Life Up Norf

I was out with my wife when I received a text message from my son saying that my mate had rung saying that 1,000 extra tickets were being made available to Tottenham fans and would be sold on the night, and would I like to go? I hadn’t planned on going to Blackburn, but it seemed like a good idea at the time, and so, being incredibly weak-willed, I said yes, despite getting killer looks from my other half!

We got to Blackburn at around 6:00pm , just as the ticket office opened, to ensure that we got tickets – as it was, we needn’t have worried, because they opened up another section of the upper tier of the Darwen Stand to accommodate the extra demand. In all, about 1200 – 1400 extra Tottenham supporters gained access on the night, to add to the 4,000 who had already got tickets.

Proudly (you know what they say about Pride coming before a fall) armed with our tickets, and loads of time to kill we went to Mother Reilly’s Café, situated on the main road, just down from the Darwen End of the ground.  We discovered it last year, and couldn’t wait to tuck into another plate of her delights! The café is a converted terraced house, so try and imagine how small it is, especially as it was very busy. Although there is some seating upstairs, there is only seating for about 20 downstairs, where everyone has also to queue to place their order at the serving hatch, so it does tend to become a little crowded!

Three of us went and we had: – Sausage egg and chips, double egg and chips (me), and a (large) plate of chips, two mugs of tea and a can of pop all for a few pence over £7 – not bad!  Our bellies well satisfied, we then strolled to the ground (a bit like Tottenham did during the match) to watch our heroes in inaction.

The match was a total non-event as far as Tottenham were concerned, as they made no effort whatsoever to win the game. It was only because Blackburn were so crap that we managed to come away with a point.

For a team with genuine aspirations of a European place, you would think that they would have tried for all three points against opposition such as this, but apparently not. As it was, I think that this must have been the worst performance that I have ever witnessed by a Tottenham team, and believe me; I’ve seen some rubbish in my time of following them!!

Man of the match – Mother Reilly.

Highlight of the evening – Mother Reilly.

Lucky person without a ticket – Mother Reilly.

Football caterer who doesn’t charge £5 for a hotdog – Mother Reilly.

Who will I be going to see next year – Mother Reilly.

APATHY RULES OK, BUT WHO CARES?

Well yet again, the weekend is upon me before I know it !  I’ve been on 4×12 hour days this week, so you can totally discount four of the day, but where have the other three gone ?

Last Saturday, LTFC improved slightly in a 0-0 draw with Wakefield & Emley, but that elusive win is still missing.  On Monday, we entertained Hyde United, who are now top, and favourites to win the league.  After our dismal run, it looked to be curtains for us, particularly as Hyde started the game much the better of the two sides – as expected !  However, after about 7-8 minutes Leek Town got on top, and amazingly went two up, and deserved much more.  However a minute before the break, Hyde snatched one back.  The first 20 minutes of the second half saw Hyde draw level, as they then bossed the game, but for some reason, the visitor’s second goal seemed to act as a catalyst for LT, and they then became the dominant team.  Although the pulsating game deservedly ended 2-2, Lt had a couple of tremendous chances to win, but they were wasted.  However, despite the un-winning run now standing at 14 games, this was more like the LT of old.

Tottenham, needless to say, blew the chance to put more daylight between themselves and Boro, but Tottenham being Tottenham declined to do so when they failed to beat a crap West Brom side !!  I know that at the start of the season I would have been happy with mid-table stability (as opposed to the usual mediocrity), but now that we are on the verge of qualifying for Europe, I’ve perhaps become a bit greedy, as I feel that 7th place is there for the taking.  But failure to beat WBA hasn’t done our cause any good at all, particularly as it gave Boro a game in hand on us.  As if to prove the point Boro took advantage of our slip-up to beat WBA yesterday to go one point above us.

Good news on the Man Ure front in mid-week, in that they lost at Everton and had TWO players sent off.  That’s two successive defeats, I think.  Perhaps tipping them for relegation this season was a trifle optimistic.  But it’s looking hopeful for next season!  The other day Fergie was boldly telling Chelski that they weren’t 13 points better than them.  As if to prove a point, the very next game, Chelski went 14 points in front of them!  Why can’t some people keep their traps shut ?

I read today that Martin Jol has said that he could win the league with Tottenham in three years time, and that he would like a six year contract.  Well all I can say is BLOODY GIVE IT TO HIM !!!  It’s been many years since I looked forward to the next season, and this one hasn’t even finished yet !

LTFC ended their season with yet another defeat, to make it 15 games without a win.  Talk about false dawns, but then I’m well used to them !

It’s been a beautiful day here today (Sun), in fact I’d go so far as to say the best day of the year.  Not just so far, but all year !!

I’ve spent today watching cricket, football and more cricket (all outdoors).  Life can be such a bitch sometimes !!  I’ll do the painting tomorrow!!

What an absolute cracker of a goal by Edman.  Despite it being scored by a non Man Ure player, it has got to be the goal of the month!  It was worthy of being the match winner, but we had to make do (deservedly so) with a share of the spoils, when a win would have reinforced our chances of making the European placings.  Things are definitely looking up at Tottenham, when we score two goals at Anfield, (and NOT lose); and at times we played some excellent stuff.  My lad is mithering me to go the Blackburn game.  Finances are tight at the moment, as our front room needs decorating and a new carpet, so we’ll have to see how it goes.  If anyone out there has any money to spare, or three free tickets that they don’t want, then please let me know … In the meantime, it’s a case of counting the pennies (literally) – one, two, three, four …

LTFC’s game against Spennymoor in midweek was called off yet again.  There is now no chance of Spennymoor fulfilling their fixtures, and expulsion from the league is now, sadly, a foregone conclusion.  It’s sad innit, when I couldn’t name you one player from Spennymoor, or even name their ground, but I can tell you that their chairman is called Benny Mottram, and in the Pratt Stakes, he is right up there with Rupert Lowe!!  Spennymoor’s demise seems to be entirely down to his pig-headedness.  Let’s hope for the sake of their fans, that Spennymoor can be revived in whatever form – just as did Telford was.

