A Labour Of Love List

Worksop Town 5 v Penistone Church 0 

Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup Final 

Thursday 9 May 2024 

Played at Hillsborough 

No Giant Killing. As Step 3 Worksop Town saw off Step 5 Penistone Church rather straightforwardly. An enjoyable game nonetheless. With Church playing their part in a - go home with your heads held high - way.

You'll understand that the Carrier Bag Firm keep a keen eye on fixtures around the place. Here's some County Senior Cup gamesthat have pricked up our ears.

Tuesday 14 May. Nottinghamshire Senior Cup Final. Step 3 Basford United v Nottingham Forest U21. At Coronation Park in Eastwood.

Tuesday 14 May. Northumberland Senior Cup Final. Step 6 Blyth Town v Newcastle United U21 at St James Park

Wednesday 15 May. Birmingham Senior Cup Final. Step 5 Racing Club Warwick v Aston Villa U21. At Villa Park. 

Wednesday 15 May. Bucks & Berks Senior Cup Final. Step 4 Marlow v Reading U21.

That got one of the Baggers speculating…

“Phil. I don't get it. Here we are in Sheffield. The so-called Home of Football. Yet our Big Boy Clubs, United, Wednesday, yer Rotherhams, yer Barnsleys, yer Donnys don't play in this County Senior Cup.”

“But, we know from your fixture trawl that some other PL and EFL Clubs do enter sides in their County Senior Cups. Alright, it'll only be the Academy sides.”

“Even so, United Under 21s away at Rossington Main. Be a right fucking doooooh.”

“Phil. What gives? Is there a definitive list of PL and EFL Clubs that have entered sides in 2023/24 County Senior Cups? And how far they got?”

“There fucking is now. Although. Maybe better to say comprehensive rather than definitive…”

“That's a fucking week of my life I'll never get back.”

I'd be very interested if any readers spot any errors. And more particularly any omissions.

And, please, no one get precious as to how teams are described - U23, U21, U18, Reserves, B - the point is clear - they've entered one side or another.

Wednesday 13 March. Bedfordshire Senior Cup Semi Final. Step 4 Biggleswade 3 v Luton Town U21 0.

Friday 12 April. Birmingham Senior Cup Semi Final. Aston Villa U21 3 v Coventry City U21 1.

Tuesday 19 December. Birmingham Senior Cup 3rd Round. Step 5 Darlaston Town beat Wolverhampton Wanderers U21 on Penalties.

Tuesday 12 December. Birmingham Senior Cup 3rd Round. Step 5 Racing Club Warwick 2 v Birmingham City U21 0.

Monday 11 December. Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round. Step 5 Romulus 3 v Burton Albion U21 0.

Wednesday 22 November. Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round. Step 5 Darlaston Town beat West Bromwich Albion U21 on Penalties.

Tuesday 28 November. Birmingham Senior Cup 2nd Round. Step 5 Tividale 1 v Walsall U21 0.

Tuesday 23 April. Berks & Bucks Senior Cup Semi Final. Step 4 Marlow 4 v Milton Keynes Dons U21 2.

Tuesday 16 April. Cheshire Senior Cup Final. Step 3 Hyde United beat Crewe Alexandra U21 on Penalties.

Tuesday 23 April. Cumberland Senior Cup Final. Step 3 Workington 1 v Carlisle United U21 0.

Tuesday 6 February. Derbyshire Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final. Step 2 Buxton beat Derby County U21 on Penalties.

Tuesday 19 March. Essex Senior Cup Final. Step 4 Redbridge beat Colchester United U21 on Penalties.

Wednesday 28 February. Gloucester Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final. Step 5 Roman Glass St George beat Cheltenham Town Reserves on Penalties.

Tuesday 5 December. Gloucester Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final. Step 2 Gloucester City 4 v Bristol Rovers Development 1.

Wednesday 15 November. Gloucester Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final. Step 4 Cribbs 5 v Bristol City U23 2.

Wednesday 27 September. Gloucester Senior Challenge Cup 1st Round. Step 5 Roman Glass St George 2 v Forest Green Rovers 0.

Tuesday 26 March. Hampshire Senior Cup Semi Final. Step 5 Portchester 3 v Southampton U21 1.

Monday 11 March. Hampshire Senior Cup Semi Final. Step 3 Totton 3 v Bournemouth U21 1.

Wednesday 15 November. Hampshire Senior Cup 3rd Round. Step 6 Folland Sports beat Portsmouth U21 on Penalties.

Tuesday 19 March. Hertfordshire Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final. Step 2 St Albans City 5 v Stevenage U21 2.

Tuesday 30 January. Hertfordshire Senior Challenge Cup Quarter Final. Step 4 Hertford Town 2 v Watford U21 1.

Tuesday 17 October. Kent Senior Cup 2nd Round. Step 2 Maidstone United 2 v Gillingham U21 0.

