August 2014 (Part 1)

What price loyalty?

"I don't mind seeing any player depart the club to better himself...But this triggered something of an exodus and I really struggle to see the thinking behind the decision of other players to leave. Throw in rumours of a couple of lads who are "not feeling football" at the moment and I start to despair about not only our fortunes but the future of local football in general."

The above is an extract of my programme notes for the opening league game of the season against Thoresby Colliery Welfare. they were written in a week that had seen it confirmed that Sam Huteson, Lewis Andrew and Jordan Hart were not intending on committing to the club for the new season. They followed Paul Morrill, Danny Blount (both Hall Road Rangers), Charlie Dixon (Beverley Town via Selby Town) and James Robinson out of the club. Thankfully Jordy would reconsider a few weeks later but his return would be offset by the loss of Stef Radley. With Tom McLaughlin injured and Jamie Cousins absent, it meant only six members of the South Holderness Cup Final squad from three months earlier would be in the squad that began the following season. Making this all the more unacceptable to me was that we'd based our decision to stay in the CML largely on the pledges those same lads had made to remain at the club. Ah well...

Saturday 2nd August

Pre-Season Friendly

Easington United 0 Sculcoates Amateurs 5

Due to a well-earned, pre-planned weekend break, AG wasn't at Low Farm to watch his side's final warm-up game. It was probably as well. This was embarrassing. A young Sculcoates side showed how a team should perform after several weeks' training and playing together. We on the other hand looked a rabble, which perhaps wasn't surprising given the fact that (a) attendances at training at had been p!ss-poor therefore fitness levels were way below expectation; (b) the squad again included a number of new or guest faces; and (c) any pre-season optimism among the regulars had already been tested to the full by news of the summer departures. It promised to be a long, hard season.

Thursday, 7th August

UEFA Europa League 

Third Qualifying Round, Second Leg

Hull City 2 FK AS Trencin 1

(Agg: 2-1)

What would turn out to be a fine weekend on the sporting front began in exciting fashion courtesy of City's first ever home competitive European tie. Helped by a superb ticket price (£10/£5 concessions, which included a free match programme) and glorious weather, a 21,000 crowd (the capacity affected by extra segregation required for unreserved seating games) provided a superb atmosphere.

However, within minutes of the start it was the 100 or so Slovakian supporters making all the noise after they'd taken a shock lead. I wasn't worried at that point. Even less so when Elmo headed City level. But as the second half wore on and it started to dawn on many that the away goal was now looking good to end City's first foray into Europe ridiculously early, that awful feeling in the pit of the stomach began to be experienced. Then up stepped Sone and all was right with the world again.

Aside from the result, the biggest plus of the night was the atmosphere, which has undoubtedly been helped by the movement of City fans to the North Stand. The singing joust between this new vocal area and their former partners in the East Stand was excellent, while even elements of the Upper West (where Brim and I sat) got caught up in the "Come On City" chants that reverberated round the stadium in an increasingly tense second half.

Reaching new heights? #CityinEurope

As mentioned in July's blog, hopes of seeing either part of City's first tie in the Europa League had been threatened by a pre-planned family trip to the Corrie studios and Liverpool (a birthday treat for the Younger Slushette).

Thus I'd begun the day of the home leg on a coach that took us from the Ramada hotel in Haydock to Liverpool where the delights of Albert Dock awaited. My pre-match preparation began outside The Pumphouse with a lovely pint of Liverpool Organic Brewery Best Bitter (though not quite as impressive as the previous night's Moorhouse's Blond Witch), while the night ended with me dreaming of drinking several more continental beers al fresco in far-off places over the coming months...

Picture courtesy of the BBC whose report can be found here.   

Friday, 8th August

Barney Moverley Memorial Trophy

Easington United Reserves 1 Roos AFC 1

(Easington won 3-2 on pens)

This was perhaps the first sign that once again I had failed to take into account this club's willingness to thrive in adversity. Despite Roos manager (Gazette sports editor) Les Sennett's attempts to pin this result on the the inclusion of "first teamers", it was instead a cracking performance by a predominantly inexperienced Stiffs side against opponents who would appear to be signing everyone and anyone locally (including one of our departing dirty dozen ;-) ).

