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Stourbridge v Shifnal Town at Stourbridge RFC

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Dewhurst v Pendle United

1pm 20 July  2025 Burnley Summer League Dewhurst 1 Pendle United 5 (att 10) Back when it was just plain Prairie Playing Fields I saw games on various grass pitches, including several in an earlier incarnation of a Burnley Summer League. One of those grass pitches is now broadly covered by one of two 3Gs, and the whole site has had an impressive makeover to become Prairie Sports Village. Reliable fixtures for the current Burnley Summer League aren't easy to find, but as the information I had suggested that both pitches would be in use I thought it'd be a good chance to 'tick' the other 3G. It's probably the lesser of the two as, unlike the other one, there's no barriered spectator area and no dugouts. But on a day of torrential rain showers the artificial surface at least meant no problems getting the game completed. Both these sides play in the Burnley and District Sunday League over the winter, and both use Prairie as their home ground. Although keeping up to d...

Brynawel v Talycopa

2.30pm 19 July  2025 Brynawel Summer Cup Brynawel 1 Talycopa 0 (att 130) I stayed in South Wales after Friday night's visit to AFC Llwydcoed, but that game being brought forward a day left me with no options for a truly competitive game, on a new ground, for the Saturday. From very few options I settled on a match in the Brynawel Summer Cup. It's a four-team round robin tournament with all the games played at Brynawel's Halfway Park ground in the Winch Wen area of Swansea. With a title, and presumably also a trophy, at stake it's a better option than watching two sides play a training game. There was certainly a competitive edge between local rivals who both play in the Swansea Senior League. Brynawel play in the higher division so I expected them to beat Talycopa. But pre-season football can be hard to predict and, although the hosts won, they made hard work of it. The only goal came three minutes into the second half. Talycopa were never out of the game, but their cau...

AFC Llwydcoed v Cardiff Corinthians

7pm 18 July  2025 Ardal League, South West AFC Llwydcoed 3 Cardiff Corinthians 0 (att 324) It's been more than two years since AFC Llwydcoed last played a competitive fixture in their own village, but with extensive work on the Welfare Ground complete they're making a welcome return this season. The previously steeply sloping pitch has been levelled, a pair of seated stands have been installed, and it looks as it floodlights will be added soon. The warm weather will have helped, but it was still good to see a decent crowd to watch their opening league fixture. There were far more than when I watched them at their temporary home in Aberdare in 2023. And the AFC Llwydcoed supporters will have enjoyed what was an encouraging start to the season. Two first half goals put the home side in control, and after the break a third put the outcome beyond doubt. Cardiff Corinthians pressed hard to get back into the game, even at 3-0 down, but were unable to score. The Llwydcoed keeper made ...

Ynys Mon v Bermuda U23 at Stromness Academy

7pm 15 July  2025 Island Games, Group C Ynys Mon 2  Bermuda U23 2 (att 200) at Stromness Academy The final round of group fixtures in the Island Games football were timed to be played simultaneously, with the men's matches all kicking off at 7pm. That allowed time to enjoy a bit more of Orkney, as well as watching some of the athletics at the Pickaquoy Sports Centre in Kirkwall, a ground I've been to twice before for football. I've also been to Stromness for football previously, seeing  a match at the Market Green pitch , home to Stromness Athletic, in 2016. Athletic occasionally use Stromness Academy, most likely the 3G pitch which is adjacent to the grass pitch that's been used for the Island Games. Like all the games venues the playing surface, roped off for the occasion, was in excellent condition. It was by chance that I ended up watching Ynys Mon for the second time in 24 hours. As both they and Bermuda (who field their under 23 side in the games) had beaten th...

Ynys Mon v Western Isles at Rendall

7pm 14 July  2025 Island Games, Group C Ynys Mon  1 Western Isles 0 (att 150) at Rendall After a four figure crowd at Kirkwall Grammar School earlier in the day, it felt like a lower key affair at Rendall's scenic Rockery Ground for the Group C fixture between Ynys Mon and the Western Isles. Although the crowd was smaller, it wasn't a low key fixture for the teams' supporters, who were out in force. Western Isles had lost to Bermuda in their opening fixture, whereas this was the Welsh side's opening game. Ynys Mon were the better side, but it took them until stoppage time to get the game's only goal. A shot from just outside the box that took a deflection and clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way in. Their win was deserved on the balance of play, but the outcome was harsh on the Western Isles. They'd been hampered by a red card mid way through the second half. Rendall play in Orkney's second tier B League. Their home ground is a lovely place to wa...