+-

+-User

Welcome, Guest.
Please login or register.
 
 
 

Login with your social network

Forgot your password?

+-Stats ezBlock

Members
Total Members: 953
Latest: Yorksref
New This Month: 21
New This Week: 3
New Today: 1
Stats
Total Posts: 75102
Total Topics: 5526
Most Online Today: 148
Most Online Ever: 17046
(Mon 29 Mar 2021 19:08)
Users Online
Members: 6
Guests: 85
Total: 91

Author Topic: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21  (Read 9217 times)

0 Members and 2 Guests are viewing this topic.

JCFC

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,976
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brighouse
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #15 on: Sun 20 Sep 2020 12:39 »
The Transport for Greater Manchester journey planner recommended a route via Rochdale, but omitted to mention that the tram was not operating between Rochdale and Shaw. The downside was a longer-than-predicted wait for a replacement bus at Rochdale station; the upside was passing a street with the most unusual name of Uncouth Road - JCFC might be thought likely to feel at home there. There was still plenty of time to reach the well-organised ground and enjoy an excellent burger before watching

Episode 1
Saturday 19th September 2020
FA Vase 1st Qualifying Round
Avro   1   v   0   Bottesford Town
Joe Cunningham (Salford); Taylor Metcalf, Philip Bayman.

Mr Cunningham is barely into his third decade, but his imposing stature and the fact that his features are enhanced(?) by a growth around his chin make him appear considerably older from a distance. Not so the two assistants, who looked even younger - JCFC was by some way carrying a greater burden of years than the three of them put together. Lyndsey Metcalf's tweets suggest that she is very proud of her son - the least she owes him after lumbering him with Taylor as a forename - and his performance, together with that of his colleague, gave her every justification for that pride. On a very hot afternoon short sleeves were forgivable (even JCFC eventually shed his fourth layer) so particular credit to AR2 for his long sleeves. Sadly, there was an absence of County FA badges.

With the seating only in one half, it was perhaps inevitable that most of the first half excitement should be at the other end, Avro having the better of the proceedings. There was a yellow card for the Bottesford number 3 for an attack -stopping foul on 20 minutes. Avro put the free-kick just wide, hit the inside of the post a minute later, but took the lead on 24 minutes. As they continued to dominate they clipped the bar with a shot and forced the visiting keeper to make a great touch for a corner, which was somehow cleared, not without difficulty.

Hopes that the play would be somewhat closer in the second half were only partially realised as play became rather scrappy. The Bottesford keeper was again forced to touch the ball over the bar early on and then Bottesford netted, but from an offside position. Avro earned a couple of routine cautions - one for stopping an attack, one for preventing the taking of a free-kick, with Bottesford receiving another for a foul. The match ended with a couple of near things for Avro attackers, but again the keeper did well, the second time with the assistance of the post.

The match involved a lot of clumsy play, with rather too much pushing. Mr Cunningham trod a sensible line between penalising everything and letting it go, penalising only the most significant, in terms of outcome. Despite a dubious genetic inheritance - he apparently comes from a family of Manchester United supporters  - in a display which was decent enough, with one good pull-back of a failed advantage, he managed to steer the ship home without problems - other than for a rather confused JCFC, whose knowledge of law/regulation changes is woefully deficient. Three times he correctly stopped play for the Avro physio to treat head injuries and equally correctly (as far as is understood) restarted by dropping the ball to a player of the side in possession. On the first occasion, this was at the feet of the keeper - with the injured player heading towards the touchline, which he subsequently reached and came straight back on. There appeared to be a definite mistake in this, however, as the physio was making her way to the opposite touchline and was still some 20 yards short - though on reflection Mr Cunningham may have seen an offence and restarted with a free-kick. The second time made JCFC assume that there has been a change, as the player was not required to leave. The third, however, saw the player head off the pitch before returning on the restart - which shows that perhaps Avro are as ill-informed on the correct procedure as JCFC. Could some kind soul provide enlightenment, please?

