Linthorpe Academicals joined the North Riding Football League Division 1 at the start of this season. The club play home matches at Middlesbrough College, which is just along the road from the Riverside Stadium, in the shadow of the Hydraulic Clock Tower and within full sight of the Tees Transporter Bridge.

Linthorpe Academicals 7(Henderson 2 D.Malcolm 11,25,75pen  J.Harland 78 A.Malcolm 79 Oliver 90)

Thirsk Falcons Development 0

North Riding Football League Division 1 matchday 22/21

10th v 6th

2pm ko 

Att.7hc

 

Linthorpe got off to a great start, when Olly Henderson flicked the ball over the goalkeeper with just over a minute gone. The home team went further ahead when Danny Malcolm was set up for an easy finish, then he headed home at the near post from a corner kick to make it 3-0 after 25 minutes.

The Thirsk 'keeper made some top draw saves to keep the score down, until the fourth goal finally arrived with fifteen minutes remaining, as Malcolm completed his hat-trick with a penalty. 

This opened the floodgates, as the hosts constantly burst through on the counter attack with Jake Harland Adam Malcolm and a last minute goal from Keaton Oliver making it seven at full time.

 

#Heedhopper 

38 miles door-to-door 

A leisurely drive down the A19 after finishing work.

Current North Riding FL grounds visited 28/31

Bradford United 6-2 Lepton Highlanders

Yorkshire Amateur League - Supreme Division

Saturday 24th February 2024

Bradford is a city in West Yorkshire, which became a municipal borough in 1847, received a city charter in 1897. With a population of almost 350,000 it is the second-largest subdivision of the West Yorkshire Built-up Area after Leeds, which is approximately 9 miles to the east. 

The name Bradford is derived from the Old English brad (broad) and ford, referred to a crossing of the Bradford Beck at Church Bank below the site of Bradford Cathedral, where a settlement grew in Anglo-Saxon times. The town was recorded as "Bradeford" in the 1086 Domesday Book. 

The current club formed in 2012 as Toller FC playing Sunday league football, switching to Saturdays in 2018, joining the West Riding County Amateur League. Following the merger with the Yorkshire Amateur League in 2019, Toller won promotion to its Supreme Division in 2022. In the summer of that year, they joined forces with local powerhouse Phoenix FC to become Bradford United.

Bradford United Sports Park

Laisteridge Lane, 

Bradford, 

BD5 0NH

The Sports Park is a 5 minute walk from the campus, as well as the all-weather pitch, there’s tennis courts, physio room and training facilities. 

The 3G ground has a roped off section at the far side for spectators.

Bradford United 6(#6 4,22 #4 33 #10 48 #9 61 #16 86)

#Heedhopper

111 miles door-to-door

0815 Megabus Newcastle to Leeds (return on 2100)

1127 train to Bradford Interchange (return on 1930)

The match was part of a daytrip to Bradford for the breadknife and I to tick off the GBG pubs in the city. We arrived at noon and headed to the Turls Green for lunch. We called at the Fighting Cock before going to the match, then met up at the Record Cafe bar afterwards. The pub crawl continued at the Boar & Fable, Corn Dolly, Exchange Craft Beer Hall and Jacobs Well, before heading back to Leeds. 

A great day out, where we drank in some top quality pubs, finishing off at the Wapentake in Leeds before boarding the Megabus.

Friday 1st March 2024

I previously visited the town of St Helens at Langtree Park in 2014 and again in 2019, at Ruskin Drive, as part of the 2019 NWCL Hop.

Windleshaw Sports Ground

FC St Helens 1(Hall 24)

Saturday 2nd March 2024

Longridge is a market town and civil parish in the borough of Ribble Valley in Lancashire, situated 8 miles north-east of Preston and at the western end of Longridge Fell, a long ridge above the River Ribble. ( population over 7,500)

Longridge Town formed in 1996 following a merger between Longridge St Wilfrid's and Longridge United. They started in the Preston & District League, winning the Centenary Guildhall Cup in 2005.  Promotions saw the club reach the Premier Division, and a second-place finish in 2005–06 saw them step up to the West Lancashire League in 2008.

West Lancashire League 2009 - 2018: Division One champions 2011–12, Premier Division champions 2017–18

North West Counties Division One 2018 - present: Division One North champions 2018–19.

The Recycling Lives Ground 

Inglewhite Road, 

Longridge, 

Preston, 

Lancashire PR3 2NA

All the amenities are down one side of the ground. - the main stand, clubhouse, refreshment bar and a covered terrace enclosure. There's another covered terrace between the corner and the goal, with the rest of the ground open. The dugouts are on the far side where there's no spectator access. 

Longridge Town 2(Homson-Smith 20 Marshall 45+1)

Padiham 3(Price 27 Brownhill 37 James 79)

Matchday 37 

21st v 7th

Att.438

Spon:

Admission £7

Cappuccino £1

The hosts took the lead with a neat turn and left footed curler from Morgan Homson-Smith, but Padiham quickly turned it around. Good left wing play saw the ball squared to Jack Price to fire in, then a defensive error allowed Joel Brownhill to put them ahead.

It was all square just before the break, when a ball was played across the box to Mitchell Marshall, who fired in an unstoppable shot into the top bins.  

The second half could have gone either way but it was Padiham who took all three points when Tyler James dribbled through the defence and fired home the winner.

