Football

[Old Yard Dog]

Macclesfield forward Ethan McLeod, 21, dies in car accident

Macclesfield’s 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod has died in a car accident after a match at Bedford

www.theguardian.com

The Macclesfield forward Ethan McLeod has died in a car accident. The 21-year-old was driving back from the club’s National League North match against Bedford on Tuesday night when the incident occurred close to junction 15 on the M1.

Macclesfield said in a statement: “[It is] with the heaviest of hearts and an overwhelming sense of surrealism that Macclesfield FC can confirm the passing of 21-year-old forward Ethan McLeod. Travelling back from Bedford Town last night, Ethan was involved in a car accident on the M1 which tragically took his life.

Very sad to hear that Macclesfield's Ethan McLeod sadly passed away in a car crash when driving home from an away match at Bedford on Tuesday night.

I'm not sure why a young non-league and presumably part-time player was driving such a long distance after a game. Did he live too far away from Macclesfield to use the team coach, perhaps? Sadly, there are too many midweek long-distance away trips in National League North.

Our thoughts are with Ethan's family. RIP.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

Northern Premier League...West Division

Bury FC 2 ... Clitheroe 0

Attendance : 5,337 (remarkable even for a Boxing Day fixture, at this level).

 

[Purple Train]

Northern Premier League...West Division

Bury FC 2 ... Clitheroe 0

Attendance : 5,337 (remarkable even for a Boxing Day fixture, at this level).

Wow. There were 2,846 at Maidenhead United vs Slough Town (National League South) and that's a local derby! It was being spoken about as the largest attendance in a long time, and the stadium announcer said he'd never seen such a big total for the half-time draw. Speaking of which...

Maidenhead United 1-3 Slough Town

A rather nice game for the neutral, as opposed to the dull-as-dishwater hoof-fest I rather expected. After four years of failing, at last I managed to tick off both York Road - the oldest continuously-used football stadium in the country - and the "SL Clasico" in one fell swoop.

On the face of it, this was a fairly predictable clash, with Maidenhead threatening the playoffs and unbeaten in six, and Slough deep in relegation trouble. Both sides played very direct football (although the quality of the passing was sometimes questionable, even compared to Burnham FC who I think sit three divisions lower). But Maidenhead wasted all but one of their seven or eight chances, and Slough took three of their four.

The away end were certainly quietened down after 90 seconds when Josh Umerah scrambled the ball in after a corner. For the first half an hour, Slough could hardly string two passes together, but equalised out of nowhere via a well-placed shot from the edge of the area by Luke Holness. Just before half-time, Slough striker Basil Tuma was sent off for a disgraceful shoulder charge on a Maidenhead defender. (An excellent refereeing decision by Richard Wharton in my view.)

Having enjoyed the better of the match either side of half-time, Slough started to be pinned back by Maidenhead. But some wasteful play in the final third as well as good goalkeeping by Adam Desbois kept them level, and the Magpies were made to rue their missed chances when, ironically, they had victory snatched from under their noses: two crosses after set-pieces in the final 20 minutes became two goals courtesy of Kiki Oshilaja and Jared Myers. They'll be dancing in the streets of Slough tonight... I can hear them!

Cracking little ground too, although I can understand why they want to replace it. Now to tick off Arbour Park...

 

[Bald Rick]

Maidenhead United 1-3 Slough Town

A rather nice game for the neutral, as opposed to the dull-as-dishwater hoof-fest I rather expected. After four years of failing, at last I managed to tick off both York Road - the oldest continuously-used football stadium in the country - and the "SL Clasico" in one fell swoop.

Out of interest, what have Maidenhead done with their windfall from the sell on clause from Max Kilman?

 

[Purple Train]

Out of interest, what have Maidenhead done with their windfall from the sell on clause from Max Kilman?

I have absolutely no idea, sorry. I don't know if there are any Maidenhead fans on here who can advise better.

I don't know much about their goings-on at the minute, aside from the fact that Alan Devonshire resigned last month after ten years there and that they've been under a caretaker for the last five games.

On tonight's evidence, they're fairly well-drilled but lack any sort of killer instinct, and I think they got a bit disheartened when Slough equalised. Judging by what some of our regular contributors on here have said - particularly our excellent Halifax correspondent - they've gone a bit downhill. Just as physical, though - the referee was quite busy at times!

 

[SuspectUsual]

FC Halifax Town 2-1 Altrincham

Two things are certain in my footballing life - a Boxing Day fixture against Alty and at least a yellow card for Matty Kosylo, once of us and now of them.

