FabSwingers.com forum: July/Pre Season Football Thread.

By *hief Scout OP Man
3 weeks ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

Well, it's getting close. Not that it seems we've had a close season, what with the Under-21's, Women's Euro, and the FIFA Greed Cup.....oops, I mean Club World Cup.

How are your preparations coming along ? Watford (£422) & Fulham (£486) season tickets renewed. As with start of last season, there are currently five home fixtures clashes before they start fiddling with games. That ended up being three last season so hopefully a couple of the clashes will disappear as usually happens. Have also taken membership at Millwall out again, waiting for Orient to put theirs on sale. Had a proper scout around the fixtures when released, and have around seventy games pencilled in so far.

I note there's a ramping up in the number of friendlies later today, but it's too warm for me. There's a Watford v. Wimbledon kickabout at Wealdstone but it doesn't appeal. First friendlies definitely in diary are at Orient, v Spurs U21 (annual Justin Edinburgh Memorial game - met him a couple of times when he wad managing non-league, Billericay, and later Rushden & Diamonds before they went belly up) on Tues 22nd, and then they host Watford on Sat 26th.

I MAY actually start this Tuesday, I note Slough host a Brentford XI. Anyone else have any plans yet ?

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By *luerooMan
3 weeks ago

Bridgwater

watford always a good value season ticket, as well as 23+ home games you get the added bonus of 2 or 3 new managers every season.

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By *tu100Man
3 weeks ago

bristol

Are you a fan of the new Watford shirt though?

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By *i married coupleXCouple
3 weeks ago

Bellshill

Im £560 for my season ticket at ibrox, looking forward to start of the season, Russell Martin wasn't my 1st choice for the job but ive warmed round to him. Talks well with media etc so we'll see how it goes

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By *ie n MashCouple
3 weeks ago

Back in Malice

Been waiting for this thread for weeks. Welcome back, CS!

Renewed both the home and away season tickets for the ‘Appy ‘Ammers. Thanks to the Prem selling it’s soul to TV, I cannot make the first two home games as I already have plans for a Friday night gig in Brighton and a northern soul all-niter. Still, it’s only Chelsea and N17’s finest, so no biggie. The real pain is the very strong rumour that our first trip to Everton is being moved to:a Monday night.

Did the first pre-season last Saturday (my local non league side away to Buckingham ….. in Bicester, on a 3G pitch where I’ve played walking football, watching through a fence.

Off to Worthing in a couple of hours to see WHU u21s. Genuinely excited about this one, as I love a new ground. Got the “El Quackico” next Friday, then spending much needed time with the wife on holiday, before the season begins in earnest with an away trip to Sunderland. Cannot wait!!

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By *hief Scout OP Man
3 weeks ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

"Are you a fan of the new Watford shirt though?"

It's very apt, a bit like the team. Fades dramatically as it gets nearer the top 😆. It's OK, but it's not shouting "come & get me immediately" like last season's did, which was first time in years I bought it on 'launch day'.

I see Southampton have another absolute corker, effectively a remake of the post-1976 Cup win shirt

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By *ORDERMANMan
3 weeks ago

wrexham(south)

WREXHAM kicked off their down under tour with 3-0 win against Melbourne Victory..

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By *hief Scout OP Man
2 weeks ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

And we're off & running !

Reasonably entertaining start, Slough beating Brentford B 3-2. Always likely to be a 'fast' game on the 3G pitch. In total contrast to the weather we've enjoyed/endured (according to taste) over the last couple of months, a few spots of rain & a couple of showers during the match. I'm sure it was much appreciated by the players, in fact it was getting to be a bit chilly towards the end, and coming away from the ground quarter-to-ten noticeable that the nights are edging back in a little ! Soon be Christmas.

Nothing specific in diary for Saturday (might go somewhere if I find something which appeals), at present next one is Orient v Spurs U21 on Tues.

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By *angled up in twoCouple
2 weeks ago

West Mids

Birmingham - £500, I'll wait for the real ball to come out. We're going to be the talk of the season so you may as well get on board now.

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By *ingobingoMan
2 weeks ago

chch

I will be seeing Wrexham in Wellington for their 3rd game down under this weekend.

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By *luelion73Man
2 weeks ago

Wimbledon

Will be watching the friendlies against Wimbledon Bromley and Sutton.

Looking forward to the start of the football season.

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By *ie n MashCouple
2 weeks ago

Back in Malice

"I will be seeing Wrexham in Wellington for their 3rd game down under this weekend. "

Good stadium there. I saw the ‘Appy ‘Ammers lose

3-1 to Sydney there 11 years ago. (Yup, you read it right; 23,000 mile round trip to see us lose to a bunch of Aussies).

Have you travelled out there, or are you domicile in the region?

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By *dward_TeagueMan
2 weeks ago

wolverhampton

I don’t really get back into football until the cricket season is over!

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By *ookie46Woman
2 weeks ago

Deepest darkest Peru

Looking forward to being back in the premier league

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By *eardedguy83Man
2 weeks ago

Worcestershire

Can’t wait. Went to 1st pre season game last night. I love this time of the year. The anticipation, the hope…

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By *hief Scout OP Man
2 weeks ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

Good to see a few different names & faces chipping in - brilliant stuff.

