Satisfying the Soul

Wednesday 15th February 
Once Upon A Time In Wigan
Hull Truck Theatre

Firstly I’m by no means an authority on Northern Soul, or any kind of soul for that matter. I’m certainly not a veteran of the “Scene” as depicted in the adaptation of Mick Martin’s original 2003 play recounting the legendary Wigan Casino all-nighters.

However, despite this, I like to think that had I been of the right age between 1973 and 1981, I'd have been drawn to the world of Northern Soul.  As a fan of underground music when I first did come of age to buy records and attend gigs - be it rockabilly, blues, ska or indie - I'm sure the relative inaccessibilty of genuine American soul records would have acted as a magnet to me. 
In addition, since my early flirtations with the other musical genres mentioned above, I have grown to love soul music, especially that type which can loosely be termed “Northern”.

Indeed, a move to 6Ts Soul was almost a natural progression from the 40s/50s blues, swing and doo-wop I'd been into as a would-be Hep Cat in the early-Eighties. It was this music that first brought me into contact with the likes of Clyde McPhatter, Ben E. King, Garnett Mims, Chuck Jackson, Gene Chandler and of course, Jackie Wilson.

Oh, Jackie Wilson. A man probably familiar to most people via the number one ‘novelty’ hit, “Reet Petite”, a song which cruelly misrepresentative the man’s real talents. I would urge anyone who doesn’t believe me to listen to any of the tracks reissued by the London-based Kent Records label in the mid-Eighties. Entitled “Jackie Wilson – The Soul Years”, they are two of the finest albums you could ever wish to hear. “Soul Galore” is one of the tracks featured in “Once Upon A Time In Wigan” and rightly so – it’s a belter. However, for personal choice it has to be “Because Of You”, a track that is up there in my all-time top five.

Along with what I saw as the natural progression of my increasingly eclectic musical tastes, the aforementioned Kent label (along with fellow reissue specialists Charly) was the other big influence in turning me onto the sounds of black America.

This new-found love of soul music wasn’t enough to drag me away from my staple weekly diet of live gigs at the Adelphi and weekend indie nights in the legendary Spiders club.

I did dabble a little – dragging a couple of mates along to see Tommy Hunt perform at the former Jacksons Club on Cottingham Road, as well as a Bank Holiday all-dayer at the now-defunct Romeo & Juliets nightclub in Hull city centre. I think the latter was organised by ‘Voices From The Shadows’ a well-respected soul publication run by a Rovers fan from Burstwick and backed financially by snooker legend Steve Davis.

Neither of the above could come even close to capturing the experience of the “All Nighter” of Wigan fame; perhaps the nearest I came to that was a trip to the equally legendary Manchester Hacienda club in the early Nineties.

Of course by this time, Wigan Casino had gone – ostensibly to become part of the re-developed Civic Centre although by the time of this authoritative piece (2002) this was still to be built. It still hadn't by the time this further article appeared.  In fact it is now the site of the Grand Arcade shopping centre, with its illustrious past being marked by the Casino Cafe, themed on the illustrious Soul Club.
And so as we entered the main theatre at Hull Truck on Wednesday (late thanks to roadworks on Hedon Road grrrh) it was with some trepidation as to what awaited. I had decided that at worst, even if the play was pants, I could enjoy the accompanying soundtrack. In the event I took pleasure from both – although I’m not convinced my companions (Mrs Slush plus brother- and sister-in-law) would agree.

Like most musical genres there’s a certain degree of elitist tosh and snobbishness. This can become quite scathing when projects like “Once Upon A Time In Wigan” are launched and I’ve read some fairly scathing attacks, not only on the play but the men behind it. However, if the attention was to try and bring to a wider audience what it meant to be part of the “Northern Soul scene” between 1973 and 1981, whilst opening up new ears to some of the magical sounds that accompanied it then I’d like to think Mick Martin and Hull Truck have succeeded. Perhaps not with the brother-in-law though?! 

Give Yootha chance

Saturday 11th February
Football League Championship
Hull City 3 Bristol City 0

As part of his excellent “Does This Make Sense?” blog, Matthew Rudd recently made reference to the 1970s sitcom ‘Man About The House’, from which came the spin-off ‘George & Mildred’ starring Brian Murphy and Yootha Joyce.

It's another nod towards the era that Dominic Sandbrook catches almost perfectly in his “State Of Emergency – Britain: The Way We Were 1971-74”, a book I’ve previously lauded.  And our seemingly endless fascination with all things 1970s was again evident in the topic of conversation that was taking place in Hull’s Pave Bar prior to the Tigers’ clash with Bristol City on Saturday.

More specifically, the topic over which the "City fans of several years standing" I was sitting with were working themselves into quite a lather concerned the attractions (or otherwise) of the youthful Ms Joyce.  The obvious relish with which they threw themselves into the subject had me wishing I’d got to the pub when they had – one pint of admittedly good Wold Gold wasn’t quite stimulating enough to paint the same pictures of feminine pulchritude that these chaps saw as the youthful future “Mildred Roper”.

