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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Taking a stand ... the pavilion end at Leicestershire County Cricket Club's Grace Road ground.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

No problems with the weather in Colchester. Game on, this afternoon, say Eastern Rhinos Amateur Rugby League Club.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

Although its facilities are decidedly basic, Grove Park's scenic Settle setting makes it one of Yorkshire's most attractive rugby union grounds. I was there, On This Day (12/1), in 2002, and saw Scarborough edge, 9-5, Yorkshire One rivals North Ribblesdale. Ribb's Dean Stacey scored the only try.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 12/01/2025

The first of several visits to Ayresome Park ('Doing The 92', No 22). On This Day (12/1), in 1988, I saw Second Division Middlesbrough require extra time to edge non-league Sutton United in an FA Cup third round replay. Paul Kerr scored the only goal. 17,932 there. Houses now cover Ayresome's site.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Destination Ramsgreave Drive, On This Day (11/1), in 2014, to watch rugby union. Part of a crowd of about 130, I saw Blackburn and Eccles slug out a dour encounter in the North Lancs/Cumbria league. The home team, beaten 21-19, fluffed a stoppage time penalty that would have secured victory.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 11/01/2025

Three goals in seven minutes enlivened my visit, On This Day (11/1), in 2003, to the KC Stadium ('Doing The 92', No 94). Hull City were held, 2-2, by Division Three rivals Exeter City, who equalised in second half stoppage time, shortly after a red card had reduced them to 10 men. 13,667 attended.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

According to the RFL, at lunchtime today, Ince Rose Bridge's pitch was 25 per cent playable. Ince host Irish side Longhorns in rugby league's Challenge Cup. Four more heaters (bringing the total to six) are being deployed. Longhorns will travel, in the morning, if prospects for play are 50/50.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Destination Wigston, On This Day (10/1), in 2015, to watch some rugby union. Part of a circa 115 crowd, at the Welford Road ground, I saw South Leicester beat, 30-18, National League Three Midlands rivals, Hinckley. After just 12 minutes, on a very windy afternoon, South had opened up a 20-3 lead.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Good to see third tier Swinton Lions, underlining their 'One Club, One Vision' commitment, have scheduled, at Heywood Road, several men's and women's double-headers for the 2025 rugby league season. Dates include March 23, May 4, May 25 (TBC), June 15, June 22, July 27 and August 24 (TBC).

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

As things stand, only six ties survive this weekend in the first round of rugby league's Challenge Cup. The pitches of West Bowling and West Hull failed inspections this morning.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

Tayside was clear and bitterly cold, On This Day (10/1), in 1993. I was at Dens Park ('Doing the 42', No 32), for a Scottish Cup third round tie between Dundee and lower-ranked visitors Dumbarton. 4,290 saw Simon Stainrod sent off before Dark Blues won, 2-0, through Morten Wieghorst and Billy Dodds.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

The undersoil heating at Bolton's Burnden Park (now a supermarket) trumped the frost, On This Day (10/1), in 1987. With the pitch playable, I was able to watch the final of the John Player Special Trophy. 21,144 saw Wigan defeat Warrington, 18-4. Wire missed badly suspended scrum-half, Paul Bishop.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

And another first round tie in rugby league's Challenge Cup falls victim to the wintry weather.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Saturday's Mirfield-Royal Navy Challenge Cup tie has fallen victim to the weather. A new date has to be confirmed. On socials, Mirfield state: "Every effort has been made to get the game on, but we cannot control the temperatures, which are preventing the field from thawing and becoming playable."

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Owing to a snow-covered and frozen pitch, the Dewsbury Moor Maroons versus Haresfinch tie, in the first round of rugby league's Challenge Cup, has been postponed - and put back a week, to Saturday, January 18 (2.0).

