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