Good, But Not Reinventing The Game
Maltby Main 2 v Sheffield 2
Friendly
Saturday 12 July 2025
Played at Queens, Wath-upon-Dearne
Ground Tick #526
Parkgate 0 v Dearne & District 5
Friendly
Saturday 12 July 2025
It was all going on in Wath. Half a dozen doors down from the MicroPub, there was a Pro Palestinian demonstration. Turns out that was the Constituency Office of Secretary of State for Defence, John Healey, MP for Rawmarsh & Conisborough. I once met Healey in my office when he was Minister for Adult Skills in the Blair Government. I didn't get the chance to say it to him then, but - Free Palestine.
The Carrier Bag Firm were also on a football heritage walk. George Robledo was born in Iquique in Chile in 1926, he passed away in 1989. George's Dad was Chilean, but his Mum was English. George had a younger brother, Ted. Because of political instability in Chile at the time, the family emigrated to Brampton, just up the road from Wath, towards the Queens Ground where today's match was played.
George Robledo was a Coal Miner. But, as World War II was coming to an end, he signed professional terms for Barnsley FC. In 1949, George signed for a Big Fee to Newcastle United. He would only make the move if his Brother, Ted, was taken on by Newcastle as well.
George was a prolific goalscorer, and became a Newcastle legend. He held the record for the number of goals scored in the English top flight by an overseas player for half a century. Dwight Yorke eventually overtook him.
Wath Tap
49 High St, Wath upon Dearne, Rotherham S63 7QB
Lovely place. Six on Cask. Four pukka Keg.
Acorn Brewery (Barnsley), IPA CF272, Single Hopped IPA Series on Cask at 5%
That is/was the 170th beer brewed by Acorn in their Single Hop Series. I mean, that's just phenomenal brewing. This time with Experimental Hop CF272. There was some unexpected toffee. And then it set off into Hoppy Heavenliness. The bitterness was nettles & rocket leaves. With a nice, long aftertaste.
Took me fifteen minutes to realise Sheffield were playing in Blue (giggling here).
Sheffield (in Blue) were relegated from Step 4, Northern Premier League Division One East last season. And will compete in Step 5, Northern Counties East Premier this coming season.
Last season, Maltby Main finished mid table in Step 6 Northern Counties East Division One.
I felt Sheffield were playing at far too much of a frantic, hot potato pace in the first half. No real control at all. But, they got it together much more in the second half. Maltby scored from a “fucking hell, not sure I would have given that, it's just hit him” modern penalty on 15 minutes. And, they went further ahead on 38. A simple enough tap in after the Sheffield keeper had made a palm it out save.
Sheffield got right back into it on 78. Just a couple of minutes later, a great knock on header put the Sheffield player free, and running at goal. His tracker got to him, collision, and it looked like a penalty to me, and the Ref. Converted for two each.
Superb betwixt games work. Just superb. By my designated driver from the Carrier Bag Firm. Despite some aggravation from another driver as we tried to park at Parkgate…
“What's he doing? He's up my fucking arse..”
We got through the turnstile just as they were kicking off at the second leg of our Double Header Day.
Last season, Parkgate finished mid table in Step 5 Northern Counties East Premier. Dearne & District made the play offs in Step 6 Northern Counties East Division One, but missed out on promotion.
This game played in a lively atmosphere. Courtesy of a handful of “more mature” D&D fans, and the Can Bar behind the goal. Bang at it…
Dearne & District were by far the better team. Well worth that five goal win. Could have been many more.
Their dominance was helped by an extremely disorganised Parkgate side. They switched off for corners, and throw ins, and D&D could get wide and to the byline at will. Although dominant, they were not quite as good as one of their Can Drinking Fans was (loudly) claiming.
“We’re Reinventing The Game.”
“It's like watching a young Dutch side.”
Them Cans, eh.
Dearne & District opened it on just three minutes. A left sided corner, a perfect, but fucking inexplicable flick on near post header … by the defender … for a perfect simple knock in at the back stick … by the attacker.
Two up on 19. A great escape to the byline, a lovely pull back, and a superb flick in.
Parkgate ludicrously disorganised on 39. A D&D throw on the left. Players finding space everywhere against a static in the wrong place defence. The ball put across the box for another simple tap in.
It looked like Dearne & District could score at will at this stage. Four up on 41.
It calmed down a bit in the second half. Just one more goal. Parkgate still looked fucking disorganised, mind.
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