A Complete Farce !!!

All dressed up ... and nowhere to go ...

Yes, it's 2042hrs on Monday night - and I (together with many others) are NOT at Ewen Fields to see the Manchester Premier Cup Final between Droylsden and Mossley ... read the following statements (via www.droylsdenfc.com) ...

26/03/12

Statement from Dave Pace

( re M/cr Premier Cup )

It is an unfortunate situation which could not be avoided on

my part, I had an obligation to strengthen our position in

the league and did so by making a number of recent

signings, three wins out of three in the league justifies this

but sadly M/cr Premier cup rules state that a player who is named in the final

must have been involved in a previous round and in that respect we

fall short of eligible players, we would not devalue the competition

by turning out with eight or nine players and so informed

the M/cr FA of the situation, we need some guidance from them, we are

waiting on that at the moment, it is an unusual if not unique situation

that we find ourselves in. It is in the hands of the M/cr FA who i am

sure will be able work something out.

26/03/12

Due to injuries and the recent changes in our

playing staff, the rules specific to the M/cr Premier Cup are such

that Droylsden FC are unable to name a full complement

of players who are currently eligible to start in tonights

cup final. This was brought to the attention of the

Manchester FA and we are awaiting a decision on what will happen.

The Manchester FA has so far decided to postpone tonights

final and will advise us as and when any further decisions

are made.

To many people the Manchester Premier Cup is regarded as a "Mickey Mouse Cup" especially when you lose (see here for example !). However I'd reckon if you get to the Final, you might be taking the whole thing a little more seriously. As I mentioned yesterday (I think) the Manchester FA do have some rather strange/stupid rules regarding the eligibility of players for this competition - as Mossley have found to their cost in the past ... I recall one season when they were ringing round former players and asking them to turn out for the night (with their new club's permission of course) in order to satisfy eligibility rules - and raise a team.

Obviously this sort of effort is too much for a high level semi-pro club like Droylsden. Aaah Droylsden - this is the club where Manager/Chairman/"El Supremo" Dave Pace felt it beneath his dignity one season, so - following a bit of a spat with Manchester FA - put tea lady Stella in charge of all Manchester Premier Cup games ... the same club who had "quiet words" with the Manchester FA last season to allow three "allegedly ineligible" players to turn out in the Final against Ashton United. Yes this is a club that takes this competition seriously ... I find it astonishing that Mr Pace can quote such b*ll*x as "It is in the hands of the M/cr FA" ... and "...unique situation we find ourselves in ..." - complete cr*p ... and it would be interesting to know exactly WHEN it "...was brought to the attention of the Manchester FA ..."

Many folks (and clubs) have had problems with this competition - there have been numerous other "happenings" that have made it appear farcical at times (yes they've even included non-Manchester FA teams - ha !). However the antics of Droylsden FC over the last few years have made the competition even more farcical. - taking this a stage further, a quote elsewhere this evening (via High Peak Radio - not confirmed by myself so read into it what you will ...):

"Was listening to High Peak radio on the way home from work, Pace was on and he said he had no interest in this cup, didn't want to have anything to do with it".

Don't know about everyone else - but I tweaked my work today around this game - we've got three days to deliver the Council Tax letters so I decided to take fewer today to finish earlier to get home to prep for the game (and journey to same). Then I get a text just before midday informing me of the cancellation. Now I find myself with more to do tomorrow and Wednesday ...

It's not just the work aggro - I feel the competition - already teetering on the farcical following events from previous years - has become even further devalued thanks to the antics/whims of certain people - and unfortunately, over the last few years ... it's been the same person/same team. My suggestion is that they do the rest of Manchester FA a favour and not bother entering next season - in fact if there is a "cop out fee" for not entering (certainly used to be in the past) - I'm perfectly willing to accept donations from all right-minded member clubs of the Manchester FA (and fans of same) and will personally present the money to Mr Pace - we could make a night of it (someone else will have to take the photos though) !!

Really really p*ssed off ...
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Mossley v AFC Fylde

... been a touch quiet on here for a few days - work's been rather busy (although Friday/Saturday weather made it a bit more bearable !!). Finished in decent time on Saturday (not decent enough time to get over to Hyde though - sorry Steve !!!) and walked up't'hill to see Mossley take on second-placed AFC Fylde (they're still Kirkham & Wesham to me though - sorry), with the chance to do Curzon Ashton a bit of a favour at the top of the table.



"Monochrome Mark"

Sadly it was not to be (although I know of at least ONE Mossley fan (no names - but nice number plate !!) who probably had some sympathy with the Fylde team yesterday). It was a gutsy performance by the home team, who'd rested a couple of players for tomorrow's Manky Premier Cup Final against Droylsden (1945hrs @ Ewen Fields, Hyde). Some sterling defending and a excellent performance by 'keeper Martin Pearson (my personal MOM). Unfortunately, it all boiled down to a "Smash and Grab" winner by Fleetwood Town loanee Richie Allen - and despite some heroic efforts by "supersub" Steve Halford, the equaliser was just not forthcoming. Pics at

Mossley 0 AFC Fylde 1

Reckon that peformance does bode well for the "big one" tomorrow night though - although Droylsden have just hit a good bit of league form (saw their win on Tuesday night - and yesterday they got a 2-1 win over Boston United) ... still, it's a Cup Final and anything can happen ...

Went over to Rochdale after the game (hence delayed pics) - confit of duck no less !! A brisk (camera-free !) walk this morning through Healey Dell, once round Tesco's, an hours "R&R" on the patio this afternoon - and now this. Tomorrow sees me back out in the "countries" work-wise (the Greenfield/Uppermill "split walk") - weather looks promising again too - before tootling off to Hyde to see "The Big Match" ...
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Droylsden v Corby Town

Tuesday - not too bad at work (paid for it today mind !!) - so the afternoon was fairly well sorted - and so a hop on the bus to Ashton, time for a "quickie" in the "Prince of Orange" (and a listen to their early evening karaoke - an experience I'd recommend to anyone) - number 7 bus to Droylsden (and a "quickie" in the "Kings Head") before heading for the Butchers Arms (ground not pub - the pub disappeared a while back).

