SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE HOP

SOUTH WEST PENINSULA LEAGUE HOP

Held over Easter 2016

Organiser Phil Hiscox

A superb weekend organiser by SWPL Secretary Phil Hiscox and his committee from 1 match on the Maundy Thursday Evening to the 3 games on each of Good Friday and Easter Saturday, with a mixture of the 4 seasons of Cornwall thrown in as well.

Thursday we began at AFC St Austell, a club I have visited several times  and they took on their local rivals St Blazey FC with the homesters running out 4-0 victors in front of a crowd of 451 who brave the heavy rain.

The Friday began in bright sunshine at Illogan RBL where they upset the formbook and beat 2nd placed Penryn Athletic 3-1 with 369 people watching, we then followed the narrow country lanes down to Wendron United FC who since I have visited have done a lot of work on their ground including a superb stand down the far side of the pitch and plenty of advertising boards around it. The game v Porthleven FC finished even in a 1-1 drew in front of a crowd of 427. For the evening match we travel to Helston AFC where the Helston Town Brass Band turned and played away to the Famous Floral Dance as the players entered the pitch. This game provided the biggest gate of the weekend topping 514 to watch Helston beat Falmouth by a single goal.

Saturday Morning saw a monsoon as we headed to Sticker AFC and we was greeted on arrival by the Club Chair who was busy with the bacon cobs, he also allowed us to set up stall like a few other clubs on the Hop to set up in their clubhouses, since my last visit they now have a stand and also they have extended the clubhouse. On the pitch, they were equally as good as they beat Wadebridge 6-1 in front of 372 people. We then headed down the road to St Dennis who entertained Millbrook that ended up as the game of the weekend as the Saints ran out 6-4 winners to send the  crowd of 306 away happy, where most the hoppers were looking at the match through the massive clubhouse windows. To the final game we travelled to north cornwall to watc the local derby between Bude Town & Holsworthy FC and a decent crowd of 409 turned out to watch Bude win 5-1.

A BIG thankyou to all the clubs for allowing me and my wife to set up the Charity Stall at all the games and also to Penryn who also donated some of their old club shirts and to all those who helped by spending at the stall raising a great £60.37p, which takes the running total to £651.17p.  With the 34 goals scored the total now goes up to £659.67p.

If you like Groundhops, please dont forget the NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE HOP is 1 match on Friday 29th April and 4 matches on Saturday 30th April..Already over 100 Advanced Tickets sold, so please contact me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

VILLA THROUGH TO THE FINAL

Precision Nottinghamshire Senior League Cup

Semi Final

AWSWORTH VILLA FC 2 NEWARK FLOWSERVE FC 1

played at Calverton MW FC

Admission £3

Programme £1

As I was setting up I was greeted by Mr Swinscoe who was sorting out the changing rooms for the players and setting out the pitch etc, Hazel got me a nice cuppa and then I settled down on the main gate as the cars entered the car park. Ryan the Awsworth manager true to his word bought a load of raffle tickets for the charity raffle to which Hazel and myself would like to thank everyone as she raised £31.00. Ryan was delighted with his prize of some beer after the final whistle.

The game kicked off and it was Flowserve who had the 1st chance of the game, when a dipping shot just floated over the crossbar, Awsworth hit back at the other end and put a shot narrowly wide.

As Id not got my stopwatch with me, I dont know the times of the goals, but a corner was taken by Awsworth and a superb shot flew in to the net by MICHALSKI,

After my half time cuppa, it was out to my groundhop stall, where Jim Bethall came along and ordered his advanced ticket, coach ticket and badge set, you still have time to order yours folks, please contact me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

As the game was going from end to end, Flowserve hit back with a equaliser, sadly it was at the far end of the pitch and couldnt see who scored it.

Awsworth nearly retook the lead, when a cross was headed in from close distance but the Assistant Refe made the right call with a offside decision.

At this stage the game looked as if it may well be going to extra time as it began to get colder, but a cross from the right wing bobbled in front of the Flowserve keeper and spun out of his hand and WHITEHURST was close up to blast in to the net.

