Bulls Hit Safety Despite Near Turbines Failure.....

And so to the M&M Edgar Street Stadium in Hereford for a final day National League North clash between Hereford FC and Peterborough Sports FC, kicking off at 1230.

Hereford United FC was founded in 1924 as a merger of two local clubs - St Martins and RAOC (Rotherwas). The Bulls joined the Birmingham Combination before switching to the Birmingham & District League four years later.

The Whites (or Lilywhites) entered the Southern League after World War II, winning the North West Division in 1958/59 and Division One in 1964/65. The club will forever be known for the iconic Ronnie Radford FA Cup giantkilling shock winning goal against Newcastle United in 1972 that prefaced entry to the Football League Division Four later that year.

Immediately promoted as champions, further success followed in 1976 as United ascended to Division Two. Sadly successive relegations followed in 1977 and 1978, and it was back down to Division Four....

Hereford spent 19 seasons in the fourth tier before losing their league place in 1997. After two play off defeats the Bulls resumed Football League status in 2006, and then achieved promotion to League One in 2008.

However United saw relegations in 2009 and 2012, moving back to non league football. Then the Whites resigned from the league due to insolvency in December 2014, under the weight of £1.3m debts.

The phoenix club, Hereford FC, was immediately set up and joined the Midland Football League Premier for 2015/16. Three successive promotions as champions took the Bulls to the Southern League South & West and Southern Premier, before landing in the National League North. When a fourth promotion looked unlikely popular manager Peter Beadle was sacked....

The Whites remain in the National League North, moving out of the relegation zone to 20th after Tuesday's 92nd minute penalty winner against Marine, and have faced increasing problems this season. Eight successive home postponements due to incessant rain and waterlogging forced Hereford to reschedule home fixtures at Sixways (Worcester) and the Valley (Redditch) - famous son Jarrod Bowen, who started his playing career at Hereford United in 2014 and is now at West Ham, has offered to pay for a new drainage system.

The Bulls returned, finally, to Edgar Street on 10 March against Leamington, league bottom dwellers and now relegated, after ground remediation, with new drainage and sanding installed to combat the waterlogging. A thumping 5-2 win moved Hereford upwards briefly but fixture congestion has meant that the Bulls have faced 15 matches in the league's final six weeks; a win today will see The Whites stay up but defeat will mean relegation - as for a draw who knows 🤔

Peterborough Sports FC, from Lincoln Road in Peterborough, was established in 1908 as Brotherhoods Engineering Works, a factory side for the company founded by Peter Brotherhood in 1867, and famed for designing and manufacturing the first steam turbine engine in the world. They joined the Northants League (which later became the United Counties League) for the 1919–20 season, winning the league in their first season, but left at the end of the 1922–23 campaign. 

Sports then transferred to Division Three of the Peterborough & District League, winning the title in the 1925–26 season - the club was dormant in 1929–30 and 1932–33, and dropped into Division Three North. Despite only finishing eleventh in 1936–37, the Turbines were elevated to Division Two for the 1937–38 season. And after World War II the club was placed in Division One, but was relegated after finishing bottom of the table in 1948–49 and further relegations followed in 1953 and 1964, to Division Three South, albeit they bounced back with promotion in the following season.

Another relegation at the end of the 1973–74 season saw Brotherhoods Engineering Works demoted to Division Three South for a second time, but returned to Division Two after winning the title in 1975–76. Relegated again in 1979–80, the club was elevated to Division Two at the first attempt as Division Three South champions, and gained promotion to Division One at the end of the 1982–83 season after finishing third. The 1987–88 season saw the club finish as Division One runners-up and step up to the Premier Division.

In 1999 the club changed its name to Bearings Direct FC, and then again in 2001 to Peterborough Sports FC. In 2006–07 they won the Premier Division, and in 2012–13 was promoted to Division One of the United Counties League after finishing third.

In 2016 Peterborough Sports were Division One champions, earning promotion to the Premier Division. The following season saw them win the league with 112 points, and moved on up to Division One South of the Northern Premier League.

In 2018 the club was transferred laterally to Division One Central of the Southern League and that season the Turbines finished as champions, engineering a move up to the Premier Division Central. They finished runners-up in 2022, qualifying for the promotion play-offs, and after beating Alvechurch in the semi-finals, the club defeated Coalville Town 2–0 in the final to rise to the National League North, finishing 14th in their inaugural campaign. 

