It's PROMO Time .....

I make no apology for this shameless plug - witness below three links to the HMV website which link to three CD singles coming out very very soon (it says 25th - we believe it should be 11th) ......

http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=764936

http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=282;2;-1;-1&sku=764957

http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayProductDetails.do?ctx=280;-1;-1;-1&sku=764965

All I can say is get out there and buy them .... listen to the clips on ...

http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=213887118

label details at ..

http://www.thesoulofnorthstaffsltd.co.uk/

or check out BBC Radio Stoke's web site (I think it's search on "subculture")

By doing this small small thing (£3 each ??? less than the price of a pint in certain quarters), you will not only be getting these guys high up in the national indie charts - but you will also be helping towards my daughter getting a proper wage-earning contract with this record label ...

....because if you buy these CDs you will see on the inside cover the words ....

"Engineered by Michelle Smith" - note FIRST NAME on all three singles

Here's The Novellos ...






and The Title ...





..and The Raphaels excuse crap - black on white with baby Fuji ....








Plus read a review of the bands from last Saturday's "showcase" event at the Victoria Hall in Hanley ...

http://stokesounds.blogspot.com/2008/02/sons-ltd-presents-raphaelsthis-is-seb.html

Plus always happy to plug another photgrapher ......

http://www.gigjunkie.co.uk/SONS/index.htm

My wife writes educational books - my daughter engineers quality indie music........I just blog about and take the odd picture !!!!

Chorley v Mossley

Well- you may be aware - you may be unaware - but there are "Six Tame Sides" - I never get around to watching some of them - but Mossley is the "premier team" at 'Chez Smiffy'.

It's been an "interesting" season up to now - obviously all the last season sh*t, pre-season sh*t and the like is well documented - but since the start of the season it's been fairly "uppy downy", fairly "roller coasterally", but it's kept us all interested - keen - wanting to help the team - that's the team on the pitch and the team off the pitch - over this "first season anew" if you like.

There's been good days (Skem at home ?) - there's been bad days (Curzon - twice ?) - there's been f*cking awful days (Lancaster on Boxing Day ?) - but it seems that the start of 2008 has seen everything - both on and off the field - go totally pear-shaped (I would have said t*ts up - but I'm better than that) - one point in January - players leaving - serious "ructions" off the pitch - of which there has been little in the way of "official" comment (it's worth pointing out here that I am a shareholder in the club - it may well be time for us shareholders to stop "pussyfooting about" by keeping mum on what we've "heard on the quiet" - and maybe start demanding "official" information - or an extraordinary meeting - or 'something' - because it's now getting rather silly - and I think rather serious).

Tonight - if you're looking for pictures you'll have to bloody wait as it's my mouth that's in gear rather than my camera at the moment. We took the lead with a penalty - and that really was about it. We were playing a team that lost 7 (seven) nil on Saturday, lost their manager on Sunday, got a new one on Monday, won a game on Tuesday - it's like Solomon bloody Grundy...

Kenny Mayers was still behind the bar when we got there at "minutes before kick-off" - I'd got home by 1740 - dashed in - got changed and grabbed camera stuff to catch 1757 back to Manc - met Jules in Manc and we got the train to Salford Crescent and thence to Chorley. While Kenny told us he'd "packed in the playing side", he was serving his notice behind the bar (he was the Social Club manager as well as playing - ex-Mossley as well you know).

The game - started well with the penalty - but then .....we're back to looking for more erudite options. Obviously the Chorley players were "on trial" for their new Manager Tony Hesketh - plus the added "p*sser" that two of same were former Mossley players as in Jordan Goodeve (who should NEVER have left) and Steve Burke (who I actually sponsored last season when he was at Mossley).

True to form - Jordan has a blinding game - Steve Burke scores two (last time I sponsor him !) - Liam Coyne (who's never played for Mossley but we've had two other Coynes - Ged and Tony !!) has a great game. Apart from the penalty I stopped to wonder whether we had another clear-cut chance (obviously the erudite ones will sort this anomaly out - but it's 0045 so you get what you're given at this time). The subs bench tonight - players who "haven't really featured at all" this season - fortunately one of them was a 'keeper as one of this season's few successes (Ashley Connor) pulled something in the second half - and it wasn't a woman .... J-P Lewis came on and did extremely well once those kicking boots were warmed up !!

