Fleetwood Town v Farsley Celtic Second Qualifying Round, Saturday 26th September 2009

For the next round of the cup, the opportunity of a trip to the seaside appealed to me and Fleetwood was quickly settled upon. Coincidentally, Fleetwood got featured on Northwest Tonight this week after a disastrous day out at Hyde. When they thought the day couldn't get any worse, the moment was captured on camera - http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/fleetwood/39Boss-the-bus-is-on.5667981.jp

Fleetwood town are currently playing in the Conference North, their second season at this level and currently chasing promotion in 4th place. This position is remarkable considering the club folded and reformed in 1997 restarting in the North West Counties League Division Two and in a period of ten years have achieved four promotions and are now potentially two seasons away from league football. Last season, Fleetwood managed to make it all the way to the Second Round of the cup, narrowly defeated at home to Hartlepool 3-2.

Farsley Celtic play in the same league as Fleetwood but their current experiences have been quite different, they were relegated from the Conference National last year and started the season in administration and on minus 10 points. A good start quickly wiped out the deficit but the administrators then folded the club, but extinction was avoided after an investor was found at the eleventh hour.

As Fleetwood has no train station, I decided to get the train to Blackpool North and then the next leg of the journey was a nostalgic tram ride right up to Fleetwood.


Having arrived in Fleetwood, which was my first visit for over 15 years, my first impression was the tantalising smell of chip shops in the air. The temptation to indulge was great, but with the memory of the debacle at Bradford a fortnight ago still fresh I resolved to find my way to the ground first.

Thankfully, Highbury Stadium was found without any major drama, tucked away behind a park in amongst a housing estate. As I entered about 45 minutes before kick-off, the home players were busy warming up with a sea-gull supervising.

My first impressions were good, a giant cod greeting the fans as they arrived and smart new stands gave the ground a nice feel.


Stepping under the stand, I was even more impressed by the bar underneath which easily the most luxurious I've seen for the normal fan in any ground with a real sports bar feel to it. Perfect for catching the early Premier League game whilst enjoying some pre-match lubrication.

Fleetwood boasted former Villa & Blackburn left-back Alan Wright in their ranks and started as pre-match favourites, in fact bookies were not taking bets on the match due to Farsley's precarious financial position after taking a hammering last season on a Weymouth game under similar circumstances. It was no surprise that Fleetwood started the stronger team and the visiting keeper was called into action a couple of times in the first 5 minutes.


Farsley immediately bit back and took the lead on six minutes, Roy Stammer found some space and cracked a great effort into the top right corner from the edge of the box. Fleetwood's reply was almost instant, a blocked shot from a corner fell to Mike Wilde six yards from goal, and he made no mistake to the delight of the home fans. Equally delightful was the jolly sea-shanty which gets played when Fleetwood score.

The game then developed into a pattern of Fleetwood having most of the play without managing any clear-cut chances, in the meantime Farsley had a couple of useful breaks with Ellington missing the best opportunity when one on one with the keeper.

Just when it looked like Farsley were going to hold on for the half-time break, Fleetwood finally got their noses in front when a wide free-kick picked out centre-half Steve McNulty who gave Piotr Skiba no chance with a great headed goal.

The second half started with a sense of urgency for both teams, Roy Stammer again finding some space but failing to really test the home goalkeeper this time and Lee Dodgson being set up for a shot straight at the keeper in reply for the home side. On 52 minutes, Fleetwood nearly scored an identical goal from another set piece but this time Skiba pulled off a superb diving save.

Fleetwood were not to be denied the decisive third goal and one the hour mark a great looping cross picked out Adam Warlow at the far post and his headed finish was precise.

This goal seemed to take any fight that Farsley had left in them and the last half hour was comfortable for Fleetwood who continued to enjoy the territorial advantage and substitute Nathan Pond was unlucky to see his diving header hit the bar.

With the game finished, I decided to head back down to Blackpool before settling down to the team-time Premier League game and was fortunate to find a terrific old school pub near the station, The Ramsden Arms. A couple of very nice pints of Jouster capped off a great day out, and I'm greatly looking forward to Monday's cup draw to see where the next port of call is.

