Brid 0 – Hull City 3

What turned out to be another large crowd turned up for last nights game – 628, and most of them seemed packed by the bar end, I’m sure that most of the away support couldn’t believe it when they could have a beer whilst watching the game. A big no no at the KC. And i’m sure like me, most of the crowd had come to see a strong team from the tigers. However, the lads that were playing for Hull, did show that they were a well balanced team, who could pass well, run into space well, tackled well and helped each other out – hopefully our players will have learnt from it.

There were some improving signs in our game though, but I think the gaffer needs to sit down with the team and impose some belief into them, because at the moment, they don’t have confidence or much team spirit. I think we have a good goalie for this level, but he is letting himself down a tad with his defensive forays – its unfortunate for him, one mistake can cost you dearly. I thought last night Stoney played well, as did Harps. One of these two MUST take the captains responsibility from the current incumbent, who is too quiet. Whilst the current captain is quiet, he needs to have a bit of faith in his game too, the management team have seen some potential from him at some point, but of late, I haven’t been that inspired.

Phillo & Greavsie worked tirelessly all night, and James Dean showed some good points (and some poor ones – needs to learn to pass earlier and more accurately, coz he sure does get a lot of ball, he’s big and strong and seems to have an eye for goal, but doesn’t seem to realise there are 9 others on the pitch with him.)

a good work out, a lot to learn, and it was nice to see Phil Brown shake the hand of all the Brid players as they left the field last night.

Big game tomorrow, away at Winterton Rangers, they beat a stronger Hull team last week 3-2, with some great compliments by Phil Brown on how good there football was on the day. I’m not sure if i can get to the game but will try.

Town v Hull City (h)

Imagine my delight when I heard on the radio today that BBC Radio Humberside would be at tonights game at Queensgate to cover the game with both teams expected to put out fairly strong teams. Fantastic !! And as an added bonus, Burnsey and Gwillym Lloyd would be doing their radio show from the ground tonight also. This should bring the fans flocking !!

Then bugger me, i heard the report at about 4.30 to hear that the Championship team were bringing only 1st year pro’s and that no 1st teamer would be playing. Pisser.

I know that clubs like Hull are in demand pre-season especially when clubs like ours look forward to the game as much for the prestigiousness as well as the cash. When i was a kid watching my local team in the 70’s, the local pro teams would always send a side to help generate some experience and cash for the club to survive on for the rest of the season, a “West Ham XI” would contain 3/4 reserves, 3/4 youth team and 3/4 pro’s – Billy Bonds or Trevor Brooking, you know someone you’ve heard of – likely hood the pro’s were trying to regain fitness after a late season knock. Tottenham, Leyton Orient, QPR, Watford would all send a team. It was always a special night.

We played the Tigers last season, with several 1st teamers trying to get back to fitness, this included Nick Barmby. Quality player over the years with the likes of England Liverpool Tottenham and back to his hometown club. One thing i noticed and I still remember it today, was “what a brilliant player, what a miserable sod” When he came off mid way through the second half, the youngsters were going up and asking for autographs, he would sign them but he didn’t look happy doing so (I could be wrong and for balance this is only my view!), I’m sure that when he was a kid he would have been overjoyed at getting such a great autograph and that the pro concerned would have smiled and been happy to sign. In 1980 I remember getting my little sister to get Tony Woodcocks autograph for me, coz i was so scared about asking, never mind that i had just had a 20 minute kickabout with him at non-league Wealdstone’s ground. perhaps i was just in awe of one of Englands best forwards at the time. Forests great 79 team profile incl T Woodcock

It’s things like this that stay with a kid forever and remind them how magical football is at all levels and at all ages.

Brid 1 – Hall Road Rangers 1 (a)

I meant to jot a few notes down last night, after I had got some info from HRRs site. I was really looking forward to this one, as several of Brid’s recent stars now played for them – Martin Thacker, Paul Palmer, Shaun Baker and Jamie Barnwell. obviously from my own experience, losing these guys when we did (at varying times I hasten to add) was a blow, as they were all great assets to have.

