Belper United

BELPER UNITED 3-1 NEWARK TOWN

Saturday 10th March 2012

Central Midlands League Division - South

Alton Manor, Nailers Way, DE56 0UT

To be honest I had no plans to anywhere this today but by midweek I was trawling through the fixtures of league websites that cover the East Midlands. When I came across this one it became plan A. There are two reasons for this - 1) It will mean that I have seen a game of football at all the grounds currently used in this division, and 2) There are reports that United's ground will be covered by the ever expanding housing estate in the not to distant future.

United's ground from my home is around forty miles away and took around an hour to make the journey. It is located on the north-eastern edge of the town and is a basic affair. There is a small car park and octagonal changing room block, while the pitch is fully railed and has dugouts on the right hand side. Finally there is a small structure on the far side which would at a guess keep no more than ten people sheltered from the elements. Catering at present is in the form of a mobile van which was selling the usual stuff - burgers, hot dogs, tea, coffee etc etc. The reports regarding United's ground are a case of yes and no. Yes - the ground will be covered by the adjacent housing estate, and no - it will not be anytime soon, as according to a club official it will more a good four to five years away from happening. 

This is Belpers' first season in the CML having transferred from the Midlands Regional Alliance in the summer. There was a divided opinion whether the move had been a good one. They currently sit in mid table with thirty five points from their twenty four games played. Last time out a week ago they record a 4-1 victory @ Nottingham United. Opponents Newark Town have been members of the CML since 2004 when they transferred from the now defunct Notts Alliance.  They find themselves five points and three places better off than Belper at the start of play. The two teams met back in October when United recorded a 2-1 victory at Towns' Station Road ground in Collingham.

The first half was to put it bluntly as dull as the grey clouds in the sky. I can only recall both keepers making one save between them and that was when the Newark keeper turned a goal bound effort round the post. With around five minutes remaining of the first period Kyle Wadsworth found himself alone on the edge of the penalty area and hit a speculative shot across Garry Attwood that found its way into the bottom corner. A couple of minutes later and the hosts were down to ten men when Eddie Bridges was sent off for kicking out at Ian Hillier in front of the referee. At the start of the second half Newark were caught napping by Belper, as the hosts doubled their lead within three minutes of the restart. The ball was played down the inside left channel and Jordan McRobie hit a superb volley that flew past Attwood. Despite being a man down Belper comfortably dealt with the Newark attack with Adam Jablonski in the home goal being rarely troubled. On the hour mark and it was pretty much game over as Belper got their third goal of the afternoon. Tony Hemmings flicked the ball onto McRobie and he hit another volley past Attwood. With ten minutes remaining Newark got a consolation goal as Ginelly headed in a Mark Ellison cross at the far post from a tight angle. In truth I believe it was Newark's only effort that was on target during the whole of the second half. Then again they had very few that were off target as well and Belper ran out deserved winners in this mid table battle.

Admission: none
Programme: £1
Attendance: around 40
Badge: £3



Websites / sources:


Belper United (official)  


A slideshow of photos taken of the ground and game can be viewed below:

All Whites not right!!!

CLIFTON 0-2 AFC HUCKNALL

Saturday 22nd October

Central Midlands League Division - South

Norman Archer Memorial Ground, Green Lane, Nottingham

A trip up to Nottinghamshire is the order of the day with Clifton being one that was on a shortlist of four – the other three being clubs in the Notts Senior League. There was another factor in my choice of game today and that was meeting up with Rob Hornby who was previously the Central Midlands League (CML) registrar. I owed Rob £16 for a copy of the new edition of the Non League Yearbook and we had previously arranged to meet up on this date about a month ago – it was just a case of where as I was waiting for Rob to confirm his plans. I had also roped in my dad to make the short drive north for this game against fellow Nottinghamshire side AFC Hucknall.

At the start of the season Clifton’s Norman Archer Memorial Ground was one of five in the newly reorganised South Division of the CML that I had not previously visited. The others being Pinxton (Welfare Ground), Belper United (Alton Manor), Bulwell Town (Bestwood Workshops) and Whatton United (Spa Lane). Pinxton were visited in pre-season and the latter two folded soon after the season started. So after today it just leaves Belper United and I’m sure I will pay them a visit at some point during the season, more than likely after Christmas. For the record (and not wanting to feel like the other division is being left out) there are four grounds in the North Division that I have not been to. They are Hutton Cranswick United (Rotsea Lane), Westella & Willerby (Bishop Burton College), Harworth Colliery Institute (Scrooby Road) and Dronfield Town (Stonelow Playing Fields).