The journey home went well - though it would have been even better had the replacement bus driver known that he was supposed to call at the tram stop at Rochdale railway station.
« Last Edit: Mon 12 Oct 2020 15:29 by JCFC »
Like Like x 1 View List

JCFC

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,976
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brighouse
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #16 on: Wed 23 Sep 2020 09:09 »
Not being in possession of a ****-horse, it was a Cross-country train (the Chiltern one was running late, having mislaid a member of the train crew) that took JCFC to

Tuesday 22nd September 2020
FA Cup 1st Qualifying Round
Banbury United   1   v   0   Carlton Town
Tom Bowkett (Birmingham); Simeon Stoodley, Andrew Hunt.

Ann's Tea Bar was staffed not by a fine lady, but by a gentleman who seemed unconvinced by JCFC'S explanation that Yorkshire folk do not have an accent - it's everybody else that does. But then,, he was a Spurs fan.

Slim, dark-haired Mr Bowkett is apparently about 30, but could very well pass for much less -even without the light behind him. One assistant was perhaps a little older, with a smart haircut and plenty to say; the other was younger, with very short fair hair and features that might have suggested a tendency to vacantness, but for the fact that they were regularly wreathed in smiles.It is not known which was which, but it matters not, as both proved very efficient.

Carlton made a bright start, but thereafter Banbury were on top for most of the first half. Mr Bowkett, too,made a bright start, penalizing the first push, which was enough to see that there were no more. The home number 4was spoken to on 19 minutes when AR1 flagged for a foul. There soon followed a string of Banbury corners, one being headed over by a defender under the bar. Great work by the home number 11 ended with a low cross, a desperate touch by the keeper's foot and a ricochet off an attacker in front of the open goal - but it flew just outside the post.  There was an indisputable yellow card for the Carlton number 7, who hauled down an opponent in full flow.

The same number 7 was spoken to early in the second half for a hissy fit when pulled up for a foul.The second half was more even, with defenders on each side having to earn their corn. This, however, allowed Banbury the space to take the lead on 77 minutes. Carlton came close to an equaliser, and in added time the home keeper blocked a strong effort with his knees, the rebound being blasted wildly over the bar.

Mr Bowkett operated in a calm, unfussy way, which was what the game required, and players did not test him too greatly. It was a very decent evening's work, but with Messrs Nield, Bramall, Reeves, Bauer and Kirk occupying the top five positions, it is hard for him to break into the upper echelons of Toms. Now, if he had been Dick or Harry instead...!

« Last Edit: Fri 14 Oct 2022 09:18 by JCFC »

JCFC

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,976
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brighouse
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #17 on: Thu 24 Sep 2020 09:10 »
It had not been the best of days: drizzle had limited the morning stroll around the town and though it relented in the afternoon, it had left the benches in the Jephson Gardens too damp for sitting. The day got worse, however, on arrival at

Wednesday 23rd September 2020
Midland League Division 1
Nuneaton Griff   1   v   0   Stapenhill
Zac Parris (late of Bury, exhumed to ?); Craig Ward, Dean Hellyar.

The home club had posted that the bar and canteen would open at 18.30. The word "canteen" suggested food, but there was only a bag of crisps to stave off JCFC'S hunger. Worse still, the stand was separated from the pitch by a running track and grassy area which included two run-ups. The trim Mr Parris, and his not quite so trim assistants, were distant figures. It was not the ideal place to send Mr Observer, who took up position a further two rows back. Fortunately, all Observers are blessed with superhero vision.

Griff took the lead on 6 minutes and seemed to have little ambition to extend it. There was a yellow card for the home number 5 on 36 minutes. Stapenhill netted from a rebound off the keeper, but were denied by the offside flag. The home keeper's legs came to the rescue a minute later.

The second half was largely one-way traffic as Stapenhill created and wasted numerous chances.There was a firm warning for a Griff player, possibly with captain, and a stoppage-time caution for their number 10, but they hung on to secure a win they barely deserved.

JCFC'S confusion about the regulations deepened still further when Mr Parris stopped play for a head injury, as a visiting player lifted a long clearance. There was a delay, but no treatment so the player stayed on the pitch. The confusion stemmed from the restart, as rather than drop the ball for the defender, as expected,  Mr Parris dropped it to a lone attacker, who fortunately must have agreed to pass the ball to the keeper. There were no problems, but it seemed a scenario that could go wrong.

