Oh 'Ella!

Saturday 15th October
CML North
Easington United 1 Westella & Willerby 4

I don't do nights out anymore.  Every once in a while I try kidding myself that I'm still "pub fit" and can cope with a trawl of the Old Town's hostelries as easily as I did some twenty years ago.  Well I can't.  And if I needed reminding of the fact, this particular Friday morning at work did just that.

Having been tempted out into the big city once more the previous evening by a 'leaving do' arranged for a fellow real ale afficianado, I'd somehow convinced myself that a few pints of proper beer, steadily consumed over a few hours, couldn't do any real damage.

Initially, things went well.  A fine selection of Saltaire beers in The Burlington (I opted for the Blackberry Cascade) was followed by a pint of Barnsley Beer Company's "Shut Thi Gob" in the recently opened Bar Exchange before Walters Bar had me spoilt for choice. 

But of course it was too good to last.  After a couple of lovely little numbers, we were moving on - to spend the remainder of the night in Jaz, one of the countless cafe-bar style venues in the Old Town that do not count any "proper beer" among their otherwise extensive drinks range. 

So, add together three hours in one place (during which the only respite from drinking came when either walking to the Gents to empty one load or walking to the bar to take on board another) and supping draught Peroni and you perhaps get some idea of just why my bonce was banging the following day.

Of course I came out with the usual "Never again" sentiments to anyone who would listen (Mrs Slush not being amongt them!) and promised myself it would be some time before I allowed a headache like that to descend on me again...

Just two days later I had a similar feeling of wretchedness.  But this time the cause wasn't copious amounts of alcohol; my soreness was solely sport-related courtesy of a second "derby" defeat of the season.
Easington United v Westella & Willerby now constitutes a "derby"? Cuh, that used to be a term that reserved for games against Holmpton and Patrington when I first got involved at Low Farm.  Indeed a trip to Westella's home on "t'other side of town" would have been regarded as one of the longer away trips.  How times have changed.
Bridlington Town chairman Pete Smurthwaite is one of the more knowledgeable voices on local football and is always a good listen on Radio Humberside's "Sports Talk" show.  He went up even further in my estimation on Friday's programme when listing Easington United as one of the clubs people might like to check out the following day.  And although he didn't go so far as to say he had us down for a home win, I'd like to think he was rooting for us...
Although the league table suggested otherwise, I was quietly confident beforehand. I knew we hadn't done ourselves justice in the game at their place and this alone should be sufficient to avoid any repeat. In addition I felt squad-wise we were stronger than that night in August.
So as I ambled down to the Village Square early on Saturday morning for an impromptu meeting with the estimable Graham Stuart, my local MP (I kid ye not) I didn't mind telling all who enquired that I had "a good feeling" about the game in store.  I made the same mistake in Withernsea an hour or so later. 
I wish I'd taken the advice of the Barnsley Beer Company brew I'd been sampling just two nights earlier! 

That's close...

In fairness the first half saw us dominate for large periods and how we came to be two down at the break was beyond not just me but most of the sixty-odd spectators present, including the opposition management.
Sadly we once again paid the price for being unable to turn our superiority at one end into goals while paying dearly for the occasional lapses at the other.
Having hardly had a whiff of our goal in the opening 25 minutes, 'Ella took the lead when Fitzy lost his man at a corner.

That's closer

Then, with the referee already checking his watch for half-time, our impetuous young winger dropped another clanger - barging through the back of the returning "Man Mountain" inside the area.  Charlie saves a lot of penalties - but not on this occasion. 
Half-time brought good news from Eastrington where Casuals boss Maccer had marked his 700th Eastenders appearance with his side's sixth win in as many games to remain well clear at the top of Division 5.  Amusingly, he'd also passed up the chance to mark the occasion with a goal - missing from the spot in a 4-1 victory. 
Unfortunately the next phone call didn't bring such positivity - the Reserves had gone down six nil at Park Athletic.  It was a real tale of woe from the 3G surface at South Hundley, with Jimmy D having seen red and another four players yellow carded in a game in which the Stiffs had trailed by five at half-time - while hitting the woodwork three times and passing up four one-on-ones at the opposite end.  Anybody telling manager Meddy that "it's a funny old game" would probably have been given short shrift on Saturday night.

