LAST ONES OFF THE PRODUCTION LINE

Is it 'cos I'm getting on, are more people dying? I'm older than a lot of folk, so I have been around a bit and therefore know more people, especially oldies, who saddly pass on. So today, RIP Terry Wogan, but for football's sake, RIP Peter Baker, the Spurs' modest and efficient full back who played in the Double winning team and RIP Ray Pointer, who was in the Burnley side that was the team closest to Spurs in that 1959-62 period.

Pointer was the blonde bombshell, a quick and brave centre forward, who joined the Lancashire club in 1957, and who led the line in every game for Burnley in their First Division Championship victory in 1959-60, scoring 23 times. Burnley were left in the wake of Spurs the following season, coming 4th. They were runners up to Ipswich the following season (Alf Ramsey's success), 3rd in 1962-3 and then there was mediocrity. Much of this period of success, was to do with Pointer's goals-118 in 223 appearances.

Pointer, amazingly, only played 3 times for England despite scoring in two games and he did not even make the 1962 World Cup squad. In 1963 he suffered an ankle injury and went to Bury (1965) playing alongside a youthful Colin Bell. Jimmy Hill signed Pointer for Coventry's "revolution" from 1965, he then went to Portsmouth (1966-72) and finally Waterlooville, hanging up his boots in 1975. Pointer gradually faded and ended up coaching at Blackpool, Burnley, Bury until he retired to own a shop in Blackpool and suffered from Alzheimer's spending his last years in a care home.

Another Coventry goal scorer, who has died this week, is Ken Satchwell. He passed on at 75 years old and is famed for scoring 4 goals in a 5-3 victory over Wrexham on Christmas Day (yes, 25th Dec) in 1959, the last time the club played a league match on the big day. He was only 19 years old and managed a brace of goals the following day (Boxing Day) in Division Three (now League Two).

Satchwell was quite a goal scorer and started his footballing career as an amateur working for SU Carburettors and playing for their works' side at first. After Coventry 1959-62) he went onto Nuneaton Borough, Telford, Walsall, Wellington Town and Stourbridge, ending up on the shop floor again with British Leyland and for Land Rover at Solihull. Coincidently, this week the last Land Rover "Defender" rolled off the production line at the Land Rover car plant Solihull! Would have been more of a coincidence if it had been called an "Attacker"

SIX OF THE BEST BUT NOT ENOUGH

As Tottenham have avoided the embarrassment of being beaten by Colchester and Portmouth and Bournemouth are facing up to one another, it is the Fourth round of the FA Cup. As snow and hail fall over the Pennines, some games are in doubt of finishing. In 1961 during a Fourth Round tie on January 28th an abandonment prevented Dennis Law from registering a record personal goal feat.

Playing on a very wet Kenilworth Road, Luton Town were taking on Manchester City on a quagmire. The clouds cleared and the ref gave the game his blessing and so Luton quickly went 2-0 up after 18 minutes. Alec Ashworth scored both.

Dennis Law pulled one back quite quickly and by half time he had tucked away a hat trick. Three more for City's wirey forward came in the second half, between the 51st and 66th minutes. Seconds later, unfortunately for him, Law's record meant nothing, as the referee abandoned the game with rain falling in a torrent and the pitch reduced to a swamp.

Had this game finished, Law would have been the FA Cup leading scorer in the 20th Century. As it was Ian Rush pipped him with 44 goals scored with Liverpool 39, Chester 4 and Newcastle 1.

There were puddles, with water over the boots and it was decided to play the game four days later, on February 1st. The pitch this time was described as a "pudding" but home team Luton adjusted and Alec Ashworth, who had scored two in the first match, opened the scoring for the Hatters. They went 2-0 up again. Law grabbed one back, but Ashworth was having none of that and he made it 3-1.

Luton went on to lose to Barnsley, in the next round, who then lost to losing cup finalists Leicester City, who were beaten by Spurs of course, who did the Double.

COLONIA CASTRA CUCKOOS v COCKERELS?

It is the Fourth Round of the FA Cup tomorrow and I have two interests in Colchester United and many in the Tottenham Hotspur party. But I am not going to bang on about Tottenham being beaten by the Old Carrthusians all those years ago, or the fact that I saw the famed "Double" team play at White Hart Lane in 1960-1, or that a very kind OC arranged for the Spurs Vets (Ralph Coates and all) to play at Charterhouse against a mixed XI of staff, old boys and boys or that my good colleague Bob Noble, a Baggies fan, arranged a miracle retirement match for me at WHL with the great help of my successor at Charterhouse, David Howells, a Spurs' legend.

No, it is Colchester United that I am interested in. Their manager is Kevin Keen, whom I coached many years ago, when he was playing for English Schools' FA Under 18s, prior to signing professional forms at West Ham. He was a treasure and one of the brightest kids, signing forms for Wycombe Wanderers at 15 years and 209 days, in September 1982, the youngest player ever to do this. His father was Mike Keen, a professional and well respected coach, so he had a good upbringing. Kevin went on the play over 500 professional games at West Ham United (10 years), Wolverhampton Wanderers, Stoke City and was player then care-taker manager for Macclesfield and West Ham in the Football League before nestling down at Colchester in 2015.

The other link is Chris Porter, an Independent School footballer, who played against Charterhouse in the Boodles' ISFA Cup tournament in 1999-2000 for his Lancashire school, Queen Elizabeth's GS, Blackburn. We beat them! Porter did score a winning ISFA Cup Final goal against Brentwood School the following year. He joined Bury, Oldham, Motherwell, Derby County in 2009 and then Sheffield United appearing in the League One play offs. He was loaned out to Shrewsbury and finally Colchester.

So the ko is tomorrow at 12.45 at the Community Stadium, at Cuckoo Farm, a ground that has just over 10,000 capacity and was opened in 2008. Founded only in 1937 as Colchester United, the club grew out of the original "town team", Colchester Town, which eventually was disbanded. It was not until 1950 that United left the Southern League to rise to the Football League proper.

