East of Scotland League

Premier Division

Saturday 14th March 2026

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.39

St. Andrews United 2 Sauchie Juniors 1, attendance 374

39’ 0-1

69’ 1-1

88’ 2-1 (pen)

@ The Recreation Ground

Langlands Road

St. Andrews

KY16 8BN

£10 Admission

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

After an hour and a half relaxing at my hotel, it was time to head for game three of the day, in the coastal town of St. Andrews, more famous for its golf course (regularly hosts The Open Championship) and university (it’s where Prince William and wife Katherine were educated), rather than its football club. The Recreation Ground is to the south of the town, about a mile west of the beach and I’d arrived early enough to grab street parking right opposite the entrance. The ground is fully enclosed, with the clubhouse behind the south end goal. There’s a small section of covered standing beyond the dugouts, with the changing rooms in the corner at the far end, with a notable slope on the pitch towards here and is obviously floodlit. Kick off was nine minutes late, owing I believe to the later than expected arrival of the circus bus, as their earlier match had been delayed due to problems with the pitch (according to the Referee) which meant it got underway twenty minutes later than scheduled.

The match was 10th versus 16th in the league table, Sauchie having been dumped bottom following previous incumbents Hutchison Vale having won last night. Only a point separates the bottom three, with Glenrothes making up the battle to avoid relegation, as none of these three are likely to catch fourth bottom Whitburn, who are 14 points clear of the drop at present. It was Sauchie who broke the deadlock six minutes before halftime, meeting a corner from the right that sent a looping header over the ‘keeper. The hosts were reduced to ten men on the hour mark, a player picking up a second yellow card, but numbers were levelled up at 10 a side eight minutes later, when a Sauchie player was red carded too. Within a minute of the restart St. Andrews drew level, with a stooping header at the near post from a corner on the right. It looked like heading for a draw, but with two minutes left St. Andrews were awarded a penalty, which they duly dispatched to take all three points.

Kingdom of Fife Amateur League

Championship Division

Saturday 14th March 2026

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.58

Auchtermuchty Bellvue A.F.C. 0 Leven 0, attendance 47

@ Low Road Park

Stratheden Place

off Low Road

Auchtermuchty

KY14 7AU

No Admission or Programme.

The Groundhop U.K. fanfare headed off to Lowland League club Cowdenbeath for their next game. I’d seen them lose 0-1 to Albion Rovers back in September 1993, in what was then a Scottish League Division 2 fixture, in front of a crowd of just 228, so headed elsewhere. Although I’d yet to visit the late afternoon game at Lochore Welfare, I chose to head further east into Fife, taking in a second level match in the Fife Amateur League instead, which would give me time to check in at my overnight hotel and time to relax, before heading further east to St. Andrews, for the final game of the day on the organised ‘hop.

The ground here at Auchtermuchty is just a pitch, roped along most of one side. There’s a raised changing room building, set away from the pitch, but still the chosen viewing point for a few of the crowd. There was a decent backdrop beyond the far touchline and thankfully, apart from a very brief rain shower, it remained dry throughout with occasional blue sky and sunshine breaking through and we even had a late appearance of a rainbow too.

The match was 7th (out of 14) versus 2nd and despite failing to produce a goal, was an excellent contest that kept the interest right to the final whistle. Leven shaded the first half, but going in level was a fair reflection of how the game had gone. Surprisingly, for an afternoon match, everyone stayed out on the pitch at halftime, meaning the interval lasted only five or six minutes. It was more of the same in the second half and despite Leven looking the better side, it was Auchtermuchty that came closest to breaking the deadlock. A header from a corner came back off the post with fifteen minutes left and a minute later a long throw in was met with a glancing header that was cleared off the line.

The draw sees Auchtermuchty remain seventh in the table and although Leven retain second place, they now trail leaders Benarty Astros by three points, having played three more games and are now just three points clear of third in the table Kirkcaldy/Dysart Y.M.C.A. who have two games in hand.

East of Scotland League

Division 2

Saturday 14th March 2026

Kick Off 10.45 On Time!

