6th sept 2023 - a gang of four daY AT THE VALLEY
Luckily the sun took a while to come out from the clouds today helping our plucky foursome to get on with a few things before wilting too much.
After last Saturday's game was halted owing to the state of the Oxton Road net we spent some time repairing the holes and more particularly getting rid of all the old tape in the process. Pete continues to touch up his turnstile area whilst the EV Gardener was especially busy trying to gee up his garden with the help of a fresh supply of shrubbery. |
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Finally the Tech Dept made good use of our last few remaining bits and pieces of thin boarding lying about the compound which have gone up as a temp measure to the right of the away dug-out
30th aug 2023 - a little bit of sauce and brown added
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The weather was once again kind to us at the Valley giving us the opportunity to do a bit more painting on the exterior fence behind the Ox End.
The Weasel and the Gardener were highly vexed at the return of the evil fluffy bunny rabbits to the site....and I have to report that war plans against these cute little blighters may have to be put in place soon. Meanwhile the Tech Dept added a new banner to our collection and we warmly welcome Annesley based Sauce & Brown to the Arna family. |
We also spent some time rummaging around the compound for any other materials we could use as back boards for further advertising banners. Sad to report that we are now running extremely low in this regard so if anyone knows of any board type materials laying waste anywhere just crying out for a new home PLEASE let us know and we'll gladly come out and rescue them!
23rd august 2023 - last session before home opener
Ahead of tonight's home opener against Bakewell Town a full Crew continued the good fight!
The Gardener was busy with his garden and also his usual round up on the outside pitches resulted in a massive stash of rubbish being collected....does no one use a bin anymore? The exterior fence at the Ox End got a bit more "done" The new panels in front of the Frank Key stand got "marooned".....United Carpets are now represented in the Main Stand...and our rediscovered Line-Ups board is all ready for action! |
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19th August 2023 - united carpets arrive at the valley
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The Chairman did some fence painting behind the Ox End...The EV gardener whizzed around doing his stuff and the Weasel titivated around the turnstile area.
Meanwhile the Tech Dept set about putting up some of the banners provided by new sponsors United Carpets...now represented in front of the Frank Key Stand and along the turnstile entrance way |
One more work day to go before the Eagle Valley home opener on Weds 23rd August when we entertain league newcomers Bakewell Town - ko 7.45pm. Hoping to get those white bits painted maroon in front of the Keys stand!
3rd August 2023 - nudging away in the sun
Turned out to be quite a wise choice to alter our working day to Thursday this week as we were blessed with some lovely EV weather.
The Colin End received its due attention throughout the session with general tidying up. Delivery was taken of two hefty sacks of hardcore from Main Sponsors Frank Key. These are required for a Dug Out improvement project being overseen by Manager Ash White with help from skipper Adam Clift, Liam Black and Dan Chambers I'm told....a real team effort! |
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The Technical Department has put in fittings for our portable Team White Board (provided to the club some time ago by Ian Parker) so that it can sit outside the club house during games for the benefit of supporters wishing to know the full team line-ups. Geoff also found himself involved in making sure the rather snazzy new Arna corner flags (provided by Ash) sit nice and sturdy in their four spots.
Finally some maroon paint was applied to the new boards behind the Oxton Road End in order to smarten them up a touch.
All in all quite an eventful session nudging things gradually along in the right direction.
Finally some maroon paint was applied to the new boards behind the Oxton Road End in order to smarten them up a touch.
All in all quite an eventful session nudging things gradually along in the right direction.
26th July 2023 - finishing touches to project
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Some finishing touches applied to the Colin End "C'mon the Arna!" project today with the two bookending boards painted maroon and the Technical Department have added a nifty shelf across the top of the boards to assist with weather protection.
The sit-down mower was buzzing around the place in an attempt to smarten the pitch surrounds ahead of the new season with much strimming and a bit of manual weeding thrown in for good measure. All we need now is some more boards to help us continue with Phase One of the ground's development plan. |
19th july 2023 - "c'mon the arna!!!!" weather relents for big day
A hefty shower around 10am threatened to spoil our day but thankfully the weather relented and the Intrepid Trio (joined later by the Gardener) were finally able to put up the "C'mon the Arna!!!" project.
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Just a fair bit of painting now required on the black boards (back and front) and the Tech Dept has already designed some extra features to add on here and there for added weather protection.
We also found time to put up a new banner - our thanks to "Engines Masters" of Mansfield for their support......and of course the strimmer made its weekly appearance.
We also found time to put up a new banner - our thanks to "Engines Masters" of Mansfield for their support......and of course the strimmer made its weekly appearance.
