A Non League View of Groundhopping

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP PREVIEW

hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

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 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.

Ten 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 ago 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 attracts people from all corners of the World, this weekend there will be 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. A big supporter of the Groundhops is no other than "Talksport Radio" Tony Incenzo

This season, 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 19^th April & Saturday 20^th April.

The weekend sees the Groundhop begin with a 6.30pm kick off on Friday at Magdala Amateurs FC which is situated off Wilford Lane in West Bridgford, quite close to the famous Trent Bridge Cricket Ground where they entertain Bilborough Town.

An early start on the Saturday Morning sees the first match held at The Selston Parish Hall Ground, between Selston FC v Wollaton FC at 10.10am. We then head to the Bracken Park Ground, where Underwood Villa FC face West Bridgford FC with a 12.45pm kick off. The Shilo Ground, the home of Awsworth Villa FC sees them play Cotgrave FC at 3.30pm and we then finish with a 6.15pm kick off at the Digby Street Ground when Kimberley Miners Welfare FC play Keyworth United FC.

Advanced ticket sales deadline is on 10^th April 2013, with over 140 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 and old kit and programmes etc will also be available on sale and there will be different non league club shops from up and down the country selling bits and bobs, also Mrs Hazel Hornby, my wife will be selling football programmes etc for the Cancer Unit at Kings Mill Hospital which has treated me so well through my Hodgkins Lymphomia. So far I have just over £220 raised, 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, no food to be over £2.50 and teas/coffees 50p. Food will be different at each club, for example, Hot Pork rolls at  Magdala, Bacon & Sausage Rolls at Selston, Pie & Peas at Underwood Villa, Home made Stew & Dumplings at Awsworth Villa and Jacket potatoes with fillings at Kimberley MW.

Selston FC are also having some real Ale from a local Brewary for you real ale people.

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 3 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 01623 486678 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 car parking at all grounds. Some of the grounds will be charging a £1 for parking. 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.

Hope to see many new faces on 19/20^th April, With so many League matches being played on a Sunday nowdays 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

BULWELL ENJOY THEIR AWAY DAY

Notts Senior League

Senior Division

COTGRAVE FC 0 BULWELL FC 8

Sometimes you see a fixture and think it may be a close match, I saw Bulwell FC gain a 3-2 victory over Magdala Amatuers recently and saw Cotgrave FC narrowly lose to Selston FC, so felt this may end up a away victory but no way did I think there would be a eight goal difference.

The first 15 minutes, Bulwell attacked the home goal with little success but once they opened the scoring on 16 minutes, it was no looking back. By half time, it was 6-0 to the visitors and champions elect and talk was I may well just see my first 10 goal haul of the season by fellow hopper Sam Hodkin, but I knew the visitors would take their foot off the pedal and with subs in the second half this proved the case, but they were still worthy of adding another two goals without reply.

Must mention the ref had a good game, allowing the game to flow and playing the advantages when he could. Credit to both teams who got on with the game with very little moaning or grumbling between them.

A good day for Bulwell FC as second place Burton Joyce were beaten 5-0 at home to improving Bilborough Town.

Pics from todays match can be seen here

Cotgrave FC website

Bulwell FC Website

Only 10 days to get your Notts Senior League Groundhop Ticket at a discounted price, for more details, please read this and e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk for more details & booking form.

MINERS SEND VISITORS TO THE BROOK

CMFL SOUTH DIVISION

CALVERTON MINERS WELFARE 3 HOLBROOK ST MICHAELS 0

After a phone round to see what was left on, I saw that Calverton Miners Welfare were playing host to Central Midlands League Newboys Holbrook St Michaels. Having not been to Calvo for about 3 seasons and not ever having seen Holbrook St Michaels, this fixture caught my attention. A quick phone call to home manager Paul verfied the match was def on.

