Cup over for one Norfolk team

Saturday 31 August 2013 Swaffham Town 0 Huntingdon Town 2, FA Cup Preliminary Round - Shoemakers Lane

Still August and second FA Cup game already, a large crowd as Swaffham are to of the Thurlow Nunn Division One plus add the fact that BBC Radio 5 are following Swaffham and will continue to follow the winners of this game.

Well the fairy tale did not last as Huntingdon Town were on top from the start of the game and other than for part of the second half stayed on top for most of the game, so it will be Huntingdon that now have to chat to Robbie Savage.

Any sadder sight in football?

Last night I went to see Orient play Hull in the League Cup but as I was arriving early, I thought if I could visit a few other local sporting grounds whilst in East London.

This was a last minute plan but a quick check of the map and I could see the home of Leyton Wingate FC and Leyton Cricket Club. I did not have tome to research much else other than finding out that Leyton Cricket Club had used to be the home of Essex Cricket club and they continued to still visit the ground and play a game a season till the early 70's. But I knew little about Layton Wingate FC - I was in for a shock!!

The Club no longer exists and I found a deserted football ground that is now home to a large marquee, owned by the neighbouring Indian restaurant. the pitch is also a car park but the stands, lights and one gaol plus nets, still survives - how did it happen?

A picture on twitter and a quick chat with the landlady of the 'Hare and Hounds' the former name of Leyton Stadium = told a tale of owners in jail for Fraud, VAT evasion and club mergers, moves and court cases over the name of the club.

It seems the last game was played in the 2009 and the club was thrown out of the league in January 2010 - Leyton FC - the second oldest football club in London.

It is hard for non league clubs in London, in particular north of the river and it is surprising that Ilford FC survive, at least Clapton FC are putting a fight up! More on the sad end of Leyton FC can be found here

It seems the Indian restaurant seem to have the ground on a year by year lease but are not allowed to play sport on the pitch! Only a long goal kick from here is the Olympic Park - but come to Lea Bridge Road and you will see no Olympic legacy.

If you get a chance take a look before it decays further - the future? would guess that some developer has his eyes on the site.

Further down the road at Leyton Cricket Ground, no longer a home fit for Essex CC but a brilliant pavilion, listed and so the residents of Leyton can still use this facility- a far different story to what is happening up the Lea Bridge Road.

Leyton Cricket Ground

Hull - not very good

Tuesday 27 August 2013, Leyton Orient 0 Hull City 1 (after extra time), League Cup Round 2 - Brisbane Road

A great little stadium, top atmosphere and they have a decent team to cheer- whilst on the other side Hull City had their '2nd XI' out- and were lucky not to be out of the cup by the end of the match. They were outplayed and out classed for most of the match - Orient are worth a flutter for promotion and coming up as champions.

A long season?

Saturday 24 August 2013, Ipswich Town 1 Leeds United 2, Championship - Portman Road

Hope I am wrong - but could be a long season!

Love the turnstile entrance

Tuesday 20 August 2013, Newmarket Town 4 Mildenhall Town 4, Thurlow Nunn, Eastern Counties League - Cricket Field Rd

Fourth game in four days and by far the best, not just because of 8 goals, but plenty of skill, end to end stuff, penalty and an equaliser with the last touch of the game.

Big crowd for a local derby, won £4 in the raffle and loved the turnstile/entrance.

Great metal initials above the old turnstile - was the stile recused from the racecourse?

At least it was free

Monday 19 August 2013 21 Ipswich Town Under 21/Reserves 0 Cardiff City Under 21/Reserves 2 - Portman Road, Under 21 Development League South

Not a great game, and no one stood out (on our side) but over 900 in attendance was a good PR exercise by the club

Groundhoppers everywhere

Sunday 18 August 2013, Stansted FC 0 v Brantham Athletic, FA Cup, Extra Preliminary Round, at Bishops Stortford FC - Woodside Park

A rare Sunday non league, game - Stansted also having to play at their bigger neighbours as they do not get their own ground back off the cricket club till September.

The cost of hiring the ground at Stortford is not cheap so Stansted needed a decent crowd to help pay for the rent. Plenty of publicity seemed to have worked and the gate was boosted by a number of groundhoppers.

The elite - notebooks, anoraks, stop watches and pack lunches - but too hot for flasks

So as well as seeing a game, getting a new ground in, I managed to meet (well see) some of the groundhopper elite!

For once I could see the pitch!

Saturday 17 August 2013, QPR 1 Ipswich Town 0, Championship - Loftus Road

Made at change at QPR, as I could see the whole pitch - times have changed at Rangers, always enjoyed my trips to West London, but a year in the Premiership has changed the feel - pubs not allowed to let away fans in and certain QPR fans now thinking they have to behave like Chelsea or West Ham fans

Team from eBay?

Tuesday 13 August 2013, Mildenhall Town 1 Godmanchester Rovers 3, Thurlow Nunn Premier League, Recreation Way

Warm sunny evening and two teams playing attacking football and what a nicknane for the Godmanchester Number 9 - 'eBay' then again his real name is Mark Ebeyer!

That's better!

Saturday 10 August 2013, Ipswich Town 3 Millwall 0, Championship - Portman Road

Great result, big improvement and Skuse looks a great signing but best of all we won on;

SIR BOBBY ROBSON DAY

Poor!

Tuesday 6 August 2013, Stevenage 2 Ipswich town 0, League Cup 1st Round - The Lamex Stadium

Poor display by Town

Team changes and tactics- questionable

Support by Town fans - excellent

In general poor and concerning!

Do not Read (ing) much into the first game of the season

Saturday 3 August 2013, Reading 2 Ipswich Town 1, Championship - Madejski Stadium

A great away support, superb first half but some fans still had us relegated by the end of the match!

But like Big Mick, I was impressed with the display, we may have played better in the first half but it was second half where we had the most chances.

A young side, and two very young full backs with players to come back from injury.

So I am positive about the season - still work to do, need a creative midfielder and still unsure about the keeper - but still think we will have a great season.

Good run out

Thursday 1 August 2013, Framlingham Town 0 Ipswich Town Academy 7, Badingham Road - Friendly

What a ground for a club not even playing in the Senior League of the Suffolk and Ipswich League - great turnout by ITFC fans and locals from the village.

Brilliant PR trip by the Town and makes you wonder why we have pulled out of the Premier Cup this season, a good way to get the Ipswich message to the villages and smaller towns of the county.