COLLIERY'S TREBLE SEES THEM TAKE THE POINTS

Central Midlands Premier Division South

LINBY COLLIERY WELFARE FC 3 HOLBROOK SPORTS FC 0

Att: 72 (headcount)

With the Notts Senior League kicking off until next Saturday, today the Central Midlands League opened their campaign for the season, having looked through the fixtures, I spotted this match and had good reason to attend as Ive not been to friendly club Linby CW for about 10 plus years and wow what a great they have done with their ground. The pitch looked superb, some may say well it should do this time of season, but people tend to forget last season when we had all the rain where clubs couldnt get on their pitches.

I spoke on the phone to the club secretary and Linby had coned off a area in the car park, so hazel could park up and get my mobility scooter out and we were soon greeted by the friendly faces of the home committee and welcomed. Got a very good programme and was soon supping a nice cuppa.

In came my old friend Ibby, todays match Referee with one of his assistant referees who must be the tallest official ive ever seen, Ibby just before kick off found me to let me take a photo of the line ups.

AS I came outside in to the beautiful sunshire, I saw a face I knew and it was Steve who had travelled up from London by train to see the game.

I took up position on the halfway line on my scooter and the giant Assistant Ref was on my side, Im sure he wanted his photo taking and he was a happy chap. I began chatting to 2 faces I knew and they were Linby supporters ive seen for years and years, but then soon joined by Marcel who is a good friend of mine Jim Bethell and we spoke till half time, but on the pitch, it was a very even affair, but after 16 minutes,  Welfare were awarded a free kick on the left side, which was floated to the back post and JOSH WASS rose and headed the ball that clipped the underside of the crossbar before bouncing in to the net to give his side the lead.

Holbrook upped their game and had a couple of chances that went wide or the home defence dealt with.

Half Time came and Marcel asked if I wanted a drink and I told him my wife was in the tea room knitting and asked if he would ask her to get me a bovril, he came back and only when I got home did I find out that he had bought it for me, so thankyou Marcel.

Soon in to the Second Half, we was joined by Steve, so the three of us chattered and had counted the crowd as 72, but after the match Adie reckoned it was over 95, I must go for another eye test lol

The game was swinging end to end, but they always say there are turning points in games and this was the case in the 70th minute, as a similar cross from the right side by Holbrook and a header smacked the crossbar and was cleared, within 2 minutes, a quick move up the right side saw a inch perfect cross to find the head of RORY SMITH to hit the back of the net to make it 2-0.

Holbrook pushed forward and forced the home keeper in to 3 excellent saves but this left gaps at the back and on 78 minutes a good move ended with a lovely strike by ZACH HAMILTON to make it 3-0 and wrap up the opening days three points.

I felt all 3 officials had a superb game and after the match the referee Ibby kindly donated £9 to the Charity Blog which is in aid of the MOTOR NEURONE DISEASE SUPPORT GROUP, so a BIG thankyou to him and to Adie of Linby who has also kindly donated £20. Linby CW also didnt charge me to go in, so Ive also put the admission money in to the charity blog account.

The Charity Blog Bank Details are as follows:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

To see the 176 photos from the match, please click this LINK

THANKYOU TO RETFORD FC & THE HOPPERS

 United Counties League Groundhop: Match 3

RETFORD FC 2 GEDLING MINERS WELFARE FC 0

As many will know, for the past 3 years Ive organised a charity match for the Blog and in June was no different, the only difference was heavy rain and through advanced raffle tickets, most people won, but with only 40 spectators we didnt do very well with the tombola stall.

When the UCL Hop annonunced their HOP fixtures, one stood out for me for a number of reasons, firstly Id never visited Retford FC, Id nt seen Jon Knight properly for some years and he does my posters every year for my charity match, also it wuld be a nice time to see a lot of the hoppers I knew from years ago. Also the Motor Neurone Support Group which is this years Blog's chosen charity have their meetings at Gedling Miners Welfares social club.

So I rang up Jon to ask if I could come along with the charity tombola stall, he contacted the club chair who had no problem, to my knowledge a tombola has never been done on any hop before, but I maybe wrong.

On arrival at the club, you could see straight away how much hard work had gone in to the improvements in the ground and was greeted by the club chairman and other committee members found us a nice place next to the stand behind the nearside goal.

Jon was first to throw £5 in to the donations bucket followed by Assistant Ref Brett Hovey, then the hoppers of nearly 400 arrived and Hazel got busy, at the end we counted up and got a total of £63.50p far more than the £25 I had as a target in my mind, but it didnt end there as the lady from the food bar came in to the clubhouse and donated £20, making a great total of £83.50p raised on the day, it now takes the running total to a amazing £1,661.25p.

Retford FC is really well worthy of a visit run by friendly people.

