Football League Youth Alliance

Merit League 1

Saturday 23rd February 2019

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.02

Peterborough United U18 1 Southend United U18 2, attendance 45

32’ 0-1

46’ 0-2 (pen)

75’ 1-2 (pen)

@ Mick George Training Academy

Nene Park Academy

Oundle Road

Orton Longueville

Peterborough

PE2 7EA

No Admission or Programme.

I hadn’t realised just how long ago it was that I last saw a youth match of Peterborough United. It was back on 19th September 1998, when I saw the U19’s draw 2-2 versus Liverpool. The match that day was played at ‘Woodlands’ in Splash Lane, Castor, but these days they have their own training ground, which is part of Nene Park Academy, although it is separated with mesh fencing and the grass pitches are only accessible through one gate, which is to the left hand side of the 3G caged pitch that is behind the changing room building.

There was no problem gaining access to watch the match, with spectators limited to watching along one side of the pitch only. For anyone who wants to watch the U16’s, who play their games on the 3G pitch, viewing is through the fence only.

Peterborough started off on top, but Southend were making the more clear cut chances. Indeed, it was the visitors who went ahead just after the half hour mark with an angled shot into the far corner of the net. They made it 0-2 when they were awarded a penalty less than 10 seconds into the second half, which was duly dispatched. Peterborough reduced the arrears with a penalty of their own, but Southend deservedly held on for the win.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 3C V.F.V.

Wednesday 20th February 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.03

F.C. Sint- Jozef Londerzeel 1 K. Crossing V.V. Elewijt 3, attendance 127

5’ 0-1

31’ 1-1

58’ 1-2

90’ + 5, 1-3

@ Complex Stuikberg

Stuikbergstraat 49

Sint-Jozef

1840 Londerzeel

€5 Admission

No Programme.

Once again it was another Wednesday when the only grounds I hadn’t visited in England were in the B.U.C.S. student leagues, so once again it was a midweek trip over to Belgium. It looked like our party would be travelling at half capacity, as two of the passengers were held up en route by an accident on the M25, but a quick change of our outbound train, done on-line, from the original 13.20 to the later 13.50, meant we would still make it, providing there were no other problems. In the end we were actually boarded on to our original train anyway, as the Tunnel was very quiet and it even departed a couple of minutes early.

The match tonight was sixth versus second in the league table and was played at a really high tempo, especially in the first half. A miss kick by the home ‘keeper saw his clearance put straight into the empty net to give the visitors an early lead. A thirty yarder, helped by a slight deflection, saw it levelled up at 1-1 just after the half hour mark. Elewijt then had a man red carded for a trip off the ball, but held out until halftime. The second half saw the ten men gain the upper hand and they were back in front when a quick break down the right was finished with a shot across the ‘keeper into the far corner of the net. Sint-Jozef were also reduced to 10 men, when their ‘keeper received a second yellow card, having handled the ball outside the area, as we headed in to the last five minutes of the match. Five minutes into stoppage time, Elewijt again broke down the right and the cross was side footed in from 3 yards to round off a deserved 1-3 win. This strengthens their second place in the league, having cut the deficit behind leaders Eendracht Mazenzele Opwijk to 4 points and they still have one more game in hand to play.

It was a comfortable two and a quarter hour drive back to The Tunnel for our scheduled 01.22 return. It only left a minute late, but we lost another 15 minutes time on a lengthy diversion, when the M20 was closed at Junction 9.

Western League

Division 1

Tuesday 19th February 2019

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.46

Bristol Telephones 1 Bishop Sutton 1, attendance 58

35’ 0-1

63’ 1-1

@ B.T.R.A. Ground

Stockwood Lane

Stockwood

Bristol

BS14 8SJ

£5 Admission

No Programme.

Last season I made at least four attempts to do a game here, but a combination of a waterlogged pitch, floodlight problems and pitch inspections that were taking place too late to actually make it there after the game was given the go ahead, meant I missed out. This season they have only played two midweek matches, both in August, when they don’t even need the floodlights, so it looked like another season of not making it here. Even this match, which was postponed a few weeks ago, was originally re-scheduled for a Saturday, but then moved to a midweek match following more postponements.

