PURE JOY AS TEVERSAL GRAB SECOND WIN OF THE SEASON

TEVERSAL 2 GLASSHOUGHTON 1

NCEFL 1 AT CARNARVON ST

13 MARCH 2022 --- 3PM

CAMERON PINNICK AND TEVERSAL CELEBRATE HIS STOPPAGE TIME WINNER

A remarkable finish to a game that looked like it would be settled by a first half wonder goal from Jordon Chippendale for the visitors but the Tevie boys did not know when they were beaten in this game and an equaliser on eighty nine minutes and then a superb winner in the fifth minute of stoppage time secured the home side only their second win of a very tough season.  The celebrations were ecstatically wild, you may have thought they had won the league and why not this had been a full on determined performance.

TROLLY AND TROLLY PARK IT MUST BE A TEVERSAL VISIT

As the 'walk to the match' season continues after last weeks break once again for the wet stuff putting off a lot of the local grassroots games I couldn't resist a revisit to Teversal as many know my comfort club.  With the dark afternoons pulling out it could now be worked I believed relatively safely on a section of road with no pavement before the light had gone on return from the game.  A fair selection of the walk of just over eight miles and taking outbound 2 hours 20 minutes would be accompanied by the whiff created by our now 'spreading' farmers.  Much of the manure now seems to be of a liquid type which is not pleasant and for the up hill section into Pilsley there must have been so much breathed in that I'm now more full of the stuff than normal.

Previous trips this season have seen a couple of routes via the edge of Hardwick Hall and also via the busy Hardstoft road to Tibshelf with no pavement for a large portion of this section of around ten minutes or so.  Having taken the latter route today the intention was to get a snap shot of the massive shopping trolleys on the approach to the industrial estate where the company making supermarket varieties is based.  Anyway I didn't climb into one and can comfortably say 'I'm off my trolly' now, it would though produce a nice link with of course the much photographed trolly park stands at Tesco and meant the need to photograph them again.

NEED NO INTRODUCTION BUT COULD I PARK MY TROLLY IN THEM

The last visit to Carnarvon Street was for the FC Humber game on 18 September when a crazy game saw Teversal run out 7-4 winners and this would prove to be their last victory.  I did give some consideration to the chance of me seeing another victory today but for a side rooted to the bottom of the table and seemingly unable to gain three points at the end of ninety minutes I soon put the idea to bed.

HANDS UP AS TEVIE ATTACK IN THE FIRST HALF

As usual a nice greeting from a few of the people I now at the club and some spectators at todays encounter and with a position taken up to avoid some of the once again strong wind we were underway.  The opening exchanges were very even with Teversal looking to break through but as so often happens when you are struggling the opposition take their first chance.  Mind you what a goal it was good enough to win any game when Chippendale lashed home an eighteen yard effort across the goal rising high into the left top corner of the net after seventeen minutes.

MATCH WINNER CAMERON PINNICK

Just over the half hour mark the visitors failed to clear their lines and Jack Hutchinson put in a goal bound shot only for it to be cleared as it was nearing the goal line.  But just after there was danger at the other end a sliced clearance by Teversal keeper Leon Turton spun back on goal for Jack Appleyard to race through somehow the number one got back to fling himself at the ball and it was enough to put off the visitors striker who fired wide.

CONNER EYES CLOSELY WATCHED BY THE TEVERSAL DEFENCE

The second half was seeing a determined football effort and Teversal were gradually pushing Glasshoughton back and you could see the belief that they could get something out of this game.  Visiting keeper Calum Gladding gathered Chris Heathcote's deflective header before Jak lightly found himself in a good position at the back post, he lobbed the keeper well but the ball landed on the roof of the net and so still the goal would not come.

There was though definitely a feeling that the home side deserved something from this game and it arrived on eighty nine minutes when Kamau Leverock was put in he raced through and coolly slotted past the keeper to level the scores.

