Brid 4 Sculcoates 1 (h)

I was able to get to this game, which was a nice surprise. A big thanks to those of you that have given your support, we all appreciate it – cheers !

My son had been to summer school for the past week, which had given him the opportunity to detach himself from the events at home, and as luck would have it (i.e. bloody typical), the presentation night for this thing was around 6’sh on Tuesday. In fairness to the people running the summer school, they had provided an excellent week long learning module with a trip to the space centre in Leicester, and then laid on an excellent buffet (with booze). Plus all the kids got a certificate and an award and a present to remind them of the experience – well done teachers !!

It made me late for the kick off though !! No turnstile man, no team sheets and bloody hell, hardly any fans. Was I missing something ? There must have only been 30-40 paying peeps. And the chairman was out touting the weather lottery.

The football was excellent from a red perspective, the lads played well, plenty of passing and some excellent running off the ball to create space. I’d not seen this for a while and it was pleasurable to see. Scullies, sponsored by the chairmans company, had Shaun Baker in its ranks, and it was nice to see an old Brid favourite playing well.
It was 2-0 at halftime, and i’d managed to catch the second one going over the line on the old camera – though I wasn’t in the best of places to give the goal some credit, but here they are anyway, and a piccie of the bench, click to enlarge.

I’d missed the 2 in the second half, coz I was either gassing or watching me lad get the ball from the rugger field, but according to mainincrowd and friend, they were excellent goals. Scullies did score a fine one themselves, either side of blistering 20/30 yard shots that rattled the crossbar. The encouragement from the dug out to the players was immense and have all settled well into their new club – well done guys.

A welcome to the newest member of our ranks, and probably one of the most important – the 42″ plasma in the clubhouse.

Games seen : 5

Goals seen : 11 home 8 away 1 other

out of 10 : 8, a good run out, some good goals, just hope we don’t burn out before the season begins.

Brid 2 Scarborough 1 (h)

Our second home game of the season, rekindled that old landlord / tenant combo that is far too common in the lower leagues.

It was to be the inaugural event of the Bridlington Memorial Trophy which was an idea by a Mr Ani Mad on the forum, but sponsored by our good pal Uncle G – who ironically wasn’t there to present the award as he and his family were away on holiday, so his father made the presentation.

I couldn’t get to the game either, as my poor old wife was suffering a Stalag 17 kind of imprisonment at Hull Royal, having suffered the trauma of having a tracheostomy fitted. It has just been an ongoing nightmare for the poor lass who has suffered nothing but grief after undergoing a “routine” operation earlier in the year.

I have to admit, I blabbed like a good ‘un during the week, at the thought that my wifes life will never be the same, and all the suffering, pain and trauma she has been through this year and she still keeps smiling, can’t do anything but a bring a tear to the eye of even the strongest of people. The kids have been immense at this difficult time too and have been an absolute credit to the wife and I.

Bill Shankly is famous for saying “Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I don’t like that attitude. I can assure them it is much more serious than that” – thats fine until it’s at your own door, The Shankly link is worth a nose, as it is a very fine site dedicated to the great man.

Will more than likely miss the game on Tuesday too.

Brid 0 Hull City XI 3 (h)

Today was a special day in our house, as one of the little ‘uns reached a milestone birthday – 10. I had to take her and a couple of friends and the missus to a “Build-a-bear” workshop in Hull, the place was heaving. I hate shopping at the best of times, but a packed shop full of women and kids did not inspire me one bit, well thats a lie, there were some nice views from the MILFs to compensate.

Back just in time for the game, bizarrely, I listened to Hulls first team in action in Ostend, playing a pre season friendly, via BBC Humberside.

The weather here was not your typical British summers day, though it has now become customary for it to piss down and be miserable half way through July. There was about 100 (I think I heard later 111) who had turned up for the game, with Hull’s new signing of Tony Warner making an appearance . For many of the Town faithful, this would be their first chance to see the new team and players in action.

The game started off positively, with the home side holding their own but not making any inroads to the Hull goal, which was being kept by Mr Warner. Eventually the skill and sharpness of the visitors told and they went 1 up – I didn’t see it because i was talking to Dom. I don’t think it was too long after this that we had a fantastic effort that was tipped away by Warner at full stretch. 10 minutes later we three down, some poor defending but thankfully in a friendly and hopefully not in a competitive game. However, throughout this half, the Brid lads kept passing and playing and we’re good.