I'd arrived in Pave - eventually - after negotiating a whole host of obstacles designed to prevent my attendance. Following the postponement of our League Cup tie against Southwell, the extremely generous @Tigerkj64 of City Twitterati fame had offered me use of an adult and U10’s season pass, due to illness in her family.

Without boring you with the details, other family considerations meant I was first in, then out, then in again, then out again before, at half-past-eleven that morning, back in...again.

Thus armed with a winter-warmer flask of sloe gin and with transport provided by Mrs Slush, I found myself sat in the cosy confines of Pave discussing Seventies TV with the aforementioned Kate and some very honourable members of what could once be termed City’s “long-suffering support”. 
For a minute it reminded me of the old Boothferry Park pre-match sessions in The Griffin.  But we've all come a long way since then.  Especially City.

Just prior to Christmas 2010 I took the Elder Slushette to the 2-0 home win over today’s opponents. It was possibly the coldest I’ve ever been in the stadium (although the 0-1 defeat at the hands of Aston Villa in the Premier League runs it very close). Today promised to match it hence it was little surprise when Emma opted to go shopping with her mum rather than take up Tiger Kate’s spare pass.

This was my first game spent in the South Stand since the last England U21s international at the venue; and the first time I’d watched City from that end since the 3-1 win over Watford in the ultimately successful Championship run-in of 2007/08.

At least Kate’s seats, well towards the back, meant I finally got chance to have a view on the recent comments surrounding the state of the KC pitch. And by gad it didn’t look great.

Before the game both sides observed a minute’s silence in memory of the 74 people who lost their lives in the riot at the recent Egyptian League clash between Al-Masry and Al-Ahly, the latter a team with whom City owner Assem Allam has traditional links. While fully understanding the reasons for wanting to show their support,  I’m with the Amber Nectar chaps in also thinking something similar should have occurred following the recent deaths of ex-City skipper Paul Feasey and former chairman Bob Chapman.  Those in charge obviously disagreed.

Unsurprisingly the turn out from Brizzle came nowhere near the very creditable 800+ that Donny had brought the previous midweek. Reports were that the Robins had sold 149 advance tickets and as such they looked somewhat lost without any City support to accompany them in the North Stand. Given their team’s away record, those having made the trip deserve utmost respect. However, after only quarter of an hour, they were probably wishing they’d stayed at home.

By then goals from skipper Jack Hobbs (really?) from a corner (really??) and – who else – Robbie Koren had put Nick Barmby’s “yoothful” (sorry!) City side well and truly in the driving seat. And by the break it should have been more. Brizzle were poor, although they did come close to halving the deficit when Adomah rattled the bar and James Chester cleared Wood's follow-up off the line.

If I had any complaints about the first half, they would be: (1) the number of chances missed that would have put the game beyond doubt by the break; and (2) the lack of noise from the East Stand.

On the day that the Football Supporters Federation brought its Safe Standing Roadshow to the ground, there was no clearer reminder of what’s missing from the old Boothferry Park matchday experience than a full East Stand watching a City side totally dominating the opposition but barely able to raise more than the odd half-hearted “Barmby Army” chant in response.  Am I being harsh?

During the interval I tried contacting Stiffs skipper Rutter, basking in the comfort of a day out with the match sponsors. However, he was obviously too busy regaling former City defender Justin Whittle with his tales of derring-do up and down the fields of East Yorkshire to answer his phone.  Cuh!

Matty Fryatt has come in for criticism recently following a barren run in front of goal. Thus there was more than a hint of relief when the striker linked superbly with Koren to score the decisive third and kill things off in the second half. His celebration said it all.

The rest of the game was played out against a backdrop of calm satisfaction in the stands – there’d be no need for Saint Nick to complain about booing today.

At the final whistle, after bidding my new South Stand acquaintances farewell, I took the chilly walk back to St Stephen’s where Mrs Slush and the Elder Slushette awaited.  Totally ignorant of the Tigers’ win and a fourth consecutive clean sheet, they were instead delighted to tell me about their own success that afternoon - they'd seen the guinea pig cage they want.  Ahem.

“Shall we have take away tea to celebrate?” said Mrs Slush.

“Why not? And I’ll pay.” Well, if you can't splash the cash after a City win.

It had turned out to be cracking Saturday.  All that was left was to look up some old pics of Yootha; preferably pre-Mildred Roper of course…

Snow-go

Saturday 11th February CML Challenge Cup Round 3
Easington United v Southwell City
Match Postponed

I suppose we should be relieved that we got to February before losing our first game of the season to the weather.  And I am; especially following the League's decision to reschedule the tie for next week, thus enabling me to avoid a situation that may well have seen me miss a new ground tick at Harworth Colliery's Scrooby Road.

The game was never really a goer once the heavy snowfall that followed the Stiffs' previous week's cup exit had failed to shift.

Even as late as Thursday (as seen in this photograph) there was still plenty of the white stuff in evidence.  A good old dollop more that night ensured a "white-out".

Thankfully the CML showed common sense in allowing postponements ahead of the supposed 10.45am Saturday inspection deadline.  I'm sure our visitors from Notts would have loved it had we stuck to that!

