Sunny Norfolk

Tuesday 29 April 2025, Easton 4 Mundford 0, Anglian Combination, Premier Division, Mattishall Playing Field

Mundford already relegated and one down in the first minute, it looked like we may be in for a goal fest, however even after adding a second goal in the 10th minute, and having most of the ball, Easton found it hard to add to their goal total.

In fact a few of the younger Mundford players showed a good level of skill and even created a few chances for themselves to score, and would expect a number of them to move to other senior clubs during the summer. 

Second half was a bit scrappier with Mundford defending for most of the half, Easton added 2 more goals in the 50th and 82nd minute then had a penalty saved with 5 minutes left.

A few Mundford supporters present, the club should be congratulated for fulfilling all their fixtures when other clubs would have just folded when they found themselves cut adrift.

Ground wise, not in Easton, but in Mattishall, small concrete stand, brick dug outs. The pitch is the far side of the cricket ground, the clubhouse was open and doing a good trade in beer on a warm evening. 

Took an hour to wake up!

Saturday 8 March 2025, Norwich CEYMS 3 Sprowston 3 - Hilltops, Anglian Combination, Premier Division

CEYMS had beaten Sprowston their ground last week, so were expecting to come on top again today. However in a first half of few chances it was the visitors who looked the better team and took a first half lead, CEYMS looked poor and their only real chance was cancelled out for offside, just before the break.

Second half started the same, till suddenly on the hour CEYMS seemed to woke up, got back on level terms, missed a penalty and added two further goals, late on.

Hilltops is a large sports field complex near the Norwich southern ring road, comprising of numerous sports pitches, including at least 2 football, 2 Rugby Union and 2 cricket. The clubhouse bar is owned by the rugby club, but football fans were welcome - club is Lakenham Union Rugby Union Club.

The CEYMS pitch, was fully roped off and had two concrete dugouts. Pitch was flat and in superb condition,

Longest season, almost over

Saturday 19 June 2021, Belton 3 Yarmouth United 6 - New Road, Sports and leisure centre, Offside Trust, Invitational Cup, semi-final

The venue, just outside the village, large car park next to changing room/pavilion. 3 pitches with the one used by Belton the furthest away. Wooden rails on dug out side with advert boards, two substantial dugouts and a wooden tea hut (shut today)

Yarmouth ran out easy winners, they are a new team but seem to be made up of quite experienced players and looked like a few may have played at a higher level in the past. The home side had a number of youngsters in their team. Belton Reserve team were playing away in the other semi.


Football wise, not a great game but 9 goals, and plenty of funny moments made for an enjoyable afternoon. Yarmouth got two early goals then Belton got one back from the spot, Yarmouth added a third before the break.

Second half, saw Yarmouth run amuck, scoring 3 more goals before Belton got two very late consolations.

Funniest bit was when a Yarmouth player went to ground in the penalty box, Belton players shouted to closest defender 'no foul' so he never- but he also failed to tackle or get the ball, so the Yarmouth player just got up and scored!

Getting used to Village Green football

Saturday 19 December 2020, Scole United 2 Mundford 1 - Anglian Combination, Premier Division, Ransome Avenue

With Boris producing new tiers as quick as Liverpool scoring goals against Palace, it seems any football we watch for a while will be local, so today instead of Step 5 or 6, we found ourselves watching Step 7 football close to the Suffolk/Norfolk border.

Scole started the better team and dominated the first half and went in two up at the break. Mundford did not play badly but were too quick to blame the ref or others when it did not go right.

Second half started and it seemed Mundford were going to let their football do the talking and they soon got a goal back. Scole then took back control and Mundford went back to arguing. In the end a deserved win for the home team. 

Summer rain

 Saturday 15 August 2020 - Long Stratton 1 East Harling 1 - Manor Road, PSF, Attendance- 26 

Both in top division of Anglian Combination, but as a village playing field not possible to play behind closed doors.

Pitch in very good condition, pitch has rail and hard standing on 2 and half sides. Behind one goal is skate park with a children's playground behind the other goal. A modern pavilion/changing rooms slightly off set next to a small car park. Two portable dug outs by the side of the pitch.

Competitive game which was kept under control by the game having 3 neutral match officials. 0-0 at half time and would not have been surprised if it had stayed like that but Harling went in front on the break after 70 minutes with the home team managing to equalise with 3 minutes left on the clock, past the 16 year old keeper making his Harling debut. Most of the second half was played in heavy rain - but still warm!!

Breckland Derby

Wednesday 9 November 2016, Mundford 1 Attleborough Town 3 - Anglian Combination Division 1, The Glebe

A rare floodlight game in the Anglian Combination and a ground I had passed hundreds of times - and I was impressed! A good game with five goals with the visitors winning it with the help of a couple of goalkeeping errors.

Cricket pavilion open and bar doing good trade, the tea and coffee was harder to get hold of as just one kettle meant a long queue. A good night of football and home just after 10!

Norfolk nights

Tuesday 10 May 2016, Mulbarton Wanderers 0 Harleston Town 3 - Anglian Combination, Premier Division - Mulberry Park

My first visit to the Anglian Combination and I chose a good ground to start with, a club that has the potential to improve its ground further - it has the lights, the space and even a tea bar!

The game itself did not go their way and the game was ruined by a far too lenient ref. Harleston deserved the win, and managed to score a penalty plus two superb individual goals. i am sure this will be the first of many Anglian Combination grounds.