AMATEURS TAKE CHARGE

I drove 125 miles north, towards Penrith today to meet friends for lunch and they had tavelled from the Scottish Border. When I got home the post had delivered me an envelope from the relations of Baishe Bower, an Old Carthusian (old boy of Charterhouse School)footballer, Corinthian and England captain in his career.

The envelope contained a series of old photographs showing Bower and his team mates ready for various games. I chose this one (below) from 1920-21, when he, as captain, tossed the coin in an annual match against Queen's Park, an amateur club, from Glasgow, at Queen's Club in London. The match was played on the 21st March 1921, a 4,000 crowd turned up to watch what were two amateur teams contesting a friendly, that ended 0-0. Such was the attraction of “pure” football.

In January the two teams had met at Queen's Park in Scotland and played in front of 20,000 people!

Having been on a New Year tour and winning against the Scottish Universities and the Scottish Amateur League XI, they were comfortably beaten by Queen's Park 1-5. The extraordinary thing is that the club plays at Hampden Park and have done pretty much since their origin, though there have been three Hampden Parks. They now play in the Scottish Third Division. See previous blog!

A few weeks later the Corinthians played Manchester City at Hyde Road losing 0-2 to what was a full professional team.

Baishe Bower did not win his team colours at Charterhouse School and only came to attention as a fine footballer with the Corinthians, the famous amateur team. He won 13 England amateur caps and 5 full international caps, captaining the England team 3 times. In those days the FA tried to rely on a character who would keep his team in order and they often chose an amateur rather than a professional!

Bower last played for England in a 3-3 draw with Wales in February 1927, with Dixie deam scoring 2 goals. Dean was a prolific centre forward who played for Everton-a professional through and through.

Bower was born in 1895 and died in 1970. Bower is on the right.

ITS TOUGH AT THE BOTTOM

You would have to do some serious research to find this season's worst team in English football but Wateringbury Wanderers manager Jack Boddy claims that his side playing in the Maidstone and District Sunday League might have that accolade. Interviewed on Talksport today, he claims that his side rarely fields a full 11 men and those that do play have let in 199 goals so far. They are bottom of the Division One (how they got into that high level heaven knows) with 18 losses in 18 games and a goal difference of -172. The division shows that they have also had 3 points deducted but Boddy claims this is an error, as he has never fielded an ineligible player.

On the positive side, the team has scored 27 goals, just over one per game. Boddy has been manager for only the most recent matches and he claims to have helped close the gap between Wateringbury and their opponents. They were 5-3 up against the league leaders only to lose 5-6. Talksport suggested that should his team raise one point this season, Boddy should get on the phone straight away for a celebratory interview.

Should he resign after this disastrous season? Certainly not, since he has only been in charge for 5 games and it looks as though, they might be going in the right direction with two games left.

Drifting through the Non League Paper, Sussex clubs seem to have an issue with winning matches. Spare a thought for Seaford Town who sit at the bottom of the Macron Sussex County League Division Two-a reasonably serious league; they have played 28 and drawn once. One point with 16 goals for and 82 against.

Clymping in the Third Division have one win in 20 matches with 104 against and 16 for. It must be the sea air?

Welsh team, Rhydymwyn on NIL points, is having similar problems, in the Spar Mid-Wales Senior League, with 3 points deducted for an indiscretion. They sit at the bottom of the division with one win (cancelled out) 21 goals for and 132 against.

AFC Porth are not far behind in their Nathaniel Car Sales Welsh League Division One; P29, W0, D1, L28, F12, A125 Points 1.

Roll on the cricket season.

MAJOR AWARD FOR "MAJOR" FRANK BUCKLEY

Major Frank Buckley was awarded a postumous Football League award along with many other community awards such as League 1 supporter, Family Club and PFA Community club at a huge gala dinner at the Brewery, London last weekend.

Buckley was born in 1882 and he enjoyed his career with six FL clubs winning Division Two medals with Derby County in 1912, winning one England Cap.

In 1914 he joined the “Footballers Battalion”becoming second in command and fighting at the Somme offensive in July 1916. He led his men at Delvile Wood where the Football League's memorial to the Battalion now stands.

Buckley was wounded, which put pay to his playing career, although he continued to manage and revolutionise the English game, discovering talent like Stan Cullis, Billy Wright, John Charles and Jack Charlton.

Known as the “Major” he was a stickler for discipline and physical fitness. He managed Norwich City and Blackpool, joining Wolves in 1927. He stayed there for 17 years and lifted the club from Division 3 to the heights of the old First division.

He laid the foundations of the midland club that later dominated English and European football in the 1950s. The club played European club opposition in 1954 under floodlights, won three First Division Championships (1954, 58 and 59) and the FA Cup in 1960.

At 56 years, he served in the Home Guard during the Second World War, but this did not stop his managerial career, which went on afterwards at Notts County, Hull City, Leeds United and Walsall before retiring at 72 years old.

He died in 1964 at the age of 82.

Among his innovations were playing dancing songs through the public address system to inspire training, a shooting contraption to fire balls out at angles to players, increasing admission costs and youth development programmes. The direct form of play known as POMO (the position of maximum opportunity) was one of his strategies. Have a look at previous blogs especially the one regarding Hull City.

