NWCaching Football Banter!

[Foinavon]

The football season is almost upon us again. Hooray.Lets get some football banter going. Now before anyone starts yes we know they are a load of overpaid prima donnas who shoud play a proper game but we still like it anyway. As far as I know we have the following affiliations on here. Some of these I have assumed so correct me if I am wrong. Sorry if I have forgotten anybody.

Bolton
me
Eurochamps (saw the BWFC shirt at Yeti camp)
Charlie and the Wheelies
Lady Wicker
Pup (?? Did you used to watch them at Burnden Park)
M0SGB (angela)

Liverpool
Carlos
LFC4Eva
Geotrotters (despite having a caching name that implies Bolton loyalties!)

Everton
Gingerbreadmen
Mars Bars (has he converted you!)

Blackburn
Lizzardman
Citizen Smith

Burnley
Gruftymilo

Wigan
Pete Numbers

Chelsea
Lodgebarn

Man Utd (surprisingly few)
Syllogiser???
Ashley
Wicker(???)

Watford
Pieman (one of the few match day caches on my Reebok Stadium cache)

Chester City
Kelsborrow Wayfinders

Shefflied Wednesday
Dan 1980

Sheffield United
Guanajuato(?)

Preston North End
Nandad

Brighton
JeremyR

Bury
m0sgb (though he goes to watch Bolton!)

Now how do you think your team will do this year?

Well Bolton's problem is that ever since I was a kid Bolton have either being going for promotion or trying to avoid relegation. They have bounced around all 4 divisions. We just don't do mid table finishes. Even when we arrived in the promised land (premier league) we stayed up (just) at our 3rd attempt. Another nailbiter followed and then bugger me, no midtable obscurity for us we qualified for Europe (or nearly did) for 4 seasons. Then last season it all changed. Last season was the 1st time in over 20 odd years that we have had a mid table finsh, and people aren't used to it and it seems boring. I don't have the hostility towards Gary Megson that a lot of my fellow fans do but I will say he is a very cautious man. The team go out with a "avoid defeat at all costs" mentality. In the past critiscm of Bolton's style of play has been unfair and usually come from bigger clubs who have a dose of sour grapes when they have dropped points to us. Sure we were direct but we had Stelios,Okocha,Campo,Djoerkaeff etc who were flair players. Now I think the critiscm IS fair because even I have to admit this avoid defeat tatic is dull to watch. At the moment Bolton's role in the premier league seems to be make the numbers up and aim for that mid table finish. Two seasons ago when it looked like we'd had it I had actually started to look forward to change of scene. I was delighted when we did stay up and Megson deserves credit for that. Its his challenge this season to make it more interesting without being stuck in a relegation battle.

So what about your team?

[The Syllogiser]

This is the ONLY ball worth kicking

[pete37038]

This is the ONLY ball worth kicking

No swearing on here please !

[pete37038]

The football season is almost upon us again. Hooray.Lets get some football banter going. Now before anyone starts yes we know they are a load of overpaid prima donnas who shoud play a proper game but we still like it anyway. As far as I know we have the following affiliations on here. Some of these I have assumed so correct me if I am wrong. Sorry if I have forgotten anybody.

Bolton

Pup (?? Did you used to watch them at Burnden Park)

Hang on - he told me he was a Man U fan tother week, as he wasn't amused at me laughing at Man U losing in the Champs League final ! surely not as they are bitter rivals with Notlob...? any team switching info Mr Pirate ?

[Team SLuG]

So what about your team?

Mine is... Stockport County (don't laugh!!), though the rest of Team SLuG support Liverpool

How will we do? Well if we can repeat the first half of last season in League 1, pretty well; if we repeat the second half of last season we won't exist and I'll be profoundly depressed. We were a whisker away from being wound up, but now we have new owners, and Gary Ablett has brought us through pre-season unbeaten. We will miss ex-manager Jim Gannon, and had to sell far too many good players last season in an attempt to stay afloat, but the news reports from Edgely Park are all pretty positive now, so we're not down and out just yet.

