Scunthorpe United (H)

 

Henri Lloyd Round The World Race

 HL's iconic jacket at a ridiculous bargain price. Mind you, was listed as a 'car jacket' which sounds like something Alan Partridge would buy/sell...

 

Harrogate Town (H)

 Two nil down at half time.

Up 3-2 by the end.

Never say die.

The London Pub Guide

 The NW5 public houses visited in July for the CC meet. And unlike previous Hartlepool/Sunderland etc pub guides they weren't all rough as fuck - all were welcoming, friendly and serving superb ale...

Sweat Shopping

 Couple of sweatshirt pickups seeing as it's getting a bit chilly.

Garment dyed 2017 Stone Island via a forum. The deep green is more spring colourway than autumn but it's a very soft, comfortable sweat. 

Also a classic dark navy Folk. Basic in style and substance but there's nowt wrong with that. Been getting plenty of Folk gear recently, stay put for further posts of autumn staples - the overshirts.

 

Italian Goggles

 Proper ones, not the ones on your hood, hat or half way up your sleeve. Look dead hard whether driving, skiing or swimming.

Acid Rambler

 Smashing new tit for tat from Casualco. Named after a very niche early 2000s outdoorsy mag, this is a very hikerdelic hat for the chilly autumn months.

Came with a lovely new pin badge, beer mat and stash full of stickers. The beanie is also made from recycled bottles, so staying toasty by reducing global warming...

Stone Valley Festival North

 Last time I saw the Mondays live, little did I know the next time I would be nearly a decade later - in a field round the corner from my mams.

SVF do festivals up and down the country, and for the last seven years the North version has been up in the Durham dales. This year though they decided to relocate to the former priest seminary of Ushaw College. Myself originally coming from the local pit village Ushaw Moor, the prospect of seeing some top bands literally on home soil was appealing.

Saturday, post Exeter City (H), me and the kids took in the sights, sounds, funny smells and fire eaters of SVF. As we were settling in some lad with no pupils gave Seth a plastic AK-47. 

We were all Spartacus for The Farm, Hootons firm performing some classic 90s tunes - Groovy Train and Stepping Stone amongst others, cumulating with a sing along All Together (Now). Seth took this opportunity during a pro peace song to machine gun down the lead singer. 

The Undertones next up. Jimmy Jimmy got the boys dancing and my favourite My Perfect Cousin up shortly after. Tiredness was creeping in for the youngest Seth so we called for mam to pick us up - the pre teens had had their kicks for one night, we left as the crowd bounced along to Sharkey's hit.

Following night just myself and the eldest Jacob ventured along, couldn't risk being pulled away before Sunday's Mondays. We also came armed with blankets, Berghaus, camping chairs and cans.

Arrived a bit later due to work, From The Jam already mid set but caught the Tube (Station), That's Entertainment and a few others before an encore of Going Underground.

Cast were a Britpop band quite frankly I'd forgotten all about, but soon recalled after plenty of energy and hit after hit. I guess they were Alright, guess they were fine. 

Finally Happy Mondays. Jayboy could barely contain his excitement bless him - up late on a school night to see a bunch of ramshackle lunatics he'd only heard from dad's records before. Out they came to Kinky before a bit banter with the crowd, X asking Bez the MasterChef to cook 'im sumfin' up. Plenty baggy classics followed, mainly consisting of Pills Thrills tunes.

The bairn announced early that he was going to sit down if he didn't know the song. He didn't sit down once, and drew some approving comments from festival goers - "he's got the moves hasn't he?" and "You've taught him well" as he grooved round like Dennis and Lois.

Fairly short set of one hour, finishing of course with Step On. Shaun apologized for not being able to do WFL due to timings but it mattered not - I'd seen the Mondays basically at my home with my eldest son. Hallelujah.

Mondays Set list

Kinky Afro

God's Cop

Donovan

Loose Fit

Dennis & Lois

Clap your Hands

Bob's Yer Uncle

Twenty Four Hour Party People

Hallelujah

Step On

Exeter City (H)

First game back since January 2020 (Stockport County)

First EFL game since February 2017 (Plymouth).

The Vic was full and rocking, hopefully the good / safe times are returning. 

Up the fucking Football League bothering National League conquering Pools.