Old Games Revisited - A Special One

I thought it an idea to include in this blog, from time to time, some details of European matches that I had previously been to. Here is the first.
José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix, better known as José Mourinho, has previously described himself as 'the special one' due to his outstanding record as a manager for numerous world renowned football clubs but, at the time of writing, one can see that there is nothing 'special' about being sacked as manager of a team that is lying 16th in the English top flight.
Although José is more famous as a manager he did play the game professionally and one of the clubs he played for was Lisbon's Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses. Myself and my father paid a visit to Lisbon in late 2013 to watch two Portuguese Primeira Liga matches.
The story started on the Friday before the Sunday matches. Myself and my father dropped our bags at the hotel and made our way to Sporting Lisbon's ground to obtain tickets for our second game and then we headed to Belem via the Metro and local train on a reconnaissance mission for our first game. We took photos of both stadiums knowing we would have to leave our large cameras behind on match day.
Belenenses' ground, the Estádio do Restelo, afforded spectacular views over the Tagus River, 25th April Bridge, The National Sanctuary of Christ the King and Jerónimos Monastery. An elderly club official spotted us taking snaps and guided us inside the ground itself to take further photographs. 
On the match day itself we retraced our steps and had a look at the local flea market before heading up the hill to the ground. Getting there very early we were informed, at the ticket office we thought we could get our tickets from, that we could only get tickets there if we were members. We were told to get our tickets from the office at the top of the hill marked 'for away fans'. Thankfully we weren't placed with the away fans. I picked out a nice scarf from the table outside the ground and paid the old scarf seller's wife the 5 euro note required. Match and scarf together came to 18 Euros.  Belenenses matched Gil Vicente, the visitors, throughout, even after they were down to 10 men following Fredy's red carded for dangerous play (he left an opponent rolling on the floor holding his face). Matt Jones, the home team's 'keeper from Stoke on Trent, had a good game and made a world class save at one point.
A final result of 0:0 seemed a fair result between these teams of a tier 3 English standard.
After the match we strolled down the hill with the other 3,244 fans, got the train and then the Metro and headed toward the Estadio Jose Alvalade for our second game of the day, Sporting Lisbon vs. Pacos de Ferreira.

  

Manc' Rant

"Wouldn't it be great if Salford City beat Hartlepool and we get to play them in the FA Cup?" a fellow Ram asked me in rhetorical fashion. My response was not full of expletives but I am sure that you would have forgiven me if it were. My reaction was quite negative and I'll try to explain why. We'll start at the beginning.
Manchester is a fantastic city of culture and importance. My favourite musical acts hail from that great city, those being namely The Smiths, Joy Division and New Order. As such you will understand that I am not anti-Manchester. Neither am I anti-Manchester United per-se. It is great that football fans from Manchester and the immediate area have a fantastic club to support.
"As you are from Bristol and you are a football fan, are you Rovers or City?" I asked a colleague. "Neither, Manchester United" he replied. And here is the crux of the issue.
Some football 'fans' are supporting teams (usually by buying merchandise, rather than actually going to games) that contribute nothing to their place of abode or birth. Local clubs, whether they be small or large, are active in the local community, developing the football skills of youngsters and undertaking charitable works etc. So why would one give money to a club that does nothing for the place you call home?
I understand that one likes to watch good football, but to call oneself a 'fan' of a particular team that you have no connection with, just because they are successful, is beyond me. I am not a psychologist but people do seem to like being associated with success. This is playground mentality, "my dad is bigger than your dad" kids say in school. Some outgrow this, some never say this and some continue to have this mentality by being 'fans' of successful teams that they have no connection with.
Every year dozens, if not hundreds, of small local community based football clubs disappear because of lack of funds. The 'glory-hunter fans' don't care. As long as they have the new £80 shirt of 'their team' that's all that matters, as they can stroll around demonstrating to others that they are associated 'personally' with success. I would prefer to spend the £80 going to several non-league games, buying a pie and a programme, knowing that that money is going to a club that is working in the local community with kids and youth teams and the like. In any case, in many ways non-league matches are more enjoyable an experience than big Premier League games. Many people have written about this and so I will leave that there.
In this way football 'brands' have developed while the grassroots suffer. It is the issue of the Manchester United 'brand' which is troublesome in this case.
When the Glazer's took over Manchester United some of the team's followers protested and went to the extreme length of setting up a new football club, FC United of Manchester. In this way they were showing loyalty to the Manchester United 'brand' but not it's roots. It's roots lie in a team called Newton Heath. Newton Heath was one of two clubs founded at the locomotive-building works of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, the other team being Horwich Railway Mechanics Institute FC. Horwich RMI became Leigh RMI. Newton Heath became Manchester United. One can clearly see that Leigh RMI is (was) the true sister club of Manchester United.
Leigh RMI was struggling financially at the time of the Glazer's takeover of Manchester United but instead of the Manchester United 'fans' supporting their sister club they allowed it to struggle on and decline into the obscurity of the South Lancashire Counties Football League Premier Division as Leigh Genesis. Well, at least as they have two clubs with Manchester and United in their names to cheer for.
Another Manchester United 'brand' spin-off is the celebrity football club known as Salford City. A Singaporean businessman and investor and five former Manchester United players own the Northern Premier League club with the ambition of making it a Tier 2 team. Pumping in money and attracting the home grown players from other local teams is a way to do this.
One sees that they don't want to make it a Premier League team as that would mean they would actually have to compete in the league against the real Manchester United.
Because of the celebrity status of the owners of the club the BBC thought it fitting to do a TV documentary about it.
So, it won't be great if Salford City beat Hartlepool and we get to play them in the FA Cup.
1) I don't want my home town team associated with a Manchester United 'brand' spin-off;
2) I would hope that we get to play a good old fashioned real team; and
3) Derby County and Hartlepool(s) United share a common bond, the genius management duo of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor.

Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 3 (08/12/2015 19:45)

Tonight was my 'road to the cup final' game. In round 1 I saw Belper Utd. beat Gamesley and in round 2 I saw Heanor win away at Belper. This evening I witnessed Tier 9 Heanor Town entertain Tier 8 New Mills at the Town Ground. I did have a second 'road to the cup final' team that I was following, Whaley Bridge, but unfortunately their game has been arranged for 12th December and I will be watching Derby County play Brighton on that day.
Heanor and New Mills are very much having contrasting seasons. Heanor would be top of the Midland Football League Premier Division if it wasn't for the presence in their league of the phoenix club of Hereford United whereas New Mills are already pretty much consigned to relegation from the Northern Premier League Division One North with their league record of played 18, lost 18.
At the ground I met up with a fellow Ram and we enjoyed a Guinness in the club bar before kick-off; a pleasant facility showing Sky Sports and containing a number of folk playing cards and darts, some of which weren’t bothered with watching the Derbyshire Cup game at all.
As kick-off approached I mentioned to my companion that I had to introduce myself to a New Mills official as he had brought down a club scarf for me. In 2014 I toured Derbyshire watching all the teams that play in the top eight tiers of English football. As part of this little challenge I bought a club scarf as a momento, the only team’s scarf missing at that time being New Mills’ as they had sold out when I had visited them.
The New Mills staff were a friendly group and they told us of how the club had struggled with finances, team managers and losing players to teams who would pay more. It was sad to hear this as New Mills is such a lovely little club, but this explained their current league position.
Heanor, The Lions, seem to be taking this competition seriously. They put out a strong team whereas the Millers gave some new players a chance to impress. The result was as expected. The skill and physicality of The Lions, which had previously impressed me the two times I had seen them, also impressed my companion, a novice non-league football fan.
The Lions roared and were three goals to the good by half-time. The goals came from Cooper, who rounded the keeper and blasted the ball into the top corner, Bettney, whose deflected free kick from 19 yards left the keeper stranded and from Debrouwer, with a close range effort provided by a deep ball from the right and a calm header back across goal from Cooper.
New Mills introduced some more established players in the second-half and made a better fist of it. Midway through the second-half however the newly introduced keeper fumbled his control and attempted clearance and presented an easy chance to Cooper who tapped the ball into the empty net in showboat style.
Myself and my companion willed The Millers to get a consolation but the closest they came was from a mazy run and a good shot which struck the post.
So, with Heanor’s 4:0 win, I am following The Lions into the quarter-finals.

Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 3 (07/12/2015 19:45)

Tonight saw the first game played in the third round of the Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup with Ilkeston FC of the Northern Premier League Premier Division (Tier 7) entertaining Long Eaton United of the Midland Football League Premier Division (Tier 9).  

Cup games provide a chance for smaller teams to punch above their weight and upset teams in higher divisions and myself and my father pondered this as we drove to Ilkeston listening, on the radio, to the draw for the third round of the FA Cup. We were disappointed to learn that our beloved Rams would have to travel either Salford City or Hartlepool United, with the chance of us being subject to a giant-killing. Our disappointment was short-lived however as we were hearted to see a reasonable crowd in attendance at the New Manor Ground.  

As the players took to the field the first thing that caught our eye was the awful kits that the two teams were wearing. Ilkeston are known as the Robins and I was disappointed that their traditional red top had now become one incorporating blue stripes. And as the presence of blue stripes clashed with Long Eaton's home kit the visitors were forced to wear their kit of salmon pink and black.

Long Eaton had the breeze on their backs in the first half and made an excellent start to the game. Within 10 minutes they were a goal ahead through a penalty, struck low to the keepers left, after the keeper had brought down an onrushing striker.  Long Eaton could have doubled their lead 10  minutes later but Ilkeston were saved by the crossbar following a header from a corner. 

Ilkeston looked more dangerous as the first half progressed. The Robins could have gone into the break all square had they capitalised on a free close range header or if their left back could have calmly finished after a mazy run with the ball from the left wing. A half-time lead for Long Eaton was a fair reflection on the first 45 minutes however.

The youthful looking Robins, with the breeze on their backs, threatened early in the second-half. Within the first 15 minutes they had two good chances with close range headers and the ball was cleared off the line from a thundering goal-bound free-kick.

As Ilkeston pushed forward in search of an equaliser a ball up-field from the Long Eaton defence to a striker was calmly controlled in the left channel and from 20 yards out a rasping shot to the keeper's right found first the inside of the post and then the back of the net. 2.0.

With 10 minutes to go Ilkeston were awarded a penalty following the bringing down of a striker. As the keeper went left the ball was put to his right and a tense last few minutes awaited the visitors. It was a case of too little too late for Ilkeston however as they couldn't create any more significant late chances.

A 2.1 away win for the smaller team was a fair score-line and the reasonable number of fans who had made the short trip from Long Eaton left happily with a giant-killing evening under their belts.

