Saturday 27 September 2025, Ipswich Town 2 Portsmouth 1- Championship, Portman Road
A great first half, superb individual goal then a great team goal - all looking good for Ipswich - second half was not as fluid and disappointing in conceding a goal in injury tome - but main thing, is we are now looking up!
The Academy team have a had a difficult start to their season and would have hoped a good win today would boost their confidence - they got the win but not sure their display would have given them much hope that this would be start of turning their season round.
Ipswich went in front on 37 minutes with a deflected shot- possible their first shot of the half, however they only held the lead for 3 minutes as Hadleigh equalised from the penalty spot.
Ipswich took their captain (and best player ) off at half time, maybe to stop him being sent off as he had a yellow card in the first half and Hadleigh were targeting him, attempting to provoke a reaction.
Ipswich got the winner 70 minutes and held on- just to get the win. Hadleigh also fielded a young side but they certainly were old enough to get involved in a few dodgy tackles and were happy to use some of the 'dark' arts. Game was not helped by a poor Ref, who failed to se what Hadleigh were attempting to do.
Very impressive display by Norwich United, stood near some of their committee in the second half and they said their aim was to go through the season undefeated, did not sound arrogant just a determination to keep standards high.
Norwich took the lead after 8 minutes, but at the time the game was quite even and Aylsham hit the post soon after but then United took complete control, adding 3 more goals in the first half in the 22, 33 and 40th minute.
Second half saw Norwich United carve out more chances and they added 2 further goals in the 57 and 64th minute.
Youngs Park is a modern sports complex next to a new housing estate on the edge of the village. The main pitch is fully railed, 2 brick dug outs and a (very) small covered terrace.
The clubhouse is large and modern and a number of picnic benches and park benches are outside the clubhouse, and you could sit on them to watch the game.
Plenty of grass pitches, large car park and a G4 cage -another side from Aylsham had a game on the G4, which kicked off 15 minutes after our game.
Second half was slightly more competitive and the Ipswich subs, seemed an upgrade on the starting XI. West Ham still added a 4th goal in the 65th minute.
With the whole training ground being developed, the game was actually played on the Playford Rd site ( for last 3 years, nearly all U16, 18 and 21 games have been played over the road at Bent Lane.
For the pitch chasers, this was Pitch 8 - it is now fully railed and sited behind the furthest goal of the G4 Cage, previously the junior Town teams had played on a pitch closer to the corner of the Training Ground.
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Wednesday 10 September 2025, AFC Sudbury Under 19s 2 Chelmsford City Under 19s 0 , National League U19 Alliance, Division 'A', Elite Travel Stadium
Was hoping this game might be played on the new G4 Community pitch next door to the main stadium, however when the rain started, was quite happy it was on the main ground as no cover for spectators in the new cage.
AFC Sudbury, I believe are playing their first season in this league, whilst Chelmsford have had teams who have gone on to win National Cups in previous seasons.
It looks like Sudbury could have a good season in this league, totally dominating the first half and scoring twice, in the 10th and 30th minute, the second a long rage shot that Chelmsford keeper fumbled.
The second half was more even but AFC Sudbury still created the better chances. For 'hoppers' who want to see a game in the new cage ( does have a spectator area) worth checking fixture's for when the Sudbury U19 side and the girls side both have home games on the same day.
AFC Sudbury are stull using a club number system, every player in the whole club having their own number so we had shirts between 18 and 99 on display today.
Fleetwood for some reason having to play in the Colchester Utd away kit!
Colchester hoping to continue their good start to the season but it was Fleetwood who had the best of the first 20 minutes, Colchester then started to get on top and hit the bar in the 27th minute, from a direct free kick, however it was the visitors who went in front after 35 minutes, early cross met by an almost diving header from their centre forward.
Second half was scrappier, with both sides having chances, and Colchester got level in the 61st minute with a great goal, a cracking shot from distance putting the ball in the top corner of the goal. a draw was just about a fair result.
Family in London for the day, so used the opportunity to enjoy the sun and knock off a couple of local grounds/pitches - tend to only watch Sunday football once or twice a season.
1030am
Shotley Rose 1 Golden Hind 2
Ipswich Sunday Morning League, Premier Division
Rose Playing Field
Both teams had some good footballers, with the young Golden Hind captain very impressive but I also remembered why I avoid Sunday football with a couple of players on each side ruining the game by play acting, fouling, arguing and time wasting. Even with 3 or 4 players trying to ruin the game, we did see some decent football, the Hind going 2 up after scoring in the 15th and 40th minute but in the second half it was Shotley Rose who were on top, scoring after 67 minutes but even with plenty of added on time they could not convert all the pressure they had on the Golden Hind in the second half to an equaliser.
2pm
AFC Kesgrave Veterans 1 Bury Town Veterans 2
Norfolk and Suffolk Veterans League, South Premier Division
Kesgrave War Memorial Community Centre
Another reason that Sunday morning football is struggling is that Veterans football is on the rise, not just hitting Sunday football with a local Senior Saturday side quitting last season only for most of the players to remain with the club to play for the veterans side. Veterans footballs seems more organised ( even if both teams turned up in all blue strips today) and far less arguing and moaning,
We even have a Veterans team in Ipswich that has a player signed on, who played in the World Cup Finals. Even today, the visiting side, Bury have an ex-England Youth, Ipswich and Exeter player on their books, he was not in the team today.
No football furniture (portable dug outs were still in the equipment cage. The site includes a community centre, a sports hall and the football pitch is between the community centre and the cricket pitch, with a cycle speedway track behind one goal.
Home team started on top but somehow manged to fluff a few easy chances, Bury then got on top and went ahead after 38 minutes. They added a second right at the start of the second half. Kesgrave then took control, got a goal back in the 74th minute and had another goal disallowed towards the end of the game, with Bury hanging on to get all three points.