Of course, up and down the country  - and further afield - there were more horror stories to be had caused by late postponements (and abandonments). 

Some City fans I know had got to Northampton the previous week before Pompey deemed their Fratton Park pitch unplayable; this week it was Scunny fans' turn.  Their game at Yeovil was postponed at ten o'clock. 

Boro fans also had a wasted trip - getting all the way to Portman Road and seeing over half an hour of their game with Ipswich before the referee deemed the playing surface unsafe.

And it wasn't just football.  Hull FC fans having made the trip to Perpignan were astounded to see their Super League game at Catalan Dragons postponed four hours before kick-off, while the "Oirish" contingent in Paris for the Six Nations contest were within just three minutes of kick-off when their plug was pulled.  Ouch!

However, my thoughts went out most to any hardy Bath City supporters who'd decided to follow the Conference's bottom club up to Gateshead only to see the game called off at two o'clock.  Quite simply, scandalous.
The postponements were just one of the topics to send the football phone-in lines to near overload this past fortnight.  What with Capello's departure from the England job, 'Arry's acquittal and the Suarez-Evra non-handshake, well Talksport and Five Live went into overdrive!  I'm just glad I had my Sunday fix of Q The 80s to help escape from it all... 

Letting the Wolves through the door

The Eastenders' tie-up with a local junior club should ensure we continue to provide a destination of choice for some of the brightest young talent in Holderness...

The announcement of our official club link with Sporting Withernsea Wolves JFC will hopefully turn out to be one of the best moves we've made in recent times.  But, instead of me putting another slant on it here, I might as well simply paste the official Press Release that was sent out last week...

Eastenders and Wolves form official ‘Club Link’

Easington United AFC and junior side Sporting Withernsea Wolves have announced formation of an official Club Link.
The idea is to provide a preferred route to open-age football for those currently playing in the junior game and has come about following several months’ communication between the Eastenders Development Group and members of the Wolves’ committee.
The move, which is fully supported by the East Riding County FA, culminated in the signing of a Draft Agreement between both parties prior to the Eastenders Reserves’ ERCFA Senior Country Cup tie at the Easington Recreation & Sports Ground (‘Low Farm’) last Saturday.
Established in 1947, Easington United AFC currently operates three teams at open-age; two in the local East Riding County League and its senior side at Step 7 level in the Central Midlands Football League.
The club was therefore identified by Sporting Withernsea Wolves, founded last year, as the ideal destination for boys currently playing at U13 and U11 level there. 
The two clubs will work together both on and off the field and have identified several areas in which they can share resources. In particular the aim now is to begin expanding the Wolves’ set-up by encouraging the formation of more junior teams, which will in turn help ensure the future progress of both parties as well as encourage growth of the game in this part of Holderness.

Pictured at Saturday’s signing are (left to right): Rich Lusmore (Eastenders Development Group), Pat Feeney (Club Welfare Officer, Sporting Withernsea Wolves), Judy Sugden (Secretary, Easington United), Simon Longstaff (Sporting Withernsea Wolves U11s), Doug Clubley (Chairman, Easington United), Sam Feeney (Sporting Withernsea Wolves U11s), Dave Furniss (ERCFA Charter Standard Committee), Bill Sneddon (Chairman, Sporting Withernsea Wolves), Lucas Sneddon (Sporting Withernsea Wolves U13s), Iain McNaught (Eastenders Development Group), Mike Wilson (Vice Chairman, Easington United), Neil Rutter (Eastenders Development Group) (Photo courtesy of Burt Graham)

Frozen out

Saturday 4th February
East Riding Senior Country Cup Round 3
Easington United Reserves 1 Driffield Rangers 5

Cawd

Bah! Intit?!

Ah's nivver bin so cawd

Bah! Intit?!

Thoo must be gerrin awd.

Never have the words of one of my finest poetic offerings (ahem!) have been more apt.
Winter arrived courtesy of sub-zero temperatures on a nightly basis leading up to this eagerly-awaited East Riding Cup quarter-final.

Since the draw had been made, most of us had pinpointed it as the biggest game in the Stiffs’ New Year calendar.  Successive league defeats had sent Meddy’s men tumbling towards the Premier Division relegation zone.  The county cup offered chance to kick-start things again.

Opponents Driffield Rangers are enjoying their first season in the ER County League following their Driffield & District League championship of 2010/11.  Allotted a place in Division 1 for this season, they arrived at Low Farm in fourth place, with a decent chance of promotion and having already beaten some higher-placed clubs in both cup competitions.

Like Kinsley Boys they were travelling to the game by coach and planning a bit of a sesh afterwards.  Obviously, my hope was that they would be drowning their sorrows.

Our very own Last Of The Summer Wine

Despite the “cold snap” there appeared little concern about the game until Friday morning when I was informed the pitch was frozen and it was impossible to operate the marker.  With blue skies and bright sunshine hopefully pushing the temperature up above zero, we agreed to meet up and have a look at kick-off time, two o’clock.

