Now that's more like it!

Saturday 6th November - FC Brimington (home) Won 4-0

A Flying Thommohawk!

Oh that's been so long coming. Yes I know Brimington have got problems at the moment - manager gone, lengthy injury list, reluctance to travel - and I know it wasn't a complete performance by any means - we still allowed our concentration to slip at what could have been crucial times - but by 'eck it wasn't half good to see us pass the ball as we can (at times), play with a smile on our faces (at times) and score some cracking goals in the process.  And it provided a fine end to another interesting week.

 

To add further complications to my normal ethic of trying not to let work interfere with my social life, not only did I have the obligatory match programme to produce ahead of FCB's visit but "Design Guru" Andy's work commitments in Holland meant that it would be a Friday night turnaround (i.e. we would have about four hours max to layout, proof read, touch-up and finalise...and Friday was "Bonfeer Neet"!)
In addition, I also had the delayed management meeting, taking place on the Wednesday, while at work there was the long-awaited office move.  It was shaping up to be a hectic week.

One of the biggest concerns for over our office move was the loss of internet radio facility (such luxuries/distractions are frowned upon by certain bodies within the terminal).  Although, given the topics dominating Five Live's news over the early part of the week, to deprive us of it might have been a godsend; it was enough to prompt one of the station's listeners to text: "We're joining forces with the French, prisoners are getting the vote and two women want to marry each other. I'm off back to bed!"  Quite.

 

Thankfully, the nature of our new abode has allowed us to continue to keep up with world events, enjoy quality (and not such quality) music and of course cricket matches from around the world.  Along with Twitter it also gives me plenty of scope to rant on topics as diverse as FIFA's approach to corruption within their own body, David Reeves' choice of tracks on his local radio "Golden Years" and  Polly Toynbee's views on...well, just about anything really!
Such things really help the working day go by just that little bit quicker.

I trust this won't be the only First Team pic we ever see with Pagey on it!

Wednesday night brought me to our much-anticipated management meeting  (held at The Haven Arms) at which we discussed a whole manner of things felt to be currently  undermining the running of the club.  Such small, informal gatherings usually bring about honest talk and this proved the case with some salient points being raised.  I returned home feeling the three hours had proved very productive...and the beer of choice (Vale Brewery Co. Best Bitter) wasn't half bad either.

He can't...

He can...

He has!

In almost a role reversal of recent trends, Dave had assembled a decent looking squad for Saturday's home game while Reserves boss Kev was looking at a glut of absentees for his team's East Riding Senior Country Cup trip to holders Riccall United.

Thankfully, matters were eased somewhat by Howden AFC 4ths' resignation from the County League on Thursday.  This meant that the Casuals' scheduled game in Division 5 was now off and therefore more players would be freed up should Kev require them.  It also meant that the Casuals had gone back up to third, with all their main rivals having points taken off them as Howden's six defeats to date were all expunged.  "Nowt to this management lark" posted Casuals boss Maccer, which given his side's defeat to bottom club Brandesburton and the lengthy debate he'd prompted at the previous night's meeting made me smile...a lot!

Thursday also brought the local "tradition" of Mischief Night.  We escaped unscathed (perhaps the weather put them off coming up this far) and the following night saw a Slush family outing to the fireworks display at Skeffling (already blogged).

Our Romanian goalkeeper

And so to match day.  I must admit I never fail to be in a good mood on a Saturday morning in the football season (well, almost never!).  There's just something about it, the anticipation of what's to follow that afternoon.  Even when it's "daft o'clock", pitch black and I've got to sort the Slushettes out before heading off to work to run off 60 match programmes.
Although I've read and re-read the publication umpteen times before it goes to print, I still enjoy browsing through the first completed issue to come off the copier that morning.  I allowed myself a smile when glancing at FC Brimington's squad list on the back - it's one of the few that compares with ours in terms of numbers (most teams opting just to send the names of the 14-16 players likely to be involved).
I've touched on the origins of the visitors in a previous post.  However, after a first season of what can perhaps be termed under-achievement (final placing 6th) they happen to look a better bet for promotion this term.
Or rather they did until a recent hiccup in form, which has seen three defeats, numerous injuries and the loss of chairman/manager Cliff Thomas from his matchday role due to other commitments has upset the applecart slightly.  Still, we aren't exactly pulling up any trees this term.  We would be treating our opponents with the utmost respect...

