Decembers Player of the Month?

With only a few games in December the Supporters Club Committee have decided to follow the Vodkat League and not make an award for December. Hopefully we can get back to normal from this weekend.

Ramsbottom Utd at home this Saturday

Lets hope the temperature starts to rise and we can get back to watching some football. it should be a good contest, Rammy are in 2nd place but a GNE win would put us 9 points behind with 3 games in hand.
With City away and Utd not playing we should have a decent crowd too. Bring it on.

Ramsbottom Utd at home this Saturday

Lets hope the temperature starts to rise and we can get back to watching some football. it should be a good contest, Rammy are in 2nd place but a GNE win would put us 9 points behind with 3 games in hand.
With City away and Utd not playing we should have a decent crowd too. Bring it on.

New Mills match postponed (again)

Tonights re-arranged game between GNE and New Mills has had to be postponed. Not too surprising given the recent weather but a pain never the less.

Christmas Party

What a great night!

Many thanks to everyone who helped put the event on and to everyone who turned up.
Diceys photo's of the night, including a few of him doing his solo, can be found at;

www.picasaweb.google.com/MrDicey/GNESCChristmasParty#

We must do it again sometime!

Vinnie Braine joins GNE

The much travelled/experienced/veteran (take your pick) striker Vinnie Braine has joined GNE. It's hard to keep up with the clubs Vinnie's had but I know he's joined and left New Mills a couple of times, played for Cheadle Town and Padiham and was at Runcorn Linnets just prior to the start of last season before he left to go back to New Mills. Anyone know where he's been since then?

Padiham P GNE P

We rapidly approach the end of the year and the Sunday Supplements are full of “end of the decade” stuff. This is misplaced as the mathematically aware amongst us realise that the end of the decade is not for another year. A controversial statement perhaps but true in that there was no “year zero”. Remember the “celebrations” relating to the end of the millennium when the new millennium was deemed to start on January 1st 2000? Your ageing scribe refused to join in such celebrations and, therefore, was forced to celebrate the arrival of the new decade on the mathematically correct January 1st 2001 – home alone, billy no mates again, very sad! (miserable sod!). If we accept this then the current decade runs from 2001 to 2010 but this does not fit in with the modern trend of trying to define a decade in numerical terms. Here we think about terminology such as “the nineties” as applied to the previous decade, and the debate about what the current decade should be called. Many commentators seem to favour “the noughties” but the temptation to replace the “o” with an “a” may be too strong for many and then become not really reflective of the spirit of the decade. Alternative alliterative extensions to this, such as the “naughty noughties”, again tend to fail any test of objectivity and accuracy – unless you know better than I do! As yet, I have seen no suggestions for what the next decade should be called. The somewhat obvious “teenies” fails yet again the test of accuracy – but hey, whatever, when has accuracy counted for anything?

The rapidly approaching end of the year also brings the Christmas period into focus although, to be honest, Christmas started sometime in September if we are to believe the behemoths of the retail trade. No prizes for spotting the first Christmas tree in somebody’s house – sometime in November. Equally, no prizes for spotting the first Easter Egg in the shops which must be due any day soon – please note that those small Cadbury Cream Eggs do not count as they seem to be sold all year round – much like hot cross buns come think about it – we like hot cross buns!!

The Christmas period becomes important for the football supporter as a recognised antidote to the enforced incarcerations which mark out the “traditional family Christmas” for so many. And, thinking of tradition for a moment, go on; own up, which of us will be feasting on turkey rather than the traditional goose? Yes, thought so, yet another example of transatlantic culture mixing with ours – very sad but perhaps understandable as the average American seems to think that the world started in the late 1770s. The annual ritual of families falling out over excess booze and deep frozen mince pies (should have got them out of the freezer on Christmas Eve) is not for the faint hearted but the avid football supporter can practice the excess booze bit at the last football match of the year.

Saturday dawns bright and very cold. It is not too long before the half expected news comes from Padiham that today’s game is off due to a frozen pitch. This is also the case for all other matches in our division so any idea of going to support whoever New Mills were playing also falls by the wayside.

Nevertheless, a baker’s dozen of the ever faithful GNE travelling army meets up in the George Hotel for “breakfast” as arranged. The term breakfast is used somewhat euphemistically in this context as it does not start until 11.15 a.m. – however, that rather depends on what time you get up in the morning and what you were up to the night before. During a convivial hour, lubricated in at least one case by a couple of pints of Old Speckled Hen – much to recommend this excellent brew, the discussion centres around what we can all do with a free Saturday afternoon in the football season – this circumstance is, of course, very rare and taxes the ingenuity somewhat. The most popular suggestion seems to be to watch Portsmouth vs. Liverpool on television either at home or in the comfort of a local hostelry – remember the requirement to practice the excess booze bit. There are some veiled comments about Christmas shopping down the High Street but not sure if this is really serious. Another option is to tune in to the Sky coverage of the 1st test match featuring England in South Africa. Difficult to get too excited at this, even for the avid cricket fan, but, at least, as the snow starts to descend on Glossop, we are reminded that even in December somewhere in the world the suns beats down from a cloudless sky and it does not start to go dark at 3.30 in the afternoon.

As we disperse, attention switches to the next match – away at New Mills on Boxing Day. Prayers are offered to the various gods who control the weather that the conditions will be such that this game can go ahead although with cold weather forecast to persist into next week and problems already this season with the pitch at Church Lane, nothing is guaranteed.

So, all we can do is to turn up the heating, do the best we can to survive the trials and tribulations of Christmas Day and hope that all is well for Boxing Day.

Have a good Christmas…

Steve Baran Memorial

Following consultation with the members of the Supporters Club, it has been concluded that the Supporters Player of the Year will be dedicated to the memory of Steve by calling it the "Steve Baran Memorial Trophy".

There was a lot of support for naming whatever may replace the "scrattin' shed" in memory of Steve but the timing for this is uncertain and may be affected by any potential future sponsorship arrangements.

Thanks to all who contributed to the discussion on this one.

GNE 2 Formby 0

Not a bad debut from the new boy was it? Look forward to seeing what he can do when he's fit.

A nice touch after the final whistle with Steve Barans ashes being buried under the centre circle.

Match Reports

Our erudite match reporter, Jonathan Haggart, will not be present at the next four matches. This is an opportunity for any budding match reporters to have a go at this quite tricky art and see their efforts published in the local newspapers.
General guidance can be given but this is very much an opportunity to express yourself in a way which will be meaningful to those who are not present at the matches.
If anyone is interested, please leave a message below or see any member of the Supporters Club Committee.

Hammy gets VODKAT Player of the Month

Darren Hamilton has been voted the NWCFL Premier Division Player of the Month for November. Congratulations Hammy, it's well deserved.

After injury hampered the start of his season, Darren had a frustrating start to the campaign with a short spell on the bench. However, once established in the side he has held off all comers to cement his place in the team, with intelligent displays and 12 goals.

Darren is now in his 12th season with GNE, yet is still not 30 years old, and therefore he has the combination of experience and fitness, and still maintains a turn of pace that worries defenders. His constant movement makes him impossible to mark, and his four goals in six games during the month of November had the hallmarks of an all round striker, including a header, a poacher's goal and a lovely placed strike from outside the area at St Helens.

Barwell 2 GNE 0

This week we mourn the death of Steve Baran. At times like this, family connections are often strengthened as geographically remote members of families meet up to pay their respects to a loved one. Whilst Steve’s family gather together and give strength and support to each other at this most difficult of times, this applies in a somewhat similar way to what we may describe as Steve’s “extended family”. This concept of the extended family, which we may call the “GNE family”, is gloriously reflected in the thread on the GNE Message Board. In these messages of respect and condolence, we see a coming together of individuals, mainly still local but also now from various parts of the country, who remember Steve and his contribution to their lives going back 50 years or so. This is reflected also in many private conversations around the town this week and also reflected by individuals in quieter moments; and for those who may detect a small tear-stain in the corner of the paper, I am not alone.

As many of us struggle to find words to express our own feelings at this time, we can sometimes take solace in the words of others, often reflected in verse.


Life is but a stopping place,
A pause in what’s to be,
A resting place along the road,
to sweet eternity.

We all, have different journeys,
Different paths along the way,
We all were meant to learn some things,
but never meant to stay.

Our destination is a place,
Far greater than we know,
For some the journey’s quicker,
For some the journeys slow,
And when the journey finally ends,
We’ll claim a great reward,
And find an everlasting peace,
Together with the Lord.



The author of this well known piece is unknown but I hope that all can find some relevant meaning somewhere in these 16 lines.

In due time, the memory of Steve will be enshrined in some way at his beloved Surrey Street. If any potential replacement for the scrattin’ shed is named in Steve’s honour then so be it but, whatever the future may hold, the name of Steve Baran and his contribution to Glossop North End AFC will never be forgotten.

And at Barwell on a wet Saturday afternoon, thoughts of Steve are at the forefront of the minds of many. As the Glossop support, of well over 100 from a gate of 306, gather at the Barwell clubhouse, black armbands are improvised. Black armbands are also worn by the players of both sides as Barwell FC mourn the recent death of Anita Burton who was the wife of Colin Burton who is Vice Chairman of Barwell FC.

The minutes silence is impeccably observed by all in the ground.

It was in 1981, in an interview on Granada TV, that Bill Shankly said “Someone said to me “To you, football is a matter of life or death” and I said “listen, it’s more important than that”.”

