Mauled by the Tigers

Saturday, 29th December

Football League Championship

Hull City 2 Leeds United 0

 

On Sunday 8th November 2009 I took my eldest daughter Emma to her first Hull City match, a Jimmy Bullard-inspired 2-1 win over Stoke City in the Premier League.  The Elder Slushette proceeded to accompany me to another half-dozen matches before the more, can I say, "girly" counter-attractions of shopping proved more tempting than a seat at the KC.

Thankfully, I had a ready-made replacement to take her place and, on Saturday 29th December 2012, the Younger Slushette accompanied me and my mate 'Biff' to The Circle for her first bit of Tiger-trekking.  She couldn't have wished for a more perfect debut.

I've no need to go into detail on the game, instead leaving this to the BBC and the excellent accounts in 'From Boothferry To Wembley' and 'Amber Nectar'.

What I would like to state here is that I don't think I'll ever get bored of telling people just how good I think this current City side is - and that's on the evidence of just five matches, one of which (away at Boro) was hardly a ringing endorsement.

The recent draw at home to Palace highlighted some of the exquisite approach play the team is capable of but without the cutting edge.  Ditto the draw against Leicester on Boxing Day.  And for 45 minutes of this one I feared my "jinx" (I'd yet to see a Tigers win in 2012/13) would continue.  Thankfully, two goals in quick succession ensured this would not be the case.

 

The Younger Slushette's first City souvenirs

On Radio Humberside afterwards, Steve Bruce used the term "bollocking" to describe what he'd delivered to some of the players for what he termed "show-boating".  And it's true that towards the end City were Arsenal-esque at times in their attempts to score the perfect goal.  But I would guess that most of the 23,453 inside the stadium lapped it up.

There was one particular episode near the South-West corner flag (i.e. directly in front of us) which reminded me a bit of that famous 1970s footage of Leeds toying with their opponents (Southampton?) at Elland Road.  Well, this time, it was Leeds on the receiving end.

It was enough to prompt a mass rendition of "You're getting mauled by the Tigers" - and not just from E1 but from right around the ground.  The irony of the chant appeared to be lost on the visiting supprt, several of whom later took to Twitter to describe how embarrassed they were by it.  Seems to me they should have been more embarrassed by the "mauling" their team had sustained rather than a tongue-in-cheek way of telling them so!

 

"Like taking candy from a baby"

On the way home my youngest assured me she'd enjoyed it, despite being unable to see every time the crowd rose in anticipation of another City goal and also in spite of the fact that the actual beauty of what she'd witnessed was really too much for a 6-year-old to fully appreciate.  Still, she's since asked when she can go again.  A flooded Low Farm pitch and the postponement of Mrs Slush's hospital op this coming Saturday might mean it's sooner than she'd have thought...

Boxing Day Fox Hunt

Wednesday 26th December

Football League Championship

Hull City 0 Leicester City 0

 



During my formative years of attending Hull City matches, Boxing Day was one of the trickiest fixture dates to negotiate, both in terms of getting a pass out and indeed actually getting to the game - especially if it was at home.

Years later, as a more occasional follower of the Tigers, Boxing Day remains one of the trickiest fixture dates to negotiate, both in terms of getting a pass out and indeed actually getting to the game - especially if it's at home. 

Those family commitments that didn't seem too important in my late teens are suddenly magnified where tea at the in-laws is concerned, while the worry over lack of public transport has been replaced by Mrs Slush's need of the car to transport her and my offspring to the aforementioned venue for our Boxing Day meal!

Thankfully, my pass for this attractive looking game had been stamped some time in advance.  And so, at just after half-past one Wednesday afternoon, I found myself enjoying the rare luxury of a pre-match pint (even if finding a decent cask ale near the ground was too much to ask).

Having only got round to ordering my ticket two days' earlier, I was nearly one of those caught out by the size of the "Picking-up" queue for this, the "Tenth Anniversary" game at the KC Stadium.  The size of said queue would lead some to believe the KC was in for its biggest gate of the season to date...and they were right.  Thankfully, having allowed myself a little extra time, I was in my seat well before kick-off, looking ahead to what I hoped would be a "Pants Down Pearson" affair...

 

A bigger than pocket sized 10th anniversary edition



That it wasn't was due to a very efficient performance by a well-organised (as you'd expect) Foxes outfit.

