TNS WIN SCRUBS OUT AJAX'S RECORD

YESTERDAY TNSFC broke a world football record by beating Cefn Druids in the Welsh Premier League 2-0 and thereby completing 27 consecutive victories in top class football, overtaking Alax's achievement in the 1972. TNS completed the double over Cefn having won 4-0 on Boxing Day and have left Cruyff and Co in their wake.

Recently East Kilbride FC in the Scottish Lowland League achieved 30 consecutive wins but they are a semi-professional club and the "level" of their league not regarded as "top class";
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/27th-consecutive-victory-sweeps-ajax.html

The New Saints of Oswestry Town and Llansantffraid FC might also be known as TNS and it is a full time professional football club made up from two towns that span 8 miles across the English-Welsh border. The club dominates the Welsh Premier League and have won it ten times including the past five seasons. So much for proper investment.

(The full name of the "village" is Llansantffraid-ym-Mechain, population 1,800 approx. The other settlement is Oswestry of course; pop 16,000)

The club was founded in 1959, known then at Llansantffraid FC and played at the local recreation ground in town. Between 1997-2006 the club was known as Total Network Solutions after its sponsor and then merged with Oswestry Town FC adopting its present name, The New Saints in 2006.The team plays at Park Hall in Oswestry.

Their first competitive games were in the Montgomeryshire Amateur Football League and a metoeric rise took them to the Welsh League in 1992-3. Winning the Welsh Cup in 1996 qualified the club for the European Cup Winners Cup and encouraged local IT compant TNS to sponsor them. They lost to Polish team Ruch Chorzow on aggregate 1-6 having won the home leg. During their foreign ventures in Europe, since 2000-01, they have played against Manchester City and Liverpool. In 2009-10 they got to the 3rd Qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League eventually losing to Anderlecht. This year they lost to Apoel of Cyprus in the 2nd Q Round.

Some may ask why they have not applied to go up to a higher level of football, but why not win your league and play in Europe every year? Makes sense! They are 21 points clear at the moment!!!!

FROM RIMMINGTON TO HIGGINBOTTOM

How important are kit men? If you have a look at these two blogs, especially the second one about the TV film "Marvellous", I am sure you will agree.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/04/yorkshire-puddings.html
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/frilly-knickers-will-come-out-of-next.html

Norman Rimmington has died at the age of 93. The Barnsley kit man was a miner and a goalkeeper at Mapplewell Town at the end of the Second World War. He signed for the Reds and played only 29 times before moving to Hartlepool until 1952, where he played over a 100 times. He broke his leg, returned to Oakwell and had to turn his hand to coaching, being a groundsman, a physio and kit man. He worked into his 90s taking on less demanding jobs but always having a quiet word for the players as they passed his "office".

He advised Allan Clarke to retire from playing after a 7-0 drubbing at Reading! John Hendrie knew him as a confidante, Norman Hunter had the pipe-smoking physio as his right hand ma,. Alex Ferguson met him at Oakwell and said that Norman was more well known than he.

Norman was a one club man and a genuine legend. They don't make them like that any more!

How times have changed. Barnsley FC are well placed in the Championship which will have cheered Norman in his final years. It has been a record breaking Calendar YEAR with 16 away wins including the success at Wembley at the end of last season. Their 47 goals on their travels also is a record for the club's modern era and one would have to go back to 1894 to find the foundling club, Barnsley St Peters FC, scoring a higher total. The 26 goals conceded away from home is also the lowest since 1984 and the 6 defeats the lowest since 1980.

The play-off game against Millwall at the end of last year's campaign was the culmination of the club's longest season, covering 59 games, one more than the previous total in 1960/61.

Norman will have been chuffed with the success of Paul Heckingbottom's Tykes. I'm going to Oakwell tomorrow and will be hoping for a positive result against Birmingam City to help see Norman on his way.

And finally, on Christmas Day 1901, Midland League leaders Barnsley Reserves travelled to Grimsby who were second in the division. Only 7 Barnsley players got to the ground following four team members missing the train. 9-0 down at half time and five more in the second half with one in return by the Tykes. Barnsley eventually won the title despite this record defeat. If they had only 6 men wouldn't the game have been postponed? One should have hidden in the kit basket.

BUENAS WATCHES

Jamie Carragher tells us that young footballers today are "spoiled" by being part of the Academy Generation, molly coddled young men who have lived through modern "football upbringing", overpaid and led astray by the trappings of wealth. Sparkling wrist watches are part of that.

Tap on images of footballers in their day to day casual clothes and you will be blinded by the watches shown on every wrist. Daniel Sturridge wears an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar worth £50,000 and supplied by a company regarded as the founding family of watchmakers, originated in 1875.

Jack Wilshere spent nearly £27,000 on his timepiece, an Audemars Piguet Royal Oak offshore, made of stainless steel and regarded as one of the most innovative in history, whilst Jamie Vardy is a shade more flambouyant with his Hublot Rose Gold made by the relatively young Italian company and costing over £27,000.

Kyle Walker has a Rolex Yachtmaster II, ideal for timing yacht races (only £12,600) and Danny Rose shelled out £32,680 on his Rolex Sky Dweller; useful when sky diving???

Blowers Luxury Watches of Mayfair see footballers buying watches as an investment opportunity but this often works against the owner as Jordan Ibe of Bournemouth discovered when his car was rammed by robbers in Surrey Quays, London and his expensive wrist jewellery taken from him. Maybe this was the same mob who were after Andy Carroll recently when he was involved in a car chase in London.

On the other hand, Jose Mourinho donated a £16,000 Big Bang Unico Bi-retrograde Chrono Titanium Ceramic watch....the name says it all, to the Manchester United UNICEF charity evening recently. This was part of a personal donation by the Portugueses manager of £21,500. The evening raised a quarter of a million £s.

Jose's "predecessor" at United obviously had not invested a huge amount on his watch especially if it couldn't keep time like the ref's!

THE LONG AND SHORT OF IT.

Crouchy got a good reception from the Anfield crowd yesterday but I bet his wife was even more popular. At 6'7.5" (2.02m) Peter is one of the tallest players in the game. The happy couple feature here:-

In the top ten tallest, then next four are Norwegians which proves something. My theory is based on rhubarb. With long dark nights in the winter, the Norwegians are "force fed" in the night by artificial light and accelerate their growth skywards in the summer when then have naturally long days.

