A cracking album by the way - "Take it Off" is my fave track
A horrible day weather-wise - and having not had much sleep after returning from the John Butler gig last night - I'm right knackered (sleep deprivation due to toothache/abcess whatever it's called these days flaring up BIG style - have made appointment with dentist - earliest they can fit me in is NEXT BLOODY WEDNESDAY - I'll either be dead or it will have burst by then ... can normally handle this sort of thing - but this one - it's bloody painful even with Ibuprofen double strength and alcohol)
Going out for tea tonight (obviously will be eating left-handed/mouthed !!) and then home later - looking for an early kick-off tomorrow morning (work !) so as to give me half a chance of getting to Seel Park for the other early (1400hrs) kick-off - all assuming I'm in any fit state to work/take photos/exist. I have had the odd abcess before .. but this one has just literally appeared/blown up in 24 hours or so ... and it effing hurts !
Hey ho ... onward ever onward ... (at least I've a ready-made excuse for cr*p pix tomorrow !!) .
... nay excellent - nearly two hours of quality - and varied - music from John Butler ... and the support was pretty good too (Passenger). Seemed a bit harder/edgier than last year (set very similar according to our Michelle) - it's "interesting" to see someone play the didgeridoo and double bass at the same time as well !! One poorly pic from tonight - it just ain't worth it really (no way am I clambering to the front with all them young 'uns - stand by the mixing desk and listen - far more refined !!).
Off to Manchester Academy with our Michelle to see the John Butler Trio ... saw 'em last year - brilliant - a true virtuoso guitarist - so when a spare ticket came up this year ("Mr H" is working) - I took it with both legs ! As with last year I can only divert you all to this particular Youtube vid - don't just listen, watch the screen - and marvel at the "guitarmanship" ... ici John Butler ...
... for those still awake (fooled a few with that footy post earlier !) here's some red stuff from the garden ..
The raspberry cane is giving out half-a-dozen a day !
Strawberry plant is less generous though !
... and well done to the England Women's Team today - missed it live but will watch highlights later on BBC2 (see - slipped some football in there !) ... .
... came out today - for a full listing of our Blue Square North teams check out the main website ... but for the lazy amongst, here's the "Tameside Derby Dates" ...
Tue 20 Sep Droylsden v Hyde FC Sat 05 Nov Droylsden v Stalybridge Celtic Mon 26 Dec Stalybridge Celtic v Hyde FC Sun 01 Jan Hyde FC v Stalybridge Celtic Sat 07 Jan Stalybridge Celtic v Droylsden Sat 25 Feb Hyde FC v Droylsden
(all subject to change due to this, that and the weather no doubt !!!) .
Finished work and headed home (via the butchers - Pattisons - runner-up in "Pride of Tameside" Retail Business of the Year no less !) to prepare some of my "special" kebabs for the evening barbie in Rochdale (well Whitworth actually !). No pix of said kebabs (I'm sure I've snapped 'em before and put a pic on here but ...) - but they were prefect - as usual. I call them "Geek Kebabs" - as they were all properly symmetrical (onion, lamb, tomato, lamb, pepper, mushroom, lamb, onion, pepper, lamb etc etc). Also appearing at the barbie were sausages, steaks, courgettes, spare ribs ... and salad for t'others ! Well-fed, a few beers (!), long sleep, big brekkie and then out for a walk today. Walkie pics (really must start taking a decent lens with me on walks - it's the weight though !!) at
Started with a "wood" theme - and then we went out into the great wide open ... good walk ... and home to this (once again someone else is cooking - luxury !!!).
Notice Mossley Reserves have played - and won - today (report here). I'm going to put off football for just one more week - and then it's Mossley v FC Halifax Town next Saturday - a 1400hrs kick-off which means I may miss the start depending on work of course - next week I'm back in Greenfield (not Greendale !!). Not checked weather yet but am assuming shorts again - at least for tomorrow.
... the cat woke me up at 0430 this morning (the senile old bar steward !) so it was somewhat tricky to return to "snoozeland" - here's a couple of pix taken this morning before heading off to work. We have a "rose bush" - it was in the garden when we moved in over 25 years ago and it very rarely flourishes (just grows big and prickly). However this year - we have a flower - bad year for the greenfly maybe but ... picture with babycam after me sprinking a bit of water on it for effect - and having a fiddle with the "Program" mode on camera to try and get a half-decent speed !!!
... and here are the tomato plants - no fruit yet, but the flowers are there - fingers firmly crossed for some red stuff - eventually ...
... and it's nowt to do with football. Got the tip-off this afternoon after work - so went home grabbed camera and ... I give you the pictures only - and remember ... you saw it here first !!!
Had to be taken sharpish - just in case some miserable "jobsworth" eventually puts the kybosh on the whole thing ... if you've been up Mottram Road Stalybridge - you'll understand where this particular "idea" is coming from ... I will say no more - for now !!! .
Consider this ... you go to a restaurant, scan the menu and decide to eat the Sea Bass at a cost of £12.95. The Sea Bass arrives and you start to tuck in. Just as you are about to finish your course, the waiter comes over and says, "By the way the Sea Bass meal does NOT cost £12.95 ... it actually costs £15.95".
How would you feel ???
Ignore the Tory-led spin on today's events ... and check out the phrase "extended metaphor" ... .
