RAF FLY AWAY WITH VICTORY

Friendly Match

ENGLAND VETERANS 0 ROYAL AIR FORCE VETERANS 2

@Underwood Villa FC

£1 Programme

£1 Raffle

£5 for a cheeseburger & a Hot Dog

Last year my son Shawn who many of you know has autism had the special honour of being selected by the Nottinghamshire FA to take part in the Game of Remembrance to remember the 100 years since World War 1 in a match that was to take place at the City Ground, Nottingham, the home of Nottingham Forest, he was the only child on the pitch and did the coin toss in front of thousands attending the match and millions watching throughout the world on television.

Nearly three weeks ago, Shawn suffered a double leg break and a smashed ankle and has been in a wheelchair after a operation, but this hasnt dampened his sense of humour and he has been quite brave over the matter to be honest.

On Wednesday Evening I was contacted by Kimberley Miners Welfare Reserves manager Simon Revelle who also runs Inclusion Football to ask if Shawn would lead out the teams in this honourable friendly match, I explained that he was in a wheelchair and this ex military man said he would push Shawn on to the pitch and asked if i would do the photography, we were both honoured to accept this invitation and very proud to do so.

On Sunday Morning I advertised the game on twitter and got a reply from FC Non League Football who go round grounds to films matches and put them on to Youtube, here is the LINK to their facebook page, so please pop on and like their page, once they have put their film on Youtube on this match, I will add the link down at the end of my report next to my photo link.

The afternoon began by saying hello to quite a few of the folks I know from Underwood Villa FC who Ive not seen for a couple of seasons, then as the players arrived knew a few of them and the surprise of a programme being issued for a quid.

It then came to 1pm when INCLUSION FOOTBALL took place, a football match that was not serious, but just fun for kids of mixed ages and abilities from 6 - 16, though I think I may have got a kick if I could have been a bit quicker.

Here are 45 photos from their little match on this LINK

By 1.55pm the players were ready to led on to the pitch by Shawn and the Inclusion Football players, hands were shaken by all and a nice touch for both sides to shake hands with all the kids.

Match Referee for the first half, Lewis Quayle asked Shawn if he would like to do the coin toss, the other Assistants for the First Half was Matt Picker and Beau Watson..For the Second Half, Beau moved in the middle.

The game kicked off and both sides pushed forward and it was in the 23rd minute when the deadlock was broken, with a well taken goal for the Royal Air Force, The chaps from FC Non League football showed a old dog like me a new trick with Twitter and my mobile, no more having to type the scores folks, I can talk to my phone, I ve only had it 3 years and never knew you could talk to twitter and it types your message for you!!!!!

Half Time came and off towards the clubhouse where outside they were selling some lovely smelling burgers and hot dogs and having to watch my weight, I had one of each just to make sure they tasted nice and they did.

Back to pitchside for the Second Half and I was joined by Simon Revelle who was over the moon how the afternoon had panned out, the match had both sets of players playing with smiles on their faces, but still attacking and both keepers were forced in to excellent saves.

In the 59th minute, it became 2-0 to the Airman with a well worked goal.

England pressed forward and nearly scored a couple of times, but they nearly did get caught out a couple of times on the break, but the game finished in a 2-0 victory for the Airmen.

After the match in the clubhouse, men of the match, one from each side were chosen and presented with a trophy each. A speech from a rep from each management side was given and football was the real winner today.

124 photos can be seen on this LINK

As stated earlier FC Non League Football came along and filmed some of the match, here is the LINK to the highlights

ALL FOURS AT THE BALDI

Pre Season Friendly

ROBIN HOOD COLTS FC 4 WOODTHORPE PARK RANGERS FC 4

Att: 23

On Friday, the sun was out on a nice relaxing day, Saturday I got up got my camera ready and opened the curtains to see a dull morning, I do not really decided what game I was going to so i looked through my Blog list to see if anything really ticked the boxes, when I spotted on twitter that Robin Hood Colts were hosting Woodthorpe Park Rangers at Garabaldi School on the edge of Clipstone/Forest Town, the closest ground to my house that Id never seen a game, so this was a idea time to tick it off.

Both clubs since joining the Nottinghamshire Senior League have had success, Robin Hood made their debut last season and did well enough in Division Two to gain promotion and also added the League Junior Cup to their cabinet display, whilst Rangers had been in the League for 2 seasons and in their first season won the Division Two title and did the double winning the League Junior Cup, whilst last season stormed to the Division One Championship meaning they were promoted to the Premier Division for this coming season.

As I was about to leave home, the rain began to lash down heavy, so a decision was made to leave my camera at home for today. On arrival at the ground I was greeted by a couple of the Colts supporters and confirmed the game was on, it was also good to see old time friend Referee Paul Thomas.

A bit of a stroll with the brolley down to the pitch which looked in very good nick to be fair and to stand just back off the touchline as there was another line to stand well behind.

