End of January Clear-Out !!

Yep, tidying up the "baby camera" ...



OK - so Stalybridge Station is getting even more money thrown at it - apparently Mossley Station is getting a new Booking Office - should take two weeks - this is the view of the "New Booking Office" - three weeks on .....



Seems to be a fact of life these days - a freebie from the Manchester Evening News on "Job Day" - given out on Manchester Piccadilly Station.

#

A "Dead Branson" - the 1624 broken down in Stockport Station yesterday (Wednesday) evening .... it was "Virgin Champion" - chump more like ...




The "Tickers" will never get this bottled beer - brought into Stalybridge Buffet Bar on Tuesday night by Andy - home brewed by his neighbour - we all had a bit - it was gorgeous !!



£20 million plus spent on doing up Manchester Piccadilly Station - and still the roof leaks - platform 6 this (Thursday) morning..

Not snowing yet .......(2241 on Thursday night).....

Mossley v Radcliffe Borough

Two points "hurled away" in the end - a 90th minute equaliser said it all really. To be honest we never looked comfy at 1-0 or 2-1 - and I don't know about you but the late late subs by us were not a good idea (i.e. we were 2-1 up at the time - shaky - but still 2-1 up). I dunno - you'll get more erudite stuff in other places tomorrow no doubt - meanwhile, some pix at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleyRadcliffe2008/

Very disappointing - the 100/105% we were getting out of the players earlier in the season seems to have dropped - to at most 50% - wonder if there's a reason for this - those who went to Skem on Saturday reckoned it was a lot lot less than 50% - but then again I was at Harrogate - so I understand fully where they were coming from.

In true "buggeration" mode, we move on to play Ossett Albion on Saturday - they're 4th in the table, so it's not going to be easy...what makes tonight worse is that we've dropped another place with Wakefield beating Clitheroe.

All of a sudden, it's starting to get difficult - both on and off the pitch ........answers on a postcard please to ....etc etc etc

Trains - as promised - the CRAP diatribe ....

...or to put it more bluntly - all train companies are shiT - and I really mean shIt. I could stop now and many people would understand - but hey let's go for the sHit I went through just these last seven days - yes there were floods, typhoons, earthquakes and other such "reasons" - for part of last week - but over the year you get the same old ShiT week in week out - they do not need a crisis to f*ck up - that's just a bonus - plus a good old "Act of God" enables "cancellations without reparations" - and they milk it for all they can get - oh yes ....

Oh and if it's fact that they- or you - want -

Monday 21Jan08 AM - 0724 from Mossley cancelled due to "staff shortages" i.e. someone got up late !! I caught a bus from Mossley to Stalybridge and only made the 0735 train to Piccadilly because it was 6 minutes late - then - and ONLY THEN after that - sh*t happened, weather wise....

Monday21Jan08 PM - Nowt from Piccadilly - get across to Victoria - "Go to Platform 6" - no "Go to Platform 3" - no "Go to Platform 4" - home late.

Tuesday22Jan08 AM - no trains from Stalybridge to Piccadilly - stayed on the Mossley train to Victoria - and ran like hell across Manchester to get the 0803 from Picc to Cheadle Hulme - got there with 90 seconds to spare - the train left at 0818 - 15 late - for NO dicernable - or communicable reason - I could have f*cking crawled across Manchester and still caught it.

Tuesday22Jan08PM - restricted trains from Picc - not only restricted - but f*cking overcrowded - there had been signs saying that Trans-Pennine and Northern Rail "are working to minimise disruption" and don't travel "unless it is deemed absolute (sic) necessary". So they DON'T put extra carriages on - they don't advertise their wares - if running - until the last minute - we had it bad - God help those travelling between Huddersfield and Leeds !! This whole "working to minimise disruption" crap - they don't care...I think I've said before, a lot of the time it's not incompetence but indifference - and that makes it a whole lot worse ....

Wednesday23Jan08AM- Another run from "Vic to Picc" - this worked - whoo hoo !

