Not much longer as SYCOB

Saturday 5 December 2015, Ware 1 Beaconsfield SYCOB 0 - Southern League  Division 1 Central, Wodson Park

One of those things many football fans have asked - what does SYCOB stand for after Beaconsfield - well i saw them for the first time today and found out - Slough Youth Centre Old Boys - now you know and this will be the last time we have to ask that question as from next season they will be just plain old Beaconsfield Town.

The Youth Club tag is quite appropriate at there team is made up of mainly young players who are involved in a local football academy and i thought they were the better team but in the last minute the home team, Ware managed to get the winner.

Ware have a great ground at Wodson Park, in fact it is 3 grounds with two furher floodlight pitches next door, one inside an athletics track. But a nice set up it may be but they still struggle to get 3 figure crowds, but at least the few who did turn up today went home happy.

And the ground next door used by the aptly named Wodson Park

It had to be Nugent!

Friday 4 December 2015, Ipswich Town 0 Middlesbrough 2 - Championship, Portman Rd

David Nugent scores at Portman Road- who would have guessed?

Tunbridge Ultras - South Stand Choir

Wednesday 2 December 2015, Holmesdale 2 Tunbridge Wells 7 - Southern Counties East Football league, Premier Division - Oakley Rd

 Great bunch of ultras - average age 45 plus a couople of grannies! All singing, great bunch and not a bad team.

But a strange ground, dangerous main stand!

Come on the Vickers!

Saturday 28 November 2015, VCD Athletic 0 Leiston 0 - Ryman League, Premier Division - Oakwood

A lunchtime kick off at Charlton meant we could visit another ground and game in the South London/Kent area. We stopped off at VCD Athletic to see them play another Suffolk side, Leiston. Not a great game, plenty of skill but Leiston could not break down the VCD defence and the home team also seemed happy with a point.

The game may not have been much to write home about but the ground was something to talk about. VCD stands for Vickers, Cray and Dartford Athletic. Vickers was a tank and munitions manufacturer based in Cray and over the last few seasons they have quickly risen up the non-league tables.

But what they have to help them is a fantastic ground, part of the  Vickers Sports Ground (tennis, bowls and cricket also have a home here you drop down into the football ground and what a sight awaits you. Immaculate pitch, (Charlton play some of their U21 games here) neat stand, plenty of grass and more wheelie bins than you would find even at some championship clubs.

Plus a programme with a Spitfire on the cover - what is there not to like about a trip to VCD?

What is it about South London?

Saturday 28 November 2015, Charlton Athletic 0 Ipswich Town 3 - Championship, The Valley

We might like playing in South London, a good win even if the game was on Sky, Murph banging a couple in and a clean sheet but the natives south of the river were restless.

The Belgian owner of Charlton (and many other clubs) has upset the home fans, they are not happy about the way the club is being run but the owner believes it is just 2% of Charlton fans who were not happy. So local supporters groups and fanzine organised a 'We are the 2%' protest. Posters were handed out and it seemed at least 75% of the ground held them up after 2 minutes of the game.

After our great win, not sure the owner is going to be on the Christmas Card list of many Charlton fans.

At least I met a legend!

Saturday 21 November 2015, Ipswich Town 2 Wolverhampton Wanderers 2 - Championship, Portman Road

We may not have won but played well and I met a legend - Ray Crawford

Good for 20!

Monday 16 November 2015, Ipswich town Under 21s 1 Brentford Under 21s 3,  U21 Professional Development League 2 - Ipswich Town Training Ground

At least it stayed dry if a bit windy, first 20 minutes we looked sharp but after that it was most Brentford who had pace, hungry, physical and just a bit too much know how for our young team.