It's Tuesday evening and the golden rays of sunshine dip beneath a formation of fluffy white clouds, as daylight begins to fade. Spring has finally shown its hand. I had the choice of two local games, being played out just a few miles apart. It's the relegation dogfight derby between Gedling Miners Welfare and Radford FC that tickles my fancy.
I walk off another teatime (sausage and mash ole ole) spent at Castle Rock's Bread and Bitter on Mapperley Top. Both teams are on a wretched run of form, although a chink of light emerged for Gedling on Saturday, after taking three points against Sleaford Town, who were down to ten men after just seven minutes.
I catch Big Glenn (HOF) writing out the Radford teamsheet as I enter the clubhouse. As reported in last week's Radford Journal, the Big Man is to be presented with an award at their next home game for having the neatest handwriting in the United Counties League. I ask permission to take a photo of the Radford Scribe. He tells me to 'eff off.'
There's no Faggsy tonight, as he's up in Accrington with Crazy Steve watching the Magpies, before heading up to the Lake District to walk a few Wainwrights. These are popular fells or hills (214 in total) that are there to be bagged by walkers, and are named after Alfred Wainwright, a 1950s walker and author. They'll be potting a few Wainwright beers after a long day in the hills too.
The visitors have drafted in the big guns. Seaton keeps the Miners' defence on their toes whilst Saikou Brown, in the heart of defence, snuffs out any goal threat from the home attack. Radford are worth their two goal victory. I'd be gutted if either club were to be relegated from the United Counties League as I love them both to bits. It's going to be nip and tuck though folks.
Thursday is spent in the garden where some much needed tender loving care is required. The grass needs scarifying, feeding and weeding, but because clay-based soil holds the water, it's still way too wet for that. Add creosoting the fences, painting the concrete posts and jet-washing the patio to a list of tasks to do. I pop down to Junkyard and the Partizan Tavern for a couple of sherbets before rustling up some supper.
I bought, in December, Ms Moon and her daughter Becky a voucher for a three course meal and bubbles at The Ivy. Becky's Christmas gift for her mum was afternoon tea and a trip to the 'Emmerdale Farm' set, just outside Leeds. I've tried to explain to Ms Moon that 'The Farm' is not real and just a soap opera, but she's not having any of it. Tomorrow (Friday) they are both off Oop North for the weekend.
Obviously I took advantage as soon as I was made aware of their travels to West Yorkshire. I pen-in a potential visit to eight CAMRA two star and three star pubs in South London. I'm booked in for the night at the Canning Town Premier Inn, in Silvertown, as it's as cheap as chips, due to the noisy trains that run late into the night on overhead lines, the Docklands Light Railway and on the Underground.
I eat a hearty breakfast in the Lace Market before catching an EMR slow coach to St Pancras, just shy of 10 o'clock. The plan was to catch a train to Herne Hill and start the day out there. Thameslink put the kibosh on that with an announcement that the line is closed due to an 'incident' at Elephant and Castle.
I jump on a tube and hop off at Clapham North. The first pub of the day is Feeleys, a traditional boozer that has pretty much stayed intact since a rebuild in 1936. I'm cheesed off with trains and it's a beautiful sunny day, so I decide to walk through Brixton and onto the leafy suburb of Herne Hill, whose notable residents include: Olivia Colman, Michael Crawford and James Nesbitt.
The walk continues to East Dulwich and Dulwich Village. I wander through open spaces and parkland where children play and dogs chase one another whilst barking and rolling in the grass. I catch a train on the Windrush Line. The line was renamed in 2024 in honour of the Windrush generation of immigrants who arrived in London from the Caribbean. I have my final drink of the day, in the early evening, at Prince George, in Dalston. I don't like wandering around 'The Smoke' on my 'Jack Jones' much after darkness descends.
I flick around with the remote control as I rest my weary body in a 'Purple Palace' double bed. I've racked up 12 miles, 27,000 steps and climbed 18 floors. I chance upon a 2022 documentary where the interviewer Louis Theroux meets the rapper Stormzy. It's a fascinating piece of television. What a guy Stormzy is, giving back to his community and never forgetting his roots nor his family struggles in early life.
It's like waiting for a bus when writing about rappers. Today I'm off to a National League South game between Dagenham and Redbridge and Torquay United. The Daggers' co-owner is KSI. I've heard of KPIs as questions were raised about mine in various job roles. But I have never heard of the rapper KSI, who apparently is a judge on the TV show Britain's Got Talent. Adding fuel to the fire is the recent appointment of Andy Carroll as interim manager.
I jump off the Jubilee Line at West Ham and catch a District Line tube to Dagenham Heathway. Of course there's a couple of Heritage Pub tick offs to be had, and both watering holes open early doors. I'm met with a sea of St George flags. The bunting has been put out early, hasn't it? Over double the amount of votes cast at the EU referendum, in the constituency of Barking and Dagenham, chose to 'Leave' rather than 'Remain.' Labour easily held their slender majority, from 2019, at the last General Election.
It's not a particularly friendly welcome at the Admiral Vernon, an estate pub. I phoned them up to see if they were open, as there was no sign of life, with both front doors firmly shut. 'Den and Angie Watts' were quite affronted by this. I down my Guinness and make for the door before any other offence is taken.
The natives are far more welcoming at The Eastbrook, a five minute walk away from the football ground. It has a large main room with impressive oak wood panelling. I nurse a pint of Guinness as Ipswich v Millwall plays out on the pub TV set.
The Daggers ticket app is a tad clunky but I fluke purchasing a ticket on it. It was a good job I did as the card machine is playing up on the turnstile as my digital ticket is scanned an hour before kick off. I exchange pleasantries with a friendly steward. He's been on more cruises than Judith Chalmers. The DJ set is worth a mention. Pick of the selections are: 'Feet Don't Fail Me Now', by Joy Crookes and 'Fit But You Know It', by The Streets.
Neil Warnock upped sticks a few days following a short stint as caretaker. The owners have their new man in place today. You would have thought that the players might have put on a show for him, but it's the Daggers who have all the ideas and energy. It does look like a 0-0 though folks. The pony-tailed Daggers forward, Stan Leech, heads a cross over the bar. It's met with chants from the 400 Gulls fans from behind the goal of "You're just a shit Andy Carroll."
It takes a goal, direct from a corner by George Marsh, to break the deadlock. The Gulls offer very little. I slip away with a few minutes remaining as it's nearly an hour of travel back to St Pancras.
Attendance: 2,023 (376 away)
Player of the Match: Christian MaghomaBest Song Heard on the Radio This Week: All Bad Parts, by Lime Garden
Real Ale of the Week: Ocean Drop, Neptune Brewery, in Liverpool
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