VIRTUAL HOPPING UK IRELAND AND POLAND

VIRTUAL HOPPING UK IRELAND AND POLAND

FIRST TWO WEEKS OF NOVEMBER 2020

AT THE ARMCHAIR GROUND [with comfy cushions]

TV CAMERAS WOULD BE HIGHLY IMPORTANT IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS HERE IS ONE AT AFC NEWTOWN

After a season of limited games and grounds for a lot of hoppers the current hiatus saw me continue to be reliant on the excellent S4C Wales coverage of The JD Welsh Premier League with the three clubs who were compliant to regulations filling in the next two weeks.  Attached to this though was the chance to dip the toe in the water of Pay Per View [PPV] games something that previously was not in my favourable column, at least not the big clubs games.  However with many of the smaller clubs becoming reliant on fans paying a reasonable price to watch a varying selection of coverage of their streamed games I jumped in for two weeks of virtual hopping that led to a fantastic selection of visits.

THERE WOULD BE NO TRAIN TRAVEL AT ALL TO ANY OF THESE FIXTURES

Regulars to this blog will know that for me its about the travel, the towns or area the club is situated in and of course the people so this would be a little different as I plumped up the cushion in my chair for various positions of relaxation to visit some of the new grounds that had taken my fancy along side it has to be said a few old favourites.  The pictures were selected from stock ones rather than use others so it is a little bit of a shame to not bring you some grounds that are less familiar but I'm sure Weszlo and Kelty Hearts are easily researchable.  Here goes,

After starting at the end of October with a Welsh Premier League fixture between Haverfordwest County and Bala, which was a tremendous encounter, the last live game was in The Chesterfield Sunday League which saw in November and is blogged a few posts back.

CLIFTONVILLE V GELNTORAN 2 NOVEMBER

So it all started with an old favourite Cliftonville who were welcoming Glentoran to Solitude for a Belfast derby in the County Antrim Shield a trophy that the hosts held.  That in itself had been a remarkable final trailing 1-0 they scored two goals in the 7 minutes of stoppage time to snatch the silverware away from the grasp of Ballymena United.  So for £7 the camera view would be from the upper tier of the old stand and although dark surrounding the ground the twinkling lights of North Belfast were visible.

A spectacle it was not with an 89th minute winner for Glentoran meaning a new name would appear on the large shield this season.

SHAMROCK ROVERS V ST PATS ATHLETIC 3 NOVEMBER

The next night and a trip into southern Ireland and with Shamrock Rovers due to pick up the SSE Airtricity Premiership League trophy tonight an interesting Dublin derby in prospect, wrong.  It ended 0-0 although the Tallaght stadium with its colourful seating arrangement added something to what was a dour affair.  But it had only cost 5 Euros so I had sort of had a night out in.

CLIFTONVILLE MANAGER PADDY MCLAUGHLIN

ABERDEEN V HIBS 6 NOVEMBER

Match night on a Friday is always different and although I thought a little while about this one at £12.99 I decided a trip to the granite city would be good with these two in third and fourth respectively in the SPL.  The dons led 2-0 within a quarter of an hour and after that it was all very steady stuff so much so that my eyes had a small closure for ten minutes in the second half although I was back awake to see Hibs first shot in target in the 91st minute.  This was a really poor encounter and the visitors never really showed up from the off.

KELTY HEARTS V EAST KILBRIDE 7 NOVEMBER

Saturday would see a quick dash down to Kelty and this top of the table clash in The Lowland League against former Scottish League opponents saw the top two competing and a chance to look at New Central Park.  Sadly upon tuning in just before kick off there was a very little to see of the surrounding area it was an afternoon shrouded in mist and fog.  Although it did relent at stages to see what looked like a very smart ground it was once again a very poor game from which the visitors took away a one nil win.  This one had set me back £8 and after four games I had not seen a good encounter yet under the PPV banner.

BALA V TNS 7 NOVEMBER

An even sharper dash to the Welsh Prem for this rearranged fixture and thanks to Sgorio it would be a free game and it turned out to be the best of a poor bunch so far.  TNS had taken the lead but Bala deservedly equalized.  It was a strange game in that three weeks or so earlier the game was abandoned at 2-2 with 88 minutes on the clock due to floodlight failure.  After much bewilderment at the FAW decision to replay it the same outcome in the sense of points was achieved but Maes Tegid is always worth a trip.

THE BEAUTY OF BALA AND MAES TEGID

RANGERS V HAMILTON ACADEMICALS 8 NOVEMBER

Like a gambling addiction I was now chasing the big one I needed a win in the form of a good game.  Having started the weekend in Scotland it was a mad dash back to Glasgow this time as I plumped up the cushion for a Sunday trip to Ibrox for top versus bottom.  In the sense of a good game this was not it but in the application of a ruthless Glasgow Rangers side it absolutely was scoring four goal in each half were some sides would have taken their foot off the gas Steven Gerrard was not letting his side do that.  So for a reasonable £9.99 this was probably the best performance so far.

FINN HARPS V WATERFORD 9 NOVEMBER

Back over the water to the north west of the Republic of Ireland for a league game which had it all to play for Waterford travelled up from down south to the delightfully named Ballybofey knowing they needed a win for a European place whereas the home side also needed three points to avoid a relegation play off.  Finn Park is an old and worn out ground but its one of those that all hoppers love it has character and characters with a new ground started over a decade ago in the town hopes are not high for a move.  However the supporters run club are making massive steps to keep the club going and are to be credited.  Once again 5 Euros in and I even went for an additional 3 Euros for what is an excellent match programme, I went for the digital format but its well worth a look in either.  Harps led through a first half Adam Foley strike a close range effort that the clubs declared a goal of the season contender with tongue in cheek, it was probably though their most important.  A superb game continued with Waterford now only needing a draw, due to other scores, being denied by an unbelievable goal line clearance in the 95th minute by David Webster.  The best game so far by a mile.

