Words from Today - err Yesterday ....

So - twas a chance of a double-header - and and a chance to help out our neighbours at Curzon Ashton, as the supporters of their opponents on the day had decided "not to bother" for reasons best known to themselves - but broadcast to all and sundry anyway (cus there's lots of them - and that makes it right) ....

Naturally this was going to leave a big gap in the Curzon "revenue pot" - still they were able to charge for parking (I think ?) and also stand transfer (well I was offered one as I went through the turnstiles anyway). Furthermore, a £1-50 programme suddenly became worth £5 - if you fancied going to Hyde United v Harrogate Town afterwards (half-price admission you know - I spotted at least one "Tiger" buying more than one programme - hmmmmmm !!).

In the club house before the game - apparently Curzon had had a stinker on Boxing Day (hmm - you should have seen Mossley !!) Talking also to "Pie of the Tiger", Hyde had a similar "poo day" against Stalybridge that same day ...

To football - a sh*tty horrible windy blustery rainy day - made marginally worse by Curzon's "Big Roof Terrace" that lets everything in - and played havoc with my lens !! If Curzon had been bad on Boxing Day - they weren't much better in the first half today. FCUM had the majority of possession, the majority of chances and the majority of "nous" when on the ball. Thet also had the advantage of a hefty breeze, and it was no surprise really when just after the half-hour, Carden got on the end of an evil diagonal ball across the box to put FCUM one up.

The second half did see some improvement on the Curzon end of things, but they never really looked threatening - a second goal was always on the cards, and just after the hour, Nugent shot through a crowded box to make it 2-0......

....and that was that really - ten minutes from the end (i.e. 1425) I packed up shop and jogged into Ashton to get the 1437 train up to Mossley - I missed it. Taxi was the only option, and my little black cab battled through the wind and the rain up to Seel Park, getting me there in time for a pint (that's me not the camera), a memory card change and a battery change (that's the camera not me). The weather was grim (thoughts of an abandonment did cross my mind - and that was coming up past Hartshead Pike in the cab !!)

Never mind - much fannying around - keeping stuff dry - and standing in the "Condemned Stand" - all came right when Danny T got on the end of an evil diagonal ball across the box to put Mossley one up - yes it was not dissimilar to FCUM's first goal. The weather did relent as the game went on, and with about 20 to go Lee Blackshaw got on the end of a ball from Danny T to make the game safe - or so we thought. A bit of relaxation - and five (5) minutes of "time added on" (ref blamed it on 6 subs @ 30 secs each - that's three minutes ...) gave "old timer" Neil Redfearn a chance to halve to deficit - and put us all through a bit of "buttock clenching" - but we got there in the end.

...and so did Coventry later ...............

Today's Football - the early warning.....

Right - I'm on the case - today's "double header" with Curzon/FCUM for starters and then Mossley/Bridlington Town for afters (I did do Coventry/Ipswich on the telly afters as well - hence the initial delay here .....)

But for those in a rush......Curzon/FCUM will be at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/CurzonFCUM/

and Mossley/Bridlington will be at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleyBrid/

....better sort out some product now ... and I might even talk about the games as well !!!

2131 - Curzon pix in 5 minutes ......

2211 - Mossley pix now up..

Not just Football ...

Today - well tonight - well last night - we all (i.e. "full 5 Smiffy family") went to the theatre, as we always do this time of year with our mates from Rochdale - "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde @ the Royal Exchange....

Now I'm not a great reader as well you might know, but I'm perfectly amenable to stuff (well I did do this sort of thing to get "O" Levels/"A" Levels etc etc) - and we've seen some good stuff in the past. Today was very enjoyable - in true OzzyWilde style, some serious, some very funny, some strange "class like stuff" that's totally alien to the 21st century - but very easy to pick up on .... and they all lived happily ever after as well !!! Gotta be betta than a f**king panto any time !!!

Here's a sneaky pic taken just before kick-off...

....and for those into Trinny & Susannah - there were some severely "posh frocks" in the show !! All in all a good night out - although with it finishing at 2225 we had time for just a quickie before "the last train to Mossley" (24 hour city - maybe - but public transport says "poo" after 2300) - hence this late post after several cans !!

And one for the train spotters now - a view out of Manchester Victoria taken just before Crimbo (on my "shopping day") - I thought it looked a touch atmospheric (again with baby Fuji mind...)

Mossley v Lancaster City

Well - no camera bag - and no three points either .... pix at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleyLancaster/

What to say about today - "grim" is a pretty apt four-letter word (and one that you can get away with as well !). There seemed a distinct lack of effort all round today, and it was silly, elementary, nay schoolboy errors that led to the 0-3 score at half-time (I knew how the Sunderland and Stafford Rangers fans felt going into their clubs at half-time) - and that did include two penalties as well ....

Even going "downhill" (i.e. towards the Park End) made little difference in the second half - although Lancaster keeper Mark Thornley made a couple of good saves, we never really threatened at all, despite all three subs coming on (and I remember thinking before the game - now that's an attacking bench) - problem was that first choice didn't and neither did any of the subs when they came on !

Hopefully a Crimbo hiccup which can be put right rather quickly against Bridlington Town on Saturday....hmmm.....Crimbo hiccup - wonder if that's what they're saying down Ewen Fields way - must go and have a peep on the Stalybridge and Hyde boards after this - plus naturally a trawl through the Unibond scores ....

All I want for Christmas is ....

... a virus-free pc would be nice !! Swapped keyboards - still got problems - shifted all photos off the hard disk - now got 40 gig free - still running like a dog. If all members of STS household either stopped moaning about the problems and did something about it - or just allowed me on the damn machine to do something about it ......

A dobbing big camera bag would be nice - three points off Lancaster City on St Stephen's Day - a vial of "Felix Felicis" for use in emergencies .... a small aubergine ... but now we're getting silly....

