Dear Fellow Supporters,

Welcome again to our second programme of the season. We will try to keep them coming on a regular three weekly basis. Dan was underwhelmed with your response for letters and thanks you for keeping them coming. It has been suggested that we should hold another grand Christmas draw as last year’s was such a success. If you think the idea is a good one start thinking now about donating a gift. I think most people won something last time (even me!!!).

The team are still currently in fourth place in the league after last Saturdays visit to Blackpool where the lads earned a creditable draw and were unlucky not to come away with all three points. We’re still on track for promotion. Come on you blues!!!!!!!!!!

The Chairman

Today's submission for famous badges brings us yet another Scottish club, Livingstone F.C. Recently elected to the Scottish F.A., Livingstone previously played in the Highland League. For a true interpretation of the meaning behind the badge see Tom Hastie who used to play for the club (if you can understand him, Jimmy)!

It’s a long time since you had a contrbution from by annals. This weeks featured pub is “The Barlick”. Barlick is a ‘nickname’ given to the town of Barnoldswick which is a sleepy town situated near Colne, Lancashire. Most of my supping days were spent in and around Oldham but occasionally I was let loose and ventured further afield. I do not have a picture of the pub but it is located at Church Street, Barnoldswick, Lancs., and the beer special is currently Caffreys. The toilets are substantial and have recently been fitted with a step to stop you from putting your feet in the urinal. The crisp range is Manchester United flavour (plain) and the pub houses several machines. They are a Pinball, Quiz, Two Bandits, and a Car racing game. The pub has several gimmicks: Quiz Tuesday nights, Music Thursday - Sunday (incl). Loads of local talent, but the most amazing of all is the special events nights I have witnessed the following:

Beach Party; the pub imported several tons of sand to completely cover the floor {not river sand as you would expect (silver) but the cheaper version of pit sand which is used for mixing concrete (red)}. The evening was spent playing beach games like volleyball etc. Parasols were situated around the pub and people attended with bathing costumes and sun-glasses as would be expected.

Garden Party; this time the pub laid real garden sod (worms and all) wall to wall throughout. Croquet and golf were among the attractions this evening but yours truly sheltered from the sun, enjoyed the barbeque and got well and truly legless. What a night out!

I. Will B. Drunk

STUART BARLOW the Latics striker was born in Liverpool in 1968. His height is 5' 10" and he weighs 11' 02". As a fringe player at Everton he was unable to command a regular first team place, failing to make a start in the 95-96 season. He eventually made the move to Boundary Park in November and certainly made a favourable impression scoring on his debut for the Latics. He's a tricky customer who has gained the respect of the fans since he's been at the club. He works hard off the ball and has lightening pace. His two goals at Blackpool last week did enough to keep the Latics in fourth position.

The following is a true story but the names have been changed as the Chairman does not want to get into trouble with the law. An activity that was very popular with the Whitworth quarrymen was that of 'kicking'or'clog fighting'competitions - an activity that rumour says is still continued today between the footballing fans of the said clubs. The rules of clog fighting are simple. Two combatants, naked except for their clogs or boots, would grip each others shoulders and proceed to kick each other until one either broke his grip or surrendered. In one of the hamlets built up the side of the valley, a place called Healey Stones, the population of quarrymen, colliers and hand loom weavers were renowned for their kicking encounters, which took place on the village green opposite the chapel...

"There were also wrestling matches, dog fights, dog racing, and trail hunting. Hot and rebellious liquors were indulged in to excess, and the Sabbath was desecrated and made hideous by drunken orgies."

An historical report of a clog fight states:
"On May 30th 1843, at four o'clock in the morning, two young men named Ashworth and Clegg, better known as "jem-o'th'-Groves Barn" and "Dodger" (both in a state of nudity with the exception of each having on a pair of strong boots), kicked one another for 45 minutes by way of a wager for a sovereign, when, finally, Ashworth was declared the winner. Both men were severely injured. Ashworth in another brutal encounter killed his opponent and emigrated to Australia." The report does not make it clear whether Ashworth's eventual emigration was voluntary or not.

