Taking Stock

Tuesday 20^th  April – Long Riston Reserves 1 Easington Utd Reserves 5

Wednesday 21^st April – Hull City 0 Aston Villa 2

Saturday 24^th April – Dronfield Town (home) Won 3-0

Tuesday 27^th April – Highland Laddie FC 0 Easington Utd Reserves 4

Sometimes things come along that make you ask yourself if all the effort is worth it.  

Last week, in the wake of the “Battle of Bulwell” (as some of our party have already begun to refer to it) was one of those occasions.

I’ve had such moments before.  Certainly in recent years, since the Slushettes arrived on the scene, there are times when it would seem that life itself is playing second-fiddle to football in general and Easington United in particular.

Prior to the Bulwell game I’d already decided – reluctantly – to relinquish my position as the East Riding County League’s Development Officer, knowing that the logical next step would be to end my 14-year-long membership of the Management Committee altogether.

After the events at Goosedale, and particularly in relation to the specific allegations made against members of our club, there was an overwhelming feeling to pull the plug on my football commitments completely.

Where's it gonna drop?

To counter these feelings, I decided on a trip to see the Reserves in action at Long Riston in the quarter-finals of the H. E. Dean Cup.  Against a side some two divisions lower in league stature the game should provide the ideal opportunity to regain my appetite…hmm.

All went well first half as the Stiffs raced into a three-goal lead, courtesy of a hat-trick from Frosty – unable to regain his first team place since sustaining an injury at Kiveton Park back in January.

The pace of Frost and “Fitzy Torres” allied to Fozzy’s experience was proving too much for the Riston defence and as the game entered the second half you could sense the frustration growing in the home ranks.

 The Fitzy & Frosty Show

When “Nige” headed home the locals’ fourth before the hour mark the tie was won…but the hosts weren’t suppressed.  A couple of “late ones” had Committee man Hodgy predicting, “This’ll tonn into a kicking match if ref dunt gerra grip”.  He was right.

Luke Jeffery’s foul allowed Riston a reply from the spot before a handball in the opposite box saw Fozzy score from similar circumstances to restore the four goal cushion.  Then the hosts imploded.

 The calm before the implosion

The fuse was lit when young Danny Cundill was fouled as he shepherded the ball safely into touch near the corner flag.  The perpetrator then took it upon himself to decide to pick a fight with almost anyone and everyone.  After he’d been shown red, his skipper took up the mantle as did several of the management and subs.  The net result: another Riston red as well as one to Frosty – for “self defence in the face of extreme provocation”.  Still 35 days son!

As we travelled home, courtesy of South Stand regular (& Volunteer Groundsman) Tom, with driver and Hodgy recounting days of old when all games carried a bit of edge, I found myself more dismayed than when I’d set off.  Still, I was bound for the KC Stadium the next night.  That would lift the spirits…

 A rather unfortunate choice of front cover as it turned out

Due to there being no midweek games at the time that Adam Pearson introduced the new match day prices for the remainder of the current season, I’d declined his invitation to pay a fiver then to minimise the increase later.  Indeed, I’d almost forgotten all about the new prices…until my ticket source at work reminded me, “It’s £32.50 to get in now y’know?”  I could’ve wept.

I won’t go into details about the game.  Along with the subsequent defeat by Sun’lan that sees The Tigers facing up to Championship football again next season, it’s been covered far more expertly elsewhere.

All I would add is that if Temporary Football Management Consultant Iain Dowie thinks we dominated “sixty minutes” of that game, I’ve turned into Ray Milland in the 1945 classic “The Lost Weekend” for at least forty of them.

Whilst in the ground I noticed Hull KR coach “Justinho” Morgan taking up his seat some six rows in front.  For a moment I wondered if his FC counterpart Rich Agar might also be there – but then I thought, no, the KC couldn’t cope with having two unpopular home coaches in the ground at the same time!

Thursday brought my first football-free night of the week.  “Great” exclaimed Mrs Slush, “I might actually see you tonight!”  Yes I replied, we can watch the second of the Leaders Debates together.  I’ve still got the bruise.

The final one of the season

And so to the weekend.  With the Message Boards still carrying plenty of content relating to the previous weekend, I was a touch apprehensive as we approached the visit of third-placed Dronfield Town.

