Review of 2010

This might bore you all senseless (!!) but ... you don't have to read it ... here goes - and as promised I will try to put together a pictorial review of the year as well (far easier on the eye !) ...

January – 2010 started just like it’s now finishing weather-wise – no football on New Years
Day – and two of Mossley’s floodlight pylons had collapsed due to the weather (and old age as
well !!) – there was stuff on the telly about this as well (including a cameo appearance from
yours truly as well) . Snow shifting was the order of the month – as I was “without work”, I
ended up shifting snow both at Mossley and Stalybridge Celtic during the month – backbreaking
work indeed !! Such was the desperation for football early in the month, I ended up
going to Lancaster City just to get a game in. Went to see Wolfmother @ Manchester
Academy (excellent gig !). Chris Willcock resigned as Mossley Manager – and the end of the
month saw more sub-zero temperatures knackering up the football options (thank heaven for
Woodley’s artificial pitch eh ?). My notice period from Simon (bloody) Carves finally ended –
and I joined the ranks of the unemployed …

February – Mossley were now playing their home games at Ashton United due to the
floodlight crisis – and managed a fine 3-3 draw with FC Halifax Town thanks to a late late
equaliser from Andy Watson. Unemployed maybe – but I began a computer course at
Tameside College (VB.Net – passed with “Distinction” six months later !). More bad weather in
the middle of the month (this time it was Oldham Boro who came to the rescue of this football
addict !) – and then the result of the Marcus Hallows vs Ashton United court case hit the
headlines, opening up the whole legal minefield of blame, insurance and negligence not to
mention the possible bankrupting of Ashton United – which thankfully has NOT happened.
The end of the month saw the sad and sudden death of fellow ex-Simon Carves worker and
football snapper Steve Bostock quite literally while he was “on the job” covering the Rochdale
v Bradford City game – one of my mentors in the sports photography game who will be sadly
missed. Staying with photography – I managed to get two pictures published in the “Non
League 24” magazine – a copy of which has been kept for posterity. The first month on the
dole saw many applications – but no joy anywhere …

March – March began with the news that ZP (Zippy) Theart had left DragonForce (one of my
particular musical “likes”) – still not yet been replaced !! Caught a game in the Northumberland
League (Embleton WR) during a weekend visiting mates (who’ve since moved back down to
just outside Mossley !!). Starting selling stuff on EBay (in order to raise a bit of cash in order to
continue buying on EBay !). Had some “fun and games” after a Mossley game at Trafford
involving a certain player whose initials appear in the football team name MK Dons – that
player is “no longer involved” at Trafford – in fact he appears to have disappeared off the radar
completely, although rumours abound as to his “whereabouts” abound …). A (different) “Knight in
Shining Armour” (great link !!) had arrived at Mossley – Gary from GT Grafix had offered to
stump up 50% of the cash required for the new Mossley floodlights – and he was “taken on
board” as they say ! One plus point from unemployment was a marked improvement in my
culinary skills (having the time to play/cook/experiment certainly helped mind) – and this still
continues to this day (although now reduced mostly to my “days off” and weekends). Still no
joy on the job front …

April – early in the month - a job interview !!! Nothing to do with IT but it went well considering
it was only my second job interview in 25 years !!! Another trip to the Manchester Academy,
this time to see the John Butler Trio – what an amazing guitarist this chap is – well
recommended. On the football side of things Mossley were grinding out some wins and
getting tantalisingly close to a play-off spot in the Unibond 1st Division North – but then defeats
at Colwyn Bay and at home to Curzon Ashton all but put paid to this (at one stage they’d
played 5 games in 8 days – who’s to say it won’t be any different in 2011 !!!). Got some
comeback from the job interview – passed it .. but .. no jobs were available – so onto a waiting
list I went (I saw this as a “forget it mate” moment – how wrong I was !). Football season end
was hotting up – with Curzon Ashton again making the Unibond play-offs (but again failing ..) –
and preparations for the General Election were also reaching boiling point – and at this point in
time Nick Clegg was looking like a viable option (oh how wrong we all were – especially the
students !) – and the great “Smiffy Garden Project” had begun – pond, patios and borders –
something to keep the “dolescum” occupied between football game hunting and job hunting –
which was STILL bearing no fruit …

