Steve B the Groundhopper

2pm 23 May  2026 Aberdeenshire Amateur League, Premier Division Banchory Amateurs 3 Kincorth 1 (att 30) Once it gets beyond mid-May there is always a danger that teams will give their opponents a walkover rather than scrape together a team for a likely heavy defeat. It's a problem that seems to be worse the further south you go, so I headed north to Aberdeenshire. To be fair, amateur football across Scotland is more reliable than in England at this time of year. And credit to Kincorth, who travelled to Banchory with just 11 players. Their lack of substitutes proved costly when they lost a player to injury with about half-an-hour to play. That was just a couple of minutes after Banchory had scored their third goal, effectively killing off any hopes the visitors had of getting a result. Kincorth had conceded twice in the first half, the second goal direct from a corner just before the break. But they had then given themselves a chance by pulling a goal back. They went into this game ...

7pm 21 May  2026 Derbyshire Summer League Charlie Bassetts 14 Darley 0 (att 27) For the second Thursday running I ticked off a ground in the Derbyshire Summer League, and like last week it turned out to be a one-sided game. Charlie Bassetts played under the name Smithfield Uttoxeter last year . I assume the identity change is the result of having the backing of a different pub. They also have a new home venue. This year they're playing at Blythe Bridge High School on the edge of Stoke-on-Trent. I expected a basic pitch in a school playing field, but was surprised to find the playing area railed off on two sides, and a pair of dugouts. The home side had a comfortable evening, scoring seven times in each half. Darley's best spell was minutes 45 to 70 when, remarkably given the final score, they didn't concede a goal.

2.30pm 16 May  2026 Ceredigion League, Division One Crymych 2 Felinfach 2 (att 280) With the teams level on points at the top of table this game, the final fixture for both, was a winner-takes-all title decider. But a draw left both disappointed. Rivals Llechryd began the day a point behind the top two and, with no winner at Crymych, their 6-1 win at St Dogmaels was enough to leapfrog the top two and take the title. Unsurprisingly, a large crowd gathered at Crymych's pitch, in a rural location between the villages of Crymych and Tegryn. The hosts were well-organised, with a nearby field utilised for car parking, a PA system in use and canned drinks on sale. The home side knew that with an inferior goal difference to Felinfach they had to win. They got the got the game's opening goal, but there was little between the sides and Felinfach were level thanks to a penalty just before half time. By half time it was clear, thanks to live updates on the Cymru Football app, that Llechryd...

7pm 14 May  2026 Derbyshire Summer League Mickleover Athletic 13 Darley Abbey 2 (att 20) Despite its long history it had looked, until just a few weeks ago, as if the Derbyshire Summer League might fold due to a lack of teams.  Ultimately though seven have signed up for 2026. One of those is Mickleover Athletic, who have two sides in the Central Midlands Alliance League. I'm not sure how many first teamers took part in this opening fixture, but they were far too strong for Darley Abbey. It took the home side three minutes to open the scoring, and they were soon adding more goals. They netted ten before half time. Darley's two goals were also in the first half, a penalty to make it 4-1, and a second that made it 5-2. As often happens when a team is well ahead by half time, they lost momentum after the break. Although there would have been more goals had it not been for the Darley Abbey keeper. T he referee gave the visitors a helping hand by blowing for full time a few minutes ...

6.15pm 13 May  2026 Wakefield and District League, Division One Byram Park 3 Black Swan 0 (att 15) Neither Byram Park nor Black Swan have anything much to play for as they approach the end of their league campaigns, but they still produced an entertaining 90 minutes. The game did have an end-of-season feel, and effort and endeavour were more important than skill, but it was enjoyable for the neutral. Black Swan were a little unfortunate to be a goal down at the break, having conceded after 25 minutes. For a long time it looked like the game would be settled by the single goal, until the home sided added two more in the final 15 minutes. Byram Park are based at the sports and social club of the same name in the village of Brotherton. The football pitch is a few hundred yards away on Old Great North Road. It's a former rugby ground that's been converted to the round ball game. The surface wasn't the best, but otherwise it's a decent venue for the level the club plays at, ...

8pm 12 May  2026 Cheshire League, Premier Division Crewe 1 Eagle Sports 1 (att 195) I was surprised when I read that Crewe FC had applied for a place in the National League System. But their new home ground - which they only moved into this year - is designed with promotion in mind. The Crewe FC Hub is still a work in progress, but is already better than at least one 'step six' venue I visited this season, so should tick the boxes necessary for a place in a higher league. But promotion isn't just a matter of pleasing the ground graders. To go up Crewe also need to finish in the top five of the Cheshire League. They went into this, their final fixture, knowing that a win would secure that. It was clear from the off that Warrington-based visitors Eagle Sports weren't going to make it easy for them. The away side had the better of the opening exchanges, and Crewe's 27th minute goal was against the run of play. The goal gave the home side more impetus, but despite chanc...

1.30pm 9 May  2026 Wensleydale League, Dales Cup Final at Spennithorne and Harmby FC Richmond Town reserves 1 Unicorn 3 (att 100) With the Wensleydale League about to be added the ever-growing list of defunct competitions I decided to take in the final of the last of its cup competitions, the Dales Cup. Hopefully the Dales Cup will continue even without the league. For the last few years some non-Wensleydale League clubs have taken part in it and one of them, North Riding League Richmond Town reserves, made it to this season's final. They were up against league champions Unicorn, who completed their 18 match league programme unbeaten. Like other remaining Wensleydale League clubs, they are likely join Richmond's reserves in the North Riding League next season. I expected a close game and that's how it turned out. Unicorn had a great chance for an early lead when they were awarded a penalty, but the spot kick was well saved. Both teams then had chances, and both goalkeepers ...