Kent County League

Division 2 East

Saturday 28th September 2024

Kick Off 14.45 Actual 14.51

Bocca Juniors 4 Gillingham Town 3, attendance 43

15’ 1-0

31’ 1-1

35’ 2-1

40’ 3-1

46’ 3-2

64’ 3-3

73’ 4-3

@ Pitchside, 3G Pitch

Stanhope Road

Stanhope

Ashford

TN23 5RN

No Admission or Programme.

The 19 mile drive south east from this mornings game took 38 minutes, all without motorways and along some very narrow lanes, arriving around twenty five minutes before the scheduled kick off, but as it kicked off six minutes late, there was plenty of time to spare. The ground here is as bad as it gets. It’s a 3G cage, but without a designated spectator area. There is a grass pitch running parallel, with the changing rooms beyond that, about 50 yards away. Quite how the F.A. or indeed any league in the country allow/want these set ups being used for competitive games is beyond me (this mornings visitors Skippers also play here). Anyway, it seemed no problem watching inside the fence. That is, until the second half was about to start. A member of staff had arrived during halftime and told everyone to get behind the fence, or the Police would be called to forcibly remove those not complying. It meant the first 15-20 minutes of the second half were spent peering through the mesh, but once she’d left, those who’d bothered to stay, slowly edged their way back inside, albeit limited to the area immediately adjacent to the gate.

Bocca Juniors had started the day top of the league table, having been replaced by Skippers, who’d won my earlier game, but knew a win here would see them return as leaders. Gillingham Town came into this in ninth place and for long periods never looked liked getting anything from the game. A speculative effort that sailed over the ‘keeper, dropping into the far corner, saw Bocca take the lead, but Gillingham hit back to level the scores just after the half hour mark, heading in a diagonal free kick at the far post. Bocca hit back with two goals in five minutes to lead 3-1 at the break. Within a minute of the restart the visitors pulled a goal back and having had another effort hit the post, made it 3-3 just after the hour, volleying in from close range after a ball was pulled back across the six yard box. Bocca managed to edge back in front with seventeen minutes left and although Gillingham did get an equaliser, the Referee failed to notice the ball had crossed the line before the ‘keeper got to it, so it wasn’t awarded.

Kent County League

Division 2 East

Saturday 28th September 2024

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.01

Len Valley 0 Skippers 3, attendance 17

43’ 0-1

50’ 0-2

65’ 0-3 (pen)

@ The Staxson Stadium, Pitch 2

Woodstock Park Sports & Social Club

Broadoak Road

Milstead

Sittingbourne

ME9 8AD

No Admission or Programme.

An early kick off here, meant the perfect opportunity to tick off the outside pitch here at The Staxson Stadium, home of Sittingbourne F.C. who were hosting Plymouth Parkway on the main pitch at 3 o’clock in an F.A. Cup match. I’d been to the main stadium back in March 2011, when I saw Norton Sports lose 1-2 to Herne Bay in a Kent League match.

Today’s game was 2nd versus 3rd in the league table and whatever the result, one of them would be top of the table at the end, with current leaders Bocca Juniors not kicking off until later in the afternoon. As it turned out, it was the visitors who grabbed top spot, courtesy of a 0-3 win that was closer than the scoreline suggests. They went ahead two minutes before halftime, cutting in from the right and finishing left footed into the bottom corner. Goal number two arrived five minutes into the second half, when a corner from the right was hooked back across the six yard box and nodded in from close range, with the third coming just after the hour mark, dispatched from the penalty spot by Ben Pilcher, to complete his hattrick.

As mentioned, this was played on the back pitch (confirmed to me via Twitter from the League, a question ignored by both clubs). The players got changed in the main stadium though, despite there being changing rooms for the outer pitch. Oddly, as the Sittingbourne players were arriving for their game, they appeared to be using the outer changing rooms. Entry is via a pathway leading behind the near goal end of the main stadium from the car park, where you pass the changing room building on the left. There are two pitches, end to end, running widthways in front of you, with this being on the left hand one, nearer to the building. It was roped along the near touchline, whilst the ‘benches’ occupied the far side.