910.The Riverside

Garstang 3-2 Ashton Town

NWCFL First Division North 

2pm ko

Garstang is an ancient market town and civil parish within the Wyre borough of Lancashire, 10 miles north of Preston and the same distance south of Lancaster.

(population over 4,000) Garstang is famous for being the world's first ever “Fairtrade Town” influencing many other towns and cities around the U.K. to work towards the same purpose. 

It is mentioned in the Domesday Book as ‘Cherestanc’, and there’s been many adaptations of the name over the years.

The town name translates as "'gore by the boundary pole", "spear post", "triangular piece of land" which signifies the site of a meeting-space. The Saxon derivation 'Gaerstung' probably refers to the historic market cross at this same site.

Garstang FCwas established in 1885, and became members of the Preston & District League. The club won the league's Guildhall Cup in 1927 and remained in the league all the way up to 1994, when they moved up to Division Two of the West Lancashire League.

West Lancashire League 1994 - 2018 : Premier Division champions 2007–08, 2017–18, Presidents Cup winners 1999–2000, Richardson Cup winners 2017–18

North West Counties League Division One North 2018 - present

The Riverside 

Lancaster Road, 

Garstang, 

Lancashire PR3 1EB

The club played at the Beeches before moving to the Riverside in the mid-1960s, located next to the River Wyre. A small stand was built behind the dugouts, but was removed in 2006 due to vandalism. Nowadays there's two covered sections behind the goal next to the paying entrance. The clubhouse is behind the goal, and again, this ground is three sides due to the neighbouring cricket ground.

Garstang 3(Darley 24 Ball 33 Bailey 50)

Ashton Town 2(Lomax 67 Ready 70pen)

Matchday 28/26

16th v 5th

Att.388

Spon:

Admission £6

Coffee £1.50

This match had a 10.30am pitch inspection and the club played a blinder to get the game on. The Riversiders were totally in control of the game when Joel Darley deflected in a Harris Bailey shot, followed by Theo Ball finishing off a quick counter attack to make it 2-0 at half time. When Harris Bailey curled in a fabulous shot into the top corner of the net five minutes after the restart, it looked like it was game over. 

Ashton Town kept plugging away with Chris Lomax finishing off a well worked move, then with twenty minutes remaining Conor Ready fired in a penalty to make it 3-2. 

The visitors were denied an equaliser with a good save quickly followed by a goal line clearance, but The Stang held on, and also had chances to extend their lead in a hectic final fifteen minutes. 

#Heedhopper

Current NWCL grounds visited 38/60

330 mile round trip drive door-to-door

This was a solo road trip, departing Gallowgate View at 9.10 and arriving in Leyland two and half hours later (after driving through a storm on the M6) for my bonus match at the Leyland Sports Ground. The match was due to kick off at 1pm, but just as I arrived the referee was doing a pitch inspection and had no hesitation in calling off the Burnley U-21 v Coventry City U-21 fixture. I wasn’t the only Groundhopper who arrived in the area early to tick off this ground, as I spotted a lot of familiar and totally pissed off faces in the car park. 

This meant I had a few hours to kill before booking into the Ibis Hotel, which is north of Preston, just off the M6. The Leyton Lion was handy for some bait and numerous cups of tea and coffee, then I had a cheeky half in the Market Ale House. 

The rest of my plans went perfectly and without any hitches. I only planned to do the first three games of the NWFL Groundhop, because I’ve already been to the two grounds in Blackpool which formed the rest of the Saturday schedule. I was back home at 6.15 on Saturday evening and I was sad to learn that both of the later games fell foul to the weather. (so I imagine there were  a lot more pissed-off faces!)

It was an enjoyable trip and it's always good to meet up again with like minded friends. I also met Angus “Statto” Loughran, who those of a certain age will remember from the 1990s TV show Fantasy Football League. We chatted for about half an hour, and he told me lots of interesting and informative football stories, plus shared his success in betting on football matches. He’s a really nice bloke, hopefully our paths will cross again in the future.

(last picture courtesy of Simon Lee)

Saturday 16th March

Luncarty is a village in between the A9 motorway and the River Tay, 4 miles north of Perth. The football club was formed in 1886 by employees of a local bleachworks, who joined the Junior ranks in 1921. The club played in Tayside Division One in the SJFA East Region, and finished second in the division's final season in 2005-06, when the Bleachers were placed in the new Central Division, following the reconstruction of the East Region Juniors. Luncarty left the Junior setup to join the East of Scotland Football League within the senior pyramid in 2020.

Brownlands Park

Main Rd, 

Luncarty, 

Perth PH1 3EP

Capacity 1,200

The clubhouse and changing room block are behind the goal. The ground is open with wooden dugouts on one side, in front of steep banking where the railway line passes. 

Luncarty 5(Woolley 21 McLachlan 33 Davies 34,40pen Scarborough 84)

Crossgates Primrose 3(Sutherland 3 Muirhead 31,77)

Matchday 20

15th v 14th

Att.386

Spondoolicks :

Admission £7

Steak pie £2.50 Tea £1.50 

The first fixture of the day was a battle in the bottom three, which turned out to be a cracker. The away side took an early lead when a long ball was nodded in by Jake Sutherland from the edge of the box, before the hosts equalised, when Kyle Woodley nicely cut inside and finished with the outside of his boot. 

Primrose quickly restored their advantage with Cammy Muirhead netting a rebound from close range, but moments later a left wing cross was met by a cheeky back header from Ross McLauchlan to draw them level.