First half turgid with both teams in the "lucky to have nil" category, and Kosylo got a booking that might have been a red for a late tackle from behind

Second half much better, a scrappy goal for us, a worldie for them, a decent winner for us after Angelo Cappello ran rings round their full back.

Tamworth next, and they lost 7-1 today

 

[Haywain]

Luton Town 4 Wycombe Wanderers 0

Finally we woke up when I wasn't there to see it!

 

[150249]

Luton Town 4 Wycombe Wanderers 0

Finally we woke up when I wasn't there to see it!

Think you could go back to sleep by Thursday?

 

[REVUpminster]

Wow. There were 2,846 at Maidenhead United vs Slough Town (National League South) and that's a local derby! It was being spoken about as the largest attendance in a long time, and the stadium announcer said he'd never seen such a big total for the half-time draw. Speaking of which...

Maidenhead United 1-3 Slough Town

A rather nice game for the neutral, as opposed to the dull-as-dishwater hoof-fest I rather expected. After four years of failing, at last I managed to tick off both York Road - the oldest continuously-used football stadium in the country - and the "SL Clasico" in one fell swoop.

On the face of it, this was a fairly predictable clash, with Maidenhead threatening the playoffs and unbeaten in six, and Slough deep in relegation trouble. Both sides played very direct football (although the quality of the passing was sometimes questionable, even compared to Burnham FC who I think sit three divisions lower). But Maidenhead wasted all but one of their seven or eight chances, and Slough took three of their four.

The away end were certainly quietened down after 90 seconds when Josh Umerah scrambled the ball in after a corner. For the first half an hour, Slough could hardly string two passes together, but equalised out of nowhere via a well-placed shot from the edge of the area by Luke Holness. Just before half-time, Slough striker Basil Tuma was sent off for a disgraceful shoulder charge on a Maidenhead defender. (An excellent refereeing decision by Richard Wharton in my view.)

Having enjoyed the better of the match either side of half-time, Slough started to be pinned back by Maidenhead. But some wasteful play in the final third as well as good goalkeeping by Adam Desbois kept them level, and the Magpies were made to rue their missed chances when, ironically, they had victory snatched from under their noses: two crosses after set-pieces in the final 20 minutes became two goals courtesy of Kiki Oshilaja and Jared Myers. They'll be dancing in the streets of Slough tonight... I can hear them!

Cracking little ground too, although I can understand why they want to replace it. Now to tick off Arbour Park...

Torquay had 5,142 (234 away) against Weston Super Mare which to be fair they were expecting. No trains, no buses.
I can't believe Hornchurch where I lived for 30 years are top and even in that league. The last time I was there was to see a West Ham youth match, South East Counties League.

 

[yorkie]

Wow. There were 2,846 at Maidenhead United vs Slough Town (National League South) and that's a local derby..

A league above and York City had 7,935 (459 away fans) against Boston, and it was a home sell-out.

I have absolutely no idea, sorry. I don't know if there are any Maidenhead fans on here who can advise better.

@redreni may be able to assist! I didn't realise at the time, but we were both at the 6-2 match last year.

 

[redreni]

Wow. There were 2,846 at Maidenhead United vs Slough Town (National League South) and that's a local derby! It was being spoken about as the largest attendance in a long time, and the stadium announcer said he'd never seen such a big total for the half-time draw. Speaking of which...

Maidenhead United 1-3 Slough Town

A rather nice game for the neutral, as opposed to the dull-as-dishwater hoof-fest I rather expected. After four years of failing, at last I managed to tick off both York Road - the oldest continuously-used football stadium in the country - and the "SL Clasico" in one fell swoop.

On the face of it, this was a fairly predictable clash, with Maidenhead threatening the playoffs and unbeaten in six, and Slough deep in relegation trouble. Both sides played very direct football (although the quality of the passing was sometimes questionable, even compared to Burnham FC who I think sit three divisions lower). But Maidenhead wasted all but one of their seven or eight chances, and Slough took three of their four.

The away end were certainly quietened down after 90 seconds when Josh Umerah scrambled the ball in after a corner. For the first half an hour, Slough could hardly string two passes together, but equalised out of nowhere via a well-placed shot from the edge of the area by Luke Holness. Just before half-time, Slough striker Basil Tuma was sent off for a disgraceful shoulder charge on a Maidenhead defender. (An excellent refereeing decision by Richard Wharton in my view.)