Again ... little in the way of football (anything I get, I'm sticking on the "main website") - although I could - dammit I WILL - mention Mossley's entry into the "Prawn Sandwich Club" - for the friendly against Macc Town (15th July @ 1930) ... for £20 you get a 3-course meal, drinks, stand seat, proggy ... a great idea to try and get some new faces into the crowd.
What else ... Monday saw the first anniversary of my "new career" - and I've lasted a lot longer than many who joined AFTER me - these youngsters just can't hack it - something to do with having to WORK for your money !! This week in Ashton - a bit of a pain in that there's NO keys for pouch boxes ... which means a fair bit of dead walking to pick up bags and get to start points ... but hey ...whatever ...
Wimbledon - tried desperately to try and get pictures of Sabine Lisicki and Alice Tinker (from "Vicar of Dibley") - cus I reckoned they were good look-a-likes - but I failed, so maybe it was just in my head - at least there's still one "British hope" left (he remains British until he loses - then he reverts to "Scottish" !!) ...
Picture taken with VERY OLD babycam in Dublin (Temple Bar) way back in 2006 ...
Have just spent an hour listening to a Fathers Day pressie (DVD of Rory Gallagher Live at Cork Opera House) - excellent DVD indeed (thanks Mich !!). It got me thinking though - it was recorded in 1987 ... I first saw Rory Gallagher at Reading Festival in 1973, along with such delights as Alex Harvey, Greenslade, The Faces, Genesis, George Melly and Strider (one WELL underrated band - still got their album "Misunderstood" - on vinyl of course !) - timeless music indeed (unlike most of the cr*p churned out these days ...). A gig to look forward to - John Butler Trio @ Manchester Academy early next month ...
... I was literally "flagging in the heat" ... starting to build some steps in the garden ...
I reckon the top one's a bit wonky ... to be sorted next heatwave ...
... and admiring the rather large frog lurking in our wildlife pond ...
Frog doing press-ups in pond ...
... and I didn't have to cook !!!
That was Sunday ... looks like another good 'un tomorrow (spoilt only by having to go to work - after a few wet weeks "in the country", this week it's Ashton). .
Have you ever bought a packet of bin liners - and noticed that the very first thing you put into the bin liner ... is the packet that the bin liners came in ??
We got some new nail scissors - see "front and back" picture ...
You may notice (top right) that the only way to open the rather "over the top" packaging is ...
...admission prices for next season are slowly appearing here there and everywhere (feel free to check out the "Six Tame Sides" prices for 2011/2012) ...
HOWEVER ... Mossley have upped their general admission from £7 to £8 ... FC Halifax Town from £10 to £12-50 ... Chester FC will be charging home fans £10 and away fans £12 ... and apparently Alfreton Town will be charging £13 for their Blue Square Premier debut (and this is supposedly the cheapest in the BSP !)
WHEREAS ... Stalybridge Celtic and Droylsden have frozen their prices at £10 - Curzon Ashton have similarly "froze" at £7 - Stafford Rangers have REDUCED their prices from £10 to £9 (OK they got relegated - but a reduction rather than a "freeze" is most unusual - and most welcome these days).
Just a few examples (no I can't be bothered to research too much further !) - and you get the usual guff about competing in a higher league etc etc more travelling etc etc and (probably the most insulting) wage demands from players ...
I believe there's a recession on at the moment - and despite the lies and spin from the ConDem Government - it's gonna get worse - this country is supposedly relying more and more on the leisure industry for employment (thanks in part to Thatcher killing the manufacturing base - God I hate that woman) and the banking and finance industry to balance the books (or on the other hand throw thousands on the dole and wipe out people's hard-earned savings and pensions due to their short-term gambling with other people's money - never mind you'll STILL get your bonus - scum), it'll be the leisure industry where the ordinary people will be cutting their expenditure. Think about it - I took something like a 50% cut in wages purely to keep in work (unlike many I cannot play the benefits game), so I'm having to scrimp and save. Eighteen months ago a camera upgrade would have been no problem - it is now. Look on the bright side though - the Government have found a "contingency" to keep funding the illegal war in Libya !!!
Back to the point - I reckon some clubs are playing a very dangerous game by bumping up their prices. It might only be £1 on the gate - but that might mean people not buying raffle tickets/programmes (those were my first cut-backs last season) at the very least, so what you gain on the gate (e.g. £1) you lose on the programme sales (e.g. £2). At worst it WILL mean even fewer people through the gates (you've only got to look at some of the two-figure attendances towards the end of last season in the Evo-Stik League - and things HAVE got worse since then).
People talk of the Premiership pricing the ordinary people out of football - it seems this mentality is slowly seeping down to "our level" ... .
Probably my fave pic of the night - calling it "Tube o' Tuba-Lube" !
... as promised - I seem to be a bit "ring rusty" with the big camera - even taking the poor light into consideration - need plenty more "exposure" over the summer ! Good to see the "mended lens" performing well - can't blame that for the output either. Enough self-criticism - pictures at
Uppermill on Whit Friday - you choose ...............
Got the phone call yesterday afternoon - "Can you get in work for 0700hrs ?" - no problem ... fully understood the reasons why i.e. Whit Friday. So ... turned up at the appointed hour - and my frame was EMPTY ! For those not in the know - my actual starting time is 1000hrs and my contracted hours are 4hrs 48mins - and when I turn up I should have a fully prepared frame (i.e. all letters in - and if lucky - ha !! - all parcels in as well). Experience has shown that this is NEVER the case, but to turn up to an empty frame - it's got overtime written all over it !