'Twas certainly a game of two halves - and what must have been an inspired half-time talk/rant. Droylsden were truly woeful in the first half - in fact probably lucky to only be going in 0-1 down. It was a different story after the break though - more direct, more purposeful, it might have been a different team ! Sure enough the goals came to turn it around, and in the end the margin of victory could have been much more. Pix from last night at

Droylsden 2 Corby Town 1

It's been mentioned on message boards galore - but an attendance of just over 170 is just not good - no way can you sustain a Conf North team on numbers like that ! Still the win moves Droylsden up to 11th in the league (just 9 points behind Stalybridge Celtic to be exact).
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What a Plonker ...

That's "me" on the left ... ish ... (actually I had a jacket like that back in the late 70s/early 80s !!)

... as noted yesterday morning - loads to do for a Sunday (or day off if you like) - so it was off to the tip for recycling (just got no idea where these beer cans and wine bottles come from), quick whizz round the supermarket to buy Sunday tea and then home to drop stuff off. We were then heading down to Stafford to see my Mum and Dad (Mothers Day plus Wedding Anniversary the day before) - and we thought we'd get a brief walk in beforehand. Butties were made and camera was chucked into rucksack as well (having first checked there was enough battery power in it - an important check but ...). Down the M6 ... and I said to Mrs Smiffy "Have you ever seen Stafford Castle ?" Next stop - Stafford Castle. Now when I was a lad, it was a crumbling ruin - these days ... it's still a ruin, but they've tidied it all up, put a walking trail around it with big info boards and stuff. Out came the camera - turned it on - battery OK - went to take first pic and spotted "ERR" ... you can guess the rest ...



Battery good - Memory Card not good (i.e. non-existent !)

... after a few choice words, the camera was quickly hidden back in rucksack (before somebody saw it !!). Fortunately, Mrs Smiffy had her compact in her bag (didn't have mine for obvious reasons) ... so instead of offering library pix here's one courtesy of Mrs S and her cute purple Fuji Finepix Z30 ...



... somewhere between info boards 6 and 10 ...

Walk over - a couple of hours round at my parents before returning backup the M6 to cook tea - and then to find water dripping through the ceiling - not much but ... aargh ! Checked it out today - nothing, but I'll be running the bath later on just to see if any more comes through. To add insult to our present "water problems", the broken down washing machine needs replacing (Mrs S on't'web as we speak - I will join in later) - so unfortunately that knocks tonight's "game of choice" on the head (was to be Curzon Ashton v Woodley Sports) - hey ho ... looks like I'll be off to the Butchers Arms tomorrow night to see Droylsden take on Corby Town instead.

Another quickie, harking back to Saturday's game at Mossley - and the newly formed "Mossley Ultras" - it seems the idea was being mulled over about 4 years ago - see this from the AFC Telford message board ...



These things obviously take time to plan !!

Work ? The Council Tax bills have finally started to arrive - one full tray today (approx 150); guessing another couple to come over the next two days - so no too painful in the end then ... will try to clear all my door-to-doors (i.e. junk) tomorrow before the weekend's "Internet Shopping Packet Mayhem" kicks in !!
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Mossley v Radcliffe Boro

Tom Denton has made it 2-0 - however some over-exuberant celebrations lead to ... whoops ...!!

... as predicted, a "late day at the (Delivery) Office", with me turning up at the game 20 minutes late. Fortunately (for me) it was still 0-0 ("we've hit the bar" was the quote from AJ on the turnstile !). 1-0 at half-time (another one of Joe Heap's sublime free kicks !) - on came the Juniors - and down came the rain/hail etc - hopefully none of the small ones drowned (I was drowning in my first pint of the day in the club !). The downpour made the pitch VERY heavy - at one stage one of the linesman "had a word" with the ref (I was expecting a "Call for Forking" !!), but Mossley continued to play well - a towering header from Tom Denton made it 2-0 (although his celebrations led to an early bath - injury not red card though !) - and a late chance for Danny Hudson would have been the icing on a comfortable cake - however it went just the wrong side of the post. Pictures at

Mossley 2 Radcliffe Borough 0

An important three points for the home side giving much needed breathing space at the lower end of the Evo-Stik North table - and a very good turn-out on the terraces as well (214 - biggest home crowd since September last year !) - and the newly formed "Mossley Ultras" (!) in their second appearance have certainly injected a bit of atmosphere at Seel Park - a touch "un-PC" at times - but all the usual chants are there !

Out for a bit of a wander in the evening - home sleep wake up now this. Lots to do today - so I'd better get on with it ...
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Been Out Tonight ...

... so pix from Mossley's 2-0 win over Radcliffe tomorrow ...

... thoughts and prayers are with Fabrice Muamba ...
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Helluva Week - Nearly Over ...

... has been a right bugger this week, not finishing much before 1600 (with an 0700 start) everyday - I'm a touch nervous about what finish time I'll get away with tomorrow as well (at least the football is only 5 mins up the road - Mossley v Radcliffe Borough). Crazy to think though - this week will see a "normal" 24 hour week ... plus over 30 hours overtime !!! Hopefully not too many Mothers Day cards tomorrow (just in case you've all forgotten out there - too late to post 'em now - tee hee !)

Other news - got my first "dog bite" this week - although to be honest it was more of a "nip" - broke the surface but leg has not yet fallen off. A National Inquiry is in the throes of being set up by Royal Mail under former High Court Judge Sir Gordon Langley - over 4,000 posties are attacked by dogs every year (please note you dog owners) - and some of the stories I've heard are truly horrific - maybe I've been lucky up to now - but a slight scrape over the ankle is hardly worth reporting in my view (despite many people already telling me to put a report in) - treat every case on its merits I feel - plus making a mental note for next time !!



... and the washing machine is broken - now that's what I call a crisis ! Fingers crossed the parts etc should turn up tomorrow ... otherwise it's more deodorant we need ... and in the words of Sting "Don't Stand So Close To Me" !!

So - a quiet night in (someone else is cooking - hurrah !) -early start tomorrow and fingers crossed for an arrival at Seel Park as near to 1500hrs as I can make ...
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Oops - Forgot ...

... to put the pictures up from last night's game ...

Stalybridge Celtic 4 Winsford United 0

... which means Celtic will be playing Nantwich Town in the Cheshire Senior Cup Final (they beat Macc Town 3-0 on Tuesday night).