A great success include beating Don Revie's Leeds Utd in 1971, in the FA Cup and their worst failure probably being relegated to the Conference in 1990, but returning to the FL in 1992 and League One most recently. Ken Aston, one of the country's best known referees, came from the town.

FROM RUBBER AND LACE, GREAT TEAMS ARE MADE

A random book opening today (The Fathers of Football by Keith Baker-a Christmas present) led me to Alfred Ormonde Edwards, who was born in 1850 in Llanfair, Shropshire. If you look back in the blogs to Saturday 16th January, I watched Porthmadog comfortably beat Llanfair United  in the Huw Gray Welsh Alliance. It is too much of a coincidence that this was Edwards' home village because there are at least twelve "Llanfairs" listed in the UK, Edwards was born in the Shropshire Llanfair, whereas there are others including "Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch".

In the 1870s, our Alfred left England for Italy and eventually established a partnership with the Pirelli Tyre industry (avid readers will remember I wrote about Kettering Tyres recently). With the need for rubber goods, wire coating and then the growth of the car and bicycle industry, Edwards made a fortune and built a factory on the edge of Milan. Milan was booming too and so Edwards soon became part of Milan society and the British Government recognised his value as an entrepreneur, so he became Her Majesty's vice-consul in 1893. The Genoa Club had also been formed around this time.

Edwards built tourist resorts on the lsle of Ischia and gained a reputation as a father figure, "Papa Edwards". He helped form a sporting club for the many international workers that were attracted to Italy. The Milan Foot-Ball and Cricket Club was founded to entertain the locals, covering both seasons! Edwards remained as President of the club until 1909. He eventually returned to Southampton with Pirelli's interests at heart and opened a factory there.

Another young Briton making his way in Italy, was Herbert Kilpin, a lace maker and former Nottingham Olympic (a local club in Nottingham not the great sporting festival!) footballer. By 1891, aged 21,  he was in Turin, playing for Internazionale Torino, reputedly the first club in Italy (the Genoans would argue not). Edoardo Bosio, an English merchant, had formed the Turin club in 1887. Kilpin brought the English style of play to the club, something that was alien to the Italians, who originally played football in a gymnastic style, dandy like and seemingly only doing it for fresh air purposes! Kilpin introduce the English method.

He worked in the lace industry, there but having tried to generate a winning philosophy in the Turin club, he moved to Milan in 1897 and by 1906 the club, AC Milan, won its first league title. The original pitch, Trotter Field, on Milan's race course, was located in the north-east of the city, where now Mussolini's Central Station stands. Nearby was a local technical college from which enthusiastic students came and joined in. By 1900 the club's first competitive game took place, the team containing six British players. A few months later they beat Juventus winning the "King's Medal" trophy, presented by King Umberto I. From that time onward, Milan never looked back. Their colours were chosen by the club founders; "Red to recall the devil and Black to invoke fear".

Whilst these Englishmen have great memorials in Italy, they are barely mentioned in England. The FA's archives state: "Genoa's greatest rival was the Milan Cricket and Football Club, now the great AC Milan. Its first president was a British businessman, "Papa" Edwards !!"

Where have we heard that before?

PUSH AND RUN; TOTALLY GREAT FOOTBALL

http://thesefootballtimes.co/2015/01/15/vic-buckingham-the-englishman-history-forgot/

This is worth reading! if you want to reminisce, it is good for you.
Vick Buckingham is the subject of this article and it tells us of Vick's influence on British and European post war football. Born in 1915 in Greenwich,  he played as a half back for Tottenham Hotspur between 1935-49. He briefly spent some time at Northfleet Utd prior to this, one of Spurs' nursery clubs.

Playing at Spurs he was impressed by Arthur Rowe's "Push and Run" style that led Tottenham to consecutive league wins in Division Two and then the First Division Championship in 1951 and league runners-up in the First Division in 1952. This was the antithesis to the success of Wolverhampton Wanderers who adopted the more direct form of football.
When Buckingham retired from playing, after working for the Middlesex county FA, he coached the Oxford University and then significantly, Pegasus FC, the historic amateurs who took a new brand of football to Wembley in the FA Amateur Cup. Here he worked with bright young students and graduates who put his plans accurately into action.

Vick maintained his contact with Spurs and especially Bill Nicholson, who led Spurs to the famous League and Cup Double in 1960-1, another FA Cup win in 1962 and a European Cup Winners Cup win in 1963.

He then travelled to coach at FC Moss in Norway, Bradford Park Avenue (Third Division North) and West Bromwich Albion, a club he took to the FA Cup Final victory in 1954 and second in the First Division.
Always innovating, there is film evidence that he had his players breathing pure oxygen at half times to stimulate their recovery.

In 1959, he had a spell at Ajax and then in 1961 he joined Sheffield Wednesday where in 1962, he was involved in a match fixing scam which led to the banning and disgrace of three senior players, Peter Swan (who ruined his chances of playing in the 1966 World Cup), Tony Kay and "Bronco" Layne.
In that period though he had a positive effect on many aspects of the game, including the development of Bobby Robson and Don Howe, two of England's greatest coaches.

Buckingham returned to Ajax for a year, where he "discovered" Johan Cruijff and influenced the young Dutchman with his approach to "Total Football" that emerged with the "Orange" in the 1970s.

Vick returned to England in 1965 with Fulham for three years, during a period when he eventually could not get on with "west London celebrity footballers" such as Rodney Marsh. Things did not go that well.  He went back to Europe to coach at Ethnikos Piraeus, Barcelona, Seville, Olympiakos and then Rhodos FC finishing in 1980.
He died on 26th January 1995.

Vick is with "star of stage and screen" Sabrina and Billy Wright before a Testamonial.

Now where are those spare match balls?

