National Football Youth League
North East Premier
Wednesday 1 December 2021
Played at Handsworth
SUFC 2021/22 Game #29
Carrier Bag Firmers generally have some way they determine whether the game they have watched is tickable, whether they can count it in their records. For the real Baggers it's often down to the availability of meaningless bits of paper. If there's a printed match programme, it's a football game. If not, it's a kickabout. These dinosaurs are increasingly fucked as some First Team games in The Championship are now being undertaken without a programme.
For some, there has to be a turnstile, ruling out "matches in parks". For others, they won't tick games where the goals are on wheels. Again, 4G pitches have fucked that. Me. Personally. I've always worshipped at a broad church. If it says Sheffield United on the badge. If you can find the results on the FA Full Time website. Tick the hell outta it. However, just occasionally, on the far edges of CBF activity, I've seen games where there's been a Ref. But no Linesmen. And, de facto, that's where my line in the sand is.
Sure, the players are committed and trying their best. But the lino lackers, just sends the signal it's not being taken all that seriously. Not serious enough to tick. Anyway. I'll get to the point.
This North East Premier game at Handsworth had linesmen. I get to so few of these NFYL games, and of course there's no paperwork, so it's very difficult for me to keep track of who is who. I was just trying to work a few kids out, when United's number 6, essentially playing CB in a four, pushed up and hit a absolute scorcher of a left foot high past the Burnley keeper from outside the box in just the first minute. Ooofffttt.
I radar scanned around the pitch, players & celebrations to get it in my mind's eye. What? Isn't that number 6, the big lad up top celebrating with the CB number 6 who's just thunderbastarded it in? Klaxon. There's been a kit malfunction. Two number 6s out there. Oooohhhh. Maybe try to get a picture of both of them together to light up the Blog.
So. United win a corner. Up top number 6 & CB number 6 will surely both be in the box for this. Fire off lots of pics. Have a look at them later & crop the best one for shits & giggles. Which I do. Only to find there's two fucking number 5s as well !!!
Look. I've ticked it. SUFC game #29 of the season. Game 1,031 of the cumulative Blog. But, two 5s AND two 6s. Maybe that's a good indicator of whether it's being taken all that seriously.
(I think CB 6, the scorer, may have been Kieron Dodds. He politely thanked me after I'd retrieved a rogue ball from the other pitch at HT. Nice lad.)
Burnley equalised on 13 minutes. And. Wouldn't you just know it, my notes say the other number 6 (who may be Ross Dawson) scored what proved to be the winner on 22 minutes with a pick the spot left foot low drive into the bottom corner.
A scrappy game all round I felt. Not much composure happening. But thoroughly enjoyable as too well matched teams went at it hammer n tongs. That win catapults The Learning Blades above Burnley into 5th place. Played 9, won 3, drawn 2. Still sort of in touch with the leaders, Everton. But they've only played 6 & have won 5 (incidentally the one Everton lost was against us).
The post match was
Chantry Inn
400 Handsworth Rd, Handsworth, Sheffield S13 9BZ
first time I've been in since it all got rebadged by Chantry Brewery. Welcoming in a subdued way. Deffo a Local. Fellas walking in after work, "Hello Terry", two pints being pulled without asking - what you having. "Leave one in for John".
Two Chantry badged lagers on the kegs. Five of their cask on the sticks. All Cask Three English Pounds.
1 December kiddo, I'll have the Christmas Beer.
Chantry Brewery, Santas Drop, Pale Ale on Cask at 4.1%
I mean. It was lovely. But it was that famous & traditional Christmas Beer. The (checks notes) English Pale. I mean, Red Ale, Spiced Bitter, Stout innit? yer usual Festive Firkin. Anyway, very good pale.
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Stats
I have now Blogged from 1,031 games in 2,661 days
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