Overall, though, Mr Parris did well, always looking comfortably in control. He treated challenges on their merits, rather than allowing himself to be influenced by occasional over-dramatic falls. The one possible quibble would be over the slow-motion approach to warnings and cautions, when he allowed offenders to walk 30 yards or so away, before making them walk back, on one occasion moving still further away himself. It may be a good ruse in certain situations, but this game did not seem to be one. He will probably have received a favourable verdict from Mr Observer, who will have been in a good mood, having been entertained by the chat of Andy Hendley, who also contributed a number of musical interludes. Country Gardens seemed to be a particular favourite.

West Midlands Railways had cancelled the expected train back - shortage of crew -and JCFC settled down to wait an hour and forty minutes, but after twenty minutes an angel appeared, to say that there was a replacement bus outside. A slower journey, but one for which JCFC was grateful.
« Last Edit: Thu 24 Sep 2020 13:57 by JCFC »
Like Like x 1 View List

Microscopist

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 633
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #18 on: Fri 25 Sep 2020 12:26 »
Quote
Not being in possession of a ****-horse,
I don't suppose that Lady G (if indeed it related to her) would have been amongst the 16 who are now gracing Alloway with their presence.  Of course those of us with very long standing attachment to RTR will remember that RTR members used to similarly make their way to the coast at Ayr every spring often staying just furth of the Alloway Parish boundary in neighbouring Fisherton.

Ashington46

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 831
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Ashington, Northumberland
    • View Profile
  • Referee Level: Retired for years!
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #19 on: Fri 25 Sep 2020 16:07 »
Just a query with reference to other clubs and leagues who allow spectators at the moment.
Following government guidelines the capacity at grounds allowing spectators has been cut down. In the Northern League the clubhouse and bars have to remain closed begore the match and are not allowed to open until one hour after the end of the match which is the same as most places.

Apart from this league, are there any others who are insisting that, as well as social distancing, face masks must be worn at all times whilst in the ground? Is this the 'norm' throughout the country or is it just a local regulation?
Referee's decision used to be final!

JCFC

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,976
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brighouse
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #20 on: Fri 25 Sep 2020 17:37 »
It may be that the Northern League has been forced into some such measures because the North-East was an early area to be deemed in need of special measures. They were not in force when I visited Thornaby and Birtley - each area was listed shortly after I left (not guilty M'Lud.) Numbers were limited, of course, and contact details taken. None of the matches I have attended so far has required masks, though I don mine for entering and leaving, when closer proximity is likely. I believe clubhouse access has been limited at some grounds near here of late.

When you mention numbers of spectators being cut down, is this a further limitation below the 30% of capacity previously set?

It may well be that the sort of measures mentioned will become more widespread - or worse - as the situation develops.
« Last Edit: Fri 25 Sep 2020 17:43 by JCFC »

Ashington46

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 831
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Ashington, Northumberland
    • View Profile
  • Referee Level: Retired for years!
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #21 on: Fri 25 Sep 2020 18:22 »
It may be that the Northern League has been forced into some such measures because the North-East was an early area to be deemed in need of special measures. They were not in force when I visited Thornaby and Birtley - each area was listed shortly after I left (not guilty M'Lud.) Numbers were limited, of course, and contact details taken. None of the matches I have attended so far has required masks, though I don mine for entering and leaving, when closer proximity is likely. I believe clubhouse access has been limited at some grounds near here of late.

When you mention numbers of spectators being cut down, is this a further limitation below the 30% of capacity previously set?

It may well be that the sort of measures mentioned will become more widespread - or worse - as the situation develops.

Thanks for the response and, as a season ticket holder, I have been to two games already at Ashington and was at Penrith  on Tuesday  night watching them there -----no masks required! Come Wednesday and the Northumberland FA and Durham FA put out their directive about masks having to be worn and saying that it is the local authorities who are saying this. The reason I asked the question is the fact that Lancashire have exactly the same restrictions as far as the local authority is concerned, however, I have not seen any directive about masks from the Lancashire FA.

