Game 531

Leicester City 0-2 Hull City

Football League Championship
Saturday 22nd March 2008

Walkers Stadium

My first visit to the Walkers Stadium for a few seasons was due to a promotional offer in the Leicester Mercury newspaper where they were offering tickets for £8 and a further £3 for a programme. I went along to the game with my wife, mother and her partner. The weather was like the rest of the country - cold, windy, sunshine and the occasional snow shower - it was warmer last month in February which is normally one of, if not the coldest month of the year. To save on the hassle of parking around the stadium we caught the bus (Arriva no. 302) which dropped us off right outside for £3 return and took about 10 - 15 minutes to get there.

This season has seen contrasting fortunes for the teams - Leicester struggling at the bottom end of the table, though boosted by an excellent 4-1 win at promotion chasing West Bromwich Albion last weekend, while Hull currently occupy one of the four play-off spots. Now to the game itself...

Very little was offered by Leicester during the whole ninety minutes and didn't record a shot on target during the whole game. Possession was probably an even split but the visitors had the better chances with home keeper Paul Henderson making two or three good saves and a goalline clearance keeping the Foxes on an even keel. Just as it looked as the first half would end goalless Hull took the lead on 45 minutes through Dean Marney. The second half saw a similar pattern to the first with both teams having their fair share of possession but Hull looking the most likely to increase their lead. Midway through the half Fraizer Campbell was brought down inside the penalty area by keeper Henderson, but the keeper made amends by saving Marney's spot kick. Hull did though add a second on 74 minutes when substitute Caleb Folan beat the offside trap and slotted the ball past Henderson.

To sum up...Let's not beat about the bush - Leicester were awful today and are in serious danger of relegation and if they play like this then they deserve to go down. Not something I want to see being Leicester born and bred but the table never lies. Hull meanwhile are looking good for a play-off place at least and if they continue with their form then automatic promotion is not out of the question in this ever-so tight division.

Club websites:

Leicester City - http://www.lcfc.co.uk/

Hull City - http://www.hullcityafc.premiumtv.co.uk/

Game 530

St. Ives Town 0-1 Stotfold

United Counties League Premier Division

Saturday 15th March 2008

Westwood Road

Another day where I couldn't decide who to go and watch. I narrowed it down to a short list of eight which included Welshpool, Sleaford and Hitchin but in the end I opted this UCL clash. The United Counties League is one of three that I am close to completing with only five clubs now left to visit - Boston, Eynesbury, Olney, Rushden & Higham and Sleaford. St. Ives is about 1hour 25 from Leicester down the M1 to junction 19 and across on the A14 and I relied on the trusty sat nav to get me to Westwood Road. I arrived at the ground around 30 minutes before kick off and was charged £5 for admission and programme This gave me time to get some food (£1.50 for a burger and 50p for a large cup of coffee), read the programme which looks impressive but did not contain much reading material and consists mostly of adverts - credit to the club though for achieving this and take a couple of photographs.




You enter the ground on one side which contains the serving hatch and clubhouse. There is a lean to projecting from the clubhouse to provide some covered standing (and is where the majority of fans congregated), and a seated stand on the opposite side of the pitch. This had more people using it in the second half due to the inclement weather that appeared after half and hour into the match. Doing a head count during the second half I would say there was around 75 - 80 people in attendant.



At the start of play Stotfold were leading the Premier Division and had scored 97 goals in the process while St. Ives occupied ninth place. The visitors nearly got of to the perfect start when I think, their number 9 forced the home keeper to make a save after only 20 or 30 seconds. The game then took a turn for the worse on the 12th minute when two players (one from each side) were sent off. I did not see the initial incident but what I then saw was the Stotfold number 7 swing a punch at the St. Ives number 3 who had his back to him, the St. Ives player then turned round and shoved the afore mentioned number 7. The Stotfold player was shall we say the least insensed by this decision and then proceeded to throw his shirt of the pitch and had to be calmed down and taken to the changing rooms. When he returned some of the home fans were giving him some verbals as he stood behind his team's dugout but instead of ignoring them he replied a couple of times, much to the annoyance of his manager who then got one of his non-playing staff to take him to a different part of the ground. Lucikly the game settled down and did not degenerate into all out war. Both sides created chances during the half with both keepers and poor finishing helping keep the score goalless.