There was no problem with the weather tonight, although when the floodlights were switched on for the warm ups, one of the pylons failed to light up initially, but came on about five minutes after the others, so everything was set to go. Even when all the bulbs were lit they were very poor and there were some dark areas on the pitch.

When I started watching Western League matches back in the early 1990’s it was a superb league, dominated in those days by the likes of Tiverton Town, Taunton Town, Clevedon Town and Mangotsfield United. Today, it certainly isn’t anything like as good, although admittedly tonight’s match was only a second level match. It probably didn’t help that Telephones are bottom of the table, and deservedly so if this is what they are like every week, whilst Bishop Sutton were only fourteenth, out of twenty.

There was plenty of effort, but very little quality. A cross from the right was converted from close range to give the visitors a 0-1 lead at the break, with Telephones levelling it up with a header from a corner just after the hour mark.

I was surprised not to see a match programme tonight, but at least the home club don’t inflate the attendance figure, as the official crowd is given as only 40 on the Western League website, so roughly a third of the spectators were free loaders! Despite being bottom of the league, the club are adding a new covered area behind the far goal, so they must not be expecting to be relegated.

This completes visits to all the current Western League grounds for me and leaves just Frenford and Skegness Town to complete Step 6 of the pyramid, whilst Crawley Green is the only one left above this, at Step 5.

Middlesex County League

Premier Division

Saturday 16th February 2019

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 13.59

Brentham 1 PFC Victoria London 3, attendance 34

30’ 1-0

35’ 1-1

73’ 1-2

75’ 1-3

@ Brentham Club

38a Meadvale Road

Ealing

London

W5 1NP

No Admission

Programme, free, 8 pages.

The journey from New Malden had taken around 50 minutes, despite it being less than 14 miles. On arrival I found the place deserted, but then noticed the Referee and one of his Linesmen making their way along a path between the tennis courts, which went down behind the bowling green, with the football pitch running lengthways beyond here. The two teams were warming up behind a hedge on what looked like a small sided youth pitch. A club official handed me a free programme on arrival, which was a bit of a surprise, as I hadn’t thought to check if they even issued one, although the Middlesex League are one of the leagues that made it compulsory to do so in the past, although it was not always adhered to.

PFC Victoria are in effect a Polish club, who have had a rapid rise through the league since being formed in 2016. Successive promotions now sees them sitting in third place in the Premier Division league table, whilst Brentham are eighth. They drew 2-2 in the reverse fixture earlier in the season, so I was hoping for a good contest and that is how it turned out.

Brentham went in front after half an hour, somewhat against the run of play, before a shot from the edge of the 18 yard box levelled it up five minutes later. PFC took control in the last fifteen minutes of the match, with a mazey run finished with a shot that beat the onrushing ‘keeper, then rounded things off with a free kick into the top corner of the net a couple of minutes later.

Football League Youth Alliance

Merit League 1

Saturday 16th February 2019

Kick Off 10.30 Actual 10.32

A.F.C. Wimbledon U18 3 Luton Town U18 1, attendance 43

22’ 1-0

55’ 2-0

57’ 3-0

83’ 3-1

@ King’s College Sports Ground

Windsor Avenue

New Malden

KT3 5HA

No Admission or Programme.

This was the opening round of the Merit League fixtures. Wimbledon were superior throughout in what was a really entertaining match, which had far more attacking play than the last couple of youth matches I had seen. I hope the coaches don’t get this type of football drummed out of them!

The opening goal was scrambled over the line, with an immediate signal from the Linesman that it was a goal. No need for VAR here! The second was a tap in at the far post, from a corner that came right across the six yard box and the third was a follow in to a parried save by the ‘keeper. Luton did get the goal of the game though. A long kick from their ‘keeper saw a chase between their striker and a Wimbledon player. The ball was taken down first time and a shot from the angle of the 18 yard box flew into the far top corner of the net.