Luncarty went into half time two goals up, when a shot was deflected in by Rhys Davies, then a silly handball saw Davies get his brace from the penalty spot.

The visitors got back into the game when a through ball found Muirhead to fire into the keepers left hand post, before our hosts clinched the win when a Ben Scarborough left wing cross flew into the far corner of the net to make it 5-3. 

912.Tulloch Park

Kinnoull FC formed in 1943 and are based in the Tulloch area of Perth.

Tulloch Park

Tulloch Hill, 

Tulloch Rd, 

Perth PH1 2SN

Capacity 1,200

Similar to the last ground, with the clubhouse behind the goal, open standing, no stands and both dugouts on one side, which are decked out with leather seats. There's plenty of space on all sides if the ground needs to expand.

Kinnoull 0

913.Riverside Stadium

Jeanfield Swifts 1-1 Dunbar United 

(1645ko)

Jeanfield Swifts FC  are based in the North Muirton area of the city. They were also part of the reconstruction in 2006, having won the league title in the final season of Tayside Division One. They were promoted to the East Region Premier League as champions in 2011–12, then won the division in 2015–16, to reach the Superleague for the first time. In 2018–19, Swifts were admitted into the East of Scotland Football League. They finished third in Conference C and were promoted to the new 16-team Premier Division, after the league reverted to a two-tier system.

Riverside Stadium, 

Bute Drive, 

Perth PH1 3BP

Capacity 1,000

The ground has a covered terrace with an overhanging roof which backs onto the clubhouse, which is decked out in green. The rest of the ground is open with the dugouts on the far side. 

Jeanfield Swifts 1(Smith 5)

Dunbar United 1(Hendry 90+3)

Matchday 21/22

3rd v 5th

Att.385

Admission £10 

The Swifts took an early lead with a screamer of a free kick from Fraser Smith, blasting the ball home from 25 yards. Surprisingly, that early strike looked to be the decisive moment until deep into added on time. A push in the box resulted in Taylor Hendry converting the resulting penalty to give Dunbar a share of the spoils. 

914.Beechwood Park

Sauchie Juniors 3-2 Hill of Beath Hawthorn 

(2000ko)

Sauchie is a town in the Central Lowlands, north of the River Forth and south of the Ochil Hills, Sauchie has a population of around 6000, located just one mile northeast of Alloa.

Sauchie Junior Football Club began as Sauchie Juveniles, which was a league for players up to 27 years of age. Sauchie won the Scottish Cup four times in a ten year spell between 1951–52 and 1959–60, before switching into the Junior grade in 1960. In the Club's second season as a Junior team, they won the East Region League in 1962–63, using mostly the Juvenile players.

In 2011, the club won the East Region South Division to gain promotion to the Premier League, followed by promotion to the Super League the following season.. Following relegation the club won a second Premier League title in 2016-17.

In 2018 Sauchie were one of many clubs to move from the Junior leagues to the East of Scotland Football League.

Beechwood Park, 

Sauchie, 

Alloa FK10 3AX

Capacity 5,000

Sauchie Juniors originally played at Fairfield Park, before building a new ground at Beechwood Park. The ground was developed in 2003 with a new stand, enclosure and floodlights. The stand is built up with the changing rooms underneath and has red seats with SJFC picked out in white. Opposite is a pitch length covered in enclosure which is also painted in the club colours, with open standing behind the goals. 

Due to the rotten weather I was unable to get any decent photos, so I've posted some alternative pictures of Beechwood Park in all its glory.

Sauchie Juniors 3(Smith 7,32pen 45)

Hill of Beath Hawthorn 2(Watt 46 Tosh 83)

Matchday 23

6th v 7th

Att.447

It lashed down with rain during the 36 mile drive down to Sauchie, so when we arrived the pitch at Beechwood Park didn't exactly look match fit. Thankfully it went ahead and what a match it was, with both sides fully committed and putting in a great shift for the watching supporters and groundhoppers. 

A fabulous Danny Smith hat-trick put Sauchie 3-0 up at half time, made up of two brilliant strikes from outside the box and an unstoppable penalty in between. Just before the third goal Ross Kavanagh was sent off for violence conduct, due to the interference of the linesman who spotted something the referee missed, so Sauchie were down to ten men after 39 minutes. 

Straight from the restart Dan Watt side footed in at the near post after just seventeen seconds to put Beath back in it. The visitors then missed an array of chances, then finally scored with a Jordan Tosh effort from the edge of the box to make it 3-2. 

Both teams went for it in the final ten minutes with chances at both ends, but the hosts won it in a great match to finish off a long day of footy. 

Credit: Scottish Groundhopping Guide

Credit:Sauchie FC Facebook

#Heedhopper

382 mile round trip door-to-doors

Current East of Scotland League grounds visited 33/58

Total Scottish grounds visited 122

Much gratitude to Katie for chauffeuring us around the grounds in the Katiemobile and getting me safely home this morning at 1.25.

