Hinckley Times - Dave's Diary

Get down tonight!

2008-11-14T11:21:15Z

The weather os good and we've got lots on tonight so what are you waiting for?

It's Children In Need night and unless you want to sit glued infront of the box watching El Tel and his wig then why not come down to The Marston's and do your bit?

We've got fireworks, funfair, DJ, karaoke, bands and acts plus Dean Thomas will shave his moustache off if we raise a grand!!!

Ideal preparation for the game tomorrow - the players will wonder who is giving them orders!!!

Jim Tomlinson did a great job with the photo in the HT this week of Deano toshless and it is well worth coming down and having a look at everything that has been arranged.

And tomorrow we have it all to do again with the Lions having a massive dinner and fundraiser plus the football game against Harrogate Town.

Harrogate are second and we are sixth, so hopefully we'll get a good gate and raise a lot of money for charity again with a bucket collection for Children In Need.

Who says it's all about football!!!! The Marston's Stadium is a seven days a week operation so come on down and see what we are all about!

Fireworks and fun for charity

2008-11-04T10:15:57Z

After the fireworks night problems caused by problems from above (the weather to the simple man in the street) we got together yesterday morning and planned what to do next.

We are always keen to do our bit for charity down here and wanted to give everyone a free night to make amends for Saturday.

So after a meeting with the Rocket Men yesterday morning and looking at availability we decided that Children In Need Night (November 14th) is an excellent way to give everyone a great night out and raise some money for a very worthwhile cause.

So after a chat with the Hinckley Times to help us with publicity and organising the fairground and a DJ/karaoke we were back in business.

I'm putting an appeal out in the paper this week and if anyone reads this first then get in touch. On the night we will be operating free entry but there will be buckets everywhere to collect for Children In Need. And what else we want to do is to get donations from businesses in the town to come forward and offer items to raffle or auction off.

We are keen for some entertainers to come forward and do a turn on the stage on the night and if there are any bands etc, then get in touch on daveriche@marstonstadium.co.uk

There will be a big firework display (weather permitting) and the whole night promises to be a good night out.
Children In Need will be on the big screen and lots of people will be in fancy dress so come on down!
If you have any suggestions for fundraising then drop me a line!

Andy Hall's magic feet

2008-11-04T10:15:57Z

What can you say?
What a free kick last night and the cup run continues.
The 200 people who came to the ground last night witnessed a goal worth double the admission fee and something yet again which would grace any level of football.
There is certainly something special about the right hand side of the ground and free kicks with Mr Hall!
With the score at 1-1 and extra time looking like a strong possibility as soon as the free kick was given, there were whispers around the ground of can he do it again?
And as he placed the ball there were thoughts that Neil Cartwright might fancy it.
But up stepped Hinckley's dead ball expert and rocketed it again into the top right (or the keeper's top left) and it was game, set and match to Hinckley.
Yes it would have been better to have done it the week before in the FA Cup or even on Saturday but we didn't and last night was a chance to go and prove ourselves against higher opposition.
Histon came to do a typical John Beck esque style of football and keep it in the air and long and we did a good job to match them.
So thanks again Mr Hall and let's have plenty more before the end of the season.

Fleetwood and fireworks

2008-11-03T09:31:22Z

Well it wasn't a good weekend all round for the club.
A long treck up North to my hometown and a late defeat and then the heavens opened for the fireworks.
We had such high expectations for the weekend and a lot of time and effort had gone into the fireworks.
But being in good old Blighty, you can never plan enough for one thing - the weather.

On the way to the ground on Saturday morning, one glance up at the skies gave an indication that all was not well but the weather report said it was going to blow over.
But in the end it poured down and was the worst rain and weather for some time.

None of the acts planned for outside could go outside due to the conditions except for the fire eaters and breathers.
The burning house didn't light up at the first attempt and then when it did go up it went up a little too much.
Then to cap it all off, the fireworks we wanted to use couldn't be used due to the weather conditions.
Overall it was a bad night for all concerned and we immediately set about thinking over ways to make things right.

I held discussions with the firework team and told them we need to put on a display as soon as possible for all the people who came to see a big display and as soon as it is finalised, we will release it.

I want to try and raise some money for charity in the process and hopefully later today we will make the details public.

It is awful when things don't go to plan and we have been having a bad run recently at The Marston's! When it doesn't go well it's not just the public who suffer, it's the staff on site and there have been a lot of sad faces moping around the place.

We all have to try and be positive because smiling faces make a happy workforce and a happy workforce makes it better for the customers. I think that's what my old business studies teacher used to say!!!

Keep your eyes posted for what's happening with the firework display on my blog and in this week's Hinckley Times.

The dream is over

2008-10-28T15:06:18Z

Well my phone bill went through the roof last night in terms of texts sent and a big thanks to Paul Moss from Holiday Lounge who kept me going with results.

What can you say. I can't comment too much as I wasn't there but it was there for the taking and we didn't take it. End of.
No point in crying over spilt milk - time to move on and regroup and move forward.

