Shirebrook Town 1 Belper Town 2
A pre season friendly at Shirebrook Town. “Friendly” and “Shirebrook” not normally words you hear in the same sentence. As it turns out they were friendly and the game itself was ‘very friendly’. Had a lift to the game with Andy Carter in his Jag – very nice, if I ever find I have a spare £30K I think I’ll have one of those although with the price of petrol and a 4.2 litre engine I’d probably need the same amount again to run the thing.
First person we bump into on arrival is Dave ‘Foggy’ Laughlin closely followed by Rex coming out of the bar (no surprise there then). Next supporters to put in an appearance are Ken & Sheila (Mr & Mrs Nortoner) looking very tanned after a break in Hornchurch. Ken insists it’s rust but I’m not convinced (if I’m completely honest there is a distinct hint of fake tan in the air).
As I try to enter the turnstile I meet Ant Wilson (aka the Dark Destroyer) coming the other way. He hands me a pound coin and asks me to get him a bottle of Lucozade from the bar. Turns out that the cost is £1.12 – little chance of getting the extra money so I do the decent thing and tell him I’ll stand him the 12p – this once.
Last time we went to Shirebrook the pitch looked like a meadow following a prolonged spell of dry weather (see photo left). This time it looks greener but no less hard or uneven.
It makes it difficult for the players to control the ball. This, combined with a ‘first match after the summer break’ feel made it a bit of a stroll in the sunshine really, although not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. Shirebrook play the ball about well and look comfortable, they also sport two ex-nailers in the shape of Ryan Cancellara playing left back and centre half Adam Yates who looks a decent player and possibly one for the future. Just before kick off we are joined by the chip & pie eating Nigel ‘scribbler’ Oldrini. I snap a picture of him eating his food (I know how people love to have their photos taken while they are eating) to put on the website later.
Most of the game was spent trying to work out who the new faces were and remembering how to take photographs of (fairly) fast moving objects after a summer spent snapping still life, flowers and weddings. The first half saw the Nailers kicking down the slope and creating quite a few chances, the Dark Destroyer hits the bar with a cracking effort early on and new signing Ben Kistell has enough chances to record his first hat-trick in a nailers shirt. The Shirebrook keeper makes some cracking saves despite his ‘Pettingeresque’ frame. Pets himself makes a good save from former nailer reserve player Ant Lynam and typically in a game with so many chances the teams end the first half at 0-0.
A brief break for a cup of tea and a chat with the officials in the portacabin hospitality suite and it was back on duty for the second 45. Changes saw Rush and the Wasp enter the fray. There is also the introduction of a small lad wearing the number 16 shirt. He has long shorts and his socks pulled up which gives the impression that he has no knees – at least that’s what Rex comments when he sees him. Scribbler suggests he may have ‘magic powers’ – I question what was in the pie he ate before kick off. A few minutes later a cross into the box sees the ‘man with no knees’ leap like a salmon and head past the static Shirebrook keeper, who replaced their first half hero at the break. I look at Scribbler and start to wonder…
Not long after that Rush gets free in the box and curls a cracker into the net from about 12 yards – a Shirebrook official walks past and nodding towards the keeper says “He did the same thing in a game the other week. We were 2-0 up and he took over, the next thing it was 2-2” I feel his future career lies elsewhere.
As second half goes on and I find my concentration wandering. I spot a good
photo opportunity of a rusty metal girder that the sun is illuminating and then I turn my lens on the floodlight pylon that I am standing next to. I don’t seem to be missing much on the pitch as more changes in the Nailers line up results in a disjointed end to the game although Belper remain on top barring the odd break from Shirebrook.
No sign of Scott Lowe tonight or Kris Kotylo. The talk is that Kots has been promoted at work and cannot make the midweek games or training. A big loss to the side. Rumours that Lowey is at a health spa are (I’m quite sure) greatly exaggerated. Micky Harcourt is there but I don’t get close enough for him to tell me he’s still the best looking player at Belper (although he did tell me the very same thing at the last game of last season up at Carlton, and again at the first training session this season. I’d like to think he’s joking but there’s a glint in his eye that tells me he actually believes it).
No hanging around tonight after the game so it’s a quick hello and goodbye to Jim & Eric who have spent the game basking in the sun on the far side of the ground, and Sheila and Ken. I advise that I won’t be at the game on Saturday due to photographing a wedding but I’ll be there next Thursday for the match with Worksop
After that it’s back in the Jag for the trip home. As the temp has dropped Andy asks if I want the heater on – not the car heater but the seat heater! Luxury! I sit back and wish Belper was a longer drive back than it actually is.