DUNGANNON SWIFTS V CLIFTONVILLE 9 NOVEMBER

Back into the north of Ireland and like buses you wait for one and two come along together in this case in another really good game of association football in The Danske Bank Premiership.  So it was £7 with an excellent commentary team of Jonny Martin and Darren Murphy making this one even better there were also three different camera angles on show.  Swifts were without a win but apparently playing well whereas Cliftonville travelled west looking to threaten the top of the league.  Dougie Wilson gave Swifts a half time lead but Cliftonville equalised in the second half thanks to an excellent free kick from Garry Breen.  But there was no denying Dungannon who as well as without a win had not scored a goal this season they got their second and first win when Wilson got his second from the penalty spot.

Another smart little ground it had been a pleasure to spend the evening at Stangmore Park and it was now two good games in a row.

GALA FAIRYDEAN ROVERS V BSC GLASGOW 14 NOVEMBER

Three whole days off without a streamed game and today there would be two to make up for it and both of the free variety.  A much wanted visit to Galashiels would be achieved virtually and although the camera was set in the concrete sweeping stand of the 1960s at Netherdale you got a feel for the place as this Lowland League encounter was watched by the adjacent rugby ground and the cloud topped mountains in the distance.  Excellent coverage and commentary was brought by the chaps on 'Mozza plays' on behalf of Broomhill Sports Club Glasgow.  Two second half goals would see the borders side win this Lowland League clash but only after the visitors were harshly reduced to ten men for an innocuous looking second booking by a referee who had a challenging second forty five minutes.  A nice game but this one was so much about the setting and its still on the list of 'to do's'.

ADRIAN CIESLEWICZ OF TNS FEATURING IN BOTH THE WPL SIDES GAMES

TNS V BARRY TOWN UNITED 14 NOVEMBER

Back to Wales or more accurately England and Oswestry for this Welsh Premier League game again thanks to Sgorio.  Another intriguing fixture in which at 2-0 TNS looked to have it sealed up for a certain three points but you lean never to write off a Gavin Chesterfield side and they came back with a goal and it has to be said towards the end were looking the stronger team but it was The New Saints who got over the line thanks to Louis Robles and the ever youthful Greg Draper.

KTS WESZLO V MADZIAR NIEPORET 15 NOVEMBER

The final day of this two week challenge[?] would start with an early Sunday morning flight to Warsaw International and Chopin airport, he of music and famous countryman, well I plumped up the seat again anyway in the armchair.  A noon kick off in the Klasa A Warsaw game that saw top versus third at the stadium of RKS Okecie whom it would appear KTS [Klub Towarzysko-Sportowy] share with.  I came across this one thanks to the Chesterfield Sunday League Secretary who was guiding me through his visits to Krakow and Hutnik Krakow Football Club and while researching found this game and had to have a look at some even further studying before viewing.  The ground upon doing that research is literally a ten minute walk from the airport on the main Franciszka Hynka Road.  Like so many eastern European grounds they are in the form of a running track or bowl around them, this though has long since disappeared to any intense purpose here.  The club operate a good social media stream and this is probably helped that the clubs president as his own media outlet  and today would be the main guest on presentation of this top of the table clash.  The ground has a smart clubhouse set up with a nearly full side of open aired banked seats, there is a vast space behind each goal and the far side although with banking contains just dug outs.  I believe this is somewhere around tier 5 in Poland although I stand corrected by the more knowledgeable.

Weszlo were romping the league with some big wins and are clearly a force to be reckoned with and on the up this will be the last game before the winter break in Poland and at half time a four goal to nil lead thanks to a third minute close range effort from Michal Kroplewnicki,  just over the double figure mark Bartek Januszewski made it two without reply the same player got his second ten minutes before the break before the fourth was a wonderful move.  A lovely one two down the middle fed captain Daniel Ciechanski, who had missed the target with a penalty mid way though the half, to convert from just inside the penalty box, clearly the class act in the side.

The second period was more measured but KTS did add to their tally although home keeper Domink Byszewski was called on to make a couple of sharp saves.  The game was wrapped up with goal in 74 and 82 minutes from Krzysiek Kondracki and Gregorz Zaleski who slotted home from close range.  This was a comprehensive win for a side who look destined for the title their league record so far has a goal difference of 83 and having conceded just four all season their four point gap at the top looks like extending in the new year.

A good game watched by 17,000 in the live stream which will have brought the club to many peoples attention I shall watch out eagerly for their results.

RANGERS WOMEN V CELTIC WOMEN 15 NOVEMBER

This one was £3.49 and I thought Glasgow derby why not, staged at the Auchenhowie training facility of Rangers it was an impressive performance from both women's sides with Celtic content to defend the Rangers early attack.  So it continued with Rangers looking good but as so often happens in the second minute of time added on Celtic secured a one nil win from the penalty spot thanks to Summer Green.  A fair encounter but I was tiring now.

