BFC 2-2 (5-4 pens) Fleetwood Town, Wednesday 13th August 2025

‘Double U?’ ‘No, W’

It’s home game #2 of a run of 3 in 8 days. No wonder there’s not many of us here (3,259). All of us home fans are also ‘packed’ into the East Stand, so 2 sides are empty, and there’s only 165 taking up nearly 6,000 seats in the away end. But it’s sunny, warm, and there’s a buzz amongst those there which exceeded far bigger crowds last season. Plus Coach Conor has named a pretty strong team, including experienced heads like DKD and Russell. New signing Watson starts at right back, while Kelly is given his full debut in midfield, next to Bland. Shepherd is back from his suspension, and he’s with Conor Barrett at the back, our 4th central defensive partnership in 4 games.

And I have to say...it works. We are ALL OVER THEM. Been a while since I’ve seen such a one-sided game. I think Cleary (on the left wing this time, rather than Satdy’s right) has more touches than their team. He’s Cleary (!) on a different level to them. Time and again he beats his man and puts a cross in. Russell heads in early doors and DKD misses 2 chances, an easy sidefoot and a difficult volley. (I hope the scouts were watching.) It’s too easy. And what happens when it’s too easy? They score.

We are 2 seconds off the end of 1st half injury time when a corner is swung in. Does it flick in off someone? Does it go in unaided? I’ve since looked at it a dozen times on t’internet and I’ve no idea. I see Barrett runs to the front post and gets under the ball. Could he have jumped a bit higher? Equally though, even if it does clear him, a ball shouldn’t harmlessly run into the far corner. You can’t have NOBODY on it. A player on the far post would have cleared it too. The usual bugbear about marking space versus having a man on the (back) post.

So there it is, one-way traffic and somehow it’s one-all. In a weird prelude to their goal though, they’d also had an effort disallowed earlier, the ball going in direct from a THROW-IN! This took me back to the Premiership promotion season. Opening home game, we go a goal down to Huddersfield as Dave Watson pulls his arms back from touching the ball cos he knows no-one has touched it. Unlike that day, this ref knew the rules. (We went on to beat Hudds 3-1, a possible sliding doors moment averted.)

Coach Conor brings on Leo Farrell at HT. Whohellhe? (Ans: from the juniors). DKD is off. Oh dear, who’s gonna take us through now? Thankfully, Cleary carries on as before, strips the fullback, whips a ball in and an idiot defender sticks a leg out to deflect home. Easy, easy! Farrell then has the chance to extend the lead but the keeper saves. If he never scores a goal for Barnsley, he’ll regret trying to take it round the keeper rather than dink it over him.

On the hour, Yoganathan and Farrugia are sent on for Bland and Vickers, before Coach Conor sends on Captain Fantastic Connell (for Shepherd; I can’t remember what tactical nonsense we verted to. If reverting is going back to something, would ‘vert’ be to do something for the 1st time?) Anyway, if by ‘seeing out’ you mean ‘hitting a glorious penalty into the top corner in a penalty shootout’, Coach Conor got it bang on. If so, this bloke has the Midas touch.

Yes, we’re into injury time and it’s just so, so easy. As it was in the 1st half. But there’s some confusion as Coach Conor wants to make a sub. Cleary thinks it’s him, but it turns out to be Ogbeta. Now, I’ve heard of people mixing up their blacks, but I’ve never heard of a black person mistaking HIMSELF for another black person. Anyway, the message eventually gets through to Cleary that he’s not being offered his standing ovation for a job well done and that he’s on till the end. I don’t think he’s in the right head space either, as within a minute he fails to track back, leading to an overlap on their right and the ball pulled back to be swept home. To err once (conceding in 1st half injury time) is human. To do it twice (conceding in 2nd half injury time) is careless.

Thank goodness it went straight to pens. When was the last time anyone saw a decent extra-time? We go 1st, are always in front, but Kelly finds the bar with what would have been the winner. Honestly, it’s an inch from being perfect, top corner. Still, it’s somehow fitting that Cleary scores the winner (6th pen) even though we had to wait for keeper Cooper to save. Rovrum at home next. Let the celebrations begin!

