Derry

Derry City  0  Shamrock Rovers  0

League of Ireland – Premier Division

To understand my Derry City story, I have to take you back to February 2005.

I’d been on a mission in the 2004-05 season, a mission to write a book as a gift for my Father who was due to retire after 34 years with the NHS in the May.

The book was essentially a travelogue of a journey through a football season, it was to contain over 100 games, most of which were first time visits to the venues. It had got to around the February time and I was starting to think about finishing the season on a high, and doing something special to finish the book.

I considered various Cup Finals, but none of them really filled me with much inspiration, but then after a heavy night of consumption, I found myself drifting in and out of sleep one Saturday morning. 

At some point as I was somewhere between states of consciousness I was having a kind of dream / flashback to my childhood, and a poster I had on my bedroom wall.

I had numerous posters on bedroom wall as a child, all of which came from Shoot Magazine, but one caused me more curiosity than all of the others. You see, I supported Derby County, but I’d never heard of a team called Derby City, who played in red and white stripes?

I did what all kids did, summoned my Mother to the room and sought her clarification.

“It’s not Derby City, it’s Derry City, they’re from Ireland, and it’s the place where your Grandad Jim came from.”

The New Mark Farren Stand

Suddenly it all became clear, and I’d not given it another moments thought, until that Saturday morning. That poster, and Derry City were emblazoned on my mind, it was time to just consider things for a few moments.

I’d never really thought an awful lot about Grandad Jim, he died not long after I was born, but I did know he was an Irishman from Derry. Possibilities were now churning away in my mind. Did Derry City still exist, did they have any games at the end of the season, how easy would it be to go over, was it safe? If this was feasible, then I could have inadvertently found the perfect ending to the book.

Armed with a cup of coffee, I turned on the computer and entered the magic words into the search engine, and up came a website for Derry City Football Club. So at least they existed, but what about fixtures? The season was over, but a new one was to begin in March, Summer football it appeared, and when I studied the fixtures, the game against St Patrick’s Athletic on the 20^th May looked like the best option.

Now, you have to remember at this point in my life I’d not been out of the Country for several years, I didn’t have a Passport, and the furthest I’d ever travelled on my own was to Bournemouth for a training course!

After lots of research I managed to put a trip together, flights from Liverpool to Belfast International, two nights in the Travelodge, and a Passport was ordered. That was the logistics sorted, but I had other stuff to do as well.

A Packed Brandywell

Firstly I needed to make sure I could actually get in to watch the game, so I rung the club and they were very helpful, I could buy tickets on the day, and get a tour of the ground if I turned up early enough!

Secondly, and I needed my Mum’s input with this, I wanted to find my Grandad’s family home, so it meant doing some delving around to find an address. Mother came up with the goods, but it would be a case of trial and error when I arrived in Derry, you see it was before the days of Google Maps and a street map proved almost impossible to obtain.

Finally, was it safe? Of course, I was naïve at the time, but when you thought of Derry your mind immediately went back to the images of the Troubles. The Good Friday agreement had been signed, but even so, Northern Ireland was still tainted in the minds of many from across the water. My Mum was nervous about me going, but she knew my mind was made up. I did as much homework as I could, spoke to one or two people, and the consensus was that as long as I kept myself to myself and was careful where I went, then I would be fine.

The trip finally arrived, and it was with a sense of excitement and trepidation that I made my way from the Railway Station, over the Craigavon Bridge and then along the edges of the River Foyle to my base. The first night was spent touring one or two watering holes, but the following day it was when the real adventure was about to start.

Where Terraces Once Stood

With ticket secured from the Brandywell along with a brief, I followed the signs to the Rosemount area of the City, the area where my Grandad’s former home was. I had a street name, Epworth Street, but finding it was going to be a challenge, or so I thought.  Once at the top of the hill, I turned right at the roundabout, simply because I saw a dustbin lorry and thought they would know where I could find it.

I didn’t need the dustmen, because within moments on my left I’d stumbled across the road I was looking for. I walked down the road and there it was, number 23, my Grandad’s home. Since he moved over in the Forties to England, to the best of our knowledge I was the first and only person who’s been back across from the family. I paused for a few minutes, took some photographs before walking away with a sense of emotion and euphoria. I phoned my Mum….

I spent the rest of the day wandering the City, immersing myself in the history of its violent, troubled and tragic recent past. The murals and indeed the memorials were awe inspiring, but at the same time, this was a City and a population that was at the start of a journey, one that was uncertain, but a journey towards something better for everyone.

After nervously ordering a pint at the Oakgrove Bar with my English accent, it was time for the game, and it was then that I truly realised that I’d not just been on a trip, I’d been on a discovery. I’d discovered Derry, I’d discovered the Brandywell, I’d discovered Derry City and I’d discovered something that was to ultimately became a life changing experience.

