✔853 Phoenix Park

Shifnal Town 2-1 Stourport Swifts

Midlands Football League - Premier Division

Saturday 26th November 2022

Shifnal is a market town and civil parish in Shropshire, about 4 miles east of Telford and 17 miles from the county town of Shrewsbury. (population:about 6,700) The town dates back to the end of the 7th century and was known as Idsall, due to its Roman links.

The first part of the name "Shifnal" is believed to be a personal name, "Scuffa", while the second part, from "halh", means a valley. The town name has alternated through the centuries between Idsall and Shifnal. Idsall is mentioned in a 9th-century charter as "Iddeshale", meaning "Idi's nook" or corner. A Key to English Place-names has an entry for Shifnal that reads 'Scuffa's nook of land'  also known as Iddeshale, 'Idi's nook of land’

Shifnal Town FC was founded in 1964 as St Andrews Youth Club FC, based at Idsall School. The team played in the Wellington and District League. and changed their name to Shifnal Juniors in 1968. After winning promotion they successfully applied to join the Shropshire County Football League. In 1972 the club changed its name once again to Shifnal Town and in 1976 were elected to the West Midlands (Regional) League after winning the County League title. 

West Midlands (Regional) League 1976 - 1986 and 2006-07, 2010 - 2021

Division One champions 1978-79, 2015-16

Premier Division champions 1980-81, 1981-82, 2006-07

Midlands Combination 1993-94 and 2003 - 2006

Midlands Alliance (founder members) 1994 - 2003 and 2007 - 2010

Midlands Football League 2021 - present 

The Acoustafoam Stadium, 

Phoenix Park

Coppice Green Lane

Shifnal 

TF11 8PD

 

The club was originally based at Idsall School, then moved to Admiral Park during the 1970s. In 1985 the lease on Admirals Park was terminated and they were forced to resign from the league and return to the County league. The team returned to Idsall School, before purchasing land just up the road on Coppice Green Lane. 

The ground has a neat stand at the far side which is elevated by half a dozen steps and filled with blue and yellow flip seats. The paying entrance is in the corner, on the same side as the Legends Bar, team dugouts and the changing rooms. Apart from the stand, the ground is open, with hard standing and grass banking, plus loads of picnic tables all around courtesy of the Reds Bar in the town. The stadium is decorated throughout in their old blue and yellow colours, but the club have now reverted back to their original red kit. 

Shifnal Town 2(Abbey 17,38)

Stourport Swifts 1(Chilton 74)

Midland Football League - Premier Division matchday 18v19

2nd v 5th

2pm ko 

Att.118

Spondoolicks :

Admission £8

Programme available £2

Pin badge £3

☕ Coffee £1.50 

Hot dog £3 chocolate £1

 

Shifnal took the lead in the 17th minute when Jez Abbey headed home from a corner kick, then he repeated the feat ten minutes later to make it 2-0 at half time. 

Last Thursday night Neymar just failed to score directly from a corner for Brazil against Serbia, but Lee Chilton managed the trick to put Stourport back in it with just over fifteen minutes left. Following that goal the Reds were under the cosh for the final period but they held on to claim a big win in their pursuit of the Premier Division title. 

#Heedhopper

222 miles door-to-door

I headed down to the home of the North-east Celebrity Groundhopping Couple for a 9am departure, before Katie picked up Hull Hopper Dave on route from Micklefield Station at 10.30.

We were looking forward to our visit to Whitchurch Alport until the suprising news via Twitter that the match was rained off, quickly followed by our back up at Market Drayton failing a pitch inspection. Next on the list was Shifnal, who thankfully confirmed they were good to go following a quick text message from Dave. 

 

The match kicked off an hour earlier, so not much time to look around the town. However, after discovering three good beer pubs on the CAMRA app, Katie dropped me off at the Plough Inn, where I had a quick drink followed by swifties in the Kings Yard Micropub and The Anvil. 

We enjoyed our visit to Phoenix Park and we all agreed it was a great (but totally unexpected and not planned) new tick. 

✔852. Norwood Park

Beverley Town 1-2 Selby Town

Northern Counties East League - Division One

Saturday 19th November 2022

Beverley is a market town in the East Riding of Yorkshire, located 27 miles south-east of York and 15 miles north-west of Hull. The town was listed in a Sunday Times report as one of the Best Places to Live in northern England.(population:over 29,000)

The town was originally known as Inderawuda and was founded around 700 AD by Saint John of Beverley, during the time of the Anglian kingdom of Northumbria

Beverley was once the tenth-largest town in England, as well as one of the richest, because of its wool trading and the pilgrims, who came to venerate its founding saint -  John of Beverley.  The town is known for Beverley Minster, Beverley Westwood, the 15th century North Bar gate and its popular racecourse, which was first established in 1767. 

Beverley Town was formed in 2000 and joined the Humber Premier League as a founder member. The Beavers were league champions in 2012-13, 2013-14 and 2020-21 and finished runners-up last season, taking promotion to the Northern Counties East League following upgrades to their ground.

Norwood Park

Norwood Recreation Ground

Recreation Lane, 

Norwood, 

Beverley, 

HU17 9HW

Current NCEL grounds visited 37/40

Capacity 1,000 (56 seats)

 

The football pitch is at the far end of the recreation ground past the cricket pitch, where the clubhouse and changing rooms are located. The stand backs onto the squash club with the dugouts at the far side. The rest of the ground is open with currently no spectator access behind the goal and half of one side. 

