Supersub

Thursday 30 October 2025, Haverhill Rovers Under 18s 1 Ipswich Town Under 16s 3 - Suffolk FA Under 18 Midweek Cup, Hamlet Croft

As in previous years, Ipswich enter their Under 16 team in this competition to give them some experience against older players - Haverhill started strongly but after 15 minutes, Ipswich settled into the game and had most of the play, but a bit like the First Team, lacking the killer instinct with just shots from distance.

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. 

Could not take all the points

Tuesday 28 October 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 Preston North End Under 21s 2 - Premier League Cup, Group game, Bloomfields, Needham Market FC

Second visit to Needham this season, but first with the new Grandstand open - a big improvement on the old one, but do actually miss the wooden bench seating.

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.

Jack again

Saturday 25 October 2025, Ipswich Town 1 West Bromwich Albion 0 - Championship, Portman Road 

Left it late again and it was that man, Jack Clarke who saved the day again 

Duck to water

Friday 24 October 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 3 Brighton and Hove Albion Under 21s 1- PL2, Jobserve Community Stadium, Colchester

1st team may have made a stuttering start to their return to the Championship, The Under 18 team can't even get a point, however the Under 21 team have taken to the PL2 like a duck to water.

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. 

Double defeat

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. 

Xherdan Shaqiri show

Saturday 18 October 2025, FC Basel 3 FC Winterthur 0 - Swiss Super League, St Jakob Park

Unlike my top of the table match in Zurich last season, this time FC Basel may have been playing the team at the bottom of the table, there was big crowd and great atmosphere. Stadium used for Women's Euro final in the summer and is impressive with a shopping centre built in to the main stand and below the ground.

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.

Left it late

Saturday 11 October 2025, Everett Rovers 5 Buckingham 3 - SSM League, Division 1, Dobb Road

A goal fest as the league leaders had to come back from 1-3 down to win 5-3. The ground is a cage on a large sports field with a small but very modern clubhouse behind one goal. inside the cage you can watch from one side and behind one goal. A very small covered terrace, no seats.

The home side are top and today they played another side in the top 6. It was the visitors who took the lead after 4 minutes, game was played at a fast pace, and both teams were keen to attack and the home side got back on level terms after 18 minutes. The visitors went back in front on 39 minutes then extended their lead when a home played headed into his own goal on 44 minutes, but there was still enough time left in the half for Everett to pull one goal back.

Second half saw Everett do most of the attacking, but it seemed they would end up losing at home as they could not break down the well disciplined Buckingham defence, but with 10 minutes left one of the better Buckingham players hurt his knee and had to be subbed off, his replacement had a nightmare and gave a penalty away on 83 minutes which Everett converted. .

This gave Everett a great boost and they got in front after 88 minutes and added a 5th goal, deep into injury time.

Everett have a very good chance of winning the division, but it would mean they would have to undertake quite a bit of work to be able to play at Step 5.

Mad end

Tuesday 7 October 2025, Brantham Athletic 2 Tilbury 2 - Brantham Leisure Centre, Isthmian League, North Division

Brantham bottom, Tilbury not much higher and for 80 odd minutes we had a very poor game, Brantham looking the better team, but Tilbury took the lead after 53 minutes with their first shot on target in the game.

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 

Long wait over

Sunday 5 October 2025, Ipswich Town 3 Norwich City 1 - Championship, Portman Road

Took 16 years, but in the end an 'easy' Deby win with a great short cameo from Nunez

Friendly club

Saturday 4 October 2025, Mutford and Wrentham 1 UEA 1 - Anglian Combination, Premier Division, London Road

Weather spoilt the game, wet and windy first half and then just windy second half - plus a poor pitch, meant football hard to play, credit to both teams - as they both still attempted to play football, Both goals in the second half with the home team scoring first, both teams had chance to win it, a few hard tackles but nothing to write home about, game played in good spirits, so a surprise when the Ref red carded the home team coach in injury time!

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. 

Looking up

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!

Held on

Tuesday 23 September 2025, Ipswich Town XI 2 Hadleigh United 1 - Suffolk FA Premier Cup, Round 1, Millfield

Ipswich conceded home advantage and the game was played at Hadleigh who would have had their coffers boosted with a good crowd. Ipswich fielded a side who are al eligible for the Under 18 team. 

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.

Future Champions?

Saturday 20 September 2025, Aylsham 0 Norwich United 6 - Anglian Combination, Premier Division, Youngs Park

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.

New pitch but aother defeat

Tuesday 16 September 2025, Ipswich Town Under 17s 0 West Ham United Under 17s 4 - Playford Rd Training Ground, Under 17 PL Cup, Group game.

After the Ipswich Under 18 team last 8-0 at Palace on Saturday, we were not expecting much today - and we were not wrong- easy win for the visitors and Ipswich were in a very generous mood, with our inexperienced defence making numerous mistakes, the Hammers were 3 up at the break ( 6, 13 and 36 minutes).

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.

