Eve of a New Season

Yes it's the day before the big kick off - no not those overpaid prima donnas in the Premiership - the REAL football of the Evo-Stick Division 1 South (and many other non-league divisions).

The mighty Nailers are away at Newcastle - no not them Geordies on the Tyne - Newcastle Town in Newcastle-under-Lyme. They play at the Lyme Valley Stadium near Stoke on a pitch surrounded by a Velodrome (banked cycling track as if you didn't know). Last season was their first in our division so theres no history between the sides other than the three matches from last time. We went there on a very wet night and came away with a 3-2 win against a Newcastle side who were the only real contenders for the title along with eventual winners Barwell. We then met them again at Belper in the Presidents cup and won again before the second league meeting. Aaron Prides sending off on half time saw a 2nd half collapse as Newcastle cruised to a 5-0 win (one of too many 5 goals conceded at home last season). I think Newcastle will be there or thereabouts come the end of the season so tomorrow will be a very tough start for the nailers.

What of the rest of today ? Well we spent two hours sitting in the eye clinic with Mrs Snappers mum - bit of a busmans holiday that. After that we went to Melbourne for a spot of lunch. First stop was the Melbourne Hall Tea Rooms, but unfortunately it was too busy so we walked into Melbourne itself and had a lunch at a little restaurant. I had an all-day breakfast and Sally had a Pannini. Melbourne is a little town with a huge amount of really attractive Grade Two listed houses. The Hall itself sits of the edge of the town. Read more about it here:

http://www.melbournehall.com/flash_content/index.html

It was a bit of a nostalgic trip as it always is when we visit that part of the county. These were the roads I used to spend hours cycling around when we lived at Sinfin Moor. Thinking about it today we realised it was some 20 years ago when I was speeding along those lanes, days when I was approaching 30 rather than today as I approach the big 5-0. No wonder it feels a lot harder to get around on the bike these day !! - where does the time go ?

Back to Belper for a haircut and then an 11 mile bike ride before a bath and a welcome sit down. An update after tomorrows game looks likely - but I'm making no promises ;-)

Back on the Bike

Monday again and back at work. Not too bad a day really, probably down to the boss being off on a two week cruise ! 

As it's Monday thats exercise day too. A quick blast round on the bike - well I say a quick blast, due to the wind it was a hard slog at times. I covered the 7.46 mile hilly course in 39 minutes which I was pleased with, especially considering I'm still riding the iron horse (see photo). Of course it's not the heaviest bike in the world -  it just feels like it when i'm going up hill.

I have a couple of old Carrera cycling shirts which I've had for a number of years, one short sleeved and one long. Due to the wind I had to resort to long sleeves for the first time today although as I cycled up the hill from Heage back into Belper I had to roll the sleeves up as the temperature increased. For me there has never been a better cycling shirt than the Carrera one. Cycling greats like Stephen Roche and Marco Pantani raced in the colours of the Carrera Jeans sponsored team in epic races like the Giro D'Italia and the Tour De France. 

I am currently reading 'The Death of Marco Pantani' which as you've probably guessed already is not a comedy. I've also read 'It's not about the Bike' by Lance Armstrong and 'Rough Ride' by Paul Kimmage.

The friendlies are over

Deon Meikle

Yesterday saw the last pre season friendly game for Belper Town. A 5-0 gubbing at the hands of near - neighbours Matlock Town was not the ideal preparation for next weeks start to the season. A fairly even first half saw the two teams separated by a penalty conceded by the stand in keeper Tom Stones (1st choice keeper Andy Richmond was on holiday as was assistant manager Jon Froggatt).

At half time I went into the boardroom for a cup of tea and the Matlock manager was tearing strips off his players for their first half performance. It obviously did the trick as they came out for the 2nd 45 and took Belper apart with another 4 goals. The young keeper looked out of his depth at this level but did make a couple of excellent saves towards the end of the game.

Photographs from the game can be seen here:

Belper v Matlock Photos

I took along my West Ham programmes to the game for Tommy to sign. The 1975 Cup Final and the Charity Shield both had the same player pictures pages in for the Hammers. So Tommy kindly signed across his photo in each programme (left).

Tommy also told a couple of tales from his West Ham days, one relating to Jimmy Greaves and another about George Best. Tommy said West Ham were 2-0 at Old Trafford before Best took over. Manchester ran out 5-3 winners and as Tommy retrieved the ball from the goal after a screamer from George the ref said 'hurry up Tommy' to which he replied "F*ck off, they've already got four "

After the game there was a Question and Answer session with Tommy in the main room. He admitted that the second half had been 'sh*t' and that Matlock deserved the win on their performance. He talked about his expectations of the coming season and admitted that he didn't know the teams in our league so would be playing each game to win. He also said that he would have a better idea when we have played 6 games. I think he certainly endeared himself to the people in the room with his humour and honesty.

