Saturday 2nd August 2014
What could be a more fabulous way to kick off the opening weekend of competitive non-league football, than with a groundhop. The first hop of the new season took place in the vicinity of Peterborough, so I left Newcastle on the 0630 East Coast train to bag a half a dozen new grounds over the weekend. On arrival at the pick up point next to Peterborough Coach Station, I was pleased to see that north-east celebrity groundhopping couple Lee and Katie had also made to journey on the same train, having boarded at Durham. Our coach arrived spot on time at 9.15am and we were on our way to the first of our four games of the day.Peterborough is a Cathedral City and Unitary Authority Area in the county of Cambridgeshire, which stands on the River Nene. The Flag Fen archaeological site to the east of the city proves there was a human settlement in the area before the Bronze Age and also evidence of Roman occupation. During the Anglo-Saxon period the monastery and Medeshamstede, which later became Peterborough Cathedral were established. The city was part of Northamptonshire until 1965, although the centre and surrounding rural area was from medieval times administered separately as the Soke of Peterborough.
Peterborough is a main stop on the East Coast rail line and the population rose rapidly following the arrival of the railways in the 19th century, becoming an industrial centre, particularly in brick manufacturing. In the 1960s it was designated as a New Town, due to its expansion and increase in population it’s now the largest city in Cambridgeshire and the 27th biggest city in the UK
403. Leading Grove
Yaxley 3v1 Long Buckby
United Counties League - Premier Division
11am ko
Yaxley FC formed in 1962, joining Division Three South of the Peterborough & District League. The following year they became Yaxley British Legion, then in 1965 were promoted to Division Two for the first time. After a few yo-yo years they dropped the British Legion suffix in the early ‘70’s and finally won promoted to the Premier Division in 1975, winning the league in 1976–77 and again in 1983–84.
I expected Yaxley to handsomely add to their advantage in the second half but they didn't extend their lead until the 72nd minute, when Dan Bucciero robbed the defender and played in Dan Cotton to bag his brace.
Long Buckby never looked like scoring and grabbed a late consolation goal courtesy of a mistake by Ricky Hailstone, the defender heading a long ball back towards his own goal, which looped into the net. That bizarre OG wrapped up the first game of the day, so we starting with a home win and four goals before heading to our first Peterborough & District fixture of the weekend.
Matchday Stats
YFC 3(Coleman 31 Cotton 43,72) LBFC 1(Hailstone 90+1OG)
Att.206
Top Bloke - Dan Cotton(Yaxley)
Programme pic
404.Queens Park
Riverside 3v1 Uppingham Town
Peterborough & District Football League - Premier Division
1.45pm ko
The visitors surprisingly halved the arrears just after the hour mark when James Binley intercepted the ball between two defenders to side foot the ball home. With a quarter of an hour remaining the heavens opened with torrential rain and lightning saw both teams and spectators wishing the game clock would rapidly tick to 90 minutes.
Matchday Stats
RFC 3(Dello Russo 4 Lancaster 40 Donohoe 90pen)
UTFC 1(Binley 62)
Att.257
Top Bloke - Thomas Lancaster(Riverside)
Programme pic
405.The Grange
Netherton United 2v1 Thorney
Peterborough & District Football League - Premier Division
5pm ko
The club was originally formed as a junior club in 1991 before advancing into senior football in 1998, with Saturday and Sunday teams playing in the Peterborough & District League. The club originated from Thorpe Junior School and moved to The Grange in 1993. In 2011 Nertherton won promotion to the PDFL Premier Division and opened their new 3G facility built next to their old pitch.
Netherton United went to a lot of effort to welcome the groundhopping hordes, with extra catering and a good menu including a fabulous chicken shish kebab which proved a popular choice, although after I had the delicacy I was desperate for a pint afterwards, which proves the alcohol/kebab combo also works in reverse.
Thorney halved the deficit in the last minute when Ashley Baldwin was on hand to score from close range after James Wilson could only parry the initial shot, but it was too little too late and United held on to a well deserved three points.
Matchday Stats
NUFC 1(Patton 42 Mastin 70) TFC 1(Baldwin 89)
Att.281
Top bloke - Steve Mastin(Netherton United)
Programme pic
406.Lincoln Road
Peterborough Sports 1v1 Bugbrooke St.Michaels
United Counties League - Division One
7.45pm ko
The club was established as a works team in 1919 as Brotherhoods Engineering Works, which was famed for producing the first steam turbine engine in the world. They joined the Northants League in 1919–20, winning the title in their debut season, but after just four years transferred to Division Three of the Peterborough & District League, which they won in 1925–26, earning promotion to Division Two.
The run of home wins on the hop came to an end with Peterborough Sports and Bugbrooke St Michaels sharing the points. The visitors took the lead in the 25th minute when Ben Janes found Ryan Ansell with plenty of time and space to run in on goal and produce a confident finish. The equaliser arrived ten minutes after the restart when a corner kick was met with a strong header by Matt Simpson. Both teams had chances to claim victory with the best effort coming via a free kick from the edge of the box by Dan Fountain with Bugbrooke stopper Garofalo producing a top draw save to tip his shot over the crossbar.
Matchday Stats
PSFC 1(Simpson 55)BSMFC 1(Ansell 25)
Att.283
Top Bloke - Brad Janes(Bugbrooke St Michaels)
Programme pic
After the game the coach returned to our rendezvous point where our day started some twelve and a half hours earlier. I originally planned to book into my hotel, have a quick wash and change and go out on the lash, but having been on the go since 5am I was starting to flag. My accomodation was just north of the city centre, so as I was walking up to the hotel I decided I would go out after all, but just for a couple of pints at a boozer close by. The road which lead to the hotel was full of undesirable types and the two pubs near the hotel looked so rough that it made Gateshead High Street look like Las Vegas. In the end I happily settled for a bath, internet WiFi and a relaxing end to the day, so I would be fresh and fit to go for the next part of the groundhop on Sunday.
Spondoolicks
Pre ordered admission ticket & programmes £34 (6 games)
Pre-ordered 7 pin badge set £22
Bait
@ Yaxley-
Breakfast Baquette £3.50
Coffee £1
Pint of G.King IPA £3.10
@ Riverside
Coffee 80p
@ Netherton Utd-
Hot chocolate £1.20
Chicken shish kebab £3
Bottle Hobgoblin £3
@ Pboro Sports
Tea £1