I alight the tram at the Noel Street stop, in Hyson Green, inner city Nottingham. I take a short cut through Asda car park and cross over the tram tracks on Radford Road before turning into Selhurst Street. I pay the full price on the turnstile. I could get in as a concession but why would you want to rob a club of a few quid when they give you so much pleasure on and off the pitch.
I can see him sitting at a table with his Radford FC coat on and wearing his trademark baseball cap. The last six occasions I've watched his team play they have fallen to defeat. I'm usually chased out of the ground and told not to come back. I take a deep breath as I open the clubhouse door. "OUT! OUT! get him OUT" shouts Big Glenn.
I get abuse for the next ten minutes as I catch up on all the United Counties League gossip. I had the choice of two games this evening, but was never going to miss this local derby between Radford and Gedling MW. I take my usual position as a bald-headed, spectacled gentleman pays in on the gate.
I stand with Faggsy and watch a superbly contested 90 minutes of football. Kieran Harrison puts the visitors 2-0 up at the break. I don't dare make eye contact with Glenn as he walks past me at half-time. It's a valiant effort by Radford after the break. The Miners commit footballing suicide. A defender is sin-binned and later sent off. They hang onto the three points by the skin of their teeth. Radford give their all but are down on their luck. Faggsy and I don't hang about as I don't want to feel the wrath of Glenn's tongue. We see the night out with a couple of pints of real ale at The Barrel Drop on Hurts Yard.
Sleep is for wimps. I'm up and at 'em early doors on Wednesday as I'm away from 'media duties' for the next four days. Ms Moon is due to be working down south east England. I take full advantage by booking a two day trip up to North Yorkshire, where my brother lives.
Actually, the first port of call is Leeds, in West Yorkshire. I meet my brother, Mark, by the ticket barrier. We re-enter the station and jump on a train to Kirkstall Bridge. I've a few good beer guide pubs to tick off in the area. The bad weather forecast by that buffoon, Alex Beresford, on ITV News, fails to materialise.
We enjoy a cracking day out walking down the Leeds/Liverpool canal. The Kirstall Brewery Tap, close to the Emmerdale Farm studios is a beauty. We finish up at the Highland Laddie where Yorkshire TV cameras rock up as the pub has recently won a best food award. I'd have had the oysters if my brother was buying .. lol.
There's no sleep for the wicked on Thursday morning. Our Kid and I are parked up in Bridlington town centre by 10.30 a.m. We jump in a taxi and head up to Flamborough Head. It's a walk we've both talked about for a while now. Blue skies, with little or no breeze, give us the perfect conditions. It's a thoroughly enjoyable 10 mile trek across the cliff tops, passing through a couple of links golf courses. Fish and chips are our reward at the end of the hike. They are washed down with a few drinks in some historical watering holes in Bridlington old town.
I take the opportunity to call in at Barnsley on my return journey home. The town was impressive on my last visit. It's certainly been spruced up since all the pit closures back in the 1990s. The George and Dragon has been a mainstay in the beer guide. I also manage a quick scoop at Spiral City where Dark Entries by Bauhaus is on the dukey - well it is Halloween after all.
The Carlton Town WhatsApp fans group is one shy of 100 people. I can actually remember crowds of 80 at Stoke Lane when I first started watching football down there. There are a lot of like-minded, good folk who have become good friends of mine. Two of the lads, Dan and Chris, have come up with the idea of a Vinyl Night. Exhausted, as I am, I have to make the effort to support the event. I handover a few records to Dan as a gift for his voluntary service from behind the decks over the last few years that have broadened my musical horizons. One of the albums is New Order's debut from 1981 called Movement.
It's a wonderful evening of music. I also catch up with a few folk I've not seen in a while. 'Grip', Nige, Ian and Reuben are on fine form, as are local legends Pretty Windows, who play a brilliant live set. Thanks for organising everything, Dan, Chris, Kelly MC Murph and Nick. Can't wait for the next one.
My trip to Salford to watch Lincoln City in the FA Cup has fallen through. Can't say I'm too disappointed as I've spent half the week on a train. Maybe I can catch the Imps at Rotherham United's New York Stadium next Saturday. Another mouth-watering fixture caught my eye a few weeks ago. Not only that, but my youngest son is pencilled in to play despite only landing from Thailand yesterday morning after a six day work beano.
Forest are playing Man United at 3 pm so I need to be south of the river before the traffic clogs up West Bridgford. I arrive in town in plenty of time for my bus to Cotgrave. Add Trent Barton (they have previous form with the Keyworth Connection) to the incompetent companies list which includes: East Midlands Trains, XCountry Trains and Tesco Carlton. There's no bus for 45 minutes. Fair play to the driver when the bus finally turns up, as he drives like Keanu Reeves in the film Speed, enabling me to get to the ground a few minutes before kick off.
It's a bugger to get in the ground. There are more gates locked than nearby HMP Whatton. I'm pointed in the direction of the Welfare where you can now gain access. I'm relieved of £3 at the gate for what is Step 7 football - I honestly don't mind, but when did this suddenly creep in? And yes .. concessions were no charge. I fully understand how much the Notts FA charges for officials and that funds need to be raised to cover costs.
If you didn't know that Cotgrave are top of the NSL League, then you must have been living under a rock. They have the noisiest twitter account in local football and are looking to be accepted for promotion to Step 6. Keyworth United is a club that I was involved with in a coaching capacity for over 20 years.
It honestly could be 2-2 after 7 minutes as a strong cross wind causes havoc for both defences. Felix Hogg puts the Miners one up having risen unchallenged to head home. Keyworth hang in there and gain momentum. The impressive Callum Wolloch equalises. The hosts are stunned when a breathtaking move sees Stan Logan fire home. An own goal is the final nail in the coffin at the fag end of the first half. Cotgrave's players aren't chirping now as they leave the field of play. I'm stood with the Stolworthys and Sizzers who are beaming from ear to ear.
Keyworth, to a man, are magnificent in the second half. Connor Gillan is dominant in the air and tenacious in the tackle, as he bosses the midfield. Cotgrave's foot soldiers look leggy. The Green Army's character is tested when arrears are reduced from the penalty spot. Their ace in the pack, 'Rocky' is unleashed from the bench. He thumps home the winning goal in an instant. I check the Cotgrave socials to see what's gwarning. Absolutely nothing folks, since they went 1-0 up in the 26th minute. They only sing when they're winning!
Attendance: 179 (head count)
Man of the Match: Connor Gillan
Best Song I've Heard on the Radio This Week: The Strokes, Juicebox
Best Real Ale Supped This Week: Fresh Hops cascade, Tigertops Brewery, from Wakefield