True the likes of AG, Smalls and Wilks (via the bench) all figured but this was because none could play in the league opener and therefore they had to plug gaps left by those called up to take their place the following day. And anyway, Graham in centre-mid and Smalley as a flying winger? It was hardly playing "ringers"!

In the event the Stiffs showed excellent resolve to withstand an early onslaught from Roos before cancelling out Tony Everett's opener via Tom Emerson's close-range finish.

After a second 45 minutes had brought no further goals, the tie went to penalties wherein Stiffs keeper Pagey proved the star. Smalls stroked home the decisive fifth kick to ensure the trophy remained at the Farm.

Saturday 9th August

CML North

Easington United 2 Thoresby Colliery Welfare 0

Lee Tryner, manager of highly-fancied visitors Thoresby, later described this as the "kick up the backside" his players required. He was right - they've gone on to win all their subsequent games!

But for us, this opening day win was almost immeasurable in terms of its effect on morale. As reported by groundhopper 'Cod of the North' on the Tony Kempster forum, one of our players was even heard to mention "We're going to get hammered" as the sides lined up for the 'Respect' handshake. And it's very true that on seeing the list of names selected for this opener, several lads had expressed doubts about an ability to compete. But once again, they didn't allow for that East End ability to defy the odds.

And so after a gritty rearguard action for much of the game, two goals in four second half minutes eventually proved crucial and gave everyone the lift required to take into a difficult first month's fixture list.

Along with the previous evening, this win had to be seen in the wider context of another bloody awful summer.

Oh, and I want it placing on record that I stood by my pre-match prediction: Thoresby will finish this season in the top two.

A detailed match report and pics can be found here. There are also pics on the club's Facebook page. The Thoresby account of events can be found here. 

Wednesday 13th August

CML North 

Easington United 0 Westella VIP 6

The one thing you don't need to do when playing a free-scoring side like title favourites Westella is concede within the first two minutes. Then concede again within the first ten. A third before the break meant this game was as good as done with over 45 minutes still to play. What annoyed Andy even more was that five of the six goals originated from our mistakes. You could say Saturday's opening day lift had been consigned to memory in double-quick time.

For a full match report read here. Pics can also be viewed on the club's Facebook page. Westella's account can be found here.

Saturday 16th August

CML North

Glapwell 3 Easington United 0

Glapwell is one of the tidiest grounds in the Central Midlands League North Division. It's also one where - apart from an opening day win back in 2012 - we haven't done particularly well. And this was to be the case again as another side stretched by absences managed just two shots on target in a gruelling ninety minutes. We didn't help ourselves by again conceding early and it has to be said the effort was there for all to see. But effort will only get you so far in this league.

Our report can be found here, the Facebook pictures here and Glapwell's own report here.

So, one win and two defeats as the Bank Holiday weekend approached. We had two scheduled games, Saturday and Monday. Perhaps crucially, both were at home. However, of more concern was the fact that we were again set to be without a host of players...

Up and running...again

Saturday 11th August

 CML North

Glapwell 0 Easington United 2

Monday 13th August

Holderness Cup Winners Cup Final

Easington United Reserves 0 Brandesburton 1

And then here we are, back pitch-side at the start of another football season wondering where the two months have gone since the end of the last one.

Well that’s not strictly true of course.  The Euro's and the Olympics have ensured there has not really been a close season this year (Mrs Slush will testify to that!) while down at Low Farm we had the added distraction of wholesale management changes.

A couple of enjoyable trips into North Yorkshire meant I’d missed The Sumo’s opening pre-season games, which resulted in two-nil defeats at HPL outfits Crown FC and Sculcoates Amateurs.

Despite the defeats, I received good reports from both inside and outside the camp with regards to the quality of football played.  I finally got to see it for myself when the East Riding County FA Juniors made their annual trip to the Farm and again a week later when Sumo’s side concluded their schedule at Long Riston.

