In the box

Tuesday 23 April 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 Wigan Athletic Under 21s 0 - Professional Development League, Portman Road

Luxury viewing today, in an executive box and free  coffee! 

Surprise win

Saturday 20 April 2024, East Harling 3 Norwich CEYMS 2 - Anglian Combination, Premier Division, East Harling Memorial Field

East Harling are bottom of the table but somehow after 44 minutes they found themselves two up! Norwich got back on terms and looked the team more likely to win the game but East Harling never gave up and got a cracking winner in injury time.

Mountain views

17 April 2024, CPD Llanuwchllyn 0 Dolgellau AA FC 2 - Ardal North East, Cae Gwalia

My annual walking trip to Wales allowed me to catch yet another Welsh non-league game, and another venue with cracking mountain views. a Welsh speaking village, however I was made very welcome and watched a surprising away win.

Can't win but still top

 Saturday 13 April 2024, Ipswich Town 1 Middlesbrough 1 - Championship,  Portman Road

Going to the wire

Wednesday 10 April 2024, Ipswich Town 0 Watford 0 - Championship, Portman Road

Down to the last 4 games

Windy game

Tuesday 9 April 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 4 Burnley Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Very windy Bent Lane, but it did help keep the rain off, An entertaining game and one the players still managed to play some good football, even with the strong wind.

Ipswich dominated the first half and were 3-0 up after 23 minutes but after some sloppy play, Burnley got one back before the break.

The visitors then had a player sent off after 47 minutes and it was game over, only surprise was that Ipswich only added one further goal.

Sunny for a change

Monday 8 April 2024, Colchester United Under 21 1 Birmingham City Under 21 0 - Professional Development League, Park Drive, Maldon

Poor start for Colchester as they scored an own goal after 2 minutes, but were back on terms after 9 minutes and were probably the better team for most of the game. Even with Birmingham sitting high in the Northern Division.

Colchester hit the post twice in the second half but in the last 10 minutes of the game Birmingham stepped up the pace and were awarded a penalty after 85 minutes but a poor kick was easily saved, so a point for each team. 

At least the sun came out.

Tuesday 2 April 2024, Ipswich Town Under 18s 3 Millwall Under 18s1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Entertaining game at Bent Lane and for once it was both dry and sunny!

Ipswich started on top and took the lead after 28 minutes and added a second 4 minutes later. Millwall then got back into the game after the Ipswich keeper was caught off his line and lobbed.

Second half saw Ipswich miss numerous chances but they did add a third in the 58th minute.

Ipswich had a young side out with a number of schoolboys playing and all the subs also being school kids. Guess with Millwall it was a similar aged team.

Does it get any better?

Easter Monday 1 April 2024, 12 noon - Yelverton 3 East Harling 2 - Anglian Combination Premier, Garrick Field

Short drive up to Norfolk to watch a decent game at Step 7, and the bonus of a tea hut in a ground that felt enclosed thanks to hedges.

Then off to Portman Road

5.30pm - Ipswich Town 3 Southampton 2 - Championship, Portman Road

What a game, what a win - 97th minute winner!

Goals aplenty

Saturday 30 March 2024, Forest Row 6 Mile Oak 3 - Southern Combination, Division One, Oakwood Sports and Social club

Hard ground to find as postcode took me up some cul de sac, but found it in the end, very basic ground, small car park, hard standing on two sides, clubhouse (hot drinks and beer but no hot food) and a small seated stand.

After all the recent rain, the pitch played well and helped produce an entertaining game. Hardly a foul in the game, but when he was needed the ref stepped in and sorted out any issues quickly.

Forest Row went ahead after 13 minutes and doubled their advantage after 24 minutes. Mile Oak pulled one back after 39 minutes.

Second half saw more goals, the host were slightly lucky with one as their 5th goal should have been disallowed for offside, but who can complain about 9 goals in the game. 

Barry Fry- the film! Plus a Felixstowe cup upset

Tuesday 26 March 2024, Peterborough United U21 2 Ipswich Town U21 1 - Professional Development League, Peterborough Utd Training ground

Knew this might be a tricky one and was correct only family and those on the list allowed in to watch the U21 games ( no issue for U18 games on a Saturday)

Managed to blag my way in but amazed when they asked someone else to leave at half time as he was not on the list. Portacabin for families to get a coffee, then a walk round the astro to the pitch which has a small 60 seat stand (similar stand by the G3 pitch)

Fast start by the hosts, penalty scored after 2 minutes and 2 up after 7 minutes. After that the game was very physical encounter, numerous fouls and a few yellow cards. With Ipswich probably having the better of the play, a goal dissallowed in the first half for offisde, then getting a goal back in the second half. Plenty of pressure in the last 15 minutes with their makeshift centre forward, Tommy Taylor missing two good chances to equalise.

