Keep Believing

The beautiful backdrop to football at Seafield Park, Grantown-on-Spey, home of Highland League club Strathspey Thistle last Saturday afternoon as they hosted Formartine United. 

A glance at the league table following this 4-0 defeat for the home side suggests another season of struggle after ending bottom last season and avoiding a relegation play-off only by virtue of no suitable club in the various feeder leagues finishing as champions. 

But new ownership has brought about improvements to the ground and, hopefully, fortunes on the pitch will follow suit. 

One thing remains constant and that is the warmth of the welcome on offer from the club's brilliant volunteers.

If you're reading this on Friday 30th then there is a home match tomorrow against Lossiemouth, after that it is a League Cup tie against Clachnacuddin on Saturday 14th September.

England Take Stock

I caught a glimpse of Edgeley Park on Wednesday evening, from a train that had just pulled out of Stockport station on its way to Sheffield.

When I was home, I was pleased to read that the ground would be hosting England's Men's Elite League Squad (formerly the Under-20's) in a game against Romania on Tuesday 10th September.

Having battled back from the brink in recent years, Stockport County are currently testing themselves in League One following promotion last season.

More than that, however, they have become a focal point in the local community and, from a distance, look like they will be able to survive, and thrive, on their own terms in the years to come, enjoying success when it comes but not needing to chase the dream to the point of financial meltdown.

Tickets for the England game, which kicks off at 7pm, are priced at just £5 for adults, £3 for concessions and £1 for those who are 13 and under.

Premier League 2

The new season fixtures have been announced for the Premier League 2 competition, involving the Under-21 sides of those clubs with Category One Academy status.

It's worth keeping an eye on, purely for the chance to watch a match at one of the big stadiums', usually for just a few pounds and occasionally for nothing, Derby County are one of the clubs who usually offer free entry when they play at Pride Park.

Professional Development League fixtures can also be found using the above link. 

Update Monday 12th: Crystal Palace's Under-21 opener on Friday 16th is at Selhurst Park, 7pm kick-off, with Fulham the visitors. Tickets are priced at £5 for adults and just £1 for juniors (under-18) and seniors.

The Road to Wembley...Updated

 

Begins again this coming Friday evening when five Extra Preliminary Round ties take place, ahead of over 200 matches at the weekend.

Another season, and more changes to the format, means that no replays will take place from the First Round Proper onwards, whether they 'strengthen' the competition as the FA insist they will, remains to be seen but an expanded Champions League will struggle to match the drama provided by some of last season's FA Cup ties, even if I am biased as a Sky Blues supporter!

At this early stage of the season, however, the format remains untouched and the prize, whether financial or sporting, remains something of huge value to all involved.

A great example of this is a Facebook post from Beverley Town FC ahead of their first involvement in the competition since 1919.

The Beavers host Whitley Bay on Sunday 4th August and are encouraging those wishing to attend the game to buy tickets (£6/£4 and free for under-16's) in advance.

Updated Sunday 4th August: Replays may be a thing of the past for Premier League and EFL clubs but there will be plenty this coming midweek.

At Handsworth FC, for example, close to me here in Sheffield, the hosts were denied by an injury-time penalty for South Liverpool FC.

That means a scramble to arrange transport and time off work but Handsworth's after-match tweet didn't moan about fixture congestion, it merely wished their visitors a safe journey home and looked forward to meeting again on Wednesday evening.

A classy reaction, mirrored by the appreciation of South Liverpool for the hospitality they had been shown in South Yorkshire and an example for those higher up the footballing ladder.

Highland League 2024/25

The big kick-off in the Highland League takes place this coming Saturday (27th) July and, if you are on holiday in the area, I would highly recommend taking in a game.

Not only is the football itself highly competitive, given a fair weather day you can find yourself with some of the most stunning backdrops you will find anywhere in the UK.

Reigning champions Buckie Thistle, who were unable to subsequently take their shot at the promotion play-offs, will wait to begin the defence of their crown as they are involved in Scottish League Cup action at the weekend.

Last season's title race went down to the final game and both Brechin City (away to Keith) and Fraserburgh (on the road to Wick Academy) will be looking to get some early points on the board.

Brora Rangers, who host Turriff United, and Banks O' Dee, who visit Formartine United, will also see themselves as contenders.

There are also matches this Saturday at Lossiemouth, Huntly, Forres Mechanics and Deveronvale.

Tickets generally come in at a tenner for adults. Full fixtures can be found on the BBC website.

New Season...New Links

The following sites have been invaluable to me in writing this blog and are well worth a visit.

The London Football Guide - James Doe is the man behind Non-League Day and set up TLFG to provide a comprehensive guide to football (at all levels) in the capital and its suburbs. On a weekly basis he runs through all of the fixtures of note and is also happy to answer queries from anyone coming to London and looking to catch a match.

With its focus on a similar patch geographically, The Cold End combines news and match previews with reports, highlights and some great photographs of Non-League football in London, Hertfordshire & Beyond.

Football in Berkshire is an excellent not for profit site that doesn't leave a stone unturned when reporting on football at all levels in the county, Severn Sport doing a similar job in Gloucestershire.

The excellent She Kicks website has features, stats and regular fixture updates covering all levels of the women's game in the UK.

Scottish Women's Football is a comprehensive resource to the women's game at all levels in Scotland.

Non-League Matters is a good resource for fixtures, tables and stats from all levels of the game below the Football League and the Forum part of the site has a section where special ticket offers, free and reduced admission and ‘Pay What You Want’ fixtures can be publicised.

The Northern Counties East Football League is my local Step 5 league and the home of Hallam FC who have featured regularly on the site. The NCEFL website is an excellent resource for results and fixtures.

I've always enjoyed Neil Jensen's writings in the Non-League Paper (the print edition of which is a great source for upcoming fixtures) but they are just the tip of the iceberg of his wonderful Game of the People website which has features and views on football in all corners of the globe.

Groundhopper 2000 showcases Stephen Lang's excellent photographs of the game in the Scottish borders while Scottish Football Fixtures is a comprehensive guide to matches taking place north of the border.

Pre-season: Apply to Oxford

A return to the National League South for Oxford City this coming season, after relegation last time out, but a club that remains on an upward curve, having come a long way from the testing times of the late 1980's when they had to leave the White House Ground.

Pre-season friendlies at home to Barry Town United (Sat 6th July), Sutton United (Tue 23rd) and Braintree Town (Sat 3rd August) will all be 'Pay what you want' with no minimum amount.

For a great perspective on football across the whole of the county, the Oxon Football website is regularly updated on X.