Look What We've Got !!!

You might need to double-click on the image to be able to read it - this is a clipboard image of a pdf which I shoved into Word etc etc etc.....




I'll just be interested if it comes out in a legible format (otherwise I'll just take a bloody picture of it !!) - meanwhile -we're moving house - changing all our bank accounts - and from tomorrow I wish to be known as Buford Tumbler. Mrs Smiffy (Tumbler ?) will be dyeing her hair - after all it's a team effort.

Now that'll throw 'em all off the scent !!!

Now if the "Government" had trusted their disk(s) to the "People's Post Office" instead of some evil privatised concern .....

(Nearly forgot - Stalybridge Train Information System is "Still on Test" .....)

NOT what you're expecting ....

If you're looking for a review of the Mossley v FCUM game - I'm afraid this will involve trips elsewhere - because I was not there.....

...a pre-arranged trip to the Bridgewater Hall takes precedence when you've spent the best part of £90 on tickets for the entire Smiffy household - so while hundreds were pouring into Mossley we were pouring out to Manchester to see Taraf de Haidouks and the Forty Thieves Orkestar.



The Forty Thieves Orkestar - a Balkan Apocolyptica ? a Balkan Dub Foundation ? a Balkan version of the Peatbog Faeries ? A good sound - I liked them.



Now the Taraf de Haidouks - the Romanian Gypsy Kings if you like -the wild, fast, gypsy music - amazing - the style of singing ....hmm...I know several of our party were NOT impressed - you could say it had a touch of the Vic Reeves "Club Singer"-cum-"Drunken Uncle at Wedding" type of sound - the jury's out on that side of things !!

A good night out - excellent sound in the Bridgewater Hall - and they were well received by the audience - there was even some semi-wild gypsy dancing at the end !!



"You're such a lovely audience we'd like to ......etc".

I'm going to say nowt about the football - basically because I've not seen enough about it yet (I know the score though!!) but ..............

I'd like to finish with a message from our house Teddy Bear - who goes by the name of Jehovah ...



"That piece of Fish was Good Enough for Smiffy !!!"

Just another manic Monday .....

... as Mrs Bangle said back in 1986....some bits and bats tonight ....much based on the Stalybridge £1.5 million refurb and railway incompetence .... yesterday - boy came home from Lancaster....now this was the Stalybridge Station Train Info System when I got there at about 1830 ... cheaper than the usual cr*p I photograph !



..and what made it worse - he'd been told in Manchester, "buses only as far as Stalybridge" - hence my picking him up. I'd checked on Nationalsh*te.co.uk which confirmed - nowt to Mossley. I get to Stalybridge - there's a great big f*ck off bus ready to go to Mossley, Greenfield and Marsden. Talking to someone on the train today - their mates had got on a bus from Stalybridge to Greenfield yesterday afternoon to be told by the driver "You're my first customers today" - well if they don't advertise the damn thing at stations, on t'internet or even at Manchester Victoria (i.e. "They're only going to Stalybridge") what chance have we got - I believe it's similar next Sunday - so forget any thought of Crimble shopping if you live in Mossley or Greenfield - because there may - or may not - be Rail Replacement Buses (as very few people used them yesterday, they'll probably think "No point" - and scrap 'em at the last minute).

In short Rail system - sh*te - communications - even sh*ter - never mind - they've got my £21-80 for another week of sh*te. We actually went for a walk yesterday - drove to Marsden - and this is what we saw outside Marsden station - should have given me a clue really shouldn't it ...



.... yep the magical "Fraser Eagle" sticker inside a bus - forget train franchises - the Rail Replacement Bus franchise is the way to fame and fortune - but I think the boys from Accrington have got that one sown up .....

Meanwhile back at Stalybridge - as part of the £1.5 million refurb - they've done up the bogs - however, if you're a chap you might well be met with this message ....



.... let's veer back to the walk - twas a circular around Marsden - and believe it or not this was - for me - the best picture to come out of the walk - was taken round the back of Pule Hill, just walking back into Marsden ..... maybe a touch of the Control-Alt-Hill ?!?!?!




FOOTBALL - Tomorrow is Mossley's biggie versus FCUM plc - hopefully a big crowd - hopefully not too many of the Mossley "amoebas" crawling out of the "primordial soup" to bring shame on the town (fingers crossed on that on !) - hopefully a win for the Lilywhites.

MUSIC - My review tomorrow/Wednesday will of course concern "Taraf de Haidouks" ...