Woodthorpe started off well and gained a free kick outside of the area on just 3 minutes, up stepped KIERAN WHEAT to hit his shot on target and the keeper spilled under his legs and the ball clipped in to the net.

The crowd that were turning up late missed the opening goal, but they sure saw the equaliser on 11 minutes, when a corner came in from the right hand and CRAIG TAYLOR was the first to pounce at the front post to guide the ball home.

Woodthorpe then had the better chances and the Colts keeper redeemed himself from his earlier mistake by pulling off two excellent saves to keep the scores level. Then on 29 minutes, he pumped a long ball up field and the visiting keeper just managed to keep out, which led to a corner, from the resulting corner, a move led to Colts top marksman GEORGE CAMPS netting and putting his side in to a 2-1 lead.

Half time came and the Robin Hood supporters went for a cuppa, but they missed the start of the Second Half and after 48 minutes missed a equaliser for the Rangers, when DARREN OLDHAM headed home after a corner.

Despite the poor weather both sides played some good football and on 66 minutes, the home supporters had a goal to cheer for, when WILLIAM COX turned and shot in to the roof of the net to restore the Robin;s lead.

Id popped over to talk with Cory Johnson, Rangers Secretary and centre half but he wasnt impressed with Rangers performance and was less pleased when the Colts extended their lead to 4-2 on 81 minutes when Westermans cross found out GEORGE CAMPS to score his second of the game.

Captain Johnson needed to make changes and he did and entered the pitch and straight away it had results when DEAN BUSSEY reduced the arrears. With clock ticking down, it was noticed that Johnson had gone up front,people were afraid he may have a nose bleed, as he isnt often seen that far up the pitch, but on 88 minutes CORY JOHNSON saw the ball at his feet and swept it in to the net to become a hero and make it 4-4.

A very good friendly match which was a credit to two teams from the Nottinghamshire Senior League and I must say that Referee Paul Thomas had a superb game letting the game flow and using common sense on certain decisions that he had to make.

WELFARE PAY THE PENALTY

Pre Season Friendly

CALVERTON MINERS WELFARE FC 0 ASHLAND ROVERS FC 4

After a bright sunny morning in Mansfield, on route to the Top Club Ground at 1pm it decided to hammer down with rain, there was also a match on the pitch between Carlton Lions FC and Gedling Southbank Under 19's that was delayed with the rain, in which I caught the final 10 minutes in a game won by the Lions 6-4.

A catch up with old friends from Ashland Rovers and it appeared that I was about to see a match with no referee for the third Saturday on the trot, but Calverton asked the referee from the previous match if he was able to stay for this game to which he agreed.

The game began with the visitors forcing the first chance of the game with the home keeper pushing a shot round the post for a corner, but it was the Welfare that had most of the play but didnt convert any chances. This provided to be costly as in the 39th minute HAYDEN WHARMBY converted from the penalty spot. On 42 minutes, it was 2-0 to the Rovers when HAYDEN WHARMBY converted his and his clubs second goal of the game.

The Second Half kicked off and some meaty challenges were going in with the referee taking charge and a lot of free kicks rightly given.

The score remained the same until the 80th minute, when a tap across the six yard box saw HARVEY JONES make it 3-0 and in the 89th minute, a carbon copy move saw Ashland go 4-0 through BEN JONES to end the scoring.

116 photos can be seen on this LINK

SHAWN'S HONOUR

ENGLAND VETS v ROYAL AIR FORCE VETS

@ Underwood Villa FC

Many people will remember last year that my son Shawn who has Autism lead out the England Army team in the Game of Remembrance Match v Germany played at the City Ground. 

Next Sunday 28th July, he has been asked to lead out the England Veterans Team v The Royal Air Force @ Underwood Villa FC 2pm kick off. 

The last few weeks have been very difficult for Shawn as he is in a wheelchair after breaking his leg in 2 places and also having 3 screws in his ankle after a 3 hour operation.

 Simon Revelle is to push Shawn Hornby's wheelchair on to the pitch to lead the players out on this very proud and priviliage moment, it would be superb to see the public turn out for such a honourable event.

One of  my other sons Brett is also doing a Charity Challenge at the moment which you can read about more on this LINK

SIMPSONS BRACE WINS LOCAL FRIENDLY

Pre Season Friendly

RAVENSHEAD FC 0 MANSFIELD HOSIERY MILLS FC 4

Att: 14

With a fairly busy week with Shawn having a operation after falling off his scooter and breaking his leg in 2 places and smashing his ankle then him coming out of hospital on Thursday before his 15th Birthday party on Sunday, I needed a break myself away from the house for a few houses, so I looked at localish friendlies that I could get to via public transport, I was going to catch a couple of buses to Roko to watch Bilborough Town v West Bridgford AFC but after noticing it being 7.30pm kick off, it would have been a gamble of getting back in to Nottingham for the 10pm bus back to Mansfield, so I then rang Scott Carlton of Radcliffe Olympic as they hosted NSL newcomers United Grays but Scott had a meeting this evening and wasnt sure if he would be able to get back to the match or not. Just as I was about to give up Mansfield Hosiery Mills tweeted they had a friendly match away at Ravenshead FC which fell quite nice as Hazel could drop me off and then I could catch the bus home from outside the gates of Newstead Abbey, the former home of Lord Byron.

