On the road again
Sun 29th January 2017 | FA Challenge Vase | By Stewart Taylor
There are many what might be called “road songs” in the canon of popular music. Long and Winding roads, Roads to Nowhere, High roads, Low roads and even Yellow Brick ones but we take our inspiration today from the classic by Canned Heat – On the Road Again.
As with many blues inspired songs, the lyrics of On the Road Again, sung in a distinctive falsetto voice by harmonica player Alan Wilson, tell a story of loss and despair tinged with an element of running away.
Nothing could be further from the truth today as we head off on the road to Cleethorpes to follow the next of the road trips undertaken by Atherton Collieries in the Buildbase FA Vase. On a weekend where there is much debate about professional sides playing “weakened” sides in the FA Cup thus, in the eyes of many, de-valuing the competition, there is no such thing in the FA Vase.
Two teams today whose main objective will be in gaining promotion to Step 4 of the National League System at the end of the season will field their strongest available teams in the parallel quest to reach Wembley – the only realistic opportunity for the players to play on the hallowed turf.
In the days before the match, anxious glances are cast in the direction of any weather forecast which may include our destination. Throughout Thursday, all of the talk is of a cold wind blowing in from Continental Europe and one just wonders if that is something of a metaphor for the two years of negotiations due to start sometime after the end of March.
The day of the match dawns and news begins to come through of postponements in the Hallmark Security League due to waterlogged pitches but no such concerns to the east of the Pennines so off we go.
A smooth drive by the League Chairman gets us to the lunchtime meeting point. A Hungry Horse so the sign says and we begin to wonder if the hostelry caters for hungry people as well. It does and the place is pleasantly busy with people and not a horse in sight, hungry or otherwise.
The remainder of the Hallmark Security League party arrive, food is organised and prospects for the afternoon ahead considered. The last three FA Vase matches involving Colls have all been away and have all been goalless at half time. If I were a betting man and football followed predictable pathways then the nap bet is clear but, then again, do you know any poor bookies?
Suitably fed and watered and it's off to the ground. 5 minutes away for one car but more like 15 minutes for the other - questionable navigation skills there. We pass another large roadside pub which is catering for over 100 Colls supporters. No problem we hear later - it's a big pub; seems to be the trend around here.
The ground is relatively new and has a 3G pitch in addition to the grass pitch we will be playing on today. Think Sandbach United and you'll get a good impression.
Both sides do the traditional warm up routines and the Colls supporters start to arrive and assemble in a small stand at the far end of the ground (see photo). Many are sporting blow up musical instruments. Apparently real musical instruments are not allowed in the ground due to local authority regulations - pity some may say but, even so, it is reported that the Colls supporters have been practicing with the blow up versions, the mind boggles.
The referee blows his whistle for the start of the match and, contrary to precedent, Colls score in the third minute – remember what we said about the financial situation of bookies. Approaching half time and Colls score again. Keep it like this until half time is the thought but a lack of concentration allows Cleethorpes Town to get a goal back just before the interval.
The home side start the second half the better and their efforts are soon rewarded with an equaliser.
Cleethorpes have the better of play during the second half but Colls have their chances. As the referee’s watch passes the 90 minute mark, the home side find the back of the net just as the spectre of extra-time hangs over us.
Colls throw everything they have forward, including goalkeeper Andy Reid for a corner, in an attempt to get back level but it was to no avail.
The final whistle brings the expected celebrations by the home side and their supporters. As they consider who they might draw in the next round, the Colls players and management collect silently in the centre of the pitch and then move towards the goal behind which their magnificent supporters had assembled for the second half. Mutual respect and great to see.
Sadly, for all involved with Atherton Collieries this is the end of the road for this season in the FA Vase and all that remains is to wend our way home along the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
On the road again
Sun 29th January 2017 | FA Challenge Vase
By Stewart Taylor
There are many what might be called “road songs” in the canon of popular music. Long and Winding roads, Roads to Nowhere, High roads, Low roads and even Yellow Brick ones but we take our inspiration today from the classic by Canned Heat – On the Road Again.
As with many blues inspired songs, the lyrics of On the Road Again, sung in a distinctive falsetto voice by harmonica player Alan Wilson, tell a story of loss and despair tinged with an element of running away.
Nothing could be further from the truth today as we head off on the road to Cleethorpes to follow the next of the road trips undertaken by Atherton Collieries in the Buildbase FA Vase. On a weekend where there is much debate about professional sides playing “weakened” sides in the FA Cup thus, in the eyes of many, de-valuing the competition, there is no such thing in the FA Vase.
Two teams today whose main objective will be in gaining promotion to Step 4 of the National League System at the end of the season will field their strongest available teams in the parallel quest to reach Wembley – the only realistic opportunity for the players to play on the hallowed turf.
In the days before the match, anxious glances are cast in the direction of any weather forecast which may include our destination. Throughout Thursday, all of the talk is of a cold wind blowing in from Continental Europe and one just wonders if that is something of a metaphor for the two years of negotiations due to start sometime after the end of March.
The day of the match dawns and news begins to come through of postponements in the Hallmark Security League due to waterlogged pitches but no such concerns to the east of the Pennines so off we go.
A smooth drive by the League Chairman gets us to the lunchtime meeting point. A Hungry Horse so the sign says and we begin to wonder if the hostelry caters for hungry people as well. It does and the place is pleasantly busy with people and not a horse in sight, hungry or otherwise.
The remainder of the Hallmark Security League party arrive, food is organised and prospects for the afternoon ahead considered. The last three FA Vase matches involving Colls have all been away and have all been goalless at half time. If I were a betting man and football followed predictable pathways then the nap bet is clear but, then again, do you know any poor bookies?
Suitably fed and watered and it's off to the ground. 5 minutes away for one car but more like 15 minutes for the other - questionable navigation skills there. We pass another large roadside pub which is catering for over 100 Colls supporters. No problem we hear later - it's a big pub; seems to be the trend around here.
The ground is relatively new and has a 3G pitch in addition to the grass pitch we will be playing on today. Think Sandbach United and you'll get a good impression.
Both sides do the traditional warm up routines and the Colls supporters start to arrive and assemble in a small stand at the far end of the ground (see photo). Many are sporting blow up musical instruments. Apparently real musical instruments are not allowed in the ground due to local authority regulations - pity some may say but, even so, it is reported that the Colls supporters have been practicing with the blow up versions, the mind boggles.
The referee blows his whistle for the start of the match and, contrary to precedent, Colls score in the third minute – remember what we said about the financial situation of bookies. Approaching half time and Colls score again. Keep it like this until half time is the thought but a lack of concentration allows Cleethorpes Town to get a goal back just before the interval.
The home side start the second half the better and their efforts are soon rewarded with an equaliser.
Cleethorpes have the better of play during the second half but Colls have their chances. As the referee’s watch passes the 90 minute mark, the home side find the back of the net just as the spectre of extra-time hangs over us.
Colls throw everything they have forward, including goalkeeper Andy Reid for a corner, in an attempt to get back level but it was to no avail.
The final whistle brings the expected celebrations by the home side and their supporters. As they consider who they might draw in the next round, the Colls players and management collect silently in the centre of the pitch and then move towards the goal behind which their magnificent supporters had assembled for the second half. Mutual respect and great to see.
Sadly, for all involved with Atherton Collieries this is the end of the road for this season in the FA Vase and all that remains is to wend our way home along the Boulevard of Broken Dreams.
