Glorious Fizzling Or Fizzling Gloriously?

Huddersfield Town 1 v Sheffield United 0 

The Championship 

Thursday 4 May 2023 

SUFC 2022/23 Game #70 

Difficult to quite know what to make of that game. It partly felt like the season fizzling out, gloriously. Not glorious on the night mind. More a glorious season, fizzling out.

I was party hosting. Making sure my guests were going to get their drinks at HT & FT was distracting. What's that? Yes, I agree, I did a superb fucking job. 

The main angle of attack was;

Magic Rock Brewing, Town Lager on Keg at 4.2%

The normal lagerers in the group pronounced that - decent. Magic Rock are the official craft beer partner of Huddersfield Town. That's what they have. So, that's what we had. And many of them. Crisp, well balanced, likable.

The first half was crazy. Huddersfield seemed intent on not having the ball and not attacking. In a way, United adapted well. Well, but ineffectively. Egan & Berge were back in. Baldock for Bogle. Dan Jebbison for McBurnie.

United had players popping up out of position all over the place. Baldock fucking loves that anyway. Basham an' all. I lost count of - there's my right back on the left wing. But, missed chances cost us. And, whatever fucking game plan HTAFC had worked its magic in the second half. Still, Town Lager on the whistle!!!!

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Is 150 Alcohol Units Per Week Sustainable?

Sheffield United 1 v Huddersfield Town 0 

The Championship 

Saturday 10 December 2022 

SUFC 2022/23 Game #35 

The Hypochondria

My name is Phil, I'm a Type II Diabetic.

Back on the scales. My BMI has held up "well' during the Gulab Jamun temptations in Pakistan at 24.7. I had an Almond Magnum on Friday. Otherwise, I have had no choccies, biccies, sweeties nor cakes since my last Blog.

For years, I have been recording my alcohol units on an App. It's a bit clunky. You manually put the size in (pint, 440, half, etc), and the abv. And the App keeps a log and fires stats at you. I've got a record for the last five and a quarter years. And, I always record. I never cheat. Because, well because I'd only be cheating myself.

My average over those years is 28.78 units per week. 33.91% of days have been alcohol free.

I'm going to walk you through the chart.

The initial big one day spike demonstrates that if I had kept drinking at that rate, I'd be at around ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY alcohol units per week. Love a challenge me. That was the day we won away at West Brom. I was subsequently kidnapped by my Baggie mates. If both teams remain in the same division next season, that unsustainable level of alcohol will be replicated - for one day only.

I got my latest blood sugar results a day or two after that. And began the latest "recalibration" to see where we are end-January.

The business ends of the chart are;

The Green Line - my self imposed target of 14 units per week.

The Red Line - my units per week averaged over 30 days. That has fallen nicely since that West Brom Wahoo. And is currently TEN.

The Yellow Line - my units per week averaged over 7 days. I got that below 14, and it has only spiked above that once. And is currently EIGHT.

Basically, day spikes below the Green 14 line are single pints. Day spikes above the Green 14 line are two pint days, like today.

The Beer

Following the Pakistan Beer Hunting - and I go back to Cask. In the Rutland Arms.

Abbeydale Brewery, Wishlist, Pale Ale on Cask at 4.2%

Sort of Christmas themed with that name I guess. A nice simple, straw pale. Maybe a bit underpowered in the citrus & hoppy department. But, a lovely easy drinker.

Pentrich Brewing Co (Derbyshire), Manic Parlour Games, Hazy Pale on Cask at 4.3%

One of the guys I was with is the Landlord of a CAMRA Good Beer Guide listed pub. He does not like beers that look like that. At all. Never serves this style in his gaff.

"If I can't see through it, it's not going on"

Hopped with Ekuanot, El Dorado and Mosaic hops. I loved it. Although it was between stools. Some soft pillow. But not enough to be pillowy. Some ooohhh here we go bitterness. But not enough to be bitter.

