The FA's superfan, David Barber, saw a handful of games at the weekend, including a new venue and a very brave goalie...
I watched two games on Friday, so we were into May, and for the eighth consecutive month I found myself standing behind the goal in a freezing wind.
People have asked me who I’ll be voting for this week. I’ll vote for the party who can sort this weather out!
Action in Windsor between Bedfont & Feltham and Worcester Park
I went to just the eight games over the Bank Holiday weekend. There was no need to overdo it. There were two Camden Youth League Semi-Finals at Islington, two West End League Finals at Hanwell, three UK Bangladeshi Football Championship First Round ties at Hackney Marshes and the RPM Records Division One Cup Final at Windsor.
Friday evening’s winners were Regents Park Rebels and AC United (on penalties) and on Saturday at Hanwell Town’s Reynolds Field ground the teams lifting silverware were St Marks and London Bari.
Hub Athletic’s ‘keeper, whose side lost 2-0 to St Marks, had a game to remember – but not to ‘remember fondly’.
About midway in the first half he was involved in a three-way collision with a striker and one of his own defenders. He spun round in the air and, as he apparently landed on his neck, it initially looked really bad.
Hanwell hosted St Marks (in red) and Hub Athletic
Fortunately, after a few minutes’ treatment, he was able to continue. Most of the impact had been in the right shoulder area.
Within five minutes the same ‘keeper was diving at an opponent’s feet and was again flat out on the ground, this time with blood pouring from his nose.
He took further blows to his legs in the second period but, at the final whistle, went over to St Marks’ victory huddle on his own and shook each player’s hand. I don’t know your name, mate, but you’re my kind of footballer.
Hackney Marshes in east London is famous for having about a hundred pitches but I’d never been there before Sunday.
On a wet and windy morning I took the Central Line tube to Stratford and the Overground to Homerton for the 10.30 start of the 2015 UK Bangladeshi Championship. There were supposed to be forfeits for late kick-offs but there was no action before 10.55.
I watched three games at the ‘Group’ stage and the pick of them was London Tigers v BCPA Coventry on Pitch 1.
Beaumont and MK Galacticos go head to head at Hackney
The Tigers’ senior team plays in the Spartan South Midlands League and had a decent run in The FA Cup this season.
They attacked the BCPA goal non-stop but the shooting was wayward and there was still no score with two minutes to go. Then BCPA’s No.16 put an attempted headed clearance high into his own net.
My other winners were Beaumont Athletic and Birmingham. There was plenty of energy and enthusiasm and the standard of football was very good. If there had been somewhere to sit, I would have stayed for a couple more games.
On Bank Holiday Monday I made my first trip to Windsor for more than 30 years.
London Tigers attack the BCPA Coventry goal
Bedfont & Feltham faced Worcester Park in the RPM Records Division One Cup Final at Stag Meadow and, with fourth playing fifth and only three points between them, a close contest was expected. It was 2-2 after 90 minutes, the same after extra time, and 4-3 to B&F in a dramatic shootout.
I saw an oddity at Hackney Marshes. A player tried a shot from just outside the box and hit the bar – on another pitch!
You can follow The Barber's adventures via Twitter @thebarberfan.