Having said that, City still looked the more likely.  Although new custodian of the Tigers leather, Eldin Jakupovic was called upon to make one fine first half save, it was the hosts who created the better chances.

Jay Simpson could have had a brace, including one header that we were sure had won it for us right at the death, while the impressive Sone Aluko was also denied by a full-length stop from Kasper Schmeichel.

Torrential rain during the second half accompanied us all the way back to the car parked down the Boulevard, which made keeping the special A4-sized Tenth Anniversary souvenir programme dry all the more awkward! 

Any frustration at the squandering of more points  at homewas soon eased by another excellent post-match Steve Bruce interview.

Having not been one of the former Man Ure man's biggest fans prior to appointment, the City boss has won me - and I suspect many others - over with not only the brand of football he has got his team playing but the excellent way he appears to conduct himeslf in the media.  Which, as we all know, is the only thing that really matters these days... 

 

The full BBC Sport report of the game can be found here.  Alternatively, catch Rick Skelton's version from the excellent 'From Boothferry To Wembley' blog. 

A Review of The Eastenders' Year

This piece appeared in Thursday's Holderness Gazette...

Eastenders reflect on the ups and downs of 2012

 

AS anticipated Easington United’s calendar year came to a soggy end with the First Team’s third consecutive postponement due to a waterlogged pitch.

They must now hope that Low Farm gets chance to dry out before January 5, when CML South high-fliers Belper United are scheduled to arrive in the League Cup.

At least the natural break provides a chance to reflect on a year of change at the club.

On the field 2012 saw The Eastenders attain their highest ever league placing in the “Football Pyramid”.  In addition, one of our teams moved up a division, one went down and all three changed managers.

At senior level, Dave Mackay-Dundas’s 16-year association as player, assistant-manager and manager came to an end last May, having taken the First Team to a top-ten placing in the Central Midlands League North Division.

Dave’s replacement in the “hot seat” was Sean McLaughlin.  “The Sumo” – as he is known to anybody with more than a passing interest in the local game – was joined at the helm by former skipper Andy Graham, Mike Nicholson and Tony Hunt, although Nicholson’s involvement has since been curtailed by other commitments.

After a bright start, the First Team has found this season an increasingly tough challenge.  However, given that recent line-ups have included only two or three players over 24 years of age, there is no cause for despair.  The players have shown themselves eager to learn and rarely willing to throw in the towel, which has provided a good grounding for the challenges that lay ahead. 

At ER County League level the Reserves enjoyed a mixed 2012.  The end of last season brought with it relegation to Division 1 but also a magnificent win in one of the finest South Holderness Cup Finals anyone can remember.

Under new manager Gavin Thurkettle and assistant Dave Gatti, the Stiffs are currently mounting a serious promotion bid and have also taken a couple of Premier Division scalps en route to a place in the quarter-finals of the League Senior Cup.

The Casuals gave outgoing manager Iain McNaught the perfect send-off with the Division 5 title, which was clinched in January – something unheard of in County League history.  They remained unbeaten throughout and but for a draw in their final game would have enjoyed a perfect campaign.

Taking up the reins for 2012/13, Daniel Campbell and assistant Jodi Stow have made a solid start to life in Division 4, although the expected departure of leading scorer Karl Hodgson leaves something of a void to fill in the New Year.

Behind the scenes, 2012 saw Richard Lusmore named the Central Midlands League’s ‘Secretary of the Year’ and Doug Clubley as ‘Volunteer of the Year’ by the East Riding County FA.

Chairman Doug’s 60 years’ celebration in November provided one of the off-field highlights, while the recent Race Night and Christmas Draw brought in much-needed funds, along with new partner club Sporting Withernsea Wolves’ inaugural tournament at Low Farm and October’s sponsored walk along the Humber Bank.

Proceeds from these not only prove a godsend but should also allow the club to make a significant donation to its chosen good cause, the Paediatric Nephrology Department at Leeds General Infirmary.

As we now look ahead to 2013, the Committee of Easington United AFC would like to thank all managers, players, supporters and sponsors for their efforts over the past twelve months.

For the latest news visit our website (www.easington-united.co.uk), follow us on Twitter at @EasingtonUtd or check out our Facebook page. 

