Michael Thomas - and brother "John" !!! ... Wednesday football ? Normally reserved for the TV but - hey ...
Wednesday was also first day back at work as well - it's been many many years since I've worked between Christmas and New Year, but I have to admit it wasn't too painful (even managed some afternoon o/t to match the early morning o/t as well). Have to admit ... it was GREAT to see tarmac again - doesn't half speed up the walking process - and the temperature was positively tropical as well (OK - about 4 degrees C, but it's all relative).
Anyway - home to find the game had been called on - so ... I went ... I'd have settled for a draw before 1945 hrs - a touch disappointed in the end as there were a couple or three chances in the first half for Mossley to go 2-0 up - never mind. Curzon put on a much better show after the break - not sure about the penalty (wrong end me !) but I reckon a 1-1 draw was a fair result in the end. A bit of a damp/drizzly night (he said getting the excuses in quickly) and the pictures aren't that brilliant I'm afraid but - hey ...
Thre tropical weather continues (should be wearing my RM shorts really !!!) but with Mossley playing at Woodley Sports on Saturday - it doesn't really matter anyway. Crammed some more o/t in today - and refused all offers for tomorrow. Mother-in-Law is arriving tomorrow afternoon (Mrs SmiffyTaxi has gone down to Belper today) - and we're all off to Bolton Octagon Theatre tomorrow night for a performance of "David Copperfield" before seeing in the New Year in our back yard no doubt (will probably have another futile effort of trying to get photos of the 0000hrs fireworks - never got it right yet !!).
I will be honest though - last two days have still seen Christmas Cards appearing "in the mix" - but if anyone asks, I refer them to that well-known tune "The 12 Days of Christmas" ... .
Keeping it brief tonight - a fairly drab first 45 minutes enlivened by an excellent goal - and a flock of geese ! Second half was much improved for the viewing public, and Woodley ran out well deserved winners on a bitterly cold afternoon (should have scored more though !). Disappointing crowd considering it was the only game on in the north I think (!!) - I guess most people stayed in the warm and grumbled about the weather on football message boards !!!! Some pictures at Woodley Sports 2 Cammell Laird 0
The thaw has certainly set in - although the phrase "frozen pitch" will probably be replaced by "waterlogged pitch" though - Stalybridge Celtic already off tomorrow (Tuesday) night - there has been talk of Mossley playing Curzon Ashton on Wednesday night though - we'll see ... .
This might bore you all senseless (!!) but ... you don't have to read it ... here goes - and as promised I will try to put together a pictorial review of the year as well (far easier on the eye !) ...
January – 2010 started just like it’s now finishing weather-wise – no football on New Years Day – and two of Mossley’s floodlight pylons had collapsed due to the weather (and old age as well !!) – there was stuff on the telly about this as well (including a cameo appearance from yours truly as well) . Snow shifting was the order of the month – as I was “without work”, I ended up shifting snow both at Mossley and Stalybridge Celtic during the month – backbreaking work indeed !! Such was the desperation for football early in the month, I ended up going to Lancaster City just to get a game in. Went to see Wolfmother @ Manchester Academy (excellent gig !). Chris Willcock resigned as Mossley Manager – and the end of the month saw more sub-zero temperatures knackering up the football options (thank heaven for Woodley’s artificial pitch eh ?). My notice period from Simon (bloody) Carves finally ended – and I joined the ranks of the unemployed …
February – Mossley were now playing their home games at Ashton United due to the floodlight crisis – and managed a fine 3-3 draw with FC Halifax Town thanks to a late late equaliser from Andy Watson. Unemployed maybe – but I began a computer course at Tameside College (VB.Net – passed with “Distinction” six months later !). More bad weather in the middle of the month (this time it was OldhamBoro who came to the rescue of this football addict !) – and then the result of the Marcus Hallows vs Ashton United court case hit the headlines, opening up the whole legal minefield of blame, insurance and negligence not to mention the possible bankrupting of Ashton United – which thankfully has NOT happened. The end of the month saw the sad and sudden death of fellow ex-Simon Carves worker and football snapper Steve Bostock quite literally while he was “on the job” covering the Rochdale v Bradford City game – one of my mentors in the sports photography game who will be sadly missed. Staying with photography – I managed to get two pictures published in the “Non League 24” magazine – a copy of which has been kept for posterity. The first month on the dole saw many applications – but no joy anywhere …
March – March began with the news that ZP (Zippy) Theart had left DragonForce (one of my particular musical “likes”) – still not yet been replaced !! Caught a game in the Northumberland League (EmbletonWR) during a weekend visiting mates (who’ve since moved back down to just outside Mossley !!). Starting selling stuff on EBay (in order to raise a bit of cash in order to continue buying on EBay !). Had some “fun and games” after a Mossley game at Trafford involving a certain player whose initials appear in the football team name MK Dons – that player is “no longer involved” at Trafford – in fact he appears to have disappeared off the radar completely, although rumours abound as to his “whereabouts” abound …). A (different) “Knight in Shining Armour” (great link !!) had arrived at Mossley – Gary from GT Grafix had offered to stump up 50% of the cash required for the new Mossley floodlights – and he was “taken on board” as they say ! One plus point from unemployment was a marked improvement in my culinary skills (having the time to play/cook/experiment certainly helped mind) – and this still continues to this day (although now reduced mostly to my “days off” and weekends). Still no joy on the job front …
April – early in the month - a job interview !!! Nothing to do with IT but it went well considering it was only my second job interview in 25 years !!! Another trip to the Manchester Academy, this time to see the John Butler Trio – what an amazing guitarist this chap is – well recommended. On the football side of things Mossley were grinding out some wins and getting tantalisingly close to a play-off spot in the Unibond 1st Division North – but then defeats at Colwyn Bay and at home to Curzon Ashton all but put paid to this (at one stage they’d played 5 games in 8 days – who’s to say it won’t be any different in 2011 !!!). Got some comeback from the job interview – passed it .. but .. no jobs were available – so onto a waiting list I went (I saw this as a “forget it mate” moment – how wrong I was !). Football season end was hotting up – with Curzon Ashton again making the Unibond play-offs (but again failing ..) – and preparations for the General Election were also reaching boiling point – and at this point in time Nick Clegg was looking like a viable option (oh how wrong we all were – especially the students !) – and the great “Smiffy Garden Project” had begun – pond, patios and borders – something to keep the “dolescum” occupied between football game hunting and job hunting – which was STILL bearing no fruit …
