A trip to Newport Pagnell and a frightening obsession with numbers

On Saturday I boarded the affectionately named Disco Bus at 8am to follow my football team to new frontiers. Ashington under Gary Middleton are now breaking their own records. Having last season achieved their best ever performance in the competition before throwing a seemingly unasailable 2-0 half time lead away whilst most fans (including moi) were finishing off their snakebites, this year they have already bettered it.

With a stop off at Annersley Welfare and a trip deep into the home counties, Ashington's travelling support could have been forgiven for thinking this was de ja vu. There were a few differences this time, the first being a fantastic buffet platter laid on by the club including the Black Pudding sarnies that were demolished in moments. The second being the #colliersfilmnames twitter tag that kept the bus entertained for a little while at least. The third was my discovery that a childrens television programme has a squirrel in it called skitter, this particularly amused/amuses me.

Anyhow, the similarities kept coming. Ashington running into a 2-0 lead and dear me we didn't even wait until half time to be back at 2-2. The Colliers however are made of sterner stuff this season and by half time we were back in front to the joy of the 130+ Northumbrians in the Willen Road record crowd. Little else of note happened in the game and the ashington_fc tweeter feed ground to a halt leaving some stranded Colliers up a height until the 3-2 win was reported.

Next up a trip to Gloucestershire to play Shortwood on a Sunday!! A stop over in Gloucester on the saturday night would seem to be the order of the day. I fear I'll be filled in if I ask them to mix their cider with lager, but I feel it'll be worth the risk.

My other discovery this week, although how it's evaded me for so long is nothing short of miraculous, is that I have a wierd, perhaps frightening obsession with numbers. For a fair while I've had a strange obsession with numbers to do with football and usually at bizarre levels. From being intruiged that the Powburn Poachers rest had conceded an average of 10 goals a game in the first division of the North Northumbrian League to obsessing that Colwyn Bay had a home average of just over 200 and were sticking it out in the Unibond (forgive the pun).

Lately it's taken its root in politics. My obsession with numbers has taken me to look in quite close detail over the Northumberland County Council Election results for the last three occurences. It's only the fact that I couldn't find them any further back that I haven't been clarting on with them even more. Adding 5% swings here and 10% swings there to see who'd win. Interesting when you're interested. Am I just bizarre? Well perhaps.

Anyway another busy weekend awaits with trips up the street and to the toon, must get back on the tarmac trevelator next week.

Failure in a fortnight

Failure in a fortnight

Two weeks into the New Year and I’ve already failed in one of my ‘resolutions’, ‘update the blog weekly’. I inverted comma’d resolutions as I’m not entirely sure I actually believe in New Years resolutions. You can decide to do something anytime and a date clicking over shouldn’t make any real difference, although after a couple of weeks of over indulgence, there may be some merit in making a bold statement of intent at this time, even if it does last a fortnight or whatever. Anyway, despite my failure thus far here is part deux of 2012.

On Saturday 7^th January I threw my hat once again into the ring for a place in the Worlds biggest half marathon. Bearing in mind last time I could barely walk for three days and it felt like someone was pouring lava down my knicker leg when I had my post run bath, I could be making a mistake. Although I must say the atmosphere, craik and charity dosh was more than worth it. Anyway, fingers crossed. The decision to do that seems positively sensible in comparison with the 95% of me that has capitulated to a couple of madmen who want to take on the ‘Nettle Warrior’ tough guy challenge(google it). There’s still 5% of me to convince before payday. AKQJ

The entry to the ballot has also nicely coincided with my running starting again. Having knocked a couple of stone off 18 months or so back, niggly injury and complacency has allowed it to creep back on. The GNR is at least an encouraging factor lying 9 months in the distance. I’ve bought myself a water bottle, fluorescent running t-shirt too and some of those cycling short style things, so at least I can pretend to be some kind of pro.

In other news, I’ve noticed some worrying signs on Ashington main street. Three signs of the credit crush bulldozing its way through Ashington. Signs advising £5 notes available from the cash points. A Poundland occupying the most promenant shop space on the main street. Worst of all though, the gleaming Brighthouse on the Station Bridge. A delightful, predatory, organisation that specialises in squeezing every last drop out of them that’s got nowt. Low weekly payments over extremely long periods and the only way people with the least money can get what they want. More on them in a future edition i’m sure.

And seen as we’re jumping around a bit my current reading material is something i’d recommend. John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. Basically a fact based fictional tale that swipes at society’s greed, following the Joad family kicked off their land in Oklahoma in the 1930’s to the promised land in California, where the reality is far from what they were promised. Anyway, its a good read, and seems to me to have some significance now.

