County v Tamworth: Match Thread, Take 1 (02/04/2018)

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!

'Take Five' now up on COWS:

www.stockportcounty.com/take-5-2018-tamworth/

Re-arranged for tomorrow night. When I can't make it. Damn. More rain please!

I do hope it's postponed again so that I can make it!

Don't worry, Sandman, it'll be on - I'm back in work tomorrow so it'll be bleeding roasting!

Doing a rain dance as I type...

Quit dancing, Maccy - it's not working!