ROUNDING up some of my end of season 2024/25 groundhopping adventures in the Regional Feeder Leagues which form Non-League Step 7 and below…
Roydon 1-2 Hutton Reserves
- When: Wednesday 23rd April 2025
- Kick-off: 6.15pm
- Where: Roydon Playing Fields, Occupation Lane, Roydon, Harlow, Essex CM19 5HL
- Competition: ProKit UK Essex Olympian Football League Division Two
- Attendance: 46
Roydon’s ground has always previously eluded me. Most of the Essex Olympian League clubs don’t have floodlights yet they do normally host early evening midweek home fixtures once the clocks change at the start of April.
However, Roydon share with cricket meaning the pitch is usually out of bounds across the closing weeks of each season. So once I spotted this scarce Tuesday night game, I was pleased to make the relatively short 20 mile trip.
Ground description: It is located at the end of a narrow lane leading to a small car park area. I particularly relished Roydon FC’s homely clubhouse displaying photos celebrating their history right back to being founded in 1901.
Programme details: Roydon don’t issue programmes. But intrepid fellow groundhopper Peter Miles devised a four page effort which the club reproduced on their official Twitter X feed.
This was easy for a technophobe like me to print out. The contents included history details of both teams, the league table and matchday line-ups.
The match: It was fifth versus third in the EOL Division Two rankings. Following a scoreless first half, Jack Winstone (46 minutes) put Roydon ahead thereby capturing the attention of anyone present holding decent football betting knowledge.
Even so, visitors Hutton Reserves recovered strongly to claim victory through Tom Price (54 mins) and Kye Smith (69 mins).
The people: Roydon secretary Danny Adderson extended a friendly handshake to me on arrival and expertly answered all my assorted questions about his club.
AFC Royal Holloway 3-1 Addlestone
- When: Tuesday 29th April 2025
- Kick-off: 7.15pm
- Where: Royal Holloway Sports Centre, Prune Hill, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX
- Competition: The MJM Sports Surrey Premier County Football League Challenge Cup Semi-Final
- Attendance: 28
AFC Royal Holloway had been on my groundhopping radar all season due to the fact that they issue online match programmes.
The club was launched in 1994 by graduating students of Royal Holloway, University of London. This league cup semi-final was an attractive fixture so I embarked on a 55 mile journey around the M25 motorway.
Ground description: The impressive multi-sports complex is part of Royal Holloway University’s campus in Egham.
There is designated parking although visitors must register their car number plate at the sports hall reception. AFC Holloway have use of a grass pitch and a 3G artificial surface. The latter staged tonight’s game.
Programme details: A 20 page online effort. I have since had it printed off professionally.
Lots to read including the manager’s notes, club news, history of opponents Addlestone, past meetings between the two sides, colour action photos, three players undertaking Q&A interviews, AFC Royal Holloway history, league table, appearances/goalscorers and the squad lists.
The match: These teams filled 11th and 13th place respectively in the Surrey Premier County Football League table. So any sports betting enthusiasts in attendance would have fancied a tight contest for the semi-final.
Despite falling behind early on, AFC Royal Holloway were ultimately worthy winners thanks to strikes by Jason Noone two (56 & 90+6 minutes) and Adam Belahcene (85 mins). On the scoresheet for Addlestone was Harvey Salmon (9 mins).
The people: It was good to catch up with fellow football prediction reporter Paul Gilmour who I know from TV work together for Sky Sports.
Paul is AFC Holloway’s club secretary and definitely a really passionate advocate of grassroots football.
Coventrians 1-1 Central Ajax
- When: Bank Holiday Monday 5th May 2025
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: The Colliery Sports Ground, Dosco Road, off Bennetts Road, Keresley, Coventry CV7 8SF
- Competition: The Capelli Sport Midland Football League Division Two
- Attendance: 82
A steady 80 mile drive up the M1 and M6 motorways for me. I was joined by my wife and our six year old daughter for their Bank Holiday Monday day out.
Ground description: Tucked away behind a new housing estate. The main pitch is railed off and there is a second pitch too. Refreshments are served within the cosy club room. Plenty of parking spaces are available.
Programme details: No programme was issued but Coventrians posted a striking match graphic on Twitter X plus their line-up. Therefore I printed these out for my matchday souvenir.
The match: An end of season affair between two sides just below the promotion placings. Romano Graham draw first blood for Coventrians on five minutes. Then 16 minutes from time, Toby Nelson levelled for Central Ajax.
The people: Coventrians stalwart Jane Connolly gave us a very warm welcome and spoke with great pride about her club’s numerous youth and community teams. She even advised on the best place to visit locally for dinner after the game!
*Credit for the photos in this article belongs to Tony Incenzo*