Gerrin' me kicks on Yorkshire's Route 66

Review: ‘Route 66 – A Journey Around the Football Grounds of Yorkshire’

Firstly apologies.  This review is somewhat outdated, having been printed for the Phoenix match programme of 8th December, the first of three successive home games to fall victim to the weather.  It is also outdated inasmuch as I originally aimed it at those people looking for a Christmas stocking filler.  And finally, it's also outdated as I've since gone on to finish the book...something which wasn't true when this review was written.  Anyway, despite all that, here's hoping it will still tempt some of you to go out and buy it...

 

For a club of its size, Easington United has featured quite heavily in Yorkshire-based football publications. 

Steven Penny, once of the Yorkshire Post and author of the excellent Tykes Travels yearbooks, devoted a chapter to the club in his ‘Soap Stars & Burst Bubbles – A Season of Yorkshire Football’.  Easington also featured heavily in Hull writer Craig Ellyard’s 2002 book ‘Now Then – A Journey Across The Football Fields of East Yorkshire’, while numerous Ground-hoppers have written very complimentary posts about the Low Farm match day experience on various blogs and websites.   All of which has brought ‘The Eastenders’ welcome publicity. 

The latest addition to the set comes courtesy of ‘Route 66 – A Journey Around the Football Grounds of Yorkshire’ by Michael J Mowbray.

Midlands-born Michael is an adopted Yorkshireman and also, for his sins, a Leeds United fan.  He describes his quest to spend a season visiting all 66 Yorkshire football grounds at Step 7 level and above as a sign of his impending mid-life crisis.  (For the record my equivalent would currently appear to involve visiting every CML ground Easington United play at – preferably with an accompanying pint of real ale at a nearby hostelry!).

I must confess that my review of the book suffers one slight flaw in that I’ve not yet actually finished it.  But with Christmas rapidly approaching I feel the need to point you in the direction of it as a rather fabulous stocking-filler.

Actually, by the time you read this, I may well have reached the final whistle.  In addition to having read the first 33 chapters in sequence, for the purposes of this review I’ve also covered those ‘second half’ offerings that feature the remaining East Riding clubs - Bridlington Town (Chapter 42), Hull City (49), Hall Road Rangers (53) and of course Easington United (55) – as well as our fellow CML teams (Bentley Colliery, Yorkshire Main, Harworth Colliery, Thorne Colliery, Kiveton Park (v Easington, Chapter 62), Phoenix and Westella & Willerby).  So, I think I’ve digested enough to be able to judge it.

If there are failings with Route 66 they are few and far between and most can be overlooked, although I might have to ask him to double check my quote against Dronfield – did I really predict a win?  If so it must have been down to the sloe-gin.   

As you’d expect from what is essentially the work of a keen amateur, there’s the odd spelling mistake, the occasional gaffe (Queensway instead of Queensgate for Bridlington Town’s ground) and one of my personal pet hates when it comes to grammar - the regular use of the word “of” when it should be “have” (as in “would of predicted”).  But, unlike Mr Ellyard’s error-ridden offering, such slips don’t spoil the read.

The reason for this is because the content is excellent.  Not only in the rich diversity of football grounds visited but also in the little sub-plots involved in each chapter.

I particularly liked the author’s story of his walk from Scarborough to Bridlington for the Seadogs’ ‘home’ game against Staveley on a Tuesday in November; a feat which is almost matched in its foolhardiness by his decision to drive from his snow-bound Ilkley home to Bishop Burton and back, simply in order to tick Westella & Willerby off his list!

Michael’s attention to detail is excellent – though thankfully not overly so where the graffiti-adorned grandstand at Bentley Colliery is concerned! He also introduces some fantastic characters along the way, with Goole appearing to have more than its fair share.  That said I’m still trying to work out the identities of the ‘League of Gentleman’ extras he met on his visit to the “Humber Riviera”. (Note to Michael – “Humber” not “Hull”!)

Although some of the football watched would appear to have been fairly poor, the author still manages to find something that will keep the reader’s attention, whether it’s the quality of food on offer, a particular incident involving sons George and Lucas (of which there are too many for his liking) or just the general scene around him.  He also has a very amusing knack of managing to miss goals due to various reasons.

Certainly those of you who’ve travelled away with Easington will relate to many of his observations – the clubhouse atmosphere at Harworth, the “big lads” in the Kinsley team and the smell of cannabis at Yorkshire Main!  On the debit side, I can’t believe he passed up the pies at Bentley Colliery or the range of ales available in the clubhouse at Phoenix.  Perhaps he’s saving these for a Route 66 Revisited?

