Just an ordinary Saturday in Tirana…

I may have mentioned that our hotel in Tirana was part of the Air Albania Arena. What I have hitherto failed to mention, and discovered rather late in the day, was that the Albanian national football team were due to play a home UEFA Nations League fixture whilst we were in town. I did think about buying tickets, but they had officially sold out and I wasn’t wildly keen on spending significant sums of money on the grey market to see a game between two teams I don’t really know.

In fairness, the “mystery” element doesn’t phase me that much, as I proved a few years back in Tbilisi. But that was rather cheaper, and there was never a possibility of a full house to see anyone play Gibraltar. The Czech Republic, on the other hand…

And, as it turned out, the Czechs were staying with us - very convenient for the stadium, obviously.

But we had plans.

Tirana has two major parks, one of which was known as “Big Park” and surrounds an artificial lake to the south of the city centre, close to our hotel. And, now that the sunshine had returned, it offered an excellent place for a gentle stroll.

Both Ros and I enjoy strolling through neighbourhoods and parks in new places - they give you a better sense of how real life operates in a way that just visiting tourist attractions never quite can. And Big Park was as good as one might hope, with little stalls selling toys or snacks and drinks dotted about, and Albanians of all ages out enjoying the warmth of a fine November day.

The lake itself is pleasant enough, especially where trees shade the banks, and the park is generally pretty well maintained which reinforced our sense that civic pride is quite strong.

As we walked back towards our hotel though, you could tell that excitement was beginning to mount around the Air Albania Arena, with crowds beginning to flock to the nearby bars and coffee shops. Albania were still in with a decent shot at promotion to League A, with two wins in their final group games, both in Tirana, pretty much guaranteed to get them to the promised land.

We had other plans though, which involved heading across town. As Ros is a member of the European Affairs Select Committee in the Lords, she had contacted our Embassy in Tirana, and an invitation to tea had been forthcoming from our recently-appointed Ambassador. Usually, my role in such events is as “travelling spouse” - Ros is obviously of far more interest to our diplomats than I am - but given that I’m not unfamiliar with international politics, I do chip in with the odd question.

Impressively, Nicholas Abbott is an Albanian speaker, having studied the language prior to being appointed “Our Man in Pristina” in 2019. And, on finding the Residence, we were welcomed in for tea and some rather nice banana bread (and I don’t even like bananas).

Having met a few of our Diplomatic Corps over the years, I’ve always been impressed by their professionalism and enthusiasm and nothing was changed by this meeting. We were told about his outreach programme and about such of the Embassy’s achievements in building relationships between the two countries and, whilst you do need to remind yourself that he is a diplomat, it’s reassuring to know that clever, engaging people are out there, representing us in foreign capitals across the globe.

We tried not to outstay our welcome, after all, it was a Saturday and even Ambassadors need some downtime, so we thanked His Excellency for his hospitality and headed out towards the maelstrom…

The Air Albania Arena seats approximately 21,000 spectators, and there clearly weren’t going to be that many away supporters. The usual sellers of football merchandise were out in force and the bars increasingly packed as the 8.45 p.m. kickoff approached.

I’d planned for this though, having booked a table in the hotel restaurant. Normally, I wouldn’t do that - in so many places, the hotel restaurant in a rather soulless afterthought but, in cities that don’t have many good hotels, that rule is usually suspended. And here, with good cause.

Somewhat to our surprise though, the restaurant, and especially the tables outside, were full of football fans getting the beers in before the game but behaving entirely reasonably. We ate a very good meal and watched a bunch of people with flags and scarves as they slowly filtered away towards their seats in the stadium.

It turned out that, if you had the right room in the hotel, you had a clear view of events on the pitch. We weren’t that lucky although, as it turned out, the game was fated to end as a rather drab 0-0 draw.

It also demonstrated that the soundproofing was pretty good, as 20,000 people left the stadium without disturbing us…

A European Super League - have they learned from the American experience?

I wrote a piece for Liberal Democrat Voice which went live this morning, in which I suggested that there wasn't an awful lot that Government could do if a collection of the "richest" clubs across Europe decided to form their own league. Naturally, a slew of politicians then suggested that, not only could the Government act, but that it would. I'm yet to be convinced that it's anything but words in the run-up to a bunch of local elections, but we'll see...

One of the suggestions as to why a European Super league has emerged now after years of talk and little actual action is the suggestion that American-owned clubs see this as being no different to the way that the NFL or NBA work, in that those leagues have no promotion or relegation and, in that sense, they're right. The absence of such things has no apparent impact on the success of the sport and, indeed, it does allow teams to plan over a period of years, creating stability and a narrative for a team, even if it isn't doing particularly well at any particular time.

I'm a Tampa Bay Buccaneers fan which, at the moment, is a fine thing to be, given their success in the most recent Super Bowl. However, I've followed them since the sport was first televised on Channel 4 in the mid-eighties. Why the Buccaneers? Simple, they wore orange, like my football team, Luton Town. And, to be honest, like most of the teams I've supported, they sucked most of the time. But you keep hoping, right? There is an irony, in that they're owned by the Glazer family, who own Manchester United, but they are widely believed to have been thoughtful and committed owners in Florida, and that perhaps speaks volumes.

And the thing about the NFL is that, at its heart, is the rather socialist notion that a more equal league is actually a good thing. Thus, the player draft, where new talent is selected by teams in the reverse order to which they finished in the previous season (although slots can be traded for advantage or later reward). Baseball has a luxury tax, whereby if a team spends more on player salaries than an agreed limit, it pays 17.5% of the overspend into a fund, part of which is used for player benefits. That amount increases if they breach the limit in consecutive years, and discourages teams from spending much more than their competitors.

Most major US sports have a salary cap too, albeit at levels that many would think absurd, but, combined with luxury taxes, a genuine sense of competition exists. For example, twelve different teams have won the Super Bowl in the past fifteen years, compared to the seven teams that have won the Premier League in its twenty-eight seasons to date. Your team may be awful one year but, in a few years, it might credibly be a winner.

So, the land of the free is, for sports purposes, a bit of a socialist paradigm. I don't see a European Super League going down that route - the cult of personality is too important to allow that, I'd suggest - and thus the pressure to spend more on players will not change. Who wants to support the team that comes bottom, even if it is in a Super League, season after season? More importantly from the perspective of the owners and shareholders, who's going to want to buy the shirts, or pay to watch the games on pay-per-view or satellite TV?

But, if they can make enough money, they probably won't care...

Day 6 - Borjomi back to Tbilisi, the day of the big match...

There’s no doubt that this was something of a helter skelter sort of the trip, and I didn’t really allow myself much time to stand and stare, so it was time to head back to Tbilisi, for I had arranged, via an online app, a ticket for Georgia’s home Euro 2020 qualifying match against the mighty Gibraltar.

The train times out of Borjomi being somewhat inconvenient - either too early in the morning or too late to get to the game, I had to improvise. A taxi was arranged to take me back to Khashuri, to connect with the train from Poti to Tbilisi, and a train ticket purchased via the Georgian Railways app.

Georgian driving etiquette is vaguely familiar, given the amount of time I’ve spent in Mumbai over the years. Patience does not figure hugely, and overtaking manoeuvres can be a bit “close your eyes and wait for the crash” from a passenger perspective. But my driver got me to the station easily enough. Change was a different matter, as my 100 Lari note as clearly more than he could handle. Luckily, a nearby bank solved the problem, I paid him a ridiculously reasonable fare - Tbilisi taxi drivers are clearly not reflective of the rest of Georgia - and I could catch my late running train.

Back in Tbilisi, the weather was rather threatening, very warm with the promise of thunderstorms. I borrowed an umbrella for the walk to the Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, the home of Dinamo Tbilisi and also the national stadium. I wasn’t alone, with what looked like an organised group of fans matching to the stadium singing and lighting flares. The atmosphere didn’t seem particularly tense, and given the likely absence of away supporters, it didn’t seem to be a concern.

Arriving at the stadium, the mobile ticket on my phone was scanned and I was in, in good time for a 3 Lari beer and an encounter with three Gibraltar fans, all from England. They had clearly travelled without any great expectation of a glorious victory but were there for a good time and an explore.

The game itself was fairly uneventful. Gibraltar started off keeping virtually everyone behind the ball, daring the Georgians to come at them, which worked for about half an hour, when the ball was rather prodded in from just inside the area by the Georgian midfielder, Guilia. At that point, the Gibraltar tactics changed, and they pushed forward a bit more. Just before half time, they won a free kick just outside the box, which was curled towards the top corner only to be clawed away by the Georgian goalkeeper.

The second half was a contest between a collection of skilled, but not terribly team orientated individuals, aka Georgia, and a well drilled but not terribly skilful Gibraltar. A goalkeeping error and a slightly dubious penalty saw the Georgians run away with a 3-0 win, which was probably deserved on the run of play. Fair play to the Gibraltarians though, they do try to attack the opposition, rather than keeping ten men behind the ball for ninety minutes.

It never did rain, but the floodlights attracted hordes of insects, a feast for the local swallows who swooped in time and again. It was probably more productive than being a Gibraltar forward was likely to be...

Some thoughts on Ipswich Town, courtesy of an outsider....

I ought to declare my (lack of) interest straight away - I’m a Luton Town supporter, more in the technical sense than the “turning up in rain or wind” one. My life is too complex, and the journey too much hassle, to be anything more than an interested observer. But, living in the heart of Suffolk as I do, the one thing that you can’t help but notice is the place of Ipswich Town in community life.

It perhaps does help that there isn’t an acceptable, credible alternative for some distance. Norwich City are beyond the pale, except perhaps in the borderlands towards Diss, and the other two teams near the county’s edge, Colchester United and Cambridge United, are irrelevant.

But it never ceases to surprise me just how many people I run into who either are season ticket holders, or were at one point or another. And given that, for some time, they’ve been relatively ordinary - no current Championship team has been there longer - being a Tractor Boy (or Girl) is not an easy option.