 

Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 2 (28/11/2015 13:15)

I was fortunate that this particular game had been postponed twice, due to the inclement weather of northwest Derbyshire, as the game should have been played while I was on holiday.  The re-arrangement allowed me to see another team that I saw win in round one, Hilton Harriers, and as such this was to be another 'road to the cup final' game.
Hilton, and their hosts Whaley Bridge Athletic, are tier 11 teams playing, respectively, in the Staffordshire and Cheshire leagues.
An 80 minute drive with my father saw us arrive at a very wet and blustery Horwich Park shortly after the Hilton players. The players had just left the bus and we witnessed the bus driver expertly negotiating the tight side streets of Whaley Bridge in an attempt find a suitable parking spot for the full sized coach.
Like many football grounds in the north of the county, Horwich Park lies in some stunning countryside. The facilities themselves at the ground were modern and fortunately the function room / changing rooms had a pavilion style roof which meant that we had cover from the rain from where we could watch the game.
Athletic had the weather on their backs in the first half and with that made a better start to the game. Within 15 minutes they were two up. The first came from a foul and a penalty and the second came from a right wing shot that snuck under the keeper at the near post. Athletic struck the woodwork twice before Harriers managed to create a chance, the striker firing high and wide from a good position.
As the first half was coming to an end a bobbling ball in a crowded box struck an Athletic player's arm and a penalty was awarded. The penalty was calmly converted, high and wide of the keeper's left hand. A 2:1 lead for Athletic was probably a fair reflection of the first half.
After the break Athletic were soon 3:1 up. The Harriers left back was dispossessed and the Athletic right-winger got to the byline and placed a measured cross onto a colleague's head who neatly finished from 7 yards out.
After the fourth goal had been scored the game was fairly even and both teams had a couple of half chances to score but the game saw no more goals and Athletic were through to the third round and a plum tie away at Alfreton Town.
On a personal note I was hoping that Hilton would have made it through. I have a friend who plays for the veterans team and it is fantastic that such a new club is contributing so much to the local community. The Harriers' chairman explained to us today how the club has, as the Hilton expands, ambitions to progress up the footballing pyramid. I soon hope to see Harriers playing in the East Midlands Counties Football League Premier Division (tier 10). But, with six Derbyshire Senior Cup games seen so far, my 'road to the cup final' teams are now Whaley Bridge Athletic and Heanor Town.

Battered Fish-Heads

A stroll from my friend's house in Hannover, on Saturday 21st November, got us to the hauptbahnhof in plenty of time for the 12:46 train to Wolfsburg. 

As we waited on platform 12, along with a number of other travellers, we noticed that some Werder Bremen fans were being held, by the police, on platform 13 and we thought it very considerate that Deutsche-Bahn  were going to lay on two trains to Wolfsburg, 1 for fans and 1 for regular travellers. At the last minute the information on our platform sign changed which resulted in a mass exodus to platform 13. 

We boarded our platform 13 train and as we waited to leave the unlucky number 13 struck. A problem with the carriage doors, initially blamed  by DB on the Werder football fans, caused a delay. For an hour we sat waiting and as we did we found out that the following 13:46 train had been cancelled. If our train didn't now leave we would miss the game. As the minutes ticked to 13:48 we realised that we had to make a drastic change if plan - a quick walk back to my mate's flat to take the car. 

"What would English football fans do if they were left stranded on their way to a match?" asked my friend. "Smash up the train!" I replied. 

A 150km/h blast along the autobahn got us to the VW Arena with 5 minutes to spare.

Myself and my friend sat apart in the first half as the match was deemed a sell-out, unsurprising as Wolfsburg were flying high in the Bundesliga and also doing well in the Champions League. Werder, on the other hand, had continued their decade long decline. 

The first half went to form and Wolfsburg went into the break 2:0 up thanks to all the pressure they put the Werder defence under. An own goal and a header from a set piece brought the goals. 

At half time my friend, a Bremener himself, told me that the man next to him soon realised that he was a Bremen fan, due to his lack a excitement after Wolfsburg's goals.

Although the match was well attended a few empty seats remained, like the one next to me, and my friend and myself sat together in the second half, thankfully, for my mate, a little further away from the Wolfsburg fans with their chanting of "Werder are stinking because of the water from the River Weser they are drinking!". 

After the break, as Werder pushed forward to get back into the game, their defensive frailties were further exposed by clinical breaks from Wolfsburg. Four second half goals from Wolfsburg, Andre Schurrle involved in most of the goal threats, gave the Werder fans the depressing scoreline of 6:0 to take home with them. Maybe the Werder fans who may had been left stranded in Hannover now considered themselves lucky. 

Teams from the Hanseatic northern German towns are called 'fish-heads' by fans of other teams. On this occasion the fish-heads were battered. 

 

Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 2 (11/11/2015 19:45)