Lochgelly Albert 1 Inverkeithing Hillfield Swifts 4, attendance 303

3’ 0-1

7’ 1-1

13’ 1-2

48’ 1-3

90’ 1-4

@ Purvis Park

South Street

Lochgelly

KY5 9LJ

£8 Admission

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

I’d stopped overnight near Livingston, so it was a half hour drive over the Firth of Forth into Fife for today’s first game, which was part of the organised ‘hop. Despite the usual fear mongering, there was ample street parking within a minute of the ground. On a normal day you’d probably get in the club’s own car park, but no chance today, as the ‘circus were coming to town’.

The pitch is fully railed and set in a bowl. Raised grass banking offers excellent views on all four sides of the ground. You enter behind the goal at the car park end, where there’s a few steps of cover behind the posts, including a few seats, whilst there’s more cover at the halfway line to the left, set behind the dugouts.

The match was 5th versus 7th in the league table, with both still in with a chance of a promotion place come the end of the season. The visitors got off to a great start, when a corner from the right was hooked in from close range after three minutes, just crossing the line before being hacked clear by a defender. Four minutes later Albert drew level, heading in at the near post from a corner on the left. They fell behind again six minutes later, when a ball in from the right was smashed past the ‘keeper at his near post. Three minutes into the second half Swifts made the points safe, heading in again from a corner and there was no way back for the hosts. The final goal came in the last minute, when a shot on the turn found the bottom corner to give the visitors a comfortable 1-4 win.

Scottish Lowlands Development League

Friday 13th March 2026

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 19.45!

Linlithgow Rose U20 2 East Fife U20 5, attendance 37

10’ 0-1

14’ 1-1

18’ 2-1

24’ 2-2

63’ 2-3

72’ 2-4

90’ 2-5

@ Xcite Linlithgow Leisure Centre, 3G Pitch

McGinley Way

Linlithgow

EH49 6SQ

No Admission or Programme.

This game fitted in perfectly with my weekend plans, taking in a few matches involving games on the Scottish Groundhop and I’d have to have had a hotel tonight anyway, due to tomorrow’s first game kicking off at 10.45. I’d already been to Saughton Enclosure, in Edinburgh, where the hop was starting off, having seen Lothian Thistle beat Annan Athletic 2-0 there in a midweek East of Scotland League match back in March 2000. My alternate game here in Linlithgow was played on a standard caged 3G pitch, with a viewing area along the whole of one side. Not sure why, but the game kicked off fifteen minutes earlier than advertised, which was a real bonus and despite it being bitterly cold, everyone stayed out on the pitch at halftime, meaning the interval lasted only eight minutes!

A glancing header, in off the far post, saw East Fife go in front after ten minutes. A looping header over the ‘keeper, helped in at the far post saw Linlithgow equalise four minutes later, soon followed by a 20 yarder, in off the post, to put them in front. We hadn’t even played twenty five minutes when East Fife pulled it back level at 2-2, when a cross from the right wasn’t dealt with by the ‘keeper and was volleyed in from close range.

Just after the hour mark East Fife made it 2-3, when an over hit cross was played back across the six yard box and hooked in from a couple of yards. Linlithgow conceded a penalty with eighteen minutes left and had a player red carded for dissent, having argued about the decision. It was duly dispatched to make it 2-4 and they rounded off the scoring in the final minute, breaking down the right and crossing for a near post finish to give them a resounding 2-5 win.

Middlesex County League

Premier Division

Tuesday 10th March 2026

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.41

Kensington Dragons 3 London Fennecs 3, attendance 29

2’ 1-0

40’ 2-0

43’ 2-1 (pen)

48’ 2-2

59’ 3-2

87’ 3-3

@ Linford Christie Stadium, 3G Pitch (The Dragons Den)

Artillery Lane

off Du Cane Road

Wormwood Scrubs

London

W12 0DF

No Admission

£3 Programme, 8 pages.

