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That's my stats. 54 games and 181 goals. Which is well over 3 a game. 5 countries. As well as football. I've seen International Basketball (Poland V Serbia) Handball in Leipzig V Kiel. Rugby Union. 2 women's games at little Murrayfield. Rugby League. London Bronchos V Feathersone Rovers Three Hurling matches and two Gaelic football matches. its been some season.

Final game of 2022/23 for me tonight at Richmond Park, Dublin. (I'll add my Stats later ) St Patrick's Athletic V Derry City 4-1 Saints. Ticket 15 Euros, Programme 5 Euros Attendance 4000+ A match which had a lot of interest at the top of the table. Derry could have gone top if Shamrock Rovers had dropped points (they didn't) and Saints would go third if results went there way. So a lot to play for for two teams with a fair few players that once played in Scotland. Saints managed by Jon Daly, ex of Dundee United. As well as Chris Forrester ex Aberdeen and Eoin Doyle who played for Hibernian. The match played in great hot weather, started of slowly and it wasn't until the 36th minute when things came alive. Jay McGrath took the ball from midfield and rifled a shot past the Derry keeper, who should have done better as it was straight at him. The second half started better as St Patrick's Athletic started on the front foot and created a couple of chance. But the second goal didn't come until 62 minutes when Eoin Doyle was played through on goal and placed a superb shot into the bottom corner, Derry went up the field and scored two minutes later as a header went in by Cian Kavangh. Then a minute after that Chris Forrester made it 3-1 with a header from an infringing corner. Derry tried to fight their way back into the game. But only got caught out at the back as Saints were dominating the game and sub Mark Doyle made it 4-1 on 79 minutes. A well deserved win for St Patrick's Athletic. And a surprising heavy defeat for Derry who did have the best away record before tonight.

Not football. But still Random nonetheless. Went to Croke Park today to take in a treble header of Hurling finals, in the. Ticket 25 Euros for three games. Programme 5 Euros. Lory Meagher (Tier 5). Monaghan 3-22 (31) V Lancashire 3-20 (29) A very exciting if quite low standard game (I only realised how low it was because the following two games had more quality). Monaghan started very quickly but Lancashire fought back to reach half time only one point down. The second half continued to swing back and forth. Monaghan started to pull away but Lancashire fought back again as Monaghan held out for a just about deserved win. Nickey Rackard (Tier 4). Wicklow 1-20 (23) V Donegal 3-12 (21) The second game started out with Donegal much the stronger team and they took a comfortable lead of 6 points just before half time. Wicklow got two quick scores before half time to cut the deficit to four points. The second half was fairly even in chances created. The difference was is that Wicklow took nearly all of theirs, whereas Donegal had too many wides and paid the price as Wicklow gained a well deserved win. Christy Ring Finals (Tier 3). Meath 1-23 (26) V Derry 1-21 (24) The final game was the classic case of a game of two halves! Meath were superb in the first half as they dominated a lacklustre Derry team at half time by 10 points. In the second half Meath continued to dominate. And were as much as 13 points clear of Derry, only for something to change. Derry finally woke up and were within one point of Meath with a minute to go. Only for Meath to score the final point. Derry had a man sent off when 7 points down late on for two yellows. Both very Harsh, one for a Meath player half his size walking into him, the second for a Meath player accidentally being hit in the head with a Hurl. A great day's entertainment. Attendance was about 7000. Though most fans only seemed to stay for their Counties match.

Over in Ireland for a long weekend of Sport and museums. First up. League of Ireland and Tallaght stadium for Shamrock Rovers V Dundalk. 2-0 Rovers. Attendance 5602. Ticket 20 Euros Programme 5 Euros. Rovers were somewhat depleted as they had 3 players sent off last week at Cork City. A game they only lost 1-0 to a late goal. Rovers though were by far the better team. In this. They took the lead when a good cross on the right gave Aaron Greene a tap in on 35 minutes. The second half started with Dundalk trying to get back into the game. And they had a great opportunity when Rovera had a man sent off for a last man foul. But Rovers dug in and looked the more likely and Aaron Greene doubled his and Rovers tally with a super goal on the counter attack. He rounded the goalkeeper and finished into an empty goal. Dundalk tried to get back into the game. But Rovers were the far more dangerous team. And deserved the win. Note that match programme has the wrong date on it.

