Portugal

Primeira Liga

Saturday 31st January 2026

Kick Off 18.00 On Time!

Rio Ave 0 F.C. Arouca 3, attendance 1,842

44’ 0-1

53’ 0-2

66’ 0-3

@ Estadio do Rio Ave Futebol Clube

Rua de Dom Sancho I

4480-876 Vila do Conde

€13 Admission

No Programme.

The 41 mile drive west from Felgueiras took about 45 minutes, calling in at the club shop at the stadium to buy tickets for the match, prior to heading off to check in at the hotel. There was no panic with getting in though, as the crowd of 1,842 was well short of the 5,244 stated capacity of this one sided ground. There’s a single stand, with cover in the centre section only, flanked by a block of open seats (one for away fans, the other for non members). It’s pretty poor to be staging top level football. Loads of free parking in the surrounding roads though and a tram stop right outside the ground too, which links you with Porto Airport.

The match was 12th versus 15th in the league table and was a game that barely set the pulses racing. Very pedestrian stuff, with build up play far too slow, with caution always the chosen option, rather than trying to be creative. I don’t recall too much of note from a dreadful first half, apart from Arouca breaking the deadlock in the final minute of the half, when a corner from the right was headed back across the six yard box and met with a close range header that beat the ‘keeper. Eight minutes into the second half they doubled their lead, when a cross was headed back across the box, resulting in an aerial challenge which struck a defender on the shoulder and sent the ball looping back over his ‘keeper for an unfortunate own goal. Their third goal came with twenty four minutes left, cutting in from the left before sending an angled shot into the far corner of the net from just outside the six yard box. They also had a header ruled out for offside with sixteen minutes left. Rio Ave offered nothing. The nearest they came to scoring was when an Arouca defender sliced a clearance against his own post in the final minute.

Portugal

Liga 2

Saturday 31st January 2026

Kick Off 11.00 On Time!

F.C. Felgueiras 1 Grupo Desportivo Chaves 0, attendance 850

40’ 1-0

@ Estadio Municipal Doutor Machado de Matos

Rua do Futebol Clube de Felgueiras 7

4610-808 Felgueiras

€10 Admission

No Programme.

This morning saw a 12 mile drive south east from Guimaraes to the town of Felgueiras, which took about twenty five minutes, arriving just under half an hour before kick off. No problem parking in the street next to the ground and tickets were purchased from the ticket outlet on the corner of the ground. The ground is two sided, with no access behind either goal and has a capacity of 6,587, which is probably rarely tested and certainly not with today’s turn out. As it was drizzling at the time, we opted for the covered side of the ground, but this soon cleared and it was very pleasant in the winter sunshine. The opposite side was open terrace, with the 65 away fans situated in the left hand side section as you looked across. The usual hot and cold drinks and snacks were available, reasonably priced. Despite there having been very heavy rain for the last few days, the pitch was in superb condition, but quite a few divots appeared during the warm ups and again during the match.

It was 11th versus 8th in the league table and another game that if you’re being kind you’d describe as being dull and lacklustre. The hosts did hit the crossbar with a free kick just after the half hour mark, before making the breakthrough five minutes before halftime, when a corner on the left was cleared and returned first time and poked in at the far post. They decided to sit back and try and protect what they’d got, rather than kill the game off by adding a second goal. Chaves went close late on, hitting the near post from a tight angle, having a diving header tipped around the post and having another header from a corner tipped over the crossbar. Their best chance came nine minutes into stoppage time, when they were awarded a penalty, but a pathetic stuttered run up was followed by an equally pathetic shot that was easily saved by the ‘keeper, low down to his left hand post.

Portugal

Primeira Liga

Friday 30th January 2025

Kick Off 20.45 Actual 20.49

Vitoria Sport Clube 1 Moreirense 0, attendance 10,826

66’ 1-0 (pen)

@ Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques

Avenida de Sao Goncalo 888

4810-527 Guimaraes

€15 Admission

No Programme.

