WALSH AT THE DOUBLE

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Cup Final

AWSWORTH VILLA FC 2 REAL UNITED FC 1

@ Dunkirk FC

Att: 201

A sunny afternoon greeted the two teams that had reached the Notts Senior League Cup Final and a crowd of 201 wasnt disappointed in a game that was very entertaining.

As the teamsheets went in to the referee, Real only had 11 players and 1 sub, but then a player hadnt arrived and the sub had to play, so Real only had a bare 11 players and things didnt start too well for them when after just over a minute, DANNY WALSH fired home from just 10 yards out to give Awsworth a early lead.

Awsworth pressed forward and Real defended well, but after 28 minutes, the Real keeper bought down a Villa forward and Danny Walsh stepped up and sent his penalty wide of the right hand post.

This seemed to spur Real on and after 31 minutes, JACK CHARLTON headed home to equaliser.

The game swung from end to end and could have gone either way and with 79 minutes gone, Awsworth saw a header bounce back off the crossbar. The next attack, saw DANNY WALSH fire home the winner.

Must mention Referee Ian Smith who had a excellent game in his last match, also the other 3 officials who did their jobs well.

We would like to thank everyone who purchased raffle tickets towards the blogs charity that raised a superb £109.

Photos from the game can be seen HERE

KIMBERLEY RETAIN JUNIOR LEAGUE CUP

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Junior Cup Final

KIMBERLEY MINERS WELFARE RESERVES 3 SOUTH NORMANTON TOWN 1

@Ilkeston FC

Kimberley went in to the final as underdogs against a Normanton side that had won the Division One title by quite a large margin and had already done the league double over the Miners, but in Finals the formbook counts for nothing and this was the case on the evening.

The game should have been played on Tuesday evening at Basford United FC but after heavy rain all day, the pitch was flooded and with the league havin to ge the game played before the weekend, the hunt was on for a new venue and to the rescue came Ilkeston FC who were superb hosts on the Friday evening.

TThe match kicked off and though I didnt see much of the First Half to be fair, it looked quite a even affair, the second half I stood with Mr Mac Senior and old friend Malc Storer who I caught up with as Id not seen him this season. The game sprang in to life just after half time with a goal by DECLAN SMITH who put the Welfare in front.

As it got colder, everyone didnt want extra time, but with 7 minutes remaining tht what we got, when ADAM GILLIOTT hot the equaliser.

The game went in to extra time and Kimberley were awarded a free kick from some distance out, the ball seemed to deceive the Town defence and goalkeeper and SCOTT BAILEY's free kick nestled in the back of the net.

Normanton pushed forward but the Kimberley keeper was equal to anything thrown at him at this stage, whilst Kimberley broke on the break and a game worthy of winning any game was scored when SCOTT BAILEY pressed forward and kept going past 5 defenders to slot home.

We would like to thank everyone who donated to the charity raffle which raised £82 which will be added to next seasons blog

THANKYOU TO ALL DONATORS

THANKYOU TO ALL DONATORS

The 2015-16 season is near but over so I thought I would thank everyone who has helped support the two charities that the blog is to donate to this season

1. THE FOXTON CENTRE
2. INTEGRITAS

For many years, my wife Hazel did raffles at the Cup Finals that went to charities like the Air Ambulance,  Cystic Fibrosis, Marie Curie, Bluebell Hospice amongst others.

A few years ago, a friend Malcolm Storer and his friend Kev Goodman approached me as they knew that we went to a centre that aided parents who had children with special needs, as many of you know our son Shawn has autism and they raised over £800 from their blog.

As I liked taking photos at matches I attend and doing the odd write up, this encouraged me to do a blog and sponsor myself 25p each goal I saw scored through out the season, with a goal over £100, since then we have seen the Blog grow each season having raised money for the Cancer Department that I was treated at and also the eplipsy department, amongst others.

This season I wanted to help a small charity and a good friend Michael Osborne suggested Integritas, I had already chosen the Foxton Centre, but both charities were small, not funded by governement grants and both had very similar goals to aid people with mental issues, also ex military who had become homeless and people who needed help as they were vulnerable. This hit home to me, as I ran away from Birmingham when young and lived a while on the streets of Nottingham in the winter snow.

Ive known Mick(Michael) Osborne since around 1989 when he used to be the programme editor of Attenborough FC where the programme was of a golden yellow colour. His son was my best man at my wedding to Hazel. Mick at the time I  first met him worked till his retirement at Plessey in Beeston and when he step down from Attenborough FC, he began to groundhop with his son Greg, who on the odd days would give me a lift to matches, one day remembered is to Yate Town and the famous christmas tree we passed six times with my poor directions.

