I sometimes think Ilkeston fans sometimes are very fortunate to have people who pour money into their football club. Ive just been to locate AFC Amble's ground. Bear in mind this was a club who played in the FA Cup in the fifties. They now play on a welfare pitch which has changing rooms but absolutely no other facilities, No fence! No hard standing! I spoke to a guy who looked like he was going to be organising pre season training and he told me that had just moved back to Amble after playing out of town for a year. There are three pitches on the site. One is overgrown and there is one with running track and perimeter fencing. He told me the ground was donated to the local people. The first thing that happened was that it was fenced off so nobody could vandalise it but also no body could use it either. Now the pitch is three foot of grass. There third pitch is a bit like the Ashes but they're happy to be there . They won the North Northumberland League last season by a large margin winning one game by 30 goals and won several games by getting into the teens. The old guys said the standard was however absolutely rubbish!
Elsewhere in Northumberland MorpethTown and Blyth Spartans have thrived but all the smaller teams appear to be struggling even Berwick Rangers slipped out of the Scottish League!

I will be around to see Ilsons start to the season and then builders willing I will be up in the Northern Lights! However I am making the short trip to Porthleven for a fortnight in November but looking to stop over in Ilson for a break in the road trip!