JAK LIGHTLY CHIPS THE KEEPER BUT FINDS THE ROOF OF THE NET

Entering the fifth minute of stoppage time Teversal were awarded a corner off the right and after pestering for the last five minutes Teversal keeper Turton was finally allowed to go forward for the kick.  He got nowhere near it but his six foot presence may have distracted the Glasshoughton defensive operation.  They failed to clear the excellently floated corner and when it fell to Cameron Pinnick fourteen yards out he fired the ball low across goal into the far left corner to start scenes of wild celebrations.  Could Teversal hang on?  Well referee Kier Wishart made sure of that and proved what a late, late show this was when he blew for time straight from the re start.

A richly deserved win for the Tevie boys and good to see them get some good success for a change this season.

It was a very sharp dash to get beyond the road only stages of this route back and having arrived in Pilsey before dark the pace was kept up with the support of the enjoyment of that last few minutes for Teversal with base arrived at in one minute under the two hours for the return journey

THE CORNER THAT DID THE DAMAGE WITH KEEPER TURTON FORWARD FOR TEVERSAL

CULF DOUBLE HITS THE SPOT AS TUPTON GRAB A POINT

NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 3 BOLLINGTON 3

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE A DIVISION AT STATION NEW ROAD

26 FEBRUARY 2022 --- 2PM

MAX JACKSON WONDER STRIKECROSSES THE LINE FOR TUPTON IVANHOE V BOLLINGTON

New Tupton Ivanhoe came back from behind in this A division game to secure a point against fellow promotion hopefuls Bollington but they were grateful to James Culf who hit a double from the penalty spot and Max Jackson who curled in a wonderful twenty five yard free kick.  The visitors had set the pace with an early lead and included a double for the ever dangerous Sam Jordan.

SAM JORDAN TURNS TO OPEN THE SCORING FOR BOLLINGTON

Once again the weather had intervened on both Saturday and Sunday football over the last few weeks with often the worse of the climate coming on match days, isn't that so typical.  After a short break a couple of weeks ago in horrendous weather and the chance to sample some much enjoyed Rugby Union it was a back to football today.  A return to the faithful old Ivanhoe's just along the way would line up a tantalising encounter against fellow promotion rivals Bollington who probably travelled the furthest east in the league save for their reserve side who visit Pilsley Community just a few more miles away.  Although that fixture the other week was played at Matlock so this one may have some sort of record for travel in the league.

CLOSE UP AND CAUTIOUS IN THE FIRST HALF

The pitches at Station New Road can take a battering and certainly do not drain well although with an increasingly forceful drying wind they were not looking in to bad condition.  A small crowd of around twenty were in place for kick off and they needed to be alert with the visitors taking a fourth minute lead through Sam Jordan who took the ball down well created space at the fish pond end for himself to fire into the bottom corner.  Tupton came straight back and Jackson appeared to be bundled over just inside the penalty box but referee Jason Glanville waved away penalty appeals.  After a first half of tentatively checking out one another we arrived at half time with the Cheshire side leading by that early goal.

JOY FOR JORDAN AFTER HIS OPENER

The second half would see the wind increase and as the afternoon developed the finger ends became increasingly tested in the cold bite of the blustery stuff.  

Four minutes after the restart Bollington were awarded a spot kick after a foul on the right side of the penalty box but Kieran Fane was alert to dive to his right to save to save the penalty from Tom Long.  But this didn't stop the visitors when three minutes further on they did double their lead when Long fired home smartly.  Tupton had an uphill task but they were given a life line three minutes over the hour mark when they were also awarded a penalty with Culf making no mistake from the spot.

DEFENSIVE DUTIES FOR TUPTON

The encounter was now opening up and excitement reached fever pitch with three goals in as many minutes firstly on 73 minutes the goal of the game when Ivanhoe's were awarded a free kick twenty five yards out on the right, up stepped Jackson who scored the goal of the game to level the scores with a wonderfully curling effort that flew in at the far post despite the visiting keepers valiant efforts.

