A BIT ABOUT THE CHARITY BLOG


Each year, me and my wife Hazel have decided to help a Charity, by donating 25p every goal we see at the matches we attend. Over the years, people and clubs have also donated as we have visited the grounds and we have raised over £2,300 in the 3 seasons we have run the Blog.
During the 2014-15 season, we are supporting "Support Dogs" who train Dogs to transform lives of people with Autism and other disabilities. So if you would like to make a donation(no matter how small) and you see me at a match, please come up to me or Hazel, we would be very grateful. All Donators will get a mention on the blog.


www.supportdogs.org.uk



Monday 22 December 2014

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP INFO

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP 2014/15
Friday 24th/Saturday 25th April 2015

LATEST UPDATE: There are only 3 seats left for the coach on the Saturday

 
Dear all
 
 
Already bookings from Sweden and all over the UK, so please read on and buy a Advanced Ticket today and join us.

The 3rd Precision Notts Senior League “Football Bonanza” will take place over the  weekend of 24th-25th April 2015. 

As usual it will be held with a Friday Evening Fixture and Four on the Saturday.

We kick off at 7.30pm on Friday 24th April 2015 with a trip to Ashland Rovers FC where they face Newark Flowserve FC at their New Kingsway Park Ground. On the Saturday morning we head out to Bingham Town FC for a 10.10am kick off against Ruddington Village FC. We then head off over the River Trent to Victoria Road Ground, the home of Netherfield Albion FC who entertain Nottinghamshire FC at 12.50pm before heading down the road to Burton Joyce FC who play Attenborough FC at Station Road at 3.20pm, then finally ended at Walesby Sports & Social Club where Sandhurst FC play local derby rivals Kirton Brickworks FC at 6.15pm.

Transport
As in previous Bonanzas, a coach will be booked for the event to transport hoppers between games. Coach transport is only available on the Saturday, and can be booked separately or as a package. The pick up point for the Saturday Morning will be QUEENS ROAD next to Nottingham Railway Station and on Saturday evening will going back to Nottingham Railway Station. A timetable will be available with your ticket. Please note that the coach travel MUST be booked in advance. Please Note though there is NO coach on Friday, there are trains from Nottingham Railway Station to Kirkby In Ashfield and I will include this information in with the information pack with your tickets.

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 the Railway Station on Saturday Morning, it may be wise to book Bed and Breakfast in the Nottingham area. A lot of Hoppers do book Travel Lodge Nottingham.

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. 

Badge Packs
This season I am introducing Badge packs, this saves time at grounds and you get all your home clubs 1st ever badges in one go, this cost for the badge sets are £18 per set, but as I have to pay the clubs upfront, I do have to ask if you can send a cheque for £18 made out to Mr R Hornby when booking your package. The badge sets consist of the 5 Home clubs and Kirton Brickworks FC

There will also be a very Special NSL Groundhopbadge kindly donated by "Terry's Badges" being sold at the weekend costing £3 with all £3 going to my charity blogs charity "Support Dogs".

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
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 SAE(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! Please be aware that postal prices have increased this year.

Booking and Payment
You may book for the Hop by completing the Booking Form(below), 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.

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 weekend                                                        Number…………..@ £30.……………Total : £………
(Saturday’s coach and 5 match ticket and 1 pack of programmes)

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:        £………..                         

Badge sets pls see below

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

BADGE SETS. Please make cheque out to Mr R Hornby. Cost £18 per set of 5 home clubs & Kirton Brickworks FC, please on form put how many sets you require here  ……

Final date for bookings: Thursday 16th April 2015. No more bookings will be accepted after this date.

Please remember to enclose an A5 SAE!! –Please make sure you put enough postage on it as 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

01623 486678 (please respect no calls after 8pm on my main phone due to my little boy with Autism in bed) or 07973517603(up to 10pm)

Sunday 21 December 2014

BURTON IN SEVENTH HEAVEN

Notts Senior League
Senior Division
KIRTON BRICKWORKS FC 0 BURTON JOYCE FC 7
 
Headed to Kirton Brickworks as I had a Groundhop meeting with them after the match..Heres the LINK for more information about the Groundhop. On arrival was greeted by Kirton Chairman and team manager Tony March and then Secretary Jamie Birch who looked a bit worse for wear after Black Friday. Along came several hoppers including the most well known duo Len and Ben. Jamie kindly did the lines up sheet for me and I strolled over to the far side of the ground for the First Half and stood and had a chat with the referee's dad, must say I felt young ref Alistair Hill had a very good game.
 