All very well but I am gutted, the players, directors and the management are and we have the small task of in-form Fleetwood Town on Saturday and Histon in the Setanta Cup on Monday.

Two games and two wins are clearly on the agenda.
We need to try and put things behind us and move on as soon as possible.

Yes the money would have been great for the club and the fans would have really got hold of cup fever once again, but what can you do now.

Too many people want to try and fix what can't be fixed and you have to look at the positives in life rather than the negatives.

As I sit here there are sad faces all around - so come on chins up everyone and let's think positive because we still have everything to play for.

Cup Fever continues

2008-10-24T12:10:07Z

Yorkshire pudding filled with bangers and mash sir?
A knitters scarf from the shop?
Can I have a voucher just incase?
It all adds up to one thing - cup fever.
And tomorrow it will be at fever pitch.

The air of excitement is there for all to see and just one thing stands in the way of the Knitters strive for sucess.
Curzon Ashton.

Its 90 minutes of football and then we are there if things go to plan.
After the display against Redditch on Monday evening it is clear the grit and determination is there and Curzon scouts will have gone back realising that we are a tough opposition.

It has been said many times before but they are here on merit and will not be given any disrespect.
The cup is about giant killings and shocks and we all know what happened to Stalybridge in the last round.

So lets hope that this time on Sunday we are in the hat for the First Round Proper.
I'm off now to cut up some vouchers to give out at the turnstyles!
We don't have them specially printed at the printers you know!

Who is Nick Castle?

2008-10-24T12:02:35Z

There is a guessing game going on among the terraces and among staff here at The Marston's Stadium and it is Who Is Nick Castle?

During the summer when the Times asked me for a writer for matches and maybe a columnist there was a bit of a struggle due to some ill feeling over the previous regime at the paper. (Hopefully this blog will pass the editors!!!)

But out of the blue Mr Castle came along.
About a month ago I was talking to Simon Holden and asked him who Mr Castle was.
To my amazement, Simon thought I would know who he was so we drew a blank.
The hunt for Mr Castle is continuing and this morning when I got into the ground, we again started discussing the elusive Mr Castle.

There are theories in place now that he may be a member of the current squad!
I am not totally dispelling that and I feel it is someone who is media trained.
And before the finger starts, it isn't me!

So the guessing game goes on.
Will the real Mr Castle please stand up?

Here we go again?

2008-10-13T13:03:50Z

Well after a weekend of watching Fleetwood Town reach the final qualifying round of the FA Cup and taking in a secret scouting mission for DT (my scribbles on the back of a programme will hopefully be legible to his masterplan!) it was with some apprehension that we sat down infront of the wireless and listened to the draw for the FA Cup Fourth Qualifying Round.

Wake up Dave - it just springs onto the internet at abaout 11am this morning.

And first out of the hat versus Curzon Ashton. Can this be true?

The first thing is they have to be good to be where they are without any replays and a quick google search finds they are formidable opposition - but surely we will have enough quality?
But then that's what Stalybridge Celtic will have thought in the last round when they went crashing out.

The weekend was a great result by all accounts and wish I had been there.
Andy Hall getting another two and Chima Dozie setting up the winner - he is already building up a cult following among the fans.

So two weeks today we could be in the First Round Proper playing Leicester City or Leeds United. What a great prospect and financially for the club it would be fantastic. But its the same for Curzon and I am sure Dean will do his homework and prepare as well as he normally does for the games.

I have to concentrate on the off the field income and maximising every opportunity we can.
We are looking at putting on some Hinckley FA Cup DVDs before the game and have a few more tricks up the sleeve. So keep an eye out in the press, on the blog and via the website.

At the end of the day, the FA Cup is all about the supporters so any ideas - please let me know.

Cup fever

2008-10-10T11:33:15Z

Well its the day before the FA Cup game and a win tomorrow and we are 90 minutes away from a game with Leeds United or Leicester City.
Hitchin Town are a team that haven't got to be underestimated by any means and chatting to Dean Thomas yesterday and he has watched them twice and knows their dangers and seems well prepared.
We are taking the game seriously and having a pre match meal which Nobby the kitman has organised so there cant be any excuses for not preparing.
And Nobby is even paying for the pre match himself - so a big thanks for that one!
The dreaded R word is something none of us are thinking about as yet - but we have to and I've had to cancel a meeting the council wanted to have in the TF Bell Suite on Monday just incase it is in use for a replay.
But let's hope that 90 minutes is more than enough!
I have a reputation for not going to the away games - generally because I'm looking after weddings or functions here and tomorrow is no different.
But I'll be watching a game - I'm off up North to see family and taking in Fleetwood Town who we play in a few weeks time.
Fingers x-ed for tomorrow.
Hopefully there'll be a few of you coming in for bacon butties at Lacey's in the morning before the coach leaves. Tricky the chef is frying up from half ten!
Forget the diet - just for tomorrow!!!