This is a brave midget having a go at a ref and even a taller Even Iversen in the Norwegian League, even!!

Chinese league player, Yang Changpeng, measures up to these Scandinavians but Romanian Costel Pantilimon beats them at 6'8" along with Ivorian Lacina Traore, playing in the Russian League.

The Croatian goalkeeper, Vanja Ivesa is 6'9" and tallest are Paul Millar of Elgin City. Kristof van Hout, a Belgian goalkeeper at KRC Genk both 6'10".

Smallest include Marlin Garuch playing with Miedz Legnica in Poland at 5'1" and Barrios of River Plate.

Levi Porter now with Shepshed Dynamo is a massive 5'3", smaller than Messi, a giant at 5'5".  You will note that playing with England's U16s he didn't quite fit the kit!

Elton Jose Xavier Gomes, whose name is longer than he is, plays with Al Fateh in Saudi; he is 5'2".

Sammy Lee survived a long successful career at 5'1.8" and made a comedy double act with big Sam at Bolton. Here is Sammy fighting a canary.

CYRIL AND CYBIL FAULTY

I had a moment yesterday when at The John Smiths' Stadium there were two mascot Terriers. The old boy, Terry the Terrier, is well known but Town has introduced a female to keep the male of the species happy, she is called Tilly. I suspect there will be pups soon and perhaps kids from a chosen local junior league club will have to pull on tiddly Terrier onseys and play around on the pitch during the half time break.

I have done mascots before and here a few for you to enjoy:
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/cuisine-concoctions-and-culture.html

http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/06/new-mascot-new-season.html

Big Sam (not a mascot) was a bit miffed yesterday when the Watford mascot, Harry the Hornet, got excited and over stepped the mark by simulating "diving", accusingly. "The mascot is out of order, isn't he?" said Sam, defending his Palace players.

There are many scary mascots and some of Soccer ones maybe found here:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2015/jun/23/strange-terrifying-world-football-mascots-in-pictures

Cyril the Swan (guess his club) has a reputation of looking serene for some of the time but then paddling aggresively when over excited. Here is a list of his misdemeanours at Swansea City games:-
Wrestling with Millwall's Zampa the Lion, ripping its head off and drop kicking it into the crowd,
Fined £1000 by the FA for invading the pitch,
Clashed with Brian Hamilton manager at Norwich,
Assaulting (alledgedly) a female mascot at the "Mascot Grand National" at Huntingdon,
But now his swan partner Cybil has been introduced to calm him down.
He still finds it easy to stick his neck over the parapet.



Finally, the Swedes have another take on the mascot issue:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37409833

DUNCAN MCKENZIE SUPER ALL ROUNDER; MAINLY FIELD EVENTS

Huddersfield Town v Nottingham Forest at the John Smith's Stadium. nearly 23,000 make it a record Boxing Day crowd for the Terriers and well done to the Forest supporters for turning up in their droves too.

It would be fair to say that the lunchtime fayre in the Aspley Inn near the Colne Canal basin was of suitable pre-match proportions, although I was on the wagon (at least until dinner time). Today I kept my intake to a minimum, my son even less so. One day On one day OFF.

The match was a fascinating one with Hudeersfield's super stars such as Schindler, who didn't need a lift (list get it?) at corners, There was Hogg, many days too early for the Scottish New Year (get it?), Arkwright's onomatopoeic till, Kanchunga (get it??) and well I could go on but what would I do with Lolley, Assombalonga etc? The home team won 2-1 as Forest made a mess of their first half lead and any chance of reclaiming three points fell away in the second half.

The highlight of the afternoon (for me) was guest of honour, Duncan McKenzie, a former Forest player who graced the turf to pick out winning raffle tickets. His majestic grey barnet did not hide his youthful features; an footballer, once a super star.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJANAIIyyqY
Who else could jump over a mini from virtually a standing start (why?) and who could throw a golf ball from one of the pitch  (football) to pass over the cross bar at the other end (125 yards)? There is film footage to prove it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7MxcmujAlk

Duncan was a super footballer, born in Grimsby in June 1950, he featured in Forest's team from 1969-74, playing 111 times. He was loaned to Mansfield, went to Leeds (1974-6), then to Anderlecht, then went on a journey to Everton, Chelsea, Blackburn Rovers (1978-81), Tulsa Rednecks and Chicago Sting. After a short spell in Hong Kong he has become a pundit and after dinner speaker.

Surprisingly he never made the national side. Bit too flash maybe?

CHRISTMAS DAY FOOTBALL-LIGHT RELIEF FOR SOME.

These days there is a sort of "truce" in football over Christmas Day. In the past players have had to turn out, perform and hopefully earn some cash to pay for the presents. What better for the lads, players and watchers than to have a distraction away from the family, the sofas and repeats of Morecambe and Wise on the telly??

The first Christmas Day league match was played in 1889 between  Preston North end, known as The Invincibles after winning the Double the season before and Aston Villa. Preston won 3-2 with 9000 watching.

The year before Everton played three times in two days. On Christmas Day morning they beat Blackburn Park Road 3-2 in a Lancashire Cup tie and in the afternoon completed an "Exhibition" match v Ulster FC winning 3-0. On Boxing Day their match against Bootle was distrubed by hail and no goals!

On Christmas Day 1890 Blackburn Rovers were scheduled to play a local derby against Darwen FC at Ewood Park. The Rovers sensing a more important game on Boxing Day against Wolves fielded a reserve side and this led to a riot after Darwen at firsdt refused to play and they then fielded a weakened side much to the displeasure of the crowd, who thought (knew) they had been short-change.

In 1914 the World War One truce was a more important Christmas Day event, though reports of the two armies famously sharing gifts, carols and football matches are exaggerated by some. This link explains more:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/guides/zxsfyrd

The last Christmas Day "full card" was in Scotland in 1971. Two matches were played in Scotland in 1976 with St Mirren and Clydebank 2-2, Alloa beat Cowdenbeath 2-1 in the Second.

In England, Blackburn beat Blackpool 1-0 at home in 1959 in the First Division (see recent blog)  and Coventry beat Wrexham 5-3 in the Third. if you want to  get away from the family today, have a read of this link:
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/dec/19/theknowledge.sport

CHRISTMAS FAYRE AWAY

Rivalry between the two "ports" goes back to the Civil War and the Jacobite Rebellions.

There will not be a Tyne-Wear "league" derby this season; the two clubs perform in separate divisions but there might be a chance of a Cup Tie meeting.

