Mossley v Salford City

Flippin' heck ... it was COLD !!! And that was 0730 in the morning - still, kept moving, kept pushing letters through freezing cold metal letterboxes (after opening freezing cold metal gates), and got finished in good time to get home for some "exotic lunch" (Mrs Smiffy had been into Ashton and brought back some a rather nice Spicy Lamb Arabic Wrap from CafeMozaic - so filling in fact that we didn't bother with tea later !!).

Anyway - up the road to Seel Park to see how rusty the footballers were after the weather-enforced break.  Mossley gave a debut to new signings Chris Denham and Russ Saunders - t'other newbie Tyron Sealey was on the bench.  The home team dominated the first 45 minutes but could only put the ball in the net twice whilst conceding a rather freaky equaliser.  The second half was much more even - and Salford managed an equaliser.  Despite a lot of pressure in the last quarter of the game however, Mossley were unable to fashion a winner ... probably a case of two points lost I'm afraid !  Some pictures at 

Mossley 2 Salford City 2

Any hopes of a prolonged "Skelmersdale blip" (after their 1-4 trouncing at Burscough in midweek) were probably kyboshed at about 1505hrs when Curzon 'keeper Josh Ollerenshaw was shown the red card (wonder if Ben Richardson took over between the sticks - SUNDAY NIGHT EDIT - Yep - he's confirmed it on Facebook !!) - it finished 6-1 to Skem - eek !!  However the other "contenders" - New Mills ended up on the wrong end of a 1-5 trouncing at home to Bamber Bridge - the Millers also ended up with 10 men after Leon Grandison was dismissed.  Trafford and Clitheroe also contrived to lose ... so maybe in the end it was a point gained ??  Hyde slipped up 1-2 at Woking they've got to be careful not to slip back into the relegation mire after all their hard work before Christmas, especially with teams like Stockport and Barrow putting together results.  Stalybridge travelled to that well-known northern team Bishops Stortford (!) and came back with a hard-earned 0-0 draw. Droylsden however slipped up at another one of those "northern teams" - i.e. Histon - going down 1-3.  Finally Ashton United managed a late equaliser to draw 2-2 at Matlock Town.

Weather going cold again next week - also the "snow word" has been mentioned ... will probably head for Curzon Ashton tomorrow night for their League Cup game against Burscough who  - fresh from their trouncing of Skelmersdale last midweek - managed to lose to a 90th minute goal yesterday at home to Harrogate RA.
.

Flippin' Heck - 'Tis Wednesday already ....

... and I've said nowt since Friday night !!!

What can you say - Saturday just followed on from the Friday night hell in Oldham - yep same "white stuff" out in the hills, so I took my time knowing full well there'd be bugger all football anywhere ... so ended up watching a bit more of the Africa Cup of Nations - which to be honest has been a godsend over the last several days (especially as it's on "normal" telly as well !).  Sunday saw me snatch the second half of the Leeds/Spurs FA Cup game ... and of course had to watch the Oldham/Liverpool tie as well (again normal telly saw me sneak out of the pub !!) - great performance by Oldham - and it was nice to see Matt Smith score a couple - four and a bit years ago he was playing for Droylsden (think he played in the Droylsden v Belper  FA Cup game from October 2008 as well).  Guess it follows on from watching James Hanson score for Bradford City against Villa last week - he used to play for Guiseley - just shows you don;t have to trawl Europe for players and pay daft sums of money ...

Monday - was Monday I suppose - nowt jumps out.  Tuesday - I had to be rather sharp as I had an appointment at the dentist for a rather large (and painful - still now) filling; and what with pain and poo weather I ended up giving the only chance of midweek football (i.e. Droylsden v Worcester) a miss - not a bad move it seems !!! Happy to see the Super Eagles squeeze through as well - Mrs Smiffy spent some time working out in Nigeria (well the "Biafra" end of the country) so we've always given them a shout when the African Nations comes around ...

Today - more rain and hurricane-style winds to boot - nowt to rush for so wandered along and came home to cook a bit of Spanish-type stuff involving patatas bravas, chorizo and the like - and now this ... 

Was it really worth waiting for - - - -  probably not .... !!!!
.

Fun in the Snow ...

Well it tried to snow this afternoon - but didn't - so got away with it at work (just five days of compacted "old" snow and ice instead).  Tonight we had tickets for Jeremy Hardy @ the Oldham Coliseum, and by the time we got there (1910hrs) ... it was coming down.  An excellent one-man show - two hours of ramble about this and that - and at 2145 we came out ... into HELL !!!!  The Car Park was total chaos - it was fun watching this 4x4 making a total *rse of itself (it's obviously true that for 90% of people, they're bought as status symbols by people who haven't a clue how to use them - it's being so cynical that keeps me cheerful !!) - wonder if it's still there, going sideways ...  I just cleared our trusty Astra of snow and watched the fun ... before bouncing up over a kerb and down the other side (using the deep snow as a ramp) before a fairly torturous journey home - arriving back at about 2315.  I say back - the final steep hill up to our street was a snowdrift too far, so abandoned the car (safely !!) and trudged the final few hundred yards home for ... BEER - and this !!

