Cup Winners Shield

Group Match

Saturday 29th March 2025

Kick Off 14.00 On Time!

Lochar Thistle 2 Whitburn 4, attendance 152

9’ 0-1

29’ 0-2

43’ 1-2

76’ 1-3

89’ 1-4

90’ + 4, 2-4

@ Wilson Park

Tinwald Downs Road

Heathall

DG1 3UB

£5 Admission

No Programme (did an online one though).

After staying overnight in Carlisle, it was an easy 32 mile drive northwest into Dumfries & Galloway, to the village of Heathall, a couple of miles east of Dumfries, for the final round robin game in the Cup Winners Shield (East, South and West of Scotland Cup winners taking part) with the group winners gaining entry onto next seasons Scottish F.A. Cup. This was the final group match, with St. Cadoc’s (West) having played their two matches, with Lochar (South) needing to win today (any winning score other than 1-0 would be good enough), whilst a draw was all that Whitburn (East) required.

Wilson Park is on an industrial estate, adjacent to Dumfries & Galloway Aviation Museum. The car park was only for players and club officials, but plenty of parking in the road outside. The pitch is part railed, with spectators restricted to half of one side, where there is raised grass banking and behind the goal nearest the entrance. There’s just a changing room building, which also housed toilets and a tea bar, which offered the traditional Scottish fayre, all very reasonably priced and a dugout on each side of the pitch, one minus a roof. The forecast was for heavy rain for a couple of hours from 2 o’clock, but although it did rain, it wasn’t as heavy as feared, but combined with a strong wind, made for unpleasant viewing at times and I was glad to be one of just seven people to have an umbrella. The rest of the crowd just seemed to accept they’d get a soaking.

Lochar are going well in the South of Scotland League and despite only being sixth in the table at present, are favourites to take the title. They’re nine points adrift of current leaders Dalbeattie Star, but have six games in hand and having won 12 of the 14 they’ve played so far, it’s a deficit that looks well within their reach. Whitburn are sixth in the East of Scotland League Premier Division, but a fourth placed finish is the best they can really hope to achieve.

It only took Whitburn nine minutes to break the deadlock, when a cross from the right was met with a glancing header into the bottom corner of the net. They made it 0-2 just before the half hour mark, when another cross in from the right was put away from six yards out. Lochar gave themselves hope of getting back into it just before halftime, when a cross totally deceived the ‘keeper and nestled in the far corner. Whitburn were well in command and it was a surprise that it took them until fourteen minutes from the end to finally make it 1-3, when a long clearance from their own half saw their centre forward race clear and finish with a 30 yard lob over the stranded ‘keeper. They made it 1-4 with a minute left, when another right wing cross beat the ‘keeper and was nodded in at the far post and they almost grabbed a fifth when another effort was cleared off the line. In stoppage time, Lochar saw a free kick come back off the crossbar and seconds later, from more or less the exact same position, another free kick struck the crossbar again, but this time it fell more kindly for them and the follow up was headed in from close range. Too late to alter the game though, as the final whistle went as soon as the game restarted.

Having completed the Scottish Football League for the first time in 1995, followed by the Highland League a few years later, the South of Scotland League was the next one done and was kept up to date during my time living in the Northwest. However, there have been a number of new grounds/clubs since then, but at least I’m down to needing just two grounds to complete the set again, the 3G cage at King Edward Park in Lockerbie (I’ve already done the grass pitch here) that’s shared by Mid Annandale/Upper Annandale and the Whitehill Park home of Lochmaben.

The journey back south saw some horrendous driving conditions from Carlisle to just south of Penrith, with strong winds and heavy rain. No traffic problems until reaching J10 on the M25, where the motorway was once again closed in both directions between here and J9, which added twenty minutes on to the journey, but still home for 22.25.

Border Amateur F.A.

Colin Campbell Cup Final

Friday 28th March 2025

Kick Off 19.30 On Time!

Duns Amateurs 4 Chirnside United 0, attendance 210

14’ 1-0

42’ 2-0

45’ 3-0

79’ 4-0

@ Volunteer Park Stadium

Buccleuch Road

Hawick

TD9 0EG

No Admission or Programme.