Onwards and upwards!

*** Cleary. Just give him the ball.
** Kelly. Ran centre mid.
* Bland. As above. The front 4 don’t get the ball without a base.

Official MOTM: Cleary

Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Cleary 2. Kelly 3. Bland

Despatches:
I was with Lord S in the ticket office pre-match. No problems buying my ticket (though £2 extra on the day – NONE of BFC’s messages on ‘socials’, or even their ticketing page, told me THAT) but I had to leave the office as I was cracking up. ‘How do you spell your name?’ ‘… W’ ‘Double U?’ ‘No, W’ ‘Double U?’ Anyway, we got in, only missing 5 minutes.

This is a minor thing (hopefully) and just a sign of rustiness, but three times the ball ended up out of play due to a misunderstanding between Vickers and Russell. Both showed their class at times (after opening their legs?) but with each other…they need more practice.

Drink du jour: Karate and Friendship pale ale (very nice) and Hazy Rider New England IPA (bit dodgy – was it ‘off’? Or is that it’s normal taste?) at Heaven and Ale.

Away: 165 (3,259)

The Damage:
£16 ent
c.£8 petrol
= c.£24

BFC 2-2 Fleetwood Town, Saturday 28th October 2023

An ode to our home shirt: I feel so super In my shirt by Kid Super But what would be bestward Would be Vivienne Westwood And if I want to be dapper... ...it should be by Frank Zappa

I s’pose we should be grateful for the point. For great swathes of the second half, for all we enjoyed copious amounts of possession, shots and promising opportunities, we never looked like we’d score. I don’t know how many low crosses Cadden put in, our forwards were resolute in their refusal to run across defenders into space. And today of all days...against Little Lee. ‘POMO’ (Position of Maximum Opportunity) was pounded again, and again, and again...and no-one in a red shirt made a run. Cotter especially found himself in ‘bomb alley’ countless times, and countless times failed in his mission to ably cross a ball. I can’t remember the last time a player promised so much and delivered so little. His first touch was unbelievable, as he’d take it away from his marker and give himself time and space to...fail spectacularly. My favourite was the one in the first half where he cut inside with his first touch…and dragged it wide from 12 yards. Listen, Bazza, if you can’t kick it with your left foot, PASS IT. If you can’t pass it with your right foot, GET OFF THE PITCH. Otherwise, the amount of times he found himself free…and messed it up, was off the scale.

The shot count was 25-7 (8-4 on target). ‘High wide and not very handsome’ was our mantra. Russell toe poked it wide of an empty net from 3 yards. De Gevigny blazed over from 12. Watters headed a close range header wide. Cole missed a penalty (and tapped in the rebound, phew). Yet we were reliant on the ball of the century from Kane and a reserve right back (O’Keefe) steaming in to crash the header beyond the keeper. (It later transpired O’Keefe had told Kane he’d make this run; could our forwards not do something similar?) 88th minute it was, though that was to ignore the 10 minutes of injury time played. (Point of order, ref, but you didn’t see any need to add any extra time to the extra time? Not even considering their throw-in down in the right corner, which took the best part of a minute?)

But I can’t blame the ref. We’re at home to a side with untold off the field issues (owner banged up for 13 years), a small budget…and managed by Little Lee. Could they be more handicapped? Yet we concede two and need to rely on a pen and a right back to rescue ourselves. We went one down in the third minute, as a complacent defence allows an attack down their left. Ok, the cross got a lucky deflection off Russell that drops nice for Quitirna, but the keeper hardly covers himself in glory, standing still and staring instead of haring out of his goal Schmeichel-style. Their second is a wonderful free kick into the top corner by the same player. Get him signed.

