come down to watch our match on Sunday 29th November when we will be playing AFC Orpington in a league match. Kick-off will be 10.45 (sorry the league do not allow games to be played any later). The address of the ground is:
Kings College Sports Ground, Honor Oak Park, Brockley Rise, London SE23 1NW
If you are interested in coming down then can you please send me an email and let me know if you intend to buy more than one programme. This is to give us an idea of how many extra programmes we may need to print.
13/11/09 Bill Berry - Having been granted funding totalling £850,000, Evesham United can now commence
work on their planned new stadium. Construction is scheduled to commence in the
New Year and the club are hopeful of completing the project in time for the
2010/2011 season. Full story in next week's magazine.
12/11/09 Tony Incenzo - The match at Sporting Hackney scheduled for December 5 will NOT now be a morning kick-off as the pitch is unavailable. We are trying to fix up an alternative 11am game for that day.
The opening groundhopper match is definitely going ahead and is confirmed as… Saturday, November 28 - kick off 11am; Grange Park versus Warren - a Division Two fixture at Wormwood Scrubs, Artillery Lane, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0DF;
Email contact : alexismcgauley@psplaw.co.uk
OCTOBER 2009
20/10/09 Tony Incenzo - THE Middlesex League are once again organising a series of Saturday morning matches throughout the season in order to attract the groundhoppers. The first two games are on Saturday 28th November (Grange Park versus Warren) and Saturday 4th December (Sporting Hackney versus FC Team), both kicking-off at 11-00 am. Please see the hops page for full details
SEPTEMBER 2009
25/9/09 Bil Berry - One more very important change for tomorrow (Sat 26th). Hyde United's FA Cup 2nd
Round Qualifying tie against Salford City is OFF. Hyde have been wound up by the
High Court, although an appeal by the club is to be heard on Monday. If they are
successful, a date new will then be set for the match
11/9/09 Bil Berry - Part One of the Directory
(sponsored by Model Hobbies) is now available and will be distributed over the
next few days.
2/9/09 Ian Royer - Double Header Mid Sussex League. Just wanted to mention that on Saturday 12th September there is the possibility of a double header in the Mid Sussex League (This will depend on what feedback I get on this site, as to the amount of interest on attending)
Programmes will be issued and the fixtures involved will be Buxted (Div1) 1.30 OR Nutley (Div5) 2.00 Followed by Fairwarp (Div10) 4.00
I would therefore be grateful if you can reply with your interest ASAP so that we can gauge the numbers and then I can confirm the final details on
this site as soon as possible.ianroyercfc@btinternet.com or ian.royer@friday-ad.co.uk 07921 230071
AUGUST 2009
25/8/09 Brian Buck - Cambridge University Press have brought forward their Kershaw Premier League match against Cottenham United to this coming Friday with a 6.15pm kick off.
Also, as it does not appear in all publications, can I also tell you that Hoddesdon Town play their FA Cup match against Royston Town at Hertford Town this coming Friday as well, with a 7.45pm kick off.
23/8/09 Chris Bedford - Stafford Town plan to officially open their new ground sometime in October
JUNE 2009
12/6/09 Brian Buck - On Saturday 13th June 2009 Potter Street Baptists play Gateway in a Friendly Match kick off 10.30am. (Checked on Thursday night.) The venue is the United Glass Sports & Social Club, Old London Road, Harlow. CM17 9LX. The ground is between ex-Olympian League sides Cossor Sports and Standards (Harlow) who later became known as Nortel.
7/6/09 John Brailsford - Attention Ground Hoppers: In view of the heavy rain over the weekend anyone travelling to watch the League Cup games on Monday may like to check with me on Monday afternoon that the match they have in mind is on. The easiest thing would be to text me just in case I cannot take your call. Also, last Saturday's Peter Young final was postponed due to the heavy overnight rain so it will be played on Saturday 13th June at Mappleton.
MAY 2009
25/5/09 Chris Bedford - Denso will be producing a programme for this Saturday's (30th May) home game with Ketley Bank. Kick-off 1-15 pm at Queensway Campus, Queensway (A442), Hortonwood, Telford TF1 7FS
21/5/09 Brian Buck - Monday 25th May:
Saffron Walden Cup Finals @ Saffron Walden Town
Quendon v Debden (3pm)
Hatfield Heath Res v Standon & Puckeridge Res (11am) (Teams in this one are subject to confirmation)
Tuesday 26th May -
Grantham & District League: Croxton v Buckminister
15/5/09 Brian Buck - Lakenheath will have home advantage in the final of the Snailwell & District Charity Cup against Sporting 87. The hosts got through with a 6-1 win over Hundon, while Bury side Sporting beat neighbours St Edmunds 1-0. The match is on Sunday 17th May 2009 (3.15pm), and the day includes a barbecue, music from the Lakenheath Silver Band and a prize draw.
13/5/09 Brian Buck - TUNBRIDGE WELLS VETERANS LEAGUE. Saturday 16th May (3-00): Paddock Wood v Foresters (at Elm Tree, Paddock Wood), Five Oak Green v Frant (at Capel Sports Ground, Five Oak Green), Wittersham v Artois (at Wittersham), Benenden v Rolvenden (at Benenden), Ramsfield have no game). Fixtures continue until Saturday 20th June
APRIL 2009
27/4/09 Tony Incenzo - Galleywood of the Essex Olympian League are going to produce a programme for their home game against Harold Wood Athletic on Tuesday, May 5. If you would like to attend the match, please email the Galleywood secretary at melissa_jiggins@hotmail.com so they know how many programmes to produce. The club will be compiling a list of names of those who have reserved programmes, so it is essential to send an advance email
27/4/09 Chris Bedford - The postponed Derbyshire Senior Cup Fibnal between Matlock and Buxton has been rescheduled for Tuesday 5th May, 7-45 pm, at Chesterfield FC's Saltergate ground
27/4/09 Brian Buck - Tonight, Monday 27th April 2009, Harlow Town are playing a friendly against the Libya National Olympic team who have been using the Harlow Town ground for training since last Tuesday. They are over here as the first team to get a feel of the place for the 2012 Olympics. Not too sure why they are so early. Admission tonight is just £2 for adults, £1 for Concessions and Kids under 16 are FREE. Kick off is at 7:45pm.
27/4/09 Tony Incenzo - Maldon St Mary’s of the Essex Olympian League are going to produce a programme for their home game against Writtle on Wednesday, April 29.
If you would like to attend the match, please email the Maldon St Mary’s secretary at jasonclark_12@hotmail.com so they know how many programmes to produce. The club will be compiling a list of names of those who have reserved programmes, so it is essential to send an advance email.
25/4/09 Scott Struthers - Currently in Prague for some football (Scotland womens u19s!) but also
watching some other games while here. Please note that some stadium names
are NOT as per Groundhopping Informer, which causes confusion with taxi
drivers etc. Saw Slavia Prague at home on Thursday in Czech Cup, their
Stadion Eden is also now Synot Tip Arena. Was at Lokomotiva Prague for
international today, but that team is also known as Loko Vltavin while
their Stadion Na Plynarne is also more commonly called Stadion Lokardy.
25/4/09 John Miller - Inverness City, newly elected members of the North Region Juniors, open their campaign with a home match in the first round of North Regional Cup against Buchanhaven Hearts, on Saturday, 2nd August.
They have been given permission to play at the Northern Meeting Park, in Inverness but will not be moving there until the middle of September. According to their website, they will be playing at their current ground, in North Kessock, until their new ground is ready for them to move into.
20/4/09 Gyles Basey-Fisher - Further to a conversation with the Newi Cefn Druids secretary I received the following emai: “It looks like we shall be at Plaskynaston Lane for at least the first half of next season as there has been a delay with the start of the new ground, nothing for us to worry about but these things happen, so it looks like we won't be moving before Christmas at the moment.”
17/4/09 Brian Buck - Wisbech St Mary who currently play in the Cambs BIS League Division 1B now have floodlights. They look set to win this division. If so they will play in the Kershaw League Senior B Division next season.
