Aylesbury United

Aylesbury United FC is a non-league football club from the town of Aylesbury, which expanded from the 1960s onwards, as housing estates were created for it to become an overspill for residents in London. The club was formed in 1897 following the merger of Night School FC, Printing Works FC, and Aylesbury Town FC.

After playing in local football, United became members of the Spartan League in 1908. They remained there, playing their home games at Turnfurlong Lane, until they became founder members of the Delphian League in 1951. Three years later, 'The Ducks' won the title, but a decade after that, the league was disbanded, with the club joining the Athenian League.

In 1976, the club progressed to the Southern League, and in 1983, United appointed Trevor Gould as manager, who went on to oversee probably the most successful years in the club's history. A year later, a young local called Cliff Hercules made his debut on his way to becoming the club's greatest player as he racked up 669 appearances and scored 301 goals.

The team began a run of reaching the FA Cup Round One. The club sold its old home and moved to a new stadium on Buckingham Road. Success came in the league as United were promoted to the Premier Division before going on to be crowned Southern League champions at the end of the 1987-88 season, winning promotion to the Football Conference.

Their achievement was celebrated as a full England side took on The Ducks at Buckingham Road in preparation for Euro 88, running out 7-0 winners in front of a full house of 6,000. Round Two of the FA Cup was reached on three occasions, but their Conference spell lasted just one season before they were relegated back to the Isthmian League. 

Although details are sketchy, it would appear that the ground was sold in 1990 to a holding company based in the Channel Islands, paying rent to remain there. Later that year, a home FA Cup tie with Walsall was shown live on Sky TV.

The money from the ground sale was spent on playing resources, but it did not bring a promotion. In 1992, the club lost an FA Cup Round One tie 8-0 at The Hawthorns against West Bromwich Albion. By 1994-95, Steve Ketteridge had taken over as team boss, as he led the team all the way to the FA Cup Round Three.

Boreham Wood, Edgware Town, Baldock Town, Moor Green, Newport IOW, and Kingstonian were seen off, leading to a home tie with Queens Park Rangers, which was switched to Loftus Road. During the run, the team brought fame to the club with their 'duck walk' goal celebration.

In 2001-02, the first round of the FA Cup was once more reached, while the following season United reached the FA Trophy semi-final, where eventual winners Burscough ended the run, as Sven Goran Eriksson's England side used Buckingham Road for training. After re-organisation of the pyramid in 2004, The Ducks returned to the Southern League.

In 2006, chairman Bill Carroll decided to resign after the Southern League refused his plans to install an artificial pitch at Buckingham Road to try to make the club sustainable after the cash from the ground sale had dried up. 

The popular local businessman Graham Read took over, but the following year, the grounds owners decided not to renew the club's lease and evicted them as the team was relegated. A groundshare deal for two seasons was signed with the team playing 'home' games at Chesham United. 

A further relegation was suffered in 2009 to the Spartan South Midlands League, with the club by now sharing Bell Close with Leighton Town. A 'Bring the Ducks Campaign' was in full swing, creating much publicity but no concrete plans. The Aylesbury United Supporters Trust gained control of the club in 2009.

At the beginning of the 2012-13 season, the local council began to make promising noises about assisting the team to return to Aylesbury and finding a suitable home for the club. Meanwhile, the owners looked to convert Buckingham Road into a care home and housing.

Further good news came on the pitch after The Ducks finished runners-up in the Spartan South Midlands League in 2012-13, winning promotion to the Southern League, where the team were placed in Division One Central under manager Tony Joyce.

The team weighed in with mid-table finishes in 2013-14 and 2014-15, before Joyce tendered his resignation in October 2015, with the former Wycombe Wanderers and Barnet Football League centre back Glyn Creaser taking over.

The Ducks finished a couple of places above the relegation zone in 2015-16 as the club moved from being tenants at Leighton Town to sharing The ASM Stadium with Thame United. Aylesbury ended the 2016-17 campaign in thirteenth position.

In the summer of 2017, a new deal was signed with Chesham United for United to return to share The Meadow, as their division was renamed Division One East, with the Ducks finishing in mid-table after Creaser was replaced by Ben Williams in January 2018.

The club was placed in the newly named Division One Central for 2018-19, ending in fifteenth spot. United were in fifth place when the 2019-20 campaign ended early owing to the outbreak of Coronavirus, which was backed up by a good start to the 2020-21 season.

Amy Lane, Chesham

Williams departed in October 2022 to be replaced by Jack Wells. Former top-flight defender Dave Tuttle was appointed as manager after a caretaker spell in April 2024, succeeded by Paul Batchelor in October 2025.

Aylesbury United FC will play in the Southern League Division One Central in the 2026-27 season.

My visits

Buckingham Road 

Sunday 14th October 2012

I had the day off work, and although I had just about given up the idea of heading anywhere, I woke up in the mood for football and to go somewhere new on such a beautiful day. United were playing at their 'home' in Leighton Buzzard in the FA Vase, so to get myself in the mood, I thought it only right to head to Aylesbury first and then take a bus to the game.

After a visit to the tidy but basic home of the new boys on the block, Aylesbury FC, I continued my walk through the town and headed to Buckingham Road. I passed through a sprawling housing estate before arriving at a very sad sight indeed. I walked towards the derelict stadium.

The entrance to the car park had been blocked off by concrete barriers, which I clambered over and found myself behind the Main Stand. A wooden fence had been knocked down, so I went inside, as the birds scattered from under the stands' roof. 

It was a really strange experience. I got over the concrete wall and onto what was once a football pitch, but was now wild overgrown plants, grass, and weeds.

The structures still seemed sound under all the greenery. The Main Stand was a single-tiered block of seating with the players' tunnel on the halfway line. Basic cantilever shelters covered the terracing behind the Buckingham Road goal and down the far side. 