Barry Fry was watching and being followed by a camera crew, as they seem to making a documentary about him!!

Then home and:

Felixstowe and Walton United 2 Leiston 1 - Suffolk Premier Cup, Semi Final, Humber Doucy Lane (Ipswich Wanderers)

A poor game football wise, played in constant heavy rain. Leiston who play a step higher than Felixstowe, took a first half lead and seemed in control and looked like they could step up a level, however in the second half Felixstowe started to dominate and got themselves in front, Leiston did not seem to have a Plan 'B' and no real sense of urgency, game got niggly with one Leiston player getting a late red card whilst 8 other players saw yellow. But Felixstowe saw the game out to make their way to the final.

Natasha Thomas show

Saturday 23 March 2024, Ipswich Town Women 5 Chatham Town Women 0 - FAWNL, Portman Road

Over 9,000 in the ground, 5 goals, opponents even hit the woodwork twice and we missed a penalty!

Great day for women's football in Ipswich and a great day for Ipswich Town

At least it was free

Tuesday 19 March 2024, Coplestonians 1 Debenham LC 1 - Suffolk and Ipswich League, Senior Division, Humber Doucy Lane

Not the greatest game, but possibly the last chance to see Coplestonians under the lights, as they end their ground share at Wanderers at the end of the season.

Very noticeable how much work Wanderers have done to stay at step 4, new seats, fence, players tunnel, hard standing and a turnstile block.

Stiffs at Portman Road

Tuesday 19 March 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s AFC Bournemouth Under 21s - Professional Development League, Portman Road

In a different lifetime! The Reserves 'Stiffs' played at Portman Road every other Saturday, but that changed many years ago, but I believe the League rules state 3 games a season should be played at the main stadium, did not happen last year and this was the first game this season.

Today we saw a great win, plenty of entertainment and for once the U21 team played in the style of the 1st team.

Best display of the season ... so far!

Saturday 16 March 2024, Ipswich Town 6 Sheffield Wednesday 0 - Championship, Portman Road

Great display by the Town, best display of the season- Chaplin was not even missed.

Winning in the rain

Tuesday 12 March 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 2 Bristol City Under 21s 0 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

It rained, and rained but we won - great first half with Bristol dominating the second half.

At least the second half was better!

Saturday 9 March 2023, Redhill 1 Epsom & Ewell - Combine Counties, Premier South, Kiln Brow

Was expecting much better, Redhill pushing for a promotion place but I think the first half only saw one good attempt on goal.

The second half had to be much better - and it was ! Redhill taking the lead then having a few more good chances, but they never too them - so at the death, Epsom got an equaliser and almost snatched victory in the last few minutes.

Poor display at times, but great night

Tuesday 5 March 2024, Ipswich Town 3 Bristol City 2 - Championship, Portman Road

Poor first half, behind twice, then the subs saved us and we are still second!!

Local side dominate

Monday 4 March 2024, Trimley Red Devils 6 East Bergholt United 0 - Suffolk Senior Cup, Semi-final @Felixstowe and Walton United

Local football watches had informed me that Trimley had been the pick of the local league, one of the best teams in a weak Suffolk Ipswich League and they started as if they were in a hurry to get this game over and done with.

They dominated the first 20 minutes and took the lead after 13 minutes but they then seemed to run out of ideas and let Bergholt back into the game.

Second half started and again Trimley dominated but this time they kept the pressure on and got the goals there play deserved, they scored at regular intervals and added the last in injury time after the Bergholt just managed to keep out a back pass/deflection only for the ball to fall at the feet of a Trimley player.

East Anglian Double

1pm
Colchester United Under 18 2 Charlton athletic Under 18 4
Professional Development League
Florence Park (Col Utd Training Ground)

Played on pitch furthest from office block- so a boggy walk to pitch, pitch fully railed and portable dug outs on far side. Plenty of chances in first 5 minutes for both sides so expected plenty of goals but we only got one in the first half with the hosts going in front after 34 minutes.

Second half did see plenty of goals with Charlton getting back on terms after 48 minutes then going in front after 64, only to be pegged back to 2-2 after 77 minutes. However Charlton were now dominating and went back in front after 82 minutes and added a 4th in injury time.

