FC 5 and the Cammells 5

FC United 5-5 Cammell Laird
Unibond Premier League; attendance 1,714
The long trip up to the deserted streets of Bury to be rewarded with a ten goal spectacle that any of the sides could have won. Woeful FC United defending. Dithering in the six yard box again and again. 2-4 down at half time after leading 2-1 earlier in the game.

Thought it was all over trailing 2-5 at 65 minutes. But some nifty substitutions changed things around. An appearance by Papis Deytte who had a 40 yard rocket shot hit the post. It lifted the crowd, everytime he got the ball he was implored to have a strike. 3-5 on 70 minutes, 4-5 on 80 minutes. We want six chanted the supporters. Then 5-5 at 89 minutes, and a further 4 minutes stoppage time to play.

Thoroughly entertaining match, went home in good spirits.
Game 52: admission £7.50, tram fare £2.70, bus fare £1.20

Six goal thriller on my doorstep

Maine Road 3-3 Runcorn Linnets
FA Vase 1st Round Proper; attendance 120

Linnets in FA Vase from biffadigital on Vimeo.
Before the Manchester United kick-off at 1730h I planned to get across Chorlton to see a visit by the fans owned club Runcorn Linnets to Brantingham Road. Plenty of those Runcorn fans turned up too. Maine Road chose to swop ends so as to take advantage of the southerly wind blowing across the open ground. It paid off. In spite of the early Runcorn pressure, Road went 2 up by half time.

During the break the feeble loudspeaker announced "the winning ticket is number 127 and you can collect a bottle of whiskey at the tea hut." Wow, that's me so I joined the queue for pies and hot drinks to collect my prize. The Linnets fans, a friendly bunch, despaired at their performance and wrote their side off. Anyway collected a bottle of 'The Famous Grouse' brand, which meant watching the second half with 70cl of Scotch precariously stuffed in my jacket pocket.

Second half with the wind in their favour and the ref getting a lot of stick from the Linnets fans for some questionable decisions they got back level after about ten minutes play. Stood next to a Linnets fan taking notes who compared his notes with a local reporter. The difficulty in covering football at this level is the absence of loudspeaker announcements and a big clock. Who scored, what minute, who came on as sub takes some working out.

A dodgy third goal from Maine Road, the lad appeared to knock the ball out of the keepers hand looked like the winner. But you never know how much injury time is being added on - no announcements. But a late equaliser from possibly a lad called Tom Baker of the Linnets saved the day. He gets his own song from the Linnets fans and is nicknamed Dr. Who. It's a reference to a 1970's Tv series as if you didn't know.

In the FA Vase extra time is played if the scores are level. Couldn't stay as I had an appointment with Blackburn v. United. But no more goals were scored.

Game 42; entrance £5, raffle ticket £1, cup of tea 50p, bus fare home £1.40. Took home a bottle of whisky so a good day out then.

FC Goalless with Worksop

FC United 0-0 Worksop Town
Unibond Premier League: Attendance 2,033
Glorious sunny day in Bury, so bright that Worksop won the toss of the coin and changed ends so as not to play into the brightness. Should have brought my sunglasses as I was soon squinting at the game. Worksop are in green and white strip and go for a defensive game, one up front and everyone else behind the ball. Most of the game was in their half as FC put in cross after cross into the box. Second half was a bit more open play. FC hit the bar with a long range effort, and had a few headers on goal but nothing happened.

This is the third game on the run, except for the amateur game last week, that's ended with no goals. It gets a bit disheartening. Not the most exciting game I've seen, not dull, just no goals and no win to go home with....
Game 39: Admission £7.50 - no travel expenses, large Snicker bar at half time. Didn't bother with a cup of tea I'm fed up with the poor catering facilities at Bury FC. Bought a fanzine "Under the Boardwalk" - a very good read for just £2.

