2018 Challenge Cup

Wednesday 7th March 2018

Kick Off 19.00 Actual 19.02

Royal Grammar School Worcester 2 King’s School Worcester 2,  attendance 1,100

2’ 0-1

37’ 1-1

42’ 2-1

78’ 2-2

@ Worcester Warriors R.U.F.C.

Sixways Stadium

Warriors Way

Worcester

WR3 8ZE

£5 Admission

No Programme.

Sixways Stadium was opened in 1975. It has gradually been transformed into a fully enclosed stadium, including a 3G pitch, and now has a capacity of 11,499. As well as Rugby Union, the stadium has also hosted finals in the British American Football Championships.

This is the second year that the Challenge Cup match has taken place here at Sixways, with King’s School having won 3-2 last year. Only the west side of the stadium was open, but with a four figure crowd present, two blocks of seating were opened up behind the north goal. Unusually, with the match finishing all square, rather than extra time or penalties to decide the winner, the cup was retained by King’s.

The Netherlands

Derde Divisie Zondag

Sunday 4th March 2018

Kick Off 14.30 Actual 14.35

O.F.C. 4 V.V. Dongen 0,  attendance 230

3’ 1-0

35’ 2-0

47’ 3-0

90’ 4-0

@ Sportpark O.F.C.

Twiskeweg 1

1511 BZ

Oostzaan

€5 Admission

No Programme.

This match hadn’t been on the agenda for this weekend. I had planned to visit A.F.C. versus H.H.C. in the Tweede Divisie yesterday afternoon, but as they have a grass pitch it was no surprise that it was postponed due to a frost, but at least this was known early on Friday afternoon. No problem, I would just visit a different ground in Amsterdam, but at a lower level, but one that play on a 3G pitch. This would have been fine, but a decision was made by Amsterdam Town Hall to cancel all matches under their jurisdiction for this weekend, regardless of what type of pitch they play on. Rather than travel close on two hours on public transport to get a game in the Tweede Divisie that I hadn’t already visited, I decided to settle on doing a game today instead.

The nearest option was at O.F.C. who play in Oostzaan, (Dutch clubs are always called by their abbreviated name, rather than their full title, so no other club can call themselves O.F.C. as this is now taken by todays hosts Oostzaanse Football Club) which is 25 minutes from Amsterdam Centraal Station on bus 392, which cost €11.70 return, but payment on the bus was by bank card only, unlike the bus to and from Volendam on Friday/Saturday that took cash. Very Odd !

I rarely use public transport due to unreliability and poor connection times, although the journey today was unreliable on the way out, but brilliant on the return. The 12.31 bus was cancelled, which meant going on the 13.01, which left two minutes late. The walk from the ground back to the bus stop took twelve minutes at a pretty quick pace, but it meant the 16.39 bus back into Amsterdam was made with a couple of minutes to spare.

The match was 6th versus 9th in what is the fourth level of Dutch football. An early goal for the hosts set the tone and when a bullet header was scored into his own net by a defender trying to clear the ball, Dongen knew it wasn’t going to be their day. With it becoming 3-0 so early in the second half it killed the game as a spectacle, with the final goal coming with the last kick of the match. The three points now lifts O.F.C. up to fourth in the league table.

The Netherlands

Eerste Divisie

Friday 2nd March 2018

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.02

F.C. Volendam 3 F.C. Eindhoven 2,  attendance 2,910

31’ 1-0

33’ 1-1

45’ 1-2 (pen)

65’ 2-2

89’ 3-2

@ Kras Stadion

Sportlaan 10

1131 BK

Volendam

€12.50 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

A long weekend in Amsterdam was booked before the weather problems with ‘The Beast from the East’ began to set in. The flight from Gatwick Airport left 45 minutes late, not helped by having to loop round the taxi area of the runway again, when the plane in front of ours suffered a bird strike on take off.

Once we arrived into Schipol Airport, it was a train into Amsterdam Centraal Station, followed by a 100 yard walk to the Bus Station. A choice of busses, either the 312 or 316, made the 29 minute journey north to Volendam, for the price of €7.50 single, which passes the Kras Stadion on the left hand side when coming into the town.

With the temperature being -5 degrees and having been below freezing for a number of days, all the canals were frozen over, but at least with no snow around the game would go ahead due to the 3G pitch and at least the forecast for the evening was showing that it would only be -3 degrees at kick off !

Tickets were purchased just after lunchtime, at the ticket office at the stadium, with no Club Card necessary, or even the need to show passports, so at least there would be no need to arrive at the match any earlier than ten minutes before kick off. The club were offering free drinks of hot chocolate as a way of thanking fans for venturing out into the cold, which was most welcome. With no evidence of a matchday programme, an enquiry to a steward saw him go inside the building and return with a team sheet a couple of minutes later.