Wednesday23Jan08PM - Arrived at Picc to find a surprise "late change" - it was virtually empty because obviously it was a last minute "put on" - and you had to be there to catch it ...

Thursday24Jan08AM - Whoo hoo - back to normal - trains from Stalybridge to Picc - however - we have a "signalling problem" between Guide Bridge and Manchester - so we arrive at Picc 16 minutes late (0807) meaning I've missed my connections to Cheadle Hulme - and I've got nowt till 0832.

By now I'm bored with writing down the "stuff of the geek" - although I do have a Friday morning "note" that at Picc I got onto the 0758 to Cheadle Hulme at 0752 - but we STILL left Picc 5 minutes late.

Two stories from the weekend - first one told to me - Saturday AM - the 1157 from Mossley to Vic - it was busy but not overcrowded. However once it left Stalybridge - and only AFTER it left Stalybridge - it was announced that the train would NOT be stopping at Ashton-under-Lyne for "safety reasons" - just love the way the announcement was left until AFTER it had left Stalybridge station - but then again "communication" is not a word used by ANYONE in the rail business these days - you've gotta find out for yourselves.

Me and Mrs Smiffy went "down town" Saturday evening taking in a meal at La Vina on Deansgate (quick review - too noisy - table booked for 2030, sat down at 2100 - too noisy - sorry guys won't be going back - £3-15 for a pint of San Miguel in case you need to know). We came home on the last train to Mossley - the 2300 - a 4-car unit pulls up - only the first two cars were available - asking why we were told, "We're waiting to see if it's necessary to open up the back two" - I laughed loudly - the two carriages are packed on a normal Saturday night - but tonight we had the pink stetsons and illuminated deely boppers of several hundred Spice Girls fans - but hey we'll wait until you're all in each other's pockets before we open up the back two carriages - you lazy people - sod the customers, let's make it easy for the staff.

And road users moan about the odd coned-off lane ... trouble being that until this - or any - Government gives public transport a sporting chance with money and support - and we actually get something relating to a regular, efficient service - people will continue to buy bloody motor cars - people will continue to pollute the country - and poor old Mrs Smiffy with our "one car covering five people" will continue to having parking problems on our street with next door one way ("two people two cars") and next door t'other way ("three people three cars") - and that's just our immediate neighbours - our street is awash with not only multiple car households, but f*cking 4x4s and people parking on pavements and all the sort of sh*t that comes with a reliance of the f*cking internal f*cking combustion f*cking engine - and yes I do drive - but only when necessary - and with an efficient number of people in the car. How many of these gas guzzling lumps of sh*t spend 22 hours a day doing absolutely nothing apart from blocking streets and filling car parks ?

I think the day that the oil runs out will be celebrated by me in the same way that "Thatcher Resigns" was celebrated. Not long now I feel....

Meanwhile - football - tomorrow we need to see Mossley getting their *rses in gear in what has now become a "bit of a six pointer" against Radcliffe Borough.

PS - I WILL be walking to the game - even though it's SOOOO uphill, it's almost worth hiring a 4x4 ........

Ashton United v Stamford

Check out the time - eek - been out in big city tonight - La Vina on Deansgate...last night - a Burns night do at a mate's house in Longsight involving haggis and bottles of Deuchars 80/- bitter.

But this afternoon - I took in Ashton United v Stamford - Skem/Mossley wasn't really "on" - due to tonight's appointment in Manc - and the fact that Skem is unreachable via public transport unless I'd started on Friday afternoon - aaah the beauty of "New Towns"....

Yeah it's 0050 - so all you get tonight is pictures - at

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

Weather permitting - we may be out walking later today - so any updates (still owe y'all something about the state of trains this week - and there's been two crackers today as well to bulk up this thread when I get round to it !) will come on line Sunday evening probably ... you can't wait can you ....!!!!

Fancy a (non-football) laugh ?

