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 !!

Mossley v Skelmersdale United

More 90 minute stalemate - more extra time - and another Tameside club goes out of a cup on penalties. Another late finish last night led to nowt being put on here - this is being "sneaked in" on a 5 minute break - I'l be looking at pix at lunchtime with a view to getting them online this evening.

But last night - I left the ground a touch depressed ..... it was as if no-one wanted to progress for fear of drawing a southern club in the next round - somehow I took just over 200 pictures last night (still practising !) - but don't expect too much goalmouth action.

We seem to have lost the ability to not only "not score", but even to create the chances to "not score".... a touch worrying but .... "at least it was only the cup" - and that's the third time that's been said in three games - which naturally begs the other cliche now - "at least we can concentrate on the ......" - you know the rest.

Ashton United v Buxton

So much to do ... today's pix at ...

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


Going back 24 hours or so - went to "big city" on Friday for food and drink - may I recommend the "Cafe Istanbul" on Bridge Street - just off Deansgate - in fact ever the geek (i.e. always a camera close to hand) here's the mezes...plus my glass of "Efes" to the left....




Woke up this morning - and thought I was a blues singer ..... Decided against the arduous trip to Colwyn Bay - mainly due to the fact that some b*st*rd had nicked the track at Mossley...




So Ashton United it was - and a first half where Buxton could have run away with it - however the ref kept whipping out his yellow to keep the "Derbyshire chaps" at bay - in short he ruined the game from very early on - and after half-time there were so many "treading on thin ice" - which obviously opened it up for Ashton - even so a 2-2 draw was seen by me as a bit "smash and grab" by Ashton - but you've got to take your chances...and Buxton didn't.


An enjoyable game for the neutral - although after Thursday night I was looking for the cameras, the "Hurst Cross streaker" and other nefarious stuff - had to make do with football - and John Milne's beard - which gets tidier every time I see it ....tell me what you think ....




(Believe he failed the Laphroaig audition !)

Stalybridge Celtic v Blyth Spartans

Yep I scabbed a late-ish pass-out for this one - arriving 15 minutes into the first half. In short - 90 minutes of something - not necessarily football throughout - Blyth miss a penalty - TV cameras everywhere - the inevitable streaker (male I'm afraid) - 30 minutes of what can only be described as "extra time" - followed by a penalty shoot-out - at the wrong end due to floodlight "failure"- followed by a 4-3 defeat for the home side.

I've done the pens first - it may be of assistance to Mr Benson @ Stalybridge- you'll find them at ...

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

I'll have a look at the rest at work later today - there may be a few worthy of not - but due to the lack of "migration" this evening (you had to be there !) ......we'll see !!

0100 - remembered we're out later today - so thought better get rest of pix up now - they're here...

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

Maybe more words tomorrow - but I think the top four lines have almost "got it in a nutshell"..

Playing catch-up...

Forgotten stuff from the weekend...

Jamie Carragher - was a fine example to the youngsters on Saturday lunchtime - he really ought to watch a replay of the game to see how stupid he looks - what a pr*t !! The silver medal went of course to Mr Clattenburg for his pro-Kuyt behaviour .... hey remember the Spurs v United game a couple of seasons ago ??




Yep Mr Clattenburg again (OK the pic shows Roy "Cheater" Carroll - but you get my drift..). There you go Stuart - I remembered - eventually !!!!!!!!!!

Went walking on Sunday around Derwent Edge - near Ladybower Reservoir - here's a couple from that 8+ mile walk.....



(For some crazy reason this got taken at ISO 1600 - eek !)



Plenty of these weird formations "up our way" ...

Tonight - watched "Babe" on UKTV Gold - believe various results have happened vis-a-vis the "Copa Manchetta Primera" which leads me to believe that all and sundry are stepping aside to allow FCUM to snaffle some silverware this season (although I'm sure my friends - and enemies - up at Ashton United may beg to differ !)... LATE UPDATE @ 0017 - just noticed that the other Monday game between Hyde United (Cheshire) and Glossop North End (Derbyshire) was also apparently in the Manchester Premier Cup (For those who don't know - Hyde won 6-4)...so it's not all over bar the shouting really then - is it ??

...believe some North London team scored a few tonight - but hey - that's Enfield Town for you ...or was it Arsenal ? oh and "Big United" won as well .....

Chadderton v Mossley (Manky Prem Cup)

Oh dear....oh very dear...

Many have said that - while a picture paints a thousand words, the words are far more interesting - well in many cases - THEY'RE WRONG ...

..because tonight, there's no need to paint a thousand words - just a few pithy "easy-off-the-tongue" type words would do ...