Tuesday 13 February. Liverpool Senior Cup Quarter Final. Step 3 Marine 4 v Everton U21 0.

Tuesday 19 March. Liverpool Senior Cup Semi Final. Step 4 City of Liverpool 2 v Tranmere Rovers 1.

Monday 29 April. London Senior Cup Final. Step 3 Hendon 1 v Charlton Athletic U23 2.

Tuesday 6 February. London Senior Cup 2nd Round. Step 2 Dartford beat QPR U21 on Penalties.

Tuesday 14 November. London Senior Cup 1st Round. Step 5 Barking 1 v Leyton Orient U21 0.

Wednesday 1 November. London Senior Cup 1st Round. Step 5 Sporting Bengal United 3 v Wimbledon U21 1.

Tuesday 26 September. London Senior Cup 1st Round. Step 3 Wingate & Finchley 2 v Brentford B 0.

Tuesday 28 November. Middlesex Senior Challenge Cup 2nd Round. Step 3 Hayes & Yeading United 2 v Brentford B 0.

Wednesday 10 April. Norfolk Senior Cup Semi Final. Step 4 Gorleston 2 v Norwich City U23 0

Tuesday 10 October. North Riding Senior Cup 2nd Round. Step 2 Scarborough Athletic beat Middlesbrough U21 on Penalties.

Thursday 4 April. Northamptonshire Senior Cup Semi Final. Step 4 Rushden & Diamonds beat Peterborough United U21 on Penalties.

Tuesday 9 January. Northamptonshire Senior Cup Quarter Final. Step 4 Rushden & Diamonds 2 v Northampton Town U21 1.

Thursday 12 October. Nottinghamshire Senior Cup 2nd Round. Step 6 Clipstone 2 v Notts County Reserves 1.

Wednesday 24 January. Oxfordshire Senior Cup Quarter Final. Step 4 Kidlington 3 v Oxford United U21 1.

Tuesday 19 March. Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup Semi Final. Step 4 Leek Town 1 v Stoke City U21 0.

Wednesday 22 November. Staffordshire Senior Challenge Cup 1st Round. Step 6 Eccleshall 1 v Port Vale U21 0.

Tuesday 20 February. Suffolk Premier Cup Semi Final. Step 3 Needham Market 4 v Ipswich Town U21 2.

Thursday 18 April. Surrey Senior Cup Semi Final. Step 5 Farnham Town 3 v Sutton United U21 0.

Wednesday 15 November. Sussex Senior Cup 3rd Round. Step 5 Steyning Town 2 v Brighton and Hove Albion U21 1. 

Tuesday 17 October. Sussex Senior Cup 2nd Round. Step 2 Worthing 6 v Crawley Town 2.

Wednesday 31 January. Walsall Senior Cup Quarter Final. Step 5 Lichfield City 3 v Walsall 2.

Did you also know that the Lancashire FA still have an old fashioned County Cup? All the Lancashire FA PL and EFL Clubs enter sides - Liverpool, Everton, the lot. Barrow are due to play Burnley in the final.

Am I making a point? Don't know. But it is clear that many County FA Senior Cups include teams from PL and EFL Clubs. The Sheffield & Hallamshire FA Senior Cup doesn't. 

“Phil. Was there Beer?”

The Beer House S6

548-550 Langsett Rd, Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 2LX

Their Hunters Bar bar is on my route to Bramall Lane, and into Sheffield. I'm a Big Fan. So, it was great to take an opportunity to visit their newer S6 venue.

The L shaped bar front is broken by a pillar. And by stairs down to the basement. The Kegs are on one part of the L. The Casks on another. And to schlep from the Kegs to the Casks, you have to take quite a detour around those stairs.

I quite liked that. As you carefully consider the Kegs. Then intently study the Casks. Having paraded yourself around the bar. It say…

“Hang on. Hang on. Don't rush me. I'm still choosing. This is an important decision for me.”

I quite liked that. I mean, I could have just fucking looked at the board. But that would have been too simple. There were 5 on Keg, and “half a mile away” 4 on Cask.

DEYA Brewing Company (Cheltenham), Glue-Tac, New Zealand Pale Ale on Keg at 4%

Little bit of grass to begin. But it goes tropical quickly. Bursts into flavour. Pineapple in the finish. Merest hint of bitter. Citra, Motueka, Nelson Sauvin

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Stats 

I have now Blogged from 1,428 games in 3,551 days 

Drink 'Em All, Take 2

Penistone Church 3 v Hallam 1 

Northern Counties East League, Premier (Step 5) 

Saturday 23 December 2023 

Footie Beer of the season, SALT Loom, Pale Ale on Keg at 4% served in the PCFC Clubhouse. Before, after, and if you could brave the elements - during - that somewhat disappointing and lack lustre defeat for Hallam. Church bookended it with a Penalty on just 6 minutes. And a kill it off third on 90+3. Hallam had clawed level on 33. But that was the only bright spot. Very one dimensional, long ball. Bad day in the Parish.

