Wednesday 29 October 2014

Down by the Thames

Tuesday 28 October 2014, Hampton and Richmond Borough 3 Ipswich Town Reserves 3, Beveree Stadium - Friendly


A good game and a good run out - but would it be easier to play the likes of Leiston or Needham rather than a South West London club?

Saturday 25 October 2014

When will we hold onto a lead?

Saturday 25 October 2014, Ipswich Town 2 Huddersfield Town 2, Championship - Portman Road

Saturday 18 October 2014

Robbed?

Saturday 18 October 2014, Ipswich Town 1 Blackburn Rovers 1 - Championship - Portman Road

Thursday 16 October 2014

Trawlerboy win - just!

Wednesday 15 October 2014, Ipswich Wanderers 1 Lowestoft Town 2, Suffolk Premier Cup, Round 1 - Humber Doucy Lane


They may have been 3 divisions below their North Suffolk rivals but they gave the trawlermen a good fight.

Sunday 12 October 2014

Cross border action

Saturday 11 October 2014, Sawbridgeworth Town 4 Takeley 1, Essex Senior league - Crofters End

5 goals, a sending off, numerous bookings, punches, handbags and a penalty plus add thunder and heavy rain - all because it is a local derby as the only Essex Senior League team who come from outside Essex (Hertfordshire) host their near Essex rivals.

Thursday 9 October 2014

Road trip - Lamb to Jubilee

Tuesday 7 October 2014, Tamworth 0 AFC Fylde 3, Conference North , The Lamb Ground
Wednesday 8 October 2014, Huntingdon Town 3 Newport Pagnell 3 (Huntingdon won 5-4 on penalties), Jubilee Park

A meeting in Birmingham allowed me to visit two non league grounds but both were very different. Tamworth are a team near the top echelons of non-league football, a team I saw play in the Vase final at Wembley in 1988 and club with a ground that almost has a 70's league feel to it, with two of the stands backing onto terrace houses but plenty of red paint giving the ground a much loved feel and the modern world not far away with one stand overshadowed by the Tamworth Snow Done next door.



But a modern ground a good support who did not get on the players back may not be enough to help Tamworth who were easily beaten by North West team Fylde. What is it about that coast? Fylde seem keen to follow Fleetwood, numerous promotions, new grounds and league football as the final target.

But get a chance visit the 'The Lamb Ground'

My next game was closer to home and United Counties team Huntingdon Town, a cup game for a team that was undefeated in the league and they carried on that good form, zooming into a three nil lead but then the wheels came off, Newport Pagnell hit back and in the end it was only by one penalty shot that Huntingdon got through to the next round.


But a different non-league experience, a lower level but a smart ground, smart clubhouse and with plenty of other junior pitches surrounding the complex as they seek to produce more players. Ex Ipswich, now Villa (sometimes) and England player, Darren Bent comes from around here.


But the negative point is the distance from town, to get there to watch or play you need a car, not sure even a bus travels down this country road. So big crowds may never come- even if the car park is about the same size as the one at Tamworth but you cans ee this sort of set up producing further Darren Bents!

Saturday 4 October 2014

A stadium with Salmon in the title- you would expect it to be wet

Saturday 4 October 2014, Bowers & Pitsea 4 Haverhill Rovers 0, FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round - Len Salmon Stadium


Agains the odds the Essex Senior League team won - and deserve to be in the hat for the 1st round on Monday