Well, you make your own minds up on that one but what I will say is that today, and forever, we remember the life of Steve Baran with the greatest of love and affection and, by the way, GNE lost a football match.

R.I.P. Steve.

Andy Hurst Signs (or does he?)

Although still not confirmed by either club, we believe striker Andy Hurst has left Congleton Town and is now a Glossop North End player. Andy is one of the leagues top goalscorers and he would be a great addition to the squad.

Andy Hurst Signs (or does he?)

Although still not confirmed by either club, we believe striker Andy Hurst has left Congleton Town and is now a Glossop North End player. Andy is one of the leagues top goalscorers and he would be a great addition to the squad.

November Player of the Month - Sam Hind

Congratulations to Sam Hind on becoming the Supporters Clubs Player of the Month for November.
Sam has come 2nd in every previous month so it seems right that he's won it in the last month he played.
Now, who volunteers to take the prize out to him?

Steve Baran RIP

We have received the sad news that 'Old Steve' passed away in the early hours of Sunday morning. Whilst not being a complete surprise it's still a shock, expecially to those of us who travelled with him to Silsden on Saturday.

It's an understatement to say the place won't be the same without him.

The funeral arrangements are as follows;

Tuesday 8th December St. Andrews Church Hadfield at 12.00 noon moving to Dukinfield Crematorium for 1.30pm.

Everyone is welcome to join the family afterwards at Glossop Conservative Club.

Silsden FC 1 GNE 1

Let’s go back, albeit briefly, to St. Helens. Having thought about this experience for a little while, it is entirely possible that we were victims of the Law of Unintended Consequences. We can define this Law as an action (or policy) which seems, on the face of it, to be a good idea but, in fact, turns out to be a complete nightmare as no one has fully thought through what the consequences would be.

In this case, it could be suggested that all of the stewarding etc. was put in place for Health and Safety reasons which are perhaps completely valid when the ground is full – 17,500 people. Then, if the same conditions are applied when the crowd is not much more than 100, is that proportionate to the risks which are identifiable when the ground is full? The answer to that last question is very clearly NO and therein lies the Unintended Consequence such that provisions which take into account a full ground, when applied to football matches played by St. Helens Town, are disproportionate and lead to a less than pleasant experience for both home and visiting spectators.

Now, my wiser readers which, btw, is all of you, (now, just hang on a minute. I note that a text term has found its way into this narrative. This is close to astonishing as your ageing scribe was dragged kicking and screaming into the world of the technology of the late 20th century and, so far, thought that he was immune from similar influences relating to this first decade of the 21st century. Seems not, please accept my apologies) will recognise that the Law of Unintended Consequences is not a real Law in that it is not enshrined in the Statute Book of the green and pleasant land of ours but, nevertheless, it is real and at work quietly in the background in many circumstances. Can we think of an example of this Law as it relates to football? Well, not surprisingly, we can and there are many examples. To take just one, let’s consider the Offside Rule.

In the beginning (rather biblical that bit!), the Offside Rule did not exist so there was a certain level of “free-for-all” around each goal. This did tend to distort the game somewhat in that significant numbers of attacking players could, effectively, camp out on the goal line, simply wait for the ball to come their way then “nick” a goal. This may or may not be the origin of the oft used term “goal poacher” – I leave it to you to draw your own conclusions on that one, Anyway, with no Offside Rule, the balance of the game was less than perfect so, in order to improve the game as a spectacle, someone came up with the Offside Rule. I have no need to explain the Offside Rule to you, my learned readers, (note to self: that last bit is a get out, I really must try to get to grips with the Offside Rule myself – hey, readers, you’re not supposed to be reading this bit!!!) but just to comment that the introduction of the Offside Rule, whilst effective in making our glorious game a better spectacle for the ever fanatical supporter, had a number of individual Unintended Consequences. In the general case, the Unintended Consequence was, and still is, controversy. Strange perhaps, but reasonable in that if there is no Offside Rule there can be no controversy about Offside because it does not exist and, as we attend football matches around the North West, what is the aspect of the game which causes most “discussions” between ourselves, particularly our voluble Chairman, and the Assistant Referees? Yes, it is to do with Offside decisions and, crucially, we understand why – yes it is indeed something to do with the eyesight of said officials.

So, in a positive spirit, what could we come up with to improve what we would all agree is a difficult situation? I leave it to your imaginations and, perhaps, if you would be so kind, suggestions on a postcard to the FA, Wembley Stadium, London. Or, if you prefer to wait until May of next year, we may be able to deliver them by hand thus saving the cost of postage. (Maybe this is getting just a bit presumptuous and tempting fate somewhat so please ignore it – bad vibes, negative waves etc.). To help you along, my suggestion is to only employ Assistant Referees whose eyesight is such that one eye is set at 45 degrees to the other thus enabling the aforementioned assistant to be able to see both the player passing the ball and the player receiving the ball at the same time. OK, so this may be physiologically impossible but, as above, I challenge you to come up with something better.

And, whilst you are all thinking about that one, and, let’s be honest, Christmas is coming and there is nothing much else to do; have a go at coming up with the Unintended Consequences relating to the introduction of substitutes and/or the backpass rule into our now less than noble game – no prizes, tight sod that I am, just a bit of fun!

So, in the luxury coach shared with players and management, off we go to Silsden. As many will know, Silsden play at Cougar Park, a 7,500 capacity Rugby League ground used by the Keighley Cougars RLFC team. And herein lies the contrast with St. Helens. The Cougars play in the Co-operative Championship 1 league which is a couple of rungs down the ladder from St. Helens who are a Super League club. This difference is reflected in the stewarding in that there were no more than 4 stewards, all of whom were decent blokes and open to a chat. In addition, the main wooden stand is non-smoking (fair enough) but there are no such restrictions on the rest of the ground which was open to walk round.

£5 entrance and £1 for a very good programme, could be a contender this one for the best programme in the league. Pleasant clubhouse with the usual selection of freezing cold keg beers – yuk!! Then the first real shock of the day – NO PIES!!! Our chief pie correspondent is distraught and retires to the local Mc Donald’s for “solid” sustenance. Much discussion by the GNE travelling army of around 40 (crowd given as 118 on the Vodkat League website) about the requirements at this level to provide food for supporters. Sorry Silsden, crisps do not count and what a missed opportunity for the home club.

The travelling GNE Army occupy the North Stand which is known as the Jewson Stand for fairly obvious reasons. This is a very upmarket version of the Surrey Street scrattin’ shed. A three flag day. The game kicks off as the very good floodlights come on – a sign of things to come as deepest mid-winter approaches. After 45 minutes, it’s half time with Silsden leading 1-0 and GNE down to 10 men.

At half time, a few of our number escape the ground to the aforementioned Mc Donald’s – conspiracy theories surface here as maybe Silsden are in cahoots with Mc Donald’s by not serving pies so forcing supporters to go to Mc Donald’s on a quiet afternoon for them if they want anything to eat. “You may say that, I couldn’t possibly comment” – and then find that they cannot get back into the ground at the bottom end as a gate has been locked. After a long walk around the cricket pitch at the side of the ground, all is restored although the first few minutes of the second half have been missed.

At the end of the game its 1-1 and a great performance in the second half by the 10 man GNE.

Next match away at Barwell …..

c u l8r…..

Christmas Party - DATE CHANGE

As a result of GNE being drawn away in the 3rd round of the Vase on the 5th of December a new date has had to be found the Supporters Club Christmas Party.

The new date is Sunday the 27th of December, the day after our game at New Mills on Boxing Day and the day before the Bank Holiday. It is still the intention to hold the event in the clubhouse and we will confirm the venue in the next 48 hours.

As well as live entertainment we will have our resident DJ and will be providing a selection of hot food.

Admittance is by ticket only and these are priced at £8 for members/£10 for non-members. They are strictly limited and can be purchased from any member of the Supporters Club Committee on matchdays.

We expect this event to sell out quickly so please get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

Christmas Party - DATE CHANGE

As a result of GNE being drawn away in the 3rd round of the Vase on the 5th of December a new date has had to be found the Supporters Club Christmas Party.

The new date is Sunday the 27th of December, the day after our game at New Mills on Boxing Day and the day before the Bank Holiday. It is still the intention to hold the event in the clubhouse and we will confirm the venue in the next 48 hours.

As well as live entertainment we will have our resident DJ and will be providing a selection of hot food.

Admittance is by ticket only and these are priced at £8 for members/£10 for non-members. They are strictly limited and can be purchased from any member of the Supporters Club Committee on matchdays.

We expect this event to sell out quickly so please get your tickets early to avoid disappointment.

GNE put 7 days in on Andy Hurst

Although not yet confirmed by either club, a Congleton source claims North End have put 7 days notice in on Bears striker Andy Hurst.

GNE 0 Newcastle Town 2

Well, so much for ending Towns 100% league record...

GNE 3 Colne 0

Great to see Sam score on his last game before he starts his 'jolly', It probably should have been a few more but its another win and another clean sheet.
Question is now, who will take Sams starting spot on Wednesday night?

Supporters Club Meeting - Thursday 26th November

The next meeting of the Glossop North End Supporters Club will be held in the GNE clubhouse this coming Thursday, the 26th November, starting at 7.30pm.

All members will shortly receive an agenda for meeting.

