Barnsley 2-2 Reading

A church is striking nine bells on Sunday morning as I exit MSR Newsagents on Front Street, in Arnold, after a four hour shift. I jump on the number 58, green Nottingham City Transport bus, that travels through Daybrook, up and over Sherwood, before heading up Mansfield Road into the city centre.

Street cleaners sweep up the roads and pavements; collecting up litter after another heavy night for revellers in our fair city. There's not many folk knocking about as I head across Market Square and drop down into hipster Hockley - Nottingham's Creative Quarter. It's my second outing at Bear, a coffee house and eatery. It's criminal that it only scores an average of 3.6 on Google reviews. Service is speedy and the snap (full English) is spot on.

It's day three of the County Championship fixture between Notts and Essex, with the game finely balanced. The weather is bracing. A stiff breeze chases me down Carrington Street and up through the inner city Meadows area of Nottingham, where a plethora of professional footballers have been discovered.

I sit in the Lower Radcliffe Road end of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground with Faggsy and Neil. I've seriously under clubbed on the clothing front, opting for a fleece instead of a Superdry snug-as-a-bug jacket. Two hours of play is enough for me. I peg it back into town during the lunch break, stopping briefly at the Brew Tavern micropub that's adjacent to Nottingham railway station. I sink a half pint of craft ale from the wonderful Gravity Well Brewery, who are based in London. I spend the rest of the afternoon knocking up another blog whilst catching up on some archive Radcliffe and Maconie shows on the 6Music website.

It's Tuesday evening and the same drill of late, as the Mighty Millers catch up on a backlog of matches that are mounting up for many Northern Premier League teams, after a wet and soggy season. I meet up with Faggsy outside the Nags Head at the bottom of Carlton Hill. We make the half an hour walk to Stadio El Stokio which is closer to the village of Stoke Bardolph than it is to Carlton.

Hebburn (remember the TV show?) from the north east, have made the 300 mile round midweek trip - they've brought a few supporters with them too. There are a few round pegs going into square holes for Carlton. They miss the bite and tenacity of Khyle Sargent in midfield. He fills in for Dean Freeman at centre half, who is feeling a tight hamstring. The Millers also play without what you'd call an out and out striker.

32 year old former Notts County midfielder, Liam Noble, is pulling all the strings. He was more well known at Meadow Lane for the red mist descending and gobbing off on twitter, than for any football prowess. The League's leading goalscorer Amar Purewal scores his 23rd goal of the season to give the visitors the lead.

DJ 'Casually Dan' has put together another fantastic set. We've already heard 'Start' by The Jam and 'Nothing Lasts Forever' by legendary Liverpool band Echo and the Bunnymen. The best, however, is left until the half time break. Dan plays 'Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others.' I love the fade in and fade out at the start of the tune. It's a jolly song with Marr's jangling guitar and Morrissey's outlandish lyrics. 

Cheered up by The Smiths - how many can say that? I return to my spot on the far side of the ground, opposite the clubhouse. Motivated by Morrissey the Millers restore parity through an own goal after a wicked corner is whipped in. The visitors push on to deservedly win the game 3-1. You can't question Carlton's heart or spirit though. It's there in abundance.

Wednesday is the beginning of four days off for me, and I've planned plenty of outings. Ms Moon is working all day, but her daughter Becky isn't. She has been banging on about a film called Monkey Man that is plastered on a few billboards around town. I arrange to meet her at Cineworld, in the Cornerhouse complex.

I grab a baguette from Pret A Manger and some jelly beans from MSR on Angel Row - I'm not chuffing paying inflated prices in the cinema. It's a mad two hour viewing. The hero in our film is like the 'Indian James Bond.' He throws more punches in 120 minutes than Tyson Fury has in his whole career. It's a violent, brutal, bloodthirsty action-packed thriller. Not particularly my bag, but nonetheless it's entertaining. We retire to Six Barrels for a couple of scoops.

I'm down Sneinton Market by 7.30 am on Friday morning. It's a full on greasy spoon breakfast with Tony Mac at the underrated Avenues Cafe, £6.50, including a mug of tea, is a steal. Cross Country trains try their best to muck up our day. The blithering idiots called a strike off 24 hours earlier, but it looks like some Herbert has signed off too many holiday requests from the 'underpaid' drivers. Because two previous trains were cancelled due to 'driver shortage' we're packed in like sardines on a later train from Sheffield to York.

York is always bustling with folk, whatever time of year it is. I felt it best to work our way out of the city centre as you don't want to be drinking in a large group once the after work mob rock up. We visit a mixture of craft ale and real ale houses. The last two or three pubs are just outside the City Walls. We're back in Nottingham for 10 pm, where we retire to Brew Tavern for a 14% Vault City nightcap.

There's no rest for the wicked on Saturday morning. It's a pot of tea for one accompanied by a bacon sarnie covered in Cambozola cheese. I'm loitering around the station in plenty of time for the 10.15 train to Barnsley.

