November has arrived, fireworks are sounding all over, jet fighters have been scrambled (- what's all that about?) yes it's the month of renewed long dark nights, plus wet and windy days. Oh I long for a quiet, warm, afternoon spent at my favourite comfort zone. But this is a Rugby page so, errr..

And the next month, December, (hey believe me some need told) will be even noisier, darker, and quite possibly/probably wetter, most certainly colder. And yet I eagerly await the advent of this 12th month of 2001 with bated breath, the excitement of yet another RL season dawning titillates me more than anything else I can currently think of (I am over 50 you see).

Noisier? Maybe you think that is a reference to the party season, but in fact I talk as a Townie supremely confident of the new season starting with a bang. Being equally positive that the fans will stream back in healthy numbers. The programme brings about a tough opening passage as the old year ebbs away, and the two away games at Featherstone and Whitehaven will test us for sure.

The home schedule for December is not to be taken lightly either. My bet is, and I'm stone cold sober, that Town will manage to win four out of five - from then on it will be plain sailing into the New Year. I do hope the weather will not be a repeat of twelve months ago, the stop-start nature of that season played havoc with Gary Murdock's preparations.

The players quickly lost the momentum gained via the opening display versus Rochdale. Remember the fixture planners also upset the apple cart by giving Town a mandatory rest in week two. This time, continuous action is on the timetable, Jack Frost permitting. The close season has not been too long has it? Not for us Town Academy fans certainly, as we didn't finish until October - partying that is.

Now many think of me as rather an expert on our favourite game of Rugby League ( eh, what was that comment?). Well 'er indoors concedes that I am more informed than her good self but then she doesn't know an up-and-under from a forward pass it's true.

But listen folks I do need some assistance from the many more intelligent life forms who read this page. That is because I'm stumped by a couple of queries within the world of Rugby League Workington Town & Co. style. First of all - are we still involved in a competition called the Northern Ford Premiership or have the car people upped their gear and zoomed off to new horizons?

Secondly I see within the new fixtures for the coming season there is a cup tournament incorporated - the National Cup, or summat like that. Now do these ties also count as league points for the main table? You see I no longer, on a regular basis, purchase the two main RL media outlets i.e RL Express, and Rugby Leaguer, but trust that you more wealthy readers still do. So come on give me some answers please.

Obviously, just in case Mr Sadler reads Chrome Dome, I will once again become an avid reader of both the RL chronicles when we kick off again in anger. Actually the reviews just bore me you see - with the downside being I am off the pace with newsy crack.

Going back now to our December days, the main item on the Town agenda must be the Boxing Day bash. I invariably look forward to my shortest journey to watch Town, having not slept a wink all the previous night, more of which I'll harp on about in a future CD.

Noting this fixture serves to remind me to offer belated congratulations to my long time friendly foe David Farrell on becoming a director at his club. I see they have also appointed a few other workhorses - one other name rings a bell with me from within my workplace archives, he being a young man who gave me more hassle than I ever bestowed upon him - nah, I'm not giving this lads name here, but again more power to his Haven elbow from me.

And of course Harry Edgar has come home to roost. Wow it hardly seems a mo since he was the youngest programme editor in Rugby League. Can anyone else remember what tune he punished(?) as Haven took to the playing field, back in the 1960's (late) I think. Yes, 'Urban Spaceman' by er - The Bonzo Dog Do Dah Band (or something like that).

Now I have often sounded off perniciously about the advent of Cougarmania et al, but Harry was certainly ahead of the field in those days, and he got it just right - no ear bending stuff - just a nice cosy atmosphere. Which is something I sincerely hope the new board of Haven Directors do not enjoy on the 26th December when Workington hit their town. Yes Townies everywhere - 'tis the season to be jolly, tra, la, la, - la, la, la.
K.S.