Another from last Weekend

From DragonForce to DragonFly - taken by the River Teme (not Tame) just outside Ludlow - wrong lens/scary grass - but it's the thought that counts ?



.. oh and flat-pack furniture - a blooming nightmare when working in cramped conditions with wonky floors and walls (1880 house y'see !) - had to "bracket it" to the wall in the end, to prevent terminal damage to small boy when opening both (really heavy) wardrobe doors at the same time !!

Oh and we got a new printer - because it was cheaper than buying the two replacement cartridges for our old one - crazy, but true ....
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Friday 30th May 2008

Today's pic .............. \m/ p.s. Moshhead15 - I've two tickets !!



I'll probably be back later with ramblings about crap trains - and - more importantly - my company's decision to attempt to wind-up our final salary pension scheme - and as Union Rep I have to get off *rse and fight this - (according to the management it's down to Stock Market fluctuations and increased life expectancy - but we all know it's all down to evil capitalists, company "pension holidays" during the 'good times', some "severe" financial mismanagement and the like ... and the "long-serving experienced staff" (yes the ones they always glorify to others/clients/etc) are the one who - as usual - carry the can) - I've got a shed-load of stuff to sort out this weekend, questions from Union members, questions from non-Union members (yes we're all in this sh*t together - and join up Union + non-Union - we've got clout !!) - and some info/advice from my Union experts - something to fit in amongst the "flat-pack furniture" construction which is this weekend ....there's no football this weekend really - is there ????
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The Best Laid Plans ...

...of mice and men (forget Rabbi Burns - see the Eddie Izzard sketch) .... but this needs publicity as it may make other teams "think about it". I offer you ....

a Unibond League 1 South Football Team selling a 2008/09 Season Ticket for ...

£99

beat that ....or more hopefully for the hard-done by punters ....

MATCH THAT...

(It's Shepshed Dynamo by the way)
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A Pic a Day - for Summer 2008

It's like a drug I guess - so I'll offer up a non-football pic a day (strictly up-to-date of course)

So here's a pic of some freshly-cut trees taken last Friday on Wenlock Edge ...

Closed for the Summer .....mostly

Yes - time for time off .. time to put stuff together - words, heads, ideas - for the future -I reckon updates about once a week twixt now and .....
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"Going Straight" - next season ...

...in a photographic way of course. ...

At the Unibond and North West Counties level this season, it hasn't been a problem - turn up, pay in and snap to your hearts content. (Although - just to stir a bit of controversy up - did anyone notice the disappearance of the "Unibond League Photo Gallery" link at the top right of the Unibond site ?? OK I did !! (just to fuel stuff - AMMedia/Prestwich Heys etc etc)

However at Conference level - Stalybridge have always been nice to me, Hyde and Droylsden have "had words" which have led me to believe it's a "Do it again and we'll kick you out" - which was what I got at Burton Albion for the Play-Off Final (but they did give me a nice hi-vis press jacket in the end tho !!)

Next season - if I'm doing a little bit more than Unibond - it's make it legal time - which involves licence applications and £2m public liability insurance - no less !! Another summer job is to get organised on the web i.e. a "proper" web-site....stuff to do then ....

But for now .... it's long weekend time - off to Ludlow tomorrow (walking on Wenlock Edge on the way down) for a weekend of walking eating and drinking - and back on Monday in time to miss the big one on the telly - I can't pick between Stockport and Rochdale due to having a fan of each working either side of me !!

Just hope Droylsden Carl has got the gig for Rochdale ......cus my mate Steve who normally does for the "Rochdale Observer" is getting married tomorrow - and while he might be going to Wembley, his missus has said "NO WORK !!"
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A Midweek "Diversion"

Back to the Fracture Clinic at Tameside Hospital today – probably the thought of doing this brought back a few bad memories from late last year and no doubt contributed to my general “state of mind” yesterday evening / night ……

This time however, the “small boy” wound is self-inflicted – a broken big toe whilst negotiating the fearsome ……stairs !! Clinic 10 in the bowels of the hospital was a pretty depressing place to spend a morning – fortunately a 1015 appointment was done and dusted by 1055, which was a pretty good turnaround.

Getting the bus back to Mossley though, nearly made me turn around and call in sick mind - £2-30 – yes £2-30 - from Hospital to Mossley Station – and I thought Dick Turpin was long dead – my Cheap Day Return on the train from Mossley to Cheadle Hulme today only cost me three quid !! You can certainly see why buses are awash with old people and kids …. and trains are just awash ….

Some good football last night – the injury late on (which necessitated an ambulance) cast a bit of a damper on proceedings, but the Fleece were well worth the win in the end.
And so to tonight’s game – will Red Square resemble Piccadilly Gardens on a bad Wednesday night ?? Will it be 0-0/Extra Time/Penalties ?? Will Giggs break the record ?? Will I watch the game ?? Will Scarlett or Will Smith ??
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Tuesday Football ...

...as promised ...

http://mossleysmiffy.myjalbum.net/FleecevStamford2008/

..and I promise you - this week will get messier/controversial etc etc etc ....

..to put it bluntly Mossley AFC is no more - for me anyway - I had my probs before with the "owners" - this time it's a little bit more personal - I can say no more - as legal/libel sh*t may come into it - suffice to say Seel Park has seen the last of me tonight ....

this is the Mossley "bye bye" ..........

Farewell to Mossley AFC - having managed the Rigby "dysentry" - I feel that after tonight - I don't really want to be in the same room/ground/district as certain people who are happy to back up the actions of their alleged "thug children" and also attempt to prove that they are no different to their alleged thug children by allegedly threatening me.

Strange really - all I did was ask for a certain person to be pointed out to me - I merely wanted to know who it was - but obviously someone needed to tell "said person" that someone wanted to know ....so said person came over to "have a word" ...I don't drink in places like that - I don't go to places where these people go - they're obviously accepted at Mossley AFC - so they don't need me...

This is a farewell message to all at Seel Park - tara - I leave you with pix from tonight - as in

http://mossleysmiffy.myjalbum.net/FleecevStamford2008/

but after this I will be closing down the "Smiffy" account/login

Some people are obviously more worthy than myself - live with them - because I can't ...
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Clearing up one point mind .. my beef is NOT with the Football Club ..... I reckon I've just "fallen out of love" with Mossley - or parts of it at least..... I just can't be bothered any more...
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2330 - and we're back !!

