Belgium

Brabant Provincial V.V. 4E

Sunday 27th April 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

K.F.C. Werchter 2 K.V. Tremelo 4, attendance 121

13’ 0-1

36’ 1-1

43’ 2-1

45’ 2-2

65’ 2-3

70’ 2-4

@ Grotestraat

3118 Werchter

€5 Admission

No Programme.

It was an early start for this one, booked on the 0815 P&O ferry from Dover to Calais, which left dead on time. The driver and the other passenger were heading for the league match at Sportief Rotselaar, a ground I’d already visited, so I needed a game nearby and this fitted the bill perfectly, as the two grounds are only four miles apart and I was dropped off about an hour before kick off. Considering it was picked purely on its close proximity to Rotselaar, I certainly came up trumps with this one. Despite it being the lowest level of Belgian football, it was a cracking ground, similar to something right out of the Scottish Juniors. There is a clubhouse behind the near goal end, with the changing rooms at the halfway point of the right hand touchline, a side that would be covered for it’s entire length, were it not for two sections of missing pieces of roof, which look to be due to old age/storm damage, which give the initial appearance of there being three separate sections of cover. On the left hand side is a two step section of cover, whilst the far goal end is inaccessible. Even the rail around the pitch adds to the charm, with some sections looking like they’ve certainly been leaned on a lot over the years!

I was also lucky that I got a very good game out of it too, where 5th hosted 6th in the league table, between two clubs just three miles apart. It was a glorious sunny afternoon, where it was around 22 degrees, resulting in a drinks break (for the players, not me) being taken during each half. Tremelo broke the deadlock after thirteen minutes, when a shot on the turn found the bottom corner from the edge of the box. On thirty six minutes Werchter were level, when a ball across the face of the goal was finished at the far post. Two minutes before halftime they went ahead, with another finish from the edge of the box into the bottom corner, but with the last kick of the half Tremelo made it 2-2, when a deep cross from the left hand touchline was left by the home defence and put in by a striker sneaking in at the far post.

Twenty minutes into the second half Tremelo made it 2-3, breaking quickly from defending a corner and from the second attempt at getting the cross in, it was volleyed in from six yards, with this being the point to then take the second drinks break. Tremelo finally killed the game off when they made it 2-4 with twenty minutes left, when a through ball split the defence and the ‘keeper was beaten low at his near post.

I was picked up just after five o’clock and we headed for home, stopping for a meal en route back to Calais, as we were not booked to return until 22.25, arriving back at the port at 20.45. I arrived home about 00.40. A long day, but well worth it, with this bringing up ground visit number 850 for me in Belgium.

North East Wales League

Championship Division

Saturday 26th April 2025

Kick Off 13.00 Actual 12.55!

C.P.D. Cei Connah 1 Rhydymwyn 4, attendance 19

36’ 0-1

40’ 0-2

42’ 0-3

71’ 1-3

81’ 1-4

@ Dock Road

Connah’s Quay

CH5 4DS

No Admission or Programme.

The drive from my overnight stay in Cumbria took just over two and a half hours and I was pleased to see players already arriving as I pulled into the car park about an hour before kick off. I’ve had problems with this league twice already this season, having turned up at both Acton and Yr Wyddgrug, only to find that the games had been called off whilst I was en route. At least I had the bonus of the earlier than normal one o’clock start today, just in case I was faced with another no show, so I’d still get a game in somewhere else if need be.

The ground is on an industrial estate, just to the south of the River Dee. As you enter the car park, the changing rooms are to the left, with the pitch in front of you, running lengthways. The pitch is almost entirely railed off, with a pair of brick dugouts on the left hand side. Both were minus a roof, which looked to be due to wind damage, as they were both lay in the long grass behind. There is hard standing from the dugouts to the near corner, continuing behind the goal and along the right touchline. The far end is accessible, but very overgrown, rather like the pitch, which hasn’t been mowed in quite some time by the look of it.

At least the match had something on it. Cei Connah were bottom of the table, following the withdrawal from the league of previous incumbent Deeside United, but a win in this, their last game of the season, could still see them go above Skippy and Deeside Dragons. Broughton United have already won the league, but Rhydymwyn, currently third, could still finish second, if they won their last two games and Sychdyn United failed to win their final game today, with a five point gap separating them coming into this and Rhydymwyn having the better goal difference.

