Mid Sussex League

Premier Division

Saturday 14th February 2026

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Holland Sports 2 Polegate Town 0, attendance 23

59’ 1-0

64’ 2-0

@ Holland Sports & Social Club

Mill Lane

Hurst Green

RH8 9DF

No Admission or Programme.

I’d originally planned to do a game in Wales today, but my backup game was postponed very early on, so I didn’t bother going (my first choice was actually played!) and decided instead to head for my nearest unvisited ground at Step 7, a mere twenty five minutes drive from home. It was another ground nearer completion of seeing a game on every first team venue in the Sussex pyramid, even though the ground is actually in Surrey and after today, I’m left with just Division 5 South club Scaynes Hill for completion of the Mid Sussex League now.

As you enter off Mill Lane, the clubhouse/changing rooms are to the right as you look from the car park, with the pitch set inside an old cinder running track. It is enclosed by a low perimeter fence (probably to keep animals out), with a pair of dugouts on the near side, with a section of the pitch roped off either side of this. No problem watching pitch side, which twenty odd did and at least half as many were at the front of the clubhouse too, although probably more for drinking purposes than actually watching the match. Holland never replied on Twitter (surprise, surprise) as to whether the pitch had passed it’s morning inspection, but luckily the visitors posted that the game was going ahead.

It was 5th versus 11th (2nd bottom) in the league table, but you’d never have known which team were the strugglers during a first half of very little quality, with hardly a chance created. Holland had won the reverse fixture 1-0 and it looked like a single goal might be enough to take the points today too. As it turned out, they managed to bag a couple this time. The opener came just before the hour mark, flicking on a long throw in and hooking in from close range, followed five minutes later by goal number two, breaking down the left before cutting inside and finishing low into the far corner. Holland had a man red carded with nineteen minutes left, for a mistimed tackle that went over the top of the ball and onto the opposing player’s ankle. Despite having a man advantage, Polegate only created one real chance in the remainder of the game, which they headed against the crossbar from a diagonal free kick into the box.

National League U19 Alliance

Division F

Wednesday 11th February 2026

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.01

Bromley U19 Academy 1.1 2 Hertford Town U19 1, attendance 9

7’ 0-1

43’ 1-1

90’ 2-1

@ Bromley F.C. First Team Training Complex, 3G Pitch 4

Hayes Lane

Bromley

BR2 9EG

No Admission or Programme.

An almost immediate reply to a text message this morning confirmed the noon kick off and the fact that spectators were allowed to attend. Unlike for first team games, parking was allowed in the club car park next to the main stadium, with 3G Pitch 4 being the easternmost of the 3 artificial pitches on the site. There’s a full length spectator area along the whole of the far side (only half permitted for use though) and behind the near goal end, with a pair of dugouts on the other touchline and there’s also five portable floodlights down each side too.

The match was 7th versus 6th in the league table and was a good competitive contest from start to finish. Hertford took an early lead, when a cross from the right was over hit, but played back into the box and finished side footed from six yards. Bromley equalised two minutes before halftime, when a pull back from the right was met with a first time shot from 10 yards into the bottom corner. Just as it looked like finishing all square, a ball in from the left was finished with a first time shot from near the penalty spot, that found the top corner, to win it for Bromley in the last minute.

It was about 45 minutes drive each way and for once it remained dry throughout, although there was a very heavy shower on the drive home.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 1 V.F.V.

Sunday 8th February 2026

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

K. Hoger Op Huizingen 0 Hoger Op Bierbeek 2, attendance 94

19’ 0-1

61’ 0-2 (pen)

@ Sportstadion Omer Van Roy

Sollenbeemd

1654 Huizingen

€8 Admission

No Programme.

It was an 04.30 alarm this morning, heading for the 08.15 P&O ferry from Dover, bound for Calais, then onward to Huizingen, just southwest of Brussels, where we were treated to a warm, sunny day, which unbelievably remained dry for the entirety. The pitch is railed/fenced off and has a small section of cover, with a pair of dugouts on the opposite side. The clubhouse/changing rooms are in the near corner as you enter, raised up slightly, with ample parking in the club car park.

The match was 13th versus 1st in the league table and was a more even contest than you’d expect from their respective league positions. Huizingen had the better of the early stages, but it was Bierbeek who broke the deadlock after nineteen minutes, when a cross from the right was touched in at the near post. They almost doubled their lead in the dying minutes of the first half, when a 30 yard free kick hit the post. Early in the second half they saw a 25 yarder strike the angle of post and crossbar, before doubling their lead just after the hour mark, dispatching a penalty that had been awarded for a foul by the home ‘keeper. Huizingen never looked like recovering and the league leaders easily hung on for all three points.

It was a trouble free journey back to Calais for the 22.25 ferry back to Dover, stopping off for a meal in Gistel en route. Clear run home once back in England, arriving home exactly 20 hours after this morning’s alarm call.

