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

Stoking the passion!

Sunday 8 November - Hull City 2 Stoke City 1
Remembrance Sunday / Up 'N' Under...

It’s not often that I’m “Mr. Popular” in our house, especially with Emma who usually accuses me of taking her younger sister’s side in arguments (she’s got a point, but that’s only because at six Emma’s huffs and sulks are shorter and less disruptive than three-year-old Katie’s, which usually involve the sort of wailing reserved for Palestinian funerals!).
Anyway, the reason for my recent elevation is that last Sunday I took Daughter No.1 to see her first ever Hull City match. And what’s more, she loved it. So much so that not only has she demanded we return “soon” but her ongoing list to Father Christmas now includes a fluffy Roary Tiger, pink hat and scarf set and some Hull City girl’s jim-jams. “I wouldn’t worry, she’ll forget about them in the morning” advised the missus. But she hasn’t, and it’s now nearly a week!
While I’d like to think that the reason for her delight (and my subsequent popularity) was a stunning Jimmy Bullard-inspired City fight back that yielded a much-needed three points in the quest for Premier League survival, courtesy of a last gasp winner by "Vinegar of Hessleroad"; it’s probably more to do with the fact that her trip to the KC Stadium gained her kudos among her classmates…and a “Wow!” from her teacher.
It's all a far cry I might add from when I bounced into school following my first visit to watch The Tigers. All I got following a 2-1 home defeat by Fulham at Boothferry Park in September 1975 was: “Never mind, you probably won’t have to go again for a while”; which I didn’t, as it happened.
Part of the reason why I had to wait so long was that Dad, a “love Geoff Boycott and eat your greens” kind of man, never has been the biggest football fan. And so it was mates’ dads who I relied on for my first glimpses of the lush green Boothferry Park turf.
The results weren’t great during those formative years. Charlton (0-2, Nov ‘77 despite Billy Bremner's best efforts) and Barnsley (0-2, Nov ‘79 after which four of us had to endure the train journey back from Boothferry Halt to Paragon Station with a coach rammed full of South Yorkshire folk) both followed Fulham out of Hull with the points. In fact the only highlight of my early visits was a Keith Edwards-inspired 4-1 win over Walsall; my first ever night match and scene of one of the greatest goals I’ve ever witnessed live. Think Roberto Baggio for Italy against Uruguay in the 1990 World Cup and you’re on the right lines. I wonder if, in later years, Emma will remember much about her first trip to City. Somehow I doubt it. To be fair much of mine is a blur and I was nine at the time. The details of the various scorers had to be looked up in books some years later, even Vince Grimes who put City one up, although I can still see the goal itself: a free-kick tapped to him about 25 yards out and arrowing into the top corner directly below where I was sitting in the front row of the South Stand behind Bunkers Hill.

I seem to recall Fulham counted George Best, Bobby Moore and Rod Marsh among their number at the time although none played. The only player I recall for them that day was bearded goal scorer Viv Busby. Apart from this my memories are confined to the abuse my mate's dad got when pre-empting another Fulham goal (he was a Londoner, they were his team hence the trip) only to be thwarted by a great save from Jeff Wealands which prompted what seemed the whole of the aforementioned Bunkers Hill "choir" to turn round and gesticulate at said mate's dad and those of us unfortunate enough to be in his company!

 I also wonder if time will distort Emma's memories similar to how they've already rearranged her recollection of the numerous rugby trips across the city to Craven Park (although she does remember the important bits - "we beat the black and whites didn't we dad?"). While I will remember the Stoke game as Phil Brown's "Last Chance Saloon", Jimmy Bullard's home debut and Olofinjana's first - and probably best - goal for his new club, my daughter will, I'd guess, retain memories of those cerise pyjamas, Roary Tiger and her dad making an arse of himself by gesticulating wildly at the Stokies following both City goals (like Tig-Chat match reporter Steve Weatherill I don't like Stoke!). Or perhaps it'll be The Black Eyed Peas' "I Gotta Feeling", one of her favourite songs ("this was on X-Factor dad") and the sound that accompanied our happy exit from the KC.
 Prior to the game I bought the latest (80th!) edition of “City Independent” and a decent read it is too; took me back to my own “It’s not the Programme mate” days recounted in my last blog. And for good measure I also bought an official programme, which to be fair has been consistently good for a number of years now.
Sunday’s trip to ‘The Circle’ formed part of a fulfilling day, which had begun in solemn style with a drenching at Hull’s Remembrance Day service on Ferensway and ended with yet another superb carvery at The Haven Arms in Hedon (complete with two very nice pints of proper ale - Copper Dragon Golden Pippin from Skipton and Willy’s Last Resort, a Cleethorpes brew).
The trip to Hull also allowed me to catch up on a bit of "quality" time with members of my family, something that has been restricted recently by a glut of home matches at Low Farm and subsequent time spent locked away in the study producing match programmes (see next Blog). Thankfully I did manage to "put my stint in" on Halloween and Bonfire Night.In addition I somehow wangled a "night out" of my own although it was a Monday and as it involved watching one of the worst City performances I can recall (the 2-0 defeat at Fulham via ESPN at The Holderness Inn in Patrington) it shouldn't really register. Not even a very nice pint or three of Black Sheep - and a not so nice Golden Pippin ("a word landlord please") - could salvage the evening.

