CHARITY NON LEAGUE FOOTBALL BLOG


Each year, me and my wife Hazel have decided to help a different CHARITY, by donating 25p every goal we see at the matches we attend.
Over the years, people and clubs from as far as Coxhoe in Durham down to Penzance in Cornwall have donated as we have visited the grounds and we have raised over £3,500 in the 4 seasons we have run the Charity Blog. As you can see from the Photo above, last season(2014-15) we raised £1325.00 for Support Dogs.

During the 2015-16 season, we are supporting 2 worthy causes

1. THE FOXTON CENTRE
2. INTEGRITAS

Both Charities aid homeless people and people with mental issues and vulnerable adults.So if you would
like to make a donation(no matter how small) and
you see me at a match, please come up to me or Hazel, we would be very grateful. All Donators will get a mention on the blog and the running total is on the left hand side.

Many Thanks

Rob & Hazel Hornby






Saturday 31 October 2015

LAST GASP THOMAS EARNS SOUTHBANK A POINT

Notts Senior League
Division One
GEDLING SOUTHBANK FC 1 CALVERTON MINERS WELFARE FC 1
 
With Gedling Southbank now groundsharing at Calverton Miners Welfare, this was as close as a local derby you could get, I had this game planned for several weeks now, as I had a groundhop meeting with Gedling Southbank who are a away club at Nottinghamshire FC on this seasons NSL Hop.
 
On arrival I was greeted by Calvo's manager Tony Mullen who got me a cuppa and gave me his teams line up, before I ventured to the Southbank Changing room to meet ex Stevenage striker Nick Edgar who gave me his line up.
 
The game kicked off with Southbank doing most of the attacking, but both sides cancelling each other out, but Southbank having the better of the possession in the first half and were only denied in the 31st minute from taking the lead when a 20 yard shot by Thomas struck the crossbar.
 
After a half time talking to and kept on the pitch, it was Calverton who came out the brighter and on the front foot forcing Gedling's debutant Keeper Cockayne in to action on more than a few occasions, but he stood tall.
 
As the game was heading to a goal less draw in the 85th minute, MATT NEWTON broke down the right hand side before unleasing a cross shot that nestled in the bottom corner of the net to give Calverton the lead.
 
To Southbank's credit, they didn't let their heads drop and pushed forward straight away and in the final minute, the ball was failed to be cleared and ADAM THOMAS latched on to the loose ball to strike home the equaliser.
 
Must add that young referee Saul Sharpiro had a fine game
 
For pics from this game please click on this LINK
 
GEDLING SOUTHBANK WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
CALVERTON MW FC WEBSITE
 
If you like Non League Football, then why not join and have a look at my Facebook Non League Group wit over 4700 members on this LINK
 
 
 
 

Monday 26 October 2015

THE 4th NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP


 THE 4th NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP
SUPPORT NON LEAGUE GRASSROOTS FOOTBALL IN NOTTS 

Badge Sets

(For more Information & Booking Form please Email hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk or call Rob Hornby on 01623 486678/07973517603)

Bookings for the 4th Precision Notts Senior League Groundhop have been coming in steady with already over 115 bookings from as far as Sweden, and several parts of the United Kingdom. The coach has only 5 seats remaining and organiser Rob Hornby is fairly confident that this seasons event will be as popular as ever, with this being his final hop as organiser.
Hornby states "that the format is very simple, a Notts Senior League match is played on the evening of Friday 29th April with four league games on Saturday 30th April at four homes of clubs chosen."
The event is cheap and cheerful
2016's event sees the 4th Notts Senior League Groundhop to take place on with one match on Friday 29th April where Attenborough FC host Awsworth Villa FC at 6.30pm at The Strand, Attenborough.
On Saturday 30th April, we have 4 matches beginning at Hetley Pearson off Cartwright Way, where Beeston FC kick off at 10.05am against newly promoted Underwood Villa, we then move on to Bilborough United FC v Ashland Rovers FC for a 12.45pm kick off,where the hosts who play at Basil Russell Park off Maple Drive in Nuthall will produce their first ever programme  then 15 minutes up the road towards the centre of Nottingham to Grassington Road, where Nottinghamshire FC will entertain Gedling Southbank FC at 3.15pm. Again the homesters will be producing their first ever league programme. Our final match sees us travel out to the Inspire Stadium where we see newly formed Unity FC travel to Real United FC for a 6.15pm kick off to finish the weekend.
The cost for the Advanced Ticket is just £15 and that includes entry to all 5 grounds and also a programme pack of the 5 programmes.