There was plenty of time after leaving this afternoon’s game to head north to my overnight hotel in Carlisle, before making the onward drive up the A7 to Hawick, in the Scottish Borders, for the Colin Campbell Cup Final, contested by two teams from the top division of the Border Amateur League. It wasn’t exactly local for the two finalists. Duns had travelled forty miles and Chirnside is another six miles to the east of there and both teams arrived by coach. The attraction for me was the fact that the game was being staged at Volunteer Park Stadium, which is not a regular football venue for any club side and primarily home to Hawick Linden R.U.F.C. It has a 3G pitch, with spectator access on three sides (the left hand goal end is out of bounds) and a large stand, with wooden bench seating, roughly half a pitch length, slightly offset from the halfway line. Considering it was a cup final, there was no admission charge, nor catering and there was only one available toilet, in one of the portacabin changing rooms, that was for use of everyone, regardless of gender.

This was my first game I’d attended in this league and the standard was far better than I’d been expecting. It went to form, as second in the league table Duns beat the team four places below them. The opening goal came after fourteen minutes, cutting in from the left before finishing into the far corner. Chirnside saw a 25 yard free kick hit the post, with their best effort of the early exchanges, but Duns doubled their lead three minutes before halftime, finishing into the bottom corner after being played clear with a diagonal pass that split the defence wide open. The killer third goal came right on halftime, with a shot on the turn from twelve yards and there would be no way back for Chirnside from there. They never gave up, but never really threatened. Duns rounded off the scoring with eleven minutes left, when a free kick from near the centre circle was launched into the box and hooked in from eight yards.

National League U19 Alliance

North Division

Friday 28th March 2025

Kick Off 13.00 Actual 13.02

A.F.C. Fylde U19 3 York City U19 2, attendance 13

19’ 1-0

21’ 2-0

34’ 2-1

82’ 2-2

90’ + 1, 3-2

@ Mill Farm Sports Village, 3G Pitch

Coronation Way

off Fleetwood Road

Wesham

PR4 3JZ

No Admission or Programme.

As I was already planning on doing a game in Scotland in the evening, this fitted in perfectly and even better, it was less than ten miles off route! The Mill Farm Sports Village is adjacent to the main stadium of A.F.C. Fylde and as well as being home to Fylde Hockey Club, who have their own pitch, complete with stand, there is also a 3G football pitch. Spectator access is along the whole of one side, with viewing also behind the goal end that backs on to the two storey clubhouse/changing room building, although you’re looking through mesh if you choose that option. No problem getting in. You simply register at the reception and the clubhouse was open for the duration.

The match was 7th versus 4th in the league table in what is the top level of the league. York are still in with a chance of taking the title, coming into this six points adrift of leaders Farsley Celtic, but with a game in hand. They didn’t get off to a great start though, going behind after nineteen minutes, when a cross from the right was touched in at the near post and they conceded a second within minutes, seeing an attempted pass across the face of the 18 yard box intercepted and easily finished from 15 yards. Just after the half hour mark they pulled it back to 2-1, finishing with an angled shot into the far corner, following a quick break down the right. With eight minutes left they deservedly levelled it up at 2-2, finishing one on one after a long ball over the top. They pushed hard for a winner, but lost out to a stoppage time winner for Fylde, when a cross from the right was fumbled by the ‘keeper and smashed into the net from 10 yards. There was still time for them to waste a glorious chance to grab a point, but somehow they managed to head over the crossbar with the goal gaping.

Kent County League

Division 2 East

Saturday 22nd March 2025

Kick Off 14.45 Actual 14.43!

Baypoint 3 Littlebourne 3, attendance 20

25’ 1-0

28’ 1-1

42’ 2-1

60’ 3-1

71’ 3-2

87’ 3-3

@ Baypoint Sports Club

Ramsgate Road (A256)

Port Richborough

CT13 9QL

No Admission or Programme.

With the M25 closed in both directions for the entire weekend, between J10 and J11, I decided to head east into Kent in order to avoid the inevitable chaos that would occur in Surrey. Baypoint Sports Club is roughly halfway between Sandwich and Ramsgate. It’s basically a large field behind a very smart clubhouse, with today’s game played on the pitch to the right as you look from the building, running parallel with the River Stour. At least it was roped along one side, with the two ‘benches’ on the opposite touchline.

