| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? 23:07 - Dec 4 with 4138 views | FrimleyBlue |
Drove past a park earlier and it was sad to see 0 football being played. Its the 2nd weekend of no football.
I remember many moons ago. Football on a Sunday was like church for some. Yet here in surrey it seems to be dieing off.
What's it like in the town? |  |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 00:02 - Dec 5 with 3351 views | judespiveyg |
Loads of Saturday SIL teams all over Ipswich and the surrounding area. Can't really speak for Sunday football cause I've only ever played Saturdays but grassroots football is in pretty good shape in Ipswich I'd say. |  |
| I survived Ipswich 0-0 Burton |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 00:21 - Dec 5 with 3326 views | gainsboroughblue |
Not played myself for a good three decades but several of the venues I remember playing at are notable by their absence of goalposts, touchline paint and a good mow of the grass.
Years ago, we had two leagues. The Sunday Morning League which comprised of something like 12 divisions of 8-10 teams and the Licensed Trades League which had four divisions from memory. No idea if that is still the case. |  |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 00:25 - Dec 5 with 3319 views | StNeotsBlue |
Can't comment on the Ipswich scene but in the 90's the St. Neots and district league had 5 divisions now there are only 1 or 2 teams playing in less local leagues.
At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old git, the younger generation aren't bothered. |  | | |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:09 - Dec 5 with 3158 views | ITFC_Forever |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 00:21 - Dec 5 by gainsboroughblue |
Not played myself for a good three decades but several of the venues I remember playing at are notable by their absence of goalposts, touchline paint and a good mow of the grass.
Years ago, we had two leagues. The Sunday Morning League which comprised of something like 12 divisions of 8-10 teams and the Licensed Trades League which had four divisions from memory. No idea if that is still the case. |
They merged together some years ago and there’s nowhere near as many teams as there used to be.
20 - 25 years ago, almost every park / rec in Ipswich had at least one if not several games going on - Gyppeswick, Chantry, Bourne, Dumbarton Rd, Murray Rd, Bramford Lane are some that spring to mind.
Now, and I think this is correct, all the pitches the council let out are at Gainsborough Sports Centre, as that’s all that’s needed. |  |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:27 - Dec 5 with 3121 views | Hullblue |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:09 - Dec 5 by ITFC_Forever |
They merged together some years ago and there’s nowhere near as many teams as there used to be.
20 - 25 years ago, almost every park / rec in Ipswich had at least one if not several games going on - Gyppeswick, Chantry, Bourne, Dumbarton Rd, Murray Rd, Bramford Lane are some that spring to mind.
Now, and I think this is correct, all the pitches the council let out are at Gainsborough Sports Centre, as that’s all that’s needed. |
Is this because more people have gravitated to Saturdays, though? There were at least five SIL divisions last time I checked, plus all the ones above that.
Sunday football wasn't really a thing for me and my mates - we played on Saturdays and went out on Saturday nights, and it was the same for almost everyone we knew. |  |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:30 - Dec 5 with 3112 views | Ely_Blue |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:27 - Dec 5 by Hullblue |
Is this because more people have gravitated to Saturdays, though? There were at least five SIL divisions last time I checked, plus all the ones above that.
Sunday football wasn't really a thing for me and my mates - we played on Saturdays and went out on Saturday nights, and it was the same for almost everyone we knew. |
The demise of the public houses and the communities around them probably doesn’t help, I wouldn’t mind betting that it’s the same demise for the local pub darts leagues too |  |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:33 - Dec 5 with 3110 views | RobTheMonk |
My Mum lives about two minutes from a couple of local football pitches. Back in the day, we'd have loads of us playing after school and all day Saturday. Come rain or shine.
Barely see any kids playing like we used to now. |  | | |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:46 - Dec 5 with 3088 views | oldburian |
I left West Suffolk in 1970. In the fifties and early sixties there was the Bury and District League with four divisions of 16 and the Bury Village League which was mainly reserve sides from the former. The latter died out in the mid sixties but when I left the BDL was still functioning under Capt Britt. Village football in those days was brilliant, really loved it.
From what I can see now is that there is no West Suffolk based Saturday football, a few of the larger villages play in the SIL, mostly those closer to Ipswich. The Victory ground in Bury still has football pitches so some organised play presumably on a Sunday. |  | | |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 09:33 - Dec 5 with 2937 views | gainsboroughblue |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:09 - Dec 5 by ITFC_Forever |
They merged together some years ago and there’s nowhere near as many teams as there used to be.