A very Merry Christmas to all our readers from all at "STS Towers" - may your days be merry and bright - and may all your goalscorers be wearing white ...

Atherton LR v Squires Gate

A jolly morning was spent taking part in the "siege mentality" shopping in Asda - we were sensible - of course - just the one trolley, and less than 90 minutes, start to finish. Home for 1230, and once I found out that the Chorley v Mossley game and the Stalybridge v Southport games were off - the hunt was on ...Had I clocked the Mossley Message Board, I might have gone for the Woodley v FCUM friendly option, but no... after one false alarm with Castleton Gabriels, it was off to Crilly Park to see the game against Squires Gate.

As I arrived they were quite literally sweeping the water off the pitch - it looked perfectly playable mind - but I did notice some wispy, misty bits behind goal at the "Railway Line End".

Here's some pix from the 3-3 draw (abandoned after 80 minutes due to fog) ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/AthertonSQ/

Six goals - well I saw four of 'em !! A good game considering everything that the elements threw at the players. Squires Gate took the lead playing "downhill", but Atherton went in at half-time 2-1 up - didn't see either of them, altough I was told they were two good efforts (a shot and a header). A cracking third goal early in the second half looked to have made it safe for the home team, but credit to Squires Gate - they pulled it back to 3-3 before - with about 10 minutes left - the officials decided "enough was enough" - there'd been a couple of contentious offside decisions which I reckon hastened the abandonment.

Still - almost a full game - and good entertainment for those who "poo-pooed" the Christmas shopping - and even better for those with night-vision goggles ... !!

Stalybridge Celtic v Burscough - Take Two

First game - abandoned after 8 (eight) minutes (twas the day I saw Belper hit Warrington for six) .....

Second game - called off at 1925 last night....

Had to endure Man City v Spurs on "Albanian Sky" ... not much else to say ...

Eek .......

Monday - well Tuesday (A.M.)

...stuff, stuff and more stuff - not much in the "football" sense mind - Friday was the works "do" @ Rainbow88 in Cheadle Hulme - true to form, I had to leave before all the "juicy stuff" kicked off, in order to get home (by train) before 0653 the following morning - managed to gt a quick Karaoke in mind - "Addicted to Love" (Robert Palmer) - and no-one has laughed too much at work today, so it couldn't have been TOO bad !! Saturday's football opportunity - i.e. Ilkeston Town v Prescot Cables - was called off before I even left Mossley on the way to Belper. In the end I managed the second half of Fulham v Newcastle over a couple of pints of Harviestoun "Schiehallion" - a fine blonde beer - at the George & Dragon in Belper. That Newcastle penalty was a bit "iffy" mind ...

Sunday saw the drive from Belper to London for Christine and Kevin's wedding - a good day was had by all - and we can only wish them all the best in their time together. The day also gave Mrs Smiffy the chance for a "FriendsReunited" moment - she went to school with Christine and several of the other guests. Drove back to Mossley on Sunday evening - and since then have spent time trying to "de-virus" the pc (it's still not right - but we're getting there !) - oh and work today (with a touch of sleep in between !!).

Tuesday night - maybe Stalybridge Celtic v Burscough - and it'll be a "freebie" for all following the abandonment (after 8 minutes) of the original game a couple of weeks ago. However, with the weather as it is - i.e. 'kin cold, freezy etc. - the omens are not good.

Damn - 0031 - still need shirt ironed for work in six and a bit hours .... fingers crossed for footy later as well.

Thursday - A Pictorial Ramble

Well - let's start in the usual place - the Stalybridge Train Info System - Monday was obviously a "false dawn" - we got this on Tuesday. I've yet to take a "new pic" - as it now says "FTPE" (as in First) - but hey - I look forward to the New Year. "Find-out-stuff-time" - the only place to get some sense is talk to train staff - Stalybridge Station ?? Save your breath .....

-if it's John -"It's not my fault -I repeat it's not my fault !!" - straight on the defensive ....
-if it's Ashley - too busy looking after any lady under 25 looking lost/lonely on the platforms ..
-if it's Gary - "Under Section 257 Para 3 Sub-Section 23, I'm not at liberty to tell you anything. Now either catch a train - or drink beer at the Buffet - or I'll have you for loitering under Section 239b".

So I talked to a friendly guard (Northern Rail) on the train - the happy smiley one with the beer belly - apparently the problem is a Manc/Hudd thing - when it's been working up to now, the info has come from Manc - however it appears the system will/should eventually be run from Huddersfield - when the connections kick in ... as I said - roll on New Year ...




I had a day off work on Wednesday - did some Crimbly shopping ... now take a look at the next two pix -it's a spelling/upper/lower case thing...


Should it be ....




...or should it be ....



...now I've always worked on the "little u" - but then I'm not local - as in only 23 years 1 month 9 days.... never mind - here's a posey pic taken 'twixt Ashton and Stalybridge yesterday afternoon on the train..... note ALL pix on this thread are courtesy the Fuji FinePix A500.



..did some shopping in Top Mossley as well yesterday - came home via the ground - and saw this ....



...now it's been a while since attended a home game - my guess is that this went up sometime before the FCUM game .. oh and have you read the "furore" regarding the re-arranged Curzon v FCUM game over Crimbo - because of the TV - I bet it's making the FCUM fans so much more comfortable - yes it IS just like the"real thing" ..... big crowds, TV, re-arrangements, merchandise - what next ? A foreign pre-season tour ?? (Hint - irony here ..)

.and finally - it's a warm welcome to the latest addition to the Smiffy household - it's Pedro's Crimbo pressy - it's called Wyatt - and it's a "Blue-Tongued Skink" - and it came all the way from Southport last night - I will get some better pix when he's settled in - yes he's a "blerk" if there's any ladies out there....but for now I give you - Wyatt...