The pitch over my side was very boggy whilst the rest of the pitch looked in a good condition..It was the visitors who began the brighter and had a couple of chances before in the 7th minute, TROY SMITH made it 1-0 to them. After 21 minutes, a ball was played in to the area and ball ended up in the back of the net through a own goal to double Joyce's advantage. After 29 minutes, the visitors had a Corner on the left side taken by Troy Smith and up rose MARK BUCKLE to head in goal number 3 for his side. Kirton then seemed to have a spell in the game, but put the visiting keeper under no pressure.
 
After the half time cuppa supplied kindly by Teresa who does a great job in the refreshments area, infact that good Len said the Chicken and Stuffing Rolls were of excellent value for a quid and he proved this by munching 3 down during the game and then taking 3 home with him, whilst Ben licked his lips. The Second half kicked off and Burton went straight back on the attack and RYAN CLEMENTS hit a low cross shot in to the corner of the net to make it 4-0. Len and Ben then joined me along with Scott Ricketts dad and on 52 minutes it soon became 5-0 to the visitors as TROY SMITH got his second of the afternoon. Kirton pushed forward and had several shots that flew over the bar or straight in to the keepers arms. It was back to normal service in the 66th Minute, when MARK BUCKLE made it 6-0 and it was looking very grim for Kirton as a couple of heads began to fall. With a couple of subs made, this seem to slow the game down a bit but after 81 minutes, TROY SMITH completed his hat trick and the scoring on the day to leave give his side a comfortable 7-0 away victory.
 
Pics from the game can be been on this LINK
 
KIRTON BRICKWORKS FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
BURTON JOYCE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join my Non League Football Facebook Group of over 3,300 members, please just click this LINK
 

Sunday 14 December 2014

MILLS SERVES UP LATE WINNER

Notts Senior League
Division One
NEWARK FLOWSERVE FC 3 SOUTH NORMANTON RESERVES FC 2
 
After a message in my Facebook Group Non League Grounds of England, Wales & Scotland by David Crampton that the pitch at Newark Flowserve FC had passed a 10.30am Inspection then it was the only place I was heading to, as I had already organised a Notts Senior League Groundhop meeting with the home club after the match. Those that don't already know, Flowserve are the visitor to the Friday Evening match on 24th April at Ashland Rovers FC 7.30pm kick off. Please see the LINK for all information about this seasons Groundhop.
 
On arrival was met by Zoe, the lady who does all the catering at the club on matchdays and then had a quick chat with club Secretary Matt Wade before going in to the impressive clubhouse to have a cuppa with Brain behind the bar.
 
I then got both match sheets off todays referee Dave Johnson, where I saw a few First team names in the South Normanton squad that I recoqnised and then was told that there first team was had been called off.
 
The teams were led out on to the pitch where both teams did the respect handshake and then lined up together for the photo in remembrance of the 100 years of the First World War.
 
The game kicked off and I stood over the far side of the ground towards the dug out area and Flowserve sub Richard Mills came to have a chat, I've known Rich when he was at Blidworth Welfare and Ashland Rovers. The game was quite even but in the 6th minute, Flowserve gained a corner on the right side that was floated in and met by JAMIE BROOKS to out them into a early lead. The First half was very even from that stage.
 
After a half time cuppa, I stood on the clubhouse side of the ground and on 51 minutes, a long range shot was pushed up in the air by the Normanton keeper which ended up bouncing off the top of the crossbar and back in to play before being cleared.
 
The visitors then began to have their best period in the game and it came as no surprise in the  63rd minute, when ANTONY FAY picked up the ball on the left wing and cut in and curled the ball in to the bottom corner of the net for the equaliser. This seemed to lift Normanton and after 73 minutes, ROB GREGORY put them ahead.
 
After 81 minutes, Flowserve were awarded a free kick 20 yards out, to which JORDAN MACK stepped up and looped the ball in to the top corner of the net to bring the homesters back on level terms. Everyone at this stage, everyone was happy with a draw, but on 87 minutes, a diagonal ball was played in to the Normanton area and found veteran striker RICHARD MILLS who stuck the late winner. With Underwood Villa dropping points, Newark Flowserve have gone 12 points clear at the top of the table.
 