Sunderland (Wearside) won a place in the Football League in 1890 replacing Stoke who had a season "out" in 1890-1. Sunderland were the first "new" club to join the expanding Football League. The clubs first met in a "match" in 1883 and then their first competitive tie was an FA Cup tie in 1887, Sunderland beating Newcastle West End 3-1. There was also a Newcastle East End whihc became United whilst West End went bankrupt in 1892.

Newcastle United (Tyneside) joined the Second Division in 1893-4 and had to wait until they were promoted as runners up in Division Two in 1897-8 met close rivals Sunderland in a First Division clash.

The two north-eastern clubs finally got together on Christmas Eve, by which time Sunderland had already topped the First Division three times and come second once.

A crowd of 30,000 filled Roker Park and saw Newcastle, very much under dogs at the time and in the lower end of the division, secure a 3-2 win as they continued to climb up the table eventually avoiding relegation.

The next Christmas derby was in 1903 on Boxing Day, when Newcastle hosted Sunderland and won 1-0. On Christmas Eve in 1904 Sunderland won 3-1.

In 1914 they played on Christmas Day at Tyneside, Newcastle losing 2-5 and reversed the tie at Roker Park the next day, Boxing Day, Newcastle winning 4-2.

The next Christmas Day derby was in 1951. Newcastle won away 1-4 and the clubs drew 2-2 the next day. In 1955 they played on Boxing Day (Newcastle won away 1-2) and then again on the 27th with Newcastle winning again 3-1 at home.

The last Boxing day fixture was in 1967 with Newcastle at home winning 2-1.

So far the derby statistics are: Sunderland won 51, Newcastle won 53 and games drawn 49. The record score is a 9-1 loss by Newcastle on December 5th 1908.

This year Sunderland are away at Old Trafford on Boxing Day and Newcastle play Sheffield Wednesday at home.

CUT THROAT RAZOR.

It is pantomime time and who better to take the lead as the "dastardly villain" than Razor Ruddock. Remember the tanking defender who made it into the "Liverpool Academy" in his time. How did that happen?

Razor has played for "local team" Millwall, Southampton, Spurs, Liverpool (1993-8), West Ham, Crystal Palace, QPR and Swindon-358 all in with one full England cap v Nigeria under El Tel!

Alledgedly having had various scrapes with players and clubs (Cantona's collar, Beardsley's jaw, both Andrew Coles' legs, the entire CPalace squad-drinking, a porsche and a blonde, alcohol limits. Razor has led a colourful life BUT.....he is loveable.

Razor has let himself go lately and recent news reveals that he has a penchance for pickled onions which he eats all year round. if he can't find the pickled version then he goes for raw! Onions in curried food tops the lot, he says.

After a good dosing of onion, there is nothing he likes more than a twister ice lolly for pudding and this will be his choice on Christmas Day. The mixture of vanilla ice cream and pear and strawberry hits the spot.

Needless to say, Razor is a man's man and at home he has his own "den" converted from his double garage. He has the vitals installed; big telly, big fridge, big sofa and no gals. his mates come round to watch footy and cricket and he has photos on the walls of him meeting an eclectic lot of celebs; Nelson Mandela, Roy Keane and Leah.

He has made a name for himself speaking after a dinners (free meal!), in  TV's "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here!", "Football Saved my Life" and "Can't pay? we'll take it away!" You may need to look him up to get all the details!

When he is not knocking about with his chums, Razor plays off 6 at the local golf course but as he has got "fatter" his handicap has fallen away rather like his waistline. The good news is that daughter Leah plays well and their club is not snobby, allowing youngsters and ladies to join in. Well if they didn't I think Razor would send "the boys" round!!??

Having flown five star during his jet-style life, he prefers a simple holiday and loves the New Forest. His daughter doesn't like flying, so the rural idyll is perfect for Razor and his family,

3RD ROUND PUT ON ICE

On this day in 1963 freezing fog enveloped much of Britain and 18 league matches were postponed and 8 abandoned mid match. Heavy snow fell on Boxing Day and on 29th December only 17 games were managed.

On New Years' Day no matches were played and on the 5th January only five 3rd Round Cup ties were finished. The big freeze set in with temperatures falling to -20 deg C with huge snow drifts blocking roads and rail. The 3rd Round of the cup was not completed until March 11th.

Pools Companies were at a loss of what to do until January 26th when the first Pools Panel sat. It was made up with Tom Finney, Tommy Lawton, Ted Drake, George Young (all ex-international footballers and managers) and referee Arthur Ellis. To make sure that this was all done sensibly and fairly, the sixth panel member was a Tory MP, John Theodore Cuthbert Moore-Brabazon (the 1st Baron Brabazon of Tara) (YES I AM NOT KIDDING) an aviator, who once strapped a bin with a piglet in it to his plane wing to prove that "pigs fly". Presumably this was the random element in decision-making.

So he was representing the "looney party" by then! The panel sat at the Connaught Rooms in London and appeared live on BBC TV.

11 games were completed on February 16th, 24 on Feb 23rd, the first day that the panel was not required. By March 16th there was a full programme and eventually normality was restored.

Bloomfield Road (Blackpool FC) was hit badly but players did skate on the pitch as part of their daily exercise. Norwich City tried fire to get games on (flame throwers and the like) but this just wrecked the garss and the melted ice refroze. Ironically, their 3rd Round v Blackpool was postponed 11 times with a drawn first tie and then a 1-3 win for Norwich after extra time in the replay.

At the Shay, Halifax Town FC, the club made the best of bad job by opening up the pitch as a public skating rink and although they made a bit of money, the disturbance obviously affected their playing performance and they were relegated from last place in Div 3 to Division 4 along with Carlisle, Brighton and Bradford PA.

Everton won the First Division title that year and Leyton Orient were relegated to Division Two.

THE SLIPPERY SLOPE OF ICE SOCCER

A Christmas card from one of my readers was rather splendid and showed the seasonal ice rink outside Somerset House. Skaters were in full flow and his question was; if this rink is a decent size for a football match has there been Ice Football (soccer)?

Well yes! In the big winter freeze (was it 1963?) my Pulborough chums and I would take a stroll to the Arun Wild Brooks where the floodplain had a reasonably safe amount of water on it which had frozen hard. Being careful not to indulge our enthusiasm actually on the river channel, we made goals with "jumpers" and played slidey football for an energetic hour of so. Thankfully there were no broken bones despite many "tumbles" from quite a few slide tackles.