The ground was originally a Rugby Union venue becoming home to Wakefield Trinity in 1879. They were one of the initial 22 clubs to form the Northern Union after the acrimonious split from the Rugby Football Union in 1895. Belle Vue hosted the Challenge Cup final for the only time in 1923, when Leeds beat Hull F.C. 28–3 in front of a crowd of 29,335. The ground has been used for speedway and Leeds United Reserves have also played at the stadium

Football wise, Emley A.F.C. relocated to Belle Vue in Wakefield in 2000.  The club's name changed three times during this period to Wakefield & Emley FC to Wakefield-Emley and then just to Wakefield FC. They remained at Belle Vue until 2006, when they moved out to play at College Grove. After five years away the club returned to Belle Vue in 2012, however their return was short lived as they were wound up in 2014 after a move back to Emley failed, and resigned from the Northern Counties East League.

#Heedhopper 

Current NCEL grounds visited 39/43

Picked up Lee & Katie at noon for a 107 mile drive door-to-door.

 

Be Well Support Stadium

Belle Vue

Doncaster Road, 

Wakefield 

WF1 5EY

Capacity 6,956

The new main stand named after Rugby League legend Neil Fox MBE, is a large single tier structure filled with red, white and blue seats, and a capacity of 4409, with the team dugouts at the front. Opposite the stand is the Arthur Street Side, which is open terracing with a covered enclosure in one corner, which also houses a TV gantry.

The North end was originally an open terrace until 2012 when a roof was erected and the terracing replaced; there are still sections of the old crumbling terrace at the top end of the kop.
The Trinity Street End was originally terracing until the early 2000s, when more hospitality facilities were built with a four-storey building similar to the South Bank at Bradford's Odsal Stadium. The South East corner houses the changing rooms and reception.

Wakefield 3(Losa 17 Sandhu 62pen Barkham-Barnes 79)

Parkgate 1(Duggan 45+1)

NCEL Division One matchday 40/32

2nd v 4th

Att.555 

Admission £6

Tea £2

The Falcons continued their push at the top of Division One with a good win over fellow promotion rivals Parkgate. 

Seb Losa gave them the lead with a superb goal, beating a couple of defenders and hitting a low hard shot into the far corner from a good twenty yards out.

That looked to be the only first half strike, but just before the whistle a Ross Duggan header sneaked over the line at the far post to draw Parkgate level. 

After the interval Wakefield took advantage of the strong southerly wind to put the visitors under pressure. Jaydan Sandhu converted a penalty just after the hour mark, then an inswinging corner into a crowded six yard box dropped to Slater Barkham-Barnes, who slammed the ball home to give new gaffer Junior Roberti the perfect start.

Heighington are a community football club established in July 2003, catering for children of all ages up to senior level and over 40s.

The club are based at Heighington Playing Fields, which has a main changing room block, car park space and three pitches, with the senior side playing their North Riding League matches on the middle pitch. 

Heighington twice took the lead in the first half with some good finishing from John Elsender, but opponents North Ormesby hit back twice. A free kick from Robert Bailey in his own half, caught out the keeper with the wind claiming an assist as the ball went straight through the keeper's hands, then Connor Hardman was on hand to make it 2-2 from close range.

The visitors took control in the second half with Daniel Calvert firing in from twenty yards, then a nice exchange of passes was finished off with Lewis Foster shooting into the roof of the net from the edge of the box. 

Heighington 2(Elsender 11,30)

North Ormesby 4(Bailey 19 Hardman 40 Calvert 59 Foster 79)

Att.13hc 

North Riding FL Division 1 matchday 27/28 

11th v 3rd 

Louth is a market town and civil parish in the East Lindsey district of Lincolnshire. Louth attractions include St James' Church, Hubbard's Hills, the market, a selection of indie retailers and Lincolnshire's last remaining cattle market.

The Welton Group Stadium

Main Road, 

Saltfleetby, 

Louth, 

LN11 7SS.

In June 2016, Louth Town were blocked access to the Park Avenue group by the landlord who intends to use the land for development, which led to their relocation outside of the Town at the Marshlands facility in Saltfleetby.

The ground has one small central stand, with the dugouts on the opposite side. The rest of the ground is open with the changing room and clubhouse buildings behind the goal at the entrance.

Louth Town 1(Coulam 87)

Parkgate 2(Whitfield 7 Tahar 60)

NCEL Division One Matchday 42/41

11th v 2nd

Att.111 

Admission £5

Pin badge £4

Parkgate increased their chances in the Division One title race with a hard earned win at Louth. They took an early lead when Brandon Whitfield swept the ball into the top corner from the edge of the box, then doubled their lead on the hour with a snap shot by Ahmed Tahar from 20 yards. 

The hosts pulled a goal back late on with a fine 25 yard drive from Paul Coulam, but the visitors comfortably held on to take all three points. 

#Heedhopper 

Newton Aycliffe Youth FC Seniors have won the Wearside League 2nd Division in their debut season. The club stepped up from the Durham U-23s, where they won the league and cup double, based at the Oakleaf Sports Complex. The sports ground has four pitches, with the senior side using the ground running parallel with School Aycliffe Lane, closest to the changing room block and car park. 

Newton Aycliffe YFC Seniors 3(Murray 10 Thompson 47 Peart 74)

It has been a very long, slow process, but I can now look at the football coupon knowing I've been to all the grounds in the Scottish League. 

Peterhead is a town in Aberdeenshire,which sits at the easternmost point in mainland Scotland. (population over 18,000)

The town is known as The Blue Toon, where the local folk are known as "Bloo Touners" supposedly from the blue worsted moggans that the local fishermen originally wore. Accordingly to a 2019 survey its the biggest fishing port in the United Kingdom for total landings by UK vessels.

