Not a football ground, but still a great football game

Saturday 9 December 2023, Coventry United 2 Leicester Nirvana - UCL Premier South, Butts Park Arena

This game was not even i my thoughts at 10am, but the 3 games I had in my plan- all in Surrey/West London area were washed out- so it was a drive north for the plastic pitch option.

When I arrived, thought I had made a mistake, not a great welcome at the turnstile, over priced admission, a programme not worth the £2 and car park at £5 and the bar and limited food offering obviously run by the stadium owners not the club.

However, in the end I was glad I had made the effort,  I saved the £5 by parking in the small road next door and then, stand large and empty but at least it good view and then the real reason it was worth coming- the football. Leicester were bottom with Coventry not much higher up the league but both teams served up a great game. Coventry started on top but it was Nirvana who went in the break two up, a goalmouth scramble in 17th minute then a cracking shot from distance in the 44th minute.

Nirvana should have secured the win in the 52nd minute when awarded a penalty but the keeper saved that and then the rest of the half was mostly Coventry pushing forward and on the 70th minute they got one back, the Nirvana keeper made a great save but a United forward was first to the rebound.##It still looked like Leicester would hold on, Coventry did hit the posts in the last minute and then they got the equaliser they probably deserved with a header from a tight angle in the 91st minute.

Racing away with it

Wednesday 10 October 2023, Easington Sports 1 Racing Club Warwick 3 - UCL Premier League, South, Addison Road

Basic ground, but as dark and very wet - did not explore much, good use of local school for car park, small club house and hot food and drinks also on sale. Small seated stand on one side and a covered terrace behind one goal, with home fans also crammed into the small bit of cover outside the clubhouse. Warwick had a good sized away support in attendance.

Warwick looked  a good team right from kick off and opened the scoring on 9 minutes, whilst the home team appealed for offside. Warwick then dominated the game but cuuld not add to their score. With just a minute left in the half, against the run of play a defensive error saw Easington get back on level terms. However all this seemed to do was remind Warwick how good they are and they quickly added two further goals in the last minute of the half!

Warwick still on top in the second half but they did sit back, and put in place 'game management' modern term for time wasting. Easington did have more of the ball but other than a disallowed goal did not make the most of it. Warwick may have sat back but still had numerous chances to add further goals ( which they never took).

Hopper fest

Tuesday 20 December 2022, GNG Oadby Town 4 Long Buckby 1 - UCL Premier Division, South, Riverside.

A end of year game that saw the 'Hopper' fraternity descend on Leicester, a club saved by the local Indian Community, and not a bad team!. Easy win for the home team on what is a basic ground, but plenty of room to expand.

Good to meet up with fellow hoppers, just before Christmas.

Closer than expected

Saturday 26 November 2022, Bourne Town 3 Kirby Muxloe 2 - UCL Division One, Abbey Lawn

Youth cup game at Bromley had the kick off changed, so ended driving up the A14 rather than down the A12.

Bourne Town are on a great run of results and were third in the league, and it only took them 3 minutes to get their first goal of the day. Both teams were trying to play a passing game, however Borne looked the far better team and added a second goal at the end of the half.

Bourne were easily in control in the second half and added a third goal in the 64th minute and taht should have been it as a contest, however in the 83rd minute  Lucca Watson-Quilter ran almost the whole pitch avoided a few tackles, a few fouls, kept going and when he got to the edge of the box slotted the ball in the corner of the goal for a great individual goal. Then in the 91st minute he added a second goal from the penalty spot.

So what should of been an easy win, ended up looking much closer.

Like the ground, 3 neat hedges border the pitch on 3 sides and the stand spreading most of one side with standing and seating plus a friendly club house with top Bovril - with pepper added!

All over in 5!

Saturday 24 September 2022, Rugby Town 2 Coventry United 0, Butlin Road, UCL, Premier South

A stadium that could easily hold conference games (may have to work on their bar service!!) Two quick goals, the promise of more but game fizzled out to end as an easy win for Rugby.

Nice touch to see the Rugby manager wearing Ipswich Town tracksuit bottoms!

Can imagine it would be a cold place to watch a game in winter, as seem quite exposed. A good game and nice to see a club with such a history in the game doing well.

Fighting spirit

Saturday 19 March 2022, Long Buckby 0 Harborough Town 0 - United Counties League, Premier Division, South , Station Road

Large sports complex with the football social club on the road next to the Rugby and cricket ground, other side of the cricket ground is the football ground, also a second pitch with a small bit of cover. Inside is one long seated stand and hard standing behind the two goals, people also stood close to the dugouts, even if it looked out of bounds. Small building/shed- being renovated, sold tea, pasties and Real ale!

Expecting plenty of goals and an away win, current form had not seen the home side win for a while and got hammered at home last game, whilst the visitors were in good form,

For most of the game, Harborough had control of the ball , plenty of possession however in the first half it was the home (very young) team who had the best two chances. Second half again saw Harborough have most of the play but not right till the end did they test the home keeper, whilst the young home team gained more confidence and almost scored.

A well deserved point for Long Buckby and the young team did themselves and their club proud. 

UK Groundhop debut

Sunday 28 July 2019

Cogenhoe United 0 Loughborough University 1 - Compton Park, UCL Premier Division

Irchester United 3 Wellingborough Whitworths 3 - Alfred Street, UCL Division One

Whittlesey Athletic 1 Huntungdon Town 2 - Feldale Field, UCL Division One

My first UK groundhop - and I enjoyed it - OK, the rain made it not the best day to watch football but that was just a glitch.

3 good games - all very different, the first saw a good half of football with both teams attempting to pass the ball and once at full strength, Loughborough will cause a number of teams a problem.

Game 2, was a typical local derby, some good football, some poor football, strong tackles and  a cracking equaliser in a high scoring game.

The last game did not see much good football other than again a cracking final goal but this was about a young club finding their feet in a higher division, a club where it was the volunteers and helpers who were rightfully in the limelight not the players.

Then we had the 'groundhoppers' many I knew,. some from Romania and Serbia but others I have seen at games all over the country but they are/ we are a strange lot - those who must have a programme or/and a badge, the rush to get the teams written down and then the bit I do not understand the large number who do not even seem to watch the game, but will I go gain - simple answer, yes!

Goals, red cards, penalty saves and light problems!

Tuesday 17 October 2017, Rothwell Corinthians 2 Cogenhoe United 4 - United Counties, Premier, Sergeants Lawn

The game that had it all but at first we thought we had a 200 mile wasted trip. Arrived in plenty of time but the Ref would not start the game as one light was out- it made little difference but he insisted we waited till it was fixed, after 15 minutes it came back on and we started the game at 8pm.

Cogenhoe have no manager and Rothwell are on a good run but it was the visitors who dominated the early play and got the first goal, then a bad tackle, some pushing and shoving and ref who took ages to make a decision. In the end just 2 yellow cards. Cogenhoe then added a second just before the break.

Second half and Rothwell got back in the game, an early goal followed by a penalty. However they were not on terms long as Cogenhoe broke away and re-took the lead.

Then we had two quick red cards for Rothwell players followed by a fourth goal for Cogenhoe, we thought that was it but in the last few minutes, the ref gave Rothwell a penalty that no one else in the ground could believe, even the Rothwell players, another yellow cared and a penalty save.

Great game for the neutral - and Cogenhoe fans.