Director of 'Spoons QA

Swallownest Miners Welfare U19 0 v Sheffield United Futures U19 3

North Midlands Development Football League, U19 Level North

Thursday 28 September 2017

SUFC 2017/18 Game 29

That is the 199th ground I've watched a Sheffield United XI play on. All ages. All surfaces. All competitions. I will guarantee that all have had goalposts. Corner flags. Now that's an entirely different matter.

Futures - My Take

Sheffield United field two Futures teams. You know, that’s Red n White Stripes, Crossed Swords & a White Rose, says “Sheffield United” on the FA Website, Del Geary over there on the touchline, Sheffield United. One at U19. One at U21. Both play in the North Midlands Development Football League. I think of the Futures as Odds & Sods. It’s both a route in & a route out of the full blown Academy. Some lads have had their (first chance). They’ll make it somewhere in the non-league pyramid. And, they’ll need some qualifications to make their way outside of football. The Futures gives them a way of attending college, etc. And playing football at the same time. United won’t just cast you out. You’ve put your shift in. The Club will help you out, put your foot on a different ladder. Proper Football Club that. Salute.

And, some of the Futures lads have still to have their day. Some are already at the Academy. Some on trial for the Academy. Getting some game time. Being looked at. Being nurtured. Very occasionally, there is an experienced Academy lad out there for the Futures. Maybe coming back from injury. Maybe coming back from suspension. Maybe just blocked out in the Academy U16 or U18 teams.

Bizarrely, but intriguingly, it’s both a funnel INTO the Academy. And a funnel OUT of the Academy. Futures - in or out of the game. Or….. It’s designed for the Carrier Bag Firm to tick off yet more “obscure” grounds & grab bits of paper for their ticket & programme & teamsheet collections. You decide……

Futures - 2017/18 So Far

That win tonight puts our U19s top after 3 games. Won two. Drawn one. Seven points. Two points clear of Retford United who have 5 points from 3. Next up is a home game (Stocksbridge) on Wednesday 4 October.

Our U21 Futures are not doing so well. Played three. Drawn Two. Two Points. Fifth (next to bottom) in the table. Handsworth Parramore lead the table. Played two. Won two.

Tonight

Information is thin. United have a vast pool of players to pick from. There are rarely tannoy announcements. Nor accurate teamsheets. Spectators have to get their information where they can. So, apologies to any of the lads involved if I’ve misidentified. I think that was SAMMY OMPREON out there at 8. He’s the lad we’ve sucked in from Chelsea’s Academy. He had a quiet game if I’m honest. He got free down the left & squared the ball. Our striker rifled it in for the second goal. MARCUS DEWHURST was in goal. He’s been on Academy U23 duty for much of the season. What with Eastwood having to step up while Moore was injured. There was a great passage of play near the end. Swallownest hit the bar twice in the same attack. One of those was a great push up point blank save from Dewhurst. I think that was ANGELO CAPELLO out there at 11. An attacking threat earlier on, he was withdrawn to a (more-or-less) left wing back role in a reshuffle. His positioning was good & he stood out a bit. I’m less sure, but I think Academy lads Sam McLellen, Ben Harriott & Tom Weaver were also out there.

Three good first half goals. But, fair play to Swallownest. They got it together. Became more of an attacking threat. And “kept the score down”. A deft glancing header from a free kick after just one minute. The Ompreon square ball & strong finish after 29 minutes. And a similar left wing break, ball squared by Capello this time - 33 minutes.

The Beer

I will ask the questions….

Classic deflection tactic by a 'Spoons Manager tonight. I ordered;
Townshend Brewery, Cathcarts Xtra Pale Ale on cask at 4.2%. They are in Motueka, Nelson, New Zealand. They're part of the International Craft Brewers Showcase. So, this 'un was brewed at Hook Norton. I'd asked for a taste. So, that's me guilty. The pint pulled up Hazy. No danger. See recent Blogs & a preponderance of Unfined. But. I'll ask.

“Is this one supposed to be Hazy?”
“Does it taste alright?”
“Well, yes, you saw me taste it”

Satisfied, he minces off. Me, in pursuit….
“But, I asked, is it supposed to be Hazy?”
“No… But, if it tastes alright ….”

Ladies & Gentlemen. Let me introduce myself. I'm Ball Sup. Director of Quality Assurance for 'Spoons. FFS.

Anyway. It was alright. But, we'll die wondering. I stayed Themed.

Gage Road Brewing, Sleeping Giant IPA on cask at 5%. They're in Western Australia. This one was brewed at Banks’s. It is now time to SHOW OFF. My Australian beer tick list stands at 334. This Winter as one regiment tries to win The Ashes. The Carrier Bag Firm will be trying to take that to 500. Six of those 334 ticks are Gage Road. Including the real, true, original Sleeping Giant.

544/1136