Stalybridge Celtic v Harrogate Town

... Bank Holiday football - decent weather - what more can we ask for ??

But first some "home work" - I was up with the lark because I heard the lifting gear on the dustbin wagon - and thought "bugger - not took the bin round !" It may be Bank Holiday but Tameside Council are obviously still paying O/T to some - despite cuts elsewhere ... Now up, it was time for a bit of a tidy after last night's barbie to commemorate the "opening of the patio" - strange really, as I was still mixing sand and cement while the burgers and kebabs were burning not yards away !! Anyways - tidied up, and then got the paint out to continue to disguise the breeze blocks (OK OK I'll do a piccie tomorrow - promise !!) Then - and only then - did I venture forth to Bower Fold to see the football (Mrs Smiffy had disappeared to the garden centre to buy more stuff to fill the flower beds) ...

The match - in my eyes it should have finished 0-0 - but it didn't. "Mugged" would be the word to sum it up - in more ways than one - Harrogate nicked one via a penalty, and "toughed out" the Celtic attack (who were missing Jody Banim - certainly a key player in my mind anyway). Cetic still looked good though - the patient passing play I saw during the friendlies was still very much to the fore - and it's good to watch, especially as it remained the main way forward even when they went one down. There's certainly no need to panic just yet (witness Runcorn Linnets ... and Southampton - crazy !!), and like many have said, they might not get promotion, but if the effort is going in - and there was plenty of that today - then people will still come to watch - although I thought today's crowd of 365 was poor - especially when you think there was no "big" football to watch - even taking holidays into account ...

Anyway - maybe it's pictures you're looking for ... and they're here ...

Stalybridge Celtic 0 Harrogate Town 1

Day off tomorrow (more garden action if weather is OK !!)- and maybe - just maybe - a trip to Surrey Street, Glossop on Wednesday night to check out Mossley's opponents in the next round of the FA Cup (it's the replay betwixt GNE and St Helens Town) - hope it's Glossop (cus it's away, and with working Saturdays, the away games WILL be a struggle at times) - we'll see ...

(Suppose I shouldn't let tonight go without remarking on the result from Hurst Cross - on my way home I happened to bump into some FCUM fans at Stalybridge Buffet Bar who told me of the 1-0 win by Ashton United - and were gracious enough to accept it as well - big up to them !)
.

Mossley v Witton Albion - in pictures ...

... on the "Road to Wembley" ...

Mossley 2 Witton Albion 0

... now enjoy that Bank Holiday Monday "day off" ...

(The B&Q visit has been done ... and the sun is coming out - off to the garden ...)
.

Mossley v Witton Albion - Quick Update

... we've had visitors tonight (and guess who made the food - in the style of a vegetarian !!), so the pictures from today's game are still (mostly) untouched. A good win in the end - a well-worked goal by Connor Hampson just before half-time gave Mossley the edge, and some good rearguard action in the second half (together with Witton spurning some good chances) and a late late (controversial ??) goal from Matty Kay saw Mossley trouser £1,500 and an away trip to either St Helens Town or Glossop North End on 11th September. I've got this far ... the two goals (double-click for big I suppose) ...



Connor Hampson finds the gap for 1-0



Matty Kay makes the game safe at the death ...

It's Bank Holiday weekend - so no work on Monday (Mossley game is "off" as Woodley Sprouts got a draw in the FA Cup) - a trip to Bower Fold looks likely - and it's my "day off" on Tuesday ! Before all that - apparently the weather tomorrow (Sunday) is meant to be "not bad", so possibly the final touches (??) in the garden may have to take place (look out B&Q - I'll be in early for some breeze blocks !) followed by a barbie in the afternoon ...

(Watch it hammer it down all day !!)
.

Home ...

... and ready for work and FA Cup - in that order ... the walking days, the wet days (i.e. holidays) are over for now - came back today via a 7 miler near Wenlock Edge. Yesterday's attempt to do the last couple of miles of the Malvern Hills was eventually rained off - here's a pic taken at the "British Camp" - sums it up really !!!



The Great British Summer - ha !

Got loads from the rest of the week mind - including lots of stained glass windows believe it or not - but they need looking at first - anyway, need sleep before work - then it'll be time to check out what's been going on at Mossley when they take on Witton Albion on the "Road to Wemberlee" ...
.