WORKING GLASS HERO

As if what I wrote yesterday about "hope in the community" wasn't enough, one of my chums from "Fox" country referred to another great working GLASS hero, Jimmy Glass, the much travelled Carlisle United goalkeeper. A journeyman footballer to say the least, he was on loan from Swindon Town, when he memorably left his goal and raided Plymouth Argyll's penalty area during the last minute of the last game of the 1998-9 season. His team were looking down the relegation barrel.
(Carlisle United by the way once were known as the Foxes following John Peel's association with Cumbria).

Scarborough, also on the edge of parachuting to the Conference, had finished their final match of the season and drawn 1-1. The Scarborough crowd was on the pitch celebrating their "survival" as news that Carlisle, still 1-1, had not yet earned the vital three points to stay up. Carlisle's match was over running, when this happened...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KejwqhLDeOs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QSigBwtFCk

So Jimmy Glass?? what do I know about his career. He was born in Epsom, Surrey and is now 42 years old. His career as a goalkeeper went from Chelsea Youth through Crystal Palace (1989-96) without any first team appearance. He was put out on loan to Dulwich Hamlet (14 games), Portsmouth (3 games), Gillingham (0 games), Burnley (0), Bournemouth (1996-98, 95), Swindon Town 98-00, 11) and to CARLISLE (1999, wait for it...for 3 matches and one goal).

Then  he was at Cambridge United (0), Brentford (0), Oxford United (0), Crawley (2001, 17 matches), Brockenhurst (3), Kingstonian (14), Lewes (3) and Weymouth (2004, 3 matches). He retired at 27 years old, hardly worn out, but returned to coach at Poole Town in 2011. Glass  had scored one goal in 169 "first team" appearances, not unusual for a goalkeeper of course.

After his short lived fame, Glass wrote a book called "One hit wonder", he worked in IT and then as a taxi driver in Lytchett Matravers, a scrumptious Dorset village, where he lives with his family. He is part of the hospitality package at AFC Bournemouth.

To counter his remarkable historic moment, Glass is one of few goalkeepers to score an own goal at Wembley, with 62,000 watching. This was in the Football League Trophy final 1998 (known as the Auto Windscreens Shields trophy). John Bailey had scored Bournemouth's first goal against Grimsby early on. After 75 minutes Glass put in his own net and the rest was history. He had quite a game.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vx42RZMSv1A
Bruce Grobbelaar famously being another in the 1984 Charity Shield v Everton.

His goal, the Carlisle one, was voted 74th most important goal in football history in the Times list! As well as gaining other shattering accolades.

COMMUNITY KEEPING THE CLUB AFLOAT

49 days on from Storm Desmond at Brunton Park, the club staff are working at 6.30am to prepare the ground and pitch for a game of football. Working all day the paid and volunteer staff have worked miracles in order to get Carlisle United a home game (on their own ground). Over the past weeks they have been loaned pitches for their league matches by Blackpool, Blackburn Rovers and Preston North end, at a price. The club provided their fans with free transport to these Lancashire stadia.

During the flood, players helped townsfolk with their recovery and in return, the fans helped out at Brunton Park. Imagine how muc mud and stuff had to be shifted, floors mended, walls painted.

Coming soon is Everton FC in the FA Cup and manager Keith Curle has just seen his team, playing their first game back at their proper home, throw away three points, after a 1-1 draw with lowly York City. The visitors are one place closer to relegation than Carlisle-that is bottom.

To reach the Third Round Proper, Carlisle have travelled to Plymouth Agyle (2-0 win)
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/its-long-way-to-make-point.html
and Welling United (5-0 win), so they have earned a pay day.

Storm Desmond drowned the goalposts (8 foot high, you should know that and caused £3 million worth of damage to fixtures and fittings at Brunton Park.

I saw Carlisle play at their home ground at the beginning of the 1974-5 season, when they were in the First Division-the equivalent of the Premier League now. This made Carlisle the smallest populated settlement to have a top flight football team since 1906 (guessing either Woolwich Arsenal or Bury??). They only stayed up there for a year.

The game  I saw, was against West Ham United, played on one of the best playing surfaces in the country. The reason for the fertility was because the pitch was sited on a river floodplain, the soil rich in minerals from the silt. This was way before the invention of various gadgets that will make any pitch like a billiard table! Have a look at this photo of White Hart from the 1960s and look above at Brunton Park recently.

Founded in 1904 they are now close to the bottom of the Football League Division Two, so Everton should go into the draw for round 4.
Nevertheless, fans have queued long to buy Cup tie tickets on what will be a very special day for the Cumbrians which will generate much needed cash, reputedly £150,000 from TV rites. Fortunately, insurance will cover most of Carlisle's expences but memorabilia has been silted and lost, including Bill Shankly's original contract from 1949 (I have seen a copy in the Shankly hotel in Liverpool) whihc was saved and has been sent to the restorer.

While Martinez' men will shower in temporary facilities "outside" their changing room, the new pitch has been hauled in from Lincolnshire on 22 lorries and laid in time to be tested last week by York City, another town hit by Storm Desmond. It worked.

The badge represents the "regent" Cumbrian Wyvern (dragons) and Carlisle Castle. The motto is from Shakespeare's Henry VIII, Be Just and Fear Not. In 1973 the club wore kit sponsored by the kit manufacturer, Admiral (see yesterday's post) and were the first club to advertise a sportswear firm.

KETTERING IS THE LETTERING

Our U12s are sponsored by ChatterBox, a company owned by a parent, so thank you very much Lisa for saving our players' families a number of £s each season. Our kids look very smart and are proud of their colours.

If you were to consider the amount of sponsors used to kit out Premier League teams, it would add up to £100m (probably more). The majority of £s going inevitably to Man Utd, Chelsea, Spurs, City and Liverpool.
Foreign teams are adorned with sponsors' names on all parts of their kit, but in England there are conservative rules, as Derek Dougan found out when he cleverly took the first step to advertise on his team shirts on the 24th January 1976 at Kettering Town, a club in need of financial support.