We did and were delighted to see the sun had done its job.  The pitch looked perfect.  With the weather set to repeat itself over the following 24 hours, I returned home confident in the tie going ahead.  Good job – I’d printed a load of programmes!

Driffield’s decision to book a bus meant they were tied to using it.  As secretary Kev Hopper informed me, “If the game’s off we’ll just take the bus elsewhere for the day.”  In other words we could delay the decision right up until kick-off if there was any chance of getting it on.  Nice one.

As good a place as any to "droon sorrows"!

I’d found my own comfort for the previous weekend’s reverse at The Holderness Inn in nearby Patrington, in the company of several friends and a fine selection of cask ales.  Eschewing the Tetley’s which I can have in my local, I instead sampled all four remaining brews – Roosters Yankee, Wye Valley HPA, York Guzzler and my personal favourite, St Austell Cornish Tribute.  All were on excellent form, which was credit to the landlord.

And that's not the temperature

The following day was spent in Hull, firstly “in town” where Mrs Slush was stocking up the kids ahead of a forthcoming trip to Center Parcs, then to Hull University’s Middleton Hall for the BBC Radio Humberside/Look North production of “Robinson Crusoe”.  Having been dragged here partly under protest (regular attendees the In-Laws were away on holiday) I must confess I enjoyed it immensely.  Meanwhile, seeing our former striker Joni Purse plucking his guitar strings as part of the backing band added something of a surreal twist to proceedings!

Completing a fine day was a long-overdue return to The Haven Arms, Hedon for Sunday carvery…washed down with a cracking pint of Tom Woods Bitter.  Back home as the sounds of Department S “Is Vic there?” greeted my joining this week’s Q The 80s and the female members of the family slobbed out in front of Dancing On Ice, it was safe in the knowledge that I’d done quite well on the ale front this weekend!  In fact the only thing that could have topped it off would have been a lovely pint of Top Totty!

Our monthly Committee Meeting on Wednesday helped concentrate my thoughts on things other than the piss-poor reaction of some elements of Hull City’s support to the previous night’s Doncaster game; that and the somewhat unexpected sacking of Simon Grayson at Leeds.  Apparently Neil Warnock is the early frontrunner?  Given his well-worn anagrammatically formed nickname, the prospect of “Colin Wanker” and Master Bates in tandem at the so-called White Shite certainly caused plenty of amusement on the message-boards. 

Everywhere you look...it's a sea of black & amber!

Friday morning brought with it the first flurries of snow this year and an amazing early rattle of wickets in the desert where Pakistan ended the first session of the Second Test on 53-7.  But creekit was now down to third in the rankings of Slush sporting interests.  For while my major concerns were with the Low Farm pitch, that evening would also see the start of the Super League season and a first outing for the new-look Hull Kingston Rovers. 

It couldn’t have been a much tougher one, away to Grand Final winners Leeds Rhinos - I refuse to refer to them as “champions” as, being very much ‘old school’, I still believe that this particular accolade should go to the team that proved itself the best over the course of the league campaign (i.e. Warrington Wolves). 

Anyway, I digress.  Despite a decent performance and indeed they led into the second half, Rovers eventually succumbed to a 34-16 defeat.  Nobody was particularly downhearted.

Man In Tights - Thommo models today's must-have item

Neither was I the following morning by signs of another serious-looking overnight frost.  The sun was out as I set off for my morning in the salubrious surrounds of the Pavilion Leisure Centre, Withernsea where the Slushettes took it in turns to edge their way along the path that leads to being the next Darcey Bussell.
Things started to go a little awry when I received the call informing me that Barry, landlord of The Granby, was in hospital having been taken ill overnight.

The next call was even more ominous: “Pitch is harder than yesterday and it’s a lot colder down here this morning.”

And still they came...

News of postponements elsewhere started to filter through.  Grimsby – eight miles across the River Humber; Portsmouth – where City fans were already well en route; Withernsea.  And my mood wasn’t improved by news of a decent third wicket stand for Pakistan at the cricket.

Contact was hurriedly made with opponents Driffield (already sat on the coach waiting to set off) match referee (and former Hedon Rangers defender) Dave Aitcheson-Smith who confirmed he had no problem in leaving it until kick-off time to say yes or no.  I was beginning to fear the worst.

Before the game we had arranged a photo shoot with our new Junior link club, Sporting Withernsea Wolves (see separate post).  You’ll probably gather by some of the expressions thereon just how cold it was down the Farm that afternoon.  And the result wasn’t going to warm us up.

Hodgy & Brim in today's best seats

Things went wrong from the start when young keeper Ben, possibly affected early by the biting temperatures, dropped a harmless looking cross into his own net.  By the break it was two when Blanny blotted an otherwise impressive first half showing by steering the ball into the path of the Rangers forward who couldn’t miss.  He didn’t.

Several members of the Withernsea club were in attendance, following postponement of their own quarter-final at home to Driffield FC.  It was a mark of how well we were to play that despite their obvious pleasure at our result, Seasiders club secretary Schmeal was heard to say to Stiffs manager Meddy at the close, “You’ve absolutely battered ‘em…and got beat five one!”  Quite.

