Taunton & District League

Rowbarton Charity Cup 2nd Round

Monday 17th November 2025

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.33

Dulverton Town 3 Bridgwater Sports 5, attendance 34

5’ 1-0

16’ 2-0

32’ 2-1

40’ 3-1

42’ 3-2

43’ 3-3

90’ + 1, 3-4 (pen)

90’ + 3, 3-5

@ Bridgwater & Taunton College Sports Zone, 3G Pitch

College Way

off Bath Road

Bridgwater

TA6 4PZ

No Admission or Programme.

The Taunton & District League is an odd one as far as my ground hopping visits go, as I’ve only ever done games for midweek cup matches. The reason for this is that a lot of their cups are staged on neutral 3G venues. I’d done three such venues previously…Bridgwater College Academy (3.10.18), Richard Huish College (4.10.23) and 1610 Castle Sports Centre (15.12.23) and they’ve now added Bridgwater & Taunton College into the mix. The ground is next to that of Western League club Bridgwater United, running end on. It’s a typical cage set up, but has spectator access along the entrance side, where there’s also a pair of wooden dugouts, as well as behind each goal, stretching from the near corner to the far edge of the 18 yard box, whilst the far side backs onto the railway line and is out of bounds.

The match was 3rd in Division 2 versus 2nd in Division 1. It was Dulverton that got off to the better start, going ahead with a shot into the bottom corner after five minutes, before doubling their lead eleven minutes later, with a shot that went in via the post. Just after the half hour mark Bridgwater Sports had a goal ruled out for offside, but did pull one back a minute later, hooking in at the far post following a corner on the right. Five minutes before halftime Dulverton restored their two goal lead, heading in a diagonal cross at the far post. Two minutes later it was 3-2, when Bridgwater netted the rebound from a penalty that was saved and within a minute they were level, when a cross from the right was smashed past the ‘keeper from just inside the box. The all action first half certainly didn’t match the second. There was hardly a decent chance created by either side and it looked all set to be heading for a penalty shoot out, when a minute into stoppage time Bridgwater were awarded a penalty, for a trip on the edge of the box. It was duly scored and a couple of minutes later they broke down the right and crossed into the box, where the ball was controlled and hit low into the bottom corner with what was the last kick of the match.

It was a trouble free journey down to Somerset, via M3 and A303 and the only roadworks encountered were on the M25 coming home, between J10 and J9, where there were lane closures.

Kent County League

Division 2 West

Saturday 15th November 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

The Charcoal 3 Rotherhithe 2, attendance 26

41’ 1-0

42’ 1-1

48’ 2-1

86’ 2-2

90’ + 4, 3-2

@ The Oaks

Starbuck Close

off Green Lane

New Eltham

London

SE9 2TD

No Admission or Programme.

I chose this game, as I had an easily reachable back up game on 3G, although I’d confirmed with the home club manager that the game was going ahead as scheduled, so not really needed. The Oaks has three pitches, all of which staged games this afternoon. Behind the clubhouse, to the right of the car park, is a railed pitch that was formerly home to Eltham Town. My game was on a pitch to the left, running parallel to the car park. It’s fully railed, with a small area of cover (The Lenny Piper Stand) on the near side, where hard standing ran from here to the near corner. A pair of dugouts are on the far side, backing onto a pitch running lengthways away from here, which was hosting a veterans match.

Today’s game was 2nd versus 8th (out of 11) in the league table, with The Charcoal unbeaten in their opening seven matches (5W 2D), having been promoted from the Bromley & South London League, having finished second to Old Roan in the Premier Division of that league last season, whilst Rotherhithe came up from the same division, despite only having finished in fourth place.

