From the half way line!

Wednesday 29 January 2025, Billericay Town Under 19s 1 Southend United Under 18s 2 - National League U19 Alliance, Division 'A', New Lodge 

Glenn Tamplin certainly caused issues when involved in football - some of his antics were certainly strange, but one thing he should be thanked for, is the stadium he has left behind at Billericay, one that can be graded as one of the best Step 3.

Football wise, Southend dominated but came unstuck at the start of the second half when the home team scored direct from kick off, from the half way line! However in the end the Southend players were far too good for their South Essex neighbor's. 

Hammering

Tuesday 28 January 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 1 Charlton Athletic Under 21s 5 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

A score that certainly flattered Charlton, Ipswich had most of the ball and some very good chances in the first 20 minutes but Charlton took the lead after 19 minutes, with what may have been Charlton's first attack, however it did not take them long to increase their lead, this time from the penalty spot and they added a third just before the break.

The second half continued to see Ipswich having plenty of the ball, but not taking any chances they created and it was Charlton who continued to break at speed and unlike Ipswich take every chance created and they added two further goals.

Ipswich then introduced two of their more senior players with just 10 minutes left, plenty of chances created but it still took till injury time before Ipswich actually beat the Charlton keeper.

Among the spectators were ex Ipswich players, Paul Goddard, Jamie Scowcroft and Scott Mitchell

Slopey pitch

Saturday 25 January 2025, Flackwell Heath 1 Kings Langley 0 - Southern League, Central Division, Wilks Park

Flackwell started the day in the play off positions whilst Kings Langley were mid table, so I expected a home win however this was a very tough game for Flackwell and they only won it with an own goal on 80 minutes.

Flackwell were on top most of the game however the visitors had periods when they got on top and both keepers made a number of good saves.

Ground has an 'old school' feel, hidden away behind houses and one low seated stand with a small bit of cover by the tea hut/behind the dug outs and two bits of cover for those standing behind each goal.. Clubhouse is more modern.

Big thing here is the pitch, not in great condition, looked quite heavy, most noticeable is the sideways slope on the pitch.

Worth it for the floodlights

Thursday 23 January  2025, Union Saint Gilloise 2 Sporting Braga 1 - Europa League, The King Baudouin Stadium

Big question is how this can be a national stadium! - With such a large site, maybe knocking it down and starting again would be a plan.

The floodlights are worth a look/visit but other than that, very poor. And it is not just the spectator facilities that were not what one expected for a European competition, the pitch was almost unplayable, looked more like a ploughed field - not sure Union will get away with not being fined by UEFA, I knew one of the UEFA staff present but he was just acting as a 'mentor' today - the new UEFA Official may have wondered if he was there for a ploughing competition rather than a football game.

The first half was poor footballing wise, the pitch was partly to blame but neither team looked like they would be challenging for the trophy in the later rounds. 

Braga had very little of the ball but took the lead after 16 minutes, but most in attendance would want to forget the first half. Football wise, the second half was not much better if you wanted to watch good football but at least it was very exciting, with Union winning the game thanks to goals in the 50th and 74th minute. But that was only part of the story, A Braga player got a second yellow card in the 79th minute, and he was soon followed down the tunnel by a Union player who also received a second yellow card. The final whistle then saw a number of Braga players lose their cool and a second Braga player was shown a red card and if Soccerway is right a Union player also got a straight red.

Not a great game, but you could not fault the passion shown by the Union fans, who kept signing (and drinking) throughout most of the game. 

Ukrainian victory

Wednesday 22 January 2025, Shakhtar Donetsk 2 Stade Brest 0 - Champions League, Veltins Arena, Gelsenkirchen

Had wanted to visit the Shalke ground for a number of years after watching them back at the old Park Stadion in the early 80's, even in the Second Division, hard to get tickets so this seemed a good option. Took the short trip from Essen to Gelsenkirchen and then the tram to the stadium. Left him at the turnstile as my entrance was on far side of the complex, but when I got inside, you could walk round the whole ground, so watched the second half with Dave, as plenty of spare seats around, (top tier was not open)

Brest have been one of the surprise teams in the Champions League this season whilst Donetsk had little chance of qualifying, however it was the Ukrainian team who were the  better side today, going ahead in the 18th minute and then adding a second from the penalty spot in the 37th minute.

Brest were slightly more competitive in the second half, but the Donetsk keeper only had to make one save, Donetsk scored again in injury time, but ruled out by VAR, 3-0 would have been a score that showed the domination by the home side.

No problem with tram back to the station and then a short wait for the train to Essen

Outclassed

Sunday 19 January 2025, Ipswich Town 0 Manchester City 6 - Premier League, Portman Road

Good first 27 minutes by Ipswich but then City tore us apart and confidence ebbed away from the team - at least the fans kept behind them to the end. Unlike Brighton, City did not have to resort to gamesmanship to secure the win.

However the impotency of the FA/Premier League was on show again today - not on about City and FFP, but City were also fined recently for continuously coming out late for the second half - today Ipswich and match officials had to wait 3 minutes for City to come out for the second half - maybe time for points deduction, rather than fines - and we may see them turn up on time.

Wembley dream still on for Fleet

Saturday 18 January 2025, Crawley Down Gatwick 1 Fleet Town 2 - FA Vase, 4th Round, Haven Sports field

Rural setting but only just off the motorway and close to Gatwick Airport, large modern clubhouse, selling plenty of beer and live tv on numerous screens. Small part of bar selling tea/coffee and rolls.

Once inside ground, a table selling sweets and tea/coffee but surprised no other food offerings, money making opportunity missed! But you did get a free biscuit with your coffee.