Work might be interesting tomorrow morning - as the mega-thaw ain't due to start until the afternoon.  Non-League football ??? Probably a total wipe-out - Droylsden and Stalybridge are already off - only a matter of time tomorrow morning before Hyde and the two Ashton's are called off - typical isn't it; five at home this weekend - and we get this final winter blast (I say final - who knows what February will bring).  TV football - or extended working (!!) looks like the order of the day ..
.

Arriving Tomorrow at ALL Tameside Grounds ...

... new kit for the ball boys ...

Should cover all potential "Hazards" ...

(NOTE - have been "dreaming this up all day" whilst out walking - no doubt the office-based internet warriors - stealing bandwidth off their employers - have beaten me to it - but ....)
.

RIP John Bircham ...

... because some of us DO go the extra mile ... read on ...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-somerset-21144214

Great to be Back at Work ... ?

Woke up this morning - checked outside and ...

OK I lied (pic stolen from Facebook !!!) ... but yes there were a fair few inches on the ground - eek !!  Still ... managed OK - naturally this week we've got 5 (five) "Door to Doors"/Households/Unaddressed (junk ?) Mail - call it what you will ... a few pics off the phone from today ...

 Canal lock near Greenfield

Looking up towards Pots'n'Pans monument from high up in Uppermill

Footpath up to same ...

 

A few berries - a lot of snow ...

No doubt it's gonna freeze tonight - making it properly treacherous underfoot tomorrow .... oh by the way - Curzon Ashton v Burscough off tonight (surprise !) so I'm giving Nigeria a shout at the moment (and maybe Southampton later !!).
.

Chester v Stalybridge Celtic

We got football !!

First we lost Colwyn Bay v Droylsden (which would have meant an early train anyway !) - then Bamber Bridge v Curzon Ashton bit the dust ... which left just Stockport Sports v AFC Liverpool (definitely on because of the 3G pitch) - or wait a little longer for the 1100 hrs pitch inspection at Chester - once that game was confirmed ON, it was a matter of a few frantic phone calls - and I was (virtually) sorted ... and many thanks to Brian @ Stalybridge who managed to squeeze me onto the Suppporters' Bus at very very short notice - always a good posh bus (with toilet for us oldies !!) and a good craic.

So - arrived at Chester with camera in bag thinking "ex-League club mentality - might be tricky" - however two more 'phone calls, much mentioning of the "Tameside Reporter" (who ARE printing a lot of my pics in their weekly paper - with credits !!) and much flashing of the "'Six Tame Sides' Business Card" (good ol' Vistaprint !!) ... and I was in !!  A great deal of credit must go to the hardy band of volunteers who first cleared the snow off the covers - and then removed the covers, to reveal a playable piece of grass - well done to all concerned - and a crowd of 2095 more than justified all the hard work.

Celtic were fielding a much-weakened side due to injuries and suspensions - and despite creating an early chance when Leon Osborne just flicked the ball past the post, found themselves 3-0 down by half-time.   However it would have been much worse had it not been for the heroics of Ashley Woodhouse (replacing the suspended Alex Cairns) in the Celtic goal.  He made three or four stunning saves to keep the rampant Cestrians (who included ex-Celt Dave Hankin) at bay.

A re-shuffle at half time gave the Celtic defence a bit more solidity, and it was a much more even 45 minutes than the first.  Jack Laird was introduced and within minutes he pulled a goal back for Celtic with a wonderful free-kick.  However the home team managed to prevent any sort of revival, and late on scored an excellent fourth goal through Baynes.  Some pics from the game at 

Chester FC 4 Stalybridge Celtic 1

(and by the way it was bloody cold with thin snow falling for pretty much the whole 90 minutes - shutter finger was really starting to struggle at the end !).

Back to Stalybridge - and a quick pint (only my second of the day !) before home to Coq au Vin (which had been popped in the slo-cooker before leaving the house several hours earlier) and more drinkies !!

Today - I'm not going to bust a gut to pick up the "Non-League Paper" - might be a bit thin !!  Mrs Smiffy off to London this afternoon for a few days' training (got to drive her down to Manchester Piccadilly later) - I'll probably write a few "Thank You" cards later - to all "my customers" who gave me Christmas tips - finished the season with nearly £150, 160 ciggies, two bottles of wine, one half-bottle of port and a box of After Eights - not a bad haul at all !!  Have already converted some of the money into goodies - I've finally decided to say "Farewell" to the 'Carrier Bag and Elastic Band' - and bought a rather posh camera and lens cover - 

(For those interested, check out the website )

... plus the Todd Rundgren/Utopia CDs mentioned a day or so ago - plus book "A Wizard A True Star" by Paul Myers (a book about ... Todd Rundgren !) - and a few picture frames - all I need now is some decent pics to put in 'em !!

Having got away with one "bad weather week" by being on holiday last week - it's looking pretty much the same for this coming week - aargh !!  Time to break the full RM Winter Wear Catalogue I feel ...

... and further to the "wild life" pics earlier this week - I found another thieving bugger on the bird table minutes after I'd topped it up this morning - Fitz the squirrel helping himself ...

 


















.

Just for Laughs ...

... filmed by a postie ...

... passes the time I guess ...

