Midland League

Division 1

Tuesday 15th September 2026

Kick Off 19.45 On Time!

Anstey Town 1 Stapenhill 1, attendance 109

35’ 1-0

90’ + 5, 1-1

@ Beaumont Park

Bennion Road

Beaumont Leys

Leicester

LE4 1DE

£6 Admission

£1 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

When I first visited Anstey Town, back in May 1999, they were playing at a ground in Leicester Road, Thurcaston. Having been ground sharing since leaving their former home, they’ve now moved to a ground in Beaumont Leys, the other side of the A46 from the town of Anstey itself. The new venue is somewhere I’ve previously seen a game. There’s a 3G pitch here, where I saw Leicester Nirvana host Oadby Town in a United Counties League Division 1 match in 2018, but Anstey Town are using the grass pitch to the right of the clubhouse. It’s railed off on three sides and has a 113 seat stand and a small section of cover just beyond it, on the right hand touchline, whilst there’s a pair of dugouts opposite, backing on to another pitch running parallel. Oddly this pitch is also railed on three sides, but there’s no barrier running between the two on this side. Parking is at the adjacent car park of Leicester Lions Speedway track, about five minutes walk from the ground.

Even this early in the season, this had a ‘relegation battle’ feel, with third bottom hosting second bottom in the league table, with each team having won just a single game each from the combined seventeen matches played so far. Sometimes though, these sort of games are better from a neutral point of view, as at least both teams will see it as a real possibility of picking up all three points. The only goal of the first half saw Anstey open the scoring after thirty five minutes, when a long ball over the top was controlled and finished low into the far corner from twelve yards. Midway through the second half Anstey saw a point blank header saved by the ‘keeper and Stapenhill had a lobbed effort from thirty yards tipped over the crossbar with twelve minutes left. Five minutes into stoppage time the visitors grabbed an equaliser, when a diagonal cross from wide on the right was met with a downward header at the far post. So, it’s as you were as far as league positions go, but Anstey are just two points adrift of Saffron Dynamo now and still have a game in hand. Stapenhill are two points further back, but still have games in hand on the two above them.

This re-completes the league once again and now leaves me with a round half dozen grounds to visit at Step 6 now. Journey north saw heavy traffic on the M25 from the M4 to M40, but clear otherwise. Not so good coming back, with a couple of lane closures on the M1 and the M25 closed from J16 to J15 and again from J11 to J10.

Mid Sussex League

Tester Cup 1st Round

Saturday 12th September 2026

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.57

The View 2 Maresfield Village 2 (3-1 pens), attendance 10

38’ 1-0

45’ + 3, 1-1

55’ 2-1

58’ 2-2 (pen)

@ Buckingham Park

Upper Shoreham Road

Shoreham-by-Sea

BN43 6BA

No Admission or Programme.

This game was never on my radar, until I noticed just before midnight last night that it was switched from The View’s normal home venue at Nevill Playing Fields, to here at Buckingham Park. It was an opportunity to tick off yet another venue hosting first team football in the Sussex pyramid, which certainly appealed. Sadly, it’s not a great venue, being an open pitch in a huge field. There’s plenty of parking inside the complex, with the changing rooms hidden away behind the bowling club. The game was played on a pitch at the northern end of the field, one of five full sized pitches here and despite having a side to side slope, it was the flattest of the lot!

The game was between two teams in Division 4 South of the league, with both still yet to make a start on their league fixtures. It was certainly not a game of much quality and one of those matches where you question what on earth you’re doing there. The View hit the crossbar early on, with a 30 yard free kick and opened the scoring seven minutes before halftime, when a 25 yard shot gave the ‘keeper no chance. Three minutes into stoppage time Maresfield drew level, when a ball pulled back from the right was finished with a stooping header from six yards. Four minutes later they had a chance to go in front, but a penalty awarded for a foul was blazed over the crossbar. No idea where the Referee found nine minutes of stoppage time from, but it remained 1-1 at the break. Ten minutes into the second half The View went back in front, when a cross from the right resulted in a shot, but it was straight at the ‘keeper, but it rebounded kindly and was put away second time. Three minutes later it was 2-2, when Maresfield were awarded another penalty and this time they made no mistake from the spot. Despite the Referee adding on five minutes of stoppage time, neither side could get a winner and we went straight to penalties. Maresfield went first, scoring with their first kick, but having a shocker with the next three, being saved, hit wide and saved again. The View were much better. They scored their first two and despite having their third one saved, scored their fourth one to win it. You don’t get many penalty shoot outs finishing 3-1 (the league website has it wrongly showing as 4-2), but it about summed up the match.

