HALLAM FC (Sandygate Road)

FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND, HALLAM 3-3 IRLAM, ATTENDANCE: 638

The FA Cup got underway this weekend as 416 clubs headed off on the road to Wembley. I managed to watch two of the 208 ties and for the second of my choices, I headed the suburbs of Sheffield.

Founded in 1860, Hallam is the second oldest football club in the world. Hallam have played at their Sandygate since their formation, with the ground being officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as "The Oldest Football Ground in the World". The ground is three sided as it is shared with cricket, which is the reason this game was being played on a Sunday. The fixture attracted a bumper crowd and there were a few familiar "groundhopping" faces in attendance.

The tie was an an absolute humdinger, complete with a grandstand finish. Kicking up the slope, Nicholas Taylor (16, 18) and Declan Daniels (37) gave Irlam a 3-0 lead before Daniel Pudill (41) netted to give Hallam a lifeline.

Hallam gave it a good go in the second half but, in truth, rarely troubled Toby Hurst in the Irlam goal. When the homesters were awarded a penalty in the 90th minutes, converted by Oliver Fearon, the partisan crowd sensed an unlikely comeback. The Shed End roared on Hallam and in the 95th minutes Kieren Watson duly equalised. Cue scenes. As a neutral it was a fantastic afternoon of football, proving the magic of the cup was still alive and kicking.

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TUESDAY 8th AUGUST 2023, FA CUP EXTRA PRELIMINARY ROUND REPLAY, SILVER STREET, IRLAM 5-2 HALLAM, ATTENDANCE: 350

After Sunday's superb FA Cup tie, I simply had to head to Silver Street for the replay. Once again the two teams produced another excellent game.

To my amazement, it had been thirteen years since my last trip to Irlam so to say this visit was long overdue would be an understatement. The most obvious change at the ground in those intervening years is the construction of a clubhouse, which was pretty busy this evening. As a non-drinker these days I contented myself with a coffee to wash down the pie, peas and gravy.

The game followed a similar pattern to the first tie with Irlam playing quick counter attacking football. Declan Daniels (2) and a cracker from Alfie Walker (18) got the homesters off to a flying start before Keiren Watson (23) halved the deficit. Nicholas Taylor (40) scored to restore Irlam's two goal advantage but on the stroke of half time Iren Wilson made it 3-2. A pulsating opening half of football.

Hallam came out in the second half on the front foot and to be fair, did everything but equalise, even the woodwork denied them. Irlam were still threatening on the break and in the 88th minute Walker broke and unleashed a rasping shot into the bottom corner to seal the tie.

There was still time for a bit more drama as in stoppage time Nico Digirolamo conceded a penalty and was deemed last man, so was shown a red card. In the arguments that followed goalkeeper Hugo Warhurst spoke out of turn to the linesman and was also shown a red card. When the dust settled Daniels converted the spot kick to ensure Irlam will be at home to Goole AFC in the next round.

RAMSBOTTOM UNITED (The Harry Williams Riverside Stadium)

NORTH WEST COUNTIES FOOTBALL LEAGUE PREMIER DIVISION, RAMSBOTTOM UNITED 2-1 FC ISLE of MAN, ATTENDANCE: 307

Where better to watch football on a Wednesday evening than at Ramsbottom United's picturesque Riverside Stadium.

The ground is now named in honour of Harry Williams, who founded the club in 1966 and is still the chairman today.

The Rams now find themselves back in the North West Counties League after an absence of 11 years, when they clinched the 2012 title, and promotion to the Northern Premier League, under the management of Bernard Morley and Anthony Johnson. The club were relegated after finishing bottom of the NPL Div.1 table last season.

Indeed...

Tonight FC Isle of Man were the visitors to Greater Manchester and they fell behind after just 3 minutes to a Maine Walder strike, who scored on his home debut to give Ramsbottom an early lead.

The Ravens worked themselves back into the game and began to dominate possession. Having said that, Ramsbottom really should have put the game bed with the chances they missed on the counter attack.

FC Isle of Man thought they'd earned themselves a point with a stunning 90th minute free kick equaliser from Dean Pinnington but Rammy then went on and bagged a 95th minute winner through another home debutant, substitute Conal Gallagher, who raced through to slot home to nick all three points.

An excellent game of football and a wonderful venue in which to watch. Definitely a bucket-list ground, in my humble opinion, and well worth a visit.

The football ground is adjacent to the cricket ground
and the pavilion can be seen from the terrace.

BURY FC (Gigg Lane)

SATURDAY 8th JULY 2023, PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY, BURY FC 0-6 BRADFORD CITY, ATTENDANCE: 2,135

There was only one place to be this afternoon and that was at Gigg Lane as The Shakers made their return home for the first time since May 2019.

1,526 days if you are counting.

Appropriately, before kick off James' 'Come Home' and Thin Lizzy's 'The Boys Are Back In Town' boomed out from the PA system.

The trials and tribulations of Bury FC are well documented but back in May the two separate supporter-led groups, set up after the club’s expulsion from the Football League in 2019, agreed to merge.

97% of Bury AFC supporters (the club who had represented the town in non-league since 2019 and played at Stainton Park, home of Radcliffe FC) and 90.1% Bury FC supporters (the original club which continued to exist as a fan-led business entity and completed a purchase from the administrator last year but, until now, they had not had a team to play at the ground) voted to come together as one, under the name Bury FC, a decision ratified by the FA in June. Another tune played today - The Beloved 'Sweet Harmony' 

Hopefully with this coming together the wounds can be healed and, going forward, the club can regain it's position in the 92.

Not that the result matters in these games, they are all about fitness and trialling new players, but Bradford, currently managed by ex-Everton and Southampton striker Mark Hughes, ran out comfortable winners thanks to goals from Alex Pattison (7) Andy Cook (12) Emmanuel Osadebe (27) and Liam Ridehalgh (28) then, after completely changing their team at half time, further goals from Matt Derbyshire (53) and Jamie Walker (88).

Highlights of the match can be seen by clicking here

NATIONAL SPEEDWAY STADIUM (Gorton, Manchester)

SATURDAY 1st JULY 2023, PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY, ABBEY HEY 2-0 PADIHAM, ATTENDANCE: 81 (h/c)

Welcome back. It's been a while. Firstly, are you OK? I hope so...

A mere eight days after season 2022/23 ended, I was back in the saddle once again as season 2023/24 commenced. 

I could not resist heading to a pre-season friendly at a venue that is not normally used for football (that isn't a ubiquitous 3G pitch in a cage). I wasn't the only one as hoppers probably made up about 40% of the crowd, and there were more than a fair few familiar faces in attendance. 

This afternoon Abbey Hey played Padiham at the National Speedway Stadium, the home of The Manchester Aces. The National Speedway Stadium is less than ten years old. Construction began in 2014 and it opened in 2016 as part of the Belle Vue's £11 million regeneration scheme. The new stadium was built close to the original Belle Vue Stadium, which closed in 2020 and was demolished for housing.

Not that the result matters in these games, they are all about fitness and trialling new players, but Abbey Hey won 2-0 courtesy of second half goals from Rhys Clooney and Will Shawcross.