Tag Archives: Football

The Best Of Times

24 Tuesday May 2016

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Sunday 8th May 2016 ko 17.30

5 Liga Bucuresti

FRATIA BUCURESTI 2 (Phanzu 24 Sebanescu 85)

PROGRESSUL SPARTAC 1944 0

Att 73

I remember when hop organiser Andrei Otineanu first contacted me to ask advice on which stadia ought to be featured on the inaugural Bucharest Groundhop. I offered just one tip,

“Andrei,” I said, “Put on whoever you like, but you have to feature Fratia!”  

Continue reading →

Invention

17 Tuesday May 2016

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Friday 5th May 2016 ko 17.00

5 Liga Bucuresti

A.S. OLIMPIC 4 (Busco 40 Cristea 56 Mimaloche 82 Calin 84)

BENFICA BUCURESTI 3 (Sharande 27 Stojan 55 Smarande 64)

Att 44 at Stadional Energoutilaj

Entry FREE

No Programme

I’d been in contact with Romanian student Andrei Otineanu for quite some time, and it was he that convinced me to complete a highly enjoyable visit to Bucharest in September 2015. During my time in his country he made it clear he wanted to organise a groundhop in his country, and we talked at length at what would be involved. I flew back home wondering what, if anything, would happen next. Continue reading →

Take It Easy

16 Monday May 2016

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Wednesday 4th May 2016 ko 18.45

Cambridgeshire County League- Senior B

WHITTLESFORD UNITED 2 (Walkley 39 83)

WITCHFORD 96 1 (Loker 46)

Att 13

Entry FREE

No Programme

My regular reader I suspect has long since worked out I live life at million miles an hour. It all started a few years ago as a means of not thinking about other parts of my life, but now I’ve got to a point where I feel slightly guilty if I’m not on the move! Still my friends seem to have found inventive ways of slowing me down, and this was a good example. Continue reading →

Seale

12 Thursday May 2016

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Monday 2nd May 2016 ko 15.00

South West Peninsula League Division One West

PLYMOUTH ARGYLE RESERVES 4 (Ward 6 McCauley 17 Jephcott 44 Sangster 50)

WENDRON UNITED 0

Att 66 at Seale-Hayne

Entry & Programme £3

Another entry in the great unwritten book of groundhopping rules states thus, “Thou shalt not watch a game involving a reserve side.” In fact I remember watching Cadbury Athletic Reserves play at the iconic Bournville Ground as it’s not suitable for Midland League games and a very well-known hopper got extremely steamed up over it! My attitude to such mores is best described by the title of this blog, if it interests me, then I’ll go. And Seale-Hayne is certainly interesting! Continue reading →

Lionesses Pride

05 Thursday May 2016

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Sunday 24th April ko 16.00

Thames Valley Counties Women’s League Cup Final

BENSON LIONESSES 0

OXFORD CITY NOMADS 3 (Frackiewicz 22 51 62)

Att c200 at Milton United FC

Entry £1

Programme £1

On one level I was at this one purely down to Jon Radcliffe and the Benson Lions. It you aren’t aware of him and them, they represent the absolute pinnacle of my time as a groundhop organiser. Benson Lions are the RAF side based on the base, and if you were at either of the games they hosted, you’ll know why I hold Jon and the club in such high regard. Continue reading →

Laurence at Lawrence

05 Thursday May 2016

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Thursday 21st April 2016 ko 18.15

Bristol & Suburban League Division 3

LAWRENCE WESTON “A” 5 (Rawlings 45 70 Mullula 60 Morgan 72 84)

STOCKWOOD WANDERERS RESERVES 4 (Pinches 10 42 Alzanetti 30 Box 75)

Att 7

Entry FREE

Nothing for sale

You can imagine it can’t you? I’m scouring the fixtures for a game in Bristol, and I spot a team called Lawrence Rovers are at home. Now I’m a sucker for a club whose name tells a story, even if they use a “W” where I use a “U” so off Robyn and I trotted to north-west Bristol.. Continue reading →

Genteel

01 Sunday May 2016

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Tuesday 17th April 2016 ko 18.30

Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division One

HEMINGFORDS UNITED 4 (Mackay 29 30 79 Adam King 33)

BRAMPTON 4 (Garner 7 Cain 24 Vale 34 Owens 64)

Att c50

Entry FREE

No Programme

After the exertions of the Carmarthenshire Hop, something more laid back was required. So a trip via Milton Keynes to ceremonial Huntingdonshire, and modern Cambridgeshire was the plan, the flatlands and agricultural land allowing a gentle game allowing the chance to unwind. Of course life never quite works out how you’d planned it does it? Continue reading →

Building Blocks

01 Sunday May 2016

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Sunday 17th April 2016 ko 15.00

Carmarthenshire League Division One

CARMARTHEN STARS 7 (Foschi 17 Thomas 20 61 Harvey 63 73
Rees 65 Deadman 72)

PONTHENRI 1 (A Williams 80og)

Att 214

Entry £3

Programme £1

Carl’s coach arrived back in Carmarthen, and like every hopper I craned my neck so I could see what our final destination was like. Maybe the others there checked to see what facilities were but I know Chris Berezai and I saw exactly the same thing, we saw that we weren’t having to provide all the crowd! Continue reading →

Playing In The Wet Patch

26 Tuesday Apr 2016

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Sunday 17th April 2016 ko 11.30

Carmarthenshire League Division 2

LLANDOVERY 4 (Archer 11 C Davies 42 R Davies 90 L Bailey 90)

PORTH TYWYN SUBURBS 0

Att 111

Programme £1

Badge £3

Sunday’s first game saw the hop head east once again and aim for the A40. The town of Llandovery is steeped in history, and the drive out from Carmarthen picturesque but as usual in the first hop of a league’s staging I wondered what we’d find. The first host clubs have no point of reference so as organiser you rely on them using their meetings and the host clubs’ guide to make the most of their opportunity. I knew we’d given them the best possible opportunity but you worry, and the day I don’t will be the day I give up. Robyn rested her head on my shoulder, I took in the view and thought positive thoughts. Continue reading →

The Unusual J

24 Sunday Apr 2016

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Saturday 16th April 2016 ko 17.00

Carmarthenshire League Division 2

JOHNSTOWN 1 (J Evans 49)

DREFACH 3 (J Jones 40og Baker 79 S Jones 82)

Att 137

Entry £3

Programme £1

We headed back to a rather chilly Carmarthen for our final game of the day, and again there was a quirk, the name of the club! Perhaps if there’s an etymologist reading this they can tell me why so few place names begin with a “J?” There’s Jarrow, but offhand I can’t think of any well-known others, and I know there was at least one hopper at this game that this was his first “J” club. But there was far more to like about Johnstown than just a letter. Continue reading →