I can remember as a kid in the 70s watching Porth Welfare playing on the council ground in Llwyncelyn. On the pitch, half time for a kick about in the goalmouth, getting told off by the groundsman. The pitch is on top of an old coal tip (it drained remarkably well). If the ball went over the fence, the kids would race 100 yds down the tip to get the ball. The reason it was a race? Whoever fetched the ball back got given a couple of coppers. The problem with the modern game is that it's so accessible. There is no need to watch your local club. Just watch the big boys on the tele. I played quite a few competitive games on that pitch. Though with an oval ball.
I used to go Lovells football ground in Newport, quaintly called Rexville. It was at river level, the Usk. Would probably be regularly flooded now. I lived on Brynglas above what is now the M4 and Brynglas Tunnels. I could see the ground but no detail of any games. Lovells made sweets and cakes and were a factory side, Lovells Athletic, playing in the Welsh League. The ground was next to Wynn's heavy haulage vehicle factory and park. We used to sneak into the football ground to watch. We always took a ball to have a kick about in the full size goals at half time. We would get chased off at first team games but allowed to carry on at reserve games. They had a keeper, Ray Cross, who was famous for playing the most games in the Welsh League, at the time. I think he played into his late forties. Sadly neither the club nor the ground are with us now. Wynns took over the ground to extend their yard. P.S. While googling all things Lovell Athletic yesterday I saw the ground is now housing. Bit of a risk unless the ground has been built up. Part of a flood plain otherwise.
It was the same at the Carn Colliery pitch in Blaengarw, the home of Garw 33 Boys Club. A flattened out spoil tip with about half an inch of rubbish soil spread on the top to get the grass to germinate. I've still got black coal dust under the scars on my knees from those days. If the ball went over the edge it was a long wait to restart because we only had the one. The only multi-ball we knew in those days to was in the showers..........
The advantage was, the pitch could be under an inch of water on the Thursday night, but it would be playable on Saturday. The water just soaked away through the slag.
Just to prove the point about the accesibility of footy on TV. Just been sat in the tack room at our smallholding watching toon v forest on my phone.
A striker's masterclass by Woods for the trees today. His curving runs in behind, drifting off the back of defenders and the finishes to match. How often does an ex-player come back and bite you on the bum? Though not often with a hat trick.
I’ve been doing a trawl through the leagues & came across playing for Orient that horrendous irritating ex JB Darren Pratley
definitely one who lives up to his name unlike the beautifully named Jack Hunt who hasn't (as yet) played for the stinky neighbours
What we're his parents thinking of? Or not thinking at all. AFA Minerva had an alarm engineer, Michael Hunt. Work it out. No joke, very true.
A guy did some design work for our aerospace once ...Peter Fyle I think that was probably a chicken or the egg situation as I don't think '****' was used so much when he was born in the 50's
We had a dumb blonde receptionist once who would call out names on the tannoy to take a telephone call so we gave her some fodder, Mike Hunt was a regular as was Dwayne Pipe, Stanley Blayde and Sidney Bridge Peter Fyle hadn't come to our attention at this point unfortunately
I once had the 'pleasure ' of working with a guy called Richard Head. What his parents were thinking I do not know. In truth, he was a bit of a dick, though.maybe they could predict the future? Philip Head was the Head of Property for the WDA.......I nearly pissed myself when one if my colleagues from Nottingham told him something and then said "What do you think of that then, Richard!"
Brighton and West Ham keeping the top of the premier league interesting and keeping Man City in the hunt. A bit of a rear guard by the hammers in the second half. Brighton were superb. Their short passing and little triangles was very impressive. Milner is a machine. Cant believe the ground he covers at the age he is. Neat and tidy with the ball as well, keeps everything moving.
I’m watching Arsenal try to walk it into the net with 75% possession against a magnificent defensive display
I watched the Brighton game then put the last half hour of the Arsenal game. It was a criticism of the Wenger teams. looking for the perfect goal. A solid defensive performance is what you'd expect from a Moyes side.
