A BIT ABOUT THE CHARITY BLOG


Each year, me and my wife Hazel have decided to help a Charity, by donating 25p every goal we see at the matches we attend. Over the years, people and clubs have also donated as we have visited the grounds and we have raised over £2,300 in the 3 seasons we have run the Blog.
During the 2014-15 season, we are supporting "Support Dogs" who train Dogs to transform lives of people with Autism and other disabilities. So if you would like to make a donation(no matter how small) and you see me at a match, please come up to me or Hazel, we would be very grateful. All Donators will get a mention on the blog.


www.supportdogs.org.uk



Saturday 31 January 2015

AARON HELP WEST BRIDGFORD TO A LARGE WIN

Notts Senior League
Senior Division
WEST BRIDGFORD FC 9 KIRTON BRICKWORKS FC 0

 
This time last season, this fixture was a top of the table Division One promotion clash, fast forward 12 months and what a contrast in clubs events. Before the season kicked off a mass exodus saw Kirton down to bare bones and today fielded only 3 of last seasons players, only gaining one won all season so far, whilst West Bridgford have been running high in the Season Division.
 
My first choice of game at Netherfield Albion was scuppered on Thursday Evening by heavy snowfall, that also wiped out my plan B at Calverton Welfare, where Boots Athletic were to play Bingham Town, so plan C was to see what was left on and go for it. Shortly after 9am I received a tweet from West Bridgford FC to say there was no problem and their game was on. To be honest the pitch looked a credit to them.
 
On arrival, had a nice cuppa and got Herbie a programme, when he arrived he kindly donated £10 to the Blogs Charity which has taken the total to over £350. Just before kick off had a quick chat to the 2 hopping brothers from Ilkeston "The Harthornes" before heading to pitchside.
 
Whilst chatting to West Bridgford Secretary Adrian Clark, he mentioned a hopper from Wigan, so I had a chat with him. I knew this may be a bit of a one sided game and this was to prove to be the case and on just 15 minutes the Bridge was given a penalty after a hand ball in the Kirton box to which AARON LARGE stepped up and smashed in to the left side of the keeper in to the net.
 
To Kirton;s credit they did press forward and forced a couple of decent chances but they came to nothing. On 25 minutes, the homesters went 2-0 in front after THOMAS COOLE curled a shot past the Kirton defence and keeper.
 
West Bridgford poured forward but seemed to miss chance after chance until after 41 minutes, KEV WALKER fired home for his side to go in at half time 3-0 up.
 
Kirton were last to enter the pitch for the Second Half and it seemed that they had stayed in the changing room as West Bridgford added a quick 3 goals in 4 minutes. After 49 minutes, PAT NEWSOME added the 4th, then AARON LARGE completed his hat trick with goals after 51 and 52 minutes to make it 6-0. The Kirton keeper then made quite a few good saves to keep the score down along with the crossbar saving the visitors 3 times.
 
After 65 minutes, KEV WALKER scored his 2nd of the game to make it 7-0 and on 75 minutes, a shot by the young West Bridgford sub TIM HODGKINSON took a massive deflection off Dave Cooper to make it 8-0. On 79 minutes AARON LARGE scored his 4th goal of the game to complete the scoring, but the biggest cheer of the game came in the final seconds of the game when a long shot by a Kirton player looked like it was going in but the Bridgford keeper caught it.
 
WEST BRIDGFORD FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
KIRTON BRICKWORKS FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
Photos from the game can be viewed on this LINK
 
With the 9 goals scored and the donation from Herbie, this takes the BLOGS Charity "SUPPORT DOGS" that aid people with disabilities to £355.75p
 
JUST 11 WEEKS NOW to the NOTTS SEENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP..Book your tickets now..check out this LINK for all details and booking form.
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join the 3600 members of my Non League Football Facebook  Group..Just click this LINK

Saturday 24 January 2015

QUICK FIRE ASPLEY INTO QUARTER FINALS

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE
SENIOR CUP
FC SAMBA 2 ASPLEY PARK FC 6
 
After Ashland Rovers game was cancelled due to the heavy snow had on Wednesday and the pitch not fit, it was set for plan B as I needed to be back home early due to it being Hazel my wife's birthday so we could go out for a evening family meal, so with FC Samba's 2nd Round Senior League Cup tie kicking off at 1.30pm this fitted the bill.
 
