Ladies & Budgies

Chesterfield U19 1 v Sheffield United Futures U19 4

Tuesday 10 January 2017

North Midlands Development Football League U19 Level North

Played at Eastwood FC

Twitter @ball_sup

Although it was three nil when I left after 65 minutes. What? I hear you ask. Why the hell didn't you stay until full time? Well, it was always going to be a tight call. To catch the last train to Sheffield back from Langley Mill. But to fully understand, I need to take you through a walk in the Carrier Bag Firm shoes. The problem was much compounded by a delayed kick off. They've got a great looking synthetic pitch at Eastwood. Which is very much billed as Eastwood COMMUNITY Football Club. There's some tie in with a US Soccer Academy. I'm setting the scene that the pitch is used often, and by a range of clubs & groups.

When The Baggers arrived, there were two groups of girls playing/training on the pitch. Portable goals had been rolled out. One group in one half, one in the other. Coaches tracksuits, etc gave them away as Notts County Ladies FC. No sign of the Futures, nor Chozzers. Clearly, the pitch was double booked. Half seven came & went. I'm guessing NCLFC had the pitches until eight. Because suddenly, everything sprang into action. Warm ups. Cones. Corner flags. Ref. Linos. We got underway “eventually”.

There was a nice Clubhouse in which to keep warm. But, no real ale in there. Indeed, in a first for the Carrier Bag Firm, there was an unusual event in the adjoining Function Room. A Budgerigar Auction. I'm guessing fifteen spectators at the game. Dwarfed by the hundred or so Budgie Fanciers.

I missed a tourist trick. It turns out that Eastwood is the birthplace of D H Lawrence. Lots of signposts to points of interest. Much of the town was Lawrence Branded. Including the 'spoons - The Lady Chatterley. In there, I had a pint of Lincoln Green Brewing Co, Mellors on cask at 4.4%.

My 186th ground watching a Sheffield United XI.

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