Paradise

The game ended 2-2, but for me it was about the quite brilliant atmosphere inside the Brandywell. The passion, the noise and the creativity blew me away. This was a proper football club, with proper fans, and I felt part of it.

Of course, the book was completed, the ending was perfect. My Dad was stunned by it, but that book had inadvertently opened a new chapter.

We both went over to see a game and visit the City a year later, but it coincided with a period where things were really starting to happen for City on the field. I saw the away games in Europe at Paris and Gretna, the Gretna game being possibly the single most amazing football game and experience I’ve ever witnessed. Whereas it was while in Paris that I met John Coyle and his family, we have remained good friends ever since. I also met Martin McGuinness on the same trip outside Quigley's Point, and what an engaging man he was, he seemed really interested in my story.

I ended up being invited to write an article for the City View match programme, and I also attended a few away games as well, notably at Cork City and at Linfield, which was an experience in itself.

Nowadays, I try to go twice a season, typically with a view to getting to a game in the Northern Irish League on the Saturday, with City playing on a Friday night. I was at the infamous first game in Buncrana that was abandoned  due to floodlight failure, whereas the year previously my now wife Rachael made her first visit to the Maiden City and the Brandywell.

This time around, it was about returning to the Brandywell after the recent redevelopment work, a new stand has been built and an artificial pitch laid, so my plans were made.

It follows a familiar pattern now, flight to Belfast City, 212 bus to Derry, lunch, a few pubs, including Jacks Bar where I’ve struck up a connection with the lad who runs the place, before checking into my regular B&B that sits less than fifty yards from my Grandad’s old place.

Then it’s about meeting John and his wife Lyndon at Sandinos, before we head off together for something to eat and then finally the match.

Derry have had a very good season, sitting fourth in the table, despite a poor start, and with visiting Shamrock Rovers only just behind them in the standings, demand for tickets was high. I’d bought mine online the week before, but as kick off approached it was being reported the game was close to being a sell-out.

A near capacity crowd of 3,700 packed into a Brandywell Stadium that is looking very smart following it’s make over. The old Southend Road Stand remains, with the away fans tucked into the corner, and it was next to them we were sat. Both ends remain inaccessible but the new stand, named after centre forward Mark Farren who passed away in 2016, is an impressive structure. It is possible for spectators to stand at either side of the stand, but ultimately the Brandywell is on its way to becoming an all-seater stadium.

A Shams Fan - He Spent Eighty Minutes Asleep

To be honest, it wasn’t a very good game. The first half was not overly inspiring, but in the second period it was the hosts from Dublin who had the upper hand and to be fair they’ll be kicking themselves for not having broken the deadlock as chances came and went begging. Derry, in the end, were grateful for a point.

The Shamrock Rovers players came over at the final whistle to salute their travelling fans, and what a truly delightful bunch they were! After spending the game reminding us that we were indeed British and had a Queen to bow down to, they finished the night by stealing the Derry goalkeeper’s testimonial banner, and then having the audacity to display it on social media.

I’ve seen Shamrock Rovers play away from home on three occasions now, and never do things ever run smoothly or peacefully when they are in town, but the less perhaps said the better, because this is about Derry.

After the game it was back to Jack’s Bar, with John, to chew the fat, catch up on life, and talk about Derry, Ireland and what the future looks like. Brexit is a concern, especially the border issue, while debate about a United Ireland never seems to be far away.

Derry is a very different City to the one I first discovered. The British Army watchtowers have now gone and much of the paramilitary imagery and graffiti has also been dialed down. Derry is now marketing itself, very successfully, as a tourist hotbed, and it’s great to see so many tourists, especially foreign tourists on the Walls, at the Murals and in the Museums.  Derry is a very safe City nowadays.

Also, you sense the City is more at peace. Not just in terms of the violence, but also in terms of its history. The Saville Report exonerated those murdered on Bloody Sunday, and while closure for some will not truly happen while soldiers remain untried, you do sense a population who have started to move forward and live together harmoniously. There will always be factions, but in reality, no one wants a return to the bad old days.

I left Derry on the 212 the following morning for the next leg of the journey, but part of me will always stay behind, part of me will always be a Derryman.

The Ejection Steward Ponders Which One First.....

The Five Month Mid Season Break

Hepworth United  4  Sheffield Medics  1

Sheffield County Senior League – First Division

From December through to March I’d almost given up on checking whether Hepworth United’s scheduled home games would be on.

Let’s be truthful, the weather this football season has been unprecedented, well, for someone who started watching football in the mid-Eighties it certainly has been. I can’t comment on the ‘White Outs’ of the Sixties, but I would hazard a guess that during that period it would have to have been pretty grim for games to have been called off?

I am a bit old school though and I do think games are called off all too easily these days, and I for one much prefer the sight of a more mature referee than one of the younger breed who baulks at so much as a damp patch near the corner flag.