Malvern Town v Highgate United Pictures ...

... now up and running at ..

Malvern Town 0 Highgate United 3

Struggling with cr*p weather at the moment - but hoping to "finish off" the Malvern Hills this afternoon - meanwhile, suffering daytime TV - aargh !!
.

Malvern Town v Highgate United

It was bottom-but-one club versus bottom club tonight - with only only league goal between them before tonight (Malvern had lost their last two games 5-0 !). I'll keep it brief (as this internet connection is not a world-beater) - suffice to say Malvern were well beaten 3-0 ... and very lucky to get as many as nil !! Obviously early days in everybody's season (yes I've heard about Mossley's 5-0 tonking at Clitheroe tonight as well - eek !), but Malvern have a bit of work to do - Highgate were marginally better, but looked that little bit more organised - quicker to the ball, with a bit more fight, a bit more urgency. You could see heads drop amongst the home team as the goals went in. Here's my efforts on the three goals (I'll sort a JAlbum out when I get home I guess) - MUCH LATER - pix don't seem to want to play tonight - as in upload. Will try again later - looks like the piece of wireless string just ain't wet enough ...

(0900 the morning after) ... better (click for big)...



Goal Number One - scored by "Junior" ?



Number Two from "Doyley".



... and the third - no name unfortunately ...

Weather looking poor today - off to Gloucester for a "day in the city" ...
.

Up and Running ... Finally !

... took a few days - and much fiddling around - but internet has finally arrived at Chez Smiffy, near Malvern ! Much walking and drinking done so far - a few miles on Saturday, 9.5 miles Sunday, 5 miles Monday (mostly wet and mostly round town !) and another 5 round the hills this morning.

Got the bad news about Mossley's first game defeat at home to Bamber Bridge on Saturday afternoon - and caught up with the Blue Square North and Evo-Stik Premier yesterday afternoon via a "Guardian Sport" supplement in a Cafe Bar ... still more to check out - but we're going out again now !!!

Tonight ... Malvern Town v Highgate United beckons ...
.

Mossley "Training Night" - 19th August 2010

First Team played Reserves in a bit of a training sesh tonight - reduced pitch, smaller goals, three "period breaks", p*ss poor weather (rainedmost of the evening !) etc. "First Team" won 3-1 - but I think it's been more useful as in giving "Boss Shaun" the final few pointers as to his preferred team selection for the first league game of the season at home to Bamber Bridge on Saturday. A few pics from tonight on here (usual double-click for big) - I'll do a proper album much later - one more day at work and I'm away for a week - missing the first two games of the season as well - well you've gotta go when the time is right ! The upside is that where we're going, there is apparently free wireless internet, so instead of "patio updates", you may well end up with "holiday updates" ... certainly no football (unless Malvern Town are at home next Tuesday !!!). Live with this for now - pictures include a "new signing" (as in "Who is Number 6 ??") and a sock-eating left-sided defender...













A "muted" Forum after the game (few questions asked) was followed by "Quiz Night" - and the less said about that the better (with regard to "our" team !!).

(STOP PRESS - Malvern Town ARE at home next Tuesday night - playing Highgate United in a Midland Football Alliance Div 1 game - might require some "negotiations" with Mrs Smiffy first mind ...)
.

Mossley Reserves v Lancaster City Reserves - Part Two

... well the pictures anyway ...

Mossley Reserves 4 Lancaster City Reserves 1

Next stop is the "Thursday Night Bonanza" - 1st Team v Reserves; Manager's Forum and (maybe) Quiz Night after that - I say maybe as Mrs Smiffy returns to Mossley off her travels on Thursday ...
.

Mossley Res v Lancaster City Res - Part One

An excellent game of football last night saw Mossley Reserves open their Galaxy Football Lancashire League campaign with a well-earned 4-1 victory over Lancaster City Reserves (who I understand are based out of Myerscough College in Preston). Two quick goals 15 minutes into the second half from Aaron Chalmers knocked the stuffing out of the youthful opponents (although our guys weren't that old either !) - all round it was good to see two teams knocking the ball about with purpose - and it was great value for £2 !! Sadly no pictures ... yet. I made a start when I got home last night (seemed to struggle a bit in the half-light of the first half !), and will "finish off" when I get back from work this afternoon/early evening - watch this space !!