A NEW LIFE NEAR AN OLD RUIN

I watched Luke Steele in the Barnsley goal over a number of years and he was good, loyal and playing behind a dodgy defence. At 17, in 1999, Manchester United spotted his potential and signed him from Peterborough, where he had played only twice for the league team. He had various loan spells at Coventry and WBA, until he settled at Oakwell making over 200 appearances for the Tykes in six years from 2008.

He is now first choice keeper at Panathiniakos, moving last summer and presently enjoying his new life, living by the beach and strolling through the Acropolis. Whilst his team are only going to come second behind arch rivals Olympiakos, he should have a chance to play in European competition next season, his greatest achievement since becoming an international football for England at U18 and U19 level.

Having been relegated with Barnsley last season, his contract gave him the opportunity to move and he made the challenging decision to up sticks and go to Greece. Nikos Dabizas, the former Newcastle defender, is in charge of Panathiniakos' recruitment and he got Steele to join him.

Since then Steele has been revitalised, learning new skills in a new environment. He is playing further out of goal, a sweeper keeper with lighter feet, starting moves with de Gea like passes.

His nimble footwork helped him avoid a firework fired towards him in the recent Athens derby, games that are vigorous and sometimes dangerous. If you read back a blog or dozen, you will find that the Greek league was suspended due to violence at grounds.

Gate 13, the notorious Panathiniakos “ultra” make matches colourful, although UEFA and FIFA are not impressed, carefully viewing the way that matches are played and patrolled in Greece. After a three point deduction for violence in their recent home derby, Steel's club are still likely to have a play off as the season ends, to decide which clubs goes into Europe competitions.

As he finishes his season, he will return to homeland Peterborough to run his coaching school and after 14 clean sheets in 28 games so far, he has much knowledge to pass on to those dreamy youngsters from the Posh.

CITY AND VILLAGE IN THE COMMUNITY

I am not a great fan of Manchester City but I was lucky enough to be taken to the Etihad yesterday and saw a game that only came alive in the final third. For the earlier part of the game, I gazed round this huge structure and contemplated how football clubs influence a local area and what resources are needed to put on a football match at this level.

As we walked to the ground, I was impressed by the regeneration of that part of Manchester, once quite deprived, but now gradually showing signs of recovery, thanks to Manchester City's investment. It really has developed a Sports' City, with academic attachments, retail, good roads, cycle paths, green space and so on. So well done to the Blue Moon Empire.

Along with their match programme there was a supplement called "City in the Community", a celebration of the work carried out by the club: "Creating opportunities through Football".

This was also highlighted by the BBC on MOTD in their "Work in the community" slot this weekend.

The club has delivered 22 football based projects this season, raising £60,000 by fans, employing 25 full time staff and 22 part timestaff. There have been over 1700 hours of free football for the community, 650 hours of disability sport and working with over 300 charities. 889 qualifications have been provided for young people, with work experience and volunteer placements and £20,000 gathered in bucket collections, The CITC Road Show has engaged over 5,000, 4-11 year olds in various events, many other schools have been engaged by City's staff and many monthly tournaments arranged involving local schools. There are major projects abroad also, incorporating a huge range of social issues.

Congratulations to Mike Green, the Head of CITC, who has brought the professionals from the first team to meet the public and addressed many problems faced by youngsters and grown-ups at home and further afield.

It made me think how important football clubs are in local communities and it makes the application by my local village club, Hepworth United FC in Kirklees, even more relevant as we strive to gain Community Charter Standard through the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA.

ITS UPS AND DOWNS SATURDAY

Two games to go (44/46 played) in the Football League and all teams in Division One and Two are kicking off today at 3pm.

Crucial games are there to be won except that in League One Yeovil are down and their opponents Port Vale are probably safe, but could do with the points. Colchester looked doomed with Notts County and Leyton Orient in precarious positions. Crewe and Crawley are looking over their shoulders. Crewe's goal difference may be the decider. Of these, Leyton Orient and Notts County have home games.

League Two Tranmere and Cheltenham are sitting in the relegation positions, whilst Hartlepool, also with a dreadful goal difference, will be nervous today. The rest of the division is safe.

To replace those falling out of the Football League, Vanarama Conference teams Barnet at the top, Bristol Rovers, Grimsby, Eastleigh and Forest Green are vying for play off positions. They ALL play home games today at 5.15pm and against clubs with not much to aim for.

Let's celebrate Bristol City and Burton, who have been promoted from their divisions. The Championship is a dog fight, Blackpool sadly spiral out of control, but that is not surprising when the club started the season with a squad of 8, and Millwall and Wigan are on the cliff edge. Fascinating day today. Watford at the moment, beating Brighton, are a step nearer the Premier League.

BRADFORD CITY FIRE

30 years ago, I was on my way to the Peak District with a bunch of students, in a minibus, when I heard of the Bradford City fire at Valley Parade. The film that shows the fire gathering momentum has been shown many times, for me, on an INSET day at school, when we had our annual fire and other emergency safety reminders; vital in a school and frightening to be reminded of the horrors of fire.

The Football League is asking clubs over this coming weekend to hold a minutes' silence to remember those 56 fans who died on the day or as a result of injuries. Many suffered burns and other injuries, as they escaped the panic.

It was the last game of the season in 1985, which was actually on May 11^th, , against Lincoln City, but the anniversary is sensibly held on the Bantams' last home match of the season. Money is raised every year and over £300,000 has been given to the Plastic Surgery and Burns Unit at the University of Bradford.