Losing it me - it's been a bit of a grueller already this week - today (Wednesday was VERY heavy - not all the Council Tax bills as predicted ... just everything else - watch the buggers turn up on Saturday !)
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Flipping 'eck !!

Put two football programmes on EBay last week - both went today ... one (prog from 1962) for £2-07 and one (prog from 1976) for ... wait for it ... £31-08 !!! Might have to delve a little further into the suitcase and big plastic box - there might be more little gems floating around ...

Tonight - it's cup fever down @ Bower Fold - Stalybridge Celtic v Winsford United in the Cheshire Senior Cup semi-final - winners to play either Macclesfield Town or Nantwich Town (that game also tonight).

Tomorrow - rumour is the Council Tax bills are arriving in our mail bags - as in every bloomin' house - aargh !
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Work-Free Weekend !!

... still got up early on Saturday morning mind !! Have to be honest though - one reason was to head up to Top Mossley and do some "panic buying" - more like "thrifty buying" really, because on Friday I'd spotted - and bought - some rather cheap beef mince for the Greek-themed nosh (Bifteki with feta cheese to be exact). Stuff seemed OK so I promptly went and bought all four packs that were on the shelf !!



moneysavingexpert.smiff !!!

Job done - pack bags etc and then it was off to Belper. arrived in good time, and I managed a couple of pints of "Shottle Gold" in the "George & Dragon" before heading towards ChristChurch Meadows for the footy. I did see Belper up at Curzon earlier in the season (here), but this was a first for the season down in Derbyshire. Despite almost constant Belper pressure in the first half it was Kidsgrove (with a couple of Stafford Rangers rejects on show !) who took the lead on the stroke of half-time. One pint of Pedigree (out of the jug !) later it was out to see the Nailers take total control - once the equaliser went in there was only ever going to be one winner - and the three points have put Belper tantalisingly close to the play-off zone. Pics from the game at

Belper Town 3 Kidsgrove Athletic 1

Two pints of Pedigree later - and a couple more in the "Riflemans" - and it was back to Mother-in-Laws for a sleepy evening in front of the box.

Sunday - bright and chirpy - and after a few odd jobs etc we headed towards Baslow to do a seven miler round Birchen Edge, Baslow Edge and through Chatsworth Estate. More pics at

BaslowChatsworthWalk 11Mar12

Back home for a meal of "clear the fridge and veg rack" stew before faffing with pictures until it was rather late (!!!) - especially with me getting up a touch early this morning (as in 0600hrs). I'm on a rather "hefty week" at work this week (should work out at approx 54 hours !) - so I might try a slightly earlier "turn in time" tonight !!!
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Bark at the Moon ...

Following tonight's exotic food offering to the masses (Basque-style fish stew - God they've been spoilt rotten this week !), I took the camera (with big dobber lens on !) out in the back yard for a couple of minutes - just for fun ... first pic ... not bad - second one ... reckon the idea was right but failed on focussing ... might give it another go another night ...





... followed by DVD - managed to get the final Harry Potter offering for just £8 in Ashton HMV yesterday (still £16 in Tesco !)

The week's holiday is drawing to a close - a few more bits'n'bobs to sort out tomorrow before a work-free Saturday - huzzah !!
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The Season So Far ...

... i.e. something to do while waiting for the weather to clear up (I think today's "big jobbie" is a hair cut - followed by trying to decide what to cook tonight !).

Following last night's game I've clocked up 60 games so far this season (including pre-season friendlies) that pan out as follows (home teams):

Mossley - 26
Stalybridge Celtic - 12
Curzon Ashton - 9
Ashton United - 7
Droylsden - 2
Hyde FC - 1
Woodley Sports - 1
Histon - 1
Chorley - 1
Belper Town - 0
Stafford Rangers - 0

You'll obviously notice that the numbers are heavily skewed towards "Where's the quickest/closest place to get to ?" - which is always going to be the major factor when working 99% of all Saturdays - and often not finishing/getting home after work until 1400 hrs (the trips to Chorley and Histon were - naturally - on my 'Saturdays off'). Another point worthy of comment is that the two teams at the top of the list DO NOT have a regular photographer - whereas the other "Four Tame Sides" do - and snapping is part of the game for me anyway. Other restrictions include the "only one midweek match allowed" rule (well most of the time !), my insistence on the use of public transport (yes I do like the odd shandy pre- and post-match !) and the large drop in finances caused by the enforced change of employment ... so that does tend to explain why some clubs in the outer reaches of Tameside don't really get the attention they fully deserve - sorry folks, but that's the way it goes ...

So ... being on holiday this week means a Saturday off work - and I DO like to make the most of these rare occasions - so Belper Town v Kidsgrove Athletic is the game of choice - I get to "open my account" at Belper for the season, Mrs Smiffy gets to see her Mum, we get a possible Peak District walk in on the Sunday ... and Belper get a FOURTH bloomin' photographer on the Saturday !!
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Mossley win - Snapper loses ...

"Can I be in your gang ?" asks Ossett's Niall O'Brien ...

3-2 - a bit too close for comfort, but three welcome points.

As for pictures ............ don't know why but they're all bloody awful tonight - it's 'wait until later' time to see if I can salvage 'something' - a really depressing night behind the lens ....

WEDNESDAY MORNING UPDATE ... here's the pictures from last night - as predicted - not brilliant - but ... you get the picture ...

Mossley 3 Ossett Town 2

You were warned !!
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Tevez @ Hyde ... or Ossett @ Mossley ??

versus

No contest ...

(excuse brevity - going Greek tonight in the kitchen - already made hummus ... more to do - kebabs etc !!)
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Stalybridge Celtic v Solihull Moors

Surrounded - Celtic's Phil Marsh looking for space ...

A bit of a "faffy" morning at work (stuff here stuff there - and a 10 minute wait for a bag drop !) - but miraculously I made it home in time to change, grab bag and still catch the 1355 train down to Stalybridge - a leisurely pre-match pint of Millstone "Tiger Rut" in the "Fleece" (apologies to the Buffet Bar, but the 'Rail Ale Trail' and all the flotsam it attracts - and the use of plastic glasses on a Saturday - make it rather less than appealing these days ... shame but, that's the price of "success" I suppose).