HM Prison Peterhead gained a reputation as one of Scotland's toughest prisons. It was built around 1888 and closed in 2013, due to the construction of a new and larger prison facility nearby. The building now serves as the Peterhead Prison Museum which provides an Audio Guided Tour of cells and courtrooms.

Peterhead FC was founded in 1891, having been a Highland League club for most of their history. The club were league champions for the first time in 1946-47, and won it for a fifth time in 1998-99. They were granted league status in 2000, when the SPL was expanded for two extra clubs, with Elgin City also joining them in the Third Division.

Balmoor Stadium

Peterhead 2(Shanks 7 Brown 35)

#Heedhopper

326 miles door-to-door 

Aberdeen is the nearest railway station to Balmoor - 32 miles away, making it the greatest distance between a senior league football ground and its nearest railway station in Great Britain.

0624 train Newcastle  - Edinburgh 

0830 train Edinburgh - Aberdeen 

1200 X61 bus Aberdeen - Peterhead bus station 

The three-legged journey went smoothly, so after leaving the house at 5.30am I finally arrived in Peterhead at 1.15pm. I had plenty of time before the match to go for a stroll around the town and obviously stop for beverages in The Cross Keys JDW and delicious beers in Brew Toon. 

After the match, I legged it back to the bus station to catch the 61 service at 5 o’clock. It was a longer bus journey back to Aberdeen, through desolate countryside and small villages, so I finally checked into my guest house at 6.45. 

On Saturday night I had a very enjoyable pub crawl, calling at the bars I missed out on when I was last in the Granite City. I supped in the Ferryhill House Hotel, The Stag, Under The Hammer, The Blue Lamp, The Firepit and finished the night with a revisit to The Grill. 

Overall a terrific weekend, Peterhead was a good one to finish The 42 and I do love a night out in Aberdeen. 

The club was formed in 2018, taking the place in the Wearside League of Darlington F.C Reserves, who originated out of Horden Colliery Welfare relocating to Darlo in 2016.

Eastbourne Community Stadium

Eastbourne Sports Complex

Bourne Ave, 

Darlington 

DL1 1LJ

The 4G pitch has a seated stand and changing room block at the entrance side. At the far side are two identical covered enclosures named after Arthur Wharton and Lillie Galloway. 

This is the third ground I've visited within this large sports complex. I saw Darlington Cleveland Bridge play on the athletics pitch in 2010 (the first time I met Lee) and Darlington Reserves in their first seasonon the other 4G they used prior to their recent move across the other side of the complex. 

Darlington Town 3(Woodford 36 Beauchamp 55 Coles 70)

Richmond Town 0

Shipowners Charity Cup Final

2pm KO 

Admission £3

Att. 437

Darlington Town completed the treble and retained their hold on the Shipowners Charity Cup, having already bagged the league title and the Monkwearmouth Charity Cup. 

They went ahead in the 36th minute when Connor Woodford fired in with his left foot, following in on goal after the keeper saved from his own defender. 

James Beauchamp played a neat one-two before firing in a volley from the edge of the box to double their lead ten minutes into the second half, before Ryan Coles headed home from a corner kick to make it 3-0.

The champions will be looking to add a fourth trophy this season in the Durham Minor Cup final against Durham Corinthians next Friday night.

NK GOŠK Dubrovnik 2-1 NK Neretva

Treća NL Jug 

Saturday 25th May 2024

Dubrovnik is a city in southern Croatia by the Adriatic Sea, known for its distinctive Old Town, encircled with massive stone walls completed in the 16th century. Its well-preserved buildings range from baroque St. Blaise Church to Renaissance Sponza Palace and Gothic Rector’s Palace, now a history museum. Paved with limestone, the pedestrianised Stradun is lined with shops and restaurants.

The HBO TV series Game of Thrones was shot in the town which has resulted in a rise in tourism, especially (as I experienced) visitors from the United States. 

GOŠK was founded in 2016 by the merging of NK GOŠK and HNK Dubrovnik 1919. The club has spent all of its time in the 3.HNL/NL – Jug, the fourth tier of the Croatian football league system. 

Gradski Stadion Lapad

Ul. Ivana Meštrovića, 

20000, 

Dubrovnik, 

Croatia

Gradski Stadion Lapad was built in 1919 and has a current capacity of 3,000. The ground is largely made up of terracing, with bolted bucket seats down one side. The changing rooms are at the top of the stairs, behind the far goal. The stadium has an outer running track and has splendid panoramic views of the mountains, plus the Dr. Franjo Tuđman Bridge. 

NK GOŠK Dubrovnik 2(V Skaramuca 20pen J.Listar 62)  

NK Neretva 1(S.Galov 7)

Treća NL Jug Group D Matchday 30 (13th v 6th)

Att.73hc 

Admission 5€

GOŠK came from behind to end their league campaign with a home win. 

The visitors went ahead with a good chest and volley strike from 25 yards by Galov, before the hosts soon equalised from the penalty spot.

The winner arrived just after the hour mark when Listar latched onto a through ball and slotted home a left foot shot into the far corner to make it 

#Heedhopper 

Newcastle - Dubrovnik 

1250 miles airport-to-airport.

The match was on the final day of our holiday. We had a fantastic time doing our usual crack of sun, sea, sightseeing and lots of beer, in probably one of the cleanest and classiest town's we've visited. 

