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”.

Fundraising - the easy way!

If you ALREADY shop online, please read the following and help our Supporters Club raise funds.

Easyfundraising provide a FREE service where you can shop with your favourite online stores and at no extra cost raise funds for Glossop North End Supporters Club. You still shop directly with each retailer as you would normally, but simply by using the links from their site first, each purchase you make will generate a cashback donation to the Supporters Club.
For example, spend £25 with WH Smith and 3.5% will be donated. You will have raised £0.88, at no extra cost to your purchase. Make any purchase from Amazon and 2.5% will be donated. Insure your car with Direct Line and raise £35.00, or purchase a mobile phone from O2 and earn £17.50, and so on.

You can shop with 600+ Brand Name retailers and to raise funds you just use the links from the Easyfundraising site first - it's that simple!

To start raising funds first register at www.easyfundraising.org.uk (click the link on the right) and select Glossop North End Supporters Club as the organization you wish to support. Next, go to the Easyfundraising site, select the link for the retailer you want and shop as normal. It is that easy!

Speedwell Cars

Our main club sponsor Speedwellbus have launched a new taxi/courier business, specifically aimed at raising funds for Glossop North End.
Every time someone uses Speedwellcars a large % of the profit will go to the club and, when you consider their rates are going to be considerably lower than their competitors in the Glossop area, it's a bit of a no-brainer. All Supporters Club members should support this new venture.
Quotes and bookings can be made on-line at www.speedwellcars.co.uk

We aim to offer the lowest-cost taxi and private hire services in Glossopdale and Tameside. Because we are backed by one of the area’s main bus companies Speedwellbus we can bring you fixed-fare value that “normal” taxi companies can’t match. So when you book a Speedwellcar you know in advance what the fare will be – just check our online fare-finder – and you can forget worrying about that meter clocking up! Use our “Contact Us” page for a comprehensive answer to any questions you may have.

Martin Parker?

Rumours at Winsford suggest Martin Parker has left the club. Nothing official yet but it'll be a shame if it's true, Parks was a smashing bloke and a great option to have in the squad. If it's true, it means we've lost 3 strikers in 2 weeks!

Winsford 1 GNE 4

Now that the Ashes series has been won by England – brilliant performance at the Oval, those baggy green caps never stood a chance – we can turn 100% of our attention to our National Winter Game. Note here the mathematically correct 100% rather than the mathematical nonsense which is often used in the footballing context. Remember the oft quoted phrase “I’ll give it 110%, Brian” which, according to the now fading memory of your ageing scribe, was attributed to a certain Mr. Paul “Gazza” Gascoigne in an interview with Brian Viner of the Independent on Sunday in August 2000 – happy to be corrected on this point if anyone knows of an earlier reference to this most peculiar form of footballing vernacular.

First up, post that magnificent Ashes triumph at the Oval – those baggy green caps never stood a chance – is Winsford United. When we think of the great footballing venues in Europe, Winsford tends to be rather low down on a list which could be headed by Milan, Madrid, Turin, Barcelona …

Aaah, Barcelona, city of tremendous culture and two Primera Liga football teams. Capital of the independent (so the residents would tell you) state of Catalunya, the hot bed of industry in Spain and second only (although the residents would not agree) to the great city of Madrid in the Spanish speaking world. Although, having said that, the fiercely independent Catalans have their own language so even this last bit is not strictly true.

Aaah, Barcelona, home to the architecture of Gaudi and the famous Sagrada Familia which, after 100 years or more in the construction, is still not finished. Work in progress we could say – much like the ground improvements at fortress Surrey Street. Memories are made of visits to cities such as Barcelona with wide pedestrianised areas (Ramblas), fountains gently cascading cooling water on to supporters of FC Barcelona when ever they win an important match (Placa Catalunya) and the imposing stadium of the Camp Nou scene of many footballing battles (in every sense of the word battle).

However, back to Winsford. This is a town built on salt. Or, rather, it was built on salt until a lot of it was mined to keep our roads clear of ice and frost by the simple means of spreading such rock salt onto our highways and byways (but rarely footpaths) at the merest hint of cold weather to come – underground Winsford must look like some version of an Emmenthal cheese now. We could go on endlessly about the efficiency and effectiveness of the process of spreading rock salt but perhaps we could just consider cold weather. “I’ve been here before in August – it was cold,” said Oggie. “Not much better in October” comments one of our esteemed Directors. “Came here last season in early January” adds our proud to be Chairman of the Supporters Club, “nearly froze me nads off” – do we need a translation here or can we work it out??

My memories are of Winsford United in the old Cheshire League playing against the likes of Altrincham, Northwich Victoria and the team I was proud to follow – Stalybridge Celtic. Good standard of football then with Altrincham unlucky on a number of occasions not to go into the old 4th division of the Football League due to the somewhat arcane system of “re-election” which prevailed in those far off times. Winsford United won the Cheshire League in the mid 70’s and boasted significant attendances. However, things move onwards and downwards with the Barton Stadium, a mere shadow of its former self, showing significant indications of fading glory. Recent suggestions have been made to merge Winsford United with Northwich Victoria to form “Vale Royal United” or something similar. Vale Royal was the name given to the large area of mid-Cheshire, which includes both Winsford and Northwich, during the ill-fated Local Government Re-Organisation Act of 1974. You know, the one which created Tameside and other such anachronisms.