5/4/09 John Brailsford - The (Derby/Ashbourne) Summer Football League kicked-off on Saturday evening with the Challenge Cup. This competition is between the League Champions and the League Cup winners with a complicated order of precedence if both those clubs are the same. This is further complicated by the fact that the holder retains the trophy until they are defeated. Fortunately this year the holders Bradley were also League Champions so they played League Cup winners, Coach Rangers. After an exciting match ending in a 3-3 draw Bradley retain the Cup until next season. The first set of league fixtures will be played this Thursday (see fixtures page).
4/4/09 Tony Incenzo - The fifth match in the Middlesex League's series of Saturday morning kick-offs has been confirmed as Copland versus Sloane on April 18th at 11am.
The venue is Stonebridge Ground, Hillside, London NW10 8LW. This is close to Stonebridge Park and Harlesden underground stations.
Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2. Please email Copland secretary Aleks Hughes at alekshughes@btinternet.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
2/4/09 Mark Wyver - Orpington will be doing a programme for their game with Stansfeld O&B Club on Tuesday 7th April.
MARCH 2009
26/3/09 John Brailsford - The handbooks for the 2009 Ashbourne/Derby) Summer League are at the printers and I will get them for Signing-on night which is April 2nd. As for the past few years the price is £1 plus 50p for postage and packing and could you make your cheque out to the Summer Football League and post it to me.
We are down to 15 teams this season with no new ones except that Longford have moved to Church Broughton and changed their name to Holly Bush United whilst Holly Bush are going to play at Hilton and will be called Hilton Athletic. It’s a long time since we have had a team from Hilton although in the past they had two.
26/3/09 Tony Incenzo - The attendance at Sloane was 128 and it looks as if there might be another early kick-off in April. I should be able to confirm it in a couple of days.
25/3/09 Chris Bedford - I believe that tonight's West Midlands League game between Penncroft and Dudley United will be played at Goodrich FC and not Aldersley Stadium
24/3/09 Brian Buck - The Football Association are considering the introduction of what is called a “mercy rule”. The rule, which is used in America, means that if one team achieves a certain goal advantage over another the match is declared over thus sparing the losers further humiliation.
The Essex Olympian League Management Committee will be holding a special meeting in early April to discuss the leagues participation in the pilot scheme.
The above has been taken from the April Edition of the Essex Olympian League Newsletter.
23/3/09 Chris Bedford - Midland Combination Premier Division leaders Oldbury Althletic are seeking a new home for next season as the Oldbury Leisure Centre ground, shared with Continental Star, is set to be demolished during the summer.
16/3/09 Nigel Roe - After a successful issue by Star FC of the Gloucestershire Northern
Senior League in their recent game with Longlevens, I have been informed
by club chairman Nick Oram that they are likely to issue for all of
their remaining home games this season. They play on a well-drained
pitch at the Bishops Cleeve Sports Ground, in Cheltenham Road, Bishops
Cleeve. Further information and confirmation of games can be obtained
from Secretary Matt Harvey, (e-mail mharvey72@mac.com).
16/3/09 Tony Incenzo - THE fourth match in the Middlesex League's series of Saturday morning kick-offs has been confirmed as Sloane FC versus Copland on March 21st at 11am.
Some important news for groundhoppers wishing to attend this Saturday’s 11am morning kick-off. There are very limited Pay & Display car parking spaces nearby so hoppers are advised to take public transport. The ground is less than 10 minutes walk from both Sloane Square and Victoria underground stations.
A reminder that the venue is the Royal Hospital Chelsea South Grounds, Royal Hospital Road, London SW3 4SR. Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2.
This is the most centrally-located football ground in London and it is also the site of the Chelsea Flower Show!
Please email Sloane secretary Stephen Pigott at stephen.pigott@gmail.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
12/3/09 Chris Bedford - I turned up last night at Aldersley Stadium for what I thought was Penncroft v Shenstone, only to be told by Receiption that the game was off or being played elsewhere, as the stadium is used for cycling on a Wednesday. Subsequently I found out the game was off. The stadium infield is set up for football as I noticed a marked pitch with goalposts.
9/3/09 Brian Buck - Bedfordshire League Committee Seek Change Of Name.
Following the league's Management Committee Meeting held last Thursday, the committee will now seek its member clubs permission to change the name of the league from the start of the 2009-10 season to The Bedfordshire County Football League, the change would also have to have the agreement of The Bedfordshire Football Association and The Football Association before taking place.
The Bedfordshire Football League have now fixed their second game in The Four Leagues Trophy and will travel to Ramsey FC on Tuesday March 31st to face The Peterborough & District Football League, Kick Off 7.45pm.
5/3/09 Sportsjamkits.com Shropshire County League - Following the success of last season's groundhop we have decided to go one better and have three games in one afternoon - Saturday 2nd May. All three home clubs will be producing programmes on the day.
Oakengates Athletic v Impact United 1.00pm
Wrockwardine Wood v FC Hodnet 3.15pm
Newport County Borough v Shifnal United 5.45pm
4/3/09 Paul Roth - BOODLES ISFA Cup Final
HAMPTON vs. MILLFIELD, to be played at Whaddon Road, Cheltenham Town FC on Thursday 19th March 2009, 7 pm KO. Entry will be £5 inclusive of a 20-page programme
FEBRUARY 2009
27/2/09 Guiseley AFC - Guiseley kick-off their Centenary celebrations with a friendly match against the USA Major Soccer League Champions Columbus Crew on Tuesday 03 March 2009 at Nethermoor Park, Otley Road, Guiseley, LS20 8BT
Crew are coming to England to prepare for their next league campaign which kicks-off on March 21 at Houston Dynamo. They must wait until May for the big clash with David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy. Whilst in England the game against Guiseley will be sandwiched between games played against Everton and Liverpool Reserve teams at the Premiership clubs' training grounds.
Among the Columbus Crew players with international recognition is forward Alejandro Moreno, who played for Venezuela in their friendly against Guatemala earlier this month. Crew have five players in the current USA squad in midfielders Brian Carroll, Eddie Gaven and Robbie Rogers, goalkeeper William Hesmer and defender and three-times World Cup veteran Frankie Hejduk.
24/2/09 Alan Beecham - ‘In for a Quid’ – the attractive top of the table Kent League game between Hythe Town and Tunbridge Wells on Saturday 7th March is open to everyone for just one pound admission. Hythe, currently top of the Kent League, have arranged this promotion to increase interest in the town and county as they attempt to move up into the Ryman League. All visitors will be most welcome.
24/2/09 Chris Bedford - AFC Fylde (http://www.afcfylde.co.uk/) have announced that they "will play Ramsbottom Utd at Squires Gate's School Road Ground this Saturday 28th February Kick Off 3pm. Rambsbottom Utd requested a switch from the originally scheduled away game last week and Fylde officials have made the decision to play the game at Gate to ensure Kellamergh Park is ready for the run in with the next scheduled game set to be played on Wednesday 11th March against Congleton Town."
23/2/09 Tony Incenzo - A big thank you to everyone who attended Saturday’s 11am kick-off at Indian Gymkhana. The official attendance of 141 was the best so far this season for the Middlesex League’s groundhop fixtures.
20/2/09 Steve Wells - St Ives v Marske United – FA Vase now Sunday 22nd Feb, 1pm, Cambridge City FC
19/2/09 Brian Buck - Forthcoming Cambridge University fixtures.
February:
Sunday 22nd. Blues v TA. Grange Road. 11a.m.
Wednesday 25th Blues v Northampton Uni. 2p.m. College Ground TBA and Falcons v Lincoln 5ths. 2p.m. College Ground. TBA
March:
Monday 2nd. Blues v University of London FA. Grange Road. 7.15p.m.
Wednesday 4th. Falcons v Northampton 4ths. 2p.m. College Ground TBA.
Thursday 5th. London Legal League v Blues. David Beckham Academy. 7.45p.m.
Saturday 7th. Possibly Oxford Colleges X1 v Kestrels on an Oxford College Pitch a.m. and Centaurs v Falcons. Varsity Match. Iffley Road. p.m.
