U23 Professional Development League
Monday 18 October 2021
Played at (currently) LNER Community Stadium, home of York City
SUFC 2021/22 Game #18
Sheffield United 1 v Millwall 2
The Championship
Tuesday 19 October 2021
SUFC 2021/22 Game #19
Big game, big day for the Carrier Bag Firm. York City's "new ground" is the 226th different ground I've seen a Sheffield United XI play on. All levels, all ages, all competitions, all surfaces, all wearing a United kit, all with a badge on. (Also happens to be the 376th different ground I've visited for football).
One of the CBF Luminaries took a week off work to have a North Yorkshire holiday based around this fixture. Without realising the Millwall game was the day after & he'd miss that. York's new ground is on an out of town shopping & leisure complex. Two of the CBF Infantry decided to travel to the ground from York on those Council Electric Scooters that are doing the rounds in some Cities. Thing is, the ground is outside the range of those in York. Embedded GPS makes them cut out if you try to cross the zone border with them. They had to ride 'em back into Dodge, dump them at a charging station & walk the rest of the way. At least they got there before half time!!!!
I repeat Big Game, Big Day for the Carrier Bag Firm.
I quite like the new ground. It felt very much fit for purpose. Comfortable padded seats - I got (correctly) told off by a Steward for putting my feet on the seat in front. Plenty of space. Great sight lines.
The playing surface looked absolutely state of the art. One of those hard wearing grass & synthetic hybrids. As well as York City, there are regular games for BOTH Hull City & Leeds United Academy teams AND Rugby League.
Of course, it wouldn't be an SUFC Academy game without the inevitable shenanigans around getting in. From our Bus Stop, we did nearly a full lap of the ground looking for the relevant gate. That included a section in & out of the attached leisure centre. Eventually we saw two hi vizzers guarding a way in.
There was a guy in a suit in front of us. Here we go….
"Hello, can I help you?"
"Yes, I'm the Sheffield United team Coach Driver"
"And how can I help you?"
"I've parked the coach up where they've told me & now I'd like to watch the game please"
"Will your name be on our list?"
"Dunno, I'm the Coach Driver"
El High Viz closely inspects list. Is he looking under D for Driver? Or C for Coach? Fuck knows. (Oh & the confusion means there are two of them now.) The collective decision is reached & communicated.
"I think it'll be best if you just go through the spectators gate"
Player 4, me, now enters the game
"Hi mate, we're here as fans, we'll also need to go to the spectators gate, where is it please?"
"Sorry, I don't know"
(Insert Giggling here)
"I think it might be Gate 15"
"Super, where is that?"
"I don't really know, maybe that way, no possibly that way, er, not sure"
The Coach Driver & the Carrier Bag Firm turn left and enter the ground maybe 40 yards away through Gate Fucking THREE.
Quite an odd game that one. United were always comfortable, but never dominating. The second, clinching, goal didn't come until the 83rd minute. I thought the starting two up top, Cappello & Antwoine Hackford offered very little. Hackford lasted until 67, replaced by Ayari. Ange Cappello has been used as left wing back in some recent U23 games. But tonight, returned to the attacking role we've seen in him throughout his earlier career.
The midfield four was stuffed with the pocket rockets. On the way home, we tried to think of the last big tall midfield enforcer we've had in the U23 team. And we struggled, who the fuck is that guy?
Arblaster, Maguire, Slater & Brunt
Maguire was brought down for the Penalty scored by Brunt. & Regan bagged that clincher on 83. All four were influential & busy all night.
It was all very flexible. Although I felt Slater was in a more attacking role than we'd seen him previously. Maybe, maybe, in EFL football he'll eventually make his way as the holding central midfield player he's down as. But, tonight, it was great to see him unleashed a bit. Ayari found him with a great ball to the left hand corner of the box, he brought it neatly onto his right foot & curled it past the keeper.
Towards the end of the first half, Frankie Maguire had been fouled in the box on the right. Brunt took a no nonsense, smash it past the keeper approach to give us the lead.
And, I'll say about Oliver Arblaster, he didn't look different to the more experienced and older three alongside him. He had that same livewire thing going on and I was impressed by him.
Back four tonight. Starbuck on the right. (Incidentally, he had a quieter game than of late.) Gordon & Lopata in the middle. And Nicksoen Gomis as a conventional (fucking tall, but conventional) left back. Thing is. The Tiger Cubs were no threat for a lot of the game. And Nix couldn't help himself. Particularly later on. Marauding forward down the left & into the channels like a good 'un.
I love seeing players play "out of position" sometimes. You can tell a lot about a player in those circumstances. Obvs, he had it a bit easy. But, it was a joy to watch Gomis getting it on tonight.
United often tried to find Lopata at dead balls. Occasionally, he was a decoy to get Ky Gordon on it. Ky hit the post as early as the 8th after arriving late on a worked corner.
Otherwise, the defence was very organised & comfortable. Dealing with & tidying up everything.
That result leaves us second in the table. A point behind leaders Coventry. And a four point gap to Peterborough.
The Maltings
Tanner's Moat, York YO1 6HU
Was very busy with lunch time lunchers.
Treboom Brewery, Yorkshire Sparkle, Citrus Pale Ale on Cask at 4%
Lemon washing up liquid citrus. Very pale. Nice & drinkable as you get down it.
The Ackhorne
9 St Martin's Ln, York YO1 6LR
Proper fraying at the edges side street boozer.
Ainsty Ales, Cool Citra on Cask at 4.4%.
I thought that was very good. Although the hop bitterness is not intense, it certainly kept on coming.
The Market Cat
6 Jubbergate, York YO1 8RT
Modern, slightly up market bar on three floors. Of course we didn't know it had seating on three floors until we had to climb them for a piss. And, it's essentially a Thornbridge pub.
Atom, Echo Chamber, West Coast Pale on Cask at 5.5%
Decent enough. But underpowered in all the key West Coast areas.
The Three Legged Mare
15 High Petergate, York YO1 7EN
My favourite pub of the four. Simple & modern with a large bar front.
Bad Seed Brewery, Game Plan, Ekuanot Pale on Cask at 4.2%
Lovely beer, with a hint of spiciness in the rear.
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Stats
I have now Blogged from 1,015 games in 2,618 days
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