The few rows of terracing went all the way around the pitch. Vandals had smashed down doors to the buildings and done irreparable damage to any furniture. I went inside a small room at the end of the stand, which I imagined to be the old club shop. A few weather-worn programmes and a filing cabinet were strewn across the floor.

I walked away in quite a sombre mood. I hate people who get hold of football grounds for financial gain and leave the supporters heartbroken. I found it even more repugnant when the grounds are left to rot in the hope of gaining planning permission for profitable housing and to make a real asset to the community, homeless. I hope such people rot in hell.

Anyway, I decided to take another good walk. I made a couple of tweets on Twitter, which the club responded to. They seemed a nice bunch. I recalled the previous time I'd seen United in action was in the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round in a 5-0 win at Yeading. 

They had taken a good following to West London, and we all settled around the TV waiting for the draw for the first round. Scarborough's result was late coming in, and the Ducks fans sat around me seemed genuinely disappointed for me when it transpired we'd lost away to Whitby. Things like that live with you.

I was still early for the bus, so I ended up walking to the far end of Bierton, a small village a mile or so outside the northern outskirts of the town. My carriage arrived and I got on board, with a couple of United fans already in their seats, ready for the main event of the afternoon.

At Leighton Town

Aylesbury United 0 Kidlington 2 (Sunday 14th October 2012) FA Vase Round One (att: 159)

The bus dropped me off in Leighton Buzzard High Street at 2.30. I decided to head straight to Bell Close, despite passing some mighty tempting pubs on the way advertising cask marque ales. This lodged immediately in the memory bank for post-match activities.

My afternoon got off to a very pleasant start when the lady on the turnstile saw my Scarborough Athletic rain jacket and told me that her Dad went to school in Scarborough and later had the Pigeon Pie pub at Sherburn. 

I gave her my £7 admission fee, which included a programme, and went inside the clubhouse for a pint of Tetley's smoothflow. The live game between Preston and MK Dons did little for me, so I went out in search of nourishment.

I had a cheeseburger and chips, which represented decent value for the moderate-sized portions. I wandered around the ground before settling behind the bottom end goal, expecting to see a glut of goals, despite United missing several regulars for a variety of reasons. 

I had seen Kidlington shed in six at Shrivenham in the FA Cup earlier in the season, with some real 'Carry On' defending and goalkeeping. They had a new, bigger, and more experienced keeper this time, and it was making a world of difference, despite the Ducks having most of the play. 

The visitors took the lead against the run of play when a fine lob from Jack Dunmore after twenty minutes found its way in after a break was blocked. But for a fine save, it would have been two soon after.

Kiddy had a physicality about them in their illuminous all-orange change kit, while United laboured in their attempts to break them down. They were so far down to the bare bones that they only had one sub, Stacey Field, who came on after twenty-four minutes despite suffering from severely bruised ribs. 

I giggled as a home fan had a duck quacker, which he blew each time the Kiddy keeper took a goal kick. The away team's bench and following of around thirty fans were getting a little upset by the actions of Aylesbury's forty-one-year-old player boss, Tony Joyce, who was making his first appearance for two years. 

First of all, I thought he looked like a real jolly character, but he knew all the tricks in the book and would have driven me round the bend if he'd been playing against Scarborough. A great line came from the Kiddy bench after the ageing ref gave Joyce's side another decision. 

"You don't have to give him everything ref just because you're the same age", and then "just give him the whistle" after another free kick went against them.

Field gradually grew into the game, while Joey Acheampong, who started off well. quickly went off the boil. The pitch was tight to the surrounding fence, which made it a better spectacle and made me feel like I was part of the action. 

At half time, I was just six numbers out on the 50/50 draw, for which the first prize was £44. It was announced by the excellent tannoy man that the Aylesbury Vale Council was discussing the potential for The Ducks to go home at a meeting the following Wednesday, with all fans encouraged to attend.

To the joy of the visitors, Joyce talked his way into the referee's notebook shortly after the restart. There were further ironic cheers when the man in black gave Kiddy a free kick. Kidlington doubled their lead when Jack Sillitoe in the home net flapped with the ball going in from Ryan Curtin.

The game became stretched as United tired, and Kiddy had the advantage of using three subs. Matt Dixon, in the visitors' goal, was using all his experience, as well as an unhealthy dose of play acting, after a harmless brush when taking a cross. 

The Aylesbury faithful were not happy. Half chances came the way of their favourites, but the ball wouldn't go in. A shot rattled the foot of the post, which was as close as they got. By now, some of the humour had dissipated into plain tiresome whining from both sides, but particularly from Kiddy. 

The Oxfordshire side could have added to their tally, but a mixture of bad luck and rank bad finishing kept their tally to two. Joyce, who had generally pushed his luck and played along like he was a close pal of the ref, went one step too far and was given a second yellow for a niggly foul too many. 

The roars of joy from the visitors were as loud as for their goals. Joyce simply jumped over the perimeter fence and stood and watched the remaining few seconds.

I expected the Kidlington contingent to be happy at full-time, but their celebrations were a little over the top. I personally think that you can be good winners as well as good losers, but they had crossed the line.

I walked back to the station past all the tempting pubs. The weather had grown cold, and I wanted to get home. I was back in my Kingsbury flat before 7pm, having had a good day out, and hoping for a return to Aylesbury for The Ducks in the near future.

For a ground description of Bell Close, go to the Leighton Town here:

At Chesham United

Aylesbury United 1 AFC Sudbury 2 (Wednesday 11th October 2017) FA Trophy Preliminary Round (att: 95)

After feeling ropey for a few days, I needed some exercise and fresh air. This fixture fitted the bill perfectly, as I’d yet to see The Ducks at their latest shared home, and going to Chesham is a good trip out. My pal Steve Barnes agreed to head along with me.

We took the Metropolitan line into Buckinghamshire and walked down the quiet main East Street to the pleasant Chesham Brewery Shop, where we sampled a couple of pints before heading round to The Meadow as the rain began to fall heavily. Admission was £9, with programmes sold out on our arrival. A fan in the bar allowed me to take an image. 

