NOT what you're expecting ....

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

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



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



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

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



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

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

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



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

Just another manic Monday .....

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



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

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



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

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



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




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

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

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

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

Curzon Ashton v Mossley

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

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

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

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


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


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



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




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


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



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






a subtle difference from .....

BACK to ANORAK !!

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



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




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




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


BACK TO MUSIC.....


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



BACK TO FOOTBALL .....


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

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

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


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

DragonForce "Video" from last Night

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

well there's something there !

Black Crusade/England/Mossley

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

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

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

This Week .....

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

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

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

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

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

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



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

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

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

Snow !!

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

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

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

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

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

from "The Boss"

and my efforts ...

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

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

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

Agony, Pain - and General "stuff"

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

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

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

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

(Trains) £1.5million ....Part 1

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Curzon Ashton v Bradford Park Avenue

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

OK - now 2154 - some pix at

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

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

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

- we got a goal and they didn't

- we got three points and they didn't

- Clitheroe beat FCUM 2-1

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

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

What does "FA" stand for ???

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Gareth Richards Benefit

bobbed some early pix up at

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

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

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

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

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

Mossley v Brazil

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


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







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




SUNDAY MORNING - Pix now at

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

The Weekend....and beyond ...

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

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

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

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

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

Mossley - New Signing

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

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

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

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

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

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

All Hallows

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

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

The photobucket address awaits - as in

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

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

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

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

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

2119 - PIX NOW UP !!

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

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

...he scores 'em as well !!

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 ....