Steve B the Groundhopper

2.30pm 13 September  2025 Pembrokeshire League, Division One Hakin United 5 Narberth 0 (att 68) Hakin United have been a dominant force in Pembrokeshire League for years, and a visit to their Observatory Ground was a gap om my groundhopping CV that I'd wanted to fill for a while. The far south west of Wales is challenging for a day trip from home, but as I was in the area anyway it seemed logical to make to the most of the opportunity to head further west after my morning game. With the exception of Haverfordwest County, and the occasional foray into the old Welsh League in years gone by, Pembrokeshire football sits apart from the Welsh football pyramid. No clubs have yet been tempted to join the West Wales Premier League. On playing ability alone Hakin United would be obvious candidates for promotion. However, as things stand, the extent of travelling that would be necessary from their Milford Haven base is a strong disincentive. With reigning champions Goodwick United having made...

11am 13 September  2025 West Wales Premier League Llangennech 2 Dafen Welfare 2 (att 224) Having stayed overnight in Swansea, getting to Llangennech, near Llanelli, in time for a morning kick off was a lot easier than making the trek down from Manchester would have been. The fixture was part of an official 'groundhop', organised by Groundhop UK and providing an opportunity to visit multiple games, and grounds, over the weekend. Llangennech was the only venue on their itinerary that I'd not been to previously so the timing, allowing me a choice of games in the afternoon, was perfect. A coachload of groundhoppers, plus others who travelled independently, boosted the crowd and, hopefully, provided a financial bonus for the hosts. We were treated to a very good game. The home side were ahead twice, but both times Dafen hit back to equalise. If anything the visitors looked the better side, despite being winless at the bottom of the league. Three of the four goals were in the ope...

7.30pm 12 September  2025 Ardal League, South West Seven Sisters Onllwyn 2 Cardiff Corinthians 0 (att 70) I'd been planning to be in south west Wales for a game on Saturday morning, so a chance to visit a new ground on Friday evening, and save myself a very early start the next day, was too good to miss. Seven Sisters and Onllwyn are neighbouring villages whose football teams merged a few years ago. I visited Seven Sisters for a game in 1999, but the combined club has developed the Onllwyn Welfare Ground as its main first team venue. Floodlights are a recent addition to what is a decent ground. There's a clubhouse and a pair of small seated stands, both on the one side that has hard standing.  There is access, for the intrepid, around the other three sides, which are enclosed by steep banking. Both sides have made mediocre starts to their seasons. Seven Sisters Onllwyn came out on top despite being second best during a goalless opening half. They took the lead just a couple of...

3pm 6 September  2025 Spartan South Midlands League, Division One Everett Rovers 7 Huntingdon Town 0 (att 55) Watford-based  Everett Rovers seem to have come from nowhere to rapidly ascend the footballing pyramid. They earned a place at ‘step six’ after winning  promotion from Hertfordshire’s county league last season. Their start to 2025/26 suggests their upward trajectory will continue. They were already top of the table, and unbeaten, before crushing a hapless Huntingdon Town side. The game was one-way traffic from the start. Everett scored three in the first half, and four more after the break. They could, and probably should, have managed double figures. Everett Rovers’ home ground has just about kept pace with their climb through the leagues, but it is basic for step six. It’s an enclosed artificial pitch that's so new it's yet to appear on Google Maps. There is spectator access at one end and along one side, where there’s also a small covered standing area.

12.15pm 6 September  2025 Arthurian League, Premier Division Old Bradfieldians 6 Old Johnians 1 (att 7) Old Bradfieldians are one of three Arthurian League sides who currently use Gunnersbury Park Sports Hub as a home ground for league games, with 12.15 being a regular start time. There are two adjacent 3G pitches, as well as a large grass playing field. This was played on ‘pitch one’, which has a spectator area running the length of one side, and is slightly nearer the pavilion and car park. Old Johnians, former pupils of St John’s School in Leatherhead, has lost their opening fixture 4-0, so were looking to get off the mark against Old Bradfieldians, who were beginning their competitive season. The home side were on top from the start, and went ahead after 18 minutes. Johnians set out to defend and hit their hosts on the break, and they did just that to equalise five minutes before half time. Early in the second half Bradfieldians scored three times in quick succession. There was...

6.20pm 4 September  2025 Craven and District League, Division Two Kelbrook Phoenix 3 Waddington 2 (att 30) With the arrival of autumn, and work commitments limiting how far I can travel, this will almost certainly be my final non-floodlit midweek evening match until next spring. It may have been the bottom tier of the Craven and District League, and my only available option for a new ground, but it wasn't a bad way to round off the early kick-offs. There wasn't much between the sides, and Waddington were unfortunate to end the game pointless. They twice hit the woodwork in the closing minutes as they chased an equaliser. The visitors had scored the game's opening goal, on 29 minutes, but they were ahead for barely 60 seconds before Kelbrook levelled. After the break two Kelbrook goals would ultimately prove decisive. Waddington scored to reduce the arrears, but despite their best efforts they couldn't find the goal they needed to rescue a draw. Kelbrook Phoenix play at ...