Matches attended
62
Goals witnessed
275
Average goals per game
4.43
Highest scoring game
Wythenshawe FC 11 v 1 City of Liverpool
Ten most seen teams
Maine Road FC 12
City of Liverpool 10
Cheadle Heath Nomads 7
Cheadle Town 5
Maine Road res 4
Droylsden FC 3
Holker Old Boys 3
Manchester Corinthians 3
Cheadle Heath Nomads res 3
Abbey Hey 3
Raffles won
It goes without saying (but I will) - sweet FA.
Match Reports Done
18 (I am picking and choosing these days, family time, gigs, nature recording and many other interests keep this bugger on the cusp).
End of season round-up
Well here we are again, another season done and in truth, I am not sure where it went. As I have been snowed under with gigs, CD reviews, nature walks, trips here and there and the hectic day to day living of a multi-faceted enthusiast (otherwise knows as a 'passionate idiot') the season seemed to have just flown by leaving me considering how many matches I missed. Having said this, I did what I did, my missus was fine company at many games (too many in her lovely opinion) and it was good to have a season as varied as ever and enjoying the company of many grand folk who love this Non-League lark.
The highlights came with several games in Cornwall where we visited 3 different grounds whilst in the midst of wildlife recording and exploring new areas. We shall return and hope to get another hat-trick of games in, I thought the set ups at Helston Athletic, Wendron United and Pendeen Rovers where spot on with the latter right up my DIY street and affording some lovely views. We may well return to these grounds or indeed seek out a couple more that I have my eye on, we shall go with the flow and see how things transpire. It was also a joy to return to Portland United in Dorset and enjoy another superb jolly at a ground that is ruddy grand for those who like to sit in the sun on a raised bench and watch the game unfold.
Back up North and trips to Liversedge, Dearne and District FC, Fulwood Amateurs and Rossendale FC were memorable with many usual teams supported along the way. Of course Maine Road FC got their usual share of the Fungal scrutiny and after a glorious start to the season at home, the away record continued to falter until a full-on collapse was had and the team finished bottom of the heap. It was sad to see such a demise but in fairness a few games were close and with a bit of luck they could have bagged a few more points. Alas the league doesn't lie and if you finish plum bottom that is where you deserve to be. I think things will turnaround here and next year (if a reprieve is granted) I expect a top half finish.
The other team whom I took time to watch also finished bottom of their respective pack and went through a campaign of utter turmoil and disorganisation. I watched the City of Liverpool when they first started and have seen them here and there over several years. This year I saw a team fall apart, capitulate many times over and end matters with a quite abysmal record. The club is in freefall but I suspect this could be the time to restart the revival - I hope so, we need clubs like this and hey, I gotta meet up with the trio of terror (Lee, Dan and Peawack) whom are always good company and of course good old Bill, what a fine example of supporting your club through thick and thin and a real two-fingered salute to the hoards of flimsy success jockeys out there. One good thing about the COL team though, they certainly kept my goal average up (yikes).
And so, we are looking down the barrel at a new season with lots of changes to leagues, new teams to see and hopefully a few new grounds to visit. I will pick a team to concentrate on and get the usual faves visited and assessed. I will pick and choose where I do a report and sneak towards the target of 500 and I hope I can do a few articles for that fine Non-League Magazine 'Where's The Bar'. As per, we shall jig and juggle around the DIY gigs I do, the days out, family life and work and I hope to see some good hoofing, the usual capricious events and the wonderful people I gasbag with and who make this game what it is. Non-League hey - what a glorious realm.