On arrival, the groundsman wasnt happy that the young Ref Chris Bull had passed the pitch fit, which is a decision that the majority agreed with. I went and met Paul and Des and had a quick natter, before going for a cuppa and meeting Sean Richardson whose dad Andy was one for the two Assistant Refs.

The game kicked off and it was the home side that did the majority of the attacking and should have gone in to the lead after 25 minutes, when the centre forward tried to chip over the keeper who spread his body to save the day. On the half hour, came the Saints best effort when the home keeper was called in to action.

On 39 minutes, the ball was played through to the Calvo number 9 who slot the home club into the lead.

The start of the second half saw the visitors come out attacking but the home defence holding strong, on the 70th minute, St Michaels task was made much harder when one of their defenders just kicked out at a attacker right under the refs nose and Chris Bull had no option but to saw the visitor the red card.

After 77 minute, the man of the match in my eyes, the calverton number 8 lifted the ball over the approaching keeper to make it 2-0. In the 88th minute, the Miners number 10 who had missed a few chances during the game finally got his reward to make it 3-0.

Photo's from todays match can be seen on this link

Calverton Miners Welfare FC Website

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

Holbrook St Michaels FC Website & Twitter

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

https://twitter.com/LoveHSMFC

Advanced tickets are on sale for the Notts Senior League Groundhop on Friday 19/20th April, please click the link for more details or e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk 

for booking form or please have a read on http://aroundthegrounds2012-13.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/info-booking-form-for-notts-senior.html

BRAVE MINERS SLIP TO SOUTHWELL

CMFL SOUTH DIVISION

BLACKWELL MINERS WELFARE 0 SOUTHWELL CITY 3

Attendance: 27(headcount)

Not having been to Primrose Hill the home of  Blackwell Miners Welfare FC for approx 3 years, I felt the time was right, as I needed to stay local with Hazel's daughter home this weekend for Mothers Day. On arrival I was met by Keiran who seems to be doing everything at the club apart from making the drinks. I know some people have grumbled about that they have been to Blackwell this season and no programme has been produced and its against league rules, but to be fair to the club,if it wasnt for Keiran, there would be no club.

The game kicked off and Southwell were on the attack and it was really a matter of when the first goal was going to go in, but both sides struggled on a heavy muddy pitch, so a lot of footie was resorted to the high ball but not much control. 15 minutes gone and Ref  Martin Fryer waved away a Southwell appeal for a penalty, but the visitors didnt have to wait long as on 20 minutes a corner from the right alluded all bar ROB HAIGH who rose and headed home.

Blackwell did well to contain the visitors and would have been happy to go in one behind at half time, but this wasnt to be so, as on 45 minutes, a free kick from the right side found the head of JAMES SPENCE who planted past the hapless home keeper.

Blackwell came out for the Second Half and showed a lot more commitment and had a lot more chances but couldnt find a way back in to the game, but after 78 minutes came the goal of the game when a 30 yard shot by NEWTON flew in to the net to give the away team a 3-0 victory.

Blackwell make no bones that they are resigned to struggle this season but are starting a under 18's team next season and are going to be more stable then.

Blackwell MW Twitter

https://twitter.com/BlackwellMWFC1

Photo's from todays match can be seen on this link

Advanced tickets are on sale for the Notts Senior League Groundhop on Friday 19/20th April, please click the link for more details or e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk for booking form

http://aroundthegrounds2012-13.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/info-booking-form-for-notts-senior.html

TOPSY TURVEY CUP TIE

Central Midlands League

Floodlit Cup: Semi Final South

PINXTON FC 2 SOUTHWELL CITY FC 3

I was going to Newark Town v AFC Mansfield but with good friend Darren Wraggs 8 year old son being admitted to hospital, Darren of course had family business and we hope that his lad Liam is soon back home.

On the way to pay the Notts Senior League Groundhop coach, Hazel asked me if there was any other local games on, as she would drop me off, I had seen Pinxton FC advertise this match on Twitter.