It was quite surprising to only see four other ‘hoppers at the game, as there would have been quite a number of afternoon options available to double up with this one, especially with everyone having stayed out on the pitch at halftime and we were done and dusted by 13.38.

Essex Senior League

Peter Butcher Memorial Trophy

Preliminary Round

Wednesday25th September 2024

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.52

Athletic Newham 2 Halstead Town 4, attendance 27

9’ 0-1

45’ 1-1

60’ 1-2

74’ 2-2

80’ 2-3

87’ 2-4

@ Bobby Moore Sports Hub, 3G Pitch 1

Parsloes Park

Terrace Walk

Dagenham

RM9 5PU

£7 Admission

No Programme.

I’d been to a game here at Bobby Moore Sports Hub back in January, when I saw C.S.M. London host F.C. Baresi in an Essex Alliance League cup match. That match was played on Pitch 2 (the middle of three parallel 3G pitches here), but tonight was an opportunity to see a game on Pitch 1, which is the main ‘stadium pitch’ here. It is the one nearest the hub building and changing rooms and has four separate areas of cover. There are two 76 seated kit stands as well as a couple of sections of covered standing, both comprising of four steps. It is good from a spectator view point too, as unlike many caged set ups, there is access on three sides (just the right hand goal end out of bounds) and the dugouts are placed on the side not occupying any of the covered areas. As well as being home to Athletic Newham (Step 5), it also hosts May & Baker (Step 6) and a number of games in the Essex Alliance League (Step 7). There is a decent cafe here too, accessible before going inside the cage, where there is a good choice and very reasonably priced.

Tonight’s game was a cup match, but as far as league positions go, it was 10th versus 18th (out of 20) in the league table. Halstead took an early lead, courtesy of an own goal, in a very open game that was end to end for the entirety. Athletic Newham had a man sent off two minutes before halftime, following a foul in the centre circle, as Halstead tried to break quickly, but they still managed to draw level in the dying seconds, finishing with an angled shot into the far corner that the ‘keeper got a hand to. Halstead were back in front on the hour, forcing the ball in after two blocked shots and they nearly added a third soon after, but it came back off the post. Newham equalised for the second time with sixteen minutes left, when a pull back across the box was controlled before being finished into the bottom corner from twelve yards. Halstead regained the lead for a third time with ten minutes left, touching in a ball across the face of the goal at the far post, before making the game safe when they added a fourth in the closing minutes, scrambling in at the far post after a corner wasn’t cleared. Excellent game and full credit to Newham, as it was never obvious that they were playing with a man short for more than half the match. Typically, for games in this area, it had kicked off seven minutes late and it didn’t finish until 21.49.

Hellenic League

Premier Division

Tuesday 24th September 2024

Kick Off 19.45 On Time!

Hartpury University 4 Hereford Pegasus 1, attendance 268

3’ 0-1

25’ 1-1

71’ 2-1

72’ 3-1

90’ 4-1

@ Hartpury University Stadium

Hartpury Sports Academy

off A417

Hartpury

GL19 3BG

£8 Admission

No Programme.

I first came to a game at Hartpury University back in March 2006, when they were known as U.W.E. Hartpury. I saw them beat Sheffield Hallam University 2-1 in a British Universities Sports Association Cup Semi Final, which was played on the grass pitch (No. 13 on map) to the left of the driveway as you enter the complex. They subsequently used that ground when they entered into the football pyramid, but this season, with promotion into Step 5, they are now hosting games on the main stadium here (No. 8 on map), which was originally home to just their rugby team, who currently play at the second level nationally. There is a full length seated stand and access for spectators on all four sides. There is a bar at the back of the stand and food and drink were available from mobile catering units. The crowd tonight was very impressive for this level and certainly looked higher than the official figure of 268. An interesting point of note though is that students based here get in free and apparently, the number of paying customers totalled just 44!

