London Lions FC

London Lions 2 Amersham Town 1 - Spartan South Midlands League, Division One

In 1995 the players and officials of Sunday league side Maccabi Association London (MAL) decided to join the Hertfordshire Senior County League. The Club was renamed MALEX  and made its debut in the 1995–96 season. They remained an all-Jewish team, the squad in the first four years based on MAL players who were generally playing in the Hendon and District Sunday League and the Maccabi Southern Football League. During the 1999 close season, the club revised its management structure and decided to change its name to London Maccabi Lions, whilst retaining its all-Jewish status. 

In the 2009–10 season the team under the stewardship of Tony Gold and Steve Grenfell won the Herts Senior County League premier division, winning promotion to the Spartan South Midlands League Division One. This promotion was made possible too because the Lions moved from their home of Rowley Lane in Arkley to ground share with St Albans at Clarence Park, as this ground had flood lights and a 100 seater stand to meet the league requirements. In the 2010–11 season the club moved to Goffs Lane to share with Broxbourne Borough V&E. With Broxbourne folding London Lions returned to Rowley Lane as their home ground though playing midweek fixtures and FA Cup matches at Hemel Hempstead FC. On August 11, 2012 London Lions became the first Jewish team to win a competitive match in the FA Cup.

Main Stand at Rowley Lane

The Rowley Lane ground is situated in Arkley, Hertfordshire and is only a few hundred yards from the A1. I was fortunate to be offered a lift to this match but I would imagine it is relatively easy to catch a bus from either Barnet or Borehamwood to reach this venue. There is a clubhouse at the ground with a licensed bar (no real ale) also selling hot drinks. A nice touch was that complimentary bourbon and custard cream biscuits were provided at half time to accompany the tea!

This Pieman had already seen London Lions win in the FA Vase at St Margaretsbury this season. On that occasion they were worthy winners against a team from the division above. At the time of this match they were top of Division One of the Spartan South Midlands League and with games in hand over nearest contenders Hoddesdon Town, were looking a good bet for winning the division.

After a pleasant morning, at precisely 3pm the weather decided to become damp, so damp in fact that it soon began to affect the playing surface. This Pieman’s immediate concern however was to find shelter from the rain and sadly the limited space in the grandstand was already accounted for. Surprisingly there was some unexpected cover behind one of the goals in the form of some tall conifers. These acted as protection from the driving rain and made watching the match comfortable.

The playing surface continued to worsen as the afternoon progressed but credit to both sides who, despite puddles appearing, continued to pass the ball and made a decent game of it. Amersham Town FC has been struggling this season but you would not have thought they were at the wrong end of the table on this showing. They scored first and will probably take heart from their efforts in this match. On this occasion London Lions did not ‘roar’ to victory, but did enough to secure two goals and maintain their charge to the Division One title. 

I think it is fair to say that this is a quirky venue for senior football. Clearly the club is making good progress and are ambitious. Spurs fans may remember Steve Grenfell who is now assistant manager at London Lions. It will be interesting to watch their progress although planning permission for floodlights will be at the top of their wish list. The people at this club are friendly and it is worth a visit if you are curious – I can also recommend those custard creams!

Attendance: 55

Admission: £5:00 

Programme: Free with admission (50p if purchased separately)

Tea: £1:10

Biscuits: Free with the tea

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FC Basel

FC Basel 2 Tottenham Hotspur 2 (After Extra Time - FC Basel won 4-1 on Penalties) - UEFA Europa League, Quarter Final, 2nd Leg

Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany. Situated on the river Rhine, Basel functions as a major industrial centre for the chemical and pharmaceutical industry. During the days of the Roman Empire, the settlement of Augusta Raurica was founded 10 or 20 kilometres upstream of present Basel, and a castle was built on the hill overlooking the river where the Basel Münster now stands. But even older Celtic settlements (including a vitrified fort) have been discovered recently in the area predating the Roman castle. On July 3, 1874 Switzerland's first zoo (the Zoo Basel) opened its doors in the south of the city towards Binningen. The carnival of the city of Basel (Basler Fasnacht) is a major cultural event in the year. The carnival is the biggest in Switzerland and attracts large crowds every year, despite the fact that it starts at exactly four in the morning (Morgestraich) on a winter Monday!

Fussball Club Basel 1893 are one of the most successful clubs in Swiss football, having won the Swiss Super League 15 times, the third most for any Swiss club. They were most successful in the late 1960s and 1970s, winning the title a total of seven times between 1967 and 1980. The 1980s saw hard times for Basel as they had an absence from European competition for many years and they were relegated in 1987. In the 2000s Basel returned to the top of Swiss football; winning their first title for 22 years in 2002 and won a further six titles between 2004 and 2012.

