Merry Christmas

Frickley Athletic 3 Lincoln United 1

While I agreed with the 15 day jail sentence dished out by the Sudanese judge to English teacher Gillian Gibbons for having the brass neck to call a classroom teddy bear Muhammad, I thought it was bit harsh though to have to put her through a deportation to Liverpool too! And another thing, I’ll be bloody careful next time I’m at the Village Show and I have a go on the “name the teddy bear” stall.

It was an early start this morning. I nipped into town, early doors, to buy Mrs P a few bits and bobs for Christmas. The old credit card got some hammer in the Marks and Spencer lingerie department, I can tell you.

I’ve some new grounds to visit in the New Year so the Christmas presents have to be top notch to put the good lady in the right mood for when I present the groundhopping itinerary across the kitchen table for 2008.

It’s been a filthy morning. “The Skipper’s” home ground is a bleak and dismal place. The rain looks set for the day. His team are sublime and keep another clean sheet. All that is on my mind, though, is where the hell am I going to find a match on this afternoon?

White Van Man comes to the rescue. His best mate plays for Lincoln United and they’re playing up at Doncaster. The player’s dad is driving up there to watch his son and WVM asks me if I’m up for it. Too right I am.

I haven’t the bottle to tell Mrs P how far we are going; it’s a 125 mile round trip, I just say I’ll be back after 6pm. I’m going to have to rustle something up pretty special in the wok tonight to pull this one out the bag.

We’re driving up the M1, M18 and A1; it’s raining so hard you can barely see out the windscreen. Games are being called off all over the country but Frickley Athletic is on. Not that the club are much use. I phone their number six times and keep getting answer phone.

The player’s Dad has Smooth FM on his car stereo. I recognise the DJ as John Peters who blagged his way through many years on the Radio Trent Breakfast Show. The best the useless lump of lard can come up with is 'Hang on in There Baby' by Johnny Bristol.



Frickley Athletic (previously known as Frickley Colliery) is in South Elmsall, West Yorkshire. It’s an area that has been devastated by pit closures. But it looks a lively and prosperous place as we are skilfully navigated through the town centre streets by WVM.

It’s still lagging it down. The town has a population of 18,000. Famous folk from round these parts include Geoff “my Nana could have caught that in her pinny” Boycott, the late, great, Spurs player, Cyril Knowles and the old ITN newsreader, Leonard Parkin.



It’s £7 admission and £1.50 for a thick programme that has done very well on the advertising side. Frickley Colliery FC was formed in 1910. And they have spent a considerable time in the Northern Premier League. To date they have only won one game this season and are already on their third manager, with Billy Heath the latest man to be unveiled.

Lincoln United have recently parted company with their manager John Ramshaw. Chris White is currently performing a caretaker role. They managed to turn a 3-1 lead into a 4-3 defeat last week against Leek Town. Nothing is going well for them right now. I saw them at Matlock Town back in August; they were p**s poor.

The main stand at Frickley is magnificent. It looks out onto the old colliery spoil heaps which are still not grassed over. The mine closed in 1993. It is said during the Miners’ Strike of 1984 that two men were escorted to work by 400 police; such was the solidarity of this community. It’s all gone but never forgotten.



Lincoln start well and their best player, Gio Carchedi, forces a good save from Frickley keeper Adam Nicklin. It’s while I’m having a walk round the ground that Frickley open the scoring through left winger Chris White. Lincoln’s confidence begins to sap. They are at sixes and sevens at the back and fail to come on to the home attack.

I’m stood on the covered terrace opposite the main stand. It’s like the Last of the Summer Wine. Groups of pensioners are giving referee Mr McGrath an earful. “Thas shite ref” is the best they can muster. The referee is awful and doesn’t take into consideration the foul conditions.

Billy Heath has Frickley up for this one and they swarm all over Lincoln. And they deservedly increase their lead on the half hour. Lincoln keeper Ben Scott appears to be impeded after the punching the ball away but it is a smart finish from Craig Marsh that puts the Blues two up.