..and believe it or not it's mostly down to the "Help Files" from Orange that I looked at (and printed off) at work today.... seems to be "limping a bit" - but good enough for what I want ! Tomorrow's football - as planned .....
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Computer Crisis - aargh !

On our (fairly) new wireless network at Smiffy Towers, two thirds of the pcs are working fine and dandy ....

...You can guess which one isn't - yes the one I share with small boy and his "World of Bloody Bandwidth" or whatever ...

Hopefully a short-term hiccup - anything dramatic can be put up/on via the works jobbie (that's right - I'm NOT ALLOWED to touch either of the other two machines in da house !!)

Tomorrow sees the Fleece play the Stamford in the Mossley Pub Cup Final at Seel Park - that's my football for the week - rumour is that there's some game on Wednesday on "Terry Steel TV" as well.
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Armageddon (2006) Remembered ....

For those with short memories ... was it only two years ago .....

http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17214419&method=full&siteid=66633&headline=bbc-crisis-after-drunken-riots--name_page.html

(a Scottish paper - now where's the irony in that .....)

Never mind - out later ... after some Whit Friday Mayhem .....
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Friendlies - what people want !!

... found so far ...

Belper Town

Sat 2nd August - Hucknall Town (Home)
Sat 9th August - Matlock Town (Home)
Tue 12th August - Ossett Albion (Home)

Mossley

14^th July – Stalybridge Celtic (home)

Shepshed Dynamo

Tue 15^th July – Kettering Town (home)
Thu 17^th July – Mansfield Town (home)

I think I may make this a "moveable feast" - as I update I'll keep it at the top ....
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Armageddon ? I Think Not ...

...Ok coming home from work last night there was this all-pervading smell of alcohol in the air (passive drinking - now there's a thought...) This morning - alcohol and urine (passive peeing - saves getting up in the middle of the night !!) The "Manchester United Evening News" would have us believe that last night in Manchester was a cross between 9/11, World War 3 (and 4) and the Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah. When you actually talk to an on-duty copper who says "Not much different to a normal New Years Eve", it does tend to put it into perspective a bit - 42 arrests out of 150,000+- small percentage - one stabbing - OK not good - but it happens on the streets of Manc almost on a daily basis. But then again if we didn't moan about something - we'd only moan. One lovely quote in the MUEN from the Marketing Manager of the Triangle shopping precinct - "It has had a negative effect for us in terms of footfall" - what a pompous ass (allegedly) - my heart is bleeding heavily for you - obviously you do loads of trade on a Wednesday - be thankful it wasn't a Saturday eh ??

Don't forget - up our way tomorrow - our local Sassenachs (and often the "invaders" from Oldham) have a chance to even things up a bit in the "Beer and Best Behaviour Wars" during the Whit Friday band contests - let's see the Evening News "bull" that up for Saturday's early editions - with all-day opening it's just not the same anymore - a couple of years ago they had to have a two-hour "close-down" of Mossley pubs on the Whit Friday afternoon - on police advice .... I'll be waiting for the owner of (just an example) Mossley Wholefoods coming out with the "negative footfall" quote - it won't happen (and if it did it certainly wouldn't make pages 1,2,3 and 4 of the MUEN !!) So as they won't get the publicity that the Triangle Shopping Centre got .... I give you ..

http://www.mossleyorganicandfinefoods.co.uk/

(our veg box arrived today - as it does every Thursday - and they do good bottled beer as well !)

In prep for tomorrow night - I'm drinking 37 bottles of White Lightning and using the punch bag - actually we've been out for a bit of a stroll (including a quick tincture at the Dysarts Arms) !!!

Some exotic barbed wire for starters ...



...and here's Derek - the Heyheads Dalmatian - who got slobber all over my lens the friendly "chap" !!



..and finally - through the hedge - some bowls at Carrbrook ...



I guess me and Mrs Smiffy will have another wander tomorrow evening - it'll be strange not to have a contest at the "New Bridge" in Mossley this year (two differing stories here - one = no-one to run it; and two = police didn't want it - you tell me....) We'll certainly go for a Millstone Brewery-related contest...can you guess where this might be ??
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Wednesday ...

...working in Cheadle Hulme, I guess I missed most of the "action/stuff" in Central Manchester today - yes I've seen the pictures "Manchester turns Blue" etc etc - and getting into Piccadilly from CHulme this evening I've seen a fair few who won't be seeing too much of tonight's game - all smiley smiley mind ... so - instead of the "sea of blue" pictures you will see elsewhere - I bring two - one small juxtaposition from Platform 14 on Man Picc tonight - Irn Bru, Fosters, Carling - and the mystical "Buckfast"...



.....and the second picture is what I had with my salad tonight ....



I'm doing this at h/t naturally - could have been a pen late on there (!!!) - otherwise comfy - just get that ball up front quicker ...
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Real Football Tonight .....

Stalybridge Celtic Reserves beat Padgate St Oswalds 3-2 - and yes the sad b*st*rd has pictures from same ....

http://mossleysmiffy.myjalbum.net/CelticResvPadgate/

interesting to see not only Mike Fish (striker) at No 6 but also Jon-Paul Lewis (keeper) at No 5 ....

I have to say JP looked a useful central defender without his mittens on - and Fishy ...fell over a few times :D

Cheshire Assoc Div 1 - just like the f**king railways mind - I bust a gut to get there in time for the 1830 kick-off - it finally "did" at 1900-ish ...

hey ho - football continues ......no idea what I'm doing Saturday - in the Belper area

Football ? Errr - YES !!

With it being "ju-jitsu" night for boy - I managed just over 39 minutes of the Leeds v Carlisle game on telly this evening - and wasn't that little bit rather good - rather refreshing .... a good honest "end-to-end, hard-tackling, players getting up and getting on with it" 39 minutes of football. I saw the first goal too - ex-Woodley Sports' Simon Hackney did the hard work, only for it to go in off Danny Graham's arse !! Apparently it finished up 2-1 - with Leeds getting "their one" on about 95 minutes.... a surprise to some maybe....but that keeps it open for part two eh ?

And STILL the season goes on ...tomorrow night - at Bower Fold - kick off 1830 - that's six-thirty to you - Cheshire Association Division One - Stalybridge Celtic Reserves v Greenhalls Padgate St Oswalds ....