16th july 2023 - fingers crossed - we're all set
Our tour of the "Dodsley" Domain concludes with this extremely heart warming picture of the final completed board being exhibited.
"!!!!" Just about sums it all up folks....and that little Eagle motif to round things off is a touch of pure genius. We just need the weather to play reasonably soft ball with us on Wednesday and then there's a very good chance that the "C'mon the Arna" Colin End Project will be in place in readiness for the first home friendly at Eagle Valley against FC Sez. |
11th july 2023 - 75% There.....just....."!!!!"......to go
The "C'mon the Arna" Colin End project is now three quarters complete as can be seen with Pete justifiably proudly displaying the third of the four boards involved.
The lettering on these boards, quite frankly, has come out so well that the Crew are now considering whether or not to take up a side line in professional Signwriting. Wo be tide the player who manages to land the first moody ball mark on this beauty! On a side matter at least we now know the Arnold Town Malcolm Storer Award has so far managed to avoid the "Dodsley" downstairs loo! |
2nd july 2023 - "c'mon the arna!" project nearing completion
After a good deal of hard work and planning we're pleased to say that the Crew's Colin End "C'mon the Arna!" project is finally approaching completion.
Recent extra curricular home work put in by our leader Pete has helped push us towards the finish line. Finding the right paints to do the job has not exactly been easy (or indeed cheap) but you have to admit Pete and his good lady Toni have done a terrific job with the amazing lettering. It should also be noted that along the lengthy process the entire team have all played their part and we can't wait until all four boards are able to take up pride of place at the Colin End. |
28th june 2023 - so much to do ....so little time
A great thing about the "Crew" is that between us we are never short of ideas for improving EV.
The downside of course is the lack of time to carry out the various schemes....not to mention the more grandiose dreams which tend to involve a good deal of cool hard cash! But we fiddled about nicely today...mowing and strimming the pitch surrounds...tackling a ground grading issue....giving the picnic table tops a coat of varnish....tidying up....gardening. And then during the coffee break the ideas tend to flow some of which will see fruition quite soon....some will take a little while....and then the "big ones".....well.....one day Thomas. |
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28th June 2023 - keenly following carlton's shed end develop!
As you might imagine certain members of the Last of the Summer Wine Crew have been following the development of Carlton Town's new unique looking "Shed End" quite closely.
Millers Man Gary "Boatsy" Clarke has been regularly posting photo updates as the stand has gone up and his pictorial diary will hopefully be of some interest to our own Technical Department.
Full marks to Gary and his helpers at Carlton.
Millers Man Gary "Boatsy" Clarke has been regularly posting photo updates as the stand has gone up and his pictorial diary will hopefully be of some interest to our own Technical Department.
Full marks to Gary and his helpers at Carlton.
21st june 2023 - much sitting down on the job today
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Another enjoyable day in the Eagle Valley sunshine today with the star of the show our new sit down mower which enabled us to give the main pitch a much needed trim.
Last minute repairs and a final coat of paint saw the long running restoration of "Roy's Seat" finally signed off. Four of our marine ply boards were placed at the Oxton Road end with a new advertising banner for Thorpe Electrical finding a home alongside the Ox End net. Whilst the EV gardener was buzzing round doing what an EV gardener does we also found time to take a look at the pitch side gate leading from the changing rooms which is one of our minor outstanding ground grading issues for Step 6. |
17th june 2023 - eagle valley development stage one & Two
Unofficially there is, believe it or not, a cunning plan in place (or at least in our heads) for the development of Arnold Town's Eagle Valley home. I think we can break it down into four stages.
Stage One is a never ending stage if you like. It's called "Maintenance" and it's where the Last of the Summer Wine Crew began their work at the beginning of last season. Constant painting, staining, weeding, mowing, moss removing, rubbish clearing and strimming has been going on for months and will continue to be carried out as and when the jobs roll round again.
"Maintenance" has its advantages. Whilst it involves a great deal of ongoing hard work it doesn't tend to cost a massive amount of money.
Stage Two of the process is "Ground Boarding" - when EV opened its doors in 2009 a fair amount of the pitch was surrounded by ground boards. Sadly most of these fell into disrepair mainly because, it turned out, the boards used were not of a particularly good standard.
Introducing "Marine Ply MDF". Marine Ply we've discovered is the bees knees of ground boarding and with a bit of the old Stage One "maintenance" should have a much longer lifespan than our previous boards.
Marine Ply is not cheap. Thankfully our friends at Astro Kings at Harvey Hadden Stadium answered our call and very kindly let us have some second hand marine ply boards to help get Stage Two off the ground.
On our twitter feed we have also put a call out to any local firms who may have a spare board which they have uplifted from elsewhere and is now in need of a new home.
Eagle Valley welcomes all such boards!