That said, given what we’ve had to contend with, Hepworth United are probably one club who given their location, were always going to suffer.  On the 4^th of November they played a home game against High Green Villa, and it wasn’t until the 14^th April that they finally got the next match on!

That’s five months by my reckoning, so as a result, between the 14^th of April and the end of the season they play nine successive home games, with the final one taking place on 12^th May. That’s some record and I’d be interested to see if anyone can beat it.

So why did Hepworth get it so bad?

Arctic Rescue Base Camp

Quite simple really, located just South of Holmfirth, but effectively equidistant between Huddersfield and Penistone, the Far Lane ground is probably one of the most exposed venues I’ve ever been to. 

The journey from the Flouch Roundabout at the end of the Stocksbridge bypass takes you along the main Huddersfield Road before a left turn takes you out into the moors. The roads get progressively narrower as altitude is gained, before you eventually spot the turn into the ground.

Inside the ground, the views are spectacular, but, as many have said before and will no doubt say again, it’s not a venue for the winter months. That said, this season it wouldn’t have been possible anyway! I spoke to a club official before the game who told me that at one stage they had eight foot snow drifts in the car park, someone did well to actually get to the car park to check it out!

Green - But Usually It's White

No, if the weather is bad, Hepworth is going to cop for it big style, so it’s just an occupational hazard I guess.

As well as having fantastic views, they also have a superb new clubhouse and dressing room complex. It was only opened this season and consequently hasn’t had chance to have much use. The bar area was spacious and smart and with it was a decent selection of beverages, while the food menu did look tempting albeit I had some fishcakes waiting for me back at blighty, so refrained from indulging.

There are two pitches at the complex but Hepworth played on the one directly in front of the clubhouse, and that suited myself and Steve fine on a wet and windy night as we decided the best viewing position was from behind the glass patio doors on a warm, comfortable seat. It's cheating, we both know it, but who cares!

The Lesser Spotted Hepworth United Home Game

The home side are closing in on a second successive promotion, having joined the County Senior from the Huddersfield League in 2016. The Premier Division and Step 7 beckons next season, but going any further than that would be a huge challenge as the ground lacks railings, hard standing and of course floodlights. But, for many clubs Step 7 is their limit, and that is absolutely fine. No point overstretching and ending up in a mess.

The visitors took a surprise lead but goals from Dominic Blain, Chris Drew and a brace from Christopher Kaye saw Hepworth run out comfortable winners in the end.  They looked an accomplished outfit, especially considering the lack of action over recent weeks, and will no doubt be a worthy addition to the top flight along with Champions Dodworth Miners Welfare, who were due to visit 48 hours later.

Outstanding Natural Beauty

A very enjoyable and worthwhile journey to Hepworth United tonight, and they are clearly a club that is well organised, has a dedicated bunch of helpers, and also forms an important part of the community. I would heartily recommend a visit, but, pick your moment, very carefully!

The Northern Dilemma

Morpeth Town  4  Consett  1

Northern League – First Division

Some commentators might say, that if a league were ever to be a thorn in the side of the English Non-

League Pyramid, then that league would be the Northern League.

When it comes to pointing the finger of blame at anyone, for the seeming imbalances between the North and the rest of the Country when it comes to club distribution, then that finger almost exclusively points at the Northern League.

You could forgive them for feeling a little paranoid?

But why is that deemed to be the case? The history of the Northern League and its involvement with the Pyramid needs to be assessed to draw any kind of conclusion on the matter. Even then, it’s still not simple.

The Crowds Gather At Craik Park

When the Alliance Premier League (the now National League) was formed in 1979, the Northern League wanted to be a direct feeder to it alongside the Northern Premier League and the Southern League. That wasn’t granted, so for many years the league simply sat outside of the Pyramid, but then when clubs wanted to progress upwards from the Northern League, they had to find a new means of doing so. So they effectively moved into a league that they sat outside the normal footprint of, namely the Northern Counties East League. Both North Shields and Spennymoor United chose this route with a view to moving forwards.

This was clearly not a satisfactory outcome, but by the late Eighties the league had been granted the same step status as both the Northern Counties East and North West Counties League’s and what that allowed was for the progressive clubs such as Blyth Spartans, Bishop Auckland, Whitby Town and Whitley Bay to jump straight into the Northern Premier League after winning the championship.

The league were now a fully fledged part of the Pyramid, but trouble was on the horizon, and perhaps inevitably so.

Cracking Floodlight!

The Northern Premier League, both divisions of it, now spread from the very North of England, all the way down to the Midlands, and as a result, many of the Northern League clubs simply didn’t want promotion due to the travelling and associated costs involved. Since Whitby’s promotion in 1997, only five clubs have taken promotion, one subsequently folded (Newcastle Blue Star), another dropped back down again (Durham City), two were phoenix clubs who were building from the bottom again (Spennymoor and Darlington), while the other (South Shields) is a current tour de force.

