January
Just four days before David Bowie became the first in what has seemed like an endless avanlanche of celebrity deaths in 2016, I made the fairly short journey over to Bedfordshire and a return to Bedford Town. It was at The Eyrie, in October 2012, that Base of the Pyramid was born so revisiting the ground was a nice way to start off the year. http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/back-to-bedford. As with my first trip the home side won the agme and managed to keep a clean sheet. Maybe I am good omen for The Eagles?
A week later on a night that saw many games get called off due to the sheer deluge of rain, I finally managed to visit Culham Road, home of Abingdon Town. As it happened it was a very timely visit as I believe the club has since, very sadly, folded IIf anyone knows differently, please let me know). I loved Culham Road. What a wonderful example of a non-league stadium, possibly second only to Hardenhuish Park in my books. Such a sad state of affairs that Town will no longer play there. http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/brooksiders-enjoy-mud-bath
That was it for January. A business trip to The States combined with bad weather meant that there was no more live action for that month.
​February
The highlight of February came in my first outing, a Spartan South Midlands Premier game and a first ever visit to Holmer Green (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/comrades-curse-the-greens-quietly). They were taking on Berkhamsted who, as I pointed out, may have been distracted by their FA Vase run. They were due to take on Morpeth Town on the following Saturday. As it transpired, I would be watching Morpeth myself in just a few months time. Airedale Park, home to Holmer Green, has a small claim to fame having featured in David Bauckham's book Dugouts. (http://www.pyramidpassion.co.uk/html/dugouts_book.html). 
March
Another stadium that had long been on my list, Victoria Park, Bromsgrove was on my list for March. Bromsgrove's main team, Rovers, had at one time been as high as the National League and were a major force in local non-league. However, a very sharp decline in the financial fortunes of the club saw them plummet in obscurity by 2008-09. A group of former directors, seeing the impending doom, had already formed a phoenix club, Bromsgrove Sporting, taking a position in Step 8 for the start of the 2009-10 season. The club still uses the old Rovers colours of green and white as their second kit. http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/sporting-chance
I have to say though, the highlight of the month was the crunch Hellenic League Premier clash between Thatcham and Kidlington. The three-way battle at the top, with these two and Flackwell Heath, waa really hotting up and this game turned out to be something of a pivotal pont of the season. http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/green-party.
April
It's hard to pick a highlight for April. The month started with a long awaited trip to Calthorpe Park, home of Fleet Town. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/no-bore-draw). Fleet is one of the friendliest clubs that I have visited and I have to say I was deeply saddened and shocked to here of the passing of Chairman Steve Cantle just before Christmas. A tragic loss to his family, to Fleet Town and to non-league football in general.
A first ever venture into the Eastern Counties League for a game between Godmanchester Rovers and Felixstowe & Walton United also proved to be well worth the long drive. An absolutely enthralling game between two sides with only three points on their minds. http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/april-14th-2016.
Towards the end of the month there was also the day that Hartley Wintney clinched the Combined Counties Premier title at Westfield (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/duff-cook-combined-champions) and a fascinating Southern League Play-off Semi-Final between Redditch and Leamington which went to extra-time and penalties (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/late-night-spa).
May
This was a month pacjed with finals. It opened with a cracking Birmingham Midweek FLoodlit Cup Final between Coventry Copsewood and Nuneaton Griff (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/copse-cup-coup). There was a Peterborough Derby in the Hinchinbrooke Cup (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/sports-stars) and finally, the icing on the season's cake, Non-League Finals Day at Wembley. What a superb idea and a thoroughly brilliant day out this was. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/day-of-the-underdog)

The Non-League action took a back seat in the Summer months, allowing the England team time to under-perform in another tournament before it was time to head back out onto the road in August.