Just before kick off I was joined by the joint managers of Sherwood Colliery Reserves FC, Scott Thorpe Ive known as a friend for some years now. Referee Steve Seers kindly handed me the home line up and then I found the Aspley Sec Les Tebbutt for theirs.
 
The game kicked off and straight away a ball was played forward and landed at the feet of GARY HARRIS who lifted the ball over the home keeper after just 31 SECONDS!!
 
It was GARY HARRIS who doubled his sides lead after just 6 minutes and the tie looked as if it was all over. On 23 minutes, SAM MANNION fired a long distance shot to make it 3-0 to Aspley Park.
 
FC Samba didn't give up and on 28 minutes, and a quick cross from the right wing by LEIGH HELSDON  took a deflection and ended up in the net to reduce the arrears to 1-3. On 31 minutes, we had a game on when MARC GREEN fired his team to within a goal.
 
After 40 minutes, RYAN DEABILL scrambled home from close range to make it 4-2 to Aspley Park.
 
The Second Half belonged to Aspley Park as the homesters failed to get out their own half, and it came as a surprise that the away team had to wait so long before they scored again, but they did when SEAN GREEN turned in the 6 yard box and poked the ball home after 71 minutes.
 
Aspley Park wrapped up the scoring in the 84th minute, when LEWIS McGOOGGAN scored close home.
 
FC SAMBA FACEBOOK
 
ASPLEY PARK FC FACEBOOK
 
Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK
 
With the 8 goals scored, this takes the BLOGS Charity total to £343.50p
 
For all details and to book for this seasons NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP, please click on this LINK
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join the 3500 members of my Non League Football Facebook  Group..Just click HERE and join

Friday 23 January 2015

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP DETAILS


THE VERY LATEST ON 3rd PRECISION NOTTS SENIOR FOOTBALL LEAGUE GROUNDHOP TICKETS ARE ON SALE

TIME TO GET YOUR ADVANCED TICKETS..READ ON!!!


(For more Information & Booking Form please Email hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk or call Rob Hornby on 01623 486678/07973517603)
Bookings for the 3rd Precision Notts Senior League Groundhop have been coming in steady with already over 90 bookings from as far as Sweden and all four corners of the United Kingdom. The coach is nearly full now with just 5 seats remaining and organiser Rob Hornby is fairly confident that this seasons event will be as popular as ever.


Hornby states "that the format is very simple, a Notts Senior League match is played on the evening of Friday 24th April with four league games on Saturday 25th April at four homes of clubs chosen."

The event is cheap and cheerful


This season the chosen matches are:

Friday 24th April 2015: 

Ashland Rovers FC v Newark Flowserve FC (7.30pm)

Saturday 25th April 2015: 

Bingham Town FC v Ruddington Village FC (10.10am)

Netherfield Albion FC v Nottinghamshire FC (12.50pm)

Burton Joyce FC v Attenborough FC (3.20pm)

Sandhurst FC v Kirton Brickworks FC(6.15pm)


Rob Hornby who has organised 9 Central Midlands League Groundhops in the past and the past 2 seasons Notts Senior League Hops is hoping again for big crowds as in the past 11 years.

Hornby says " that the Hops work well as they are cheap and affordable for all, at just £15 for the Advanced Ticket, that gets you admission in to all 5 Grounds and a programme from each game in a pack. 
We get a lot of people who come along who support Football League clubs but like to support the smaller clubs and in this way of the hop, the advanced ticket helps all ten clubs that take part. 

Food is available at all 5 grounds all different and all costing £2.50 or under, teas and coffees at 50p a cup, some clubs will have beer on sale as well."
Rob added " my wife runs a programme stall for charity with lots of Non League programmes for just 4 for £1, this year the money raised is going to Support Dogs, these dogs are trained to work and help people with special needs or requirements
. There are also other stalls that attended and each club will have their own stall, with home clubs selling their first ever badge, though you can pre pay and order your badge pack for just £18, this includes all 5 home clubs badges plus Kirton Brickworks badge
Hornby is hoping to sell a lot more Advanced Tickets as they are now on sale up till the 16th April 2015 and hopes to beat the target of 150 Advanced Tickets, so its halfway there at the moment. 

