Spain

La Liga

Saturday 21st February 2025

Kick Off 16.15 Actual 16.17

Real Betis Balompie 1 Rayo Vallecano de Madrid 1, attendance 59,436

17’ 1-0

42’ 1-1

@ Estadio La Cartuja Sevilla

Zona Isla de la Cartuja

41092 Sevilla

€28 Admission + €4.50 Booking Fee, Electronic Ticket

No Programme.

A 12 mile drive, which took 22 minutes, found us at our main game of the weekend, or at least a forty minute walk from the stadium! I’d visited Real Betis at their Estadio Benito Villamarin back in February 2006, seeing a 2-0 win versus Real Sociedad, but they are currently carrying out renovations there and will play home games at the 70,000 capacity Estadio de La Cartuja in the meantime. It was opened in 1999 and built to host the Athletics World Championships of the same year and it was hoped to play host to the Olympic Games too, but was part of a failed bid. It famously hosted the 2003 U.E.F.A. Cup Final between F.C. Porto and Celtic and it’s the largest stadium in Andalusia and the fourth largest in Spain.

There’s no car access anywhere near the stadium on match days, apart from VIP’s etc. hence the long walk, but it’s probably quicker on foot to exit the vicinity afterwards than it would be by car anyway, especially if there’s a big crowd present. From the outside the stadium is really underwhelming. It’s got more a look of an office block or residential building than a sports venue, but is absolutely superb once inside. The running track has now gone and the sight lines are excellent. Well, they certainly were from our seats in the top tier and we were pleased, purely by chance, to have opted for seats in the shaded area of the ground. It must have been sweltering on the far side, looking into the sun, as the temperature was edging towards the mid twenties! Tickets were easily booked online, although rather oddly, do not appear digitally until under 48 hours prior to kick off, which was a bit worrying, although it all turned out okay in the end.

It was 5th versus 17th in the league table and looked a good bet for Betis to pick up a valuable three points in their push to finish in a Champions League place, but lowly Vallecano deservedly held out for a draw. It might have been different had Betis played like they did in stoppage time, where they threw everything at the visitors, but sadly, that wasn’t the case. Betis opened the scoring after seventeen minutes, when Bakambu fired high into the roof of the net, after a cross from the right had been blocked by a defender, but fell perfectly for the shot. Isi Palazon grabbed the equaliser three minutes before halftime, side footing in at the far post from a cross from the right. It was met with a deathly silence, despite there being a few hundred away fans in the top tier behind the far goal. Having drawn level, they nearly took the lead in stoppage time, but hit the post with a free kick. Betis did very little for the remainder of the game, until we entered a ridiculous 14 minutes of added time, caused mainly by two lengthy VAR incidents, neither of which resulted in anything. They missed a point blank effort from six yards, which was maybe as much down to good goalkeeping as a bad miss and they did actually get the ball in the net after 100 minutes had been played, but it was ruled out for offside. The game finally finished at 18.17, exactly two hours after it had started. Luckily for us, game three was under four miles away….once we’d made the long hike back to the car.

Spain

National U19 League

Division Honor

Grupo 4

Real Betis Balompie U19 7 Sporting Atletico Cueta U19 1, attendance 135

16’ 1-0

31’ 2-0

36’ 3-0

45’ 3-1

71’ 4-1

75’ 5-1

81’ 6-1

87’ 7-1

@ Ciudad Deportiva Rafael Gordillo, Pitch A4

Da Concepción Ybarra Ybarra

off Avenida Santiago Carillo Solares

41703 Dos Hermanas

No Admission or Programme.

It was about half an hours drive from our hotel west of Sevilla, to the town of Dos Hermanas, just southeast of the city. Pitch A4 is part of a multi pitch complex and has a dual aspect stand that has 344 seats. There’s no problem gaining access, although the security at the main gate only allow spectators into the site about half an hours drive before kick off. There’s a large car park and a cafe outside the security gate, where drinks and snacks are available, with a patio area with chairs and tables, enabling you to soak up the sun pre match. It was continually busy, as the other part of the complex, on the other side of the road, was hosting youth matches.

The match was 1st versus 7th in the league table and turned out to be an easy win for the hosts. They were in front after sixteen minutes and had added two more by the thirty sixth minute. Sporting Atletico looked like they might get back into it, when they pulled one back in the last minute of the half, but the comeback was short lived. They did hold the hosts out until the seventy first minute, when a ball down the left was finished with a low angled shot into the far corner, with a fifth goal coming four minutes later. A diagonal free kick, spilled by the ‘keeper and followed in from close range and a shot that went under the dive of the ‘keeper saw them add two more in the last nine minutes to round off the scoring.

Thames Valley Premier League

Premier Division

Thursday 19th February 2026

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.03

Westwood Wanderers 4 Goring United 1, attendance 77

6’ 1-0

15’ 1-1

27’ 2-1

40’ 3-1

82’ 4-1

@ Denefield School, 3G Pitch

Long Lane

Tilehurst

RG31 6XY

No Admission or Programme.

The 3G pitch here at Denefield School is the regular home venue of Westwood Wanderers. It’s the standard cage set up with a designated spectator area along three quarters of one side, with a pair of perspex dugouts on the other.

The hosts came into this sitting second in the league table, a point adrift of leaders Wargrave, but with three games in hand, boasting a 100% winning record from their thirteen games played. It only took them six minutes to go in front tonight, breaking down the left and crossing for an easy finish from six yards. Goring levelled after fifteen minutes though, with an excellent free kick from 20 yards, that was bent outside the defensive wall, before flying inside the post. A corner from the right was played too long, but crossed back in for a tap in from six yards to put Westwood back in front after twenty seven minutes and they killed the game off five minutes before halftime, when they made it 3-1, with a low angled shot into the far corner. They eased off in the second half, but did add a fourth goal with eight minutes left, shooting low into the far corner.

Surrey F.A. Intermediate Cup

Quarter Final

Tuesday 17th February 2026

Kick Off 18.45 Actual 18.48

Worcester Park 3 Frenches Athletic 1, attendance 45

13’ 0-1

29’ 1-1

32’ 2-1

83’ 3-1

@ ACS International School, Cobham, 3G Pitch

Portsmouth Road

Fairmile

Cobham

KT11 1BL

No Admission or Programme.

Having already suffered a number of postponements, this tie was switched to the 3G pitch here at ACS International School in Cobham, where I’d seen an Independent Schools F.A. Cup tie on an adjacent grass pitch back in September 2012. It’s not the usual cage set up though, as the pitch is inside a six lane running track and has an 84 seat stand on the near side and a pair of perspex dugouts opposite. The floodlights here are retractable, with four pylons each side. They are quite low, not helping with photo quality, with one on the far side not raised up properly.

The match was a Step 7 clash, with Surrey Premier County League (7th) hosting Mid Sussex League Premier Division (6th). Frenches went ahead after thirteen minutes, when a corner from the right was headed in at the far post. A long range shot into the bottom corner saw Worcester Park draw level just before the half hour mark and three minutes later they added a second, finishing a through ball into the far corner. They finally made the game safe with seven minutes left, when Frenches lost possession on the edge of the box and the ball was fired low into the corner of the net. Frenches did hit the crossbar in stoppage time, but never looked like pulling back the two goal deficit.

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.