August
I spent a lot of the month watching Wessex League games. The Hampshire/Surrey border being a rather pleasant area to drive around on warm summer's evenings. However, my highlight was sandwiched between trips South. An FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay between Nuneaton Griff and Dudley Sports. Pingle Stadium had long been on my radar and what better thime to visit than when they were playing a team from my town of birth? As it happened it was also an absolutely belter of a game, once again going to extra-time and penalties. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/a-bostin-cup-tie).
September
Two games stood out in September. A seven goal thriller under the flighpath of Heathrow Airport as Bedfont Sports edged a real see-saw affair aginst Badshot Lea by 4-3. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/eagles-edge-seven-goal-thriller). This was followed up by another late night as the FA Vase Replay between Malvern Town and Birstall United went into extra-time. The home side eventually coming from behind to win it in dramtic fashion right at the death. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/the-antidote)
October
Finally a chance to see my own team, Stourbridge, as they took on Corby Town in the Northern Premier League. Great to catch up with some fellow Glassboys and a couple of old school mates. Even better when, after a poor start, Stour came from behind to take all three points. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/benbow-cor-be-beat).
November
A month of red cards or, to be more exact, two days of red cards. For the first time in a while I had a week where the opportunity arose for two matches on back to back evenings. First of all a trip East to watch the FA Trophy Replay between St Neots Town and Marine. The game ended up going into extra-time, the home side picked up three red cards (this after they had two sent off in the initial draw at Marine) and the away side running out 4-2 winners on an eventful evening. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/saints-or-sinners). The following day I witnessed Abingdon United winning at Hook Norton in a game which saw two more red cards, both for Hooky. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/us-end-hooky-home-run).
December
I'm going to start December with a negative point. Following the postponement of Stourbridge's original game against Northampton, which I was planning to attend, I had to miss out on the re-arranged game. As you know, it turned into an historic night for the Glassboys. One which I will always regret missing. However, I do have a ticket for the Third Round tie at Wycombe, so fingers crossed for more history.
A trip to Beaconsfield SYCOB was definitely a highlight of December. A ground that I pass almost every day but had never visited turned out to be a gem. Well woth a visit for any hopper out there. It wasn't a bad game either. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/7-up-for-sycob).
In a very nice piece of accidental symmetry, the year ended as it had started, watching Aylesbury United. This time, a Boxing Day local derby with Aylesbury. (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/french-polish).

Here's to a great 2017 of football. Happy New Year to everyone, especially to the thousands who give up time and money to keep the non-league game going. 

​This year's Boxing Day tradiiton of watching Stourbridge with my Dad had to be forgone due to logisitics. With all the family down in Oxfordshire with us and a planned trip out to Blenheim Palace on the agenda, there was never going to be time to get to and from Amblecote in time. However, Monday dawned a beautiful day and a wander around the palace in the morning was a very pleasant way to air the excesses of Christmas Day. Besides, there was the added bonus of  the possibility of a very short trip to Thame in the afternoon and the opportunity to savour my very first El Quackico, Aylesbury United v Aylesbury in the Southern League Central.
This wasn't my first visit to the ASM Stadium, although I had not been there since September 2014 when I saw landlords Thame United defeat Shrivenham 4-3 in an entertaining Hellenic Premier clash (http://www.botp.co.uk/blog/the-thaming-of-the-shriv). The stadium and the surrounding facilities, now 6 years old, still have quite a new feel to them. My Dad, who had not seen the stadium before, was largely impressed by the set-up and particularly liked to seating that runs along two-thirds of the car park side of the ground.

The Moles have been struggling somewhat this season and came into this game just on place above the drop zone, albeit with an 11 point gap to second-bottom Histon. The Ducks, after a poor season last term were sitting comfortably in mid-table, ten points above their local rivals. The sides had already met earlier in the season at Haywood Way, with The Ducks edging a tight game by 1-0 and earning their first competitive win over The Moles. League form suggested that they could make it two in a row but history, two home defeats in Decmeber and the fact that it was a local derby cast some doubt over that presumption.

The teams took to the pitch under cloudless blue skies, a sure sign that the temperature was going to drop before the 90 minutes was over, and belive me, it wasn't that warm to start with. However, there was a decent turnout from both sides and we waited to see if El Quackico would prvode some Boxing Day sparkle.

First of all though we had an immaculately observed minute's silence for long-standing Ducks supporter and General Secretary of the Western League, Mark Edmonds who sadly lost a battle with cancer recently. 

​When the game kicked off there was an initial phase of sparring in which the away side came the closest with an early effort that Oualah had to deal with. However, it wasn't too long before United started to assert themselves. The Moles midfield was being completely dominated by a Ducks engine room made up of ex-Moles. It was one of these, Sonny French, who was causing the majority of the problems. Showing for the ball at eveyr opportunity and them using it with some effect, he began to drive the home side forward. However, despite their possesional supremacy and playing some really nice football at times, The Ducks could not find the final telling pass or beat Jenkins in the Moles goal.