Mick kindly said he would also sponsor a goal this season for my blogs 2 charities and he kept to his word, raising a great amount of £77.40p to take the total up to £1,390.70p, which wife Hazel has said she will top up to £1,400, so each charity will get £700 each.

Next seasons Charity Blog will be for the 10th Mansfield Scouts Group to whicb Shawn goes to, they have helped him come along and make new friends and he has been working towards badges, the Scout Group meet in a area of Mansfield where there are quite a few under privileged families, so support for the group is very important to enhence childrens activities, as the group does require new equipment..Mick & Greg have both begun the fund off for next season with a £10 each donation and the raffle money from the Notts Senior League Senior Cup & Junior Cup Finals will also be added to the total for the new blog which I will set up very soon.

Mick has been so kind to send me a email hence below:

After volunteering with Notts Healthcare Trust for 10 years since I retired, I was invited to join a newly formed Charity, Integritas as a Trustee and Board Member in 2012 two years. Their aim is to help, in the widest possible terms vulnerable people with complex problems to live a better life. 

We act like a best friend to them and a bridge over troubled waters. Helping people has been a big aim in my life since I retired, so it was ideal. Not satisfied with being a Trustee. I immediately joined the workers and was out visiting clients. This was quite difficult seeing the mental illness and poverty that is around us in the city. I did this for about two years and decided to take a back seat. Since then I have raised funds, done office work and written applications for grants. Integritas like most charities is always short of money to keep providing a good service and we are currently going through a money crisis. 

Another big part of my life has been ground hopping all over the country with my son Greg for many years. We have had a great time and made many good friends one of them Rob Hornby. He has also been raising money for various charities over a few years now, which is marvellous. I hoped that one yea he would be kind enough to let Integritas and its clients be one of his charities. This season 2015-2016 we were chosen to share with another charity. I started with the formula that I would put 20p in the tin for every goal that I and Greg saw this season. We see 2 games a week and often Greg sees another. It has raised £77 and I would ask other ground hoppers to do this for next seasons Charity Mansfield Scouts. I will put £10 as a start for them. However next season my donations will go to the Charity closest to my heart Integritas.  The money which Rob will donate to Integritas now known as Improving Lives will go towards helping the older people with our Befriending Service.

Without all donators kind help, we would never have reached such a massive amount and Id like to thank everyone one of you and your clubs.

PRECISION NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE JUNIOR CUP FINAL UPDATE

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Junior Cup Final Update

After the postponement of the Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Junior Cup Final between South Normanton Town FC and Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves at Basford United FC on Tuesday 10th May 2016, a new date and venue has been set for the match.

The Cup Final will now take place at The New Manor Ground, the home of Ilkeston FC on Friday 13th May 2016 with a 7.45pm kick off

Admission will be £3 for Adults, £1 for Concessions and kids

Programme £1

Address for Ground

Awsworth Road

Ilkeston

Derbyshire

DE7 8JF

NINE MEN PARK FRUSTRATE BILTHORPES TITLE DREAMS

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division Two

ASPLEY PARK RESERVES 2 BILSTHORPE RESERVES 2

Lookng for a match where something was to play for, lead me to Harvey Hadden Stadium in Bilborough, where the situation before play was Keyworth United Reserves had finished their fixtures and a win for Bilsthorpe Reserves would have given them the title, whilst any slip up and if Awsworth Villa Reserves won their fixture then they would spring two places in to top position and clinch the title.

The game began at a even pace on a pitch full of yellow flowers, which look good on the photos, but the pitch looked good to play football on. After 15 minutes, a challenge in the home penalty area saw the forward go down and  the ref award Bilsthorpe a penalty and he produced a red card to Dion Johnson, up stepped Bilsthorpes Captain STUART GRAINGER to put his side in to a lead, within 5 minutes, Aspley Park were on level terms when they were awarded a penalty of their own to which JAMES OWEN duly dispatched.

Bilsthorpe pushed forward but they were denied on several occassions by the young home keeper, whilst they had chances of their own. After 32 minutes, JACK WARMAN latched on to a long ball and lopped it over the oncoming keeper to put the visitors in to a 2-1 lead. Aspley Park from the kick off went straight back on the attack and were level within seconds when SEAN HOLMES tapped home from close range.

Just on the stroke of half time, Aspley Park broke the offside trap and Pat Hume stretched and caught the away keeper who threw thee ball directly at the home player, the ref produced a yellow card for the keeper and a red card to the Aspley player which incensed the home bench.