Lincoln show a rare moment of passion shortly before the break. Their midfielder Iain Screaton, is clearly frustrated and embarrassed to be associated with this inept performance. He sees the red mist and commits a two footed lunge on the Frickley full back. There’s a mass brawl; they don’t do handbags in West Yorkshire. It’s a straight red and a second consecutive sending off for Screaton. I look at his father who has travelled all this way to watch his son. It’s a sad moment; he is hurting for his boy but puts a brave face on it.

Things go from bad to worse during the five minutes added time when Morris scores with a diving header from a White cross.



I don’t frequent the social club at the break, no-one seems in the mood for it. But I get the teas in, instead. It’s the least I can do to cheer up Screaton’s Dad. White Van Man does his party trick of making a Puuka pie disappear in two bites. He really should apply to go on Ant and Dec’s Britain’s Got Talent.

Caretaker manager White rings the changes and hauls off both his strikers at half-time and replaces them with Douglas and Good, who both put in a good shift. The ten men play with more flair and spirit.

By now Screaton has come and stood with us below the main stand and is chatting to his Dad. Justin Jenkins the Lincoln striker is with him and keeps yawning. He can’t be tired from playing football as he barely broke sweat for his team.

Ben Brown scores a consolation goal with a header at the far post. And Nicklin makes a great save to keep it at 3-1. But Frickley have outpassed and outplayed Lincoln United. It’s the visitors who now face a battle with relegation.

Frickley 3 White Marsh Morris Lincoln 1 Brown

Attendance: 177 (3 supporting Lincoln: Groundhopper, WVM & Screats Dad

Man of the Match: Lee Morris

Glapwell FC 0 Pickering Town 0

It’s not often I have sympathy for the rozzers but I did feel sorry for the City of London Police this week. I mean the thought of seeing Harry Redknapp at six o’clock in the morning is enough for any human being to retch up their breakfast.

Recently the groundhopping has been as hectic as Mrs P’s soap schedule. The previous Friday I dropped in at the Pirelli Stadium, the home of Nigel Clough’s Burton Albion. He certainly has his father’s Midas touch as they play a beautiful game of football on one the finest surfaces the East Midlands has to offer. Unfortunately they met their match in a resurgent Cambridge United; going down 2-1.

Last Wednesday was a day I have waited for all my life. My team are Lincoln City and for the first time in 50 years we played Nottingham Forest in a competitive game at The City Ground. It was a stroll in the park for the Reds. But a very young Lincoln side didn’t disgrace themselves.

Today I head across the border into bandit country (Derbyshire). I’ve missed “The Skipper’s” game, to get some jobs done around the house. His team keep a clean sheet. He’s as happy as Larry.

Glapwell is just off Junction 29 on the M1 and lies between Mansfield and Chesterfield. White Van Man fails to make the trip. He claims to have a big house move on, followed by a heavy drinking session in town. It’ll be more than likely a pot of tea for two at Café Keyworth!

I pick up The Architect; he’s had the green light as his and my kids are skating on the ice in the Market Square. It’s a trip for the mums.

We’re on the A617 driving through Glapwell, past Ma Hubbard’s and the Young Vanish public house. We pass a winding wheel, which acts as a monument to Glapwell Colliery, which closed down in the 1974. We turn left towards Bolsover and park in the club car park adjacent to Glapwell Nurseries.
Glapwell FC were formed in 1985 and are having the season of their lives. They got to the FA Cup third round qualifying stages, losing to Corby Town. And they remain unbeaten in the Northern Counties Eastern Premier League.

The village has a population of 1500 and their football team are punching above its weight. This club refuse to stand still. They are developing the ground in anticipation of promotion to the Unibond League.



Pickering are today’s visitors. It’s a beautiful market town in North Yorkshire with a population of 7000. I had a wonderful Christmas there a few years ago.

Cult television series Heartbeat is filmed in the area. You won’t find PC Alf Ventriss walking the beat though; he’ll be more than likely making a brew. Craig and Chris Short both began the football careers at Pickering Town and had successful period at Neil Warnock’s Notts County. Brian Clough’s assistant, Ronnie Fenton, was born in the town.