The Soccer

On balance. I was very, very happy with that. Sure, without the cushion of goals, Hudders were always likely to come at us in parts. And the easy joke was;

"Be one each this"

But, after this unprecedented World Cup break, I just didn't know how it was going to go. Superb ball from Ndiaye to Billy for the goal should keep everyone interested.

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Be Calm AND Decisive

Huddersfield Town 0 v Sheffield United 0 

The Championship 

Saturday 12 February 2022 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #51 

First thing's first. This is what the blog is here for. I'm pushing the beer in the ground KLAXON. It wasn't completely unexpected. I was actually sitting in the Magic Rock Brewing Stand FFS. And, Huddersfield brewers Magic Rock have had a tie in with The Terriers for a long time. There were actually two Magic Rock beers on the uncovered concourse between the fucking overflowing piss drenched latrines and the gangways.

Town Lager (4.2%) was on Keg. But the Carrier Bag Firm hopheads went for;

Magic Rock Brewing, Saucery, Session IPA in a Tin at 3.9%

Not the first time we've had that of course. It's a simple well balanced no-nonsense session IPA. And, man, it was a beer in the ground and so it was welcome.

Maybe Huddersfield has dozens of blinding cask ale and Craft Beer boozers. That doesn't bother me too much, as realistically I can only get in two on an awayday. What I can tell you brethren is it certainly, and I mean certainly, does have at least two. I should know, because I've been in 'em. First up;

The Sportsman

1 St John's Rd, Huddersfield HD1 5AY

Part of the small, but excellent, Beerhouses chain. A lovely 8 on the cask hand pulls. Indeed 9, as the absolutely ridic 10% Imperial Stout wasn't even listed on the chalkboard. Four pukka keg. And Osset Yon as your lager offering. First hurdle, remember you're in West Yorkshire, a pint of froth will be pulled through one of those sparkler affairs. Wait. Wait. Wait. And drink.

The Durham Brewery, Hey! Mandarina, on Cask at 3.9%.

Really excellent. Surprised me a lot. The best way I can describe it is - the peach & apricot coming through off the Hops tasted of the fruit, not the sugar. And, there was waaaay more bitterness than I expected.

Mallinsons (Huddersfield), Centennial, Blonde on Cask at 3.9%

Nice straightforward single hopped banger. Nice bitterness & drying in the mouth finish.

Come on. I mean come on. That was a great advert for The Championship wasn't it? I suspect both teams will be happy enough with the draw, I know I am. I suspect both teams will be thinking they could have won that, I know I am. I'm posting this reasonably confident that no opposition team scouting analyst reads it. Came for the Beer, stayed for the tactical analysis ain't happening. But, that flea-flicker corner routine to someone on the edge of the box is a thing of beauty isn't it? Fleck got a great shot off as well. If only…

I'll also allow myself a go at what I think is wrong with our play & finishing in the box. Our mob seem to be either calm OR decisive. Either a simple toe poke going nowhere. Or, a wild swing going anywhere. Excusing Billy. What we need is calm AND decisive. For eg, that in the six yard box chance for McBurnie, calm AND decisive we win that.

That insightful insight, and many others, discussed during the post match shakedown at;

The Grove Inn

2 Spring Grove St, Huddersfield HD1 4BP

I haven't been in for ages. Surely one of the best Pubs in the country. Always. Always a great range of both Cask & Keg. It took a while. Waterproof coat - off. Gore Tex strides - off. Can't even think about wet shoes. Conjures up too grim an image. That fucking overflowing latrine in the ground. Fuck me. I've had my shoes swabbed for DNA testing. It's come back with the DNA of 1,275 different people on the soles. And, finally time to peruse the boards.

Fourteen. 14. Ten. And then four fucking more. On Cask.

Twenty One. 21. Three short of two fucking dozen. On Keg.

Today's Carrier Bag Firm roster required a plethora of Cask & a preponderance of Keg to satisfy all tastes. This. Was. It.