It was a good win for Tottenham over Newcastle – thoroughly deserved, but I thought that they would have really tried to hammer them after they were cheated out of a win in their recent Cup meeting.  Still, it’s three points, and we’re now in 7th place.  But we all know what happens now don’t we.  They wouldn’t be Tottenham if they didn’t blow it!  Having said that, I never envisaged at the start of the season, that they may get a European place.  It has been “mid table mediocrity” that I have come to get used to over the last decade or two, not mid table respectability, which is where we are at the moment.  Officially, we have escaped relegation.  All we want now is to keep hold of Robbo.  Surely he doesn’t want to go to Man Ure?   They are most definitely on the slide, whereas we are in the ascendancy.  Don’t forget to wave a finger or two at them as we pass, and they fall into obscurity!

Things have been very quiet up norf recently, so regretfully, these last few diary entries have been rather brief.  The most exciting thing to happen round here is that the daffodils are now in full bloom!  They’re probably dying off down sarf, but then that is a measure of how much colder it is up norf.  LTFC failed to win, yet again – that’s 12 games now without a win.  I didn’t go because I was at work, but apparently it was another good one to miss!!!

Just when I thought that it couldn’t get any worse, it did!  LTFC managed to draw 0-0 away at Bridlington, and followed this up 4 days later with another defeat.  This means that we have now taken 4 points from the last 39 that have been on offer.  That they are still in with a (slim) chance of making the play-offs owes much to their excellent first half of the season.  This is relegation form!

I didn’t go to the Birmingham game on Sat, but my lads did and they thought that Tottenham were worth two points to Birmingham’s one, so things are definitely looking up – at the moment.  The only downside to this game was the injuries that we sustained, resulting in a rather miffed Robbie Keane going to the dressing rooms early.  I’ll be sorry to see him go, but it looks like that is what is going to happen.

I was deliberately avoiding mentioning about the 94 year old woman who was left for dead in her house, but today three youths were arrested, so I feel that I must keep you informed.  Just over two weeks ago, a 94 year old woman was brutally attacked in her own home, in Leek.  She was left in a pool of her own blood until she was found next morning.  Police were working on the assumption that it was a burglary gone wrong.  It was such a horrendous crime (unheard of in sleepy Leek) that it made the national press and the local TV news.  The Stoke-on-Trent daily paper, The Sentinel, has covered her plight on its front page practically every day.  Today, it has been announced that three teenagers, aged 15, 16 and 17 have been arrested for attempted murder – probably going to be for murder, because the woman’s condition has unsurprisingly worsened and she is “clinging to life” and the hospital is “no longer optimistic about her chances of survival.”  What else can one say about this?

LTFC entertain Witton Albion tonight. After the recent rubbish they have served up, I don’t think I’ll go.  Oggy has now set a target of 9 points from the next 3 matches.  After what happened with his last target, I think that he would be better off saying nowt!  Still, if they did achieve the 9 points, they would be right back in the play-offs, and perhaps (hopefully) with that disastrous run over, they may become the team in form just in time for the play-offs.  But then again … I thought that my score pre-dictions at the bookies were unrealistic, but they’re not half as bad as Oggy’s targets.

It was another below par performance from England, managing to score just the two again Azerbaijan.  To be fair, their performance deserved better, but certain individuals (not just Owen) must ask themselves whether or not they could have been more clinical with their finishing.  You would be very disappointed if your kids were that wasteful on a Sunday morning, let alone some of the greatest players in the world – allegedly.  As for Defoe, for the second successive match, he has been given next to no time to do anything. Why bother bringing him on at all? When Dyer (he was crap!) came on, he played up front – WHY?  At least Defoe should start against Wales due to Owen’s suspension.

Still recovering from England ’s stunning 4-0 win!  Was it boring or what?  Went to Huntingdon races this afternoon and redeemed myself after an abysmal time at Uttoxeter.  We got to the races just in time to watch the first race, but not to bet in it, but got three winners out of the next six races, so I was comfortably in profit.  Even my wife got two winners!  Generally, if her choice coincides with mine, that is a certainty – to lose!  However, after much studying of the Racing Post by me, and Joy my wife, picking out names that she likes, we agreed on our selections three times; two of which won!!  Makes you wonder why I bother sometimes!

LTFC were playing Matlock away, tonight, but we didn’t get back in time to go.  According to the (very biased) match report LT were by far the better team, and should have won easily.  They recovered from 2-0 down to pull it back to 2-2, and despite all the play and chances, they could not add to their tally, and eventually fell to a sucker punch near the end and lost 3-2.  That brings the current run up to 8 games without a win!  Incredibly, we are still on the verge of the play-offs.  Immediately prior to the start of this 8 match sequence, Oggy (the manager) set a target of 34 points from our last 17 games.  So far, we have amassed 3 points from a possible 24!!!!!!!

What a stroll in the park it was for England – talk about men against boys.  It was a total mis-match. Thank goodness the Home Internationals have been abolished.  I couldn’t do with watching matches like that three times a year, again.  I had about 12 or 13 selections on the fixed odds coupon and I was let down by one team – FRANCE!  They couldn’t beat the Swiss.  I’m sure they did it on purpose!!  We’re going to Huntingdon Races (on the was back from my step-mothers – definitely this time) on Monday; perhaps I shouldn’t have a bet.  I think that somebody is trying to tell me something !!!