Newtongrange Star V Glenrothes. HT 3-2 FT 5-3. East of Scotland Division one. Attendance. Around 200? Admission £7 Programme £2. Looks like they will stop producing next season because of high production costs and low uptake. The visiting side from Fife could still win the league today if they won and results elsewhere went their way. But the home team who had finished 5th. Started like they were the team looking to be Champions as they blew the visitors away with three goals inside 25 minutes. The Glen's though haven't been promoted for no reason and started a fight back. Firstly with a soft penalty then a powerful run from number 10 for his second goal before half time. Game on! The second half started with Star scoring quickly only for the visitors to make it 4-3. A scrambled goal soon made it 5-3 all before the hour mark. This I thought could finish with any type of scoreline. Glenrothes won a second penalty, this one was more the stonewalling type as the defender had his arm high at a corner. This time the penalty was saved. Both teams though continued to push for more goals. But the score stubbornly remained 5-3. A wonderful game. And lovely ground.

Penicuik Park for Penicuik Athletic V Linlithgow Rose 0-0. The champions being the first opposition for new Manager David Hannah of Dundee United and Celtic fame. A beautiful warm sunny day. But a poor for the neutral, played at a slow pace. Penicuik fully deserved the draw as they were hard working and well organised. Linlithgow probably also happy to settle for a point too. Decent crowd of around 250/300. Admission £8 Very good match Programme £2.

Dunterlie Park for Arthurlie V Hurlford United in the West of Scotland Premier Division today. Match started off a little slow. But the home team won a penalty in the 23rd minute only for no 8 to shoot wide. Within two minutes of that miss, Hurlford put together a quick passing move which resulted in No 11 foring a left footed shot beyond the Arthurlie goalkeeper. This settled the visitors down and they made it 2-0 on 33 minutes when no 10 placed a wonderful 20 yard + right footed shot past the goalkeeper. A deserved lead for the visitors at half time. The second half started with Arthurlie playing a little better and a bit more purpose to their game. No 4 made it 2-1 on 54 minutes. The game then settled and both teams had a couple of chances. Bit Arthurlie got caught on the break on 88 minutes when a clearance came off no 8 of Hurlford and he duly controlled the ball before making it 3-1. It turned out a decent game after a slow start. Hurlford were the better team and deserved the win. Admission £7 Programme £2. Steak pie £2.50. A bit dry but tasted good. Ground. Decent

A random match. Most probably a West of Scotland game.

Chesterfield beat you to it

I just think Chesterfield out staunched Rangers!

Not sure where I was going to put this as not football. But played in a football stadium. Concluded my weekend in London by seeing that most Northern English of sports. Rugby League. London Bronchos V Feathersone Rovers at the new Plough Lane stadium. Ticket was £17.50 bought at least 48 hours in advance (£20 or £25 there afterwards) no programmes but a free team sheet was available. I'd seen Rugby league on TV in the distant past but this was my first live match and it proved to be an entertaining affair. The visitors Featherstone were top after winning all 8 matches this season scoring 360 points against a London team who had won 3 but lost 5 of there games. And coming of the back of a 52-0 trouncing away to second place Toulouse. A crowd of approx 1200 (swelled by a 200/300 hundred travelling Rovers fans) and most of the home support seemed to be exiled from the North, got speaking to a bloke from Hull and Wakefield who have lived in London for years and now support the Bronchos rather than their home town teams. seen the visitor's score 4 unanswered trys by half time to lead 22-0. This was a tad harsh on the hard working Bronchos team who just didn't (literally) get the bounce of the ball. Featherstone then scored 2 more trys before London got a score with a powerful run. They then scored the last points after Rovers got a seventh try. The Stadium is neat and tidy and appears to have a temporary build to it as there is plenty of space behind the stands and they are not brick built. I think AFC Wimbledon have ambitions to expand I'd they go up the leagues and its a way of doing to at a cost effective way. A good day out

Quick trip down to London today to tick of the Tottenham Hotspur stadium. I've seen at match before at the old White Hart Lane back in 1992, a ECWC game against Feyenoord which finished 0-0. But this match was absolutely fantastic. Both teams were quilty of giving the ball away in ridiculous positions as they unsuccessfully tried to play out from the back. The scoring was opened on 14 minutes when SON gave Spurs the lead. But Bournemouth were always ambitious and forced Loris into a finger tip save. The equaliser came when Vina found himself unmarked on the left to chip over Lori's. It was the least they deserved. The second half started with Bournemouth on the front foot and a bit of pinball in the penalty area resulted in Solanke giving the Cherries a deserved lead. Spurs tried to fight back but their play was a little slow and they seemed to be tring too hard to get the ball to either Son or Kane, who Bournemouth were doing well to mark out of the game. Richarlison had a goal disallowed late on but he was making a nuisance of himself and unsettling Bournemouth which worked as Spurs then equalised on 88 minutes when Danjumas shot from 10 yards went in. Spurs then went for a winner only to be hit on a super counter attack in the 95th minute when Solanke feed Ouattara who scored a dramatic late winner and silenced the crowd. Shout out for Ryan Christie was had a fantastic first half despite being booked for diving late on. He got subbed on 66 minutes. The stadium is fantastic with lots of different food choices. Though it is expensive so I didn't bother. A great day out. Tottenham hotspur 2 AFC Bournemouth 3 Attendance 61369 Ticket £55 Programme £4