You can give via this website:-

http://www.fire-anniversary.brad.ac.uk/donate/

or text like this VPFA56 £5 70070 putting in your donation where th3 £ sign is, as shown.

This year the match falls tomorrow against Barnsley, a true Yorkshire derby and I am sure there will be a big crowd present.

Previously, this season, in a home match v Fleetwood Town, a record has been made with the fans chorus and local band “Never 2 Late”. This will be released on April 28^th at 99p a go.

https://itunes.apple.com/gb/album/everywhere-we-go-single/id988400155

PROTECT, INFORM, PREVENT

Ched Evans, the footballer, was found guilty of the rape of a 19 year old girl in a hotel in Rhyl. For years footballers (and occasionally other sportsmen and women) have broken laws and at times not much has been done about it. As a result of Evans' crime and his subsequent attempt to get back into the game following his release on licence, the public have been made aware of the issues involved in his and other cases. Adam Johnson was allegedly in similar trouble recently.

Clubs have woken up and some are more advanced in doing something about this than others.

Brighton and Hove Albion are reported to be the first club to give their players training in the law of consent. The Sussex Police crimes' unit have provided the club with courses on sexual crimes and a rape counselling service. The U16, U18 and U21 male and female squads have been included in this very worth while education, which runs alongside the normal lessons taught in the academy.
Other Football League clubs have sought advice once this initiative was made public and hope to follow the idea.

The FL and PFA have established a charity called League Football Education for 16-18 year olds at their clubs, which includes the element on the law of consent and academy directors are meeting to hear about a pilot course held at Bury FC. Run by local solicitors, the course includes the law on assault, drugs, traffic offences, match fixing and issue with social media. Consent is not included and the LFE executive claims that it would be physically impossible to reach every one of the 72 clubs successfully. Maybe something for the future? By which time, we hope it will not be too late.

The Brighton course could help cover the ground, with their advisors Liberton Investigations, the company that co-founded the programme, taking on the initiative of presenting courses on behalf of the FL.

Note that this does not include the Premier League, from which many clubs failed to respond to an inquiry from “Inside Sport” about whether they provided their youngsters with specific training.

Chelsea said they did, Liverpool said they had a range of initiatives in their programme and Arsenal said they would be happy to explore training on consent. Not convincing is it?

Now that this is being aimed at the youngsters what about the over 21s?

FC UNITED ON THEIR WAY BACK

FC United, founded only in 2005 and starting at Level 10 in the Football League structure, plan to celebrate their 10^th year, after the exodus of the new Manchester United club from the Glazier takeover of Manchester United, by playing Benfica in a high profile match at 7.45pm on the 29^th May at the Broadhurst Stadium in Moston M40 0FJ, a £5.5 million development.

The club has gained FA Community Charter Standard and the fans, who own the club, have continued to raise money for various ventures,developing a powerful Youth scheme and a successful Women's team. Karl Marginson has been instrumental in the success of the First team.

The 1^st team have worked their way through to Level 7, starting their campaign in the North-west counties league.

Currently in the Northern Premier League Premier Division, FC United have won the league and are getting closer to

a return to the Football League from the “bottom” end. Next season they play in the Conference Northern Premier.

The decisive match came last weekend when over 3,500 crowd saw the UFC beat Stourbridge at the Tameside Stadium 1-0, their present home, having spent time also sharing Gigg Lane, the home of Bury FC.

Known as an Industrial and Provident Society, fans pay £12 for an annual subscription, £3 for children and are allowed to buy one share and have a vote on club matters. Sponsors logos, at present for mxData, are not allowed on shirts.

Ironically, their place in the Evo-stick Premier will be taken by Salford City FC, the club part owned by the Class of '92-Giggs, the Nevilles, Scholes and Butt.

PULL YOUR SOCKS UP

A September born lad (1995), Jack Grealish, from Solihull is making waves, as Harry Kane did earlier in the year. Jack made his mark for me in October 2013 when I saw him play for Notts County, on loan, at Meadow Lane, against Crewe Alexandra. He was a delight and I phoned a scouting (footballing sense!) friend of mine who said, “Yes he will probably go to Villa”. And that he did, signing forms and making his debut at the Etihad, in a 0-4 defeat by City, in May 2014, in the 87^th minute-appearance money?

Since then he has been used liberally by Villa, but at Wembley on Saturday against Liverpool, he turned heads. England manager watched the game and would have been impressed. With child sized shinnies, socks rolled down to irritate referees and an impish charm, he appears to have strong ties, through his grandparents, with Ireland. His club manager says choose “with your heart”; dare he risk choosing England and be outnumbered for an international place?

He has been capped at U17-U21 levels for Ireland but he was born in Birmingham and his mother is English.

His great, great, grandfather, known as Billy Garraty, was born in County Galway. He played for Aston Villa in the early 1900s and he played in 1905 in the FA Cup final at the original Crystal Palace, on April 15^th with over 101,000 watching.Villa won 2-0 against Newcastle United, with two goals from 'Appy 'Arry Hampton, depriving the Magpies of their Double since they had previously won the League title.

This was Newcastle's first final and Villa's fourth win, having won in 1887, lost in 1892, won again in 1895 and 1897.

How many Cup winners have had a father, grandfather, great grandfather or indeed great grandfather win a medal?

HILLMEN REACHING THE SUMMIT

I don't want to keep banging on about Glossop North End FC, but when a team has to play 9 matches in 18 days, they do deserve a bit of attention.