The second half carried on from the first with both teams creating chances and failing to put them away. St. Ives had the clearer opportunities while Stotfold created more of them. This was always going to be a game where one goal was going to be enough - just a matter of which team was going to get it. About half way through the second half it occured to me that the last nil-nil I saw involved Stotfold on Easter Monday 2006!!! Maybe my jinx would strike again. Thankfully this was proved incorrect as the visitors scored the decisive goal from the penalty spot on 79 minutes through their number 10 after the no. 6 was brought down. Being a neutral and having an excellent view of the incident I thought the referee got this correct. St Ives pushed hard for an equaliser they deserved on the day but it was not to be. That's football.

Game 529

Birstall R.B.L. 0-3 Barlestone St. Giles

Leicester & District League Premier Division

Saturday 8th March 2008

School Lane Playing Fields

The reason for this fixture is that I wanted to have a look at Barlestone St. Giles who are currently sitting top of the division unbeaten, and will more than likley be playing in the Leicestershire Senior League next season. Birstall meanwhile at the start of play occupy 12th place in the 14 team division. Facilities in the District League vary from club to club - some have their own grounds with clubhouses (e.g. Barlestone) while others like today's hosts Birstall R.B.L. play on a roped off pitch on community playing fields. School Lane is easy to find whether coming from the south (Leicester) or the north (Loughborough & A46) and the pitch that the home side use is the first one next to School Lane itself if turning from the A6 Loughborough Road. Parking is either on the road or a car park which is at the far end of the playing fields. As expected there was no admission charged or programme issued and depending on when a head count was taken there were between 10 and 20 people watching the game.

The first half started evenly with the home side giving as good as they got against the league leaders in blustery conditions. Barlestone though created the better chances and it wasn't until 15 minutes that the first shot on target was registered. It was around this time that the visitors settled down and started to play some football and scored the opening goal after 20 minutes when the number 9 tapped in from a few yards out following a cross from the right hand side. Barlestone doubled their lead on 35 minutes when the number 9 got his second when he stabbed the ball home from about 8 yards out. Birstall continued to try hard but did not force the visiting keeper to make a save of note during the first half, while Barlestone came close on several further occasions with the home keeper making a couple of good saves.

Half time: 0-2

The second half saw Barlestone hit the ground running as they made it 3-0 in the 47th minute when the number 9 completed his hat-trick from a shot on the turn from about 12 yards. The expected rout never materialised as both sides struggled in the conditions and Birstall refusing to be "the lambs in a slaughter". To be fair to them they kept going and had chances of their own and came close on a couple of occasions and a goal would have been just rewards for their efforts. The visitors should have had a fourth when the captain had the miss of the season as he managed to put the ball wide from a couple of yards out when it seemed easier to score.

Final score: 0-3

Overall, not the best game but the conditions played a part in this. Also without doing the home side any injustice I felt it was a below par performance from Barlestone St. Giles who remain unbeaten and top of the Leicester & District League. Next up is another outing to Birstall to take on bottom side Woodgate & Newfoundpool W.M.C. who play on Meadow Lane.