May – The football season continued – with trips to Dukinfield Town and Atherton LR early in
the month – the garden project continued as well – one patio all but finished at the start of the
month. Another gig was taken in (Rokia Traore at the Bridgewater Hall) – and then the 6th May
saw the General Election (the evening of which was spent at Bury Metro Comedy Club night)
and after an “all-nighter” from me (no work in the morning – still !) a hung parliament was the
outcome … This month saw the “light at the end of the tunnel” as the new floodlights started
to go up at Mossley. The Con-Dem coalition finally spluttered into life – and we’ve all seen
what that has come up with over the last 7 months of 2010 – with more “fun and games” no
doubt for next year … The middle of the month saw me reach “second interview stage” for an
IT job – which eventually became yet another “Thanks but ..” outcome (later in the year I was
approached in an Oldham street and asked if I would like to change my internet provider to
TalkTalk – you can imagine what I told the “salesperson” – and some of it I’m afraid was NOT
very polite – not insulting her personally, just slagging off said company !!). Still football to see
- the Stockport Senior Cup Final on the 18th May, and my final game of the season “over the
hill” in the West Riding Amateur League twixt Ardsley Celtic and (champions) Bay Athletic –
and the first cricket match (sadly managed only a few in 2010) saw the “big bugger” 500mm
lens come out for its usual summer airing.

June – The lamps began to appear on the floodlight stanchions at Mossley - and there was
possible “light at the end of the employment tunnel” – two more IT job interviews had fallen by
the wayside, but the April option had resurfaced … and then the World Cup began !! A windup
radio on a Wharfedale campsite helped us through the first England game (a sign of things
to come …) before returning home. The “lower patio” was beginning to take shape – and
wildlife was appearing big style in the wildlife pond. And then – June 16th - almost exactly halfway
through 2010 - I was offered a job – starting at the end of June – which I grabbed with
both hands. The World Cup continued with an awful England performance against Algeria
followed by a nervy win over Slovenia and then … “that game” against Germany. The month
ended on a “Hi Ho Hi Ho” note as I went off on a major career change - to become a Postie …

July – is “Pre-Season Friendly” month – but this year it was also “Get your Head around New
Job” month as well – a couple of weeks training before being let loose on my own walk (which
I’m still doing today !) . College course finished (OK it’s on my CV now – but that’s about all).
The weather took a turn for the wetter this month as well (just as I started an outdoor job – also
caused delays with the patio project which was slowly inching towards the finish line - for this
summer anyway !) – hosepipe ban – ha !! The last day of July saw Mossley grab some early season
silverware, winning the Willow Wood Hospice Cup by beating Ashton United on
penalties.

August – A week of friendlies and then the football season began in earnest – plus the added
bonus of a Reserve Team AND a Youth Team at Mossley for the 2010/11 season. True to
form however – the opening two league games of the season were missed due to being on
holiday – a week in Malvern – with mixed weather (although I did slip in a game “down there”
between Malvern Town and Highgate United !). Mossley’s season got off to a bad start without
me, losing their first two games (including a 0-5 reverse at Clitheroe – ouch !!) but the month
ended with a good win (and £1,500 in the kitty as well !) over Witton Albion in what was to
become a very useful run in the FA Cup. Work was still going well – it had been pointed out to
me that after the two-week training period (where you’re basically with someone else so doing
only 50% of a walk at the most) many people quit rather quickly once they start on a full 3-4
hour walk on their own and realise “It ain’t that easy !” – not me though (although I’d certainly
had a “baptism of fire” (more like water really !!) with the weather !! I was still getting calls from
some recruitment agencies regarding IT work – but I was turning down all “offers” (I say offers
– but having seen how it all works over the first six months of the year I knew damn well that
95+% of them would turn to dust).

