THE ROMANS LEAVE CALVERTONS FIGHTBACK IN RUINS

 PRE SEASON FRIENDLY 3

CALVERTON MW 2 ROCESTER FC 4

After seeing this Pre season fixture announce a few weeks ago, it was on my hit list, as I always enjoy fixtures where 2 teams play each other from different leagues, plus this was new Calverton MW 1st team home match on their new 4g pitch.

Over the summer months, Calverton MW and Rushcliffe FC joined forces, with Rushcliffe FC taking the role of Calverton 1st team and a few new faces from the now defunct Greyfriars FC, whilst Rushcliffe Reserves and Calverton MW reserves joined forces and they have set up a u23's team to play in the Notts Senior League Development Division.

Good friends in attendance were Herbie and Sue and Non League Rover Paul and of course the new General Manager of Calverton MW Damian Hucker.

The game kicked off and Rocester looked very dangerous and quicker to the ball in roasting conditions and after just 4 minutes, a ball played from the right side found their striker in the 6 yard box with a open goal to tap in to a empty net to give the Romans a early 1-0 lead.

Calverton tried to press forward but it was the home keeper making all the saves from the visitors better chances, on 18 minutes, the match referee stopped the game for a quick drinks break and as soon as play got underway again, Rocester was given a free kick some 25 yards out, to which the taker hit and it slid under the keeper to make it 2-0.

At this stage of the game, there didnt seem to be anyway that Calverton looked like they would be able to get back in to the game, but they got a lifelife on 28 minutes, when given a penalty to which they converted to reduce the arrears.

The Second Half kicked off with the homesters playing alot more attacking football, but the visitors still looked dangerous on the break. On the hour, Calverton were back level when a ball played from the right wing was placed home to make it 2-2.

This seemed to spur Rocesteer back in to action after the home keeper bought off 3 good saves, but in the 73rd minute, could do nothing when a punt down the pitch by the visiting keeper was headed on and the striker placed the ball past him, proper route one football.

The next minute, The Romans went further in front when a breakaway saw their forward tap in after a ball in from the right hand side.

Calverton pressed forward and the away keeper pushed a ball over the bar as it was heading for the top corner of the net.

A credit to both teams in playing in a entertaining match in heat of around 30 degrees.

The Charity Blog for AUTISM AWARENESS running total now stands at £2,755.53p, if anyone would like to make a donation, you can do by doing a bank transfer to the blogs bank account

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

To view the 121 photos from the match, please click on this LINK

SHERWOODS FIRST HALF GAVE RETFORD FC TOO MUCH TO PULL BACK

 PRE SEASON FRIENDLY 2

SHERWOOD COLLIERY FC 6 RETFORD FC 2

Wasnt really sure what to expect this evening, with Sherwood Colliery having a poor season last year to their standards and Retford FC just falling at the semi final play off stages of their great season.

On arrival I was greeted at the gate by the club chairman who asked me to put the £3 admission in to the charity blog and in the clubhouse after the match the club also donated £10, so with the goals at 25p each making a great total of £15 towards Autism Awareness, with running total now hitting a superb amount of £2,742.03. A BIG thankyou to Sherwood Colliert for their donations.

The sun was blazing down on the ground, so I ventured to the far side of the ground near to the dug out areas and meet up with Retford FC's Mr & Mrs Knight, he still doesnt have any spare cameras or lens for me!!!!

As you know my camera is a old one and not great esp for night shots, but did get a few good photos, mainly in the first half.

The game kicked off and it was the visitors who had the first few chances bringing the home keeper in to action twice, before in the 7th minute, Sherwood on their first attack took a 1-0 lead. This seemed to spur the Colliery on in confidence, getting to the ball first and playing some neat passing football on the 4g pitch.

So it didnt really come as any surprise after 19 minutes , a ball was crossed over from the right wing, found his man in the 6 yard box to tap home a second to make it 2-0.

Three minutes later and things got worse for the visiting side, when a bullet of a shot from 30 plus yards stormed over the youmg keepers head to make it 3-0, I think Jon Knights head also went down as well.

