Author Archive

Kempston Rovers

Goalmouth Action – Kempston Rovers v Aylesbury United

It’s Sunday so it must be Darren Ashley’s latest tour. This week he is at Kempston for a BIG match. To remind you, Darren chooses one match per week where he looks to spotlight the best of non-league football. If you do a search of this site you will see his latest trips and links to his YouTube channel. You can subscribe at no cost and see all his previous games.

He says, ” Yesterday, I travelled to Bedfordshire to watch a vital match at the bottom of the Southern League Division 1 Central match between Kempston Rovers & Aylesbury United.

Now, the home side were 5 points adrift of safety with 4 to play so it was MUST WIN for them really, whereas, the away team were 5 point clear of the drop, so, for them, it was MUST NOT LOSE.

On arrival, my daughter and I were warmly met and were treated brilliantly by all at Kempston Rovers, which I can’t thank them enough for, but, for this review, I want to give my thoughts regarding the respective managers.

Firstly, I sought out Kempston manager Richard Keil, as I had got in touch with him regarding filming the vlog.

He was a great guy, and despite the pressure of the impending match, he gave me plenty of time.

We had a joke where, I mentioned that his name was the same as the actor who played the baddie Jaws in the James Bond films, and if his team won, I already had a title of my video in mind.

After a quick on camera interview, it was time to try to meet Aylesbury manager David Tuttle. Once again, he was a great guy. We had a good laugh off-camera, then we did a quick interview.

After the interview’s, the managers and I were chatting, and I assumed they knew each other pretty well, as they had an easy way with each other.

The managers pre match. David Tuttle on left. Richard Keil on right

So, the match comes, and goes, and, for once, I will give a spoiler….it finished Kempston 0-5 Aylesbury….which, now makes it almost certain Kempston will go down and Aylesbury will survive. As the teams and management walk off, I noticed Richard went back to the dugout on his own to just sit, and, I guess, ponder and think about what he had witnessed.

It was then I decided I wouldn’t ask for a post match interview with him.

Not long after, David came out, walked across the pitch and went and sat with Richard for a few minutes. I thought that was real classy from him.

They came back off the pitch together, and, now, I was certain they were mates from way back as there seemed a real decent bond, but, to my complete surprise, when I spoke to them again, they had only met once at the previous encounter between the 2 teams, which was David’s first match.

It was such a decent thing to see on, what was a crappy day for the home side, and honestly, these two fellas really are representing the teams clubs brilliantly, and, i just wouldn’t be surprised somewhere down the line they may end up a management duo ( you heard it here first.)

One final thing, Richard dropped me a line in the evening, thanking me for coming and apologising for not chatting much after the match due to how he was feeling…he had no need to apologise, he was great.

….oh, if you fancy watching the vlog ( it’s a bit longer than usual), as always, it’s in the comment.”

Thanks Darren, sounds like another great day. Always fantastic to see how well you are received. It truly showers the power of Non-League football. Fantastic. Darren pinged me earlier to ensure I recognised Kempston’s chairman. “I first met the Kempston chairman Steve Brookes yesterday whilst he was operating a turnstile . Another top bloke, who supplied everything I needed with a smile although he was clearly gutted at the end of the day with the result.” Hope it’s the beginning of a new era for all. It’s not a crime to go down, it’s a crime to stay down, Mr Brookes. Good luck. Tuttle?!? Yes, the former Spurs, Millwall, Palace player. Wondered where he was.

Sadly FC Deportivo Galicia did not have a game yesterday but the other results pretty much worked in our favour so that’s a boost as we go off to London Colney on Tuesday. Promotion via the playoffs is still on the cards whilst the home team are fighting to stay in the division. It will be a new ground for me but my enthusiasm is tempered in the knowledge that it is in the middle of nowhere somewhere near St Albans so it’s looking like a midnight return. Let’s see!

How can you help the club? Well, please kindly remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for my local club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in with just £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity could continue their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can. If you can’t please consider sharing this site on Twitter/FB or wherever and if you want me to feature your club, kit, team etc just ping me. Thanks in advance.

I thought it was time to remind everybody why I am doing this digital tuktuk tour. It is a twofold objective. To raise money and awareness for Prostate Cancer UK and FC Deportivo Galicia.

So, rather than me try to explain, I am copying an email I got from them today.