Having enjoyed the better of the match either side of half-time, Slough started to be pinned back by Maidenhead. But some wasteful play in the final third as well as good goalkeeping by Adam Desbois kept them level, and the Magpies were made to rue their missed chances when, ironically, they had victory snatched from under their noses: two crosses after set-pieces in the final 20 minutes became two goals courtesy of Kiki Oshilaja and Jared Myers. They'll be dancing in the streets of Slough tonight... I can hear them!

Cracking little ground too, although I can understand why they want to replace it. Now to tick off Arbour Park...

Glad you enjoyed your visit! The Sl**gh Town fans certainly did.

It's always good to have a ground hopper's perspective. The way I saw it (from behind the Slough goal each half) I know we had nearly all the possession and territory, but if you judge it on actual chances, it was about 5-1 to Slough. That was one of our worst performances of the season, ranking alongside our home defeat against Chesham.

We have had a bit of a rollercoaster of a season, including a run of 7 consecutive league wins and a run of 7 consecutive defeats.

The Max Kilman windfall is a bone of contention. First off, our Chairman, who is a nice chap but very badly advised, got conned by Wolves and West Ham telling us the move would not happen unless we took a 50% haircut on the sell-on clause that we were contractually entitled to. So half the money disappeared before we received any of it. The remainder came in instalments. I believe there are still one or two of those left. Somebody asked what we've done with it - as a fan I'd love to know! It seems to have been spent on the wages of players in their late 30s, many of whom are almost always injured (Pritchard, Barratt etc).

I wish you'd shared your opinion of the sending off with the referee during the half-time interval! I rather suspect he initially thought our player had been knocked out and thought an instant red card would take the heat out of the situation - the red card was out within a second or two of the incident happening. The decision itself looked harsh to me, although the Slough team then proceeded to surround the referee and shout in his face, which as I understand it is supposed to be a mandatory yellow card offence these days, but nothing was done about it. The referee also seemed to spend the second half attempting to even things up. Among other things, we had two nailed on penalty appeals (one for hand ball and the other for a foul on Mitchell-Lawson late on) turned down. Ultimately, we only have ourselves to blame, though. We struggle when teams sit back and we lacked the necessary creativity to break them down.

 

[yorkie]

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

 

[SuspectUsual]

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1 - I did at school and university, and a very low intensity five a side on a Sunday teatime for a few years in my late 20s

2 - my penultimate serious game of football was in December 1990 and resulted in me damaging ligaments in my ankle. My final game was 6 weeks later in resulted in me breaking my leg and tearing the previously damaged ligaments. My consultant advised me to forget competitive football forthwith so that was that aged 20

3 - I have no ambition to visit all 92 grounds, mainly because most of the ones I’m missing are soulless and expensive premier league ones. I’ve got a list of how many I’ve been to somewhere, probably about 60 (and a lot of non-league grounds). I’ll dig it out tomorrow and let you know

 

[Purple Train]

Glad you enjoyed your visit! The Sl**gh Town fans certainly did.

I really did, thanks! It was one of the first things on my bucket list when I moved down here, and didn't disappoint.

One question though. I saw a few people with what seemed to be teamsheets, but couldn't see where they might be available from. Are they available from anywhere in particular and did I simply arrive too late?

It's always good to have a ground hopper's perspective. The way I saw it (from behind the Slough goal each half) I know we had nearly all the possession and territory, but if you judge it on actual chances, it was about 5-1 to Slough. That was one of our worst performances of the season, ranking alongside our home defeat against Chesham.

Fair enough. As your goalie is formerly of Bristol Rovers, I may be slightly biased with regard to chances and how well or not he did!

(Bristol City fan in state of intolerable smugness.)

I wish you'd shared your opinion of the sending off with the referee during the half-time interval! I rather suspect he initially thought our player had been knocked out and thought an instant red card would take the heat out of the situation - the red card was out within a second or two of the incident happening.

I had basically the same view as the referee did (I was sitting near the halfway line) and it looked like a deliberate charge to the throat with force from where I was sitting, such that it appeared to me to be a red card before the referee produced it. I looked at the replay later on and I can see how it looked harsh from a different angle, although the Slough commentary team calling it a "nothing challenge" made me chuckle immensely.

Anyway, best of luck for the rest of the season, and hopefully I find myself at another loose end sometime

 

[redreni]

I think the team sheets are available (along with prawn sandwiches and the like) in the VIP portacabin (the Alan Devonshire 'Suite'). But that's VIPs only, obviously.

Fun fact, up until a few weeks ago, the VIP package at York Road included pie and mash cooked and served by none other than Mrs (Alan) Devonshire.

