An incredible day! The most amazing results

This is 2 weeks after bearing in mind! The day started in typical fashion with mini TJ having a match early on. Unfortunately everyone was up late and we got to the ground with 10 minutes to kick off. Not a brilliant start then I fell out with my Mum at the game and things weren’t going right. I was furious with myself, the rain held off and in a rather interesting game and the Wolves annhiliated their opponents and were 4-1 up at the break. The Wirksworth Colts side then conceded 3 goals in 2 minutes, 38th, 39th and 39th minute goals! Barely 100 seconds seperated them!

The Wolves added a few more, 3 actually and it probably should of been more like 15 by the end of the match. It wasn’t a repeat of the Whaley Bridge game which I missed and was reported as the largest ever win in the league, this was modest compared to what some sides get put past them.

We set off and I was under the impression I wasn’t going to make Curzon Ashton v Exeter City. We drove back via Buxton ending up back in Chapel a little after 1. It was at that point I realised I would actually be going and f**king hell I was glad. I packed my camera which turned out to be as useful as a chocolate shelter in the desert.

We set off just after 1:45 and headed up the A6 to New Mills, then the A626 over to Marple, Bredbury and eventually onto the M60 for 2 junctions. We came off at the Ashton exit and just before the IKEA took a left into a local road and turned left at the roundabout at the bottom. The ground was a couple of hundred yards away and mighty impressive.

I got out and waved farewell to the family heading into IKEA for the afternoon, the ground from a distance looks to be Football League Standard and wouldn’t look out of place in League Two. The queues to get in were 20 deep for terrace and the main stand, being a lover of terraces and not one to sit and pay £1 extra I chose to stand with all standing! I went in and came in behind a small raised 6 step terrace that was full of Exeter City fans

Lets make no mistake, Exeter came expecting to walkover. The ground has a 500 seat main stand with open terraces flanking it and there is two identical full length terraces behind each goal, both uncovered and finally a huge covered terrace on the far side with two smaller terraces flanking it. I elected to stand on the main terrace, which an excellent view from the second set of crush barriers you feel like you’ve stepped back a few years. The ground is modern but to stand on a terrace at the side of a pitch that is as big as this one its a throw back. These terraces don’t exist anymore.

The game started with the Red and White of Exeter attacking the end that was supposed to be full of Curzon fans? No, all Curzon fans were on the main terrace from the best vantage points in the ground. Exeter looked a good side until Curzon finally started to attack, Chris Worsley found the ball in the box and hit a shot that got deflected into the corner, the thoughts of a shock seemed realistic but as the game went on you got the impression they needed more than that goal, Exeter might of got beat 6-1 by Chesterfield at home but were no mugs.

The half-time soup was good, served at the side of the main stand, a mini Greggs in a small football club’s ground, simply fantastic. The free muffin known to anybody else in the country as a ‘breadcake’ was quite nice and the soup didn’t go cold until late in the second half.

I arrived back on my place on the terrace, I may have slightly exaggerated the above but I’d always wanted to come to this stadium and anything less than fantastic would of dissappointed me, maybe my vision was coloured with hope and expectation.

What happened in the second half turned out to be one of the biggest shocks in FA Cup history, Curzon scored not once but twice more, James Ogoo’s amazing turn and piledriver before Michael Norton dinked one into the roof of the net. Blyth v Shrewsbury, neither does any game in the last 15 years at least compare to this. Exeter’s fans, the non-league world and more importantly footballing analysists stunned at something dubbed impossible

Curzon were in absolute dreamland but conceded two late goals, Steve Basham then Dean Moxey who starred in the Exeter City v Manchester United clashes a few years ago scoring. It was an amazing feeling to see the game. When the pitch invasion at full time ensued I managed to stand on the hallowed turf but in a rush to get away I legged it out the ground and into a waiting car to go home.

I got home still stunned and feeling for the 300 Exeter City fans going home with their names all over the papers for the defeat.