It took until the 35th minute for United to break the deadlock but when it did come it was no surprise that French was the scorer. Capitalising in some hesitancy from the visiting defence and keeper, French managed to get to the ball first, catching Jenkins in no mnas land and lobbing him from a tight angle. It was a good finish but the chance was gifted to him by the Moles defensive lapse. 1-0.

The Ducks came close again before half-time but there was little in response from Aylesbury who, it has to be said, seemed rather lacklustre. The teams left the field at HT with the score Aylesbury United 1 Aylesbury 0.

I don't normally pick out individuals in games unless, in my opinion, they are outstanding. In this game I did feel that Sonny French was at the heart of everyting that United did. He wanted the ball in all areas of the pitch, was distributing it well when he got it and looked a threat in the last third. I felt sure that, when the teams returned, The Moles woudl have been told to close him down and maybe even to have instructed someone to man-mark him.

However, with just a few minutes gone in the second period, it was clear that French was still finding as much space in the middle of the park as in the first half. It was the same player that made the second Ducks goal. Driving at the heart of the Moles defence, the first shot was blocked but when it spun loose to Brito he returned it, with the aid of a pretty big deflection, into the corner of Jenkins' net. 2-0 to United and looking increasingly like a home banker.

​As the evening drew in and the air got chillier and chillier, I think it is fair to say that United took their foot off the pedal a little for part of the second half. Aylesbury were posing little threat, although they did manage to venture forward a little more, and the game was very comfortable for the home side. It was still Jenkins, in the Moles goal, who was the busier of the two keepers. French was still pulling the strings in midfield and The Ducks, when they did mount an attack, looked dangerous, at times playing some really delightful football.

Oualah was finally called upon to go full stretch with 15 minutes remaining when he got a touch to Deacon's rasping drive but, in fairness, it was a token effort. With just under ten minutes remaining Kinnane got on the scoresheet with another deflected effort. This time hitting a shot from the edge of the box that caught a defenders leg and completely wrong-footed Jenkins. 3-0.

In fairness to Aylesbury they could easily have collapsed for the final few minutes. They were a well beaten side, but they did keep the scoring to three before the referee ended their suffering.
All in all a very good team performance form United. French was, for me at least, the standout player on the day but that shouldn't take anything away from the team. United were better than their oppoonents across the entire pitch.

Thanks to both sides for providing some good Boxing Day entertainment and bets wishes to both sides in the New Year.

Aylesbury United - @aylesburyutdfc
Aykesbury - @aylesburyfc

A combination of postponements and a stinking cold have meant very slim pickings on the live game front for the last month, so it was a relief and a joy to be out on the road again this Monday for a Southern League Central clash between Beaconsfield SYCOB and Chalfont St Peter.
Having lived in Beaconsfield for 4 years and needing to drive past Holloways Park on an almost daily basis, it is strange that this was going to be my first visit. The ground has been on my list for quite a while now but, maybe because it is so close and easy, I have always kept it as a bit of a backup just in case I can't get any further afield one day. Well, what a gem I have been missing all this time. The ground has pretty much all you could want from a non-league stadium. Cover on three sides, a terrace behind one of the goals, an interesting, very shallow main stand, and a bit of quirkiness. The ground is nestled right on the junction of the A335 and the M40 and accessed through a small service road. This runs alongside the ground and gives access to a large car park at the far end of the ground. Entrance is through turnstile just off the car park, although I did notice that there was also a turnstile at the other end of the ground that I assume is not in use at this time.
​
Upon entering the ground all of the main facilities are immediately to your left. a fairly large terrace behind the car park end goal is backed by the clubhouse and snack bar. At the far end of the ground there is also a covered seating area behind the goal and the dugouts are on the service road side of the playing surface. On the motorway side is the main seating stand which is an interesting structure in as much as it is noticeably very shallow with only about a two inch step between the rows of seats. The quirkiness is provided by two three-step terraces (see photo below), one either side of the main stand. I have never seen this type of standalone terrace before and they certainly gives Holloways Park a unique feel.