Retford then did have a spell in the game, where they were moving thye ball about, but didnt really challenge the home keeper and the ball seemed to be dealt with by the Sherwood defence.

In the 36th minute, a free kick on the left side was met by the head of a player on the far post, who planted it into the Retford net to make it 4-0 and two minutes later, it became 5-0.

The Half Time break saw me say farewell to Mr & Mrs Knight as they headed down to the far goal that their club would be attacking in the Second Half, but I just moved to the opposite side of the pitch as the sun had gone down, but in mind, it came ac ross of how many goals would be scored in the Second Period.

Both teams had of course made many changes and thats what friendlies are about, not so much about the score but about getting match fitness and minutes under the belts of players.

Both teams had plenty of good passing play, but Reford just edged it, and after 75 minutes, the ball was lobbed over the home keeper to make it 5-1, at this stage the visitors were looking a lot better than in the first half and in the 83rd minute, one of their players was bought down in the box and referee Scott Mason who had a very good match pointed straight to the spot, to which the visitors slammed home to make it 5-2.

This didnt mean the homesters were giving up and on 88 minutes, a midfielder ran down the left wing and cut inside and fired from the edge of the box in to the bottom far side of the net to make it 6-2.

If anyone would like to make a donation to the Charity Blog in aid of AUTISM AWARENESS, you can do via bank transfer to

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

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To view the 64 photos taken at the match, please click on this LINK

BRICKWORKS EDGE PAST ARNOLD IN FRIENDLY

 PRE SEASON FRIENDLY 1

KIRTON BRICKWORKS 3 ARNOLD TOWN RESERVES 2

Has there been a break in football yet? I dont think so for me, since the cup finals, its been the charity match and meetings and now the pre season is upon us, so before the season does kick off, I have still had donations come in from Annual Donators Herbie & Sue of £100 and at the match above £10 from Tony from Kirton Brickworks FC. So thankyou to all of you. 

Also for the 16th August, Elston United move to their brand new ground and Im  doing their first ever programme and badge, so anyone intered, please contact me on hornby60uk@yahoo.co.uk for more details

Also in re meantime, I was voted as Guest of the Year on GRASSROOTS PLUS podcast

Well on  to Pre season Friendly 1, why Kirton Brickworks v Arnold Town Reserves, you may well ask, always enjoyed my visits to Kirton Brickworks, a club run by good footballing people, the same as Arnold Town. Hazel said I can go to local friendlies as she wants a break, so Kirton is also up the road from me and also Ive not been to Kirton for a few seasons since they joined the Central Midlands League.

The match kicked off and after ust 4 minutes, the visitors had a corner that was worked well, before the cross came in from the left wing for a player to head downwards in to the net to give them a 1-0 lead. 

On 14 minutes, Kirton were level when a mix up at the Arnold back left the home striker to just tap in to a empty net to make it 1-1. Both teams had chances go begging as they both wanted to play football in hot weather, then in the 42nd minute, a Arnold midfielder, played a very short ball backwards to where the Kirton man just had to nip in and finished to give them a 2-1 lead.

Arnold in the second half seemed to press foprward and have a long range shots that went waywidewards, as the Arnold management shouted to the player, when do your new boots arrive?

Arnold thought mthey were back on level terms in the 70th minute, but the referee was quick to to rule the goal offside before anyone could celebrate.

Arnold was back on level terms just 3 minutes later, when a shot was tapped towards the home keeper who seermed to have gathered it and then seemed to push it in to his own net to make it 2-2.

Both teams wanted to win this game and both pressed forward, but on 78 minutes, a long high kick by the Kirton keeper seemed to caztch the Arnold centre half offguard as it struck him on the head and the ball looped upwardsa the dropped in to the net as the arnold keeper was stood on the edge of his 6 yards box, so Kirton were back in front.

The last of the action came when the Kirton keeper became hero when a long range shot was heading in to the top corner of the net and he dived midair to juust punch the ball over to the bar.

For a friendly this was a very good match.