And so into the fading Barton Stadium. £6 to get in and £1.50 for a programme. The Glossop contingent of about 20 (not an easy place to get to isn’t Winsford on a mid-week evening) swell the crowd into three figures - official crowd given as 119. GNE in White again - oh dear. At this point, your ageing scribe has a confession to make. As the mighty GNE trot purposefully onto the field I am sitting outside a bar close to the Placa Catalunya in downtown Barcelona sipping San Miguel in the fading sunlight watching the world go by. It’s warm here - no idea if Winsford tonight is as cold as its reputation but do I care? Dead right I do, what would you prefer? Barcelona on a barmy late summer’s evening or Winsford on a Tuesday night? Answers on a postcard if you can be bothered.

An eventful game so I hear and ending with the first league win of the season. From what I can discover we did not give them a goal start and did not concede a penalty - two very significant points of improvement. However, our ebullient Captain was red-carded, apparently for defending himself from attack - somewhere there must have been a change in the rules which has passed us by. Anyway, suggest that the match report written by the erudite Haggis be consulted for greater detail.

The GNE Away adventure continues on Saturday with a trip to darkest Yorkshire but memories could be elsewhere

Aaah Barcelona….

Bootle 2 GNE 0

What do we know of Bootle? Well, as a town, my memory is that it was the headquarters of the National Giro Bank. An early piece of Governmental social engineering when the newly formed organisation was put into Bootle as some sort of compensation for the loss of jobs at the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board as a result of containerisation and the rise of Felixstowe. The National Giro Bank then, of course, gave rise to any number of jokes relating to the non-payment of debts. “my Giro is in the post”; “the dog has eaten my Giro” etc. which, to an extent, added to the well established sense of dark humour which prevailed on Merseyside then and now. (A certain Mr. Tom O’Connor was born in Bootle – but we were talking about humour!!!).

No, seriously, following the public service ethos of these short essays, if anyone is really have trouble with a lost or missing Giro then consult the following source of information – clear and precise Government-ese – I think not!!

www.glasgow.gov.uk/en/Residents/GettingAdvice/WelfareRights/Factsheets/missingpayments.htm

Having said all of this – the National Giro Bank no longer exists.
On the footballing front, both Steve McManaman and Stevie Gerrard are sons of Bootle. Your ageing scribe wonders why Mr. Gerrard is known as Stevie – what is the value of the letter i in the name? Maybe it scans better than the more simple “Steve” when chanted by the Kop but could you imagine the irrepressible Ultras chanting “Stevie Young’s Blue and White Army” at fortress Surrey Street? I think not – would ruin the carefully constructed image of our indomitable Manager.

The impression of the town of Bootle in the modern day is that the community has lost confidence in itself and it’s role. On the other hand, Bootle FC are on the up. Recently promoted to the dizzy heights of the Vodkat Premier league, and losing in 4th round of last year’s FA Vase to a certain club from the North East who finished their season some 300 miles south of their home ground – boo, hiss!!

The (proud to be) Chairman of the Supporters Club arrives at the Friendship sporting a green beret with two little “black dangly bits” at the back and, despite the hot weather, wears it all day. Something to do with the Swiss Fusiliers it seems. We set off in a specially chartered 17 seat minibus. Real family affair this with supporters in the age range 7 to 70 - nice friendly atmosphere -and arrive after an impeccable drive by Shifty at the Delta Taxi Stadium. Notice outside the ground welcomes us to the home of “The Bucks” - must find out the origin of that (more later).

£4 entrance and £1 for a very good programme - competition here Neil.

The stadium is new(ish) and this is the first time that the mighty GNE have played here. We later discover that this is the fourth ground that Bootle have occupied since the mid-sixties. Just outside the ground is a wind generator - you know, the type of thing lauded by promoters of “green energy” but absolutely useless as a source of reliable energy - cue debate on Government energy policy for 2020 and beyond. It may be that this wind generator is a high tech version of the gargantuan antique generator used to power the floodlights at Rammy, but this being a sunny afternoon in August we never get to find out.

Excellent clubhouse (new) with, I am informed by an expert on the subject and “proud to be“, excellent toilet facilities. Could be a serious contender for the newly thought of “Best Toilet Facilities in the Vodkat League” award. Every window is guarded by a security mesh - very wise - but watching from behind one of these windows the scene looks like a ready made “spot the ball” grid.

Trying to find the answer to the question relating to “The Bucks”, but fearing a language barrier, we send our secret agent scousemark over the trenches to find out. Note the use of the diminutive in the word trenches as we all know that the proper noun “Trenches” relates to a specific area behind the goal at the clubhouse end of the beautifully painted (in Battleship Grey) fortress Surrey Street. Answer comes back that everybody from Bootle is known as a “buck” as the town crest sports several stags - sounds a bit suspicious to your ageing scribe but there we are.

