Steve B the Groundhopper

7pm 14 July  2025 Island Games, Group C Ynys Mon  1 Western Isles 0 (att 150) at Rendall After a four figure crowd at Kirkwall Grammar School earlier in the day, it felt like a lower key affair at Rendall's scenic Rockery Ground for the Group C fixture between Ynys Mon and the Western Isles. Although the crowd was smaller, it wasn't a low key fixture for the teams' supporters, who were out in force. Western Isles had lost to Bermuda in their opening fixture, whereas this was the Welsh side's opening game. Ynys Mon were the better side, but it took them until stoppage time to get the game's only goal. A shot from just outside the box that took a deflection and clipped the underside of the crossbar on its way in. Their win was deserved on the balance of play, but the outcome was harsh on the Western Isles. They'd been hampered by a red card mid way through the second half. Rendall play in Orkney's second tier B League. Their home ground is a lovely place to wa...

3.40pm 14 July  2025 Island Games, Group A Orkney 3 Hitra 2 (att 1,200) at Kirkwall Grammar School Show Pitch Having already seen Hitra well beaten by the Isle of Man, I feared they might suffer another heavy defeat against Orkney, but the hosts made hard work of beating the Norwegian islanders. The visitors scored the opening goal from a corner, and it took a penalty for Orkney to level. It was the first of two spot kicks, and the second put Hitra back in front before half time. Orkney were looking below par, but upped their game after break and did just about enough to win. It was far from easy though, and as the Isle of Man had a resounding win they'll be favourites when the two sides meet to decide who wins the group and with it a semi-final place. The venue was a newly-developed 'show pitch' at Kirkwall Grammar School, where all Orkney's group games are being played. Apparently it'll be the first choice ground for North Caledonian League Orkney FC in the upcomi...

3.30pm 13 July  2025 Island Games, Group B Gozo 0 Shetland 0, 4-3 on penalties (att 430) at Kirkwall Grammar School After the earlier game at Firth I headed into Orkney's capital, Kirkwall, which is staging Island Games football on two grass pitches at Kirkwall Grammar School. This match was on what the organisers call 'pitch two', otherwise known as Meadowbank and a regular home ground for local clubs Kirkwall Academicals and Kirkwall Hotspurs. The venue was something of a magnet for supporters. A large crowd were watching Orkney's women's team on 'pitch one' while Shetland had a large following for their men's team. They had a frustrating afternoon, although the warm weather and the welcoming atmosphere of what are dubbed - not without reason -  the 'friendly games', will have made it more palatable. There wasn't much between the teams, but Shetland created more chances, and looked much more likely to break the stalemate as the game went on...

12 noon 13 July  2025 Island Games, Group A Hitra 2 Isle of Man 7 (att 208) at Firth It's 32 years since my only previous experience of Island Games football. That was on the Isle of Wight and, in one of the two games I saw, the Isle of Man lost to the hosts. They did rather better this time, getting a comfortable win against the Norwegian island of Hitra. The Island Games is a sort of mini Olympics for small islands, and Orkney is hosting the 2025 event. Seven grounds are being used for the football tournament. I've been to two of them on previous trips to the islands, and was tempted to travel north as it's just possible to visit the other five over three days. This game was on a pitch at Firth Primary School in the village of Finstown. It's home to Firth FC who play in the second tier of the Orkney League. It's just a pitch, but a scenic one and it was roped off for this match with tents providing dugouts. Organisation was excellent with programmes and refreshmen...

10.40am 12 July  2025 Angus and Dundee Summer League Cup, League B Arbroath Amateurs 2 Dundee West 3 (att 18) This fixture fitted in well on day when we were heading towards Scotland's far north, and having stayed in Perth on Friday night it was a simple task to be in Arbroath in time for a morning kick off. The Angus and Dundee Summer League Cup is a new competition, providing semi-competitive football for local Saturday and Sunday sides in a Nations League-style format. Arbroath Amateurs spent last season in the Saturday afternoon Midlands Amateur League. They've entered two sides in the Dundee Saturday Morning League for 2025/26. Whether that's instead of, or in addition to, playing Saturday afternoons remains to be seen. Dundee West are a Saturday morning side, although they failed to complete last season. They've made a good start to this season though, as this was their second win from their opening two fixtures There wasn't much between the sides. Arbroath le...

12 noon 5 July  2025 Pre-season friendly West Didsbury and Chorlton 8 Flixton 1 (att 160) I rarely bother travelling far for pre-season friendlies, and might not have gone anywhere today had it not been for this nearby fixture providing a rare chance to see a senior game at Hardy Farm. It's West Didsbury and Chorlton's training pitch, situated in an open area just outside the main ground. It's just a pitch, with a rope barrier along the far side from where most spectators watched. Visitors Flixton have been reformed this summer, more than a decade after the original club folded. I understand they'll be playing in the Lancashire and Cheshire Amateur League, which is the league hosts West Didsbury and Chorlton were in when I first visited them in 2000. They've progressed since then. As well gaining a longer name - they were just West Didsbury FC in 2000 - they've climbed to the North West Counties League and now attract large crowds. With several leagues separatin...