If the Town are doing well, the town and county seem a little sprightlier, if not, then their failings are a matter of general debate.

But it’s only little old Ipswich, population 130,000 or so, hardly likely to be able to compete at the top level in the modern era. Well, not so, as I’ve already hinted, for they are a county team, as much as a town one, with a hinterland of nearly 750,000 to draw on. And in a corner of the country with little sporting heritage to call its own, the football team is an important emblem.

In recent years, the team struggled, and seemed to be on its way to the oblivion that is League One and away trips to Shrewsbury and Fleetwood (no disrespect to either is meant, but older Ipswich fans still have treasured memories of European nights), until Mick McCarthy was brought in to steady the ship.

To that extent, he was successful, and, for six years, kept Ipswich afloat on the cheap, with little money to spend. The problem was that the football itself was mostly hardworking rather than entertaining, and the fans aspired to better. My colleagues didn’t demand success, but they did want some attacking football and a bit of quality, and that never seemed to come.

It does need to be borne in mind that, compared to a number of other Championship teams, with their parachute payments for Premiership failure, or wealthy owners willing to spend, Ipswich have become relatively poor relations, and similar sorts of teams - Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, for example, have fallen further and harder.

As a result, I’ve been modestly sympathetic to McCarthy, because bringing a new man in with a mandate to be a bit more positive is fine, if it goes wrong, someone who can shore up the defence and scrap away will be in demand pretty quickly.

But we’ll see who ends up being unveiled as the new manager. If they seem promising, they might reverse the recent downward trend in season ticket purchases, and improve the fairly negative atmosphere that hangs over Portman Road these days. It might even make Ipswich (and Suffolk generally) a happier place...

FA Cup, Second Qualifying Round: Needham Market 2 Chesham United 0

Unfortunately, being a Liberal Democrat kept me away from this afternoon's match at Bloomfields, but that didn't prevent me from vicariously following the game through the wonders of Twitter. And it was good news for the Marketmen in their rather harder follow-up to the game at Clapton.

Chesham United are at a similar level to Needham Market, and play in the Southern League, but given that the Conference South teams enter the competition at this stage, it would have considered a relatively benign draw. But games like that have to be won, and with £4,500 going to the winner, there was a lot riding on it.

The deadlock was broken by Callum Harrison, just before the half-hour mark, and a Dan Morphew goal early in the second half allowed Needham Market to go through in relatively unflustered fashion.

It begins to get serious now, with the chance of a First Round proper tie against a League One or League Two team on the not so distant horizon, only two wins away. The Conference National teams come in at the Fourth Qualifying Round stage, but before that, fingers will be crossed for a benevolent draw, avoiding some of the Conference South teams that remain in the draw. Oh, and yes, there's the small matter of £7,500 for the winner of a Third Qualifying Round match, a tidy sum for a team like Needham Market.

So, come on the Marketmen in two weeks time! And, if it's possible, I'll be there...

FA Cup, First Qualifying Round: Clapton 0 Needham Market 3

On the face of it, it looks like a fairly straightforward triumph for the Tier 3 team, away at the Tier 5 wannabe giant killers. In truth, for the first hour or so, it was rather more even, as a bobbly, hard pitch with some interesting features gave Needham Market a few puzzles to solve.

With seemingly very few home fans in the ground, the two teams kicked off in bright, even warm, sunshine with little active crowd support. It was quickly evident that Needham's preferred style of play, involving balls to feet, wasn't too clever, with erratic bounce and an apparent ridge running along the middle of the pitch from goal to goal. 

Clapton were enthusiastic, if a bit erratic, but when some suspect defending let one of their strikers in, it looked for all the world as though they would take the lead. He rounded the keeper, and had a clear sight on goal at close range, but managed to find the defender on the goal line. It should have been one-nil, but even such a scare didn't seem to provoke a meaningful response from the visitors.

Midway through the first half, it became apparent why the crowd was so thin. At the end of the ground, where an alleyway runs against the fencing, a group of maybe fifty or so suddenly bobbed into view, singing and chanting on their team. It was the legendary Clapton Ultras, who are boycotting home matches until the loathed Chairman and purported owner of Clapton FC, Vince McBean, goes away. They were in fine voice, and with much to sing about, as what chances there were tended to fall to the home side. Whilst Needham looked like the better team, had they been behind at half-time, it wouldn't have been unjust.

The second half began in fairly similar fashion, with Needham struggling to string passes together, but the tactics had clearly changed, with the ball spending more time in the air, rather than on the ground. It wasn't pretty, but it was effective, as the Marketmen began to dominate.

66 minutes in, and the breakthrough came, Gareth Heath scoring his first goal since joining the club from arch-rivals Leiston during the summer (they're arch-rivals due to the fact that they always seem to give us a bit of a hiding...). And, to be honest, that was about it as far as suspense goes, as it seemed to me that the Clapton players seemed to know that the game was up.

Needham tightened the screw without ever seeming to be played to their full potential, and goals from Luke Ingram, after some neat play, and Callum Harrison with a fiercely struck effort from twenty yards or so clinched a place in the next round.

