Tag Archives: football

Apr 18 2026
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Daily Post, Portrait, Sport, Stranger

People dressed as chickens

Saturday 18th April 2026, 3.20pm (day 5,350)

Ashington chicken fans, 18/4/26

Why the fans of Ashington FC turned up at today’s game (at Brighouse) dressed as chickens is a story I was told, but in some ways it is far too tragic to relate here: let us just say that it was to do with a practical joke from the past that may have gone wrong. Beyond this you do not want to know, trust me. Connection corner: this is the second time Ashington FC have made it onto tbe blog and, as the visiting team on both occasions, they were just as successful as last time — this is also the second time that, at Brighouse, there has been a picture of a grown man dressed as a chicken. What this says about me, Brighouse Town, and non-league football generally, I know not.

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Apr 16 2026
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Daily Post, Portrait, Stranger

Tea bar at Thackley

Wednesday 15th April 2026, 8.20pm (day 5,347)

Thackley tea bar, 15/4/26

Half-time, time for refreshments for players and fans alike. The match we are watching is to have a great last five minutes, but all that is in the future at this point.

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Apr 12 2026
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Daily Post, Sport

Play-off semi-final

Saturday 11th April 2026, 4.35pm (day 5,343)

Beverley Town crowd, 11/4/26

Some leagues get themselves wrapped up early, like the Northern Counties East League, which has already reached its play-offs. These are fans of Beverley Town, the home team. There are about 10 minutes to go on the clock at this point (though what they don’t yet know is that the ref is going to keep things going for about 20) and the 1-0 lead is going to be retained, don’t worry folks — although if you ask me most of them are looking at their phones at this point.

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Mar 05 2026
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Daily Post, Sport

The lights have gone out

Wednesday 4th March 2026, 9.05pm (day 5,305)

Floodlight failure, 4/3/26

Five minutes into the second half of tonight’s game at Brighouse Town, half the lights went out. At that point, this picture was taken. About a minute later, the remaining lights went out too, and the game was abandoned: as a football fan, my third ever abandonment, one of them because of a serious injury, one because of rain (at Accrington Stanley) and now tonight. Brighouse have been rather inept on the pitch lately, so perhaps this off-pitch ineptitude is all just part of the bigger picture.

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Mar 02 2026
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Daily Post, Sport

Watching the ball

Sunday 1st March 2026, 12 noon (day 5,302)

Saville Park football, 1/3/26

One could speculate as to just what it is that drives these two guys out on a Sunday morning to spend 90 minutes watching unimportant sporting events but, of course, these days I am just like them. In the background, Wainhouse Tower, apparently the world’s tallest folly, makes its fourth appearance on the blog, allowing this shot to be pinpointed to Halifax. No one was coping all that well with a strong wind, which is why this latest cross has gone over harmlessly and miles off target.

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Feb 23 2026
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Daily Post, Portrait, Stranger

Just about on duty

Sunday 22nd February 2026, 5.40pm (day 5,295)

St Helens steward, 22/2/26

It may seem surprising that these seats were not filled for a Merseyside derby, but this was Liverpool v Everton in the Women’s FA Cup, and also not being played in the city of Liverpool but in the stadium of St Helens rugby league team. There was a reasonable crowd packed into one side of the ground but the other three stands were mostly left empty. Someone’s still got to be ready to retrieve the balls, though. Or maybe this guy’s simply taking a break and hoping no one’s noticed.

This shot could be in sharper focus, but never mind, I like its repetitive character.

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Feb 02 2026
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Daily Post, Sport

Half-time huddle

Sunday 1st February 2026, 11.20am (day 5,274)

Half time, 1/2/26

The players of AC Soulseek ponder the 45 minutes that are to come, though not without unhappiness, as they are 3-1 up at this point. Wasn’t I here basically a year ago? Yes, but I cannot honestly think of a more agreeable place to spend a Sunday morning in London — as long as it isn’t raining.

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Jan 22 2026
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Daily Post, Portrait, Stranger

The away fans’ enclosure

Wednesday 21st January 2026, 8.40pm (day 5,263)

Away fans at Halifax, 21/1/26

I was wondering whether to go with a picture that is a little less dark, dismal, drizzly and not a little bit depressing. On the other hand this seems to sum up the evening perfectly. I’ve seen some tedious football matches in my time but Halifax 1, Morecambe 0 on 21/1/26 now ranks down there with the worst.

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Jan 18 2026
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Daily Post, Portrait, Sport, Stranger

The full-back

Saturday 17th January 2026, 3.20pm (day 5,259)

Full-back, 17/1/26

On the basis that no fewer than 23 people (because you do need a referee) can be gathered in each area of space that comprises a Saturday afternoon football match, then there must have been at least a quarter of a million people in the UK doing what this guy was doing at the same point in time, 3.20pm. That’s just the people on the pitches, too. At least 30 other people, including substitutes, coaches and slighly weird people (like me) were also persuaded that watching Sheffield Union v Thornbridge Villa in the 12th tier of English football was the best way they had of spending Saturday afternoon. So add another million or two for all of them…. it can’t be completely wasted collective effort, can it? At this level it’s certainly not about making any money.

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Jan 08 2026
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Daily Post, Sport

Arriving at the Etihad

Wednesday 7th January 2026, 6.35pm (day 5,249)

Etihad arrival, 7/1/26

Another picture of fans arriving at a football stadium, but unlike Sunday, at least we saw a game today. Manchester City v Brighton was my first Premier League game since April 2022 and only the second in the last six years. Habits have changed…. but I suppose I still feel a certain sense of allegiance. And no, not to Manchester City. It was nice to see some old mates in the away end tonight, £30 for a ticket was an acceptable price and a 1-1 draw was a reasonable result. I pick this shot because of its Blade Runner-like qualities, as much as anything. Let’s turn on all those lights…. and worry about the electricity bills later, shall we?

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