So .. did the business and was ready to leave about 0900 - so that's two hours done already - by the time all stuff was dropped off in the various "gardens" (such is a rural walk !) and having to fight our way through crowds of Christians and Brass Bands ... it was 0930 - so that's 2hrs 30 mins of my shift BEFORE A LETTER WAS DELIVERED !!! The REAL facer today was the 7 (SEVEN) registered letters - the ones that HAVE to be delivered before 1300hrs - and they were well spread out. So - it was time for logistical skills (which normally means tweaking/re-writing the layout of the walk .. which often means "dead walking" - in order to get everything done before 1300) - I cracked it for all seven (two of which no answer; therefore RED CARD !!), but with all the faffing about involved, I didn't finish until nearly 1400 hrs ... so two hours overtime will be suitably booked tomorrow !
Next problem - getting home. There were NO buses going through Diggle - so I ended up walking to Greenfield (and nipping into the Tesco for tonight's tea) - at least 1.5 miles. Shopping done had time for a beer in the "Railway" (plastic glasses only ... "police insturctions" !!) - caught train home to Mossley and now here.
To get to Greenfield I had to walk through Uppermill - a quaint little village, full of your normal touristy type shops - and home to a band contest on Whit Friday. Unfortunately these days it's also the main point for all the "townies" to congregate and drink huge quantities of alcohol and generally behave like complete t*ssers. Naturally the village was ready for the invasion. I counted no less than 12 police vans; loads of police and community support officers wandering around; the odd First-Aider ready for 'action'; people in hi-vis coats with "Acme Security" (or some such) roaming the streets; even the Conservative Club had some "thuggish looking" peeps with black tee-shirts and SECURITY tattooed all over their shaven heads (OK, I'm embellishing a touch here - but you get the picture) - yep Uppermill looked and sounded like THE place to be on Whit Friday night ... not.
We went to Friezland Band Contest in the evening - far more restrained (with a Real Ale tent as well dispensing Millstone Brewery beers !) - and I took the recently mended 85mm lens out to play - because it was getting dark. Will have a look through the pictures probably on Sunday night. Work OK today (drove through Uppermill at about 0730 this morning - the Council Cleaning Squad were in full swing clearing up the mess (and it WAS a mess) before today's "Beer Walk Crowds" make a similar mess ! Off to Derby quite soon (it's now 1500 hrs Saturday - despite what it says at the bottom of this post) returning via Stafford tomorrow (well it's Fathers Day innit !).
Next week's "posting" is a right ruddy mish-mash ... Oldham on Monday, Delph on Tuesday and then Greenfield Wednesday through Saturday - well that's the plan at the moment - we'll see if we stick to it ... .
... avoided the rain today - whilst working anyway ... nipped into the "Hanging Gate" in Diggle (whilst waiting for the bus home) for a quick "snifter" (Theakston's "Lightfoot") ...
Preparing for the weekend @ Hanging Gate
The first "tranche" of plastic glasses had arrived - for those who are not aware, this Friday is Whit Friday - a national holiday around here - early morning Whit Walks (the 'churchy stuff') and then in the afternoon/evening the brass band contests (and - to be honest - it's seen by many as an excuse for a monumental p*ss-up - hence the plastic glasses/extra staff/extra police presence etc etc) When our kiddies were at skool, they always had Whit Friday off - and so did I. Managed it last year (as I was on the dole - pics here - won't get posh pix this year though !) Also in Saddleworth there is the "Beer Walk" on the Saturday (this year's theme is "Crawl of Duty") ... so with me working in the midst of all this mayhem on Friday/Saturday - I'd better take babycam - just in case ...
Got back to Mossley - and the heavens opened - I had a few places to go (DIY shop, doctors/chemists, "convenience store" (!)) so I got wet anyway !!!
Football anyone ?? Have updated the new website with a few new friendlies for now ... still thinking of new ideas for same - all ideas gratefully received !!! Also plans are afoot for some new "moneyspinners" (at the moment top secret but ...) What with overtime at work starting to "slow down" (mostly due to me being here there and every bloody where), we need new ideas to keep the money coming in (especially if I want to get this new camera body - EOS 50D is the dream move ...). By the way I HAVE accepted the three month contract extension - after much "workie chitchat" it seems like a fair move - there is a pay increase - they can still shoot me off on 7 days notice - but so can I !! Plus by the end of September there'll be moves afoot to sort out stuff for the upcoming Christmas rush (we hope !!) so another extension is certainly a possibility.
Tonight's walk has been cancelled (something to do with the weather !) - so ... we'll have some tea soon and then - who knows (need to check out a few websites like what a saddo has to do !)
And one final admission - the last two days have seen me take my official "meal break" at the Diggle Hotel - where I have been drinking ... coca-cola - honest !! .
I seem to have been "AWOL" for a few days - so a bit of a catch-up is due ...