Flowserve pushed everyone forward for a final attack and went close, but it was Awsworth Villa who take their place in the final on Saturday 14th May 2016 against either Clifton All Whites FC or Real United FC at Dunkirk FC 3pm kick off

The Running total for the charity now stands at £590.75p

ALL IN NOTTS ABOUT THE HOP

In 1993, I was made aware of a festival of football matches in the Northern League over an Easter period, this was known as the 3^rd Northern League Groundhop.At the time I was Programme Editor at Dunkirk FC and they rewarded me with a paid ticket for the weekend.
I travelled up and stayed at Durham University, where other Non League football supporters from all over the Country gathered and met up, lots from other Non League Clubs.
A coach was provided round all the football grounds, with around 100 hoppers attending. When the Northern League grounds were completed by the Ground Hoppers, the Devon League took over the event at Easter and then the South West League. Over the years there have been other Leagues covered, with some in Wales, Shropshire and also the Northern Counties East League.

14 seasons ago, I joined the Central Midlands Football League Committee and I announced that they were to hold their first ever Football Bonanza/Groundhop and was going to attempt to beat a world record and hold FIVE Matches in ONE Day.

Sky Sports and also the Times Newspaper and the Daily Telegraph covered this; as well our local newspapers like the Nottingham Evening Post, Mansfield Chad and Derby Telegraph.

A few Easters later saw us created a New World Record with us doing 8 Central Midlands League matches in under 35 hours, knocking an amazing 8 and half hours off the previous record held by the Devon League.

Ground hoppers are people who love football, mainly Non League for several reasons really, the cost, the friendliness of the clubs and the people that run clubs. Some Groundhoppers go to a new ground every week, some even 2 or 3 new ones a week.

The Groundhops have attracted people from all corners of the World, over the years there has been Kim from Sweden (who runs a Swedish Groundhop in June/July), Magret Hanke, a lovely lady from Germany, a chap all the way from Oban in Scotland and a local chap known as aka Veteran who has been to over 3.000 football grounds, as well as many hoppers from all over the UK. A big supporter of the Groundhops is no other than "Talksport Radio" Tony Incenzo

This season, will be my final Hop as a Organiser, For the past four seasons I have taken the Groundhop to the Notts Senior League, which of course is based in Nottinghamshire. The date of this seasons Groundhop is Friday 29^th April & Saturday 30^th April. In the first season we held the NSL Hop, Ground and League crowd records were broken.

The weekend sees the Groundhop begin with a 6.30pm kick off on Friday at Attenborough FC which is situated in Attenborough Village, where they entertain Awsworth Villa FC.

An early start on the Saturday Morning sees the first match held at The Hetley Pearson Ground  between Beeston FC v Underwood Villa FC at 10.05am. We then head to the Basil Russell Ground, where Bilborough United FC face Ashland Rovers FC with a 12.45pm kick off. Grassington Road, the home of Nottinghamshire FC sees them play Gedling Southbank FC at 3.15pm and we then finish with a 6.15pm kick off at the Inspire Stadium Ground when Real United FC host Unity FC

Advanced ticket sales deadline is on 21st April 2016, with over 95 tickets sold already. The Advanced Tickets are £15 each and that includes entry to all 5 matches and a pack of the 5 programmes, which I think you will agree is superb value.

Club Badges Sets can also be pre-ordered in advance with the 5 Home Clubs and Unity FC and Gedling Southbank FC also doing a badge for the first time, the sets can be ordered at £21. All are FIRST EVER ISSUES!!!

 On the Hop, there will also be some stalls at each game, Mrs Hazel Hornby, my wife will be selling football programmes etc for the 2 charitys that support vulnerable people with mental issues, so of course any kind donations will be very grateful for such a good cause!