Football today - we're down to Chester v Stalybridge Celtic or Stockport Sports v my "old friends" AFC Liverpool ... we'll see ...
.

No "Big Snow" Here ... Yet ...

Haircut over ... just been prepping tonight's tea - OK it's only bolognese, but if I cook it up early and leave it to "splurge" the flavours will be SO much better !! At the moment we're only getting the thin flaky stuff (snow that is) but I took camera downstairs to see what the birds thought of our offerings - bread, peanuts, water etc plus a bit of bonus bacon rind from the food - never works very well through double glazing - but here's a few ...

Winter Bird Type Stuff 18Jan13

Good to see the Northern Prem have seen sense in allowing clubs to call stuff off today rather than going through the motions tomorrow morning - helluva lot called off already (including Mossley's home game against Farsley FC and Marine v Ashton United) ... but - at this moment in time there's still a few options (Bamber Bridge v Curzon Ashton for starters) ... and in the Conference ... Hyde v Cambridge off but Colwyn Bay v Droylsden and Chester v Stalybridge Celtic are still "cheating the weather".  Maybe more postponements to come this evening but ... I'll be prepared for something - somewhere ...

UPDATE ... still a chance here ...

 
.

A Day Out ...

... in the "big city" ... a leisurely wander around the National Football Museum - a good 2/3 hours anyway - and yes it's recommended !! Guess I was a touch lucky going midweek, as it was not too busy/ full of bloody football fans !!  A quick look around the shop where I behaved myself by NOT buying a signed copy of "The Cradle of the Game" by photographer Stuart Roy Clarke (£35 !!) - instead buying 3 postcards (the "My Team's Lost" postcard - just hope 3 is enough for the rest of the season !!).  A few pictures at 

National Football Museum 17Jan13

Followed this by "joining the vultures" - a wander around the HMV Store, where I managed to pick up 5 Todd Rundgren/Utopia CDs for the princely sum of £15.

Today ... no sign of this promised snow - so I'm going for a haircut ... yes it's a real rock'n'roll lifestyle this week ... football tomorrow ?? Not holding my breath ...
.

Getting Desperate ...

... so me off to pub to give the Hammers a shout ...

... and tomorrow ... into Manchester for a wander round the National Football Museum ...

... well it's something ...
.

Typical (with Wednesday Update) !!

Nice (??) piccy from the Hull City website !!

You get a week off work - and along comes the magic word "Postponed" - first Curzon Ashton v Burscough last night (re-arranged for next Monday by the way) - and minutes ago the Droylsden v Altrincham game bit the dust according to their Message Board.

Hey-ho ... dentists this afternoon ... tea already chugging along in the slo-cooker ... what next ...

WEDNESDAY MORNING - Next ... tonight's game (Ashton United v FC United of Manchester) called off - aargh !
.

It's That Time of Year ...

...I'm on holiday - it's snowing - so let's get some pictures of the football club - it seems to be an annual event !!!  So .. Seel Park in the snow ...

Mossley AFC - Snow - 14Jan13

... the things you can do when you're on holiday !!!  Other than that - I gave the cooker a good thrutching (and for those who might want to know ... mix some baking powder and water into a paste and apply it to the oven window - inside bit ... it's brill at getting rid of the brown, greasy sh*t that builds up - trust me !!); sorted out the bird table for the little winged ones; did some shopping; tidied up some papers; drank some beer; cooked a tea - simple rocket salad with onion, olives and feta cheese - topped off with some roasted sweet potato and beetroot and some spicy chicken bits - one pot meal - excellent !!).

No footy tonight - the Curzon Ashton v Burscough League Cup game was called off some some reason (!!!) - maybe tomorrow (Droylsden v Altrincham) ... fingers crossed ...
.

Stalybridge Celtic v Corby Town

As per usual on a Saturday, work finishing time dictated choice of game (although I'm now on holiday for a WHOLE WEEK - including next Saturday - so the world is my lobster next weekend !!!), so headed up to Bower Fold to see Celtic take on the Scots from Corby Town (this time round though I didn't hear as many accents as I have in the past). 

"The Laying on of Hands" - Mitch Austin and Dave Pover ...

 It was a big physical Corby team who managed to keep the more "diminutive" home team at bay, getting in the way of most efforts, and when they did get through the Steelmen's 'keeper Paul Walker was in top form.  Celtic were caught cold in the first five minutes - and it took the introduction of  Joel Bembo-Leta early in the second half to give the home side a bit more physical presence up front - with pretty much his first touch (?) he managed to earn a penalty, coolly converted by Kristian Platt.  However parity only lasted for a few minutes when a defensive slip let in Crowe for what proved to be the winner.

It wasn't as though Celtic did much wrong during the last 85 minutes ... Corby came to do a job and did it well.  Some pictures at

Stalybridge Celtic 1 Corby Town 2

Meanwhile ... Droylsden let a one goal lead slip at Solihull Moors losing 1-2 via an 89th minute winner; Mossley had travelled to Trafford in a top-of-the-table clash and came away with a 0-2 defeat (both goals scored by ex-Lilywhite Michael Oates - grrr !);  Ashton United succumbed to a late late winner, losing 0-1 at home to Buxton; and Curzon Ashton drew 1-1 at home to Cammell Laird (in front of a crowd of 615 - apparently some presentation went off after the game).   Hyde FC had no game due to the FA Trophy.

