We recently got in touch with the man behind FootyWatch, Andy Stone aka Stoner who is a ground hopper and grassroots reviewer who is also an ambassador for The Cystic Fibrosis Comfort Fund charity after reading his fantastic thread on social media of the recent Wessex derby between Westbury United and Frome Town.
Stoner has kindly shared his videos, pictures and match thread with us of the enthralling encounter in a derby game that had everything which you can see further down this article, but first lets get to know a bit more about the man himself and how he incorporates his ground hops with raising money for a charity close to his heart.
Thanks for taking time to talk to us at Proper Football Andy, lets start by asking you what part of the country are you based in and who do you support?
So… I'm Based in Bristol/South Gloucestershire and my team for my sins is Manchester United but my love for the game is definitely at grassroots level.
How long have you been doing Footy Watch and what made you start?
FootyWatch has been going for around 4 1/2 years and my first game was Hallen vs Shepton Mallet, I wrote some in game tweets and a guy from Shepton Mallet - Jon Burr pulled me after and said “this is what non-league football needs” and that was the day FW was born.
Shepton Mallet have been great supporters of my work throughout and I have made great friends in Dan, Neil, Dec and Jon respectively.
What do you love about non-league?
I love the non-league scene as it allows you to enjoy the experience of the game at a more personal level, you get to see/meet great people, find out the history of the clubs through the gate men, tea ladies, club shop sellers and long serving committee members, for me, the personal touch out weighs the common “just a number” supporter in the professional game.
Why have you chosen the Cystic Fibrosis Comfort Fund charity in particular to raise funds for and how do raise funds?
The reason behind the Cystic Fibrosis Charity is I lost a close friend of mine at 21 year old and I’ve never stopped thinking about him, I’ve continued to raise money in his memory surpassing £10k recently in donations to the Comfort Fund Bristol, with my love for the beautiful game and the close community of grass roots the two go hand in hand to raise awareness and support for a great cause. This has allowed me to sell my #FW merchandise donating all the proceeds to the charity.
Do you stick to grounds in the Bristol area? or do you venture further afield?
I tend to travel wherever it takes me, on average I would say within a 60-90min travel distance but planning games currently in Cornwall and London so to be honest, you could say I’d go anywhere, but I do have a lot of support from local clubs and I love to be able to give back to those so within my catchment area always remains my priority, but it’s great to see different parts of the country and different teams for sure.
How many grounds have you visited and do you have a particular favourite ground or a specific match that stands out?
Including some league grounds and European games with Manchester United I’ve done 96 grounds and since using the Futbology app 262 games, a lot of these being at grassroots level in recent years… Favourite grounds league wise it’s got to be Old Trafford, so many great memories there and also love Villa Park, at non-league level, I love visiting Shepton Mallet, Brislington, Cribbs and have had some great games at Hallen and Bitton. It’s hard to choose a favourite, they are all great.
A specific match has to be the recent Wessex Derby beaten Westbury Utd vs Frome Town, the game had everything, and I mean everything! but truth me told every game I review I really enjoy and again like the clubs and grounds it’s hard to pick a favourite.
What grounds do you plan to visit in the remainder of the season?
I’m looking forward to a trip down to Cornwall in March catching two games whilst there, Bodmin Town on the Friday night and Helston on the Saturday and meeting up with Mr football of Cornwall Steve Massey, a trip I really can’t wait to do… The rest of the 23/24 season I will be getting in as many as I can really before the season ends.
How best can people follow you on social media and get in contact with you?
The best way to follow me is on X at @as_footyreview and Instagram also @as_footyreview also please check out the charity page on both Instagram and X which is @cfcf_bristol and their on website.
As promised here is Stoner's match thread from his X (Twitter) account of The Wessex derby match on a Friday evening under the floodlights between Westbury United Vs Frome Town in the Southern League Division One South game at step 4 of non-league.
FRIDAY NIGHT IS DERBY NIGHT!
"Finishing up work early this afternoon to make the trip over for “The Wessex Derby” between Westbury United vs Frome Town FC meeting up with The Dodge Ultras first to get a bit of the pre-match atmosphere from the travelling fans, and then will make my way to the ground for this beauty of a game!! Love a Friday under the lights!"
"Quick pit stop before the big derby between Westbury United vs Frome Town FC a fair few have made the short trip on the train for this one, soaking up the atmosphere with “The Dodge” before taking the walk to Meadow Lane… this has the feeling of a real local derby this one!"
"The atmosphere is building up now… Away supporters making themselves heard before kick off at the The Railway Inn… 40 mins till kick off, will start to make my way to the ground shortly for the big one, The Wessex Derby”
"Now for the march to the ground…. The DODGE ULTRA’S are officially here!"🧨🧨🧨
"Just trying to catch up….. this is mental 🤯🤯🤯 Friday night madness!"
"Teams are out….. LETS GO!!!"