Jon Knight gave permission to use his photos, which you will find on this LINK

A massive thankyou to Retford FC and to everyone who donated, I know a few folks did ask how they can make a donation, so here are the charity blogs bank details, if you would like to do a transfer

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code:  30-98-97

Account: 70342862

AFC NORMANTON EDGE OUT RANGERS IN A GOAL FEAST

 Pre Season Friendly

AFC NORMANTON 5 WOODTHORPE PARK RANGERS 4

The past few weeks friendlies Ive seen have been a bit one sided, this match was a later alteration for me, as Hazel was taking me to Loughborough Market, then on to Hathern FC v Beeston FC, but this morning, Hazel wasnt feeling too good and wanted me to stay local, so I looked at my blog list of NSL friendlies and this one was right up my street, just round the corner from Hazel's sons and partners so she could visit them and the grandkids, whilst I went to a new ground.

One thing I do like about pre season friendlies are when 2 teams play each other from different leagues, the FA Vase was always good to see that but now it doesnt go down to the level of grassroots football that Im involved or watch, so today AFC Normanton of the Central Midlands League hosted Notts Senior League's Woodthorpe Park Rangers.

We followed the Sat Nav and just before the Boundry pub it told us we had arrived, so Hazel parked in the pub car park and looked in to the field to see rugby posts, so I said drive past the pub car park, at which stage I spotted the Rangers Chair PJ.

Hazel dropped me off on my mobility scooter and I drove through a narrow walkway at the top in front for the pitch are the changing rooms and before entry to the changing rooms is the tea bar, where 2 lovely ladies served me to myt drink, being on a mobility scooter, I cant have a cup or id spill it, so I take along a flask and the kind ladies filled my flask and again just before half time.

The pitch is railed all round and tree lined behind the far goal, with to the right hand side a 2nd pitch.

The game was played in good spirit and was a god run out for both teams with players getting minutes under their belts before the kick off of their seasons in just a few weeks time.

A enjoyable day at a nice club, where my wife had to run back to for my friend who I had on the phone to get a badge for him.

Next Saturday me and Hazel are at the UCL Hop match at Retford FC v Gedling MW raising money for MND Support Group doing a tombola stall.

To view the 196 photos of todays match please click this LINK

THE PARAS LAY DOWN A STATEMENT

 Pre Season Friendly

BUYGLASS REINDEER v AFC PARABELLUM

Well a change of plan for me, as Reindeer manager had won a hand full of prizes at the recent charity match but so had to drop them off to him, then I was going to Meden Vale Colts v Ollerton Town, but Ollerton Town pulled out of that friendly and were replaced by Ashland Rovers Reserves, but then I found NSL Newcomers to Division Three AFC Parabellum were to be Reindeers guests, so thought it would be a good time to see them and find out a bit more about them and I did indeed.

Just before the 1pm kick off, I was greeted by both sets of players and committees and the referee and Martin McHale who kindly donated £5 to the charity's blog which is in aid of MND Nottingham Support Group, with his kind donation and the 25p per goal today, takes the running total to a superb £1,575.50p.

The game was played in good spirit with both teams just wanting to get on with the game with no moans or groans and this continued back at the pub after the game between both sets of players.

AFC Parabellum are a set of players who played together as kids but went their ways through girlfriends and now settled down and wanted to get back together to play football again, they are to play at Melbourne Park in the Aspley area of Nottingham and have asked if I will do their FIRST ever programme for the upcoming season, so please keep your eyes open for that, they are also looking at producing a metal badge, so all information will be advertised once i know all info.

To view the 104 photos from todays match, please click this LINK

EAGLES FLY OVER THE MINERS

 Saturday 6th July 2024

CALVERTON MW V ARNOLD TOWN

After a couple of weeks in hospital and then a weeks bedrest due to my fits, I needed to get out in the open air for my mental health, Id seen that Calverton MW were hosting 2 matches kicking off at 12pm and 2pm against local rivals, yes about 2 miles away Arnold Town FC. I always like going to Calverton and many of you will know I was Programme Editor and Club Shop Manager at Arnold Town FC in the mid 1990's till 2000, so it was nice to go and meet up with some old friends. The weather forecast was heavy showers all day, I think it spotted for about 30 seconds in the 1st match and then it was bright sunshine throughout the rest of the games. This pre season Ive decided not to put scorers on the charity bl;og as the main thing about pre season friendlies is players getting game time and clubs trying new players out and wondering if they wish to sign them or not.

I must thank Arnold Town FC's chair Steve Holland for the kind donation of £10 towards the Charity Blogs charity of the year which is the Motor Neurone Disease Support Group, which now takes the running total on to a massive £1,568.25p

To view the 126 photos from both matches, please click this LINK