Saturday 31 August 2019

Say we are top of the league, we are top of the league

Saturday 31 August 2019, Ipswich Town 3 Shrewsbury Town 0 - League 1, Portman Road

Ground with a view

Wednesday 28 August 2019, Llanfair United 0 Penrhyncoch 1 - Cymru North, Mount Field



I tend to visit North Wales every Easter but recently have added a second late Summer trip- the reason for the visit is to take a group of teenagers walking but for the last 4 trips I have managed to escape on one evening for a game of football, so this August I found myself watching Llanfair.



Not a great game, poor ref, both teams giving away niggly fouls with the visitors willing to play any professional trick to get an advantage. There was some good football and I was impressed with the home team number 5 - but what did stand out was the view. the ground perched above the village, a steam railway and a church below and to top it off the grandstand built into a grass bank - what was not to like about this ground - a nice place to spend a late August evening.








Sunday 25 August 2019

Hive of sporting activity

Saturday 254 August 2019, Beccles Town 1 Acle United 3 - College Meadow, Anglian Combination, Premier Division



Could not go far from Ipswich today, so took the short drive up the A12 to North Suffolk and Beccles and found not just a small town football ground, but a hive of sporting activity - a rugby club, cricket club ( with games being played by both), an indoor bowls centre and even an Air Rifle club. On top of that the football club must be one of the most organised you will find at this level - tea hut, raffle, programme and a cracking main stand.



Unfortunately, a close game but Acle United deserved the win.











Friday 23 August 2019

Sun out, missed penalty and a defeat

Friday 23 August 2019, Ipswich town Under 23s 0 Leeds United Under 23s 1 - Professional Development League, Playford Rd Training Ground

Star of a poor Ipswich team was Harry Wright, son of Richard who made numerous great saves, but in the end he was beaten once and then we missed a penalty and an easy chance.

Thursday 22 August 2019

World Cup to Woodbridge

Wednesday 21 August 2019, Woodbridge Town 5 Walsham-Le-Willows 1 - Eastern Counties, Premier Division, Notcutts Park



Carlos Edwards, ex Town player, who appeared in the 2006 World Cup is still in love with the game, settled back in Suffolk and now player/assistant manager at Woodbridge.

Just 6 miles up the road, not much else to do on a Wednesday, so thought I would go and see how Carlos is getting on, obviously not the only one with the same idea as over 200 others turned up to see a comfortable Woodbridge win, a game that Carlos was very instrumental in  making sure Woodbridge continue their good start to the season.

Tuesday 20 August 2019

We won - somehow!

Tuesday 20 August 2019, Ipswich Town 2 AFC Wimbledon 1 - League One, Portman Road,

Poor in first half, better in second and a 94th minute winner!

Saturday 17 August 2019

Did not need 11 men

Saturday 17 August 2019, Whitstable Town 1 Sittingbourne 1 - Isthmian League, South east Division, Belmont Ground



Late arrival so no time for any sea food as it was straight into the ground, and one that was impressive - 3 different stands with the grandstand the pick of the lot.



The ground had just been painted so all looked very neat and white!!



Football wise the home side impressed early on but slightly against the run of play the visitors took the lead. But not long after Sittingbourne went down to 10 men but Whitstable could not make the extra man count and in the end huffed and puffed before getting level.  Even after getting back to 1-1, it was the visitors who finished on top.













First sin-binning and no surprise who got it!

Wednesday 14 August 2019, Dedham Old Boys 0 Lawford Lads 4 - Essex and Suffolk Border League, Premier Division, The Old Grammar School Ground



The rain stopped and I found myself just outside Ipswich in Constable country, and  on the grounds of the school he attended.



Nice clubhouse and a tree lined ground, and not a bad game of football, however a bad injury early on out the game in doubt but they managed to carry the injured player to the touchline and played.



The Dedham full back was the person who may have fouled the Lawford player, he may have got away with that but then gave away the penalty that gave Lawford the lead. He then spent the rest of the game attempting to be sin-binned and eventually he secured his aim!

Wednesday 14 August 2019

Even the Ref could not ruin a good game

Tuesday 13 August 2019, Cockfosters 3 Ilford 3 - Chalk Lane, Essex Senior League



Some strange refereeing, that even his assistants did not understand but even that could not ruin a good game of football, six goals, plenty of other attempts and both teams willing to try and pass the ball, well worth the drive south.




Plus a very quaint ground, 5 minutes from a London Tube Station, sound of busy roads but the ground is tree lined, with a bowls club one side ( with a match being played) and on the other side a cricket ground (with a match being played ) and in the middle of the two a cracking football game, you just have to love early season, late Summer football.