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Off to Franklin's Gardens, one of rugby union's more interesting grounds, On This Day (9/1), in 2000. Among a 7,027 crowd, I watched Northampton beat, 27-16, Heineken Cup Pool Six rivals Grenoble. Three late Matt Dawson penalties saw Saints, who faded after the break, to victory in a bruising match.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

When I lived south of Teesside, in the early 1990s, Ryedale York were the nearest pro rugby league team, so I'd go a few times each season. On This Day (9/1), in 1994, I saw York beat Whitehaven, 34-4, in front of 1,162. York's five tries included one for Australian second row forward, Mark Lyons.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 09/01/2025

Scottish Cup action, On This Day (9/1), in 1993. I was at McDiarmid Park, Perth ('Doing the 42', No 31), where, in a third round tie watched by 3,970, St Johnstone routed, 6-0, lower ranked Forfar Athletic. Two apiece for Paul Wright and Vinny Arkins, with Paul Cherry and Steve Maskrey also netting.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

As close as I've come to watching a 0-0 draw in rugby union. On This Day (8/1), in 2011, I was at a waterlogged Silver Royd, where a penalty, in first half stoppage time, secured a 3-0 win for Scarborough over Yorkshire One rivals York. Circa 125 present. Scarborough spent £4m, building Silver Royd.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

Poor facilities if you're taller than 5ft 8in! On This Day (8/1), in 2005, I was at Loftus Road ('Doing the 92', No 115), where Nottingham Forest eased to a 3-0 win over FA Cup third round opponents Queen's Park Rangers. Two in a minute, from Andy Reid and Kris Commons. Yoann Folly scored the third.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

With the weather football-unfriendly, On This Day (7/1), in 2023, I opted for rugby union at Cross Green. In front of about 400, four-try Otley beat, 25-3, National Two North rivals Sheffield. A seventh consecutive league win. Looks as though this season Otley have given up on a printed programme.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Dulwich Hamlet, who are 15th in the Isthmian League's Premier Division, with eight wins from 25 league games, have terminated - with immediate effect - the contract of manager Hakan Hayrettin and his management team.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Taking a Stand ... Guisborough Town Football Club's King George V Ground.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

Quite by chance (nobody realised, at the time, what lay in store), I watched Blackpool's last game at Borough Park - an 8-5 defeat by Whitehaven in January 1987. 386 attended. Borough saw out the season at Bloomfield Road, the Blackpool FC ground, and never returned to Borough Park.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

A dual sport double, On This Day (7/1), in 2012; at Steel Park, I saw FC Halifax Town beat, 4-2, Football Conference North rivals Corby Town; then, at the National Ice Centre, Cardiff Devils beat, also 4-2, Nottingham Panthers, in ice hockey's Elite League. Respective attendances were 739 and 5,026.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

West Hull, members of amateur rugby league's National Conference League, have revamped their coaching team. Head coach Mark Hewitt is now the club’s director of rugby, and will focus primarily on the youth and junior structure. Ryan Steen has taken over as head coach, with Ryan Wilson player-coach.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Taking a Stand ... Tonbridge Angels Football Club's Longmead Stadium.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

By 2007, the rot had set in for the FA Cup. On This Day (6/1), Premier League Bolton Wanderers rested several stars yet still cruised to a 4-0 win at third round opponents Doncaster Rovers, of League One. A brace for Andranik Teymourian. I was among a 14,297 Keepmoat crowd ('Doing the 92', No 123).

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

A see-saw encounter was my reward for a trek down to Warwickshire, to watch rugby union, On This Day (6/1), in 2018. At the Jack Davies Memorial Ground, I saw visitors Malvern bounce back, from 0-10, 5-17 and 27-31 down, to beat, 37-31, Midlands Two West (South) rivals Kenilworth. Circa 135 present.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

In 1985, 6/1 would've been the last weekend of my second year university Christmas break. Before returning to Liverpool, I went to Arena '84 (sorry, Fartown), where Mansfield Marksman beat, 17-6, Div Two rivals Huddersfield Barracudas (bizarre nickname). Just 674 there. Tough times for Huddersfield!

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Oh, happy Shay! On This Day, 45 years ago, Paul Hendrie (white strip) beats goalkeeper Joe Corrigan, to secure for Halifax Town an FA Cup third round upset win over Malcolm Allison's Manchester City. That memorable afternoon, my dad and I were in the Skircoat Stand - in the background of this shot.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Two former grounds of Doncaster Rovers (Belle Vue) and Port Vale (The Old Recreation Ground), the teams I watched yesterday, at the Eco-Power Stadium, in a League Two fixture.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Off to Headingley, Leeds, On This Day (5/1), in 1986 - to watch a Halifax Rugby League Club 'home' game. During a cold snap, title-chasing Fax, anxious to sidestep fixture congestion, switched a St Helens fixture from Thrum Hall to Headingley's heated pitch. 5,043 saw Fax win, 27-18, to move top.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Lovely to see Doncaster Rovers maintaining the football tradition of printed match programmes. This 36-pager (£3) was issued for yesterday's (4/1/25) League Two fixture with promotion rivals Port Vale. Rovers' programme is produced by Shenington (Oxfordshire) firm, ACA Creative.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