 I am also taking Advanced orders for club badges as all 5 home clubs and Unity FC & Gedling Southbank FC will be issuing a First Time Enamel club Badge, the set will be £21.
 There is a coach on the Saturday from Midland Train Station, Nottingham, leaving at 8.30am and returning after the final match, the cost for the coach is £15
If anyone wants a booking form or more information, then please contact Rob Hornby on 01623 486678/07973517603 or email me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk
So come along and support GRASSROOTS Non League Football in Nottinghamshire.
Precision Notts Senior Football League Bonanza – Booking Form
1. Please give the name, address, and contact telephone number of the party leader (including an email address if possible), along with the names of the others that form the remainder of your party. These details will be the ones retained on the mailing list for future Precision Notts Football League Bonanzas. 

a) Party leader: …………………………………………………………Tel……………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………

…………………………………………………………………………Email:……………………..

……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

b) Others booking:……………………………………………………………………………….

…………………………………………………………………………………………………..…

…………………………………………………………………………….……………………….

………………………………………………………………………………………………………


2.  Payment details:

Full weekend                                                        Number…………..@ £30.……………Total : £………
(Saturday’s coach and 5 match ticket and 1 pack of programmes)

Match tickets:                                                        Number…………..@ £15……………Total : £………..
(includes admission to all 5 matches and 1 pack of programmes for all 5 games)
                  
Extra Pack of programmes                                    Number…………..@ £ 5…………….Total:  £………

                                                                                                                      FULL  TOTAL:        £………..                         

Badge sets pls see below

IMPORTANT: Please make cheques payable to “NSL”. Then write on back NSL Bonanza

BADGE SETS. Please make cheque out to Mr R Hornby. Cost £21 per set of 5 home clubs & Gedling Southbank FC & Unity FC, please on form put how many sets you require here  ……

Final date for bookings: Thursday 21st April 2016. No more bookings will be accepted after this date.

Please remember to enclose an A5 SAE!! –Please make sure you put enough postage on it as it will be used to send your tickets and directions to grounds!

Please return this form to : Rob Hornby 16, Burnside Drive, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire, NG19 7HF

01623 486678 (please respect no calls after 8pm on my main phone due to my little boy with Autism in bed) or 07973517603(up to 10pm)


Sunday 25 October 2015

CHAMBERS FIRES REAL INTO THE QUARTERS

Notts Senior League Cup
REAL UNITED FC 3 WEST BRIDGFORD FC 1

 
A couple of reasons I chose this match, firstly I had to visit Real United FC for a Groundhop meeting as they host the final game on the Saturday evening of this seasons Notts Senior League Groundhop(it being my final match as organiser) and also the tie pitched 3rd placed Real United at home against unbeaten league leaders West Bridgford.
 
 
On arrival I was greeted by old friend Roly Ash at the gate, the man behind the now defunct Gedling Town FC and I strolled down to the refs room, where I was bought a cuppa, inside with the refs was the refs coach and another long time friend Sean Richardson who I stood with throughout the match.
 
The game kicked off and it was Real who had a plan and went on the attack early and Clarke in the Bridgford goal was keeping his side in the tie with 3 quality saves, but after 21 minutes, a break down the left side saw a shot parried and TIM HOPKINSON tapped in to the empty net.
 
Real went searching for the second goal before half time but Clarke was in fine form producing a man of the match performance.
 
After 48 minutes, Real were awarded a penalty, to which captain Jamie Spiers hit towards the top left corner, but Clarke matched the good penalty kicked to tip the ball over the bar with a mid air diving save.
 
West Bridgford then had their best spell of the game, but fell shy in front of goal after some good build up work.
 
On 65 minutes, West Bridgford failed to clear their lines inside the penalty area and the ball came out to the edge of the area where debutant LEWIS CHAMBERS smashed home his first goal for the club after his recent signing from Rainworth Miners Welfare FC.
 
 
West Bridgford pushed forward but this left gaps and on 73 minutes, the gaps were exposed by a long ball and again LEWIS CHAMBERS ran through the middle before drawing Clarke and slotting the ball past him to make it 3-0.
 
The visitors failed to give up and gained a couple of free kicks just outside the area but they didn't amount to anything, but after 78 minute they were awarded a penalty to which sub JURGEN CHARLESWORTH stepped up and dispatched home.
 
Both sides came out of the game with a lot of respect, ref's coach said it was the first NSL match he had ever seen and was very impressed with the standard of how good the match was and the players behaviour.
 
Must also mention all 3 officials who had a good match and the ref who let the game flow making the game entertaining.
 