Playing in the North West Counties premier they are champions by a clear 10 points at the moment with a playing record of :

37, W 32, D 3 Goals For 98 Against 18 (yes 18!!) and more to come.

Then if you throw in the League Cup, Derby County Cup and the FA Vase, they have a few more important commitments to meet before they head off for a summer break.

The Hillmen, possibly called this because of their location in the Peak District, were founded in 1886 and Glossop was the smallest town to have a Football League side until Rushden and Diamonds appeared (and disappeared).

Glossop were in the FL from 1898 as a Second Division side and were runners up to Manchester City and then promoted. They hung on for one season in the First Division (having to change their name to just Glossop, so as not to annoy Preston North End, who were very big in those days). 

Glossop were quickly relegated with only 4 wins, then WW1 came along and the club drifted into local leagues.

Bank rolled by Sir Samuel Hill-Wood (another possible reason for being called the Hillmen?) of the Arsenal dynasty, the club survived and with various ups and downs they are now a couple of promotions away from returning to the FL. It is unlikely that this will happen but, under manager Chris Willcock, the club is preparing to play in the FA Vase Final against North Shields on the 9^th May at Wembley! So they must be quite good!!!

ASTON VANILLA, TAKE THE CREAM OF THE KOP

My first Cup Final, the one I remember and saw on a black and white TV at home, was on May 4^th, when Aston Villa overcame Manchester United in 1957 at Wembley, in front of 100,000.

Villa, a mid-table First Division side, were not favourites. United, prior to the dreadful Munich Air Crash, were full of hope and good players and were already League Champions. Players such as Duncan Edwards, Bobby Charlton, Bill Foulkes and Ray Wood in goal, were sure to carry home the trophy.

But Peter McParland, an Irish international winger barged into Ray Wood, breaking the goalie's cheek bone and caused him to leave the pitch after only six minutes. There were no substitutes in those days and Villa played against 10 men for the rest of the game. Wembley Cup Finals had a reputation of such injuries, Jimmy Meadows in 1955, Bert Trautmann in 1956, Harry Gregg in 1958, Roy Dwight in 1959, Dave Whelan in 1960 and so on.

Did somebody say that the FA has common sense and set the laws of the game to be fair and functional? When were substitutes introduced?

Centre-half Jackie Blanchflower, whose brother Danny was later to lead Spurs to a Cup and League double in 1960-1, went in goal and made some fine saves but even though United scored late in the match, Villa were triumphant, winning 2-1. This was the seventh Cup Final win for Villa and they denied United the Double.

So now Villa have a Cup Final to play on May 30^th. Their first chance of winning FA Cup silver for 58 years. Only Arsenal to beat then, Tim Shearwood.

LANCING NOT DANCING; MILLFIELDIANS MAKE 2nds WORK

The Old Carthusians won their 26th Dunn Cup Final today at a wind affected Heston Sports Ground in the shadow of the Heathrow flight path. The OCs, the jumbo jets of the Public School old boys world, nicked a last minute winner against their old foe Lancing Old Boys. Will Young kept the OCs in the game with one excellent save from a gale force shot and his handling was secure. Julian Hornby sold a dummy or two down the left flank and crossed low for Charlie Clinton to break LOBs hearts.

Prior to this win, the OC 2nds scored twice to beat the Old Millfieldians, 2-0 in extra time, in the Junior League Cup. There were two great shots/mis-hit crosses to secure the win, one from Harry Walford, the other from Jonny Hunter, both from the left side, flying in with the wind behind them. Once again Carthusian football dominates the relatively small but nevertheless important world of non-league, truly amateur Arthurian football.
Many thanks to all those Arthur Dunn organisers who run this competition so efficiently.
Below are the happy 2nds and below them the 1sts cuddling the massive Dunn Cup and both teams completing their league and cup double.

GIVE MOST FOR MOORE

Bobby Moore, once of West Ham United, the England World Cup winning captain from 1966, died at the age of 51, from bowel cancer on February 4^th 1993.

Today is Football Shirt Friday and fans are asked to wear their favourite team's shirt and to pay for the privilege.

Money raised is to go to the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer research UK. 

#FootballShirtFriday

Money raised for example £2 can be donated to bobbymoorefund.cancerresearch.org/getinvolved

So get involved or if this reminds you too late, why not do it tomorrow or Sunday!

ITS THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN

It is almost May and it is that time again. The Old Carthusians FC will put their heads on the block at the Heston Sports Ground, Cranford, Middlesex, contesting the Arthur Dunn Cup Final against their old foes, the Lancing Old Boys, from the Sussex Coast.

This cup was first played for in 1903-4 with the Carthusians and the Salopians (Shrewsbury School alumni) sharing the title after they could not be separated. See previous blog-probably around this time last year!

The Carthusians (or OCs) from Charterhouse school in Godalming, Surrey have had a strong hold on the Cup and the Arthurian Premier Division, winning the league title once more this season, with one game left (against the LOBs). The OCs won the title last weekend with a 4-0 win away, over the Old Harrovians, who as a result were relegated to Division One.

This win made it the 5^th league title in a row, the 8^th in 10 years and 11^th since the league was formed in 1961. (earlier wins were in 1978-9, 1981-2, 1987-8)

Prior to that the only competition between old boys' teams from the Public Schools was in the Arthur Dunn Cup. The Arthurian League now sports 6 divisions and several cups including one for the Vets.