May – The football season continued – with trips to Dukinfield Town and Atherton LR early in the month – the garden project continued as well – one patio all but finished at the start of the month. Another gig was taken in (RokiaTraore at the Bridgewater Hall) – and then the 6th May saw the General Election (the evening of which was spent at Bury Metro Comedy Club night) and after an “all-nighter” from me (no work in the morning – still !) a hung parliament was the outcome … This month saw the “light at the end of the tunnel” as the new floodlights started to go up at Mossley. The Con-Dem coalition finally spluttered into life – and we’ve all seen what that has come up with over the last 7 months of 2010 – with more “fun and games” no doubt for next year … The middle of the month saw me reach “second interview stage” for an IT job – which eventually became yet another “Thanks but ..” outcome (later in the year I was approached in an Oldham street and asked if I would like to change my internet provider to TalkTalk – you can imagine what I told the “salesperson” – and some of it I’m afraid was NOT very polite – not insulting her personally, just slagging off said company !!). Still football to see - the Stockport Senior Cup Final on the 18th May, and my final game of the season “over the hill” in the West Riding Amateur League twixt Ardsley Celtic and (champions) Bay Athletic – and the first cricket match (sadly managed only a few in 2010) saw the “big bugger” 500mm lens come out for its usual summer airing.
June – The lamps began to appear on the floodlight stanchions at Mossley - and there was possible “light at the end of the employment tunnel” – two more IT job interviews had fallen by the wayside, but the April option had resurfaced … and then the World Cup began !! A windup radio on a Wharfedale campsite helped us through the first England game (a sign of things to come …) before returning home. The “lower patio” was beginning to take shape – and wildlife was appearing big style in the wildlife pond. And then – June 16th - almost exactly halfway through 2010 - I was offered a job – starting at the end of June – which I grabbed with both hands. The World Cup continued with an awful England performance against Algeria followed by a nervy win over Slovenia and then … “that game” against Germany. The month ended on a “Hi Ho Hi Ho” note as I went off on a major career change - to become a Postie …
July – is “Pre-Season Friendly” month – but this year it was also “Get your Head around New Job” month as well – a couple of weeks training before being let loose on my own walk (which I’m still doing today !) . College course finished (OK it’s on my CV now – but that’s about all). The weather took a turn for the wetter this month as well (just as I started an outdoor job – also caused delays with the patio project which was slowly inching towards the finish line - for this summer anyway !) – hosepipe ban – ha !! The last day of July saw Mossley grab some early season silverware, winning the Willow Wood Hospice Cup by beating Ashton United on penalties.
August – A week of friendlies and then the football season began in earnest – plus the added bonus of a Reserve Team AND a Youth Team at Mossley for the 2010/11 season. True to form however – the opening two league games of the season were missed due to being on holiday – a week in Malvern – with mixed weather (although I did slip in a game “down there” between Malvern Town and Highgate United !). Mossley’s season got off to a bad start without me, losing their first two games (including a 0-5 reverse at Clitheroe – ouch !!) but the month ended with a good win (and £1,500 in the kitty as well !) over Witton Albion in what was to become a very useful run in the FA Cup. Work was still going well – it had been pointed out to me that after the two-week training period (where you’re basically with someone else so doing only 50% of a walk at the most) many people quit rather quickly once they start on a full 3-4 hour walk on their own and realise “It ain’t that easy !” – not me though (although I’d certainly had a “baptism of fire” (more like water really !!) with the weather !! I was still getting calls from some recruitment agencies regarding IT work – but I was turning down all “offers” (I say offers – but having seen how it all works over the first six months of the year I knew damn well that 95+% of them would turn to dust).
September – saw closure on the garden patio project for 2010 – no doubt we’ll get back on the job when the weather improves next year - always that last 10% of any job that drags out … One of our radiators “fell off the wall” this month – well we were looking at replacing the combi boiler anyway – just more bloomin’ expense though. Mossley’s FA Cup run continued with wins over Glossop North End and DunstonUTS (and some of the other “Six Tame Sides” were hanging in there as well !). Not content with walking for money five days of the week (and grabbing overtime wherever possible), the Sunday walks out had been continuing over the summer as well (stopped me seizing up I guess !!).
October – a crazy month for Mossley AFC – not one league game played … their nine games comprised 4x FA Trophy; 3x FA Cup; 1x Presidents Cup; and 1x Manchester Premier Cup … and by the end of October they were out of everything !!!! Had a week’s holiday this month as well – plastering the wall where the radiator had fallen off being just one of those “jobs on the list” !! Managed a few walks again this month (including a “solo effort” down the disused railway between Oldham and Grotton – including a guest appearance from an urban fox !) – next year sometime I’ll go for the disused railway between Oldham and Ashton. Keeping the railway theme going (ho ho !) Mossley’s FA Cup exploits finally “hit the buffers” against Darlington, losing 6-2 and finishing with just 8 (eight) men on the pitch – crazy crazy game indeed – however the cup run had brought a good chunk of money into the coffers (sadly a lot of it is probably being used up now to cover the financial shortfall due to the weather and subsequent lack of football since November 23rd !). My week off was followed by Mrs Smiffy having a week off up in Windermere – so a couple of 24 hour trips up there in between work – and some walking above the lakes finished off October.
