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 .

No football to be played

Saturday 30 August 2025, Ipswich Town 2 Derby County 2 - Championship, Portman Road

Birmingham, now Derby - we are ending up with a league full of teams who just do not want to play football -  and that is no football at all! their aim to have the ball in play as little time as possible. The Refn had a nightmare, but one thing he did get right was the amount of time added on for all the Derby time wasting/cheating and at the end of that injury time we got an equaliser.

We do need to find a way to keep the ball in play and destroy these teams - and we need to find that way fast.

Two games, 12 goals

Tuesday 26 August 2025, Colchester United Under 21s 3 Coventry City Under 21s 2, Professional Development League, Florence Park

1pm - but kicked off closer to 1.20pm

Colchester back at their training ground after a couple of seasons at Maldon. Played on pitch closest to Changing room/office block, surprised no dug outs for teams ( and it rained,) also spectator area very cramped.

Coventry arrived late so game kicked off 15 minutes late with Coventry having little time to warm up, Colchester took advantage of this and were one up after 8 minutes and had numerous other chances but Coventry grew into the game and went in at the break 2-1 up after goals in the 21st and 29th minute. Second half saw Colchester take charge and equalised with the best goal of the game on 52 minutes, an acrobatic effort by Kaion Lisbie ( son of former Col Utd player, Kevin). Colchester then got a winner after 62 minutes, making it 3 wins out of 3 so far this season. Good to meet the author of 'European Football's Greatest Grounds' so second half was spent taking about Moldova, Serbia and Argentina!

Then off to Cambridge

Hardwick 7 Orwell 0, Cambridgeshire County League, The Recreation Ground

6.15pm

Small public recreation ground in a small village north west of Cambridge, seemed to be mainly a modern housing development. Small car park but plenty of on street parking either side of the Rec. The surprise was to find a large club house/community centre with a full bar and in the car park a 'posh' burger van - both doing good business. The pitch was roped off on both sides.

Hardwick were far the better team and took the lead on 20 minutes, with a header from a corner. Orwell had a few chances but Hardwick should have been at least 2 or 3 goals up at the break.

Second half was still mainly Hardwick and the goals started to flow from the 65th minute as Orwell tired and their offside trap failed numerous times - with goals on 65, 66, 68, 77, 88 and 89 minutes.

Surrey Double

Monday 25 August 2025, Cobham 5 Guilford City 2 - Combined Counties League, Premier Division, South- Reg Madgwick Stadium

Our morning Bank Holiday game was close to M25 and also the Chelsea Training Ground, the stadium is situated down a small lane that is part of a public park, the G3 pitch and small kit built stands means that Cobham seem to always having some one else share with them, which helps pay the bills, currently they have another club sharing for the whole of the season and another club sharing for the first few months of the season.

Small clubhouse but a full bar and catering service in operation.

Football wise, Cobham totally dominated the first half, three up after 27 minutes and this forced Guilford to sub both full backs after just 32 minutes!

Cobham added a 4th 58 minutes and was expecting this to be an easy win but Guilford had also now subbed two forwards and this made a big difference as they pulled a goal back after 60 minutes and then another goal back on 63 minutes, It was now Cobham who were hanging on as Guilford seemed to be full of running, however on 86 minutes, Cobham scored again and that was it, a very entertaining game with a second half that no one would have expected after the first half display by Guilford.

It was then the short drive down the A3 to our second game in Woking.

Westfield 1 South Park Reigate 0 - Isthmian League, South Central Division, Woking Park

Obvious a game was on by the number of cars in the  car park and fans with shorts on and scarfs showing but that was not for our game, but for Woking who were playing York City the other side of the road, It seemed at first that very few people were going to see our game, a ground that was hard to find as it is hidden behind the sports centre. In the end just under a hundred turned up to see the visitors dominate most of the play only for the home team to score just after the hour, to scrape home with all the points.