“Hi Steve,

Without your support, we simply couldn’t continue to give men and their families affected by prostate cancer the information and support they need. The sad truth is, every ten minutes at least one man is diagnosed with prostate cancer in the UK.  

A prostate cancer diagnosis can be daunting. Men are often bombarded with information and asked to make difficult, life-changing decisions.  

Our Specialist Nurses work hard to empower those who get in touch by providing all the free, unbiased, confidential support they need to make confident choices for themselves.  

£20 could fund one of our Specialist Nurses for one hour. Will you help give men and their loved ones the power, the support and the information they need to navigate prostate cancer?

YES, I’LL HELP

Last year, our in-house team of expert Specialist Nurses were there for men and their families almost 14,000 times, giving people the time they needed to talk and ask questions.

‘I would never have got through this. But perhaps more importantly, my wife, my daughters would not have got through it without Prostate Cancer UK and the Specialist Nursing team.’ Gary Davis, Prostate Cancer UK Supporter

If you can spare just £20, our team could be there for men and their loved ones after a prostate cancer diagnosis and through whatever comes next.

Please donate today so that we can listen, answer questions and support people trying to navigate prostate cancer.

Thank you.”

Chiara De Biase
Director of Support & Influencing
Prostate Cancer UK

P.S. If you or your loved one are concerned about prostate cancer or a prostate problem, we’re here for you. Talk through any questions or concerns with our Specialist Nurses over the phone, email or our online chat.

Survey

Many of you will remember Christian Obray’s Overview of the Rise and Rise of Non-League Football.
Here it is again.

Blackburn Rovers’ fan, Aidan Wilson recently added a survey to his final university thesis and a lot of you were kind enough to help him. Today it is the turn of Adam Kelly a Sheffield United fan at Sheffield University who again has a survey on why fans are leaving the top four divisions for Non-League Football. Or are they?

Attendances recently released by Statista show that 19 out of 20 clubs are running at 95% and several are 99%+ sold-out! As of March 20, 2024, Manchester United had the highest average attendance in the Premier League in the 2023/24 season, attracting crowds of around 73,523 to Old Trafford. Meanwhile, city rivals and Premier League champions Manchester City had an average attendance of 53,194. Sheffield United were over 30,000 but hover around 95% capacity. Impressive, though, for a club having such a disappointing season! Sorry, Adam!

Anyway, please help Adam out and complete his short and interesting survey here

A study exploring the rise in attendances in English non-league football. Participant Information 

This research aims to explore fan consumption of non-league football and the rise in attendances. Your participation in this study is voluntary; you can withdraw from the study up to two weeks after data collection and you can decide not to answer a particular question should you wish. Please see the link below for information on the study in full: participant information sheet

Now a plea:

Kindly remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for my local club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in with just £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity could continue their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

It’s just a rant really. Already clubs are “launching” their 2024/2025 kits. Many do not even know what division they will be playing in BUT are nevertheless charging TOP DOLLAR. That’s “bad.” What is worse in my opinion is the prevalence of third and even fourth kits ….and what is WORST is the new phenomenon of special kits for one off matches sometimes with no names or for fairly arbitrary causes. It seems to me that in most cases they are there SOLELY to take money out of fans’ pockets. I suppose grammatically-speaking there is nothing worse than “worst” so I will simply say “even worse” is the case of goalkeepers’ European second kits! (Obviously, sarcasm alert, the dedicated fan will be expected to lay out for both a short-sleeve and a long-sleeve version of a shirt that may never ever be worn in mortal combat!) Juggling those prices in my head is that TEN keepers’ shirts at an average price of well over £50 each? If you want the outfield shirts, you can be looking at £1000 (sic) per season! Let’s not even thinking about having fan-issue and player-issue versions. £2000, here we come! If we add socks, shorts, pre-match tops etc etc can Manchester United or Barcelona hit £3000? I bet some clubs are praying they get drawn away in Norway where no betting logos are allowed so will we see a “Goalkeeper Europa League Away Shirt Special Edition No Logo shirt?” These clubs will no doubt expect their loyal fans to fork out another £50+ for a replica that would only have been worn once!