[ferreter38]

This is the ONLY ball worth kicking

You kick that and you'll break some bones

When I was in my teens I used to go nearly every week to watch Cheltenham Town. That was when you could watch a football match for 1/9p and that was sitting in the stand. Can't afford to go these days.

I did once go to Elland Road to watch the Wanderers get whopped by Newcastle in a Cup semi final.

I also watched most of another semi-final at Burden Park when MU lost to Leeds. The only player I remember was George Best. Got in free for that one as I was working overtime on Bolton Corporation Transport and we were doing a football special taking the fans to Farnworth - BTW this was before the days of football hooliganism when young fans used to cry when their team lost instead of beating the shite out of t'other fans.

I nearly forgot to say but whenever I went to watch Bolton they always lost, so I quit going.

[pete37038]

I've got an open mind about this season, with the installation of 'King Bobby' Martinez as manager no doubt the footballing spectacle should be vastly improved with his Arsenal'esque style of fluid passing play but then again that got West Brom nowhere last season, however they had issues with scoring which we haven't done to bad with, the loss of Valencia will be a blow but he was always going to go.. It will be interesting to see if Jason Scotland will continue to score big numbers at this level and also if Jordi Gomez can hack the Prem, the key thing for us was/is keeping hold of players like Cattermole (which we have so far despite Steve Bruce conctanly pestering for him) and Bramble (yes really!) who has now penned a new deal thankfully, apparently Martinez has looked at Latics' last years passing average which was reportedly 220 per game, he wants it to be far nearer to 300 pg which will be interesting !! The young lad from Hamilton we have brought in is reportedly another 'susperstar in the making' who chose us in front of a lot of other interested parties, in all I think we may possibly take time to settle (but I think we have a team who can definately compete with teams outside the top four (and maybe sneak the odd point off a top 4 side), if the players we have bought step up to this level with the same aplomb I think we will be in for a cracking season, time will tell. Another problem is the pitch, which 'the squatters' make a right mess of as the season goes on although somoetimes this can give you an advantage playing the likes of Arsenal but won't suit Martinez's plans for passing football ?

[Jake Bullit]

The Premiership is for puffs,get yourelves down to Deepdale for some real action.

Why not do "The Splash" and The Footy Museum while you`re there

[pete37038]

The Premiership is for puffs,get yourelves down to Deepdale for some real action.

Only 'cause you can't get there despite repeatedly trying and consistently failing.


Oh and we 'got ourselves down to Deepdale' last week for some 'real action' as you put it...

See here
http://www.lep.co.uk/pnenews/Preston-1- ... 5500604.jp - 'A footballing lesson' I believe was description of the outcome.

Ahem.

[nandad]

The Premiership is for puffs,get yourelves down to Deepdale for some real action.

Only 'cause you can't get there despite repeatedly trying and consistently failing.


Oh and we 'got ourselves down to Deepdale' last week for some 'real action' as you put it...

See here
http://www.lep.co.uk/pnenews/Preston-1- ... 5500604.jp - 'A footballing lesson' I believe was description of the outcome.

Ahem.

"The only consolation from the clash which PNE could really take was that few of the players who started this defeat are likely starters against Bristol City on the opening day of the new campaign."

Well that says it all. The nobbers took it that seriously that they put out a second eleven against "premiership" opposition

[pete37038]

The Premiership is for puffs,get yourelves down to Deepdale for some real action.

Only 'cause you can't get there despite repeatedly trying and consistently failing.


Oh and we 'got ourselves down to Deepdale' last week for some 'real action' as you put it...

See here
http://www.lep.co.uk/pnenews/Preston-1- ... 5500604.jp - 'A footballing lesson' I believe was description of the outcome.

Ahem.

"The only consolation from the clash which PNE could really take was that few of the players who started this defeat are likely starters against Bristol City on the opening day of the new campaign."