The home side were still celebrating it would appear as Jordan waltzed through the inside left to slot past Fane with no challenger offered to give Bollington the lead again.  How would Tupton respond?  Well amazingly they were straight back on the attack and following a tumbling in the box referee Glanville awarded the third penalty of the game and Culf again found the back of the net to bring parity to the scoring again at 3 apiece.

KIERAN FANE SAVES BOLLINGTON PENALTY FROM TOM LONG

The game continued at a fair old pace with neither side wanting to lose the game but both sides feeling they could win this game now.  It would in fairness be Tupton who had the best chances firstly Josh Kirkwood hit a sharp volley from the edge of the box that flew just inches over.  Before in the final minute a sweet move down the left found Liam Varley who cut in towards the visitors goal his well placed effort found the Bollington number one pulling off a fine save to deny any hope of a late winner.

PENALTY COMING UP

The second period was brought to an end with the small band of spectators wanting more of this entertaining fayre but in the end Bollington would be disappointed to have thrown away a lead on two occasions whereas Tupton although they were looking the more likely to score would have breathed a sigh of relief to at least grab a point.

MAX JACKSON MAKES IT 2-2 WITH A 25 YARD CURLING FREE KICK

These were two good footballing sides who once again did the Hope Valley League credit and the battle for the promotion spots were not solved today of course and will go on until the last few fixtures, lets hope both of these are in a place at the end of the season after their efforts today.

JAMES CULF LEVELS IT AT 3-3 WITH HIS SECOND PENALTY OF THE GAME

MUDDY MARVELLOUS TUPTON

TUPTON RUFC 39 AMBER VALLEY 0

MIDLAND 4 EAST [N] WEST AT NORTH SIDE

12 FEBRUARY 2022 --- 2.15PM

TUPTON GO OVER THE LINE IN THE OPENING MINUTES VERSUS AMBER VALLEY

Tupton put on a tremendous show of commitment and entertainment as they beat Amber Valley to nil on an afternoon of poor weather and subsequent atrocious game conditions for the pitch and kicking.  As we know though a bit of mud, rain and wind doesn't put these lads off and after a blank weekend for sport on the blog last time out it was a very worthy trip to North Side that provided eighty minutes of enjoyable rugby.

A DARK AND UNINSPIRING DAY AND THEN THE RUGBY ENTERTAINED US

It all started so well with a calm morning weather wise but the forecast proved correct as the rain and wind arrived around noon and so it looked as though any of the 'walking to the game season' football would be off.  However thankfully the chaps at Tupton RUFC were at home again to help me out plus I could manage a fifteen minute walk in the rain and wind with umbrella aloft couldn't I?

Well it was going well and after about 500 yards I was proudly declaring to myself its not so wet or windy, but two smug steps later and a gust of wind had turned the umbrella inside out and broken one of the spokes.  As you can be aware in an extremely calm mood I traced my steps backwards threw many things out of the cupboard and found the quality umbrella which thankfully made the afternoon bearable and I would arrive just as the home side entered the arena.

LINE OUT FOR TUPTON 

Tupton are nicely positioned in fourth place and mid table but with more of a threat to the top half than the danger of the bottom half so look relatively comfortable although todays visitors did beat them in December in the away fixture.

The club house had its roof blind down to provide some cover for the reduced crowd who had vacated the liquid refreshment facility onto the terraced external area to sample the delights of North East Derbyshire in February.  My last visit had been in a howling gale and on a bitterly cold afternoon a few weeks back, today would just be strong wind with driving rain so a little change but not much.

REFEREE LANE AWARDS THE FIRST TUPTON TRY

The pitch was looking comfortably damp with most of the surrounds to the pitch being wet for spectating but taking up a position with my back, or more to the point side, to the wind and rain it was a behind the try line at the A61 end for the view of todays proceedings. 