…and then the season ends, clubs are left with hundreds or thousands of shirts that they are forced to sell off at prices nearer a genuine value. So, no, I am not showing you Real Madrid’s or Arsenal’s £100+ 24/25 “new” shirts but here’s Wolves’ away shirt at a reasonable £18. It is available in the club shop on the official Wolverhampton Wanderers’ website

It would be wrong not to congratulate Wolves on an excellent season in the Premier League. As I write this they sit tenth and I think most people will consider that an over-performance. They are free of relegation fears, have an excellent young manager in Gary O’Neil and, in fact, have a chance of a European place! Not bad for a team that many wrote off in August! I have always had a soft spot for Wolves and ever since I got a fantastic guided tour of the ground by Mel Eaves back in 2010 I have looked out for their results. To be honest he was a legend (at Gillingham too!) before the launch of You Tube but here he is gracing the airwaves in the way he died the penalty box.

Picture © Matty 723

Marcus Cunha

Now a plea:

“I am not asking £100 for a Goalkeeper Europa League Away Shirt Special Edition No Logo shirt. I am not even asking £18 for a Wolves away at 70% off. I am asking for £1”

Yes, kindly remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for my local club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in with just £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity could continue their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can.

I was talking to FB friend Chris Lee this morning about books, Spain and football. After 60+ years as a bookworm, 20 years in Spain and 60 years following football these are three topics I am meant to know something about. OK, let’s rephrase it. These are three topics I am fascinated with!

Chris has updated the Outside Write “Best Spanish football books, podcasts and blogs.” We were asked to comment.

Let’s look at the “runners and writers” ….sorry, I’ll get my coat

Following the success of our post on the best Italian football blogs, podcasts and books, I have put together a similar collection for another country that gets a lot of interest on Outside Write – Spain. It’s a country I know well, having lived in both Madrid, where I wrote my final year dissertation on Spanish football and regional identity, and Valencia.

Chris, “Here are the best Spanish football books, podcasts and blogs that you need to know about”

Steve, “I am not the right person to comment on podcasts but as for books we are pretty much in agreement! That in itself might be some type of record for football fans who can normally start World War III over the size of the corner flags.”

Morbo

Steve, “If you have not read this, you don’t understand Spanish football.”

Chris, “If you read one book that summarises the entire history of Spanish football, from Spain’s first football club, Recreativo de Huelva, up until the success of the 21^st century, then read Morbo. ‘Morbo’ is a Spanish expression for the tension between two sides, and sums up the intensity that can exist in Spain. Ball chronicles the entire story of Spanish football, putting it in the context of the political, historical, regional and cultural circumstances that have influenced – and continue to impact – the Spanish game.”

Fear and Loathing

Steve, “If you have not read this, you don’t understand Spanish football.” (Yes, again!)

Chris, “The epic rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is brought to life brilliantly by Sid Lowe in Fear and Loathing in La Liga. The reader is taken on a journey from the very first meeting of the two sides in the 1900s, through the Franco era and controversy around Alfredo di Stefano’s signature, through to the democratic, uber-commercial era.

Lowe myth-busts any preconceived ideas around politics and identity and sets them into historical context.”

Los Leones: The Unique Story of Athletic Club Bilbao

Steve, “I absolutely need to read this!”

Chris, “This 2024 release from debut author Christopher Evans is an absolutely superb and comprehensive insight into one of the world’s most historically significant football clubs, Athletic Club de Bilbao. As well as reading Los Leones, please listen to our podcast with Gaizka Atxa, from the Athletic Club peña (supporters’ group), Mr Pentland Club, about the history and culture of Athletic Club de Bilbao.”

La Roja: A Journey Through Spanish Football

Steve, “An excellent read although normally I am fairly indifferent to national sides.”

Chris,” In La Roja, Madrid-born Jimmy Burns tells the story of the Spanish game with some key interviews to articulate how the Spanish game became the unique and admired entity that it is. How has the Spanish game been influenced by affairs off the pitch, and vice versa?”

As you can see, Chris is more incisive than I am! Best bet is to pop over to the blog and enjoy the full overview.

I am going to add a couple too

Gary Thacker’s two books about Spanish Non-League Football are quasi fiction and everything you read is implausible …. but highly probable! Absolutely recommended. Gary has also written non-fiction about English and Dutch football.

Bring Me that Horizon

Written in English by  Miguel L. Pereira, a Madrid-based author, about the PORTUGUESE game. Lots of interesting parallels and, of course, since early days of football many of the very best Portuguese players have plied their trade in Spain. Miguel has also written about Spanish football in Spanish ….and, a little birdie tells me a definitive book about Spanish football is due soon. Publishers, queue up!

