So much for Monday ...

The "old" Irlam Station building - now a chicken run !!!

... wide awake at 0500 - up at 0630 (needing to make sure small boy got off to college on one of his "early days") - wandering around the 'garden estate' @ 0645 "avec cuppa" preparing my mind for later on ... naturally when I checked out the trains to Manchester, First TransPennine Express had decide to make my journey to interview as hard as possible (i.e. train from Stalybridge to Manchester Oxford Road was going to be late enough for me to miss onward connection - b*st*rds ...) - so it was a case of stick with the stopper from Mossley to Manchester Victoria and then walk very very very very briskly down to Deansgate station to pick up the connection to Irlam from there - which was made with five minutes to spare !! Not the best prep for a job interview but ... I gave it my best shot (and more), and now it's a case of "wait and see" - I then had to turn down another interview tomorrow !! It was offered to me as a job "in Chester" - tricky enough via public transport - but when I delved further it was actually the other side of Chester - no dammit it was virtually in bloody Wales (Ewloe for those who know this neck of the woods) ! On a regular commute - well nigh impossible - so I've probably also knackered any further chances with job offers from Hays IT Recruitment ...

OK - so fairly comfy with today's performance - got back to Mossley - and seconds after getting off the train I was hit with a literal "kick in the teeth" when "Chippie Alan" came out of the shop to tell me that Mossley Fan Dave Mellett had died of a heart attack whilst on holiday in Malta. Dave and son Darren were very long-standing Lilywhite fans - I'd once rescued Darren's pc from a bad attack of the "viruses" and would often get "pulled in" pre-match to try to assist the two of them (plus butchers Andy and Keith) in finishing the Saturday sports "quizword" thingy from one of the tabloids. So - another Mossley fan has headed for that great "cantilever stand in the sky" - and he too will be sadly missed. My condolences go out to Darren and Mum and family.

I guess Dave was also unaware that Mossley have now appointed their new Manager as well - and I guess to many it's a surprise appointment as well. Rather than going for a "name", former Stalybridge Celtic Reserves boss Shaun Higgins has been handed the "hot seat" at Seel Park. Shaun is a "local (Tameside) lad" who has played for Oldham Athletic and Hyde United before taking over the Celtic Reserve team. Strangely enough, the Stalybridge Celtic Reserve and Youth setup has "moved house" to Mossley this close season as well (albeit that this was anounced well before the Managerial appointment), so there have been further appointments there as well - check out MossleyWeb for the full new set-up. Best of luck to Shaun and crew for the future ...

Meanwhile the season DOES continue - tomorrow night there's an "option" for those desperate souls (including me) - the Stockport Senior Cup Final between Cheadle Town Reserves and Cheadle Heath Nomads/Linotype (or is it Linotype/Cheadle Heath Nomads ?). "Game on" to be played at Woodley Sports Lambeth Grove ground with an early (1900) kick-off.

That was Monday ... good, bad and some hopes for the future ...
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