Safety was achieved with 15th and 12th positions in the two subsequent seasons. Sports go into the final game in 23rd place, after 2 points in 21 saw veteran manager Phil Brown 'moved upstairs' as Director of Football, with Michael Gash assuming the reins - this has now become 7 points in 16 games; relegation was confirmed at Easter and culminated last weekend in an 8-0 humbling at Worksop with two players sent off for dissent and two delayed by rail problems... but reserve goalkeeper Sam Edwards has been selected to represent Great Britain Under 23s at the Deaf World Cup in Serbia next month.

Numberplates today are COO1S, S11LYS and CD H1T. By train via Stockport and its Hat Museum, Wilmslow and Jodrell Bank and Crewe where a set swap sees us hauled by 67010 as we pass Gresty Road and the Rail Depot.

Then via Whitchurch renowned for JB Joyce & Co - a clockmaker established in 1790, and Shrewsbury with its Castle, Prison and Butter Market. Past The Croud Meadow and into Ludlow, renowned for its Butter Cross and Ludlow Museum.

Thereafter Leominster, famous for The Crimean Cannon and then onto Hereford. The Wetherspoons offering is The Kings Fee, recalling the early years of the history of Hereford - the central area around the cathedral was the Bishop's Fee (or property) and the rest, within the city walls, was the King's Fee.

Hereford is home to the Old House and Hereford Bull Statue and Castle Green before the Cathedral with Mappa Mundi and the Chained Library. Then Hereford Museum and Art Gallery, the Museum of Cider and the Waterworks Museum at Broomy Hill.

The ground comprises the Edgar Street (Len Weston) Stand - upper seating, lower terrace -, the Merton Meadow End, a covered curved terrace, the Merton Family Stand (all seater), with Addison's Bar and Radford's Bar, and the Blackfriars End, which was temporarily an all seater stand with the terrace closed due to safety reasons but is now shut completely. £17.50 in digitally (£20 in cash on the day) for the home terraces - and I'm stood on the Len Weston Terrace, below the Edgar Street Stand.

It's a glorious spring afternoon in the sun but with a capricious wind. Hereford are in white and black, Peterborough Sports in change pink and black, instead of their usual all orange. The crowd is a raucous 4,459 - 48 away.

The Bulls start much the stronger, hitting the woodwork in the opening moments. No surprise then when Harry Tustin is brought down in the area; Aaron Skinner rifles home the penalty past Mackenzie Chapman on 9 minutes.

For all the Whites' dominance they fail to create meaningful chances and Sports grow in confidence. Then on 39 they equalise from a tight angle from a corner - Dan Jarvis claiming the credit although it could easily be classed as an own goal.

Worse is to follow as 4 minutes later Max Booth scores with a sumptuous volley past Theo Richardson from a deep cross. Peterborough lead 2-1 at the break to widespread consternation. 'This lot got beaten 8-0 last week and we're losing to them - that's how sh*t we are', 'Scuse me, mate, there's children present...'

The second half is a tense, nervy affair, on and off the pitch, with Hereford setting the pace but again struggling for goal opportunities. The home side become increasingly desperate and the crowd is eerily quiet as sub Mikey Lane has the golden chance with 20 to play but unbelievably shoots wide.

Then with 8 minutes left the Bulls' Cormac Daly looks as if he has been clipped. The referee plays a good advantage and Skinner floats over a cross where Lane, unmarked, heads home at the back post for 2-2 and widespread delirium 😊

Word reaches us that a draw will be sufficient to keep the Whites up on goal difference and, despite 7 minutes of injury time, that's how it ends. Cue a pitch invasion and, eventually, a lap of honour...

Spoil Sports - Church's Prayers Only Half Answered.....

So to the first weekend in February and a Northern Counties East Premier Division clash between Albion Sports AFC and Penistone Church FC at the new Myra Shay complex on Barkerend Road in Bradford.

Albion Sports AFC was established in 1974 by Harjit Singh Panesar and Baljit Singh. Initially playing in the Bradford Amateur Sunday League Division Four, the Lions moved through the leagues to win the Premier Division in 1996, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2006, and were twice runners up in the FA Sunday Cup, losing to Prestige Brighams (Hull) and Gossoms End (London)...

In 2007 the club switched to Saturday football in the Bradford League, and then moved to the West Riding County Amateur League the following year. Second in 2009 earnt promotion from Division One to the Premier Division.

Sports was promoted to the Northern Counties East League Division One in 2011. Albion then won the championship to ascend to the Premier League in 2013, where they remain - 5th and 6th in the last two seasons, but this time just outside the relegation zone, sitting 16th of 20. 