The numbers have been cut down from 300 to 150 and this is also by order of the relevant County FAs and local authorities.
I think that we will all be wearing masks for everything the way things are going, however, with only one working nostril (old football injuries ---as a player ---not a referee) and a spectacle wearer whose specs steam up because I am never cold I shall not be wearing a mask --I shall just have to stay in! C'est la vie --as they don't say in Ashington!
Referee's decision used to be final!
Informative Informative x 1 View List

nemesis

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,277
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #22 on: Fri 25 Sep 2020 18:42 »
It had not been the best of days: drizzle had limited the morning stroll around the town and though it relented in the afternoon, it had left the benches in the Jephson Gardens too damp for sitting. The day got worse, however, on arrival at

Wednesday 23rd September 2020
Midland League Division 1
Nuneaton Griff   1   v   0   Stapenhill
Zac Parris (late of Bury, exhumed to ?); Craig Ward, Dean Hellyar.



Loughborough University - School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences
Working and studying.
Like Like x 2 View List

JCFC

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,976
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brighouse
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #23 on: Fri 25 Sep 2020 18:59 »
Thanks, nemesis. It's amazing how you come up with these things.

nemesis

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,277
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #24 on: Fri 25 Sep 2020 21:56 »
Thanks, nemesis. It's amazing how you come up with these things.

Nothing amazing - 20 seconds on the internet!

What is amazing is how much so many people want to tell the whole world about themselves.

Ashington46

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 831
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Ashington, Northumberland
    • View Profile
  • Referee Level: Retired for years!
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #25 on: Sat 26 Sep 2020 22:24 »
I have just heard that someone snitched on Ashington FC today and complained to Northumbria Police that they were playing a match and that there were spectators at the match. The Ashington secretary took a call ay half time from the police and he satisfied them that they had details of ALL the 150 spectators who were in attendance and that those who needed to were wearing masks and that he had checked exemption certificates for those who weren't.
What a sad, sad world we live in thses days!

One good thing to report is that Ashington FC had arranged refunds of ticket money to 150 people who had bought tickets but would not be allowed in because the number allowed had been cut. The vast majority told the club to keep the money!
In addition, myself and my friend had contacted the club and told them to ask if any ST holders would not be attending to let the club know so that they could then sell those tickets up to the maximum numbers. They did this and managed to sell another 20 tickets.
Referee's decision used to be final!
Like Like x 4 Agree Agree x 1 View List

JCFC

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,976
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brighouse
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #26 on: Sun 27 Sep 2020 14:11 »
For once JCFC lost out in the Old Crocks' "Slow Bicycle" style race up Old Brow, encountering two gentlemen who managed to finish up some fifty metres behind him. Everyone else, of course, sped past on their way to

Saturday 26th September 2020
Northern PL Division 1 NW
Mossley   4   v   1   Pickering Town
Jonathan Wyatt (Walkden): Chris Cooper-Tonge, Ali Rahjoo.

From his days attending Sunday School, JCFC was reminded of a hymn tune "Walkden Moor" which accompanied the words "We are starting on a journey" - an appropriate line for a newly-promoted Level 3, who will surely already realise that the path will not always be "Free from toil and care and strife." As JCFC regained his breath (and his equilibrium) his attention wandered from the splendid view of the hills across the valley to the officials' warm-up. Mr Wyatt is strongly built, which would have been a euphemism at this point, but after shedding his green top, became simply accurate. Hair, face-fungus and sleeves were all short. AR1, with the aristocratic surname, was slender and fair of hair, while Mr Rahjoo was making a very decent stab at acquiring a distinguished silver coiffure.

There was some minor kerfuffle before the start,  with AR2 reporting some unidentified problem to Mr Wyatt, talking to a Pickering official and returning to report back - all to no obvious effect. Mr Wyatt was soon in action, as the home number 2 went down clutching his head, and the physio was instantly summoned, to treat him for an apparent leg injury. Off he finally went to the touchline, almost came back on but thought better of it; Mr Wyatt made a correct restart on the other side of the pitch, number 2 re-entered the field and Mr Wyatt then waved him on. The pragmatic decision to ignore the fact that he had already covered twenty yards by this time was sensible. Mossley took the lead on 7 minutes, a cross beyond the far post being headed back and helped in by a Pickering defender. Twice in the succeeding minutes Mossley again came close, the second time hitting the bar. Mr Wyatt curiously went and had a word with Mr Rahjoo a few seconds after this, before returning the ball to the keeper. Midway through the half the Pickering keeper made a brilliant diving save to turn the ball for a corner. Two minutes later his side equalised - a free-kick played into the area and powered home. Their pleasure was short-lived: three minutes later the keeper missed a punch at a cross, leaving the simplest of tap-ins. The Mossley number 9 was cautioned when a Pickering player kicked the ball straight at him as he blocked a free-kick. (Had it been taken from the correct spot, he would have been in a legitimate position, but that is another matter.) AR1 flagged for a foul throw, a rarity at this level. On 38 minutes the home keeper was caught by a challenge as/after he cleared the ball. The assistant correctly flagged, Mr Wyatt went to consult: Mr Cooper must have recommended a yellow card and, Mrs Proudie style, Mr Tonge agreed. The visiting number 9 duly received it, but pleaded his case repeatedly. Meanwhile the Mossley number 2 - who had nothing to do with the case - came to put his fillings in and was reluctant to leave the scene. A challenge by a Pickering player immediately led Mr Wyatt to call him for a warning, but there were far too many representations made by players of each side, before this could be accomplished.