All clubs will be doing Food and Refreshments all at a reasonable cost, . Food will be different at each club, for example, Sausage and Bacon cobs at Beeston FC and Jerk Chicken at Real United FC

We do run a coach from Nottingham Station Street, at the side of the main train station in Nottingham on the Saturday to all 4 Saturday games at the cost of £15 per seat. We are down to the final 8 seats left on the coach , so if you would like to book on the coach, please get in touch with me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk or phone me on 07973517603 for all information and a booking form.

Crowds are expected to be around 300, but it would always be nice to see more and there will be free car parking at all grounds. So if you want to see what Non League Football is all about, then please come along. 
If you are on the committee of a club and feel you have a fan who deserves some sort of a reward, why not buy him a Advanced Ticket and book him on the coach for the Saturday for such a cheap cost and as a thankyou to them.

Hope to see many new faces on 29/30^th April, so why not leave Premiership and Football League for just ONE DAY and come along for a cheap cheerful break.

Rob Hornby

Notts Senior League Groundhop Organiser

FOWLER HEADS ALBION TO VICTORY

Notts Senior League

Division One

NETHERFIELD ALBION 2 MAGDALA AMATEURS 1

Well Netherfield Albion FC groundshare at the Inspire Stadium, the next time I visit here will be with 300 hoppers for my final match as a groundhop organiser, when tenants Real United FC play host to Unity FC on Saturday 30th April with a 6.15pm kick off. Advanced tickets for the groundhop are still on sale, please book your tickets now on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk 

Both of todays sides have been in reasonable form of late, Netherfield made a poor start to the season and were near to the bottom of Division One but after a few good results have climbed just below halfway in the table, whilst visitors Magdala have been towards the top and coming in to the game on a high after winning away at Clifton All Whites Reserves 3-0 in midweek.

The game began as a midfield battle with neither side getting the final ball through, but it was the visitors who looked the more dangerous, but on 7 minutes, a long ball was played out of the home defence on to the left wing where BRETT HORTON cut in and beat his defender and curled hos shot in to the bottom corner of the net to give Albion the lead.

This spur the visitors in to action and it looked only a matter of time before they would level the game, but Steve Jones on the home net was having a inspired afternoon, keeping out everything that was thrown at him with some very fine saves, infact Magdala could well have gone in at half time 3-1 up.

The Second Half saw Magdala again pushing forward and on 53 minutes, they gained a corner on the right side, which was half cleared to the left edge of the penalty area where NEIL MORGAN bent his shot in to the net. This I thought would be the turning point of the game, but how wrong was I to be, as Netherfield showed their grit and on 57 minutes, were back in front, when a corner from the right side was clipped on across the box and RYAN FOWLER headed home.

Magdala again pushed forward whilst the homesters played on the counter attack, Davey Muirhead was at the heart of Albion's defence and was equal to anything that Magdala could muster towards him. After 87 minutes, the visitors felt they should have been awarded a penalty Fionn Coffey was adjudged to have been tripped, but the referee waved play in and the visitors chance of getting a point from the game was gone.

NETHERFIELD ALBION FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/netherfieldalbionfc

https://twitter.com/NethAlbionFC

MAGDALA AMATEURS FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/magdalaamateursfc/

https://twitter.com/MagdalaAmateurs

Photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

BURTON HOME IN 10 GOAL THRILLER

Notts Senior League

Senior Division

SANDHURST FC 3 BURTON JOYCE FC 7

With the upcoming Notts Senior League Groundhop, I had to get the Hop trophy back from Burton Joyce and looking at the fixtures, I saw they were playing away at one of my local clubs Sandhurst FC, so a trip there was on the cards. Details for this seasons Groundhop can be seen HERE

On arrival I was greeted by both clubs and as Id not been too well recently, I had to take some medicine at the bar, a nice rum and brandy mix, well it helped me chest, thats my excuse.

The game kicked off and in the first attack, it was Sandhurst who opened the scoring after only 42 seconds when RYAN CHAPMAN slotted home from close range. This seemed to spur the visitors forward and they were soon level on 4 minutes through RYAN CLEMENTS.