TRY NUMBER THREE FOR TUPTON PART ONE

Early Tupton nerves were settled when they went over in the opening minutes for the first try and with a determined opposition who in fairness appeared to be having as much first half possession it became important to hold their own defensively something they did denying Amber Valley any chance of a sniff of points.  What the home side did do was take their chances and attack with a purpose to which they found themselves 24 points, including two conversions, to the good at the break.

TRY NUMBER THREE PART TWO

No messing about with changing rooms breaks in union just get on with a quick team talk and clean a bit of mud off the kit and we were ready to go again.  Tupton soon added five more points with an early crossing of the whitewash before a couple of breaks in proceedings.

The far touch line produced a general coming together of most of the players on the pitch and after a while of calming down and players of both sides retreating referee Barry Lane had time to have a serious chat with a couple of the combatants.  The game had now become a little disjointed and a further kerfuffle in the same area resulted in another chat that involved slightly less players taking part in the psychical stuff this time.

HALF TIME AND THOUGHTS TURN TO A WARM CLUBHOUSE

Thankfully the final fifteen minutes saw rugby come back to the fore and by full time Tupton had popped in a couple more tries and the game had finished 39-0 in their favour.  By now it was all friendly as both sides exchanged muddy 'well dones' as they squelched off the pitch to create a nightmare for the changing room cleaners and it was time for them to ask 'is the bar open', of course it is.

SECOND HALF DISCUSSION ABOUT WHAT REAL ALE IS ON ALL PHOTBOMBED BY EWS

Roll call of scorers,

Tries Jake Cooper, Sam Cooper, Lee Moslin, Lewis Conway and Jordan White [2].

Conversions Jordan White [2]

Fully enjoyable afternoon if the one side of me facing the elements was drenched the two sides on the pitch had put on a game of rugby in terrible playing conditions that entertained and for Tupton a strong win that was probably one of my most enjoyable in my all too infrequent visits.

Oh yea and at the final whistle the wind calmed down and the rain stopped and the brolly was no longer needed for the walk back to base, how typical.

FIRM ENOUGH GRIP FOR KICK TO TOUCH

BYRNE SCREAMER AS DOVE HOLES GRAB A POINT IN THE GALE

ASHOVER 2 DOVE HOLES 2

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION AT MILKEN LANE

29 JANUARY 2022 --- 2PM

ASHOVER PRESSURE FROM A CORNER V DOVE HOLES

A howling gale did its best to wreck this game but it could not deny Ryan Byrne a goal to grace any game when he fired home a twenty five yard free kick before Perry Richards pulled back an equaliser just before half time in a four goal first half at Milken Lane.

The continuation of the 'walk to the match' remained in play again and the round trip of seven miles to the quaint village of Ashover is normally not too much of a challenge, today was though slightly different.  With a fresh breeze forecast for the daytime hours it all looked in order for a steady walk and game, that was until the BBC weather forecast changed mid morning to a near 50 mile an hour wind for the afternoon.  Anybody that knows the area will be aware its very hilly before the drop into the village and today the wind was certainly in my face.

ASHOVER VILLAGE WITH THE STAMP POST OFFICE COFFEE SHOP AND BOUNDS BUTCHERS BEYOND

With a brief look around the stone built village the time soon arrived to get along to the pitch behind the village hall and at the side of the showground.  With some consistent coverage of football and cricket over the last couple of years I think most people have seen my past descriptions so today will once again avoid boring anybody further.  

The corner flags just before kick off were at full in the sense of flag tension and as for the sticks well if they could stop in the floor it would be a plus. 

MR ASHOVER FC DON CARLINE MOTIVATES THINGS FROM THE SIDELINES

Last week the chance to see Dove Holes Reserves came into the plans and this week it was the first team who would come into the light.  Although a tight league at the bottom Dove Holes are not sitting pretty at the foot of the premier league table and remain eager to move on up.  While Ashover are desperately hoping to reclaim that fourth place that looked so comfortable a few week ago.