I managed to grab a bite to eat before relaxing then watching the goals late at night

TJ

New Mills v AFC Fylde, Game 31 and Game 32

This was a later start than usual and I’ll keep this report rather short as I have another to catch up on. Mini TJ as usual played on a Saturday and it was the 1st day of November, the night after Halloween. Halloween had been ok, two of the 10 paint bombs exploded prematurely on a carpet. The rest I had to take out manually open them up, let the paint drip into thick grass then bury the bags under a pile of leaves. My wellies had gone black after paint went on them

Onto the morning, I got up at 9:30 ish and got ready to some reporting on mini TJ’s game against Doe Lea. Doe Lea is a small place 5 miles from Chesterfield. The journey down wasn’t too bad my opting for wellies over trainers proved a fine choice as the wet ground would of soaked my trainers with no time to dry them. The Wolves led 2-1 at the break but somehow found themselves 6-3 down with 20 minutes of the start of the second half. She played well and the Wolves grabbed a late goal which was more than deserved.

We headed towards Buxton after the game, arriving at about 1:10 where I said goodbye to the family and still in my wellies headed off to Buxton station for the 1:30 train to New Mills. £2.65 return from Chapel to New Mills on the bus is a rip off, the price for an 11 mile return trip to New Mills was £2.40. The robbing sods on the buses, I f**king hate them. Excuse the language but I’m sorry why should I pay a rip off amount for a bus? I’d rather walk 10 minutes further than get abuse off a bus driver. My advise is don’t use it unless you must. Whenever I’ve travelled by bus I’d got off wanting to throw a brick through the window. The train is far better, the conductors do a grand job.

Anyway I bought a ticket and waited for the train to depart. It did right on time and arrived on time in New Mills at just after 1:50. I stepped off the train and had 1 hour to waste. I didn’t fancy walking upto the ground so early with very little battery on my phone otherwise I’d of listening to music and played Pro Evo 2009 on my phone. I walked over the footbridge double checked departure times for the way back and walked down into New Mills. I walked to Union Road and followed a path round and back on myself that lead onto the Sett Valley Trail under the Union Road bridge, I followed my nose heading in a general direction of North.

I ended up at the bottom of Church Lane and walked as slow as I could. I entered the ground not knowing what time it was. I looked at my phone, 2:11. Oh great. I sat down in the main stand and waited and waited and waited for the game to started. Just like double physics only worse.

The game did start and it was nothing short of ok. New Mills played well stopping top of the table AFC Fylde from leaving Church Lane with any sort of point. Adam Mather smashed the only goal of the game in the first half and Fylde consistently attacked without making any great chances. As I write this they’ve apparently signed a striker who CAN hit a barn door. For top of the table they looked very average just like their supposed massive away support that was hardly noticed apart from two flags.

Half-Time saw me come away with no Bovril but a 90p can of Coke. Another rip off but can’t fault the club for trying to make money. Fylde did leave New Mills fans tearing their hair out right to the end and Kharas for New Mills went off injured but when the final whistle blew a few things became clear. New Mills always win when I see them, Fylde aren’t unbeatable and every match should be enjoyed.

I walked along Marsh Lane at full time and waited for my Dad who picked me up instead of me walking to the station. I got in to a Wednesday draw at Palace.

Tom

New Mills v Hyde United – Game 30 – Monday 27th October 2008

Sorry this is over a week late but here goes. It was my first day of the school half term holidays and after two eye piercing games at Buxton on Saturday I was going to my 30th game of the season so far. Looking forward to it? You bet I was. This game was a Manchester Premier Cup tie, I personally couldn’t wait.

The day itself was quite good, I woke up intending to go to Manchester for the day but the money has dried up and I couldn’t afford. I decided to look at the National Cycle Route’s near Chapel. I looked at it and thought it was a complete load of crap and went out to get my bike. The recent rain meant any cycling would involve mud, I decided to wear my best t-shirt underneath a waterproof jacket and had some 3/4 length trackies on. I set off just after 10:30 aiming to be back by about 3. Not really knowing where I was going.

