HALLAM FC 0 V 1 REDCAR ATHLETIC NORTHERN PREMIER DIVISION ONE EAST 24th JANUARY 2026

 

My 14th game of the season takes me out to the wind swept and cold hills of the Sandygate/crosspool area in the west of Sheffield for the visit of top of the table Redcar Athletic, i won't bore you with the history of the club and the ground as its all pretty much well known and there to see, however the countrymen have had a bit of an upturn in there fortunes over the last few seasons, a promotion from the NCEL and a very steady and healthy upturn in the numbers coming through the gate points to the club on a well run footing, I've been here a few times over the years, I've stood watching with the rain and wind howling on a cold January night with less then 50 people in attendance.

An entrance fee of £9 gets you in and there's a very nice club bar with the usual sky sports tv a decent bar with a few excellent brews on if that's your tipple, outside there is a snack bar with all the usual delights and if you fancy a sit down there's plenty of room in the stand just below the dugouts and the halfway line or downhill if you prefer, i stood further up just outside the clubhouse and the way the ground is built it can be a struggle to see further down the touchline, there's standing behind the goal which is a quite lively section with the countrymen "ULTRAS" banging there drums and chanting all adding to a fairly good atmosphere. 

A first half and Hallam did the usual when winning the toss and decided to kick downhill a tactic that over the years Hallam have fine tuned to there advantage, plenty of long balls downhill into the Redcar goal but they seemed to cope pretty well with the tactic with Hallam only going close once,Redcar used the ball well when attacking uphill and made the ball do quite a lot of the work for them just going close before halftime with a header from a corner just going over with Redcar finishing the half looking the stronger of the 2 sides and also the advantage of kicking downhill in the 2nd half.

the 2nd half and redcar took full control of the game with having the advantage of the downhill angle, they stopped just about every attack Hallam made and they strengthened their position with substitutions  from a very strong bench, with 20 minutes left Redcar went very close to scoring and it forced Hallam to sit very deep with ten men behind the ball. With the game nearly at 90 minutes it was looking like a 0-0 draw only for redcar with a lovely Dink over the keepers head make it 0-1 to the steelmen and a certain 3 points to take back to Cleveland.

Overall a decent game, sometimes the slope of the pitch can work for Hallam but with the better sides now visiting Sandygate its not so much of an advantage as it once was, on a personal note its not one of my favorite Sheffield grounds, not sure what it is but at times i find it cold and i don't mean the weather it can get, however don't let my ramblings put you off visiting!

                

HANDSWORTH FC 0 V 1 SHEFFIELD FC NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST PREMIER DIVISION 27th DECEMBER 2025

 

My 13th game of the season and the last of the year again takes me to a cold and damp Olivers Mount for this NCEL Sheffield postcode derby match with 4/5 miles separating the teams from there respective home grounds, as expected the holiday season always increases the attendances and a bumper crowd of 685 were treated to a typical end to end game with of course the ex Sheffield Wednesday player Daniel Pudil  in Handsworth colours turning in a commanding  display on this cold day. a lively opening 20 minutes with both teams going close and an early yellow card for handsworth  in what was proving to be a feisty 1st half of football, well it is a local derby game isn't it? and with both teams sat near the top of the table there was points and bragging rights at stake. at half time its 0-0 with both keepers pulling off some decent saves with the Handsworth keeper a bit more busier then the Sheffield keeper.

2nd half and more pressure from sheffield but they cant seem to break down a resolute Handsworth Defence things got worse for Handsworth around the hour mark with a straight red card being shown for a very very late tackle, with handsworth down to ten men it was just a matter of time before Sheffield put the ball away but Handsworth stood firm as Sheffield looked for a winning goal, which unfortunately came with 5 minutes of the game left and a 2nd red card for Handsworth now down to 9 men Hardwick stepped up and slotted home a perfect penalty to give Sheffield the lead and on the final whistle the 3 points they needed to keep up with the race for a play off place.

So thats the end of the year finale and a good game with plenty of drama thrown into the mix, been to some decent games and a few new grounds, some i will visit again others probably not!