....I've even been offered some West Riding games for next Saturday (sorry Dave but I'll have to decline - it's a Belper/Mother-in-Law weekend - now if you know of any Central Mids League stuff (no don't look - that DID finish last Saturday))

We'll look no further than tomorrow for now ..... !!!
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Football ? Errr - No ...

A family man can only do so much over a weekend - so today it was "walkies" with Mrs Smiffy out in the Derbyshire Dales (Calver/Baslow) ... so this is what you get today / tonight ....

A bluebell wood ..



A "Whitebell" in amongst the bluebells



A "flying thing" on a "purple thing" - any clues would be welcome (I don't do the "Observer Book of...." type stuff !)



Good to see Stockport getting a draw down at Wycombe mind .........

(Added at 2355)

Holy sh*t !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yes I've just seen the Man City result ......................................
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Stockport Georgians v Prestwich Heys

From one extreme to another eh ??

Pix at

http://mossleysmiffy.myjalbum.net/StockportvsPrestwich/

but you'll have to wait for everything else as I'm missing a film I want to watch at the moment - it started at 2000......it's now 2014 ...

...stay tuned
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Stalybridge Celtic v Barrow

Some pictures here on this new-fangled "JAlbum" thing ...

http://mossleysmiffy.myjalbum.net/StalybridgeBarrow/

The afternoon got off to a bad start - finished work at 1230 - home at 1330 - to find house-key on key-ring - in desk drawer - d'oh .... had to get Mrs Smiffy out of work to "let me in". Back to Stalybridge, and a small "calmer" at the Buffet bar before heading for the Bus Station - busy ....

Unfortunately the buses were "a touch late" - OK as far as Buxton, and then .... to say "cross-country" would be an understatement. Not exactly farm tracks but Monyash ????? Finally got to - and through - Ashbourne and on to Burton, our coach arriving about 1920 (another did not make it till after the kick-off !).

The game - first half a little flat in my eyes anyway - chances were few and far between. Half-Time - 0-0 and me in trouble with the security etc vis-a-vis camera - next season I really MUST get my paperwork in order !! The second half was a different story - ebbed and flowed until Barrow took the lead on the hour with a header at the far post. They had chances for 2-0, but the final 20 belonged to Celtic - but they just couldn't get the ball in the net. The post was rattled, a hand was rattled, but on the night it was not to be.

A sombre journey back - a touch quicker than the outward mind - arriving back just before midnight into the "Last Days of Sodom and Gomorrah" that is Friday Night in StalyVegas. However sanctuary was found in the "Fleece" where post-mortem and quiz machine were the order of the day/night/morning. Taxi back to Mossley about 0230 - and now this ...

Later today - pick up house-keys from workmate's house in Stockport, before heading for Stockport Georgians ground for this afternoon's Manky League "finale" against Prestwich Heys (don't forget 1430 kick-off) - last night's crowd of 2,530 is unlikely to be beaten !!
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Friday ....

...OK - it's apres midnight as we speak (OK 0100 !!) - and to be honest, all eyes should now turn towards Stalybridge Celtic in their quest to "wave at Droylsden as they pass 'em" - viz the BSN Play-Off Final @ Burton in just over 19 hours.

It's interesting to go around the boards of the "Six Tame Sides" - it varies between complete indifference (Curzon) to "C'mon Barrow" (Hyde & Droylsden).

I'm going - OK, call me a Mossley fan if you like (it's nice ...) but it's probably because I'm not born, bred and buttered in any of the local towns that gives me the urge/feeling/etc etc to go and support a local team other than the one five minutes walk away from my house ...

I've a sneaky feeling that there will be a few from the Tameside area down at the Pirelli later today - let's hope for something good. After last Sunday's game at Bower Fold (i.e best part of 3 hours of everything - up - down - heart attack - etc) - well who knows.......

DON'T FORGET - If you can't go - get down to a pub that's got Setanta - cus it's on live ........... I'm told the "Q" in Bridge will have it on - if you want to avoid the "StalyVegas" crap - go to the"Railway" in Greenfield - if there's more than one of you - they'll put Sultana on - I watched a few Conf play-offs up there last season ... no probs....
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Something for the Weekend Sir ??

This post will exclude Friday night @ Pirelli Stadium Burton-upon-Trent ....the build-up to this one is better viewed either via the Stalybridge Celtic board ...

http://www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk/forum/index.php?showforum=2

or even the Barrow message board ...

http://www.barrowfc.com/

THIS is more for those who need their " Saturday Fix" - well there's plenty afoot in the Manchester League with four offerings, two of which affect the outcome of the Championship ...

(Note all 1430 KO)

Atherton Town v Gregorians (who are top - 72 pts GD +25)
Breightmet Utd v Wigan Robin Park (second - 71 pts GD +46)
Hindsford v Leigh Athletic
Stockport Georgians v Prestwich Heys

As Mrs Smiffy has to go to work on Saturday in Warrington (a teacher's work is never done..) I may well partake of the Stockport Georgians game .. assuming the return trip from Burton goes OK on Friday night (Saturday morning ?) - yes I'm going of course - 5 coachloads up to now from Stalybridge ...

A crazy crazy thought, but wouldn't it be nice if they could get the support of all "Six Tame Sides" - if only for the evening - it just couldn't happen ...... could it ??? A little bit like last Thursday at the Ashton United Quiz Night .... hey ho ...
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First "Camera Type Casualty" - today .......

Camera on table - reach for camera - strap gets caught on corner of table - camera pulled out of hand - hits the deck (which is carpet + underlay on top of a stone floor !!).

We were thinking of going down to Manchester this afternoon to see the launch of the new Rock Radio Station in Manchester - free gig @ Urbis with BadCompany(2008), a Zeppelin tribute band and the Salford Jets amongst others. I'd put the old 70-300mm lens on the camera - this is now semi-f**ked - as in will not extend via the bezel, but you can "pull it out by hand" (oo-err missus).

Not a complete crisis then - camera seems to be OK (have tried with a couple of lenses to make sure the contacts aren't damaged - seems fine) ... phew ..... might need it for Friday ...

Other odd snippets that come to mind from yesterday.....

- Pre-match in the Buffet Bar - the "Bury contingent" of Southport fans giving the Belgian beers some serious stick - Stalybridge Celtic fans in the "conservatory"...