NEVER DISCOUNT A BARRY SIDE UNDER THE MANAGEMENT OF GAVIN CHESTERFIELD

WALES V REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 15 NOVEMBER

Back to Wales and courtesy of Sgorio game three of the day with cushion massager working overtime it was what most internationals have become, pass square for ten minutes and then pass back to the goalkeeper.  The second half was though better and David Brooks notched the winner for the Principality in this Nations League game.  Not a great match to finish on but the second week had certainly produced more excitement than the first.

GLASGOW DECKER COACH BUT HERE ON A RAIL REPLACEMENT SERVICE IN DERBYSHIRE CAN THE PICTURE LINKS GET ANY LOOSER 

A good filler for the shortage of live grassroots sport that allowed some free and not to expensive trips to different grounds and of course a return to a few old favourites in Wales.  The virtual trip to Poland was excellent as was the Lowland League grounds and it certainly whets the appetite to visit some of these in future fixtures but hopefully this time by travelling to the actual game.  As pop band M listed in their 1980s hit Pop Muzik, New York, London, Paris, Munich - this though was more like, Kelty, Aberdeen, Bala, Warsaw everybody's taking about ground hopping.

GOBOWEN FOR OSWESTRY FOR TNS

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL PART 3

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL PART 3 --- NEW TUPTON IVANHOE FC

NOVEMBER 2020 AT THE A1 GARAGE DOORS ARENA

NEW TUPTON IVANHOES GROUND OVERVIEW

The brilliant wordsmith Ian Dury released his second single in 1979 titled Reasons to be Cheerful Part 3' a follow up to 'Hit Me With Your Rhythm Stick' his number one from the previous year.  Well at this stage there had just been part one of the intriguing Ivanhoes story witnessed in the North Derbyshire village of Tupton, but now with The Derbyshire FA Community Club of the Year 2020 award it enters its third part.  Here is the story of those parts that have helped the club into being its current success within its close knit community and the ongoing development it seeks.

PROUDLY DISPLAYING THE NEW BADGE

To arrive at the current club which features double figures as its total teams from all ages to its current senior side which has progressed through the structures set in place to reach Hope Valley League status we have to go right back to the 1920's

Arriving in this era and realising the amount of local football taking place in villages were the players of the day didn't travel too much and so many of their matches were against local sides generating large crowds on the touchline watching the proceedings.  One of the early sides in the village was Tupton St Johns but our interest surrounds one of the most successful sides of its era in Tupton Ivanhoe and I was fortunate enough to in the 1980s to spend time with its captain Bill Chinnery and local football fan Dennis Raines who were happy to talk about their knowledge and experience of those times plus get out the old cuttings and pictures, as ever time often loses these and the stories when generations pass away.  Two of these pictures date from a year book in the 1980s when believe it or not no mobile phones existed never mind the ability to home publish so they were works of endurance with photocopying machines and typewriters, thank you Margaret Cartwright for the typing, so please take that into account when viewing the quality.

Part one of the clubs existence found them formed in the 20s and over the following years they played at three grounds The Recreation Ground, Tupton Primary School and a ground behind the New Inn.  Both of my interviewees confirmed Saturday 2.30pm kick offs with crowds often being around 200 watching with a small charge made to attend.  The kit as now was the famous black and amber striped outfit which the original club purchased from Elliott and Crooks in Derby the two surnames being of the former Derbyshire cricketer and Rams footballer.

IVANHOES MULTI COMPETITION WINING SIDE

The team picture, above, shows the sides most successful year winning The Chesterfield Hospital Cup, Grassmoor Nursing Cup, Morton Hospital Cup, Derbyshire Medal and The Graham League.  The first trophy was won by beating Bolsover Church Army 4-1 at The Robinsons Works Ground and mainly in the last fifteen minutes after the proceeding time had produced no goals.  Apparently Tommy Alton who went on to play for Derby broke the deadlock with I was told a 'forty yard drive'.  The Derbyshire Medal featured teams from all over the county and captain Bill Chinnery described it as "the greatest honour to win".  The game saw Ivanhoe's beat Clay Cross Star Rangers 4-2 on Sharley Park on Good Friday morning in front of an estimated 1,500 people.  

The Graham League was the summit of the league structure sitting above the Scarsdale and Lampson divisions and contained many local names such as Arkwright Welfare, Temple Normanton Old Boys, Alma Athletic, Bolsover Old Boys, Stretton, Markham Sports and Grassmoor to name a selection.  

Often travel to away games would involve two of ,village transport company, Heeleys buses and one for the players would be matched with one for following supporters.

One of the funny tales recounted was a trip to the pantomime, booking out two rows of seats in the clubs name when during the show three of the actors came on one in a red and white kit, one in blue and white and the third in amber and black.  With the question raised 'who do you play for'? we discovered Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday for the first two but by the time we came to the third the biggest cheer went up when the incumbent dressed in amber and black kit declared 'I play for Tupton Ivanhoe'.

Ivanhoe finished around 1940, with a collection of later named teams being Tupton Comrades, Avenue Athletic and in more recent times Tupton Miners Welfare alongside Tupton United and its reserve side and this is where we meet part two of the story.

