September has been a busy month in more ways than one. Not only have I been watching and photographing football as usual, but my wife Angela gave birth to our first child on Thursday 15th.
Saturday 3rd September
MELTON TOWN 4-3 DAVENTRY TOWN
United Counties League Division 1
@ Digital Deadline Park, Melton Sports Village, Burton Road, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
Adm: £2 - got charged the concession rate
Programme: £1
Attendance: 50 (head count)
This ground was my number 1 priority to visit this season, and there were two reasons for this:
1) This was the only ground in Leicestershire & Rutland down to step 8 (level 12) that I hadn't visited and
2) Also the only venue I needed to re-completed the United Counties League again.
Melton moved into this venue at the back end of last season having previously played at the All England Sports Ground in Melton itself and the Hoby Road Sports Ground in nearby Asfordby. The King George V Sports Village is the site of the former grammar school, and is also home to the town's rugby and hockey clubs. Digital Deadline Park is on the north side of the site and is completely seperate from the other venues. It has its own entrance and there is a small seated stand behind the near goal. Also there are changing rooms and a tea bar. Floodlights should be erected in early October.
The game was a really good one and entertaining for the neutral. Daventry were the better side in the first half and deservedly took the lead on the fifteen minute mark. By half time and Melton were level with Ash Palfryman converting from the spot, Daventry re-took the lead early in the second half with a penalty of their own. The hosts then raised their game, taking control and scored three goals to lead 4-2. With the game going into stoppage time Daventry pulled a goal back, but it was too little too late.
63 more photos can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p834261484
Sunday 4th September
STOKE GOLDING SUNDAY 1-0 MARKET BOSWORTH 2000 (SUNDAY)
Hinckley & District Sunday League Premier Division
@ Stoke Golding Recreation Ground, Hall Drive, Stoke Golding, Leicestershire
My first Sunday League game of the season, and I made my way in a south westerly direction towards Hinckley, and Stoke Golding lies a few miles west of the town. The recreation ground is behind the village hall and parking is at a premium, especially as today there were two kids games going on as well.
I chose this game as I expected it to be a close one between the two teams, and as the score suggests this turned out to be the case. The hosts were generally the better side and scored the only goal early on in the first half.
41 photos of the game can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p886883273
Monday 5th September
COVENTRY SPHINX 0-5 SPORTING KHALSA
Midland Football League Premier Division
@ Sphinx Drive, Coventry
Admission: £6
Programme: £1.50
Pin Badge: £3
Very little football is played on Monday evenings, and Sphinx are I believe the only club in the Midlands that choose to play midweek fixtures on this day of the week. With nothing happening this evening I decided to make my way down the M69 for a first visit here since 2003.
The ground is a simple affair but completely adequate for Sphinx's needs and requirements. Spectators are only allowed on 2 1/2 sides of the ground and the only structure pitch side is a stand on the right hand side. I asked a club official if I could go on the sides that were out of bounds to take photos, and this was given the all clear as long as I wore a high-vis jacket.
The game was as the score suggests fairly one sided. The visitors pretty much dominated from the off and scored at regular intervals throughout the game.
43 photos can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p7481002
Saturday 10th September
BEAUMONT TOWN 4-3 GLEN VILLA
Leicester & District League Premier Division
@ Beaumont Park, Bennion Road, Leicester
Admission / programme: none
Attendance: 10
De Montfort University have put money into, and developed this site. This was played on the 3G pitch - spectators are allowed on two sides and there is a small stand past the half way down the far side. There are dugouts on the near side and it is also floodlit as well. There are also a couple of grass pitches which are back to back like Aylestone Park FC - both of these have floodlights and the one nearest the changing rooms / clubhouse has two stands - one seated and one standing room only.
Beaumont went into the game as division leaders with a 100% record from their opening five games, though all their games have been close. Glen had only played one game so far - a 9-4 defeat @ closest rivals two weeks ago. The game was pretty decent for this level. The hosts started off better and deservedly took the lead after 15 minutes. The lead though lasted just three minutes. Going into the final few minutes of the half and the visitors left midfielder had two excellent chances, but missed them both and inside sixty seconds it became 2-1.
The second half saw the visitors have their best spell of the game and deservedly equalised around the midway point. It was a cracking goal as one of their central midfielders placed a shot into the top corner from thirty odd yards. A couple of substitutions for the home side changed the game as they scored two in the space of oa few minutes around the 75 - 80 minute mark. With the game going into the final stages Glen got a third of the afternoon. They still had time to create two excellent chances but could not find the equaliser.