20 - 25 years ago, almost every park / rec in Ipswich had at least one if not several games going on - Gyppeswick, Chantry, Bourne, Dumbarton Rd, Murray Rd, Bramford Lane are some that spring to mind.
Now, and I think this is correct, all the pitches the council let out are at Gainsborough Sports Centre, as that’s all that’s needed. |
Blimey, it has shrunk then. Have played at all of those places you mention, as well as Eastwood Ho at Felixstowe which on a windy day, was a challenge! | |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 09:42 - Dec 5 with 2910 views | C_HealyIsAPleasure |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:27 - Dec 5 by Hullblue |
Is this because more people have gravitated to Saturdays, though? There were at least five SIL divisions last time I checked, plus all the ones above that.
Sunday football wasn't really a thing for me and my mates - we played on Saturdays and went out on Saturday nights, and it was the same for almost everyone we knew. |
SIL has shrunk quite a bit in recent years too. When I first started playing 15-20 years ago there were 7 divisions plus Intermediates, last season they were down to 4 with 3 Intermediate leagues and this year it’s 6 with the Intermediate leagues scrapped |  |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 12:07 - Dec 5 with 2748 views | longtimefan |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:09 - Dec 5 by ITFC_Forever |
They merged together some years ago and there’s nowhere near as many teams as there used to be.
20 - 25 years ago, almost every park / rec in Ipswich had at least one if not several games going on - Gyppeswick, Chantry, Bourne, Dumbarton Rd, Murray Rd, Bramford Lane are some that spring to mind.
Now, and I think this is correct, all the pitches the council let out are at Gainsborough Sports Centre, as that’s all that’s needed. |
Following the merger I think there was around 10 divisions with 14 or so teams in each. The league is now down to 4 divisions with 11 teams in each. [Post edited 5 Dec 2022 12:24]
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 13:01 - Dec 5 with 2648 views | monty_radio |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 09:33 - Dec 5 by gainsboroughblue |
Blimey, it has shrunk then. Have played at all of those places you mention, as well as Eastwood Ho at Felixstowe which on a windy day, was a challenge! |
Places like Hutland Rd had a pitch; Bourne Park, Gyppeswyk and Chantry had several way back when. Even the hallowed Christchurch Park had one near Mabel's tree - the only flat bit! Alexandra Park also. | |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 13:05 - Dec 5 with 2631 views | ITFC_Forever |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 12:07 - Dec 5 by longtimefan |
Following the merger I think there was around 10 divisions with 14 or so teams in each. The league is now down to 4 divisions with 11 teams in each. [Post edited 5 Dec 2022 12:24]
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Wow, it’s shrunk even more then. | |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 13:19 - Dec 5 with 2589 views | DJR |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 00:25 - Dec 5 by StNeotsBlue |
Can't comment on the Ipswich scene but in the 90's the St. Neots and district league had 5 divisions now there are only 1 or 2 teams playing in less local leagues.
At the risk of sounding like a grumpy old git, the younger generation aren't bothered. |
Yes, when I played twenty odd years ago, one couldn't be sure the younger lads would turn up following a Saturday night out clubbing. |  | | |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 13:31 - Dec 5 with 2547 views | DJR |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 09:42 - Dec 5 by C_HealyIsAPleasure |
SIL has shrunk quite a bit in recent years too. When I first started playing 15-20 years ago there were 7 divisions plus Intermediates, last season they were down to 4 with 3 Intermediate leagues and this year it’s 6 with the Intermediate leagues scrapped |
That reflect my experience playing in the Saturday Civil Service league in London. It started off with three divisions, and completely folded in 1999. My impression was that, rather like the church, people had many more other things to do at weekends.
The same is true of the 11-aside London Legal League (for solicitors' firms) which was played mid-week on astroturf pitches throughout London. At one time there were three divisions, but it now appears to be down to one division.
Slightly ironic that the number of people playing junior football appears to be in inverse correlation to the number of people watching football in pubs. [Post edited 5 Dec 2022 13:32]
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 16:08 - Dec 5 with 2423 views | ronnyd |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:46 - Dec 5 by oldburian |
I left West Suffolk in 1970. In the fifties and early sixties there was the Bury and District League with four divisions of 16 and the Bury Village League which was mainly reserve sides from the former. The latter died out in the mid sixties but when I left the BDL was still functioning under Capt Britt. Village football in those days was brilliant, really loved it.
