Never let it be said that us Landlubber Midlanders won’t go the extra mile in order to watch some live sport.
It’s all well and good Duncan gallivanting off to Estonia on a scouting mission to source some new players for St Mirren but, aside from a recent visit to Gresley FC, (read it here) live sport has been in short supply.
Bearing in mind that myself and my two drinking walking buddies recent trip to Matlock was before the easing on football crowds we decided to set up Beermat Tuesday FC.
(warming up for the big game)
Possibilities of playing Sheffield Wednesday were mooted but we settled for against Riber Rovers FC.
The only drawback of this was that (a) we’d already stopped off in four pubs and (b) it was an away fixture at a venue around 800 feet above sea level.
(crowd waiting at the bottom of the hill)
The hamlet of RIber is terrific and contains some serious hills as well as a nifty art gallery
featuring work from Eddie Hallam who is a bit of a legend in this part of the world.
(Riber Rovers groundsman preparing the pitch)
However, we had more important tasks to hand. I know Dave likes photos of my pals in uncompromising positions so he will be delighted with this effort.
With just one goal and an opposition team of two horses we were optimistic and Duncan will be pleased to know the score was a creditable 1-1 draw (attendance 1 est.).
Thankfully, after a steep climb it was downwards to Starkholmes but the White Lion was shut so more steps were in order as we looked for our post-match pint with views of Matlock Bath’s Heights of Abraham ahead.
594 – The Duke William DE4 3BZ loomed into view and it felt like a proper locals pub with less gastro than Tansley and it was (safely) full inside with two dogs having a sniffing and glaring contest in what looked like a mismatch.
Faced with the prospect of ‘dog bantz’ for around five minutes we plumped for the sunshine outside and a view to please Mark Shirley.
I think his influence might finally be rubbing off as we spotted a petanque court next to the beer patio out the front and watched the world go by with another magnificent pint of Landlord (Timothy Taylor’s).
One more climb back up and down took us into Matlock Bath for a visit to Rose Cottage (read here) and then the rattler back to Derby….
what a day and some fantastic countryside, which is often overlooked compared to the more fashionable Peak District towns.
Life After Football 
My goodness! The inside of the Duke’s seems to have changed a bit since I was last there. Quite the dark/sticky/grubby affair with ropey Marston’s beer back then, but a nice little bar at the back and of course all the local sporting action outside. Change of hands I’d guess.
There was quite a big caravan park at the back of the pub when I went, in my experience this is rarely a good thing. Seems to drag the whole place down to a chips-with-everything menu and a one-size-fits-all beer choice. Glad the Landlord was good though, almost far enough north to be served proper.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It looks like it’s had a lick of paint quite recently but still had a locals non gastro non tourist feel to it.
Not sure if camp site is still there but beer was marvellous…Only bonus of lockdown appears to be that beer is better than ever…or is it always better on draught/cask than from a bottle
LikeLike
Beermat Tuesday FC sounds a bit like Neil Baldwin FC in that marvellous film about the Stoke City fan. It could be just as successful but maybe a change of goalie might be needed first.
LikeLiked by 1 person
You could be right! I was with Nello for three years…a character of the highest order and a top feller 👍
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great stuff. Love the hat in that group shot. How have I never heard of Starkholme ?
LikeLiked by 1 person
A good Panama style sun hat always adds to the ambience! There are a few hidden gems by Matlock 👍
LikeLike
“Never let it be said that us Landlubber Midlanders won’t go the extra mile in order to watch some live sport.”
Is the photo below supposed to indicate some sort of live sheep herding?
“It’s all well and good Duncan gallivanting off to Estonia ”
Cheap holiday. You know the Scots. 😉
“but we settled for against Riber Rovers FC.”
Which doesn’t appear anywhere on the Wiki page for the List of Football Clubs in England. 🙂
“(crowd waiting at the bottom of the hill)”
All I see is the goalie. And how is that the bottom of a hill?
“The hamlet of RIber is terrific and contains some serious hills as well as a nifty art gallery”
Ah. Gotcha. Riber ‘currently’ has no football club. 😉
“(Riber Rovers groundsman preparing the pitch)”
I’m on to your wiley ways now. 🙂
“I know Dave likes photos of my pals in uncompromising positions so he will be delighted with this effort.”
Oight! Eye on the ball mate! 🙂
“Duncan will be pleased to know the score was a creditable 1-1 draw (attendance 1 est.).”
A bit stingy but… one (slow golf clap) for all that.
“The Duke William DE4 3BZ loomed into view”
Open all day Friday to Sunday? Is that like 24 hours a day for the entire weekend?
“with two dogs having a sniffing and glaring contest in what looked like a mismatch.”
All I see is a battered hat.
“and a view to please Mark Shirley.”
I take it he’s a fan of picnic tables?
“as we spotted a petanque court next to the beer patio”
Now there’s a word you don’t see every day!
“for a visit to Rose Cottage (read here)”
Blimey. I never twigged to the fact it has my wife’s name when I read it.(blush)
“and some fantastic countryside, which is often overlooked compared to the more fashionable Peak District towns”
I’m sure the company helped. 🙂
Cheers
LikeLiked by 1 person
Riber Rovers are a new team…formed on a Tuesday and only play on pitches with one goal 😉
The crowd were well hidden on that picture but I assure you over 10,000 were amassed waiting to climb the hill in order to watch …..
LikeLike
Lionel Messi only coming to Manchester City on condition he gets to play on one goal pitches like that and breaks Pele’s (dubious) scoring record.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Ha😎 it would be magnificent to see the boy Messi on a pitch like that!
LikeLike
I’ve been doing my non-league football reading, thanks to blackpool jane, and in my mind your photos sort of embody some of the pitches. Were the skills still at non-league levels though? Great stuff.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I’m not sure they’d have graced non league Dave! Although MLS scouts were present on a recruitment mission 😉
LikeLike
No mention of Riber Castle’s past as a zoo? Or was the horse, behind Norman Wisdom in goal, a remnant of the animal collection?
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is where I need your local knowledge!! Wisdom’s performance means I may be looking for a new GK if you’re available?
Your match fee is two pints of 🔺🔺🔺
LikeLike
Looking at the goalie it has to be said that team kit design in the lower leagues has taken a unique course in recent times – and I think I spotted a man bag – which is handy for the goalies gloves, water bottle and half an orange… 😉
LikeLiked by 1 person
Great spot 😉 we’re optimistic the kit might be a best seller along with the new style GK hat!
LikeLiked by 1 person
The “rattler” – now there’s a term I haven’t seen used for a very long time.
Could it be a West Midlands expression? I knew quite a few people from the area back in my student days.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I reckon it could be!! Still use it and now you mention it I can’t think of anyone outside Brum who uses it…
LikeLike