The players enter the arena onto a pitch more clover than grass. GNE in White again - oh dear!

The Glossop contingent of 40 - 50 (of a crowd of 135) spread themselves around the ground. After 45 minutes, it’s half-time and the score is 0-0. No good comments about the pies! Cod arrives having assumed that Bootle FC play in Bootle - well, well.

Ten minutes into the second half, Blackie returns to action in a GNE shirt to a returning hero’s welcome (slightly muted). We give away yet another penalty (three in three league games so far) and are a goal down. A newly inspired Bootle then get another goal and the game ends with a 2-0 defeat.

Maybe our indomitable Manager was correct when, in the 5 minute interview with the erudite Haggis, he included Bootle as one of the “teams to watch” this season.

The minibus going back was quiet. Nevertheless, a good day out was had by all even though all we really brought back was a suntan.

New Signings!

GNE have announced the signings of 2 new players - Bradley Clegg (Midfield) and Jordan McNally (Forward) and are hopeful that former Surrey Street favourite Lee Blackshaw will sign today from Mossley.
For those who don't know him, prior to moving to Mossley (because he was a contracted player money changed hands!!) Blacky was the clubs top goalscorer and had just been voted the Leagues Player of the Year.
It will be a tremendous signing for the club if it comes off.

Mark Balfe leaves GNE

Prior to the Formby cup match Mark Balfe asked to be released by the club and they agreed. The reason for Marks departure has not been made official (and probably won't) but rumours suggest it centred around ££££££'s.
Disappointing but we move on and we await news of the 2 new players who signed after last nights game and also on the return of an ex-Surrey Street favourite!

FA Cup progress!!

Great result tonight..3-1 at home to Formby!! Goals from a Dave Young free kick, Nick Allen and the impressive Sam Hind. The lads played very well...roll on the next round away at Rossington Main on Saturday 29th August.

Formby 1 GNE 1

Cup fever returns - in a rather understated way.

Still, dreams start with matches like this and who knows where it will all end – remember Sporting Khalsa at home last season! One of our esteemed Directors comments that “this is where the real money is” – suspect that he meant the FA Cup rather than Formby. “A run in this cup is many times more valuable financially than a run in the FA Vase.” Well, so much for the romance of the cup then as your ageing scribe’s rose tinted glasses start to steam up slightly with the understated emotion of it all.

“I’ve a feeling we’re going to lose this one” says Oggie, and then in the next breath starts talking about arranging transport to old outposts of the Yorkshire coal fields for the next round. Mixed messages here Oggie, and we are minded of the comments of our indomitable Manager in the 5 minute interview with the erudite Haggis where on the one hand, “we want to get this club into the Unibond and to get into the Unibond we have to win the league” but on the other hand “as long as we finish near the top, I’ll be happy”. Make your own judgements on that one.

Rumour has it that, unlike our last league game here, in the overcrowded month which was April, we may be able to imbibe some liquid refreshment of substance this time. Cans and bottles only but never mind, must be better than £1 for a coffee which was all we could get last time. Someone starts a nasty rumour that Formby do not possess a bottle opener. The least imaginative among us thinks “OK, cans it is then”. There is talk of the irrepressible Ultras using their teeth to open bottles and then Loopy suggests that she brings a bottle opener – too damn practical these women – don’t you just hate it chaps!

£5 entrance and £1 for a programme which, I kid you not, was no more than two folded pages of A4 - no worries with this one Neil in the race to win the programme of the year award.

Similarly, questions about the quality of the pies were met with a grudging “OK I suppose” type of response. We’re still in the running for the best pies award as well methinks, but early days yet.

Spent sometime looking for “our friend” from the last league game - christened “Village Idiot” by those of an uncharitable disposition - you remember him surely, the guy with his jumper on back to front and a strange style of conversation. However, nowhere to be seen - second disappointment of the day (after the “programme”).

A wide open ground with no protection from the prevailing South West wind. A low concrete fence surrounds the playing area painted (badly) in a certain shade of brown - much prefer our Battleship Grey colour anytime.

The teams enter the field to ragged applause from the few home fans and feigned indifference from a Glossop contingent in excess of 70 souls in a crowd given later as 95 on the Vodkat League website. GNE in white again - oh dear! The Formby kit of Black and Fluorescent Yellow make them look like a cross between the referee and the linesman’s - sorry, assistant referee’s - flag. I can hear the excuses now. Mind you the replica kit of a fluorescent safety jerkin over a black T-Shirt has the merit of being pretty accurate and very cheap. Having said that, I hope our goalkeeper has his excuses ready as he takes to the field in a red top, black shorts and yellow socks - needs the Ishihara test (look it up!!) if you ask me - honestly Stuart!

The game kicks off with GNE playing with the prevailing wind. 45 minutes later it’s half time and the score is 0-0. With half time comes what could be described as a squally shower from the South West. Horizontal rain, meaning that the stand at the car park end gave no protection whatsoever.

Retire for a can of something in the “fully licensed bar” - so it says in the “programme”. Heard that supplies of cans of what was described as Bitter had run out before the kick off and a chap was despatched to the Tesco down the road for more supplies. Must have underestimated our travelling support in terms of numbers or drinking ability - probably both come to think about it. Chap behind the bar commented that “football supporters are supposed to drink lager, we’ve got plenty of that” - words fail me.

For the second half, the GNE supporters think that they can outwit the weather by assembling in the stand at the top end of the ground which gives shelter from the prevailing Sou’Westerly - then the wind drops and the sun comes out - good plan though folks. Early goal for GNE followed by an equaliser for the home team - against the run of play according to the always fair Glossop away support. Glossop denied a cast iron penalty in the last five minutes and the game ends 1-1.

So, back to Surrey Street on Wednesday for the replay and already, just 1 week into the new season, the spectre of fixture congestion rises as a tiny dot on the far horizon – keep an eye on that dot. When the potential ogre of fixture congestion is mentioned to our normally voluble Chairman all that was forthcoming was an enigmatic smile.

Hold the coaches Oggie!

Tom Bailey leave GNE

Following the game at Ramsbottom Tom Bailey has asked to be released and the club have agreed. Rumour is he's off to Maine Road.

Ramsbottom 2 GNE 2

“Come to Rammy” said Oggie, “it’s a beautiful setting”. “Ramsbottom” and “beautiful” are, perhaps, words which are not often associated with each other. Think more of the East Lancashire towns clinging to the hillsides, defying the elements and reminiscing about old textile mills in Working Men’s Clubs where the membership is well past working age. Or maybe there is some confusion of the mind as your ageing scribe thinks of Bacup?

So to Ramsbottom on a Tuesday evening in mid August.

The Riverside Ground could indeed be called a “beautiful setting”. Nestling in fairly flat land close to the town centre and alongside the East Lancashire Railway Line. A picture on a sunny day in summer. However, summer has gone missing this year and a grey drizzly evening – you know, the type of rain which “gets you wet” - greets the supporters of both clubs as they navigate the semi-lethal speed humps in the road approaching the car parks.

Next door is Ramsbottom Cricket Club, a Lancashire League outfit having had considerable success in this high standard of club cricket. The history shows the club having won both the Lancashire League and the Lancashire League Cup several times. Recent professionals have included the test match players Wasim Raja, Brad Hodge and Keith Arthurton. Alongside a well-preserved cricket pavilion is the clubhouse including the bar. Keg beers from the Thwaites brewery, who are main sponsors of the Lancashire League, along with a frighteningly expensive lager of Italian origin (brewed in Blackburn perhaps but don’t quote me on that). The Cricket Club has many teams playing at different age levels. We wander in to what looks to be under 9s practice with the main sound of leather on willow being the outside edge in the direction of second slip rather than a Goweresque drive through extra cover. But, cricket at lower age level is to be encouraged and full credit to the Cricket Club for running all of the teams that they do in helping to develop new players for what is still our National summer game.

Then, here we are in the height of our so called Summer to watch what should reasonably be called our National Winter sport of football. Just as we have a blurring of the natural seasons of the year where we experience a sort of continuous Autumn with just brief nods in the direction of what we used to know as Winter and Summer (don’t even mention Global warming!!), this is close to the case for our two National sports. For many people, it is difficult to get too excited about the footie season when there is still an Ashes series to decide.

Still, a football match to watch. £5 entrance and £1 for a programme. Information comes later that Rammy’s programme was Programme of the Year last season. Could be an award that GNE could win this season. Pie and peas were consumed by a number of the travelling supporters. Reports were that the pies were “not bad” but not up to the standard of the offerings at Surrey Street this season. Is there an award for the “best pies” in the Vodkat League this year?

With the away supporters encamped at the top end of a ground with a noticeable slope and a surface which would have benefited from the introduction of a flock of sheep and attention from the heavy roller from the Cricket Club next door, GNE started badly. No midfield to speak of and lucky to be only one nil down at halftime. At halftime, the floodlights came on which seem to be powered by a generator of gargantuan proportions which should probably be served with a noise abatement notice.

Into the second half and the main body of the travelling support (with flags) moves to the bottom end (by the river). The drizzle continues and even the smoke from several cigarettes fails to keep at bay swarms of voracious midges. Wet and bitten in Rammy, beginning to seem like a less than “beautiful” place. An improvement in the performance of the boys in white in the second half, largely due to the introduction of a couple of experienced substitutes and better retention of the ball. However, it is always difficult to come from behind, even though GNE are well practised at giving the opposition a goal start, and a two apiece final score was probably as good as we could have hoped for after the first half performance. Lest we forget, Rammy were beaten 5-0 by Newcastle Town in the opening game of the season.

Early days of course but 2 league points out of a possible 6 is not the best of starts. No reason for despair and despondency just yet but “best programme” and “best pies” could be worthwhile aspirations if things do not improve on the pitch.

So, thanks Oggie, it was an experience in Rammy and one shared by around 40 to 50 GNE Supporters (an estimate by one of our esteemed Directors) – good away support in a crowd given as 138.

