August 2014 (Part 2)

It might as well rain until September...

The second half of August turned out to be as miserable as the first, with poor results on the field - and I don't just mean watching Easington! Ironically, though, the most despondent I felt about any scoreline was one of the few successes - City's 2-1 win over Lokeren. And that's because Jordan Remacle's strike for the visitors just after half-time proved enough to send them through.

Saturday, 23rd August

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Clay Cross Town 2

The start of the Bank Holiday weekend and the start of a busy few days of live action. Clay Cross arrived after an indifferent start and with members of their management saying they were in for a bottom half finish this term. Such comments would appear to be slightly off-mark given their recent run!

As for us, this was a battling display and one we all felt deserved more than another home defeat. My official view on it can be read here.

The brief Clay Cross match report is here.

All pictures (which are also available on our Facebook page) are courtesy of Burt Graham, as are all the Eastenders action shots this month.

Monday, 25th August

CML North Division

Easington United 0 Appleby Frodingham 4

If Saturday's performance had offered encouragement, this was like a kick in the knads! This was easiest the poorest display I'd seen so far this season. And the weather was kack. And I got a bollocking in the pub for lack of players going back. Happy bloody Bank Holiday. Not. Read about it here. View the pics here.

Tuesday, 26th August

Pre-Season Friendly

Easington United Reserves 3 AFC Preston 2

Ah, an oasis of optimism amid a sea of despondency! Not that I got to savour it - the Stiffs being already three goals to the good by the time I got there. Gav's header (pictured) and a couple of excellent strikes from t'other 'Kettle, Mark, put the Reserves in command against their First Division opponents. The ex-Amateur League side fought back well after the break - aided by a constant shake-up of resources by Clarkey - and Daniel Collier was one of two scorers for the visitors...looking a stone or two bigger than he did before he left us for the ERCFA Defaulters List :-) 

You can see if you think I'm right by viewing the pictures here.

Wednesday, 27th August

Pre-Season Friendly

Sporting Withernsea Wolves U18s 2 Olympic SSC 1

The long-term future of our club could well be dependent on the progress of our official Club-Link partners Sporting Withernsea Wolves. Therefore the launch of an Under-18's side to complement their U16 and U14 teams should - hopefully - be to our benefit. And on this evidence, there are some handy young players about. Goals by Jordan Medcalf (pictured) and Korben Harman clinched a first day win over their open-age opponents. 

Thursday, 28th August

UEFA Europa League Play-Off Round, Second Leg

Hull City 2 KSC Lokeren 1

(Agg: 2-2; Lokeren win on away goals)

Two tweets I posted in the immediate aftermath of this gut-wrenching result probably sum up my feelings best. The first read: "Home. Bitterly disappointed and angry that it's een as some sort of blessing. It's not. It's a missed opportunity. #TypicalCity #hcafc". It received 413 views, 8 retweets and 6 favourites. I think I'd made a good point!

I added a second tweet before going to bed: "On purely selfish grounds I'm also gutted that I won't now get the chance to sing #CaravanofLove on a Europe-bound ferry full of #hcafc fans!" 

And in the morning I posted this on Facebook:

"Well, it doesn't feel any better this morning but I refuse to blame Bruce for last night. True I'd like to have seen a "stronger" starting XI but even with the team he fielded City should have done better. But we simply weren't good enough. I don't think I'll ever see Aluko have as poor a 90 mins as he did last night; he wasn't the only one. But what really winds me up is people saying we should concentrate on the Premier League. Sums up all that's what wrong with English football - the money of the PL. I grew up watching Sportsnight showing the likes of Leeds & Liverpool involved in big European games. The atmosphere & excitement was tremendous.We could have had a proper taste of that - certainly the aperitif we did experience was promising. Still, if people would rather visit Stoke, Leicester and Burnley than go to the likes of Milan, Brugge, Eindhoven, Monchengladbach etc then they've got their wish - I know which I'd have preferred having the chance to do."

I think I made my point. City going out of Europe had really p____d me off!

An official account of the night's events can be read here if you can bear to do so. I can't. Still.