Not long after the third goal - we left - grateful thanks to Paul and Ian for the lift back to Mossley through some sh*te weather - a couple in the "Rag" (looking for the troops who hadn't turned up at the game - they hadn't turned up at the "Rag" either - to miss the game is serious - to miss the "Rag" is probably tantamount to becoming a Stockport County fan (3-2 at Bury tonight - the chase is on with Rochdale)).

Weather held out for the first half - it went a bit grotty second half - but then again so did Mossley. This is now getting serious - and questions need to be answered - fast. We'll see what the rest of the week brings - home game with Newcastle Blue Star on Saturday.

But if you're REALLY interested in REAL football - I believe those overpaid buggers are in the "Toblerone Trophy" later this evening .....

Tonight's pix will be at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/ChorleyMossley2008/

but (0100 hours) they're not there yet .... at 0145 - they are there - them floodlights are really pants .....

Stalybridge Celtic v Nuneaton Borough

Sorry I'm late - busy busy, you know what it's like .....here's some pix to start with

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BridgeNuneaton2008/

The game was only on due to the sterling efforts of some two dozen fans who cleared the snow from the pitch in the morning (two of the pix are courtesy of Martin's cameraphone !) So it was a bright, sunny afternoon, with me fortified by a couple of pints of Thwaites in the H&H, that saw 336 turn up for the only game in Tameside - a touch disappointing really, given that there was a sizeable contingent from Nuneaton.

First half - fairly even really - confidence was high that there would be goals in the second half with Celtic "kicking downhill" - and an early chance was cleared off the line - here follows the "STS exclusives" of ......

the "Burke header".....

....and the "Travis lineclear" ....

Unfortunately that was about it for Celtic and either Nuneaton stepped up a gear, or Celtic put diesel in a petrol engine (!!). Nuneaton's first goal was a bit scrappy - but you've got to be there to get it - and the Celtic defence weren't. Even the substitutions didn't seem to help much although there was one effort near the end which had some of the crowd shouting "goal" - but as the picture shows, Nuneaton keeper Acton kept the ball out as he landed...

Another disappointing showing from Celtic - I had started to wonder if it was me that's the "bad luck charm" - although I can't be blamed for all eight home defeats ...

Anyone in Stoke-on-Trent tonight ??

Get down to the Victoria Hall in Hanley for the SONS (Soul of North Staffordshire) Showcase Event

http://www.remotegoat.co.uk/event_view.php?uid=19602

..and if you see anyone important (e.g. Phil Jupitus and the like), tell 'em, "That Sound Engineer at the record label is really good - she deserves a contract don't you think ??"

End of January Clear-Out !!

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



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



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

#

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




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



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

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

Mossley v Radcliffe Borough

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Ashton United v Stamford

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

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

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

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

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

Fancy a (non-football) laugh ?

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cheer up Bridge ..

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


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



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

Stalybridge Celtic v Burscough

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

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

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

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

Back - after a LONG weekend ...

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

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

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

2045 - some footy pix now at..

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

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

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

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

Guess What ....

Game off tonight ... looks like blooming TV again

Football - something different ...

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

Altrincham vs Thailand ????

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

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

Vince Brockie - in short...

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

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

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

Harrogate RA v Mossley

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

game at ...

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

journey home at

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

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

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

Friday Morning/Evening Train Info

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

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

Platform 3 (to Man Vic) - Not working;

Now HOW did that work ....?

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

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

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

Welcome to the (bloody) weekend ...

SNAFU @ Stalybridge Station

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



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

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





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


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


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


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

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

Football - Choices - Chances - Wrong'Un ?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Mossley v Bamber Bridge - First Thoughts

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

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

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

FCUM v Mossley

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Words from Today - err Yesterday ....

So - twas a chance of a double-header - and and a chance to help out our neighbours at Curzon Ashton, as the supporters of their opponents on the day had decided "not to bother" for reasons best known to themselves - but broadcast to all and sundry anyway (cus there's lots of them - and that makes it right) ....

Naturally this was going to leave a big gap in the Curzon "revenue pot" - still they were able to charge for parking (I think ?) and also stand transfer (well I was offered one as I went through the turnstiles anyway). Furthermore, a £1-50 programme suddenly became worth £5 - if you fancied going to Hyde United v Harrogate Town afterwards (half-price admission you know - I spotted at least one "Tiger" buying more than one programme - hmmmmmm !!).