 

[1D54]

Fun fact, up until a few weeks ago, the VIP package at York Road included pie and mash cooked and served by none other than Mrs (Alan) Devonshire.

Doubtless washed down with a delightful cream tea.

 

[Haywain]

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1. No.

2. Last played about 30 years ago, and doubt my joints would forgive me for trying again now!

3. I completed the 92 in April 1986 but of the current 92 there are 7 I haven't visited - 5 in League 2, Everton's new place and AFC Wimbledon which will be ticked off later this season - although I have visited one of the League Two grounds* in the Conference. Overall I have visited 155 different grounds at a time when they were part of the 92.


*Barrow, where I saw two Luton away matches in the Conference. My one attempt to visit as an EFL ground was foiled by a late postponement while I was sitting in the pub opposite Barrow in Furness station.

 

[Howardh]

Northern Premier League...West Division

Bury FC 2 ... Clitheroe 0

Attendance : 5,337 (remarkable even for a Boxing Day fixture, at this level).

Unless a local derby against a "big" club; a gate like that would have been unthinkable in EFL days even, as you allude to, Boxing Day! Think the number of "away" fans was around 200-250 so that still leaves 5000+ home fans.

A little help was a limited bus (and tram?) service was running until the early evening!

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 28 Dec 2025 ==

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1. Used to until my mid-20's when I took up hockey. At 67 I'm retiring from playing hockey (last played for our club seconds last season) and I doubt I could have lasted that long playing football at decent pub-team level!

2. Not now, my body couldn't take it!!

3. Until the late 90's I got to around the 70-80 mark, mainly by accident following a league side that visited divisions 2, 3 and 4! Since then a number of clubs have changed grounds, and also prices are way too high to even think of "completing" the 92.

The closest ground to home that I never got to (pre redevelopment days) was Villa Park.

 

[SuspectUsual]

3 - I have no ambition to visit all 92 grounds, mainly because most of the ones I’m missing are soulless and expensive premier league ones. I’ve got a list of how many I’ve been to somewhere, probably about 60 (and a lot of non-league grounds). I’ll dig it out tomorrow and let you know

I’ve been to 49 of the current 92, plus 20 former grounds of teams in the 92

I’ve also been to 33 grounds in the national league and NLN/NLS

Add in grounds in other countries and lower non-league grounds and I think I’ve paid to watch football in 146 different stadia

 

[Bantamzen]

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1 / 2) I used to play regular 5 a side football, including a number of years in some local Bradford leagues. I also played briefly for the supporters club at Bradford City in 1998, where I wore Peter Beagrie's no 11 shirt when we borrowed the teams 97/98 kit for a tournament organised by Huddersfield Town supporters. We won the tournament, and Beagrie went on to score 15 goals in our 98/99 promotion to the Premier League (my claim to fame!). I haven't played for a long time though, so may be a bit slower than I was back then which wasn't lightning fast anyway!

3) I haven't done all current 92 grounds as they stand, but have been to over 140 grounds over several decades with Bradford City, thanks in part to the fact we've played in all 4 divisions in the space of a couple of decades!

 

[Iskra]

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1) I’m very much retired
2) Not really
3) It’s an aspiration, but very difficult to achieve with my club that I support, as it’s very difficult to get away tickets even as a Season Ticket holder. The tickets that I can get, seem to be at the same grounds over and over again. I’m on about 42 grounds currently.

My ground list:

Arsenal, Emirates
Manchester United
Crystal Palace
Newcastle
Leeds
Burnley
Wolverhampton
Coventry
Middlesbrough
Ipswich
Hull
Preston
Millwall
Stoke
Derby
Southampton
Leicester
Birmingham City
Blackburn
Sheffield United
Sheffield Wednesday
Swansea
Portsmouth
Norwich
Cardiff
Bradford City
Stockport
Huddersfield
Barnsley
Wycombe
Leyton Orient
Peterborough
Northampton
Rotherham
Exeter
Port Vale
Walsall
Swindon
Mk Dons
Tranmere
Oldham
Bristol Rovers

42

Non league:

Carlisle, Southend, Hartlepool, Morecambe, Darlington, Chester, Hereford, Lancaster City, Stocksbridge, Emley, Histon.

 

[side effect]

16 prem
26 championship
11 league 1
6 league 2
1 conference
Witnessed Rangers 3 Celtic 3
Motherwell
Dundee
Celtic friendly
Hibs
Falkirk
Dunfermline
Jokerit Finland
Heerenveen Holland
Metz France
Osijek Croatia
Cremonese Italy friendly

Sadly robbed of the san siro nou camp and other giant stadiums being earshot of upton park.

