First of all, the last decade has seen me go to my first game, Ipswich v Coventry (1-2), my Premier League game, Manchester United 3-1 Leicester City as well as many other United visits. Before that, this decade was memorable for me on the pitch as well as off it, winning a school tournament with just losing 1 game across the qualifying tournament and the proper thing if memory serves correctly. Bare in mind we had no clue until it was announced to all the teams right at the end, playing 13 games in total.
First of all the following are my favourite moments for the decade, starting with my first trip to Old Trafford in August 2011. Yes it was a friendly, yes it was a testimonial but was fantastic. We'd barely got to our seats when Scholes smashed home in trademark style from 25 yards out in the ninth minute, one of the few memories I can recall from those years ago. Ond real highlight game that I recall was when Ipswich defeated Crystal Palace 3-1 at home in 2011, Scott Carson's brace being a stand out memory, finishing off a 1v1 I think to seal the points.
As I mentioned I also saw my first Premier League game (only one so far) this decade in a 3-1 win for United in January 2015. The atmosphere was amazing, with my favourite parts was seeing Falcao, van Persie and an own goal see United through to victory. I can still picture Falcao from close range squeezing home to spark scenes amongst us in the stands, whilst also recalling Rooney playing CDM around the half way line and wondering why on Earth he was that far back.
Moving later that season, I went to my first FA Cup game, as Ipswich Town took on Southampton on my birthday. Questionable still whether Ipswch's goal was correctly given offside or not but it was a night to remember, being my first midweek game during the competitive season. That same season I also saw my first Derby game as Ipswich faced Norwich at Portman Road in a play off semi final, arguably one of the best atmospheres I've ever witnessed, again I can still remember the whole ground facing the away contingent chanting with pride. No surprise the stand out moment was Anderson right in front of the goal I was behind, Sir Alf Ramsey Lower, tapping home to level before the break. Dare say you can imagine we went fairly wild.
My next memorable game came in September 2015, when I finally went along to watch my local team in Bury Town having wanted to go along for the previous two seasons. Fittingly my first game was in the FA Cup against Cockfosters, as Bury fell behind after two minutes, although Ian Miller hit a brace to see Bury through. That year I went on to watch Bury another 12 more times, including 4-1 and 4-2 wins but most memorably the 5-3 victory over Haringey Borough in January 2016. New/recent signings Josh Mayhew (hat-trick) and Cemal Ramadan (if memory serves correctly) got on the score sheet to see Bury win a game that you never knew what would happen next. After that I also went to my first away game, Redbridge v Bury Town as Bury picked up three points. That same season I went to watch my first charity game, Soccer Aid at Old Trafford. Dare say you know how it works, England v Rest of The World with teams mixed with celebrities and legends go head to head for UNICEF. United legend Berbatov hitting a brace (one of which a penalty, the other I don't remember as well) being one highlight, but my stand out moment was Mark Wright scoring a worldie of a freekick, but still not the best I have seen personally. Whilst my mum went bonkers with joy when Robbie Williams came on the field, I also remember my mum having her old Nikon camera with her for the game. One photo that made me laugh was the fact she only managed to catch Sam Allardyce picking his nose on camera, as well as Howard Webb doing something we shall not mention!
2016/17 was another fantastic season, as it began with Bury Town taking on Braintree Town in a friendly, who at the time were two levels above their hosts. Bury though looked like the higher level team, running out 3-1 winners. A trip to Old Trafford for a, 0-0 friendly with Everton followed, a game in which I recall Luke Shaw going close to scoring and David De Gea denying Romelu Lukaku, who would go on to become his teammate (but no longer now). Days later I went to watch Ipswich play Barnsley in the Championship in one of the best Ipswich performances I've seen ever live, winning 4-2.
During the season a few big stand out memories for me where Tom Lawrence, on loan to Ipswich from Leicester, hitting a screamer in a 3-0 win v QPR before doing so again in my next Ipswich visit in a, 3-0 success over Blackburn on my birthday, either side of me seeing Bury smash 6 past Wroxham and edge past Dereham 2-1 in the festive period, both I believe featuring goals from defender Tevan Allen.