It was an excellent game, on a pitch that looked none the worse for the rain we’ve suffered in the last couple of days. It was end to end right from the off and it was a bit of a surprise that it took until four minutes before halftime for the opening goal to arrive, which went the way of the hosts, finishing left footed into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Within a minute the visitors levelled the scores, when a long ball over the top was touched past the on rushing ‘keeper and finished from a tight angle, low into the far corner, just eluding a defender on the line who couldn’t keep it out. Three minutes into the second half The Charcoal went back in front, cutting in from the right and beating the ‘keeper at his near post. Rotherhithe replied with a 25 yarder that smacked against the post, followed seconds later by another effort from the same player, this time hitting the crossbar, with the ‘keeper getting nowhere near either of them. With four minutes left Rotherhithe grabbed a deserved equaliser, following in from close range, after a fumble by the ‘keeper. It looked like ending in a draw, but four minutes into stoppage time The Charcoal broke down the right and crossed to the far post for an easy tap in to take all three points.

A lot of leagues struggle for match officials these days, but no problem here. There were three appointments for this, which I believe is the norm in this league, despite it only being Step 9 on the football pyramid. Thankfully, there was nothing worse than a very brief threat of rain during the second half, which soon petered out, but it was pretty gloomy when the game finished at 15.45.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 1 A.C.F.F.

Sunday 9th November 2025

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03

F.C. Moreda Uccle 0 R. Racing Club Etterbeek 7, attendance 57

30’ 0-1

48’ 0-2

50’ 0-3

56’ 0-4

70’ 0-5 (pen)

73’ 0-6

84’ 0-7

@ Complexe Sportif André Deridder

Rue des Griottes 26

1180 Uccle

€8 Admission

No Programme.

It was an 04.30 alarm this morning, heading down to Dover to get the 08.15 P&O ferry across to Calais. We had been expecting the new finger print checks to now be underway at Border Control, but it is delayed still further, at least as far as car passengers go, so we could have had an extra half hour in bed….oh well. The boat left on schedule, leaving ample time to make the 130 mile drive to Uccle, just south west of Brussels.

The ground here is pretty basic. It’s a caged 3G pitch with spectator access along one side, with a pair of dugouts opposite. There’s a small bit of cover, consisting of three steps of concrete, with the back two rows having wooden planks for seating. The clubhouse is to the right as you enter the complex and actually did have bar snacks too, rather than just crisps that are more the norm. The changing rooms were in the basement of this building.

The match was 15th (out of 16) versus 3rd in the league table. It was a pretty uneventful first half, which Etterbeek dominated, but were caught offside at least half a dozen times, breaking down the majority of their chances. They’d had a ninth minute effort chalked off for offside, but did make the breakthrough on the half hour mark, when a diagonal free kick from the right was met with a stooping header at the near post. Within five minutes of the second half starting, they’d increased their lead to 0-3 and with the points safe, it was a case of just how many more they’d score. It turned out to be another four, one of which was a penalty. They also hit a post too, but they’d declared at 0-7, when the final goal of the game arrived with six minutes left, finishing a through ball with a dink over the ‘keeper from the edge of the box.

We had plenty of time to kill after the game, so went for a meal in Gistel on our way back to Calais. Our 22.25 ferry left four minutes early, arriving back in Dover around eleven o’clock, with a ten minute wait to then disembark. I was dropped off in Barming, to collect my car and was home for 00.30, exactly twenty hours after my alarm had gone off this morning.

East Sussex League

Division 3

Saturday 8th November 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.58

Burwash 4 Sedlescombe Rangers 1, attendance 22

6’ 1-0

37’ 2-0

47’ 2-1

76’ 3-1

83’ 4-1

@ Burwash Playing Field

Swan Meadow

Ham Lane

Burwash

TN19 7ER

No Admission or Programme.

Another trip to East Sussex today, where 4th (out of 10) hosted 6th in the league table. I’d confirmed the game was going ahead okay with the home club just before eleven o’clock and a traffic free drive saw me arrive in Burwash, west of the A21, roughly midway between Royal Tunbridge Wells and Hastings, about an hour before kick off. The car park here is very small, so I parked in the High Street instead, no more than one hundred yards away.

The ground is shared with cricket, with the square behind the goal nearest the entrance and the pitch slopes down towards the far goal, which has a couple of tennis courts beyond. A large brick built changing room building is in the near left hand corner, with the pitch taped off from this corner to just beyond the halfway line, with both ‘benches’ setting up on this side.