Sandhurst seemed to be out of shapes now and Burton Joyce were winning the second ball and had soon turned the game round when going in front after 13 minutes through SAM BUCKLE. The visitors were all on attack now and the home keeper did well to keep his side in the game, but could do nothing in the 19th minute when the visitors stretched their lead through TOM LAWSON. As we were heading to the half time break, Sandhurst were back in the game when a cross found the head of LEE SHAW. Right on the stroke of half time, a breakaway saw Sandhurst with a golden chance of going in level but the visiting keeper kept it out.

The start of the Second Half saw the game go from end to end and it seemed a matter of who ever scored the next goal it would be vital to the outcome of the game.

On 55 minutes, SAM BUCKLE rose first to a cross and made it 4-2 to Burton Joyce, on 63 minutes it looked like game over when RYAN EASOM headed home to make it 5-2 but Sandhurst were out of it and within a minute, LEE SHAW reduced the arrears.

Sandhurst then pushed forward but didnt trouble the visiting keeper and Burton Joyce began to play on the break, after a clearence on 81 minutes, came the goal of the game, when TOM LAWSON picked up the ball on the half way line and drove forward with 6 home players in front of him, he took the ball to 30 yards out before lashing a low shot in to the corner of the net, within a minute and the game was out of sight when a cross from left right side was turned in by a Sandhurst defender in to his own net.

Must say I felt that all 3 Officials had a excellent game.

The 10 goals seen today takes the Charity Blogs running total to £559.00

Photos from the game can be seen HERE

SANDHURST FC TWITTER

https://twitter.com/SandhurstFC

BURTON JOYCE TWITTER

https://twitter.com/Burton_Joyce_FC

LAMBERT'S DOUBLE HELPS RAVENSHEAD FIGHTBACK

Midland Amateur Alliance League

Premier Division

RAVENSHEAD FC 2 AS PLANT 2

This was my first visit to Ravenshead FC and my first viewing of a Midland Amateur Alliance League match. The hosts play at the village Leisure Centre and from the car park the floodlit pitch is just down the hill.

I was greeted by First team manager Ross as Hazel dropped me off in the car park and we have a natter as we strolled round the pitch as he laid out the corner flags. I then popped in to the Leisure centre and found the tea machine and got a cuppa.

The game kicked off and it was the visitors who were soon on the front foot and after 3 minutes, got their first corner of the game. Up stepped JAMES SENIOR who swung it in and the wind assisted it in to the net to give Plant the lead.

The homesters didnt have much time to recover before in the 13th minute, the visitors doubled their lead, when a cross in to the 6 yard box was scrambled home by RICHARD PHILPOTT.

With Ravenshead 2-0 down, this seemed to spur them on and they began to put some good moves together, the the visiting keeper was equal to all thrown at him, until in the 29th minute, when a long cros found the head of TYLER LAMBERT to reduce the arrears.

In the 38th minute, Ravenshead had to alter their team tactics when Adam Martin slipped awkwardly and had to be rushed to hospital with a dislocated shoulder( hope he has a speedy recovery).

After half time, Plant pushed forward and Marks in the home goal was called in to action a couple of times, whilst his team played on the break in a frantic paced game.

On the break in the 59th minute, TYLER LAMBERT broke down the right hand side and hit a 25 yard shot in to the left side of the visiting keeper in to the net to make it 2-2.

From then onwards to the end of the game, both sides had chances to claim the 3 points and thee game could well have ended up 7-7 but this entertaining ended in a 2-2 draw and both clubs got a well deserved point.

Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK

RAVENSHEAD FC WEBSITE/TWITTER

http://www.clubwebsite.co.uk/ravensheadfc/294953/Home

https://twitter.com/RavensheadF

Just 7 weeks now to the Notts Senior League Groundhop, so advanced tickets are on sale for just over 5 weeks now, please contact me for all details on hornby60uk@yahoo,co.uk

If you have never heard of a Groundhop, then please have a read of my article on this LINK

If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join my Facebook Group, just click HERE