New pitch but aother defeat

Tuesday 16 September 2025, Ipswich Town Under 17s 0 West Ham United Under 17s 4 - Playford Rd Training Ground, Under 17 PL Cup, Group game.

After the Ipswich Under 18 team last 8-0 at Palace on Saturday, we were not expecting much today - and we were not wrong- easy win for the visitors and Ipswich were in a very generous mood, with our inexperienced defence making numerous mistakes, the Hammers were 3 up at the break ( 6, 13 and 36 minutes).

Second half was slightly more competitive and the Ipswich subs, seemed an upgrade on the starting XI. West Ham still added a 4th goal in the 65th minute.

With the whole training ground being developed, the game was actually played on the Playford Rd site ( for last 3 years, nearly all U16, 18 and 21 games have been played over the road at Bent Lane.

For the pitch chasers, this was Pitch 8 - it is now fully railed and sited behind the furthest goal of the G4 Cage, previously the junior Town teams had played on a pitch closer to the corner of the Training Ground.

Now to put a run togaether

Friday 12 September 2025, Ipswich Town 5 Sheffield United 0 - Championship, Portman Road

Great display, 5 goals and a hat trick - now to put a run together!

Varied shirt numbers

Wednesday 10 September 2025, AFC Sudbury Under 19s 2 Chelmsford City Under 19s 0 , National League U19 Alliance, Division 'A', Elite Travel Stadium

Was hoping this game might be played on the new G4 Community pitch next door to the main stadium, however when the rain started, was quite happy it was on the main ground as no cover for spectators in the new cage.

AFC Sudbury, I believe are playing their first season in this league, whilst Chelmsford have had teams who have gone on to win National Cups in previous seasons.

It looks like Sudbury could have a good season in this league, totally dominating the first half and scoring twice, in the 10th and 30th minute, the second a long rage shot that Chelmsford keeper fumbled.

The second half was more even but AFC Sudbury still created the better chances. For 'hoppers' who want to see a game in the new cage ( does have a spectator area) worth checking fixture's for when the Sudbury U19 side and the girls side both have home games on the same day.

AFC Sudbury are stull using a club number system, every player in the whole club having their own number so we had shirts between 18 and 99 on display today.

Shared kits

Tuesday 9 September 2025, Colchester United Under 21s 1 Fleetwood Town Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Florence Park

Sunny afternoon at Florence Park, game played on bottom pitch. fully railed with spectators on one side and dug outs (portable) on the other.

Fleetwood for some reason having to play in the Colchester Utd away kit!

Colchester hoping to continue their good start to the season but it was Fleetwood who had the best of the first 20 minutes, Colchester then started to get on top and hit the bar in the 27th minute, from a direct free kick, however it was the visitors who went in front after 35 minutes, early cross met by an almost diving header from their centre forward.

Second half was scrappier, with both sides having chances, and Colchester got level in the 61st minute with a great goal, a cracking shot from distance putting the ball in the top corner of the goal. a draw was just about a fair result.

Sunny Sunday

Family in London for the day, so used the opportunity to enjoy the sun and knock off a couple of local grounds/pitches - tend to only watch Sunday football once or twice a season.

1030am

Shotley Rose 1 Golden Hind 2

Ipswich Sunday Morning League, Premier Division

Rose Playing Field

A rarity , a pub football team that actually plays at a pub! Shotley is a small village outside Ipswich, along the River Orwell, the pitch is in a field behind the pub, alongside a Bowls Club, hedges on 3 sides give it an enclosed feel,. Concrete dugouts also in place.

Both teams had some good footballers, with the young Golden Hind captain very impressive but I also remembered why I avoid Sunday football with a couple of players on each side ruining the game by play acting, fouling, arguing and time wasting. Even with 3 or 4 players trying to ruin the game, we did see some decent football, the Hind going 2 up after scoring in the 15th and 40th minute but in the second half it was Shotley Rose who were on top, scoring after 67 minutes but even with plenty of added on time they could not convert all the pressure they had on the Golden Hind in the second half to an equaliser. 

2pm

AFC Kesgrave Veterans 1 Bury Town Veterans 2

Norfolk and Suffolk Veterans League, South Premier Division 

Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre

Another reason that Sunday morning football is struggling is that Veterans football is on the rise, not just hitting Sunday football with a local Senior Saturday side quitting last season only for most of the players to remain with the club to play for the veterans side. Veterans footballs seems more organised ( even if both teams turned up in all blue strips today) and far less arguing and moaning, 

We even have a Veterans team in Ipswich that has a player signed on, who played in the World Cup Finals. Even today, the visiting side, Bury have an ex-England Youth, Ipswich and Exeter player on their books, he was not in the team today.

No football furniture (portable dug outs were still in the equipment cage. The site includes a community centre, a sports hall and the football pitch is between the community centre and the cricket pitch, with a cycle speedway track behind one goal.

Home team started on top but somehow manged to fluff a few easy chances, Bury then got on top and went ahead after 38 minutes. They added a second right at the start of the second half. Kesgrave then took control, got a goal back in the 74th minute and had another goal disallowed towards the end of the game, with Bury hanging on to get all three points.

Goal fest

Tuesday 2 September 2025, Stony Stratford Town 5 Caddington 1 - Spartan South Midlands Lge, Div 2, Ostler's Lane

An entertaining game with two mainly young teams, who both wanted to play football, game far closer than the final score suggests.

The home team were two up within 7  minutes, however Caddington came back into the game and got a goal back just after the half hour and looked the stronger team as the half ended.

Second half was even then a number of subs were made and that seemed to give the home team a boost as they added a third after 57 minutes then were awarded a penalty on 70 minutes, Caddington keeper saved it but the Stony forward put in the rebound, a 5th goal was added in the 88th minute.

Ground is good for this level, fully railed, hard standing on 3 sides, concrete dug outs and a small stand with terracing and a few odd seats. Tea bar also open, the ground is approached via the cricket club.

Club is based in small village on edge of Milton Keynes .

No football to be played

Saturday 30 August 2025, Ipswich Town 2 Derby County 2 - Championship, Portman Road

Birmingham, now Derby - we are ending up with a league full of teams who just do not want to play football -  and that is no football at all! their aim to have the ball in play as little time as possible. The Refn had a nightmare, but one thing he did get right was the amount of time added on for all the Derby time wasting/cheating and at the end of that injury time we got an equaliser.

We do need to find a way to keep the ball in play and destroy these teams - and we need to find that way fast.