Inbetween, we have our obligatory row over who takes the penalty. I say obligatory. We waited two and half years for a home pen, and now we’ve had 2 in 2 games. The other nite Kane, Cole and Styles needed to have a conversation (understandable; perhaps they never thought they’d see the day when we got another pen). Today, it’s Cole and Kane. Cole won the pen, nipping in front of the keeper (so he CAN make that run!) and being brought down, so he obvs thinks he should have it. But Kane took it the other nite and scored (not necessarily convincingly, IMHO). Anyway, Cole won’t let go of the ball and Kane is forced to retreat, putting the hex on our star striker. Luckily, the poor effort is palmed nicely back and it’s one-all. The Fleetwood lead has lasted all of 4 minutes and now we march on to inevitable victory.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Cadden. Endless supply.
** Kane. Kept the game moving, hit 2 excellent shots and created the equaliser with a sublime pass.
* McCart. Tidy (and ignored, what with the clamour for The Frenchman).

Official MOTM: McAtee

Londontykes’ POTY: 1= Cadden/Kane 3. McCart

Despatches:
Some interesting tactical decisions from the manager. O’Keefe for Cotter was standard (though how he made it to 63 minutes is anyone’s guess). No, what perplexed me was dragging off Cadden (and McAtee) with about 10 left, for Dodgson and Jalo. I couldn’t see Dodgson improving on Cadden’s output, but what’s this? Cole is now on the left wing (and actually getting into the game, I think he got 2 shots off, long range, no danger). Watters is already on (for Russell) and with Jalo and Cole, it looks like Collins is aimlessly chucking on forwards. And maybe he is. There’s that many forwards on the pitch, Fleetwood don’t notice O’Keefe sneaking in.

The players? I’ve not noticed him before, but I really enjoyed watching McCart today. Solid, covered well, good passing. Williams and The Frenchman were dominant (how DID we concede 2?). In midfield, Phillips had a couple of nice touches, but that was it (hauled off for the equally ineffectual Benson) while Russell...I dunno. He inadvertently set up their opener, but at half-time a few of us marvelled at Russell knocking it past an opponent, making a start towards the ball, then pulling up as he realised that however slowly the ball was rolling, it was too fast for him to make it before it went out for a throw-in. I felt for him. I’m that slow as well these days (but I’m a week or so off 50).

It was also good to see (hear?) the crowd get behind the team in that 2nd half, as Oakwell was a morgue the first. Yes, we were kicking towards the Ponty, trying to force an equaliser, but I’m sure everyone had a better time once we started making some noise. It was almost like it used to be. Ok, I’m exaggerating. It was nearly almost as good as it once was at home to a middling side on a Tuesday nite in February. But it was a vast improvement on the opening 45.

Oh, and the ref. When was the last time we had an official whose first and last names were homophones? Neil Hare. Kneel Hair? Yes, this is what I’m thinking about when I’m not thinking about Cadden’s crosses, Cotter’s attempts at crosses...and forwards who stare a gift horse straight in the mouth. We should’ve had 6 today.

Drink du jour: Whatever obscure pale ale I’ve never heard of in Spiral City. Very nice.

Away: 223

The Damage:
c.£30 petrol
= c.£30

BFC 2-1 Fleetwood Town, Thursday 29th December 2022

‘Am at football. No, I’m not having that conversation now. I’M AT FOOTBALL.’

I’m sure I saw this game 3 days ago. The Super Reds in complete control against lower end strugglers. Passes popped around with ease. Chances missed. And a baffling performance from the person in black (it’s a ‘he’ this time though…presuming Benjamin Speedie – is that his stage name? – identifies as such). Throw in a dodgy penalty for them, and our own appeals turned down, and I needn’t have bothered going tonite. It was Accrington Stanley away, all over again.

Mind, I nearly never got there. With the A1 knocked out due to an accident, a 90 minute drive took me nearly 4 hours. Good job I set off early, and I was still able to have a drink with Molly and Darrel in Heaven and Ale, followed by pie and peas and a drizzle of mint sauce from the Oakwell Sandwich Shop. It’s important to start with the highlights.