Wearside League Division One side Belmont United faced Division 3 newcomers Coundon Cons in a pre-season kickabout at Sherburn Sports Centre. Sherburn is a village in County Durham, 4 miles west of Durham city. The ground is full perimeter fence off with a team dugout on each side. Changing room facilities are within the gymnastics club. 

Sherburn Sports Centre

Sherburn Village, 

Durham

DH6 1QX

Prestonpans is a small mining town, situated approximately eight miles east of Edinburgh in East Lothian. (population as of 2022 is 10,460)

Preston Athletic formed in 1945, originally as a junior club, entering the senior ranks in 1994, when they joined the East of Scotland Football League and also won the Alex Jack Cup. “The Panners” won the First Division title in 2001-02.

They were founding members of the Lowland Football League in 2013, but returned to the EoS First Division after relegation in 2017.

Pennypit Park

Rope Walk, 

Prestonpans 

EH32 9BN

Capacity 1,500 (313 seats)

Current East of Scotland League grounds visited 33/58

Total football grounds visited in Scotland - 124

Pennypit Park consists of two sports fields, one for association football and the other rugby union, home of Preston Lodge RFC. Construction was over an old coal pit dating back to 1202, the name came from miners in the area who were earning a penny a shift, so it became known as "The Penny Pit" The pitch was planted in the 1950s, then in the 1970s the rugby club and East Lothian District Council paid for a new pavilion and rugby pitch to be constructed.

#Heedhopper

115 mile door-to-door solo road trip up the A1. The nearest uncharted ground playing at home today. 

Pub visited: Prestoungrange Gothenburg 

North Shields Athletic Reserves hosted Heddon United in a pre-season friendly at the Hadrian Leisure Centre in Wallsend. The 4G cage is behind the centre by Burnside College. 

                       Will Coulthard - missed penalty       87'

 1pm k.o.

Att.21hc

       Washington Athletic 2-3 Wynyard Village

Wearside League Division 1

Wearside League Division 1 club Hilda Park have relocated to Washington. The club are playing home matches at Glebe Park just outside the old Washington Village.

Glebe Park

Emmerson Terrace,

Washington

After a goalless first half, Washington took a two goal lead and looked set for an opening day win. However, the visitors hit back with three goals in the last 17 minutes, the winner coming with just seconds remaining.

Washington Athletic 2-3 Wynyard Village

                                              #11 Michael 55’ 1-0

                                        James McAlpine 66’ 2-0

                                           2-1 Callum Poole 73’

                                        2-2 Thomas Lavender 82’

                                2-3 Daniel Wray 90’

Att.48hc

#Heedhopper 

Met up with Lee & Katie for the first time this season. 

Current Wearside League grounds visited 31/37

Hetton Juniors senior side have relocated to Eppleton Academy, where they started their Wearside League Division 2 campaign with an opening day win over Crook Town Youth, last Saturday. 

The ground is found at the back of the school, next door to Eppleton Cricket Club in Hetton-le-Hole.

Eppleton Academy 

Church Rd, 

Hetton-le-Hole, 

DH5 9AJ

Hetton Juniors 0-4 Easington Lane Reserves 

Wearside League Division 2 matchday 2 (7pm ko)

Att.60hc 

After a close opening period, the Lane took control with two goals in quick succession in the second half and ended the match strongly. 

0-1 32’ #8

O-2 69’ #16 

0-3 70’ #16

0-4 89” #10 

(awaiting confirmation of goalscorers)

#Heedhopper 

Again, met up with Lee & Katie at the match.

Current Wearside League grounds visited 31/37

Another Wearside League club to relocate this season are Stanley based South Moor AFC. The club has made the short move just up the road from Greenland to the Sports Club, where they played their opening fixture last week, beating Bishop Auckland Reserves 3-2. 

South Moor Sports Club

Greenhills, 

Stanley 

DH9 7HP

South Moor 0-3 Durham FC Corinthians 

Prior to the start of the 2024-25 Northern Alliance season, Amble, Cullercoats, Newcastle Blue Star U-23s, Whitley Bay Sporting Club 'A' and Walkergate all resigned from the league. 

Newcomers this season are AFC Newbiggin Reserves, Bedlington United, Killingworth Reserves and Ovingham, who all move from the NE Combination League, plus a new club - Wrekenton Blue Star. Wreka are a local team to me, who play down the Longbank at Black Lane, a ground I visited when Birtley St Joseph played one season there in the Alliance. 

I checked them out pre-season and they look good for a decent season in the 3rd Division. 

As far as new grounds to visit are concerned, there's just the three to do, which are…

930. St Peter's Sports Hub

The Northumberland FA have relocated their headquarters from Whitley Park to St Peter's Playing Fields, just off the Coast Road at the top end of Wallsend. The 4G pitch has two 50 seater covered stands and team benches on the Coast Road side. The rest of the site is a work in progress, as the main building and car park are still not finished. 

Northern Alliance sides Willington Quay Saints and Benton are both using St Peter's as their home ground from this season. 

Benton 3-4 Ellington

Northern Alliance Division 2 matchday 6/5

(10th v 11th)

2pm ko 

Att.22hc

A cracking second half saw Benton come from behind to take a 3-2 lead with a second strike from Cal Wilson on 84 minutes. With time running out the visitors pinched the points, with two great finishes from Tom Ward in the dying minutes. 

