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.

A Skip And A Jump

Saturday 29th October
CML North 
Easington United 4 Ollerton Town 1

The latest enjoyable series of DCI Banks mysteries has just finished on ITV. Pity. I could have done with Peter Robinson's Yorkshire-based copper to come across to the East Riding and try to solve the mystery of why we're usually so shit in October.

We came into the fifth and final Saturday of the month on the back of four defeats. A "clean sweep" at the hands of Nottinghamshire visitors Ollerton Town would be unthinkable.

The setbacks at the hands of Yorkshire Main, Westella and Clipstone all came against sides challenging for the title; as did the ERCFA Senior Cup exit against HPL leaders Chalk Lane.

But a reverse against opponents currently undergoing wholesale changes in the wake of their previous manager's departure would really have got the "Farm Faithful" grumbling.

I started the morning with a cup of Lancashire Tea.  I know, it's bloody sacrilege and all that but it's also bloody good tea.  Anyway, to balance the books, when I confessed to this particular guilty pleasure on Twitter, that well known Hull City fan of Lancastrian roots, Mark Gretton (or @INDEPENDENT_MG to give him his Twitter title) admitted his favourite tipple was Yorkshire Gold.  Ah the irony.

In the line of duty...for the last time

Unbeknown to most of the lads, this afternoon's game was to be the last one in which Andy Graham would lead the team out. After much agonising, AG has decided to relinquish the First Team captaincy "for personal reasons". I actually think it's more to do with being sick of his old man Burt pointing an extended lens in his face every time he emerges from a changing room.

And one become two...

A fine if somewhat blustery afternoon helped attract a decent crowd of over seventy to The Farm.  Gawd, if only we could charge a gate.  Still, programme sales were very healthy thanks to the Chairman's persistence, helped also by a decent contingent of travellers from Ollerton.
I spent the second half within decent earshot of one particular band and very entertained they kept me...though I expect the young referee's assistant was gald he was on the far side of the pitch given the amount of flak he copped for.

...becomes three!

By this time, though, the damage was done.  Ollerton found themselves three down at the break, courtesy of a Nicho brace and a well-deserved strike from Jamie Hartley.
Enjoyment of the second half was enhanced by Farny's late fourth and news of Aaron McLean's winner for the Tigers at Forest.  Oh, and the continued witticisms of the band from north Notts.
Some consolation for the visitors came courtesy of Carl Russo's impressive late hit (which Charlie was keen to tell me afterwards took a deflection of Blounty's boot).  But, overall they were well beaten as you may well gather from the official report.

Pictures courtesy of Burt Graham

Maroon Drive

Saturday 22nd October
CML North
Clipstone Welfare 2 Easington United 1

I must confess to being somewhat surprised by Clipstone Welfare's rise to the top of the CML North Division. But there's no arguing with the stats behind it. Ten wins and two draws in fourteen games, 51 goals scored and only 19 conceded. And when I looked back at my account of our 1-1 draw in early September, although we'd more than held our own, Chaz had had a blinder i'nets.

So, overall, a trip to the Lido Ground was just what was required after three straight defeats. Not.

The Westella defeated had really knocked the stuffing out of people. Partly as a result simply of its magnitude and partly because there was never three goals' difference in quality between the two sides.  It had certainly put me on a downer - and that was before I received the sad news about Betty Driver.

One of the finest sights in local football...

It's on the back of results like our 1-4 defeat that the working week can appear to be a very long one.  Especially when, as in this particular case, it also throws up several other challenges - an official approach from Withernsea for young Thom McGeachy, an unofficial approach from Hall Road Rangers for Charlie (in the wake of an official notice regarding Blounty) and a piss-poor turnout at training.

Thankfully, there was one bright light on the horizon, in the form of the return of Pistol Pete & The Riding School Express.  After what had seemed an eternity, The Pistol was back in the saddle and the wagon was ready to roll.
Destination Clipstone in north Nottinghamshire - "a small working-class ex-coal mining village built on an old army base" according to the font of all knowledge that is Wikipedia!  To The Pistol it's basically another place you reach by "heading for Clumber Park then guessing"!
Clipstone is split into "Kings (or "Old") Clipstone" and "New Clipstone".  The camp  referred to, on which the village was built, was erected in World War One to train the men of Kitchener's New Army.  It was closed shortly after the end of hostilities.

Big Buggers

The sight that immediately hits you on entry to Clipstone is that of the Grade 2 listed colliery Headstocks, "the tallest in Europe and more recently the third tallest in the world". The very definition of "evocative".  The colliery closed in 2003.
Clipstone Welfare FC was formed in 1928 as Clipstone Combine.  I found this from the excellent "History" section of their otherwise needs-to-be-updated club website.
Their Lido Ground home is a tidy affair and, as it turned out, a very welcoming home.  From the moment we arrived, those of us not directly involved with the action were really well looked after.  A pre-match cuppa and meat pie of decent (if not quite Bentley Colliery) quality was followed by a half-time welcome in the "VIP" lounge and some excellent banter with the locals.

Words of wisdom

This sort of banter was also to be found in the stand that runs the full length of the pitch.  A decent crowd of around sixty-odd was comprised mainly of local elders who in between shouting "Come on Clippo!" would constantly berate their favourites for "messing about at the back".
In fairness, this was down to the efforts of our lads who, particularly up to the break, hassled and harried every Clipstone move.