There are also some items Michael now perhaps regrets including.  For example he won’t be the only person who thought Jimmy Savile deserving of a gushing tribute in the immediate wake of his death.  Thankfully, this is more than offset by similar pieces on the much worthier Gary Speed and Arthur Wharton.

On a personal note, I smiled at a description (admittedly not Michael’s) of the CML as “park football with no stands or beer”.  I also took as a real compliment his comment that “it must take years to get to this level of an anorak” in relation to a piece I’d written about Hutton Cranswick, even though I’m not sure it was intended thus!

In addition to a foreword by Michael Vaughan, what really sets this book apart from being just another Ground-hopper’s Travelogue are the author’s child-related scrapes.  Tales of the hazards encountered when taking young sons to games, while trying to record events for posterity, gives Route 66 a human feel that is perhaps lacking from similar publications.

I found (or should I say, am still finding) the book both informative and entertaining.  I’d like to think many of you will back yourselves to do the same. 

 

You can also check out Michael's excellent new website of the same name.

A drop o' wather

Saturday 8th December

CML North Division

Easington United v Phoenix - match postponed

Saturday 15th December

CML North Division

Easington United v Bentley Colliery - match postponed

 

Saturday 22nd December

CML North Division

Easington United v Harworth Colliery - match postponed

 



Just how much easier it would be to keep on top of a regular blog such as this one is supposed to be if every week the game was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch!

Our third in a row now means we won't play again in 2012 and given the state of the pitches at Low Farm, even the scheduled return to action - on Saturday 5th January against Belper United in the cup - is not certain to go ahead.

Anyone got a pump I can try to get all hands on...?

Time For Action Too

A postponement last weekend and the likelihood of another this should enable me to bring this Blog something like back up to date.  But then again...

Saturday 3rd November

CML North

Easington United 0 Dronfield Town 5

 

There are times in football when you just hold your hands up and acknowledge that the cuffing you've just witnessed your team take was something that was fully deserved...and not because your team played particularly poorly.

Dronfield Town arrived at the Farm as the only team thus far to have beaten big-spending title faves AFC Mansfield.  And according to Sumo, their own billing as potentially Mansfield's closest rivals for the CML North championship is well merited.

From start to finish the visitors were sharper right across the park and had it not been for another faultless display by young Ben in goal, the margin of defeat could have been even wider.

That said, there was no knocking the effort on show from the locals.  They are a keen, young bunch who will improve with time.  One suspects several of these defeats may have to be experienced along the way but although painful, their value could turn out to be huge.
Our report (with pics courtesy of Burt) can be found here.  Colin Brammer's photos can be found here, and Dronfield's very gracious account of the day is here.
FOOTNOTE: Since this was written, Dronfield further underlined their credentials by winning 5-1 at AFC Mansfield on Saturday #justsaying

 

Saturday 10th November

East Riding CFA Senior Cup R2

Hessle Rangers 2 Easington United 1

If several positives could be taken from the league defeat at home to Dronfield, none could be gleaned from the following week's East Riding Cup exit.

Having negotiated a way through the first round for the first time in four years, the lads had a real chance of gaining themselves a place in the quarter-final draw, to be broadcast live on local radio, where a tie against the likes of Hull City, North Ferriby United or Bridlington Town may have awaited them.

Instead they exited with barely a whimper.  Out-played and more disappointingly, out-fought, the display left Sumo absolutely livid.

Plus points? Not many.  Ben couldn't be blamed for either goal, while Fozzy notching for the First Team a week before his 42nd birthday did at least signify one worthy milestone.

Personally, the only enjoyable bit for me was the chance to catch up with Rangers' former manager Keith Picken, who I hadn't seen for some time.  Oh, and thankfully, there was also a cask ale option in the Blackies Social Club!

The full sorry match report can be found here.
FOOTNOTE: Hessle Rangers have since been drawn away to North Ferriby United in the quarter-finals.

 

Thursday 15th November

Secret Affair

@ FruitSpace, Hull
 

I passed up one notable previous opportunity to see Secret Affair in concert close to home.  That was at the Grand Pavilion in Withernsea some thirty-plus years ago.  I wasn't going to miss them a second time!