#Heedhopper

127 miles door-to-door

Travelled with Katie & Lee, with a 9am departure from Wallace Towers.

We arrived in Beverley at 11.40 and met up with Hull Hopper Dave at the Cross Keys for lunch. We had plenty of time before the game for an enjoyable tobey around the town, including visiting a couple of record shops and a drink in the recently opened Northmen Spirit. 

Beverley Town 1(Moody 18)

Selby Town 2(Wheeldon OG 1 Clapham 8)

NCEL Division One matchday 17 (13th v 15th)

3pm ko

Att.264

Spondoolicks

Admission £3.50

Programme £1.50

Coffee £2 Tea £1.50 

Selby took the lead straight from the kick off when a cross shot from Flanagan was turned into his own net by Luke Wheeldon, then quickly doubled their advantage with a superb diving header by Harry Clapham from a right wing cross.(see pic below)

Beverley got back into the game with a lovely volley from the edge of the box from Reece Moody in the 18th minute. The hosts played some great stuff after that goal and were unlucky not to be level at the break. 

The second period produced more decent chances particularly from the home team, but they were unable to take one of them, which would have earned them a well deserved point.

✔851. Bondisle

Stanhope Town SCC 6-3 Wearmouth CW

Durham FA Minor Cup 1st Round

Saturday 12th November 2022

Stanhope is a tranquil market town at the heart of the Durham Dales surrounded by moorland in the North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It lies on the River Wear between Eastgate and Frosterley, in the north-east of Weardale. (population:around 1,600)

The village plan is probably of Saxon origin though there were Bronze Age settlers whose huge hoard discovered at Heatheryburn Caves is now in the British Museum. The 18th-century Stanhope Castle in the town centre stands on the possible site of a medieval castle. It was built in 1798 by Cuthbert Rippon, MP for Gateshead. 

Stanhope is the current terminus of the Weardale Railway, a heritage line operating mainly during holiday periods from Bishop Auckland, with stations at Frosterley, Wolsingham and Witton-le-Wear. Stanhope Station stood in for the fictional Partlington Station in an episode of the criminal drama series Vera. The town is a popular stopping off point for ramblers and cyclists and is pronounced locally as “Stanip” and not “Stan Hope”. 

Heedhopper 

27 mile drive door-to-door 

English Non-League grounds visited - 533

I took the scenic route to Stanhope, driving up to Consett then along the B6278 through the picturesque Weardale. This leisurely drive was twice interrupted, firstly by a flock of sheep strolling along the road, then just before I reached the town a random bird flew into my windscreen. As I was attending another match kicking off at 5.30pm I took the Wolsingham/Lancaster/Stanley route back home as a precaution.

Bondisle football ground

Bondisle Way

Stanhope

Co. Durham

DL13 2YS

The ground lies in the shadow of the train station, in between the railway line and the river. The changing room facilities are at the Stanhope Sports & Social Club which is just up the road on Front Street. The club play in the Crook & District League Division One and are currently top of the league. As a general rule of thumb, I tend not to watch matches at this level but I made an exception with it being a Durham Minor Cup tie against a higher ranked club. 

Stanhope Town Sports & Social Club 6(Green 22,45pen Peadon 39, 55,75 Price 48)

Wearmouth CW 3(Kerridge 11,26 Randall 76)

Durham FA Minor Cup 1st Round

1.30pm ko 

Att.35hc 

 

The Wearside League side took an early lead when a free kick from the right wing found the net unaided, but the hosts soon drew level when a corner was met by Sam Green who fired in at the far post. The Wearmouth number 11, Joseph Kerridge again put his team ahead, but by half time they were behind with Ian Peadon following in to net the rebound after the ‘keeper parried a shot, then Sam Green made it 3-2 at the break from the penalty spot. 

The next goal of the game was crucial and it was Stanhope who grabbed it with Matthew Price capitalising on a defensive mix up just 3 minutes into the second half. Moments later the visitors were reduced to ten men when Kieran Stokoe childishly kicked out at the keeper and the hosts took full advantage, with another two goals from Peadon to complete his hat-trick and a consolation from the Conor Randall made it 6-3 at the final whistle. 

According to some of the locals I was lucky to witness such a great game at Bondisle (as they reckon it's a rarity) . I really enjoyed it and I wish them all the best in the next round of the Durham Minor Cup. 

✔850 Roseberry Playing Fields

Hilda Park 0-3 Deerness Valley

Wearside League Division 3 Cup

Saturday 5th November 2022

Hilda Park FC formed in 1979 and joined the Wearside League at the beginning of this season. The club is based in the Newfield area of Pelton in County Durham.

Roseberry Playing Fields 

Pelton Lane

Pelton 

Co. Durham 

DH2 1NN

Current Wearside League grounds visited 39/42

The complex has several pitches and a 3G five-a-side court, with the main pitch behind the changing room block. 

Hilda Park 0

Deerness Valley 3(Medland 11,60,83pen)

Wearside League Division 3 Cup

2pm ko 

Att. 32hc 

A hat-trick from Ben Medland saw the visitors run out easy winners. He grabbed the opener in the tenth minute after running onto a through ball and finishing well. The lead was doubled on the hour when his lobbed effort came back off the post, but he followed up to net the rebound from close range. The victory was completed late in the second half when Medland fired in from the penalty spot.