 
PHOTOS from the match can be seen HERE
 
REAL UNITED FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
WEST BRIDGFORD FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
 
Don't forget folks, you can buy your advanced tickets for my FAREWELL GROUNDHOP, have a read if you like football and come along..Here is the LINK  please remember the Advanced Ticket supports ALL 10 Clubs.
 
If you like Non League Football, then why not join and have a look at my Facebook Non League Group wit over 4700 members on this LINK
 

Saturday 17 October 2015

BROOKS MAKES BEESTON PAY THE PENALTY

Notts Senior League Cup
Second Round
BEESTON FC v NEWARK FLOWSERVE FC
1-1 after 90 minutes
2-3 after extra time

Had to go to Beeston Fc for a groundhop meeting, as when they stage the Saturday morning game in April, it will possibly be their last at Hetley Pearson before they move to their new ground on Trent Vale Road. On arrival I was met by a hopper from Wolverhampton and we soon gather the team line up's before going to pitch side.
 
Both sides have had fairly poor starts in the league so here was a chance for both to shine in the cup, it was the side from Newark that did most of the attacking at the start of the game and on 17 minutes WAYNE ORD sprung the home offside trap to take the ball past the keeper and slot his side in to the lead. Poor finishing by the visitors saw them not increase their lead whilst the homesters didn't give up.
 
At half time, Beeston made a couple of changes and this seemed to up their game and they went close on several attempts until in the 69th minute, sub MARK HARRISON struck from just outside the area to even things up.
 
Both sides went for the winner but the game drifted to the final whistle to send the game in to extra time.
 
Extra time saw the visitors push forward quickly and JAMIE BROOKS in the 93rd minute made it 2-1 to Flowserve after a mistake by the home keeper. Beeston pushed forward for a equaliser and a  immediate response but had to wait until the second period of extra time when ASH SNAPE hit home from a acute angle.
 
As the match was entering the final seconds, a Flowserve player was fouled and the referee pointed to the spot, up stepped JAMIE BROOKS who fired home the winner and the ref blew for full time.
 
Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK
 
Don't forget folks, you can buy your advanced tickets for my FAREWELL GROUNDHOP, have a read if you like football and come along..Here is the LINK  please remember the Advanced Ticket supports ALL 10 Clubs.
 
If you like Non League Football, then why not join and have a look at my Facebook Non League Group wit over 4700 members on this LINK
 
 
 
 

 

Sunday 11 October 2015

FRIENDLY CLUBS IN BEDS

Saturday 10th October 2015
Bedfordshire County League Groundhop
 
The Bedfordshire County League has some lovely rural grounds and some good friendly people at the clubs and this season was no different, it also gives me a chance to not only talk about the Notts Senior league but sell a few Advanced Tickets for my Groundhop next April..here is the LINK to the details, if you wish to book. It also gives us a chance to sell a few programmes for the Blogs chosen charity.
 
SHARNBROOK FC 4 PAVENHAM FC 4
att: 125
 
A early start from Mansfield saw me, Hazel and Shawn arrive shortly before 8.30am at Lodge Road, where we set up the Charity Programme Stall and the hosts were already busying working on the pitch and the bacon and sausage cobs were going down a treat. A lovely lady was selling time of the first goal and I chose 7 minutes, how close can you get 6 minutes and a goal goes in, I may as well have chosen the 90th lol The game went on to finish 4-4 and the hoppers headed on to the next venue happy.
 
RENHOLD UNITED FC 2 SANDY FC 0
att: 119
 
After weaving through the Bedfordshire Country lanes and passed 40 cyclists hogging up the roads, we arrived in to the Village of Renhold and then spotted a chap in a jacket who welcomed us to the club, we set up inside a gazebo, right next to the Chairmans wife who was selling the teas and coffees and also in her gazebo was the raffle lady and her young daughter and the Secretary's wife who was selling the days programme. Inside the building, I headed as they did Chilli, it was very nice and I recommended everyone to try it, but this club had quite a lot of food on offer that went down well, like Sausage Casserole as well as chicken Chilli, during the game I got talking to Keith Harlow the Secretary and programme editor and he told me that they issue every game. The game finished 2-0 and Renhold remain top of the league table. Also won on the raffle!
 
FLITWICK TOWN FC 3 EAST COTTS AFC 0
att: 157
 
Thirty years of Groundhopping and 14 years of organising Hops, Ive never seen anything like Flitwick, a giant back off, as the players had made loads of cakes for sale and excuse the pun, they went down like hot cakes amongst the hoppers, with me being diabetic, I tried to not have any, but in the end temptation gave way, again the club had provided a nice big gazebo as before the match, the dark clouds emerged, but after 10 minutes it blew over. Here the food was also very good as I had to sample the pukka pie and chips(French fries they are called down here!) whilst Shawn had a massive sausage and chips for just £2.
 