Weekend all still on as per earlier thread - though I forgot to take suit to dry-cleaners today - fingers crossed for tomorrow...

Monday Stuff - Trains, Beer, Football

Well the big news of the day is of course ....

Yep we have serious action on the Stalybridge Train Information System. I have no wish to think that serial "slagging off" on this site has galvanised TransPennine into action - cause I know this not to be true - if it were they'd be putting 6 car sets on as well in the morning and evening - still - enjoy while you can ...

Next - coming home tonight - a very rude pump clip @ Stalybridge Buffet Bar..

I only had the one as Peter was ready to return to ju-jitsu after the "broken jaw incident" of a couple of months ago - however we arrived at Greenfield to find "something else on" (Christmas Play or Parents "Do" - it is a school after all) - came home - I went back out and watched the Swansea/Horsham game - we all "dreamt the dream" between 23 mins and 38 mins - but it didn't last did it .....good effort mind.

As for the rest of the week - vis-a-vis football - nowt really except that overpaid, overhyped stuff played by people incapable of beating Croatia - reckon I'll get my Crimble shopping lists in order ...Saturday sees a rare trip to Ikeston Town for the game against Prescot Cables as it's another Saturday down at the M-I-L's.

Sunday sees a happy/sad day out for me and Mrs Smiffy - we're going to a wedding down Hackney/London way - an old friend is getting married - in a "hasty way" as her partner has been diagnosed with .... you can work out the rest .. we're all gonna make it a day to remember though.

Life can be sh*t sometimes ....

Football - 8th December 2007

Mossley v Bridlingon - OFF Ashton United v Guiseley - OFF Curzon @ Harrogate and Hyde @ Redditch - OFF Stalybridge v Burscough - Abandoned after 8 minutes - Droylsden v Rushden -full 90 - but Mr Pace reckoned it should never have started....

I went to Belper Town v Warrington Town - driving down the A6 - the weather got no better, and I was fearing the worst (as in having to do Christmas shopping with Mrs Smiffy). However there were only a couple of problem areas - one corner and the centre circle - so it was all systems go ... 90 minutes later the hardy 113 who turned up had witnessed a 6-0 destruction of Warrington Town - and it could have been a lot more ... this was playing football as well, not just hoofing it into the midden and chasing after it. An excellent all-round performance captured for posterity at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BelperWarrington/

...taken without the aid of the trusty monopod (as in ... get to Belper, open car boot, get rucksack, get monop..... oh bugger, must have left it in Mossley). AND - I won the choccies in the half-time draw !!

Lucky enough to see some boxing last night as well - as in the Amir Khan 72 second jobbie ! Sad to see the Hitman lose later - but he'll be back, I'm sure.

I'm sure this weekend's weather has caused untold damage to the pitches of those who played as well as those who didn't. Just up the road from Belper, the Matlock Town game against Kendal was abandoned after 20 minutes as well....

Stalybridge Station Train Information System - Latest

Well we don't do times - we'll say hello/welcome now and again - we'll warn you to stand clear of the platform edge - but we don't do times - and we haven't done for months - tis a f**king disgrace - I'll tell 'em where to stick their 14% fare increase - almost like a congestion charge (!!!) - tomorrow - OK in seven hours time - I will photograph the poster that tells the world what the £1.5 million has been spent on - and we can dissect it at our leisure as midweek football games will be few and far between now for a couple of months...

Meanwhile - tonight - in case you forgot it's very nearly Christmas - and all the teddy bears named Jethro (?) are happy - incidentally you know that teddy picture I put on last Tuesday ??

http://sixtamesides.blogspot.com/2007/11/not-what-youre-expecting.html

The teddy only cost us a tenner - but since appearing on the blog, I've been able to sell it for £25 - I call that a "prophet" ...........

But I digress - tonight's VITALLY important Train Information message from Stalybridge Station - courtesy of "Transpenni" ....

Yo ho ho - p.s. your train is late due to vandalism in the Guide Bridge area -- you just couldn't make it up - could you ???

Curzon Ashton v Nantwich Town

Later folks - although there's one pic on the Curzon message board (Curzon won 5-4 on pens after 1-1 and extra time).

Tuesday evening update.....pix now available at ..

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/CurzonNantwich/

including the full gory details of the penalty shoot-out.

The game - you've got to say a fairly even one, and - as it went on the thought of extra-time (and penalties) was quite apparent amongst many of the pretty pathetic crowd of 109 - although fairs fair to Nantwich - they brought a few - there were at least two Ashton United fans (plus their Manager I'm reliably informed), one MossleySmiffy and a pro shooter from Prestwich Heys - and in the true spirit of the "snapping game" I'll give him a plug - although he didn't stay for ET and pens - tart !! Believe some team were on't'box last eve - Foolhamm or something... anyway - to the expert...some nice ones there ...

http://ammedia.photium.com/portfolio24127.html

Doing it for a living eh - and it shows - not some maverick banana-head who turns tobacco money into photographic equipment - learning "on the fly" - and he doesn't copyright his pix - the fool !! I'm enjoying it though - it looks as though I'm doing our Michelle's "Graduation Day" at Derby Uni in January 2008 as well - cus I'm cheaper than Ede & Ravenscroft - or whoever has the photo monopoly !!!

Hey ho - today got the "season-long loan" of one dobbing great lens - a 170-500 telephoto - being a f5 - f6.3, it won't do much at this time of year vis-a-vis football (what I need is a calm, collected, experienced 42 year old - i.e. someone slow !), but I might get something out of it on our weekend walks - I'll get that "Mossley Heron" in full flight one day. The problem being of course - "You either go for a walk - or you go to take photographs" ..... and most of the time a "dither/compose" period is just not built into our timetable !!