In the first round of the cup I saw Belper United cruise past Gamesley and Borrowash Victoria narrowly beat South Normanton Athletic. As I am doing the 'road to the cup final' thing I  had a tough choice with regard to which second round game I should watch, as, unfortunately, United and Vic's had scheduled their respective games for the same evening.
The game that I chose to watch looked like the pick of the second round draw; that being Belper of the Central Midlands League - Division South (Tier 11) at home against Heanor of the Midland Football League Premier Division (Tier 9).  I had seen Town and United already this season and I was mightily impressed with both, unsurprisingly as both teams are flying high in their respective leagues.
Arriving at Christchurch Meadow, now branded the Marston's Stadium, I was surprised to see a reasonably full car park. Heanor had brought a good number of fans with them, and the gate was a significant improvement on the handful that witnessed United's first round game.
After the respectful Remembrance Day's minute's silence the game immediately sprung to life. With 2 minutes on the clock a bad foul on the edge of United's box, and a pushing over of a Belper player in the resultant melee, resulted in a player from each side entering the referee's notebook.
Heanor had the better of the first half and finally found the net via the head of their striker, Clark, after Belper failed to clear the ball from their area. Heanor's lead lasted only 5 minutes however, as a ball swung in from the edge of Heanor's box found the right back, Robley, lurking at the far post. As it looked like the underdogs were going to go into the break all square Heanor's Cooper burst through the middle and, unchallenged, unleashed a 20 yard shot passed the keeper's right hand.
2:1 to Heanor seemed fair at half time as, as league standings would suggest,  they looked a group of stronger and more accomplished players.
It wasn't long into the second half before Heanor extended their lead. A cross from the left found Debrouwer unmarked and from 7 yards out a calm header made it 3:1. United never gave up and a far post header by Stockley made it 3:2.
The game was niggley from the start and when Heanor's Naylor went down under a firm challenge he petulantly kicked out in a manner reminiscent of Beckham-Simeone. "10, 10, 10, 10, 10... we aren't having this!" called out the referee, as he trotted over and produced a yellow card.
More petulance from Heanor soon followed. A foul was awarded to Heanor in the left back position as a United player was harrying the defender too aggressively. Following the awarding of the free kick, and as soon as the offending United player had turned his back, the defender, Clarke, lobbed the ball at the back of the United player's head. A straight red.
10 man Heanor ran down time by the corner flag and the referee called an end to proceedings. According to quite a few watches no stoppage time at all seemed to have been played. "That's just the 45 minutes" shouted the Belper bench at the final whistle.
I now await the third round draw to find out where I will be watching Heanor Town play next.

Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 2 (10/11/2015 19:45)

As I was watching Hilton's win in Round 1of the Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup, Stapenhill won away at Glapwell and Mickleover RBL beat Clay Cross away at the fantastically named 'The I Want Pet Foods Ground'.
This evening Stapenhill of the East Midlands Counties League Premier Division (Tier 10) hosted, at Edge Hill, Mickleover Royal British Legion of the Central Midland Football League - Division South (Tier 11) in Round 2.
As we (my companion, a former school teacher in Blackpool, and myself) arrived at the ground, on the outskirts of Burton Upon Trent, we were asked by the turnstile supervisor if we would like to have a go at the blackout. As I noticed that Blackpool was available I quickly handed over my fifty pence piece and scribbled my name against 'The Tangerines'. Of course, I won, which slightly miffed my companion.
Prior to kick off we walked a lap of the pitch and we were impressed by the ground and facilities. We were even more impressed later, at half-time, with the fifty pence sausage rolls served in the bar.
As the teams lined up we noticed that Legion looked a little like Borussia Dortmund in their yellow and black strip. They even had a coach that bore more than a passing resemblance to Jurgen Klopp. Unfortunately, for them, this is where the similarities ended.
Legion, although they battled hard throughout the game, very rarely threatened the Stapenhill goal. Stapenhill, however, looked dangerous at every attack with fluid movements, overlaps and penetrating passes.
Stapenhill's forward, Campbell, scored in each half. The first from inside the box after a good move down the left and the second with a close range header.
A 2:0 score line was fair. Stapenhill should probably have scored more with the amount of chances and half-chances they created and it would have been fitting for Legion to get a consolation goal for the effort they put in over the 90 minutes.

For information -  Stapenhill is an area and civil parish in Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. Stapenhill FC's ground however lies just beyond the town and county boundary in Derbyshire. The photograph above shows the Edge Hill ground (Derbyshire) and residential properties of Stapenhill itself (Staffordshire).

Mickleover's Microclimates

With the recent disbanding of Mickleover Royals FC there remain only five Derby teams that play in the top 11 tiers of the English footballing pyramid; these being Derby County, Mickleover Sports, Borrowash Victoria, Graham Street Prims and Mickleover RBL.
It was my aim today to see Mickleover Royal British Legion FC in their Central Midland Football League - Division South game at The Poppyfields, thus completing the set of seeing all the remaining Derby teams play at home in competitive games. Today would have been a fitting occasion to see RBL, the day before Remembrance Sunday, but it wasn't to be.
Arriving at The Poppyfields, 15 minutes before kick off, the lack of goal nets and the deathly quiet of a football ground without people present was alarming. Managing to find some chaps playing football on the adjacent 5-a-side pitch we (myself, father and my pin badge collecting companion) learnt that the game had been abandoned due to a waterlogged pitch. We wondered whether the other game of the afternoon in Mickleover would suffer the same fate.
Arriving at the Don Amott Arena we were relieved to find out that Mickleover Sport's game versus Ashton United in the Northern Premier League Premier Division was to go ahead as planned. We then wondered whether the Derby suburb of Mickleover has microclimates that result, during a shower, in Western Road suffering more than Station Road.
Newly promoted Sports have struggled so far this season and they struggled today too. Ashton's number 9 tore Sports to bits in the first half and we feared that the 3:0 half-time score line would turn into a 6:0 defeat. Ashton sat back in the second half however and Mickleover got back in the game. The solitary Sports consolation goal made the 3:1 score line a little more respectable but on this showing we fear that there may be a swift return to NPL South.

La Fiorita e Fiorentina

Whist in Bucharest last year, whilst watching two Romanian league games, myself and my companion struck upon the idea of an 'Italian Job'. This would allow my companion to see his first Serie A game whilst also allowing me to add San Marino to my collection of top flight league games of the 54 Uefa 'nations'.