The match was a mid table clash, with 5th hosting 7th. Littlebourne still had a very slim chance of grabbing the second promotion place coming into this, in a fight with third placed Skippers (both have enough games in hand over second placed Len Valley to easily overtake them), with Bocca Juniors currently fifteen points clear at the top and 99.9% likely to win it. It was a decent game, despite the bobbly pitch. A corner from the right, which was finished with a shot on the turn, that went in off the near post, saw Baypoint take the lead midway through the first half, but Littlebourne equalised just three minutes later, when a ball was flicked on and smashed past the ‘keeper from 12 yards. Just before halftime Baypoint were back in front, when a diagonal ball in from the left was finished with a shot that beat the ‘keeper at the near post. When a one on one finish saw the hosts go 3-1 up on the hour mark it looked like the points were safe, but Littlebourne had other ideas. With nineteen minutes left they headed in from close range, before deservedly drawing level in the dying minutes, when a diagonal ball across the box was finished with a cushioned volley that looped over the ‘keeper into the far corner of the net.

Today’s visit just leaves Locomotive Canterbury to do in this division and Greenwich All Stars in Division 2 West for completion of the Kent County League for me now. It won’t be done this season though and hopefully there may even be an addition or two to add to these for next season.

Witney & District League

Division 2

Friday 21st March 2025

Kick Off 19.30 Actual 19.29!

Uffington United 6 Yarnton ‘B’ 1, attendance 28

10’ 0-1

13’ 1-1

34’ 2-1

54’ 3-1

69’ 4-1

81’ 5-1

90’ 6-1

@ Uffington Sports & Social Club

Fawler Road

Uffington

SN7 7SD

No Admission or Programme.

Apart from an organised ‘hop game here some years ago, I can’t remember a first team game having been played here under floodlights during the winter months. Most midweeks are staged during the lighter months, when the lights are not required, so it was the perfect opportunity to tick this one off tonight.

It is a cracking ground for this level of football. Entering off Fawler Road, the car park and clubhouse/changing rooms are behind the near goal end. The pitch runs lengthways away from here and is fully railed and has a large brick built dugout on the right hand side, divided for use of both teams, with a cricket pitch behind. Unfortunately, the floodlights aren’t great, but they were good enough to get the game played, which was the most important thing.

The match was 1st versus 3rd in the league table. Uffington led second in the table Deer Park Rangers by six points coming into this, but have played two games more. They’ve only lost once each and crucially play each other here in the final game of the season, with Uffington currently having a far better goal difference. It looks like the best Yarnton can realistically finish is the third place they now occupy, as they are four points adrift and will only have two games to play after tonight.

Yarnton took the lead after ten minutes, volleying into the bottom corner after a diagonal free kick into the box was flicked on, but their lead only lasted three minutes, when a corner from the right wasn’t cleared and was scrambled in from close range. Uffington edged in front just after the half hour mark, when another corner from the right was headed in powerfully from 6 yards. Three minutes into the second half it was 3-1, finishing with an angled shot into the far corner and there would be no way back for the visitors. A through ball that was fumbled by the ‘keeper, then followed in, made it 4-1 with just over twenty minutes left and after an angled shot that found the bottom corner, via the aid of a deflection saw goal number five arrive, before they made it 6-1 in the final minute, with an angled shot that went in off the far post.

There was no rain forecast, but it rained for almost the entire first half and for the early stages of the second, but the pitch was in good condition, so not a problem. Very empty M25 on the outbound journey, probably helped by the closure of Heathrow Airport and only had a slight delay on the same motorway on the way home, as they were starting to cone off the outside two lanes in readiness for yet another full weekend closure. If you can believe them, this will be the last such inconvenience, although as they’re way behind schedule (should have been completed by next month), nothing would surprise me.

East of Scotland League

Division 3

Sunday 16th March 2025

Kick Off 12.30 Actual 12.32

Linton Hotspur 2 Livingston United 0, attendance 372

4’ 1-0

49’ 2-0

@ New Moor Road

The Dean

Deanfoot Road

West Linton

EH46 7EJ

£5 Admission

£2 Programme available, but I won’t buy one on any event organised by Groundhop U.K.

