Quorn AFC 1-1 Carlton Town

It's early doors on Saturday morning 29th July and the time of year for my annual pilgrimage up to north of the border. I walk across Nottingham's Old Market Square and dive into Greggs where I grab a much-needed coffee and bacon cob. I then wander up St James Street and cross over Maid Marian Way as the city centre comes alive.

I loiter outside the highly reputable Laguna curry house on Mount Street. I'm joined by Notts County die-hard fans 'Faggsy' and 'Little Al.' A blue Hyundai hurtles around the corner at the top of the road. Here he is: it's 'Crazy Steve.' 

By 1 pm we're necking a pint in the Gothenburg at Prestonpans, a small mining town, eight miles east of Edinburgh. Two games in the Viaplay Cup are on our radar. Bonnyrigg Rose v Airdrie is a 3 pm kick off later today and tomorrow Dundee FC entertain Inverness Caledonian at Dens Park.

Bonnyrigg has been in my sights since Nicola Sturgeon shut down all sporting events in Scotland as Ms Moon and I pitched up in Edinburgh back in March 2020. I boo her everytime I see her on my TV set - but then again so do half of Scotland.

The social club at Bonnyrigg Rose is bustling with folk. The visitors, Airdrieonians, have a 500 strong away following. The highlight of the game is a steak and haggis pie at bargain-price £3 a pop. They are to die for, as is the wonderful old ground, with its nooks, crannies and steep grass bank that affords you an elevated view of proceedings.

The Bonnyrigg Ultras roar on their team, but their efforts are not rewarded with a goal. Airdrie settle the tie from the penalty spot. It's a drab affair that only comes alive with the singing of both sets of supporters. It's a massive tick off for Sticky Palms and straight away becomes my favourite ever Scottish ground.

We're spending the night in Burntisland. 'Crazy' drives us up the coast as we pot a few pints at pubs in Leith, Limekilns, Hillend and Aberdour. 'Crazy' has a wee dram nightcap back at the hotel, before we turn in for the evening.

After a hearty breakfast we spend Sunday morning sightseeing up the east coast. We pay our respects to darts player Jocky Wilson, a double-winning World Champion in 1982 and 1989, at Kirkcaldy Crematorium. We take in the Royal and Ancient Golf Course of St Andrews and take a peek at grounds at Raith Rovers and East Fife - there's a junior game on at the latter as some squally showers roll in from the hills.

We swing by the club shop at Dundee FC so I can collect the match tickets. I bag a baseball cap as a memento. We have three CAMRA Heritage pubs to tick off in the city centre. Two are close to the ground.  The second one is a beauty. The landlord at Frews has served time for 42 years. He takes a shine to 'Crazy Steve' and gives us both a guided tour. He has 12 leather footballs perched above the bar. They are from each team in the Scottish Premier League. Each Saturday at 5.30 pm he climbs a ladder and arranges them in the order teams are positioned in the league table.

The Bobby Wilson Stand is the only seating area open. Faggsy and I sit halfway back as Crazy and Al bask in the afternoon sunshine. We are surrounded by folk from Pennsylvania. A parent explains that their lads are on a 'soccer tour' of the U.K. I roll my eyeballs - well the one that works at least.

Inverness look quite lively but spurn too many opportunities. The introduction of Dundee's new signing Amadou Bakayoko signals a change in fortune. One goal is enough to see off the visitors. Although a winning margin of two clear goals was required for qualification to the next stage of the competition. Nobody seems particularly fussed by this.

The drive home, on Monday morning, in blustery and monsoon conditions takes over seven hours. A massive hat tip and thank you goes to 'Crazy' for driving 720 miles over three days - that's some shift.

Tuesday is spent at Notts Sports Ground in Lady Bay, a few hundred yards away from Trent Bridge Cricket Ground. Notts U18s are playing Yorkshire U18s. It coincides with call ups to the England 19s and 18s set up for Notts youngsters Farhan Ahmed, Travis Holland and Freddie McCann. At 15 years old Ahmed is the one Notts are pinning their hopes on and having watched him for two seasons, I'm also excited about him.

