This weekend sees Town embark on a tough schedule, of three matches within a week, the likes of which may prove to the making or breaking of the Workington season.

Just maybe, that is, but the current NFP table is so tight that I still fancy the sort-out going on until the very closing fixtures.

In some respects perhaps we Townies should be grateful the standard of our precious (?) competition is so strong in depth. Because even if we suffer the worst, heaven forbid, from these remaining May matches, June is bursting all over with winnable contests. Yes I mean all of them, okay? And we should be still up there with a good shout as the final curtain begins its descent. Hang on while I fill my empty drinking vessel. Hmm, vintage year 1994 eh?

Now then, you may have noticed a bracketed question mark after the word 'precious'. If not you are consuming more 'pop' than me. Anyhow, the query mark was to remind me to add a bit about the mid week discussions as to the venue of this Sundays match at Oldham. The 'roughyeds' are now barred from using the Boundary Park soccer venue so they came up with the idea of playing at the salubrious Castleton Gabriels arena. You know the one, don't you?

Yes I thought not. Apparently the 'Gabriels' are also a soccer team playing in the Midnight on Tuesday Manchester League, fifth division but the grass there must be okay man. That's the only plus though.

I could think of so many better-equipped stadia within Manchester that to offer this Castleton one for such an important match really puzzled me.

I came up with cogitations (I must reduce the wine intake) regarding Hyde United, Northwich Victoria, Stockport Co. Ashton Wotsits, Maine Road, and hey what about Old Trafford? Pardon me for that latter suggestion your highness Sir Alex (said while touching non existent forelock) (and before Sir Glum of Beckham stormed out - Ed.)

Then it dawned on me. They are all soccer grounds, yes, even Maine Road. And they will possibly also, as with Boundary Park, be undergoing re-turfing/seeding operations too making them unavailable. It's certainly a 'growth industry' this soccer pitch lark eh? Now back to the angels at the Gabriels stadium, ho ho ho. You see, whatever they prepared it would not ever, ever, do justice to an NFP occasion.

Therefore, it occurs to me that it's surely a question of keeping up NFP appearances here, (Hello Mrs Bucket!...just the lady of the house hoovering around me). The NFP is a professional league, well sponsored by a major outfit in Ford Motors (blue chip even depending on the colour of your vehicle). So why on earth would the people of Oldham want to jeopardise the future of such a handy tie-up by even contemplating that a top eight NFP clash should be played at a spartan venue is just beyond me.

If that is the respect offered to Ford then why not go for a change of backer? For example, it could become the NPFP - that's the Northern Polski Fiat Premiership. Can anyone remember those biscuit tins on wheels? Extinct aren't they? Just a la'al warning then to Mr Hamilton. The moral of this story as far as I'm concerned is: let's respect the hands that feed us.

Talking of food, and seeing the match is a quick return for the Townies to Spotland, I can see another bonanza on the cards/plates for the Rochdale 'pie and pea' merchants. Mr B will no doubt have the shackles on him even tighter than ever this Sunday so it will need extra craft for him to become a pioneer and appease the hunger pangs but go for it Brian, six portions this time.

Then Mike will unveil how you went off the scale.
K.S.