The Pikes have won nine on the spin and are unbeaten in 14 games. I saw them at Long Eaton a few months ago and was impressed. One of their star performers that night, Matthew Biggins, has since emigrated to Australia.

It’s £5 entry and a further £1 for the programme. We are harangued into buying a raffle ticket. It never bothers me, and I always oblige, as this is how clubs like Glapwell survive.

The clubhouse is one of the smallest I’ve been in and is crammed full of fans. They have Sky on. We watch Joe Cole score for Chelsea. Why can’t he do it on the international stage? The Architect has a lager, I have a shandy; it’s £3.90. The Pickering fans tuck into that famous northern delicacy: pie and mushy Peas.

The pitch is on an amazing slope. It looks heavy. The rain has been relentless up north this week. One side of the ground has a small seated stand and further along the touchline a covered area.

We stand on the opposite side, which is open to all the elements. The rain keeps off but it’s bitterly cold. We have a chat with a Pickering fan. He tells us a lot of their players are from Whitby. They can’t get a game for Whitby Town because their hometown club only sign Teesiders.

Pickering kick up the hill and soon begin to display their passing game. But Glapwell look dangerous on the counter-attack. The game needs a goal and the referee fails to play advantage on more than one occasion. I get a touch of the match ball on eight minutes.

Glapwell are managed by former Stag, Les McJannet. He is ably assisted by John Gaunt and Kev Gee. I worked with both of these characters at Notts County’s Centre of Excellence. Their coaching experience is proving invaluable.

There seems to have been a steady influx of players arriving from Sutton Town. One of those, Ian Brown, is full of running and is proving to be a handful for the Pickering defence. He goes close several times.

Glapwell keeper Neil West makes a fine save from a Mark Swales free-kick on the stroke of half-time. It’s nip and tuck; there’s nothing to choose between the two teams. Darkness descends on Hall Corner and the referee shouts to the bench to get the floodlights on.

There’s a horrendous queue at the tea bar and we haven’t won the raffle. We endure a miserable half-time. I nip in the club shop to check the line ups. Apparently even the boardroom is a portakabin.



There’s a familiar pattern to the second half. Neither team wants to lose and both go for the win. Glapwell hit the bar and score a goal that is ruled out for offside. Pickering go close through Swales and Whitfield (we call him June because he’s wearing gloves).

Ricky Greening is the Pikes’ right winger and brother of WBA’s Jonathan, who once played for Manchester United. He has all the skills and pace of his brother but has no end product to his game.

Glapwell’s Brady and the Pickering both miss sitters at the death to win the game. It’s been entertaining fare and no one deserves to lose. Varley and Brown shine for the hosts but it is Pickering captain Joe Connor who catches the eye.

Glapwell FC 0 Pickering Town 0

Attendance: 97 (including 4 car loads and mini bus from Pickering
who were all loud and had an opinion)

Man of the Match: Joe Connor

Nottingham Forest 3 Lincoln City 1

I caught “The Skipper” and Sticky junior in a compromising pose the other evening. I burst through the bedroom door to find those pair of soft lads swaying side to side and singing in unison to Leona Lewis’ new single, Bleeding Love (I googled it .. honest.) What a pair of pretty boys. No wonder they can’t get a decent tackle in for their local team at a weekend.

I wasn’t going to blog the replay, but hey, I might enjoy reading it one day. When all the pain has gone. It’s taken 50 years for these two teams to meet in a competitive game and yet we have met twice in the space of a few weeks. How ironic I have to sit with the Forest fans at both fixtures.

The Nuclear Scientist is driving; he’s brought The Landscape Gardener with him. “The Skipper” is given a late-night pass by Mrs P. His best mate is NS’s son. Sticky jnr has a prawn sandwich for supper, he’s watching Un***d on the box at The Theatre of Hate.

We park in Lady Bay, a good hike from the ground. It’s peaceful, they’ll be lucky to break the 7000 barrier. Why couldn’t the two clubs agree on a price reduction for tickets? NFFC and their disregard for public relations … tut tut.

We are ten rows from the back of The Brian Clough Stand. You would probably have to walk 20 yards to get a light. Lincoln City are my team. When the ball is bouncing around in our area my heart is in my mouth. It always skips a beat when our No.7 is on the ball.