Wednesday 11th. Blues v Loughborough 3rds, 2p.m. College Ground TBA and Falcons v Anglia Ruskin University. College Ground. TBA.
Monday 16th. University College, Birmingham v Blues. Away. 3p.m.
Thursday 19th. Blues v Trinity College, Dublin. Grange Road. K.O. TBC ( 7.15p.m.???)
Saturday 29th. 125th VARSITY MATCH. Craven Cottage. 12.30 / 1.30p.m. I am unsure!
19/2/09 Brian Buck - I saw in last night's Cambridge News that if St Ives cannot stage their FA Vase match against Marske this coming Saturday then it will take place at Cambridge City on Sunday with a 1pm kick off
Tonight's match between Wootton Blue Cross and Biggleswade Town in the Hunts Premier Cup has been postponed again due electrical problems this time!
18/2/09 Tony Incenzo - Some more news for the groundhoppers attending Indian Gymkhana this Saturday at 11am!
Following a number of requests, Uxbridge Town FC will be producing a teamsheet programme (price £1) for their 1pm kick-off versus Sloane FC on Saturday at Cranford Community College, High Street, Cranford, Middlesex TW5 9PD.
This venue is just three miles from Indian Gymkhana. If you would like to attend, please email Shak Shakir of Uxbridge Town at shakur_991@hotmail.com so they know how many teamsheets to produce.
16/2/09 Brian Buck - Regarding Histon Youth v Bar Hill Youth, this match has now been rescheduled for Wednesday 18th Feb @ Comberton Village College 3G pitch, kick off 7.45pm. Although this is an Under 18 competition Histon may field a slightly younger side.
16/2/09 Ken Nisbet - Regarding my message of 5th February, due to increases in flight prices we have put Bratislava on hold and are going to Prague instead. Any info on Bratislava would still be useful for another trip (maybe late summer), as would info on Prague, although we have been there before.
16/2/09 Tony Incenzo - Indian Gymkhana have confirmed that the restaurant in their clubhouse will be open to the groundhoppers on Saturday morning with a wide range of quality Indian food available.
13/2/09 Steve Ayre - Straight from Biggleswade Town's web a game that deserves support!
Friday 13th February - FA Vase & More Pitch News
"Before I start with the update let me say straight away that I am now sick of the pitch, sick of snow and sick of boating lakes!
The attempts to get tomorrow's (Saturday 14th) FA Carlsberg Vase 5th Round tie against Market Drayton Town finally on have been numerous and arduous. After Wednesday's herculean efforts to pump at least 100 gallons of water from the playing surface at The Carlsberg Stadium following numerous snow removing exercises, at 3.30pm the pitch was finally playable. Heartbreakingly at 4pm the snow started to fall again and by this morning (Friday) half the pitch was under water whilst the other half was again snow bound.
Clearance efforts started again with 'Heath Robinson' type machinery and pumps and once more by 3pm we were in a 'go' situation as the final stubborn snow bound terrace was also cleared and gritted. The pitch is suffering badly though with all this unwanted attention but necessary attention and it will be messy when we actually play football on it rather than strictly come snow dancing and waterski-ing on mud! I certainly won''t envy either teams kit person come Sunday morning! The long and short of all this is that barring any rain or snow tonight (and none is forecast) The big FA Vase match is ON. A large drink is being poured as I type.
We look forward to seeing all of you tomorrow (Saturday) for the 3pm kick off, but please no judgements on the playing surface. Turnstile entry is £6 adults and £3 concessions with children under 13 admitted free if accompanied by an adult."
11/2/09 Tony Incenzo - A REMINDER that the third match of the Middlesex League's series of Saturday morning kick-offs has been confirmed as Indian Gymkhana versus Marsh Rangers on February 21st at 11am.
The venue is the Indian Gymkhana Club, Thornbury Avenue, Osterley, Middx TW7 4NQ. Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2.
Please email Gymkhana programme editor Nilesh Gosai at nileshgosai@aol.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce
10/2/09 Brian Buck - Last Friday the Biggleswade Chronicle published a ground telephone number for Biggleswade Town, which is 07770 799747
10/2/09 Richard King - The Sussex div 2 fixture between Rye United And Sidley United scheduled for 10th Feb has been put back 24 hours to Wednesday 11th Feb.
10/2/09 Brian Buck - Visited Westella & Willerby last Saturday and picked up the following information, all of which needs to be checked out further.
The Pocklington v North Ferriby (East Riding Senior Cup) match will now take place at Pocklington on Wednesday 25th Feb under lights at Pocklington and it seems that although they no longer issue regularly they will do something for this match.
AFC Hull of the East Riding Amateur League have started issuing progs and furthermore it seems that all their matches kick off at noon, playing, I believe on the same 3G pitch that Chalk Lane (ex-Smith & Nephew) use.
5/2/09 Mike Roe - Darwen FC face a winding up order on Wednesday 11th February which will not be contested by the Club. This weekend's game against AFC Blackpool at the Anchor ground may well be their last. The Club has appealed for as many followers of football and residents of Darwen to turn up for the game, from Lancashire and beyond. An article to show support for one of the early members of the Football League and further info is available on the NWCL website.
5/2/09 Kenneth Nisbet - We are currently planning our Easter trip (10th – 15th April), and it looks like the venue will be Bratislava. Can anyone provide any information on the logistics of getting to games there, or share any experiences they may have had that we might find helpful? The big game is Artmedia vs. Zilina, so we shall have to hope this isn’t played on the Friday for TV purposes as our flight would be too late to allow us to get there. I notice also that there are a few third level games that might be worth trying. I suppose, too, we could get a train to Vienna.
5/2/09 Brian Buck - This Wednesday 11th Feb there's a chance to visit a 'new' ground when Histon Youth take on Bar Hill Colts in a Munns Youth Cup match. It's being played on the 3G pitch at Comberton Village College with a 7.45pm kick off. As far as I know this is an Under 18 competition and the college can be found on the south side of the road leading westwards out of the village. For sat nav users CB23 7DU should get you there! This venue is some way away from where Comberton United play in the village (Hines Lane). The game was originally scheduled for yesterday and I have subsequently learned that although this is an Under 18 competition Histon may field a slightly younger side.
JANUARY 2009
23/1/09 Rob Hornby - This year sees the 6th Annual Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Football Bonanza. This is covered by hoppers and football fans from all over the world, as far as Germany, Holland and even last year Australia! The fixtures this season are as follows:
Friday 13th March 2009
Rolls Royce Leisure v Ollerton Town 7.45pm
Saturday 14th March 2009
Bulwell Town v Thoresby Colliery Welfare 10.15am
Kirkby Town v Newark Flowserve 1.15 pm
Forest Town v Harrowby United 4.15pm
Clipstone Welfare v Kimberley Town 7pm
The price for advanced tickets is £15, that includes admission to all FIVE matches and the FIVE matchday programmes. For more information please contact Rob Hornby on 01623 486678 or by e-mailing hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk
23/1/09 Gareth Allen - Shields United FC (northern football alliance) would like to notify TFT of there new online club shop which sells back dated programmes. If you go onto there website www.intheteam.com/shieldsunitedfc and click on club shop instructions are on there and can be paid via paypal. Enjoy
15/1/09 Tony Incenzo - The third match of the Middlesex League’s series of Saturday morning kick-offs has been confirmed as Indian Gymkhana versus Marsh Rangers on February 21st at 11am. The venue is the Indian Gymkhana Club, Thornbury Avenue, Osterley, Middx TW7 4NQ. Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2. Please email Gymkhana programme editor Nilesh Gosai at nileshgosai@aol.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
13/1/09 Phil Hiscox - Carlsberg South West Peninsula League Easter Ground Hop 9-11 April 2009
Thursday 9th April :
7.45pm : Clyst Rovers v Cullompton Rangers
Friday 10th April :
11.30am : Axminster Town v Ottery St Mary;
3.30pm : Royal Marines v Exeter Civil Service;
7.30pm : Exmouth Town v Alphington
Saturday 11th April :
11.30am : Galmpton Gents v Stoke Gabriel;
3pm : Liverton United v Bovey Tracey;
6.30pm : Buckland Athletic v Witheridge
Press Release and Booking Form
13/1/09 Norman de Bruin - Percy Main Amateurs v Gosforth Bohemians on Saturday January 24th is to kick off at 11am - two of the region’s oldest amateur teams! There will be a tea bar and match programme issued and Percy Main’s 90th anniversary badges will be out on sale.