 

This particular Saturday I also had the added responsibility of the Elder Slushette's Dance Class to contend with for the first time since the "new term" commenced.  I shouldn't complain...but usually do.  Mrs Slush takes the Elder Slushette to swimming & Brownies on Monday, football training (oh yes!) on Tuesday and now a junior Youth Club on a Wednesday.  Suppose I ought to show a bit of willing by helping out at the weekends!

 



Two Nil on two cameras



The knock-on effect of this added activity on the Slush Soccer Saturday timetable was a trip down to the ground straight from my "early shift" in the office to put out the afternoon's strip, balls, bottles etc.  I was finishing up just as Groundsman Brim - and this weekend's appointed assistant, wife Carol - rolled up, ready to sort out the necessary ropes and stakes.  I'm pretty certain Brim would have liked to know the day's team news.  But I didn't really have time and Carol ensured he didn't either - "Don't stop talking, let's be on, I've got Coffee Morning at ten."  Ooh, it's  a hive of activity is Esinton on a Setherday morning!

Synchronised camerawork on the third goal

I enjoyed that!

And so did Man Mountain!

Matchday at the Farm, you can't beat it...especially when you win. Of course not everybody enjoyed the day.  Poor old Pagey's first team debut lasted all of 2 minutes (well, five then if you include the time it actually take for him to leave the field).  A broken finger sustained in Brimington's first attack curtailed the chance for him to shine and thus ensure Chaz's wait to come back lasts longer than just one game!
With Frosty (aka "the Romanian refugee" as one observer somewhat acidly described him) donning the gloves I'll admit to having a slight sense of apprehension.  Not only was I not sure of the sub's goalkeeping pedigree but I was worried we would miss the pace and goal threat he could bring outfield.  I needn't have worried.  It was his opposite number, Adam Valente, who would be by far the busier...and come up with the vital error.
There looked to be little threat when Mozzer let fly from 25 yards but sonehow Valente got his angles all wrong and the ball ended up in the net.  17 minutes gone and one up, just what we needed.  By the break it would be three.
Andy M headed the second from a Chav free-kick before Man Mountain made it 3-0, applying the finishing touch after Valente had beaten out Chav's initial shot.

Thommo lets fly...

But this time Valente's equal to it

Before the break the FCB keeper would go some way to restoring his reputation with a full-length stop to deny Thommo from 30 yards.
Our number nine should have done better with another chance presented moments afterwards but he was then in the right place at the right time to convert Andy M's cross-come-shot 6 minutes into the second half.  Four up, game won.

The coup de grace!

If Saturday mornings are enjoyable, Saturday evenings on the back of a win are even more so.  And this being Bonfire weekend it meant only one thing - a family gathering at  the In-Laws.  And an excellent one at that.  We had fireworks (which really pleased the Younger Slushette!), we had fodder (courtesy of the finest meat pies from Jones The Butcher and even finer homemade fruit pies) and we had fun (thanks in part to a previously unseen episode of Dad's Army featuring another Jones The Butcher?!).  Throw in a little alocohol and some convivial chat and there was enough light-heartedness around to ensure that even news of another barren afternoon for The Tigers couldn't spoil things.

All-in-all the day had acted as the perfect send-off ahead of my impending two weeks away from the First Team scene... 
Oh, and as you might gather, I'm on a bit of an electro trip at the moment.  Enjoy!

