Category: Football
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youtu.be/53OS9ciGlKc Follow the link. If your heart can stand it!!!
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Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One Tuesday 14 January 2025 The world is a mysterious place. Full of puzzles and contradictions. How did Stone Age man (or woman, or any of the newer genders) manage to get those bloody great blue stones from South Wales to Wiltshire and turn them into a henge? Where is Lord…
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Droitwich Spa 1-0 FC Stratford UhlSport Hellenic League Division One Tuesday 07 January 2025 Happy New Year from Following the Saltmen! And it has started brightly enough. After the disappointment of the weekend fixture at Carterton being postponed, Spa returned to action for the first time in 2025 against the first side to take points…
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Here at FTS we like to think of ourselves as guardians of consumer rights. With this in mind, we decided to check the quality of the new club mugs so you can decide how many to buy. As illustrated above, the mugs come in two sizes: Mug; and Large Mug. Conveniently, the larger mug has…
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If you know what’s good for you, then go watch the Saltmen in action at Carterton, Saturday 04 January 2025. It’ll all kick off at 3.00pm but make sure you get there early cos Benny Hill’s gonna knock their traffic lights out with Annette. [Wrong film – Ed] Then, after the game, we’ll use the…
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So that’s 2024 done. And it’s been an interesting year, to say the least! There have been some low points but, thankfully they have been overshadowed by the high points. Low Point: While the home defeat to Hinckley stung, for me, the low point came with the gut-wrenching defeat in the penalty shootout at the…
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The Saltmen delivered their travelling supporters the perfect seasonal present with a convincing win at near neighbours Bewdley. It was a game played in slightly unusual circumstances. Mist hung low around the picturesque Ribbesford Meadow ground but the sight of many tractors decked out in tinsel and lights passing on the road above the field,…
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Preview: Droitwich Spa v Newent Town UhlSport Hellenic League Division One Saturday 21 December 2024
It’s nearly here. That time of the year again, when a bearded man in a red suit clambers down Noddy’s chimney with a sackful of cash to top up the Holder pension plan for another twelve months. But it’s not just ageing Black Country troubadours getting presents. No. All of us in Saltmen Nation have…
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The Saltmen bowed out of this season’s FA Vase in the third round proper, going down 4-2 in a pretty evenly matched game at Abbey Hulton United. The afternoon started well. In the absence of a coach, it was yours truly’s turn to drive. We marvelled at the length of time taken to install a…
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Well, technically, I suppose it’s not ‘again.’ Due to the diligence of our hosts, last week’s game was postponed well before most of the players and supporters set off for Abbey Hulton United. But “We Go” isn’t much of a title to grace the world’s leading totally independent Droitwich Spa fan’s bloggy thing. So, subject…
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As we know, this weekend’s football schedules were torn up and dispersed in the wind created by a storm (which DOES NOT NEED A NAME). It also did a lot of damage to people and property but as I’m shallow (unlike many football pitches) I’ll gloss over all that. The Saltmen’s trip to the Potteries…
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Abbey Hulton Utd v Droitwich Spa Isuzu FA Vase. Round 3 This weekend’s FA Vase tie between Abbey Hulton and the Saltmen will be a first for both clubs. Neither have made it to the third round of the competition before and it will also be a first meeting between the two clubs in any…
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Droitwich Spa 1 – 3 Stonehouse Town Initial thoughts…. As the great George Harrison once wrote: All things must pass None of life’s strings can last So I must be on my way And face another day Now the darkness only stays at night timeIn the morning it will fade away Daylight is good At arriving at the right time But…
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Droitwich Spa v Stonehouse Town Match Preview 30 Nov 2024. Hellenic League Div 1 As per Wikipedia, ‘Stonehouse Town Football Club is a club based in Stonehouse, near Stroud, Gloucestershire’ and are based at the Ben’s Takeaway Stadium. Roll over Emirates and Etihad, this has to be the best stadium sponsorship name since Featherstone Rovers Rugby League club…
