Belgium

Hainaut Provincial 1

Sunday 15th September 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.04

R. Leopold Club Hornu 0 Sporting Club Montignies 0, attendance 98

@ Stade Barbet

Rue Du Commerce 98

7301 Hornu

€5 Admission

No Programme.

This was our first trip of the season over to Belgium. The driver was heading for A.S. Snef-Tyber, which I had been to, where he would be completing Provincial 1 in Hainaut, whilst two of us were being dropped off in Hornu, which would also see the completion of Provincial 1 in Hainaut for me as well.

Leopold Club Hornu are one of the oldest clubs in Belgium, having been formed in 1921. They have a very low 129 matricule number and they first played in the Belgian League back in 1946, having suffered relegation and promotion in the meantime, but having been relegated back into the Provincial League in 1997, they have remained there ever since and even dropped into Provincial 3 at one stage.

Having won promotion back into Provincial 1 this season, they have had a reasonable start, topping the league table with seven points from their opening three games. Montignies arrived here in eleventh place. Unfortunately, neither side had any ambition to try and win the game and they served up an absolutely dreadful match. I saw three awful matches yesterday and this was equally as bad. Yesterday it was due to the fact that the level we were watching was of a very poor standard. Today, it was because neither team wanted to win and were very happy to play for 0-0.

Having not been over here since May, we had forgotten what a shambles Eurotunnel are. Our outbound 09.20 train left eight minutes late and despite arriving back at The Tunnel twenty minutes before check in closed for our 20.20 return, we were told it was full (as we were well within our check in time, this seems a very strange way to operate a service) and we had been moved to the 20.36 crossing instead and surprise, surprise, it didn’t leave until 20.47.

Witney & District League

Division 2

Saturday 14th September 2019

Kick Off 16.15 or 16.30 Actual 16.30

Ducklington 2 Wootton Sports 3, attendance 178

33’ 1-0

51’ 1-1 (pen)

73’ 1-2

87’ 1-3

90’+ 2, 2-3

@ The Glebelands Playing Fields

Aston Road

Ducklington

OX29 7US

£4 Admission, including Programme*

*(Once again you got a programme whether you wanted it or not. Again I applied the rule of putting it in the nearest bin, as I don’t even want a ‘free’ copy on any event run by Groundhop U.K.)

Third game of the day and again confusion on what time the kick off was. This was an even shorter distance to travel, being just 5 miles from Minster Lovell, so it didn’t really matter, but it meant arriving at the ground an hour and five minutes before kick off, so Ducklington were certainly not going to have to rush to try and make the most of their big pay day.

This was two levels lower than the first two ‘hop matches today, but it was still a case of paying top dollar to watch it. Although they tried, the standard of play here was about as low as you could get, with plenty of effort, but with two teams of limited ability, to say the least, it wasnt great to watch. The dreadful state of the pitch won’t have helped. It looked like it hadn’t seen any water in months. Ducklington led 1-0 at the break, but should have added a fair few more, but having failed to do so, were easily beaten in the end. Three second half goals from Wootton saw the game made safe, before a goal for the hosts, two minutes into stoppage time, made it look closer than it was.

It had been a real endurance test watching three games of such poor standard today, although the hot weather may have contributed to that. It wasn’t helped by the Referee at this match adding nearly seven minutes of stoppage time in the first half, then a ridiculous sixteen minutes to the second half, of a game that was turgid at best.

With the obsession of having these ground hops at intervals of what certainly feels like every other week, it means dropping lower and lower in order to find clubs and/or leagues that want to be involved, but as long as there are sufficient numbers turning up, then they will be here to stay, no matter how low the level drops. It will take some doing to find a league with a lower standard of football than this, although the scenery around some of the villages in this part of the Cotswolds does make up for it somewhat.

