They were successful in setting a new World record by attending six matches at six different grounds in the space of 24 hours at the weekend.

The endurance-testing marathon took place in gale force winds. It covered the following games in the Samsan Sports Central Midlands League...

Friday 19 March

7.45pm Kimberley Town 2 Rainworth Miners Welfare 1 (attendance 221) at the Stag Ground, Kimberley.

On Saturday 20 March, there were five matches in the Supreme Division as follows...

11am Greenwood Meadows 1 Radford 2 (attendance 302 ) at Lenton Lane, Clifton, Nottingham

1pm Pelican 1 Dinnington Town 2 (attendance 312) at Brian Wakefield Sports Ground, Lenton Lane, Clifton, Nottingham

3pm Dunkirk 0 Retford United 1 (attendance 274) at Ron Steel Sports Ground, Lenton Lane, Clifton, Nottingham

5.30pm Sandiacre Town 2 Nettleham 0 (attendance 284) at St Giles Park, Sandiacre, Nottingham

8pm Graham Street Prims 1 Blackwell Miners Welfare 0 (attendance 297) at Asterdale Sports Centre, Spondon, near Derby

Hard-working Central Midlands League chairman Frank Harwood watched over the whole spectacle like a proud father. And he was there at the end to present commemorative certificates to the exhausted hoppers.

Harwood said: " The event was a tremendous success. It went like 'clock-work' despite the inclement weather. There were no travelling difficulties between matches and all the grounds have reported no problems including, amazingly, no litter!

"As far as the clubs are concerned, they have all said how much they enjoyed the event and are now counting the profits. Most clubs will benefit financially with the amounts ranging between £500 and £1000.

"Obviously the CML will gain considerably from the publicity and it will add to the fact that we feel we are the best organised league at our level and perhaps even above. I'm glad that I was part of the team that put it together and therefore it becomes a fitting event to conclude with on my retirement as the league chairman and general secretary at the forthcoming league annual general meeting.

"I made the point of meeting all the groundhoppers over the weekend. I count them as being very important to our class of football and I can only say what a great bunch of people they are. I'm hoping to see many of them in the future at CML games.

"I have no doubt that similar events will be held by the CML in the future with both the Mansfield and Doncaster areas being talked about."

CML liaison secretary Rob Hornby was also on hand to give a warm and friendly welcome to the hopping visitors. He added:" Where else would you get 540 minutes of football and six match programmes for £15? We had hoppers attending from all over the United Kingdom, plus Sweden and the Czech Republic.

"The CML is well respected by the FA, the clubs and the supporters. So we are pleased that the hoppers could come along and enjoy what we have to offer.

"I hope that the CML will see this groundhoppers' weekend as the first of many. People are already asking when our next 'hop' will be."

Grassroots Roundup

Barnet have named senior players Danny Maddix and Ian Hendon as caretaker managers following the departure of Martin Allen to Brentford last week. The Underhill club originally put coach Adrian Whitbread and physio Damien Doyle in temporary charge of team affairs, but the duo decided to follow Allen to Brentford after Saturday's 0-0 draw with Chester in the Conference.

Former Cambridge United player-manager John Taylor has joined Conference outfit Telford United on non-contract playing forms. Centre-forward Taylor, 39,was sacked by Cambridge last week and has made more than 500 League appearances in his 21 year career.

In the UniBond League, Carl Shutt has been appointed as the new manager of Bradford Park Avenue. Shutt, 42, made 300 League appearances for Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol City, Leeds, Birmingham, Manchester City and Bradford City. He subsequently managed Kettering Town. Shutt replaces Trevor Storton, who departed the hot seat at Park Avenue recently.

Aylesbury United striker Byron Bubb scored Greneda's third goal in the 3-1 win over Guyana in a World Cup Qualifying match.