Here's one to whet your appetite however - Aaron Chalmers scoring goal number 4 (double-click for big) ...



Back later - there's letters (and bloody parcels !) to deliver first !!
.

Sorry Folks ...

... never made it to Hyde tonight - after getting home from work I ended up - yes you've guessed it - in the damn garden "doing stuff". It was a question of making the most of the decent weather to be honest - it looks rubbish for the next few days so ... that was it until late ... too late ... it'll keep Mrs Smiffy happy though !! (By the way Hyde lost 3-2 after being 3-0 down at half-time).
.

Patio Update - Sunday 15th August

Took advantage of the weather - and used up another batch of sand and cement and began sorting out the retaining walls on the right-hand side near the old path ...



(Note scruffy old garden chair used for "testing purposes" !!)

.. and that's that - don't want you all falling asleep too early tonight ...
.

Mossley v FCUM

Useful Crowd + Barbecue + "well known linesman" (!!)

Well the weather stayed nice !! Finished work in good time today despite having no car - having done Saturday's "D2Ds" earlier in the week certainly helped (it's a postie thing - D2D or "housholds" = those annoying "flyers" - Sky, Virgin etc - that 99% of you immediately consign to the (recycle hopefully) bin, but add just over £12 - before tax - to my weekly pay !!).

Thought the game was a strangely muted affair personally - livened up a bit in the second half when Mike Norton came on (dunno why !), but I reckon there were more than a few eyes on the "real thing" that is the start of the season next Saturday - fairly warm as well this afternoon which probably contributed to the "easy-paced" feeling. A fair turn-out from the FCUM "army" as well probably put a few pennies in the Mossley coffers (once FCUM take their cut - they do you know !!). A 2-1 win for the visitors but, looking at the Mossley pre-season campaign as a whole, I'm happy - and I know many others are as well. My pictorial efforts are in the usual place - as in ..

Mossley 1 FC United of Manchester 2

... but it's usually worth a peep on the FCUM Message Board to see how the "pros" do it - a couple of their snappers were there today.

One last "do" up at Mossley before the season begins - next Thursday sees a First Team v Reserves "match/training session" followed by a bit of a Forum followed by Quiz Night. However if you can't wait that long, Mossley Reserves get their Galaxy Lancashire League campaign under way on Tuesday night up at Seel Park when they entertain Lancaster City Reserves. Also, with Mrs Smiffy still being "away" (moved from Hereford to Cornwall this weekend via Belper !), I might be tempted to pop over to Hyde on Monday night to see their Conference North game against Workington - they had a bad start to the season today losing 5-0 at AFC Telford United, so I guess they'll be looking to put that right rather quickly (Wukkie beat Gloucester City today 2-1 by the way).

Other news from the start of the Conference campaign saw Stalybridge Celtic beat Redditch United 2-0 and Droylsden coming out 4-2 winners against Eastwood Town ... and Stafford Rangers lost 1-0 at Boston United.
One quirky story regarding Stalybridge Celtic this week ... what with their "going full-time" as well - the "outspoken" Droylsden boss Dave Pace came up with a belter - check out this story from one of the the local rags - certainly ruffled a few feathers here ...

Also the "Road to Wembley" began today with the FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round - Glossop drew 2-2 at home to Wigan Robin Park, while New Mills smacked Alsager Town 10(ten)-2 !

So - for many - the season is under way - however the Evo-Stik contingent have 7 more days to wait ...

Time for bed - if the nice weather stays nice later today ... that bloody garden (or the pile of breeze blocks and the sand and cement) awaits ...
.

Posties - Getting some Bad Press Locally

Two recent stories in the "Manchester Evening News":

Story One - August 5th

Story Two - August 13th

Like any job - you're going to find some "bad apples" (think MPs for starters !) - and unfortunately mud tends to stick - however what annoys me about the MEN website is the "Comments" section where readers can have their say on the headlines of the day - not just on these two particular stories, but on others as well. The "comments" often seem to be from arrogant, supercilious "I'm all right Jack" type people (who I'm guessing are all abusing their company web access by mouthing off online whilst they should be working - hmmm ...). "Hang 'em all"; "Slash ALL benefits"; "They're ALL scum" is usually the order of the day on here - I'd like to remind people of the phrase "Coming back to bite your bum". When the story comes out about some person losing their job for inappropriate internet usage ... it'll be interesting to see the comments under THAT story.

