Saturday 15 November 2025, Bugbrooke St Michaels 2 Newport Pagnell Town 3 - Birds Close, United Counties League, Premier Division, South
Newport Pagnell dominated the first half created a few good chances so it was a total surprise when Bugbrooke took the lead after 28 minutes, Newport eventually got back on terms thanks to an own goal after 40 minutes.
Second half looked like it was also going to mostly one way traffic after Newport Pagnell got a very quick goal, however this one was disallowed and the scorer was then yellow carded and then sent to the sin bin after berating the Ref. This was the signal for the visitors to lose any control of the game they had, they seemed to think every decision was going against them and their attitude was pretty poor. At the same time the home side improved on their poor first half display and their young subs also contributed to a more even half. On 74 minutes Newport Pagnell did get a second goal but 5 minutes later the home team were back on level terms however 5 minutes later the visitors got the winning goal.
On the way they played in the first half, Newport Pagnell looked a good team, but less said the better about their second 45 minutes!
Nice easy trip down the A12 to get to this game, just a public park, with 3 pitches, games on all three, and all home teams representing Harold Wood Athletic.
The main game was on the pitch that runs parallel with the entry road and was roped off ( poorly) on all 4 sides, with a slight slope on the pitch.
The club house is large, modern and a bit of a surprise when this is just a park- the clubhouse overlooks the cricket pitch, full bar and good choice of hot food.
It only took the visitors from Southend 4 minutes to open the scoring after a defensive mix up at the back and a second goal was added after 30 minutes after an error by the 'Wood' keeper.
Second half was also dominated by Catholic, adding two more goals in the 56th and 59th minute with the goal on 59, a great individual goal. Harold Wood got one back from the penalty spot on 73 minutes but Catholic Utd finished stronger and added a 5th goal on 89 minutes.
Sussex Double
Saturday 1 November 2025, Worthing 3 Hampton and Richmond Borough 0 - National League, South, Woodside
Followed at 545pm by - Lancing 1 Newhaven 3 - Southern Combination, Premier Division, Culver Road
No time to get in the Sea but still got wet! Heavy rain at the first game, meant still damp at the second!
Second game, was the third of the day from the Sussex hop, but only one I watched as went to Worthing instead for my first game. Superb stadium for this level and plenty of food and drink outlets pitchside- a few League clubs could learn something there, football wise it tuned out to be an easy win for Worthing.
Lancing was a short drive but rain was still coming down and parking was an issue, however good news, once a parking solace was found the rain did stop. Lancing is also the home of Sussex FA but other than one stand is till quite basic but at least with an artificial pitch the game was always going to be played.
Newhaven started the stringer, no real surprise as Lancing were just one place off the bottom of the league, however Lancing started to get back into the game and got back on terms and it was only in the last 20 minutes of the game did Newhaven get back on top and secure all 3 points.
With Man Utd losing tonight, Ipswich go top of PL2 and they deserved the win, even after playing the last 33 minutes with ten men.
Ipswich dominated the first half but had to wait till the 40th minute to take the lead through Finn Barbrook. Second half saw Newcastle come into the game more, however it was still Ipswich who were creating the clearer chances, but on 57 minutes one of the Ipswich centre backs got a second yellow card and Ipswich were now down to 10 men. Newcastle seemed to lack any idea of how to break the 10 men down and it was Ipswich who were still looking the more dangerous. But Ipswich kept missing the chance to make the game safe and it was in the 7 minutes of injury time that Newcastle had their best chances, but Ipswich held on for a great win.
Crowd today shows how many more will watch Ipswich Under 21s at home rather than drive down to Colchester.
Second half, saw the introduction of a few Ipswich subs, as no programme or teamsheet, hard to know who they are but one was believed to be an England schoolboy international and he certainly looked a class above the players already on the pitch. he was involved in everything. Ipswich went ahead after 52 minutes but Haverhill were back on level terms 5 minutes later after confusion at the back but Ipswich were back in front after 65 minutes and then in injury time the 'super sub' won a penalty which he converted himself. A decent game and great to see the two young teams play in front of a good sized crowd.
Larger crowd than at the U21 games held at Colchester, I for one, would rather see Ipswich invest in the facilities at Needham or Felixstowe rather than hire Colchester United for U21 and Ipswich Women games.
Preston started well but Ipswich soon found themselves two up with both goals coming from Jamie Mauge, a local Ipswich lad whose dad (Ronnie) played professionally for a number of clubs, mainly at Bury and Plymouth.
This was the Ipswich U21 Second XI, as only 3 players who started against Brighton started today but it was still disappointing how in the second half they could not finish the game off and it was Preston who finished the stronger, getting one goal back from the penalty spot and then getting an equaliser late on.
Three nil up at half time and even manged to miss a penalty in the second half- Brighton got into the game late on but just manged a one goal consolation.
Be interesting to see how much bigger the crowd is next Friday, when the Under 21 team play a rare game at Portman Rd.
Tuesday 21 October 2025, Ipswich Town Under 17s 1 Norwich City Under 17s 4 - PL Under 17 Cup, group game, Playford Road
Norwich started the sharper and could have scored earlier but Ipswich started to get back into the game but then fell behind after 18 minutes only for Ipswich to equalise a minute later from a cross/shot!