The runing total for AUTISM AWARENESS now stands at a fantastic £2,727.03p, if anyone would like to make a donation, you can either see me at a match or do it via bank transfer to

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

sort code: 30-98-97

account: 70342862

99 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

THE BLOG's LAST CHARITY DAY ENDS ON A HIGH

 THE AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOGS LAST ANNUAL DAY ENDS IN A HIGH

5 years ago, I never thought of setting up a yearly charity match but Roberto from AC Wollaton approached me and the idea was born.The Charity Blog is in it's 16th season, making it the longest Charity Non League Blog in tthe UK and read by 1000's over the season.

It aims is to get more people to come and look at the Non League game in the Nottinghamshire Senior League and do clubs in the league their first ever progreramme and badge, but most of all, its raise awarenss of small charities and raise as much as I can each season.

Saturdays games were arranged a year ago, with Jess Munroe kindly offering me Basford United FC's ground free of charge for the day, then it was a matter of getting 2 squads and 2 team,s to play the selection of Nottinghamshire Senior League players from all different clubs, the emails to different companies for raffle and tombola prizes.

This year Basford Reserves stepped up to the plate and said they would play us in the morning a Under 23's team, I didnt know unntil later on that they were the best youth team in England winning the National Youth Cup beating several football league teams, then I went along to a charity match and saw a newly formed team called Edwalton FC, a team where the majority of their players had lost babies.

Edwalton's cause hit me hard, as we buried a 5 day old grandson some years ago, so of course this was one team I said yes straight away to.

In January this year, I had a couple of health set backs and I knew thast this years event would have to be my last, but that doesnt mean I will be giving up the Charity Blog, it just means Ive got slow down alot and have more rest and less stress.

The prizes began to come in and the poster was kindly done by the programme Editor Jon Knight of Retford FC, people soon responded they were coming, but I was struggling to get players as they were on holiday or wanted a rest or was working, but the management team of Arnold Town FC, esp Ash Marshall who has been my sidekick as the manager all the years through, pulled in other Arnold Town managers from the newly formed Development Team that has just entered in to the Nottinghamshire Senior League Development Division, most of the players it would be their first ever game as a adult.

The crowd arrived 1 by one from as far as Isle of Wight to Kent to Manchester and even more north, east and west for a fun packed day.

Hickory's Smokehouse a local business arrived with a stall selling their world famous sauces that they put on their steaks, also giving out free popcorn and flags to the kids and hopefully putting their business on the map. HIckory's Smokehouse have supported us with a prize every year and it was really good for them to turn up on the day with their stall and actually meet them

The 1st match kicked off at 11am and at half time, I was quite pleassed as on the turnstitles Id only seen Basdford score once, so I said that wasnt a bad half with us only losing 1-0, then someone said, ermmm  its 5-0 Rob lol Well the game gave the lads a run out and Basford ran out 9-1 victors.

The Second Match was a much closer game with the over 23's from many clubs in the Nottinghamshire Senior League, Edwalton ran out winning the match 3-2 with their keeper being named as player of the match, but from all reports the game had everything in it, but I was so pleased to see some of the comments about the goal of the game on Twitter and through word of Mouth for Will Cox, Will like myself had a heart attack early last season and was at death door and we have stayed in touch, he has played in every charity match, but I didnt want to bother him this year as he hasnt played for Calverton, out the blue he rang me to ask if the charity match was on, as I guess he had this feeling of in future years of what if I could have played one more season well like all the other players from ther Nottingamshire Senior League, he paid his donation and was there with a smile on his face and a post he did on Facebook a few days before was coming down and support the event and it was a place he never thought he would be. When I got home, I realised he hadnt stayed for his medal but when I contacted him, his reply was well that goal was my medal.

After the Edwalton match, I gave them their share of the gate and their manager/organiser took over the mic to say how thee club was only formed last year and expressed his thanks to everyone.

So whats next you may ask, well on Saturday 16th August, Elston United FC moved to their new ground and I will be doing their 1st ever programme and badge, I will still be taking donations from clubs and players and people if they wish to do a bank transfer to keep the Blog going. Im thinking of doing a video with a round up of the Nottinghamshire Senior League results at about 5.30pm or on the way home from a match Ive attended and get them on to the Nottinghamshire Senior League Facebook page and Twittere page and also on here, maybe the odd interview as long as some people dont act daft or swear, we will have to see.