Travelled out from London Gatwick on TAP yesterday morning, which departed 40 minutes late, bound for Porto and a few days in a rather wet and windy north west Portugal. First up was two nights in Guimaraes, the second of which would take in a match at Vitoria Sport Clube, who play at the 29,464 capacity Estadio Dom Afonso Henriques, which hosted games during the Euro 2004 Championship. Tickets were easily obtained from the club office at the stadium on Thursday afternoon, with no identification required, although as a non member you were limited to three areas. It would have been no problem buying tickets on the night though, as the ground was only just over a third full, with the visitors contributing about 200 of those. We chose to sit in the only one of the three areas available to us that were covered, in the top tier of the end behind the goal at the north end, which was a good choice, especially when the rain arrived (yet again) during the first half, causing those in the open areas to run for cover. The stadium is like an elongated horseshoe, with the stand that runs behind the south goal running straight across the bottom.

It was 9th versus 6th as far as league positions go, so we’d expected a decent game. Unfortunately, we got the opposite. Two teams lacking any ambition at all in getting forward, content with constant sideways and backwards passing, with the latter certainly favoured where possible. Every goal kick saw two defenders and the ‘keeper pass it between them around the six yard box, before playing it out to either fullback as the opposition closed them down, then back to the ‘keeper and start again. Neither side were any good at it, but both continued to play this way regardless. There was only one goal attempt in the first half, when a shot from the visitors was tipped round the post. The second half improved, but not by much. Vitoria did finally create a chance or two, but it was probably fitting that the only goal came from the penalty spot midway through the half. It was duly dispatched to give the hosts all three points.

There was late drama though, as after five of the seven added minutes of stoppage time had been played, the floodlights flickered. The bulbs then went out on two of them, followed about thirty seconds later by the other two. After fourteen minutes of darkness, they gradually came back on and the final couple of minutes were played out, with the final whistle sounding at 23.00. The stadium was in sight of our hotel and the lights had been on over three and a half hours before kick off, which probably didn’t help in them failing and it was after midnight before they were finally turned off!

Above : The floodlights going out didn’t seem to bother most of the crowd……

Mid Sussex League

Junior Charity Cup 2nd Round

Saturday 24th January 2026

Kick Off 16.00 Actual 16.02

Ifield 4 Old Oxted Town 3, attendance 41

14’ 1-0

21’ 2-0 (pen)

25’ 2-1

29’ 2-2

44’ 3-2

45’ + 2, 3-3

50’ 4-3

@ Oakwood School Sports Centre, 3G Pitch

Balcombe Road

Horley

RH6 9AE

No Admission or Programme.

It was an easy twenty five minute drive back into Surrey, to the northern outskirts of Horley, for the second game of the day and another game switched from the club’s normal home venue due to a waterlogged pitch. It’s a standard cage set up, with a spectator area along three quarters of one side and a pair of dugouts opposite.

The match pitted 3rd in Division 3 North against 2nd in Division 2 North, with both sides a real credit to their respective divisions and an end to end game for the entire ninety minutes. Ifield took a fourteenth minute lead, heading a corner from the left back across the six yard box, where it was swept in from close range. They doubled their lead with a penalty seven minutes later, but two goals in a four minute spell saw Old Oxted level the scores just before the half hour mark, heading in from a corner before a curled shot in off the far post made it 2-2. A quick breakaway goal saw Ifield regain the lead a minute before halftime, but the visitors pulled it back to 3-3 in stoppage time, finishing low into the far corner, after a through ball had split the defence wide open. Five minutes into the second half Ifield went back in front, when a 20 yarder deflected over the ‘keeper and despite pushing hard for an equaliser, the nearest Old Oxted came to levelling things up was when a shot on the turn hit the foot of the post, before being hacked clear, as we entered the last twenty minutes.

