JUST CANT THANK FOLKS ENOUGH

At the Nottinghamshire Senior League Committee Meeting last week, the committee voted on donating and rounding up the Charity Blogs total by adding £103.20p to make the final total for the 2018-19 season a whooping £1,700 for Forget Me Not, a small charity that helps support people with dementia and helps supports their carers and partners through hard times.

I just cant thank people/clubs enough for their support year in and year out towards the small charities I aim to bring a little comfort to, £1700 is the biggest total that we have ever reached and just couldnt be done by the kindness of ordinary people throughout the Non League world.

Having rung up Forget Me Not, their meeting up in July sees them on a day trip, so I am doing the Cheque presentation now in the 3rd week in August.

The New Charity Blog for this coming season 2019-20 is already in flow and is for The Nottingham Stroke Club, based in the heart of Nottingham City Centre, when me, my wife Hazel and son Shawn visited we was made most welcome and joined in the morning quiz whilst drinking coffee, we was also invited for a cooked dinner but we had to turn this offer down as we needed to pop round the shops, already we have a running total nearly the £300 mark.

The Nottinghamshire Senior League has always been supportive of the Charity Blog and has always offered my wife Hazel the opportunity of doing the Cup Finals Raffle in aid of our chosen charity plus at the end of the season throwing a cheque of support in.

The Blog has grown and grown, infact 2 Clubs last season also did sponsor a goal on how many goals they scored throughout the season to add to the Blogs tally, so a special thanks to Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC and Woodthorpe Park Rangers FC. If any other clubs wish to do this, Id be more than thankful.

Other clubs have donated even as far down as St Erme FC in Cornwall

Going back to ordinary people like the man on the street who pops along to his local ground, people like Malc Storer, Richard Lane and Jim Bethall are only a few names always pop a few quid to keep the total going and to inspire the blog. Match Officials like Gavin Rice, Kev Guise and Scott Anderson and others dip in to their match fees to throw a few quid as well.

So as you can see, the Charity Blog is not just down to me, but it is a whole wide team effort and the Blog just keeps getting bigger and bigger, when I first began the blog, I said I would sponsor 25p a goal and aim to raise £100 a season, but this has just snowballed in to such a successful charity annual event.

The 2019-20 Charity Blog can be found on this LINK

THE MILLERS SUPPORT LOCAL DEMENTIA CHARITY

Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC is one of the most local clubs to where I live, so I do tend to pop up there quite often during the season. They have always made a donation for my Charity Blog, but as soon as they heard that this season it was a for local cause, FORGET ME NOT, a small chairity that supports people with dementia, their First Team made a pledge that every goal that their side scored in the Division One of the Nottingamshire Senior League they would give £1, this was then followed by their Under 16 team also sponsoring a £1 per goal they scored during the season.

Both sides were going to present a donation at their annual New Year Eves party to which me and my family attend every year, but sadly I feel ill over that time of year and was stuck in bed watching Madness on the tele.

Vice Chariman Dom Witton of Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC contacted me to arrange to hand over the kind donations, but I felt it only fair to go to the ground to get a photo with their logo behind us during the presentation. To be honest i had no idea how much was to be handed over, so was more than shocked when he said " We scored 61 goals but we felt we should round it up to £70"..I cant say thankyou enough..Whilst having a shandy in the clubhouse, Ruth who runs the Under 16's team had kindly sent their teams donation of £25, making a total of a amazing £95.

A BIG thankyou to all involved at Mansfield Hosiery Mills FC

This now takes the running total up to a massive £1,437.20p

75 WAYS TO SAY THANKYOU

Since beginning this Charity Blog so many years ago, we have raised for different causes, I remember the First year we raised for the epiplisy unit that treated me for new equipment and was stunned at raising just over £500, I never knew back then that the Blog would snowball like it has. 

Last season we hit our highest ever total for MAGGIES cancer Care Centre of £1492, but we rounded it up to £1500, no way did I ever think we would get anywhere near that mark ever again, but people and clubs continue to prove me wrong. The Blog is well known around the UK as far down as Cornwall and up as far as the North West.

This season for the First Time, I have had 2 Nottinghamshire Senior Clubs sponsor every goal scored and many clubs and players chip in when Ive been round the grounds.

What amazes me more than anything though is when people who Ive never met, contact me and send me a cheque for the charity blog to go to the charities and one of those people is Graham Moseley a senior gentleman from Northampton who has been supporting the Blog for a number of seasons now. This Saturday he travelled on his own on the train up from Northampton to visit Hucknall Town, as I was at another match that kicked off earlier in the day, this was a opportunity to actually meet him and knowing that he liked a spot of the Real Ale, knew just the place to meet.