I've met a fantastic group of supporters at Carlton Town in my last few seasons of going down there. We go to gigs and pubs as well as following the Mighty Millers. Dean Gripton is a big Carlton Town and Birmingham City fan. He is also Head of EFL Research for Football Manager. It's a role he has held for over 20 years. He also has worked for Sky on Soccer Saturday, where he supplied all the vital stats into an earpiece for Jeff Stelling during the show.

The plan was for Dean and I to go and watch Crewe Alexandra play Grimsby Town at Gresty Road. Cross Country's so-called strike and trackwork maintenance put paid to that. Barnsley v Reading was our second choice. Add to that, there are a few pubs I still need to tick off in the town centre.

Barnsley has a population of 95,000 and is famous for its coal-mining, glass-making and brass bands. In 2015, 68% of its voters chose to 'Leave' the European Union. Notable people from the town include: Harold 'Dickie Bird', Mark Crossley, Michael Parkinson, the author of Kes, Barry Hines, Mark Jones and Tommy Taylor who both perished in the 'Munich Air Disaster' and Big Mick McCarthy.

A lot of money has been thrown at redeveloping the town centre, and what a mighty fine job they've done too. We admire the architecture of the Town Hall and War Memorial before spending some time in the Experience Barnsley Museum which is free entry.

It's fascinating to read up about the history of the place you are about to watch football in. The coal mines play a massive part in the town's heritage. In 1866 two explosions at Barnsley Oaks pit killed 361 miners and rescuers. There is plenty of archive information and memorabilia from the year long Miners' Strike in 1984.

We tick off a couple of independent pubs that are in the Good Beer Guide called Jolly Tap and Heaven and Ale. We also call by a local cafe for meat and potato pie covered in mushy peas which is accompanied by mint sauce. We arrive at Oakwell half an hour before kick off.

I came here last season when I saw Lincoln City play the Tykes off the park. They are in a solid play-off spot, but have wobbled of late. We go into a room where all the scouts gather. Legendary English cricket umpire Dickie Bird is stood alone. Dean says I should introduce myself and ask if it's ok for a photo. It's not my usual style, and it makes me feel uncomfortable. Dickie is quick to engage in conversation. He chuckles when he tells me it's his 91st birthday next week.

We take a seat in the wonderful old stand, with its wooden seats and bird's eye view. Dickie sits alone two seats away. I feel sad for him that he has no companion to chat with during the game. Reading, after a traumatic season with ownership issues and a points deduction, are all but safe after a midweek 2-0 away victory at Bristol Rovers.

The game has a lovely ebb and flow about it from the off. The Royals deservedly take the lead through star striker Sam Smith (I hope he doesn't sing at half-time).The Tykes equalise through Phillips after a sublime dink from McAtee. Dickie says he's off for a cup of Yorkshire Tea. We join him, The TV set is switched on so we can all watch the Grand National together. Ms Moon is on the money and I have 2nd and 3rd placed horses at high odds.

The second half is superb. There are 31 shots in total. Reading take the lead with a pearler from 25 yards out by Lewis Wing, who started his career at Non League Shildon up in the north east of England. Barnsley equalise through substitute Fabio Jalo. It's been a breathtaking game of football with both teams giving their all.

Attendance: 12,405

Men of the Match: Dickie Bird and Dean Gripton

Nottingham Forest 3-1 Fulham

It's Good Friday and I'm packing away the Easter Egg stall outside the MSR shop front in Arnold, after a successful day's trading. I jump on the 58 bus which I alight on Upper Parliament Street in the heart of Nottingham City Centre. I peg it up Derby Road towards the Canning Circus area of town. It's named after a former 19th Century politician called George Canning, who was a reformist and anti-slave trade. He would later become Prime Minister for the final 119 days of his life.

Tony Mac is propping the bar up at the Organ Grinder, whilst necking a brew from the Blue Monkey stable. We have a couple more scoops before calling by: Good Fellow George, Sir John Borlase Warren and finally the Barrel Drop on Hurt's Yard. At just past 7 pm we squeeze through a tight passageway called Newcastle Chambers. The Chameleon Arts Cafe is an iconic and intimate music venue which is sadly set to close down tomorrow evening.

There's a wee indie underground music scene bubbling and emerging in Nottingham. Expectations have been set high for local Goth/Post-Punk band Bloodworm who we've seen a few times. Think of the haunting voice of Bauhaus's Pete Murphy together with the guitar on The Cure's third album Faith and you won't be far away. They up their game this evening, compared to previous viewings. Marvin's Revenge, a three-piece band from Arnold, finish up the night for Mac and I, with a blistering half hour set.

I knock off work at 2pm on Saturday and catch a 25 bus up to Mapperley Tops. Ms Moon meets me as she travels from the opposite direction. The good lady is 'Hank Marvin', so she dives into Birds Bakery. I decline her kind offer of food as I'm still stuffed from a bacon and sausage baguette from Arnold award-winning butcher, A E Chambers.

