That Was Then, But This Is Now

Gillingham 0 v Sheffield United 4 

FA Cup 3rd Round 

Saturday 6 January 2024 

SUFC 2023/23 Game #36

Manchester City 2 v Sheffield United 0 

Premier League 

Saturday 30 December 2023 

SUFC 2023/24 Game #35 

Here. You can have this one. I've been working on it all week.

The Past is better than The Present.

Past & Present Gillingham

15 Canterbury St, Gillingham ME7 5TP

Is the Carrier Bag Firm MicroPub of choice in Gillingham. We recall it as a higgledy piggledy sort of place. With red n white decor. And no bar front in the trad sense. Beers, many, chalked up. Members of staff patrolling and taking your orders and disappearing off camera to get them “from somewhere”.

But, that's the Past. Because they've now moved lock, stock and cask to a new, but nearby location. Still the same road I believe. Taking over what was another small (described to me as Gin) Bar. Gone blue n white decor. Same people running it. You can just shout up your orders as per the Past if you want. But, there is a bar you can now walk up to. 

Ales still dispensed on Gravity in a sidecellar. And chalked up as you come through the door. But, somewhat uninspiring I felt. Charrington IPA from that Heritage lot. Vocation & Friends which I can get on Division Street. One pukka local brewery. But that was a Christmas themed beer. Sixth of fucking January this. Still. You can only drink them one at a time. And, there was some churn as casks kicked.

I'm not normally a Grass. But, the Editor of Dem Blades and The Pinch joined us in the Past & Present. Got caught out because it's cash only (the Past). And he'd only got Cards (the Present). So I had to sub him. He's adding it on to the advance for the Carrier Bag Firm book deal.

This is the Present. (Boooooom)

Kent Brewery, Starry Night, English Bitter on Cask at 4.2%

A straight down the line Bitter. Made ever so Christmassy by the addition of cinnamon. Lazy, but Jingle fucking Bells.

Heritage Brewing Co (Burton on Trent), Charrington IPA on Cask at 4.5%

You know the narrative. Brewed to an original recipe. Using the original yeast strain. And. Fair play. Very nice beer in the trad English IPA style. Deffo a Greene King buster. Hops come in floral.

Vocation & Friends with Adnams, Coffee Stout on Cask at 5%

Nice beer. Tasted great first up. Not too sweet. Coffee is deffo there. But nice n subtle. Against a malty back. Lovely.

Wantsum Brewery (Kent), Imperium, Bitter on Cask at 4%

Named after King Ethelbert's true rule over the sub kingdoms of Kent. Everyday is a school day.

All supped ahead of a traditional FA Cup tie. The Gills gave it a bit of a go. In a get it up top way. But, really, couldn't get anything going. Osula staking a claim for Rebound King. And some McAtee Magic. Sealing the fourth round up for The Blades.

You can find ALL my previous Blogs at

www.ball-sup.blogspot.com

Would you please consider subscribing (free) to have my Blog delivered to your email inbox (via Substack). Thank you.

You can find me on Social Media

X @ball_sup 

Untappd ball_sup 

Stats 

I have now Blogged from 1,361 games in 3,427 days 

Tighten up

Sheffield United U18 3 v Hull City U18 1

U18 Professional Development League (North)

Sheffield United 2 v Gillingham 2

League 1

Saturday 21 January 2017

Twitter @ball_sup

Here is what I noticed. Duffy was brilliant in the build up to the first. Their defender goes for a header. Duffy is switched on. Anticipates where it will go. Snaffles it. Moves it. A goal on the end. Done is not tight enough on their men as they sweep on our left & score. When the ball is given to & by Coutts, Duffy & Fleck in the final third, it's all too static. No one can run in & get a shot off. Freeman will get maybe 10 balls at chest height on the corner of their box on our right. Don't get me wrong, he's good. But, he needs to work constantly on his first touch in those situations. And, have a basic plan. Shoot. Cross. Square it.

