Victoria Pleasure Grounds, home of Goole AFC based in the East Riding of Yorkshire and play their trade in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. Nicknamed the “Vikings” and play in red and black. The pre-season games are coming in thick and fast as Goole becomes the next destination as they host Belper Town tonight! Plenty of tips from my friends last night watching Millmoor. “Go to Tom Pudding micro pub” and “Get a Steak Pie” and even hints of a good fan base! Let’s hope for the best!
TGIF and we’ve got a game tonight! On the train we go! Arrival in Goole in plenty of time to give this pub a good go!
A Real Ale bar = my type of bar!! 1 Saltaire Blonde and 1 New Horizons later and it’s time to go… But I have to say what a fantastic little bar! The staff were incredibly friendly and the drinks even better! A definite recommendation for anyone in or around the Goole area or if you’re visiting! Thank you Graham for the recommendation!
Plenty of time until kick off and in we go! £5 for this pre-season tie! In! And it’s great to link up with Joe from Match Days on YouTube and recent visitor of the FANA Fan Podcast!! Time to check out this Steak Pie… FANTASTIC!!! I am certain that Gordon Ramsay would like that one! If I rated food & drink at grounds, that’s a 10!! Great to see Chris who I met last night at Millmoor too! I have a good feeling about tonight’s game and rating!
Kick Off! 5 minutes in and Goole come forward, ball played to number 16 on the edge of the box, he sets it up on the volley for number 7! Just wide! 9 minutes played and Belper come forward now, the ball comes to number 10 in the box and he goes for goal… The keeper can’t keep it out and Belper lead here!! 0-1!
14th minute now and Belper have a free kick on the right in a crossing position, the cross comes in, here’s number 5 at the back post… OH! He’s headed wide! Sitter… 2 minutes later and Belper have the ball in midfield, a long ball over the top to number 10 and he’s through… He lobs the keeper and finds the net!! It’s 2! And Belper look really comfortable here now.
“Who are we? Red army!!!” A bit of noise now from a group of Goole fans in the stand!! Can it give the Goole players a boost? 25 minutes gone now and Goole have the ball on the left, a long ball is played into the box and number 15 has broken free… He scores!! Belper fast asleep and Goole have one back! 1-2!!
27 minutes on the clock and Belper have a free kick in their own half, it’s lumped into the Goole box and number 10 gets onto it, he goes round the keeper and he scores… The flag is up it won’t count, looks like a flick on from a Belper player in there.
30th minute and Goole win a free kick about 25-30 yards out, number 2 steps up, he goes for goal… AND FINDS IT!!!! He curls it around the wall and finds the net! Questions for the keeper there but Goole won’t care! 2-2!
38 minutes now and Belper come forward down the left, the low cross comes in, through the defence and here’s number 10 who gets there… He’s put it wide! Good chance again there… 39 minutes now and Goole work it forward from midfield, they get it through to number 7 who gets a sight of goal… Just wide!
“We hate Belper, we hate Belper! We are the Belper haters!” The Goole fans giving to the opposition now! No more clear cut chances and the score at half time remains 2-2.
Second half, “GOOLE AFC!!” Me and Joe have moved to the other stand now and joining in with the noise!! “SHED ARMY SHED ARMY!!!” The game has become very flat with little chances… But at least the atmosphere is still going strong!!
65th minute and Belper come down the right hand side, pulled back to number 9 in the box, he shoots… Well over!! The Goole fans loved that! “How wide do you want the net?” 76 minutes now and Belper come forward down the left, played forward to number 10 in the box, gets past the defender and he goes down… “No!” Says the Referee. Debatable I think.
“Da da dadada dadadada Goole…” It doesn’t fit but it sure did make us chuckle!! 78 minutes on the watch now and Goole have a corner, in it comes, all the way through the crowd of players and it comes to number 15 at the far post… OH! It’s over… So close!
81 minutes now and here come Goole again, long ball to number 9, he plays it across to number 17, he cuts inside to the edge of the box and shoots… Wide! 84th minute now and Belper’s number 8 picks up the loose ball on the left, he plays it forward to number 10 who’s got plenty of space in the box, keeper comes, keeper saves the shot but he’s lost it and here’s number 10 again!! Good block by the Goole defence who end up clearing the danger.
88th minute now and Belper have the ball in the centre of the park, a through ball to number 14, is this the moment…? NO! Keeper makes a big save there! Goole clear the ball but Belper win the header and the second ball which is flicked on to number 10, the Goole defence haven’t pushed out here and he’s onside, he goes for the volley 20 yards out…… OH! It’s just wide… Should have been the winner for Belper there! The Referee blows for full time after the goal kick is taken to end a great game!
FT: Goole 2-2 Belper Town
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 7/10 – A great group of lads here tonight at Goole! I hope they cheers their team on all the way through the season! Great chants and some funny ones too!
- The Ground: 7/10 – I have to say I really am a big fan of this ground! A good backdrop on one side with 2 great stands and a lovely bar! The running track didn’t bother me that much in all fairness.
- Expense: 9/10 – £5 is great! Maybe not so much for pre-season but we saw a good game but the goalless second half cost this one from being a 10!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – A fantastic day out! Joe’s been here! Chris who I met last night has been here! The Goole lads have been here! A great game and a great day out all in all!
33/40
Excellent report. Pleased that you enjoyed your Goole experience. Given that the last two seasons have been financially challenging to the club, it was great that we could put a team out. Credit to the management and all the volunteers who made it happen. Your very complimentary report on the club and game was the icing on a very good start to the new season.
Chairman
Absolute pleasure mate thank you!! Tell those lads in the stand to be loud and proud this season!!
Great report, it was the same when I first went there, now I go as often as possible as my son lives in Goole and helps run the Supporters Club and does a lot of fund raising.
I may only get to see them a couple of times a year, but I travel all the way from Belfast to see them, and always enjoy my visit to the VPG, defo a 10 out of 10 for me.
Hoping to in there in September will be my next visit, can’t wait.
Thank you mate!! You certainly won’t be disappointed when you next visit!