PIGS, POOCHES AND GET A MAP ROBBIE

A tradition for Barcelona fans has been throwing pigs' heads on to the pitch when things have not gone well. On the 15th October 2016, Charlton Athletic’s supporters referred to this history at their home game against Coventry City was briefly suspended by an unusual protest on Saturday, as small plastic pigs were thrown onto the pitch from both ends of The Valley.

Charlton supporters apparently prefer domestic sacrifices, so when on this day (19th Jan), in 1982, at The Old Valley, the home fans livened up the Division 2, a 0-0 draw, with Luton they had witnessed, by chucking the front half of a dead cat on to the pitch (obviously).

A passing policeman, who just avoided the "missile", nudged it gently to one side with his foot, showing some deft control (much appreciated by the crowd) and that was that. 

21 Jan 1978

Charlton Athletic v Luton Town

D

0-0

League Division Two

Robbie Savage may have been a pantomime "villain" in Football, but he probably has never had a dead cat thrown at him. On this day in 2005 he managed a transfer from Birmingham City to Blackburn Rovers, hooking up with his old international manager, Mark Hughes. Robbie's reason for moving was to be nearer his parents in Wales, who lived near Wrexham. If Robbie had taken a look at the map, he would find that Blackburn is five minutes closer to Wrexham than Birmingham! Birmingham managing director, Karren Brady said; "If Robbie has come to that decision by looking at a map or atlas, then he needs to learn how "MAP scales" work! And involving "our" Robbie again.......

Dog owners, Mark and Maroline Graham, from Doncaster, have kept their pooch's hair long, because it is a great "conversation starter". They acknowledge that is does remind them of Robbie's "barnet". The dog's hair colour is attractive (bit like Robbie's) and it is always a greast conversation starter. Woof....woof.....and he will chase after a random ball. 

On 13 October 2020, the Official Receiver confirmed that the assets of Macclesfield Town had been sold to Macc Football Club Limited. Local businessman (and owner of 10th tier Stockport Town) Robert Smethurst had purchased the assets, intending to establish a new club,Macclesfield Football Club and enter the North West Counties' League in the 2021–22 campaign. Former Wales international Robbie Savage, then a Stockport Town player, joined the club's board, and former Town manager Danny Whittaker became team manager.

Robbie Savage has played for Manchester United (1991-94), Crewe Alexandra (1994-97), Leicester City (1997-2002), Birmingham City (2002-05), Blackburn Rovers (2005-08), Derby County (2008-11), and Brighton & Hove Albion (2008 - Loan). Savage won 39 caps and scored 2 goals for Wales between 1995-2005. 

Former Manchester United etc and Wales midfielder, Savage, has turned to a former City player and childhood school friend, Jim Whitley (below), for the next step of his project at Macclesfield FC. Savage is currently the director of football at the Northern Premier Division, West, an eighth tier club, a non-league "phoenix" club founded in 2020 after Macclesfield Town were wound up. The Welshman's involvement with the club has been well documented, with the BBC producing a two-part documentary about his involvement and his efforts to drive the side up through the divisions. 

Whitley joined Manchester City when he left school and Savage joined United, where he was a member of the 1992 FA Youth Cup winning team, that included David Beckham, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and the Neville brothers. After that, Savage never made a senior appearance for United, but enjoyed a successful career representing the likes of  Leicester, Birmingham, Blackburn and Derby. 

Whitley made his City debut and in the 1997/98 season he was voted as the club's Young Player of the Season. He never quite made the next step up and after a series of loan spells he left City in 2003, and continued his playing career with the likes of Sunderland and Cardiff.