Squall

After a couple of days of rain it was no real surprise that the Bradford City game was called off, but they left it late to announce it and I was already in the bus en route. 

Somewhat surprisingly Campion, five steps down the football pyramid, who play half a mile from from Valley Parade, just behind Lister’s Mill, also on grass pitch, were able to go ahead with their game,  so I jumped off the bus at Lister Park, had a quick visit with the geese on the boating lake and then headed up to their ground. 

After last year’s promotion, Campion have had a strong first season in the NCEL Premier, but having been table-toppers for much of 23/24, they have recently been reeled in and seemingly decisively passed by Emley. Today’s visitors were North Lincolnshire’s Barton Town, which reminded me of a pleasant visit to their ground a few years back. 

The rain held off for much of the game, but the pitch was very squelchy and the conditions difficult. A mini-squall of goals midway through the first half gave Campion a 3-0 lead, and that’s how it stayed until the end of the game.

The rain returned in the second half, as shown by today’s image which features mud-splattered Campion preparing for a free kick into the Barton box.

Surprising exchange of the day came from someone who, having expertly discerned that I was “not from round here” (despite having lived here for going on 19 years) wanted to try out on me* his Welsh, learned in evening classes in Keighley. Mae hi’n bwrw glaw, indeed.  

* To avoid any pretension, I don’t have that much Welsh myself, sadly.