Sunday 24 November 2013

It had to be Nugent

Saturday 23 November 2013, Ipswich Town 1 Leicester City 2, Championship - Portman Road



It had to be Nugent, but today was not about winning or losing it was about remembering Mike Kemp - Kempy RIP

Wednesday 13 November 2013

Hunt and ......?

Monday 11 November 2013, Ipswich Town Under 21/Reserves 1 Brighton and Hove Albion Under21/Reserves 3 - Portman Road


Other than the new lad Hunt, not much in Reserve currently

Sunday 10 November 2013

Football - a game of emotion - Michael Kemp RIP

Saturday 9 November 2013, Histon 1 Vauxhall Motors 2, Conference North - Glass Worlds Stadium


Football has the ability to make you laugh, smile, cry, following a team can get you to feel all those emotions - even in a space of a few minutes.

Yesterday two of us had morning commitments so we could not make the trip to Blackpool to see Ipswich play so to get our football fix we took the short trip up the A14 to see Histon take on Vauxhall Motors whilst our mate Kempy took the train north - the rest of the report should be about the neat ground, the two Vauxhall players booked for fighting each other and then Histon taking the lead before Vauxhall got their act together and ended up winning 2-1 giving myself and my mate Colin an entertaining afternoon but instead the games was just the start of an evening of mixed emotions.


At the end of the game we rushed to the club bar to see how Ipswich were doing- emotion of surprise as we were still winning 2-1 but withing seconds, we saw that Blackpool had drawn level- so 91 minutes and 2-2 but then 93 minutes and we were winning again. A quick text to our mate Kempy in Blackpool and he replied "Won!!!" So we drove away happy - 90 minutes later and our emotions are very different , Kempy had collapsed in Blackpool and died.


Shock is the emotion I felt followed by anger and sadness, football was why we had become friends but we had stayed close friends with football just getting in the way, players and managers often get the title legend, many do not deserve it but when it comes to supporters - Kempy was an ITFC legend.

The away matches were a social occasion and football was just a small part of that day - Kempy was fun, intelligent, knowledgeable and loyal. His views on modern football were obvious when you knew what he liked best - it was spending a cold December up at the training ground, with 20 other fans watching the Academy - no flash cars, big egos - just pure simple football.

Football for me will never be the same again - Michael Kemp RIP

Sunday 3 November 2013

You can survive


Saturday 2 November 2013, Saffron Walden Town FC 2 Debenham Leisure FC 2, Thurlow Nunn League Division 1 - Catons Lane


This week we saw Cornard possibly having to stop playing and I heard also that Woodbridge Town may be without a home next season, worrying times for non league clubs - but there is a way back and a visit to West Essex yesterday highlighted that. Saffron Walden had to take a break from Senior football but are now back in the Thurlow Nunn, playing well a youthful team and best of all and to give hope to others- playing in front of some of the largest crowds in Division One.


I took in the game yesterday v Debenham, both teams played decent football which was hard on a slippery, sloped and not the greatest playing surface in the area.

Walden took the lead and no surprise as it came from a corner - where they dominated and Debenham played nice football but seemed to struggle in the final third.


The second half then came as a surprise, as Debenham got in front, a nice team goal followed by a stunning individual effort. Walden got back on terms - no surprise as it came from a corner! Walden then dominated for the last 15 minutes with their substitutes giving them fresh impetus, but Debenham held on for a point.

Walden have a fine balance with ex QPR man Stuart Wardley at the back a few more experienced players and a number of promising youngsters in the squad.



But where a town like Woodbridge need to take hope is the crowds Walden get and also the money spent in the bar and on food, a town like Woodbridge should be able to do the same but the problem in Suffolk is that Woodbridge may be losing their ground.


But if you get a chance visit Catons Lane, some great non-league stands and some good football.

Saturday 2 November 2013

Poor

Friday 1 November 2013, Ipswich Town 1 Barnsley 1, Championship - Portman Road


Poor game!

At least it seems Mick is staying, but plenty for him to do.