And now to Formby…..

Ramsbottom 2 GNE 2

“Come to Rammy” said Oggie, “it’s a beautiful setting”. “Ramsbottom” and “beautiful” are, perhaps, words which are not often associated with each other. Think more of the East Lancashire towns clinging to the hillsides, defying the elements and reminiscing about old textile mills in Working Men’s Clubs where the membership is well past working age. Or maybe there is some confusion of the mind as your ageing scribe thinks of Bacup?

So to Ramsbottom on a Tuesday evening in mid August.

The Riverside Ground could indeed be called a “beautiful setting”. Nestling in fairly flat land close to the town centre and alongside the East Lancashire Railway Line. A picture on a sunny day in summer. However, summer has gone missing this year and a grey drizzly evening – you know, the type of rain which “gets you wet” - greets the supporters of both clubs as they navigate the semi-lethal speed humps in the road approaching the car parks.

Next door is Ramsbottom Cricket Club, a Lancashire League outfit having had considerable success in this high standard of club cricket. The history shows the club having won both the Lancashire League and the Lancashire League Cup several times. Recent professionals have included the test match players Wasim Raja, Brad Hodge and Keith Arthurton. Alongside a well-preserved cricket pavilion is the clubhouse including the bar. Keg beers from the Thwaites brewery, who are main sponsors of the Lancashire League, along with a frighteningly expensive lager of Italian origin (brewed in Blackburn perhaps but don’t quote me on that). The Cricket Club has many teams playing at different age levels. We wander in to what looks to be under 9s practice with the main sound of leather on willow being the outside edge in the direction of second slip rather than a Goweresque drive through extra cover. But, cricket at lower age level is to be encouraged and full credit to the Cricket Club for running all of the teams that they do in helping to develop new players for what is still our National summer game.

Then, here we are in the height of our so called Summer to watch what should reasonably be called our National Winter sport of football. Just as we have a blurring of the natural seasons of the year where we experience a sort of continuous Autumn with just brief nods in the direction of what we used to know as Winter and Summer (don’t even mention Global warming!!), this is close to the case for our two National sports. For many people, it is difficult to get too excited about the footie season when there is still an Ashes series to decide.

Still, a football match to watch. £5 entrance and £1 for a programme. Information comes later that Rammy’s programme was Programme of the Year last season. Could be an award that GNE could win this season. Pie and peas were consumed by a number of the travelling supporters. Reports were that the pies were “not bad” but not up to the standard of the offerings at Surrey Street this season. Is there an award for the “best pies” in the Vodkat League this year?

With the away supporters encamped at the top end of a ground with a noticeable slope and a surface which would have benefited from the introduction of a flock of sheep and attention from the heavy roller from the Cricket Club next door, GNE started badly. No midfield to speak of and lucky to be only one nil down at halftime. At halftime, the floodlights came on which seem to be powered by a generator of gargantuan proportions which should probably be served with a noise abatement notice.

Into the second half and the main body of the travelling support (with flags) moves to the bottom end (by the river). The drizzle continues and even the smoke from several cigarettes fails to keep at bay swarms of voracious midges. Wet and bitten in Rammy, beginning to seem like a less than “beautiful” place. An improvement in the performance of the boys in white in the second half, largely due to the introduction of a couple of experienced substitutes and better retention of the ball. However, it is always difficult to come from behind, even though GNE are well practised at giving the opposition a goal start, and a two apiece final score was probably as good as we could have hoped for after the first half performance. Lest we forget, Rammy were beaten 5-0 by Newcastle Town in the opening game of the season.

Early days of course but 2 league points out of a possible 6 is not the best of starts. No reason for despair and despondency just yet but “best programme” and “best pies” could be worthwhile aspirations if things do not improve on the pitch.

So, thanks Oggie, it was an experience in Rammy and one shared by around 40 to 50 GNE Supporters (an estimate by one of our esteemed Directors) – good away support in a crowd given as 138.

And now to Formby…..

Ramsbottom 2 GNE 2

“Come to Rammy” said Oggie, “it’s a beautiful setting”. “Ramsbottom” and “beautiful” are, perhaps, words which are not often associated with each other. Think more of the East Lancashire towns clinging to the hillsides, defying the elements and reminiscing about old textile mills in Working Men’s Clubs where the membership is well past working age. Or maybe there is some confusion of the mind as your ageing scribe thinks of Bacup?

So to Ramsbottom on a Tuesday evening in mid August.

The Riverside Ground could indeed be called a “beautiful setting”. Nestling in fairly flat land close to the town centre and alongside the East Lancashire Railway Line. A picture on a sunny day in summer. However, summer has gone missing this year and a grey drizzly evening – you know, the type of rain which “gets you wet” - greets the supporters of both clubs as they navigate the semi-lethal speed humps in the road approaching the car parks.