We were not good - never really threatened - gave away a comical oggy - missed a pen (hey that''s the Mossley we know - and still love ..) - and never really looked like winning. It could have gone to extra-time and pens tonight - at 85 minutes I'm sure many of us were willing Mossley NOT to score - I may be horribly wrong here - but ....this is a team TWO divisions below ...we're running out of cups, and this WAS one where progression was likely (OK - posible)

Stick with the pictures...

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

Well there's a few - but even here I have a "crisis of faith" - when the pro says "go for 1/350 @ ISO 1600 - and then post edit avec Photoshop" (OK he ain't French - he did say with !!) I worry - I'll be perfectly honest now - 99.999% of my pix are "straight up" - some of you oldsters may remember that line on the back of every Queen LP - "NO SYNTHESISERS" - well for me it's "NO PHOTOSHOP" - yes I may have dabbled a couple into monochrome over the last few months (and said so) - but mostly what you see is what you get - with the odd one-click "AutoCorrect" in Microsoft Picture Manager - and that's hardly bloody PS CS3 is it ??

Again tonight - new lens on a first outing night-time game - Chadderton lights - North West Counties standard in the "lux" rating (remember I tended to get very good results at Stalybridge Celtic with the "old" lens - that's Conference lux that is !) PS here's Michael Fish saying "Oh Blogger" - or something like that ...

Mossley v Rushall Olympic - post Rugby ...

Can't complain at the rugby - did very well to almost reduce South Africa to the "scruffy game plan" that was England's - but basic errors to give away penalties - and an "iffy" decision from the "13th umpire in the stand" regarding the deffo try ... hey ... Mossley lose, England lose - what's left - maybe Lewis Hamilton will get done for speeding tomorrow - it always comes in threes y'know...


Back to the Mossley game - maybe I was a touch harsh - the first half saw Mossley with all the chances - but - no product - and you think coming downhill in the second half - should be a doddle - but no, it was a Dowdall (ho ho - almost a joke there !!!) . Twas an interesting last few minutes with 'keeper Ashley Connor saying "sod the sticks - I'm going up front !!" Being honest, Rushall were no great shakes - but they did exactly what was needed - and did just enough of it. We've done the same on many occasions, so credit where credit's due ...


Onwards to Chadderton on Monday - for me it's swapping Andrew Street Mossley for Andrew Street Chadderton for the Manchester Premier Cup game. There's a friendly on Wednesday v Marsden - and then on Thursday Stalybridge are "on the telly" as in Sultana Sports - Santana - the apparent saviour of non-league football as we know it - taking a leaf out of the "Book of Mr Murdoch" - "You're playing on Thursday - now shut up and we'll give you money" ... I remember once doing Weymouth v Stafford Rangers midweek - but that was just a crap League Fixture Secretary rather than "TellyMoney" !

We'll have to see which of those three options I get permission to do ..... one bright spark today was the new lens - by gum you can notice the difference, especially when you crop a picture - it remains that much sharper for that much longer - what we need now is a good night match - looks like Monday then !

Anyway - here's the STS exclusive - Richard Conway "going close" in the first half - cleared off the line this one....

Mossley v Rushall Olympic - pre Rugby ...

I'm sure I've said it elsewhere - but today we got precisely what we deserved - i.e. "Rushall", "Jacques Merde"...at this moment in time I'm not going into detail as the "rugger" kicks off in about 15 minutes - that's proper rugby by the way, not this northern breakaway rubbish. I'll be back later with a more eloquent view on how we "just about turned up" today - very very disappointing.

On the plus side - new lens - and a whole new outlook on life...I give you this pic of "The Weatherman" - as I'm sure he will/should/ought to be nicknamed - makes a helluva change from just sticking "-er" or "-o" on the end of a surname - I'm sure you know what I'm trying to say - anyway, here's Mike Fish about to unleash..

and when I get round to it I'll stick some more pix on ....

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

...but for now - can England (rugby) confound the critics for a third time ..... ??

See you later

Tomorrow - FA Trophy vs Rushall Olympic

Fresh from a morale-boosting win in the Mossley AFC Quiz Night less than 24 hours ago - it's time to move on - what's in the past is in the past - tomorrow is just another game - and naturally we've been taking one game at a time. OK - the quiz was won on Thursday - but we're not complacent - it's a great leveller (unlike top end of our pitch - just a small joke there !) - anything can happen - and REMEMBER - it only takes a second to score a goal.