Pringle's finish v Notts Forest was, anther season highlight in a 1-0 Ipswich win, with my first game I volunteered at sandwiched in between that and finishing the season with Michael Carrick's testimonial. Before I go onto that, I happened to go along to watch Team Bury play Whitton United for I believe the fifth time in a 5-3 loss I think. Obviously the, stand out moment was meeting club secretary Dan Connor who approached me to thank me for my support of the team having tweeted a photo of my view of the game. Later that day I emailed him about taking on the match report duties, which we agreed to trail it out at the following home game v Holland. I arrived and straight away was, handed the password. I absolutely enjoyed it, the feedback I got during and after the game, was amazing and proudly and luckily led to my first involvement with a football club. Back to United though, watching United's 2008 side take to the field was an occasion to savour, playing out a 2-2 draw, with this side being one of the first United teams I was able to remember growing up as, Wes Brown headed home for United in the goal I was behind, whilst Robbie Keane delightfully chipped my favourite ever stopper Van Der Sar, before a questionable moment as Michael Carrick dabbed after having scored a low belter from outside the box to level the scores at 2-2.
2017/18 saw me smash 50 games for the first time, reaching 74 games, the first again pitted Bury and Braintree head to head, with Bury again coming out on top thanks to Ollie Canfer flicking home a second half header from a long throw in another night to savour. Around the same time I also saw Bury Town host Ipswich's U23 side although losing 1-3 despite a scorcher from recent signing Tommy Robinson late on. One memory from that game was getting keeper Crowe's signature at the final whistle on the programme, which at the time meant I had all 3 'senior' Ipswich keeper's autographs being a keeper myself. Soon after that night, I then had my first official voluntary game for Team Bury as the Blues took on Framlingham Town and soon after Bury Town U18s. Yeah the scoreline ended 1-4 to Fram, but a night to remember, with the pride of seeing my name down as a club official in the programme. My first Under-18 game was fantastic, I got there just after kick off as Bury took on Brantham in a league game ending up beating them 9-0 in a one sided good game. Topped by a 12-2 win the follwing home game, at the time my highest score witnessed, and a, 7-3 win over Witham it was one Heck of a season! Around the same time memorable games for Team Bury saw them defeat rivals AFC SudburyReserves 6-3 in a topsy-turvy thriller, before Bury then beat Needham Market Reserves 3-1 at home, ironically a team I would go onto volunteer for a year later (and to the present day). My first away game volunteering at then followed as I went to Swaffham Town with Team Bury despite losing 1-4, it was a night to remember, going round the ground and enjoying the game with my fellow committee members. Another game that season I remember fondly was Bury Town's first team smashing 6 past Tilbury, just a few weeks following an FA Cup defeat to them in which us behind the goal and keeper Clarke Bogard had a record to set straight. The ice on the cake saw the keeper stamp on Bury striker Ollie Hughes to pick up a red card. I think if my memory is correct, the defender who replaced him in goal only conceded 2 compared to the four he let in, an interesting stat considering it was the first time, I had seen a keeper sent off. The following day I then helped out at my first FA Vase game, before which I remember helping to prepare the player's drinks beforehand, one of my matchday duties, taking the corner flags out and then obviously run the twitter account and write the match report afterwards, showing how much everyone at a non league club works together to help the team. On the field it unfortunately wasn't as good as my only FA Vase game to date saw newly promoted and higher league rivals Stowmarket Town beat us 7-0 with goals from ex Bury man Josh Mayhew. Moving onto 2018, one real stand out moment from Team Bury's final season was the brilliant 1-0 win over Holland thanks to a Harry Moore header, followed by scenes on the sidelines and on the pitch. That though preceded one of my most EVER memorable moments I've ever witnessed. A cup quarter-final clash between Bury U18s and Felixstowe which was reversed to the latter's ground after postponements to the original fixture. Bury came from behind the lead 10 men Seasiders in the last five minutes only to concede from a corner in added time after the hosts sent all their entire team forward. Penalties followed with progressing on after centre back Jay Proctor gave them a 7-6 shootout success in which sparked fantastic scenes in the changing room post match (a moment I will never forget being invited in to join the team's celebrations). One goal that deserve a mention that season being a Josh Revell freekick for Team Bury v Cornard in their last game ever amongst multiple screamers he and Robinson netted that year amongst others. At the end of the season we went on to make the final, played at Colchester United's ground against holders AFC Sudbury. Bury, who that year were only beaten by Sudbury on route to second place in the league, took the lead on 9 minutes thanks to Cameron Smith's header from a Tommy Robinson free-kick, sparking joy from the home contingent- a memory I'll never forget, what a moment, volunteering at a professional team's ground in a cup final, one of my favourites to date. Two days later, it was on to the first team's Cup final v Leiston a league above in the, County Cup final also, this time at Portman Road. Despite creating an electric atmosphere all night we were defeated 3-0 in a, season which also ended with an Old Trafford visit. Again for Soccer Aid, a fantastic one it was with England winning a penalty shootout with Inbetweeners star Blake Harrison netting the vital spot-kick, fitting after a horrendous penalty from Paddy McGuiness.