HANDSWORTH FC 2 V GOLCAR UNITED 1 NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST PREMIER DIVISION 6th DECEMBER 2025

 

My 12th game of the season and I'm back at a very cold  Olivers Mount home of Handsworth fc for this NCEL game, i gave the beer a miss today and decided on a Coffee, its definitely living on the edge these days swapping beer for coffee but that's how it is im afraid!

now im not going to make this a long post due to the game was pretty much a non starter, handsworth had probably the better of the play in the 1st half but that ball wasn't going in for love or money, there's a few drifting away before half time to the clubhouse and the comforts of a warm bar and Sky Sports on the TV. Teams are back out for the second half and its pretty much a continuation of the 1st half, lots of knocking the ball around but when it comes to the final third it just ain't having it, I'm thinking of swapping a cold damp olivers mount for the warmth of the car and an even warmer house when suddenly we have some goalmouth action and its handsworth putting the ball away with about 10 minutes to go, its woken both teams up and we suddenly see yes an equalizer from Golcar! are we going to get a winner? straight from the kick off handsworth carry up field and a certain trip on the player gives us a potential  match winning penalty? Ruthven steps up and slots the ball home to give handsworth a 2-1 lead with a few minutes to go plus extra time. 

SWALLOWNEST FC 1 V SLEAFORD TOWN 1 UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE DIVISION ONE 22nd November 2025

 

My 10/11th  games of the season was a bit of a double header afternoon, I'd watched the 1st half of Handsworth fc reserves v Hepworth united in the S&H County senior league just a couple of miles away which at the final result was a bit of a Goal festival with handsworth just stealing the game 4-3. I decided to catch Swallownest again in what looked like a promising game. I also achieved the 100 matches badge on  Futbology although I've done way way more matches in over 40 years or so but just thought its a nice record of recent years, plus i like a list!

Handsworth fc is situated just at the side of Sheffield parkway, however  the access is further down handsworth road or Main road whichever way you are approaching it, you then turn up Olivers Mount and the ground and clubhouse is situated at the very top, there's a clubhouse just to the left of the gated entrance and entry to the ground is at the bottom of the carpark  once in the ground there is a snack bar with food and beers as well, further along the touchline there is a small seated stand and a small standing covering further along, you can also stand behind both goal ends as well.

I made it down to the Swall Siro 5 minutes before the kickoff  where a healthy crowd had assembled, nipped and got a quick pint and stood around the corner flag for the 1st half, swallownest went pretty close early on with a shot that keep the sleaford defence  on their toes, sleaford had more of the ball in this opening period and went close with a header from a free kick, swallownest went close a couple more times with some decent saves from the Sleaford Keeper, half time came with the scores even. the 2nd half brought more chances for both teams with swallownest hitting the crossbar and the ball bouncing back just needed a tap in from a blue shirt  but the ball got pushed away from danger giving sleaford the chance to breath again. Swallownest went 1-0 up with  from a throw in  with the ball played in to an unmarked swall player who calmed slotted it away. with the game looking like a home win sleaford had a corner resulting in a shot going in, a shout of hand ball and protests from swallownest  with the ref and linesman  having a conversation the goal was given which happened to be the last kick of a very entertaining game of football. A Saturday double header!!

 

SHEFFIELD FC 3 V 0 PENISTONE CHURCH FC NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST PREMIER DIVISION 8th NOVEMBER 2025

 

My 9th game of the season and  a short trip down the road to the home of Sheffield FC for another Sheffield postcode derby game, Sheffield were going into this game on the back of 4 drawn games whereas Church had won their last game although it had been their first win in 5,Sheffield started fast and within 20 mins were two goals up, i had positioned myself on the halfway line with a pint in my hand and unfortunately a group of "Monday morning managers" decided to position themselves at the side of me, the usual Sunday morning Pub team who talk a good game and are vocal at every pass, kick, decision made, so vocal in fact that the referee came in for quite a lot of abuse  when a tackle occurred in front of us and the poor Penistone lad who had committed said tackle got a booking for it purely through this bunch of dickheads shouting abuse and the ref thinking it was the player. yep that good that you're stood watching rather then playing! anyway on 40 minutes or so Sheffield went 3-0 up and again went close just before the half time whistle.