Toni Kroos : Anatomia de un genio for Al Poste and published in 2014
Noches Europeas: 1897-2015 for TB Books in 2015
Sueños de la Euro for Panenka in 2021

…and finally, at a tangent,

Ghosts of Spain

No, this book is NOT about football but if you want to understand football in Spain, I would argue that you need to understand modern Spain. Tremlett’s book is “the one.”

The New Spaniards.

Another excellent read about Spain – John Hooper’s book, if read, in conjunction with Ghosts of Spain should give the reader a great overview of Spain in 2024.

Talking about Spanish football, l hope FC Deportivo Galicia are always in your thoughts. This was set up as a migrants’ team in London in the 60s. lt has thrived and is now looking for promotion to Step 5 in the English pyramid. Please remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can.

Hungerford Town

Happy Easter everyone. Hope everybody had a great time. There were some BIG games played and Darren Ashley, who is making a name for himself with his fantastic vlogs, took the opportunity to go down to Hungerford Town.

He said, ” I had a bad feeling that it was going to be anything but a Good Friday.

I contacted Hungerford Town & their manager Danny Robinson midweek to see if it was ok to film my vlog for their home match v Bracknell Town. As I’ve always found in Non League, they were happy for me to do so and were warm with their responses.

Now, all week, it just hadn’t seem to stop raining, and on Thursday, Hungerford announced on their X account that they were to be holding a 9.00 am pitch inspection. Credit to them for doing it early, but, to be honest, I kinda thought, this will be off, so I started to have a look elsewhere where there may be a game, but, to my surprise, the following morning, they announced GAME ON!

The great Easter getaway on the roads…don’t you just love the thought of driving in that but, to be fair, traffic in my direction was pretty good…unlike the opposite direction.

Turned up at the ground then, where it was raining so heavily that it was best to stay in the car until, hopefully it would pass….which it did within 10 minutes, and by the time I recorded the opening part of the vlog, it was beautiful.

I was met at the gate by the very friendly Dean and Gemma. Gemma introduced me to her partner/hubby Chris, who, that week had stepped in as temporary chairman of Hungerford Town FC.

Obviously, I’m always sniffing an opportunity for an interview, but Chris told me..in his words, “ I’d rather not as I have a face for radio”!!!

After some chat, Chris introduced me to media man Martyn, and asked Martyn to show me around.

Martyn was brilliant, a really good guy, and he showed me all around the club.

I was advised that, as Hungerford have an award winning burger…the Bulpit Burger Beast ( something like that), it was best to get it early, as it was very popular and big queues would form.

I declined for now, as I wasn’t hungry, but regretted trying it later on when there was a space in my stomach that needed filling….shame it shut by then .

Met some more nice people, including Danny the manager, and Jordan Ive, his Bracknell counterpart.

They, again, were really nice guys and obliging for a quick on camera interview.

On to kick off now, and a really strong wind was blowing, with ever changing weather throughout the 90 minutes.

Now, I don’t usually give spoilers regarding the game, as it would be great if you watched the vlog found in the comments below, but, the strong wind contributed to the opening goal of the game…a hopeful pass upfield from the Hungerford player, from inside his own half, that bounced a couple of times before bouncing over the Bracknell goalkeeper…who, incidentally, had a cracking match.

That’s it for spoilers.

90 minutes later, game was over, filming and interviews done, it was time to eat this award winning burger.

Oh well, next time. A kind lady gave me a recommendation where to eat in Hungerford high street, so, it was time to go.

So, that was my Non League day out.

Hungerford had been on my radar to do for a while, and was so glad I went because, the people around the club were so lovely to me, and, you would love a day out at their quirky, yet charming Bulpit Lane ground, and if you ever go, or have been, please let me know what THAT burger is like

Oh, one other thing, whilst milling around the ground, a chap called Jeremy approached me, we had a chat, he said nice things about watching the vlogs, and, he has invited me up to Matlock Town to film. So, not sure when that will be, but , that’s another one I have pencilled in at some stage, along, Soham Town Rangers ,Sherborne Town and Belper Town…and, with Kettering Town to do this Saturday, I’m open to more offers.

In the meantime, here is the You Tube of Darren’s trip to Hungerford. You can see the vlogs of all his previous games this season and also register/subscribe free of charge so you will always be the first to see his games. Enjoy!