Next door is Ramsbottom Cricket Club, a Lancashire League outfit having had considerable success in this high standard of club cricket. The history shows the club having won both the Lancashire League and the Lancashire League Cup several times. Recent professionals have included the test match players Wasim Raja, Brad Hodge and Keith Arthurton. Alongside a well-preserved cricket pavilion is the clubhouse including the bar. Keg beers from the Thwaites brewery, who are main sponsors of the Lancashire League, along with a frighteningly expensive lager of Italian origin (brewed in Blackburn perhaps but don’t quote me on that). The Cricket Club has many teams playing at different age levels. We wander in to what looks to be under 9s practice with the main sound of leather on willow being the outside edge in the direction of second slip rather than a Goweresque drive through extra cover. But, cricket at lower age level is to be encouraged and full credit to the Cricket Club for running all of the teams that they do in helping to develop new players for what is still our National summer game.

Then, here we are in the height of our so called Summer to watch what should reasonably be called our National Winter sport of football. Just as we have a blurring of the natural seasons of the year where we experience a sort of continuous Autumn with just brief nods in the direction of what we used to know as Winter and Summer (don’t even mention Global warming!!), this is close to the case for our two National sports. For many people, it is difficult to get too excited about the footie season when there is still an Ashes series to decide.

Still, a football match to watch. £5 entrance and £1 for a programme. Information comes later that Rammy’s programme was Programme of the Year last season. Could be an award that GNE could win this season. Pie and peas were consumed by a number of the travelling supporters. Reports were that the pies were “not bad” but not up to the standard of the offerings at Surrey Street this season. Is there an award for the “best pies” in the Vodkat League this year?

With the away supporters encamped at the top end of a ground with a noticeable slope and a surface which would have benefited from the introduction of a flock of sheep and attention from the heavy roller from the Cricket Club next door, GNE started badly. No midfield to speak of and lucky to be only one nil down at halftime. At halftime, the floodlights came on which seem to be powered by a generator of gargantuan proportions which should probably be served with a noise abatement notice.

Into the second half and the main body of the travelling support (with flags) moves to the bottom end (by the river). The drizzle continues and even the smoke from several cigarettes fails to keep at bay swarms of voracious midges. Wet and bitten in Rammy, beginning to seem like a less than “beautiful” place. An improvement in the performance of the boys in white in the second half, largely due to the introduction of a couple of experienced substitutes and better retention of the ball. However, it is always difficult to come from behind, even though GNE are well practised at giving the opposition a goal start, and a two apiece final score was probably as good as we could have hoped for after the first half performance. Lest we forget, Rammy were beaten 5-0 by Newcastle Town in the opening game of the season.

Early days of course but 2 league points out of a possible 6 is not the best of starts. No reason for despair and despondency just yet but “best programme” and “best pies” could be worthwhile aspirations if things do not improve on the pitch.

So, thanks Oggie, it was an experience in Rammy and one shared by around 40 to 50 GNE Supporters (an estimate by one of our esteemed Directors) – good away support in a crowd given as 138.

And now to Formby…..

Facebook Group

The Supporters Club now has a Group on Facebook. Get yourself involved!!!!! The link is on the right hand side of the blog.

Facebook Group

The Supporters Club now has a Group on Facebook. Get yourself involved!!!!! The link is on the right hand side of the blog.

Facebook Group

The Supporters Club now has a Group on Facebook. Get yourself involved!!!!! The link is on the right hand side of the blog.

Season Opener - Kelvin saves the day!

An excellent opening day for the SC but things weren't looking too good on the pitch until Kelvin Lugsden popped up at the back post with just minutes remaining. Nice shot Jim!

Season Opener - Kelvin saves the day!

An excellent opening day for the SC but things weren't looking too good on the pitch until Kelvin Lugsden popped up at the back post with just minutes remaining. Nice shot Jim!

Season Opener - Kelvin saves the day!

An excellent opening day for the SC but things weren't looking too good on the pitch until Kelvin Lugsden popped up at the back post with just minutes remaining. Nice shot Jim!

Numero Uno

The Glossop North End supporters club is up and running and has it's first members...and member number 1 is Hillmen Chairman Dave Atkinson. Plenty more North Enders have signed up for the club since, which aims to help the North End achieve its' aim of getting promotion to the Unibond league through fundraising, assisting with advertising games and any other ideas that may crop up.

Membership costs £10 per annum, and interested Hillmen, and Hillwomen, can email gnesupporters@googlemail.com for full details.

Atki signed up prior to North End's 1-1 draw with Ashton Athletic and and he's pictured here being presented with his membership card by Supporters Club Chairman Nick Tansley. Although we're not sure it's going to fit in his wallet!

Numero Uno

The Glossop North End supporters club is up and running and has it's first members...and member number 1 is Hillmen Chairman Dave Atkinson. Plenty more North Enders have signed up for the club since, which aims to help the North End achieve its' aim of getting promotion to the Unibond league through fundraising, assisting with advertising games and any other ideas that may crop up.

Membership costs £10 per annum, and interested Hillmen, and Hillwomen, can email gnesupporters@googlemail.com for full details.

Atki signed up prior to North End's 1-1 draw with Ashton Athletic and and he's pictured here being presented with his membership card by Supporters Club Chairman Nick Tansley. Although we're not sure it's going to fit in his wallet!

