Meeting friends

 United Counties Groundhop - Nottingham 2023

11am - Radford 0  Harrowby United 0 - Selhurst Street UCL, Div 1

2pm - Gedling Miners Welfare 0 Blackstones 1 - Mapperley Plains, UCL Div 1

5pm - Hucknall Town 1 Wisbech Town 1 - RM Stadium, UCL Premier, North

Some people do not like the hops - and I myself have issues- no concession price and a few other gripes, that I will keep to myself, however it is great to have so many games in one day, some clubs make the most out of it and for me it is a great chance to met friends I made on trips to Romania and Serbia. I not make many hops but I make sure I enjoy the ones I do go to.

Best bits - the 0-0 at Radford - plus programme shop and food, the seated stand at Gedling and how they sorted the car parking at Hucknall.

Radford

Gedling Miners Welfare

Hucknall Town

Hate the A12

Friday 28 July 2022, Braintree Town 0 Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 - PSF, Cressing Road

Always enjoy a trip to Braintree, love the ground, good club bar, fantastic club shop and friendly staff - however the downside - you have to use the A12 to get back home, and today it was a nightmare.

Premier League????

Tuesday 25 July 2023, Ipswich Town 1 Luton Town 1 - PSF, Jobserve Community Stadium, Colchester

One of these team has just been promoted to the Championship, the other to the Premier - any neutral, would have thought it was Ipswich who the Premier Club

Double game day

Saturday 22 July 2023, Cambridge United 2 Ipswich Town 1 - PSF, Abbey Stadium 

Followed by:

Over Sports 4 Great Shelford 1, - PSF, Over Community Centre

First game, we started well, second half was poor football by both teams, and we lost to a last minute goal!

Second game, was a good game played in atrocious conditions - luckily, an open sided marquee was next to the pitch, otherwise it would have been a very wet and miserable afternoon. 

Always a good standard

Thursday 20 July 2023, Melbourn 2 Foxton 6 - PSF, Meldreth Recreation Ground

My original choice was not on - and seemed to have never been planned, so up the A14 to see a couple of Cambridge League teams play a friendly. Always impressed with the standard of football in this league. Tonight, I was very impressed with Foxton and Melbourn should also do well in their sdivision.

Game not played at the usual home of Melbourn, but in the adjoining  village. A decent pitch for a recreation ground. 

Will Wanderers survive at Step 4?

Saturday 15 July 2023, Ipswich Wanderers 1 Leiston 4 - Mark Goldfinch Testimonial, Humber Doucy Lane

Easy win for Leiston, but Wanderers showed enough to think they might survive their first season at Step 4. Wanderers scored in the last minute of the game, with Leiston getting two goals in each half and missing a penalty early on in the game.

Competitive game with a trialist for Leiston getting a hat trick ( believe he was someone recently released by Norwich). No changes to Humber Doucy, other than the club house improvements are almost complete.

Supporting non-league

 Friday 7 July 2023, Ipswich Town 2 Maidenhead United 1 - PSF, Bloomfields (Needham Market FC)

Full house at Needham, loads of money taken at the bar and even a programme on sale, so well done for Ipswich in supporting local non-league.  Football wise, did not learn much - could say 'underwhelmed' .

Highest ground in Wales

Friday 30 June 2023, Blaenavon Blues 3 Cwmbran Town 1 - PSF, The Memorial Ground.

On a walking trip just over the English border so decided on a trip to this former pit village rather than a game towards Bristol

Also drawn in by seeing a game at the highest ground in Wales (365 M). The ground is not only hight but also surrounded by trees and fully railed, giving it an enclosed feel. A small stand plus two concrete dug outs, no lights.

The club house and changing rooms are in the same building, bar was selling cans of lager and cider plus hot drinks.

The hosts scored first but Cwmbran got back on terms quickly, Blaenavon then got the best goal of the game, to go in at the break two one up.

The hosts were on top most of the game, but did not add a third goal, till very late on and that was from the penalty spot.

Well contested game with a good crowd in attendance with a number supporting the visitors.