Second half and I'd pretty much had enough of the "Pub Team" voicing their expert opinions on the game so i stood further down towards the corner flag and had a chat to a lad who i know from a lot of away days back in the 80s, like me he got totally disillusioned with the modern game and much prefers watching non league especially Sheffield and  Dronfield town mainly as they are both within 10 minutes walking distance from home. Bit of a different game this half as Church went all out to get back in the game, the poor lad who took a Yellow card in the 1st half was still quite lively and probably their best player today. with a few minutes to go Church hit the bar with an outstanding shot from at least 30 yards out which rebounded out straight into the hands of the Sheffield keeper in a packed penalty area, overall a good result for Sheffield but i thought Church were a bit unlucky in the first 20 minutes of the game and the score line didn't really give a true reflection of them.

The season ended with Sheffield missing out on a promotion and quite a lot of changes have occurred with the club since early spring, when the Divisions were announced  in July Sheffield had been moved to the United Counties premier division from the NCEL which didn't go down to well with the powers that be at Club!

WORSBROUGH BRIDGE ATHLETIC 3 V ILKEY TOWN AFC 0 NORTHERN COUNTIES EAST DIVISION ONE 1st NOVEMBER 2025

 

My 8th game of the season and a trip out to Park Road the home of Worsborough bridge athletic fc, situated on the south side outskirts of Barnsley next to the  Dam and country park the ground also hosts Cricket in the summer, On this cold winters day i parked next door in the car park of the country park (pay at the machine) just to note for any future visitors that the gates are shut at 6pm in the winter time so just check the machine if you pay a visit. usual £6 entrance at the small gatehouse, don't think there's Programmes or badges available here, i nipped in the clubhouse to use the toilets as I'm not sure if there's any around the ground, there's a small catering van selling burgers and chips and if i remember correctly you can buy cans of beer which due to it being a bit on the nippy side i didn't bother with as i knew I'd be wanting the toilet.

smallish crowd today around 100 as stated on the NCEL match report but maybe quite generous with that figure, a seated stand on one side of the pitch and another sheltered standing over the other side, Worsborough were going into this game off the back of 4 straight wins and sat near the top of the table, kicking towards the road end Bridge played some really good football passing the ball around nicely and putting some good moves together coming close a few times in the half but ilkey stood firm and defended well but at times didn't have any outlet to stop the ball coming back at them. At halftime both teams went in at 0-0 with Bridge wondering how they were not at 2-0 up.

2nd half and  a more determined Ilkey took the game to Bridge for the first ten minutes of the half but bridge  gained possession and slowed the game down by keeping the ball and knocking it around which earned them a goal just after the hour mark, constant pressure and a 2nd came another ten minutes later, town not to be outdone came close twice with a couple of minutes and kept the pressure up on the bridge with plenty of  goalmouth action hitting the bar which rebounded out to a bridge player who played the ball upfield  and bridge added a third goal just before the final whistle.

At times Worsborough played some really neat attacking football and knew when to hold on to the ball and when to attack, nothing was rushed and they used the full width of the pitch to switch play at times, they gained promotion through a play off final against Wakefield AFC to the premier division in front of a huge crowd of 1600 which surprised me as there crowds havnt been big compared to some of the other teams in the division.

SWALLOWNEST FC 1 V 1 RAINWORTH MINERS WELFARE FC UNITED COUNTIES DIVISION ONE 11th OCTOBER 2025

 

7th game of the season and a visit to the Swall Siro the home of Swallownest FC, ive been here quite a few times as my son played in a very very good U16-18 team which unfortunately never managed to see out their games due to the dreaded Covid/lockdown,So im back on a lovely warm October Saturday the North Face jacket is staying in the car and its tee shirt weather along with a decent IPA now what more can you possibly  want?? £6 entrance, and some decent Pin badges and a raffle, club house and food cabin, the swall siro is mostly standing apart from a small seated stand just at the side of the home and away benches, a small stand behind one of the goals and a magnificent view over sheffield behind the other goal area.

pretty much an even 1st half with both sides going close with Swallownest probably having the better chances mainly through quick breaks out of defence the half ended 0-0 2nd half and rainworth had the lions share of possession but it was Swallownest that got the ball in the back of the net halfway through the 2nd half, the swalls went for a 2nd and kept up the pressure but a couple of substitutions by rainworth gave them a bit of a lift and where getting  back in the game slowly but surely, that goal came in extra time  with swallownest switching off just for a second thinking the game was in the bag and rainworth pounced to nick a goal and a point with near enough the last kick of the game. overall the draw was a fair result from a good end to end game certainly both sides gave as good as they got.