NEVER TOUCHED HIM REF

The hardy gathering of supporters was down a little on normal number but by half time and not being able to feel my fingers on the camera shutter I was beginning to wonder if I'm getting to old to do this lark in the conditions.

The first half started at apace for Ashover who took the lead after fourteen minutes with captain Paul Murphy rising to head home from close range but it didn't take long for Dove Holes to upset the apple cart with an equaliser on twenty minutes Ashover keeper Joe Birch couldn't hold an original shot and Joe Dale was on hand to fire home the equaliser.

Just over the half hour mark referee Dr Mike Douglass, more of later, awarded the visitors a free kick twenty five yards out into the howling gale Ryan Byrne stepped up and lashed home a superb strike into the top left hand corner.  It was a goal that would have looked good in any level of football but thankfully we had it here in Ashover to warm us up.

It would have been slightly harsh on Ashover if they had gone in behind and with just three minutes to the break they rectified that when Perry Richards drove home from fourteen yards to level the scores.

TIME TO DEFEND FOR ASHOVER

I needed to get the feeling back in my hands now and some light jogging around the cricket outfield did some good before a catch up with referee Douglass before the second half re started.

GOAL OF THE GAME FOR RYAN BYRNE AS DOVE HOLES GO 2-1 UP

Over the last few seasons I have covered games Mike has refereed and he's a jolly decent chap with his always interesting attire in the shall we say the cooler days adds to the fun of the encounter.  Having lost his maroon boots and similar coloured whistle and gloves in more or less the same season he has now moved onto a new colour. 

This season there was an attempt to get some pink boots but the good Doctor had to settle for luminous yellow so along with a whistle of the same colour he has now added gloves of the same shine bright variety.  Today in the testing temperature the top jacket stopped on alongside a woolly hat from an apparently big club in Nottingham adorning the said material.  The game survives on referees like Mike well done mate.

GETTING DOWN WITH REFEREE DR MIKE

With little warmth gained a quick break so the turn round and with Dove Holes kicking into the wind they fancied their chances sadly although they did have long range shooting opportunities they were struggling to keep the ball under control and the target was an increasing mystery.

Ashover had the threat of Richards and Callum Barker on the left with the ever prompting presence of Tom Torrington but overall the gusty stuff was still the victor.

In the final twenty minutes the game did open up a little more and with Barker putting in some tantalising crosses it looked possible for Ashover to find an equaliser.  They thought this had been achieved with ten minutes remaining when Richards cut in off the right struck a shot that beat the visiting keeper but agonisingly not the cross bar which it struck with some force before bouncing back into play.

I HAVE LOTS OF YELLOW THINGS DO YOU WANT TO SEE MY YELLOW CARD

The final stages saw the home side mount pressure from a corner which was cleared for a quadrant kick from the opposite side but there wasn't time to take it as referee Douglass called an end to proceedings.  Time to warm up the muscles for the one mile climb out of the village on the shielded Milken Lane and amazingly as the ridge was reached at the tip the wind was abaiting just as the game had finished how typical but something that I was extremely grateful for on the remainder of the walk back to base.

For those wanting to know the alpacas have got even more aloof and have now been moved to a field further away from the road and show less interest that normal in an aged man shouting them over.

PERRY RICHARDS HITS THE BAR IN THE CLOSING STAGES

A good effort from both sides in the conditions and about the correct result although you feel it wont do much for either side although defeat would have been a real body blow for Ashover or Dove Holes.

