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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 5, 2017 16:24:03 GMT
Next up: our first reverse-fixture of the season, and a chance both to avenge that first-day defeat in Durham and win against the one remaining team in the NLN that we have never beaten.
Post all the usual malarkey here...
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 5, 2017 16:31:22 GMT
'Take Five' continues, with adapted, updated (and occasionally corrected!) versions of pieces from earlier in the season. Here is my revised one for COWS on this Saturday's visitors - including... erm, 'moor' about how John Collins met Frank Skinner's mum!
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TAKE FIVE ‘MOOR’... Spennymoor Town
By Hatter in Macc
1. So, our first reverse-fixture of the season already - and a demon to exorcise!
Correct, on both counts. We kicked off our campaign by visiting newly-promoted Spennymoor, and our single-goal defeat there now leaves the ‘Moors’ as the sole remaining club in this year’s National League North that we have never previously beaten in a competitive match.
In addition, current Hatters Jimmy Ball, Michael Clarke and Scott Duxbury will doubtless be doubly keen to get one over on the team from County Durham! They were all part of Jim Gannon’s Northwich Victoria side that went down 2-0 in the Evo-Stik Division One North Play-off Final at Spennymoor just over a year and a half ago.
2. The one NLN side never before to have visited Edgeley Park, too, I am guessing?
Spot on! But not entirely surprising, given that Spennymoor Town only this year turned 12, having been formed as a 10th-tier Northern League Division Two club in 2005, and stayed at that level until 2006/07 - the season prior to that in which we (look away now, fellow Hatters) won the play-offs to get ourselves back into League One - before rising four steps within the last decade.
3. Not to be confused with the now-defunct Spennymoor United, then?
Well, possibly... and understandably! The ‘new’ Spennymoor is technically a successor club to Evenwood Town, from a small village just over 10 miles away, rather than to the ‘old’ Spennymoor that folded before the end of 2004/05 - both of whom had been Northern League forces to be reckoned with in their day, winning the title eight times between them during the dozen years between 1967 and 1979. But, by way of added complexity, our visitors this Saturday play at United’s old Brewery Field ground, as well as in the black and white stripes of the original club bearing the town’s name. (They also encountered two early refusals by the Football Association to change the newly-founded club’s suffix from ‘Town’ to ‘United’.)
This hybrid arrangement was worked out in the course of a meeting between United supporters and Evenwood representatives at Spennymoor’s Penny Gill pub! But it seems to have stood the test of time rather well so far - with the new club having made great strides up the Non-League Pyramid, including the two Evo-Stik tiers through successive play-offs, and achieved one of eight Final-wins by Northern League outfits during the last nine years in lifting the FA Vase (for 2013).
4. Have any players turned out for both the Moors and the Hatters?
A handful, if we are allowed to count Spennymoor United. Over 90 years ago, outside-left Tommy Scurr, who was born in the County Durham town, left his local club in 1925 to start a three-year stint in the Football League at EP. In later years, Newcastle-born Ralph Wright (County defender/midfielder, 1971/72) began and ended his career with Spennymoor. And both striker Bob Colville (1987-89) and midfielder Michael Oliver (1994-96), who hailed from Middlesbrough, turned out at Brewery Field after their spells at Edgeley Park.
5. ‘Ennymoor for ‘ennymoor? Arf.
Oh, very comedic! But, well, actually…
While we have former Spennymoor players on our minds, comedian Frank Skinner’s Dad, John Collins, deserves a mention - having played for United before World War Two, and been in the team for a 1937 Third Round FA Cup-tie at West Bromwich Albion. WBA were, of course, to become the club of choice for a young Frank - and Spennymoor had a part to play not only in that, but also in his very existence! John, while drowning his sorrows at a local pub in the aftermath of United’s 7-1 thrashing at The Hawthorns, had met local girl Doris, who he later wed - and Frank was born to them (as Christopher Graham Collins) in the West Midlands town some 20 years later. Football, eh? The essence of life itself!
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Post by countyfan on Dec 6, 2017 10:56:21 GMT
The bad feelings have gone and been replaced with terrible ones!! Only joking, I've a good feeling about that and I think an early goal will settle any nerves there may be and we'll run out comfortable winners scoring at least 3!!! E-I-E-I-E-I-Act, Countyfan's back with another FACT!!!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Dec 7, 2017 16:20:38 GMT
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djm68
Random Canadian Substitute
George Whitelaw's Gut
Posts: 23
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Post by djm68 on Dec 8, 2017 21:48:04 GMT
Fantastic (if true!!).
As stated above, Town are not technically the same team as 'United', but I guess I'm one of the few who have seen Spennymoor United playing in the North-West. After non-league Macc Town had dumped County out of the F A Cup in a 1st Round replay in 1967-68 season, they were drawn against Spennymoor and won 2-0. Whilst my loyalties were with County in the 1st round, they switched to Macc for that game as I was at College there and played for the college team virtually adjoining Moss Rose. Macc then got drawn away to (then top tier) Fulham and lost 4-2 at Craven Cottage.
Missed The Southport home game (and didn't miss much apparently - although the replay sounded good!), but will be there tomorrow. Already dug the thermals out. Feels important this one. Win and the play-offs are still on - lose and it will really feel like the season has started to slip away. It won't necessarily have done, but it will feel like it!
(Ye Olde Vic open at 12:30 pm before the game)
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Post by newtownafc on Dec 9, 2017 16:58:23 GMT
Oswell not scoring for u !!! Been seeing ur results and sorry but jase isn't getting the goals so would be happy to take him off ur hands in Jan
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Post by ceefer on Dec 9, 2017 19:58:49 GMT
Oswell not scoring for u !!! Been seeing ur results and sorry but jase isn't getting the goals so would be happy to take him off ur hands in Jan Great post Newtown...that made me laugh and would you believe it after that hat-trick the sponsors voted another player as Man of the Match....
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Post by ceefer on Dec 9, 2017 20:06:56 GMT
A great win in bad conditions. Credit to the groundsmen for ensuring the match went ahead,and Jim and the team for getting the 3 pts. It could so easily have been 3-3 but it was good to see the fight, grot and determination on the pitch.
Made me laugh as the Spennymoor fans were laying into Oswell, who royally shut them up with his hat trick. Their goalie said neither of the penalties should have been given.
We really should have Oswell on a 2 year contract...
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Post by ceefer on Dec 9, 2017 20:25:46 GMT
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Post by ceefer on Dec 9, 2017 20:30:23 GMT
Well you heard it first here!
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Post by ceefer on Dec 11, 2017 18:45:31 GMT
Well you heard it first here! Trying to get twitter id 939475616428101632 embedded.........with no luck
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Post by ceefer on Dec 11, 2017 18:48:28 GMT
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