On December 9th 1967, Manchester City under the watchful eyes of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison, took on Spurs at Maine Road and they played in unhelpful conditions. Joe told his lads to rip off the "leather tops" of their studs to reveal the three nails that held the stud into the leather sole of the football boot. Hey presto, his boys had grips on their boots and Spurs were on the slippery slope. Referees didn't check studs in those days and the City boys stood up to the conditions.

36,000 supporters saw Tony Book's side go behind to a Jimmy Greaves' goal early on but the City boys kept their feet and beat Spurs 4-1. Apparently Allision, prior to the game, had convinced his team that they could "walk on water" and well they did, sort of!

Looking for proper soccer games on ice rinks led me to Zorb Football which involves the protecting big bubble and there are Ice Leagues where matches are played either trainers or on skates.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLAepjWmmjg

Roller soccer is a convivial game where hockey rules seem to have been incorporated into the game of soccer. This game goes back quite a while and involved ladies!.
http://www.britishpathe.com/video/soccer-on-skates

Put this on a roller blade rink with inline blades and there is another game and then stick the whole thing on ice with "blades" and there you have it.
Jacob Gayman has "invented" the sport with 5 a side, no gks, no kicking above waist high and small goals 3' high and 4' wide. Offside is complex, so I wont go there.

There is also this game which seems to be a very social event!
http://www.icesoccer.com/ice_soccer_rules.html  these are the rules
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2a4DbRS3EA this is a sort of example!

I found a few references to Ice Soccer, especially in US states like Colorado and Utah-this is not Ice on the ground, but just a name for soccer played in the winter, I think??? and there is also a computer game with that name. There is also "Soccie" a combination of soccer and hockey.

CHRISTMAS CRACKERS

We took our U13s to the Huddersfield Bowling Alley on Saturday afternoon where they all got a dose of 10 pins and a seasonal prezzie when they had finished having fun. I was impressed that they all remained sober and didn't over undulge in burgers or chocolate. Good lads. Mind you they lost on Sunday 5-6 after being 3-0 up! Hmmm. Perhaps an early night might have helped.

Spurs made the press today by having a FANCY fancy dress party which did not go wrong (or if there was an incident, it was in house and there was no leakage.

Spot who's who!

Leicester City are not having a party, due to poor form, Swansea players decided not to party saving their strength for their battle away from the relegation zone and David Moyes' Sunderland players are sharing their celebration (of the religious holiday, not their position in the Premier League) with their wives and girlfriends.

Manchester City are having their festive meal after training on Friday with their nutritionist looking on, no doubt, Chelsea are staying at home with their families and West Brom and Stoke are just hoping for "no incidents".

In 2009 Spurs under the managership of Robbie Keane nipped across to Dublin after paying £2,000 per head to hire a private jet. Harry knew they would "never take the liberty" but they did and got sloshed all day and partied late into the night. They lost at home in the next match to Wolves.

Celtic found themselves in the Sizzlers' Steakhouse in Glasgow where Neil Lennon fell over outside and bashed his head on the pavement. The next year they sloped off to Newcastle to avoid detection but ended up with four of the squad in custody, including.....yes you guessed, Neil Lennon.

In 1998 the Liverpool team were on a night out in a city club, when Jamie Carragher got involved with a tin of whipped cream and several strippers. Michael Owen stood quietly in the corner hoping to avoid any involvement whilst Paul Ince (yes Paul Ince) stayed in the DJ Booth "looking on concerned".

The Leicester City night out in 2001 was disturbed when Dennis Wise impaled a "Foxs'" chocolate teddy bear onto a "sex toy". Wise suggested that Robbie Savage was the other "prick" in a Leicester shirt and Savage responded by smearing chocky all over the Wise (not so wise?) head!

Do you remember the 2007 Manchester United party in town organised by Rio? 100 hookers by order and Jonny Evans was arrested-later released. Sir Alex got the hairdryer out.

or Joey Barton using youth player Jamie Tandy's eye as an ash tray? Barton was fined 6 weeks wages. Does Burnley do Christmas?

MERRY CHRISTMAS

NEVER MIND THE COWBOYS, WHERE ARE THE INDIANS?

It's bad enough getting stuffed by the Indians at cricket. Well, we are playing away from home of course and I expect there are loads of injuries, I blame the food. Will India catch us up in football? With a population of 1.25 billion (yes that's just a tad fewer than China) there must a few super stars waiting to be "developed" on the sub-continent. As the "Emperors" carry their skills into the "New World", football may soon catch up cricket. Ranked 137th in FIFA's list, India's football is on the way up, just.

Michael Chopra, who father is Indian, is turning out for the Kerala Blasters in the 8 club strong Hero Indian Super League, which is not part of the Indian Pyramid. The league sponsored by IMG-Reliance (industries), was founded in October 2013, the first championship title was won in 2014.

Michael  spent years in the English Football League playing at Newcastle, Barnsley, Cardiff, Sunderland, Ipswich and Blackpool, learning his trade. After a short spell putting all that to one side when he played at Alloa Athletic, Michael returned to his family roots and joined the Blasters in 2014.

Managed by Steve Coppell he played along side Northern Ireland defender Aaron Hughes and ex-Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack (who?). There is an international squad at Kerala, who play in the league "hosted" by Broadcaster Star Sports.

Other clubs in the league (and this is where you should get out the atlas) come from Delhi, Mumbai, Pune, Kolkata, Chennai (scene of an England cricket XI debacle), Guwahati and Margoa.

Named players plying their trade include Postiga, Zico, Materazzi, John Arne Risse, Malouda, Lucio, Forlan, Sissoko (one of them?) and Ian Hume from Tranmere, who is Kolkata's top scorer. Del Piero, quite famous!, is earning £1.17m in the Indian 3 month season which begins in October.

Owners of clubs include Bollywood film stars, Sourav Ganguly, that average batsman Kohli and Athletico Madrid! There is also a Villareal Academy set up in a national wide U18 league.

The good news is that English is a common language in India, rolling over from the Empire of course, so that makes life easy for our chaps and crowds average 25,000+ and some attract 65,000+.
http://www.indiansuperleague.com/

Restructuring is in progress as the AIFF will develop two leagues making the ISL more attractive than the present I-League. Football is expanding. Next year the Indians host the FIFA U17 World Cup.

SPOTY

I don't think Jamie Vardy will be Sports' Personality of the Year. Knowing that he was not on the short list he got himself sent off today and his club Leicester City, likely to be named Sports' Team of the Year (odds on at the moment), seem to be in freefall. Both have given us great excitement and entertainment through the year and their success seems like a fairy tale now.

I met somebody this week who played with Vardy at Stocksbridge Park Steels FC, a local Evo-Stick NPL club, before he moved on and he said that Vardy "had forgotten" his mates who helped nurtured him through his early career. Shame!

I am also listening to Stoke v Leicester City as I write this and the Foxes were in the dumps again, but have pulled back to 2-2 against the Potters, a result seemingly impossible a short while ago. perhaps Leicester are on a revival. Is it enough to win the hearts of the voting public?

Footballers do not often get the accolade of SPOTY voters, possibly because football is such a controversial sport, often unloved.

As Baden-Powell, the founder of the Scouts' movement observed (read yesterday's post), Football....."is a vicious game when it draws crowds of lads away from playing the game themselves to be merely onlookers at a few paid performers, boys and young men, pale, narrow chested, hunched up, miserable specimens, smoking endless cigarettes, betting, all of them learning to be hysterical as they groan and cheer in panic unison with their neighbours..."

So since 1954, when the very educated Chris Chataway became the first winner of the BBC poll,
the following footballers have been voted top of the pops; Bobby Moore (1966), Paul Gascoigne (1990), Michael Owen (1998), David Beckham (2001) and Ryan Giggs (2009). 5 in 61 years. Much reflects success in the sport and you can understand why in 1966 Bobby Moore got the nod-national pride. Explaining the other football winners needs some thought.

Who is that with Mooro?

Tomorrow-Team Winners!

SCOUTING FOR BOYS-STEADY ON!

A short while ago I was at St George's Park (yes the home of the FA) attending a Talent ID conference, in short giving Football "scouts" a idea on how to do their job better i.e. identifying talent. We won't go into the abuse area, I am just concentrating on youngsters being good citizens, enjoying a healthy lifestyle and being introduced to the big outdoors, learning skills and the well you know all those you do like tying knots.

Bear Grylls is Chief Scout, no not a football man, he is very much part of the Scouting system that entertains thousands of boys and girls, beavers, wolf cubs, rovers, brownies, guides and rangers from 7 years old to 18. The Royal family gets involved of course, supporting a very worthwhile cause and Kate has been in town today helping celebrate the Wolf Cubs' birthday.

Where am I going with this? Well a hundred years ago on December 16th 1916, at Caxton hall, London, the Cubs were formed by Robert Baden-Powell. Anything to do with football yet? Nearly.

Baden-Powell was educated at Charterhouse as a 13 year old, from 1870 to 1876. He loved the outdoor life available to him at the school which was set on a sandstone ridge above Godalming in Surrey. He had acres of playing fields, shrubland and woods at his disposal, leading down to the River Wey, where he could indulge his wilderness interests.

He enjoyed sport, particularly football, which Charterhouse was good at and he became a goalkeeper, because he was not very good at the game. It was recorded that he used to entertain the spectators at matches by doing handstands and various gymnastics when the ball was down the other end of the pitch. He "took a very liberal view of the goalkeeper's function, his voice enabled him to direct the forwards at the other end of the ground and his agility enabled him to cheer the spectators with impromptu dances when he had nothing pressing to do".

You will be looking up Baden-Powell's life story by now and will have discovered that he earned a title as the "Defender of Mafekin" (1899-1900) which seems appropriate considering he was a goalkeeper. I am not going to go all historic on you but safe to say he was a war hero!

B-Powell is central in  this photo of the school cadet corps which of course he joined! He looks a bit like a "Brownlee" brother-cheeky smile.

He recognised in 1908, when he published "Scouting for Boys" an introduction to good citizenship, that "Football is a grand game for developing a lad physically and morally....." He also recognised the developing seedier side of the game as it grew in popularity and drew youngsters away from playing as they went to watch a few paid performers.........

CLUB WORLD CUP-DID YOU KNOW IT WAS ON?

I don't know whether you have noticed but this week the conclusion to the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup is taking place in Japan. Venues used have been Osaka and Yokohama. Here is a map to help you put all that information into a place:

If you are worried about the colour scheme, it is of no consequence, just a bit of regional admin, though clearly Hokkaido in the north is for the girls (see yesterday's blog).

The competition is sponsored by Alibaba YunOS Auto, so I better mention them and this 13th edition of the tournament is competed for by the winners of the 6 continents' championships and the winners of the host country's championship just to make the numbers sensible i.e. 7.
The tournament has been running from December 6th concluding with the final in Yokohama on the 18th.

Those present have been seeded so:-
FIRST TO QUALIFY IS THE WINNER OF:-
Auckland City-Oceania FC (NZ) and Kashima Antlers, the Japanese J1 Winners 17000+ attended
RESULT 1-2 and they join the "1/4" round-see below.

ENTERING AT THE QUARTER-FINALS are:-
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors-the Japanese club, winners of the Asian FC Champions League.
Mamelodi Sundowns-Central African Fed. Champs. from S.Africa.
Club America of Colombia-CONCACAF (Central and North America) winners.

Kashima beat Mamelodi 2-0 (21,000+) and Jeonbuk lost to Club America 1-2 (14,500)
Jeonbuk then beat Mamelodi 4-1 to gain 5th place (5,900)

ENTERING AT THE SEMI-FINAL STAGE ARE:
Atletico Nacional of Colombia (CONMEBOL) winners of the Copa Liberadores who lose to Kashima 0-3 bit of a shock there then! (15,050)
Real Madrid (UEFA) Champions League holders beat Club America 2-0. (50,000+)

THIRD PLACE will be decided between Club America and Atletico-a battle of the Colombians played out before the main final at Yokohama.

FINAL TO BE PLAYED BETWEEN: Real Madrid and Kashima on the 18th.

The first Tournament was held in 2000 and won by Corinthians of Brazil. Manchester United won it in 2008 and last year Barcelona won. Other winners include Bayern Munich, Internazionale, Milan, Internacional of Brazil and Sao Paulo.

LADIES FOOTBALL NOT IN THE PINK!

When Sepp Blatter was asked what he would recommend to do to make Women's Football more popular, he suggested "make them wear tighter shorts". He never quite got it right did he? Well FIFA moved on, didn't it? Has the FA?

