This weeks game was not about football. It was about paying respect to Samuel Oji the former professional footballer and current Highgate assistant manager who sadly passed away in the early hours of the morning. There was a minutes silence held before kick off for Sam. Condolences to all of Sam’s family and friends.
Highgate United – a Brief History
The club was formed in 1948 by a group of former residents from the St Vincent’s Home for Working Boys. They started life in the South Birmingham League, where they stayed until 1964 when they moved into Divison Two of the Worcestershire Combination. They finished forth in their first season so we’re promoted to Division One. Highgate reached the quarter final of the FA Amateur Cup in 1966-67. During the game against Enfield several of the players collapsed after a lightning strike, with Highgate’s Tony Allden dying the next day. The game was abandoned after the lightning strike and 31,000 people went watch the replayed game at Villa Park were Enfield won 6-0. The 1970s was a good decade for Highgate with multiple Midland Combination Division One titles and multiple League Cup wins also. In 1962-73 Highgate reached the Semi final of the FA Amateur Cup drawing the first leg 0-0 at Highfield Road before losing the return leg at Selhurst Park 4-0 to Walton & Hersham. Highgate finished bottom of the Midland Combination Premier Division in 1994-95 but avoided relegation due to the division being expanded from 18 to 20 teams for the next season. They won the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup in 2006-07, and finished runners up of the Premier Division the following year earnin promotion to the Midland Alliance. In 2014 when the Midland Alliance and Midland Combination joined to form the Midland Football League Highgate were placed into Divison One. Highgate won Division One at the first time of asking and were promoted back to the Premier Division.
Tividale – a Brief History
Tividale were formed in 1954 and originally played in the Handsworth and District league, until 1966 when they joined the brand new West Midlands Regional league in Division one. They stayed there for the best part of 20 years until they were promoted to the Premier division.
During that period in the 1976-77 there were the starting point for Brian James FA Cup journey which was noted down in the book From Tividale to Wembley. (A journey which I am trying to replicate myself this season).
Tividale made it to the final of the Walsall Senior Cup in 2002, 2003 & 2004 winning the competition in 2003.
Tividale made in to the Midland alliance for the 2011-12 season. Their first season in the Midland Alliance, a season which I was privileged enough to be a part of the coaching staff under Dean Whitehouse, Tividale pushed for promotion and made it to the 5th round of the FA Vase, their best ever performance in the competiton, Tividale were promoted to the Northern Premier League Division one South the following season.
Just before the start of the 2015-16 season manger Ian Long left the club and took pretty much the whole squad with him. In stepped Phil Male at the last minute and he managed to throw together a squad at the last minute unfortunately for Tividale it was a very young and inexperienced squad. I was again privileged enough to be asked to help Phil Male out in the dugout a few games before the end of the season and was present at Leek Town for Tivdale’s relegation back to the Midland Alliance. The end of that season saw Male step down from his role as manager.
Current manger Dave King was appointed for the start of the next season which saw Tividale relegated again this time into the West Midlands Regional League Premier Division. Tividale went close to be promoted back at the first time of asking but finished 2nd in the league and even after an appeal which took them in front of a panel at Wembley they were denied promotion and spent another season in the West Midlands Regional league Premier Division. The next year they did win the league and were promoted into Midland Football League, where they continue to play their football now.
The Venue
Highgate play at The Coppice and moved there in the 1960s, there is a covered stand which was built in 1996 down one side of the pitch the stand is partially seated. The Coppice is located a 5 minute walk away from Whitkocks End train station so is fairly easy to reach for those that rely on public transport.