St. Jakob Park, nicknamed Joggeli, is the largest stadium in Switzerland. Construction of the stadium began in December 1998 after the old Stadium that stood in its place had been demolished. St. Jakob Park initially had a capacity of 33,200 (of which 9,000 standing), but got expanded with an extra tier on one of the long sides for the Euro 2008 tournaments. With an additional few extra rows of temporary seats capacity was raised to a total of 42,500 seats. After the tournament, capacity dropped back again to under 40,000. The stadium is located in the south-east of the city of Basel. Tram line 14 connects the stadium with Basel’s old city centre. Bus 37 also connects with the centre. 

One of the previously mentioned suburbs is the French town of Bartenheim. Despite a very clear instruction to Expedia, this Pieman was billeted on the French side of the border. This small town has an hourly train service to Basel taking around 15 minutes. Basel railway station (like the airport) is split and there is a defined French area complete with a customs control zone.

Whist in Basel, we did some exploring and sampled a few local beers. Of particular note was Ueli, a wheat beer enjoyed at Zum Braunnen Mutz. This centrally located establishment offers a wide range of quality local ales and at the time of our visit was particularly busy prior to the match. Ken Nisbet, our Scottish correspondent also recommends this place!

In order to facilitate a quick get away after the match, we swapped our tickets with some Italian supporters and were able to sit along the side of the stadium opposite the main stand. The first leg at White Hart Lane saw FC Basel take the game to Spurs, racing into a two-goal lead before being pegged back. The second leg saw an injury hit Spurs match their hosts before eventually (as is often the way) going out on penalties after extra time.

We decided to watch the penalty shoot out from the back of the lower tier and it was only then that we realised there was a railway station immediately behind our stand. As soon as the encounter was concluded, we joined the happy Swiss fans on a train that reached Basel station in a little over 5 minutes.With the last public transport to France already gone (it really is a sleepy place), we shared a cab back to Bartenheim.

So that’s it – the end of another European adventure for Spurs. A total of 12 matches in a competition that has long been relegated to a poor second to the greedy elitist Champions League. The football has occasionally been good, whereas the beer, the food and the people we meet have often been very good!

Attendance: 36,500

Programme: A4 24 pages (Free)

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FC Basel II

FC Basel II 2 FC Sion II 2 - 1. Liga

During the days of the Roman Empire, the settlement of Augusta Raurica was founded 10 or 20 kilometres upstream of present Basel, and a castle was built on the hill overlooking the river where the Basel Münster now stands. But even older Celtic settlements (including a vitrified fort) have been discovered recently in the area predating the Roman castle. Basel has often been the site of peace negotiations and other international meetings. The Treaty of Basel (1499) ended the Swabian War. Two years later Basel joined the Swiss Confederation. The Peace of Basel in 1795 between the French Republic and Prussia and Spain ended the First Coalition against France during the French Revolutionary Wars. In more recent times, the World Zionist Organization held its first congress in Basel on September 3, 1897. Because of the Balkan Wars, the Second International held an extraordinary congress at Basel in 1912. In 1989, the Basel Convention was opened for signature with the aim of preventing the export of hazardous waste from wealthy to developing nations for disposal.

Having arrived in Basel the day before the Europa League Quarter Final match, it was a bonus to discover that Basel II were hosting Sion II in a league fixture that evening, This was a match in the third tier of Swiss football and contested by the reserve teams of the two clubs. We had already ventured out to the main stadium in the afternoon to get the lay of the land and obtain some photographs of St Jakob Park. From there we were able to catch a number 36 bus across the river to within five minutes walk of Stadion Rankhof. 

This tidy venue consists of three sides of steep terracing with the remaining side housing an elevated seated stand. There is a refreshment bar at ground level serving draught beer, coffee and confectionery. Programmes were not issued for this match but this Pieman was able to snaffle a team sheet.

The previous week at White Hart Lane, FC Basel showed themselves to be a fine team. I was particularly impressed with their passing and movement. It was a pleasant surprise to see this replicated by what was effectively their reserve side. Along with visitors Sion they served up an entertaining match and the 2-2 result was about right.

Special mention should go to four home supporters, complete with flags, who created their own atmosphere. These ‘ultras’ were vociferous and were accompanied by numerous cans of beer! Eight Spurs fans also helped swell the sparse attendance at this match.

Attendance: ?