Not So Good Elsewhere

West Didsbury & Chorlton 1-2 Stand Athletic
Manchester League Division 1: Att: 12
By the time I got here Wests where a goal down. Get your priorities right I had to finish the Liverpool v. United match. Wrong result at Anfield - impose a news blackout, blank it from your mind and get on with something else. Pleasant day in the sunshine watching the very local team going it's 6th successive league win. It's so local I nip through a neighbours garden to get to pitch side. So local that I know the parents of half the Wests team and the manager and the lady behind the bar. But I'm a hoodoo and after Wests equalised, and someone in the crowd got a lecture from the referee for use of language their No.7 banged a cracking shot to win the match.

Normally I go back in the club house for a bevvy, the players get changed and everyone watches the scores come in on the Tv. I remembered my news black out, and as nearly everyone here are City supporters I went home. Not before being a witness to West Didsbury doing some warm down exercise with a few laps of half the pitch. What was that about? But this club is serious about getting up to the next level.

Game 37: Free entry, no programme, no expenses.

Just A Pic: Sad Sight

One of the most depressing sights is to see a derelict football stadium. What once was, is nowt but memories. Saw this on an internet forum called UK Urban Exploration. Yes sometimes there is intelligent life in forums though very little amongst the amoeba who fire off into football matters. Basically you somehow get into derelict properties, take a shufti and snap some pics.
Links : Thread with photos

This is the old Haslingdon FC ground that was last occupied by Stand Athletic in the Manchester League. By coincidence they are playing away across the road my house on Saturday. Might pop along after the early kick off Liverpool v. United game - free entry and a clubhouse for beers and snacks.

You've scored no goals and no passes

Altrincham 0-0 Salisbury City
Blue Square Conference National: attendance 1002

The FC United v. Eastwood Town match was called off after an early morning pitch inspection. I thought it would be after yesterday's rain, so I plumped for this match. A quick check on the Altrincham website "despite the week's downpours, today's match at Moss Lane is definitely on; it has been a dry morning in Altrincham so far". It turned out to be a bright sunny day. Pity about the football.

It was a tiresome long ball game, big kicks up field, long throw ins, bouts of head tennis. I thought whoever can string 5 passes together is going to win it. Alty came close in the first half with three good attempts on goal - a wide, a save, over the bar. Second half Salisbury got within striking range.

Sat in the main stand for the first half. Less leg room than at Old Trafford, which is a bit silly considering how big and empty the ground is. Stretched my legs at half time and had a look inside the Robins Shop which is inside the ground. Besides the usual shirts and photos on offer there was an old programme stall. Plenty of old Manchester United programmes, and lots & lots of other clubs too. Didn't have any cash so didn't ask the prices.

Stood up in the second half in the sunshine. Prior to the game I thought top of the table Salisbury would win with 4 goals. Yet neither side looked like getting a winner unless it would be by luck.

Game 36; admission £12, tram fare £3, bus fare £1.40. Cheese and onion pie £1.40 from the fantastic Fish & Chip opposite the ground. Brought my own half time snacks - Twix bar, organic banana, organic hot chocolate in a small flask.

Related links: Altrincham v. FC United (August Friendly)

FC take the points in the hills

Buxton 0-1 FC United
Unibond League Premier att: 2090

Footie Singing at Buxton from biffadigital on Vimeo.
It's nice to wake up to an English summer's day instead of the recent dark skies and wet weather. Leave the train, no chance of missing your stop as it's the end of the line from Manchester, and walk downhill into the pretty town. Plenty of time to look around. We go to the spring water, and I even drink a bottle of the stuff. I rarely drink water unless very thirsty but this is good stuff. The Biffa herself even manages to buy a hand-knit woollen hat, though this is not a day for hats.

Lots of police about. Is there going to be trouble? I doubt it, they probably all want over-time pay. Two riot vans, one copper with a dog, 13 of them in the ground, 8 of them at the station. C'mon this is non-league football not a local grudge derby. The game is fast but any chances on goal are squandered. No goals in the first half. I tell the Biffa that "they should take our No.7 off as his passing is dreadful, looks a bit over-weight and not on form. Bet he goes and scores now". Bloody hell, he does. Jamie Baguely hits a long distance curler into the top of the goal, keeper no chance.

