Steve B the Groundhopper

6.45pm 18 August  2026 West Lancashire League, Division Two Trawden Celtic 3 Mill Hill 0 (att 160) It's 14 years since I visited Trawden Recreation Ground and watched as Trawden Celtic drew a Craven League game against Rolls. The club has had something of a transformation since then. That September evening I counted just 13 spectators. This evening, at Celtic's new home in nearby Nelson, there were too many to count accurately, although my estimate was around 160. This is Trawden's debut season in the West Lancashire League and this win, against previously unbeaten Mill Hill, kept their perfect start intact with six wins from six games. Mill Hill put the hosts under plenty of pressure, especially early on, but lacked the cutting edge to score. Trawden Celtic took their chances, clinical finishing helping them to two first half goals. It took until the game's final kick for the home side to score their third, but the contest had been over long before that. Trawden Celti...

11am 16 August  2026 Montagu Cup, Quarter-Final Wickersley CC 3 Whiston 1 (att 70) This season's Montagu Cup has reached the quarter-final stage, and I travelled to the Rotherham suburb of Wickersley to see if the holders could continue their quest to regain the trophy. From a groundhopping perspective it was also a chance to 'tidy up' a previous visit to the Bob Mason Recreation Ground. In 2024 the hosts, then under the name Joker Wickersley, played on an open pitch close to the entrance.  Now they've moved to the venue's railed off pitch. The Montagu Cup tie was one of two games on the ground today, and neither was on the pitch used two years ago. Although Wickersley and Whiston are local rivals, the teams play in different leagues. Wickersley are in the Sheffield-based Blades Super Draw Sunday Sports League, while Whiston play in Rotherham and District Sunday league. I thought the home side would be favourites, and they proved me right by winning comfortably if u...

2.45pm 15 August  2026 Kent County League, Premier Division Long Lane 1 Aylesford 3 (att 41) Having spent most of the week in London for work reasons, I extended my stay an extra day to take in a game in the capital before heading home. Kidbrooke-based Long Lane was a good option, being much easier by train than a car journey from home would ever be. The club is mostly focused on junior sides and has good facilities, including an array of pitches, at Kidbrooke Playing Fields, seemingly also now known as The Northwood Ground. Nearest the entrance is an enclosed and floodlit 3G pitch with a seated stand, but first team games are played on a grass pitch, 'pitch one', which is just beyond it. The playing area is railed off and there's a pair of dugouts on the near side. There's no hard standing for spectators, not a problem after prolonged hot and dry weather. Some grass banking does provide a slightly elevated view of the action. The action in this game was mostly in the s...

11am 9 August  2026 Montagu Cup, Round of 16 Scawthorpe Herons 1 Brinsworth Whitehill 1, 4-2 on penalties (att 53) An all-Sunday league clash in the last 16 of the Montagu Cup, and there was nothing between hosts Scawthorpe, from the Doncaster League, and Rotherham League visitors Brinsworth Whitehill. It was a lively game of end-to-end football. Brinsworth took an early lead, which lasted until a second half penalty allowed the home side to level the tie. With no further goals, and no extra time in the Montagu Cup, it took more penalties to decide the outcome. The away side had two of their four spot kicks saved, while Scawthorpe scored four out five to earn a place in next weekend's quarter finals. The action took place at Woodside Field, a playing field in the Scawthorpe area of Doncaster. There are permanent rugby posts, but football goals were placed in front them ahead of kick off.

2pm 8 August  2026 West of Scotland League, Division Four Eddlewood 1 Annbank United 2 (att 155) Eddlewood and Annbank United are both among a handful of new teams to join the West of Scotland League this season. Annbank were formerly a junior club, but for Eddlewood this is their first venture into to semi-professional game. They've enclosed a pitch at Eddlewood Park, and with spectator access around three sides, with just the far end out of bounds, it's a good addition to the league. And, unlike some of the newer West of Scotland League clubs, they have a good level of support. Having won all three of their opening fixtures I expected them to beat Ayrshire visitors Annbank but, despite taking an early lead, they suffered a surprise, to me at least, defeat. Annbank made a slow start, but after going behind they were gifted an equaliser when Eddlewood lost possession trying to play out from the back. The visitors grew in confidence after that. Ten minutes into the second half a...

11am 8 August  2026 Saturday Morning Amateur League, Qualifying Competition Gleniffer Thistle 3 Glasgow Wellington 2 (att 30) My first trip north of the border this season was prompted primarily by new teams being added to the West of Scotland League but, as usual, it was worth an early start to take in an extra game in the morning. This season the Saturday Morning Amateur League has a 'qualifying competition' to determine which divisions teams will play in. I'm unsure exactly how it works, but each team plays a handful of games which, I assume, allows them to be ranked. Gleniffer Thistle appear to be among a number of teams already guaranteed a place in the league's top flight, so whether this fixture counted for much for them I don't know, but they celebrated their last minute winner as if it did. It was harsh on Glasgow Wellington, who recovered from a poor start, and conceding a very early goal, to deserve at least a draw. They turned a 1-0 deficit into a 2-1 le...