Cei Connah started well and almost went ahead when a visiting defender headed against his own crossbar when defending a long throw in and also saw a volley from the edge of the box well saved by the ‘keeper. After thirty six minutes the visitors broke the deadlock, following in after an initial save by the ‘keeper. Four minutes later the ‘keeper made another save, this time from a downward header, but it fell perfectly for a player following in and an easy tap in made it 0-2, quickly followed by an unmarked header at the far post to see it end 0-3 at the break. With nineteen minutes left Cei Connah volleyed in a flick on from a long throw to give themselves hope of getting back into it. They did miss another good chance before Rhydymwyn added a fourth goal, when a home defender miss hit a back pass to his ‘keeper, which sailed over him into the far corner.

Unfortunately, the win wasn’t enough for Rhydymwyn, as Sychdyn won their match 4-1 as well, so take second place. There was talk that they won’t meet the ground grading required though, so all may not be lost yet for Rhydymwyn.

With having kicked off five minutes early and everyone staying on the pitch at halftime, this was over by 14.34 and I was home just 4 hours later, thanks to no traffic problems until reaching Cobham Services on the M25, where there was a mile long queue of cars trying to gain access from the motorway and it was the same on the opposite carriageway.

Cumberland County League

Benevolent Cup Final

Friday 25th April 2025

Kick Off 19.00 On Time!

Workington Juniors 0 Maryport Athletic 3, attendance 115

37’ 0-1

71’ 0-2

81’ 0-3

@ Workington Town R.L.F.C.

Derwent Park

Church Street

Workington

CA14 2HG

£3 Admission

No Programme.

Tonight was an opportunity to tick off a rugby league ground for football. Workington F.C. are rumoured to be going to play games here during the redevelopment of their Borough Park ground, some time in future, but I decided to come tonight, just in case those rumours don’t come to fruition. I’d already seen rugby league played here, back in November 1992, when Workington Town beat Nottingham City 68-0 in a Division 3 match and the ground remains pretty much as I remember it. It was just named Derwent Park in those days, but is currently known as Fibrus Community Stadium for sponsorship reasons. The ground has a listed capacity of 10,000, with a record attendance of 17,741 for a game against Wigan in 1965. There’s one side of seating, with covered standing opposite and oval ends behind the goals, that have grass banking at one end and open terracing at the other. The pitch is surrounded by a speedway track, but no one rides here anymore, not since Workington Comets left in 2018 for their new track less than a mile away.

Workington Juniors are top of Division 1, having won the league with 17 wins and just one defeat, whilst Maryport Athletic are sitting top of the Premier Division, still undefeated, with 10 wins and 3 draws. They play away at second in the table Cockermouth in the season finale, in a game Cockermouth have to win to snatch the title, as they go into the game two points adrift of the leaders.

Tonight’s game was very even first half, with no hint of them playing at different levels to each other. There had been very few proper goal scoring opportunities up until Maryport broke the deadlock eight minutes before halftime, heading in from a corner, where the ‘keeper was beaten to the ball as he attempted to punch clear. The second half saw Maryport looking the more likely to add to the goal tally and it was little surprise when they made it 0-2 with nineteen minutes left, when a diagonal ball into the box was finished from close range and they killed the game off when they scored again with nine minutes left, when a free kick into the box was headed against the post and rebounded straight back against the player and ended up in the bottom corner. He certainly can’t claim he meant it. We would have completed the game in daylight, despite the 7 o’clock kick off, but the floodlights were turned on for the last twenty minutes.

Excellent ground tick and well worth the five and a half hour drive north to Cumbria. At least I won’t be driving back until tomorrow, having opted for an overnight stop in Cockermouth, before taking in a game on the way home.

Cambridgeshire County League

Division 1B

Thursday 24th April 2025

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Stretham 1 Huntingdon United 3, attendance 107

42’ 0-1

46’ 0-2

60’ 1-2

78’ 1-3

@ Stretham Recreation Ground

Short Road

Stretham

CB6 3LS

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight saw a trip to Stretham, just off the A10 to the south west of Ely. The ground is just an open pitch, on the local recreation ground. There is a brick built changing room building behind one goal, but that’s it. There is a small car park too, but plenty of parking in Short Road.