Comfortable victories were recorded in both games, with several players providing their manager with pleasant surprises ahead of the first league game.

Indeed, the only disappointment for me came in the Traveller’s Rest at Long Riston where the much-vaunted Aleympic Gold (from Great Newsome) had run out.  Grrrgh.  That was part of the reason for arranging this fixture in the first place!

So to Saturday’s CML opener and the first part of a weekend double-header, which on Monday would see the Stiffs hoping to double-up their South Holderness Cup win of May by retaining the Holderness Cup Winners Cup won by the First Team a year ago.

Glapwell endured a horrendous time of things last season, culminating in them travelling to Low Farm in May with just eight men.  Thankfully, things have improved somewhat since and they appeared to have twenty-two available for our visit to Hall Corner!

We too travelled in strength.  Fifteen players made the trip, all but one on the Pistol Pete Express, with Wilky Woo accompanying the Gaffer and me in car (Mrs Slush's new weekend working commitments ensuring I would not be on the much-vaunted first away day 'beer-bus' of 2012/13).

Surviving the scare of a “technical issue” that restricted its progress to 50mph for the last segment of its journey down the M1, all was shipshape come kick-off time.

Sumo handed full debuts to two new faces – Willo and Robbie – along with a “second debut” to the returning Neilo.  Completing a quartet of new faces (and a trio of ex-Withernsea men) was Nige Newton whose chance would come off the bench second half.

Jamie C has been appointed Captain Cousins for the season, although much more Michael Jackson blaring our pre-season and he’ll find the armband being removed as quickly as it was given him!

Hall Corner is a smart little ground, with a pitch that rises towards the cricket pitch behind the far end goal.  It also has possibly the most protective groundsman in the league.

“No warm-up in the goalmouths, only in the corners where I’ve placed the posts.  Goalkeeper can have ten minutes. Crosses only. No shots.  If I see any shots you’ll get this.”  At which point he drew his hand across his throat.  Nice.

As the game began I wondered whether our lads were continuing to carry out his instructions - we ventured nowhere near the Glapwell goal in the opening ten minutes!

The hosts dictated matters in this first spell and actually had the ball in the net but the lino had flagged.

Having taken a while to get into our stride, we then finished the half slightly on top.  Alex Malong – who surely has the biggest hands in the CML – was the busier of the two keepers and produced one exceptional save to deny Wilks.  Jimmy D and Fitzy should have done better, while a Glappy player also headed against his own post.  As we enjoyed the half-time hospitality of our excellent hosts, we wondered whether these misses would come back to haunt us.  Pistol Pete, meanwhile, was more concerned as to whether or not his repair kit of "scissors, fork and beer-can" would do the trip to enable the Express to get the lads home!

Thankfully we needn’t have worried - on both counts.  A majestic second half display, capped by two goals inside three minutes, ensured we would have a maximum points haul to take back home.  And Pete’s “handiwork” ensured they would get there.

Neilo and the Skipper were on target but the main plaudits were reserved for the hard-working Wilky Woo.  Elsewhere Sam Mac was almost faultless, Fitzy’s influence grew as the game wore on and Willo was solid on “dayboo” (as the Aussies would say).  But, in truth, all played their part in an encouraging first show.

An al fresco post-match pint was accompanied by the amusing sideshow of Coach Nicho accusing team-mates of having swiped his iPod...before finding he'd actually dispatched it to the bin alongside his waste pack-up!

One of the benefits of travelling by car came with me back home sober and in good time to catch another great night for GB at the Olympics.  I didn’t envy the lads on the bus, with their 48-can haul, struggling back up the M18. 

No, honest, I didn’t.
 

Monday night brought cooler climes and a chance to see Gav Thurkettle take charge of the Stiffs for the first time.

Withernsea was this year’s chosen venue for the annual meeting of north and south Holderness Cup winners, with Brandesburton of HPL Division 1 the opposition.

Brandes’ had ended Hornsea’s recent monopoly in the Tanton Cup by beating both the Seasiders’ first and second-strings en route to their sixteenth success in one of the oldest competitions of its type.