For the 'newcomers', I open a new thread at the start of each month through the season to keep posts fresh, hope you'll all keep an eye on things as the season progresses. I DON'T anticipate doing 195 games again this season.....but you never know !

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By *vmarisaTV/TS
2 weeks ago

Motherwell

Celtic play Sporting Lisbon this evening in a friendly. Liverpool buying a world class defence and midfielder and always have a soft spot for Everton and West Ham. So looking forward to the new season and the pre season tournaments too.Mx

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By *ewbootsandpanties99Man
2 weeks ago

Darkest South East Surrey

Pre season friendly on Saturday, Whyteleafe v Lingfield.

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By *ongue twister 2015Man
2 weeks ago

Cumbernauld

"Im £560 for my season ticket at ibrox, looking forward to start of the season, Russell Martin wasn't my 1st choice for the job but ive warmed round to him. Talks well with media etc so we'll see how it goes "

Same here , wasn't my first choice either but talks well so let's hope that transfers onto the pitch

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By *ekked JackMan
2 weeks ago

South Lanarkshire

Same here , wasn't my first choice either but talks well so let's hope that transfers onto the pitch "

I like the look of his transfers so far and the second half against bruges was promising. Maybe see some of you at the louden one match day...😁

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By *ongue twister 2015Man
2 weeks ago

Cumbernauld

Same here , wasn't my first choice either but talks well so let's hope that transfers onto the pitch

I like the look of his transfers so far and the second half against bruges was promising. Maybe see some of you at the louden one match day...😁"

Usually the Park Bar for me , Louden Way too busy lol.

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By *mileyculturebelfastMan
2 weeks ago

belfast

Think we should do ok. Long as we put the paedos back where they belong.

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By *mileyculturebelfastMan
2 weeks ago

belfast

Same here , wasn't my first choice either but talks well so let's hope that transfers onto the pitch

I like the look of his transfers so far and the second half against bruges was promising. Maybe see some of you at the louden one match day...😁"

The 4 - 1 against the Lurgan bigots team was decent. Close to the team for panathinaikos.

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By *hief Scout OP Man
1 week ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

I guess with the season edging ever closer, the number and intensity of pre-season games will ramp up a little.

I'm off to Orient v. Spurs U21 this evening. Anyone have anything else lined up over next few days ?

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By *ewbootsandpanties99Man
1 week ago

Darkest South East Surrey

Crawley v Palace on Friday evening.

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By *eardedguy83Man
1 week ago

Worcestershire

Another friendly tonight…it’s getting close

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By *hief Scout OP Man
1 week ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

Enjoyable evening's entertainment over in E10 for the Justin Edinburgh Memorial Match.

Justin took Orient back into the League in 2019. Being a Spurs old boy he was out in Madrid when they got to the CL Final, had a, shall we say, "busy" weekend, went to the gym when home on the Monday, and there was a reaction which floored him with a heart attack. The gym didn't have defibrillator, and Justin passed away a few days later.

His family, primarily his son Charlie, set up the 'JE3 Foundation' which is aiming to get a defib into every sports facility in the country. Orient & Spurs (mainly the U21's) now meet annually in a pre-season fundraiser.

Anyway, onto the game itself. As should perhaps be expected given they are senior players, Orient had by far the better of the first half. Good crisp, on the deck, passing game, and led 1-0 at the break through Aaron Connolly. He had the end of last season at Millwall, saw him on a couple of occasions, and didn't really look "at it". Different tonight though, had a very decent first half.

Obviously lots of changes in 2nd half for both teams. Incidentally, Jamie Donley who sort of scored "that goal" for Orient in the Cup against Citeh was very much welcomed back though this time in a Spurs shirt. Anyway, Spurs U21 levelled midway through second half, but Orient added two goals in the late stages to win 3-1.

Am back there on Saturday when I get my first opportunity of the season to see how yet another new Watford set up is taking shape.

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By *abioMan
1 week ago

Newcastle and Gateshead

I’ve been looking at some of the season ticket prices and laughing… if only it was that cheap at the emirates….

I share/split a season ticket…. So its not that bad, I do it mainly to get travel club membership for away games

Anyway, I don’t really pay attention to pre season… 2 weeks to 10 days out and I become laser focused

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By *hief Scout OP Man
1 week ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

My Fulham one (£486) reflects that I've had it for eleven years, so get all the early bird renewal deals. But they had a few up for sale in my block of the Hammersmith End, and 'new' pricing was £661, which is still fairly reasonable

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By *vmarisaTV/TS
1 week ago

Motherwell

"Enjoyable evening's entertainment over in E10 for the Justin Edinburgh Memorial Match.

Am back there on Saturday when I get my first opportunity of the season to see how yet another new Watford set up is taking shape."

Does Harry Kane still have ties to Orient ,did he not sponsor them one season. Mx

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By *hief Scout OP Man
1 week ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

No. That stopped when he moved to Bayern.