TUPTON IVANHOES 1987/88 TEAM

Moving along to the 1980's and we find Tupton United alongside a reserve team basing out of The Royal Oak towards the south side of the village playing on The Recreation Ground and Tupton Hall School.  I was pleased to do a yearbook for the reserves who were a great bunch of lads mainly around the same age and after the end of the 86/87 season looked at forming a new side with a separate identity and with a look back for a unique name The Ivanhoe's were reborn.  At the end of their debut season in Division 9 of the Chesterfield Sunday League they finished a very credible fourth.  The picture above shows the side for that debut season as the new club looked to represent their fore goers.  The intriguing link to the club is current senior manager Dave Martin who played for the side and also at the time Clay Cross Works in the form if its new name Biwater FC.  Manager at the time Geoff Colwishaw described him as a 'player who will get you 30 goals a season with never less than 100% effort, a constant nightmare for central defenders'.  Dave certainly tucked the goals away and during a chat about this blog he did ask me to remind everybody he was the record goal scorer for the Ivanhoe's with 311 strikes, ha-ha sorry mate, he is though a lovely decent bloke a legend who loves the game and is full of praise for his current players.  As the members of the side moved into marriage, job changes and the strains of life the side drifted away and the name Tupton Ivanhoe was gone again.

Fast forward to 2011 and the birth of a community club for all ages under the Ivanhoe title this time with New proceeding the Tupton, something that had developed as the village took on a postal New and Old within its title.  The club though was based in New Tupton although the players arrived from all over the village and wider community.  Developing sides of varying ages requires many volunteers, helpers and officials and of all there have been a credible amount of, enthusiastic ones who have bought into the club and its ethos of 'growing together' and how they have.

Under the guidance of his team secretary Dave Hoult who has driven this club forward beyond anybody's wildest dreams and I'm sure much personal sacrifice it is now about to celebrate its tenth year anniversary.  It sits with double figures in sides from tots to under 18's and at the summit its senior outfit managed by Martin, who joined in 2012/13, has developed through the ages into its under 18's before representing senior football in the now defunct Matlock League before going on to compete in The Hope Valley League for what is now their third season in that competition.

LOOKING WEST AT THE A1 GARAGE DOORS ARENA

Over the current years not happy with no football during the summer the club have developed a festival of football tournament using The Recreation Ground something that sees sides come from all over the north to compete.  So big had the event become that previous to this years necessary cancellation the it had developed into a two weekend celbration now supported by a printed programme explaining all the rules and progression through the tournament.  The whole experience is further enhanced by stalls of many a variety while the main event takes place on the collection of neighbouring pitches and with trophies and presentations a plenty its a fantastic tournament put together once again by a super team at The Ivanhoe's.

With the collection of sides playing around the north of the county the limited pitch facilities led to only a few sides being able to regularly turn out on 'the rec'.

So we enter the new chapter as the club develops its own ground and facilities.  Again with the support of the club Hoult pushed for a lease on a piece of land that was adjacent to the recreation ground and had been a field overgrown and used for horses, many shook their head at his new project.  But with the support of the positive approach of the Parish Council a deal was signed and off went the club in developing the ground, with approach road repaired and gated, pitch developed and installed with advice from Clay Cross Town Fc and their award wining grounds man Lee Watson times were moving forward again.  Now just over a year later a selection of games are taking place although the senior side are still based at Langer Lane and they have to wait for the arrival of changing rooms which are next in the pipeline.

A1 GARAGE DOORS SPONSORED DUG OUTS

An important development for those who like to be fed and watered at a game has arrived in the form of senior assistant manager and former Ashover player Martin Cantrell who has transferred, on a free I believe, his garden shed now painted in club colours to serve this purpose.  With a flag pole sitting proudly alongside a new perimeter fence the north side of the ground is coming along nicely to add to the proud display of the badge adorned ground gates.

All clubs need support and importantly sponsors and over the last ten years Ivanhoe's have been no different with a fantastic amount of assistance from the business community.  The current developments at the ground have been enhanced by the superb involvement of local company A1 Garage Doors now become ground sponsors with the suffix of Arena added to their company name and then in the last few weeks a further wonderful gift arrived.  Two superb badged and sponsor adorned dug outs for the home away teams both with half a dozen seats built in for match day use are a sign of the partnership between the parties, hopefully everybody is going to replace their garage doors soon and with A1.

CORPORATE COLOURED REFRESHMENT FACILITY

Alongside all this development the club achieved and maintained its FA Charter Standard for a community club and the major achievement of being awarded Derbyshire Community Club for 2020 in the Grassroots Awards.  Coming out on top of 370 other county clubs was a credit to all and now the club goes forward to the national competition representing Derbyshire but with a chance of turning into a nationally recognised club.

NEVER SURE IT REACHED TOWNSHIP STATUS CLEARLY IN SOMEBODIES EYES IT DID

For New Tupton Ivanhoe the story goes on growing together as part 3 develops week on week and season on season.  In the meantime for the young uns you may like to take a look at Ian Dury on that popular net channel for the old uns rediscover your youth and remember the lyrics but for Ivanhoe's these are times that clearly portray reasons to be cheerful.

STENHOUSEMUIR, DAVID CAMERON AND THE ROMANS IN CLAY CROSS

CLAY CROSS UNITED 2 BARLOW KINGSTON ROVERS 2

HKL CDSFL DIVISION FOUR AT FURNACE HILL

1 NOVEMBER 2020 --- 1045AM

HOW MANY PLAYERS CAN YOU GET IN ONE PICTURE CX UTD V BARLOW KR

With Saturday being a washout for me in the new local blogging stakes I had a Midlands Regional Alliance game on the radar but after a morning of rain and more of the stuff at around departure time for the five mile hike the tactical decision was made to watch some sport on TV and thankfully a Crymru Premier League match between Haverfordwest and Bala which turned out to be very entertaining thanks to Sgorio for the coverage. 

