Tadcaster Albion 1-1 (5-4 pens) Route One Rovers, Tuesday 21st April 2026

Tadcaster Albion 1-1 (5-4 pens) Route One Rovers, West Riding Senior County Cup, att. TBA

With the season soon coming to an end, it’s slim pickings this Tuesday. If I want to visit a new ground, there’s only one choice in the house: the West Riding County FA’s ground at Woodlesford, somewhere in the Leeds/Wakefield hinterland. It is the Senior County Cup final, between Tadcaster Albion, of the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, and Route One Rovers of the division below.

The venue is scant reward for the achievement of reaching the final. Other county FA’s play their finals at major stadia (or, in the case of Sheffield and Hallamshire, Doncaster Rovers’ ground). Durham’s Challenge Cup Final is played at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light, so why can’t a half decent ground in West Riding be found to stage what should be the region’s non-league showcase? Huddersfield Town, Bradford City, Halifax Town...even Leeds United...are all in the West Riding, aren’t they? And all are much grander venues than this.

Apart from the large amount of car parking, there’s little to commend this venue. OK, they have a covered cantilever stand which spans the length of the pitch (at least it would if the pitch was level with it. Part of the stand is beyond the touchline, while at the other end the touchline goes beyond the stand. Has the (plastic) pitch been moved?) But even this has been built several yards from the perimeter fence. At either end, people standing at the perimeter fence block the view from the standing sections. (At least stewards ask people not to stand in front of the seated section.)

At the far end is flat standing, and a football pitch behind, while opposite the main stand is a small grass bank. And, like the stand, it’s a few yards from the perimeter fence. It is here that many of the fans stand, including the Tadcaster posse on the halfway line.

Behind the near goal are the facilities, a grand modern building, presumably including offices for the FA. A characterless bar chimes with the general aura, though at least they’ve some decent beer on: Brixton Reliance pale ale. (They had plenty of other beers not to my taste too.) Easily served too, though given the nature of one of tonight’s sides (Route One Rovers are predominantly Asian), perhaps that was to be expected. Before tonite, I’m not sure I’ve ever been in the racial minority of a football crowd before. Route One brought dozens of Asian fans, of all ages, and genders (though overwhelmingly male). Not sure about the lad sporting a Marseilles shirt with ‘Greenwood’ on the back. He wouldn’t be my choice of player to support. Several sported their shalwar kameez, again, a first for me at the football. Good on them.

Several of their players were also Asian, essentially, their midfield and attacking players. Not sure what that says. Their defence and goalkeeper were black, while the one white guy played up top (and had a key say in the game). But they were ip against it – not only were Tadcaster from a division above, they’d just made the promotion final. However, would losing to Beverley on the previous Saturday act as spur or encumbrance?

It took 10 minutes to find out. After constant pressure on the Route One goal, a corner was cleared to the edge of their box, only for it to be returned through a crowd of players. One nil, and for most of the half, the score only looked like being extended. The Albion centre forward, in particular, looked a handful and only a couple of superb saves from Route One’s custodian kept them in it.

Second half, I expected more of the same. Although lacking in numbers, Tadcaster did at least bring more drums (one) and clackers (also one). They also provided the colour, blue and yellow hats and scarves helping keep out the cold. And, yes, it was cold. I was going to put my big coat away today, but the wind meant it was coming out for hopefully the final time this season.

I moved from my pitch on the terrace. Although cosey, under the stand, I wanted a wander around the pitch. And, as I say, I thought the action would be at the other end, where Tadcaster were kicking to. As time wore on though, this was not to be the case. Tadcaster’s centre forward had blown himself out and Rovers were now on the front foot, pushing hard for an equaliser. Several chances to have a shot were spurned. Several shots were blocked by defenders. The keeper pulled off a great save. How long left?

It was getting on for half 9, so I knew it must be near time up. There was no announcement of how long was left. Time kept going on...and on. I don’t know how many minutes injury time the ref played. Way more than there should have been. A chance of one last shot. The keeper gets down to it, but it spills agonisingly out of his arms and the Caucasian centre forward is there to stab it home. I was pleased, I was wondering what the reaction of the fans would be, and it’s fair to say it was jubilant on the far side and behind the goal. But now my worry was...would there be extra time? Pls no. I’m ready to set off home.

The ref blew his whistle and the PA announced it was straight to penalties. And would any fans behind the goal please move, to allow the penalties to be taken? What? Isn’t that what you live for, being behind the goal for pens? The Rovers’ fans behind that net part, providing what looked like a guard of honour level with each goalpost.