Oh yeah - and if you expect parcels - get a bigger bloody letter box - or write to your local Delivery Office advising of a possible "SafePlace" option (a neighbour or a greenhouse for example) - that'll save you the trip down to the Sorting Office won't it ??

(Mild) Rant over ...
.

Never Trust a Timetable ...

... and I ought to know this by now ... walking down to the station - and the damn thing shot through Mossley 10 MINUTES EARLY !!!



So naturally, I'll be early this evening - and it'll either be late ... or broken down/NOT steam-hauled ...

(Note to Smiffy - don't be late for the dentist ...)

(Further note to Smiffy - don't forget - it's Friday the 13th - aaaarrrgh !!!)
.

Second Thursday Live ...

... at Mossley Social Club tonight -just a few pictures of tonight's "turns" ...

Second Thursday Live - 12Aug10

Tomorrow - steam train stuff - Saturday - back to football ...
.

Why Did I Bother ...

...cus I got wet at work again today - aahh this summer weather - bloody pants ... I reckon since I began "going out on my own" (i.e. after training fortnight), it's probably rained at sometime on EVERY BLOODY DAY. Some people are blaming the intoduction of the hosepipe ban "oop here" - others are blaming ME - aargh !! In fact it's now got to the stage where, having a day off tomorrow, I've hung my bag and pouch bags out to air a bit in our spare bedroom - starting to worry with this continuous rain/dry/rain/dry/rain that things will start to get a bit musty - ever the saddo here's the proof (plus a bonus pic of the crap I took out of the bag - notice "No Work Brought Home" - can lose job/liberty etc I believe !!!) ...



Next ... a quick check on the old camera and stuff (after last night's "fun and games") - if all OK I might well take advantage of Mrs Smiffy's absence to wander up to Mossley Social Club for the "2nd Thursday Live Night" - and thanks to Dave (Ashton U), I now know it's Princess Elizabeth on the "Scarborough Flyer" tomorrow - should look something like this (pic from BBC Cumbria website) ...



Right ... off to play Doctor Camera ... you never know - there might be some pictures of "The Hours" on here later ...
.

Houston we HAD a Problem ...

... at Surrey Street tonight - something to do with the seasonal summer weather (ha !!). As the players came back out for the second half (it was 1-1 at the time), I turned the camera back on to find ... nothing. Tried the usual quick fixes (battery in/out; lens off/on; memory card change) to no avail. Into the Social Club for a "dry out the innards" session, whilst listening to the second and third goals for Glossop going in - bugger ! Finally got it up and limping about 15 minutes from the end, to take a few extra scruffy-looking pictures (including something on goals 4 and 5), but I reckon both camera body and big lens need a good bottoming (including possibly time for a sensor clean - eek !) before it comes out to play again.

Which will be on Friday morning - my day off - because at about 0930, the "Scarborough Flyer" will be hurtling through Mossley on the way to ... Scarborough - and it should be one of two steam engines; 60009 (Union of South Africa) or 46201 (Princess Elizabeth). Coming back through Mossley about 2025, so I'll try for both. (For those interested, the full timetable for the train can be found here). In between times, a dentist appointment awaits as well - eek -and if the weather's OK, some breeze-block laying in the garden.

... and if you're still here ... tonight's (reduced) pictures from the Glossop game are at

Glossop North End 5 Flixton 1

That's all folks - I too need to dry out properly before tomorrow !!!
.

Stalybridge Celtic Forum tonight ...

An interesting evening - certainly listening to Manager Jim Harvey and his "vision" for the upcoming season - not many "controversial" questions asked either ! Some 'rough and ready' pictures of the Celtic squad and some others as well ... and I'm not going to do names (either do all names or none at all - safer this way, especially after cocking up on one of the Fleetwood pics !)

Stalybridge Celtic Forum - 10 Aug 10

Other news - none - so there !
.

Into Week Seven ...

... and still awaiting some official issue footwear ! Still haven't got round to taking the GPS for a walk with me - but I reckon my old Karrimors tell the tale ...



Never mind - thanks to Mark (another postie), I've gained a pair of slightly used "official" boots this afternoon ...



Oh - and as promised ... a fully-pointed patio ...



Enough, enough ... probably all asleep by now ... something football-based tomorrow hopefully ...
.