A very easy traffic free drive that took just forty five minutes in each direction, via M23 and A27.

The park has a military history too, according to the sign on display inside the entrance.

Cardiff Combination League

Premier Division

Thursday 10th September 2026

Kick Off 18.00 On Time!

Pontprennau Pumas 7 Caerau Ely Community 2, attendance 11

2’ 0-1

21’ 0-2

41’ 1-2

47’ 2-2

54’ 3-2

63’ 4-2

67’ 5-2

75’ 6-2

78’ 7-2

@ Heol Pontprennau

Pontprennau

CF23 8LL

No Admission or Programme.

To round off my final non floodlit midweek game for the early part of this season, I headed once more to Wales. Pontprennau is to the north east of Cardiff, exiting the M4 at J30, with the ground on the right as you head along Heol Pontprennau. It’s got a very small car park, with loads of double yellow lines on the surrounding roads. I managed to park in one of the new housing estates about five minutes walk away. The players get changed next to the primary school, then access the pitch up some steps at the rear. It’s fenced in with mesh fencing, making it feel enclosed. There are three wooden structures on the near touchline, two used as dugouts and the middle of the three given over to spectators.

It was 2nd versus 3rd in the league table, both on six points, along with leaders K & H Forever Young, who’ve got a game in hand on the chasers. It was Caerau who took the lead after just two minutes, beating the ‘keeper high at the near post and they doubled their lead after twenty one minutes, chasing down a through ball where a challenge on the edge of the box saw the ball loop up and over the ‘keeper. Pumas pulled one back just before halftime, scrambling in after a couple of blocked attempts following a corner. Caerau had a man sin binned right at the end of the first half and just two minutes after the restart they conceded an equaliser. Just as they were about to get back to the full compliment Pumas scored again, heading in from a corner to make it 3-2. Just after the hour mark Pumas made it 4-2, before another header from a corner saw them increase the lead to 5-2 four minutes later. With fifteen minutes left they added a sixth and rounded off the scoring a few minutes later, when a shot from the edge of the box went straight through the ‘keeper’s legs.

It had rained non stop throughout the game and despite a prompt kick off, along with a halftime interval taken pitch side, it was getting very gloomy when the final whistle sounded at 19.38. The journey down had been fine until just past Leigh Delamere Services on the M4, where the motorway was down to two lanes, meaning a SatNav diversion getting off at J18 and back on at the M32 intersection. Even the diversion was bumper to bumper, so probably didn’t save much time. The return journey was totally clear, with arrival home just after ten o’clock, which was an hour and a half quicker than going!

Gwent Premier League

Division 1

Tuesday 8th September 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Machen 3 Albion Rovers 4, attendance 31

1’ 1-0

21’ 2-0

29’ 3-0

31’ 3-1 (pen)

57’ 3-2

61’ 3-3 (pen)

85’ 3-4

@ Machen Welfare Ground

Tyn y Waun Road

Machen

CF83 8LA

No Admission or Programme.

Another trip to Wales and another game in the Gwent Premier League. Machen, which is about four miles east of Caerphilly, play at the Welfare Ground, just off the A468 when coming from the direction of Newport. It’s a typical welfare set up, with cricket, bowls and a couple of rugby pitches, as well as the railed off pitch of the football club. The changing rooms are behind the near goal end, backing onto the cricket pitch and there’s a pair of dugouts on the far side. There’s a nice scenic backdrop behind each goal end too.

The match was 11th versus 4th in the league table. Machen had only won one game so far (W1 D4 L2), whilst Albion Rovers had only lost one of their seven games, winning five and drawing one, scoring 32 goals in the process. Machen got off to a flying start, scoring from the first attack of the game, when a shot saved by the ‘keeper was smashed past him at the near post from the rebound. A ball over the top saw a lob over the ‘keeper to make it 2-0 after twenty one minutes and we hadn’t even reached the half hour mark when they made it 3-0, cutting inside from a quickly taken throw in and beating the ‘keeper low at the near post. A penalty, awarded for a handball, saw Albion pull it back to 3-1 a couple of minutes later and their chances of a comeback were greatly enhanced when Machen had a man sin binned for arguing the award of the kick and immediately red carded for sarcastically clapping the referee’s decision.

