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#Post#: 92786--------------------------------------------------
Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: flipmode Date: June 4, 2025, 5:56 pm
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Creating a new topic for all of the lovely content JCFC provides
throughout the 2025/2026 season.
#Post#: 92825--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: JCFC Date: June 6, 2025, 12:55 am
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[quote author=flipmode link=topic=7047.msg92786#msg92786
date=1749077797]
Creating a new topic for all of the lovely content JCFC provides
throughout the 2025/2026 season.
[/quote]
But with no indication of what JCFC is to do with the unlovely
content he usually produces!
#Post#: 92826--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: JCFC Date: June 6, 2025, 12:59 am
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Ideally others might decide to watch the occasional non-league
match and report thereon. This topic needs contributions.
#Post#: 92861--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: bmb Date: June 7, 2025, 7:00 pm
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[quote author=JCFC link=topic=7047.msg92825#msg92825
date=1749189355]
[quote author=flipmode link=topic=7047.msg92786#msg92786
date=1749077797]
Creating a new topic for all of the lovely content JCFC provides
throughout the 2025/2026 season.
[/quote]
But with no indication of what JCFC is to do with the unlovely
content he usually produces!
[/quote]
As no such thing exists there’s no need to make a home for it!
😉
#Post#: 93659--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: JCFC Date: July 27, 2025, 9:57 am
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I had hoped that with the Prima Donna League not having started,
members might have been tempted by the return of competitive
football in England to take in a match at Step 5 or 6 and give
us their impressions. Sadly, it seems not to have been the case
- non-League football is clearly of little interest here.
Nevertheless ..
The Appointments for the first set of NCEFL fixtures offered
mainly very familiar referees, but one reasonably local game
offered the prospect of an unheard-of referee at a hitherto
unvisited ground. Accordingly, JCFC boarded the 254 to Leeds,
which took a diversionary route to the bus station to avoid a
Palestinian march, revealing new parts of Leeds, which did
nothing to improve his dismal view of that city. The connection,
however, was swift and from the Cross Flatts Park stop, it was a
comfortable walk up to
Saturday 26th July 2025
NCEFL Division 1
South Leeds 2 v 0 Goole
Matthew Roberts; Thomas Smith, Mervyn Collins.
The first problem to find the way in - not through a turnstile,
but through a rather posh-looking reception area to a table
where a gentleman with a phone relieved me of my £4 admission.
This is the home ground nowadays of Hunslet RLFC. Only half of
the stand was open on this occasion, though it was more than
sufficient for an attendance of 138. The view was elevated and
unobstructed, but the wide athletics track meant that the pitch
was somewhat distant.
The officials were already out warming up on the far side of the
field. It was immediately apparent that the referee was not the
Matthew Roberts known to JCFC, unless he had had a very hard
life in recent years. As they came back to the stand at the end
of their warm-up, it became clear that Mr Roberts was less
elderly than he had appeared from a distance. Maybe he had
fallen foul of a barber whom he had once red carded and
proceeded to exact maximum revenge. It did at least provide a
good match for the coiffure of his two colleagues.
The first half was a rather staccato affair, with constant
stoppages for minor nudges. None of the free-kicks was
incorrect, but a more assured referee might have judged things a
little less rigourously. He did allow a number of good
advantages, but also missed a couple of occasions, stopping play
unnecessarily. The main interest of the first half did not come
until the 39th minute - a two-carriage train trundling past on
the Middleton Railway. Just before the break, the ball went into
touch, both sides (of course) claiming the throw. Mr Roberts
went with Goole (incorrectly from the stand) while Mr Smith's
flag remained unraised in his left hand to indicate the opposite
direction before he switched to raise it in accord with the
referee, earning him abuse from spectators.