Pitch looks well!

Not that the events at Low Farm were particularly amusing either.  Only briefly did we look like salvaging something from the game.  When Frosty seized on a defensive mistake to make it 1-3 there was a small window of opportunity but it was one that was slammed shut a few minutes later when Jonny Slater slotted home goal number four.  To make matters worse the goal came in similar frustratingly easy manner to that with which fellow sub Mike Thompson had earlier made it 3-0. 
The final whistle blew and my head felt no better.  Perhaps I need another night out...

Thanks to Burt Graham for the photos.  Match report can be found here.  Colin Brammer's photos can be found here.    

Threshed

Saturday 8th October
East Riding Senior Cup R1
Easington United 0 Chalk Lane 2
ERCFL Premier Div
Easington United Reserves 2 Viking Raiders 0

The "Welwick Heritage" weekend is in its 22nd year and despite the loss of its driving force, Bernard Blashill (aka "The Welwick Relic"), it continues to pull in the crowds.

Easington United's involvement in The East Riding County Football Association Senior Cup stretches back half the length of the aforementioned event, to which it is connected by the date on which the first round is usually played.

Unfortunately, in recent times our interest in said competition has lasted no longer than the time it takes the threshing team at Moat Farm to shift a trailer full of wheat.
  

T'wasn't always so.  Elevation to the Humber Premier League in 2000/01 prompted a first ever entry in the East Riding's most prestigious cup competition and initially it was one we enjoyed.
The semi-finals were reached in each of the first three years.  The first of these was lost to Hull City (usually represented in this competition by their Juniors) and the other two to Bridlington Town, with the 2002 fixture proving one of the most amazing Eastenders matches I've ever seen live.
Since Town's repeat semi-final success the following year, our record in the ER Senior Cup hasn't been great.  Aside from a run to the quarter-finals in 2008 we've failed to get past round one on more than one occasion. 
Making this poor run harder to take is that in the past two years defeat has been experienced at the hands of Humber Premier League opposition - giving rise to much derisory comment from those who mocked our decision to "jump ship" in 2009.
And so we came into this year's competition determined to arrest the slide.  Unfortunately, we failed to do so.

Along with the Welwick Heritage weekend, the other event that normally accompanies County Cup round one weekend is the start of Hull Fair.  In addition our weekly trips to Verity Lee's School of Dance were resuming following the annual show and this time we also had the Younger Slushette enrolled.  Yikes! 
Finally, to further fill what already looked like being a busy weekend, two of our national teams were in action; the footballers on Friday evening when a single point from the trip to Podgorica would see Capello's team through to Euro 2012, the rugby union players the following morning where an equally unconvincing France barred progress to the semi-finals of the World Cup. 
It therefore promised to be a weekend of ups and downs - and I don't mean "Fair" (I wasn't planning on going - I left that to Mrs Slush and our older daughter).

Our demeanour says it all

Having missed both the Bentley Colliery and Yorkshire Main games, I was looking forward to seeing the First Team in action again.  Reports from Edlington Lane had suggested we'd perhaps been a touch unfortunate to come home empty-handed and with opponents Chalk Lane going well in the HPL, Saturday's game promised to be a decent one.
Of course, before then we were subjected to the never-straightforward-affair that is watching England in competitive action.  And even though the main aim of qualification for Poland & Ukraine was achieved, I was left feeling as if we'd actually lost.  Perhaps it was a premonition...

A corner - no longer cause for excitement among the Farm Faithful

...It was.  And it was one reinforced by events the following morning when having been forced to listen to Barbie Disco 8 en route to the Slushettes' dance class (don't ask) and thus having missed the first half-hour of England's World Cup quarter-final, I got the Leisure Centre TV switched on just in time to find us 16-0 down and the game as good as lost.  This weekend was going from bad to worse.

One bright spot was the surprise appearance of Adelphi goer, ale afficianado, Hull City fan and author (his "Kissing the Badge - How Much Do You Know About 20 Years Of The Premier League" is a must-read for any football fan) Phil Ascough - or @audaciouschip as the rest of the Twitterati know him.