In addition, the OC 2^nd XI pipped the OC 3^rd XI to the Second Division title meaning that there has been an OC team winning the 2^nd Division for the 6th year in a row. The rivalry between these two teams in intense and teams are selected socially, not by status, hence the see-saw nature of wins in their division and cup.

The Arthur Dunn Cup Final is kicking off at 3pm and the Junior League Cup Final between the OC 2nd XI and the Old Millfieldians, starts at 1pm. So a good afternoon's posh boys' football is to be recommended. There is a bar and plenty of planes to see as they fly in and out of Heathrow.

The OC 1st XI at Harrow with Wembley in the background. Delusions of grandeur?

LIFE'S A BEACH

The original club in Bournemouth was at Boscombe St John's Institute in 1890. This became Boscombe FC, joining the local county league and by 1902 the team played at King's Park next to present ground at Dean Court. Mr Cooper-Dean gave the club some waste ground on which to develop their home and because it was neighbouring a field of cherry orchards, the club adopted the Cherries as a nickname. They named the ground after their benefactor and wore cherry red.

Joining the Southern League in 1920 and then the Third Division South in 1923-4, Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic FC won their first league point in a 1-1 draw with Swindon on 25^th August 1923. The club holds the record for the longest continuous membership of the Third Division, now of course they are top of the Championship.

With Reading away tonight, AFC Bournemouth hopes to maintain their place at the top of the Division with promotion to the Premier League in its sight.

The club began the 2008-9 season 17 points adrift and were a day within liquidation three times in six months. Chairman, Jeff Mostyn, saved the club and now hopes to see his investment bring the small south coast team into the top league in the country. 

Ed Howe the manager at 37 is young and has been at the club since he was 10 years old. He kept the club in the Football League in 2009 when they had only 7 points after 22 games. Promotions followed in 2010 and 2013 and now end of season matches against Reading, Sheffield Wednesday (h), Bolton (h) and Charlton (a) have to be overcome to reach the pinnacle. 

Backed now by a Russian, Max Demin, there is financial stability, the club has met the FL Financial Fair Play requirements with a loss of no more than £8 million last year. QPR's was nearly £70 m last season to gain promotion. With Ed Howe at the helm and a positive feeling through out the seaside town, what could go wrong?

MELKSHAM MAY HAVE TO PLAY ON NEWT-RAL GROUND.

Pitch invasions occur a lot and animals appearing on a football pitch from nowhere or a cockerel from a Frenchman's coat are fairly common place. Have a look at these incidents, one of which put Brentford goalkeeper Chick Brodie out of action for good. Hilarious at the time no doubt.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6xujnhvS6R8

Today, I heard that Melksham FC, a serious club in the Toolstation Western League-Premier, with great plans to expand their facilities and add others for the community such as 11 football pitches, clubhouse and a rugby pitch, have had their development delayed due to a colony of rare great crested newts that presently live on the planned development site.

Talksport pundits were giving it large about the delay and asking why will it take so long to rehouse the beasts. After all it is only countryside, what the heck. It is all to do with the Wildlife and Countryside Act and Conservation Regulations that protect such habitats and creatures, without which there would be carnage.

Work was meant to start in October last year but the newts, once discovered, need five days of consecutive warm weather before they can be moved. Relocation is nearly under way!

Melksham FC had recently said farewell to their old ground, the Conigre, and were letting it fall into disrepair, obviously, why spend money mending thiings when the place is going to be demolished?

So Melksham FC find themselves obliged to stay at their old ground until 2016. Doh!

Of course clubs wishing to be promoted have to have a certain standard of pitch, grounds and surrounds....Melksham will have to wait, so whatever their success is next season will have no reward apart from pride.

Melksham FC was founded in 1876, was a founder member of the Wilts League in the 1890s and has played at the Conigre since 1926. Below are the frustrated members of MFC!

This beast is the size of a small hand!

CLOUGHIE FELL ASLEEP ON THE JOB

Quoted today was the fact that QPR have one of the smaller pitches in the Premier League and it is made even smaller by the surrounding vertical stands that make Loftus Road a bit of a cauldron. Pitches at the adult level may be between 100 and 130 yards long and 50-100 yards wide but not square.

So the smallest pitch in the Premier League is West Ham's at 110 x70 yards, Spurs 110 x 73, Everton 110 x 74, Palace 110 x 75, Liverpool 110 x 75, all in “old stadia”.

Leicester at the King Power weighs in at 110 x 76 and then comes QPR.

The biggest is the Etihad 116.5 x 78 and Old Trafford 116 x 76. Hull is equal widest at 78 the rest are around 114-5 x 72-76. The newer stadia tend to be 115 long and about 75 wide.

What a difference a yard makes? Some managers have been known to narrow pitches to congest matches against ball playing opposition and some even go to the extent of putting advertising hoardings close to the touchlines so long throw experts don't get a run up. 

Brian Clough famously over watered the Baseball Ground before a European Cup tie with Benfica, including their star Eusebio, in the attempt to negate the skills of his foreign opposition. He fell asleep in the dead of night after he turned on the hosepipes and flooded the pitch almost postponing the game. The pitch was waterlogged the following morning and very muddy (it never had grass!), explained by " a local thunder storm"; there are a lot of those in Derby. he got away with it and won the two legged tie.

TED HUGHES SAVES THE DAY

Been at Diggle FC today on the banks of a river where the sub was wearing waders,

Hepworth went a goal down early doors and then could not become crusaders. (it rhymes!)