- Fashioning a waterproof housing for the camera using an ex-Belper Town bar towel, a "Raja Brothers" carrier bag with a hole bodged in it for the viewfinder and two elastic bands - it worked (this in spite me having an "Optec Rainsleeve" in the camera bag - which is basically a carrier bag with holes in the right places and a drawstring for round the lens !!)

- The number of people who predicted a 2-1 @ 90 minutes ...

- The atmosphere - not seen anything like that for many years ("Buffalo Season" ??)

- Managing to get served in the H&H at 1445 !!

- The Southport Stewards (brought their own - good touch) - some with "Southport Pier" Hi-Vis Jackets, others with "Independent Pest Control" on their backs !!

- Two Sub Goalies and one Sub Ref - now how often does THAT happen ??

- Meeting an Irish guy called Kieran, who'd come over for a long weekend of football - Celtic/Southport was his "bonus" game.

- Seeing other Mossley fans there, actually prepared to pay more than seven quid for a game !!!

- I'm sure there's more ... but ...

Yesterday's Pictures in one handy place

Starting to look at alternatives to photobucket for displaying piccies - this looks rather cute (but if you go over 30Mb - I think you have to "upgrade" (i.e. pay - aaaarrgh !!) - anyway - see what you think ...

http://mossleysmiffy.myjalbum.net/Stalybridge%20v%20Southport/

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Stalybridge Celtic v Southport - Part 2

BSN Play-Off Semi - 2nd Leg (Southport 1-0 up)

Now that was one hell of a game ..... 1-0 Celtic - 2-0 Celtic (through ...!!!!!!) - 2-1 Celtic (with 5 to go - aaargh !!) - Extra Time - Penalties - and the winners were Stalybridge Celtic - 5-3 on pens .....

Some pix in two parts today - the game at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BridgePortPOHome2008-Game/

The penalty shoot-out - and subsequent shenanigans (all very nice) at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BridgePortPOHome2008-PensCelebs/

Too humble to report on this one .... you've got to leave that sort of thing to "those who know" and "those who do" - all season that is ... I give you Iain's shout ...

http://www.stalybridgeceltic.co.uk/report.php?fixid=9575

First job back at work on Tuesday - get Friday off - or at least p.m. !!!!
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Speed Politics (includes "grumps") ...

....well it's late - is it only me that finds it amazing that people say "Oh Labour are cr*p - I'll vote Conservative - even though I voted Labour last time" - and (in the interest of fairness) vice versa ...

Isn't it amazing how people will (theoretically at least) veer from Left to Right - when they should realise that they're both p*ssing in the same political pot ??

In fact it's got to such a stage these days that any parties other than Labour and Conservative get next to f*ck all publicity - on paper - on tv - and so on ... we just have to veer from left to right - not that there's much difference ....

It may be too late - but hey there are many alternatives to the far right of Toryism and the far right of Labourism - I've voted Green earlier tonight - but in this ever changing Mossley in which we live in (where it seems ABSOLUTLEY NECESSARY for many to own a 4x4 and other such selfish gas-guzzling sh*t) - I bet the "Mossley Raving Loony Party" get in once again - and we can just sit back and watch our town go even further to shit - they have all the power of .......

Chris - I voted for you - it's a damn shame that there are so many clueless in this town - both "old faithfuls" and the "incomers" ... you are where you live - and here in Mossley, it's gonna get a lot worse ....

Another late night - aaaargh (0147) - bed time - there's a weekend ahead involving no petrol, lots of walking and some football on Sunday up at Bower Fold - easily accessible by train and feet - no 4x4 sh*t required at all ............
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Quiz Night @ Ashton United

What can you say - them buggers from Duki Town won for the second year in a row (88 out of 100 - that's some going...)

There was a team from Dukinfield Town ..... they won ..

There was a team from Ashton United ..... they came second ..

There was a team representing Stalybridge Celtic (didn't recognise any of 'em - certainly saw none of 'em at Southport last night !) - they came third ..

There was ... a team comprising me (Mossley), Curzon Blue (work it out !) and Dave Bax and "Young Bax" (two Ashton United extras) - fourth ..

There was another team from Ashton United (Danny the Manager's team) ..... they turned up late but still managed to finish last !!

Now you get a moaning Smiffy - a Quiz - well-publicised - money to a good cause (Bobby Moore Cancer - he was also "Number 4" in the picture round) - ends up with five teams.......

I do my "Six Tame Sides" stuff - Robin advertises on ALL message boards - and reminds on ALL message boards - yet we get a pathetic turnout like that - don't get me wrong - over £100 was raised tonight - on a night with no real "crap" on the box (although the Rangers penalty shoot-out got a few watching !!) Thursday is a spare night - I don't normally get the chance - but knowing full well in advance - I stick it on the calendar - and I get the "time off" - yes even after a "Wet Wednesday" in Southport ....

A shame that the rest of Tameside couldn't get their collective arses in gear - it would have been great to see - for example - a Mossley "A Team", a "Mossley B Team" and a "Mossley P-Head Team"... or stuff like that....

It didn't happen - but for all you miserable toads out there - you missed a good 'un - and I've a spare "Picture Round" in my house .........

Anyway - here's Jason and his crew - for the second year in a row.... Tameside Football Quiz Kings... respect ..

Southport v Stalybridge Celtic

..as in Conf North Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg - long-winded eh what ??

Don't know what you're expecting at this time of bloody night (as in 0045) - I can offer pictures - as in

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BridgePortPOAway2008/

and some "words of wisdom" (ho ho).

Celtic lost 1-0 - probably about right on the balance of play - but it leaves all to play for in the second leg on Sunday afternoon (and yes the "walking day" at Chez Smiffy HAS been brought forward 24 hours !!)

Tonight - Celtic definitely very subdued first half - midfield did not perform, and so it became a long ball game. Defence fairly comfy - Smart and Sykes well up to the job - Southport goal was well-taken though - but at 1-0 you thought ....hmmm...well I did....

Second half - Celtic playing downhill according to my theodilite anyway... looked a lot better although still kept missing out midfield too much for my (and many others) liking. Still Southport were put under some pressure - so to me it will only take a good "on song" performance on Sunday to turn this pressure into goals - they do look a touch shaky at times - with a tendency to "fall over" at will. Former Celt Neil Prince certainly did not enamour himself to his formers fans (viz paymasters) by falling over with monotonous regularity - so much so, that when the "real challenge" came in - and yes it was a good 50/50 challenge - and he left the field on a stretcher - his earlier cries of "wolf" meant he got little - OK no - sympathy from the Celtic faithful. I note the Southport report talks of "nasty Celtic challenging" - I'd certainly combat that one with some "dramatic Southport falling" - a late Chris Hall diving header - "oooooh" as they say (bugger as I say - didn't quite get the ball in the picture) - certainly Celtic finished the stronger.... just a question of keeping that momentum going come 1500 on Sunday.