All in all, a great day out and well organised by Craig Dabbs, I know Craig will be very happy with the way things went and how many people were here and how well the clubs did. A BIG thankyou to all 3 clubs  for allowing us to set up the Charity stall at their grounds.
 
The Charity stall took a great total of £31 sending the running total to £511.75p
 
CLUBS WEBSITES/TWITTERS
 
SHARNBROOK FC
 
PAVENHAM FC
 
SANDY FC
 
FLITWICK TOWN FC
 
EAST COTES AFC
 
Don't forget folks, you can buy your advanced tickets for my FAREWELL GROUNDHOP, have a read if you like football and come along..Here is the LINK  please remember the Advanced Ticket supports ALL 10 Clubs.
 
If you like Non League Football, then why not join and have a look at my Facebook Non League Group on this LINK
 
 
 
 

Sunday 4 October 2015

NOMADS PUT WHITES OUT THE VASE

Fa Vase
ANSTEY NOMADS 2 CLIFTON ALL WHITES 0
 
Well the holiday in Cornwall finished as we left Polperro at 6.30am and headed up the motorways and made it to Anstey for 1.30pm after a couple of breaks, on arrival I was met by the home chairman and the club Secretary and then had a good chat to Andy Hill, the Anstey Nomads Coach and one of my fellow followers on Twitter. Before long I was joined in the bar by Fareham Town FC Secretary Paul Parsons and his dad. As I was hunting down the team line up's Chris the Nomads Secretary kindly gave them me, then I was joined by our league chairman Ian Kirk.
 
After a quick cuppa, it was outside to pitchside to wish Clifton the best from the League.
The game kicked off and Step 7 Clifton All Whites matched Step 6 East Midlands Counties team Anstey and maybe had the better of the chances and on another day could well have been awarded a penalty after 28 minutes, but the referee waved play on, this seemed to be a disappointment for the visitors, but they kept pressing forward and the home keeper had to be on his guard, when making a good save right on half time.
 
The Second Half kicked off and both sides were playing good football, but after 55 minutes, the ball was played out to the left wing and JOE HARTOPP's cross shot caught out the visiting keeper who could only get a slice piece of his glove on the ball as it entered the net to make it 1-0.
 
Clifton pushed forward but this left gaps at the back, so Nomads were breaking forward quick whilst Clifton searched for a equaliser, the game was very interesting, but was put to bed after 85 minutes when NICK REEVES tap in from close home to send his clubs side in to Monday dinner time's draw for the next round.
 
Both clubs came out of the game with a lot of credit for both their leagues.
 
ANSTEY NOMADS FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
CLIFTON ALL WHITES FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
Don't forget folks, you can buy your advanced tickets for my FAREWELL GROUNDHOP, have a read if you like football and come along..Here is the LINK  please remember the Advanced Ticket supports ALL 10 Clubs.
 
If you like Non League Football, then why not join and have a look at my Facebook Non League Group on this LINK
 
 
 

Thursday 1 October 2015

BASSETT HAS SALTASH IN ALLSORTS

swpl
SALTASH UNITED FC 1 WITHERIDGE FC 2
Admission £5
NO Programme
 
On arrival I went in to the smart clubhouse at Kimberley Stadium and saw a chap drinking out of a Saltash United mug and saw a few people drinking out of them, as I collect club mugs from around the country I thought great, one for my collection, how wrong I was to be, as when I asked the chap who I bought one from, he replied, even I cant buy one. Went outside to pay my enterence, I bought a couple of 50/50 raffle tickets and asked for a programme, well at least the gateman was honest as he replied, we don't do one, we have been looking for a programme editor for some months now..sadly first impressions count and this club came across as we cant be bothered attitude club.
 
The game kicked off and the visitors looked the more lively and more likely to score and if not for the home keeper, Witheridge could well have been 4 up by half time.
 
The Second Half was much more competitive and after 50 minutes a long shot from SAM FARRANT seemed to deceive the visiting keeper to nestle in the bottom of the net to give the homesters the lead.
 
Within 4 minutes, Witheridge broke down the left wing and a ball was played in for STEVE GOSS to tap in on the near post to make it 1-1.
 
With 57 minutes on the clock, a very poor back pass left the ball in the path of KYLE BASSETT who cooley took the ball round the keeper to place home the winner.
 
SALTASH UNITED WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
WITHERIDGE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER