TWO early January matches for me in the ongoing quest to fulfil my life’s burning ambition of visiting every Non-League ground in the country’s entire National League System…
Elburton Villa 3-0 Sticker
- When: Saturday 3rd January 2026
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: Haye Road, Elburton, Plymouth, Devon PL9 8HY
- Competition: Walter C. Parson Peninsula League Premier West Division
- Attendance: 86
Overview: I had been to Elburton Villa before almost 24 years ago. But a re-visit was required as they have since moved to a different pitch. My initial groundhop at Haye Road came on Good Friday morning 29th March 2002 at 11am when I saw Elburton lose 4-1 at home to Plymstock (attendance 91) in the Devon League.
However, the club were eventually unable to develop their facilities up to modern Non-League Step 6 grading requirements - particularly by installing floodlights - due to the close proximity of adjacent houses.
So they relocated 50 yards behind the top goal to a new pitch which is further away from the affected local residents. Floodlights were therefore possible. Elburton itself is a small suburb on south eastern fringes of the City of Plymouth.
Consequently, I was up and out of my house early amid sub-zero temperatures for the 550 mile round trip via the M4 and M5 motorways.
Ground description: I walked past the old pitch to reach the newer playing area. There is a prefab 50 seater grandstand (the ‘LTC Stand’).
Meanwhile, grass banking runs around one end where a sturdy shelter is perched at the summit providing covered standing and a few more seats. Villa have plans to build new two storey clubhouse amenities in the near future.
Programme details: A 28 page homespun duplicated production containing plenty of interesting reading.
The match: It was 2nd hosting 12th in the Peninsula League Premier West Division rankings thereby encouraging any betting enthusiasts present to anticipate a home win.
Accordingly, Elburton totted up goals by Connor Rush (16 minutes), Reece Brown (54 mins) and Adam MacPherson (66 mins).
The people: Villa senior secretary Lee Colton was really helpful in confirming the match would definitely be going ahead despite severe chilly weather engulfing most of the country.
Lee emailed me at 8am on the morning of the game stating: “I have just spoken to the groundsman and there is next to no frost, so the pitch is all good. It’s just very cold. I will have a cup of tea waiting for you when you arrive.”
In addition, I was pleased to once again meet the Peninsula League’s meticulously efficient secretary Phil Hiscox who I have known and respected for 30 years. Phil makes a highly commendable effort to visit every one of his member clubs each season
Albion Sports 2-1 Bottesford Town
(abandoned after 57 minutes - frozen 3G pitch).
- When: Saturday 10th January 2026
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: Myra Shay Sports Hub, 489 Barkerend Road, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD3 8QX
- Competition: Macron Northern Counties East League Premier Division
- Attendance: 235
Overview: Because adverse weather conditions were continuing, I needed to find a match taking place on an artificial 3G surface to ensure it would go ahead. The Myra Shea fitted my requirements perfectly – or so I thought! It is a new state-of-the-art football arena opened for this season costing £2 million.
The Football Foundation supplied most of the funding and the 3G is shared by two Northern Counties East League clubs – Albion Sports and Route One Rovers – plus Halifax FC Women. Bearing everything in mind, I embarked on my 400 mile round trip utilising the A1, M62 and M606 into Bradford.
Ground description: An elevated viewing area along one touchline offers a 100-seater prefab grandstand and similar covered terracing for 50 spectators.
Programme details: I liked the nicely produced eight page glossy affair. Up to date colour teamsheets were also available inside the clubhouse building.
The match: With the League One fixture at nearby Bradford City versus Rotherham United being postponed at 10.25am, Albion Sports quickly tweeted: “All Bantams season ticket holders get half price entry today on production of their season tickets …. That’ll be £3 for Adults & £1 for Juniors……..!!!”
Indeed, it was the only scheduled Northern Counties East League Premier Division encounter to survive on a frosty afternoon. The match began in pleasant watery sunshine featuring 18th against 14th. Thus anyone possessing expert football betting knowledge might have expected a tight contest.
Albion Sports forged into a two goal lead courtesy of strikes by Mo Qasim (13 minutes) and Felipe Castello (48 mins). Bottesford then pulled one back through Jake Brown (54 minutes). But the sun went down and it felt much colder by this stage.
Suddenly, a Bottesford player slipped over on the increasingly frozen surface and his team mates loudly complained to the referee that it was becoming too dangerous to carry on.
After briefly consulting both managers, the ref decided to terminate proceedings on 57 minutes. Incidentally, I’ve never had a game abandoned on a 3G pitch before.
The people: Everyone at Albion Sports gave me a warm welcome and their love of volunteering at Non-League level shone through.
Football grounds visited: 2,683
Footnote: My remaining three Non-League grounds left to visit in the country’s entire National League System are Fulwood Amateur AFC (North West Counties League), Ilminster Town FC (South West Peninsula League) and Sunderland West End FC (Northern League). I hope to finish this task by Easter 2026.
