UK Groundhop debut

Sunday 28 July 2019

Cogenhoe United 0 Loughborough University 1 - Compton Park, UCL Premier Division

Irchester United 3 Wellingborough Whitworths 3 - Alfred Street, UCL Division One

Whittlesey Athletic 1 Huntungdon Town 2 - Feldale Field, UCL Division One

My first UK groundhop - and I enjoyed it - OK, the rain made it not the best day to watch football but that was just a glitch.

3 good games - all very different, the first saw a good half of football with both teams attempting to pass the ball and once at full strength, Loughborough will cause a number of teams a problem.

Game 2, was a typical local derby, some good football, some poor football, strong tackles and  a cracking equaliser in a high scoring game.

The last game did not see much good football other than again a cracking final goal but this was about a young club finding their feet in a higher division, a club where it was the volunteers and helpers who were rightfully in the limelight not the players.

Then we had the 'groundhoppers' many I knew,. some from Romania and Serbia but others I have seen at games all over the country but they are/ we are a strange lot - those who must have a programme or/and a badge, the rush to get the teams written down and then the bit I do not understand the large number who do not even seem to watch the game, but will I go gain - simple answer, yes!

Cold day, warm welcome

Saturday 24 February 2018, Cogenhoe United 3 Wellingborough Town 1 - United Counties League, Premier Division, Compton Park

Sunny but very cold but ground not frozen and had 4 games down on my list of possibilities - so why choose Cogenhoe?

First it was a local derby and expected a big crowd and both teams have had some good results but the main reason Cogenhoe was chosen s the club seem to know how to attract the dedicated groundhopper with just the simple task of communicating via twitter.

It amazes me how many clubs fail to keep their twitter accounts up to date and some do not even have a tatter account at all. When the cold weather arrives and we have the possibility of games being called off, an up to date club twitter account is a god send.

Cogenhoe not only welcomed us by twitter, they saved us two programmes and wished us a safe trip home - great service.

The ground is basic and gave little cover from the strong cold wind. The clubhouse was warm and welcoming but Cogenhoe do not have many fans and today the crowd was bout 70, and at least 20 of them were following the visitors. But this club still survives thanks to a small team of volunteers, however even with little money to spend, the home team seems to have no problem staying safe in this division.

In the end it is their football that keeps them up and they were the better team today with one of their forwards getting his hat trick with almost the last kick of the game.