No win yet, but another good display

Saturday 31 August 2024, Ipswich Town v Fulham - Premier League, Portman Road

Only a point, but could have been 3 - another good display with some of the new boys shining

Game management

Tuesday 27 August 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 0 Sheffield United Under 21s 1 - Professional Development League, Bent Lane Training Ground

Not the greatest game, Ipswich created very little whilst United scored in the last minute of the first half and were then happy to see the game out- maybe giving Ipswich a lesson in 'game management' however I think they almost had every one of their players booked incl the goalkeeper in doing so. Had the company of ex Town player (and QPR/West Ham and others) Paul Goddard, who tends to watch most Ipswich U18 and U21 games. 

Plenty of volunteers, good facilities but need a team!

Monday 26 August 2024, East Thurrock Community 2 Sudbury Sports 5 - Essex & Suffolk Border League, Pegasus Club

Phoenix club formed by supporters of east Thurrock, could not get in their chosen league so were welcomed into the Border League, even if the club is far from the usual league footprint.

A good set of volunteers and the set up is very good for this level, large club house, with outside terrace, that gives a raised view of the game. Pitch railed off with temporary fencing, two wooden dug outs and behind that a large grass bank that gives another elevated view of the game. Pitch in very good condition, further pitches beyond the far goal.

Football wise, the home side almost took an early lead but they would regret quickly missing their chance as Sudbury (the Youth/Academy team of AFC Sudbury) put their first 3 chances way - on 7, 17 and 30 minutes, Thurrock pulled one back in the 33rd minute.

Slightly better display from the home club in the second half, but Sudbury added a 4th on 58 minutes, Thurrock pulled a second goal back in the 83rd minute and looked for a late rally, however it was Sudbury who got a further goal in injury time.

In summary, a very good set up for Step 7, a keen bunch of volunteers but what is missing is a good team, be interesting to see if they keep pulling big crowds if the performances on the pitch do not improve.

A number of (senior!!) hoppers were present.

A home at last for the oldest club in London

Saturday 24 August 2024, Cray Wanderers 1 Lewes 3, Isthmian League, Premier Division, Flamingo Park

Decent crowd for the first Saturday game at Flamingo Park - with plenty from Lewes. Cray started well but within 10 minutes Lewes were on top and three up by half time with the best goal in the 23rd minute when the Lewes played lobbed the keeper from 30 yards.

Second half Cray got on the front foot, got one goal back and one disallowed but even when Lewes had a player sent off, the Sussex club saw the game out quite easy.

Large club house, the old Dock Labour Board Social club - balcony shut today, so disappointing for those who wanted a picture from a raised platform. Good bar, and even a live band. large (un-made) car park. Club shop had a good selection of old programmes and free timesheets for the  Lewes game.

Bobby and Trevor

Wednesday 21 August 2024, May & Baker 0 Hutton 1 - Eastern Counties League, Division One, South- Parsloes Park, Bobby Moore Hub, Trevor Brooking pitch.

G3 pitches x 3 - maybe not for the purist, but these football hubs are here to stay - and as the game should be about playing - you can't fault the facilities - large car park close to a large housing estate, public transport close by, café, stands, cover and 3 well looked after pitches.

Game itself, was a close encounter- with both keepers making some cracking saves, in the end the visitors snatched a late goal to go back up the A12 with all 3 points.

Not by the sea

Sunday 18 August 2024, Landguard Rovers 1 Real Suffolk 7 - Eastward Ho!, Friendly

Family away today, so took advantage of a free Sunday to make one of my rare visits to watch Sunday League football. Chose this game as Real Suffolk are big users of social media, so I knew the game would be on. Pre-season friendly with Real Suffolk a Premier League team whilst Landguard play further down the Ipswich Sunday Morning Football League.

With a name like Eastward Ho! You may think it would be by the sea but it is actually to the north of Felixstowe and on the inland side of the town. The local council are producing a 'master plan; for the north of the town, and there is some concern that Eastward Ho! could either be built on or reduced in size. Currently it is a large recreation ground with 4 adult pitches ( room for at least one more). The Changing room block is in the car park, a distance from all 4 pitches. Today games were played on all 4 pitches. Up to 1951, this was part of Eastward Ho! Golf Club, but this was taken over by the War Office in 1940, and never reopened after the war.

This game was played on the furthest pitch from the changing rooms/car park, no surprise with the league gap between the clubs that Real Suffolk dominated, however the home team also missed a number of good chances, Real Suffolk scored in the 6, 16, 30 and 39 minutes, Landguard pulled one back in the 40th minute.

When Real Suffolk scored in the first minute of the second half, thought this might become a rout, but a combination of poor finishing, inspired goalkeeping and last ditch goal line clearances, they did not add their last 2 goals until the last two minutes of the game.

Played in a good spirit, with Real Suffolk displaying some quality football.

Promising start and then a FA Cup win

Saturday 17 August 2024 - Ipswich Town 0 Liverpool 2 - Premier League, Portman Road then off to:

Downham Town 1 Ipswich Wanderers 3 - FA Cup Preliminary Round, Humber Doucy Lane 

Ipswich Town were outstanding in the first half but Liverpool stepped up in the second half and took a deserved win - what was not surprising, was the Ref was as bad as those in the Championship and League One - took 94 minutes to book a Liverpool player!