On a beautifully warm and sunshiny Saturday we headed east from our hotel in Bologna, in the Fiat Panda hire car, to San Marino. On the way we stopped by the former home of the San Marino Grand Prix - Imola. Whilst there we looked around the small museum which contained numerous bikes, including Barry Sheene's bike of 1976, and a Red Bull  F1 car from 2013. As we viewed the exhibits we could hear the roar of cars on the circuit itself and we decided to find a vantage point to see some motorsport action. We actually managed to get into the grandstand and witnessed a track day. Ferraris and Porsches and a variety of other privately owned cars thundered by beneath us and across the famous finishing line. 

We then headed off to San Marino itself along the autostrada. In San Marino we enjoyed a cup of coffee and crepe by the castle which afforded some spectacular views, which included that of the national stadium and its training pitch, our 3pm target.

We parked up on the road next to 'Serravalle B' and wandered over to the main stadium. Sneaking in, we witnessed a lovely little multipurpose stadium, which had previously hosted the England national football team, being used by trainee pole-vaulters. 

Returning to Serravalle B we made our way to the 'main stand' and settled down to await the afternoon's entertainment of La Fiorita versus San Giovanni in the San Marino Campionato. 

I wanted to see this game in particular as it was 1) close to the national stadium and 2) it was between the champions of 2013/14 and league leaders and a struggling team. I state league leaders but actually the San Marino FA has two parallel leagues running simultaneously with the top 3 from each going forward to a final stage of matches to decide the eventual champions. 

On the metal framed stand we were joined by 20 or so fellow spectators that appeared to be mainly fellow team mates, girlfriends, mates and a couple of old 'tiffosi'. 

Soon after kick-off it became apparent the league table wasn't lying. La Fiorita were obviously superior. Although SG kept the scoreline 0:0 for most of the first half it was obvious that their resolve would break and they would be unable to rely on breaks and the holdup play and shots by their number 9. 

It was La Fiorita's number 9, Selva, that was the star of the game though. A trip on the right hand side of the SG box allowed Selva to curve a beautiful free kick around the wall and past the stranded keeper after 43 minutes. A minute later a right wing cross found a midfielder with lots of room in the box to simply put the ball past the keeper. 2:0  was a fair reflection of the half and we wondered how many La Fiorita would win by. While bemoaning the lack of catering facilities, and while noting that the toilet facilities were behind some shrubs slightly up the hillside, we pondered the actual standard of the teams. We considered La Fiorita to be of tier 8/9 English standard whereas SG were tier 11. La Fiorita had a solid centrehalf who SG were unable to get past and their attacking frontline would have had enough about them to worry an English semi-pro side.

Shortly after kick off in the second half a pair of girls returned to the stand, from somewhere, bearing sustenance for their friends. We felt quite jealous of the chap now downing a cool bottle of Corona. 

Shortly after, another free kick was awarded on the edge of the SG box. Selva nonchalantly lifted the ball over the wall and into the top corner. 3:0.

The shockingly dry and bobbly pitch now played its part in the game. As the ball spat up from the surface in the penalty box it stuck  a defender's arm and a penalty was awarded. A calmly placed kick to the keepers right made it 4:0. 

SG were rattled now and a coming together in the SG box resulted in a controversial penalty, a second yellow card and a sending off for the SG defender. The SG manager, incensed by the decision, also received his marching orders, for dissent. Selva was given the opportunity to get his hat trick and make it 5:0 and he kindly obliged.

Truly rattled now a SG midfielder kicked out at a La Fiorita opponent and SG were down to 9. 

At the final whistle, as we made our way to the car, an elderly tiffosi took the opportunity to bang on the wall on the referee's dressing room wall and shout some abuse in response to some of the decisions made by him. 

2 hours later we were back at the hotel.

 

 

 

Sunday morning saw us head south on the autostrada which passed through snaking tunnels bored through the hills. Arriving early in Florence we parked on a quiet road two hundred yards or so from the stadium. We bought our tickets from 'Fiorentina Point' and the did a half circuit of the ground. 

Adjacent to the ground was a tidy rugby facility and we decided to spend a few moments sat in the main stand watching a juniors' game. We then wandered into the centre on Florence and took in the sites of the beautiful old town. Heading back towards the stadium we noticed that a bar was showing the Manchester derby. We went in, had a beer and watched the first half. A bar regular asked my companion which team he followed and then kept him updated on his team's (Spurs) progress against Bournemouth. 

Near to and around the ground we were greeted by a purple army who were awaiting the Serie A game of the weekend, leaders Fiorentina hosting third placed Roma. After getting our jackets out of the car and buying a scarf we made our way to the corner of the stadium indicated by our tickets. 

Inside the ground we admired the 1930s architecture and watched the crowd build. The legendary Italian 'calcio' atmosphere was something to behold. The Roma fans were roundly booed and whistled at as they arrived in their corner of the stadium. The Roma fans returned the abuse in equal measure and with flag waving and various gesticulations. 

Prior to the teams coming onto the pitch the PA blared some classic rock to enhance the atmosphere and this included some Status Quo. The team was welcomed onto the pitch by the singing by the fans of the club song, which was like an old oompah band tune. 

The atmosphere flattened, for the home fans, after 6 minutes. A curling shot from the edge of the box by Roma's Salah found the back of the net. The Romans were now in full voice and it was at this point we noticed one of the Roma banners which read 'No Totti, No Party', a banner in obvious support of an icon of a player, but it tickled us nonetheless. 