Nothing else this week - in fact that was THE one match in the "STS" area this midweek - Chorley v Woodley Sports tonight was possibly "a train too far".... (good job anyway - looks like Chorley were beating Fleetwood tonight !!)

Birthday - Woodley Away - Works "Do"

A somewhat busy day - so sod you all I'm keeping it brief - we won 2-1 - very late - deserved over the 90 minutes but cruel nonetheless (a 95th minute penalty - against a 10 man team who fought so so well - yes - cruel...)

Decent Thai food at the Ning in Manchester tonight - left the younger element to party on whilst catching my last train home (full of Kaiser Chiefs fans - and to that fat lady in Seat 61 - I predict a diet !!)

here's some pix from the game anyway ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossWoodDec07/

The "montage" for the equaliser is of course me just p*ssing about instead of being professional about it - hence the non-blue pic in the middle..if I thought it mattered - I'd be expecting money for the product - ho, ho, ho - enjoy anyroad up ...

51 - eek .... and tonight's exclusive is - my tea (OK it's a posh Sea Bass type thing !!)

Look What We've Got !!!

You might need to double-click on the image to be able to read it - this is a clipboard image of a pdf which I shoved into Word etc etc etc.....




I'll just be interested if it comes out in a legible format (otherwise I'll just take a bloody picture of it !!) - meanwhile -we're moving house - changing all our bank accounts - and from tomorrow I wish to be known as Buford Tumbler. Mrs Smiffy (Tumbler ?) will be dyeing her hair - after all it's a team effort.

Now that'll throw 'em all off the scent !!!

Now if the "Government" had trusted their disk(s) to the "People's Post Office" instead of some evil privatised concern .....

(Nearly forgot - Stalybridge Train Information System is "Still on Test" .....)

NOT what you're expecting ....

If you're looking for a review of the Mossley v FCUM game - I'm afraid this will involve trips elsewhere - because I was not there.....

...a pre-arranged trip to the Bridgewater Hall takes precedence when you've spent the best part of £90 on tickets for the entire Smiffy household - so while hundreds were pouring into Mossley we were pouring out to Manchester to see Taraf de Haidouks and the Forty Thieves Orkestar.



The Forty Thieves Orkestar - a Balkan Apocolyptica ? a Balkan Dub Foundation ? a Balkan version of the Peatbog Faeries ? A good sound - I liked them.



Now the Taraf de Haidouks - the Romanian Gypsy Kings if you like -the wild, fast, gypsy music - amazing - the style of singing ....hmm...I know several of our party were NOT impressed - you could say it had a touch of the Vic Reeves "Club Singer"-cum-"Drunken Uncle at Wedding" type of sound - the jury's out on that side of things !!

A good night out - excellent sound in the Bridgewater Hall - and they were well received by the audience - there was even some semi-wild gypsy dancing at the end !!



"You're such a lovely audience we'd like to ......etc".

I'm going to say nowt about the football - basically because I've not seen enough about it yet (I know the score though!!) but ..............

I'd like to finish with a message from our house Teddy Bear - who goes by the name of Jehovah ...



"That piece of Fish was Good Enough for Smiffy !!!"

Just another manic Monday .....

... as Mrs Bangle said back in 1986....some bits and bats tonight ....much based on the Stalybridge £1.5 million refurb and railway incompetence .... yesterday - boy came home from Lancaster....now this was the Stalybridge Station Train Info System when I got there at about 1830 ... cheaper than the usual cr*p I photograph !



..and what made it worse - he'd been told in Manchester, "buses only as far as Stalybridge" - hence my picking him up. I'd checked on Nationalsh*te.co.uk which confirmed - nowt to Mossley. I get to Stalybridge - there's a great big f*ck off bus ready to go to Mossley, Greenfield and Marsden. Talking to someone on the train today - their mates had got on a bus from Stalybridge to Greenfield yesterday afternoon to be told by the driver "You're my first customers today" - well if they don't advertise the damn thing at stations, on t'internet or even at Manchester Victoria (i.e. "They're only going to Stalybridge") what chance have we got - I believe it's similar next Sunday - so forget any thought of Crimble shopping if you live in Mossley or Greenfield - because there may - or may not - be Rail Replacement Buses (as very few people used them yesterday, they'll probably think "No point" - and scrap 'em at the last minute).

In short Rail system - sh*te - communications - even sh*ter - never mind - they've got my £21-80 for another week of sh*te. We actually went for a walk yesterday - drove to Marsden - and this is what we saw outside Marsden station - should have given me a clue really shouldn't it ...



.... yep the magical "Fraser Eagle" sticker inside a bus - forget train franchises - the Rail Replacement Bus franchise is the way to fame and fortune - but I think the boys from Accrington have got that one sown up .....

Meanwhile back at Stalybridge - as part of the £1.5 million refurb - they've done up the bogs - however, if you're a chap you might well be met with this message ....



.... let's veer back to the walk - twas a circular around Marsden - and believe it or not this was - for me - the best picture to come out of the walk - was taken round the back of Pule Hill, just walking back into Marsden ..... maybe a touch of the Control-Alt-Hill ?!?!?!




FOOTBALL - Tomorrow is Mossley's biggie versus FCUM plc - hopefully a big crowd - hopefully not too many of the Mossley "amoebas" crawling out of the "primordial soup" to bring shame on the town (fingers crossed on that on !) - hopefully a win for the Lilywhites.

MUSIC - My review tomorrow/Wednesday will of course concern "Taraf de Haidouks" ...

And it's possible - just possible - that this blog could welcome its 20,000th visitor tonight....wow ...

Good night - and I LOVE you all .....!

Curzon Ashton v Mossley

OK lost 4-1 - we have visitors - but I've done the pix.... go with what we've got - poor performance on a damp day ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/CurzonMossley/

I'll be back later - no doubt ....