Thanks to Colin & Burt for the photographs; 

check out: http://www.cbphotos.co.uk/6_nov_eufc_1st_111.html

The right switch

Saturday 30th January – FC Brimington (away) Won 2-1

The decision to request a switch of fixture away from a sodden Low Farm last Sunday week proved a shrewd one as we returned home from Worksop with our second “double” of the season duly completed, courtesy of a hard-earned 2-1 win at FC Brimington.

By some sort of fitting coincidence, this return to action was against the same side we were due to meet on 19 December in the last fixture of 2009 – the first of five to have since fallen victim to this horrendous “cold snap”.

Opponents FC Brimington hail from a suburb of Chesterfield, came through a Sheffield Sunday League and now play in Worksop – confused? You’re not the only one.

Formed by chairman and team manager Cliff Thomas, “FCB” started life as a Sunday League side as recently as 2007 but with the promise from their manager that “within two years he would take the club to professional status as a nonleague club”. A successful negotiation to lease the former home of Worksop Town at Sandy Lane and membership of the Central Midlands League has enabled Thomas to go some way to meeting this pledge.

We’d already played Brimington at home, back in October, winning 3-1 in a game the visitors felt they should have had more reward from. Thus we knew we were in for a tough one in the return. And the players’ resolve had already been tested before we’d even got there!

Leaving snow-bound Easington aboard the “Riding School Express” at 10.45am (already 15mins late) we were delayed further when driver Pete realised the kit was still at The Granby pub. Thus when we arrived at the first pick-up point, Patrington, we were half-an-hour behind schedule.

As Viking Radio were giving us “a shout” on their mid-morning show, elsewhere Hutchie – our Manchester-based student – had been in touch to say his train was also running late and he would struggle to make Hull by the appointed rendezvous. A bit of thinking on the hoof suggested a Selby drop-off and subsequent pick-up by one of the cars making the trip.

This was followed by Andy G (Mack’s Number Two for the day due to Nige’s absence) receiving an eleventh hour call from home following an accident and the goalkeeper, travelling with dad and girlfriend by car, taking the bait of a hoax call that told him the game was off and deciding to turn back…before thankfully realising what complete t#@ts his team mates could be and carrying on!

Without either the AA route-finder printout (my fault) or a map (Driver Pete’s) we elected to go M1 rather than A1, only for Pete to further compound our misery by missing the M18 turn-off. It was rapidly turning into one of those days…

The aptly-termed “icing” on the cake was almost supplied by match referee Jim Sharp when we eventually arrived at Sandy Lane just before 1.30pm. Having walked over the pitch with his assistants, the referee declared that had he been asked to conduct a pitch inspection that morning, the game would have been off.

The main problem area was that under the shade of the main stand, which remained rock hard and bore the scars of Tuesday’s Floodlit Trophy encounter in which Brimington had beaten Supreme Division strugglers Nettleham 5-1. No amount of “warming-up” on it was going to soften that particular stretch.

Thankfully, the wishes of both teams prevailed and at 2.10pm, we resumed our first season in the Central Midlands League.

FCB’s reports of their midweek win and the previous Saturday’s 3-1 success against FC 05, had talked of “bigger crowds” at Sandy Lane. Now I don’t know what numbers they were referring to but at kick-off on this sunny, albeit bitterly cold, winter’s afternoon there were barely thirty souls inside the ground – and almost a third of that figure had travelled down from the East Riding. With their own beloved Tigers currently banished to Ilkeston, the good folk of Worksop don’t yet appear to have taken the new residents of Sandy Lane to their hearts.

Still, the hosts certainly look the part of a side with ambition. They have a Barcelona-style club badge, personalised kit for all 29 squad members and are rumoured to be each on a handy little sum to play football; which made our victory taste all the sweeter. They also have an attractive female Physio – a point not surprisingly picked-up on by each of our players…and our driver!

We began brightly enough only to fall behind to a good header from a corner on 16mins. Thankfully we levelled matters two minutes later when quick thinking by Chav at a throw-in and a clever run from Frosty allowed the latter to coolly lob the keeper for 1-1.