Gedling Miners' Welfare, Plains Road ground is a short ten minute walk away. We watch a cracking game of football in the company of Faggsy and Jon Gilbert, who is a mate of mine and an old school friend of Ms Moon's. Jon's lad, Johnny, is playing defensive midfield for the Miners today. He appears to be a great prospect as he looks to work his way up the Non League football pyramid. We have a couple of drinks in the poshest 'Spoons in Notts before I retire early to bed, after getting mardy following a thrashing by Ms Moon on Lee Mack's 1% Club.

I often have to gee myself up for marking the Sunday papers at the ridiculous god-forsaken time of 5 a.m. It's hardly helped by the clocks moving forward an hour. I bang on a classic album by The Stranglers which includes some great tracks such as: All Quiet on the Eastern Front and Nice 'n Sleazy. There's a brilliant cover version of Dionne Warwick's 'Walk on By' which was written for her by Burt Bacharach in 1963. Jean-Jacques Burnell's bass guitar makes my heart beat ten to the dozen.

I grab an hour's kip back at Chez Palms before heading back into the city centre. I've booked us in for Sunday lunch at the highly-rated Fothergills bistro-style restaurant opposite Nottingham Castle. It's a first outing here for both of us. We're seated upstairs; there's already a hustle and bustle about the place. We both mop up slow-roasted lamb shank. I wash mine down with a house white wine from Portugal. We walk off the meal around the Park Estate with its swanky housing and private tennis courts. We both agree that we'll buy a house here when we win the lottery ..lol.

I'm down at El Stadio Stokeld on Easter Monday afternoon. Confidence is high in the Millers camp after they stunned a four figure crowd at league leaders Stockton Town, two days previously, with a shock 2-0 win. Margaret Thatcher's Grantham Town are today's visitors. They are scrapping for their lives in the nether regions of the Northern Premier East League.

The Millers take the lead and also have another effort chalked off by the officials. Nat Watson appears to have put the game to bed. But a late rally by the Gingerbreads sees Carlton hanging on for dear life. With plenty of games in hand, along with a relatively injury-free squad, with no suspensions, it's in the Millers hands to claim a play-off spot, which is a miracle after last season's soap opera.

I'm down the banks of the Trent on Tuesday evening for the first time since NFFC fortuitously drew with Burnley 1-1 back in September. I sit with a mate from Carlton called Johnny and his Forest mad family. Fulham look like they've packed their bucket and spades, ready for the summer holidays. On 33 minutes, and already 2-0 down, a seething Marco Silva makes a triple substitution. Former D***y County loanee Harry Wilson is one of those players who is hooked. The partizan Forest faithful all give him the bird.

Gibbs-White and the impressive Brazilian, Danilo, have ran the Cottagers ragged. It's 3-0 at the break and there appears to be little hope for the Londoners. A chink of light appears when they claw back an early goal in the second half. 35 year old Brazilian, Willian, is running the show with a series of dangerous corners and whipped in crosses. The woodwork is NFFC's saviour, although it has to be said that Forest are also wasteful in front of goal. I toss and turn a little at night in bed as my brain can't shake off what a brilliant game of ball I've just seen. Thanks for the ticket Johnny.

I've worked my socks off all week at the shop as I've been covering for one of the lads who has gone on holiday. I meet Ms Moon for a few drinks in our favourite couples pub, Lillie Langtrys. A member of the bar staff has a tight grip on the Spotify track-listing. Billy Nomates, The Charlatans and Psycho Killer by Talking Heads are the pick of the bunch.

I'm bright and breezy on Saturday morning. I hoover up a big bowl of porridge before meeting Faggsy on the corner of Lancaster Road on Carlton Hill. I'm super excited for the day ahead. It doesn't get any better than cricket and football on the same day.

After a cup of coffee, courtesy of Faggsy, in the Barrel and Bean, we take our seats in the Lower Radcliffe Road. I sit for an hour with Drurs, Horsy and Bagpuss who has travelled over from Oxfordshire to see his mum and also take in Ilkeston v Atherton Collieries. I raise my eyebrows and curl my lip as that once mighty fine playing surface is sadly now 3G, at the New Manor Ground. Other discussions include racing tips and haselet.

I leave the ground with Joe Clarke looking in good nick. I show a turn of pace as I walk through the Meadows, past the railway station and along Canal Street. I push open the front door of Castle Rock's Newshouse. Crazy Steve is holding court with a number of Pies' fans including blog legend Mr John Harris. Wife Jackie is a non-attendee as she is down the Smoke watching Sheridan Smith in a West End show.

I lose track of time as we're that busy gassing. I end up ordering an UBER to get me down to El Stadio Stokio in time for kick off. The place is mobbed out with Bitcoiners as they have put a festival on. They are a valuable and loyal sponsor of the Club. A craft ale from Liquid Light, called Day Tripper is available on tap. It's an absolute belter and well worth the £4,50 outlay per pint.

