It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Friday 24th December

Seasonal Tastes

I sampled some decent brews over the Festive period, beginning on the 'Works Do', which began with a very respectable meal at the Hallmark Hotel (North Ferriby) before slipping into something far more degenerate around Ye Olde Towne of Hull.
Some of the more favourable beers tasted included: Great Newsome 'Trial By Chocolate' (Lion & Key), York Brewery 'Guzzler' & Timothy Taylor 'Golden Best' (Ye Olde Black Boy) and Rudgate Viking in Walters.  From there the memory became a little hazy.
The works 'Team Night Out' was a good old Beer & Curry night, basically involving aperatifs in Pave on Prinny Ave before adjourning to the Raj Pavilion for fodder.  I was slightly disappointed by the choices on offer in a usually top drawer bar, although the Deuchars IPA was on its usual fine form.  And unlike 2010, I actually arrived at Raj in good form, good enough to enjoy a couple of pints of Cobra and an excellent Bhalti Mixed.  A good night was had by all. 
Out on the Humber Riviera, the Granby and The Oss continue to trade solely in Tetleys as their hand-pulled offering; in fairness, both are well maintained.  Meanwhile, a couple of trips to the Crown & Anchor at Kilnsea ensured some Timothy Taylor Landlord of the highest quality.
With a decent enough selection of bottled brews to keep me going until the much-anticipated away trip to Parkhouse on 21st January, things are definitely on the up. Oh, and I mustn't forget to enter the Great Newsome Brewery's "Message In A Bottle" competition.  Mine's a drop of Line & Length if you would be so kind...

The first shoots of recovery?

Saturday 17th December

CML North Division

DFS Welbeck Welfare 0 Easington United 3

As it says on the official match report, not exactly a result to set CML opponents quaking in their boots about an Eastenders revival but by 'eck did we need it.  

The Kiveton defeat hit everybody hard.  Without taking anything away from our visitors, we should not be shipping six unanswered goals at home to teams like Kiveton.  Things needed to change - and quickly.

My mood was lightened with the help of some Timothy Taylor Landlord ale which accompanied tea for some fifteen of us at The Crown & Anchor the following day.  Even the blackest of moments cannot fail to be brightened - even ever so slightly - by a pint or two of this perennially fine Yorkshire ale.

Alcohol would continue to play a healing role; further recuperation being aided over the next couple of days by the bottle of Gordon's Sloe Gin I'd bought to help introduce some Festive spirit into the Slush household.  

Meanwhile, Wednesday 13th December brought a double-dose of Slushette Nativity plays in the afternoon; the Younger depicting an angel in her offering about a star that was struggling to shine, while my eldest threw herself into her role of singing sheep in the older ones' ditty, 'Bethlehem Bandits'.  Suffice to say, both girls stole their particular shows...ahem.

Just the TWO sugars Dave?

The evening brought a different type of production, courtesy of Bad Apple Theatre Company's tale, A Yorkshire Christmas Carol, being staged in Easington Community Hall as part of a tour of village halls across the North and East Ridings. 

At the same time as I was enjoying an updated regional version of Dickens' famous tale, the club's weekly training session at Hull's Soccer Sensations centre was being attended by four members of the now defunct Hutton Cranswick club and a fifth new face, previously with fellow CML club Westella & Willerby.

The quintet's attendance was thanks largely to a week or so of intense ringing around conducted by asst-mgr Nicho on the back of tip-offs from other local managers and players.  So impressed was our No.2 and Mack by what they saw that come the end of the session we had four new names registered with the club and an official notice of approach going in for the other.  Things were finally beginning to look up...

The Pistol does a fine impersonation of a twat  in a hat!

For the foreseeable future, hosts DFS Welbeck Welfare are using the excellently named “Clod”, home to the now-defunct Forest Town FC. And what a wonderful ground it is.

Although immediately apparent where the pitch gets its name from – for most of the game I thought they were playing with a pudding instead of a ball – the cycle track around the pitch and the steeply banked terracing/seating on the Welfare Club side almost lent itself to the feeling we were in a UEFA Cup tie behind the former Iron Curtain. Indeed, central defender Biggy Smalls later said he’d expected us up on the bank to be letting flares off. Unfortunately, the effect of doing so may well have been lost – aside from The Pistol and I the “crowd” consisted of two Lancastrian ground hoppers and half-a-dozen semi-interested punters watching from the Academy decking.

Pistol packing 'em in

Although I was frustrated by Welbeck’s no-shows last season, I’ve got to admit to having real respect for the way they continue to plough on regardless. Despite sitting some 11 points adrift at the foot of the table without a win or point all season, facing a constant turnaround of players, having seen their previous manager depart for pastures new on the eve of a game and currently being forced to lodge elsewhere while the impressive new ground development at Meden Vale takes shape, those in charge continue to grin and bear it.

Before the game, manager Chris Bennett and assistant Iain Peet (who’s also the treasurer) highlighted some of the problems the club has experienced and continues to experience. What drives both men – and their fellow committee members – on is the superb youth set-up that should eventually see Welbeck Welfare FC restored to its former status as “a very strong Club serving the community of Warsop and the surrounding villages of North Nottinghamshire”.