We enjoyed a pint of General's Bitter, brewed for Chesham United by the Rebellion Brewery of Marlow. It got the thumbs up from the pair of us. We decided to take up a seat in the stand for the first half. A few fans had travelled from Sudbury, which was commendable, as their side, as well as Aylesbury’s, was languishing towards the wrong end of the league table.

The last time we’d seen Sudbury was the previous season, when their match at Hendon had been abandoned as it entered stoppage time, after two large melees had broken out. Their tactics on this occasion weren’t the most subtle, as the forward taking the kick off aimed the ball straight into touch as close to the corner flag as possible. 

I’d never seen such a tactic before and was half expecting to see the teams set up for a line out. United played some nice stuff on the wet pitch with a strong crosswind, offering another obstacle in the opening stages. Sony French went close with a low shot before the man mountain Tyriq Hunte lofted a tremendous shot over keeper Paul Walker to make it 1-0 in five minutes.

Ollie Hogg also went close for the hosts, before the 'Suds’ began to get into the game, as a rather vociferous but indiscernible away fan shouted all sorts from the front row of the seats, to much shaking of heads from other Sudbury fans.

The visitors had a couple of efforts before the Ducks had half a chance to double their lead. However, it came as no shock when Sudbury drew level as Jack Clowsley shot home from twenty-five yards to give Jack Silitoe no chance in the home net.

Decent defending denied Ollie Dunlop from putting Sudbury ahead, as the back four atoned for the mistake that put the forward in. The team went off level, as we headed round to the far covered terrace for the second period.

After the break, Aylesbury once again began well and had a couple of chances. The rain had abated, but the wind blew across towards us before it changed direction slightly, so it was at United’s backs.

After sixty-three minutes, Sudbury took the lead as a low shot rebounded off the far post before Jamie Eaton-Collins reacted first to make it 2-1. The visitors looked most likely to add to their tally as the game entered the closing stages.

By this point, we’d got chatting to a couple of Aylesbury fans who enjoyed the game but also had a sense of humour. They regaled the sad tale of being a nomadic club and were not at all optimistic about the chances of their club returning to their hometown.

Ducks manager Glyn Creaser rang the changes and sent players forward in the hope of grabbing an equaliser. Sudbury’s defence was doing its best to hang on as the home side nearly took the game into extra time in extraordinary circumstances.

Keeper Stilitoe went forward for a corner, and as the ball dropped, he hooked a shot towards goal. The ball hit the top of the crossbar and went over the bar. The Suds defended another corner before the referee blew his whistle for full time.

Steve had done his homework. Instead of going back the same way, he’d seen an alleyway on Google maps that took us behind the stand and down some very pretty old school streets to the Queen’s Head pub.

The Brakspear Bitter was overpriced, but the pub was an absolute gem, with its several rooms all with history oozing from everywhere. After a pint, we wandered back in time for the 10.23 train back to Wembley Park and then Kingsbury, where we rounded off an excellent evening.

Aylesbury United 0 Marlow 0 (Sunday 9th September 2018) FA Cup First Qualifying Round (att: 171)

I’d given up my chance of watching Hendon in FA Cup action the previous day to have a brilliant day out playing for Wenlock Arms CC and attending the Chappel Beer Festival in deepest Essex.

It’d been a long and rather fluid day, so when my pal Tony alerted me to the Sunday game at The Meadow, it seemed a good idea to get some fresh air into my lungs, even if it did take a bit of initial effort to leave the chair and the Test match at home.

There was certainly never any question of my partaking in pre-match ales, despite the attractions of the fine micro pub on the way to Amy Lane. I was struggling and going to meet my good friend Fred, who was down for work after the game.

Admission was £9. I’d downloaded the free programme online before departure and then bought a decent hot dog with onions for a couple of quid to keep me going. Tony was over the far side on a very pleasant afternoon.

It quickly became apparent that the pitch was grassy but firm, with the wind blowing down the pitch from the Meadow End. United had an early opportunity when Max Hercules controlled a long ball superbly, but his weak shot failed to trouble Marlow keeper Simon Grant.

Jordan Brown broke clear for Marlow in the twelfth minute but was brought down on the edge of the box by Aylesbury custodian Jack Hopwood. Fortunately for the hosts, referee Farai Hallam decided just to show a yellow card.

This was met with howls of protest from the Marlow players. I’d read on the Non-League Matters forum from someone who’d seen them in action that they were continual moaners. He wasn’t wrong. It hardly stopped, especially from Grant, while Brown never stopped niggling.

Ten minutes later, Jack Kerrigan came close to opening the scoring for the visitors, but his header was scrambled away from the line. Hercules was brought down near half-time, with the ref deciding the challenge was outside the box, despite protests from United players and fans.

The resulting free kick was headed downwards by the unmarked Jeanmal Prosper, only for Curtis Chapple to affect a superb headed clearance onto the crossbar and away to safety. It wasn’t a bad half of football in which I’d quickly decided I wanted Aylesbury to win.

A couple of minutes after the restart, Marlow came close to breaking the deadlock as Kameron English fired in a superb shot from twenty-five yards with the wind at his back that smashed off the crossbar with Hopwood well beaten.

The game became very scrappy and low on quality. Challenges were flying in, met by more moans. Brown looked like a decent footballer, but he was becoming the pantomime villain as he continued to foul and generally become a pest.

The Blues' Kelvin Bossman was denied by a brilliant last-ditch challenge from Callum Mapley before substitute Ben Seaton threaded through a lovely pass for United’s Sonny French, who was denied by Grant. French looked about Aylesbury’s best footballer to my trained eyes.

The hosts continued to defend well, with another goal-saving challenge keeping them in the tie. The final action saw Bossman’s glancing header go across the goal to bring to an end a disappointing game that deteriorated as it went on.

Tony was kind enough to drop me at Amersham station for me to take the Chiltern train to Marylebone so I could meet up for beers at King's Cross and Camden.

