Evening Vinnie.

Following this article, which appears to be entirely factual and straightforward:

http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/news/...t_case/?ref=mr

Godfrey has withdrawn his support - many would say what support? - from the club, citing the local paper as vicious for reporting the pending court case:

http://halesowentownfc.com/News/333/...-News-Article-

His brother is now effectively blaming the local paper for the club having no benefactor any more.

It remains to be seen whether last night's home defeat to Chippenham is the final game or not.

You're the guy that I spoke to at Ciren the other year aren't you?

Nah, not me. Don't do away games. Actually haven't been to a home game since last season. And that was an "away" game anyway.

My decision was to boycott until the Ingram's were gone. Sadly it looks like there may not be a club by the time they've finished. If there is I shall go back though.

I see a possible consortium is lining up to 'save' the club.
http://www.halesowennews.co.uk/sport...ttle_for_club/

I notice one of the people involved is Steve Daniels. Type 'Steve Daniels Bromsgrove Rovers' into Google and you'll see why this is yet another so-called 'white knight' that will only spell disaster.

He's the same guy who screwed the old Enfield up, isn't he?

Since then...

Tuesday 1st - Ridgeons Eastern Counties League Div 1 (step 6) Halstead 1-1 Whitton. Remember Reul Fox at Spurs Sicknote? He's chairman at Whitton now (they're an Ipswich club and going for promotion). Attendance 40ish

Wednesday 2nd - Big groundshare derby in Ryman Div 1 Nth between Grays v East Thurrock, ending 3-1 to ETU. ETU and Needham Market neck and neck for the title (ETU three points clear from two games more, with Needham going to ETU in four weeks!), Some superb goals. Found out Julian Dicks didn't get the West Ham job (Lomas did) so is staying put to push Grays bid for the playoffs. Attendance nearly 300!

Thursday 3rd - Essex Senior League. Was at Wadham Lodge Walthamstow (East London by A406) to see Maurtius Sports up against unbeaten champions Stansted, who won in the end scrappily 2-0. Stansted still the only unbeaten team in league action in the top nine levels of the game nationally, with 22 games gone and 10 left, though needed a 95th minute equaliser at third placed Bethnal Green last weekend to keep that intact - their main obstacles to invincibility appear to be fourth placed Witham away next week, then April 16th the biggie at joint leaders Enfield 1893 (Stansted have two games in hand). Less than 50 that night.

Saturday 5th - Ryman Div 1 Nth local West Essex derby between Waltham Abbey and Harlow, with both sides still with an outside chance of the playoffs. Harlow won 1-0, with their fans letting off an air raid siren when they scored, in a dire game. Crowd of 170ish, half from Harlow it seemed.

Tuesday 8th - Eastern Counties (Ridgeons) Prem. Went to Wivenhoes ground in North Essex for their game with Suffolk side Hadleigh Utd. Finished 2-2, with Wivenhoe now having won just one of their last 16 games, and very close to the relegation zone. Sad to see this once big proud Ryman/Southern league club a few years back struggling to survive on and off the pitch. Crowd count of 50ish, not the official 91???

Wednesday 9th - Ryman Div 1 Nth Grays v Enfield Town, with both sides battling to get to playoffs (Grays far back but with many games in hand, whilst an Enfield win would have taken them above Maldon & Tiptree into fifth). Grays won 2-0 to stay in touch and dent Enfields hopes. Only 173 there that night, including the Ilford boss.

Thursday 10th - lowest I've ever covered - step 9!! At the Essex Olympian League div 2 game between Stansted Reserves and Herongate Athletic (a little village south of Brentwood).
Apart from April and May, its very rare to have games from step 7 and below in the evenings, as most clubs play on railed off park pitches with no floodlights. Only a select few do - e.g. reserves side (obviously due to the senior first team), reforming club still in their old ground, nearby higher league grounds for home sides used as alternative venues (e.g. sides near step 6 Cornard Utd played the odd evening game at Cornards ground). However most games are played from the second week of April onwards (6:15KO around here before the evening light goes). About 20 of us watched, including home officials and the first team manager, as mostly outplayed Herongate came from behind to win 3-1 (and an amazing third goal) to go top of their division.

And St Albans


He posts on forums, he might even find this one one day if searching for himself!


I'll be happy if I don't have to visit Braintree next year

Yep! Think he had a successful business away from football the last few years, occasionally getting involved with random clubs

This coming week....