The big kick-off

An FA Charter Standard Community Club (an award it received back in 2009) Welbeck are not the only club in the area to fall on hard times - neighbours Church Warsop having recently “gone to the wall” just two seasons after winning the CML Premier Division title.

I enjoyed the hospitality immensely and just hoped it would extend to the pitch. It did. We were ahead on 10mins courtesy of a sweet left foot strike from Gav. By the break we’d doubled our lead, new boy Shawn marking his debut in style.

As I gradually began to lose all feeling in my feet second half, a third goal to effectively wrap things up helped offset the numbness; Frosty’s surging run and cross being drilled into his own net by hapless centre-half Malcolm Redford.

Despite a spirited showing by the hosts, they rarely looked like registering at the other end and 3-0 was a very welcome scoreline in view of recent events. 

'Mini Mack' prepares to step into dad's shoes

The spacious Forest Town Academy offered a comfortable place to retire to (shame about lack of any cask ale – I opted for a pint Chestnut Mild given I would be driving later that evening) and news of a battling performance by the nine-man Stiffs against leaders South Cave, along with another fine win for the Barmby Army helped put a very satisfactory smile on my face. It had been a long time coming…

 

Where do we go from here?

Saturday 10th December

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Kiveton Park 6

I'm not quite sure where to start with a posting about the lowest point yet in the First Team's CML North season; perhaps even the lowest point in their CML career?  I might simply leave you this link to the official match report, which seems to wrap things up nicely enough.
Leave it with me...

Barmcelona!

Wednesday, 7th December

Football League Championship

Hull City 2 Birmingham City 1

It's December and I've just made my first visit of the season to the KC Stadium - that's a fact bordering on scandalous!  At least after seeing the new "Barmby Army" at first-hand I have no reason to make the wait for a return trip such a long one.  They were bloody good to watch.
There's no point in adding my own version of events on here.  There are far more capable efforts, both official and unofficial, to render my own view somewhat pointless.
However, I did enjoy the fact that one of those accompanying me on the night was a Smoggy workmate who returned to his digs convinced that both The Tigers and his beloved Boro would be in the end of season shake-up for promotion.  
Oh, here's hopng...well at least for half of his opinion to be proved right!

By the time I get to Phoenix...

Saturday 3rd December
CML North Division
Phoenix FC 5  Easington United 2

Take out one potentially match-winning midfielder, add an unsettled goalkeeper, a confused skipper and a youngster with a chip on his shoulder before finally throwing in a pinch of pissed-up goalkeeper and you have the perfect recipe for a first ever defeat at Pavilion Lane.
And that's what happened.

It had been shaping up to be a decent week, given my participation in the East Riding County FA Cup draw and the prospect of several cask ales awaiting my attention in the Phoenix Sports & Social Club post-match at the upcoming trip to Rotherham.

Then events conspired to put the mockers on things.

First up came the news that goalkeeper Charlie Holden was on the verge of finally completing a move to Hall Road Rangers, something that had been touted for several weeks.

Then, on Wednesday morning (date of the aforementioned cup draw and a day I'd set aside for a football-free Christmas shopping day in Beverley) I was informed that both Mozzer and Blounty had trained the previous night with Bottesford Town and were set to join the NCEL Division 1 strugglers.

Hmm, the Christmas spirit was suddenly sadly lacking.

By Friday things were looking slightly better.  Although Moz had decided to make the move to the South Bank, both Blounty and Charlie had both pledged their immediate future to us and Fitzy had been tempted back into the fold.  It was a fairly strong-looking 12 for the game at one of my favourite CML venues. 
But it was only tea-time...
By the time we departed Easington on match day, we weren't looking so strong.  Conduct by Charlie and Fitzy the previous night that was deemed "completely unacceptable" by Mack left him no option but to inform both that their services were not required that day.
A frantic search for a replacement keeper proved fruitless but at least Jammo was roped in to give us a "doughty dozen" players in total.  Charlie actually arrived at the meeting point to try and ensure we took thirteen but, backed by his players, Mack stood firm and the somewhat worse-for-wear looking netminder was prevented from getting on the bus.
As we headed off down the M18 I did wonder what else this season could throw at us?