The other highlight, of course, was a late winner, leading to the bizarre sight of a pitch invasion by a 10 year old. As said kid is lead off by stewards, a row breaks out in the old Main Stand paddock from whence he came. If you haven’t seen the story, 2 stewards end up in hospital and another couple are treated at the scene. Higher casualty figures than when we play Washday or Dirty Leeds. But it does bode one safeguarding question…can you throw a child out of a football ground? What happens if something happens to him outside? Equally, as BFC are threatening to ban the parent, I’d be straight on to the missus (‘Can you say you took him, cos then you get barred, not me?’)…anyway, I said last night was history repeating itself, even down to the casual misogyny that presumes it’s dad who takes junior to Oakwell…

Yes, we WON!!!! Which didn’t occur the other day. It was all happening. After their soft penalty, Norwood goes down in instalments (even his dives are done in slow-mo) and the ref….’it’s like de ja vous all over again’ (sorry, I’m contractually bound to mention my favourite Shaka Hislop quote of all time at least once a season)….decides, as a sop to everyone, that it’s a corner. Listen, bud, it’s a penalty or a goalkick. But I’ll help you – it’s a goal kick. Manager ‘Super’ Michael Duffy obviously agrees with the one-eyed Ponty End and gets himself sent off for his troubles. It’s one-all, time is running out, and we are DESPERATE. So, who better to step up than no-sung hero Jason Cundy, with a banging header from Connell’s outswinger. YOU BEAUTY.

I said we’d been in total control, earlier. Indeed, once Norwood opened the scoring, you couldn’t see any other result. 1-0 to Barnsley. Great finish too, as Kitching had the vision to play a neat ball left, inside the penalty area and Norwood turned and hammered it high into the net from an angle. (I’d be disappointed if I was the keeper who conceded from there though.) From here, like Stanley on Boxing Day, there’s no way back from this. BUT THERE IS! Never, NEVER rule out a w*nker in black luminous yellow finding a penalty from nothing for the opposition. The ball is played through and Mads glances at their player before lifting his arms to avoid contact. The player deliberately runs across Mads and trips. He is running away from goal. There is simply nothing in it for Mads to commit this foul. The same opponent gets up and despatches the pen.

That was all second half. The opening half was us dissecting them and our comedy forward line failing to bag. ‘Norwood was everywhere’ someone said. If he was, he was getting there 10 mins after everyone else. In attack, he was often left behind as 4 other teammates overtook him. To his credit though, he delivered 2 absolute peaches into the box (think Harry Kane, the way he whips in crosses that Harry Kane would want). One of these unfortunately falls to Devante Cole, who studs the ball to the keeper from 4 yards. Where’s Super Sammy Winnall when you need him!? Apart from that, all our ‘class’ brought was a poor 20 yard effort from Kane (Herbie) which went wide.

Onwards and upwards!

*** Mads. A colossus. Won everything, up high or down low.
** Connell. Doesn’t just win it and tap it to another player, capable of a long pass too.
* Kitching. Like Mads, intercepted a couple of potentially defence splitting passes, as well as getting up in attack.

Official MOTM: Was it Connell?

Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Norwood 2. Andersen 3. Kitching

Despatches:
Cole got the hook to give our 17 year old Portuguese midget a run out and it worked – Jalo ran about and was a general pest (though his little legs made no inroads on an opposition player striding out). Still, he took one for the team by disrupting a counter attack at the cost of a yellow. Maybe he has the making of a professional yet. Collins’ timewasting began in the 71st minute this week, as he held onto it for 20 seconds. Funnily enough, he was a bit quicker once they equalised. I was a bit quicker late on too, getting home in an hour and a half. Special mention to Norwood too, for completing 90 minutes. COYR!

Drink du jour: CLWB Tropica at Heaven and Ale.

Away: 222. Unusually, their vocal element didn’t huddle at the back like every other team, they were in the middle of the stand, by the exit (sensible).

Today’s take home: R.I.P. Pele. (Tenuous Reds’ link….we played Pele’s old team Santos in a friendly, Premiership season.)