The Kras Stadion has an all seated capacity of 6,984. It was opened in 1975, known then as Veronica Stadion and underwent renovation in 1992 and 2010, but it is nice to see the four huge traditional corner floodlight pylons remain. Volendam have been a yo-yo club over the years, but whilst playing in the second level of Dutch football they are unlikely to ever get near selling out matches. The crowd for tonight’s match was nowhere near what they claimed. In fact, I only counted 650 people in the seats, which included about a dozen away fans hemmed into a corner of the ground, fully enclosed with perspex screens, but not sure if it is to keep them in, or the home fans out, but as the 25-30 home ‘ultras’ were behind the goal at the opposite end of the ground, it must be the former. There were certainly a fair few in the warm of the V.I.P. and hospitality areas, but nowhere near the amount to take the attendance up to just short of 3,000.

This was a really good open game, pitting 14th against 15th in the league table and very enjoyable to watch as a neutral. The winning goal was good enough to win any match, being hit from the corner of the 18 yard box into the far top corner of the net, giving the ‘keeper no chance of making a save.

Belgium

Brabant Provincial 1 V.F.V.

Sunday 25th February 2018

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.02

K.F.C. Strombeek 0 Sporting Club Hoegaarden-Outgaarden 4,  attendance 142

1’ 0-1

50’ 0-2

75’ 0-3

87’ 0-4

@ Stadion Singel

Singel 65

1853 Strombeek- Bever

€8 Admission

Team Sheet, free.

Pocket size Season Fixture Card, free.

Once again, it was a day being dropped at a different ground to that of the driver as I had already visited F.C. Naninnois (Namur Provincial) which was his choice for today. As it turned out, all three passengers chose the option of being dropped off at Strombeek, which is just inside Brussels Ring Road, to the north of the capital.

The ground has hosted Belgian League football in the past and is still a pretty impressive venue, especially the main stand that seats around 550 on bench seating, with old terracing on the other three sides taking the capacity up to 3,000. What would have been the away supporters section behind the goal still has the imposing fences in place, giving an indication of what it was like to be caged in as a visiting fan in the good old days.

Todays match was 13th versus 11th. Hoegaarden got off to a perfect start, scoring in the first attack of the match. Having gone two up early in the second half they began to take control. Strombeek had a man red carded on the hour mark, which meant it was pretty much game over for them.

We were picked up shortly after 17.30  having walked 15 minutes back to the nearest motorway junction and back at The Tunnel in time to be offered an earlier train than we were booked on, making it onto the 20.06 departure. Our outbound crossing was only two minutes late this morning, so perhaps Eurotunnel are finally getting the hang of things !

Kent County League

Premier Division

Saturday 24th February 2018

Kick Off 14.45 Actual 14.48

Fleetdown United 2 Peckham Town 1,  attendance 30

28’ 1-0

35’ 1-1

58’ 2-1

@ Heath Lane (Lower)

Dartford

DA1 2QE

No Admission or Programme.

It was an easy twenty minute drive north from Wrotham School. This was a ground I had been to before, but on that occasion I never got to see a match, as the league website had the incorrect kick off time advertised, being an hour and a quarter later than they were showing, so I went elsewhere, rather than hang around.

Fleetdown looked to be in danger of finishing in a relegation place a couple of months back, but they have steadily picked up points to edge towards mid table, whilst Peckham looked to be challenging for the title, but a dip in form has seen them slip to sixth place in the league table, although they do have games in hand, but no longer look like doing any better than managing third place.

The match turned in a two minute spell just before the hour mark. Peckham missed a penalty, fired high over the crossbar, with Fleetdown regaining the lead a couple of minutes later.

Below photo : Fleetdown open the scoring.

Arthurian League

Arthur Dunn Cup Quarter Final

Saturday 24th February 2018

Kick Off 11.45 Actual 11.52

Old Tonbridgians 1 Old Salopians 0,  attendance 13

84’ 1-0

@ Wrotham School, 3G Pitch

Borough Green Road

Borough Green

Sevenoaks

TN15 7RD

No Admission or Programme.

An early kick off, which also allowed for extra time and penalties, meant another double opportunity. Normally, games in the Arthur Dunn Cup are played at the school from where the Old Boys are derived, but if unavailable, games are played at the regular venue used for league matches, which is at Wrotham School, which is also home to Ide Hill of the Kent County League.

Both teams are in the Premier Division of the Arthurian League, this being 2nd versus second from bottom in the league table, although it was very hard to tell which way round this was, as there was little difference between the two sides. Salopians should have won it, but their No.9, having twice rounded the goalkeeper, managed to hit the side netting each time, with the goal gaping, before the inevitable goal came for Tonbridgians, courtesy of a far post header by the smallest player on the pitch.

Cambridgeshire County League

Premier Division

Friday 23rd February 2018

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.47

Foxton 0 Hemingfords United 8,  attendance 45

30’ 0-1

43’ 0-2

56’ 0-3

63’ 0-4

69’ 0-5

83’ 0-6

85’ 0-7

88’ 0-8

@ Cambourne Sports Centre, 3G Pitch

Back Lane

Great Cambourne

CA23 6FY

No Admission or Programme.