And it's possible - just possible - that this blog could welcome its 20,000th visitor tonight....wow ...

Good night - and I LOVE you all .....!

Curzon Ashton v Mossley

OK lost 4-1 - we have visitors - but I've done the pix.... go with what we've got - poor performance on a damp day ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/CurzonMossley/

I'll be back later - no doubt ....

2200 - Like now - a truly "tricky" first half - weather bad - playing against the wind - and that bugger Norton put Curzon 1-0 up while I was still "faffing" with the camera in the dry of their club - I heard the cheer - hoped for the best - and then I heard that bloody annoying "I Feel Good" James Brown thing which gave me a bit of a clue that it was in fact Curzon who had gone one up within 60 seconds of the bloody kick-off.


At the races we were not (as Yoda would say) - and the wind and the rain (rather than the "Fire and the Flames") kept us on the back foot till half-time - by then it was 3-0 though - aargh.


Yes we improved in the second half - but it was a case of lost causes - we had the wind - we hit the bar (OK very late on) . Like it or not, Curzon Ashton are are useful team on their day - OK they cocked up t'other week against Bradford PA but they made full use of everything - wind - rain - an opposition who gave them just a touch too much space, respect etc today - leaving us chasing a lost cause for the second 45.



Would love to know what the crowd was (Unibond site is as usual "unavailable" at the time most people would like to see it - wonder if it's run by the same group of ****s that are responsible for the Stalybridge Station "Train Information System" ?) - the crowd did look very disappointing - but all the noise was of course from the Mossley fans - you tended to find the odd Curzon fan who wandered round issuing smarmy comments to the massed ranks of the opposition .. I bet that "odd Curzon fan" is secretly saying, "I wish we had a bunch like this"....and the team said "ta" as well at the end - yes it's that old STS "exclusive" ....




Congratulations to Mickey Norton on his hat-trick - I just wish he'd get that irritating "niggle" out of his game (see https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWqG22Dd3-ad20z6FeWM8RYHpAPm0l2L3q46gijp-rnMWLnH-vsuPHMiadRAgHNxeVZMg77rQCpPyULkfwXAR3_tAYBulyBhrtKw2gu_VPyhKzg09JBzBhQg5A2xNDfKr0AEp2Ww/s400/Pic057small.jpg for his "efforts" at being a "big man" in the pre-season friendly against Sheffield this year !!)- I often wonder if it's his attitude rather than his skill and eye for goal that has prevented him from making a living out of the wonderful game - which he should be doing ...


Hey ho - the "Ash Tree" in Ashton has benefitted from the huge influx of Lilywhite fans in the area today - just wish they'd learn how to pull real ale (!!) - most will be back on the 15th December - I make my apologies now - it's mother-in-law's party in Belper (yes I know Belper are away that day, but Ilkeston are at home !).



Talking of apologies - the "biggest" home match for Mossley for a while is on Tuesday against FCUM - forgot to point out in a previous post that it clashes with my/wife's joint birthday do @ the Bridgewater Hall - some tours get organised with fixed dates - this FCUM fixture has flitted at least twice ... we can't all just sit around waiting - naturally phone will be on "silent" next Tuesday whilst rocking to the "Taraf de Haidouks" - see below to get some idea..






a subtle difference from .....

BACK to ANORAK !!

OK - I've p*ssed off enough youngsters by daring to imply that DragonForce's performance on Wednesday was slightly less than "vfm" (value for money) - apparently "sloppy"/"unprofessional" is fine cus they're having fun - I'm sure they are when we're paying £25 a ticket (!) - never mind - I'd best be going back to what old people do - here's some "train pix" from today ....



The new CrossCountry franchise colours on Man Picc tonight - hard luck Mr Branson - you'll need to sell some more Mike Oldfield albums now...




Gorblimey - train info on Platform 0 (zero) at Stockport this morning....




And of course - more crap from the Stalybridge Station Train Information system.....


BACK TO MUSIC.....


...as it's my birthday next Saturday, we're going for a "bit of a do" next week at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester - "Taraf de Haidouks" and the "Forty Thieves Orkestar" - Romanian gypsy musicians (Taraf) and Balkan/hip-hop/dub (Forty Thieves) - full family bash - i.e. 5 x £17-50 - trust it'll be more "vfm" than Wednesday - funny really - I never actually said that DF were sh*t (unlike others) - I just said they "weren't up to snuff" - and I've had all the fall-out !