Smalls - our very own Little Boy Blue

In the event it threw us a chastening 5-2 defeat.  A pre-match discussion resulted in Smalls being the one to don the gloves in Charlie's absence.  He would be largely inactive save for picking the ball out of the net.
The first half was particularly dire - although things may well have been different had  Jamie Hartley not stayed on his feet when tugged at by the "last man".  No penalty, no red card.
"So I'll tell him to go down next time shall I?" asked Mack.
"You telling me you'll get your lads to cheat?" came the asst-referee's reply. FFS!
Nicho's pre-match talk had been spread over four sheets of A4 paper.  It was a commendable effort, packed with calls for pride, passion, belief - "I'm firty-free an' I still think I'm gonna be the nexct Stevie Gerrard" - that sort of thing.  It also included a rather high quota of expletives, particularly the 'F'-word.  As Jamie Cousins observed later, "Y'know if Nicho had deleted all the "fucking"'s from that speech it would've fitted on a post-it!"
Coming in two down at half-time prompted another Mike Bassett-like performance from the asst-boss.  Frosty stuck his head in the tea hut on his way back to the pitch: "He's got Tourette's that lad".  We knew immediately who he was referring to.
In a way, however, it worked.  For despite shipping three second half goals we were actually the better team.  No, honestly; Nicho from the spot and Frosty late on giving a slight air of respectability to proceedings.
The usually extensive range of real ales in the Clubhouse was limited to Bombardier, Black Sheep and my choice, Jem's Stout, from back home at Great Newsome Brewery.  and very nice too, its taste enhanced by news of Robert Koren's dramatic late winner for the Tigers against the returning Pearson's Leicester.
On the way home it was heartening to receive several texts, all very supportive of the day's stance.  This was further in evidence when I slipped in for a sneaky post-trip pint at The Granby on our return to Easington.
Sometimes you've simply got to make a stand for what you believe to be right...even if the short-term result is a bloody good hiding!

Oh the irony

On the same day that the strength of football in this area was being lauded on local radio, it was confirmed that one of the more progressive grassroots clubs had ceased to exist.  Local football stinks at times...

During last night's live East Riding County FA Cup draws on Radio Humberside's "Sports Talk", presenter Gwilym Lloyd asked ERCFA Chief Executive Adam Lowthorpe whether he had ever known such a breadth of leagues as that in which East Riding clubs are currently involved and, partly on the back of this, the strength of the local game was quite rightly lauded.

However, within a couple of hours there was a reminder to us all just how dangerously misplaced such views can appear, with the news that Hutton Cranswick United Football Club is no more.  

According to an official statement released last night, the Rotsea Lane outfit will resign from the Central Midlands League with immediate effect.

It's a sad end for a club that progressed from the Driffield & District Football League to Step 7 football in the CML in just two decades.

From 'whipping boys' in the inaugural Humber Premier League of 2000/01 they were crowned league champions three season later.  

Frustrated by what they saw as the HPL's lack of progress off-the-field, the club then successfully applied for membership of the CML Premier Division in 2008.

Their approach to the game at Committee and playing level has run very similar to ours and I can only extend sympathy to Jim, Denis and Ollie on this saddest of news.

Unsurprisingly, the reasons cited for the club's demise are mainly financial (including one that also takes a swipe at over-zealous officialdom - a source of much irritation across the board given the fines now imposed for even the most minor of indiscretions).  

Lack of support in the local area has proved a major factor.  Despite a recent showpiece occasion against Hull City in the ERCFA Senior Cup, which managed to pull in a crowd of just under 200 to Rotsea, the wolves weren't kept far from the door for long.  And as Denis explained to me this morning, when the two league games either side of that tie brought in 14 each (with 7 and 6 away fans, from Glapwell and Parkhouse respectively) and the cost of the match officials is over a hundred quid, it doesn't take a genius to work out the difficulties.

That aforementioned Senior Cup tie saw City win 2-0 but had Tigers Head of Youth, Billy Russell singing the praises of their opponents.  Under different circumstances, such good press can kick-start a season.  Instead, just a fortnight later, Cranny struggled to fulfil a game at Thoresby, travelling there with less than a full complement before - in typical fashion - putting on a terrific battling display.  They lost 2-0 having played more than half the game with ten men (goalkeeper Leon Sewell being rather harshly dismissed) and finishing with nine following a second red card.

My league season will not be the same without the trip to Rotsea, where the post-match hospitality was quite rightly lauded as the best in the league and where, whatever the result, the likes of Denis and Jim would always be on hand for a pint and a chat afterwards.

When I express my disappointment at the loss of this club, I speak for many at Low Farm past and present (it was no surprise that both the current and previous First Team bosses were among the first to get in touch to express their sadness at the news).  Not for them or me the "told you so" smugness that may well emanate from certain quarters of the East Riding at what may be seen as another club that got too big for its boots.  Always "better to have tried and (ultimately) failed than never to have tried at all".  And as Denis is keen to point out, it was bloody good while it lasted.

FOOTNOTE: Since posting the above, the following piece with club chairman Jim Ezard appeared on the HDM website.  An interesting read.

Up for the Cup

Wednesday 30th November

East Riding County FA Senior Country Cup R3 

The Draw

I really enjoyed it tonight.  Having been invited to take part in the the draws for the quarter-finals of both the East Riding Senior Cup and the Senior Country Cup, which was broadcast live on Radio Humberside's "Sports Talk" programme (Mon-Fri 6-7pm), I also got the chance to give a bit of publicity the way of the club.  Which was nice.

And we got a home draw as well.  Which was nicer.  A good result all round then.

However, perhaps the most pleasing thing was that the final twenty minutes of a programme that is usually - and quite rightly of course - dominated by the professional clubs in the region was insted given over to grassroots football.

