Uxbridge to Arsenal
It’s quiz time. What connects Uxbridge to Arsenal? The Piccadilly Line would be an acceptable answer, of course, but let’s expand the question a bit. What connects Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City,
Uxbridge, Kidderminster Harriers and Vauxhall Motors? Incidentally, the connection doesn’t include Manchester United or Aston Villa. The answer is further down today’s review.
Gas Leek
Review 105 revealed that Leek Town’s recent scorers against Prescot Cables were Stevenson, Scully and Smith, referring to them as SASAS, a step further than the famous Shearer and Sheringham combination, known as SAS. Leek Town were immediately in touch, telling us to check out their fearsome strike duo known as GAS. The GAS combo sounds dangerous, but a gas leak would be even more dangerous.
Playing in the hole
Cribbs announced on Twitter that @murraymint_88, better known as Steve Murray, would be taking over as interim manager until the end of the season. Cribbs are well-placed to feature in the Southern League Division One South. Hopefully, Steve, like Glacier Mints, will be able to outfox the opposition and avoid having a hole in the middle like Polos.
Truro’s trials
As reported in Review 104, Truro City fans have suffered more postponements than they have had hot dinners (or pasties) this season. With 26 days left in the season, they have 14 games to cram in. The good news is that 12 of the 14 games are at home. Except, that is, Truro City are playing home games at Gloucester City’s ground, a round trip of almost 400 miles. If any fans make all 12 home games, they deserve a medal. Truro City are currently two points above the drop zone in the National League South, but with five games or more in hand over their rivals, they should escape.
Penalty kings
Two penalty videos for your amusement this week. The first one certainly fools the keeper; there’s just a problem with execution. The second one might be more interesting in slow motion.. Penalties like these deserve a name. Any ideas?
Can we have our ball back?
A Step 4 club was allegedly fined £500 for not nominating someone to 
throw balls on the pitch when needed. Surely, this doesn’t warrant a £500 fine. It’s not as though most Step 4 clubs are rolling in cash. If anyone has more info, we’ll be glad to publish it.
School of Wales
The non-League ‘C’ International between Cymru C and England C took place last week. The result was a 1-0 win for the Cymru C side at Llanelli, with the only goal scored by Sion Bradley direct from a free-kick just before the break. We assume that the Wales team will have a podcast about it soon.
Mister Grumpy
York City, nicknamed the Minstermen, although often called the Mistermen, had some grumpy fans recently. After a poor performance at Altrincham, resulting in a 6-1 defeat, the club refunded travelling supporters the price of their entrance ticket. The action of York’s management may have had some effect, as they won their next game 1-0 at home to Aldershot Town and then 2-0 at highly-placed Bromley. The scorer against Aldershot was John-Lewis, who had a surprise in store by coming on as an 89th-minute sub and scoring the all-important goal. Except for already relegated Oxford City, eight points cover the bottom half of the National League table.
Goodbye Spirites
Chesterfield, nicknamed the Spirites, although often called the Sprites, clinched promotion from the National League to the EFL with a 3-0 win over Boreham Wood. Chesterfield’s celebrations were put on hold after losing 4-2 at Halifax Town on Wednesday night. It means we say goodbye to Chesterfield at the Non-League Review. Meanwhile, the struggle to stay in the EFL is likely to go to the last day of the season.
Patching things up after a rush of blood
Lewis Patching signed for Rushden & Diamonds as an emergency loan keeper. However, after conceding four goals on his debut against Lye Town, he became involved in an altercation with an irate supporter. Although Patching apologised, Rushden & Diamonds dismissed the player. Rushden & Diamonds are currently at the bottom of the Northern Premier League Midlands Division and in danger of dropping down a level, having played in the Football League as recently as 2006.
International Round-Up – 1
I know it’s not non-League stuff, but two ‘non-League’ international matches caught my eye this week. Firstly, there’s the World Cup Qualifier between the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. The teams ranked 207 or 208 in the world, with only Anguilla and San
Marino below them, drew 1-1 at the Bethlehem Soccer Stadium on Friday, giving the BVI a chance to overcome the USVI in the second leg of the qualifier on Tuesday (today).
International Round-Up – 2
You might want a clue before you check the answer to the Uxbridge to Arsenal Quiz. On Saturday, the Zs of Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe, played out a 2-2 draw, with Zimbabwe battling back from 2-0 down and winning a penalty shoot-out at the Bingu National Stadium. Does that help with the Uxbridge to Arsenal quiz?
Southport fight back
Southport looked to be slipping to a 2-1 defeat to Buxton in the National League North. In the 90th minute, Richie Bennett made it 2-2 to give Southport a much-needed point in their fight against relegation, but the fight continued after the equaliser. Firstly, Luke Burgess got a red card and Marcus Carver followed Luke down the tunnel in the last few seconds. Some fight back!
Uxbridge to Arsenal Part Two
OK, so were there any smart arses? The connection between Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City, Uxbridge, Kidderminster Harriers and Vauxhall Motors is that they are the highest-placed clubs in England for teams beginning with each letter of the alphabet. Jersey Bulls are the highest-ranked team playing in England, but if you only include clubs which play at home in England, Jarrow carry the flag for the letter J. If there are any clubs beginning with X or Z out there, there’s an excellent opportunity to get a mention in these columns,