Coach to Barwell - FA Vase

The Supporters Club are putting on a coach to GNE's FA Vase 3rd round tie at Barwell FC on Saturday 5th December.

THE COST IS £10 PER PERSON

Expected departure time will be around 11.30am.

Please add names to the Barwell coach thread on the messageboard, see any member of the Supporters Club committee or email stephen.dyson@virgin.net

New Players

GNE registered 2 more young players this week - Goalkeeper Connor Rabbett (or is it Babbett as the league state) and midfielder Paul Ennis. Ennis (pictured) is interesting as he was playing for Stockport County in League One at the end of last season so quite what he is doing signing for North End is anyones guess. Pauls 1st game was planned to be last weeks Vase game but he didn't turn up!

His biog from the County website gives;

Stockport-born Paul, known as Charlie, was given a contract in the summer of 2008 after initially being released. However, as County recieved a windfall due to making Wembley that season & Jim Gannon being impressed as his determination to revive his career by continuing to use the facilities at the club's Manor Farm training ground, Paul was rewarded with his professional contract.

A Cheadle Hulme lad, he has represented Stockport Boys and Greater Manchester Boys.

GNE 0 Glapwell 2

North Ends 11 game unbeaten run ended on Wednesday night as they exited the Derbyshire Senior Cup, beaten 2-0 by Glapwell from the Unibond South. We had the best of it for the first 20 minutes but couldn't score and then Glapwell took control. 2 second half goals were enough to take them through.

The weather didn't help the crowd, and midweek games are usually lower than weekends, but 163 wasn't a bad turn out.

FA Vase 3rd round draw

GNE have been away to Barwell FC in the 3rd round of this seasons FA Vase.
Barwell is a few miles North of Nuneaton, in Leicestershire, and the club are currently top of the Aspire Midlands Football Alliance with a record of;
PL16 W14 D2 L0 and a goal difference of +50!

http://www.barwellfc.co.uk/index.html

The Supporters Club will be running coaches to the game and more details will be made available as we have.

Coach to Silsden - Sat 28th Nov

In conjunction with Glossop North End, the Supporters Club are putting on a coach to Silsden on the 28th of this month.

The Coach leaves Surrey Street at 11:45am and will arrive back at approx 7:30pm

This is a shared coach with the players, the management and supporters so the bus cannot leave any later than 11:45am

THE COST IS ONLY £8 PER PERSON

There is limited space so please book early.

GNE 1 Dunston 0

I know they always are but this one was definitely a game of two halves! Here's to a home draw in the next round.

October Player of the Month - Darren Hamilton

Darren Hamilton collects his award from SC Chairman of Vice Tim Barnett prior to the FA Vase game with Dunston UTS

Dave Hodges is back!

GNE have confirmed that Dave Hodges has registered with the club and will be available for the FA Vase campaign. Dave finished joint top scorer last season and will go straight into the squad for Saturdays game against Dunston.

St Helens 1 GNE 5

“Watching football at St. Helens Town is a surreal experience.”
“Oh yeh, why is that?”
“Well, the stadium is a very old Rugby League ground known until recently as Knowsley Road but now called the GPW Recruitment Stadium – the power of advertising! The capacity is something like 17,500. It is in a bad state of repair and the suggestion is that the Rugby League club are having a new ground built for the 2012 Rugby League season.”
“Doesn’t sound too bad, we’ve see many grounds in a poor state of repair on our travels, so why “surreal”?”
“Largely to do with how to accommodate an average league gate of around 150 this year into such a big place. You see, they employ stewards who make sure that you cannot go anywhere they do not want you to go. When we came here last year, on a foul midweek night in March, we were all kept in the big main stand opposite where the TV cameras are for Rugby League games. Must have been around 50 supporters and a similar number of stewards.”
“Surely you exaggerate the number of stewards.”
“Well yes, but only slightly – there were a lot of stewards. Really don’t know who pays them but must be some arrangement with the Rugby League club as the gate money would never pay the steward’s wages.”
“OK then, but being a major Rugby League ground must bring some compensations in terms of spectator facilities.”
“Yes, it should do shouldn’t it? However, whilst you could get a pie and a cup of tea last year, that was about it. No bar, so no suitable refreshments. In addition, the stadium is completely non-smoking and is very difficult to get out of in order to have a smoke even at half-time. If you can find a friendly steward and convince him that you’re going out to the corner shop or the chippy you are OK – otherwise, forget it!”
“Hmm, interesting, perhaps, but not really “surreal”.”
“No, you’re right. The really surreal bit is watching the match. Imagine what it’s like watching from high up in an all-seater stand in a huge ground with very few people in attendance – almost ghost like and every word from any foul mouthed manager or coach echoes under the roof of the stand and is heard clearly. Good pitch, excellent floodlights and protection from the elements. This is absolutely the opposite of what we are used to at this level of football – except for the excellent pitch at Surrey Street of course, keep up the good work Barry - and not many people like it. We are more used to wandering around the ground wherever the mood takes us - on one glorious occasion even joining the home team assistant manager in the dugout - and braving the elements out there. More importantly, we’re used to seeing the action from pitch level. As one wag said to me last year, “watching the mighty GNE from up in that stand at St. Helens makes you realise that we play to a formation!””
“OK, this is not now sounding too good. So just why are we travelling all this way on a Saturday Afternoon to watch a football match in conditions which don’t really sound very appealing?”
“Well, we are the GNE travelling army” – cue for a song!

Just a snippet of conversation as we prepare for our outing to Knowsley Road. The Supporters Club minibus leaves the Friendship pretty much on time and after a smooth drive by Shifty arrives at Knowsley Road. Mindful of the part of the above conversation relating to suitable refreshment, we retire to a nearby pub “which Oggie knows”. This turns out to be the Black Bull which has little or nothing to recommend it unless you are a lager drinker as the “1664” was said to be “excellent”. Being a real ale drinker, when given the option, not sure what you can do to 1664 to make it good, bad or indifferent but there you are!
Suitably refreshed, or not as the case may be, we head off to the stadium. £5 entrance and £1.20 for a really very good programme. Lots of articles which are topical, a football quiz and a sports related crossword in addition to the normal statistics. There is, it seems, also an online version of the programme. Very good indeed and a real contender for the unofficial GNE Away award for Best Programme in the Vodkat League Premier Division.
Then, all the worst fears relating to stewarding are realised. There are around 10 stewards in fluorescent jackets marshalled by a guy in a blue jacket sporting a Bluetooth type earpiece. As we are herded into the only part of the ground which appears to be open – the main seated stand – various nasty rumours start to circulate.
No cameras!! Not even for the GNE Official Photographer. Some reference here to public liability insurance and the possibility of something falling off the end stand and injuring somebody. What this means is, of course, that the stadium is in bad condition and the requirement to move by the 2012 Rugby League season is confirmed. Interestingly, perhaps, a lone spectator, not one of ours, manages to get onto the terraces at the end stand behind the goal where he is promptly joined by one of the stewards – one on one stewarding, words fail me!
No pie trays in the stand!! Decent pies, apparently, but it seems necessary to consume the pie in the concourse area and dispose of the foil tray, responsibly of course, before moving out in sight of the pitch. Reason for this is completely unclear – I leave it to your own imagination.
These are just two examples, so far, of a totally heavy handed approach to non-league football at Step 5. Mutterings among the GNE travelling support of around 40, from an official crowd of 129, of the Stasi and other references to activities to the east of the old Iron Curtain. For more insights, readers are directed to the thread on the GNE Message Board entitled “St. Helens”.
The first goal, by Darren Hamilton, is recorded by the stadium announcer as being in favour of “Glossop Town”, dear oh dear – who are we, who are we??? After 45 minutes, it’s half time and 4-0 to GNE after a quality performance. The nicotine addicted amongst us then try to escape the non-smoking stadium for a quick smoke. Absolutely impossible, and, even after polite negotiations with a couple of the stewards, the old wheeze about visiting the corner shop or the chippy doesn’t work this time. Seems like the stewards live in fear of the head steward with the blue jacket and the Bluetooth style earpiece – “only following orders mate” – references here to the Nuremberg Trials perhaps - to be honest, we don’t blame them. It seems that the only way to get a half-time smoke is to leave the ground, have a smoke and then pay £5 to get back in again. What is going on here? Various mutterings amongst our members relating to Human Rights and even prisoners being allowed to smoke. Anyone want to take a case to the European Court of Human Rights? Having been denied a cigarette, the Supporters Club Chairman of Vice buys a Bovril. Not quite the same but an interesting marketing opportunity perhaps - Bovril as a nicotine substitute – don’t think it will catch on somehow.
The impressive floodlights come on in the second half and the less than rose tinted varifocals of your ageing scribe make visibility a bit suspect – really must do something about this.
At the end of the match it’s 5-1 to the mighty GNE and that’s the only real consolation in what has been a less than enjoyable afternoon. One of the saddest parts of the day comes when one of our more senior members asks not to be included with the GNE travelling army next time we come to Knowsley Road – speaks volumes does this…
Surreal indeed!!

Player of the Month - Darren Hamilton

Congratulations to Darren Hamilton on becoming GNE's Player of the Month for October. Darrens 5 goals helped North End go through October unbeaten (6 wins and a draw) and Hammy will receive his award prior to the start of the home game with Dunston UTS on the 14th of November.

