If you remember, a few weeks ago I mentioned how nice it was to hear some friendly abuse coming from the touchline.

While I am not one to condone bad language, I always appreciate a good sense of humour.

I was at the Burnley and District League Division One match between Rosegrove Rail and St Andrews.

Rosegrove right back David Britton was about to take a throw in when team-mate Mark Fallows screamed for the ball and the two ended up having a bit of a four letter verbal slanging match. Britton took his throw but referee Dennis Orr blew his whistle and pulled him up and told him to cool it down.

"Foul throw!" shouted Saints defender Peter Goddard. "No," said the referee explaining why he had blown his whistle.

But quick as a flash Goddard replied "Well it sounded pretty foul from here!" It made me laugh.

There was a bit of a spooky coincidence in last week's first ever Grassroots.

For a player who played in the 'random' game I picked to cover last week also featured in our new Roots Archive column.

The player in question is Nathan Edwards, who headed home Padiham's winner in the 2-1 win against Enfield in the East Lancs League Presidents Cup.

Earlier in the week, and without realising, the same player popped up in the Roots Archive column under the This Week Two Years Ago.

And I quote: "An own goal from Nathan Edwards and a strike from Jay Stubbs guided Park View to a 2-0 win against Havelock in the Burnley Sunday League Towneley Cup final."

Freaked my out a little bit but at least it's good to see Nathan scoring in the right goal!

Who said referees did not have a sense of humour.

Man in black and our very own Whistle Blower Neil Yates e-mailed me a joke this week which was witty and relevant to one of our local clubs.

So here goes.

Yasser Arafat died and was laid to rest in his coffin.

Later, Mrs Arafat came and asked why he was being buried in a Burnley kit. His chief aid advised Mrs Arafat that they were only carrying out Yasser's last requests.

Mrs Arafat said that this couldn't be correct as he did not support Burnley. His chief aid said it was written in Yasser's will and produced it for Mrs Arafat to read.

The last wish read : "I wish to be buried in the Gazza Strip!"

Not bad Neil, not bad.

Apologies to young cross country champion Sally Chapman who won the Burnley Primary Schools cross country championship -- and helped Rosehill Primary School win the team event. In the excitement of the launch of Grassroots I called Sally both Sarah and Susan!

And seeing as getting the facts right is the first rule of journalism I hold my hands up and admit I got it wrong.

Sorry.

John Melvin of the Burnley Commmunity Football team has asked me to say a big thank you to Anthony Ruth -- a former colleague who managed the team for five years.

I've been meaning to for a few weeks but this is my first chance for you John.