Cup runs

2008-10-08T12:41:51Z

Well I'm sat here today having a scout around the various media websites in the area and have one question to ask.
Does anyone apart from the good old HT know we exist and how things are going this season?
It's amazing that our near neighboirs across the A5 get press coverage about the slightest thing and we put together a decent run in the FA Cup, reach our furthest again in the Setanta Cup and are very close to TV coverage in it and retain our spot in the league and don't warrant a mention!
I may be biased as my background was in papers and hopefully the good old HT powers that be will let this go on the blog site but it is better when everyone covers you as a club because we want the gates to climb up and up.
I know damned well that if we continue our cup run then the bandwaggon media jumpers will be trying to hitch a ride and it is imperrative we get the coverage, but keep things in perspective.
The HT and HUFC have had their problems in the past as we all know, but as fr as I am concerned now, the coverage is unrivalled and long may this continue.
As for the rest - you have some catching up to do.....

Cup fever

2008-09-27T11:08:56Z

Well its all hussle and bussle here before we start the FA Cup campaign in a few hours time.
We're tryin something a bit different to try and get more of an atmosphere in the sponsors lounge and today we'll have Paul Culpin and Jamie Lenton answering questions in the aptly named Chilli and a Chat day!
Hopefully we'll have a good turnout.
Creating an atmosphere is what all football fans want and over the last few weeks there's been a few moans and groans about the music being played in the stadium.
Mick Sutton has taken over behing the mike and injects loads of enthusiasm but the music is still a bit lacking so today we're trying a few different things which will hopefully get a thumbs up.
Its three hours to kick off and I've decided today to try my lucky socks game which worked a few years ago.
I will keep the same socks on for every FA Cup game we win - the question is do I wash them???
Will update this later after the game.

Up the Villa

2008-09-23T13:48:19Z

Well its exciting times here and back to football and just been announced that we're holidng the Villa reserve games here in the New Year.
We'll have Chelsea, Arsenal, West Ham and West Brom here.
Somethin to look forward to when its cold in January down here then - although come to think of it wouldn't it be great if we played their first team in the FA Cup the same month????
Anyway - stop dreaming Dave and get back to work - back to the wedding fair then

Wedding fair fun

2008-09-23T13:42:18Z

At the minute we are organising a wedding fair for October and lets just say that it aint exactly my favourite thing to be doing!
Me and marriage didnt exactly go together too well - I sound like Jim Davdison there!
Well the phone hasn't stopped ringing today with calls from cake suppliers, hat makers and dress people and needless to say the event will be big and a great success.
But you know when something freaks you out??
I'm not bein sexist - but its definately a woman's job to sort this one out.
And who better to sort ot than my Conference and Banqueting Manager Sophie.
Our very own happily married person !!!!!

Its Cup week (and my birthday!)

2008-09-23T07:52:55Z

Everyone dreams about a great run in the FA Cup and for non-league teams it can be the difference between make or break.

I was lucky enough to experience a great run during my time across the A5 at Nuneaton Borough and as a lot of my friends and work colleagues know, I still go on about to this day!

I know Hinckley has had some great cup runs in recent years with the Cheltenham, Torquay and Brentford games and I was lucky enough to experience them all during my time as a young reporter scribbling away in my notebook!

But getting to the Third Round and facing Premiership opposition is the stuff dreams are made of and for club bank balances it makes a massive difference.

I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to work out that even with our facilities at The Marston's Stadium, things can be a little tough sometimes when it comes to finances.
And being part of what we have here makes you realise just how much a drain on finances it must be for club's without any conference and banqueting facilities to help them try to balance the books.

That is why the FA Cup can be so magical because it gives the players a chance to shine on the biggest stage possible and for the stereotypical plumbers and welders to become household names. I know it gets annoying every year when John Motson picks out a non-league stereotype to target for his commentary, but it all adds to the magic.

When the draw was made almost two weeks ago, everyone is hoping for a home draw against lower opposition and well for us it came true.

Ok, Solihull didn't catch us on one of our better days the other week, but it is up for us to make home advantage and our league position count and to be in the proverbial hat come 5pm.

It's just three wins we need in the competition and we could be up against Leicester City this year! Can you imagine what the gate would be for that one and the atmosphere? Or would you rather have a nice easy run up until the Premiership big boys come along? Choices, choices!

I think at the end of the day (yes it is a cliche), you have to be in it to win it and the best team wins - sorry taking the mickey with that bit now that I am back with journalistic licence after a few years off!

I can't wait for Saturday for another reason as it is my birthday weekend and there will be a load of us going out to celebrate the day I appeared a few years ago in a Blackpool Baby Ward. Infact I am like the Queen because my actual birthday is Thursday and I'm so greedy, I'm doing it twice.

So this weekend will hopefully be a double celebration - Hinckley starting a cup run and me having a beer run!

Until next time be good, and if you can't be good, be safe!