In the club house before the game - apparently Curzon had had a stinker on Boxing Day (hmm - you should have seen Mossley !!) Talking also to "Pie of the Tiger", Hyde had a similar "poo day" against Stalybridge that same day ...

To football - a sh*tty horrible windy blustery rainy day - made marginally worse by Curzon's "Big Roof Terrace" that lets everything in - and played havoc with my lens !! If Curzon had been bad on Boxing Day - they weren't much better in the first half today. FCUM had the majority of possession, the majority of chances and the majority of "nous" when on the ball. Thet also had the advantage of a hefty breeze, and it was no surprise really when just after the half-hour, Carden got on the end of an evil diagonal ball across the box to put FCUM one up.

The second half did see some improvement on the Curzon end of things, but they never really looked threatening - a second goal was always on the cards, and just after the hour, Nugent shot through a crowded box to make it 2-0......

....and that was that really - ten minutes from the end (i.e. 1425) I packed up shop and jogged into Ashton to get the 1437 train up to Mossley - I missed it. Taxi was the only option, and my little black cab battled through the wind and the rain up to Seel Park, getting me there in time for a pint (that's me not the camera), a memory card change and a battery change (that's the camera not me). The weather was grim (thoughts of an abandonment did cross my mind - and that was coming up past Hartshead Pike in the cab !!)

Never mind - much fannying around - keeping stuff dry - and standing in the "Condemned Stand" - all came right when Danny T got on the end of an evil diagonal ball across the box to put Mossley one up - yes it was not dissimilar to FCUM's first goal. The weather did relent as the game went on, and with about 20 to go Lee Blackshaw got on the end of a ball from Danny T to make the game safe - or so we thought. A bit of relaxation - and five (5) minutes of "time added on" (ref blamed it on 6 subs @ 30 secs each - that's three minutes ...) gave "old timer" Neil Redfearn a chance to halve to deficit - and put us all through a bit of "buttock clenching" - but we got there in the end.

...and so did Coventry later ...............

Today's Football - the early warning.....

Right - I'm on the case - today's "double header" with Curzon/FCUM for starters and then Mossley/Bridlington Town for afters (I did do Coventry/Ipswich on the telly afters as well - hence the initial delay here .....)

But for those in a rush......Curzon/FCUM will be at

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

and Mossley/Bridlington will be at

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

....better sort out some product now ... and I might even talk about the games as well !!!

2131 - Curzon pix in 5 minutes ......

2211 - Mossley pix now up..

Not just Football ...

Today - well tonight - well last night - we all (i.e. "full 5 Smiffy family") went to the theatre, as we always do this time of year with our mates from Rochdale - "An Ideal Husband" by Oscar Wilde @ the Royal Exchange....

Now I'm not a great reader as well you might know, but I'm perfectly amenable to stuff (well I did do this sort of thing to get "O" Levels/"A" Levels etc etc) - and we've seen some good stuff in the past. Today was very enjoyable - in true OzzyWilde style, some serious, some very funny, some strange "class like stuff" that's totally alien to the 21st century - but very easy to pick up on .... and they all lived happily ever after as well !!! Gotta be betta than a f**king panto any time !!!

Here's a sneaky pic taken just before kick-off...

....and for those into Trinny & Susannah - there were some severely "posh frocks" in the show !! All in all a good night out - although with it finishing at 2225 we had time for just a quickie before "the last train to Mossley" (24 hour city - maybe - but public transport says "poo" after 2300) - hence this late post after several cans !!

And one for the train spotters now - a view out of Manchester Victoria taken just before Crimbo (on my "shopping day") - I thought it looked a touch atmospheric (again with baby Fuji mind...)

Mossley v Lancaster City

Well - no camera bag - and no three points either .... pix at

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

What to say about today - "grim" is a pretty apt four-letter word (and one that you can get away with as well !). There seemed a distinct lack of effort all round today, and it was silly, elementary, nay schoolboy errors that led to the 0-3 score at half-time (I knew how the Sunderland and Stafford Rangers fans felt going into their clubs at half-time) - and that did include two penalties as well ....

Even going "downhill" (i.e. towards the Park End) made little difference in the second half - although Lancaster keeper Mark Thornley made a couple of good saves, we never really threatened at all, despite all three subs coming on (and I remember thinking before the game - now that's an attacking bench) - problem was that first choice didn't and neither did any of the subs when they came on !