Having stayed overnight to the west of Edinburgh, it was an easy 35-40 minute drive south, into the Scottish Borders, for today’s game in West Linton. This was actually the final game of this years Scottish Groundhop and the only game of the six that were scheduled that I’d be visiting. I’d already done four of the other venues anyway (I also needed West Calder United, having only been to their old ground, but as it was scheduled for the Saturday afternoon slot, it was of no interest to me, hence why I went to Kilwinning instead). Today saw the completion of this division for me and also clocked up ground number 250 visited in Scotland too.

Although Linton Hotspur were founded in the 1920’s, they disbanded in 1971, before returning in 2008, playing in the Border Amateur League, before gaining entry into the East of Scotland League in 2023. Their ‘New Moor Road’ ground (not in New Moor Road, or Moor Road for that matter) is actually in The Dean, off Deanfoot Road, on the right hand side when heading east out of the village. It’s developing into a very tidy ground. The clubhouse and changing rooms are behind the goal at the entrance end of the ground, with a small seated stand on the left hand touchline and a small area of cover opposite, although this is sandwiched between the dugouts, so the view from here is dreadful, whilst there is no access behind the far goal. The car park was already full when I arrived about 11.15, but there was ample parking along the roadside. As you’d expect, plenty of food/drink on offer, due to it being an official hop match and the club coped admirably with the large crowd.

The match was 2nd versus 4th in the league table and with only the top three going up, it was a game both teams would have wanted to win, in order to maintain their promotion push. There was little between them, but an early goal in each half was enough for Linton to take all three points. The opener came when a diagonal free kick into the box wasn’t cleared, resulting in an easy side footed finish from 10 yards, whilst the second came from a quick break down the right was finished with an angled shot that went in off the inside of the far post. The win keeps Linton in second place, eleven points adrift of league leaders Lochgelly Albert, but with two games in hand, whilst Livingston now drop to fifth.

I’d acquired two passengers for the journey home, which resulted in drop offs in Uxbridge and Redhill, but a totally trouble free drive back still saw me arrive home just before 21.40.

West of Scotland League

Division 1

Saturday 15th March 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.01

Kilwinning Rangers 4 Kilbirnie Ladeside 1, attendance 385

26’ 1-0

30’ 2-0

56’ 3-0

85’ 4-0

90’ + 2, 4-1

@ Buffs Park

Kilwinning Community Sports Club

Pennyburn Road

Kilwinning

KA13 6LF

£8 Admission

No Programme.

The day started with a trip to the nearest tyre centre, following the discovery of the puncture I’d suffered at Ellesmere Port Town last night. Thankfully, the first garage I headed for was already open when I arrived just after 8 o’clock and half an hour later I was on the road and heading for Scotland, the damage having been repaired and no need to buy a brand new tyre. When I last saw Kilwinning Rangers play a home game, back in June 2001, they beat Hurlford United 4-0 in an Ayrshire Super Cup Semi Final, played at their former Abbey Park ground. That now lies derelict, awaiting to be built upon and they vacated that for their new Buffs Park home, here at Kilwinning Community Sports Club in 2019. I’d actually seen a game here previously too, as I’d done a Kilmarnock U19 game here in 2006, which was played on one of the outer pitches.

Buffs Park is impressive for a new build. It is floodlit and spectator access is on all four sides. There is cover on three of those, whilst a base is already laid between the dugouts on the clubhouse side of the ground that looks like becoming another covered area, perhaps with seats, as they are the only thing lacking here now. There is plenty of car parking and there’s even a club shop, selling a variety of souvenirs. The usual fayre was available at the tea bar, although annoyingly, it is out of sight of the pitch, so not really much use whilst the match is in progress, although there were plenty who didn’t seem too bothered about that!

Kilwinning are one of the big names in the West of Scotland League, having won the Scottish Junior F.A. Cup twice, as well as twice being runners up and came into this sitting top of the league table, five points clear of second placed Rutherglen Glencairn, so look a good bet to return back to the top division which they are more accustomed to. Kilbirnie were ninth and as it’s just nine miles north of Kilwinning, had a decent following here, many displaying their club colours and it was good to see a crowd edging towards 400 here.