Another dead loss in the raffle – 0/1.
The second half was a little different, it may have been the windy conditions which helped, but the Bridlington midfield & front line kept the pressure up and really made life difficult for the Hull back line. There were many opportunities this half, but the new keeper, Matt Duke, played well to keep us at bay.

All in all, the lads played exceptionally well, and a chat with Ash Dexter demonstrated that the lads were playing with a great belief, confidence and opportunism for the season ahead. Ash had a bit of gippy tummy and only played one half, must have had a kebab from the Turks on Grease street last night.

Games seen : 4

Goals seen : 7 home 7 away 1 other

out of 10 : 8.5 very entertaining game, loads and loads of positives, bring on Scarborough next week.

Brid 3 Hutton Cranswick 0 (a)

I have to be honest, I was a bit gutted at not getting to the game tonight, but PaulNFFC was kind enough to keep me posted of events at Cranswicks ground / field.

I was in Milton Keynes soaking up the atmosphere at AFC Kempston Rovers (aka The Walnut Boys) who were entertaining Bedford Town. I think both these teams are knocking around Step 5 / Step 6.

But before I waffle about the game, I must tell you about an incident that happened earlier in the day that pissed me off at the time but upon reflection is quite funny. I had been working at one or two points on the M1 before meeting up with a retiring colleague around the Milton Keynes area. We were booked into a hotel a few miles outside MK, and the guy I was meeting up with is an absolute nightmare to socialise with. (Two weeks ago I’d gone out with him after work and it cost me a fortune in beer and a mega expensive Thai meal. Sod that, I couldn’t afford that again, so I had a look to see if there were any pre-season friendlies in the area on Tuesday night and found the AFC Kempston game).

We met at the hotel, only to find it to be a really disgusting flea pit and the tossers had booked me into a smoking room and it had a dodgy shower unit. So I asked to be moved, “oh!” said the Sudanese refugee when I told him how awful the room was. So he moved me from room 18 to room 17, “that’s my colleagues room!” I told him, no no no came the reply, the rooms empty.

So I go bounding into room 17 only to find my colleague stood there in his altogether bar a pair of pants after just getting out of the shower. The look of horror on his face was a picture, the sheer disgust on mine was probably no better. The twat on reception thought the whole thing was funny. JUST GIVE ME A CLEAN ROOM WITH A WORKING SHOWER YOU BASTARD I thought. Eventually I get another flea ridden room.

Off to the Kempston game, but before we go into the stadium, there was a massive training session going on, on some parkland just before the stadium, there must have been 150+ people of all ages playing and training, which was a good sight for any footballing fan. £4 to get in, for what turned out to be the home teams 1^st game of the season. A tidy little ground with a full length stand down the majority of one side of the ground, with nothing but the dugouts on the far side.

The two teams looked like they had around 20 players aside, but in fairness looked like they put out their strongest teams from the start. Apart from a couple of players, both teams had very youthful looking sides. Apart from 4 players (Home goalie – for 60 mins, Home and Away number 10’s & Home number 7) these guys stood out from a mediocre bunch. Plenty of passion, but some people just seemed a bit out of touch with the standard required. The first menacing shot took 38 minutes.

Facilities were good and they did a good job welcoming people to the ground. Some changes were made to the second half by both teams, with the deadlock coming on the hour with a slick move down the left by the home team with a superb finish by the number 10.

The game finished 1-0, and whilst skill factor was a little wanting tonight, I had a good night out. My colleague was able to top up his pint tally from 2 to 7 during the game.

Ahh the flea pit to look forward to.

Games seen : 3

Goals Scored 7 home 4 away 1 other

out of 10 : 7, comfortable and entertaining for someone away from home

Brid 5 Barton Town Old Boys 1 (a)

A bit of a weird day today weather wise, as it was absolutely peeing it down at lunchtime, and I was getting a little concerned that the game was going to be called off – probably as we arrived at the ground.

I’d arranged to pick up Dom and Uncle G on the way, and thankfully, the nearer the Humber Bridge we got, the better the weather got. Thank god !

It was interesting debating how the team would line up and the thoughts of Thursday nights performance. As it turned out, the 16 or so players that were donning the famous away white kit today, were the nucleus of the squad that had been chosen by the management.