The match was 3rd versus 2nd in the league table, with both still in with a chance of winning the league, as they have games in hand on current leaders Outwell Swifts. Huntingdon came into this unbeaten, having won 16 of their twenty games played, including a 1-1 draw when the two sides met in the reverse fixture at the start of the month. It was 100 m.p.h. with both going for the all out attack option. Stretham did hit the crossbar early on, but it was Huntingdon who broke the deadlock three minutes before halftime, when a long throw in was only headed clear as far as the penalty spot and met with a first time shot into the bottom corner. Within seconds of the second half getting underway it was 0-2, scoring with a looping shot over the ‘keeper. Stretham pulled a goal back on the hour mark, finishing a cross from the right into the bottom corner, but were unable to add to it and Huntingdon made the game safe with twelve minutes left, tapping in from close range after the ‘keeper fumbled a cross.

The win secured promotion for Huntingdon and if they win either of their last two matches, they’ll take the title too. Stretham are still very much in with a chance of going up, but will now have to win both of their remaining games to do so, the first of which is at Outwell Swifts, who know if they win that game, it’ll be them who get the second promotion spot instead.

Another day when the traffic was light, with a drive time of just about two hours in each direction.

North Gloucestershire League

Division 1

Wednesday 23rd April 2024

Kick Off 18.30 On Time!

Soudley 1 Longhope 0, attendance 76

26’ 1-0

@ Soudley Recreation Ground

Lower Road

Soudley

GL14 2TZ

No Admission or Programme.

An early afternoon confirmation from the home club secretary, that the game was going ahead okay, saw me head to the Forest of Dean, for a game at the top end of what is the second level in this league. Longhope were already crowned champions, whilst Soudley required two points from their last two games in order to pip Redmarley & Tibberton United to the runners up spot and with it, promotion to the Premier Division for next season. Even if they hadn’t got a favourable result tonight, they would surely beat already relegated Ross Juniors in their final game, but you never know.

It was an excellent game, that was in the balance right up to the final whistle. Both teams went at it with 100% commitment throughout. It was surprising that it only produced the one goal, as there were plenty of chances at both ends. Longhope hit the post in the first quarter of an hour, but the decisive goal came after twenty six minutes, when a ball in from on the right was finished with a looping header at the far post to give Soudley the lead and they hung on to deservedly take the win they needed. Full credit to Longhope, as despite not really having anything to play for, certainly didn’t take the game lightly. They pressed hard for an equaliser, but just couldn’t get through a resolute home defence and they finished the game with ten men, when they had a player sent off in the last minute for a second yellow card offence.

Home to Soudley is the recreation ground in the village. The changing rooms are in the building behind the goal, which also acts as the village hall. The pitch is tightly enclosed and has a pair of dugouts on the far side, that are constructed with a small area of cover in between, which would fit about half a dozen people. Another trouble free journey in both directions too, rounding off a decent trip.

Cambridgeshire County League

Senior B Division

Tuesday 22nd April 2025

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.18

Thurlow 2 Sawston Rovers 1, attendance 34

22’ 0-1

56’ 1-1

64’ 2-1

@ Great Thurlow Recreation Ground

Wratting Road

Great Thurlow

CB9 7LJ

No Admission or Programme.

Tonight’s game was 2nd versus 6th in the league table, with Thurlow in a three way battle with Histon Reserves and St. Ives Town Reserves for the runners up spot behind already crowned champions Sawston United. The reverse fixture was only played on Saturday, which Sawston Rovers had won 5-0, so Thurlow knew it wouldn’t be easy to get the three points they needed in their battle to get one of the promotion places.

First half chances were few and far between, but a diagonal ball in from the left was touched in at the far post to give Sawston the lead midway through the half. Eleven minutes into the second half Thurlow drew level, when a mix up between two defenders presented them with an easy finish. Minutes later they hit the post, with the follow up coming back off the crossbar, but it only took them another two minutes to edge in front, smashing an indirect free kick low past the ‘keeper from 8 yards and the result never really looked in doubt from that moment.

The ground here at Great Thurlow Recreation Ground is very basic and shared with the local cricket club. There is a brick built pavilion/changing room, with the cricket field in front. The football play to the left, with grass banking running along one side, with plenty of car parking along the top.

Despite kicking off three minutes late, a quick halftime break, where everyone stayed out on the pitch, meant we were still finished by eight o’clock. Nice to have no traffic problems in either direction.

