Football has always been part of my life, both professional and semi-professional, and I’ve never experienced a week in the game like we’ve had here at Tividale Football Club.

I can’t be over specific as our Appeal Hearing, which I will be attending, has yet to take place, but when the result of our initial application for Ground Grading (Grade D Specification) was communicated, we were all extremely disappointed and upset, as you can imagine.

Sometimes this game can be very cruel, and that’s what we experienced last week. Football is a game of rumour and speculation but you have to put that to one side, particularly when the season is still very much in progress.

We’ve worked hard on our appeal this week, and that’s now been sent to the Football Association ahead of our Appeal Hearing at Wembley Stadium on Tuesday.

On behalf of Tividale Football Club’s committee, we’d like to thank Manager, Ian Long, the coaching staff and most of all the players for their sheer professionalism through this difficult time. Let’s hope common sense prevails.

Staying with football, and we’ve taken six points off Carlton Town in the space of four days, and I think it’s great credit to the aforementioned staff of this Football Club that our on pitch performance levels have been maintained.

Milestones are always good to mention in football, and we’ve a few on our hands at the moment with our current squad. Luke Paskin recently played his 150th game for Tivi, with Andrew Parsons now only two games away from 200 appearances for Dale.

Mark Smith and Ryan Winwood will both be making their 75th appearance in all competitions if they feature at Gresley on Saturday, and Karl Edwards scored his 20th goal of the season on Tuesday night against Carlton Town.

Congratulations to all!

Away from the first team, thank you to everyone who attended Sunday’s Tividale Academy Under 14’s Charity Cup Final against Thimblemill at The Dell Stadium.

The lads were terrific, winning the game 5-1, and great credit must go to Keith Thompson and Phil Etherington-Yorke for the way they’ve developed that team over the course of the past 12 months.

Back in the Social Club, and we had a great weekend. Unless your name is Wayne Mundon, that is…..

Let’s just say that myself, Wayne or Ian Long will never be drinking Sherry again, or for a while at least!

I’d also like to call into question the behaviour of Esther Foulkes, who managed to fall out with me and Wayne within 10 minutes of speaking to her! We’ve all made up now, I’m pleased to say 🙂

Sunday was just as interesting! It was Terri Wood’s 27th Birthday last weekend, and has already made me aware that she’s less than impressed that there was no Tweet on @TiviFCofficial to reflect that! Sorry, Terri 🙂

Anyway, Terri, Ted (Stadium Manager) and some friends went to Worcester for the weekend to celebrate in style. And they did just that!

Let’s just say that Ted and his partner in crime, Phil, walked through the front door of Tividale Football & Social Club on Sunday and talking to them was like experiencing a ‘time warp’….

I think their “all you can eat” breakfast at Travelodge Worcester finished the pair of them off! Having said that, Ted still played his weekly game of Darts on Sunday lunch. The Treble 20 became the Double 6, mind 🙂

Finally, make sure you’re in attendance at Tividale Football & Social Club this Saturday evening from 20:00 as ‘TIVIDALE PRESENTS’ Vocalist, Jason Jones.

Like Olly Murs? Bruno Mars? Jackie Wilson? Ed Sheeran? Marvin Gaye? Sam Smith? Yes? Jason’s your man!

See you at the bar when we return from Wembley, Submariners! 🙂

Steven.