About Clifton

Clifton is shall we say a piece of piss to get to from Leicester with it being a large estate on the south side of Nottingham. It is located alongside the main A453 which runs from Nottingham city centre to junction 24 of the M1. The estate was built in the 1950’s and was at one time the largest council estate in Europe. The term “Clifton” also refers to Clifton Village and Clifton Grove. Clifton Village is a small, picturesque residential area of approximately 200 homes set alongside the River Trent. The village green houses a dovecote, the OId School House and Village Hall. A number of older properties which include the Old Rectory and village church lie along Village Road which runs from the green to Clifton Hall. Clifton Hall is a Grade 1 Listed Building. The history of the hall goes back to the 11^th century but was remodelled in the late 18^th century in a Georgian style. It was owned by the Clifton family from the late 13^th century to the mid-20^th century. In 2008 the hall rose to tabloid prominence when it was reported that its millionaire owner and his family had left the house because they believed it was haunted. It was repossessed and is currently on the market for £2.75m.

The Nottingham trams system (NET – Nottingham Express Transit) has been given permission to build two new lines, one of which (line 2) will connect Clifton to the city centre. The following information is taken from a page on the Nottingham city council website: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/index.aspx?articleid=10436

“The 7.6 km route with 13 tram stops will link directly with NET Line One at Nottingham Railway Station on a new viaduct allowing people to transfer between trams, trains and other forms of transport. The route will run along Queens Walk through the Meadows, over the River Trent along Wilford Toll Bridge and mainly along the former Great Central railway line between Wilford and Compton Acres/Ruddington Lane. It will then run to the south of Silverdale and into Clifton along Farnborough Road and Southchurch Drive serving Clifton Centre, before terminating at a new Park and Ride site providing approximately 1,000 car parking spaces close to the A453 and junction 24 of the M1 motorway.

Through journeys onto NET Line One will be possible, allowing passengers to travel from Clifton to the Old Market Square, Royal Centre and beyond, for example, without the need to change trams.”

A map of the route can be viewed by clicking here: http://www.nottinghamcity.gov.uk/netphase2/CHttpHandler.ashx?id=15768&p=0

About Clifton Football Club (taken from their official website: www.cliftonfc.co.uk)

“Clifton All Whites was founded in 1963, originally under the name of Thistledown Rovers.  The clubs founder members include Mr Dick Lambert and Mr Bill Norwell.

During the 1960’s and 1970’s Clifton All Whites dominated youth football in Nottinghamshire by attracting the best players from all over the county, now most players are local.  There is no doubt Clifton All Whites led the way in developing youth football in Nottingham.  In 1963 there were only four teams in the Young Elizabethan League, and as the exploits of the club developed, and publicised, more teams and clubs were founded, many with advice and help from Clifton All Whites. 

By 1966 plans were underway for Clifton All Whites to test their skills abroad in a tournament in Holland.  In those days tours were unheard of.  Success after success followed both home and abroad.  In the early days when football clubs only usually supplied shirts for their players a new standard was set as Clifton All Whites supplied a full ALL WHITES STRIP.  Another first was when the under 12’s played a top Scottish team before a crowd of over 20,000 before a Forest v Newcastle game, full time ending 15 minutes before kick off of the first division game.

Two quotes are remembered from that day.  Police Inspector “The easiest days policing this year, not one arrest”.  Scottish spectator “If Clifton play half as good as they look we are in for a hiding”.

Professional clubs clamored to persuade Clifton All Whites to become a nursery club, but still the club policy is not to become tied to any one club.  David Stainforth was the first player to make a career as a professional footballer, with Sheffield United.

Constantly Clifton All Whites performed well in FA Youth Cup games, beating many Professional teams.  It was no surprise that with an enthusiastic and hard working committee their own ground became a reality, quickly followed by a venture out of youth football to senior football at the highest level into the Midland League. 

Mick Walker, who went to Notts County was the first Club Manager and Coach, and what a brilliant find he was.  His professionalism and skills helped make the transition a successful one.

Whilst other clubs have come and gone Clifton All Whites are still thriving with teams from under 8’s to Seniors and in 1999 Clifton All Whites introduced the first girls team.  The success of the club over the years has been due to hard working committee plus the continued support of some great team managers and parents.”

