Dog more impressed than me!

 Bank Holiday Double

Monday 28 August 2023 -11am - Copthorne 2 Oakwood 1 - Camping World Community Stadium, Southern Combination, Division One - then

3pm - Metropolitan Police 1 Hanworth Villa 1 - Imber Court, Isthmian League, South Central Division

Easy drive down to the other side of Gatwick for the first game, classy new ground, but as Copthorne are tenants - not many there to see two teams trying to play football. Copthorne in the end got the win with both teams scoring good goals.

Easy drive up through 'posh' Surrey - to Imber court, a large sports complex owned by the Police- the football club is now not just police players, quite a few young players on display, however not sure they are going to have a great season - maybe even a struggle to stay up. Good to see a programme shop plus good quality burgers on sale.

Great run comes to an end

Saturday 26 August 2023, Ipswich Town 3 Leeds United 4 - Championship, Portman Road

It had to come to an end eventually - but we know we should have still won. 

Rules were written in Cambridge

Tuesday 22 August 2023, Cambridge University Press 3 Cherry Hinton 1 - Cambridgeshire County League, Premier Division, CASS Centre.

Some of the earliest set s of rules for football were written in Cambridge, pity these two teams did not have much knowledge of the current rules!

A ground well worth a visit, roped one side, railed on dug out side- rail on the edge of a wildlife area, benches around the ground and a raised clubhouse giving a good view of the pitch. Large sports field part of the Cambridge university Press complex,

Cambridge scored early on and dominated most of the play, however Cherry Hinton got back on terms in the 13th minute. Cambridge took the lead again the 26th minute and added a third in the 64th minute.

Both teams could play football but the game was ruined by the constant arguing with the ref and attempting to get other players sent off - no surprise then that in the 68th minute the game boiled over - and a 20 player punch up- with a Cambridge player getting a straight red ( he had only just come on as a sub) and a Cherry Hinton sub  getting booked. whole incident not helped by Cherry Hinton having about 10 coaches on the touchline. After that the game fizzled out, with Cambridge still on top, even with just 10 players.

Another defeat

Tuesday 22 August 2023, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Birmingham City Under 21s 2 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

The First Team might be winning every game but both the U18 and 21 sides are struggling to even get a point- another defeat today but a better second half display.

City took an early lead in the 4th minute but Town were back on terms after 11 minutes with a strong header from the centre back, Birmingham went back in front in the 20th minute and could have added more.

Second half saw chances at both ends plus a few yellow cards, Ipswich getting plenty of space on the left hand side, but final ball let them down and Birmingham, with plenty of time-wasting saw the game out for an away win.

Last 15 minutes were fun

Saturday 19 August 2023, Canterbury City 2 AFC Whyteleafe 3 - SEC League, Division One, Hartsdown Park

First home game for the 'homeless' Canterbury at Margate, a ground far too big for them, but hope the crowds increase.

They started well and were one up early on  but found themselves two, one down with 9 minutes left- then it went mad!

81 minutes - Whyteleafe captain, get his second yellow card- down to 10 men

88 minutes- Canterbury player sent to the sin bin

90 minutes - 5 minutes injury time start

95 minutes- Canterbury equalise from a corner

96 minutes- Whyteleafe go back in front

96 minutes- Canterbury player sent off- dissent 

Where can you park?

Wednesday 16 August 2023, Brightlingsea Town 3 Tiptree Heath 1- Essex & Suffolk Border League, Premier Division, Strangers Corner

First surprise, massive sports field - numerous pitches, Football, Rugby and cricket but no car park!

Football wise, home team took a two goal lead and looked comfortable, however the last 10 minutes saw Tiptree get a goal back and started to put the pressure on - injury time, Brightlingsea broke and secured the win with a third goal, Tiptree were not happy, keeper was booked then another Tiptree player managed to get himself a red card.