Gwent F.A. Amateur Cup

Preliminary Round

Saturday 7th February 2026

Kick Off 16.15 Actual 16.21

Panteg 2 Albion Rovers 3, attendance 51

22’ 0-1

52’ 1-1

60’ 1-2

84’ 1-3

90’ + 2, 2-3

@ Llantarnam Community Primary School, 3G Pitch

James Prosser Way

Llantarnam

NP44 3XB

No Admission or Programme.

A seventeen minute drive back down the A4042, just to the south of Cwmbran, for game two of the day and another match switched to a recently opened 3G set up, which was installed by the same company as the earlier match and was an exact replica, with spectator access along one side and two small sections of covered standing. The changing rooms are behind the near goal and there was plenty of parking, despite another game just finishing, which was the reason for our game having a later start time.

The match was a county cup tie, with both teams being in Gwent Premier League Division 1, with 10th hosting 5th as far as league positions go. Panteg had an early goal ruled out for a foul, before falling behind midway through the half, when a free kick was saved by the ‘keeper, as well as the follow up, but put past him at the third attempt. Albion also saw a cross from wide on the right hit the crossbar just after the half hour mark, but it remained 0-1 at the break. Seven minutes into the second half Panteg drew level, with a glancing header at the near post, from a corner on the left, but Albion were back in front on the hour mark. The ‘keeper had made a fingertip save from a long range shot, but from the resulting corner, he was beaten by an in swinging kick that he could only help into the net as it arrived at the near post. They had a header cleared off the line following another corner, before making it 1-3 with six minutes left, when a cross from the left was put in at the far post. A shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner saw Panteg pull it back to 2-3 in stoppage time, but it came too late for them to add to it.

Gwent Premier League

Division 2 Cup Group B

Saturday 7th February 2026

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Pontnewydd United 1 Brynmawr United 4, attendance 20

30’ 0-1

45’ + 1, 1-1

47’ 1-2

72’ 1-3

79’ 1-4

@ Abersychan School, 3G Pitch

Incline Road

Abersychan

NP4 8PQ

No Admission or Programme.

Another week of almost constant rain meant this game was switched to the recently installed 3G cage at Abersychan School, just north of Pontypool. It’s got a designated spectator area along one side and has two areas of covered standing too. The changing rooms, where toilets were available, are a fair way from the pitch, but at least it means the players stay out on the pitch at halftime, which is good news if you’ve got a second game to head to, such was the case today.

This was the last match in the three team group that also involved Thornwell Red & Whites and a game Pontnewydd had to win by at least three goals to progress, whilst a draw would be enough for Brynmawr. It turned out to be an excellent game, with both teams going all out for the win. It was the visitors who took the lead after half an hour, when a through ball was deflected and it fell perfectly for a first time shot into the bottom corner. Pontnewydd equalised a minute into stoppage time at the end of the first half, when a ball over the top was lobbed over the ‘keeper from the edge of the box. Two minutes into the second half Brynmawr restored their lead, beating the ‘keeper low inside the near post and they never looked like being pegged back again. A diagonal free kick was put in from close range, after a fumble by the ‘keeper with eighteen minutes left, before they made it 1-4 seven minutes later, when a short corner was angled into the box and poked past the ‘keeper from close range.

Southern Counties F.A. Challenge Cup

Quarter Final

Wednesday 4th February 2026

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.49

Mid Annandale 3 Gretna 2008 5, attendance 87

32’ 0-1

34’ 0-2

48’ 0-3

61’ 1-3

69’ 2-3

74’ 3-3

82’ 3-4

89’ 3-5

@ New King Edward Park

Matthew’s Loaning

Lockerbie

DG11 2NB

£4 Admission

No Programme.

I’d seen Mid Annandale play a home game at King Edward Park back in July 2003, when they lost 1-2 to Dumfries in a South of Scotland League, League Cup 1st Round match, which was played on a grass pitch near the changing rooms. They still use the same buildings, but have since developed a 3G pitch, sandwiched between the railway line and some industrial buildings and this is now known as ‘New’ King Edward Park, complete with seated stand and spectator areas along each touchline, although the side with the dugouts was only occupied by ‘hangers on’ tonight. There’s a toilet block and a tea bar too, with hot food and drinks and the usual sweets/chocolate etc. available.

The match was South of Scotland League (9th) versus Lowland League (17th), with the visitors being the cup holders. There wasn’t a great deal to separate them early on, but when Gretna broke the deadlock after 32 minutes, poking in from close range following a knock down from a corner, followed by a second goal two minutes later, it looked to be heading for an easy away win. When they made it 0-3 three minutes into the second half, cutting in from the left and smashing a shot high into the far corner, it looked like it was game over. Just after the hour mark Mid Annandale pulled one back though and eight minutes later they got a second, poking a through ball past the ‘keeper from the edge of the box, having won the race to a through ball. The comeback was completed five minutes later, when a corner from the right was fumbled by the ‘keeper and volleyed in from six yards. As we entered the last ten minutes Gretna missed an open goal at the far post, somehow heading wide of the target from a couple of yards out, but it only took them another two minutes to edge back in front, when a slick three man move was squared across the edge of the box and finished with a low shot into bottom corner of the net. They made certain of the win in the last couple of minutes, when a corner from the right wasn’t cleared and ended with a shot from the corner of the six yard box that went in off the far post to make it 3-5.