Hopefully a Crimbo hiccup which can be put right rather quickly against Bridlington Town on Saturday....hmmm.....Crimbo hiccup - wonder if that's what they're saying down Ewen Fields way - must go and have a peep on the Stalybridge and Hyde boards after this - plus naturally a trawl through the Unibond scores ....

All I want for Christmas is ....

... a virus-free pc would be nice !! Swapped keyboards - still got problems - shifted all photos off the hard disk - now got 40 gig free - still running like a dog. If all members of STS household either stopped moaning about the problems and did something about it - or just allowed me on the damn machine to do something about it ......

A dobbing big camera bag would be nice - three points off Lancaster City on St Stephen's Day - a vial of "Felix Felicis" for use in emergencies .... a small aubergine ... but now we're getting silly....

A very Merry Christmas to all our readers from all at "STS Towers" - may your days be merry and bright - and may all your goalscorers be wearing white ...

Atherton LR v Squires Gate

A jolly morning was spent taking part in the "siege mentality" shopping in Asda - we were sensible - of course - just the one trolley, and less than 90 minutes, start to finish. Home for 1230, and once I found out that the Chorley v Mossley game and the Stalybridge v Southport games were off - the hunt was on ...Had I clocked the Mossley Message Board, I might have gone for the Woodley v FCUM friendly option, but no... after one false alarm with Castleton Gabriels, it was off to Crilly Park to see the game against Squires Gate.

As I arrived they were quite literally sweeping the water off the pitch - it looked perfectly playable mind - but I did notice some wispy, misty bits behind goal at the "Railway Line End".

Here's some pix from the 3-3 draw (abandoned after 80 minutes due to fog) ....

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

Six goals - well I saw four of 'em !! A good game considering everything that the elements threw at the players. Squires Gate took the lead playing "downhill", but Atherton went in at half-time 2-1 up - didn't see either of them, altough I was told they were two good efforts (a shot and a header). A cracking third goal early in the second half looked to have made it safe for the home team, but credit to Squires Gate - they pulled it back to 3-3 before - with about 10 minutes left - the officials decided "enough was enough" - there'd been a couple of contentious offside decisions which I reckon hastened the abandonment.

Still - almost a full game - and good entertainment for those who "poo-pooed" the Christmas shopping - and even better for those with night-vision goggles ... !!

Stalybridge Celtic v Burscough - Take Two

First game - abandoned after 8 (eight) minutes (twas the day I saw Belper hit Warrington for six) .....

Second game - called off at 1925 last night....

Had to endure Man City v Spurs on "Albanian Sky" ... not much else to say ...

Eek .......

Monday - well Tuesday (A.M.)

...stuff, stuff and more stuff - not much in the "football" sense mind - Friday was the works "do" @ Rainbow88 in Cheadle Hulme - true to form, I had to leave before all the "juicy stuff" kicked off, in order to get home (by train) before 0653 the following morning - managed to gt a quick Karaoke in mind - "Addicted to Love" (Robert Palmer) - and no-one has laughed too much at work today, so it couldn't have been TOO bad !! Saturday's football opportunity - i.e. Ilkeston Town v Prescot Cables - was called off before I even left Mossley on the way to Belper. In the end I managed the second half of Fulham v Newcastle over a couple of pints of Harviestoun "Schiehallion" - a fine blonde beer - at the George & Dragon in Belper. That Newcastle penalty was a bit "iffy" mind ...

Sunday saw the drive from Belper to London for Christine and Kevin's wedding - a good day was had by all - and we can only wish them all the best in their time together. The day also gave Mrs Smiffy the chance for a "FriendsReunited" moment - she went to school with Christine and several of the other guests. Drove back to Mossley on Sunday evening - and since then have spent time trying to "de-virus" the pc (it's still not right - but we're getting there !) - oh and work today (with a touch of sleep in between !!).

Tuesday night - maybe Stalybridge Celtic v Burscough - and it'll be a "freebie" for all following the abandonment (after 8 minutes) of the original game a couple of weeks ago. However, with the weather as it is - i.e. 'kin cold, freezy etc. - the omens are not good.

Damn - 0031 - still need shirt ironed for work in six and a bit hours .... fingers crossed for footy later as well.

Thursday - A Pictorial Ramble

Well - let's start in the usual place - the Stalybridge Train Info System - Monday was obviously a "false dawn" - we got this on Tuesday. I've yet to take a "new pic" - as it now says "FTPE" (as in First) - but hey - I look forward to the New Year. "Find-out-stuff-time" - the only place to get some sense is talk to train staff - Stalybridge Station ?? Save your breath .....