The half time whistle blew and both sets of players were upset and frustrated at the referee who I felt was having a good match, but i.t was going to be a uphill struggle for the nine men of Aspley Park for the second half.

Messages were coming throgh from Awsworth that their match was 1-1 and at this stage of the day, the title was heading to Keyworth and Bilsthorpe must have known it wasnt to be their day when 3 minutes from time, they saw the ball bounce off the crossbar, whilst a score flash had come through to say that Awsworth had won 3-1. The final whilstle went and all players and officials shook hands.

Photos from the Aspley Park Res v Bilsthorpe Match can bee seen HERE 

From the car park here, it was a dash along the A610 to Awsworth to see League Fixture Secretary Chris Cliff present the Division Two Championship to Awsworth Villa Reserves

Here are the Photos of the presentation HERE

GRAY DAY FOR SANDHURST FC

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Premier Division

SANDHURST FC 1 COTGRAVE FC 8

This Friday Night fixture saw Sandhurst FC who was rooted to the bottom of the table host 2nd from bottom Cotgrave FC. the visitors knowing that only a win would take them out of the relegation places for the season.

As we pulled in to the car park, we was met by local hoppers Sean and Hannah who presented me with a crate of fosters, Hazel with a lovely bouquet of flowers and Shawn a box of Jelly Babies and we then headed in to the ground and got the programmes off the lovely Nat. Soon arrived and not seen this season was good friend Rob Waite closely followed by ex football league ref Steve Cooke.

Referee Lee Clarke was facing his first middle in the NSL and I must admit had a great game, before kick off he handed me both line up's so a big thankyou to him.

The game began and it was Cotgrave who pushed forward with the home keeper in great form, but after 15 minutes he could do nothing about a 30 yard shot from ADAM GRAY who gave Cotgrave the lead, Sandhurst werent to lay down as in the next minute, they were level when WILLIAM COX hit a half volley to equal the scores.

Cotgrave pushed forward but Griffiths was in inspired form in the Sandhurst net keeping the scores level until ADAM SINNOTT put the visitors in front.Sandhurst could well have gone in at half time level but after 41 minutes, William Cox skyed his penalty in to someones garden, Cotgrave took advantage of this and on the stroke of half time ADAM GRAY made it 3-1.

On 51 minutes a cross from the Cotgrave right was headed in to his own net by ADAM BRADFORD to make it 4-1, by now a few of the Sandhurst heads began to drop and 5 minutes later DOUGIE MILLS made it 5-1 to the visitors.

Sandhurst were very poor and not getting out of their half, whilst the visitors missed chance after chance and it came as no surprise after 73 minutes, they increased their lead through LUKE BUCK to make it 6-1.

After 86 minutes ADAM GRAY completed his hat trick and gainned man of the match and with the last kick of the game from a corner on the left, GAZ TYE put it past his own keeper to make it 8-1

PHOTOS FROM THE GAME CAN BE SEEN ON THIS LINK

REVIEW OF LAST NSL HOP 2016?

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Groundhop 2016

End of a era, Hoppers asked me, Is this really the last one Rob? Maybe but never say never I always reply. Maybe every couple of years have a reunion day hop including the new clubs that enter the Notts Senior League, maybe a January Hop using the clubs that play on 4g pitches, it maybe worth chancing as there are more and more 4/5g pitches now and the weather is usually not too good in January, but at east none of them games would be off.

Its the morning after the weekend and how do I feel, well I thought all 10 clubs involved respected themselves and league in a excellent light, they all made a few quid and gainned a lot of friends along the way and put themselves on the footballing map, not only in the Nottinghamshire area but all over the UK and also to our hopper from Sweden.

All the clubs did their best and were polite, caring and had time for the hoppers and Ive received email after email and facebook messages galore that only have favourable things to say.

I must thank all the hoppers who have become good friends over the years for supporting not only me, but of course who does a lot of hard work usually behind the scenes and also Shawn of course, I think most of you laughed at his joke when he eventually got hold of the microphone on the coach.

I must thank all the clubs and hoppers and officials who donated to the blogs charity through donations, raffles or buying at the stall as we raised a amaziing £451, a massive thankyou to you all.