Thursday/Friday/Saturday - continued working in Ashton - it wasn't too bad really - OK, got a bit wet at times but - hey - it comes with the job !! It was a weird and wonderful weekend to say the least. Finished work on Friday and then me and Mrs Smiffy drove up to Newbiggin, near West Burton in the Yorkie Dales for a weekend of camping. Plan was that I'd go up on the Friday, have a meal in the pub next to the campsite with Mrs Smiffy and our mates and then drive home ready for work on Saturday. However ... the pub was very tempting indeed (or should I say the Wensleydale Brewery "Semer Water" !), so Plan B kicked in - a big meal (excellent food by the way - the "Street Head Inn") a few beers and then head down for a few hours before getting up at daft o'clock (about 0330 hrs ) to drive home for work on Saturday. Work over - get changed - then straight back "oop north". A campsite meal of spag bol (and lots more beer this time !) and sleep. Sunday saw us all drive a few miles to Kettlewell to do a 6/7 miler.
Looking down on Kettlewell
The day started well weather-wise - but then it started to drizzle ... so we nipped into "The Falcon" at Arncliffe hoping that the rain would cease - it actually got worse !
"The beginnings of the end" ...
Meanwhile back at the pub - what a place ! The actual village looked completely deserted - apart from rows and rows of cars completely ruining any thoughts of photography - a cracking "wild meadow" but the cars would have just spoiled any picture ... the pub - I can certainly recommend the beer (straight from the cask) but apart from that - really unfriendly landlord, more interested in chatting with the locals than actually serving anyone. "Can you move your rucksacks off the chairs ?" Yeah we'll sort ourselves out when you've bloody served us !! T'other three of our party had cups of tea (wusses !) and it was strange tea to say the least - they reckoned it contained not milk but powdered milk which had been 'rehydrated' - ugghh ! Some would say the room had "character" - if character = filth/dirt then fair enough - it had character !!!
We escaped - quickly - into the worsening weather (pausing only to eat our butties under the lych-gate of the church and put big camera safely in rucksack) - and finally got back to Kettlewell looking like drowned rats.
Eerie gravestones in Arncliffe church yard - taken in the pouring rain
Quick trouser change in Kettlewell public loos before driving home for 1800 hrs - rustled up a quick posh tea (pork steaks cooked in a cider and mustard sauce - the cider used was some "leftovers" from small boy's "weekend" i.e. Frosty Jack - recommended by hobos and skint teenagers everywhere !!), and then started to sort out wet/sodden stuff. At least we got the tent down in the dry !!
Today - back out in the country i.e. Diggle - it stayed dry !
What's in the box ?? Yep an old friend - well not THAT old but ...
Got home to find a card from FedEx ("Parcel left with neighbour"). Yes it's a warm "Welcome Back" to the Canon 85mm f1.8 lens - fixed under warranty !! A quick test showed all was well, so it's a big "Thank You" to Warehouse Express and Canon UK ...
Also received four letters - and somehow you get the feeling that people know rather a lot about you ... when ALL FOUR were on the same subject - car insurance renewal !!
"Can I interest you in ... ?" No - sod off !!
Tonight was a variant of corned beef hash - minced beef hash (very nice too - contained green chilli, cumin and oregano), before looking at the paucity of weekend photos - and now this ...
Bishops Stortford in the Blue Square NORTH ? How ludicrous can they get ?? Catch-up over ... .
... work-wise ... probably karma for having Monday off !So - I'm walking into Oldham office on Tuesday when the phone rings - "Can you go down to Ashton ?" So I did. Another "blind walk" (as in one I've never done before) - never mind, at least there was a bunch of keys for the pouch boxes. Off I went - all going well (OK a bit of rain but ...) until I reached the final pouch box - which I could not open with ANY of the keys on the bunch. Phoned Ashton Office to tell them the problem - no answer - phoned Oldham Office to tell THEM - straight to ansaphone, so problem was explained ... and I went home - to find a letter from RM offering a contract extension ... but only 3 months this time - good to know that hard work, putting up with being messed about virtually on a daily basis for the last two months and a 100% attendance record (what is this word "sick" ??) is suitably rewarded - hmmm ... will have a "think" for a few days before accepting/declining this kind offer.
Today - nipped into Ashton first to check they'd "got the message" - and return the bunch of keys (no comeback on me - at least not to my face !) before heading for Oldham to once again go on a "blind walk". Circumstances (of which I will not bore you - but there were a few - including keys for boxes as usual !) meant that my first letter did not go through the door until 1200hrs - yes midday ! That is just SOOO wrong on so many levels ... Then of course we had thunder, lightning, monsoon conditions - and of course not knowing "how the walk panned out" meant my last letter went through the door at 1630hrs. Was asked a few times, "Why are you so late postie ?" - my stock answer here is "I'm not late - I'm delivering tomorrow's mail REALLY early" - usually shuts 'em up ! Then had to get back to Oldham by bus and thence to Mossley ... arriving about 1800hrs. Felt like a full day's work - but unlikely to get a full day's pay mind (although an o/t claim WILL be going in ...).
Plan was to go for a bit of a walk tonight - but I've dipped out of that - stuff needs drying out - including ME ! .
... it's took me nearly 12 months - but it looks like I've finally got my head around the "duty roster" system at Oldham DO (although I DID ring in at 0745 this morning - just to confirm !). It also gives my right knee another 24 hours grace - seem to have "tweaked" it a bit over the last 7 days or so (time to go out and buy a tubular bandage as well I think - better safe than sorry).