Ipswich then got on top and on 58 minutes a Norwich player got a straight red when as last man he took the Ipswich Number 9 down but instead of Ipswich taking advantage of the extra man, it was Norwich who seemed to benefit, playing on the break and going ahead after 62 minutes, and then adding a third after 87 minutes then to rub slat into the wound, scoring directly from a free kick on 90 minutes.
Game played on the main Training Ground (not Bent Lane) currently part building site/ training ground
Then it got worse!!
Ipswich Town 0 Charlton Athletic 3 - Championship, Portman Road
Totally dominated the first half, numerous corners but closest to scoring was a shot that hit the bar and then second half the defence went missing- and Ipswich now have some serious issues if we expect to return to the Premiership at the first opportunity.
Tram 14 is currently unable to get to the stadium as line being renewed but Tram 10 or 11 dropped you just 10 minutes from the ground, plenty of outside bar and food stalls in place with club selling a special scarf for a cancer charity and the club supporters raising money for a club museum.
The game was the Xherdan Shaqiri show - scoring a penalty, making an assist, creating/involved in the best move of the day, taking every corner and Free Kick. He does not look very fit anymore but his passion for the game was on show and some of his passing was out of this world.
Afterwards, easy walk back to tram stop, 2 minute wait and back at hotel in 15 minutes.
No local morning games, all games played seemed to be late afternoon, so clashing with the FC Basel 6pm kick off, the club were offering cheap tickets for the indoor Basel indoor tennis tournament evening session, being held in the large sports arena next door to the football stadium
Sunday, no games for me but a large non-league calendar was in place, but nothing that stood out, all local games seemed to kick off between 12 an d 3pm - so again a double was impossible unless you were willing to get a train 30 miles plus to get an extra morning kick off game in.
.jpg)
Looked like an away but then we had 4 minutes of madness, a Brantham sub equalised on 88 minutes, then a minute later the same sub got, what Brantham thought was a winner after a terrible mistake by the Tilbury keeper, but it was too good to believe and in the 93rd minute, Tilbury were back level after a looping header. B
Both teams look like they will continue to struggle for the rest of the season.
My first visit to Brantham this season, and no noticeable improvements since promotion
Mutford, promoted last season and had gone up the leagues' quite fast in the last few seasons, players have stuck with them through that rise, but they might struggle now in top division.
Ground is basic, on a field right next to the A12, Fully fenced off, two wooden dugouts and a very, very small wooden stand - however the club is well worth a visit!
Tea, coffee, rolls and cake (Victoria sponge, today) all available and just for a donation- in the hut next to the changing rooms, plus the room was warm, dry, carpet, even coffee tables to put your mug of coffee down on. Club badges on sale and at the end of the hut a table crammed with old team photos, programmes from Norfolk FA Finals from the 60's, medals from more recent cup wins , old club committee papers- a real bonus to the visit. Locals all keen to chat and made everyone welcome.
Saturday 27 September 2025, Ipswich Town 2 Portsmouth 1- Championship, Portman Road
A great first half, superb individual goal then a great team goal - all looking good for Ipswich - second half was not as fluid and disappointing in conceding a goal in injury tome - but main thing, is we are now looking up!
The Academy team have a had a difficult start to their season and would have hoped a good win today would boost their confidence - they got the win but not sure their display would have given them much hope that this would be start of turning their season round.
Ipswich went in front on 37 minutes with a deflected shot- possible their first shot of the half, however they only held the lead for 3 minutes as Hadleigh equalised from the penalty spot.
Ipswich took their captain (and best player ) off at half time, maybe to stop him being sent off as he had a yellow card in the first half and Hadleigh were targeting him, attempting to provoke a reaction.
Ipswich got the winner 70 minutes and held on- just to get the win. Hadleigh also fielded a young side but they certainly were old enough to get involved in a few dodgy tackles and were happy to use some of the 'dark' arts. Game was not helped by a poor Ref, who failed to se what Hadleigh were attempting to do.
Very impressive display by Norwich United, stood near some of their committee in the second half and they said their aim was to go through the season undefeated, did not sound arrogant just a determination to keep standards high.
Norwich took the lead after 8 minutes, but at the time the game was quite even and Aylsham hit the post soon after but then United took complete control, adding 3 more goals in the first half in the 22, 33 and 40th minute.
Second half saw Norwich United carve out more chances and they added 2 further goals in the 57 and 64th minute.
Youngs Park is a modern sports complex next to a new housing estate on the edge of the village. The main pitch is fully railed, 2 brick dug outs and a (very) small covered terrace.
The clubhouse is large and modern and a number of picnic benches and park benches are outside the clubhouse, and you could sit on them to watch the game.
Plenty of grass pitches, large car park and a G4 cage -another side from Aylsham had a game on the G4, which kicked off 15 minutes after our game.
Second half was slightly more competitive and the Ipswich subs, seemed an upgrade on the starting XI. West Ham still added a 4th goal in the 65th minute.
With the whole training ground being developed, the game was actually played on the Playford Rd site ( for last 3 years, nearly all U16, 18 and 21 games have been played over the road at Bent Lane.
For the pitch chasers, this was Pitch 8 - it is now fully railed and sited behind the furthest goal of the G4 Cage, previously the junior Town teams had played on a pitch closer to the corner of the Training Ground.