On entry to the ground I was greeted by the Pinxton Committee and Managers and offered a cuppa in the Committee Room, they then had business to attend to so I made my own and then club sec arrived and I made her a cuppa tea but she only drinks coffee..daft me for not asking Jane. So when 2 of the Southwell Committee arrived I made them the tea.

Said hello to the officials of the game and also to the assessors and headed up to pitchside and then headed to the tea bar where they sell the biggest cups of coffee I've at a footie match for just 70p and then I tucked in to home made meat pie, mushy peas and gravy, its was beauitful and just what was needed.

Pinxton started the brighter of the two teams and looked more likely to score first, I ventured round the side of the pitch and met up with Selston FC Clubman Adam Gregory and spent the first half with him chatting about the upcoming NSL Groundhop, as his club has the 10.10am kick off v Wollaton FC on Saturday 20th April.

On the half hour came the turning point of the game, as Pinxton Fc were awarded a penalty and with the keeper beaten, the ball crashed against the post and was cleared. Eight minutes later and Southwell City were in front, when a ball came in from the right and Frost in the Pinxton goal seemed to have hold of the ball but the forward clashed in to him, leaving him needing treatment on the ground, the ball hit the bar and BRADLEY WELLS smashed the ball in to the empty net. Despite appeals from the Pinxton team, the ref allowed the goal to stand.

Half time came and I strolled over to the stand for a seat as it was getting abit chilly and I had hardly taken my seat when in the 48th minute, a ball from the right found out KEIRAN WELLS who headed the visitors in to a 2 goal lead sending the Southwell Committee of 5 in to raptures.

Pinxton FC began to press forward but this left gaps at the back and on 55 minutes a free kick was conceded on the right just outside the box, it was swung in and Frost went to punch the ball away but it fell to the feet of visiting winger NEWTON who slid the ball home.

Within a minute and on the next attack Pinxton had reduced the arrears to 3-1 when Jay Cooper's shot crashed against the crossbar and WAYNE COOKE followed up and planted the ball in to the net.

Pinxton now seemed more determined and lay siege at the Southwell goal, but found the keeper in good form or the ball deflecting for a corner until 88 minutes the ball was scrambled out of the Southwell defence and the ball was smashed home from 20 yards, but I could see who scored it to make it 3-2.

In the 89th minute, there appeared to have been a trip inside the Southwell area on a Pinxton attacker, but the ref waved it away which in my view looked as if it was, but southwell hung on for the victory.

Pinxton FC Website

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

Pinxton FC Twitter

https://twitter.com/pinxtonfc1

Southwell City Website

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

INFO & BOOKING FORM FOR THE NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP

1st PRECISION NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE “FOOTBALL GROUNDHOP”

FRIDAY - SATURDAY 19th-20th APRIL 2013

Dear all

As many of you will know I have run the Central Midlands Football League Bonanza for the past ten years, so now we move on to The 1st Precision Notts Senior League “Football Groundhop” will take place over the  weekend of 19th-20th April 2013. As usual it will be held with a Friday Evening Fixture and Four on the Saturday.

So far we are proud to have sold over 120 Advanced tickets to people from all over the UK and parts of Europe. So clubs are gearing up for crowds over 250. The Groundhops have become more popular over the years with the Hoppers who like to visit different grounds. If you would like to book, then please e-mail me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk and I will send you all the information.

We kick off at 6.30pm on Friday 19th April 2013 with a trip to Magdala Amatuers FC where they face Bilborough Town FC at their ROKO Ground on Wilford Lane. 

On the Saturday morning we head out to Selston FC for a 10.10am kick off against Wollaton FC. 
We then head off just down the road to Bracken Park, the home of Underwood Villa who entertain West Bridgford FC at 12.45pm before heading down to Awsworth Villa who play Cotgrave Welfare at the Shilitto at 3.30pm, then finally ended at Digby Street where Kimberley Miners Welfare play Keyworth United at 6.15pm.