7/1/09 Brian Buck - The kick off for this coming Saturday's Blue Square Premier match between Histon and Weymouth has been brought forward to 1pm to try and beat the frost.
DECEMBER 2008
24/12/08 Roderick Grubb - A good chance for a 'double' in the Borough of Nuneaton and Bedworth on Saturday 27th December.
Bedworth United v Nuneaton Town kicks-off at 1pm while some five minutes down the road Nuneaton Griff v Coventry Copsewood starts at 3pm
From The Oval go up Park Road opposite and follow the signs for Nuneaton. At Griff move onto the A444 past the George Eliot Hospital and down the hill and when you reach the famous Arches take the second exit into Avenue Road then left at the Leisure Centre lights.
5/12/08 Bill Berry - Steeton V Springhead game on Saturday 6th December is OFF (now 13th Dec) Visit www.steetonafc.co.uk
4/12/08 Nick Mattlock - Going to the Hamilton v Motherwell game on Saturday 20th Dec which kicks off at 12:30 and therefore finishes around 14:15 – can anyone suggest another game anywhere between Hamilton and Glasgow, preferably accessible by public transport, that could be done in the afternoon? My flight back south from Glasgow is not until 19:30 that evening.
3/12/08 Tony Martin - I am cataloguing details of the matches I have been to, and I have a couple of blanks. I have tried a number of sources but still have these details outstanding.
1988/89
04.02.89 Workington P v P ? Competition ? The match was actually postponed but I did not make a note of the opponents or competition.
28.04.89 East Yorkshire U14 1 v 4 Otley Express U14 Competition ? Played at Bridlington Town's ground
1989/90
02.09.89 Marchon Social 5 v 1 Parton Competition ?
(Whitehaven)
17.10.89 Cove 1 v 3 Surrey Intermediate Representative XI Competition ? / Friendly ?
1990/91
09.02.91 General Chemicals P v P ? Competition ?
(Runcorn)
I have checked my 'Travellers' for the following matches, but cannot find any reference. Does anybody have results, info, etc. from leagues that may cover the following.
1992/93
14.11.92 Wythenshawe Amateurs 3 v 2 aet Warbreck Competition ?- I think Lancashire Amateur Cup - but which round ?
1995/96
05.08.95 Dalbeattie Star 0 v 2 Queen of the South Reserves - South of Scotland League Cup - but which Group ?
30.03.96 Yorkshire Copper Tube 3 v 4 Lucas Sports Liverpool Andy Nolan Cup - which round ?
11.05.96 Plessey GPT Reserves 2 v 1 Dista Liverpool I Zingari - which division ?
If you can assist with any of the above please drop a line to: Tony Martin, 7 Frome Park, Bartestree, Herefordshire, or send an e-mail to 'TFT' at berrytft@googlemail.com and the information will then be forwarded to Tony. Many thanks.
1/12/08 Roy Mason - Steeton V Springhead game on Saturday 6th December is OFF (now 13th Dec) Visit www.steetonafc.co.uk
NOVEMBER 2008
23/11/08 Roland Reeve - If any travellers are in the Thames Valley area on a Saturday morning and and are looking to boost their grounds total could do a lot worse than taking in a game in the Thames Valley Churches League. Their are some interesting venues to be visited! If interested the league has an excellent website which can be found at www.tvcfl.co.uk Obviously it's unlikely that you will get a programme but if you ask nicely they might be able to find you an old hymn sheet!
19/11/08 Craig Hochkins - A new programme shop has been set up at Leamington FC , well worth a visit with over 2500 programmes already in stock , many local non league , Midland Combination and Midland Alliance and lots of Leamington Home and aways available. Collectors are welcome at any of our home games the shop is at the far end of the ground (from the turnstiles) for any further information please email paulvanes@blueyonder.co.uk paul has been very helpful with a number of my wants. the clubs website is as follows , you will note that there is a bus service from the train station to the ground. http://www.leamingtonfc.co.uk/
14/11/08 Brian Buck - Just a small addendum to my programme review in the The Football Traveller this week. I have subsequently discovered that Bedford & District League Sunday side Partizan ARE issuing programmes this season after all. They come from the same 'stable' as the Dunton programme. I hope to be able to review one later in the season.
7/11/08 Bill Berry - Part Two of the TFT Directory has been published and those who have ordered should have received their copy this week.
OCTOBER 2008
21/10/08 Graeme Holmes - Has anybody done Napoli please and can give me any information about how to register with the club and where to buy tickets. I have booked a flight in December, but have since heard that 2 ends of the ground are closed
Someone has also said that you can only buy tickets by being registered with the club, but as the website is all in Italian, I haven’t got a clue
14/10/08 Tony Incenzo - A REMINDER that the second match of the Middlesex League’s series of Saturday morning kick-offs has been confirmed as Kodak (Harrow) v Marsh Rangers on October 18th at 11am.
The venue is Kodak Sports Ground, Harrow View, Harrow, Middlesex HA2-6QQ. Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2.
Please email Kodak secretary Peter Croffey at peter.croffey@btconnect.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce.
8/10/08 Bill Berry - 'Due to gremlins at the printers, pages 2 and 19 have been transposed in this week's magazine. My apologies for any confusion caused.' Bill Berry
8/10/08 Brian Buck - Today, Wednesday 8th October> Blues and Falcons pre-season friendlies with Lincoln University at St. Catharines and Pembroke Colleges Sports Ground respectively K.O. 2p.m.
Tuesday 14th. Parmiters School v Falcons. Garston. 2.30p.m.
Wednesday 15th. Royal Navy FA v Blues. at Victory Stadium, Burnaby Road, Portsmouth K.O. 2p.m.
Saturday 18th. Falcons v Alleyns School. Trinity Old Field, Grange Road. 10a.m.
Wednesday 22nd. Uni of Northampton v Blues. 2p.m and DMU Leicester Uni 4ths v Falcons. Leicester. 2p.m.
Wednesday 29th. Uni of Bedfordshire 3rds v Blues ( BUSC Cup.) Bedford. 2p.m. and Falcons v Middlesex Schools FA U.18s. Emmanuel College Sports Ground. 2p.m.
7/10/08 Brian Buck - The Essex Senior Cup match between Eton Manor and Stanway Rovers at Waltham Abbey is now being played on Wednesday 8th October 2008.
7/10/08 John Stoneham - Hi there, just to let you know I will be at Ware FC's Wodson Park on Saturday October 11th signing copies of my new book The Road From Wembley, before the Third Qualifying Round match between Ware and Sutton United.
http://www.roadfromwembley.com
6/10/08 Gyles Basey-Fisher - Just thought you might be interested to know the following, taken from the Wroxham FC website, as it is one of the stand out fixtures of the FA Cup 3rd Qual Round: "Following a meeting with Norfolk Police and Kings Lynn FC it has been agreed the FA Cup tie on Oct 11th will be ALL TICKET with a capacity of 1100.
Admission prices will be £10 and £6 for concessions.
The price increase to stage the game at Trafford Park reflects the large amount of extra expense required for security and additional car parking. Because of their large following, Kings Lynn Football Club will receive 700 tickets and Wroxham will be allocated 400. Tickets for Wroxham supporters will be available via our HOTLINE 01603 400300 between 8.00am and 4.00pm Mon-Frid or email enquiries@wroxhamfc.com . we have acquired the field to the south of the ground for the day which will hold well over 1000 cars so there is no problem with parking what so ever; the gates will open at 12-30 and please have your tickets ready for inspection on entering Skinners Lane so that we can keep the traffic moving."
