Grimsby Town 5-1 Lincoln City (Friendly) With 38 wins apiece, the two most successful sides in Lincolnshire, have won the counties senior cup at least fifteen times more than anyone else. That’s how you measure success in this county, whilst Scunthorpe and Boston United may have long battled for bronze (ahead of non league regulars Stamford, Gainsborough Trinity and Grantham Town who make up the rear), first and second in Lincs has often been between the Imps and the Mariners

Salford City 3-2 Dundee United (Friendly) It’s a bit of an unusual one today, seven years ago Salford City had never even played in the football league, these days (thanks to the Class of 92) they are probably better known globally than even their Scottish opponents Dundee United, who I remember watching for the first time play way back in 1987 against IFK Gothenburg in the UEFA Cup Final on my dad’s grainy portable colour TV. The Terrors lost that final over two legs but it

Alfreton Town 0-1 Rotherham United (Friendly) Spain are world champions, Argentina got what they deserved, and England made bronze, after arguably the game of the tournament v France on Saturday night. I was scratching around for some sport to watch on Monday after the World Cup ended the night before, I eventually I flicked my TV over from the World Matchplay Darts to watch the Premier League Years, the iconic “I would love it” 1995/96 season highlighted on the sad day of a

Barnet 2-2 Luton Town (Friendly) Regardless of what the majority of England fans will tell you, the World Cup is still not yet over, we are already three weeks into pre-season and whilst memories (bad) will slowly hopefully fade of England’s semi-final exit to Argentina on Wednesday night, one way of getting over them is turning attention to club football, and the new campaign ahead. I’m off to Barnet today. It’s a bit of a road trip south again and I’ve took this match as I

Alfreton Town 0-0 Burton Albion (Friendly) The World Cup is in full flow; I’ve only just got back off my holidays in Italy and Croatia but already the 2026/27 pre-season has started. I missed the first week of games so the second Saturday of July I’m finally back to business, a long old season ahead, again, and I’m itching, ready, I can’t bloody wait for it. Today I’m back at Alfreton Town, a team now close to my heart, but then I’ve always had a soft spot since my mate ‘Robb

Sheffield United 3-4 Mansfield Town (FA Cup Round Three) It’s been an incredible weekend already. On Friday night Wrexham beat Forest in a thriller on penalties to provide headline writers with their much anticipated ‘Hollywood Ending’… Yesterday sixth tier Macclesfield trumped even that by knocking out holders Crystal Palace to write themselves into David verses Goliath territory, the Silkmen became only the ninth non-league club in 100 years to beat top flight opposition i

Doncaster Rovers 2-3 Southampton (FA Cup Round Three) So I chose the right game to go to last night, not putting myself through a miserable watch as a Forest fan, they were beaten by Wrexham on penalties and became the first ‘giant killing’ of the round, today they’ll be more of the same as I head out the door towards Doncaster, who host Southampton, for more FA Cup action. 23rd in League One, Doncaster Rovers have never been as far as the fifth round in the FA Cup, their re

Port Vale 1-0 Fleetwood Town (FA Cup Round Three) It’s the FA Cup Third Round weekend, the David against Goliath of annual football fixturing, although tonight I’ve got a pair of David’s to go see play. I was slightly concerned that I wouldn’t get to see any football at all this weekend, Storm Goretti threatening to cause havoc, but it looks like we are through the worst of it, the covers have been on at Vale Park and a midday inspection has given the match all clear. Vale h

Mansfield Town 3-2 Harrogate Town (FA Cup Round One) Saturday afternoon, 3pm, the FA Cup. How much more traditionally English can one get? Upon hearing Friday's sorry announcement that the Premier League is playing just one Boxing Day fixture (Manchester United v Newcastle United at the ridiculous KO time of 8pm) this coming Christmas, to have a small bit of traditional value left in our football, is slightly satisfying for one who likes the simplicity, purity and once high v

Derby County 2-0 Atromitos (Friendly) Whisper it quietly, but I’m a Nottingham Forest fan, and today I’m sitting in the Derby County...

Oxford United 1-1 Leganes (Friendly) Only my second game of the month tonight, I’ve been busy cricketing and summer holidaying, so...

