skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Today was sponsored by that well-known beat combo "Wet Wet Wet". This morning I got very wet - I got semi-dry - I got wet again - I got semi-demi-dry - I got wet again. Home for a quick towel down and a change of clothing before whizzing down to Glossop in the car and leaping out at Tesco, leaving Mrs Smiffy to continue down to Belper.
Game started well for Mossley and after a series of corners they took the lead when Glossop captain Yates put through his own net under pressure from Andy Watson. This early goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of the home side, and Mossley bossed it until half-time, but with only one more goal to show for it - a belter from Chris Rowney. Second half continued as before ... and then the heavens opened - quick rain cover for the camera (usual stylish DIY thing - carrier bag and postie elastic band !) - and I proceeded to get drenched for the fourth time in less than 7 hours. Never mind - two more goals for Mossley made it a comfy 4-0 win - and in all honesty it could have been double that, such was the dispirited opposition I'm afraid. Glossop are a team running low on confidence at the moment, and poor old Garry Kharas cuts a lonely figure up front - no support around him - very little service to him - and very few chances created. They need what Mossley got today - a few goals and a confidence-boosting result - remember, it's only September !! Today's pictures at
Glossop NE 0 Mossley 4 (FA Cup)
The win will certainly help Mossley, who now face a trip midweek to AFC Fylde - one of several alleged "moneybags" teams in the Evo-Stik Division One North - and unfortunately a game I cannot attend. I was hoping to go and watch Curzon Ashton take on Skelmersdale United on Monday night, but Curzon have now got an FA Cup replay after their 1-1 draw at home to New Mills today... HOWEVER - another FA Cup draw today (2-2) sees Ashton United playing Prescot Cables at Hurst Cross in a replay on Monday night - that'll do nicely !
(Meanwhile the house is awash with bits of Royal Mail gear drying out from this morning - and camera gear (and me !!) drying out from this afternoon)
.
... at lunchtime today in London's High Court - check out this excellent article for more details ...
Ilson Town wound up
... and yes it's strange isn't it that the "rich" (in this case Sheffield Wednesday) can STILL get away with it, while the lesser lights are forced out of business. OK, people will say that if you pay your bills whether you're a football club - or just Joe Public - you'll be fine ... but when the sums involve equate to little more than 40 trips to see a "high class lady" in a "high class hotel" (allegedly), you can see the damage that companies such as Sky TV have done to football in this country, helping to concentrate the cash at the top and causing untold damage to attendances countrywide in their own greedy pursuit of the "football pound". You get the FA wobbling on about "grass roots football" - yet you still end up with 95% of the money going to 5% of the football clubs in this country (those figures aren't official - but I bet thery're not far off the mark).
In the same way that Hyde United stayed afloat recently - I hope Ilkeston Town do as well - I've some good mates down Ilson way, and I've always enjoyed my trips down to the New Manor Ground. I suppose it's now up to the real fans to organise - whilst it might only be half-a-weeks wages to many Premiership players, £50k IS a lot for mere mortals to raise - and they've only seven days to do it. An appeal has gone in as far as I'm aware - a Facebook page has been set up - it would be nice to think there is a knight in shining armour out there (Robert Lindsay - "Citizen Smith", "My Family" etc is an Ilson boy, and I believe Spurs' Jermaine Jenas has connections as well - I may be wrong) ... but the problem sometimes with a lot of these these KISA type people is that they walk away - maybe the way forward is to regroup at a lower level and work your way back up - I believe the local Erewash Council own the ground and are fully supportive of football continuing one way or another.
Good luck to all at Ilkeston Town - my fingers are firmly crossed for a positive outcome to this whole sorry affair.
.
... aaahh the luxury of a midweek day off (and the sun is out !).
After all the apparent promise of Saturday's performance at Warrington that I'd read about, I was looking forward to the season kick-starting last night. However - I talked to some others who'd gone to Warrington who'd seen a completely different game to that reported elsewhere ... so I watched with a now slightly more open mind.
Mossley got off to an awful start when Shaun Connor (brother of Mossley's Mark Connor) got behind a totally static Mossley "defence" to put Radcliffe 1-0 ahead after only 3 minutes - and after that Mossley struggled - and I mean struggled - to put anything coherent together. The "one touch build from deep" might look nice at times, but it just wasn't snappy enough, and by the time the penalty area was approached the Radcliffe defence had got itself well organised leaving space at a premium - too many final balls were going astray, and there was no width at all.
Still - looking at the subs bench, I wasn't overly worried - a couple of wide players who could get in behind the defence were sat there warming their butts ready for action ... however these two never made it onto the park and the second half was a continuation of the first. Then with 20 minutes to go Mike Fish conjured up a bit of "cheeky genius", curling the ball round ex-Man United keeper Nick Culkin to square the game and give hope for the final period - whilst Mossley upped the pressure late on, it just wasn't forceful and incisive enough and few - if any - clear-cut chances were created. Obviously not a night for wingers - in fact more for whingers when I got in the club afterwards !!