The second occasion was far more enjoyable – another visit to the new Hull Truck Theatre to enjoy John Godber’s 25th Anniversary production of “Up ‘N’ Under” complete with Abi Titmuss! A cracking evening was enjoyed by my better half and I, which also included taking in a pre-show meal in the Theatre’s smart café-bar. As with “Confessions of a City Fan” this latest Hull Truck experience was worth every penny…even if the aforementioned Abi remains far too over-dressed throughout.

But, hey I've just seen City beat Stoke - you can't have everything!

Hull, Hell & Unhappiness

Thursday 22-Saturday 24 October: Five Live Octoberfest / Hull City memories

First up I apologise. No excuses. I got it wrong. Michael Turner’s sale from Hull City to Sunderland had nothing to do with the player wanting to leave, it was all to do with…well, I’m not sure what really. I was going to say “finances” but the returning ‘Messiah’ Adam Pearson assures us that’s not the case. And what AP says is good enough for me. Mind you, I said the same about Paul Duffen!!?

You see, as ridiculously naive as it is to "believe" (especially in these post-1997 New Labour-tainted days of spin, burying bad news and telling downright porkies in order to keep power) I still want to. Like many thousands of others for who Hull City FC holds a place in their hearts, I continue to “dare to dream”. Therefore it’s understandable that I was prepared to allow Messrs Duffen & Brown – the men who got us to “the promised land” – a bit of leeway when all my gut instincts were telling me that something was amiss.

And now we know. Along with many others in the “silent majority” I was taken for a mug. Michael Turner, the Tigers’ best player, rated at £12M, was sold for a third of that price with City only benefiting to the tune of £2.5M. Still, we got Paul McShane in return for a fifth of his reported price. Bargain! Result! Not.

This faith in authority stretches back to my Primary School days and remains firm despite many a knock over the years. Like my refusal to believe that the headmaster of said school could really be guilty of lewd acts in a public toilet (when it was proven in a court of law it made my previous role as his “bell monitor” a tad embarrassing).

Then there was my conviction at the time that Mrs T knew best when introducing the Poll Tax. And my support for Blair – in all other ways the epitome of everything I dislike – when he took British soldiers into Iraq. But, perhaps most shamefully of all, it was there in the days when I really believed that Terry Dolan was the man to resurrect Hull City’s fortunes!

Memories of the Dolan Era at City came flooding back recently when BBC Radio 5 Live broadcast a series of programmes from Hull, under the banner “Octoberfest”.One of the people behind the idea was Jonathan Wall, the Commissioning Editor at 5 Live and a former sports producer for Radio Humberside. As a guest on the Friday night “Sports Talk” he explained one of the main factors behind the idea as being Hull’s current status as a “premier sporting city” (four top class professional teams in three different sports).

In addition to plentiful coverage of The Tigers, as well as bits on Rovers, Hull FC and a token nod towards Hull Stingrays Ice Hockey, Octoberfest also included snippets on the city’s commerce and culture. Thus we were treated to interviews with some of the Kingston-upon-Hull’s finest ambassadors. Oh, and John Prescott.

With plenty of interactive stuff taking place around the streets, plus its own mini-website, Octoberfest brought positive publicity to a much-maligned city. What I wouldn’t have given for something similar twenty years ago.

During the period 1988-1992, in the wake of Acid House and the Madchester thing, I was part of a group desperately trying to promote Hull as another cool Northern city. Our main vehicle for doing this was a series of fanzines that profiled the city’s sport, music and culture. Unfortunately, more often than not the reaction was even cooler than the image we were trying to create!

