This is how to build a new ground

Monday 31 August 2015, St Neots Town 2 Biggleswade Town 0 - Southern Premier Division - Premier Plus Stadium

So many modern grounds are popping up all over the country from the top leagues to non league, many have no character and some are built very cheaply so it makes a nice change to visit a new ground, that does the job but has some character and is built with the future in mind. You can add the new(ish) ground of St Neots to that list, as soon as you arrived - no forget that before I had a good feeling about this trip before I arrived. On the way to the game I tweeted that I was on the way to a game at St Neots and I got a tweet back giving me advice on car parking!

The ground had a great bar, tea bars and a programme at £3 that was exceptional value. The ground itself has the potential to grow and you can see that it will not need much doing to it to bring it up to Conference standard. Plus easy to get to with even a bridge direct from the railway station.

Best bit? The TV gantry, would be even better if they made all the Press go in there! Some new grounds can leave you cold but this one is not like that- well worth a visit.

Almost forgot the match! A local Derby, as ma fellow fan called it the 'el Fenio'- - two red cards but it was not a dirty game, thanks to a good ref- strange thing was the 'Waders' were on top till St Neots lost a player which seemed to wake them up and not long after they took the lead, and not long after it was 10 men a side.

The second half saw St Neots extend their lead and it was only in the last 10 minutes did Biggleswade re-discover the form they showed in the first 20 and put some pressure on the home team goal.

So great stadium, amazing TV gantry, good game, fantastic programme - only minus point? Have had better burgers at other grounds!

The road to Wembley starts near a forest in Norfolk - with plenty of (first half) goals!

Sunday 30 August 2015, Thetford Town 3 Bury Town 5, FA Cup Preliminary Round - Mundford Road

With the poor current form of Thetford, a Bury win was not a surprise and we also expected plenty of goals and withing 20 minutes it looked like we were right as Bury rushed into a 4 nil lead but what we did not expect was the spirited comeback of Thetford.

By halftime Thetford had pulled it back to 3-5 so we grabbed a quick cuppa and tool our seats ready for further goals - and we got none! what we did get was scrappy hafl of poor control, niggle fouls and all under a dark cloud as the rain threatened to start. in fact you may have wondered if both teams had completely changed teams at half time. A very strange match!

Will we play against a more attacking team this year?

Saturday 29 August 2015, Ipswich Town 2 Brighton and Hove Albion 3 - Championship, Portman Road

Hope it is!

Even younger team?

Saturday 29 August 2015, Ipswich Town Academy Under 18 0 Crystal Palace Under 18 4, U18 Professional Development League 2 - ITFC Training Ground

Nice modern ground, but for how much longer?

Wednesday 26 August 2015, Woodbridge Town 3 Team Bury 0, Thurlow Nunn, Division One - Notcutt's Park

You can't win anything with kids!

Monday 24 August 2015, Ipswich Town Reserves 0 Cardiff City Reserves 5, U21 Development League, South Division - Portman Road

One very young Reserve team!

Dozen goals!

Saturday 22 August 2015, Ipswich Athletic 12 Ipswich Valley Rangers 0, Suffolk and Ipswich League, Senior Division - Bourne Vale

Been a while since I have seen a game at the old John Player ground, but what a game to choose - twelve nil! What it does show is how hard it is for any team at this level to stay consistent over the years. Only last year, Valley Rangers were one of the best teams in the league but a mass exodus of players has seen that team go and if they do not get some new blood in, it could be a long season for them.

But what was impressive is that both team still attempted to play football on what was a perfect pitch - it was not till the last 10 minutes did we see a tackle (and the ensuing melee) that was so common at this level many years ago.

Made it!

Saturday 22 August 2015, Crafted Classique Sportive - Cult Bar Ipswich - Suffolk Coast - 100km

Very hot day , but a great event - thanks to Crafted, Ipswich Borough Council, Elmy Cycles, Cult Bar and all the great sponsors and friends

Great (but hot ) ride, bacon sarnie, coffee, beer, massage and hog roast - brilliant event!

Top of the league - at least for a day!

Tuesday 18 August 2015, Ipswich Town 2 Burnley 0 , Championship - Portman Road

Tour of Britain returns to Suffolk

Tuesday 18 August, Tour of Britain launch - media ride. Thetford

Suffolk is becoming a cycling hot spot and Ipswich is doing its best to not only be involved but also to help. Today saw the Tour of Britian media launch and I got the chance to ride alongside the cycling team that ex England cricketer Matt Prior helps fund - the One Pro team, it may have been a bit soggy but was great to cycle the 15 miles alongside some of Britain's pro cyclists.

So the Tour follows the Women's Tour to Ipswich, but that is not all the cycling we have - on Saturday we have the Crafted Classique Sportive, Sunday the Sky ride hits the streets of Ipswich and later in the year the local theatre, the New Wolsey gets in the act with the cycling based play - Beryl - Ipswich is really at home on two wheels.

A game in the sun - and a win!

Monday 17 August 2015, Ipswich Town Reserves 3 Coventry City Reserves 0, U21 Development League, South Division - Ipswich Town training ground

And a chance to see Dozzell Mark II

Four up front?

15 Saturday 2015, Ipswich Town 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1, Championship - Portman Road

Mick is often given stick for sticking to the same formation but yesterday we had a win and ended up playing four up front! Put that in your sticker album!