Friday, 29th August

Super League

Hull FC 28 Hull KR 0

I must have really upset the "big man up top" given this latest setback. As if City's European exit and our current travails at First Team level weren't already seriously testing my faith in sport, Rovers then decided to put on perhaps the most gutless derby performance I have ever witnessed. From the highlight of a nice pint of Leeds Bewery Pale in Pearsons things went downhill quickly. Persistent drizzle ensured we were soaked by the time we'd walked from Prinny Ave to the dry environs of the Upper West at the KC. The walk back, after watching THAT, was even worse. Still, we and most of the Rovers contingent stayed to the end; yes, a small percentage emulated the "Wigan Walk" but compared to the black and white exoduses I've seen at previous derby games, the Rovers fans' loyalty was to be applauded. The only consolation was that a good side would have put 60-70pts on us!

So, no Play-offs for either Hull side this season. About sums things up nicely. Dullers can read about it again here.  Picture courtesy of the Hull Daily Mail.

Saturday, 30th August

CML North Division

Welbeck Welfare 2 Easington United 1

Buying a new car in Evans Halshaw meant I avoided seeing the most predictable result of the season - a second successive loss at perennial basement club Welbeck. I think I'd known all along that the day would end in disappointment - whether I made the effort to go or not. And, following the City and Rovers results, well, don't they say things come in three's? Even the prospect of finally getting to see the completed new development at Elkesley Road (pictured) wasn't enough to sway me.

As it was, I caught the result via Facebook in the car showroom, just prior to heading off for a lovely tea at the Home Farm. It was the climax of a "family day" I'd promised Mrs Slush at the end of a sporting week/month.

I think I made the right choice.

A report of sorts can be read here.

So, August 2014 - a month to forget. Roll on September...I think!

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...

March 2014

The good news was that March proved a full month of fixtures with no interruptions from the weather; the bad news was that we failed to pick up a solitary win from any of them!

Still, a month that began with a heavy home defeat at the hands of Bentley Colliery at least ended on something of a high – the return of a couple of old favourites in time to help secure a point at Phoenix...

Saturday 1st March

CML North Division

Easington United 1 Bentley Colliery 4

The previous season’s meeting with Bentley had seen us come out on the right end of an amazing 8-5 scoreline.  Unfortunately, it would be our visitors who returned to the home of the best pies in the league with the points, as we failed to build on the promise of the previous Saturday’s hard-earned point at Sherwood.

Making the afternoon even more disappointing was that the game marked Andy G’s first game in charge following The Sumo’s midweek resignation due to increased work and other commitments.

The official match report can be found here.

The Facebook pictures can be found here (Burt) and here (Craig).

Saturday 8th March

CML North Division

Easington United 3 Askern 3

To my disappointment, I’d missed the away game – and new ground tick - at Askern just prior to Christmas.  I’m glad I didn’t miss this one as both teams served up a very entertaining six-goal thriller...and a decent case of handbags as well!  Unfortunately, failure to kill the game off meant our winless run went on...

The official match report can be found here.

The Facebook pictures can be found here (Burt) and here (Craig).

Sunday 9th March

FA Cup Round 6

Hull City 3 Sunderland 0

An FA Cup quarter-final in Hull and only 16,000 home fans bothering to see it – just how bad is that? As my brother-in-law said to me beforehand, have City fans really become so blasé about success; surely not?

As it was, the large Mackems travelling support helped contribute to a decent atmosphere and by the end of the game the Younger Slushette had extended her winning run with the Tigers to three games in which City have score 13 goals and conceded none!

A fan's view of the game comes from City Independent's Ian Waterson as part of a decent piece run in the Hull Daily Mail prior to the Final.

In addition, Amber Nectar carried it's own fine report, while a national perspective was given by Louise Taylor in The Guardian.

As for me, I decided to buy a little reminder of a magic moment...

 Saturday 15th March

CML North Division

AFC Mansfield 4 Easington United 0

Hmm, perhaps not the first choice of match with which to tie-in my birthday (two days earlier) but for 40 minutes it promised to be one of those proper “I was there...” moments.  That’s because one of the youngest line-ups ever fielded at First Team level had more than held their title-chasing hosts.  Indeed we’d actually enjoyed the better chances.  Then the Bulls scored.  After the break they soon added a second and that was about that.

The official match report can be found here.

AFC Mansfield’s report (with pictures) can be found here.

The Facebook pictures can be found here.

Saturday 22nd March

CML North Division

Easington United 2 Newark Town 5

Newark were another team whose first visit to the ‘Humber Riviera’ attracted a decent away following but was also marked by one of the most miserable days of the season weather-wise!  Still, the visitors returned to Nottinghamshire buoyed by a victory that was all-too-easy for Andy Graham’s liking.