Last season then featured one game in July that I'll never forget, Bury U18s beating Tottenham Hotspur U16 2-1 at Ram Meadow. A game organised to remember the unfortunate loss of a Bury U18 player who died tragically the December before up against the team he supported with Bury therefore retiring the 18 shirt in tribute, with Bury instead since opting to use the 13 and 17 shirt numbers instead. Bury took the, lead through Harry Moore before Spurs equalised in the second half, but was topped by a moment of magic. Harris-Hercules was fouled by the keeper in stoppage time for a Bury penalty in which Tommy Robinson stepped up and dispatched comfortably to spark scenes amongst the home support and players. Two days later, Bury U18s welcomed Cambridge United U16s in a friendly also coming out on top. In fact smashing 5 past them without reply, thanks to a wonder save from Connor Reynolds (which I luckily caught on camera and even won save of the week) and two screamers from Josh Revell into the very top corner and bottom corner alongside one from defender Joe Gunn.
Later in August I also saw my first step 3 game as Needham Market took on Hitchin Town at home in a blistering result for the hosts, matching their record ever win of 8-1 after being 6-1 up at the break v ten men. A lot of the other games from last season I've already mentioned, should you wish to read that it will be listed under the "Season Review" posts written about last season. My next game, first of 2020 I think will be Saturday 4th as Needham Market host Stratford Town.
Here's my ground stats from those games from 2010 to 2019.
- Portman Road - Ipswich Town 32
- Old Trafford- Manchester United 8
- Ram Meadow/ Denny Bros Ram Meadow Stadium- Bury Town 138
- Oakside Stadium- Redbridge
- Greens Meadow- Stowmarket Town 9
- Shoemakers Lane- Swaffham Town
- Whelnetham Community Centre- Whelnetham FC (Sun)
- King George VI Playing Fields- Whitton United 2
- Hardwick Heath Pitches 1- 3 40
- Nowton Park
- Goldstar Ground- Felixstowe & Walton United
- Bloomfields- Needham Market 60
- Colchester United FC’s Weston Homes Community Stadium 2
- Abbey Saints FC/Mildenhall Community Centre
- Bloomfields 3G Ruby Homes 3G arena- Needham Market (Academy mainly) 32
- Westwood Road- St Ives Town
- Lye Meadow- Alvechurch
- Gainsborough Plating Fields BSE (2 pitches) 20
- Morrish Sports Ground, Summer Road Walsham Sports Centre- Walsham Le Willows
- The War Memorial Ground- Stourbridge
- The Mander Cruickshank Solicitors Stadium- Coalville Town
- The Grove- Halesowen Town
- The Abbey Stadium- Cambridge United
- Victory Ground BSE (2 pitches)- Sporting 87 4
- Premier Plus Stadium- St. Neots Town
- Garden’s Walk- Royston Town 3
- Langford Road Stadium- Biggleswade Town
- Top Field- Hitchin Town
- CR MOT CENTRE COMMUNITY STADIuM- Tamworth
- Arden Garages Stadium- Stratford Town 2
- Latimer Park- Kettering Town
- The TRICO Stadium- Redditch United
- Great Barton Playing Field- MH 96 (Sun)
- Taydal Stadium- Brightlingsea Regent
- Banbury Plant Hire Community Stadium- Banbury United
- Brickwall Meadow- Barton United 89
- Dales Lane- Rushall Olympic
- UK Flooring Direct Stadium- Barwell
- Northumberland Avenue/Tollgate Playing Fields- Howard's (Sun) 6
- Millfields - Hadleigh United FC
- Old Newton Social Club- Old Newton United
- Crowley Park- Needham Market ‘B’/ Needham Phoenix
- Liberty Way- Nuneaton Borough
- Glassworld(/Bridge Road) Stadium- Histon FC 2
- Keys Park- Hednesford Town
- The Victoria Ground--Bromsgrove Sporting
- Ten Acre Field, Moreton Hall Prepartiary School- Bury Bowl, Chedburgh FC 2
- Isabel Hospice Stadium (Herns Way)- Welwyn Garden City
- Skyliner Sports Centre 3G Pitch, BSE
- The New Croft #2 3G - Haverhill Borough
- The Tristel Stadium - Newmarket Town
- Culford Sports Centre - Bury Town Women