Maroon (High) Five

Whether it was a feeling that a season's low had been reached these past few weeks, or a nothing-to-lose approach, or Mack & Nicho's pre-match pep talk, or the return of The Pistol, or even the new Royal Mail Sports Foundation kit (!) but we really seemed up for this one.
And we deservedly took an early lead.  Only to concede shortly afterwards with another of the Skipper's OG's that one day would form part of a brilliant DVD for aspiring young centre halves!
It remained level up to the break and we retired for our aforementioned half-time hospitality.  My mood was further improved by news of a "magnificent seventh" win for the Casuals and a win of my own on the half-time raffle.  Oh yes!

We didn't all come home empty-handed

The game could've been won in the first few minutes of the second half but both Sam and Frosty were just off target.  No matter, we were the better team.  We were asking all the questions.  We were the more likely winners.  Then they scored.
They nearly added a third afterwards before we mounted a frantic spell of late pressure that saw Frosty come within a whisker of salvaging a point right at the death.  The players' reactions on Burt's photos say it all.

Aaaaaarrrrgh

Afterwards, our hosts were magnanimous in victory and very complimentary (as they had been at half-time).  And in truth, they showed the mark of a good side by winning a game in which they were largely playing second fiddle.
The post-match watering hole was the local Welfare Club, which again was warm and welcoming.  I was beginning to like Clipstone Welfare FC and may well root for them to win the title once our chances become mathematically non-existant!

The Pistol's apprentice

It's on away days like these that The Pistol and his vehicle swing into action - literally in the case of his entry into the Welfare club car park!  For some of the new lads - Jordan and Sam - it was their first taste of a post-match bevvy bus ride home.  I think they enjoyed it...I know I did.

Thanks to Burt for the action pics.  Match report can be found here.

A "Macnificent" achievement

Saturday 15th October
Iain McNaught is 700 not out


Mack & Mick

Saturday 15th October 2011 saw Casuals player/manager Iain McNaught make his 700th appearance for Easington United.  I wrote about it in the programme for the CML game against Westella & Willerby but such a feat really deserves wider exposure.  So why have I put it on here then...guffaw, guffaw!

At the time I wrote that I "believed it to be" his 700th appearance when Maccer led his Casuals side out at Eastrington Village Reserves. 

I used that term just in case I’d made a slight miscalculation - well we are talking nearly thirty years' worth of stats here.  And at time of typing this I've still not had chance to complete a thorough check.  But I'm fairly confident we won't be more than an appearance or two out either way!

What I do know for certain is that ‘Maccer’ made his official Eastenders debut away at Etton United in ER County League Division 3 on 12th March 1983 and has remained a one-club man ever since.  He completed his first century at home Hessle Rangers in October 1987 a milestone that would no doubt have come somewhat sooner had an altercation with the ERCFA Disciplinary panel in October 1985 not seen him banned for the remainder of that campaign!

1991: With hair - front row, third left

During his 28 years at Low Farm, Maccer has shared in each of the triumphs and the tragedies that have accompanied our rise from the County League basement to Step 7 football.  He was skipper of the 1990/91 Division 3 title-winning squad and that same year became first recipient of the Melvin Douglas Memorial Shield for Man of the Match in the South Holderness Cup Final, despite being on the losing side (pictured).
Iain remained a fixture in the senior squad until the move into the Humber Premier League in 2000/01.  The last of his 445 first team appearances came off the bench at Chisholms on 2nd September 2000.

Since then, over a century of appearances apiece has been clocked up at both Reserves (120) and Casuals (134) levels where playing has also been combined with management.  It should also be said that this central defender has also amassed a creditable 50 goals along the way.

2011: Without hair - front row, fourth right

Much of Iain’s playing career was spent under the stewardship of current vice-chairman Mike Wilson and in the same Westella match programme, the latter was quoted as saying this about his former skipper…

“I’d like to congratulate Iain on his fantastic achievement. He progressed from boys football through to the men’s First Team, showing great promise as a centre half along the way, and has never looked back since.
Iain has been an excellent player throughout his career - how many Man of the Match’s Maccer?! I cannot thank him enough for all he’s done for the club in the past and the effort and commitment he continues to show." "Initially he had a few disciplinary issues (!) and at one time he also tried to convince me he’d make a decent centre-forward – I don’t think so Maccer!

Bringing up the rear

"However, his loyalty to Easington United has been outstanding. After moving from Welwick he could have played for several Hull teams but has instead remained loyal to us throughout.
"As manager for most of his playing career I’d like to say 'Well done'. You have achieved so much throughout your career and deserve to stick your chest out today in true Maccer fashion!"

Thankfully for Iain his latest milestone appearance yielded a sixth straight win of the season, 4-1 at struggling Eastrington Village Reserves.  It was a result that maintained the Casuals' charge for the Division 5 title.    

Although not their finest performance of the season, the Casuals were rarely in danger of losing the game.  As such, when they were awarded a penalty at 3-1 up it appeared only fitting that the main man be allowed chance to cap his own big day...

...Oh dear!  Still, at least he got the man of the match.  Hmm, I'm not sure who nominates the award?! 
Anyway, it would have been remiss on a blog about "a sporting life along the Humber Riviera" to have failed to mark such a significant feat by a fellow local.  When the professional game is justifiably under fire for the actions of so many of its participants, it's reassuring that at grassroots level there are people still in the game purely for the love of it. 
Here's to the next seven hundred Maccer!

Photos courtesy of Doug Clubley and Ian Akam.