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

Stevenage 1-3 Coventry City (Friendly) The Lamex Stadium on Broadhall Way in Stevenage has been on my radar for some time now. My earliest memories perhaps drawn to January 1998 and the fourth round of the FA Cup when Stevenage Borough (as they were known until 2010) drew with Newcastle United, before controversially losing in a tight replay at St James Park. The name Giuliano Grazioli etched into every fans memory who were there that day, the on loan striker levelling to can

Notts County 3-0 Doncaster Rovers (EFL League Two) So I’ve a boxing day party to go to around the corner from our house and I’ve had a text off the host who says ‘whilst the women are left at home to prepare the buffet the men will be going to watch football’ so “Do you want a ticket” how can I refuse? I last seen Notts play in the summer and although I’m a red from across the river I’ve often watched the Magpies with friends as something to do when Forest are away and have n

Ipswich Town 1-1 Luton Town (Friendly) Saturday 24th April 2004 was the last time I was in Ipswich. A couple of goals from David Johnson helping my team Nottingham Forest beat his old team at Portman Road, Johnno's very welcome neat finishes coming either side of a Dean Bowditch strike for the Tractor Boys. That action came in English football's second tier, a level which Town have recently been promoted back to after a few rough years in the doldrums, people my age, or older

Hull City 1-0 Barnsley (Friendly) It’s been pissing down all day. I’m on dog duty waiting for the wife to get back from Leeds for 5pm so I can head up north to the East Riding town of Kingston-Upon-Hull, a couple of hours drive it’s the Tigers v Tykes tonight, Championship side Hull City take on their Yorkshire rivals Barnsley of League One in a pre-season friendly. Hull finished clear of safety last season in fifteenth after former player Liam Rosenior took over to steady a

Bognor Regis Town 1-1 Portsmouth (Friendly) God help my motor who’s asked to clock up another 400 plus miles on a Tuesday night after HQ decided ‘not’ to give me Retford United v Mansfield Town or Alfreton v Burton Albion to instead, send me to the Sussex seaside resort of Bognor. The last time I was here was the 1992 Easter Festival of Football where I set up the winner (now known as assisted) against Glossop North-East before watching Manchester United beat Nottingham Fores

Notts County 1-5 Stoke City (Friendly) For the first time in my life, I’ve had the hayfever jab this year. £120 for a double dose back in late May and it seemed to be doing the trick, but it’s now starting to rub off… The nose is twitching the eyes are itching, didn’t help sat in the sun all day yesterday, watching the Blaze take on Northern Diamonds at Chesterfield’s stunning Queens Park in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy (if you ever get chance to watch cricket up there, d

Blackburn Rovers 1-4 Nottingham Forest (EFL Cup Round Four) It was supposed to be Notts County v Barnet on Tuesday night but for Saturday’s FA Trophy matches being annoyingly frozen off, instead replayed in slightly warmer conditions three days later at the expense of the originally scheduled National League fixture which I was set to attend. I didn’t get an invite to the Magpies re-arranged visit of Chorley which ended 2-1 to Notts, so work done for the year, books & stats p