Some pictures from the game at
Mossley 1 Radcliffe Borough 1
Saturday sees the FA Cup returning to the fore with a trip to Glossop North End for what should be a keenly-contested local derby - let's hope last night's "formation" is kicked into touch - it just didn't look right at all to me (or ... maybe it was a ruse to confuse any Hillmen scouts who were "out and about" last night !).
Anyway - I'm off to do "stuff" - still learning how to make the most of this midweek day off - one definite jobbie though is the cooking of a nice Greek Stifado later today !!
.
... no rain in Oldham today - but it chucked it down here in Mossley about an hour ago (AFTER I got home !) - fingers crossed for tonight - and I might get the pix up very late tonight, as it's my "day off" tomorrow.
(And for those aiming to sit on their backsides and watch a team of overpaid prima-donnas take on the Toblerone Boys - why not check out a local non-league game near you ?? They need the money far more than the FA ... or Sky TV - and you never know - they might have it on the the Social Club, so you can kill two birds with one stone - and financially benefit those who need it most ... just a thought).
.
... or "Stadfford Rangers" (on the Sky ticker tape at lunchtime today) or "Stafford Ramgers" (in the programme).
All I can say is that there were only two goals - rather than the 8 (eight) we got in the corresponding fixture last season. Might have been a lovely afternoon, but it was a pretty drab game I'm afraid - some pix at
Droylsden 2 Stafford Rangers 0
... and as it's 0200, I'm going to leave it there for now ...
.
... off to Longsight with Mrs Smiffy tonight - tea to be cooked for us - yum yum - and staying over. However - does mean an early start in the morning to get back for work - hey ho ... so - football - first thought was to go and watch the only one of the "Six Tame Sides" I've not seen yet this season - as in Curzon Ashton. They're at home to ... Witton Albion (last seen at Mossley 7 days ago !).
Or should I go to Droylsden ?? They're playing ... Stafford Rangers - last season when I took in this very same fixture, Droylsden battered the Boro' 7-1 - looking at current form, it surely can't be that bad again this season.
We'll have to see what time I finish work - Warrington v Mossley is a definite no-no though.
Starting to get tempted with a trip to the Butchers Arms - hang the expense (well I have done precisely one hour of overtime this week so ...) !!!
England game tonight ... anybody bothered ... really ? (At least they've got a nice new "designer strip" to wear - same old over-paid prima donnas mind !)
.
Yes, a truly dramatic end to this one - 93 minutes gone and it looked like Mossley would be visiting St Helens Town in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Cup on the 11th September. However one last gasp push by the Hillmen and Glyn Barker managed to silence the "boo boys" (or at least the one in the hat just behind me !!!) by snatching an unlikely equaliser - and to be honest, extra-time was a formality for Glossop who ran out comfortable winners in the end. Pictures from the game at
Glossop NE 3 St Helens Town 1 (after extra time)
The midges were out in force as well last night ... a lot of scratching going on - and afflicted people looking jealously at the "hoodies" !!!
.
... who will entertain Mossley in the next round of the FA Cup after their dramatic 3-1 extra-time win over St Helens Town last night ...
... and I'll sort my piccies out tonight - the extra-time kind of buggered up the evening's transport plans ...
.
... well - sort of - still a few odds and sods to tidy up, including the old path (on the right going down - made of flagstones taken out of our cellar when it was converted - a few gaps need filling in a "crazy paving" sort of way - started on that yesterday), plus the area above it around the pond - at the moment two paths of earth (maybe more slabs - aargh !). S'pose now that the earth-moving has finished, I should clean all the slabs as well ... Oh, and there's also the "top patio" that STILL needs pointing ... anyway, as Michael Jackson said on the telly last night - "This Is It" ...
Off to work soon - looks like a lovely day for walking round with heavy bags on my shoulder as well ... and if all goes to plan (!?!), Glossop v St Helens Town tonight.
.
... Bank Holiday football - decent weather - what more can we ask for ??
But first some "home work" - I was up with the lark because I heard the lifting gear on the dustbin wagon - and thought "bugger - not took the bin round !" It may be Bank Holiday but Tameside Council are obviously still paying O/T to some - despite cuts elsewhere ... Now up, it was time for a bit of a tidy after last night's barbie to commemorate the "opening of the patio" - strange really, as I was still mixing sand and cement while the burgers and kebabs were burning not yards away !! Anyways - tidied up, and then got the paint out to continue to disguise the breeze blocks (OK OK I'll do a piccie tomorrow - promise !!) Then - and only then - did I venture forth to Bower Fold to see the football (Mrs Smiffy had disappeared to the garden centre to buy more stuff to fill the flower beds) ...
The match - in my eyes it should have finished 0-0 - but it didn't. "Mugged" would be the word to sum it up - in more ways than one - Harrogate nicked one via a penalty, and "toughed out" the Celtic attack (who were missing Jody Banim - certainly a key player in my mind anyway). Cetic still looked good though - the patient passing play I saw during the friendlies was still very much to the fore - and it's good to watch, especially as it remained the main way forward even when they went one down. There's certainly no need to panic just yet (witness Runcorn Linnets ... and Southampton - crazy !!), and like many have said, they might not get promotion, but if the effort is going in - and there was plenty of that today - then people will still come to watch - although I thought today's crowd of 365 was poor - especially when you think there was no "big" football to watch - even taking holidays into account ...