Devon & Exeter League

Division 5

Monday 21st April 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 14.58!

Cheriton Fitzpaine 0 Willand XI 1, attendance 23

58’ 0-1

@ White Cross

White Cross Hill

Cheriton Fitzpaine

EX17 4HE

No Admission or Programme.

I had a choice of three games in this league today, opting for Cheriton Fitzpaine in Division 5. There were two reasons for this. Firstly, they’re a club who’ve played in the higher levels of the league in the past and secondly, it was a game with something still riding on it. This was the last game of the season for the hosts, who are third from bottom in the league table and if they lost, they could still be overtaken by Awliscombe and Chagford, who currently occupy the bottom two places. Willand XI, however, are still in with a chance of promotion, but more importantly, a chance of winning the league. They came into this sitting second, two points clear of third placed Axminster Town Reserves and four points behind leaders City Raiders, with this being the first of their two games in hand they had over them.

It was closer than I’d been expecting. Cheriton Fitzpaine fought very hard for the entire ninety minutes and proved a hard nut for Willand XI to crack, which seemed to be a recurring story, as the reverse fixture had finished 0-0 a month ago. The best chance of the first half saw Willand hit the crossbar, with the rebound fired well over the top. The second half saw the visitors pile on the pressure. They had a goal ruled out for offside eleven minutes into the second half, but made the breakthrough just two minutes later, when a diagonal cross from the right was finished from close range and that was enough to seal the points.So, Willand know if they win their last two games they’re champions, whilst Cheriton Fitzpaine will have a nervous wait hoping the bottom two don’t pick up enough points from their last games to overhaul them, although previous results point towards this being very unlikely.

The ground here at White Cross Hill is a cracker for the level they play at. It’s to the east of the village, which is roughly halfway between Crediton and Tiverton. There is enough parking inside the ground for the crowds they get, with the pitch running lengthways in front of you as you enter. The pitch is railed along the near touchline, with a small section of cover on the far side, next to the dugouts, with advert boards on the wooden fencing going from there to the corner. The two storey clubhouse/changing rooms are in the far right corner, where there was a tea bar in operation, with snacks limited to chocolate bars and small tubs of Pringles.

The game finished at 16.45 and with SatNav avoiding a huge chunk of the A303 coming back, arrival home was just after 9 o’clock.

St. Piran League

Premier Division East

Saturday 19th April 2025

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.29!

Gunnislake 6 North Petherwin 2, attendance 45

5’ 1-0

8’ 2-0

43’ 2-1

49’ 3-1

60’ 4-1

64’ 5-1

68’ 5-2

87’ 6-2

@ Butts Meadow

The Butts

Albaston

PL18 9SD

£3 Admission

No Programme.

With the game at Nanpean finishing by 12.45, it gave plenty of scope for an afternoon match, although knowing whether games had survived the weather was another thing, especially as very few of my options had up to date social media accounts. However, I’d been tipped off that Gunnislake were definitely going ahead okay, so I decided to head there. It was a drive back east of just under an hour, with the SatNav choosing a very rural route, rather than the more obvious A30, but it was traffic free, so no problem. They actually play in the middle of nowhere, south of the village of Albaston, which itself is south of Gunnislake. Entering the ground there is plenty of parking on the grass, with the changing rooms immediately to the right, where there was also a tea bar in operation. The pitch is about fifty yards away, running widthways and enclosed by wooden fencing, with plenty of advert boards and a pair of brick built dugouts on the far side. No cover, but thankfully it remained dry throughout and patches of blue sky started to appear as the game wore on.

North Petherwin had little to play for, sitting fifth in the league table, but with no chance of winning it. It was a different story for Gunnislake, as they were second from bottom (two go down), but with games in hand on the three clubs above them, know a couple of wins could be enough to see them pull clear. They got off to a flyer and were 2-0 up after just eight minutes, lobbing the ‘keeper from just inside the box for the first, before a cross from the right was blocked by a defender, but fell perfectly for a player following in to grab the second. The visitors pulled a goal back just before halftime to keep the second half interesting. A cross from the left was finished at the far post to put Gunnislake 3-1 ahead just four minutes into the second half and although the visitors hit the crossbar, Gunnislake made it 4-1 on the hour mark, rounding the ‘keeper after beating the offside trap. Within five minutes they made it 5-1, but a flicked header, from a corner on the left, saw North Petherwin get one back. They never looked like adding to it and Gunnislake rounded off the scoring, when a first time shot from the edge of the box looped over the ‘keeper to make it 6-2 with three minutes left.