I had a train to catch, so couldn't hang around, but I did talk to a few of the Ultras on my way past. They're mostly young, pretty radical, and very committed to their football and the community around them. They're also friendly, unless you're a fascist and/or racist. It's almost a pity that they didn't hang on for a replay, as they might well have proved welcome visitors to Bloomfields.

And so, we await Monday's draw. The Conference North and South teams enter at this stage, but a home draw against FC Romania might be interesting... Come on you Marketmen!

@NeedhamFC versus @GraysAthleticFC - as relegation rears its ugly head, can the Marketmen turn things around?

Welcome to a cold Bloomfields, on a windy evening with a pitch that doesn't look to have improved much since I was here for the VCD Athletic game a few weeks back. Since that rather sorry home defeat, not much has gone right for the Marketmen, although Saturday's nil-nil draw at basement dwellers Lewes at least halted the run of grim outcomes.

At least the visitors, Grays Athletic (unbeaten in 2016, apparently) may have brought along some support - we'll see if the attendance is better than the 135 who turned out to brave the risk of hypothermia for the VCD Athletic game...

A lively start saw both sides test the opposition goalkeeper, but the crosswind was already causing play  to concentrate on the far side of the pitch. The Marketmen seemed to looking to play long balls over the top, whilst Grays were testing the pitch by playing more along the ground. Probably a mistake, given the conditions, but we'll see...

35 minutes - a pretty even contest thus far, with both teams having had their chances. Still nil-nil though...

Half-time - both sides have hit the woodwork, but Grays appear to have a slight edge as we reach the break. Can Needham Market rally in the second half and get something from the game? A win would see them reach the giddy heights of eighteenth...

60 minutes - Needham's best spell of the game led to a shot on goal spilt by the Grays keeper low down and turned in from a tight angle. But whilst the home supporters celebrated, the assistant's flag was flying. Still scoreless, but the hosts were looking the stronger...

Time is running out, and the Marketmen are hanging on... The final whistle blows, and it's another point, and a clean sheet - Needham Market 0, Grays Athletic 0...

@NeedhamFC blow as cold as the January weather...

Gloves? Check. Hat? Check. The scarf my mother knitted for me whilst I was at university? Check. I was properly kitted out for a night of passion and high drama at Needham Market's very own 'Field of Dreams', Bloomfields. It was, need I say, pretty cold.

Having walked from the station, it seemed that I might not have picked the most attractive game of the season, and as the visitors from VCD Athletic don't have many fans of their own, it was soon apparent that the good people of Needham Market had opted for a night in front of a warm television.

The Marketmen have recovered after a torrid first quarter of the season, and stood just above the drop zone at the beginning of the evening, albeit eight points clear of 21st placed Farnborough, and with VCD Athletic deep in trouble in 23rd, this looked like an opportunity to open up real daylight between themselves and the bottom four.

And, early on, it looked promising, with Needham dominating possession. The catch was that they weren't creating chances against a team whose defence looked as brittle as their away record suggested. And, as the first half wore on, the visitors began to come into the game more. At half-time, it all looked fairly even.

Both sides had clearly been given a good talking to at half-time, and the second half started rather more brightly. You just had the feeling that, with both sides low on confidence, the first goal would be decisive. Sadly, it was the visitors who scored it, although if the linesman had had the option of a video replay, he might not have been too pleased with his decision-making.

From there on in, Needham pressed rather ineffectually and were caught on the break with a somewhat fortuitous second - I can't believe that the away striker, Lheureux Menga, really meant to toe-poke a lob over the keeper, but there you go - before wrapping things up with a third which belied the rather scrappy football which had proceeded it.

So, 0-3 it ended and, whilst the result was disappointing, what is worse is that it has given hope to all the teams in the relegation battle.

A chance missed by the Marketmen, I fear...

Far from the campaign trail - we're on the road to Bognor Regis (Town FC)...

Ten days ago, along with an astonishing 971 others, I was at Bloomfields, the home of our plucky little non-league football team - the Marketmen of Needham Market - as they played out an incident-packed, and ultimately indecisive, 2-2 draw against fellow title contenders Harlow Town. That meant that the last day of the season would see Needham Market travel to Chatham Town, knowing that a win would see them promoted, regardless of events at Harlow, where Thamesmead Town were the visitors. Any slip up though, and a win for Harlow would condemn the Marketmen to the lottery of the playoffs.

So, a nervy ninety minutes or so in prospect it seemed. Clearly, nobody told the team, as they put the Chats to the sword, romping to a three-nil half-time lead before eventually coming out as five-nil winners. It was tough on Harlow Town, worthy adversaries all season, although some of their rather foul-mouthed supporters whose expletive-laden chanting both at pitch side and in the bar afterwards was out of keeping with our genteel town won't be missed should they fail at the play-off stage.

And so, next season sees the relative footballing big time hit sleepy Needham Market, with teams that people may have heard of looking at a map wondering, "Where the hell is that?". And yes, compared to Dulwich, or Lewes, or Harrow, Needham Market is very small, but visiting teams can expect a warm welcome, friendly locals and a decided lack of aggro. We just don't do that here.

