Garage Music

A garage, some ale & some quality sounds = Bank Holiday Heaven!

Garage Music - two old twats, a beer and an 80s vinyl collection 

This August Bank Holiday weekend threw up plenty of alternatives for family entertainment on the Sunday.  Stay in the village and there was a morning event at the Youth Club followed in the afternoon by the annual Bogie Race; drive 6 miles inland and it was the Annual Patrington Cricket Club Fun Day; head up the coast to Withernsea and there was chance to enjoy live music in Valley Gardens.

Sod that.  I ended up sat in a garage with one of me old muckers drinking real ale and listening to some 80's and early 90's classics.

The ales came courtesy of the Fuller Fridge and comprised some surprisingly good "Specially Selected" offerings from Aldi's Finchley's Ales collection (Golden  Pale, India Pale and XB English) along with the reliable Badger First Gold and England's Gold.

The sounds came courtesy of our host's rather excellent collection of LP's, 12" and 7" singles from an era that people would rather have us forget.  Not a chance.
And the final component - the accompanying conversation - took us on another trip down memory lane; from Withernsea High School and Burton Pidsea Memorial Hall discos to Teddy's and Eldons Nightclubs; from Star Of The West and Masters Bar to Bass House and Hull Cheese; and from Dram Shop and Trogg Bar to Royal Oak (near Waterfront),  Reflections & Queens (en route to Spiders).  Ah, nostalgia's not what it used to be...

And among the sounds were those I'd long forgotten, from Talk Talk, Icicle Works, Japan, The Adventures, The Associates and Depeche Mode through to those I only came to appreciate much later in life (Simple Minds and Style Council etc) to some of my all time faves, with which I'll bid you good night...

There may well be better ways to spend your Bank Holiday but, to be honest, I'm struggling to think of one at the moment...

Frustration & Agitation

Saturday 21st August - FC 05 Bilsthorpe (home) Drew 1-1

 "One won't be enough today I'm telling you..."

When I was a nipper we used to play a game for four called "Frustration", which consisted of a pop-up dice in the middle and four counters per player; the object being to get all your counters around the board and into their "home" safely without those of any of your opponents landing on you.  Basically, it depended on the roll (or pop) of the dice.

We recently bought a variation of the game for the Slushettes.  It's now called Agitation but the formula remains the same; except '1' is the magic number, not '6' as was always the case when we were young.

I was reminded of both these games during the ninety minutes of football on show at Low Farm last Saturday.  Both titles sum up the overriding feelings among the home players, management and supporters perfectly.

For they had just squandered a great chance to make it two out of two for the start of the season.  And what's more, we didn't really start playing until the last fifteen minutes but should still have gone home with all 3pts.

That said, I'm not going to begrudge opponents FC 05 their share of the spoils.  As Manager Mack acknowledged afterwards, they came with a game plan and they saw it to fruition.

In fact, they were the more enterprising of the two teams early on as a hefty shower swept across Low Farm.  

But then from nowhere we were ahead.  On seventeen Mozzer drives into the box, gets entangled with goalkeeper Milnes and goes over. Penalty says referee Derek Brumpton and to be fair there are few protests.  Having said that, if the foul was clear-cut, given the position of Moz at the time it's perhaps surprising that no card was issued...a fact we would regret later on!

Up stepped Chav - he doesn't miss penalties - and didn't. 1-0.

 Chav doesn't miss penalties...

Thoughts that the goal might settle us down are misplaced.  Both Conroy and O'Rourke go close for the visitors.  We need a second...and nearly get it when JC puts Farny clear but his chip pings against the bar with Milnes beaten.  It's a narrow and perhaps fortuitous half-time lead.

The rain is in the air again at the interval but the Tea Hut still plays host to the assembled throng stood out front chatting over the events of the first 45 minutes, the past seven days and in some cases what seems like a whole lifetime!  I am quite rightly accosted for my inadvertent omission of a couple of Player Sponsors from the programme.  Thankfully they don't demand their money back and I assure them their names will be in for the Hutton Cranswick game on Bank Holiday Monday!

"I'd have had fower be noo if ah were playing"

I was busy flicking off the generator at the start of the second half when a groan from the crowd told me that we should have doubled our lead.  "Easier to score" was perhaps a cruel observation but Chav's miss would prove vital.

He wasn't the only one to pass up an opportunity; Frosty bursting through on the left but unable to find the target or even force a save.  I turned to Dooley Cousins (now thankfully without the rather fetching umbrella lent him by our Club Secretary) and say, "one one this".  I didn't mean to sound clever and in fact hoped to God I was wrong but you know when you just get that feeling...