After that Buxton pile on the pressure, but their supporters who were very noisy in the first half don't get behind them. Good defending, and a bit of time wasting by taking the ball up to the Buxton corner flag and messing about in the last ten minutes. Think we can hang on and get the points. We do, first win of the year. W1, D1, L1 , and somebody announces Bradford Park Avenue have lost 3-1. They are seen as the money bags club who poached two of our star players.

Game 31. Admission £8, programme £1.50, train fare £7.00, bus fare £3.30, expresso in local coffee shop £1.30, brought own sandwiches for half time.

Big Day Out in Buxton

Can you believe there isn't a Manchester United home game until the 27th September. Luckly I have my other team, and so it's off to Buxton for some live football to see FC United play their 3rd game this season. Buxton is a small, beautiful town in the hills. It has the highest football ground in Britain, some fantastic Georgian architecture nearby, and clear spring water that has poured out of a fountain since the Romans did a nationwide empire tour. You fill your water bottles for free instead of buying it in a supermarket.

The match is all ticket - the ground has a capacity of 3,000 - and is the biggest match for years to come to town. I checked out the Buxton FC website and the chairman has written a special article for Saturday's programme on the links over the years between Buxton FC and Manchester United. There is even full match commentary on the local FM station - www.highpeakradio.co.uk - available online.

Got a new video camera, quality pictures let down by hand shake and battery flake out. Butties (sandwiches in English), money for train ticket and drink. As we say 'bring it on'.

The Cup Runs Over

New TV series starts this week called "The Cup". The trailers look good, maybe having a manager with a Scottish accent who throws tea cups strikes a chord. But it's with a team of u-11's so it's comedy. It was filmed up here in the North, and where would this country be without the North - well pretty dull actually. I think some of the ground scenes are at one of Atherton clubs who play in the NW Counties League.

The Cup is on BBC 2 Tv 2130h BST (2030 UTC) - details and trailer.

In the real world the FA Cup started, and some of the few readers of this weblog will know I follow it from the start in August. ITV showed a game on the web on Friday. It had a 1820h kick-off at Wantage Town. Possibly no floodlights, or maybe they wanted to save electricity. Picture quality very good but the screen size was no bigger than half a postcard. As the games are videoed by the various ITV companies there is nobody working at weekend to edit the highlights of the dozen other matches. So they turn up on Monday in dribs and drabs. But a very good effort so far. Well apart from the results service. I tried to find out how Sunderland Nissan went on - just like the idea of a Japanese car factory as part of your club name . BBC, ITV, and The FA had nothing doing. But the old media, a copy of NonLeaguePaper from the Esso garage on Sunday morning did the job. I don't know how many copies they sell but they deserve a medal for old school reporting. Proper match reports, full results and breadth of national coverage - banging it all out for the Sunday morning newsstands.

Just A Pic : FC United Celebrate

FC United of Manchester on the front page of today's Non-League Paper celebrating the promotion to Unibond Northern Premier League. For some reason this weekly, and rival publication are both stocked by my local Co-op, and at the Texaco garage up the road. Well I had to buy it, price 1.40, it's always an interesting read, well it is to me.

The other great promotion was fans club AFC Wimbledon going up to the Blue Square South (Conference South) - well done the Wombles, they'll be on Setanta next season.

Pre-Match Tension Watch Another Match

West Didsbury & Chorlton 2-1 AVRO att: 6
Manchester Premier League Division 1

The big game today is at 1715h but it's a Saturday afternoon. Don't fancy the DIY jobs so take a walk over the road to see the local amateur side. Lots of shouting from AVRO, half the team are being captains ordering the play about. They go 2-0 down, so even more shouting but it pays off with an easy tap in goal. I say easy, they've already skied a few chances into the trees behind the nets.