-if it's John -"It's not my fault -I repeat it's not my fault !!" - straight on the defensive ....
-if it's Ashley - too busy looking after any lady under 25 looking lost/lonely on the platforms ..
-if it's Gary - "Under Section 257 Para 3 Sub-Section 23, I'm not at liberty to tell you anything. Now either catch a train - or drink beer at the Buffet - or I'll have you for loitering under Section 239b".

So I talked to a friendly guard (Northern Rail) on the train - the happy smiley one with the beer belly - apparently the problem is a Manc/Hudd thing - when it's been working up to now, the info has come from Manc - however it appears the system will/should eventually be run from Huddersfield - when the connections kick in ... as I said - roll on New Year ...




I had a day off work on Wednesday - did some Crimbly shopping ... now take a look at the next two pix -it's a spelling/upper/lower case thing...


Should it be ....




...or should it be ....



...now I've always worked on the "little u" - but then I'm not local - as in only 23 years 1 month 9 days.... never mind - here's a posey pic taken 'twixt Ashton and Stalybridge yesterday afternoon on the train..... note ALL pix on this thread are courtesy the Fuji FinePix A500.



..did some shopping in Top Mossley as well yesterday - came home via the ground - and saw this ....



...now it's been a while since attended a home game - my guess is that this went up sometime before the FCUM game .. oh and have you read the "furore" regarding the re-arranged Curzon v FCUM game over Crimbo - because of the TV - I bet it's making the FCUM fans so much more comfortable - yes it IS just like the"real thing" ..... big crowds, TV, re-arrangements, merchandise - what next ? A foreign pre-season tour ?? (Hint - irony here ..)

.and finally - it's a warm welcome to the latest addition to the Smiffy household - it's Pedro's Crimbo pressy - it's called Wyatt - and it's a "Blue-Tongued Skink" - and it came all the way from Southport last night - I will get some better pix when he's settled in - yes he's a "blerk" if there's any ladies out there....but for now I give you - Wyatt...




Weekend all still on as per earlier thread - though I forgot to take suit to dry-cleaners today - fingers crossed for tomorrow...

Monday Stuff - Trains, Beer, Football

Well the big news of the day is of course ....

Yep we have serious action on the Stalybridge Train Information System. I have no wish to think that serial "slagging off" on this site has galvanised TransPennine into action - cause I know this not to be true - if it were they'd be putting 6 car sets on as well in the morning and evening - still - enjoy while you can ...

Next - coming home tonight - a very rude pump clip @ Stalybridge Buffet Bar..

I only had the one as Peter was ready to return to ju-jitsu after the "broken jaw incident" of a couple of months ago - however we arrived at Greenfield to find "something else on" (Christmas Play or Parents "Do" - it is a school after all) - came home - I went back out and watched the Swansea/Horsham game - we all "dreamt the dream" between 23 mins and 38 mins - but it didn't last did it .....good effort mind.

As for the rest of the week - vis-a-vis football - nowt really except that overpaid, overhyped stuff played by people incapable of beating Croatia - reckon I'll get my Crimble shopping lists in order ...Saturday sees a rare trip to Ikeston Town for the game against Prescot Cables as it's another Saturday down at the M-I-L's.

Sunday sees a happy/sad day out for me and Mrs Smiffy - we're going to a wedding down Hackney/London way - an old friend is getting married - in a "hasty way" as her partner has been diagnosed with .... you can work out the rest .. we're all gonna make it a day to remember though.

Life can be sh*t sometimes ....

Football - 8th December 2007

Mossley v Bridlingon - OFF Ashton United v Guiseley - OFF Curzon @ Harrogate and Hyde @ Redditch - OFF Stalybridge v Burscough - Abandoned after 8 minutes - Droylsden v Rushden -full 90 - but Mr Pace reckoned it should never have started....

I went to Belper Town v Warrington Town - driving down the A6 - the weather got no better, and I was fearing the worst (as in having to do Christmas shopping with Mrs Smiffy). However there were only a couple of problem areas - one corner and the centre circle - so it was all systems go ... 90 minutes later the hardy 113 who turned up had witnessed a 6-0 destruction of Warrington Town - and it could have been a lot more ... this was playing football as well, not just hoofing it into the midden and chasing after it. An excellent all-round performance captured for posterity at

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

...taken without the aid of the trusty monopod (as in ... get to Belper, open car boot, get rucksack, get monop..... oh bugger, must have left it in Mossley). AND - I won the choccies in the half-time draw !!