This is one I've been saving since the weekend. I managed to get a peep at "Derbyshire Life" magazine, the January 2008 edition - apart from football photos, I do have a go at outdoor/walking/landscape stuff - and I love Karen Frenkel's photography (plug = http://www.karenfrenkel.info/ - see also this month's "Peak District Life")

Now as you may have gathered, I am not one of those who worship at the "Church of St CombustionEngine", so when I saw this quote I managed to laugh on more than one level - I give you Andrew from the "Spotted Cow" in Holbrook......

"If I see a certain 4x4 come into the car park, I know I've got to get some dauphinoise potatoes on".

I'll leave it at that - it's on page 17 if you fancy having a peep in the newsagents.

Please be assured - I'm not trying to rip the guy who said it - he used to be in IT before he moved into the food trade - it's just that if the wrong phrase falls into the wrong hands - those "wrong hands" (me) are going to make the most out of it !!!

Now as I worship at the Church of St Delia - Gratin Dauphinois takes best part of 90 minutes (page 284 of Lady Deels "Complete Cookery Course" - the bible that was given to me and Mrs Smiffy as a wedding pressie in 1984) - so I guess it's a long walk from the car park to the restaurant ..........

Cheer up Bridge ..

....despite last night's defeat - here's a small accolade that was presented to Staybridge Station Buffet Bar last Saturday - by Wozza no doubt, and the rest of the Alfreton Town Supporters who drop in whenever they have a game within 345 miles of the Buffet Bar !! Last Saturday's win at Hyde sort of evened it up I guess after the previous week's loss to Stalybridge Celtic.


So for those who haven't seen it - here's the award for the "Best Away Pub of the Year 2006/07"..



.... oh and if you're looking for something about the railways after this week's shambolic efforts - I'm saving it all up for an "end of week diatribe" !!!

Stalybridge Celtic v Burscough

Well - what a bloody let-down - Ok missed first attempt (abandoned after 8 mins) - went to second attempt (frozzed off) - tonight it was third time unlucky - a sloppy performance from Celtic if I may say so - well beaten by Burscough tonight - pix available at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/2008BridgeBurscough/

Not a lot more I can say about tonight - again the weather was cr*p - twas free entry due to all the "gubbins" from the first game - there was a bucket - which raised £370 - I'd love to know what the crowd was - cus we all had to "click in" through the turnstiles - to me the bucket money total is a disappointment - good to see Mossley old boy Ciaran Kilheeney as well...

Every good run has to come to an end mind - and a kick up the arse has to be a good thing - back to Mr Burr to sort the team out for Saturday at Barrow - to me a tricky one, especially after tonight's "after the Mayor's Show" performance - over to you Mr B ...

Back - after a LONG weekend ...

...which actually started on Thursday night with a drive down to Belper after workies. Friday saw our Michelle's "Graduation Ceremony" at Derby University - our house now contains a BSc to add to the two BAs and a MA - and yes she was on the same stage as Roy Wood !! Friday evening saw me and Mrs Smiffy in the newly (ish) refurbished Ritz Cinema in Belper watching the low-budget Irish film "Once" - I would thoroughly recommend it - the film and the "ickle cinema".

Saturday - bought a suit for a wedding in March - ouch . The weather had made me cagey - I had the contact numbers for Belper, Ilkeson, Matlock, Eastwood and Gresley but I didn't have to go too far as the Belper Town v Kidsgrove Athletic game was called "on" quite early on. It should have been a win for the home team, but there was much spurning of many many chances.....new boy Gavin Allott looked useful (interesting to know how Richard Tracey feels though ...). Pre-match saw me watching the Sheffield derby - thank you to the George and Dragon - and Rupert ! - Sunday saw a bit of this and a bit of that - some "taxi-driving" - got back to Mossley about 1700 - looking forward to getting back to work for a rest !

I'll rustle up some more words and pictures as soon as .....

2045 - some footy pix now at..

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

and here's the brainy bugger in our house (!!!)

