Three weeks to Go!!

Time is ticking away swiftly and with only three weeks to go to the start of the Evo-Stik 2011/12 season.

Rainworth`s pre-season campaign is leaving me a little concerned, with only three friendlies to date!!

Only about seven or eight of last seasons squad have stayed at Kirklington Road so I would have expected a little more groundwork but hopefully things will have fallen into place for the start of the season.

Malc Storer is back in business (ontheroad2011-2012.blogspot.com/, he`s Blogging like a Trooper again having notched up an impressive Pre-Season list.

Sticky Palms (stickypalms.blogspot.com/) has both feet in the blocks ready for his first post of the season.

Sheffield Fc`s recent story has Dudsey particularly interested, the recent auction of the "Rules of Football" drawn up at the Club back in 1859 sold for a mind boggling £881,250 at Sotheby`s!!.

Surely this will open up massive opportunities and it will be interesting to see what Mark Shaw can come up with this season, several signings have been made recently and Conor Higginson`s arrival from Mansfield town will certainly bring goals to the Club.

Whilst things are on the up for some, unfortunately Hucknall Town`s plight is still in the hands of the HMRC, hopefully they will reach an agreement that serves both parties well!!

Two faces we`re bound to see!!

Ilkeston Fc`s resurrection from the ashes of the old Club will certainly be one to watch, with a high profile pre-season campaign and an impressive sponsorship I think they will be there or thereabouts this season.

Dudsey`s hope`s for this season are as any other, decent days out visiting old and new grounds, meeting new friends and catching up with our more familiar friends, some good football and hopefully no bad injuries.

Rudy`s bringing his Boro Boy`s down to Shirebrook today, they are rattling out the friendlies at a relentless pace, so that`s my choice for today.

Langwith Road is always a welcoming venue for us, the legendary Briggy always raises a smile and has a tale to tell, the regular crowd are just inside the ground. A fair few Seadogs have made the hundred mile journey, good revenue for the Brook as the Boro faithful are always willing to part with a few quid on food and refreshments.

Rudy, working his magic.

Mrs H slopes off for a cuppa whilst Dudsey does a bit of catching up with Wath, " Hold on a minute," Andy Jones, Danny Bainbridge and Danny Naylor, yep Wath replies "and Brendan Sweeney has signed as well".

What with Ant Lynam, Matt Draper and Joe Naylor also on the field I have to pinch myself to make sure I`m not at Kirklington Road, De-ja-vu or what!!

Shirebrook have took the lead courtesy of a deflection and seem to be holding their own, eventually Boro draw level as Tony Hackworth sneaks the ball over the line from an excellent corner. I decide to stroll round to the dug out, Rudy is pacing the touchline, obviously concerned that they can`t seem to take control of the game.

"Knock Knock Mr Funk" say`s Dudsey,  he turns round smiles and steps over to shake my hand, he`s looking well and asks if we`ll be seeing more of each other this season, "probably when you`re in this neck of the woods" I reply. Rudy is a proper "people person" and always makes you feel welcome. The Ref blows for half time and it`s time to inject some urgency into his Seadog side.

Boro keep Shirebrook busy.

A few tweaks during the interval and Boro have Shirebrook on the back foot, Joe Naylor adds a second closely followed by a third from Curtis Bernard. Without having to push too hard the writing is on the wall for the home-side, Matt Draper puts the game to bed  as he notches up Scarborough`s fourth goal.

So a comfortable victory for Boro in the end, whether Rudy has enough to deliver promotion to the fame hungry Scarborough camp remains to be seen. I`m sure the likes of Parkgate, Retford, Bridlington and Staveley will also have a say in it.