This was the first floodlit midweek game played at Kensington Dragons new ground. It’s a 3G cage, but there’s spectator access on all four sides, with plenty of room between the fences and pitch surround. It’s still very much a work in progress. I’d seen a game on the stadium pitch at Linford Christie Stadium back in March 1995 (Willesden Hawkeye 2 Corinthian Casuals 0 in London Spartan League Premier Division). The players still get changed here for the time being, due to the lack of changing rooms at the new set up and parking is available here too, which is free of charge after 18.30 during the week. The new pitch is beyond the eastern end of the stadium running track. There are plans to erect some sort of cover in the future, should the club wish to progress beyond their current Step 7 status. The club issued a programme for this game, which was well received by the ‘hoppers in attendance, who made up a third of the crowd.

The match was 9th versus 7th (out of 17) in the league table. The hosts got off to a flyer, going ahead inside two minutes. Fennecs saw a stooping header tipped round the post midway through the half, but fell two goals behind five minutes before halftime, when an angled shot from the left found the bottom corner. A penalty for the visitors just before halftime pulled it back to 2-1 and there was still time for Dragons to have a 25 yarder come back off the crossbar. Fennecs levelled it up at 2-2 three minutes into the second half, with a 30 yarder that went in off the post. Just before the hour mark it was 3-2, when a through ball was smashed in from 12 yards and Fennecs grabbed a deserved equaliser in the dying minutes, following in a free kick from wide on the right that was spilled by the ‘keeper.

Journey to West London was via M25, M4 and A40, taking 1 hour 25 minutes. SatNav brought me the direct route home, avoiding the motorways altogether, via Hammersmith, Putney and New Malden and it only took 58 minutes.

Professional Development League

Monday 9th March 2026

Kick Off 13.00 Actual 13.03

A.F.C. Bournemouth U21 2 Brentford U21 3, attendance 70

4’ 1-0

5’ 1-1

28’ 2-1

73’ 2-2

90’ + 3, 2-3

@ A.F.C. Bournemouth Performance Centre

off Knighton Lane

Canford Magna

BH21 3AR

No Admission

Free Team Sheet

I’d seen the youth teams of A.F.C. Bournemouth play home games at two different venues in the past, at Bournemouth Sports Club in 2001 and Canford School in 2009, but today was a chance to see the U21 team play a game at their relatively new Performance Centre. It’s built on the site of a former golf course, with a vast number of pitches here, including both indoor and outdoor 3G pitches. Today’s game was played on a grass pitch adjacent to the indoor pitch, end on to the building. There’s spectator viewing along the whole of one side, with the dugouts opposite. I’d rang the club this morning to check accessibility and there were no restrictions gaining access. They just took my name at security and a note of the car registration number. Plenty of parking once inside, but there’s no access to the pitch until about 15 minutes prior to kick off.

It was nice to get a game at this level where both teams tried to play football and there was very little of the negative style you normally get in these games. It probably helped that Bournemouth scored after just four minutes, charging down an attempt at playing out from the back by the Brentford ‘keeper, before rolling the ball into an empty net. Brentford equalised a minute later, when a cross from the right was finished at the near post. Just before the half hour mark Bournemouth went back in front, when a cross from the right was met with a downward header at the far post that found the bottom corner. Brentford made it 2-2 with seventeen minutes left, scoring from a free kick on the edge of the D. It looked like we’d be heading for a draw, but three minutes into stoppage time Brentford grabbed a winner, when a ball played across the edge of box was finished first time into the top corner by substitute Beau Redknapp, son of Jamie.

Nice to have a trouble free journey in both directions, meaning under two hours drive each way.

West Sussex League

Division 3 North

Saturday 7th March 2026

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.58

Horsham Trinity 0 Horsham Crusaders Town 7, attendance 12

10’ 0-1

28’ 0-2

47’ 0-3

66’ 0-4

72’ 0-5

78’ 0-6

86’ 0-7

@ Lower Beeding Association Playing Fields

Leechpond Hill

Lower Beeding

RH13 6NR

No Admission or Programme.