It didn’t help that the only similarity between the Hull City of 1989 and 2009 was that you still can’t colour the letters in; or that when mentioning Hull music, people couldn’t see beyond the Housemartins; or that the irony of one of our first forays into street fashion – “Hull North of Manchester” t-shirts - was lost on most people.When the original fanzine “Hull Hell & Happiness” first hit the streets (to bemused reaction) in September 1988 City were drawing crowds of barely 5,000 at Boothferry Park. Remarkably, within a few issues, it was selling to nearly a quarter of that number. At the time, co-editor Andy Medcalf and I joked about giving up our day jobs and taking the fanzine full-time. Had we been able to command a similar sales ratio with the crowds of today we’d probably now be looking at early retirement!
Over the next few years a succession of fanzines came and went (“From Hull To Eternity”, “Look Back In Amber”, “Last Train To Boothferry Halt”, “Tiger Rag”) which, on the whole, received the nod of approval locally as well as national acclaim from inside and outside the game.
There were forays into the music industry. Compilation cassettes such as “There’s Something Stirring In King Billy’s Bogs” showcased Hull’s rich musical talent, gigs at The Adelphi brought the footy and music crowd together and then of course there was ‘The Chip Shop Boys’.

Once referred to by Adelphi owner Paul Jackson as one of only three local bands guaranteed to pack out the 200-capacity venue (the others being The Housemartins/Beautiful South and early-Nineties chart-band Kingmaker) The Chip Shop Boys (“featuring Patty Slappin’ Debs” to give them their later full title) was a prime example of an alcohol-fuelled idea that (almost) became bigger than the project it was meant to promote. I’ll tell you about it in more detail some day. Perhaps.




Going one step further than the CSB’s (i.e. into the recording studio) was ‘Young Amber ‘N’ Black’. Again, it was an idea inspired by a large intake of alcohol; if I remember rightly in the pubs of the beautiful cathedral city of Exeter on a Tuesday afternoon prior to watching a City side with a certain David Jones in the ranks draw 0—0 against The Grecians at the other “Sid James Park”. ‘Young Amber ‘N’ Black’ by…er…’Young Amber ‘N’ Black (featuring Leon)’ was going to be the song to finally end the awful booming out of Tina Turner’s “Simply The Best” on match days at Boothferry Park.


Recorded in Hull’s Fairview Studios, performed at both the Adelphi and The Blue Lamp (to rapturous receptions I might add) and “critically acclaimed” locally (well, we got a good review in ‘Where?’, the local Hull music mag!) we thought we’d finally cracked the big time. And when we approached Hull-based DJ, producer and all-round cool fokker Porky ‘B’ with view to him doing a “Remix” we thought we’d really struck gold. We hadn’t. Porky might have been keen to promote Hull but as a supporter of hometown club Wolves (who ran out to The Skatalites classic “Liquidator”) he also knew a thing or tow about what sounds good at a football ground. The idea stalled.


By far the biggest exposure for "The Fanzine Movement" (or Blind Faith '92) came via Gary Hook’s innovative t-shirts. Starting with a “hu” (front) “ll” (back) design based on that of hip Manchester band James, this part of the operation took off big style. No corporate logo or brand was safe as Gary brought out wave after wave of "rip-off" designs aimed at promoting the city (“01482”), its heroes (Amy Johnson even got a look in) and the football club (“Going Down With The Tigers”). The sideline eventually spawned its own offshoot, “Umber Leisure” (complete with a take on a certain similarly-named sportswear manufacturer’s diamond logo). But while cult band Carter The Unstoppable Sex Machine would probably have appreciated their typeface being used to accompany one of Hull City’s greatest ever heroes, Gary’s perversion of a certain soft drink’s slogan (“Enjoy Hull”) almost landed him in bother and after this brush with the legal bods, the designs dried up a touch. Understandably so.

Over time links were forged between the footy fanzines, their rugby equivalents and local style mags “Radar”, “Pulse” and “In The City”. Praise came from the legendary John Peel on his late night Radio 1 show, Mark Radcliffe brought Radio 5’s ‘Hit the North’ programme to the city and eventually the HDM gave us a regular slot in its Saturday night Sports Mail. But no matter how well received by “the converted”, for many locals and most of the outside world Hull remained a “backwater” and any “scene” remained secret.


Of course, for us to succeed we needed either top-class football or a chart-topping band. Manchester had Ferguson’s United, City’s inflatables, the Stone Roses and the Hacienda; we had Dolan, Fish, Death By Milkfloat and The Welly Club. I don’t think even a BBC "Octoberfest" could have bridged the gap.