The first team having previously been members of the Midland League, Notts Alliance and (founder members of) the Notts Senior League (NSL) joined the CML in the summer of 2011 along with three other NSL sides; Basford United, Bilborough Pelican and Nottinghamshire Police. The seven years spent in the NSL resulted in one second place finish (2005/06) and in 2010 won the league championship. This season Clifton currently sit in fourth place in the South Division table having won six of their ten league games played. Opponents AFC Hucknall sit in twelfth place recording three wins from their eleven games played.

AFC Hucknall or Hucknall Town? You decide!!!

The Norman Archer Memorial Ground is located on the eastern edge of Clifton on Green Lane, with the boundary of the neighbouring village of Ruddington and Rushcliffe parish being literally “the other side of the hedge”. If coming from Ruddington the entrance is on the right just before the island with Farnborough Road. We were welcomed on arrival and were charged £2 each admission which included the programme – which is a folded sheet of thick A4 paper into A5 size. An added bonus was that on production of the programme at the tea hut you got a free tea or coffee. On site there is a spacious clubhouse with the pitch having a stand straddling the half line on the far side, with the dugouts sitting in front of it. 

The game was played in glorious sunshine and on paper one would have expected a comfortable home win. In fact what we got was a fairly scrappy first half with few chances being created. The first notable opening came just after twenty minutes when Clifton’s Stuart Robinson took a quick free kick that found Danny Prance unmarked but he dragged his shot wide. Just before the half hour mark Michael Evans forced Hucknall keeper James Beddingham to save low at his near post. A minute later and it was the visitors turn to threaten but Scott Peach curled his shot wide of Scott Clay’s goal. A minute before half time and Hucknall took the lead – deservedly so as Austin Wallace flicked the ball following a cross from the left. The second half was more open and inside the opening minute the visitors should have been two up, but a header was a week effort that went into Clay’s hands. Clifton gradually took control and in the space of a couple of minutes hit the woodwork twice and had an effort cleared off the line. With around five minutes remaining Hucknall broke on the counter attack down the right. Wallace played the ball across and it found its way to Peach who cut inside and curled a lovely shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal. The final chance of the afternoon came to hosts but having controlled the ball Will Heath blasted over.

Admission: £2 with programme

Attendance: between 35 and 40

Match rating: 3 out of 5    

Finally it was good to meet up with Rob and his wife Hazel again for the first time since the CML hop game at Phoenix at the end of March.

Photos taken of the ground & game during the first half can be viewed below:

Warsop

CHURCH WARSOP SPORTS & SOCIAL 2-1 CALVERTON MINERS WELFARE

Saturday 30th April 2011

Central Midlands League Supreme Division

The Alley

The season is coming to a close for yours truly with after today only two or three games left. I had a short list of three, all of which were in the Central Midlands League (CML) with the others being Pinxton and Whatton United. My dad had agreed to come along today a few weeks ago, but events this week made me unsure as to whether he would be up for it as it were as my grandad died in his sleep on Tuesday morning after being ill for a long time. I was not going to mention the football but it was dad that asked if I was still going and we agreed that I would head over to his house around 12.45pm before setting off to north Nottinghamshire.

St. Peter and Paul Parish Church (source: Wikipedia)

Church Warsop is a small village in north Nottinghamshire and is located three miles west of Shirebrook and five and a half miles north of Mansfield. It was built in 1930 by the Staveley Coal and Iron Company to house workers (and their families) at the Warsop Main Colliery at nearby Warsop Vale.

There football club are surrounded by a number of other clubs that play at CML level and above, with these including Clipstone Welfare, Ollerton Town and Shirebrook Town. The club play at The Alley which is on Wood Lane in the village and like most clubs that play at CML level, they go onto my "to visit" list. The reason I chose them today was that I had heard a rumour that they are to fold in the summer and the ground is to be used by fellow CML side Nottingham United next season. Church Warsop were formed in the summer of 2008 as Church Warsop Miners Welfare and were elected into the premier division of the CML. An eight place finish in their debut season was followed by the division title last season and with it promotion to the Supreme Division. I believe the club offered their resignation in the close season after a dispute with the Miners Welfare who own the land, but after sorting out the issues they agreed to carry on and changed their name in the process to Church Warsop Sports & Social. This season they and their opponents Calverton Miners Welfare have struggled and both find themselves in the bottom four of the Supreme Division table. They have both recorded just five wins apiece and are separated by three points in the favour of Church Warsop.