Gentle walk up the Mottram Road arriving just in time to see the Social Club bar close (!), plumb in the camera and out to see if Celtic could finally break their 2012 duck - it took a while, but they got there in the end. Always in control, but at 1-0 up and the opposition down to 10 men "pessimissm mode" clicks in both on and off the pitch. Celtic did have one perfectly good goal chalked off for offside (certainly looks that way on my pix), but a late second goal by Brogan calmed everyone down and sealed the three points for the home side - a result that also sees them return into the play-off places in the Blue Square North. Game pictures at

Stalybridge Celtic 2 Solihull Moors 0

Gentle walk down the Mottram Road - a leisurely post-match pint of Millstone "Tiger Rut" in the "Fleece" (see above !!) before home, sort pix and open the big box that had arrived in the morning. Following a e-junk-mail, I was tempted to part with £9.69 (including delivery !!) on a tripod. Obviously not expecting miracles at that price (although the spec said maximum weight 4kgs), but I've NEVER had a tripod before for the DSLR. Hopefully - I might even take it out for a play this coming week (together with a remote control cable I've barely used), because .... I'M ON HOLIDAY !!

(watch the weather be poo all week !!)
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Getting Better ...

... all the time ...



... and would you believe ... whilst looking for the above image on Google - OK I DO own the single but couldn't be bothered to take photo, download and then upload - I managed to "come across" (!!!) a bootleg album of the man himself live in Canterbury in 1979 - I would have seen him on the same tour in Sheffield - so (having downloaded same) I'm now feeling even better !!!!!

Happy to see that Ashton United "did the business" last night in my absence - a 4-0 win over Chasetown sends them up to the giddy heights of 8th place in the Evo-Stik Prem - not sure whether Ashton snapper was there - but video available at

Ashton United 4 Chasetown 0

In fact Ashton Manager Danny Johnson has been named Evo-Stik Prem Manager of the Month for February - 5 straight wins (including 1 against Stafford Rangers - grrr !) - well deserved !!

As the title says - improvement in the health front - have had official confirmation of "week off" next week - and already have a few plans for the week - that include a certain amount of relaxing, a certain amount of computing, a certain amount of walking/football/photography ... and also to try and organise a week's holiday in June (walking holiday natch !!) - but ... before then - a couple of days more work and some footy on Saturday.

Aaargh Poorly Sick Note Time ...

... that all began at about 2200hrs on Monday night - got up off the settee and suddenly realised that I felt like sh*t ! Had an early night (i.e. before midnight !), up at 0600hrs for work realising I actually felt even worse. Went for it anyway (knowing that Tuesday is one of the "lighter" days of the week) and when I got home I went straight back to bed and slept until about 1900hrs (3 hours - during the day - unheard of !!). Still felt grim. Beer consumption down to zero - yes it was that bad. Can't be flu - I've had the jab ... although I did do some overtime in Dobcross on Monday afternoon - one guy who works up there had last week off with "severe stomach problems" (probably left a virus all over the frame !).

Today up at 0730 (didn't need to go for the early start - yet another staffing cock-up from "da management", so I decided to go in at normal time ... had rung up to find out what to do - left messages - no come-back, so I made the decision that the management are paid to do - and will probably save RM some money as well !

Feeling slightly better this afternoon/evening - although workload was twice as bad as yesterday - but have decided to err on the side of caution and will therefore be giving Ashton United v Chasetown a miss tonight - apologies for absence !! I know for a fact the 99% of peeps (i.e. the under 30s in RM), had they felt like I felt on Monday night, would have banged in for at least a week off work - such is the work ethic these days - tsskk ! However my aging body needs a little bit of TLC - and fortunately today no (female) customer asked me to marry them either !

So I'm going for the quiet night in option - will probably watch the England game from a prone position on that very same settee - not that it will be THAT interesting (think there's been more column inches on "Who Will Be Captain ?" rather than the actual game itself - which is another pointless mid-season friendly anyway ...)

Three more days - and then I've got a whole week off - by heck I think I need it ...
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A Sunday Stroll near Settle ...

Fit football into anything me !!

Reckon this was probably the first "real walk" of 2012 (I'm not allowed to count work walks !!) - not as warm as promised (a bit of misty rain towards the end) - but a decent enough starter for the year. Started at Feizor (got the spelling right today !!) - a tiny hamlet famed for Elaine's Tea Rooms and took in Stainforth, Settle, Giggleswick before returning to the start. A few (some "surgically enhanced") pictures at

Feizor Walk 26Feb12

(Weather unfortunately not good enough to see such delights as Ingleborough etc in the distance - but one of the aims of the exercise was to see some of the early spring lambs - and we did - eventually).

Football this week ? Looks like Wednesday (leap year 29th Feb !) up at Hurst Cross to see Ashton United take on Chasetown ... some more "full days" at work before then (for the second week in a row I'm on "full-time duties" - with an extra half-walk tomorrow as well - another 10 hour day - aarrgh !) ... think of the money ...
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Mossley v Harrogate Railway

...for a Saturday - it was not good today - especially when you end up with four Special Deliveries all over the bloomin' walk. OK - SDs - the deliver by 1300hrs type stuff - doesn't apply on Saturdays (the time thing) ... unless they have a special "SG" sticker - and of course I had one of them ... near the end of the walk - aargh !

Still - we got there in the end (about 1345hrs) - home, change, out up the road to Seel Park. Mossley took a fairly early lead, had several chances to improve on same, but they came to nowt. 1-0 was never going to be enough - but it took a controversial penalty for the visitors to draw level ... one of those "shot hits arm and 99 players shout HANDBALL" ... and the ref gives it. It could have been even worse at the death - but Mossley 'keeper Martin Pearson pulled off a fantastic save to keep it at 1-1. Overall ... my opinion of course ... an awful game ... you can see why both teams are where they are ... some pictures anyway at

Mossley 1 Harrogate RA 1

Meanwhile - sore legs (it's been a hard week !); sore mouth (a bit of a toothache - hoping it will disappear - I only had a check-up a few weeks ago so ...) - so looking forward to a bit of a rest tomorrow (as in a walk around Fiezer, near Settle !). Just hope my mouth improves overnight - cus it's going to be a hard week at work again next week (0700 starts again - but at least NOT the "Round of Hell" - not at this moment in time anyway !!)
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Nearly the Weekend ...