September – saw closure on the garden patio project for 2010 – no doubt we’ll get back on
the job when the weather improves next year - always that last 10% of any job that drags out
… One of our radiators “fell off the wall” this month – well we were looking at replacing the
combi boiler anyway – just more bloomin’ expense though. Mossley’s FA Cup run continued
with wins over Glossop North End and Dunston UTS (and some of the other “Six Tame Sides”
were hanging in there as well !). Not content with walking for money five days of the week
(and grabbing overtime wherever possible), the Sunday walks out had been continuing over
the summer as well (stopped me seizing up I guess !!).

October – a crazy month for Mossley AFC – not one league game played … their nine games
comprised 4x FA Trophy; 3x FA Cup; 1x Presidents Cup; and 1x Manchester Premier Cup …
and by the end of October they were out of everything !!!! Had a week’s holiday this month as
well – plastering the wall where the radiator had fallen off being just one of those “jobs on the
list” !! Managed a few walks again this month (including a “solo effort” down the disused
railway between Oldham and Grotton – including a guest appearance from an urban fox !) –
next year sometime I’ll go for the disused railway between Oldham and Ashton. Keeping the
railway theme going (ho ho !) Mossley’s FA Cup exploits finally “hit the buffers” against
Darlington, losing 6-2 and finishing with just 8 (eight) men on the pitch – crazy crazy game
indeed – however the cup run had brought a good chunk of money into the coffers (sadly a lot
of it is probably being used up now to cover the financial shortfall due to the weather and
subsequent lack of football since November 23rd !). My week off was followed by Mrs Smiffy
having a week off up in Windermere – so a couple of 24 hour trips up there in between work –
and some walking above the lakes finished off October.

November – The month began cold – the cameraman’s fingerless gloves were now doubling
up as the postie’s fingerless gloves (and now – end of December – they’re totally shot –
fortunately a new pair arrived “under the Christmas Tree” !!). Got a nice new shiny/luminous
coat to wear though (really should think about washing it during this Christmas break – ‘tis a
touch grubby !) Mossley finally got back to playing league football (a mixed month comprising
2 wins 1 draw and 3 defeats – ho hum !). It wasn’t all Mossley this month – I took in the
Stalybridge Celtic v Droylsden game – certainly a surprise result there with Celtic running out
easy 4-0 winners. The new combi boiler was finally fitted this month (just in time as it
happened !!) and my first taste of a “Royal Mail Christmas” (apart from the new coat !) arrived
with an official “Happy Christmas” card containing 50 first class stamps – look at it as a £20
tax-free bonus really ! As November came to a close – the weather got worse … and worse …
and worse … finishing up with snow (and lots of it) on the final day of the month – the other
(darker) side of a “Royal Mail Christmas” finally kicked in !!

December – hit 54 years of age on the first day of the month (still too young/skint to retire
though !) and the snow continued - no football unfortunately (I’d done Droylsden v Leyton
Orient on TV at the end of November – FCUM v Brighton was the TV game in early
December) until the 11th when I squeezed one in at Stalybridge Celtic and then a Mossley
Reserves game on the 14th – since then … nowt (maybe a chance at Woodley Sports on the
27th ?). The “Christmas Pressure” kicked in big style at work (working on the Sunday before
Christmas as well !) – packets went through the roof (curse this internet shopping !) – and this
coupled with a return of the bad weather made for a “sporting” end to the pre-Christmas
period.

Some Notable “Farewells” from 2010 ...

February - Steve Bostock (fellow snapper - see above)
March – Keith Alexander (latterly Macclesfield Town Manager)
March – Sir Michael Foot (former Labour leader)
May – Dave Mellett (long-time Mossley fan)
May – Trevor Brissett (ex-Stafford Rangers)
June – Chris Sievey (a.k.a. Frank Sidebottom)
July – Ken Barnes (Manchester City … and Stafford Rangers)
August – Adam Stansfield (Exeter City)
September – Sir Cyril Smith (ex-Rochdale MP)
October – Malcolm Allison
October – Sir Norman Wisdom
November - Leslie Nielsen (of “Airplane” fame)
December – Dale Roberts (Rushden & Diamonds goalkeeper)
December - Woolly Wolstenholme (Barclay James Harvest)
December - Captain Beefheart

… they will all be missed …
.