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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Back On The Carling

Worksop Town 2 v Hallam 2

Friendly 

Friday 21 May 2021 

Football With Fans Game #21 

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That's the best part of 22 weeks since I last went through a turnstile to watch a football match. Even slightly difficult to know how to count that one. Both team's leagues were binned off yonks ago. Hallam will now be going into their break, before starting a proper pre season schedule. They've sort of billed it as a pre season friendly. More Post/Mid/Pre/Instead of Season Friendly. Anyway, I'll happily call it my game #21 with fans. Lot of fans an' all. Braving the elements. You could tell from the Bantz, lots of rascals just loving being out, about & on the Carling again. I'm Spartacus.

Decent game. Feisty at times. I think because of players on one side or the other, who used to play for the other side. Hallam gave a good account. Initially taking the lead, but needing an 86th minute equaliser to get out of Worksop alive. Jesus don't keep banging on about any old shit with mates you're catching up with. Need to concentrate in this game. A penalty given to Worksop in the very first minute, saved by the keeper. Oh. Right. Football, I remember. t'Tigers looked the better side early on. Good at getting the ball out wide & creating from there. It really took half an hour for Hallam to get going. And. Get going they did - with a neatly taken Baskerville goal on 32.

The best bit of the half came more or less straight away. One of the Worksop centre backs broke through the line, strongly, with the ball at his feet. He had the common to slow it down a bit (love owt like that) & play a short simple ball. That was knocked forward on the break & pushed home for the equaliser. Worksop went ahead on 47. And the game was rather tame for a while. Before that late, late Hallam equaliser. Just being at a game will have been enough to send fans of both sides home happy. Let's get at it.

The Carrier Bag Firm were very happy to go with the flow and drink Carling on the Terraces.

Did you get the Memo? Pubs opened at the beginning of the week. During which, we'd found ourselves in The Craster Arms, Beadnell in Northumberland. Read. That. Again. IN. Corner seats. Round table. Great view of all the comings & goings. Three on Cask.

Hadrian Border Brewery, Holy Island Blessed Bitter on Cask at 4% was absolutely lovely. Increasingly, amber English Bitters are not my particular style. But that was nice. Lovely creamy head. Great condition. Not too malty.

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There's No Showers Either

Maltby Main 1 v Worksop Town 0 

Step 5 v Step 4 Pre Season Friendly 

Saturday 29 August 2020 

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Crowd announced as 149 this afts. Remember, it's a 150 limit as we're still in August. So. I'm gonna act like The Go-Go's & Fun Boy Three on that one.

The Carrier Bag Firm like to get around on their adventures. They like a drink. And, they have to save every penny for eBay auctions of obscure Teamsheets & Match Worn Shirts. They are also famously inclusive & eco friendly. Consequently, none of them can drive nor afford a car. Public Transport. Upon which in South Yorkshire, masks have become a Thing Of The Past. Public Transport is key to the effectiveness of the CBF.

Name a better place for leaving the ground & catching the Bus than Maltby Main's Muglet Lane. I'll wait……

Let me explain with this graphic. The game kicks off at 3pm. The Magical X1, Maltby to Sheffield Bus is timed at 1645pm. Time. Is. Tight. Fear not. You can stand bang near the Player's Gate. Near the corner flag. Marked A on the graphic. Happily watching the game. Until you first see the X1 as it appears over the diagonal opposite corner flag. At point B on the graphic. Saddle Up. The Bus then meanders behind the goal on it's inevitable circumnavigation of Muglet Lane. The conveniently placed adjacent Cricket Square & three more stops, slow the X ONE down enough for the CBF to gracefully waddle to the Bus Stop (C on the graphic) in plenty of time. Arm out. Mask on. Dig out South Yorkshire Romper from the Precious Bag. Taking great care not to crease The Programme. We're On Our Way. FFS that should be made a Standard League Requirement.

I felt that was a deserved win for Maltby. Lots of movement. Particularly out wide. Target man. With runners looking for the flicks. Although it was competitive. And, they didn't completely dominate. I felt they were much the better side. There had been some "strong' tackles from early doors. And a bit of in your face fun. It kicked off royally on 68. Eyeballs out. All in. Which ended with a Maltbyarianite rolling about on the deck clutching his head. But. Mainly rolling.

The Maltby Ultras were in NO doubt who the villain was.

"Eleven. Eleven. He's got to go. He's got to go"

Loud? All I'm saying is people were looking up from their phones on the circling X1 wondering what the fuck was happening. The Ref agreed. Red Card. And. Then. Ultra One has only gone and dragged the Covid-19 Social Distancing Changing Room Square Footage Protocols into his abuse as Worksop Eleven has trudged off.

"There's no showers either".

Not helpful Young Man.

By that time, Maltby were one up. A breakaway. My main reaction after the ball was rolled across & knocked in was that he'd been fouled twice in the build up. A trip. And a check. But he's stuck on his feet & got his reward.

I see the Maltby Miners Welfare Club has gone now. Windows boarded up. Front overgrown. Graffiti prevalent. Gone. The drink was in The Queens Hotel 'spoons up the road.

Acorn Brewery, Eureka IPA on cask at 5%.

On first schlurp, I thought that was going to be a tough ask. It took an age to clear. It was very powerful. And natch, all about that Hop. Once I got into it, I began to really enjoy it. It was just incredibly fruity. Very rich. And the bitter was very late.

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