Aylesbury United 2 Margate 4 (Sunday 1st November 2020) FA Trophy Third Qualifying Round (att: 243)

Still on nightshift, I was wary of the upcoming further lockdowns because of COVID-19, so I made the effort to get to Pinner for a lift with Tony to the match. We were treated to a cracking cup tie, certainly worth the £9 admission fee. The programme was free to download online.

The underdog hosts took the side from a level higher all the way. It could have gone either way until two late goals in front of a good attendance, who seemed knowledgeable and created a decent atmosphere.

The Ducks looked the better side in the opening stages, so it was no surprise that they went ahead in ten minutes when the excellent Max Hercules on the left wing laid the ball square for centre forward Harry Jones, wearing the number two shirt, to slot home.

His Margate counterpart, Norman Wabo, looked like a class act from the start, with a running of defenders reminiscent of a slightly slower Michael Owen in his pomp. He was set up after twenty minutes to finish easily after a low cross came his way.

Margate keeper Bailey Vose got a fingertip to a shot to tip it onto the bar while another effort fizzed narrowly over. It was really good fare on an excellent Amy Lane playing surface.

Wabo scored an absolute beauty shortly after the restart. Some Aylesbury fans around us seemed to think that he was allowed to run unchallenged. I thought him too classy as he remained calm to slot past Jack Hopwood.

United were every bit equal to their visitors for long periods, with Hercules having a very good match. Vose pulled off a superb save, tipping over another effort. With twenty minutes remaining, Jones cut in from the right and scored a great goal with a curling left-foot shot that found the far top corner of the net.

It wasn’t dissimilar to the strike that gave Corinthian-Casuals their fifth goal the previous day in another belting 5-4 cup tie against Hendon. I really was being spoiled for entertainment, having seen a 3-0 at Walton & Hersham on the Friday night.

It would have been very brave to predict a winner from that point. I said to my pal that I thought we were in for penalties. However, Margate had other ideas as both teams continued to play fine, fast football as Noel Leighton squeezed in an effort with thirteen minutes remaining.

You could sense the blow to both Ducks players and fans, which was exacerbated a couple of minutes later when Leighton’s fierce low drive caught keeper Hopnood unsighted or flat-footed as it arrowed into his near post.

Aylesbury continued to the last and could consider themselves slightly unlucky on the day, having fully played their part, but they were undone by some good finishing.

Margate possessed probably the loudest supporter in non-league football. A lass who must have had the neighbours wondering what the hell was going on. She was also equipped with a drum, which she drowned out on occasions. No mean feat!

All in all, cracking fun and entertainment between night shifts at the ever-wonderful venue, which looked beautifully autumnal under floodlights with lots of fallen leaves on the terracing and at the Meadow End of the ground.

Chesham United

Chesham United FC is a semi-professional football club from the small market town of the same name, which sits at the foot of the Chilterns in the county of Buckinghamshire.

Football in the town began in 1879 with the formation of Chesham Town FC. They merged in 1919 with Chesham Generals, the team of the General Baptist Church, to form Chesham United FC. The club took on the nickname of the 'Generals’ as a nod to their past.

After competing for several years in local football, United joined the Spartan League and then the Corinthian League for the 1947-48 season. The club finished as league runners-up in 1960-61 before it was disbanded in 1964, with clubs moving to the newly formed Athenian League Division One.

The 1967-68 campaign saw Chesham embark on a tremendous run in the FA Amateur Cup. Wins over Corinthian Casuals and Oxford City led to a semi-final against Wealdstone at Craven Cottage, which was won 2-0. In the final at Wembley, United went down 1-0 to Leytonstone. 

Chesham joined the new Isthmian League Division Two in 1974. The league was renamed Division One in 1977, the same year the club lost 1-0 in the first round of the FA Cup away to Brentford.

In 1979-80, a marathon run in the FA Cup all the way from the first qualifying round saw victories against Boreham Wood, Haverhill Rovers, Bedford Town, Maidstone United, Minehead, and Merthyr Tydfil set up a third-round clash at The Meadow against Cambridge United. The visitors left town with a 2-0 win.

In 1985-86, the team was relegated to Division Two North, before bouncing back as champions at the first attempt. In 1990-91, the Division One title was secured as Chesham joined the Premier Division. The magnificent spell continued at Amy Lane as The Generals were crowned as Isthmian League champions in 1992-93.

However, the spell wasn’t to continue, as the side was relegated to Division One a couple of years later. In 1996-97, another championship sent Chesham back to the Premier Division. In 2002-03, a further relegation led to a place in Division One North before non-league football was reorganised. United were placed in the Southern League Premier Division for the 2004-05 season.

My drawing of The Meadow, along with Chesham kits throughout the years.
Click if you wish to enlarge the image.

In 2006-07, Chesham were relegated to Division One South & West, before regaining their Premier Division status in 2010 after a 4-0 victory over Slough Town in the final of the play-offs.

In 2010-11, AFC Totton defeated United in the semi-finals of the play-offs, before Hemel Hempstead Town inflicted another defeat at the same stage the following season. The 2013-14 season ended with Chesham as league runners-up. Once again, they missed out on promotion through the play-offs. Stourbridge were beaten before St Albans City went up, courtesy of a 3-1 victory in front of a packed Meadow audience.

Andy Leese’s side finished mid-table in 2014-15 before the side once again showed their FA Cup pedigree in 2015-16. Aylesbury, Paulton Rovers, North Leigh, and Enfield Town were all defeated to set up a first-round clash at Bristol Rovers. 

United won the game at Memorial Stadium through a Ryan Blake goal. Chesham were drawn away to Bradford City in Round Two, where they went down 4-0 at Valley Parade. Leese departed with assistant Darren Purse to take the Enfield Town job in March 2017.

By this time, homeless Aylesbury United were spending a second period as tenants at The Meadow, while desperately trying to find a suitable alternative in their hometown.