CALLUM BARKER ON THE LEFT FOR ASHOVER

NORMAN SECURE LEADERS A POINT AGAINST A DETERMINED DOVE HOLES

NEW TUPTON IVANHOE 3 DOVE HOLES RES 3

HOPE VALLEY LEAGUE A DIVISION AT STATION NEW ROAD

22 JANUARY 2022 --- 2PM

BEN NORMAN BRACE FOR NEW TUPTON IVANHOE

League leaders New Tupton Ivanhoe were thankful that Ben Norman popped up with his second and an equalising goal with just seven minutes remaining of this A division game against a Dove Holes side struggling, if the table is anything to go by but who were never behind in the game.  

Football had returned to the calendar with the last Saturday game nine weeks previous in the November of 2021, indeed only one Sunday fixture punctuated this run and I did wonder if football was falling out of favour but this enthralling encounter served up a treat to re-whet the appetite.

HERE COMES THE PENALTY

So after a wet spell which had seen many games called off and the Christmas period grassroots football was finally back on offer for the lovers of this level of competition.  The chance to pop local and catch up with New Tupton Ivanhoe and their visitors Dove Holes in the form of the reserve side who had left behind their A6 home in the High Peak for the trip to North East Derbyshire was interesting me.  As a youngster travelling through Dove Holes it was always a little but fascinating with the adjacent quarry dusting up the town giving an overall grey and dull look to the place but it has a regular bus service and a train station that made this place a little more enthralling to this young un at the time.  Now years on its a while since I have been near to the village but with the increased interest in The Hope Valley League I hope to get up there soon to take in a game at The Hallsteads.

SLIDING TACKLE THANKFULLY WINS THE BALL

We were greeted with an increasingly grey and darkening day at Station New Road and with a pitch looking tacky and offering up long grass in places this had the feeling of  it being a bit of a difficult encounter for the home side who sat pretty at the top of the table and so it turned out to be.

JOSH KIRKWOOD NEW TUPTON IVANHOE

As early as the eight minute Tupton were in trouble albeit from a very harsh penalty decision by referee Daryll White who found it necessary to sin bin Josh Kirkwood for his protests against the award, there were a few others who aired an opinion.  Of course 'it is in the opinion of the referee' that matters and Corey Flint held his nerve to fire home from the spot.  The following minutes found the home side trying to form something of an attack while being cautious that they were down to ten men for ten minutes and even when they got a full complement back they struggled to get into the game against a resolute Dove Holes side.

Half way through the half Matt Jackson struck the bar to give Tupton hope and indeed after 37 minutes hope turned to an equaliser when Norman got his first nodding home from close range.  On the stroke of half time [44 minutes] the visitors would also have a reduction of players with a sin bin that would affect the start of their second half or would it?

JOE HOLMES CLEARS A DOVE HOLES ATTACK

Well no it wouldn't because within seven minutes of the restart they had the advantage again when Flint secured his and the visitors second.  It would take the Ivanhoe ten minutes to find an equaliser when a floated in free kick fell to Jack Foulds who made no mistake sweeping the ball into the visitors goal.

There was no time for the men in stripes to think of a winner or for that matter even celebrate as straight from the kick off these determined High Peak boys were in the lead again thanks this time to Tallis Stone hitting the back of the net.

JACK FOULDS ON THE FLOOR [LEFT] MAKES IT 2-2

As the tempo increased Tupton desperately did not want to lose a game they would have been predicted to have won as they looked to keep a comfort zone at the top of the table in their promotion push but they were finding it very difficult to create anything substantial as the visitors looked a constant threat with what would have been a game wining fourth goal.

As it looked increasingly likely the equaliser would not come a low cross evaded everybody until it found Norman who forced the ball home at the back post for his second and with a huge sigh of relief Tupton were level again for the third time.

BEN NORMAN FOR 3-3

The tense closing minutes meant you could not rule out Dove Holes securing another goal but really the best chances fell to Tupton who in the same move had efforts from Foulds and James Culf superbly saved by the visiting keeper who would turn out to be the hero for the team sporting the former Alfreton Town Fc blue away kit.  Those saves secured a point from a fantastic game that the visitors fully deserved something from, for Tupton they looked subdued today and under par to their normal levels but of course you only play as well your opponents allow you to.