Half time, retire to the club house for a coffee (50p), West Didsbury go to the dressing room and AVRO stay in a huddle on the pitch with their lucozade. I'm joined by the Biffa herself, then Davey one of the neighbours. We watch the remaining game with beers looking out of the big window. A few close shaves but the home side hang on for the points. If you're wondering about the name AVRO then think of the makers of the famous aeroplanes Vulcan and Lancaster.

Daniel the manager starts selling 50p shots on a guess the team card. The Biffa invests two quid and wins a tenner by picking Coventry City. After buying beers we're a few quid up on the day. Now even better they have Setanta Sports on the telly....bring on United..

Game 22, come home 3 quid better off

FC United on target

FC United 5-2 Lancaster City att: 2,704

A game of open and attacking football but it took FC United a while to settle. 1 nil down after 2 minutes, 2-1 down at 18 minutes. Thereafter they took control. The scoreline doesn't do justice to Lancaster City who hit the metalwork a few times and had some good chances to get back in the game. Considering FC had already played two games this week with a draw and a win they looked fresh and energetic. This was the last Saturday match at Gigg Lane this season, so felt I must go. Might not be here next season, it could a groundshare elsewhere?

Match 19: Admission 7.50, programme 2.00, cup of coffee 1.50, half time draw ticket 1.00, tram fare 2.70, bus fare 1.10. Took my own "smokey vegetable burrito" for a snack.

New Trafford not Old Trafford

Trafford 2-1 Congleton Town att: 128
North West Counties League Division 1 (The Vodcat League)

Trafford FC Championes from biffadigital on Vimeo.
Had a trip in the sunshine and showers to see Trafford take three points and win promotion. This is the league FC United won last season. Very friendly at Shawe View, if you went on a regular basis you'd be on first name terms with everyone. It's a few miles west of Old Trafford in the quiet suburbs of Flixton. Trafford were two nil up in less than half an hour and looked like getting more. But Congleton scored and from where I was standing it looked like a foul on the goalkeeper. Up until the end Congleton pressed for a second goal but came up against a strong defence. So well done Trafford, but I'm hoping FC United don't play against you next season which is looking increasingly likely. FC lost again 3-2 away to Wakefield.

Game 17; admission £5, programme £1, draw ticket £1, 2 cups of tea £1, Snicker chocolate bar 45p, bus fare £3. Total £11.45

Links : TraffordFC, Congleton Town FC, NW Counties League

Further reading :
20 Things you always see and hear at non-league football grounds
Trafford v. FC United in the FA Cup - video clip.

FC Late Winner at Woodley

Woodley Sports 1-2 FC United att: 1066

Easter Monday and we've driven to a sleepy part of Stockport. Woodley are a struggling club at the bottom of the division and have just put their prices up to £8. Can't begrudge them the money. First half is uneventful apart from the loss of the Woodley full back through injury, and our star player Rory Patterson takes a knock and doesn't come out in the second half.

Half time we walk round to the other end of the ground, wish I had permission to do this at Old Trafford. But we go a goal down (47), but this spurs the team to start attacking better. Get a goal back (65). Looks like it heading for a draw but a spectacular goal by Stuart Rudd on 87 minutes is the winner.

We then joined the traffic jam to get of the narrow roads of the estate, the locals peering through their windows at the strangers with scarfs from Manchester.

Game 15; Admission £8; Programme £2; byo coffee and cake.

Just a point for FC United

FC United 2-2 Radcliffe Borough att: 2149
Unibond League Division1 North

Goin to Gigg Lane : Pies & Flasks from biffadigital on Vimeo.
The tram was nearly empty on the way to Bury and only a few people about. Thought I'd got the fixture date wrong or the game had been called off. It's only when I got down to The Staff of Life near the ground that I saw a red scarf. Shakey start by FC and it was no surprise when Radcliffe went ahead. All FC could reply with were long high balls into the wind to hit their four tall defenders. Second half was a little brighter. FC came straight out and equalised after about a minutes. When they started passing to feet it looked promising. But it was not to be, Radcliffe went ahead again and after that it was chasing the game.