Tonight we play in the white shirts and red shorts I saw them win in at Field Mill. It was to be another 15 games before we won again. It was a bitter sweet moment for me that the victory came against Notts County. We are still rock bottom. We have sacked a manager who knew his onions. A manager who was building for the future. Tonight we have seven players in our squad 21 or under. For the last hour of this game both are central defenders are just 18 years old.

CC has a fully fit squad to pick from. He is even afforded the luxury of shipping a couple out on loan. Emile Sinclair has gone to Brentford and Irishman Alan Power to Conference side Grays. I’m hoping Calderwood will be charitable and give £500,000 Megson misfit Scott Dobie a place in the starting line-up. It would be a huge lift for the City of Lincoln if this joker was to start. Forest would have to employ a man in a boat to fish all his misplaced efforts from out of the Trent.

I heard Calderwood, pre-match; champion our stylish midfielder Lee Frecklington. It would not surprise me to see our grand fromage move down the A46 permanently.

It’s all Forest, although Lincoln try to play a passing game. Forest carve out plenty of chances and we are riding our luck. They take the lead on 35 minutes with a brilliant goal from Commons following a one two with Cohen. I’m a happy man at the break. Damage limitation is the only thing on my mind.



Nottingham Forest FC take a further step up the incompetence Premier League ladder with the discovery that only one refreshment bar is open for the entire Upper Brian Clough. They’re getting nowt off me; I’ve already shelled out £23. The disc jockey plucks out a gem from nowhere. The Happy Mondays Kinky Affro is the second best tune I’ve heard at a game this season. The Nuneaton jock played Everything Will Be Alright by The Killers. The game is dead and buried early on when Tyson shakes off the attentions of Lincoln’s Watt to finish smartly. On the hour Tyson doubles his tally converting a Davies cross.

Lee Frecklington is magnificent in the second half. Why has no-one took this boy on? He clears countless corners with his head. He has the best touch of any player on the night. He’s got pace and is not frightened to receive the ball in tight areas. He produces a stunning save from Smith with a 25 yard left foot pile driver. I’m not a big fan of Smith. At Sincil Bank he chose not to sign autographs for the boys. They won’t be asking again. They’d sooner Dale Roberts put pen to paper. I howl at every blunder Smith makes. He can slice a ball and punch fresh air for a living. Southampton must be laughing their b***ocks off at the £500,000 they banked for him.

Yes it could have and should have been a cricket score. But we deserve our consolation goal from the industrious Jamie Forrester. Youngsters John-Lewis and Hone have impressed for Lincoln.

Forest 3 Tyson 2 Commons Lincoln 1 Forrester

Attendance: 6783 (2229 visitors who were largely subdued)

Man of the Match: Lincoln 7 Jacket

Burton Albion 1 Cambridge United 2

What a total lack of professionalism last Wednesday night. I was well and truly lost for words at the end of that performance. Embarrassing, lacklustre, pathetic and upsetting are a few of the words I’ve heard describing that awful moment last week. I know it was the first time he’d been picked but the guy couldn’t even catch a cold. No, no, not Scott Carson but Rodney Marsh’s attempts, on the high-wire, at catching flags on I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here. He only got the camp four meals. Rodney you plonker!

I’m due a dose of Burton Albion, it’s over two months since I’ve been. They play the best football I’ve seen on the Non League circuit. Why hasn’t a league club tapped up young Nigel? On my last visit I saw them pass and play high-flying Torquay United off the park. Tonight they entertain Cambridge United who are enjoying a renaissance of their own.

Four of us travel from Nottingham they include: The Architect, a debut for The Caretaker and a hungry White Van Man whose stomach rumbles all the way down the A50. We are parked up and drinking in the worst bar on the Non League circuit by 7.10pm. It reminds me of something in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. It’s grey, dark and characterless. And even worse than that, a town which prides itself on the art of brewing beer provides me with the worst pint of bitter this season. Corporate clowns Coors’ Worthington Bitter is disgusting. I’d rather pay £3.30 for a pint at The George Hotel, Stamford.



