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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 30, 2018 22:58:35 GMT
Just getting this one started now, as we head into the weekend-proper.
EP on Easter Monday should be buzzing! Get involved in the pre-match build-up here...
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 30, 2018 23:01:43 GMT
In the meantime, here is my updated piece on our visitors for COWS:
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TAKE FIVE (2018)…Tamworth
By Hatter in Macc
1. A second Bank Holiday Monday gambol of the season with Tamworth’s ‘Lambs’, then?
It is, indeed. And, hopefully, we shall begin April on a brighter note than we ended last August - courtesy of our 3-1 defeat in the reverse-fixture, away at… erm, ‘The Lamb’.
2. Hints there of a young ovine link - but wasn’t The Lamb originally used for pig farming?!
That was certainly the site’s first recorded purpose, in the early 19th Century. But any connections with animal husbandry were purely coincidental when it came to naming the ground, which took its title from ‘The Lamb Inn’ that once stood at the entrance to what is now the club’s car-park.
Pubs, in fact, played more of a direct role than agricultural processes in Tamworth’s footballing heritage. The current club has played at The Lamb since 1934, although, for a season after its formation the previous year, home was a ground on the other side of the River Tame - and behind the also-now-demolished ‘Jolly Sailor Hotel’. For good measure, both playing fields, with relevant brewery backing, had earlier hosted other teams from the town - with Kettlebrook Oakfield and Tamworth Castle having plied their respective trades at The Lamb and Jolly Sailor.
3. Lambs? Sailors? All sounds a bit of a rum do, if you ask me. Arf.
Actually, The Lamb Inn itself had an active supporting function in the early days - providing changing facilities for the players, who, once kitted up, ran out of the pub and directly on to the pitch. Tamworth’s ground - officially known, for sponsorship purposes, as the (deep breath…) EST Electrical Services Stadium at The Lamb - still has changing rooms that are separate to The Lamb’s infrastructure - albeit of the portable type, and obtained from Salisbury City.
Another fellow non-league club from back in the day - namely, Scarborough - donated the floodlights which, for the most part, still stand at The Lamb. They were put up in 1969, during a purple patch that saw Tamworth win three West Midlands League Championships, as well as local Senior Cups on several occasions, before moving up to the Southern League (for 1972/73). The Lambs are also one of two FA Vase winners that County have faced this season, courtesy of Tamworth’s victory, following a replay, over Sudbury Town in 1989 - some 24 years before Spennymoor Town lifted that trophy.
4. We’ve seen a fair bit of them in recent years. Anyone played for both clubs?
Yes, the Lambs have… well, rubbed shoulders with us for all but one of the seasons since our relegation from the Football League. And one of their current number, midfielder Aman Verma (at County in 2013), may well turn out against the Hatters at Edgeley Park this Easter Monday.
Going slightly further back in time, last term’s top-goalscoring Hatter, Danny Lloyd (2016/17), and another midfielder, Richie Baker (2014/15), both had prior spells at The Lamb. Defender Jordan Rose (2010/11 and 2012), as well as strikers Neil Ross (2000-03) and Nick Chadwick (2011/12), all went there at later stages in their career, while Tom Eckersley (2012), who played a couple of games in County’s defence whilst on loan, appeared for the Lambs in their 2013 pre-season. And Javan Vidal (2013), who netted Bradford Park Avenue’s first against us on Good Friday, has also since haunted EP by scoring with - would you credit it - his only-ever goal in a Tamworth shirt!
5. Not trying to c-ram too many puns in, ewe understand - but I do wonder w(h)ether the outcome is worth a bet-up here?
Based on history, it is a tough one to call. The five meetings to date between our two teams in SK3 have resulted in one draw and a pair of victories apiece.
But, hopefully, the Hatters will succeed in sending the Lambs to a metaphorical slaughter to register a fifth triumph on the bounce and our first hat-trick of home wins in over two years. Eggs-actly what we need at this stage of the season and holy calendar!
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Post by hermannsays on Mar 31, 2018 16:52:08 GMT
With Kiddy playing Brackley and York travelling to FCUM, there's a potential that we could move to 4th with a win in this one. Having posted my expert analysis of why we would finish 13th, the turnaround has taken me back to when I appeared on Sky Sports:
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Apr 1, 2018 20:05:04 GMT
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Post by sandbachhatter on Apr 2, 2018 9:49:14 GMT
Match postponed for those who haven't already seen.
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Post by sandbachhatter on Apr 2, 2018 9:49:40 GMT
Re-arranged for tomorrow night. When I can't make it. Damn. More rain please!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Apr 2, 2018 9:57:31 GMT
Seems a strange decision when the pitch is already saturated, when it is still chucking it down, and when more rain is forecast ahead of tomorrow evening!
Has involved for me quite a lot of commitment-shifting at short notice, too. It had better be worth it...
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Post by sandbachhatter on Apr 2, 2018 10:07:15 GMT
I do hope it's postponed again so that I can make it!
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2018 10:08:45 GMT
Absolutely gutted the game is off today. I've been looking forward to it all weekend!
Will cost the club a lot of money unfortunately, today's gate would have been well over 4k, possibly even 4.5-5k. Tuesday night game will see a gate probably 1,500 lower. Surely this goes to show proper groundstaff is an investment which should reap rewards on the pitch and on the gate.
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Post by gazz on Apr 2, 2018 10:35:58 GMT
Don't worry, Sandman, it'll be on - I'm back in work tomorrow so it'll be bleeding roasting!
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Post by sandbachhatter on Apr 2, 2018 10:45:22 GMT
Me too, but I don't want it on tomorrow as Mrs Sandy is out with 'the girls' (which is frankly sexist as I'm never allowed to go out with the girls), so Wednesday would suit me much better.
Can you sort that, Maccy?!
TIA
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Apr 2, 2018 11:18:26 GMT
Doing a rain dance as I type...
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Post by Deleted on Apr 2, 2018 11:41:46 GMT
It's not even raining now...
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Post by gazz on Apr 2, 2018 11:45:20 GMT
It's not even raining now... Quit dancing, Maccy - it's not working!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Apr 2, 2018 12:50:39 GMT
Ah - but I have set my controls for tomorrow afternoon! All will be well... or, rather, wet
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