I wasn’t the only one.  Dave was getting concerned that his players were still focussing on events past rather than present; this was a massive game for both clubs.  Victory for us retained our hopes of a top three finish, a win for Dronfield and allied to anything other than 3pts for Church Warsop v Hutton Cranswick kept the title alive for another week.

 "Just 'od on ref, me dad takes a picture of this moment every week!"

A decent day weather-wise and no fixtures for the County League squads helped attract a decent crowd to The Farm (with the pre-planned “Ezzie Bevy Bus Round The Back of Beyond” planned for that evening also encouraging those who wanted to make an early start!).

 One, Two and should have been Three

We certainly made an early start, Chav volleying home Mozzer’s pass inside 6mins.  On twenty we went two up courtesy of a great finish from Thommo.  And had AG found the power and accuracy on a free header, it would have been three points in the bag by the break.

As it was we were (again) indebted to a fine save from “fans favourite” Chaz just before the interval.

Early in the second half, smallest player on the pitch Gav headed us into a 3-0 lead.  There was no way back for the Derbyshire side.

 "We're the Farm Shed, we're the Farm Shed, the Farm Shed Easington..."

 "...We're the South Stand, we're the South Stand, the South Stand Easington!"

Low Farm was a great place to be on Saturday (even as news of City's relegation filtered through).  The decent weather and lack of County League action ensured we had a good atmosphere down there, especially among the other squad players.  This manifested itself in some good banter with referee’s assistant Kevin Blackburn – running the line in front of “The Farm Shed” – and Dronfield number 11 Ian Parkes.

Hutch makes a mess of the game's last chance

The scenes in the changing rooms afterwards were chaotic as players jostled for position in order to be showered (and sometimes even shaved – Farny), changed and out for the night’s serious business…leaving muggings here to try and clear away as best I could, get locked up and round to the Neppy in time to pay the match officials (and slide down a very welcome pint of Black Sheep) before getting myself home and spruced up for the evening’s joviality.

Three not so wise men!

Nights like the “Ezzie Bevy Bus Round The Back Of Beyond” come along all too rarely.  But when they work as well as this one did, they serve to remind people just what it is that makes Easington United such a cracking club to be part of.

Our route took us through Welwick (Coach & Horses), Patrington (Holderness Inn, Hildyard Arms), Keyingham (Ship Inn), Ryehill (Crooked Billet) and Thorngumbald (Barn Farm) before finishing at The Haven Arms in Hedon.  From there the bus deposited the hardy nighthawks in Hull for further consumption before taking the rest of us home to our beds.

  The taste of the Lakes can be found in Ryehill

Beer-wise, I’d chosen the pubs well: Great Newsome Sleck Dust, Marston Pedigree, Sharp Doom Bar, Jennings Stickle Pike, Caledonian 80/-, Yorkshire Terrier and Spitfire were all enjoyed immensely with the only let-down of the evening being a rather tepid Tetley Cask in Keyingham.  

The feel-good factor created at the weekend was maintained on Tuesday night when the Stiffs confirmed their place in the final of the league's H. E. Dean Cup - the first time the Club has ever been represented in this prestigious event.

 An elevated view of a Stiffs semi-final

 Given what had gone beforehand, it was almost predictable that the passage wouldn't be straightforward.  And so, after Frosty (2), Fozzy and Fitzy had established a 4-0 lead just past the hour against Division 3 strugglers Highland Laddie, the East Hull side's goalkeeper decided to take his protest at the fourth that step too far.  His attempted assault on the referee prompted abandonment of the game.

Thankfully - or not depending on your point of view - a precedent had already been set for such an incident in an earlier round.  And by Wednesday morning it was confirmed, the Stiffs were off to Brid on 22nd May.

Their opponents will be fellow Premier Division side Viking Raiders.  Ironically the two teams meet tomorrow in the league at Low Farm.  I'll be there - a wedding party prevents my participation in the day's events at Clipstone Welfare's ground where Mack's men will look to beat "hosts" Thoresby Colliery and gain the first of three wins that will ensure a runners-up spot in the CML.

Now THAT would make all the hassle of the past week or so worth it...

Thanks to Burt G & Dooley Cousins for the shots

 

For God, St George and...Easington?

Just for today...

Our local primary school marked St George's Day in its daily assembly.  Is it a sign of the times that I feel proud of it for doing this and not brushing it under the carpet?   

