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Post by sirroger on Apr 27, 2014 14:16:49 GMT
Countyberg - 'Probably the best Commentary in the world'
...Paul Cooper makes yet another excellent save, he's having a superb game today. An underarm ball out to the unassuming but brilliant Sean Connelly starts the move that leads to probably the best goal in the history of football. Connelly sends a slide rule pass to Kevin Cooper who manages to evade yet another lunging tackle, turns, puts his foot on the ball and knows instinctively that Louis Cavaco is hugging the touchline to his right. The ball reaches Cavaco. The two defenders he's had in his pocket throughout the game know it's either put him in the stand or it's good night viena. Cavaco beckons the first defender to approach him and this does, but a superb nutmeg leaves him wishing he'd not bothered. The second defender's on him in a heartbeat, but this is Cavaco's moment and he isn't going to be denied. He leaps over the tackle that's coming, collects the ball and he's away. On the edge of the penalty stands the irrepresable Jack Connor who has already stolen a yard on his marker, a yard that's to prove more than enough for this truly great goal scorer. Cavaco, in mid run, looks up and that's enough. His cross is magnificent, it's inch perfect, the type of cross a centre forward craves for, the type of cross Connor prays for. He rises, like a salmon. His head meets with ball, the ball hits the back of the net. The keeper's still flapping. The header is brilliant, the move is brilliant.
The goal celebration commences, Connelly, Clare, Chapman, Cavaco, Cook, Coyle, Connor, they're all there. The crowd are all standing, cheering, applauding.
What a goal.
Edgeley Park has witnessed something special.
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Apr 27, 2014 15:21:47 GMT
With time pressing, shall have to cheat slightly by lifting my 'Glenda Slagg' piece from first time around...
One bit of editing required, in the light of Paul Ware's untimely passing since then. RIP.
*************************************************************************************************
Away-trips to Carlisle: Don'tcha Just Love 'Em?!?! (With apologies to Private Eye...)
1. Early '90s: Having a mate who lived on Warwick Road, just a Flynny throw-in away from Brunton Park. Saved me a good few late-night drives home in the days when we constantly seemed to get landed with midweek trips there.
2. January 1992: Having, strangely but gratefully, a second bite of the cherry at Carlisle, once we scraped into the knockout-stage, in the Autoglass - after the group matches, which had included a woeful 4-0 spanking there. No mistake by the boys second time around, winning 3-1 en route to 'Wembley - the first time'.
3. March 1996: the late, and sorely-missed, Paul Ware's belting curler, at the away-end, that won that season's League encounter there. Still one of the top ten County goals I've ever seen.
4. January 2010: Enjoying my fifteen seconds of fame, when interviewed - and broadcast on The Football League Show - by the BBC for a fan's take on the Club's plummeting fortunes. Not that the camera got my best side, mind...
5. January 2010: Arriving for the match early enough to drive that little bit further up the M6, just so's Macc Junior and I could go home afterwards and brag that we'd been to Scotland!
Away-trips to Carlisle: Aren'tcha Just Sick of 'Em?!?!
1. Early '90s: On the one Tuesday night that my Warwick Road-dwelling mate wasn't at home, having to drive back after a match in the worst Cumbrian winter conditions, and coming within a hair's breadth of being taken off the M6 by another swerving car.
2. November 1991: The group-stage Autoglass match. Lost 4-0, and played atrociously with a full-strength side. 'Little' Paul Williams broke his leg, and was never the same player again. And there were just 36 of us there from Stockport to witness the whole ghastly business.
3. March 1996: Leaping with joy to a ludicrous height on the away-terrace when Ware scored, before taking a tumble on the steps and spraining my ankle.
4. Winter 2002/03: Returning home very late from a romantic, and another very cold, evening watching County bow out of the Autoglass-successor-thingy after extra time, only to find that Mrs Macc and I had locked ourselves out of the house.
5. January 2010: Ian Harte's play-acting directly in front of the away-fans, which ended up getting Jabo Ibehre a second yellow card and his marching orders. Macc Junior took the injustice of it all so much to heart that he never wants to visit Carlisle again... all things considered, I'm probably not going to argue with him !
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Apr 27, 2014 18:48:16 GMT
Caludon Castle Cricket (staff games)
My first teaching post was in Coventry at Caludon Castle Comprehensive. Another 1600 all boys secondary school in the city. One of the highlights was the ability to turn out a competitive staff team that played occasional cricket matches against other school staff teams.
In three years we were unbeaten playing to our own curious set of rules We decided that if 11 guys had given up valuable time to turn out that they all ought to have a bat and a bowl. So it was 20 over games (after school and giving us plenty of drinking time afterwards) - 2 overs bowling per player (wicket-keeper excepted) and retire at 25 runs maximum (return only if no batsmen left to come in).
This did not always go down well with some of the more serious opposition teams, but seeing as we always played on our pitch and hosted the game our rules stuck !!!
