Barleylands

Saturday 4 April 2026, Hashtag United Development 1 Wakering Sports 4 - Barleylands, Essex Olympian League, Premier Division

Strong wind, however both teams till attempted to play football and unusually from my experience of the games I have seen in this league, no real bad tackles or arguing- helped by some good officiating.

Wakering had most of the ball in the first half and went in front after 14 minutes however Hashtag were back level 5 minutes later, with probably the best goal of the game, Wakering went back in front after 42 minutes.

Second half, Wakering had the advantage of the wind behind them but it took them a while to work out best how to use, it, once they di they added goals in the 62nd and 65th minute.

After that, Wakering sat back and allowed Hashtag to have most of the ball, some good passing moves but they could not get any further goals back.

Hashtag have obviously put some work in to Barleylands, a number of junior pitches and a big youth set up - not sure how connected they are to the current Step 5 Hashtag Utd and what will happen next season with Hashtag Utd moving closer to London.

Pitch had a slope (Hashtag name it Pitch 5) fully railed and 2 wooden dugouts. Clubhouse open and hot drinks and food available, large complex of pitches with another junior club next door (FC Redwing)  and Toby FC  to the North East.

The season starts for real

Wednesday 2 September 2020, Park View 1 Hashtag United 2 - FA Cup, Extra Preliminary Round, New River Sports Stadium

Pre-season over, one that fans seem more interested in this year- because of the lack of live sport for last 6 months. But now the real fun starts- competitive football and nothing beats the FA Cup.

So it was drizzling, it was in an athletics stadium, no bar, no hot food but it was still enjoyable,

As athletics stadiums go, the New River stadium does have a decent stand, and even ten rows of terracing the other side of the pitch, but what made this enjoyable was it was a good game of football.

Hashtag United may have a bad name, a club from nowhere, on their third ground (this was like coming home, as their first ground was also on white Hart Lane)  and involved in 'You tube' but forget that, what I found was a good team, a large away following that included many girls, families and good mix - so I think they will prosper. their opponents only started at step 6 last year but they have also come a long way in football terms if still rooted in the community they started in. A team based round the Ghanaian ex pat community, but now they take players from anywhere in Tottenham and they also want to play good football.

It was  Park View who took the lead but Hashtag hit back from the spot. Park View also lost two players to injury in the first half. The first half was quite even, but in the second half, Hashtag dominated and it was only the efforts of the Park View keeper who manged to keep the goal tally for the visitors to 2 goals.

So the season has started officially, competitive football - but it still feels strange - but the way the crowd stayed to the end - was obvious that people were just happy to be ack watching live sport.