The official match report can be found here.

Newark’s report (with pictures) can be found here.

The Facebook pictures can be found here.

Saturday 29th March

CML North Division

Phoenix 2 Easington United 2

The return of a couple of familiar faces (as part of six deadline day signings completed by AG) helped inspire us to a fine away point at Brinsworth, especially given that the lads were forced to come from two down to do it.

The noise from the nearby New York Stadium, where Rotherham United were edging nearer to a League One play-off place, made for a slightly surreal pitch-side atmosphere.  Meanwhile, the choice of three hand-pulled ales in the clubhouse helped maintain this venue as one of my favourite on the calendar (I opted for Barnsley Bitter and Pheasantry PA).  

The official match report can be found here.

The Facebook pictures can be found here.

The Perfect Slush Away Day

Saturday 7th December

Central Midlands League Challenge Cup Round 2

Holbrook St Michaels 1 Easington United 3

A new ground, a win and a fine post-match hostelry.  These are the basic ingredients of a successful 'Slush Away Day' and all were supplied at Holbrook as we began this season’s CML Cup adventure.

Readers will not be surprised to read of my excitement when first learning that the second round draw had handed us an away game in Derbyshire at the south end of the Pennines.  Even allowing for the required early start (in order to accommodate the 1.30pm kick-off) this was a tie that ticked all the boxes – including the one marked “winnable”.

Even Sumo might fit in that dugout!

Situated six miles north of Derby, Holbrook is “one of the last hill villages of the Pennines with Derbyshire grit stone cottages at its heart and commuter-style developments on its fringes”.  It currently boasts a population of approximately 1,700.

Steeped in history, the Saxon name for the village was ‘Hale Broc’ meaning Badger Hill.  The ancient British trading route The Portway runs through Holbrook and is thought to have been used as a route for moving lead from the mines at Wirksworth to Nottinghamshire.  In Norman times the village was laid waste in retribution for the rebellion of Siward Barn, the local Anglo-Saxon thegn.  It became part of the royal hunting forest, the Duffield Firth and remained a royal estate until Charles I sold his holdings to the Bradshaw family in the 17th Century.

Three hundred years ago Holbrook was “a busy little industrial village earning a living by framework knitting”.  The quality of the work must have been high, as silk stockings were made here for royalty in both England and Spain.

The church from which today’s opponents takes its name was originally constructed in 1761 before being rebuilt and enlarged eighty years later.  It has twice survived major fires, in 1891 and 1907.

Along with the church, Holbrook also has three prominent houses – Holbrook Hall, Southwood House and Brook House – and two football teams. 

Holbrook Sports, formed in 1996 out of the ashes of the former Holbrook Miners Welfare club (which had been founded in 1931) have already progressed through the Central Midlands League and currently play their football at Step 6 level in the East Midlands Counties League.

Following in the footsteps of their neighbours, Holbrook St Michaels are descendants of the former Holbrook Swifts who, according to local newspaper records were successful in cup and league competitions around 1910-1912.  It was in 1912 that the club is believed to have changed its name to Holbrook St Michaels.

Records are sketchy but what is known for certain is that in early 1932 the Reverend Sides formed a team named after the village church of Saint Michael to play in the Belper Sunday School League.

Over the years the club has “had many successes” including becoming the only club to win both the Northern Section (1975 & 1983) and Southern Section (2006) of the Derbyshire Divisional Cup.

In addition ‘The Saints’ have progressed through the leagues – the Belper Amateur League, the Derbyshire Welfare League, the Derby Senior League, the Central Alliance and latterly the Midland Regional Alliance of which it was the longest serving member prior to joining the CML in 2012/13. 

The Holbrook Kop after being "stormed"

Their ground since 1936 has been Holbrook Park, where it has played continually with the obvious exception of the Second World War years. 

The venue has a certain rustic feel, not dissimilar to ours.  It is neatly railed off on all four sides but with minimum shelter.  A small seated area astride the halfway line that could be confused as being for spectators is in fact the two teams’ technical area.  Further along the touchline are two small banks of uncovered seats, one of which became “home” to the travelling support...well, The Pistol, Shotgun Burt and me (although Burt tended to wander up and down the pitch with his new extended lens in search of the perfect pic).

There should have been a small covered standing area, situated to the right of the “home” end goal near the changing rooms.  Unfortunately, as one of the friendly officials informed us beforehand, “’The Kop’ blew over during Thursday’s storms!”