Numero Uno

The Glossop North End supporters club is up and running and has it's first members...and member number 1 is Hillmen Chairman Dave Atkinson. Plenty more North Enders have signed up for the club since, which aims to help the North End achieve its' aim of getting promotion to the Unibond league through fundraising, assisting with advertising games and any other ideas that may crop up.

Membership costs £10 per annum, and interested Hillmen, and Hillwomen, can email gnesupporters@googlemail.com for full details.

Atki signed up prior to North End's 1-1 draw with Ashton Athletic and and he's pictured here being presented with his membership card by Supporters Club Chairman Nick Tansley. Although we're not sure it's going to fit in his wallet!

A word from our Chairman

Good afternoon to all and welcome to what we all hope will the most successful season yet here at Surrey Street. The purpose of this article is to let all fans of the mighty GNE know that we now have an official supporters club (and explain what the people in the clubhouse behind a table are doing). Hopefully this will explain where we came from, who we are, and what our plans are for the future.

The first I heard of the plans to start the club was at a meeting of the old Events Committee at which our beloved chairman asked us to look into the possibility of developing a supporters club to rise phoenix like from the ashes of the old committee. With remarkable haste a public meeting was convened and a fantastic turn out of faces both old and new spent an evening discussing the possibilities and direction the fledgling club should go. A steering committee was created and in only one week a constitution) was borrowed, butchered, ratified, and a committee elected.
The raison d’être behind the GNEAFCOSC is to promote all aspects of the football club and this defined the way the structure of the supporters club was created.

Advertising and events are an obvious target and the team in place have already started a blanket advertising campaign of pubs in and around Glossop (a job that wasn’t too hard to sell). Hopefully these will become a common sight and allow all those without internet access to still be kept up to speed with fixtures, events, and the like, although it may mean more visits to local hostelries! Several businesses on the High Street have been approached and most are delighted to display posters in their windows, so keep your eyes peeled and use the High Street before we lose it!
Those of you lucky enough to have been on the trip to Market Drayton were not only privileged to a wonderful day but, probably inadvertently, became a part of history as they travelled on the first official Supporters Club bus. Those who were there seem united (and that’s a word I will be using very sparingly) in the view that it was a cracking day, the state of my voice and wallet on Sunday would seem a good indication that a good time was had, We hope to run as many of these as possible during the season (depending on interest) and membership will guarantee privileged booking rights.
We will have presence at all home games this season, we want everyone who shows an interest to be able to come forward to any committee member with ideas or schemes and keep the Supporters Club moving forward. We hope to have some pen pics in the clubhouse with a brief resume of what responsibility is held by each member and what plans are afoot for the near future on a specific board to be displayed in the clubhouse.
After much discussion it was decided that £10 for adults and £5 concessions for the full years membership. I can almost hear the question `what do I get for that? ` wafting from all corners of the ground. Well, to be honest, we haven’t decided all the details yet. Much depends on how popular the Club is and what we can afford, we must never lose sight of the fact that the primary aim is to provide the Football Club with support, the travel I have already mentioned, and we hope to have an official badge ordered in the very near future. We also want to make this as accessible as possible to youngsters, so maybe something for the juniors would be appropriate.
So, enough waffle and on with the season. I hope you all agree the Supporters Club is a positive step for followers of Glossop North End, and we see many of you as members in the next few weeks.
Nick Tansley (Proud to be Chairman of the GNEAFCOSC)

A word from our Chairman

Good afternoon to all and welcome to what we all hope will the most successful season yet here at Surrey Street. The purpose of this article is to let all fans of the mighty GNE know that we now have an official supporters club (and explain what the people in the clubhouse behind a table are doing). Hopefully this will explain where we came from, who we are, and what our plans are for the future.

The first I heard of the plans to start the club was at a meeting of the old Events Committee at which our beloved chairman asked us to look into the possibility of developing a supporters club to rise phoenix like from the ashes of the old committee. With remarkable haste a public meeting was convened and a fantastic turn out of faces both old and new spent an evening discussing the possibilities and direction the fledgling club should go. A steering committee was created and in only one week a constitution) was borrowed, butchered, ratified, and a committee elected.
The raison d’être behind the GNEAFCOSC is to promote all aspects of the football club and this defined the way the structure of the supporters club was created.