Photo © Hans Henrik Appel 2024.

Notts County

Every football fan anywhere on the planet will know one thing about today’s team. “Notts County Football Club is a football club in Nottingham, England, and also the oldest professional association football club in the world.” Many will recite that it was founded in 1862 and a few continue that it should be Nottingham County and Notts Forest as County is based in Nottingham City and Forest yards (literally) over the boundary in Nottinghamshire. Whatever. It is a club with a LOT of history behind it yet currently languishing in the level four. Indeed, in 2019 they suffered the ignominy of being relegated to non-league football and there they stayed for four seasons. The official Notts County Database notes, ” With a total of 15 promotions and 17 relegations, no club has moved between the divisions of the Football League and National League on more occasions than Notts County. Promotion years – 1897 1914 1923 1931 1950 1960 1971 1973 1981 1990 1991 1998 2010 2023 Relegation years – 1893 1913 1920 1926 1930 1935 1958 1959 1964 1984 1985 1992 1995 1997 2004 2015 2019.” Something of a yo-yo club, you could say!

Anyway, what’s all this about? Well, today I met a very interesting Dane on Facebook Hans Henrik Appel, who like Christian and Darren delights in visiting the English grounds and writing about them. We chatted and he kindly offered to share an exceptional blog about Notts County. Meadow Lane was the very first professional ground I visited way back in 1962 or 63 for a schoolboy game between Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire. I can assure you that it was VERY different to what Hans Henrik saw. What has not changed is that County definitely consider themselves a community club and that is something both Hans Henrik and I applaud.


He writes, ” It is about time I get to see a match at Notts County. They are the oldest league club – from 1862. They were the first league club to become a limited company in 1890 (Small Heath, now Birmingham City, had done it in 1888, but they were not a league club at the time). And they are one of the inaugural 12 football league clubs. And probably the main reason for being chosen among the 12, was their football ground.

The league was set up by the leading professional clubs from the Birmingham FA and the Lancashire FA. When you look at the teams invited to join them – Everton, Stoke, Derby County and Notts County – they had all hosted FA Cup semi-finals in the preceding couple of seasons. And the league needed teams that could attract as well as accomodate large crowds.

Notts County were playing at the Trent Bridge cricket ground. It had been chosen as venue for a succesfull 1884 FA cup semifinal, and was therefore chosen again the following season, although this time the Notts County Cricket Club decided to block the planned semi-final between Blackburn Rovers and the Old Carthusians to protect the pitch. This semi-final was moved to the Castle Ground in Nottingham instead, but in 1887 Trent Bridge was chosen again.

In the next couple of years, Trent Bridge saw major developments after the Cricket Club purchased the ground in 1884. A new boundary wall on Gainston Road side with a permanent stand in 1884, a new Trent Bridge Inn in 1885, a new pavilion (in the ”Queen Anne’s style”) in 1886. Also in 1886, the Notts County Football Club erected a covered stand along the eastern boundary wall for their matches. And in this way the ground had developed into a state-of-the-art ground in 1888, when the founding fathers of the league assessed potential new members. Therefore, I find it appropriate to begin my visit at the Trent Bridge. I start with a walk around the ground. The football pitch bordered up to Fox Road and Hound Road, and I recognize a lot of the houses in these streets from the background in old photos of football at the Bridge. I take a walk around the Forest ground – or rather as much of it as I can, because the car park behind the Brian Clough Stand is locked off. Well, if they have to lock off one side of the ground, they have chosen the right one. It is almost brutalist in style. From the outside it does not have many redeeming features. But the Trent End with the river giving it a beautiful setting, and the Bridgford stand and main stand surrounded by terraced housing, look really good. It is probably my last sight of the old main stand, as it is about to be replaced – although only the previous day, I heard something on the news about the negotiations between club and council having stalled, with the possibility of a ground move lurking.”

Photo © Hans Henrik Appel 2024.

Hans Henrik has chose a game against Salford City …. a club as new to league football as County are old and he describes his day and the stadium. It finishes with an unexpected turn of events. He meets Ryan Giggs!

Three grounds in one shot. City Ground in the middle. Floodlights of Meadow Lane can be seen on the left, floodlights of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on the right. Photo © Hans Henrik Appel 2024.