The match was between two teams who’d got off to good starts this season, as 3rd hosted 5th in the league table. Hereford Pegasus were ahead after just three minutes, when a shot from the edge of the box found the bottom corner. Hartpury levelled with a close range finish midway through the half and thought they’d gone in front just before halftime, but the goal was ruled out for offside. They did go ahead with nineteen minutes left though, dinking the ball over the ‘keeper when played through on goal and a minute later it was 3-1, finishing with a first time shot. They added a fourth goal in the final minute, cutting in from the left before giving the ‘keeper no chance.

West Wales Premier League

Saturday 21st September 2024

Kick Off 17.30 On Time!

Mumbles Rangers 7 Bryn Rovers 0, attendance 160

22’ 1-0

23’ 2-0

41’ 3-0

50’ 4-0

56’ 5-0

68’ 6-0

88’ 7-0

@ Swansea University Sports Park, 3G Pitch

Sketty Lane

Swansea

SA2 8QB

£3 Admission

£2 Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop U.K.

When I visited Mumbles Rangers previously they were in the Swansea Senior League, where I saw them lose 1-5 to Brynawel in a Premier Division match, which was a 6pm midweek kick off on 17th September 2019. They played at Underhill Park back then, in Mumbles itself. That ground has had a total revamp, including the installation of a 3G pitch, so it seems rather odd that they are now playing at a 3G pitch in Swansea, rather than using their own ground. The stadium pitch here at Swansea University was visited for a Welsh League game in December 2017, but tonight’s game was played on the 3G pitch that runs parallel to that, to the south. You still enter through the stadium and the tea bar and toilets were available there, as the caged set up has no facilities of its own, although it does have the benefit of spectator access along the whole of one side, as well as grass banking along the entirety, which offered a good view from the top, making it a much better match day experience, even with a decent crowd present.

The match was 9th versus 16th (bottom). As expected, it was a comfortable home win. Mumbles were coasting after two goals in as many minutes saw them go 2-0 up midway through the first half, before adding a third goal just before halftime. They even missed a penalty too, although most people present thought that the ball had come back off the wheel inside the goal frame, rather than hitting the post, which is how the Referee seemed to think it stayed out. Anyway, it wasn’t going to affect the outcome. It only took five minutes of the second half before goal number four did arrive. Two more goals soon followed, before the scoring was rounded off with two minutes left, giving the hosts a resounding 7-0 win, leaving Bryn rooted to the bottom of the table, having now lost all eight games they’ve played.

Luckily for me, I’d already visited the two scheduled games for tomorrow, so headed straight home after the final whistle, where a clear run meant arriving back just before 11 pm.

West Wales Premier League

Saturday 21st September 2024

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Penlan A.F.C. 0 Rockspur 1, attendance 332

40’ 0-1

@ Mynydd Newydd Playing Fields

Heol Gwyrosydd

Penlan

SA5 7BS

£3 Admission

£2 Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop U.K.

It was only twelve or thirteen minutes drive from Ynystawe to Penlan, on the northern fringes of Swansea, for the next game. The entrance lane into the ground off Heol Gwyrosydd opens out into a large car park, with the clubhouse/changing rooms in front of you. Penlan Rugby Club play on a pitch to the right, whilst to the rear of the building is a huge expanse of grass, home to a number of Swansea Senior League teams (there was a game on one of the pitches today) and also the enclosed pitch of Penlan A.F.C. It is as far to the left of the complex as it could possibly be, around 250 yards from the building. There was a gap in the metal perimeter fencing that was accessible off Heol Emrys, which was almost pitchside, but it wasn’t the most salubrious area to have parked your car, judging by the state of the houses backing onto the ground. The clubhouse here was busy and the hot food on offer was excellent. Plenty of choice and ran to almost military style precision by the five or six manning operations. Hot drinks were served from a separate area, which meant everyone was served quickly. It was a shame it was so far from the pitch, as it would have been well worth another visit at halftime!