I've heard Wilder's comments in the interview. I didn't think it was as bad as he made out. Maths again. If you concede too many & don't score as many as you should, you're in trouble. So, I'm with him on that.

What a time to be alive. Arbor Ales tap takeover at The Broadfield. Six six. Six on cask. Six on keg. Sal-fucking-lute.

Arbor, Shangri-La, Session IPA on cask at 4.2%. Mid way between gold & tan in the glass. Tight, white lingering head. Bitter orange & honey aroma. Deep. Rich. All of which survives into the taste. Which goes into a long bitter finish. The bitterness plays around the gob area, zinging orange again when it fancies. Catch my drift - the sweetness is there, but you can't taste it. How do they do that? Superb beer.

Arbor, Hoploader, Session Pale Ale on cask at 4%. Looks the part. Leaning towards loafer tan in the glass. Spicier on the nose, cinnamon, nutmeg. Hops & bitter upfront. But, not overpowering. Settles down into a bit of pineapple sweetness. But, the further you get down it, the more it's all about the gentle, all conquering bitterness.

Also, a mini tap takeover at Brewdog. Four kegs on from Jolly Pumpkin in Michigan. I went Calablaza Blanca on keg at 4.8%. Billed as Weizen. A bit too sour for my tastes. The very first mouthful was glorious upfront banana. But, after that, just too sour. Hints of spice & citrus - you know, behind the sour.

434/893
57

Same script New ending

Gillingham 1 v Sheffield United 2

Sunday 4 September 2016

League 1

Twitter @ball_sup

Full on Kent Micropub day. One old favourite (ie been there once before). One researched on the interweb thingy. One stumbled upon, didn't even know it was there.

Past & Present. In Gillingham. I was in there last year. The advertised opening at Noon didn't work too well for our train times. Simple procedure. Get there when you can. Hope. Try the door. Bang. We're in at 1125. The only customers. They'd opened early because it's a match day & they'd had a lot of Diaspora Blades in last year.

Great people. They let me in the cool room. Answered lots of questions about the business model. Were happy to talk about their competitors. They're very well organised. Three cask on. (No bar, Gravity in the cool room). Their replacements racked & ready. Even the chalkboard is ready. One description whipped off the hooks. The next beer already chalked up underneath. Seamless.

Robinsons, Hop Gun at 4%
Hopdaemon, Green Daemon at 5%
Sonnet 43, Yellow Cab at 4.1%. (Cask Lager that one)

Then, after the game. The Flipping Frog (just) in Rochester. We walked there from Chatham station. I've got it as equidistant from Chatham & Rochester.

Not to my taste. A good beer offering. Gravity casks behind the small bar front. Maybe five. Seems to be run by a French couple.Sells food. You know, full on meals, not Pies n Sarnies. OK, I'm homo sapien. I have to eat. But, not in a Micropub. As we were sat there, tables were being rearranged so the jam session could start. Sorry, in a Micropub. Not to my taste.

Mad Cat Brewery, Platinum Blonde at 4.2%

Partly, more of the same at The Northern Seaman. On the same street as The Flipping Frog “back towards Chatham”. This was the one we stumbled across. Nice physical set up. Bright & breezy inside. But. Look away now. A geezer dressed as a Pirate playing a guitar & murdering covers. Followed by another one in Civvies. He's done his own interpretation of Wonderwall. No, really.

Maybe six chalked up. They go out the back to get 'em. Presumably Gravity. I'd had my fill of Identikit Blonde Beers by this stage.

Bexley, Black Prince Porter at 4.6%

And. The Blades got it over the line. Old script. New ending. Defensive frailties. Surrendering possession. Quite a lot of the ball. But, can't get much going up front. But, kept at it. More lively towards the end once Clarke got on.