As Fiorentina pressed at a corner they were left exposed to a break. A defender cleared the ball forward to his colleague Gervinho, who, from within his own half, raced half the length of the pitch to slot the ball passed the keeper to make it 2:0. 

Fiorentina had most of the possession and created a few chances but were unable to get back into the game; not even with the support of the wall of noise and waving flags behind them, at the opposite end of the ground to us. Only with minutes to go, and after a Roma player had received his 2nd yellow for dissent, did the game really come alive for the home team. But the home team could only get a consolation with the last kick of the match thanks to a nice finish by Babacar from the edge of the box. Too little too late.

The game itself was very enjoyable with three high quality goals and quality play throughout. It was great to witness the Italian 'tiffosi' with their devotion and stereotypical exuberant gesticulations. 

We were in close proximity to the away fans at the end of the game, separated only by a steel sheet wall. From either side of the barrier the respective fans goaded each other. As my companion exited the toilets, adjacent to the barrier, he was shoved onwards by the police who were very eager to keep the peace. 

In an attempt to avoid the traffic in the centre of town we decided to take a country route back to the autostrada. This resulted in us having to drive up very narrow country lanes which were more like private driveways. We got back to the hotel at 10:30 and were very tired after such a great day. 

 

 

Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 1 (10/10/2015 13:45)

On Saturday there were no Premiership and Championship games due to international fixtures. Such days are called 'non-league days', an initiative to promote grassroots football and to encourage followers of the big teams to support their small local teams. For me, of course, there are now more 'non-league days' than 'league days'.
Saturday saw me head southwest to Hilton to see my third and final Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup first round game. Hilton Harriers Seniors of the Staffordshire County Senior League (Tier 11) were hosting Dronfield Town of the Northern Counties East League Division 1 (Tier 10).
Arriving at The Mease Pavilion at 14:45 I was surprised to see the game kick-off.  After asking a spectator whether I was at the right game, I was informed that indeed I was but I had missed the first-half. The game had been moved forward from the regular kick-off time to take into account the lack of floodlights and the risk of extra time and penalties having to be played in fading autumnal light.
Having spoken to some of the injured Harriers players I found out that the half-time score was 2:1 to Hilton and that Hilton were fully deserving of their lead. One has to bear in mind that this may not have been a totally unbiased assessment of the first half however.
Dronfield pressed hard to get a early second-half equaliser but solid goalkeeping and defending by Hilton kept the score line 2:1. As Dronfield got more desperate, as the clock ticked towards 90 minutes, their pressing left themselves at risk to being stung on a break, and stung on one such break they were. The ball broke loose on the left and the quick winger burst forward and put in a cross that was met by a colleague, whom, with a looping header, made the score line 3:1.
The Hilton players were delighted with their 'shock' win and they can now look forward to the second round draw with a chance of drawing a big team such as Heanor Town or Long Eaton United.
I am hoping to do 'The Road to the Cup Final' tour, and as such I am eagerly awaiting to see who Hilton Harriers, Belper United and Borrowash Victoria are drawn against.

Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 1 (07/10/2015 19:45)

Christchurch Meadow is one of my favourite football grounds. Very rarely will one find a ground in the shadow of a building of World Heritage. Belper Town's pitch is an unusual such example in that it lies close to the East Mill which is part of the Derwent Valley Mills  UNESCO 'site'.
The only shadows on Wednesday evening however were the ones cast by the floodlights illuminating the playing surface upon which Belper Utd. (Belper Town's cohabitants) and Gamesley FC would contest a first round county cup game.
This was to be a clash of two tier 11 teams. Gamesley FC play their league games in the Cheshire Football League Premier Division (due to their proximity to the border) whereas Belper Utd., this evening, were representing the might of the Central Midlands Football League Division South.
Upon arrival at the ground we (myself, my father and family friend) noticed that United were warming up wearing last season's Derby County training apparel. My father surmised that this must have been a gift from Derby County and to add weight to this argument pronounced that he had evidence of The Rams' generosity as he and the other Derby County season ticket holders had just received free scarves from the club.
Soon after kick-off we realised that we were watching a game of a commendable quality. Both teams demonstrated their willingness and ability to play 'the beautiful game' in the appropriate manner. That said, Belper demonstrated their superior quality by obtaining a 3:0 half-time lead.
The first came from a left wing cross and a tidy 8 yard finish by the onrushing striker, the second came from the penalty spot and the third came again from the left, via a cross that found the head of a Belper team mate. Gamesley's only response was a shot that hit the crossbar.
At half-time, while enjoying a pint of Guinness, I chatted to a chap whose son used to play for United. He was interested in my Derbyshire non-league exploits and I showed him, on my phone, the photos I had recently taken at Heanor Town and Glossop North End.
There was less quality and more clattering challenges in the second-half as the players tired. The only move of note was a strong run down the left by Belper, a good cross and a shot that hit the cross bar.
The key player in the game was Belper's left sided midfielder, Michael Dunne, and we wondered why he wasn't playing in a higher league.