Taking advantage of another 'International Break', Phil decided on a trip out east for his Saturday afternoon footy fix and arrived at Low Farm.  Excellent.  Even better, he decided to blog about the afternoon's events for the estimable Two Unfortunates website and the results can be found here. 

Thankfully, Phil's diligence means I don't need to recount the precise details of another early cup exit here.  Nor do I need to introduce you to our opponents - you just need to read the aforementioned piece to learn they are a quality side.
Perhaps the only thing I could add to Phil's piece is that before the game I enjoyed a cuppa and a chat with the "legendary" Johnny Whiteley MBE.  Ah, we get all the local celebs down at the Farm these days.

THe Stiffs go Raiders-Ramming

Anyway, rather than go over the same ground, I can instead mention the rather more pleasant events unfolding simultaneously across the ditch where the Reserves entertained Viking Raiders in an ER County League Premier Division game.

It's unusual for the Stiffs to be asked to "slum it" on the Casuals' pitch - not that the surface is poor, indeed it's perhaps better than the main arena.  No, it's the rather basic portacabin changing facilities and lack of showers which ensure not many games at this level are allowed to go ahead while the main changing block is otherwise engaged.

Packing 'em in across the Ditch

Still, Manager Medforth and his players will certainly be happy that this one took place.  For after weathering some terrific pressure from the Goole side, the Reserves wrapped up a highly satisfying 2-0 victory courtesy of second half goals from Jimmy Dawson (whose cousin Billy had successfully boxed at Hull City Hall the previous night - a topic I discussed with the aforementioned Mr Whiteley) and Sam Mac.

When Casuals' assistant-boss DC rang to tell me of his side's fifth win in five, a superb 2-0 success at title hopefuls Shiptonthorpe, the pain of another early ERCFA Cup exit had dissipated. 
Unfortunately though, not for long.

The grim realisation of another year without a trip to the KC.

Thankfully, the following morning's trip to Welwick helped lift the darkness.  And the bacon butties were on their usual top form.  The murky weather - quite disappointing for an event that is traditionally accompanied by warm sunshine - helped keep the crowds down slightly but there was still plenty to see and, more importantly, part with your cash for.  Even I was persuaded to spend three quid on the Second Edition of the East Riding Dialect Dictionary - a "getherer's" (collector's) item if ever there was "yan"!

A bonus this year came in the threshing machine being put to use without the traditional hiccups; another followed in the forme of tea down at the Crown & Anchor, Kilnsea where the Timothy Taylor Landlord was "ageean fost rate" (eeh, that "beeak" (book) is already proving a superb acquisition).
All in all it was a very enjoyable day - and who needs a cup run anyway?

Oh, and in case you were wondering, Lance Corporal Jones will explain just how a thresher works...

On the beach

Music For An East End 'Indian Summer'

Hull Fair is just around the corner, to be followed all-too-swiftly by the changing of the clocks, Halloween and Guy Fawks.  Autumn is in the air and to mark the time of year, Great Newsome Brewery have brought out a "Back Endish Bitter".  Long, dark nights are just around the corner...

Yet here we are, on the second day of October, sat on the beach at Spurn Point enjoying temperatures that for the fifth day in a row are approaching the mid-twenties. 

Of course it's a bit late.  For the second successive year we were told that we were set for a "barbecue summer".  We got a "barbecue spring" instead.  We're now being warned that within weeks of the recent heatwave temperatures are set to plummet to well below freezing.  And we wonder why the weather forms such a big part of everyday conversation.
Given that we're having another "mad" year in terms of the weather, it was perhaps apt that two days prior to our day on "Spon 'ole" beach, I unearthed a gem of an old C60 cassette, compiled over twenty years ago and entitled "Mad Mix For A Mad Summer".  
It provided the perfect soundtrack to an afternoon spent lounging in the garden catching some very unexpected late season rays.
From the track-listing I'm guessing I originally compiled it in the summer 1990.  Most of the tracks thereon are from the two year period leading up to that year, with a few old classics thrown in for good measure.