2200 - Like now - a truly "tricky" first half - weather bad - playing against the wind - and that bugger Norton put Curzon 1-0 up while I was still "faffing" with the camera in the dry of their club - I heard the cheer - hoped for the best - and then I heard that bloody annoying "I Feel Good" James Brown thing which gave me a bit of a clue that it was in fact Curzon who had gone one up within 60 seconds of the bloody kick-off.


At the races we were not (as Yoda would say) - and the wind and the rain (rather than the "Fire and the Flames") kept us on the back foot till half-time - by then it was 3-0 though - aargh.


Yes we improved in the second half - but it was a case of lost causes - we had the wind - we hit the bar (OK very late on) . Like it or not, Curzon Ashton are are useful team on their day - OK they cocked up t'other week against Bradford PA but they made full use of everything - wind - rain - an opposition who gave them just a touch too much space, respect etc today - leaving us chasing a lost cause for the second 45.



Would love to know what the crowd was (Unibond site is as usual "unavailable" at the time most people would like to see it - wonder if it's run by the same group of ****s that are responsible for the Stalybridge Station "Train Information System" ?) - the crowd did look very disappointing - but all the noise was of course from the Mossley fans - you tended to find the odd Curzon fan who wandered round issuing smarmy comments to the massed ranks of the opposition .. I bet that "odd Curzon fan" is secretly saying, "I wish we had a bunch like this"....and the team said "ta" as well at the end - yes it's that old STS "exclusive" ....




Congratulations to Mickey Norton on his hat-trick - I just wish he'd get that irritating "niggle" out of his game (see https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqG22Dd3-ad20z6FeWM8RYHpAPm0l2L3q46gijp-rnMWLnH-vsuPHMiadRAgHNxeVZMg77rQCpPyULkfwXAR3_tAYBulyBhrtKw2gu_VPyhKzg09JBzBhQg5A2xNDfKr0AEp2Ww/s400/Pic057small.jpg for his "efforts" at being a "big man" in the pre-season friendly against Sheffield this year !!)- I often wonder if it's his attitude rather than his skill and eye for goal that has prevented him from making a living out of the wonderful game - which he should be doing ...


Hey ho - the "Ash Tree" in Ashton has benefitted from the huge influx of Lilywhite fans in the area today - just wish they'd learn how to pull real ale (!!) - most will be back on the 15th December - I make my apologies now - it's mother-in-law's party in Belper (yes I know Belper are away that day, but Ilkeston are at home !).



Talking of apologies - the "biggest" home match for Mossley for a while is on Tuesday against FCUM - forgot to point out in a previous post that it clashes with my/wife's joint birthday do @ the Bridgewater Hall - some tours get organised with fixed dates - this FCUM fixture has flitted at least twice ... we can't all just sit around waiting - naturally phone will be on "silent" next Tuesday whilst rocking to the "Taraf de Haidouks" - see below to get some idea..






a subtle difference from .....

BACK to ANORAK !!

OK - I've p*ssed off enough youngsters by daring to imply that DragonForce's performance on Wednesday was slightly less than "vfm" (value for money) - apparently "sloppy"/"unprofessional" is fine cus they're having fun - I'm sure they are when we're paying £25 a ticket (!) - never mind - I'd best be going back to what old people do - here's some "train pix" from today ....



The new CrossCountry franchise colours on Man Picc tonight - hard luck Mr Branson - you'll need to sell some more Mike Oldfield albums now...




Gorblimey - train info on Platform 0 (zero) at Stockport this morning....




And of course - more crap from the Stalybridge Station Train Information system.....


BACK TO MUSIC.....


...as it's my birthday next Saturday, we're going for a "bit of a do" next week at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester - "Taraf de Haidouks" and the "Forty Thieves Orkestar" - Romanian gypsy musicians (Taraf) and Balkan/hip-hop/dub (Forty Thieves) - full family bash - i.e. 5 x £17-50 - trust it'll be more "vfm" than Wednesday - funny really - I never actually said that DF were sh*t (unlike others) - I just said they "weren't up to snuff" - and I've had all the fall-out !



BACK TO FOOTBALL .....


Tomorrow - there's football of course - Mossley just down the road at loacl rivals (and top of table) Curzon Ashton - having missed the last two games (being at Belper and at MEN), I'm loath to forecast - however if Curzon play like they played against Bradford PA a couple of weeks ago....

http://sixtamesides.blogspot.com/2007/11/curzon-ashton-v-bradford-park-avenue.html

.... we've got a chance !! With Rhodri Giggs (yes Ryan's brother for those who don't know) unavailable for Curzon tomorrow, we'll probably have no-one to take the p*ss out off (again for those who don't - Rhodri played for us for a couple of season before going down the road to Curzon).


Hope DragonForce put on a decent showing in Brum tonight .............................................

DragonForce "Video" from last Night

No sound naturally - old man - old baby camera (could have done wonders last night with the EOS 20D - but that's copyright/moneygrabbing etc etc) - but I reckon the a damn site clearer than those pix in the previous thread....never done this before so fingers crossed -

well there's something there !

Black Crusade/England/Mossley

Such was Wednesday.,..England lose, Mossley lose - and I feel that DragonForce lost as well last night. Said my piece mostly on the DragonForce forum - members only I'm afraid, but if you are try

http://forum.dragonforce.com/viewtopic.php?t=18152&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

Pictures not brilliant of course - but then again I'm afraid neither were said beat combo - oh and I've sneaked a Trivium picture in at the bottom - just to P*ss off the DF fascists - cus sadly they exist....

This Week .....

Well - obviously didn't make Hyde 3 Solihul Moors 0 last night - have to say it's a real pain getting to Ewen Fields on a weekday by public transport (actually it's more the "getting back" !) - still a good win for the Tigers with "new boy" Morley getting off the mark too.