Evidence of Thursday’s weather, including the tidal surge that had hit the east coast, had been seen on our journey down from the Humber Riviera.  Large areas of flooded farmland could be seen between Easington and Patrington, while the aftermath of the flooding in Hull city centre was still apparent when driving past the Kingston Retail Park on the A63 heading west.

Thankfully, conditions for this game were near perfect.  A fine, if cloudy, afternoon and not much wind offered decent conditions for both playing and watching.

"Yan-Nil"

We kicked off with the noticeable slope in our favour and were immediately on the front foot.  In fact we could really have had the game put to bed inside the opening ten minutes.

Despite numbering just a starting eleven and reluctant sub Biggie Smalls (looking not too bad considering he’d enjoyed a Friday night out that had included “six pints of Guinness in an hour” as part of the assorted drinking games) the lads appeared supremely confident.

Sam H was denied by the hosts’ keeper inside the first minute, Jammer rolled a great chance wide of the post, while neither AG nor Hutch could apply the necessary touch to an inviting Lew free-kick.

When we eventually broke the deadlock just past the half-hour, courtesy of a Lew tap-in after Gav’s shot had been saved, there was much relief in the celebration.

We spent half-time with our convivial hosts in the kitchen area of the changing rooms.  While enjoying a warm cuppa and with Five Live’s commentary on yet another defeat for Man Utd in the background, we discussed one of my fave topics, the current state of grassroots football – we did well to get back for the second half! 

Evidence of our hosts’ recent successes was provided by numerous framed pictures on the wall.  Our hope as we re-started proceedings was that any hopes of adding the CML Challenge Cup to this list would be ended at the second round stage...

And they were, thanks to a very impressive second half performance which saw us produce some excellent attacking football.

Lew’s second goal capped a terrific flowing move before Sam H settled matters, following another run that the home side simply couldn’t deal with.

To their credit Holbrook didn’t throw the towel in and after Fenwick Butcher had narrowly missed one chance, the youngster headed home neatly to provide some consolation for their afternoon’s efforts. 

Two for Lew

The post-match hospitality was provided by The Tavern, “a delightful 18th Century free house” in nearby Belper, “enjoying a commanding position on the main A6 trunk road from Derby to Matlock”. 

What a gem of a place; four cask ales on offer, a choice of live sport on the box, lovely intimate atmosphere and some great fodder (in particular the chilli sausage!).

Of the ales on offer I opted for one of the guests, Full Mash ESP (the other was Jennings Cumberland) and one of the regulars, Fuller’s London Pride (as opposed to Marstons Pedigree).  Both were nice.  No, correction, the ESP was nice, the London Pride was perhaps the finest beer I’d tasted in a long while – yes, it really was that good!

Stocking up at a nearby “offy” for the return trip, it was no surprise that by the time we’d got back to the East Riding I’d completely forgotten about the arsey text received from Mrs Slush moments after my departure...some nine hours earlier.  Hmm, discretion may be the better part of valour this evening I thought, as I took me and my kebab off upstairs for a double dose of Borgen.  Alone.
Still, what’s a bit of marital unrest when we’re in the hat for the third round draw!? 

My "official" match report can be found here along with a full set of Burt's pictures.

The photos can also be viewed on our Facebook page.

The official Holbrook St Michaels website can be viewed here.

Time For Action

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

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

 

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

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

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

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

Saturday 29th September

ERCL Division 1

Easington United Reserves 3 Hornsea Town 0

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

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

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

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

Tuesday 2nd October

Football League Championship

Hull City 2 Blackpool 3
 

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

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

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

Friday 5th October

Geno Washington & Yo Yo Blues 

Payback @ The New Adelphi Club



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

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

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

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

Saturday 6th October

CML North

Brodsworth Welfare 3 Easington United 0

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

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

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

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

Saturday 13th October

East Riding CFA Senior Cup R1

Easington United 3 St Andrews 3

(AET; Easington win 2-1 on pens)

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

Saturday 20th October

East Riding CFA Senior Country Cup R1

Easington United Reserves 4 Driffield Rangers 6

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

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



Tuesday 23rd October

Football League Championship

Middlesbrough 2 Hull City 0



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

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

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

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

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

Saturday 27th October

CML North

Easington United 1 Thoresby Colliery Welfare 0

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

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

 

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