Sports Quiz at The Frenny

Continuing the tradition of holding a Quiz Night during the Vase campaign, Mike Howard has organized another prior to the clubs 2nd round match with Dunston UTS. It will be held in The Friendship on Wednesday, the 11th of November and entrance to the quiz costs £10 per 4 man/woman team, which includes a hot supper and prizes for the winners.

As last year, we hope to have the Frenny decked out in GNE flags for the event. All proceeds from the quiz will go to Glossop North End via the Supporters Club so please support this event.

Sports Quiz at The Frenny

Continuing the tradition of holding a Quiz Night during the Vase campaign, Mike Howard has organized another prior to the clubs 2nd round match with Dunston UTS. It will be held in The Friendship on Wednesday, the 11th of November and entrance to the quiz costs £10 per 4 man/woman team, which includes a hot supper and prizes for the winners.

As last year, we hope to have the Frenny decked out in GNE flags for the event. All proceeds from the quiz will go to Glossop North End via the Supporters Club so please support this event.

Tom Bailey returns to GNE

Tom Bailey requested and got his release from Maine Road this week, and signed forms for GNE this afternoon. Welcome back Tom.

League Cup 3rd round draw

Following GNE's 1-0 win over Silsden we have been drawn at home in the 3rd round to AFC Liverpool. The game will be played on Saturday 23rd January.

The full draw is as follows;

Abbey Hey v Ashton Athletic

Daisy Hill or Atherton LR v New Mills

Glossop North End v AFC Liverpool

Irlam v Bootle

Norton United v St Helens Town

Ramsbottom United v Newcastle Town

Wigan Robin Park v Runcorn Linnets

Winsford United v Bacup Borough

GNE 1 Silsden 0 - League Cup

As comprehensive a 1-0 victory as you're ever going to see.

Alsagar 1 GNE 3

Allow me to start this one with a small rant. The annual season of Remembrance is with us where we remember and honour the members of the armed forces from the end of the First World War up to current armed conflicts around the world. The launch of the 2009 Poppy Appeal by the Royal British Legion was on Thursday of this week with the help of Dame Vera Lynn and Hayley Westenra – the “forces sweethearts” from different generations. So far so good but what always sticks the in craw of your ageing scribe is the tendency of some people – mainly politicians it must be said – to start wearing their poppies in advance of the official launch date for the appeal. Just what are these individuals trying to prove? Is this some sort of “one upmanship” – you know the type of thing where people try to demonstrate a sort of “holier than thou” approach to anything? And, where did they get their poppies from? It would never be suggested that they retained them from the previous year as that would be most uncharitable however, the question remains. We could apply a similar principle to Christmas starting in August and Easter starting just after Christmas but must recognise that these latter events have been largely annexed from their original meaning by commercial enterprises, this does not and should not apply to the annual Poppy Appeal.

OK, thank you, rant over – I feel better for that - and we move on to Alsager.

The origins of place names provide endless fascination for many people. In thinking about Alsager, it could be that we can draw inspiration from other place names beginning with “Al”. Al in Arabic means “the” and many of us will have taken holidays on the Algarve in Portugal. In Arabic, al – garve translates as “the west” and represents the furthest westerly region conquered during the Moorish invasion of Europe from North Africa during the 12th and 13th centuries. In the region known as the Algarve we find the popular town of Albufeira - this translates to “the lagoon”.
(Recommended visit if in Southern Spain – the Alhambra (the red fortress) close to Granada in the province of Andalucia). So how does this help us with Alsager? Not a lot really as the Moorish Empire in Europe never came further north than what is now the region of Catalunya which includes the city of Barcelona – aaah Barcelona, my favourite city in Europe – chilled San Miguel in outside bars along The Ramblas watching the world go by….. remember Winsford?
But back to the subject in hand. If we try to apply Arabic interpretations to place names such as Alsager and Alfreton we come unstuck very rapidly. The “Al” bit remains easy but we find no words in Arabic related to “sager” or “freton”. We could have a bit of fun by combining English names with the Arabic “al” and arrive at “the wiser one” for Alsager and, a bit more worrying, “the one marked with small pox” for Alfreton. Bit of a concern with that last one but, never fear, GNE have a long way to go before we could meet Alfreton in a league match – Blue Square Conference North for Alfreton at the moment.

Getting back to Alsager, it is suggested that what we now know today as Alsager was a Saxon farming hamlet with the name “Eleacier” – reference the Domesday Book – but this is disputed and there are alternative suggestions.

Of more recent times, Alsager has been granted “Fairtrade Town” status. On the face of it this is fine as, so far as your ageing scribe is aware, Fairtrade is about giving a living wage to people in impoverished countries, mainly in Africa and South America, in return for the provision of goods and services – mainly foodstuffs. No problem with this, as a general principle, although it does give some cause for concern if we consider the provenance of the pies – we will see!

A journey through the countryside of Derbyshire and Cheshire in the Supporters Club minibus, ably piloted by Shifty again, brings us to a quite picturesque ground in leafy South Cheshire. Signs around the ground inform us that Alsager are members of the Unibond League. Indeed they were but having finished 14th in the Unibond South Division in the 2007/8 season, they were demoted to the North West Counties League due to FA ground grading rules. They really must change the signs; don’t you just hate signs which are out-of-date? Clubhouse is perched above the ground with a panoramic view of the pitch from the balcony in front. Inside the clubhouse its cans only for the Bitter drinkers – Tetley’s Smooth – yuk and the 40 or so GNE supporters again dominate proceedings. Official attendance later given as 52.

£5 entrance which is not exactly through a turnstile as Shifty has parked the minibus right inside the ground – not on the pitch I hasten to add, that would make life difficult – and we need to go to the back of the turnstile to pay – interesting arrangement. £1 for a programme of, frankly, poor quality with little information and no distractions such as word searches, quizzes or impossibly difficult crosswords.

Alsager Town are known as “The Bullets”. This, apparently, comes from the fact that there is an ordnance factory, still operating, in Alsager. Plenty of potential for jokes here relating to the “firing of blanks” by the Alsager strike force etc. I leave you to fill in your own as, otherwise, this paragraph could go on forever.

Suitably refreshed, we make our way down the hill to pitchside and install the flags on the railings. Pies rated as “not bad”, “6 or 7 out of 10” are rescued by lashings of tasty gravy – not sure which part of the pies is considered to be “Fairtrade” – any suggestions? Yet again we see an example of the home club underestimating the strength in depth of the GNE travelling army as the pies have run out by half-time. Having read the last sentence, your ageing scribe needs to watch the wording a bit as the pies were not literally running out – that would have been quite something if they were, dressed in all white perhaps and running out onto the pitch ready to take on allcomers. Isn’t our language wonderful?

After 45 minutes, it’s half-time and 1-0 to the home team. Man of the Match so far is the Alsager goalkeeper. At the end of the match, the superior football shown by the mighty GNE is rewarded and Glossop register a 3-1 victory.

The journey home ends in lashing rain but a good time was had by all and we now get a week off, possibly for good behaviour!!, as there is no game midweek – what are we going to do until Saturday??

Speedwellbus step down as main sponsor

Club Director Adrian Priestly has made the following statement following the clubs announcement that Speedwellbus are stepping down from their position as main club sponsor.

It is with deep regret and much sadness that we have to announce that Speedwell have ended their sponsorship of Glossop North End.

This has obviously come as a huge blow and potential setback, at an exciting time when we are trying hard to move the Club forward, both on and off the pitch. To say that those who already know are devastated by the news, would be a gross understatement and no one more than me, as I worked very hard initially, to set the deal up.

We received the news a few days ago and Paul Banham has also resigned as a Director of the Club.

No doubt there will be much said on this issue, but before anybody passes comment, I would ask them to consider this. Speedwell came on board to help us, when nobody else would and I honestly believe that their enthusiasm, drive and financial assistance, was absolutely key in a successful league season, that only " stuttered " towards the end and of course, the previously unthinkable and unstopable march to Wembley. Without them, I am not so sure that things would have worked out quite the same.

The Club would like to make it very clear that we will be eternally grateful to Speedwell, for what they have done for us.

Manchester Prem draw

Following their victory at Abbey Hey GNE have been drawn at home to Mossley in the Quarter Finals of the Manchester Premier Cup. The game will be played at Surrey Street on Wednesday 13th January.

Abbey Hey 2 GNE 2 (GNE win on pens)

“Writing this one could be a challenge” said katykay. The meaning here is that it was only 3 weeks or so since we were last at Abbey Hey, for a League match, and I need to write something new. Well, the more observant reader will have noticed that your ageing scribe has picked up a scattering of random information on a range of subjects over many a long year. In the ramblings associated with these reports, we have already covered a range of subjects such as cricket, the coal miners strike of 1984/5, post war English literature, brass bands, Whit walks, Indian summers, 19th Century English poetry, modern jazz, beer and various, rather oblique, references to other areas of interest. Not many references to football here some may say but I leave football reporting to those much more skilled than I on this subject and refer my dear reader to the excellent match reports written by the erudite Haggis for more football related insights. But, fear not, the well is by no means dry – there are many more rather arcane subjects which have not yet been investigated in the context of GNE Away. Not wishing to give too much away at this stage, the one I am really looking forward to covers the subject of sub-atomic particle physics but, fear not – at least for the moment - this is for another day – or not depending upon popular demand.