Anyway - maybe it's pictures you're looking for ... and they're here ...
Stalybridge Celtic 0 Harrogate Town 1
Day off tomorrow (more garden action if weather is OK !!)- and maybe - just maybe - a trip to Surrey Street, Glossop on Wednesday night to check out Mossley's opponents in the next round of the FA Cup (it's the replay betwixt GNE and St Helens Town) - hope it's Glossop (cus it's away, and with working Saturdays, the away games WILL be a struggle at times) - we'll see ...
(Suppose I shouldn't let tonight go without remarking on the result from Hurst Cross - on my way home I happened to bump into some FCUM fans at Stalybridge Buffet Bar who told me of the 1-0 win by Ashton United - and were gracious enough to accept it as well - big up to them !)
.
... on the "Road to Wembley" ...
Mossley 2 Witton Albion 0
... now enjoy that Bank Holiday Monday "day off" ...
(The B&Q visit has been done ... and the sun is coming out - off to the garden ...)
.
... we've had visitors tonight (and guess who made the food - in the style of a vegetarian !!), so the pictures from today's game are still (mostly) untouched. A good win in the end - a well-worked goal by Connor Hampson just before half-time gave Mossley the edge, and some good rearguard action in the second half (together with Witton spurning some good chances) and a late late (controversial ??) goal from Matty Kay saw Mossley trouser £1,500 and an away trip to either St Helens Town or Glossop North End on 11th September. I've got this far ... the two goals (double-click for big I suppose) ...
Connor Hampson finds the gap for 1-0
Matty Kay makes the game safe at the death ...
It's Bank Holiday weekend - so no work on Monday (Mossley game is "off" as Woodley Sprouts got a draw in the FA Cup) - a trip to Bower Fold looks likely - and it's my "day off" on Tuesday ! Before all that - apparently the weather tomorrow (Sunday) is meant to be "not bad", so possibly the final touches (??) in the garden may have to take place (look out B&Q - I'll be in early for some breeze blocks !) followed by a barbie in the afternoon ...
(Watch it hammer it down all day !!)
.
... and ready for work and FA Cup - in that order ... the walking days, the wet days (i.e. holidays) are over for now - came back today via a 7 miler near Wenlock Edge. Yesterday's attempt to do the last couple of miles of the Malvern Hills was eventually rained off - here's a pic taken at the "British Camp" - sums it up really !!!
The Great British Summer - ha !
Got loads from the rest of the week mind - including lots of stained glass windows believe it or not - but they need looking at first - anyway, need sleep before work - then it'll be time to check out what's been going on at Mossley when they take on Witton Albion on the "Road to Wemberlee" ...
.
... now up and running at ..
Malvern Town 0 Highgate United 3
Struggling with cr*p weather at the moment - but hoping to "finish off" the Malvern Hills this afternoon - meanwhile, suffering daytime TV - aargh !!
.
... well the pictures anyway ...
Mossley Reserves 4 Lancaster City Reserves 1
Next stop is the "Thursday Night Bonanza" - 1st Team v Reserves; Manager's Forum and (maybe) Quiz Night after that - I say maybe as Mrs Smiffy returns to Mossley off her travels on Thursday ...
.
An excellent game of football last night saw Mossley Reserves open their Galaxy Football Lancashire League campaign with a well-earned 4-1 victory over Lancaster City Reserves (who I understand are based out of Myerscough College in Preston). Two quick goals 15 minutes into the second half from Aaron Chalmers knocked the stuffing out of the youthful opponents (although our guys weren't that old either !) - all round it was good to see two teams knocking the ball about with purpose - and it was great value for £2 !! Sadly no pictures ... yet. I made a start when I got home last night (seemed to struggle a bit in the half-light of the first half !), and will "finish off" when I get back from work this afternoon/early evening - watch this space !!
Here's one to whet your appetite however - Aaron Chalmers scoring goal number 4 (double-click for big) ...
Back later - there's letters (and bloody parcels !) to deliver first !!
.
... never made it to Hyde tonight - after getting home from work I ended up - yes you've guessed it - in the damn garden "doing stuff". It was a question of making the most of the decent weather to be honest - it looks rubbish for the next few days so ... that was it until late ... too late ... it'll keep Mrs Smiffy happy though !! (By the way Hyde lost 3-2 after being 3-0 down at half-time).
.
Took advantage of the weather - and used up another batch of sand and cement and began sorting out the retaining walls on the right-hand side near the old path ...
(Note scruffy old garden chair used for "testing purposes" !!)
.. and that's that - don't want you all falling asleep too early tonight ...
.
Useful Crowd + Barbecue + "well known linesman" (!!)
Well the weather stayed nice !! Finished work in good time today despite having no car - having done Saturday's "D2Ds" earlier in the week certainly helped (it's a postie thing - D2D or "housholds" = those annoying "flyers" - Sky, Virgin etc - that 99% of you immediately consign to the (recycle hopefully) bin, but add just over £12 - before tax - to my weekly pay !!).