Hopefully the M6 will be chocka tomorrow - and if the opposition put in a receipt for the "toll bit" - knock it back - I'm sure they'll have a toilet - so why bother ? Rushall - play in tangerine - according to Teddy (Rushall message board) there won't be that many travellers tomorrow - probably all saving up to go to York in 7 and a bit days time ...

OK the "stream of consciousness/total b*ll*x" has now dried up - no beer in't'house - must fly ....

Haircuts tomorrow AM for "moi" and Peter - and then it's playtime with the new (second-user !) f2.8 - I'll be out early testing on the bloody warmup routines - so maybe by 1625 I'll be knackered as well as the teams (see earlier rant re "warm-ups" !!)

But for now - Raja Brothers is calling ......

We won the Quiz .... !!

Stuart;

Topsy;

Andy W;

Sarah;

Charlotte;

...and me ...tonight's Quizmeisters - failed miserably on the "loadsacash question" at the end - viz "who invented tramways ?"

Answer tomorrow - meanwhile a bit of fun with "babycamera" taken on Thursday morn ...over Stalybridge from Platform 2 @ 0730 ....

Curse the Rain ....

Game off tonight - for the very reasons mentioned in an earlier thread (gorblimey it's grim oop north) - Cheadle Town's a poss tomorrow night (can go straight from work - and bang in some o/t) - but with weather - and England - they may well knock it on the head....

What time is the England game anyway ??

Loose End on Tuesday ?

The only game in Tameside ?

It has to be Seel Park where a Mossley XI take on the mighty "cuckoos" of Marsden FC. With so few (!) league games this season, the trick appears to be - arrange a few friendlies - to be played on "training nights" - a chance for the fringe players (and the X-Factor wannabees) to get a run out.

And the beauty of the "friendly" idea is that there's no need to join a Reserve League ergo no commitment to HAVE to play games when the weather is sh*te and it might c*ck up the pitch for the first team.

Plus it gives me a chance to try out new lens - and c*ck up as necessary ....we'll see how it goes (they may well be the words of Gerry Quinn as well !!)

Belper Town vs Southport (FA Cup 3rd Qual.)

If you can't be bothered to read why not try ...

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

For the expert's eye" there's always .....

http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/SuthprtFACH0708/album1.html

I always thought it was going to be a long shot (I mean, I only “won it” late Thursday night) – but the new lens did not arrive. Not to worry – Mossley have a friendly game against Marsden on Tuesday - so hopefully, I can have a “bit of a play” up there.

Anyway to Saturday – left Mossley just before midday and had a fairly trouble-free trip down the A6 to Belper (went round the new “Sainsbury’s sponsored by-pass thingy” in Matlock as well – state of things to come in Belper maybe – but substitute Tesco for Sainsburys !) Got to Belper about 1330 – and I found myself in the “George” by 1345 slurping Falstaff Brewery “A Fistful of Hops” and watching Bath beat Harlequins, before the two-minute “hop” to Christchurch Meadow.

Both teams were giving it the pre-match warm-up routines – which seem to start earlier every season – I’m sure some of these routines are directly responsible for teams “running out of steam” in the last 15 minutes of a game – they’re knackered before they start !! Time for words with Tim (“Snapper”), MC Allington and "Mr. Laughlin" before a swift pre-flight pint of Pedigree from the jug.

Last time I was at Christchurch Meadow – against Causeway United in the FA Cup 1st Qualifying - there was a goal in the first 45 seconds, which caught me on the hop. This week I was prepared – just at the wrong bloomin’ end, as the ball looped over Adam Ogden’s head to give Southport a (very) early lead. After that however, it was fairly “even stevens” up to half-time. The second half saw all the pressure coming from Belper Town – a little bit more confidence, a little bit more “self-belief” and I’m sure an equaliser would have come. However it was a breakaway goal from Gray with about 15 minutes left that totally put the mockers on it …the third was academic.

So it’s Southport who move one step closer to the 1st Round Proper – but they certainly were not 3-0 better than Belper on the day. A fine bunch of fans as well – I just detected a touch of “arrogance” on the field – a bit of “us and them” – and I thought the referee was woeful – no sour grapes here either, there were fans from both sides (and neutrals too) who agreed. He seemed to be too easily intimidated by the “big boys”, and I think by the end his confidence and his self-belief had completely evaporated.

A couple of beers after the game was followed by a vain attempt to stay awake in front of the Rugby – I can remember 5-9 for some reason. Came back early from Belper this morning as our Michelle not feeling too good (some tropical disease from the Soukhs of Marrakech no doubt !) - and so to this .....here's the STS exclusive - a bit blurry I'm afraid, as it's been "cropped to buggery" as they say in the trade (!!) - but there's some strange goings-on between the Belper 'keeper and one of his defenders involving puckered lips and lifting of shirts ...