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23 November 2023. Hellenic League Division 1 Ciders on the Storm There are a great many things which I don’t understand. I accept that and have come to terms with the fact that I am unlikely to ever appear on University Challenge. Most of the things I don’t understand have very little impact on my…
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Hellenic League Division 1 3.00pm – Saturday, 23 November 2024 It’s back on the road this weekend as the Saltmen travel down the M5 to the Hardwicke Playing Fields, home of the splendidly named Tytherington Rocks FC. I have added the FC because you might be forgiven for thinking Tytherington Rocks relates to one of…
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Saturday 16 November 2024, Hellenic League Division One If bookies took bets on step 6 games you would have probably got decent long odds on a victory for the visiting Sods of Chipping Sodbury. And, ultimately the bookies would have been right, with the Saltmen consolidating their position at the top of the table. However,…
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Droitwich Spa FC v …… The Saltmen return to Hellenic league action on Saturday after another heroic away win in the FA Vase. Our visitors will be the Sods of … No. That’s not me being rude. It is Chipping Sodbury Town’s official nickname but it does bring up some rather lurid images on t’internet…
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Who’d of thunk it? Spa taking another step 5 scalp and progressing to the draw for the third round of the Isuzu FA Vase for the first time in the club’s history. Momentous times indeed. Actually, quite a number of the 100 plus travelling faithful thunked so and their faith was rewarded, with interest! The…
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The afternoon started on a sombre note with all 228 present joining in a minute’s applause for club founder, Nick Duggan, who passed away in October. Another good afternoon at the coalface for the Saltmen sees them stretch their lead at the top of the table to nine points. Although the final score makes the…
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It feels like about three weeks since our last home game. Since that victory over Ludlow, we have racked up the miles following the Saltmen. Our two furthest ever away trips occurred on consecutive Saturdays. Both of these trips resulted in wins at Holbeach and Wantage respectively. Spa picked up a point from our game…
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UhlSport Hellenic League Division 1: 29 October 2024 I really don’t enjoy reading supporters ranting about match officials so, in order to avoid a trip to the libel court, I will keep this report very brief. FC Stratford were the better side on the night. Spa struggled to stamp their authority on the game. The…
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29 October 2024 After a couple of long away trips, Droitwich travel a much more civilised distance to meet FC Stratford at the Arden Garages Stadium tomorrow (Tuesday) evening. The temptation when writing a piece about Stratford is to over rely upon quotes from its most famous resident. Full disclosure: I don’t even think his…
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It is often said that the sign of a good team is their ability to win while not playing at their best. If that is the case, then it’s good news for the Saltmen. That might sound like a strange thing to write when you’ve just watched your team win away from home and score…
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In a season of seemingly never ending cup-ties, the Saltmen return to league action this Saturday when we travel to play the “Freds” of Wantage Town FC. The club’s nickname and Stadium name, Alfredian Park, pay homage to the town’s most famous former resident. Yes, you guessed right, record-breaking jockey and income tax advocate Lester…
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Holbeach United 0-3 Droitwich Spa Isuzu FA Vase. 19 October 2024 I’ve just got back from one of the most enjoyable day watching football I have ever experienced. It started at 10am when we boarded the coach, players and supporters mingled in. It’s a long way to Holbeach but initial going was good. That changed…
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Isuzu FA Vase – First Round proper. Saturday, 19th October 2024 When I first heard we had been awarded an away draw at Holbeach United in the FA Vase I was really pleased. I can drive over with the present Mrs FTS and the dog, leave them on the beach while I watched the game,…