Last five minutes was the best bit of the match, pressure on for a winner. Strangest moment - for about five minutes watching a game in bright sunshine with the floodlights on. Black cloud turned up to deliver a shower.

Used Manchester's expensive and barely intergrated transport system again. This involves a sprint to swop to the Altrincham tram, a power walk and use of an mp3 player to relieve the tedium of travel.

Cost : Admission 7.50; programme 2.00; cup of tea 1.50 - dreadful; draw ticket 1.00 - never win; tram 2.70 - metro saver - cheaper than a return; bus 1.30 - No. 23 Stretford - Chorlton; text service to find the time of the next bus 25p and i thought it was a free service but apparently not. Game 13, £16.25. Not including snacks.

The Easter Weekend

The big games are on Sunday. Only four big platinum Premiership games at Old Trafford in a season and the biggie is United v. Liverpool at 1330h. There is a bitter northerly wind blowing across Manchester at the moment, the forecast is for snow and Lawro's prediction is a 1-1 draw. We'll see - I'm going for no snow and a 2-0 win. Afterwards Chelsea play Arsenal at 1600h. Makes you think the fixture list isn't made up at random but rather a Tv fest for Sky. Noticed in Italy there are no Serie A matches at Easter - obviously the Pope has more power than Sky there.

I'm having my own Easter footie fest. Besides Old Trafford it's off to see FC United play neighbours Radcliffe Borough yet again - 3 o'clock on a Saturday. Three vital points at stake. On Easter Monday, when a third of the country sits in heavy motorway traffic, it's over to Woodley Sports against FC United. I'm told it's a small ground with a plastic pitch at the back of a housing estate.

Still on my mission to see 40 plus games this year so have to attend at least 20 before the summer break. Only five United home games left, six if we get the Champions League semi-final. So there might be some strange reports coming up like watching Whalley Range v. Newton Heath next month. They all count.

Another Liverpool Grudge Game?

No not Sunday's clash with Liverpool that goes without saying....

Next season there is a very real prospect of AFC Liverpool coming into being. A fans club fed up with ticket price hikes. It's not a break away club like FC United. They may be playing in the NW Counties League (Vodcat League) next season. Well good luck to them. More grassroots football and a prospect of another Mancs v. Scousers clash. It would probably be a Cheadle Town fixture in NWCFL Div 2...but they all count. There were over 10,000 spectators for a Liverpool Reserves v. United Reserves the other week such is the rivalry. Essentially a game of chess in the rival red shirts would draw a big crowd...

For those who only know the Premiership then a venture into partisan non-league football is recommended. Same songbook, same shirts, same accents. For anyone with kids it's ideal because of no seat restrictions and low expenses.

FC Lost 1-5 but still go thru

Nantwich Town might have beaten FC United 5-1 in the Unibond President's Cup on Monday but today they were disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. Don't know what to make of this. I'd rather FC United concentrate on winning a third successive promotion than having an extra game. So it's a semi-final away to Goole AFC on the 8th March.

FC United This Saturday

You couldn't possibly get more grass roots and co-operative than the forthcoming FC United v. Bamber Bridge fixture at Gigg Lane, Bury on Saturday 1st March. The kids (u-18's) have free admission, there are free fairtrade snacks provide by The Co-operative and other activities if you get there early to Youth United Day. As Big United are away at Fulham I'll be in attendance in the Main Stand. Bamber Bridge are currently third in the table and FC United seventh with three games in hand due to lots of bad pitch postponed fixtures.
Details

Football Hurts TV

Spotted a billboard advertising a football programme called "Football Hurts". Described as "a unique grass roots football docu-drama about every fan's favourite second club: AFC Wimbledon." It's on Thursday 2200h, repeated Saturday 2100h, Sunday 2200h, Monday 2130h. There are some clips on the Football Hurts website so you know what you'll be letting yourself in for. In my case, people talking in strange accents rather than the blood, sweat and cheers it mentions. Sky 207; Freeview 42.
Nuts TV