Gav retained faith with most of the lads who’d performed such heroics in May.  He also included Frosty (missing at Glapwell due to work), “Cousin” Mark, young Hoppy and the returning Darren Thompson.  The manager himself was among the subs in a 15-man squad but, disappointingly, was not to grace the field this evening.

And the locals could have done with him on there.  For despite shading matters in terms of possession, there was a distinct lack of quality in the final third and Brandes’ keeper Nathan Otley was rarely troubled.

The game’s defining moment came as early as the 12th minute.  And it arrived from Brandesburton’s first shot on goal, a crisp half-volley from Phil Skit that flew past Ben Akam from 15 yards out.

On chances, the Tanton Cup holders could have more than doubled their tally.  Skit hit the bar while Akam twice saved superbly from hapless sub James Barker who also rolled another good chance wide.

All in all it was a scrappy game, which wasn’t great on the eye for those of us spoilt by Saturday’s slick display.  Still, it’s early days and while the retention of the cup would have been nice, promotion back to the County League Premier Division has to be Gav’s priority.

For a full Glapwell report (with pictures) check here

For a full Holderness Cup Winners Cup report (with Colin's pictures) check here

For Colin Brammer's photography website check here

Thanks to Burt Graham and Colin Brammer for their efforts through the lens!



Rounding things off

Saturday 5th May

CML North Division

Easington United 4 Thorne Colliery 2

Saturday 12th May

CML North Division

Easington United 9 Glapwell 1

Eli celebrating with his mates

For the second season running we ended our league campaign on a high; a solid win over Thorne Colliery being followed by a rout of a Glapwell side that arrived at the Farm with only eight men.
Full details of the win over Thorne can be found here and that over Glapwell here.  You'll also find action pics.  The amount of time that has passed since the games has made composing a blog post on them somewhat academic.

The Thorne result was notable for confirming our tenth placed finish, with the following week's win ensuring we finished level on points with Kiveton Park - "joint ninth then", according to Nicho who doesn't "go in for all that goal-difference bullshit".

If I can think of anything really worthwhile to write about either game in the next few days, I'll post it.  But don't hold your breath.

PS: Photo courtesy of Burt...but you probably knew that already didn't you? 

A busmans (Bank) Holiday

Saturday 27th August
CML North

Glapwell 1 Easington United 1

Monday 29th August
CML North

Kinsley Boys 1 Easington United 1

When you've just about survived a hectic pre-season of meetings, training sessions and matches the one thing you hope for is that the fixture schedule is kind to you once the "serious stuff" gets underway.  Two away games over the Bank Holiday weekend is NOT what was required for peace and harmony in the Slush family household.
To compound things, The Pistol's usually reliable Riding School Express was off the road, we had a distinct lack of willing drivers and, even more worryingly, for the second of the two games we were also faced with a chronic player shortage!
But we came through it all unscathed.  I think.

Our first destination was Glapwell, the Derbyshire village of some 1,500 residents situated between Chesterfield and Mansfield.

It’s a place I’ve visited previously in order to attend Central Midlands League general meetings, held in the local Community Centre, also home to Glapwell Parish Council – more of which later.

Up until the end of last season, the local football club were proud members of the Northern Premier League.  Not anymore.

According to the club website, football in the village originally came on the back of the local colliery.  When this closed in 1974, the community had to wait until 1985 for its first taste of the game at a senior level, with the formation of Glapwell FC, thanks largely to the “infectious ambition of local businessman Roger Caton and his wife Ellen”.

Success, first in the now-defunct Sutton & Skegby League then the Central Midlands League eventually brought promotion to the Northern Counties East League in 1996/97.

The Derbyshire CFA Senior Cup was lifted in 1997/98 and was followed two years later by promotion to the NCEL Premier Division.  Glapwell finished runners-up to Goole and were also beaten in the final of the NCEL Cup.

"Dear Mrs Slush, I know you think it cruel that I've abandoned you this Bank Holiday..."