As I played it again - for the first time in well over a decade - all manner of memories came flooding back and I was immediately transported to a different age.  In particular I could feel the pull of a balmy spring evening on Hull's Beverley Road, strolling towards De Grey Street and the Adelphi Club where local faves The Penny Candles would have the regulars lapping up their fine if at times twee melodies - not too dissimilar to some of those you'll find on here...   

Side 1
The Lotus Eaters - The First Picture of You (1983)
The Lightining Seeds - Pure (1989)
1000 Violins - A Place To Surf (1988)  
Jay & The Americans - Got Hung Up Along the Way (1967) 
Van McCoy - The Shuffle (1976)
The Primitives - Secrets (1990)
Inspiral Carpets - Find Out Why (198*)
1000 Violins - All Aboard The Lovemobile (1989)
The Ventures - Hawaii Five-O (1969) 
The Soup Dragons - Hang Ten (1986)
The Wedding Present - It's Not Unusual (1989)


Side 2
The Wedding Present - Kennedy (1989)
The Primitives - Sick Of It (1990)
The La's - There She Goes (1988) 
Jay & The Americans - Livin' Above Your Head (1966)
Bobby Goldsboro - It's Too Late (1966)
BOB - Convenience (1989)
The Driscolls - Julie Christie (1988) no link
The Sundays - Can't Be Sure (1990)
The Lightning Seeds - Joy (1989)

I maintained fairly comprehensive diaries around the time of these recordings and when flicking back through them I'm reminded just what a "lad about town" I was.  In addition to sporting jaunts with City and Rovers, much of the working week was also taken up in the pubs and clubs of Hull.  I really did use home as a hotel! 

The Adelphi was one of several regular haunts - the others for gigs being Hull Uni and The Tower and I clocked up an impressive tally of live bands during the period covered by this tape, including many of those on it; clubbing was done at Spiders and the "New" Silhouette on Park Street - not forgetting the shortlived Thursday "Rock 'n' Roll Nite" at Gatsby's (under the Paragon Station Hotel).

I was young, earning and still living at home so there was money to spend on "socialising".  In addition, losing Mum in April '89 also triggered a need to get out more, probably as an antidote to simply sitting at home to wallow in self-pity.

I seem to recall I'd intended this compilation as a sort of soundtrack to a new start as well as a new summer.  A year on from bereavement and having just about survived the first Christmas without the full family, there was the need to finally move forward and the advent of summer always helps with that.  Plus, there was a World Cup just around the corner.  Little did I know at the time that Italia '90 would provide me with a level of excitement that I am perhaps unlikely ever to experience again if recent World Cup flops are anything to go by.  

In short this little musical gem, discovered as part of one of my (in)famous "clear-outs", captures a part of my life that despite the tragedy preceding it, was one of real fulfilment.  As the final track on it proclaims, "I never realized the joy til the joy was gone."   
I wonder if in twenty years time somebody will be sat poring over some old iTunes they downloaded from the summer of 2011 and reflecting on that heatwave that lasted for, ooh, five days in late-September and accompanied an inglorious World Cup experience in another sport.  Probably not.

Of course if I were to bring out an updated "Mad Mix" compilation now, I'd have to have this Tape Five corker on it - the perfect music to watch the sun go down over the Humber.  
Now, where's that pint of Backendish Bitter...

 

'Awd Times' remembered

From the Holderness Gazette 6th October... 
Saturday 1st October
A trip down Memory Lane

It is hoped that a piece of local football history can be restored to its former glory some 57 years after it was last played for.

The South Holderness League Championship Shield was the third of three trophies originally competed for back in the days of the post-War competition, which ran from 1946 to 1954.  It has been reunited with its former stable mates following its unearthing in a store room at Withernsea High School.

Two current employees at the school (and members of Easington United football club) Craig Foster and Phil Page came across the Shield but it was only on closer inspection that Craig realised he’d stumbled upon a piece of his own club’s history, a fact later confirmed by Richard Lusmore.