Dougan, after retiring from playing, was the chief executive at Kettering Town, then in the Southern League. Against Bath City, his club turned out with KETTERING TYRES emblazened across their shirts. The FA was not amused and demanded that the logo was removed, otherwise there would be a £1000 fine. There was a reference made by the FA officials to the ruling in 1974 over advertising. Dougan said there was nothing official in writing, so carried on. Clearly the FA was concerned over the issue with the BBC TV, a company which didn't advertise. Dougan referred to the hypocrisy of the FA's England team wearing Admiral on their tracksuits and other kit.

Dougan played a trick and changed the logo to "KETTERING T", obviously meaning Town! The FA was not amused. Eventually he had to remove the lettering, as the £1000 fine hung over the club.

One thing led to another in other circles and in June 1977 Derby and Bolton joined in the shirt advertising fun, so the FA insisted on limited sized logos, not to be obvious on the TV cameras. The ruling changed in 1983 when eventually televised games allowed advertising.

Derby County FC was sponsored by Saab, but we are not sure if they drove on Kettering Tyres!

Kettering became the first club to have the club initials on their floodlights. They now ground share and have returned to play in the Southern League. Four famous footballers associated with the "Poppies" include Tommy Lawton, Ron Atkinson, Derek Dougan and Paul Gascoigne (manager for 39 days)

This website has a very thorough "History of Kits", including the Boys of Charterhouse School in 1863. http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Articles/History.htm

ps the scholar with the ball (BF Hartshorne, the captain) attended the first FA Meeting in 1863 when the laws were made legal!

IT'S NOT THE WINNING THAT COUNTS, IS IT LOUIS?

Hallam FC v Penistone Church FC in the NE Counties League Division 1. 0-0 but plenty of rewards other than goals. Isn't that right Louis van Gaal?
Yes, we all got more out of today's bonanza of football at Hallam FC than goals. There were points to share for example, the referee and his assistants were taken through the labyrinth of abuse (some would say they deserved all they got) however it was a test of fire.
Sadly, being at the oldest ground in the world and at one of the oldest clubs in football archives, the antics of the players, coaching staff and club officials did not follow the advice printed clearly around the ground-even on the dug outs! The Corinthians would be rotating in their coffins.

The highlights were;
1. A great drive across the western fringes of Sheffield and the eastern fringes of the Peak District to get there.
2. An historic ground dating from 1860 which claims to be the oldest in the world. How do I know that? I bought a mug from the club shop that told me so!
3. The new mug (see below)

4. Another match day programme for my collection and ticket £6.50.
5. I met some of my walking football friends, two of whom are related to the Penistone Church coaching staff-no wonder they were good at footy-it's in the genes you know.
6. I chatted to several people leaning on the barriers, two of whom came from Southport and Wrexham respectively and were retired teachers; one of whom taught in Worthing. Like me, they were ground hoppers.
7. I did reckon there were a couple of players on the pitch who deserve to be playing at a higher standard. A maybe a couple who could be done for foul and abusive language.
8. I didn't win the bottle of red wine or the Heroes chocs in the raffle, but then like the massive  £33m Lottery unclaimed win, maybe I didn't check my tickets closely enough. I live in hope.
9. My mate Bob was at Oldham Athletic and I reckon I had a better, cheaper deal.
10. The Hallam people were charming.

BTW a) Hallam FC also claims to be the second oldest club in the World after Sheffield FC...see previous blogs. b) The club formed from the 1804 Cricket Club that took 56 years to decide that they needed a winter past time! c) The original Boxing Day game against Sheffield in 1860 is regarded as the oldest inter-club match.
d) Club captain John Shaw represented Sheffield FA along with Charles Alcock of the London FA to accept the new "laws" in 1863 and e) these two captain sides from the two associations in 1871 to try out the new laws (I'm relying on the match programme for this info!). f) The Youdan Cup won by Hallam in 1867 is believed to be the first official cup competition.

Excited??!!

WALKING BACK TO HAPPINESS

Just 47 more hits and we reach 11,000. Come on tell your friends-spread the word.  Who sang the title song?

I was going to bang on about Scottish cup football today, but got distracted when this week's edition of the Barnsley Chronicle was staring at me on the news stands in the local Coop. Such fun wading through the four day sell out at the Paramount Cinema in Penistone, when "The Lady in Van" was shown. Or Jo Brand's walk through the area when she does her coast to coast trip; where will she stay when she stops at Langsett for a breather? Then there's the latest housing scandal, when a local cattle barn is being allowed to be developed into a dwelling!

But it was the front page that grabbed my attention thus:-

There I was photographed with my Walking Football mates. We play Tuesday and Thursday, 4 while 5pm at Penistone Church FC. It's a nation wide initiative supported by the FA and in our case the local County FA, Sheffield and Hallamshire (Sheffield FC being the oldest and Hallam FC the second oldest football clubs in the world).

Just up the road, west from Penistone is Bord Hill (the A628) which heads across the Woodhead Pass to Lancashire. It was there that the good folk of the South Pennines had their own "mob game". It's a hot bed of soccer here you know.

Thankfully, Walking Football is more serene; no running (obviously), limited touches on the ball, below head height, score only in the "D" and no nasty tackling. If only all football was like that, I would have been an international!

So as well as all our local Barnsley heroes, Josh Stones and Co (see previous blogs), there is also a young girl who has just made it big in football. Well done Beth, on your contract at Chelsea; watch out for those big hitters in the capital city!

BIG DRAW FOR THE Ks.

It's a bit of a nightmare trying to get games played in the Pennines. Our U12s have not played for 7 weeks now and the coming weekend looks bleak. If it is not flooded pitches, then they are frozen! I'm hoping to catch the Hepworth United Open Age group on Saturday playing at Holmbridge FC but since the nearest river is by the pitch, I have a feeling that the game may be off.

So imagine how it must be up north...really up north....yes, I mean Scotland. I am watching the progress of thre Scottish FA Cup and was particularly excited by the prospect of East Kilbride FC hosting Celtic in the 5th round. EKFC most recently founded in 2010 are members of the Scottish Lowland Football League.