Its fair to say I’m not overally fit at the moment having not rode my bike for the best part of a year. I cycled towards Chapel Milton, under the Blackbrook Valley viaducts and onto the Tramway Trail to Buxworth. The ground was waterlogged, there was a lot of mud and 6 inch deep puddles. By the time I arrived at the Bugsworth basin I looked like I’d slept in a mudbath. Head to toe in mud. I decided to carry on following the Canal, I never intended to go as far as I did but arrived at Marple at just after 12. I carried on following the canal path towards Macclesfield. Obviously I never went to Macc but had to cross a road, lifted my bike over a gate that stated no bikes and cycled on the path to the A6 at High Lane. I arrived at High Lane just after 12:30 and cycled up hill all the way back to Whaley Bridge

I got caught in a hailstorm at Disley before arriving in Whaley just after 1:15. Not bad timing, 11 miles in 40 minutes. I started to suffer with fatigue and my back packed up halfway to Tunstead Milton. I kept resting along the B5004 and arrived eventually back home still covered head to toe in mud at 2:00. Making it through the door and falling in a heap with my legs not being able to support my body anymore.

I quicked showered off and then got ready for the New Mills v Hyde game later in the day. I passed the day on football forums and listening to Oasis and Pendulum repeatedly till I kicking myself with boredom. I then won the Cricket World Cup 1999 game, smashing 893 runs for 3 with England v Australia, I bowled the Aussies out for a meek 23. I had won the game AGAIN.

My Dad took me and mini TJ over to Church Lane, £2.50 admission on an extremely cold High Peak night. New Mills started the better but fell behind shortly before the break while I was trying to get a Bovril. Being who and what I am I got two Bovrils. Its cold I’m tired I want a drink. I went to stand down with some New Mills fans I know and watched New Mills equalise from 20 yards before a magnificent own goal put the Tamesiders back infront for 2-1. Hyde had brought few if any fans and most of the 150+ crowd were Millers. On a singing contest the NWCFL side would win by chanting just the once.

The Millers hauled themselves level with not long left and the Hyde keeper had to exit the play injured. The game went to extra time after a 2-2 draw but decided to leave and take some rest after a good match

It ended 4-2 New Mills after extra time

Next up = New Mills v AFC Fylde

Tom

You’ve just got to love football…game 28 and game 29

A lot of people would probably laugh at this pick of games. Blazing Rag v Bradwell Sports in the DD Cup North and Buxton v Marine in the Unibond Premier. The weather since my last game on Monday was fantastic despite this our school field resembled a mudbath and I had thoughts of mudbaths up on Kents Bank Road home of Blazing Rag.

We broke up Thursday so I enjoyed listening to music and playing Stick Cricket for most of Friday, Stick Cricket is officially the most frustrating game on the internet. Bar none it drives me insane. Just for a change on Friday it tipped it down all day. I had thoughts of getting to Blazing Rag with no game on. Thats the last thing I wanted.

Saturday morning I wasn’t up so early in fact up at 10 ish. I had nothing to eat but had a cuppa then sat down and checked the kick off time at the Rag once more. I then watched football focus before we decided to set off at 12:40 for Buxton and mini TJs sponsored run for her football team. Fun, fun, fun!!! We arrived at Buxton Community School quite early so I got dropped off at Rag vs Bradwell and to my delight it was on. I had a raincoat and was prepared for the worst.

Actually I wasn’t prepared for anything after what happened next. The gale force wind and driving rain started. The first half was almost as bad as the weather, the teams appearing from a hut 60 yards from the pitch similar to Edale’s and Blazing Rag were donned in all red while Bradwell Sports wore white with black sleeves, black shorts and black socks. The first half saw few chances and me and my Dad happened to know half of Bradwell’s side combined.

In the second half everything livened up, Blazing Rag took the lead through a header then clipped the bar from over 40 yards. For the Blazing Rag it went all up in flames, Bradwell scored 2 quick goals and it was all over despite Rag’s best efforts. Bradwell scored another where anyone watching or playing could of got hypothermia such was the intensity of the weather

My Dad picked me up and dropped me off 2 minutes away at Silverlands. I arrived about 5 minutes early, my sister had left her money and her phone in the car and I simply couldn’t find her in the ground. So anyway the game kicked off and from the start you could Buxton weren’t going to win. Carl O Donnell knocked home after 18 minutes and you would of expected Marine to push for a second that they’d be expected of getting. They are 2nd in the Unibond Premier Division and at 17th place Buxton.