It came on 67 minutes.  A foul just inside our half (which rather harshly also resulted in yellow for Blounty) and from the ensuing free-kick, the ball bounced back off the unfortunate Bezza just nicely for big centre-half Matt Peet to lash into the net.  1-1 and memories of last season's dropped points against the Notts outfit came scurrying back.

Mack rang the changes.  Stumo and Gav on for the tiring Hutch and the slightly off-key Farny, followed soon after by AG for Smalls.  And we at last began to force the pace.

A man for all seasons...nearly

Stumo was thwarted by Milnes as was Bezza as suddenly we looked like snatching a winner.  More fluent approach play, a ball whipped into the box, bounces up, hits an outstretched arm and most of the 56 spectators plus eleven lads in green & gold plead with Mr Brumpton for a second penalty.  Waved away.

Into injury time and - as Dooley points out - "we'll get one more chance".  We do.  A corner, not dealt with, drops to Chav about twelve yards out to the left of goal; he connects sweetly on the volley and the ball is top corner bound...only for Milnes to somehow get up and claw it away to safety.  The chance has gone.

Hope the Swedish Branch of the Ezzie SC were impressed!

Ironically the end of the game is accompanied by the best of the weather and it's gloriously sunny walk back to the Granby for Elder Slushette and me, my mood tempered only by the frustration of this result and news of The Tigers' drawing a blank at home to Watford.

Thankfully awaiting me in the pub is a fine pint of Great Newsome Harvest's Gold, with post-match burger and chips helping alleviate the slightly melancholy feel.  A couple of these and I'm already looking forward (or "forrad" as we say in these parts) to next week's first visit to Watnall Road, home of AFC Hucknall Town, a team that is already starting to attract much interest on the message boards - and a lot of it from before a ball had even been kicked.  Check back next week to find out why...

Thanks to Burt for the camera work

Quick off the blocks

Saturday 7th August - Hull City 2 Swansea City 0

Saturday 14th August - Bulwell Town (home) Won 3-1

"Eh up, here we go again..."

It's always nice to start the season with a home win.  And thanks to the conflicting start dates of the two competitions I take a particular interest in, I got to witness two of my favourite teams do just that.  I'd like to think that come the season's end both  will also be challenging at the top end of their respective divisions.  But I'm not altogether confident on that one.

I know it's easy for fans of teams relegated from the Premier League to say, "I'm quite relieved really, I didn't really like the Premier League" but, well, I'm quite relieved really, I didn't really like the Premier League!

However, in my case it's not so much to do with the fact that I could quite easily tire of "my" team having to endure season after season without a whiff of success (such as, say, perennial top-flight strugglers Wigan) but more to do with not being able to get into see "my" team on a match day.

  The Tiger Nation has a new hero

And that's perhaps why I really enjoyed the experience of taking the Elder Slushette to her first ever game in the NPower Championship.  Despite an excellent opening day crowd of over 21,000 there was a relaxed air about the whole experience.

Avid readers of this blog (if there is such a thing) will know that my eldest is already a fairly frequent attendee at Hull KR matches.  However, until this season her Tiger Trekking exploits had  been limited to just one game in the (supposedly) best league in the world.  Admittedly it was a good one - City's late comeback to gain a 2-1 win over Stoke on Remembrance Sunday 2009.

And so with one good luck omen by my side and another on my back (by virtue of the limited-edition 2003/04 Promotion Winners home shirt which, I'll have you know, has never witnessed a Hull City defeat) I entered the KC Stadium at just after 1.30pm ready to see the new look Tiggers cull some Swans.

A winning combination

 

After the Elder Slushette had chosen the latest addition to her baseball cap collection from the club shop and I'd seen the best part of a tenner disappear on a pint, bottle of coke and two bags of crisps, we made our way to our seats with just under an hour to go to kick-off.

Positioned on the penultimate row of the grandiosely-titled Forest Pines Hotel & Golf Resort West Stand Upper; just to the right of the gathered Press throng (which, thankfully, now does not include some patronising commentator from Match of the Day) it was a spectacular if slightly vertigo-inducing experience for a seven-year-old.

 The Something or Other West Stand at the home of football

  
For the Elder Slushette the recent trip to a different part of the same stand for Rovers' derby defeat by the Dullers had seen us about halfway as high and she'd found that daunting enough.  But this was in a different league; indeed a different ball game altogether.

