An Early Start

With their European campaign to prepare for, Cymru Premier champions The New Saints have pre-season matches already pencilled in for Saturday June 11 and Saturday June 26.

Ellesmere Rangers provide the first opposition (kick-off 2pm) before Cliftonville, with their own European adventure in mind, travel across for a 1:45pm start on the 26th.

Admission to both matches will be free for all spectators.

Last year, author Michael Grimes was kind enough to speak to the blog about his book 'From Saints to Druids' in which he travelled around the Welsh top division.

A limited edition, hardback copy of the book is now available from the publishers.

The Bromley Boys

After making history with their FA Trophy victory at Wembley on Sunday, Bromley FC have launched a fantastic offer for the new season of National League football at Hayes Lane.

To mark the 97 minutes that were played against Wrexham at the weekend, season tickets will be priced at £97 for the same number of hours, starting at 12pm on Friday 27th May and ending at 1pm on Tuesday 31st.

More details on the club website.

Something Missing

As the final pieces of the 2021/22 season jigsaw fall into place, thoughts begin to turn towards pre-season friendlies and the important dates for the campaign ahead.

Four years on from Russia 2018, however, something is missing as we wait and see what a winter World Cup will look like.

For those clubs where the bar is a thriving venue, and crucial income generator, there will be a big World Cup-shaped hole this summer, money that could have been banked for the uncertain times ahead.

The prospect of the top divisions of the game being shut down, for a month or longer, for Qatar 2022, is an opportunity for clubs across the country to continue attracting new spectators as so many have done over the past season.

At a time when the cost of living is the number one thing on people's minds, and with leisure spending perhaps first in line to be cut back, those clubs will, I'm sure, continue to offer an affordable afternoon in friendly surroundings.

But rising prices have an impact across the board and the cost of heating a clubhouse, turning on the floodlights or filling up the team coach will all have gone up sharply in recent months.

I've often highlighted the informative weekly bulletin provided by Hitchin Town FC secretary Roy Izzard in this blog, and this week he confirms that adult matchday admission prices have had to go up for next season for those very reasons. 

The Overdue Hallam FC Piece

Many congratulations to Hallam FC, not just for a fantastic season where they topped the Northern Counties East Football League Division One, scoring 160 goals and topping a century of points in the process, but also for the amazing crowds that they attracted to Sandygate.

An average of 614 spectators came through the gates for home games, attracted by football for a fiver, a warm welcome, a bit of history and the chance to chat, drink and mingle along the touchline and in the stand, a simple pleasure that had been badly missed by many over the preceeding couple of years.

I've been going to the ground at least a couple of times a season since starting the blog back in 2013 and the improvement in facilities that has taken place since is a testament to the hard work of all concerned and also means the club has become more firmly rooted in its local community, witness the people taking advantage of the club bar over the recent holiday weekend.

Although the club will be playing at a higher level next season, matchday prices have been kept at £5 for adults and £3 concessions with Under 12's free. Season ticket prices are also frozen.

Another positive development on the Sheffield sporting scene is the opening of the new Community Stadium at the Olympic Legacy Park, sited on the old Don Valley Stadium.

Sheffield Eagles Rugby League team will be the primary tenants but a Hallam FC Legends team is taking on a Sheffield Legends XI on Sunday 15th May, in aid of the Roundabout charity.

A Falkirk Double-Header

 

I loved The Kelpies when I visited recently, brilliant in their own right but also easily accessible, physically and financially to locals and visitors alike.

Just a short distance away, the Falkirk Stadium hosts a double-header of Scottish Women's Cup semi-finals on Sunday 1 May.

Hearts take on Celtic at 12pm, followed by Partick Thistle versus Glasgow City at 4.30pm.

Tickets cover both games and cost just £5 for adults, £2 concessions and are free for accompanied under 12's. 

Wembley Memories at Whitby

Good memories of a pre-season friendly at Whitby Town in 2016.

The club are welcoming back players from both the 1965 FA Amateur Cup and 1997 FA Vase Finals to Saturday's game with Gainsborough Trinity.

A special programme will be on sale and admission will be on a pay what you want basis.

The High(land) Life

 

Two matches in the Highland League this week, starting in the sunshine (after an earlier stint of wind, rain and hail) at Lossiemouth on Saturday where the hosts were pegged back by a late Strathspey Thistle penalty.

Lossie end their campaign with a home game against Brechin City this coming Saturday (April 16th).

Then, on Wednesday evening, Strathspey Thistle welcomed Fort William to Seafield Park for what was a 'home' game for the Fort, who have spent the season on the road due to problems with their own pitch.

Despite already being confirmed as finishing bottom of the league and facing a play-off later this month, Fort William gained a first win of the season with a 4-2 success.

Strathspey are also at home this Saturday, welcoming Inverurie Locos.