Game 528

Pilkington XXX 2-1 Bolehall Swifts

Midland Combination Premier Division

Saturday 23rd February 2008

Triplex Sports Ground

Unlike previous games this was no change of plan. Ian McDonald (programme editor and webmaster) had organised a couple of groundhopper's days - this being the second and I thought I would take up the offer. I was planning to visit Pilkington but more than likely next season so this gave me further incentive to visit. I had arranged to go with my mum's partner but my mother and wife decided to come along as well. We left Leicester around midday and headed down the M69 and M6 into Birmingham city centre. The idea being to have some lunch before going to the game. Unfortunately all the pubs were packed due to the Birmingham City - Arsenal game being on the tv and we ended up eating in the glamorous surroundings of a Subway restaurant!!! We arrived at the ground about 5 minutes before kick-off - note if you have not yet visited there is no on site parking, and with the voucher it cost £10 for admission and programme x2 plus a badge. Bargain! The ground was originally used by the works' team from Triplex Safety Glass. Since 1984 there has been a few previous clubs using the ground - Triplex, Richmond Swifts / Kings Norton Town. The Triplex Sports Ground also houses a lawn bowls club while the football pitch has a 100 (approx) seated stand which also contains a small section of covered standing on the far touchline next to the dugouts with three rows of terracing behind both goals. There isn't a clubhouse as such but the building is a private members club, though the club uses one of the rooms at half time to serve refreshments.







Now to the game itself...it was literally a game of two halves. The home side dominated the first and the visitors the second. Pilkington at times were a joy to watch - they got the ball down, didn't result to long ball tactics and played some really good football. The first chance of note came in the 6th minute when the post was struck from 20 yards by one of the home forwards - excellent effort that deserved a goal. The home side struck on the 23rd minute when Paul O'Brien scored as he slotted the ball past the keeper in a one on one situation following a well worked move between himself and the no. 10. Seven minutes later it was 2-0 following a throw in midway inside Bolehall's half the ball was worked into the penalty area and no. 6 Matt Hill hit a low angled shot from 15 yards that went into the bottom right (keeper's side) hand corner. No further goals were added in the first half. Bolehall had a reasonable amount of possession and never gave up but lacked anything up front. The second half was a complete role reversal and Bolehall hit back within five minutes of the restart with Hussain Turgut scoring from 20 yards. A few minutes later Pilkington had an excellent chance to restore their two goal lead but the visiting keeper thwarted the home side no. 8 on another one on one situation. My gut reaction was that could prove costly but despite having most of the possession and chances they could not find a way through and force and equaliser.
Final score: 2-1 (attendance 41 - Midland Combination website)
An enjoyable game, nice ground, excellent hospitality and well worth a visit. Top marks.

Game 527

Wakefield 0-3 Rossendale United

Northern Premier League Division 1 North

Saturday 16th February 2008

College Grove

For the third game in a row my original plan went out of the window, this time it was due to Goole not answering their phone. Why? Anyway I had confirmation that Wakefield was on and that back-up choice Stocksbridge Park Steels was off. For the first time this calendar year I had a travelling companion that was not a member of my familar but a good friend, Kevin Zupp who is Lutterworth Athletic's secretary and programme editor. We decided to head "up north" anyhow and left Leicester at around 12.45, with the plan being to stop at the services on the M1 before you get to Sheffield and try Goole again. Still no answer and we made the rather easy decision to go to Wakefield. With neither of us ever venturing into Wakefield before we relied on the sat nav to get us to the ground and we arrived at around 2.30. The ground is part of the Wakefield Sports Club set up which includes a floodlit hockey pitch and a bowls club. All three were in use this afternoon and we managed to get the last parking space in the complex. The football pitch is a tight enclosure with the turnstiles on the nearside corner nearest the hockey pitch. We were charged £7.50 admission which included a programme. There is a 300 seater stand on the far side of the ground with some open terracing to the left hand side (if facing it). The offices and clubhouse are all portakabins with merchandise and old programmes available before and at half time.




The game itself was not the best I have seen this season but was compeitive throughout. The home side probably had the better exchanges during the first half which ended goalless. The second half saw the visitors come out with all guns blazing and scored three goals inside eight minutes between the 52nd and 60th. The first came from Joe Booth* who scored with a shot from the edge of the penalty area into the top corner. The second came five minutes later when two Wakefield players went for the same ball, clashed heads which allowed Rossendale to take advantage and double their lead when Phil Eastwood* scored at the second attempt. The third and final goal saw Eastwood score his second three minutes later to finish the game in terms of the outcome. To be fair to the home side they did create a few chance towards the end of the game but went unrewarded.