So - a whole week's holiday - what shall I do ??  Certainly building up a list at the moment, including all those things you can't do when you're pretty much working six days a week (dentist, haircut etc etc !!).  Might get some football in too - certainly already looking for something different/unusual/"train trip-like" for next Saturday - time to peruse the "Non League Paper" fixture list I think ...
.

Ashton United v Mossley - the Pictures ....

Ashton United 2 Mossley 2 after 90 minutes

The Penalty Shoot-Out - Mossley win 9-8

(Them there penalty shoot-outs are a bugger to go through - three pix for each pen - and then making sure you get everything in the right order - and hoping that someone has noted down all the names - aargh !!).

We got there in the end - and now play Maine Road at home in the semi-final ...
.

And Mossley stroll on ...

... into the Semi-Finals of the Manchester Premier Cup after a 2-2 draw tonight at Ashton United ... yes it went STRAIGHT to penalties ... which Mossley won 9-8 - more tomorrow, but here's Martin Pearson saving penalty number  18 ...

It's a bit rough but ... I promise more (and better) tomorrow - cus it's late !!
.

... and they want to privatise Royal Mail ...

... so it becomes "just another private courier firm" like this lot ...

The Great Online Delivery Scandal

Food for thought ...
.

Mossley v Ossett Albion

That was MUCH better ... obviously "words must have been said" after the New Years Day debacle against New Mills - and it showed from the outset.  Mossley were up against a very defensive-minded Albion - some might have called it "frustrating", but I looked at it like a game of chess with Mossley happy to move the ball around, staying patient and just probing for the openings.  Once Adam Mather got Mossley off the mark however, there was only going to be one winner ... and in the end 2-0 wasn't really a fair reflection of the game - could have/should have been more.  Anyway - good to get last Tuesday "out of the Mossley hair" ... some pictures at

Mossley 2 Ossett Albion 0

Next week sees Stalybridge Celtic at home on Tuesday (v Bishops Stortford) and a Manchester Premier Cup Quarter-Final at Hurst Cross between Ashton United and Mossley - we'll have to see if we can sneak two in (he he !) - unlikely but ...

Finally - well done to Macclesfield Town and Luton Town for keeping the non-league flag flying in the FA Cup - maybe Mansfield could make it a trio of "Towns" later today ???
.

Mountain Bikers ... BEWARE !!

From the Manchester Evening News

... some sad sad people around ...
.

A "Postie's Lament" ...

Not just after today ... but it sort of sums up the two weeks since Christmas ...

Dear Saga Holidays,

It's really nice that you're looking after the old people - so many of them obviously are unaware of the internet (ha - ever heard the phrase "silver surfers" ??) - so they obviously need holiday information.  Sending four/five brochures in one pack - yes it was nearly one inch thick (or 2.54cms for the "less old" !) - is an interesting way of passing that information on - especially when here are large numbers of  "Saga-age" people on the postie's walk.  Maybe this is some cunning plan to ensure that - in the future - postmen and postwomen who reach the "age of Saga" will be totally incapable of actually going on holiday, due to muscular damage picked up in previous years ... probably down to having to deliver multiple Saga Holiday brochures ... so you're probably "saving money in advance" ...


Dear BarclayCard,

Nice to know that you're looking out for people just after Christmas - you understand that people may well have overstretched themselves financially ... and a bulky flyer advertising your wares can obviously do no harm (although I suppose you could advertise your %APR on the front - it could save a lot of time between letter box and recycling bin).  However - it's probably a good idea to update your address database - no doubt over the last 12 months you've received many "returns" from Royal Mail that have been endorsed with "Addressee gone away"/"Addressee unknown"/even "Addressee DEAD".  I'd like to think that there is some kind of department in your Leeds office that actually takes note of these endorsements - or maybe I'm being a touch optimistic.  Obviously you are charging obscene interest rates on your credit cards - so a few (?) thousand badly addressed flyers shouldn't make too much difference to your overall profits - especially as you are using one of these DSA companies (for those not "in the know" DSA = Down Stream Access, whereby a private company takes all the profit - but hands over all the mail to Royal Mail to do the "final delivery" - and Royal Mail lose approx 1.2p per item) ...

Dear "Other" Holiday Brochure Companies,

Maybe you too need to look at your mail address databases - yes WE KNOW that sometimes the husband will book the holiday ... and sometimes the wife will book the holiday ... but that's no real excuse to send two thick brochures to the same address - maybe you need a software developer to pick up on such anomalies to ensure that only one brochure is sent to one address - and I think a few trees in Scandinavia would support me on this quest ...

Dear Insurance Companies,

Is it really necessary to send two copies of the same thing to one address ??  One "ordinary" letter and one that requires a signature ??  I feel sorry for the customers who open the one and then have to go down to the Post Office to pick up the other one - that has exactly the same thing inside it.  Never mind the time wasted by the postie - that's what we're paid for (allegedly) ...