Thought the game was a strangely muted affair personally - livened up a bit in the second half when Mike Norton came on (dunno why !), but I reckon there were more than a few eyes on the "real thing" that is the start of the season next Saturday - fairly warm as well this afternoon which probably contributed to the "easy-paced" feeling. A fair turn-out from the FCUM "army" as well probably put a few pennies in the Mossley coffers (once FCUM take their cut - they do you know !!). A 2-1 win for the visitors but, looking at the Mossley pre-season campaign as a whole, I'm happy - and I know many others are as well. My pictorial efforts are in the usual place - as in ..
Mossley 1 FC United of Manchester 2
... but it's usually worth a peep on the FCUM Message Board to see how the "pros" do it - a couple of their snappers were there today.
One last "do" up at Mossley before the season begins - next Thursday sees a First Team v Reserves "match/training session" followed by a bit of a Forum followed by Quiz Night. However if you can't wait that long, Mossley Reserves get their Galaxy Lancashire League campaign under way on Tuesday night up at Seel Park when they entertain Lancaster City Reserves. Also, with Mrs Smiffy still being "away" (moved from Hereford to Cornwall this weekend via Belper !), I might be tempted to pop over to Hyde on Monday night to see their Conference North game against Workington - they had a bad start to the season today losing 5-0 at AFC Telford United, so I guess they'll be looking to put that right rather quickly (Wukkie beat Gloucester City today 2-1 by the way).
Other news from the start of the Conference campaign saw Stalybridge Celtic beat Redditch United 2-0 and Droylsden coming out 4-2 winners against Eastwood Town ... and Stafford Rangers lost 1-0 at Boston United.
One quirky story regarding Stalybridge Celtic this week ... what with their "going full-time" as well - the "outspoken" Droylsden boss Dave Pace came up with a belter - check out this story from one of the the local rags - certainly ruffled a few feathers here ...
Also the "Road to Wembley" began today with the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round - Glossop drew 2-2 at home to Wigan Robin Park, while New Mills smacked Alsager Town 10(ten)-2 !
So - for many - the season is under way - however the Evo-Stik contingent have 7 more days to wait ...
Time for bed - if the nice weather stays nice later today ... that bloody garden (or the pile of breeze blocks and the sand and cement) awaits ...
.
Two recent stories in the "Manchester Evening News":
Story One - August 5th
Story Two - August 13th
Like any job - you're going to find some "bad apples" (think MPs for starters !) - and unfortunately mud tends to stick - however what annoys me about the MEN website is the "Comments" section where readers can have their say on the headlines of the day - not just on these two particular stories, but on others as well. The "comments" often seem to be from arrogant, supercilious "I'm all right Jack" type people (who I'm guessing are all abusing their company web access by mouthing off online whilst they should be working - hmmm ...). "Hang 'em all"; "Slash ALL benefits"; "They're ALL scum" is usually the order of the day on here - I'd like to remind people of the phrase "Coming back to bite your bum". When the story comes out about some person losing their job for inappropriate internet usage ... it'll be interesting to see the comments under THAT story.
Oh yeah - and if you expect parcels - get a bigger bloody letter box - or write to your local Delivery Office advising of a possible "SafePlace" option (a neighbour or a greenhouse for example) - that'll save you the trip down to the Sorting Office won't it ??
(Mild) Rant over ...
.
... and I ought to know this by now ... walking down to the station - and the damn thing shot through Mossley 10 MINUTES EARLY !!!
So naturally, I'll be early this evening - and it'll either be late ... or broken down/NOT steam-hauled ...
(Note to Smiffy - don't be late for the dentist ...)
(Further note to Smiffy - don't forget - it's Friday the 13th - aaaarrrgh !!!)
.
... at Mossley Social Club tonight -just a few pictures of tonight's "turns" ...
Second Thursday Live - 12Aug10
Tomorrow - steam train stuff - Saturday - back to football ...
.
... at Surrey Street tonight - something to do with the seasonal summer weather (ha !!). As the players came back out for the second half (it was 1-1 at the time), I turned the camera back on to find ... nothing. Tried the usual quick fixes (battery in/out; lens off/on; memory card change) to no avail. Into the Social Club for a "dry out the innards" session, whilst listening to the second and third goals for Glossop going in - bugger ! Finally got it up and limping about 15 minutes from the end, to take a few extra scruffy-looking pictures (including something on goals 4 and 5), but I reckon both camera body and big lens need a good bottoming (including possibly time for a sensor clean - eek !) before it comes out to play again.
Which will be on Friday morning - my day off - because at about 0930, the "Scarborough Flyer" will be hurtling through Mossley on the way to ... Scarborough - and it should be one of two steam engines; 60009 (Union of South Africa) or 46201 (Princess Elizabeth). Coming back through Mossley about 2025, so I'll try for both. (For those interested, the full timetable for the train can be found here). In between times, a dentist appointment awaits as well - eek -and if the weather's OK, some breeze-block laying in the garden.
... and if you're still here ... tonight's (reduced) pictures from the Glossop game are at
Glossop North End 5 Flixton 1
That's all folks - I too need to dry out properly before tomorrow !!!