This simply didn’t happen, Buxton pressed well but couldn’t find an end product consistently fouled and the referee couldn’t care less. Gavin Knight hit the post and then was taken off injured. Gregg Anderson was then victim of a Carl O’Donnell tackle, totally wreckless, late, two footed and it was 4 minute stoppage. A horrible little player. £1.30 for a bacon bap ain’t bad after I covered it in brown sauce, as opposed to £2 for a burger, it was brilliant value for money

Marine came out and did the same in the second half. The keeper had about 70% of Marine second half possession a timewasting cheat, the 6 had no respect and 7 was a troublemaker. Buxton threw everything at Marine but it simply wasn’t going to happen. The Mariners got a very late penalty, Scott Hartley was adjudged to have fouled Shaun Tuck, a foul nobody actually saw. Sean Hussey scored the penalty and there uproar on all 4 sides of Silverlands. Buxton fans hurling abuse at Marine players and the referee who in one word was ‘Sh*te’

I got home, checked the results I knew weren’t in my favour, Hallam and Sheffield Wednesday defeated.

Tom

Yet another match..

This will be my shortest match blog ever. H.V.C v Chellaston in the Derbyshire Cup. The day had been ok, double physics isn’t my cup of tea but it was certainly better than the pouring rain. At 3:45 I made my way out onto the field to watch the game. But no I decided to run the line and in battering rain and ripping wind waved a red & yellow flag about for 35 minutes.

The wind and rain stopped and H.V.C were 1-1 against an ok Chellaston side. It looked like FC United of Manchester vs Yeovil Town on kit colours but it was an even game. At half-time I didn’t swap sides with the other linesman who should have played us but flagged them offside a few times much to our defence’s delight.

I had to leave early, 20 minutes early in fact. I got a text through at gone 6 saying we’d gone 3-3, 3-3 after golden goal time then won 5-4 on penalties. Chuffed? Course I was.

Blazing Rag v Bradwell Sports and Buxton v Marine next

Tom

You shall not go to match and a 9 goal cracker

Today was like no other Saturday morning at the moment, another early start and another chance to get my trainers soaked before racing to get them dry before the afternoon’s match. Today mini TJ was playing the Buxton Wildcats for only the 3rd time in 5 weeks, this sort of sentence is usually followed by a sarcastic smilie. With wordpress not having smilies I can’t put one, rather frustrating one must say.

I got up at 7:30 by a rather loud dog and my phone blurting out 18-30 by the Reverend and the Makers. I looked through the msn convos I had at 11:30 last night checking if I’d missed anything or said anything I shouldn’t of. Convos on a Friday are usually written under the influence, I hadn’t drunk any alcohol but checked for the hell of it.

I went down and made a cup of tea knowing I wouldn’t have time to drink it, in the end I tipped it into a mini flask and me, mini TJ, Dad and Tip made our way to Buxton where we picked up Tara’s teammate and her Mum. The journey on the A6 was as good as watching a repeat of Sheffield Wednesday vs Grimsby Town in 2002/2003. It was that boring I almost fell asleep though surprisingly we arrived at Darley Dale pitches within 40 minutes of setting off from home.

We went upto the top where the pavillion is located and waited, me and mini TJ having a kick about on the soaked grass and my feet were wet within 5 minutes. The game kicked off at 9:41 with me and about 6 others stood behind the goal cheering the Wolves on. A full report is located…. http://www.buxtonjuniorfc.co.uk/index.php?page=team&teams_id=60 after the Wildcats 3rd goal a complain was made about us standing behind the goal, the referee told us to move to the sides as apparently we could be putting the opposition off. I’m sorry but aren’t relatives of the players allowed to cheer their side on? Is this wrong?

Half-Time passed quite well, little Tip was enjoying attention and the Wolves were ready to start 2 minutes earlier than their opponents.

The second half was quite funny, the linesman and referee not playing to the full ball out = throw in rule. Instead calling throw in’s when the ball was half out or on the line. 3 more goals followed after 6 goals in a quality first half, the 5-4 scoreline was probably not a fair reflection of the game.

