Sunday, 8 May 2016

Look at me, please!!

It was Andy Warhol, the somewhat eccentric artist who is probably best known for his Campbell’s Soup tins prints, who came up with the well know quote "In the future, everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes".  In many ways I guess he is right with so many so called ‘reality’ TV shows thrusting the generally talentless to the forefront of the media to then fade into obscurity in a relatively short period.  This also applies to the various ‘talent’ shows like The Voice, The X Factor and the beautiful oxymoron that is Britain’s Got Talent, which have never really thrown up much in the way of lasting superstardom.  Bizarrely some people seem to be famous for being famous and nothing else and no one knows what they do, such as the Kardashians.  I like to feel that talent and hard work are rewarded, which I think they generally are, but sometimes that’s not the case.

Being a shy and retiring sort I have avoided being recorded on film to such an extent of crossing the road if I see that Look North are recording opinion pieces in Hull.  I have never wanted to be a spokesman and if one is wanted I will go AWOL.  I take the Homer Simpson approach that volunteers are suckers; never volunteer, never own up and always make fun of people who are different.

I have had a few fleeting seconds of fame though.  I got my name in the Times and Financial Times when I passed my professional exams.  I even proved to be a winner ...albeit the crossword in Fishing News and the Sodoku in Professional Pensions both of which had small prizes and results in print, but this is hardly big league fame.

It is possible to buy a bit of fame by sponsoring some event.  I guess I could try to get my name on the Big Screen at the KCOM stadium but knowing the Allams that would be eye-wateringly expensive as no doubt match and match ball sponsorship packages.  However, if you drop down to non-league it becomes very affordable.  I sponsored the match ball at Hall Road Rangers a few weeks back for the princely sum of £25.  That gets your name on the front of the programme and an announcement over the tannoy to a crowd perhaps running into three figures.  Not only that, you get admission for two with programmes and a cup of tea and a bacon sandwich in the inner sanctum of the committee room.  Bargain indeed. 

The match I covered was an incident packed local derby ...

Hall Road Ranger 2 (1)  v  Westella VIP 5 (1)   Thursday 14 April 2016
Adam Foster 47P, 63P      Chris Spinks 5P, 60 Garry Flounders 58, Chris Short 70, Joe McFadyen 75

Attendance: 75

Exhibit A match programme and the spelled my name correctly!



This game pretty much had the lot; seven goals, four penalties and a red card, so I couldn’t have picked a better game to be associated with, just a shame about the result.


This was probably the key moment 4 minutes in when the referee gave a red as well as the obvious penalty.  Personally I though he pushed the ball well out of range and so we would have managed to cover it.

The resulting penalty was put away.

The referee then continued to gave Hall Road Rangers no favours when he gave another penalty this time for hand ball when the ball made contact from an almost point blank shot.  Harsh in my opinion.


This time the stand in goalkeeper managed to keep it out.


Hall Road Rangers managed to get on terms just before half time with a penalty of their own.

In the second half Hall Road Rangers converted their second penalty the 4th of the evening but the extra man took its toll and Westella VIP put away another 4 to run out comfortable winners.




Smile please!

It’s over a month since I posted on this blog but not through a lack of things to say.  In fact more the opposite I've been so busy since the last post I just haven’t had time.  I had a three day visit to Belgium and France with work as well as fitting in a dozen football matches, a rugby league game and an ELO concert in Leeds.  The thing is the wet winter put paid to so many games that April has been a period of catch up with some non-league teams playing Tuesday/Thursday/Saturday.   Getting to four games in five days is great but when you work doesn't leave you with much time for anything else which is evidenced by the growing pile (physically and electronically) of books, audio books and football magazines in Chez Fleming.

I've also been faffing around with things I don’t understand...

Football fans in general have a sense of humour.  Standing in the cold and wet watching another drab goalless draw you’ve got to have one.   Admittedly much of the humour is coarse and ribald, probably as a result of the working class roots of the game, and it can manifest in a number ways.  Facing defeat in another relegation dog fight may result in gallows humour in a vain attempt to stay sane.  Some supporters can with superb comic timing usually coinciding with a moment of relative hush come up with a witty comment befitting Oscar Wilde and making smart-arse jokes at the expense of the match officials is now almost obligatory.   Then there are the songs and chants; sometimes coarse and offensive but others inventive and very funny.

Taking the piss out of friends and fellow supporters is also part of the game and if you are going to give it you better be able to take it!  Over the last few weeks I have been getting my share of good natured stick, well I hope it is good natured...

A couple of years back I got a pocket video camera for Christmas, to replace one that got lost, which sort of lives in one of the bedroom drawers.  The thing is being busy and suffering from age-related forgetfulness I never seem to have it with me when I go out and end up thinking if I had brought it I could have captured the moment.  This was to change though when one evening I had the idea of taking it with me when I went to see Hall Road Rangers.  What is wrong with that?  Queue the leg pulling.  Yes it is shaky.  No I am not after a job with ITV.  Yes I am the official adopted unofficial Videographer for Hall Road Rangers but I am not going up that tower, it doesn't look safe.  In fact it looks the sort of scaffold and architrave combination beloved of cowboy plasterers which can only end in tears for the unwary.  The funny thing is I also get “did you get that” and “let’s have a look” for the same people so it is of some benefit at the lower levels.  At North Ferriby United though they have a proper professional standard camera so I didn't get mine out, well no man wants to be belittled over the size of his equipment!

Still I will shrug off the jibes and persevere with it during the next non-league season and post the results on Twitter as well as some in this blog.

Hall Road Rangers 1 (0) v Knaresborough Town 1 (0)   Tuesday 12 April 2016
Jordan Harrison 57             Will Lenehan 80

Attendance 61




Hall Road Rangers hit the bar from a free- kick.


Hall Road Rangers take the lead from the spot


Knaresborough Town equalise from a corner.

A draw was probably a fair result and the game will probably be best remembered for the language emanating from the away bench, strong stuff!

Still I will shrug off the jibes and persevere with it during the next non-league season and post the results on Twitter as well as some in this blog.

A step too far

North Ferriby United v Tranmere Rovers - 21 Mrach 2017 National League Attendance 638 North Ferriby United                            ...