I arrived at the ground at around 7.15pm and found that ALL Ravenshead FC pre season home fixtures are NOT being played on their main floodlit pitch but on the top pitch, so could well be a new tick for groundhoppers.

Mansfield Hosiery Mills had already played a friendly which they lost away to Northern Counties outfit Ollerton Town FC 2-0 in a close match where Ollerton had scored their second goal in the final minute, whilst Ravensheads only outing saw them lose 5-0 to a smart looking Sherwood Colliery.

Amongst the crowd of 14 was quite a few faces Id not seen since the old Thoresby Colliery Welfare FC days so it was nice to catch up and have a chat with them.

The game kicked off with referee Matt Shirley in the middle who had his usual excellent game and looked quite even for a while, but the Millers looked to have more of the attacks but failing with the final ball to trouble the Ravens keeper, whilst the Ravens hardly had a attack but matched their opponents in midfield.

The Millers started to look a lot more confident going forward and after 38 minutes, GEORGE SIMPSON opened up the scoring for the visitors when he lifted the ball over the outcoming home keeper to put his side in to a 1-0 lead.

As people were looking at their stopwatches including the referee as we approached 45 minutes, GEORGE SIMPSON doubled his and his sides tally to make it 2-0 with the last kick off the half.

The Ravens came out the Second Half more on the front foot pressing forward and on 58 minutes had the Millers keeper at full stretch to push out a shot heading in to the corner of the net.

With subs being made on 61 minutes, LUKE BEASTALL stuck from a acute angle to make it 3-0 to the visitors.

The game was as much about players getting time under their belts now and Ravenshead had a couple of injuries to contend with, whilst the Millers bought on some young lads.

In the 88th minute, The Millers got a fourth goal when ANTON CLARKE headed home at the far post from a corner that came from the left hand side.

I was as I said earlier going to catch the bus back home when I was kindly offered a lift home by Dom Witton, so a big thankyou to him.

87 photos from the match can be seen on this LINK

STRAY'S HAT TRICK SEALS FRIENDLY WIN

Pre Season Friendly

BESTWOOD MINERS WELFARE FC 0 ASHA FC 3

Att; 3

Bestwood Miners Welfare hosted NSL Newcomers Asha FC in a pre season friendly in a match that begin in cloudy conditions but soon turned in to a sunny afternoon.

The game seemed to be a even midfield battle with the visitors forcing the home keeper in to several saves.

In the 38th minute, Bestwood forced a corner and had several efforts blocked before the ball was cleared up field resulting in MICHAEL STRAY calmly stoking the ball past the outcoming home keeper to give Asha FC the lead.

Within a minute, it became 0-2 when hitman MICHAEL STRAY launched a unstoppable 30 yard shot in to the roof of the net.

Half time arrived and it was cuppa time for me.

The Second Half saw the Miners alter their formation and they forced the visitors keeper in to action for the first real time in the game.

On 63 minutes though it was game set and match as MICHAEL STRAY completed his hat trick in this friendly, which was the first run out for both clubs.

A good work out for both sides both playing some good passing football during the game.

90 photos can be seen on this LINK

A GRAY DAY FOR AFC

Pre Season Friendly

UNITED GRAYS FC 4 WEST BRIDGFORD AFC 0

att: 22

Played at Forest Rec 4g

A late planned pre season friendly saw newcomers to the Nottinghamshire Senior League take on West Bridgford AFC who have altered their name from AFC Bridgford.

The game began at a slow pace on a cloudy day but the weather got better along with the football as the afternoon went along, With no referee available AFC veteran Barry Matthews took the whilstle for the first half and Jack Joesph for the Second period.

United were cutting out the chances in the First Half but it took until the 38th minute before they went in front, when a through ball saw LUKE BOWDEN break down the left hand wing and cut in and bury his cross shot in to the far corner of the net.

The Second Half saw Grays in the attack and on 57 minutes, a shot hit the post and bounced out to JOSH GARDENER who followed up and stuck home to make it 2-0.

In the 63rd minutes, it became 3-0 when a move down the left hand side saw a cross come in and JOSH GARDENER tap home from close range.

AFC had their best period of the game and forced a couple of corners and the Grays keeper was called in to action of attempts, but in the 85th minute United broke and KIERON LANE made it 4-0.

103 photos can be viewed on this LINK