Monday, 26 November 2018

Sheffield United Women versus Lewes Women

Sheffield United Women v Lewes Women, FA Women's Championship

The Olympic Legacy Park in Sheffield, situated on part of the site of the old Don Valley Stadium and the new home of Sheffield United Women as they look to establish themselves in the FA Women's Championship.

Facilities at the ground are fairly basic at present but there is a commitment on the part of the Blades to make this a permanent base for their women's team with plans in place for a new stand and terracing for spectators.

Olympic Legacy Park, Sheffield, home of Sheffield United Women


Although I disagreed strongly with the latest in a long line of restructures of the women's game this summer, allowing as it did commercial interests (such as shoehorning a brand new Manchester United side into the Championship) to trump sporting merit, Sheffield United have shown a willingness to invest in their women's teams at all age groups over the past few years and this is clearly continuing.

My son was given free tickets for this game through his school and was excited about seeing both his friends at the match and Blades players Sophie Barker who had made a visit to the school to spread the word.

And we were rewarded with a cracking game that ended 3-2 to the hosts against a spirited Lewes side who left to make the long journey home without a point.

Leicester City are the next visitors to the Olympic Legacy Park for a Continental Cup fixture on 12th December. Prices for home matches are £5 Adults, £3 Concessions. 

Before then, Sheffield FC Ladies of the FA Women's National League have an FA Cup Second Round tie against Nottingham Forest this Sunday, 2nd December, at 1pm.

Admission prices at the Coach & Horses Ground in Dronfield are £4 Adults and £2 Concessions.

Saturday, 24 November 2018

The Week Ahead

Starting with the FA Vase which is now at the Third Round stage with dreams of Wembley very much dominating the thoughts of those clubs still in the competition.

Based in the Birmingham suburb of Bournville, Cadbury Athletic are offering a £9 deal for their home match against Desborough Town on Saturday 1st December which gets you admission to the game, a programme, a sandwich, a hot drink and of course...a chocolate bar.

And a special mention to AVRO FC of Greater Manchester, very active on social media in getting people down to the Vestacare Stadium and with a very attractive Third Round tie against West Auckland FC on Saturday 1st for which admission is priced at £5 Adults, £3 Concessions and free for Under-16's.

In the FA Women's Super League on Sunday 2nd December there is a Merseyside Derby clash between Everton and Liverpool at the home of Southport FC, kick-off 12pm, for which half-price tickets are available priced at just £2.50 Adults and £1.50 Concessions.

At the top of the table Arsenal will look to lay down a title marker at Manchester City.

Kick-off at the Academy Stadium is at 12.30pm and with home matches on consecutive weekends City have a deal in place for Men’s and Women’s Seasoncard holders, Cityzens Matchday Members and previous Women’s ticket buyers who can all save 25% on a bundle for the Arsenal match and the fixture with Birmingham City on Sunday 9th.

Elsewhere on the Non-League front there is'Pay What You Want' admission to watch the Canaries of Hitchin Town take on the Canaries of Barwell at Top Field on Saturday 1st December with a donation made to the Young Minds charity from the money given at the gate.



Thursday, 22 November 2018

FA Youth Cup

With just a few second round ties left to be played the FA Youth Cup will soon see the entry of Premier League and Championship clubs into the competition with third round ties all due to be completed by Christmas.

Clubs with Category One status for their Academy can opt to play home matches at this stage away from their main stadium, a shame I feel given the potential opportunities for players to make lifelong memories.

Therefore the tie of the round between Manchester United and Chelsea will be at Leigh Sports Village while Northampton Town’s youngsters miss out on the chance to play at the Emirates Stadium as their game against Arsenal is scheduled for the home of Boreham Wood.

The following matches will be played at the main stadiums of the host club, however, with all being 7pm kick-offs.

Blackburn Rovers against Gillingham on 5th December. £4 Adults, £2 Concessions.

Bolton Wanderers against Newcastle on 5th December. £3 Adults, £1 Concessions.

Burnley against Oxford United on 11th December. £4 Adults, £2 Concessions and £1 for Season Ticket Holders of both clubs.

Huddersfield Town against Peterborough United on 5th December. £5 Adults, £3 Concessions.

Millwall against Tottenham Hotspur on 17th December. £5 Adults & Seniors, £1 for Under-16's.

Queens Park Rangers against Rochdale on 3rd December. £3 Adults/Students, £1 Concessions.

Wolves against Wigan Athletic on 10th December. Adults £3, Over-65's £1 and free entry for Under-18's accompanied by a paying adult.

Sunday, 18 November 2018

A Half-Price Merseyside Derby

It's a derby double on Merseyside on Sunday 2nd December as Anfield hosts the Premier League clash between the Reds and the Blues at 4.15pm.

