Friday 23 October 2026, Ipswich Town 1 Nottingham Forest 1 - Premier League, Portman Road
Forest were the better team, but we never gave up and our hard work deserved some reward
Welcome to my blog that concentrates on my love of sports grounds, from the new stadia like the Millennium to the quant non league grounds of rural Engalnd. Thank you Arcibald Leitch!
Friday 23 October 2026, Ipswich Town 1 Nottingham Forest 1 - Premier League, Portman Road
Forest were the better team, but we never gave up and our hard work deserved some reward
Hard to decide if it was great display by Ipswich or they just faced a very poor Birmingham side? Think it was a bit of both!
Ipswich could have scored about 3 in the first 5 minutes but Birmingham survived, only to go behind from an own goal on 11 minutes. Ipswich stayed on top with their full backs acting more like out and out wingers than defenders, further goals were added in the 28th and 39 minutes, Ipswich even managed to miss an open goal from 10 yards out.
Second half was still mainly all Ipswich but they just added two further goals in the 51st and 54th minute.
Game was played on the Playford Road site, whilst most games at U18 and U21 level have been played across the road at Bent Lane in the past.
Strong winds heavy rain and not a great game.
Even start to the game then Fulham got on top and took the lead after 25 minutes and added a second after 37 minutes. We also had a mass punch up- with just 2 yellow cards shown, start of the season we saw 22 player punch ups in the Under 16 and Under 18 games v Fulham - Coincidence?
Ipswich had plenty of the ball but final pass was often poor and the Fulham keeper had little to do, whilst when Fulham attached it nearly always ended up with a shot on target.
Fulham added a third on 56 minutes, both teams made a number of subs and the Ipswich subs managed to start putting pressure on Fulham and pulled a goal back on 68 minutes. Ipswich had most of the play in last 20 minutes but could not add to their solitary goal.
Game was only a few minutes old and the first strong tackle went in, not a dirty foul but set the tone for the game with plenty of tough challenges/fouls from both sides.
Home side went in front after 3 minutes but Portchester were back on terms 3 minutes later. then the first of 2 Egham penalties, this one on 10 minutes as Egham took the lead again.
Portchester got back level on 48 minutes as the tackles/fouls were still keeping the Ref busy and on 65 minutes Egham went ahead again from the penalty spot, the Portchester player also got his second yellow card and an early bath.
Thursday 15 October 2026, Woodbridge Under 18s 0 AFC Sudbury Under 18s 7 - FA Youth Cup, 3rd Qualifying Round, Notcutts
Woodbridge had done well to get to this round of the cup, but this was the end of the run as they came up against Sudbury, the West Suffolk club have dominated local under 18 football for at least the last decade.
Sudbury scored after 4 minutes but then the game got scrappy before they got a second with a great individual goal after 26 minutes.
Second half was all Sudbury as they added a further 5 goals, 2 from the penalty sport- and the Woodbridge keeper was probably still Man of the Match!