As I'm scribbling this at 2130, I'm obviously not at Glossop tonight for their Derbyshire Senior Cup game against Staveley Miners Welfare - don't know why but Glossop does often seem a "possible" on a weekday by public transport ..and has been done in the past ... but not tonight.

England plc FC are on the telly tomorrow - having lent their "Get out of Jail Free" card to Israel on Saturday - they've got it back (apparently) and are fighting for the point which will have the Finance Directors / Licensors at the FA rubbing their grubby money stained hands together (think I'll give that a miss, just in case we get the odd £150,000 a week player running towards a camera clutching the "three lions" shirt badge in his similarly money-stained hand). If it all goes pear-shaped - you may like to get your head round this document - if you've more money than sense - or your name is Jeff Tesco...

http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/A9BF865A-1F48-4708-9934-A8FB095E7A10/120274/INTERNATIONAL_ITT.pdf

Mossley are away at Ossett Albion tomorrow night - one of those where you can get there via public transport on a weekday, but you're dependent on a lift back after the game if you want to get back to Mossley before 0645 the following day !!

However - me tomorrow - straight from work to the MEN Arena - doors open 1700 - first band on 1800 - yes it's the ....



My "raison d'etre" here is naturally DragonForce (http://dragonforce.com/main.html) but I've seen a few of t'other bands as well (certainly remember Shadows Fall and Machine Head from Download this year (they both need to do something to impress me - cus they didn't at Download !) - and there's a few Trivium CDs knocking about the house) - fingers crossed that DragonForce can do it indoors - seen 'em twice outdoors - last two Download Festivals - and the sound has been "less than good" - saw them at Manchester Academy last December - sound was A1 ! Hope it all works well in that big shed next to Victoria Station. Naturally with it being "big venue" the big camera stays at home and we are reduced to the "baby Fuji" - we'll see how it goes...

Fingers naturally crossed for Mossley - of course - an important local derby on Saturday at Curzon Ashton awaits .....

Oh - nearly forgot - train information system at Stalybridge is "still under test" i.e. (expensive) bag of shyte - promise some pix of the toilets/waiting room - soon - let's see where the rest of this £1.5 million has gone !!

Snow !!

...Coming back from Belper today - just outside Buxton - we see this stuff... (picture taken from back of car - not by the driver !!)

Football - yes Belper Town beat Gresley 2-1 yesterday. A late last arrival by myself - approx 2 minutes before kick-off due to traffic problems and an emergency trip to Wal-Mart (i.e. totally the wrong direction) near the Man City stadium. I needn't have worried - the first half didn't have a lot to write home about - Gresley took the lead with a bit of a "route one" effort - you know, punt, lob keeper, goal.

Second half was a different story - obvious the combined efforts of Carney and Hudson (joint managers) had done the trick. The equaliser was quite literally "a rocket from Stevenson", and Andy Rushbury went in bravely to put home the winner before getting clattered by two defenders. A thoroughly deserved victory - that's four league wins in a row - which is moving the "Nailers" up the Unibond First Divison South.

I give you a choice of pictures today....

http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/GrslyH078/album1.html

from "The Boss"

and my efforts ...

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BelperGresley/

After the game it was time to find out the other "scores of interest" Col.b kindly phoned me with the news that Mossley had lost 3-1 from being 1-0 up (eek !) - Nosmo had been txting me with the Ilkeston Town score (2-0 win against Gateshead), and the Droyslden/Stafford score (1-1) appeared on some ticker tape somewhere during the evening.

Oh and Scotland were robbed - watched the second half in the "George & Dragon" in Belper - and how Italy got that free kick - only the ref knows ....

Agony, Pain - and General "stuff"

Tomorrow - well today - sees Mossley at home to Clitheroe - we've always had a good craic with the Shawbridge boys - Royf, LD, Billy et al - God know where they will be standing due to the Unibond declaring our pop side "unsafe" - purely on the grounds of the shale flooring - pathetic really- but hey that's football officialdom...at least they're not "walking the distance" this season !

Also later today my "first" team from all those years ago come to Tameside - yes Droylsden are entertaining Stafford Rangers in a real "basement battle" - apparently it's seen as a "mini-league" in the Conference National of 5 teams (Droylsden, Stafford, Altrincham, Northwich and Farsley)- with 4 going down ....

Me - I'm at neither, as "family duties" see me heading down the A6 to Belper. I do get a game in mind - Belper are at home to Gresley, so it's a semi-demi-local-ish sort of derby in the Derby area...at least I get to show Tim (Belper "Snapper") my new lens !!!

It's going to be an interesting day across the nation - so I'd better put some credit on my blooming phone !!!

(Trains) £1.5million ....Part 1

...spent on refurbishing Stalybridge Station by its "owners" i.e. Trans-Pennine Express.

In the first of a probably VERY irregular series I give you ... the train information system - now that must have cost a few bob ... and as you can see it has ALL the vital information for the harassed commuter at its very fingertips ....

As you've guessed - the "Welcome to..." message is particularly comforting....

Bit Late for a Rant but ...What the Hell ...

.... Unibond League Web Site - what a bag of nails that is - fine when there's nowt happening, but when you try to check out the evening's results - forget it - it's down until the morning "peep while the boss ain't looking" moment..whatever happened to 24/7 - I'm sure people are reading this very blog as we speak - my updating doesn't entail bringing the whole bloody site down !

...the FA - seem to have got themselves off the hook because Clitheroe admitted "partial responsibility" in the Rushall Olympic saga. What you don't see is the FA admitting the "other partial responsibility" - because of course that would not be good for the state of the game in this country - would it ? So Clitheroe get kicked out of the FA Trophy - and have to pay the costs - because a ref didn't do his job properly ...The only problem with this story is that it hasn't gone "national" enough - so few will know of it despite many knowing what a bunch of @@@@ they are at the FA ....stories like this would be right up the tabloid's street - shame that Fariah is not involved ....

