Andy Dakin

Retired accountant. Football ground & sports stadia photographic archive. Sporting Luddite. Groundhopper. 5,769 football matches on 2,551 grounds.

[Vince Taylor @Groundtastic]

In the Summer 2026 issue of Groundtastic (GT125), we report on Workington's last match at Borough Park in its current form, and also discuss the intertwined history of its neighbours Derwent Park and Lonsdale Park. Buy here: https://t.co/pAYn9j1FkL

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

@Iandennisbbc Are they operating under the new 10 second substitution rule? It'll be chaos.

[Count Binface @CountBinface]

Here it is: my 2026 manifesto for the #Makerfield By-Election. Makerfield Great Again! #VoteBinface #MakeYourVoteCount

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

@ASViking @Rod_Studd Exactly. Ball on the centre spot, away you go. Of course VAR takes longer than that which is where it falls down. But if players aren't back in place by the time VAR has cleared the goal, tough.

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

Interesting to note all FIFA's relative time-saving nit-picking of five or ten seconds here and there on throw-ins and substitutions and yet seemingly no problem with 90 seconds lost on over-elaborate goal celebrations.

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

@Rod_Studd Fingers crossed.

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

And..... presumably the new ten second substitution tweak will render the "30 seconds for each substitution" added time obsolete.

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

Interesting to note all FIFA's relative time-saving nit-picking of five or ten seconds here and there on throw-ins and substitutions and yet seemingly no problem with 90 seconds lost on over-elaborate goal celebrations.

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

@grassrootsrefJa @DaleJohnsonBBC I was being a little facetious. But surely if the machine is dealing with 10cm+ the assistant should be able to use his/her own initiative for the blatantly obvious.

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

@legsidelizzy Second prize four tickets?

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

It took some finding, but tonight's football is @llangynhafalfc v @DyrnyFC in the Llandyrnog Summer League on the home side's new pitch #2551

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

@BangorAyeGaz @Rod_Studd That's a whole other issue. What if one of the games in the final group games gets halted? Does the other game in the group also stop?

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

@Rod_Studd Guaranteed we'll have one over 2 hours, endless players feigning injury at the slightest hint of contact. Games kicking off at 8pm won't finish til gone ten past ten. TV schedulers can't wait.....

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

A clear, illegal block made by an attacker. The only objective was to prevent the defender from being able to defend on his opponent. This will only apply to attacking fouls, and not to defensive fouls for holding or pulling. **Also half a job.

[Dale Johnson @DaleJohnsonBBC]

JUST IN

Pierluigi Collina reveals the goalkeeper tactical time-out will be BANNED at the World Cup. Players will not be permitted to approach the technical area.

PLUS: New VAR powers for an attacking foul before a set-piece is taken.

👇
https://t.co/ljjsTdK0wC

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

Corners can be checked: If VAR can make sure that a corner has been correctly awarded, but this must be done quickly and before the restart. Does not apply to wrongly awarded goal-kicks. **Half a job.

[Dale Johnson @DaleJohnsonBBC]

JUST IN

Pierluigi Collina reveals the goalkeeper tactical time-out will be BANNED at the World Cup. Players will not be permitted to approach the technical area.

PLUS: New VAR powers for an attacking foul before a set-piece is taken.

👇
https://t.co/ljjsTdK0wC

[Yesterday's Britain, A Better Britain. @YesterdaysBrit1]

A blast from the past.

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

Final Saturday of the season. Waunarlwydd Galaxy v Glynneath Town in the West Wales League Promotion Play-Offs #2550

[Paul Groundtastic @paul_gtastic]

Waterlooville played at Jubilee Park from 1959 to 1998, a well-appointed ground that graced the Southern League. It disappeared after the club merged with Havant Town. Read more in our 7-page article in GT125.
More info: https://t.co/wIgcmKbdI2

[Vince Taylor @Groundtastic]

Due out on 1st June, we are now accepting pre-orders for the Summer 2026 (GT125) issue of Groundtastic. Details here: https://t.co/pAYn9j1FkL

[Andy Dakin @groundhopper23]

@DougGThomson @paul_gtastic Great spot.