It was closer than the scoreline suggests, with the main difference between the two teams being the deadly delivery of ‘long throw specialist’ Jack MacCalman, which Kilbirnie just couldn’t deal with and I expect that’s the case for most opposition teams who come up against it. Kilwinning opened the scoring from one of his throw ins after twenty six minutes, heading in from 10 yards and they doubled their lead four minutes later, when a ball over the top was finished with an unstoppable shot across the ‘keeper that flew into the far corner. Eleven minutes into the second half it was 3-0. This time, a throw in from right near the corner flag was headed in powerfully at the far post and their fourth goal came with five minutes left. This time the long throw came from right in front of the dugouts and was met with a header from six yards that found the far corner. At least Kilbirnie managed to pull one back in stoppage time, with a 25 yarder that swerved viciously in front of the ‘keeper, but Kilwinning were well deserved winners.

I might even be back at Kilwinning Community Sports Club for a third visit one day, as fellow West of Scotland club Eglinton play on the 3G pitch here, behind the right hand goal end of Buffs Park when looking out from the clubhouse.

West Cheshire League

Division 1

Friday 14th March 2025

Kick Off 20.00 Actual 20.05

Ellesmere Port Town 0 Chester Nomads 2, attendance 48

14’ 0-1

25’ 0-2

@ Vauxhall Motors Sports Club, 3G Pitch

Rivacre Road

Ellesmere Port

CH66 1NJ

No Admission or Programme.

As I was heading for a couple of games in Scotland over the weekend, this fitted in perfectly with breaking up the journey. I’d been here before, when I saw Vauxhall Motors lose 3-4 (AET) to Northwich Victoria in a Cheshire F.A. Senior Cup 2nd Round match back in November 1993. That game was played on the stadium itself, but there are two parallel 3G cages behind it, with this played on the nearer of the two. Both have spectator areas on the full length of one side, as well as a pair of dugouts each, but this one has the far superior floodlights. The clubhouse was open throughout and served hot food and drinks for the duration.

The match was 13th (out of 16) versus 6th in the league table and was a far closer contest than I’d been expecting from their league positions. Nomads took an early lead, when a cross from the right wasn’t cleared, resulting in a first time finish into the bottom corner from 12 yards. Midway through the half they doubled their lead, when a player cut in from wide on the right, before hitting an unstoppable shot onto the far top corner, that hit the stanchion at the back of the goal frame and bounced a fair way back out due to the power he’d hit it with. Ellesmere Port had the chances to get at least a draw, especially from their second half chances created, but failed to convert any of them. They did hit the outside of the post with one and managed to miss a penalty too, which was saved, but were unfortunate not to get on the scoresheet.

Unfortunately, on getting back to the car, I found that one of my tyres was completely flat. I’m past the days of changing it myself, so I called the A.A. instead. It meant getting back to my hotel almost ninety minutes later than expected, but also, more crucially, if I couldn’t get it repaired/replaced (the ‘spare’ is just a means of getting you to a garage, rather than having a proper tyre, like in the old days) in time, my plans for Saturday would certainly be curtailed…..

Anglian Combination League

Premier Division

Saturday 8th March 2025

Kick Off 14.15 Actual 14.18

Norwich C.E.Y.M.S. 3 Sprowston 1, attendance 32

22’ 0-1

61’ 1-1

79’ 2-1

84’ 3-1

@ Hilltops Sports Ground

Main Road (B1113)

Swardeston

NR14 8DU

No Admission or Programme.

With the full weekend closure of the M25 in both directions between J10 and J11, I was forced to head somewhere east to avoid the total chaos it would cause in that area and opted for a visit to East Anglia, where I could complete the top division of the Anglian Combination League at Norwich C.E.Y.M.S. I’d actually seen them play a home game here previously, back in August 2023, a midweek game, which due to them sharing a ground that also hosts cricket, meant it was actually played on the training pitch, away to the left, through a hedge. You walked past another football pitch, to the left of the cricket square, which is railed along one touchline and has a couple of concrete dugouts, which is where they used to play their first team games, but they now use the pitch to the right of the cricket square, that runs lengthways away from the clubhouse/changing room building, which was roped off and has a couple of concrete dugouts on the right hand side, with an absolutely pristine pitch. Due to one of the Lakeham Union R.U.F.C. teams playing on a pitch the other side of the clubhouse, there was food/drink available throughout the match, which may not be the case if just the football are at home.

