Send For The Dutch
Blackpool has a problem in that they’ve now run out of orange paint. Apparently, it got worse when Blackpool beat Wigan in their first match in the Premier League
I think the Dutch ought to send some of their emergency supplies.
It strikes me though that it could be an opportunity for a great deal of fun and partying on both sides.
Do Blackpool have a Dutch branch of their Supporters Club? I suspect that they will soon!
What is addiction to orange called?
Temenos
Temenos is impressive and towers over everything in the dock area of Middlesbrough, except for the transporter bridge.
Temenos and the Transporter Bridge
I like Temenos and feel that it is beautifully sited and paired with the nearly hundred years old bridge, that is still in full working order, despite what you saw in Auf Weidersehn Pet.
We need more structures like Temenos and the transporter bridge, as I think they make people and especially children think about engineering and how to build things. In recent years London has gained the Millennium bridge and the Hungerford footbridges, Newcastle has the winking bridge, but poor old Ipswich has gained nothing at all. Properly built these types of structures last generations, as so many of our Victorian bridges have shown.
Perhaps after the match, we should have all gone had paid homage at Temenos, which in ancient Greece was a place to worship gods., as the structure is very close to the Riverside Stadium. But I suspect if we’d tried, the Middlesbrough Police wouldn’t have understood the joke. These Middlesbrough fans don’t look too happy as they trudge home in the shadow of Temenos.
Temenos, the Transporter Bridge and Middlesbrough Fans After The Game
I said that Tenemos was impressive, but so was the quality of the water in the dock below. Terry pointed out a salmon, which are nhow comon in the Tees. How many were there, when the bridge was built?
A Weekend in Middlesbrough
As I said in Travels with My Stroke, the first trip outside London would be one to Middlesbrough. Some of my friends thought I was slightly unhinged to be going there, but then you don’t have to be mad or stupid to be an Ipswich supporter, but it does help.
So it was with a certain amount of anticipation, that I boarded the train at Peterborough for the journey to York, where I changed for Middlesbrough. It was a pleasant and uneventful journey that was completed by a short taxi ride to a clean and comfortable B&B called Chadwick Guest House, run by a charming young Sardinian, who had come to the UK to learn English a few years ago and had stayed.
Also staying in the same guest house, were some Town fans from Oslo in Norway, who after the match were going to Exeter for the Carling Cup.
I should say that I was going to be shown round Middlesbrough by a lady, Liz, who subscribes to the coeliac group on the Internet that I moderate, and her husband, Terry.
So on the morning of the match, they showed me around Middlesbrough and gave me lunch. One of the reasons, I’d come was north was to see the new Anish Kapoor installation, Temenos, and the various amazing bridges across the Tees. They have the famous Transporter Bridge, an enormous lifting bridge, a modern stylish footbridge and a barrage to prevent flooding of the town. We even saw some salmon leaping up the salmon ladder past the barrage alongside the canoe slalom course.
It was a very interesting couple of hours before the match and the walks along the Tees are very much to be recommended.
I won’t say too much about the match, except to say my fears and those of the other several hundred travelling fans were not fulfilled.
Perhaps, we should have all gone had paid homage at Temenos, which in ancient Greece was a place to worship gods, after the match., as the structure is very close to the Riverside Stadium, but I suspect if we’d tried, the Middlesbrough Police wouldn’t have understood the joke.
Did I have any regrets about going? Only one! Sunday marked the start of the Tall Ships Race, just over the Tees at Hartlepool. If I’d known about it, I’d have gone. But neither the Middlesbrough Council or Football Club web sites had mentioned this was happening. Instead I took the train back to Bury St. Edmunds in a much more optimistic mood in more ways than one, to the one I’d started out on Friday.
I will return to the Tall Ships Race. Surely, in these times of austerity, we should do everything we can to encourage visitors and make their visits as enjoyable as possible. If just a few Town fans had stayed over to see the unique race, at least they would have had a meal and a few beers to help the local economy.
Remember too, that many football fans are interested in other things. I was in Milan, when Town fans showed how to support the team away in style. It was the first time, I actually had managed to get to see Leonardo’s Last Supper, in the city. One of the guides told me, that she’d never seen so many football fans viewing one of the world’s most famous paintings.
But then Town fans are different and long may it stay that way!
Anyone for a weekend in Scunthorpe?
Ipswich Town’s Dual Fixture List
My father was a printer and liked to find simple solutions for printing problems. He would like this dual fixture list from Ipswich Town.
Dual Fixture List from Ipswich Town
The small wallet sized one on the right has been torn off the larger one on the left.
Simple and very handy.
Technology for Umpires
I am watching the England Pakistan Test at Nottingham on Sky. I must say that I’m impressed by the new referral system, that allows technology to check an umpire’s decision. This piece in The Telegraph, seems to have found a lot of agreement amongst spectators, that the new system is fair and good.
What seems to work is the fact that each side can make two challenges in an innings, just like in tennis, where each player or team in doubles can make two challenges in a set.
Surely, football could come up with a similar system, which allowed two challenges per half of the referee’s decisions for important phases in the game, such as goals, penalties and red cards. Just as at Nottingham, the review footage could be shown on a big screen for everyone to see. The referee would take the decision, based on images from several cameras. Interestingly, I have a feeling that technology exists to continuously track the ball using a camera, so that its complete trajectory could be shown.
BUt that old full-of-wind fart, Bladder, wouldn’t like it.
Why Arsene Wenger is Different
It has been reported on the BBC, that he sent a message of congratulations to Mo Farah after his victory in the 5,000 metres last night. According to the Telegraph, Arsene had already given Mo his backing.
I can’t imagine many other football managers doing the same.
Austria versus England at Under-19
I’m watching the England Under-19 footballers against Austria on Eurosport. Much better than Capello’s crap in South Africa! They’re winning 2-0 at half time, with two goals from West Ham’s Frank Nouble.
It’s now 3-1 with ten minutes of the second half gone. England seem skilful, keen and disciplined.
In the end they hung on for a 3-2 win.
What a Disappointment!
The Russian football is not being shown! Sad, but in the grand scheme of things, not really! But suppose there was an elderly Muscovite, living in the UK, who was not very well and had been really looking forward to watching Spartak Moscow! ESPN have just made his day!
I Suppose I Could Watch the Golf
Weekends are bad for me, as I can’t drive, there is no pub within walking distance, so except for the stud staff, the paper lady and the postman, I won’t see anyone else for two days.
Not that I’m that bothered, as I will walk a bit in the fields with Lizzie. The weather doesn’t look that good, so I’ll probably just watch the television. Sport is mainly golf, although I do see that there is an exciting clash in the Russian Premier League, between Spartak Moscow and Rubin Kazan on ESPN, who report English football as bad as ITV. So I know that their Russian offering will be totally rubbish, with the commentators probably in a cosy studio.
I do have other creative things to do though and I will report as the day progresses.
Nepotism – Tajik Style
This report says it all.
You may not be able to read it unless you have a subscription to The Times, but if you can’t just type “Zarrina Rakhmonova” into Google. There are several reports of her becoming a TV newsreader, in Tajikistan, where her father is president. Apparently, her brother, Rustam, is a professional footballer and a Member of Parliament. It would be interesting to see if he ever gets a red card. Incidentally, the national football team has a FIFA ranking of 135.
The Anonymous Widower 