White Van Man takes a tour of The Pirelli Stadium’s eating establishments. He saunters back into the bar with a smile as big as a Cheshire cat. He often waxes lyrical about his drinking binges from Budapest to Bridgford, but I’ve yet to see him in my presence drink anything stronger than a cup of tea. It’s still £12 admission. And the programme is still £2.50 and poor value. We meet up with Robbo and he shows off about some bricks he bought a few years ago with his name on.

Cambridge has a population of over 100,000. Famous people born in the city include: Grease star Olivia Newton John and Pink Floyd guitarist Roger Waters. Cambridge United are now in the safe hands of former Northern Ireland international Jimmy Quinn. He has managed at Reading, Swindon and Shrewsbury and knows what it takes to get his side back to a higher level.

This club have produced some mighty fine players. Flashing through my mind now are Steve Claridge, John Taylor, Alan Biley, Dion Dublin, Dave Kitson and Gary Rowett. I visited Abbey Stadium a few years ago with Lincoln and saw a drab goalless draw but I liked the ground and playing surface.


John Beck has managed both Lincoln and The U’s. There was never a dull moment with Beck at Sincil Bank. He paid Preston North End £25,000 for Gareth Ainsworth and two seasons later sold him on for £500,000 to Port Vale. What a winger he was, the best we’ve ever had. Lincoln finally sacked Beck when he sneaked off on a skiing holiday, forgetting to tell the chairman, who was sunning himself in Australia. He lost his case for unfair dismissal. And Sincil Bank has been a boring place without him.


The Brewers have been scoring goals for fun of late and against useful opposition. Both Halifax and Exeter have felt the force of strike partnership Clare and Harrad in recent games, with Burton scoring four times away from home on both occasions.

Cambridge are going to be a tough nut to crack and begin the game the better of the two sides. Former West Ham and Canvey Island striker Lee Boylan looks the part. The Brewers defence has to be alert to his movement. Quinn has them organised and has done his homework. They are zipping the ball all over the park and stifle Burton’s midfield, packing it in a 3-5-2 formation.

Burton take the lead against the run of play. For once Gilroy receives the ball to his feet and exploits the space in front of him. He nonchalantly flicks the ball across the face of the goal with the outside of his foot where it is met by the boot of the in-form Shaun Harrad. Burton 1-0.

Cambridge fight back. Ex Chelsea trainee Robert Wolleaston tries his luck from 25 yards out. It’s just over. Burton begin to take the initiative. The U’s keeper Danny Potter makes a fine save from a Mark Greaves header.

Burton’s groundsman provides the half-time entertainment. He is pole-axed from a shot by one of the subs warming up, whilst he is forking the area. He can’t find his spectacles.

The Brewers PA system spins Justin Timberlake’s What Goes Around. No wonder Britney Spears turned to alcohol if she had to listen to that c**p everyday. If that CD was in our house it would definitely go around and around, out the back door and straight into the dustbin.

The U’s restore parity on 50 minutes courtesy of a deflected free-kick from Stephen Reed. The game ebbs and flows. Burton’s talismanic forward Daryl Clare slips the attention of the U’s rearguard but once again finds keeper Danny Potter in fine form. Harrad somehow misses the rebound from ten yards. The game is hotting up and thank Christ for that, as it’s so cold. I can barely feel my feet. I stand behind WVM to retain some warmth.

Clare is clearly frustrated at missing that sitter. He is shown a straight red for an elbow on Peters. It’s a silly challenge and costs his side the game. United make a double substitution. Lively left winger Courtney Pitt, once of Chelsea and Portsmouth enters the fray. He is joined by lumbering journeyman Leo Fortune-West. Once again Andy “Ronnie” Corbett is having a torrid time at right back. Pitt leaves him for dead and plays in a delightful ball for Scott Rendall to convert in front of the travelling faithful. They like Cambridge have been on song in the second period.

The game is now stretched but Cambridge are strong. Fortune-West and Wolleaston both go close. They deserve their win, not many teams have stopped Burton’s fast flowing football this season. For the Brewers, McGrath, once again, is magnificent in the middle of the park. But it’s a virtuoso display of goalkeeping from Danny Potter that wins the game for Cambridge.