And here endeth the latest whistle stop tour.

New Years Day

Happy New Year..........

Not sure how many people actually read these but to anyone who at least reads the first couple of sentences, Happy New Year to you and yours. Seen as I haven’t been keeping on top of the blog as much as I’d like, I thought I’d break the drought with some tales of my favourite (or at least one of my favourites) day(s) of the year, New Years Day.

As usual I woke with a slight raggyness after the New Years Eve festivities, but for this hangover as every year (other than when the parents nicked off to Tenerife once) help was at hand. I admit that getting out of bed is a chore at the best of times and with an NYE sized hangover it wasn’t any easier, however when I’d donned my party gear the car outside whisked me away for breakfast. Aren’t parents nice?

My raggy state was immediately eased as we pulled up outside of my brother’s house and he walked towards the car looking decidedly peaky. We approached the cooking breakfast via North Seaton Road and passed the Comrades where by 9.45 the cue already stretched halfway round the back of the club. Breakfast was consumed and we headed back for the Comrades for opening time, we could just about make out the stampede as we sneaked in through the bar door. Had we attempted to then go up the stairs to claim a seat for the ‘turn’ I fear I would have been unable to write this account and a resident of Wansbeck District Hospital at best.

After chaperoning the mother and her bingo seats for half an hour or so we moved back into the bar to take our similarly guarded seats. After another hour and a half or so and more handshakes than you can imagine we ambled up the strip and into the Mortimer. The cue for the bar was rather long so getting a couple in was the plan, however the gin and bitter lemon, rusty nail and snakebite combo was perhaps a tad adventurous for 2pm, especially when the gin and BL ended up in the Snakey. The immortal words then slipped from my gob ‘It’s alright man, you can drink whatever you want on NYD and not get drunk’. The words would come back to haunt me later, but I had a cracking if expensive run for my money.

The ‘Pro’ and a Ham and Pease Pudding sandwich stop from a friends mother-in-law were next and then one of my twice a year visits to the Grand. The time had started to run away about now but we were in the Grand when Sunderland scored their winner against Cit-eh. Next up was seemingly a trip to Narnia or so you’d have thought and up-stairs in the Cree. I’d stumbled upon the door at the back of the wardrobe last year and ended up there, but seemingly no-one believed me so we took the stairs once again.

The Premier was next up and again up the stairs to the Ravey Davey room. The drink which was generously flowing throughout the day took a more berserk turn up there and the Rum Pep and Jaeger Bombs got a bit of a ploating. Highlight of the day perhaps seeing Greg Peary who’d gone up to give the missus a tab break putting in a 7 hour shift behind a heaving bar.

Next up was the stop off before home and where the excesses finally caught up with me. Off to the Maison Blanc, where the by comparison quiet bar got the best of me and sent me to sleep. Just in time for my very good friends to get the best pictures of me sleeping before getting a Chinese and heading home.

What I love about it

I love the atmosphere, I love the fact that the vast, vast majority of people are there for a good day out. Most of all I love the fact that people who would never be seen dead in Ashington usually brave the strip to shake as many hands as possible. It is fantastic and although I’m certainly not wishing time away, I can’t wait until next year!

What I’ve learned.

Power drinking turns me into the worlds hardest up philanthropist. Must remember that I don’t need to buy everyone I see a drink.

My friends are particularly kind. Not only do they let me go to sleep in the White House, but they get enough photo evidence for me not to be able to deny it the next day.

From Cleethorpes to East Cleveland

After last weeks trip to Cleethorpes, a trip to Marske by the Sea for Northern League action, may have been a slight change but another enjoyable afternnon nevertheless. With all that's been going on recently I've been reflecting on my involvement in things at the club. I've never really thought about why i'm so heavily involved and in some respects the 'because I want to' needs no explaining to me or to anyone else.

That being said it's nice now and again to get the reminder of why you do it, or to actually sit and think about why and what you actually want to achieve. This week has allowed me the time to think about it for the first time since Portland Park. Back then it was about survival at all costs, a town needs a football club. A ground riddled by a sort of planning blight, stays of execution, financial worries and god knows what else. Now is different.

Whilst we obviously still have the odd problem to sort out, the club no longer has the huge question mark over its playing location hanging over it. On the pitch the club has come on leaps and bounds highlighted perfectly by the FA cup progress over the last few years. With any luck, next seasons progress will result in a trip to the first round, if it doesn't it doesn't, but you have to have ambition.

The trip to Grimsby last week showed to me what the club is all about. The community bit of the club may be a recent addition to the name, but its been there for ever in spirit. The progress through the cup has brought everyone closer together, aided in a perverse way by some terrible injuries to key players. At Grimsby that was evident. People who've known each other for years and those who are more recent converts stood together, great craic, great support and a great day despite the result.