There was no problem getting in to watch this match, although, as ever, it is difficult to take photographs.

Premier League 2

Division 2

Friday 15th February 2019

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 18.59

Southampton U23 2 Fulham U23 1, attendance 80 (Official figure on PL Website is 126…must have included the security staff as well!)

38’ 1-0

51’ 2-0

80’ 2-1

@ Staplewood Campus, Pitch 4

Parks Farm

Long Lane

Marchwood

SO40 4WR

No Admission

Team Sheet, free.

I had previously seen Southampton U19 beat Crystal Palace 3-1 in a Premier League Academy match at the training ground in Marchwood back on 24th January 2004. In those days they played on what was the former ground of Road Sea Southampton F.C., who played in the Southern League at their peak, which was taken over by Southampton after the demise of the non league side.

Since then, the site has been redeveloped and expanded considerably. The pitch I did previously is still there, but the U16/U18 and U23 matches are now played on two of the new pitches, namely Pitch 3 and Pitch 4, which share a changing room block and viewing area that separates the two. Tonight’s match was on Pitch 4, which is the one that is floodlit and has a much larger seated area.

Southampton are one of the growing number of clubs who don’t allow run of the mill spectators in to watch their youth or reserve matches. However, thanks to a Fulham season ticket holder, who was able to get our names added to a guest list, we were able to gain entry, once a few routine questions were answered at the entrance.

Once inside, we were directed to the canteen, where we received free tea and coffee and as you reached the spectator area, we were given free team sheets (with the wrong date on). It was much more friendly than we were expecting, considering the excessive security presence.

As for the match, it was not as close as the score line would suggest. Southampton won it without breaking sweat. The opening goal was a 20 yarder that gave the ‘keeper no chance. They had a goal disallowed shortly afterwards, but made it 2-0, with a cushioned lob from close range, early in the second half. Fulham got a consolation goal, with a glancing header that beat home ‘keeper Fraser Forster, making a return from an injury lay off, with ten minutes left.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 2B A.C.F.F.

Sunday 10th February 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.04

Union Sportive Ophain 1 R.F.C. Grez-Doiceau 0, attendance 75

17’ 1-0

@ Stade Communal Ophain

Rue De Lillois 19

1421 Ophain-Bois-Seigneur-Isaac

No Admission or Programme.

Having stayed overnight, our intended match today was at U.S. Beauraing ‘61 in Namur Provincial 1. However, at around 12.30 we found out it had been postponed. The only other top level Provincial ground all three of us hadn’t visited was R. Entente Rechaintoise in Liege, but we decided against risking this (it was played) as the rain was heading in that direction. After a bit of discussion we decided it was better to head for a second tier Brabant Provincial match, as we were only just south of Brussels at this stage and chose what looked to be the best match on offer, where second in the league table Ophain were hosting third placed Grez-Doiceau, who were level on points, both trailing leaders R.C.S. Nivellois by eight points.

On arrival at the ground it soon became obvious that the match was in doubt. The home club officials certainly didn’t think the game should be played, as they were concerned with how badly the pitch would be damaged if the game went ahead, but the decision would be left to the Referee. He arrived about 14.10, but rather than inspect the pitch, joined one of his assistants in having a cup of coffee instead. He said he’d have a look at the pitch in five minutes time. Meanwhile the third match official arrived and all three then headed off to the changing rooms. At 14.30 the Referee came out, but lit up a cigarette, rather than check the pitch, although he then headed off to do the inspection……. at 14.35 he decided….’game on’. The decision certainly didn’t go down well with the home club. Even if he had called the match off at this late stage, we still had a back up match at the same level, which was only 18 minutes drive away.

The pitch didn’t really affect play at all and actually dried out quite a bit and the sun even appeared briefly during the second half. The match never really got out of first gear and Ophain won it with an angled shot into the far corner of the net after 17 minutes. Grez-Doiceau did enough to deserve at least a draw, in a match where both defences had the upper hand.