But, the Carrier Bag Firm went through the Beer Card for the second day running. On the Friday, we had found ourselves in Leviathan Brewing (Sutton Coldfield) and drank through all the beers they had.

This afts, we rushed off the Penistone Choo Choo to;

Penistone Tap & Brewhouse

14 Market St, Penistone, Sheffield S36 6BZ

That's the home of Woodland Brewing. A great shopfront bar. Long and thin. With plenty of seating down the back. They had nine on Keg. Including six of their own. Two Cask. One of which was theirs. So. ALDR. All Beer Don't Read. I am contractually obliged to drink all seven. And walk you through them.

Woodland Brewing, Mini Citra V2, Pale Ale on Keg at 4%

Hazy as hell. But not actually all that juicy. The citrus is the story. And there is gentle bitter at the end.

Woodland Brewing, Reluctant Superhero, Pale Ale on Keg at 4.8%

Citra and Strata Hops. The citrus dominates that ‘un an’ all. Some peach in the earlier mix.

Woodland Brewing, Symphony In Green, IPA on Keg at 5.2%

A tad bland if I'm honest. Not a great distance travelled.

Woodland Brewing, Acacia Road, Hefeweizen on Keg at 5.1%

Excellent. Great balance. HopfenWeiss style. More banana than custard.

Woodland Brewing, First Flight, Rye Pale on Keg at 6%

Not what I expected at all. Very pale and I could hardly detect the malt. Loads of citrus again. Felt like an identikit pale to me. Needed the rye hit.

Woodland Brewing, Pilley Porter on Keg at 4.3%

Nice, simple, toasty.

Woodland Brewing, Wentworth Blonde on Cask at 4%

And. An easy drinking, moreish cask ale to send us out into the rain.

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Stats 

I have now Blogged from 1,358 games in 3,413 days 

We're Counting

Rossington Main 0 v Penistone Church 2 

Friendly 

Wednesday 9 September 2020 

Football With Fans Game #9 

Ground Tick #364

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Right. What did you do during Lockdown? I've used my time wisely. We're Ground Counting. Using a couple of existing lists, I did a deep dive. I'm absolutely convinced that Rossington Main's Oxford Street ground was was the 364th I've visited for a game.

There was no Ball Supping choice in the lovely & welcoming clubhouse. I opted for Coors Light as my port in that storm.

A good, partisan crowd tried to roar Rosso to victory. But goals on 38 & 49 won it for Church. In all honesty, I couldn't tell you much about the game as I was constantly cross checking & auditing this fucking list.

Stats

I have now Blogged from 926 games in 2,213 days

Back in the Saddle

Penistone Church 0 v Sheffield United XI 1
(billed as SUFC U21)

Friday 10 July 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Self. Self. Self. I'm always keen to see the announcement of United's pre season. All levels. Games abroad. Scotland, Ireland. Two or three away games close to each other (West Country). Beer destinations I've been looking to check out/revisit. All on my radar. Why would I be remotely interested in what is best for the players preparation?

Anyway, it is what it is. First up, Penistone Church, a ground I visited after Barnsley away in April.

I'm not sure what to make of the shenanigans at Bramall Lane. The 5 all nonsense at Swindon will be difficult for even sane punters to get out of their noggins. But, having let Clough on the bus home & not changed the locks on his office in the morning, I thought he'd stay. But, wheels turned & he's off. When you sack a manager, you can't appoint any new manager you want. You just have to make the best choice from the small pool of currently jobless or seriously disgruntled. Revolving doors.

I want; the Board & hangers on to shut up and disappear into the background, stability in team selection, a positive but honest interview/media approach from the manager.

You wouldn't guess it from reading my Blogs, but I can be positive. Nigel Adkins looks a good appointment to me. But, the modern fan clamours for new signings. Get 'em in. Keep up with the Jones's. And United aren't doing that. Again, I quite like that. We've tried to build teams quickly year after year. Try an 11. They're pony. Get some new faces in. No better than those we've got. Bring in the loanees. Just a few more for the final push......

Stop. Stop. Stop. Have a look at what we've got. Decide what we need. If we can't get better players, we'll persevere. Lone voice.

Anyway. Superb game in its own right out here in Penistone. Competitive in an everyone putting their all in way. All players trying to impress their respective managers before their seasons. Age group football ticks on a year. I’m not such an anorak that I remember each player's birthday. But, it felt like a young United team. But, maybe that’ll be close to the U21 starting XI. There were no obvious first team fringers. No Dimaio. No Calvert-Lewin.

