Born again Blogger

My first game back - the mighty Atherton
Collieries v Bolton Wanderers

That’s it: finished, done, completed. Anymore synonyms?

The above were the thoughts that ran through my head as I walked out having finished my final A2 examination late June – they had taken over a good two years of my life and, as much I hope my hard work pays dividends on 'results day' in August, they required a lot of work, understandably so. However, as a consequence, my social life took a back seat, spending most weekends revising instead of travelling to obscure towns, watching obscure matches (limiting myself to mainly Atherton Collieries' home games) – however, like I said now that they’re done I can start to look forward to football a lot more.

I feel born again, therefore to mark my return to the bizarre but beautiful world that is groundhopping I am in the process of a re-brand. From now on, the 'Half Time Whistle' can now be found under the name 'The last Bus to Bromley Cross' - strange, I know, but all will be revealed....

Since I started this Blog, my approach to 'ticking grounds' and going watching football has changed. Instead of getting the train straight to a ground, watch the football and get the train straight back, I now aim to make 'a day of it': absorb local culture, visit the local pubs, sample the local drinks - essentially, get to know the place a little. This has been happening more and more as I find myself wanting to develop and add an element of spontaneity to my travels. As a result, I more than likely tend to end up on the 'last Bus to Bromley Cross' following a day's outing - most of the time I aim for the train, but Rail Replacement Buses always seem to get the better of me! The name in it's current form was umped upon by Joseph Gibbons and Rob Clarke - after a Tuesday evening watching West Didsbury and Chorlton v Bamber Bridge, I informed them I had to get the 'last Bus to Bromley Cross', they jumped on that statement and the rest, as they say, is history.

A football match should be a story: told, laughed at and remembered. That is what I want to communicate in my new Blogs. Hence the re-brand, a fresh start on every front.

Obviously, this will not always be possible - some days all I will want is a football match, that is it. Others, I will want to bathe in local culture.

Most of my journeys will see me follow my favored Atherton Collieries - the team I love and love watching. Away trips tend to get a little interesting, I look forward to Blogging my adventures with the Colls Family. Valiant efforts will also be made to delve deeper into the Non-League pyramid.

My travels in the coming season are going to be exciting - confidence is rife as I roll up my sleeves and dig deeper into the footballing world, be it professional, following Burnley, or non-league, following Colls.