Bit of an update

April 16/17 - I was honoured to be allowed to have a two-day placement at Manchester United Football Club - one of the world's most recognisable sports teams - with the club journalists and online news team.

On the Thursday I was taken to Carrington Training Ground where I sat in on player interviews of David de Gea and Maroune Fellaini. It was really cool to see how MUTV operated with players like David de Gea who opted to have his interview done in Spanish. As an aspiring club journalist, one of the few who says that from the start apparently, I got to ask various questions about how the press office works, how news is covered - what is and what isn't - and the reach of the website.

Naturally, I was the most insignificant individual at the training ground. Although my parents may say otherwise... When de Gea finally turned up he was shaking hands with folks from MUTV before stepping into the room where he would be interviewed and where I was stood. As he walked by he reached out his hand to shake mine. One of the world's best goalkeepers, shaking my hand. He and I exchanged pleasantries of nothing football related in his native Spanish. Needless to say, he is one of the nicest guys about. 

The Friday was dedicated to seeing a press-conference with manager Louis Van Gaal. He is an incredible intimidating and smart person. According to Gemma, the club journalist who was in charge of me on the Thursday, Van Gaal knows exactly how to use the website and national media to get across his message. At 12 minutes past eleven, he strolled into the room and stared me dead in the eyes. I was the outlier in the room and he knew it. Immense.

I was able to write a number of news articles for the website including ones on Chris Smalling and Jesper Blomqvist. I also did tour profiles for a number of potential clubs United may play on their preseason tour as well as a longer piece on Dwight Yorke for their Legends game in June.

Overall, a crazy experience.

April 25/26 - Nationals were a product of reluctance and caving into my "I feel I am letting the team down by not playing" guilt. With eight skaters, we took to the ice to be smashed by four teams on two different days. That's not so much the story as the wait for Saturday night...

OUR LAST NIGHT. They were a last minute decision and one of the best I've made since seeing Silverstein earlier in the month. OLN, another band I had wanted to see live for ages, put on a tremendous show playing a number of songs off their recent albums which I liked including Dark Storms, Fate, Reason to Love, Same Old War and Sunrise.

I had already debated on missing Nationals entirely just to see these guys but once I saw the early finish we'd have I immediately booked my ticket. The tiredness the following day was worth it - they're textbook and really energetic. The crowd response was great for a smaller audience than I expected... everyone must've been at the Sheffield date the previous night.

Now who is left to cross off the must see list... Parkway Drive, The Black Dahlia Murder, All Time Low and several more.

Silverstein at Sound Control

Mack and I turned back the clocks at this gig to age 15 - technically 14 for me - as we saw Silverstein on the 'Discovering the Waterfront' 10-Year Anniversary Tour with support from Polar and Blood Youth.

We didn't even know the name of Blood Youth until Shane Told, vox of Silverstein, said it. Although it is possible he said it at the start of the set but Mack and I were both quick to judge... little did we know we had to get through Polar who weren't bad, they just were very generic.

(I personally give them credit because that "Glass Cutter" song of theirs is catchy.)

Naturally, Killing the Dream, The Carrier and Empty Vision will always be my favourite melo-hardcore bands as that's kind of what I'd consider Polar to be. Moving on.

I know I was dressed like a 15-year-old going to a show in "the scene". I had the flannel on, the tight fit jeans, the Nikes and the flat brim on a bit northwest AND one gigantic pimple on my chin. I guess you can add that I was trying to grow some facial hair as I hadn't shaved since Monday.

Meanwhile, Mack was quietly excited. I tend to fangirl as seen when at the I Killed the Prom Queen where I nearly sliced the head of a one Siobhan clean off.

The two of us stood off to the side at the back throughout the night until Silverstein were up. We then moved off the side just a little closer.

For an hour and a half set there was no possible way for either of our frail bodies to last all night - even in our youthful state.

Once Silverstein came on, I was basically speechless. I could only smile as it had been a "10 years in the making" sort of thing to see them live. And they are flawless live. Spot on up there with bands like Within the Ruins, Killswitch Engage and All-American Rejects in terms of quality.

Silverstein's first eight songs were all off other albums, including Smashed Into Pieces and Bleeds No More off their 2004 album and A Midwestern State of Emergency from their forthcoming effort to be released in May.

Brilliance as all I could do was stand there with the occasional arm grab of Mack during "Vices", "Sacrifice" and "Massachusetts".