In recent years, United have loaned players out to non-league clubs as a major strategy in their development. In this game, it was nice to see them all gathered back from the diaspora, back in Red n White. Jake Wright & Jamie McDonagh upfront. Julian Banton & Ioan Evans at the back. Joel Coustrain out wide (although he was our most anonymous player). Utility Ben Whiteman, wherever Morgs fancies him that day (midfield just in front of the back four).

We’ve struggled at Centre Back in the first team. Now, I’m not saying any of these fellas are ready for that. But, we do have a lot of Centre Backs in our system. Banton, Evans, Adebowale, Whiteman if it’s his day. And we’ve even let Sam Berry go.

In the end, one goal in it. Jake Wright got on the end of a long ball & looped a header in.

Superb drink in the Clubhouse. As per my last visit, 3 handpulls on. Doombar, Stancill Blonde & Stancill Porter. My sources tell me that the Blonde went off & was subbed by Bradfield, Farmers Blonde. I had the Stancill Porter at 4.4%. It surprised me a little. Mainly in its colour. It was definitely NOT Black. More dark brown. It was gentle, nothing too powerful going on, but nicely balanced. Dominant tastes were a little toasted apple and a nice bitterness. Nice beer.

161/353

1 Beer Festival & 3 games

Barnsley 0 v Sheffield United 2
Shaw Lane Aquaforce 1 v Heanor Town 0
Penistone Church 0 v Pontefract Collieries 7 (Seven)

Saturday 4 April 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

What a day to be alive. One Beer Festival, three games, one Blades win. A lot of that is down to the hard work of the Northern Counties East League & Clubs. And, the fans who organise @GroundhopUK. I've never dipped my toe in before. Although I have been aware of their sterling work. Basically, they work with a particular League & Clubs to stagger kick offs over a long (in this case Easter) weekend.

They organise group rates at a suitable hotel. They have a bus which ferries fans between the grounds. They make sure there are match programmes, badges, souvenirs. But, as well as the core organised group, GroundHop clearly brings in a lot of independents. People driving between the grounds. People jumping on & off public buses & trains. Sure, the hardcore go to all the games over the weekend. But, as well as automatically "putting 50 on the gate", the publicity generated clearly swells it further. With, for instance, people like me.

As you must already know, a South Yorkshire TravelMaster Day ticket (all buses, trains, trams) is seven and a half English Pounds.

Over the weekend, some clubs have already had gates FIVE OR SIX TIMES their average. Superb effort. Of course, I've got Sheffield United (including Age Groups) & International Football as priorities. So, I doubt I'll ever be able to do full justice to a Ground Hop. But, delighted to be able to dip in today.

The Beer

My third trip to Barnsley this season (U21 & U18). Finally made it to the Old No. 7. And it was Beer Festival weekend. Marvellous. The pub was rammed with post match sorrow drowners (& a few celebrating Blades quietly tipping the wink to each other - it’s what we do). I’m guessing, normal day it’s just the ground floor bar, busy day it’s that and the Cellar Bar. As the Festival was on, there was also a temporary bar in the Cellar. Ground floor bar was wonderfully overstaffed - “who is next?”. There was lots on. It’s a guess, but certainly 15 handpulls, could be nearer 20.

As I was rushing around, I only had time for a) Coastal Brewery, Cornish Bronze at 3.7% & b) Revolutions, Pretender at 4.5%. The pub was far too rammed for notes. Sorry.

The Clubhouse at Penistone Church FC looked the business. Three handpulls. Occupied on the night by Sharps Doombar, Bradfield Farmers Blonde & Stancill Brewery Barnsley Bitter. Gotta love that. Maybe because of the unusually large crowd, they had a Can Bar out in the open. £1.50 for your Carling & Strongbow needs. Before the third peep of the final whistle - “cans to take home with you, now £1”. The true entrepreneurial spirit of non-league football.

The Football

A simple, competent performance from the Blades. Nice three points to have. Keeps things ticking along nicely. Feisty affairs these Dingle Dee Dar Dust Downs - at least on the Terraces. Even at 4 in the afternoon, there were some sights to see in Tarn around the Drinking Strip Lager Emporiums. Only limited fisticuffs.

To be honest, the euphoria of The Blades win ruined the rest of the football day. It would only get worse from that high. Pontefract Colls out-played, classed & scored Penistone Church. Scoring at will. Nice bit of alliteration after the sixth went it - “that’s Piss Poor Penistone”. This battle of the PCFCs was a little tasty at times. Penistone down to 10 men. I didn’t quite see it, maybe 2nd yellow. Colls goals came from all angles, but they looked well set up in the air. Nice, whipped in crosses, bodies on the end & up in the air, getting powerful headers in.

A single goal nicked it at Shaw Lane. Maybe he meant it. I’m saying not. Free kick on the edge of the box. Big wall. He’s done the Guzunder. Along the ground as the wall have jumped. I think he’s scuffed it. They all count.

Great, great day.

111/256