PHILLIPS' FINALE FOR FOXES

Kevin Phillips will retire from first class football after helping Leicester City win promotion to the Premier League. Phillips, who scored the play-off final winner to earn Crystal Palace promotion last season, joined the Foxes in January. The 40-year-old, capped eight times by England, will now join the club’s coaching staff.

Championship champions, Leicester City, is his ninth professional club, previously playing for Watford, Sunderland, Southampton, Aston Villa, West Bromwich Albion, Birmingham City, Blackpool and Crystal Palace, in a career which began at Vicarage Road in 1994. In his career he has scored 287 goals.

Kevin Phillips has been promoted to the Premier League five times with:-

Sunderland 1998-1999

West Bromwich Albion 2007-08

Birmingham 2008-09

Crystal Palace 2012-13

Leicester City 2013-14

The most successful period in Phillips's 20-year professional career was spent at Sunderland, scoring 116 goals in 211 league games, when he became the only English player to win Europe's Golden Shoe award in 2000. He is also the last Englishman to win the Premier League's Golden Boot, scoring 30 goals in that season. Phillips made five substitute appearances for Palace this term before being released by mutual consent in January.

He has become both Leicester's oldest ever outfield player and goalscorer, having also set the record for oldest player to feature for Crystal Palace in the Premier League earlier this season as well.

MOLE PAYS PENALTY

I had to take this photo at Hepworth United FC on Saturday morning, while watching an U10s match. This was on the second XI pitch, where a mole clearly has been looking for the penalty spot from underneath! If the groundsman gets him, it will be trousers next.

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TYKES DOWN, MILLERS STEADY, MAIDENHEAD SAFE

It was sad day for the Tykes as Barnsley lost at Middlesbrough and thereby fell out of the Championship. Yeovil Town went with them. Rotherham United, in Division 2, on the other hand fought back from a 0-2 deficit to MK Dons and earned an important point at the New York Stadium, remaining in a play off spot. What a nice place to go to; in the shadow of the old Iron works and the steeple of Rotherham Minster, the site, running alongside the River Don, has been regenerated to include the stadium, paths and car parking.

In the 2-2 draw, there were 17 minutes of added time, as a head injury in the first half and then other bits and pieces in the second half delayed play. Full marks to the visiting fans, many of whom came dressed as “Where’s Wally” and they treated their day out up the motorway as a party and gave the Stadium an excellent atmosphere. Pukka Pies sponsored one of the stands and John Smiths, sadly, was the only bitter on tap. What a pity the owners can't get a deal with the Acorn Brewery.

In the lower leagues, Maidenhead United from the Conference South, are raising money to improve their facilities. The origins of senior football in Maidenhead can be traced back to October 1870 with the formation of Maidenhead Football Club, who subsequently played their first ever fixture in December 1870 against Windsor Home Park. Their York Road site is now officially acknowledged as the oldest continually used football ground in the world, eclipsing Northwich Victoria's claim by several years. The

The Club was one of the original 15 entrants for the first ever FA Cup competition in 1871-72. They also entered the first FA Amateur Cup in 1893. Here's a classy club badge

ROTHERHAM UNITED v MK DONS

Founded as Rotherham in 1870, the club known as Rotherham Town joined the Football League in 1893 but were voted out in 1896. Rotherham County was elected to division two in 1919. In 1925 the clubs amalgamated and became United. The club moved away from Millmoor to the Don Valley Stadium in May 2008 after a dispute with the ground owner Ken Booth. In January 2010 the club purchased the former site of the Guest and Chrimes Foundry for the new stadium. Guest and Chrimes was a steelworks company, who made the iconic fire hydrants seen in New York City, often spouting water after being hit in a car chase.

The name of the stadium was announced as the 'New York Stadium' on 19 December 2011. The reason is that the area of land the stadium is sited is called New York. The club also hopes that the name could bring investment from New York City, as the New York Yankees chairman had recently said that he wanted to invest in an English football team.