Room for one more?

All three second half goals were also presented to the visitors; Pasha Brown’s 20-yard effort having briefly brought us back into things at 1-3 with half an hour to play.  There would be no Senior Country Cup semi-final for our Second-string this term.

Barry’s hospitalisation had prompted a mad lunchtime dash to The White Horse (‘The ‘Oss’) where I cheekily asked new hostesses Deb & Annie if they could fill the void.  Thankfully they were only too keen to and the result was a cracking post-match gathering in front of the coal fire that helps make this pub the cosiest in the village on cold winter days like this.  It took the likes of Sumo, Clarkey and me back to the “good old days” of Easington football when the pub was our regular post-match home.  The only thing missing was the cask ale…and Dad’s Army on the telly.

I think we used to lose a few at home in those days an’all!

Boo Who?

Tuesday 31^st January

Football League Championship

Hull City 0 Doncaster Rovers 0

While we were sliding to defeat against Kinsley Boys, Hull City were exiting the FA Cup at the hands of Crawley Town in what amounted to the “shock of the round”.

Many fans were understandably disappointed and frustrated at having shelled out good money to see a “second-string” Tigers team that, in their view, “couldn’t be arsed”.  I imagine several of them may have booed the team off at the end.

Whilst the FA Cup has long since disappeared off my “set aside” days in the calendar, I confess that I too felt frustrated by the apparent lack of interest shown in the competition.  Moreover I wasn't the only one concerned that any negativity from the day would carry over into the game against Doncaster – one that most observers would see as a “home banker”.

I was right to be worried.

For despite enjoying the lion’s share of things, not to mention a reported twenty attempts on goal, the Tigers drew a blank against opponents who had shipped over thirty goals on their travels thus far.  The natives were understandably restless and showed it.  Some in the West Stand booed their team at the end.

In his post-match interview on Radio Humberside, Nick Barmby expressed his disappointment at this, pointing to his side’s current league position, the aforementioned chances they’d created and the relative youth of the current squad.  Unlike any such reaction at the Crawley game, I find it hard to understand the reason why anyone should have booed the side off and must confess to not having heard any myself.  Comments of frustration certainly.  But booing? Nah.  That said, to hear there was some is sadly predictable.

While I love the fact that the Tigers now command the level of support they could only dream of when I attended Boothferry Park regularly during the Eighties and early Nineties, the increase in numbers and associated success has also brought an impatience, a "want it all now" approach and, in truth, almost a detachment from reality.  That was never what it was about to follow the Tigers.
This is a generation for whom real disappointment is yet to be felt.  The only setback a lot of the current "Tiger Nation" have experienced has come via relegation from the top-flight - and let's face it, even this was only after the unexpected bonus of a second season therein.  These are the types who love to clog up the phone lines of the local station in the wake of results like this one saying, as one such wag did, “I thought they (City) were sh*t!”  

I will concede that every fan sees a different game – and given that our seats were just three rows from the front in the North Stand – we probably didn’t see as much of it as those better elevated.  But were City really that bad?

But who am I to preach?  This was only my third game this term (the others being the win over Birmingham and the defeat by Derby).  On both occasions I’d left reasonably impressed by the type of football that Nick Barmby intends his team to play.  However, I actually thought some of their attacking moves in this match bettered anything on show in both previous visits.

Among the three of us who driving back to the ‘Humber Riviera’, the consensus was that had Fryatt’s first half effort gone just a couple of inches this side of the far upright, it would have opened the floodgates and the points would have been comfortably obtained.

As it was, the chances continued to come and go and when Donny eventually decided to “park the bus” for the last twenty minutes, City simply didn’t have the extra bit of quality required to break them down.  It proved frustrating to watch and I would imagine even more so for those directly involved.  But it wasn't worthy of boos at the end and Barmby was right to express his disappointment.

In fact I left the ground quite heartened by what I’d seen and still optimistic about what this season may yet hold (fixture congestion aside of course).  For a start, despite dropping points, results elsewhere were relatively kind to the Tigers.  Some of the football on show was excellent to watch.  The return of Olofinjana could prove very, very timely, while latest Man United recruit Josh King, although looking raw and at times ungainly, showed signs that he can be the goal threat Barmby & co obviously see him as.
In the days immediately following the game, Mike White on Radio Humberside's Sports Talk programme encouraged those moaning at this perceived negativity (e.g. people like me) to call the programme and offer an opposing view.  To be honest, I couldn't be bothered.  I spent my first few years of Tiger-trekking standing up for "Boo Boy" targets like Bobby McNeil, before then trying to preach positivity during the late Eighties/early Nineties via the pages of 'Hull, Hell & Happiness', 'From Hull To Eternity' and even the Sports Mail (in which we were given our own fanzine slot).  It was often a thankless task.  Now I simply prefer to sound off on Twitter...or here! 
Perhaps some of those booing City off would prefer to have watched the likes of David Jones - a player described by “On Cloud Seven” thus:   “Despite a footballing upbringing at Stamford Bridge, this lumbering useless forward was just about as disgraceful a performer as has ever been witnessed in black and amber. Shocking.”  Then they would really have had something to complain about - even I came close to booing.  But I didn't.  And I don't intend to start now.  These are good times for the Tigers...aren't they?!