We havent counted up as yet but we think we have raised around £1,400 to add to the running total, as I did a quick count last night but it was late and I was tired and counted 2 different totals out by around 20 odd pounds, so going to recount it all to add to the running total in theee next few days when Ive been done to the bank.

Again thankyou for everyones support, I just cant name everyone from players, clubs, refs, supporters, parents, hoppers etc

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG FUN FOOTBALL DAY

 AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG FOOTBALL FUN DAY

PLEASE SEE PRIZE LIST BELOW, IF YOU CANT MAKE AND WOULD LIKE TO BUY RAFFLE TICKETS, THEY ARE £5 A STRIP AND THE BANK DETAILS ARE AS FOLLOWS:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

Anyone who would like Raffle Tickets for next Saturdays Charity Fun Day, but cant make, here is the Bank Account you can transfer to and a list of the prizes and donators, the tickets are £5 per strip:

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG
Sort Code: 30-98-97
Account: 70342862

List of prizes

FAMILY TICKET NOTTS COUNTY CRICKET CLUB
£50 MEAL VOUCHER BEN SALES
£40 VOUCHER HICKORYS SMOKEHOUSE
FAMILY TICKET SUNDOWN ADVENTUELAND
£40 FOOD VOUCHER QUEENS HEAD, NUTHALL
4 X PLAY PASSES THE BEEHIVE OLLERTON
£25 GIFT VOUCHER MOORES GARDEN CENTRE
2 X £5 VOUCHER THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
FAMILY VOUCHER EYAM MUSEUM
4 X PLAY PASSES THE BEEHIVE, OLLERTON
£20 VOUCHER CAFÉ SENSATION, MANSFIELD
2 X LARGE BREKFASTS PORCHESTER CAFE
2 X £5 GIFT VOUCHERS THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
MEAL FOR 2 THE SUN INN, EASTWOOD
VOUCHER ICON BARBERS, MAPPERLEY
£10 FOOD VOUCHER LAVER LEISURE, INGOLDMELLS
FAMILY VOUCHERS DEPOT CLIMBING
2 X £5 VOUCHERS THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
CINEMA TICKETS SAVOY CINEMA, DERBY ROAD
VOUCHER ICON BARBERS
2 X £5 VOUCHERS THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
2 X PLAY PASSES JANGOS, MANSFIELD
2 X PLAY PASSES THE BEEHIVE, OLLERTON
£10 FOOD VOUCHER LAVER LEISURE, INGOLDMELLS
2 X £5 GIFT VOUCHERS THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
VOUCHER I JUMP, MANSFIELD
£10 GIFT VOUCHER TREATS N SWEETS, MANSFIELD
2 X PLAY PASSES TREETOPS ACTIVITY CENTRE
MICROWAVE COOKING SET SIMON CLARK
TOMMY GIRL HAZEL HORNBY
BOTTLE RED WINE SHAWN HORNBY
BOTTLE AMERETTO ROB HORNBY
BOTTLE OF WINE DAVID & STEPH ARMSTRONG
BOTTLE OF MARTINI LEE & SARAH BRAMHALL
MICROWAVE COOKING SET THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
CHOCOLATE LIQUIR MOLDIVA, MANSFIELD
WHISKY LIQUER MOLDIVA, MANSFIELD
EYE SHADOW SET AUTISM AWARENSS
EYE SHADOW SET AUTISM AWARENES
TED BAKER HANDBAG COLIN & CATH VAUGHAN
SHORTBREAD SELECTION BOX THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
JUMBO TEA TOWELS SIMON CLARK
BOTTLE OF BRANDY LEE & SARAH BRAMHALL
JUMBO TEA TOWELS THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
BOTTLE PROSECCO KEV GOODMAN
LINX SET SHAWN HORNBY
TEA TOWELS SIMON CLARK
SLEEPATHROPHY SET AUTISM AWARENESS
SNACKS GAME AUTISM AWARENESS
INSTANT BBQ SIMON CLARK
NECK WRAP THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
FUZZY DUCK SET SIMON CLARK
SPORTS SOCKS THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
UNIVERSAL INCAR HOLDER THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
2 X CHILDRENS MUGS THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
SPORTS MUG ROB HORNBY
REED DIFFUSER SIMON CLARK
PRETTY POTS THE GO BETWEEN MICRO PUB
LADIES HANDBAG HAZEL HORNBY
KIDS SOCKS SIMON CLARK