The club previously groundshared with Bradford (Park Avenue), at the Horsfall Stadium, and Throstle Nest in Farsley. Sports have now moved to the brand new Myra Shay for the 2025/2026 campaign.

Penistone Church FC, from the Memorial Ground, was formed in 1906 from the merger of Penistone Choirboys and Penistone Juniors, and competed initially in the Sheffield Amateur League. In 1909 Church were the first winners of the Sheffield Junior Cup, which they won again in 1937.

The club became a founder member of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior League in 1983 after the merger of local leagues. Church reached the Premier League in 1995 but were something of a yo-yo club in the 1990s.

The club was promoted to the Northern Counties East League Division 1 in 2014 and qualified for the inaugural Division One play offs in 2016, losing out to AFC Emley. A year later Penistone beat Grimsby Borough in the play off final to win promotion to the Premier League, and also won the Northern Counties East Football League Cup. Runners up in 2019, Church have finished finished between fifth and eighth in the last four seasons - they currently lie 11th this time. 

Numberplates today are CR15TFR, VILHA and 4PHD, and there's a BJS removal van 'Pressing On To Preston'.

Via the Briton's Protection and Bridgewater Hall I'm faced with train cancellations due to a problem at Smithy Bridge level crossing. Eventually I arrive 37 minutes late taking in Newton Heath Traction Maintenance Depot, Greengate Brewery and the Rochdale Canal at Todmorden.

Thereafter Ticket to Pride at Hebden Bridge, The Iron Man at Mytholmroyd,  the Detention Barracks and Geese in Sowerby Bridge and Halifax Flour Society 1879. That brings me to Bradford, vile weather, with rain tipping down, and home of the Alhambra Theatre, the National Science and Media Museum, Bradford Industrial Museum, Bradford Cathedral and Odsal with its famous curve - not forgetting it was the 2025 City of Culture.

Myra Shay, which also hosts Route One Rovers and Halifax FC Women, houses a 100 seat stand and standing, also for 100, both covered. The ground adjoins a small forest, a wildflower meadow, green space and the Barkerend Family Hub and Byron Primary School.

The Lions are in yellow and royal blue, sponsored by AQS, with Church in black and white stripes, sponsored by Nick Firth Tiles. £6 in and I'm the first of 85 as we get underway at 1502 - the referee sporting a dreadful tattoo, and he proceeds to provide an underwhelming performance.

The first 25 minutes are abject, both sides having a goal ruled out for offside and the only thing of note is Lions' keeper Lewis Hill's superb save from Church's Nathan Keightley. Then things change for the better... but not the weather 😕 

On 27 Emmerson Cox surges down the wing and his cutback is scuffed home, past Harry Ambler, by Nathan Cartman. Five minutes before the break a cross eludes the Penistone defence and Cartman has the simple job of making it 2-0 to Sports.

There's fireworks in the distance at half time... and more fireworks on the pitch in the second half. Albion contrive to miss chances before on 48 Reece High's back heel sets free Leon Hurles-Brook and he shoots through Hill's legs to make it 2-1.

Albion continue to waste chance after chance, but are helped by the sinbinning of Penistone full back Rob Ludlam with 17 minutes on the clock. Bizarrely Church score twice whilst a man down...

First on 77 Hurles-Brook is found in acres of space, waltzes past Hill and lays it on a plate for Keightley to bring the sides level. Then 6 minutes later Hurles-Brook's pinpoint cross is expertly headed home by Keightley and Penistone lead 3-2. 

Both sides hit the woodwork but there is a sting in the tale as bang on 90 minutes sub Fernando Moke Tumba rams home to make it 3-3 at the third attempt. Five minutes of stoppage time and it's all over...apart from the rain which starts again 🙄

Szey Does It - Leek Get The Blues: Beached By The Sandgrounders.....

And so to The Pure Stadium, previously the Big Help Stadium, on Haig Avenue in Southport for an FA Trophy Third Round tie between Southport and Leek Town 🙄

The present Southport FC, The Port, was founded in 1888 as Southport Central AFC, playing in the Lancashire League, Lancashire Combination and the Central League. The previous club folded in 1886 and, as Southport Wanderers, set up in 1884 to become Southport Central AFC four years later.

In 1918 the team renamed to Southport Vulcan, having been bought by the Vulcan Motor Company - the first club ever to take a sponsor's name. However by 1921 the club had become Southport FC and joined the Football League in the Third Division North.