... it's been a tough 'un this week - not so much the 0700 starts but the actual walk itself (certainly NOT one the the easiest ones I've done !). Still one more day - at least I hope so (not been told what I'm doing next week - but I'm in the same office - and the regular on this "walk from hell" has another week's leave ... so we wait - we see - we pray !). Let's get tomorrow out of the way - to be followed by a "real six pointer" for Mossley (18th - 31 played - 27 points) at home to Harrogate RA (20th - 31 played - 26 points).

Out for tea at daughters tonight - she's even brought in a cook to "do the honours" - as in eldest son !! Looking forward to some mainly veggie delights (although I believe he IS doing some chicken legs for the carnivores as well !!).

Ooooh - and look what EBay brought today (well actually I got home from work to find a P739 card, so it was straight back out (still in uniform) down to the Post Office to pick it up - aaah the irony !!) - 'twas an "impulse buy" to say the least ...



I always liked Wards Bitter from my heady days at Sheffield Poly back in the late 70's !

In fact it might come in useful ... as I've got a week's holiday starting on the 5th March - which means I've GOT A SATURDAY OFF (10th) !!! I've not been "daaarnn that way" all season ... and the Nailers are at home to Kidsgrove Athletic on that very day. Sounds like a plan ...
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Wednesday Wobblings (plus bonus pix) ...

... as predicted - 'twas a bugger today (what didn't help was the 0645 train being cancelled and me having to wait another 30 minutes - making me late for work ... I knew I was doomed even at that early hour !!!). So a heavy day which was made worse by the incessant rain from start to finish - as per usual the house is now littered with stuff drying out (if it ain't camera stuff ... it's work stuff !). Looking on the bright side (ha !) - tomorrow's weather is supposed to be untypically tropical - hurrah ! However the chicken & chorizo (and bacon and mushrooms and red peppers and sugar snap peas and sweetcorn with passata, garlic bouillon and paprika sauce) was probably better than it would have been last night, having had an extra 24 hours to mix/marinade/flavour/imbue/call it what you will ...

I've also got around to downloading a couple of pix taken on cameraphone yesterday whilst "on the road" - one that made me think "It's all worthwhile" ... and the other that made me think "Tell me about it !!" - should be fairly obvious which is which !!!



Now THAT'S what I call a delivery - outside Greenfield Brewery ...



A stone on the steps up to St Mark's Church, Greenfield ...

One football "diary date" now confirmed - Monday 26th March at Hyde FC KO 1945hrs - Droylsden v Mossley (Manchester Premier Cup Final).

... now wondering whether to wear my shorts tomorrow ... that didn't take long ... NO CHANCE !!
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Curzon/Clitheroe Pictures ...

... are now up and running ...

Curzon Ashton 2 Clitheroe 1

... OK so I'd done the walk yesterday (so I knew where I was going at least) - but for a so-called "light Tuesday" it was still a right bugger - God only knows what it will be like when it gets heavy - as in the rest of the week. Once again I spent the day slowly collecting undeliverable packets until I ended up with the final bag full of mail and as much again.



obviously NOT the "real thing" - but you get the point !!!

It's probably the one thing that gets my goat - the RM "Management" are forever wobbling on about the need to change the business due to the change in mail - and you may have noticed in the past I'm forever wobbling on about the need for change being a "two-way thing" - RM do their bit (for better for worse !) and why don't the customers do their bit as well (decent sized letter boxes, adequate safe parcel storage - and if you're expecting a Special Delivery/Sign-For packet/letter - make an effort to actually receive it !!!). Hey ho - rant over for another day ...

Apparently it's Pancake Day - so my chicken and chorizo stew is doing just that --- stewing --- while everyone makes pancakes --- grr !!
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A Right Grueller !! Then Curzon/Clitheroe ...

The immortal 0615 phone call came through - man gone sick, can you get in for 0700, do three hours prepping, then a walk you've never done before - not forgetting that half-walk you're doing on overtime ... cutting it short I finally dropped my final letter at about 1705hrs ... yep about 7 (seven) hours walking; a lot of it in that fine miserable drizzle ... what people have to do to earn a crust !!! Must admit I'm astonished at the number of "man sick" stories - it's all these young 'uns (right bunch of wimps - or lead swingers - you choose ...) especially as I can stand/sit on my high horse as since June 2010, my attendance record has been 100% - counts for nowt probably but makes me feel good !

Home - dry off - change - eat cheese & ham butty before shooting off to Curzon Ashton for the game against Clitheroe - and the away team caught everybody cold with a first minute goal - yeah, me still plumbing the gear in - still, Curzon showed why they're up there at the top by coming out 2-1 winners, which puts them two points clear of AFC Fylde at the top of Evo One North - with a game in hand as well.

Too late to go through the full set of pix (I'm on a similar daft o'clock start tomorrow - but only one walk - and now I've done it once ... etc etc ...), so you'll have to wait until Tuesday evening for the full set ... HOWEVER, being the nice person I am - here's Chris McDonagh scoring the winner tonight ...



2-1 Curzon !!!

That nice relaxing Sunday - straight out of the window in less than 24 hours ...
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A More Relaxed Sunday ...

Waiting for the train @ Greenfield Station (after the shopping/drinking) ...

... a little shopping (i.e. tonight's tea - baked salmon side with "stuff") ...
... a little drinking ...
... a little FA Cup watching (not too much mind - I've a non-league reputation to keep !) ...
... a little cooking (see above) ...



Some of tonight's "tea toons" (fancy lights are on the ceiling) - have to pick and choose with this album mind ...

... a little TV (with built-in 'snooze') ...
... a little blogging ...

... to be followed by big sleep (very soon !) ...

A couple of hours (and a half) overtime waiting for me @ work tomorrow (must remember to shout at people as well !!), to be followed by Curzon Ashton v Clitheroe in the evening ...
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Stalybridge Celtic v Workington

... more to come ... pix for now ...

Stalybridge Celtic 1 Workington 3

(we've run out of beer and chocolate at home - so I need to repair to the local convenience store - and maybe drop in to a local hostelry on the way back !!).