Lucky enough to see some boxing last night as well - as in the Amir Khan 72 second jobbie ! Sad to see the Hitman lose later - but he'll be back, I'm sure.

I'm sure this weekend's weather has caused untold damage to the pitches of those who played as well as those who didn't. Just up the road from Belper, the Matlock Town game against Kendal was abandoned after 20 minutes as well....

Stalybridge Station Train Information System - Latest

Well we don't do times - we'll say hello/welcome now and again - we'll warn you to stand clear of the platform edge - but we don't do times - and we haven't done for months - tis a f**king disgrace - I'll tell 'em where to stick their 14% fare increase - almost like a congestion charge (!!!) - tomorrow - OK in seven hours time - I will photograph the poster that tells the world what the £1.5 million has been spent on - and we can dissect it at our leisure as midweek football games will be few and far between now for a couple of months...

Meanwhile - tonight - in case you forgot it's very nearly Christmas - and all the teddy bears named Jethro (?) are happy - incidentally you know that teddy picture I put on last Tuesday ??

http://sixtamesides.blogspot.com/2007/11/not-what-youre-expecting.html

The teddy only cost us a tenner - but since appearing on the blog, I've been able to sell it for £25 - I call that a "prophet" ...........

But I digress - tonight's VITALLY important Train Information message from Stalybridge Station - courtesy of "Transpenni" ....

Yo ho ho - p.s. your train is late due to vandalism in the Guide Bridge area -- you just couldn't make it up - could you ???

Curzon Ashton v Nantwich Town

Later folks - although there's one pic on the Curzon message board (Curzon won 5-4 on pens after 1-1 and extra time).

Tuesday evening update.....pix now available at ..

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

including the full gory details of the penalty shoot-out.

The game - you've got to say a fairly even one, and - as it went on the thought of extra-time (and penalties) was quite apparent amongst many of the pretty pathetic crowd of 109 - although fairs fair to Nantwich - they brought a few - there were at least two Ashton United fans (plus their Manager I'm reliably informed), one MossleySmiffy and a pro shooter from Prestwich Heys - and in the true spirit of the "snapping game" I'll give him a plug - although he didn't stay for ET and pens - tart !! Believe some team were on't'box last eve - Foolhamm or something... anyway - to the expert...some nice ones there ...

http://ammedia.photium.com/portfolio24127.html

Doing it for a living eh - and it shows - not some maverick banana-head who turns tobacco money into photographic equipment - learning "on the fly" - and he doesn't copyright his pix - the fool !! I'm enjoying it though - it looks as though I'm doing our Michelle's "Graduation Day" at Derby Uni in January 2008 as well - cus I'm cheaper than Ede & Ravenscroft - or whoever has the photo monopoly !!!

Hey ho - today got the "season-long loan" of one dobbing great lens - a 170-500 telephoto - being a f5 - f6.3, it won't do much at this time of year vis-a-vis football (what I need is a calm, collected, experienced 42 year old - i.e. someone slow !), but I might get something out of it on our weekend walks - I'll get that "Mossley Heron" in full flight one day. The problem being of course - "You either go for a walk - or you go to take photographs" ..... and most of the time a "dither/compose" period is just not built into our timetable !!

Nothing else this week - in fact that was THE one match in the "STS" area this midweek - Chorley v Woodley Sports tonight was possibly "a train too far".... (good job anyway - looks like Chorley were beating Fleetwood tonight !!)

Birthday - Woodley Away - Works "Do"

A somewhat busy day - so sod you all I'm keeping it brief - we won 2-1 - very late - deserved over the 90 minutes but cruel nonetheless (a 95th minute penalty - against a 10 man team who fought so so well - yes - cruel...)

Decent Thai food at the Ning in Manchester tonight - left the younger element to party on whilst catching my last train home (full of Kaiser Chiefs fans - and to that fat lady in Seat 61 - I predict a diet !!)

here's some pix from the game anyway ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossWoodDec07/

The "montage" for the equaliser is of course me just p*ssing about instead of being professional about it - hence the non-blue pic in the middle..if I thought it mattered - I'd be expecting money for the product - ho, ho, ho - enjoy anyroad up ...

51 - eek .... and tonight's exclusive is - my tea (OK it's a posh Sea Bass type thing !!)