FA Cup - League Games - and England

Do I need to say anything - I guess the title says it all really.

Why are England playing at 1500 on a Saturday ? It can only be TV and money - and bollocks to the rest of English football for the day.

OK some/a lot have re-arranged for 1300 kick offs - many played last night - some will play Sunday - but why ????? Sorry I forgot - TV and money

Some are deliberately playing at 1500 tomorrow - some have been forced to play at 1500 tomorrow (obviously here I'm talking of Belper Town where I'll be later today).

TV - money - hmmm - I'm trying to be polite - but it is three thirty in the morning !! Work it out - England games organised by the FA - later today - the FA Cup 3rd Qual ... obviously more money in the "Estonia" argument - and bollox to the small clubs who may have been able to get a big pay-day , nay their only big pay-day this season.

Football Association - a bloody oxymoron ....

..and some see Setanta as a good thing for non-league ..........HA !

The f2.8 Moment has Arrived !

My good friend Tim from Belper Town - as in http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction.html - had put me onto a "possible" on "fleabay" yesterday evening - and at just after 2031 this evening I became the proud owner of a Sigma 70-200 f2.8 - second-hand, not the newer DG version (looking at the picture) - but half the price of a new 'un ! You never know it might even arrive on Saturday morning before me and Mrs Smiffy (and our Michelle - back from her summer working in France and jollies in Spain & Morocco) go down to the mother-in-laws in Belper, and taking in the FA Cup game betwixt Belper Town and Southport - where Tim of course will be "on duty".

I'd run this whole "spending large amounts of money on a piece of glass" (or several pieces of glass !) past Mrs Smiffy a while back - the non-smoking has helped my case (just a few "slips back", but not many) - and the words "Happy Birthday, Happy Christmas, Happy Fathers Day 2008, Happy Anniversary 2008" are now ringing in my ears !!
Obviously a whole new ball game (ha ha !) with a decent lens - but I'm sure I can work it out (probably something along the lines of "don't need ISO 3200 and can probably sneak up to 1/250 for a night game") As I recall, Carl at Droylsden just goes for "shutter priority and be damned !!" I may well compare notes with Tim on Saturday - I remember his first words to me all those months ago at Woodley Sports v Belper Town - a look into the sky and "1/500 should do it for you today". I shall cherish the old 70-300 f4-5.6 though - it will still have a place in my life, I'm sure.

All I can hope for now is some good stuff from the seller (from Guildford) and no sh*t from the posties - much as I support their stance against their "profit/bonus grabbing bosses" - I'd still like to get the goods sometime before 1130 on Saturday morning - because - unlike many - the Belper game is kicking off at 1500 (blame Charlie Clapham/Peter Davenport/Hadyn Preece - allegedly !) so I don't need to leave Mossley until then ...

In the meantime here's a little STS exclusive from Tuesday night ....when I was stood with the "massed ranks" of Gainsborough fans

Stalybridge Celtic v Gainsborough Trinity

Now that was a stuffing - and well deserved too.. - some pix at

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

too late as usual - sure I've even missed a few pix off - we'll see - anyroad up see what you see ..

Bamber Bridge v Mossley

More to come - but here's a cracker ....Brig's third (disputed !) goal ....



1620 - Sunday afternoon the rest of the best now at

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

Twas a public transport day yesterday, leaving Mossley just before 1100 and missing all kinds of connections going and coming back !!

The game - well I have to say that Bamber Bridge looked a "touch good" - that we kept it to 0-0 for 30 odd minutes was down to a lot of good fortune. Once they started however - they certainly finished - and finished well. OK we got a couple of late goals - the BB foot was certainly off the pedal by then - a bit disappointing overall then - but, unlike Tuesday we were beaten by a better team all-round...

Clitheroe v Mossley - First Thoughts

Bugger - double bugger - and more buggers - it's "midnight45" and I'm trying to work out how we lost that one ...but not for long though as we've got an appointment at the hospital early doors with Peter and his jawbone - followed by a trip to the Police Station in the afternoon.....I'l say no more on that ...

Some pix from tonight at

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

I reckon the enforced "delay" hurt us a damn site more - Clitheroe used it to get their breath back - because until the totally unfit ref decided to "cop out" there was only going to be one winner tonight....

Too much use of the word "bugger" on this site recently - may well have to start saying "damn" ...I'll go for the "second thoughts" sometime tomorrow....



Meanwhile the STS "exclusive" is here ....