From what I can see now is that there is no West Suffolk based Saturday football, a few of the larger villages play in the SIL, mostly those closer to Ipswich. The Victory ground in Bury still has football pitches so some organised play presumably on a Sunday. |
Used to visit Capt Britt during my reffing days. Wasn't he also on the disciplinary committee for Suffolk FA as well? | | | |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 16:13 - Dec 5 with 2400 views | oldburian |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 16:08 - Dec 5 by ronnyd |
Used to visit Capt Britt during my reffing days. Wasn't he also on the disciplinary committee for Suffolk FA as well? |
Unfortunately yes, a 10 week ban for a booking, mind you I did send him a letter addressed to Corporal Britt. | | | |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 17:22 - Dec 5 with 2352 views | jontysnut |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:09 - Dec 5 by ITFC_Forever |
They merged together some years ago and there’s nowhere near as many teams as there used to be.
20 - 25 years ago, almost every park / rec in Ipswich had at least one if not several games going on - Gyppeswick, Chantry, Bourne, Dumbarton Rd, Murray Rd, Bramford Lane are some that spring to mind.
Now, and I think this is correct, all the pitches the council let out are at Gainsborough Sports Centre, as that’s all that’s needed. |
Cost of pitches and lack of maintenance also a factor. I had a summer job with council tears ago and looked after the pitches on Whitehouse rec as if they were Portman Road itself. |  | | |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 18:12 - Dec 5 with 2296 views | DinDjarin |
Used to be SEH league with 12 divisions and Licensed Trade with 5 plus Bury league with 6.
Sunday football it seems now is in massive decline which is a shame.
Had some great times playing for Stow Vandals, Royal Oak Cowboys, Rampant Horse and others.
Mostly still half cut as were most others but good times. |  | | |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 18:25 - Dec 5 with 2260 views | gainsboroughblue |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 18:12 - Dec 5 by DinDjarin |
Used to be SEH league with 12 divisions and Licensed Trade with 5 plus Bury league with 6.
Sunday football it seems now is in massive decline which is a shame.
Had some great times playing for Stow Vandals, Royal Oak Cowboys, Rampant Horse and others.
Mostly still half cut as were most others but good times. |
SEH league was also the Little David league as well from memory. I'm pretty sure I played against Stow Vandals back in the day, presumably in same division. Other great names I recall being Bristar, Armada, Northam Celtic, Italia. | |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 21:17 - Dec 5 with 2168 views | NthQldITFC |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 07:09 - Dec 5 by ITFC_Forever |
They merged together some years ago and there’s nowhere near as many teams as there used to be.
20 - 25 years ago, almost every park / rec in Ipswich had at least one if not several games going on - Gyppeswick, Chantry, Bourne, Dumbarton Rd, Murray Rd, Bramford Lane are some that spring to mind.
Now, and I think this is correct, all the pitches the council let out are at Gainsborough Sports Centre, as that’s all that’s needed. |
...or the airport as it is properly called. |  |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 21:55 - Dec 5 with 2088 views | monty_radio |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 18:25 - Dec 5 by gainsboroughblue |
SEH league was also the Little David league as well from memory. I'm pretty sure I played against Stow Vandals back in the day, presumably in same division. Other great names I recall being Bristar, Armada, Northam Celtic, Italia. |
Northam Celtic - I was in the room when that name was invented by us 14-15 yr olds though I've since read an apocryphal version of how that came to be. | |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 22:14 - Dec 5 with 2066 views | ITFC_Forever |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 21:17 - Dec 5 by NthQldITFC |
...or the airport as it is properly called. |
Yes, of course.
Used to hate playing there and Eastward Ho… always so windswept. | |
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| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 12:19 - Dec 6 with 1831 views | Bluespeed225 |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 17:22 - Dec 5 by jontysnut |
Cost of pitches and lack of maintenance also a factor. I had a summer job with council tears ago and looked after the pitches on Whitehouse rec as if they were Portman Road itself. |
yup, my end, Gypeswick, had 4 pitches, Chantry Park several. Some are now 'wildlife' areas, i.e the council don't touch them! No more marking out, putting up/taking down posts, and maintaining changing rooms, which was a feature of some parks. Gypeswick when I was a kid had a bowls green! | | | |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 13:17 - Dec 6 with 1767 views | Muncher |
| What's Sunday football like in Ipswich? on 22:14 - Dec 5 by ITFC_Forever |
Yes, of course.
Used to hate playing there and Eastward Ho… always so windswept. |
Played at Eastward Ho at the weekend for the first time in a while. There used to be 7 pitches now 3 but they are in fantastic condition because they are so rarely used.
Sunday football is in terminal decline, give it 5 years and we will be down to a single league of 10 teams based on current trends. | | | |
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