Al Bee Bak

It's 0020 - and I am back - listening to the classic Budgie album "Never Turn Your Back On A Friend" (note to Metallica fans - if you've ever heard them playing a track called "Breadfan" - it was originally a Budgie track) - and that trip to the hostelry involved watching the Klitschko/Chisora fight ... well he tried !

Anyway today ... knowing that was some overtime involved, I went into work 45 mins early and did the o/t first. Reckon I did get stung a touch (even with it being a Saturday) but hey ho on that (did it within the allotted time so ..) ... then did my full walk - and the "clowns" who'd thrown it in had decided it was rather funny to throw a load of random "door to doors" into the frame - now I've been a good boy all week and dutifully delivered the damn stuff (in fact doing over the top to ensure bugger all to do today) - so to find this cr*p today was a right bugger. Maybe they think it's funny - I don't - and next week I'm on the same walk - so ... "words will be had" on Monday morning (based around phrases like "selfish ****s", "define the word team", "lazy b*st*rds", and so on) - put it this way - I'm not well pleased - and I don't get peed off easily. Certainly fitted in with the earlier "overtime split" ...

Anyway - after a late "run" (at the end) I managed to make the 1351hrs train from Greenfield - got home - got changed /dried off (it was a grotty day weather-wise as well) and went for the 1430hrs bus to Stalybridge ... which by 1450 HAD NOT TURNED UP !! Bottled out - ordered a taxi (so that's today's overtime money straight out of the flipping window), arriving at the ground at about 1505hrs - not missed too much thought I - only to find Workington had arrived late and the KO had been moved back to 1530hrs - so once again me well dischuffed (I could have caught the 1455 train to Stalybridge and walked up - 15 mins).



Bonus pic - that time-wasting Wukkie keeper gets his just desserts ...

The game - don't care what peeps say - Bridge were shocking first half - Workington not much better, but they had the eye for goal - and 3-0 at half-time was no more than they deserved. There must have been a real "hair dryer" job in the Celtic dressing room at half time, - because the home team totally dominated - but could only find one goal ... the damage had been done..

Home - fiddle with pix - sneak out for chocolate - watch fight - come home - and this (the Budgie album has finished - now listening to some rare stuff - Steve Hillage live at the Deeply Vale Festival 1978 - Steve Hillage - one of my two "absolute" music heroes - Todd Rundgren being t'other).




... and how else do you prove your allegiance to Steve Hillage - the glorious "OM" tattoo on my right arm ...

And - at 0100hrs ... that's y'lot ..

(Obscenities removed/amended 1100 Sunday - I've calmed down a bit now !!!)
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It's been 11 long Days ...

... since any photography of note (it's been even longer for football I'm afraid) ... so in a bid to fill in some gaps I offer you a copy of the official 2012 Smiffy Home Calendar - a few snaps taken in 2011 that are now hanging on the wall thanks to Photobox - my online photo processing company of choice (awaits e-mail with further discounts due to online "plugging" !!!). Note the lack of football - possibly down to the input of Mrs S (sorry probably !!) ...

Fingers crossed for some football on Saturday (Stalybridge Celtic v Workington looks like the one) - weather 'should' be fine - it's just the "RM Brains" ... who are trying to get me to do daft overtime on Saturday afternoon ... might do a bit ... but not a lot !!
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And so it was "ON" ...

You choose ... !!!

... so bugger squared !!! Apparently a 4-1 "romp" according to Mossleyweb - such is life I suppose. So Mossley get to the final to play Droylsden (25th April apparently - venue as yet unknown).

My version of Tuesday included a very early work finish (!) - so early in fact that me and Mrs S went to the 1615 showing rather than the 1830 one - Cineworld Ashton to see "The Woman in Black" ... and it is thoroughly recommended !! A proper "scary movie" - not over the top but nicely understated - which makes it all the more scary !! Harry Potter (OK Daniel Radcliffe) does a very good job - and some of the camera work is really good (a candle reflecting on the the eyes of the monkey toy while the camera panned round looked excellent !). It's just a shame that - these days - a trip to the cinema gets spoiled by morons - yes people actually PAY MONEY to go to the cinema and then behave like complete prats - talking - leaving phone on - wandering in and out - and the crackling of popcorn packets by the obviously clinically obese makes it even worse - can you not a) sit still for a couple of hours; b) put your 'anti-diet' on hold for a couple of hours you fat b*st*rds; c) turn your effing phone off for a couple of hours,because your mates are morons too. Obviously not for some ... this sort of moronic behaviour is not new - I can remember going to the Comedy Store in Manchester several years ago and there were a group of people in front of us talking through the show - it nearly came to violence I have to say ... they did shut up eventually; I'm not a violent person, but when I've paid good money to watch a show ...

Anyway - after pix we drove home and went on a mini-pub crawl followed by a take-away - now that's what I call St Valentines Day !! Home to discover the Mossley victory ... hey ho ! I recall a good few years ago when Mossley got to the final of the Manchester Premier Cup against Droylsden - it was played at Maine Road (i.e. the "proper" Maine Road - viz City) - and it was on April 23rd ... which just so happens to be our wedding anniversary - that time I DID get a "pass out" from the wife - but I've NEVER chanced it since then, so April 25th for this years final made me go "phew !".
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Bugger !

As the weather got warmer and warmer today (relatively speaking of course !) ... and first the woolly hat came off ... and then the gloves came off ... I was thinking what with my St Valentines Day promises to Mrs S for tomorrow (food and pictures), despite there being a Salford City v Mossley game (which I truly believed - still do - will be off) - there might JUST be a chance with Curzon Ashton v Bamber Bridge tonight - rung 'em up as I was finishing walking today - to be told "It's already been called off" - this was the game I went to a couple of weeks ago when the floodlights 'went out' as I was walking towards the ground. Got home - went on Evo-Stik website - yep it's off ... frozen pitch. In a fit of desperation I checked out the North West Counties League website - nowt tonight ...

... and so it goes on ... watch the Salford/Mossley game be on tomorrow ...
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In the Absence of a Sunday Walk ...