I’ve just finished four nights – just slightly better than four days, so I’ve been out of action this week.  However, LTFC played Marine tonight, and managed to lose 2-0.  This was one of the worst performances I’ve seen by LT – ever!  I just can’t believe how things have gone so sour on us.  Surely, we must see a change of fortune soon.  We are out of the play-off places, and look like we are not going to claw our way back.  A few months ago, we were the favourites for the title.  Come on you Blues !

LTFC actually won a game!  They beat Conference North side, Hednesford 1-0 in the Staffs Senior Cup Semi-final.  They will meet Stafford at Vale Park on the 27th April, so pencil that date in your diaries !  I might be becoming a glory hunter after all!

We were going to go to Cambridge v Wycombe, but due to a slight change of plan (we didn’t get lost – honestly!) we ended up at Uttoxeter Races !!!  It might sound totally bizarre for us to be going to Cambridge, but there was method behind the madness.  My step-mother lives in Bury St Edmunds and we thought that we would go and see her and kill two birds with the proverbial, by calling in at the “club day” match at Cambridge on the way back.  This would have broken the homeward journey, plus acted as a bribe for the kids.  However, as usual things didn’t work out as planned.  In the morning we still didn’t know that we were going to Uttoxeter; the idea was to go to Bangor on Dee, but we eventually decided on Uttoxeter because it is only 35 minutes away !  (PS I won bugger all at the races; I wish I’d gone to Cambridge now !!!)  Leek Town went one up but as usual, nowadays, they managed to lose 2-1.   An update will appear in the fanzine, if the editor is agreeable.  I’m sure you’re all desperate to know what is happening at LTFC.

It was a good win for Tottenham (against Citeh) but it was marred by the unnecessary elbowing by Atouba (he’s got to go) on Barton.  That’s probably lost us a few friends !!  I must say though, that I thought that Stuart Pearce was excellent in his common sense approach to the incident.  One or two others may not have been quite so magnanimous in their outlook – that is of course, if they actually saw the incident!

I won’t dwell too long on the Newcastle game, except to say how well they did, despite the obvious.  Once again, they seem to have won friends with their approach to the game.  Sadly, inept refereeing cost us the game – yet again !  Off the top of my head, that’s Man Ure, Bolton and now Newcastle where the ref has lost us the points.  I must admit, that Tottenham’s response to this has been a lot better than my own !!

Went to Leek Town again today.  I honestly thought that I’d got out of that habit !  They played league leaders Workington in a match that both teams needed to win, and both teams couldn’t afford to lose.  The result was a somewhat uninspiring 1-1 draw.  Two flukey goals were scored – with Leek deservedly equalising deep into time added on.  Overall they just shaded it, but a draw was a fair result.  LTFC are still dangling precariously on the end of the play-offs.  Since their dizzy heights in November, they have really struggled with more injuries than Tottenham ever had to cope with, and there doesn’t yet look to be any light at the end of the tunnel.

Went to Leek Town FC last night. The pitch is only just playable, and Town had a golden opportunity to redeem themselves after their recent performances.  Despite 7 players being unavailable due to injury, and another suspended, I was optimistic of beating Lincoln United, to maintain their place in the play-offs.  I should have known better !  LTFC were shockingly bad, and on Saturday, they entertain leaders, Workington !  That’s now four successive crap games – it can’t last much longer can it?  As is we didn’t have enough problems, one of our mid-fielders managed to get himself sent off.  Don’t these players want to win promotion/the league?  Incidentally, LTFC lost 2-0.  It could well have been 5-0 !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Why don’t I ever follow a good side?  I must have been a wrong’un in my previous life!

We could really have done with three points at St Mary’s, but it looks like SCBC are now added to the ever-lengthening list of our bogey teams. On Saturday, LTFC were one up at half time against lowly Frickley Athletic, and somehow managed to lose.  LTFC and THFC have so much in common!!!           With 17 games to go, Oggy, the manager, set a (looked reasonable at the time) target of 34 points. Since then we have played three poor teams and we have drawn two and lost the other !! Sound familiar to any of you Tottenham fans ? The only thing that is keeping us in the play-offs is the inconsistencies of the other top teams.  To think that we beat two Conference Norf teams and took Halifax to a replay, until they eventually beat us with a goal in extra time.  Now we can’t beat poor sides within our own league!  Although it hasn’t snowed much for two weeks, there is still plenty of snow on the hills that surround the town.  This isn’t a measure of how high we are, but more how cold it has been – well, I suppose it is winter, but recent winters have been remarkably mild.  You tend to get used to mild, snow-less winters, and occasionally nature gives you a little reminder.

Got the score right last night, and caned the bookies – I had £1 on @11-1. Ladbrokes nearly closed their shop when they saw me coming to pick up my winnings.  Thought that the boys did well last night – totally outplaying Forest , and when they upped the tempo in the second half, deservedly scored the three goals.   It only took us about an hour to get to Nottingham, but then it took us another hour to get parked up and leg it to the ground – this despite having a fair idea where I was going. To be honest, though, I did have to lane jump once or twice when I found myself in the wrong lane (a bit like being in London).

We were lucky getting away after the game – 30 minutes after we left the ground, we were on the open road, which wasn’t bad.  Within two and a half hours of the final whistle, I was at home watching the video of the game, armed with a cool tinny – heaven!