Hat hat trick

Three football teams are represented by pin badges on the hat I often wear at football matches, and indeed it was that hat which I wore today. First and foremost there is Derby County (represented by two badges). The Rams are my hometown team. As a former season ticket holder and employee, Derby will always be the team closest to my heart.
This afternoon I saw Derby beat Brentford in the Football League Championship (tier 2) at the I-Pro Stadium on Pride Park. The Rams played very well in the first-half and were very much deserving of their 2:0 lead. The second-half was not so good but a 2:0 win saw The Rams climb to seventh in the league.
The other two teams represented on my hat are VFL Bochum and Hannover 96. I have seen these teams play several times and I can confidently claim to have seen these teams more often than most Manchester United 'fans' have seen 'their' team at Old Trafford. After Derby, these teams' results and league positions are the ones I check first.
To date I have seen VFL Bochum four times at their RewiPower Stadion home. The atmosphere behind the goal in P-Block is amazing and it was great to find out that VFL had won 5:0 away at Greuther Fürth last night to send them top of 2. Bundesliga.
I follow Bochum as I have a Dutch friend who has adopted VFL as his team after living in the city for several years. Although he has now moved to the more affluent town of Mülheim an der Ruhr I am hoping that we can  return so that we can stand with our fellow 'P-Block plebs' once more.
Obviously I am hoping that Bochum get promoted back to the German top-flight, which is where Hannover 96 are currently fighting to remain.
My choice of Hannover 96 as a team that I follow will come as a disappointment, but no surprise, to my German friend who lives in the city. My friend is a Werder Bremen fan (his home town team) but following his move to Hannover it is 'Die Roten' that we have seen more frequently in recent times. Hannover is a lovely city and one that I have spent a lot of time in and as such I have more connection with it than Bremen.  Checking my records, I have seen Werder seven times and Die Roten six.
Today Hannover beat Werder and Die Roten climbed off the bottom of the league.
It is unusual that the three teams that you follow all win, but these 24 hours were a 'hat' hat trick.

Derbyshire FA Senior Challenge Cup - Round 1 (29/09/2015 19:45)

I hadn't seen Borrowash Victoria play before but a chilly Tuesday night cup game was a perfect opportunity for me to pay a visit to the Anderson Electrical Arena in Spondon. Seeing  'Vics' meant that I would have also completed the set of seeing all 4 Derby teams (that play in the top 10 tiers of English football) play competitive home games.
The ground itself is literally a stones throw (if one can throw a stone 50 yards) from the other Spondon team's ground, Graham Street Prims, a ground I had visited a couple of weeks before. The Anderson Electrical Arena was seen to be far superior to their (very) local rivals ground with two stands and a better function room facility and it thus wasn't surprising to find out that Derby County Ladies also play their home games there.
Vics and their guests for the evening, South Normanton Athletic (The Shiners), both play in the East Midland Counties League Premier Division (Tier 10) but this night was a county cup game. Actually it was the very first game to be played in the 2015/16 competition.
The game itself was very combative with The Shiners having the better of the opening spell. It was Vics however who broke the deadlock with a neat header at the far post from a deep right wing cross. Vics doubled their advantage shortly after with a neat glancing header from 18 yards.
The Shiners didn't take long to get back in the game. The referee, somewhat harshly in the view of some of the observers, awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal and a wicked deflection off the wall saw the ball fly past the helpless Vics keeper. Soon after, with a smart bit of control, a lovely turn and a well placed shot from 15 yards, Athletic were back level.
It was just before half-time when I was called into action. The ball left the field of play and disappeared into a bramble covered hole. I had a quick look for it but had to indicate to the referee that I couldn't see it, let alone retrieve it.
The second half was less eventful, even though both teams had efforts that hit the woodwork.
With the score 2:2 after 90 minutes extra time followed. Vics had the best of it with a golden chance that was fired over from 6 yards.
As the likelihood for penalties being required to decide a winner increased I made my way to behind the goal, the end at which looked most likely to be used. While there I struck up a conversation with a father and son. It soon became apparent that I was chatting to a couple of fellow ‘footy tourists’. This pair had, like me, seen numerous games in continental Europe and were keen followers of non-league football. I mentioned that this game, for me, may be the start of a ‘road to the cup final’ tour. The father informed me that they had undertaken such a trip a couple of years ago in the FA Vase. From their homes in southern Derbyshire they had travelled to the northeast, Cornwall and the south coast only to see in the final a local team, Coalville Town from northwest Leicestershire.  
With the game tied after extra-time penalties followed. The Shiners missed two of their five, whereas Vics missed only one of their first four (the one being missed was spectacular in that the ball was struck very hard and very high). Vics' fifth penalty taker made no such mistake and the Derby team went through to the second round.

Long Eaton Utd. 2, Loughborough University 1 (26/09/15 15:00)

I had been lucky with the weather in recent weeks and it was another lovely autumnal Saturday that saw myself and my companion head east along 'Brian Clough Way' to Long Eaton. This was quite apt as I was brought up a Derby County fan whereas my companion is a Nottingham Forest fan.
My companion had previously been to Grange Park but for me it was the first time. The only time I had seen any sport in Long Eaton was some 20 years ago when I had spent an entertaining evening watching the town's former speedway team, Long Eaton Invaders.
Pulling up outside the tidy little ground it was good to see that adjacent pitches were being used to host a schoolboy's game and a training session.  After entering the ground we walked a lap of the pitch before choosing to stand, for the first half, with the sun on our backs between the dug outs.
Shortly after kick-off, in this Midland Football League Premier Division game, it soon became apparent that this was a clash of styles. 'The Students', as one might expect, played a more cultured game, whereas the 'The Blues' were more industrial. The language used by the respective benches mirrored this observation.
The Long Eaton manager, former Ram Charlie Palmer, set up his team to make full advantage of the big centre forwards and nippy right winger. It was the threat of the Long Eaton strikers that caused a Loughborough defender to turn the ball into his own net after the right winger's dangerous cross midway  through the first half. Soon after it was 2:0 as Blues striker Minott bravely got his head on the ball before being clattered by the Loughborough keeper. The Students were rewarded for their  cultured brand of football on the stroke of half-time however. A break down the left wing and a pass into the centre was met by Herbert who calmly slotted the ball past the Blues keeper.
During the first-half we were asked if we wished to buy a raffle ticket for a chance to win a bottle of wine. This resulted in a brief discussion, within earshot of the Loughborough bench, between myself and my companion about Merlot and Shiraz and our preferences. "Are you two talking about wine or women?", enquired the Loughborough manager. At half-time it was lager and not red wine that was purchased from the modern bar / function room.
The second half was fairly even with limited goal scoring chances and the game ended in a 2:1 home victory.
This game had some significance for me as it marked the conclusion of my mission to see (in 2014 and 2015) the 15 Derbyshire teams, at home in league action, that play in the top 9 tiers of English football.