We have Hickory's Smokehouse coming along and will be giving out FREE popcorn and Flags to the children, we are asking children to come in fancy dress, Disney or Marvel.

Admission is ADULTS £4 and includes a free programme and children under 16 are free.

The Bar and tea bar will be open for food and refreshments all day

Admission is going to be split 3 ways, We are for Autism Awareness, Edwalton FC who have chosen Footprints, baby loss charity and Basford have chosen a player of theirs who broke his leg in several places, so please come along and support if you can

SATURDAY 14th JUNE AT BASFORD UNITED FC ANNUAL CHARITY BLOG DAY

 SATURDAY 14th JUNE AT BASFORD UNITED FC ANNUAL CHARITY BLOG DAY

COMING ON SATURDAY 14th JUNE at Basford United FC..The Annual Eurosoccer Notts Senior League Aroundthegrounds Charity Blog Matches. THERE WILL BE A PROGRAMME

11am: NSL under 23's squad v Basford United Reserves, followed at 2pm NSL Squad v Edwalton FC..

Admission is £4 Adults(with free programme) kids free, the gate money is being split 3 ways, The Blogs Charity is AUTISM AWARENESS..Edwalton FC's Charity is FOOTPRINTS, a charity for baby loss and Basford had a player break his leg in several places. 

Hickorys Smokehouse will be attending with a stall of goodies and giving to the kids FREE popcorn and Flags and selling their special soda and also their lovely sauces. 

We are asking kids to come dressed in Disney & Marrvel and the best boy and girl chosen will get a prize. We will have hook a duck 50p, a tombola 5 tickets for £1 and a big raffle with some great prizes £5 a strip.

PRIZE LIST INCLUDES WITH MORE TO COME IN(not put in order as yet)

 10 PASSES FOR BUSY BEES PLAY CENTRE IN OLLERTON(these will be split in to 3 lots of prizes)

£40 FOOD/DRINK VOUCHER FOR THE QUEENS HEAD IN WATNALL

£40 VOUCHER FOR HICKERY SMOKEHOUSE

1 x IJUMP TRAMPOLINE VOUCHER IN MANSFIELD

VOUCHERS FOR ICON BARBERS MAPPERLEY

£20 VOUCHER FOR THE SUN INN EASTWOOD

FAMILY ADMISSION FOR EYAM MUSEUM

FAMILY VOUCHER FOR A NOTTINGHAMSHIRE CRICKET CLUB MATCH

FAMILY TASTER SESSION AT CLIP N CLIMB

5 lots of £10 VOUCHERS for THE GO BETWEEN in BRINSLEY

FAMILY VOUCHER FOR SUNDOWN ADVENTURELAND

£20 VOUCHER FOR CAFE SENSATION IN Mansfield

£10 VOUCHER FOR SENSATIONAL TREATS N TREATS in MANSFIELD

2 MAKE UP SETS FROM AUTISM SHOP in Mansfield

£25 GIFT VOUCHER FOR MOORES GARDEN CENTRE

2 x £10 FOOD VOUCHERS FOR THE SANDS FAMILY SHOWBAR IN INGOLDMELLS

VOUCHERS FOR THE SAVOY CINEMA ON DERBY ROAD

2 X PLAY PASSES FOR JANGOS IN MANSFIELD

2 x PLAY PASSES FOR TREETOPS ACTIVITY CENTRE IN RIDDINGS

CLIMBING EXPERIANCE FOR 2 ADULTS & 2 CHILDREN AT THE DEPOT IN NOTTINGHAM.

