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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 12, 2018 14:32:16 GMT
Right, then - with tomorrow night's contest at EP called off, all eyes turn east for our next engagement, over in that part of the country where motorways fear to go.
Post all the usual malarkey, including long-range weather forecasts for Lincolnshire, here...
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 12, 2018 14:35:22 GMT
Another game, another updated 'Take Five'. Here is this Saturday's for COWS:
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TAKE FIVE (2018)… Gainsborough Trinity
By Hatter in Macc
1. The ‘Holy Blues’ of Gainsborough, eh? They must hark back to biblical times!
Well, not quite. But Trinity, having been formed in 1873, are, as it happens, the most elderly outfit in the National League North by some eight years, ahead of Southport (and with County a decade behind in joint-third, alongside Chorley and Darlington).
Gainsborough cannot quite lay claim to having, in The Northolme, the oldest ground at which one club has played continuously. (Our recent FA Trophy opponents Maidenhead United are now officially recognised by the FA and FIFA for that accolade, by virtue of calling York Road their home since 1871.) But as a sporting venue in constant use, The Northolme - often known as ‘The Chapel’ - does date back to 1853, when cricket matches were first held there.
2. One of a good few clubs from the Victorian era with faith at its roots, I am guessing?
Indeed so. The top two levels of English football today have no fewer than 10 - including Aston Villa, Everton, Manchester City, Southampton and Tottenham - that owe their creation to local churches looking to provide recreational activities (and alternatives to pubs and brothels!) for the ‘labouring poor’. And, similarly, the then-vicar of Gainsborough’s Holy Trinity Church - which now houses an arts centre - is credited with having established a football club in the Lincolnshire town.
Reverend George Langton Hodgkinson was all the more altruistic in having formed the ‘Trinity Recreationists’ (as the club was initially known), given that his personal sporting passion was for cricket. He himself turned out as a right-handed batsman of some note for Oxford University and Middlesex, as well as featuring further in the first-class game for ‘Gentlemen’ against ‘Players’.
3. And where did those footballing feet of Trinity go on to walk in ancient times?
They made it to the Football League in 1896, and stayed in the Second Division until 1912 - when the ‘Holy Blues’ not only finished bottom and failed to be re-elected, but, to add insult to injury, were voted out against incoming near-neighbours Lincoln City.
Since then, Trinity have tended rather to get those feet under the tables of leagues - existing contentedly in the Midland League for much of the following half-century or so, before becoming founder members of the Northern Premier League in 1968 and then clocking up a record 36 years of continuous service at that level. Even now, the constant process of non-league-pyramid-restructuring does little to unsettle Gainsborough - one of only two clubs (the other being Harrogate Town) to have remained in the NLN since its creation 13 years ago.
4. How about players to have been at both clubs? Bet there are a few ‘Lincs.’ Arf.
There is certainly one that most fans on each side will remember - and rather fondly, too. Striker Luke Beckett, who netted 45 times for County (2002-04), later added another 38 goals to his career-tally as a Trinity player (2008-11).
No-one will still be alive to tell the tale of watching Joe Raby in action, but he made history in 1902, and having joined the Hatters after three separate spells at The Northolme, by scoring County’s first-ever goal at Edgeley Park… spookily (was The Holy Ghost at work?), against Gainsborough! And, from the not-so-distant past, attacking midfielder Phil Brown and forward Ernie Moss (both at County in 1986/87) later spent time with Trinity - the latter as manager on two different occasions - while, more recently, Ross Greenwood (2004/05) plied his trade in midfield there a couple of years after leaving EP as a defender.
5. Can we get back to winning ways on Saturday?
Having won the reverse-fixture in SK3 last August, the historical omens are good. Every one of the last four campaigns has seen either the Hatters (three times) or Trinity (in 2014/15 - the season, lest it be forgotten, in which we finished with nine players at The Northolme) do a ‘double’!
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Post by hermannsays on Mar 12, 2018 16:58:12 GMT
They played at home on Saturday, play at home tomorrow and there's predicted rain on Thursday and Friday as well as rain/snow on Saturday. If this one goes ahead, their groundsman must drink a lot of Red Bull.
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Post by ceefer on Mar 12, 2018 19:24:16 GMT
Unfortunately I cant make this match but I expect nothing less than a win....if the match goes ahead. 2-0 Warburton and Ball Our travelling fans to make more noise than at EP on Saturday.. and as countyfan says ......FACT!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 13, 2018 11:54:29 GMT
Uh oh... ominous:
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Post by gazz on Mar 13, 2018 12:45:11 GMT
This is getting ridiculous now.
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Post by Epworth Hatter on Mar 13, 2018 14:21:32 GMT
On the team's and weather's current form, I'll predict P-all (whether the game goes ahead or not...)
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 13, 2018 14:39:47 GMT
Well, after this lunchtime's pitch inspection, the match tonight at Gainsborough is on.
Which may offer some hope for Saturday... or not, if the weather gets worse this week and/or Trinity and Brackley contrive to turn the playing surface into mush this evening!
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Post by hermannsays on Mar 14, 2018 22:20:59 GMT
Not bad going:
And they had a 12-year-old on Tweeting duty!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 15, 2018 10:13:13 GMT
Just been looking through his match-tweets from the night - and, fair play, he did a fantastic job!
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Post by gazz on Mar 15, 2018 10:35:23 GMT
Just been looking through his match-tweets from the night - and, fair play, he did a fantastic job! I've just had a skim through his Tweets and I agree, Maccy - his efforts really do belie his tender age - well done, young man!
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Post by hatter_in_macc on Mar 16, 2018 10:05:27 GMT
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Post by hermannsays on Mar 16, 2018 10:19:27 GMT
"Chris Ridgway talks to County manager Jim Gannon about the push for the playoffs and the frustration of back to back defeats against Brackley. He then tells Martin Johnston why Harry Winter was his player of the week and they discuss the fight ahead for the Hatters starting with the trip to Gainsborough." soundcloud.com/user-415776765/all-to-gain-for-county
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Post by hermannsays on Mar 16, 2018 13:20:05 GMT
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Post by gazz on Mar 16, 2018 13:37:19 GMT
You really couldn't make it up!
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