DRONFIELD TOWN 2 V 2 NUNEATON TOWN UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE CUP 4th OCTOBER 2025

 

6th game of the season and its October, back from Sicily  yesterday and  today  it certainly feels like autumn has started. Dronfield town  is situated maybe half a mile from the train station down on the main road that runs through dronfield, maybe a mile or so away from  Sheffield FC, the entrance is down a small cul-de-sac  just off Shireoaks road there's a fairly big car park which at times can get quite full if early and late in the season there is a cricket match on the  pitches at  side, as its a residential  area the club advise visitors to park in the car park or further up on the main road, "Don't block residents driveways!" as you enter the ground directly in front of you is the clubhouse with a bar, toilets and a snack bar, you then go down a path to the pitch which has a small seated stand to the right, you can stand behind the goals but the far side is not accessible.

Storm Amy had been swirling around the previous day and with heavy rain  during the night and morning the pitch looked in good condition  however come kick off time there it was very windy and drizzly rain at times turning to heavy rain, within a couple of minutes of kick off dronfield earned a free kick which came back to them with dronfield firing a shot back in that deflected off a nuneaton player to give town a shock early lead. town then had to defend pretty well as nuneaton finally woke up and came out at them coming close a couple of times  but a good strong dronfield defence kept them out, just before half time the nuneaton keeper took a stray boot to the head as he came to collect a stray header, receiving a deep cut that needed bandages. HT 1-0 to Dronfield.

2nd half and again nuneaton looked for an equaliser that finally came with 20 minutes to  and game on, with 5 minutes to go it looked like nuneaton had sealed the win  with a curling cross that was met with a perfect header  giving them a 2-1 lead, Dronfield  threw everyone forward including the keeper on the 90th minute for a corner that curled in over everyones heads, the ball came back across and the Dronfield keeper put it away for 2-2! with the game going to a penality shoot out  nuneaton hit 4 out of 4 and with town missing a penalty nuneaton completed a perfect 5 out of 5 with the game ending 5-3 to nuneaton town.

  

FC TAORMINA, RAIN, THE NECESSARY LICENCE, AND ITALIAN RED TAPE. 1st OCTOBER 2025

 

Our 2nd trip to Sicily and it just so happens that the local football team would be starting their season off playing at home, we had seen the ground on a previous visit to Taormina a couple of years ago on a trip down to the nearest beach, a journey which involves a cable car ride from the edge of Taormina down and over the Stadio Valerio Bacigalupo. on arrival late on the Friday night  there had been quite a lot of rain and when it rains in Sicily it rains!  Saturday morning we ventured down to for a coffee and a bit of something to eat and i enquired at the reception about how to get to the short cut down some steps to the stadium entrance, the stadium itself was probably 5 minutes walk away from our hotel, the lad on reception drew me a quick map  so we were sorted, we went to sit outside in the bar area and the heavens opened and it rained and rained and for want of a better word it was Biblical  and it kept on raining so we ended up back in our room, the terrace outside our room started to flood and it was just about an inch away from entering our room. Come midday it was still raining so we ended up sitting in the bar area, i looked on Instagram  at the teams page and the below image came up, FFS only in italy can this happen! apparently  the safety certificate hadn't been obtained in time to open the ground so the game was going to be played behind closed doors, we thought about going down and watching through the fence but was told that you cant  see much of the pitch from street level from outside and the best vantage point would be the Cable car  area but we would be moved on due to safely reasons. 

We decided anyway to venture out even though it was raining and the streets were flooded, there was water cascading down the steps in the main town Centre, but anyway we ended up totally soaking wet but had a couple of drinks sat outside a bar underneath a tin roof with rain running of the edge of it and down the alley, the torrential  rain didn't seem to put off the mix of  locals and tourists. Hopefully another time eh??