Well that says it all. The nobbers took it that seriously that they put out a second eleven against "premiership" opposition

Purely to use that exact exact excuse when they took the inevitable drubbing against a quality oppoistion.... the next to last time I went to Deepdale watching Wigan was also 1 - 4 to us, Stuart Barlow doing the damage, I've still got that on video somewhere Happy days

[The Phantom Camel Train]

I'm a North End fan and was a season ticket holder for the last six years but gave up this year due to exams and been able to get more caching in. I might go on some games proberly night matches but I got a bit board of it to be honest.

[Bex1979]

I know nothing about football - but I did get a leaflet through my door this morning advertising Blackburn Rovers season tickets for £150. (£50 for children).

[Foinavon]

I know nothing about football - but I did get a leaflet through my door this morning advertising Blackburn Rovers season tickets for £150. (£50 for children).

In Ulverston? Big Sam must be desperate for fans. I had one for Wigan Athletic yesterday. Cheeky Beggars targeting Bolton!

[JeremyR]

Brighton
JeremyR

Wot? Just me then?

[Bex1979]

I know nothing about football - but I did get a leaflet through my door this morning advertising Blackburn Rovers season tickets for £150. (£50 for children).

In Ulverston? Big Sam must be desperate for fans. I had one for Wigan Athletic yesterday. Cheeky Beggars targeting Bolton!

I think my daughter and her dad (both Liverpool fans, also Barrow fans) booked tickets at the stadium once. We must have ended up on a mailing list.

[pieman]

I know nothing about football - but I did get a leaflet through my door this morning advertising Blackburn Rovers season tickets for £150. (£50 for children).

Season tickets for £150?! I'll start supporting Blackburn for that.

Difficult to say where my team Watford will finish until the transfer window shuts, as the vultures are circling around our best players. We have also lost our manager Brendan ("I have a job to here and I will finish it", "Did I mention I am a close friend of Jose Mourinho?") Rogers to Reading. With the current squad a mid table finish, but things could look blacker by the end of the month. Anyway, things could be worse- we could be Luton.

[Jake Bullit]

The Premiership is for puffs,get yourelves down to Deepdale for some real action.

Only 'cause you can't get there despite repeatedly trying and consistently failing.


Oh and we 'got ourselves down to Deepdale' last week for some 'real action' as you put it...

See here
http://www.lep.co.uk/pnenews/Preston-1- ... 5500604.jp - 'A footballing lesson' I believe was description of the outcome.

Ahem.

Left me self wide open there didn`t I?

I remember my last visit to the JJB though,it was a while ago now:

http://www.fanchants.com/football-video ... igan-2000/

[pete37038]

I know nothing about football - but I did get a leaflet through my door this morning advertising Blackburn Rovers season tickets for £150. (£50 for children).

In Ulverston? Big Sam must be desperate for fans. I had one for Wigan Athletic yesterday. Cheeky Beggars targeting Bolton!

lol, Notlob Wanderers advertise in the Wigan reporter ! what's that all about

[Guanajuato]

Sheffield United
Guanajuato(?)

Yep - that's right. Not actually been to watch them for years though!

Now how do you think your team will do this year?

Same as usual - show sparks of promise, do well in the cups, look set to get somewhere but eventually fall just short and end with disappointment.
We need a midfielder to link play from Nick Montgomery to the forwards. If that guy could pass or was comfortable on the ball, he'd be moving between top clubs for 10s of millions. But I guess that's why he's stayed with us and not moved to a top club.

But hey, at least we're going to have a good laugh at Wednesday (can't even get fans to volunteer to paint the stadium for them) and Leeds (Delph isn't for sale at any price. What? Up to 8 million. 'K then) for another season. Its rather amusing that Barnsley & Doncaster are the more serious local competition. Still not made up for the 80s & 90s yet though.

IF (and its a BIG if) we can do more once we get in the final 1/3rd than last season, I guess we're in with a shout. But I think West Brom & Middlesbrough have to be favourites to go straight back up.

[muttoneer]

Two Oldham fans for your list... myself and JJ&MEGA.

Definitely our year for promotion. Oh yes...

[Team SLuG]

Definitely our year for promotion. Oh yes...

You may have to get over the bad start on the opening day of the season.