The match was 8th versus 1st in the league table, the visitors coming into this with a 100% winning record from their opening nine games, amassing a goal difference of +37 in the process. Although short on goals, it certainly wasn’t lacking in commitment. A little too much at times! Rockspur had a man sent off midway through the first half, but still managed to score what turned out to be the winning goal five minutes before the break, when a diagonal free kick into the box was headed back across the face of goal and finished with a shot on the turn that found the bottom corner. Penlan did have a goal ruled out for offside just after the hour mark, but never really looked drawing level. The closing stages were a real red card fest. Penlan were first, levelling the game up as ten a side. This was shortly followed by a second one for Rockspur (10 v 9) and in the last throes Penlan lost another two, which saw us finish with just eight versus nine at the final whistle. It’s not always the case, but yes, it was that kind of game.

West Wales Premier League

Saturday 21st September 2024

Kick Off 11.00 On Time!

Ynystawe Athletic 2 Dafen Welfare 2, attendance 194

16’ 0-1

34’ 1-1 (pen)

54’ 1-2

58’ 2-2

@ Ynystawe Park

Park Road

Ynystawe

SA6 5AP

£5 Admission, including programme, whether you wanted it or not! (I certainly don’t want one at any event organised by Groundhop U.K.)

After an overnight stay in Llanelli, it was off to Ynystawe Athletic, just north of the M4, for what was the first game, of three, on today’s ground hop. Heading north from the motorway it is a right turn off the A4067 into Park Road, the ground is about 100 yards along on the left. There is a very small car park, but no problem parking along the road side. You enter behind the goal, with the fully railed pitch running lengthways away from you, with a pair of dugouts on the left and the changing rooms behind the far goal. A cricket square separates the main pitch from a second pitch, slightly offset, that was also hosting a game today (Reserves ?) with a later kick off. As with last night, the players had to get changed elsewhere (changing rooms here being used for the other match), this time at Ynystawe Cricket Club and walk the 300-400 yards to the pitch. Again, as with last night (there’s a theme developing here), no facilities pitchside, so again the full potential of the money making opportunity was not grasped. It was probably a shock to the locals to be charged £5 admission too (I doubt that they actually are charged the inflated price), although this was the only club (of the 4 I’d be doing) to enforce the cost of programmes whether you wanted one or not.

The match was 8th versus 11th. Dafen Welfare took an early lead, finishing into the bottom corner after being played through on goal. Ynystawe levelled with a penalty eleven minutes before halftime. Dafen went back in front nine minutes into the second half, when a first time shot beat the ‘keeper at his near post. Ynystawe were only trailing for four minutes, drawing level with a header that took a slight deflection on its way in. The hosts should have won it late on, but the player slipped over with the goal gaping. They also had a player sin binned in stoppage time, but too late to have any effect on the game.

It had rained quite heavily in the hour up to kick off, but the pitch was in excellent condition. It was one of those days where the weather forecast was that it was to improve as the day went on. Let’s hope they’re right.

West Wales Premier League

Friday 20th September 2024

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 18.59!

Seaside 0 Garden Village 1, attendance 209

54’ 0-1

@ Pen Rhos 3G Pitch

Copperworks Road

Llanelli

SA15 2NG

£3 Admission

£2 Programme available, but I won’t buy one at any event organised by Groundhop U.K.

I’d visited Seaside at their Crown Park ground back in February 2009, when, as a Carmarthenshire League team, they had beaten then League of Wales side Haverfordwest County 6-3 in a West Wales F.A. Senior Cup 2nd Round match. These days they are using the new 3G caged facility at Pen Rhos, behind Pen Rhos School, on the site of the old copper works. It’s just the standard set up, with spectator access along three quarters of one side. Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem, but tonight it was hosting the first game of this year’s ‘West Wales Hop’, so the crowd was five or six times their normal turnout and it just wasn’t capable of handling these sort of numbers (anything above fifty is pushing it!). The ground here is as bad as it gets and it is appalling to think this is allowed to host level 4 football. There aren’t even any changing rooms or toilets! Players and officials had to change at Crown Park and then walk the 300- 400 yards through the houses to the pitch, but at least it meant we had a short halftime, as everyone stayed out on the pitch! Despite being an organised hop, there was no effort whatsoever to cater for those watching. Not even a mobile caterer. There was food and drink back at Crown Park, but hardly ideal if you fancy a cuppa during the game!