As expected, tonight’s match against Witton has been called off.  Talk about a fixture pile-up, and the pitch is getting worse every day.  Snowed heavily in the night, but fortunately it didn’t stick, however, the Leek to Buxton road was impassable this morning.  Buxton is just 11 miles away, 1,000 feet above sea level, but a completely different world.  If it is raining in Leek, it’s probably snowing in Buxton – it actually snowed there (a couple of inches) in June, back in the mid-seventies!!

My wife has just presented me with a ticket for the Forest replay (complete surprise – I’d put my shirt in for washing, so now it’s got a brief reprieve) so I’ll see you all there.   Come on you (soon to be mighty again) Spurs!

If you read the northern edition of the Express, the Martin Jol situation doesn’t look too good.  Come on Tottenham, get it sorted.

We’ve had a week of snow, but funnily enough it has never stuck, so it’s life as normal up norf but with snowflakes on it. I’ve been at work all week, so it didn’t make any difference to me.  Went down to WHL on Sat, and I must admit, I’m starting to enjoy it again.  Despite a quiet first half, Tottenham thoroughly deserved their win.  Is it foolish to be thinking of Europe next year, or should I be thinking this is Tottenham, they’re going to blow it as usual.

While I was at WHL, LTFC entertained lowly Frickley Athletic.  We went a goal up and took this lead into the break, but amazingly conceded two goals and went down 2-1!  That’s now 2 points from the last three games.  Despite other results generally going our way, even the play-offs will be beyond us soon unless they pull their fingers out.  The pitch is now totally unplayable.  I walked past the ground on Sunday, and it looked just like a ploughed field.  I’ve never seen it so bad.  Tomorrow’s game against Witton Albion must be in doubt.

Some very poor results this week – I don’t know whether to laugh or cry at Arse and Man Ure.  I’ve a bit more respect for Chelski, even though they were totally outplayed.  Man Ure’s marks out of ten in the paper ranged from 7 up to 9 (!) even though they only managed just one shot on target.  The only exception to this was our very most favouritest bestest keeper ever, who sadly made another goof, which counted this time and he amassed a huge 4 out of 10 !

The weather up norf has been really strange.  For the last two days we have had some snow followed by 30 mins sunshine, and then snow again etc.  Fortunately it didn’t stick.  However, this morning when I went to earn a dishonest bob, there was a couple of inches on the streets and pavements (enough to bring London to a standstill, but no problem to us up norf), but despite it snowing incessantly, today, gradually the snow has disappeared.  I just hope it’s OK for Saturday for the Fulham game.  See you all there!

Been back to work today – lovely!  Had a good couple of days in London , though.  Here is a brief summary of a Norfen boy, let loose in the big city.

Got to Docklands to the Hotel at about 9:30.  The room was available so we checked in before heading out to The Natural History Museum.  Unfortunately, we didn’t really do it justice – we just seemed to go from one department to another, without really seeing anything.  Also, everything there looked at least half dead.  After a brief visit, we made our way to Madam Tussauds.  I’ve got to be honest and say that it was crap.  I was very disappointed; it was expensive, hardly changed since I first went many years ago, and as for the Planetarium – what a complete waste of time.  We were kept waiting for about 45 minutes just to watch a 10 minute show, which only seemed to tell us the order of the planets in our Solar System, which strangely enough hasn’t changed since I was a child!  From there we made our way to the London Eye, for the first of out two “flights”.  We went up in the dark on the Saturday evening, and it was absolutely brilliant.  When I walked through Jubilee Gardens and saw it in front of me, I thought “Shit, I’m not going on that!!!”  But if you haven’t been on it, I recommend it – it was an absolute doddle.  You would never ever know that you were merely on a big wheel, and the view at night was superb.

We then went back to the hotel for shower, drinks and food.  The first two tasks having been successfully completed, we sat down to eat.  Unfortunately, though our waiter spoke very little English, and he got our order hopelessly wrong.  My wife, Joy, and I actually ended up with a small piece of griddled chicken with a small handful of sad side salad and NOTHING else, on a very large (and empty plate)!!  Another waiter, bemused by the incessant laughter emanating from my son Gary, came to see what was wrong.  He spoke enough English to understand that we actually wanted chips (always) and veg with our meal.

Anyway, enough of that, next day we went on the Eye again – this time in the daytime, and as before, it was fantastic.  After that we got straight off and went on a “Duck Tour”.  This too was very good – if you’ve never been, I recommend that too.  Just put “Duck Tour” into a search engine, and you’ll find it.  It’s actually a World War II amphibious vehicle, which takes you round Westminster, and then goes into (onto?) the Thames for a 30 minute cruise (not to be confused with the latest boring Beckham sprog!).  From there we went to Lords for a tour of the ground. Again this was very good and highly recommended.  However, don’t have the Carvery at the Lords Tavern, next door.  It cost approx £10 for two fair sized pieces of meat, THREE roast potatoes, a few bits of carrot, and two florets of cauliflower and a tiny amount of gravy.  We had to ask for more gravy, because as you all know – norfen boys love gravy!!!!

After Lords, we called in at Wembley on the way home to see how the work is progressing – how sad can I get!!  Incidentally, you can see Wembley from The London Eye.  Could have saved ourselves a journey!!

I’m not tight or anything (honestly) but by norfen standards £1.75 for a tea bag immersed in hot water with a tiny amount of milk seems a bit steep to me, and at Waterloo Station it would have cost the boys 20p each to spend a penny had they not ducked under the barrier!  It’s a good job I didn’t want to go because if I’d tried to duck under the barrier, I would never have got back up again!!!!

Rather predictably, LTFC’s match was called off.  We’ve now got 17 matches scheduled before the end of April.