I had seen a game here at the Sports Centre previously, but on a grass pitch that is used by Cambourne Rovers (2-0 versus Fowlmere Reserves in a Bambridge Cup match on 13th May 2011). That pitch is to the right of the driveway that runs behind the Sports Centre. To the left, which was just wasteland on the last visit, there are 3 new tennis courts, then beyond that, a new 3G football pitch.

Foxton moved this weekends fixture from their own ground to the new facility here. They are struggling near the bottom of the league table, currently third from bottom, whilst the visitors are in tenth place. The difference between the two sides was the clinical finishing from the Hemingfords strikers, with the first seven goals being scored from no more than ten yards out, before the goal of the night was curled in from the corner of the box to round off a resounding win.

British Universities & Colleges Sports

South Eastern 2A

Wednesday 21st February 2018

Kick Off 17.10 Actual 17.15

University Portsmouth 1 St. Mary’s University College 2,  attendance 80

21’ 1-0

47’ 1-1

86’ 1-2

@ Langstone Campus, 3G Pitch

Furze Lane

Portsmouth

PO4 8LW

No Admission or Programme.

It was a comfortable 45 minute drive from Winchester to here and street parking was available on the road leading along to Furze Lane. I had been to see a match here previously, on the grass pitch that runs end on to the 3G pitch. Oddly, back on 4th March 2009, I saw the exact same fixture, which Portsmouth won 6-0. I also did a double that day as well, heading across to The Isle of Wight afterwards, where I saw Brading Town beat Lymington Town 2-0 in a Wessex League Premier Division match.

Todays match was 1st v 2nd in the league table. Portsmouth had won all eight of their games so far, with St. Mary’s having 4 wins, 1 draw and 1 defeat (at home to Portsmouth) from their first six fixtures. This could have gone either way, but the visitors nicked it with just four minutes left, when a cross was converted from close range, but Portsmouth argued the ball hadn’t crossed the line, but the Linesman, who was right up with play, signaled the goal immediately, so that was that, the 100% winning record gone.

Although this was just a cage with spectator access along one side, it did have a couple of small sections of benches that had 3 rows of seating, which made it a little different.

British Universities & Colleges Sports

Western 6A

Wednesday 21st February 2018

Kick Off 14.00. On Time !

University Winchester 3rds 3 University Winchester 4ths 3,  attendance 32

5’ 1-0

15’ 1-1

52’ 2-1

61’ 2-2

63’ 3-2

84’ 3-3

@ King George V Playing Fields

Milland Road

Winchester

SO23 0QA

No Admission or Programme.

Well, this certainly wasn’t what I intended to watch today. I had actually come to watch Winchester 1sts v Winchester 2nds in Western 4A, but having arrived at The Garrison Ground, where the game was due to be played, it soon became obvious that there was not going to be a match there. The pitches were marked and the goal nets and corner flags were out, but there were no players warming up.

I enquired in the reception at The Garrison Stadium, which is where the SatNav actually took me with the postcode advertised and confirmed that the pitches next door, to the right, were indeed where I should be. They were still expecting the game to be on, but were surprised no one had arrived yet !

One member of staff suggested I try ‘next door’, beyond the 3G pitch, as he had opened the gates there and there were certainly games being played there today and perhaps that was where the 1sts might be playing. King George V Playing Fields are indeed next door, entering by a driveway of their own to the left of the entrance of The Garrison Stadium. As I drove in, I was pleased to see two teams warming up, both in identical shorts and socks, so it looked like all was okay. I saw the Referee coming out of the pavilion, but when I asked him if he was doing the 1sts v 2nds, he told me that it was off, as one of them couldn’t raise a team, but that he was doing the 3rds v 4ths, which was the two teams that were on the pitch.

Rather than have a wasted afternoon, I decided to stay and watch the match. I could have gone straight on to my second match, but I would have got there far too early. As it turned out, it was pretty entertaining and a far better standard than I was expecting and the weather improved as the day went on. Watching non first teams of the Universities is not something I would actually do by choice, but having already driven there, it was better than nothing and it got me a match on a ground that I doubt I would ever do otherwise as the 1sts never play their games here.

Checking the B.U.C.S. website, it shows that Winchester 1sts have failed to play three of their last 4 matches now, including both home and away fixtures versus their own 2nds !

Mid Essex League

Premier Division Cup Semi Final

Saturday 17th February 2018

Kick Off 16.00. on Time !

Canvey Town 66 3 Braintree & Bocking United 0,  attendance 23

2’ 1-0

9’ 2-0

25’ 3-0

@ Moulsham High School, 3G Pitch

Brian Close

Chelmsford

CM2 9ES

No Admission or Programme.

This was the first match I have ever watched in the Mid Essex League. Both Premier Division Cup Semi Finals were being played here, with the other tie preceding this at 2 o’clock.

It certainly didn’t look to be two levels lower than the match I saw earlier this afternoon, perhaps helped by the fact that this was third versus top, as far as league positions go. There were also three officials for this, which I would think is not the case for their league matches. Canvey Town started off at a blistering pace, which Braintree & Bocking just never recovered from.