The Sandgrounders were promoted in 1967 from the now Fourth Division as runners up on goal average to Stockport County. But the Port was relegated in 1970 before moving back up to the Third Division in 1973; that lasted a single season and Southport FC was voted out of the Football League in 1978, replaced by Wigan Athletic. The club was the last side ever to leave the Football League through the re-election process; automatic relegation commenced in 1987.

The Port reverted to the Northern Premier League and were crowned as champions in 1993, as South achieved promotion to the Conference. But relegation in 2003, into the new Conference North, followed later; The Sandgrounders came up as champions again in 2004/05, but were relegated from the Premier in 2007.

The yo-yo existence continued; champions in 2010 and relegated during 2016/17. Subsequently Southport have consistently finished just above the drop zone in the National League North, the division where they remain - currently 19th just a point outside the relegation zone - but unbeaten in eight 🙄

The club was acquired by the Big Help Group in 2023, but ownership was transferred to David Cunningham and Kieran Malone in June this year - and the ground naming rights changed...

Football was played in Leek from 1876, with Leek FC competing in The Combination in the 1890s. The current Leek Town FC traces its lineage to Leek Lowe Hamil FC, formed in 1946.

The Blues, from Harrison Park, played in a variety of leagues - Birmingham & District, Staffordshire, Manchester, Mid Cheshire and Cheshire County Leagues, where they were champions in 1974/75. Town was a founder member of the North West Counties Football League in 1982 and joined the Northern Premier League for the 1987/88 campaign.

Leek were promoted as champions to the Conference in 1997 and spent two seasons in the top tier before relegation. The Blues saw a further demotion in 2001.

However Town was uplifted in 2004 after a league restructure. Relegated again in 2008, the club was promoted, finally, as champions in 2023/24 to the Northern Premier League Premier Division after 5 failed play off attempts. 15th last time, they currently lie 14th.

Numberplates today are PO51BLY, 12 MP and V33VAS. I join the West Lancashire Line at Manchester Oxford Road, in sunshine, after a particularly unpleasant Metrolink experience - but it's even worse on the way back 😳 

There's Brabbin & Rudd at Bolton, and Uncle Joe's Mint Balls at Wigan. Then through Gathurst and Appley Bridge to Parbold Cabin East.

Past Harrock Hall Windmill, straight through Hoscar and I come to Burscough Bridge - Martin Mere Wetland Centre. Then Meols Cop and to Southport - and MiseryRail.

Southport is home of the former Beales department store which closed last year, The Atkinson, Victoria Park and its summer Flower Show and the British Lawnmower Museum. I also take in the fabulous War Memorial, Esplanade, Promenade, Viking Village and Valhalla.

The Wetherspoons offering is the Sir Henry Segrave. Segrave was an early British pioneer, setting three world land speed records, the first at Ainsdale, Southport. He also set a new world water speed record on Friday 13 June 1930, shortly after being knighted - but his third run resulted in a capsizing and death at the age of 33....

It's £11 today at Haig Avenue (it's normally £16.50 to sit). To my left there is the Blowick End away uncovered terracing featuring The Volare Restaurant Terrace.

I'm in the Grandstand and to my right is the Jack Carr Stand. Opposite is the Popular Side, featuring Renacres Paddock and MTC Truck & Van Rental Stand.

The Sandgrounders are in yellow and black, Leek in blue. Today's crowd is 950.

Southport start the stronger - Malakai McKenzie has a fierce effort and Luke Tabone a bullet header, both just wide. Then on the quarter hour Momodou Touray strikes the Leek post.

But the Blues have the best chance of the half on 28, a one on one that sees Lateef Babatunde Olowabi denied by Chris Renshaw. Luke Griffiths hits the Leek bar five minutes before the break, but it remains scoreless.

The Sandgrounders eventually break the deadlock on 61 minutes. There's a foul in the build up but the referee plays a good advantage and it ends with Chris Sze rifling into the roof of the net.

Ten minutes later he is tripped in the box. He takes the penalty himself, and scores with a Panenka chip to make it 2-0.

Southport hit the woodwork for a third time but then things get interesting. On 89 minutes Liam Edwards powers in a header for Leek to halve the deficit.

The gaggle of Blues fans celebrate wildly but less than a minute later it's all over. A marvellous through ball plays sub Arthur Gnahoua in and he finishes imperiously past Noah Cooper for the final result of 3-1.