At the end we departed in good spirits, taking the A6 to Ashford, the backroad to Wardlow Myers and the A623 back to Chapel. Everything was going according to plan. We got back to Chapel just after midday and as usual I prepared everything, match reporting stuff, flask, camera and after a bite to eat we set off at 1:20 knowing we’d make kick off quite easily.

We arrived in Sheffield just after 2 and headed out towards Meadowhall on roads I’d not been on for nearly 5 years. Then it clicked, I’d not got a seperate independent set of directions to Parkgate. We followed the navigation system to Green Lane, Rawmarsh and arrived at 2:25. Unfortunately it was the wrong Green Lane and I was 5 miles from Parkgate F.C with no clue how to get there. I was on the wrong end of a b*llocking and we set off towards Parkgate.

Now in Rotherham its fair to say the people aren’t the cleverest and many mock Rotherham for being ‘thick’. The next hour proved that sincerely and after trawling round Rotherham for 40 minutes we couldn’t find the ground and seemed ready to give up. No-one knew where Parkgate Football Club was. At 3:19 I remembered a road near Roundwood Sports Complex and 6 minutes later found the correct Green Lane but no ground entrance.

I was dropped off at a bus stop and was walking into unknown territory. I headed down a lane and past a cricket pitch to Roundwood pavillion with no idea where the ground was. I walked round the pavillion and found the entrance to my uttermost relief. I paid £2.00 and that was the best £2 I’ve ever handed over. I sent a quick text saying I’d arrived at a 0-0 after 27 minutes and stood on the far-side to watch the first half making few notes.

A full report is at www.hallamfc.co.uk/matchreports.htm – It was the best 1-1 I’ve seen and compared to Buxton vs Boston it was absolutely brilliant. The journey home was better and I was glad I’d got to the game. Thats one derby game out the way but I’m actually concerned about Hallam. I’ll be back in 2 weeks for the Thackley home game.

Tom

Bit of an update….

Two games this weekend….Buxton Wolves vs Buxton Wildcats and Parkgate vs Hallam ! !

I’ve so far had no reply from Piotrish about this blog going on Football365 although Saturday I will be officiating again and on 29th October I will be joining Ben Price in the Football Fantime Studio in Chapel….all is looking good

I just hope this rain keeps away….

Tom

Match 24…

This game was only known about by 50 people or so, our school vs another. I’m not going to mention school names for obvious reasons, people already know about me already.

The day itself was overlooked by a freak accident, a sunny bright day in Derbyshire overshadowed by a ‘poor’ lad snapping his ankle in two. The Maths, English and History lessons previous to lunch had been ok, I’m running the void with after-school detentions for non completed homework and the excuse of coursework from everyone wasn’t working, the truth was coursework took priority.

So I start to enjoy a nice kick about on the tennis courts, Y11 vs Y10 and 15 minutes in its about 14-5 to us and I have scored 4 very easy goals. The actual score was lost within 2 minutes of kicking off, its that bad! The only problem was and the problem since about March, the same Y10 retard threatening to break my ankle in a tackle. 15 minutes was enough for me, my school top hanging off me and I couldn’t be bothered. I sat down and listened to some reverend and the makers. I then had people asking me why I’d punched a lad in English, he’d taken my phone and some of my money and didn’t expect a reaction. I went back and played some more

I couldn’t find the net and within 5 minutes I was sporting a split lip for trying to a win a header, the other lad went in foot at head height. I sat down and played Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 on my phone, I was beating Strasbourg 22-0 with Man Utd, Man Red as the game calls them. The lad who has threatened to break my ankle got the ball, he then tripped over his own feet and landed awkwardly. I at first thought he was faking it. That was until I saw the compound facture. Very Eduardo like and I felt like throwing up. An ambulance was called, the injury horrific, everyone in shock.

