Penley

Saturday 8th July 2017 14.39
Pre-season friendly
Penley 5 Porthmadoc U18s 2 ht: 2-1 att: 11 (plus 1 horse)

from School Lane

The prologue to my season began on Thursday at Hanley Town, for their narrow defeat to Nantwich. This was my first new ground of the season, though. It was a sweltering July day, but with occasional cloud cover to provide respite from the sun. I headed off to my nearest Welsh venue, Penley. Only 38 miles away, Penley lies in a protuberance of the Welsh border, that sticks out like a thumb under Wrexham, almost as far as Whitchurch. A little bit of Wales encroaching on Shropshire.

East Midlands Counties League 2017-18

This is an unofficial guide to the East Midlands League 2017-18. Please let me know of any inaccuracies or missing details. Also, please forward suggestions on improvements or futher information that you would like.

The EML – an overview

The East Midlands Counties League has been going since 2008-09. It was comprised of teams from the Central Midlands League (8), the Leicestershire Senior League (8) and the Northern Counties East League (2). It sits at step six of the non league pyramid. Clubs can be promoted to either the Midlands League Premier, the  North East Counties League Premier or the United Counties Premier, depending on location and space in leagues. As from 2017 clubs can be relegated – to either the Central Midlands League or the Leicestershire Senior League.

Cymu Alliance Guide 2017-18

This is an unofficial guide to the Cymru Alliance. All photos are my own (of which some are a few years old and may not reflect the ground now). Please let me know of any inaccuracies or missing details.

The Cymru Alliance has been going 27 seasons. It is the northern section of second tier football in Wales. Welsh Second Division North (or Championship North if you’re under 30). The other second division is The Welsh Football League, based mostly on the south coast. The early regionalisation is due to the difficult geography of Wales combined with the size of the country and clubs. It’s not feasible to expect (say) Flint Town United to travel down to the likes of Haverfordwest County on a regular basis.

Staffs County League Fans’ Guide 2017-18

Welcome to the seventh edition of the Staffs County League fans’ guide. The divisional structure has reverted back to just one Division Two, from regionalised North and South divisions. This is largely due to a lack of teams forthcoming from South Staffordshire. All existing teams from the previous North and South divisions merge into one Division Two.
Please note that this is the provisional guide and subject to change during the close season. Please let me know of any errors, omissions or changes. Also note that the official league website does not suffix reserve teams with the word Reserves.

The Groundhog

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Leicester Road

Saturday 8th April 2017 3.00pm
Midlands League Division One
Leicester Road 11 Southam United 0 ht: 5-0 att: 60 hc Entrance £5 Programme £1.50 Coffee £1

Stenson 7,12,25,38 (pen), Holt 43, Bennett 68, McGlinchey 72,79,80, Sandhu 82,83

from Leicester Road Stadium

This game set a few personal records. It was my first home double figures ever – my previous best was 8, seen several times. It was also the second highest goals in one game I’d seen. Second to Johnstown Youth 0 Llanwchyllin 13, last season. I did choose Leicester Road as a venue mostly for the fact that a cricket score was likely. Southam United have had a retched season, conceding 176 goals before today and within the last week losing 0-10 at home to Leicester Road’s championship and proximity rivals AFC Hinckley.

Anstey Nomads

Tuesday 4th April 2017 7.45pm
East Midlands Counties Premier League
Anstey Nomads 2 Radford 3 ht: 1-2 att: 54 Entrance £5 Programme £1 Coffee £1

Michael 45, missed pen 45, Taylor 80: Meakin 10, Kelvin 25, 90+3 (pen)

from Davisdon Homes Park

Anstey Nomad’s Davidson Homes Park completed the East Midlands League for me. 22/22. The fast A50 corridor has helped the speedy completion. If I list my completed leagues like a football club lists their trophies, then mine reads thus:

The Groundhog:
Championship 2006, 2016; Welsh Premier League 2014; North West Counties League Division One 2016; East Midlands League 2017.

Ashville

Tuesday 14th March 2017 7.30pm
West Cheshire League Division Two
Ashville 4 Southport Trinity 1 HT: 2-0 Att: 40 (hc) coffee £1 Free Entry No programme

from Villa Park

Ashville play at Villa Park and if their name was two words they’d be AVFC also. Ashville isn’t named after a place, but a street (like Graham Street Prims). They were founded by John and Joyce Dennett from 25 Ashville Road, Wallassey, in 1949. You’d be forgiven for not having heard of them as they play at Step 8 (EIGHT) of non league, in the West Cheshire Division Two. For their low place in the pyramid, their ground is remarkable – it could easily mingle a few steps higher up.