Changed a bit since 82

Wednesday 20 November 2024, Cambridge Utd U19 SP 2 Watford U19 WA 3 - National Football Youth League, South Premier 2, Western Park, Northstowe

Like a return home for myself as I spent a few of my first years in the Army at Oakington Barracks,  now demolished and it will soon become part of Northstowe, a brand new village/small town to the north of Cambridge, close to the A14.

A caged G4 pitch, on the edge of one of the new housing developments, some grass pitches close by, small car park but an impressive changing room/community centre attached to the cage, which has a café- and they sold Bovril! Also attached is lawn bowls green. The cage has hardstanding spectator area on one side of the pitch, almost 3/4 of the length of the pitch.

Cambridge started the day on top of the division, this team is part of a partnership between Cambridge United and Cambridge Regional College and they had 5 teams playing today at various venues. This, I think is their senior team.

You can tell this is a level or two behind Academy football but still some decent skill on show on what was a very competitive game, Cambridge dominating the first 20 minutes and going one up after 23 minutes, but a soft penalty on 38 minutes let Watford back in the game and they took the lead just before the break after the home keeper just seemed to stand and watch a shot go in.

Second half and Watford were on top and they added a third goal, Cambridge got one back but never looked like they were going to get back on terms. Game got a bit feisty at the end with a player from each side being booked.

A ground of 8 stands!

Saturday 16 November 2024, Harrogate Town 2 Chesterfield 1 - League 2, Wetherby Road

Slowly getting closer to the 92 - bad journey so arrived with 15 minutes to spare, impressed by amount of helpful stewards, ground is quirky with 8 different stands!

Chesterfield have some of best players in this league and dominated possession in the first half but struggled to get a shot on target and it was Harrogate who got closest when they hit the bar.

Second half- and obvious that Harrogate had realised taht Chesterfield were struggling to hurt them, so the home team were more attack minded this half and took the lead after a great free kick hit the post and a home midfielder was first to react to slam the goal in.

Paul Cook had seen enough and made a mass substitution, and one of those who came on, scored with his first touch. Many may have thought Chesterfield would now push on for the win, but it was Harrogate who scored again - disallowed (off side) but then they got a deserved winner at start of injury time. 

Poor ref

Saturday 9 November 2024, Cressing United 1 Hashtag United Development 4 - Essex Saturday Premier Cup, 1st Round, Cressing Sport & Social Club

You know when you have a poor ref - when he easily upsets both sides - sent a Hashtag player off (should have been a yellow) then ignores the Cressing linesman and allows a few dodgy offsides.

That aside, Hashtag deserved the win and should be one of the favourites for this cup

10 men again

Monday 4 November 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21 1 AFC Bournemouth Under 21 2 - Professional Development League, Portman Road

First half saw Ipswich have slightly more of the ball but never really threatening the visitors keeper, whilst Bournemouth took the one real chance they made to lead by the one goal at the break.

Second half started and a mix up at the back almost gifted Bournemouth a second goal, after that it was all Ipswich but again never really troubling the keeper, with most shots from distance. Bournemouth then created just their second chance of the half and doubled their lead. Ipswich then got the best goal of the game, Morgan finishing a good move with low shot.

Then the ref blew up due to a head injury to a Bournemouth player, spoke to the lino and booked an Ipswich player, five minutes later he books the same player again and Ipswich down to 10 men. Bournemouth see the game out even with 10 men Town having most of the play.

Cheats

Saturday 2 November 2024, Ipswich Town 1 Leicester City 1 - Premier League, Portman Road

Another poor ref, who fell for the cheating tactics of Leicester .. will we ever get a win?

Euro trip - October 2024 - Part 3 -Switzerland

 Sunday morning- 9am train from Bregenz to Zurich - my planned game at 12am had been changed to 11am kick off, it would be tight- but should make it on time - I did ..by 10 minutes but when I arrived, pitch empty game had been moved back to 12 noon!!