Richard, who is General Manager at Easington United as well as a member of the present South Holderness Cup Committee, already knew of the Shield from previous research into local football.

Donated by Robert Metcalfe (described in surviving Committee records as a local businessman and a director of Hull City AFC) it was originally awarded in 1949/50 to the new South Holderness League Division 2 champions.  Patrington United ‘B’ were the inaugural winners.

When the League reverted to one division two years later, the trophy was renamed the Junior Shield and was competed for by the bottom six teams in the table.  In this new format it was won by Easington in 1951/52 (when they shared it with Withernsea United) and then outright in 1953/54. 

The 1954 final proved to be the last game ever played under the jurisdiction of the League, with the competition being dissolved the following summer as clubs opted to join the Hull-based Amateur, County and Church leagues.

Fittingly the Shield, which is in urgent need of repair, was on display at Easington’s Low Farm ground on Saturday, where two of the 1954 winning side - Arthur Piggott and Tom Robinson - took the opportunity to be pictured with it. 

While neither man can remember much about the game itself, Arthur does recall the post-match celebrations: “We had a dance in the Church Hall the night we received our commemorative shields.  I remember that because I was outside ‘legless’!”

For the record the final was played at Patrington and saw Easington beat Ottringham 2-1 in extra-time with goals from Bill Beadle and Brian Bromby.  A match report appeared in the old Hull & East Yorkshire Times of 8 May, 1954: 

“Easington last-minute goal wins shield”

Easington United snatched a dramatic goal with almost the last kick of extra-time in their match with Ottringham to win the South Holderness Junior Shield played at Patrington last Saturday.  The rivals had been drawing 1-1 but Bromby, coming up from defence, kicked the ball hard and true to see it flash past the Ottringham defenders to land safely in the back of the net.  Heavy rain during the course of the game made conditions difficult and the game, as a whole, never reached high standards.

Ottringham had the better of early exchanges and Robinson missed a chance of giving them the lead when he sliced his shot with only Cuthbert to beat.

Easington, however, were determined in their efforts and gradually wore down the opposition.  Close on half-time Attenborough, the Ottringham centre-half, saved a certain goal when he headed off the line after the goalkeeper had been beaten.

Soon after the restart Easington had the ball in the back of the net but were given offside.  Full time came with the score at 0-0.

In the 14th minute of extra-time, Dunn gave Ottringham the lead but Beadle put Easington on equal terms on the turn around.

Then Bromby scored the winning goal when a draw seemed certain.  There was little to choose between the two sides but Easington got the goals.

The two other pieces of former South Holderness silverware are still in use and both are currently held by Easington.  They are the South Holderness Challenge Cup, which has been competed for on an annual basis since 1956, and the old South Holderness League Championship Trophy (now the Holderness Cup Winners Cup) which is played for yearly between the winners of the aforementioned South Holderness Cup and its North Holderness Tanton Cup equivalent.

Long-time South Holderness Cup Committee member Arthur Brummitt has no idea how the Shield first came to be in possession of the school.  However, he too is delighted that it has been saved from the scrapheap.  With the School having kindly granted permission for the Shield to be handed back, the decision will now have to be made as to what the future holds for this magnificent artefact.

Photographs courtesy of Colin Brammer

Fun in the sun

Saturday 1st October
East Riding Senior Country Cup R1
Easington United Reserves 3 Riccall United 1
ERCFL Div 5
Easington United 6 Withernsea Thirds 0

It's supposed to be October.  Not only does that mean the start of long, dark nights and cold, murky mornings but it also usually coincides with an early exit from the East Riding County FA cup competitions for our three teams.

Well, in pretty much the same way that nobody thought to tell the weather we've moved on to autumn, somebody in our Stiffs' set-up forgot to read the preceived script when it came to their first round tie in the ERCFA Senior Country Cup tie.  So as the Low Farm Faithful basked in the unseasonable temperatures, the red-hot Reserves romped to victory against their much fancied opponents.

Meanwhile, across the ditch, our third-string were putting it up their local rivals from Withernsea big-time.  Six unanswered goals ensuring a fourth straight win and the Casuals' best ever start to a County League campaign.  All-in-all it's what Saturdays were made for.