I picked up my dad and we took around 1 hour 15 minutes to make the 49 mile journey. On arriving at the ground we parked in the small car park behind the Sports & Social Club and then made our way to the pitch. The ground is fully enclosed by a wall though no admission was charged or programme issued. Apparently they are a 1 man band and have not issued all season and the rumours are true - they are to fold at the end of the season. On the near side there is a small section of cover which would keep maybe ten people dry.

The game was played on a rock hard dusty pitch and wasn't the best I have seen this season. The first half was by some way the worst of the two periods of 45 minutes with very little being created. The second half was much better in terms of the quality of football and entertainment and we did not have to wait long for the opening goal. Just four minutes into the half and the home side took the lead when the ball was drilled past the Calverton keeper from 15 yards out. The lead lasted five minutes when Calverton were awarded a penalty. To be honest I have no idea what it was for as I was standing behind the other goal, but their number 9 stepped up and confidently sent the Church Warsop keeper the wrong way. On the hour mark and Church Warsop were back in front when their number 11 beautifully flicked the ball over the keeper with the outside of his boot. This proved to be the winner but both sides (especially Church Warsop) had chances to increase to number of goals and in the end the home side deservedly took all three points.

Admission / programme: none

Attendance: 21 (head count)

Match rating: 2 out of 5 (1 for the first half and 3 for the second)

There are now just two games left for Church Warsop, both of which are at home:

Monday 2nd May v Pinxton (1pm ko)

Saturday 7th May v Kirkby Town (3pm ko)

A slideshow of photos taken can be viewed below:

Phoenix / Kimberley MW

Saturday 26th March 2011

Firstly let me say sorry to disappoint folks but there are no reports from the two games I attended today. The reason being is simple enough and that is I could not be bothered as I was more interested in taking photographs.

Phoenix FC 0-0 Kiveton Park

Central Midlands League Premier Division

Pavilion Lane, Brinsworth

The first game in South Yorkshire was the opening gambit of four that were part of this years Central Midlands League "Bonanza" ground hop. This was a 10.15am kick-off which meant an early start for the 75 minute journey northwards on the M1. 

A brief summary of the game...a shocker, truly awful, 90 minutes of dross etc etc. To be fair the Phoenix keeper did pull off a couple of cracking saves in the second half and that was about it.

A slideshow of photos take of the game and stall holders selling their wares etc can be found below:

Admission: £3

Programme: £1

Badge: £3

Team Sheet: 20p

Attendance: 220ish

Match rating: 1 out of 5

Kimberley Miners Welfare 4-1 Linby Colliery Welfare

Notts Senior League Senior Division

Digby Street

Game 2 saw me head south into Nottinghamshire for this 1pm kick-off which was brought forward a couple of hours early due to the Wales - England international. The ground is a tidy affair that is hemmed in on all four sides, one by housing, two by industrial units and the fourth being the A610 dual carriageway. It is also located just a few minutes from the nearby Ikea store.

The game was a reasonable and competitive encounter with the bottom of the table visitors looking dangerous early on. Kimberley scored their opening goal against the run of play and then added a second a minute after Linby and come close to an equaliser. The second half was very scrappy and Linby pulled one back from a corner. It was not until the last five minutes that the home side added two late goals, the first coming from the penalty spot that put a gloss on the score.

A slideshow is below containing some photos of the ground and game:

Admission / programme: none

Attendance: approx 40

Match rating: 2 1/2 out of 5

Nettleham

NETTLEHAM 3-4 PINXTON
Saturday 25th September 2010
Central Midlands League Supreme Division
Mulsanne Park

Following on from the noon kick-off at Winterton I made the thirty mile drive south down the A15 to Nettleham for their Central Midlands League (CML) game against Pinxton and arrived with around fifteen minutes to kick-off.

Nettleham is a large village located four miles north-east of Lincoln between the A15 and A46 and has a population of around 6,500. The football club play on Mulsanne Park which is located on the southern edge of the village. The ground forms part of a larger sports complex which includes cricket, tennis and further football pitches. The cricket and football club share the pavilion which includes bar, catering facilities and pool table.

The following history on the club is taken from their programme:

"It is believed that Nettleham FC originated around 1905 and played on land (part of the old Nettleham Hall) situated outside the village. Changing rooms were located in the Halfway House, a pub at the entrance to the village. Following World War 2 the club relocated to the Bill Bailey Memorial Field, near the village centre playing there for over thirty years. The first twenty-five were without changing facilities, only one narrow pitch and in relatively poor condition owing mainly to its use by the village children. 