A swirling 40 mph gale is spoiling the game. The Millers struggle to get out of their own half. I'm unaware that Dean Freeman, who is pivotal to this team, has come off injured. I was grabbing a second pint of the lush Liquid Light when the substitution was made. Jon Gilbert is here again. Tagging along with him is Keyworth legend Chris Frame, who can drink like a fish. We watch the game together and enjoy some craic. Framey is on fetching and carrying duty from a busy clubhouse. Jon is already double-parked before half time as 'Framey' turns up the heat in the drinking stakes.

DJ Murph's half time set is aligned with the Bitcoin Festival Day. 'Cash Machine' by Hard Fi and 'Working for the Yankee Dollar' by The Skids both get an airing.

Carlton's confidence is sky high in the second half with the stiff breeze at their backs, They take the lead through Niall Davie after a pinpoint corner puts the 'keeper under pressure. Once again the Millers are in debt to 'keeper 'Felix the Cat' for some crucial saves. Alex Hardwick hammers home the final nail in the coffin from the penalty spot after a dubious penalty award.

Man of the Match: Danilo

Notts County 1-2 Salford FC

It's 7.30 pm on Monday evening. The announcer on ITV has just said, prior to the theme tune of Emmerdale Farm striking up, that viewers might find some of the scenes in tonight's episode upsetting. The camera immediately pans to the soap character Mandy Dingle in her beauty salon. I ask Ms Moon if this is the upsetting scene. The Princess isn't speaking to me since I let slip the world exclusive spoiler that Mandy and Paddy are set to tie the knot. I clocked this in What's On TV magazine when I was displaying them on the newsagent's shelf the other day. Paddy can't 'arf pick 'em. Well, actually he can't, as he's already been married four times and is still only in his early 50s.

I jump onto the 58 bus, on Tuesday evening, after a full shift at the 'fun factory.' It's always a busy one on EuroMillions day. Whilst I was tucking into a hearty breakfast, recently, at the Hungry Pumpkin on High Pavement, Nottingham, I asked the Italian owner where the best pizza experience was in our great city. He said, in his opinion, that his top two in no particular order would be: Pizzamisu and Rudy's Pizza Napoletana.

Rudy's 'follows the tradition and artistry of pizza from Naples - the birthplace of pizza.' It's located in a wonderful old building with a high ceiling (probably an old bank) that was previously French Connection, until its closure in January 2020.

I'm stuffed after a spicy sausage pizza. I walk it off around the city centre as the working day comes to a close and the student nightlife begins. I kill an hour looking up at the stunning architecture Nottingham has on offer, and is quite rightly proud of.

I part with £6.50 at the counter, as a concessionary member at Broadway Cinema. Tonight's film of choice is called Perfect Days, a co-production between Japan and Germany. It's a gem of a film about a public toilet cleaner from Tokyo. It captures a series of unexpected encounters he has during his routine working day. It warms my heart and make me cheery. No wonder it won awards at the Cannes Film Festival.

I'm back in town the following day with Ms Moon. It's a cheap lunch date with a window-watching seat at Birds Bakery, on Lister Gate. We wander up to the Cornerhouse complex and buy a couple of tickets at Cineworld. The weather is too unpredictable to venture out much further.

Cabrini is another two hour plus epic, based on the life of the missionary Francesca Cabrini, as she encounters sexism and anti-Italianism in late 19th Century New York. Her life was celebrated when she was later to become the first American saint (patron saint of immigrants). Ms Moon was disappointed as she thought the film was called Lambrini. She settles for a bottle of Oasis orange instead.

The Millers of Carlton Town are forced/ordered by the Northern Premier League to play their Wednesday night home game versus Pontefract Collieries at Basford United's ground. It's no-go for Sticky. I don't do Basford or 3G. The final score is 0-0. I don't do them either. I knock up sweet and sour chicken for Ms Moon and I as we enjoy a quiet evening in.

I get 'shit done' on Thursday including my two monthly trim at the best barber in Notts. Mr Eko, is Bosnian, and is mad as a box of frogs. He makes me a strong cup of coffee before getting down to business. Let's be frank about this, a haircut doesn't take too long when you reach the age of 60 years old. He finishes off with a head and neck massage. He's up there as a massive Sneinton legend, alongside the boxing champion Bendigo.

The evening is spent at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground for the final meeting of the Notts Cricket Lovers' Society. The guest speaker is a former Test and First Class umpire called John Holder. He also appears on radio's Test Match special, usually at lunch, for a spot called 'Ask the Umpire'. Holder is a brilliant storyteller. He shares some fantastic anecdotes on a career that spanned over five decades.

Friday Club has been meticulously planned by Boots method study man, Tony Mac. We travel with the UK's worst rail operator in its 100 year old history. EMT's carriages are shabby, the wireless connection never works and as Boy George said in 1983, 'It's a Miracle' if you can find a phone charging socket.