I've never been more convinced that the towns football club holds an important place in the community. It should provide a platform for the best of local talent to play, a hub for youngsters to learn the game and develop their talents and perhaps most importantly to provide a place for people to enjoy watching football. People work hard all week, they deal with their own issues everyday. Saturdays and Tuesday evenings should provide time for a little enjoyment, where for 90 minutes people can forget their problems. I am proud to be part of providing a place where that can be the case.

Colliers Cup Run Comes to a Brave End

Ashington who started their FA Cup campaign back in August at Ryton and Crawcrook Albion finally bowed out of the competition on Saturday to Conference side and fully professional Grimsby Town. The Colliers reached the fourth qualifying round for the first time since 1974 when they succumbed 3-1 to Gateshead United and had been looking for a first round tie for the first time in fifty years. The first round was for this season at least a step too far.

Having disposed of Ryton 1-0 and then Northallerton 2-1 with a late Andrew Johnson goal saving the Colliers the trouble of a replay in North Yorkshire we drew our Northern League nightmare tie, Shildon away. In recent history Dean Street has been less than a happy hunting ground with the home side scoring no less than four against the Colliers in the last three seasons. A 0-0 draw brought the Railwaymen back to Woodhorn a game eventually won on penalties after the Colliers wasted a 2-0 lead and played the last half of injury time with ten men. Five perfect penalties sent Ashington through.

The next two rounds saw even tougher tests passed with two Conference North sides being disposed of. First, Vauxhall Motors. The Motormen were coasting against an Ashington side who had lost their captain and seen an Ambulance on the pitch for a second game running. Step up Steven Young. The striker pulled one back and then set up a last minute header for Jamie Clarke to grab his second of the game and send the Colliers to Ellesmere Port. The travelling supporters were not to be disappointed with an early Andrew Johnson goal sending Ashington through.

Next up for the Colliers were Guiseley, arguably the highest ranked team left in the competition, last year’s Conference North playoff losers and Trophy Quarter finalists. A Jamie Clarke goal from a wonderful move sent the Colliers through and off to Cleethorpes.

Saturday saw the Collier Army mobilised and a couple of bus loads setting off from Woodhorn Lane as well as scores of car fulls, full of hope but also full of expectation for a cracking day out, no matter what the score. There can have been nobody disappointed by a brave performance and a generally brilliant day out that saw Ashington take over the Blundell Park Hotel and back the team relentlessly for 90 minutes. If there were only 161 from Ashington there I’ll eat hay with a horse.

I want to say a big thank you to everyone who made Saturday possible and to everyone who shared the day. To every player involved between Crawcrook and Cleethorpes, to every fellow board member and volunteer and to all who attended a game en-route and there, thanks. A few specific thanks’ firstly to Brian Shotton who made sure for the first time ever we didn’t lose money on a bus, to Scott Messenger who gave me a coke at one point and stopped me from becoming ‘over excited’, to Super Greg Peary who having jetted back from the game facilitated the Vodka jellies in Ashington’s Premier wine bar later at night and to Ben Davidson who joined me in giving the ‘Mere a rendition of Coward of the County, cheers lads.

Now back to business in the league and lets go and win the FA Vase!

Things that happened this week Part VI

Things that happened this week Part VI

A little gap since the last update and it’s been a busy time.

 Last Saturday my football team took another step along the lengthy road to Wembley in the FA Cup with a 2-1 home victory over Northallerton Town. Even in these early stages the prize monies are certainly worth having with £1,500 on offer for that round, the final preliminary before the qualifiers start. Any clubs lucky enough to fight their way through to the first round and a potential tie with the football league clubs (another four rounds where the opposition steadily increase in ability) would stand to make a small fortune. Alas, there are few who do this nowadays. That’s not to say it doesn’t happen and certainly doesn’t suggest it’ll never happen again. Ashington have done it before, although it’s been a while, and borrowing a quote from a certain Mark Twain ‘History doesn’t repeat itself, but it does rhyme’.

Sticking with football, on Sunday the officials of Ashington Community Football Club were invited to Berwick Rangers as the club’s guests as the Borderers took on Livingston in the Ramsdens Cup Quarter Final. Unlucky at least not to take the tie to extra time Berwick were certainly not disgraced by First Division opposition, A brilliant opportunity to see how a high profile part-time side, run in the main part with volunteers, operate with a level of professionalism which would not be out of place much higher in the game. Hopefully there will be more news soon of a pre-season fixture or tournament featuring the two sides.