Burwash kicked up the slope in the first half and were ahead after just six minutes when a pull back from the right was finished with a first time shot that went in off the far post, via the ‘keeper’s foot. Midway through the half they had a 20 yarder deflected onto the crossbar, quickly followed by an effort for Sedlescombe, that rebounded off the crossbar before the rebound was volleyed wide. Eight minutes before halftime Burwash doubled their lead, cutting in from the right before finishing left footed into the bottom corner from the edge of the box. Sedlescombe pulled it back to 2-1 two minutes into the second half, when a through ball that beat the offside trap was finished one on one. Burwash had a man sin binned with eighteen minutes left, but playing with a man short didn’t hinder them. They had a goal ruled out for offside a couple of minutes later, before going 3-1 up just seconds later, when a cross from the right was controlled at the far post and finished low into the bottom corner. Sedlescombe had a headed goal from a corner ruled out for a foul with nine minutes left, then conceded an own goal to make it 4-1 a couple of minutes later. Both teams hit the woodwork in stoppage time too, but there were no more goals.

Gwent Premier League

Division 2

Saturday 1st November 2025

Kick Off 14.30 On Time!

Thornwell Red & White 1 Riverside Rovers 2, attendance 20

14’ 0-1

29’ 0-2

55’ 1-2

@ Tenby Lane

Thornwell

NP16 5GH

No Admission or Programme.

This hadn’t been my original choice of destination today, but my intended game of F.C. Tredegar, in the division above, who were playing their home game on the rugby stadium next door to their normal home venue, was called off due to a waterlogged pitch. The village of Thornwell is just across the border into Wales, with the M48 and the old Severn Bridge clearly visible through the trees on the far side of the ground. The pitch is fully railed, painted in the club colours of red and white, although now very faded. The pair of brick dugouts however, are freshly painted and very striking. There’s a small changing room building, on the near right side and a pavilion behind the near goal, but that remained shut. Oddly, the pitch had been partially mowed. The near end was short, but the other half was a good six inches, making passing on the ground difficult.

The match, between the only two teams I hadn’t yet visited in this division, saw 9th (out of 12) host 11th in the table, with both teams only having won a single game each so far. It was the visitors that made the better start, opening the scoring after fourteen minutes, when a corner from the left was cleared to the edge of the box and returned with a first time shot that hit the underside of the crossbar, but bounced down behind the line. They doubled their lead just before the half hour mark, this time heading in at the near post, again from a corner on the left. Thornwell pulled a goal back ten minutes into the second half, when a diagonal free kick from wide on the left was bundled in at the far post. They should have drawn level with seventeen minutes left, when an attack saw the initial shot saved by the ‘keeper, but the follow up effort was hit straight at him, as he scrambled back to his feet, with the goal gaping. Any chance of Thornwell getting an equaliser disappeared when they had a man sin binned with five minutes left and Riverside easily held on to take all three points.

Apart from a very brief rain shower midway through the first half, it remained dry. No trip these days ever seems to go without some sort of traffic problems. SatNav diverted me off the M4 between J18 and J19 outbound and J14 and J13 coming back, with quite lengthy hold ups averted in both cases.

East Sussex League

Division 3

Saturday 25th October 2025

Kick Off 14.00 On Time!

Wittersham 2 Burwash 2, attendance 36

1’ 1-0

45’ 2-0

47’ 2-1

51’ 2-2

@ Wittersham Recreation Ground (Sir Victor & Lady Mallet Sports Ground)

Poplar Road

Wittersham

TN30 7PD

No Admission or Programme.

What feels like a never ending pursuit to see a game on every first team venue in the Sussex Football Pyramid, took me to the Isle of Oxney and the village of Wittersham, a couple of miles across the county border, in Kent. Wittersham play on the recreation ground in the centre of the village, formerly known as Sir Victor & Lady Mallet Sports Ground. There’s a very small car park, with the clubhouse/changing room building to the right as you enter off Poplar Road. The main pitch is to the left, running lengthways away from here, with a slight slope towards the far end, enclosed by trees/hedges on two sides and the cricket square butting up to the right hand touchline. There are a number of picnic tables behind the near goal and the clubhouse was open for drinks/snacks throughout.