The Match
2 minutes
Early chance for Tividale as the ball over the top beats the Highgate United defence the defenders recover well to block a Dan Smith effort
3 minutes
Free kick for Tividale played high onto the box but dealt with easily by the Highgate United defence
6 minutes
Another chance for Tividale as Elliot Hartley gets in behind the Highgate United defence however he is a little further wide than he would like give the defence time to get back and nick it off him
8 minutes
Couple of chances for Highgate United a few seconds apart the first a ball is played across the Tividale 6 yard box but no one is able to connect the ball is kept alive and worked back across the box the shot however went out for a Tividale throw
10 minutes
Free kick kick to Highgate United about half way inside the Tividale half blasted over for a goal kick
12 minutes
Highgate United try a short corner as they are 2 on 1 the 1 Tividale defender comes out on top and clears the danger
13 minutes
Big shout for a Highgate United penalty after a coming together in the Tividale box the ref isn’t interested
16 minutes
Penalty to Tividale after Luke Carter wins it back high up the pitch he puts it behind for Dan Smith who is brought down by the Highgate United keeper
17 minutes
GOAL 0-1
Luke Carter converts from the spot stroking the ball into the bottom left, keeper went the right way but couldn’t there
20 minutes
Long distance effort from Tividale easy for the Highgate United keeper
24 minutes
Highgate United drive into the Tividale box and have an effort which is deflected behind for a corner
25 minutes
Highgate United corner headed effort towards goal which Adam Harrison turns over his bar in the Tividale goal for another corner which comes to nothing
28 minutes
Corner to Tividale headed just wide of the Highgate United goal by Elliot Hartley
29 minutes
Good long distance effort from Highgate United flies wide of the Tividale goal
30 minutes
Corner to Highgate United headed well over for a Tividale goal kick
33 minutes
Highgate United look to get in behind Tividale Adam Harrison is quick off his line to smother the ball
36 minutes
Brilliant quick flowing football from Highgate United who get one one with with Adam Harrison in the Tividale goal the shot goes wide of the post
36 minutes
Straight back up the other end as Dan Smith plays in Elliot Hartley for Tividale however Hartley is unable to lift the ball over the Highgate United keeper
37 minutes
A very ambitious effort from Tividale it goes very high and very wide of the Highgate United goal
40 minutes
Tividale play a freekick deep into the Highgate United box it’s headed across the face of goal and the defence clear it away
42 minutes
Highgate United with another chance to get in behind the Tividale defence Adam Harrison is quick off his line again
HALF TIME Highgate United 0-1 Tividale
An entertaining half of football with plenty of chances for both teams. Tividale I think have been the marginally better team as reflected in the score line, but Highgate could just as easily by level or winning at the break with the chances they have created
46 minutes
Free kick to Highgate United in a decent position Adam Harrison positions his Tividale wall perfectly as they do their jobs and block the shot
47 minutes
Highgate United with a curling effort on the edge of the Tividale box it’s easy for Adam Harrison between the sticks
50 minutes
Corner to Tividale who try the short one and it almost comes off as the ball is played into the box and a header whistles over the top of the Highgate United bar
53 minutes
Free kick to Highgat eUnited headed back to the edge of the box Adam Harrison is forced into a smart save low down to his right the Tividale defence finally manage to get it behind for a corner
54 minutes
Highgate United corner is kept alive on the opposite side and played back across the Tividale box unfortunately there’s no one on the end of the cross
59 minutes
Big chance for Tivdale’s as Dan Smith has all the goal to aim at sits down the Highgate United keeper but can’t get enough whip on his shot which is wide of the mark
61 minutes
Shot from Highgate United dealt with by Harrison at his near post
65 minutes
Corner to Tividale after a brilliant move down the Highgate United right the corner fails to beat the first man and Highgate United manage to clear it away
68 minutes
A little spell of pressure from Tividale ends with a sliced shot high and wide of the Highgate United goal
70 minutes
Corner to Highgate United headed towards the Tividale goal Adam Harrison tries to come out to gather the ball but is fouled by the forward
73 minutes
Highgate United play a long ball over the top Great starting position from Adam Harrison in the Tividale goal who gets there ahead of the forward and finds his full back with the header
75 minutes
Huge chance for Highgate United and former Tividale man Lee Chilton who forces an excellent save from Harrison in the Tividale goal. The resulting corner is headed over for a goal kick
77 minutes
Free kick to Tividale just outside the Highgate United box and to the right it’s a great strike and a great save from the Highgate keeper
86 minutes
Long searching ball from Highgate United towards the Tividale back post Adam Harrison watches it and backs into the post the Highgate player knocks it back across the box and then the linesmans flag goes up for a goal kick
90 + 2 minutes
Another good chance for Highgate United and another big save from Adam Harrison in the Tividale goal
FULL TIME Highgate United 0-1 Tividale
Highgate tried everything to get an equaliser today but Tividale came up with an answer for all the questions asked of them. A great advert for non league football today and can honestly say either team could have won.
All credit must go to Highgate for coming out and playing this game today in what we’re undoubtedly trying circumstances. They were brilliant from start to finish and despite the result did Samuel Oji proud.
For my next game I’ll be back at the Beeches on Monday as Tividale entertain Bewdley Town
References
The Footie Post 