I suppose it was a self-perpetuating problem, the less clubs that chose to go up, ultimately meant the volume of clubs in that part of the Country would not get any bigger, in fact, in reality it would get smaller as the ambitious clubs carried on getting promoted, which in turn further discouraged clubs from making the move.

A Shiny New Fence

How is the problem solved? Well, more clubs taking the plunge in theory would solve it, but then would a better solution be a restructuring of the leagues to help in terms of reducing travelling in the North? Subsidies maybe could be provided to help travel costs, but that wouldn’t help in terms of the amount of time players are away from home and indeed work?

The Northern League’s suggestion was to be elevated en-bloc to Step 4, which in theory is fine, but that just in turn pushed the problem up a level? The same issues would arise when it came to taking promotion to Step 3. The suggestion was rejected by the FA.

No, the FA had what they thought was a much better idea, and it kind of fits into the plan of getting enough Northern League teams into Step 4 to move the balance of clubs in a more Northerly direction and consequently reduce travel costs etc.

Tree Lined

So, what you do is make promotion mandatory, in a season where the top two clubs for the first time are eligible for promotion! In the long term this would ultimately solve the problem, I think, but in the short term, pain is going to be felt. Subsequently the Northern Premier League took a vote to split the First Division from North / South to East / West, which supposedly helps the Northern League clubs (albeit they weren’t involved in the vote), but is Newcastle to Peterborough at Step 4 really the right solution?

The two clubs who are going to be impacted are Marske United and Morpeth Town. They are currently fighting a fascinating battle for the championship, but while Marske have not been overly public about the compulsory promotion issue, Morpeth have made their concerns known.

Morpeth, first and foremost, is a long way North, sat the top side of Newcastle, it is one of the outposts of the competition, but, having won the FA Vase a couple of years ago, and built a fine team, they are certainly equipped to be playing at a higher level.

But, think this one through for a moment.

A Beautiful Setting

So, let’s take Morpeth as an example. They win the league because they have the best team and are deserving of the accolade. They have a group of players who have the desire and drive to win the Northern League, but, as a club, and as a group of players, promotion is not something they desire?

The following season, the players choose to leave, so the club has to rebuild. Now they could rebuild to survive or indeed grow, or they could re-build and cynically think about getting relegated because they didn’t want to be in that position in the first place. In the meantime, it’s cost them a fortune to do it!

Then of course, you look at the implications for the Northern League, a league every club would love to win, but now, maybe it’s not worth winning it, maybe it’s better to be average? That clearly then devalues the entire competition.

Of course, in time, you would hope it would ‘sort itself out’, but over the next few years, we have a very real danger that this could implode and we end up with a mess on our hands.

Looking Towards The Alehouse

Could it have been dealt with better in years gone by? Maybe, but, that can’t be changed now. Do I have a solution to the problem? No, but at the same time, and you only need to look at the FA Vase winners over the past fifteen years, we have a league that stands out as being the best at its Step, yet, you could argue contains clubs that lack ambition? For justifiable reasons I might add.

Anyway Morpeth Town, it took me two and a half hours from my homestead after a very clear run to arrive at Craik Park, and I have to say, what a fantastic afternoon I had.

Sat at the side of the A1, it has a real rural feel about it, enclosed on all four sides by greenery and woodland. A seated stand sits on the half way line, while behind it, up a slope are the dressing rooms and the large clubhouse. The ground has hard standing all around while what looks like a new fence has been erected around the perimeter. My favourite features though are the four corner floodlight pylons, which if I were a betting man, might have come from either a colliery yard or a railway shunting yard.

Despite the bad weather, the pitch looked in excellent condition, while those who were to set foot on it sat top and fourth respectively in the table, so I was hopeful of a very good game of football.

Consett got off to a great start and took the lead through a Michael Sweet penalty in the fourth minute, but the healthy attendance of 228 saw the hosts draw level when ex-Sunderland man Stephen Elliott score with a fantastic lob in the 15^th minute.

It was stalemate at half time, but the second half belonged to Morpeth. Jordan Fry scored with a header just after the break, only for matters to get worse for Consett when Ryan McKinnon was sent off for kicking out at an opponent.

A Lovely Setting - But A Long Way From Wisbech.....

Dave Carson then made it 3-1, only for Joe Walton to score the fourth from the penalty spot as the game moved into its final ten minutes.   

It was a deserved victory in the bright sunshine, and with Marske playing catch up but bang on form, it was a vital victory as well. The final couple of weeks are going to be fascinating for all concerned, but then, as we move into the Summer, a whole new challenge is going to present itself.

A challenge that the footballing World will be watching very closely.