Saturday's opposition MK Dons, of course, are more recent additions to the Football league, but the club had its origins in Wimbledon FC, the only club known to have won the FA Cup (1988) and FA Amateur Cup (1963) apart from the non pyramid Old Carthusians, the old boys of Charterhouse School. For true amateurs, they dominated the 1880-90s football scene, winning the FA Cup in 1881 and the FA Amateur Cup in 1894 and 1897, losing in the final to Middlesbrough Ironopolis in 1895.

LIVERPOOL v CHELSEA

The first fixture between the two clubs was in the old First Division in 1907/1908 on Wednesday 25th December (yes, Christmas Day!) when Liverpool lost 1 – 4 to Chelsea. On Monday 20th April, in the return game Chelsea lost 0 – 2 to Liverpool who finished 8^th in the league and Chelsea 13^th. This season, Chelsea won the Christmas fixture 2-1 at Stamford Bridge. Will Jose choose a weakened side?

St GEORGE'S DAY

On the 23rd April 1927, the first singing of "Abide With Me" took place in the first community singing event at an FA Cup Final at Wembley. This was the first BBC broadcast, featuring Arsenal director, George Allison, who later became manager of the club and Derek McCulloch, whom many oldies will remember as Uncle Mac on children's Saturday morning radio. Arsenal, who were in their first appearance at Wembley, managed by the famous Herbert Chapman lost to Cardiff, whose Ernie Curtis was the first teenager to play in an FA Cup Final. The Arsenal goalie, a Welshman, let in a sitter in the 74th minute, scored by a Scotsman, Hughie Ferguson. This was the first occasion that the Cup left England!
On the same date in 1932, Arsenal scored first in the FA Cup Final, but lost to Newcastle-this was the first time a team had scored first in the final and lost.

BURNLEY BACK UP

Turf Moor fans were celebrating over the weekend with the Clarets confirming their promotion to the Premiership, 125 years since the club helped form the Football League. Burnley were "old" First Division league champions in 1959-60, later meeting the great Spurs side in the 1962 Cup Final, which they lost 3-1.

Derby County,  another founder member, look as though they might join them in the Premiership, making this a significant anniversary.

Wolves, as Champions of Division One, have something to celebrate, beating close rivals Leyton Orient 3-1 today, as well as Preston NE, who having beaten Shrewsbury 5-2 are close to promotion, with only the play-offs between them and success!

DOUBLE TROUBLE

This season is the first time that both Everton and Liverpool have done the double over Manchester United. Remember that the United board did not panic when Sir Alex was on his knees all those years ago, when he took over from Big Ron. He states in his book that the biggest gift to him was the time they gave him to build a football club rather than a football team. How many of that club, developed over 27 years, are still in the background? How long do we give David Moyes? It may be that economics will decide.

Manchester United say David Moyes has not been sacked but declined to comment when asked about the manager's longer-term future.National newspapers say the club will dispense with the Scot's services following a poor season.

However a United spokesperson would only confirm Moyes has not been sacked.When pressed on whether the manager would leave before the end of the season, the spokesperson added, "we do not comment on speculation". (BBC Website)

YORKSHIRE PUDDINGS

I thought the Leeds-Barnsley derby would be a cracking game, 15,000 fans also thought the same. Leeds needing to get some pride back into their famous club and Barnsley fighting for survival in the Championship; this was an awful contest which did the reputation of the Championship no favours. The Leeds goal was a clever piece of skill and an adept finish, early on in the game, but the rest of it lacked quality. If the managers insisted on not watering the pitch before the game to make it slick, and took some air out of the ball then the players might have half a chance of getting the ball down and passing quickly. as it was balls were launched into the channels or crashed at a centre-forward, in Barnsley's case O'Grady (beaten on most counts in the air) and Leed's Smith, who looked as though he had lost his way on the M1 and should have been at a rugby league ground. Barnsley lost, they must be doomed and Leeds? Well, they got three points but it was like pulling teeth. The bonus was, No7 in the town centre and a decent pint of Blonde, then some cricket at Scholes on a hillside afterwards. Goodness knows what Norman Rimmington, long serving Barnsley man, thought of it all? He looks cheery enough though! By the way, The FA closed down Leeds City (the original club formed in 1904) following accusations of illegal payments to players! No change there then? A local solicitor, Alf Masser reformed the club as United. Barnsley on the other hand are squeaky clean, of course; originally known as Barnsley St Peter's, having been founded in 1897 by the Reverend T Preedy, curate to the local church.