So the normal following morning of selecting a Chesterfield Sunday League took on all the more importance and with this one adding a few extra snippets of trivia it looked an interesting choice especially with this probably being the last game before lockdown for the hardy few who play and watch at this grassroots level.

The normality of the blog is to describe the setting and the journey something that is always challenging on 'local' hops but todays really has enough to shake the proverbial stick at or sticks.  Setting off about half an hour before kick off the unclaimed part of the Lane that would take me towards Clay Cross has a preserved section of the old Roman road, Ryknild Street [Rykneld, Ryknield - take your pick here] running adjacent to our route.  The road is now highlighted at the far end of a new mini housing development but I guess as part of the granting of permission to build a smart information board has been installed describing the raised mound you are looking at while reading.

THE FORMER ROMAN ROAD AND INFORMATION BOARD

Just to the side was the former Quaker Friends Meeting House which is now replaced by a large stone home but by certain accounts states that the former 'meeting house' has one of its walls within the newer build and too its rear is reported to be a Quaker burial ground.  The place of worship was founded in 1677 and closed somewhere just before 1800 and is believed it provided a safe place of sanctuary as Quakers were a much persecuted faith in the times of establishment of the building.

Moving along, only a few strides, is Egstow Hall which dates to around 1669 but the area receives mention in the Domesday Survey of 1086 so certainly has a lengthy history.  The barn outbuilding has since been converted into accommodation but is a fine example of a cruck roof so named by its curved timbers making it resemble the framework of an upturned boat.

Leaving along a now old style cart track that certainly in the 1970's continued all the way into Clay Cross gives the feeling of a country walk but you soon encounter a narrowing of the former roadway an encounter a steep climb that at its summit falls away as steeply to the other side.  This was the result of outcropping for near surface coal in the 70's which when the ground was replaced I guess did not have the same stringent measures as now and the whole thing resembled a hill meaning the beauty that once was the lane had gone for ever.

At the other side we arrive at Furnace Hill and its sports ground but if you take a further short walk of around 500 yards the old Clay Cross Works Cricket and Football ground officially listed as John St but with its spectator entrance on Brassington Street would have come into play.  I say would have because with a further housing development on the site that contained a bowling green and the memorable Rainbow Cafe which was transported from the companies Ashover Quarry site to their sports facilities in Clay Cross.  Many a twenty minute walk to watch its then named Biwater FC was undertaken to enjoy some local football in past days.

ITS A BIT STEEPER THAN IT LOOKS AND A TOUCH MUDDY

We got to this state of affairs after Biwater was closed by it new owners Saint Gobain and made 700 people redundant, within months of purchase, alongside the support businesses in Clay Cross in 2000 and so the continued decline of the town accelerated after its loss of surrounding Mining employment in the previous two decades.  So after many false starts the housing developments were booked for the site and surrounding area but only in the last year have we seen these take shape but part of the development of the sports ground site was a replication of facilities to Furnace Hill.  

THE BOWL THAT IS FURNACE HILL

With the same facilities football, cricket, bowls, and now a children's play area alongside a modern changing rooms and self contained community hall it was hoped this would also add to the new developments.  Of course with the delay to these estates the grounds have sat out on a limb with a slightly distanced feel to the town, although the pitch was once privately maintained and up to a very good standard so much so that the Chesterfield Sunday League did stage some semi finals and a final on the ground.

Furnace Hill is I guess interesting in that it is very much a bowl surrounded by embankments on three sides but the whole grounds went down much lower previously and was a tip for the works and varying other depositors for many years who filled it up to the level it currently stands at.  I guess its best not to think about what is below you on a match day.

CROSS MANAGER STEVE RUSSELL LINES UP HIS MEN FOR THE TEAM PICTURE

Clay Cross United came into this game without a point sitting firmly at the foot of division four and with a new kit sponsored by a local hostelry and scaffolding company there was time for a pre match ad hoc Sunday side photo shoot line up.  After last week losing 8-2 away to todays opponents Barlow Kingston Rovers there was a slight fear of trepidation but it would appear the lads were out to enjoy their game.

Stenhousemuir then and it is a great link for Barlow one of the longest formed clubs in the league approaching the fifty year mark had local funeral director David Hattersley at its helm then and now, he's now interestingly moved onto being one of the directors of shirt sponsor Brampton Brewery too.  But the connection with the Ochilview Park side stems back to his being asked at school to pick a side to follow and all his contemporaries selected the big clubs David being different went for little known Stenhousemuir.  Having a season ticket purchased for him by his parents when he was too young to make the journey still did not quell his interest and when he was of an age to attend games off he went later joining the board of directors.  The clubs share the primary kit colour and even play friendly fixtures in the close season with alternate visits between Scotland and England a mixture of former players, staff and supporters make up the occasions which I guess end in a certain degree of merriment. 

TOM GRANT A CONSTANT THREAT TO THE CLAY CROSS DEFENCE

In a tense first half of few chances save for Gary Siddall of Clay Cross striking the bar probably summed up both sides league positions but we were about to start the second half at a roaring pace with three goals in the opening fifteen minutes.  It would be 'the cross' who took the lead with a cracking move Lewis Dickens cross off the right with Matt Walsh who ably chested down for Ben Goodwin to convert with confidence after 57 minutes.

