Radford FC 1-1 Stapleford Town

After the Leyton Orient versus Cardiff City game, Dean and I hang around the sponsors' lounge for fifteen minutes or so, to let the ground empty. As we leave Brisbane Road a number of autograph hunters form an orderly queue outside the car park the players drive out from. The footfall at Leyton tube station has reduced by the time we arrive there.

Over the last two days I have ticked off 13x CAMRA Heritage Pub two star or three star pubs in the north London area. Dean wants to see what all the fuss is about. We alight the tube a few stops down the line at Mile End. After turning off the high street, Google maps takes us through a dimly lit park that was created from industrial land devastated by the bombing during World War II. 

In the distance, through the trees, is the Palm Tree, which sits in isolation adjacent to Regents Canal. It appears at first glance that it may be closed, as it's poorly lit. There's a hum about the place as we enter through the front door. The pub is a stunner with a historical nod to the past. It has a neo-Georgian design and is without a TV or a fruit machine. They have a couple of cask ales on. I politely ask the landlord to pour us a couple of pints of Porter. There's an awkward moment when I'm charged £12. It's cash payment only. I manage to rustle up an amount of cash close to this - "settle up the rest the next time you swing by" says our man behind the pumps. Whoops. The pub is in an area called Bow, where the rappers Dizzee Rascal and Tinchy Stryder are from.

I arrive back at HQ at 9.30 p.m. Ms Moon is watching Lee Mack's 1% Club. I shriek loudly when I see Mack chatting with a contestant. Her name is Sylvia and she often pops into the shop. By chance I see her on Tuesday, when she tells me all about her experience on the show. She got knocked out before there was a chance to win £1,000 by using her pass.

I dash home on Tuesday and rustle up some tea before jumping on a bus into town. The heavens opened this morning. I could hear the rain hammering down onto the front shutter of the shop. I felt it was highly unlikely that tonight's Notts Senior Cup quarter final between Radford and Stapleford would take place. Great work by volunteers gives the game a chance. Big Glenn confirms it's 100% ON.

I get off the tram at the Noel Street stop and wander through ASDA car park. I take a left turn onto Selhurst Street, passing the Chappati Junction curry house that was recently in the news, with a previous owner being banned from running a business after illegal workers were discovered at the premises.

I pay £6 on the turnstile. Big Glenn, for bants, checks with the guy on the gate that he hasn't allowed me in at the concessionary rate, which I'm actually entitled to, but would never pay in at, except at Basford. Faggsy joins me to watch the game. Overall it's a scrappy encounter, with Stapleford looking the more likely to score. Radford defend brilliantly and take the lead just before the break after a goalmouth scramble. 'Stabbo' equalise but neither team can force a winner.

It's getting a bit nippy now, so thankfully the tie goes straight to penalties. Radford win 5-4. 'ASBO' says I'm allowed to attend the semi-final game. Who knows, it might be against the Mighty Millers of Carlton.

I'm still recovering from my London trip, so don't do a deal on my day off on Thursday. Having cleaned the house from top to bottom, I park my backside in the armchair where I read a book whilst listening to Huw Stephens on 6Music. The book is a good 'un, I was given the heads up by Mark E Smith, the lead singer of The Fall. Well in fact it was mentioned in dispatches in Smith's autobiography. The book is called No Retreat, and is basically about all the scraps and rucks the Anti-Nazi League had with the BNP in the 80s and 90s.

I'm reminded in the book of the death of Blair Peach, a teacher from New Zealand, who was killed during an anti-race demo in 1979. The author also mentions about the racist bloke from Leamington Spa who put  his house up for sale. On the board it said 'To an English Family' (white people only). His name was Robert Relf and he was part of the British Movement at that time. He was jailed for contempt of court when he refused to take the sign down back in 1976.

Friday Club's monthly trip is to the West Midlands. Tony Mac and I have breakfast in the Lace Market at Hungry Pumpkin. We change trains at Birmingham New Street. A WMT takes us to Walsall. It's a town that lies close to the Staffordshire border, with a population of over 70,000. Notable folk from the area include: Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts off Corrie,) music artist, Goldie and ex MP, John Stonehouse, who tried to fake his own death.

We visit a Heritage Pub on the outskirts of town called Pretty Bricks. It opens at midday on the nose. A chatty barmaid lights an open fire. She has relatives who live in Carlton, where I reside. The town's football team is nicknamed the Saddlers. It's due to its long history in leather and horse saddle manufacturing.

Black Country Arms are doing a mighty fine job in the West Midlands and Staffs. It's whilst we are in their HQ pub that I receive the news from my eldest son, Jack, of the birth of my granddaughter Romy, who was born at 1pm. I breathe a huge sigh of relief, shed a tear and raise a glass. We finish up in the town of Cannock. It's an area of Staffs where Stanley Victor Collymore, the finest centre forward to have ever played for Nottingham Forest Football Club, grew up.

The first two pubs are nothing to write home about, but the third is a belter. On the bar at Arcade is a crusty, burnt top, cheese and onion cob, that Staffs pubs are famous for selling. Mac treats me to one. It's to die for.

I arrive home to hushed tones after a nightcap in the Barley Twist. Ms Moon is immersed in The Traitors. It's a typical BBC middle-class production. Twaddle, tosh and full of posh folk including Claudia Winklepicker. I'm surprised that one of their weather forecasters isn't on it after last week's faux pas.

I laze around on Saturday morning whilst Ms Moon nips to Sherwood to see the chiropractor. I get my Bored of Lunch slow cooker book from off the shelf and flick through the pages. I wander down to the worst supermarket in Western Europe, grab a few bits, and get out of the hellhole as quick as I can. I brown off some mince, throw all the ingredients together into the cooker, set it on low and then head off to Mapperley Top.

Gedling Miners Welfare is going through a transitional period. I rate their young manager Reuben Wiggins-Thomas. But right now the Club are experiencing tough times and are having to re-build by putting faith in youth. An experienced South Normanton Athletic team prove too strong for the youngsters as they coast to victory. Hopefully the Miners can come good soon. 

Attendance: 58

Player of the Match: Romy Palmer, age, 2 days

Best Ale Supped This Week: Pentrich Brewing, Melt Me Down, Fountain, Cannock

Best Record Heard on the Radio This Week: Radio Free Alice, Rule 31