By the time I returned to grassroots football, not only were The Tigers still in a mess but both rugby clubs were also on the slide. Indeed, the aforementioned Mr Wall went public with his thoughts that Hull and Rovers should merge – he’s somehow still around to be able to laugh at that suggestion some fifteen years on!


Ironically, having had the shot in the arm of the whole "Octoberfest" thing, the Tigers are now reeling from the fallout of the aforementioned Duffen's departure. Manager Brown would appear to need a win over Stoke to retain his place. Lose and it won't be his karaoke singing we hear at the final whistle but 3,000 Potters prforming "Delilah".

I'm taking my eldest to her first live match on Sunday and will no regale her with tales of when "Dad" was a member of the 'Black 'n' Amber Army'. Prior to the game she'll accompany me to the Remembrance Service in Hull City centre - I just hope the sombre mood of that occasion does not continue into the KC Stadium!

"Told You So"

Saturday 26 September - South Normanton Athletic (home) Won 2-1
Saturday 3 October - Phoenix Sports & Social Club (away) Drew 2-2
Saturday 10 October - Reckitts AFC, ER Senior Cup Round 1 (away) Lost 1-4
Reserves revival; Casuals crash!

Ah, it was to be expected I suppose. As soon as we went head-to-head for the first time with a team from the Humber Premier League it was perhaps predictable that those wishing to seize on the result as some sort of statement regarding the respective merits of both competitions would do just that.
And so, having been convincingly beaten at Reckitts on Saturday in the East Riding Senior Cup, to some "observers" the result is a clear indicator that the Humber Prem MUST be superior to the Central Midlands League; or at least to the CML Premier Division (given Westella & Willerby's 5-1 win over HPL Hedon Rangers in the same competition?).
Of course drawing any such conclusions from a couple of one-off games is absolute tosh. For a start Reckitts currently head the HPL table and on their day are capable of dishing out a good hiding to most if not all their fellow member clubs. But such comparisons serve no purpose anyway. Indeed they completely miss the point of exactly why we left the HPL in the first place.
The main reason clubs like Westella, Hutton Cranswick and Easington "jumped ship", as HPL Committee member and Reckitts boss Dave Start agreed on Saturday, was to play our football in what we see as being a better environment for "progressive clubs". And so far I think our move has been more than vindicated.
Facilities-wise we have had no complaints. All four grounds so far visited have been above or on a par with all but a very few of those available in the HPL. Ditto the set-up in terms of the actual clubs, while overall the standard of football has just about been equal to the HPL Premier Division. Indeed, on the evidence of our matches against the likes of Parkhouse, Church Warsop and Phoenix, all three would give any of the HPL's established "big three" (Reckitts, Chalk Lane and Sculcoates) a game.
Phoenix Sports & Social Club provided the opponents for one of the two Central Midlands League matches completed since my last post; the other was at home to South Normanton Athletic.

Fellow newcomers South Normanton came to us on 26th September in conditions more akin to pre-season. It was an absolute belter of a day. The Derbyshire side arrived on team coach and kitted out in white shirt and club tie; very smart and befitting a club resurrected from the ashes of one that played Northern Counties East League football as recently as 2007/08.
We won the game 2-1, although most of those present in the 51-strong crowd (including "Hopper" Harvey Harris whose current projects also include setting up a database of all players to have featured in the Northern League since the late-Sixties!) agreed we "got out of gaol".


Trailing 0-1 and having been second-best for most of the game, we turned things round with two goals inside a minute, the first from the most unlikely source - goalkeeper Charlie Holden's punt (pictured above). And with the visitors still reeling from this bizarre effort, Frosty nipped in to score number two (below) and win us the game.
The result proved extra significant given that it completed a long-overdue "East End Hat-trick". For the first time since October 2003, all three Easington teams playing on the same day managed to secure victories. I was particularly pleased for the Stiffs who had gone to reigning champions Howden on the back of a 10-0 drubbing in Goole the week before. Their 3-2 win at Ashes Park was therefore as needed as it was impressive. And the Casuals too were in need of a pick-me-up after a poor start - they got it via a win in Eastrington.
Unfortunately, despite a decent looking curry on offer in The Neptune afterwards and a more than satisfying couple of pints of Tetley Cask, the rest of the day brought only disappointment sporting-wise; courtesy of City's 6-1 thumping at Anfield and Rovers' exit from the Super League Play-Offs at the hands of Wigan. Ah well, there was always Ola's latest "non-costume" to ogle at on "Strictly..."
The following week we boarded the Riding School Fun Bus bound for Brinsworth, near Rotherham, home to unbeaten second-placed club Phoenix Sports. Conditions this day were very "Autumnal", with the strong and blustery wind threatening to make a mockery of proceedings on the exposed Pavilion Lane pitch.
The football pitch is tagged onto the side of what I imagine on a nice summer's afternoon would be a very picturesque cricket ground. The pavilion nestles nicely alongside the Sports & Social Club from which the team takes it name - a Cask Marque home, more of which later!
As for the football part of the ground, a homely tea hut sits yards away (but facing the opposite direction) from the spectators' shelter (above). Not the most luxurious football stand you'll ever come across but on a day like today when the wind's blowing a hooey it certainly does the job!
With Burt away negotiating the canals of north Wales on his narrow boat, camera duties were left in the hands of me and my trusty little Nikon Coolpix. Thankfully, on entering the ground I bumped into a very pleasant young lady from the Rotherham Advertiser who was there to take a team shot of our hosts. As she was intent on hanging around a bit to get some action pics, I boldly suggested she may like to send me a couple for "use at our end". And "Voila", below are the results (and better than Burt would have done I might say!!??)...

