Going for a Burton, and a Hollow Victory: Part One of a Festive Footballing Feast!

 With Christmas leaving just as quickly as it arrived, we now encompass that nether zone in which nobody knows what the actual day of the week it is. As such, it's essentially the last chance to get a taste of some football before an empty January fixture calendar rears its welcome head, as far as saving money goes at least. 

Though Czech and Slovak football does make a return around the end of January, I've nothing pencilled in until a long weekend in Liege for a mid-February week off. Of course I'll be watching Standard Liege against Union Saint Gilloise in what will be my first taste of Belgian football, and indeed Belgium. As well as this, I'm hoping to visit Plovdiv over the Easter break, and ultimately, get out to one or two countries in Central Asia in the summer. 

I'll save the reflections on 2025 for the actual final blog of the calendar year (or more likely the first blog of 2026) which will follow my trip to Cardiff tomorrow, but it's always nice to look ahead with some optimism at prospective plans. I often take these trips alone which isn't an issue as such, but I'm hoping in the new year to gain some confidence and perhaps try and make some connections during these trips.

Looking back at the Christmas period so far, however, I hadn't made any grand plans beyond at least one Stevenage home game, one Biggleswade United game (whether home or away), and of course the aforementioned Cardiff away - and I thank the fixture gods for putting this away day on while I'm home for Christmas incidentally.

A Festive Football Feast!

I left for Bratislava Airport horrendously early via 4.15am FlixBus on the 19th, but thankful I could allow myself plenty of time before Stevenage's 12.30 KO against Burton Albion the following day. I spent the majority of a turgid opening 45 minutes questioning why anyone would think to put Stevenage v Burton Albion on TV, as Stevenage went in 0-1 down at the break courtesy of Tyrece Shade. That old bogey team Burton striking once again, I thought. 

The second half was considerably better, with Harvey White coming on at the break and essentially turning the game on its head. A gift of a goal for Jamie Reid, followed by a well-crafted own goal (if that's possible) put the Boro' 2-1 up, though Jake Beesley had the final say with a 67th minute header for Burton. It finished 2-2 and...that was pretty much that. By the end of the match, I retracted my initial scorn toward Sky Sports choosing this to put on TV, as by the end it turned into quite a decent game. Well, a decent second-half...

Somehow despite most games seemingly being poor over the last few months, Stevenage sit up in 4th, and I dare say comfortably so given the games in hand and points advantage over 7th placed Huddersfield. Play-offs is seeming more and more likely with every passing matchday, somehow regardless of whether Stevenage win or not. I mean, I'll take it!

It was also nice to catch up with some friends and throw a few arrows in Our Mutual Friend after the game, particularly after a difficult couple of weeks. I was quite encouraged by my performance on the dartboard, having struggled to find consistency with the board at home, but rest assured I'll certainly be playing more competitively against others in 2026.

As for the other local game I had planned, I was in two minds whether to head to Potton for the bi-annual derby that always seems to be around Christmas between Potton United and Biggleswade United. As you'll probably have guessed, I ultimately decided I would brave the winter chill and head north. After all, I hadn't been to Potton since 2018, and their ground - The Hollow - is well worth a visit. 

Prior to the game, Potton United were struggling toward the bottom, with Biggleswade United very much in promotion contention, and the final scoreline of 4-0 very much reflected that. That said, Potton United's debutant Tilson was sent off two minutes in for retaliating with a hand in the opposition's face. In hindsight watching the video footage back, it seems slightly harsh, but a calm head would have avoided giving the ref the opportunity to make the decision in the first place.

Despite the red card, it took Biggleswade United some 56 minutes to take the lead via Scott Metcalfe's close range effort. The floodgates then opened 83 minutes in via TikTok's very own viral teacher Kit Brown who doubled the away side's advantage. Stoppage time then saw a couple of cherries on top of a solid away showing via the brilliantly named Kingsley Joy-Bates, and Kade Bagge. 

Next up for me, that aforementioned trip to Cardiff, which will of course include Cardiff away (a game I fully expect to lose), as well as Cardiff Met Uni versus Haverfordwest County in what will be my first taste of Welsh League football. The blog will of course follow in the new year!

Thanks to all those who've been reading the blogs over the last year - a happy new year to all and hopefully a lot more content in 2026.