The Station Hotel isnt hard to find in Hucknall, infact it is opposite the train and tram station just off the High Street, so come 5pm Graham came through the doors and wouldnt allow me to buy him a pint, infact insisted he bought me a shandy. We had a chat and then he produced his cheque book and he wrote out a cheque for a superb £75. I just didnt know how to thank him enough. There are other peope who have also pledged to do this for my charity that is chosen for this season which is FORGET ME NOT, a small charity that supports people with dementia and I know the running total of £1,342.20p will go along way with still some more pledges yet to come, so the £1500 mark may well be broke. 

Anyone who would like to make a donation can contact me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

It is very difficult to thank everyone and every club but I really do mean it as it is totally unexpected.

Next Saturday 18th May 2019 is the Nottinghamshire Senior League's Cup Finals Day at Basford United FC, my wife Hazel does 2 raffles, one for each Final as it gives the Blog a good start towards next seasons total and next season we have chosen Nottingham Stroke Support Group. 

Information of the Nottinghamshire Senior League Cup Finals Day are as follows:

12pm - Junior Cup Final

Robin Hood Colts v Cotgrave Reserves

5pm - Senior Cup Final

Stapleford Town v Southwell City

There will be a programme for each Final

FRANCIS SENDS JOYCE TO SEVENTH HEAVEN

Samba Nottinghamshire Senior League

Division One

BURTON JOYCE FC 7 AWSWORTH VILLA RESERVES 0

With Burton Joyce already having secured Runners Up position and Awsworth Villa Reserves on a run of 5 unbeaten matches, I expected this to be a close encounter, but clinical finishing by the team in Green showed why they were towards the top end of the table.

Just before kicked I met Chris Roberts and his friend from Chesterfield and we stood pitchside.  The game began at a frantic pace and the visitors infact had the first chance with a shot just over the crossbar. Burton made them pay as in the 6th minute, they took the lead through their top striker NATHAN FRANCIS with a header that was pushed out and he followed in to make sure.

With 9 minutes on the clock, from a corner on the left side, NATHAN FRANCIS doubled his tally and also his teams to make it 2-0 to the hosts. On 13 minutes, Awsworth were given a lifeline when awarded a penalty, but Rory Blyth was equal to the kick heading in to the bottom corner to pull over the save.

The rest of the half was quite even and more goals could well have been scored. After the half time cuppa, it was back to pitchside and Burton Joyce were not in the mood for waiting, as on 46 minutes, they made it 3-0 when MARK FAFLIK pounced on a defensive error in the visitors area.

On 50 minutes, NATHAN FRANCIS completed his hat trick when a corner from the left side saw him scoop low to head home. On 55 minutes, it became 5-0 when JOE HARROD beat the offside trap and his defender to squeeze the ball home.

On the hour, it was 6-0 when Joyce;s sub KIERON JOHNSON got in on the act of scoring and Awsworth;s heads were beginning to drop when in the 64th minute, a cut in from the left side by JAKE GLOVER completed the scoring.

It wasnt the end to a poor afternoon for the visitors, as a nasty looking challenge came in from Kyle Davis and he was shown the red card by Jude Brough, the match official, in only his 2nd middle in a NSL match at the young age of 16. I must mention what a great match he had and gained a lot of respect from all the players of both sides and from the spectators watching this game. Jude is one of many youngsters within the Nottinghamshire Senior League/Nottingham Forest Academy partnership with a bright future.

122 Photos can be seen on this LINK

Remember next Saturday is Samba Nottinghamshire Football League Cup Finals Day at Basford United FC.

Kicking off at 12pm is the NSL Junior Cup Final between Robin Hood Colts v Cotgrave Reserves..There will then be a walking football match before the Senior Cup Final kicking off at 5pm between Stapleford Town v Southwell City.

PORTH TURN IT ROUND AT CULDROSE

Cornwall Combination League

RNAS CULDROSE 3 PERRANPORTH FC 5

When Haven in Hayle offered the extra night stay for £35 it meant I could get another game in before we travelled back to Mansfield. Having looked at the League website, I noticed RNAS Culdose v Perranporth, with this being a new ground for me to go to. A club with a friendly welcome and a neat little clubhouse.