Refusing to be Bulwelled

Saturday 17th April - Bulwell Town (away) Won 2-1

"Two set-pieces, two goals, 2-1. Luvverly!"

I must apologise for the delay in the completion of this particular post and indeed its relative lack of content. As will become apparent in due course, my enthusiasm for the day in question has long since diminished in the wake of the subsequent allegations sent our way.

It’s ironic really that I should feel this way. It had all started so well.

A glorious spring morning, complete with blue skies and pleasant April sunshine, began with a trip to the local “Salon du Carron” for a much-needed trim. I was accompanied there and back by a bit of Mayer Hawthorne through the car stereo, with tracks like Your Easy Lovin’ simply perfect for a “cruise in the country”…

With Mrs Slush and the Slushettes bound for a day’s goldfish shopping, I was granted a relaxing Saturday morning and retained high spirits from boarding the Riding School Express in Easington right through to the end of our longest trip of the season, the Goosedale Sports Ground in Bestwood Village, home to opponents Bulwell Town.

 "Board!" (sic)

We were warmly greeted on our arrival, with the hospitality for those of us not involved in the action extending to the nearby clubhouse, where home club secretary, Mary, proved the most convivial of hosts.

Nice here innit?

As members of the nearby participating cricket teams ventured in for afternoon tea and having caught the first ten minutes of the Hull FC v Leeds Rhinos RL Challenge Cup game on the box, I finally ventured outdoors again at five to three hoping to see us extend our winning run to five.

All smiles beforehand

A hand of frienship...

I did, thanks to second half goals from Mozzer and skipper AG. However, the bare facts of a 2-1 win are rendered almost totally irrelevant by what has since been said about the game.

How high did Gav get up to miss out on that one?

And this is where I have to be careful. Although not an official Blog on behalf of EUAFC, my position within the club means that whatever I post will, rightly or wrongly, be considered the “official club line”.

All I can tell you is that due to allegations made in the wake of our trip to Bulwell, it would be unwise of me to publish my view of events here.

All hands on deck cap'n!

Instead I will restrict my observations to simply the events on the pitch, where the game ran a not too dissimilar pattern to Bulwell’s visit to Low Farm back in August.

We began brightly and created – and missed – a series of half-decent openings, the best of which saw Farny denied by keeper Ian Gillan. As so often happens, having passed up these opportunities, we were punished on the counter; Bulwell scoring through Justin Edwards-Clarke from what amounted to their first real chance!
That came two minutes before the break and was immediately followed by the first of the day’s “incidents”, which appeared to fester into the half-time interval.

The Brown Stuff

While Mack conducted a Phil Brown-style Half Time team talk on the pitch, I received news of excellent victories for both the Reserves and Casuals. There was the chance of a rare “East End Hat Trick”.

"He's gonna spill this Rodney!"

It came thanks to a solid second half showing – Mozzer’s 20-yard free-kick being followed by AG heading home the rebound of another – and against the backdrop of a double sending-off for the hosts; goal-scorer Edwards-Clarke seeing red on the hour and team-mate Gregory Coleman receiving his marching orders in injury-time.

The events that followed the final whistle will no doubt be argued about countless times in the future. What shall not be disputed is that it was these incidents and my extreme concerns over what might happen next that prompted me to apologise to Mary Duffy for the fact that we could not accept the traditional offer of post-match hospitality. Her response left me dumbstruck.

Perfick

Still, one upshot of having to find another place for post-match refreshments was that it took us to the superb Horse & Groom pub in nearby Linby. A large village pub in the traditional mould with a spacious car park and beer garden out back, seating out front and – most importantly – a fine selection of cask ales – it was “Perfick!”

Shaken not stirred

I chose Everards Sunchaser and Greene King IPA for my tipple, not quite having the time to explore further a list that also included Abbot Ale and Bombardier. Sitting out front exchanging small-talk with the assembled locals proved the perfect way to take stock of what had just gone on, with some of the younger lads in the squad still looking a tad shaken.

We'll laugh about this in years to come...perhaps not

From the pub it was to nearby Hucknall where the nearest Chippy benefited from seventeen hungry mouths coming through its door.

With the bus suitably loaded for the trip home we headed back up the M1 – shaken but not stirred.

