The Cobbydalers v The Vikings

Northern Counties East League (NCEL) action this coming Saturday sees Silsden AFC host Goole AFC and admission to The Office Interiors Stadium is on a 'pay what you want basis'.

Goole offered a similar scheme over the festive period and, in line with very healthy crowds throughout the non-league game, were rewarded with a record league attendance of 478.

The excellent site Outside The 92 has a full report on that game which can be viewed here, while the official NCEL website is a great source of fixture information amongst lots of other things.

Record Breakers

It was good to see so many people out and about at matches on Sunday and Monday with many non-league clubs reporting record crowds, helped by the postponement of so many games in the Premier League and EFL.

I'll keep updating on twitter over the next few days and wish a happy new year to everyone.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to everyone who reads the blog or follows on twitter after another rollercoaster year for football clubs up and down the country.

From matches played behind closed doors, to no games at all, to the slow return to normality and back, potentially it seems, to more uncertainty in the weeks ahead.

That will clearly be the case in Wales, where strict new restrictions come into force on Boxing Day while clubs lower down the Scottish pyramid may benefit from the limits that have been imposed on those higher up.

In England, in the absence of information to the contrary, plans are being put in place for fixtures over the festive season and two clubs close to me here in Sheffield are good examples of how football and the local community can be linked.

Stocksbridge Park Steels host Sheffield FC on the 27th and are also collecting for local Food Banks while Dronfield Town are throwing open the doors of the H E Barnes Stadium the following day for the visit of Parkgate.

There are also a number of clubs offering reduced price admission to those supporters of EFL clubs left without a game on Boxing Day due to Covid issues or because their team are away, both in the case of Tavistock AFC where Exeter City and Plymouth Argyle season ticket holders can pay just a fiver on Boxing Day.

One More Game...

Before Christmas, or even longer perhaps given talk of 'curcuit-breakers' and the like.

There's still quite a few matches scheduled for this week which I will try and publicise on twitter.

Redditch United and Stourport Swifts meet in a Worcestershire Senior Cup quarter-final on Thursday evening and the two clubs have agreed free admission to the tie.

Looking Ahead

A very strange weekend on the football front, lots of matches falling foul of Covid but many more going ahead, lots of talk about circuit-breakers and various restrictions but still some very big attendances up and down the country.

I'll keep updating the twitter page with those matches taking place in the week up to Christmas but, looking ahead to next year there is some international football taking place in February that may be of interest.

England Women are breezing through their World Cup qualification group but, with the European Championships on home soil in the summer, may be looking for tougher tests than those provided on the road to Australia and New Zealand in 2023.

And that desire should be met by the four-team Arnold Clark Cup where the hosts will be joined by Germany, Spain and Canada.

England matches will take place on Thursday 17 February, against Canada at the Riverside Stadium, Sunday 20th against Spain at Carrow Road and Wednesday 23rd against Germany at Molineux.

Tickets are on sale now with the FA promising that more than half are priced at £10 or less.

Get There Early

Free admission at Buckland Athletic this coming Saturday (18th), for the Toolstation Western League game with Brislington, for those arriving before 1.30pm.

Mulled cider and mince pies are available all day.

Also of interest may be Cymru Premier League football for a fiver at Caernarfon Town this Friday evening, with under 18's getting into the game against Aberystwyth.

There will also be a food bank collection.

With Covid-related postponements on the increase, check before travelling and stay safe but enjoy your pre-Christmas football.

Pick of the Week: A Free Edinburgh Derby

This coming Wednesday evening sees a local derby between Hearts and Hibs in the Scottish Women's Premier League, a competition I feel is benefitting from good, regular coverage on BBC Scotland and BBC Alba.

Tynecastle is the venue for a 6.30pm kick-off and tickets are available free.

For a comprehensive guide to matches taking place north of the border, Scottish Football Fixtures is an invaluable resource.

On the theme of derbies, the B team Old Firm clash between Rangers and Celtic, who are competing in the Scottish Lowland League this year, has been scheduled for Ibrox on 31st December at 12pm with tickets priced at £10 and £5.