6/10/08 Mike Floate - New Crockenhill FC enamel badge: I was up at Wested Meadow yesterday and was given one of the new Crocks enamel badges. It's the standard size this time and in club colours of red/black. Visitors to the ground can buy them for £3 but if anyone wants to buy by post I'd be happy to receive/pass on & process orders including 50p p&p - cheques payable to Crockenhill FC not me though please... 71 Stones Cross Rd, Crockenhill, Swanley, Kent BR8 8LX
1/10/08 Ken Nesbit - Got to three games in Bremen.
Friday: Werder U23 vs. VfB Stuttgart II at Platz 11 next to the Weserstadion. Crowd given as 300, though it looked more. No programme as such, although there was a free programme style booklet giving details of youth and ladies football for that period. There was a rather nice colour teamsheet, readily available, though.
Saturday: Werder vs. 1899 Hoffenheim. A full house and the second 5-4 in successive games, which was pleasantly unusual. Glossy magazine style programme.
Sunday: Oberneuland vs. Holstein Kiel at Sportpark Vinnenweg. Apparently this was their first league game of the season at their own ground. There certainly seemed to have been a lot of development work. This one didn’t finish 5-4. Crowd given as 220, 400 or 590 depending which website you read. 220 sounds about right, can’t see where the other figures have come from. No programme, and no teamsheet, which was a shame.
SEPTEMBER 2008
30/9/08 Ian Hill - I went to the Wisla Krakow v Arka Gdynia game on Saturday evening. I was in sector E which is the main garndstand. The match programme was a 12 page newspaper. It was available to pick up at a small souvenir stand behind the grandstand free of charge
29/9/08 Tony Incenzo - Thanks to everyone who supported the first Saturday morning game in the Middlesex League at Hayes United FC. The official attendance was 107 and the club took £200 in programme sales so the whole day was a great success.
24/9/08 Steve Shirley - I have today updated the Hops and statistics pages up to the Dorset 2008 Hop on my Website, www.beerandfootball.net I have highlighted missing information in green and would very much appreciate it if anyone can supply any of these details. Anyone filling in the gaps will, of course, have an appropriate acknowledgement placed on the site. Thanks. Steve Shirley
19/9/08 Ken Nesbit - Thanks again to Leo regarding Bremen information.
We got tickets booked O.K. for the Werder Bremen game, so that’s Saturday sorted. It looks like if we go for Oberneuland for the Sunday, then we should fully researched, as the game switched to last Wednesday was postponed.
A German contact I have made suggests going to Oldenburg on the Sunday (VfB not VfL, which was a mistake I made!). Anyone got any info on where the ground is in relation to the railway station?
19/9/08 Tony Incenzo - A REMINDER that the first Saturday morning groundhopper match in the Middlesex League’s schedule this season will be Hayes United versus Marsh Rangers on Saturday, September 27 at 11am. The venue is Rosedale College, Wood End Green Road, Hayes. Admission is free and match programmes will be available at £2.
To register your interest in attending this match and to let the club know how many programmes to produce, please email Hayes United secretary Javan Ashong at jkwame86@hotmail.com
11/9/08 Andy Gallon - Re: M Dawson (24/8) and his query about the Marsh Lane ground of Northern Counties (East) League club Barton Town Old Boys. The pitch HAS been moved through 90 degrees and the extensive rebuild has produced a ground far superior to the rather basic original. The old set-up had little more than one small, ramshackle stand but the new version must be one of the most impressive in the NCEL.
11/9/08 Leo Hoenig - FC Oberneuland has a website http://www.fcoberneuland-bremen.de/index.php?id=81 which gives directions to their ground. However, there first two home league matches this season are at Platz II at the Weserstadion (same of Bremen’s reserves). This coming Sunday’s game has been switched to Wednesday 19th
11/9/08 Chris Bedford - Interesting comment from Brocton regarding the pitch last Saturday: "Few games would have been played after such a deluge, but the Silkmore Lane pitch was immaculate and both sides were able to play good passing football in a thoroughly entertaining game."
10/9/08 Kirkburton afc - Kirkburton afc have a home game this coming weekend the 13th sept ko 2.30pm, against Wibsey in the premier league of the wrcafl.
A programme will be produced for the day at a cost of £1. Pin badges also available at a cost of £2.50.
10/9/08 Ken Nisbet - Thanks to Leo for his comments. We are indeed staying in Bremen, so that should make things easier. I’ll try giving them a call nearer the time and see what happens. I have spotted that Werder II are playing on the Friday evening, and I suspect if our flights are O.K. we’ll be able to make that game. My research (partly using the site you mention) has found another team in Bremen – FC Oberneuland – that plays in the Regionalliga. They have a home game on the Sunday – anyone know anything about them? Can’t imagine tickets will be an issue for this.
9/9/08 Brian Buck - The Bedfordshire Football League have a small surplus of this seasons handbooks which they are now placing on sale on a first come first serve basis.
If you wish to purchase a copy then please send a cheque to the value of £3 made payable to The Bedfordshire Football League to Hon General Secretary, G B Snelson, 19 Bamburgh Drive, Bedford, MK 41 8JP
8/9/09 Leo Hoenig - For Ken Nesbit – a good source of German fixtures for a specific date is kicker magazine’s match calendar (link),
This includes all German fixtures in top 5 levels, some youth and ladies games as well, and many fixtures for other countries. It is up to date for Ken’s weekend as the TV matches have been picked. If staying in Bremen, you may like to know the Werder II team normally plays on a small stadium about 200 yards from the main ground. The Hoffenheim game is category 3, (11-40 Euro) and unlikely to sell out. I cannot see a ticket booking service on line, and the notes involve too much German for me, but there is an address with a phone number that may well help. (Ring and ask if they speak English, they probably can).
6/9/08 Tony Incenzo - THE second match of the Middlesex League’s series of Saturday morning kick-offs has been confirmed as Kodak (Harrow) v Marsh Rangers on October 18th at 11am. The venue is Kodak Sports Ground, Harrow View, Harrow, Middlesex HA2-6QQ.
Admission is free and match programmes will be on sale at £2. Please email Kodak secretary Peter Croffey at
peter.croffey@btconnect.com to confirm your interest so that the club know how many programmes to produce
5/9/08 Rob North - We visited Stockholm in July, during which we were taken on a tour of the Globen Arena next door to Hammarby IF’s Soderstadion. We were shown the plans for the new stadium in the complex. From what I can gather that’s as far as it’s gone so far, since funding has to be found for the new stadium. There was a tentative date of 2010 mentioned, but I’d say that’s optimistic. The inference is that building the stadium would be linked to a bid for the 2016 European Championships.
4/9/08 Ken Nisbet - A friend and I are going to Bremen from the 26th-29th September. Werder Bremen are at home to Hoffenheim on the Saturday, and we hope to go to that game. I have been in touch with the club, but it’s not clear from the replies how we get tickets once they become available. Having no more than rudimentary German, I can’t work out what the system is from their website. Can anyone help? Anyone got any ideas for other games on the Friday evening or the Sunday? Thanks.
4/9/08 Peter Abbott - Re. Ashington, their home game due to be played at Woodhorn Lane on Tuesday
9th September against Newcastle Benfield has been switched to Wednesday
10th September, at Sam Smiths Park. Apparently maintenance work is required on the new pitch.
AUGUST 2008
29/8/08 10:34 Chris Bedford - According to their website, Ashington will play their first game at their new ground tomorrow (Saturday) when they entertain Ossett Albion in the FA Cup
28/8/08 09:54 Chris Bedford - Just back from a holiday in Oslo and saw three games. I completed a double last Saturday with Grorud (Oslo League [Step 4], att c30, no match programme or teamsheet) followed by Stabaek v Lyn Olso (Tippeligaen [Step 1], att 5718 at the Nadderud Stadion, free programme at the turnstile). Stabaek leave Naddserud at the end of the season and move into their new stadium for the start of next season. On Monday, I watched the early evening Second Division [Step 3] game at Manglerud Star Toppf (athletics stadium with open terrace, att c70, 4-page teamsheet included in the admission charge). Both the Grorud and Manglerud games were played on grass which is rare for lower division games in Olso as a lot of clubs play on kunstgress (artificial pitch).