By the time the new 2023/24 season kicks off we will have some boards up but quite frankly we have a very long way to go before we can even begin to introduce you to Stage Three!
Stage One is a never ending stage if you like. It's called "Maintenance" and it's where the Last of the Summer Wine Crew began their work at the beginning of last season. Constant painting, staining, weeding, mowing, moss removing, rubbish clearing and strimming has been going on for months and will continue to be carried out as and when the jobs roll round again.
"Maintenance" has its advantages. Whilst it involves a great deal of ongoing hard work it doesn't tend to cost a massive amount of money.
Stage Two of the process is "Ground Boarding" - when EV opened its doors in 2009 a fair amount of the pitch was surrounded by ground boards. Sadly most of these fell into disrepair mainly because, it turned out, the boards used were not of a particularly good standard.
Introducing "Marine Ply MDF". Marine Ply we've discovered is the bees knees of ground boarding and with a bit of the old Stage One "maintenance" should have a much longer lifespan than our previous boards.
Marine Ply is not cheap. Thankfully our friends at Astro Kings at Harvey Hadden Stadium answered our call and very kindly let us have some second hand marine ply boards to help get Stage Two off the ground.
On our twitter feed we have also put a call out to any local firms who may have a spare board which they have uplifted from elsewhere and is now in need of a new home.
Eagle Valley welcomes all such boards!
By the time the new 2023/24 season kicks off we will have some boards up but quite frankly we have a very long way to go before we can even begin to introduce you to Stage Three!
Above - a potential cunning "board" currently residing in someone's head!
14th june 2023 - good signs continue
Close season holidays cut the crew down to three today but that didn't matter cause one of the trio was the much missed Technical Department himself.
First we had the TD risking life and limb re-fixing a security light to the outside wall. Then a new banner from "Total Body Performance & Fitness" now adorns the Compound fence. Finally a new board next to the Home Dug-out from "Arnold Building & Roofing Ltd". All in all a nice pleasant productive day spent in the EV Sun. |
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7th June 2023 - Productive day at the valley
Pretty decent progress achieved down at the Valley today.
The Eagle Valley Gardener was of course a blur for much of the time as the ground continues to benefit hugely from his tireless efforts. A more sedate pace saw the Oxton Road End enjoy a bit of a trim along its fence and also we made great strides with our "C'mon the Arna!" project for the Colin End. Congrats were in order to the Gardener today though as he announced that the Arnold in Bloom Project had very kindly agreed to support his green fingered efforts at the ground. |
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may 31st 2023 - 5 star turn out in the drizzle
The weather was against us somewhat at Eagle Valley this morning with overnight rain and early drizzle putting paid to the painting tasks we have piling up - the never ending perimeter fence, the Colin End "C'mon the Arna!" boards and a final coat on Roy's Seat to name but three.
But we still managed to find a few jobs to do. Mainly continuing to attempt re-claim the land to the left as you go through the turnstile using some of the unwanted hardcore to fill in one or two of the car park holes. Otherwise it was general tidying up today with a bit of Pete's strimming thrown in. |
Last of the summer wine crew - the story so far
For many years extra care and attention for Eagle Valley has been largely in the hands of one man, the tireless Pete Dodsley.
At the beginning of last season however Pete finally managed to get himself an actual "Crew" to work with. The Last of the Summer Wine Crew currently consists of six like-minded Arna enthusiasts who give a few hours of their time every week over to maintaining and (hopefully) slowly improving the home of the Eagles. |
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At first ad-hoc days were set aside for work at the ground however thankfully we have now settled into a regular slot which takes place each and every Wednesday from around 10am until 1pm with a coffee break thrown in for much needed chin wagging and planning our next move.
Available hours and budget determine to a large extent what we can achieve but hopefully the photos above demonstrate that there is no lack of effort put in AND most importantly we manage to have the odd laugh along the way.
Make no mistake we have big plans for what we would like to achieve at the Valley but at the same time we acknowledge that the changes we want will not happen over night. Yes, it's a classic case of "one step at a time" for sure.
But, if you happen to be at a loose end one Wednesday morning and would like to help us speed things up a tad well you can be certain of a very warm welcome down at the Valley with the Crew!
Available hours and budget determine to a large extent what we can achieve but hopefully the photos above demonstrate that there is no lack of effort put in AND most importantly we manage to have the odd laugh along the way.
Make no mistake we have big plans for what we would like to achieve at the Valley but at the same time we acknowledge that the changes we want will not happen over night. Yes, it's a classic case of "one step at a time" for sure.
But, if you happen to be at a loose end one Wednesday morning and would like to help us speed things up a tad well you can be certain of a very warm welcome down at the Valley with the Crew!