0-1 33' Ethan Foster

1-1 55" Cal Wilson 

1-2 64" Richard Burn 

2-2 75' Dom Burnie 

3-2 84' Cal Wilson 

3-3 89" Tom Ward

3-4 90' Tom Ward 

Ovingham is a village and civil parish in the Tyne Valley of south Northumberland. It lies on the north bank of the Tyne, just over the river from Prudhoe.The club have been around since 1902, playing at the village playing fields, which is now tucked inside a housing estate off Ovingham Road. 

Ovingham 5-1 Killingworth U-23

Northern Alliance Division 3 matchday 7/6

(10th v 9th)

6.15pm ko 

Att.37hc 

A brace from Archie Leonard set up a good win for the Swans, although the score should have been much closer as the visitors missed several easy chances. 

1-0   3' Archie Leonard 

2-0 26' Keiran Harrison

3-0 55' Archie Leonard 

4-0 64' Ben Robinson

5-0 81' Billy Murphy 

5-1 87' Harvey Hutchinson

The other Alliance ground to do is Bedlington United. This will be added to this post in due course.

Founded in 1908 under the name Edinburgh Civil Service Football Club, The Strollers have twice lifted the Scottish Amateur Cup, beating Queens Park Strollers 1-0 at Forthbank in 1911 and a decade later with victory over Moorpark Amateurs at Hampden.

East of Scotland Football League champions 1925–26, 1926–27, 1972–73

EoSFL First Division champions: 1992–93

In 2016 the club were elected to fill one of two vacancies in the Lowland Football League, with a 5th place finish in 2018-19 being their best performance so far.  

Christie Gillies Park

25 Marine Drive

Muirhouse 

Edinburgh 

EH4 5EJ

Capacity 1,596 (96 seats)

Current Lowland League grounds visited 16/18

Total Scottish football grounds visited 125.

The club originally played at the Stenhouse Stadium, which later became a greyhound venue, before moving to Pinkhill Stadium during the1920s. They moved to the Edinburgh Area Civil Service Sports Association in Muirhouse in 1957, which is now known as Christie Gillies Park.

The ground has one small stand along the North side with the dugouts opposite. The pitch was once part of a large playing field, until work was carried out in 2015, to provide spectator cover and enclose the ground. Floodlights were added in 2019 to meet SFA licensing criteria.

#Heedhopper 

The Malt Shovel Inn

Greyfriars Bobby

The White Hart Inn

George IV

Tolbooth Tavern

This year's summer vacation was in Toronto, the most populous city in Canada and the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. (population 2.8m)

During our fantastic week-long holiday we visited Niagara Falls (one off my bucket list), went to two arena concerts(Weezer and Jeff Lynne's ELO) drank in 31 pubs/breweries, shopped in 10 record stores, attended a Blue Jays baseball game and squeezed in 3 football matches at three different stadiums.

933.Varsity Stadium

University of Toronto 3

Toronto Metropolitan University 2

OUA East Division 

Friday 6th September 2024

The Ontario University Athletics Soccer League is made up of two leagues with nine universities in both the West and East Divisions. 

The Varsity Blues captured one National Championship in 1988, which has since been inducted into the Varsity Blues Hall of Fame. The University dates back to the 1880s and has won 49 provincial OUA Championships, with the most recent one in 2010. The Varsity Blues won the Argo Cup in the Red and Blue Bowl in 2013.

Varsity Stadium

299 Bloor St W, 

Toronto, 

ON M5S 1W2

The stadium has a seated stand on one side with a capacity of 4,000, The team benches opposite the pitch is surrounded by a running track with a full set of floodlights.

Varsity Blue(UoT) 3 TMU Bold(TMU) 2

8.45pm ko 

Att.250est

Admission $15

A fast and competitive match, which saw the hosts come from behind to beat their local rivals with a brace from Niklas Hallam.

24'     1-0 Oliver Barta 

45+3' 1-1 Justin Santos 

56'    1-2 Akeim Villous 

78'    2-2 Niklas Hallam 

84'    3-2 Niklas Hallam 

934. Ford Centennial Stadium 

Serbian White Eagles 4-0 Spanish Future Stars

Canadian Soccer League 

Saturday 7th September 

The Canadian Soccer League is a semi-professional league for Canadian soccer clubs located in the province of Ontario. As of 2024, it consists of six teams, with the season usually running from May to October, with most games played on the weekend followed by a playoff format to determine the overall champion. The fixtures are all played at the one venue, with kick offs staggered at 2, 4 and 6 o'clock. The league used two stadiums in Toronto - the Esher Shiner Stadium and the Ford Stadium in Centennial Park. 

Ford Stadium 

Centennial Park

56 Centennial Park Rd, 

Etobicoke, 

ON M9C 3T3

The stadium has a large open stand on side, with partial cover at the top. The pitch is surrounded by a running track, and just like last night's venue, has both soccer and gridiron markings on the pitch.

Serbian White Eagles 4 Spanish Future Stars 0

935. Downsview Park

TMU Bold, formerly known as the Ryerson Rams, are the varsity athletic teams that represent Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly known as Ryerson University) Toronto Metropolitan University operates 11 men's and women's varsity teams that compete provincially as part of Ontario University Athletics (OUA) and nationally as part of U Sports.

Downsview Park Soccer Fields

2E2, 71 Carl Hall Rd, 

North York, 

ON.

The fields are next to the Toronto FC BMO Training Ground. The 4G pitch has sections of seats, made up of five bench rows. The team benches are at the far side.

