Ramsbottom United

Saturday 20th November - Vodkat Prem League
Ramsbottom United 2 v Maine Road 1
Gate : £6
Atten:133
Ground: Excellent ground right next to the Cricket Ground and East Lancs Railway, very scenic 8/10
Food: Pie and Peas £1.50 - not bad taste but could be better point deducted for no gravy ! 5/10
Match Enjoyment: Really good game, both teams going for it. But Rammy just deserved the victory


More pics from Ramsbottom's ground ...

Had a really nice day at this lovely little ground located next to the East Lancashire Steam Railway, which passed during the game. For some reason my funniest moment here was in the tea hut. Behind the counter 4 elderly gentlemen were in a heated debate about of all things ...... Tea Bags ! One in particular was determined they should only put 4 tea bags in the giant tea pot instead of 5 they argued whilst i was waiting for my cup of tea for what seemed like ages. When they finally turned their backs and acknowledged my presence i decided to ask for a 'Tall skinny latte' Coffee  !!!  The response was less than flattering !
Great non league ground.

Her name is Linda ......

Saturday 20th November



What Linda decides , Linda usually gets ...
To break up with Linda is too much for me to bare .. i need Linda so badly.
If Linda says "sharp left here" that's exactly what i do - basically i do everything Linda tells me to do.

Linda has decided that on saturday we will be going to either Rossendale or Ramsbottom for the afternoon.

*I love you Linda

PS- Linda is my Sat Nav !

New Mills AFC

Derbyshire Senior Cup
New Mills 11 (eleven) v Parkhouse 0
Gate: £6
Atten: 83
Food/ Drink: Excellent hot dog with loads of Onions £1.60 Coffee 75p Mars 45p
Ground: lovely ground situated in the High Peaks of Derbyshire, surrounded by north west pennine countryside.  9/10 - a must tick !
Match Entertainment - 10/10 simply an outstanding evening in every way !

Pics of New Mills (18)

It was not very difficult to decide which game to go to this evening as this was the only game tonight within sensible driving distance. However many times i had heard really good things about this club, so a visit to Church Lane  was inevitable at some stage ... and tonight was the night !

New Mills AFC  is actually located in Derbyshire but lies only a few miles from Stockport and even less from the Cheshire border.Within  comparatively few years, has risen to importance in the manufacturing district; cotton spinning being carried on here to a considerable extent, affording employment to numerous hands.
Street scene - New Mills , High Peaks Derbyshire
 The Millers play in the North West Counties League and to date are having a fine season, with promotion very much on their agenda. If promotions were obtained they would probably join the Evo South because of their location. This would give them many long journeys- too many in fact !. Common sense says to join the Evo North is the better option but we know that wouldn't happen. If future promotions were won they would then end up in the Conference South !!! ... Ebbsfleet away is a lovely thought !
The opponents this evening were Parkhouse Fc , participants from the Central Midlands Supreme Division are based near Chesterfield, they played in a Blackpool Strip and it was a shame that Ian Holloway was not on the touchline !.

I arrived in plenty of time as usual to take my usual photos but because of darkness my usual standard was not achieved.  I started to chat with a New Mills Representative John , a very pleasant chap who was great fun through out  the evening and full of interesting stories. He couldn't believe where this ground hopper had driven from for tonight's occasion.

Word soon spread around the ground that there was a mad ground hopper present and the more who heard the kinder the welcome i received so much so later i was presented with a Club Mug as a momento of the occasion. It was a lovely gesture, which made me feel very humble in appreciation.

As usual i walked round the ground with only one regret , that i had not visited this great little ground in daylight to fully appreciate its location.

The Millers had just been knocked out of the FA Vase only 48 hours earlier to Ashington from the Northern League under contraversial  circumstances and the locals were less than impressed.
Both teams came out for the start via the biggest and widest players tunnel in non league football. Basically it was two steel fences to seperate the players from the masses ... all 83 of them  !
The biggest players tunnel ever ! and the Tea Hut

The game was only a few minutes old , when the smell from the Tea Hut caught my attention. I went over and ordered a hot dog and a Coffee, whilst waiting for my order i carried on watching the game ..... "would you like onions with that ?" as i turned to answer the girl in the kitchen a cheer went up , it was 1-0 ! i had taken my eyes off the game for a second and missed the goal ! DAM !