[Foinavon]

Two Oldham fans for your list... myself and JJ&MEGA.

Definitely our year for promotion. Oh yes...

Ahh yes I did know that, sorry for the omission. I drove past their ground the other day on my way to do the caches and trig point at Tandle Hill.

[Kelsborrow Wayfinders]

Glad you are all looking forward to the new season. I'm writing this following the announcement that Chester's first game of the season at Grays has been called off. The club is now on the brink of complete collapse.

For those of you who don't know - that will be everybody but Pieman who had to put up with me moaning about the current situation - here is a brief summary.

Played most of last season with a transfer embargo because of unpaid wages. Exodus of players in January and rely on young kids during the second half of the season. Inevitable relegation from the Football League to the Conference in May. Owner Stephen Vaughan puts the club into administration. Club deducted 10 points for the new season. Surprise surprise Vaughan buys the club back from the administrator and conjours up a CVA to effectively reduce his tax bill because he is the largest creditor. FA refuse to grant the "new" club affiliation which means that no pre-season friendlies can be played. HMRC challenge the CVA which gets thrown out in court. Club return to administration. Yesterday the Conference say Chester can start the season but the points deduction is raised to 25. Today the FA say that the Conference breached the rules in allowing Chester to play. Conference announce that Chester's first fixture is postponed. Game over.

[JeremyR]

As a supporter of a club who spent years staring into the abyss (although never quite this dire) I know what that feels like

Hopefully it will be resolved...

[gingerbreadmen]

Now we have established which team we all support, who on here supports the nearest club to where they grew up/now live and who actually goes to the match regularly?

Mark me down as a yes on both counts

BTW Nandad supports Live.... lpoooo ...liddlepoo... sorry, can't bring myself to write it down, not PNE.

[JeremyR]

Now we have established which team we all support, who on here supports the nearest club to where they grew up/now live and who actually goes to the match regularly?

Yes on the first count (born in Sussex, I'm a closet southerner, you know ) and erm, nope on the second... commute would be a bit expensive, you see but I did when I was still in Britain, mostly away obviously but the odd home game on occasion.

[Bex1979]

Now we have established which team we all support, who on here supports the nearest club to where they grew up/now live and who actually goes to the match regularly?

I'm afraid I don't support Workington Reds (where I'm from) but I was forced to attend their matches regularly as a child. (Memories of cold concrete steps and horrible pies... I certainly didn't watch the football and usually took a book in with me.) Despite what he says, I'm fairly certain that my dad wanted sons, or at least daughters who would share his love of football. I think I was a big disappointment, and more so after I produced for him a grand-daughter that supports Liverpool.

My daughter goes to watch Barrow play with her dad from time to time - and I think she'd claim to support them as well as Liverpool.

[muttoneer]

You may have to get over the bad start on the opening day of the season.

It was hardly an inspiring start for either of us, but it could be worse - we could be Norwich fans!

[Team SLuG]

Yes, it sound like if it wasn't for our goalie, Owain Fon Williams, you'd have had a hat full. He also got booked for time wasting in injury time, which may indicate we were very happy with 0-0.

Ahhh, poor Norwich fans, they will remember this start to the season for many years to come.

[Foinavon]

Now we have established which team we all support, who on here supports the nearest club to where they grew up/now live and who actually goes to the match regularly?

Mark me down as a yes on both counts

BTW Nandad supports Live.... lpoooo ...liddlepoo... sorry, can't bring myself to write it down, not PNE.

yes and yes for me too.

As for todays results, poor Norwich. I can remember when Bolton last played Norwich, a local reporter saying rather proudly that "At least Norwich have football principles, I would far sooner the Canaries stick to these, than have to watch rubbish like this every week", three years and two relegation later the canaries get thumped 7-1 by Colchester. I hope Delia had an extra large glass of Sherry tonight!

And Chas yes, I am very sorry to hear about Chester's plight, 125 years they have been going.

[nandad]

Now we have established which team we all support, who on here supports the nearest club to where they grew up/now live and who actually goes to the match regularly?