Have spent the last couple of hours fiddling about with Photoshop - I picked up a book from Ashton's finest remaindered bookshop on Saturday (after the haircut !) by renowned snapper Tom Ang, and I've started to delve into it this morning. I've gone for "Radial Blur" today - see what you think (click for big of course) ...
Variegated poppy from Hardcastle Crags walk a few weeks ago ...
Ruined house of French surrealist St-Paul-Roux - Britanny a couple of years ago ...
Had to try a football one - Andre Francis (Stafford Rangers) v Stalybridge Celtic - April 2011
Mentioned late last week about a delivery I was expecting that was "nearly" two weeks late - surprise surprise, good ol' RM tried to deliver it on Saturday afternoon (1545hrs to be exact) - while I was having haircut four miles away ! I wonder if they read this blog ?? Will be going to pick it up this afternoon - and sticking it in a 20x16 frame not long afterwards !!!
One silly one to finish - spotted this quote on the BBC Website this morning from Aston Villa's Darren Bent; "... I am committed to Villa and I am looking forward to the coming season. Everytime I go to the training ground I get a buzz". You'd think on his wages he could afford a car - boom boom !!!
My first foray into tomato plant growing - see the beginnings - has now resulted in this on the window sill ...
The burning question is ... when should I plant out ??? They're a "tumbling" variety (i.e. for hanging baskets/tall containers) - they've been outside in between the tropical weather and the gale force winds we've been having (something to do with "hardening off") - but it's knowing when to "go for it". Do I wait for flowers on top (none yet) ... or what ? Any advice gratefully received.
(We also have a small Rosemary plant chugging away - but I know they're a bit more hardy so I'm more comfortable with that one !) .
Don't know if you're aware of the excruciatingly painful process that was/is applying for 2012 Olympic tickets, but it was - and still is - excruciatingly painful. Back in March I applied for 2 (two !) tickets for said extravanganza - OK so it's the London 2012 Olympics - my application was for tickets to see football at Old Trafford ! They (Mr Olympic that is) have only just removed the money from my bank account. This STILL doesn't guarantee that I've got any tickets though - should be confirmed one way or the other by 24th June. If it's a 'no-no' the refund process doesn't actually complete until the 31st July !!
So it's a watching brief for a few more weeks yet ... .
... yep a day that makes it all worthwhile (and the official Royal Mail shorts came out to play as well !) ... hoping for similar tomorrow - probably followed by a haircut which will reveal strange white lines around the face !!! Not much else to say "a ce moment" - have been continuing to tickle/tweak the new website in between eating,working and sleeping. One big downer though - I ordered a "big" photo (yes one of mine !) a couple of weeks ago - got an e-mail from Photobox (my "processor of choice") saying it had been despatched on 23rd May - First Class ... not yet arrived!! The "fourteen day grace" is up on Monday so I'll probably be putting my "customer hat" on and grumbling that very same day. If those buggers at Royal Mail would just put me through their "driving assessment" course (I HAVE asked - several times) I could wander down to the requisite Delivery Office on my day off and put a few hours in sorting out their "parcel backlog" (which I know DOES exist !) ....
... but when your temporary contact finishes on 27th June - they're probably "hedging their bets" - might start asking questions tomorrow morning (although when you're on 7 days notice I'm sure they're not obliged to say owt ...).
Weekend ?? Will be checking out the cricket fixtures not long after I hit the "Publish" button here ... .
Taken from the Leigh Genesis Message Board - courtesy Matt Lawton ... "With the withdrawal of the club’s application to join the North West Counties League for next season, it has now been confirmed that Leigh Genesis FC will no longer operate at semi-professional level. With an interim emergency home in Atherton, Genesis were once again left looking for a suitable home in their home town but found little success. Having been evicted from their promised new home at the main stadium at Leigh Sports Village, the club spent last season at Atherton LR’s Crilly Park but suffered a dire season on and off the field with drastic falls in gate receipts alongside pitch and drainage problems and electrical faults that were mainly caused by regular break-ins at the Spa Road ground, despite the best efforts of both LGFC and Atherton LR. ...
Genesis, who now have 30 junior teams and a full-time youth programme attached to it were hoping to return to Leigh Sports Village to share with Leigh Athletic FC at Leigh Harriers athletics’ ground, but that option has been unsuccessful and no other suitable venues available, the club were left with no option other than to withdraw their application to join the North West Counties League following last season‘s relegation from the Evo-Stik League First Division North.
Manager Alan Kershaw was understandably disappointed with the news after taking the reigns partway through last season and blooding several youngsters in to first team action.
“This is incredibly disappointing. With a bustling junior section and 30 full-time youth players affiliated to the club, we have the most amazing foundations and it is difficult to understand why Leigh Genesis can’t play in Leigh and cannot be given the base that it deserves.”
Kershaw himself attended the first of six LGFC Junior presentation nights last weekend with 300 people in attendance, while Leigh Genesis Under 11's even made an appearance at Bolton Wanderers’ Reebok Stadium at the weekend where they won the Players Cup Final in the most prestigious event in the club's junior history.
Board members of the Club are clearly feeling exasperated. Even the assistance of Leigh MP Andy Burnham wasn’t enough to find a solution for the club to continue operating it’s senior side.