The Pickering keeper made a one-handed catch on his line early in the second half. A deft near-post header from a corner extended Mossley's lead on the hour and another header gave them their fourth five minutes later. There was a handball on the touchline, initially missed by Mr Wyatt, but Mr Tonge flagged after a moment's delay - and Mr Cooper this time concurred. Pickering had a late chance when the Mossley keeper could only parry a shot, but blasted it over the goal.

Mr Wyatt's triage was generally sound in a competent display. He was able to apply some decent advantages, kept up with play well and used good lateral movement too. There will have been one or two things for Mr Observer Beverley to pick up, but he will undoubtedly have found many more good points to commend. Both assistants should also have created a good impression. Certainly the copious fist-bumps from all the players at the end indicated that the officials had done a good job.

As a postlude, a missed penalty by Brighouse Town in their defeat at Marske saw them fall to the foot of the table- below Widnes on goals scored. Just eight days previously they had sat proudly on top - alphabetical order has much to be said for it!
« Last Edit: Sun 27 Sep 2020 17:25 by JCFC »
Like Like x 2 View List

nemesis

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,277
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #27 on: Sun 27 Sep 2020 18:42 »
I have just heard that someone snitched on Ashington FC today and complained to Northumbria Police that they were playing a match and that there were spectators at the match. The Ashington secretary took a call ay half time from the police and he satisfied them that they had details of ALL the 150 spectators who were in attendance and that those who needed to were wearing masks and that he had checked exemption certificates for those who weren't.
What a sad, sad world we live in thses days!

One good thing to report is that Ashington FC had arranged refunds of ticket money to 150 people who had bought tickets but would not be allowed in because the number allowed had been cut. The vast majority told the club to keep the money!
In addition, myself and my friend had contacted the club and told them to ask if any ST holders would not be attending to let the club know so that they could then sell those tickets up to the maximum numbers. They did this and managed to sell another 20 tickets.

That is not "snitching". It sounds more like a vexatious and mendacious false allegation which should itself be subject to some sanction.

Perhaps they'd have been better off "snitching" on the mob at Trafalgar Square or the 10pm street parties going in in most big city centres.

Why are the people who run our country so criminally inept ?
Agree Agree x 2 View List

Microscopist

  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 633
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #28 on: Sun 27 Sep 2020 22:50 »
Quote
From his days attending Sunday School, JCFC was reminded of a hymn tune "Walkden Moor" which accompanied the words "We are starting on a journey"
Strangely not a hymn, nor a tune, that was found attractive to the compilers of CH4 and not familiar to the Alloway congregation - the the number in the United Methodist School Hymnal sounds like a football formation Stuart Pearce might have tried had his wife not pointed out that he needed to have a goalkeeper.
Informative Informative x 1 View List

JCFC

  • RTR Veterans
  • Hero Member
  • *
  • Posts: 1,976
  • Gender: Male
  • Location: Brighouse
    • View Profile
Re: Pyramid Patrol 2020/21
« Reply #29 on: Mon 28 Sep 2020 08:55 »
Indeed, my brief Google search had failed to find mention of it.

On a different matter, congratulations to your colleague on his forthcoming ordination. I am sure that his ministry will bring light amid the gloom and prove a source of comfort and inspiration to many.
« Last Edit: Mon 28 Sep 2020 11:34 by JCFC »
Like Like x 1 View List