Monday 12th - Friday 16th September
LEICESTER ROYAL INFIRMARY KENSINGTON BUILDING
This was the non-football week, and one week that will live long in the memory. Right from the off we, the wife and I were told that due to her age and being diabetic, she would have an induced labour. Monday morning came and we were told to make our way to the hospital.
Tests were done and plenty of waiting around. Come Wednesday evening and I made my way home @ 9pm, but by 11.30pm I had a phone call which basically went, "they have broke my waters and I am in pain". An hour later my mum and myself were back at the hospital to find Ange in a delivery room. A long few hours followed and by 5am she was ready to begin pushing. By 7am our baby daughter Esme Joyce Campion came into the world weighing in at 6 lbs 6 ounces.
Saturday 24th September
HERTFORD TOWN 3-2 BRANTHAM ATHLETIC
FA Vase 2nd Qualifying Round
@ Hertingfordbury Park, West Street, Hertford, Hertfordshire
Admission: £6
Programme: £1
Attendance: 162
Pin Badge: £3
Can of Coke: £1
With the wife and baby occupied for the afternoon, I took advantage and went somewhere that is normally out of reach on any given Saturday. With plenty of choice, in fact there was too much choice, I opted for Hertford Town FC.
This was one I'm glad I made, with the ground being decent for the level. A rustic old main stand straddles the half way line on the near, and there is some shallow covered terracing behind the near goal. There is a small social club, catering hatch and club shop also on the near side. If needed the club have the space the erect further stands and other buildings.
The game...a combination of goal keeping howlers and a late dramatic winner. Brantham took the lead inside sixty seconds, Hertford then took control and the lead themselves before a gift for the visitors, and this allowed them to draw level almost immediately. The second half was a more scrappy affair, and it wasn't until very late in the game that it came to life again. Brantham created and missed two good chances, and they were made to pay. Hertford booked their place into the next round, when deep into stoppage time and a low shot from the edge of the area went in via the post.
58 photos can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p455645055
Sunday 25th September
DONISTHORPE RESERVES 6-3 NEWHALL SOCIAL CLUB
Burton & District Sunday League Division 4
@ Donisthorpe Recreation Ground, Ramscliffe Avenue, Donisthorpe, Leicestershire
Attendance: around 20
This was a venue that until a few months ago, I wasn't even aware of and became my 179th visited in Leicestershire & Rutland. Donnie set up a reserve side in the summer and chose to play games here, while their first team continue to share the facilities @ Moira United FC. As expected it is a basic affair - typical Sunday League football if you like, with parking being on Ramscliffe Avenue itself or down a track that leads to the pitch side.
The game wasn't that bad as Donnie fielded a few first teamers who have signed on for both tgeams, and with goals coming at regular intervals this kept things ticking over. Beats sitting at home on a Sunday morning!!!
56 photos of the game can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p565162537
Tuesday 27th September
LEICESTER ROAD 5-1 COALVILLE TOWN DEVELOPMENT
Leicestershire & Rutland FA Senior Cup 1st Round
@ Leicester Road Stadium, Leicester Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire)
Admission: freebie
Programme: £2
Attendance: around 50
I was asked my Coalville's manager if I was able to come down to take photos of this game, and this I agreed as long as it was also worth my while. What I meant by that is financial by agreeing to purchasing digital copies.
The game was fairly one sided with the home side having the better of things for the majority of the game. That said the visitors did have their moments, and took the lead with a lovely strike from the edge of the area. By half time and Leicester Road had turned things around to lead 2-1. An excellent save from a free kick early in the second half kept the scorers level, and that was as close as Coalville got. After this three more goals were scored to put a fairer reflection on the proceedings.
This was my sixth visit to this stadium, with three being for football and three for American Football.
36 photos taken during the game can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p175860441
Tuesday 27th September
LEICESTER ROAD 5-1 COALVILLE TOWN DEVELOPMENT
Leicestershire & Rutland FA Senior Cup 1st Round
@ Leicester Road Stadium, Leicester Road, Hinckley, Leicestershire)
Admission: freebie
Programme: £2
Attendance: around 50
I was asked my Coalville's manager if I was able to come down to take photos of this game, and this I agreed as long as it was also worth my while. What I meant by that is financial by agreeing to purchasing digital copies.
The game was fairly one sided with the home side having the better of things for the majority of the game. That said the visitors did have their moments, and took the lead with a lovely strike from the edge of the area. By half time and Leicester Road had turned things around to lead 2-1. An excellent save from a free kick early in the second half kept the scorers level, and that was as close as Coalville got. After this three more goals were scored to put a fairer reflection on the proceedings.
This was my sixth visit to this stadium, with three being for football and three for American Football.
36 photos taken during the game can be viewed online @ http://rambler77.zenfolio.com/p175860441