For information please see the list below of the top 15 Derbyshire teams, in order of tier, in the footballing pyramid:

Derby County (T2 - Football League Championship)
Chesterfield (T3 - Football League, League 1)
Alfreton Town (T6 - National League, North)
Buxton (T7 - Northern Premier League, Premier Division)
Mickleover Sports (T7 - Northern Premier League, Premier Division)
Matlock Town (T7 - Northern Premier League, Premier Division)
Ilkeston (T7 - Northern Premier League, Premier Division)
Glossop North End  (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division North)
Sheffield FC (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division South)
Belper Town (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division South)
Gresley (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division South)
New Mills (T8 - Northern Premier League, First Division North)
Heanor Town (T9 - Midland Football League, Premier Division)
Long Eaton United (T9 - Midland Football League, Premier Division)
Staveley Miners Welfare (T9 - Northern Counties East League, Premier Division)

Staveley MW 2, Nostell MW 1 (19/09/15 15:00)

A pleasant autumnal Saturday afternoon saw myself and a mate head north to watch a battle between two Miners Welfare teams in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division.
I wanted to see Staveley play a league game at Inkersall Road as this was part of my mission of seeing the 15 Derbyshire teams that play in the top 9 tiers of English football.  Staveley, although a Derbyshire team, are not affiliated to the Derbyshire FA but the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA. This is due to the fact that the club came through the Sheffield and Hallamshire league system to get to the lofty heights which they occupy today.
After squeezing into the last car parking space we entered the ground and were asked if we wanted to buy raffle tickets. We then walked a lap of the pitch and we were struck by the excellent facilities that were on offer. The bar and club shop were of a standard that would make most clubs playing two tiers higher jealous.
We downed our pints of Black Sheep and decided to watch the game by the half-way line, as opposed to with the elderly people sitting outside the club shop who looked as if they were sitting outside a café in Eastbourne as opposed to in a football ground in North Derbyshire.
The first half treated us to 3 spectacular goals, the last, by Staveley on the stroke of halftime, was quite sublime. The number 9 controlled the ball in a crowded box and, with a spinning volley, fired the ball across the keeper into the top corner.
At half time we eagerly waited for the raffle to be drawn, unfortunately our tickets weren't drawn from the hat and we didn't win the child's bike. What I would have done with said bike if I had won, I really don't know.
Staveley had the better of the second half but couldn't extend their advantage. At the final whistle we made our way from the ground along with the 132 other fans who had been entertained by a home win in a lovely little football ground.

On the BBC website

There was an interesting debate running on the BBC website on Thursday. Tweeters were asked to participate in suggesting the best foreign games that they had seen or would wish to see. I thought I would participate and my Tweet appeared. I had a reply from a Hungarian photojournalist saying that he had seen games in 35 European countries (a subtle difference to my mission as he was following Hungarian teams in European competition and his national team).

Graham Street Prims 0, Holbrook Sports 5 (12/09/15 15:00)

I think it was civic pride, as opposed to my love of quality football, that saw me add the Tier 10 (East Midlands Counties Football League Premier Division) teams from Derby to my Derbyshire mission. That said, it was a lovely autumnal afternoon to take a trip across the city to see Spondon's Prims and an entertaining match was witnessed by myself and 63 other fans.
Prims welcomed local rivals Holbrook to the Baytree Cars Arena with some trepidation. The programme notes revealed that the manager had been mightily impressed by Holbrook in their previous outing.
The match went to form with high flying Holbrook thumping poor Prims. The score line could have been worse for Prims were it not for the lady linesman controversially ruling out a goal for offside in the first half. Prims only real chance came late on with the ball being fired over an empty net from 6 yards.
To be fair however the score line was a true reflection of the game. Holbrook looked better in all aspects but the cherry on their cake was the fast and strong striker who scored by being in the right place to benefit from defensive frailties, by placing a 20 yard shot past the keeper and by shrugging off a defender in the race to goal after a great through ball. 

Introduction to this Blog

Inspired by the blogs and tweets of my acquaintance Chris Pratt (http://threeoclockkickoff.com/  and @chrispratt5) I thought it a good idea to keep an online log of my footballing travels.
My aim is to see games in as many of the European leagues as possible. At the time of writing I have seen top flight league games in 29 out of the 54 UEFA nations. Please note this is not simply 'games in foreign countries' but is specific to league games in those countries, a subtle but important distinction. An excellent summary of this was written by Chris Pratt in 2014 and this can be seen here - http://another-league.co.uk/2014/12/01/ian-burton-europe-and-derbyshire-football-tour/
As you will notice from the link I am also following football teams in my home county of Derbyshire.
Should you wish to see my 'off-line' journal please send me an email and I will be happy to send you the pdf.