It took Albion twelve minutes of the second half to capitalise on their extra man advantage, when a powerful run from the centre circle saw two challenges ridden, before poking the ball past the ‘keeper into the far corner. Four minutes later they were level, scoring from a penalty, awarded for a trip just inside the box. It looked inevitable that the visitors would go on to win the game now, although it took them until five minutes from the end to get the winner and it was a goal worthy of winning any game, when a throw in towards the edge of the box was hit on the turn, leaving the ‘keeper no chance as it flew onto the top corner. The final whistle signalled a scuffle near the bench, with the home manager and the Albion No.9, who’d been substituted a few minutes earlier, both receiving red cards.

So, that completes this division for me. Next Tuesday I was hoping to complete the entire league, with a visit to Division 2 club Riverside Rovers, but the league have not surprisingly postponed the complete programme of their scheduled matches for next midweek now, with Autumn fast approaching. Oh well, back to floodlit matches for the next six months….

Nothing major traffic wise en route to Wales, but SatNav diverted off the M25 between J11 and J10 coming back.

Kent County League

Presidents Cup 1st Round

Saturday 5th September 2026

Kick Off 14.15 On Time!

Ramsgate Athletic 1 Smeeth & Bradbourne 7, attendance 24

12’ 0-1

20’ 0-2

36’ 1-2

57’ 1-3

61’ 1-4

73’ 1-5

85’ 1-6

88’ 1-7

@ South Road Recreation Ground

South Road

Hythe

CT21 6AR

No Admission or Programme.

It seems odd for a club at this level to be playing thirty miles away from the town they’re named after, but I’d had a prompt confirmation from the home club that this was indeed the case, so it was off to the Kent coast for today’s action. The ground is one street back from the sea front, with ample street parking available. There’s a brick built changing room block adjacent to a small car park, with the pitch being in the extreme east of the complex, a good 300 yards from the building. It was roped along one side, with both ‘benches’ setting up opposite.

This was a first round cup match, between two clubs from Division 1 Central & East of the league. As far as league positions go, it was bottom of the table (lost all four games) versus seventh (2 wins, 2 defeats) and went pretty much as expected. An easy tap in saw S&B open the scoring after twelve minutes and they doubled their lead eight minutes later, lobbing the ‘keeper after a long ball over the top. A free kick from the edge of the D saw Ramsgate make it 1-2 nine minutes before halftime, but they never looked like adding to it. Just before the hour mark the visitors made it 1-3, courtesy of an own goal by way of an over hit back pass, before an angled shot, saved by the ‘keeper, but followed in on the rebound made it 1-4 four minutes later. A cracking 25 yarder made it 1-5, before two more goals in the last five minutes rounded off the scoring.

That completes this division now and with it the top two levels of the league. Even better, no traffic problems in either direction.

Gwent Premier League

Division 1

Friday 4th September 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.16

Brynmawr United 4 Lucas Cwmbran 0, attendance 85

26’ 1-0

48’ 2-0

77’ 3-0

80’ 4-0

@ Brynmawr Welfare Park

Warwick Road

Brynmawr

NP23 4AR

No Admission or Programme.

So, for the third time this midweek, it was a trip to Wales, but this time it was for a league match, rather than the cup games that were attended in the last few days. Brynmawr is just south of the A465 ‘Heads of The Valleys’ road, just east of Ebbw Vale. The pitch is set in a dip, giving a decent raised view on the grass banking surrounds. It’s fully railed and has a pair of dugouts on one side. Parking is on the surrounding roads, with the clubhouse/changing room building in the far corner, behind the goal furthest from the entrance.

The match was 1st hosting 11th in the league table and was switched to a Friday evening to enable a number of the Lucas Cwmbran players to attend a stag weekend the following day. Brynmawr have had an excellent start to the season, having won all seven league matches so far and it was easy to see why they’re sitting top of the table. They took the lead after twenty six minutes, when a corner from the right dropped on the edge of the six yard box, met with a stooping header near the penalty spot that looped over the ‘keeper. They also hit the post shortly afterwards,with a shot from the edge of the box, but it remained 1-0 at halftime. It only took three minutes of the second half for them to double their lead, when a 25 yard free kick went straight under the ‘keeper. Another error by the Cwmbran ‘keeper saw Brynmawr add a third goal with thirteen minutes left, easily tapping in following a poor attempt at dealing with a cross. They rounded off the scoring ten minutes from time, breaking quickly, before cutting inside and beating the ‘keeper low into the far corner. With a near prompt kick off (there was a minutes silence beforehand) and a halftime interval where everyone stayed out on the pitch, we were done and dusted for 19.55.