Dorking Brewery, Surrey XPA on Cask at 3.8%

Northern Monk, Great Northern Ale on Cask at 4.5%

Vocation Brewery, New Musick, Hazy Pale on Keg at 4%

Turning Point Brew Co, Chaos Theory, Oatmeal Pale on Cask at 5%

Mallinsons, American S.I.P.A. on Cask at 4.5% (not pictured)

(May I apologise to readers & reassure them that plans are in place to ensure proper beer notes are captured during after match piss ups. Otherwise this shit just turns into a fucking list of beers.)

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Ambitious Doughnut Bar

Sheffield United 1 v Huddersfield Town 2 

The Championship 

Saturday 21 August 2021 

SUFC 2021/22 Game #5!

Well. My overwhelming impression. Ambitious…

Heist Brew Co, 107 Neepsend Ln, Neepsend, Sheffield S3 8AT

The new Brewery, Doughnut House, Burger Bar & Tap Room from Heist Brewing out in Neepsend. There was one fella who plonked himself on a stool at the bar & started drinking two at a time. Roughly my age. He explained he'd got Untappd Notifications on his phone. If he got New Beer On pings, he'd set off walking from his house on Prince Of Wales Road, walk down and try them. You see. That's the sort of signing you attract if you're ambitious.

There's two cavernous bars. Of which I can only be in one at once. Tables & benches. With a smattering of living room sofas & high backed chairs. Long open bar frontage. And I counted (did I already say ambitious) TWENTY EIGHT pukka Keg Taps on.

Only three of those under 5.7%. FFS. Plenty of Mad 'Uns amongst those an' all.

All told. Them stats ain't lying. This is a great place. Go Visit.

Heist Brew Co, I Got Ripped Off At A Fair, Belgian IPA on Keg at 7 2%.

Honestly. I was hoping for more Belgian Yeast action. But, it was still packed with flavour & didn't taste 7.2%.

Burnt Mill Brewery, Steel-Cut Gluten Free Oat Pale Ale with Summer & Enigma on Keg at 4.5%.

Upfront washing up liquid citrus. Softens out. Minimal bitter hit. Pleasant and moreish.

Full Circle Brew Co, Looper IPA on Keg at 6.4%.

Lovely. A lot of richness. Nice sugar. But also some upfront hop bitterness. Very definitely a sipping beer.

Heist Brew Co, Can't Find A Good Carboot These Days, Rye Beer on Keg at 7.1%.

I was hoping for more red fruit loveliness. But, it was still nice n malty.

HORIZONT Brewing (Hungary) & Heist Brew Co Collab, Darkness Cannot Drive Out Darkness, Imperial Double Milk Stout on Keg at 9%.

Some toasted apple. But, a lot of deep rich malt. Thick & indulgent. But, not particularly milky.

(Sighs) I suppose United probably deserved a draw out of that. But, you'd barely call it a step forward. Some of the threat came from players (Baldock, Basham) thinking, fuck it, I'm going wide here. Wilderball. It was good to see Rhys Norrington-Davies get a real first team run out. Although he got subbed as we chased the game. Looking for the ball. Not afraid to want it when he was marked & under pressure. Driving with the ball occasionally. 

Berge Berge'erd. Didn't drive on as often as we needed. Poor crosses at the end of dribbles. Lethargic tracking back. We need more from him in this league.

Sharp's (slightly miss hit) shot back across the keeper showed how to be a striker. Still looks like we've a long way to go as we enter the panic buy no better than what you've already got phase.

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Chris Porter v Alechemy Smoked Porter

Sheffield United U21 2 v Huddersfield Town 3

Sheffield United Youth 3 v Hartlepool United 1
(FA Youth Cup)

Monday 27 October 2014

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A rare double header today. Usually the only opportunity is U18 at Shirecliffe on a Saturday morning & the 1st team at The Lane in the afts.

