Bonfire Night

You can probably tell from the constant banging in the air, a distinct smell and the fact that your dog is cowering in the corner, but tonight is Bonfire Night.




It's not a day that particularly appeals to yours truly. I personally don't see the excitement in spending money on cheaply made, expensively sold boxes of fireworks and burning effigies of Catholics, but each to their own.

I especially don't get excited by doing those things when, if I felt it, I could walk around the corner to find that Leeds City Council have gone to the time and expense on my behalf, but that's not the point.

My younger brother wanted to invite his girlfriend round, and what better excuse than to light explosives in the back-yard? It was something to do and as long as it didn't cost me anything, I wasn't bothered.

So anyway, tonight comes and we've got food, beer and fireworks ready to be enjoyed in their respective ways.

In order to feel important, I assigned myself the job of setting things on fire in the garden. I did this because:
a) It gave me something to do other than get cold and
b) There was no way that I would allow my brother to have any responsibility over over-the-counter explosives.

So anyway, we spend a good hour or so working our way through the respective boxes, ooooh-ing and ahhhhhh-ing at the various patterns of chemical reactions and retreated inside for beer.

So now, I'm typing this wondering what to do next. It's currently half-time in a turgid game between Manchester City and Sunderland on Sultana TV so I may decide to re-watch last night's brilliant Top Gear.

I watched it last night after taping said episode due to my attendance at the Farsley Celtic vs York City clash last night, also televised on Sultana Sports - and I even managed to spot myself in the crowd. Not a disastrous performance from Farsley, who were caught out by a better team whilst chasing an equalliser and despite the harsh 4-1 defeat, there's bigger games to come - not least the relegation six-pointer at home to Altrincham.

Going Up!

An update on yesterday: Farsley Celtic's second successive promotion was sealed in a thrilling final at Burton last night.





After being 1-0 up after just 15 minutes and then 2-1 down with just 15 minutes remaining, a Simeon Bambrook penalty in the 89th minute sealed a 4-3 victory over Hinckley United to put the West Leeds side in the Blue Sq Premiership (that's the Conference in old money).

It's the clubs third promotion in four years (and in the one non-promotion season, they were cheated by a ludicrous FA ruling after Spennymoor went under) and manager Lee Sinnot is justifiably being hailed as the best kept managerial secret in football.

The club are obviously punching above their weight at the present time. The chances of that becoming any sustained period of success at this lofty level is slim with the current infrastructure. The facilities are modest and the supporter base is small - ask anyone of Farsley Town Street directions to Throstle Nest and they'll prbably look at you in a very funny fashion, but there's no lack of effort within the club to make a fist of it next year.

Next year, lets just enjoy rubbing shoulders with the comparative 'big boys'.

The biggest match of the season

Forget your Champions League Finals, Premiership relegation deciders and Championship play-offs, the biggest match of the 2006-7 season takes place tonight.




Tonight sees the number one footballing side in Leeds, Farsley Celtic, take on Hinckley United in the Nationwide Conference North play-off final. At a time when our major football club are doing nothing but bring embarassment to the city of Leeds, Lee Sinnot's men could earn their second promotion in as many years should they win at Burton this evening.

Forget all your fancy-dan, multimillionaire superstars in your UEFA 5-star stadia, this is football at its rawest. There'll be no sign of injury feigning and elaborate play-acting, just two teams of eleven blokes trying to beat each other until one of them wins a place in the highest
division of non-league football.

If I could have gone, I would but instead I'll have to be content with Setanta Sports in the supporters club, such is life.

But still we can dream: The right result and we could end up making away days to exotic places like York, Halifax and Weymouth.

Bring it on!