Volume 2. Chapter 3. Part 2

Its all about the game

So, this Saturday, October 2nd we welcome Durham City to our humble spot at BD16 1LT, (for those who need a post code). Its game five of the season and presents an opportunity for both clubs to potentially lift a leg out of the slough of despond by claiming the first league points of the season. Whichever way the result pans out, neither club can emerge from the murky shadows of the pond which is the bottom three, because the side in fourth from the ocean floor, Morpeth, have already accrued six league points from their opening four fixtures.

Anyhoo…I have seen a team sheet for Saturday but in these chastened times there is no guarantee that the fifteen names set out in front of me will be the same fifteen to jog out over the whitewash just before three pm on Saturday. I wont speculate how the line up might change, but looking at the team as currently selected, I was struck by the apparent youth of the side. With the help of one of the nurses I was able to use a calculator with big buttons and work out that the average age of our backs is 22 years and 3 months. The grey beards in that grouping are the skipper, Jack Malthouse at 27 and Ben Hockenhull at 25. Conversely the Milky Bar kids are Ben Hemsley at 20, with Will Sagar and Henry Reed- Purvis clocking in at a year older.

In the forwards, there is still some youth on display, with Dave Exley being the youngest at 22. Tipping the scales somewhat in the opposite direction, we find the Master of the Rolls, RR. I wont embarrass Roger by revealing his age, but looking on the Game Management System he first registered to play for us on 23rd September 2000. I believe he fell victim to the subtle recruitment strategy of Robin Kay. The always vociferous Mr Kay, spotted young Rog in a gym and ordered him to sign for the Bees or else…but, perhaps this is another urban legend doing the rounds in the Co-op.

While I have strayed into territory which has an age theme, I feel I must take this opportunity to thank Ali Macdonald for his superb efforts in pulling together the Legacy Project at the Bees. For those who don’t understand what Ali has been beavering away at, I will summarise. He has gone back to the founding of the club in August 1982 and tracked every player who has pulled on a first team shirt since and allocated each a Legacy Number. The proud owner of number 1 is Dave “Barney” Balmforth and I think with a couple of lads making their debuts last week we are up to around 604 in the Legacy numbers. To mark the end of this tumultuous effort, Ali organised a Legacy dinner last Saturday night, which was a great night by all accounts.

Unfortunately Ali wont be with on Saturday as he has joined Old Grovians as their first team coach this season. However, Ali remains firmly part of the family down here at The Hive and I am sure you will all join me in wishing him every success in the new tracksuit.

In case you can’t picture Ali, here he is a Bees shirt and tie:

So shuffling gamely on…

We are offering up spaces on the First XV charabanc, that’s a bus to you youngsters, for only £10 for members and £15 for non-members. The first outing is scheduled to be a week on Saturday away at Consett. As we don’t have an official club bus monitor, I can’t point you in anyone’s direction other than my own at the moment, if you fancy a bit of a jolly. Please send me an email to: nickpatt@icloud.com or text me on: 07812039277 should you fancy a spot of travelling. Failing that please collar me at the game on Saturday or next week when we host Moortown in the Cup.

We are only about 8 weeks away from the earnest dive into the Christmas Silly Season, and I will try and set out some Micklemass type jollification that is happening at the Club, in my next ceaseless waffle, which should be published next Thursday or Friday before the Cup game.

Before we reach for the Christmas Jumpers though, I must mention another event we are hosting here at the Club before the Cleckheaton game. On Saturday 13th November, my other half, Elizabeth (Sunday name) is putting on a fundraiser for the Alzheimers Society under the theme of Tapas and Tasting. This will, not surprisingly, involve some wine tasting accompanied by some Tapas type nibbles. The tasting will be hosted by Martinez Wine of Bingley and tickets retail at £25.00 per head. We really need everyone who is interested to book early and pay in advance. Liz is organising the Event after her mum succumbed to Alzheimer’s during Lockdown. Please can you contact Liz on 07776205071 or drop her an email at Lizzrichmond@yahoo.co.uk.

My final update concerns our Minis and Juniors. All our teams from Under 7 to Under 12 are all taking on Baildon up at Baildon this Sunday morning. If you are at a loose end and inclined to visit that neck of the woods, why not head up there to support our cast of thousands? The Under 13s will be at home facing “The Gate”. Kick off at The Hive is 11AM and please support the team if you possibly can.

All the very best.

Cheers