No, the raging question of tonight, which we are all desperate to know the answer to, relates to the Abbey Hey programme. We may recall on our previous visit that the £1 programme contained four pages of football related “jokes” and the question at the time was do they use the same jokes all season? Well, we have an early opportunity to find out and, as we travel again through the “drive through” turnstile and invest another £1 on a programme, the answer is ……yes, they are the same jokes. Sad really but probably difficult to produce 20 or more programmes per season and have different jokes each time.

After this revelation, anything else threatens to be something of an anti-climax but we have yet to even scratch the surface of the wit and wisdom of the members of the GNE travelling army. Conversation in the club house dwells mainly on the subject of last Saturdays excursion to Newhall and how we are going to get to Alsager for the next match – serious stuff this.

Suitably refreshed, we go downstairs to note that the underwater Dalek who was employed on the PA system at our last visit has been replaced by an individual with perfect diction and the name of every player is clear to all. Having said this, and, as ever, to be scrupulously fair, it may be that the Tannoy has been fixed. The teams enter the field – decent playing surface and good floodlights - to a none existent wave of cup fever. Seems as though the 40 or so contingent of Glossop supporters, from an official crowd of 88, are still suffering a collective hangover from the Newhall experience and what a wonderful experience it was too. After 45 minutes its half time and Abbey Hey lead 1-0.

Into the second half and conversation switches to all inclusive holidays in Turkey – absolutely bargain it would seem. Our voluble Chairman continues a discussion with the Assistant Referee on the clubhouse side. Somewhat unfair as the official has no real right of reply but very funny. Much debate on the touchline about replays, extra-time, penalties or whatever should the match be a draw after 90 minutes. Somewhat ironic as GNE are one goal down at this stage but, never mind, keep the faith! The faith is duly rewarded as GNE equalise and the game moves on towards full time. In a last desperate bid to complete the game within 90 minutes, the Supporters Club multi-talented events co-ordinator makes his normal preparations for the journey home. It worked at Flixton but, sadly, not this time and at the end of 90 minutes, its 1-1 and we go into extra time. Extra time is greeted by a rain shower of significant proportions and most of the GNE supporters move to the Abbey Hey version of the Surrey Street scratting shed – perhaps you remember, the one with graffiti which includes e-mail addresses – very high tech!

After extra time of some considerable drama, its 2-2 and the game moves on to penalties. The excitement is almost at fever pitch (well, not really) as text messages are sent to absent friends and your ageing scribe describes the penalty shoot out live, by mobile phone, to Cod who is sat at home in Glossop. In all of the excitement, I loose track of the score but soon discover that GNE have won the match 5-4 on penalties. Note to self – do not have any pretensions about commentating live on any football match. Great respect to those who do it.

So, we did not win the High Peak Cup in the pre-season, we are out of the FA Cup, making progress in the Derbyshire Senior Cup, making progress in the Manchester Premier Cup, our opening match to come in the Vodkat League Cup and our entry into the FA Vase coming in November. Just how many cup competitions can we all cope with? Well, perhaps we need to conserve our cup fever for the later matches and we certainly did that tonight.

Beware lest thine cup runneth over …

Limited Edition Prints

SPECIAL OFFER

The Supporters Club have available to order limited edition prints of the above painting by local artist Mr Stephen Kerr.

The prints are offered mounted but not framed as we believe that framing is better left to individual choice.

The paintings are priced at only £12 each and orders can be placed at the souvenir stall in the Market Hall or with a SC Committee Member on matchdays. The mounted prints should be ready for collection in 3 to 4 weeks.

Newhall Utd 3 GNE 8 - Derbyshire Cup

We are advised that, although still in Derbyshire, Newhall is close to Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire. The town of Burton-upon-Trent brings to mind the subject close to the heat of many a football supporter – beer!

Burton was the cradle of the beer style known today as bitter. This is largely to do with the mineral salts in the Burton water which is still replicated in many breweries across this green and pleasant land of ours by the process of “burtonisation” of the brewing liquor which is the adding of these salts where they may be naturally lacking in the local supply. To many, the pinnacle of bitter brewing came with the introduction of Draught Bass. This copper coloured bitter gaining legendary status amongst real ale drinkers countrywide. Some years ago, the bean counters at Bass decided to switch the brewing method for Draught Bass from the quirky Burton Union system, with its distinctive swan neck fermenters, to the more economical conical fermenters and a national institution of a beer was lost forever. Please do not believe the Bass (now Coors of Colorado!!!) publicity machine which claims that Draught Bass is “just the same as ever” – it is not. This leaves Marstons Pedigree, the “Official” beer of the England Cricket Team, as the last beer brewed using the Burton Union system – but more on that later. Recommended drinking when in Burton-upon-Trent is Porter from the Burton Bridge Brewery – a 4.5% ABV red coloured beer with a somewhat fruity taste which develops into a satisfyingly bitter finish – superb.

In preparation for this match, two officials of Newhall United were at Surrey Street last Wednesday. They are looking forward to our visit to Newhall and are making appropriate preparations – beer and pies. Oh how simple the needs and wants of the average football supporter. The subject of this beer was anticipated on our Message Board. Seems that Newhall have sourced “a keg” of Marstons Pedigree especially for the visit of the mighty GNE travelling army. This prompted learned debate on the subject of “measures” as related to beer. The rose tinted glasses of your ageing scribe misted up slightly with memories of firkins, kilderkins and hogsheads to go alongside rods, poles and perches – not forgetting the still very useful chain which, as we all know, is the length of a cricket pitch – and all of the other old units which featured prominently on the back pages of old school exercise books. These units are now considered to be “past their use by date” as we grow to accept this “New Metric Britain” of ours. However, despite all of the efforts of the Eurocrats in Brussels, we still retain the pint as a legal measure – but for how long? You know the standard Euro way of doing things – ask the question until you get the “correct answer” – cf. the recent Irish vote on the Lisbon Treaty.

And so to Newhall on the Supporters Club luxury coach. Two hours from Glossop and still in Derbyshire (just). Isn’t it strange how we can draw parallels with other recent destinations? In a similar way to Rossington, Newhall (population around 7,000) is an ex-coalmining area. Again, having survived the immediate decimation of the coal mining industry after the miners strike of 1984/5, mining only finished in this area relatively recently with the last deep pit (Cadley) being closed in 1998 and the last open cast mine (Park Road, Stanton) following one year later. In common with many ex-coalmining communities, and Flixton, Newhall have a Brass Band – Championship grade.

Organised football in Newhall can be traced back to 1879 – even earlier than the advent of the might GNE in 1886. However, Newhall United were formed as a colliery team in 1926. There is a (very) short history of previous matches between Glossop and Newhall which can be found on our Message Board thanks to the diligent research of the erudite Haggis.

We arrive at the ground, after a trip through a housing estate, to find the second “drive through” turnstile of the season – remember Abbey Hey? The guy with the Gresley Rovers polo shirt who is taking entrance money is obliged to move his table so that our luxury coach can manoeuvre into the ground. £4 entrance and your ageing scribe was asked if he qualified for the concessionary entrance price of £2. Never been asked this before and too dumbfounded to comment – I may be ageing but not yet aged – paid up the £4 and contributed another £1 for a programme. Pretty decent programme, considering this is a Step 7 club, which includes two quizzes and a wordsearch – very imaginative. The quizzes, one on “Football” the other on “Other Sports” at least have the merit of being do-able, unlike the crossword in the Bacup programme. The Marstons Pedigree is in place and going well but the pies are delayed 30 minutes for reasons which are not clear. Clubhouse is small but well constructed and the GNE flags are hung from every possible location – seven flags today which must be something of a record – excellent. When the pies are ready they are variously described as “not bad”, “air pies” and “over-priced”. However, mint sauce was provided on the side to add to the peas, or even the pies, depending upon individual taste. Special mention for the tea here. Rated as 9 out of 10 and an absolute bargain at 50 pence for a large cup.

Suitably refreshed the GNE contingent of around 75 out of a crowd of 112, watch the teams enter the slightly sloping pitch – it used to slope more than this apparently. Mention must be made of the Newhall No.10 who is sporting a pony tail and a Beckham-esque beard – umm. After 45 minutes, it’s half time. 2-2.

During the second half, two of our supporters go to sit in the Home dug out and hold a conversation with the Newhall Assistant Manager – probably something to do with tactics as Newhall were heading to a heavy defeat by this time. Or, perhaps, they just felt sorry for the guy who was sat there alone. Anyway, pure quality which could never happen in the higher reaches of this noble game of ours – “we are the Glossop girls”!


The above wonderful photograph recording this incident is worth a thousand words, even a thousand words attributed to your ageing scribe.

At the end of the match its 8-3 to Glossop North End and the Marstons Pedigree has run out - mission achieved!

The journey back to Glossop, on the luxury coach, is enlivened by chants and songs from the back – excellent, a true GNE away experience – we look forward to the next one. The aaaaaaaaaaaahh lasts from Hayfield to Surrey Street – stunning!