Thanks to Burt G for the photography

Hedon is no longer United

The demise of the town’s original club is a sad loss to local football

What happens to changing rooms after the club departs

The latest ER County League fixture newsletter confirmed the news that Hedon United AFC has finally ceased to exist.

Its future was in doubt from the moment former driving force Dave Gatti announced his intention to emigrate, with his son taking up the mantle. “I don’t think he knows what he’s letting himself in for” admitted his dad at the time. He soon found out.

However, even allowing for the feeling that this was always a likely scenario, it doesn't lessen the impact felt at the demise of such an established club.

Despite being overtaken in recent years by “new kids on the block” Hedon Rangers, to many – including me – Hedon United remained THE Hedon team.

This was partly because, in open-age terms, Hedon Rangers are actually Keyingham FC. Their name (and location) change came about after an amalgamation with the well-established Hedon Rangers junior club, following the local authority’s rejection of development plans at Keyingham’s Saltaugh Road ground.

 Hedon "opened" the new-look Farm in 2002 - and conveniently lost the game as well

According to the engraving above the main door of their dilapidated changing rooms at Drapers Lane, which reads “Hedon AFC 1949”, the other Hedon club has been in existence for considerably longer.

I’m not in a position to present a fully recorded history of the club here but a glance at the list of South Holderness Cup Winners hints at the pedigree of the club we’ve lost. And I was by no means ever their biggest fan!

Hedon United were the first ever winners of the South Holderness Cup when launched in its present format in 1956. Controversy surrounded the Final, as reported in the official competition minutes: “comment was made on the Final between Hedon and Patrington which Hedon won in the closing minutes by 3-2, the ball being over the line, hitting a spectator and coming back into play from which Hedon scored. Referee L. Howarth unfortunately although present was unable to officiate and his deputy who took control being far from satisfactory.”

Revenge for 1995 came in 2004's 3-1 win at Withernsea

Hedon went on to lift the trophy twelve times (including one shared). Among these victories was a 1995 penalty shoot-out one over us (avenged nine years later).  Their most recent success came five years ago when they triumphed 3-0 against the wonderfully named Patrington Stanley in the final at Easington.

By that 2005 final, Hedon had returned to their familiar moniker “United”. Previously the club had played as “Hedon & Marfleet United” (mid-Sixties to circa 1971) and briefly in the Nineties as “Hedon & Saltend Social Club AFC” following various mergers.

In 2000/01, as a member of the ER Amateur League top division, Hedon joined Easington as the only Holderness clubs to become founder members of the Humber Premier League, the new FA Supply League launched by the East Riding County FA.

In only our third game, we “entertained” Hedon at our temporary home of Humbleton and were humbled 4-1. Despite an improved showing in the return, at Christmas, we lost again, 1-2.

April 2005 - Hedon were shit again this season but won at Low Farm!

The fortunes of both clubs would soon head off in different directions and while we gradually became one of the top four sides in the competition, Hedon’s HPL campaigns became a perennial struggle at the basement.

When manager Gavin Kenny resigned, Hedon’s withdrawal from the HPL soon followed. A place in ER County League Division 2 became their home for the final two seasons of their existence.

Similar to Holmpton’s demise some years earlier (2002), the disappearance of Hedon United leaves a hole in the Eastenders’ calendar in terms of an annual memorial trophy competed for by both teams. Since December 1991, Easington and Hedon (albeit originally via the latter’s Sunday League side) have competed for the Melvin Douglas Memorial Trophy, in memory of the Eastenders’ legendary record goal scorer who plied his Sunday footballing wares at Drapers Lane. Missed a couple of times due to fixture congestion and/or ground problems, the trophy has been played for fifteen times, the most recent occasion being in April 2008, with our Reserves emerging as winners by the odd goal in three.

Hedon and Easington's players remember Melvin in 2002.

Now the club represented on the left has also met its end

Personally, my abiding memory of Hedon's oft-criticised Drapers Lane home is tinged with regret; namely the aforementioned 1995 South Holderness Cup Final. As Mickey Bo’s asst-mgr, I helped oversee us throw away our first chance to lift the trophy; a couple of substitutions towards the end of a game we were leading 2-1 allowing Hedon to regain the initiative and take the game to extra-time and subsequently penalties. I can still remember the words of one player (still with the club) in the immediate aftermath: “If we hadn’t made those subs we’d be sat in the pub with the cup now.” Ouch!