Sunday 27 October 2024
12 noon
Zurich City SC 0 FC Wiedikon ZHH 0
2 Liga Region Zurich Gruppe 1
Sportanlage Neudorf

F & N
Attendance: 75 h/c

The complex is in Oerlikon, next to the Zurich Ice Rink, it has 6 pitches 4 on one side of the road along with a changing room block and café. The main pitch is on the other side of the road next to another grass pitch.

There was another lower level game on the main G3 pitch on the changing room side. By game was on the main grass pitch, railed on one side and seating along one side which included part of it under cover. Dug outs and electric scoreboard on the other side of the pitch.

I was surprised, and pleased to see the game had 3 qualified neutral match officials ... and they were needed.

The game was feisty from the start, a number of yellow cards shown but the Ref kept very cool and did not fall for the gamesmanship, displayed by both sides - with Zurich City being the worst offenders.

In the 74th minute a home player received a second yellow card for diving, I thought this may start a few more scuffles but the game finished with the other 21 players on the pitch, but then it kicked off with one of the Zurich City coaching team getting a red card, one of the subs from Zurich City who had come on with about 20 minutes to also wanting to argue with everyone then a Zurich City supporter, also joined in on the pitch confronting most of the visiting team whilst his partner attempted to drag him back off the pitch!

Great public transport in Zurich, meant I was at my main game with plenty of time to spare, was surprised that not many other fans were on the trams, as the game was 1st v 2nd in the Super League

FC Zurich 1 Servette 3
Swiss Super League
Letzigrund Stadium

Admission: 45 Swiss Francs, print at home
Programme: Free inside the ground - easy to pick up, not many home fans bothering.
Attendance: 16239

Tickets were still on sale at the game, and when I entered the ground with 45 minutes to spare it was still quite empty - in the end the home fans packed the SudKurve and the stand , I was sat in- East stand was full but the expensive seats in the West were empty and Servette had very fabs in attendance- and what a game the away fans missed!

Right from the start of the game they looked the sharper team and no surprise when they took the lead on 32 minutes, thought that might give Zurich the kick up the arse they needed but the second half continued in the same vein, two further goals from Servette and Zurich still lacking a final pass. The Zurich subs made a slight difference and they did get a goal back in the last minute of the game, but a great win for Servette who went top with Zurich dropping to third place.

Great tram times afterwards meant I was back in the city centre in less that 30 minutes after the game ended. Zurich may have been poor on the pitch but the support from the SudKueve was fantastic throughout the game. The stadium looks far more impressive from the outside rather than the view from inside.

Fun part, 10 minutes from the end a Zurich fan left in disgust at the display by his team - but somehow he had unbolted his seat and took it with him!!

Euro trip - October 2024 - Part 2 Austria, Liechtenstein, Austria

 Friday 25 October train from Frankfurt to Bregenz in Austria, plan was to watch the Second Division Derby game in Bregenz but that was moved to Saturday for live TV. So found 3 further options, like to use public transport but was not sure how reliable it would be so hired a car for 24 hours. this made it easier but in hindsight could have used public transport as in the Vorarlberg region is very good and their own transport APP is very easy to use and gives up to date times.

A short drive up into the mountains and the Friday night game:

Friday 25 October
FC Hittisau 1 SC Austria Lustenau II 2
Vorarlbergliga
Sportplatz Hittisau

Admission: 6 Euros
Programme: Nil
Attendance: 79 h/c

Arrived as getting dark but you are right up in the mountains, surrounded by alpine scenery. the pitch has been cut into the hillside, so on the dug out side you have behind it a large stone wall that holds the rest of the hill back. On the other side is decent stand with a small hut selling beer. Behind the goal are the changing rooms, club canteen and some covered seats and standing. Beer and food on sale, just stuck to coffee as driving plus Currywurst and Pommes! The block behind the goal reminded me of the new set up at Melton. Pitch was astro.

Visitors were the more dominant ream, however it was the host who had the first 3 clear chances in the game. The visitors then got a penalty in 28th minute but it was easily saved.

