A FINAL round-up of my end of season 2024/25 groundhopping adventures in the Regional Feeder Leagues which form Non-League Step 7 and below…
Beccles Caxton 1-4 Norton Athletic
- When: Saturday 10th May 2025
- Kick-off: 2.15pm
- Where: Caxton Meadow, Beccles, Suffolk NR34 9RH
- Competition: Fosters Solicitors Anglian Combination Division Two
- Attendance: 90
I had been to this area before to watch Beccles Town 6 Loddon United 2 on 26th August 2016 at College Meadow. However I was fully aware that fellow Anglian Combination club Beccles Caxton play on a well-appointed ground almost next door called Caxton Meadow.
So I set off once more on the previously acquainted 105 mile drive. Incidentally, the home team’s name derives from links to the Caxton sports and social club in Beccles.
Ground description: I utilised recommended parking spaces in the aforementioned Beccles Town FC car park and strolled past an ongoing cricket match to reach Caxton Meadow.
The prominent feature here is a covered enclosure incorporating 50 seats and plenty of standing room behind. This is known as ‘The Gary Knights Stand’.
Programme details: There wasn’t a programme but both clubs published stunning match graphics on their Twitter X feeds. So I printed these off to fulfil my insatiable desire for groundhopping souvenirs.
The match: Norton Athletic had already won the division and brought the relevant silverware with them. Therefore anyone holding football betting knowledge would’ve fancied an away win.
Indeed, Norton were too strong on the day totting up goals by Ricky Bevis (6 minutes), Jackson Williams (68 mins), Adam Bray (87 mins) and Garrett Ward (90+1 mins). Caxton’s marksman was Lou Lewis (6 mins).
Littletown 0-1 Wyke Wanderers
- When: Saturday 24th May 2025
- Kick-off: 2.30pm
- Where: Beck Lane, Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, WF15 7BH.
- Competition: The West Yorkshire Association Football League Premier Division
- Attendance: 131
A 190 mile drive for me. This famous bucket list football venue at Beck Lane has hovered on my groundhopping radar for many years.
It is the former home of Huddersfield Town’s junior team and staged a legendary FA Youth Cup tie against Manchester United in 1956/57.
The bumper crowd exceeding 5,000 witnessed teenage striker Denis Law in action for Huddersfield before he went on to become a top star.
Ground description: I really felt true historical vibes on entering the main gate. A large standing enclosure for 300 spectators adjoins one touchline complementing substantial grass banking opposite.
I tried to imagine how a 5,000-plus crowd of football prediction fans were shoe-horned in during the 1950’s. Nowadays the dressing rooms, toilets and tea bar are housed in portacabins.
Programme details: No programme issued so once again I printed the attractive matchday graphics displayed on Twitter X by both clubs.
The match: The newly crowned West Yorkshire League champions entertained mid-table opposition.
Consequently any sports betting followers present may have been fairly confident of a home victory. But it was Wyke Wanderers who netted the only goal via Leon Enright five minutes after half-time.
Old Windsor 2-2 Britwell
- When: Saturday 31st May 2025
- Kick-off: 2.10pm
- Where: Old Windsor Recreation Ground, Robin Willis Way, Old Windsor, Windsor, Berkshire SL4 2PX
- Competition: East Berkshire Football League Premier Division
- Attendance: 283
It was the last Saturday in May and very little football was taking place anywhere in England.
So I contacted Old Windsor well in advance offering to promote the title decider game versus Britwell as a designated groundhopper fixture whereby printed programmes would be on sale.
The club obliged and I admired the efforts of their hardworking volunteers Gary Wade (chairman) and Stuart Plant (manager) in organising one-off programme production. Gary has admirably been running Old Windsor for 35 years.
Accordingly I promoted the match on my Twitter X and I was thrilled when a bumper crowd of 283 assembled in what is basically a public park.
The attendance figure was approved by my six year old daughter who walked around the whole pitch with me as she performed an enthusiastic clicker count. My wife also accompanied us for the 55 mile journey.
Ground description: Football viewing is enhanced atop some elevated banking along one touchline.
Programme details: A 12 page glossy card production on sale at £2. The front cover dramatically declared: “WINNER TAKES IT ALL” showing the leading two positions as Britwell sat two points clear of Old Windsor going into this crucial final occasion.
Inside programme contents embraced a history of Old Windsor, results/goalscorers/league table, player pen pictures, Britwell FC focus, sponsorship details and the matchday squad lists.
The match: The importance was summed up by all three match officials wearing microphones to efficiently communicate with each other.
Dan Pilcher scored twice for Old Windsor (11, 61 minutes) whilst Britwell replied courtesy of Cheyenne Cripps (38 mins) and Daniel Molloy (49 mins).
Thus the full-time whistle saw Britwell confirmed as East Berkshire League champions. The trophy and medals were presented a few minutes later.
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