Well run club

Tuesday 15 August 2023, Woodbridge Town 2 Kirkley & Pakefield  2, Eastern Counties, Premier Division, Notcutts Park

As soon as you arrive at Woodbridge, you know you are ar a well run club - an organised car park, with a steward and then the youngest programme seller ever - football wise, it was interesting to see how the young Woodbridge manager, Luke Hyam ( ex ITFC) was getting on. What you could see, was that he had a young team, they were trying to play football but still plenty to work on. 

A dream? Top of the League

Saturday 12 August 2023, Ipswich Town Under 18s 2 - Crewe Alexandra Under 18s 3 - Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Followed by:

Ipswich Town 2 Stoke City 0 - Championship, Portman Road

Not much to shout about at the training ground - but what a brilliant afternoon - full house, fantastic football in the first half followed by a win secured by the arrival of the the first two substitutes.

Could be another great season.

Back home

Wednesday 9 August 2023, Ipswich Town 2 Bristol Rovers 0 - League Cup, 1st Round, Portman Road

First home game back, new pitch, new midfielder scores and we win!

Still good burgers

Tuesday 8 August 2023, Stowmarket Town 1 Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 - PSF, Greens Meadow

Highlights- two great goals, including one from Stow when the Ipswich keeper was lobbed from the half way line then we had the usual great burgers but now supplemented by a cake stall!

No snakes spotted

Sunday 6 August 2023, Wokingham and Emmbrook 1 Cinderford Town 0, FA Cup, Extra Preliminary Round, The Lowther

Not the sort of sign you expect to see at a football ground, maybe hard to describe as a football ground - as cricket still seems to rule the roost here.

Football wise, The home side looked quite good and at the same time it was obvious why Cinderford went down last year - only one nil, but result never looked in doubt, 

No goals but plenty of cards.

Saturday 5 August 2023, Skegness Town 0 AFC Mansfield 0  - FA Cup, Extra Preliminary Round, Vertigo Stadium.

Heavy rain most of the way but stopped as soon as we got to the ground (about 2.15pm) and only had a few spots of light rain throughout the game.

Game of two halves, Skegness missing a penalty early on and possible should have been awarded a second penalty before the break. Not a dirty game but a few players ( mainly from Mansfield) ended up in the Ref's book.

Second half, and it was AFC Mansfield who were on top, but as with Skegness in the first half, poor finishing let them down.

Ref had time to issue a few more yellow cards and just before the end, a visiting player got his second yellow card and so Mansfield finished the game with 10 men.

Modern stadium, plenty of room for more stands if they veer moved up the pyramid, but unlikely any time soon if they play like this.

Surprised the game lasted 90 minutes.

Wednesday 2 August 2023, Stowmarket United 2 Risby Greens 3 - PSF, Wetherden Playing Fields

Had an evening off but after long drives last weekend and two planned this weekend plus the A12 and A14 being totally unreliable at night, I decided to knock off a local ground I had not been to - after 36 minutes, that seemed a big mistake!

A friendly (??) between two Bury St Edmunds, Sunday League teams - chose this also because Stowmarket United have a good social media feed, so knew the game was on. Even start but obvious not many good players on the pitch with the visitors right winger standing out and the home teams captain, who had obviously played at a higher level. On 12 minutes the captain hit the bar after a some great touches but that seemed to wake Risby up, who then took a 3 goal lead by the 35th minute.

There had already been some pushing and shoving but Stowmarket started to lose their heads after the third goal and in the 36th minute their centre back should have seen red, this led to a 15 man punch up with the home coach also getting involved. I thought the Ref would call the game off but he decided to play on.

Second half was an improvement, probably Stowmarket knew they were in big trouble if they did not get a grip of a few of their players, they subbed the thug who should have seen red and a few others- the changes saw an improvement in the standard of play - Risby still on top, however the home keeper was inspired in the second half and at the other end, Stowmarket got two goals back. Risby saw out the last 20 minutes out to gain a deserved win.

Basic village playing field, wooden pavilion/changing rooms, no other furniture, pitch surrounded by trees on 3 sides