367/775
22

Kent Micropubs

Gillingham 4 (four) v Sheffield United 0

Saturday 8 August 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Today was a Micropub day. As if it wasn’t difficult enough to get a workable definition for Craft Beer, we now need one for Micropub. By common consent, attributed to Martin Hillier & his pub The Butchers Arms in Herne, Kent (opened in 2005). So, Kent the home of the Micropub, here were are on an opening day trip to Gillingham.

Small gaffs, in refurbed non-pub premises, no TV/fruit machine/pool table/food fripperies. The two places we visited today didn’t even have bars. In the sense of no bar frontage. The casks were “in the back”. Not even handpulls, dispensed via gravity.

First up, the very offbeat 10:50 From Victoria in Strood/Rochester. A railway arch. There is a little gate at the side of a beauty parlour. A few other railway arch businesses up there. Higgeldy piggeldy garden with tables and chairs. Broadly railway themed in there. In the sense of “some signs”. I wasn’t paying too much attention. I think there were six on. Chalked up on a neat board affair which allowed a small glass of the beer to be placed alongside so you could at least see the colour. One of the guys asks you what you want, he disappears stage right, comes back with it. Some right comings and goings. A local “character” (dungarees & straw hat) appeared to sell a moped which he had brought with him & then buy a boat on his mobile. (He had to make the call in the garden, phones not allowed in the arch).

Next up Past And Present in Gillingham. Your guess is as good as mine. I’m going converted from a shop. A little bit of an outdoor area up the back. Beers chalked up on a board, with accompanying pumpclip. Wasn’t paying attention. Maybe five on.  Anyone in a Past And Present logoed polo shirt can be asked for a beer. The barstaff are walking amongst us. Or, ring the handbell on each table. Ding ding. Fella disappears into an side area, brings your beer back. Superbly welcoming place. I found the 10:50 a little standoffish. But, really they were just being polite & courteous & quiet.

I’d certainly hit both again. Really enjoyed Past And Present.

I did;

Hanlon, Yellow Hammer at 4.2%
Millis, Golden Wobbler at 4.1%
Wantsum, Hengist at 5%

All lovely. But, of course, much more difficult to keep your tasting notes up-to-date in a micropub. You can’t disappear into a corner.

Can you hear me in Riyadh?

We’ve been bombarded with the usual positive feel good nonsense. even stooping so low as new chairs in the dug outs. Meanwhile, other teams have been working out how to defend corners. Great work by the Football League. Gillingham first up. The players have to come off the pitch right in the corner at the Away End. Fingers will be pointed. Gesticulations will be waved. Spittle will fly. I clapped, some boooed.

Reality bites. What were they even trying to do? Possession? Move it fast? Pump it in? Narrow? Wide? We’ll never know. They just never got going at all. I take no pleasure in that result. But, top to bottom, wake up call will help.

And what is down for us now? Panic buys, no better than what we’ve got? Youngsters pushed ever further down the pecking order?

Am I lucky or cursed? Don’t matter to me, I’ll be back next week. Day not ruined, some good beer.

Can you hear me in Riyadh?

185/382

Season Starts .... ?Next Week?

Gillingham 2 v Sheffield United 0

Saturday 7 February 2015

Twitter @ball_sup

Must ..... stay ..... positive.

Difficult to take anything from that day. I always used to cope in Gillingham back in the day. When it was all about the quantity of alcohol. You could fall off the train & into The Southern Belle & crack on. But in the Real Ale search, I struggle.

I know some of those Medway Towns are all rammed up against each other. But, strictly speaking, there isn't even a 'Spoons in Gillingham. I stuck my head in The Britannia on the High St. Usually an OK pint of London Pride in there. The TV choice was Jeremy Kyle. Serious question. Is that really going to pull the punters in?

We plotted up in The Will Adams (73 Saxton Street). There were 3 beers on when we arrived. The fourth pump came on while we were there. And one changed - so we could have had 5 to go at.