The matches were different with a great game on the Friday Night where Attenborough beat Awsworth Villa 5-1 in front of 218 people. The Saturday morning saw a early start with a 0-0 draw in front of a crowd of 291 between Beeston v Underwood Villa, we then travelled to Bilborough United where 239 people saw a early goal for Bilborough United to take the points against Ashland Rovers, on we went to Nottinghamshire FC where visiting club Gedling Southbank supplied the boy and girl balls for the game and boosted the crowd to 301 where the visitors took the points home after a 3-0 victory, a lot of tired legs were then beginning to show and we headed to Real United v Unity, where sadly the jerk chicken man didnt turn up, the pie warmer didnt work, so all the pies had to be microwaved, so it put them behind on things, but on the pitch inbetwween a heavy shower and a nice rainbow, the players played their part in a evenly matched 1-1 draw.

I have also had a lot of comments about all 15 match officials saying how good they were, not one bad comment about the whole hop, so am I pleased the way it went, if it is my last one as organiser then the answer would be yes, but remember..never say never.

WARNER HOPS TO A HAT TRICK

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League

Groundhop Game One

Premier Division

ATTENBOROUGH FC 5 AWSWORTH VILLA 1

Att: 218

The hoppers arrived from all over the UK and also Sweden to the delightful village of Attenborough which nestles along side the Nature Reserve and the River Trent and what a performance Attenborough FC produced in front of the 218 attendance to send them home to come back tomorrow wanting to watch more in this game that showed the quality of football that can be played in this step 7 league.

When I got to the Strand, Secretary Terry Allen and a few other of his crew were marking out the pitch and making sure the evening would be as comfortable for everyone who had travelled, the cricket club turned up and they were soon sorting out the lovely burgers, Im sure I saw more than a few hoppers tuck in to more than one, as they were very tasty. As the afternoon looked a but overcast, it was decided to set up the charity stall inside the clubhouse and it soon got packed with the hoppers who had fallen off the train at the nearby train station.

Tom Beard arrived, the referee and what a fine young man he is and is one of the refs to keep a eye out for in the future and tonight he and his 2 assistants put in a very good performance.

The game though a proper League match was also for the Norway Cup, the Cup was spnsored last season by Paul Nicholson in memory of his 92 year old mother Joan who had sadly passed away and was a fellow groundhopper even at that age, known to all groundhoppers as Granny Joan from Southampton, last years match between Ashland Rovers and Newark Flowserve finished as a 3-3 draw and with each club sharing the trophy for 6 months each, I wasnt too sure what to do with it, so I asked the League iif we could use the Friday Night game tonight as a repeat with the winners keeping the trophy, to which they agreed, when I rang Paul he was overwhelmed and those who stayed for the presentation would have seen that.

To be fair, I didnt see too much of the game, as I was busy at the Charity Stall and also counting the crowd and of course tucking in to one of those lovely burgers and having a well earned pint. What I did see was Attenborough playing their best football of the season whilst Awsworth tried and had chances but it just wasnt their day.  Attenborough shot in to a early 3 goal lead within 16 minutes and just after half time Awsworth pulled a goal back, but Attenborough picked it back up and scored another couple, with WARNER being the hero scoring a hat trick.

After the match, Referee Tom Beard donated his match fee to the Blogs Charity and Lewis Quayle also donated a fiver and fellow ref who attended the match John Beckett so made a donation, which we are so grateful for. I must also thank Attenborough FC for their kind donation of £30 from their badge sales.

So the Groundhop rolls on to my final day as Organiser after 14 years tomorrow, with Beeston FC entertaining Underwood Villa FC with a 10.05am kick off then we head to Basil Russell in  Nuthall for Bilborough United v Ashland Rovers at 12.45pm, then we head to the heart of Nottingham, whhere we visit Nottinghamshire FC v Gedling Southbank at 3.15pm before the final game at the side of the river trent at the Inspire Stadium for Real United v Unity FC at 6.15pm.

I will update the charity total etc after the weekend

MA WHO?

Notts FA Minor Cup Final

MAFC 3 BINGHAM TOWN RESERVES 1

With Bingham Town Reserves reaching the County Minor Cup Final, I went to Hosiery Mills FC Ground as its not too far from where I live, as the ground is where the now extinct Sutton Town AFC used to play, now it belongs to the Hosiery Mills itself who have done a lot of developements since I last visited this ground.

On arrival, I met Mark Norwood who was one of the Assistant referees for the match and at the gate was greeted by Albert Greaves and Dennis, we was soon offered a cuppa by the Hosiery Mills staff who were very pleasant and on hand all around the ground throughout the evening.

I went to the Bingham changing room and wished them all the best from the Notts Senior League.