I’d seen Wittersham lose 6-2 away at Icklesham Casuals a couple of weeks ago, where the margin of defeat was a bit harsh and they came into today’s game sitting 6th (out of 11) in the league table, with the visitors two places above them. It took the hosts less than a minute to go in front, when a quick break down the right was finished with a low angled shot into the far corner of the net. There were numerous chances at both ends, but the second goal didn’t arrive until the dying seconds of the first half and again went the way of the hosts, when a long ball was flicked on, culminating in a pass to the far post for an easy tap in, which looked at least a yard offside. A substitute striker came on at halftime for Burwash and he had an immediate impact. Within two minutes, a long ball forward saw him hold off two defenders, before shooting on the turn, low into the far corner. Four minutes later he grabbed the equaliser, when a looping cross was hooked in from the right and met with a stooping header from six yards. Neither team settled for a draw, but the nearest we came to getting a winner, was when a 30 yarder smacked against the crossbar from Wittersham just as we reached the hour mark.

The journey down to Kent saw about a ten minute delay due to roadworks on the A21, just south of Tonbridge, with about a minute on the return at the same area. Apart from a very brief rain shower, it remained dry throughout and more blue sky appeared as the afternoon wore on.

United Counties League

Division 1

Tuesday 21st October 2025

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.49

F.C.V. Grace Dieu 1 Radford 0, attendance 111

39’ 1-0

@ F.C.V. International Football Academy

Grace Dieu Manor Park

Ashby Road (A512)

Thringstone

LE67 5UG

£5 Admission

No Programme.

I was aware during last season that F.C.V. Grace Dieu were looking to make the step up to Step 6 this season, so held off my visit to see them playing at the higher level. The ground isn’t much to shout about. It’s a 3G pitch, with spectator access behind the entrance end goal and along the right hand side, although a raised viewing area along towards the halfway line on this side does improve matters. Toilets and a tea bar, which did hot and cold food, are also situated along the top of the bank, whilst the dugouts are on the far side. There’s no evidence whatsoever of any seated stand being added yet, which is crucial to them remaining at this level.

The match was 3rd versus 16th (out of 23) and was pretty poor stuff and a game that we were lucky to actually see a goal produced. It came six minutes before halftime, when a cross from the right was partially cleared and returned with a looping header that just eluded the ‘keeper to give Grace Dieu the lead. They also hit the crossbar just before the hour mark, but that was about it. Not a great advert for this level of football.

Problems at the M25/M1 interchange meant SatNav took me via M40/A43/M1 instead, with the return via the more direct M1/M25. The only delay was caused by the closure of the M25 from J10-J9 and would have been home for midnight had the game not kicked off four minutes late and then having a second half that lasted exactly an hour, which meant the game didn’t finish until 21.55.

So, that completes the United Counties League for me once again and Step 1 to 6 grounds required is now down to three…..Darlington Town, Guernsey and Jersey Bulls.

Northamptonshire Combination League

Premier Division

Saturday 18th November 2025

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.32

Kettering Nomads 0 Medbourne 0, attendance 36

@ Isham Cricket Club

Orlingbury Road

Isham

NN14 1HW

No Admission or Programme.

I decided to head for a game in the top division of the Northamptonshire Combination League for my afternoon match, as the two clubs I’d yet to visit were both at home (Earls Barton United on their recently installed 3G pitch being the other). I chose Kettering Nomads, about half an hours drive away, as they play at a cricket ground, which means they very rarely play midweek home games at the start or end of season, invariably switching to alternate venues. This was certainly the case when I saw them host a midweek game versus Wollaston Victoria at The John Lowther Football Centre in Glendon, back in August 2023.

The car park and pavilion (open for drinks and snacks) back onto Orlingbury Road, with the football pitch on the far side of the cricket pitch, running widthways and roped off on all four sides. This looked like it would be a good game too, as 6th hosted 3rd in the league table. Despite being goalless, it was an enthralling match, very keenly contested and one that could have done with a far stronger Referee, who seemed well out of his depth and struggled to keep the players from both teams under control and it was lucky there were no serious injuries suffered, as some of the tackles that were going unpunished could have proved very costly to those on the receiving end. Nomads had a lob over the ‘keeper cleared off the line four minutes before halftime, before Medbourne had a man sin binned two minutes later, but it was no real surprise to see it remain 0-0 at halftime. The best chance of the second half came eleven minutes after the restart, when a Medbourne player rounded the ‘keeper, but his shot was cleared off the line and that was it as far as getting anything looking like a goal went.