It also means the end of Preliminary Round FA Cup games for the time being - Ryman League Premier Division teams are exempted until the First Round of the Qualifying Competition, which will ease the burden on the squad in the early stages of the season. Best of all, it makes the prospects of reaching the First Round proper that little bit more realistic - dreams of Portsmouth or Luton Town coming to Bloomfields will be slightly less fanciful.

So, Wingate and Finchley, Kingstonian and Burgess Hill Town, Canvey Island and Metropolitan Police, prepare yourselves for the Marketmen. Let the adventure begin...

Needham Market 4 Brightlingsea Regent 1 - the hot streak continues...

It's been an exciting first two months of the season for supporters of our local Ryman League Division 1 North football team, Needham Market FC. Taking advantage of some decent conditions for the sort of flowing football they like to play, they had won ten out of twelve in the league, and won three FA Cup ties into the bargain, coming into last night's home game with league newcomers Brightlingsea Regent, and only being kept out of first place on goal difference by Harlow Town.

The form line was slightly tricky, in that the visitors had been knocked out of the FA Cup by London Tigers, who had then been brushed aside fairly easily by Needham on Saturday. And yet, Brightlingsea had then drawn with the league leaders, so perhaps the two teams were more evenly matched than might have been predicted.

Needham Market kicked off, wearing their usual red, with Brightlingsea Regent in their change strip of mauve shirts with black trim, black shorts and black socks - their goalkeeper's pink shirt accessorising nicely with his central defenders. And, for fifteen minutes or so, it was pretty even, with the visitors playing some neat football. But it was that man again, Sam Newson, heading in from a corner to put the hosts in front.

18' - Needham Market 1 Brightlingsea Regent 0

The home team could relax a little and began to dominate proceedings, eventually pressurising the Regent goalkeeper into muffing a clearance and giving Needham an unexpected shot at an open goal, albeit from distance. His luck was in though, as the attempt rebounded off a post and away to safety.

With the news that Harlow were unexpectedly losing at Wroxham, the Marketman continued to take the game to Brightlingsea and it wasn't much of a surprise when, following a neat turn, Sam Newson made it two.

36' - Needham Market 2 Brightlingsea Regent 0

There was still time for Sam Newson who hit the post with a chip over the keeper following a bravely won 50:50 ball by Lemell Howells, making his first start for the club, but Harlow had equalised at Wroxham. Needham were still top of the table though, if things stayed as they were.

At half-time, it all looked pretty comfortable, but then, I had thought that on Saturday...

The second half started relatively quietly, with most of the action at the Brightlingsea end, until under pressure from Lemell Howell, Brightlingsea conceded a soft throw-in on their right flank. Quick movement saw the ball reach Luke Ingram on the right-hand edge of their penalty area with time and space, and he found the net with a low shot.

63' - Needham Market 3 Brightlingsea Regent 0

Unfortunately, Harlow almost simultaneously took the lead at Wroxham and thus were, for the time being, back on top of the table. Time to bring on some fresh legs, decided manager, Mark Morsley, and Ingram, Howell and Newson were all withdrawn, with Clarke, Crisp and Cunningham coming on in an evident bid to improve the goal difference position.

However, after a goalmouth scramble in the Needham box, the referee blew for a penalty and beckoned Ian Westlake for what didn't seem likely to be a friendly chat and a request for an autograph. The red card was shown, and Needham were down to ten men. Brightlingsea skipper Josh Gould stepped up to take the penalty, and put it away comfortably.

76' - Needham Market 3 Brightlingsea Regent 1

Were we to see another ten minutes like we did on Saturday? No, as the Marketmen looked just as threatening with ten men as they had with eleven, calm in defence, incisive in attack. And when Ryan Crisp received the ball on the halfway line, held it up nicely and then took on the defence, allowing George Clarke to get up in support, his subsequent neat pass sat up invitingly for Clarke to crash one into the net.

87' - Needham Market 4 Brightlingsea Regent 1

There was still time for Crisp to make and miss a good opening before the final whistle, but Needham were home safely for another win and three valuable points in their quest for promotion. Brightlingsea weren't a bad side, perhaps lacking penetration a little - they've only scored more than one goal in a league game twice in their first thirteen games - but if they can adjust to the higher skill levels required, they should be alright this season.

And so, Needham stay level on points with Harlow Town at the top of the table, with a goal difference of +17 to Harlow's +18. Next up for the Marketmen, Romford away, whilst Harlow entertain AFC Sudbury. Perhaps our local rivals can do us a favour...

#FACup Third Qualifying Round draw - it's a grudge match... at home

So, the road to the FA Cup proper is a little clearer now, after yesterday's draw at Wembley. And, it's a game with a bit of spice.

Last season, after the miracle that was the last game of the regular league season, when not only did Thurrock have to lose against Tilbury but Needham Market had to overturn a sizeable goal difference disadvantage against Chatham Town and both happened (the Marketmen won 7-1!), the play-off semi-final saw Needham Market travel to Witham Town.

