The weather was not too promising as I left Mossley on the 1257 train to Ashton – a valid attempt was made in Ashton to buy a cover for the monopod – failed, so sulked ove a quick pint of Phoenix “West Coast IPA” in the “Station” pub before catching a bus in the general direction of Dukinfield Town FC. My choice of bus (i.e. wrong) left me with a brisk 15 minute walk to Woodhams Park. On one of the adjacent pitches I clocked the (very) end of the first half of a game between Stalybridge Celtic Supporters and a team of Liverpool fans, before stepping “through the wall”.
I then met Jason, the Duki Town secretary – who I haven’t seen for the best part of 20 years ago !! He was then called “Oscar” and was Mossley secretary Brian Cowburn’s “right-hand man/oppo”- now he finds himself as a Club Secretary – and running the 3rd team as well ! It was a “must win” game today – and hoping that Breightmet failed to beat Royton Town.
Onto the game, and I noticed a couple of familiar faces from the Cup-winning Woodley Sports team of a couple of weeks ago, Rob Parsonage (today wearing 5) and Sam Walker (today wearing no bloodied bandage !). Also spotted were Mark Phillips (ex-Mossley – top defender) and Councillor Brian Wild, supporting his local team. Duki started the more positive team – however after about 10 minutes Rochdale got a free-kick just outside the box which pinged against the bar. This had the desired effect – straight down the other end, one-on-one with the keeper…..missed ! However it was Dukinfield who raced into a 3-0 in a heavily-extended first-half – due to a clash of Duki keeper’s head and Rochdale forward’s teeth/mouth – not pretty – and there is no photographic evidence of this one ! Hope he's OK.
On Jason’s advice I popped into the Duki Town clubhouse (which I never knew existed !) for a half-time pint. Noted they were also doing pie & peas (may have been the norm – may have been due to the Stalybridge/Liverpool supporters game mentioned earlier).
When I came out, Duki were just kicking-off…start of second half – no….3-1…no…it was bloomin’ 3-2. All the hard work of the first 45 (OK 59) minutes almost chucked in the first five minutes of the second d half !! However the return of the strange man with a camera on a big stick seemed to settle them down a bit (well you never know !!) – and I wandered round the other side of the pitch to listen to an amusing spat between linesman and several of the left-sided Rochdale team vis-à-vis the offside rule – and the lack of flagging. When the opposite linesman popped his flag into the air one player turned to “my” linesman and said “Look – he knows how to do it !!” – made me laugh anyway. Naturally the next goal – the Duki Town 4th - was tinged with a bit of offside – although in fairness I was fairly well-positioned to judge - and I’d go with the liner’s decision. 4-2 – safe ?? Not a bit of it – still time for Rochdale to grab a third and tighten a few sphincters - but 4-3 was how it finished up.
A quick pint in the club before shooting off (Manchester with Mrs Smiffy in the evening). Just time to check the score of the other game with Jason – not good news unfortunately – Breighmet had won – so Duki’s position in the Premier Division of the Manchester League in severe danger – we’ll see what the summer (and the AGMs/ground grading committee’s etc) brings …
Incidentally how many football grounds do you know, where the adjacent pub has a Sea Harrier Jump Jet in the back garden ?? It was going to be a blooming Vulcan at one stage !! I give you "The Snipe" in Dukinfield...
I then met Jason, the Duki Town secretary – who I haven’t seen for the best part of 20 years ago !! He was then called “Oscar” and was Mossley secretary Brian Cowburn’s “right-hand man/oppo”- now he finds himself as a Club Secretary – and running the 3rd team as well ! It was a “must win” game today – and hoping that Breightmet failed to beat Royton Town.
Onto the game, and I noticed a couple of familiar faces from the Cup-winning Woodley Sports team of a couple of weeks ago, Rob Parsonage (today wearing 5) and Sam Walker (today wearing no bloodied bandage !). Also spotted were Mark Phillips (ex-Mossley – top defender) and Councillor Brian Wild, supporting his local team. Duki started the more positive team – however after about 10 minutes Rochdale got a free-kick just outside the box which pinged against the bar. This had the desired effect – straight down the other end, one-on-one with the keeper…..missed ! However it was Dukinfield who raced into a 3-0 in a heavily-extended first-half – due to a clash of Duki keeper’s head and Rochdale forward’s teeth/mouth – not pretty – and there is no photographic evidence of this one ! Hope he's OK.
On Jason’s advice I popped into the Duki Town clubhouse (which I never knew existed !) for a half-time pint. Noted they were also doing pie & peas (may have been the norm – may have been due to the Stalybridge/Liverpool supporters game mentioned earlier).
When I came out, Duki were just kicking-off…start of second half – no….3-1…no…it was bloomin’ 3-2. All the hard work of the first 45 (OK 59) minutes almost chucked in the first five minutes of the second d half !! However the return of the strange man with a camera on a big stick seemed to settle them down a bit (well you never know !!) – and I wandered round the other side of the pitch to listen to an amusing spat between linesman and several of the left-sided Rochdale team vis-à-vis the offside rule – and the lack of flagging. When the opposite linesman popped his flag into the air one player turned to “my” linesman and said “Look – he knows how to do it !!” – made me laugh anyway. Naturally the next goal – the Duki Town 4th - was tinged with a bit of offside – although in fairness I was fairly well-positioned to judge - and I’d go with the liner’s decision. 4-2 – safe ?? Not a bit of it – still time for Rochdale to grab a third and tighten a few sphincters - but 4-3 was how it finished up.
A quick pint in the club before shooting off (Manchester with Mrs Smiffy in the evening). Just time to check the score of the other game with Jason – not good news unfortunately – Breighmet had won – so Duki’s position in the Premier Division of the Manchester League in severe danger – we’ll see what the summer (and the AGMs/ground grading committee’s etc) brings …
Incidentally how many football grounds do you know, where the adjacent pub has a Sea Harrier Jump Jet in the back garden ?? It was going to be a blooming Vulcan at one stage !! I give you "The Snipe" in Dukinfield...
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