Dear Catalogue Companies,

By gum they're thick aren't they - and damned heavy too ... OK not all of them but you know what I mean.  Here's an idea - why not check your order databases ... and if someone HAS NOT ordered something from you in the last 5 years - maybe remove them from your database - once again the Scandinavian forests may well thank you for it ...

I could go on - but I'm cold wet, tired ... and my shoulder hurts ...
.

... and to add Insult to New Year Injury ...

check this out ('twas mentioned on Sunday's blog - OK near the bottom) ...

Yep -'tis the 'Vegetarian Terrine' - looks really good does it not  ... HOWEVER ... both our freezer and 'fridge appear to be working at "Sub-Polar" temperatures - so a (Sunday) night in the freezer followed by the best part of 40 odd hours in the 'fridge ... and it was  STILL bloody "semi-freddo" - AAAAARGH !!!

Just about put the tin hat on a thoroughly poo day ...
.

2013 - A BAD Start ...

... it all started to go horribly wrong when  I found out there were no buses - OK I should have checked earlier ... but I knew the trains were on - and sort of assumed (like you do) ...  so Ashton United v Stafford Rangers ... FAIL !

Too late to do much else other than walk up the road to Seel Park - and after the first 45 minutes I was all for going home.  Probably the most inept/disinterested display of 'football' that I've seen for many a year (and yes I've seen some cr*p over the years up there !).  Marginally better in the second half - but the damage was done - and tbh New Mills could have had more.  I managed - somehow to find a few pictures - but at 1655hrs - even now - I struggled.

Mossley 0 New Mills 4

Guess we should be thankful we're not Hucknall Town fans - although from what I've read the eight players who did turn up gave their all ... which is more than can be said for the 14 that 'graced' the Seel Park pitch today.

(and for those who don't know ... Hucknall Town were beaten 13-0 by Loughborough Dynamo)
.

Can Someone Explain ...

... how I've missed out on an absolute classic piece of music ????

I'll tell you why:

- We don't listen to Radio 1 - or Key 103 - or other such "modern music" radio stations ...

- We have not listened to the "Top 20/Top40" show since ... music was good and the artist's names didn't include the words "... featuring ..." or "MC" or "DJ" or other such cr*p - much happier listening to "Sounds of the 60s" with Brian Matthew (often at work); "Pick of the Pops from x years ago" with Tony Blackburn (often coming home from work on a Saturday) - or "Sounds of the 70s" with Johnnie Walker on a Sunday afternoon ...

We didn't watch the 2012 Paralympics Closing Ceremony (there's the big clue !!) ...

- We're getting on in years - we pick up music from what we already know (Radio 2 or BBC 3/4) - or via the world music scene (Radio 2 or BBC 3/4) - or odds and sods that the kids play us and say "You might like this you old gits ..."

- We've (or rather I've - Mrs Smiffy hated 'em) stopped going to music festivals (Leeds, Download etc) ...

So ... there we were 'twixt Christmas and New Year in the cinema to watch "The Hobbit - Part 1 of 3" when a trailer came on for "Life of Pi" ... and I heard a snippet of a tune and thought "That's good - that's very good - will research when I get home" ... we knew the other one already (as in "Saeglopur" by Sigur Ros) cus we've got it - another clue ...

... and so it was - a tune that's been out since September 2011 - made number 1 in that chart I never listen to in the first week of 2012 - and has a jolly Youtube video with (apparently over 177 MILLION hits !) ... I'm an old git - and I LOVE  anthemic tunes ... and this is certainly up there with the best ..

Such is life ... I consider myself "caught up" !!!

Football tomorrow ?? The match I want to go to (Ashton United v Stafford Rangers) is already subject to a 1000hrs pitch inspection - t'other option (hate to say it's second choice ... but I only get to see the old home town - as in Stafford - rarely) is Mossley v New Mills - a cracking top of the table duel - and word is that the pitch is fine ... so we'll get summat ... surely ...
 
Off round to daughter's for New Years Eve - so if I don't get back before midnight (unlikely) - all the very best to you readers out there from "STS" - let's hope 2013 is an improvement to all - ignore the the ramblings of Cameron and Clegg - and let's do it ourselves ... because we'll get no bloody help from those clowns in charge ....
.

Stalybridge Celtic v Bradford PA

... well we got some football in on Saturday !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

There I was - wandering around Saddleworth in the pouring rain on Saturday morning - and I get a txt (thanks to Andy W !!) - Mossley game off (they were away @ Clitheroe so I knew etc etc) - Curzon Ashton game off (one of my options - bugger !) - but Stalybridge Celtic have had a 1030 pitch inspection (local ref) and it's on ! The way work was (i.e not a bad day) I thought ... we got a go-er here.  Anyway the rain contiued to belt down - I got wet - the mail got wet - and I thought ... surely not ??

Then it stopped ... and I hurried round, finishing at a sensible time this Saturday - unlike that bugger before Christmas when I saw 3 mins of the Mossley game !!) - got home at 1355 - checked on laptop - and match ref says GO !!!  However ... not as simple as turning up ... I'd promised  some framed piccies for the Stalybridge "Hail Ale" raffle which was to take place after the game - and just after Christmas I'd thought "Bugger - better get them printed" - and true to form Photobox came up with the goods - they were there when I got home from work !  Fortunately Mrs Smiffy offered me a lift up to Bower Fold - via Tesco to pick up three photo frames - so there I was at 1450 putting pics into frames and hoping that the ref didn't kick-off at 1455 (see Boxing Day thread).