Take Shaun Baker, he realised half way through last year that Unibond pace was fast catching up with him (injuries had slowly taken their toll) he left Brid after umpteen years of service to play at a slightly lower level. Today he was in the HRR team and was absolutely immense in the middle of the defence, reading the play and giving the Brid players very little space.

Today was bizarrely my first away game as a Brid fan and what a contrast to the last two games – combined crowds of over 1,000 for the last two, there must have been about 50 at most for todays game, quite a few of these were Brid peeps. If truth be known, there was probably more players on show today than spectators. HRRs clubhouse was large and pretty smart, with pool tables, snooker tables, 2 dartboards and a couple of function rooms.

£4 for me and £2 for the lad wasn’t going to break the bank and the ground took me back to my childhood when one of my uncles played lower league football at grounds like this (late 70’s).

The game itself started well for Brid with a strong team out, but found chances quite few and far between, especially as they dominated possession and territory. One or two salvos from Palmer/Barnwell and Thacks were all HRR could muster in the first half. James Dean for us took a well deserved goal with a shot from outside the box that hit the post and across the goal and in. one sour note in the first half saw Wayne Wallace hobble off early on with an injury – hope its only a slight knock.

Second half saw the inevitable substitutions, but for me the game started to get a bit stale – not that i didn’t enjoy it, it was just each team were canceling the other out. HRR did equalize from one of those dubious challenges on Paul Palmer (he does make the most of those situations) and palms scored the penalty – Clarkey going the right way, but unable to stop a well taken strike. The ref did seem to have his “non-bridlington” hat on today, amazing how many refs come across that way !!

All in all, the lads are getting fitter, starting to gel a lot better, and by the time we play Frickley and Chesterfield, could be in a position to give them a good run for their money.

Roll on Monday night at home to a Hull City team.

Brid 2 – Scarbrough 4

Before the battle of Queensgate commenced, I wanted to add to the blog that a few of Brids ex-players would be playing for the opposition – Joe Lightowler, Drew McCoubrey and Chris Hyam to name but 3 – but the bloody blog site was down (and at 10.30 tonight it still is). I have no doubt they wanted to show us what we were missing. And they did !!

So we lost 4-2. I won’t dwell, just gutted by the result.

But, (there always is), we played two halves with different teams, 1^st half with mainly the “first team” and came out of the blocks running with some excellent chances – but we conceded to a sucker punch of a goal when our sweeper got caught cold. However the lads rallied back and equalised with a fine headed goal. 2^nd half saw some fringe players and trialists get a game but Scarborough had got into their stride by now, we got undone by some sloppy play and some excellent work from the Scarborough team. Thought Greavsie was excellent and a total class above everyone else on show tonight, hope he does decide to stay with us, who can blame him for trying his hand at higher level.

For the second game running, I thought I was at an away ground and its weird to see so many people at Queensgate, Scarborough fans outnumbered us by quite a few, but I do hope some of them may adopt Brid as their second team when Scarborough are away – likewise I’m sure, I’ll be watching some of their games when Brids away. 450 or so were there tonight- brilliant, if only every game was like that !!

Town v Scarborough (h)

This is one of those landlords v tenants game ala Palace v Wimbledon. If we thought we had it bad at Brid, then the poor old Seadog’s have really had an appalling time.

In 1987 they were promoted into the football league – not to rub there noses in it, but I remember watching highlights of Frankie Bunn knocking in his 6 goals in a League cup game when Oldham beat them 7-0, and that goal scoring feat is still a record.

1999 saw them relegated from the to the conference thanks to a last minute header by Carlisle’s keeper the infamous Jimmy Glass.