November – The month began cold – the cameraman’s fingerless gloves were now doubling up as the postie’s fingerless gloves (and now – end of December – they’re totally shot – fortunately a new pair arrived “under the Christmas Tree” !!). Got a nice new shiny/luminous coat to wear though (really should think about washing it during this Christmas break – ‘tis a touch grubby !) Mossley finally got back to playing league football (a mixed month comprising 2 wins 1 draw and 3 defeats – ho hum !). It wasn’t all Mossley this month – I took in the Stalybridge Celtic v Droylsden game – certainly a surprise result there with Celtic running out easy 4-0 winners. The new combi boiler was finally fitted this month (just in time as it happened !!) and my first taste of a “Royal Mail Christmas” (apart from the new coat !) arrived with an official “Happy Christmas” card containing 50 first class stamps – look at it as a £20 tax-free bonus really ! As November came to a close – the weather got worse … and worse … and worse … finishing up with snow (and lots of it) on the final day of the month – the other (darker) side of a “Royal Mail Christmas” finally kicked in !!
December – hit 54 years of age on the first day of the month (still too young/skint to retire though !) and the snow continued - no football unfortunately (I’d done Droylsden v Leyton Orient on TV at the end of November – FCUM v Brighton was the TV game in early December) until the 11th when I squeezed one in at Stalybridge Celtic and then a Mossley Reserves game on the 14th – since then … nowt (maybe a chance at Woodley Sports on the 27th ?). The “Christmas Pressure” kicked in big style at work (working on the Sunday before Christmas as well !) – packets went through the roof (curse this internet shopping !) – and this coupled with a return of the bad weather made for a “sporting” end to the pre-Christmas period.
Some Notable “Farewells” from 2010 ...
February - Steve Bostock (fellow snapper - see above) March – Keith Alexander (latterly Macclesfield Town Manager) March – Sir Michael Foot (former Labour leader) May – Dave Mellett (long-time Mossley fan) May – Trevor Brissett (ex-Stafford Rangers) June – Chris Sievey (a.k.a. Frank Sidebottom) July – Ken Barnes (Manchester City … and Stafford Rangers) August – Adam Stansfield (Exeter City) September – Sir Cyril Smith (ex-Rochdale MP) October – Malcolm Allison October – Sir Norman Wisdom November - Leslie Nielsen (of “Airplane” fame) December – Dale Roberts (Rushden & Diamonds goalkeeper) December - Woolly Wolstenholme (Barclay James Harvest) December - Captain Beefheart
... that's it - work all over now for four and a bit days (started at 0630 - finished about 1400 - brief "tincture" in a local hostelry before home and a long long bath !). I'll try and do some sort of "Review of 2010 (Football and the Rest)" between now and New Year - suffice to say it's been an "interesting" year in many many ways !
Many thanks to all who continue to populate this site - it's much appreciated. I hope you all have a good festive break - can't see much in the way of football mind (!!). I'll leave you with a nameplate from one of the houses on my walk - I think it sums it all up for the next few days ... !!!
Have a good 'un tomorrow ... and hopefully Santa (or Royal Mail !!) brings you what you want ... !! .
... if you ain't posted by now - time to break out the "Happy Hogmany" cards !!
Some odd pix off the "phonecam" - just for the hell of it ...
Particularly liked the "Christmas Tree" snow effects on this pillar box ...
The packets just keep on coming ...
"Sunset over Watersheddings" ...
Tuesday morning was quite interesting - on the bus to Oldham, and with a nice clear sky, I was able to get a fairly decent view of the lunar eclipse, as the moon slowly but surely disappeared around 0730 hrs - sadly no pix of that (being on bus and armed with only phonecam ...) - Solstice Day as well. Good news for Christmas Eve - we're starting "extra-early" so we can (theoretically) finish "extra-early" - we shall see (!!) ... at least after that shift I've got four whole days off (in fact it might even be five - need to sort out my lieu day for Boxing Day ...)
Football ? This year ?? Can't see it ... might have to do a JAlbum of pix from 2010 - maybe a couple from each month - if only to keep me from talking shop every bloomin' day !!! Now ... time for tea ... .
... is certainly "kicking in big style !! Sunday saw five hours actually sorting mail rather than packets - because, contrary to popular belief (and RM "propoganda") there's rather a lot of it floating around ... unlikely, but if there's anyone out there from the Hampshire town of Odiham - there's quite a few letters (ha !) for you guys/gals up our way - or there were yesterday - hopefully they're on their way down south by now. Another hour spent "tidying up the mess" in the DO (empty Yorks, perstops etc - got all the jargon now !) and then a lazy Sunday afternoon, cooked a beef casserole and then a lazy Sunday evening.
Early start today (surprise surprise) - and then - for a Monday - a fairly "heavy" day - and packets coming out of my ears !! In fact check this out ...
... a full sack containing parcels for four - yes just four - houses in one street ! Crazy things like this involve "on the fly" logistical solutions to be dreamt up ... which normally involve a lot of extra walking backwards and forwards, and cramming extra bags of stuff into pouch boxes (those strange grey or red lockable boxes on sticks that you may or may not have noticed around the place) . The early morning preparation is fun as well - badly addressed crimbo cards (e.g. "Bill and Val, Any Street, Oldham") and wrong house numbers to name but two - helps to be on a regular round (sad but true - out of my 608 addresses, I'm pretty certain I could put a surname to well over 70% of the addresses - and that number is rising !!). Went a bit over my time - of course - oh yes, did I mention the snow and ice ? See above picture ... it's still out there - and still causing grief underfoot - and sub-zero temperatures keeping the fingers numb ...
Football is a rarity anywhere in the Western Hemisphere at the moment (or so it seems) - so after tonight's culinary effort (Cottage Pie - because it was minced beef), I ventured forth to the "Brit" to watch Man City go top of the Premiership for Christmas ... well that was the plan anyway. By the time I got there, City were already one down, followed by 2-0 down soon after (while they were down to ten man through injury). Despite being given a "sporting chance" when Anichebe was sent off) they only managed one goal (not forgetting some heroics from Everton's Tim Howard) - those silly stats showed attempts on goal as something like 27-4 to City ...
