The start of the new season; what do I do? Barnsley v Crawley Town or a local game? By the time I thought about it, the clock had moved round to 2.45. No chance of getting to Oakwell, so it was to local Penistone Church, where I witnessed a significant date in the club's history, as they were playing their first ever game in a higher pyramid league-Northern Counties League east division 1. So important is the club now that they have to have a "tunnel" to bring the players onto and off the pitch. This contraption is rolled out at appropriate times whereas the referee and his assistants merely had a bit of tape to form a corridor for them to walk down-no security therefore! Some Shirebrook supporters were not impressed with this ref who looked a little like Howard Webb and might have broken the tape to get at him.
The game was a good one, with opponents Shirebrook, a colliery town near Nottingham, seemingly the more experienced side, but they couldn't hit a mine shaft with their shooting, whereas Church nipped in with two goals and they hung on. Great news for Church who have been aiming for this higher status for a while now. Whilst I was there I met The Football Traveller, Chris Bedford, who promotes pyramid footy and spends a lot of time watching games such as this, which he writes up in his weekly magazine, sponsored by Cherry Red Records. It all counts and adds to the prolific archive of association football. Check out his website:www.the football traveller.com
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