STAVELEY MINERS WELFARE FC 2 V MALTBY MAIN FC 3 FA VASE 20th SEPTEMBER 2025

 

My 5th game of the season was a return to a ground I've been to a few times in the past, my last visit here was when they still had the grass pitch which has now been replaced with a 4G pitch  and quite a lot of upgrades to the ground as well, plenty of parking at the front of the ground and a very very nice bar area selling some decent beers and if you are lucky you can possibly get a table in the window and watch the game from the comfort of a nice warm bar especially on cold match days. if you are a Programme collector and non league is your thing then the club shop at the side is well stocked with just about everything football related.

the day i visited it was non stop rain and at times the far side of the pitch wasn't visible, the benefits of the 4G pitch coming into play, i grabbed a pint and sat down in the stand on the touchline, nice and sheltered from the onslaught of the heavy rain that didnt look like stopping.

A pretty much even game with both sides going close in the early stages until the game suddenly  upped another gear towards the half time break with Maltby  putting the ball in the net twice in a couple of minutes only for Staveley to hit back straight away  with probably the last kick of the game making it 1-2 going into the break. the sides came out for the 2nd half and the rain was still relentless and then Maltby made it 1-3  ten minutes into the half, Staveley came back again  and dominated with Maltby  giving away an own goal, Staveley pushed on causing Maltby to defend deep and a few times just having to clear their lines but the ball kept coming back at them, a couple of attacks on the break with one coming close but Maltby hung on in the rain to emerge as winners in a very good hard fought game.

Inkersall road is one of my favorite grounds and Staveley are a very well organized club with plans to climb higher up the pyramid.

KIVETON PARK FC 8 V 1 SOUTH ELMSALL UNITED SERVICES S&H COUNTY SENIOR LEAGUE PREMIER 13 SEPTEMBER 2025

 

My 4th game of the season and its another new ground, again within the Sheffield postcode area,  only recently id found out about Kiveton, a lot of the teams at this level in the pyramid have been around years and  have there roots in the great mining tradition of these small villages dotted around Yorkshire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire. situated down a cul-de-sac a couple of minutes from the main road running through kiveton is hard lane, nice big carpark and on entering there is a cricket pitch and clubhouse where you can buy a beer and take into the ground which is at the far end of the car park, Admission is free and also includes a free Programme as well! a lovely gesture! to the right is a small covered stand and the rest of the ground is the usual standing, and there's a snack bar as well, cold drinks, bacon sandwiches, chips and they also have club Badges available. there's a railway line behind the ground which runs to Worksop and beyond so its possible to get there by train as well as there is two stations in kiveton.

So yeah the game, pretty one sided game really, to be fair the opposition were a little bit unlucky really it was just one of those days that just wasn't to be yours (there's)   a couple of early goals and a penalty just about killed Elmsall off pretty much before half time. It was a nice early autumn day and as i just sat and watched the game i just felt so chilled and relaxed a total calm came over me, the surroundings, the blue skies the odd train rattling past, just so much  more laid back then the Hussle and bustle of watching the EFL etc. 

Kiveton has a place in my heart and its one of my favorite  grounds to revisit (which i have) the team struggled most of the season but had a good run towards the end putting some decent results together and managing to stay in the division. i thoroughly recommend visiting KPFC.

WOMBWELL TOWN 1 V STOCKSBRIDGE PARK STEELS 3 FA CUP 30th AUGUST 2025

 

My 3rd game of the 2025/26 season takes me to another new ground  to add to my list, this time I'm venturing to the other side of Barnsley, once I'd made it across Sheffield it was still quite a way to go, once I'd done left turns, right turns, across a roundabout, had a boy racer driving up my arse in  a 20mph zone i finally got there and found a quiet side street to park in just across from the ground, paying at  the turnstile which was a wooden hut which leads out to the clubhouse and the back of one of the goal areas, the outside of the club area was pretty  busy with a lot of families and kids on the playground which was to one side, bar area as well but i couldn't be arsed with getting a beer, i had a little walk down one side towards the main stand which was situated quite a way away from the pitch so i decided to stand behind one side of the penalty area which started to fill up mostly with Stocksbridge Park fans

from kick off it was very clear to see who was going to win this one with Stockbridge  park a couple of steps higher in the pyramid (i think) being dominant from the start and pushing for an early goal came close a couple of times but Wombwell held out until just before half time  and the game went in at the interval 0-1 to Steels. 2nd half and Steels made it 0-2  twenty minutes into the half, Wombwell made it 1-2 ten minutes later and it was game on to snatch an equalizing goal with extra time added on Steels snatched a winning goal to make it 1-3 to make it through to the next round. overall quite a good game with Wombwell certainly giving as good as they got. A decent crowd of over 400 watched this entertaining game, only kind of gripe or moan was the constant noise from the Go Cart track behind which sort of got a bit mind-numbing after a while but otherwise a nice little ground and although it was quite a tricky journey it was worthwhile.