“This is an absolute disgrace” said secretary Mary Croasdale. “We left Hilton Park in 2008 on a long standing promise by the council that Leigh Sports Village Stadium would be our permanent home, but the original promises seem to have been ignored and financial gain has overtaken the original ideal of a ‘community stadium’ for the town. Blackburn Rovers Reserves play all their home matches at the ground and do not seem to struggle getting a lease at the ground, whilst the town's own team is given the cold shoulder.“
“Maybe Wigan MBC should look at the success of Chorley this season who have enjoyed record crowds and secured promotion, all from the back of a supportive council, not to mention the coaching team, several board members and the majority of the playing staff that was in place at Leigh last season! I’d like to say well done Chorley for embracing your team and recognising the potential for growth and most tellingly the benefits that can be brought to a town’s credibility and economy with a successful side.”
“One of the most aggravating aspects of the club’s trials with the LSV was the stadium company turning down £400,000 of funding towards the massive cost of the project. This funding was obtained through the club via the Football Foundation but was never handed over to the stadium company as LSV chiefs would not assure the Football Foundation that Leigh Genesis would be playing there for the next 10 years. Surely any short term financial hardship would have been cushioned by this amount? And who is filling that shortfall now?”
Matt Lawton, secretary of the Leigh Genesis Supporters Association and also the club’s press officer was equally downcast by the news.
“I and many others have enjoyed supporting the club over the years and will enjoy memories that will last a lifetime, and it’s such a shame that the club has been left with no option but to call it a day at senior level because of the issues that all stem back to not having our own home ground. Since leaving Hilton Park, it’s been virtually one huge nightmare, despite the club and it’s supporters trying to make the best of a bad situation. Let’s be honest, you don’t expect to outlive the football club that you support, do you?”
Croasdale finished; “The club has been praised by the Evo-Stik League and FA this season for it’s efforts in keeping going in such difficult circumstances and indeed it was shortlisted in the final five nominations for two major FA awards this year. The club continues to hold the respect of the league, the FA and its rival clubs but sadly this does not reflect in its treatment closer to home.”
The club directors would like to thank the club’s hugely dedicated supporters for their help, understanding and vast amounts of time, money and effort that have been donated over the years and only wish that circumstances could allow the club to continue at a senior level. Leigh Genesis Juniors will continue to operate as normal and carry on providing expert coaching to hundreds of children in the area and are wished the very best of luck for the future." .
... e-mail received today - I think the picture says it all ...
There's just something not quite right with GCSE English these days ... a fine advert indeed for this particular Job Agency (and we all know how I feel about bloody Job Agencies !!!). Guess my OCD on this sort of thing stems back to 1972 - when I took "O" Level English Language one year early - and got a Grade 1 !
By the way - if you live in certain parts of Grasscroft just outside Oldham (like a certain footy player "in the news" today) - I'm your postie this week ... cups of tea/choccy biccies always welcomed !!
Oh - and thanks to Saddleworth Cricket club for the very nice plug on Twitter ref my weekend cricket pix - I'll be back over the summer - and if the weather improves ... so might my photos ...
... and just for the hell of it - this is definitely the best cure for "too much Bachelors" (the group not the soup) ... Rory Gallagher at his finest ...
... I've started to set up a real proper website - shock !!! (something to do during those dark dark days of the "close season")
Eventually it will all fit together properly (using the www.sixtamesides.co.uk domain name) - but until then, it's "work in progress", and at the moment it's FREE (yippee !).
... as mentioned earlier - managed just a couple of hours on Saturday afternoon down at the beautifully named "Well-i-Hole" (home of Saddleworth CC) with big lens and a couple of choccy bars (OK I did have one pint at the tea interval as well !) Certainly need to hone my skills a bit at the summer game (the lens certainly does the business though - but don't let the apparent "bright" day fool you - it was still a bit chilly !), but here's a few from the Tanner Cup Round 1 game ...
When I left, Saddleworth were chasing 246 for victory - and were 20-odd for 2 - will check out the Saddleworth League website later today to see how it finished up ... don't know what it is, but I NEVER seem to get many cricket games in over the summer - bad weather and very early pre-season football (and of course Sunday walking with Mrs S) usually seem to take up the time ! Wonder what the weather will be like later ??
SUNDAY MORNING UPDATE - Apparently Saddleworth won with a single off the last ball of the game ! .
... and while I'm in "semi-grumpy" mode ... there's a rumour going around (!!!) that "mail volumes are falling" - here's my 'lot' from yesterday - eight bags ...
More aargh !! ... and what made it worse was when I got in today, the overtime sheet had already disappeared back to main office - now I have to wait until Tuesday to "haggle" for my 30 minutes - which can be a REAL pain ! looking forward to Monday off though ...
Anyroad up - finished on time today and after getting home I slipped out to watch some cricket - weather wasn't brilliant but at least it was dry ...I'll try to get some pictures up tomorrow - first cricket of the season and I'm still a "bit ropey" at said sport. Followed this with a bit of vegetarian cooking - and a quiet night in (away from the football !) ... .
... and what you can't see is the "tweak" I had to do with one of the wall cupboards - we'd had new doors put on existing cabinets - MISTAKE - new door had to use existing holes in one cabinet, and in no time at all, it had started to come seriously loose. So ... I took cabinet off wall, turned it through 180 degrees moved the brackets in the cabinet to t'other end, re-hung on wall and then re-attached new door ... success !
Sent lens back (using RM Special Delivery of course !) - fingers crossed they can fix it ... and fix it for free !