Thankfully, despite including a certain Sumo among our party, I just about managed to stay sober enough to really enjoy this particular gig (unlike my shambolic state at Geno Washington the previous month).

A couple of real ales in The Minerva whet the appetite for the first visit to the relatively new Fruit on Hull's historic Humber Street.  And on first viewing it's my kind of venue. 

A small, mainly male crowd, many resplendent in their Mod fashions eventually grew towards the 200-250 mark by the time Ian Page and co entered the stage. 

And as the band breezed through a fine set of tunes old and new, our group of four worked our way through the bar's stock of bottled Wadworth 6X.

Faves of the night - in addition to the classic "My World" and "Time For Action" - were the covers of "Going To A Go-Go" and, in particular, "Get Ready".

All in all, a cracking night.  Here's hoping I'm not waiting another thirty years for the next one... 

Saturday 17th November

ERCL Senior Cup R2

Easington United Reserves 4 Holme Rovers 4

(Easington win 3-2 on pens)
 

It's fair to say that perhaps the two best games I've seen at Low Farm in 2012 both involved the Reserves.
And although not quite reaching the heights of excitement of May's South Holderness Cup win, this one will be another that's remembered long after the event...perhaps.
A week after watching the First Team's almost spineless exit from the East Riding Cup, the Stiffs put on an altogether different display to claim another Premier Division scalp in the County League Senior Cup. 
They did it the hard way, turning round a 1-3 deficit to lead 4-3 until the latter stages wherein they conceded an equaliser from a free-kick which also saw goalkeeper Ben Akam sent off.
The penalty shootout was similarly painful to watch, with both sides seemingly doing their best to lose it!  In the event Stumo's "sudden death" effort sent the locals through to the quarter-finals.
Mention must also be made of the Holme Rovers lads who certainly didn't let their "surprise" cup exit spoil their post-match session in The Granby.  Full power to their elbows.
A report of the day's drama, with photos from Craig and Burt, can be found here. 

Saturday 24th November

CML North Division
Easington United 1 Glapwell 1

It's almost pointless commenting on anything about this game other than the man at the front of the above picture. 
I'd like to think I'm pretty fair-minded when I come to referees but Mr Kiecz's display on this particular day at Low Farm can best be summed up as - "he had one".  Well at least we all thought so.  And so did those from Glapwell.
But hey, we're all allowed an "off day" and the next time he officiates at Low Farm he shall receive the customoary warm welcome of all of us on the Committee.  I can't vouch for those in the "North West Ryvita Stand" though...

The full gory details of the events that overshadowed a hard-earned point against a useful Glapwell side can be found here.

 

Tuesday 27th November

Football League Championship
Hull City 0 Crystal Palace 0

Brim Biglin reckons he hadn't been to the KC for "about three years" prior to this trip against one of the current frontrunners in the Championship.  Personally, I didn't think it had been that long.  I always think of our erstwhile groundsman as my main companion to these midweek matches - he traditionally comes away saying, "Well I'm glad I don't have to pay to watch that again Sat'day!"  This time he saids exactly the opposite - and this after a goalless draw.

But surely, nobody at the KC to see the game would disagree with my companion's view that this was a superb City performance lacking only in a touch of quality in the final third.  As one caller to Radio Humberside's post-match phone-in put it: "We murdered 'em nil-nil".

Had Robbie Koren not passed up a first half sitter, the Tigers would surely have gone on to win by two or three, such was their first half dominance.  Even after the break they enjoyed the better chances.

Then, in the dying moments, a piece of brilliance by the much talked about Wilfried Zaha left him one-on-one with City's latest loanee keeper David Stockdale.  Thankfully the Fulham man was equal to the task and a complete travesty was averted. 

The BBC's account of the night City became the first side to prevent the Eagles scoring in a game this season can be found here.  Not bad for a so-called Category C game ;-)

Saturday 1st December

CML North Division

Westella Hanson 5 Easington United 0

Hoping for a repeat of the away win at Glapwell on the opening day (and taking some encouragement from our performance against the same team seven days earlier) I decided to kit the lads out in the maroon number for another away game against a team in black and white stripes.  Call it "psychological", call it "mind games", either way it didn't work.

I've used Burt's picture of the pre-match "Respect" handshake on purpose.  For 34 minutes it was the closest any of our number got to one of their opponents.