.

CLAY CROSS TOWN 5 V 0 HARROWBY UNITED. UNITED COUNTIES PREMIER DIVISION NORTH 23rd AUGUST 2025

My 2nd game of the season was a 1st time visit out to The Adalynne Haye Stadium home to Clay Cross Town,  with my sort of tick list of teams within the Sheffield postcode area this just about makes it into the S area with it probably being the furthest out in the area, (but don't quote me on that) just off the main A61 road out of Chesterfield, follow a right turn and then another right turn and bingo! the ground is on your right situated on a very narrow country lane, i parked just further down the road and walked up to the ground. on entering there is a club house straight in front with a nice little bar area and a decent selection of whatever your tipple is, outside there's a small kiosk selling food mainly burgers and chips and i must admit the burgers looked pretty tasty! i got a pint and stood around the corner flag area, further down that side is a sheltered seating/standing area and also a sheltered standing behind the goal.as i stood waiting for kick off there was such a lovely calm feel about the ground, okay it was a bit quiet the birds were singing away in the trees behind me but it was such a good feeling, i nice little crowd had slowly assembled, a very nice late august afternoon, a pint in my hand and feeling rather relaxed, heaven! 

pretty much a fast and furious type of game with clay cross having the lions share of the play and a couple of cross players impressed me as well.  overall a decent game but a bit one sided, i didn't think Harrowby really were in the game from kick off and got hit with 2 early goals. i was really impressed with the whole setup at clay cross and planned another visit later in the season but a few issues i think with the pitch caused them to play home games elsewhere towards the end of the season. its a lovely well kept ground and I've noticed that this season they have done some work on improving one of the stands so hopefully soon another trip out to the cross.

AC RIMINI 1 V 1 JUVENTUS SERIE B 2006

 This is the season that Juventus got relegated down to Serie B due to the  match fixing scandal regarding the influence of Referee choices, originally Juventus had a 30pt deduction imposed which was reduced to 9 points. We were on holiday in the nearby resort of Cattolica  and having chatted to the hotel staff about football and half heartedly mentioning that Juventus would be opening up the season just down the coast in rimini the son of the hotel owner said quite a few from the resort would be attending and i was welcome to join them, i was kind of 50/50 about it and asked about tickets, the tickets were no problem i was told, there will be no problem in getting in, my Mrs and our young son who was 5 at the time decided to stop around the pool as he had made a couple of friends and wanted to play in the pool with them. come Saturday morning i met Nino the hotel owners son and we went to a nearby cafe to meet up with another group, these were mainly workers from the nearby hotels and restaurants and our group probably numbered 15 or so in total, i asked about tickets and i never got a straight answer, it was all sorted or it was pay on the gate so i didn't really worry about getting in. We got the bus to nearby Rimini and straight to a crowded bar with mostly Juventus fans  in it, the usual Italian football crowd with wine and various  foods being passed around, with being an early KO i started to worry about actually getting to the game even though the stadium was probably 5 minutes away, eventually ever body got up and started making there way to the ground, 5 mins to KO and I'm sort of wondering what's happening, Nino took me to one side and told me no one  was going to be paying, apparently a couple of the stewards would be opening a gate and ourselves along with another 100 or who had joined the group would be entering thru it at kick off, I'm thinking Fucking hell, if i get collared by the local plod it ain't going to look to well with the Mrs! explain to a 5 year old how you got nicked and locked up whilst on holiday eh?