The barman (? Landlord) suggested the Mauldons Lemon Adder might not be at its best AFTER he poured it. It went off pretty sharpish after we'd had it. I also had St Austell Tribute & Adnams American Style IPA. Both were good. On balance, I warmed towards the Adnams as Beer of the Day.

Just about survived. Open message to Gillingham - Guys, in general, whack a lick of paint on & run the hoover around once in a while, you're fraying around the edges.

Out of two cups, and the January window closing, all in a week. Top two opening a gap. Third & fourth opening a gap. Bundles of teams eyeing the last 2 Play Off spots. We're in that mix. In the week, I was allowing myself to drift into "our season starts here" mode.

Mug.

Nothing going on. No pace. No invention. No composure. Long way from here.

I've calmed myself down by doing the sums. Still 20 games to go. Still 60 points out there. But, a sign we're heading in the right direction would help.

83/200

SUFC International Bar

Sheffield United 2 v Gillingham 1

Saturday 27 September

Twitter @ball_sup

Crikey what a game.  Lots of instinctive saves from The Gills keeper. Few off the line. At least one off the woodwork. Great strike to put Gillingham ahead. Then an 87th minute equaliser for United. Then, 10 minutes later, the winner. Yep. Read that again. A 97th minute winner.

The new International Bar was launched today at Beautiful DownTown Bramall Lane.  I approached that with some trepidation. Firstly, I’d been in the best Supporters Club Bar in football at Orient in the week. That is clearly a free-of-tie place which can source the beer from where they want. Secondly, Sheffield United are tied to Greene King.  In classic football will eat itself style - Greene King are our Pouring Partners.

Essentially, the new bar is a big refurb of part of the old John Street Stand executive area.  A good few years ago, I used to be a Season Ticket member up there in the John Street Executive.  The physical side of it, the rooms, the seats, the view, etc were OK.  It was practical & functional if a little fraying at the edges.  But, the catering & bar side of it was becoming a joke.  That was one of the main reasons I ditched my membership. 

No cask beer. Fizzy everything. Casual staff who had no idea about working a bar.  I was once called up by the catering company asking for feedback.  I gave them all 3 barrels.  Fair play to them. They arranged for bottles of London Pride & Deuchars to be made available in the bar.  I promised that over a season me & my mates would pile into them all.

That lasted about 2 games. I turned up. No bottles. I was told no one was buying them, so they’d been taken off.  From memory, the keg was Worthington CreamFlow at the time. It is my go to story of the only “actually couldn’t drink it” beer I’ve ever had.

Anyway here we go. Relaunch refurb. STILL NO cask ale. Greene King IPA on keg & some usual suspects. They've got 3 Greene King "craft" bottles. East Coast IPA at 4%. Yardbird Pale Ale at 4%. Noble Lager at 5%.

To be honest, that was a bit better than I expected. As an opening day promo I was given a bottle of East Coast IPA free. Cheers. But, under cross examination, those are not currently for sale. Adam, one of the management team, said it'd depend on price & demand. That is fair enough.

I'll have to see how that maps out. Nothing for me here without those bottles.

Look, I understand the dynamics. An awful lot of custom in a very short space of time (few hours before kick-off, half-time & a few beers at full-time). Infrequently, with games every fortnight.  It is not the ideal situation for keeping & serving cask ale.  But, you can sell  bottles. And keg beer doesn’t have to be just John Smiths & Fosters & ilk.

And, other football clubs manage a good turnover of Guest Cask (see Orient). And ALL the reports suggest that it is Cask Ale sales which lead increasing revenues. (See Cask Report by Pete Brown).

The physical side of the bar is good. Through the glass view of the pitch. TV screens showing sport. Clean & practical furniture. Bright & open. It's a good use of space & is family friendly. I hope (and I'm sure) it'll do well.

Lots of people drink industrial keg bitter & lager. Good luck to them.  I'll check another day whether the "craft" bottles remain on sale.