BACK TO FOOTBALL .....


Tomorrow - there's football of course - Mossley just down the road at loacl rivals (and top of table) Curzon Ashton - having missed the last two games (being at Belper and at MEN), I'm loath to forecast - however if Curzon play like they played against Bradford PA a couple of weeks ago....

http://sixtamesides.blogspot.com/2007/11/curzon-ashton-v-bradford-park-avenue.html

.... we've got a chance !! With Rhodri Giggs (yes Ryan's brother for those who don't know) unavailable for Curzon tomorrow, we'll probably have no-one to take the p*ss out off (again for those who don't - Rhodri played for us for a couple of season before going down the road to Curzon).


Hope DragonForce put on a decent showing in Brum tonight .............................................

DragonForce "Video" from last Night

No sound naturally - old man - old baby camera (could have done wonders last night with the EOS 20D - but that's copyright/moneygrabbing etc etc) - but I reckon the a damn site clearer than those pix in the previous thread....never done this before so fingers crossed -

well there's something there !

Black Crusade/England/Mossley

Such was Wednesday.,..England lose, Mossley lose - and I feel that DragonForce lost as well last night. Said my piece mostly on the DragonForce forum - members only I'm afraid, but if you are try

http://forum.dragonforce.com/viewtopic.php?t=18152&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=30

Pictures not brilliant of course - but then again I'm afraid neither were said beat combo - oh and I've sneaked a Trivium picture in at the bottom - just to P*ss off the DF fascists - cus sadly they exist....

This Week .....

Well - obviously didn't make Hyde 3 Solihul Moors 0 last night - have to say it's a real pain getting to Ewen Fields on a weekday by public transport (actually it's more the "getting back" !) - still a good win for the Tigers with "new boy" Morley getting off the mark too.

As I'm scribbling this at 2130, I'm obviously not at Glossop tonight for their Derbyshire Senior Cup game against Staveley Miners Welfare - don't know why but Glossop does often seem a "possible" on a weekday by public transport ..and has been done in the past ... but not tonight.

England plc FC are on the telly tomorrow - having lent their "Get out of Jail Free" card to Israel on Saturday - they've got it back (apparently) and are fighting for the point which will have the Finance Directors / Licensors at the FA rubbing their grubby money stained hands together (think I'll give that a miss, just in case we get the odd £150,000 a week player running towards a camera clutching the "three lions" shirt badge in his similarly money-stained hand). If it all goes pear-shaped - you may like to get your head round this document - if you've more money than sense - or your name is Jeff Tesco...

http://www.thefa.com/NR/rdonlyres/A9BF865A-1F48-4708-9934-A8FB095E7A10/120274/INTERNATIONAL_ITT.pdf

Mossley are away at Ossett Albion tomorrow night - one of those where you can get there via public transport on a weekday, but you're dependent on a lift back after the game if you want to get back to Mossley before 0645 the following day !!

However - me tomorrow - straight from work to the MEN Arena - doors open 1700 - first band on 1800 - yes it's the ....



My "raison d'etre" here is naturally DragonForce (http://dragonforce.com/main.html) but I've seen a few of t'other bands as well (certainly remember Shadows Fall and Machine Head from Download this year (they both need to do something to impress me - cus they didn't at Download !) - and there's a few Trivium CDs knocking about the house) - fingers crossed that DragonForce can do it indoors - seen 'em twice outdoors - last two Download Festivals - and the sound has been "less than good" - saw them at Manchester Academy last December - sound was A1 ! Hope it all works well in that big shed next to Victoria Station. Naturally with it being "big venue" the big camera stays at home and we are reduced to the "baby Fuji" - we'll see how it goes...

Fingers naturally crossed for Mossley - of course - an important local derby on Saturday at Curzon Ashton awaits .....

Oh - nearly forgot - train information system at Stalybridge is "still under test" i.e. (expensive) bag of shyte - promise some pix of the toilets/waiting room - soon - let's see where the rest of this £1.5 million has gone !!

Snow !!

...Coming back from Belper today - just outside Buxton - we see this stuff... (picture taken from back of car - not by the driver !!)

Football - yes Belper Town beat Gresley 2-1 yesterday. A late last arrival by myself - approx 2 minutes before kick-off due to traffic problems and an emergency trip to Wal-Mart (i.e. totally the wrong direction) near the Man City stadium. I needn't have worried - the first half didn't have a lot to write home about - Gresley took the lead with a bit of a "route one" effort - you know, punt, lob keeper, goal.

