Disastrous Start

Hallam v Sheffield

Hallam win 6-5 on Penalties after 1-1 Draw

Tuesday 7 July 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

What a DISASTROUS start to my 2015-16 season. I’ve marched into The Plough (opposite Sandygate) full of anticipation & bonhomie. I lost count, was that four or five handpull pumpclips off & turned around. Abbot the only survivor. Disgraceful scenes.

About turn, into the Clubhouse. No Cask, but Kelham Island bottles. I’ve gone for Pride Of Sheffield at 4%. Saviour. Uphill from here me hopes.

I’ve got that as a 12 Day Close Season for me. Last game of 2014-15 saw England U21 knocked out in Olomouc. Here we are cracking into 2015-16. A mate of mine used to swear blind that the last match of the season was always the Christians In Football Cup Final. However, their website hasn’t been updated in over a year. Maybe that’s gone as well.

Hallam is a flag of convenience for me. I live reasonably close. I claim to support them. But, in all honesty, I go very infrequently & wouldn’t pick any players out in a line up. They do tend to play midweek games on Tuesdays, and United matches often get in the way. I doubt I average three games a season.

Oddly, I do get a little flutter up my spine for this Derby. Simply because of the historical significance. For some time, there was a league Derby. Both teams were in the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East. Since those heady days, Hallam have moved down the ladder & Sheffield up. Hallam finished mid-table last year (in Division One).

I’m generally not nostalgic, nor sentimental. But, it is great to see these two old/first clubs still playing competitive football in the Pyramid. (Although not against each other). So, it seems a great way to lose my 2015-16 virginity.

My ignorance means I’ll never know whether either side put full strength sides out. But, Hallam were competitive throughout (against their bigger Cousins). Hallam had the best of the chances & it was a great nip & tuck game.

Good game. OK Beer. Poor Pub.

160/350