Ticked off The Balmoral stadium today for Cove Rangers V Partick Thistle. 39 of 42 done now. An absolutely superb performance from Thistle from the first to last minute against woeful Cove Rangers who looked completely disorganised and shambolic. I had noted the form of both before the game and didn't expect much from Cove, but they were an embarrassment to their club especially with the players they have in their squad. No fight whatsoever in that team. (Sorry Cove fans ) But Thistle were great. They scored some very good goals as well. The support from Thistle was top draw as well. Over 300/400 travelling from Glasgow were well rewarded. 5-0 Thistle. Crowd was 1044 Ticket was £13 Programme £3 Balmoral pie £3.30. Not great. Coffee £2

I used to go to Kingfield and regularly when I lived down there. One week Aldershot the next Woking. This was long before they were rivals. Great wee club with a fantastic history at that level.

Musselburgh Athletic V Broxburn Athletic in the East of Scotland league. A very surprising 4-0 win for Broxburn who were excellent. Very surprised at how poor Musselburgh were. £8 to get in and £2 for a programme. Crowd was 557 which was swelled as it was part of the Groundhop weekend. Which helped as my rota meant I have no Weekend days off in March so managed to get a game in.

Watch the underground for pickpockets too. I got caught out after attending a Barcelona match a good few years ago.

New Dundas Park for Bonnyrigg Rose Athletic V Forfar Athletic. 1-1 744 in attendance. Ticket £12 patg Programme £2. A battle of a match between the Rose and Forfar. A deserved point for both teams in front of a very good crowd for a Tuesday night. Forfar took the lead with a penalty in a tight contest. Rose had a call for a penalty soon after but the very fussy referee waved play on. Rose saved a point three minutes from time when a free kick was prodded home by number 9. Rose had the ball in the net in injury time but the linesman had his flag up. Enjoyable even.

Hearts Women V Hibs Women at Tynecastle for me today. A pretty awful game if truth be told. Not many chances for either team. Finished 1-1 after Hibs lead at half time. And then tried to sit on the lead which backfired when Hearts equalised in the 89th minute with a goal headed in from a corner. Because it also doubles as the Capital cup it went straight to penalties which Hearts won 6-5. Free entry with a free 12 page programme. Almost 12000 tickets were given away but only 7024 turned up. Not sure if some of it was to do with the wrong Kick off time printed on tickets as it got busier nearer 2pm.

Rossvale V St Roch's in the West of Scotland division one at Petershill park. 15th V 8th in the league. Wasn't sure what to expect in this one as both teams seemed hopelessly out of form. But it felt like a decent game for the level. Both teams tried to attack, albeit with long high balls. Rossvale started off the better in the game only for The Candy to take a 20th minute lead when a corner came in and wasn't cleared , a header from number 5 found the forward unmarked in the 6 yard box to stab past the goalie. St Roch's then had the better of the rest of the half to go in 1-0 up in front of a healthy crowd of around 300+ The second half seen Rossvale play with a bit more intent and on 54 minutes they won a penalty when the defender was penalised for holding. The forward made no mistake and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. The match then became a bit niggly with a lot of bookings but also both teams trying to win the match. St Roch's had a goal disallowed for offside with about 10 minutes to go. Though he looked onside to me and with no assistant referees who is to know?! Though the Rossvale official who was acting as assistant referee seemed relaxed enough.. The St Roch's player who's goal was disallowed then said a little too much to the referee and was shown a straight red! This gave Rossvale the opportunity to go for the win and hopefully a much needed 3 points. Which they found when substitute number 14 was played through and shot past the St Roch's goalkeeper to give them a much needed win and well deserved win. £7 entrance no programme

My abiding memories of COVID years?! It was s****! I'll try and forget and leave it in the past!

I went along too. Managed to get a quite a few Celtic ones from the 70/80s. As I've slowly become obsessed with collecting over the last couple of years. My collection out with matches I've attended has become huge now. I need banned from attending programme fairs and going on eBay etc..