 2006 saw them relegated to Conference North and were then docked 10 points at the beginning of the next season because they were in administration, they finished 20th and were due to go to drop to the Unibond Premier but had to fold due to tax bills and a change of heart by the local council. Ironically, I watched their last home game, in front of over 1000 – a 1-0 defeat.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarborough_F.C.

 

So the supporters took hold and re-invented the club, but had no ground, so they struck a deal to play at Queensgate. I have watched a few Brid v Scarborough friendlies, but i think this one tomorrow will have the “away” fans trying to demonstrate their vocal and numerous support – will probably put us to shame. But on reflection, there were quite a few Brid fans there on Saturday, so with the same numbers it could be interesting.

 

4-1 to Town

Brid 1 – Huddersfield Town 6

A bumper crowd of 680 was the most i’d ever seen at Queensgate, and it was great to have an atmosphere like it. The obvious majority were here from Huddersfield, and bar the one or two 10 years old supping their first pint, were a credit to their club and their team, was really good having them there.

The match was split into 3×30 minute sessions, to try and give everyone a good run out. The class and talent of the pro-league club was obvious from the very beginning, with the likes of Danny Cadamarteri, David Holdsworth and Frank Sinclair to name but a few in their ranks, it didn’t take too long for them to open their account. The Brid lads were battling throughout – especially with many new faces, but couldn’t penetrate. Huddersfield won the first period 3-0 with some smartly taken goals.

A few changes made by both sides in the second period, but the end result the same – a battling Brid side, undone by some
smart play. Apart from the idiot who came onto the pitch and play with his balls and crossbar, it was still an entertaining game, Huddersfield taking the honours 2-0, with a smartly taken goal ruled out for offside right at the end.

3rd Period brought some relief to the home fans, with a fine finish by the young lad up front (Liam Berry?) who spoilt it a tad by shouting at the traveling army “LLLEEEEEEEEDDSSSSSS” and showing them his LUFC tattoo on his back/neck – as you can imagine the Huddersfield faithful shouted their own responses to him. As they had begun, Huddersfield found the net to equalize to share the spoils in the third period 1-1.

Overall a good run out for Brid, be it their first game. Against the quality of opposition like Huddersfield it was always going to be a tough test. I hope they can turn it round for the game against the Seadogs on Wednesday.

D-day – Town v Huddersfield Town (h)

At last, after months of waiting the start of the new season is finally upon us. today see’s our first friendly of the season at home against Division 1 side Huddersfield.

I have to admit, with no Euro’s or World Cup this summer, it has been a particularly painful football free time.

A brief re-cap of events at Brid over the last couple of years doesn’t make pretty reading : successive promotions to Unibond Premier were quickly followed by the club being heavily in debt and relegated back to Unibond one.

2006/2007 saw the club finish rock bottom, using 60+ players in the season (due to financial constraints amongst many things), dwindling crowds – average of about 120 across the season with a home gate of about 90 for the last game. 3 big highlights this season -

1) Pete Smurthwaite and others – Pete has taken on the debts and overall running of the club during its difficult period. Has had to be ruthless in the way the club operates, often at huge time and expense to him and others (Gav Branton, Chris Webb, etc), and if it wasn’t for these guys, I and others would have to travel to watch a reasonable standard of football every week. The appointment of a new management team towards the end of the season, did try and steady the sinking ship and did give us a taster for some more promising times ahead.

2) Our trip to the KC in May where the lads gave a great account of themselves against North Ferriby, only losing to a penalty in extra time

3) The steady rise of Leigh Franks that got him a move to …..Huddersfield Town (hence in part to todays fixture!!)

But some lights at the end of the tunnel… due to league restructuring we didn’t get relegated, the management team at the club have organised some cracking friendlies over the next few weeks that will hopefully re-generate some interest in the club and some much needed £££’s, and the highly anticipated visit of FC United in November – with their traveling support of over 1,000.

So with 3 hours to go, me and the lad are looking forward to todays game, and rumour is abound that the Terriers are bringing 200+ with them – lets hope so.