Tag Archives: non-league

May 15 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Sport

Watching the people watching the game

Saturday 14th May 2022, 2.25pm (day 3,915)

Lower Hopton FC, 14/5/22

On a glorious Saturday afternoon in May I personally can’t think of anything much better to do than sit down on the edge of a small field and watch people run around playing football. Or in the case of this shot, it’s more watching the people watching the football, as I like the variety of positions they adopt. The kid sat on top of the dugout stayed there for the entire match. Taken at Lower Hopton FC, whose battle to remain in the ‘Supreme’ division of the Yorkshire Amateur League was not harmed by coming back from 2-0 down to snatch a point against visitors Wortley. This was all a lot more fun than the tedious crap served up by the millionaires at Wembley later in the day, for sure.

Tagged , , , , , , , , ,
Apr 25 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Interior

The marquee

Saturday 23rd April 2022, 2.35pm (day 3,894)

Tonbridge Angels marquee, 23/4/22

Located behind one end of Tonbridge Angels FC’s ground, this looks like a peaceful scene although there are at least eleven hundred football fans in reasonably close proximity. I like the muted colour scheme and the chess-board pattern reflected in the ball above.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
Feb 12 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Sport

Substitution at Crowborough

Saturday 12th February 2022, 3.20pm (day 3,824)

Deal substitution, 12/2/22

A substitution at, but not for, Crowborough Athletic FC; however, the guys in the retro black-and-white hoops are the visitors, Deal Town. This was an early substitution due to injury but it didn’t matter, as they went on to win 3-0.

This was a nostalgia trip in one way — the 6-hour journey from Yorkshire being explained by the fact that Crowborough is the town where I grew up, and lived until 1988 (as I have noted on this blog before). But until today I had never seen their principal football team, Athletic, play a game. So this is both familiar and brand new at the same time. And I liked it, though always, whenever I come back here, I am reminded how high up in the air it is (the ground is 550 feet above sea level) and thus how cold, even on a sunny February day. The south-east of England is by no means semi-tropical — northerners take note.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
Jan 23 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Portrait, Stranger

At Stoneclough

Saturday 22nd January 2022, 2.50pm (day 3,803)

Stoneclough, 22/1/22

OK, it’s a picture taken at the football again but it’s not of the football, this is a portrait of the gentleman on the right. With his shirt and tie, shooting stick, bag filled with something mysterious and impressive head of white hair, I guess I sort of aspire to be him in, say, twenty-five more years. Will this blog still be going in 2047? Will I? We don’t know either way, and I suppose that’s the point of life.

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Jan 16 2022
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Sport

Kiveton Miners Welfare FC

Saturday 15th January 2022, 3.20pm (day 3,796)

Kiveton MW v Sheffield, 15/1/22

Forty or more years ago, in the background of this image would once have been a colliery. Not any more, but the name and very existence of Kiveton Miners Welfare FC pays homage to the vanished industry. A cold day in South Yorkshire, but the sun came out in the second half and washed everything in gold, so I forgave it.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
Dec 28 2021
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Sport

Dugout at Silsden

Tuesday 28th December 2021, 2.45pm (day 3,778)

A far more pleasant afternoon than has been the case recently. The sun is on its way down on 2021 in football terms, with the venue for my last match of the year — Silsden FC — doused in sunshine as everyone prepared for the game. (Not that visitors Knaresborough can have prepared very well, as Silsden won 8-1.)

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Dec 12 2021
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Sport

Substitute

Sunday 12th December 2021, 2.35pm (day 3,762)

Sunderland substitute, 12/12/21

Fifteen or so minutes to go in the Brighouse v Sunderland game, in the Women’s FA Cup Third Round. Sunderland make a change. Sadly, despite valiant efforts our team Brighouse lost this one to the visitors from the division above. Good effort, but not quite enough.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
Nov 07 2021
1 Comment
Daily Post, Sport

The things we do to pass the time

Saturday 6th November 2021, 3.20pm (day 3,726)

Warley Rangers, 6/11/21

This was supposed to be my last full day here before travelling, but bad weather has meant my flight being postponed 24 hours. That probably means bad weather in St Helena, but my experience outdoors in Yorkshire today suggests the conditions might spread up the whole of the Atlantic, frankly — this afternoon was dreadful, with rain and high winds.

None of which stopped 23 (including the referee) madmen in shorts competing this afternoon in division 2 of the Halifax and District Football League — or me (and about five other people) choosing to watch them. Here at Warley Rangers you are only fifteen promotions, and a few ground improvements, from the Premier League, so it still matters.

This is Wainhouse Tower‘s second appearance on the blog — the world’s tallest folly, dontcha know.

Tagged , , , , , , , , , ,
Oct 26 2021
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Interior

Watching the game, one way or another

Sunday 24th October 2021, 2.15pm (day 3,713)

Watching the game, 24/10/21

The boys watch the real thing, being played outside (Wakefield Trinity LFC v Hull Utd LFC, as it happens). The man watches the TV version. I watch them all.

Tagged , , , , , , ,
Sep 26 2021
Leave a comment
Daily Post, Sport

No one watching

Saturday 25th September 2021, 3.00pm (day 3,684)

Widnes FC, 25/9/21

Saturday afternoon at Widnes FC, who attracted just 77 fans, officially, to the large stadium that normally houses the rugby league team. Even for a rugby-favouring town, that’s a rather pathetic crowd. I was one of them, but this was one of those games I could have done without; maybe the choice of shot is intended to convey this feeling.

Tagged , , , , , , , ,
← Older posts
Newer posts →