RAILS and WINGS and OTHER THINGS

6th AUGUST 2025: VISIT TO FRIENDS IN NORTH YORKSHIRE AND NORTHALLERTON RAIL STATION.

Went to North Yorshire to visit friends. They live at a small village well off the 'beaten track'. I caught the train up to Thisk where I was met. Good day out visiting areas of North Yorkshire. Lunch and tea then home from Northallerton Rail Station.

66130 hauls long freight consist through Doncaster Rail Station.

My train 91109 bound for York at P4 Doncaster Rail Station.

Then onto Thirsk with 185142 at P11 York Rail Station.

Signal Y225 at platform 10.

Baldersby & Rainton St James The Great Church.

Red Phonebox Baldersby.

Above, Northallerton Rail Station.

RJC

END.

VISITS TO FOOTBALL GROUNDS/MATCHES: 2ND AUGUST 2025 (Start of Football League Season).

EFL League 1: Doncaster Rovers 1v1 Exeter City

Today is the start of the Football season and Doncaster Rovers are playing host to Exeter City. Doncaster, won League 2 as champions at the end of the 2024/25 season. They begin the season in League 1 with a home match.

A cloudy but warm day saw spectators in shirt-sleeves and shorts with around 400 Exeter supporters. The combined attendance for the day is 8,688.

Doncaster in their usual red and white hooped shirts. Exeter in their change away strip of all blue.

Rovers began the match defending the South Stand.

Around 12 minutes into the game, Exeter threatened the Rovers goal with an attempt that hit the cross bar, viaa defkection from a Rovers defender. In the early exchanges Exeter took hold of the game but as time worn on, Doncaster started to take a foothold and had an attempt that flew over their opponents crossbar too.

Doncaster had a lot of the ball and appeared to be controlling the game, but a well mashalled Exeter defence kept out the Rovers attack. Halftime 0-0.

Exeter started the second half in a more positive frame and showed some attacking intent. Rovers had a couple of 'scares' but their defence held firm. Towards the end of the match that appeared to be petering-out in a 0-0 draw, there was a cross into the penalty area of Exeter and as the defender challanged to head the ball away, his flaying arm deflected the ball. Immediately, the referee blew for a penalty. Most expected a corner but a big cheer went up as the ref pointed to the spot, much to the annoyance of Exeter defenders.

Penalty to Rovers.

Once the ground had settled, and with two minutes of normal time remaining, Rovers' number seven stepped up and hammered the ball into the net. Releif was palpalble all around the ground.

GOAL!

So that was it. Donny ran the clock down by playing 'keep-ball at the Exeter corner flag. First game of a long season and three points!

RJC

END

26th JULY 2025: PRE-SEASON FRIENDLY-DONCASTER ROVERS 1-1 BLACKPOOL.

The 2025-2026 EFL Football season starts next Saturday, but today Doncaster Rovers play their final 'friendly match' against fellow league one opponents, Blackpool.

Whilst waiting for the bus from town to the stadium, a couple speaking French were behind me. On the bus, the lady asked me which is the best stop for the stadium. She said she was the mother of the goalkeeper who would be in the Rovers team today, a young lad on a season-long loan from Hull City.

There may have been three thousand fans in attendace with a smattering of fans from Blackpool. I sat in the South Stand as this where I had decided to sit this season rather than the East Stand as last season. The main reason being that when it's sunny, the light tends to detract from the action!

The match kicked-off with both sides playing cautiously. Some of the Blackpool players were tall lads! Blackpool seemed to be having a lot of the play. This was a measure of the type of opposition that Rovers will face in this higher league. It was 20 minutes before a shot at goal was attempted and this by Blakpool.

On 29 minutes, the Rovers goalkeeper played a short ball out to a defender who was immediately pressurised by a Blackpool player. The Rovers defender passed back to the keeper who was also pressured. He tried to turned around with the ball at his feet but in his haste, knocked the ball over the goal line.

0-1 to Blackpool.

At the start of the 2nd half, Rovers attacked more and started to force attempts on goal. On 51 minutes, Rovers had a corner. The ball was turned back and scored from close range.

Rovers score

Final score 1-1.

After that, Rovers had the better of the game. A mass substitution from both teams gave an outing to other players.

An entertaining afternoon of football in summer warmth and i managed to wear my summer shorts along with team shirt! Ready for the start of the season!

RJC

END.

VISIT TO ROMSEY: 31st JULY & 1st AUGUST 2025.

My destination.

This was an overnight visit to see family in this pleasent part of the country. The total rail miles is 230 miles & 35 chains and would take 4 hours journey time. I love to travel by train. I do it alot to visit football matches up and down the country frequently.

158769 arrives Romsey Rail Station.

158884 arrives P3 Romsey Rail Station.

Travel from home to Kings Cross was on an LNER Azuma train, then crossing London to Waterloo rail stationand cathing a train from there to Southampton Airport (Parkway) rail staion. From there it was a local service to Romsey where I was met.

Below: Romsey Rail Station, looking north, looking south, and platforms.