Up the A1

Tuesday 17 March 2026, Newark and Sherwood United 3 Wisbech United 0 - United Counties League, Premier North, Fruehauf Stadium

Do not be fooled by the score, this was a very poor game. 0-0 at half time and not sure either keeper made a save, Newark at least started to get chances on target in the second half, the first goal was from the penalty spot after a handball on 66 minutes then a header from close range on 77 minutes for the second goal. A third goal was added on 83 minutes then a Wisbech player was shown a straight red card for a bad tackle on 89 minutes.

Wisbech spent far too much of the game throwing themselves to the floor whilst too many of the home team seemed to want to referee the game rather than play football.

Newark do well to survive on such low crowds and not even playing in Newark! They do seem to have a good set of volunteers, which does help. Stand and covered terrace plus good social club are all OK for this level, pitch is in poor condition, but with two teams using it, not a surprise.

Chose this game as it was my closest new tick and had been thwarted twice this season, first time by an accident then a frozen pitch. Easy journey up but 3 diversions on way back put a further 45 minutes on return trip.

Beat the storm

Saturday 15 November 2025, Bugbrooke St Michaels 2 Newport Pagnell Town 3 - Birds Close, United Counties League, Premier Division, South

As well as Storm Claudia, I also had to get home early tonight- thought I would end up at at 3G or 4G cage close to home then saw this game was on- and with a 2pm kick off, made it possible - not sure why 2pm as lights worked - maybe not good enough for a 3pm kick off?

All facilities on one side of the ground, good clubhouse and car park parking was well managed.

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!

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!