Mid Sussex League

Division 2 North

Saturday 24th January 2025

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.03

A.S. Crawley 9 Ifield Albion 0, attendance 17

2’ 1-0

6’ 2-0

36’ 3-0

45’ + 4, 4-0

46’ 5-0

55’ 6-0

59’ 7-0

78’ 8-0

83’ 9-0

@ The Forest School, 3G Pitch

Comptons Lane

Horsham

RH13 5NL

No Admission or Programme.

Once again a week with plenty of rain meant grass pitches may have been a risky option today, so a 3G pitch was the safest bet and this noon kick off (it was hosting Horsham Trinity’s home West Sussex League match at 2pm) was ideal, as it also offered the chance of picking up a double. The ground here at The Forest School is a standard cage set up, with three quarters of one side allocated to spectator viewing and a pair of plastic dugouts on the far side.

The match saw the league leaders, with a 100% winning record, host tenth in the table and it went as expected. Two goals in the opening six minutes saw the hosts race into a two goal lead, but it took them half an hour to add a third goal, before curing another in from the angle of the 18 yard box in stoppage time to give them a 4-0 lead at halftime. A close range tap in saw them score again a minute after the restart, with two more added before the hour mark. With twelve minutes left they added an eighth, followed by a shot on the turn into the far corner for number nine five minutes later. They were desperate to hit double figures, going full on for another goal, but somehow the Ifield defence held out, despite having their ‘keeper red carded late on, following a fracas after a foul on the edge of the box, that also saw each team have a player booked.

Kent F.A. Junior ‘A’ Cup

3rd Round

Saturday 17th January 2026

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.29

Gillingham Town 1 Old Roan 3, attendance 8

6’ 0-1

29’ 0-2

74’ 0-3

77’ 1-3

@ Chatham Garrison Sports Ground

Sally Port Gardens

Brompton

ME7 5BT

No Admission or Programme.

Today’s game was a county cup tie between two teams from the Kent County League, with 8th in Division 2 East hosting 3rd in Division 2 West, Old Roan having won all eight league games they’ve played so far. The adverse weather had seen this game postponed last week, but no such problems today and I had an immediate response from the home club confirming this. Chatham Garrison Sports Ground is in Brompton, roughly halfway between Chatham and Gillingham and has a couple of grass pitches, a rugby pitch (that runs across today’s pitch) and a 3G hockey pitch. There’s a small car park and brick built changing room building, with the football to the left looking from here, with the near goal butting up to the caged pitch. It’s roped along about a third of the far touchline, whilst the two ‘dugouts’ were set up opposite.

Old Roan took an early lead, catching out the home defence with a quickly taken free kick, enabling the striker to finish one on one against the ‘keeper. They doubled their lead just before the half hour mark, with a 30 yarder into the top corner, which the ‘keeper got a hand to, but couldn’t keep out. We had a break of about five minutes around the hour mark, when soil had to be fetched from around the perimeter fence, to fill a hole in the pitch that was a good six inches deep. Apparently it had been there all game, but no one had gone near enough for it to have been a problem until then. The visitors made it 0-3 with sixteen minutes left, sweeping in a rebound at the far post, after an initial shot was saved, before Gillingham pulled one back three minutes later, breaking quickly down the left, before cutting inside where the first shot was saved, but followed in from twelve yards. They also had a shot cleared off the line late on, but never looked like getting level.

Anglian Combination League

Premier Division

Tuesday 13th January 2026

Kick Off 19.45 Actual 19.52

Aylsham 7 University East Anglia 0, attendance 72

44’ 1-0

49’ 2-0

53’ 3-0

76’ 4-0

80’ 5-0

83’ 6-0

90’ + 1, 7-0

@ Youngs Park, 3G Arena

Woodgate Way

Cawston Road

Aylsham

NR11 6UJ

£3 Admission

No Programme.