1979 marked a vast improvement in facilities with the opening of the new sports ground, Mulsanne Park, named after the twin village near Le Mans) with the use of three pitches, pavilion facilities with dressing rooms and showers thereby allowing the introduction of junior football teams. These new facilities jettisoned the club forward. In 1981 they were admitted into division two of the Lincolnshire League and immediately gained promotion to the 1st division.

They ultimately gained membership into the Central Midlands League in 1988 and promotion to the supreme division in 1990. Locally they have twice beaten Lincoln United at Sincil Bank to win the Lincolnshire Senior B County Cup.

In recent years the club's amateur status has contributed to some real relegation contests. Against opposing quality players paid for their involvement the club is proud of their achievement in maintaining their current status.

Off the field has been equally difficult with significant bank loans being entered into to provide continuing enhancements to facilities - ie new floodlights, fencing off the lower pitch and building a new stand. All loans are now fully paid.

Following the recent award of Charter Standard status Nettleham FC can now offer footballing opportunities at Junior, Intermediate, Girls and Senior Ladies levels and would welcome any interested members to participate and hopefully serve the club through differing age groups with aspirations to represent this club at senior level."

Nettleham went into this game in fifteenth place recording two wins in nine league games, while Pinxton sit top being unbeaten in their six league games played. The game was an absolute cracker with Nettleham taking the game to the visitors and certainly giving as good as they got playing some decent football to boot. Pinxton played an attacking game as well but was more of a direct style with the words "get it on 'em" coming from the dugout. Pinxton opened the scoring on the twenty minute mark when Craig Housley headed home a free kick. Six minutes later and Housley doubled his tally when he hit a powerful shot into the roof of the net from ten yards out, despite the close attention of the keeper and a couple of defenders on the line. Pinxton added a third on thirty-one minutes through Ben Bacon as he went on a run that took him past a couple of defenders before putting the ball past the keeper into the corner. Nettleham didn't let their heads drop and continued to push forward but the half ended 0-3. The second half was a complete turn around as the hosts took the game to Pinxton from the off and got one back on 58 minutes. The visiting defence was caught napping and their number seven produced a low finish past the keeper. An own goal around the seventy minute mark gave Nettleham a second and the belief that they could get something from the game, and they deservedly drew level just five minutes later when Shane Beesley drilled home a free kick into the bottom corner. Pinxton had to play the last ten minutes or so with ten men when their number eight was sent off for two bookable offences, the second of which was for kick the ball away. The hosts continued to press and always looked likely to take all three points. As often is the case with football a sucker punch occurs. This time it was deep in injury time and the end of the game when Nettleham were awarded a corner. The keeper caught the ball and Pinxton broke up field with devastating effect, Housley fed one of the substitutes who rode a couple of challenges before rounding the home goalkeeper and finishing from a yard out. Cue mass celebrations from the Pinxton players and bench and deflation from Nettleham.

One of best games I have seen in a while and a major kick in the teeth for Nettleham who were, in my neutral opinion the better side on the day. To come from three down and half time, to then equalise and only to lose it right at the death is a real sickener and something they in no way did deserve. 

Admission: £3

Programme: £1

Attendance: 25 (h/c)

Match rating: 4 1/2*

Coffee, sausage roll & kit-kat: £1.90

Nottingham United

NOTTINGHAM UNITED 0-3 KIVETON PARK
Monday 30th August 2010
Central Midlands League Premier Division
Gresham Sports Park

I hadn’t intended to go to a game today but after going out for the morning with the better half and the dog I was given permission to bugger off this afternoon. To be fair the choices of games in the East Midlands today were poor, but in the end I opted for Central Midlands League (CML) new boys Nottingham United’s first ever home game in the league against Kiveton Park.

Nottingham United FC

The following history on the club is taken from the clubs website www.nottinghamunitedfc.co.uk:

“We were formed on the 27th of April 2008, when a group of friends from around the Midlands joined with a local 5-a-side team to play our first ever fixture at Beeston Weirfields. Although starting as Nottingham United FC, we entered our 1st season in the NSFL under our sponsors name and a respectable season saw us finish 6th. We also merged with Notts Cobras during that season which gave us a 2nd Sunday team and we also created a Saturday team.