Oddly, during the break Mr Smith reappeared on the touchline,
having a chat with a home coach. A LTE tackle brought a yellow
card got the Goole number 8 just two minutes into the second
period. There was a mystery on 50 minutes. Mr Roberts whistled,
ran over to the Goole keeper who had been about to clear, had a
longish word with the keeper, before continuing with a drop ball
to the keeper. There was a repeat, without the chat a minute
later. There was another yellow card on 54 minutes, the Goole
number 11having interfered to delay a free-kick. Just after the
hour mark Mr Roberts left the pitch to speak to a gentleman
wandering harmlessly along the running track and point him to
the stand. On 66 minutes, the home side took the lead with a
belting 25 yard shot into the top corner. This lead was doubled
seven minutes later when the Goole keeper could only parry a
shot and a South Leeds player was first to the rebound. At one
break in play, the home number 12 trotted over to the away
technical area and had a drink from one of their bottles. The
bosses looked somewhat askance at this, but didn't intervene.
Goole forced the home keeper into a good blocking save late on.
On 86 minutes Mr Roberts seemed to call a home player for a
word, but was ignored. He did not seem to insist, not show a
card, but proceeded to write something. It had been a pretty
peaceable game, but in added time a strong challenge by a home
player produced a reaction in the form of a hefty push in the
chest and the inevitable arrival of multiple peacemakers.
Matters resolved, Mr Roberts showed a red card to the home
number 14. The tackle had appeared no more than reckless from
the stand, but Mr Roberts was closer than JCFC. The retaliation
drew no response from the referee.
If this was a debut in this league for Mr Roberts, it can be
understood that he was keen to keep things under control and
possibly explains his approach. He may mellow with further
outings. He was clear in counting down from 5 with keepers in
possession and the technique seemed to be very effective.
Keepers seemed to have found a cure for their balance problems
that have caused them to flop so often in recent seasons. JCFC
might have been more impressed had he been able to make out the
finer points of the referee's control, but in this case distance
did not lend attraction to the view.
Keen to avoid a return to Leeds, JCFC caught the bus in the
opposite direction, which took a less than direct route to
Huddersfield and home was not reached until 19.20 -
disappointingly late from a relatively close ground. If only
JCFC were a crow.
#Post#: 93660--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: carrowman Date: July 27, 2025, 10:47 am
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It's good to have you back, it still seems strange in having
match reports in July, surely it's still the cricket season !
I look forward to a new season of your adventures.
#Post#: 93739--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: JCFC Date: August 1, 2025, 2:30 am
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This being a first visit to the newly developed Myra Shay
facility, it was good to find that the X11 bus stops directly
outside the ground, making for an easy trip and timely arrival
for
Wednesday 30th July 2025
NCEFL League Cup
Route One Rovers 4 v 1 Brigg Town
Thomas Johnson (Oxfordshire); Kyle Hogan, Sergio Galasso
Well, not exactly timely, as there were still programmes
available - four photocopied, unstapled sheets, folded to make
16 pages. The front page bore a brief history of the home club
(to be fair, their history is indeed brief) not updated to
mention their transfer from the North West Counties League to
the Northern Counties East. The back page bade us a cursory
welcome. Page 2 had a slightly longer history of the visitors,
with page 3 listing squad names. The rest was adverts, some
merely a blank page with a smallish logo in the centre. Normally
JCFC would give a club credit for trying, but not when they
charge £3. It was a pleasure to pass it on to a gentleman who
had been disappointed to find that they had sold out. He tried
to pay for it, but, unlike the club, JCFC did not have the gall
to accept.
The seats in the small stands were comfortable enough, with
adequate legroom, but the hatched "no standing" area covered
only the width of the stand, with the locals' preferred standing
area on the same level meaning that a quarter of the pitch was
largely invisible. Poor design by the Council! Inevitably it was
this quarter that was to be the scene of most of the action.
With Mr Johnson being from Oxfordshire, the guess was that he
was in Yorkshire as a student. Sure enough, the two stocky
assistants were accompanied by a taller young man, his paleish
complexion topped by auburn curls.