We were two down on 5mins, three in fifteen and by just past the half-hour mark I had visions of a need to reach for the record books.  We trailed 5-0 by that point and were in real danger of self-combustion.  If City's game in midweek was Category C, this Ezzie performance on the Bishop Burton 4G was Certificate X!

To the lads' credit, they rallied after the break and gave those of us in the away contingent - which made up a fair percentage of the assembled throng - something to take from an otherwise bitterly disappointing afternoon.

Further consolation was also to be found in a lovely post-match pint of Marstons EPA in the nearby Altisidora...and another win on the road for the Tigers.

Once again we return to the drawing board...

 

Time For Action

I hinted at the back end of last season that the blog may struggle to survive in the form you've become accustomed to.  And such "fears" on my part have been realised this past month or so, with increased commitments at work and play meaning regular updates have been impossible.

So, in a taster of things to come, here's a whistle-stop tour of Slush's Sporting (& Not-so-Sporting) Sorties during September/October...

 

Saturday 22nd September
CML North
Easington United 1 Clay Cross Town 2

Attempts to bounce back from the defeat at Kiveton Park were spiked by a very impressive Clay Cross Town (formerly Parkhouse) at Low Farm.

In what turned out to be Jimmy Neilson's last game for the club (for now?) and Darren Eades' first and last for the club (for now?) two Phil Lowry goals brought the visitors victory.  The margin of the win could have been greater but for a fine goalkeeping display by Charlie in his 100th game for the club.  As it was even he couldn't prevent a fourth defeat in a row.

Match report and pics can be found here.  Colin Brammer's photos can be found here, while the Parkhouse report can be found here. 

Saturday 29th September

ERCL Division 1

Easington United Reserves 3 Hornsea Town 0

One effect of Mrs Slush's new weekend working commitments is my inability to travel to every away game in the CML this season.  Of course, this in turn presents the opportunity to catch more of the County League squads' action at the Farm.

The Reserves have started the season brightly and came into this game unbeaten in their four matches to date.

In fairness, Hornsea provided perhaps the least resistance of any opponents yet and Thommo had the Stiffs ahead after just 14 seconds.  By the break it was 3-0 and the points were assured, manager Gav's sublime finish and Thommo's second completing the scoring.  It could have been more...as this photo of Gav will testify.

A report can be found here, accompanied by plenty of shots from new man with the lens Craig Stephenson.

Tuesday 2nd October

Football League Championship

Hull City 2 Blackpool 3
 

My first trip of the season to the KC Stadium and my first glimpse of Steve Bruce's Tigers.  And, despite the result, it was one that left me very optimistic about the future.

Aside from some glaring individual errors at the back, that contributed directly to all three Blackpool goals, this was a fine City performance.  Going forward the Tigers looked far more potent than when I'd seen them last under Nick Barmby. 

Unfortunately, any sense of positivity taken from the result soon dissipated - first with the usual doom 'n' gloomers on the post-match Radio Humberside phone-in, then thanks to a closed section of the Clive Sullivan Way, which meant gridlock getting away from the ground and an eventual half-past-eleven arrival back in Easington.
The BBC report of the game can be read here. 

Friday 5th October

Geno Washington & Yo Yo Blues 

Payback @ The New Adelphi Club



Had this been a normal blog post, or a review of the type I used to write regularly for Hull, Hell & Happiness and other such 'zines, I'd have no doubt waffled at length about the memories stirred by this first visit to The Adelphi (or "New Adelphi" as it now is) some, ooh, fifteen years or so since my last such trip.  

Still, I was very honoured that after such a gap in attendance, owner Jacko still recognised me.  I was equally pleased that the Adelphi's reputation for selling fine cask ales was also still very deserved...although given that we arrived at 8pm, Geno didn't come on stage until nearly three hours later and that my drinking companion for this period was First Team boss Sumo, well, you can guess the rest.

Tipple of choice this evening was the Hawkshead Lakeland Gold, although I also tried a lovely - and apparently very rare - Great Newsome offering, Frothingam Red and a very unique (to my taste buds anyway) Citra beer from Oakham Ales that smelt like perfume and, if I'm being honest, didn't taste much better (though Jacko swears by it!).