We were back at The Tunnel in ample time for our 20.20 return, but actually got on the 19.50 instead, although it did leave a couple of minutes late. We did have a bit of drama at the French Border Control, where during a routine check for drugs and firearms, there was a bit of a commotion when an immigrant was found in a car three places behind us!

Belgium

Antwerpen Provincial 1

Saturday 9th February 2019

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.31

K.F.C. Eendracht Zoersel 0 Heikant Berlaar 3, attendance 267

8’ 0-1

35’ 0-2

56’ 0-3

@ DCA Stadion

Complex Zoersel

Westmallebaan

2980 Zoersel

€8 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Eendracht Zoersel were only promoted into Provincial 1 this season and after winning their match at K.F.C. Lille last Saturday, they moved to the top of the league table. Heikant started the day in seventh place, despite having only won one of their last seven matches.

The early goal for the visitors was a sign of things to come. Zoersel were never in it and were lucky to go into the break just trailing 0-2. It was all over as a contest when Heikant made it 0-3, with a shot on the turn that went into the bottom corner of the net, eleven minutes into the second half. Despite being reduced to ten men, following a red card after 76 minutes, Heikant held on comfortably and could have added another couple of goals as well.

Belgium

Oost Vlaanderen Provincial 4D

Saturday 9th February 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.04

F.C. Rangers Merelbeke 0 K.S.C. De Schroevers Moorsel 1, attendance 30

70’ 0-1

@ Complex S.K. Merelbeke

Zwijnaardsesteenweg 89

9820 Merelbeke

€4 Admission, but not charged

No Programme.

We were on the 09.20 Tunnel, which ran on time, heading for what we hoped would be a three match weekend in Belgium. As Rangers Merelbeke play at the ground of S.K. Merelbeke, who also play in this division, then they have a number of Saturday afternoon matches scheduled when there are fixture clashes and as luck would have it, this weekend was one of those occasions.

The match was 9th versus 6th in the league table. Unfortunately, it turned out to be a pretty non eventful match. Rangers were just plain rubbish, whilst Moorsel knew that a single goal would be enough to win it. Rangers had a man red carded three minutes into the second half, for an elbow in the face of a challenging player, but it still took Moorsel until the seventieth minute to make the breakthrough, with a shot from the edge of the box that found the bottom corner of the net.

Our evening fixture was a match in Antwerpen Provincial 1, just under an hour and a quarter drive north east, so plenty of time to check in at our overnight accommodation in Sint-Antonius en route.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 3D V.F.V.

Wednesday 6th February 2019

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.02

K.F.C. Markzonen Tollembeek 0 V.C. Groot-Dilbeek 4, attendance 67

48’ 0-1

71’ 0-2

75’ 0-3

87’ 0-4

@ Complex Markedal

Hernestraat

Tollembeek

1570 Galmaarden

€5 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

With my only new ground visit options this week being for a 3G pitch in North Shields, or a University match this afternoon, it was nice to see a couple of fixtures appear in Belgium, with this being the one I hadn’t been to. After all, it is far easier to get to here than it is to the North East, as well as being much less mileage.

Apart from one season in the mid 90’s, when they reached Provincial 1, Tollembeek have played in the lower reaches of Brabant Provincial football. They came into this in twelfth place in the league table, whilst the visitors are second. There was little to separate them in the first half, but the gulf between the two teams was pretty evident to see after the break. The opening goal arrived early in the second half, as did the steady rain that remained for the evening, and when a quick fire double made it 0-3 as we approached the last quarter of an hour, it was game over. A free kick into the top corner of the net rounded things off in the closing minutes.

Despite being very quiet at The Tunnel, they were still unable to run smoothly. The train before ours had been cancelled, with our 14.20 crossing retimed to 14.29, but still managing to leave another three minutes late. In the end it wasn’t a problem, as there is a Frituur that shares the car park with the football ground, where you could eat your meal and watch the teams warming up on the pitch at the same time. The journey back towards Calais was very wet, but we had ample time, as we were on the 01.21 return……and yes, it was late, but only by a minute.