Admission: No charge

Programme: None

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Ramsbottom United FC

Ramsbottom United 3 Clitheroe 0 - Northern Premier League, Division One North

Ramsbottom is a town in the Metropolitan Borough of Bury, Greater Manchester. It is situated on the course of the River Irwell, in the West Pennine Moors. Historically in Lancashire, it is located 3.9 miles north-northwest of Bury, and 12 miles north-northwest of Manchester. Ramsbottom developed during the 19th century as a manufacturing and mill town. The local skyline is dominated by the Peel Monument, which stands on Holcombe Moor, a memorial to Sir Robert Peel, the 19th-century British Prime Minister and creator of the modern British police force. With its readily available source of waterpower, Peel purchased land in Ramsbottom in the late 18th century to commence a major manufacturing career. The railway line between Bury and Rawtenstall remained open to passengers until 1972 and for freight until 1980. This line is used by the East Lancashire Railway, a modern heritage railway that opened in 1987. Ramsbottom was also the snake that appeared with Sooty and Sweep (he had a Yorkshire accent – Ed).

The club was founded in 1966 by present chairman Harry Williams. They first played in the Bury Amateur League. In 1967 Ramsbottom moved leagues to the Bolton Combination, where they spent the next eighteen years before a move in 1987 to the Manchester League, playing in Division One. In 1989–90 they finished in third place, and the following season were Division One champions, earning promotion to the Premier Division, where they spent the next four seasons. At the end of the 1994–95 season, the club applied to the North West Counties Football League and following substantial ground improvements were admitted into the league's Second Division in June 1995. The 2011–12 season saw the club take the Premier Division title, gaining promotion to the Northern Premier League Division One North.

Harry Williams - Chairman and Founder of Ramsbottom United FC

This Pieman had heard much about the club and speaking to people that had been to Ramsbottom meant that this place was on the ‘to do’ list for some time. Regular readers will know that I often like to get to grounds early in order to get some daylight photographs. Visiting the Harry Williams Stadium was no exception and when checking to see if the match was on, I was amazed that the person I was asking was retired colleague Alex Williams. A staunch Newcastle United fan, Alex lives in Ramsbottom and has over a number of years, fallen in love with the club. So much so that he is now one of a number of volunteers helping out at the club.

The Peel Monument overlooking the stadium

Photographs taken, I was delighted to be introduced to the legend that is Harry Williams and also Jack Wolfenden, another Stalwart of the club. With a fair while before the match, after a spot of lunch, this Pieman launched into adventurer mode and climbed up to the Peel Monument. A steep climb but well worth it as the view from there over the town and surrounding areas is superb.

Since being formed the club have played at the Riverside ground (now the Harry Williams Stadium) and clearly the development of the place has been progressive in tandem with the rise in status of the club. The ground is adjacent to Ramsbottom Cricket Club and the East Lancashire Railway line runs behind one of the goals. If combining a visit with the steam railway a Saturday match is required. The ground is fully enclosed and behind one goal is a long covered terrace (the Jack Wolfenden Stand) One side of the pitch has two smaller covered stands named the Ellis Timlin stand and the Main stand which are situated at both sides of the halfway line.

I was particularly looking forward to this match as Ramsbottom United and Clitheroe were 2nd and 3rd respectively in the table. A close match was predicted and so it turned out to be. It took a while for the match to settle and the visitors probably shaded the early exchanges. However, it was the home side that made the initial breakthrough when, following a handball, Phil Dean converted a 27th minute penalty. The match remained closely contested until, after a triple substitution for the home side, Andy Dawson headed a second goal for Ramsbottom on 77 minutes and the points were secured when Glodi Kuba-Kuba slotted home a fine third goal on 83 minutes.

Ramsbottom is a great place to visit, the people are friendly, the setting of both the town and football ground is superb. I would recommend a visit to anyone. By public transport, the tramlink from Manchester to Bury is frequent and there is a regular bus service from Bury to the centre of Ramsbottom which is only a few minutes walk from the ground.

"When in Rome"

Attendance: 185

Admission: £7:00

Tea: 70p

Pie and Peas: £1:70

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Droylsden FC

Droylsden 3 Hinckley United 2 - Football Conference, North

Droylsden is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Tameside, in Greater Manchester. It is 4.1 miles to the east of Manchester city centre, and 2.2 miles west-southwest of Ashton-under-Lyne. Historically a part of Lancashire, Droylsden grew as a mill town around the cotton mills established in the mid-19th century, and the Ashton and Peak Forest canals. Beginning in the early 1930s, Droylsden's population expanded rapidly, as it became a housing overflow area for neighbouring Manchester. Robertson's Jam was a significant employer in the area. The factory was established in 1891, on the banks of the Ashton Canal, on Ashton Hill Lane. At its peak it employed around 1,000 workers; that number was reduced to around 400 before closing during 2008. The factory was demolished during the early part of 2010.

Droylsden FC was originally formed at the invitation of Kenneth Sadd, the landlord of the Butchers Arms public house, to play behind the pub. After twenty years of friendlies and local leagues, disbandment, reformations and changes of strip, the club emerged from World War I the sole survivors amongst the village teams, and as members of the Manchester League. The club also adopted their now traditional colours of red and white, the inspiration for the unusual nickname of The Bloods.

