HERE are my thoughts on a couple of grassroots matches I have attended over the past fortnight.
Needless to say, these fixtures didn’t attract football odds or live betting but I found them very entertaining and well worth watching…
Match 1 Information
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Ollie United 4-4 Westoning Abbey
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When: Sunday 15th September 2024
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Kick-off: 10.30am
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Where: Pitch 5, Leagrave Park, Sundon Park Road, Luton, Bedfordshire LU3 3AA
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Competition: Deakin White Europa Cup 2024/25 Group L
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Attendance: 26
Ollie United were formed in 2019 to help raise money for the treatment of two year old Ollie Sweeney in his fight against Stage Four Neuroblastoma - a rare form of childhood cancer.
Sadly, Ollie passed away in 2021. However the football team continue on in his memory fundraising for causes that assisted him.
Ground Description
It is a multi-pitch complex and several Sunday League matches were taking place at the same time. This meant the car park was packed to capacity.
Therefore many players and spectators left vehicles on grass verges outside on the main Sundon Park Road. Fearing the possible arrival of vigilant traffic wardens, I decided to play it safe and parked up in an adjacent side street.
Programme Details
A lavish 80 page online edition produced by Ollie United chairman Robson O’Reardon who is a great football man. I have since had the programme printed professionally.
Contents incorporated columns by the chairman, manager & captain, history of Ollie United, heartfelt recollections of Ollie Sweeney’s life, match reports, line-ups, action photos, a profile of club ambassador & TV presenter Matt Smith, league table, league chairman Dave Snaith’s notes, upcoming fixtures, a tribute to clubman of the season Paul Edwards, a player Q&A session and sponsorship opportunities.
The Match
It was part of an Inter-League cup tournament for teams across Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. Both sides are members of the Leighton District & Luton Sunday Football League set-up.
Ollie United play at Division 5 level while Westoning Abbey compete in Division 2 and thus began this game as favourites. Even so, ‘Lightning’ Linus Udofia gave Ollie United the lead on 12 minutes.
It was quite a weekend for Udofia because that previous evening he had won the English boxing middleweight title at York Hall in London.
Ollie’s other marksman was Alfie Alexander with a hat-trick (14, 28, 48 minutes) including a curling 35 yarder into the top corner prompting wild celebrations among his team mates.
Nevertheless, Westoning Abbey fully contributed to an absorbing encounter notching goals through Louie Dillon (31 mins), Jamie Warne (52, 75 minutes) and Matthew Morton (54 mins).
Warne’s second strike featured an audacious 40 yard cross-shot dipping in from the far left hand touchline.
Match 2 Information
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Apollo London 3-0 Westminster & Kensington
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When: Saturday 21st September 2024
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Kick-off: 3.30pm
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Where: Christ's College Finchley 3G Pitch, East End Road, East Finchley,
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London N2 0SE
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Competition: Cherry Red Books Middlesex County Football League Saturday Division One (East & Central)
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Attendance: 18
I spent the early afternoon reporting on a 12.30pm kick-off at Queens Park Rangers versus Millwall in the EFL Championship.
I knew this London derby would end around 2.25pm so I had a look to see what nearby Non-League games were scheduled. Apollo London’s 3.30pm start was perfect as the Christ’s College venue is 10 miles and 40 minutes from Loftus Road.
Accordingly, I completed the journey in plenty of time. I know the area extremely well because I grew up and went to school in East Finchley.
Furthermore, I am always mindful of the fact my initial teenage ambition when I commenced groundhopping in the late 1970’s was to visit every Non-League club throughout London.
I recall approximately 60 teams in the capital back then but the list grows each year. Apollo London consequently became my 431st different ground ticked off within the M25 area.
They play in the Middlesex County League where cosmopolitan and culturally diverse backgrounds of clubs involved are a fantastic reflection of the associated catchment area.
Ground Description
Access to Christ’s College is via a lane off East End Road. It leads to the car park which was strangely empty despite numerous football people being present.
The artificial pitch has no designated spectator section although there wasn’t a problem standing next to the touchline inside the cage.
Programme Details
Apollo London issued a colourful ‘SQUAD LIST’ teamsheet on their Instagram account.
I have downloaded and printed it thereby creating a matchday souvenir for my extensive collection of groundhopping memorabilia.
The Match
Apollo London were comfortable winners thanks to goals by Filipe De Sousa Alcantara (7 minutes), Kristian Neziri (34 mins) and Endri Proko (64 mins).
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
