Catching up (again) - Football First ...

I've been away - in fact I've been a long way away (Nepal to be exact - and I've still got 800+ photos to wade through !) ...

 Caldon Henson in the Northwich game ...

One I forgot to upload before I went away - a last minute "bugger" ...

05 April - Mossley 2 Northwich Victoria 3

... and then two days after my return - a small matter of a Cup Final !!!

 Tom "The Tormentor" Pratt on the move ...

Mossley 3 Stalybridge Celtic 1

It's been a bit hectic since my return to Blighty - all change at work (aargh - not happy), a cup final and a mad dash to Nottingham on Saturday to see Bellowhead (excellent gig !).  At least a day off today. 

That pretty much sees the 2015/2016 season done and dusted - however today sees a Benefit match up at Stalybridge Celtic for the late Mark Storah (Celtic kitman) who sadly succumbed to cancer at the end of March ... a fair few Celtic legends have promised to turn up.

I'll be there too ...
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Mossley v Lancaster City - Early Start

Mossley MoM Godwin Abadaki

Mossley 2 Lancaster City 0

Glossop North End v Mossley - Updated

The final "kick in the teeth" - Liam Flynn sees red ...

 
A Bank Holiday - a day off work - and (true to form) weather possibly playing havoc with my day out.   However - a train into Manchester Piccadilly kept all options open (Glossop,Chorley or Hyde). Quick pint in the (almost deserted) Piccadilly Tap (Hawkshead Brewery Windermere Pale Ale) ... before taking the chance on Glossop.  Watched the refs inspection - game on - and relaxed in the Glossop bar with some Howard TownBrewery "Longdendale Lights".

..and then it all went wrong ... first sending off was a joke - the second red (above) - can't argue with.  However .. no way were Glossop 5-1 better than Mossley.  Even when down to 10 men we kept pressuring - and with a bit of luck it could have been a lot closer even before Liam Flynn's second yellow right at the death.  Pics from game at

Glossop NE 5 Mossley 1

At least the Globe Inn was open after the game ...
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Mossley v Harrogate Railway

Wet - very wet ..

Crazy - football, weather and final result.  Mossley looked dead and buried at 2-3 down in the 90th minute - but 5 (added) minutes later we were celebrating a remarkable 5-3 victory !

We had one helluva storm/flood as well - bad enough to cause serious problems with the camera gear - thankfully now fully dried out and (hopefully) ready for some more football action on Easter Monday.  In the meantime some pictures from a wet Seel Park can be found at

Mossley 5 Harrogate RA 3 
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Greater Manchester Boundary Walk Part 2

Looking towards Manchester from the top end of Lyme Park.

Good Friday - a welcome day off - so away to do Part Two.  Journey to Disley was fine until we got to Hazel Grove - then a rail replacement bus which took 90 minutes (!!!) to do a so-called 13 minute journey.

Hey ho - we got there ... and the walk to Poynton was a touch simpler than Part One.  Also a chance to try out a new lens - a Canon 10-18mm - although there weren't too many landscape opportunities.  Still looks promising for a trip coming up soon !!  Pics from Friday's walk now up at

Boundary Walk Part Two 25Mar16

Next instalment will be Poynton to Wilmslow - sometime ...
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Stalybridge Celtic v Brackley Town

 Chris Simm about to make it 1-0 to Celtic ...

Despite taking the lead, it was a poor first 45 minutes from the hosts.   However two (inspired ?!) substitutions at half-time saw Celtic step up a gear and run out comfortable winners in the end.  Pics from game at

Stalybridge Celtic 3 Brackley Town 1

Looking bleak for a mid-week option ... again ...
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Greater Manchester Boundary Walk ... Part One

 Views of the Kinder area to the left ...

Well - we found this book in the "walking box" - dated 1992, bought God knows how long ago ... "Why Not ???" was the general cry ??

So we cracked on with our version of Part One - starting at Woolley Bridge near Glossop (train and bus to get there) and finishing in Disley (train, train and train home).  The book certainly showed its age - changes in footpaths, non-existent pubs etc etc - but a bracing day out (if a bit heavy underfoot at times !!!)  Pics from same at

GM Boundary Walk Part 1

Next step will be Disley to Poynton - don't know when but ...we will ...
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