We could have gone on the organised trip, which this time involved just two mini buses, but we would have first had to drive to Oxford to meet up, then pay to park the car, before paying £19 each for the privilege of being driven the 49 mile round trip to the three games and back . We decided to drive ourselves instead, and as there were three of us, it only cost us £5 each and none of us live anywhere near Oxford!

Witney & District League

Premier Division

Saturday 14th September 2019

Kick Off 13.30 or 13.45 Actual 13.30

Minster Lovell 2 Carterton 3, attendance 126

29’ 1-0

38’ 2-0

48’ 2-1

62’ 2-2

85’ 2-3 (pen)

@ Wash Meadow

Minster Lovell

OX29 0RN

£4 Admission, including Programme *

*( As with this mornings game, you had the programme whether you wanted it or not, so it was again a case of finding the nearest bin for it, as I don’t even want a ‘free’ copy from any event organised by Groundhop U.K. At least the club were a bit more sensible by ‘only’ charging £4 more than they normally do!)

This was a bit of a strange one here, as there was some confusion regarding kick off time, as depending where you were getting the information, it was either 13.30 or 13.45. Quite a number of twitter feeds had tweets and retweets stating both times. It wasn’t a problem getting here, even for the earlier time though, as it was only seven miles from the morning match, but even so, it meant the club only had 15-20 minutes pre match to try and sell refreshments and really cash in on the day.

It turned out that it was indeed a 13.30 start, so their money making opportunity was certainly squeezed to the bare minimum. I thought these ‘hops were supposed to be about making money for the clubs, but on this evidence, you wouldn’t think so………

Anyway, on to the football, which again was of low standard. Minster Lovell led 2-0 at the break, but Carterton somehow turned it round in the second half, winning it with a late penalty. The one moment of quality was the free kick scored by the visitors that pulled it back to 2-1. It started the comeback that certainly wasn’t expected from their first half showing.

Witney & District League

Premier Division

Saturday 14th September 2019

Kick Off 11.00 Actual 11.02

Milton under Wychwood 1 Spartan Rangers 2, attendance 166

3’ 1-0

48’ 1-1

85’ 1-2

@ The Village Green

Shipton Road

Milton under Wychwood

OX7 6JH

£5 Admission, including Programme *

It is hard to imagine just how low a level of football you can go to where the crowd will be in excess of three figures, but of course, this was only possible as it was part of a ground hop. The fact that there was a £5 Admission charge (* The club still charged full price for concessions and you had the programme whether you wanted it or not, despite it having a £1 cover price) was a giveaway that this was an ‘organised’ ‘hop. As this was a Groundhop U.K. event it meant that despite the programme being included in the price, my copy was deposited in the nearest bin, as I won’t even take a ‘free’ copy from anything they may be involved in and charging this much at this level of the game actually makes Premier League prices look reasonable in comparison!

I hadn’t watched a match in this league since 2010, but can’t remember it being as poor a standard as what this match was. It was a lovely setting for a ground, helped greatly by the fantastic weather, but sadly the quality of football was lacking somewhat. Milton scored early on and were coasting it. Spartans were very poor, but somehow they levelled it up at 1-1 early in the second half and somehow managed a late winning goal, that certainly wasn’t deserved, taking into account their performance over the ninety minutes.

Bristol Premier Combination League

Premier Division

Wednesday 11th September 2019

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.06

Totterdown United 2 Pucklechurch Sports 1, attendance 35

35’ 1-0

58’ 1-1

69’ 2-1

@ Bristol Barbarians R.U.F.C.

Norton Lane

Whitchurch

Bristol

BS14 0BT

No Admission or Programme.

Having done a match in the same league last night, we knew that an 18.30 kick off, without floodlights, might mean us seeing a shortened game, but both clubs tweeted this morning that it was an 18.00 kick off, so perhaps we’d be okay. Both teams were on the pitch doing their warm ups at 17.30, but any hopes of getting underway by six disappeared when the Referee only arrived at 17.56, although he was soon ready for action and we kicked off at 18.06.