Viewing was dreadful for the majority present, especially during a brief spell of rain (cue the umbrellas). It certainly detracted from the game and was hard to really get into it. It was 11th versus 13th in the league table and the two sides were evenly matched. The only goal came nine minutes into the second half, when a corner on the right was headed back across the six yard box and met with a second header that diverted it back into the far corner. Seaside nearly levelled in stoppage time, but a diagonal free kick into the box was headed against the post.

Hampshire Premier League

Senior Division

Tuesday 17th September 2024

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 18.59

Bishops Waltham Dynamos 1 Liss Athletic 2, attendance 23

15’ 1-0

75’ 1-1

81’ 1-2

@ The Mountbatten School, 3G Pitch

Whitenap Lane

Romsey

SO51 5SY

No Admission or Programme.

I received no reply from either club on Twitter as to whether this was going ahead okay, but a text message to the BWD Manager was replied to within minutes, confirming venue and kick off time. The 3G pitch here at The Mountbatten School is the regular home ground for BWD. It’s the standard cage set up, with spectator access along the near side, stretching about 30 odd yards each side of the halfway line.

The match was 13th versus 15th (out of 16). BWD took an early lead, following in to score with a follow up shot, after the initial effort was saved and it looked like it might have been enough to win it, as there were very few clear cut chances created. Liss drew level with fifteen minutes left, when a cross from the right was half blocked but fell perfectly for a first time finish into the bottom corner. Six minutes later they grabbed the winner, heading in powerfully from a corner on the right. They could have added a third, when they were awarded a penalty in stoppage time, but it was well saved by the ‘keeper.

Hampshire Premier League

Senior Division

Saturday 14th September 2024

Kick Off 12.30 Actual 12.32

Hook 1 Bishops Waltham Dynamos 1, attendance 40

60’ 1-0 (pen)

90’ + 5, 1-1

@ King George V Playing Field

Hook Common (A287)

off London Road

Hook

RG27 9JJ

No Admission or Programme.

I had hoped this would be part one of a double today. I’d intended going to league newcomers Rushmore Community at 3pm, but when checking the ground address on my spreadsheet this morning, I realised I’d already visited the ground for a Farnborough North End home game played there back in January 2012, when they were in the Surrey Elite Intermediate League. I decided to stick with the 12.30 kick off anyway, as it gave insurance against games being called off and would leave me the maximum alternatives if needed. This is one of the first grounds to suffer postponements during the wetter months, so it was one that needed visiting in dry weather, which was certainly the case today. I failed to get to a game here last season, but did see them host a home game played at Papermill Avenue in February. At least leaving early, I’d avoid the worst of the traffic, although queuing from M25 J10 all the way to M3 J4A meant the 44 mile drive (42 miles of motorway) took ninety five minutes…a sure sign that the kids school holidays are over!

Hook share the ground here with Hook & Newnham Cricket Club. Entering off London Road, there is a small car park, just about big enough to cope, with the grass verges on each side of the lane doubling capacity. The football pitch is on the right, roped off, with a pair of dugouts to the right. The changing rooms are on the far side of the cricket square, where there also appeared to be hot drinks available inside.

The match was 11th versus 15th (out of 16) and had plenty of effort, but very little quality. The only thing of note in a really poor first half was a shot from the visitors that hit the post. The game did improve after Hook took the lead with a penalty on the hour. Two minutes later BWD had a penalty of their own, but it was saved by the ‘keeper. It looked like it would end 1-0, when five minutes into stoppage time, a diagonal ball into the box was spilled by the ‘keeper, resulting in an easy tap in for the equaliser.

Oddly, the four grounds I’ve yet to visit in this league now (2 Senior Div, 2 Div 1) are all 3G pitches, one of which is today’s visitors, who are due to be at home this coming midweek.