YOU CAN PRE BUY YOUR RAFFLE TICKETS VIA BANK TRANSFER

AROUNDTHEGROUNDS CHARITY BLOG

Sort Code: 30-98-97

Account: 70342862

Please come along and show support to this day, food and refreshments and bar will be open.

 Any players that would like to play for either of the 2 NSL teams, please contact me asap, my phone number and email address is at the bottom of the poster, 

if anyone has a company and would like to make a donation for the raffle or tombola again pleasse contact me on 07973517603 oemail me on robhregnsl@hotmail.com all sponsors will be named in the programme

CHARITY SUCCESS AT NOTTS SENOR LEAGUE CUP FINALS

 Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League Cup Finals @ Hucknall Town

Over the last two weeks, The Eurosoccer Nottinghamshire Senior League held its 4 League Cup Finals at Hucknall Town FC, it began last Saturday morning with the Development  League Cup where second played third, Attenborough FC v AFC Warriors in a very entertaining match ending in a 3-2 victory for Attenborough. In the afternoon, it was the turn of the Intermediate Cup Final where 2nd Division FC Pelican played Hucknall Town Reserves and for the first 20 minutes, looked the better side creating more chances in front of goal, but Hucknall settled down and once they scored they looked to control the game running out 4-1 winners.

On to day and the First game had everything in it, it was the turn of the Intermediate League Cup where newcomers to the League AFC Parabellum faced Collingham Reserves, the match flowed end to end with only seconds remaining in the game and the Paras 2-1 in front saw a Collingham corner which they failed to deal with andf a equaliser was smashed home, to send the final in to extra time, Parabellum had played most of the second half with 10 men. In to extra time and 2 goals in a matter of 4 minutes saw Collingham go in to a 4-2 lead, but Parabellum pressed forward and got back in the tie wie a goal. As the clock was ticking down, a final chance came for them and the Collingham keeper leaning back just managed to tip the ball over the crossbar to save his side going in to a penalty shoot out and lift the cup.

The main final was the Senior League Cup, where 3rd placed Aslockton & Orston who have had their best ever season in their history faced title winners FCV Grace Dieu, a team that had only been defeated twice all season and oddly it was only last wek in the leaague that Aslockton beat them 1-0.

The game started at a fast pace as the FCV players was playing the ball along the floor and soon found themselves 2-0 up. A half time talk by Martin Hallam must have shaken his Aslockton side up as they looked the better side in the second half and pulled a goal back. A few minuts later they always say there are turning points in a game and as the Aslockton attacker broke through on the left, his shot was stopped by the legs of the FCV Grace keeper before being cleared up field  for ma quick break and hooked in to the net to restore their two goal custon and complete the League and Cup double.

Over the 4 finals, Hazel raised £553.45p for the charity Blog in aid of Autism Awareness, also a donation has come in from Sheffield FC's Stephen Muff of £150 and today 81 year old Graham Moseley pictured above with me has been a regular of my blog each season also raising 25p mper goal and presented me with £50, which  taqkes the Charity Blogs running total to a AMAZING £1,204.03p. Me and Hazel would like all people that purchase Raffle Tickets and donate the odd pound here and there.

Well you would think football finishes here, but on SATURDAY 14th JUNE at Basford United FC we have our Charity Football Fun Day, with at 11am Basford Reserves entertaining a NSL Select Under 23's squad, then at 2pm a NSL Squad entertaining Edwalton FC. Admission is £4 and includes a free programme, we are asking children to come in Marvel or Disney outfits with a prize for the best chosen boy and girl.Hickorys are attending and giving to the children FREE popcorn and Flags and selling their most famous sodas and jars of special sauces, there will be hook a duck, a large raffle and large Tombola. The admission is being split 3 ways, to AUTISM AWARENESS, Basford are giving their share to a player/coach who is badly injured after a leg break in several places and Edwalton FC to FOOTPRINTS(A Baby Loss Charity). So the more that attend the more the charities will benefit, your support is always welcome.