We showed enough promises to think we can have another good season.

Then on to Wanderers 

A very poor game, Wanderers from a higher league, given home advantage by Downham ( guess clash with cricket) but Wanderers still struggled to win the game. First half quite even, Wanderers dominated the second half but struggled to test the Downham keeper.

In the 63rd minute, Chris Casement, ex Ipswich Town/Linfield - scored a fantastic goal direct from a free kick- a quality goal that this game did not deserve. Downham still had chances but then Wanderers introduced their subs, mainly younger players - who showed the starting eleven how to do it, adding two more goals in the 81 and 84 minute. Downham got a late consolation in the 88th minute.

Nice dugouts!

Friday 16 August 2024, Somersham 4 Kesgrave Kestrels 0 - Suffolk & Ipswich League, Division One, Somersham Playing Field

Start of the S & L season, this is the second division, have a feeling Somersham will be pushing for promotion, they went ahead after 26 minutes and had most of the ball in the first half but Kesgrave had looked dangerous on the break, in particular if they got the ball out wide.

Second half was more scrappier, however Somersham dominated the half, in particular from corners, their third goal came from a corner and they added a 4th goal in the last few minutes of the game.

Pitch is on the village playing field, a small clubhouse/ changing room block by one corner flag - doing a good trade in both beer and soft drinks. Well built brick/wood dug outs but no other football furniture. Next to the pitch is a cycle speedway track, a sport that has always been popular in a number of small Suffolk villages, close to Ipswich.

Great start to the season

Tuesday 13 August 2024, Ipswich Town Under 21s 6 Birmingham City Under 21s 1 - Bent Lane Training Ground, Professional Development League

Comprehensive opening day win for the Under 21 team, Ipswich scored very early on but after that the first 15 minutes were fairly even with Birmingham having most of the ball but after 19 minutes, Ipswich were two ahead after a brilliant chip from 30 yards by Roberts. Ipswich then added 3 further goals in the first half with Roberts adding a second and midfield cum make do centre forward Tommy Taylor, also hitting two. Defender Jambang also got on the scoresheet.

Second half was more scrappy with City getting a goal back but also collecting a umber of yellow cards as they attempted to stop Ipswich playing with pace. Ipswich did add a 6th goal later on.

To watch the U18/21 team now you have to register with the club, many today had not but the club sensibly still let them in. 

Different levels

Saturday 10 August 2024, Ipswich Town 1 OGC Nice 1, Friendly, Portman Road then:

Whitton United 0 Dussindale & Hellesdon Rovers 3, Eastern Counties League, Division One, North, King George V Recreation Ground

2 extremes of football today, a team now about to play in the very rich Premier League, then just two miles away, Whuitton United, a club struggling to survive in the lower regions of non-league football - however, the quality at Whitton may of have been as good as what was on display at Portman Road, I enjoyed both games. 

Tbilisi - Great city, but no one watches football? Game 2

 Game 2

Sunday 4 August 2024, 8pm

FC Iberia (Saburtalo) 1 FC Telavi 1

Erovnuli Liga (Georgian 1st Division)

David Petriashvili Arena

Ground on northern outskirts of the capital, but taxi still cheap, the ground in the middle of a half built new housing estate, a fully floodlit Academy Football Ground with a stand close by. The ground is used by a number of clubs.

Athletic track (poor condition) round the pitch - just one stand that is on one side but does ark round to cover part of each curve behind the goal. On other side is a hotel, which had the TV cameras in and some fans/club officials watching from the roof of the hotel.

Beer, coke, popcorn and local hot digs on sale from under the stand - FC Telavi ultras arrived again as the game started, they numbered just 15 this time , they had beer and drum but no flares this time.

FC Iberia is a new name for the club from the start of the 2024 season, on Futbology they are still under their old name - FC Saburtalo.

Very one sided first half with the home team dominating and unlucky not to be ahead at half time after having a goal disallowed. Second half was much scrappier but home side still on top, so a surprise in the 69th minute when the visitors went in from from a rare attack.

Iberia did get back on terms after 85 minutes and then the Ref found about 10 minutes injury time from somewhere, but the home side could still not find the winner that their play deserved. 

Tbilisi - Great city, but no one watches football? Game 1

 Two games in the capital of Georgia - Tbilisi 

Game 1

Saturday 27 July 2024, 8pm

FC Lokomotiv Tbilisi 0 FC Telavi 0 (Telavi win on penalties 3-5)

Georgian Cup

Mikheil Meskhi Annex

Taxis are cheap in the capital, so did not cost to get to the north of the city for the game, crowds are so low that Second Division Lokomotiv play in the small stadium next to their home arena. The main stadium was open and very impressive. The Annex Ground has just one modern stand, mainly in the open, with a bit of cover for the back row/Press seats, this backs onto the main stadium. This is the only stand you can watch the game from, unless you wanted to watch through a fence from a car park behind one goal.

Beer, soft drinks and the Georgian version of a hot dog were on sale from below the stand.

Crowd was low with many not arriving till 5 minutes before kick off, the crowd included 20 ultras from the away team - armed with a drum, flares and large bottles of beer!

Game was poor, too much diving and play acting - First Division Telavi missed a penalty in the first half but the quality of attacking was so poor that it was no surprise to find ourselves still at 0-0 after 120 minutes. The First Division visitors then won it on penalty kicks