Delays of around ten minutes outbound. Return saw SatNav divert off the M4 between J14 and J13 and on the M25 from J11 to J10, adding around fifteen minutes to the journey.

Gwent Premier League

League Cup 2nd Round

Tuesday 1st September 2026

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Alway 5 F.C. Tredegar 4, attendance 36

4’ 1-0

36’ 1-1

40’ 1-2 (pen)

53’ 1-3

55’ 2-3

59’ 3-3 (pen)

68’ 4-3

86’ 4-4 (pen)

88’ 5-4

@ Llanwern High School

Hartridge Farm Road

Llanwern

NP18 2YE

No Admission or Programme.

Unbeknown to me at the time, Alway had announced their intention to leave their current venue for pastures new, which made coming here an excellent choice. Despite being at a school, the pitch is fully railed, with a pair of dugouts (just the frames, with no cover) on the far side. It’s floodlit too and rather surprisingly, the lights came on about twenty minutes before the start, even though the game could have easily been played without them being used.

These two are both in Division 1 of the league, with fifth bottom hosting second bottom in the table as far as league positions go. Alway were ahead inside five minutes, when a long punt into the box from wide on the right was somehow fumbled by the ‘keeper and went in at the near post. A cut back from the left, side footed in from six yards saw Tredegar level the scores nine minutes before halftime and four minutes later they went in front, scoring from a penalty, following a trip just inside the box. Eight minutes into the second half they made it 1-3, scoring after controlling a long ball over the top. Two minutes later Alway pulled one back, when a short corner was crossed to the far post and finished with a stooping header, soon followed by an equaliser from the penalty spot to make it 3-3. Alway had a goal disallowed for offside, before going 4-3 ahead a minute later, when a corner from the right was met with a shot that bounced over the line after hitting the underside of the crossbar on it’s way in. A third penalty of the match saw Tredegar level the scores at 4-4 with four minutes left, but Alway snatched a late winner, meaning we avoided going to penalties, dribbling into the box and holding off two defenders, before scuffing a shot that ended up in the far corner of the net.

Another day where M25 and M4 saw minimal delays outbound and made it home before the usual roadworks were up and running, rounding off an excellent evening.

Hampshire Premier League

Senior Division

Monday 31st August 2026

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

Denmead 1 A.F.C. Shirley 9, attendance 49

8’ 0-1, 20’ 0-2, 38’ 1-2, 45’ + 2 1-3, 45’ + 4 1-4

54’ 1-5, 62’ 1-6, 68’ 1-7, 71’ 1-8, 90’ + 4 1-9

@ King George’s Field

Ashling Park Road

Denmead

PO7 6EH

No Admission or Programme.

I’d only visited Denmead for a home game on 21st April, when they were playing at Thirty Two Acres in Farlington. It was a fully railed pitch, with a pair of dugouts and a very impressive clubhouse. They’ve now moved back to their own village, playing here at King George’s Field. It’s a real downgrade from last season, being an open pitch in a large field, roped off on all four sides, as well as a pair of portable dugouts. Car parking is available in the surrounding roads and although there’s a large brick built changing room building, it only has toilets available, as far as spectator amenities go.

I had concerns as to whether today’s game would actually take place, as Denmead were rock bottom in the league table, with just a single point from their opening five games, as well as failing to raise a team for their home game versus Crofton Saints at the start of the month. They’d been hammered 1-9 at home to Locks Heath on Saturday, so it didn’t look too promising, but the game did indeed go ahead as scheduled.

It only took Shirley eight minutes to go in front and they doubled their lead by the twentieth minute. Seven minutes before Halftime Denmead pulled a goal back, when a long throw in was met with a flicked header that found the far corner. Shirley saw a free kick saved, as well as the follow up, in the final minute of the half, before scoring twice in stoppage time to lead 1-4 at the break. The game was over as a contest and it was just a case of how many more they’d score in the second half. It turned out to be four. A through ball was poked under the ‘keeper to make it 1-5, followed by a header at the far post to bring up the half dozen. A 25 yarder, in off the post, followed by an unmarked tap in made it eight, with the final goal coming with what turned out to be the final kick off the match, four minutes into stoppage time. There can’t be too many teams that have lost two successive home games 1-9 at this level, but on a positive note, at least they kept the defeats in the single digits!

Amazingly, for a Bank Holiday, not a single delay on the M25 or A3 in either direction. So, that’s the top division of the Hampshire Premier League complete and just the 3G pitch used by Whiteley Wanderers in Division 1 required for the full set.