... still grotty weather - and the rest might do my leg a bit of good ! Even so we went for a wander round Oldham Gallery - must admit, I've not been there before (it was built in 2002 as well, so ...). Anyway it passed an hour on a cold Sunday, and there were some fairly interesting bits of stuff as well ...



A VERY early "PhotoStitch" - a panorama of Oldham Centre taken in 1876 by local snapper Squire Knott - nine photo plates joined together (although this version has been "tidied up" using modern technology).

There was also a "now and then" exhibition of photos of Oldham Road ('twixt Oldham and Manchester) by Charlie Meecham - again interesting to the the changes - mostly demolition of "old stuff" !! Another gallery contained artwork from children's book illustrators - most of them were 'too new' for me and Mrs S to know about - our kids were young many years ago - but there were some "Alfie" pictures by Shirley Hughes, who we DID remember from the 80s/90s ...



... finally this is part of the "Chameleons and Shape Shifters" exhibition by Michael Shaw - a piece of 'live edge acrylic' - unlit - which has been 'vacuum blown' into a 3D shape - very unusual ...

... and then we went to Sainsburys - and it's chicken for tea !!!

In the Absence of Football ...

OK I did bob up to Mossley Football Club to "chew the football fat" as they say - a few miserable (in the nicest possible way) peeps chuntering about "real" football (with one eye on Final Score on the telly !!) and looking out of the Social Club window to see this - and wonder about when the next game might be (April ??) ... still it was a couple of pints - and money into the club when they need it most ...



Final Score gave us some info ... Stockport County played (!) and drew 2-2 with Newport County ... and Stafford Rangers lost 2-0 at Chester (grrr !). Loved all the stories about the Evra/Suarez spat - words like "...will overshadow all the football today ..." Ha bloody Ha - the "overshadowing" is down to media hype which is due to the total lack of quality on the pitch - to be frank I wonder how many people REALLY give a t*ss - maybe the Jeremy Kyle Fan Club ...

Going out in about five minutes - so I'll leave you with this little "picture conundrum" - well I think it's far more worthy than "EvraSuarezGate" - or whatever the tabloids will come up with tomorrow ...


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Saturday Football - Ha !!

(as at 1830hrs Friday)

Ashton United v Marine - no call yet but ... what do YOU think when you look below !!
Bishop's Stortford v Hyde FC - OFF
Curzon Ashton v Ossett Town - OFF
Droylsden v Harrogate Town - OFF
Mossley v Lancaster City - OFF
Stalybridge Celtic v Nuneaton Town - OFF

Well - should have been at the pictures 7 minutes ago to go and check out "The Woman in Black" (can Daniel Radcliffe hack it in a non-Harry Potter casting ??) - but thanks again to some (more !) startling management ineptitude I didn't get home until 1800hrs. It's certainly been an 'interesting' week ...

Monday - Go into Greenfield to do Walk A (knowing full well that Walk A man is coming in anyway - he finishes on Thursday - as in leaving). Get sent to Oldham to do a walk in the Limeside area - heavy (all social housing, and Housing Association has sent a mail-out i.e. to every bloody house !).

Tuesday - Sent to Greenfield to do Walk B (guys day off) - fall over (!!) - get phone call - can you now do Walk B for the rest of the week (God only knows what Walk B guy has been told) ?

Wednesday - Do Walk B

Thursday - Do Walk B

Friday - Go in to do Walk B - get phone call - can you do Walk A as Walk A guy has now left ? Oh and can you do some of Walk B as well (basically because we forgot Walk A guy was leaving and now we can't cover Walk B) ? No drop bag keys available for Walk A. Can you get them off driver ? Driver already gone out. Can you do the overtime Walk B first and leave note for driver ? OK. Do half of Walk B before starting on Walk A - finish at 1600hrs. Still some of Walk B to do - can you please ? OK. Do more of Walk B - finish at 1720hrs - wait for train home (OK quick slurp in "Railway" @ Greenfield, so not ALL bad !). Home at 1800hrs so too late for tea, shower and out to pics for 1830hrs.

Saturday - who knows ? Have been told to do Walk A again (and next weeks duty sheet says I will be on Walk A ALL next week) - but I wonder - just a little bit (!!) - whether Walk B will be covered tomorrow - or will the phone ring yet again with the plea "Can you do a bit ... ?". Looking at the top of this post (i.e. the state of "football play") - I'll probably say "What the hell, why not ...).

Sometimes I really wonder about RM 'management' - see earlier posts about p*ss ups in breweries etc etc ...



(Looks like the pictures will now happen next Tuesday night - well it IS St Valentines Day - and Salford play Mossley in the Manchester Premier Cup - allegedly - can't see that being on either - can you ?)

Oh - and there is a slow gradual improvement with the "Grade 1 Muscle Contusion" - still stiffening up quite awkwardly in the evenings but starting to get more comfortable during the day - and today HAS been quite a day - fortunately someone else is now doing the cooking !!

LATE EDIT (2100hrs) - Ashton United game now OFF as well ...
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Thursday Catch-Up - Not so Ouch but ...

... well I did what every sensible person does - no, not a trip to the Doctors - I'm so 21st Century me !! A quick Google on "bruised calf muscle" and that told me everything I needed to know (eat your heart out NHS Direct !!). It appears to be a "Grade 1 Muscle Contusion" - I know it's Grade 1 because I passed the 'tiptoe test' (as in if you can stand on your tiptoes without going "AAAARGH !", it's classed as Grade 1). Remedy was 2-3 weeks rest (although I think this actually applies to athletes !) and lots of RICE (as in Rest Ice Compression Elevation) - myself I actually prefer PASTA (Prolong Agony Saving Time Anyway) - although I did go for the Elevation on Tuesday night knowing full well the Ice would kick in on Wednesday morning - as in bloody cold outside !

Can feel a slight improvement over the days - but with me not being the "21st Century Wimp" (i.e. work through it) it might take a while - still the leg hasn't dropped off yet. Wednesday was bad underfoot - but today was actually worse, what with the last couple of days being 'melt a bit and then freeze again overnight' - end up walking on very awkward lumpy chunks of ice. Still ... job done - money in bank (not that namby pamby sick pay stuff either).