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Tuesday 15th October 2024 Wiseman Lighting Cup Match Report It’s not often you can use one of football’s hackneyed old cliches and still hold your head up. This evening’s cup tie bucked that trend and with a clear conscience we can say this truly was a game of two halves. With big games coming thick…
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A few weeks ago FTS published a comparison between attendances this season and the same period last season. On looking through the brilliant Non League Matters website (https://www.nonleaguematters.co.uk) I found the table of attendances shown below by way of an update. It is good to see that crowds at Kingys are significantly higher than anyone…
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A few weeks ago, I wrote about the potency of the Spa side in attack. Now seems like a good time to provide a brief update. The following table, taken from the FA’s excellent Full Time website, provides an update on the top goalscorers in the UhlSport Hellenic League Division 1. It makes good reading…
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UhlSport Hellenic League Division One. 12 October 2024 It is usually the case that post-match plaudits go to goalscorers – and that is perfectly understandable. This week, however, I would like to congratulate both teams’ goalkeepers who gave an excellent demonstration of that most noble of arts. Messrs Rogerson and Venables can justifiably make claim…
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Another do-gooder just banging on about things that don’t concern them? Well…not really. You see, I have Depression, and have had it for years. At first I didn’t know I had it and put my “black dog days” down to just being a symptom of modern life. After all, I had no reason to be…
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Saturday Knights Fever! Amid a cluster of cup ties, the Saltmen return to UhlSport Hellenic League action this Saturday when they welcome Ludlow Town FC to Kingys. The Knights started the season in red hot form winning their opening three league games before sharing the points with Shortwood Utd then suffering a reverse at Abingdon.…
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A brief review of Spa’s exit from the County Cup It was always going to be a tough day at the office for unbeaten Spa as soon as they drew a Bromsgrove Sporting side 3 steps above them in the non-league pyramid. Ultimately, that little extra class told, but not before Spa had given Sporting…
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Worcestershire Senior Cup 01 October 2024 The first team return to action this evening welcoming our very near neighbours, Bromsgrove Sporting to Kingys in the Worcester Senior Cup. The Rouslers have progressed through the pyramid since their formation 14 years ago. They currently ply their trade at Step 3 in the Southern League Premier Division…
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A case of Mistaken Identity Separated at birth? It’s easy to see how a referee could mistake the two players shown above. Both have two arms, two legs and a head. We shouldn’t be surprised that referees have trouble distinguishing between two entirely different people. What we need is some sort of system to help…
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Saturday’s home game against Clanfield 85 will be the first meeting of the two clubs. In order that we may appear to be knowledgable hosts I have undertaken enquiries about Clanfield and am pleased to share the following information. Clanfield is a village in Oxfordshire with two pubs (The Plough and the imaginatively titled Clanfield…
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As I was at a bit of a loose end I got to wondering whether the club’s move to the UhlSport Hellenic League had any impact on the size of the crowds attending games at Kingys. This season we have some significant distances to travel for away games. And it’s just as far for our…
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Droitwich Spa 8-2 PS Olympic Another excellent performance from the Saltmen’s future stars. The 8-2 score line reflects the dominance Spa showed over the visitors and, had it not been for a sometimes heroic performance from the visiting goalkeeper and some profligate finishing, Spa’s young guns could have run up a cricket score. Three goals…
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x.com/nonleaguehq1/status/1838195260297531620 Thanks to @nonleaguehq1 for the attached article showing Droitwich Spa FC as joint highest points scorers in Step Six nationwide.