A pre season friendly at Shirebrook Town. “Friendly” and “Shirebrook” not normally words you hear in the same sentence. As it turns out they were friendly and the game itself was ‘very friendly’. Had a lift to the game with Andy Carter in his Jag – very nice, if I ever find I have a spare £30K I think I’ll have one of those although with the price of petrol and a 4.2 litre engine I’d probably need the same amount again to run the thing.
First person we bump into on arrival is Dave ‘Foggy’ Laughlin closely followed by Rex coming out of the bar (no surprise there then). Next supporters to put in an appearance are Ken & Sheila (Mr & Mrs Nortoner) looking very tanned after a break in Hornchurch. Ken insists it’s rust but I’m not convinced (if I’m completely honest there is a distinct hint of fake tan in the air).
As I try to enter the turnstile I meet Ant Wilson (aka the Dark Destroyer) coming the other way. He hands me a pound coin and asks me to get him a bottle of Lucozade from the bar. Turns out that the cost is £1.12 – little chance of getting the extra money so I do the decent thing and tell him I’ll stand him the 12p – this once.
Last time we went to Shirebrook the pitch looked like a meadow following a prolonged spell of dry weather (see photo left). This time it looks greener but no less hard or uneven.
It makes it difficult for the players to control the ball. This, combined with a ‘first match after the summer break’ feel made it a bit of a stroll in the sunshine really, although not a bad game by any stretch of the imagination. Shirebrook play the ball about well and look comfortable, they also sport two ex-nailers in the shape of Ryan Cancellara playing left back and centre half Adam Yates who looks a decent player and possibly one for the future. Just before kick off we are joined by the chip & pie eating Nigel ‘scribbler’ Oldrini. I snap a picture of him eating his food (I know how people love to have their photos taken while they are eating) to put on the website later.Most of the game was spent trying to work out who the new faces were and remembering how to take photographs of (fairly) fast moving objects after a summer spent snapping still life, flowers and weddings. The first half saw the Nailers kicking down the slope and creating quite a few chances, the Dark Destroyer hits the bar with a cracking effort early on and new signing Ben Kistell has enough chances to record his first hat-trick in a nailers shirt. The Shirebrook keeper makes some cracking saves despite his ‘Pettingeresque’ frame. Pets himself makes a good save from former nailer reserve player Ant Lynam and typically in a game with so many chances the teams end the first half at 0-0.
A brief break for a cup of tea and a chat with the officials in the portacabin hospitality suite and it was back on duty for the second 45. Changes saw Rush and the Wasp enter the fray. There is also the introduction of a small lad wearing the number 16 shirt. He has long shorts and his socks pulled up which gives the impression that he has no knees – at least that’s what Rex comments when he sees him. Scribbler suggests he may have ‘magic powers’ – I question what was in the pie he ate before kick off. A few minutes later a cross into the box sees the ‘man with no knees’ leap like a salmon and head past the static Shirebrook keeper, who replaced their first half hero at the break. I look at Scribbler and start to wonder…
Not long after that Rush gets free in the box and curls a cracker into the net from about 12 yards – a Shirebrook official walks past and nodding towards the keeper says “He did the same thing in a game the other week. We were 2-0 up and he took over, the next thing it was 2-2” I feel his future career lies elsewhere.
As second half goes on and I find my concentration wandering. I spot a good
photo opportunity of a rusty metal girder that the sun is illuminating and then I turn my lens on the floodlight pylon that I am standing next to. I don’t seem to be missing much on the pitch as more changes in the Nailers line up results in a disjointed end to the game although Belper remain on top barring the odd break from Shirebrook.No sign of Scott Lowe tonight or Kris Kotylo. The talk is that Kots has been promoted at work and cannot make the midweek games or training. A big loss to the side. Rumours that Lowey is at a health spa are (I’m quite sure) greatly exaggerated. Micky Harcourt is there but I don’t get close enough for him to tell me he’s still the best looking player at Belper (although he did tell me the very same thing at the last game of last season up at Carlton, and again at the first training session this season. I’d like to think he’s joking but there’s a glint in his eye that tells me he actually believes it).
No hanging around tonight after the game so it’s a quick hello and goodbye to Jim & Eric who have spent the game basking in the sun on the far side of the ground, and Sheila and Ken. I advise that I won’t be at the game on Saturday due to photographing a wedding but I’ll be there next Thursday for the match with Worksop
After that it’s back in the Jag for the trip home. As the temp has dropped Andy asks if I want the heater on – not the car heater but the seat heater! Luxury! I sit back and wish Belper was a longer drive back than it actually is.
Next up – Leek Town
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