On the half-hour it was 2-1 thanks to a similarly deft finish by Gav after Mozzer had got his bonce on to Chaz’s long punt upfield. It was a lead we held fairly comfortably to the break.The second half proved a different story. Perhaps it was the effects of the long lay-off beginning to take their toll but whatever the reason, we allowed our hosts to dictate matters to such an extent that most of the action took place in and around Chaz’s goal.

Thankfully, after his slight fumble for their goal, the keeper redeemed himself and produced a string of fine saves to preserve our lead. Aided by some sterling defensive work from those in front and, it has to be said, some fairly average finishing by the opposition forwards our goal remained intact. Thus when Mr Sharp blew for time we had moved to within a point of our hosts and with three games in hand.

Post-match we retired to the Sandy Lane clubhouse where I wasn’t surprised to find the “selection” of ales on offer somewhat other than startling. Still, with 3pts locked safely away in the minibus, even the most mundane pint of John Smith’s Smooth can taste like a Timothy Taylor Landlord…okay, so I’m being silly now.

After unsuccessfully willing Paul Merson to report on another goal being scored in the Wolves net, we boarded the minibus for what proved to be a quicker, stress-free trip home, via a local beer-off, Blyth (our picturesque stop-off point ahead of Mark Hateley’s ill-fated first game in charge of our own Tigers at Mansfield in August 1997) and the A1.

Our homeward journey was made even more enjoyable by the news that three of the teams above us in the table had dropped points. The gap between us and the top four is still significant but this is a squad that believes anything is yet possible!

From White to Wet...

Saturday 19 December - FC Brimington (away) Match postponed

 As I type this it's not looking good for the prospect of any action at Low Farm this coming Saturday.  Although the lovely Festive scene depicted above has now disappeared, the moisture associated with it has not!  Instead it has transformed parts of the main pitch into a a series of ponds (see below) and with the forecast for more rain and/or snow by the weekend the chances of our game against Thorne Colliery going ahead must be remote.

What frustrates me even more about such situations is the fact that I'm almost certain to finish the week with 50 copies of a match programme that will be then rendered out-of-date for whenever the fixture is rearranged.

Of course you try telling a player that a game scheduled for the following weekend is already in doubt and it's as if you've gone out and p~ssed on the pitch yourself!  I always feel myself having to justify the decision to countless doubting souls who've conveniently chosen to only notice the bits of recent weather they want to: "Off? Why?  We haven't had any snow since last Saturday!"  Try telling them that snow eventually turns into good old water and you can still see the disbelieving look on their faces.

Thankfully Sunday's surprise 30th birthday bash for club captain Andy Graham in The Granby allowed the players a chance for a further bit of bonding ahead of the return to action.  This was especially welcome after the inclement conditions the previous week had restricted attendance at the "Sunday Sesh" down Princes Ave.

AG's "Do" allowed me to sample more of the Great Newsome Brewery's Festive tipple,  "Yule Do", and very nice it was too.

 Sadly, postponement of my attendance at another function, set for the Haven Arms on Monday, means that this is the only cask ale to have passed my lips this Christmas...something I shall certainly be looking to rectify before the return to normality next Monday!Even funnier/more annoying than members of your own club doubting your call on a pitch's fitness is when members of an opposition team do it.  Especially when they get in touch beforehand urging you to defy the conditions and get the game on.  This happened on the weekend prior to Christmas when heavy snow on the Friday afternoon all but accounted for both the following day's County League games.  No sooner had I contacted the opposition manager of the Casuals' opponents, Withernsea Thirds to tell him things looked grim but we'd give it until the following morning before making a final decision, so as to give it every chance of "a miracle", than I was fielding calls and texts from his players asking me what the chances were and could anything be done to ensure the game went ahead.  Indeed, one text message simply read: "Make sure it's on".  Oh to have such power!  Anyway, as the photo of groundsman Brim below shows, it was a snow-go.