DISCOVERING THE WATERFRONT in its entirety is not built for words. The album itself is a true work of art, hence why it peaked at number three on the U.S. Billboard Independent Album chart and 34 on the Billboard 200.

The first song I ever listened to was "Smile In Your Sleep" and I was hooked from there. It took me ages to discover (not intended) the rest of the album after that song because I would have that one on repeat. But "First Wrapped In Blood" and "My Heroine" are beautiful.

MY HEROINE. Until this point, Mack and I had looked like the coolest 15-year-olds in the place by standing off to the side, arms folded - except for the guy who looked about 40 who knew every word and was going mental. He looked cool.

"Go, I'm right behind you," was all that Mack said.

And then we were just four deep near the front. Never had such watery eyes in my life. And for a venue that had been immense all night, it went up about 20 notches.

In terms of where the night ranks, it is hard to say. Seeing I Killed the Prom Queen was amazing, as was the show many moons ago where I saw Escape the Fate with Ronnie, LoveHateHero and BlessTheFall. Heck, even All-American Rejects was insane and they were being supported by Bo Bice.

No, it's right up there because it was incredible and everything my 15-year-old self had hoped for.

Lancashire Spinners away day

It has been a busy week on placement at Sale and Altrincham Messenger, which also oversees Stretford and Urmston Messenger so I didn't get a chance to write this bad boy up when I wanted to.

(The aforementioned placement post will come later as I've been asked back for next Tuesday through Thursday.)

Needless to say, my first proper trip with Spinners basketball was unreal and brought me back to my Junior Hockey days with Springfield Jr Pics. Sidetrack moment: most vivid story that year would be when my roommate left the room to stay in his dad's room in Maine and he had the alarm on his phone meaning I didn't wake up... until Coach Tim Noonan was banging against my door like a madman.

I digress.

6.45am - My second alarm went off. But what follows means I could've at least gotten another half hour of sleep, which would've been nice as I didn't get to bed until around 3am. And I likely would've been awake longer had Eleanor not told me off for being awake when I had to be up early.

8.20am - I finally get picked up by Yomi "Ty" Taiwo who lives around the corner and who I rode with to Birmingham. This morning it's Kendrick Lamar and Drake that we're listening to. On our way to B'ham we connected through music and our love of Young Jeezy amongst others.

8.20 was 20 minutes past the said pickup time and we had to be at the pickup point for half eight and with the detour we took [information withheld] we clearly weren't going to arrive by then.

All the calls from player-coach Ste Gayle... the horror.

9.07am - Ty and I arrive at the pick up point 47 minutes late. FORTY-SEVEN MINUTES. I'm hauling a** down the road with him following behind -- probably the only time I'll ever outrun someone 6ft 5in plus because I was scootin' as they'd say.

The look on Ste's face when Ty got into the mini bus was fantastic. Words can't describe it but it was that "you're 47 minutes late" face.

Now, I'm not the most punctual individual myself as I find a way to be late after I was early, but I would've felt terrible had we been late even though it wasn't me driving.

The drive included serious banter between the players, namely involving Conor Porter, Mark Rangeley, Anthony Kuczaj and Ty and Ty Ogunneye.

12.00pm - Our first takeaway of the day is McDonalds somewhere along the extensive M1. I'm going to say somewhere near Luton. Just picture a 5ft 4in -- I'm being generous -- walking into a service station with a bunch of folks over 6ft. I hardly looked out of place standing in queue with the team.

1.56pm - The mini bus arrived into the East London borough of Newham and NewVic College where London Lituanica play out of. After some technical difficulties getting through the main gate, we bustled out of the van and were into the gym.

3.00pm - Game time. Or so everyone thought as only one referee was present.

3.56pm - The second referee strolls in after being stuck in traffic but #cmonman, what else do you expect in London? Tip off, 56 minutes late.

6.00pm - Not really the result Spinners were looking for but still plenty of positives came out of the team's regular season including a 19-3 record, Patrons Cup triumph, a second-seed and promotion.

Back in the mini bus and it's back to the north.

8.00pm - Time for the second takeaway of the day which is KFC. All I could think about was how great the gym was going to feel on Monday and about all those ab exercises.

I think I fell asleep pretty much when my butt hit the seat. I was crushed when I found out the services we stopped at were only in Milton Keynes - home to many roundabouts.

11.20pm - Back at the pickup point 14 hours later and all I could taste was my bed...

12.00am - ... to write two articles for the Bury Times.

It was a long, long day but so enjoyable. That's what it's meant to be right? Because that's what I've signed up for.