We’re off to London tomorrow for a couple of days.  They wouldn’t let us have a tour of WHL because there’s a game on Sunday (poor!) so we’re having a tour of Lords instead.  Somehow that doesn’t quite make up for missing WHL.  At least I’ve been round WHL, albeit 20 years ago, but I’m afraid that my boys will have to wait a bit longer until they get to see behind the scenes.

LTFC drew 2-2 with Matlock, last night.  Apparently they weren’t very good, but it was sufficient to move them up into third spot.  Unfortunately, leaders Workington had an easy away win at Spennymoor, so our games in hand are not going to be enough to keep us in touch with them.  It is vital that we beat them at home, next month; however, we’ll have to improve on last night.  Fortunately (or unfortunately, depends on which way you look at it) I was on nights, so I missed the game.  The pitch is still cutting up badly, despite a few frosty nights and sunny (but cold) days, there’s no sign of it drying out.  This, combined to several crucial injuries could be the undoing of our season.  Injuries?  Where have I heard that before?

I’ve read in the Daily Manchester United (that’s any of the norfen dailies) that Alex Ferguson is going to buy Paul Robinson.  Well I hope that that is not the case, and if he does make an offer (£2.5m was the derisory fee mentioned) I hope Tottenham tell him exactly where to stick it!

Just had some real gutting news.  We’re coming down to London for the weekend (no football!!!!!!!!!!!) and with Tottenham playing on the Sunday, we were going to take in a tour of WHL on the Saturday, but they’re not doing it because of the match !!  I don’t believe it.  What difference would a tour of the ground make on the day before ?  I’m gutted, but not as much as my boys are.

I’ve been on days for the last three days, so I’m only just coming to terms with the action.  Incidentally, it snowed up norf this morning, although it didn’t stick in Leek, you could see it on the hills.  Leek Town move back to fourth spot again; if (!) they win all their games in hand, they will go to within one point of leaders, Workington, and they still have to come to Leek to play on our mud bath!  Looking good – LTFC will win their league, and Tottenham will win the FA Cup.  Sounds like a good double to me – bookies here I come!  England just lost (again) in South Africa, but once again, they had to rely on that Great “Brit”, Kevin Pietersen to make some sort of a reasonable total.  Thanks goodness the tour is over, they did brilliantly in the Tests, but I’m afraid the one-dayers just dragged on too long.  Bring on the Aussies!!!.

I’ve just read a report on yesterday’s match, and granted Tottenham were poor in the first half, but I thought that their improvement in the second half was worth a place in the next round.  However, in the report it makes out that it was never a penalty (course it was!), it was never handball (debatable that one: I said it was harsh, but Paul, my lad said it was a cert free kick – no bias there then!) and it was more than an intimation that Kanouté was lucky to somehow find Defoe for the third.  Bollocks!  Kanouté’s run and pass to Defoe was all intentional.  The final ball was superb – even I wouldn’t have missed that chance!!!!!  Why do we never get any good press?  What do we have to do to get them on our side – score a goal at Old Trafford and not accept it, perhaps?  Man Ure were lucky yet again – not just one OG, but two!  They say that these things even themselves out over the season, but not for Man Ure they don’t!!

Leek Town had a cracking away win at Bamber Bridge (4-0), combined with leaders Workington only drawing, it was a good day for LTFC.  I’ll update you on the league position tomorrow, because it’s now time to watch the (soon to be) mighty Spurs hammer WBA.  I’ve had 3-0.  If it is, I’ve got a score double up!!!

Just watched Tottenham (on the box) and although they were good in the second half, they were awful in the first.  I don’t know what upset me the most; the number of times they gave the ball away, the lack of bite, the lack of chances or even the vast array of empty seats (what’s happened to the Glory of the Cup?).  In the event, it was probably the fact that West Brom scored.  We can’t lose against Forest can we?  We’ve even bought their two best players so that they can’t play against us.  We can’t lose.  I say, we can’t lose!

Two weeks running, now, Tottenham have stopped my bet-double come up by conceding.  I had 3-0 both games, and both games were 3-1.  I should know that Tottenham are always going to concede.  I got the score right against Bolton , but I just got it the wrong way round!  I’ve had a reply (unsatisfactory) from Bolton , but as I’m a bit pushed for time now, I’ll fill you in on it next week.

Why oh why, does Martin Jol persist in playing Atouba?  He frightens the life out of me, when he’s defending.  He’s OK (just) when he’s in midfield because being as though he’s got no idea what he’s going to do, then neither have the opposition.  He’s got a bad habit of losing the ball in crucial areas of the pitch.

Weather has been awful today – rain and sometimes sleet, all day.  LTFC’s match against local rivals, Matlock on Monday has been put back to Wednesday, but I don’t hold out a lot of hope for then, either.

Feb 9th

I was fortunate, this time to miss the football farce against Holland .  Even though the cricketers lost (again), it was a cracking game/finish and that “True Brit”, Kevin Pietersen, once again showed the South Africans that we “Brits” can play.  I saw the last 10 mins of the football, and it seems that they saved the worst bit for me.  At least I saw Beckham taken off.  Defoe failed to make an appearance, so he’ll no doubt be raring to go on Saturday against WBA.

England U21’s were in action tonight at Pride Park.  It would have been a good opportunity to have a look at Tom Huddlestone, but unfortunately I missed most of the match.  However, it seems that he was pretty useful.  My mate at work (a Derby supporter) says that he is very, very good and a terrific prospect for Tottenham.  Ashley Cole has been tapped up by Chelski, allegedly, and Arse are none too happy.  I don’t suppose that they have ever done that have they?  It didn’t happen with Mr. Campbell by any chance, did it?  Anyway, the player seems keen to go, and like Campbell, there doesn’t seem to be any point in moaning about it.  If players don’t want to play for you, then you may as well cut your losses and get rid.  In Campbell ’s case, though, he went and we got nowt for him.  At least Arse will be well compensated.

