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.