Mistakes will 'appen

Saturday 28th January

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Kinsley Boys 4

One of the highlights of our first season in the Central Midlands League was the 6-2 win over Supreme Division opponents Kinsley Boys in the preliminary round of the League Cup.  A picture from that game – showing Joni Purse netting our sixth goal – forms part of the header-banner for this blog.

Along with my memories of the match, I can recall it was a scorching day down on the Humber Riviera and our attendance was boosted by our opponents having brought a coach, which despite the result didn’t leave the village until early evening.

Therefore it was no surprise when Kinsley’s affable secretary, Andy Rollin, informed me prior to this season’s league meeting that the West Yorkshire side would again be bringing a bus.  Now all I required was a repeat of the weather and result of 12th September 2009.  Ah…

We had friends around the day after the Parkhouse win.  Ostensibly this was to plan a forthcoming trip to Center Parcs.  In reality, only the women took this task seriously, drawing up lists of everything – from pre-holiday shopping to “things to do” while there.  Meanwhile, as the kids ran amok upstairs, ‘Nige’ and I retired to the kitchen to quaff some fine bottled ales, listen to Rovers’ dismantling neighbours Hull FC in the pre-season derby and pick the bones out of our respective games the previous day.  Given his participation in what sounded a fairly poor Reserves display at home to Reckitts, there was also a certain amount of “putting the world to rights” involved.

It was either windy or whoever applied this was very, very drunk!

The day before the Reserves' fixture had seen some interlopers make a few adjustments to our Low Farm ground.  In particular, the Farm Shed had had something of a "makeover".  It had been re-christened the "North West Ryvita Stand" in honour of the size of most of its regular match day occupants.

The following day had therefore marked its "(un)official unveiling" with a set of scales brought in to record the first day total.  The size of the crowd can perhaps be gauged by a gross weight of 109 stone.  Hmm, what some people will do for that little bit of extra enjoyment on a Saturday afternoon.

It's all very scientific

Ted looks suitably underwhelmed

A week free of meetings meant no hindrance to my enjoyment of a big week on Corrie.  As things came to a head between Becky and Tracy (come on, I know you know who I’m referring to) it again reinforced just why ITV’s flagship soap simply wipes the floor with its doom-laden rival on the Beeb.

Not sure they're part of your pre-match checks, Ian?

On Monday morning Chris Evans played ‘This Is Your Life’, the Top Twenty 1991 track by Communards-offshoot Banderas.  There are certain tunes that immediately put a smile on my face and this is one of them.  The following night I chanced across another such musical offering, courtesy of the latest release by Saint Etienne.  The providers of the soundtrack to so many evenings spent with the radio in the early Nineties, ‘Tonight’ is the debut single from the band’s first new album in seven years.  Sarah Cracknell still sounds as good.  And looks it too!

"Did you watch Corrie, Bo?" / "Down't tawk stoopid Bri!"

There was some surrealism about the Cardiff v Crystal Palace League Cup semi-final, live on BBC on Tuesday night.  For the last quarter of the game, ten-men Palace’s central defensive duo comprised ex-Tiger Anthony Gardner and Paul McShane, currently on loan to the Eagles from the KC.  As the game edged towards a penalty shootout finale, Matthew Rudd tweeted:  “We've a real prospect here of Paul McShane + Anthony Gardner playing at Wembley against Mario Balotelli + Sergio Aguero.”  What a thought!
Thursday brought with it THE must-watch episode of Dr. Thomas Asbridge’s re-telling of ‘The Crusades’.  Tonight was all about Richard The Lionheart (my childhood hero – for obvious reasons) and Saladin.  Brilliant.  I fell asleep.  Thank the Lord for iPlayer.
A slightly different clash of east v west began the following day as Pakistan met England in the Second Test in Abu Dhabi.  It would turn out to be the best of the three match series…though still one in which the ‘Number One Test Team in The World’ would again taste defeat.

On Friday I attended the funeral of Margaret Roberts, wife of one of our most staunch supporters Ted (and godmother to my brother).  Although not directly linked to our club committee, it was felt fitting and right to observe a minute's silence before the Kinsley game as a mark of support for Ted.  It proved a very poignant moment.

A couple of years back, Radio 5 Live had broadcast a series of programmes from Hull as part of a self-styled Octoberfest.  This year it’s Radio 1’s turn.  Beginning with a live gig at The Adelphi on Thursday, the station continued over the weekend with shows from the City Hall, University and Fruit.  It frightens me to think that twenty years ago such an event would have had me excited.  However, the fact that Pete Tong and Trevor Nelson are two names I can still relate to perhaps suggests I’ve not officially reached “old fart” stage yet.

A flat Patty

No doubt some, if not most, of our current First Team squad would beg to differ; especially when they see my reaction to some of the pre-match “sounds” that emanate from our dressing room.  Call that music!?  Cuh.