Been Hampden and both Wembley also.

Can delete if want I just needed to let you know.

 

[redreni]

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1) Absolutely not.

2) 2004-5. For the staff against the Sixth Form at a school in Leicestershire (5-a-side). If you'll forgive the Douglas Adams reference, like the old men in Valhalla (in the Long Dark Teatime of the Soul), I am more inclined to eat and drink and give people the benefit of my opinion on the finer points of pig-wrestling than to wrestle any actual pigs just at the moment...

3) I'm not really a completist in that sense. I do have a bucket list of what I consider to be interesting grounds (mostly lower leagues and non-league) that I'm always on the look-out for opportunities to tick off. I don't like missing Maidenhead games to do it, though.

 

[Peeled Apples]

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1 No
2 Last played at school, I wasn’t very good
3 Never made an attempt at doing them all but with Wolves moving around the leagues over the years I’ve been to a few now I’m going to work it out, these are all watching Wolves.
Prem. League 19 New Everton ground next month, 8 former grounds.
Champ, 23, missing Oxford, 9 former grounds plus seen Charlton at 3 home grounds.
League one, 19, 6 former grounds
League Two, 13, 4 former grounds
Ex league grounds when they were in the league 7
I make that 74, 75 after going to Everton.
Plus a few other non league, Wembley old and new, Principality Stadium and 12 Scottish grounds.

 

[DarloRich]

Scarborough 0 v Darlington 1 (on boxing day.)

Great result even if played on an allotment and into a very low sun. Tired and backs to the wall by the end but took home the 3 points due to, apparently, a Toby lees header from a corner.

Will have to add up my remaining grounds. Leave it with me.

 

[Iskra]

Sunderland 1 Leeds 1

Another good performance from Leeds secures an important away point. Included was a fantastic team goal. Unfortunately, Rodon was injured in one of three early Sunderland fouls that went without a booking, and he remained on the pitch for a while, arguably playing Sunderland on side for their goal.

 

[Bald Rick]

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1) & 2) not for the last 25 years. The knees made me give up. But I do have trophies from my last two years

3) Yes. currently somewhere around 60, plus another 15 or so ‘ex’ grounds (including one I played at which was a league ground at the time; I count that as attending a match there, even if the home team wasn’t playing!) Retirement job, and aim to do the rest in one season.

26 championship

Good going for 24 teams!

 

[SteveHFC]

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

1 - No

2 - At school - very badly. I did referee in youth leagues for a few years about 20-25 years ago.

3 - No ambitions to visit all current football league grounds as I very rarely go to football now (or watch it on TV). Of the current 92 grounds, I've been to 13 (Arsenal, Aston Villa, Man Utd, AFC Bournemouth, Watford, Portsmouth, Sheffield Wed, Luton Town, Leyton Orient, Blackpool, Notts County, Oldham Athletic, Bromley and Stevenage (the latter two when they were non-league clubs). Also been to the old Arsenal and Cardiff City grounds as well as both old and new Wembley Stadium.

When I went regularly to football, it was mostly non-league, and through that I've been to 173 other grounds.

 

[side effect]

1) & 2) not for the last 25 years. The knees made me give up. But I do have trophies from my last two years

3) Yes. currently somewhere around 60, plus another 15 or so ‘ex’ grounds (including one I played at which was a league ground at the time; I count that as attending a match there, even if the home team wasn’t playing!) Retirement job, and aim to do the rest in one season.




Good going for 24 teams!

Derby and Coventry had new grounds baseball and Highfield Rd.

 

[Purple Train]

I have some football related questions, which may mix things up from the usual match report:

1) who here plays football? Not necessarily for a team; it could simply be recreationally, whether that be 6-a-side kick about games, or anything really, even if occasionally.

Not since my primary school days. Made one five-a-side appearance for the school (third or fourth team) and we lost 8-0. And that's notwithstanding the story of the intra-class football tournament, which I shall save for a later date!

2) for those who don't, when did you last play football, and would you consider playing (even if only on an occasional or one-off basis), if a suitable opportunity arose?

Probably not, as my enthusiasm for the game has waned considerably over the years and I'm now kind of at the stage where following my team's results and going to about two or three matches a year is a perfectly content existence for me. As a sport to play, cricket is slightly better suited to both my physical qualities and my blood pressure.

3) how many people here have ambitions to one day visit all current football league grounds, and how far are you with that aim?

It would be fun no doubt, and I love sampling different grounds, but prohibitively expensive, and I far prefer games at the coalface anyway...!