.
An interesting evening - certainly listening to Manager Jim Harvey and his "vision" for the upcoming season - not many "controversial" questions asked either ! Some 'rough and ready' pictures of the Celtic squad and some others as well ... and I'm not going to do names (either do all names or none at all - safer this way, especially after cocking up on one of the Fleetwood pics !)
Stalybridge Celtic Forum - 10 Aug 10
Other news - none - so there !
.
... when lots of you peeps are already at work - and I'm not - yet - aah, the joy of a 24 hour a week contract ...
Finished pointing the bottom patio eventually yesterday - hurrah - swept all the dried up mortar off this morning (believe they're called "snots" in the trade !) - might even take a photo after work today when it's had a bit longer to dry out. Not much else from Sunday ... watched "Classic Albums" last night on Sky2 (making the most before we finally say farewell to Sky - Freeview all the way now - well it is built into the telly !) - it was "Bat Out of Hell" featuring my hero (Todd Rundgren not Jim Steinman !). Took me back a bit - to a small flat in Andover in 1977, listening to the Sunday afternoon Rock Show on BBC Radio Bristol - where I first heard the album ...
Also played about on Photoshop 6 with some "babycam" pictures of our mate's new kitten - a stray with only one eye (apparently the vet reckons it had been bitten by a rat - ouch !) Try this one for size ...
Time for some brekky now I think, before hitting the pavements of Oldham ... Football this week may well involve Glossop North End on Wednesday night - they had a bad start to the Vodkat League season, losing 3-0 away at Padiham on Saturday - Flixton are the visitors to Surrey Street this midweek. Might take in the Stalybridge "Meet the Manager" session on Tuesday evening as well ...
.
... home from work at 1300 - quick change, cuppa tea and out again on the 1330 bus. First trip of the season to Bower Fold to take a look at the new "Jim Harvey Revolution" - for those not in the know, Stalybridge Celtic have gone "full-time" this season with a mix of "old heads" and "young guns" ... and first impressions were distinctly favourable. Patient build-up, ball to feet, good interchange, and from what I was told, there's been a continuing improvement "at the back" as the Celtic pre-season games have gone on. Only one goal in it, but plenty of chances at both ends (with both Celtic 'keepers performing well - Fleetwood 'keeper did alright as well !) and some very promising performances from some of the younger players on view. A few pictures at
Stalybridge Celtic 1 Fleetwood Town 0
Got me tea in Longsight last night - home now hoping for some garden works - but this bloody spitty rain just goes on and on and one - really depressing. However - photos sorted - let's hope it brightens up a bit this afternoon, and I can nail this bloody pointing once and for all.
Football next week ?? Not looked yet, but Mrs Smiffy is off on her travels on Wednesday, coming back the following Thursday, so it should be "fill your boots time" - in a pre-season friendly sort of way !!
.
... just got home after watching Stalybridge Celtic beat Fleetwood Town 1-0 in a PSF - but now I'm off to Longsight where a friend is cooking mine and Mrs Smiffy's tea !!
Pictures etc sometime tomorrow folks ...
.
Thursday was Postman Smiffy's "Day Off" this week - which was handy as we had some friends up from darkest Wiltshire for a day and a bit. A trip into the big city was the order of the day - shopping, showing off the "sights" of City Centre Manchester (including the big wheel thingy) followed by a Tampopo tea (Chicken Ramen for me) and thence to the Royal Exchange for a bit of a laugh ("Charley's Aunt" - very very funny indeed). Armed only with babycam (and dodgy batteries - with the lack of patio stuff going on due to the absolutely sh*te weather, the batteries had almost faded away !), I can only offer up
Day Off - 05Aug10
Late home - to find I'd missed what sounded like a "feisty" private friendly 'twixt Mossley and Dukinfield Town ("feisty" enough for the ref to call it a day 10 minutes early apparently !!). One other thing as well - remember that place that made me redundant ?? I believe that "redundant" means that your job does not exist - however ... for the THIRD time since giving me the boot I'd had an e-mail saying "We've got a problem" - you can work out the rest ... As usual it was one of my mates who asked the question (rather than one of the b*st*rd management scum that got rid of me) so, ever the nice guy (some might say MUG), I came up with the solution to their "problem" - which was naturally successful. Time I feel for an e-mail to "head b*st*rd" in India pointing out the error of his ways ...
No football at Mossley tomorrow - so I feel a trip to Stalybridge Celtic coming on. They've a friendly against Fleetwood (Moneybags) Town tomorrow, so I may well bump into "Docs" and some of our other Cod Army friends, as well as the usual suspects from 'Bridge - first of course, a bit of postal delivery in the Oldham area. One nice touch this week - I had a recorded delivery to one house - knocked on door - shouts from upstairs "Don't go !!! I'm in the shower !! Please wait !!" - dripping man appears on doorstep saying "I've been waiting for this one - I won a competition for two tickets for the Charity Shield at Wembley". Signed for, he opened it up and showed me said tickets - well I made someone happy this week !
.