At the end of the season, troubles in the boardroom saw the club sever its ties with the 5-a-siders and revert to its original name of Nottingham United FC. In the 2009/10 season we dominated throughout, winning 20 out of 22 games, scoring 101 goals along the way and Keeping the best defence in the league, ensuring that the league Championship was ours as we won the Senior Section of the NSFL by 4 points. Starting the 2010/11 season we currently have 2 Saturday teams entered into the Premier and 1st Divisions of the Midland Amateur Alliance after the club decided to merge with Monty Hind Old Boys FC and our 1st Team in the Premier Division of the Central Midlands Football League and we now have 4 Sunday league teams entered into the Notts Sunday Football League, East Midlands Public Authorities League and Long Eaton Sunday League.”

United’s home venue is the Gresham Sports Park in West Bridgford, and to get there (if coming from Leicester) take the A46 towards Newark and turn onto the A606 towards Nottingham. At the island with the A52 stay on the A606 following the West Bridgford signs, continue on the A606 until you reach the junction with the B679. Turn left onto Wilford Lane following signs for the M1 / East Midlands Airport. Just after the Nottingham Forest Academy signs turn right at the island and the sports park is on the left hand side. The pitch is a 3G artificial one inside a metal cage which was something I was not expecting. When I arrived, opponents Kiveton Park wanted the game to be called off due to two wires running across the pitch which are used to separate the pitch into three for five-a-side use, but the referee deemed the game playable.

This was to be my first ever game that I have seen on a 3G surface and to be honest I think they are a good idea and practical and would have no problem with watching a game on them in the future. The game though was a shocker which was contested by two poor sides and I am struggling to write a lot about it. The visitors from Yorkshire won it at a canter with a hat-trick from their centre forward Jamie Ward. The first came on ten minutes with a side footed finish past the United keeper Marcus Apentitis, the second on the hour mark was scrambled home from a corner. The third was the best of the lot as he drilled an angled shot into the bottom corner on the ninety minute mark. The afore mentioned wires were a cause of annoyance as they were struck around eight times during the game with the referee having no option other than restarting with a drop ball. A flash point occurred towards the end of the game with a player from each side was involved in a scuffle on the ground, fellow team mates got involved and a home supporting spectator went onto the pitch to get involved also. Two bookings (one for each side) were shown and the neanderthal who got involved was asked leave the compounds of the cage. United’s best spell of the game came in the last fifteen minutes in which they created a few chances with one particular being well saved by Kiveton keeper Jonathan Parker.

Overall like stated it was a poor game and the situation with the wires was annoying. Another note though is that I don’t believe that games in which an admission is charged should be played in a metal cage, and I for one will never watch a game in one ever again. Some good points now...to meet up with Mr Central Midlands League Rob Hornby for the first time this season and his wife Hazel. Thanks go out to him for allowing me on the pitch to take a team photo of the home side. Last but not least is was good to catch up again with Herbie who is a Newark based Dartford supporter. My reaction though when seeing him here was “shit, oh no!” due to the fact that the last two times we have been at the same game they were both awful. No further comment!!!

More photos of the game can be found here: FGIF

Admission: £2

Programme: £1 (first ever issue I believe)
Match rating: 1*

Thorne

THORNE COLLIERY 2-7 AFC HUCKNALL

Saturday 21st August 2010

Central Midlands League Premier Division

Moorends Welfare Ground

The only reason I chose today’s game is that it kicked off at 1pm which, with Mrs Rambler working in the morning allowed me to be home by 4.15pm. I have watched at least one “new” club play a home game each season in the Central Midlands League (CML) since 1998 when I saw Long Eaton United play an FA Vase tie. For the record Thorne are the 44th team on this list.

Thorne itself is an historic market town in South Yorkshire 11 miles north east of Doncaster with a population of around 16,000. The town became a permanent settlement around AD700 and is mentioned in the Domesday Book. The football club don’t actually play in Thorne itself but in the neighbouring village of Moorends which lies to the north of the town. The ground is the Moorends Colliery Welfare Ground which is also home to the local cricket club. The two pitches do not overlap with a service road running between them. The football ground is fully enclosed with metal fencing separating it from the rest of the complex, a large stand runs along the near side of the pitch with is the only form of cover at the ground, but on a day like today with glorious weather in South Yorkshire it was more of a case of sheltering from the sun and heat.

