Sunday 30th July 2023
As I mentioned in a previous post - my job is destroying my ground ticking career. I would have loved to have done this full Groundhop weekend, but Friday and Saturday was a definite none starter. Thankfully Katie & Lee agreed on just doing the Sunday leg of the 'hop, so at least we could do a double. I headed down to Katies for a 8.30 departure for our 310 mile round trip door-to-door to Notts.
883. Centenary Sports Centre
Southwell City 3-0 Leicester St Andrews
United Counties League Division One
Southwell is a market town in the district of Newark and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire, home to the grade-I listed Southwell Minster. (population 7,558) The town is on the River Greet and is located geographically 9 miles west of Newark on Trent and 15 miles north-east of Nottingham.
Southwell City originally formed in 1893. They played in the Newark and District League, winning the Challenge Cup in 1911. The club was reformed in 1955 and joined the Notts Alliance in 1957, winning the league title in 2000-01. Southwell played in the Central Midlands League between 2003 and 2017, then after winning the Nottinghamshire Senior League, the club was admitted into the United Counties League Division One in 2022.
Centenary Sports Ground
Fiskerton Road,
Brinkley,
NG25 0TP
In 2021, The Zebras moved from their Memorial Grounds home in Southwell to the Centenary Ground in the nearby village of Brinkley. The ground has a wee 50 seater stand on halfway, with a diminutive standing enclosure along from the dugouts on the opposite side. The clubhouse and changing rooms are in the corner at the ground entrance.
Southwell City 3(Law 5 McDonald 42 Bowles 61pen)
Leicester St Andrews 0
UCL Division One matchday 1
Noon ko
Att. 477
Admission £5
Programme available £1
Bottle of beer £3.50
(Pin badges off Terry £3 each)
The Zebras early pressure paid off as they took a fifth minute lead with a close range strike from Calum Law. They were the better side throughout and doubled the lead just before half time, with a diving header by Brad Peace-McDonald from a left wing cross. The win was confirmed just after the hour mark when Chris Bowles made it 3-0 from the penalty spot.
884.YMCA Activity Village
Newark Town 4-3 Holwell Sports
United Counties League Division One
Newark-on-Trent] is a market town and civil parish, also in the Newark and Sherwood district in Notts, just off the A1 motorway, on the line of the ancient Great North Road. (population:27,700)
The town's origins are likely to be Roman, as it lies on the Fosse Way Roman road and grew around Newark Castle, St Mary Magdalene church and later developed as a centre for the wool and cloth trades.The place-name appears as "Newerche" in the 1086 Domesday Book, with the name "New werk" translates from "New fort"
The original Newark club was formed in 1868, playing in the Midland Counties League, until the club disbanded at the start of the Second World War.
The Newark Town name reappeared during the 1970s but it was notuntil 1991 that the current club reformed, initially as a junior set-up. The adult side began in 1994 and joined the Nottinghamshire Alliance in 1997, winning the Division One title in 2003–04, earning promotion to the Central Midlands League. Newark Town won the CML North Division title in 2021-22 and now play in United Counties League Division One.
YMCA Activity Village
Lord Hawkes Way,
Newark,
Nottinghamshire,
NG24 4FH
The ground is part of a massive sports complex. The 3G pitch has a seated stand on each side and a titchy standing enclosure in one corner. The changing rooms and bar are in the YMCA building.
Newark Town 4(Cotterill 16 Lloyd 23 King 69 OG 85)
Holwell Sports 3(Biggs 32 York 75 Faulkner 90+3)
UCL Division One matchday 1
3pm ko
Att. 609
Admission £6
Programme available £1
A good game to finish of the Groundhop with Newark winning by the odd goal in seven. They went two up through Lucus Cotterill and a bullet header by Jammy Lloyd, but Holywell replied with a shot from Biggs going in off the post. The two goal lead was restored in the 69th minute when a goal by Elliot King was finally giving after much dispute between ref and lino. The visitors struck again when York rifled in from the edge of the box to make it 3-2. With five minutes remaining, Newark got their fourth when a George Asplin cross from the right went in off the defender, and with time running out a flicked header from Holywell sub Faulkner made it 4-3 at full time.
