Happy New Year!

It's been 2 weeks since my last posting, largely due to the fact that the Christmas and New Year holidays got in the way a bit.

In those two weeks, Handsworth FC secured a 0-0 draw at Hallam FC on Boxing Day and then crashed to their heaviest ever home defeat when Emley AFC were the visitors.

We didn't go to the game at Hallam as we had something else happening on Boxing Day but reports suggest it was a hard-earned point secured after a fine goalkeeping display by Dylan Parkin. Handsworth's squad was massively depleted through injury, suspension and the unavailability of a few first team players who would normally be almost guaranteed starters in a 1st team game.

Ian Robinson's match report is here:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/handsworthfc/teams/126071/match-centre/1-14094637/report

No match album as I wasn't there with the camera.

Next up, on 30th December, was a home game against Emley AFC, a team many believe will win the title. They are in 2nd place, 2 points behind leaders Campion FC but with 2 games in hand. Emley are also still in the NCEL League Cup and the County Senior Cup and have a 4th Round proper game in the FA Vase on 13th January.

We knew it would be a tough ask although Handsworth were unbeaten in 4 games in the league and in fact the previous 6 games had produced 3 wins and 2 draws. In addition, only one team in the Premier Division had kept more clean sheets than Handsworth's 7 this season so far. OK, so that was Emley with 11 but even so, those of us of an optimistic bent thought we might just get something from the game but has I've said elsewhere, I don't have a massive amount of faith in statistical analysis!!

Emley's long unbeaten run had come to an end the previous week when they lost 1-0 to Penistone. Another reason to hope maybe?

In truth, Handsworth were beaten by a much better team on the day. It didn't help that The Ambers were down to the bare bones as far as squad selection went with only 4 subs on the bench one of whom was 16 year old goalkeeper Tom Hill. Another was the hastily arranged dual registration of Koby Erratt-Thompson, a young lad on Ilkeston Town's books.

I don't think I've seen a better side than Emley at this level. They are big, fast, tactically aware and they have a good skill level in all positions so I guess there's no real disgrace in losing to a side of such obvious quality.

Read Ian Robinsons match report here:

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/handsworthfc/photos/2023-12-30-ambers-17-emley-ncel-prem-1087322.html

And my pictures from the game are here: (not my best set. That's why there's fewer than the usual number. The weather was awful and I spent most of the game shooting from the back of the stand in an effort to avoid the wind and rain!)

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/handsworthfc/photos/2023-12-30-ambers-17-emley-ncel-prem-1087322.html

Next up is another tough one. We play Sheffield FC, from a division above Handsworth, on Wednesday 3rd December in a County Senior Cup tie. The game should be a home fixture for Sheffield but it is being hosted at Oliver's Mount where the 4G pitch will hopefully remove the possibility of another postponement. It is followed on Saturday 6th December with a home game against Bottesford. 

Then, a week later, we have yet another hard test when we visit Penistone Church FC. who will be buzzing having recently ended Emley's long unbeaten run. We usually manage to get to "Penistone away" every season but we'll see what the weather gods have to say.

Away from football, we enjoyed a very quiet Christmas. Because our son and daughter-in-law couldn't make it to Sheffield this year, we conducted present opening via a video link. It's not the same as having everybody in the same room but it's a workable alternative I guess.

So, 2024 is upon us and we're already 2 days in! We have a couple of significant birthdays happening this year and our son and his wife now have a date for moving into their fabulous new home. That will happen in mid-late January if all goes to plan. I'm still hoping we can get over to The Netherlands sometime in the spring maybe. That would be really good.

That's it for now folks. More hopefully follows after the next couple of games unless there is something really important that I think you should know about before then!

Happy New Year All!- and "Many Thanks" for taking the time to read this stuff. It's really very much appreciated.