Monday now officially over (and Sunday "caught up with !") ... Mossley game off tomorrow - naturally ! .
Yes, work this morning was somewhat "sporting" to say the least - but even before I went out of the door, I noticed on the news ticker-tape on the "biggish TV screen" in the Delivery Office (which shows such jolly things as "Always wear your ID" and "How to Cope with 'low down' letter boxes (H&S)" that Captain Beefheart had died aged 69 - a year or two before my time, but we've a copy of "Trout Mask Replica" somewhere (weird to say the least) - mentioned this to a couple of guys at work - the reply was "Who ?" (I tend to forget age and stuff at times !!). Anyhow, out into the snow-bound wastes of Oldham - it was fun (not !) - tried out the snow chains in earnest, and was not too impressed (they seemed to "ride up" around the heel and all grip was lost at times) - kept a dry backside though, and went back to the 'spikeys' (even though I've lost one spike out of six on each foot). Went slightly over my time - but what can you expect in this sort of weather ?
'Spikeys', the Magnum Boots and the snow chains - the 'spikeys' get the vote ! All thoughts of football pretty much went out of the window at about midnight last night when I saw the falling snow - the Belper Town option had actually disappeared earlier in the day (Friday), when I was asked if I could 'do a bit' (as in 6 hours overtime) on Sunday - couldn't really refuse, as it looks like it's actually 6 hours 'indoors' sorting packets etc for the vans - whatever I end up doing, it'll certainly be something new/different. When I got home today, I double-checked the Evo-Stik website, the Football Conference website and the Vodkat League website - it was total wipeout, so thoughts went to TV Football again - until I found out that the weather had even decimated the Premiership !
So - a relaxing afternoon before nipping out for a couple (after finalising Mrs Smiffy's Christmas pressies !!) - and here's (hopefully) a really sad video of a flashing light ...
... now going to do some wrapping up in front of the telly - whilst watching a birthday present DVD from our Michelle ("Dig !" - a 'rockumentary' about the Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre - that's two bands, NOT one band and one nasty incident !!!). Then - maybe - an early-ish night ... .
... at work later today - yes, it's snowing again ... just watching "Rambo III" (again !) before bed and ... a nice walk later - snow chains at the ready ... wish me luck ! .
Then - and more recently - Woolly Wolstenholme ...
...heard today of the sad death of Stuart "Woolly" Wolstenholme earlier this week - believed to be suicide (Stuart had been battling depression for many years).
For those too young etc etc. Woolly was one of the founder members of Barclay James Harvest - who, together with Focus were one of my earliest "hero worship" bands when I was at school back in the early 1970s. Woolly was born in Chadderton near Oldham and the band saw their roots in the Saddleworth area (this was long before I moved up this way - as in 3 miles down the road from Saddleworth - in the mid-1980s). BJH were one of the first bands to use the mellotron - a precurser to the Moog Sythesiser that could give amazing "orchestral" sounds (in fact, pre-mellotron, BJH did actually tour once with a full orchestra - and lost a fortune !) - and Woolly was THE keyboard-meister...
BJH were vastly underrated in this country - despite some classic albums like "Everyone is Everybody Else", "Time Honoured Ghosts" and the classic "Concert for the People" which was recorded live at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin (the band were HUGE in Germany). Woolly left the band in the late 70s, did a couple of solo albums and took up organic farming in Wales. He was later re-united with one of the other founder members of the band - John Lees - and had been performing with "John Lees' Barclay James Harvest" for the last couple of years - in fact me and Mrs Smiffy have tickets to see JLBJH at the Buxton Opera House next February - whether this gig goes ahead now ... I've no idea.
Stuart now joins drummer Mel Pritchard in the "Great Gig in the Sky" (Mel died of a heart attack in 2004) - my commiserations go out to all involved - especially Stuart's partner Sue. There was a track on the "Octoberon" album entitled "Suicide" - sadly many may well see this as prophetic ... but I'd like to think in a more positive way - could have chosen "Mockingbird" ... but here's a "Youtube" of BJH (without Woolly) performing "Life is for Living" from that concert in Berlin ... he may not have been there ... but it's the title that sums it up for me ... (EDIT - 18th December 2010) - I've picked up on some comments etc elsewhere - and in hindsight I agree I could have chosen a more fitting tribute - something to showcase the talents of Woolly - so I have ...)
"Is there nothing left at all after the day ?" - yes ... the music remains - always ...
Comparing hair cuts - ref Mr Lewin and Brig's "Hat-Trick Hero" Stephen Green
... crazy crazy game - if there had been "Opta Statistics" on the 90 minutes, it would have shown the total dominance of Mossley ressies in terms of possession and chances ... however it's goals that win games - and "Brig" even contrived to miss a penalty !! Pitch held up pretty well considering the sh*te it's been through over the last couple of weeks - and by the way I lied about the free admission - got done for £2 last night (don't begrudge - obviously the weather has seen income dry up big style over the last few weeks, so every little must help). Pictures at
Mossley Reserves 1 Bamber Bridge Reserves 5 Meanwhile - down Wirral Way the first team were beating Cammell Laird 2-1 and climbing up to 12th in the table - and still with a few games in hand over some of "those above" ... and Curzon Ashton's FA Trophy adventure finally finished with a 0-2 reverse at home to Altrincham ...
Meanwhile - another "brisk day" work-wise - making the most of the tropical weather before the world allegedly ends sometime tomorrow or Friday - I've seen the weather - and now I'm watching "Dogma" on Film4 - an excellent film seen several times before !!Weekend football - let's see if there IS any first - but it's Mother-in-Law's "Christmas Bash" in Belper. Mrs Smiffy and rest of the clan are heading down early (weather permitting) and I should join after a hard morning's graft - but I DO get 90 minutes "time off for good behaviour" - so fingers crossed for Belper Town vs Sutton Coldfield Town (it'll be my first visit to Belper this season - blame it on Saturday working - I do !).