But what an excellent gesture it was, Orient was first club he went on loan to, he loved it there, and as he was born in Leytonstone it was his local club. It was for two seasons (2021-22/22-23) he gave Orient the £'s they would expect to get in shirt sponsorship, and then the club made that advertising space available to charities. The club would make the three kits open to different charities. I've got a couple of O's shirts which have "Haven House" (children's hospices in East London/Essex), while another has "Mind" the mental health organisation on it.

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By *jh59Man
1 week ago

Stoke Golding

Fulham season ticket renewed

Don’t do pre season friendlies anymore

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By *pthemanorMan
1 week ago

Abingdon on Thames

£350 for my Oxford ticket this season, barely increased over the last 2 seasons following promotion to the Championship (we all know it's Div 2 really). Hoping to equal or beat my 14 away games from last season too. COYY

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By *hief Scout OP Man
1 week ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

"£350 for my Oxford ticket this season, barely increased over the last 2 seasons following promotion to the Championship (we all know it's Div 2 really). Hoping to equal or beat my 14 away games from last season too. COYY"

That's excellent value.

Glad to see Oxford have recovered to that level. When I was involved with Hayes the clubs met a couple of times, and Oxford looked after us fantastically. Some of the ex-League clubs looked down their nose at smaller clubs, not taking into account they were in the Conference because of failure, not progress.

Hopefully I'll get the chance to pop down to a random game again at some point this season (particularly when games start getting moved left right & centre), it's only 45 mins down the M40

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By *pthemanorMan
1 week ago

Abingdon on Thames

My sons first away game at H&Y, 2-1 defeat with Matt Green sent off for Oxford after 20 mins.

02/04/2010

Loved the clubhouse before the game...

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By *aughty Older ManMan
1 week ago

here and there

Used to be an avid Man City fan. Season tickets through the dark days, the lot. Gave them up the year before the takeover. Don't regret it one bit. Not the team I grew up to love. Just use football as a money maker in my boozer now. Ideal season would be for City and United get to the final of everything, but City win.

Think my last season ticket in 2007 was around £400, maybe slightly less. God only knows what it is now.

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By *hief Scout OP Man
1 week ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

"My sons first away game at H&Y, 2-1 defeat with Matt Green sent off for Oxford after 20 mins.

02/04/2010

Loved the clubhouse before the game..."

All long gone. Not a mark or an acknowledgement that there was a football ground in Church Road from 1920 to 2011😔

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By *hief Scout OP Man
6 days ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

Well, we're nearly there.

Back across town for Orient v. Watford.

Anyone else off to a game today ?

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By *hief Scout OP Man
6 days ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

1-1 draw at Brisbane Road, a clear step up in pace & intensity. Both keepers kept busy and made decent saves in first half.

Early exchange of goals in the second half. Game then became a bit disjointed in latter stages with lots of substitutions, but a decent workout for both teams and an entertaining enough game. Anyone else get to a match today ?

I have two more midweek. Some of the Step 5 Leagues kicked off today while some clubs start on Tuesday, presumably to get a competitive match under their belts before the F.A. Cup starts next weekend. So it's Harefield v. Edgware on Tuesday, and then Watford's friendly with Deportivo La Coruna at The Vic on Wednesday night.

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By *hief Scout OP Man
2 days ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

Combined Counties underway - Harefield 2 Edgware 0.

Also had a rumour floating around over summer confirmed by a (now former) programme seller who was at game - Watford not producing programmes this season.

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By *ie n MashCouple
2 days ago

Back in Malice

Shame about the Watford programmes. Another footballing tradition falling by the wayside (not that I ever buy them; far too tight!).

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By *hief Scout OP Man
24 hours ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

Indeed, the classic colourful 'square' issues from 1979 to 1989 were the perfect complement to that amazing era.

Anyway.....on the pitch, a 1-0 win over Deportivo La Coruna which could best be described as a "useful workout" than a spectacular evening's entertainment.

Next contribution from me will be to open up the August page on Friday.

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By *ony 2016Man
24 hours ago

lincs /Hudd & Derby cinema

I know a gent follows non league football, North East Counties up to National League, bit of a ground hopper , with some clubs now not producing programmes he always checks before he travels , if they don't do a programme he doesn't go and heads somewhere that does

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By *hief Scout OP Man
24 hours ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

Yep, I know someone who's like that too. I should be at an F.A. Cup Extra Prelim game on Sat, at a club that does still produce.

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By *ony 2016Man
23 hours ago

lincs /Hudd & Derby cinema

"Yep, I know someone who's like that too. I should be at an F.A. Cup Extra Prelim game on Sat, at a club that does still produce."

The road to Wembley starts Friday night , I am hoping to be somewhere Saturday but not sure where yet ,,

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By *hief Scout OP Man
23 hours ago

Wild Border Country of Herts & Middx/West London !

Excellent, look forward to seeing where you go when I set up the August page.

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By *ustfulbigboyMan
23 hours ago

North Wales

Looking forward to the season hopefully my team can improve on the absolute cluster fuck the season before was lol

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