ROUGH AND TUMBLE OF SUNDAY LEAGUE

Quality free flowing moves make good goals as do well struck free kicks and Barlow were about to provide one of those more or less immediately in reply awarded a free kick 25 yards out Will Eaton lifted the ball over the wall and it curled into the United goal to equalise despite the valiant efforts of the home keeper.  For a side at the foot of the table Clay Cross were straight back at it with Dickens pacing onto goal and slotting past Tom Bown in the visitors to goal to restore the advantage and when moments later Antony Brown hit a thirty yard free kick it was looking like 3-1 until at the last second his name sake Tom pulled off a fantastic save to deny him.

WILL EATON CRAFTS THE FIRST EQUALISER FOR BARLOW

Could Clay Cross secure their first three points they came under pressure as Barlow hit the woodwork but it was looking more likely until with eight minutes remaining the visitors found the equaliser with a smart finish on the inside right of the penalty box to make it two apiece.  The name of the goal scorer......David Cameron.

TIBBY AND TURNER IN THE GOALS

TIBSHELF 5 CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH RES 0

MIDLAND REGIONAL ALLIANCE PREMIER AT SHETLAND ROAD

24 OCTOBER 2020 --- 2PM

TIBSHELF V CROMFORD AND WIRKSWORTH WITH THE OILMEN FLAG IN VIEW

After a resolute defensive showing from Cromford and Wirksworth in the first half limiting Tibshelf to just a Max Minshull goal the second half would see a hat-trick from Aaron Turner alongside a Steve Webster strike inflict further misery on the still pointless visitors.

With a trip to Shetland Way on the cards now for the last two seasons I had limited my previous viewing of the Oilmen to an away game at the delightful Little Eaton a few seasons back for one of those end of season night games.  So with the local version of this blog signaling a small amount of clubs within walking distance which has struck a boundary at two hours each way thanks to the wonderful Tansley FC.  Today would surely not be a problem with around a five mile one way trip however that was taking out of the equation the weather forecast.  The national broadcaster had been going for heavy rain and winds but by the Saturday morning the worst of it was showing as after 5pm, wrong.  By 5pm when I rowed back onto the home street it had just stopped raining.

Travelling in then by Pilsley a convenient half way stage I just needed to get to here before it started to rain and I just about did it but for the second leg it was umbrella up and everything strapped down as the wind got up.  The village had a nice selection of 'guys' in the gardens with Cowboy Clive in Lower Pilsley to a memorial to remembrance day through the villages estate.  Leaving the autumnal and peaceful Pewit Lane and approaching the village of Tibshelf the home of the countries first inland oil well, hence the clubs nickname, sadly there would not be time or inclination today to visit the site on the Hardstoft road on the edge of the village.  The centre is along a long road with the new and modern Coop at the west end slightly ajar to the main shopping area, today though the rain had turned into a torrential downpour as I went in search of the memorial to Tom Hulatt.

TOM HULATT FAMOUS SON OF TIBSHELF

The Tibshelf born runner is famous for coming in just behind Roger Bannister when he set the first sub four minute mile in 1954 at the Iffley Road track in Oxford, Hulatt is buried in St Johns The Baptist Church just a few hundred yards away but today this would not be happening as there was now very little of me not dripping.  There is a further plaque to the runner at the Pilsley end of the trail which I believe signals one mile its also said that he ran to work at Williamthorpe Colliery which is further down the walkway also, as previously blogged the trail links five pits along their former rail supply lines.

Pilsley was also famous for four railway stations at Woodend, Doe Hill, Newton and Tibshelf Town, the latter which had adorned itself the moniker 'town' something it sought but never gained.  Once again the cutting that continues the base of the former ornate station is the continuation of the five pits trail towards the former colliery area where we are now off too.

MAX MINSHULL OPENS THE SCORING FOR TIBSHELF

Although there were many small other developments around the village since and before the mines remain a prominent feature of its past of course long since disappeared as we approach the ground the former miners welfare stands derelict but is still an imposing if modern building.  Turning into Shetland Road it did dawn on me that even walking the Scottish Isles could not be any more challenging than the weather that confronted this visit today.  Just beyond the ground was one of the former collieries and its water supplies which now make up the fishing ponds, again there would be no meandering down there today.

THE RACE IS ON

The welcoming feature for today was the superb display of autumn on the trees behind the Newton Road goal which would hopefully also provide some additional protection from the elements they were a picture but had shed much of their foliage pitch side.  The home club had a nicely installed temporary canvass dug out but once proceedings started who needed that the footy was all that mattered.  It was god to say a brief 'hi' to Chesterfield and former Morton Cricketer Paul Holmes who was named in the Tibshelf starting line up.  Thanks also to Tibshelf manager Steve Clements for his help with players names with my evening enquiry, much appreciated.

Cromford arrived without a point and rooted to the foot of the table, however Tibshelf were not much further up the positional ladder.  Credit here to referee Kieran Widdowson once both sides were ready he got the game underway.

SECOND PENALTY FOR TURNER AND TIBSHELF WHO LEAD 4-0

In  a first half dominated by the home side Cromford relied on numbers behind the ball and even though the possession monitor was at near full for Tibby they only had the one goal to their credit.  It was though a superb one a strike from Minshull 25 yards out who succeeded in lifting the ball over the visitors keeper.

The second period would start convincingly for the home side when Webster advanced on goal and curled a glorious finish round the Cromford number one to double the advantage.  There was time now for Turner with his unique one step penalty kicks to fire home from the spot convincingly on two occasions after fouls on 53 minutes and 64 minutes.