Another good advert for The Hope Valley League and grassroots football.

MORE FIRST HALF DOVE HOLES PRESSURE

FOOTBALLS PART IN SUNRISE EXPEDITION

SUNRISE, CHAPEL RUINS AND THE PART OF FOOTBALL

ON THE COUNTRY LANES ROUND BASE

25 NOVEMBER 2021 --- VERY EARLY

SUNRISE FROM ALTON ON A COLD CRISP CLEAR MORNING

When the alarm clock went off at 5.20am on a cold Thursday morning just over a week ago it felt very much like one of my football expeditions into Wales, except for the day, although on this occasion there was every thought in turning back over and pulling the blankets up for another hour in bed.  Truth be told I was excitedly awake before the clock went off with the prospect of seeing the sunrise from a high viewing point with the horizon visible around seven to eight miles away on this crisp and clear morning.

LIGHTING UP TIME BUT NO SUN YET

About an hour after rising the outdoors were ventured into and as only the glimmering streetlights lit the footpath passing the Tap which was quiet of traffic save for the bread delivery van and the rattling crates of a milk wagon.  The sunrise would be with us just after quarter to eight but general advise was to turn up thirty minutes before so with good speed we soon departed the last street illumination as we departed Holmgate towards Hollins Green and then Deerleap.  Now though the moon was offering a real good walk as suburbia was left behind to the country lanes of North East Derbyshire, although there was still a slight shock as a fellow walker approached in the subdued light.  The climb would now start and Stoney Lane was a nice test this early as we approached the roads to the east of Ashover Rock a famous piece of granite perched on a ridge that offers commanding views to the east which include Clay Cross, Alfreton and beyond.  To the west the Ashover, Ashover Hay and the valley that the snuggle into, talking of which where is that duvet it was now feeling very chilly as I stood around waiting for the arrival of the sun.

SUNRISE FROM BROWNHILLS LANE ALTON

Strangely enough the sky was showing some encouraging signs of light from just before 7am and this rather disarmed me to walk faster thinking I may miss the planned event.  After looking for the best position for a little while the option of a small incline on Brownhills Lane that runs down to the hamlet of Alton was selected, this was particularly important as the sun was giving the signal that it would be rising more south easterly than just easterly.

I had seen sunrises over houses and in towns but never from a vantage point with a clear view towards a distant horizon and soon pictures were taken before, during and after the hands were now vouching for how cold it was.

But come the time wow, wow, wow, was it worth it the experience of the sun first just showing a brief glimpse to its full development as it rose on our side of the world was a fantastic experience and something a mature, questionable I know, chap could get excited about.

OGSTON  RESERVOIR WITH RATCLIFFE POWER STATION ON THE SKYLINE

With photography done the time had just broken 8am and a little walk planned to the nearby village of Littlemoor for a chance to take Ogston Reservoir in this early morning condition.  With the pictures taken the slight mist was forming in the undulations and the Ratcliffe  Power Station around 25 miles away was steaming up in the far distance.

The decision at this point was to extend the walk and while I was out I might as well make a morning of it and here is the tenuous football connection.  Firstly leaving the Ashover v Furness Vale game a few weeks ago there was the chance to capture a wonderful sunset while climbing up Milken Lane on the way back to base.  But the extension is probably as loose, while planning a trip on foot to Cromford and Wirksworth FC early on in the season I looked for a route that would take me off a narrow, busy and steep section.  In this time I discovered on the map the old ruins of Trinity Chapel in a wooded area overlooking Ogston, this was something I had no Idea about and it appears to be a hidden gem.  There is another football part of this story shortly so hang on in there.