The match was 5th versus 12th in the league table and the reverse fixture of last week’s game, which C.E.Y.M.S. had won 4-2. It looked like Sprowston might have turned things round this week though, as they took the lead midway through the first half, when a long ball over the top was clipped over the ‘keeper from the angle of the 18 yard box. C.E.Y.M.S. thought they’d levelled the scores just before halftime, but the goal was (wrongly) ruled out for offside. They did get an equaliser just after the hour mark though, when a cross from the right was headed in at the far post, hitting the underside of the crossbar before bouncing down over the line. They could have gone in front soon after, but a penalty was sent high over the crossbar, but they did go ahead with eleven minutes left, when a corner from the right was headed down into the bottom corner at the far post and with six minutes left they made the game safe, making it 3-1 by poking it past the ‘keeper from just outside the box after being played through on goal.

Below photo shows location of Training Pitch (red) used on my first visit and current 1st team pitch (green).

Essex Senior League

Tuesday 4th March 2025

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.46

Benfleet 0 Barking 5, attendance 112

2’ 0-1

24’ 0-2

28’ 0-3

45’ + 1, 0-4

53’ 0-5

@ Woodside Park

Manor Road

New Thundersley

SS7 4PA

£6 Admission

Programme available, didn’t bother buying.

I came to a game here at Woodside Park back in July 2021, when I saw Benfleet play a friendly on the second pitch. At that time, the first team were ground sharing at Canvey Island, but they’ve since brought the main pitch up to Step 5 standard. It is now fully enclosed and obviously floodlit. Spectator access is limited to three sides, with the dugouts on the far side being the out of bounds area. The entrance side, which houses the clubhouse and changing rooms, has a seated kit stand, flanked by two covered standing areas.

The pitch here suffers horrendously from poor/no drainage, despite having a side to side slope that normally helps with such problems. This was their first home game they’ve managed to play here since December 28th and only the third going back to the third week of October. I’ve already had two failed attempts to get here already this season, both times where the games were postponed following pitch inspections that were being conducted too late to still have a chance of making it for kick off, even if they had been passed as ‘on’, due to having to battle M25 roadworks around Clacket Lane Services, let alone the usual Dartford Crossing shenanigans. Anyway, on such a dry sunny day, this looked a good bet to finally go ahead. The club had replied on Twitter that this was indeed the case, although I was told by a fellow ‘hopper at the game that the Referee only actually gave it the green light just before 7 o’clock!

The match was 16th versus 4th in the league table. Barking were very impressive and went ahead after just two minutes, shooting low through a crowd of players, following the award of an indirect free kick just outside the six yard box. Benfleet had a chance to level the scores after 20 minutes, but the penalty kick was well saved by the ‘keeper, then four minutes later Barking scored their second, heading in a left wing cross at the near post. Four minutes later it was 0-3, when a ball in from the right was swept in from 10 yards.

Any chance that Benfleet might have had of getting back into it disappeared minutes later, when a foul inside the centre circle resulted in a straight red card for one of their defenders. The Barking player on the receiving end lay motionless, clearly badly injured. An ambulance was called and the players and officials left the pitch. Meanwhile, a stretcher appeared and the player was loaded and removed, before the ambulance had arrived. After a quick warm up, following a break of just over half an hour, the match resumed and the final eleven minutes of the half were played to a conclusion, with Barking making it 0-4 in added time, heading in at the far post, from a corner on the left. A truncated halftime saw the second half back underway at 21.08 and eight minutes later Barking added their fifth goal of the night, tapping in a cross from the right at the near post. They then took their foot off the pedal, content that the points were safe and the nearest they came to grabbing a sixth goal was a shot that hit the post late on.

I was very pleased to finally get this ground ticked off and the completion of Steps 1 to 6 edges a little closer. Just Truro City (Step 2), Jersey Bulls (Step 5) and Darlington Town (Step 6) to go now. I’m unlikely to manage it this season now though, as I prefer to do floodlit grounds for midweek matches, so expect that number to increase by the start of next season.