BUSY BEES INTO THE CHAMPIONSHIP

Congratulations to Brentford FC for winning promotion to the Championship. The defeat of close rivals Preston 1-0 on VERY Good Friday secured a place in the second behind Wolves. 

Founded in 1889, so the local rowing club could have a winter past time, the club enjoyed much success at the local level, winning the West London Alliance. They have been playing at Griffin Park since 1904. When they joined the Football League third division in 1920, there was tough opposition and they struggled, coming second from bottom. The following year the third division was reformed into North and South divisions. Brentford came 9^th, playing "southern" clubs such as Aberdare Athletic, Merthyr Town from Wales and more familiarly, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Northampton. By 1930 Brentford found themselves higher up the division, coming top in 1932-3, winning the Second division in 1934-5 and holding their own in Division One until the War. Even then, Brentford won the London War Cup at Wembley in front of nearly 70,000 spectators in 1941. 

After the War, great footballers such as Tommy Lawton, Jimmy Hill and Ron Greenwood, played for the club during the 1950s. However times were hard and in 1962 the club was lounging in the new 4^th Division. Ownership by Ron Noades gave the club a bit of a leg up and more recently, bravely going through ownership by the Supporters’ Trust Bees United, the Bees are on an even keel. With significant investment available through Matthew Benham's take over, there is a planned move to a new stadium in 2016 and maybe the Premiership?

http://www.brentfordfc.co.uk/club/history/index.aspx

THE MATTRESS MAKERS OF MADRID

Atletico Madrid originally played in blue and white, but by 1911, they converted to their current red and white stripes. The change may have been because red and white striped tops were the cheapest to make, being a popular combination used to make Spanish bed mattresses, from which the unused cloth was easily converted into football shirts.The discovery of a cheaper option probably persuaded them to change and influenced the Madrid club being known as Los Colchoneros ("The Mattress Makers" ). 

During the 1970s, they became known as Los Indios, allegedly due to the club signing several South American players. There are a number of counter theories which claim they were named so because their stadium is "camped" on the river bank, or because Los Indios (The Indians) were the traditional enemy of Los Blancos (The Whites), which is the nickname of the club's city rivals, Real Madrid.

Another account for this change of colours is that both Athletic Bilbao and Athletic Madrid used to buy Blackburn Rovers blue and white kits in England. Once in 1911, Juanito Elorduy, former player and member of the board of Atletic Madrid, went to England to buy kits for both teams. He did not find Blackburn Rovers kits, so bought Southampton F.C. red and white ones instead. Athletic Madrid adopted the red and white shirt but opted to keep Blackburn Rovers' blue shorts, leading to them also being known as Los Rojiblancos.

The club has had much success and one outstanding achievement was reaching the 1963 European Cup Winners Cup Final, but was thrashed by Tottenham Hotspur 5–1!

In April 2014 the All India Football Federation announced that Atletico Madrid has officially won the bid for the Indian Super League's Kolkata franchise due to held from September 2014 along with Indian cricketing legend, Sourav Ganguly and partners. The team is presently named ATLETICO DE MADRID KOLKATA and will sport the official club colours, of Los Rojiblancos.

HATTERS, TAKE A BOW.

We, as a footballing nation, congratulate Luton Town FC on the winning of the Skrill Conference and hence promotion to the Football League. Football keenos of my age will remember the 1959 FA Cup Final (the third one I remember watching on TV) and their sad loss to Nottingham Forest. Luton had previously hammered Forest 5-1 in a league game, so defeat came as a bit of a shock to Syd Owen their illustrious captain.                              