The visitors made the better start, taking the lead through a
12th minute header. Rovers did force the Brigg keeper into a
triple parry, but otherwise their potential attacks were
thwarted by an inability to remain onside. They were regularly
penalised - rightly - by Mr Johnson for offences born of naivety
and over-enthusiasm, rather than malicious intent. There was a
yellow card on 33 minutes, for a challenge that provoked a very
brief reaction, cordial relations being quickly restored by an
apology, with it being deemed reckless.
At the break, the officials' route off the pitch was blocked by
two home bosses, one in a wheelchair. Mr Johnson stood arms
akimbo to receive an extended protest, with repeated
gesticulations. Goodness knows what the manager had to protest
about.
The tide turned for the second half, the play again being
largely in the half where the view was obstructed. Rovers
equalised on 47 minutes and again put the keeper under pressure.
There was a skirmish, details unseen, of course, midway through
the half. Mr Johnson consulted Mr Hogan at some length before
returning to flash his yellow card twice, presumably at a player
from each side. Rovers piled on the pressure with a succession
of corners, but penalties began to look a distinct possibility.
At a substitution on 85 minutes, Mr Johnson marched purposefully
to the touchline to sample once again the home boss's range of
protests and gesticulations, but sadly took no action. A minute
later Rovers took the lead with a half-saved header, confirmed
after a very slight delay. A dribble across the front of the
penalty area produced the opening for number three, the fourth
coming in the fifth minute of added time.
Mr Johnson is probably fairly new to this level. His movement in
the first half was unspectacular but adequate and his
decision-making sound. As the game wore on, though, he seemed
increasingly detached from proceedings. A satisfactory evening's
work, but not, as yet, a particularly promising one. It is
forgivable to be a little nervous in a new situation. He will
not be the first who has failed to impress on his first
sighting, but has gone on to do well as confidence increased.
Once the car park had been negotiated to find the small gate in
the fence, the return was straightforward. The X11 stops running
early in the evening, so the alternative was a few minutes walk,
fortunately down quite a steep hill, to take a different bus
route. The 21.55 number 645 arrived promptly after just a
minute, reaching Bradford Interchange in time for the 22.05 bus
back to Brighouse. Home by 22.32 - an easier journey than
expected. However, if co-tenants Albion Sports persist with
their annoying 20.00 starts, things will be rather different.
#Post#: 93781--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: JCFC Date: August 3, 2025, 7:19 am
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Given Brighouse Town's amazing ability to exit every possible
cup competition at the first attempt, often to lower-ranked
opponents, expectations were not high at
Saturday 2nd August 2025
FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round
Brighouse Town 1 v 0 Frickley Athletic
Brandon Blackham; Kerion Moore, Stuart Hoyle
It was a pleasant afternoon, sunny and warm, but not oppressive,
and as ever it was good to catch up with the news fromm the
usual suspects. Three or four of the home team were familiar
from last season, but the majority were newcomers. JCFC will
possibly have worked out who they all are by Christmas.
Some years ago, JCFC had discovered that Mr Moore's odd first
name is an inexplicable version of the more usual Ciaran/Keiran
variants, commenting that he had always assumed it to be
pronounced like a well-bred resident of Kelvinside might refer
to her favourite films. Rightly rebuked by jad that no resident
of Kelvinside, (let alone it's even more refined Edinburgh
version, Morningside) would dream of watching Kerion films, I
now suggest that such a genteel soul might mention that she had
recently seen a Kerion crow. Congratulations to the Brighouse PA
announcer who got it right. (Wrong actually in JCFC'S stuffy
view!)
Brighouse had marginally the better of the first half, with
encouraging signs: a spirited approach, decent creative moves,
some excellent touches and above all a very tall central
defender. Play was open and fluid, the time seeming to pass very
quickly. The Stentorian One started his season in good voice,
with an early "Have a word with him, ref!" Very discreetly, Mr
Blackham did so, though doubtless without the prompting. A very
late challenge by the home number 5 on 32 minutes rightly
brought a yellow card. Two for Frickley followed and there could
have been a third. Frickley, too, contributed some good play.