As expected, Leek Town ’s match has been called off.  We’re going to have a fixture back-log if we’re not careful. I’ve been looking at the marks awarded to teams in the People, and the average marks out of 10 are as follows: –  Liverpool (won 3-1) 6.4, Arse (won 3-1) 6.7, Tottenham (won 3-1) 6.1, Man Ure (won 2-0) 7.0 and this was only because Saha ha ha ha only got a 5!!  Sad thing is, though, that all those Man Ure fans in Devon and Cornwall will actually believe this propaganda!  For Tottenham, Naybet and Carrick (?) were awarded fives!.

The battery in my dress watch (not a watch that I put on whilst wearing a dress, but the one I wear when I go out) has died.  Considering that I don’t use it very often, it should last a life time.  My other watch, which I wear every day, lasts for a year or two.  I can’t understand it!!

I’ve been on nights last night, and another one to do tonight.  So I didn’t get to watch Tottenham until I got in this morning, and I watched the match on Sky.  They were very good, even taking into account the opposition.  After our recent run, I’ll take anything.  Mido looked very sharp, and on first sighting, he looks to be an excellent signing.

LTFC won 2-1.  Despite the score line, they murdered Bridlington.  This despite Brid taking the lead and missing a time added on penalty.  LTFC also missed a penalty, and Brid’s manager got “sent off”, but it wasn’t remotely a dirty game.  So small is the ground at Leek, that when Brid’s manager was dismissed, he stood behind the dug-out and continued barking orders at his team – 2 metres back from where he was originally!!  Leek now move up one place into fourth position.  Leaders, Workington lost and so did Whitby.  Unfortunately, the pitch, which was wet to start with, cut up a bit, and became muddy in places, so the game against Witton on Monday is in doubt.  A pitch inspection is planned for tomorrow.  By the way, one line came up on my coupon.  Just about enough to buy a takeaway!  England lost another one-dayer!

I’ve just about calmed down after the parking fiasco at Bolton.  It’ll be interesting to see what Mr. Gartside’s reply is – if any.

My boss let me go at 5:00 yesterday.  I would have been ecstatic to go at quarter past and then I’d have time for a shower.  However, he insisted that I went at 5:00.  It’s good to be wanted!

The match wasn’t particularly inspiring, and without the slightest bias, it has to said that we woz robbed.  Tottenham probably shaded a dull first half, but shortly after the break our recent run of bad luck continued.  Kevin Davies (I think) headed the ball onto the back of the arm of Erik Edman, who was completely unable to do anything about it since he was facing the other way.  Referee, Mike Dean just happened to be standing by the spot, and after his vociferous appeal for a penalty, he pointed straight to the spot.  It was never a penalty in a million years.  Amazingly, just one Bolton player joined in with Mr. Dean’s appeal.  After the cheating spit the dog scored the resulting kick, Tottenham were awarded a free kick at the other end.  Campo (who twice tried to take our players out) clearly raised an arm to fend the ball away.  Penalty!  Well it should have been, and as you all know, Kanouté and King got booked for over protesting.  It’s hard to condemn them for this, but they should know that the ref was not going to change his decision to play on.  So instead of being one up, we found ourselves one down.  Defoe’s arrival saw us score a fantastic equaliser through the legs of Jaaskelainen.  Game on, now.  But Kanouté had obviously lost the plot, and when he dived in at Barness with both feet, he had to get a second yellow.  Stupid boy!  I think we then conceded two very unfortunate late goals.

The nightmare didn’t end there, though.  We got back to our car at 10:00 and didn’t move for another hour!  We paid £5 to park in the official away supporters’ car park, and I think that perhaps we were supposed to pay another £5 to get out!!!  At 11:00 we started moving.  five minutes later we were out of the car park.  Three minutes later we were on the M61.  Simple isn’t it!  So just why were we all kept in for an hour?  We were luckier than most, though, because we only had to go back to Staffordshire.  Some of the other boys had to return to London.  When we went to Blackburn, we were on the Motorway two minutes after getting into the car.  The Police did an excellent job in getting rid of us, that day, so what was the problem at Bolton ?  Were you caught up in the car park stalemate?

I’ve written to the Bolton chairman, Mr Paul Gartside to ask for an explanation, and it might be worth your while to do likewise.  I told him that next time, I’ll park in the home fans car park, and that I suggest that you all do too!!  I’ll let you know what his response is.

I know that you probably didn’t want it to happen, but why didn’t the Arse beat Man Ure?  Life’s unbearable up here when they win.

I’ve just read the report in today’s Sun, and it shows that Tottenham only had one shot on target.  Bollocks!  I remember Jaaskelainen making two good saves to deny us two certain goals.  Added to these was the goal, which makes more than the one that we were accredited with.  There may even have been more, but I can’t remember, but you get my point!  Incidentally, have you noticed that this recent run of bad luck has only come about because the man with no hair won the Manager of the Month award for January?

Bolton tonight.  Last time I went there, they were playing at Burnden Park and we lost 2-1.  I think Neil McNab scored – that’s how long ago it was!!!!

Pompey at home today.  I’m getting good vibes about this one, so much so, I’ve had Tottenham (who else?) to win 3-0.  Leek Town are playing lowly Bridlington, so I’m expecting a win double.

Been watching one of my lads play football, this afternoon – they drew 1-1 with the team who are top of their league.  It was truly bloody cold, but us Norfen lads are hardy, and we can take it – good practice for Bolton on Tuesday !!

We won the first one-dayer in SA.  The boys have done brilliantly !  Toothbrush is still acting up.