In fairness to host Gwilym Lloyd, he showed plenty of interest and no shortage of knowledge about the local game, while Scunthorpe United chief scout Lee Turnbull was, in the absence of Pete Smurthwaite, probably the perfect co-host given the close nature of his job to football at this level.  Throw in Hull Daily Mail sports Editor Paul Baxter, responsible for raising the profile of the East Riding clubs in the CML, and it was a decent group to give ERCFA Chief Executive Adam Lowthorpe and co a decent platform from which to preach to the masses...well, the "Sports Talk" listenership!

All in all I really enjoyed the experience as I'm sure did Pete Bilsdon of HPL side Hessle Rangers, also represented on tonight's programme.  Hopefully members of other clubs will get the same chance to gain some much-needed publicity for themselves in the future.

As for the draw itself, a side from a lower division at home - in the form of Division 1 outfit Driffield Rangers - is probably the best you can ask for.  It's also probably the most dangerous of draws as well...

FOOTNOTE: The full ERCFA Senior Country Cup Round 3 draw can be found here

FOOTNOTE 2: For a brief period (i.e. until 6pm tomorrow) you can listen to the programme on Radio Player.   The draws kick-in from about 39mins onwards...

Everything's gone green

Saturday 26th November

ER County League Premier Division

Easington United Reserves 2 Wawne United 1

In the absence of any First Team or Casuals action last Saturday, the footballing folk of the old East End - and me - flocked to Low Farm to catch a resurgent Stiffs side in action against those lovable rogues from Wawne Ferry (or 'United' as they're now known).  

In the event the masses, all 22 of us, were well rewarded as Meddy's Men proceeded to make it four games without defeat courtesy of a hard-earned 2-1 win.  

It was a game that saw:
- Shane sporting a ridiculous Hitler-style "Movember" number;

- but also scoring with a header for the first time in 34 attempts;
- the manager throw down his lino flag for the fourth time this season;
- Burt manage ten photos of players looking into space (believe me, that's the best above);
- and Blanny claim a new club record for 12 sausages consumed post-match in the Granby.

There's not much more to add really.

On thin ice

Sunday 20th November

Elite Ice Hockey League

Hull Stingrays 3 Fife Flyers 2

So what's the best way to erase the memory of a poor performance on the football field? Why, take yourself off to the ice hockey of course.  And when, thanks to the local school, you're getting a "family ticket" for just a tenner (a saving of £34) then it's even better - especially when you see a home win. 
Often overlooked despite their status as one of Hull’s four professional sports club’s, Hull Stingrays have had something of a chequered history since ice hockey first arrived at the brand new “Hull Ice Arena” back in 1988.

The first club to bring the new sport into the city were named Humberside Seahawks and played in Heineken League Division 2.  I saw them a couple of times that season as Canadian coach Dale Lambert led them to the title (and promotion) in their inaugural season.

The Division 1 crown followed in 1990/91, resulting in promotion to the Premier Division and a place alongside the “household names” of the British game – Durham Wasps, Nottingham Panthers, Whitley Warriors.  Herein the Seahawks became the first seventh-placed club to reach the Wembley Play-Offs before a sponsorship tie-up with British Aerospace prompted change of name to Humberside Hawks.

It has been said that ice hockey in Hull has never captured the imagination of the city’s public since the demise of the Seahawks.  It’s a fact that I never got to see any of their successors – Humberside Hawks, Kingston Hawks or Hull Thunder.  Indeed, when co-owners Mike & Sue Pack were forced to put the club up for sale in August 2010, I appeared destined never to have seen the Hull Stingrays either.

Thankfully, just six days after it appeared that the game would disappear from the city, the Stingrays were bought by the owners of Elite League rivals Coventry Blaze.  Top-flight ice hockey in Hull was assured for another year at least.

And so, taking advantage of the aforementioned deal, Mrs Slush and I, the Elder Slushette and mate Leah rolled up at the ice arena for some Sunday night entertainment.

Can't speak for the others but I found it very entertaining, even if it was into the final minute of the final period before we got the first real fisticuffs of the evening!
All in all I'd guess there were perhaps 6-700 inside the Arena and I'm not sure how that matches up with season's average.  At least all except the dozen or so hardy followers from Fife went home happy courtesy of a 3-2 home win - some highlights of which can be found here on the F Block Blog (we're behind the goal to the left, back row in case you're interested). 
I'd like to think it won't be another ten years before I make my next trip to a "harkey game".

To Bilsthorpe bearing gifts

Saturday 19th November

CML North Division

FC 05 Bilsthorpe 4 Easington United 2

I had the idea to submit the following headline to the Holderness Gazette to describe Danny Blount's first game as skipper of the First Team - Blounty's big day goes as pear shaped as Charlie's tool.  That probably tells you all you need to know about our latest disappointing trip to Eakring Road...

For the first time in a long while, events at Easington United were not dominating my sporting agenda in the days leading up to the trip to Bilsthorpe.