This game stood out for me today, for more reasons than one. It was the penultimate first team venue I’d yet to visit in the West Sussex League and was the last home match of the season for Horsham Trinity and at this level, you never know where teams are going to play from week to week, let alone if they’ll still be based here come next season. Another factor was that the visitors were top of the league table, unbeaten in their first eleven games, with just an away draw at third in the table Holbrook Olympic Reserves being their only dropped points so far.

Horsham Trinity play at Lower Beeding Association Playing Fields, just to the south of the village and is shared with the local cricket club. The pavilion (doubling as the Village Hall) housed the changing rooms, as well as spectator toilets, with the pitch to the left of the cricket square, running lengthways away from the building. I’d had confirmation from the home club that it had passed a morning pitch inspection. Thankfully it remained dry, as it would have been touch and go otherwise, as it was very soft towards the far goal end.

Fifth in the table Trinity were no match for the league leaders in the end and despite falling behind after just ten minutes, were only trailing 0-2 at the break. The points were made safe two minutes into the second half, when a long ball over the top was finished first time into the bottom corner to make it 0-3. Trinity somehow stemmed the tide for the next twenty minutes, but conceded four more in the last quarter of the match, to give the visitors a resounding 0-7 win.

F.A. Premier League

Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Kick Off 19.30 On Time!

Everton 2 Burnley 0, attendance 51,959

32’ 1-0 Tarkowski

60’ 2-0 Dewsbury-Hall

@ Hill Dickinson Stadium

32 Regent Road

Bramley Moore Dock

Liverpool

L5 9SR

£58 Admission

£4 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

Completing ‘The 92’ is a bit like painting the Forth Road Bridge. Every time you think you’re done, another ground appears. Not that that’s a bad thing mind. The full set was first achieved in August 1990, with regular top ups since. In fact, Everton’s former home of Goodison Park was ground number 7 on the list when I saw them beat Leicester City 5-1 on December 28th 1986. I’ve since re-visited the first six grounds, but will likely never return to Goodison, despite it still remaining in use for women’s and youth matches.

Hill Dickinson Stadium was only opened during the summer, having been built on reclaimed dock land, on the banks of the River Mersey, just a couple of miles west of their former home. It has an all seated capacity of 52,769, giving them around 13,000 extra places than they had previously. Normally you have to register to buy tickets, which I believe costs around £35, but tonight’s game had gone to general sale, with just the ticket price incurred, so a real result! All stands had availability and we opted for the upper tier down the side, in row 62. It’s a fair hike up to the seats, but once there, the sight lines are superb. In fact, there probably aren’t too many seats where this wouldn’t be the case. We’d arrived quite early, soon realising that coming by car was problematic, due to how far out from the stadium the parking restrictions stretched. We opted to pay £15 at a pop up car park, at a gated business premises exactly a mile north of the stadium, wary of the reputation the city carries for car thefts. The gates would be locked an hour after the final whistle, but no problem getting back well before that, once you’d negotiated the bottle neck trying to leave the vicinity of the stadium.

Everton came into this sitting eighth in the table, whilst Burnley were second bottom. Quite how Burnley can be above anyone in the table takes some believing and shows just how poor Wolves must be. This was pretty poor stuff to be honest and not a great advert for a league constantly claiming to be ‘the best in the world’. Everton were just going sideways at every opportunity, or back to Pickford if they wanted to mix up the sterile approach occasionally. Burnley were simply dreadful and rarely got out of their own half, let alone into the Everton box. We were lucky that we saw one goal, let alone two. The opener came from a Garner cross, with Tarkowski heading back into far corner from the far post. That goal would have been enough to take all three points, but they added a second on the hour, when a through ball from Ndiaye was finished with a deft chip over the diving ‘keeper from Dewsbury-Hall. The atmosphere was very muted throughout, not helped by the lack of quality served up on the pitch and despite Burnley looking to have filled their allocation, they were only heard once, but soon quietened down again.