Mark me down as a yes on both counts

BTW Nandad supports Live.... lpoooo ...liddlepoo... sorry, can't bring myself to write it down, not PNE.

Andy :- it's "LIV, ERP, double O, L - Liverpool FC"

I haven't been to any football match for over 20 years , so I don't think I can be classed as a supporter of any team. But I was born and bred in Preston and my Uncle Fred used to take me to Deepdale and some local away games when I was a lad (£1.00 entrance fee for juniors), or I'd sneak on for the last 20 mins. when they opened the gates. I have been banned from going to Anfield because back in mid 1980's I went to Anfield 3 times and I have yet to see a goal scored there, 3 0 - 0 draws can you believe it, So my mates have banned me from going . But when the scores and tables come out on Saturday evening PNE and LFC are the 2 teams I'm looking for.

Great comeback for the nobbers yesterday, 0 - 2 down after 82 minuets when Parkin scored a brillant 18 yard volley and Davidson converted a penalty in the 6th minute of extra time to draw the game , Now that is leaving it until the last minute.

[Kelsborrow Wayfinders]

And Chas yes, I am very sorry to hear about Chester's plight, 125 years they have been going.

I'm being pedantic here but it's actually 124 years. It took me ages to get people to accept the club was formed in 1885 not 1884.

Situation looks dire and Tuesday's game will almost certainly be off. I believe there will be an FA statement on Monday. I think the FA object to Vaughan regaining control of the club as he fails the criteria as a "fit and proper" person. I can't understand why they didn't raise objections a few weeks ago when he first announced his plans and they have handled the whole situation very badly.

If we go out of business it will mess up my plans to complete the LQ series while going on away trips.

[JeremyR]

Bad start for Brighton. Nothing like a home loss for the first game of the season, decided by a solitary own goal to really set the team up for a good run, huh?

Then the boss says to the press "It's not the start we wanted". Really? D'ya think?!

[Guanajuato]

Owner Stephen Vaughan puts the club into administration. Club deducted 10 points for the new season. Surprise surprise Vaughan buys the club back from the administrator and conjours up a CVA to effectively reduce his tax bill because he is the largest creditor. FA refuse to grant the "new" club affiliation which means that no pre-season friendlies can be played. HMRC challenge the CVA which gets thrown out in court. Club return to administration. Yesterday the Conference say Chester can start the season but the points deduction is raised to 25. Today the FA say that the Conference breached the rules in allowing Chester to play. Conference announce that Chester's first fixture is postponed. Game over.

Its a shame they couldn't have applied the same heavy-handed approach to a certain Mr Bates and a nasty little bunch of cheats in West Yorkshire when they played the same trick. Maybe they should have a chat with him.

[Kelsborrow Wayfinders]

A lot of people have compared our situation with what Ken Bates did at Leeds and that's probably where Vaughan got his idea from. However Vaughan actually ran up the debts at Chester himself before trying to weasel out of it by buying the club back. I would never defend Bates but I think the debt at Leeds was inherited from Ridsdale. Our problems are all self-made by one man.

Still awaiting an FA announcement but apparently all the Conference clubs have voted in favour of the club. Fingers crossed. I'm slightly more hopeful at the moment.

[Laphroa1g]

Bolton Wanderers season ticket holder here.

I grew up about 1/2 mile from Burnden Park, and have had a season ticket for every season bar one since 85/86.

Now exiled in Gatley but still manage to attend almost every home game.

I'm looking forward to the new season, but not with the same level of anticpation as I have done in the past; I put that down to my getting on in years. At least I am not dreading it like I was before last season started

[Foinavon]

Bolton Wanderers season ticket holder here.

I grew up about 1/2 mile from Burnden Park, and have had a season ticket for every season bar one since 85/86.

Now exiled in Gatley but still manage to attend almost every home game.