This was partly because Hull KR had unveiled their 2012 playing strip; partly because England were playing two friendlies in which Capello was actually trying out new ideas; and mainly because the managerial situation at the Tigers was finally reaching a conclusion.  After Nigel Pearson’s protracted return to Leicester was finally confirmed, City unveiled Nick Barmby as their new caretaker boss.  It had originally been anticipated that former boss Warren (“The Great Escape”) Joyce was to be Pearson’s replacement with “Sir Nick” as assistant.  However, for whatever reason, Joyce decided against the move leaving The Tigers to unveil their first Hull-born boss. Here’s to the success of the “Barmby Army”…

Even Sir Nick's at a loss as to who comes in for Frosty

Monday brought with it our latest Development Group meeting (and a nice pint of Wentworth Imperial) wherein we had our biggest attendance since formation!  It’s night like this that have me thinking positively about the club again, although I’m sure there’s something just up around the corner that’ll knock that out of me before too long.

The following night saw a major shock in the East Riding Senior Cup when North Ferriby United – winners for the past five seasons – were beaten by Humber Premier League strugglers Hessle Rangers.  The same night another HPL side, St Andrews, dumped beaten 2010/11 finalists Hall Road Rangers out too.  Well I never.
The draw for the quarter-final of the Senior Cup and its Senior Country equivalent are to be made live on Radio Humberside’s Sports Talk programme on Wednesday 30th November.  I know this because the following day I was invited along to the event as representative of one of the clubs in the hat for the Country Cup.  I’m already rehearsing my, “Anyone at home” cliché!
Thursday brought the latest monthly meeting of the ER County League, at which Minutes Secretary (and Bridlington Town Chairman, Pete Smurthwaite) was in buoyant mood.  I wonder why??!!
By Friday I was back fully focussed on the trip to Bilsthorpe.  And suffice to say, we were back to the fairly familiar tale of counting bodies ahead of an away trip.  With Fitzy unavailable for the forseeable, Farny working, Gav not wishing to be considered for selection and Frosty “not right”, Mack and Nicho were already four down as well as left with some positional conundrums.  Potential replacements AJ and Stumo soon extended the list of absentees to six before the returning Brettles and former skipper Nige manfully volunteered for the trip despite neither being in the peak of full fitness. 
Despite the slightly depleted complement, everyone was in good heart when we finally pulled out of Hull at just after 11am.  Nicho took up a place in the front for the first time and was given a new insight into the workings of the Pistol’s mind.  Not sure he’ll ride shotgun again.

I'm a Celebrity lookalike, get me out of here...

An amusing game of ‘footballers lookalikes’ was conducted in the back.  Apparently I’m Antonio Doncel.  Hmm, reminds me of the song to the tune of Y Viva Espagna – “He came to City on a plane / An-ton-i-o Doncel / He was shit so we sent him back again / An-ton-i-o Doncel”.  He's a good looking lad though...isn't he?
Nicho was equally unimpressed with his apparent Stuart Ripley likeness - although even that was infinitely better than when the rules were extended to include lookalikes generally and he was suddenly tagged Corrie actor Anthony Cotton!
Meanwhile, highlight of the lot was The Pistol – or Frank Worthington as he’s now known!

Separated at birth

Having passed (and being passed by) several members of the “Barmby Army” en route to Pride Park, we pulled into Eakring Road at just before one o’clock.
The kit – which this week comprised first team shirts with reserves’ shorts & socks to avoid a clash – duly laid out, I invested in a cuppa and bite to eat just in time to see CML Chairman Frank Harwood coming across the car park.
It’s the first chance I’ve had to have a good chat with Frank since he attended our Presentation Evening at the end of our first season in the league and as on that night he was in good form.
Sadly we weren’t on top form when the game kicked off.  I shouldn’t be surprised.  In both previous trips to Eakring Road we’d struggled, losing the first by the odd goal and being denied by an injury time equaliser last year.  In addition, our opening day win over FC 05 at Low Farm had been our first against them in five meetings.
Even so we started relatively well and Nicho passed up a good early chance.  JC then saw one cleared off the line and I was feeling better about things.  Then they scored.  And what a fluke.  Jordan’s attempted pass cannoning back into the net off Michael Knight from fully 35-40 yards out.  Bizarre.