Collins & Porter both started for the U21s.  Collins played the full 90. He looked fit & strong. Huddersfield were physically big  strong & fast. They played a lot of long balls & a lot of balls at pace past & behind the defenders.

United's defence (Collins included) struggled with those at times. Although they did get a bit more organised as time went on.

Collins won his share of headers & looked committed & switched on. Porter was subbed, uninjured in the 2nd half. Maybe he'll have some role in the League Cup at MK Dons.  Porter struggled to get in the game & make an impact. A few good touches here & there. A couple of good lay offs. But nothing banging on the door of the first team.

Huddersfield had the better of the first half. United were bright at times. Huddersfield took their chances.

At 3 nil in the 2nd half, they were cruising. But, fair play, United kept going & scored 2 quickly & dragged themselves back in it.

I think Huddersfield deserved the win. But credit to the spirit & staying power of The Blades.

In between games the drink was in Brewdog on Division St. It's CollabFest at present. Each Brewdog bar teams up with a brewery & collaborates on a brew. If you get in quick all 16 (this year) brews are on at once on a when they've gone they've gone basis. It's actually a neat idea. Sighs. Increasingly it's being "Brewdogged". The weirder the beer, the better could be the strapline.

Everything chucked in this year. The Smoked Porter from Brewdog Dundee & Alechemy is smoked using teak from Scott's Antarctic ship RSS Discovery. Now that is beer PROVENANCE.

At least Brewdog Sheffield had the grace/sense to aim for a high quality Double IPA (called Shut Up Meg) at 7%.

Anyway. It's a great idea/festival. I enjoyed it. Across the days I went I've had 7 of the 16. The Porters (in order) were

1. Brewdog Dundee Alechemy Smoked in History
2. Brewdog Shoreditch Five Points Brewing Smoke & Mirrors
3. Chris

Great win in the Youth Cup, which remains a fantastic competition. Having watched many games in it over the years, I do have a foolproof method for winning it. The team with the least number of kids going down with cramp wins it. Get the warm up/diet/hydration right & you're there.

Hartlepool started very well. Hit the woodwork & had some blocked/cleared off the line. But United got stronger & finished the game really well. I know many people look at these games as to who might progress in the future. But I love the games in their own right. 22 (plus) kids pulling on their shirts and in the main giving their all.

But let's pick out Daniel Cockerline. Should have scored really. But created a number of one on one chances with pace & control.

Great win.

Harry Maguire - Shattered Dream

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Sheffield United 0 v Huddersfield Town 1

29 July 2014

A pre-season home game as the will he/won't he Harry Maguire saga drew closer to a conclusion. He's gone to Hull.

I could fill the internet with lists of players who have left Bramall Lane to pursue their dreams. Where are they know .... Jordan Slew.

In Harry's honour I tucked into Siren Craft Brew Shattered Dream in The Rutland Arms.

A pulverising 9.8% Imperial Stout. The smell was very pleasant & not at all overpowering. Quite gentle coffee & vanilla tones. Nothing burnt or even toasted.

Mouth filling & smooth - velvet. It tasted very well balanced. There was a little bitter finish (which I like). Went down very easy for a belting abv.

One of those beers you expect to be extreme - but you come away thinking - oooooh lovely. The coffee & vanilla flavours linger on the tastebuds - & I'll repeat, without overpowering.

Next up. Magic Rock Brewing Craftwerk at 5%. Magic Rock turns up a lot in The Rutland & I love their beers.

Craftwerk was a perfectly nice, but unexceptional US/German Pale. Nice & refreshing, a little bit of citrus. But I found myself waiting for a hop kick.

Next stop. The Lord Nelson (Fannys). I had Fox Brewery Patriot on cask at 4.8%. Loved it. It surprised me. Felt a bit like the best of both worlds. Malty & ruby like an English bitter but with a "not quite pucker up" hop hit finish like an American pale. I'd embarrass myself if I guessed the hops. Maybe they were American maybe Kent. Who knows.