displaced_seagull

Dan; Most of my story names are puns/copies of song titles

I've also decided to change this to a Six-Month diary. Going over the end of one season and into another is just daft (although it does mean I've had to rewrite a lot


Saturday January 14th 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Today was hard. It always is, when you are injured - needless to say, I was sitting behind the dugout in the Players' Family area as we lost again. We are still 14th, but another defeat to Newcastle (Patrick Kluivert scored) won't help things.

We've also said goodbye to Stephen Clemence - sold yesterday to Everton. There's no replacement yet - nor rumours around the club of who it would be - so I guess I've got to be happy really, as that's one less player to compete with for a place. Really, I think we should strengthen though - we simply have to stay up this season.

Ho Hum - Arsenal next!

Birmingham 0 - Newcastle 1

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

It's a funny old game, football. Today we travelled to Barking & East Ham in the FA Trophy. Understandably, with fitness levels not too high and lots of games in not a lot of days, the boss made a fair few changes - but it still felt strange to be sitting on the bench as Carl Nesbitt wore the captains armband on the pitch.

They took a suprise lead from the penalty spot on 8 - looked a harsh call to me - but Ben Perry-Acton levelled on 13. I did get on - Greg Tiffin took a knock, so I came on for him at the break, with young Inderjeet Aujla moving to right back. We had a fair bit to do - Whitehead scored for them again, and he looks far too good for the Combined Counties league, or wherever it is that Barking play in, but luckily Ben Paszkowec scored twice for us to put us through. Welling in the next round.

Sitting on the bench was a different experience - but I'd rather be back on the pitch from the start next game!

Barking & East Ham 2 - Burscough 3

displaced_seagull

Wednesday January 18th 2006

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

That's better! - a 2-0 victory, and tonight everyone around the club is far happier. We opened the scoring after 4 minutes, and never looked back - Ben Perry-Acton won it on 62. I had a good, solid game - I never really felt under any pressure, which makes a change!

Now we've got another win in the league though, we really need to build on it. I'm sure if the gaffer had some more money in the kitty he would look to strengthen the squad for the run-in - but equally, I'm not sure what positions would need extra cover. We've been unlucky with injuries in attack over the course of the season, but hopefully we'll be alright.

Up to 10th again - just 6 points below the Playoffs, so we might get up there yet.

Burscough 2 - Lancaster 0

displaced_seagull

Saturday January 21st 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

No game today - not for me, nor the lads - but we have had the World Cup Groups drawn. I hope that I'll be in the Ireland squad - this injury is a setback, and I can't see myself involved in the Friendly against Romania in a couple of weeks - but we'd have to fancy our chances in a group with the Czech Republic, South Korea and Mali in Germany in the summer.

No more signings - or sales - yet, either. Still a few days left of the transfer window yet though...

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Today I let myself down, and I let my team down. With the score against League leaders Hinckley at 2-2, I was sent off for a foul - my second bookable offence of the afternoon. I walked - my first dismissal of the season. Luckily, it didn't affect the team too much - Ben Paszkowec scored his 11th of the season 5 minutes from time to seal a memorable win.

I had a word with the boss after the game. He's not too happy - so I expect that I'll be getting called into his office tomorrow. Hopefully I'll get away with a warning - with Christmas just gone, cash is a bit tight.

Hinckley Utd 2 - Burscough 3

displaced_seagull

Wednesday January 25th 2006

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

I did have a word with the boss, and I did get a warning - but a written, formal warning, is, I feel, more than a little harsh - unfair even. I know that I let the team down with the sending off, but we still won. Hopefully it'll all blow over. The upshot is I'm banned for two matches - the first for the dismissal, the second for triggering 5 yellow cards.

I was banned then, for tonight's visit of Hucknall - Charlie Oatway taking over as captain. The lads did well - they put Hucknall under plenty of pressure, but there would be a sickener with 20 minutes to go - young Aiden Matranga deflecting the ball past 'keeper Kev Scriven from a corner. He looked gutted after the game - he had, other than that, had a fine match on the left wing, even hitting the bar with a cross-cum-shot from about 30 yards.

You win some, you loose some.

Burscough 0 - Hucknall 1

displaced_seagull

Saturday January 28th 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Arsenal today. Needless to say, we didn't get that win which we need. We did, at least, take the lead - Jesper Gronkjaer put us ahead just after half time, but the Gunners quickly got back on level terms, and then won it 22 minutes from time thanks to a cracker from Freddie Ljundberg. Still, the performance was decent against a side Second in the table, I thought.

There's also transfer rumours afoot - the club have agreed a fee, and are now discussing terms with Shaun Barker of Rotherham . The word is that he is a defensive midfielder who can also play in defence - so not really much of a threat to my preferred position. Hopefully he'll join up, and help to keep us up. Back down to 15th now, 4 points off the drop zone.

Europe? - we might get to Spain for a preseason training camp, but that'll be all...