24/8/08 12:44 M Dawson - Visited Billinge of Cheshire Association 23/8/08 and was informed their new ground is progressing and they may be in before the end of this season. No admission, no programme. Has anybody visited Barton Town Old Boys of Northern Counties East recently? I know ground has been rebuilt and presume it in some way overlaps old pitch. But has it been moved 90 degrees which is my criteria for a completely new ground?
23/8/08 17:59 Syd Lee - Tain Thistle joined the North Caledonian League this season & played their first league game on August 23rd 2008 against Bunillidh Thistle @ Grant Park in Tain although they did lose 4-1.
They issued a full colour programme & intend to issue for all their home matches this season with the price of £2.
As this is their first season in the League they have not entered any of the Cup competitions but do have an informative web site @ www.tainthistle.co.uk
22/8/08 20:31 Eric Thompson - For those who are interested, I note with dismay (I'd managed to get Allsvenkan down to one ground, and Superettan to three), on a Wikipedia site, that there are plans afoot for new grounds for Malmo FF, Hammarby, Kalmar, AIK, and the three ex-Gamla Ullevi teams in Goteborg (working title \\\nya Gamla Ullevi). All due for completion within the next couple of years.
22/8/08 12:28 Gyles Basey-FisherI travelled up from Norwich to Southend Road, Penrith on Tuesday night for the visit of Ashington. The ground is surrounded on three sides by groundwork’s and demolition and the diggers hang over the ground like ‘Grim Reapers’.
A visit to the new stadium shows the development well underway. The pitch is seeded and the frame work for the new stand and buildings has been erected.
I had heard that a date for leaving Southend Rd was set for the end of October and a club official did confirm that there new ground should have been ready for a move later this year, but after some delays he did follow this with a more realistic, end of the season.
Trouble is that the speed of the works around Southend Rd might swallow up the ground prior to this date!
With no Club website it is hard to keep up with events so If you have not done Southend Rd, then I suggest sooner rather than later.
22/8/08 07:56 Peter Abbott - Further to Ray Groves visit to Barlestone St Giles, I attended the clubs
following fixture Tues 19 Aug (again no prog) and ascertained that the club
"are very progressive" (their words) and have plans to install floodlights.
When they do, the pitch would have to be moved to an area between the new
clubhouse and the current "new" pitch, so another "new" ground / pitch to
look forward to !
20/8/08 22:51 Richard Garbitz - On Wednesday 27th August there is the opportunity to see two non-reserve teams in the Division 1 of the Notts Senior League play each other as Underwood Villa entertain Sandhurst. This Division features mainly reserve teams and this fixture is an ideal opportunity to visit Underwood Villa and not having a reserve team as the opponents.
18/8/08 23:08 Ray Groves - Last Saturday I took the opportunity to visit Barlestone St.Giles F.C. for their first home game back in the Leicestershire Senior League. Although the club address is still Barton Road, this is a new ground from when the club formerly featured in the Senior League and more recently the Midland Combination. Barton Road is the main road into the village from the A447 with the ground being on the left hand side after approximately 3/4 mile. A long drive leads into a sizeable car park, passing on the left hand side the housing estate now built on the old ground. The main feature of the ground is the impressive club house, although access was rather problematic before the match with entry restricted to members in possession of a swipe card! To reach the pitch from the club house, you cross an area of rough grass which was originally intended to be the first team pitch. There is no cover for spectators with just two dug outs and a railed off pitch. This is also a very exposed site being surrounded predominantly by fields so definitely one for a dry day. The absence of a programme was slightly surprising on an important day for the club, but the team certainly marked the occasion by seeing off Earl Shilton Albion every bit as comprehensively as the 6-0 scoreline suggests.
On Sunday I visited Sidley United for their F.A.Cup game with Farnham Town. With the venue having been used for cricket the day before, there had clearly been a lot of work put into the staging of this match. Sidley United recovered from a goal down twice to win 4-2 and now have a very tasty match at home to Eastbourne Town in the next round. Should anyone be looking for a Sunday game on that weekend, the programme confirmed that the game will be played on Sunday 31st August.
13/8/08 12:58 Tony Incenzo - THE Middlesex League are organising a series of Saturday morning matches throughout the season in order to attract the groundhoppers.
This follows on from the success of an early kick-off at Marsh Rangers in 2007/8 which drew a crowd of more than 200.
The first morning match this year will be Hayes United versus Marsh Rangers on Saturday, September 27 at 11am. The venue is Rosedale College, Wood End Green Road, Hayes. Admission is free and match programmes will be available at £2.
To register your interest in attending this match and to let the club know how many programmes to produce, please email Hayes United secretary Javan Ashong at jkwame86@hotmail.com
8/8/08 08:08 Brian Buck - The final of the Terry Willson Memorial Trophy between Cherry Hinton and Great Shelford will take place at Fulbourn Institute tonight with a 6.15pm kick off
3/8/08 13:27 Debbie Shaw - Does anybody know of any midweek preseason friendlies where Wearside League or Northern Alliance teams are at home please for this or next midweek
1/8/08 17:29 Gyles Basey-Fisher - You might already know, but Norwich Union are now called AFC Norwich and they are also reporting that they have moved out of Pinebanks and now play at Dussingdale Park, Pound Lane, Norwich, which is also the home of Thorpe Rovers of Division Three.
Six new clubs promoted into Division Six are Hemsby, Redgrave, Waveney, Buxton who left the league in the Nineties and two reserve sides.
Dropping out of the League are Halvergate United who finished 12th in the top division, not sure why, Morley Village and the reserve sides Dereham, Lowestoft and Gorleston to the Ridgeon Reserve League. This means that only Wroxham and Kirkley Reserves are present in the two Senior Divisions, so if you don’t like watching reserve sides, it is now very easy to avoid them.
JULY 2008
26/7/08 08:41 Steven Davey - I watched a lot of the Portuguese League highlights last season & also watched live on Setanta Nacional play Porto. It appeared they always played at their own stadium. Even the 'big' live match I saw, there were quite a few empty seats at the small 2 sided stadium. Therefore there shouldn't be any problem watching the match against Sporting (I hope).
Co-incidentally I have actually booked to go to Madeira the same weekend in January when Maritimo play Leixoes & Nacional play Sporting.
Last season the teams only clashed ocassionally but this season it appears more regular. I have chosen to see one of the big 3 away because they often appear on TV live with later kick off times on a Saturday or Sunday. One one ocassion last season they both played same day at same time against 'lesser' oponents with all due respect. (I know Vitoria finished higher)
I am flying with Easyjet from Stansted but return home on the Monday. I just pray one of the matches don't get switched to Monday night. When I usually go to Portugal I usually come home on a Tuesday but Easyjet had no flights back on a Tuesday. This included to Gatwick.
There are some level 3 teams on Madeira including Uniao who appear to groundshare with Maritimo. Last time I looked there fixtures weren't out.
25/7/08 15:43 Peter Ford - Reported today that Asfordby Amateurs have resigned from the Leicestershire Senior League due to a shortage of officials on and off the pitch
23/7/08 22:30 Nidge Tovey - In january and february nacional and maritimo are both at home on the same weekends in portugal.on one of the weekends nacional are playing sporting lisbon. Does anyone know if nacional ever switch the games against sporting/benfica/porto to the bigger stadium or do they always play the games on the home ground?
23/7/08 21:57 Chris Berezi - The seventh Welsh Groundhop, to be held in conjunction with the ninth Hellenic League Groundhop, will begin on Friday 22 August 2008. This year the weekend will feature ten matches and several “firsts” over the August Bank Holiday weekend. The Welsh hop features four games from three different competitions - the Welsh League, the South Wales Amateur League, and the FAW Trophy - whilst the Hellenic League hop has six matches across all three divisions. Yet again prices have been kept as low as possible to offer a weekend at exceptional value for money. (more)
18/7/08 18:51 Brian Buck - According to the Biggleswade Chronicle today the first match a Biggleswade Towns new ground will take place next Tuesday when Hitchin Town are the visitors, followed by the visit of Histon on the following night. The latter game is a rearranged dated following the postponement last week. If you are planning to attend either of these matches then I strongly advise you to check out the games beforehand just in case......