St. Piran League

Division 1 East

Saturday 19th April 2025

Kick Off 11.00 On Time!

Nanpean Rovers 6 Roche 0, attendance 432

5’ 1-0

35’ 2-0

37’ 3-0

85’ 4-0

86’ 5-0

90’ 6-0

@ Victoria Bottoms Playing Field

Fore Street (B3279)

Nanpean

PL26 7YE

£4 Admission

£3 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

This was the only ground I’d be visiting on the organised ‘hop weekend. Any doubt over whether the game would go ahead okay were soon put at ease by an early tweet from Nanpean that the pitch had survived the heavy rain of yesterday and that the pitch was playable. Nanpean were formed in 1901 and over the years have played in the Cornwall Combination, South Western League, East Cornwall Premier League and they’re now in the St. Piran League, where they currently sit second in Division 1 (level 2 of the league), only trailing league leaders Looe Town on goal difference, although they have played one game more. With visitors Roche sitting bottom of the table, with just one win and a draw from their 23 games so far, today was a good opportunity to not only pick up the three points, but also try and make up some of the goal difference deficit too.

It only took them five minutes to make the breakthrough and if it wasn’t for a number of saves by the Roche ‘keeper, they could have been out of sight early on. However, they didn’t score their second until ten minutes before halftime, flicking in a corner at the near post and quickly followed this with a finish into the bottom corner to see them lead 3-0 at the break. Despite creating a hatful of chances, their fourth goal didn’t arrive until five minutes from the end, but it sparked them back into life. Within a minute they scored again, with a shot from the edge of the box that gave the ‘keeper no chance, before scoring a sixth in the last minute, when what looked like a cross in from the left evaded everyone and went into the far corner of the net.

Victoria Bottoms is a cracking ground, certainly in the ‘quirky’ category, with raised viewing on three sides and a rather unique piece of cover behind one goal, with a viewing area on top of it’s roof. The pitch held up well and we had no rain at all, which was certainly a bonus. A good turnout too, although it didn’t feel quite as big as the official attendance given.

Perry Street & District League

Bill Bailey Cup Final

Friday 18th April 2025

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 10.56!

Merriott Moretti 3 Charmouth United 2, attendance 135

5’ 1-0

9’ 1-1

12’ 1-2

21’ 2-2

52’ 3-2

@ Beaminster Memorial Playing Field

Hogshill Street

Beaminster

DT8 3AA

£2 Admission

No Programme.

After an overnight stop in Weymouth, it was an easy 40 minute drive north west to Beaminster, for today’s Perry Street & District League Bill Bailey Cup Final, which is for teams in Division 2 of the league, between champions Merriott Moretti and fifth in the table Charmouth United and played at the ground of Dorset League club Beaminster. It’s a ground shared with cricket and has a covered area on the front of the clubhouse/changing room building. The pitch, which was in excellent condition, was roped along the clubhouse side of the pitch and round as far as the goal at the entrance end, with car parking around the edge of the cricket pitch and hot food and drinks available throughout the game.

Merriott had won the two league meetings between them by 5-0 at home and 7-1 away, so came into this as firm favourites. It all looked to be going to form when they went in front after just five minutes, cutting in from the right, before finishing left footed low into the near corner. Four minutes later Charmouth were level, touching in a corner from the right at the near post and three minutes later they went ahead, powering in a header, from another corner on the right. We’d only had twenty one minutes when Merriott made it 2-2, when a corner eluded the ‘keeper’s attempt to punch clear and was headed in at the far post.

A minute into the second half Charmouth hit the crossbar, but that was the last time they looked like adding to the two goals they’d scored already and Merriott soon went 3-2 in front, when a cross from the right was met with a header that the ‘keeper saved, but was followed in from close range. They also hit the post late on, but that was it as far as the scoring went. It was an excellent game, played in horrible weather, with rain that started early in the game and gradually got worse. No problems with the pitch though, as it was in superb condition.

I had planned to do a second game today and was heading for an afternoon cup match at Uplowman United in the Devon & Exeter League, but it was postponed whilst en route.