Originally founded in 1871, they were one of the oldest clubs in the Scottish FA, but they folded as many clubs did in the early years. In 2010 they relied on the Jackton Boys' Club and Stewartfield FC to merged, with the backing of John Hartson of Celtic and John Brown of Rangers. The John Hartson Foundation supports a Charity football match at the club which raises money for the testicular cancer charity.

The badge shows the oystercatcher and the red and symbols of St Bridget/St Bride with reference to the Gaelic word "cil" (Kil) or "religious cell" of St Bride.
East Kilbride FC made their way into the newly formed Lowland League and were elected to the Scottish FA in 2014, thus being allowed to enter the country's FA Cup. This year has obviously been a belter and their progress has seen them dispose of Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale 2-0 at The Kilby, K Park, their modest "training ground". The "last 16 of the Cup" game against Celtic should net the club £100,000 or more.

Prior to the big game, they have played a 2nd Round tie v Forres Mechanics starting on the 24th October (1-1, then winning the replay 3-2 on the 31st), and on the 21st November they had a 3rd Round game against Stenhousemuir (2-2, then 2-1 on 5th December). Their most recent success was against Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale FC 2-0 on the 20th January.

Anyone who has been to the Gothia Cup, an annual World Youth Tournament in Gothenburg, would have seen Hutchison Vale Youth FC play. A very successful footballing set up and clearly supplying excellent players for the senior club.

East Kilbride club itself, runs 30 teams from young to old with over 650 players as members.

It is a joy looking at the Scottish FA Cup draw, which I have mentioned before, as it brings out the best club names in the world. I dare you to follow Lothian Thistle Hutchison Vale's or Linlithgow Rose's fortunes this season.    http://www.scottishfa.co.uk/scottish_cup_fixtures.cfm?page=1988

MAN (UNITED) v FAT (REWARDS)

Following five nights away with old uni friends and wives, my mind turns to the waistline and my next health check. I was spurred on to take this seriously, by an article on the wireless overnight. It led me to:-

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/what-unhealthiest-places-west-midlands-10467257

Click on this and insert your postcode. Find out where your local area comes in the "healthy league" in England. It may lead you to football.

Wolverhampton and Walsall are deemed unhealthiest regions in the West Midlands, with the Wolverhampton Hospital featuring as the 21st worst nationally for admissions due to alcoholism. The area also ranks 301/326th in admissions for most overweight 4-5 year olds. Etc Etc.

Soilhull is the healthiest area in the West Midlands but languishes 107th in England's unhealthy league table. Blackpool ranks worst for health and Chiltern in Bucks, the best.

Despite its comparatively healthy position in the West Midlands league table, Solihull Council has set up the "Fat League" for footballers wishing to lose a few pounds. Teams taking part might be known as Tottenham Hotdog, Evertonne and Men U. The local authority has taken the initiative and provided facilities at the local Fox Hollies Leisure centre at Acocks Green.

Those signed on to play must have a BMI of 30+.  Points are awarded for footballing success of course, but also success is measured by pounds lost by each team during the 14 week season. There will be full support from local sports' therapists and the Man v Fat initiative gives a chance to those struggling with diets and gym plans, to get out and kick some "butt", of which there will be ample targets. Check out the website and set one up in your area.
www.manvfat.com/football

OR, if you are comfortable with your body, have a look at this lot:-
https://www.tumblr.com/search/football%20fatties

ONE FALL, ONE SUBMISSION AND AN INDIRECT FREE KICK

The Porthmadog FC experience was a good one. Visiting their lovely stadium, surrounded by mountains, was memorable and so it was that I reluctantly drove home yesterday, through Snowdonia to Ruthin, Mold and Chester, where I caught up with an old footballing college of mine. He has lived there for a couple of decades and it was a remarkable coincidence that after he had plied me with muffins and tea, I drove away listening to Talksport. Chester cropped up along with the name Stuart Tomlinson.

Who he? Well he is now a WWE wrestler living in Orlando, throwing himself about the canvas as energetically as he threw himself around in English penalty areas as a goalkeeper.

Born in May 1985 in Chester, Stuart made his early career with Crewe Alexandra from 2003-9 playing 20 time s the first team. He went out on loan to Stafford Rangers and Burton Albion, then had a year ar Barrow where he helped the Cumbrian side win the FA Trophy in 2010.

His huge frame earned him various nicknames, some flattering others not so, but his muscular physique encouraged his friendly supporters to call him "The Tank".

There was spell at Port Vale up to 2012 and then he played for Burton again, but suffered a knee injury which forced his retirement.

In December 2013 he joined up with WWE NXT Live, following a "trial" at the O2 Dome. He had done some male modelling with Men's health magazine and enjoyed being seen in "the smallest polka dots trunks possible". So the obvious next step was wrestling! Steady on.

Having been accepted on the wrestling circuit, he is now strutting his stuff in the USA. Here is a video of Stuart, SORRY, stage name Hugo Knox in WWE mode.
http://www.skysports.com/more-sports/news/13043/9563970/wwe-soccer-ams-adam-smith-meets-goalkeeper-turned-wrestler-stuart-tomlinson

£100 A WEEK IS CHEAP

I saw Johnny Haynes play live for Fulham at Brighton in a Third Division match. Haynes was majestic, he was at the end of his career and he deserved a more salubrious stage than the Goldstone Ground.

Born in London on the 17th October 1934, Haynes played at every national level, as he made his way in football. His debut for England was as a schoolboy, then youth, U23, B and finally Full, making his debut on 2nd October 1954 against Northern Ireland. He eventually became captain of the national side. He made 56 appearances for his country, 22 as captain. 

As his reputation grew he was a major subject in the abolition of the minimum wage, earning £100 a week at Fulham in 1961. He played over 630 games in his career scoring 161 goals but he was a supplier rather than a finisher. Pele said he was the best passer of the ball he had ever seen.

In 1962, he experienced a car crash in Blackpool which affected his performance and eventually he lost his form and was not considered for the England squad for the 1966 World Cup campaign. I watched him play in a 4-2 win over Spain and then a 9-3 humiliation of Scotland, both at Wembley, the latter was described by some as his greatest game.