Hitchin Town 0-3 Barnet (Friendly) Back in the day, July 1st meant back to pre-season, after putting the pounds on from your lad weekends in Ayia Napa & Magaluf, you were expected to be in pretty bad shape all hungover but bronzed “bring trainers only” was usually the cry for the return to training, but not these days, the era of fitness fanatics and football throughout the calendar year, clubs have been back two or three weeks already, and with that a game already, to embrac

Derby County U21 1-4 Brentford U21 (Premier League Cup Group Stages) A fourth game in as many nights has the Mrs so annoyed she's banned me from going to work tomorrow, I should be at Ilkeston v Worksop on Saturday afternoon but she's made alternative plans for me this weekend so I'm going to enjoy tonight as a last hoorah, a trip to Matlock to watch Derby and Brentford in the Premier League Cup. Young Derby have done ok since I last watched them lose against Bournemouth in t

Barnsley 0-0 Bristol Rovers (FA Cup Round Two) *3-4 pens aet Interesting fact: Bristol Rovers manager Matt Taylor actually started out as a goalkeeper where he played for several non-league clubs including a couple local to me in Matlock Town and Hucknall Town, but whilst studying at Sheffield University in 2006 he was spotted playing pretty well at centre half, so stepped into an outfield role at Team Bath, before joining Exeter City where he did pretty well as a player in o

Rotherham United 1-3 Cheltenham Town (FA Cup Round One) I drove all the way to Liverpool on Wednesday for their Academy match with Hertha Berlin, almost 4 hours it took me due to traffic on the M6, I arrived with only ten minutes to kick off, to be told they didn’t have any accreditation for me, so back in the car I went, fortunately it took just under two hours to get home and I was back in time for the second half of Spurs v Man City. Lessons learned I’ve got a ticket for

Reading U21 1-4 Monaco U21 (Premier League International Cup Group Stages) Erik ten Hag has been sacked from Manchester United. No surprise, the big news of the day for me is that Ian Culverhouse has also left his post at Boston. I did the Pilgrims last home game last week and said by the time of my return to the Jakemans (which will be 9th Nov v Dagenham & Redbridge) that Culverhouse won't be in the dugout. Turns out I was right. Tonight it's U21 action as Reading take on M

Cambridge United 1-0 West Bromwich Albion (Friendly) The heatwave continues as we deepen into pre-season, just a week away from the Football League kick off and I’m off to Cambridge for a Friday night football feast between Garry Monk’s U’s and Carlos Corberan’s Baggies. Problem is, West Brom have a game at Birmingham tomorrow so tonight they’ll be bringing their kids. A chance to see the future however is not one to be passed up, I love an opportunity to unearth some new ge

Barnsley 4-3 Derby County (Friendly) The last time I was in Barnsley, One Show Presenter Jermaine Jenas was scoring for Nottingham Forest in a 4-1 thumping from Sean O’Driscoll’s side. A lot has changed since, but this is a proper football town. Why? Because you wouldn’t come here for any reason at all, unless you’re coming to watch football. Size-wise, the town is actually smaller than Mansfield, which is testament to the success the club has had in once, reaching the Premi

Hull City 2-2 Fiorentina (Friendly) It’s forty degrees outside. Bloody hot, but we shouldn’t complain as summer has finally started it feels, long due after a pretty underwhelming June and early July. Tonight, I’m back in Hull as they take on Fiorentina in a pre-season friendly at the MKM Stadium, the Italian Giants yet to win on their mini tour of England having played Bolton Wanderers (1-1) and Preston North End (1-2) as they warm up ahead of their 2024/25 Serie A campaign

Hull City 0-2 Newcastle United (Friendly) I was in Taunton on Friday, scoring at Somerset v Kent in the Metro Bank One Day Cup. Michael Vaughan’s son Archie making his debut in first class cricket but getting out, run out without even getting to face a ball. A memorable debut to forget for him, but he at least did ok with his bowling and Somerset more importantly won, dad will be proud at least. Today’s game is a switch to bigger balls between Hull City and Newcastle United i