Steve B the Groundhopper

3.15pm 14 September 2024 Surrey Premier County League AFC Cubo 1 Dial Square 3 (att 22) After my first game I had ample time to stop for a pint (well, two actually) during the short walk towards the University of Westminster's Quintin Hogg Memorial Ground for a 3.15pm kick off. The unusual time was because the facility, a recently-installed 3G called the River Pitches, stages back-to-back fixtures on a Saturday. As far as I can tell AFC Cubo regularly play in the 3.15pm slot. It's above average for such a ground, from a spectator point of view at least, with two sets of uncovered seats and some grass banking. The only flaw is that the dugouts are one the same side. My last visit to the Quintin Hogg ground was 32 years ago, when I watched Polytechnic FC play a Southern Amateur League across the road in the stadium. The impressive stand remains, and is a listed building, but neither it nor the former pitch are now in use. Back at the River Pitches AFC Cubo, apparently named after

12 noon 14 September 2024 Arthurian League, Division Three Old Epsomians 2 Old Brentwoods III 5 (att 1) I extended a work trip to London long enough to allow me to visit family and to watch football in the capital, which meant I was on public transport for the day. Finding a pair of games on new grounds easily accessible without a car was more of a challenge than I'd expected, but two midday games at the King's House Sports Ground in Chiswick were my starting point. It was last at the venue, formerly the Civil Service sports ground, in 2019 for an Arthurian League game at what was then the sole 3G pitch . In the years since a second artificial pitch has been added, so with two fixtures scheduled I knew one would be a groundhopping 'tick'. Unlike the original, '3G pitch two' is primarily for rugby, with football pitch markings secondary. Another difference is that it's equipped with a spectator area the length of one side. Old Brentwoods, who were having some

2pm 7 September 2024 Staffordshire County Senior League, Division Two North Staffordshire Victoria 4 Eastwood Hanley reserves 2 (att 30) I picked this game primarily as the location and kick off time allowed me to get back home in time to watch England on TV at 5pm, but it still proved a good choice. Eastwood Hanley's reserves had won their opening three league fixtures, and I'd expected them to continue their perfect start against Staffordshire Victoria. But it didn't turn out that way. They began well enough, before the home side won a penalty with their first attack. It was saved, but the visitors' relief was short-lived as a few minutes later they conceded the opening goal. Eastwood Hanley looked the better team, and deservedly equalised after about 25 minutes, but they remained vulnerable on the break. The game really turned against them early in the second half. Victoria attacked from the off and went back in front, then soon scored again for 3-1. Their second pen

10.20am 7 September 2024 Manchester Saturday Morning League, Division One Premier Gather 0 Beechfield United 6 (att 27) I was pleased to see several new venues appear in the Manchester Saturday Morning League this year, and I ticked off the first of those on the opening day of its new season. Gather FC are a new side based around Manchester's Hong Kong community. They're following in the footsteps of Konger FC, who played in the league last season before switching to afternoon football. Surprisingly for a newly-formed team, they've been placed in the higher of the league's two divisions, the tautologically-titled 'division one premier'. On the evidence of their opening fixture they might struggle. It was an comfortable morning for Beechfield, even though it took until the second half before they scored the second of their six goals. It was a penalty, and the first of three spots kicks they converted. The home side's frustration was compounded by a late red c

7.30pm 6 September 2024 Cheshire FA, Amateur Cup, First Round Chester Nomads 3 Mersey Valley 3, 4-3 on penalties (att 27) at Blacon High School It was only late on Thursday night that I spotted, on social media, that this county cup tie had been brought forward a day and switched to an alternative ground. Chester Nomads' regular home is shared with cricket, which might explain why this fixture was switched to an artificial pitch at Blacon High School. It's a ground that's been borrowed by clubs previously, but as far as I can tell there's no current permanent tenant. It's not bad as such venues go, with a spectator area along most of one side and a pair of good-sized dugouts opposite. The floodlights weren't the best though, as a couple of non-working bulbs meant one corner of the pitch was poorly illuminated. In theory there are two divisions between Chester Nomads, in the top tier of the West Cheshire League, and Mersey Valley, in the third level of the parall

6.15pm 3 September 2024 Huddersfield and District League, Division Two Hade Edge 3 Holmfirth Town 5 (att 26) Chances are this was my final early evening midweek game until next spring, but an eight-goal thriller at a wonderfully scenic venue was a fine way to draw a line under the early part of my football season.  Hade Edge is a small village near Holmfirth, and their Flowery Fields ground is another of the picturesque gems that exist in the Huddersfield and District League. There's a modern pavilion, erected in the years since Google's street view camera last passed, and a sloping enclosed pitch that has a pair of small dugouts on the near side. Hade Edge began the local derby well, taking an early lead and soon doubling it. Holmfirth were slow to get going, but a penalty for a needless handball allowed them to pull a goal back before half time. Within five minutes of the second period starting the visitors had turned a 2-1 deficit into a 3-2 lead. The goal that put them in f