Second half - the weather finally turned to sh*t - my gratefuls to Tony for the lift back to Stalybridge, because what with all that "falling over" stuff, I'd have never have made it back to Meols Cop for 2139 (5 minutes added on etc..).

It's ten past one - I really should .... as they say ...
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Glossop NE vs Trafford - I Didn't Go !!!!

Come on .. it's 2026 - ergo I'm not there - I'm sure there will be a few from Mossley down at Surrey Street mind - and I must also say "Well Done" to Tony Coyne if only via the web. I'm going for the "big one" this week - and apologies to any Curzon Ashton fans homing in here - have you ever ever tried to get to Skem via public transport ???? It's a "new town" - ergo you will find the "Church of the Immortal Combustion Engine" and almost as many roundabouts as Telford/MK etc etc.

Meols Cop on the other hand is a railway station "fairly adjacent" to Haig Avenue - so it's Wednesday for me this week for the Southport v Stalybridge Celtic 1st leg ...

But now - I'm going to mess about in the kitchen having been on uktvfood.co.uk, typing in "vegetarian tapas" - Mrs Smiffy at work until maybe 2100 - our Michelle on her way back from a day "at the mixing desk" in Stoke - me, potatoes, tomatoes, garlic, other stuff - and maybe a Breed77 album for that authentic Spanish feel (even though they're from Gib and spend most of their time in London !!!)

Adios ... for now ..
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Vince Brockie - Vindication ...

Step 1 - Read today's "Non-League Paper" - page 18.....

Step 2 - I refer you to my blog post way back in January this year - i.e.

http://sixtamesides.blogspot.com/2008/01/vince-brockie-in-short.html

Case proved m'lud ....

"Super Saturday"

Well that's the sort of crap title that Sky would come up with ....

So what can we say about today ??? Took our Michelle to work @ Ikea @ 0815 - took our Peter for haircut/style/advice in Ashton @ 1000 (I had a trim too !!) Lovely sunny morning - so I get the job of sorting out the electric socket behind the dishwasher - cost - £1-95 for a new switched single socket - pain in arse to fit mind !!

Next - towards Mossley, stopping at Highland Laddie on way for a "real" Robbies, before hitting the Social Club to see Chelsea put one over the "Reds" - obviously a conspiracy by Murdoch/Sky/CIA/MI5 to keep the season going for another 7 days ...

Mossley game - can only say the usual "nowt to play for", "end of season fayre" and similar platitudes.....the "Player of the Season" forms were handed out - I know who I've voted for - but my guess is that - after a recount - our Player of the Year will be .........

.... Robert Mugabe ....

Here are the Mossley game pix by the way ..

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleyWakefield2008-2/

OK so we finished 0-0 - we must be top of the form table in the "Last Three Games" section ... not too much of a party atmosphere in the club after the game - but probably a collective sigh of relief - we started the season - we finished the season - we ain't gone down - and we're still afloat.

I sloped off to the "Britannia" to grab some Setanta - watching Alty grab a 2-2 draw at Weymouth - not enough to keep 'em up mind. Did anyone else watching Sultana notice - when the Alty equaliser went in - they flashed up scores from the "top" of the table - rather than keeping us informed about the Halifax game - if they want to do "Non-League" - they've got just a little to learn I feel..

At the end of the game though they did come up with the full results thingy - which enabled me to see that Stafford Rangers had avoided the "Spoon de Wood" by slaughtering Droylsden 2-1 - godammit I'll see em both next season.

Stalybridge won 6-0 against Redditch giving them a first leg playoff away at Southport next Wednesday - maybe just maybe...

Curzon are at Skem next Tuesday - then maybe @ Gigg Lane in the Final next Saturday...who knows ..

..and if our Pedro doesn't fancy ju-jitsu on Monday - there's always Glossop v Trafford ...

Tidy up Baby Camera

A couple of daft ones from the Fuji.

First I give you a lovely juxtapostion of shops in downtown Belper which was taken last Saturday - it reminded me of the Eddie Izzard "Guns'n'Banjos" sketch ...



Next - downtown Mossley...this building was originally a bank before it became a doctor's surgery - in fact (I kid you not) it was once "raided" by an imbecile as in "Give Us All Your Money" - "Sorry sir - this is a doctor's surgery" - "Oh - goodbye then". However due to falling letters, it may now start to attract the local "hungry people" ....



This weekend - I'll be honest (honest Carlf !) - the plan was to go down to Stafford early doors, go and see my Mum and Dad - maybe even "little sis" before going down the Marston Road to see the "Battle of the Giants" viz Stafford Rangers v Droylsden for the Conference National "Spoon of Wood" Trophy. HOWEVER - evil nasty commercial Sultana Sports have pulled off a trick oft used by their bigger brother (Sky) and changed ALL the kick-offs to 1715 - and as the (wedding anniversary) weekend goes - it causes issues. So with great regret, that plan has been knocked on the head.

Stalybridge are at home to Redditch - but, short of Harrogate winning 17-1 or something daft like that, they're in the play-offs anyway. So yes it's the "old faithful", the "old reliable" - Mossley v Wakefield - let's see if the Lilywhites can finish the season with three wins on the trot ... it'll certainly make up for the previous (fill in as applicable).

...and then - we start looking at play-offs - be they Stalybridge or Curzon Ashton or even some bugger else - Mrs Smiffy calls it "Football Season Prolonging Mode" - and don't we all try our best .... !!!
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A Jolly Good Tuesday All Round !!!

Mossley - back-to-back wins after the 2-1 defeat of Brazil - sorry Garforth Town last night ....

Stalybridge Celtic - looking good for the play-offs after last night's results ......

...and Belper Town win the Derbyshire Senior Cup !!

I shall expand this evening - still haven't even got last night's pix onto the pc yet ....

Wednesday Night - 2030 - well here's the pictures from last evening ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleyGarforth2008/
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Belper Town v Alsager Town - UPDATED

Some pics for starters ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BelperAlsager2008/

to be updated/added to/modified/tweaked etc etc ad nauseam .....