Totterdown had drawn their opening two matches, whilst newly promoted Pucklechurch were playing their first match of the season tonight. It was a game of very few clear cut chances, which Totterdown just about deserved to win. They did have quite a few scrambled efforts that were blocked with desperate last ditch tackles or blocks, but they should really have done better with their finishing.

Having had a short halftime, the game was all over by 19.42 and the light, or lack of, never came into question.

Bristol Premier Combination League

Division 1

Tuesday 10th September 2019

Kick Off 18.30. On Time !

Bradley Stoke Town 1 Shirehampton Reserves 1, attendance 25

3’ 0-1

44’ 1-1

@ Patchway Community College, 3G Pitch

Hempton Lane

Patchway

Bristol

BS32 4AJ

No Admission or Programme.

Bradley Stoke Town were promoted from the Bristol & District League, having finished in third place last season. They played most of their matches at the Gloucestershire F.A. Ground in Almondsbury, on the 3G Pitch, but as a result of a number of teams using it, had to play most of the matches with a 17.30 kick off time on Saturdays. When the new facility at the Community College opened in February, they relocated here, along with their Reserve team.

Despite having floodlights, the game was still scheduled as an 18.30 kick off, which was due to the league not allowing them to start any later. If it wasn’t for the lights, which came on during the second half, it may have been a problem getting a full match in, despite the prompt start and it was pretty dark when the match finished at 20.09, even on a nice sunny evening.

The game could have gone either way. Shirehampton scored very early on, before Bradley Stoke levelled a minute before the break. Both teams had chances to win it in the second half, but some poor finishing meant no further goals were added.

At least we got to see the player who made the news when signing for Bradley Stoke Town back in November…….as their No.6 was none other than…Bradley Stokes !

Gloucestershire County League

Les James League Cup 1st Round

Saturday 7th September 2019

Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.01

Quedgeley Wanderers 2 AEK Boco 2 (4-5 pens), attendance 26

44’ 0-1

73’ 1-1

77’ 1-2

88’ 2-2

@ Waterwells Sports Centre

Stephenson Drive

Quedgeley

Gloucester

GL2 2AG

No Admission

£1 Programme, 20 pages.

I picked this match as it was the chance to see the league newcomers Quedgeley Wanderers, promoted from the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, take on the early season table toppers AEK Boco, who have taken 10 points from their opening four games.

Quedgeley are a very good addition to Step 7 football, with a very neatly enclosed pitch and a nice clubhouse that did hot and cold food and drink, with the bacon rolls at £1 (2 rashers) being the pick of the day. Whoever sells their advertising boards has done a superb job, as every space around the pitch is sold, both on the inside and outside of the rail!

AEK Boco dominated the early stages, but just couldn’t score, eventually breaking the deadlock when a left wing cross was volleyed in at the near post just before the interval. Quedgeley came into it more in the second half and were rewarded with an equaliser that was smashed past the ‘keeper from near the penalty spot. Boco were ahead again within a few minutes, when a long ball was controlled on the corner of the 18 yard box and shot into the far corner of the net via the post. A neat one-two on the edge of the box saw Quedgeley nick a second equaliser with a couple of minutes left to send the match to penalties to decide the winner.

Boco went first, and after five kicks each it was 4-4. Boco then scored their next one and Quedgeley missed theirs, and that was it.

A couple of hundred yards from the main pitch, there is another pitch which the Reserves and Third teams use and it is better than many of the grounds that I will visit in England this season !

Today, it hosted Quedgeley Wanderers Reserves 2 Chalford Reserves 7, in a Stroud & District League Division 1 match.

Cheltenham League

Minor Charity Cup 1st Round

Saturday 7th September 2019

Kick Off 12.00 Actual 12.04

Cheltenham United 0 F.C. Lakeside Reserves 2, attendance 7

33’ 0-1

36’ 0-2

@ All Saints’ Academy, 3G Pitch

Blaisdon Way

Cheltenham

GL51 0WH

No Admission or Programme.