Of course the reason why our opponents were so keen for the game to go ahead was their confidence of victory.  Predictably so in view of the respective league positions of both teams and the fact that they'd already whipped the Casuals backsides on their own ground back in September.  And as we enter 2010 the situation concerning both County League teams is one that requires an upturn in fortunes.

Here's hoping that by the time both return to action - Saturday, January 9 - the weather has improved sufficiently to allow them to at least give it a go.

Ooh, get in there - as I finish this piece Stephen Hunt has just rescued a point for The Tigers at The Reebok.  There's an omen in there somewhere...

A Home Run

Saturday 17 October - Yorkshire Main, League Cup Round 2 (home) Lost 1-5
Saturday 24 October - Thoresby Colliery Welfare (home) Drew 0-0
Saturday 31 October - FC Brimington (home) Won 3-1
Saturday 7 November - Kiveton Park (home) Drew 1-1

As described in my previous post, the fact that Hull City had a game on Remembrance Sunday allowed me to do something I've been meaning to for a few years now, namely observe the commemorations at the city's own Cenotaph in Paragon Square as opposed to the traditional gathering around the war memorial in Easington. And although the first part of the service - including the two minutes' silence - was observed from under the shelter of the new Station complex overhang, Emma and I did brave the elements to stand and observe the march past of veterans. It was a very moving experience and one I hope both Emma and Katie will want to be part of for years to come. Lest we forget.

On a far less important note, Sunday was also the first day in a month when I’ve not had to begin worrying about producing a match programme for the following Saturday. That’s because the 1-1 draw with Kiveton Park the previous afternoon brought to an end a run of four successive home matches.

Having increased the size of our match day magazine this season to 28 pages, filling four back-to-back issues has proved hard work – even for somebody who spiels at much tosh as I do. By the last one I really was struggling for inspiration and was thankful for our opponents sending me enough info on their club to fill double the space usually allocated.
On the field we haven’t really made the most of our sustained home advantage; a damaging cup defeat being accompanied by just the one win and two frustrating draws. Still, the league results stretched our unbeaten run in that competition to eight matches and we are gaining a reputation as a hard team to beat. Wins in our two games in hand on most teams would elevate us into the promotion places…now there’s a thought!
Last Saturday’s pre-match minute's silence, which was only slightly marred by spectator “Awd Wezzie” Brian who was too busy telling everybody about his recent holiday that he missed the whistle to start it, helped us play our own small part in the commemorations mentioned at the start of this piece.

It was also a moment probably close to the heart of one of our linesmen, Harry Hardy (pictured above, right), who at “allegedly” 83yrs old could easily have been remembering fellow servicemen!
Our next opponents at Low Farm are Yorkshire Main who, coincidentally were the first of our four recent weekly visitors.
That day saw a strange game in the League Cup. We started like a train and seemed to cause them all sorts of bother, eventually taking the lead midway through the first half (below) only to immediately concede an equaliser.
By the break we were 2-1 down and early in the second half it was three, courtesy of a penalty for handball for which Hutchy was dismissed. We battled to the end and for a time actually overcame our numerical deficiency to boss things. But Main hit us twice near the end to complete a comprehensive win.

Central Midlands League registrar (& Bonanza supremo) Rob Hornby was a visitor to Low Farm for the Main game and wrote a nice little piece about us on the Tony Kempster site. It’s one of several pieces submitted by Groundhoppers to various web sites over the past few years, telling of their trips down to the East End of Holderness and, I’m pleased to say, all have had nothing but compliments for the way we do things at our club.

