Strike Factory

Firstly happy St Georges day to everyone, to all English and non English, as we celebrate Englands national saint day. Will be having a big feast with neighbours to celebrate St Georges Day tonight, plus currently in my England Rugby Union top, was the day St George slayed a dragon and that William Shakespeare was born (though it may have been someone else that wrote all that fine English poetry and stuff).

Meanwhile I have managed to get a few essays out the way the last few days. Which has been a big relief. I went  REMF training at Hassocks on Friday, and despite my impressive goal beating Scott McCarthy I could not master the skills of Ticehurst Senior, who was immense thoughout the evening. Thanks to everyone looks like at least I have earned the right to attend the match as a spectator at least on Friday at Lewes FC.

Meanwhile me and my brother have decided to organise after being impressed by Brightons beach football facilities a Strike Factory Cup beach football match (to celebrate 2 years of this site plus me getting over the hard times), with me and my brother being captains. My team has to consist of Albion supporters, while my brothers team will consist of London Team followers. The match will be in late May to fit in with Strike Factorys launch date of late May 2005, the exact day and time will depend on players work commitments if you are intrested in coming and watching, and know more info on the beach football thing at Madiera Drive please let me know.

COMING SOON Strike Factory Cup

Brighton and Hove Allstars VS London Allstars

Where and time Madiera Drive, Brighton, Sussex late May time and exact date yet to be confirmed more details contact this site or Mr Charles Ball himself. 

 

Well I suscessfully managed my visits of Crawley, Brighton and Hove museums you may see the reports right now. Meanwhile I returned to college on Monday. I will be attending the REMF football training on Friday. To get into the team.

I have done some revision with this site a little there are now pictures of my museum adventures in the museum gallery section. Also the Profile section of Strike Factory has been adjusted with more info about the history and the origins of this site that go as far back as 1996 and Burgess Hill. Plus I hope you enjoy reading the visits on the museums, and feel free to post comments on the entrys.

Meanwhile still training sports wise. Focusing a lot on college at the mo, and currently researching infomation on private rent to see if its viable and suitable for me. After the recent blows trying the housing and council way of getting out of Crawley (though still not ruling the Sussex Oakleaf in Burgess just means I will have to wait until the end of the year if I wanted to go for it). Though researching and not rushing into anything, If anyone has any infomation on private rent the good and bad things please let me know. Just checking to see if its a possible alternative for me.

I can't believe it but I intended not to sign up to anymore sites such as beebo, or facebox after pressure from a few friends (one of which is a former flatmate and will be kept anonyous), I have gone further into the geeky world of the internet and signed up to Facebox NNNNNOOOOOOO!. But does not look a bad site to be fair feel free to add me once I get link when i have more time.

Charles.

Crawley Museum

After visiting the two museums of the fine twin city of Brighton and Hove, it was off to Crawley Museum, how would Charles Ball fare in the same town where he was born, and it would be the museum that would mark halfway for Charles and his museum challenge. 

Mode of transport: I decided as it was a fine Sunday Afternoon with the sun out and that most of the local chavs were most likely still recovering from hangovers at Liquid and Envy, to walk to Goff’s Park from home.

Visitors: Charles 

Location of museum and type of building: It was located at a connected annexe of the fine Goff’s Manor House, at Goffs Park, Crawley the area seemed a bit Life on Mars like, it seemed like you were in Old Crawley before 1947.

Staff friendliness: The Staff (which consisted of just 2 men and one young lady), were helpful and full of information on Crawley and its history. Good work despite how busy the place got. 

Museum Highlights:

·                    It was a bizarrely small museum mostly consisting of just 2 rooms, though the Museum Society are hoping to move to much bigger premises nearer the centre of Crawley soon.

·                    There is currently a special exhibition on one of the towns most famous sons the former World Champion Boxer Alan Minter (who was in the same school class as my dad would you believe).

·                    The museum focused a lot mostly on the wonderful pre-1947 history of Crawley, before the New Towns Comission decided to chuck a ton of concrete and Londoners on the once legendary village.

·                    Apparently former Crawley resident Mark Lemon (former Punch magazine editor), had a daughter who ended up having Alice in Wonderland based on her.

·                    Oscar Wildes boyfriend (whos name escapes me)lived and is buried in Crawley.

·                    Other notable names include the legendary Norman Wisdom the lifelong Albion fan and former director of the Seagulls. Notable for his slapstick acting, lived and worked in Crawley at one point in his life. Ironically no mention of the Watford born ex Palace Player now managing Middlesborough Gareth Southgate anywhere in the museum. lol

·                    The Quaker House next door to me gets a special mention for being a major place in the early years of the Quaker faith with notable Quaker figures such as Cowfold man William Penn, who attended meetings here and founded Pennsylvania in the USA, boy I am honoured my home has a connection with the birth of a major US State, watch up for a link up with a site there very soon.

Overall: Was a nice little museum, with first class staff. Despite being small had all kinds of displays and some fine models on old Crawley buildings long gone. The museum seems to make out that Crawley was once some fine cosmopolitian mini- Brighton like village with all kinds of the finest in society ranging from authors, editors, actors, and even prominent homosexuals rather than the overgrown mini-London town it is today, if only!  Next up in the next week I will hopefully with one or two others be visiting the fine museum of the Seaside Resort of Wonderful Worthing to kick off of the second half of The Strike Factory Local Museum Challenge feel free to come date is not set as seeing when people are available.