Another win - another promising performance - a bit of a rush job tonight, so few words (check out Mossleyweb.com for the full SP !) but here are some of the important (and not so important !!) moments from the evening ...
Mossley 3 Hyde FC 2
... and there we stop ...
.
... for Mossley, winning the Willow Wood Hospice Cup today by beating Ashton United 1-1 at Hurst Cross...
... OK - at 90 minutes, it went to penalties - and as I was behind the net for them, I can assure everyone that it finished 5-3 to Mossley (as Ashton didn't bother to take the final "dead" pen). A game of two halves for me anyway, with Ashton just edging the first 45 minutes and going in 1-0 up. However Mossley stepped up a gear in the second half, and after Mike Fish's equaliser, looked the more likely to go on and win the game - but after 90 minutes it remained 1-1 - and it then went straight to penalties - where Mossley prevailed.
Today's pictures (my first efforts using Photoshop Elements 6.0) can be found at
Ashton United 1 Mossley 1 (3-5 on pens)
Excellent game - disappointing turn-out from both sets of fans I thought - they missed a good'un, and also missed a chance to contribute to a very worthy cause.
Good to get a bit of silverware in the cabinet mind !
Next stop - Seel Park on Tuesday to see the Lilywhites take on the newly-rebranded Hyde FC (new name, new colours etc) - here's hoping for a similar performance - things are certainly looking up at the moment !
.
(Picture from "Manchester Evening News")
Yesterday afternoon there was a fire at the Warburtons factory in Bolton ... There must be plenty of other jokes to follow so I'll just leave it at that for now !!!
.
... finally got round to loading Photoshop Elements 6.0 onto the laptop today (thanks again Ken !) - tis a "touch different" to the old Version 2.0 - still some pre-season games for me to get to grips with it though ! Played about a bit with it anyway - and came up with this (using some album cover photos of "God") - click for big ...
Today's day off was another "no-go" for pointing the patio - damn summer weather - never mind, I could have been pushing damp envelopes through letter boxes - can do same tomorrow instead probably (I've already learned that it's a good idea to do a weather check the night before !!).
There was some footy tonight - Glossop North End beat Chapel Town 4-1 in the High Peak Cup, and will now meet Buxton at Silverlands in the final on 4th August - good luck to them in that one (always nice to start the season with a bit of silverware innit ?). The Willow Wood Hospice Cup is calling on Saturday up at Ashton United - and then Mossley play Hyde F.C. on Tuesday night (so that will be 4 of the "Six Tame Sides" seen before the season starts - leaving Celtic and Curzon to complete an early set !).
.
A very evenly contested game tonight - Mossley were certainly not overawed by their Blue Square North opponents at all, and it was only a touch of class by ex-Hyde (and Stafford Rangers !) man David McNiven which separated the sides after 90 minutes. Some piccies at
Mossley 0 Droylsden 1
An excellent work-out which continued the good form that has been shown throughout the friendlies so far - next stop is Hurst Cross on Saturday to meet our old friends (and ex-landlords !) Ashton United, with a bit of silverware at stake in the Willow Wood Hospice Cup - and I'm damned if I can tell you who the current owners of said trophy are - might even be Mossley !!!
Can't you tell I've got a day off tomorrow with this late late show ? Praying for some decent weather to ... well you know the rest (you might even get some pictures later) !!!
.
... I assume Droylsden will bring a strong squad (including their Southport "captures") ... so I assume Mossley will be turning out a similarly strong squad ...
I know what - put this laptop down and go and have a look !!!
Pix etc later - tis my "day off" tomorrow, so will have time to do "stuff" tonight when I get home.
.
... and why not ??
Plans for a massive shake-up in policing in England and Wales have been outlined by the home secretary which include:
1) the abolition of Soca in favour of a new National Crime Agency, which will include organised crime, border policing, and the child exploitation and online protection centre (Ceop)
2) the scrapping of Police Authorities. Instead, elected police and crime commissioners will have the power to hire and fire chief constables from May 2012
3) the proposed introduction of police reservists - a pool of volunteers to undertake police duties
4) "community crime fighters" - ordinary people could take part in joint patrols with officers. There will also be a push for more to become special constables or join Neighbourhood Watch schemes
5) phasing out of watchdog the National Policing Improvement Agency
Some thoughts on the above:
1) For a Government who seem to be into "cutbacks" and "get rid" mentality, the scrapping of one group to create another ... will probably cost money ...
2) Police commissioners ?? Hopefully this will include special phone lines for all the commissioners to contact Batman directly (well it worked for Commissioner Gordon) ... and phone lines ... cost money ....
3) Aaah .. volunteers - well we all know how people view the existing PCSOs - and they get paid; so if someone turns up with a "volunteer" uniform ... never mind, 'tis policing on the cheap I guess ...
4) Possibly a good idea - having watched "Death Wish 3" last night, it would be good to think that Charles Bronson would be organising the training sessions - maybe the world needs more vigilantes - still sounds again like policing on the cheap mind ....
5) Get rid of a watchdog - and decrease accountability - perfect (assuming that this gives the vigilantes - sorry "community crime fighters" - a little more leeway to instigate 'instant justice' etc.).