SUN RISE AND MIST AROUND OGSTON RESERVOIR

Moving out of Littlemoor and down the narrow declining lane of Dalebank there is time to stand and admire where the former Ashover Light Railway passed through the valley alongside the river.  Without it being a history lesson the railway is well worth taking time to read about if you are not familiar with it, serving  Clay Cross Works to Ashover Quarry for the purpose of the company and also offering passenger travel especially at holiday times.  Climbing out into Ashover Hay the commanding views were now becoming well illuminated as morning had well and truly broken.  Visible from the vantage point at the top of The Hay is a view back to Woolley Moor with its former colliery building viewable at the front of the recreation football ground which was the home for the now defunct village football side who plyed their trade in The MRA league for many years before moving to ground share with Clay Cross Town FC.

WOOLLEY MOOR AND ITS FOOTBALL GROUND FROM ASHOVER HAY

Trinity Chapel was now calling and through the ford at Berridge Lane, something else I did not realise was there, which is listed as the county councils number three ford.  Steep climbing is the nature of walking around Ashover and this one was steep but commanding views were the order of the day as we reached the furthest point from base before turning back at the site of a very close Crich Stand a monument to the Sherwood Forrester's regiment situated in the pretty village that also offers up The Tramway Village a well recommended visit.

COMMANDING VIEWS WITH OGSTON TO THE RIGHT

Turning back down White Carr Lane the footpath that leads along a stone wall in the field leads to a gate into a wooded area that was quite muddy around its entrance but as soon as you got near this you could see the former church on the nearest edge to us.  So a venture up to the ruins to take a look reveal a remarkably well intact building save of course for its roof, however bearing in mind the building was closed in 1856 this is pretty impressive.  The bell tower is just about visible under the growing ivy and apparently until recently one of the two bells had remained to ring in the blowing wind.  With the wooded area taking up the view from the front of the church the once amazing site of rolling fields to the reservoir was now denied to visitors but you could imagine it in its day for the parishioners.

BRACKENFIELD TRINITY CHAPEL

There is a superb picture online of a chap leaning against the wall which I guess is now the edge of the wood looking in towards the church and he was on the former lane known as the Hollow Way allegedly a road that was a support to the nearby Rykneld Way the Roman Road that the now A61 in the area mirrors.  Although a church on this site apparently dates back to the 1000's this one was built in the mid 1500's serving Brackenfield and was part of the nearby Morton parish.  Near the church there is a water source trough which provided a vital supply to the village amazingly this remains today by the roadside.  The new church that replaced the chapel is situated at the east end of Brackenfield and on a much larger scale there have though been times on Trinity Sunday when the church members walked to the old site and held a service in the adjoining field to remember the times and people gone by who had played a part in the history of the church in the village.

TRINITY CHAPEL LOOKING TOWARDS OGSTON

Time to move on as the morning was developing nicely now back over the ridge of Ashover Hay and down towards the head of the reservoir that as been with us from so many angles on this walk.  Climbing up past Temperance Hill in Woolley Moor and leaving behind the former Napoleon public house the cross roads that offer up a right to Stretton or a left back to the main village however we take the homeward bound trip straight over the junction.  This road gives one of the best mid range views of Ogston Reservoir but today there was another photo opportunity that had surprised me on recent walks around here a small collection of sheep with large upright ears that makes them look semi rabbit like.  The Border Leicester breed is quite unique in looks and appear a fairly happy animal in their surrounds around Handley.  The village of Handley again offers up a smart collection of dated stone houses including a converted Methodist Church, there is also a VR red post box and a stone painted bus stop sign in the wall of the old post office to bring back the times gone by.

Departure along Woodhead Lane offers commanding views east again and the town of Clay Cross features heavily, this ridge although a little lower than viewing platform than our sunset viewing point but non the less offering one of the best vistas in the area.

From here there was a sharp forty five minute walk back to complete the fifteen miles to base in the light with dinner to prepare there was time now to enjoy the experience of the sunset and discovery of a hidden gem and football played its part in it.

BORDER LEICESTER IN DERBYSHIRE