Barton contained a few ex Brid players, Burdick, Suddaby, Giblin (who didn’t play) and one or two other lads.

The Brid lads were given a vigorous warm up, which looked very professional & the game kicked off on time, by a set of officials whose average age looked about 12.

Both teams were up for the game, nothing dirty, just an excellent game between the two sides, and Barton early on were more than a match for the visitors, who last season were 2 divisions higher. For the first time in a long while, the Brid team looked like a team with a bit of confidence, playing like a team, and apart from one or two hoofs, tried to keep it on the deck. There reward was repaid mid way through the half by a superbly taken free kick from just outside the box. This was followed by a well worked second not long after. Wow 2-0 up, it was great.

Second half continued in the same vein, with substitutes playing in the same manner as the players they had just replaced. 5-0 up with a few minutes to go before we conceded a good goal. Around 70 or so were watching from Barton’s tidy little ground, with a very nice clubhouse, I certainly felt at home in their place.

Games seen : 2

Goals seen : 7 home 4 away

out of 10 : 9, we played well and there were some positive signs for the lads, both in the team and on the sidelines.

Brid 2 Hedon 3 (a)

Yes at last !

I have the kind of satisfaction that used to be portrayed in those old black and white films, when the man had finally shagged his gal and was sat in bed afterwards smoking a post-coital cigarette.

Thankfully the Hedon pitch was a stones throw away from a few of my customers, so it was quite handy to get to the game. However, the bizareness of playing a relatively competitive game in summer sunshine in the height of summer was definitely outweighed by the now seasonal downpour, grey clouds and better late than ever March wind. The gloomy surroundings of the local BP refinery didn’t help on the eye either. Was pleased to see a number of the Brid faithful at the place, and what looked like a tidy clubhouse. But the pitch we were on was a mile away !

Brid had some 25-30 players, one lot in the away kit, white, which i’d never seen us play in, and another lot in last years home kit of red. Kick off came, but there were two noteable absences who were due at the game – Dom and Uncle G, who were apparently lost. But they didn’t miss too much, only their first goal.

I knew there wasn’t going to be a lot of “league” importance with the game, but it was certainly played at a good pace throughout and some of the Brid lads were playing as if their careers were at stake, and the home team with points to prove and pride to keep. For us speculating fans, we felt the Brid lads in white were “fringe” 1st teamers, a couple of which were familiar, but most we didn’t know. We lost the half 3-0 with ex Brid player Craig Palmer (?) scoring 2.

2nd half sees Palmer the goalscorer, don a red Town shirt and is joined by all the other red shirted Town players. Things improve, players talking to each other, being a bit more comfortable on the ball, and making runs and space for each other. We scored two good goals – I was deafened by Dom when the first goal went in.

All in all, a good run out and a chance for the new management team to see the players and how they gelled with each other.

Shame that Carl Giblin (Fleshman) has decided to leave and join up with some buddies at Barton. Ironically, we’re there on Saturday. Good luck to Flesh, lets hope someone thanks him for all his efforts.

Games seen : 1

Goals Seen : 2 home 3 away

out of 10 : 8 for the fact that its back on, and for some of the banter we had last night.

5 days to go…..

Can’t wait. Thankfully there are now only 5 days to go until the start of our 2008-2009 campaign, albeit with a ton of friendlies.

Bizarre that the Euro’s only finished last weekend (quick mention here for the Spanish, who were absolutely awesome all tournament and who turned out to be worthy champions. The Germans were not in the final at all IMO).

It still wasn’t worth watching though as England weren’t there.

I decided to have a nostalgic look through the blog today, and it was great to read some of the early posts, it brought back the day and even parts of the game in question, was able to have a little chuckle to myself. I do hope to do something similar this year, but I want to get a couple of the other lads to do something similar, as I find these kind of entries give a better reflection of the days events, than a match report. Any interested parties ? I’ll post on the forum and see if we get a response.

Here’s a list of the friendlies to date, league fixtures are about a week 10 days away.

10th July away Hedon Rangers

12th July away Barton

15th July away Hutton Cranswick

19th July Home Hull City XI

26th July Home Scarborough Ath

29th July Home Sculcoates

2nd Aug Home Farsley

5th Aug away Smith & Nephew