His teams included Fulham, Wimbledon ( as a amateur side), Toronto, Durban and Wealdstone.

Haynes' final game was on the 17th January 1970 for Fulham against Stockport County at Craven Cottage. He was playing in the Third Division and it must have been a doddle.

Haynes died from a brain haemorrhage, on 18th October 2005 and he is remembered by having the main stand at Craven Cottage named after him and of course there is a statue.

FAIR DOS FOR LLANFAIR UTD

The afternoon was full of coincidences. Finding Porthmadog FC ( Clwb Pel Droed Porthmadog) and the charming ground on the new town by-pass, we were immediately made to feel comfortable by the friendly locals. The bar didn't sell cask ale but the Basra stockist did make up for this oversight by having a selection of Snowdonia Beer from the local Purple Moose brewery and the usual extras, Walkers' crisps, peanuts and close by a cafe selling chips and various hot foods. There was a queue.

Porthmadog FC was founded in 1884 and is one of the oldest clubs in Wales. History says that they play on the same pitch as they have always done, though the version we saw at the Traeth, was modern and despite the floods, in good nick. The lad who ran the club shop said they had been under water twice this winter. Shirts, badges and even a weird selection of old football programmes were up for grabs at the right price. I came across a Spurs' proggy from the 1980s and one from Ampthill Town as well as some Welsh league clubs. Tantalising. But my money stayed in my pocket.

Playing in the Huws Gray Cymru Alliance, they lie around half way in the division and have had much success in the past. The 1950s saw them win the Welsh Amateur Cup and in the 1960s when they turned professional, the club was graced by Mel Charles and even his very famous brother John had strong links with the club. Tony Waddington has also had his four penny worth as did Micky Thomas, leading to considerable success in the league during the 1970s. If these names mean nothing to you, then shame on you!

I shall now tell you about another extraordinary link with the club. I had played an odd game with Steve Woodin, an Englishmen, born in Birkenhead, who was a Port player in the 1980s. Woodin was a New Zealand 1982 World Cup player, whom I met when I spent a year in NZ in 1984 and played a bit for his team Christchurch United. Woodin is famed for appearing in Spain against Scotland (2-5 loss but he did score), The Soviet Union and Brazil.

He appeared 24 times for his country and scored 11 goals.

In the 1990s Porthmadog had a prolific striker called Dave Taylor who scored 62 goals in 66 games and therefore won the European Golden Boot as the continent's top goal scorer. In 1992-3 the club's floodlights were installed and they gave out many lumens today as the winter's sun set.

On the 16th January 2007, the club was fined £13500 and docked 3 points for failing to control their supporters who racially abused a referee called Gary Ismial. Judging from what we saw this afternoon I find that hard to believe, so genial were they all. The ref, bless him, was wearing a black kit in the first half, which clashed with the oppos' strip, until somebody mentioned it (probably his assessor) so he changed to luminous orange, that clashed with the  Llanfair goalie! Dooh.

Around this time, ex-Manchester United star, Clayton Blackmore made a short appearance as Port's manager, though his reign did not last long.

We had a great afternoon with the Port and would recommend them for future visits.

IT'S A LONG HARD ROAD TO WIN THE CUP

I took the trouble to pay £5 from my pension allowance last weekend to watch the first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, Northern Final first leg at Barnsley. It resulted 1-1.

Last night the other half of the draw saw Oxford United beat Millwall 2-0 at the Den, with over 7,200 watching Oxford's FA Cup hero, Kemar Roofe score both goals, taking his total up to 4 in two games. Having put Swansea to the sword on Saturday, Kemar, who didn't "make it" at West Bromwich Albion, now seems to be in prolific form for his club. Another Jamie Vardy perhaps?

Oxford will do well to lose the tie overall, as it goes to a second leg, whilst Fleetwood may well have the advantage over the Tykes.

If you think this round of cup ties adds to the Winter fixture clag up, then have a look at this bundle of facts from the French National Cup. 

The Coupe de France invites all teams from any part of the national pyramid and even those in dependencies overseas into their competition. Last season's tournament  was at the quarter-final stage when the new competition began in March. It's a long affair.

6163 clubs started the first round and as well as Sunday sides, teams from overseas' territories entered. This includes Reunion from the Indian Ocean, Tahiti and French Guiana for the early rounds.

After six preliminary rounds the winning teams are pitched against teams from the mainland.

A bit like Accrington Stanley going to the Falkland Islands. GSI Pontivy from Brittany played AS Pirae from Tahiti, away in the seventh round. But Pontivy chose to go into the "pot" that ended in having an overseas trip. So it was "voluntary"! Nice idea having the choice.

Seventh Round madness:

Epernay v Hienghene Sport, New Caledonia 10,208 miles.

Pontivy had to travel 9,607 miles to Pirae!

It's a long way to win the Coupe.

THE DIFFERENCE A DAY MAKES.

I am a day behind but considering I am in deepest North Wales that is not to be considered late. January 13th 1923 was the day when the famous amateurs, the Corinthians joined the FA Cup, playing their home games at the old Crystal Palace. They took Brighton to a second replay, drawing the first tie 1-1 and a year later beat Blackburn Rovers. In 1927 they played Newcastle United before 56,000 supporters and this was only the second match to be broadcast on BBC radio. In 1936 the Crystal Palace burned down and so they lost their "home ground". In 1939, they merged with the Casuals, another amateur team, and now play in the Isthmian League, holding their own with the best semi-pro teams in the London area.

Prior to this the Corinthians won the Sheriff of London's shield in 1900 beating Aston Villa, four years later they overwhelmed Manchester United 11-3 and beat the Cup holders, Bury 10-3 in "friendlies".