16/7/08 20:31 John Miller - Inverness City, newly elected members of the North Region Juniors, open their campaign with a home match in the first round of North Regional Cup against Buchanhaven Hearts, on Saturday, 2nd August. They have been given permission to play at the Northern Meeting Park, in Inverness but will not be moving there until the middle of September. According to their website, they will be playing at their current ground, in North Kessock, until their new ground is ready for them to move into.
14/7/08 08:28 Brian Buck - The Biggleswade Town v Histon pre-season friendly scheduled for some time this week is off. The new ground is still not ready! Problems with the water supply apparently.
12/7/08 12:13 John Miller - Another club has been admitted to the East of Scotland League. According to the Edinburgh Evening News, Gretna FC 2008 Ltd, which is to be a Trust-owned football club run by the Gretna Supporters Society, has been voted in at an Extraordinary General Meeting. However, their admission is still subject to SFA approval. Initially, they will play their home matches at Everholm Stadium, in Annan, just along the road from Galabank, home of the club that, ironically, replaced Gretna in the SFL. They would like to go back to Raydale Park, which is currently up for sale. Their hope is that Dumfries and Galloway Council will buy the ground and let them play there again.
8/7/08 16:12 Dan Braddock - Details for supporters who will be attending the pre season friendly against AFC Telford United are available. The match will take place on Tuesday 15th July at School Grove, Oakengates. Kick off will be at 7:30pm. Admission will be £5 for adults and £2 for children/OAP’s. There will be NO onsite parking for supporters however there is plenty of parking available in Oakengates town centre. There will be refreshments available on the night as will a special commemorative programme. For more details visit http://www.wellingtonamateurs.co.uk
4/7/08 23:32 Ray Groves - A few bits and pieces from Scottish senior football. In the South of Scotland League Dumfries FC have become Heston Rovers and Stranraer Athletic have withdrawn from fixtures for this season due to a lack of committee members. Public meetings are taking place with a view to forming AFC Gretna, the primary target being the South of Scotland League for the forthcoming season. Using Raydale Park is out of the question at the moment but the local council have indicated they may look positively at buying the ground.
Shetland have been accepted to play in this season's SFA Challenge Cup but sadly on the proviso that all their matches take place on the mainland. They are therefore scheduled to visit Fort William on 9th August.
One match of possible interest in the North of Scotland Cup is Ross County v Wick. This match has been reversed to take place at Wick and will be played on Sunday 27th July. The strength of the team Ross County send will no doubt be dictated by their SFL Challenge Cup match the day before.
JUNE 2008
26/6/08 09:55 Chris Bedford - Worksop Town have agreed a groundshare scheme at Hucknall Town for next season. The deal is subject to approval by The Blue Square and UniBond League. Hucknall have stepped in to help Worksop who have been locked out of their Sandy Lane ground by leaseholders 1861 Leisure, as reported by thisisnottingham.co.uk
26/6/08 03:42 Mark Taylor (Australia) - Went down to The Riverina last weekend and saw arch-rivals, Yoogali FC and Hanwood FC square off on Saturday night in The Griffith District League!
It was 1-0 to Yoogali and I'd estimate a crowd of close to 600 or so surprisingly enough! As you might expect, a good 75% of the players had Italian backgrounds
and with a wedding reception going on inside the adjacent Yoogali Sports Club auditorium, I felt like I was on a set of The Godfather!
Yoogali's ground is in the middle of a disused Velodrome with a small stand that can seat around a 100. No programme and when I asked to look at the team list
I was asked seriously whom I was scouting for and refused..! Not the first time. Kemblawarra (their President tried to prevent me asking the ref!) and Sydney Uni were the same.
Unexpectedly the standard was quite high and it'd be good to see teams like these competing in the Tiger Turf Cup someday.
Hard to imagine even 400 at Blacktown. I think Yoogali might even be outdrawing them these days!
25/6/08 22:54 Ray Groves - Local press reports indicate that Brierley Hill & Withymoor of the West Midlands (Regional) League have folded. With the club unable to extend last season's groundshare at Halesowen Town, they had been in the process of arranging a three year deal to play at Lye Town. However, it has now been decided that the club is forced to fold due to "lack of financial support".
18/6/08 19:13 John Miller - For anyone who is interested, I noticed in the Edinburgh Evening News on Monday, June 16th, that Berwick Rangers Reserves were resigning from the East of Scotland League and their place was being taken by Stirling University.
9/6/08 21:06 Scott Struthers - Wed 11/6/08 - Lanarkshire Amateur Trophy Final - Woodhall Thistle v Mill Utd AFC at Blantyre Vics ground. Still plenty west and east juniors in Scotland with games to 18th June at present. Some cups only at 1/4 final stage
9/6/08 08:48 Neil Morris - Yesterday in Addis Ababa, I saw the World Cup qualifier Ethiopia 1 Rwanda 2 (att c25,000; no programme). I sent some time with five travellers who said that the Maldives issued for their recent qualifier against Pakistan
5/6/08 08:07 Roderick Grubb - A History of Boldmere St Michaels F.C. will be available this month, a must for those who read and collect such books. Details can be found at - http://www.soccer.mistral.co.uk/books/boldmere.htm
3/6/08 14:22 Bill Berry - This year's Pre-Season Fixtures bulletin, to be published in early July, will
contain details of literally thousands of matches; indeed it will be a
record-breaking list.
If you can provide details of matches from your area (or beyond), please write,
e-mail or fax by the 30th June deadline.
3/6/08 12:32 Peter Abbott - In response to Chris Oakley, last year's 2007-08 Croatian season Div 1
kicked off on the weekend of 20-21 July and Div 2 started 18 August.
3/6/08 01:00 Phil Hiscox - The Carlsberg South West Peninsula league is delighted to announce that its AGM tonight the 2009 Easter Ground-Hop host clubs were approved.
The event will run from Thursday 9th to Saturday 11th April with the following clubs being visited :
Axminster Town, Buckland Athletic, Clyst Rovers, Exmouth Town, Galmpton United, Liverton United & Royal Marines.
Full details will be released closer to the time but the base will be in Exeter with accomodation and coaches avaliable.
MAY 2008
31/5/08 10:30 Chris Oakley - I wonder if anyone knows if the league season would be up and running in Croatia by the first weekend of August?
23/5/08 08:18 Brian Buck - Additional fixtures
Friday 23rd May: Pointon v Cherry Tree @ Pointon (6.30pm) Smith Carrington Cup Semi Final. The final is likely to be on Monday 26th May also @ Pointon (6.30pm) but this is not confirmed.
Saturday 24th May: Steeple Bumpstead v Glemsford Cock (Hundon Coronation Cup Final @ Hundon (6.30pm)
Tuesday 27th May: Manford Way 'A' v Upminster 'A' @ Romford (Rush Green) (7.30pm) Also Clare Town v Hundon X1 (A P Brimsdon Shield) @ Clare Town (7pm)
22/5/08 08:18 Brian Buck - Friday 23rd May: Fowlmere v Barrington (Chris Boote Memorial Trophy Final) @ Fowlmere. 6.30pm kick off. Tournament Brochure available.
21/5/08 08:54 Brian Buck - Cup Final Football is at Catons Lane, home of Saffron Walden Town, on Bank Holiday Monday 26 May at 3.00pm when Quendon FC face Dunmow in the Final of the Saffron Walden Cup. Quendon beat Hatfield Heath 7-1 in the Semi Final.
Admission is just £3.00 for adults - £1.00 children and senior citizens.....
16/5/08 08:33 Brian Buck - Friday 16th May: West Lynn v Norwich St Johns. Fixture checked with both clubs. No prog. Maybe a 6.45pm kick off.
Comberton United v Duxford United (Foster Cup Final) @ Fowlmere 6.15pm.
Saturday 17th May: Renhold United v Wootton Blue Cross (Memorial match with a prog) Noon kick off.