No Football ? Let's BURN stuff .....

Shades of "The Wicker Man" @ Stalybridge Buffet Bar this evening ....... "sans Edward Woodward" mind ...this is what happens to stuff that kids make at school, and don't want to keep/don't need for coursework etc - yes it gets recycled - and it keeps the drinkers warm ....enjoy the blaze - and admire the handiwork as well ....

Guess What ....

Game off tonight ... looks like blooming TV again

Football - something different ...

Tonight - Chadderton v Ashton United is off ... but tomorrow - how's about ....

Altrincham vs Thailand ????

Weather permitting - that's the one for me - and for anyone else out there in blog-land who fancies it - it's a 1900 KO, admission £5/£2.....

Next Monday they (Thailand) are at Hyde United - but maybe - just maybe - my lad will be returning to ju-jitsu (which knackers up Mondays and sometimes Wednesdays for me) - so I'll take my chance tomorrow night.

Vince Brockie - in short...

....not worth wasting too many words on this - midway through first half - I'm behind the dug-outs - an offside fails to go the way of Harrogate. Mr Brockie unleashes a fusillade (!!) of expletives at the linesman - who tells him to shut up - nevertheless the good Mr Brockie continues.

I remark out loud, "You're a fine role model to these two young'uns" indicating the two 9/10 year old kids standing yards from me. He turned and replied to me in the same vein as he replied to the linesman - so loud in fact that the linesman turned around. I shouted to the linesman that it was me he was giving it out to, and not him.

Don't get me wrong - I'm no prude - but I did nothing wrong - as I said in an earlier post, Mr Brockie may have come across on the BBC as a nice chap in charge of the underdogs - but to me, he's just a foul-mouthed individual who obviously has trouble interpreting the phrase "role model".....now if the dug-outs were on the other side of the pitch ...........

Harrogate RA v Mossley

God - weren't we crap ..... yes we were - pardon me for answering same ...

game at ...

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/Harrogate2008/

journey home at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/Harrogate2008/Harrogate2008travel/?action=view&current=b7ded65d.pbw

If you're looking for a match report - look elsewhere - today was not unlike the Lancaster home game on Boxing Day - nowt up front, and a godawful shaky thing at the back - and when the normally 100% reliable Ashley Connor has an "off day" betwixt the sticks - it seems to permeate through the entire squad ... plus we were missing a few today - but that's no excuse for the awful performance today - once we realised we weren't three up after a good 20 minutes - we gave up - in my eyes anyway - brutal, but I think not far off...

I will be adding more on today's game - on a separate post - which will be entitled something like "He might have looked/sounded good on the BBC, but Vinnie Brockie is a mouthy disgrace to the Non-League game" - keeps you hanging on eh what - but its nigh on 0100 now - and sleep is required....

Friday Morning/Evening Train Info

Platform 1 (to Huddersfield and beyond) - Not working;

Platform 2 (to Manc Vic/Picc) - Working;

Platform 3 (to Man Vic) - Not working;

Now HOW did that work ....?

(Oh and if anyone out there catches the 0735 to Manchester Airport on a morning - is it just me or does it sound like "Manchester Bearport" when chap - Garry ? - is announcing ??)

Tonight - a curry @ Zeera in Castleton (the Rochdale one), - me driving ergo 2 pints of Pokey Pola - returning home @ 2145 to a complete shambles - my advice is, "If you're only 4 stone wet through, about 15/16 years old, and have some kind of eating disorder - don't drink too much wine". No doubt me and Mrs Smiffy are now in the sh*t - in some people's eyes anyway - for going out ..... we'll have to see how this one pans out - or gets suitably hushed up / forgotten about - not unlike my lad's broken jaw incident where the protagonist remains free - and will remain free due to lack of evidence (witnesses too scared to testify). What makes this one all the more galling is the complete lack of communication from the Police - too busy harassing smokers no doubt ....