On January 14th 1933,  Walsall, lounging in Division 3 North, played Herbert Chapman's very successful Arsenal, complete with £10,000 transfer David Jack. To be fair, Manager Herbert Chapman did blood a few reserves and one of them Charlie Walsh had a nightmare, getting in the way of the top striker Jack, and never played again. Tommy Black was also responsible for giving away a penalty to contribute to the defeat, and he walked the plank too.

ROMAN HOLIDAY?

In Abersoch where the prospects of catching a game on the internet is just a testing as finding a game at the weekend. We are trying to link to Liverpool and Arsenal, one of the great games of the season and I stuck on the Lleyn peninsular with barely a signal.

So it is Andrea Carnevale who had his birthday on the 12th January (1961) who has attracted my attention. Mention his name a few years ago and I would have seen Italy strong and unbeatable (by the English) led buy one of the great warriors in Roman history. How mystified was I?

Actually he was not that special. He played for too many clubs.....Latina, Avellino, Reggiana, Cagliari,Catania, Udinese, Naopli, AS Roma (he got banned for drug abuse), Pescara, Udinese again and then Pescara. He certainly went round the block, but only in the southern states. He played 410 times and scored 117 goals, with 10 turn outs for Italy and 2 goals. He stuck to the south of the country and ploughed his furrow in the boot.

I thought he must have been better that that, remembering that he appeared to contribute to the "whole" Italy team of that period, which was quite formidable. He made the 1990 World Cup team originally, (but remember watching Schillaci taking his place and being a success?), with his team coming in Bronze medal position and  he also played for Italy in the 1988 Olympics, helping his team to fourth place.

So well done. Andrea, happy birthday, and thanks for helping me through the day in North Wales.

What will come up tomorrow?

BAREFOOT ON THE ASTRO. BRRRR, NOT A GOOD IDEA

I played Walking Football today at Penistone Church FC. It was my first experience of an initiative offered by the FA to get more people into sport. There has always (well as long as I can remember) been Veterans football (for over 35 years old people) but WF is aimed at 50 +. I qualify....just!

So 9 of us turned up on a typically cold and threatening late Pennine afternoon. It was 4pm and after a warm up, some of us couldn't do everything that was asked of us, we played 4 v4 with a ref for about 45 minutes. Score?...no idea...about 13-11? Did it matter? No.
I broke into a sweat, enjoyed the two touch and learned that you can't always play a pass that you used to play because people can only walk to get it.

On occasions we looked like aged Don Thompson, our British gold medal winner in the 50 km walk, making a bid for the winner's tape in the 1960 Olympics...remember him?

The outing was fun and it made me think about footwear. When I got home I emptied my trainers onto the kitchen floor and a million small rubber nodules from the astro pitch bundled out. Mrs B was outy so I got the dust pan and brush.

If I had played in bare feet this wouldn't have been a worry. Well, it links with this next news item.

The Indian Football Association has the third oldest football competition in the World after England and Scotland. This is unsurprising, since we gave them the modern game. Delhi's Durand Cup comes next historically, after "our" two Cups.

The India FA joined FIFA in 1948, so they could take part in the London Olympics. Some of the team wore NO FOOTWEAR though their feet were protected by bandages. It was what they were used to.

In 1950 India qualified for the World Cup because their group opponents, Burma, Indonesia and the Philippines all withdrew. Lots of national sides including France, Belgium and Austria failed to attend this tourtnament because of the expence of travelling to Brazil (look what it did to England!).
The Indian players were not allowed to play barefoot, so they stayed at home too. The Indian players were never consulted by their FA and apparently would have worn boots if asked! It was a life time's experienced missed.

In the 1956 Melbourne Olympics, India did qualify and they did wear boots. They came fourth.
Coach Syed Abdul Rahim, a student of the Magical Magyars (see previous blogs) produced a half decent side and they beat Australia in the quarter finals 4-2. Clearly, the Indians were no cowboys.

Rumour has it that the boot issue was not the reason for India not turning up to later tournaments. Apparently, the Indian authorities were not interested in their team joining in these global phenomenon, so they failed to meet deadlines with their applications. The 1954 World Cup forms arrived late, for example. It took three decades for them to be re-introduced into the competition, for which they failed to qualify, despite winning games against Bangladesh and drawing with Thailand. Losing 2-1 to Indonesia prevented them from getting to the Finals. Indonesia went through, then lost to South Korea in the Asian group, from which, Iraq eventually went on to Mexico,

TOTAL FOOTBALL OR JUST VERY GOOD PLAYERS?

Total Football seemed to come to our notice with Ajax in the 1970s, when players ran around and changed positions willy nilly, under the care of Rinus Michels. If you happen to read "Inverting the Pyramid", by Jonathan Wilson, he would say Viktor Maslov, the coach of Dynamo Kiev in the 1960s, was the man who invented "Total Football".

Matt Gillies produced a brand of football at Leicester that certainly seemed "total" and it is only cultural snobbery that discourages the experts to recognise the achievements of the coach of this unglamorous Midland club, but rather name the exotic Dutch and Russians as the inventors of such fluid football. There is more to this than meets the eye.

In Germany, at the same time as Leicester's success, Rudi Gutendorf led Meidericher SV (now known as MSV Duisburg) to unusual success in the Bundisliga, achieving his success on a shoe string budget. He used the bolt (der reigel) formation that maintained the principles that everyone in his team defended and attacked, allowing full backs to overlap in a 4-4-2 system. Unfortunately his team soon complained that they were getting "worn out" with all the running and I suspect Klopp's Liverpool may be feeling this too! The hard work led to success nevertheless.

Gilles read the coaching manuals and followed the great free flowing Hungarian system created by Gustav Sebes, who led the Magyars to thump a stodgy England in the 1950s. Prior to that, in the 1930s, there was the Austrian Wunderteam, under Hugo Meisl. His brother, Willy, wrote a book called the Soccer Revolution in 1955, which named the system as "The Whirl". These days coaches use the word "rotate".

