Visits to Football Grounds/Matches: 8th March 2025

  8th March 2025: EFL League 1-Peterborough United 1v1 Wycombe Wanderers

The Meerkat Family Stand Peterborough Utd

Wycombe Players pre-match warmup

This, I would class as a local match, as Peterborough is only 1 hour up the line from my home Station. As my leg was still problematic from last Saturday, I decided to grab a taxi to the ground, maybe 1.5 miles away from the station. 

Players presentation before match start

Good away support from the Wycombe followers and this a team I used to watch in the early 1970s when they were in the Rothmans Isthmian League. This was not going to be a straightforward match for Wycombe as Peterborough have been getting positive results on their own ground. I was 'in' with the Wycombe supporters.

Wycombe Players ready to start game

Impressions of the ground are good, well stewarded and they were very helpful. Fans of both sides mingled together in the Fan-Zone for beers. But the stand that the away supporters were housed at and I was in, was positively 'stoneage'! This was an old terrace with the usual terrace-step with wooden seats bolted to the steps, hence giving very little leg-room.

 Peterborough v Wycome match underway

Why visiting supporters couldn't be housed in the gleaming new GH Display Stand, (which was empty, except for a few stewards, is beyond me!

GH Display Stand

Wycombe wore their change-colours of red shirt and white shorts so as not to clash with Peterborough's blue shirts. The Posh had the better of the first half, scoring from a penalty after 16 minutes. They did have a chance to make it 2-0 the Wycombe goalkeeper fumbled a cross onto the post before it was cleared by a defender. The Wycome support was very raucous and starting to get very nervous.

Match ends, Peterborough 1v1 Wycombe

The second half started with more urgency from the 'Chairboys' as they strove to reduce the deficit. The football was better but Peterborough were putting-up a stiff defense of their goal. It took until th 93rd minute before Wycombe's equaliser came. Phew!

I decided to walk back to the railway station. Not far, only about 20 minutes even with my hobbling. A coffee at the station and home. Enjoyed my day out at Peterborough. It was a good sunny, mild day which always helps.

Peterborough Rail Station looking south to London

I couldn't leave Peterborough without getting a couple of train images!

Peterborough Rail Station TfL Class 700060

EMR Class 158846 heads south

RJC

END

Visits to Football Grounds/Matches: 1st March 2025

1st March 2025: EFL Championship-Middlesbrough 1v0 Derby County.

This was going to be my first visit to the Riverside Stadium. Getting a ticket was 'no-problem', but the manner I received it was intriging. It was downloade to my Android mobile phone, to my Google Wallet. How to use it would wait till I got to the ground.

The Riverside Stadium.

A train to York and then to Middlesbrough. This could be classed as a 'local game', as the journey time is only 1hr 20mins. Though I did have to amuse myself in York for an hour!

Ship moored just by stadium.

The ground is not far from the railway station, about 20 minutes walk. On first sight, I have to say that the Riverside Stadium is very impressive. Getting into the ground was not an issue as a very helpful steward showed me how to activate the turnsile by inserting my mobile phone under the electronic reader with the QR code on the ticket being read.

Teams warm-up before match.

Teams on pitch for start of match.

A very good-sized crowd of 25,000, boosted by the large Derby support of 2,000, sold-out, saw the match kick-off. Both sides appeared to be very cautious with 'Boro causing Derby a few problems. The passing from both teams was very inaccurate at times and you could feel the 'Boro supporters becoming restless. For me, it had '0-0' written all over it!

As with most football matches, the second half began with a bit more intensity. Derby had come here, winning their last 3 matches so fancied their chances. But 'Boro had the better of the play of a poor game.

The goal from Middlesbrough came in the 80 minute from Finn Azaz who had earlier in the first half, hit the Derby post with a fine shot.  This seemed to deflate their opponents who had nothing else to offer. So they couldn't quite make it 4 wins on the trot and they drop to the foot of the Championship.

Players applaud the fans

End of Match Middlesbrough 1 Derby 1 

After struggling to get to the rail station, which took me 45 minutes, I caught the train south to York with the disgruntled Rams supporters. I got talking to one who said that they were resigned to going to the various grounds in League One.

Very glad I did this trip, both to get a new stadium and to see Derby County. Once again, I'm very impressed with the stadium and the facilities.

Wilf Mannion 1918-2000

George Camsell 1902-1966

Middlesbrough Hydraulic Lock Tower

Temenos Sculpture, Middlesbrough Docks

Sunset over Middlesborough

RJC

END.

End of Game-Middlesbro players appreiate fans 01Mar2025

Visits to Football Grounds/Matches: 22nd February 2025.

 22nd February 2025 EFL League 1: Lincoln City 0v1 Burton Albion

Lincoln Railway Station, a fine Gothic-style building.