John Meakes stepped up from a coaching role to take the United managerial reins before he resigned in October 2018, with his side bottom of the table. Joint managers James Duncan and Michael Murray took over after an impressive spell at Potters Bar Town.

The new pair steered the side away from any relegation worries with a fine run of form to end the season in tenth place. The team lost in the semifinals of the playoffs to Bracknell Town in 2022-23, but then romped to the title twelve months later as the club also gathered pace off the pitch as they became members of National League South.

The club reached the first round of the FA Cup in 2024-25 as a sellout crowd saw them go down at home to Lincoln City in front of live TV cameras, before another steady campaign followed.

Chesham United will play in the National League South in the 2026-27 season.

My visits

Chesham United 1 Baldock Town 3 (Saturday 18th September 1999) FA Cup Second Qualifying Round (att: c250)

This was one of the first games I attended as a groundhopper since my permanent move to London the previous April. The cricket season at Lord’s was coming to a close, and I was keen to adventure.

I took the Metropolitan line from Wembley Park after a ride on the Jubilee from my Willesden Green room. The small town impressed me. Although my memory isn’t crystal clear, I think I had a beer in the Wetherspoons on the High Street before continuing to Amy Lane.

The ground impressed me at once. The turnstile end with Chesham Cricket Club behind had several rows of shallow terracing with a cover at the rear. An unusual feature was individual blocks of concrete for fans to stand on. The Meadow End was pretty similar. The far side had a cover over the middle third of the terrace. 

The Main Stand was at the rear of a decent-sized open terrace and covered the middle third of the pitch. Towards the cricket end was an excellent clubhouse with decent views of the pitch.

Baldock was the club that produced future Premier League star Kevin Phillips. 

Sadly, the club went bust a year or two later, before being re-formed down the pyramid without their old home ground. As I recall, the result was a bit of a shock.

Autumn 2006

My return to The Meadow was a weekday afternoon after work. I wanted to get some photos with my digital camera. It was a pleasant afternoon, and the friendly club secretary opened a gate for me. Unfortunately, I lost the photos when I had a serious malfunction on my laptop after a holiday in October 2014.

Chesham United 3 Redditch United 0 (Tuesday 6th October 2015) Southern League Premier Division (att: 203)

Having finished my latest spell of night shifts, I had various options of matches, as was the norm on a Tuesday evening. However, there’s nothing quite as nice as going to a game with a pal, so when Tony Foster fancied a trip into the Chilterns, my mind was made up.

It’s amazing to think just how far the tube network is spread. The ride up to Chesham along the branch line after a change at Chalfont & Latimer was like being in the provinces in the north of the country. Although I’d done the ride a couple of times previously, it was easy to forget how detached the pleasant little town actually was.

As it wasn’t even 6.30, my first task was to find the best pub to kill an hour or so. A brief look through the window at a couple on the High Street didn’t do much for the imagination, but I was to strike lucky right at the end of the strip. The sign outside for a bottle shop and tasting station had me hooked; even more so when I entered and saw a line of dispensers built into the wall. 

The establishment was owned by the local Red Squirrel Brewery, and most of their beers were on offer in draught form. A large selection of bottles adorned the shelves in the customer area, in the manner of a traditional off-licence. I tried three different draught ales, and was most impressed by the quality, freshness, taste, and definitely the prices. 

No beer cost me no more than £3.10, with most being in the £2.60 region. The customers were a nice, sensible crowd, and the lad behind the bar was knowledgeable and helpful. It seemed a bit of a shame to venture out into the rain, but it was getting near to kick-off time. I entered The Meadow just as the teams were about to kick off through a turnstile directly behind the goal. 

Further entrances were available in the corner. Admission was £10. I picked up a free team sheet and paid £2.50 for a programme, which was a bit on the pricey side. As the vague notion of eating in the pub pre-match had gone for a burton, I purchased a decent cheeseburger and chips from the van near the entrances. Another tea bar was available down the side where I stood with Tony. 

Toilets were also available on that side, which all added up to being a good, comfortable football ground. On the pitch, Chesham went for it straight from the kick-off, with a fine display of attacking football which caused the Redditch defence plenty of problems. However, it was the visitors who missed a good opportunity to take the lead before the Generals went one up.

Kelvin Bossman sent in a low cross, which Ryan Blake missed at the near post. Brad Wadkins was following up to shoot home from fifteen yards. Around ten minutes before the interval, it was 2-0. Dave Pearce controlled well inside the box before firing past Jose Veiga in the Redditch net.

At the break, we wandered over to the Main Stand side, having a look in the clubhouse, which looked to be serving a hand-pulled Chesham United beer as fans watched some continental football on the European satellite channel. Many sat by the window and watched the game outside from there. There seemed to be a good vibe around the well-appointed ground. 

I’d forgotten just what an excellent non-league football venue The Meadow was. The second half started with Redditch needing a quick reply. They mounted a couple of attacks without really threatening. Some of the visiting players gradually became niggly, and showed some dissent at the referee’s decisions.

After Veiga made a decent save, the resulting corner was half-cleared to where George Fenton was blocked off. The ref pointed to the penalty spot. Veiga led the protests along with several of his colleagues. Pearce slotted home from twelve yards to make it 3-0. The Midlanders rallied late on and created a few half-chances, but it was too little, too late. 

Chesham deservedly ran out winners. I had enjoyed the game. Both Tony and I agreed that the home side's pace had prevailed. My mate had parked just outside, and we were soon on our way, once a grumpy neighbour had held up all the match traffic as he manoeuvred his large car into his drive. Roads were closed for relaying on the way back, but the good old satnav did its job. 

We both commented on just how many good-looking country pubs we passed. My driver dropped me at Pinner station, and I was in my local in Kingsbury at 10.30 to tell my real ale pals about my pre-match find!