Thorne Colliery were formed in 1929 and joined the now defunct Yorkshire League in 1932. The competition was split into two competitions with Thorne finishing in 8th and 7th place respectively. The two years immediately after the Second World War saw the club at its peak with a runners-up finish in 1946 followed by their only Yorkshire League title in 1947. Thorne remained in the Yorkshire League until the merger with the Midland Counties League in 1982 when they became founder members of the Northern Counties East League (NCEL). Just four years were spent in the NCEL before they finished bottom of division 2 in 1986 and they joined the more local Doncaster & District Senior League. Seven years were spent in the Doncaster League before joining the Central Midlands League in 1993 which is where they continued to play their football to this day. Last season they finished in 12th place in the sixteen team premier division. Opponents today are Central Midlands League new boys AFC Hucknall. The following information on them is taken from http://www.nottinghamshirefootball.com/

“When is a football club not a football club? When it's the controversial local football newcomers, AFC Hucknall.

AFC were formed in 2004 under their original name of Seven Stars Football Club. They started out in the Mansfield & District Sunday League, before a change of name to AFC Hucknall and moving onto the Nottingham Combination in 2006. As well as a new name, the club expanded and also appeared to have found some stability at this point with what looked like a permanent move to the Goosedale Sports Ground in Bestwood Village. However, in the summer of 2010, some strange things began to happen.

A club known as AFC Hucknall were entered in the Central Midlands League Premier Division. This club were to play at the home ground of Hucknall Town Football Club, wear the same colours as Hucknall Town Football Club and have been quoted in the local press and unofficially by Hucknall Town Football Club as being their reserve team. CML rules do not permit reserve sides entering their league, and there have been widespread claims that Hucknall Town Football Club have simply pulled the wool over the CML's eyes by adding the prefix of 'AFC', issuing a new badge (which plagiarises a quarter of Hucknall Town's badge) and claiming a similar named clubs entire history. However, with AFC having a separate committee and the rightful claim that they do have a history as the offspring of Seven Stars FC, it appears that this rather unusual club are here to stay.”

My own opinion is that they are the reserve side of Hucknall Town but I don’t believe it is my place to go into the politics of this one.

The game...well it all started so well for the home side who took the lead on five minutes when Aiden Marshall beat the visitors’ offside trap and hit a powerful shot past the keeper. The next fifteen minutes saw the game develop into a midfield battle though to be fair both sides kept the ball on the ground and it was fairly entertaining. Hucknall turned the game on its head with two goals in two minutes. The first came on 21 when Danny Chaplin latched onto a pass and drilled a superb shot past the home keeper into the bottom corner of the goal, and just two minutes later Thorne were caught napping as Chaplin found Cashell Walters unmarked in the area who turned a defender and coolly finished. The remainder of the half saw no further addition to the scoring but both sides created chances with Thorne coming close on a couple of occasions with long range efforts. The second half was a different matter altogether as Hucknall ran rampant from the start and it a nutshell did a demolition job on their hosts. They made it 1-3 on the hour mark through substitute Danwell Francis and just two minutes later he made it 1-4, when they hit Thorne on the counter attack and he rounded the keeper for a simple finish. Cashell Walters got his second on 70 minutes to make it 1-5 when following a cross field pass from Francis, held off a couple of challenges to lob the ball back over the keepers head. The visitors had to wait just a further four minutes for their sixth from Tom Hannigan before Thorne got a consolation goal with seven minutes remaining. The scoring was completed on 85 minutes when Felix Hogg rounded the keeper and finished from a narrow angle.

To sum up I feel that AFC Hucknall will take some stopping this season as they looked a very good side playing football the right way and had an excellent level of fitness. Thorne themselves were not a bad side but in the second half was like trying to stop a runaway train with bale of hay. I found them to be a very friendly club and I wish them all the best for the remainder of the season.

Admission: £2

Programme: £1

Attendance: don't know - did not do a count!

Match rating: 4*

Can of coke: 50p

Google maps driving time & distance: 1hr 37 minutes - 88.1 miles

Additional photos of the game can be found here: FGIF

CML Hop

CENTRAL MIDLANDS LEAGUE FOOTBALL BONANZA 2010

Saturday 6th March 2010

2010 is the seventh football bonanza that the Central Midlands League (CML) have organised and the first that I have paid in advance for a ticket for admission and programmes to all of the games. There are only three games today due to the distances involved and only one of the clubs being floodlit. I have been on several bonanza games before in 2005 (Santos and Forest Town) and 2007 (Yorkshire Main, Askern Welfare and Hatfield Main) but normally work and time dictates that I cannot normally attend these games. I first watched a game involving a CML club in 1998 when I took in Long Eaton United’s FA Vase game against the now defunct Oldbury United and have watched at least one new team each season since. Prior to today I have seen four games in the CML this season with the games being at Kirkby Town, Louth Town, FC 05 and Parramore Sports.