THE SCENIC VIEW AT SHETLAND WAY

Tibshelf could relax now their first half dominance was matched in the second by the goals they required to put them at ease and although Cromford and Wirksworth showed more as an attacking force it did not produce a goal, however credit to the side for their continued efforts including an impressive performance by the man between the sticks.  With fourteen minutes to go the game was capped off with a wonderful deft chip from Turner who would complete a cheeky triple.

PAUL HOLMES GETS A TACKLE IN FOR THE OILMEN

Although the game was played mostly in a downpour of less ferocity it was a horrible afternoon for playing in or watching football at step 8 level but warmed by a convincing home win I was on my heels as soon as referee Widdowson blew for full time.

SECOND CARD OF THE DAY FOR REFEREE WIDDOWSON

Return would be the same way as the rains now started up to full level and there was probably not much chance to get any wetter but slowly but surely the journey took me back through Pilsley and there was even a photo opportunity from under a protective tree of 'Cowboy Clive' who due to the weather had since I passed him earlier had benefited from a tarpaulin framed cover installed by his designer, lucky old Clive.

COWBOY CLIVE DRY BUT I'M NOT SURE HOW FAR HES GETTING ON THAT HORSE

Looking forward to making a visit in better weather and taking a look at Tibshelf during the season in the mean time I'm off to purchase a kayak.

TEN MEN TUPTON BEAT LEAGUE LEADERS

NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 5 JBM SPORTS 3

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE B AT LANGER LANE

17 OCTOBER 2020 --- 2PM 

CHARLIE CLAYTON FOR NEW TUPTON IVANHOE V JBM SPORTS

With the game well set at 2 goals apiece New Tupton must have feared the worst when they conceded a penalty and were reduced to ten men when Jim Brown was dismissed before the spot kick could be taken.  But Ivanhoe's keeper Brady Parker pulled off the save and they gathered themselves together to see Jack Bingham, Danny Stevenson and Marc Bright add to their tally and see off the challenge of JBM Sports.

THE THEATRE OF DREAMS IN THE FOREGROUND OVERLOOKED BY THE TOWN HALL 

One of the more local blogs was planned today and with a previous pre-season visit to the clubs out of village home of Langer Lane on the edge of Chesterfield I did wonder what to cover so a trip to the loft to visit the old programmes.  Rummaging through to find some Biwater Clay Cross Works printed material and the old Sunday Ivanhoe's year books, mainly to find an interview I did with current manager Dave Martin in the eighties.  Also to convince the crop of players today that Dave was a jolly good player and as he does now loves the game but after the experience of this match and the constant giving of The Hope Valley League fixtures I have shelved that for later reading.

The blog tries to steer away from large match reports but how do you cover or more to the point not cover the details in this delicacy.  So there is an increase in pictures which hopefully add to the words sit back and enjoy these two sides putting on a classic.  Hopefully not too many 'typos' as its as exciting putting it to words as watching it first time round.

DANE HUST UP FOR AN AERIAL CHALLENGE FOR JBM

Having mainly taken the walking boots down the noisy A61 for the forty minute walk in the past I decided to add a quarter of an hour to the experience by coming through the adjacent village of Wingerworth making the whole journey more pleasant.  

I knew very little of JBM Sports but thankfully player manager Matthew Garnett was on hand for a quick phone chat after the game.  The club now play in memory of John Bateman hence the name, their touchline manager who sadly passed away in 2015 and now the club have remembered him in their title for the last few years.  Playing out of the 5g facility at Tapton School in Sheffield they originally had connections to Hope in the Peak District which is represented by the cement works chimney on their badge and were originally run under the moniker of Hope Sports.  This came about after Matt had been working out in nearby Castleton and spotted the opportunity to bring football to a ground in Hope.  Thanks to Matt for this and his help with names on Saturday evening.

New Tupton Ivanhoes as previously blogged are a club of double figure teams through all age groups with a ground development in the village coming along well this should see todays senior side return to their natural base and home.

HURST THIS TIME IN POSESSION ON THE FLOOR

The well known cob shop on the corner of Langer Lane was still doing a roaring trade and just over the road both sides were in warm up routines and I ventured across the busy junction.

Today the blog will bring an extra amount of pictures hopefully I can get them all in but this was some game and would be a shame to leave them out of the overall view of the afternoon.  Arriving at just after ten to two it was more or less a case of 'what times kick off?', 'what time can you get here' because referee Pete Selby kicked off straight away.  

BRADY PARKER CLAIMS FOR TUPTON

JBM came into the match perched at the top of the table and looking confident of their continued season progression they must have fancied three points against third bottom Tupton who in fairness have had a stilted start fixture wise to the season after a pre-season on rising confidence that they can but the strugglers tag behind them this season.

REFEREE SELBY HAS A QUIET WORD WITH CLAYTON

Underway in a light drizzle that had not been forecast by the wonders at the BBC weather office and so umbrella was up for the old camera lens.  It was Tupton who started at a pace with Oliver Swale crossing for Charlie Clayton at the back post who just couldn't get over the ball and fired over the bar at the other end Brown had to be alert as he cleared off the line from Sports attack.

CLOSE UP FROM IVANHOES V JBM SPORTS

The visitors captain John Hague tried an effort from distance but Brady Parker in the Tupton goal was alert to the danger and as the game continued in a free flowing vein the danger of the visitors front man Dane Hurst looked obvious and his opposite number former Clay Cross Town keeper Charlie Clayton also looked self evident.  It would be Ivanhoe who shocked the league leader though on 32 minutes when Swale beat the offside trap and with a confidence fired past the out coming keeper to start the goal fest.