Aylesbury United 1 AFC Sudbury 2 (Wednesday 11th October 2017) FA Trophy Preliminary Round (att: 95)

Aylesbury United 0 Marlow 0 (Sunday 9th September 2018) FA Cup First Qualifying Round (att: 171)

Click here to read about these visits.

Chesham United 2 Haringey Borough 2 after extra time. Chesham won 3-1 on penalties (Tuesday 30th October 2018) FA Trophy First Qualifying Round Replay (att: 163)

With the day off work, I was looking at several options to attend. In the end, I agreed to meet Tony Foster at The Meadow, a fine venue and handy for Steve Barnes and me to sample a few decent pubs along the way. We took the tube to Chalfont & Latimer, where the excellent, friendly Craft Beer Shop provided a decent selection to get us into the mood. 

This was followed by another stop-off at the Chesham Brewery Shop, which once again did the job. The Queen’s Head was busy, with a small group of Haringey fans in one room. We joined them and had a good chat about all things non-league. It turned out that the four of them were all originally Devon and Exeter City fans, but now lived in north London and had adopted Boro.

Haringey were certainly a success story and were looking forward to a forthcoming FA Cup tie at home to AFC Wimbledon, for which Tony and I had obtained tickets. Steve led the way as we showed the lads the shortcut to the ground. Admission was £10, with the programme £2.50. The temperatures were dropping as we met with Tony on the far side terracing. 

The first game had ended level at 1-1, and it was soon obvious that the clash had seen a bit of needle. United were under new management with James Duncan and Michael Murray arriving from Potters Bar Town, with the teamat the bottom of the league table. Boro had lots of games in hand in their debut Isthmian League Premier Division season and sat in mid-table.

The visitors were cheered on by a vocal following displaying plenty of flags. Their side was in the early ascendancy before the hosts took the lead on fourteen minutes as Dave Pearce got on to a through ball to slot past Valery Pajetat.

The stopper kept out an effort from the veteran forward Jefferson Louis before his side drew level on the half-hour mark. A cross came in and wasn’t cleared, landing at the feet of Chinedu McKenzie, who scored past Ben Goode from ten yards. The game was niggly, not helped by some of the refereeing decisions. 

The man in black deemed that Boro’s Karl Akinwande deliberately elbowed Steve Brown in an aerial challenge and showed him a straight red card. The jury was certainly out among those I spoke to. A decent pint of General's Bitter was consumed at the break in the welcome warmth of the clubhouse. 

The Meadow really was an excellent venue to enjoy football with its plentiful vantage spots and good facilities, even if it could have done with a bit of a tidy-up. Louis fired wide after the interval, but that aside, chances were sparse. A cross into the Boro area may have hit a defender on the arm, but it would have been harsh to award a penalty. Pearce shot just wide from a Lewis Rolfe cross.

However, Boro had got back into the contest despite being a player short, and took the lead with eight minutes remaining. Charley Barker fired home a superb shot from the edge of the box, and that looked like it was going to be the winner. It would have definitely suited me as I had a soft spot for Boro, and I was starting at work at 6.30am the following morning. 

Louis had two efforts easily saved by Pajetat before the Generals made it 2-2 as David Sota crossed low for Jerri Maja to finish. Louis was denied by a last-gasp challenge right at the death as the game went to extra time. The gents who kept the snack bar open made some extra profit as fans purchased hot drinks as the temperatures plummeted.

Chesham looked more likely to win in the extra thirty-minute period. Pearce, Max Holland, and then Harry Pearse all came close, but the ten men battled through to take the game to a penalty shootout. Pajetat kept out a couple of spot kicks, but it was home goalkeeper Goode who was the hero as he saved three out of the four penalties he faced. 

There was confusion surrounding shirt numbers and substitutions before Pearce stepped up to score the decisive kick. Steve headed off for another pint, while Tony took me back to Pinner so that I could catch the tube home. It turned into a longer evening than anticipated, but we certainly got value for money.

Chesham United 2 Hendon 2 (Monday 22nd April 2019) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 442)

It was a beautiful Bank Holiday morning as I awoke from my night shift, ready to enjoy a vital match in Hendon’s hopes of securing survival in the top flight of the Southern League. I met Steve Barnes at Kingsbury station after enjoying a plentiful brunch.

As ever, my pal had good plans for pre-match libation. I was limited, but still eager to learn! We took the Metropolitan line to Chorleywood station, where we alighted and took a taxi to the small village of Heronsgate.

Steve had regaled me with tales of a wonderful pub there. We passed The Stag, which looked pretty decent in itself, to arrive at The Land Of Liberty, Peace & Plenty. The pub was a multiple award winner, and it was easy to see why.

The wide range of ales were all in perfect condition, while the pub was just how a country inn should be. It had a popular large garden in an idyllic location. Life was good, and the match seemed a million miles away.

As it was, the afternoon’s events and night shift put pay to any thoughts of a large session. It was a pub definitely marked down for a return visit. On our return to the station, we also passed The Old Shepherd, another pub of note, at least by its appearance.

Several other Hendon fans were on the train for Chesham. We walked down the High Street expecting to head straight to the ground. However, the staff at the Brewery Shop had decided to open early to meet the demands of locals, so we popped in for a snifter.

Sam North had kindly got my programme for my arrival so that I didn’t miss out. Admission to The Meadow was £10. The old place looked majestic in the sunshine, as a sizeable Dons following had congregated.

Initially, I stood near the main core behind the near goal, but I didn’t find some of the comments particularly helpful. In fairness, I was a relative newcomer to offering my support, but I wasn’t enjoying some of the bitching that was going on.

It was almost as though a small sprinkling wanted the team to lose so that it would spite the chairman who had appointed the manager. I’ve seen it happen at other clubs, and it’s a recipe for disaster. I found another vantage spot.

Steve had decided to watch from the clubhouse. His ‘main’ club, Leyton Orient, was being shown on TV in their vital game away to Solihull Moors. He had his eyes on two crucial games at the same time.