GNE 4 Maine Road 1

Bacup Borough 0 GNE 0

Autumn comes, and with it the leaves on the trees turn from green to brown.
Such changes are reflected in music – recommended listening “Autumn Leaves” from the album Portrait in Jazz (1959) by the incomparable trio led by the jazz pianist Mr. Bill Evans. This album is available on amazon.com and, if purchased through fundraising.org, can bring valuable revenue into the Glossop North End Official Supporters Club for the benefit of GNE in general – end of adverts, promise. This version has no words but is redolent with the feelings of the season in question – if slightly up-tempo.
Great art recognises the season as in the glorious painting entitled “Autumn Leaves” by John Everett Millais. Well worth a visit to the Manchester Art Gallery on Mosley Street just to see this one.
And in poetry, we have “To Autumn” by the romantic poet John Keats. The first 4 lines of which are:

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;

A much analysed poem from 1819. In effect, a melancholic tome reflecting upon not only the fruitfulness of the season but also, with foreboding, on the seasons to come – we know what he means – brrr – it’s cold in Bacup.
Romantic and romanticised versions of Autumn perhaps and so far so good, if my dear reader is still with me at this point, but what has this got to do with football? “Not a lot!” I hear the cries from the Trenches – of which more later - and that would be true. However, now we are in Autumn, the GNE travelling army need to prepare. No more the T-Shirts of our “glorious” summer. No more the clink of delicate glasses half filled with perfectly chilled Sauvignon Blanc (with overtones of elderflower and freshly mown grass). No more the sound of leather on willow on a balmy, if slightly damp, evening in Rammy. The choice of headgear goes from the merely fashionable – remember the green Swiss Fusiliers cap with the dangly black bits at the back – to the purely functional. Big coats are dusted down, the moths dispersed and, in dark funereal style colours, we set off, on the Supporters Club minibus – ably piloted by Shifty - for Bacup, looking forward to nothing more than Bovril in Styrofoam cups and the highly reputed pies.
£6 entrance to a ground where the pitch has a pronounced side to side slope. Ground is surrounded by a traditional stone wall similar to that surrounding many well appointed Lancashire League Cricket grounds but that’s where the similarity ends. Step ladders are seen leaning against the wall at a number of points around the ground. These turn out to be for the benefit of the ball boys when retrieving footballs which have been kicked out of the ground – it should be said that this activity could raise the interest of the Health and Safety police but I won’t tell anyone if you won’t. Having said that, these ladders could double up as emergency exits from the ground in case of flash flooding – not unknown around here as Bacup must have one of the worst records in the Vodkat League for postponements due to waterlogging – an award possibly challenged for by New Mills but, sorry New Mills, second again! Some work is going on which appears to be related to reducing the tendency of the ground to flood. This works seems to be the digging of trenches – strategically placed perhaps but mere slit trenches when a full scale Anglo-Saxon moat would be more appropriate. The likely winner of the worst outside toilet award is still in place in the bottom left hand corner of the ground – words fail me.
£1.50 gets a programme which contains a crossword on sporting themes described as “for fun”. This is a good idea but fails in that the crossword is too hard. For example,

3 down. CS ----- Ardennes to give this French Ligue 2 club it’s full name (5).

If you don’t know, the answer is on page 24 of the programme, if you do know – without cheating - then, yet again, words fail me but go to the top of the non-existent class for footballing anoraks.
Pie and peas are indeed good – homemade tray style pie. However, one connoisseur comments on a lack of seasoning. It is true that condiments are available on a side table but this displays a certain lack of confidence perhaps in that would Heston Blumenthal give the eater such a choice?
The teams enter the arena to be greeted by around 50 of the GNE travelling army in a crowd given as 117. No Rhodri Giggs this time – he is back at Salford – so focus switches to the Bacup goalkeeper. Well, reference to eating pies would be appropriate here and, should he be able to find a GNE pink goalkeeping shirt which would fit, he would certainly be the image of “Mr. Blobby”. For once, the Trenches chant of “you fat bastard”, as aimed at opposing goalkeepers, would be spot on in regard to the “fat” bit. I could go on but, having said that, he’s a good bloke and a pretty decent keeper.
After a minor pitch invasion by two GNE supporters, not really – they just leaned too heavily on a perimeter gate which was not well secured, and after 45 minutes, it’s half-time. 0-0 and an injured Bacup layer limps off having been seemingly abandoned by the Bacup Manager/Physio following treatment for an injury sustained just before half time.
The second half starts and the Supporters Club Chairman of Vice spots the newly established “GNE Official Photographers Fan Club”. Fame indeed but short lived as they disperse after 5 minutes – must have been something you said Jim!
After 15 minutes Martin Parker returns to action in a GNE shirt to a ragged chorus of “Oh Martin Parker …” from behind the goal at the “outdoor toilet end”. Thus confirming the rumour, which reached your ageing scribe somewhere “East of Ipswich”, that Martin had returned – welcome back.
At full time, the score remains 0-0 and the ladders are rapidly removed from the stone walls. Not quite the military precision we saw when the goalposts and everything were removed after the recent match at Abbey Hey (Gorton). Suspect that the local decorator has a job on…

Halloween Party

Family Halloween Spooktacular
Friday 30th October
GNE Clubhouse
7pm-Late
Bar-Music-Games-Prizes-Fancy Dress
Tickets only £2 Adults £1 kids
No costume, no entry, no excuses!

Tickets are available from the clubhouse on matchdays and from the Market Stall on Saturday mornings.

Martin Parker re-signs for GNE

Martin Parker put pen to paper tonight and has returned to Surrey Street after his short spell at Maine Road. Welcome back Martin.

Now it's Nathan??

Although not yet confirmed by the club, we believe Nathan Neequaye has left GNE. If true, he would be the 6th striker to leave since the start of the season.
If anybody else fancies having a go at filling the striking role please contact Steve Young!

All time top goalscorer

As well as being a much needed last minute winner, Darren Hamiltons goal at Flixton on the 23rd of September took him above Steve Morgan in the GNE all time goalscoring charts.
Darren has now scored 121 goals for Glossop and to mark this outstanding achievement the Supporters Club presented Darren with an award during the game with Bootle.

September Player of the Month - Danny Yates

Congratulations to Danny Yates on being voted the Supporters Club Player of the Month for September.
Danny received over 50% of all votes cast and was presented with his award by Steve Dyson at the home game with Bootle.

Coach to Newhall Utd - Saturday Oct 17th

For all those you who enjoyed the Market Drayton trip, here's a chance to do it all over again. For those who couldn't make it, here's a chance to see what you missed!

The Supporters Club are providing transport to GNE's Derbyshire Cup 1st round tie with Newhall Utd on Saturday 17th October. Newhall is just North of Tamworth, around 2 hours away, and the game kicks off early at 2.15pm as Newhall do not have floodlights. They do, however, have a Social Club

Details are as follows;

Cost: £10 per seat
Leave Surrey St: 11:00am
Depart Newhall: 1 hour after final whistle

If interested please leave your names on the messageboard thread or with any member of the Supporters Club.

Abbey Hey 0 GNE 1

Is Abbey Hey in Gorton? A simple question on the face of it but, it seems, difficult to answer definitively. Differences of opinion surface as a result of this question and the address of the football ground, which is The Abbey Stadium, Goredale Avenue, Gorton, does little to help. Perhaps we leave this one for another day but recall that earlier in the season Cod thought that Bootle FC played in Bootle well, well.

We enter the ground via what could be described as a drive through turnstile – how many of these do we see on our travels? £5 entrance and £1 for a programme. The main feature of this programme is several pages of football related “jokes”. An enterprising idea but we wonder if they have the same set of jokes for every programme in the season? If so, this shows a certain lack of imagination. If, on the other hand, there are different jokes for every home game then this would show a commendable diligence.

Neat and tidy ground enhanced by glorious, if slightly unseasonal, sunshine. This prompts a discussion on “Indian Summers” and if we are experiencing such. In the true spirit of scientific debate, it’s good to have a few definitions to start with. There is some contention concerning the definition of an Indian Summer. The one preferred by your ageing scribe relates to the early settlers from Europe into the United States. Much of the area which is now West Virginia is at sea level and gets fiercely hot and humid in the summer months becoming a breeding ground for all sorts of diseases. These early settlers fell foul of many of these diseases, for which they had no previous exposure, and died like flies – appropriate in some ways as flies were responsible for the transmission of some of these deadly diseases. After a couple of years of this, the early settlers, their population now decimated by disease, noticed that the local Indians (or Native Americans as we now have to call them in this increasingly politically correct world in which we live in – horrible English and there is a song in there which is appropriate in the context of this part of this narrative (no prizes for guessing but have a go)) were absent from these low level, disease infested, regions during the summer. It was later discovered that these canny Native Americans knew all about the local conditions – not surprising really as they has been there for hundreds of years – and moved to higher ground to escape the intense heat and the disease associated with it. The typical climate, in summer, in these higher regions was later discovered to be a daytime temperature of around 70 Fahrenheit, with typically blue skies and little wind. Night time temperatures dropped away to the early 50s Fahrenheit. In these conditions, there were no “killer diseases”, the Native Americans survived to carry on yet another year and this weather pattern came to be known as an “Indian Summer”. In modern times, an Indian Summer is more associated, in the Northern Hemisphere, with this type of weather pattern in late October and early November. So, are we having an Indian Summer? – I leave you to decide, dear reader.

