Norden Cricket Club

I would like to start by thanking 'The Usual Suspects' for answering my call at the beginning of last week on this very blog, to get up to some antics that I could get up on here! They duly obliged!

Bank Holiday weekends are normally messy affairs, and this one was no different, with a few of the boys starting proceedings early with a night out on Thursday night! Duminy was on debut in the City Centre, escorted by a couple of Norden's finest and I am led to believe a good night was had by all. One certain member of our playing staff, hence forth known as Gabriel, was pleasinlgly back to his best form. Gabriel is one of those blokes, who you can't help but admire in one respect, whilst at the same time being utterly baffled about how it's done! Many people, particularly myself, have asked him personally on a number of occasions, and I'm not so sure he knows himself, though the alcohol definitely helps. On this occasion it involved sticking lips on someone who he'd previously described as being 'like a sister'. Considering the man in question isn't from Burnley, it was dubious behaviour to say the least, however a current member of Ernie's Barmy Army and a half decent Overseas player from the past didn't see much wrong with keeping it in the family!

On Friday evening a different trio decided to make the trip into Manchester, with the most honest intentions I am sure. After what can only be described as a 'Sausage Fest' early doors, things began to pick up and the boys came into their own. Joey was doing his best to keep 3 on the go for a decent proportion of the night, whilst Mojo talked Fish and Chips with a female teacher from Grimsby! The third musketeer, also found himself in conversation with a bit of a complex character, though his patience was looking severely tested at some points. Harshly, Mojo was whisked away from his prey by the other two with the Northern Quarter in mind, and jumped in a taxi before realising that there was a good chance of him playing goosebury for the rest of the evening. He was last seen jumping out of the taxi outside House of Fraser on Deansgate, and running in the direction of The Venue to meet another of his various targets, though I hear from a good source his mission was unsuccessful. With regards to the other two, I believe it was only a 1 in 2 success rate, with a Tiger Taxi back to Rochdale at 3am for one of them, and a 7am Train from Manchester Victoria for the other! You do the math!

The cricket was a superb effort by both sides on Saturday, with the Second XI stepping up to the plate whilst being watched by the selection Mafia on the sidelines, and the firsts continuing where they have left off from the start of the season. The quiet night promised, ahead of the big games against Monton on Sunday were quashed by a bottle of Jagermeister. Mojo, Chairman of Cricket and Docks headed into Rochdale for some pre-match team bonding, however everything looked to be going wrong when Mr Chairman was refused entry into Koko Lounge in his Norden CC polo top! Despite trying our best the doormen were having none of it, so Tatt did the honourable thing, and spent a tenner getting home, getting changed and getting back out again! Admirable stuff and I'm sure he will tell you it was worth it after what unfolded later on in the evening! After the confidence from the night before, Mojo found himself once again in the thick of the action when approached by a girl wanting his phone number straight away. He got a bit worried when she mentioned her boyfriend was at the bar but managed to pass it on and move on pretty satisfied with his work. About 10 mins later (after a quick chat with another of Gabriel's victims upstairs),  the girl who's number he had just taken was spotted with 55 year old former Rochdale, Hererford and Oldham defender Keith Hicks up against the wall! Not his proudest moment I am sure, though I suppose the charms of a former professional footballer must be hard to resist!

The night ended with a further bit of controversy, as an ex-CLL WAG was informed that her ex-husband was a candidate for 'shortest in the shower' in the whole league by Mr Chairman!! Don't think she was too impressed but it certainly tickled the boys!

Again, the cricket on Sunday doesn't need much mention, but the 1st and 2nds completed a twenty point weekend with comprehensive performances. Special mention to Muggers and Pricey for the 1s, and Cousin Chris and Bulimic Barry for the 2s, who bowled extremely well. Unfortunately Ernie's Barmy Army finished just short, but there were many positives to take from the game, especially from Bog.

Curry night and JagerBombs followed, with greater entertainment and a wondeful duet from Macca and Docker set the night up well. A loud boisterous group sing song followed, until everyone piled into Koko Lounge with Pricey and JP following, making their Koko Lounge debut. Just for a change, the evening gets a bit hazy again, and considering this was the biggest night of the lot, I can't remember much action taking place, apart from gathering round the bar and getting even more blind drunk. Makin got absolutely trolleyed, threatened to leave about 5 times and kept coming back, until he claimed his drink was spiked, forgetting the fact that he'd probably consumed twice his body weight in alcohol. Duminy and Pricey looked pretty bemused at the clientelle in Koko's but I'm pretty sure thoroughly enjoyed the evening. Former Norden 'one season wonder' Daryll Cryer rocked up, as did Rochdale's biggest cider drinker and Leeds fan Fleck. Once Koko's closed it was back to mine and a free house. I'm sure I told everyone that I wasn't sure I had any drink in, but it was decided that  it would happen anyway, and I naively left my keys with someone else to let themselves in the house whilst I went to Planet USA. Unfortunately Fleck forgot which house I lived in, and decided to try his best to get into next door. Not the best idea, and certainly not if you've come across my neighbours before. Luckily they didn't stir, but I returned to a pretty annoyed houseful of people querying where my alcohol was and what the point was in coming back, ignoring the fact I'd told them all this in the first place. A pretty damp end to a good evening, but it was about 5am by this point, and Muggers suggestion of going back to his to collect a crate of Peroni as quickly knocked on the head as people went their seperate ways.

I'm sure Monday was a day of recovery for most people, it certainly was for me! Luckily we have another bank holiday coming up at the end of the month, so we have that to look forward to! In the meantime, there are plenty of weekends before then to get some action in, so keeping it going boys!