The Twin Towers seem a long way off but the journey has to begin somewhere one step at a time.

It’s been a truly glorious day here in Suffolk and I wound my way in the evening twilight through Constable country to Stoneyfields to the home of Long Melford FC (founded in 1868) who take on Northampton On Chenecks in the world’s oldest football competition.

£4 to get in the bar is open and the grass smells lovely.

Hope you enjoy CL

Tuffley rovers v Haresfield united for me.

ClaretLoup - you are not alone as a Claret in Suffolk

ClaretLoup wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 01, 2020 7:28 pm

The Twin Towers seem a long way off but the journey has to begin somewhere one step at a time.

It’s been a truly glorious day here in Suffolk and I wound my way in the evening twilight through Constable country to Stoneyfields to the home of Long Melford FC (founded in 1868) who take on Northampton On Chenecks in the world’s oldest football competition.

£4 to get in the bar is open and the grass smells lovely.

You paint a great picture ClaretLoup....in Constable country too. Must admit it's been a while since I caught Cup fever. Enjoy your evening.

Great contest here under the darkening Suffolk sky. One a piece at half time. The ON Chenecks took the lead playing a long ball style against the more cultured Long Melford approach. The opening goal was a control and smash into the top right corner from twenty yards. The Melford equaliser a deep cross from near the touch line and a bullet header. Two goals as good as you will see in the FA Cup.

The floodlights appear to be four poles with six 100 watt bulbs giving the effect that the game is being played in very bright moonlight.

Who cares, football is coming home

Maine Road v Squires Gate is live on BBCi

You cant be accused of being a glory hunter . Sounds a lovely place to watch a game.

Now I am literally stood next to a man and his dog which he tells me is a golden retriever but it looks silver to me . Apparently the dog has been to 250 grounds.

Amazing drama here as ON Chenecks take an early lead in the second then cup fever took hold. After a challenge right in front of the dugouts so late it was after the whistle had gone there followed the obligatory 40 man brawl. A red card for the home team but they equalised and went and scored the winner.

Fantastic stuff.

I was amongst the 300 crowd who saw Ashington progress by beating Goole Town 2-1. Ashington took the lead with a penalty against the run of play when the Goole keeper upended Ben Harmison (brother of Steve). Goole equalised 4 minutes later when the Ashington defence failed to defend a corner and the Goole number 8 had a free header. In fact, he should have scored again from another corner 5 minutes later but he missed the target.
Right on the stroke of half time Ashington took the lead with a smashing goal scored by Butler with a shot from 20 yards. The second half saw Ashington having the better of it and the Goole keeper made a couple of good saves, however, Goole also had chances but failed to take them. Butler should have scored again in the 89th minute but he hit the post after running 50 yards with the ball. Decent game for the first competitive game of the season.

First league game on Saturday v Newcastle Benfield and looking forward to that. £2 to get in and the bar is open ---no driving to get there ---yes!

AC46, Did any of the Charlton brothers, Jimmy Adamson or Jackie Milburn ever play for their local team as they all came from Ashington?

Cup fever.... I remember that. It’s been awhile. I had to google it, but it’s 23 years since I watched a cup final live. Chelsea v Middlesbrough Back in 97.

Wish I'd known the match was on, could've joined you there!! The Nethergate Brewery is always worth a look when in Long Melford......Venture, Suffolk County and Stour Valley Gold directly from the barrel are 3 of their best!

Fear not EAC, your chance will come again as the conquering heroes of Long Melford face the might of Tier 4 Kempston Rovers in the next round which is scheduled for Saturday 12 September 3.00 pm but is not confirmed yet.

Perhaps Shipclaret could join us? Or any other East Anglian Clarets who want to make the trip and make a day of it.

Nethergate are the team sponsors and is available in the club bar, unfortunately the Doc has put me on the waggon so I am teetotal these days as I am too young to die.

To whet your appetite here is the winning goal, the camera work is a bit hazy bit but if you look closely it looks like I am at the end of the opposition wall and I even have a red jacket on. To my left Hector - the 250 ground silver golden retriever- can be seen looking underwhelmed by it all, I guess he has seen it all before.

There is a spectacular double somersault by the scorer of the winning goal following a Joe Hart moment by the ON Chenecks keeper.

Hope this link works. https://twitter.com/i/status/1300893407871733760

Penistone Church out at the first attempt. Lost 3-2 to Skelmersdale United after being 2-0 up at half time, same team who knocked them out last year.

Time to concentrate on the FA Vase.

ClaretLoup wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 01, 2020 8:49 pm

Now I am literally stood next to a man and his dog which he tells me is a golden retriever but it looks silver to me . Apparently the dog has been to 250 grounds.

It’s not called Dave Burnley is it?

No his name was Hector, although Hector's coat looked similar to Dave's.

Just found my new second club!

What a name and they won last night

New Salamis beat Colney Heath 1-0

. was at Northwich Victoria vs. Padiham.

how did Colne & Padiham get on?

diamondpocket wrote: ↑

Wed Sep 02, 2020 10:32 am

how did Colne & Padiham get on?

. knows Padiham lost 1-0 and believes Colne won 2-0 over at Daisy Hill.

ClaretLoup wrote: ↑

Tue Sep 01, 2020 11:06 pm

AC46, Did any of the Charlton brothers, Jimmy Adamson or Jackie Milburn ever play for their local team as they all came from Ashington?

Only Jackie Milburn played for Ashington before he signed for Newcastle. Jimmy Adamson was playing for a local team before he came to the Turf.
The Charlton Brothers were both ball boys at Ashington FC for a period when they were very young. Another ex-Ashington playerwho never gets a mention was our own Billy Gray who later went on to Nottingham Forest and also became groundsman there when he finished playing.
Jackie was a cousin of 4 Milburn Brothers who all played league football after playing for the local club.
Jack Milburn played a total of 415 matches for Leeds and Bradford City between 1928 and 1948. He played right back before switching to left back so that
brother George could play at right back for Leeds where he made 161 appearances before going on to Chesterfield where he played 105 League matches plus another 46 during WWII --he had a protected occupation ----and he also played a further 175 games for others during the war. He also brought his brother Stan to Chesterfield, he later went to Leicester and ended up as a legend at Rochdale ---he made 587 appearances in total.
The missing brother was Jim MIlburn who was at Leeds from 1935 before going on to Bradford Park Avenue in 1952 --he made a total of 310 appearances.

Fantastic family when you look at the brothers, their cousin, Jackie and then the Charlton Brothers.

Park View did not make the next round the got beat 2-1 by # United.

It's back - FA Cup First Round Proper kicks off tonight with Hashtag United vs Soham Town Rangers

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/av/football/54237509

There is some tenuous Claret's interest in this one as I believe Popey's brother will be in the nets for their home town team Soham.

Here is the man himself - https://twitter.com/i/status/1308094594563952646

Five ties in Suffolk tomorrow night and I will be off to watch the Long Melford boys again take on the might of Cheshunt from the Isthmian Premier League. LM are hoping to progress to Round 2 for only the second time in their history which believe it or not stretches back to 1868.

If you can find a tie near you pop down and give grass roots football some support.