FC in minor cup win

FC United 2 Rossendale United 1
Unibond President's Cup 3rd Round, Gigg Lane, Bury attendance 1,554.
Basically the Unibond make you play in these extra cup competitons, and it has to be at your main ground and the money is split 50/50. So that means renting Bury's ground for a game that would normally attract 600 supporters on a Wednesday night in Radcliffe. Fortunately the FC faithful rallied to the call and the club did not incur a loss.

Not the most exciting game. A break away on 55 minutes and Rory Patterson chipped the keeper for the first goal. A second by Rudd on 81 minutes followed by some pressure by Rossendale. Their goal was an excellent shot by Eddington from outside the area which was greated with applause by everyone it was that good.

Best bits of the afternoon...FC reduced to 10 men for a while after a player was accidentally injured by the referee. Goes off with a nosebleed. The news that Havant & Waterlooville were leading twice at Anfield (I was getting Twitter texts from United on Fire and I bet he didn't know someone in a draughty stadium was appreciating them). Admission : 7.50, Programme 1.50, half time snack: Snicker bar.

So on to a quarter final clash away at Nantwich Town.
Trivia note : FC Cup runs - FA Cup (Trafford W, Fleetfood L), FA Trophy (Bradford Park Ave D,L), Challenge Cup (Alsager Town L), President's Cup (Bamber Bridge W, Rossendale W), Manchester FA Premier Cup (Droylsden W, Flixton W)...

Filling in a Saturday Afternoon

West Didsbury & Chorlton 1-4 Wythenshawe Town
Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester Football League Div 1

West Didsbury v. Wythenshawe from biffadigital on Vimeo.
Waiting for the Villa v. United 1715h kick off and want a restful day as its work tomorrow. Get fed up of struggling in the mud on a mountain bike so sack that for the football across the road. A 1400h kick off and it's free. It's all a pleasant diversion especially when you fall into a conversation with a friend, neighbour and club committe member to shoot the breeze. Whistle blows, straight to the bar for a pint of Hydes. TV blaring the half time FA Cup updates. After a while the players come in looking for the hot pot and sandwiches. The manager's dog is looking for anything edible. Another world, I like it. West Didsbury arn't doing too well with recent results and are now two places above the relegation zone but nobody seams worried.

Vodkat League Game anyone?

Maine Road v. Glossop North End from biffadigital on Vimeo
Take your mind off tomorrow's big match with a visit to the grassroots. I wanted to go to Salford City v. Hallam in the FA Vase (3-0 to Salford), but it was too parky and too far. So settled on Maine Road v. Glossop North End in the middle of Whalley Range. I'm at a North West Counties League game that goes by the title of Vodkat League this year. It's a cheap brand of vodka based booze. Two goals in the first half to the visitors in red. When the sun went down the cold set in, eating through the gloves and socks. Attendance 55, admission £5, programme £1, cup of tea 50p (well worth it as you get a whole tea bag to yourself), half time snack : Thai wrap (byo). Lift to the ground, walked home.

Y Clwb Pel-Droed

Thought I'd watch this little football highlights show. Y Clwb Pel-Droed (Club Football) on S4C (Sky 134) on Saturday at 1925h. Chatting to brother-in-law who is a camera man. One week he's doing test match cricket or the Premiership but today he had to drive down to Carmarthen to cover a Welsh Premier League game. It's not that bad. He actually likes the little games - easier set-up, same money, and very friendly with cups of tea brought to you. The highlights were of Carmarthen Town 8-0 Connah's Quay Nomads. The show is mostly in Welsh language though some of those interviewed can only manage English. But as we know football is an international language so you don't really need a commentary to watch the play. Much prefer this than to X-Factor on the ITV at the same time. An overlong karaoke show - best bit is when the audience clap like chimps out of time and off beat to the song. Give me muddy non-league level football anytime. Unscripted drama is always a winner, that's why we want footie.