"2 mins: ⏰ didn’t take the away fans long… 🧨🧨🧨 NoPyroNoParty"
"7 mins: ⏰ now onto some football 🤦🏻♂️ what a start to the game, tempo is electric, ball being zipped around by both sides, got a feeling of a proper local derby this one!!"
"10 mins: ⏰ corners for both sides but without any trouble for either keeper, both sides right up for this one"
"17 mins: ⏰ free kick for the home side whipped in but comfortable for the keeper… not a lot between the two sides here in the Wessex Derby"
"25 mins: ⏰ HOME SIDE IN FRONT!! Short clever corner into the front post, flicked back and placed into the bottom corner, simple yet effective!! The goal scorer runs towards the fans behind the goal cupping his ears and the goal silencing the travelling supporters.. home side in front!!"
"Westbury United 1-0 Frome Town FC"
"32 mins: ⏰ strong tackle over the far side from the Westbury full back draws a surge from both sets of players, first real bit of needle in the game but mostly handbags, the games slowed down in tempo and become very cagey… neither side really having the edge at the moment, home side will be happy to be a goal in front"
"36 mins: ⏰ chance from a corner for the away side, delivered well and block on the line by the Westbury defender, shouts of handball waved away by the match official"
"40 mins: ⏰ WESTBURY DOUBLE DELIGHT!! AND WHAT A HIT SON!! Home side double their lead, free kick delivered into the box, header is won and flicked onto the oncoming midfield man who volleys it into the top corner… Jheeeeeeeez!!!" 🚀🔝🗑️
"41 mins: ⏰ away fans showing their frustrations at going 2-0 down by sending a flare onto the pitch… they have been singing all half, shame the action on the pitch hasn’t supported the same behind the goal" 🧨🔥
"45 + 2: ⏰ big chance to grab one back then, great ball into the box and the header is fractionally wide of the goal, could have made an interesting end to the half had that hit the net!!"
"HALF TIME: ⏰ home side with a 2 goal advantage as we enter the break, time for a brew!! Heard @mallet_flags is getting them in out of his pocket money" ☕️
"Westbury 2-0 Frome Town"
Second half underway….. hoppers brew with two ☕️
"49 mins: ⏰ GOAL BACK FOR FROME Sorry no footage, it was cuppa tea time, but the balls delivered into the box, played back across the goal and smashed into the back of the net!! GAME ON!!"
"Westbury United 2-1 Frome Town"
"54 mins: ⏰ momentum with the travelling side now, all Frome currently, good ball into the box but it’s headed over the bar… some game now!!"
"59 mins: ⏰ free kick for the away side sent in well but cleared by the Frome backline, different side this half Frome, got it all to do and they have came out the traps with intent second half… has the making of the great last 30 this one!!"
"66 mins: ⏰ home side struggling to get out their half here, Frome causing all the problems here, that said Westbury are soaking up what they through at them… proper derby now this!!"
"73 mins: ⏰ Frome continue to keep knocking but the home side are standing strong at the back, Frome need to find that little bit of extra quality with the final ball, last couple into the box have been wasteful…. Big 15 left in this one"
"79 mins: ⏰ Home side starting to gain some momentum themselves now, chance from a free kick saved well by the keeper, that would have been the final nail that… big 10 for both now!!"
"81 mins: ⏰ not sure if it was as a red but the no6 for the home side is leaving the field to cheerio cheerio… man advantage for Frome, can they make it count!!"
"83 mins: ITS ALL SQUARE!! MEEEEEEEEEEKS!! You couldn’t write it, from 2-0 down it’s all square!! It’s all happening I can’t keep up!!! WHAT A DERBY!!!!"
"Westbury United 2-2 Frome Town"
"88 mins: ⏰ I need a lie down…. What an end to this one, can someone grab the headlines, I need a second phone or a camera man… this is crazy!!! Nearly the 90’ be some added on… Will there be a hero!!"
"90 mins: ⏰ it’s end to end… you attack we attack, defence to counter attack, balls in the box, tackles…. WHAT A DERBY!!!"
"90 + 3 mins: ⏰ YOU COULDN’T WRITE IT!!! 🧨🧨🧨🧨 ITS THREE FOR FROME 2-0 down, down and out…. NOT FROME!! What a hit son, what a hit!! Unbelievable scenes… I’ve never seen anything like this at non-league, UNBELIEVABLE" 🔥🔥🔥
"Westbury United 2-3 Frome Town"
"FULL TIME: WHAT A GAME 😮💨 I can’t lie, I’m absolutely stunned… lost for words, WOW, honestly WOW!!!"
"Westbury United 2-3 Frome Town"
"SCENESSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!! This is absolutely incredible….. UNBELIEVABLE!!!!"
"Frome Town top of the league!"
Once again we would like to thank Andy for sharing this thrilling encounter with us and we wish him all the best with his future ground hops raising awareness of non-league football and raising vital funds for the Cystic Fibrosis charity, please make sure to follow FootyWatch and check out all his social media platforms!
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