(3-3 on aggregate, NFFC win 3-2 on Penalties)
Championship Play Off Semi Final
Tuesday 17 May 2022
SUFC 2021/22 Game #75
Sheffield United Community Foundation U19 2 v Newcastle United Foundation U19 2
National Football Youth League
North East Premier
Wednesday 18 May 2022
Played at Handsworth
SUFC 2021/22 Game #76
Well that was a truly marvelous beer stumble across, on an amazing football night (note football night not night of football). The ticket gangmaster has lost it if I'm honest. He issued a - straight to Nottingham, no pub stop - edict. This was despite repeated, and I emphasise repeated, shouts of "Sherwood, Sherwood" from the mid section of the bus.
Thankfully, as we entered Nottingham, and headed down towards Sneinton Market, the gangmaster had the good grace to shout down the bus…
"Anyone who wants to get off come down the front and tell us."
I knocked three Civilians over in my haste. I was sort of targeting Bunkers Hill Inn. But, we regrouped and defaulted to a place we'd never been in before.
Fox & Grapes
21 Southwell Rd, Nottingham NG1 1DL
Man, what a find. (Turns out there's a MicroPub, Partizan Tavern, on the other corner as well). The F&G is a Castle Rock pub. The two geezers behind the bar were incredibly helpful & friendly. Didn't mind my questions & photos.
Four Castle Rocks on Cask, one on Keg. Four guest Cask. Six guest Keg. Welcome to Nottingham.
I'm singling out;
Black Iris Brewery (Nottingham), Let The Devil In, American IPA on Cask at 5.5%
Dry hopped with El Dorado and Ekuanot with Cascade hops thrown in at the bittering stage.
My mindset stayed roughly the same all night. My animation levels & gesticulation metrics swung wildly. These are the nights (days are also available) you want. Do you want to win 'em … rhetorical. Do you mind if you lose 'em … ridiculous. But, fuck me, you want to be at them. Please don't think I'm ignoring all the well publicised surrounding nonsense. But, them's the nights.
Remember, I write parody.
I'm disappointed in the management & leadership on the night if I'm honest.
What it needed was someone, Billy would have done, to huddle the team.
"Win or lose - on the whistle or final penalty - every player & member of staff, the kitman, the Twitter Guy, those on crutches, those in ski boots, the fucking lot, rush over to that away corner, form a square, form a phalanx, form summat else - don't bother me with the details - we'll fucking sort it from there - in front of our fans - this is us.
Remember I write parody.
It's frustrating. I want noisy, intimidating atmospheres. But, joyous. In support of your own team. Not snarling. In support of some fake, learned behaviour, hatred. The Tricky Trees running on the pitch. They've read the trending script. Let the Pyro go. Run past your own players. The ones you're supposed to be celebrating with. Sprint past the tunnel. Where the management and staff will be congregating. Leave them in your wake. Because, the real objective is to get twenty yards away from the ragtag collection of aged walking stick wielders on Row A of the Away End. And give 'em The Vees. Fake hatred - a lot from our fans as well.
(I like Steve Cooper a lot) Forest were good in the first half. High tempo. Can't get your breath tempo. Can't think tempo. But, we were far from overrun. A great save from Iliman. Or it could have all looked different.
You couldn't fault any of our lot. Jack Robinson was immense. And, he showed he's a real attacking threat getting on the end of corners. My vocabulary narrowed significantly after Fleck's go ahead on the night goal. Basically, all I could muster was (and I emphasise "these" were Forest).
"These can't win it in 90"
"These don't know how to win from here"
"These are gone"
Repeated, ultimately incorrectly I'll concede, time after time.
And, I'll admit to gallows humour…
"I know, I know, let's have Penalties, but with silly run ups"
How has that late swivelling chance from Iliman not gone in? But, even then, core mood remained - these are the nights.
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