There was a “buzz” around our changing room on Saturday, not surprisingly given the Parkhouse result.  Unfortunately, away from the seniors there was some unrest following the Reserves’ decision not to fulfil the afternoon’s game at title chasing AFC Woodlands.  Already shorn of eight players for various reasons, another withdrawal just half-an-hour before the designated departure time had left manager Meddy with just ten men and no keeper.  With the Casuals requiring just a point from their trip to Newbald United, perhaps it was no surprise that none of their number were keen to make a last minute switch.  Thus for the second time in as many seasons, the Stiffs handed a walkover to their hosts.  As a County League Committee member – and one who in the past has pushed for stricter punishments for teams not fulfilling fixtures - it all left me feeling somewhat embarrassed.

Re-brand the Stand and they will, er, come...

A Kinsley Boys goal after just three minutes – when top scorer Craig Rouse was given far too much time and space to shoot past a floundering Patti – had me fearing a second embarrassment of the day. 
Beaten just once in 17 league matches, Kinsley can go top of they win their four games in hand.  Their recent run of results is very impressive and boasts some big scalps.  They are a team that can really hurt you and at one down inside the opening exchanges I feared we may be one of them.

Frustratingly, a final scoreline of 4-0 would suggest that’s exactly what they did.  Far from it.  We possibly dictated large periods of the game but while our chances came to nothing at one end, a t’other we proceeded to gift our visitors another three goals.

Young Sam was perhaps slightly unlucky when conceding the penalty from which Rouse made it 2-0 before the break.  Bezza then coughed up possession for Rouse’s killer third goal in the second half, before either Tom or Alex repeated the error to allow sub Stapleton to make it four.  We didn’t deserve that.  But it was another painful lesson in what can happen at this level.

Coming down with "sner" on it

News of the Casuals’ success at Newbald eventually filtered through late – following some confusion as to whether they had actually won 1-0 or lost by the same scoreline!  As such, it was all fairly low-key at our end, although later reports would suggest the regulars in The Gnu pub were certainly left in no doubt that Maccer’s Men were newly crowned ER County League Division 5 champions!

Less pleasing was news of the Tigers’ exit from The FA Cup.  At the hands of League 2 side Crawley Town.  At home.  Nick Barmby had apparently paid the price for making several changes to the side that had won at Reading.  Once again the Cup was shown to be a competition of secondary importance.  Don’t get me started…

The Boys of Kinsley eventually departed the village at half-past-six, leaving behind pleased hosts at both The Granby and The ‘Oss.  They are a team who look like genuine title challengers – especially if other defences are as charitable against them as we were!

 

Sunshine on a cloudy day

Saturday 21^st January

CML North Division

Parkhouse 1 Easington United 3

Being too young to see many of the great Motown acts in their prime, I was once fortunate enough to attend a “Ruffin/Kendricks/Edwards – Former Leads Of The Temptations” concert at Hull City Hall.  How fortunate can be gauged by the fact that on 1 June 1991, shortly after the month-long UK tour, David Ruffin died of a drugs overdose.

One of the highlights of that particular concert was when the aforementioned Mr Ruffin offered a mic to the audience halfway through his classic hit, “My Girl”.  The microphone was taken by one of my companions for the night, Ian “Biz” Beharrell former lead singer with Hull soulsters The Mighty Strike (formerly The Company) and latterly the face of football’s Coca-Cola trailers on Sky.

His rendition of the song was so good that he was not only invited up to perform it live on stage but also asked to join the trio in their limo post-gig where future plans for world domination were hatched.  Sadly, as has happened far too often in Ian’s musical career, circumstances (Ruffin’s death, Kendricks' cancer) dictated that nothing would come of the meeting.

I was reminded of this story on the way back from Clay Cross on Saturday, when newly-acquired goalkeeper Liam Pattison performed his own version of the same song.  Besides endeavouring to keep footballs out of the net, Liam also doubles up as a pub singer under the name of, erm, “Liam Pattison”.  On this evidence it must be said, he’s good…but not THAT good.   

Our keeper’s impromptu set was part of a fairly raucous bus ride home.  And who could blame us for that – this win was a bloody good one.
But I'm getting ahead of myself...

It's a bottle not a mic Patty

The Sunday morning following the Dronfield result wasn’t a great time to be a sports fan in Hull given some of the reading in that day’s papers. 

My twitter feed the night before had carried several links to the depressing lead in The Sunday People, in which City legend Dean Windass confessed to trying to commit suicide.  Meanwhile that bastion of rugby league coverage (ahem!) the Daily Mail carried a story hinting at official cover-ups concerning the recent 'Gleesongate' affair at Hull FC.  At least I could afford a smile at that one – plenty of banter mileage for Rovers fans there!

These stories duly digested, it was up and at 'em with some wag on Radio Humberside’s “Great Outdoors” show suggesting the day was perfect for “staying in the shed and sharpening tools”.  Cuh.  He obviously didn’t have a “pot roast to die for” to prepare, as was my main task with Mrs Slush and the Elder Slushette having headed off to town for some retail therapy.