Feeling The Force

Shaw Lane  1  Altrincham  2

Northern Premier League – Premier Division

“Keep an eye on them”

They were the prophetic words of Jamesie when a team called Aqua Force Barnsley appeared in the Sheffield County Senior League.

It turned out the club was actually previously known as Worsbrough Common, and they were plying their trade in the second tier of the league, but in 2011 when the owner of Barnsley based firm Aquaforce, Craig Wood, took over the club, things were about to change.

A second place finish saw them promoted to the Premier Division and with it came a further name change to Shaw Lane Aquaforce, which reflected the clubs location at Barnsley Rugby Club on Shaw Lane itself. The championship was won at the first attempt and suddenly the club found themselves in the First Division of the Northern Counties East League, and not only that, they were raising a few eyebrows with both their progress and indeed the quality of player they were attracting.

I saw them at home during their first season in the NCEL and was impressed with what I saw, both on and off the field, so it came as no surprise when the runners-up spot saw them promoted to the Premier Division.

The Business End

A similar tale continued in the Premier Division, the Championship was won while the FA Vase quarter final was also reached along the way. Promotion to the Northern Premier League followed, but despite finishing second in their debut season, they lost the Play-Off Final to Coalville Town.

It was all change in the Summer of 2016, the club dropped the Aquaforce from their name (the powers that be don’t like sponsors in clubs names), but also they moved to the Sheerien Park home of neighbours Athersley Recreation, partly due to the quality of the pitch at Shaw Lane.

No mistake was made this time round with the Championship won, but alongside joy came tragedy with the awful death of defender Daniel Wilkinson who passed away after collapsing during a game with Brighouse Town.

Looking Out Over Athersley

So, the Premier Division has been reached, and as we near the end of their first season at Step 3, it was worth reflecting on not only the season but also the clubs remarkable progress. After a positive start which saw the club look like they could once again make another leap up the pyramid, they were hampered by multiple postponements due to the bad weather, but coupled with that they had a fantastic run in the FA Cup which saw them reach the First Round Proper. The home defeat to Mansfield Town was shown live on television, and if anything was to encapsulate just how far this club has come, then that game would be it.

Since then, form has been a little inconsistent, coupled with the departure of manager Craig Elliott to Boston United, so going into the final month of the season the aim was to try and achieve a play-off place, but that’s far from a shoe in.

That Business End Again

Tonight’s game against Altrincham was going to be a really big test. Alty knew a win would put them within touching distance of the Championship and an immediate return to National League North, but to be fair, a club of that size should not really be playing at this level. Once the biggest name in non-league football, the fans crave for anything close to a return to former glories.

On a beautiful evening I weaved my way through the North of Barnsley to the estate that is Athersley & New Lodge, before spotting the tight entrance to Sheerien Park. The ground is a real mix of structures, some of which have clearly been added since my last visit to ensure the Step3 grading is met.

Upon entry through the turnstiles, two sections of covered terracing, one larger than the other sit to the left, and fill the area from the corner flag to the half way line. Behind the bottom goal for half of the length of the pitch is a seated stand (Atcost), while behind the opposite goal to the top of the ground is another smaller seated stand, again of the pre-constructed variety.

Atcost Heaven

The top end of the grand is a real mish-mash of buildings making up the dressing rooms, the tea bar, the club house, a club shop and a hospitality area. Many of the buildings are of a portakabin / temporary nature, while outside of the perimeter fence is another fully railed pitch that is the home of Grimethorpe Sports FC .

I understand that an awful lot of the initial work carried out at Sheerien Park, to allow Athersley Recreation to get to the NCEL, was funded by ex-professional and former player Geoff Horsfield. If that is the case, and I have no reason to suspect it isn’t, what a fantastic gesture that was.

It’s a busy ground, it’s a tidy ground, and it does the job. But, it’s Athersley’s ground, and what the medium to long term plans of Shaw Lane are, I don’t know. But you do feel they need to put down some roots to at least start to create some local identity, because their existence so far has been a little nomadic. Shaw Lane is a road in Barnsley, and they have moved away from that, and I recall they did have plans to change the name to Barnsley Town, but that was rejected. But, with a super ambitious and committed owner in Craig Wood, you know that he will make the correct decisions to allow the club to prosper.

Alty Boys - We Are Here....

How did they fare in the game?

With almost 300 spectators in the ground, of which half travelled from Cheshire, it was a very tight and competitive first period, in which John Johnston gave the visitors the lead with a fine solo effort only five minutes before the break.

Former Alty striker Damien Reeves equalised just three minutes later for Shaw Lane from the penalty spot, and that looked to set up a pulsating second period, but for the vast majority it was quite a mundane and tight affair, until the game moved into the final five minutes when Joshua Hancock forced the ball home for the visitors to send the travelling support in raptures.

