My Top 5 - Grounds with Dave Pickerill of The Grassroots Plus Podcast

My Top 5 - Grounds

with Dave Pickerill of The Grassroots Plus Podcast. 

In this blog we look at Dave's top 5 grounds across Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire. Dave as described by his podcast co-host Mick is from "Posh Cockney Land" but now he has been adopted by us and especially Newark & Sherwood United where Dave does their pre and post match interviews among much more. As also mentioned above Dave is co-host of the outstanding Grassroots Plus Podcast. 

Dave actually couldn't whittle down to just 5 so we have his top 6! 

6. Hucknall Town

RM Stadium

The RM Stadium, I always enjoyed visits to the old ground and was a little apprehensive prior to visiting the RM. A great blue print for a new build ground, it offers scope for extra capacity should the club fortunes improve. Easy access, great vantage points inside the ground, plus as you walk up to the ground you can't see the pitch giving it a big venue feel.

5. Blidworth Welfare 

The Welfare Ground

A real gem as you walk around the cricket pitch, through some trees, into the ground and see the pitch for the first time from an elevated view in the top corner.

4. Rainworth Miners Welfare

Kirklington Road

Another club that has fallen on hard times but the ground keeps the memories of old with big crowds watching the Wrens when they were one of the big boy in local football.

3. Selston FC 

The Parish Ground

A trip to the Parish is a must every season, A friendly welcome at a smaller club with a big heart. Unconventional when compared with many venues, a walk around the top of the cricket pitch, the slope up and across the pitch always makes me smile. 

2. Heanor Town

The Town Ground

Another ground with character, a big wide pitch with a slight slope that lends it's self to fast expansive football. The covered terrace down one side with the seats set back from the pitch behind the goal and the old cricket pitch along the other give more than a nod to days past in the Midland Leagues. 

1. Belper Town

Christchurch Meadow

Hidden down a lane, a long seated stand down one side, the covered standing behind one goal and along part of the other, throw in the church and mill pinning the ground in, and then the views from the open end over the river and the houses nestling on the hill make this one of my favourite grounds.

Thank you Dave for taking time out to list your top 5 (well 6). If you would like to check out Grassroots Plus it's available on all podcast platforms and will be returning once the 24/25 season starts. While you wait for the season to start, check out some past podcasts with fascinating interviews. 

https://open.spotify.com/show/0z5NV9HRJYKLwGJ1K0dBxS?si=cd49e7da244242b8

If you would like to feature in a "top 5" or any kind of interview about you, your club or anything else. Please don't hesitate to get in touch. 

Until the next one 

Luke 

My Top 5 - Alfreton Town Players with Liam Henton

 

My Top 5 - 

Alfreton Town Players with Liam Henton

In this blog post, we speak to Liam Henton. Alfreton Town fan who lists his top 5 players to ever wear the red of 'Ofton Town. There has been many great players pass through the doors of The Impact. Who makes Liam's top 5

5. Matt Duke

Alfreton Town have been blessed with some fine goalkeepers no more so than Jordan Pickford of course but with him playing for Alfreton in the season before my arrival at the club I decided to go for Matt Duke with a honourable mention for current incumbent George Willis. 

Duke, however just oozed class when he played for the Reds in the 2015/16 season. He must have saved countless points as we secured a safe midtable finish in the National League North following relegation from the Conference the season prior.  Duke who was 38 when he signed in August 2015 enjoyed a decorated career including an appearance at Wembley in the League Cup final for Bradford in 2013. Duke produced heroics throughout the campaign as his class and quality shone through. 

4. Tom Shaw

Scorer of my one of my very favourite goals ever at the Impact Arena, a 45 yard screamer from just past the halfway line against Chester, Shaw was another vital component of one of the best Alfreton Town squads ever put together. 

A combative central midfielder Shaw was signed from Cambridge and went on to enjoy a fine spell at Chester after leaving Alfreton. Shaw has gone on to enjoy a great start to his career in the dugout firstly with Gainsborough Trinity in the Northern Premier League and more recently as an Intermin Head coach at Lincoln City following the depature of Mark Kennedy. 

3. Michael Wylde

Part of a formidable centre back partnership with Darran Kempson that was the cornerstone to our memorable 2013/14 Conference Premier campaign. 

Wylde was a accomplished centre back and was enjoying a fine season before it was cruelly halted by a horror injury suffered away at Chester in March 2014 that was so awful it ended his career. 

2. John Akinde

Signed by Nicky Law in August 2013 after his release by Portsmouth. The tall striker became a revelation as his strong and powerful frame helped him grab 18 goals as we got to our highest ever league position of 2nd in the Football Conference before falling away in the final few weeks of the season to finish 11th. 

1. George Cantrill

George is an outstanding player that goes under the radar and doesn't get the plaudits he deserves due to the nature of his role as a defensive midfielder. Capable of playing higher in my opinion. 

Thank you Liam for taking part and sharing your top 5 to have played for your club Alfreton Town with some memories that goes with the names past and present too. Certainly interesting to find out some of the names who have graced the pitch of The Impact over the years. 

Would you like to feature in MY TOP 5? Could be your top 5 players who have played for your club, top 5 grounds, players you've played with or managed?  Drop me a message on Twitter/X and we would love to feature you. 

Until the next one. 

Luke