When all jobs done - went for a "wander" - a few pix ...
A couple of bees gorging on the Allium in our garden ...
A "couple" of birds gorging on the grass seed at Seel Park (!) ...
From "pub footballer" to "pub entertainer" - how the "mighty" have fallen ...
...and then a Greek-style Lamb Casserole for tea - now "slobbing out" ...
... Do you really think I'm heading to the pub to watch tonight's offering ?? Some overrated full-back trousers a few more pounds ?? Nope - tonight we are ripping up the floor covering in the kitchen - ready for the new stuff now we have a cuty fitted kitchen (arriving tomorrow - my day off - and I'm taking it !). Here's a couple of pics from today - courtesy of the "cameraphone" - and I have to admit it's pretty good at times - only 3.2 MP but ...
Taken "On duty" (don't tell boss !) - train entering Standedge Tunnel ...
"Off duty" - walking back from Diggle to Uppermill on the canal - Mum keeping an eye on things !!
OK ... "Yes Football" !!! The "Hyde Furore" seems to have died down, now that it's official that Gary Lowe has the job - he'll still have to win over the doubters mind - but shouldn't be a problem. The Stalybridge Celtic "project" motors on - 13 players now re-signed for next season (still waiting on Connor Jennings to put pen to paper - that would REALLY cheer up the Celtic faithful - and his unofficial "personal photographer" !!). No real news from Ashton United, Mossley, Droylsden and Curzon Ashton - but it is "early doors" yet. Notice Glossop North End have a new boss - Paul Colgan (who was at Rossendale Unite last season during their "awful period" - off the pitch not on mind ..). Early verdicts are positive here as well - good luck to Paul - Glossop are certainly getting their act together off the pitch with the re-builds that are going on (dressing rooms, club - and the already rebuilt "scrattin' shed") - it would be good to see a resurgence on the pitch as well.
... and finally for now ... can I mention Ryan Giggs (having known for a long while) ?? Very strange isn't it ?? Even the so-called "good guys" have those skeletons in their cupboards ... who would "Imogen" it ? Sometimes it makes you feel proud to be poor - and brutally honest in your life ... Now to eat tea - and then find the Stanley knife (for the kitchen floor - not the wife !) .
... Diggle - and all the scary things that go with it (postie-wise) - like bag drops in people's back gardens (rather than the usual Post Offices or lockable boxes). Was also greeted with gale force winds and torrential rain - aargh ! Usual "blind walk Monday" (where's this, where's that) but we got there in the end - all stuff now drying out nicely !! Should do better tomorrow ...
Went in here today - and came out without having a pint - now there's a first !! .
... got a free sample through the post yesterday (my apologies to the Ashton postie - hope you didn't have too many of the buggers - although many thanks for the "Benidorm Series 1" DVD that you pushed through - good old EBay !). It was a dishwasher tablet (and at 10p a throw - it'll get used !). However I noticed this when unwrapping same (might need a double-click to see "my OCD problem") ...
Now I'd have ALWAYS gone for the single "t" myself, but I guess we're into the English English/American English "grey area" (or should that be "gray area" ? NO !!). A quick Google came up with this - gospel or not I do not know ... but it's good enough for me !!!
Weather still poo - so no cricket pics this evening I'm afraid - with Mrs S away again today I might just go for a bit of "Survival Sunday" on that damned satellite thingy - after first preparing tonight's "feast" (to get round the "couple of hours" out of the house I'll be doing the roast beef the "slow-roast" way (or should that be "slo-roast" way ? NO !) - better see what Jamie Oliver says about it ...
... yes the provisional listings for "who plays in what league" have now been published - note the use of the word 'provisional' though, as everything needs to be ratified at the various league AGMs ...
Our three Conference North teams will be getting a 'new' local derby as Altrincham (after several previous unsuccessful attempts !!!) were finally relegated from the Conference National. There's also a 'day at the seaside' at Colwyn Bay (promoted from the Evo-Stik North), a tasty trip 'over the hill' to FC Halifax Town (similarly promoted) and trips to such "Northern Delights" as Histon (near Cambridge !) and Gloucester City (who play at Cheltenham !!!) ... why oh why do they not set up a Conference North, a Conference South and a Conference Middle ?? Just imagine - Blyth Spartans vs Histon on a Tuesday night !
As regards "moneyspinners" I guess Ashton United have the best deal on that. FC United of Manchester didn't manage promotion so they remain in the Evo-Stik Premier, and joining them both will be Chester FC and their excellent fanbase. Other new "Northern" clubs are Rushall Olympic, Hednesford Town - and Stafford Rangers (so I'll only get to see them once next season instead of the usual three times - hey ho !).
Meanwhile in the Evo-Stik 1st North Curzon Ashton and Mossley still get to go to Ossett - but next season it will Town rather than Albion as Town came down and Albion went further down ! New Mills brings another local-ish derby as well and the reformed Farsley FC have started their long march back up the leagues ...
One "quickie" from the Unibond 1st South - it's good to see that Ilkeston FC (reformed from the ashes of "Ilkeston Taaarn" !) have been allocated a spot here - really pleased for some of my mates down in Ilson, and I'll be hoping to get a game or two down there next season. Seems that some people aren't too happy about this, but it's the same every year - look at Telford, Halifax, Farsley to name but three - when these "reformed" clubs are allocated spots they normally do prove the FA decision to be correct by climbing the tree pretty quickly - and with the Youth/Academy setup at Ilson flourishing last season, despite the "mother club" going under, it does bode well for the future there.