He didn't - so pics in frames - and handed over to Tweedy - I got  ut and started to wander round - and then Celtic only went and scored in the 3rd minute !!!!!!  Fortunately I was "all plumbed in" and got it - albeit from the 'wrong end' ... but hey - result.  A very even first half after that - Bradford can certainly play football - but they're a pretty physical bunch as well - however the Celtic "young 'uns" stood up well to it - and Alex Cairns in the Celtic goal made a couple of cracking saves to keep it at 1-0 by half-time.  One bottle of Peroni later (my half-time treat !) and it was back out for more.  Bradford still looked good but the Celtic defence was holding firm (as they say on the Message Board ... "PLAY TIM RYAN !!" - and it DOES seem to make a difference having an older/wiser/balder head back there.  Celtic were playing downhill and just after the hour mark Tom Buckley made it 2-0 with a well-placed shot from outside the box.  A red card for Bradford's Richard Marshall - and that was it really.  Credit the opposition mind - they continued to play good football to the bitter end - and one save from Richard Lamb towards the end was first class (he'd spent the entire game being 'baited' about his 'chunky disposition'  - you can work out the chants - surely !)   The rain returned - big style - so it was just like being at work (!!) but - 2-0 final score - and a good end to 2012 for Stalybridge Celtic.  You've waited this long - some pictures at

Stalybridge Celtic 2 Bradford PA 0

Quick beer - and home (we had visitors) ... I did my best - good food from Mrs Smiffy (whole salmon with Mustard and Dill Sauce)  followed by an hour's natter/diarising (things to do in the next three months) and then a game of Trivial Pursuit on the Wii (forget boards - this is the future !) ... but still "zonked out" at about 2300hrs - all these early starts play havoc with my sleeping patterns.  Naturally wide awake this morning around 0600hrs (see previous) - but then zzz-ed until 0800 (whoo - a lie in !) before getting up and sorting the above pics out.  Next jobbie today was nipping out to buy stuff for the New Years Day starter - I'd promised a "Vegetarian Terrine" - but it took me FOUR supermarkets to find veggie gelatine !!  Meanwhile Mrs Smiffy is waiting at home for me to return with car, as she's off to Belper to Mums - coming back tomorrow afternoon (avec Mum - hence the posh starter option). A couple of hours in the kitchen making said terrine (it looks great - and I promise a picture of a slice on New Years Day !) before sloping off to the pub to watch football (!).

Home to an empty house - and now this ... going to get some food before settling down in front of the telly to watch a Christmas DVD pressie - "AC/DC Live at the River Plate 2009" - I did mention it on the blog a few weeks ago after seeing the "short" version on BBC4 - and thankfully some people actually read this cr*p (i.e.daughter !!!) ... and then it's up at 0600hrs tomorrow for another day at the mailface.
.

Stalybridge Celtic v Altrincham

Some pictures for starters ...

Stalybridge Celtic 2 Altrincham 2

... and if the camera wasn't rusty before - it might well be now after all that water !!!

More tomorrow/today - got to be at work in less than 6 hours - aargh !!

THURSDAY EVENING UPDATE - well .. it got to about 1415hrs - and then the heavens opened !!! "My God - it'll be like going to work - but paying for the privilege", thought I.  Still - got to Bower Fold in time for a quick pre-match Peroni (just can't drink that lo-grav keg rubbish - hopefully the 'Hail Ale Project' will put that right in the fullness of time.

Getting ready to go out - and a loud cheer erupts - teams coming out - NO - apparently Celtic are 1-0 up - I check watch - it's ONLY 1457hrs and the Golden Goal was given as 1 minute ... BUGGER.  Hey ho ... still bucketing it down as well.  Celtic were looking much better than the last time I saw them (as in the last match I'd seen 25 days earlier !) - however a "momentary lapse of reason" saw Alty equalise and then early doors in the second half they edged ahead with a second goal from Watmore.  However far from home heads dropping, Celtic kept plugging away and got their just rewards with a second goal from Jack Laird.  From then on, it could have gone either way - 'twas good end to end stuff as the weather improved slightly (as in "rain" rather than "torrents" !).  In the end though I reckon a draw was a fair result - a touch of (penalty) controversy at either end evened itself out and all-in-all a cracking game of football given the atrocious conditions.

Happy to get a game in (AT LAST !) - and home via a beer or two.  One "cold turkey" moment sorted (i.e. lack of football) only to be greeted with another "cold turkey" moment (i.e. tea !).  Slumped out for a while before sorting pix and then heading off to bed before another early start today - not too many Christmas cards coming through - but ... bloody catalogues (Spring Sales, Holiday Brochures etc) - my gum it was heavy - as in weight !

... and then to come home, open payslip and find rather a lot of last week's overtime "missing" - a bit of a kick in the festive teeth to put it mildly.  Happy to work it - but it's nice to get the money innit ??  Phone call ("Angry of Mossley" !) dutifully bunged on the answerphone - let's see what occurs tomorrow ...

Out in a bit (after some 'non-turkey based tea') ...
.  
.

Boxing Day Blues ...

... well the Curzon Ashton v Mossley game has already been called off ... now trusting to Satlybridge Celtic (at home to Altrincham) ...

... we'll worry about transport (or lack of) in an hour or so ...

1300hrs UPDATE - Stalybridge Celtic v Altrincham is ON ... let's hope the camera (and cameraman) ain't rusty !!!
.

48 Hours Parole ...

... taken from my copy of the Ladybird Easy-Reading Book - "People at Work - The Postman" - circa 1965 !!



So - that's it for another year !!  A sensible finish time today, so home for 1400hrs - and changed and back out in pub for 1410hrs !!!  Just a couple mind - presents to wrap and all that stuff - and so to relax - before a different kind of "Christmas Pressure" in the kitchen tomorrow ...

Merry Christmas to all readers from "STS" - sorry that there's been next to bugger all to read over the last few weeks - but I'm comfy in that everything that has been thrown at me (junk mail, Christmas cards, packets, parcels etc) has been delivered in time for tomorrow - anything outstanding is down to incompetence elsewhere (ouch - just felt my halo slipping down there ...).  Have a good 'un everyone - and hopefully we'll all have football to go to on Boxing Day - even if there is no public transport !!

Now off to slump in front of the box ...

.

I Saw a Goal Today ...

oh boy ...

... yep - the Ossett Town consolation goal on 90 minutes - lucky that I'd got up to Seel Park just a few minutes earlier !!  Yes ... we're nearly there - but we've still got Christmas Eve to get through yet.

Just working it out - the last "real" game of football I saw was Stalybridge Celtic v Vauxhall Motors ... on the 1st December - and THAT was hardly a birthday treat !  Since then ... it's been "Christmas Pressure", waterlogged pitches, "Christmas Pressure", frozen pitches, late finishes (missing Celtic v Workington - a blessing in disguise in hindsight !), "Christmas Pressure", early starts - getting wet, getting cold, getting very wet ad nauseam ...  third Christmas with RM and it's certainly been the worst in all aspects - hours, weather and the sheer volume of stuff - recession, what recession ?

Had a txt part way round today saying "Mossley game ON " - knew I wouldn't make it, but I wondered how the hell it had beaten the weather !! All credit to the groundstaff however - I finished work at about 1600hrs - home for 1620hrs, out of the dripping wet clobber and dashed up the road (minus camera - no point getting all the gear wet for just a few minutes of football) so see ... a goal ... pitch looked really well considering (was told that it only really started to cut up in the last 15 minutes or so when the rain got 'heavier' !).  So a calculated gamble (IMHO) that paid off with three points.

Day off tomorrow (as in Sunday) - time to do the Christmas food shopping - and maybe some last minute (!) presents - in at 0630 on Monday - hoping for an easier day (but not holding my breath) before a massive 48 hour break ... let's hope that Curzon Ashton are getting their pitch ready for the visit of Mossley on Boxing Day - and that the weather is kind - this lack of football is really giving me ... cold turkey (ho ho ho !!)
.

I AM Alive ...

... trust me ... just absolutely shattered every day - and with no football since God knows ... let's get this Christmas mayhem out of the bloody way - and then maybe normality may return ... although "normality" IS a relative term ... and so to sleep ...
.

Frozen Tuesday ...

... says it all really (from Evo-Stik website)  ...

... work slightly easier than yesterday as well - possibly the usual "calm Tuesday before the storm that is Wednesday" however !  Must admit looking at the weather forecast long-range ... it should become tropical on Thrusday/Friday/Saturday (tropical being relative of course !!) so maybe - just maybe - a game on Saturday (or half of one depending on "you know what" (you should know - you ordered the damn stuff online - now go out and buy a bigger letterbox !!!).

Late Update -  took advantage of Mrs Smiffy's absence (down in Belper - her Mum had another cataract op today  - went well apparently) - and watched Arsenal make fools of themselves agin Bradford City - could have done without the e/t and pens mind !  Came home rustled up some meatballs in sauce and got on here - whilst cooking I banged on a "golden oldie" - "I Get Wet" by Andrew WK - saw him at Leeds many moons ago - he's fun !! And following the AC/DC offering t'other night I give you my fave track from said AWK album ...

Manic Monday ...

... normally one of the two quiet days @ work (other being Tuesday ... and OK Saturday if you like - but that would make three ...) - not today though  - - aargh !!  Obviously they've had the "casuals" in on Sunday doing extra sorting, so we 'walkmen' copped for it today.  Weather still not brilliant either (i.e. dodgy underfoot) - so a late finish.  By the time I was walking up our street it was "glistening" again, so I reckoned the Curzon Ashton v Trafford game would be off tonight.

How wrong was I ?  Apparently they played (yet to hear the full monty on the game mind) and it finished 0-0.  Me ?? I roasted up a topside of beef to make butty material for the week, had a couple of pints down the pub, put a load of washing on - and most importantly got my e-mail sorted !!!  I think it wasn't until about Friday last week that I realised I'd had no e-mails since Wednesday.  I did fiddle about with stuff over the weekend, but still no joy, so this evening I phoned up Orange - and "the man" took control of my laptop (good ol' Citrix - I remember it well from a previous employ !) - and sorted it - and they all came gushing through ... so "big up" to Orange tonight !!

Let's see what Tuesday brings - certainly won;t be any non-league football I'm afraid (but come on Stafford Rangers - hope you can beat AFC Moneybags Fylde  ... and it would be nice if Cammell Laird can take something off Skelmersdale United as well !!).

Now I REALLY need to think about Christmas stuff ... oh and sleep as well !!
.

This Could Be a Long One ...

...starting at 1930hrs ... expect me to go into draft mode as  I go along - hence timings ..

Where shall we start - well theoretically (?) it's a footy blog so start there - Mossley v Cammell Laird - OFF; Ashton United v Frickley Colliery/Athletic - OFF.  Suppose I could have gone to watch Droylsden (lost 2-1 to Bishops Stortford) or Hyde FC (who came back from a 0-1 reverse at half-time to beat AFC Telford 2-1).  Two places I couldn't have made were Garforth Town (who lost 6-1 to Curzon Ashton) or Solihull Moors (who beat Stalybridge Celtic 1-0) - I WILL check out the "details" from all above games later ......

However ... I didn't finish work until 1420hrs - thanks to "having the motor" I got home for 1430hrs so that Mrs Smiffy could slope off to Belper (who incidentally got a 1-1 draw at home to Brigg Town) ... and I just sat down - football was the last thing on my mind - I was absolutely knackered.  I've been out since for a couple of beers, but my legs/hips are not in the greatest shape at the moment ...

....yep - it's work - it's called "Christmas Pressure" - and it's effing hard work !! This week has seen 0630 starts - and as the weeks went on 1600/1630 hrs finishes due the the sheer volume of stuff - notwithstanding the weather - we've seen rain/hail/sleet/snow flurries plus the icy pavements/paths/driveways ... on top of the madness that is called "packets" - they've gone through the roof this week - if only peeps ordered DVDs (nice, slim, fit through most letterboxes) .. but they don't they order silly sized stuff that we walkmen have to carry out with us (because the whole "size" issue has changed over the years- what used to be a 'van size packet' now has to be taken out by the walkers - believe it or not the phrase "shoe box size" is pretty much the norm - so you don't need many to fill the sack !!!

2230hrs update - just took some time out to watch a bit of BBC IPlayer - AC/DC Live at River Plate 2009 which was on BBC4 last night apparently - that looked like one helluva gig !!! And there's still time for me to stick the full DVD on my Christmas list !!

.
 

Expecting the Worst ...

... in about 6 hours time ... something to do with this UK version of "Cyber Monday" ...

No midweek footy this week - unless you count that "tame surrender" from Man City this evening which I had the pleasure (??) of watching ...

Now it's off to bed to dream about packets/parcels - and more of them ... AAARGH !!
.

How to Know when the Country is in DEEP Sh*t ...

 24 Feb 1981 - Wedding of Charles and Diana announced ... Thatcher

02 April 1982 - Let's start a war - Falkland crisis begins ... Thatcher

20 Mar 2003 - Let's start a war - Iraq "conflict" begins ... Blair

27 Jul 2012 - Let's start an Olympics ... Cleggeron

03 Dec 2012 - Kate is expecting a "Royal baby" ... Cleggeron


... ho hum (and I bet I've missed a few other dates out as well).
.

Stalybridge Celtic v Vauxhall Motors (part !)

... as predicted - another "yuk" day at the mail/parcel face (fingers crossed it's a question of peeps 'ordering early' this year - although I bet it STILL goes bananas in the last 7 days) - sub-zero temperatures didn't help much either (!) ...  so finished somewhat late for a Saturday (1445hrs), dashed home to see what was occurring football-wise (had already been advised that Mossley was OFF), and headed straight up to Stalybridge for their game against Vauxhall Motors, arriving about 25 minutes late (!).  

Not a good day for the home side - distinctly lacking up front I'm afraid - and this coupled with a harsh (IMHO) red card for Lewis Hatch and an 89th minute "smash and grab winner" for the visitors made it a miserable afternoon for the home support - sub-zero temperatures didn't help much either (!) ... and then word came through that Hyde had put 7 (seven) past Woking and Curzon Ashton had won 3-0 at home to Harrogate Railway ... picked a wrong 'un me (but it was the nearest so ...).  A few pictures from a freezing cold Bower Fold at

Stalybridge Celtic 0 Vauxhall Motors 1

Home - and out for birthday tapas with full family - only to be let down at the death by train cancellations home - bloody Northern Rail - any excuses/reasons gratefully received.  Two taxis home and collapse in heap.  No walk for me today - I've dipped out - so it's a case of continuing to rebuild the house after the recent improvements (need to nip down to ye local DIY shoppe for some new light switches, some cupboard doors to move about - and this of course).  Already sorted out some new curtains (dirt cheap when you get involved in this Tesco Clubcard exchange kerfuffle !).  Meat for tea defrosting (ha !!) as we speak.

Back on "very earlies" next week - so, Northern Rail I'm depending on you NOT to balls it up ...
.