The match I concentrated on was being refereed by Andreas Anastasiou, who, fair to say, is not my favourite official. He is semi-static, rarely blows for a free kick, but then pulls decisions out of nowhere. His inconsistency riles players and fans alike. He was not an ideal appointment for such a pivotal game.

The first few minutes were all Chesham before Hendon quickly grew into the encounter. United keeper Charlie Taylor made fine stops from Luke Tingey and then Romario Jonas. As the ball ran loose from the second of those attempts, Mr Anastasiou saw something nobody else did.

He pointed to the penalty spot; presumably for handball? Whatever, Shaquille Hippolyte-Patrick fired home the spot kick. I had an interesting vocal discussion with a gaggle of home fans who had an intense dislike of Don's manager, Jimmy Gray.

When the manager of St Albans City his side had secured promotion at Chesham in the play-off final. Memories were obviously long in this part of Buckinghamshire. I introduced some humour into the debate and gradually smiles reappeared.

Dave Pearce and Ronny Mfinda both went close with efforts for the Generals, followed by a Bradley Clayton that whizzed past the far post. Ogo Obi hit the bar for Hendon with a miscued cross before Pearce was denied by Chris Grace as the game went from end to end. The feeling among the Dons fans I encountered was that it had been a much-improved performance 

The gamble of playing a front three of Lewis Toomey, Hippolyte-Patrick, and Obi together was paying off. I must admit to feeling relatively comfortable, at least until six minutes into the second half, when Chesham equalised. Pearce slotted home unmarked to finish off a fine move down the left.

Lee Chappell’s long throws had caused problems for the United defence all afternoon. His latest fell to Obi, who saw his shot hit Luke Warner-Eley on the goal line before being scrambled to safety. Mfinda headed a Pearce cross just wide before Obi saw an effort flash across the face of the goal. 

The same man was adjudged to have been brought down in the area by Ryan Blake. Opinion was certainly divided on the decision! Hippolyte-Patrick stepped up to make it 2-1 to the joy of the Greens fans congregated behind the goal. 

Connor Calcutt was introduced for Hendon and came close with a side-foot shot not long after coming off the bench. Bradley Clayton responded for Chesham, shooting just over. At this stage, all looked rosy for Hendon as the match edged towards full-time. Gosport Borough were only drawing in their home game with Wimborne Town. 

If the scores had remained the same for just another few minutes, then Hendon would have secured survival with a game to go. Unfortunately, football doesn’t quite work like that.

Chesham attacked. The ball bounced up and hit Ryan Hope on the arm. Referee Anastasiou pointed to the spot, and Pearce fired home. 

The Hendon players and management were fuming. I can assure them that they were not alone. The mood was darkened further as news came through that Gosport had scored in the final minute of their game. It could have been much worse. Grace made a fine save from Clayton. Then the ball bobbled around the Hendon box with the ref putting his whistle to his mouth before changing his mind. 

It wasn’t good for the blood pressure! Before the game, a draw would have been satisfying, but somehow it felt like a defeat as a visiting fan, especially with the news from Gosport. Securing survival would go to the final match of the season. Steve was happy enough. 

Orient had secured a point in their game and were more or less certain of promotion and a return to the Football League. We walked back to the station together in decent form, with my pal jumping out for beers after a couple of stops, while I headed home for a siesta before work.

Chesham United 2 Hendon 1 (Wednesday 1st January 2020) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 558)

The new decade got off to a fine start in excellent company at a proper football ground and a really good game of football. Blimey, did I need something to take my attention away from the hangover I was carrying? I’d inadvertently got involved in a large drink down at the tennis club at Hampstead CC and woken with the TV on and the leftovers of chicken and chips on my lap. 

Oh, for the day when programmes finished, and a bleep sounded after the National Anthem to wake you up. Despite having all the gear in the fridge for a fine fry-up, I had to decline and go for the stodgier option of pie, mash, and carrots, which had been intended for my tea. It was a relief to feel the fresh air as I headed to Kingsbury station to meet Steve Barnes.

We’d given up on our plumbing pal Steve Speller turning up when my phone went off. I’d sent him a slightly confusing text the previous evening when I was in full flow. We realigned and waited for him at Wembley Park. The trains were a little more infrequent, meaning a wait at Harrow-on-the-Hill, where we bumped into fellow Silver Jubilee Park regular Tony Marshall. 

We exchanged tales on the route out into Bucks before arriving in Chesham at around 1.30.

Unfortunately, the new micropub Trekkers was closed along with the Red Squirrel establishment, meaning a first visit to the George & Dragon, where I made my first faux pas of the New Year, if you exclude my candid exchange of opinions with the man serving in the chicken shop a few hours earlier.

Mr. Speller has a favourite type of glass. It only dawned on me a few seconds after I asked the rather aesthetic barmaid if she had any jugs as to what I’d said. The pouring of three pints of Atlantic seemed to take ages and be carried out in stony silence. My pals had decamped to a quiet area out of view and were doing their best not to wet themselves. The beer and pub were both okay. 

We headed to The Queens, where the ale was good. The pub was rammed with families and diners. The programmes had run out by the main gates after I’d paid the tenner admission. The fella in the club shop tipped me off that there may have been a few left at the tea bar down the far side. Sure enough, I snaffled one for £2, and very good it was too.

Keith Brighthope had been on the same train, but further down, so we didn’t see him until we all alighted. He’d gone on to the ground to meet his niece and family. We met up on the terrace to take our place among an impressive festive attendance. It was a good competitive encounter from the off. It would have been very difficult for Hendon to have played any worse than in their 1-0 home defeat on Boxing Day against Harrow Borough. 

Fortunately, they’d regrouped and were giving it a proper go. The centre-back pairing of Eddie Oshodie and Tommy Smith was doing a good job against a lively Chesh forward line, including former Dons Karl Oliyide and Zak Joseph. There was plenty of hard work from all in midfield on an excellent playing surface.

