Steve B the Groundhopper

1pm 4 April  2026 Essex Alliance League, Senior Division Fairlop Rovers 2 Haringey Borough reserves 0 (att 5) I don't know why this game was scheduled for 1pm but, with another nearby Essex Alliance League fixture having a similarly unusual kick-off time of 4pm, it allowed for a handy double. Fairlop Rovers have relocated during the season into the Levels Centre of Excellence, also, or formerly, known as the Broadfields Sports Ground. It's accessed directly from the North Circular Road. Since the move most home games have been postponed, and it was easy to see why.  Thankfully drier recent weather meant the pitch was playable, but the surface was very poor and didn't help either team. Unsurprisingly it was a scrappy encounter. Fairlop Rovers, needing points at the wrong end of the table, took an early lead, then doubled it just before half time. After that they were never really in danger. A late red card ended any slim hopes Haringey had of getting back into the match. I u...

2.40pm 21 February  2024 BUCS, South Eastern 4D City University of London 3 Brunel University II 2 (att 10) An overnight stop on our journey home from Paris allowed me time to take in a midweek afternoon game in the capital using public transport. Given the wet weather an artificial pitch was the safest bet, and with a scheduled start time of 2.15pm a visit to Salisbury Hall Playing Fields, in Walthamstow, was the most convenient. University football, especially in the lower divisions, can be a mixed bag. It's always a relief to arrive at a venue and find players warming up for a match. On this occasion the one person missing was the referee. Thankfully everyone was keen to play, and after a 25 minute delay the game eventually kicked off with someone from City University in charge. He admitted, in a brief chat at half time, to being a reluctant volunteer. I for one was grateful to him for ensuring there was a game to watch. His team will have been grateful too, as they ended the af...