An away match programme - a rarity this season

A lovely bottle of Cropton Brewery ‘Yorkshire Moors’ helped the culinary operation get into full swing.  Meanwhile, the Younger Slushette’s demands for help with this and assistance with that allowed little or no chance to check on the progress of Craig Sandercock’s new-look Robins side in their first proper “hit out” at home to Wigan.  Apparently only the first half was worth watching anyway?

I did find time, though, to watch the superb BBC documentary, “How The Humber Shaped Our World”.  Telling the story of the area’s fishing heritage and life on the docks, my only complaint was that it should have been at least an hour long

Matthew Rudd’s ‘Q The 80s’ show is a programme I’ve missed out on for far too long, a situation rectified that evening.  And he served up some crackers: Altered Images ‘Happy Birthday’, Spear Of Destiny ‘So In Love With You’, Bow Wow Wow ‘C30, C60, C90 Go’, The Colourfield and Neneh Cherry - eclectic and fantastic!

Cricket was also on the agenda last week in the form of the First Test between Pakistan and England in Dubai.  That would piss Mike off at work, three mornings of listening to Aggers, Sir Geoffrey, Blowers and co harping on.  Unfortunately, thanks to England’s impotence against Ajmal (7-55 and 3-42) and Gul (4-63), three mornings was the maximum amount of coverage any of us got to listen to!
Ah well, it's football you're here for, not creekit...

I'm "Shoulder to Shoulder", just like Rebecca...

Parkhouse Football Club was founded in 1989 from the former Woodthorpe Inn FC.  According to the club website, the title – as with so many other member clubs in the Central Midlands League – had its origins in mining.  It was an acknowledgement “to the former Parkhouse Colliery and the many men that had worked there over the years and who too had a number of successful teams in the forties and early fifties by that name”.

Since 1993, as sole owners of their 3.4-acre Mill Lane site, they’ve developed the venue into one of the most homely grounds I’ve visited.  Combined with the post-match venue, The Woodthorpe Inn, it makes it the first away match I look out for.  And that despite a 7-0 drubbing on our first visit two years earlier!

That defeat marked our first away day experieince in the CML.  For the new lads (with the exception of Shawn), this latest trip into Derbyshire was to be their first with us and, more significantly, their first jaunt aboard The Pistol’s Riding School Express.  I think they enjoyed it.

Given a forecast for high winds (some of which we experienced on the way down, particularly when crossing the Ouse Bridge) and squally showers, we were quite relieved on arrival in Clay Cross.  The wind wasn’t too bad and the skies remained dry.  So far so good.

The appearance of the maroon third strip lifted spirits further and there was a quiet air of confidence around the group.

Good lad Gavin!

Having performed my pre-match duties and met the officials for the necessary paperwork checks, I was invited into the “Bonanza Suite”, Parkhouse’s new hospitality area purchased by use of proceeds from the annual CML Bonanza Ground Hop.  And very smart it is too, the neat décor being accompanied by fine hospitality and some interesting chat with home secretary Dave ‘Nobby’ Clark and Hospitality Host John Gore.  It was much appreciated.

The details of the game can be found on either our or our hosts’ official match reports.  Suffice to say, it was a very pleasant experience standing in the PCS Stand among the majority of the fifty or so regulars (“Come on Parky!”) as we came from a goal down to deservedly win 3-1.

But of course the real highlight of my day was still to come.  The Woodthorpe Inn, Old Tupton usually provides one of the finest ranges of cask ale in the CML.  Sadly, today there appeared to be just the two – Black Sheep and Morland Old Golden Hen.  I chose the latter and jolly quaffable it was too.

Accompanied by some decent nosh and good chin-wag with home manager ‘Murts’, not to mention news of yet another City away win, it put me in excellent spirits for the trip home.  Even Liam’s singing couldn’t dampen then.

Spot-on for three-one

And seeing as I’ve returned to the musical theme, the Thursday prior to the Parkhouse game was East Riding County League Management Committee meeting night.  Not for the first time this involved sitting in the car for the best part of two hours for a meeting that lasted barely half that long.  Such a drive on a quiet evening has its benefits however and the main one this time round was the chance it afforded me to listen to music without other “distractions” (i.e. wife & kids). 

My choice of CD was ‘Heaven’, the debut release by 2010 X-Factor finalist Rebecca Ferguson.  I’d played it just a handful of times since buying it just before Christmas but this was the first time I could really actually listen to it.  And what an absolute gem it is.

As Neil McCormick alluded to in a piece for The Daily Telegraph, perhaps the best thing that happened to the Liverpudlian songstress was NOT beating Matt Cardle in the final of X-Factor.

Freedom of being able to go out and record a collection of self-penned songs in her own style has made for a fantastic debut set.  As much as I’m a fan of Adele and many of her current compatriots, Miss Ferguson is simply THE classiest female vocal talent around at the moment.  Have a listen to the following and tell me different…

Thanks to Burt Graham and Chris Marsh for the photos