I’d already visited Aylsham for a game under lights back in February 2017 (4-4 versus Scole United), but this was being shown on the F.A. Full Time website as being on the 3G pitch, which was confirmed by the home club on Twitter. It’s a typical cage set up and runs the opposite way to the main ground, behind the far goal from the clubhouse/car park. There’s a designated spectator area along three quarters of the near side and a pair of perspex dugouts opposite. Admission was taken at the cage entrance and the clubhouse was open for hot food and drinks.

The match was 7th versus 13th (out of 15) in the league table and there was little between the two sides in the first half. Aylsham saw a 25 yarder tipped round the post half an hour in, before breaking the deadlock a minute before halftime, when a ball over the top saw a mix up between goalkeeper and defender, resulting in a collision between them and the ball was lobbed into the empty net from 30 yards. It only took Aylsham four minutes of the second half to double their lead, with an angled shot into the far corner, quickly followed by a third goal four minutes later. UEA managed to hold out for the next twenty minutes, but collapsed by conceding another four goals in the last fourteen minutes. Two via edge of the box finishes, a close range header from a corner and finally a twice deflected shot in stoppage time to round off a resounding 7-0 win, my second successive match with this score.

The win sees Aylsham move up to fourth place in the league table, whilst UEA remain third bottom. A totally trouble free drive up to Norfolk and not too bad coming home, despite there being no access from the M11 onto the M25 eastbound, meaning a diversion in towards London and taking the A406 North Circular and A13 to get back to Dartford Crossing.

Kent County League

Bill Manklow Inter-Regional Challenge Cup

3rd Round

Saturday 10th January 2026

Kick Off 13.30 Actual 13.34

A.M.G. Ballerz 7 Meridian V.P. 0, attendance 20

1’ 1-0

3’ 2-0 (pen)

4’ 3-0

26’ 4-0

57’ 5-0

65’ 6-0

74’ 7-0

@ GB10 Sports Ground

177 Footscray Road

Eltham

London

SE9 2SZ

No Admission or Programme.

Another Saturday and another day where finding a game on grass was the main objective. Half a dozen options fell by the wayside, but I received a positive response from A.M.G. Ballerz that their game had survived the elements, so I headed into South East London for the second successive week, There’s plenty of parking here, which is next to the clubhouse/changing room building, with the pitch in the far right hand corner, enclosed with metal barriers along the left hand touchline, with the other three sides officially out of bounds to spectators, but not enforced.

The match was 2nd in Division 1 West (W11 D1 L1) versus 17th in Premier Division (W4 D1 L13) and looked, at least on paper, like an interesting tie, but Ballerz totally blew the visitors away, scoring three times in the opening four minutes. The opener came inside ten seconds, played through on goal and finishing into the top corner from the edge of the box. A penalty doubled their lead two minutes later, quickly followed by a third goal, again put clear before shooting into the bottom corner. Midway through the half they added a fourth and it was surprising that it took until nearly the hour mark before they made it 5-0, when a corner from the right was met with a downward header that was saved by the ‘keeper, but followed in from close range. A long ball, flicked on and fired low past the ‘keeper at his near post made it six, before a cheeky back heel rounded off the scoring with sixteen minutes left.

It was an afternoon where the temperature remained at a constant 3 degrees, but felt colder due to a biting wind. This was the last ground I hadn’t yet visited in this division and it also completes the top two levels of the league. Plans in the clubhouse showed that two 3G pitches are to be installed here, out of view behind mounds of earth at present, with the area where they played today’s game being given over to small sized youth pitches when completed.

Kent County League

Division 1 West

Saturday 3rd January 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.03

Equinoccial 4 Orpington 1, attendance 10

34’ 0-1

45’ + 2, 1-1

55’ 2-1

63’ 3-1

90’ 4-1

@ Meridian Sports & Social Club, 3G Pitch

Charlton Park Lane

Charlton

London

SE7 8QS

No Admission or Programme.