TMU Bold 2 Varsity Blues 1

1.15pm KO 

Att.130hc 

Admission:Free

The Bold got their revenge following the defeat on Friday night with two goals from Chris Campoli in the first half. The Blues dominated the second half but could only muster the one goal in reply. 

 7" 1-0 Chris Campoli 

36' 2-0 Chris Campoli 

59' 2-1 Niklas Hallam 

3934 miles airport-to-airport

Newcastle - Amsterdam - Toronto

Countries seen football - 17

Saturday 14th September 2024

33' 1-0 Finlay Thomas 

77' 1-1 Ethan Mitchell 

87' 1-2 Steven Hudson

Att.58hc 

937.Middlestone Moor Community Centre 

 6' 1-0 Callum Whitfield 

 9' 2-0 Ross Morrow(pen)

23' 3-0 Adam Watson 

27' 3-1 Ziyad Lahbabi 

29' 4-1 Ross Morrow 

43' 4-2 Kalonji Cowan 

50' 5-2 Ellis Codd 

55' 6-2 Ross Morrow 

66' 7-2 Luke Savage 

69' 7-3 Dalton Catanzaro 

90' 7-4 Yannis Boudiab(pen)

+1

Att.38hc 

Deerness Valley 8-0 Washington FC Reserves

Clem Bowl Prelimanary Round

Saturday 21st September 2024

Wearside League First Division outfit Deerness Valley have relocated from Ushaw Moor to Esh Winning Cricket Club from this season. The enclosed football pitch is at the far side, above the cricket pitch and changing rooms on top of the hill. Refreshments are available in the bar within the cricket pavilion.

The team faced Washington FC Reserves in the Clem Smith Bowl and took full control of the tie with three first half goals. Another five strikes in the second half including a hat-trick from Ben Urwin saw them run out 8-0 winners.

Deerness Valley 8 Washington Reserves 0

Clement Smith Bowl Preliminary Round

2pm ko 

Admission £3

Att.31hc 

11' 1-0 Ben Medland 

39' 2-0 #7

44' 3-0 Sam Horner 

48' 4-0 Ben Urwin 

50' 5-0 Ben Urwin 

62' 6-0 Ben Urwin 

66' 7-0 Sam Horner 

68' 8-0 #16

#Heedhopper 

17 miles door-to-door 

Current Wearside League grounds visited 47/51

My Google Maps sat-nav took me on a tour through Co.Durham, travelling through Sacriston, Witton Gilbert and Langley Park, before arriving in Esh, where I met up with Katie for the game. 

Consett Blackfyne 0-1 Ferryhill Town Youth

Wearside League Second Division

Saturday 28th September 2024

Another club to join the Wearside League this season are Consett Blackfyne, who moved from the North East Combination League. The team have played their opening home fixtures at Consett Leisure Centre, but are now finally at their official home now the cricket season has finished. The pitch is tucked away at the back of the pavilion and is fully enclosed.

Consett Blackfyne 0Ferryhill Town Youth 1

Wearside League Division 2 matchday 7/11 (12th v 6th)

1430 ko 

Att.16hc 

Both teams were poor in front of goal, with the match settled early in the second half.

51' 0-1 #16

58' Missed penalty(handball) #11 (Ferryhill)

(awaiting team sheet)

#Heedhopper 

14 miles door-to-door 

Current Wearside League grounds visited 48/51

A leisurely drive up the hill where I met up with Katie for the game. 

Jarrow FC Reserves 5-3 Durham City

Clem Smith Bowl Preliminary Round

Saturday 5th October 2024

This was the first of 23 grassroots football pitches named after England's Euro 2022 winning lionesses, unveiled in the North East in honour of mackem midfielder Jill Scott.

Jarrow FC Reserves 5Durham City 3

Clem Smith Bowl Preliminary Round 

1330 ko 

Att.52hc 

A very entertaining cup tie with some cracking goals. The match could have gone either way until Jarrow clinched the tie deep into stoppage time. 

 7'  0-1 Junior Masandi 

19' 1-1 Bradley Holt 

20' 2-1 Jak Edwards 

47' 2-2 Owen Hayton 

51' 3-2 Ethan Mitchell 

62' 3-3 Brandon Gredziak 

63" 4-3 Bradley Holt

90+9' 5-3 JJ Duncan 

#Heedhopper 

Current Wearside League grounds visited 49/51

South Leeds 2Worsborough Bridge Athletic 3

Baris NCEL Division One matchday 16/13 

7th v 19th

1500 ko 

Att.134

Spondoolicks:

Admission £6

Sausage roll £2.50

Coffee £1.50

(Programme available £2)

The match was settled at the restart when Keelan Grist put Athletic three goals up. South Leeds made a decent fist of it with ten men, but ran out of time to gain a point. 

26’ 0-1 Lewis O'Connor 

29’ 0-2 Lloyd Smith 

46’ 0-3 Keelan Grist 

63’ 1-3 Jordan Hassiem 

70’ Red Card - (South Leeds)

90’ 2-3 Joseph O'Neil 

#Heedhopper 

0610 Megabus to Leeds arr 0850

I spent the morning perusing the city record shops and ticked off beers in the JDW Real Ale Festival.

I caught the 75 bus towards Middleton at 12.15pm, stopping off at the White Rose Shopping Centre to meet up with Lee and Katie, to visit a previously uncharted ‘Spoons, before the short drive to the ground.