As good as it got

Just before half-time we levelled thanks to a Mozzer header from Nicho’s corner and I was quietly confident we’d go on to make it back-to-back wins.  Frank departed during the interval in order to collate the night’s results – putting a serious dent in the attendance figure in the process.  In total I counted twelve people who could loosely be classed as spectators and four of them were supporting the visitors.  The lack of programme was disappointing but the hospitality of new FC 05 boss Wayne Savage and his backroom staff wasn’t.
Sadly, it was our hospitality on show at the start of the second period.  First Charlie came for a free-kick he was never going to get then Blounty – skippering the side for the first time – showed that he’d learnt well from predecessor AG by heading powerfully into the top corner…of his own net!  Afterwards it was decided Charlie should have called...which went down well as you'd imagine!
And we were dead and buried.  Until that is Jamie H superbly volleyed Bezza’s cross back across keeper Darren Milnes and inside the far post.  Game on.
We did everything but score in the remaining twenty minutes.  Milnes was excellent, his defenders were brave – and lucky, no more so than when the ref and assistant missed a blatant handball just five minutes from time.  The assistant’s mitigation of, “It’s dark” had to be heard to be believed – the aforementioned FC 05 gaffer saw it and he was thirty yards further down the touchline!
In the final minute AG clipped Sam Clary who duly got up and converted the spot-kick.  4-2 and our 'Bilsthorpe Blues' go on.
Thankfully, the restorative effects of The Riding School Express soon worked their magic, along with a couple of crates of booze, making it an enjoyable trip home.  Meanwhile, some happy Hull City fans returning from a winning start to the Barmby reign were delighted (ahem) to be the latest people to see Mozzer’s naked arris at Donny North Services.  I do hope they recover.
A neatly timed stop-off at The Crooked Billet in Ryehill (don’t tell the missus) enabled a few of us to chew the fat over a lovely pint of Oxfordshire’s finest, Brakspear Beer, and by the time I rolled in it hardly seemed we’d lost at all.  Roll on next week... 

 

If only…

Saturday 12th November

East Riding CFA Junior Country Cup R2

Easington United Casuals 2 Driffield E. I. Reserves 2

(After Extra-Time; Driffield won 7-6 on pens)

A week after the Stiffs had safely negotiated their passage into the last eight of the County Cup, it was the Casuals’ turn to try and emulate them.  And with the Bentley game postponed, it afforded me the chance to watch them do it.

Their task was somewhat more difficult given that their opponents – Driffield Evening Institute Reserves – play their football in the Premier Division of the Driffield & District League.  Since reorganisation of the ERCFA competitions a few years back, the Junior Country Cup does seem to cover a wider divisional range of clubs.  For example, the Casuals could have faced teams from as high as Division 2 of their own league in addition to those from the upper echelons of the Driffield, York and/or Scarborough leagues.

Not that manager ‘Maccer’ was unduly worried.  Since this blog last visited his boys, they’d extended their unblemished start in the league to eight wins out of eight, establishing a 10pt lead from nearest rivals Haltemprice in the process.

Up for the cup

In addition, the previous Saturday they had dumped hitherto unbeaten Division 4 leaders Nafferton Old Boys out of the League Cup.  After several barren years the Casuals were finally having a season to remember. 

In the event they came within a whisker of making it even more memorable, as the match report here explains.  It was a magnificent effort by Maccer's men and one that further reinforces the view that this season will at last yield some silverware.  But of course people went home thinking about what might have been had Lewis not dallied with the goal at his mercy; or had the referee seen the goalkeeper holding Hoppy back in the final minute of extra-time; or had DC just hit the bloody thing instead of taking a touch; or had either of the two earlier missed spot-kicks gone in... If only.

Oh Bugger

Saturday 12th November

CML North Division

Easington United v Bentley Colliery

Match Postponed

I’d predicted this would happen from the moment I read Chris Toyne’s comments on the unofficial CML Message Board, late on Thursday night.

As I browsed his self-penned reasons for resigning as Bentley Colliery manager and glanced at the pile of match programmes sat neatly awaiting final collation by the side of my desk, a little voice inside was saying, “You won’t be needing them then!”

Sure enough, the call came at just after ten the following morning; CML Secretary Mark Senior informing me that due to the upheaval caused by the resignation of their manager, Bentley Colliery felt unable to fulfil Saturday’s fixture.   

“Gutted” is I believe the proper term for such moments.
However, it wasn’t the first time during the week I’d felt such deflation.  Nor was it the first time I'd second-guessed an event that would prompt such feelings.  
That had occurred whilst listening to Nigel Pearson’s post-match interview with local radio's Burnsy in the immediate wake of City’s home defeat by West Ham the previous Saturday.  “That’s it, he’s off”, I said to my brother-in-law as we awaited the fun, games and excellent fodder that constitutes the annual Cooper family fireworks night.  He wasn’t convinced.  “What’s he supposed to say?  The club hasn’t been approached yet so why should he speculate.”  A good point perhaps but I still thought the opportunity was there to lay all rumours to rest and pledge his future to the Tigers.  He didn’t.  And by Monday it was clear he was on his way back to Leicester.  
Reaction to the news was mainly a mixture of sadness and bitterness, with the likes of Amber Nectar and regular Tigers blogger Marcus Dysch offering some of the more thoughtful analysis.  Those filling the comments threads on the Hull Daily Mail site and/or ringing Radio Humberside's Sports Talk programme, less so! 

Going?