Watch tomorrow's football get rained off when we're halfway to Harrogate - if we're really lucky, they'll tell us early doors - or the train will be late, giving that little bit of extra time before we shell out £13-90 for our Day Returns to Starbeck ....

Welcome to the (bloody) weekend ...

SNAFU @ Stalybridge Station

Well they promised us a working Train Information System in the New Year....so here's a working one from last week (Thursday if I remember rightly) ...



OK so the 1812 train to Huddersfield was running nigh on 20 minutes late - but hey, at least we knew....

Yesterday evening however...we had this (scuse blur - my sides were splitting at the time) ...





...and they want to spend still more money on this Station ?? Piss-ups and breweries come to mind...but if you're interested, have a look at


http://tameside-eye.blogspot.com/2008/01/stalybridge-train-station-upgrades.html


All I (and 101% of the rest of us "customers") want are reliable trains and reliable information - the above two pictures show that the British rail system seems incapable of providing both at the same time. (PS the system was still "down" today (morning and evening)). I was also told that Warrington's Info System was "down" yesterday - so my guess is that all Trans-Pennine "owned" stations Info Systems are run centrally - or should that be cocked up centrally ?


I wonder when John Major last caught a train - he certainly "left us a legacy" back in 1995 - what a tosser ! Never mind - a gleaming waiting room may be useful to lurk in whilst waiting for the "Godot Express" ("Trans-Pennine would like to apologise for the delay and any inconvenience caused" ) - they don't give a toss - many moons ago they had one of these "Meet the Management" sessions @ Stalybridge, so I put my oar in about overcrowding on Trans-Pennine trains morning and evening - result - I still stand morning and evening - ergo they don't give a toss..

Just as long as they keep their bloody hands off the Buffet Bar - if that ends up like those two aberrations on Manc Piccadilly ......Frith help us. Should I get onto the shortcomings of Mossley station while I'm here ?? Better not - I'll only get even more depressed...

Football - Choices - Chances - Wrong'Un ?

Tuesday night - Monday night saw the Chadderton/Ashton United option called off about 1700 - tonight saw the Trafford/Hyde game called "on" mid-afternoon with the rider that "the pitch won't take any more water" - I checked weather.co.uk who promised showers/wind for the evening. I decided - "no". Other options were Stockport v Grimsby - kick off @1915 - and Droylsden v Farsley in the Setanta Shield ...

In the end it was sod 'em all - Trafford - would have needed the car - came home to find Mrs Smiffy on her way out in car - but to be honest the rider put me off anyway. Stockport - kick-off too early - and the same prob I would have had @ Droylsden - no "camera ticket" - at Conference level it's my own fault - I have the forms - I just ain't returned them - and I suppose that if I had a Conf Ticket I could have tried the blag move at Edgeley Park (did the Stockport Senior Cup Final there last season !)

So ...pub ... Railway @ Greenfield .. Chelseas v Everton - hoping for the "Everton backlash" after their "performance" agin Oldham in the FA Cup on Saturday. Not long after SWP put Chelsea in front we got thunder/lightning/wind/rain outside - maybe I chose right ? Everton managed to equalise after Mikkel was red carded but in true "big team style" Chelsea nicked an undeserved winner. My book has all sorts of bits and bobs in it like ...

Sky commentary - absolute crap - talking of Everton "damage limitation" after 40 minutes/away goals after equaliser/tomorrows game every 10 minutes - not a commentator - more a salesman ..

Pienaar - can't play - Yobo can - African Nations Cup rules - FIFA - one team OK another team - hmmm.

Joleon Lescott - my MOM - but everything seemed to go pear-shaped in the last five minutes - involving him !!

Roll on the real world - i.e Saturday @ Harrogate RA - cus I ain't watching t'other game later tonight ..

Mossley v Bamber Bridge - First Thoughts

An all-round "Bad day at the Office" - some pix to keep y'all going for now anyway ..