Tomorrow I'm at a big clash at the top of step 7 Essex & Suffolk Border League Prem, in a local derby too. Unbeaten West Bergholt host leaders Gas Recreation in a Colchester(ish) derby.

Monday more lofty surroundings to see a big playoff six pointer in Conf Sth between Chelmsford v Dover.

Tuesday I'm following Stansted for their Essex Senior League match at Barking, to see if they can remain unbeaten and boost their chances of retaining the title (not allowed up to the Ryman as their pitch is partly a cricket pitch as well).

Wednesday I'm at Brentwoods ground as local village side Mountnessing host title chasing Manford Way in another rare floodlit fixture, this time in step 7 Essex Olympian League Prem.

----

And of course tomorrow I'm keeping an eye on Darlo v the Heed. Should be a big crowd for the semi first leg. May the best team win eugene!

I think he owns quite a few restaurants in Ipswich, and as you say, stuff with other clubs. He's been manager at Whitton a few years back, but is now just chairman. I guess, given his early years were at Norwich that he's got roots in East Anglia. Don't think I saw him at Halstead though, I wouldn't blame him!

St Albans as well? What a coincidence...

He does sound like a very attention seeking soul.

Not sure how Braintrees ground will cope with the club in the Conference, as its barely upto scratch? Luton, Wimbledon, Grimsby and co prepare for an uncomfortable away experience in Essex next season.

Indeed. Obviously I'm rooting for Gateshead, but it'll be good to see a North East team in the final.

There will be more police than home fans when Luton etc visit, segregation looks difficult

Feature about us on Football Focus in a bit, they were at the game against Salford in midweek.

Bumped into the entire Dorchester team in McDonalds at the Clackets Lane service station on the M25 this morning, they were on their way to Welling
Spoke to the player manager Ashley Vickers (he who got sent off for tackling the streaker last week!), told him to beat Welling as it would help Woking out
Guess he listened as they won 2-1


Woking left it late today, 3 seconds to go of the 90 and we sneak a winner

Stephen Vaughan, former owner of Chester and wannabe in Wrexham jailed for 15 months

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liver...0252-28334885/

Tis fantastic news. Not long enough but better than a suspended sentence as had been a possibility. Hope he has a horrible time.

Well done Darlo, good luck in the final

Is there a AFC Fylde fan here? I am sure I saw one at some point. Because of you, we are now 10 points behind you with a game in hand. If we had won it would be 5(?) points though.

Same as Stafford against us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J75zr...el_video_title

Was that commentary done live? Seemed to jinx you if so!

Always is, they did the same for our equaliser.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SaFmxLeS3l4

went to another boston game yesterday, this time against harrogate. found ourselves 2-0 down at half time as harrogate scored with their only 2 shots of the half! spencer wier daley came on as a sub and scored a cracker to get a goal back on 67 minutes. this prompted us in the town end of the ground to all constantly sing the same chant for the next 20 mins which somehow didnt bore any of us! spencer then scored again in the 94th minute to get us a deserved equaliser so we all went home quite happy with a 2-2 draw.

it is quite hard to believe how enjoyable lower league football is. only 1300 people at the game (a lot for bsn i know) but we all really enjoy it, probably more than at a higher league game. people think its funny that i go to these sort of games but they really dont know what they are missing.

anyway we are now in a situation where we are very comfortable in the play off places but need a miracle to come top. hope we can go up via the dreaded play off lottery at the end of the season. up the pilgrims!

Another vital win that for the Pilgrims, after the come from behind win against title favourites Alfreton in midweek.


Thanks eugene. Very sorry you miss out on a final, taking off my Darlo hat for a moment.

Was a very tight affair throughout both legs. We're lucky we turned it around in the second half last week. Better luck next year.

Hoping to book tickets at Wembley for the final against Mansfield (good job by them to beat Luton). I was there for our last visit, just before the old Wembley was pulled down, when we lost the playoff final to Peterborough.

First of all we need to get back to league action, with a big backlog of fixtures. Playoffs not totally lost yet.

By the way, superb crowd yesterday, over 5k, more than five times the usual amount! Half of them were Darlo fans. Wish both of us saw a few of those through the gate more often, particularly Gateshead.

Yep. Hope life is as awful as possible for him over the next 18 months. Awful man.