 

Witham won 1-0 with an 88th minute winner, helped in part by the presence on the pitch of a loanee from Needham Market. It had been understood that there was in place a gentlemen's agreement that he wouldn't play, but Witham Town's management appear not to have understood the meaning of the word.

 

Manager Mark Morsley rather presciently noted in his review of last season;

I would say that I am glad that Witham Town achieved promotion; that means I will not have face them next season. Mind you the FA competitions have a habit of throwing up interesting games. 

It's certainly not an easy game, but it is a winnable one potentially, and given that there wasn't a harder fourth qualifying round draw possible than the Conference leaders last year, supporters can perhaps dream of a big day in early November.

 

Sadly, I won't be there, as I'll be in Lisbon, but I'll be following events on Twitter with interest and optimism...

#FACup, Second Qualifying Round - Boris Johnson, your boys took one hell of a beating... eventually

The two teams shake hands before the match,
Marketmen in red, Tigers in orange and black,
funnily enough

So, three o'clock came, and Needham Market kicked off towards the new Les Ward stand, filled with home supporters anticipating most of the action to be at that end of the pitch. And, for ten minutes, London Tigers barely ventured out of their own half as the Marketmen pressed hard, creating, but not taking, two decent chances. It was, surely, only a matter of time before they broke through.

And then, all of a sudden, with thirteen minutes gone, the Tigers struck with a slick move and a good header. Could it be that the underdogs had struck first? Fortunately, an offside flag came to the rescue, but the warning was there, and Needham responded swiftly. A raking crossfield pass by Chris Hogg, a first time cross from Darryl Coakley and Sam Newson's bullet header powered into the back of the net.

15' - Needham Market 1 London Tigers 0

It looked to me as though the Tigers' heads dropped, and whilst the traffic wasn't one way any more, they didn't look threatening as Needham pushed on in search of the second. They were nearly caught on the break though, as another attacking move broke down, and Ian Westlake had to commit a very cynical foul to prevent a breakaway and a likely one-on-one with the home keeper. Thankfully, as he was well inside his own half, a yellow card sufficed.

The Tigers' defence had looked suspect throughout, and when a bouncing ball in their box caused panic, Ryan Crisp took advantage and chipped over the keeper and into the net.

45' - Needham Market 2 London Tigers 0

Half time came, and as the sun shone, it looked as though Needham simply had to keep it tight, not do anything rash, and a place in the Third Qualifying Round was theirs. And it didn't take long to confirm that impression. Another neat move, involving two of Needham's former professionals, Kem Izzet and Ian Westlake, ended in a neat ball to Ryan Crisp who chipped the keeper once agian.

47' - Needham Market 3 London Tigers 0

Manager Mark Morsley withdrew Ian Westlake, presumably to save him for key league fixtures to come, introducing Ace Howell, a young black product of the club's academy, and hero of the First Qualifying Round game against Cambridge City. Quick, skilful, but perhaps not quite physically robust enough yet, his pace was likely to be a threat as the underdogs tired, as if they didn't have trouble enough.

With half an hour to go, it was time for super striker Sam Newson to be brought off, and his replacement was Ace's brother Lemell, making his debut. Chris Hogg, formerly of Hibernian and Ipswich Town, had gone off in the sixth-eighth minute, and it was all beginning to drift though until an unnecessary free kick was given on the edge of the box, and the Tigers captain, Terence Cariba, stepped up and curled it sweetly into the bottom corner.

72' - Needham Market 3 London Tigers 1

It surely didn't matter though, did it? Needham still looked comfortable but the Tigers' tails were up and, after some comedy defending, Ayoub Amellal nipped in to beat Shaun Phillips from close range.

78' - Needham Market 3 London Tigers 2

Surely, Needham weren't going to throw away a three-goal lead at home against a team from a lower league? But, for a few moments, it looked decidedly likely as a team stripped of key players was going to crack under the pressure as jitters spread amongst the home supporters.

And then, relief. Ace Howell's cross, brother Lemell's delicate touch and to the delight of friends and family of the Howell brothers sitting in front of me, the ball nestled in the back of the net.

86' - Needham Market 4 London Tigers 2

That was it, but there was still time for Ace Howell to burst through, his pace leaving the defender for dead, before threading the ball past the somewhat immobile keeper and inside the left-hand post.

87' - Needham Market 5 London Tigers 2

The last few moments negotiated safely, the final whistle blew and thoughts of the next round could begin. Elsewhere, Brightlingsea Regent had equalised against Harlow Town, leaving Needham Market level on points at the top of Ryman League Division One North, so a good day all round.

I wonder who we'll get in the next round?...

#FACup, Second Qualifying Round - setting the scene as the Cup dream returns to Mid Suffolk

After my day out last season, sponsoring a home game of our local Ryman League, Division One North, football team - Needham Market FC - I had intended to take in a few more games this year. Sadly, our busy schedule combined with the fact that, when we were at home, Needham Market weren't, has meant that it hadn't been possible until yesterday. However, having got back from Gibraltar on Friday evening, I was able to go to yesterday's big FA Cup game at Bloomfields.