The FA apparently has based their recent plan to increase the popularity of Women's Football on surveys and investigations. Their marketing department has come up with the suggestion that there should be in the ladies' game, pink water bottles and whistles, nice smelling bibs (I think the men would agree with this!), pink gloves, Twitter breaks, time slots to check phones and pocket mirrors.

The "elderly white men" of the Football Association surely have shot themselves in the foot again? Can you believe that girls/women would suggest that this would boost  the "ladies' game"? The FA want to double female participation by 2020.

This was publicised on the Sussex FA website and since I was brought up in that county association I am shocked, nay.... horrified.

Advertising schemes include posters on the back of ladies' lavatory doors and at entrances to coffee shops, where women frequent. It gets worse! A junior school in Durham has replied to the FA reminding their association that "We aren't brainless Barbie dolls".

The FA defend themselves by saying that this campaign is aimed at girls not playing football at the moment....clearly those who do, won't want all these changes..........doh?????

I watch a lot of female football and indeed have girls in our U13 squad, all of whom would curl up and leave the field if they were in the pink!!

RICH REWARDS FOR RICHARDS

I know there are famous brothers all over the place and the Brownlees would stand out in Yorkshire, followed closely by the Roots and I guess there are successful sporting sisters too. I haven't researched that bit; somebody will tell me no doubt.

Locally Penistone Church FC is blessed with the Richards brothers. Ian teaches PE at the local senior school and is Assistant Principal. His brother Duncan is also a PE teacher in Huddersfield. Ian is the top man at PCFC with his brother a player and assistant manager. They are doing a good job.

Church were on an unbeaten run in the Toolstation North Counties East League Division One (Step 6), but recently dropped some points, leaving them second behind local rivals AFC Emley. This season, Church has surprised more established clubs such as one of the world's oldest clubs, Hallam FC and Brigg Town. With a game in hand PCFC are one point behind Emley, so look as though they might get promotion, all being well through the second half of the season.

As a semi-professional club, Church's players enjoy win bonuses and are not necessarily on a weekly salary. Ian boosts his teacher's wage with similar rewards from the success of his club.

In their eighth season with Church, the brothers have won promotion from local league football to the NCEL and after three years have had some success in the FA Cup and FA Vase, two competitions they enter with little hope of going very far, but they dream.

Ian played at Blackburn Rovers, Halifax, Belper Town and Stocksbridge PS and also spent a year in New Zealand, though his professional career was cut short by injury. Teaching is very much the "stable" employment for the boys whilst foootball is a satisfying release for both brothers. Having a hand in local schools benefits the club and one only has to look at John Stones, a local lad who went through the school system and there are many others will not go quite as far up the "Pyramid" as John,  but might boost Church's squad.

Promotion to the Premier Division of NCEL would cause the club a few pleasant headaches though, with new facilities having to be provided to match the requirements of the new place in the pyramid (Step 5). Investment will be needed at this ambitious club.

By the way, Paul Richards, their dad, is an "incomer" who has lived in the town for a long time. he supports Spurs and helps run the Walking Football group at PCFC. BTW Paul is just as competitive as his sons.

NICKNAME

I was with David Howells yesterday at a do, and today at home when I turned open the Shoot Annual for 1996 I came to a page titled "Nicknames". Why was I playing around with the Shoot Annual? Attic clear out session after going up their to get the Xmas decorations! Standard event isn't it? Now I never got to know David's nickname at Spurs but he often referred to Darren Anderson as "Sick note" because he was often injured. The Shoot Annual reminded me that he was also called "Shaggy" because of his dress sense, which was scruffy. Another Shaggy was Steve McManaman from Liverpool. His Liverpool team mate, Rob Jones was Trigger, because he was a bit slow on the uptake!

We all know that Stuart Pearce was Psycho but what about Terry Phelan, remember him? Who at Manchester City was Angry Ant. Niall Quinn explains that this was because he was small and used to screw his face up to make himself look angry, although he never actually got angry very often!

Well, there are a few nicknames for you to think about......he must be struggling for something to write about you may ask.....you are correct! I could follow on from yesterday's blog and say that the weekend goal total record for the PL was not challenged today. Too many 1-0s, I could tell you that the Hepworth U13s snatched a 4-3 win from the jaws of defeat in the local league cup, but I'm leaving you to think about club nicknames. I have done this before; who are the Chairboys, the Pirates, the Saddlers and the Cobblers and how did Spurs get their name? More tomorrow?

No idea what this is all about.....Shaggy?

MANY THREES

It has been an extraordinary day in the Premier League with a number of games involving scores of 3. Watford, Arsenal, Burnley and Swansea all scored three to win their matches whilst Hull and Crystal Palace drew 3-3 in another remarkable game. Gary tells me it is the MOST GOALS scored in the PL on a six game Saturday (in December? In 2016?)

Leicester City spoiled the party although Jamie Vardy tried hard to keep up the three theme by scoring his first hat trick of the season. His team beat Manchester City 4-2. The total number of goals scored today was 29, not helped by Sunderland who could not hit the net. It's a lot but not the most.

With more games tomorrow, the record for a weekend could be beaten. Who can predict the scores between Chelsea and West Brom, Man Utd v Spurs, Southampton v Middlesbrough and Liverpool v West Ham? With the Baggies at Stamford Bridge there is a chance? 19 needed.

On the 8th May 1993 47 goals flew in on one day in 9 games. Major contributions came mainly from Liverpool who beat Spurs 6-2, Everton beat Manchester City 5-2 and Oldham beat Southampton 4-3.

43 goals went in over February 5-6th 2011, when Everton beat Blackpool 5-3 and Wigan scored 4 in their game against Blackburn Rovers who replied with 3. Newcastle drew with Arsenal 4-4. Not helping were Liverpool who only managed 1-0 v Chelsea and Birmingham who scored a 1-0 win at West Ham.

DICKIE HAS ZAMORA GAMES TO PLAY

Dickie Borthwick first played football in 1948 and has appeared for 11 non-league clubs in his career, starting with Invergordon Academy in the Scottish Highlands and also turned out of the the local Town FC and Ross County. Moving south he has been involved with Sherborne Town and most recently Wyke Rangers FC Veterans in Dorset, but his latest club is folding and Dickie is looking for a new club at 81.

His health has been through the mill, recovering from prostate cancer and he puts his longevity down to quitting smoking 30 a day, keeping active, drinking tea and eating porridge before a game. With over 1600 matches under his belt 400 and more goals, the new Walking Football is not for him, he wants to run around. Vets' football tends to have 35 year and older participants, so Dickie finds himself a little out of his depth against some of the younger members although he has recently played against an Under 16 opposition.