The game kicked off and the bright sunshine set and it soon became very cold, but on the pitch were two evenly matched sides, I asked several people what MAFC stood for and where they played and what league, but got about 8 different answers to my question. After the match, the manager and Sectretary Norma did explain and it was quite a long name and they play in a Saturday Morning Derby Church League, though based in Mansfield.

After 27 minutes, MAFC took the lead through a penalty by HUMPHRIES, Bingham pushed forward and looked promising with the team from Mansfield playing on the break and on 31 minutes, the Notts Senior League club were level with a penalty for themselves scored by HAYCOX.

After my half time cuppa that I needed to warm me up as it was getting colder but I ventured back outside and was soon chatting away as the snow began to chuck down in blizzard fashion, the lady turned out to be Mark Norwood's mum who Id met before.

After 71 minute, a corner by MAFC was taken and there was a appeal inside the area but play continued, infact the ball went out of play and a new ball came on to the pitch, which was cleared by Bingham Town to a opposing attacker who blasted over the bar, at this stage the Assistant Referee on the cubhouse side raised his flag and the referee went over, after a couple of seconds, the ref said Goal, to most peoples shock in the ground, so MAFC took a 2-1 lead.

Bingham seemed stunned by this along with most of the crowd but instad of getting on with the game, they lost concentration, whilst MAFC raised their game, there was then a incident in the MAFC penalty area where the ref booked both the Bingham sub and the MAFC goalkeeper and within minutes, the Bingham sub was appealing for a penalty and received a second yellow card as I think the ref felt it was a dive. This really angered the boys from Bingham and in injury time MAFC wrapped up the game with a breakaway goal to make it 3-1.

MAFC were the better side on the night and when I asked Norma after the game why they didnt join a Saturday afternoon League she replied the lads like playing on a Saturday Morning and spending time with family for the rest of the weekend.

Earlier in the day, Dave Wigley from Clidton All Whites FC poppeed in to see me with a few programmes for the charity stall at this weekends NSL GROUNDHOP and alsdo donated on behalf of his club £20 towards the blogs charity. After the match Mark Norwood also made a kind donation of £4.80p so the running total now stands at £851.05p

ITS NEARLY HERE IN NOTTINGHAM

ITS NEARLY HERE IN NOTTINGHAM

The county of Nottingamshire is famous for quite a few things, mostly Robin Hood, Rebecca Adlington, Richard Bacon, Nottingham Forest FC and Notts County FC, plus also the great Precison Nottinghamshire Senior League Groundhop.

This seasons Groundhop takes place with one football match on the Evening of Friday 29th April and 4 games on the Saturday 30th April all at different grounds and scattered kick off times.

   The Hop this year has sold 125 Advanced Tickets to people who are coming from as far as Sweden, Scotland, Kent and Devon, plus many more football fans will turn up on the day at the games.

Each home club will be selling food and refreshments, along with having a team stall selling their 1st ever club badge and also old shirts and of course a programme for their match.

Rob Hornby, the Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Registrar and brains behind the Hop said "I and the League Committee are really pleased and thankful of the interest shown by this yearly event nd of course previous, They are proper league matches and we are delighted to welcome the Hoppers and locals from all over and the clubs also enjoy their part in which they play".

 I began going to groundhops around 20 odd years ago and bought it to the table of the Notts Senior League 5 years ago and it hs proved to be a great success for the clubs and also the league, showing people that there is a good standard of football played at a lower level, where the League stands at Step 7 in the National Pyramid"

"So if you have never ventured in to Non League Football, why not come out and have a look"

"After 14 years of organising Hops, I decided last year, this was to be my last as a organiser, as my son who has autism is getting older and I need more time with the family, but will still be involved in Non League Football on the Notts Senior League Committee"

There will be a enterance of just £3 at each match and £1 per programme.

The matches are

Friday 29th April 2016

ATTENBOROUGH FC v AWSWORTH VILLA FC 

The Strand, Attenborough

Kick Off: 6.30pm

Saturday 30th April 2016

BEESTON FC v UNDERWOOD VILLA FC

Cartwright Way, Beeston

Kick Off: 10.05am

BILBOROUGH UNITED FC v ASHLAND ROVERS FC

Basil Russell Playing Fields, Nuthall

Kick Off: 12.45pm

NOTTINGHAMSHIRE FC v GEDLING SOUTHBANK FC

Grassington Road, Aspley

3.15pm

REAL UNITED FC v UNITY FC

Inspire Stadium, Stoke Baldolph

6.15pm

Any inquires or more information, please contact Rob Hornby on 01623 486678 or email him on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk