Curzon Ashton v Warrington Town

So ... 1214hrs - walking the mean streets of Uppermill - and the phone bursts into life ("Into the Gutter" by the Answer ... the official SmiffyPhone Txt Msg Ring Tone).  The message "Game is OFF" - referring to the Mossley game.  A touch unexpected to be honest, but once I got home I found out it wasn't the only one - locally, the Ashton United game had similarly bitten the frozen dust amongst a fair few others in the Evo-Stik.  However - Curzon Ashton v Warrington Town was still on - and a quick phone call confirmed this.  Train to Ashton - lines had been cleaned at the "Prince of Orange" (see last Monday !!) and then a walk down to the Tameside Stadium - and it was BUSY !!!  'Twas another one of those Junior Team Presentation Days - official attendance 390.  No problem with that - apart from having large numbers of youngsters running around the ground occasionally asking questions like "What's the score ??" and "Did someone just get a red card ?".  There were also a large number of peeps in yellow hi-vis jackets - were they there to protect the people actually watching the game maybe ??

Look at the size of his ... the "Non League Paper" snapper with the £5,000 lens ...

 Anyway - to football ... a strange first half with Warrington seeming to have the lion's share of possession yet going in at half-time 3-0 down.  Job done for the home side it seemed - they certainly took their foot off the gas in the second half - Warrington pulled one back, and looked like they could score more.  However the aforementioned red card (Lee Parle for all you youngsters running around !!) seemed to put the tin lid on it and Curzon grabbed a fourth before a 90th minute consolation for the away team.  

Kris Dennis denied by outstretched boot entering picture stage right ...

 So yes - in the end it WAS job done - and it moves Curzon up into 5th place and, as I said last Monday after their win over Mossley, the play-offs are starting to look a distinct possibility.  Some pictures from the game at
  
Curzon Ashton 4 Warrington Town 2

Home to defrost - yes it was another bloomin' cold football afternoon - eat tea slob out in front of the box - enjoyed "The Men Who Stare at Goats" - cracking film.  Sort pictures, scribble this ... and that's about it ...
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Friday in Saltaire ...

Fairly leisurely start to the day - well it's allowed !!  Another bloomin' cold day with the odd flurry of snow - and in the end we decided against the cheap train - didn't fancy three changes each way and hanging around on cold platforms - shame on us ... got to Saltaire about 1030 and parked up in a pay-and-display close by - the machine refused to take our money so we (like everyone else in the car park !!) left a note on the windscreen - that was £3-50 saved anyway ...

Salts Mill and the surrounding area is an impressive set-up - and the Hockney exhibitions were pretty interesting too - I noted that now (at the age of 70+) he's embracing the iPhone/iPad technology with an ever-changing video-type exhibition of pictures.  A wander round the shops - all reassuringly expensive stuff (so just bought a couple of greetings cards !!!), followed by a reassuringly expensive lunch in the "posher" of the eateries inside the mill (couldn't be bothered queuing up with the hoi polloi at the other place - well it was my day off !!).  Suitably fed ... a wander round the outside bits - the park, the church, the housing etc before retiring to the car to warm up again and come home.  A few odds and ends from the camera at

Saltaire - 22Feb13

Tonight - quiet night in (Italian-themed nosh), before back to the mail face in the morning (to see the damage left by whoever did my walk today !!), followed by some afternoon football.
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Whoo Hoo - Furlough ...

OK posh word (usually military-based but having worked with the MOD in a previous life ...)

Yep - a day off tomorrow (must admit my Manager was astonished when I told him earlier this week - but no problems/hassle !!).  So ... me and Mrs Smiffy are off on a "day out" ... destination ... Saltaire ... never been before, so it'll be good to see the complete "Victorian Model Village" - there's a few knocking about (Port Sunlight etc)  - such a great idea - apart from the lack of pubs !!!  You'll not find any philantropists like that around these days.

Natch taking the camera - we'll see what we can snap - there's even the Leeds/Liverpool Canal there as well - so maybe a bit of a stroll (albeit that the weather is going to be cr*p again - hey ho)

Another point worth making - checked out the train fares from Mossley to Saltaire - an off-peak return is £17-90 - ergo £35-80 for two.  However - being the person wot I am - I checked out further ... and found a "Northern Duo" ticket from Mossley to Marsden @ £9-00 ... and then two off-peak returns from Marsden to Saltaire @ £6-40 each - total ... £21-80 - ergo £14-00 saved - crazy innit - it'll pay for lunch and more !!!

Meanwhile ... nothing else really ....
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Curzon Ashton v Mossley

Yeah OK night game ... finished work hours before ... but due to unforeseen circumstances, it ended up as a mad dash to the Tameside Stadium arriving about 5 minutes in - fortunately no score !  Mossley were certainly the better team for the first half hour or so - just couldn't do it in the final quarter - and then, just like Saturday, it was sucker punch time as a dodgy free-kick for Curzon hit the bar and Kris Dennis gobbled up the rebound.  You see it on TV - you see it in real time - these handball decisions that are given these days when someone whacks the ball at a defender 6 inches away who can do bugger all about getting out of the way .... it's becoming a bloody joke - check out the Ilkeston v Ashton game last Saturday - Chris Lynch got a bloody red card for exactly the same.  This DEFINITELY needs looking at - at all levels .... anyway (initial) rant over - 1-0 to Curzon at half-time.

It was a pretty physical game I have to admit - but unfortunately the referee (in my humble opinion !) had an absolute stinker, letting some heavy stuff go unnoticed and picking up on the easy options (tick box culture ??) ... and so it was, not long after Curzon had gone 2-0 up, when Mark Haslam got a second yellow - thus red - for a very innocuous challenge.  If it hadn't been going downhill for Mossley - it was now ... give 'em their dues - they tried to make a fist of it, but it was never going to be; and a 90th minute third goal for Curzon courtesy of Chris Rowney (ouch - he only left Mossley a week or so ago) put the icing on the cake for Curzon.

On the night - can't argue with the result (a touch flattering maybe but ...) - the chances to goals ratio for Mossley appears to be drying up - the killer instinct appears missing somewhere - and needs sorting out fast, otherwise the play-off chances might well disappear.  Curzon meanwhile, having had an "iffy" few months appear to be coming good at the right time - they're certainly getting into the mix now.  A few pictures from the evening at

Curzon Ashton 3 Mossley 0

A miserable walk back towards the station was compounded by the "Prince of Orange" having no real ale on ("he's cleaning the lines" !!) - so a quick dash to the Wetherspoons cheered me up a touch - Thornbridge "Jaipur" - an absolute classic  at 5.9% abv - for only £2-25 - just wish I could have stayed for more (especially when I noticed the "contactless payment" option - I've got a debit card with the "contactless option", but never had a chance to play with it yet - hey ho - now I know ....

Home - late - sorted out pics - bed - up - work - cold start that turned into a lovely day (removed gloves and exchanged woolly hat for baseball cap just after 1200hrs !!) - have managed to get shut of nearly 80% of the junk mail in the first two days of the week (!!).  Not decided on weekend football - yet - but I have to admit something now ... for the first time in many many many months, I WILL NOT be working my 'day off' this week.  What with it being half-term (i.e. Mrs Smiffy off work) and my day off being Friday, we've decided to "do something" - as yet we don't know what ... having seen the weather forecast for later in the week (it's gonna get flippin' cold again), a Friday walk may not be the option - decisions to be made later.  Don;t panic - I'm in work on Saturday - so there will be football - somewhere - in the afternoon.  In the meanwhile, good luck to Hyde against Mansfield Town tonight - "beware Lee Stevenson" is my only caveat !!!
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Mossley v Wakefield

A good morning's work saw me finish early enough to rest my aching legs for half-an-hour (just about recovered from the snowy mayhem of Wednesday !) before grabbing a quick pre-match pint at the "Britannia" - they'd got Sharps "Doom Bar" on for £2-25 ... the barrel had gone on Friday evening apparently - and I just managed to grab the penultimate pint - not to worry, there's another due on today hopefully !!).

Up the hill to watch Mossley take on Wakefield on a rather 'tropical' Saturday afternoon (well it's all relative to us outdoor worker-types !) - and despite it being one-way traffic for the first 45 minutes, the home side only went in 2-1 up thanks to a couple from Sam Madeley - the first being one his his now "trademark"  overhead kicks - suitably obscured (see previous grumbly thread !!).  The dominance continued after the break but Mossley were unable to capitalise on the possession and chances ... and ... sucker punch with less than 10 minutes to go.  Some dogged defending and, I'm afraid some profligacy upfront saw two points dropped - a bit of a bugger what with Skelmersdale drawing at New Mills.  Trafford's 3-1 win at Burscough means Mossley have now "plummeted" to 3rd place in the league  (I guess if this was the "MoneyBags Premiership" they'd be calling for Steve Halford's head ... fortunately this AIN'T the "MoneyBags Premiership" !!!).  Pics from the game at

Mossley 2 Wakefield 2

A quick post-match pint - and home to watch Oldham attempt the "Scouse Double" - not quite, but still hanging in there thanks to some last-minute heroics by former non-leaguer Matt Smith - let's see what the draw offers them today.

What will Sunday bring ??  Mrs Smiffy down at her Mum's this weekend so ... a quick trip to the tip to recycle all those empty tins of tomatoes (and the odd couple of beer cans as well !!), grab a "Non League Paper" and criticise the photographs - and bang a venison stew into the slo-cooker ... and maybe a small trip out to see if the "Doom Bar" has returned - might as well watch the Man City/Leeds game while I'm at it !!

Monday night sees a local derby down at the Tameside Stadium - as in Curzon Ashton v Mossley - next midweek's "Match of Choice" for me ... 
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Adam Mather Ruins My Day !!!

Mossley's first goal ...

Mossley's second goal ...

Spot the connection !!!!!!!!  More later - I'm too busy watching Oldham Athletic at the moment ...
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72 Hours is a LONG TIME ....

... in "Royal Mail World" ... following the euphoria of Tuesday night at Mossley (OK maybe "euphoria" is a bit OTT - but it's a Cup Final - and it's at a half-decent ground as well - confirmed as Wednesday 27th March at Stockport County FC), it was a harsh harsh awakening on Wednesday !!!

It began with light snow as I got to work ... and it got heavier ... and heavier ... and started to stick - Wednesday's are usually a bugger of a day (all the internet orders from weekend kick in) - and as I plodded round with a shed load of parcels - with over a dozen being "sign-fors" as well ... the weather got progressively worse - snow, a biting wind, and more bloody snow.  By 1430hrs I was struggling with hands/fingers that were refusing to work etc etc.  Finished well over time (O/T booked mind !!) and went home to defrost - only to watch the heavy rain disperse all the bloody white stuff.  Thursday morning - no snow - a bit of rain - less wind - and the temperature positively tropical (OK 4C - but you know what I mean !).  Today  was eerily quiet as regards mail and parcels (just hope this doesn't mean "aaargh" for Saturday though) - so a decent finish time and "gloves off".  

Tonight sees me and Mrs Smiffy swanning of to Harvey Nichols in Manchester for their "Supper Club" offer - 3 course meal  for around £20 if I remember rightly (did it back in October 2011) - let's call it a late Valentines Day do ...

Tomorrow - with it being quiet at work today - I'm a touch nervous (!!!).  Also I'm in early doors (0630hrs) for a bit more overtime before heading home - and going up the road to watch Mossley v Wakefield - looking at Wakefield's position in the table, I'm tempted to plug in the 24-60mm lens and stand behind the goal for 90 minutes ... but that's probably tempting fate !!  I'll take it anyway - just in case !!

Off to shower and change - s'pose I'd better put some clean rags on ...
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Mossley v Maine Road ...

... in the Manchester Premier Cup Semi-Final.  A hard-earned 1-0 win for the home side against a very good Maine Road side tonight (I knew it wouldn't be easy !!).  Pics at

Mossley 1 Maine Road 0 (MPC Semi-Final)

Apologies for the paucity of prints - it's been sub-zero all day at work ... and then got colder as the evening went on, despite appropriate clothing (including "double-glazed" gloves !!).  The Final (I'm led to believe) is to be played at Edgeley Park towards the end of March ... and Mossley's opponents will be Salford City who tonight beat Droylsden 1-0 in the other semi.

Now to a warm bed ...
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Quick Silly Monday Post ...

... before I get the tea on (we had a dobbing great chicken last night  - so tonight it's chicken with chorizo, mushrooms, peppers and onion - with some curly kale and pasta on the side).

How about this - didn't mention this yesterday, but we bobbed off to some friends in Rochdale after I got home from the Stalybridge game on Saturday ... they're Southampton fans believe it or not ... and they DID NOT want to know the score - happy to wait until "Match of the Day" - they were well chuffed !!  I just thought - in the week where "Match Fixing" hit the news ... some serious bad defending, a goalie cock-up and a comical own goal ... what WERE the odds on a Southampton win ???

However I digress - Mrs Smiffy had made a pudding to take round - - -  and it looked like this ...

Smart eh ??? Orange- sultanas- sponge pud - all slo-cooked - and very nice too !!

... and today ??? How about the following :

Satis mihi est - ardebit camino - relinquendi - gratis perfrui pane tosto

Maybe we can get back to the "dream team" - we've had John - we've had John Paul - maybe it's time for John Paul George (c'mon - you work it out).

Won't be doing the Curzon/Burscough Doodson Cup game tonight - it's been postponed so many times, I've got bored !! And anyway tomorrow night we have a cup semi-final up at Mossley - the Manchester Premier Cup no less against the current North West Counties League leaders Maine Road - so it won't be simple.  Winners to play the winners of the Salford City v Droylsden game to be played tomorrow as well.  Would be interesting if this season's final is the same as last season - ho ho ho ho !!!


... and I can't finish with a small shout - "Go Super Eagles" - just wish I'd put a few pennies on them before the African Nations Cup began - hey ho ...

OK -  off to sort out tea
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Stalybridge Celtic v Worcester City

Bit busy for a Saturday work-wise, but managed to get up to Bower Fold in time for a quick pre-match snifter - until this new club is built I'm afraid I have to remain a "Peroni-lout" - sorry but the keg bitter does nothing for me !).

Strange game really - all Worcester for the first 45 one cleared off the line and one rebounding off the bar ... Celtic certainly improved somewhat in the second period (substitutions perchance ?? I think so), but following a period of sustained pressure by the home team - which helped to warm up a rather docile crowd - it was a case of "smash and grab" as Worcester grabbed two goals in the last 10 minutes ... which I guess in the overall scheme of things they probably deserved.   Pictures from the game at

Stalybridge Celtic 0 Worcester City 2

Same old problems for Celtic I'm afraid - a touch too much reliance on the long ball up front - not the greatest plan when the solitary man is somewhat diminutive and surrounded by six-footers !  As I said the second half bucked up a bit with some more direct stuff on the floor but ... clear-cut chances were certainly at a premium.  The play-offs are edging further and further away ...
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Shameless Plug !!!

You may remember - or not (!!) ... a few weeks ago, when Mrs Smiffy went down to old London town for a few days  of work (and I indulged in an orgy of football, rock DVDs and alcohol - if I remember rightly) ...

Well ... she went out herself on an orgy of Spanish food and (expensive London-priced) wine - and managed to lose an earring on the night.  However - on the return to "oop North", a phone call was made to said restaurant - a promise to "have a look" was made - and - RESULT - earring found - and yesterday said ear piece finally arrived back in Mossley.

So - it's a big up to Tapas Brindisa London Bridge - tell 'em Mrs Smiffy sent you ... and make sure your butterflys are suitably secured ...
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Liars, Cheats, Thieves ...

Well the usual "in the pub" answer is "the low-life in our wonderful country" ...

I beg to differ ... how about:

The People who "run" the country ... e.g. Chris Huhne, the MPs "expenses scandal" ...
The People who "police" the country - e.g. Police Federation (the Austin Mitchell scandal) ...
The People who "bankroll" the country - e.g. Investment Bankers, the "Libor" scam ...
The People who "insure" the country -  e.g. PPI, the "interest rate swap" scandal ...

Bet I've missed loads out - but I'm sure you get my drift ...


(Can't you tell I'm suffering from a bad attack of "non-football" ??? Yep - grumpy old man head on ...)

OK - a WEDNESDAY EVENING "ADDITION" ...

The People who "care" for the people of the country - e.g. NHS - see Stafford Hospital scandal  (and I mean Management here - not those on the 'shop floor') ...
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Sounds Like a County Cup ...

... a slice of tomorrow's fixtures from the Evo-Stik website ...

Sounds oh so familiar .. eh what ??  Trust Carlton will get a bye through to the next round ...
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So Much for "Beating the Snow" ...

... slightly damp workie time (towards the end anyway) but home in time to make a super tea (leeks, brocolli, tomatoes and bacon in a cheese'n'mustard sauce with breadcrumbs and baby potatoes parboiled then bunged in the oven with some butter, rosemary and onion).  Then - phone call from large boy - who's in the midst of moving house.  The "old house" has been broken into and can someone come and rescue some of the left-overs (including telly !).  Mrs Smiffy to the rescue whilst tea went "on hold". 

Meanwhile ... it's still hammering it down with rain/hail etc in a howling gale and I'm thinking "Can I REALLY be *rsed to go to Curzon tonight ??" - everything ready to rock snapper-wise just in case ...  Mrs S home at 1855hrs - tea on table at 1900hrs - still raining - all sorted/eaten/enjoyed by 1920hrs - phone call to Curzon ... "It's just this minute been called off !".  So ...

Also .. when the "Help !" phone call came through, Mrs S was sorting some pix to go in a frame - in her enforced absence the cat perused one of said pix ...

Suffice to say - he's popular (it's not one of mine either - so no digital replacement available !!!).

When uploading that pic onto 'puter also found this one - a couple of Christmas pressies ...

To your left ... a mug (with lid) - to your right - a kitchen timer !!!

Football - well Droylsden are at home to Altrincham tomorrow night - but weather forecast is grim - apart from today's torrential rain, it's due to snow up here overnight so breath is not being held !!!
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A Couple of Quirky Ones ...

... to finish the weekend ...

Hartlepool United beat Notts County 2-1 on Saturday ... goals were scored by:

Hartley and Poole ...

Nigeria's winner in the African Cup of Nations Quarter-Final against Cote D'Ivoire on Sunday was scored by:

Sunday Mba ...

Let the week begin ...
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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.
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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 .... !!!!
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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 ..
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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 ....)
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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 !!).
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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 ...

 


















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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 ...
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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 ...

 
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 !
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 ...
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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 !!
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... 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 ...
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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 ???
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Mountain Bikers ... BEWARE !!

From the Manchester Evening News

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