Much closer to home, another individual apparently on his way out of a club was youngster Fitzy who, according to Coach Nicho's interpretation of the text he'd received, was making himself unavailable for us for the foreseeable future. 
At with any level of football, this isn't unusual, especially when a player feels - rightly or wrongy - that he's been dealt a harsh hand selection-wise.   It usually translates as a way of ensuring the manager soon comes calling, almost begging the player to reconsider.  Not sure if that was the intention in this case but if so he's likely to be disappointed.  Nicho’s played under Dave Start at Reckitts and learnt a lot.  There’d be no phone call – at least not this week!
Not that I didn't feel some sympathy with the plight of the lad.  Ever since it was agreed between management and players that this season would see us adopt a more "ruthless" approach to team selection, I could foresee problems - everyone will agree to a manager picking his "best eleven" when they all think they're in it!  And so, when it dawned on Karl he was no longer a shoo-in on the left side of midfield, a feeling that his Saturdays could be better spent elsewhere crept in.  He's not the first to make himself "unavailable for selection until further notice" and I've no doubt he won't be the last.  
Similarly he's perhaps another player to suffer from having "smoke blown up his arse" by other people, namely those who tempted him along to Bridlington Town over the summer.  Perhaps the fact you're on the books of a Northern Counties East League side should ensure you a place at CML level?  Perhaps without having to put quite the same effort in as others?  Not according to Mack and Nicho.
I don't know, maybe I'm doing the lad a disservice.  On his day, Fitzy is certainly a very destructive presence for opposition defenders, either down the flank or through the middle.  Hopefully, he'll realise that there can still be some good times to be had with the lads at Low Farm.  We'll see.

Going?

Finally there was the storm over FIFA's refusal to allow the England players to wear shirts with the poppy sewn-in for Saturday's friendly international against Spain.  Crikey did this create some headlines.  As with the England 2018 World Cup bid, the Prime Minister and Prince William threw themselves into the fight.  And as on that occasion FIFA simply ignored them.  Well, almost, for despite the tabloid press saying it was the Prince what swung it, the Governing Body's eventual decision to agree to a compromise of a poppy sewn into the black armbands to be worn by the England players was actually largely down to the efforts of a backbench Tory MP.  But, hey, don't let the facts get in the way of a good story an' all that.
My own personal view is that a sensible compromise was eventually reached but how the hell did it get to that stage in the first place.  Once it had been ascertained that nobody was likely to be offended by what is - despite some people's protestations to the contrary - a non-political, non-religious symbol, then surely FIFA could have allowed it.  So what if it opens the floodgates?  Why not treat each case on its individual merit?  Had this been done in the first place then there wouldn't have been such an outcry.
As for those who point out that having a poppy emblazoned on a shirt is a recent phenomenon, so what?  Does that make it any less significant?  The 21st century conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan have, quite rightly, brought the sacrifices of those serving in HM Forces again to the fore as well as helping educate people about the significance of countless conflicts past and present.  Surely anything to help this - such as the wearing of a poppy at high-profile international matches - can only be good, can't it? 

Gone

Friday was Armistice Day.  Ninety years since formation of the Royal British Legion, there was extra poignancy when at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of the eleventh year, our office – along with thousands of other establishments the length and breadth of the country – paused for thought.
As opposed to Remembrance Sunday, the observing of the silence on Armistice Day itself seems to have come back into fashion (for want of a better term) more in recent years; again in line with the increased profile of our Armed Forces.  And not before time if you ask me.
In our office we observed the marking of the hour in the company of Radio Humberside, who broadcast the commemorations live from the Cenotaph in Hull.  It proved a deeply moving occasion.

But not forgotten

Mrs Slush had chosen this weekend for her annual expedition to Meadowhall, which involved an overnight stay.  And so while she and a friend “shopped ‘til they dropped”, I picked the Slushettes up from school and headed off to Newton's in Patrington for a fish supper, stopping en route to plant a Remembrance cross at Skeffling (as mentioned in the previous post).

Back home the girls were allowed the treat of watching both Corrie episodes before being dispatched to bed.  I know, I spoil them.

After a lengthy discussion on the phone with affable Bentley secretary JP Tooth, which helped shed further light on the reasons for the following day’s postponement, I settled down to the riveting contest that was the Bosnia v Portugal Euro 2012 play-off.  I think I woke up in time to see Ronaldo fall over.  Again.  Bed couldn’t come soon enough.  

"Lerrem 'ave it!"

11-11-11: We Will Remember Them

Every year I am sent a small wooden Remembrance cross from the Royal British Legion.  Usually I either pass it to the mother-in-law, whose father was killed in Burma during the Second World War, or I take it to the small war memorial in the village on Remembrance Sunday and hand it to the Elder Slushette to plant alongside the numerous others.

This year I shall plant it alongside my maternal grandfather's grave in nearby Skeffling.  

The inscription on the headstone can be found on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site and reads: 

In Memory of

Stoker 1st Class ALLAN DOUGLAS

P/KX 98815, Royal Navy

who died age 46

on 08 December 1944

Son of Edward and Harriet Douglas;

husband of Maggie Ann Douglas, of Skeffling.

Remembered with honour

On the Naval History website, in its list of casualties for Friday, 8th December 1944, it states he died of illness at RN Auxiliary Hospital, Sherborne.  