Suffice to say, by time the star of the night arrived on stage, I was well and truly on the way to inebriation.  Still, it didn't prevent me lapping up one of the true stalwarts of the Soul scene in this country.  As Burnsy of local radio fame would later tweet, if you look up "showman" in the dictionary it should say "Geno Washington". Yessirree.
Picture lifted from those very nice people who maintain the New Adelphi Club's Facebook page - I'm sure they won't mind!

Saturday 6th October

CML North

Brodsworth Welfare 3 Easington United 0

Possibly the lowest point of the season to date, defeat at previously winless Brodsworth Welfare was one that left Sumo with a bitter taste in his mouth.  With the marvellous power of hindsight, however, it's perhaps worth pointing out that he hadn't seen anything yet!

Plus points of the day were virtually consigned to the ground - easily the finest played at so far, which perhaps isn't surprising given the level the hosts were at up to a season ago.

As for the lack of real ale in the clubhouse - my excesses the previous night meant this wasn't a problem.

I seem to recall it was a fairly quiet ride home from South Yorkshire...
I feel quite guilty not devoting a full post to my first visit to this famous old club but such is life at the moment.  Perhaps another day.  Still, for those who can bear it, the official report I posted to the club website can be found here.

Saturday 13th October

East Riding CFA Senior Cup R1

Easington United 3 St Andrews 3

(AET; Easington win 2-1 on pens)

A win at last! Admittedly not in the league but given our recent record in the County's prestige cup competition, this victory was not to be sniffed at.  Of course this being us it wasn't straightforward - Saints levelling matters in the final minute of normal time and both teams producing a penalty shoot-out of woeful quality!  Still, we were into round two and it's five years since we could last say that... 
My official report and Burt & Craig's pictures can be found here.

Saturday 20th October

East Riding CFA Senior Country Cup R1

Easington United Reserves 4 Driffield Rangers 6

 The Stiffs did their best to compensate for my having to miss the much-anticipated trip to CML North title faves AFC Mansfield; a battling performance against their Premier Division opponents proving not quite good enough to avenge last season's quarter final defeat by the same opponents.

Still, as the score suggests, this was a game full of end-to-end entertainment and some quality goals, not least Gav's final one for the locals - a shot from the centre-circle immediately after Driffield had gone 6-3 up.
Check out my official club report here, along with Craig's photos.



Tuesday 23rd October

Football League Championship

Middlesbrough 2 Hull City 0



A throwaway idea by a group of lads at work - some hailing from Teesside - culminated in this, my first visit to the Riverside.  And as with most memories of previous City away games against the Boro, at the old Ayresome Park, it won't live long in the memory.

Suffice to say the Tigers were a pale imitation of the team I'd seen, albeit in defeat, against Blackpool a few weeks earlier.

We never really looked like coming away with anything more than a point and once the hosts had taken a second half lead, even that propsect disappeared all too quickly.

The main plus pointd of the trip came with the pre-match meet-up in Dr Brown's, a pub that served decent grub alongside a selection of cask ales.  Northumberland Carnivale and Thwaites Crafty Devil would help numb the pain of the City display to follow.

Oh, and Tom Cairney - sat directly in front of me in the away end - quite liked my Brazil comparison as the Tigers strung umpteen passes together in the first half.  At least I think it was the joke he was laughing at... 
Not that I'll bother reading it again but the BBC report is here.

Saturday 27th October

CML North

Easington United 1 Thoresby Colliery Welfare 0

We said goodbye to Brian Pratt the day the First Team finally brought their eight-match winless run in the CML North to an end. 
Bri - or "Big Wezzie" as he liked to be known - was one of the numerous "Comforts" from the West Riding i.e. someone who'd "come for't week" and never gone back!  During his time in Easington he became a well-respected member of the White Horse pub cricket team, for whom he regularly umpired, and a junior football coach at both the local primary school and the village under-14's team.
Above all he was a staunch supporter of all sport in the village and, despite some personal troubles and health issues in recent times, was always ready to stop and have a chat.  He will be missed.
I'd like to think Big Wezzie would have been smiling from up on high as Wilks stretched to grab this game's only goal.  There's no doubt he'll certainly have had comment to pass on some of the stuff that's gone on those aforementioned eight games!

A report of the game, with pictures, can be found here.

 

Big Wezzie's departure would appear an apt place to close this first "backblog".  November's "highlights" to follow...just not sure when!