Not quite so old, but retiring is Robert (Bobby) Lester Zamora who at 35 is hanging up his boots. Born in Barking he has been very much part of the East London lot, graduating through the famous Senrab Youth Club ( John Terry, Ledley King etc) but finding himself not in London but at Bristol Rovers in 1999. he then quickly went to Bath City on loan, Brighton (119 apps 70 goals), Spurs under Hoddle, West Ham (home!! 130 apps for 30 goals)), Fulham, QPR and back to Brighton. He only earned 2 international caps. Sadly, a hip injury has curtailed his career at 35 years old.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydNSxxZHI-k

THIS IS YOUR LIFE DANNY BLANCHFLOWER, "OH NO IT ISN'T!"

In 1954 Danny Blanchflower was playing for Aston Villa (148 games) but he was the type of person who trod on toes. he upset the management over team tactics and couldn't understand why a ball was not used more in practice, so he was put up for sale.

My source mentioned two "struggling" clubs who showed an interest in Danny and they were Arsenal and Spurs! The 28 year old Northern Ireland international (56 caps) was bid for and Spurs manager Arthur Rowe bid highest buying him for £30,000, doubling the amount Villa paid Barnsley FC (68 games) for him.

In 1956 a new manager at Tottenham, Jimmy Anderson, did not appreciate Blanchflower's interference on pitch when the Irishman tinkered with positions and tactics in a cup semi-final lost to Manchester City in 1956. When a new manager arrived at White Hart Lane in 1958, Bill Nicholson, who eventually saw the value of Danny, reinstated him as captain and at 32, he enjoyed an "Indian Summer".

By 1961 Spurs had won the "Double" with Blanchflower playing as a half back, marshalling his troops. They won the first 11 matches of the season and beat leicester City in the Cup Final. The following year they won the FA Cup again, beating Burnley FC and reached the semi-final of the European Cup and then continued success, reaching 3rd, 2nd and 4th in consecutive league campaigns. In 1962-3, he captained Spurs to the first European victory by and English club, when they won the European Cup Winners' Cup beating Athletico Madrid.
He played over 355 times for Spurs and moved on in 1964.

He hoped to take over as manager at Spurs but was overlooked for Terry Neil and then led Northern Ireland briefly and then Chelsea albiet even more briefly, finishing up in 1979.

He was targetted in 1961 for the "surprise TV show", "This is Your Life", a programme which does what the title says, hosted by fellow Irishman, Eamon Andrews. Blanchflower became the first person to refuse by saying "Oh no it isn't", just before the programme went on air.

He also worked in various TV and press jobs and for CBS TV in America in the mid 1960s when he upset audiences by rubbishing the quality of soccer. He said "The game is about glory, it is about doing things in style and with a flourish, about going out and beating the lot, not waiting for them to die of boredom".

There was a testimonial for him at White Hart Lane in 1990 by which time he was suffering from Alzheimer's and he died of pneumonia in 1993, aged 67.

Name other Spurs' players on show at the old Wembley!

BOTTOM CORNER, TOP BOOK

Somebody once said; "You know your are an anorak, when you acknowledge the work of other anoraks." And so I shall today because I want to make you aware of a book that should fill your stocking (for Christmas).

"The Bottom Corner" by Nige Tassell tells his story of groundhopping, covering the length and breadth of the UK. He starts his "Book Special" article in "The Non-League Paper" by saying that "Top flight football has been eating itself for many years now"......and he draws evidence for us with the example of the dreaded Ronaldo spending £20,000  on a life sized effigy adorning the hallway of his Madrid mansion. As if having a statue erected back on his native island wasn't enough.

Colchester United once of the Conference and Trophy "double" in 1991-2 and Tranmere get a mention, as do FC United and the Premier Inn at Birkenhead. Why? Read it!

So Nige covers the land from Glasgow to Lewes, from Bishop Sutton in Somerset to AFC Emley, just up the road from me. I hope that in my various blogs I have helped you realise the ambitions of our lower pyramid clubs, ranging from millionaire owners, who see the future as one in the Football League, to ex-pros who refuse to hang up their boots and then there the story of Jamie Vardy and of course, "The Class of 92".

Given support by Barry Davies and Stuart Maconie, this book, published by Yellow Jersey Press is a must if you really love football.

RHEAD AND ROBINSON ROCK THE LATICS

Finding 40p was a bit of a shock, for the Toll Bridge over the River Trent, I ventured towards Lincoln late yesterday evening. On my return later that night there were still two collectors manning the toll, gathering enough money, I presume, to pay their wages. It seemed quiet and foggy!

Prior to the game I had time to view the Cathedral from afar (if I had known I could have got a free pass from a friend to enter it and enjoy the castle too). I had time to visit this hostelry in the High street, a place I must recommend.

Some more "Lincoln men" earning their wages last night were the fabulous footballers of The Imps, Lincoln City's football club, who played Oldham Athletic in the FA Cup 2nd Round proper, winning 3-2. Lincoln were the "status" underdogs being only a National League team and Oldham were the "seniors" coming from the Football League First Division proper. What a game.

The Imps went 3-0 up, Oldham regrouped in the second half and scored two with a nail biting final period which saw the Imps hold on. They went into the hat for the 3rd Round draw before the game anyway, so they knew they were playing this tie for the honour of visiting Ipswich in the next round. It is the stuff Cups are made of.

The whole visit was a very good experience, finding Sincil Bank, midst the terraced houses and rush hour traffic, I visited Lincoln City FC for the first time and enjoyed a well maintained ground and surrounding astros.
Lavs, food huts, stewards, seats, scoreboards and all the rest of the stadium paraphenalia was in good order; the programme was excellent and full of stuff for me to regurgitate.

Back to the game. The hero was Stoke born, Matt Rhead, a much travelled forward, who at 32, carried his weight around the pitch and caused the Oldham defence much trouble. With 50 Lincoln games under his belt he has scored 29 goals for his National League team. He won most headers, played in cheeky passes and fed the younger Theo Robinson, who was slimmer and faster than his supplier and who notched two goals.

Robinson at 27 is a Jamaican international, born in Birmingham. Theo has travelled even further than Matt is his ten year campaign, playing at Huddersfield, Derby, Motherwell, Millwall, Scunthorpe and so on and so on. He got into football through an "Exit Trial" arranged by the FA, a sort of auction for players jettisoned by professional clubs. It worked.