At the annual Whitworth Rushbearing festival, which took place on the moors above the village, local landlords would set up tents and sell food and drink to the crowds. On the Monday and Tuesday following the rushbearing, sporting events would take place on the moor. The events included foot races, wrestling, bull-baiting and dog fighting as well as clog fighting - these events being attended by crowds of spectators numbering up to 2,000. Finally, quoting once more from William Robertson's history of 'Rochdale and the Vale of Whitworth’:

"Kicking encounters in a nude state took place regularly on week-days and sometimes on the Sabbath in 'Rushton's Meadow’ at Bridge Mills, between men who went by high sounding names of "champions". Some colliers from Oldham and Ashton and desperadoes from Bacup and that neighbourhood fought regularly in this meadow with Whitworth quarrymen for wagers. The Oldham "rough heads" for a time were victorious, for it used to be said that they were slippery as 'snigs', and there was no holding them. The delphmen at last discovered that before they entered the ring, in a retired place they were secretly rubbed all over with soft-soap, and this unfair advantage was stopped, and then the brawny Whitworthians continually routed the Oldham champions by their superior strength and the use of their strong pedal extremities."

Kevin Keegan : "The only thing I fear is missing an open goal in front of the Kop. I would die if that were to happen. When they start singing'You'll Never Walk Alone' my eyes start to water. There have been times when I've actually been crying while I've been playing".

Joe Royle (on Earl Barrett) : "The trouble with Earl is that he's one paced....... Zooommmmm."

John Aldridge (On Orlando, Florida during the mega-hot World Cup, 1994): "It gets like this in Liverpool when you're on the ferry and the sun reflects off the Mersey."

Trevor Brooking : "Merseyside derbies usually last 90 minutes and I'm sure today's won't be any different."

Barry Davies : "Poland nil, England nil, though England are now looking the better value for their nil."

Hi....
Is The Chairman back home?......Sorry I missed him if he is! Did he enjoy his visit to the UK? The future for Radio Latics still looks bleak. I can't cope with listening to second rate coverage from our local BBC station. A nice idea, as support to our venture is to encourage ALL your members to write to Mr Stott and tell him what you are missing!!!!! We are still trying at our end - - - but there is not much money flying around in the UK. Thanks for your continued support......

Nige! (Radio Latics)

Nige,

We will do our best. The Chairman has promised to put something on our webpage in support of the Radio Latics cause.
Dan

How are you? you will have recieved my "letter" by now I posted it off on Friday, I received yours this morning (Wed).They must have crossed in mid air. Thanks for the latest editions of the Latics Fanatic I read them all straight away, a bit in a rush really because I like to know what's going on out there, I will read them again later at leasure like I usually do.

It's not a critism (which usually means it is) (but its not) there is not enough of Dan in the programme and I would like to see more of Danielle !!!!!!!!!! I read the programmes at work and left them on my desk when I came to go home someone had obviously read them and left me a note which I will add a the end of this.

By for now, Barry

Dan says, “Thanks for your words of encouragement. Your recommendations have been noted and Dan did make an appearance in the first programme of the season. We would all like to see more of Danielle. Your letter should act as a stimulus when our artist reads it. Let’s hope he acts on it.”

Following on from the letters by JILTED, FISHER CROCKETT AND DR FEELGOOD, I believe a suitable solution to the problem of the missed wedding would be to have the auction as mentioned for MS. JILTED if all parties agree, in the event of equal bids then a game of cards over a period of 24 hours to decide the winner for the fair maid, (may I suggest poker).

Signed, ACE.

Dear ACE,

I will suggest the said auction to the parties involved and see if they DEAL with it, but if they don’t get a move on soon we could be witnessing an auction which might not be out of place on ‘The Antiques Roadshow”. Then they would have to PACK it in!

Dan.

I'm not sure how to approach this, but I really need your advice!!!!!!! It's the old issue of being jilted. I have witnessed several situations over the past few months, involving one of the individuals who jilted me, and my feelings are really hurt now. He just doesn't seem to think that I have any feelings. He has been hustling other women right in front of me. I'll give you just one situation. He asked me this summer to meet him in the bush at a certain time. I waited, waited, and waited and he never came. This leaves me to believe that he is seeing someone else. I wonder if it's the blonde that was sitting on his lap at the recent Latics retreat??????

What is your suggestion on how I can get the blonde off his lap, and him into the bush?!!!!!!!!!

JILTED AGAIN

Dear JILTED AGAIN,

What can I say? This saga could outrun Coronation Street at this rate. The situation does seem dire and extreme measures will need to be taken. The blonde does not pose a problem. Just send her to the shops for a long stand and you will never see her again. The problem seems to be with Fisher or Dr. Feelgood (you did not specify). To find out if they are really interested in bushwork, get them a copy of “I’m a Lumberjack” and if they appear at the next meeting dressed in women’s clothing you’ll know not to bother with them again and save yourself for a more deserving fate. They are obviously toying with your affections and emotions. You need to take a stand (but don’t make it a long one or the blonde might return.)

Dan