At The Shay, On This Day (5/1), in 1980, I witnessed a major FA Cup upset. On a mud-bath, Fourth Division Halifax Town beat, 1-0, top-flight Manchester City, their third round visitors. Watched by 12,599, Paul Hendrie hit the goal that sank Malcolm Allison's boys. www.theguardian.com/football/tha...

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

It was Northern League football for me, On This Day (5/1), in 2007. Among a 200 crowd at Brinkburn Road, I watched Division One rivals Darlington Railway Athletic and West Auckland Town ('winners of the first World Cup') slug out a 0-0 derby draw. R.A. have since been demoted to the Wearside League.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Crowd building steadily at Not Belle Vue...

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

A 36-page printed match programme (£3) from Doncaster Rovers for this afternoon's League Two fixture, at the Eco-Power Stadium, with promotion rivals Port Vale.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

A Cumbria to Kirkcaldy expedition, On This Day (4/1), in 1992. We left later than planned and our driver, Ian, delivered us to Stark's Park ('Doing The 42', No 27) only 20 minutes before kick-off. A 2,299 gathering saw Raith Rovers beat, 2-1, Scottish League Division One rivals Hamilton Academical.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 04/01/2025

Championship rugby union, On This Day (4/1), in 2015. I joined a bumper 3,676 crowd at Castle Park, where Rotherham Titans edged out, 23-21, South Yorkshire neighbours Doncaster Knights. After Knights had battled back, from 9-20 down, to lead 21-20, a 76th-minute penalty saw the visitors to victory.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Quite fancy going to this tomorrow. A better chance of beating the frost than most of my other options.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

A depressingly familiar sight, this morning, at Tadcaster Albion's ground. They must be pig sick of one flooding event after another. To abide by Northern Counties East League rules, Brewers will inspect tomorrow morning. Expect their Premier Division fixture with Knaresborough Town to be postponed!

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Sacked - after one defeat in 10 games. Go, figure.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Taking a Stand ... Billericay Town Football Club's New Lodge.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Pretty sure Wigan Warriors Rugby League Club now own the Edge Hall Road ground - the 'M6 lay-by' - once occupied by defunct Orrell RU. I was there, for rugby union, On This Day (3/1), in 2000. Orrell and Rugby Lions drew, 13-13, in the Tetley's Bitter Cup. The former went through on try count, 2-1.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

It was Bath time, for me, On This Day (3/1), in 1999. At Twerton Park, I saw Ilkeston Town come from behind to defeat, 2-1, Southern League Premier Division rivals Bath City. Simon Weaver - at present, manager of League Two strugglers Harrogate Town - scored Ilson's 78th-minute winner. 735 attended.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Taking a Stand ... Keighley Rugby League Club's Lawkholme Lane. The ground's 'scrattin' shed' side, B.C. (Before Cougarmania)

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Destination Dean Court ('Doing the 92', No 83), On This Day (2/1), in 1999. Among a 10,881 crowd, I saw Second Division AFC Bournemouth shock, 1-0, First Division West Bromwich Albion, in the FA Cup third round. Manager-in-the-making Eddie Howe, an England U21 cap, got Cherries' 34th-minute winner.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Short on sporting options, On This Day (2/1), in 2023, I headed to Bracken Moor, a non-league football ground I hadn't visited in a long time. Lewis Macaskill scored the only goal as Stocksbridge Park Steels (3rd) edged local rivals Sheffield (8th) in the Northern Prem's East Division. 353 attended.

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sportinglifer.bsky.social @sportinglifer.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

The undersoil heating at Central Park (now a supermarket) came up trumps, On This Day (2/1), in 1993. I watched Shaun Edwards set up two Neil Cowie tries as Wigan eased to a 19-4 win over Hull FC in a Regal Trophy semi-final. Live TV coverage and chilly weather contributed to a low turnout - 8,185.

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