Premier League 2
Monday 11 March 2024
Played at Sutton United
Ground Tick #476
Just recently, Premier League 2, the league for Category 1 Academies, has proved very fruitful for harvesting ground ticks. Night matches kick off at a Carrier Bag Firm friendly seven o'clock. And, of course, those in the leveled up South are usually near a train station served by a 12 carriager every fifteen minutes.
This week my football club, Sheffield United, announced a plan for a new First Team training base. And a revamp of the existing base to include a Cat 1 Academy. I say plan.
“We are pleased to announce we have an understanding to progress to negotiations with a view to being granted an exclusive pre-contractual period for a feasibility study into exploring financial options for the purchase of a new First Team training base.”
Crucially. No fucking Artists Impression. Even Sheffield FC would have got Catherine, Princess of Wales to knock something up. The point I'm making is - we're a long way off SUFC U21 playing at this level, in these sort of grounds.
So. In the meantime. I've harvested my 476th ground tick at Sutton United's Gander Green Lane. The bar under the stand was open. And there were Cask lines for both London Pride and St Austell Tribute. A Premier League approved security guard was there to make sure you didn't take the Ale out to your seat. So, we didn't bother. We had previously bothered in;
The Moon On The Hill
5-9 Hill Rd, Sutton SM1 1DZ
That's the Wetherspoons in Sutton. We're currently in one of the “spoons Beer Festivals. Those still have some appeal to me. The thing where they get an overseas brewer to come over to a big UK brewery and have a go at a Cask beer is still going strong. There are the occasional “brewed for the festival” beers. But, an increasing number seem to be of a - we're a big independent brewery, brew the usual, but with an extra tablespoon of malt, call it something different, put a new logo on it, they'll never know - variety.
Liberation Brewing Co (Jersey), Guernsey Street NYC, American Pale Ale on Cask at 4.6%
That was very good. Crisp at first. But there's a heap-a-hops just bursting out. Some anesthetic. And a lingering bitter finish. Although it does all rush at you at once.
In Nepotism News, Aston Villa keeper tonight was Lander Emery. Son of manager Unai Emery. It turns out Lander’s granddad Juan, and his great-granddad Antonio were also both goalkeepers.
A handful of Villa players had that tall modern athlete thing going on. Not particularly muscular. Lithe even. Think Jude Bellingham. But, Lander the Keeper didn't. Possibly the smallest geezer out there. Shit on crosses. Missing punches and catches. Always moaning like fuck that someone was offside. Conceded four. That's yer Nepotism News.
But, in the Moaning Messenger, we have to also reserve a place for the Vile’s #10 Omari Kellyman. Although it wasn't really moaning. It was just that every time he went to ground. ie often. He would let out a Banshee wail. Which echoed and rang out in a, largely empty, Gander Green Lane.
Omari did score from a superb free kick on 80. A curling left footer. But, it was all too late by then. Because the night belonged to Eaglet Luke Plange. A real handful all night. Ended up with the Hat Trick.
His first on 4. A cross from the left. Manager's Son Keeper came for it. Fuck Sake. Maybe four yards away when Luke got a neat header into the corner from around the Penalty Spot.
Luke's second on 45 to make it 3-0 at that stage. Great work by “somebody” to harry the defender and block the clearance. That fell to Plange. He took it on a stride. And scored with a great left foot shot.
And the Hat Trick on 61. Luke puts in a great diagonal run. Gets it back onto his left foot. And curls it beautifully into the corner.
I'm reading Palace U21 are now unbeaten in 10 games in 2024.
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