As a pair, the Imps were devestating until the wheels started to drop off through tireness towards the end of the game.

But Rhead clearly was the hero, loved by the crowd, especially by my very pleasant seat neighbour who told me before the match started that he was going to be noisy and as soon as the game started HE WAS.....very noisy but charming. With his young son, they were both devoted to Lincoln City and travel far to places like Forest Green and Dover to follow their team.

The IMPS hung on and live to enjoy another day in the fantastic Emirates FA Cup. The incentive is for a 3rd Round win £67500. They have already benefitted from wins in Round 1 (£18,000) Round 2 (£27000). There is also TV money, increased revenue with success, sponsorship etc etc. Good on them.

This made me fell much better.

RIGHT MOVE? WRONG MOVE?

Happy Christmas Jose, you brought on your pantomime villain over the weekend at the Goodison "Theatre" and sure enough he brought the house down. Actually I feel quite sorry for Marouane who not only has a girly name but also has been beaten by David Luiz to the best Sideshow Bob lookalike hair style contest. Only the Belgian could lose the points for his new side at his old ground, having been on the pitch for less than 4 minutes. It was written in the stars.

Everton supporters were chuffed of course, to see an old club member fail, to salvage a vital point and to see their side only one point behind Manchester United. If Jose had thrown his tall centre midfielder on earlier who knows what chaos he could have caused! Right move? Wrong move?

Everton have much to be pleased about. Their owners have almost settled plans to move their stadium away from the iconic Goodison Park to a new location "somewhere" in the Liverpool City, now that the old ground is not fit for purpose. It may  prove controversial although they jealously look across Stanley Park at Anfield's new stand and the success that increased revenue may well bring.

Everton FC will not abandon L4, Walton completely, however,  because the club runs a "People's Hub" next door to the hugely successful Everton Free School, the first opened by a football club, where 200 youngsters are given the opportunity to complete an education. The school uniform is the club tracksuit-how cool is that?

The Big Lottery and Football Foundation have helped invest in the Hub, where there is a 4G pitch, a cafe, a fitness studio, a teen zone and a family area. It is open all year round.

Denise Barrett-Baxendale, the executive chair of "Everton in the Community" is determined that the club does not completely leave their spiritual home. Everton also owns "two properties" in the Goodison Road handed over as a community asset offering accommodation to those who need it, in a ward that falls in 5% of the most deprived areas in the country.

Painting, mending and tidying the area are part of the whole scheme, which includes helping the less fortunate to get food left over from the hospitality boxes on match day. It is distributed to locals in a "People's Picnic" initiative.

The derelict St Francis de Sales parochial centre is being renovated to provide a 24/7 community drop in centre. There are many other worthwhile events in place and planned.

This may seem like a PR stunt but the club is genuinely fulfilling its moral obligation to do the best they can for the Goodison public, even if the stadium is across the city.

CHARLES BUCHAN CHEERS ME UP

Our U13s suffered another defeat this morning at Norristhorpe, 1-5 against a team who are nearly top of the the division. It was their B team and bless them, when we went 1-0 up early on and seemingly in the ascendency, they produced their A team centre forward (who was also wearing a captain's band) whom they stuck at left back and he settled their defence down and onwards and upwards they went. Their coach withdrew the kid towards the end of the match and stuck on some kid who had to be turned round to know what he was doing. Shame on you Norristhorpe.

To cheer me up, my better half was up in the attic sorting out boxes of old books and children's stuff. She found my box of football books and my job is to tidy them up!

How many of you will remember the Charles Buchan Football Annual? It was a standard Christmas present for me when I was a youngster, along with the sugar mice and dinky toys (I found a box of them too).

You will note that the annuals run from 1960-1 through to 1965-6, a year when I became, probably, more interested in Motown LPs and a "Beatles" jacket, with that round collar and red lining.

There is also a rather nice little book in the Ladybird series called "Learnabout Football". which is possibly where my interest in football history and tactics came about.

Look at the sales that the new "Enid Blyton"series is having with titles about Brexit, Grandparenting, Teenagers and the like. We have had them for years!

PENISTONE, PAGNELL, POSTERS AND POTHOLES

FA Cup day and FA Vase also. But avoiding knock out stuff, instead I went to watch local Penistone Church, top of their league, play Hallam FC, the club plays on the oldest ground in the world (1860) and second oldest club after Sheffield FC. Think about it. Penistone is a meer 1906 foundation. Penistone lost 0-1, a disappointment.

Not a lot of excitement in that but I did rake through the Vase results and found a 12 goal aggregate. In the Third Round Proper of the Buildbase Vase, Newport Pagnell Town FC lost 3-9 to London Colney. Town, founded in 1963 moved to their home ground in 1972. They were previously known as the Wanderers, understandably since they had no home ground, changed their handle to Town and since they gained stability they have moved nicely through the local leagues into the United Counties League Premier by 2001-2. They have reached the last 32 in the Vase, losing to Ashington from the North-East 3-2 in front of a record crowd of about 600. The club runs two senior sides, 2 ladies, 7 juniors and 15 mini (under 12) and one "Kickers" squad-these are the nippers who don't play proper matches. NPTFC is a well run and successful club. Why did they lose so badly?

Not sure what is going on in this "youth" team photo for NPTFC? but the club does know how to turn out a smart poster.

It's a bit too early in the evening to find an explanation but London Colney FC is an older club (1907) and play in the Spartan Midland League Premier. Known as the Blueboys, they have featured successfully in the Vase reaching the 4th Round proper in 2000, the 3rd Round in 2001, 2006 and 2015, obviously fairly comfortable midst the knock out competition. But 9-3 is a bit of a pasting isn't it.

How the mightly have fallen? Remember Westfields from Herefordshire making history by getting into the FA Cup First Round but meeting Curzon Ashton and losing 3-1?
Well they are out of the Vase losing to Coleshill Town today. Tough.

And finally, what of Bemerton Heath Harlequins FC? An intriguing name but not so special when it comes to the Vase because they too have gone out to Melksham Town FC 2-3.
Nice ground though.

The Salisbury based side whose "electoral ward" is in the top 5% of most deprived wards in England and second most deprived in Wiltshire. Mind you it's all relative, because Wiltshire is quite posh.

If we are using potholes as a criterion then I live in a slum......