The friendlies are over

Deon Meikle

Yesterday saw the last pre season friendly game for Belper Town. A 5-0 gubbing at the hands of near - neighbours Matlock Town was not the ideal preparation for next weeks start to the season. A fairly even first half saw the two teams separated by a penalty conceded by the stand in keeper Tom Stones (1st choice keeper Andy Richmond was on holiday as was assistant manager Jon Froggatt).

At half time I went into the boardroom for a cup of tea and the Matlock manager was tearing strips off his players for their first half performance. It obviously did the trick as they came out for the 2nd 45 and took Belper apart with another 4 goals. The young keeper looked out of his depth at this level but did make a couple of excellent saves towards the end of the game.

Photographs from the game can be seen here:

Belper v Matlock Photos

I took along my West Ham programmes to the game for Tommy to sign. The 1975 Cup Final and the Charity Shield both had the same player pictures pages in for the Hammers. So Tommy kindly signed across his photo in each programme (left).

Tommy also told a couple of tales from his West Ham days, one relating to Jimmy Greaves and another about George Best. Tommy said West Ham were 2-0 at Old Trafford before Best took over. Manchester ran out 5-3 winners and as Tommy retrieved the ball from the goal after a screamer from George the ref said 'hurry up Tommy' to which he replied "F*ck off, they've already got four "

After the game there was a Question and Answer session with Tommy in the main room. He admitted that the second half had been 'sh*t' and that Matlock deserved the win on their performance. He talked about his expectations of the coming season and admitted that he didn't know the teams in our league so would be playing each game to win. He also said that he would have a better idea when we have played 6 games. I think he certainly endeared himself to the people in the room with his humour and honesty.

Just a quick thought before I go to the match

I forgot to mention that yesterday I got a ticket to see the Australian Pink Floyd Show at Derby next March. 

I can't believe they are playing the Assembly Rooms as they normally sell out much larger venues. Tickets weren't cheap (£31.75 each with booking fee and postage) but hey, this is gonna be a great show - shame it's so far in the future, but at least it's something to look forward to over the cold dark winter months.

Never heard of them ? Check out their website to see what all the excitement is about.

The Australian Pink Floyd Show

And to think as A teenager I used to hate it when my mate Kieron used to put on his Pink Floyd albums !!

Whats been happening this week ?

Jon Froggatt

Saturday saw us on a trip to see Belper beat Long Eaton 2-0 in a pre season friendly at Station Street. A blazing hot day on a rock hard bumpy pitch did not make for great football viewing. A good header from Jon Froggatt put Belper 1-0 at half-time and just after the break Lee Morris robbed a Long Eaton defender and run in to score.

the rest of my photography efforts from the game can be seen here: Long Eaton United v Belper Town

Damien Magee holds off Tomasz Cywka

Our next game was at home on Monday against a Derby County XI. Always a big draw when the highest placed league side in the County pay a visit and this was no exception. A crowd of over 800 saw the Rams run out 4-1 winners although this was without doubt Belpers best performance of the pre season.

My other snaps from this game can be viewed here:

Belper Town v Derby County XI

Programme v Derby County

Apparently we sold about 400 programmes which was pleasing as it was my idea to print one and I wrote the majority of it.Even before the game kicked off there were copies on ebay for £4 + £1.31 p&p which is amazing considering it is an 8 page B&W issue printed on plain paper. The ebay seller was suggesting there was a print run of less than 200.

Next up is todays local derby against neighbours Matlock Town in the last pre season friendly before the real action starts next Saturday away at Newcastle Town in their Lyme Valley Velodrome - an unusual place to watch football, especially from the top of the velodrome on the far side from the main stand.

Talking of cycling (see what I did there ? Velodrome- cycling, this isn't just thrown together you know) i've been clogging around on my old mountain bike for the past four weeks. The bike has languished in the shed for the past 12 years. After two years of jogging around the estate and ending up in agony from achilles tendon problems I decided to Dig out some old cycling gear (including the bike) and bought some new stuff from Decathlon (to replace the mouldy helmet that had also hung in the shed for 12 winters).

For the first two weeks it was just around the two mile circuit of our estate but have ventured a little further for the past two weeks.

Yesterday I stretched it out to a 10.25 mile ride into Heage and back. Managed to get complete the ride in just under 43 minutes, which considering two ascents of Kilburn Road, and the hills into Heage and back into Belper was a decent time, especially considering that I'm on a 15 year old mountain bike (and fast approaching 48 years old).

A trip to Decathlon in the morning saw me drooling over their aluminium framed racing bikes - a snip at £1299 but not sure how long the wheels would hold up on the roads of Belper with my weight on top of them. Looks like I'll be riding the MB for a while longer !

New Belper manager Tommy Taylor

Time to go as we have an Operations Committee meeting before the game today.

After the game there is a Q&A with the new Belper manager Tommy Taylor (ex West Ham centre half)and assistant manager Jon Froggatt. 

I'm taking along my 1975 FA Cup Final Programme (Fulham v West ham United ) & my Charity Shield programme from 1976 (Derby County v West Ham United for Tommy to sign.

Catch you later

Whats been happening this week ?

After Saturdays trip to Long Eaton to see Belper beat