The Damage:
£29 travel (petrol)
= £29

The Tunes:
The Line is a Curve (Kae Tempest)
Muzik Slam Mix (Soma)
BBC 6Music
BBC5Live
BBC Radio 4
Paint the Sky with Stars – The Best of Enya (Enya)
Best of Chas ‘n’ Dave (Chas ‘n’ Dave)*

*a recent charity shop purchase. Unbearable, had to turn it off after 5 tracks.

Fleetwood 0-2 BFC, Saturday 19th March 2016

‘Welcome to Fleetwood – where breastfeeding is always welcome’

Welcome to...the local tanning centre.  Genius.

After last week’s promotion derailing, we’re back on track after a scrappy win at lowly Fleetwood.  The scene was set early doors when a backpass to their keeper bobbled like hell to him before he hoofed it away. This was not one for the purists.  Try as we might, we couldn’t seem to get the ball down, Hammill was permanently surrounded by 2 or 3 opponents and Davies kept booting it into touch (1^st half at least).

Little Lee continues to haunt me.  That IS Little Lee, right?

Of course, class shone through in the end….with my favourite, FAVOURITE goal of the season so far. A ball was lobbed over the top, it bounced high and their guy headed it magnificently over his own keeper from 20 yards out.  To be behind the goal, to see the keeper turn and give chase for a ball he was never gonna catch…pure joy.  Possibly made more so by the rare chance to stand on a terrace. Lest we forget, the defender’s panic was due to one Red harrying him, while, out of the corner of his eye, he could see another Red legging it towards the keeper.  Small details, big goals.

That was early, 2^nd half and just the goal needed to start playing some football.  For THEM to start playing some football.  For the next 20 odd minutes their #8 (Ryan?) ran the game while we retreated into our half and hoped they had no-one up front. They didn’t.  (Actually, they had Shola Amoebi followed by Devante Cole.  How the mighty…etc)

Tell me I'm seeing things: a stand behind a stand

Then we sent Scowen on for Fletcher, re-jigged the formation and bossed it.  How good must this team be if Scowen can’t get a start?  He proceeds to have our 1^st shot on target (blocked) before sealing victory with a header off a corner.  Isn’t he, like, 5 foot 2?  Must have been the quality of the delivery!  (One for Loko, as Hourihane’s 8^th corner of the match results in a Barnsley player getting his head to it first).  Cue celebrations in the away end….’put the champagne on ice, we’re going to Wembley twice’ and a ditty about having the finest midfield in the world (which appeared to involve Hamill, Watkins, Scowen, Brownhill, Hourihane and Is-groooooove, but not necessarily in that order).  Should have added Winnall in there too....wasn't he midfield earlier this season?

The Barnsley (standing) hordes

*** Roberts.  A proper captain’s display…if only he were captain.  Dominated the aerial battles (in a game where the ball was usually in the air) and made some brutal tackles, including sending the ball and player off the pitch with one particularly champion challenge.  In a day for old-skool football, it suited him down to the ground.
** Scowen.  15 minutes of class.
* Williams.  Solid defensively.

Londontykes' Top 3:
1. Roberts
2. Mawson
3. Scowen / Williams

Christ, even Fleetwood have an electronic scoreboard

Despatches:Davies was poor in his kicking, but saved us 1^st half when Everton youngster Connolly was skinned and he was forced into a save.  The latter improved as the game went on.  As has been said, the ref was something else.  I’m not sure how many times you can get simple decisions wrong, but he managed it.  Late on, as Scowen tussled (ie, wound up) a Codhead, said Codhead lashed out at his face.  Cue Scowen booked and their bod walking away scot-free.  ‘You fat c*nt’ berated one Reds fans, who, when warned about his language, quickly hollered ‘you portly c*nt, ref!’  I shouldn’t moan, been a while since I’ve been part of a rousing chorus of ‘you fat ba5tard’.

The rest of the team were much of a muchness. No-one stood out, no-one was awful. 

Spot the home 'flags', cleverly painted on.