A particularly heavy day at the "letter/parcel face" today (forget "Big Monday", this was "Quite Large Tuesday" !) - the thought of dragging myself down to Ashton-under-Lyne - and then walking out to what is usually a bitterly cold Tameside Stadium - and then "doing the reverse" later on (with a football match - £7 admission - in between) - plus an early start tomorrow (up at 0600 hrs) ... too much for this ageing/tired body ...
... butFEAR NOT...
I can just about drag myself up to Seel Park to see Mossley Ressies take on Bamber Bridge similars in the Galaxy Lancashire League (free admission too !) - so all is not lost in the football stakes ...
Bonus "STS" picture - Craig Hobson having a crack ...
It was good to get back to normal ... i.e. Saturday afternoon = football !Saturday was not too bad work-wise (basically a load of of the mechanized mail "never made it" - trouble is that this means more work on Monday though !!), so finished and home at a reasonable time. Chose the Stalybridge game over the Curzon Ashton option - which was a good shout in the end as the Curzon v Altrincham game ended up as abandoned at half-time due to a power cut while Curzon were 2-1 up !!
Celtic meanwhile put in a workmanlike performance to beat Nantwich 2-1. Revenge was the order of the day on a couple of counts - Nantwich had beaten Celtic in the Cheshire Senior Cup earlier in the season (cheered the Celtic faithful) - and Nantwich had beaten Mossley in an earlier round of this very same FA Trophy (cheered yours truly !!). I say workmanlike - they took an early lead from a "route one-ish" ball to Marsh who rounded the keeper and scored - but Nantwich gave as good as they got, and certainly controlled the first 15 minutes of the second half, equalising when Rodney Jack's speculative long-range shot somehow squirmed underneath the otherwise impressive Jan Budtz. This equaliser was the wake-up call required and from then on it was pretty much all Celtic. A sublime second goal (far too sublime for the cameraman - a little rusty after 18 days without ... !!) and plenty of chances for further goals - which didn't come but - hey - they were looking pretty comfy at the end. Next round draw on Monday of course ... Pictures at
What to do today ?? I may well be out shopping (both real and Christmas - aargh !) after a bit of "housey type stuff", before girding my loins for a tricky Monday at work (I've heard that this day is known as "Big Monday" in the trade - don't think that matters too much now - reckon every day will be a "big" day between now and Christmas Eve !!Also with the Curzon abandonment, comes another footy option on Tuesday with the re-arranged game at the Tameside Stadium (subject to the necessary "5p in the meter" I suppose !) - certainly won't make it over to Cammell Laird for the Mossley game (if on - which it should be - they have a strange micro-climate over there ...).
Both the Curzon Ashton and Stalybridge Celtic games are ON - Bower Fold is my choice (Curzon have their own "snapper" in Maxine - and I've still got a bunch of photos and CD to pass on to one of the Celtic players !) - so a bit of FA Trophy to relieve the Christmas "pressure" (leaving Mrs Smiffy at home to deck the halls etc etc ) ... some "ring-rusty" pix later no doubt ... .
Two local options still hanging in there at the moment ...both in the FA Trophy ...
Stalybridge Celtic v Nantwich Town (pitch inspection 1030)
...or ... Curzon Ashton v Altrincham (pitch inspection 1000)
... or ... if I'm not too late finishing (or not too knackered), there's a chance that Salford City v Woodley Sports will go ahead (pitch inspection 1000 - official quote is "looks good for playing").
It would be nice to get one of the above three ... but first there's people wanting their Crimbo cards (and their bloody parcels !!) ... .
Terrible when reduced to this - photos of a telly !!
A trip out in the cold - but unlike the 6,900+ at Gigg Lane I ended up sat in front of an HD telly and a wood-burning fire thingy (yes - back to the "Rising Sun" in Top Mossley !!)
Defining moment for me was not the penalty miss, but the Nicky Platt effort not long before it - had that gone in, I reckon it would certainly have been "game on" ... but that's football.
24 hours earlier, Droylsden had been on the brink of a major upset (2-1 up at 89 minutes) ... but again that was not to be. Forget the 8-2 scoreline, forget the 0-4 scoreline - the two clubs have done very well out of their FA Cup travails this season - both financially and national exposure-wise. A shame that Droylsden Manager Dave Pace appears to have knocked some of the gloss off their efforts - FCUM's Karl Marginson was a touch more gracious ...
So - that's probably the end of "non-league football" (with apologies to E.On !) for a week or two - no more "heated tents" and "hot-air blowers" (and I'm NOT referring to Dave Pace here !!) - sitting here on my "day off" (offered to work, but obviously not required), the sun is shining and the temperature has crept into positive, so hopefully we'll see a bit of a thaw over the next couple of days - if only those gritter boys/girls who've got the roads clear could now be employed on doing same with the treacherous pavements - the mail might get to the houses a bit quicker ! Maybe an idea for the "Community Payback" squad as well - chance missed here I feel ...
All this sunshine is making me dream of Greece - reckon tonight's "meal extravangaza" is heading towards lamb kebabs, oven-roasted Greek-style potatoes (oregano !!) and a feta/olive salad ... yum ! Maybe even some Christmas shopping as well (OK I lied about that bit !) ... .
... was the "order of the day" tonight (FCUM v Brighton) - more tomorrow - it's my day off - and they don't seem to want me to work it !! Never mind - I can get down to the Post Office and pick up that bloody parcel that's been waiting for me for several days - a head torch believe it or not (thought it might be useful considering some of the late finishes I've had recently in areas wot I don't know - would have been useful today, finishing my overtime in the dark !!). .
... from the above title, I guess a good many people can guess what follows ... yes, on the way to the Sunday Walk a couple of weeks ago, it seems I got "hit" by a mobile speed trap - you know those things that actually raise money rather than actually solving real crime. Can't argue with time and place - a quiet uphill road out of Bacup with next to no traffic on it early Sunday morning - yes I was obviously a REAL danger to society - and must be punished as such.