"You've only come to watch the Riccall"

As soon as the draw for the opening round of the Senior Country Cup threw up a tie against Riccall, I decided to eschew whatever fixture the First Team might have that same day.  As it was, lack of The Pistol and his Riding School Express again for the trip to Yorkshire Main ensured I would not be Edlington-bound.

The village of Riccall lies just north of Selby and 9 miles south of York.  Despite its location in what is now North Yorkshire, "it is historically part of the East Riding".  Hence its football club, Riccall United, enters the  East Riding County FA cup competitions.
Riccall was the site of the base camp of Harold Hardrada, the Norse king who landed on the banks of the River Ouse in 1066 as part of his ill-fated attempt to wrestle the throne of England. 

One for Wilky

Riccall United Football Club was founded in 1919 with a Junior section added some ninety years later. They boast a long history of success in all competitions including the aforementioned East Riding cups. (Unfortunately their club website is in desperate need of updating - something manager Liam Bradley said was "in hand" when I spoke to him ahead of the game).Among the ERCFA Cup wins are two in the Senior Country competition, 1974/75 and 2009/10.  Last season they reached the semi-finals.  They thumped us 4-0 en route (the same margin of victory as achieved on their only previous trip to Low Farm - en route to a place in the 1997/98 ERCFA Junior Country Cup Final).  In 2008/09 they lifted the ERCFA Intermediate Country Cup.  In short, Riccall do not exit County Cup competitions early doors...until now.

I'd produced a programme for the game.  I don't usually bother for the Reserves or indeed the Casuals but saw this as an opportunity to try and attract new customers as it were.  Not sure I succeeded.  No matter, the Stiffs did.  You can read details of how here.



For once Riccall's cup run ends before it has begun...

Meanwhile, on the famous "Pitch Across The Ditch", the Casuals were intent on maintaining their one hundred per cent start to the ER County League Division 5 campaign against Withernsea, a side they'd lost to pre-season.  Hmm.
They say revenge is a dish best served cold don't they? Well it was anything but as the Seasiders were effectively put to the sword before half-time.

That'll be in then

Twice inside the first half-hour we heard cheers from across the ditch, both times seeing the teams form-up again ready to kick-off after a goal for the team in white.  Therefore it was a pleasant surprise moments later when a supporter wandering across from the Casuals game in search of a cuppa informed us it was actually 4-0 to the locals. 
However, more amusing was the reply from the first guy I'd asked for an update, some twenty minutes earlier:

"What score is it over there mate?  Are we one up?"

"We aren't playing mate, it's Patrington v Withernsea over there."

"Er, no, it's our Casuals v Withernsea...'Patrington Garage' are the shirt sponsors."

"Oh, right. Well, yeah, we're winning one-nil then."

Excellent stuff.

And so will that

And it got better - as you can read about here.  Young 'Hoppy' the new goal scoring sensation took his tally to 11 in four games, prompting his manager to wager a bet already that nobody will pip him to the Golden Boot.  Hmm, perhaps I ought to suggest to the Reserves manager that the youngster might be ready for the step-up...

A couple of pints of Tetleys were enjoyed in the Granby, washed down nicely by news of Nick Barmby's goal which sent the mighty Tigers back into the Championship top six.  If Maccer wants to make small bets about his goal scorers, may I commit myself to one that sees big things ahead for Nigel Pearson's young charges?

Hope for the future

Unfortunately, the day wouldn't be a complete success.  A final text from stand-in reporter Pete B brought confirmation of a solitary goal reverse for the Firsts at the pre-season title favourites.

I wouldn't let that get me down and as I sank a few bottles of fine ale at my old mucker Fuller's house (Badger's England's Gold, Wells Bombardier Burning Gold) it was safe in the knowledge that at least one of our teams would be in the hat for the second round of their very own "FA" cup.

To the beach tomorrow...it must be October!

Thanks to Burt Graham and Colin Brammer for the photos

Call of Duty 3

Saturday 1st October
Official Reserves/Casuals Photograph 2011/12

Not perfect but a damn sight smarter than the First Team effort!