With the real economy still in a mess and with the Government promising austerity for many years to come this Christmas is an opportunity to summon up some cheer. I have always enjoyed the unique combination of football and beer and Christmas is the perfect time to execute!
As 2013 comes to a close City's players have really given us a lift with a tremendous run of results.
Hayes was always going to be a tough fixture so the late postponement was a mixed blessing. For City's fans being told that the pitch was playable only for the match referee to then call it if is an all too familiar story. The supporters coach made it to Fleet before being told! It's not good. Supporters paid £20 a head to travel.
City did enough in the Boxing day game against Weston and duly picked up the 3 points needed to propel us back towards the playoff zone.Ross Stearn's goal from Andy Watkins, s superb cross was a beauty. The 852 crowd was encouraging given the paucity of away fans.
It is positive that City have strengthened their attacking options with the signing of Welsh striker Nat Jarvis though he looked to need match time as his touch deserted him in his substitute appearance.
City are now 7th and looking good for at least a playoff place when the season ends.
With the AGM coming next Monday (30th December), I for one am hoping for a fresh start for a Club off the pitch with a new unity. Indeed the news came through early last Monday that the Club's Chairman, Manda Rigby, had resigned. On a personal note I was very happy to hear this. I had first hand experience of the regime and I am sure more will be said as time passes.I look forward to working with the new Chair Paul Williams and know that he has the qualities to bring us all together for the good of the Club. I go into 2014 feeling much happier!! It was certainly a better atmosphere at Twerton with a lot of smiling faces!
I wanted to talk about beer and praise the Club's bars and Andy Weekes for keeping faith with real ale and in particular Dorset based Palmers. Bath itself is a real ale City with 10 listed pubs and a few great local bitters notably Bath ales (Gem), Bellringer and Butcombe - all firm favourites of mine.
I would of course, rather live in Bath, my home town, but since leaving for University in 1974 work has meant that I have lived far and wide. I hope to come home permanently when circumstances allow.
One of the positives about living in Derby is that it has been designated the 'Real ale capital of the world' by none other than the 'Lonely Planet Guide'.
A City of 250,000 people it has 12 breweries and on any one night 180 different real ales to choose from. It is very competitive and in some pubs £2.50 a pint is the norm. There are 30 breweries in the County!
The local breweries love a good name. The Dancing Duck brewery keeps up its theme with 'Nice weather for', '22', 'Ay Up' and 'Abduction' plus 'DCUK'. Leatherbritches features 'Hairy Helmet' and the Derby Brewing Company has 'Business as Usual' and 'Old Intentional' as well as 'Dashingly Dark'. Football is never far away with 'Brown Clough' and 'Old Big Head'. The Falstaff brewery boasts 'Smiling Assassin' and a 'Fistful of Hops.'
I hope City get a fixture around Derby area again before I move back south. I would be happy to lead a group of City fans on a tour of the great local hostelries!
Tomorrow's trip to Eastleigh will be tough. City looked a little rusty after an almost 3 week layoff but if we can keep the unbeaten run going that will be a bonus against a promotion favourite.
It was great to be back in Bath over Christmas. And I aim to be at Weston on New Years Day and will write again on Thursday 2nd January with news and views from the AGM and hopefully a result by the seaside!
In the meantime a Happy New Year to all!
What price 2014 as a promotion year for City?
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