At the final whistle, Alty celebrated, knowing just a point was needed to secure a swift return from whence they acme, while Shaw Lane knew that they simply had to win their remaining games, and rely on others slipping up to make it to the Play-Offs.

It was interesting reading Craig Wood’s commentary in the programme before the game. He talked about the progress of the club, and irrespective of the final outcome this season, it had been a success in his eyes. The play-offs would clearly be a fantastic achievement, but if that doesn’t happen, I certainly wouldn’t bet against them being a serious contender for automatic promotion next time around.

Action

Keep an eye on them was the advice – and I’m not the only one these days. With the story far from over, there are a few chapters to go just yet. Yes, cynics will sneer at one man’s money / play thing and all that, but this for me has been done the right way, with the club looking to move forward on and off the pitch at a pace that is sensible and manageable. I draw comparisons with Basford United, a not dissimilar story, and you know what, without the likes of Craig Wood and Chris Munroe at Basford, football in these parts would be a much poorer place.

Karma

Sandbach United  4  FC Oswestry Town  0

North West Counties League – First Division

I was chuckling to myself as I drove up the M6, listening to Steve’s tale of woe from the previous weekend, but I should have known better.

He’d gone to Linotype Cheadle Heath Nomads, based on an affirmative Tweet from the morning, but upon arrival he found the gates locked and no sign of life. A quick piece of investigation found that the game had actually been postponed due to waterlogged pitch, and despite an offer from the opponents, AFC Macclesfield, to switch the game, Linotype declined. All a bit strange, not suggesting any subterfuge going on but you do wonder if they were bodies short?

Anyway, it turned out Steve didn’t just throw the toys out of the pram, he tipped the pram up and set it alight. He could have gone to nearby Stockport County, or any other club in the vicinity for that matter, but at that stage he’d given up on non-league football and had vowed to get a season ticket at Manchester City.

He had calmed down by the time I spoke to him, and was putting it down to bad luck, but as I reminded him, at least once a season he has a moment like this. The last one resulted in a pledge to never watch a game of football ever again in certain specific leagues that at some point had annoyed him, but it soon passed.

Where Ramblers Rest

I was on my way to Lower Breck to watch them play Aigburth Peoples Hall, but as I pulled into a pub car park just over a mile from the ground, I made a cursory look at Twitter and spotted that Breck, who needed to win tonight to claim the Liverpool Premier League title, were being congratulated on winning the league?

Turns out the game had been postponed twenty minutes earlier as the visitors couldn’t raise a side, and consequently the hosts had been awarded the points and by default, the title. Clearly not Lower Breck’s fault at all, and I’m sure they would have rather won it on the pitch, but I needed to plan and quickly.

Clearly my amusement at Steve’s predicament had lead to some Karma being dumped on me from a great height, but as an alternative I had a choice of Winsford United v 1874 Northwich in the Mid-Cheshire Cup Semi-Final, or Sandbach United v FC Oswestry Town in the North West Counties League.

Food, Booze & Showers

Distance and time wise their wasn’t much in it, but I kept changing my mind as I travelled along the M62 and the M6. You see, the game at Winsford was a local derby at an old stadium, but as it was a cup tie it could go to extra-time and given 1874 are playing virtually every day, what sort of side would they field?

Sandbach are looking to get a play-off spot in the NWCL, and the ground is more modern than the Barton Stadium, but what swung it for me was that I’d get home ever so slightly quicker, and, it was actually a game that in different guises was commonplace in the early 1970’s during the halcyon days of the Cheshire League.

The Vast Expanse

Sandbach Ramblers and Oswestry Town were both members of the aforementioned league, but both moved in very different directions. Oswestry made it to the Northern Premier League, but folded in 1988 and the ground became housing. They then reformed a few years later playing out of the Park Stadium on the outskirts of town, starting in the Wrexham League before making it to the Cymru Alliance and eventually the Welsh Premier League.

But, TNS came sniffing and in 2003 the two clubs merged to play out of Oswestry and name was gone again. However, FC Oswestry Town appeared, playing in the local leagues initially, and then in 2016 they were admitted to the North West Counties League, ground sharing with TNS!

The name Sandbach Ramblers is not unique, and by that I mean, it has been used by at least three different clubs. The original club folded in 1975, but a local club were renamed the same in 1979 before disappearing again in at some point in the mid-Eighties.

A further club was formed in 1995, but again, they disappeared from the senior scene and continued to operate in junior circles until in 2004 when they merged with another local side, Sandbach Albion, to form the club we have today, Sandbach United.

I made my one and only visit to Sandbach United in May 2016, they were a Cheshire Football League side who at the time were on course for promotion to the NWCFL. Ironically the opponents that day were Linotype Cheadle Heath Nomads, and it was a wet May Bank Holiday Monday. It was so wet, the game almost didn’t take place due to waterlogging, but it did, and what I found was a very friendly and progressive club. It was also a bit of a strange day that day because just prior to setting off I got a call to say my Grandmother had died, it was not a shock but it was sad all the same.