But back to The Abbey Stadium. The GNE travelling army head off to the well appointed clubhouse for refreshments. Boddies and Becks (extra cold – yuk) on draught (draft is American and, therefore, by definition, not English) and a selection of Hollands pies. We know Hollands pies very well and, quite rightly, they are described as average. Such is the strength in depth of the GNE away support, around 75 out of a crowd given as 132, that the lone barman begins to struggle to cope with demand and a long queue forms – yet another example, perhaps, of a club seriously misjudging the strength of our away support. When all are suitable refreshed, one of our number is heard to ask “Where’s the home supporters bar then?” The new Supporters Club members lapel badges arrive and are distributed. Proudly wearing our new badges - and very smart they are too – we leave the well appointed clubhouse and are treated to the announcer calling out the teams over the Tannoy. He sounds exactly like an underwater Dalek and each player is called “gurgle, gurgle” – never been much good at onomatopoeia (see if you can do better – I’m sure you can). We set up “camp” in the Abbey Hey version of the Surrey Street scratting shed – four flags this week – magnificent. This scratting shed is generally unremarkable in structure but does contain some interesting graffiti which includes e-mail addresses – a sign of the times perhaps.

The players enter the arena with our lone striker sporting distinctive red football boots – no comment. The GNE starting 11 is the same as the last match – consistency!

With 10 minutes to go to half time, one of our more senior members heads off to the bar to be sure to get a half time pint before the lone barman is overwhelmed by the demand. However, full marks to the organisation at Abbey Hey, having recognised the strength of the GNE travelling army, rapid arrangements have been made and there are now two barmen. Well done to Abbey Hey and a lesson to other clubs in our division here perhaps.

After 45 minutes, its half time and the mighty GNE having, for the second match running, failed to give the opposition the almost mandatory goal start, lead 1-0.

The second have is a “scratchy” affair and the away supporters grow twitchy (not itchy – remember the midges at Rammy?) as the score remains at 1-0. The mood is enlivened somewhat by Oggie and Cod texting one of our absent supporters with conflicting information about the state of the match. Childish perhaps but certainly entertaining – poor boy! However at the final whistle it’s 1-0 to the might GNE. Three points in the bag and a move up the league table almost certain.

Before we even manage to leave the ground, the goalposts and nets are securely locked away in a container – looked like an exercise up to the standards of the Royal Tournament - although your ageing scribe believes that the Royal Tournament no longer exists – political correctness possibly. Maybe this exercise in semi-military precision answers the question of whether we are in Abbey Hey or Gorton….

More departures!

James Curly and Lee Blackshawe have both left the club.

James stormed out of Flixton last Wednesday prior to the game when he was named as sub and has now decided he wants to play elsewhere. Lee's inability to turn up for training sessions brought him into conflict with the management and he has gone back to Mossley.It's a shame as both had the ability to improve the squad.

It also means that, since the start of the season, we've lost 5 forward players - Tom Bailey, Martin Parker, Mark Balfe, James Curly and Lee Blackshawe!

Club Badges

The Supporters Club badges have nor arrived and can be collected at next weeks Bootle game.

Flixton 1 GNE 2

“Where there’s muck there’s brass”. A well-known saying with roots in Yorkshire. As we know, brass in this context means money – more later - but if we use the word “brass” and relate it to brass bands we have the only link I know between Glossop and Flixton apart from the fact that my Great Aunt Ada once lived in Flixton. This last point may be of no significance at all to my dear readers so we can gloss over that one.

We may recall that Glossop is the town where the modern brass instrument valve was invented. Glossop Old Band has been around since the 1830s and, after more ups and downs than a trombonists elbow, are currently very successful and add significantly to the culture of our town.

Much is the same with Flixton Band. Formed as long ago as 1877, they went out of existence for a period of time in the middle of the 20th century but are now back again and going strong. This year they took part in six of the Whit Friday contests in the Saddleworth area picking up several second section prizes in what will be remembered as the worst Whit Friday weather for years – global warming!!!

Many are the memories of your ageing scribe of Whit Walks in Stalybridge following a brass band associated with St. Paul’s Church. Dressed in your best clothes this was, effectively, a money making (“brass making”) exercise for the walkers as friends and relatives dived out from the assembled crowds to thrust small coins in your blazer pocket. A threepenny bit (the 12 sided one) from family friends and a tanner (sadly not the silver one – I’m not that old!!) from relatives was the going rate in those pre-decimal days.

In many ways, the world of brass bands has more of a link to Rugby League than football with many of the more famous brass bands coming from towns and villages close to the M62. However, the presence of a brass band at Wembley Cup Finals is well known and versions of Abide With Me which do not feature a brass band are missing something somewhere. This subject has recently exercised the mind of Michael Calvin in Mirror Football who recently said “Of all the shameless opportunists attached to England’s team, the brass band are the worst”. Although, to be fair, I suspect that he was referring to the brass band in the crowd which has the somewhat annoying habit of playing the theme to The Great Escape over and over again - maybe they only know one tune?

We, of course, still recall “our day at Wembley” from not that long ago. This was almost the situation for Flixton FC in the 1995/6 season where they lost in the semi final to Brigg Town who then went on to win the Vase at the old Wembley.

Still, all this is history and the mighty GNE are in serious need of league points as we head off to the Valley Road Stadium – “The Lions Den”.

We arrive at the ground just as one of the GNE players, in track suit and carrying a kit bag, gets into his car and drives off – not a good sign perhaps.

£5 entrance and requests for a programme met with the rather surly comment “we’ve sold out mate” – for some reason, we do not believe this – no challenge at all here Neil.
Our voluble Chairman recalls a tale that on entering the Flixton ground, you were likely to be asked if you wanted a pie at half time – they sell so few that they take orders in advance! No comments about pies tonight, dear readers.

No sign of a brass band and not much sign of home support. Seems that Lions are an endangered species in this residential area of West Manchester. According to the Vodkat League website, the average attendance for league games here this season is 17 (yes, seventeen)! The GNE travelling army contribute 30 or so to a “crowd” of eerm 32 according to the Vodkat League website – make your own minds up on this one. The floodlights are already on as the nights draw in. They are rather low and playing havoc with your ageing scribe’s rose tinted varifocals. Must do something about this – perhaps a GNE baseball cap with a big neb would solve this one.

Much debate about where to unfurl the flag. The Supporters Club multi-talented events co-ordinator fails to take up the challenge of shinning up the side of the clubhouse to position the flag on the railings protecting the balcony on the first floor. It eventually appears near the dug outs opposite the clubhouse which is a two storey building, “well-appointed with a fully stocked bar and a large stage – suitable for all types of functions and available for hire at very reasonable rates”.

GNE line up with the Supporters Club preferred back four in the preferred positions – our ebullient Captain at right back. We fail to give the opposition the almost mandatory goal start and, after 45 minutes, it’s halftime. 1-1.

Retire to the well-appointed clubhouse for liquid sustenance – Tetley’s Extra Cold something (yuk) – to find more locals inside than outside. Seems that Man. U. v. Wolves on a big screen has more attraction than Flixton v. GNE live. Stark contrast here between two football matches happening less than 5 miles apart 32 at Flixton, over 51,000 at Old Trafford. After 45 minutes it’s half time with the match level at 0-0 oops, sorry, wrong match!

For the start of the second half, the crowd looks to be bigger – no, this is not people getting in at half time for nothing - and the clubhouse is all but empty. After 15 minutes there is a concerted move by the locals back into the clubhouse – the power of Sky TV eh.

A 10 man GNE score the winning goal in the very last minute – an event missed by the multi-talented Supporters Club events co-ordinator as he is inside the clubhouse making preparations for the journey home. A seriously needed three points in the bag and our voluble Chairman comments that the mighty GNE now have more league points than he has points on his driving licence – lets hope that it stays that way.

Next stop – Abbey Hey.

Quiz Night Cancelled

Due to a lack of bodies, Sundays quiz night has had to be cancelled.

Congleton Questions

Big game tomorrow with a lot of unanwered questions....

Will we name the same starting XI?
Will we get a lucky break?
Will we win a home game?
Will Dave Atki behave himself?
Will Haggis be missed on High Peak Radio?
Will someone stake a claim for Septembers Player of the
Month (please)?

Quiz Night

The next Quiz Night has been arranged for Sunday, the 27th of September, starting at 8.00pm. It will be held in the clubhouse and the entrance fee is £10 per team of 4 (food included).
Places are limited so if you wish to enter a team, or just want to take part, contact any member of the committee or add your team to the list on the Supporters Club Noticeboard in the clubhouse.

Septembers Supporters Club Meeting

The next meeting of the Supporters Club will be on Thursday, 17th of September. The meeting will be held in the clubhouse, starting at 7.30pm, and the bar will be open.
The committee will give an update on the progress made to date as well as discussing further plans for the club.
It is hoped that manager Steve Young will be in attendance from around 9pm .
This meeting will be for members only.

Septembers Supporters Club Meeting

The next meeting of the Supporters Club will be on Thursday, 17th of September. The meeting will be held in the clubhouse, starting at 7.30pm, and the bar will be open.
The committee will give an update on the progress made to date as well as discussing further plans for the club.
It is hoped that manager Steve Young will be in attendance from around 9pm .
This meeting will be for members only.

GNE 2 Chorley 3

Ah well, at least we can focus on the League....

Maine Rd 2 GNE 1

This week we mourn the death of Keith Waterhouse. A man who could be said to have invented a new meaning of the word “lunch” and was very well qualified for the epithet “a legend in his own lunchtime”. But what on earth (or in heaven or hell) does this sad passing have to do with football? Bear with me dear reader, bear with me.