The final whistle went at 21.43 and I was glad I was staying overnight in Carlisle, before taking a leisurely drive home in the morning. Just leaves me with Lochmaben left to do in the South of Scotland League now.

Portugal

Associacao de Futebol do Porto

Campeonato Divisao Elite

Sunday 1st February 2026

Kick Off 18.00 Actual 18.01

Sport Club Castelo Maia 2 Associacao Desportivo Grijo 0, attendance 205

6’ 1-0

36’ 2-0

@ Estadio Municipal Dr. Costa Lima

Rua do Campo de Futebol

Castelo da Maia

4475-169 Maia

€5 Admission

No Programme.

Despite the earlier game not finishing until 17.23 we were still parked up at the second game for 17.35 as it was only five miles drive north east. We parked in the street adjacent to the ground, right outside the original old entrance gate, which has the club initials and year of formation depicted.

Nowadays you enter behind the goal, having purchased your ticket at the bilheteira on the corner. As with this afternoon, it’s a ground that has a 3G pitch, with one large stand along the side and no spectator access to the other three sides, although it is evident this ground has hosted football at a higher level in the past and is more characterful than the dreadful cage set ups that blight our non league system these days, having been a grass pitch in bygone days.

The match was 9th versus 4th in the league table. It was a decent enough watch, but was never going to match the superb spectacle of this afternoon. The hosts took an early lead, when a quick break down the left was finished with an angled shot into the far corner. The second goal came nine minutes before halftime, when a corner from the right saw the ‘keeper come to clear, but he missed his punch and the ball was nodded in from six yards. Plenty of chances created at both ends, but neither side looked like adding to the scoring.

As with earlier, the pitch suffered from the rain, with it being much more persistent as the game wore on. Never in doubt of not getting to a finish though…at least that’s the impression I got. The flight home with TAP from Porto to London Gatwick wasn’t until Monday evening and a break in the weather meant a nice stroll along the beach in Pavoa de Varzim before heading back to the airport. The 1820 flight left 20 minutes late and we were sat five rows behind West Ham United manager Nino Espírito Santo, who I doubt was hoping to tie up a transfer deadline day signing of any of the players I’d witnessed this weekend, although being West Ham, you never know….

Portugal

Associacao de Futebol do Porto

Campeonato Divisao Elite

Sunday 1st February 2026

Kick Off 15.30 On Time!

Desportivo Leca Balio 3 Valadares Gaia 5, attendance 147

1’ 1-0

5’ 1-1

42’ 1-2

60’ 1-3

67’ 1-4

74’ 2-4

88’ 2-5

90’ 3-5

@ Complexo Desportivo de Leca do Balio

Rua de Dom Dinis

4465-612 Leca do Balio

€6 Admission

No Programme.

Today should have started with a game at Liga 2 club Uniao Leiria, who play at a stadium that hosted games in the Euro 2004 Championship, but storm damage on Thursday evening meant the game was postponed. There were still double opportunities though, but it would mean both being at a lower level and instead of driving miles, I opted to stay north of Porto. First up was Desportivo Leca Balio, whose ground has a large stand on one side, but with no access to the other three. Toilets are under the stand and there’s a small clubhouse behind the near goal end. There is a small car park, but with plentiful street parking, not a problem. Luckily, it has a 3G pitch, as it started raining shortly before kick off and by the end the pitch was starting to flood, although the ball was still just about running freely through an increasing number of puddles. However, neither the Referee or teams seemed the slightest bit bothered. I doubt very much that the game would have continued here in England, such is our health and safety/blame culture these days and clubs looking for any excuse to not actually play games if possible.

The game was at level six in the pyramid, with 6th hosting 12th in the league table. It was an excellent watch, with both teams opting for an all out attack approach, which was superb from a neutral point of view. Leca were ahead inside a minute, but were pegged back four minutes later. Three minutes before halftime a through ball down the left was finished with a 20 yarder into the top corner to give Gaia a 1-2 lead at the break. On the hour mark a deflected shot saw them go 1-3 up and midway through the half a one two on the edge of the box was finished low into the far corner to make it 1-4. A low angled shot saw Leca pull one back with sixteen minutes left, to make it 2-4, before they had another effort ruled out for offside a few minutes later. Gaia hit the bar with a 30 yard free kick, before adding a fifth goal with two minutes left with a 25 yarder into the top corner. The hosts then got a last minute goal to make it 3-5 and the final whistle blew as the game re-started.