...Northern Rail / Trans-Pennine Express - still unreliable - still overcrowded - the "people with the clicker machines" were out on Stalybridge Station today - it'll make no bloody difference - they were on the trains a couple of months ago - we still get the overcrowded 3-car 0735 to Manchester Piccadilly every morning. While we're on rail stuff, these fancy platform things which tell you the next train in - what a load of crap - you see the words "on time" when it is five minutes after - at Stalybridge - it's "still under test" - months after installation (with the occasional 'off day' - posh computer-like messages involving IP addresses etc) - God knows how much money is spent on these so-called "tools to help the punter" - the phone line is similarly crap - it's "on time" until one minute before arrival - then it jumps to "9 minutes late" - and similar - nationalrail.co.uk ain't much better when checking the hometime train from work - if they just concentrated on the bloody trains rather than all this "garnish" - but they can't because they're all different companies pulling their own way for the dividends of their shareholders - and b*ll*x to the customers....blimey that was "cathartic" - as Heather Mills would say...

Just the three for now - a "Triumverant" if you like - I'm sure Mr Grumpy will find more as the years continue ....

Curzon Ashton v Bradford Park Avenue

A win for the away team - with a very late goal - check out these pix while I compose myself ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/CurzonBPA/

The game - caught 1857 train to Ashton then walked it - no problems for a fit eco-warrior like myself !! First half was one way traffic - it really was. Bradford were by far the better organised, the quicker, the neater and the more inventive of the two sides - by a long way. This surprised me - and maybe others - we've all seen Curzon several times this season - and they've been far better than this - in fact to me they seem to reduce themselves to the rough niggly side that I saw pre-season against Sheffield FC - and I know others have seen since - it does not become them - at all.

Still - 0-0 at half-time - and it was bloody cold - so cold in fact that my chance of a lift back to Mossley "copped out" at 45 minutes - no names no pack drill (I might want a lift later in the season !!) A word in the bar with some - including Cyril who went on about the booking for Curzon's number 6 - "He should have kept out of it" - by now you can guess who got a second yellow in the second half (I believe it was Chris Curley - if I'm wrong will someone tell me sharpish ..).

Despite being down to tem men, Curzon continued to keep Bradford out - in fact for a good period of the second half it looked more likely that Curzon would score first. The freezing cold weather abated somewhat when it started to rain (although some were looking for it to turn to sleet !). Still no score..and then - the man with 87 on his "Golden Goal" erupted (as did many Bradford fans) when Tom Baker who'd come out of the Tardis as a second half sub - got on the end of a "ball blocked, keeper on ground, ball in air" moment (not unlike the Mossley goal at Radcliffe on Saturday !).

I've got to be honest - the better side won on the night - if Curzon had held out for a further 3 (plus) minutes that would have been a point gained rather than two lost. You could see at the final whistle how important that win felt for the Bradford players and fans alike - OK it's not the best "STS exclusive" - but you get the picture (plus you can see "Mad Pete" from the Bradford "Nutty Boys" in the background !!)

So - no lift, a walk into Ashton to find both train and bus times against me..found a bus to Satlybridge - one in the Buffet Bar (Phoenix "Flash Flood") before 2241 train home - to this ..

.....and now the late news ....

Out last night @ friends - out all day today walking from Crowden to "home" - will try to do something after tea...it's now 1715 and I'm a "touch muddy" !

OK - now 2154 - some pix at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/RadcliffeMossley/

...including my first real "Photoshop fiddle" - may Frith forgive me - check out the pictures of the goal - as I've included both the "fiddled" and the "unfiddled" - one tiny tweak with the 'clone tool' - and Nigel Wharmby disappears !!

Can't say a lot about the game - as there isn't much to say

- we got a goal and they didn't

- we got three points and they didn't

- Clitheroe beat FCUM 2-1

..but I digress....there is a YouTube offering from the Radcliffe side of things - they look pretty good I feel - or is that down to editing (he says after whittling 100 pix down to 14 (including one duplicate) and skilfully avoiding the picture of the Radcliffe header that just went over the bar ....!!)

OK - in the interests of fairness ...here is 'that' pic...

What does "FA" stand for ???

Those "in the non-league know" may well be aware of the "ongoing situation" re the Clitheroe v Rushall Olympic FA Trophy replay that "didn't happen" on Tuesday night - but I'm going to tell you anyway ..

It was postponed following a protest from Rushall regarding Keiron Fitzgerald who played in the game on Saturday. He'd been sent off in the previous round (i.e. two weeks ago), and as all "in the non-league know" know, he should have been suspended as of Saturday.

Plot thickens here....according to Rushall, they warned Clitheroe about this at 1350 on the Saturday. According to Clitheroe they had received NO correspondence from the FA regarding any suspension - and there was nothing on the FA Website ("naughty boys" page).....so he played ...

Plot now gets thicker - Rushall immediately protest to FA - they postpone the replay and - all of a sudden the name Keiron Fitzgerald appears on the FA Website ("naughty boys" page) TWO DAYS AFTER THE GAME ....we are talking serious "retrospective" here !!!

The "Fariah Alam" fiasco was probably easier to sort out than this little upset in the distant backwaters of football .. I'd give you a link to the relevant stuff on the Clitheroe Message Board - but it is members only...

http://z10.invisionfree.com/Clitheroe_FC_Forum/index.php

will get you to registration though ...interesting to note the input of some Tamworth fans onthis subject - whose team fell foul of the same secretary - who apparently knows his rule books back to front - last season in a County Cup game - however the Tamworth fans used a different word to describe the chap !!

