Compulsory Quiz Night

Grange Albion 1 v Llanrumney United 1 

South Wales Alliance League Premier Division (FA Wales Tier 4) 

Wednesday 11 August 2021 

Ground Tick #371 

Grange Albion's Coronation Park, in Cardiff, is the 371st different ground I've watched football on. The Carrier Bag Firm are basically stitching together Yorkshire County Cricket Club's 50 Over, 300 ball, One Day Cup shindig at Sophia Gardens in Cardiff and Sheffield United's first Championship away game of the season at Swansea City. And gratuitously filling in Breweries & Pubs we've always fancied visiting. Plus totally, totally gratuitous Welsh non league that we can basically see from the pub.

Tier 1, Cymru Premier is your Cefn Druids and your Connah's Quay Nomads & your The New Saints. Below that, Tier 2, are the Cymru North & Cymru South leagues. At Tier 3 are the four Ardal (Regional) Leagues comprising 64 clubs. But, here we are at Tier 4 - the Area Leagues. 

As you'd expect, the CBF have a very simple way of grading football Steps & Tiers. Grange Albion had a covered stand. But, no turnstile nor table you pay at. No floodlights. No tea kiosk nor clubhouse bar. Crucially, NO LINESMEN. Dead giveaway that.

Anyway, eleven v eleven, roughly the same quality as each other. Just like the Premier League. Thoroughly enjoyable game between two committed teams. I feel United will be pissed off they didn't win that one. Playing a simple, well drilled game. Organised & getting their best players on the ball. Contrasting with the Albion's more where the fucks he gone now set of all over the shop flair players. United dominated the first thirty. Particularly dangerous from corners. But, at half time nil nil, Albion were still in it. The game kicked on dramatically in the last fifteen. When, frankly, it was already getting quite dark. On 74, United's #8, a Mr Fellows, made the best of Albion's shotstopper (Nott) coming way out of his nets & decidedly not dealing with it.

On 80, there was a goalkeeper on the deck, Albion forward with the ball at his feet shemozzle right in front of me. Looked harsh, but the ref has given a spot kick. And, Albion #8, Dahir, has sent Stitfall one way & the ball the other for the equaliser.

Just four minutes later, up and even more roar, as another penalty is awarded to Albion. Many, many shouts of "he'll go the same side" as Dahir stepped up.

Of course, Stitfall knew this. Dived to his left and pulled off a great save. The United defence simply summed up the situation by chasing the Albion player & calling him, repeatedly, a Cheating C**t. Adding to the confusion was the Llan manager. Time after time howling "just put a White shirt on Ref". Intriguing, as Grange Albion were playing in Black n White stripes. Fella's lost it.

I thought I'd try;

The Grange 134 Penarth Rd, Cardiff CF11 6NJ

(In the CAMRA Good Beer Guide)

Wednesday night, half eight, what can go wrong. Modern life, that's what. It was what can only be described as Compulsory Quiz Night. I walked in. Barman immediately approached me. "Can I help you?"

I assertively declaimed - I've come for a drink in your pub.

He fucking offered me a seat outside in the rain as he didn't think he could offer me a seat on a bar stool somewhere. 

Any other suggestions by me as to alternative seating & buying beer arrangements were met with a simple explanation "QUIZ". I went to one word Defcon Five replies "PUB". Before mincing out. Remember the good old days when Pub Quizzes weren't run like a military operation & were, you know, optional.

So, instead;

Brew Monster Tap House, Mermaid Quay, Ocean Buildings, Cardiff CF10 5AY

A simple one room affair. Small bar front. Grolsch as the normal lager. Five pukka craft keg. One, natch the one I wanted, was off - "all foam".

I went;

Brew Monster, Medusa - Citra, Amarillo & Motueka Pale Ale on Keg at 4.2%.

Glorious that. One of those beers you'd forgotten about. A gentle, pillow soft, pale. Lots of oats & wheat to soften it all up. Low bittering. And the merest juice. Glorious. And no fucking Quiz Fascists.

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