So - many thanks to Lancashire Constabulary for p*ssing me off big style - I will of course be making preparations to firebomb their HQ in Blackburn (and I'm Spartacus) - considering the Bacup department have probably had bugger all to do since the Sophie Lancaster case (and even that solution was handed to them on a plate) - it's good to know they're keeping their hand in on the cheap and easy options ... beats hard work dunnit ??
... and please don't think I'm being facetious or off-hand with my mentioning Sophie Lancaster - regular readers of this blog will know my feelings on this - as in here and here - in fact a book has been publishedrecently about the whole horrible episode - it's just the complete pointlesssness of a mobile speed camera literally "in the middle of nowhere" on a Sunday morning that really hacks me off (and if you've ever driven between Whitworth and Bacup you'll know just how many fixed speed cams there are on such a short section of road) - just proof that it's nothing more than a revenue generation exercise - road safety - b*ll*cks - I trust the police involved are really proud of the work that they are doing - to make this country a safer place to live in ...
... and that's with having Wednesday off as well !! Sore feet, sore knee and "tingly fingertips" (still !) are the sum total of a week walking in the snow in sub-zero temperatures ... with the knowledge of no football to go to either on Saturday afternoon (even the Woodley Sports "carpet" was out of action - it MUST be serious out there !). One brief respite on Friday night - went to see the new "Harry Potter" film - and very good it was as well. However for Saturday afternoon - reduced to TV football, as in Man City v Bolton (it's football Jim, but not as I know it !!)
Thought it only right as well to go and have a look at the Mossley pitch today- and of course record the condition of same for posterity - there's a few photos "in the can", but just for a change check out the new blockbuster movie - "Crunching Into Seel Park" - starring my noisy feet ...
Came home and attempted to do something with "diced turkey thigh" that didn't involve curry before an evening's "rest" in front of the telly (now reduced to "The Football League Show" !). A few jobbies to do tomorrow - and more rest as well.
At least it's started thawing outside - just hope it thaws enough before it starts freezing again ... although the weather forecast has just followed "The Football League Show" - and it doesn't look pretty early next week ... .
... so England didn't get World Cup 2018 ... and the search for blame has begun ... a quick "Smiffy reaction" (i.e not properly thought through but hey ... !!)
The queue for the "scapegoat card" seems to include the BBC (Panorama Dept.), David Cameron, FIFA, Birmingham hooligans (lastminute.com indeed !) and the contents of David Beckham's trousers - strangely enough I've yet to see anyone blame the previous Labour Government (give it time mind ...). Not seen too many blaming the media either yet ... but it seems like a good place to start for me. The overpaid hacks who know everything about everything have spent the last 12 months or so whipping up the media frenzy, making out our bid was unbeatable, whilst slagging off all the other bids in a way that only tabloid papers know how (unlike the "Panoramas of this world who do it with a lot more honesty).
Then there's the whole FIFA "secret ballot" kerfuffle. They'd already suspended two officials in October over "cash for votes" allegations - well before the "Panorama" programme - so any "whiter than white" claims should be taken with a pinch of (white) salt. The whole voting system to me seems not dissimilar to that of "Pop Idol" or "X Factor",i.e. nothing to do with the "best", rather some populist "whim" (in this case, going for "developing countries" - if that was the case, why did we bother in the first place ... or did someone "move the goalposts" somewhere along the line ??).
Still ... we'll probably still be paying for the Olympics in 2018 anyway (watch these ConDems invent some kind of "Olympic Tax" !) ... .
... and deeper in snow as well as debt ! Handy day for a "day off" mind - weather's been pretty grim all day. Managed a few jobbies though - went to docs to check out blood test results - pretty inconclusive as he was comparing notes with a chest x-ray taken exactly 12 months ago !! So it was off to the hospital for a "new piccie" - results in 7-10 days ... Followed this with a bit of Crimbo shopping in downtown Ashton (some interesting stuff in Poundland !!!) followed by a "get back into Mossley by bus before they cancel 'em all" moment, a birthday tipple in the Britannia and then home - birthday tea to follow when peeps arrive.
Work will be interesting tomorrow - no idea what happened today (ignorance is bliss !!) - did they go out today or not ?? who knows ?? will there be twice as much tomorrow or will it just be a normal (heavy !!) Thursday ?? Fair guess that there will be little or nothing in the "bus stakes" early doors, so I'm ready for a bit of an early morning walk (aarghh !) before the main walk of the day. Off to cook some seaweed ... .
Yep - it snowed fairly heavily last night. Got up bright and chirpy at 0630 hrs to see 4 or 5 inches on the ground and thought "bugger". Due in work at 0745 - normally I get a bus about 0720 which "just" makes it, but as I was walking to the bus stop this morning I was thinking "No way will it get up this (ungritted) hill". Waited for a few minutes with a load of others before deciding to start walking - I can get out of Mossley towards a place called Grotton - honest - where there are more buses to Oldham more often. Made it there and jumped on a bus that went about 400 yards before hitting gridlock ! Didn't move for about 10 minutes, so thought "Sod it - might as well walk the rest of the way" (about 4 miles !).
Got to the office about 0840 and sorted out walk (loads of bloody Sky Magazines !) before going on an "inclement weather" brief and being issued with some new toys. We got a set of shoe snow chains and a pair of "spikies" - rubber things you put over your boots that have small metal spikes on the bottom. Once I got to the start of my walk I popped the spikies on - and they were REALLY good - even in 4 inches of snow - so I managed to complete pretty much on time - bus home was running (hurrah !) and when I got home I rustled up a Shepherds Pie for tea (still well into this cooking lark ...).
Believe it's just started snowing again, but do I care ?? It's my "day off" tomorrow, and I'm taking it !!! (Thursday might be "interesting" though ...) .