​Although Chalfont were coming into the game four places and four points better off than The Rams, current form and momentum was definitely behind the home side. Since achieving their best ever FA Cup run, eventually going out in the 4th Qualifying Round to National North side Brackley Town, SYCOB have been on a great run of form in the league. Before their Cup exit they had just a single victory under their belts, since going out they have won 9 and drawn 1 of their 14 games including a run of 6 consecutive wins going into Tuesday's match. The sides had already met in the league, The Saints edging a narrow 1-0 win in August. For some reason, we had a slightly delayed kick off with the teams not even entering the pitch until after 19:45.

​When the game got under way it was quite a cagey start for the first five to ten minutes with neither side really getting a grip on the game. Probably to be expected in what was, after all, pretty much a local derby. An early Saints attack lead to a free-kick on the edge of the box, but too far wide to be seen as a clear chance for an attempt. The free-kick came to nothing and, from that point onwards, SYCOB started to impose themselves on the game.

It took until the 25th minute for the home side to make a breakthrough and when it came it was through a slightly fortunate penalty decision. A ball into the Chalfont box was actually pushed too far ahead by the Becaonsfield player and, from my position it didn't look as if he would be able to get to the ball. However, he was defintely caught by a Saints defender in what was possibly a needless challenge. Easy to say from the sidelines I suppose. Either way, Aaron Berry strode up and stroked the spot-kick home to make it 1-0 to SYCOB.

With the confidence of the six goal winning streak and a goal advantage the home side went looking for more goals. However, we had a broken passage of play for the next 10 minutes with the visiting golakeeper twice going down with what looked like an ankle injury. With no substitute keeper on the bench, it was a worrying time for Saints. Pickford, however, was patched up and was able to continue.

The Chalfont backline was getting very little respite from waves of Beaconsfield attacks, so it is something of a credit to their resilience that they managed to almost make it to half-time before their resistence was broken. When it did come, thoug, the second goal was avery nicely crafted effort. Ryan Hill's pace and trickery on the left created an opening for him to drive in a low cross which was turned in at the near post by the onrushing Aaron Berry. 2-0 to Beaconsfield with 44 minutes on the clock.
​
HT Beaconsfield SYCOB 2 Chalfont St Peter 0. A fully deserved lead for the home side.

The second half began with a little more vigour from Saints. Twice in the early stages of the second period they forced the home keeper to make a save, which was probably more than they had in the entire first half. The renaissance was not to transpire though and, thirteen minutes after the restart SYCOB got the goal that completely killed off the game.

A superb curling effort from the right smacked off the Saints post and out to the left where Hill got it uner control. His cross caused more mayhem in the box and, when the ball was cleared to the edge of the 18 yard area, Ollie Jones smashed it back through a crowd to make it 3-0 to the home side.

​Once again, it was all Beaconsfield with Chalfont once more unable to get a foothold on the game. Hill, on the left, was causing plenty of problems with his pace. aided and abetted by the overlapping runs of left-back Ryan Haugh. Five minutes after the third goal Berry grabbed his hat-trick and The Rams fourth. Once more the threat came from the left flank and a low, driven cross. This time Berry managed to nip in front of the defender and deftly backheel the ball past the keeper. 4-0.

There was some late consolation for Chalfont when SYCOB defender Lee Rushe, attempting to get a head on a cross from the right, glanced the ball past his own keeper Sam Bunting to make it 4-1 on the night.

Any joy that Saints may have got from the goal was very short-lived though when, in the 93rd minute, yet another driven left-wing cross was met by Callum Bunting who made no mistake with the finish.
Full-time Beaconsfield SYCOB 5 Chalfont St Peter 1.

Saints can have no complaints with the result. They were never in this one and will need to put it behind them in preparation for trip to another form team, Barton Rovers next Tuesday. Beaconsfield entertain Kidlington on Boxing Day hoping to make it eight from eight.
​
Beaconsfield SYCOB - @becky_sycob_fc
​Chalfont St Peter - @csp_afc ​

I'll come clean, Ardley was not my first choice for a game this evening. Bracknell versus Binfield and the re-opening of Larges Lane was originally on the top of my game list but, for a number of reasons, it was not to be and I needed to find a game much closer to home. So, Ardley United taking on Highmoor Ibis in the Floodlit Cup seemed like a good choice. Only a 10 minute drive, Ardley had scored nine at the weekend and six against today's opponents only 10 days ago.