And at least she'll have something to take from her first Saturday spent watching the Tigers.  Namely, an absolute belter of a debut goal from loan signing John Bostock that lit up an otherwise pretty uneventful first half.

"Captain Marvel" Ian Ashbee's return to the side after another career-threatening injury was capped by the killer second goal early in the second half and despite being far from spectacular, the 2-0 win constituted a solid start to proceedings "back where we belong" (as some would have you believe).

Having been impressed by what I'd seen and heard of new manager Nigel Pearson previously at Leicester, I must admit I have a good feeling about him as the man to help steady the ship in the historic port of Hull.  But then I think I had a similar feeling about Stan Ternent once upon a time!

As for the Elder Slushette she was soon asking "when can we come again?"  Always a good sign, even if the main reason is for the accompanying treats that such trips bring with them.

Build it and they will come

Two days after my daughter's Championship opener it was back to grassroots level (i.e. the day job) and our final pre-season friendly, against the County Juniors (see previous post).
That completed, it was time to put the finishing touches to the programme for the first league game of the season - at home to Bulwell Town.

Goalkeeper Charlie finds team photos soooo interesting!

 

In my last post I've already mentioned the potential baggage that could have accompanied our opening day fixture.  And I must admit to feeling a touch of trepidation in the final hours before kick-off, especially as the minibus bringing our opponents finally pulled into Low Farm. 
I needn't have.  From the onset, both sets of players and officials were determined that nothing would happen that would excite either the official "observers" from the League and the East Riding County FA or - and how surreal is this - the watching officers from the Ministry of Defence Police, normally employed to guard the nearby North Sea Gas Terminals from potential terrorist attack!
Somebody whose defences could have done with improved security on a baking hot day at The Farm was visiting keeper Alex Smith.  Twice in the first half he was beaten by speculative efforts; first on just 5mins by Frosty's left-wing cross that dropped in at the far post, then just before the break by Smalley's left foot swinger which somehow looped over the hapless netminder for 3-1.

Mozzer's free-kick (top) Farny's flick...that'll be 2-0 then!

In-between Smith may also feel he should have prevented Farny's deftest of touches that diverted Mozzer's 15th minute free-kick past him for 2-0.
At that stage we looked as if we may run amok.  However, to their credit, Bulwell hung in there and started to force the pace a little towards half-time.  Their reward came via James Duffy's 36th minute free-kick and they may well have fancied their chances of completing the comeback in the second half had Smalls' goal just two minutes before the break not knocked the stuffing out of them.

 Smalley's swinger comes good at last!

The second half proved less of a spectacle and despite plenty of huffing and puffing Bulwell rarely threatened a goal.
Meanwhile at the other end Smith partially redeemed himself with two fine saves from Jamie C while The Brettster sent a 30-yarder fizzing just wide of his right-hand upright.
The final whistle signalled a pleasing start to 'Life after Nige' for manager Mack (assistant Rutter having departed in midweek due to other commitments) and an encouraging introduction to the side for his new Number 2, Ian Taylor.
Off the field my day had been made enjoyable by a decent crowd (83 h/c) and some decent matchday takings, especially in player sponsorship, which is an area we've notoriously struggled in over the past few seasons.

With Bulwell unable to join us in The Granby afterwards, it was a generally satisfied throng who gathered round the telly for "Final Score" (and news of The Tigers' continuing travails on their travels).
I sank a couple of fine pints of Pricky Back Otchan before retiring to a friend's party up the road; happy in the knowledge that the day had gone about as well as I could have hoped and already looking forward to the following week's home game against FC 05 Bilsthorpe.
Meanwhile, some people are looking forward instead to their holidays.  Aren't they Brett...

"Am I glad I'm not flying with Kiss!"

Thanks as always to Burt Graham and Colin Brammer for the Easington United photographs used on this page.

The waiting is nearly over...again

CML football returns to the Farm tomorrow - the perfect antidote to a World Cup hangover!

Two men and a tent...or two

Tomorrow brings the visit of Bulwell Town to the Easington Rec & Sports Ground, or Low Farm as we all know it, for the first game of the 2010/11 season in the Black Dragon Premier Division of the Abacus Lighting Central Midlands Football League.

By coincidence the Nottingham side were our first visitors last year, for our inaugural game in the competition.  A repeat of that afternoon's 2-1 win would be nice.

One repeat we won't be looking for is of the events that happened in April's return fixture at the Goosedale Sports Ground.  The fallout from that day is still to be finally mopped up although the findings of the recent Disciplinary Hearing at the East Riding County FA has at least satisfied us that we shouldn't have much cause for further concern.