Not too bad a result today, at WBA.  Stayed in and did some painting – well I do want to go to Bolton !!

Leek Town had a superb away win at second placed Farsley Celtic.  Workington won again, and look like they’ll win at a canter.  However, their ground may not be fit for Conference Norf football, and so promotion may be denied them.  If so, we’ll be waiting!!  Currently, LTFC are looking for a play off place.  I’ll be disappointed if we don’t make that.

Not been on the computer for the last few days, due to being on 4 x 12 hour nights.  On the football front, there seems to have been more activity around WHL than all the other grounds put together.  Most of the signings seem to be for the future, rather than for today, but there is still talk of Van Bommell signing.  That wouldn’t be too bad.  Of those who have signed, I’m eagerly awaiting their debuts, so that I can find out from the Sky Sports presenters how to pronounce some of the names!  My tickets for Bolton next week, arrived on Wednesday – less than a week before the match.  Really, that isn’t good enough – particularly for a mid-week match, where holidays have to be arranged, or in my case, I’ve got to grovel to finish a few minutes early!

On the cricket front, England duly wrapped up the Test Series, aided in no small way by a few lads from the Norf.  OK, they were from Yorkshire and Lancashire, but I won’t hold that against them.  Whenever, if ever, will Derbyshire be good enough to have someone play for England again?

Leek Town ’s match against BA was postponed and now they hope to play on Monday 31st.  With going to Bolton the next night, I think discretion is the better part of valour, here, in not pushing my luck with my very patient wife, and so I’ll not be going.  What am I, you ask – man or mouse.  Squeak, squeak is my timid reply!!  I’ve now been lucky enough not to have been to Leek Town since 22nd November!  I’ve never known such good times.

We were going to come down for the Man City match, but there’s now been a change of plan and so we’ve now applied for tickets for the Fulham game.  I wonder when we’ll get them.  At least by applying on line, we know we’ve got them.  Incidentally, I’ve got fixed up with Broadband this week, (incredibly we can get it in Leek!) and I have to say that it’s brilliant.  I used to be on-line with “Tesco Net”, but changed to “Wanadoo”.  The internet was intolerably slow with Wanadoo, so I “had” to have Broadband.  I’m sure Wanadoo/Freeserve slowed it up on purpose so that I’d get Broadband – they stitched me up like a kipper !

It’s been frosty for the last couple of mornings, but we’re hardy up Norf – we can take it.  It even tried to snow today, but hopefully not enough to prevent Leek from entertaining Bishop Auckland in the long-awaited President’s Cup Quarter Final.  Sadly, I’m on nights (12 hours) so I can’t go.  Taking the weather into account (they’ve given it around the freezing mark tonight) plus the lack of importance in this competition, I doubt that many will bother going.  England are in a brilliant position in South Africa – they could win again!  Come on England !

Amazingly, there was more coverage for Tottenham than Man Ure in the Saturday papers.  That doesn’t happen too often up here in the Norf.

Oh dear!  We didn’t just lose; we were somewhat embarrassed into submission.  I suppose it had to happen some time, but having just put up two excellent performances against Chelski and Man Ure, how could this happen against a team like Palace?

Leek Town didn’t have a game today.  They are waiting to play the winners of the Kendal and Bishop Auckland tie, in the “Presidents’s Cup”.  Let’s hope it’s Bishop Auckland, so that we can give the Bishop a good bashing!

My fixed odds coupon was crap today – I wasn’t even remotely close.  However, I thought that I had got a score double up, when Leeds won at Stoke 1-0, and Ipswich took the lead in time added on, against Reading , only for Reading to equalise seconds later!  There’s no justice in this world!  I’m obviously destined to be poor all my life!  Please send donations to …

At least there was some good news from SA, where England have done well, getting nine wickets.  Let’s hope we get the last one quickly and score millions.

Palace away, tomorrow – I’m not getting good vibes about this one.  I’d be happy with a point.  I’ve still not heard if I’ve got my tickets for Bolton (like a home game for me, with it being only 40 or so miles from Leek) on February 1st.  Just how long does it take for them to sort out the ticket allocation?  The match is less than two weeks away, now, so you would think that we’d know by now.  That’s not too much to expect.  Is it?

I bet you didn’t think that we’d have battery operated toothbrushes up in the Norf, but truth be told, we’re probably the only people in Leek who have got them.  Most people chew on a piece of tree bark.  My toothbrush now works if I whack it prior to use, so that’ll do for me, for now.

Currently watching Exeter v ManUre.  Why oh why do Man Ure have to contest EVERY decision.  Their look of total disbelief whenever a decision is given against them is unreal.

Cracking win for Burnley too.  All these Premiership sides getting beaten is beginning to look good for Tottenham.  Come on Exeter !

Having trouble with my battery toothbrush – will keep you informed!

Congratulations to England for winning the fourth test in South Africa.  What a tremendous win.

Oh well!  We gave it our best.  I thought that Tottenham played well, but lacked that final killer blow.  No offence to the midgets, but Defoe and Keane doesn’t work for me.  It was never a penalty in a million years, but the other two possibly were – soft as they were.  I also thought that Chelsea went to ground a bit too easily!

Leek Town had their captain sent off after only 20 minutes, but then took the lead in the 43rd minute.  They went in at half time 2-1 down !!  It was all too much for them in the second half, and they surrendered meekly (Tottenham never gave up) and ultimately lost 4-1.  Looks like the play-offs now.  So much for being confident;  both teams lost !!

Man Ure had their usual luck when Rooney slipped one under Dudek (who doesn’t ?).  Hopefully their luck will run out very soon.  They were one of my pre-season tips for relegation; looks like I’ll have to wait another year now.  To try and put this into perspective, the elation I would feel if this happened, is 10 times the joy that you would feel if Arse got relegated – at least!!