As to the game itself, the first half proved largely "formless" as I believe seasoned hacks term it. The main point of concern to us was a nasty looking injury to Thommo which forced him off after barely half an hour.

Above a happy, smiling bench...below a not-so-happy one. Nice swelling Thommo!

We had been advised beforehand that in dreadlocked striker Ebrima Mendy, the hosts possess possibly the best player in the division. And, true to form, having managed to contain him for the most part, he popped up on the hour to produce a piece of clinical finishing. Thankfully, by then we'd already got our noses in front courtesy of a stunning strike from Farny but when Phoenix were awarded a "soft" looking penalty just four minutes from time, duly converted, it appeared the turnaround was complete.
Not so as in the fifth minute of injury-time defender Dave Porter inexplicably elbowed the ball to safety (even though the shot looked to be going wide) giving "Chav" the chance to salvage us a point. "He takes a great penalty" said Manager Mack ahead of the kick. "Kiss of death that" thought I and the rest of the dugout. What little faith - almost the perfect penalty, high to the keeper's left right in the top corner.  2-2 and back to the clubhouse...



Ah what pleasures awaited me therein. Five (or was it six?) cask ales, including what appeared to be the resident beer, John Smiths Magnet. Of the guests, which numbered a couple of local Sheffield Brewery Co offerings, two (or was it three?) from Derby's Derventio Brewery and "Sharp's Own" (Cornwall) I opted for the latter as well as an unusual little gem, Sheffield's "Blanco Blonde". As the name suggests it was more of a lager but tasty nonetheless.
In truth I could easily have stayed for a live "Phoenix Nights" experience but driver Pete needed to be back for "X Factor" (??!!) so we boarded the Fun Bus and returned via the local "offy" with another satisfying away day behind us.
Obviously last Saturday provided no satisfaction. Even ex-East Ender Mike Nicho's view that "the only difference between the two sides was in the finishing" brought little consolation. And making it worse was the fact that the crowd at Inglemire Lane was predominantly comprised of Ezzie folk and/or supporters. Among those gathered was ex-Secretary Derek "Guv" Clubley ("I onny live round the corner") and former player Dave "Crazy Legs" Shaw accompanied by another compatriot from my old Hull City fanzine days, Finchy. I do hope when the pair make their way down to the revamped Farm for a game we'll put on a better show!
We now have four successive home games ahead of us, beginning with this week's second round tie in the League Cup, at home to Yorkshire Main, from Edlington near Doncaster. They're currently going well in the Premier Division, wherein they lie second after recovering from a recent dip in form with a 5-0 thumping of Hutton Cranswick. So it looks like being another difficult afternoon. We go into the game without our skipper - courtesy of the needless red card picked up in the last round (!!) and Owen who's again on County FA Juniors duty. Thommo and Lenny remain injured but hopefully Jamie should be back and there may well be chance for a couple of the Stiffs to shine following a welcome run of form at Reserve team level.

Last week's hard-fought cup win over Mill Lane, 3-2 from two goals down thanks to Stu Campbell's winner (above) followed victory the previous week against Beverley Town Reserves - the Stiffs' second in as many weeks against one of last season's top two. Long may the run continue.
As for the Casuals, their trip to York side Heslington in the cup showed up all that is good about Easington football. For although beaten 14-0 by a team almost four divisions above them, they never threw the towel in and then rounded off the trip with the time-honoured post-match "sesh" courtesy of the Fun Bus stop-off in Mkt Weighton.

"Win or lose we'll have a booze"!