Steve B the Groundhopper

2pm 6 December  2025 Wearside League, Alan Hood Charity Cup, Semi-Final Barnard Castle 4 Seaton Carew 1 (att 34) Based on the league table this will go down as a cup upset, as mid-table Barnard Castle booked their place in a cup final at the expense of a Seaton Carew side who are second in the league. There was little sign of such a comprehensive home win at half time. The opening period was closely contested but goalless. The visitors, unsurprisingly, had looked just the better side. But in the second half the tie swung decisively in Barnard Castle's favour. They scored twice, and although Seaton Carew pulled a goal back it wasn't long before the home side added a third. Their fourth goal, in stoppage time, rounded off a deserved win. I was last in Barnard Castle 22 years ago, when Barnard Castle Glaxo had a team in the Wearside League. The town's current club play elsewhere, at a neat venue that features a railed off pitch that's equipped with dugouts and has plenty o...

10.30am 6 December  2025 North East Christian Fellowship League Stockton Athletic Church 2 St John's Church Snods Edge 2 (att 1) After paying close attention the weather forecasts as the weekend approached I settled on a trip to the North East, in the hope of avoiding the worst of the rain and the bulk of the postponements. I expected to begin my day at Middlesbrough College's artificial pitch where, according to the league website, this game was due to be played. But on arrival there was no sign of a match taking place. Instead I headed to the Northfield School and Sports College, in nearby Billingham, which is apparently Stockton's 'regular' home venue. Sure enough the league website was wrong and fixture was taking place here, on the most distant grass pitch from the car park. To be fair, football at this level is all about the players so as long as they, and the referee, know where it's being played then that's all that really matters.  Stockton are stru...