NEWARK FLOWSERVE FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
SOUTH NORMANTON FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
Photos can be viewed on this LINK
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join my Non League Football Facebook Group of over 3,200 members, please just click this LINK

Thursday 11 December 2014

NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE CUP DRAWS

NOTTS SENOR LEAGUE CUP DRAWS
 
SENIOR LEAGUE CUP
Quarter Finals
 
West Bridgford FC/Cotgrave FC v Burton Joyce FC
Wollaton FC v Underwood Villa FC
Ruddington Village FC v Selston FC
Attenborough FC v FC Samba/Aspley Park
 
Ties to be played on Saturday 21st February 2015
 
 
JUNIOR LEAGUE CUP
Quarter Finals
 
Linby CW Reserves v Bilborough Town Reserves/Ruddington Village Reserves
Cotgrave FC Reserves v Keyworth United FC Reserves
Kimberley MW Reserves v Hucknall Rolls Reserves/South Normanton Reserves
Newark Town Reserves/Wollaton Reserves v Sandhurst Reserves/Ashland Rovers Reserves
 
Ties to be played on Saturday 14th February 2015
 

Saturday 6 December 2014

ALL IS GREEN AT ASPLEY

Notts Senior League
Division Two
ASPLEY PARK 2 KEYWORTH UNITED 0
 
I last visited Birchover Park some 15 years ago and having been wanting to go back to have a look as I would like Aspley Park FC as a host club on the 2015/16 season Notts Senior League Groundhop. Today gave me the chance to go and view this venue. The ground homes a nice clubhouse that has a kitchen and bar along with the changing rooms.
 
I rang Secretary Les Tebbutt up to check the game was on and on arrival was offered a cuppa. Hazel offered to run the tea bar as a couple of the helpers had headed for Lincoln Christmas Market.
 
The game kicked off and it was the visitors who had the early exchances and saw a shot cleared off the line. Aspley had a game plan which they stuck to and on 10 minutes, a cross from the right side was met by SEAN GREEN who headed home.
 
This seemed to boost the homesters as they poured forward and it came as no surprise when after 14 minutes, SEAN GREEN broke forward and cooley slotted the ball past the  visiting keeper.
 
The home side pressed forward whilst the visitors defended franticly and it looked a matter of more goals on the way and after 40 minutes they had a goal ruled out for offside.
 
In the second half it was mainly the home club on the attack but failed to kill that final ball, whilst Keyworth had possession but hardly forced the home keeper in to a save.
 
Photos from the game can be seen on this LINK
 
Get YOUR Advanced Tickets NOW for the Notts Senior League Groundhop..For more information and Details please click this LINK
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join my Non League Football Facebook Group of over 3,200 members, please just click this LINK

Friday 5 December 2014

NOTTS FA COUNTY CUP DRAWS

NOTTS FA COUNTY CUP DRAWS
 
NOTTS FA SENIOR CUP DRAW
Quarter Finals

Carlton Town FC v Basford United FC
Dunkirk FC v Kimberley MW FC
Clipstone FC v Ruddington Village FC
Retford United v Hucknall Rolls Leisure FC

Ties to be played on Tuesday 13th January 2015
 
NOTTS FA INTERMEDIATE CUP DRAW
Quarter Finals
 
AFC Bridgford v Cotgrave FC
Linby CW FC v Bestwood MW FC
Kimberley MW Reserves/Ashland Rovers v Bilsthorpe FC
Sandhurst FC v Old Elizabethians FC
 
Ties to be played on Saturday 10th January 2015
 
NOTTS FA JUNIOR CUP DRAW
Quarter Finals
 
FC Coopers v Ashfield Athletic
Newark Flowserve FC v Greyhounders FC
Underwood Villa Reserves v Kimberley MW AFC
Ashland Rovers Reserves v Southwell City Thirds FC
 
Ties to be played on Saturday 10th January 2015
 
 NOTTS SENIOR LEAGUE GROUNDHOP
Friday 24th/Saturday 25th April 2015

5 Matches,..5 Grounds...5 Programmes
Advanced Tickets are now on sale at just £15
For more information, please contact me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk
or ring me on 01623 486678

If you cant make and wish to purchase a programme pack or the badge set, which contains all 5 home clubs plus Kirton Brickworks FC Badge, then please contact me.
 

Thursday 4 December 2014

LEISURE ROLL INTO THE LAST EIGHT

NOTTS FA SENIOR CUP
Third Round
HUCKNALL ROLLS LEISURE 5 PMG CAVALIERS 1
 
Not as cold as Tuesday evening at Retford United, as I was wrapped up as I headed to Watnall Road to see the final last 16 tie in the Notts FA Senior Cup whilst in the car listening to Mansfield 103.2 Non League Show and great friends Brett Marshall & Rudi Funk putting the local scenes to right whilst other guests Scott Ward & Glen Clarence couldn't get a word in.
 