Second half was a different story - obvious the combined efforts of Carney and Hudson (joint managers) had done the trick. The equaliser was quite literally "a rocket from Stevenson", and Andy Rushbury went in bravely to put home the winner before getting clattered by two defenders. A thoroughly deserved victory - that's four league wins in a row - which is moving the "Nailers" up the Unibond First Divison South.

I give you a choice of pictures today....

http://www.timharrisonphotography.com/NailersAction/GrslyH078/album1.html

from "The Boss"

and my efforts ...

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/BelperGresley/

After the game it was time to find out the other "scores of interest" Col.b kindly phoned me with the news that Mossley had lost 3-1 from being 1-0 up (eek !) - Nosmo had been txting me with the Ilkeston Town score (2-0 win against Gateshead), and the Droyslden/Stafford score (1-1) appeared on some ticker tape somewhere during the evening.

Oh and Scotland were robbed - watched the second half in the "George & Dragon" in Belper - and how Italy got that free kick - only the ref knows ....

Agony, Pain - and General "stuff"

Tomorrow - well today - sees Mossley at home to Clitheroe - we've always had a good craic with the Shawbridge boys - Royf, LD, Billy et al - God know where they will be standing due to the Unibond declaring our pop side "unsafe" - purely on the grounds of the shale flooring - pathetic really- but hey that's football officialdom...at least they're not "walking the distance" this season !

Also later today my "first" team from all those years ago come to Tameside - yes Droylsden are entertaining Stafford Rangers in a real "basement battle" - apparently it's seen as a "mini-league" in the Conference National of 5 teams (Droylsden, Stafford, Altrincham, Northwich and Farsley)- with 4 going down ....

Me - I'm at neither, as "family duties" see me heading down the A6 to Belper. I do get a game in mind - Belper are at home to Gresley, so it's a semi-demi-local-ish sort of derby in the Derby area...at least I get to show Tim (Belper "Snapper") my new lens !!!

It's going to be an interesting day across the nation - so I'd better put some credit on my blooming phone !!!

(Trains) £1.5million ....Part 1

...spent on refurbishing Stalybridge Station by its "owners" i.e. Trans-Pennine Express.

In the first of a probably VERY irregular series I give you ... the train information system - now that must have cost a few bob ... and as you can see it has ALL the vital information for the harassed commuter at its very fingertips ....

As you've guessed - the "Welcome to..." message is particularly comforting....

Bit Late for a Rant but ...What the Hell ...

.... Unibond League Web Site - what a bag of nails that is - fine when there's nowt happening, but when you try to check out the evening's results - forget it - it's down until the morning "peep while the boss ain't looking" moment..whatever happened to 24/7 - I'm sure people are reading this very blog as we speak - my updating doesn't entail bringing the whole bloody site down !

...the FA - seem to have got themselves off the hook because Clitheroe admitted "partial responsibility" in the Rushall Olympic saga. What you don't see is the FA admitting the "other partial responsibility" - because of course that would not be good for the state of the game in this country - would it ? So Clitheroe get kicked out of the FA Trophy - and have to pay the costs - because a ref didn't do his job properly ...The only problem with this story is that it hasn't gone "national" enough - so few will know of it despite many knowing what a bunch of @@@@ they are at the FA ....stories like this would be right up the tabloid's street - shame that Fariah is not involved ....

...Northern Rail / Trans-Pennine Express - still unreliable - still overcrowded - the "people with the clicker machines" were out on Stalybridge Station today - it'll make no bloody difference - they were on the trains a couple of months ago - we still get the overcrowded 3-car 0735 to Manchester Piccadilly every morning. While we're on rail stuff, these fancy platform things which tell you the next train in - what a load of crap - you see the words "on time" when it is five minutes after - at Stalybridge - it's "still under test" - months after installation (with the occasional 'off day' - posh computer-like messages involving IP addresses etc) - God knows how much money is spent on these so-called "tools to help the punter" - the phone line is similarly crap - it's "on time" until one minute before arrival - then it jumps to "9 minutes late" - and similar - nationalrail.co.uk ain't much better when checking the hometime train from work - if they just concentrated on the bloody trains rather than all this "garnish" - but they can't because they're all different companies pulling their own way for the dividends of their shareholders - and b*ll*x to the customers....blimey that was "cathartic" - as Heather Mills would say...

Just the three for now - a "Triumverant" if you like - I'm sure Mr Grumpy will find more as the years continue ....