Burton 1 Harrad Cambridge 2 Reed and Rendall

Attendance: 2263 (374 from Cambridge who all read a book at half time)

Man of the Match: Danny Potter

Dunkirk FC 1 Oldbury United 2

I’m laying in the bath, it’s 6pm. I can hear the wind whipping up and the rain battering the window. It’s Mrs P’s soap night. I don’t care that I might get a soaking this evening; it can’t be as depressing as watching Holby City or D**by County. I have a close scare, pre-match, when I can’t find my thermals. I’m informed by the good lady of the house that they’re in the washing machine. They are quickly transferred to the spin dryer. I’m going to need them tonight, Dunkirk’s ground is unforgiving.

It’s a no-show from The Taxman tonight; he’s too busy pilfering mail from post boxes, looking for the two computer discs containing 25 million child benefit records, which HM Revenue and Customs have mislaid. White Van Man claims he is down the gym. It’s more likely he’ll be propping the bar up or be at the food counter.

Barthez makes his debut with groundhopper this evening. I pick him up in Ruddington en-route. As you might gather, he’s eccentric and mad cap like the French stopper.

Dunkirk is just outside Nottingham City Centre, on Lenton Lane. Three clubs play in a 500 metre stretch; Greenwood Meadows and Bilborough Pelican being the other two. Restaurant, Sat Bains, is situated on this lane. It has a Michelin star.

Tonight’s game is a FA Vase second round replay between Dunkirk FC and Oldbury United. We’ve had heavy rain in these parts of late. I ring the ground at 7pm, and Dunkirk confirm the game is on.

The Boatmen (it’s on the banks of the River Trent) were formed in 1946. They played in the old Notts Alliance but have kicked on and performed well in the Central Midland Supreme Division last season. Nottingham Forest stole Wes Morgan from Dunkirk and haven’t done too badly out of him. He’s played over 150 games for The Reds. Jake Sheridan is another from these parts. Gary Mills signed him for Notts County in 2005. He’s now back with Mills at Tamworth.

Oldbury are from the West Midlands and play two leagues above Dunkirk in the non-league pyramid at Step Five level. They have an ongoing legal dispute with their landlord and have been thrown off their own ground. They celebrate their 50th anniversary playing their home games at Pelsall Villa’s ground. The two teams played out a stalemate last Saturday. Reports suggest that Dunkirk were a tad unfortunate.

Oldbury has a population of 10,000. The comedian Frank Skinner and boxer Pat Cowdell were both born in the town.

We’ve time for a drink int the refurbished bar and sit on one of the comfy leather sofas. I only have half a bitter, I don’t like drinking on a school night. EastEnders is on the television set in the corner of the bar. That programme haunts me. Ian Beale whinges and complains to anybody who’s prepared to listen to him.

The whole ground has had a lick of paint. Entry is £4 plus a £1 for the information packed programme. The pitch is heavy but in excellent condition. The huge poplar trees sway in the evening breeze. We choose to stand in a covered section on the opposite side to the dug outs. In the distance, above all the power pylons, are the high-rise flats on the Clifton Estate.

Dunkirk are managed by ex-pie David Harbottle, who is a legend on the Notts non-league circuit and a bit of a character. He has an eye for a player and has assembled a strong, young, mobile unit. The Meadows area of inner-city Nottingham is close by, and is a happy hunting ground for recruitment for clubs like Dunkirk. At junior level this club is respected and feared, I bought my U9’s here last season, we grabbed a 1-0 win, we rode our luck that day. I see their manager here tonight; we have a chat at half-time. Last night Dunkirk U19s travelled to Alfreton and beat them handsomely. Apparently the natives were restless.

The rain has relented and the wind has dropped. It’s a perfect night for football. I saw Dunkirk earlier in the season; they swept aside a very poor Blackwell Miners’ Welfare. They played that night with gusto, courage and passion. But they have lost their big cheese: Marquin Smith has gone to pastures new at Carlton Town. That night I saw him play, a few months ago, he was a cut above the rest. Another youngster from the engine room that night, Jack Reid, has since joined Heanor Town.
Former Forest striker David Johnson has signed for Dunkirk but his appearances have been fleeting. He doesn’t make the squad tonight but still makes the effort to turn up and support his team. He’s no Big Time Charlie.

