And it’s back!

First league game of the season, @croydonfc.bsky.social hosted @rochesterunited.bsky.social

The host scored in the first minute but the visitors won 2-1 with the last kick of the game.

Headed through Guildford today and found this interloper visiting the station. Always great to see a class 153 in the wild…

Combined Counties League Premier Challenge Cup Final

Cobham 3-1 North Greenford Utd
Played at Sheerwater FC.

Entertaining game, Cobham looked to be cruising until NGU got one back in the 80th minute, then had a penalty saved in the 86th. Cobham sealed it with an audacious back heel goal 90+2.

What better way to spend a May bank holiday afternoon than watching step 7 football.

Borden Village 3-4 Tenterden Town

The host were denied a penalty in the 88th minute despite a clear handball. Great game otherwise despite the blustery wind and showers.

SCEFL Fiv 1 play off. Soul Tower Hamlets v Forest Hill Park/SE Dons. A very dull 90 minutes, bar a penalty save by STH. So it went to a shoot out which Soul TH won 5-4. Congratulations to them on their achievement and I guess some ‘Soul’ searching to do at the SE Dons for how it all went wrong….

Tough evening last night with @croydonfc.bsky.social in play off semi with Forest Hill Park. 0-0 over the 90 minutes, so penalties. Croydon lost 4-2 and so our season is over. It’s been a rollercoaster, if the effort and passion from 24/5 carries over then 25/26 will be a good one for The Trams.

Highly entertaining game at Imber Court last night. Met Police hosted @westfield-fc.bsky.social the hosts took the lead in the first half but a strong second half performance had the visitors 2-1 up as the game entered stoppage time. A thunderbolt strike at the very end earned a point a piece.

Was planning on going to see @croydonfc.bsky.social play at Sheppey today but the trains were all wrong so I ended up at Faversham Strike Force v Soul Tower Hamlets. A 0-0 draw that did neither team any favours.

Croydon 1-1 Welling Town
SCEFL Div 1
Croydon end a six game losing streak in the league but should have won this one. The visitor were reduced to 10
Men for the last 35 mins and Croydon couldn’t convert their dominance into goals. #nonleague

Boxing Day football has been a bit of a drought for me goal wise, only one goal in the last four fixtures so todays offering of AFC Croydon v Phoenix Sports ending 4-1 was nothing short of a flood. #NonLeague

Tidied up and secure for winter, cleaned all the leaves off, covered the exhaust, got the rubbish out the cabs and checked the engine over for motion and lubrication on the working one. I’ll see them again in a few months for more adventures in 2025. #Ruston #diesel #preservation

Lewisham Borough 2-1 Croydon
Alex Yee Ladywell Arena
SECFL Division One

Very competitive game, some hot tempers, Croydon down to 10 men at half time. Stoppage time winner for the hosts.

Fulham U21 2-1 Leeds Utd U21
Motspur Park
Premier League 2

A thoroughly enjoyable game, very fast paced and plenty of talking points.

My James Trussart Steelcaster. I craved after one of these for years, had this now about seven years and it still amazes me with the quality and playability. Sheer craftmanship. Wife likes it too, so much she wants it hung on the living room wall.

After a journey of over eight hours to get here yesterday finally got to do the engine and gearbox oil drain on 394014 this morning that was urgently needed due to emulsified oil in both. Now to get back home.
#Ruston #Railway #Preservation

So after a week of driving trains for a living it was a day of driving trains for nothing. Day one of the East Kent Railway’s Santa By Train season. Class 73 in charge and me at the controls. Ironically this loco used to be based at North Pole depot.
#volunteering #heritage #railway