Luton FC was a serious force once, hard to imagine considering the size and location of the town, not hard core urban, but founded in 1885, the club has had its moments including sporting Eric Morecambe as a patron, being one of the original astro turf clubs and being known as the Hatters, because Luton specialised in making straw hats. (You might want to investigate Stockport County and the influence of HATS in their locality.) Forward, Frank Whitby, is reputed to be the first “southern” footballer to be paid. The south tried to hang on to amateur status for as long as possible in the industrial 19^th century, whilst the northern and midland clubs gave way quite early on, especially as the Scots flooded over the border into the mill towns of Lancashire! So after the loss of the Vauxhall factory that once employed 30,000 men, Luton can claim a rise in fortunes. 

Well done Chairman, Nick Owen and Manager, John Still.

ZIPPING AT OLD TRAFFORD

Bernard Counsell, a retired teacher from Hulme School, Oldham abseiled from the top of the stand at Old Trafford recently to raise money for the Francis House Hospice. This is not the first time Bernard has taken the plunge and this year he has raised nearly £2000 for his charity at the Theatre of Dreams.

Charity Registration No. 328659

Francis House is a very special children's hospice caring for over 230 children and young people with life limiting conditions and their families. We need to raise £3.3 million a year to keep Francis House open. Without your support this would not be possible.

It is not too late to give-try the "Just Giving" website.

TIGERS EARN THEIR STRIPES

Hull City's first ever appearance in an FA Cup Final came about after the exciting 5-3 win over the courageous Sheffield United side, who have lost in a semi-final five times since 1961. This was only Hull's second semi-final in 84 years. An aggregate score of 8 goals in a semi-final has occurred only three times since the 19th century; 1958 Manchester United v Fulham 5-3, 1899 Sheffield United v Liverpool 4-4, 1892 West Bromwich v Nottingham Forest 6-2. A serious half time re-adjustment of his failing team by manager Steve Bruce, changed the nature of the game, as Nigel Clough's steel like Blades almost caused an upset, fighting till the last minutes of an exciting contest.

Hull City was founded in 1904, playing friendly games at The Boulevard (the home of the Hull Rugby League Club), Anlaby Road Cricket Ground and Dairycoates.  A year later they were elected to the Second Division of the Football League. The club moved to a new home on Anlaby Road where it remained until 1941 when wartime games saw a brief return to The Boulevard. When League football recommenced in 1946, the Tigers played under a new manager, Major Frank Buckley and equally as important,  a new ground, BoothferryPark, which had been built on the site of an old golf course. Frank Buckley goes down in history as the first scientific strategist in football, who analysed games and methods of scoring goals. He had much to do with the POMO method playing adopted effectively by Wimbledon FC in their pomp.

Season 1947-48 saw the arrival of one of the greatest players ever to wear the Tigers colours: Horatio Stratton Carter. His debut was on 3 April 1948 and Raich Carter's influence on the club helped him gain international honours with England.

More recently, with Boothferry Park out of the club's ownership and in need of repair, the move to the state-of-the-art 25,400 capacity all-seater arena could not have come at a better time. Indeed, the Tigers were returning home as the KC Stadium is within a goal-kick of the old Anlaby Road Ground.

HORNBY TREBLE O as CARTHUSIANS STEAM IN

The Old Carthusians won their 25^th Arthur Dunn final in the 100^th playing of the game at the Imperial Sports’ ground, Teddington yesterday. The Foresters were highly motivated opponents, who appearing in their natty suits prior to the game, looked as though they really meant business. Indeed, they did and for 20 minutes or so they dominated the game, putting the OC defence under pressure, especially from corners and free kicks. Two goal line clearances and a brilliant reaction save by Rob Procter kept the score sheet clean. As the first half wore on it was obvious that the OCs were gaining their composure and with more accurate shooting, should have gone ahead. The second half remained goal less, with chances being missed at both ends. In extra time the introduction of Jack Ryder-Smith (already an ISFA Cup winning captain) supplied Julian Hornby with two goals. The first, a superb low cross from the left and a glancing header from the lively Hornby and then a tap in for Hornby, after a mazy dribble past the Forest right side. Hornby's third goal was slotted home after he found himself in the clear, as Forest tried to gain parity. This is only the second hat trick in Arthur Dunn Cup history.