It’s not a game for the feint-hearted. Oldbury players and supporters are surprised by the physical presence of the hosts. I’m not. Harbottle has his team well and truly wound up. Oldbury don’t like it up em.

Oldbury are more comfortable on the ball, but Dunkirk give them little time or space. The game springs to life towards the end of the first period with referee Kemsley awarding a hotly disputed penalty, after a foul on Boatman forward Joel Wilson. The Oldbury keeper is controversially sent off and Wilson coolly converts the spot-kick. Oldbury are livid and seek vengeance. The referee can’t blow quick enough for half-time.

The visitors’ ten men settle well in the second half and begin to pass the ball. Dunkirk give away an unnecessary free-kick, deep in their own half. From the resulting free-kick, The Cricketts grab an equaliser through Anton Johns, who heads home a wicked ball sent in from diminutive winger Danny Yearwood. Dunkirk have their chances but are crying out for a left sided player. Thompson’s deliveries from set-pieces are spot on.

Dunkirk are rattled, the game turns sour; there are off-the-ball offences all over the park. Oldbury begin to find gaps down the Dunkirk right flank. Danny Yearwood scores the winner following great work by Oldbury left back Dimmock.

The Boatmen get the ball into good areas but there’s no-one on the end of them. They lack that little bit of composure and quality. The game ends in pandemonium with Dunkirk’s Mark Nangle sent off for an off-the-ball offence. He incurs the wrath of the travelling support and for once, has to bite his tongue.

The visitors have that extra bit of class but you can not fault the honesty and endeavour of the home side.

Dunkirk FC 1 Wilson (pen) Oldbury United 2 Johns and Yearwood

Attendance: 50 (Including 8 from Oldbury, 7 of which moaned and groaned all night)

Man of the Match: Oldbury’s Lee Dimmock
.

Stamford AFC 0 Buxton FC 1

People have been blanking me in the corridors at work this week, word is they’re not happy at me bad-mouthing Heartbeat legend Alf Ventress. We have something at our company called key performance indicators. Basically it’s the company monitoring what you get up to all day. Had the West Yorkshire Police Force had this system in place in the 1970s then they would have turfed out this bone-idle, biscuit dunking waste of space in a matter of weeks.

I’d forgotten how beautiful a place Stamford was, I’ve been trying to get here for weeks. My lifelong friend, the Factory Manager, lives in Peterborough and we have agreed to meet up today.

I drive up the A606 past signs for Long Clawson, where they make Stilton cheese and through Melton Mowbray, home of the Pork pie; they love their cholesterol in Leicestershire.

I drive past the Red House restaurant in Upper Broughton. I saw that clown Joe Kinnear and his sidekick Mick Harford wining and dining in here a few years ago on the eve of a big game against the sheep. The following day Irish comedian Barry Roche had kicked a coffee cup, instead of a ball, and JK was history.



I’m parked up at the ground in fifty minutes, parking is free. The Buxton team bus is just pulling up. I want a photo of Anton Foster but I don’t want the guy thinking I’m stalking him.



I take a stroll into town. The infamous Daniel Lambert died in Stamford in 1809; he weighed in at just over 52 stone. He used to travel the country exhibiting himself. He died suddenly in the bedroom of a public house. They had to knock the wall down to get him out. It took twenty men to lower him into his grave. Let’s put it this way, you wouldn’t want to be behind him in the queue at the village fete pie stall. Stamford AFC are nicknamed The Daniels, in his memory.

This town is gorgeous; it’s numero uno on my sojourns, by a country mile. I must surprise Mrs P and bring her here one day. Not on a Saturday though. Even Pizza Express is built in the same stone wall that surrounds the town.

Every papershop sells USA Today; the yanks love this place. There’s no chance of a pick and mix from Woolworth today. It’s way too posh to have a Woolies. I walk over a bridge which the River Welland flows under.