We come into tomorrow's game on the back of four pre-season matches and the best attendances at training that I can recall.  Off the field we appear to have forged a new spirit of togetherness throughout the three teams that, if I'm being totally honest, perhaps wasn't always there before.  

Plus our decision to relocate all teams to The Granby this term means that although I forsake a pint of Black Sheep every post-match Saturday, I've been given the opportunity to sample some of the local Great Newsome Brewery's seasonal affairs.  And if recent offerings Haymakers Tipple and Rouging Reward are a taste (literally) of what's to come then 2010/11 could be an exciting season!

Saturday 17th July - Friendly v Hamilton Panthers 
(away) Won 3-1

This year's first batch of hopefuls

The pain of England's abysmal World Cup showing was barely three weeks old when we boarded Pistol Pete's Riding School Express for the first pre-season game, away at York side Hamilton Panthers.  And while several other residents of the East Riding (described as Hull City fans but obviously nothing of the sort) took it upon themselves to trash a local hostelry on the same day, this particular football fan enjoyed seeing his side run out 3-1 against our York League opponents.  Farny with a brace before jetting off on hols and JC with the other.

The game took place on York College's impressive 3G surface but it was the post-match destination that had me most excited.  Our post-match sesh on last year's trip to York had seen us take up residence in The Ainsty to watch the Hull KR v Hull FC derby game.  And the pub had been an absolute gem with a selection of fine cask ales on offer.

Oh what a come-down this time.  Of the six pumps available, only John Smith's Cask was on (the Adnams Broadside having just gone off) and the immediate tasting notes from Assistant Nige weren't favourable!  So, it being summer and a pleasant enough day, I chose a cider and sat next to The Passionate One, DC, who'd hot-footed it over along with sidekick Pash, from the former KitKat Crescent where Daniel Cousin's late strike had put Conference side York to the sword.

Any disappointment at lack of real ale was more than atoned for by the quality and quantity of food brought out (although it wasn't until half-an-hour later that we realised it hadn't all been intended for us!).

En route home, Pistol Pete's requirement for a birthday card for 'The Gaffer' meant an unscheduled stop-off in Beverley where it would have been rude not to have a pint.  And so to The Beaver we adjourned, where a very nice pint of Deuchars IPA went some way to atoning for the Ainsty's shortcomings.

Beers in the Beaver

One cat-fight later (great entertainment when your friends/family etc aren't directly involved) and we were back on the bus and on the way home.

"Nine hours out for ninety minutes football", said Mrs Slush as I stumbled through the door.  "It's going to be a long season".  Aye, perhaps she's right I thought.

Since the York trip the First Team have had three friendlies, all at home.

Saturday, 24th July - Friendly v Barton Town Old Boys 
(home) Lost 3-4

This was  a game forged out of the good relations Manager Mack enjoys with new Barton boss (& former Westella manager) Dave Anderson.  For us it was an excellent one to host, bringing decent quality opponents to the Farm for the first home fixture of pre-season.

And a bloody good game ensued.  Mozzer fired us in front early only for Chaz to drop a clanger and allow Adam Crane to float home a 40-yard free-kick a minute later.

Gav then lashed us back in front but two in five minutes before the break swung things back the way of the NCEL side.

Twanged it!

Early in the second half we got back on level terms thanks to Owen's opportunism but another rush-of-blood by our usually faultless keeper allowed the visitors to return to the South Bank with a win.

Result aside, we took a lot of positives from the game and in terms of revenue a gate of 70 was very heartening.  As was the cask in The Granby which accompanied some cracking Cornish pasties.

Sunday, 25th July - 
Community Fun Day (including 'Raggy Game'): 
Casuals Select XI 1 Hull City Ex-Tigers 3)

 Two sets of old gits reminisce about the good times

The morning after the Barton game found us all back at the Farm getting things sorted for the first Fun Day, organised by the Eastenders Development Group as this season's main fundraising event of the summer.

It always promised to be something of a hit-and-miss affair as very few of us had been involved in anything similar before (and those who had by way of the once-legendary village Gala are scarred for life!).

Initial signs weren't good.  How many men does it take to put a gazebo up?!  But eventually things got underway, people turned up, the sun shone and fun was had...though not by perhaps as many as we'd hoped and not for as long as we'd hoped.

"Right lads, tactics: spread out and enjoy yourselves!"

Centrepiece of the day was the 'Raggy Game' - the fixture played in memory of former East Ender Mike "Raggy" Hudson who died tragically young back in 1997.  On nine occasions since the event, "Raggy" has been remembered in an annual fixture, originally played between members of his Saturday club (us) and his former Sunday side (Holderness Casuals) and, latterly, between Past v Present Casuals.  Unfortunately, in the last two years the fixture has not taken place.