Last year, the Marketmen made it to the Fourth Qualifying Round for the first time ever, just one game short of a dream tie against a Football League side, but drew the worst possible opponent, Cambridge United, then top of the Conference and flying high - technically the highest ranked team in the competition at that stage. And, whilst it was at home, the three division gulf between the two sides made it feel like Mission Impossible. However, in front of a crowd of nearly 1,800 at Bloomfields, they came within ten minutes of holding on for a replay, in one of the town's biggest ever days.

This year, Soham Town Rangers were dispatched in the Preliminary Round, before Cambridge City of the Southern League's Premier Division (a division above Needham Market's) were vanquished on their own pitch in the First Qualifying Round. The reward for beating a higher-ranked side was what looked like a rather kinder draw in the next round.

London Tigers are a team that brings back some very distant memories. The very first game of competitive football that I ever saw was between Kingsbury Town and Farnham Town in 1972, and, having been brought up in Kingsbury, I always looked out for their results out of a vague sense of nostalgia. A few years ago, they merged with London Tigers to form Kingsbury London Tigers, which didn't really feel the same. It got worse when the Tigers decided to move to Greenford in West London, leaving the Silver Jubilee Park ground, and Kingsbury, without a football team to call its own.

It would be fair to say that, even allowing for the fact that I support the home side, I wasn't exactly minded to have much sympathy for the visitors. I had even less when it became known that their Honorary Patron is one Boris "Whiff Whaff" Johnson...

It hasn't been a good week for the Valladares nation...

At one point, I did try to find a few famous people who share my relatively unusual surname. It wasn't a very successful effort, as the name is obscure at best. But four years ago, Noel Valladares became possibly the most famous Valladares of recent years, as the Honduran goalkeeper in the 2010 World Cup.

Sadly, they lost their first two games, against Chile and Spain, and although he was the man of the match in their final game, against Switzerland, his performance merely denied the Swiss a possible place in the last sixteen - a two goal winning margin would have seen them through.

However, the plucky Hondurans made it through qualifying again this time, and drew a place in Group H with Ecuador, France and Switzerland. And this time, Noel was the captain. History tells that he was unlucky enough to score an own goal which, whilst it confused Jonathan Pearce no end, and was the first instance of goalline technology being decisive in determining whether or not a goal had been scored, it wasn't a moment he will want to remember. Losing 3-0 to France wouldn't have helped, either.

The Hondurans did at least score against Ecuador, but that only kept the score down to 1-2, as Hondurans extended their winless run in World Cup finals tournaments to eight (three draws, five defeats). Despite that, they're still in the competition, albeit by their fingertips. A win against Switzerland, combined with a French win over Ecuador might be enough. It's at least more hope than England have...

Needham Market 1, Ware 0 - my day as a sponsor

Nowadays, modern sport is much more financially complex than ever before. Professional athletes are better paid, and gate receipts alone seldom cover costs, which is why additional fundraising has become a vital part of sports administration. The most successful teams raise millions through shirt sponsorship, stadium naming rights, merchandising and partnership arrangements - Manchester United even have an official airline.

Seven tiers down the football pyramid, the numbers are much smaller but additional fundraising is no less important. In the Ryman League Division 1 North, shirts are sponsored, advertising hoardings sold and match sponsors sought. My local team, Needham Market FC, are acknowledged to be a very well run outfit and, when I discovered that match sponsorship was surprisingly reasonable, the information was filed away for future use.

I am not the easiest person to find gifts for, and so when my mum and dad asked what I would like for Christmas, just after Ros and I had watched the FA Cup game against Cambridge United, I thought, why not sponsor a league fixture? And so, a few weeks ago, I rang the club, and asked if there was a match available to be sponsored. Mark Easlea, the Secretary, checked, and it was agreed that I would sponsor the match against Ware FC.

And so, today, I made my debut as a sponsor of a football club. I brought along, as my guests - I was entitled to three - Ros, my stepdaughter Sally and her husband Brij. I was greeted by Alan, the Commercial Manager and escorted to the Boardroom for tea and a chat with the Management Committee before we took our seats in the stand before kick-off.

It's been a difficult season for non-league clubs. The endless rain through the winter caused a series of postponed matches, leaving a lot of teams having to play three times a week to catch up, and both teams had played on Saturday, Tuesday and Thursday as part of that. The side effects are tiredness and injury, which left Needham Market without a recognised striker. Their opponents were in the bottom four, but their recent improved form meant that they wouldn't be easily beaten.

The first half started brightly for the home team, although opportunities were few, but as the half went on, Needham Market began to dominate, creating chances but not taking them until, as the half-time whistle approached, Dave Cowley had the ball in the net. Sadly, the referee's assistant had flagged for offside. Encouraged, Needham Market pressed again, and Chris Hogg, formerly of Hibernian and Inverness Caledonian Thistle, headed home the opener just in time.