It is important as Rob stresses that from the Advanced Ticket all ten clubs get a share, as turning up on the day and paying on the gate only the home side take the cash and for it to work, its only fair to reward all ten clubs, Hornby feels that all money is vital to these small clubs also Hornby knows by the sales of advanced tickets how many programmes the clubs will need to produce, as the only way of being guaranteed all 5 programmes is via the Advanced Ticket.
This season is also the Notts Senior League's 10th Anniversary, so it would be good to see the attendances of last seasons NSL Hop beaten, the highest crowd was set at West Bridgford FC of 448.

The Coach only has 6 seats remaining and costs £15 for a seat to take you round the 4 grounds on the Saturday and leaves Queens Road at the side of Nottingham Railway Station but has to be booked with the Advanced Ticket.


For booking information email hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk or call Rob Hornby on 01623 486678/07973517603


Kind Regards
Rob Hornby
Notts Senior League Groundhop Organiser

Saturday 17 January 2015

PMG GRIN TO THREE POINTS

Notts Senior League
Senior Division
RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 0 PMG CAVALIERS FC 3
There was a buzz around Elms Park as before the match, Ruddington Village FC through various ways of fund raising had raised over £2000 and handed the massive cheque over to their chosen charity The British Heart Foundation. This charity was close to the club as their Reserve Team Manager Joe Dunstan had a heart attack not so long ago, so today meant a lot to them.
 
Around 1pm I was joined at the ground by Leicester based friend and Groundhopper Rob Campion, who sadly cant make this seasons Notts Senior League Groundhop, but paid me for his Badge set.
 
The match kicked off and it was soon noticeable that Ruddington were only playing with one up front whilst PMG were breaking with three up front. It was the homesters on 20 minutes who had the first effort on goal, when  long range effort was turned round the post by the PMG keeper. PMG kept pressing forward and right on the stroke of half time, a break up the left wing found out IMMAIN SAMUELS who hit a rasping shot home to give his side a 1-0 lead.
 
Just before half time, a Ruddington player went down injured and was unable to continue and this left the homesters to complete the game with only 10 men.
 
The Second Half, Cavs picked up their game whilst Village battled away but ot came as no surprise when the extra man advantage paid off in the 77th minute, when RICKY CROSS doubled the visitors lead.
 
Soon after it was 3-0 to Cavs when a deflected shot by JACK BARNES deceived the home keeper.
 
All three officials had a good game
 
RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
PMG CAVALIERS FC WEBSITE/FACEBOOK
 
Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK
 
NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP DETAILS CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK
 
For those who missed my live interview on Sports TV Live, then please watch this LINK
 
IF you like Non League Football then why not join my Non League Facebook Group called Non League Grounds of England Wales & Scotland

Tuesday 13 January 2015

CLIPSTONE PROGRESS TO THE LAST FOUR

Notts FA Senior Cup
Quarter Final
CLIPSTONE FC 2 RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC 0
 
Notts Senior League's last remaining entrants in this seasons Notts FA Senior Cup saw them drawn away in the final eight to Northern Counties East club Clipstone FC.
 
Clipstone riding high in their league with Ruddington just above halfway in theirs saw the home club run out 2-0 victors and proceed in to the semi finals.
 
Clipstone took the play to their rivals from one step below and could well have been 3 goals up by the 38 minute, when a shot by Wood was parried out and JAMIE SMITH followed up and fired the Cobras in front.
 
The Second Half saw Village have their best spell of the game and had a penalty turned down on the hour but didn't give up.
 
After 74 minutes, a shot in to the Ruddington box clipped a defender and RYAN DAMMS smashed home and doubled Clipstones lead. Clipstone then had a goal disallowed when Jamie Smith's header was adjudged to be offside.
 
Ruddington Village came out of the game with a lot of credit from all that was at the game.
 
CLIPSTONE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
RUDDINGTON VILLAGE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
Watch the Non League Show on this link on THURSDAY NIGHT 8pm-9pm with a Special Guest phone interview with me

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP INFORMATION can be viewed HERE

Saturday 10 January 2015

COTGRAVE WADDELL INTO THE SEMI'S

Notts FA Intermediate Cup
Quarter Final
AFC BRIDGFORD 1 COTGRAVE FC 2

After confirmation that the tie was on by AFC Chairman Craig Gealy then I knew this was where I was heading for, having been to Gresham a few times in the past to watch Nottingham United FC and Real United FC, they had only played on the 3g pitch, so this was the first time, I'd seen a match on grass at the Wilford Lane venue.
 