As I said - it's all "provisional" because - as usual - there's a few "what if's" regarding the status of some of the clubs. Rushden and Diamonds are in the Conference National - but they still need to raise £250,000 to stave off winding-up orders. Burscough (Evo-Stik Premier) are another club that may or may not get through the close season in one piece (read this heartfelt plea from one of their fans about the state of play there) ... so who knows ? Reprieves for some clubs ?? Leagues starting the season "one team short" ??
The close season can be a wonderful soap opera at times ...
By the way - a quick "well done" to AFC Wimbledon who are now back (?) in the Football League after their penalty shoot-out defeat of Luton Town yesterday ... "AFC Crazy Gang" ? Oh - and Marsden drew 1-1 against Ovenden (apologies for absence !!!).
Weather not looking too brilliant for a bit of cricket today (Saddleworth CC v Droylsden CC would be the local game of choice for an hour or three) - got some shopping and "housey things" to do anyway - we'll see ... and then it's "Where will they put me next week ?" at work (will probably get a phone call at daft o'clock tomorrow morning telling me !). .
... finished too late (OK finished in good time but then had to get home from Delph - not simple !) to get the train over to Marsden ... so it looks like a lazy afternoon.
For those interested the Conference Premier Play-Off 'twixt AFC Wimbledon and Luton Town is available by radio ... either Wimbledon Viewpoint or Luton Viewpoint (Wimbledon just had goal disallowed for offside !)
Well it was the best kept (non) secret of the season - but it was finally advertised, interviews have taken place and ex-Curzon Ashton boss Gary Lowe now has the "hot seat" at Ewen Fields ...
... HOWEVER - the backlash (yes that's the right word) on the Hyde United Forum (check out here) is quite unbelievable !!! Frith only knows what the fans were expecting (Mourinho, Avram Grant, Graham Heathcote ?), but they've certainly (in the majority anyway) seen this appointment as "not good" ...
Here's a club who've been flirting with relegation for more than one season; a club with "money problems" (to say the least !); and they get Gary Lowe - a manager who's done wonders at Curzon Ashton (a team that struggle for support - therefore money) for several years - I reckon Hyde have got themselves a bargain ! Obviously I'm not in the know about playing budgets etc. (either at Hyde or Curzon) but if you look at what Curzon have achieved over the last five years (with quite obviously "not a lot"), these guys (as in the Hyde "Internet Moaners") should be bloody grateful - a new Manager arrives and is met with a "welcome" like what you can read on that thread above ... crazy !!! Fairly sure that this sort of talk will not "faze" someone like Gary Lowe - certainly a man unto himself !!! It will be interesting to see if any Curzon players "follow the boss" (a typical happening when non-league managers change) - but if they do they'll see this as their chance to prove themselves at a higher level - just like Gary Lowe himself.
I wish him luck ... just as I wish the new Curzon boss John Flanagan the same ... .
... well certainly no live football this midweek - ummed and aaahed about going to Huddersfield on Wednesday to see their play-off game against AFC Bournemouth (Mum and Dad spent a few years living in Bournemouth/Poole so - a tenuous link !) ... but it's on telly anyway so ... also thought about the Conference Premier Play-Off Final on Saturday (Luton v AFC Wimbledon) - well I am a licensed Conference snapper after all !! However I don't reckon I'd get finished in time to get down there - Mrs Smiffy off for the weekend - with the car - hey ho ... there's always the cricket option - apparently the weather's going to turn tropical by the weekend, so a late afternoon with the "dobber" lens (170-500) focussed on the bails might not be a bad option - we'll see what's local ...
... tomato plants now fully recovered from their "transplants" - they can now 'grow on' (as it says on the packet !) until sometime in June when the hanging basket can be prepared ...
... working out in the country this week i.e. Saddleworth - from Dobcross Post Office, I'm doing the delights of Delph - a lovely little village for tourists ... full of little alleyways/back streets/'underhouses' (i.e. where's the bloody letterbox !) and also big dock-off houses with no numbers/names (although post has a number !); and also a few hefty hill climbs as well ... and a bit of a bugger to get to as well ! Monday was a nightmare finding "stuff", but being the true pro (!) "when you've done it once you're sorted" (after a fashion anyway !), so today was a touch more comfortable (despite the incessant drizzle) !!!
... tonight's culinary delight is grilled gammon (with a mustard and marmalade seasoning) and a hot and fruity salsa (mango, chilli, coriander and lime juice) with some lightly steamed mangetout - just awaiting the arrival of Mrs S ...
... must get around to sorting out that "broken lens" as well ...
... dirty fingers more like !! Been "nurturing" these chaps from seeds for a few weeks - and spent a damp morning repotting them into singles ...
Nearly forgot - they're tomatoes for putting in hanging baskets - and about 30 minutes after this pic was taken some of them "keeled over" in protest at being messed with - I hope !!
Looks like the AFC Telford United v Guiseley Blue Square North Play-Off Final is heading for extra-time (been listening to it "on the radio" - 2-2 at the mo') - midweek football is still an 'unknown' at the moment ...
EDIT @ 1650 - OK I lied - a 93rd minute winner for AFC Telford United !! .
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