I’d been putting off a visit here, due to its unappealing set up, but by 12 o’clock, with all my preferred options on grass biting the dust (or should that be snow/ice), it was at last the day to play the ‘3G card’. It’s every bit as bad as you’d expect. It’s just a caged pitch, with no designated spectator area, but thankfully, helped by a very sparse crowd, there was no problem standing inside the fence. It’s part of the same complex where I’d seen Bridon Ropes play on the stadium grass pitch back in 2008 (they were also at home this afternoon, kicking off at 3 o’clock), with the cage on your left as you enter off Charlton Park Lane, with the two grounds separated by the clubhouse building.

The match was top of the league table, with just one defeat so far, versus seventh and went to form in the end, but Orpington certainly made the hosts work for the points. The visitors took an unexpected lead just after the half hour mark, breaking down the left before cutting inside to get in a shot that was fumbled by the ‘keeper and followed in from close range. Equinoccial had a shot tipped onto the post three minutes before halftime, before getting an equaliser two minutes into stoppage time, meeting a corner from the right with a bullet header from 6 yards. Ten minutes into the second half the hosts saw an angled shot go in off the far post to put them ahead and eight minutes later they added a third, cutting in from the left before beating the ‘keeper low at the near post. They made it 4-1 right on ninety minutes, following in on a blocked shot and also had a fifth goal chalked off in stoppage time as it was offside.

It was bitterly cold throughout, especially when the sun began to drop and the temperature only rose to between 2 and 3 degrees for the entirety.

Gloucestershire County League

Saturday 27th December 2025

Kick Off 14.00 Actual 14.02

Totterdown United 1 Sharpness 2, attendance 44

47’ 1-0

75’ 1-1

90’ + 6, 1-2

@ Bristol Barbarians R.U.F.C.

Norton Lane

Whitchurch

BS14 0BT

No Admission or Programme.

I first saw Totterdown United play a game here at Bristol Barbarians R.U.F.C. in September 2019, when they beat Pucklechurch Sports 2-1 in a Bristol Premier Combination League match. Back then, they played on the pitch that runs parallel with the track leading into the complex, to the left and having no more than a pair of dugouts on the far side. They’ve since developed a new pitch beyond the brick built changing rooms, which has enabled them to make the step up into the Gloucestershire County League and today’s visit would once again complete the league. It runs lengthways away from the building and is fully railed off and has a pair of dugouts on the left hand side.

The match saw 15th (out of 17) host 2nd in the league table, with the visitors trailing league leaders Tewkesbury Town by two points, having played three games fewer and the only team yet to lose a game this season, having won 10 and drawn 2 of their twelve played. The first half was very poor. Neither team managed a shot on goal. The second half was much better, helped considerably by Totterdown making the breakthrough just two minutes after the break, when a cross from the right was deflected high into the air, looping over the backpedaling keeper and dropping into the far corner. Sharpness piled on the pressure and deservedly drew level with fifteen minutes left, when a diagonal ball in from the right saw a striker just beat the ‘keeper to the ball and poke it past him into the bottom corner. Having rescued their unbeaten record, they now set about grabbing all three points, rather than settle for the draw. They almost lost it three minutes into stoppage time, when a Totterdown one on one against the ‘keeper resulted in a good save, before stopping the follow up too, but three minutes later the visitors grabbed the winner, when a corner on the right was met with a glancing header that was swept in at the far post. The win sees Sharpness leapfrog Tewkesbury at the top, whilst Totterdown remain third from bottom.

What should have been a two and a quarter hour drive down to the south east of Bristol took almost four hours, arriving just nine minutes before the scheduled kick off, due to horrendous traffic on the M25 from J9-J12 as well as coming off the M4 at J17 and going cross country from there. The return took just three hours, including diverting off the M4 from J17-J16 and the usual queue at the M3/M25 interchange.

As far as ‘new’ ground visits go, that rounds off 2025 for me, ending the year with 153 (91 England, 30 Wales, 20 Scotland, 5 Belgium, 5 Spain and 2 France) and an overall tally of 6,254.

Above photo : 1. First visit and 2. The new pitch.