A few weeks prior to today I had been offered a lift to all three games by a fellow Leicester based groundhopper called Gary. Neither of us had met each other before but it made sense that two people from the same place to go together. Fortunately we got on with each other and it made the journey all the more enjoyable and pass a lot quicker than if sitting in a car on your own. Thanks go out to Gary for this.

Game 1

EASINGTON UNITED 3-0 HUTTON CRANSWICK UNITED

Low Farm, Beck Street, Easington, East Yorkshire

Attendance: 209

The first of the bonanza games and the furthest away from Leicester saw us depart at 6.30am for the 148 mile trip to Yorkshire’s Holderness coast. The journey up was straightforward, uneventful and traffic free and we arrived in Easington at approximately 9.15. This season is Easington’s first in the CML having transferred from the Humber Premier League. They had been founder members of the Humber Premier League (HPL) since its inception in 2000 with a runners-up spot in 2004 being their best finishing position. Opponents Hutton Cranswick are in their second season in the CML having transferred from the HPL a year earlier than their hosts today. Like Easington they too were founder members of the HPL and also like Easington their best ever finish came in 2004 when they were crowned champions. At the start of play Easington sit in mid-table with 31 point obtained from their opening nineteen games played so far while Hutton are third from bottom recording only four wins from twenty-one games played.

Low Farm is a basic affair with the pitch being railed off and some hard standing on a couple of sides of the pitch. An overhang on the changing room block provides the only cover but with the game being played in sunshine it wasn’t required this morning. The first half was a better affair than the second with all the goals coming in the first thirty two minutes. The opener came with just eight minutes on the clock when Craig Havercroft put in a free kick from the right which was headed home by Paul Morrill from six yards out. Havercroft made it 2-0 on twenty minutes when he hit a shot from just inside the penalty area which to be honest the Hutton keeper should have done better. The third on 32 minutes was another soft goal from Hutton’s point of view as Jamie Cousins scored with a shot from the left hand side of the penalty area. Within five minutes of the re-start Hutton had their best chance when a shot from outside the penalty area struck the crossbar. The remainder of the half was mainly forgettable as Easington won comfortably.

Game 2

WESTELLA & WILLERBY 0-1 PARRAMORE SPORTS

Blackburn Welfare Leisure, Prescott Avenue, Brough, East Yorkshire

Attendance: 194

An hours drive to the other side of Hull and more specifically the town of Brough saw us arrive with an hour to spare before the start of game two. West Ella and Willerby are two villages / suburbs of Hull some six or seven miles from Brough but play here due to ground requirements of the CML. Like Hutton Cranswick, Westella are in their second season in the CML having transferred from the HPL. Like the other two former HPL clubs they were also founder members and recorded their best finish in 2007 when a runners-up spot was achieved. Opponents Parramore Sports come from Sheffield and like Westella are in their second season in the CML having been promoted from the Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League. At the start of play both these teams sit in mid-table in the CML’s supreme division with just two places and four points separating them in the home side’s favour.

The Blackburn Welfare Leisure is home to four football pitches with the one used by Westella nearest the excellent social club and is fully railed off. The game was the worst of the three with the only goal coming on seventy minutes when following a break by Gavin Davies, he then put the ball across for Gallagher to side foot the ball into the net from six yards out.

Game 3

LOUTH TOWN 3-1 NETTLEHAM

Park Avenue, Louth, Lincolnshire

Attendance: 257

The last game of the bonanza saw us have three hours between the two games. The journey south to Louth across the impressive Humber Bridge took just over an hour, and with time to kill we spent some of it in a restaurant having a chip supper. I have covered Louth before so will not go into detail on their ground etc. This game was the best of the three with it being played at a quick pace throughout, possibly due to it being bloody cold!!!. Louth took the lead early on in the game when Paul Watts volleyed in past Nettleham keeper Leigh Herrick following a chip from James Archer. The home side got a further two goals in the second half from Jamie Rowbotham and Kurt Crossley, but the final goal of the game and day was scored by Nettleham from the penalty spot.

We arrived back in Leicester around 10.45pm some sixteen hours since departing. Overall a long but enjoyable day out.

Websites:

Easington United: http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/easingtonunited/

Louth Town: www.louthtown.co.uk