Drink du jour: After getting a bus from Blackpoo and fish and chips in one of Fleetwood’s many fish and chip emporiums (emporia?), we ignored the 2 pubs in the high street for Andy to take us to the CAMRA pub slightly off the beaten track (but still near the ground) – and what a find this was.  3 different wheat beers on tap. A Rathaus and a Konig Ludwig for me.  Shame we had to leave for the match, but we did pop back for a celebratory one afterwards, having lost Phil who was in more of a rush than us anyway.  A bottle of red for the train and I took ULTRA care that I didn’t fall asleep on the bus or get knocked over this week.  (My knee is still a mix of yellow and purple, btw).

The Damage:
23 ent
1
27 train
5 bus (to and from Blackpool)


Away:  986

Camera gantry

Nice touch at the (quality) local.  Highly recommended.

I spot a team coach.

Fleetwood's pride and joy

The teams come out

The view from the terrace

Behind the goal panorama

This Way.

Corner flag panorama

BFC 1-1 Fleetwood, Saturday 9th January 2016

‘I can’t get to mi’ seat fo’ t’part timers’

After 2 successive home wins, it was business as usual at t’Well:
4-5-1 and zero threat ✓unable to defend against poor opposition ✓a loanee making his debut ✓Hourihane and Winnall awful ✓rescued by Adam Hammill ✓
The Northern Area Final of the John Stones Paint Trophy and a fiver a ticket.  Cue our biggest home crowd of the season (in terms of home support), nearly 11,000 and something I’ve not seen in a while at Oakwell: queues to get in.  And what with it being a Saturday fixture, my 1^st ever BFC ‘Associate Members Cup’ game.  I think the last one of these I went to was Darlo v Halifax where a certain David Currie was playing.

Busier than normal around here...

Fast forward 27 years (is it REALLY that long ago?) and this is the level we’re punting at. A couple of changes too.  Out went Marley Watkins (injured) so in came Little Lee’s one up front again.  How many times does Little Lee have to see Sam Winnall play on his own up top before he realises it’s beyond his capability?  Can’t hold a ball up, can’t beat a man, can’t shoot…Christ.  Pearson meantime has gone back to Man U and was replaced by Brad Abbot, who was also awful.  Poor tackling and passing, he fitted right in.  Hourihane was back to his ‘best’ while Williams spent the match looking confused.  When I think about it, given the number of poor performances in our side today, I don’t understand how we didn’t lose.

Queues!  Unheard of.

*** Davies.  Caught crosses, saved a few, excellent kicking.  Somehow got done for the goal and I’m still not sure what happened, just as I’m not sure it crossed the line – but the linesman was and he was in a better position to see it than me.
** White.  Drove past players 3 or 4 times.  Howthehell is he not good enough for Rotherham?
* Isgrove.  Twitter MOTM.  Another good 60 minutes, before he disappeared.

Londontykes' Top 3:
1. Isgrove
2. White

3. Davies

Despatches:A mini Hourihane-watch: He lost the ball twice in areas he shouldn’t in the 1^st half, once being rescued by a Davies flying save and once by a Brad Abbot block.  He also got injured twice, one of them being from his failure to win a tackle he ought to have been favourite to win.  I have since read he had a shot, but I don’t remember that.  ‘Selective memory’ obviously.  We must be fighting off those bids this month…
Oh, and we equalised.  Little Lee dragged off a s*** midfielder (spoilt for choice today) and went 2 upfront.  Within 5 minutes we have equalised: Hammill whips in a cross and Man U loanee Fletcher make a great run and crashes the header home off the underneath of the bar.  Wembley here we come (!!)

Into the cauldron...

Drink du jour: Erdinger, then vodka and orange and more beer in the pub.  And yes, I fell asleep on the bus.  I said it was business as usual!
Away: 415.  In terms of home support, our biggest, bestest crowd of the season.  The Ponty were full of singing all match – which just showed quality support makes FA difference to this team.

The Damage:
£5 ent
£34 train

The teams shake hands

417 Fish Heads or whatever they call themselves (seriously, I don't know)

The Ponty in 1st half action.

A full(ish) Ponty as darkness descends; a fine sight.