ONE THOUSAND AND FIVE HUNDRED REASONS TO BE PROUD

The 2017-2018 Around The Grounds Charity Blog

Back in 1990, I had a lump come up in my neck and it changed my life overnight, as I was rushed from the doctors to Queens Medicial Centre in Nottingham for a biopsy, two days later I was given the news that I had Hodgkins Lymphomia and would have to go through at least nine months of Chemothrophy and then have to go to the General Hospital for 30 days of Radiothrophy. In 1996 I was placed in to remission but the following year, I had to go back and fight the battle again once more. It was a very hard time and back then there was very little support or advice.

The Around the Ground Charity Blog, I set up some years ago with the view of wanting to turn my Non League Football hobby in to something where I could give back to small worth while charities and if I raised £100 then Id be very grateful, anything else would be a welcomed bonus.

The Blog has many followers through the Non League World including friends that I have made down in Cornwall, Northampton, Coventry, Bury and of course Nottingham.

With money being at a limit for people, it amazes me, but Im very thankful when strangers or clubs or referees come up to me and hand over a donation, no matter how little, it all adds up and I am always very grateful.

Last season Blog was for MAGGIES CANCER CARE CENTRE which is based inside the grounds of Nottingham City Hospital and offers just the advice patients and their carers need, or just somewhere to pop in for a cuppa and a chat to take their minds off things for a hour or to be reassured things will be ok.

There also people who are also sponsoring a goal and sending their cheques at the end of their seasons, so the support is amazing.

To raise £1,500 has blown me off my feet as its the largest total the Blog has ever raised and today it was MAGGIES Summer Fayre where me, my wife Hazel and son Shawn attended and presented the cheque over to Liz Studbury who is the Fund Raising Manager.

She remarked " Thankyou to you and all those who have donated to your Blog in aid of Maggies with this amazing fundraising. Your support will help us support and advise more people affected by cancer"

Again I would like to thank everyone who has donated throughout the 2017-2018 season and the new blog is already up and running for the 2018-2019 season where we have chosen a small charity named FORGET ME NOT that aids and helps people with dementia and Alzheimers and their partners and carers.

If anyone would like to support my Charity Blog for 2018-2019, then please message me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk

FAIR DRAW AT THE REC

Pre Season Friendly

PYTHIAN FC 1 CARLTON TOWN LIONS 1

played at Forest Recreaton Ground 3g Pitch

Att: 15

After presenting last seasons Charity Blog cheque to Maggies Cancer Care Centre at Nottingham;s City Hopsital for £1,500 at their annual Summer Fayre, it was time to take in my first pre season match of the 2018-19 season which I spotted on Facebook the night before. Having not seen either of these sides in a full game, I wasnt sure if the game would be full of goals or one sided. To be honest a draw was a fair result for both sides in a end to end affair and one that both sets of teams should be happy about in their first run outs of the season.

On arrival, I met John the manager of Carlton Town Lions and then Ruban and Ben of Pythian FC.

The game kicked of with Andy Benner in the middle and it was of quick pace with both sides having early chances, but it was the home side that took the lead with only 4 minutes on the watch with a long low drive that beat the visiting keeper as the ball nestled in to the bottom corner of the net.

This seemed to give Pythian confidence as they pressed forward but with so many subs who they were giving a run out to, it seemed tio upset the balance of the side and the visiting Lions began to come back more in to the game and create their own chances.

On 34 minutes, a long ball was played to the far left hand side of the penalty area, where the Lions winger struck the ball in from a acute angle to level up the scores.

The Second Half saw both sides have plenty of opportunites but they failed to push the ball home, so the score remained at 1-1.

Was very good to see both sides get together after the match for a series of photos.

Photos from the Match can be seen on this LINK