And Mossley won at Brid !!!

And I got my DragonForce/Turisas Ticket ordered !!

Some words.....

Started early on Saturday – heading for IKEA in Ashton-under-Lyne at 0715 – honest!! It was the world’s best kept secret – not – the “21% off everything” day. The car park(s) were already full, with a large proportion of self-drive “white vans” – hmmm……hey-ho, we got two chests of drawers / chest of drawers / OK “Malm” and a swivelly ‘puter chair. Home, brekkie then off to Belper (we’ll do the assembly at a later date).

A pint in the “George & Dragon” before the game (Storm Brewery “Hurricane Hubert” – do you want to know the price - £2-80 - eek – methinks ‘tis getting rather silly down there…). Price in the Social Club (“Pedigree” from the jug - £2-60 – cheaper, but still a bit … (for us Northerners anyway !)

The game – Alsager Town may have been handed the “enforced relegation” ticket, but they don’t look like a team that’s “going quietly”. They started the better team and took the lead after 20 minutes.

This acted as the wake-up for Belper and after a period of pressure Wilson headed in an equaliser after a cross from the right - 1-1 at half-time. I missed the second goal – Iwas being mithered by a small child for a marker pen – which I didn’t have anyway. There’d been a bit of a community/fun day affair before the game and there were children everywhere !! Anyway – Rushbury got the goal ! 2-1 is never the safest of leads (but then again I wasn’t watching Mossley !!!) – but the Nailers held out inspite of a couple of scares at their end – and some missed chances up t’other. Three points – and that play-off place remains a possibility – distant, but mathematical ….

After the game I had a couple in the Social Club before wandering off towards Somerfield for an “evening drink supply”. I chose to go via the cricket pitch – game on – let’s have a play with camera … furthermore the Club Bar had some rather nice bottled beers !

Quiet evening in - “Shawshank Redemption” and “Air America” – Sunday saw us walking in the Youlgreave area, through Lathkill Dale. The weather was crap ! Who’d have thought it was the end of April ??? It was like a damp, cold, misty October day, so we kept it down to about 6.5 miles. Back to Mossley and – end of weekend....
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Grumpy Old Git Post ....

Several tales from this week...

ONE - our local paper (plus the "Manchester United Evening News") has featured the tale of the Stalybridge lady who parked her car illegally - then returned to find the words "CANT READ" spray painted all over it - plus tyres slashed. Don't get me wrong - the wanton vandalism is the work of total d*ckheads, be they from the adjacent premises or not. My point is that the story turns said lady into a martyr-cum-hero - whoa !!!!! Parked illegally I believe - but let's turn the story round and emphasise the "missing apostrophe" amongst the spray paint - helps to hide the fact that the car was parked ...... illegally....

TWO - Tuesday morning at Mossley Station - I need a new weekly pass - therefore I nip down to station several minutes early to purchase said ticket from "our Graham". I also noticed some "ticket checker dudes" at both entrances to the Manchester-bound platform. Train arrives at 0724 - two women are still trying to get on platform - on the train, they're moaning like f*ck to the guard with such phrases as "I always buy my ticket on the train" and "They should put notices up". FACT - Travelling on a train without a ticket IS AN OFFENCE .... If you need a ticket, whether a daily or a weekly, get there 5 minutes before the train arrives rather than 30 seconds. Once again people making excuses - sorry but I lump 'em in with the "fare dodger" crew - of which there are MANY on our line into Manchester. As far as I'm concerned you should not be allowed on any bloody platform without a ticket. They've installed barriers at Manchester Oxford Road - early indications are that ticket sales have gone up ..... hmmm .....

THREE - the binge drinking 12 year old in the "Metro" this week - Mummy blamed "advertising" - I blame Mummy for giving girlie too much pocket money .....

FOUR - There's a protest in Ashton on Saturday 26th April about the proposed Manchester "Congestion Charge" - I'll be there - because for me, the charges being mooted are FAR TOO LOW ....

FIVE - All grumped out - bugger off and leave me alone !!
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..and the Gig of 2008 WILL be .....

DragonForce and Turisas - 26th September 2008 @ Manchester Academy.

In true "Pete Doherty's judge" style - DragonForce will once again be given "another chance" to emulate their Manc Academy gig of December 2006,

..... while Turisas were one of my "hits" from Download last year.

No new 'DragonProduct' I'm afraid - a remastered "Valley of the Damned" doesn't count in my book anyway (remastered often = overproduced !!) - need to check on Turisas as I got the "Varangian Way" for my 51st !!

Tickets on sale tomorrow ....save one for me ....
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Glossop NE v Trafford

"Arse" is the word - turn up at 1930 to find ...

Sums it up really .....

The beer to come @ the "Star" in Glossop...

Oh sod it !!! Now it's "Try to Wangle Wednesday Time" - Ossett v Mossley maybe - or the Youth Cup Final at Man City ...we'll see ..

..

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Stalybridge Celtic v Vauxhall Motors - UPDATED

Pictures at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BridgeVauxhall2008/

(I do have "something " of the Celtic 3rd goal but .....)

Well we got a game up at Bower Fold - heroics once again by the ground staff and volunteer "forkers" - and the pitch does seem to drain well. Caught the "baby bus" from Mossley over to Stalybridge - a quick "tincture" in the Buffet Bar - purely to check whether it was worth my while going up to Bower Fold - it was according to Trefor (resplendent in his "Huddersfield Hussies" - or whatever they're called - rugby tunic) something to do with fast cars after the Celtic game and over to ... Huddersfield I guess !!). just the one pinta before walking - yes walking - up to Bower Fold - it's only about 20 minutes - ooh, just time for a pint of Black Sheep in the H&H !!

Aah football - Celtic looking to consolidate a play-off place, Vauxhall Motors in "last chance saloon" mode. However the game was all but over very early one. Celtic were two up in the first 20 minutes, and if it wasn't for the heroics of the Vauxhall keeper - Lloyd Rigby - it could easily have been more - check out my piccies for some of his saves - having watched Mossley's finest - viz. Ashley Connor - doing exactly the same this season - viz keeping defeats "respectable" vis-a-vis goals conceded. he'd earned my MOM award in the first half-hour !! Within minutes of Celtic going 2-0 up there was a "lapse of concentration" at the back allowing Vauxhall to halve the deficit...