The penalties are immaculate. I feel sorry for the Rovers’ keeper, who’s made 4 or 5 great saves in the 90, but he gets nowhere near any of the pens. Albion’s keeper, by contrast, gets his hands to two penalties, before he dives left for the 5th and wins it for his team. I’m sure the banter afterwards will be about how he deliberately let that equaliser in, just so’s he can be the hero in the shootout. But he needed that.

Anyway, an excellent game, played in good spirit and well officiated. But I was too pre-disposed with making a quick exit out of the car park to stay for the ceremonies. My bad.

The Damage:
£6 ent
£4.80 Brixton Reliance pale ale (pint of)
= £10.80

Worsbrough Bridge Athletic 3-0 Leeds UFCA, Saturday 18th April 2026

Worsbrough Bridge 3-0 Leeds UFCA, Northern Counties East League Division 1 semi-final play-off, The Totally Training Stadium (Park Road), att. 460

Sometimes I’m actually quite grateful that Sky like messing around with the 3rd division (League 1) fixture schedule. Today is one of those days. Barnsley v Bradford City (approximate number of empty seats: 9,000) is on telly at 12:30, for those folk too lazy to actually attend themselves. This means that, as long as I park cleverly, I can get away from Oakwell, jump in the car and head down Sheffield Road for a 3pm KO at The Totally Training Stadium. The plan works to perfection.

I am parked up and outside the ground with 10 minutes to kick-off. It’s a Northern Counties East League Division 1 play-off semi, 2nd placed Worsbrough Bridge Athletic against 5th placed Leeds UFCA. Who they? Students? Does the ‘U’ stand for ‘University’? (Yes it does. Leeds University Football Club Association.) No wonder all their players look like teenagers. There are no programmes. Disappointing.

Other escapees from Oakwell enter through the turnstiles, inc Waddington, and Waddington junior. Junior points out how we could watch the game for free from Sheffield Road. Yes, we COULD, but that’s not the point. Anyway, we have a great view, just to the right of the goal. We’re behind a small grassy bank, looking down on the goal.

To our right is a...mezzanine patio, with a few picnic tables. They’re busy today, the sun beaming. Grass banking continues around the corner. Fans stood shoulder-to-shoulder on the flat standing above, while a few laze around on the bank itself. A hamburger van behind was doing brisk trade. It MUST be a big game. This wasn’t here last time I came.

A traditional old main stand with a lovely fascia stands astride the halfway line, and it looked pretty full today. It was also packed outside the adjacent social club. Of course, one area where it WASN’T packed was behind the far goal, the cricket pitch. No-one’s allowed on here. A reminder of the old days, when the likes of Bramall Lane, Northampton’s County Ground and Bishop Auckland’s Kingsway all had 3 sided grounds to house both sports.

Mind, it’s arguably two and a half sides here. There is a small standing enclosure on the 4th side, on the halfway line and no-one stood beyond this stand. The stand itself is surprisingly empty. Or not. Nobody wants to stand with the youth, who’re allowed space to chant about going up the league while unleashing the occasional smoke bomb.

The youth have good reason to celebrate though. The Briggers win comfortably, 3-0, and it could have been a lot more, but for the students’ goalkeeper, who is their MOTM. Next Satdy is the final, 2nd placed Worsbrough having home advantage v 3rd placed Wakefield, who’ve crept thru on pens after coming from 2 down to draw against Harrogate Town. It promises to be a corker. Hopefully there’ll be an even bigger crowd as Barnsley play away at Luton. Come on you Briggers!

The Damage:
£5 ent
= £5

BFC 2-2 Bradford City, Saturday 18th April 2026

‘Oh it’s all gone quiet over there, oh it’s all gone quiet over there.’

The King is dead. Long live The King. Yes, another season, another managerial sacking. Or ‘mutually agreed’ parting of the ways. I’ll come onto Coach Conor later, but what a bizarre start to a matchday, the club announcing at half 9 that we’re dispensing with Conor’s services come season’s end. And announcing it now, to enable ‘a smooth transition.’ WTF? Is Conor gonna be shadowing the new incumbent, showing him the ropes, introducing him (or her, or them) to the laundry lady, physio, club mascot, etc?

And so it was that we walked to Oakwell in an odd state of mind. Nobody in Spiral argued we should keep him, though a few lads were chanting that Hourihane chant that pervaded Oakwell in the early doors of the season, about Conor taking us to the promised land. ‘Problies the same people who were chanting for him to be sacked’ said one of our cynical crew (not me, for a change). Expectation was firmly on being turned over and I was particularly dreading 5,000 Bantams crowing (pun intended) throughout.

