Sheffield (Blue) by a nose in exciting three-way Premier Division battle
Derek Dooley (Red) press on at the top of the Championship
Another award for Sean Wright, this time from the County FA
Children’s Hospital fundraiser clears the £1500 mark
Eight hard fought fixtures in the www.southyorkshireabilitycountsleague.com Seven a side Leagues at a floodlit, wet Concord Sports Centre on Sunday (December 8th) as the pan-disability sides locked horns for the last time in 2025. It was a super afternoon of football played in fantastic spirits.
Here is our regular summary of the action.
In the Premier Division, Sean was match official on Pitch One as Alex Whitehead’s Hillsborough Hornets (Gold) got their afternoon off to a fast start with a narrow win over James Scally’s Dinnington Town (Yellows) by just the single goal in a hard -fought encounter.
Meanwhile, over on Pitch 2, Referee Brian took charge of another nail-biter between Sheffield FC (Blue) and Mansfield Ability Counts (Blue). The Mansfield keeper was in fantastic form, but Sheffield took all three points with the only goal of the game.
Mansfield (Blue) stayed on for the next Premiership fixture, and again, despite their goalkeeper’s heroics (including a brief stoppage for an elbow injury) it was Dinnington (Yellow) who grabbed maximum points with a well organised performance.
In the final match of the afternoon, Sheffield FC (Blue) saw off Hornets (Gold) thanks to some great finishes. It was a much closer match than the score suggests, with the World’s oldest simply being more clinical in front of goal.
So, after 5 games, Scott Gregory’s Sheffield Blue head the pile with eight points; the impressive Dinnington (Yellow) have seven points from one game less, and Hornets have seven points from five games. Mansfield AC (Blue) and Paul Jobson have just three points to show for four strong performances in what is an extremely competitive division.
In the Championship, Chair Mike was Match Official on Pitch One as Sheffield (White) defeated Wheatley Wanderers in a match marred by an injury to Wheatley’s keeper after a collision as two opposing players went for the ball. It was a complete accident, but the Wheatley keeper was unable to continue, reducing the Doncaster side to six players. That said, Kev Marsh’s Sheffield White probably deserved the win, with Wheatley’s Chris Pow standing in as keeper for the rest of the match.
Mike then took control of a close encounter between Vernon Thompson’s Mansfield AC (Amber) and Derek Dooley FA (Red), resplendent in their excellent new kits. Although Mansfield started the better, Claire Cowlishaw’s Dooley grew into the game and took the points courtesy of a single goal.
Credit to Derek Dooley AC Red in the next match, as they took a player off to match Wheatley’s six, but they still managed to take the three points with a fine victory and get their new kit off to a fine start. Credit to Wheatley, who continued to battle hard.
In the final game of the day, it was an excellent match between Sheffield FC (White) and Mansfield Town AC Amber, won by Club by the odd goal in three. The winner was a fantastic finish, worthy of winning the match.
So, four games in Derek Dooley (Red) lead the way with ten points from four games; it is nip and tuck behind them, as just two points cover the three other teams.
Thanks to all our 7-a-side players, coaches, referees, and spectators for a great day’s football. We wish you all a Merry Christmas and we will see you at Concord in January.
Sean Wright
Away from the on-field action, it is congratulations -again- to our Referee’s Secretary Sean Wright for his award as Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA’s match official of the Year at a recent ceremony at Doncaster Keepmoat. This award led to Sean’s National Match Official prize we are delighted for Sean, and it is another well-deserved award.
Well done, Sean!
Sheffield Children’s Hospital Fundraiser
This weekend the www.southyorkshireabilitycountsleague.com fundraiser in support of Ryegate House crashed through the £1600 barrier, thanks to another fabulous donation from Sheffield Foregmasters. With three weeks to go, we are getting close to our £2000 target, so if you would still like to donate, visit our Just Giving site at
The League rounds out 2025 next Sunday with our 5-a-side matchday at Goals Sheffield.
See you all there!
Here’s this weeks photos!
South Yorkshire Ability Counts League 