A full English breakfast is devoured at Bank, in the City of London. As you'd expect, The Ned, a posh hotel, is full of filthy rich businessmen. I hope you're sitting down folks when I say we part with £22 each for nosh, which excludes the pot of tea for two and the service charge. It was bloomin' lovely though.

Mac and I are passionate about CAMRA Heritage pubs and Good Beer Guide entries. He's built a list of 16x classic watering holes that we're to swing by at some point today. The first pub, Jamaica Wine House is a beauty, sadly the beer, Whitstable Bay, from Shepherd Neame, in Kent, is below par.

Pub of the day, without a shadow of a doubt, is the George and Vulture. We're loitering around outside the pub front door at midday, on the nose, as the landlord opens up. We're made to feel very welcome by our hosts. The proprietor explains that they are only open five days' a week, as are most pubs in the banking area of the city. I ask if the working from home culture (skivers) has had an effect on trade. 'TWATS' he calls them - they only work Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, he chuckles.

We're given a history lesson about the early 18th Century chop house. Charles Dickens penned some of his novel, Pickwick Papers, here, as he resided at the pub and name-checked the watering hole many times in the book.

We spend the rest of the day pounding the streets of London or jumping on and off tube trains. Places of interest we pass include: Savoy Hotel, The Ritz, the Great War Memorial and a building in Westminster where the RAF was first formed. 15x pubs are ticked off including some belters such as: The Tipperary on Fleet Street and the Black Lion in Kilburn. I'm dog tired when we finally tip up at close to 10.30 pm at Nottingham station. Of course we're late on arrival, thanks to those buffoons at East Midlands Trains. 

I wake up at 7.30 a.m. the following day. I open up my Untappd beer app. The drinking machine that is Tony Mac had a tipple or two more at the Brew Tavern before heading back to Hucknall. Sticky Palms Easter Egg Independent Traders is meant to be doing a roaring trade this morning at MSR on Front Street, Arnold. Squally showers and 18 mph winds result in an early finish.

I meet Keyworth United and Notts County diehard supporter Alan 'Jacko' Jackson and his son Stuart at Meadow Lane half an hour before kick off. The Pies are in freefall since the departure of popular leader Luke Williams to Championship side Swansea City.

We're sat high up in the Derek Pavis Stand, level to the 18 yard box at the Kop end of the ground. I know it's Non League Day but this fixture caught my eye as I liked what I saw of Salford FC at Field Mill a few weeks ago, despite the 5-1 reverse.

There's no sign of Ammies manager Karl Robinson on the touchline. I can only presume that he's sat up in the Directors' Box with Ryan Giggs due to a suspension, if his behaviour at Mansfield Town was anything to go by. Robinson is a brilliant coach though, and I'll be having a punt on them to get promoted from League Two next season after only losing a few games since his arrival.

The game is lifeless and without creativity for the first 45 minutes. Conor McAleny seizes upon a loose ball and hits a sweet strike into the corner of the net. County are back on level terms shortly after the break through ex Arsenal midfielder Dan Crowley. Salford are on the ropes, but by hook or by crook they stay in the game.

Jacko, a tireless volunteer at Keyworth United for over two decades is happy as Larry after bagging a selfie with former Pie, Dave Regis, in the concourse. (Jacko messages me later to say he thinks it was actually Carlton Cole). He (Jacko) still sits with lads who won him a cup final back in the day for the 'Green Army.' 

Notts have played a 'Russian Roulette' game of tippy tappy ball in their own half. Slocombe and Cameron are the main perpetrators. Ironically it's a long ball that's their downfall. Matt Smith has won headers for fun all afternoon. Once again he's the architect. It's deja vu as McEleny bursts through before smashing a low shot into the bottom corner of the net.

It's an uncomfortable post match interview with BBC Radio Nottingham's Dave Bracegirdle and manager Stuart Maynard. It's good journalism with some probing questions fired at the under pressure manager. He responds with a plethora of FA coaching cliches such as 'big moments' 'levels' 'zones' 'switch up.' He's like a rabbit in the headlights. The owners look to have made an error of judgment. Would this appointment have happened under the previous CEO?

Attendance: 9,967

Man of the Match: Charles Dickens

Lincoln City 5-0 Bristol Rovers

I arrive home on Saturday evening after Carlton's narrow defeat to Stockton Town. My mood darkens when I see that Ms Moon is watching irritating 'comedian' Michael McIntyre on the TV set. I crack open a strong can of craft ale and boot up my laptop. I scroll through all the scores. 'The Lincoln' have battered Barnsley 5-1 away at Oakwell. The time has come to make a call to get the band back together.

On Sunday afternoon I fish my phone out of my pocket and swipe down my list of contacts to the letter T. I press the green 'call' button. I feel my heart flutter, and my face light up, when the person on the other end of the line says "Hi Chap." This 20 year old diary has unearthed some blog legends over that period of time: Tosh, Big Glenn, Big Man, Tony Mac, The Taxman, Crazy Steve and Ms Moon are amongst many - but I'm sorry folks, nobody comes near to Trumpy Bolton. 

