Central Midlands Premier Division North (Step 7)
Saturday 18 May 2024
Ground Tick #488
NBDR
No Beer Don't Read
Glapwell’s somewhat dilapidated Hall Corner ground is the 488th different ground I've watched football on. At this time of the year, you tick what you can get. So, that's how me & Step Seven Steve found ourselves in the Central Mid.
The changing block and tea hatch are behind one goal. With the turnstile gate in the corner at that end. We set off on the traditional lap of the ground (clockwise) to unwind our bones from the car journey over here. We completed the full lap and Step Seven Steve wanted a cuppa from the tea hatch. He's in the queue. But pulls out.
“Fuck Sake I need to retrace me steps. The programme has fell out me pocket.”
“I'll go this way” (points anti clockwise)
“You go round the other way” (points clockwise)
“That's the best strategy…”
I found the fucking thing behind the goal at the other end of the ground. As fucking far as it was possible to get from the original tea hatch location.
Incidentally, there was a big corrugated fence at that end. And, the noises we could hear from behind it, particularly the cheers, suggested there was another game going on.
“What's happening over there mate?”
“Cricket.”
Must have been a hell of a game. From the number of cheers, I calculated the away team must have been about 94 runs for 23 wickets…
There had been some confusion at Carrier Bag Firm Towers in the morning about the precise nature of this game. So, we'd had to deep dive into the FA Full Time site to check a few things out.
It's a 16 team league. Thirty game season. This morning, hosts (Glapwell) were played 29, won 1, drawn 1, lost 27, goal difference minus 143. Hell of a season that. And I support Sheffield fucking United.
By the end of September, they'd lost 5-1, 6-1 three times, 7-1 twice, 8-0 and 9-0. In March, they lost 11-0 at Doncaster City. Their win came away at Staveley Miners Welfare Reserves in December.
But. I'm here to testify. They gave it a right good fucking go today. As did Harworth. An absolute credit to themselves. This. Is. Football.
I'm not ashamed to say - I lost my shit in the first minute. A Glappy striker broke away. Took it on. And the calmest finish under the keeper to put them one up.
Lasted seven minutes until Harworth equalised. I felt Glapwell might have done better if they'd protected and helped out their keeper. Harworth went ahead on 29. The keeper beat out a shot from distance. He did well. Got everything behind it. And beat it out a good way. But, no defenders followed in for the rebound and it was an easy goal for the Harworth guy.
Not exactly a carbon copy on 45. But similar. This time, the keeper rather tamely pushed out a low cross. Again, no defender alert, so a very easy tap for 3-1. Amazingly, there was still time for Glapwell to pull one back before HT.
It looked to me like the younger lads in the Glapwell XI were tiring. But, on 62, #7 kept at it on the left. He won the ball back, put in a speculative shot, and the Harworth Colliery keeper spilled it horrendously, and it spooned in over/through him. For three all.
But the dream died on 71. From a free kick. I thought he might try a daisy cutter under the wall. Step Seven Steve thought he'd curl it over the top of the wall to the keeper's left. But, he's done the lot of us - but particularly the keeper - with a straight as a die, yard off the deck shot just inside the post to the keeper's right.
Harworth four, Glapwell three, heads high for me.
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