Carrots on the Train North
Yesterday, I went to see Ipswich play at Burnley and took the 7:30 Virgin train from Euston, changing at Preston.
I was surprised to see a large police presence on the station at Preston and as I had arrived there on time at the early time for football fans of 9:38, it seemed rather odd, unless Preston were playing one of the usual suspects in a lunchtime derby.
On asking one of the many police on the station, I was told it was members or should that be carrots of the English Defence League going to a protest in Blackburn.
There was no trouble on the train and they all got off at Blackburn and the carriage was rather empty as we crossed to Burnley.
I don’t like those who hate others and I’m rather glad that the EDL protest passed without any serious trouble. But that protest was rather put in proportion by the murder of a Catholic policeman by probable Republican terrorists in Northern Ireland.
Giving ITV A Chance
Just turned over to ITV to watch the football. But although it’s after two o’clock, I was too early for the football break.
The commentary actually started first on Radio 5!
Why We’re Losing Interest in the FA Cup
I like the FA Cup, but many are losing interest as one match today is on ITV and the other is on the US cable channel, ESPN. The former justs shows adverts interrupted by football and the second is not much better and anyway I don’t have a subscription.
I shall be listening to both matches on the radio and watching the rugby on BBC 1.
A Day in Leeds
Yesterday, I went to Leeds to see Ipswich play at Elland Road. I took the train from King’s Cross at 8:10 and arrived in the city on time just after 10:30, three cups of free coffee later.
In my view Leeds is a much superior city to Manchester, as like Liverpool, it is fairly compact and you can get most places on foot from the train station.
The station now has improved and is now near to what I would call a destination station.
The last time I came, the roof was going up and now it is complete.
The New Roof at Leeds Station
Is this roof the only complete modern station covering to match the great Victorian structures at St. Pancras, King’s Cross, Raddington and Lime Street in Liverpool?
I met an old Metier colleague and her daughter in the city and after lunch, we went to the ground to see the match.
Leeds United have a reputaion for being unwelcoming, but this was the firast away seating that had a proper Welcome Sign.
Welcome Sign at Elland Road
It should also be said that they were very accommodating in adjusting the tickets, so that I could sit with my friends.
The match wasn’t the most exciting but Town deserved their point and it was good to see Kieron Dyer in an Ipswich shirt again.
An Essex Man Becomes a Star
Lionel Messi is one of the world’s highest-paid footballers, who plays for Barcelona. But in a recent ad for Adidas he was played by an Essex PE teacher, who plays for Canvey Island.
I suppose someones got to do it, if Messi can’t be bothered to get out of bed.
You’re Not Too Old at 37
Congratulations to Helen Clitheroe, who at the young age of 37 has won gold in the Indoor European Athletics Championships in Paris.
With Ryan Giggs playing on at a similar age, does it say that we’re getting physiotherapy, diet and other important disciplines better?
If so then we’re all going to benefit.
The Ghost
I’ve seen a lot of great footballers play, both on the television and when I’ve gone to the match.
But as someone who saw him perhaps a dozen times in my youth, there are none who can compare with John White, nicknamed The Ghost by Tottenham fans.
The son, who never met him, Rob, has just published a book about his father called The Ghost of White Hart Lane: In Search of My Father the Football Legend
One thing that seems to be missing in all the stories of John White, is any description of his funeral. I seem to remember reading at the time, that over 100,000 people were on Tottenham High Road as the procession passed, with fans climbing on lamp-posts to get a view. We think that this behaviour didn’t happen until Diana died, but was her funeral just returning to the accepted norm.
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A Letter in The Times on the Glasgow Premier League
A letter in The Times entitled Firm Opinion states the obvious about Rangers and Celtic rivalry; religious bigotry.
But it’s just not politically correct to say so.
After all, I’ve supported Ipswich for many years and lived in Liverpool for several years and now live close to The Emirates. So how can Ipswich and Norwich, Liverpool and Everton and Arsenal and Tottenham keep their rivalry within sensible bounds and Rangers and Celtic can’t? I repeat what the letter writer said; religious bigotry.
I should also say, that in this awful weather, I’ve worn my Ipswich hat all over the country and although I’ve had comments, none would have offended anybody with the most sensitive of dispositions.
So grow up Glasgow!
Football fans all over the country (and probably the rest of Scotland too!) are getting fed-up with your childish and bigotted antics.
I Made a Mistake Not To Go
I looked at the weather forecast for Cardiff today, yesterday and it was supposed to be cold. So I chickened out of going to see Ipswich play in the city.
What a mistake to make, especially as Town fully deserved their victory, described by the BBC as a Jimmy Bullard masterclass.
The Glasgow Premier League Has a Long Way to Go
Celtic and Rangers may have played an ill-tempered match this week, but apparently there is a report of a match in Argentina where 36 red cards were shown.
The Anonymous Widower 