The team was unchanged from Tuesday at Port Vale, which meant Cleary benched (boooo) with Captain Marvel (huzzah!), Yoganathan and Bland playing centre mid. Let’s see how that goes. Not very well is the answer, as Yoga goes through their player, a millisecond after the ball had gone. In real time, right in front of me, I didn’t think there was much in it. But having seen it on the screen at half-time, I can see where the ref gets his red card from. My main grievance lay in the split second it took him to get his card out. The ref could have bought himself some time, see the player wasn’t hurt after all, and dished out a yellow. Instead, he chose to ruin the game and create a rod for his own back. EVERY decision was now scrutinised, leading to a foul on our keeper which looked at least as dangerous, but obviously didn’t lead to a red their way. Still, as Reedy said, it did lead to a performance that ‘showed character, energy, commitment and dare I say it, passion, something that's been lacking most of this season.’

We also had a couple of appeals for handball turned down, that 1st half. While I didn’t think there was much in the first, the second one undoubtedly hits the Bradford player’s hand. Still, Bradshaw could have made it academic, rather than clearing the bar with the rebound from 6 yards. However, the perceived bias of the ref did everything to improve the atmosphere. And we took the game to ‘em, looking the better side in the opening half, despite 10 men. And those Bradford fans? Never heard ‘em.

Half-time, and Earl hauled for MdG at left back. Surely an injury? Interesting choice of left back too, considering how many times O’Keeffe has deputised there. But we continued to be strong. Roberts was winning everything at the back, while Banks and Kelly were taking pressure off the back 4 by running with it. And then the unexpected! Roberts throws a ball, what...35 yards? 70 yards? 100 yards? It is a MAMMOTH throw and in a crowded box, O’Connell gets a flick on and guides it into the far corner. Pandemonium! We have only taken the lead against play-off placed Bratfut, with 10 men. F***ing have that, you c***s!

At least we’ve been allowed one tiny moment of joy in what will surely now be an onslaught.

We nearly double the lead. Banks’ shot loops off a defender and their keeper pulls off a worldy. That was our chance. Now, surely there’ll be an onslaught. Only it doesn’t happen. Well, not till he takes off Banks and Phillips for Cleary and Connell. The finishers. Goodman makes a wonder save of his own and the ground can’t quite believe it wasn’t a goal. In the East Upper we were convinced Goodman was behind his line and that a goal would be given, but the seconds passed and the ref’s watch didn’t buzz. We’d survived!

However, on 73, the dam burst. It was probably asking too much for our defence to hold out when all season they’d not been able to, but still, it was annoying that a simple cross was headed in all too easily, their player outjumping MdG. Can we at least hang on for a point? It’s a long way to go. Probably not. It’s all Bradford now, but Goodman is standing tall. He’s in one of his ‘coming off his line’ games and actually looks like a goalkeeper. Coach Conor sends on Watson for Bradshaw. Strengthen the defence, etc. It works – for 3 minutes.

The ball is cleared out to their left. Absolutely NOBODY makes any effort to go out and close the player down and the Bantam can just pick his spot. He does – straight to Roberts’ head. THIS is how you lose my MOTM vote. Head one into your own net. I wouldn’t care, but on replays, it’s not like it’s too high for him. He seems to bend forward, get under it, and flick it home. Andy Gray (Everton version) woulda been proud. That’s it, game over.

Only it isn’t. In a reversal of his substitution 10 minutes earlier, Coach Conor sends on CF Farrell for (nominal) defender O’Keeffe. We’ve seen this before this season. Send on Farrell to run about up top to absolutely zero effect. No-one is under any illusion anything will come of this. Time is running out. There can’t be more than about 30 seconds left. Kelly makes one last run forward, then splits the defence with the pass of the season for Cleary to run onto and cross it low for FARRREELLLLLLLL to bundle home. If I thought it was pandemonium after our opening goal, it’s nothing to the explosion at the equaliser. Not two minutes earlier I was listening to ‘how s*** must you be, we’re winning away’. Now everyone in the home end is going berserk. Coach Conor for Prime Minister! And King! And...and...well, anything except our Head Coach.

Good luck, Conor.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Kelly. Never gave up, comfortable in possession, foraging runs...and THAT pass.
** Goodman. Made a wonder save, made some other saves, caught and punched crosses.
* Banks. Alleviated a lot of pressure on the defence by his ability to keep hold of the ball and but for an incredible save, woulda put us 2 up.

