Tuesday, November 30

What the bloody hell happened there then??
Football Update:

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe who is unavailable due to suspension (best reason wins a prize)

The Whites are rocked by the news that their inspirational playmaker Ashley Parkinson will be unavailable for up to 3 weeks with ankle ligament damage. Replacement TBA.
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational playmaker Ashley Parkinson will be out for up to 3 weeks with
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational playmaker Ashley Parkinson will be out for up to 3 weeks
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational playmaker Ashley Parkinson will be out for up to 3
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational playmaker Ashley Parkinson will be out for up to
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are
The Whites are
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational playmaker Ashley Parkinson will be out for
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational playmaker Ashley Parkinson
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational playmaker Ashley
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational playmaker
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that inspirational
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news that
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the news
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are rocked by the
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag Tags

The Whites are
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the Rag
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike Ainscoe for the
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces Mike
Football Update

Nick Hudson replaces
Football Update

Nick Hudson
Football Update

Nick

Friday, November 26

Hello
Some absolutely tremendous football last night, and the finishing was top class - from everyone! We must have trebled last week's goal output. Didn't think the defences played badly, it was just that there was more creativity from both sides in attack and the finishing was outstanding - from all 10!

CDO, hope you're ok, you big girls blouse!
Headline: "New ball finds net" (but old ball not found in net). Were we playing basketball or was it Man City -v- Man City? After a few weeks of close man marking and defenses being on top, the flood gates opened - I thought some of the goals were sublime (both sides) - shots on target percentage in the 90's? Turning point was my sqealing like a bush pig - it marked the end of the white hot period and the start of a bit of rag-tag brilliance. Breathless....

Thursday, November 25

splendid cdo, but no mention of the trailer park......i'm sure you could be more adventurous with the insults. go on.
paul i agree with the sentiment, but i am a great believer in removing politics from sport wherever possible. i know this is not easy when teams sport the nations name so how about alternative names eg. convict kangroos or the blue lions....please help me out here!
Personally I think it's scandalous that our chaps have been put in this position by the ECB - David Morgan wants his head examining for not pulling us out. The players who have been brave enough to tour have come out as extremely opposed to it. If you consider the hoo-hah over the racist chanting in Spain, and the Dwight Yorke court case yesterday, why are we pandering to the likes of Mugabe who is exhibiting far worse racism in reverse?

Get them home now!
KTSN: do you have any friends? (Gruff enough?)
tour back on , but is it right and is it on sky sports........
just to show anyone that stumbbles across this site that we are not just cricket, beer drinking and occasional 5-a-siders, i thought i would raise the question of englands one day series in zimbabwe. it may well now not happen, is that blow against dictatorship or a blow to sport, cricket in piticular? i know this is probbly not very interesting to some but i was hoping to inspire chatter about something other than team selection, the site seems to be very quiet these days. besides, some form of gruff response from the cdo would be worth it.
laters

Wednesday, November 24

Football - only change is Pearcy in for Clive.

CDO - Don't forget the ball!!

Tuesday, November 23

ball acquired, if only to secure selection;-)

Friday, November 19

172 blimmy, what was the total score for that!
not had chance to play much recently......best get practising to regain the top scorer crown!
Nick, at the end of the session, CDO booted the ball up in the air to signify the end of the game ... and it landed on top of the cricket nets, and no amount of cursing, throwing things and yanking the nets would bring it back down!

BTW, 172 not out - trescothick! Get in, stick cricket!

Good game last night, very competitive, well done Cliff for an all-action performance. Where we did improve on last week was composure and we tracked back much better. We're still prone to 10 minutes of noddy defending though - every week! Also, will someone on the rag-tags inform Jedi that he's got a better chance of scoring if he doesn't attempt that silly 20 yard in the top corner from against the wall shot he went for every 5 minutes last night ;-)

Dickie P - how's the nose? Sorry 'bout that ...
what happen to the ball.......did the cdo put his foot in it or through it?
refreeing these matchs would be a thankless task for anyone to do!
sorry about the ball - summed my night up (played like a carthorse). Well played whites - esp Clive who was 'talking football' on the way back (creating space....closing down....letting you know I was there...). This and other funnies to be in Christmas newsletter to be published soon. Christmas drink to take place maybe 1st Saturday of December - availability to Clive.
Will buy ball for next week as don't trust taffy.

Thursday, November 18

It's odd you know, Dickie thought you won last week because of your grit, I thought you won because you played damn well, much better footy than us. Tonight will be very interesting to see how the Barge Bros (Cliff and Scoop) do together!

Referee ... I knew something was missing!

Wednesday, November 17

at the risk of being accused of being a one-phrase man - if its not broken don't fix it - any more rules and you will require a referee. I also think it is an insult to say we killed the game - if you think we are skillful enough to play "KEEP-BALL" I think you are mistaken.......good attempt though, change the rules when you lose!!! (just a wind up)
You know, I'm quite excited about tomorrow. Not because we'll be gunning for revenge, not because I am feeling fit and raring to go, but because we'll see Cliff and Scoop on the same side. These two are famed for their run-ins (almost as much as Craig and Ash, wonder if they're speaking yet ...!) but together they could cause chaos!