Advertising and events are an obvious target and the team in place have already started a blanket advertising campaign of pubs in and around Glossop (a job that wasn’t too hard to sell). Hopefully these will become a common sight and allow all those without internet access to still be kept up to speed with fixtures, events, and the like, although it may mean more visits to local hostelries! Several businesses on the High Street have been approached and most are delighted to display posters in their windows, so keep your eyes peeled and use the High Street before we lose it!
Those of you lucky enough to have been on the trip to Market Drayton were not only privileged to a wonderful day but, probably inadvertently, became a part of history as they travelled on the first official Supporters Club bus. Those who were there seem united (and that’s a word I will be using very sparingly) in the view that it was a cracking day, the state of my voice and wallet on Sunday would seem a good indication that a good time was had, We hope to run as many of these as possible during the season (depending on interest) and membership will guarantee privileged booking rights.
We will have presence at all home games this season, we want everyone who shows an interest to be able to come forward to any committee member with ideas or schemes and keep the Supporters Club moving forward. We hope to have some pen pics in the clubhouse with a brief resume of what responsibility is held by each member and what plans are afoot for the near future on a specific board to be displayed in the clubhouse.
After much discussion it was decided that £10 for adults and £5 concessions for the full years membership. I can almost hear the question `what do I get for that? ` wafting from all corners of the ground. Well, to be honest, we haven’t decided all the details yet. Much depends on how popular the Club is and what we can afford, we must never lose sight of the fact that the primary aim is to provide the Football Club with support, the travel I have already mentioned, and we hope to have an official badge ordered in the very near future. We also want to make this as accessible as possible to youngsters, so maybe something for the juniors would be appropriate.
So, enough waffle and on with the season. I hope you all agree the Supporters Club is a positive step for followers of Glossop North End, and we see many of you as members in the next few weeks.
Nick Tansley (Proud to be Chairman of the GNEAFCOSC)

A word from our Chairman

Good afternoon to all and welcome to what we all hope will the most successful season yet here at Surrey Street. The purpose of this article is to let all fans of the mighty GNE know that we now have an official supporters club (and explain what the people in the clubhouse behind a table are doing). Hopefully this will explain where we came from, who we are, and what our plans are for the future.

The first I heard of the plans to start the club was at a meeting of the old Events Committee at which our beloved chairman asked us to look into the possibility of developing a supporters club to rise phoenix like from the ashes of the old committee. With remarkable haste a public meeting was convened and a fantastic turn out of faces both old and new spent an evening discussing the possibilities and direction the fledgling club should go. A steering committee was created and in only one week a constitution) was borrowed, butchered, ratified, and a committee elected.
The raison d’être behind the GNEAFCOSC is to promote all aspects of the football club and this defined the way the structure of the supporters club was created.

Advertising and events are an obvious target and the team in place have already started a blanket advertising campaign of pubs in and around Glossop (a job that wasn’t too hard to sell). Hopefully these will become a common sight and allow all those without internet access to still be kept up to speed with fixtures, events, and the like, although it may mean more visits to local hostelries! Several businesses on the High Street have been approached and most are delighted to display posters in their windows, so keep your eyes peeled and use the High Street before we lose it!
Those of you lucky enough to have been on the trip to Market Drayton were not only privileged to a wonderful day but, probably inadvertently, became a part of history as they travelled on the first official Supporters Club bus. Those who were there seem united (and that’s a word I will be using very sparingly) in the view that it was a cracking day, the state of my voice and wallet on Sunday would seem a good indication that a good time was had, We hope to run as many of these as possible during the season (depending on interest) and membership will guarantee privileged booking rights.
We will have presence at all home games this season, we want everyone who shows an interest to be able to come forward to any committee member with ideas or schemes and keep the Supporters Club moving forward. We hope to have some pen pics in the clubhouse with a brief resume of what responsibility is held by each member and what plans are afoot for the near future on a specific board to be displayed in the clubhouse.
After much discussion it was decided that £10 for adults and £5 concessions for the full years membership. I can almost hear the question `what do I get for that? ` wafting from all corners of the ground. Well, to be honest, we haven’t decided all the details yet. Much depends on how popular the Club is and what we can afford, we must never lose sight of the fact that the primary aim is to provide the Football Club with support, the travel I have already mentioned, and we hope to have an official badge ordered in the very near future. We also want to make this as accessible as possible to youngsters, so maybe something for the juniors would be appropriate.
So, enough waffle and on with the season. I hope you all agree the Supporters Club is a positive step for followers of Glossop North End, and we see many of you as members in the next few weeks.
Nick Tansley (Proud to be Chairman of the GNEAFCOSC)

Supporters Club is 'Official'

At a meeting held on Thursday 6th August, the GNE Board of Directors reviewed the Suppoters Clubs Constitution and Rules and were happy for the Supporters Club to be given an 'official' status.
Many congratulations to everyone who has helped set up the SC in the space of only 5 weeks!!

Supporters Club is 'Official'

At a meeting held on Thursday 6th August, the GNE Board of Directors reviewed the Suppoters Clubs Constitution and Rules and were happy for the Supporters Club to be given an 'official' status.
Many congratulations to everyone who has helped set up the SC in the space of only 5 weeks!!

Supporters Club is 'Official'

At a meeting held on Thursday 6th August, the GNE Board of Directors reviewed the Suppoters Clubs Constitution and Rules and were happy for the Supporters Club to be given an 'official' status.
Many congratulations to everyone who has helped set up the SC in the space of only 5 weeks!!

First Supporters Club away trip - Market Drayton

The motley crew descend on Market Drayton

First Supporters Club away trip - Market Drayton

The motley crew descend on Market Drayton

First Supporters Club away trip - Market Drayton

The motley crew descend on Market Drayton