In his middle to latter years, Mr. Waterhouse was well known for his columns in the Daily Mirror and, later, the Daily Mail where his political views were so far left of centre that had he played for the mighty GNE he would have been alone in Wickes’ car park when playing towards the KFC End.
Before this, Mr. Waterhouse came to the attention of the general public through such books as Billy Liar (1959). This book was one of many around that time which focussed on the “it’s grim up north” metaphor for life in the predominantly working class north of England. Similar books include “Room at the Top” – John Braine (1957); “Taste of Honey” – Sheila Delaney (1958); “Kind of Loving” – Stan Barstow (1960) and probably the daddy of them all “Look Back in Anger” – John Osborne (1956).
(Recommended reading – “There is a Happy Land” – Keith Waterhouse (1957) – which when purchased from amazon.com via easyfundraising.org brings a valuable financial contribution to the GNE Supporters Club and to GNE in general.
The relevance of all of this to football is that in many such books of the time football was used as an escape from the daily grind of repetitive factory jobs. And, to a large extent, this idea is perpetuated to this day in the title of the football magazine “When Saturday Comes”. Almost certainly, the crowds at football matches in the early post war years were the highest on record if we consider football at all levels.
Yet further evidence of the relevance of football to the culture of the 1950s comes in the form of the painting “Going to the Match” – L.S. Lowry (1953). Readers may recall that the Professional Footballers Association paid close to £2 million for this painting in 1999. It is, perhaps, relevant to note that “Going to the Match” features Burnden Park – Bolton but L.S. Lowry was a Manchester City supporter. Also of note is that what is now Maine Road FC was formed in 1955 by Manchester City Supporters.
But enough of life in the mid to late 50s as, by wallowing in nostalgia, there is a danger again of the vision of your ageing scribe being adversely affected by the light steaming up of rose-tinted glasses. Onward to Brantingham Road.

Close to the ground we find a suitable hostelry for liquid sustenance – organic real ales. Interesting, although a brew by the name of “Dobber” fails to impress. Good move this as we find out later that its cans only in the ground – remember Formby?

£1.50 for what could be described as a slightly confused programme – lots of information but not well laid out and somewhat repetitive – no worries here Neil. £5 entrance to the ground which is set in leafy Chorlton-cum-Hardy. Floodlights are already on. They are good but struggle to penetrate the persistent heavy rain sweeping in from the South West – a sign of things to come!

The Maine Road team are announced over the public address system and the name of Martin Parker is met with complete indifference by the 40 or so travelling GNE supporters – official crowd given as 125. We assemble in what appears to be an upmarket version of the Surrey Street scratting shed and unfurl the flags. This scratting shed then fails to maintain the early promise as a large drop of water leaks from between two corrugated metal roof panels and nearly extinguishes the cigarette of your ageing scribe. For the first time this season there are no signs of any Wembley memorabilia amongst the GNE supporters. To quote the seemingly immortal BB King, “The Thrill Has Gone” – a sign of things to come!

The match starts in something of a downpour with Maine Road in Sky Blue, no real surprise there, and GNE in White again – oh dear (or maybe not considering recent performances (very few) in Blue. Time to put this one to bed perhaps). GNE fail to take the lead as the ball sticks in the first patch of mud we have seen this season – a sign of things to come!

After 45 minutes it’s half time. 1-0 in favour of the home team and talk turns to pies. The “proud to be” Chairman of the Supporters Club describes the pies as “poisonous”. This comment, it turns out, is based on our visit to Brantingham Road last season. A diligent researcher notes that according to the Maine Road message board, the pie lady was awarded “Man of the Match” following a recent defeat by the home team to Ashton Athletic. Mixed messages here – or maybe not - but your ageing scribe fails to find any of our number who sampled a pie this time.

At the end of the match it is 2-1 to the home side and the always fair GNE travelling support wonder how the better team managed to lose as the sodden flags are taken down from the railings. The journey home is quiet as Oggie calculates that we have lost 13 league points already this season – yes we do care.

Oh Martin Parker ….

Another one bites the dust??

Stories doing the rounds before and after Saturdays game suggest Nick Allen may be about to leave the club. It wouldn't be a great surprise as he has struggled to nail down a starting position, another one to suffer from the versatility tag??

Anyway, seems like we've taken up the New Mills model of squad rotation!

August Player of the Month - Adam Oakes

It was a close run thing, coming down to just 1 vote, but Adam Oakes has become the Supporters Clubs 1st 'Player of the Month'.
Adam was presented with his award by Supporters Club Chairman Nick Tansley prior to Saturdays home game with Squires Gate.

Rossington Main 1 GNE 2

The bell in the town hall clock tower strikes 12 as the Official GNE coach – players, management, staff and just part of the GNE travelling army of supporters – waits for one last passenger. Then he arrives – late – and it is one of the playing staff. Cue sarcastic round of applause and a potential fine to be administered by our ebullient Captain.
Under leaden skies and out from below the rust streaked chimney, the coach departs. Unusually, we are heading in an easterly direction today but, nevertheless, the traffic is still bad up to Arundel Street – welcome to Glossop dear tourist, “Gateway to the Peak”.
After 5 minutes, the clouds disappear, the sun warms the fields, and a glorious drive through magnificent countryside lightens the gloom we left behind.
Entering the village of Rossington we see a sign by the side of the road

Unwittingly, perhaps, this signpost speaks volumes about Rossington and its recent history. Rossington is a colliery village in the South Yorkshire coal field. One of the very few survivors of the coal miner’s strike of 1984 -5. Many readers will recall the “battles” between Margaret Thatcher and Arthur Scargill and the real battles at the Orgrave coking plant during this period. At the beginning of 1984 there were around 100 coal mines operating in the UK. In the aftermath of the strike only eight remained and all in private ownership – the end of one of this country’s great nationalised industries. Rossington was then owned by RJB mining and survived as an operating mine up to 2007 when it was closed and the pit head gear demolished. The sign referred to above could now be considered to be a poignant memory of times past where once there was a vibrant industry there is now simply a hole in the ground which can be used for Household Waste.
We arrive at the ground which is located at the back of a 1950/60s council house estate. Looks like most if not all of the residents opted for the subsidised purchase of council owned houses and everything is very neat and tidy. Your ageing scribe could go off on one here about the merits of owner/occupancy of ex-council houses and the subsequent depletion of the stock of “affordable” homes for rent, but perhaps this is for another day (or not at all).
We discover that there is no draught beer within the ground and are encouraged to go to the local Welfare Social Club. Chief scout scousemark leads the trek over two fields to get there. We enter to discover gentlemen in dark suits with ties and ladies in cocktail dresses – magnificent. Maybe this is the normal attire in Rossington for Saturday Afternoon or perhaps there is going to be a new series of the TV programme “A Bit of a Do” and filming is about to start. Maybe you remember this series, which starred David Jason and was set in a Yorkshire town, from the late 80s on ITV? It was really a sort of send up of formal functions – christenings, weddings, funerals etc – and how people reacted in such situations – funny and very true to life. Or, going back to the main point, this could have been a wedding party.

After suitable refreshments, we trek back across two fields to the ground. £5 entrance and would have been £1 for a programme but none left. Another example perhaps of a club underestimating the strength in depth of the GNE away support – remember the cans of “Bitter” at Formby?
This is a classic non-league set up. Your ageing scribe gets into conversation with a club official. Seems that, like many non-league outfits, Rossington had money problems during the 1990s but have come out of it with a renewed spirit. Ground, effectively built by volunteers, is tidy. Average age of the first team is around 20 and the total wage bill is £0-00. Yes, absolutely zero.
The GNE travelling army take over one of the stands on the dug out side and unfurl the flags. Directly opposite in the Gerry Murden Stand is a huge Rossington Main flag. Unfortunately the flag is in place but a distinct lack of supporters. The Glossop contingent number around 60 in a crowd of 110 as the players take to the pitch. GNE in White again – oh dear (although after the efforts at Winsford in mid-week this is not so much of a portent of disaster as before).
After 45 minutes, it’s half time with GNE 1-0 to the good rather against the run of play many would say. Mixed messages on the pie front but we did see pies and peas topped with mint sauce – haute cuisine in Yorkshire perhaps and worth at least two “Goodyear Stars” I would think! Informed opinion on the pies suggests 6 out of 10 would be fair.
Rossington equalise early in the second half and the travelling Blue and White army start to get a bit twitchy. As a result of substitutions, the Supporters Club preferred back four of Youngy at right back, Jamie at left back with Danny and Kelvin in the centre is seen for the first time this season. Team looks to be more solid now and a fine goal by Rick Bailey proves to be the winner.
Retire to the Welfare Social Club for liquid sustenance before the journey home. Or, in the case of the players, sustenance in the form of chip butties and watching Arsenal v. Man. U. on the big TV screen. Thanks to the erudite Haggis, we learn that we will meet Chorley at home in the next round in a fortnight’s time. Pity it’s at home as this ruins an opportunity for your ageing scribe to rabbit on seemingly endlessly about the relative merits of Chorley Cakes and Eccles Cakes – still, never mind.
We leave Rossington having had a good day out (the result helps) and the feeling that this place has a real sense of the often misused description “community”. The board in the Welfare Social Club commemorating the villagers who died in the pit is a stunning reminder of this. First time GNE have played here and who knows when we might get the opportunity again.
Stop at McDonalds on the way back for whatever – I leave that one to your imagination.
We approach Glossop to be greeted by dark clouds and scudding rain. Welcome to Glossop dear tourist, “Gateway to the Peak”.