just before kick off there was queues still outside the ground and we all approached a gate between the main stand and the terrace  behind a goal, big chants went up in Italian and I'm stood amongst it all having lost Nino in the crowd, suddenly everyone  made a dash for a pair of gates that starting swinging open and a massive rush for them, nothing i could do so i did the same and ran for them shoving a couple out of the way, it was chaos with bodies flying all over the place people fanning out left and right once through the gates, luckily i made it in and dashed onto the terrace behind a goal which had mostly home fans in but a section of Juventus fans as well, i went to the furthest part of the terrace and sat down amongst a family who all looked at me as if i was crazy, my phone is ringing and its Nino telling me to get into the stand at the side if i can, if not meet back at the bar after the game.

it was a mental match with Rimini really going for it and the atmosphere was great with singing all through the game, at half time everybody around me fetched food out, sandwiches, meat, wine, bread, i couldn't believe it, i got offered food and wine which i gladly accepted and sort of struck up a conversation with a couple of Rimini fans although there English wasn't good but my Italian was even worse!

quite a few who had got through the gates had been spotted and thrown out, luckily for me i wasn't one of them, i sort of settled down a bit in the 2nd half and started enjoying the game as i was scared i would be chucked out, afterwards i made my way back to bar we had been in and there was a bit of scuffle outside with the local plod diving in and stopping it pretty quick. Back at the hotel my Mrs. asked what the game had been like and she had watched some of it in the hotel bar on TV "did you see all those storming the gates?" I'm like "err no i didn't what happened?" i replied innocently!!

SHEFFIELD FC 1 V 1 ALBION SPORTS FA CUP PRELIMINARY ROUND 2nd AUGUST 2025

My 1st game of the season, i started at my nearest ground, The  Coach and Horses or The Home of Football Stadium whichever takes your fancy really  but its always going to be the  C&H. I've watched football countless times here over the last 20 years or so, my son played under the SFC banner  from U14-16 a few years ago as well.

I think the Albion were in the same league as Club namely the Northern counties east premier division, a fair old crowd today and with the local EFL sides yet to start there season it put a hundred or so on the attendance, there had been a lot of recent changes at sheffield over the last few months both on and off the field with the club progressing mainly on the off pitch side, but maybe i will look into that at a later time.

pretty much an even game with Sheffield scoring 1st and both teams coming close but neither side able to get over the line with a winner, so its back to Albion Sports the following tuesday for a replay which Sheffield run out winners 2-3 and earning themselves another home tie against Bootle FC who run out 0-3 winners ending Sheffields hope of a cup run.

Season 2025-26

                                          

 How it started

I sort of fell out of love with the game of kicking a bag of wind around for 90 minutes, getting stressed out and having the usual feeling of disappointment week in week out, football is a love affair,  through life you may have your heart broken a few times by a woman (or a man) but football can break your heart week in, week out.

way way back when perms and taches were fashionable i was a dedicated follower of (fashion) football, in 1982 my 2 favorite bands namely the Jam and The Clash split up or imploded, my music was done really, id started at 14 in 1978 going to gigs, I'd managed to see most of the bands i bought  records by, football was always in the background  and i started seriously following Sheffield Wednesday around the end of the 82/83 season, i then went on a long long run of games both home and away until around 1988 and i'm including reserve games as well, i certainly didn't  miss many in 6 or so years.

Lets move on a bit, i got fed up with going to games, got fed up of the meeting up in the pub at 11ish, rushing to get in for kick off, sitting down, getting up as someone needs the bog, up and down up and down, got to get the beer in before the rush at halftime, FFS is anyone actually watching the game? looking at phones, betting apps, anything but watch the game, so i basically called it a day, as the saying goes the fun went out of it, nice set of lads but no thats me done with it all. took my son to games for a few seasons until he was old enough to go with his mates so i had a couple of years of not really bothering with the game, i actually found it a lot of hassle just getting to Hillsborough.

So i got a bit of a bug again about football, mainly  non league, i did a bit of research and found that there's a hell of a lot of teams throughout the pyramid with the Sheffield Postcode area so i set my sights on ticking them off for want of a phrase via the Futbology App further delving and there's quite a few, probably more then i actually thought. i'd visited quite a few of them a few years ago but wanted to revisit again, have a couple of photos, buy a badge and a bit of a reminder of it all.As im writing this a year after the 1st game please forgive me if my ramblings are a bit vague, age and a poor memory are factored into my recollection of my recent journeys!

Pete September 2026