... the easy option ... that's "easy option" as in "I was only there in spirit". Once certain that the game was definitely on, it was a case of find a pub with ESPN that would be likely to be showing it. I ended up killing two birds with one stone - my first visit to the "Rising Sun" in Mossley since Richard and Charlotte took it over several weeks ago - and being a Monday night I ended up with a room to myself with an HD TV as well ! Not seen too much of HD TV before - well impressive (naturally out of my price range for home though !).
Anyway - to the game - Orient started the better - more fluent, good passing game ... and then - Luke Holden did a classic "played for and got ..." - and yes many people would call it a dive !! From the ensuing free-kick, Brownhill played the perfect ball for (ex-Mossley !) Ciaran Kilheeney to get on the end of it to put the Bloods 1-0 up. This certainly dented Orient, and Droylsden were certainly the team on top up to half-time. Second half was a different story mind - Orient by far the better team and the equaliser was more than deserved (unfortunate on Droylsden keeper "Phillo" but ...). In the end it was probably the right result - and with the weather getting colder and colder and the wings getting slippier and slippier, I reckon both teams were happy with a draw at the end. Norwich City will have to wait a bit longer to see who they will be playing in the 3rd Round.
As the weather gets worse - rumours of snow tomorrow - I reckon that the telly may well be the only option for the next couple of weeks. Next Wednesday will be the next TV opportunity with FC United taking on Brighton in an FA Cup replay(ESPN again !) - but we can live in hope for some "real stuff".
Got a whole pile of "new gear" from work today (interesting when you consider - officially - that my fixed-term contract finishes on December 27 th !!) -new fleece, cagoule, shirts, three different hats (!!) to name but some ... yet another "perk of the job" - expecting payback tomorrow !! Today was bad enough - highly dodgy underfoot (first bag normally takes about an hour - today, nearly twice as long !), but it did improve as I headed "lower down the hill" towards Oldham centre ... and Mondays are meant to be "light" - ha !!
Finally can't leave today without saying RIP Leslie Neilsen - straight actor who found fame with "Police Squad" and the "Airplane" films. When I heard the news it was a case of "Surely they can't be serious" - but yes they were ... .
... well Saturday afternoon - I ended up making a large pan of French Onion Soup - because I can (and we had loads of onions !) - now residing in the freezer - then over to Rochdale in the evening for large meal @ friends and a bit of Trivial Pursuit - and today a walk around Hebden Bridge taking in the Rochdale Canal, Blackshaw Head, Colden Clough and Heptonstall. A few pictures at
Football this midweek - no bloomin' chance - I don't have a ticket, but I don't even hold out much chance for the Droylsden v Leyton Orient FA Cup game tomorrow night (although - if on - I may adjourn to a hostelry somewhere that's got ESPN !!) - we'll see ... in the meantime, I'm getting the call of a comfortable bed followed by several large red bags full of packets - eek ! .
... home from work (heavy day for a Saturday !) - quick whizz round the message boards/league fixture pages ... and - as expected - a complete "white out" as regards "real" football (although I've just turned the telly on for a bit of AFC Wimbledon v Stevenage - well it's close !). Even Oldham Boro in the Vodkat League (often a handy fall-back during "iffy weather") has fallen victim to the elements ...
Work - the "packet count" is rising - aargh - this was yesterday ...
... and it was a "touch worse" today ... advice received is "It won't get any better between now and Christmas !!", so itlooks like it's "Grin and Bear It" for the next four weeks ...
What to do now - everyone talks of Christmas shopping - which is fine IF you know what you want to buy, which at the moment I don't. No way will I do the aimless wandering - "in - buy - out" is my method, so it's time to put the thinking cap on ... and there's always the internet I suppose (i.e. put more pressure on the postie !!) ... .
... I think this takes the proverbial biscuit !! Looks like Northern Rail are attempting to "cash in" on the Christmas Rush ... check this screen dump from the NationalRail website (click for big !) ...
This weekend's "realistic" options (that's the Trafford Centre in the middle !)
... are pretty much zero I reckon. As predicted, the Mossley game tonight was postponed, and with tomorrow's weather not looking to rise above zero, I can't see too many options being available on Saturday ... It will be a crying shame if the football is decimated this weekend - Mossley for one would have been looking to "kick on" after the 6-0 win on Tuesday night, and keep that winning momentum/mentality going. Might have to do some more overtime instead - I've done a bit in the afternoons this week - and ended up finishing in the cold and the dark (so I've just bought myself a head torch off EBay for £3.69 !!!). Got a bit of a bonus earlier this week as well - a Christmas card from Royal Mail ... containing 50 First Class stamps - just need to find 50 friends now !!!
Every little helps !!!
Anyway - enough for now - it's nice and warm in our front room (new boiler working well - just need to go out in the cold more often to help pay for the damned thing !), and another early-ish start beckons ... .
Ben Richardson's new "Bluetooth" set (and no he's NOT "stroking the liner" !!!)
At last ... a night where chances were turned into goals !!! 4-0 up after 30 minutes, 6-0 at the end - can't complain really (OK it could have been double figures given Mossley's total dominance but ...). My only worry at 4-0 were the 'hints of frost' that started to appear on the pitch (shades of that Durham City game) - but fortunately it never became an issue. Some not-so-brilliant pictures at
It was bloody cold (my excuse and I'm sticking to it !!) - but Mossley made light of the conditions - maybe we need this kind of pitch EVERY week ... the weather forecast for the next few days may well create this - but is more likely to result in a glut of postponments. They were putting frost covers down after the game to try and keep the pitch sweet for a reserve game on Thursday - but personally I wouldn't hold my breath.
So - up to 15th in the league - and if the chances to goals ratio from Tuesday night CAN continue ... there's a few more teams in the Evo-Stik 1st Division North due a stuffing - look out Salford on Saturday ... weather permitting ... .
A fairly relaxed day "on the beat" today - did some early morning overtime and offered my ageing body for some afternoon overtime, but not required (obviously the Christmas rush has not yet arrived - I wasn't even asked to work my "day off" tomorrow - bet they ask me next Wednesday - as in my birthday !!).