Through the week another football fixture spelling Ashington’s first league victory of the season was sandwiched in between, some political activities. On Monday I met with the youth officers of both Blyth Valley and Wansbeck CLP’s to finalise details for a young members event in September. This event had come about after Wansbeck CLP allocated a sum of money to help increase engagement among the parties young members. This shows the commitment of both CLP’s to this goal but Wansbeck in particular who without prompting made significant funds available to stage it.

On Wednesday I attended the Ashington Branch monthly meeting where some lively debate ensued about the hot topic of all women shortlists. Ironically perhaps, not through that system, Maggie Lang was confirmed as candidate for Seaton Ward in the Town Council, which Labour Party wise, has an almost 50/50 split male/female. Whilst the party needs to do its utmost to promote equality as long as it is done by discriminating against white males over the age of 27 controversy will follow it. It seems simple to me that you cannot fight inequality with inequality.

Most importantly of all, the NHS bill which was passed in Parliament this week leaves an open wound in one of the nations crown jewels. This effectively ends the NHS as a comprehensive service equally available to all, an absolute disgrace. What makes this all the more galling though is the fact that the BBC chose to run with rabid right wingers calling for the dropping of the top 50p rate of income tax, they need to pay more not less. When we get back through the doors in 4 years time we need to reverse this and fast.

On Sunday, the tenth anniversary, the September 11^th attacks on the US will be remembered. I think it is fitting that I should end by paying tribute to all of those who died in the attacks and to all of those civilians and armed forces personnel who have died in the conflicts precipitated by them. I can only hope that Norway’s response to their own tragedy will provide a model response and that the next ten years will see a more conciliatory attitude so that we can achieve peace and normality both in the west and across the globe.

Stuff that happened this week part V

 The Great North Run
 

 My Great North Run training took a turn for the better this week as for the third consecutive foray I increased the distance travelled. Whilst a meagre seven miles still leaves me trailing behind those who have trained properly I am mildly impressed with myself after a build up hampered by calf injury, a niggly bad back and numerous weekends of overindulgence. With a little luck I’ll get over the finish line in decent time.

Whilst there is no doubt that running is savage amusement, it is not without its benefits. It allows me the opportunity to listen to music I’ve never had the chance to, and to widen an already eclectic taste, The Sex Pistols, Jimi Hendrix, Edith Piaf and Ace of Base can all be found on the i-pod. It affords me the opportunity to take in my surroundings whether plodding the streets of Ashington or as with the latest trek, going a bit off track and taking in a little more scenery. Whether of course you count the Potland Burn Opencast as ‘scenery’ is up for debate but it is nevertheless interesting. Finally it allows me to do a little bit for a charity which means a lot to me. Diabetes UK is a charity which I don’t feel has as strong a presence as others, but does a fantastic job. Diabetes has had a huge impact on members of my family and I am delighted to be running for them.

Anyone who fancies sponsoring me can at the link below,

http://www.justgiving.com/Mark-Fitton

Wansbeck CLP to call Cuts Conference

At the AGM held earlier in the year, Wansbeck CLP accepted as its policy, a motion put forward by Ashington Branch, for the CLP to hold a Conference on the attacks on the public sector. At the executive meeting this month the policy was put into motion with a crack team appointed to delivering the CLP policy. Watch this space for an All Northumberland Labour movement to discuss and debate action against, the cuts.

Wind Power

There can be no doubt that coal has shaped the social, political and physical landscape of South East Northumberland, but a new form of controversial power generation is starting to spring up on the north of Ashington just south of Lynemouth, Ellington and Linton. Thirteen of the giant wind turbines, standing 121.5 meters high are due to occupy the area and are hoped to provide enough renewable energy to power almost 15,000 homes.

Why do these giants generate such opposition? Are they really a blight on the landscape? My own thoughts are I don’t know why they stir such passion is some. Clearly there are areas where they are unsuitable, for example where they are in the way of a migrating birds flight path. I don’t think they are too much of a blight on the countryside either, there are far worse things that could be erected on the edges of our towns Potland Burn Opencast for example. If thirteen turbines generate enough energy to power fifteen thousand houses maybe every small to medium town should house a windfarm on their outskirts. Who knows, with the right publicity they could even become a tourist attraction.

The internet, libraries and other sources are full of facts and figures regarding energy generation, but which resources can we trust when so many are potentially influenced by the massive resources of energy companies? My own feelings, although not based on any particular scientific evidence, is that the increase in extreme weather we have seen in the last few years is loose proof that climate change is upon us. Whatever our thoughts on wind turbines and other forms of renewable energy, we surely need to be doing something.