Whilst enjoying my hot dog i asked an 'old boy' standing next to me what the goal was like, then as he was describing it to me another cheer went up .... 2-0 ! we had both missed the goal !! Double dam ! So two goals had been scored and i had missed both of them !
The game was already stretched and enjoyable when 15 minutes later Pat the Treasurer had asked the 'old boy' and myself if we wanted to buy a raffle ticket for half time draw. As we both turned to buy a ticket , another cheer went up ... 3-0 !! and i had missed that one as well , unbelievable ! The 'old boy' had also missed two goals because of me as well !! - The Millers pressed forward and before half time had scored two more goals, and i saw them both !!  5-0 !
At Half Time i was invited into the VIP Lounge from the Committee for some Tea , which was very welcomed on this very cold evening. I was made very welcomed inside the lounge and as usual the conversation was football ! I was asked by Pat the treasurer would i mind drawing the winning raffle ticket , out i plucked Ticket number 849 - minutes later appeared the winner , I couldn't believe it , it was the  same 'old boy' who had missed two goals because of me !! All we could do was laugh !
I hadn't finished my tea when the players were already out to begin the second half. Duncan the Secretary encouraged me to take the fine china cup outside and finish of the tea watching the game. When i finished my tea i thought to myself i had better take the china mug back in case i broke it. I popped back into the lounge put the cup on the table and as i did another cheer went up ... i had missed another goal it was now 6-0 and i had missed 4 goals !
Not to worry moments later it became 7-0 .. watch it here ....   
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSeYyUd9-TI
 
To be fair to Parkhouse despite 4 more goals being scored to make it 11-0 ! their heads never dropped and they kept trying to the final whistle and their goalie made some more decent saves to keep the score respectable ! without him it could have been 16-0 at least ! He had a good sense of humour as well and the home fans were 'advising' him to go up for a corner if they were to get one !

The final whistle blew and both teams were applauded off the pitch and again down the 'widest players tunnel in non league football' , the game was played in great spirit, the officials were also very good.
We celebrated a great evening in the bar after and what an evening it had been.
Great, friendly people who were proud of 'their club' and quite rightly so , if only all clubs were like this.In fact it was kind of sad to say farewell. Had i any regrets about my visit here tonight .. yes i had 2 regrets , leaving these wonderful people and not being able to appreciate the surrounding landscape and yes i will be back and this ground comes very highly recommended in every way , and for fellow ground hoppers this is a 'must tick'.

You will be assured of a very warm welcome  and plenty of goals .. but make sure you see them all , unlike me !

More pics of New Mills ground (18)

Clitheroe

Saturday 13th November 2010

Northen Premier League North Division
Clitheroe 0 v Curzon Ashton 3
Gate : £7  
Atten: 235
Food: Delicious Steak & Kidney Pie with Peas and Gravy £2 , worth the wait  8/10
Ground: Cracking ground, full of charm from yesteryear surrounded by fantastic views and a Castle 10/10
Match Enjoyment: Excellent match by two fully committed teams 8/10


Pics from Clitheroe's ground (70).

Cracking day at a cracking ground and is a "must tick"  .......




This is a cracker of a ground and gritty northern ground full of charm - simply outstanding.

Burscough

Tuesday 9th November  -

Northern Premier League - North Division
Burscough 0 v Colwyn Bay 0
Gate : £8
Atten: 146
Food: Delicious Peppered Steak Pie with Peas and Gravy , yummy 8/10
Ground: 8/10 I liked this ground very much lots of charm - best to go for a day match
Match Enjoyment: Awful game , worst of the season so far 1/10

Pics of Burscough's Ground (38)



Droylsden

Monday 8th Novemeber - Conf North
Droylsden 2 v AFC Telford 4
Entrance : £10
Gate: 391
Ground: Cracking little ground 8/10
Food /Drink: Pie and Chips £3 - 2nd worst pie of this season 2/10
Conditions: Cold windy and wet 
Match Enjoyment: 7/10 Telford were impressive tonight. Droylsden awful first half but a bit better second half


View all Photos from Butchers Arms (25)

Southport

Sunday 7th November
FA Cup 1st Round
Southport 2 v Sheffield Wednesday 5
Gate: £14 Seat in Main Stand
Attend: 4490
Ground : great old ground which had seen better days , the main stand is excellent
Food & Drink: Only had a Coffee £1
Match Enjoyment: 8/10 great atmosphere in true FA Cup tradition - lots of goals !


Pics from Southport's ground (27).


Padiham

Saturday 6th November - Vodkat Challenge Cup Round 2
Padiham 1 v Formby 2
Attendance:106  Admission: £5
Ground :  Great little ground amongst lovely scenery
Food/Drink: Padiham Pie, Peas and Gravy £2
Match Enjoyment : 4/10
Conditions :Perfect Autumn Conditions & Sunny

Photo's of Padiham's Ground (40)