Soviet Union, Kanchelskis and trivia

We're not called 'Biffafootie" for nothing. Had a comment from the Soviet Union team to check out their web site, seeing as I've shown interest in a previous post . They play in the O'Neills Leinster Football League, and by the names on the team sheet you'll understand why the club is called Soviet Union FC. Based in Dublin, which is the nearest capital city to Manchester.

Then I checked out what happened to our most famous Soviet Union international Andrei Kanchelskis who was capped 23 times for the CCCP. Retired a season ago, and back in Moscow. Always remember that fantastic game against Manchester City, in fact I don't remember it well at all. The score might have been 5-1, and Kanchelskis scored quite a few of them. Stats : Played 145 times for United, scored 48 goals 1991-95. Trivia : Scored in scored in the Glasgow (for Rangers), Merseyside (for Everton) and Manchester (for United) derbies....

FC leave it late to win

FC v. Rossendale (at Radcliffe) from biffadigital on Vimeo.
Get out the tram station not sure which way to go. Neither does the bloke from Urmston who's looking as puzzled as me. It's left and right somewhere...but we pick up a small group on the way to the game. But they stop off at a pub....it can't be far now. After the longest half mile we get to the ground behind some new build houses.

An early goal from Rory Patterson settles the game down. But chances are few. There is no second goal. I video the chippy hut at half time, about fifty people in the line and only three people serving. Glad I took my own pie. Rossendale might be at the bottom end of the table put they keep pushing the ball around well. Their equaliser comes. It's heading for a draw but some scrappy play gives us a winner. Some scrappy camera work and you can spot it on the video. The last five minutes are played out with time wasting. Get home at 1830h. There were a few Exeter City fans on the tram. They've got a long journey home, and they lost at Bury 1-0. It's a funny old business being a footie fan.

Stats : FC United 2 Rossendale United 1, att: 1,744. Admission £7.50, programme £2, pie (byo) £1.60, tram ticket £2.70

What Saturday Brings

Tuesday it was a seat in the Stretford End on W11, Row 8. Today I'll be standing in the The Inn2Gether Stadium, M26 3PE. That's it in the picture. FC United v. Rossendale United - and a need for a win and three points if we're going to make the play-offs. I think they have play-offs in the Unibond.

No hangover, weather looking favourable. Scarf, pie, flask, programme and tram ticket. At some point in the day my mind will think of the bloated F.A. board on suits and expenses. The one's who hired McClaren and then fired him. The one's who talk root and branch reform. It's another world.

A Dampner of the United Front

FC United v. Bradford PA - penalty from biffadigital on Vimeo.
Went up to Gigg Lane, Bury. My mate Colin was going to text me the scores from the Reebock. I only received one - that was it, beaten by Bolton Wanderers 1-0. It was cold up in Bury, needed an extra layer of clothing and a flask. Didn't bring either. Good game, pity about the result. Stats : FC United 3-4 Bradford Park Avenue, attendance 2,235, brought our own mushroom and nut pie for half-time.

But that's football. Both your teams collect nil points. It's why winning tastes sweet and you forget these low points.

Soviet Union Beaten 1-6

Yesterday Russia slipped up against Israel throwing England a lifeline to qualify on Wednesday. I'm predicting a crushingly dull 1-1 against Croatia, just as long as they don't blow it. Noticed that the Soviet Union still have a team. They have been reduced to playing on a Sunday morning somewhere in Leinster, Ireland. They didn't do too well either by getting thumped 1-6 at home. Where can you find all this trivia you may ask? On RTE Aertel, which is Ireland's teletext service. You can view it all on the web here. Yes, I know teletext on the web is a bit weird. Check out Local Soccer Page 430. Football is a different game in Ireland.