In the end, it was probably a good point for the visitors, lifting them up to second place in the table, level on points with leaders Harpole, while Nomads drop a place to seventh.

Arthurian League

Arthur Dunn Cup 1st Round

Saturday 18th October 2025

Kick Off 11.00 On Time!

Old Kimboltonians 2 Old Cholmeleians 0, attendance 28

66’ 1-0

89’ 2-0

@ Kimbolton Preparatory School

Tilbrook Road

Kimbolton

PE28 0JJ

No Admission or Programme.

Traditionally, Arthur Dunn Cup matches are played at the main school of the clubs, but with Kimbolton School being unavailable, due to an Army Cadet training event taking place there, this tie was played at Kimbolton Preparatory School, a fact we only find out about on arrival. It’s about a mile to the west, on the left hand side of the B645 as you head out of the town. There’s a number of football pitches here, as well as a cricket pitch and tennis courts, with the wooden pavilion used as changing rooms.

The match was 6th in Division 1 versus 3rd in Premier Division, between two teams surprisingly well matched. There were very few chances in the first half and when Kimboltonians had a goal ruled out for offside just after the hour mark, it had the feeling of a nailed on nil-nil. However, four minutes later they did make the breakthrough, when a corner from the left was headed in from three yards. With just over a minute left they made the game safe, when another corner from the left was finished with a flicked volley at the near post.

With everyone staying out on the pitch at halftime, this was done and dusted just before 12.40, leaving ample time for myself and the other five ‘hoppers present to head off to an afternoon match.

Eastern Counties League

Division 1 North

Tuesday 14th October 2025

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.44

Halesworth Town 2 Framlingham Town 3, attendance 264

8’ 1-0

53’ 1-1

70’ 1-2

71’ 1-3

90’ + 2, 2-3

@ Dairy Hill Sports Complex

Dairy Hill

Halesworth

IP19 8JS

£7 Admission

£1 Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

Halesworth Town are newly promoted into Step 6 and tonight was their first game played under the newly installed floodlights. The ground is still being brought up to standard. The clubhouse is behind the near goal at the entrance end, with hard standing and a small bit of cover directly behind the posts. The pitch, which was in superb condition, is enclosed by wooden fencing, with hard standing continuing along the left hand touchline, where there’s a concrete base in readiness for a seated stand to be installed. The other two sides are out of bounds, with the dugouts on the far side.

Being the first game under lights meant a decent turnout, helped by playing Framlingham Town, who are only fourteen miles away. It was 13th versus 3rd in the league table and the game was certainly improved from a neutral point of view when Halesworth opened the scoring after just eight minutes, with a low finish into the bottom corner. Both sides had chances, but this was the only goal of the first half. Eight minutes after the interval Framlingham drew level, when an original shot hit the crossbar, with the rebound headed in. Framlingham went in front with twenty minutes left, when a cross from wide on the right was slid in from six yards. A minute later they made it 1-3, when a break from midfield saw a reverse pass that was cut back for a left footed finish into the bottom corner. Halesworth made it 2-3 a couple of minutes into stoppage time, when a cross from the right was tipped onto the crossbar by the ‘keeper and dropped perfectly for a shot high into the roof of the net, but the final whistle came seconds later.

Journey up to Suffolk took me via M25 and A12, with the only lost time being around fifteen minutes queuing at Dartford Crossing. With the A12 being closed south of Ipswich, SatNav took me home via A11, M11 and M25, with the only problem being no access onto the M25 due to roadworks, meaning heading in towards London then taking the A406 North Circular back towards Dartford.

Tonight’s visit once again completed the Eastern Counties League for me and was the last ground I hadn’t visited at Step 1 to Step 6 that actually has a grass pitch! Just four 3G’s left now….Darlington Town, FCV Grace Dieu, Guernsey and Jersey Bulls.