Referee, Hugh Gilroy, made what I thought was a very poor decision when he showed Oliyide a yellow card for diving in the box when it looked for all money that he’d been brought down by a visiting defender. I’d disappeared to the loo when I heard a few go-ons before a louder cheer from the home support. 

Soloman Sambou had been put clean through but was denied by home custodian Ben Goode.

There were plenty of half-chances at the other end too throughout the first half hour. Brave defending and blocking, along with keeper Rihards Matervics, kept the United attack at bay.

Hendon created another excellent chance as fine play from Shaun Lucien offered Sambou another opportunity. Goode pulled off a tremendous stop before the danger was cleared. With halftime approaching, we headed to the clubhouse, where the Generals' ale hit the spot.

Chesham were in the ascendancy, kicking down towards the Town End in the second half. 

Hendon’s attacking play just didn’t have the opportunity to get going. Eight minutes after the break, the hosts broke the deadlock. Bradley Clayton’s effort was parried straight back into the anger area by Matervics for David Pearce to score the follow-up. The effort didn’t seem to have much power, but the goalie couldn’t get enough behind the ball. I thought it was poor goalkeeping.

The performance of the ref was dividing opinion on the terracing. He was a bit inconsistent, but I liked the way he let the players tackle hard. He was certainly better in the middle than his assistant on our wing. Andreas Anastasiou, the referee from the Bank Holiday game on my previous visit, had been relegated. 

I didn’t realise it was him in front of us, as I mentioned “the idiot from last season”! Fair play to him, as he obviously enjoyed being involved, carrying on despite being demoted from his position. Fifteen minutes from time, the game was more or less over as a contest. United had chances to double their lead but made no mistake when Bayley Brown sent sub, Eoin Casey, clean through to slot past Matervics.

The keeper atoned with a good stop from Pearce before Dons' sub, Reece Mitchell, was upended on a jinking run with a minute of stoppage time remaining. Liam Brooks slotted home the spot kick, but there was no time left for any equaliser.

We headed back down the picturesque High Street and went to The Generals pub as we had time to kill before the train. The beer was bang-average in a pub that tried to do ale, sport, music, and food, and mastered none. My companions hopped off the train at Pinner, while I went home for tea and bed. I knew my limits!

Chesham United 2 Hendon 0 (Saturday 13th November 2021) Southern League Premier Division South (att: 505)

This visit to one of my more favoured towns and venues was quite strange. We enjoyed some belting pubs before things went downhill, with some seriously added scary drama. We got inside the ground just after the minute's silence for Remembrance Day to be told that kick-off would be delayed. 

Diabetic Hendon squad member, Luca Allinson, the son of manager Lee, collapsed on the bench, meaning a 3.15 start after he was revived and taken away to the hospital. It was 2-0 after six minutes as an ex-Don Karl Oliyide netted twice, aided by some poor defending and iffy keeping. 

 

It’s fair to say some players may have been affected by the earlier incident, though I was becoming a little more doubtful as to the ability of some individuals by the match. Nothing too much else happened of note out on the pitch. The Generals were the better-organised side and deserved their win. Mark Kirby was getting bigger each year, but was still ultra-reliable at the back. 

Hendon huffed and puffed but failed to create an effort on goal until Sam Beasant made a fine save from a Jayden Clarke free kick ten minutes from time. Erratic goalie Fred Burbridge made a couple of decent stops up the yon end late on, but the damage was done well before. Hendon brought on a former player on loan. There had been the usual online enthusiasm as to his return. 

As is often the case, it was soon evident as to why he had been jettisoned in the first place. However, back to the undoubted highlights of the day. The pubs and good company. A late brekkie at Kingsbury Wetherspoons was followed by a ride on the tube to the farthest end of the Met line and the lovely town of Chesham. 

My regular supping and sports friend, Steve Barnes, kicked off in Trekkers Bar, the first of two micropubs on High Street. Woodforde’s Once Bittern was followed up by a superb half of Milk Stout from Bristol Beer Factory, which did the job. Onto Mad Squirrel Tap & Bottle Shop, where the Hibernation Citra Mosaic was most refreshing as we were joined by four more hopeful away fans. 

A father and son couple are fellow Yorkshiremen, with the lad now based in Hendon and the old lad coming to games when Doncaster doesn't have a match. The Queens Head in the oldest part of town was simply brilliant, if a little more expensive. Oliver's Island was my tipple of choice. From there, it was no more than a brisk 5-minute stroll up the backway and into the car park of the football ground, where we were met with the unfolding drama.

A return to the Queens for just the original pair of us at full-time allowed me to come round from my state of annoyance at Hendon’s performance. What a pub it was. The Thai food aromas were sorely tempting. From there, it was one stop back to Chalfont & Latimer, where the Craft Beer Shop was as welcoming as I remembered from a few years previous.

Greenlight from Paradigm Brewery of nearby Sarratt, along with the Oakham Citra, were both excellent as we watched England beat the Aussies in the rugby contest on the TV. Finally, back to JDW Kingsbury after a nap on the train, where the beer was as average as my judgement, but an old pal joined us to brighten up proceedings. 

He and my other mate reminisced about happy days in the pubs between Tooting and Wimbledon stadium in the days when they watched speedway or the dogs. I enjoy learning like that. It certainly sticks in the memory more than boring school lessons, at least that's what I can deduce from my old reports I had taken to digitise of late to clear some clutter before heading off on my merry way to Thailand.

Supper taken at Chicken Cottage, where I thought I’d entered some kind of siege. All very weird as the staff seemed petrified, and two youths were acting very strangely while being ridiculously friendly towards me. A bloke in plain clothes behind the counter served me, thinking that two bits of chicken and chips meant it came with two bags of chips, even though I wasn’t charged for them. 

Kingsbury Road was becoming dodgier by the week. I was glad I'd heavily imbibed. A long, long day, and one that could have ended tragically. Well done to all those who dealt with the incident at the match. Football's only a game at the end of the day.