Curzon Ashton v Bradford Park Avenue

A win for the away team - with a very late goal - check out these pix while I compose myself ....

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/CurzonBPA/

The game - caught 1857 train to Ashton then walked it - no problems for a fit eco-warrior like myself !! First half was one way traffic - it really was. Bradford were by far the better organised, the quicker, the neater and the more inventive of the two sides - by a long way. This surprised me - and maybe others - we've all seen Curzon several times this season - and they've been far better than this - in fact to me they seem to reduce themselves to the rough niggly side that I saw pre-season against Sheffield FC - and I know others have seen since - it does not become them - at all.

Still - 0-0 at half-time - and it was bloody cold - so cold in fact that my chance of a lift back to Mossley "copped out" at 45 minutes - no names no pack drill (I might want a lift later in the season !!) A word in the bar with some - including Cyril who went on about the booking for Curzon's number 6 - "He should have kept out of it" - by now you can guess who got a second yellow in the second half (I believe it was Chris Curley - if I'm wrong will someone tell me sharpish ..).

Despite being down to tem men, Curzon continued to keep Bradford out - in fact for a good period of the second half it looked more likely that Curzon would score first. The freezing cold weather abated somewhat when it started to rain (although some were looking for it to turn to sleet !). Still no score..and then - the man with 87 on his "Golden Goal" erupted (as did many Bradford fans) when Tom Baker who'd come out of the Tardis as a second half sub - got on the end of a "ball blocked, keeper on ground, ball in air" moment (not unlike the Mossley goal at Radcliffe on Saturday !).

I've got to be honest - the better side won on the night - if Curzon had held out for a further 3 (plus) minutes that would have been a point gained rather than two lost. You could see at the final whistle how important that win felt for the Bradford players and fans alike - OK it's not the best "STS exclusive" - but you get the picture (plus you can see "Mad Pete" from the Bradford "Nutty Boys" in the background !!)

So - no lift, a walk into Ashton to find both train and bus times against me..found a bus to Satlybridge - one in the Buffet Bar (Phoenix "Flash Flood") before 2241 train home - to this ..

.....and now the late news ....

Out last night @ friends - out all day today walking from Crowden to "home" - will try to do something after tea...it's now 1715 and I'm a "touch muddy" !

OK - now 2154 - some pix at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/RadcliffeMossley/

...including my first real "Photoshop fiddle" - may Frith forgive me - check out the pictures of the goal - as I've included both the "fiddled" and the "unfiddled" - one tiny tweak with the 'clone tool' - and Nigel Wharmby disappears !!

Can't say a lot about the game - as there isn't much to say

- we got a goal and they didn't

- we got three points and they didn't

- Clitheroe beat FCUM 2-1

..but I digress....there is a YouTube offering from the Radcliffe side of things - they look pretty good I feel - or is that down to editing (he says after whittling 100 pix down to 14 (including one duplicate) and skilfully avoiding the picture of the Radcliffe header that just went over the bar ....!!)

OK - in the interests of fairness ...here is 'that' pic...

What does "FA" stand for ???

Those "in the non-league know" may well be aware of the "ongoing situation" re the Clitheroe v Rushall Olympic FA Trophy replay that "didn't happen" on Tuesday night - but I'm going to tell you anyway ..

It was postponed following a protest from Rushall regarding Keiron Fitzgerald who played in the game on Saturday. He'd been sent off in the previous round (i.e. two weeks ago), and as all "in the non-league know" know, he should have been suspended as of Saturday.

Plot thickens here....according to Rushall, they warned Clitheroe about this at 1350 on the Saturday. According to Clitheroe they had received NO correspondence from the FA regarding any suspension - and there was nothing on the FA Website ("naughty boys" page).....so he played ...

Plot now gets thicker - Rushall immediately protest to FA - they postpone the replay and - all of a sudden the name Keiron Fitzgerald appears on the FA Website ("naughty boys" page) TWO DAYS AFTER THE GAME ....we are talking serious "retrospective" here !!!

The "Fariah Alam" fiasco was probably easier to sort out than this little upset in the distant backwaters of football .. I'd give you a link to the relevant stuff on the Clitheroe Message Board - but it is members only...

http://z10.invisionfree.com/Clitheroe_FC_Forum/index.php

will get you to registration though ...interesting to note the input of some Tamworth fans onthis subject - whose team fell foul of the same secretary - who apparently knows his rule books back to front - last season in a County Cup game - however the Tamworth fans used a different word to describe the chap !!