A broken bone and near spectator invasion were just part of the journey,

No matter what Hepworth did in the second half they couldn't affect the blarney...alright then the banter......

Here's a proper poet writing about football....Ted Hughes 1977

Between plunging valleys, on a bareback of hill
Men in bunting colours
Bounced, and their blown ball bounced.

The blown ball jumped, and the merry-coloured men
Spouted like water to head it.
The ball blew away downwind –

The rubbery men bounced after it.
The ball jumped up and out and hung in the wind
Over a gulf of treetops.
Then they all shouted together, and the blown ball blew back. 

Winds from fiery holes in heaven
Piled the hills darkening around them
To awe them. The glare light
Mixed its mad oils and threw glooms.
Then the rain lowered a steel press.

Hair plastered, they all just trod water
To puddle glitter. And their shouts bobbed up
Coming fine and thin, washed and happy

While the humped world sank foundering
And the valleys blued unthinkable
Under the depth of Atlantic depression –

But the wingers leapt, they bicycled in air
And the goalie flew horizontal

And once again a golden holocaust
Lifted the cloud’s edge, to watch them.

It was a nicer day than this, though Hepworth lost.

DON'T STEP INSIDE THE BOX

Refereeing decisions are constantly in the news and this little number from the Womens' European Championships qualifier in Belfast is a beauty. Have a read of this Times account and look at the video in the Mirror, and see if you think that because an English player entered the penalty area before the ENGLISH penalty kick was taken, that the kick should be re-taken. The English players were seeking to gain an advantage; even the penalty taker was playing mind games by tying her hair back before her run up!

Why not award an indirect to the defending team, who were not seeking to gain an advantage? (Well not as much as the English).

If only a defending player stepped into the box before the kick was taken, clearly seeking to gain an advantage, anticipating rebounds, then retake it!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/row-zed/england-under-19-women-forced-replay-5483941

http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article4406808.ece?shareToken=2744b073e418f99ee8f03e22a23f6af5

This issue seems small fry compared to this account of a Brazilian league match in the 1960s, when a goal was controversially disallowed. An irate fan ran onto the pitch and knocked out the ref; another supporter invaded the pitch and stabbed the first fan, and then a third fan came on a shot the second fan.  

PARRAMORES, DON'T YOU LOVE THEM!

Last night's excursion to Penistone Church FC started with a pint of Barnsley bitter in the freshly redecorated club house at the Memorial Ground and ended with a Chom Chom in the Cinnamon Spice-we looked as though we may have been their first customers on the evening, but maybe the staff were getting ready for an onslaught, once the Sheffield and Hallamshire County FA Junior Cup Final finished and the ample crowd slipped into the darkness.

We stayed at the match till it was clear that the Handsworth Parremore U21s became the first U21 side to win the coveted, trophy beating holders and old stagers Sheffield FC Over 35s. I note that the report of the game had not made the Sheffield FC website by 9.30am, whereas Handsworth had their report signed and delivered early doors. Well done to them.

http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/handsworthfc/s/match-centre-126072/0-2889993/

Penistone proved to be an excellent venue for the game, I met Erica, a lovely lady, who lives by the ground and helps with catering but also does for Hoylandswaine CC,where I willowed a few times in the 1980s, when I could see the cricket ball and was able to run. She remembered me after all those years.

The pitch was in good nick although drying out, it did have a few bobbles, but there was plenty of grass. The referee and assistants had a number of issues to deal with, including some remarkably gutteral expletives from the dug outs! RESPECT!!

The game was frantic, the old 'uns ran out of steam in the last 15 minutes and the U21s deserved their victory, swayed in their favour by the inclusion of Sheldon, a tall centre forward, who had a hand in both goals.

All went well, although one of the Parremore supporters, a very tall man, insisted on standing by the rail in front of the only seated area on the ground, by a sign that said "Please Do Not Stand in Front of the Seated Area". He was too big to be asked to move politely! Indeed a Sheffield Official, in a blazer with a nice badge, did rock up and stand with the group half through the second half but said nothing and being wide, he blocked our view too!

MARK THAT MAN err? WOMAN

Next Goal Wins is a film/docu about the worst national football team in the world, American Samoa. This team lost 31-0, a World record international result, away to Australia at Coff's Harbour in 2001, in a World Cup qualifier and were 204^th in the FIFA ranking. The players were humiliated by the result but there have been plenty of other heavy scores against them from Fiji 11, and Vanuatu 15.

The players have a practice pitch wrecked by a tsunami, they have to pray three times a day (which might help or interrupt routines?) and cannot practice on a Sunday. When “maverick” Dutch coach, Thomas Rongen, arrived to bail the team out, there were only two practice balls on the island-they say-to help the team prepare for the Brazil tournament. Rongen was the assistant coach when the USA took part in the 1998 World Cup. He persuaded Nicky Salapu, the goalkeeper who faced the Australian drubbing, to come back and play and then acquired Jaiyah Saelua as a feisty player who has made the headlines since she is actually Jonathan, a transgender footballer, known to the squad as the third gender, fa'afafine.

Results in the qualifiers in 2011, brought about a very rare win against Tonga 2-1, after 30 consecutive defeats and a draw with the Cook Islands 1-1; hence their rankings shot to 173^rd. They lost their final group game 0-1 to Samoa, this goal being scored in the 89^th minute.

