Misty Yorkshire

Saturday 29 October 2022, Brighouse Town 0 Stockton Town 2 - NPL League, East, Yorkshire Payments Stadium

My first choice for a game today - Littletown in Huddersfield, was off after a waterlogged pitch, so a short drive west and I ended up at Brighouse, maybe a basic ground but a busy clubhouse, a number of away supporters and a chance to see the league leaders meant the afternoon would not be wasted.

Brighouse, will be disappointed that they never got anything from this game as for most of the game they matched the league leaders for effort and skill and in the first half actually looked the better team.

The football, the good sized crowd and the friendly atmosphere made the trip worthwhile, back in the car then a (very) quick and short drive to Halifax for:

FC Halifax Town 2 Oldham Athletic 1 - National League, The Shay

A big crowd, with as many away fans as home making for a good atmosphere with the setting and size of crowd many may think it should be a game taking place in the football league.  however obvious from the football that did take place, both teams will struggle to get back in the Football League, however if they do make it they will certainly attract the numbers through the turnstiles to keep the club owner/bank manager/transfer kitty happy! 

Kiwis top Group C

Friday 28 October 2022, New Zealand 48 Ireland 10 - Rugby League World Cup, Group C Game, Headingley

Good crowd, great atmosphere and Ireland were actually leading for a few minutes!! Crowd enjoyed the two Irish try's at the same time impressed with the skills of the Kiwi team, the NZ team may be concerned that they missed a number of conversion chances.

NZ were always going to win but were helped by a ref who seemed to give any 50/50 decision the New Zealand way and they possibly should have finished with 12 players with the Kiwi, Waerea-Hargreaves escaping with 10 minutes in the sin-bin when many thought it was red card offence. 

Football in Heaven 5 - International football hop to Romania - in pictures

Thursday October 20th

Cupa României Turul II

AS Avântul Frasin 1 Academica Gălănești  2 (at Stadionul Frasin) 

Friday October 21st

Liga V - A Serie II (Suceava) 

AS Minerul Iacobeni 3 AS Unirea Horodnic de Sus 3 (at Stadionul Minerul) 

Liga V - A Serie II (Suceava) 

AS Larix Dornișoara 3 AS Bradul Vama 3 (at Arena Poiana Stampei) 

Saturday October 22nd

Liga IV (Bistrita Năsăud)

ACS Heniu Leșu 0 ACS Eciro Forest Telciu 3

(at Stadionul Heniu) 

Liga IV (Bistrita Năsăud)

AS Someșul Feldru 1954 1  ACS Hebe Sangeorz Bai 3 (at Stadionul Central Feldru)

Sunday October 23rd

Liga IV - A (Suceava)

AS Amatorii Rarau Câmpulung Moldovenesc 4  ACS Foresta Suceava II 0 (at Stadionul Municipal Rarăul) 

Liga V - A Serie II (Suceava)

AS Polul Nord Falcau Brodina 2 AS Avântul Frasin 2 (at Stadionul Falcau) 

Football in Heaven 5 - International football hop to Romania

A great hop - 40 hoppers from UK, Romania, Norway, Poland and India - superb scenery in North East Romania.

Thursday October 20th

4pm Cupa României Turul II

AS Avântul Frasin 1 Academica Gălănești  2 (at Stadionul Frasin) - attendance: 88

Friday October 21st

2pm Liga V - A Serie II (Suceava) 

AS Minerul Iacobeni 3 AS Unirea Horodnic de Sus 3 (at Stadionul Minerul) - attendance 80

7pm Liga V - A Serie II (Suceava) 

AS Larix Dornișoara 3 AS Bradul Vama 3 (at Arena Poiana Stampei) - attendance 154

Saturday October 22nd

11am Liga IV (Bistrita Năsăud)

ACS Heniu Leșu 0 ACS Eciro Forest Telciu 3

(at Stadionul Heniu) - attendance 60

4pm Liga IV (Bistrita Năsăud)

AS Someșul Feldru 1954 1  ACS Hebe Sangeorz Bai 3 (at Stadionul Central Feldru) - attendance 101

Sunday October 23rd

11am Liga IV - A (Suceava)

AS Amatorii Rarau Câmpulung Moldovenesc 4  ACS Foresta Suceava II 0 (at Stadionul Municipal Rarăul) - onl game where admission seemed to be charged- £2, and you even got a paper ticket! - attendance 168

3.30pm Liga V - A Serie II (Suceava)

AS Polul Nord Falcau Brodina 2 AS Avântul Frasin 2 (at Stadionul Falcau) - attendance - 127

Words are hard to find to describe how brilliant some of these venues were - - but a few words on each day/game

Thursday - AS Avântul Frasin (at Stadionul Frasin) Cracking wooden stand - plus hospitality of a local berry spirit (plus before the game, we visited a salt mine, which included an indoor football pitch - between 35 and 75 meters underground!

Friday - AS Minerul Iacobeni (at Stadionul Minerul)

To get to the ground, we crossed (on foot) two railway lines, then a ramshackle wooden swing bridge, whick looked more like something you would find on a trek in Nepal! The ground had a DIY stand and we had free beer and a superb BBQ

AS Larix Dornișoara (at Arena Poiana Stampei)

Most modern stadium floodlights but not really strong enough for watching a game, a free cold buffet and free beer and invited into the dressing room to celebrate the draw with the away team.

Saturday - ACS Heniu Leșu (at Stadionul Heniu)

Pitch on top of the mountain, fantastic views down to the valley, then a full meal afterwards- cakes, soup and steak on chips.

AS Someșul Feldru 1954 (at Stadionul Central Feldru)

Long wooden stand, similar to some found in lower leagues in Hamburg, mountain views and possibility of getting ground, game and a train in the same picture.

Sunday - AS Amatorii Rarau Câmpulung Moldovenesc (at Stadionul Municipal Rarăul)

Probably best ground of the 'hop' - large stand similar to what you find over much of Eastern Europe, about 6 'ultras' , flags, - athletics track, scoreboard, great dug outs followed by wine, spirits, beer and pizza!

AS Polul Nord Falcau Brodina (at Stadionul Falcau)

A club names 'North Pole' less than a mile from the Ukrainian border, just a pitch by the road but with most of the village watching - followed by a meal with the starter of 'Cow Soup'.

The next post will include some pictures from all the games 

How was that a red??

Tuesday 18 October 2022, Cambridge United 1 Ipswich Town 0 - Papa Johns Trophy, Group Game, Abbey Stadium 

Yet another game ruined by a poor official - Referees do seem to be getting worse!

The App made me!

 Sunday 16 October 2022, Portman Rovers 6 Baltic United 1 - Suffolk FA Sunday Cup, Whitton Sports Centre

I had given up watching Sunday football years ago, the negatives outweighing the positives, however slightly addicted to the Futbology App, and as I had been to see a game at Whitton Sports Centre, I could not remember the opponents or the score.

So decided to sort that out today, and was pleasantly surprised, somethings have not changed, fags at half time, bickering with the ref, dodgy offsides - but it was not bad entertainment.

Game toady was a cup match with the Ipswich side playing a team from Bury and their name was a clue with most of their players from the three Baltic states.