The Only Way Is Up

For Gillingham FC after the recent takeover at Priestfield, a number of new signings and Saturday's win in a crucial game against Hartlepool United that closed the gap on their opponents at the foot of League Two.

I've got a pretty bad track record on this blog of offering praise to new owners for their initial burst of communication with supporters, often involving reduced prices or special offers admission-wise.

That reflects, perhaps, certainly at League Two level, how the success or otherwise of a new regime is so often a shot in the dark, for every club, but the general feeling at Gillingham seems positive about the arrival of US-based businessman Bradley Galinson - Haydn Parry reflecting that in a piece for the new issue of When Saturday Comes.

A good atmosphere at last weekend's FA Cup tie against Leicester City certainly came across on the television and the offer of 'pay what you want' tickets for the crucial clash with Crawley Town (talking of the above) in early February were very quickly snapped up this week.

Football And Food Banks

Type these two into your search engine or on twitter and you'll get an idea of the incredible amount of work currently being done, both by supporters' groups and clubs themselves, to support their local food banks.

From the club's point of view, I think it ties into them becoming even more active and vital parts of their local community, from collections for food banks and other charities to simply being a warm, welcoming space this winter.

They may also act as a link, getting the word about a local food bank out to more people who may otherwise not be aware of it.

Abingdon United FC are partnering with the Abingdon Food Bank for all of their Men's, Women's and Under 18 fixtures this month, starting this coming weekend when Newent Town are the visitors.

It's football for a fiver at the Northcourt Stadium with concessions and Oxford United season ticket holders in for £3, under 16s's £1 and under 12's free.

Something For The weekend

Thanks to Harborough Town FC for following @AffordableFooty and for backing emergency service workers with free admission this coming Saturday (7th January) for the Northern Premier League game at home to Stamford AFC.

Blue Light Card holders (NHS, Police, Ambulance and Fire services) can watch the match at no charge on production of ID while Leicester City season ticket holders can come in for a fiver with the Foxes FA Cup tie at Gillingham being shown live in the bar beforehand.

New Year Honours

The gong goes to Racing Club Warwick with free admission to Townsend Meadow for the game at home to Uttoxeter Town on Monday 2nd at 3pm.

A name that is familiar to me from growing up in Rugby, partly as their match reports used to feature in the Coventry Pink and also, perhaps, because the Racing Club name sounded quite exotic, The Racers are a thriving community club with all levels of football on offer.

Mentions also to Ilkeston Town for free football on Saturday 7th against AFC Rushden & Diamonds and Havant & Waterlooville where admission is £5 for the National League South clash with Braintree Town on the same afternoon.

There is also League Two football for a fiver on consecutive Saturdays, the 7th and the 14th, with Salford City reducing prices for the visits of Northampton Town and Sutton United.

Free Blog Photos

If at First

I wrote recently about 2022 having been a special year for Worsbrough Bridge Athletic FC as they celebrate 100 years in existence.

That was ahead of a scheduled 'Pay What You Can' game against Retford today, Saturday 17th December, which unfortunately fell foul of the cold weather.

The Briggers have kept the offer in place for the visit of Campion AFC on Friday 30th.

Similarly, Abingdon United had planned to have the first of two 'Pay What You Like' games today but the clash with Cirencester Town was frozen off.

They try again on the 27th against Clanfield with a free hot drink and mince pie for all spectators.

There is also some free football on offer here...

🤩 𝗙𝗥𝗘𝗘 𝗙𝗘𝗦𝗧𝗜𝗩𝗘 𝗙𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗕𝗔𝗟𝗟
We're excited to announce our Quarter Final of the Worcestershire Senior Cup against neighbours @Alvechurch1st is FREE entry!

🗓️ Thursday 29th December
⏰ 7:45pm kick off
🏟️ The Trico Stadium, B97 4AU

➡️ https://t.co/s5UIM0N4MO pic.twitter.com/4fTXseuK9B

— Redditch United (@RedditchUtd) December 13, 2022

Work In Progress

 

Building work ongoing at Lesser Hampden a couple of weeks ago as Queen's Park FC prepare for their move to the stadium in the new year.

Having moved rapidly through the leagues in the last couple of years, following the historic decision in 2019 to end their amateur status, top-flight football is realistically on the cards next season.

While work at Lesser Hampden has been ongoing, the club have been ground-sharing with Stenhousemuir but made a temporary return to the main Hampden Park ground at the weekend when nearly 2,000 fans from local school and community groups were part of the crowd watching a comprehensive victory over Hamilton.

Queen's Park remain at the national stadium this Saturday for an SPFL Trust Trophy tie against Montrose for which prices have been reduced to £10 for adults and £5 for concessions (65+) and under 16's.

Hallam FC versus North Ferriby

On the 3rd March 2020, I watched Hallam FC and North Ferriby play out a 1-1 draw at Sandygate, writing at the time 'there was a warm welcome at the world's oldest ground, £5 adult admission and a good atmosphere in the bar as supporters of both sides mixed.'

Just a week later, of course, and the 2019/20 season was stopped in its tracks, the result of the game included on the excellent NCEFL website for historical purposes only.

Both clubs continue to thrive as part of their local communities and now ply their trade a division higher, in the NCEFL Premier where North Ferriby currently sit at the top of the table.

They meet at Sandygate this coming Saturday (scheduled for 3pm but keep an eye for any changes with the England match and freezing temperatures forecast for Sheffield). The prices and the atmosphere will be the same as way back then!