I'm not sure whether it's interference or incoherence on the line, but I piece together that he's on his way home from Kingston upon Hull after viewing a disappointing 2-2 draw for the faltering Foxes at the KC Stadium. Him and wife Jayne are stopping off in Newark-on-Trent for a 'couple of glasses' and a bite to eat. 16th March has been pencilled in for some time. The resurgence of Lincoln hasn't gone unnoticed. The following day I ring up the LNER Stadium at Sincil Bank. Two tickets are secured as is the 10.38 train to Lincoln. As Peaches and Herb said in 1979 'Reunited,' 

It's Tuesday evening and I'm slogging it up Talbot Street in Nottingham city centre, to the iconic music venue Rock City. Tony Mac and I, earlier in the evening, had sunk a couple of jars in the Barrel Drop and Yarn. Tonight I'm seeing a band I've watched many times over the last 40 years.

I was into Echo and the Bunnymen from the off in 1980. I remember the cool kids in South Wolds sixth form, in Keyworth, used to wear long green raincoats and combat trousers. As a teenager I wanted to be the Liverpudlian lead singer Ian McCulloch, who was as cool as Clough.

I recently read part one of the Bunnymen memoirs, written by guitarist Will Sergeant. It's a riveting, captivating capture of growing up in poverty stricken Liverpool in the late 60s and early 70s. Tonight, Rock City is packed to the rafters. It's fair to say that McCulloch is struggling to reach any notes of significance. The music is spellbinding. Show of Strength, Over the Wall and Killing Moon are my favourite three from tonight's two part set.

Wednesday is Ms Moon's day off and the beginning of a four day break from the shop for Sticky. We lunch at Delilah Fine Foods, on Victoria Street. Nothing tickles our fancy at the flicks. I've got a good 'un lined up for us both next week, called Cabrini.

I took a stroll down to Nottingham Central Library later in the afternoon. Former BBC Midlands Today, Radio 4 and Radio Nottingham broadcaster John Holmes is giving a talk about his 50 year career in the media. He tells some charming, amusing anecdotes about Spike Milligan and Joan Collins, but of course the best one is based around Brian Clough.

Cloughie and Taylor had arranged, at short notice, a testimonial game at The City Ground, and needed some publicity. Clough phoned up Holmes at home to pull him in for a favour. John asked old Big 'Ead into the studio for a phone-in with the supporters, so he could publicise the match.. Everything was going swimmingly well until Beryl from Beeston called in. "I've been a supporter of the club for over 35 years Mr Clough and was hoping with the development of the new stand that you might consider installing more than one 'Ladies' toilet as the queues are long at half-time and we are missing some of the game. Clough replied: "We won't be building any additional toilets, Beryl, and I suggest that you make time to go to the loo before arriving at the game" .. lol

It's Thursday and I'm on the train to Doncaster after bagging a bargain £15 choo choo return. God, I love my senior railcard. I'm meeting my brother for a few scoops and a mooch about. Donny has a population of 90,000 and is well known for its railway history and horse racing. 69% of its population voted to 'Leave' the EU. Famous people from the city include: Last of the Summer Wine writer, Roy Clarke, Jeremy Clarkson, Louis Tomlinson from One Direction and the footballer Danny Rose.

As I wait for my brother I stand in awe looking at one of the best murals I've ever clapped eyes on. It's a commissioned piece of urban artwork. It captures Doncaster's historic past and took the Nomad Clan two weeks to complete.

Around the corner is another beautiful piece of architecture, it's known locally as 'Little Plough' and was remodelled in the 1930s by Doncaster's largest pub owners at the time, Hewitt Brothers, from Grimsby. A few blokes start piling in for an afternoon of betting and boozing as the Cheltenham Festival is on TV. 

We visit a few other CAMRA pubs including Queen Craft where the barmaid excitedly told us that they hold comedy nights. My reply of "I presume all the comedians come from over the border, in Lancashire" is met with a stony face. 

 Alehouse

I say goodbye to Our Kid on the platform at the railway station. I enjoy a pint at the Draughtsman as I wait to begin my journey home. I even manage time for a swift one at the newly opened Brew Tavern, in Nottingham, which in old money was BeerHeadZ. It's located at the old Transport Police hut on the corner of Queen's Road.

Ms Moon and I have Friday tea time drinky poos at crowd favourite Lillie Langtry's and the more modern Copper City, which was Cafe Royale back in the day. We enjoy a lovely dining experience at French Living, a 30 year old family-owned restaurant at the top of King St. I plump for snails soaked in garlic. We wrap up the evening at the Fox and Grapes in Sneinton where I enjoy a pint of Dr Rudi Smash from the Lenton Lane stable.

It's Saturday morning and reports are coming in (by text) that Trumpy Bolton has been necking a glass or two, very early doors, in Spoons' Joseph Else since 9 a.m. Else sculpted the iconic Left Lion and Right Lion that form part of the Council House. An hour later I chance upon Bolton at a dive bar called Industry. I have half a Guinness as the train is due to leave soon.

