That is what you call a stand!

 Sunday 19 July 2026, The Rodings & Waltham 2 Prettygate 0 - PSF, Little Waltham Sports Club

Two teams from the Saturday  Essex Border League playing on a Sunday, thought it may be a clash with cricket but the cricket ground is on the other side of the road in this small village, close to Chelmsford.

Was interested in this game as I think the home team will be at Step 7 this season , the Essex and Suffolk Border League, Premier Division.

First thoughts- the pitch is too small, if not it must be just at minimum size, also a very noticeable slope and after the heatwave, pitch hard and lacking grass. Decent car parking behind the club house and on street in the village, club house has a full bar (cheap)

One stand! Which looks like the old home dug out - made of wood and called the Brian Honeywood Stand, possibly named after a former Ipswich Youth player who went on to both play for and manage Chelmsford City.

Even start to the game before the hosts took the lead on21 minutes and added a second on 44 minutes. No further goals in the second half, visitors were a decent team (from Colchester, play in one of the lower Border League Divisions)

Thank the shot putters

 Saturday 18 July 2026, Chelmsford City 2 Ipswich Town Under 21s 0 - Melbourne Stadium, PSF

A goal in each half secured the win for the home side. The first goal, an own goal by the Ipswich keeper after the ball took a nasty bobble from where the shot's had landed from a recent Shot Putt Competition- the perils of having a football pitch inside an athletics track!

Closer than it sounds

Friday 17 July 2026, Cambridge City 3 Ipswich Town Under 18s 0 -  FWD - IP Community Stadium, PSF

Cambridge went ahead from almost the first attack of the game and added a second direct from a free kick but Ipswich played quite well , just conceding a third goal in the second half.

On plastic

 Saturday 11 July, Witham Town 1 Hendon 0, - PSF, New Rickstones Academy

Witham using this venue whilst work being done to their home ground and pitch.

Latest G3 pitch and well looked after. Game was quite even, with the home ream having the better of the 1st half and Hendon the second, however it was Witham who too the lead from scrappy play around the box in the 84th minute to get a win that was quite harsh on Hendon, who had missed a number of very easy chances in both halves.

Free shirts

Thursday 9 July, Doncaster City 1 Boston United U23S 1 - PSF, Marra Falcons Stadium

A community club, sharing the home of Armthorpe Welfare, and £2 to get in for this friendly but for that you also got a replica shirt for this season, yes just £2!!!!!!

Just one stand and think this club would struggle to the correct ground grading in some leagues. Pitch was hard and not the most even I have seen.

Doncaster were on top and had most of the ball but it was Boston who went in front on 58 minutes only to be reduced to 10 men in the 59th minute, Doncaster got the deserved equaliser  on 78 minutes.

A real community club and hope they do well. 

In the Forest

 Wednesday 8 July 2026, Sherwood Colliery 1 Shirebrook Town 0 - PSF, Debdale Park

Large sports complex, hosting football, Rugby League and cricket, football is on G3, but the ramshackle assortment of stands have been kept in place, plus the additional fact of the ground being surrounded by Sherwood Forest make this a nice place to watch football at.

Sherwood were the better team and even after going down to 10 men in the first half they still scored the only goal and took the deserved win. 

No markings

Thursday 2 July 2026, Wivenhoe Town 1 White Ensign 2 - PSF, Northern Gateway Park

The Sports Park has been opened a few years and is home of both Colchester Rugby Club and the Eastern Rhinos Rugby League club, large complex with numerous grass pitches plus a G3 Cage (used by RL) and the Rugby club have an artificial pitch, fully railed, floodlights and large clubhouse.

7pm kick off and not many football games if any played here, I turned up to find the game in doubt, playing on grass pitch the far side of the rugby club but markings were almost non existent - in the end both teams wanted to play, 3 match officials and with the help of cones on the lines the game went ahead - after a delay of 33 minutes.

What we did get was a very good game, end to end , numerous chances and some good football on display with the Southend club winning it late on.

Wivenhoe have another friendly planned to be played here later in the moth, hopefully this time with the pitch marked correctly.

Large car park, just off the A12, near Colchester Utd, parking is free, just have to put in registration in machine in the café,