Earlier in the day there is a 12pm kick-off for Everton Ladies against Liverpool in the FA WSL and tickets for the game, to be played at the home of Southport FC, are currently available for half-price which means just £2.50 for Adults and £1.50 for Concessions.

Staying on the Mersey Beat and another fixture at Southport, this time a Liverpool County FA Senior Cup tie against neighbours Marine on Tuesday 27th November for which prices have been reduced to £5 Adults, £3 Concessions and free for Under-11's.

Marine themselves offer half-price Adult admission (£5) for league matches to season ticket holders of Everton, Liverpool, Tranmere Rovers and AFC Liverpool and have a home fixture against Warrington Town on the Saturday before the big derby clash.

Thursday, 15 November 2018

Beaconsfield Town, Brockenhurst FC

Two matches that are very much worth a mention this coming weekend with both of them helping a worthy cause.

Beaconsfield Town of the Evo-Stik Southern Premier League host Farnborough at 3pm on Saturday and anyone bringing a Christmas present for the children at Wycombe Hospital will get free admission to the game.

And it is 'Pay What You Want' to watch Brockenhurst FC take on Alresford Town in the Sydenhams Wessex League with all proceeds going to the Oakhaven Hospice.

Tuesday, 13 November 2018

Clipstone FC

90 years of football is being celebrated in 2018 at Clipstone FC, the Nottinghamshire club starting life as Clipstone Combine in 1928 and having played at their present home, the Lido Ground, since winning promotion to the Notts Alliance League in the 1950's.

The pit may have long gone from the village but a classy new logo was unveiled for the present campaign that incorporate both the year of formation and the headstocks that still dominate the Clipstone landscape.

Now members of the East Midlands Counties League, the Cobras are planning a big 90th anniversary celebration at the game against Belper United on Saturday 24th November and have been given permission by the league to offer free admission to all on the day.

Saturday, 10 November 2018

The Week Ahead

An international-themed week coming up and an important World Cup build-up match for Scotland Women as they take on current holders the USA on Tuesday 13th, kick-off 7.15pm.

Tickets for the match, at the home of Saint Mirren, are priced at £5 Adults and £2 Concessions.

There are six free international matches in North Wales over the next week as Rhyl FC and Bangor City host the UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying group containing Wales, Scotland, Sweden and San Marino.

Two matches take place on Wednesday 14th and two on Saturday 17th (with two the following Tuesday).

Sticking with the international theme there is free admission to the Premier League International Cup tie between Norwich City and Athletic Bilbao on Wednesday 14th at 7pm.

And with there being no Premier League or Championship action in England then there are sure to be some Non-League clubs who offer reduced price admission for season ticket holders of top-flight or EFL teams.

I'll update throughout the week on Twitter.

Monday, 5 November 2018

2019 Women's World Cup Build-Up Continues

There is just over a month to go before the draw for the 2019 FIFA Women's World Cup takes place and both England and Scotland continue their preparations for the tournament over the next week or so.

Having qualified in dramatic circumstances for their first ever World Cup, Scotland will test themselves against current holders the USA on Tuesday 13th November at the Simple Digital Arena in Paisley.

Ticket prices for the 7.15pm kick-off are £5 Adults and £2 Concessions with a Group offer also available.

And England will also look to lay down a marker when they host Sweden on Sunday 11th at the New York Stadium in Rotherham.

Tickets are priced at £10 Adults and £1 for Concessions for the 1.30pm kick-off.

Saturday, 3 November 2018

The Week Ahead

The FA Cup First Round takes place over the weekend with a number of League One, Two and National League clubs reducing prices for their ties.

£10 Adult tickets are available for the games at Swindon Town, Tranmere Rovers, Barnet and Chesterfield on Saturday 10th.

The SSE Women's FA Cup is also at the same stage with 15 ties set for Sunday 11th and including an eagerly-awaited local derby between Cambridge City and Cambridge United.

Aggborough Stadium hosts the game between Kidderminster Harriers and Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday 11th, kick-off 2pm, with admission priced at £3 Adults and £1 Concessions.

It is Remembrance Weekend, of course, and there are many clubs offering free or reduced admission to current and former members of the Armed Forces such as Hanley Town FC of the North West Counties Football League when they take on Winsford United on Saturday 10th.

There are also two Games of Remembrance set to take place in Nottingham on Thursday 8th between the British and German Armed Forces.

Notts County host the Womens fixture at 12pm and then it is across the river to the City Ground for the Mens game at 7pm with tickets starting at just £2.50 for Under-16's, Students, Uniformed Workers and OAPs.

And Sunday 11th also sees England Women in action against Sweden at the New York Stadium, home of Rotherham United. Tickets are priced at £10 Adults, £1 Concessions.