Now to put a run togaether

Friday 12 September 2025, Ipswich Town 5 Sheffield United 0 - Championship, Portman Road

Great display, 5 goals and a hat trick - now to put a run together!

Varied shirt numbers

Wednesday 10 September 2025, AFC Sudbury Under 19s 2 Chelmsford City Under 19s 0 , National League U19 Alliance, Division 'A', Elite Travel Stadium

Was hoping this game might be played on the new G4 Community pitch next door to the main stadium, however when the rain started, was quite happy it was on the main ground as no cover for spectators in the new cage.

AFC Sudbury, I believe are playing their first season in this league, whilst Chelmsford have had teams who have gone on to win National Cups in previous seasons.

It looks like Sudbury could have a good season in this league, totally dominating the first half and scoring twice, in the 10th and 30th minute, the second a long rage shot that Chelmsford keeper fumbled.

The second half was more even but AFC Sudbury still created the better chances. For 'hoppers' who want to see a game in the new cage ( does have a spectator area) worth checking fixture's for when the Sudbury U19 side and the girls side both have home games on the same day.

AFC Sudbury are stull using a club number system, every player in the whole club having their own number so we had shirts between 18 and 99 on display today.

Shared kits

Tuesday 9 September 2025, Colchester United Under 21s 1 Fleetwood Town Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Florence Park

Sunny afternoon at Florence Park, game played on bottom pitch. fully railed with spectators on one side and dug outs (portable) on the other.

Fleetwood for some reason having to play in the Colchester Utd away kit!

Colchester hoping to continue their good start to the season but it was Fleetwood who had the best of the first 20 minutes, Colchester then started to get on top and hit the bar in the 27th minute, from a direct free kick, however it was the visitors who went in front after 35 minutes, early cross met by an almost diving header from their centre forward.

Second half was scrappier, with both sides having chances, and Colchester got level in the 61st minute with a great goal, a cracking shot from distance putting the ball in the top corner of the goal. a draw was just about a fair result.

Sunny Sunday

Family in London for the day, so used the opportunity to enjoy the sun and knock off a couple of local grounds/pitches - tend to only watch Sunday football once or twice a season.

1030am

Shotley Rose 1 Golden Hind 2

Ipswich Sunday Morning League, Premier Division

Rose Playing Field

A rarity , a pub football team that actually plays at a pub! Shotley is a small village outside Ipswich, along the River Orwell, the pitch is in a field behind the pub, alongside a Bowls Club, hedges on 3 sides give it an enclosed feel,. Concrete dugouts also in place.

Both teams had some good footballers, with the young Golden Hind captain very impressive but I also remembered why I avoid Sunday football with a couple of players on each side ruining the game by play acting, fouling, arguing and time wasting. Even with 3 or 4 players trying to ruin the game, we did see some decent football, the Hind going 2 up after scoring in the 15th and 40th minute but in the second half it was Shotley Rose who were on top, scoring after 67 minutes but even with plenty of added on time they could not convert all the pressure they had on the Golden Hind in the second half to an equaliser. 

2pm

AFC Kesgrave Veterans 1 Bury Town Veterans 2

Norfolk and Suffolk Veterans League, South Premier Division 

Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre

Another reason that Sunday morning football is struggling is that Veterans football is on the rise, not just hitting Sunday football with a local Senior Saturday side quitting last season only for most of the players to remain with the club to play for the veterans side. Veterans footballs seems more organised ( even if both teams turned up in all blue strips today) and far less arguing and moaning, 

We even have a Veterans team in Ipswich that has a player signed on, who played in the World Cup Finals. Even today, the visiting side, Bury have an ex-England Youth, Ipswich and Exeter player on their books, he was not in the team today.

No football furniture (portable dug outs were still in the equipment cage. The site includes a community centre, a sports hall and the football pitch is between the community centre and the cricket pitch, with a cycle speedway track behind one goal.

Home team started on top but somehow manged to fluff a few easy chances, Bury then got on top and went ahead after 38 minutes. They added a second right at the start of the second half. Kesgrave then took control, got a goal back in the 74th minute and had another goal disallowed towards the end of the game, with Bury hanging on to get all three points.

Goal fest

Tuesday 2 September 2025, Stony Stratford Town 5 Caddington 1 - Spartan South Midlands Lge, Div 2, Ostler's Lane

An entertaining game with two mainly young teams, who both wanted to play football, game far closer than the final score suggests.

The home team were two up within 7  minutes, however Caddington came back into the game and got a goal back just after the half hour and looked the stronger team as the half ended.

Second half was even then a number of subs were made and that seemed to give the home team a boost as they added a third after 57 minutes then were awarded a penalty on 70 minutes, Caddington keeper saved it but the Stony forward put in the rebound, a 5th goal was added in the 88th minute.

Ground is good for this level, fully railed, hard standing on 3 sides, concrete dug outs and a small stand with terracing and a few odd seats. Tea bar also open, the ground is approached via the cricket club.

Club is based in small village on edge of Milton Keynes .