On arrival I was greeted by Craig who handed me the Bridgford line up and then Richard Wells the Cotgrave Secretary.
 
As I stepped out to pitchside, the wind blew down the pitch and nearly blew a old fella over near the touchline, that's how strong it was. Just before kick off, I was joined by Ilkeston based brother Hoppers Michael & Andy Hartsthorne and we stood to the end that AFC attacked.
 
Cotgrave had to make a early change as right back Lee Stanley pulled up in the 3rd minute, with a hamstring problem. The first 20 minutes, Cotgrave pushed forward but the wind was making football difficult as there was no rytham to the game, with ball swirling around. The home side had a couple of long throws into the Cotgrave area that created a few problems.
 
After 32 minutes, home keeper cleared the ball towards the halfway line, but it went to the feet of NICKY MARSHALL who volleyed the ball back with the wind assisting it over the keepers head to give the visitors the lead.
 
At Half Time, Michael & Andrew bought their Advanced Notts Senior League Groundhop Tickets..for more information please see this LINK
 
The Second Half kicked off and Bridgford pushed forward, with Cotgrave playing on the break and after 59 minutes, a through ball saw JAKE HENSON in a one on one situation to push the ball past the visiting keeper to level up the scores.
 
Cotgrave altered their formation and pushed another player forward and Kyle Waddell and Ben Smedley both went close.
 
On 74 minutes, KYLE WADDELL broke through and slide the ball past the oncoming keeper.
 
After 89 minutes, the home keeper made a good penalty save to give his team one last push in to injury time. Bridgford pushed forward but to no avail as Cotgrave held on.
 
AFC Bridgford put up a very fight and have done well to reach the Quarter Finals and should be proud of themselves, whilst Notts Senior League club move on to the Semi Finals.
 
AFC BRIDGFORD WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK
 
With the 3 goals seen at the game, it now brings the CHARITY BLOGS Total to £340.25
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join my Non League Football Facebook Group of over 3,400 members, please just click this LINK
 

Sunday 4 January 2015

HERO HARVEY SAVES THE DAY

Notts Senior League
Division Two
BILBOROUGH UNITED FC 1 NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FC RESERVES 2
Been meaning to visit Maple Drive, the home of Bilborough United FC for some time now, as this will be a venue for the 2016 Notts Senior League Groundhop. When I saw this fixture, it had hone win written all over it, as United have a very good squad and riding high towards the top of the table, whilst Nottinghamshire Reserves are sat at the bottom averaging nearly 5 goals a game past them.
 
On arrival, I was greeted by United Chairman/Secretary/Founder Dean Seymour who welcomed us to the club and we grabbed a cuppa. We were soon joined by the young referee Tom Marsh who had a reasonable game.
 
The game kicked off and it was United who were in to their stride first and did the majority of the attacking with chances going begging, though excellent keeping by Steve Harvey in the visitors net.
 
After 12 minutes a long ball out of the home midfield found ROB ENGLAND free in the visitors area and he placed the ball past the advancing keeper to give his side a early lead. I expected the floodgates to open now but Nottinghamshire had other ideas and after 18 minutes were back on level terms when PERRY FOSTER hit a 30 yard lopping volley in to the net.
 
The homesters pushed forward and must have gained 20 corners but the crossing was poor and easily cleared, whilst shot went astray or the visiting keeper was diving and saving from his legs or one handed, there seemed to be no way past him.
 
The Second Half began and it continued in much of the same manner and it seemed it was only a matter of time before Bilborough retook the lead, but on 51 minutes, RICHARD POKU hit home the winner from a cross drive in to the bottom corner of the net.
 
Bilborough made some changes, but Nottinghamshire held their defence well and had a couple of counter attacks where they could well of increased their lead. The man of the match Harvey saved everything thrown at him in the Notts goal and their delight at the final whistle was there for all to be seen.
 
A good game played in the right spirit, with no cards shown as there were really no fouls throughout the game, also worthy of note was there was hardly any bad langague in the game which is a pleasure to hear.
 
BILBOROUGH UNITED FC WEBSITE/FACEBOOK
 
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FC WEBSITE/FACEBOOK
 
Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK
 
With the 3 goals seen at the game, it now brings the CHARITY BLOGS Total to £339.50p
 
PLease remember that the 2015 NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP TICKETS ARE NOW ON SALE, here is the LINK to the details
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join my Non League Football Facebook Group of over 3,400 members, please just click this LINK