FC Win 5-1 Hurrah Huzzah

The joys of the web for on a bitterly cold night you can be part of the armchair army. But you have to hand it to the 1,691 who went to Gigg Lane, Bury to watch FC United come back from 0-1 down to put 5 past Rossendale United. Once again the Visual Radio at FCUM TV proved excellent. Listen and surf - the hours just fly by. Match Report.

A few people I've met said it would be good if FC United stayed down in this division for a season. What defeatist nonsense. Winning two consecutive promotions to rise out of the North West Counties is hardly high flying. Getting to the Unibond Premier next year means there is still a long way to go, before you reach a national league which is the Blue Square Premier, formally the Conference. What football fan is happy when there team looses? Only a deluded one.

Bought Your Own Club

I didn't think it would happen so quickly but MyFootballClub (Independent & Provident Society - one member one vote) have bought 51% of Ebbsfleet. I didn't know much about Ebbsfleet in the Blue Square Premier until I realised last season it used to be Gravesend & Northfleet in the Nationwide Conference. It would appear quite a few clubs wanted to be bought out. Sloppy reporters refer to a website taking over a football club - which is nonsense - when it's a collective of individuals. It's not the only football club run on co-operative lines by fans (FC United, AFC Wimbledon). I'm given to understand that Football League rules prohibit a club being an I&PS and not a capitalist company which shows how out of touch they are with current Government and UEFA thinking.
Story - BBC News
Earlier Post : Own You Own Club

So what if it is Saturday?

Deep Grass Roots Footie from biffadigital on Vimeo.
Oh when Saturday comes but then you find yourself without a match to go to. An Old Trafford visit tomorrow so that's something to look forward to - always a tough game against Blackburn Rovers so I'm not predicting four goals. Nobody I knew fancied taking in a local FA Cup tie today. So it's five before two, let's go over the road all of 200 metres or so, behind some houses. Standing to watch a Bridgewater Office Supplies Manchester League Division 1 game...I find someone I know in the crowd of six. Joe is a United fan who's sacked it and watches FC United. But today we've dropped down a few divisions. Chapel Town (yellow and black) are putting in a strong performance and our local side West Didsbury & Chorlton (black and white) can't muster strong attacks. The lads from Derbyshire come out easy winners 1-5. Back home to watch the results come in and have a cup of tea. Where are the Premiership matches - only three! FC United lost. Oh, what's happened to Saturdays.

Chapel Town FC
West Didsbury & Chorlton FC

Scarborough Online Auction

"ONLINE AUCTION - THE CONTENTS TO SCARBOROUGH FOOTBALL CLUB

On the Instructions of R. Sadler of Begbies Traynor, The Liquidator of Scarborough Football Club Limited...Including: Goalposts & Nets; Corner Flags; Extending Players Tunnel; Flood Lights; Turnstiles; Signs; Pitch Turf; Training Equipment; Pitch Barriers; Seating; Stands; Entrance Gates; Stand-By Diesel Generator"

Founded 1879, Football League 1987 - 1992, Wound up on 20 June, 2007, with debts of £2.5m. A new fans owned club has been formed called Scarborough Athletic, owned by the Seadogs Trust. There is something about seaside clubs they find it hard to survive - bit like seaside towns in winter.

FC United Video

FA Cup FC United first ever match
Took a while to encode this. Great day out Chorlton Five go to Altrincham on the tram. Only caught the penalty on the video but got the atmosphere. Trafford 2-5 FC United

FA Cup Tram Trip

Went off to Altrincham on a damp Sunday afternoon. It's FC United with their first ever FA Cup match and it's against the rivals Trafford FC. Two up in about 15 minutes, turns to 2-2. A penalty award for handball puts FC United ahead before half time. The final score is a 5-2 win though the play was a lot closer than the score records. Back home to Stretford on the tram, a good day out for the five of us. FC United now have to travel to Fleetwood Town away on September 15th. Attendance 2238.

Flixton whom we watched in the earlier round won 1-0 yesterday. A 90th minute goal over Salford City.