* - from Wakefield F.C. website

Game 526

Ollerton Town 1-1 Kinsley Boys

Central Midlands League Premier Division

Saturday 9th February 2008

The Lane

I was originally going to "go local" today as I planned to make the 10 minute drive to watch Glenfield Town take on Barlestone St. Giles in the Leicester & District League, but having picked up the wife from work at lunchtime I noticed the Ollerton - Kinsley fixture on the net I decided to make the easy 50 mile drive up into deepest Nottinghamshire. For the record "Mrs Rambler" came along as it was the lesser of two evils compared with spending the afternoon watching telly! I guess it goes to show how bad tv is at present!!!


The ground is easy to find being just a few minutes from the main A614 and is located on Walesby Lane. We were charged £2 each for admission and also managed to get hold of a programme for £1 and a pin badge for £2.50. A crowd of around 100 (head count) was present to watch this encounter between the top two in this division. I also, by complete chance met Rob Hornby for the second time in a month.


The game itself was competitve from the start with both teams being guilty of niggly fouls and plenty of verbals with very little football being played. The first decent move saw Kinsley have a goal disallowed due to a late offside flag. From our position on the half way line we didn't agree with the assistant's decision. About midway through the first half with the ball in Ollerton territory our eyes were diverted to an incident in the Kinsley penalty area in which we saw a Kinsley defender shove an Ollerton forward over in the penalty area. The only person which didn't see the incident appeared to be the referee as we thought it was a stonewall penalty. Ollerton were though awarded a penalty (the incident eludes me) late on in the half and was duy despatched to give the home side the lead.



Half time: 1-0


The second continued where the first half finished with niggly fouls and plenty of verbals. Ollerton though decided to play some football as they dominated possession and created the better and majority of chances. As often happens when a side fails to kill off a game they get punished and it happened in this game. With about 10 minutes to go Kinsley got into the game and decided to play some football of their own and got an equaliser with about two minutes left.



The game ended with honours even.

Game 525

Staveley Miners Welfare 1-0 Tadcaster Albion

Northern Counties East League Division 1

Saturday 26th January 2008

Inkersall Road

Nearly a week after the game I finally I have time to put some words onto the screen and also I received some photos of the game and ground from my dad.

The original plan was to visit Olney Town with my dad but his partner decided she wanted to come out for the day, which we duly did along with my wife. Neither of the women likes football by the way! Due to this change I decided to look for another fixture with a reasonable sized town not visited before nearby. Staveley fitted the bill perfectly being only a few miles from Chesterfield. The trip up the M1 to north Derbyshire was an easy journey took about an hour and a quarter.
Chesterfield is a pleasant town with some nice buildings though the one that stands out is the church (the name of which eludes me) with the crooked spire. Lunch was had in one of the well known pub chains that you see in a lot of town centres across the country and the food and beer was as you would expect. I am one of these people that likes to try different lagers, pils and pale ales - and surprisingly did not have anything different for sale.

Staveley Miners Welfare play on Inkersall Road - I can't tell you anything about the place as we followed the directions of the sat nav. Admission was £3 and a further £1 for a programme - no arugments for those prices and I counted around 50 people in attendance. There is a stand on the right hand side of the ground which I would guess seats 200 and a covered terrace stand behind the far goal. Hot food and drink are available in one of the portakabins which has about 6 tables in. Merchandise was also available - hats, scarves, shirts and jackets. No badges for sales as yet - it is something that they are looking into.




The first half was pretty even in terms of possession though the home side created the better chances and took the lead on 15 minutes. Staveley also had a shot cleared off the line when one of their players rounded the visiting keeper and looked destined to score. From the resulting corner the woodwork was struck.

The second half saw the home side dominate and created numerous chances but through good goalkeeping and poor finishing, failed to take any of them and add to the score.

Overall a nice friendly club and well worth a visit.