SPRINGS IN THE STEP FOR NEW TUPTON

As the home side looked to extend their lead Clayton ran at the visitors defence and was brought down just short of the box for which Matt Hanson was booked however the resultant free kick was low and not strongly hit and created the keeper little problem.

JBM would get themselves on level terms just one minute before the break a neat cross from right winger Ali Massoumi saw the danger man Hurst rise to power home his header and it was honours even at the break.

OLIVER SWALE RECEIVES THE CONGRATULATIONS AFTER HIS OPENING GOAL

By the oranges time the wet stuff had stopped and the shield was down and surprisingly the weather was about to turn to a lovely October afternoon as the game came even further to life with a glut of goals and incidents.  

Within seven minutes of the re start Tupton were back in the lead when Lewis Bramwell popped up with an unmarked back post header but within two minutes it was all square when Will Hale headed back the deep cross and Hurst rose higher than anybody else to rustle the Tupton net.

THE BATTLE OF THE UNDERSHIRTS

It was JBM who looked threatening now Chris Cottyn looked to have been upended in the box twice in the same move firstly by Brown and then keeper Parker flew in dislodging the visitors players balance it looked a penalty but the man that mattered Mr Selby saw nothing amiss.  Then just past the hour mark came the game changer.

ALL LINED UP FOR A FIRST HALF TUPTON FREE KICK

Brown had put in an initial challenge the ball fell to Massoumi whose shot deflected away with a goal line clearance for what looked a corner but the referee pulled the incident back and awarded a spot kick.  Tuptons central defender Brown was incensed and consulted his dictionary for a few choice words and unfortunately left the official no choice but to issue a red card.  So Ivanhoe's found themselves about to face a penalty and continue the final 28 minutes with ten men against the league leaders.  Ominous right?  Well that was without taking into account keeper Parker who flew to his right to save the spot kick from Tom Kinlin. 

PARKER SAVES THE JBM PENALTY AT 2-2

The thoughts of an upward struggle seemed to be confirmed when just five minutes after the spot kick they did make the advantage pay in their favour when Ben Woodruff forced his way around the defence with a low cross that Massoumi smashed home at the back post.  Consulting the league table and the man advantage I expected this to be a damage limitation job now.

BEN WOODRUFF GETS IN A HEADER FOR THE VISITORS

From somewhere Tupton mounted a head of steam and had a snap shot over the bar from a long throw but amazingly just two minutes after JBM had taken the lead Ivanhoe's would level.  A right wing cross was high enough to evade most people but not Jack Bingham who levelled the scores to add just a little doubt to the league leaders minds.

ONE ON ONE AS PARKER COMES OUT TO SAVE

The game became remarkably open with JBM still looking to get hold of the three points and their threat level remained high but for Tupton it was now all about counter balancing this with some pace and to that affect substitute Marc Bright was introduced to the match.

ALI MASSOUMI SEES HIS EFFORT CLEARED OFF THE LINE

The joy of the Bingham equaliser at three all was surpassed on 77 minutes when unbelievably Tupton claimed the lead when another deep cross fell to Danny Stevenson who hit the sweetest of finishes that flew into the roof of the visitors net, cue delirious scenes for the players and their touchline following.

JACK BINGHAM MAKES IT 3-3

By this stage as much as this was an unbelievably enjoyable game I was starting to extol the virtues of 1-0 or 2-1 games as constant note making alongside trying to capture some of the proceedings on the camera were proving a full time effort.

WOODRUFF PUTS IN THE CROSS THAT ALLOWS MASSOUMI AT THE BACK POST TO GIVE JBM THE LEAD AT 3-2

A slightly disturbing incident occurred somewhere in this passage when two PCSO's turned up and looked like they were about to apprehend Ivanhoe manager Martin but thankfully he managed to talk his way out of what situation he was in or probably more to the point advised them just give me a few more minutes until I get these over the line.

WILL HALE LOOKS TO DELIVER INTO A PACKED PENALTY BOX

As JBM called up all their reserves the pressure came again for Tupton to defend but it would be the pace of Bright that would confirm the result picking the ball up on the half way line he sprinted his was past the visiting defenders in his path and guided the ball through the keepers legs to make it 5-3, 85 minutes.  A remarkable score line was now coming to the fore Tupton were not quite sure what had happened and I think JBM were probably of the same thought as well. 

DANNY STEVENSON SMASHES HOME THE SHOT THAT MAKES IT 4-3

The remaining five minutes saw Tupton play the game management card by taking the ball into the corner for as long a periods as they could for they knew that JBM would remain dangerous if they played an open game and one goal back could easily produce a second to level the scores again.  In the final minute the protect the ball play saw the visitors reduced to ten men when Massoumi was dismissed for a challenge.

MARC BROGHT MAKES IT MORE COMFORTABLE AT 5-3

This league currently just keeps on providing games like this and both sides must taken enormous credit of course New Tupton Ivanhoe will capture the headline but JBM Sports although disappointed with the result must take a massive bow and credit for their contribution to this wonderful advert for The Hope Valley League.

DAVE CONVINCES THE OFFICERS TO WAIT UNTIL NINETY MINUTES BEFORE THE HELP US WITH OUR ENQUIRIES START

A spring in the footstep returning to base by an almost repeat of the outward journey but now in wondeful sunshine and the chance to reflect on the best game of the season 8 goals, 2 red cards and a saved penalty and sadly not a TV camera in sight.  Grassroots football at its best.