The papers up here are constantly full of the “feud” between Monsieur Arse and Fergie.  Jose Mourinho must be laughing his little cotton socks off.  All this bickering between AW and AF is all down to him.  He’s really rattled them.

PS  Well done to Bolton for beating Arse.

Chelsea tomorrow.  I’m unusually confident – probably a bad sign.  Leek Town travel to league leaders Workington for a must not lose game.

Three Dutch players have been linked with Tottenham.  Jol has admitted that they have been watching some/all of them, so this time, there is a possibility that something may come out of it.

The latest player to be linked with Tottenham is Mido from Roma, it’s been said, today.  Never heard of him!

West Brom away in the cup.  No doubt Paul, my lad, will be mithering to go.  Oh to be rich!!  It took Paul two seconds after he came home from school to ask if we could go!!  Oh to be even richer than I first thought!

Leek Town beat local rivals, (even though they’re in a league below, they are still bitter rivals), 5-0 in the Staffordshire Senior Cup Quarter Final.  Unfortunately, I chose not to go to this one!  I must be becoming a bit of a fair-weather fan, because it was a bit cold, and rain was forecast, even though it never materialised, and we decided to save our money for Bolton.  In the event, I went to a committee meeting at Leek Cricket Club and spent an interesting two hours there!!

Stoke lost 2-1 at The Arse, and poor old Yeading lost 2-0 against Newcastle.  This match was scheduled to be played at Yeading, but it was felt unsafe (and uneconomical) to play it there, and so it was played at Loftus Road.  Virtually everyone wanted it to be played at Newcastle , in order to give the minnows a bumper payout of about £500,000, thus giving them financial stability for a few years.  Everyone that is except the FA, who are now contemplating getting teams to sign a contract saying that their ground is fit to host big matches, before they are allowed to enter the competition.  This could mean that many non-league teams would not be able to take part in the future.  So much for the romance of the cup!

One of my step-sons is a Stoke fan (I did try to brainwash him too, but to no avail – it could be worse, he could be a Man Ure fan like his brother !) and he went to the game at Highbury, and he commented on how quiet it was there – well the home fans, anyway.  He said that one Arse fan stood up and tried to sing back, but he was told to sit down and shut up !!!  Good old Arsenal …

Tottenham struggled their way past Brighton in the FA Cup.  It wasn’t very good apparently, but at least they won.  Things must be making a turn for the good.  Leek Town beat Ossett Town 2-0 to keep the pressure on the teams above them.  Now if (a big if) they won their games in hand, they would be three points behind the leaders, Workington, with the teams still to meet twice.  Exeter 0-0 Man Ure at OT – I’m lovin’ it!  Oldham beat Man City, so no 3-4 repeat of that debacle against them this year!

England got hammered – Bugger!

Gutted! Totally gutted, after having seen the depths Man Ure have had to sink to in order not to lose to Tottenham.  I used to think that Mike Riley was biased, but assistant referee, Rob Lewis really takes the biscuit.  How on earth can it be that only the referee and his assistant were the only ones inside the ground that didn’t see that the ball was well over the line?  Even Monsieur Wenger, renown for his myopia, saw that one!  Keeper, Roy Carroll, doesn’t come out of it very well either.  If he ever plays for Man Ure at WHL again, I hope that he gets an appropriate welcome.  The bloody cheat!  Unfortunately, this incident has taken away some of the gloss for the boys; despite being a bit light up front (no offence Robbie) they put up a tremendous display.  The best that I’ve seen them at OT for many a year.  Amazingly, the papers relegated Man Ure to only one of the inside pages, and our misfortune was just briefly referred to.  I wonder why? I don’t think that it would be like that had the other side “scored”!!!!!  I am very pleased to see that Tottenham have come out of this with their heads held up high, and that no silly comments emanated from WHL.  They have taken it with a better grace than I have!!!

England are getting hammered in the third Test Match against South Africa.

I’m on nights tonight, so I’m taping Man Ure v Tottenham.

Shame Liverpool lost, but Charlton did us a favour by coming a cropper at Blackburn.  The fixed odds coupon has us at 13/2 to win at Old Trafford tomorrow, and this is probably our best chance of a win for years, unless Mike Riley is reffing.  Being surrounded by so many “loyal” United fans, this is the match that we most want to win – sorry all you Gooner haters !!  Leek Town only managed a 1-1 draw away at Radcliffe Borough, despite being in front at the break.  Since this was their first match for four weeks, I suppose that it wasn’t a bad result.  Above us, Hyde lost (again), but leaders Workington won yet again.

I’ve just read several northern editions of the match report, and according to them, apart from Marney (8); all the other Tottenham boys only merited 6 or 7, which would not be too bad had not the Everton players nearly all been awarded sixes or sevens.  They were all at sixes or sevens, so I suppose that that may be realistic!!  Kanoute only got a 7 – I’m stunned!

Jamie Redknapp has left to join his old man at Southampton.  Sadly, we never saw him at his best on any consistent basis, mainly due to injury (unusual for a Tottenham player).  I wish him all the very best, except when he plays us.

Oh what a journey home it was!  Having just witnessed one of the best games at While Hart Lane for what seems like decades, we were all on a high.  Because we stopped at The Golden M (as in the kids are lovin’ it, but I’m not!) for tea (?), we didn’t get home until 9:15.  I then watched the highlights on both Sky and MOTD – how sad can you get ?  But I don’t care, and I celebrated the goals all over again – even the slo mo replays.  It’s no wonder my wife doesn’t understand me!