REPORTING on a couple of matches I went to over the August Bank Holiday weekend…
Blackpool Wren Rovers 2-1 Poulton
- When: Friday 22nd August 2025
- Kick-off: 6.45pm
- Where: Brews Park. School Road. Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 5DS
- Competition: West Lancashire Football League Premier Division
- Attendance: 388
I had wanted to visit Blackpool Wren Rovers ever since I groundhopped Squires Gate FC six years ago. These two clubs actually play right next door to each other sharing the same car park and postcode.
In fact, they even share the same perimeter wall alongside the respective touchlines! So definitely the two closest geographical teams in British football. AFC Blackpool’s ground is nearby too.
Incidentally, Wren Rovers first came to my attention in the 1980’s when playing at the 12,500 capacity Borough Park greyhounds/rugby stadium and I spotted rumours that the facilities were up to Football League standard.
Bringing the story up to date, this local derby fixture against Poulton signalled the launch match of an inaugural West Lancashire League groundhopper weekend.
Ground description: I underwent a weird case of déjà vu pulling up in the exact same car park space which I used on my aforementioned trip to Squires Gate!
Once inside, I really liked Wren Rovers ground because there is covered standing accommodation for up to 1,000 spectators split into four separate sections.
Programme details: On sale at £2 for 16 pages. The contents embraced columns by the club chairman and manager, Blackpool Wren Rovers’ history, squad lists for both teams, West Lancs League table, a past “rewind” match report from 2011 and - curiously - a Sudoku puzzle.
I also obtained the league handbook and two different groundhop weekend itinerary booklets for my vast collection of football memorabilia.
The match: Kick-off time shifted 15 minutes later than originally scheduled because the groundhoppers’ coach had been delayed in traffic. It was seventh hosting the unbeaten third placed visitors. Therefore anyone present holding expert betting knowledge might have fancied an away win.
Nevertheless, Blackpool Wren Rovers shaded matters courtesy of two strikes by Charlie King (60, 68 minutes). Tyler Hallan pulled one back for Poulton with four minutes to go.
The people: The Groundhop UK representatives staged another extremely well organised event. Every need was catered for. My thanks to Chris Berezai, Robyn & Laurence Reade and Craig Dabbs – four tremendous ambassadors for Non-League football.
Knowle 7-0 AFC Bridgnorth
- When: Bank Holiday Monday 25th August 2025
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: Draintech Community Stadium, Hampton Road, Knowle, Solihull. West Midlands B93 0NX
- Competition: The Capelli Sport Midland League Division One
- Attendance: 156
Having stayed in Blackpool over the weekend for further games at Thornton Cleveleys FC and Everton’s new Premier League stadium, I hoped to find a match approximately halfway home for Bank Holiday Monday.
Knowle fitted the bill perfectly. They are newly promoted to Step 6 of the National League System this season after finishing second in the Midland League Division Two during 2024/25.
Ground description: A 50-seater prefab grandstand sits on one side. Further along towards the corner flag, covered standing accommodation includes a nice mural of animated football action.
Programme details: Priced £2. A 16 page effort additionally covering the previous Saturday’s Knowle versus Coventry Copsewood tie in Isuzu FA Vase combat.
Contents incorporated a list of club officials, the chairman’s message, two match reports, squad lists, Midland League table, fixtures & results, player stats and youth/ladies team particulars.
The match: On a hot sunny afternoon, football betting enthusiasts may have predicted a tight encounter as it was sixth versus fourth in the Midland League Division One standings.
However, Knowle ran riot racking up goals by Talib Copeland (9 minutes), Odane Barnes (28 mins), Zak Parsons hat-trick (55, 67, 70 mins penalty), Ricardo Dudley (79 mins) and Hayden Purves (88 mins). I noticed planes passing overhead throughout the game en route to Birmingham Airport five miles away.
The people: An unusual touch saw local poet Emily Holtom invited along by Knowle FC for a pop-up session to write poetry in the clubhouse.
It was part of the national creative arts project entitled 'Our Freedom: Then & Now’ honouring the 80th anniversary of World War Two ending.
Emily devised specially tailored verses for my six year old daughter who was thoroughly fascinated to see an old fashioned typewriter in use!