Birmingham 1 - Arsenal 2

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

The final game of my suspension - and another sickener for the boys. Charlie Oatway put us ahead with a thunderbolt in the opening minute, but Gateshead were level by half time. We then went into overdrive - and really had enough chances to wrap the game up. We failed to convert them, and a few lads lost their cool, and picked up yellow cards. Five minutes from the end, my young defensive partner Miles Chamberlain talked himself into a second yellow.

Three minutes after that, Gateshead won it.

Oh well, I should be back next time.

Burscough 1 - Gateshead 2

displaced_seagull

Tuesday 31st January 2006

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Well, when I said I was back, I hoped I would be. Took a knock in training earlier - but luckily, I passed a fitness test and was fit to start. I say luckily, because without it, we would have been seriously stretched at the back - Miles Chamberlain banned, Wes Beckles not yet fit - and right back Greg Tiffin, who occasionally plays in the middle, also got a knock a couple of days back.

We began really well - Charlie Oatway did it again! - 33 seconds in this time, fired one from 25 yards, into the bottom right hand corner. I've not always been supportive of everything the gaffer has done, but signing Charlie was absolutley inspired. Unfortunatley, we peaked far too early. Hednesford scored before the break, before young Ben Paszkowec - another signing who none of us were initially sure about - scored a cracker on 52. With legs tiring, the gaffer had to make changes. Charlie went off - and two minutes from time, Brookes, one of Hednesford's schoolboy players, on as an emergency sub, equalised. He wasn't even old enough to have a celebratory pint in the bar afterwards. Gutted.

Still, it is our Kev's birthday tomorrow, so I'll give him a ring. I think he's still crocked - and the Brum are playing, so he won't be drinking me under the table for a change!

Hednesford 2 - Burscough 2

displaced_seagull

Wednesday 1st February 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Happy birthday me! - 29 Years Old. It's gone far, far too quickly. Still, I should have another 4 or 5 years - at least - left in this game, if not more. I've always quite fancied coaching, and now I'm getting towards what should be the peak of my career, I'm thinking about it even more.

Unfortunatley for the rest of the lads, it wasn't a great evening. We were soundly thumped at the City of Manchester stadium, going down 3-0 to a rampant Man City - who could even live with 10 men for much of the second half. Shaun Barker got his debut, at right back, but couldn't really help much in a poor team performance.

I am looking forward to being back - should be there in a couple of weeks now - but morale at the club is slipping, like our league position - 16th, and still 4 points out of the relegation zone.

Manchester City 3 - Birmingham 0

displaced_seagull

Saturday 4th February 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

Must win, they said. Relegation Six-Pointer, they said. Bolton at home, we said. Maybe that was our downfall. Quarter of an hour in, we were 3-0 down. Vas Lakis pulled one back in the second half, but it was far too little, far too late. The win has taken Bolton out of the bottom three, but we're still 16th - two points away from the relegation zone, with no win since before Christmas.

I guess this is what they call freefall...

Birmingham 1 - Bolton 3

Farrell Kilbane

A funny old day today - with my knock playing on my mind, I asked the gaffer to go on the bench. He had similar ideas about the FA Trophy - and decided to start with what is essentially our second string side - only Andy Fensome, Gary Martindale, Ben Perry-Acton and 'keeper Kevin Scriven 'regulars' in the starting lineup.

It got the result that we really could have done without - a 0-0 draw, where both sides had chances - Welling hit the post - but with a small squad, and injuries already, another game is something we could certainly do without. The replay is at home on Wednesday - and again, I imagine I'll only be on the bench.

Welling 0 - Burscough 0

displaced_seagull

Saturday 10th February 2006

Farrell Kilbane

Dear Diary;

League action all the way now then - and I'm back in the starting eleven. Lucky I was really - wouldnt have wanted to miss this one for the world. We held on for a 3-2 win over Runcorn, but it doesent tell the whole story - both sides led at times, and it was only thanks to Ben Perry-Acton's very nicely taken third that we held on - Runcorn scoring right at the death to make it tense.

It's no go on this young defender too - which has cheered a few up. We've got a name, but Rhys Whyborne at Eastbourne Borough wants to stay and try and establish himself down south. We're also going to be losing a couple of lads at the end of the season - Andy Fensome had already announced his retirement, but midfielder Carl Nesbitt is also calling it a day at the age of 35.

Me? - I think the old legs can take another 3 seasons at least. Then? - Who knows...

Runcorn 2 - Burscough 3

displaced_seagull

Sunday 11th February 2006

Kevin Kilbane

Dear Diary;

We're on the box!

Sky are in town for our trip to Southampton. Unfortunatley, it didn't make us any better - another 3-1 defeat left us still 16th - and now, that's it until March. As well as Internationals, we are out of the Cups, so we won't be playing competitively again for 20 days.

Hopefully, we'll use the time off to get it right on the training ground. I'm just hoping to build up my fitness for the run-in.

Southampton 3 - Birmingham 1