Bradford (Park Avenue) v Bishop Auckland First Qualifying Round Saturday 12th September 2009

For this stage of the cup the opportunity to visit Bradford (Park Avenue), one of the most famous names involved so early, was too much to resist. Bradford played in The Football League from 1908 - 1970 and actually reached the quarter-finals of the cup three times as well as being able to boast the legendary Len Shackleton amongst their former players. After leaving the league the club went into decline and folded, before reforming and working their way back up from the local Sunday leagues. Having lost their original Park Avenue ground, the club ended a nomadic period of ground sharing and moved into their current home at the Horsfall Stadium in 2001.

As they currently play in the Unibond League Premier Division, the home side were starting their cup campaign at this stage. The visitors, Bishop Auckland currently play in the First Division of the Northern League and were one of the most famous names in the halcyon days of amateur football, having won the FA Amateur Cup on 10 occasions. To reach this stage they had already beaten Hall Road Rangers and Hebburn Town.

Having plotted my route to the game by train from Victoria, I arrived into the suitably impressive Bradford Interchange to get my bus that should take me to the ground.

I had copied the postcode from the club's website and put into a travel website which had given me the bus I needed to take a and a handy little map of where to walk from the stop to my destination. When I boarded and explained to the driver I was going to the football ground, he said no problem he stopped right outside it. Brilliant. Ten minutes later, I was stood outside a football ground but not the one I wanted.


Getting my bearings from the map, I realised I was a mile or two from my target - no problem I had the best part of an hour to kick off. Walking through an estate which interestingly had a pony tethered up in the front garden, I reached Tyresal Lane which should be where the ground was which took me through a few fields and the alarm bells should have started to sound by now.



The lane then petered out into a dirt track and then footpath with no sign of a football ground in sight. By the time I had got myself back to a main road (and a mobile signal) I had looked up the stadium on my phone and been lucky enough to get an address (with a completely different postcode) which was about 5 miles from where I was and it was now 3pm. I was determined not to miss out on the game so phoned a taxi from a nearby pub and eventually got to my objective about 10 minutes before half-time. The turnstiles were, of course locked up, but the steward on the gate was happy to take my admission money and let me in.

At this stage the home side were already leading 2-1 with goals from Mark Betts & Simon Ainge, Steven Salvin had replied for the visitors from the penalty spot. The Horsfall Stadium doubles up as an athletics venue, which gives the spectator a distant feeling with regards to the action on the pitch.

There was soon more goalmouth action shortly after my arrival, when Bradford were awarded a penalty but squandered the chance to extend their lead as the visiting keeper dove smartly to his left to deny the home team.

As the 45-minute period passed the 4th official indicated 5 minutes of added time, which is unusual for a first half. At his stage I made my way slowly towards the opposite end with half an eye on a welcome half-time pint. As I result I almost missed Simon Ainge tuck away his second of the day to make it 3-1 to Bradford.

Suitably refreshed, I had the chance to take in the ground properly which is dominated by the 1,750-seater main stand. The club were threatened with demotion last year as the seats needed to be replaced. The club put an appeal and the seats you see were duly provided by Lords cricket ground who were refurbishing themselves.

The second-half commenced and Bradford continued to dominate without any clear cut chances, until Simon Ainge managed to head his hatrick from a corner in the bottom picture, below.

With the result in no doubt at all, and in spite of the warm weather, it was time to investigate the pie offering of the day. I opted for the pork pie, as it is quite a rarity at football matches, topped a very generous allowance of mushy peas with mint sauce to add flavour. Excellent.

The momentum of the game seemed to have tailed off by now and it was a little niggly with Bradford creating all the chances without managing to extend their lead before proceedings were brought to a close.

Bradford's reward for the next round is a home tie with Harrogate Town, whilst I have decided to swap the white rose of Yorkshire for the red rose of Lancashire for Fleetwood Town v Farsley Celtic.

Sheffield FC v Flixton Preliminary Round Saturday 29th August 2009

For my next game I picked a visit to a club that were firmly on my wish-list when I decided to embark on this football journey, Sheffield FC. They are famous for being the world's oldest football club, founded in 1857, three years ahead of their local rivals Hallam. They currently play in Division One South of the Unibond League, a couple of divisions higher than last fortnight's winners Penrith. The home team had a bye to this stage of the cup, their opponents Flixton had triumphed with an eye-catching 6-4 replay win at Winsford United and hail from the Premier Division of the North West Counties Football League which is effectively just one level below their hosts.