Other news - apparently the FA Cup is up on display in Mossley Social Club tonight - well that was well advertised - NOT (I only found out when I got home from work) - no doubt the idea is for the FA to make a few bob allowing peeps to be photographed with it - helps to pay for New Wembley I suppose. I'll give it a miss (in the midst of cooking a rich winter beef casserole anyway !), because if I turn up with a camera, no doubt there'll be rather large security guards barring my view (ever the cycnic - but I believe that's the norm).

As you probably know, our old cat finally met its maker a few weeks ago - which put us down to one cat (young Berlioz). However ... for the last couple of months there's been (you guessed it) a stray cat knocking about on our street and (you guessed) it's had the odd meal at our place. It now seems to be getting comfy in our kitchen !!!



Known as "Pirate Cat" ...

Just looked outside ... no snow yet !!!
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Ouch !!

... and double ouch !! Came an "almighty cropper" on some sheet ice this morning - right at the start of the walk - finished OK but still bloody painful this evening. Back of the right calf - no external bruising but ... like a dead leg only deader (any clues anyone ??). Fingers crossed I can walk tomorrow morning - very stiff at the moment ...

Strangely enough - no football this evening; the only option (Stalybridge Celtic v Bishop's Stortford) was quite sensibly called off yesterday ... not holding my breath for this weekend either to be honest ...


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It's Not Just Football (Snow) ...

... just a few snaps from the back yard and garden - nowt special - not much colour - but at least the snow isn't blue (all down to exposure compensation y'know !!!)

Out the Back - 05Feb12

Now putting together a rather juicy chicken casserole (with bacon and chorizo thrown in - naturally !). Mrs Smiffy made it back safely from Belper (isn't the A6 wonderful) - as did daughter (who'd gone down there on Friday in "Bobby Blue" !) - so all's well ...
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The "Annual Ritual" ...

... well it seems to be like that these days - a few snaps taken today (on my way up to the Co-op !) 0f Seel Park, Mossley (it's been very misty/foggy today up our end as well) - should be at home to Lancaster City next Saturday ... we'll see how the week pans out - although it has to be said the temperature today is tropical compared to previous (i.e. it IS above freezing !) and there has been a fair bit of thawing today. However it is going to dip below again tonight, so what's left (as in still a lot !) will crisp up nicely before another "rise" tomorrow daytime.

Seel Park in the Snow 05Feb12

Next (I think only) midweek 'should' see Stalybridge Celtic at home to Bishop's Stortford on Tuesday night - again it's a wait and see - although given the travelling required, I can't give it much hope ... I can feel a "call to arms" at Bower Fold on Monday afternoon/Tuesday morning to shift snow (I'm guessing the frost covers will be there underneath) - unfortunately this time round - I have a job and am therefore unable ... unlike this (Jan 2010) and this (Dec 2009)

Fingers crossed ...

(PS - got a few "macro type" snaps from the garden today - will have a peep at them later (not expecting miracles mind !!!)

1710 hrs - OOPS - cocked up link - now sorted ...
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A Virtual Wipe-out !

... and even the Woodley Sports "all-weather surface" has failed today ...

Just got back from work (OK about 1405hrs) - it started snowing just after 1200hrs in Greenfield ...

... forget non-league football "up our end" today - unless you live in Fleetwood or Durham. Conference North all off; Evo-Stik Prem all off; Evo-Stik North all off (except Durham v Mossley - hope it lasts longer than 43 minutes - hope the coach gets back as well !); Evo-Stik South all off (except Sutton Coldfield v Kidsgrove); North West Counties League all off as well.

Reckon I was right "not to be bovvered" ... ESPN here we come !

(1455hrs update - still snowing - and it's sticking !)
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Am I Bovvered ...

... about football tomorrow ?? As in "live" football ??

Straight answer - NO ! Having just spent three blisteringly cold days "on the road" - with one (apparently worse !) to come, the thought of more cold time finding my way to a game and then suffering 90 minutes of sub-zero before similar journey home ... just doesn't fill me with enthusiasm at all. Of course the other problem would be actually finding a game - OK you might think Woodley (plastic) Sports is a guaranteed "on" ... but ... please note that Mossley are away at Durham (plastic) City - and they're apparently having a pitch inspection at 0900hrs tomorrow (obviously not wishing a repeat of the 2008 fiasco) - so I guess anything's possible. Plenty of games at all levels already called off tomorrow - with more to come following some cursory pitch inspections in the morning I would think. An obvious "cheapskate" option is to take advantage of the free ESPN weekend on TV (in fact I've already caught a bit of the Nuremberg v Borussia Dortmund tonight) - tomorrow's UK option is Man City v Fulham ... well it's football of sorts ... and I trust all the pubs/clubs are aware of this free offer (i.e. when "fewer than expected" turn up).

And - just for info - last night's DVD of choice was "Back to the Future 1" - and tonight's DVD of choice was ..."Back to the Future 2" - wonder what I might watch tomorrow night ??
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Midweek Mutterings ...

... well a day off on Tuesday - when they come somewhat 'unexpected' you just don't know what to do - so by 1100hrs on Tuesday I was bored witless ... so ... I went shopping (sort out Tuesday tea) !! Tuesday came and went - and then on Wednesday I got the call - to do a walk in Uppermill (guy on compassionate leave), and today (at 0619hrs to be exact !) I got the call - "Can you be in Greenfield for 0700 hrs ?" - no problem (starting that early = 3 hours O/T). Looks like similar for the rest of the week as well (unsure why - assuming a "man flu" epidemic !!). Mrs Smiffy shot off to Mum-in-Laws today (she's just had a cataract op - and she is over 85 - M-I-L not wife !), so tonight either ...

1) stay in and watch DVD of choice ...
2) sneak out to "Railway" in Greenfield (with camera) to watch band (Pie) and take snaps ...

See how I feel later on ... meanwhile a midweek picture, taken shortly after dinner last night (hence no plates on table) on compact and buggered about with on Photoshop - just for fun as they say ...



... aim was trying to emphasise the wine glass shadow ...

Weekend football is NOT looking promising - with Mrs S being away (probably until Sunday), no car available for a speedy end to Saturday work - notwithstanding the weather forecast either (as in "Grim"). Best bet is probably Woodley (plastic pitch) Sports v Curzon Ashton - but it might be a bugger getting there - we'll see ...
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