North Suffolk Derby , played in South Suffolk

Thursday 21 May 2026, Mutford & Wrentham 0 Halesworth Town 2 - Suffolk Senior Cup Final, Portman Road

Lower league Mutford were fantastic in the first half, but two quick goals for Halesworth saw the contest over. A decent crowd with about 1000 fans travelling down the A12 from North Suffolk,

Crawling over the line

Wednesday 22 April 2026, Charlton Athletic 1  Ipswich Town 2 - Championship, Portman Road

One down in 2 minutes, but a great fightback, weak penalty and still in our own  hands

Still trying to throw promotion away

Sunday 19 April 2026, Ipswich Town 2 Middlesbrough 2 - Championship, Portman Road

3 points needed by both teams but in the end just one point a piece, better for us that Boro - but also good news for Millwall and Southampton.

Broken seats

Wednesday 15 April 2026, Welshpool Town 2 Forden Unted 2 - Central Wales, Northern Division, Maes Y Dre Recreation Ground

My annual work trip to Wales and managed to get another game in, Welshpool have played at a higher level but now find themselves a division lower. Large 120 seat stand, but on closer inspection over 30 of the seats have been vandalised.

Rugby, bowls and cricket next to the football and a further football club have their home pitch a bit further away in the same sports complex.

The visitors were the better team for the whole game, but went behind to Welshpool but Forden were back on level terms 3 minutes later. Forden took a deserved lead on 72 minutes, only for the home team to draw level on 80 minutes.

Forden will wonder how they never left with all 3 points.

Champions but defeat today

Saturday 11 April 2026, Great Shelford 1 Orwell 1 - Cambridgeshire County League, Great Shelford Recreation Ground

Great Shelford won the league during the week, and with Orwell closer to the bottom a home win was expected, however it was Orwell who took the lead on 5 minutes and continued to look dangerous on the break. Shelford had plenty of the ball but today the final pass was missing. They got back on terms after 24 minutes, direct from a free kick.

Second half was much the same, Shelford having most of the play but Orwell looking dangerous on the break, as the game went on, Great Shelford got more frustrated and in injury time, one of their defenders got a red card.

The Recreation Ground is in the middle of the village, has an enclosed feel due to trees on one side, roped off on both sides and plenty of benches around the pitch, all that gave a good view of the game.  Very modern pavilion, shared with cricket and bowls - serving hot drinks at half time. Like Foxton, during the week, another quality pitch in this league. 

Early goals

Wednesday 8 April 2026, Foxton 0 Hardwick 2 - Cambridgeshire County League, Premier Division, Hardman Road

What a beautiful setting for a game, an English village green, the football pitch next to a cricket square, a bowls green and overlooked by the local church.

Football wise, Hardwick were the better team scoring their goals in the second minutes of each half, Foxton made the game competitive but an easy win for the away team.

Poor second half

Monday 6 April 2026, Ipswich Town 2 Birmingham City 1 - Championship, Portman Road

Greta result, terrible second half of football!