Very basic ground, but enclosed feeling due to two sides having large hedges behind narrow spectator hard standing and a wood line behind one goal.

Fleet looked the more lively team as the game started and were unlucky not to be awarded an early penalty, as the half went on the home side improved and they took the lead. They had further opportunities to add to their total at the end of the first half and then at the start of the second. However Fleet did not panic and equalised from the best move of the game and then took the lead soon afterwards. Fleet saw the game out and deserved the win in what had been a hard fought but entertaining game.

Cheats do prosper

Thursday 16 January 2025, Ipswich Town 0 Brighton and Hove Albion 2 - Premier League, Portman Road

Brighton were the better team, but it was easier than it could have been thanks to their cheating, diving, time wasting- cheats do prosper!

inspired

Wednesday 15 January 2025, Ipswich Town Foundation U21 Women 4 Plymouth Argyle U21 Women 4 - Inspire, Ipswich, National Youth Football League, Premier South 2 Women.

Had an afternoon off, so decided on a revisit to Inspire, as I had not been back since the G4 was put in (Jan 24), The grass pitch I saw a game on in 2023, is still in use, furthest away from the buildings and gym, looks well used. The G4 is caged, with hard standing inside the cage for spectators, which runs the whole length of one side. Next to the G4 is a new grass pitch, that is also caged and has a rail and hard standing on one side. Pitch looked in very good condition. Both caged pitches built close to the car park/buildings.

I believe the Suffolk University also use the pitches as well as the Ipswich Town Foundation, Inspire is a youth charity and the site is the old Nacton Heath/Holywells School, Titus Bramble being one ex Pro, who played some of his earliest football on these pitches.

What a game! Was not sure what to expect - as Ipswich lost their national U21 Academy status and now the team is run by the foundation, there were some very good players on the pitch but also others who struggled, Ipswich took the lead on13 minutes but Plymouth hit back on 25 minutes.

The second half saw a mad 7 minute period starting on the 50th minute, where Plymouth took the lead went 1-3 up then Ipswich got one back only for Plymouth to extend their lead with a cracking goal direct from a free kick on 57 minutes.

But Ipswich kept going and managed to get back on level terms with goals in the 76 and 86th minute.

A fantastic game and the 7 spectators were well entertained.

Much needed cup win

Sunday 12 January 2025, Ipswich Town 3 Bristol Rovers 0 - FA Cup 3rd Round, Portman Road

Much needed cup win, great first half that the second half failed to match.

Beat the freeze

Saturday 11 January 2025, Sudbury Sports 0 Barnston 4 - Essex & Suffolk Border League, Halstead Leisure Centre

Sudbury Sports play a number of games at this G4, not just to get games played when wet/cold like today but if they are unable to play at their usual home as they are behind AFC Sudbury and AFC Sudbury Reserves when it comes to priority in playing games. AFC Sudbury Reserves were at home today so Sudbury Sports were always going to play at Halstead today, what ever the weather.

Large sports centre next to local school, decent car park but no other facilities for spectators ( vending machine in reception, broken),

Well looked after G4, with hard standing for spectators on same side as dug outs, 3/4 of pitch in length.

As usual with Sports, mostly players from AFC Sudbury Academy, so all under 18. Barnston were also quite a young team with a few older heads amongst their side, and it was the visitors who dominated the whole match, only surprise was that they only scored two goals in the first half after creating numerous chances. They were not so dominant in the second half but still never looked in any danger of not winning this game.

Good crowd in attendance, helped by so little other other football, beating the freeze.

Best display of the season

Tuesday 7 January 2025, Ipswich Town Under 21s 5 Cardiff City Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Ben Lane Training Ground

Cardiff are flying high in this league whilst Ipswich are very inconstant, in fact have not won, lost or drawn two games in a row, however today it was all Ipswich, and could have easily had 3 or 4 more goals as a number of players put in their best displays of the season - maybe the incentive was a possible place on the bench for the FA Cup tie on Sunday.

Ipswich scored on 23 and 26, Cardiff got a goal on the break on 39 minutes.

Second half it was all Ipswich with further goals on 50 and 68 minutes and a fifth from the penalty spot in the 69th minute.

Ryan Carr and Rio Morgan the two who I thought stood out from what was a great team performance 

Worth the wait

Saturday 4 January 2025, Lewes 2 Cheshunt 2 - Isthmian League, Premier - Dripping Pan

Yes, I know - not sure why it had taken me so long to visit, I knew the ground would be great, I had even had a quick look in on the way to a Brighton-Ipswich game a few years ago,

I am sure most on here have been, but if you like me, have put it off- do not wait much longer - it is worth the trek - the food, beer, beach hut executive boxes, stands, the wall, the terracing and even the statues to remember two women pirates! The ground has it all.

Football wise, Lewes were mid table and the visitors near the bottom, however it was Cheshunt who dominated the first half and took the lead after 25 minutes. Lewes looked out of sorts, with their number 9 Botti looking very poor. Game was delayed for a while as a member of the crowd had to replace an injured lino!

Second half was more even but Cheshunt still looked like the team more likely to score, on 60 minutes a Lewes attack again came to nothing, ball cleared to midfield, picked up by Alfie Allen of Lewes who hit a long distance shot, top corner of the net.

This gave Lewes the boost they needed and the last 30 minutes were much more even and with just 3 minutes to go Lewes took the lead, however Cheshunt then went straight up the other end and equalised. Lewes will be gutted that they never held on to their lead for the last 3 minutes but Cheshunt will be disappointed that they ever let Lewes back into the game after they had dominated for so long.