I’ll be back here in July, having obtained a Sunday day ticket (only £28) for the Rugby League ‘Magic Weekend’…..a decision I regret now and not something I’m really looking forward to. Getting away after the game was easier than expected, but a bit of a drag getting through endless sets of traffic lights heading back to the motorway. Closure of the M6 from J14-J13 meant SatNav took us via A50 and M1 instead. All good until dropping off my passenger in Uxbridge. No access back onto the M40 due to roadworks, with the M25 closed from J15 to J14 and again between J11 and J9. Finally got home dead on 3 am!

E.F.L. Youth Alliance (Northern Section) Cup Final

Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Kick Off 13.00 Actual 13.02

Blackpool U18 2 Carlisle United U18 1, attendance 150

39’ 1-0

79’ 1-1

88’ 2-1

@ Common Edge Community Sports Village, 3G Pitch

Common Edge Road

Marton Fold

Blackpool

FY4 5FH

No Admission or Programme.

An early start this morning, blighted by the usual crawl on the M25 from J9 to J16, heading north to the southern outskirts of Blackpool, just east of Blackpool Airport and the 3G caged pitch at Common Edge Community Sports Village. It’s the standard set up, with spectator viewing on the whole of the near side, with dugouts opposite. Ample parking and entry via the main building, where toilets were available, but little else.

It was the northern section final of this competition, with the winners facing A.F.C. Wimbledon to determine the overall champions. We were thirty five minutes in before any real chances were created, with Blackpool lobbing the ball wide after being put through on goal, but it only took four more minutes for them to make the breakthrough, when a deflected cross from the right was swept in from six yards. Right on halftime Carlisle nearly levelled, following up a fumble by the ‘keeper, but hitting the post. They did grab an equaliser with eleven minutes left, when a through ball saw striker and ‘keeper race to the ball, with the challenge falling perfectly for a supporting player to lob into an empty net from 25 yards. Blackpool grabbed the winner with two minutes left, when a corner from the right was headed out to the edge of the box and returned with a volleyed shot that flew into the far corner.

Back on the road before 3 o’clock, heading south for the main event of the day…..

West Midlands (Regional) League

Premier Division

Monday 2nd March 2026

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.46

P.S. Olympic 2 Pelsall Villa Colts 2, attendance 64

20’ 0-1

36’ 0-2

39’ 1-2

45’ 2-2

@ The Dell Stadium, 3G Pitch

Bryce Road

Pennsnett

Brierley Hill

DY5 4NE

£4 Admission

No Programme.

A rare Monday night fixture threw up the chance to tick off yet another 3G cage, but at least this one is the regular home venue for the club, once again re-completing this division for me, rather than some random venue borrowed in order to catch up on fixture backlog. I’d seen Oldswinford play on the stadium pitch here back in 1991, with tonight’s game played on a pitch that runs parallel to it, backing on to the stand. Entrance is through the main building, where there’s a refreshment kiosk and toilets, with admission taken from a table set up as you exit to the pitch, which runs lengthways away from here and has the usual spectator area running along three quarters of one side.

The match was 4th versus 10th in the league table and was a game of two halves. All the goals came in the first half, with the visitors squandering a two goal lead. They broke the deadlock with an angled shot that was touched in from close range and doubled their lead with a shot on the turn from 20 yards, that the ‘keeper got a hand to, but couldn’t prevent the shot going in via the post. Six minutes before halftime, a speculative cross/shot from wide on the right sailed over the ‘keeper into the far corner to make it 1-2 and they levelled the scores in the dying seconds of the half, when a cross in from the right was touched in from 6 yards on it’s way into the bottom corner. Olympic hit the crossbar early in the second half and should have won the game a minute from time, when they were awarded a penalty, but it was well saved by the ‘keeper.

Journey up to the Midlands was trouble free, unlike the return. Access from the M42 onto the M40 was closed, meaning a diversion up to the next junction, adding about five miles. Three sections of single lane roadworks (no actual work taking place) were encountered on the M40, followed by closures on the M25 between J15 and J14 and again from J11 to J9.