Next Goal Wins documents the progress of the team towards the 2014 World Cup and is directed by Mike Brett and Steve Jamison.

http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2014/feb/19/next-goal-wins-trailer-documentary-video 

HOMELESS FA: A CENTREPOINT

James Buckley is head of coaching at the Homeless Football Association, last year leading the English Homeless team to the Homeless World Cup tournament in Chile in 2014.

Once a talented footballing teenager at Crewe Alexandra, his life took various tricky turns and he dropped out of the team and the security of trying to earn a living through football, ending up on the streets. In the Foyer 189 hostel in Crewe he was encouraged to join the English Homeless Team trials and he succeeded in getting a place from over a 1,000 trialists, playing in Paris in 2011.

Buckley found himself recommended by the Liverpool FA to AFC Liverpool in the North west Counties League Premier.

He developed his coaching skills with help from Gareth Parker, the head of the Homeless FA, who included him in the coaching team of the Homeless Women's team at the 2012 World Cup in Mexico. He found himself working along side Fara Williams, who whilst moving from homeless shelter to hostel, managed to keep herself organised and disciplined as she featured in the national set up.

Buckley and colleague Joe Shaw were included in a training session at the Manchester City Academy where they worked with Joe Hart and David James. The City Academy is helping promote the Homeless scheme by expending a welcome to them as well as providing kit for the FA's training centre.

Sponsored by BT Sports' the Supporters Club, a grant enables Team England and the Training Centre programme exist along with the City in the Community Training Centre.

Research from the University of York, shows that 80,000 16-25 year olds experience homelessness in the UK each year. This initiative offers some of them a second chance. Prince William, as a patron of Centrepoint, welcomes its involvement to promote this footballing life line.

CONFERENCE GOES NATIONAL

The Vanarama Conference will be known under a different title next season, namely the Vanarama National League. Vanarama will continue to sponsor the competition and BT will renew its 3 year TV broadcasting deal. Chairman Brian Barwick supports the new 3 year deal and the 5^th tier, now entitled the Vanarama National League Premier will be supported by the National League North and South making the 6^th tier in football. The League will have its own TV channel, NLTV, a great addition to English football supporters from the 68 clubs. The outgoing Chairman, Brian Lee, once of Wycombe Wanderers, when they were pre-Football League, hopes that this move will excite the football world. Certainly Wycombe took their chance when it came and made the most of promotion to the top tiers.

So who will be in the 68 next year enjoying this new venture?

Hyde from the north and Staines Town from the south look to be destined for the trap door with Brackley, Stalybridge Celtic and Farnborough Town on the cusp. The bottom three teams in each of these tables are relegated to the Northern Premier League, the Isthmian or the Southern League.

The top team from the Conference Premier will join the Football League along with play off winners. Barnet, Bristol Rovers, Grimsby Town, Macclesfield Town and Woking are in the hunt.

From FL Division Two, Cheltenham Town, Tranmere Rovers and Hartlepool are looking the other way; IT'S TWO OUT OF THREE and a dog fight for the next handful of games.

CHARLIE PULLS OUT A LONG ONE

We have all seen Charlie Adam's wonder strike against Chelsea yesterday, an incredible “goal of the season”, visionary and it was against a class keeper. But have a look at this one from Stoke's keeper, Asmir Bergovic, that was recorded in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest ever.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yU4_zv9DMz0 (click-control)

Is it better?

This game ended in a 1-1 draw, with the kick occurring 13 seconds into the game; it caught the wind, travelled 91.9 metres bouncing over opposite number Artur Boruc from Southampton.

There are plenty of other examples of long shots embarrassing goalkeepers, but does Charlie's rate better than those because there was:- 

no ball rolling back to the kicker, 

no “bounce” involved, 

it was over a top keeper and 

it was against Chelsea.

Upload your amateur screamer on the Budweiser website http://www.budweiser.co.uk/dreamgoal?

IT'S JUST DOWN THE ROAD-NO NEED TO LEAVE EARLY.

Since it is time for another public holiday, the Premier and Football Leagues have to think about making derby matches important, allowing fans relieved from having a few days off, to forget about travelling long distances and just nip next door to the local opposition.

The PL have not really entered into the spirit today, apart from pitching Sunderland Newcastle together. Actually it looks as though they have decided to make teams travel as far as possible; Arsenal/Liverpool, Swansea/Hull and so on.

As a Geography teacher it is always a great ice-breaker to get your pupils to make up their Boxing Day and Easter weekend fixture list to make them aware of where places are in the country.

Portsmouth going to Carlisle didn't seem very fair yesterday when rail and roads are chocker. Pompey did get a point-but at what cost.

So today the Pleague is not remotely geography conscious, whereas in the FL programme, in Yorkshire you would be foolish to go into Barnsley where at 9am the riot police were already having a cup of coffee outside the Silkstone Inn in the town centre awaiting the arrival of the Blades (Sheffield Utd supporters not weapons, hopefully) and Huddersfield are going to Wednesday on Easter Saturday. Other gems are Bolton/Blackpool (shades of 1953), Cardiff M4 corridor to Reading, Swindon/MKDons. They all seem sensible decisions but why Luton/Exeter yesterday or Gillingham to Fleetwood....bonkers.

Get the atlas out.

