09 December 2012 - Crookes v Royal Earl

"Rusty Goalposts & Sticky Tape"

Competition : Meadowhall Sunday League - Premier Division

Result : Crookes 5 Royal Earl 2

Attendance : Unknown

Venue : Sheffield University Playing Fields - Warminster Road, Sheffield

The following photographs for this feature are a representation of a number of fixtures played at this venue on 09 December 2012.  I hope they convey to you, the spirit of what Sunday League Football is all about, not just in Sheffield, but across the football pitches, playing fields and sports-centres all over the UK.

Where the identity of  any club shown, is known, there will be a description on that photograph.

Royal Earl subs watch on as they go on the offensive in the first half.

Ken ...

His grandson was playing for Royal Earl this particular Sunday.  At 78, Ken told me about his passion for the game, which he passed onto his son and grandson. From a sporting family, he was extremely proud of his  grandson, Tom (see photograph below) and what he had already achieved. Ken then went onto to regale me with stories of his military background, most notably his ability to hit a target from 600yds with a rifle. It was a pleasure to meet Ken, listen to his stories, which he told with a sense of pride and with a passion that many young people would struggle to keep up with.

Ken & Tom

"Bruno"

"Solitary Confinement"

Royal Earl in Yellow, Crookes in Orange. Half Time on Pitch 6 ...

"The Long Walk Back ... I "

Royal Earl players, having been beaten 5-2 by Crookes, troop off, dejected... but knowing that there's always next Sunday ... An off day for the men in yellow and blue.

"The Long Walk Back II"

"The Long Walk Back III"

Four pitches were in use today, some teams will reflect on what might have been, questioning refereeing decisions, personal mistakes and man of the match performances.  Most importantly after almost two hours out in the bitter cold, the question every player will ask, "Is there any hot water in the showers?"

"Nets Down Lads & Don't Forget The Corner Flags ..."

"For It's A Grand Old Team To Play For ... "

They may play in the Glasgow Celtic colours, but this isn't Paradise.

"Jinky / Henke ??"

"There's Always Next Sunday !!"

"The Loneliest Man In The World"

*****

No Match Reports

All Photography : ©fotografica137

Links

Meadowhall Sunday League

Royal Earl FC - #twitterfeed

"No Clash Of Colours"

"We'll be Spurs then, Sir. They'll be no clash of colours" .... 
".... And it's Manchester United v Spurs in this vital fifth round cup tie"....
Taken from "A Kestrel For A Knave" - Barry Hines

*

No Clash Of Colours isn't a football blog about the Premier League, The Champions League, European Football .... this isn't a blog about the exploits of BIG named "stars" earning more money in a week than the clubs photographed in this blog take in ten seasons, never mind one!

This is a website, focusing on a level of the sport that many supporters won't have discovered, teams that don't make the pools coupons and betting slips, Final Score/Sky Sports tickertape results sections, where attendances are frequently in double figures, where there's no segregation, where the price of admission is often less than a round of pre-match drinks, where many of the people associated with "their" club, work for nothing, from the tea ladies, raffle-ticket sellers, programme editors, social media admin, chairmen/chairwomen thru' to the players.

Primarily, this will be a photography blog with minimal writing, although there will be enough to provide any readers with information as regards the clubs and leagues covered.  Trying to steer away from match action, we'll be photographing the sights and scenes from each ground that make it unique.  The supporters, celebrities and club people who are as important in football as those currently plying their trade at the highest levels, not just nationally but internationally.

There will be links attached to all the clubs we get the pleasure of visiting and photographing,

If any club would be happy for the NCOC photographer(s) to visit, you can contact us via the details in the Contact Us details panel.

As you're reading this, please leave us comments, thoughts, ideas, maybe even write a feature for us and we'll put it online for all the world to read!  Look up your local non-league club and pay them a visit.  In these hard times, your support for them to survive matters, more than ever before.

Final thought, the rules of football do not differ from the levels on view here, than they do at the highest levels of the game.  The venues, technical skills, attendances, wage packets, celebrity stories do, but we're not interested in those aspects of the game.

Mark

No Clash Of Colours