Home at a reasonable time then and sorted out some tea - we've FINALLY run out of curry now (see Saturday !!), and whilst "twiddling around" with various foodstuffs, I had a bit of a Dandy Warhols binge on the CD player - as in
and
Two FINE albums indeed ...
Got a text early afternoon (from a number I'm not sure of - ever since I changed my phone, I lost a lot of numbers - but whoever you are/were - ta !!) letting me know the FA Trophy draw - and strangely enough all "Four Tame Sides" have managed to avoid each other:
Droylsden v Hinckley United Curzon Ashton v Altrincham Stalybridge Celtic v Nantwich Town Alfreton Town v Hyde FC
Looks like Curzon are up to provide another "shock", given the present state of Altrincham (who must still be reeling from their 7-0 hammering at Crawley at the weekend). I'd put my money on Droylsden and Stalybridge to progress, while - sorry Hyde, but it's going to take one hell of an effort to get past Alfreton who are on fire at the moment.
Seems that the "postponed" youth game at Mossley yesterday was an effort to protect the pitch for Tuesday's first team game against Trafford - this could be the first of many given that there is a first team, a reserve team AND a youth team all attempting to play on the same pitch ... and we've all seen the abundance of berries on the bushes which apparently means the upcoming winter is going to be ... heavy ...
Ashton United are taking on FC United in the Evo-Stik League Cup tonight - fingers crossed they do well - and get a decent crowd as well. It's not been a good week at Hurst Cross - some low-life scumbags (an identikit would probably show shaven head, sticky-out ears and a hoodie - just an educated guess) broke into their Social Club last week and emptied the safe and the fruit machines. Wouldn't it be an interesting exercise - if the perpetrators were caught - to put them on the centre spot at 1930hrs just before kick-off and just allow the entire crowd to get over the fences and walk slowly towards them - from all sides of the ground - and when the fans get to the edge of the centre circle ... turn the floodlights OFF for five minutes. Now that's what I would call "Community Payback".
So - day off tomorrow - plans so far include taking Mrs Smiffy to work in car, taking car to garage for a service, taking body to doctors (they're taking some blood out of me to check for "stuff" - I've lost nearly a stone in weight over the last 12 months, and it would be nice to know why !!) - after that ... who knows - maybe I should start thinking about Christmas presents because I'm sure "days off" will 'disappear' between the start of December and Christmas Eve ... oh yes football tomorrow night as well !!
Edit at 2137 - Ashton United 3 FC United 1 - I've been listeming to FC United Radio - and a very patronising pair of commentators as well ... .
... well, after doing the recycling (where do these cans and wine bottles come from ?), the supermarket trip and "tweaking" yesterday's pics anyway !
Something to look out for tomorrow is the draw for the 1st Round Proper of the FA Trophy - plenty of local interest with four of the "Six Tame Sides" in the hat - and with the draw being regionalised, the odds on an all-local tie are that much shorter.
Anyway - all suitably relaxed for another week "on the pavement" ... .
... it was the "same old story" at Seel Park yesterday - profligate in front of goal, and over-generous at the back. For 35 minutes Mossley more than matched their higher-placed opponents - but then it all went wrong when Rothwell scored an absolute screamer to put Lancaster in front - and to lose a second goal just before half-time gave Mossley a mountain to climb (albeit playing "downhill" second half). This wasn't helped by some "Santa Claus" defending 10 minutes into the second period when Kenworthy effectively finished the game as a contest. Credit Mossley though - they kept plugging away up front and were rewarded with a couple of cracking "consolations" - but there was a fourth goal (with more comic cuts defending) for Lancaster sandwiched in between. Pictures at Mossley 2 Lancaster City 4
Home after the game to an enormous "home-grown curry evening" (there were eight of us scoffing bhajis, samosas, chicken curry, cauliflower and potato curry, chick pea curry and red kidney bean curry) - followed by some of those "sticky sweets" (they were bought not made !!) - all washed down with a few ales (me and Andy) / wines (everyone ese). A fine evening ... and guess what WE'RE eating for tea tonight ...
Had actually been looking forward to an afternoon's footy today (had "time off for good behaviour" !!) with Mossley Youth playing Prescot Cables Youth - but it has been postponed for reasons unknown -bugger !The "roller-coaster" continues on Tuesday night however when our "old friends" Trafford are the visitors to Seel Park - it's about time Mossley turned some of these so-called "games in hand" into three points - let's see what Tuesday brings ... .
Cast your mind back to 1981 - unpopular government - inflation in double figures - unemployment over 3 million - riots in Toxteth, Brixton, Handsworth and Chapeltown ... never mind Charles and Diana are getting marrried !! That'll take people's minds off "stuff"... follow that with a war in 1982 and popularity is assured ...
Roll forward to 2011 - unpopular government ?? (well certainly one that no-one voted for ...) - already got a war (a very unpopular one at that) and that's where the comparison falls down ... ish - unless you include the student "riot" at Tory HQ - maybe I'm getting old but they just don't make riots like they used to ... and unemployment is 'only' about 2.5 million ... HOWEVER ... you could argue that the government is being pro-active in "announcing" the wedding of Wills and Kate before the public sector cuts really bite, and VAT goes up and benefits go down ...
.... oh, and that (multi-millionaire and ex-Thatcherite) Lord Young - he's a bit of a card isn't he ?? I was reminded of the Comic Strip's "GLC" (you young 'uns should Google it !) when the actor taking off Horace Cutler (then leader of the GLC) was campaigning and came up quotes like "You've never had it so good !" and "The shops are FULL of potatoes !" Low interest rates indeed (if you've a mortgage) - your savings - if you have any - are knackered, your gas and electricity is going up by "slightly more" than inflation (!), and of course the Christmas bonus - a VAT increase ...
Hey ho - time for bed - work calls (or will do) at 0545hrs, before Mossley continue their rollercoaster with a home game against Lancaster City followed by a "Curry Evening" @ home ... .
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