Route66

In a time that the sky, premier league, champions league juggernaut with its excessive wages and var controversy dominates, it was great to attend the Cumberland senior cup final last night. The 2 biggest clubs in the county Carlisle utd and Workington afc went head to head in a tight game in front of over 1100 spectators, with the reds gaining a deserved 1-0 victory. The competition has a cracking history played since 1885with the winners list a snapshot of the region’s industrial decline, there is a cracking book detailing its history available on line for the anoraks amongst us. Finally a quick rl moan why is it whenever I attend a football game at any level the attendance is always given out whereas the rugby league teams treat them as some state secret

Congratulations as you get older there are many things you wish you did when you are younger and fitter, in my head the coast to coast st bees to robin hoods bay has always loomed, probably due to my close proximity to st bees and the inspiration of watching go with noakes as a child. I’m on a break from walking the wainwrights at the moment due to the age and mobility of my trusty spaniel but the new lands and coledale round are both worthy and spectacular walks to try. Good luck and try to make time for those things you enjoy while able

Good to see ex Workington afc fan’s favourite Ruben Jerome is still smashing the goals in

Had a run to the second hand book Mecca of Bookcase in Carlisle this morning, plenty of Cornwells books in there, that series is fantastic with quite a few references to my native county which always pleases me . im on a historical fiction break and enjoying Pig Iron by Benjamin Myers and also picked up GB84 today by David Peace at the oxfam book shop

Watched the game hoping to see Cumbrian lad Jarred Branthwaite make his debut , unfortunately even when McGuire was replaced we managed to bring on the aging Lewis Dunk. Will try again Tuesday but not hopeful

If I ever make it to Sydney the tigers stadium will be top of my places to visit, I’ll be on top of that hill

Absolutely gobsmacked with that result ,stuck at work managed a little peep at score and seen we were losing 14-0, just come on a break now and wow, fantastic effort the club is making massive inroads both on and off field, confidence should be high going into regular season

I love the idea in principle but doubt very much that there is the people within the game to make a success of it. Maybe someone needs to contact the Arsenal ladies marketing team and see how they have gradually built up their emirate’s crowd to 60000 where their core regular support (ground size restricted) is around 5,000. Know your audience and price accordingly but maybe start the challenge cup final

Reading Bourneville by Jonathan Coe, as I get older I’m more and more intrigued by the speed and changes of time, family,relationships, nostalgia ,regret and who we are. This state of the nation story from VE Day to present, makes you think of how fast time passes and how we need to embrace our lives , highly recommended

Just watched the first 2 episodes of Channel 4s Miners Strike 1984 documentary, very powerful, shocking and an intriguing insight into that year , very sad but highly watchable television

Good set of supporters at city of liverpool, playing home games at widnes for now after being evicted over a trivial amount allegedly, this is the second time they have been evicted though they played at the old Vauxhall motors ground the other year, really need a stadium within the city boundaries though

Good old iplayer, watched both Belfast and the Last Bus this week. Really enjoyed Belfast,well filmed and gives a different insight to the usual films on the subject. The last bus wont be everyones cup of tea but Timothy Spalls performance struck a chord with me as i get older and watch my parents age even quicker

Cant believe im writing this but have become totally engrossed with the Traitors on BBC, must be losing the plot as i get older. Also watching the Winter King on itvx, excellent stuff does credit to the books

Remember that day well first game of season after the heartbreak of losing to Salford in play off the season before. Just looked back at the results etc from that season and we ended up losing at home to Carlisle in the qfinal in front of 4000+, i thought it was a terrible year back then finishing bottom of the 8 team league but most of the results were very close. The gap between the divisions was so much closer as well back then, cant take too much from yesterday's defeat ,priority is to be ready for first competitive game

Detest the way people like Morgan carry on,horrible person,as for the awards i will say she was as deserving as anyone else, well done she has inspired a lot of young women

Really enjoyed the game but strange that a 6-0 victory seems like a defeat,about 16000 in hampden with around 3000 England, easy to get to from Glasgow central but shocking return waiting an hour for the train back

Different sort of atmosphere at the womens international's probably due to how its promoted as being ultra family friendly so have to restrain yourself a bit,although had a brilliant afternoon in the box park before the Brazil game with a new breed of supporter so things are changing. A note for the rugby league though about pricing and promotion, ive paid £12 full adult price for Hampden Tuesday (concessions are £6) combined with the Carlisle to Glasgow bargain train prices its a win win for me especially now there is still something to play for

Great comeback for the England lionesses tonight, really happy because im off to Hampden on Tuesday, cant wait a few drinks in Glasgow city centre and match to follow

Devastating news that's just 2 of an outstanding catalogue the first 2 albums are faultless and even later on could still produce genius. Learned a lot from references in his lyrics and could relate a lot to his working class culture based on bookies and bars. Going to play one of my favourites now Haunted fron the Sid and Nancy film

Had a little wander up to Carlisle yesterday to witness the start of the new ownership, the American Piatek family, not the most inspiring 1-1 draw but a crowd of 10,500 and an extremely busy fanzone ,the yanks with their 'own the north' tagline may just be about to start something for the county

Tree and outside lights up at our house

Serves yourself right for giving it the time of day especially when alba is showing the Falkirk v Dundee United cup tie

Trainspotting- Irvine Welsh The Religion - Tim Willocks Laidlaw - William Mcilvanny Earth Abides- George r Stewart Altogether now - Mike Carter Could have picked out dozens of others but wanted a cross section of genres

Shame that you have seen the film first as the book is a masterpiece, Mystic River is an excellent book as well

Continuing my new found love of Scottish league football with Dunfermline 1 down at home to Dundee United, hopefully the pars can be inspired by a booming Into the valley and get back into the game