No idea what brought this on - but there you go - my rather immediate"gut reaction" view having just spotted this on the BBC website ...
.
Finished work comfortably in time to get home, get changed, get camera bag and (via the pub !) head up to Seel Park for today's "international" against Clwb Pel-droed Tref Y Bala. Mossley started the brighter and took the lead on 12 minutes with an exquisite long range effort from new boy Chris Rowney (definitely one to watch this season this lad !). Mossley looked very comfy for the first 45 minutes against their Welsh Super-12 League opponents (they were playing downhill as well !). It was a different story in the second half however - you could blame substitutions, but I reckon Bala stepped up a gear - they got a deserved equaliser through Mike Thompson, and looked set to go on and win the game. However Mossley were not to be denied - they stuck at it and in a late late show, goals from Jordan Goodeve and Steve Moore made it 3-1 to the home side. There was even a crowd invasion at the very end (OK a dog !). Another good performance from the Lilywhites, which does bode well for the future. Some pictures at
Mossley 3 Clwb Pel-droed Tref Y Bala 1
Changes next week - the Wednesday game against Padiham is OFF (hurrah - tis my last college night !) - instead Mossley will face a stern test at home to Droylsden on Tuesday night instead.
That's my lot for tonight - a day off tomorrow - weather permitting, some garden antics - I know you're all missing the patio project updates - blame the football !
.
Y Fenni cheese ... yes it's Welsh (Y Fenni is actually Welsh for Abergavenny), and it's a Cheddar cheese made with mustard seed and brown ale - it's wonderful !!!
Quiet night in now - a bit of messing in the garden tonight (built up a border and - once again - moved a lot of soil) - the pointing done earlier in the week is not brilliant - suffering from rain damage (despite being covered - bugger !), but I'm going to live with it.
Fingers crossed I can finish early enough tomorrow (need to get up at 0530 hrs - eek !) to get the full 90 minutes up at Mossley - Mrs Smiffy is away (in Wales ironically !) so I don't have the use of the car, which would have speeded things up a bit - still it'll be good to see how we do on a Saturday "sans automobile" - hopefully not too many bloody packets towards the end of the walk (last couple of days have been somewhat "heavy" in that area - not as in weight, but as in bloody awkwardness - lots of 'em, crazy sizes and nobody being in - meaning 3 or 4 minutes filling out the forms each time, and then having to continue to carry the damn things !) - welcome to Royal Mail !!
Now off to see what's on the telly - otherwise a DVD calls ...
.
I think (officially) it was Mossley Reserves v East Manchester, but it was a mix of what I would call first teamers and fringe players. Still don't know all the names, but there were some rather nice touches from some of the "AN Others". Also worth pointing out that for mid-July it was bloody cold tonight !!!! Pix from tonight at
Mossley 3 East Manchester 2
Saturday should be interesting - game at home against Bala Town and also an away game at Bacup Borough at the same time (oh to have so many players !) - let's see which players play where - and hopefully I should be finished work-wise in order to get up to Seel Park for 1500 hours.
Other news - applied for my Football Conference Snapper Licence today - so I'll be covered at all levels with the Six Tame Sides, depending on who plays where - and my work commitments - after a pretty poor effort last night (albeit only ten minutes !), I'm a little happier with tonight's offerings - and the deal has been done with Mrs Smiffy as in "You can have the new lens - if you pack in the fags again !" - so it's a no-brainer really. Prepare for a grumpy Smiffy over the next couple of weeks - but it's all in a good cause !
And here's a bonus pic - just for the hell of it - Nathan Neequaye getting involved ...
... meanwhile the patio "lies dormant" - might get something done down there on Sunday - weather permitting of course !!!
.
... tonight after getting back from college (p.s. got certificate tonight - passed "with distinction" - what a swot !) - apparently I missed a useful 80 minutes - all you get is some very "rusty efforts" at:
Mossley v Oldham Athletic - the Last Ten
Still - the chance for more practice tomorrow night as Mossley take on East Manchester in another pre-season friendly ...
(It was 2-2 by the way.)
.
News today ... SSL International is set to be sold to Reckitt Benckhiser in a £2.5billion deal ...
When you delve further to find that SSL International make Durex condoms ... and Reckitt Benckhiser make Cillit Bang ... you can probably see my warped sense of humour ...BANG - and the baby's - errr - not there !!!
Off to college in 30 minutes - with possibly a little bit of football afterwards (Mossley v Oldham Athletic XI) - assuming the game is on (weather is horrible yet again - spent 20 minutes sheltering on someone's doorstep today - and thus overran my time by ... about 20 minutes ...) !!!
.
Day off tomorrow - but the weather forecast which last week was predicting good stuff is now predicting not good stuff ... so garden activities may be restricted. Watch this space (maybe !!) ..
... yet !