The Rushall Board - again members only - (http://www.rofc.co.uk/ will get you nearest) - is a lot quieter than the Clitheroe board

Gareth Richards Benefit

bobbed some early pix up at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/GarethRichardsBenefit/

for AUFC benefit - more to come (promise) - I even got a go in the AUFC Sponsors Lounge tonight.....

...but I won Jack in the after match raffle !

Two days on and he's updating same post...this is of course a blatant steal from the Ashton board courtesy of "Robin" - cus he knows the names better then me !!

The game itself saw Richards in the number 9 shirt for the first ten minutes - he was given the captain's armband too. Maine Road legend and former Ashton man Gordon Woods started the game for the Manchester side. Tommy Taylor opened the scoring with a cracking header from a Howard cross, but Maine Road equalised when an attempted clearance hit the legs of an on-rushing forward and ricochetted into Rooney's goal. After half-time Neil Chappell restored the Robins' lead with a goal against his former club before both sides were guilty of some amazing misses. Almost the entire Ashton squad were given a run-out at some stage and those that were on the sidelines were somewhat vocal in their appreciation of the triallists from Salford. Jones (a defender) did well in two spells, Jackson looked useful on the Ashton left and, after Fitzpatrick had made it 3-1, Johnson played the last 15 minutes as a forward... in all honesty it looked about 14 minutes too long. Chappy scored a cracking second to round off the goalscoring.

Mossley v Brazil

Sorry - but just can't do it tonight - it may have been Mrs Smiffy's birthday - it may have been Danny T's debut - I may have been "playing outside" with firework pix - but it's one o'clock for Frith's sake...


I give you this for now - Danny T preparing to "get Mossley out of jail" in the 90th minute ..







...and the celebrations that followed ....he he ..




SUNDAY MORNING - Pix now at

http://s146.photobucket.com/albums/r272/mossleysmiffy/MossleyGarforth/

The Weekend....and beyond ...

OK - Mossley v Garforth on Saturday - looking forward to the Brazilian beat, the Brazilian style - more likely to get the Brazilian inflation in the bar £1-90 before the game - £2-10 at half-time -£2075 at the end (!!!) - Ilkeston Town @ Curzon in the FA Trophy (ergo a quick "visitette" to Stalybridge Buffet bar to see Nosmo King and the rest of the Ilson "Train Boys").

Oh yes a trip to the tip in the morning to dispose of washing machine - guess what - it broke on the same day as Mrs Smiffy's "royalty cheque" arrived - isn't life a bastard ! So I give you this link to Amazon - so you will buy more of Mrs Smiffy's book so the next royalty cheque can be properly used for our planned "Italia 2008" holiday. It's a damn fine read - tell all your teacher friends ...

http://www.amazon.co.uk/English-Additional-Language-Challenge-Classroom/dp/1843121867/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/203-8834157-3082365?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1194037335&sr=8-1

It's also Mrs Smiffy's birthday tomorrow - but she's out with her "workie chums" in the evening - giving me time to point the camera across the valley (using tripod, remote and "bulb" setting !!) and make an attempt on the fireworks !!

Whilst in plug mode - Hurst Cross (Ashton United) at 7.30pm next Tuesday for a good cause. £5/£3 entry for a benefit match in aid of Ashton player Gareth Richards and his family, to be played against Gareth's old club Maine Road. Gareth suffered a serious head injury whilst on holiday in Slovenia and was in a coma for 8 days; the aim of the match is to try and help him and his family offset some of the costs incurred through lost wages, travel and accomodation expenses, etc.

Mossley - New Signing

Mossley have signed Danny Toronczack - from Belper Town....

You may or may not know that - despite having lived in Mossley for over 20 years - I do have an interest in Belper - - due to Mrs Smiffy (birthplace, where I got married etc etc).....

So having heard that Danny T was leaving Belper I felt it only right to alert "our lot" - the fact that it went through "rather sharpish" does imply that "our lot" were already on the case... well he did play under our present Manager @ Ashton United ....

A little uncomfortable I feel ....but I've had the "no probs" from down the A6 - so welcome on board to Danny T - and may you score many goals - oh yes !

And here's a pic from the middle of September when Belper played Causeway United in the 1st Qual of the FA Cup - - note the lack of Tim Harrison copyright - that's because "I was there" !!!

Now note the Tim Harrison input - one day I'll get my head round Photoshop and all it can do !!!