Each side was denied once in the half by desperate last-ditch
clearances.
At the break it was good to see Jason Smith and have a chance to
congratulate him on his promotion to Level 3.
In the 47th minute a neat short through ball gave Brighouse an
opportunity, tidily accepted to give Town the lead. This,
however, served to produce an impressive performance by
Frickley. They denied Brighouse the ball, penning them for long
periods in their own half. Brighouse did defend doggedly, but
even so, with better finishing, Frickley could well have had a
couple of goals. The closing minutes brought a yellow card for
each side Even in added time it took a header off the Brighouse
line with the keeper AWOL to avoid a replay, which Frickley
would have richly deserved.
Mr Blackham has been seen a number of times and has impressed as
a positive referee, firmly in control. If his input on this
occasion was possibly a little more subdued, he nevertheless
handled the game well. For JCFC, who of course knows nothing
about such matters, it was a surprise that he did not receive
promotion to Level 3 at the end of last season. It is said,
however, that he has been very, very close on the last two
occasions. Third time lucky, perhaps.
Meanwhile, Town pocket the £1125 winning money much needed by a
low-budget club. They will be away in the next round in a
fortnight against the winners of the replay between W. Didsbury
&Charlton and Winsford United. That offers at least £448 for the
losers, but Town will need to maintain their first half level of
performance throughout the match of they are to go further. For
now, though, the serious business of the league starts with a
home match on Saturday against Blyth Town. Let's hope that they
can avoid a third reprieve. It won't be easy.
#Post#: 93785--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: JCFC Date: August 3, 2025, 3:51 pm
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I am not well-versed in current football law, as many referees
would gladly attest. It may be, therefore, that there are simple
answers to the silly queries below, but the Stentorian Ex-ref
could not give me an answer.
For the last-minute corner, the Frickley keeper came to join the
attack, taking off his cap and dropping it in the Brighouse half
Very sensible and nothinng untoward occurred. However some
keepers are not always sensible.
If a keeper did not remove his cap and somehow "nebbed" (used
the peak) the ball into the net, would a goal be allowed?
Alternatively if the cap accidentally fell off or was knocked
off, a deflection leading to a goal?
Or in the "sensible" scenario, if the ball was cleared and
struck the cap that the keeper had discarded, what would be the
verdict? Cricket has a five run penalty, but that could not work
in football.
All very unlikely situations, but one day, somewhere...
#Post#: 93789--------------------------------------------------
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2025/26
By: aaa Date: August 3, 2025, 4:40 pm
---------------------------------------------------------
[quote author=JCFC link=topic=7047.msg93785#msg93785
date=1754254302]
I am not well-versed in current football law, as many referees
would gladly attest. It may be, therefore, that there are simple
answers to the silly queries below, but the Stentorian Ex-ref
could not give me an answer.
For the last-minute corner, the Frickley keeper came to join the
attack, taking off his cap and dropping it in the Brighouse half
Very sensible and nothinng untoward occurred. However some
keepers are not always sensible.
If a keeper did not remove his cap and somehow "nebbed" (used
the peak) the ball into the net, would a goal be allowed?
Alternatively if the cap accidentally fell off or was knocked
off, a deflection leading to a goal?
Or in the "sensible" scenario, if the ball was cleared and
struck the cap that the keeper had discarded, what would be the
verdict? Cricket has a five run penalty, but that could not work
in football.
All very unlikely situations, but one day, somewhere...
[/quote]
Very interesting an great questions which is making my head spin
:)
The only answer I can think of is that Law 4 allows goalkeepers'
caps so therefore, it is part of the game. Same as protective
equipment, such as players headgear, facemasks, knee and arm
protectors.
This is the only conclusion I can come up with but I'm sure some
with vast knowledge of the Law will come up with the alternative
answer.
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