Category: Non League Football
Tuesday Night and the Gates are Low
The joys of away travel to night matches
A few years ago, British Sky Broadcasting showed on Sky One a series entitled Football’s Hardest Away Days. As well as the joys of negotiating the streets of East London in a Leeds United shirt, or hitch hiking from Sheffield to Plymouth, it showed in each hourly episode the lengths dedicated fans would go to for the sake of seeing their favoured side. As a Stalybridge Celtic fan, I have made any a tough away journey which has involved longish walks in pitch darkness, Rail Replacement Buses From Hell and long journeys on service buses. Continue reading
East of the M60′s Other Road to Wembley Part #2: FA Trophy Second Round Results
That’s it for another season… (at least for our clubs East of the M60)
For our sides East of the M60, it is game over for us in this competition as our only representative Stalybridge Celtic crashed out to Guiseley.
East of the M60′s Other Road to Wembley Part #2: FA Trophy Preview
Groundhog Day for the Mighty Stalybridge Celtic.
Where did Christmas go? Three derbies and one point out of nine for the Mighty Stalybridge Celtic, a pulsating 3 – 3 draw at Tameside Stadium between Curzon Ashton and Mossley and the small matter of a transfer to Scunthorpe United.
Amid the hubris, the ‘Bridge recorded a memorable 2 – 1 victory against Stockport County in an F.A Trophy First Round Replay. A last minute goal from Connor Jennings guaranteed the Mighty Stalybridge Celtic their fifth clash against Guiseley in a year, and their third trip to Nethermoor within that period.
Bye Bye Connorrrrrrr
Undisclosed fee sees Connor Jennings move to Scunthorpe United
After nearly four seasons from junior to first team level playing for Stalybridge Celtic, Connor Jennings has accepted a move to Scunthorpe United.
The 20 year old forward passed a medical and will be seeing out the rest of this season at Glanford Park. Following a rejected offer and deals from other Football League sides, the Irons made an improved offer which he accepted. The revised deal also includes a sell-on clause.
With the Irons having a free week due an earlier F.A. Cup exit, his first game for the NPower League One side is likely to be an away trip to Colchester United on the 14th January. His home début may be on the 21st January against Stevenage.
Connor Jennings was a product of the ‘Bridge’s youth policy starting out at junior level. He marked his first team début with a goal on the 3rd March 2009, in a 7-1 home win against Hinckley United. His move to Scunthorpe United makes him the first ‘Bridge player to join a Football League side since Lee Trundle.
His undisclosed fee is a club record, eclipsing the ‘transfer fee’ paid by Kidderminster Harriers for Harvey’s predecessor Steve Burr, and way ahead of the £15,000 accepted for Lee Trundle. Fans on Stalybridge Celtic’s message board have accepted his move and wished him well on his transition to Football League level. An independent Scunthorpe United fans’ forum are eagerly awaiting his appearance with emphasis on his height. Others are more sanguine hoping he’ll end a succession of previous below par forwards.
For one last time before he leaves Bower Fold. Altogether now…: “CONNORRRRRRRRR…!“
S.V., 06 January 2012
(Twelfth Night)
New Year’s Footballing Resolution? Consider Non League Football
Sick of overpaid prima donnas? Prefer to return to the grassroots game when football instead of ego massaging mattered?
Mossley versus Darlington, FA Cup. Photograph by Stephen Chipp, taken with Diana F+ toy camera (Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License)
This season’s Christmas and New Year fixtures went ahead with few postponements, compared with last season and the season before then. The weather was more conducive, something which was also reflected by this Yuletide period’s fixtures. Continue reading
East of the M60′s Other Road to Wembley #1: F.A. Vase Fourth Round Draw and Third Round Results
OMG, They’re Playing Whitley [Bay].
Before I lead you towards any references to the animated series, I can reveal that Kyle, Eric Cartman nor Chef feature in the side drawn to Whitley Bay in the Fourth Round of the F.A. Vase.
East of the M60′s Other Road to Wembley #2: F.A. Trophy Second Round Proper Draw
Groundhog Day for Stalybridge Celtic (or another new ground for County to visit)
You couldn’t make it up! One wonders if the F.A’s competitions are drawn at random at all, if recent draws are anything to go by. At the top, Manchester United are drawn to Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium in the F.A Cup Third Round, months after City’s 6 – 1 drubbing at Old Trafford.
Lower down the footballing pyramid, there is one inevitability along with death, taxation and The X Factor winner’s attempts to stitch up the Christmas Number One spot of the singles chart.
East of the M60′s Other Road to Wembley #2: F.A. Trophy First Round Results
Poor attendances amid scalps by lower league opposition
The F.A. Challenge Trophy is the Football Association’s premier non-league competition featuring clubs from Steps 1 to 4 of the non-league pyramid. With the Conference National side, one would expect some fairly good attendance figures at this stage. Alas this wasn’t the case.
Perhaps some sides (particularly those demoted from the Football League in the last decade) perceive the F.A. Trophy as a ‘Mickey Mouse Competition’, even though they have more chance of getting to Wembley than the F.A. Challenge Cup. That may be true to some extent, but I think the real culprit lies with hosting the First Round ties close to Christmas, when attendances from the F.A. Premier League down to the Manchester League are depressed by Christmas shopping. For those of you stood in the aisles of TESCO Extra, you missed a few crackers. (Before you ask, they are not close to the wines and spirits aisle, going off my rudimentary knowledge of the one in Altrincham which I used to frequent)
East of the M60′s Other Road to Wembley #2: F.A. Trophy First Round Proper Draw
Edgeley Park date for Stalybridge Celtic, whereas Droylsden and Hyde face ties against East Midlands opposition
Two teams, same initials, separated by a once weekly rail service, will meet for the first time in a first class competition since the 1921 – 22 season. The glamour tie of the F.A. Trophy First Round Proper was given to Stalybridge Celtic, who travel to Stockport County.
East of the M60′s Other Road to Wembley #2: F.A. Trophy Third Qualifying Round Results
Stalybridge Celtic, Droylsden and Hyde go through, but it’s goodbye from Curzon Ashton
The gusty winds made no difference to all four Tameside clubs in the F.A. Trophy Third Qualifying Round as all fixtures were fulfilled. Even the prospect of 60 – 70 mph winds didn’t stop Stalybridge Celtic, Hyde and Droylsden from advancing to the First Round Proper.
