football rambles

 I left it comparatively late (at least for me) to get to an FA Cup game this year with this local derby going ahead in the First Qualifying Round. I have usually been to the two preliminary rounds at this point. I made a bit of a day out with it with James and we went to a couple of pubs, both of which weren't great before the game. it became a whole day out when the shortage of train drivers after the game meant we had to spend a significant amount of time in the White Hart, which was a decent pub, after the game. What a pity! As for the football, there were a lot of Hitchin fans, it's just down the road and they definitely historically at least are the stronger of the teams. I was a bit surprised that they seemed to see themselves as the underdogs and in the opening encounters it definitely looked like Hitchin were the favourites. Despite all of their dominance Hitchin only led by 1-0 at the break and this was thanks to an Alex Brown penalty on 12 minutes. At halftime the ev...

Last night Ely City took on Biggleswade Town in a friendly at the Unwin and although the result didn't go Ely's way there were plenty of encouraging signs. Biggleswade have been holding their own in the level above Ely, so the defeat didn't really come as a shock and it took Biggleswade only 7 minutes to go ahead. Their centre forward was a brilliant and the slightest error in the Ely defence saw him smash the ball into the back of the net. Ely also had their chances in the opening minutes with Tom Beech coming close on 20 minutes and Chadders also forcing a decent save from the keeper on 24. However, Biggleswade really were a cut above Ely and they always seemed to have an extra man wherever Ely were and when their tricky centre forward came close again on the half hour mark with a lovely turn that he whipped just wide of Pacey it was his third quality chance and other circumstances he might have had a hat-trick. Ely did battle on though and the last quarter of an hour of ...

On Tuesday night Ely City take on Southern League Division 1 Central side Biggleswade Town. Biggleswade were formed in 1874 and started off playing mainly friendly matches at their Fairfield Road Ground, which they shared with a local cricket team. In 1902 they became founder members of the Biggleswade and District League, which they were also the first champions of. In 1920 the club joined the Northamptonshire League, despite being based in Bedfordshire. However, the league was l to become the United Counties League in 1934 and today takes in clubs from several counties, although the majority are in Northamptonshire. in 1945 they joined the Spatan League before returning to the United Counties League in 1951. They also had a short stint betweeen 1955 and 1963 in the Eastern Counties League where they broke the record for the biggest victory when they beat Newmarket Town 12-0. A record which still stands today. In 1963 they returned to the UCL mainly because of the extra travel costs o...