The Visitors sat in third with games in hand and really needed to win to keep their title hopes up, whilst the homesters sitting fourth from the bottom.

The game kicked off and RNAS were on the attack and could well have taken the lead in their first attack, but on just 3 minutes, it was the visitors who took the lead when their striker lobbed the outcoming keeper.

RNAS pushed forward and on 7 minutes to the delight of the home faithful, a cross from the right hand side was turned in from close distance to make it 1-1.

This seemed to encourage the Culdrose side and certainly didnt look like they were a side 4th from bottom of the table as they took the game to their visitors and on 35 minutes they took the lead when a corner from the left hand side was split by the visiting keeper for the home forward to knock home.

As I was walking round in the slight drizzle heading towards half time, a amazing chain of events was to occur, when Perranporth pulled level, but straight from kick off, a punt up field saw the visiting keeper push the ball on to the post and dip in to the net to give the hosts a 3-2 half time lead.

Perranporth came out and must have had a few stern words in the dressing rooms at half time as they pressed forward, but the home keeper was in fine fettle, but on 61 minutes a defender bought down a away attacker and Porth equalised from the spot.

Culdrose still pushed forward but didnt create too many chances as the visitors defence stood tall and in the 78th minute, a slip up just outside the home area, allowed the visitors to retake the lead.

In the final minute, Culdrose pushed everyone forward and a close header just skimmed over the crossbar, then their final chance came from a corner that broke down and the visitors broke away and made it 5-3.

Those who have never visited RNAS Culdrose, I would suggest they do, a very friendly and welcoming club.

233 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

MULLION TAKE THE POINTS BACK SOUTH

Cornwall Combination League

ST AGNES 1 MULLION 2

I last visited St Agnes Football Club some 15 years ago when stopping at John Fowlers on holiday just up the hill, so vaguely remember the place. It was time for a re-visit and now staying in Hayle, it was just along the coastline. The visitors were Mullion, who play not far from the Lizard on the south side of Cornwall and I visited them last season.

In the 15 years past there have been quite a few changes to the ground, including the clubhouse being extended as well as the changing rooms.

On arrival I was kindly greeted by the home committee and management, whilst Hazel and Shawn went in to the nice clubhouse.

Just as the match kicked off, I was joined by London hopper Mark Wilkins who is staying in Plymouth for a few days break.

The game wasnt a classic, it was a routine end of season match with really nothing to play for, but all credit to both sides as they did their best to carve out chances, but they were very even and often cancelled each others moves out, but was still entertaining.

The visitors opened the scoring on 13 minutes, when their young striker ran through and unleashed a solid shot from just inside the right side of the area to make it 0-1. The Saints pushed forward but was missing that final touch to get them selves level, but they did equalise on the hour with a close ranged header.

The game was now anyones to win and I felt that St Agnes were to go on and do that, but Mullion in the 80th minute went back in front with a dipping shot.

The Saints then for the final ten minutes pushed everyone forward and came close several times to get a draw, but it just wasnt their evening and Mullion went home with the points.

Must say to any groundhoppers that havent visited St Agnes FC to go along as they are a very friendly club and well worth a visit.

141 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

RBL WIN KEENLY FOUGHT CONTEST

CORNWALL COMBINATION LEAGUE

ILLOGAN RBL 2 HAYLE 1

After the Reserves had won their match 2-1, the first team of Illogan RBL entered the pitch with their local rivals Hayle FC, strange to watch 2 matches and both matches in the same colours, Black/White Stripes v Greens!!!

Hayle started the better forcing a couple of dangerous free kicks but the home defence blocked them both times. The visitors looked sharp but the homesters began to come more in to the game and on 22 minutes with their first effort took the lead.

This seemed to boost Illogan as they went in search of a second but close chances went begging. The Second Half began and 59 minutes, a long free kick darted around the home area before a visiting player pounced and made it 1-1.

They say games have turning points and this certainly was one when from a acute angle the Greens of Hayle thought they had scored again on 63 minutes, the attacker ran off to celebrate, whilst the home defender reckons the ball didnt cross the line, the referee seemed to look over at the home linesman as he was too far away from play and then wave play on much to the dislike of the visiting attacker. 

Within 2 minutes, Illogan were back in front with the winner and visitors werent happy with the referee, but all credit to them, they kept their calm and carried on playing in search of a another equaliser, but it didnt come.

A really enjoyable day out at Illogan RBL and I would tell anyone who hasnt visited this club, they would receive a very warm welcome.

187 Photos from this match can be seen on this LINK