I chill about the house for a few days and get a few small jobs done. It's back to work and a full shift at MSR Newsagents, on Front Street, in Arnold on Friday. EuroMillions day always has the customers flocking in through the shop door.

I flop into the armchair on my return to HQ. There's some breaking news coming in from Ms Moon, who is away for the weekend in Brighton, Sussex, with her daughter Becky. They've been holed-up in a cinema all afternoon watching Barbie the Movie - I presume all the pubs don't open until late afternoon.

It's Saturday morning and my favourite day of the year. It's the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup, I bolt out of the shop door at twelve bells and jump onto the 25 bus. There's a ten minute turnaround before being picked up by 'Casually Dan' in the church car park at the back of our house. In the car are Carlton Town FC programme editor and craft ale connoisseur 'Big Joe' and Dan's six year old daughter Lily. I put Lily on the spot and ask her for a score prediction. She's too coy to fall for that one, but does admit to being a massive fan of the pop band Busted.

The Carlton Massive have a fan called Danny Harkin, who writes a wonderful blog review on all the fish and chip shops he visits on his travels. He even has a column on the said subject in the Carlton programme. Danny has recommended John Dory in Quorn. 

It doesn't disappoint as we join Danny and his family as well as Jason and his lad, Jack. I have a small haddock and a kid's size portion of chips. They are delicious. Danny pens his notes for the next programme as 'Friday I'm in Love' by The Cure is played on the chippy jukebox.

The ground is a 5 minute drive away. I've been many a time when it had a lush grass surface. It saddens me that they have gone down the 3G route. It looks like it needs a refurb too. It's £10 on the gate. There's a good gathering of the flock from Carlton. It's the usual cast of characters such as 'Mad Gav', 'Miller Mouse', 'Cafe Catherine' 'Club Shop Ken' plus members of the committee such as Chairman Mick Garton and Dave Hodgson. Johnny Hand is today's roving matchday reporter as DJ Murph is on his jollies.

The DJ is spinning 'Blue Monday' by New Order - it's the U.K's biggest selling 12" single of all-time, as Dan reminds me, selling over one million copies. I've been stressing over this tie since the draw was made a few weeks ago. Quorn have a strong starting line up including four lads from Nottingham.

There has been a shift in strategy by Carlton Town FC. Some of the higher earners and old-timers have departed the club. Fresher, hungrier, younger lads have been recruited. A partnership has been formed with the inner city side Pass Move and Grin. It's a big step up for some lads, but many are flourishing  during the pre-season. It's a bold move by joint managers Tommy Brookbanks and Mark Harvey, but it's a policy I applaud and believe in.

The Millers should be 2-0 up in the first 15 minutes as I view the game with a groundhopper from Ellistown who I haven't seen in ages. Against the run of play Quorn take the lead with a worldy strike from Tyrell Shannon-Lewis. Quorn grab the game by the scruff of the neck and are unlucky not to add to their tally. 'Felix the Cat' is in fine form in the Carlton Town nets.

The Quorn DJ continues his good run by playing 'Chime' by electro-pop band Orbital as well as an old Daft Punk track. There are a few worried faces in the clubhouse as £1125 prize money is up for grabs to the winners and also a home tie against Step 5 opposition.

Tommy looks to have rallied the troops at the half time break. The Millers look more aggressive and joined up, There's a bad injury to Tyree Wilson, it sees the lively youngster stretchered off after a long delay. We wish him a speedy recovery.

It looks like it's going to be one of those days as chances go begging. Romello Nangle sees a spot kick superbly saved by the young Quorn shot stopper. With five minutes remaining Lamin Manneh skins former NFFC scholar Silivo Bello, he flicks a cross in that is met by substitute Mussa Jawara, who runs in from the blind side of a defender before hitting the onion bag. It's a well deserved equaliser, but frustrating too, for the away following, that the game couldn't be put to bed at the first time of asking.

The Carlton young guns have put on a show in the second half and hopefully the job can be completed on Tuesday evening where I had planned to watch Lincoln City away to Notts County in the League Cup. The FA Cup must come first though.

Men of the Match: Crazy Steve (720 miles), Quorn 'keeper and Casually Dan for the piloting.

Attendance: 204