“I stay behind after the final whistle, while the stewards check all the seats. The supervisor takes me to the main stand. He goes inside and asks if I can be allowed a look around. I don’t know if he had hoped to take me upstairs, but I am just allowed inside the reception to see a trophy and the blue plaque commemorating County being an inaugural member of the league. As I leave the reception, there is a small crowd outside waiting for autographs. I just have time to think that maybe there is a reason why the matchday programme is matte, writable paper, and why the supervisor has taken me to the main stand. I turn around – and there is Ryan Giggs leaving just behind me. After all those years waiting for him in vain after matches at Old Trafford, of course I had to get his autograph here in Nottingham – in the triangle of historic sports grounds.”

Ryan Giggs Photo © Hans Henrik Appel 2024.

Thanks! What a terrific read, Hans Henrik. I hope you will allow me to showcase some of your other articles. I particularly enjoyed your articles about Stockport County and Welford Rd so I may well squeeze your arm over the coming weeks!

To read the blog of his trip to Nottingham in its entirety, please jump over to his website and if you like it, do feel free to subscribe at no cost. Please also note that all his photos are copyrighted.

Now a plea:

Kindly remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for my local club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in with just £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity could continue their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can.

It was good to hear from Christian Obray yesterday and he advised me that he had been on the road again. Like Darren Ashley he is promoting the non-league game by visiting various non-league grounds and spotlighting them. I know that he is enjoying his trips and that mr readers are enjoying following Christian and Darren. Here is his Stafford Rangers, for example.

This week the spotlight turns on Southam United near Coventry. He says, “This time we are venturing through the turnstile looking at Southam United, based in Warwickshire.

Great Photo, Christian

Southam United, established in 1905 through the merger of two village teams, boasts a rich history of success in various leagues and cup competitions. From dominating the Coventry and North Warwickshire League in the 1940s and 1950s to achieving notable victories in the Midland Combination, the club has seen its share of triumphs and challenges.

Key highlights include winning the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup and securing titles in the Midland Combination. Despite setbacks such as relegation due to pitch size issues, Southam United persevered, eventually reclaiming their place in Premier Division football.

Bob Hancocks stands as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and appearance holder, recognized for his remarkable contributions with the FA Long Service Award. In 2001, the club merged with Southam Town FC, further expanding its reach and development initiatives, particularly in youth and women’s football….

The full article is here. Read it to see the all important drinks and food reports too. Where are Southam in his Snacks League?

Sadly, FC Deportivo Galicia do not have a game today but we are at home on Monday againsy our old friends from Molesey. 11,30am k.o. All welcome!

Please remember that the purpose of this day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can.

Newcastle

Well, after Sunderland it would be wrong oof me not to pop next to Newcastle. So, that is what I have done. By a coicidence best explained by the Facebook and Twitter algorithams who should pop up but my friend Matty? Matty is another great artist and has a whole bunch of Newcastle United products including a new keyring.

He says, “So after loads of feedback from you guys I’m officially putting these into production just after the bank holiday… 200x Available @ £7.00 each Size 50mm (5cm / 2″) Enamel / Nickel plated Everyone please hit repost and get them orders in ASAP Remember there’s still loads of £1 Prints in the shop as well as Limited Edition Prints, Canvases, T-Shirts, Mugs & Hoodies.”

You can check all his products for a huge number of clubs here – Matty723

Of course, thinkiing about Newcastle, I have top remember my trip there during the 2010 cycling tour I wrote, ” Today was my first real day out and I decided to have a quiet day sightseeing in Newcastle and Sunderland. It’s a long, long time since I had free time here and I really enjoyed travelling around the area. For just 8 pounds you can get a whole day pass that gets you on the buses, the excellent metro and the ferry. I took good advantage of the ticket! I was wandering around near Newcastle United’s St James’Park and stumbled over The Back Page which is a veritable Alladin’s Cave of memorabilia. It claims to be the “World’s largest football memorabila and bookshop”. I have certainly seen nothing better and it dwarves Sportspages. It has far more non-mainstream books and literally thousands of programmes from every club in the UK and many international teams too. I had a happy 30 minutes here and will be back on Monday when I will have more time. Happy Days!”

Well, the good news is that the shop is still in the centre and they have even opened a new one at the Metro Centre, Gateshead.