Up until recently, I tended to concentrate mainly on the military members of Dad's family.  These include my great grandad, Frederick, who enlisted in the Army and saw service in the Boer War and then against the Kaiser's Turkish allies in Egypt.  Then there was grandad Charles who was evacuated off the beaches at Dunkirk only to return to France in the wake of the D-Day landings.  Even dad was a volunteer, joining the RAF as opposed to being forced in through National Service, only to then come out early in order to take up farm work back in the East Riding.  It's a decision he's often regretted.  Had the requirement for a chest operation not scuppered my own attempts to follow him I could have become the fourth generation of the Lusmore family to have chosen a military way of life.

Overlooked in all this was Grandad Douglas.  Ironic really, as Mum's dad Allan is the only member of my immediate family to actually have died in service during armed conflict.  My ignorance of the man even stretched to his precise cause of death.  I'd grown up believing it to be down to an accident involving hot coals being dropped on his foot while stoking and Grandad not then getting the injury treated properly.  I'm now led to believe this not to be the case.

All I grew up knowing for a fact was that because of the timing of his passing, Granny Douglas despised Christmas.  And she never indulged my childhood interest in "what Grandad did in the war". 

From the snippets I've heard from others, Allan had a typically Douglas down-to-earth approach to the war (and life in general).  He must have enjoyed shore leave - Mum was one of ten children!  And he liked a tipple in the old Sun Inn; a tale goes that the local bus driver once had to come in to the pub and practically drag him out to ensure he didn't miss his connection to Hull for re-embarkation.  

However, my favourite tale is one recounted to me by a neighbour and was told him by my uncle Jack:  "While on shore leave, your grandad was asked what his ship had been doing.  Your grandad said, 'We've been patrolling off some foreign place or other, mekkin sure the Germans dayen't gerrit.  Having layked at the place, ah'd lerrem 'ave it!'"
But he did his duty.  As did countless others.

And so today, while pausing for thought at the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month (of the eleventh year) to remember those who have made - and continue to make - the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their country, I'll reserve special thought for Grandad Allan who might well have come to some other arrangement with the Germans had he had his way!

Remember, Remember...

Saturday 5th November
East Riding Senior Country Cup R2
Easington Utd Reserves 4 Beverley Town Reserves 1

Some nine hours after the official changing of the clocks, I dismantled the Slushettes' trampoline - summer was officially at an end (something that could be in doubt given some of the weather we'd been having in recent weeks).
In the afternoon, we made decorative pumpkins.  This went very much against my natural instincts I might add, which are to loathe the whole Hallowe'en carry-on as another unwanted intrusion of Americana.  That said, I do feel I made quite a decent fist of this year's... 

Well, maybe not then.
On Hallowe'en itself the Slushettes, suitably attired, headed out with Mrs Slush and friends, returning an hour or so later with a veritable swag bag full of goodies.  My good lady couldn't believe the amount of stuff people had ready for the "Trick or Treat" knock.  She then backtracked quite spectacularly when realising the paltry offerings she'd left behind for me to "treat" potential visitors with.  And I plenty had come knocking, including one mixed-up soul wearing a ghoulish mask but saying "Merry Christmas"!  But given the measly "treats" at my disposal I decided against answering the door for the remainder of the night.  Well, it was Monday - Corrie was on.

Midweek saw City's nine-match unbeaten run draw to a close with defeat at Barnsley.  Ironically, manager Nigel Pearson described it as the best the Tigers had played in some time.  Mack and Nicho know how he feels!
Not that those two had any concerns the following Saturday - no First Team game instead offered another chance to catch up with the Stiffs as they bid for a place in the last eight of the County Cup.  And with Bonfire Night to follow, the hopes were high of some corny puns to accompany the weekly match report.  A "firecracker" perhaps, or maybe a "sparkling performance", or if things went belly up, how about "For Fawkes sake"?!  
Oh, the possibilities were endless...

In the words of David Coleman... "One Nil!"

In the event there was plenty of fizz in a Stiffs' performance described by skipper 'Nige' as "our best of the season".
After a slight delay due to refereeing issues - the appointed one didn't show (desptie messages of confirmation left on both her voicemail and at home) with the replacement arriving ten minutes after the designated kick-off time ("I've had a nightmare trip, I set off just after one from University!") and five minutes before the local qualified volunteer replacement who I'd managed to recruit some five minutes beforehand.  Grrrgh!
Anyway, two teams and referee in place it was off we went and by the break we were two up; "veteran" striker Wilks twice benefitting from lax defending by The Beavers.

A pocket battleship

Midfield pocket battleship Tony Everitt was enjoying himself in the middle of the park, setting up Wilky for his second and stinging the tips of Town keeper Brown with an effort of his own.
The best opening Beverley enjoyed was when Pagey was somewhat harshly penalised for handling a backpass.  The wall held firm.
The visitors came more into it at the start of the second half but young Josh Price added a third to calm any nerves on the part of those in the "Farm Shed".

They shall not pass

Tom Proud reduced arrears with fourteen to go but - to the delight of the home crowd - a fourth goal arrived for the locally grown number 10, Keyworth, on 85 minutes.  A place in the quarter-finals - to be drawn live on local radio - was assured.

Pictures courtesy of Colin Brammer.