16/5/08 00:51 Ray Groves - With effect from August, 2008 a new twelve team IFA Premiership will commence in Northern Ireland. Clubs have been invited to apply for the new Premiership with the top twelve based on a points ranking system being invited to join.
In the event a total of sixteen clubs applied being Bangor plus all of the existing Premier League with the apparent exception of Larne. The four clubs who were not accepted were Donegal Celtic (ranked 13th), Limavady United and Armagh City (failed to acquire the mandatory domestic license) and Portadown (applied after the deadline date).
Appeals were submitted by both Limavady United and Portadown but they were rejected this week.
14/5/08 12:02 MK Publications - There will be a bumper edition programme on Saturday at Ramsdens game with Shenfield AFC in Division 2 of The Essex Olympian League. This game has been switched from Shenfield and will kick off at 11.00am. Added interest is that this could be Shenfield's last ever game in the EOFL due to falling member numbers. The ground is at The Nursery Sports Ground, Downham Road, Ramsden Heath, Billericay, Essex. CM11 1PU. Produced by professional programme printers MK Publications (UK) Ltd, they will be on sale before kick-off at the ground.
13/5/08 09:01 Bill Berry - The Humber Premier League game between Malet Lambert and Barton Res now moves from Wednesday to Thursday (15th)
12/5/08 15:50 Chris Bedford - THURSDAY MAY 15th (Kick-off 7pm) - BILL REDFERN MEMORIAL CUP First Round - Biggin v Weston; Wheel Inn v Mayfield; Osmaston v Longford Reversed fixture; Kirk Langley v Bradley; Coach & Horses v Coach Rangers; Doveridge v Alton; Rose & Crown v Holly Bush; Brassington v FC Hulland
8/5/08 09:36 Chris Bedford - Tonight's (Thursday 8th May) Blue Square South promotion play-off game will take place after all at Stevenage Borough (7-30). The match was switched to Ebbsfleet but reverted back to the original venue, according to Eastbourne's website.
3/5/08 11:23 Roderick Grubb - Today, Saturday, will be the last game (V Brereton at home) that Barnt Green Spartak of the Midland Comination will play under that name having been taken over. Next season they will be known by another name.
APRIL 2008
30/4/08 13:46 Brian Buck - The North Beds Charity Cup final will now be at Langford FC on Friday the 9th of May and not at the new Biggleswade Town ground.
25/4/08 15:22 Dave Norris - The Epping website www.eppingfc.co.uk has next week's game against Benfleet as a Wednesday game with a 6.15 kick off. May be worth double checking before you go
18/4/08 13:14 Graeme Holmes - If anyone is considering a trip to Caergwle Castle, - beware. I have been twice in the last 3 weeks on a Tuesday night and each time the game was off – the 1st time due to an apparent waterlogged pitch when it looked ok to me, and this week – no reason – when I got there a group of lads were playing match and no sign of caergwle castle. The secretary doesn’t answer emails and there is no number to contact, while the website doesn’t seem to be updated for a couple of days after the game
16/4/08 22:11 Dr Ken Nisbet - Many thanks to Eric Thompson for the information about Augsburg. We got there successfully and thoroughly enjoyed the game standing on the terraces. We also got to Unterhaching on the Saturday, and their B team on the Sunday. Very enjoyable - now to find somewhere in Europe for my July trip!
9/4/08 08:09 Andy Dolby - Bedwell Rangers of the Herts Senior League will be at home this weekend against Cuffley, kick off will be at 15:00. This will be the clash of the two bottom clubs and should be a good game. Programs will be on sale if people can send an e-mail to Andrew.dolby@ntlworld.com so that we know how many programs that would be needed on the day. Admission is free the programs will cost £2.
6/4/08 20:40 Eric Thompson - Regarding Ken Nisbet's query about Augsburg and the Rosenau: Augsburg has it's own transport system, available on http://efa.avv-augsburg.de/, which says that it is also available in English. I assume that the game will kick off at 6 on Friday, in line with other Friday night games?
The website mentioned recommends taking the Stadtbus 32 from the front of the station, direction Augsburg Klinikum. This takes only a couple of mins to get to Rosenau Strasse, as it's only 0.6 km and they're every 15 mins. I would imagine that others attending the game would be on the same bus. Beware though, arrive early, as they can get some prodigous crowds.
When I went a couple of weeks ago, I'm afraid I drove, so got round the teething bus problems.
A warning about the trains: the ICE and IC (silver) trains require booking before boarding, so for the casual traveller, it's better to use the red trains, which are just as fast, but not so frequent. Augsburg to Munich red trains unfortunately have a big hole in their timetables between 8 and 9 at night, as I found to my chagrin at the weekend.
4/4/08 14:46 Ken Nisbet - Anyone got any information on how to get to Augsburg’s stadium from the main railway station there (and indeed back again!)? A group of us are going on holiday to Germany next week (based in Munich), and we might take in the Bundesliga 2 game on the Friday evening.
3/4/08 22:54 Rod Allsworth - Off to Palma for a week this Monday-can anyone point me in the direction of a good web site to find out if there are any games on.All info appreciated.
1/4/08 11:28 George and Maureen Osbourne -
First of all Krakow is a lovely city. Access from the airport is very simple and very cheap. Hotels, certainly the one we stayed in, excellent. Public transport very good and very cheap although the city itself is very walkable. Restaurants universally very good and, in comparison to England, very cheap.
Now the reason for our visit - Cracovia v Gornik Zabrze on Saturday 15 March 2008, kick off 4pm. To make doubly sure of access we explored the area around the ground on Saturday morning. This definitely paid dividends and made it easier for the actual game. The ground is a 10 minute walk from the city centre in a rather downtrodden part of town. We walked the whole way round the ground before we found any evidence of entry turnstiles and ticket offices. We returned at 3pm and bought tickets from a hole in the breezeblock wall. The lady selling the tickets was as helpful as she could be considering we both were fluent in different languages. Erring on the side of caution I opted for tickets in the Tribune, guessing correctly this would be for the main stand. My ticket cost 40 zlotis (approximately £9.00), my wife's 1 zloti (25p)!!!! This is where the fun started.
The ground is a big oval with very little cover (only the Tribune), all the rest of the ground is terracing except for the Tribune side which has seats. After getting settled and then moved on by season ticket holders (no reserved signs on the seats) the match nearly started, only to be delayed for what we at first thought was the national anthem but was in fact the anthem of Cracovia FC. This was taken very seriously, everyone standing, hats off, hands on heart. The game then kicked off. The 2 long sides of the ground both occupied by home supporters then took part in what, without wishing to give offence, came over as a Nuremburg rally. Conducted by 2 guys with their backs to the action on the pitch and taking absolutely no notice of the football. The away fans were sited behind one goal on newish terracing and numbered around 300-400, surrounded by about 100 police in full riot gear. They took absolutely no part in the chanting. Their terracing was at least 50 yards from the goal. The match proceeded for 30 minutes, nothing untoward occurred until with 10 minutes to go to half time all the players suddenly came off the pitch to the dugouts which were in front of us, and started to douse themselves in water. This seemed rather strange as the temperature was about 2 degrees above freezing. All of a sudden the whole of our stand started coughing and we realised that we had been teargassed. Either the fans in the away end had let off the tear gas or the police had teargassed them. Either way over 100 yards away we still got the benefit of it as well. At 62 years old and 50 years of football our first experience of tear gas and one we do not wish to repeat. The match then carried on until just after half time when as if a curtain had come down on them all the away fans disappeared. Ten minutes later numerous buses and police escorts arrived and all the away fans were bussed away from the ground.
The most amazing aspect of this was that it appeared that only my wife and myself took any notice of what was happening. For everyone else it seemed to be part and parcel of a normal football afternoon. The game ended up a 3-0 win to the home side which seemed to ease their relegation worries.
All in all a very interesting and different experience. We personally had no trouble whatsoever, other than a slight after game wheeziness. I wouldn't want anyone to be discouraged from trying Polish football but would suggest you keep your wits about you at all times and buy the dearest seat you can afford.
PS Programmes free for the taking, small 4" x 6" affairs and good quality.