We retired to the Boardroom for more tea and a finger buffet before returning for the second half. The Marketmen continued to create chances but not take them, and tiredness was beginning to take its toll. Ware began to make more of an impression but, apart from some long-range efforts that were off target or relatively easily dealt with by keeper Andrew Plummer, it looked for all the world is if a team in red shirts with white sleeves and white shorts were going to win 1-0.

There was a late scare, when a Ware free-kick had to be acrobatically tipped over the bar, but the final whistle wasn't far away and Needham Market had the three points. I was tasked with picking the Man of the Match and, having consulted, chose the right-back, Luke Ingram, a decision which seemed to go down well amongst the 226 paying spectators - the best league attendance since October.

I presented him with his prize, a bottle of wine, posed for a photograph, and we headed for the bar for a deserved drink.

So, four tickets, a programme each, seats, refreshments and the chance to pick the Man of the Match, plus a mention in the programme, all for just £100, which for a day out for four isn't that expensive. I might do it again next season and, perhaps more importantly for the club, I might go along to the odd match as time permits.

I think that local sporting clubs play a vital role in their communities, and a well run one like Needham Market FC, with an academy for young footballers and ambitions to provide a resource for use by the whole community, has the ability to transform. Across the country, volunteers make that happen and, by giving a little financial support, people like me can make a small contribution. I would encourage anyone with a little spare cash to do something similar.

Needham Market vs Ware, 5 April, sponsored by... me!

I have become quite a difficult person to buy presents for - I don't need very much, my life is fairly busy and, if I really want something, I'm lucky enough to have sufficient funds to go out and buy it (within reason of course, I'm not rich). And so, when my parents asked me what I would like for Christmas, I did have to think for a bit.

And then it came to me, having been to the Needham Market vs Cambridge United match a few weeks earlier, that I could sponsor one of my local Ryman League Division 1 North team's home games - think Division Eight (Home Counties North and East Anglia) and you'll have an idea of where they fit in the English soccer pyramid. So, I did a little research, discovered that it was within their price range and agreed that this would be their gift.

It then fell to me to do something about it and, I must admit, I've been a bit rubbish at sorting the matter out, until this week, when Ros asked what was happening about it. So, I thought that I'd better try to contact the club and see what could be arranged. And, this afternoon, it has all been agreed, a cheque is in the post, and my day out is arranged.

The dream dies as the rain pours... Needham Market 0, Cambridge United 1

And so, the big day came for our local Ryman League Division One North team, as the big boys from the Skrill Conference National came to town for their FA Cup, Fourth Qualifying Round tie.

To put it in perspective, there's a three division gap between the two teams - think Premiership and League Two - and Cambridge United are top of their league, having gone sixteen games without defeat. But, where there's life, there's hope, as they say, and Needham Market had only lost their first game of the season less than a week earlier.

A crowd of 1,784, the largest ever to grace Bloomfields, and including Ros and I, settled down in anticipation of a slaughter, if the Cambridge fans were to be believed. I wasn't overly optimistic, but then I knew the odds, but was confident that the Marketmen would give it their best shot. And indeed, at half-time, with the two teams goalless, it was hard to tell which was the Conference side. Needham Market were playing the better football, without creating too many chances, whilst Cambridge looked as though they had rather underestimated their opponents.

The second half was a different story, as the visitors began to impose themselves, and the snap gradually disappeared from the home team - the disparity in fitness levels and experience was beginning to tell. Goalkeeper James Shea, a former Arsenal trainee, was coming into the game more and more, making a string of high-class saves as the rain began to bucket down.

But, just as the outnumbered home supporters were beginning to dream of survival and a place in the draw for the First Round proper, their hopes were dashed as tired defenders lost an attacker and substitute Adam Cunnington nodded home a simple goal.

There was a brief flurry by Needham Market in the ten or so minutes that remained, but it was to no avail, and it would be fair to say that, overall, the better side won. The minnows weren't disgraced though, and the funds generated by the best cup run of the club's history will doubtless be reinvested into its future.

And, I suspect, I'll be back from time to time, as my other commitments permit, to watch them as they try to reach the promised land that is the Ryman League Premier Division.

Come on you Marketmen!

Gol... Deportivo!

Another perfect day in Quito, although I'm struggling with the altitude.

This evening saw my first look at football Ecuador-style and I have to admit that I wasn't that impressed. Along with 1,511 others, I turned up at Estadio Olimpico Atahualpa to watch Deportivo Quito play bottom of the table Liga de Loja. Obviously, Deportivo decided that they would help the team from Loja by playing to their opponents level but, despite this, took the lead midway through the first half.

Just before half-time, a nasty collision saw both Deportivo's goalkeeper and a central defender prostrate on the floor and unable to start the second half. This clearly encouraged Liga de Loja, who looked quite dangerous and were rewarded with an equaliser. I'm sure that the four away fans were delighted... Despite an increased sense of urgency, the home team got no closer that hitting the woodwork and the game ended 1-1.

I'd thought that the crowds in Peru and Bolivia last year were disappointing but clearly South American fans only come to the big games, and this clearly wasn't one of them...