I'm looking forward to the new season, but not with the same level of anticpation as I have done in the past; I put that down to my getting on in years. At least I am not dreading it like I was before last season started

Well hello to a fellow White . I have seen your logs on a few of my Runcorn caches but I didn't know you were a wanderes fan! Do you work near me? I work on Manor Park industrial estate. Its a bit of a coincidence. What is even more of a coincidence is that I used to work in Gatley (for Intervoice, but they were called Brite then).

[Laphroa1g]

My that was quick. I've done two of your caches today in Runcorn, and was late back in work which is on Daresbury Park. I ended up walking (panting) up Delph Lane from the cache next to the canal.

I think I could thow a stone from my drive and break a window at Intervoice! They have planning permission to turn where they are into houses, but nothing has happened for a couple of years.

Many years ago I worked for an Assurance company and my collection area was Blackrod.

Any more coincidences?

[Foinavon]

My that was quick. I've done two of your caches today in Runcorn, and was late back in work which is on Daresbury Park. I ended up walking (panting) up Delph Lane from the cache next to the canal.

I think I could thow a stone from my drive and break a window at Intervoice! They have planning permission to turn where they are into houses, but nothing has happened for a couple of years.

Many years ago I worked for an Assurance company and my collection area was Blackrod.

Any more coincidences?

Well our paths nearly crossed last Thursday when you went for Rocket To Runcorn. You said you walked from the Red Lion. Well I was inside the Red Lion at the time. I am kind of a regular in there (we have had 2 monthly meets there). I like whisky too and in fact the Islay ones such as Laphroig are my favourites. My favourite one would be Bowmore though. Also my wife is half scottish and her ancestry can be traced to Islay!

[Guanajuato]

Same as usual - show sparks of promise, do well in the cups,

Well, it looks like I'll have to revise my expectations already.
By all accounts it was the poorest performance from united since the games against Wednesday & Doncaster last season. At least this time the manager hasn't tried to blame the fans for the terrible performance. But they should beat Port Vale - no offence to any Port Vale fans on here. Good luck in the next round!

Laphroig. Hmmmmmmmm. There's a bottle in the pantry. Medicinal of course. Must log off now that I've been reminded I'm feeling rough and need some 'medicine'

[Team SLuG]

Well, it looks like I'll have to revise my expectations already.

Yeah, cup competitions are soooo overrated, much better to concentrate on the league!

[Kelsborrow Wayfinders]

Looks like it has been settled and we start the season on -25 points. We seem to have broken every rule in the book and Vaughan has got away with his audacious plan. While I'm glad we have survived it's just a temporary respite I think. Here is an excellent article for those that want to know more and as a Chester fan I can't disagree with what he says.

Chester

[Foinavon]

Well its amazing how your enthusiasm can dissapate in one afternoon. I think you can put me between Pete and Gingberbread Man in the "how well did you start the season" spectrum. One a more positive note, my Reebok stadium cache finally (after over 3 years) got a Bolton fan to visit it (other than me) on a match day. Its only the 3rd match day cacher at all. Well done Laphroig I suppose your day went downhill from there.

[Laphroa1g]

It was awful, awful fare; we are SO negative. Megson seems to be coaching the team to play for a 0-0 result but hoping we might get a lucky goal. Too make it worse I had wet feet throughout the match after visiting your cache

BTW I am hoping to do your M61 J6 puzzle cache before the next home game. Solved half of it (I think)

[pete37038]

I'm over the moon ! Hendry Thomas bargain of the season

[JeremyR]

I'm over the moon !

I'm not
Suffice to say, we've had better results than last night's

Michel Kuipers, please write down 100 times: "I will not take down the last man."

[pete37038]

I'm over the moon !

I'm not
Suffice to say, we've had better results than last night's

Michel Kuipers, please write down 100 times: "I will not take down the last man."

Yes we had an off night too, not that off though...

I went to the next to the last game at the Goldstone ground (Wigan) I bought a last game commerorative badge for it, Donny Rovers I think it was

[Skyfox1884]

Well, come on the mighty PNE !!!

When the fat blokes score (both of them !) the opposition must be really rubbish - Barnsley who ??? Wasn't Bolton in disguise was it ??

[Foinavon]

Well done Burnley!!!