The dedication of these people is quite staggering. In the past fortnight we’ve had a guy from Blackpool and another from London. The former had to get a taxi from Hull (24 miles) as the buses didn’t tie-in with the change to 2.00pm kick-offs; while the London Hopper stated his departure time as 5.45am on his trek north. (I actually think if I’d been making such a journey I’d have gone the extra mileage to see Bridlington entertain Scarborough in front of the NCEL’s biggest ever crowd – 1,082). But each to their own and we’re grateful for their interest.
Following the Main game we played out a goalless affair with Thoresby Colliery on the first wet afternoon of the season. It was a game we should have won but unfortunately we just couldn't find the finishing touch against another side well organised and keen to get the ball down and play.
Adding to the frustration of the result, we saw young “Van Pursey” sent off after the final whistle. As the case is currently the subject of an appeal I best not say too much but it was a decision that left most people within the club not only very surprised but also angry.

Light relief on the day was provided from the sidelines. Crowd banter is something that has been associated with Low Farm for years. Certainly when I first started watching and then playing for the club, the home "crowd" could be relied upon to provide their own moments of merriment.  During this game it was the opposition keeper who got more than he bargained for when attempting to be funny at the expense of the "Farm Faithful". As if we’ve never been called “Sheep Shaggers” before! He was soon told in no uncertain terms that, “It’s not only sheep son, it’s anything on four legs. But bah, it’s ‘elluva job tryin’ to kiss ‘em when you’re shaggin’ ‘em!”

Against Thoresby “The Shed” (aka Bonus Electrical Shelter) came into its own for the very first time thanks to the inclement conditions that forced most spectators under its protective roof. Their humour that day was mainly at the expense of the lino (or referee’s assistant) who, in fairness, took it all in good heart.
There was also a smile on Pursey's face when he bounced back to hit a stunner as we returned to winning ways against FC Brimington the following Saturday. Gav also finally broke his duck for the season with an exquisite second and after the Derbyshire side had reduced arrears, victory was sealed by one of the best own goals I'm ever likely to see – a bullet-like diving header that gave the Brimington keeper no chance.

And so to last weekend’s visit of bottom club Kiveton Park (in which Owen Mountain - above - appears to be proving the theory that kissing is indeed difficult when taking from behind!). In the event the Sheffield side reinforced our view that although the CML Premier Division might lack the “stand out” clubs of the likes of Chalk Lane, Reckitts and Sculcoates of recent HPL years (although Parkhouse in particular look a class act) the league also has no “whipping boys”. On the evidence of their performance at Low Farm I would certainly back Kiveton to give any of the teams currently occupying the lower positions in the HPL Premier Division a game.
 We “got out of gaol” courtesy of Farny’s 86th minute strike (above) that nestled nicely in the corner moments after Club Sec Judy, watching from her position behind the counter of the Tea Hut, had said: “Oh Farny, you’ve gone too far!” That's what’s known as a “Doug Clubley Moment” in Easington! Having referred to banter from the sidelines, some of the Farm Faithful’s finest moments are captured for posterity on a video of an “Old Farm” derby between United and neighbours Holmpton back in January 1991. That game was one of the last to be played by the then record goal scorer Melvin Douglas. He died from a heart attack a couple of months later, aged only 30. Also playing for the Eastenders that day was Mike “Raggy” Hudson. Six years later he too would see his life cut tragically short, at the age of just 25.

I mention both men because recently we finally managed to unveil some memorial benches named in honour of these two and local football & cricket supporter Colin Cooper. The fact that it has taken so long doesn’t reflect very well on the Club although, in truth, the work recently undertaken at the ground at least now ensures that the benches can be given a fitting home.
Returning to the present players and, after a month at home, we embark on our first away trip in five weeks on Saturday when we visit Thorne Colliery. An interesating one this. I've heard several reports of our opponents and in particular the type of support they attract to their Moorends Welfare ground. But, like much of what's been said beforehand during this wonderful Central Midlands experience we're currently undertaking, I set off down the M18 in expectation of another extremely enjoyable day out. And three points would be nice...

NOTE: Thanks to Burt Graham, Rob Hornby and Colin Brammer for most of the photos used above