Since my last visit some work has been done to the ground. Floodlights have obviously been installed, while behind the goals where the two wooden ‘sheds’ are lovcated is now a small Atcost style seated stand.

More Expanse

The clubhouse adorns one side of the ground, with the artificial pitch behind it, but otherwise it is an open arena, and part of a larger expanse used by the various teams under the clubs umbrella.

A very healthy crowd of 149 had turned up on a lovely evening and saw the hosts take the lead in the 14^th minute via a great strike from Chris Smith. The first half was reasonably even, but once we moved into the second period, the hosts dominated completely.

Ryan Allcock made it two just four minutes after the interval while Chris Jackson made it three just prior to the hour mark.

The fourth goal from James Kirby arrived in the 75^th minute, and the result saw Sandbach further cement a place in the zone for the end of season lottery.

Not my first choice of venue, obviously, but a very good night all the same. I exchanged a bit of banter with Lower Breck via Twitter, extolling the virtues of what a lovely place Sandbach is when the sun’s out. The fella who runs the account for Breck was also looking forward to a visit to Sandbach next season, promotions etc permitting, claiming his only ever visit was to the service station for fuel!

Shed Innovation

Lower Breck will have to wait until next season now, but as Plan B’s go, this was a very satisfactory recovery job at a very good football club.

Karma indeed.  

Oostende By The Sea

KV Oostende  2  Sint-Truidense VV  2

Belgian Europa League Play Off Group B

I do like to be beside the seaside, especially when it means a football match is involved.

Skegness, Blackpool, Morecambe and Scarborough are all seaside resorts I’ve had the pleasure of watching the beautiful game take place at in the past years or so, but, I’ve never been to a resort overseas for a game.

Well, technically that isn’t the case because I’ve been to Bray Wanderers in Ireland, but in terms of mainland Europe, it’s not something I’ve really done.

The Home End

So when we drove to Oostende on the Friday to collect the match tickets, I was curious to see just what sort of seaside town it was. Being the impatient kind I asked Jamesie his opinion, and it was met with.

“Bournemouth”

I asked him to qualify that a little

“Old people, loads of them”

So I suggested it might be more Eastbourne or Worthing?

“Yeah, probably more accurate to be honest”

Ready For Development

The proof of course would be in the pudding, but as we drove into Oostende on that first day the weather was sunny, albeit a touch windy, and travelling along the seafront, the waves could be seen crashing onto the shore. Not a vast amount of people were around, but those that were kind of fitted the description.

The ground, called the Versluys Arena, is very close to the seafront, and sits just a street behind the main promenade (although I suspect they don’t call it that). It looked very smart as we parked up and purchased the tickets, but more on the stadium later.

KV Oostende are a club that has been in the top flight since 2013, having previously had a couple of spells at the highest level in the previous thirty years, along with a relegation to the third tier.

This season they finished the regular season 11^th from 16 sides and as a result made the Europa League Play-Off’s. Quite how finishing so low entitles a team to challenge for Europe bewilders me somewhat, but welcome to the mad World of the Belgian Play-Off’s.

The Away End

As we made our way to Oostende from Lauwe on the Sunday, the weather had started turn, rain was sweeping in, so having parked up close to the stadium we had to move quickly to a nearby café for some sustenance. With fodder on board, it was the short walk to the ground and having had a quick look around the perimeter it was through the turnstiles and into the very impressive bar that sat below the South stand.

Just under 4,000 punters had decided to pitch up for the game, albeit the visitors from the far East of Belgium bought a handful with them. The atmosphere from the home support was still very good though in a ground that is somewhat conducive to good atmosphere.

The Stand What We Sat In 

Our stand was a modern seated variety that was built only a couple of years ago, and clearly beneath it was all mod-cons. To our right was another modern seated stand where the bull of the hard core home support congregates, while at the opposite end was a similar structure that was split to allow for segregation.

Opposite our stand was an older and smaller stand that had some corporate facilities within it, and on either side of it were two stands that looked like temporary structures. I suspect they will eventually redevelop that side of the ground as it does look a little out of place in comparison to its more modern neighbours, but I guess that all comes down to the old funding situation.

Looking Seawards

It was a strange game. The visitors looked the better side in the first period for long spells but found themselves two goals down at the break thanks to two well taken efforts from Richairo Zivkovic.

Oostende then had chances to increase the lead in the second period but it all went pear shaped when goals from Alexis De Sart and an 85^th minute effort from Jordan Botaka saw the visitors grab a vital point.

The second half was played in an absolute monsoon, so much so the drainage system on our stand roof failed and we had the sight of what can only be described as waterfall pouring from one of the huge disbursement tanks. The pitch held up well though, albeit the ball was starting to hold up a little in the conditions.