There was some offline discussion last Friday about whether we should think about tweaking the rules a little to make the game a bit more free flowing again - does everyone else agree that the games have got very very tight and there's little real football played now? We're all getting good at the man-marking thing.

In an attempt to spice it up, what about using a good idea of Ashley's ... teams must keep 1 man in the opposition half at all times. That will have 2 effects. Either teams will have to leave 1 man back to defend, thus creating a less crowded 3 v 3 scenario, or can push forward with a man advantage, but leave themselvs exposed to the quick break!!

Let's try and KO at 8.45, at least for the warm-up, and get cracking asap thereafter!
clive - you are gonna be bwused all over

Tuesday, November 16

Only one change so far (hopefully) - Cliff in for Pearcy on the Whites. Triumphant Rag Tags as you were.

The Caretaker told me last week that there is now nobody in the hall 8-9pm. If we arrive a bit earlier (say 8.45-8.50) we can have a warm up kick around, sort the nets and start on time -assuming the Caretakers correct - otherwise we can freeze in the car park.

See you all Thursday.

Friday, November 12

Well done Rag Tags - well deserved victory - thought CDO and Jedi had excellent games.
well done rag tags - like we ate too much chocolate though - lets get back to losing, please

Thursday, November 11

Same teams as last week apart from Dickie P in for Nick Hud.

Wednesday, November 10

what about the pre match footy banter that always seems to fill the screen every wednesday, or has all the classic football lines been used up? then there is always the friday back slapping comments on how well the rag tags played despite another defeat.......by both sides!
when do the nets start i bored?
i ve got loads of stories about people and their medical histories and things.......but unfortunately patient confidentiality and all that....spoil sports!
Oh it's all gone quiet over here ...
Oh it's all gone quiet over here ...
Oh it's all gone quiet
All gone quiet
All gone quiet over here ...

SHHH .... AAAAHHHH

Come on folks, entertain us! Osama, tell us about Sud Africa, Nick, any hospital tales, Cliff, any new mowers being purchased?

Friday, November 5

That was an absolutely belting game last night - and very physical too! Think I got my own back on a few for the kicking I got last week. Very high quality indeed, and a very fair result - both teams had the lead at times and both played good football. The defending especially was top class. It's getting harder and harder to break teams down.

However next week - No Nick Hud, so will that help the Whites? We shall see!
Excellent game last night. A draw was probably the fair result. Felt the Rag Tags didn't quite achieve their potential - the better side on paper. Perhaps the weight of expectation affected??

Whites had a solid display apart from the usual silly mistakes. Special mention to Paul who I thought was outstanding last night.

Only 16 goals in the hour - shows how competitive the games are getting.
Well played both teams! I thought we deserved to sneak a draw last week and were probably the least happy with a draw last night. Just shows we enjoy losing more than drawing (imagine how unhappy we'd be to win!).

Thursday, November 4

Nick your suspicionsare right about the viaduct. It was filmed 1 night during the summer. They ask me to switch the roller off because it was disturbing the wildlife, particularly the bats !!! How bizzare
paul, have you been able to establish a high single batsman score, or is 165no still the best!!!
unfortunately the team score is a poultry 258.
laters
Well there's been a staggering lack of trash talking ahead of tonight's fixture - an indication that both sides know how big this game is?

Meanwhile, back in the real world, Nick will be pleased to hear I've raised the Stick Cricket bar to 276!

Looking forward to tonight and the inevitable banter before, during, after and online tomorrow!
did anyone see alan titchmarsh programe about the creation of the land we call home last night? the reason i asked is that at the end of the programe they focus on the local regions and in the north west part of the programe i'm sure they were filming from the viraduct and the lodge at the back and side of crompton meadows. can someone confirm my suspicions.
laters

Tuesday, November 2

typical football talk Paul - are you A.Fergusson in disguise? We will endeavour to keep our underdog spot - ta very much - by playing crap.
Morning all,

well the superbug that laid me low at the weekend is still in force, but I'm hoping to shake it off in time for Thursday - all my work colleagues have been off sick so it's clearly a Manchester student borne disease!

I was hoping to pay tribute on Saturday to the sterling efforts of everyone over the past two years especially, and in particular Cliff and the CDO who have worked wonders behind the scenes to help me out this year while I've been occupied with baby matters. Thanks a million, guys. Looking forward immensely to being back in the ranks and helping take us further forward next year.

Anyway, that looks like a very very strong rag tags outfit for Thursday - no weak links at all, and one that will give us our stiffest challenge yet. I'd actually put them down as favourites man for man, but will our team consistency help??

Monday, November 1

Early indication of the teams for Thursday

Whites

Scott
Ashley
Pearcy
Mike J
Paul M

Rag Tags

Kieran
Mike A
Matt A
Craig
Nick Hud

Should be one hell of a match with either side more than capable of winning. Kieran - sorry, Cyril's not available.
good turn out Saturday meant a really good do - Clive has said we easily beat last years cash total (ta to me for losing loads!). Congratulations to all the trophy winners in what was a fantastic season.