STATUE?

I have been to Crosby Lancashire, today to watch an Independent Schools' FA Cup tie between Charterhouse from Surrey and Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby. It is a second round tie. The last time I brought a team to the Blundell's coastline we visited the Anthony Gormley sculptures on the local beach. At high tide the sea immerses them, some entirely.

There are 100 statues, cast in Halifax and West Bromwich. 

Today the boys were treated to a visit to the Liverpool FC training grounds, where the Charterhouse ex head groundsman, David Roberts, now plies his trade.

Statues or not, the schoolboys won 5-3 today and they go into the hat for Thursday's draw. Exciting.

So talking about statues, where is this England team going? So in terms of motivation, did the statues help? Did the LFC thrill get the adrenaline going? We hope so.

Chris Coleman, the Welsh international manager has even more challenging ideas. He took his squad to visit the site of the Aberfan colliery spoil tip disaster. It is the 50th anniversary of the event that killed 116 primary school children from Pantglas Junior School. I remember it being reported on the news and indeed have taught the tradegy as an example of a geographical hazard. Aberfan was a shocking occasion and will put football into perspective for many.

Two years ago his team visited Welsh poet's Hedd Wynn's war memorial in Belgium as part of their international break. He is making his squad more aware of their national history.