I exit Bramall Lane with seconds remaining. The Blades are head and shoulders above anything Ipswich Town have to offer. They've hassled, harried and tackled all over the pitch. It's only on my walk back to Sheffield railway station that it dawns on me that my train is to Norwich and that it will call at Peterborough and Ely.
It's standing room only on the EMR 17.40 to Nottingham and yes, it's full of whinging, bleating Tractor Boys (what about the girls?) fans. The manager has lost the plot according to them. They have too many round pegs in square holes, with injuries to key players too. It's a relief to alight in Nottingham 50 minutes later.
Ms Moon and I breakfast up at the Old Flower Shop on Mapperley Top, late on Sunday morning. They do a decent fry up that will hopefully set me up for the day. I'm going to need it, as I'm out in the afternoon and into early evening. Tony Mac and I have made a late call to attend Beat the Streets, a music festival that brings Nottingham music fans together to raise funds for the homeless. Over £500,000 has been raised in the last seven years.
I collect my wristband just shy of 2 pm at East Midlands premium music venue, Rock City. We stand with Casually Dan, his wife Katy and Daz, a Notts County and Carlton Town fan, who also sings in an Oasis tribute band. There's a great underground scene in Nottingham right now. The band who impresses me the most are called The Rossettis, who play at Rock City Beta. They remind me of early Babyshambles.
Bloodworm play the main stage at Rock City. They've really pushed on since I first saw them a couple of years ago. Chris Hawkins has been plugging their new single on his early breakfast show on 6Music and they have also been supporting Suede on their recent tour. The final band we watch are high energy rock outfit Marvin's Revenge, who play a superb set to a large and appreciative crowd. They list Sonic Youth and early Pixies as some of their early influences. Ms Moon is watching Celebrity SAS when I arrive back at HQ. I ask if that big baby Graeme Swann has left the building yet. She says he has. He has form for clocking off early.
I've been invited down to Meadow Lane by a former MSR Newagents delivery driver called Barry, who I get along well with. I meet him outside the Meadow Lane Sports Bar where he has just had a pint and some tea. Barry's an interesting character who has a fantastic CV. He's been a pub landlord at three different hostelries in inner city Nottingham, as well as running a chip shop on Haydn Road. He was also a lorry driver for many years.
The game tonight has the makings of a classic. Notts have picked up six points from their last two fixtures, whilst the Robins have lost their last three games including an FA Cup defeat to in-form Salford. Swindon are excellent for the first 20 minutes. They fashion a chance when a header flashes wide of the County post after a cross is whipped in from the left.
The Pies begin to get on top. Jodi Jones is skinning his full back alive. He sees a shot thunder off the underside of the bar and onto the opposite post. It's hit with such venom that it forces the net to shake. Jatta has a header acrobatically saved by the 'keeper. Swindon take the lead against the run of play in sensational style, with a vicious volley from the edge of the box by Ollie Clarke finding the back of the net. County respond immediately through Jatta.
Matthew Dennis wins the game for Notts after only being on the pitch for 15 seconds. But it takes a brilliant save from James Belshaw to thwart a Swindon attacker in the dying embers of the game, to ensure victory. Ian Hollway gives a great post match interview where he compliments both the Club and Pies fans. He is generous in defeat, but they were well beaten in the second half.
I bought a £10 return train ticket to Birmingham at Christmas in the Rail Sale. There's nothing much doing on Thursday so that's the day to visit Brum. I swing by my Italian cafe for a coffee and a bacon roll. It's full of Ferencvaros fans who are here for the Europa League fixture at The City Ground this evening.
Once I reach New Street I jump on a train to Kidderminster. Time isn't on my side as it's an advanced ticket that has to be used by 4pm, so I'm pretty annoyed that my West Midlands train has a fault on it. I alight at Cradley Heath and walk up a steep incline towards Brierley Hill.
Victoria Cross recipient, Anthony Clarke Booth, is laid to rest in the local churchyard. His VC was awarded during the Zulu War. He was born in Carrington, in Nottingham, where one of my favourite haunts, The Gladstone is located.
The purpose of the visit is to tick off my 310th two star or three star CAMRA Heritage pub. After a long slog up the hill I come across the Vine Inn, a Batham's brewery tap. I squeeze into a traditional front bar room that has an air of vibrancy and order up a pint of mild.
There is a staggering choice of rolls, cobs and pies to choose from, but I'm still full from breakfast. A pub regular sporting a The Stranglers baseball cap, boasts that he's seen the band 17 times in the last 12 months. I have a shufty about the place. There are plenty of other rooms for folk to sit in.There's time for a quick pint up the road at The Bell Inn before returning to New Street. I have a swift craft ale at Cherry Reds, an independent cafe bar, a stone's throw away from the station
I promised Ms Moon a football free weekend, as we didn't have much of a Christmas, due to the good lady being laid up with a slipped disc, which left her in severe pain and a lot of distress. We do pop down Carlton Town Football Club on Friday evening to support Casually Dan and Unders in their community coming together called 'The Shed End Presents', which includes a live band and folk playing their favourite vinyl. I sup a couple of pints of Liquid Light's delicious Starburster as we watch the excellent Alex and The Christopher Hale Band. We both don't recognise some of the vinyl people are spinning, but that's what it's all about, introducing new music and old bands to one and all.
On Saturday morning I enviously look on social media at Millers fans on their travels to watch Carlton play away at Wellingborough Town's Dog and Duck ground. Ms Moon and I jump on the 27 bus into town. We enjoy lunch at Delilah's, an indie deli on Victoria Street. Sue enjoys wild garlic mushrooms on toasted sour dough bread with a fried egg sat on the top.
Due to Hamnet having received 8 Oscar nominations, it has returned to the screens at Broadway Cinema. When I booked tickets there was a spare seat next to me. Thirty seconds before screening a bearded man with wild hair inches his way down the row, annoying cinemagoers. He has two backpacks that would see him to the summit of Mount Everest and back down again, In one of his plastic shopping bags is the board game Buckaroo. I remark to Ms Moon that he better not set it up as it will make one hell of a racket. He noisily gnaws his way through a packet of pumpkin seeds, instead, much to my chagrin.
The film has a two hour running time and is excellent. We're both a wee bit confused with the ending, but hey, it's Shakespeare innit. Irish actress, Jessie Buckley, will definitely be in the running for best actress. Ms Moon can't 'arf pick 'em.
Attendance: 8,931
Player of the Match: Ollie Norburn
Best Song Heard on the Radio: Bloodlust, by Bloodworm (Bauhaus/Cure esque)
Real Ale of the Week: Two by Two, New England Pale, from Newcastle
