So, here we are, heading towards the end of May and I should be reflecting on the winners of the FA Vase and FA Trophy after a trip to Wembley last weekend. Instead, just over 2 months into lock-down, I am sitting here wondering when the next Belarussian Premier League match will be on YouTube. Lock-down, pandemic, death rate in the thousands, no vaccine, social distancing, self-isolation. It's more like something from the script of a disaster movie than an end of season non-league blog.
Much has already been written and discussed about the FA's decisions. I'm not going to go into any of that. In my opinion, they were damned if they did, and damned if they didn't. There was never going to be a solution that fitted everyone's needs or desires. The main thing to remember is the safety of everyone involved in the game, players, staff, supporters, everyone. Regardless of how the season ended and whatever the ultimate decision of the FA, I will not be expunging my records or forgetting any of the great football that I managed to witness during 2019 and early 2020.
Much has already been written and discussed about the FA's decisions. I'm not going to go into any of that. In my opinion, they were damned if they did, and damned if they didn't. There was never going to be a solution that fitted everyone's needs or desires. The main thing to remember is the safety of everyone involved in the game, players, staff, supporters, everyone. Regardless of how the season ended and whatever the ultimate decision of the FA, I will not be expunging my records or forgetting any of the great football that I managed to witness during 2019 and early 2020.
The Caversham Cup in full swing
My 2019-20 season started, as it was to finish, very early. Having already taken in a couple of friendlies at Brackley and Pershore Town and with July still only 20 days old, I headed down to deepest, darkest Berkshire, on a baking hot day, to take a close look at the first ever Caversham Cup. What a day it turned out to be too! Sixteen teams from around the country battled it out for two trophies, The Goat Milk Cup and the main event, the Caversham Cup. Based on a four group system, the top two in each group went into the Quarter-Final draw for the Caversham Cup, the remaining teams dropped into the Quarter-Finals of the Goat Milk Cup. The full blog can be found here, but to sum up, Hashtag United's Sunday team won the Caversham Cup with the hosts, Caversham United, lifting the Goat Milk Cup. Plans are already under way for a 2021 edition of this even. I strongly recommend following @CavershamUnited to keep up to date with the event and plenty of other Sunday League related information.
Pinxton FC August was FA Vase time. My favourite FA competiton was getting under way and after getting the views of Step 7 side Pinxton's manager, Kenny Shinfield (In the Ken), I embarked on my very own FA Vase ground-hop weekend. My wife and daughter were off to Amsterdam for a short break which left me the entire FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round weekend free. I started off with a trip up the M1 on Friday evening for Aylestone Park v Loughborough University (No Walk In The Park). This was followed on Saturday took me further up the M1, into Derbyshire, to see the aforementioned Kenny Shinfield's Pinxton take on Birstall United from one step above them (Pinxton Blue). Finally, on Sunday afternoon, I headed South to check out Step 6 side Wokingham & Emmbrook host Step 5 Chipping Sodbury Town (Satsumas Vase Homecoming Bears Fruit).
Fantastic covered seating at Cropredy After starting early in the season it was odd that I didn't actually take in a game on Tuesday evening (my normal day for a match) until well into September. When I did, it was another Vase game, this time I headed into London, South of the River, to watch a re-arranged 2nd Qualifying tie between Molesey and Greenwich Borough, two sides who had been plying their trade in Step 4 during the previous season but had suffered relegation. Greeenwich's keeper James Boughtflower stole the show as he proved the main difference in his sides 2-0 victory (Progressive Borough). A week later I was back in South-West London for yet another FA Vase game, this time a history-making 2nd Qualifying Round replay between Abbey Rangers and Walthamstow (History In the Making). September also saw me finally make a trip to see Williamscot Road, home of Cropredy FC who had been on my list for well over a year. It was a perfect opportunity as The Crop were unbeaten perched on top of the league and were due to take on Hanborough, also unbeaten and tucked in just behind their hosts. As it happened Cropredy ran out 3-0 winners in an entertaining game on a blustery afternoon. (Crop Top)
The highlight of early October was the absolutely perfect pitch at Slimbridge. The home side narrowly lost a Southern League Cup local derby with Yate Town but their pitch was a credit to their volunteer grounds-people Paul, Malk, and Riko. (The Carpet). Also in October, I finally got to meet Tom Canning of Football in Berkshire fame (https://www.footballinbracknell.co.uk/) as we both witnessed the re-opening of Ascot United's splendid stadium with their shiny new 3G pitch. The evening didn't go so well on the pitch however, as the Yellamen unexpectedly went down 3-0 to Guildford City (Shiny, Happy? People).
Whitchurch Alport support
The middle of October saw one of the busiest weekend's of the year but I still manged to squeeze in an FA Vase. The weekend encompassed our wedding anniversary (a night out in Birmingham watching The Stranglers and Alice Cooper), a sluggish 50th Parkrun in my home town and my brother-in-law's charity quiz in aid of Acorns Children's Hospice. Sandwiched in the middle of all this was a fantastic giant-killing display from Droitwich Spa of Step 7 as they saw off Step 5 Whitchurch Alport in the final qualifying round of the Vase (A Dose Of Salts). Finally, to see off a hectic month, after a short business trip to Germany (those were the days when travelling was allowed), I ventured down to Godalming Town to see the locals take on Farnham Town. I got to meet Dave Fiddler (Shorts Man) in person and have a great chat about football, rugby and current affairs. Dave was particularly happy on the night as his G's went on to win 5-2. Not that much a surprising result as this was the third time I had been to see Farnham play and the third time they had lost. I promised their Twitter admin that I would stay away for the rest of the season. (Third Time Unlucky).