Transport

There are 3 seats left on the coach for the Saturday leaving Nottingham Railway Station at 8.30am and arrivng back no later than 8.45pm travelling round all four grounds. The cost per seat is just £15.

Accommodation

As in previous years, we have decided not to make any bulk accommodation arrangements for this event, and to let you do your own thing. With the coach leaving Railway Railway Station on Saturday Morning, it may be wise to book Bed and Breakfast in the Nottingham area. 

Programmes etc

All clubs will be made aware of the number of programmes that will be needed on the day. The number will be based on the response to these forms, so please tell us if you intend coming to the event! 

Programmes will be reserved for those buying advance tickets only, as they will be included in the ticket price (see below). The only guaranteed way of obtaining a match programme will be through the advance ticket. As before, we will have them “packaged” so that all five programmes can be collected at the first match. Copies will obviously be available at the grounds too, but at the full price, and availability will be subject to demand. Extra programme packs must be paid for when ordering your advanced ticket. 

Match Tickets

Year in, year out, you can rely on us to come up with a bargain, and this event is no exception!! Advance tickets for the NSL Bonanza offer a substantial discount. Admission to each game will be priced at £3, and programmes at £1. An advance ticket will be priced at £15, giving admission and a programme for all five games. That’s a big saving of £5 – effectively we’ll give you your programmes for free. Admission is available on the day for those who do not wish to buy tickets in advance. Please Remember if you buy a advanced ticket, it helps the away club as well, as entrance money on the day, only goes to the home club. So for a few extra quid, if you are missing say 1 or 2 matches, then please think about supporting the away clubs as well as the home ones who make the event possible, because without their help, the event wouldn’t be possible.

Trading

Club badges will be available on the day at all clubs, and no doubt lots of other people will be selling things at the grounds too! If you wish to bring a stall or stand to all or any of the games, please contact Rob Hornby (01623 – 486678) as soon as possible for arrangements to be made with the host clubs. “Unofficial” trading of the kind that normally goes on at these events is positively encouraged at all of the grounds on the hop. If you want to flog some programmes that you happen to have in the boot of your car or whatever, that’s fine with us. The only proviso we make for traders is that you MUST hold a ticket for the event. This was decided on after someone turned up at Nettleham and just decided to trade without permission and without a ticket.   

SAEs

When booking for the Bonanza, remember to include an A5 (that’s the normal size of a programme) stamped addressed envelope for your tickets to be sent out to you. Please check your envelopes carefully, some people are still getting this wrong resulting in extra charges from the Post Office. In this case, extra payment will need to be made before your tickets are despatched, so please get this right!

Booking and Payment

You may book for the Hop by completing the attached Booking form, and returning with your payment and the above mentioned A5 SAE. Once payment has been cleared you will receive your tickets etc. If you are using the coach, then can you please let me know early, so I can cater for everyone or e-mail me for a booking form on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

Best wishes

Rob Hornby

Precision Notts Senior Football League Bonanza Organiser 

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 Package:
Match tickets/programmes & Coach travel          Number................@ £30....................Total: £

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:   £                            

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

Final date for bookings: Thursday 11th April 2013. No more bookings will be accepted after this date.

Please remember to enclose an A5 SAE!! – 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

For more information, please contact me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

Alteration to the Notts Senior League Groundhop

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP

19th-20th APRIL 2013

Bookings have come in from far and wide, infact as far as Sweden and Germany and all over the UK as we pass the 120 Advanced Bookings for the First Ever Notts Senior Groundhop which takes place with 1 match on the evening of Friday 19th April and 4 matches on Saturday 20th April all for a superb value of just £15 and that includes a pack of 5 programmes from the games!

Sadly Attenborough Fc who were to stage the Friday evening match at their Strand Ground have had to withdraw, as the builders have fallen behind on building their new clubhouse and changing rooms due to the recent lot of snow we have had, so they were left with little choice.