For first time readers here is the drop your bacon sandwich news: for the last 45 years Trumpy Bolton's mission is to make a financial transaction in every village, town and city in England, Scotland and Wales. He has more box files than GCHQ. A crumpled atlas has each place visited highlighted. Every new pub is recorded in a book that holds more value than the Crown Jewels.

Sticky Tours take Trumpy down High Street, where there are a few alehouses he's never been to before including: Golden Eagle, Imp and Angel and Tiny Tavern. He engages with some Bristol Rovers fans in the pub and asks if Jason Roberts is in the squad. For any younger readers,Roberts is 46 years old. The whole pub erupts when Coventry City's USA forward, Haji Wright, scores a last gasp winner in an FA Cup tie at Molineux. 

We're sitting in our seats ten minutes before kick off. Bolton's beer count is at the bottom of this blog. The Red Imps are in a hot streak of form which has resulted in a late charge for a play-off position. It's been masterminded by their new head coach Michael Skubala, a Nottingham lad, who has pitched up from Leeds United academy, after serving time there under the popular Argentine, Marcelo Bielsa.

The Pirates of Bristol are blown away by a fired-up, foot forward Imps. They're 3-0 down inside 23 minutes and have two of their players hooked before the half hour mark. Remarkably honours could be even had it not been for some outstanding 'keeping from the Imps' 24 year old Danish stopper, Lukas Jensen.

Trumpy is miffed at the lack of alcohol available at the bar. He enjoys a light lunch instead (a bag of salt and vinegar crisps and a Twix chocolate bar). Things go from bad to worse for Rovers who miss from the penalty spot. Lincoln play the last 20 minutes with ten men after a couple of quick yellow cards for the impressive Ethan Erhahon.

Attendance: 9,392

Man of the Match: A return to form for Trumpy Bolton

Beer Count: a tin of Charnwood at home for breakfast, 2x pints in Joseph Else, a glass in Industry

5x pints on High Street, Lincoln. Tame by his standards, but no clubhouse to get

spangled in during the game. I'll get him down Carlton Town one day.

Lincoln United 2-2 Eastwood CFC

It's Tuesday teatime and I'm hanging around at the bottom of Westdale Lane East, in Gedling, outside the Royal Kebabs takeaway house - it's a tad early for one of them. I've just demolished a chippy tea at The Plaice. The bloke who dished up was proper grumpy. He best cheer up for fish 'n chip reviewer Danny Bhoy, when he tips up on his next spot check.

'Chief Wiggum' arrives at bang on six bells. Club Shop Ken and Herr Harlow are waiting in the village of Burton Joyce. We sail through Newark-on-Trent as we zip up the A46 towards the cathedral city of Lincoln - for once Sincil Bank is not the final destination.

There is a massive Carlton Town connection and gathering at Lincoln United's Ashby Avenue this evening. Former Millers cult hero Jack Steggles is in the nets, whilst a number of Eastwood players have played at El Stadio Stokeld, including the joint managers. We have a quick chat with Carl, who is Jack's dad, and a lovely bloke.

After a light refreshment in the clubhouse I pay £9 on the gate and part with a few quid for some raffle tickets and a go on the golden goal. I won a tin of out of date biscuits here a few years ago. The Taxman and I often used to chuckle about that. 

I browse at the Eastwood CFC line up. An astonishing, jaw-dropping 47 different players have donned a Badgers shirt this season. This comfortably surpasses any previous records held by Barry Fry when managing Barnet or Birmingham City circa 1990s. It would also explain why they have only won two games in the last 15 outings. A measly 13 pts chalked up from a possible 45 pts available, sees them requiring snookers to reach the play offs, when only two months ago it looked a formality.

Hopes were high at the beginning of the season, as was the budget. The last few post match interviews, with the gravel-voiced Carl from Badger TV, (he should audition for a Guy Ritchie film) has painted a picture of Stan Laurel head scratching and Brian Blessed beard-stroking from the management team, as they mull over another disappointing outcome. Key players have left. A promising, aggressive, committed centre half is one of them, after being called out on Carl TV,  He'll push on and play at a higher level than Step 5.

Eastwood's players put a shift in for the first 45 minutes. 40 year old Aaron O’Connor is psyched out from the penalty spot by Steggs, who stands his ground and gives him the eyes. OC's stop start run up sees his spot kick smash into an advertising hoarding instead of the back of the onion bag.

They deservedly take the lead on 55 minutes through the on loan Eratt-Thompson. But their joy is short-lived when McMenemy evens things up after some schoolboy defending. Robertson looks to have earned the Badgers three deserved points. The goal of the game from Park, after a flowing move down the right, sees Lincoln steal a point. They’ll have to improve on Saturday when Deal Town from Kent rock up for an FA Vase quarter final clash. 

