10.30am 27 June 2026
Saturday Morning Summer Cup at Hembrigg Park, Leeds
Old Farnley 3 Drighlington Juniors 2 (att 16)
Pre-season friendlies are already underway but this game, in a competition that runs through the summer, marked the end of my 2025/26 season.
Despite it geographically indistinct name, the Saturday Morning Summer Cup is for teams in West Yorkshire. All games are at neutral venues in Leeds, and the eight teams are drawn from the local Saturday Morning League and the Leeds Community League.
All eight play each other in a league format, ahead of semi-finals and a final. According to the fixture list there should have been two games at Hembrigg Park, in the Morley area of Leeds, but only this one took place.
This season (or last season depending how you look at it) Old Farnley and Drighlington Juniors were rivals in the Saturday Morning League, with Old Farnley finishing higher.
They got off to a good start, scoring after just two minutes. Drighlington quickly hit back, and not long after that they converted a penalty to go in front.
Another penalty, harshly awarded from my viewpoint, allowed Old Farnley to level shortly before half time. The spot kick was saved, but the penalty taker netted the rebound.
The second half was quieter, with the decisive goal coming just a few minutes before the end.
Hembrigg Park is a public park with a pair of parallel pitches. There's a small car park and colourfully-adorned changing rooms, although they weren't open for this game with players arriving in their kit.
So the 150th and final game of my 2025/26 football season was also my 137th new ground. Next season should start next weekend, and chances are I'll see another game in this competition early in 2026/27.
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