It was also quite pertinent to my chosen charity, Edie's Butterfly Appeal, as Edie was actually due to have neuro-surgery today (as it turned out, the operation has been delayed by a week). Ardley have a full-page Edie's Butterfly Appeal flyer in every matchday programme and will soon have a pitchside banner at Oxford Road. The plan being to get every away side to pose for a photo next to the banner and, hopefully, post it on their website. All of which will will go a little way to increasing awareness of Ependymoma (http://www.ediesbutterflyappeal.com/).

It was damp and misty Winter's evening as the teams took to the park. As I said, they had only played a league game 10 days earlier with Ardley running out 6-3 winners but, as their manager had pointed out in the pre-match notes, Highmoor played over half of the game with 10 men after Devon Reid was sent off in the 37th minute.

For the first 20 minutes of this game, with Highmoor kicking down the Oxford Road slope, there was little sign of the Ardley side that had scored 15 goals in the last 2 games. In fact Ibis were the better side by some way in what were, to be fair, fairly tame opening encounters.
Ardley did burst into life for a very short period about halfway through the half creating arguably two of the best chances but neither were converted. Matt Cruse, who had scored 6 of the recent 15, was particularly quiet seemingly marooned out wide on the right. So much so that there were constant commands from the bench for him to get into the game and, eventually, to switch wings in an effort to give him more of the ball.
​
Highmoor rode out the short period of Ardley pressure and hit back themselves eventually taking the lead in the 40th minute after winning a free-kick wide on the right. The ball was played across the six-yard box and when it wasn't cut out it was turned in by Harry Badderley. 0-1

HT Ardley United 0 Highmoor Ibis 1. A deserved lead for the away side who had definitely held the upper hand in a fairly scrappy encounter.

Before the game I had spoken briefly with the Ardley Chairman Norman Stacey who, on the basis of my sponsorship through the Butterfly Appeal advertising, kindly invited me into the Boardroom at half-time.
​It has to be said that the half-time period passes much more quickly when you are in a warm room drinking tea and chatting with board members of both teams. A friendly bunch they all were too, both Ardley and Highmoor officials.
Still, we had a cup match to finish off and it was soon time to head back out into the Winter's evening for the second half.

The expected onslaught by the home side didn't happen although, to be fair, neither side looked a lot like scoring. That was until the 74th minute when Ardley grabbed an equaliser and began  a 15 minute goal spree. It was defender Chris Jackson who grabbed the goal, rising above everyone at the far post to head home a left-wing corner. 1-1.

Four minutes later another corner, this time from the opposite side, dropped into the Highmoor box. When it was not cleared it was Jackson who was on the spot to poke the ball home for his and Ardley's second goal. 2-1.
At this juncture I should point out that both Ardley goals came from corners taken by James McCarthy who just happens to be the son of my daughter's Irish Dance teacher (a fact I only discovered when I got home).

After being hit by two quick-fire strikes, Highmoor were wobbling and were quickly losing any attacking threat in the game. They did, however, stem the flow of goals until the last minute when they conceded a penalty when Cruse was brought down in the box. Leam Howards stroked the ball home to make it 3-1.

A minute later and with the referee about to blow, a long ball downfield bounced over the Highmoor keeper's head allowing Howards to challenge and then roll the ball into an empty net. Highmoor's claims of a foul on their goalkeeper fell on deaf ears and it was 4-1 to Ardley. 

There was barely time to restart before the referee drew the contest to a close. The goal machine had left it late today but 19 goals in 3 games is a tally any team would be proud of.
FT Ardley United 4 Highmoor Ibis 1.

The game wasn't a classic by any means and the weather was murky and damp. I doubt that the Floodlit Cup is that high on either team's season agenda. However, I would still rather be out there experiencing non-league football than sitting at home watching the 'joys' of another European clash between a bunch of multi-millionaire mercenaries. 
​
Many thanks to the people of Ardley United for their hospitality and best of luck to both sides for the rest of the season.

Ardley United - @ardleyunitedfc
Highmoor Ibis - @highmooribis