Looks like some of the local teams got under way yesterday - Mossley had a "behind closed doors" match against Springhead (won 4-0); Hyde lost 2-0 to a Man City XI; Stalybridge Celtic lost 2-1 at Congleton; Glossop North End had a re-run of the 2009 FA Vase final up at Whitley Bay (lost 1-0) - they also drew 2-2 with Curzon Ashton earlier in the week as well. Also my snapper mate Tim dusted the cobwebs off his lens with Belper Town drawing 1-1 at Parkhouse (apologies if I've missed any out - not yet had a thorough look through either the message boards or the "Non-League Paper")
Well - that's one week "out on my own" under my belt at work - went pretty well up until yesterday, when I'd (rashly ?) promised to do a bit of O/T (an extra half of a walk) ... and it hammered it down with rain several times ... and I didn't get home until nearly 1700 hrs ! All part of the learning process I guess. Quick change and off to Rochdale for a barbecue - naturally the weather had improved so the burgers and sausages stayed dry. Today - more cr*p weather, so a walk was called off, and we ended up going to a small art gallery on Platform 1 at Todmorden Station - well it's different ...
Pasta Bolognese is calling tonight - will start prepping that about 1800 - work shirts already ironed - and back in tomorrow praying for better weather. Day off this week is Tuesday (and some weather forecasts predict a scorcher - I'll believe it when I see it), so hopefully some further progress on the patio project (pointing, pointing pointing will probably be the order of the day). Mossley are at home on Wednesday night (i.e. college night), but I might just get to see the last 15/20 minutes ... and I will take my camera to college just in case - prepare for some rusty football photography !
.
... must be a record for me (excluding holidays with no internet) - no real excuse either. The World Cup is over, and I'm still in work. No friendlies attended yet - in fact the first two Mossley home friendlies are on Wednesdays (i.e. my college night) so that's two more to miss ! Anyway, given the changes in my circumstances, this coming season will probably see a more "restrained" view of football - OK so I'm back in work, but obviously earning nowhere near as much salary-wise ... and it's goiing to take a while for the bank balance to settle down (I think I mentioned that the first week's wage put it into credit - 24 hours later, out went a D/D - back in the red again !!).
What else of note - the patio project carries on relentlessly - but obviously with restricted hours available to it - here's the latest:
Next jobbies - get the bloody thing properly pointed, build the final retaining wall on the right to stop it all falling away - and then paint the breeze blocks (a colour of masonry paint called "hot brick" is the colour of choice !) - also tidy up ye olde sinke and the prospective flower bed (bottom right). Mrs Smiffy is the 'plantmeister' and will fill all the gaps accordingly.
Had a day off work today - and messed about a bit. Got a battery for my watch (save me scrabbling for the phone to check the time when filling in the P739's and the recorded/special deliveries) - new bus pass bought - and also a quick (!) trip into Oldham for a second walk around my new walk just to get my bearings. I shadowed the guy last Friday, but he's one of the guys who does his walk with the aid of a car, whereas I'll be doing it the 'old fashioned way'.
I'm sure there'll be some football to talk about soon ... bear with me ...
.
... after "six days on", a deserved break was spent resting aching legs, ready for tomorrow. Actually I lie - the morning was spent loading up the motor with furniture which we then drove up to Lancaster to "install" in big boy and fiance's new house, which they will be moving into sometime this week. Home to (would you believe) help to sort out a finance problem at the place that sacked me off last year - unpaid of course !! Tea, bath, telly and this ...
... and for the latest "patio pic" look no further - retaining walls almost complete - next job is some hard core before laying four more slabs up a level (left of spade !!), to be followed by some edging stones up the other end - should keep me going this week ...
World Cup anyone ? Holland for me ... but that was one helluva performance by Germany ...
Wimbledon ?? The usual (as in Andy Murray at 1400 hrs - "Great British Hope" ... Andy Murray at 1800 hrs - "Useless Scottish has-been") ...
3-0 up and squeezed through 3-2 ?? Good job that cricket wasn't the best of seven ...
... aaah the Great British Summer of Sport - roll on August, when honesty takes over from greed ...
.
... at work (for a change !), hence the lack of "stuff" on here ... however, as it's the weekend (and I'm in tomorrow at 0730 - which equates to leaving house at 0615 - integrated bus services - ha !!) I thought I'd squeeze a quick one in.
What can I say, apart from "I'm loving it !!!" - once I get my own "patch" I will take the GPS out with me, just for the hell of it, but up to now, it's been good - a little awkward today (lots of packets - lots of empty houses, so ended up carrying them ALL the way round) - more paperwork than you think - first paypacket went in today (none of this "week in hand" kerfuffle), which finally gets the bank balance looking 'positive' - home in time to finally kick-start the patio project as well (a couple of breeze blocks laid - pictures later !!) before heading to the pub to watch extra-time and penalties ... and heartache for Ghana.
In between times, I've emptied the pix off babycam - and I offer up two for now:
From the "bog wall" in the Britannia - just about sums it up !
After college on Wednesday - ended up in the "Q" in Stalybridge (in the Guiness Book of Records as the pub with the shortest name !) - witness the astro-turf - it's actually the very same stuff from Hyde United's ill-fated move towards artificial turf back in 19eightysomething !!Anyway - proves I'm still alive and kicking - let's see what the weekend brings ... I'll be back before Sunday night - promise !!
.