So following the Ex-Tigers' successful visit to the Farm last summer, some bright spark (!) had the idea that perhaps the former City stars could be persuaded to partake in the Raggy game on an annual basis.  Secretary Dave Bond answered in the affirmative and - despite the last minute disappointment of losing Dean Windass to the Sky Masters tournament - Peter Skipper and co arrived on the Low Farm turf ready for action.

A legendary Skipper

The Casuals Select XI (or 15 to be precise) were all aged over 30 with the exception of Dane Hagan, the 16-yr-old nephew of the late Mike and a new signing for the club this term.

In goal was Steve Eldon, playing his first game since having vowed "Never again" after conceding fourteen at Heslington in last season's ER County Cup!  He was probably thinking, "Why did I agree to this?" when beaten twice inside the opening seven minutes.  And when the Ex-Tigers netted a third on 21mins, a rout seemed on the cards.

"I said I'd never put mesen through this again"

Thankfully, the locals - some of whom had only met for the first time in several years in the moments prior to kick-off - rallied and with Eldon in tremendous form behind them, embarrassment was averted. Indeed a stonking 25-yarder from Craig Foster even ended things on a high.

With the new trophy presented by Mike's sister Gail to City's Adam Lowthorpe, everyone was free to retire to the bar while other events proceeded to take centre-stage.  And by the time a plague of greenflies brought things to a halt around 4pm, most kids had enjoyed  plenty of exercise, while most mums and dads had had ample chance to satisfy their tastes - be it beer or BBQ.

The who day brought in about £550 for the Club and £260 for East End Cancer Relief.  Next year will be bigger...and better.  We promise.

Saturday, 31st July - Friendly v Hornsea Town 
(home)  Lost 3-4

Not a game I'll remember too fondly, due mainly to it being my recommendations to Mack to "try a few things out" in the last 20mins that ultimately saw a 3-0 lead turned into a 3-4 loss.  I'll stick to the paperwork in future!

The result notwithstanding this was another enjoyable affair and another highly competitive game.

For an hour we were irrepressible.  The returning Stumo headed us into a 3rd minute lead and young find of pre-season, Sam Mac, looked to have made it two a couple of minutes later only to be denied by the linesman.

One-Nil

So nearly two!

Hornsea were typically fit, fast and athletic but didn't cause too many problems early on and we were good value for the lead at the break.
Mack switched both strikers at the break and was rewarded when Gav linked with Tom Mac who swept home.
Three up and, if not coasting, comfortable enough if this was a league game I'm certain we'd have seen it out.  But it wasn't so we didn't.  A tinker here, another there and suddenly it was 3-2.  Then, in the 90th, we fail to defend a corner.  All square.  A minute later, free-kick, bundled in at the second attempt, 3-4.  FFS!
Even the cask in Granby was off.

Monday, 9th August - Friendly v ERCFA Juniors 

(home) Won 2-0

And so pre-season came to an end with the annual visit of the East Riding County FA's Juniors Rep squad.  Some of the best Under-18s in the area, which this year included our very own Karl Fitzgerald.

As always the game proved open and entertaining with a goal in each half settling it in our favour; Farny showing strength on the first and then playing sub Stumo for a cool finish in the second half.

A crowd of nearly a hundred helped make the evening an even bigger success and the night was capped off with a fine pint of Pricky Back Otchan in The Granby.

Respect your elders!

Of course pre-season isn't only about the First Team and the Stiffs and Casuals have both begun their preparations.  I'll bring you up to speed with that in due course.  But for now, Bulwell awaits...

Many thanks to Colin Brammer, Burt Graham, Dom Taylor and Dave Longhorn for the photographs used in this pieces 

Getting back in the swing

Normal service is about to be resumed...

Meet the gang cos the boys are here, the boys to entertain you...

It's taken a while I'll admit but, after some serious self-examination, I've come to the conclusion that England's hapless World Cup performance and the destruction of a childhood fascination with Dutch total football are not worth getting hung up about.  Life - or rather the beautiful game of association football - goes on.

And so it has proved.  I type this on the day that Hull City began life after the Premier League and with just over a week to go to the start of the Eastenders' second season in the Central Midlands League.  Stick with me dear reader, it promises to be another rollercoaster of a ride.

An account of the pre-season friendlies to follow in a couple of days.  Oh, and did I mention England are playing again next week...