Back in Scotland. And my original plan today was to head up to Elgin to tick borough Briggs off. But I arrived back home at quarter to one in the morning and was I f*** getting up early to travel the length of the country as I was very tired. So I had a choice of matches in the East of Scotland league and South challenge cup close to home. I chose a trip to Millfield to see Haddington Athletic V Penicuik Athletic. A decent if very competitive game. Penicuik took an early lead and almost made it 2-0 in the first half but the offside flag went up. Haddington really should've been down to 10 when number 9 stamped on his opponent, but the linesman and referee missed it as play raged on. The home side fought back and got their way into the game. They managed to get an equaliser in the second half. It was Penicuik though who went down to 10 men when their caption managed to take out two Haddington players and also injure his arm in the process. He'd already been booked so a second meant an early bath to add insult to injury. Haddington then dominated the rest of the game and had a late goal chalked off for offside. I was in line and he was at least a yard onside. So the home team can feel hard done by at not getting the three points. A good game with approx 200 fans. £7 to get in. £2 programme and £1 for half time draw

Rasenballsport Leipzig V 1899 TSG Hoffenheim in the last 16 of the DFB Pokal. Could the draw have put together the two most unpopular clubs in German football if it tried. Well it did and I was here to witness it. I'll get the main negative out of the way first. I've now been to 21 matches in Germany and this was by far the quietest I've seen. I don't the think the RB fans have Ultras and there was only 250 away fans. The match was very one sided for a cup match. Hoffenheim had absolutely no ambition to attack until the 78th minute. The positives. A brilliant stadium, which has been built inside the original bowl of the old Zentralstadion. Leipzig controlled the game from the start. Stifling the life out of Hoffenheim. They took the lead early when Emil Forsberg cut in from the left to fire a right footed shot past the goalkeeper. The reaction from Hoffenheim... None. RB continued to control the game without creating much. Until the 40th minute when Konrad Laimer had a left footed shot inside the area go in. RB then opened up a bit and really should have added a third before half time. The second half was much the same. But RB frustratingly kept getting caught offside. Hoffenheim punished them with a goal on 78 minutes when a cross from the left was met by Kasper Dolberg who's header bulleted past the Leipzig goalkeeper. Could this turn into a cup tie after all? NO! Timo Werner finally managed to stay inside at a counter attack to make it 3-1. And see RB Leipzig through. But not until Stanley Nsoki seen a second yellow and was sent off. Ticket 19 Euros. No programmes of any kind. Bier 4.50 Euros Bratwurst 3.60 Euros.

TSV 1860 Munich V Dynamo Dresden 1-2. 15000 sell out. (felt like more and the stadium holds a lot more than 15k! My travels continue with a trip down to Munich to see two pretty big clubs languishing in 3.Liga. I felt pretty lucky to get a ticket for this one after cheekily asking if any spares were going on a Facebook group and an 1860 Season ticket holder answered my prayers. Another cracking atmosphere from both sets of supporters with a game to do it justice. 1860 came out of the traps quickly and scored after 5 minutes after awful defending when the midfield and defence just opened up to let Albion Vrenzl jog through the middle to fire the Löwen into the lead. They really should have been out of sight because Dynamo Dresden were awful in the first half of the first half. But a tactical change sees to settle them down and they began to take control and create the better chances. It wasn't until the 56th minute until they equalised when Stefan Kutschte looked offside to me but no flag came and he slotted past the goalkeeper for 1-1. Dresden looked confident now and deservedly took the lead on 75 minutes when Dennis Borkwoskl had the penalty area to himself to put the visitors ahead. 1860 worked hard to get back into the game and missed several guilt edges chances. But Dresden deserved the 3 points. Ticket 31 Euros Programmes 1.50 Euros. Fanzine 60 cents

In Leipzig today to watch the Regionalliga Nordost match between BSG Chemie Leipzig and Babelsberg 03. An absolutely cracking match this with all the ingredients that makes a brilliant day at the football. Rustic old ground Fair ticket prices and a programme Two teams going at it for the win from the getgo Both sets of fans producing a great atmosphere Decent football food and Bier Awful refereeing This game was end to end and very competitive with lots of not so cute fouls. Both teams were so positive and created a fair few chances. Chemie took the lead on 14 minutes when the forward concerted a cross at the near post. Late in the second half. Chemie won a free kick deep in there own half but the ball was kicked away down the park. Where the Chemie striker, a Babelsberg sub and manager came to a 'disagreement' this resulted in all three being booked but the Babelsberg manager didn't shut up and was then sent off. The second half started with the home side taking control and really should have been further ahead. But as is typical the opponent's were never out of it and got an equaliser. This gave them confidence and the match could've gone either way. The referee was fairly erratic through out and lost control as he hadn't been tough with some of the earlier fouling. He booked the Babelsberg number 30 and a Chemie player after they squared up to each other. 5 minutes later he again booked the Babelsberg number 30. But despite chants from the crowd and the 'helpful' Chemie players reminding him if his error he failed to produce a red card. Some how the match finished 1-1. But I'm not sure how, as it was very open with chances on both sides. Ticket 15 Euros for the stand (terrace was cheaper, but no checks) Programme 2 Euros I also managed to see a Leipzig Stadtliga (not sure which level?! Possibly 7/8th) match earlier in the day between TuS Leutzsch and Olympia Leipzig. That finished 1-0 to Leutzsch in front of about 100 and was free entry.