A New Type of Football
Yesterday evening I watched the FA Cup replay between Ebbsfleet United and AFC Wimbledon. Both are very much fans-supported clubs, with Ebbsfleet being owned by the on-line community MyFootballClub and AFC Wimbledon having emerged after the transfer of Wimbledon to Milton Keynes.
Will we be seeing more clubs like these? It could be possible that next season AFC Wimbledon are in the Football League.
One thing that was different, was that there was a pitch-side advert for the Samaritans at the match.
I Want to Watch Football Not Adverts!
I have just turned over from Radio 5’s build-up to the football to ITV’s coverage.
But what did I get?
Five minutes of adverts!
Grr! When somebody makes an advert filter that works, I’ll buy it! But I don’t buy any of the products they advertise anyway!
When I move, I’ll find a solution. Perhaps I need a TV that can switch from it’s Freeview tuner to a cable/Sky one at the touch of a button!
Don’t Go to Hull!
That was the big message I got yesterday at Ipswich. They weren’t very good and to pay more to see them at Hull, is definitely not on!
Memories of Some Late Goals
On the coach to Ipswich today, we were thinking that no-one could ever remember Ipswich scoring any late goals. They certainly could have done with a couple today!
In the 1960’s I used to cycle from my home in Sussex Way, Cockfosters to White Hart Lane, parking my bike in a garage near to the ground, that charged a half-crown. My father always said that he went to Spurs before the First World War with his father and they used to give a kid, a shilling to hold the horse’s head for the duration of the match. It seems that nothing has changed except the price and parking costs near Portman Road is now about a fiver.
I think that on the day of my tale, I must have gone to see Spurs entertain Manchester United on the bike as I got back fairly quickly and the alternative of the train from White Hart Lane to Enfield Town and a 107 bus, always got me in quite a bit later.
In this match, which according to this page, most probably was on the 10th September 1966, I was home reasonably early and met my next door neighbour, a Mr. Gibbon, who had been to the same match, but had driven in his car. Note that I never had a lift.
He was a Mancunian, who supported United, although he had season tickets at both Spurs and Arsenal, and went to each when they were at home. They alternated home matches in those days, so you could do this.
He said that it had been a great match especially as United had won by the only goal. I also knew that he always left with about ten minutes to go, so I said that I thought it had been a good game too, especially as Spurs had won 2-1 with two goals by Greaves and Gilzean in the last few minutes. He obviously missed them and as he didn’t have a radio in his car, it was myself, who had given him the news.
Sheffield United 1 Ipswich 2
Yesterday, I went to see Ipswich play at Sheffield United and they duly obligued with a reasonably tidy win, that puts them sixth in the Championship.
It was a good trip as I went up by train from St. Pancras with a friend and his son, who support the Blades. It took just over two hours to get up and we had a sensible lunch in a Greek cafe called Hellas close to the ground.
I had a ra
Hellas Cafe near Bramall Lane, Sheffield
ther nice bean soup with some salami and home-made humous. I wouldn’t recommend the cafe to super-sensitive coeliacs, but I had no reaction at all. The toliets were also very smart and had that important accessory of a coat hook. Why should I try to prop my coat on the door handle or put it on the floor.
I’ve been to Bramall Lane three times now and it seems to get better every time, which is something you can’t say about all stadia in the Championship.
Bramall Lane
As I’ve said in other posts, at some places the security is rather over top, but it is best to say that at Bramall Lane, it was sensible and fair, which can’t be said for every ground.
It was a short walk back to the station from the ground and then another two hour train ride back to London. We were in one of the Meridians and I managed an hour’s sleep or so. i’ll be glad when I finally move to London, as I’ll be able to do more trips like these without the inconvenience of going cross-country from Suffolk.
The Bigger They Are!!!
I’m not a vindictive person, but I do get a certain amont of pleasure, when I see certain rich men’s toys not performing as they could!
So to see Manchester City losing to Poznan in Poland tonight strengthens my belief that money never buys you what you think it should.
Let’s hope the Poles hang on!
They will now as they’ve just scored a third goal!
We all know that it’s the players they’ve bought, but how long before they fire the manager?
I’ve Got a Ticket for Ipswich at Norwich
I go to quite a few Ipswich Town away matches, but I’ve never seen them at Norwich. This year though, I will be there, as they have what is known as an Alternative Priority method, which allocates a ticket to supporters, who have been to a given number of away matches.
What a sensible use of their ticket computer system. I suspect that they are not alone in doing this!
Have Manchester United Done the Right Thing?
Today Manchester United bought Nobby Stiles’ medals from the World and European Cups.
Nothing has been said yet about what they are going to do with them, but I hope that they put them on display in a suitable museum, as they are part of our footballing history!
I would hate to think of them being kept in a safe or a trophy cabinet with no access to the general public.
Today’s Nottingham Card
friend has asked me to give him some pointers to the races at Nottingham today.
Here are my quick thoughts.
Race 1 – Neytiki as it’s got the most attractive jockey! She’s a coeliac too! Avoid Brand Bob as the horse has a bad draw. The horse is also owned by someone I know!
A general point is that it’s probably worth watching Richard Hughes mount in the first, but a PlacePot using all his mounts would be a good idea, as he’s closing in on the jockey’s championship.
I can’t say I can guarantee these selections, but my father’s ability to pick winners improved after he’d had a stroke.
Race 2 – Ittirad as trainer Michael Jarvis and jocky Philip Robinson are often dangerous in this sort of race.
Race 3 – Academy and Charles Camoin.
Race 4 – If Hayley wins the first, back Ace of Spies here. Make My Dream is probably worth looking at.
Race 5 – Be patriotic and back the Queen’s horse – Starshine. Seriously though it looks like a horse that gets a distance and few except the Queen run those.
Race 6 – Spinning is napped and should go close and Naddwah is my pick. But don’t underestimate Compton Blue because of Richard Hughes going for the championship.
Race 7 – Point North and Colour Scheme.
Race 8 – Kenyan Cat as trainer a great and honest guy and horse just missed a hat trick.
At Last A Win!
That’s probably the best thing you could say about last night’s football.
The Anonymous Widower 