A good crowd watched three finals. The Oundle OBs beat the Stowe OBs in the David Walcott lower divisions trophy, the OC 2nd XI were beaten 2-1 by an impressive Marlburians side in the Junior League Cup.

OC captain for the final Jamie Cameron pops his cork.

David Roy hands over the admin of the Arthur Dunn Cup after 38 years of outstanding and meticulous service. David is presented with a replica of the cup by Jane Sawyer, granddaughter of Arthur Dunn.

FA CUP SEMI FINALISTS

One of the most exciting weekends of the season includes the two semi-final ties for the FA Cup. Sheffield United are one of three "unfashionable" clubs to compete for the historic prize, first played for in 1872. Sheffield United, formed in 1889, after a meeting at the Adelphi Hotel (now the site of the Crucible Theatre where the World Snooker Championship is played for), joined the Football League second division in 1892 and were runners-up to Small Heath (now Birmingham City). Promoted to the first division, they were champions in 1897-8. Their kick off on Sunday against Hull City (Tigers?) is at 4.07pm. The Blades last won the cup in 1925 and were last runners up in 1936, losing to the famous Arsenal. Nigel Clough would love to get to Wembley!
Arsenal and Wigan Athletic play on Saturday. Wigan are the holders, having put pay to Manchester City last season. This is the 134th year of the Cup and in the early rounds Guernsey FC became the first team from the Channel Islands to take part in the competition.

THE ARTHUR DUNN CUP

On Saturday 12th April, two of the oldest football clubs in the country will compete for the Arthur Dunn Cup, first played for in 1903. The Old Carthusians (Old Boys of Charterhouse) will play the Old Foresters (Old Boys of Forest School, Snaresbrook) The game is between two "closed" amateur clubs which date back to the origins of the organised game; the Old Carthusians formed in 1875 and the Foresters in 1876. Both have successful histories and presently play in the Arthurian League. The Cup Final is due to kick off at 3pm at the Imperial College Sports' Ground, Udney Road, Teddington, London.
The OCs are hoping to achieve the double, having walked away with the Premier League already. Prior to this game at 1pm, is the Junior League Cup Final in which the Old Carthusians II meet the Old Marlburians. The OMs have made significant progress in the past few years; they reached the Arthur Dunn semi-final last season and are presently lying second in Division Two, sandwiched between the league leaders, the OCs III XI and the OC II XI in third place.

OCFC shared the ADC with Old Salopians in 1903. The final was played at Dulwich Hamlet FC

Bookish

Every now and then, in the virtual columns of BBC staff organ, Ariel, a manager has to defend what seems, to the outsider, indefensible. The BBC's Information and Archive team have decided that the charge to researchers for borrowing a book from an external library is trebling, to £48.50 a pop.

Peter Skinner, Head of Archive Operations, enjoys a trip round the linguistic houses.

Unfortunately, we cannot continue to subsidise this facilitation but we are able to maintain it by absorbing it into our chargeable mediated research offerings. The new charge reflects the average cost of 30 minutes of mediated research plus the flat rate cost for charges levied by the supplying libraries. Obviously it is disappointing to have to pass on the true delivery costs to our customers but we feel this solution does allow us to continue providing this useful service to production colleagues who really value it.

VARSITY MATCH 2014 Fulham FC

On a day when the Cambridge University boat crew caught a crab, the CUAFC goalkeeper looked at times as though he couldn't catch a cold. Playing the 130th Varsity match at Craven Cottage, Cambridge started brightly and looked a class above their dark blue opposition, but by the final minutes of the second half, it was Oxford who really should have been ahead, following some howling aerial stunts by the Cambridge keeper. Oxford also often played the ball into the penalty area with clever skills but they could not finish. It was as the game came to an end that the seemingly hapless light blue guardian made an outstanding point blank block to keep his team in the match. So well done to him.
This tense match finally resulted in penalties which Cambridge scored with confidence and Oxford didn't. Tom Hobkinson (Old Carthusian) played for OUAFC at right back and gave a solid account of himself.

Fulham legend, Johnny Haynes, looked on politely.