2-1 - and the Vauxhall faithful are well chuffed !!

This was only a temporary respite mind as a third goal went in on the half-hour mark, which for me effectively ended the contest. The second half was not as fraught - Celtic relaxed, Vauxhall had "a bit of a go" - but there was only ever going to be one winner. The fourth goal - some said oggy, I note the "BensonMeister" gives it to Celtic's Steve Payne - was the proverbial "icing ...." results at Hinckley and Hucknall made Vauxhall's relegation "official".

Mad rush back to Mossley ensued after the game as we had to be on the 1757 train back to Manchester for a trip to the Royal Exchange Theatre to see "The Glass Menagerie". On the way past the Urbis we somehow slipped into what looked like a "tented village" with a swimming theme (for those who don't - they've rigged up a giant paddling pool in the MEN Arena for the FINA World Short-Course Swimming Champs) - spotted a bar (plastic glasses - groogh - a jazz band and what can only be described as an "aquatic dance troupe" ... see for yourself ...

Hmm .... had time for a drink, so went somewhere different, "The Living Room" on Deansgate - didn't spot any superstars/footballers etc but enjoyed the "floor show" from the cocktail waiters, fling their bottles around and cutting up strawberries for the archetypal "fruit-based drink for the lady". Glass of wine + bottle of "Tiger Beer" = £8 - you have been warned !

The play - pretty good - second half went on a bit mind(plus theatre was a bit warm !). Just time for a quick beer afterwards before running through the rain to catch the 2300 "Pissheads Express" (viz. last train home).

Today - tidy house, buy new duvet (yep, cat was sick on the old one last night/early this morning !), a walk around "Pots and Pans" (local landmark) and finally this .....

This weeks football - Mossley are away at Ossett on Wednesday, so I'll be "at home" !! Fingers crossed to get down to Glossop on Tuesday night to see them against the new Champions of the North West Counties League - viz Trafford, managed by ex-Lilywhite Tony Coyne.... everything naturally contains the rider "weather permitting" .....

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Spring Weather - My A*se !

Mossley - off
Droylsden - off

Fingers now crossed for Stalybridge Celtic - I might have given Woodley v Bridlington Town a go (two teams around the Mossley level eh !!!) but with giving it some Tennessee Williams tonight -need to get homw sharpish.

Fingers still crossed (1315) - making a move now ......

Saturday Preview ....

.....hmmmm...

If Stalybridge beat Vauxhall Motors - guaranteed play-off for one I believe - guaranteed relegation for t'other I believe .... go Celtic - for me, play-offs = season extension e.g. more football - plus it would be nice to see a Tameside replacement for the Bloods ... talking of which ..

Droylsden - deffo to beat Ebbsfleet - a team run by the web users - ho ho ho (as in we'll have your £35 but you'll have NO SAY IN ANYTHING - talking of which - I wonder where my Mossley AFC Share Certificate is ???????????????????????)

Mossley v Brazil ? Well Garforth are as much like Brazil as Tofu representing a carnivore's delight .... Mossley to win ?? Bloody hope so - and hoping the crowd breaks three figures ...despite Newky Blue Star taking voluntary relegation - I've little faith in the Unibond "committee" - who may well come to some agreement with NWCFL viz "We'll take three but we'll give you back one" - it could still happen - and it scares me .......

Nantwich v Belper - were I not giving it some Tennessee Williams tomorrow night at the Royal Exchange (yes the "Glass Menagerie" you heathens) I may have been tempted away from Seel Park - fingers are well and truly crossed for a Nailers victory.

Hednesford v Ashton United - I've NEVER found out what happened to Denise Rowley - went to school with her back in the 20th century - she was a Hednesford fan - fingers crossed for the Robins natch - it's still soooo tight in the mid-range of the Unibond Prem.

Hyde @ Hinckley - Hyde appear to have totally blown any chance of a play-off place - Hinckley need to get out of that bottom three - not been to Hinckley since the Matt Gadsby Memorial Game - I see draw here...

Curzon Ashton - away at Starbeck Loco Club (aka Harrogate RA) - should win - should take another giant step towards promotion - but NO-ONE CARES - it's crazy isn't it ???

And that - is that ...
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Look at the Size of his ....Lens !!

Home tonight - pouring with rain - I noticed that football was being played on the playing field on the other side of the valley/Egmont Street. So - experiment with that dobber lens again out of the bedroom Velux ....two unadulterated pictures....

One at 170mm ..



And one at 500mm



Well - it beats doing stuff ...
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Thoughts from Yesterday ...snow, football etc

Woke up Tuesday morning to this …

Football tonight ?? Driving “over the tops” ?? Hmmm – naturally the 0724 train was cancelled, so I was half-an-hour late for workies. By the time I reached the “Deep South” of Cheadle Hulme though, most of the snow had disappeared so “game on” was the thought for the rest of the day. A “complimentary lunch” at the “Penny Black” – the pub across the road from work (hmmm not a great advert for the kitchen I must say – and they’re still struggling to get to grips with the real ale) – and a bit more graft (oooh don’t you just luuuurve Access Databases !!!!)

Out of work at 1625 – home by 1725 – on the “clear” roads to Alfreton by 1745 with my trusty AA internet route which took me “my usual way” towards Chapel-en-le-Frith, and then on to the southern fringes of Chesterfield before down into Alfreton on the A61 arriving about 1920. It was good listening on the radio to what appeared to be “total gridlock” on the M62 both sides of Manchester and on the M60 in between. You started to wonder whether players would get caught up in such problems – oops sorry that was the previous round (the Buxton v Alfreton “problems” are well documented elsewhere !!) Parking outside the Impact Arena/North Street – a nightmare (and this with only a crowd of 248 – curse that TV footy – again !!!). Cheap in – think it was £7 - £2 prog (which incidentally was all I spent all night apart from one £1 coffee – thinking it through – even with petrol it was probably a cheaper night out than me walking up the hill to a Mossley home game – something to do with the drinks bill no doubt !!!).

Belper, playing down the slope, were first out of the blocks with a goal from Walker, and for a good chunk of the first half you’d have been pushed to choose which was the Conference North team and which was the Unibond 1 South outfit. A second goal from Middleton was no more than the Nailers deserved – and 2-0 was the half-time score, despite Belper losing two players (Colliver and Middleton) to injuries.