The visitors took the lead on 62 minutes only for the home team to get back on terms in the 82nd minute, but the game was won by Austria Lustenau Amateurs in the 86th minute with a great individual goal, however there was still time left for the visitors to go down to 10 men after one of their defenders got a second yellow card.

Short drive down to next village where I was staying, a couple of beers and then ready for a Saturday with 3 games, in 2 countries whilst driving through a third!

After a short 15 minute drive on Saturday morning, I was in the village of Egg, 500 m above sea level to see a team, with a great name, sponsored by a brewery and a ground that could be part of the set for the 'Sound of Music'.

Saturday 26 October
11am
FC Egg 1 FC Wolfurt 1
Eliteliga Vorarlberg
Sportanlage Junkerau

Admission: 8 Euro
Programme: Nil
Attendance: 229 h/c

A level higher than Friday night and football was of a higher quality but the star of the show is the ground itself, set amongst the mountains with a great view every way you look, helped by a cracking blue sky and the sun shining.

One large stand/clubhouse/changing room complex on one side, all wooden, with 3 rows of seats then room to stand and drink behind. The club house was doing good business in beer plus Wusrts. A second beer stall by the electric scoreboard.

Even game, with both teams struggling to get a shot on target, the home team went in front on 79 minutes after a dreadful keeper error, he tried to do a quick kick, it hit the back of a retreating opponent and bounced to a home forward who only had to nod in with a header from 2 metres. It looked like the home team were going to get al 3 points until deep in injury time, the visitors hit the post from a direct free kick and a visiting forward was first to react to tap in and gain his team a point.

A number of German hoppers present, with numerous other local games on offer in the afternoon, but I had decoded on a slightly longer drive, to knock off another country - still only 50 minutes vis a Swiss motorway to end up in Liechtenstein for a 4pm kick off

4pm
USV Eschen/Mauren 0 SC YF Juventus 1
Swiss 1 Loga Classic Gruppe 3
Sportpark Eschen-Mauren

Admission: Not sure as was already in ground but late arrivals were charged
Programme: Free 4 sheet programme, with admission and copies in clubhouse
Attendance: 250 h/c

Hard to believe this was the ground where Liechtenstein played home international games, part of a large sports complex on a main road away from the two small towns/large villages.

Main pitch, has one large stand with a clubhouse/VIP bar at top - can also watch games on the G3 pitch behind the stand from the clubhouse. Can watch game from all 4 sides but the main stand is the only place with cover or terracing.

Competitive game but the 'Swiss' Juventus were always in control, and the win was not a surprise, the only real surprise was that they only got the one goal, which was in the second half and helped the visitors from Zurich maintain their second place in the league.

Again amazing scenery, however only once the cloud lifted and from a distance as the ground sits in quite a vast and flat valley floor..

Another drive of under an hour gave me time to book into hotel in Bregenz, return the car and get public transport to the last game of the day.

8.30pm
SC Schwarz Weiss Bregenz 1 Austria Lustenau 1
2 Liga
ImmoAgentur Stadion

Admission: 20 Euro, print at home
Programme: Free, but again most home fans did not bother picking one up
Attendance: 5500

Some suggested this may be the biggest 'Derby' game ever to take place in Vorarlberg, as Austria Lustenau have to share the ground of Bregenz. Not a full house, but with both stands on either side of the ground full but plenty of standing space behind the goals. Late kick off as game on TV. Hosts started as favourites as were sitting third in the league.

Seemed to be a bigger deal for Lustenau as their ultras arrived in good numbers and got behind their team throughout the game. I was sat in the main stand and there was no segregation in that stand. Athletic track round the pitch gave it a feel of the Withdean.

The visitors looked the sharper ream whilst the host final pass was quite poor, the visitors went ahead in 35 minute but 4 minutes later one of their better players chose to handle the ball to stop a certain goal - red card however Bregenz missed the resulting penalty. Bregenz did get level in the last minute of the half.

Even with just 10 men, Austria Lustenau were not that troubled by the hosts and probably still deserved a point. Public transport back to the hotel, and happy to have the extra hour in bed as the clocks went back as had an early start with a train to Zurich in the morning.