The Factory Manager is having trouble finding the ground so I slip into the Bull and Swan; it’s in the Good Pub Guide. I’ve been stood at the bar ten minutes and no-one has taken a particular interest in attending to my thirst. The owner is swanning around and only one girl is serving. Sod this for a game of soldiers I’m off to a proper pub.

The George Hotel is just down the road. The views en-route to this Lincolnshire Dining Pub of the Year are stunning. I’m served instantly and order a pint of Adnams Broadside: “That’ll be £3.30 please sir.” I nearly die at the same spot as Daniel Lambert. £3.30! I can watch Greenwood Meadows and Dunkirk for that.



I finally hook up with the Factory Manager; his sense of direction is appalling, worse than mine. I can not believe we visited together 108 football grounds in five days, driving over 3500 miles without getting seriously lost. God bless sat nav.

It’s £8 to get in and £1.80 for a fantastic value programme. Buxton have put a few on the gate. The Bucks’ leading scorer Mark Reed has recently joined Vauxhall Motors, who have the hottest property in non-league football, a lad called Paul Taylor. Remember that name because next year he will be in the Football League. Ilkeston’s Neil Ross has replaced Reed at Silverlands.

The ground looks a little tired; the two stands look in need of a refurbishment. But it has soul and atmosphere and it’s close to the town.

The playing surface looks fine and the pitch is on a slope. Buxton dominate the first half without playing particularly well. Stamford are awful, devoid of any ideas. They continuously give away possession and are pinned back in their own half. Turley, Walker and Ross miss chances for the visitors.

We nip in the social club for a cup of tea at the break. It’s a cosy old place. Norway’s Alan Neilson has signed a shirt that’s in a frame from an international match that was held at Stamford’s ground back in 1994 between Wales and Norway.

The Daniels proudly display their history in the clubhouse. There’s a trophy cabinet on the wall surrounded by pictures of old teams and pendants. The bar staff and tea bar personnel are friendly and courteous.

Not the same can be said of Stamford’s captain Lee Colkin. His first half performance is dire; he fails to find a home shirt with a pass in the entire 45 minutes. As for his movement, I’ve seen Daniel Lambert move quicker at the buffet bar.

In the second period he commits a horrific two footed lunge at Bucks’ winger Turley. It’s in front of me and is x-rated. Referee Cooke from Mansfield has controlled this game well, at a simmering heat, but it’s always threatening to boil over. Colkin sees yellow instead of red. I notice this joker played over 70 games for Northampton Town. He should be stripped of the captaincy; he actually believes the challenge was fair. It was a leg breaker.

Paul Walker, Buxton’s forward, has worked tirelessly for the team, chasing a number of lost causes. He deservedly scores the winner on 48 minutes with a cool finish following another defensive lapse of concentration. Stamford at last begin to up the tempo but never seriously trouble Bucks’ keeper Hartley. I get my first touch of the match ball on 50 minutes. Bucks’ midfielder Anton Foster is not at his best today but he’s better than anything on show in the home midfield.

Stamford’s forwards Tony Battersby and Leon Mettam are both former Lincoln City players. Lincoln’s manager at the time Shane Westley foolishly paid 75k for Battersby's services. Notts County also paid 200k for him. He has made a career out of not scoring goals and not breaking sweat. Today is no different. Mettam seems more interested with bad-mouthing his own team mates.



There are a few cameo appearances from Aaron Lennon’s brother Tony, ex Forest midfielder, the albino looking Robert Hughes and a guy who was once described by the Nottingham Evening Post as the “New Roy Keane,” Irishman John Burns. I used to work with John a few years ago, he’s a lovely fellow.

John Reed, Buxton’s manager has assembled a side with balance and poise. Today they are not at their best but are too good for Stamford. The home team are second best in all departments. Only central defender Steve Julian can cover himself in any glory. I look forward to my imminent visit to the home of Buxton FC called The Silverlands. It’s the highest ground above sea level in England and I can’t wait to go.


Stamford AFC 0 Buxton FC 1 Paul Walker

Attendance: 305

Man of the Match: Gregg Anderson