REFLECTING on three varied groundhopping adventures I greatly enjoyed during the month of March…
Ellistown 2-7 Highfield Rangers
- When: Saturday 7th March 2026
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: Pallex Stadium, Terrace Road, Ellistown, Leicestershire LE67 1GD
- Competition: Everards Brewery Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division
- Attendance: 33
Ellistown’s charismatic club secretary Andrew Grout has been in touch on Twitter X for many years inviting me up to his club.
So when this opportunity arose, I decided to make the 200 mile round trip via the M1 motorway. Ellistown is a village of proud coal mining history housing 2,100 residents.
Ground description: Excellent facilities reflecting previous higher status for Ellistown in the now defunct East Midlands Counties League.
There are two covered standing areas for 100 spectators, a main 100-seater covered grandstand (‘The John Measom Stand’) plus a 100-seater uncovered stand.
Currently playing in a Regional Feeder League, Ellistown hope to return to the National League System at Step 6 within a few seasons.
Programme details: It is not compulsory to issue programmes at Regional Feeder League level but Andrew kindly produced one especially for me.
A 20 page digital edition since printed out for my extensive collection of Non-League memorabilia.
The match: The bottom team hosted third bottom in Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division combat - a real relegation dogfight! Thus anyone present possessing expert football betting knowledge might have expected tight exchanges rather than the subsequent nine goal thriller.
Scorers for Ellistown were Joe Nichie (28 minutes) and Harry Pemberton, penalty (87 mins). Yet it was Highfield Rangers who ran out comfortable winners courtesy of Ryan Robbins four (35, 45+2, 52, 59 mins), Rio Fieldsend (45 mins) and Raijaun Morris-Laing two (66, 88 mins).
Kensington Dragons 3-3 London Fennecs
- When: Tuesday 10th March 2026
- Kick-off: 7.40pm
- Where: The Dragons Den, Linford Christie Stadium Football Pitches (Pitch 4), Artillery Way, off Du Cane Road, Wormwood Scrubs, Shepherd’s Bush, London W12 0DF
- Competition: Cherry Red Books Middlesex County Football League Premier Division
- Attendance: 29
The historic first midweek match under lights at a newly created 3G artificial pitch next to the Linford Christie Athletics Stadium. Indeed, I always relish watching matches in the Middlesex County League.
It wholly embraces the cosmopolitan and culturally diverse background of teams and players involved. This was a local game for me and I know the Shepherd’s Bush area thoroughly as a lifelong Queens Park Rangers supporter.
Ground description: I liked the signage proclaiming: “WELCOME TO THE DRAGONS DEN”. Spectator can walk around all four sides of the pitch which is unusual for a 3G ground.
In fact, plenty of room exists to add further amenities. Dragons’ enthusiastic chair Chris Shirley told me of aspirations to build dressing rooms and grandstands up to Non-League Step 3 (Isthmian League Premier Division) grading requirements.
The club are certainly ambitious and it won’t be too long before they progress from present Regional Feeder League membership.
Programme details: On sale at £3 for eight pages.
The match: With ninth entertaining seventh, a pulsating affair unfolded that will have confounded the opinions of any betting enthusiasts in attendance.
On target for Kensington Dragons were Marco Martins (2 minutes), Tyrique Rasheed Springer (40 mins) and Joe Tunc (53 mins).
Nevertheless visitors London Fennecs – who field players of North African origin - valiantly came from behind to claim a draw through Ahmed Ayoub, penalty (43 mins), Ramy Rouighi (48 mins) and Youcef Mezaoui (88 mins).
Ilminster Town 5-0 Okehampton Argyle
- When: Saturday 14th March 2026
- Kick-off: 3pm
- Where: Archie Gooch Pavilion, Brittens Field, Ilminster, Somerset TA19 9FE
- Competition: Walter C. Parson Peninsula League Premier East Division
- Attendance: 109
My penultimate Non-League ground left to visit in the entire English National League System. Although it had been proving difficult for me due to extremely wet weather. A series of postponements ensured Ilminster Town didn’t play at home for two months beyond 20th December.
However, improved conditions meant I was able to embark on my 360 mile round trip utilising the M25, M3 and A303.
Some 5,800 people live in the market town of Ilminster and the local football team have settled in very well for their first season at Step 6 of the national Non-League Pyramid. They are newly promoted after winning the Somerset County League Premier Division last year.
Ground description: A 100 seater prefab grandstand straddles the halfway line.
Additional covered overhang extends off the clubhouse/dressing room building behind one goal. The ground is pleasingly situated in picturesque valley surroundings.
Programme details: A 16 page publication entitled ‘The Blueprint’ in recognition of home club colours. Priced £1 from the entry hut. I also spent a similar amount on a ‘50/50 PRIZE DRAW’ ticket.
The match: The clinical marksmen for Ilminster Town sealing a comprehensive victory were Jack Steer (32 minutes), Jordan Lovibond two (44, 57 mins), Flynn Smith (74 mins) and Eddie Butcher (80 mins).
Accordingly, it was nice for me to complete the full set of South West Peninsula League grounds. Definitely one of the best run leagues in the country thanks to the first rate efforts of hard-working secretary Phil Hiscox.
Football grounds visited: 2,687.
Footnote: My final ground to visit in the National League System is Fulwood Amateurs FC near Preston. I am planning to go there on Easter Monday and I am being followed by a BBC1 camera crew for a film report on my groundhopping.