There were better times at the ground and, in fairness, I witnessed far more wins there than defeats. It was also a fixture that never took on the status of an Easington v Withernsea “derby”, despite the aforementioned Mr. Kenny’s constant attempts to “spice things up” by belittling our style of play.

And so, as we look forward to challenging Hedon Rangers once again for the bragging rights in this little corner of Holderness, my sympathy goes to my old mucker Dave Gatti who, whilst soaking up the Portuguese sun, may well take time to reflect on what he himself called “the demise of a once almost great football club”.

Time waits for no man

Tuesday 6 April - Easington Utd Reserves 3 Withernsea Reserves 2
Saturday 10 April - Phoenix Sports & Social FC (home) Won 4-0
Easington Utd Reserves 2 Wawne Ferry 2
Tuesday 13 April - Hedon Rangers Reserves 1 Easington Utd Reserves 1
(Easington win 4-2 on penalties)

Goal for Farny at the Farm

Along with pre-season, April constitutes my busiest time of the football calendar. Even more so when we’ve had a winter like that just experienced, adding to the number of midweek games to be played. Then there’s the admin side of things...

On Monday night, along with the other three Committee members, I took part in the draw for the annual South Holderness Cup competition. The effects of the winter were noticeable here too, with four teams – AFC Preston, Aldbrough, Roos and Skirlaugh – all declining the invitation due to a combination of fixture backlog and injuries.
Thus just five clubs (and nine teams) were represented at the draw, which was made at The White Horse in Ottringham where a decent pint of cask Banks’s Bitter cost me a not so decent £2.80!
The draw has once again set our first team on course for a potential meeting with holders Hedon Rangers, while Withernsea will fancy their chances of reaching the final from the other half.
Tonight (Tuesday) it was back to the live action, with the Elder Slushette and me attending the Reserves’ latest match in their rather improbable-looking run in the ER County League’s President’s Cup competition, the H. E. Dean Cup.
It’s a standing joke at County League Management Committee meetings – usually cracked by me – that “we don’t do cups” at Easington; hence I rarely take notice of any dates beyond the first or second rounds of the three competitions our teams are entered into. That’s suddenly changed and Saturday 22 May is starting to figure as a potentially important date for reasons other than the club’s Annual Presentation Evening! But I’m getting ahead of myself.

Fozzy (right) playing in his 137th Easington-Withernsea clash. He's won 135 of them!

Having disposed of Div 3 opponents Patrington while I was on holiday the format (consisting of a regionalised draw, with ties played on consecutive Tuesdays through April) threw up a meeting with local rivals Withernsea in round two.

"'Ave it!"

Coming three days after the Casuals had dished out a league beating to the Seasiders’ own third-string the game attracted a decent crowd (61 h/c) to The Farm.

I later observed, via a couple of “social networking sites”, that I felt it had been the most one-sided 3-2 win I’d ever seen. One of these subsequently attracted 27 comments – the most feedback I’ve ever had!

Still, I stand by the view, albeit with the caveat that I got to the game about a quarter-of-an hour in and Withernsea had enjoyed the better of things up to this point.  Shortly after my arrival the visitor took the lead when Stew Guy was allowed to proceed from a position some five yards offside and finish stylishly over goalie Phil Page.

A goal against Withernsea

Another goal against Withernsea

Frosty brought the Stiffs level with a goal of real quality and quick-fire strikes from Torres and Stumo put us well in charge at the start of the second half.

"Don't Panic!"

But as chances continued to be created and missed – just after I’d observed rather too loudly that “we could get eight or nine here” – that feeling emerged that we might just pay for our profligacy.

A goal for Withernsea

Sure enough, Withernsea got a penalty for handball. Converted; 3-2, game back on! “This’ll go to penalties” I said, my earlier optimism having completely dissipated. Thankfully, it didn’t, and, despite plenty of effort, the visitors never really looked like levelling things up.

The Stiffs’ win set up a trip to Eastside Sports Ground, new name for the former Destiny Fitness Centre at Saltend (before that the BP Chemicals Sports Ground, and before that the DCL Sports Ground and going even further back has formed part of a race track, speedway track and aerodrome!). In recent years, it has been home to Hedon Rangers FC (along with Skirlaugh ARLFC and – for a short time – training base for Hull KR).