Doing my advance research, I discovered that Sheffield actually play in Dronfield which is 8 miles south of the Steel City with a handy direct rail connection. Arriving in Sheffield, I had about 45 minutes to spare before my connection which hopefully would give me time to put on my football coupon and enjoy a quick pint in The Howard, a favoured watering hole from previous visits to the city. Leaving the station, Sheaf Square which was completed in 2006 gives an excellent first impression of the city with its huge steel water feature. In the background, Park Hill pays homage to less happier times.

Unfortunately South Yorkshire Police have lost none of their legendary charm, a request for directions the nearest bookies was met with a surly "I'm from Leeds" in reply. If you find yourself being beaten to death in Ladbrookes on a match day, don't expect a speedy response.
A later advertising sign at the match had me wondering if they had branched out with their own business concern.

By the time I had finally located a betting shop and completed the coupon, at the third attempt due to lack of practice, time was short so the idea of a drink in Sheffield was abandoned and it was straight on to Dronfield.

Dronfield, at least the part I saw, turned out to be a fine looking town with the stone houses looking resplendent in the afternoon sun.



A brisk 15 minute walk took me up Sheffield Road to The Bright Finance Stadium and the convenient Coach and Horses pub right outside, time for that pint at last. It would have been churlish to ignore the real ales on offer, so a pint of Jaipur was secured and I can heartily recommend it.




Suitably refreshed, I entered the ground and was impressed with what I saw. The club bought the ground, along with the pub, in 2001 and it is the first time in their history they have owned their own ground and they have made a good job of modernising whilst retaining some character. Having obtained a programme, club badge and the day's team sheet I gave the ground the once over.




The teams took to the field from a an expandable tunnel which is in keeping with football at a higher level, in sharp contrast to the retro scoreboard in the far corner.


With the game underway, Sheffield immediately took the initiative and after a break down the flank, forced the first corner of the game.


From the corner, Will Senior rose smartly to nod home and Sheffield were 1-0 up after just 2 minutes.

For the remainder of the half, Sheffield dominated the possession working the ball to their wide men and Flixton managed to valiantly resist the barrage of crosses into the box as the home side looked for a second goal.




The halftime whistle came with the score still at 1-0. I obtained some excellent pie, peas & gravy and took a seat behind the goal to enjoy my snack. This turned out not to be the wisest idea as the substitutes were using the same goal for target practice and a wayward shot rebounded off the back of the stand straight onto the back of my head. Thankfully the pie was not dropped and the fellow was good enough to come over afterwards and ask if I was OK.

It didn't take long for the hosts to double their advantage. On the 56th minute a penalty was given for a head-high challenge in the Flixton penalty area, I personally would felt an indirect free-kick would have been appropriate and Jordan Eagars confidently slotted home the spot-kick.

Five minutes later substitute Leon Wainman was unfortunate to see his header come back off the underside of the bar from close range following a wide free-kick, quite possibly his first touch of the game.

Flixton survived another scare, soon after, with James Jowesey in goal saving from point blank range during a goalmouth scramble.


The pressure finally told on Flixton when Danny McDonnell received his marching orders for a second yellow card. The subsequent free kick from out wide was whipped in low and Greg Wright cannily skipped in front of the keeper to poke home from close range.


The fourth goal was not far behind, from a corner after Wainman was denied by a superb diving save from the under-siege Jowsey. The subsequent corner was volleyed against the post and kindly fell to Greg Wright for his second again from close range.


Shortly after, Wainman completed a hat-trick of tough luck hitting the outside of the post having broken clear and beaten the keeper.
At this point, Flixton sadly lost their discipline completely and a serious of petulant challenges led to a rash of yellow cards, culminating in Luke Scarry and Stephen Boardman also receiving their marching orders just before the final whistle.

It was a thoroughly deserved win and one which rewards Sheffield with a home time against FC United of Manchester in the next round, the oldest club against one of the newest and I would expect a capacity crowd for that one.

There was time for a couple more pints after the match and it was nice to see the home players enjoying a few beers there too.

Now its time for me to wade through the Sunday papers and work out who is playing who in the next round for my next trip in a fortnights time.