Steve B the Groundhopper

11am 28 July 2024 Montagu Cup, Preliminary Round Joker Wickersley Youth CC 7 Balby 1 (att 40) It wasn't until last summer that I had my first taste of the Montagu Cup, although I was late to it as the annual competition has been running since the 1890s. It's open to both Saturday and Sunday sides, but this year the latter dominate the list of entrants. The opening rounds are early and pre-season, on Sunday mornings, while the final is held at Easter and attracts a very large crowd. There were just a few dozen at the Bob Mason Recreation Ground in the Rotherham suburb of Wickersley, but not a bad turn out on a sunny and pleasantly warm morning. Joker Wickersley were apparently formed a few years ago when two local clubs merged. They play in the top division of the Blades Super Draw Sunday League which, without it's sponsored title, is the Sheffield Sunday Sports League. They were much too good for Doncaster Sunday League side Balby, although it took until the second half bef...

2pm 27 July 2024 Welsh Cup, 1st Qualifying Round Rhos United 0 Llanrwst United 4 (att 65) This time last year I watched Rhos United cruise through the opening round of the Welsh Cup, scoring six goals away from home. This season the draw was less kind, giving them a tough tie against a team two levels higher. Llanrwst play in the third tier of Welsh football, the Ardal Leagues. They had the perfect start against their North Wales Coast East League Division One hosts when they netted from a corner after just two minutes. Rhos recovered well from the early blow, but Llanrwst looked the better side and doubled their lead after half-an-hour. Three minutes later a third away goal meant the cup tie was effectively over. Llanrwst's fourth and final goal came early in the second half. The Rhos keeper made some decent saves to prevent further damage, and the home side were a little unfortunate not to get a consolation in the closing minutes. This season Rhos United have moved inland from Rh...

6.45pm 22 July 2024 Shetland Reserve League, Bottom Section Bressay Sharks 5 Shetland Banks 0 (att 9) I had expected last weekend's game at Delting to be my final opportunity for a new ground while on Shetland, but I got lucky with the opening fixtures of the 'split' reserve league. The top six and bottom six play against each other for the concluding fixtures, and I owe a favour to whoever scheduled the matches and gave Bressay a home game for the final night of our stay. Bressay is connected to Lerwick by a frequent ferry crossing that takes just seven minutes. The kick off time was 15 minutes later than advertised, but made sense given the ferry schedule. It's a small island, and one that I think is relatively new to regular league football, having played previously (and currently) in Shetland's Parish Cup competition. Bressay and Shetland Banks were rivals in the Shetland Works League, until that folded and the remaining sides joined the reserve league. Banks ar...

6.30pm 13 July 2024 Shetland Reserve League Delting 3 Scalloway B 2 (att 30) This is likely to be the second and final opportunity to tick off a new ground during our Shetland stay, with other scheduled fixtures all on grounds I've visited previously. The last time I was here Delting were a top division side, but now the Brae-based club are one of five first teams in the second tier Shetland Reserve League. They're the highest placed of the non-B teams. This win cemented their place in the top half ahead of the split, after which the top six and bottom six will complete their fixtures separately. A final score of 3-2 flattered Scalloway, who were second best throughout. Two first half goals, the second in stoppage time, ultimately proved decisive. Both the visitors' goals were helped by unfortunate goalkeeping, and came either side of a third Delting goal. Scalloway's crossbar was also hit twice in a game that wasn't helped by a strong and chilly wind. Delting's...

6.30pm 12 July 2024 Shetland Premier League Lerwick Celtic 7 Lerwick Thistle 3 (att 45) With Celtic unbeaten and leading Shetland's seven-team top division, and local rivals Thistle at the foot of the table, a comfortable home win was always the most likely outcome. Two quick goals, the second a penalty, around 20 minutes into the game set Celtic on the road to victory. Thistle put up a decent effort, but it was a surprise that it took until after half time before they conceded again. It was another quick double to put Celtic 4-0 up. They added a fifth before rapidly conceding twice, including the game's second spot kick. Normal service was soon resumed with a sixth home goal. Lerwick Thistle had another consolation with a third goal, before a lively 90 minutes was rounded off with a seventh for Celtic with the game's final meaningful kick. There are three venues used by Lerwick's football clubs. The main two are Gilberston Park, which I visited in 2012 , and Seafield, ...

6 July 2024 Khalsa Football Federation Tournament at the Racecourse Hub, Derby It's been a few years since I last watched one of the Khalsa Football Federation's summer tournaments, which are for clubs from across the country with roots in Sikh communities. They're straight knockout contests, and this year competing teams are divided into 'premier' and 'division one' competitions. Successful sides face a hectic schedule, playing up to four games in two days. Derby's Racecourse Hub is a new venue, which may become home to tournament hosts Derby Singh Brothers this season. There are four 3G pitches, all of which were used for matches, as well as some distant grass pitches which also staged some of the Khalsa youth and veterans' contests.  8.55am Division One, Round of 16 Punjab United Derby O35 2 Queens Park Bedford 10 (att 19) Early starts are a feature of Khalsa tournaments, but Punjab United's over 35 players hadn't got the message that this...