Before the cup clash the Reserves had title-chasing Wawne Ferry to contend with at the weekend. For the second year running the Hull outfit were asked to “slum it” across the Ditch due to our CML game with Phoenix taking precedence on the ground.

The Stiffs and Wawne "slum it" for a second successive season

The staggered kick-offs enabled me to venture across once the necessary formalities had been completed on the main pitch. In the twenty or so minutes I watched, we held our own with Wawne – perhaps not surprisingly – forcing the pace. But there was no end result and as half-time arrived with the teams goalless I ventured back over the Ditch, ready to see if we could claim a top five spot in the CML Premier.

"Was that you Chaz? It stinks man, even the ref's noticed!"

Back in October we’d earned a share of the spoils at Pavilion Lane thanks to Farny’s wonder-strike and Chav’s injury-time penalty. Today’s Phoenix side looked nothing like the one that had played that day as part of a one-defeat-in-fifteen-games start to the season.
Manager Daz Newson told me beforehand that his side had won through to the Final of the Rotherham Charity Cup on Thursday, after penalties, and as a result of their efforts six players had been unable to make the trip to Easington.

 

"I don't recognise any of this lot"

I’d already noticed that striker Mendy (“Sanko”) was absent (long-term injury apparently) while partner Matt Ellis is also currently sidelined. With only two games still to play, Newson admitted that his team’s priorities now lay elsewhere.

Size matters?

Not so us. With the proposed reorganisation still awaiting ratification by the FA, promotion to the Supreme Division is still officially up for grabs. And Manager Mack wants it.

Thommo goes down...penalty...one-nil

After a sluggish start the result was rarely in doubt once Chav had maintained his excellent record from the spot in the 19th minute, following a foul on Thommo six yards out that on another day would surely have seen a red card brandished.
By half-time the lead had been doubled, courtesy of Mozzer’s fine free-kick dispatched with aplomb from 20 yards.
Meanwhile, cheers from across the Ditch suggested that the Stiffs had overturned a Wawne goal early in the second half and were bound for what would be their best result of the season…only for a last gasp Ferry equaliser to thwart them.

"Where'd he come from?"

Back on the main arena and victory was assured early in the second half when the Phoenix defence remained statuesque as Farny stole in at another Moz set-piece. 

Four-Nil

Job's a good 'un

Then Man Mountain capped a fine individual display by poking home Farny’s pass in the final minute.
Refusing to allow the latest shambolic news from the KC Stadium spoil my day, a very enjoyable post-match session was enjoyed in the Neptune beer garden, courtesy of a couple of pints of Black Sheep and some convivial company.
Logging on to the CML site later that evening enhanced satisfaction at a job well done. It would now seem that a top three place is really there for the taking, following dropped points by Yorkshire Main, Dronfield and Parkhouse. But with four of the last five games away, it’s still a big ask.
Thankfully, thoughts of Saturday’s tricky long trip to Bulwell Town could be put to one side as attention tonight turned again to the Stiffs’ cup campaign.
In all its guises the Saltend venue has proved “lucky” for Easington teams (and here’s hoping that continues in view of the aforementioned SH Cup draw). However, for an hour or so tonight it looked anything but.

Could it be one of those nights?

Having fallen behind to a blatantly offside goal by former player Daz Thompson, similar to the Withernsea win the Stiffs proceeded to miss a raft of chances. Front pair Frosty and Foz probably passed up the most, with sub Pursey and centre-half Nige also culpable.
Ironically, when the equaliser came it was a touch fortunate – Frosty’s attempted cross dropping in at the back stick.
Even now we missed chances to win the game and so, as per competition rules, at the end of 90mins we went to pens.
My frustration at this was compounded by the fact I’d assured Mrs Slush that I would have our eldest daughter “back by eight”. That was no longer possible. Still, listening to her cheering as Frosty, Hodgy, Brettster and Nige all converted spot-kicks, not to mention those when Pagey made a fine save and the aforementioned Thommo struck his shot wide, made the impending bollocking on our return just about worth it.  Not sure I’ll be able to swing a trip to Long Riston for next week’s quarter-final though!  Perhaps in time...

It's Friday as I finish editing this particular post - the perfect day to listen to a bit of good ol' blue-eyed soul...