GROUND HOP DAY COMES ROUND AGAIN

If you didn't know, a Groundhopper (not a Groundhogger) is a football fan who visits clubs all over the world and keeps a diary! No, I am not going to use the word “anorak”, that's for trainspotters. Groundhoppers contribute to club funds and make people aware of local football. You could join the 92 Club and visit every league club in the cdountry, serious hoppers do this in a year before some poor wretch falls out of the FLeague into the Conference. I did the 12 original Fleague members last season to commemorate an anniversary from 1888. name those teams-see previous blogs.

Ground Hop Day 2015 is this weekend (yes, three days I know), perfect for the long Easter Weekend. So the North East Counties League, home to my local team, Penistone Church United, has arranged eight matches over three days to allow Groundhoppers the opportunity to take in a maximum of games.

For example, Nostell Miners Welfare played Retford United on Thursday at 7.47pm-that's what it says in the lists.

Grimsby Borough play Hall Road Rangers at 6.30pm tonight (Good Friday) and you could have watched two other league games starting at 11.30am (after church) and 2.30pm.

Penistone ko at 7.30pm on Saturday against Pontefract Collieries, so you could plan your journey around the county and take in variety of games from 10.30, 1.45, 4.45 and then for only £5 watch the Church. U16s are free with an adult.

The club might have taken a leaf out of Petersfield's book by offering cocktails or two for one with a lady! (see previous Valentine's Day blog).

Penistone Church was founded in 1906, relatively late considering that this part of Yorkshire is regarded as a hub for historic teams-Hallam and Sheffield FC for example.

The club came together by joining Choirboys and Juniors but despite their angelic appearance, the Church very quickly won the Sheffield Junior Cup (1909). They have progressed to become a NECounties team and Charter Standard.

In 2006 , when they celebrated their Centenary, the club played..... wait for it.....an Emmerdale All Stars XI. Just think if Hepworth United fancied their chances, they could play the cast from Last of the Summer Wine! Compo, the scheming midfielder, Foggy a tall centre half, Cleggy first aid man and Nora Batty in goals. Howard and Marina, twin strikers!

BAD FRIDAY IT'S A FIX UP

Good Friday, April 2^nd 1915 saw a crunch match between Manchester United and Liverpool at Old Trafford. If United lost they would be closer to relegation-something unheard of. Instead of a Titanic struggle between two great teams, there was match fixing to darken the spirit and make profit for the bookies. A 2-0 victory to United was at odds of 8-1 and players from both sides and some outsiders were in on the act, raising money at a time when things were financially tough, even for professional footballers..

Jackie Sheldon had played for both teams and was regarded as a ring leader. 

Billy Meredith was not involved in the deception but stated that he became suspicious because nobody on his team would pass to him.

Just before half time George Anderson scored and in the dressing room during the break it was clear that some players, who realised what was going on, were not keen to come out for the second half. They were persuaded and a penalty given to United was missed by a mile by skipper Patrick O'Connell, clearly somebody who was trying to prevent the end result from favouring the baddies.

A Liverpool forward missed a difficult header, which grazed the cross bar and he was warned by team mates who clearly realised that he had nearly blown the gaff by levelling up the score.

Anderson later scored his second goal which led to the planned 2-0 defeat of Liverpool and soon the rumours circulated. In the Sporting Chronicle a story ran that the “Football King” a well known bookie had fixed the match. At the end of the season United were one point from relegation to the second division.

The FA discovered the plot and seven players were given life time bans; four from Liverpool and three from United. Two other players from other clubs were involved and banned and the FA stated that they knew others were involved.

Sandy Turnbull of United was charged and unfortunately lost his life in the war. Others had their bans lifted after the war, in recognition for their service to the country, although Enoch West of United, who had taken the FA to court, pronouncing his innocence and accusing the FA of libel, was not reprieved and his ban stayed until he was 59 years old.

No points were taken from United nor was the game replayed! Chelsea, just below United in the League appealed and when the league restarted after the war the Football league extended the First Division to 22 teams with Chelsea being kept up and Arsenal joining from Division Two. No names but those ringed were naughty.

VILLAGERS IN FOOTBALL "FERRY" STORY

North Ferriby United won the FA Trophy at Wembley last weekend beating fancied Wrexham after extra time (3-3) and penalties (5-4). Goalkeeper Alex Nicklin save three penalties. The club had been to Wembley before losing to Whitby Town in 1998 in the FA Vase.

Manager Billy Heath, who has been round the block, took charge of his 700^th game, not just with one club. He has been at Bridlington, Frickley and Hall Road Rangers until 2011. Since then North Ferriby Utd have won the Evo-Stick NPL Premier title and at Step 2 finished runners-up, missing out in the play offs. They joined the Conference North in 2013. They have also been to the Trophy quarters losing to eventual winners Gosport. It has been a busy time for the village club formed in 1934 from a population of only a few thousand. The village is under 4,000 strong now.

North Ferriby is sited on the Humber Estuary and gets its name from the Danish settlers' name Ferja bi meaning the place by the ferry. Archaeology has revealed the earliest European “sewn plank boats” dated to the Bronze Age (2030-1680 BC), Iron Age barrows and Roman features have also been discovered. So winning the Trophy adds to its remarkable history. Phil Brown the football manager (once of Hull City) and Alex Deakin (TV weather forecaster) come from the area.

It will be a northern final in the FA Vase with North Shields beating Highworth Town 3-0 on aggregate and Glossop North End scraping through with ten men against AFC St Austell 2-1 despite losing at home 0-1.