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

A game where we didn't deserve to lose - but didn't deserve to win either - a bright start seem to just fizzle away - and despite playing "downhill" in the second half - when it was still 1-1 - a winner always seem to be too much to expect . Don't get me wrong - there were chances, but it all seemed a bit disjointed, the wrong ball at the right time, and vice versa.....might come up with some more later, but for now ...harrrummph !!

FCUM v Mossley

2336 - It's all you're going to get from me anyway .....

Our “grand day out” began naturally at home – that’s Mossley Social Club that is – please excuse our brand loyalty, but it’s always worth a local gathering after Christmas Day/New Years Eve – just to check out the headaches/hangovers/new jumpers. Sadly this year there was little of all three – although Welly was a “touch quiet” !! A few beers – and a carry-out bottle at 1330 saw us mounting the MightyMossleyMiniBus up to Gigg Lane – and in no time at all we were signing ourselves into the Bury Social Club – for a quid !! Now in the good old days of “real” non-league it was maybe 10p or 25p to sign into an opposition Social Club – these days it doesn’t really exist – until today – never mind I’m sure it’s Bury’s fault…. Time for a couple anyway and to see the “mighty Chelsea” turn round a 1-0 deficit (when we left Mossley) into a 2-1 win (when we got to Bury).

Time also to bump into Gary who sold me a copy of UTB (the fanzine – to be read later) before fighting our way (well there was only 16 on’t’bus !) into the Visitors End. Rucksack was dutifully searched and I was told to “keep away from the yellow lines” – until John came over hand handed me my first ever ever ever Press Pass – well that’s non-league football for you ! Never mind I’m sure it’s Bury’s fault…..

The floodlights at Bury are actually not that good …either that, or I may have had a crap day at the “lens end”. You decide …

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

Never mind I’m sure it’s Bury’s fault…..

The game – well, the better team won in the end – their first goal was well offside, they were not 5-2 better than Mossley, but – the right team won on the day. The crowd was only 2,017 – disappointing I thought. Mossley brought their maximum, of that I’m sure – and we noticed – hurtling back down the M60 towards Ashton – some cars with FCUM fans coming off at our junction – hey what’s wrong with supporting a local side ? Or is this in keeping with the Plymouth/Ireland/Iceland fans of “big” United (big “Tameside” flag etc etc) …. Never mind I’m sure it’s Bury’s fault…..

Some stuff noticed from today – the chant “..and if you are a City fan surrender or you’ll die” – does this refer to Lancaster City ? – the only “City” in our league…The stewards – OK – they’re obviously Bury based, but obviously happy to tell the “elite 200” to “sit down” whilst studiously ignoring the 1,900 standing elsewhere. Never mind I’m sure it’s Bury’s fault ….Why did FCUM ‘keeper Sam Ashton tell the tiny ball-boy to “leave it” when the ball went out of play ? Nervous of the Mossley come-back ?? (must have known something we didn’t !!!!) And why did he make a total t*t of himself when the fourth goal went in ? Now that was the sort of behaviour that you read about in the “big league” – maybe he has ambitions – just totally unnecessary though. Never mind I’m sure it’s Bury’s fault….. Programme - the £2 programme - still had Woodley in bold on the stats page (a touch out of date here - but - hey - it's Christams..) - excellent programme mind - but I felt the outer wrapper ("Help the Homeless") was crass, tasteless and very badly timed - this time of year there are real homeless people out there on the streets - a club with no ground - who's fault is that - and are you likely to die due to the cold weather ? This was probably the "piss Smiffy off moment" of today....

Now sod this – I’ll leave it up to the experts – or those who stand back for several hours – to fill in the gaps. I have work in the morning – and I still need to “do the rounds” – believe Celtic have done the double over Hyde and Belper have drawn at home with Goole.

Saturday sees us “back in the real world” at home to Bamber Bridge – let’s hope they leave their armed robber at home (get well soon PC Katie Johnson) – would be nice if they left Mr Salmon downstream as well…..