Several ups and downs were experienced in the NCEL top-flight before 2007/08 yielded a runners-up spot and with it promotion to the Unibond (Northern Premier) League South.  The second season therein saw Glapwell narrowly miss out on promotion to the Premier Division when they were beaten 0-1 by Staffordshire club Chasetown in the Play-offs.

It was then that off-the-field events took precedence.  An agreement to share Mansfield Town’s Field Mill ground for 2010/11 was curtailed when the Stags were locked out of their home at Christmas.  The subsequent return to Hall Corner was not without its own problems, however, and at the end of the season, an ongoing dispute over the licence of the ground prompted Glapwell to resign from the League and drop down to Step 7 for the current campaign.

Despite the fallout from such a move – wholesale changes at management and playing level being just one of them – it was a fairly upbeat welcome that greeted our arrival on a sunny August afternoon.  Perhaps the hosts felt they were in for a repeat of their most recent outing against East Riding opposition - a 6-3 win over Hutton Cranswick in which the hosts had led 6-1 at the break!

Hopes of a smooth operation were hampered by warning from our hosts that the ground faced an 11am pitch inspection following heavy overnight rain.  Pitch inspection. In August. Someone was having a laugh...weren't they?
Thankfully, on arrival in Patrington I was informed by phone that all was now well and the game was on.
Considering we were without The Pistol (or perhaps because of this?!) our journey down was near flawless; our fleet of five cars arriving more or less in convoy a good hour and a half prior to kick-off.

"One day son, this will all be yours..."

Ushering the players out onto the pitch for a first feel (although only where the rather officious groundsman would allow them to go) I embarked on the task of laying out the day’s kit.  Today this involved unveiling the new First Team home shirts, as sponsored by Holderness Tyre Services Ltd following their success in the first ever Eastenders kit sponsorship raffle.

Unfortunately, Glapwell’s black and white home colours meant no airing for the full strip and instead I’d been forced to dip into the old green shorts and socks to avoid clashing.  It actually didn’t look a bad combo when put together.  Kit porn indeed.  

The kit sorted and team sheet written, the smell from the nearby barbecue hut determined where I headed next.  Two and a half squid bought me the tastiest of burgers, although there was a considerable feeling of guilt moments later when the very affable Glapwell club sec, Debbie, pointed Burt and me in the direction of the “Boardroom” where a decent hospitality spread had been provided for us.  Oops.  Still, we did our best to make inroads into it.

Unfortunately printer problems (what are they?!) meant no match programme although I was assured that one could follow on by post…er, I'm still waiting Debbie!?

Skip & Frosty (left) look on as Brett (right) perfects his "Thractor Dance"

Hall Corner is a neat little ground although without the sort of small main stand one would perhaps expect at this level.  All the amenities are situated at one end, with both sides offering a limited amount of covered seating and/or terracing.

The pitch itself seemed to slope down from both goalmouths towards the centre-circle, giving it an almost bowl-like air.

From casting my eye around the place just prior to kick-off, it was safe to assume that Glapwell versus Easington hadn’t caught the local public’s imagination.  A conversation at half-time with a member of the club’s backroom staff convinced me that Manchester United could have been at Hall Corner that afternoon and the club would still have struggled to pull a crowd in.  “Nobody in the village supports us” was the complaint; most of the twenty-strong crowd “come up from Bolsover or Shirebrook”.  A sad state of affairs indeed when there is this facility in which to watch a decent standard of football.

Nobody appeared too keen to go into details regarding the current impasse between the club and the Parish Council, owners of Hall Corner, but it’s clear that those involved with Glapwell FC feel very let down by those they feel should be supporting one of the village’s major assets.  Hmm, rings a few bells that.

I can't believe the pitch slopes that much!

As to the game itself, well, the major details are recorded here.  Suffice to say it was entertaining fare with Gav’s early goal being quickly cancelled out by Yogi Depasse’s equaliser following an awful Chav error.

Both sides went on to have good opportunities to win the game, especially when things really opened up after home defender Jamie Goodacre saw red for a foul on Frosty.  But it was Charlie who was called upon most in the dying moments.  At the final whistle the view was that this had been a good point, well earned.

