Red(ditch) Monday

This coming Monday, 20th January, is considered to be the 'bluest' day of the year, as Christmas recedes from memory, but if you fancy getting out to a game then there is football for a fiver at Redditch United when they host Leamington in the third round of the Birmingham Senior Cup with under 13's admission being free.

There are also a couple of Premier League International Cup matches at main stadiums next week.

Reading host Valencia on Tuesday 21st, tickets priced from £1-£4 and the following evening it is Sunderland versus Benfica at 7pm, tickets for non-season ticket holders costing £3/£1.

Not Many More Goodison Nights

Nearly 39,000 were in attendance at Goodison Park on a freezing Thursday night, watching Everton eventually see off Peterborough United in the FA Cup and also taking one of the dwindling chances to take in a game under the lights at the famous old stadium.

James Nalton had a nice piece on Goodison in Friday's Morning Star and there is a good chance to take in the surroundings on Tuesday 21 January when Everton U18s take on Wolves in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.

Admission to the game is priced at £5 adults and £3 for concessions, cash on the turnstiles as well!

Before then, Stoke City are offering free entry to their FA Youth Cup fixture against West Brom this coming Tuesday, 14 January, at 7pm.

Warm Up With Football For A Fiver

One of my favourite grounds for an old-fashioned football experience, Altrincham FC's Moss Lane plays host to the National League clash between the Robins and Maidenhead United on Tuesday 14 January.

Tickets for the game have been reduced to just £5 and £1 for under-12's.

Also in the National League, Wealdstone FC have designated their home game against Hartlepool United on Saturday 18 January as supporting Her Game Too, dedicated to creating a more inclusive environment within football.

Tickets for girls aged under 19 are available free of charge and are priced at £5 for women aged 19 and over.

A Super Start To 2025

Weston-super-Mare AFC have featured regularly on these pages over the years and the club are welcoming in 2025 with their 'Community Pay What You Want Day' scheduled for the visit of St Albans City on Saturday 11 January.

For a minimum donation of £2 you can watch some National League South football and all profits from matchday entry will go to Seagulls in the Community and Weston Hospicecare.

Happy New Year and thank you to everyone who reads the blog.

Sheffield Shorts

Some snippets from here in Sheffield where the world's oldest derby returns on 14 January after Hallam FC and Sheffield FC were drawn together in the next round of the quarter-finals of the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA Senior Cup.

Online tickets for the game at Sandygate will be available from Hallam FC shortly (the club have also produced physical tickets as a memento) priced at £6 and £4.

Sheffield FC have, meanwhile, partnered with the Tickets for Good platform to offer discounted tickets to NHS staff, charity workers, teachers and people affected by the Cost of Living crisis for the Boxing Day game against Belper Town.

It is great to see the continuing work of local charity Sheffield Home of Football and today (21 Dec) they honoured a man linked to both clubs, John Charles Shaw, with a blue plaque in the city centre.

Thank you and Merry Christmas to everyone who has taken the time to read the blog this year.

Christmas Crackers

Some matches that may be of interest over the coming weeks.

Crewe Alexandra host Colchester United in League Two action on Friday 20th and tickets for the game have been reduced to £10 for adults and £5 for under-19's (under-11's free).

All tickets are £5 per person and have been going well for Hibs against Kilmarnock on Sunday 29th.

Racing Club Warwick, of the Northern Premier League, are offering free admission for the visit of Boldmere St Michaels on the 21st, the following Saturday you can pay what you want at Beverley Town against Silsden AFC in the NCEL Premier Division and, in the division below, Harrogate Railway Athletic have a two-for-one admission offer as they entertain Swallownest on Saturday 21st.

And, I was really pleased to learn more today about the Steel & Sons Cup, first competed for in 1895/96 and where the final is played on Christmas Day unless that falls on a Sunday.

This year's game between Willowbank and Derriaghy CC kicks off at 10:45am at the Seaview home of Crusaders from where tickets are available, priced at a maximum of £8.

After The Storm

Storm Darragh may have postponed, to a later date, the final Merseyside derby at Goodison Park but there is a great chance to watch a game at the famous old stadium this coming Wednesday (December 11th) at 7pm.

Everton's youngsters take on Nottingham Forest in the FA Youth Cup with tickets priced at £5 for adults and £3 for concessions. 

Fair play to the Toffees and all the clubs who have played their third round matches at their main stadium. I had fancied watching the Sky Blues under-18's at Manchester United if that had been scheduled for Old Trafford but it was not to be.

At least that game, to be played at Leigh Sports Village, should still give some sense of occasion for the players and their families, unlike those fixtures that will take place at club training grounds which won't do much to differentiate the youth cup from a normal league match.

There are ties scheduled this coming week, weather permitting, at Carrow Road, Sincil Bank, Brunton Park, Loftus Road and Kenilworth Road.

Easter At Christmas

Testing times for both of the big Edinburgh clubs so far this season, Hearts enjoying some success in Europe but currently at the foot of the Scottish Premiership, one place behind a Hibernian side who have once again managed to flummox their fans with some dismal results and yet another managerial change.

The potential of these two historic institutions, in a city visited by people from around the world, can be seen in the interest that has been shown in them by outside investors such as the Black Knight group who own AFC Bournemouth and took a stake in Hibs earlier this year.

But for the moment it is a battle at the bottom for club legend David Gray, whose side host Kilmarnock at Easter Road on Sunday 29th December.

All tickets for the game have been reduced to just £5, a great opportunity to visit one of the game's famous grounds at a special time of year in Scotland's capital.