Official MOTM: Bland

Londontykes’ MOTM: TBA

Despatches:
What will Coach Conor’s legacy be? I’d love to think it was the (promised) high press and positive attack play, epitomised by the use of 2 wingers. However, we all know, in years to come, the one remembrance of this season will be its legendary (lack of) defence and record-breaking run of games without a clean sheet. An 11th ‘permanent’ manager in 11 seasons, Coach Conor follows this list of luminaries: (going backwards...Darrell Clarke, Neill Collins, Michael Duff, Poya Asbaghi, Markus Schopp, Valerien Ismael, Gerhard Struber, Daniel Stendal, Jose Morais, Paul Heckingbottom).

Of course, none of us wishes to see this turnover of managers/head coaches. But it is what it is. Essentially, if there is no hint of improvement on the horizon, the head honcho has to go. Especially with season ticket renewal upon us. Coach Conor has had all season to find an answer to the defensive travails. It started at the beginning, shipping out Cotter and O’Keeffe cos they can’t defend. Fast forward 8 months and O’Keeffe is back, and a mainstay. He even brought in a left-footed left back (Ogbeta), who, after initial promise, has disappeared. He promised us a back 4, with fullbacks who might occasionally stop a cross, and he ends with a left winger having 20 yards of freedom to pick his spot (Bradford’s equaliser) and 3 players trying to play left back in the same game (the only left footer of which is actually a centre half played out of position). He’s chopped and changed personnel (though, remarkably, kept faith with Shepherd, till it was too late). He showed unbelievable faith in a Roberts/Shepherd partnership. He froze out MdG till lately.

To add to all this, he’s tactically limited/stubborn. The undynamic duo in midfield, Luca Connell and Jonathan Bland, drives me mad. Though as The GOAT still revels in mystifying positivism from everyone I know, it’s decided that it’s all Captain Marvel’s fault. Tis true, Connell is a shadow of the shadow of his former self (season 1 version). Now, I don’t know how he gets a game. We play 2 defensive midfielders and we never stop the opposition from running through us.

Another criticism is his signings. Coach Conor must have the most limited contact book in football. Aside from bagging McG, seemingly based on bumping into him at a wedding, what’s he (rather than the club) tempted in? Jake Rooney? Christ. Imagine bringing in a defender who can’t displace Shepherd, Roberts, Earl, MdG…et al. And then gets a run out at left back. (LEFT BACK! I have fallen out all season with Conor over left back, at least from the time he dropped Ogbeta whilst playing well).

Does Conor also have problems getting on with players? Or just lack their respect? It’s recently come out that Gent has disappeared for disciplinary reasons. We haven’t seen Nwakali all season following last term’s fallout. Fair enough, you have to have some discipline, but on wages like Nwakali’s reputedly on, you also can’t afford to freeze them out completely. Especially when he’s Luca’s natural replacement (if he insists on playing a defensive 2 in midfield).

Yes, sorry Conor. I can picture that ‘mutual agreed’ now. The club: ‘we don’t think you’re good enough.’ Conor: ‘Neither do I.’ After all, you told us as much the other week, after Doncaster Rovers turned us over. We were fools to think we’d challenge for the play-offs this season and it’ll be the same, if not worse, next season. You signed your own death warrant, Conor, right there. ‘I’m not good enough to improve these players to a level whereby we’ll have a sniff of promotion.’ He’s yet another rent-a-coach. Done the badges, got the qualifications, all learnt the same thing, but provided little in the way of innovation. Yes, we’ve had some entertaining attacking displays, but, in retrospect, where would we be without 1st DKD, then McG, getting a bag of goals?

However, was he sold a pup by the club? Can anyone polish the turd that is our line up of defenders? Well, are our defenders (player for player) any worse than other 3rd division sides? Worse than Stevenage, to name but one divisional rival with a far lower budget than ourselves? Anyway, I don’t buy it. Yes, I’d happily get rid of everyone in our defence and start again. No, I don’t think they’re any worse than what I see in this division. Can another manager make a better silk purse out of this sow’s ear? One has to think so.

Goodbye Conor. Your time is up.

Drink du jour: Beartown Inception in Spiral.

Away: 5,144. ‘How s*** must you be, we’re winning away.’ And then you weren’t. Ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaa. 82 minutes against 10 men. Still PMSL.

The Damage:
£8 petrol
£4 prog
= £8