Steve B the Groundhopper

3pm 4 May  2024 Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, Division One English Bicknor 2 Longlevens reserves 2 (att 55) Two years ago I visited English Bicknor for what was their final game in their own village. Since then they've been relegated from the county league and moved a few miles to Worrall Hill. Worrall Hill's own club had folded, and so the pitch and adjacent social club needed a new tenant. English Bicknor have developed decent facilities, with a railed off pitch and a pair of dugouts. The wooden dugouts that served at English Bicknor have been repurposed as two small shelters for spectators. The home side have spent most of the season battling against a further relegation. But a remarkable run of results in recent weeks meant they went into this game safe. But this was no end-of-season dead rubber. Longlevens are a few places off the top of the table, although with games in hand knew that winning their final fixtures would make them champions. Their point at Englis...

2pm 13 January  2024 Gloucestershire Northern Senior League, Division One Tewkesbury Town 5 English Bicknor 1 (att 40) From Tewkesbury School I had to drive barely a mile to reach Northway Playing Field, home of Tewkesbury Town FC. The two divisions of the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League include clubs with home grounds that range from the very good to the more basic. This is among the latter, but it's perfectly adequate for the level of football, and it's a league I enjoy watching. Part of one side of the pitch was roped off, and it was good to see a decent turnout of local supporters. The Tewkesbury fans will have enjoyed their afternoon, but they had to come from behind to claim all three points. English Bicknor, who have been relegated and relocated since I visited them in April 2022 , are struggling at the foot of the table. But they belied their league position with a bright start that saw them take the lead. The home side responded well. They played some neat footb...