Call me bitter or what have you but I spent double Physics actually mocking the accident. He had threatened to break my ankle and then breaks his own in a freak accident. I sit here at 9pm, on Monday night 7.5 hours after his accident and still think the same. I normally am very considerate in these situations but with the pathetic two foot jumping in on legs by him and his cronies for 7 months I was glad. He’ll not walk for a while its a shame really, quality footballer with no brains when he plays against me

Little did most of the school realise the seriousness until about 2:30, an air ambulance was landing. We waited until our mini break then went and checked it out and whipped my camera out and took a pic of the air ambulance. Talk about a dramatic exit! The only air ambulance in Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicester and Rutland been scrambled to the school. Physics passed quickly with no-one back in lessons for a while

The game came, 4:00pm stood on the field, just after school taking shots from 30 yards or so. My feet aren’t exactly good at the moment. The portable goalposts were moved into position by our team, I took a shot at the smallest lad in the team from nearly 40 yards and smacked him in the back of the head! I then spent 10 minutes running as far as I could, for a small lad he’s powerful and fast. 4:30 came, no sign of the opposition. Me and a few lads went back and took shots again, one in 11 of mine went in, a 30 yard run and 25 yard shot into the far corner.

It was at this point I told my mate Kyle running the line I’d like to cover the game with a report, this below is only brief but very little else happened! Hopefully this will get published in the newsletter.

They turned up and within 3 minutes were penalised for something only my mate Shez will know. He appealed and our lot had a penalty. Injured Jack stepped up and with as little power possible put it straight down the middle. The rain started to come down and the game turned rather scrappy, We weren’t able to apply offside correctly and the winger headed an equaliser on 28 minutes. I started playing a little football and the ball got floated into the air, I took aim with an acrobatic effort at the Y11s watching the game, it managed to hit the bench, fly up and over into the courts almost taking out a netball player from some other school. A bit silly, my jeans we covered in mud.

The two strikers for us were lively, a 30 yard lob sailing just over and our centre mid keeper pulling off some fine saves, one of which an acrobatic one hand save to stop a volley headed for the roof of the net. I often slate quite a few of the players but against a strong opposite back four they did rather well and exploited every possible gap they had. After 35 minutes the half drew to a close, our school the better.

The second half was much like the first, a scrappy start but our right winger caused a few problems, well he’d of given the keeper a problem, had he not blazed over from 18 yards on the angle instead of cutting in further. It was on 50 minutes I had to leave and told Kyle to tell me about anything major that went on after. He said 1-1 draw and that was it. The remaining 20 minutes was poor and a 1-1 draw was a fair result

I get home and then open an inbox crammed and the ChapelTom topic on www.footballgroundguide.ipbhost.com

Parkgate vs Hallam next or Buxton vs Hednesford Town if I can scrap the cash together….I’m running low on money having worked about 3 times in 3 months. Normally I work 5 times a month. The money is drying up…

Tom

Stuff soon gets around

When I started this blog it was because I didn’t know whether the www.hallamfc.co.uk website would continue this season, 22 miles to a home game is quite a lot when your busy. Anyone unsure about why I carry a  clipboard should turn their attention to the match reports section, I write the reports and make notes on the games. I’ve been doing this since I was 12.

The recent comments on the Football 365 website have been read by members of this forum >>>> http://footballgroundguide.ipbhost.com/index.php?showforum=7 <<<< where I’ve made over 1400 posts. The comments don’t bother me, the fact its called to my attention on a site I frequently visit. The Buxton FC Bloke posts under various names and I know who it is.

This blog will stay open but the reason I posted the snap post below what to highlight the fact I know people read it no matter how boring or small talky some find it.

Tom

Unfortunately due to a lack of money having not worked in 3 weeks, only twice in 3 months and a pile of coursework my next game is next Saturday, the 18th Parkgate vs Hallam

The replay was a 3-1 defeat for Hallam and on the 11th I was out all day with my Dad, we missed mini TJ and her team win 16-0 vs Whaley Bridge. A massive win and I’m not overally happy that something I had to came up. If the 16-0 was delayed for another week

No game in midweek either, 2 weeks without football is ok if you have something to do. I’m currently up to my shoulders in coursework unfortunately.

I may have to shut this blog down as well, I’ve been getting some strange emails atm abwt this blog from people who read it

Tom