7.45pm
Ipswich Wanderers 2 Lowestoft Town 1
Isthmian League, North Division
Humber Doucy Lane

Big crowd for the Suffolk derby match - Lowestoft were sitting at the top of the division, whilst Wanderers have struggled in their first season at this level. First half was a close contest without either team looking close to scoring, with the visitors having most of the ball. Not sure anyone was expecting what happened in the second half.

Within a minute of kick off Wanderers had taken the lead and then added a second 3 minutes later- no need for the Trawlermen to panic, with 40 minutes left to get back in the game. Wanderers left Blake up front but everyone else was now back and Lowestoft laid siege to the Wanderers goal. But the home team held on and it was not till the 79th minute did they get a goal back, but they could not get the second, so a shock win for Wanderers and one that would have pleased their closest rivals, Felixstowe, who sit second in the Division. Ipswich Town now have a policy of loaning out as many of their U18 and U21 players as possible to local teams, and the very young Ipswich Town keeper, Danny Cullum was man of the match for the Wanderers.

Windy Essex

Monday 26 February 2024, Colchester United U21 2 Cardiff City U21 0 - Professional Development League, Park Drive (Maldon).

A game that was always going to be difficult for both sides due to the strong wind, neither keeper had to do much for the first 40 odd minutes with Cardiff looking slightly more dangerous. Then in the 43rd minute, Colchester were awarded a soft penalty that they scored from, this caused the Cardiff coach to send plenty of abuse towards both the  Ref and the lino, but 2 minutes later it was the Colchester fans he was arguing with after the hosts added a second with a great shot from distance. The Cardiff coach was quick to tell the Colchester fans that the Welsh side would still win.

He was wrong! Thought Colchester would struggle with the wind in their faces in the second half but in fact they came closer to scoring that Cardiff but the game ended up with a comfortable win for United. 

A short trip to Croatia to catch the Dinamo Zagreb - European Conference League Play-Off game but managed a bonus game.

Had spotted the National League U19 games were being played on the day I arrived, and with one kicking off at 2pm, a chance to see if I could make that game. Plane landed on time and a taxi fare of just 28 Euros made it a no brainer:

Wednesday 21 February 2024, 2pm

NK Seveste Under 19 1 NK Lokomotiva Zagreb 2
National U19 League
G3 Pitch- next to Stadion Sv, Josip Radnik

Attendance: 152 h/c (Official attendance on website of 50)

Arrived at the game with 45 minutes to spare and spotted the U17 game between the same teams, disappointingly it was on a G3 pitch behind one of the goals, the U19 game was also on the same pitch , a small open stand was on side of pitch, with a few benches behind one corner flag, however the game could also be watched from the left hand side of the main stand.

Lokomotiva dominated the game but were only one up at half time, they went 2-0 up after 65 minutes then it was all about penalty kicks, The home team missed one after 72 minutes, then they scored from teh spot after 75 minutes then Lokomotiva missed a penalty after 77 minutes. Good sized crowd for an entertaining game.

Then it was a mile walk to the train station and a short/cheap train ride to Zagreb city centre and short tram trip to my hostel.

A day spent sightseeing in Zagreb, recommend the 80s museum - even had some Yugoslav and Dinamo football magazines and sticker albums on show, also spotted a number of the Betis backroom staff walking round the old town and a few Betis fans.

As I went to catch my tram to the ground, it happened to be the same time as 300 Betis fans were being escorted to the tram to get to the ground, so jumped on the same tram.

Thursday 22 February 2024, Kick off, 6.45pm
Dinamo Zagreb 1 Real Betis 1
European Conference League, play-off
Stadion Makismir

Admission: 20 Euros, print at home

Ground - what can you say, Croatian FA have done well financially from FIFA and UEFA from runs in the World Cup, but other than the outside façade, nothing seems to have been spent on the ground. All stands in the open, concrete in poor condition and one stand still closed after an earthquake. However, still a great atmosphere and with a (rare) full house it was even better.

Zagreb had shocked many by winning at Betis and they were on top in the first half but it was the visitors who took the lead after 38 minutes.

Many thought that the Spanish team would now show their class, however Zagreb kept pressing and got back on terms after 59 minutes and saw the game out quite easy, they even had a penalty awarded but turned down after a VAR check.

Got to the tram stop quickly after the game, but a long wait still as the roads were closed till all fans had left the stadium.

Great city and two good games.