They say, “THE BACK PAGE is the largest website of it’s kind. Many items from our huge retail shops stock is added on a daily basis as the site continues to grow rapidly. Buy with confidence as we have been trading since 2003, specializing in Football Books, Memorabilia/Souvenirs as well as a huge range of North East Gifts and Books. As well as stocking a huge range Official Football Licensed Merchandise from Europe’s top clubs we also produce and sell a huge range of Bespoke Football items exclusive to us. We hope that the website will one day be fully stocked thus giving a true reflection of our World famous shops – The Back Page.” 

Shop Addresses The Back Page, 56 St Andrews Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5SF
Their website is here – The BACK page Website

Please remember that the purpose of this day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can.

92 HAIKU – Andy Powell

Yesterday we talked about the “power” of Facebook. Today it is Twitter I saw a random post with the number 92 in it. 92 is one of those significant numbers like Lucky 7 or 666 and I clicked. It led me to a chat with Andy Powell the author of “Doing the 92 Haiku.” He says, “92 has always been the magic number in football. 92 tabs of pressed cardboard being moved religiously up and down league ladders every Sunday morning. 92 tribes praying for the magical rising intonation of their score line on TV or radio, a mere semitone making or breaking an entire week. 92 sets of turnstiles beeping and clacking their mechanical permission for eager supporters to congregate again.”

So what is the book? He says, “Doing the 92 Haiku is one man’s quest to take the essence of all 92 English and Welsh professional football league grounds and distil each into just 17 syllables – all in strict 5-7-5 formation.

Every stadium is unique. From the architecture to the artefacts, each club’s story of highs and lows manifests in the place it calls home.

What started as a semi-drunken thought on the way into Southampton’s St Mary’s ground one fateful Friday evening became an obsession. Why else would you travel half the length of the country to witness Grimsby Town defeated in front of just 703 fans?

There’s just one small caveat: stadia are subjective. Please be aware that your footballing cathedral might be my soccer slum. And vice versa.”

Me, I started a blog, this blog back in 2010 when I set out to cycle to all the 92 clubs and Andy decided to go another road and write about it. He also decided to describe each of the 92 grounds in just 17 words. Impressive.

He continues, “You never forget the assault on your senses the first time you walk into a ground. The chatter and chants. The Bovril and beer. The green and the grey, of pitch and terrace, and the club colours you’ve worn since a baby.

If, like me, it was love at first sight, you quickly become comfortable in your newfound footballing cathedral, familiarising yourself with the lucky turnstile, the best view, the spot where your number 9 takes in the goal-scoring adulation.

And then, seemingly without warning, a second ground will hove into view. Maybe an away day, a pre-season friendly or a game grabbed on a weekend out of town. A new clunk, dissonant songs, a stand that cantilevers and rakes like an unfamiliar mathematical formula. On that concourse, you have something to compare. And your formative confirmation bias dictates that it can’t match the beatified patch of grass you call home.

Years later, you’ll make a fatal error. You will count how many grounds you’ve been to. Too late sucker, you’re on your way to an obsession, a membership you can’t tear up, an anger every time a league two part-timer moves into a new out-of-town identikit stadium and knocks one off your 92 total. I was in my 30s (grounds) and 40s (age) when I made this stupid mistake. Already travelling to most away games with my lifelong team, I started groundhopping as a neutral, poring over fixture lists whenever my game moved for TV and freed up a Saturday, and don’t get my wife started on how we were only taking holidays during international breaks.

Then one Friday night, I walked towards Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium several beers into an away day, and a thought formed. Would it be possible to distill the character of all 92 grounds into just 17 syllables at a time – in strict 5-7-5 formation? Curse you ale. I emerged from the underpass that reveals the St Mary’s symmetry. Six syllables. Dammit. Symmetry Mary. Five. We’re on.

That night, we lost, our manager got sacked and there were no trains home. Oh well, all the more material to work with. This introduction probably contains as many syllables as the rest of the book to come.

There’s just one disclaimer. Please remember, these are my own personal reflections. Sometimes of just one trip to your stadium, sometimes of many joyous victories, or that bogey ground that’s nothing but a painful chore. An infinite number of fans at infinite keyboards would generate an infinite number of haiku – all from the same 92 sources.”

…. and he repeats the warning

Stadia are subjective. Your cathedral might be my soccer slum. And vice versa.

You can learn more and order the book here

So, what is your favourite stadium? Remember, of course, that all answers other than Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium are incorrect!

The Majestic Priestfield Stadium – see more on Papilios Creative

Please remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can.