A very mild day made a change to all the cold and rain that there has been these past weeks. A trip down the line to Lincoln was the game that I was due to attend with my pal today and Burton Albion were the opposition. I would meet my pal from Derby at Lincoln station. 

A couple of pints before the game, (good job I had bacon sarnies for breakfast) and off we strolled to the ground, not too far away from the railway station. Maybe 20 minutes for two old codgers!

Presentation of the teams before kick-off.

Good support from Burton, almost packed the 'Away' half of stand! And they were in good voice, singing throughout the game. The football was okay, a few chances for either side. But it wasn't until the final minutes of the game that Burton scored the only goal of the game. Another priceless 3 points after the midweek win. Just glad it wasn't another 0-0!

First-half play.

Strolling back to the station, we called at a couple of pubs for another couple of pints. A grand day out, as they say. Mild weather, our team wins and a few pints!

Full-Time and Burton Albion win 0-1.

Burton Albion support.

Burton Albion players celebrate along with supporters at the 'Away-End' of the pitch.

Another very important result for Burton after last Tuesdays 0-1 win at at Stevenage. The travelling support greeted the team with chanting and singing to show its appreciation at another hard won result. To celebrate, my pal and I toured some pubs on the walk back to the railway station.

RJC

END

Visits to Football Grounds/Matches: 15th February 2025.

15th February 2025: EFL League 2-Doncaster Rovers 1v2 Grimsby Town

On a cold and very wet day, I ventured out to the game. I had purchased a ticket last month. After the heay defeat of Doncaster by Chesterfield, last Thursday, hopes were high against near rivals, Grimsby Town.

Donny started well and pressurised the Grimsby defence, having three attempts on goal. But Grimsby soon took control of the game. Their passing was more accurate and in between their attempts to slow-down play by dropping to the ground at the slightest of contact with their opponents and then quick movement, they scored a goal just before half-time.

The second-half was played at the same tempo with Donny getting the ball in the net moments after the restart. But this was rulled offside. Just a couple of minutes later, Grimsby raced down the left-wing and poked the ball across the goal line whereby a Doncaster defender had the ball bounce off his leg and into the net.

Kick-Off. 12:30hrs and floodlights are on!

Rovers did try to up the tempo but Grimsby's spoiling tactics stopped Doncaster's fluent play. The Mariners support never stopped singing througout the game and the numbers in their support were very impressive. They almost filled the away-end of the stadium.

No matter how hard they tried, Rovers found it tough to penetrate Grimsby's 5-man defence and were continually prone to a Grimsby break-away. Five minutes from full-time, Rovers got a goal and frantically tried to get the equaliser bit to no avail. The Grimsby fans made the atmosphere here today. Fantastic support and their went over to applaud them at the end of the game.

RJC

END

Visits to Football Grounds/Matches: 1st February 2025.

1st February 2025: EFL League 1 - Barnsley 0v0 Burton Albion

 Good to get out and about and a short train journey up to Oakwell at Barnsley to see if Burton Albion can make it 4 wins on the bounce. First half, the football was poor considering the league. Neither team created much though Barnsley slightly had the better of the play. The 2nd half had a bit more urgency from both teams but again overall it was very poor football. Burton had a good chance bu the player just couldn't poke the ball into the net. When Barnsley did threaten, Burton cleared off the line. So overall, apart from those two chaces, it was a very poor game. Get me home. As luck would have it, all trains had been cancelled due to a line-fault. So it was a bus back. Time for a cuppa tea and a couple of warm saussage rolls. Get me home, it's bitterly cold!

Visits to Football Grounds/Matches: 25th January 2025.

 25th January 2025: EFL League 2- Doncaster Rovers 1v0 Harrogate Town

Blue skies and bright Sun greet a milder day for a long time this Winter. Was delayed leaving home for the stadium due to contracters doing work at my house. Had to leave them to their own devices as I'd already spent my money and purchased a ticket. So I had to go! Harrogate brought some good support, maybe 300+. They had much the better of the opening exchanges without getting anything. Passing from both sides was going awry. The second half started and as usual, both sides had more urgency in an effort to get something from the game.

Visits to Football Matches/Grounds: 10th January 2025.

10th January 2025: FA Cup 3rd Round - Aston Villa 2v1 West Ham United

View from the Holte End.

West Ham have just scored!

West Ham just scored after 8mins 50secs, 0-1 to the Hammers!

It's all over! At least somebody is happy that the Villa won, albeit with a dubious goal!!

Final Result Villa 2 Hammers 1

I travelled to Birmingam to meet-up with my cousin and his wife for this game. He very kindly donated his ticket. So his wife and myself would go to the game. She is a very big Villa supporter. West Ham started brightly and scored a goal after 8 mins! I was in seventh-heaven! But I was in the Holte-End of the stadium where all the 'hard core' Villa supporters stand, yes stand instead of sitting on the seats that they pay for.