8% Drink Off

Everton U23 2 v Sheffield United U23 1
Premier League Cup
Sunday 24 February 2019
Played at Southport FC

Clipstone U21 1 v Sheffield United Futures U21 6
North Midlands Development Football League U21 Division
Wednesday 27 February 2019

SUFC 2018/19 Games 72 & 73
2018/19 Football Season Brewery Visits - 92

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Stay grounded. The Merseyrail Community Stadium, Haig Avenue, Southport was/is the 214th ground I have seen an SUFC XI play on. The Lido Ground, East Clipstone, the 215th. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I've heard it all before. “Can't have” “Not real grounds” “Doesn't make you a Big Blade, I'd do that if I had the time & money” - money, may I add, which you waste on bits of polyester with some dodgy loan shark, trading on people's financial misfortune, company name across the front. It's all about priorities. I've done the grounds, deal with it.

U21 Futures

Clipstone have a great stand behind the goal. A well maintained shed roof & just a single row of comfortable seats. The Carrier Bag Firm love a One Rower. I might as well deal with that Futures game as I can do a bit of a round up. The U21s Division is, perennially, impossible to fathom. An unbalanced fixture list in the first place. Teams from the North Division (eg us), play a few Cross Division games against teams from the South Division (eg Clipstone). Some teams have already dropped out of the league part way through the season. Others have had points deducted for various infringements (usually surrounding ineligible players). Despite all that, Handsworth Parramore U21s have been ridic. They've already won the league. With (I think) two games left to play. They're unbeaten, invincible, played 13, won 12. And, they're in the cup final.

Handsworth have now won the U21s three years running. Having won the U19s the two years before that. Salute. It's fair to say that Sheffield United Futures U21 are at the back end of that scale. I make that just two wins and three draws from 11 games. Rooted. Bottom of six. Still, tonight was sort of like v like. Clipstone are rooted, bottom of the South. And, United were clearly the better side on the night. We bagged the first on 17 minutes, and were four up after 33, having missed a Penalty. That was game over. We continued to have good chances throughout. But, credit to Clipstone in the second half & for getting on the scoresheet.

I was very close to the action. There was a one v one pushing in the chest stand off right in front of me. With other players arriving quickly. The Ref did well to calm it all down. He looked around & spotted one of the late SUFC arrivals…

“Number Five, you again, what are you even doing over here, getting involved?”
“Come on Ref, he's my mate, you have to help your mate out don't you. I'm sure you'd help your mate out if someone was pushing him…”
Exactly…..

U23 Academy

I thought that was a great, great battling performance by the U23s. Everton are effectively two rungs above us. They're the top ranked U23 side in the country at the moment. United had a great run in this Premier League Cup last season. Knocked out at the Semi Final stage last year (by Swansea City). So, it's a bit disappointing to get put out at the Group Stage this go around. But. Recriminations. Not the time. No first team fringers on Sunday. Just the best of the current crop who are still here. Look, Everton were probably the better team. But, impressive work rate from the Young Blades kept them in it. And, on 60 minutes, Reece York got on the end of a cross & stayed very calm to put his header away for a one nil lead.

One of the CBF asked “when's the draw for the next round Phil?, as I nipped along for a celebratory piss. The Jinxing Bastard. Sure 'nuff. Two late Everton goals & other results later in the week dumped us out.

Some Bars are run really well. Friendly. For example. Just such a place is Tap & Bottles in Southport. I was aahhing, with associated uumming, at the bar. The fella helped me out. And, I plumped for half of a particularly tempting 8% Imperial/Double IPA. We were the first & only customers that time on a Sunday. He got a third of a pint from the tap - and it ran out. So. He gave that to me. Free. As is required by the International Law of I'm In Your Bar Smiling Pal. And. Therefore. I got the rare opportunity for AN 8% DRINK OFF.

Both had the gloopy look of New England style IPAs.

North Brewing Co. Ursa Major, on keg at 8.1%. Felt like it had a bit missing. It was neither heavily fruity gloopy, nor dreamily hoppy. If anything, I had it as a bit bland. At that abv, the sugar hit was nice. The best bit really. But, that's a shame.

So. Outstanding Beer Of The Day was

Verdant Brewing Co. People Do Odd Things, on keg at 8%.  That was thick & chewy. I got a head turning alcohol hit. And there was a lot more flavour to that. But, still a bit short of where I was going.

Stats
I have now Blogged from 783 games in 1,653 days