Dozen goals!

Saturday 22 August 2015, Ipswich Athletic 12 Ipswich Valley Rangers 0, Suffolk and Ipswich League, Senior Division - Bourne Vale

Been a while since I have seen a game at the old John Player ground, but what a game to choose - twelve nil! What it does show is how hard it is for any team at this level to stay consistent over the years. Only last year, Valley Rangers were one of the best teams in the league but a mass exodus of players has seen that team go and if they do not get some new blood in, it could be a long season for them.

But what was impressive is that both team still attempted to play football on what was a perfect pitch - it was not till the last 10 minutes did we see a tackle (and the ensuing melee) that was so common at this level many years ago.

Up for the Cup

Saturday 12 January 2013, Whitton United 4 Ipswich Valley Rangers 3, Suffolk Senior Cup Quarter Final, King George Vth Playing Fields

End of a week of cup football for me, starting with Ipswich losing in the FA Cup, the Ipswich Reserves losing in the Suffolk Premier Cup at Felixstowe then yesterday it was closer to home and the Suffolk Senior Cup.

I had an extra interest in this game as my nephew was playing in goal for Valley Rangers - the underdogs in this cup game.

He started with a great save, then gave away a penalty and was lucky not get a red, then was part of a team that gave their higher league opponents a real hard competitive game.

The ground has changed a bit since my last visits, a new stand behind the goal and a tea hut. Bur most fans still want to stand in the 'Shed'.

A good crowd was at the game, for what must be the ground that most people in Ipswich have seen whilst stuck in a traffic jam on the way into town, pity more do not explore further and visit one of the oldest clubs in the town, saying that there was a good size crowd at this cup game.