Bizarrely though as the final whistle arrived and the home fans left the ground feeling a little flat, the rains stopped and we had a comfortable journey back to Gent.

A couple of pints of Albanian Toilet Cleaner were consumed in what had become our ‘local’ rounded off the evening, as did a few cans of Jupiler back in the apartment, and that gave us the opportunity to reflect on what had been a fabulous weekend of football, beer and friends.

It wasn’t over yet though, we still had Monday to come, and that comprised of a few beers in Banbury before taking in the Stourbridge v Workington game. That finished up 3-2 to the visitors, but by this stage you sensed we were all ready for our homes and our beds.

Until next time that is, Liege, Aachen, Maastricht and Luxembourg were discussed as a possible trip.

Not before we’ve been to Eastbourne though……

And Then The Rain Came....

Pornography

White Star Lauwe  2  Sassport Boezinge  1

Belgian Provincial League – West Vlaanderen

“Pornography mate…”

That was precisely what Jamesie said when Ben suggested a few weeks ago on our messenger group that we spent Sunday afternoon at White Star Lauwe.

I’m not sure I would have been quite so enthusiastic about a sixth tier Belgian game had the learned one not jumped into the debate at the very early stages and suggested I looked up some images of the ground.

Fiesta

You see, in hopping circles, for a ground to be described as ‘Pornography’, it was to be something pretty special, and it has to meet certain criteria. To begin with, it cannot be modern in any way, shape or form. It has to have furniture, or structures if you prefer to call it by the more common name, and the structures have to be unspoiled by the passage of time. I don’t mean unspoiled as in weather worn, rotting or falling apart, I mean unspoiled as in they cannot have been upgraded, refurbished or indeed modernised in any way.

Put simply, the bigger the health and safety risk, the more decrepit the facilities and the more antiquated a ground is, the greater the chance it has of becoming top shelf material.

Razzle

White Star Lauwe did look upon first inspection to meet that criteria, but the proof of the pudding of course, was always going to be in the eating.

Lauwe isn’t far from Kortrijk, and after a pretty lengthy lie in courtesy of a modest consumption of Austin Maxi Brake Fluid the night before, we made it just over an hour before kick-off. Almost smack bang in the centre of the small town, White Star is one of two clubs in the town who play in the same league. Racing Club being the other, the derby is apparently well attended and a bit tasty!

Readers Wives

What a friendly club they are as well. Immediately upon walking through the turnstiles the chap on the gate wanted to know where we were from, and consequently the conversation immediately moved onto Marc Degryse. Degryse was a Belgian international who lived locally and played for Sheffield Wednesday in the mid-Nineties. I threw Gilles De Bilde into the mix

but the reaction was somewhat less enthusiastic so I made my way to the bar instead.

Playboy

We hadn’t been in the bar long before we were approached by another Gentleman, called Rudy Ducoulombier, who it tuned out was a Director of the club, and also a former professional footballer in Belgium, having played for Kortrijk, Waregem and Sint-Truiden amongst others during his career.

He bought us a drink and was incredibly passionate about the game and his hometown club. Once again, the fact we had travelled to see his club was something that created a significant amount of curiosity.

So, the ground. Were we talking Fiesta, Razzle, or maybe even Red Hot Belgian?

Red Hot Dutch

It’s very impressive, you walk through the turnstiles and to the left is the clubhouse, complete with empty oil drums outside that are used as tables. Moving on from the clubhouse is a small area of terracing behind the goal, but then when you move round to the side you encounter a vast terrace that runs the length of the pitch, and if I was to draw comparisons it would be somewhere like Carshalton Athletic that could be described as a mirror image?

The far goal is inaccessible albeit another clubhouse sits there that serves the nearby all weather surfaces. However opposite the terrace is an old fashioned main stand, underneath which are the dressing rooms, but painted in yellow and black, it is a wonderful structure that provides a real focal point to the ground. Next to the stand is another small area of covered terracing the leads back down to the turnstiles.

Escort

Hard core definitely, bordering on illegal, would be my best classification!

So what about the game? Well having seen the tepid encounter in Holland the previous day, which was technically at the same level, I was somewhat apprehensive, but to be fair, it turned into the best game of the trip so far.

Victor Christiaens gave the hosts a 17^th minute lead after what had been pretty even early exchanges, and then right on the stroke of half time White Star scored a second courtesy of the same player.

Sassport were not finished though and they pulled a goal back just after the hour mark through Friso Mando, and despite some late pressure they couldn’t force an equaliser.

Penthouse

The game was hard fought, fast paced and competitive, and with both sets of fans pretty vocal amongst the modest crowd, it was a very enjoyable afternoon at a superb venue. 

Top shelf material without a doubt....possibly even under the counter.