This month the Metrolink tram service in Manchester has been extended to Droylsden, which facilitated a very straightforward journey. The current terminus is only three minutes walk from the Butchers Arms. An earlier trip out to the ground enabled some daylight photographs. On returning about an hour before the match I popped into the adjacent Kings Arms for a decent pint of Joseph Holt bitter (£2.25).

The ground is very much a mixture of old and new. A fine tall seated grandstand is situated alongside a new looking clubhouse building. Behind one goal is a smart covered terrace. The other end has no banking with the remaining side being partly occupied by another covered terrace; this structure is a lot older and appears ‘worn out’. The latter two areas back on to domestic dwellings, which, despite high fencing and netting, will have seen many wayward footballs over the years.

This match was postponed from Saturday 26 January and the match programme was used for this rearranged match. However, it was issued free of charge. On a progressively cold evening, I was keen to see how the bottom two teams would fare when pitted against each other.

Visitors Hinckley United played very well and I certainly would not have seen them as a struggling outfit. Their first half performance merited more than their solitary goal and this was to prove costly. The home side improved and levelled in the second period and took the lead late in the match. Hinckley equalised only to see Droylsden snatch victory in the closing minutes.

Attendance: 123

Admission: £10.00

Programme: Free (40 pages)

Tea: 70p

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Olympique Lyonnais FC

Olympique Lyonnaise 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1 - UEFA Europa League, Round of 32

Lyon is a city in east central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lyon was historically known as an important area for the production and weaving of silk and in modern times has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in France. It has a significant role in the history of cinema due to Auguste and Louis Lumière, who invented the cinematographe in Lyon. The city is also known for its famous light festival 'Fête des Lumières' which occurs on the 8th of December and lasts for four days, earning Lyon the title of Capital of Lights. Economically, Lyon is a major centre for banking as well as for chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. The city contains a significant software industry with a particular focus on video games, and in recent years has fostered a growing local start-up sector. Lyon also hosts the international headquarters of Interpol, Euronews and International Agency for Research on Cancer.

Olympique Lyonnais was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The club won its first ever Ligue 1 championship in 2002, starting a national record-breaking streak of seven successive titles. The club has played at the Stade de Gerland since 1950. The stadium originally had a cycling track, but it was removed in order to increase the capacity. Further renovations were needed to prepare the stadium for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. The north and south stands were completely dismantled and rebuilt, the side stands were untouched and the athletics track that had remained, even after the cycling track had been removed, was taken out. The current capacity is 40,500.

It was good for a change to be able to travel without spending hours at airports. Our Eurostar excursion departed London St Pancras just after 8am on the day before the match. A short changeover at Lille enabled us to reach Lyon around 2pm local time. After checking in at our hotel we caught the metro direct to the Stade de Gerland. We were able to gain access to the stadium and, as ever, it was good to get some daylight photographs. Surprisingly match programmes had already been delivered and a quantity of these were obtained.

Some prior research had revealed a couple of establishments specialising in quality ales. At Ninkasi (very close to the stadium) we took advantage of the taster option. Six different locally brewed ales, served as smaller measures. Specifically these were Blonde, Blanche, Ambree, Saison, Tripple and Fruitee. All were fine in quality. However, better was to come at Brasserie Georges. This popular quality restaurant houses a brewery. We sampled Doree, Saison and Brune (our particular favourite). I can report some fine tasting ale served at this friendly welcoming establishment. Founded in 1836, the restaurant has long been prominent on the Lyon gastronomic scene, serving up to 2000 diners per day.

Brasserie Georges

This tie was finely balanced following the first leg at White Hart Lane. Spurs held a 2-1 lead but this was wiped out early in the match when Maxime Gonalons headed Lyon into the lead in the 17th minute to level the aggregate score at 2-2. This put Lyon in the driving seat and if the score remained as it was, the French side would have progressed on the away goals rule. Just when this scenario was about to become reality, Mousa Dembele scored a spectacular goal to take Spurs through to a clash with familiar foes Internazionale of Milan.

Olympic Lyon: Vercoutre, Reveillere, Bisevac, Lovren, Umtiti; Fofana, Gonalons; Grenier, Lacazette, Lopez; Gomis. Subs: Lopes, Kone, Ferri, Dabo, Malbranque, Briand, Ghezzal.

Tottenham Hotspur: Friedel; Walker, Gallas, Vertonghen, Assou-Ekotto; Dembele, Parker; Lennon, Holtby, Bale; Adebayor. Subs: Lloris, Dempsey, Naughton, Dawson, Sigurdsson, Livermore, Caulker.

Referee: Wolfgang Stark (Germany)

Attendance: 38,761
Admission: 15 Euros
Programme: 8 page newspaper (free)

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