Watching him, watching them Work meant that November was limited to just a few games, but I did manage to make up for it a little in December by getting to four new grounds including a first (and as it happened last) women's game of the season, a cracking encounter between Reading and Arsenal at Wycombe's Adams Park (Quality When It Counts). A combination of terrible weather and a business trip to South Korea almost wiped out January for me, although I did manage to cross off a ground that had been on my list for a number of years, Bewdley Town's Ribbesford Meadow. With the hosts sitting second in the league a home game against leaders Shifnal Town was well worth a 200 mile round trip on a Tuesday evening. The home side pulled out all of the stops with Luke Morris hitting a brace in a 2-0 win (Bostin Morris Sinks Shifnal).
It was another month before I managed to get to another game but then, after a low-key affair between Saffron Dynamo and Harrowby Town in midweek, I was back on the FA Vase trail at the weekend for a mouth-watering tie between Western League Premier league leaders Bradford Town and Vase Quarter-Finalists from two seasons back, Leighton Town. The Reds managed the game to perfection, weathering all that the Bobcats could throw at them and winning the game 3-1 (Bobcats Outwitted).
It was another month before I managed to get to another game but then, after a low-key affair between Saffron Dynamo and Harrowby Town in midweek, I was back on the FA Vase trail at the weekend for a mouth-watering tie between Western League Premier league leaders Bradford Town and Vase Quarter-Finalists from two seasons back, Leighton Town. The Reds managed the game to perfection, weathering all that the Bobcats could throw at them and winning the game 3-1 (Bobcats Outwitted).
Sunset over the Vase (Bradford Town v Leighton Town)
That took me into March and after another trip West, this time to see FA Vase semi-finalists Bitton record a comfortable league win over Hallen, who could have gone top with a win (Armadillos Crushed By Three Tons), I then managed to fit in one more game before the season came to a shuddering halt. My last outing was a long trip down to the South coast for a Wessex Premier League clash between Fareham Town and Baffins Milton Rovers. I didn't know at the time that it would be my last game of the season but I'm glad to say it was an absolute cracker. Baffins led 3-2 at half-time and then extended their lead to 5-2 with 20 minutes remaining. Cue the fightback as the Creeksiders mounted a remarkable recovery to draw 5-5 with the equaliser coming in the very last minute (Baffins Baffled By Creeksiders Resilience) . What a game to end the season on!
Fareham's grand old stand
Traditionally I like to select a Team of the Year for each of the Steps that I cover. So, although the season did not officially finish, I decided not to break with tradition and take a bash at it. Of course, these are purely my thoughts and most likely, if you asked 10 people, you would get 10 different answers, but here goes.
BotP Teams of the Year
Step 2 Wealdstone - The Stones led the way in the National League South when play was halted. Three points ahead with a game in hand, and looking very likely candidates for the title.
Step 3 Royston Town - Narrowly knocked out of the FA Trophy at the Quarter-Final stage and in with a very good shot at the Southern League Central title when the season was cut short. It was shaping up to be a superb season for The Crows.
Step 4 Halesowen Town - A cruel end to what was looking like a tremendous season for the Yeltz. Promotion well and truly on the cards and into the Semi-Final of the FA Trophy after beating Barnet on their own path in the Quarter-Final.
Step 5 Stowmarket Town - Fifteen points clear at the top of the Eastern Counties Premier League and unbeaten all season. Step 5 was a tricky decision with a number of very good candidates. However, Stow edged it on the back of not having lost one of their 28 league games.
Step 6 Jersey Bulls - Again Step 6 had some great candidates. However Bulls' (who had already secured promotion) record of played 27, won 27, scoring 99 and conceding just 7, stood out as the number one choice.
So, that's it. Season over and, at the time of writing, no idea if we will even see the start of next season. My current feeling that it is very doubtful that football will restart in 2020. If we are lucky we may see some action in 2021. In response to the question posed in the blog title, yes I am missing football.
Stay safe everyone.
BotP Teams of the Year
Step 2 Wealdstone - The Stones led the way in the National League South when play was halted. Three points ahead with a game in hand, and looking very likely candidates for the title.
Step 3 Royston Town - Narrowly knocked out of the FA Trophy at the Quarter-Final stage and in with a very good shot at the Southern League Central title when the season was cut short. It was shaping up to be a superb season for The Crows.
Step 4 Halesowen Town - A cruel end to what was looking like a tremendous season for the Yeltz. Promotion well and truly on the cards and into the Semi-Final of the FA Trophy after beating Barnet on their own path in the Quarter-Final.
Step 5 Stowmarket Town - Fifteen points clear at the top of the Eastern Counties Premier League and unbeaten all season. Step 5 was a tricky decision with a number of very good candidates. However, Stow edged it on the back of not having lost one of their 28 league games.
Step 6 Jersey Bulls - Again Step 6 had some great candidates. However Bulls' (who had already secured promotion) record of played 27, won 27, scoring 99 and conceding just 7, stood out as the number one choice.
So, that's it. Season over and, at the time of writing, no idea if we will even see the start of next season. My current feeling that it is very doubtful that football will restart in 2020. If we are lucky we may see some action in 2021. In response to the question posed in the blog title, yes I am missing football.
Stay safe everyone.
RSS Feed