The Rushall Board - again members only - (http://www.rofc.co.uk/ will get you nearest) - is a lot quieter than the Clitheroe board

Gareth Richards Benefit

bobbed some early pix up at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/GarethRichardsBenefit/

for AUFC benefit - more to come (promise) - I even got a go in the AUFC Sponsors Lounge tonight.....

...but I won Jack in the after match raffle !

Two days on and he's updating same post...this is of course a blatant steal from the Ashton board courtesy of "Robin" - cus he knows the names better then me !!

The game itself saw Richards in the number 9 shirt for the first ten minutes - he was given the captain's armband too. Maine Road legend and former Ashton man Gordon Woods started the game for the Manchester side. Tommy Taylor opened the scoring with a cracking header from a Howard cross, but Maine Road equalised when an attempted clearance hit the legs of an on-rushing forward and ricochetted into Rooney's goal. After half-time Neil Chappell restored the Robins' lead with a goal against his former club before both sides were guilty of some amazing misses. Almost the entire Ashton squad were given a run-out at some stage and those that were on the sidelines were somewhat vocal in their appreciation of the triallists from Salford. Jones (a defender) did well in two spells, Jackson looked useful on the Ashton left and, after Fitzpatrick had made it 3-1, Johnson played the last 15 minutes as a forward... in all honesty it looked about 14 minutes too long. Chappy scored a cracking second to round off the goalscoring.

Mossley v Brazil

Sorry - but just can't do it tonight - it may have been Mrs Smiffy's birthday - it may have been Danny T's debut - I may have been "playing outside" with firework pix - but it's one o'clock for Frith's sake...


I give you this for now - Danny T preparing to "get Mossley out of jail" in the 90th minute ..







...and the celebrations that followed ....he he ..




SUNDAY MORNING - Pix now at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleyGarforth/

The Weekend....and beyond ...

OK - Mossley v Garforth on Saturday - looking forward to the Brazilian beat, the Brazilian style - more likely to get the Brazilian inflation in the bar £1-90 before the game - £2-10 at half-time -£2075 at the end (!!!) - Ilkeston Town @ Curzon in the FA Trophy (ergo a quick "visitette" to Stalybridge Buffet bar to see Nosmo King and the rest of the Ilson "Train Boys").

Oh yes a trip to the tip in the morning to dispose of washing machine - guess what - it broke on the same day as Mrs Smiffy's "royalty cheque" arrived - isn't life a bastard ! So I give you this link to Amazon - so you will buy more of Mrs Smiffy's book so the next royalty cheque can be properly used for our planned "Italia 2008" holiday. It's a damn fine read - tell all your teacher friends ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Additional-Language-Challenge-Classroom/dp/1843121867/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-8834157-3082365?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194037335&sr=8-1

It's also Mrs Smiffy's birthday tomorrow - but she's out with her "workie chums" in the evening - giving me time to point the camera across the valley (using tripod, remote and "bulb" setting !!) and make an attempt on the fireworks !!

Whilst in plug mode - Hurst Cross (Ashton United) at 7.30pm next Tuesday for a good cause. £5/£3 entry for a benefit match in aid of Ashton player Gareth Richards and his family, to be played against Gareth's old club Maine Road. Gareth suffered a serious head injury whilst on holiday in Slovenia and was in a coma for 8 days; the aim of the match is to try and help him and his family offset some of the costs incurred through lost wages, travel and accomodation expenses, etc.

Mossley - New Signing

Mossley have signed Danny Toronczack - from Belper Town....

You may or may not know that - despite having lived in Mossley for over 20 years - I do have an interest in Belper - - due to Mrs Smiffy (birthplace, where I got married etc etc).....

So having heard that Danny T was leaving Belper I felt it only right to alert "our lot" - the fact that it went through "rather sharpish" does imply that "our lot" were already on the case... well he did play under our present Manager @ Ashton United ....

A little uncomfortable I feel ....but I've had the "no probs" from down the A6 - so welcome on board to Danny T - and may you score many goals - oh yes !

And here's a pic from the middle of September when Belper played Causeway United in the 1st Qual of the FA Cup - - note the lack of Tim Harrison copyright - that's because "I was there" !!!

Now note the Tim Harrison input - one day I'll get my head round Photoshop and all it can do !!!

All Hallows

OK - you get that for starters - the cover of an "epcd" from AFI - my daughter's absolute heroes - and if you've never heard of them - you should - later stuff ("Sing the Sorrow" etc) is a bit "poppy" (they got signed by big label !) - but if you get a chance - give "Black Sails in the Sunset" a listen.

But I digress - basically because the computer's playing "hard to get" - and I'm having to upload pix via a "rather antique" card reader - and like I said earlier I somehow managed to take over 200 pictures last night - at least I have a list in front of me of the alleged "goodies" (cus I took CF card to work and used a much more hi-tech card reader to have a peep - unfortunately only Irfan View on pc so could not "fiddle about)

The photobucket address awaits - as in

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleySkem/

While you're waiting you could check out a souvenir of August Bank Holiday Monday - the return from Lancaster (after a 2-0) was "clocked" via the dreaded mobile phone - and what's wrong with a bit of "air guitar" anyway - even using a monopod !!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRK8SWdPunc

I believe an appearance on YouTube is the final accolade in a long and distinguished career - or so I'm told - the title is very misleading (drunk ? me ?) and I'm definitely NOT responsible for the appalling vocals - I was listening to DragonForce through those magical "ear things"....

OK - pix now on pc - give it 20 minutes - and enjoy - if you can - twas hard work last night - very hard work - and that was just bloody watching - my second "extra time+penalties" in less than a week - no wonder I had a small "snoozette" after the game......

2119 - PIX NOW UP !!

2130 - The STS exclusives feature Ashley Connor - the main bunch of pix show his pen save just before half-time - but obviously he needs to be involved fully - so in the penalty shoot-out....

he doesn't only save 'em.....

...he scores 'em as well !!