I somehow manage to visit Trent Bridge Cricket ground twice in the space of a few hours on Wednesday. I renewed my season ticket for the summer and bought some nice Adidas clobber from the club shop. Within a few hours I'm walking back down to the ground with Faggsy for a Notts Cricket Lovers' Society speakers' evening.

Five Live journalist and presenter Eleanor Oldroyd is tonight's guest speaker. She is staying with relatives in West Bridgford, before driving up to Media City on Salford Quays, where she will present the weekend breakfast show on Saturday morning. The BBC studios, in the north, have been christened by Radcliffe and Maconie as the Piazza de Stan Ogden, named after the layabout, chain-smoking, beer-supping slob from Coronation Street. 

Oldroyd describes her tough journey in journalism, as a female in a male-dominated industry. Fleet Street and TV closed any doors on her that were slightly ajar. It was BBC Radio Shropshire where she made her breakthrough. Later she moved onto Radio 1's Newsbeat team before joining Radio 5, which was later to become Five Live. She became the first woman to present Sports Report in 1995. Eleanor has also covered for the BBC the funerals and marriages of the Royal Family. I ask her what her favourite venues are. "Trent Bridge, Lord's and Adelaide", she replies, with an interesting anecdote to match each ground.

I have a lazy one on Thursday. I view the final episode of the excellent Channel 4 documentary: 'The Miners' Strike.' It's another tough watch. In 1984 over 73% of Nottinghamshire miners voted against strike action. Citing intimidation by Yorkshire flying pickets, and a flouting of the constitution, with no national ballot held by NUM President Arthur Scargill. The courts ordered that all the assets of the Union be seized. Thatcher's advisor, David Hart, played a major part in the break up of the strike. He was her eyes and ears on the frontline. Nonetheless, it was a very sad, tearjerking moment, when the mineworkers' returned to work, after a poverty-stricken and anxious year, without income.

It's Friday morning and I'm sat in Bear, a coffee house in Hockley, whose story began in the Staffordshire town of Uttoxeter. I've been tipped the wink by ex work son Tommy T that they do a mighty fine full English. He ain't wrong folks, as Mac and I mop up what's thrown at us.

We catch an early train to South Yorkshire, stopping off at Sheffield, where no excuse is needed for a quick jar in the taproom on the station platform. The next port of call is not far up the line. Rotherham has a population of 100,000. Labour hold a slender 3,000 majority with only 57% of the constituency bothering to vote. 13% more rocked up to vote LEAVE in the BREXIT vote with a 67% majority.

Famous people to come from Rotherham include: Lynne Perrie (Ivy Tilsley), the Chuckle Brothers, Jive Bunny, Paul McShane, Howard Webb and David Seaman. I'm in charge of today's itinerary, so anything could happen.

We stand on top of the railway bridge taking in the breathtaking view of a viaduct to our left and the forgotten Millmoor football ground to our right, with it's old school floodlights that tower above the town. After a wander up to the new ground we walk back into town to tick off pub number one, New York Tavern. The theme for the day will be Chantry Brewing, whose ales are scrumptious and to die for.

Across the road is the Cutlers Arms, it's a Grade II listed building and a CAMRA heritage pub. It dates back to 1825 and was rebuilt by Stones Brewery in 1807. It was saved from demolition in 2004. I love the Art Noveaux architecture and green tiles.

We head up, after, to the town of Mexborough, where the real Brian Blessed is from, as is former Formula One world champion, Mike Hawthorn. The two breweries we visit double up as music halls. So not only does the beer flow, but bands play too.. Tony Mac is mortified to see Nottingham St Ann's cheeky chappies, The Chase, are topping the bill later in the month. He had a strop at one of their gigs at Beat the Streets a few weeks ago,

It's Saturday morning and I'm knocking up a bacon and Stilton sandwich as I prepare a slow cooker Chinese chicken curry for this evening. The clouds clear and the sun peeps out as I make the 30 minute walk down to Stadio El Stokio. I grab the final can of Castle Rock citra craft ale. I catch up with Casually Dan who has it all on playing a DJ set whilst doubling up as Director of the Millers' Creche.

I stand with Smiffy who is doing some opposition scouting for Belper Town. Carlton are still rubbing sleep from their eyes when they get caught cold and concede an early goal. It should be two after another faux pas, but 'Felix the Cat' comes to the rescue. Playing with a stiff breeze at their backs the Millers gain momentum without troubling the Stockton stopper. Jebbison fails to get a shot off despite being one on one with the 'keeper.

I check on the half time scores. Lincoln are on my mind, as in City and United. I've piled on the Imps as they are in a rich vein of form. United have their big day out with up to 1,000 attendees expected.

Khyle Sargent scores a beauty to peg back the League leaders. The Millers can only hang on for a few minutes. A cross from the left hangs in the air like a pitching wedge shot on the 18th at St Andrew's. A big 'un, who plays in the heart of their defence, nods a looping header into an empty net. 

Attendance: 136 and 155

Star Player(s) Eleanor Oldroyd and 'Felix the Cat'