Always a nice welcome at Rolls, this being Cavs home tie but due to no floodlights the game was switched, met Roy and enjoyed a cuppa, then found the match had been moved back to a 7.45pm kick off from a 7.30pm, so went in the bar and downed a double whisky.
 
In came local hopper Derek Clowes who had gone up to Hucknall Town's ground, as advertised in Non League Traveller and when in  darkness thought he would drive on to Rolls Ground to find us all there. He now has his Notts Senior League Groundhop cheque in the post to me.
 
For kick off, me and Derek strolled down to pitchside and was joined by local assessor Steve Sears before he wandered off in to the night round the other side of the pitch. The first 20 minutes was  very even and both sides could have hoot the back of the net, but Rolls began to up their game and after 25 minutes JACK ALLEN opened the scoring. Cavs weren't about to give up and on 29 minutes SAM SCOTT made things level and things stayed this way till half time.
 
The Second Half and Rolls looked a different team, wanting the ball and looking more hungry for the game and this proved in the 46th minute when they retook the lead through JACK ALLEN's second goal of the night.
 
Cavs tried to battle back but didn't trouble the home keeper as Rolls kept pushing forward and on 57 minutes increased their lead to 3-1 through JAMES DUNCAN. The visitors heads then looked down whilst the homesters were on a roll and 2 quick goals in the 67th and 69th minutes by JACK SMITH and RORY SMITH saw Rolls glide through to the final eight of the competition.
 
HUCKNALL ROLLS LEISURE FC TWITTER
 
Get YOUR Advanced Tickets NOW for the Notts Senior League Groundhop..For more information and Details please click this LINK
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join my Non League Football Facebook Group of over 3,200 members, please just click this LINK

Wednesday 3 December 2014

PENALTY MISSES COST SELSTON

Notts Senior FA Cup
3rd Round
RETFORD UNITED FC 4 SELSTON FC 3
After Extra Time
 
Selston must be kicking themselves and wondering how they didn't advance to the last 8 of the Notts Senior FA cup after missing three penalties in a game they lead for long periods.
 
On arrival it was nice to meet up with old friends at Cannon Park, Annie and Jon Knight, then Dave & Janet and Rob Waite and also meet behind the bar Bill Wyles. Before the game, me and hazel tucked in to pie and chips that were very good.
 
Before the game I was joined by Notts Senior League Secretary John Beeston and at kick off we took our place near the halfway line as the temperature dipped to the coldest night of the year.
 
The game began bright for the step 7 visitors when a corner from the left side was floated in and PERRY MARRIOTT forced the ball home after just 3 minutes. Jay Cooper then had a one on one chance with the step 5 keeper but wasn't able to double Selstons advantage.
 
On 16 minutes, Selston were awarded a penalty, to which Airey hit over the bar and out the ground. On 20 minutes, Retford were back on level terms through HUTCHINSON.
 
Selston continued to press forward and the home supporters were giving them a lot of respect and kind words and on 44 minutes, they took a deserved lead through a JOE RILEY volley.
 
In the first minute of the Second Half, Selston were awarded their second penalty of the game, where Airey stepped up again and forced the keeper in to a save and the chance was gone.
 
With 65 minutes on the clock, Retford were back level through BATTY who headed home. With chances at both ends it was anyones game, but at the end of 90 minutes, it remained at 2-2.
 
After 91 minutes, Selston took the lead for a third time, when DOMINIC JAMES fired home, but within a minute, The homesters had drawn level again when HUTCHINSON got his second goal of the game.
 
This seemed to knock the stuffing out of Selston and it was Retford who was now on the attack more and after 98 minutes BATTY hit a 30 yard shot to give them the lead for the first time in the game.
 
There was still to be a sting in the tail as in the 120th minute, Selston was awarded their third penalty of the night to take this tie to penalties, but it wasn't to be as Jay Coopers low penalty was superbly saved by the man of the match in the Retford net, from the breakaway, Perry Marriott bought down a home player to receive his second yellow card of the night.
 
RETFORD UNITED FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
SELSTON FC WEBSITE/TWITTER
 
Get YOUR Advanced Tickets NOW for the Notts Senior League Groundhop..For more information and Details please click think LINK
 
If you enjoy Non League Football, then why not join my Non League Football Facebook Group of over 3,100 members, please just click this LINK