Central Midlands League

Chairman’s Cup Final

Saturday 3rd August 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Pinxton 5 Bakewell Town 1, attendance 269

20’ 1-0 (pen)

32’ 2-0

33’ 3-0

57’ 3-1

66’ 4-1

87’ 5-1

@ Burton R.U.F.C.

Peel Croft

Lichfield Street

Burton upon Trent

DE14 3RH

£5 Admission

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

Although this was called the Chairman’s Cup Final, which was the League Challenge Cup winners (Pinxton) versus Division 1 Cup winners (Bakewell Town), it was really only a glorified friendly. It was part of a double header, with the ‘Invitational Cup Final’ between Netherseal St. Peters (Midland Regional Alliance League) and Renishaw Rangers (Central Midlands League North Division) having taken place at noon.

The fact of whether it was a competitive fixture, or a friendly, was of little importance. The main objective was to see a football match played on the ground used by Burton Swifts and then Burton United (a merger of Burton Swifts with Burton Wanderers) in the Second Division of the Football League between 1892 and 1907.

Apart from the fact that the crowd was largely made up of ground hoppers, it didn’t really have the feel of a normal ‘groundhop’ match. The catering was well below par and seemed to be what would be on offer for a rugby union matchday. The food was well overpriced and after two bites, what was left of the £3.50 hotdog I purchased was deposited in the bin. It was disgusting.

The match itself wasn’t great, not helped by the fact that the grass hadn’t been cut and was far too long to try and play football on and it was too one sided to hold the interest. Pinxton were just far too strong for Bakewell, which was perhaps to be expected.

Two years ago Burton R.U.F.C. announced that they would be leaving Peel Croft and moving to an out of town new build. We passed it on our way to St. George’s Park this morning and it really does look a soulless place. Sadly, Peel Croft’s day’s are numbered and yet another wonderful ground that oozes character will soon be no more and it will become a retail park once the rugby club move out.

Pre-Season Friendly

Saturday 3rd August 2019

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.02

Acorn Albion 5 The Butchers Arms 3, attendance 3

24’ 0-1

45’ 1-1

46’ 2-1

48’ 2-2

54’ 3-2

60’ 4-2

74’ 5-2

87’ 5-3

@ St. George’s Park, David Beckham Pitch 2, 3G

Newborough Road

Needwood

Burton upon Trent

DE13 9PD

No Admission or Programme.

The Central Midlands League were holding two matches at Burton R.U.F.C. today, with our plan to do the first of the matches at 12 o’clock, then head off for a second game at 3 o’clock. Of the three of us, only the driver would get two new ground visits, as we were unable to find anything suitable for the afternoon. However, as we were en route to our meeting point, I received a text message to say that Acorn Albion had tweeted that their friendly match today was being played at noon and would be at St. George’s Park, although we had no idea which pitch would be used. Two of us had been here before, as Derby County U23s have regularly used the show pitch ‘Wembley Pitch 6’ , so it was a case of turn up and hope for the best. It wasn’t much more than ten minutes drive to Burton R.U.F.C. from here, so it wasn’t going to be a problem. As it turned out, as we drove into the complex, we were pleased to see a team warming up on Pitch 2, who were wearing the yellow and black colours of Acorn Albion, so we would all be getting two new ground visits today after all, it was just that we would now be doing a game at the rugby ground as the second part of a double header.

Acorn Albion played their matches here at St. George’s Park when they were members of the Staffordshire County League Division 2, although they used Pitch 1 and Pitch 3 according to one of their officials, but this season they have transferred to the Midland Regional Alliance League Division 2 and have also moved to Marstons Sports Ground in Burton upon Trent, but that was hosting an event today, hence the switch of venue for this match. The Butchers Arms are from the Chesterfield Sunday League.

Butchers were the better side for the first half, but with this being their first outing of the season they tired noticeably as the second half went on. Acorn are well into their pre-season build up, so they were able to take full advantage, although overall a draw would have been a fair result.

One thing that was unusual today, considering the level of the two teams, was that we actually had four match officials. We asked one of the Linesmen why this was and he said it was because there was a chance that the Referee might not arrive in time as he had been running the line at Luton Town versus Middlesbrough in the League One opener last night!