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Bake Off v Free Football You face a stark choice this evening. Either stay at home and watch some “interesting characters” wrestle with an overpriced food mixer or do you pop down to Kingys instead, to support the Under 18s team in their game against PS Olympic. Following The Saltmen is confident that neither Noel…
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What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received? “You’ve got two ears and one mouth. Use them in that proportion.” I suspect it may have been borrowed and modified from Dale Carnegie’s classic self-help book “How To Win Friends and Influence People.” Still bears scrutiny. Cheers Steve
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FA Vase Qualifying. 21 Sept, 2024. An entertaining local derby ended with the Saltmen progressing to the First Round Proper of this year’s competition. Nestling on the bank of the River Severn, Ribbesford Meadow must be one of the most idyllic settings for a game of football in the country. What it may lack in…
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Sadly not. They already have a ground holding 70,000 of them, they don’t need a new one. Congratulations to the Jarrow FC fans who created this flaggy masterpiece. 👍
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What’s your all-time favorite album? Throughout the 1980s, New Order were always a cut above the rest. Yes, the Bunnymen were great and The Smiths had some really good moments too, but NO always seemed a class apart. Despite its name, Lowlife marks the pinnacle of NO’s creative endeavours. Opening with Love Vigilantes, the story…
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Brought to you by Roger Melly, Buster Gonad and Finbar Saunders.
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All good things come to an end and Spa’s 100% start to the season faltered slightly last weekend when a much depleted ten men conceded a hotly contested equaliser deep in injury time at Abingdon United. The Saltmen return to action tomorrow in an FA Vase qualifying tie against near neighbours Bewdley Town and will…
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Initial reactions Against the odds, which became longer as the game progressed, the Saltmen retained their unbeaten record, missing out on an unlikely away win by virtue an injury time equaliser which everyone present at this lovely ground could see resulted from the ball being kicked from the goalkeeper’s two hands. Everyone except the referee…
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Well, matchday has arrived and today we have a long trip to south Oxfordshire to face in-form Abingdon United. It’s currently 4.45 am and I’m writing this blog because Charlie, our three year old Patterdale/Springer cross is awake. And when Charlie is awake, everyone else is awake! Anyway, I’ve been looking forward to this game…
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Preview: Abingdon United v Droitwich Spa FC – 14 September 2024 Originally the County Town of Berkshire, Abingdon is now located in on the banks of the river Thames in Oxfordshire. Wikipedia is silent as to how they moved the town, lock, stock and barrel to a completely different county but it suggests that Abingdonians…
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FC Stratford v Droitwich Spa FC, 10 September 2024. You will be aware that any time the town Stratford Upon Avon is mentioned, it must be accompanied by a terrible Shakespeare related pun. With this in mind I have been struggling to think of a way to incorporate the term ‘iambic pentameter’ into my match…
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5th September 2024 Cheers Steve
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Breaking news: Southam are unable to field a side for the fixture at Kingys and the game will not take place tomorrow. It is unknown whether the fixture will be rescheduled or if Droitwich progress to the next round by way of a walkover. The reason why a Step Six club cannot field a side…
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I don’t know why but ever since my early schooldays, I have always been fascinated by attendance figures at football matches. Whether it was some kind of self-affirmation that I was not alone in my childhood obsession with the game or just the opportunity to take consolation from the fact my club gets more through…
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See the future of the club, now!
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Some brief observations on the first month of Droitwich Spa FC’s season.
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Generally speaking, I am not a superstitious person. I don’t avoid walking under black cats and frankly I have no interest in the number of Magpies I see when I open the curtains – unless they are Notts County fans, but I’ve never had a problem with them making a mess on my car windscreen.…
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By its nature, regional football often throws up the prospect of matches between two local rivals. With both clubs moving to the UhlSport Hellenic League in the close season, this weekend’s game at Kingys, between Droitwich Spa and Bewdley Town, represents possibly the shortest distance either club will travel in this competition. The two clubs…
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I should start by laying my cards on the table: I am a born and bred Leeds United fan. I was a season ticket holder up until the 1999-2000 season, when the club was riding high under Manager David O’Leary and Chairman Peter Ridsdale. In 2000 I moved to the Droitwich area and it was…
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The Saltmen currently have three of the top five highest goalscorers in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division One. Between them, they have amassed 18 goals in just 5 games. Huge credit to Nathan Binner (5), Perry Moss (5) and the Division’s leading scorer Alex Dugmore with 8 strikes to his credit in the club’s unbeaten…
FOLLOWING THE SALTMEN 