Whilst appreciative of having a clubhouse within the confines of the ground, one usual drawback is that such places seldom stock real ale.  There was to be no pleasant surprise at Hall Corner.  No matter; I settled for a shandy before we bade our farewells at just before six o’clock.  I was back in Easington before eight.  Part one of the weekend had been a success.  

For you Mr Goodacre, the game is over...

My "Brownie Points" quota was bolstered by Sunday's participation in the annual East End Bogie Race, which formed part of the local Youth Club's Fun Day held to mark its 50th anniversary. 

I formed part of the "Grumpy Awd Men" quartet, along with two other Ezzie Committee men and "man for a day" Carol, wife of the Groundsman.  Age ensured we were never going to win the race but a first prize in the seniors best costumes category cushioned that particular blow.

As I returned home that evening, following an enjoyable session in The Neptune's beer garden (only Tetley Cask but on decent form) I picked up several messages from the Mack which suggested we would not be at full strength for the trip to Kinsley Boys.  Indeed, we'd be some way from it.  Not what I wanted to hear.

Having arranged the logistics around a lift to Hedon and a hop-in with the Chavmobile from there (accompanied by the Elder Slushette - a Bank Holiday bargaining tool) I arrived at the Embassy rendezous on Hedon Road to find I was the only one who had the faintest idea of where exactly we were heading.  A second worrying development to accompany that of lack of players...
I must confess I made a bit of a pig's ear of getting the four cars to the Wakefield Road venue but at least our 12 noon departure ensured we were still there in good time despite a tour of most of the amateur rugby league grounds of West Yorkshire!
Kinsley Village football club began life in 1962 in the Fitzwilliam U18s League.  Exactly when the name changed to Kinsley Boys isn't apparent from the otherwise informative history section of the club's website.  However, it is apparent that they are a club with a proud tradition and no shortage of honours.

An afternoon away with the Boys

Their ground is affectionately known as the "Cabbage Patch".  That term was not the first to spring to mind when the lads ventured onto a bone-hard, bobbly playing surface just before two o'clock that Monday afternoon.  This was going to be a game in which you couldn't trust your first touch (I had a career of those).
In Mack's absence, Nicho promoted youngster Jordan Hart from the Reserves to making his full debut.  He informed the teenager as part of a fairly rousing talk delivered shortly after arrival.  Lord only knows what his pre-match pep talk was going to be like if that was just his "quiet word before you get changed"!
But we needed to be psyched up.  Kinsley are among the favourites for honours in CML North although they would have to improve on Saturday's 4-4 home draw against struggling Harworth if they're to stake a realistic claim for the title.
From a chat over a cuppa with genial home secretary Andrew, I soon learned that the hosts were also depleted for today's clash.  But how depleted?  And how would our relatively inexperienced line-up cope with (a) big, uncompromising opposition; (b) the pitch and (c) a sizeable home crowd that didn't give the impression of being anything but totally partisan?  I needn't have worried.

Ah. Not the start we were hoping for!

Things didn't look great when skip for the day Blounty gifted Kinsley an early opener but gradually we came more into things and Frosty deservedly levelled matters right on half-time. 
With a strengthening wind in our faces, the second half soon became Alamo-esque with Charlie being called upon for a second game in succession to preserve parity.  Further details can be found here.
A decent crowd seemd to be engrossed in the game as much as I was.  Or at least that's what I thought until one bespectacled spectator came by me to return a match ball recently hoofed into the adjoining car park: "Two poor teams these", he said, "Makes me want to get my boots back aht an' ahm 40. Reet set o'wankers aht 'ere!"  The fact that he looked like he'd never kicked a ball in his life made the quote even more amusing.  Perhaps you had to be there...
The final whistle brought a huge sigh of relief from Nicho, and no doubt pride at a job well done.  Two points from two away games in three days is not to be sniffed at at this level.  I was happy - I'd had a good Bank Holiday!

Pictures courtesy of Burt Graham (Glapwell) & Paul Kingston (Kinsley Boys)