I am not a big fan of doing 3G cages at the best of times, especially on a Saturday, preferring to do them for friendlies, rather than ‘waste’ time doing them for competitive games when there are plenty of much better options to chose from. However, with this kicking off at noon, it meant at least I could double it up, rather than make a special journey, and even better, it was only twenty minutes drive from here to one of my favoured choice of games this afternoon, so it fitted the bill perfectly.

Although there is no barrier inside the cage, the distance from the touch line to the fence is quite wide, so no problem standing inside to watch, especially with a crowd as small as today’s.

These two teams are in Division 3, which is not the greatest standard of football, but there was plenty of effort, and loads of chances, more down to poor defending than good attacking play. It was certainly a lot lower standard than the Division 2 match I saw in this league on Thursday night.

Cheltenham dominated the early stages, but conceded two goals in quick succession just after the half hour mark, to trail 0-2 at halftime. Lakeside had the better of the game in the second half, but it might have been a different story if Cheltenham hadn’t put a penalty kick wide of the target just after the hour mark, before hitting the crossbar and post with two other good efforts late on.

Cheltenham League

Division 2

Thursday 5th September 2019

Kick Off 18.30 Actual 18.25

Leckhampton Rovers 3 Fintan 2, attendance 15

5’ 0-1

13’ 1-1

22’ 1-2

61’ 2-2

74’ 3-2

@ The Folley

University of Gloucestershire

Gardner’s Lane

off Swindon Road

Cheltenham

GL51 9JP

No Admission or Programme.

With both teams and the Referee out warming up on the pitch at 18.10, we thought we might get started a little bit earlier than the scheduled 18.30 start. We did start five minutes early, but the Referee decided to play 2 x 40 minute halves, despite it being a nice sunny night.

These two had both played on Tuesday evening in cup matches, with Leckhampton losing 1-7 at home and Fintan having won 3-1 away, so when the visitors opened the scoring with a superb lob from the corner of the box after just five minutes, it looked like this could be another long night for the hosts. Although they equalised, they were soon trailing again and it was 1-2 at halftime. It was 2-2 just after the hour mark and Leckhampton completed their comeback to go 3-2 up with six minutes left. Two minutes from the end, Fintan had a player sin binned for the remainder of the match, but despite being a man short they pushed for an equaliser and following a long punt into the box they were awarded a penalty, just as the 80 minutes were up. Unfortunately though, it was hit wide of the target and despite the Referee playing six minutes of stoppage time, Leckhampton held on for the win.

As expected, when the match finished at 19.56 there was still plenty of light left and the extra ten minutes would have been no problem to fit in, especially with the fact that there were seven minutes of stoppage time played over the two halves.

Bedfordshire County League

Premier Division

Wednesday 4th September 2019

Kick Off 18.15 Actual 18.19

Flitwick Town 2 A.F.C. Kempston Town & Bedford College 2, attendance 29

15’ 1-0

45’ 2-0

47’ 2-1

74’ 2-2

@ Flitwick Football Centre

Ampthill Road

Flitwick

MK45 1BA

No Admission or Programme.

You would be hard pushed to find a more soulless ground than this. The building which houses the changing rooms and reception room remained closed all evening and the pitch is as far away from here as it could possibly be, in the far right corner of the field, with the pitch being roped down each side. It was sunny at the start, but it soon clouded over and there was a strong wind blowing down the pitch as well as an odd shower of rain.

Having gone ahead early on, Flitwick doubled their lead right on the stroke of halftime, with a 30 yard shot that the ‘keeper struggled to see due to the low level sun being in his eyes. Kempston pulled a goal back early in the second half and with Flitwick failing to add to their tally, despite having a couple of good chances, it came as no surprise when Kempston levelled it up at 2-2 with a quarter of an hour to go. The rain returned for the last ten minutes and it was very dark when the game finished at 19.56.