We still have a first class line up, with us heading down to the ROKO Ground, Wilford Lane, West Bridgford where hosts Magdala Amateurs FC play Bilborough Town FC producing their first ever league programme for the match with a 6.30pm kick off.

A full coach leaves Nottingham on Saturday morning and heads for Selston FC for a 10.10am kick off against Wollaton FC. We then head down the road to a Division One clash at Underwood Villa FC who face West Bridgford FC at 12.45pm. We move towards Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire border when at 3.30pm Awsworth Villa entertain Cotgrave FC before going to the final match at Kimberley Miners Welfare FC v Keyworth United FC at 6.15pm.

If you like football, then this is just for you, only £15 for 5 matches and programmes..via the Advanced Ticket

All home clubs will have club metal badges for sale and programmes and also old team shirts etc. Food is available all grounds.

There are 2 seats left on the coach on the saturday,

for details please e-mail me

Here is the Booking Form

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 Package:
Match tickets/programmes & Coach travel          Number................@ £30....................Total: £

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:   £                             

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

Final date for bookings: Thursday 11th April 2013. No more bookings will be accepted after this date.

Please remember to enclose an A5 SAE!! – 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

MAGDALA BATTLE BACK FROM TWO DOWN

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE

SENIOR DIVISION

MAGDALA AMATEURS 4 SANDHURST 2

After Attenborough FC had to sadly withdraw from this seasons NSL Groundhop due to the Strand Ground building work on their changing rooms not being able to be completed for the 19th April, I spoke with Officials of the Notts Senior League Committee to find a replacement Friday evening match and we felt that Magdala would be a ideal venue as some of the hoppers are staying in the West Bridgford Guest Houses and it is close to the City Centre, infact the bus drops you near as damn it on the pitch at the ROKO Centre on Wilford Lane.

I arrived early and took a stroll around the pitchside and what struck me was that you are abou 1 1/2 out of the city centre but here is a beauty of a ground, with a nature walk at the back end of the ground and the wide open space of greenland the pitch is set in.

Though I lived in Clifton during my 1st marriage for nearly 20 years, this was the first time I'd ever visited this ground and only the second time I had seen Magdala play, having seen them 2 weeks ago away at Bulwell FC.

On the Car Park, I was greeted by the Sandhurst crew and then near the changing rooms the home manager Dave Charlesworth. We had a chat about the upcoming Groundhop and how already we have over 100 Advanced Tickets sold, my target was 100, last season we sold 128, I just wonder if we can beat that target.

The match began with both teams carving out good chances, but it should have been the home side  who took the lead after 4 minutes when a long range shot bounced off the crossbar. The game was swinging end to end and after 25 minutes it was a throughball that saw the Sandhurst striker slide the ball past the tall keeper to give the visitors the lead. On 27 minutes, the home defence was caught asleep when the visitors increased their lead to 2-0. From the kick off Magdala stepped up their game and a nice ball in from the right wing saw the striker scoop the ball home to reduce the arrears to 1-2. On 35 minutes and with the visitors on the back foot and run and drive followed by a shot saw the Sandhurst keeper at full stretch to no avail as the ball was in the back of the net to make it 2-2.

During the Half time break I met the Magdala's President who chattered to me throughout the Second Half, a lovely gent wit a lot of local knowledge.

After 55 minutes, Magdala took the lead for the first time in the game after a mix up in the Sandhurst defence. On the hour, Sandhurst were reduced to 10 men after a off the ball incident which the referee was well positioned to see. This seemed to upset the visitors and whilst they complained, Magdala took no notice and carried on playing football and 7 minutes from time wrapped the game up with a 4th goal.

Magdala Amateurs FC Facebook Page

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Magdala-Amateurs-FC/127571057354847?fref=ts

Photos from the match

http://s1212.beta.photobucket.com/user/Midlandsman/library/Magdala%20Amateurs%204%20Sandhurst%202