The most memorable game was against a school called Finham Park (serious opposition so it took 20 minutes to persuade them to play our rules, the alternative was to abandon the game and retire to the pub early) - they had 2 exceptionally good amateur batsmen who had decided to open their innings, fully expecting to bat 20 overs and slap us all around the field. They were not amused to find the 25 run/retire early rules being imposed on them.
Their innings commenced and, as captain, I asked Dave our ex-rugby league playing (and exceptionally swift) maths teacher, to take the first over. Although he was fast he had never played a full game of cricket in his life. My plan was to surprise the opposition and lull them into a false sense of security. The opening batsman was busy taking his guard from the umpire and scratching his batting mark when suddenly all 3 wickets and bails exploded behind him. Dave had decided that seeing as the chap had come out padded up to the nines and was in front of the stumps that he must be ready to start. An exocet of a first ball was bang on target, thankfully, thus ensuring that permanent injury wasn't caused.
We calmed Dave down after the umpire (our deputy head) signaled a dead ball and re-started the match. This incident obviously unsettled the batsman as he spent the rest of the over backing away to square-leg. We worked on the assumption that if Dave didn't know where the ball was going then neither would the batter !!
To cut a long story short, one of decent players didn't last long having duly embarrassed him early on and the other took plenty of overs to get to 25 and then retire. Excellent fielding by our team of mis-fits (I regarded myself as the only competent cricketer in the side) including a magnificent one handed catch on the boundary by our Irish "virgin-cricketer" cum pottery teacher with fingers like Cumberland sausages. We also dropped 3 catches on purpose so that the "retired" opener was unable to return for a late innings thrash.
We were able to knock of the rather average score quite easily and adjourn to the local hostelry for refreshments much early than usual. For some reason Finham Park refused to play us the following year. I can't think why !!
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Post by gazz on Apr 27, 2014 18:57:28 GMT
Excellent entries, Maccy & Lennie. @ Lennie: Your Teaching days are worthy of documentation on their own, and would be one hell of an entertaining read, so keep them coming........ please!  |
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Post by sandbachhatter on Apr 28, 2014 13:43:34 GMT
Colwyn's Crappy Catering
Easter Monday. Having got to the ground at about 2.45pm, myself and my father-in-law decided to grab something to eat before finding a spot to watch the game. Immediately it became apparent that we might have a bit of a wait for food, the queue stretching some distance down one side of the pitch.
Indeed, kick off came and went 15 minutes after our arrival, with us having not moved much nearer to the food shack. We could, however, see that our choice was more or less limited to burger or hotdog, there being no pies (or anything else for that matter) on offer.
A burger it is then.
I sent Sirius a text to see whereabouts she and Sirius Jnr were stood, and I got one back shortly afterwards which read "I can see you. We're opposite to where you're stood now. By the way, the burgers are crap."
Upon reading the text, I mentioned to my father-in-law that we'd better avoid the burgers. The bloke in front, having overheard this, turned around and said "What's that, the burgers are no good?" I explained that, whilst I couldn't comment myself, my mate had texted to say they were best avoided.
To which the bloke in front informed his mate that they too best give the burgers a wide berth.
"What's that?" asked the fella in front of them "Avoid the burgers? Right. Cheers"
And so on... right up the queue. News quickly spread to avoid the burgers, and I'm not sure they sold many more after that.
Whoops.
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Post by gazz on Apr 28, 2014 15:08:18 GMT
Quality, Sandy, I'm pleased to have got this from you first hand at the game on Saturday!
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Apr 30, 2014 12:11:11 GMT
All your's Rog. Time for a decision.
Collection the contributions and complete the complex count. Cue the culmination of credibility. Custody of the "Mantle of Brilliance" concludes.
Week D (already) coming soon.
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Post by sirroger on Apr 30, 2014 12:58:09 GMT
OK, Len,
Plenty of excellent entries.
After much deliberation, my 'Gold Award' just has to go to Sandy for his Carrow Road entry.
Three cheers for Deliah, congrats to Sandy and a big thank you to all for making the task of judging 'C' such a challenge.
Back to you, Len, in the studio.
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Post by sandbachhatter on Apr 30, 2014 13:04:17 GMT
Why thank you very much Rog!!
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Apr 30, 2014 13:18:49 GMT
The "Mantle of Brilliance" sits very nicely on the Sandy Shoulders.
Fully deserved, and you were married as well as a bonus.
Thanks Rog. Much appreciated.
Week D is out there and waiting.
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Post by gazz on Apr 30, 2014 14:41:18 GMT
Excellent decision, Rog, a belting story indeed!
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Post by Admin on Apr 30, 2014 17:10:54 GMT
Excellent story! Worthy winner, congrats Sandy
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Post by archie on Sept 10, 2014 18:32:10 GMT
Chaos - an excellent subsection on CH. Also what ensues when the organiser has a senior moment when nominating the judge. 
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Post by bringbacklenwhite on Sept 10, 2014 19:13:06 GMT
If the cap fits I will wear it Archie.
CHAOS - County Heaven's Administrator Of Stupidity !!!
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