The new 2024/25 football season of the Thurlow Nunn League commenced last Saturday afternoon at the newly named The Lavish Life Competitions Stadium with Kirkley & Pakefield FC at home in a Premier Division match to Ely City FC. The ‘Royals’ included three new signings to their starting line-up in former player Macauley Holt, back at the club after a year at Sheringham, joining him from Harleston Town is another former player Nathan Russell, now the assistant manager and the experienced Henry Pollock, previously with both Gorleston and Lowestoft.
For the first 30 minutes, both teams were playing neat passing football in hot conditions with neither taking the upper hand. The game came to life at 38 minutes when whilst the home team was attacking home striker Cameron Russell was shown a straight red card for assumingly violent conduct. Down to ten men ‘Royals’ continued pressing forward and on 43 minutes Henry Pollock sent a good through ball for Macauley Holt to run onto on the left of the area which he controlled well firing a good shot past the keeper to put the ten men ahead. The early play in the second period saw Ben George shot just wide, shortly afterward George was replaced by the young Bailey Phipps who was a constant menace to the away defence, two further substitutions took place with the lively Panashe Mundawarara replacing Connor Swan and Jake Conway replacing goal scorer Macauley Holt. On 83 minutes Bailey Phipps made a superb run down the centre of the field fending off a couple of defenders when just inside the 18-yard area he struck an unstoppable shot past the keeper high into the net to increase the ‘Royals’ lead to 2-0. During a lengthy period of added time new signing was Henry Pollock unfortunate to receive a second yellow card of the afternoon reducing the home team to nine men to see out the remaining time. Despite having two players sent off and playing almost an hour with ten men this was a pleasing performance and a good 2-0 win to start the season off well.

Kirkley & Pakefield FC team: A.Blowers, N.Russell, K.Wing, J.Barbor, J.Lawrence, H.Creamer, B.George capt.(B.Phipps 55mins) H.Pollock, C.Swan (P.Mundawarara 70mins), C.Russell, M.Holt (J.Conway 75mins). Unused Subs: K.Underdown, J.Hutchinson.
This Friday evening Kirkley & Pakefield visit the Wellesley Recreation ground for the rearranged FA Cup Ex Preliminary Round away to Great Yarmouth Town at with a 7.45 ko. If a replay is required it will be next Tuesday evening back at The Lavish Life Competitions Stadium 7.45.

On Sunday a mainly Kirkley & Pakefield Reserves team played a mixed Beccles Town team at Beccles in the Beccles Hospital Cup with the home team winning 1-0.