Second half started pretty the same as the first, with the team going downhill grabbing an early goal. Now it was time for Belper to put most of their eggs in the defending basket as Alfreton came down the hill at will. However Kotylo scored a third for Belper from a quickly-taken free kick – Alfreton were still “trowelling their wall together” as the ball hit the net. Not over yet mind – Alfreton got a second goal with about 6 minutes to go and continued to bombard the Belper defence. However for all the perceived Alfreton pressure in the second half, there were very few clear-cut chances – one off the bar, one off the line from Rushbury and a lot of good defending around the edges of the penalty box and some dominant clearances from the many corners.

The better team won – no doubt about it. I didn’t hang around after the game – got back to Mossley for about 2330 and had a bit of a tickle on’t’web and the photo bucket. Bed for 0130 – in work today for 0815.

Just not enough hours in a day ……

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Alfreton Town v Belper Town

(Derbyshire Senior Cup 1st Leg)

Yes I went in the end - and saw a well-deserved 3-2 for the so-called "underdogs" from Belper - I've managed to do some pix ..

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/AlfretonBelperDSC2008/

...now I'm going to sleep - so many words (and not just on tonight's game) - this morning's weather (and train cock-ups), the lurid tales of former Mossley 'keeper Ashley Timms in today's "Manchester United Evening News" - all to come another time - as it's 0113 by my clock !

Odds and Sods from Yesterday...

Me messing with monochrome.....ish ...



Sylvia's posh cake ....



Happy April (from the footbridge at Greenfield) !!!

Couldn;t do Ashton v Marine tonight - ju-jitsu taxi service kicking in after skool hols - by all accounts - I did well to miss !! Tomorrow - I'm being very silly and going for Alfreton Town v Belper Town in the Derbyshire Senior Cup Final 1st Leg - driving down etc etc etc......

If only it had been Glossop .... !

Sunday - The "Cotton Mill Express"

All thoughts of football suitably banished for a while at least. Up early and on the 0932 from Mossley down to Stalybridge to try to emulate Bishop Eric Treacy !! (if you don't know - Google him...). As it was a clean and sparkly morning, I thought I'd give that 170-500mm "loan lens" an outing. Anyway... here are the pix from not 90 minutes ago - ain't technology wonderful !!

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

Now off to the kitchen to "slow-cook" tonight's beef in some ale - tidy up before the return of Mrs Smiffy - and then return to Stalybridge Buffet Bar - because today Sylvia reaches the big six-oh - and there's a "bit of a do" this afternoon - with nibblies I hope.

Having picked a "wrong 'un" in yesterdays FA Cup semi-final - today I am going for Cardiff ...
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Mossley - the Saturday Choice ...

Pix at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleyHarrogate2008/

Please expect no words - it's taken until now to make the pictures look good. Roll on season end ..

If there's any anoraks still awake - 45407 - Lancashire Fusilier - through Mossley about 1000

Friday Night ....with Saturday to come...

In the words of that little ginger brat Annie ..

"Tomorrow, Tomorrow, There's Football Tomorrow, And only a walk away".

Yes folks, Mossley are at home to Harrogate RA - also known as "Famed Cup Fighters Harrogate RA" - or to the more cynical - Starbeck LocoShed.

2008 for Mossley is well-documented elsewhere - although the crux of the matter is 5 points from 42 - the finances may be safe for now, at least until the end of this season - but I'm still facing a quandary that was faced not 7 days ago (because it was in fact 8 days ago when the decision was made to kick the Newcastle Blue Star away game into touch). One point from that game - see this pic - tkt courtesy of Jules..

There is a number 442 on the left - the attendance was 73 ... hmm ...

Anyway to my "real" point - I've been asked a number of times this last seven days "Are you going on Saturday" - however this is Stalybridge fans referring to their final away game this season at Boston United. There's three coaches going I believe - and fancy dress is optional. Following my trip to Hurst Cross on Monday, the point has been made "Why not go to Ilson with the Robins on Saturday to see them play the Robins ??" I've not been to Ilkeston this season - I've a number of good friends down there, some of whom were met at Stalybridge Buffet Bar earlier this season when they came up for the Ashton game (and they then spent most of the game in the Ashton club - Ilkeston were "on a downer" at the time !!).

With it being "skool hols" Mrs Smiffy is off touring - last weekend it was Bristol, this weekend it's Oakham - I had thought at one stage she'd be in Belper this weekend - the Nailers have a vital game at home to Nantwich Town in their quest for the Unibond 1 South Play-Offs - but she ain't so neither am I - shame there as well...

Another local option is Curzon Ashton's "quest for promotion" - they're at home to Bradford Park Avenue for the second time this season - I saw the previous home evening game between the two teams when BPA won 1-0 with a late Tom Baker effort - that will be an interesting one, with both teams looking to grab the automatic promotion place - Skem are at home to Clitheroe while poor old FCUM (34 games in 12 days or something) are away at Wakefield. It's between this lot - plus Bamber Bridge who are up Rawtenstall way tomorrow.

They all sound so much tempting than the game that is but a mere "cockstride" away ... don't they ???

Forget Football - for FIVE whole minutes ...

Check out....

http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio1/chart/indiesingles.shtml

See those tunes at 1, 3, 4 and 5 ???

Engineered by my daughter .......

Yes tonight is a VERY VERY VERY proud father moment - and Mrs Smiffy too is "glaising a rass" !!

So feel free to go out and buy ...

http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/advancedSearch.do?ctx=12;2;65;-1&searchType=12&label=SOULOFNORTHSTAFFS

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Ashton United v Matlock Town

Again we're reduced to pictures - viz

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/AshtonMatlock2008/

...to the best of my knowledge - Tuesday night = f**k all on - then - maybe then - I'll get some "write up" sorted on both Stalybridge from Saturday, Ashton tonight/last night - and naturally bang in some words about Mossley's latest capitulation up at "Newcastle Brown Trousers" (their new name - daren't stay in the Unibond etc etc etc).

One for Tameside Eye -this weeks bin liner from Tameside MBC was this effort ...wow ....

And another for Tameside Eye - the so-called "renovation" of Stalybridge Station appears to have stopped/stagnated etc etc - demolition done, there's now some kind of "planning permission" problem I'm told - no doubt including including Tameside Council, Network Rail, Trans-Pennine, British Rail Property Board (or whatever they're called these days) and probably about 235 other privatised "fingers in the rail pie"... what a shambles...