Of course, you have to have players to carry out the system, it doesn't come naturally to all. So with Sindelar in Austria, Puskas in Hungary and Cruyff in Holland, there was genius. In Leicester, Gilles had Dave Gibson and McLintock as his "hubs". Neither hardly genius, but Leicester had a golden period when they won the League Cup in 1964, came fourth in the top division at best, but held their own and went to three cup finals in nine years (1961, 1963 and 1969).

Frank McLintock, Gibson, Mike Stringfellow and Graham Cross were part of this new breed of Leicester "wingers", "inside forwards" and "half backs", who inter-changed down the flanks, creating space for runners. Fluidity was the key. ( Gordon Banks probably payed a part in this success too!!)

So impressed with the movement of Leicester City when he played them, Bill Shankly adopted the system for his emerging 1960's Liverpool side.

Sadly, Gilles contracted tuberculosis and left Filbert Street in 1968, having taken charge of 508 matches in his time with the club. Leicester were soon relegated in 1969.

Gilles was at Nottingham Forest until 1972. He died at the age of 77 on December 24th 1998.

Perhaps we are now seeing a new breed of Foxes in 2016.

COCKERELS AND THE FOXES-WHO CAME FIRST WITH TOTAL FOOTBALL?

In 1914 Tottenham Hotspur played Leicester Fosse (the original club name for City) in an FA Cup tie on 10th January and they played out an entertaining 5-5 draw. Claude Stoodley scored a hat trick for the Fosse and Bert Bliss notched two for Spurs. Five days later, Spurs won the replay 2-0 with Bliss scoring again. Arthur Grimsdell appeared for the Spurs.

The next three FA Cup ties between the clubs were on:-
18th February 1928 3-0: 14 years on Grimsdell is still playing.
7th February 1948 5-2: Bill Nicholson played for Spurs and Len Duquemin scored 3.
5th January 1957 2-0 to Spurs.
4th January 1958 4-0 with Bobby Smith in the side.
You may remember that thing about Spurs winning the FA Cup when the year ended in "1". Well it sort of worked.

The "8 date" pattern  changed on the 6th May 1961, when Bill Nicholson's Double winning team won the FA Cup final 2-0, beating Leicester City and Frank McLintock 2-0 at Wembley. McLintock was an apprentice at Leicester and was painting the floodlight pylons at the ground, dropping paint on the first team as ther were preparing for the Final. Within days, he was whisked off to Wembley to play in the defeat.

Matches in the Cup between the two sides continued in one in January 1974 when Spurs lost 0-1 (Shilton and Jennings were opposing goalies) and then 3rd April 1982, a 2-0 win (Lineker v Hoddle), followed by the 8th January 2006, which resulted in a 2-3 loss and then the 24th January 2015, there was a 1-2 defeat.

As it was, today's game at White Hart Lane, was pulsating, I thought and Spurs did not make the most of their possession, but the Tinkerman, tinkered and nearly cause an upset. It is fascinating to read that Leicester City were partly responsible for the development of TOTAL FOOTBALL, which emerged in the Leicester side (known then as the Ice Kings) of 1963 under Matt Gillies. But more of that tomorrow.

LIKE WATCHING PAINT DRY-JOHNSTONES, OF COURSE.

Not too many shocks in the FA Cup today and there was great coverage by the BBC, from the well lubricated clubhouse at Eastleigh FC, where the first tension of the day was whether the ball would bounce on the pitch, after the referee had dropped it from about 5 foot. In some cases it did (not a lot) and in some cases it flopped. The three officials, during their pitch inspection, looked very earnest in their quest for solid turf and one of them was, seemingly, not very fit. He lolloped around the pitch with a noticeable limp and looked a little out of shape. Bless him.

However, common sense prevailed and the local dignitaries, who were being lunched in the Spitfire bar and diner, were not disappointed about just being on telly- they had a game to watch as well. BBC got to the heart of the matter, with Dion Dublin (fresh from that house buying programme on daytime TV, that I don't watch in the gym), Michael Appleton (recently mentioned in a previous blog) and Graham Le Saux (the educated one from the Channel Islands-no, not Le Tissier) as pundits. Will he or won't he? He didn't-call off the game. There would have been a riot.

So, the battle reactment in the trenches, that the Spitfires would have flown over in 1940, took place and Eastleigh almost beat the foe. Poor Bolton, on a hiding to nothing, dug in and saved their bacon with a last minute draw. You can't hold a good pro down.
The Spitfires have the honour of playing away now, on a more level playground. Eastleigh go into the draw as the only non-league side left.

Elsewhere, Bristol City nearly upset the Baggies, Wycombe held Villa, Daggers just lost to the Toffees and Donny gave the Potters a fright. There's more to come this weekend, but I suspect not many shocks.

Meanwhile, I sat through the big Northern Final, first leg of the Johnstone's Paint Trophy, between Barnsley and Fleetwood-the Cod Men. I have done a blog on them before, so look it up!
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/millers-revell-and-cod-army-float-to-top.html

The Bard of Barnsley, Ian McMillan ( you may hear him occasionally on Radio 4) wittered in the match day programme, about how he might travel to Wembley when the time comes, by coach, or train, sedan chair...etc. Quite funny?!

Well done to Johnstones for sponsoring this tournament and for getting the rites to advertise at the national stadium. Money well spent and it still may happen for the Tykes, one away leg to go.

The above average crowd at Oakwell (11,000+) included a few hundred Cods from Lancashire and both teams played out a moderate display for a 1-1 draw, that will suit the visitors rather the home supporters. The Barnsley folk wandered back, in driving rain and the dark night, with street lamps glinting, to their terraced houses on the hills around the ground, Lowry style (though he did his painting before the game).
Barnsley had very little to show for themselves and they made some terrible errors all over the pitch but Fleetwood had Eggert Jonsson, an Iceland international, who had spells at Wolves and Charlton, but mostly at Hearts, where he captained the Scottish side and played over 100 times in 7 years. He, no doubt, was attracted by the cod industry to Fleetwood and he didn't look out of plaice. Boom, boom.

SPITFIRES AND GRECIANS HOPE TO MAKE HISTORY

If you happen to be somewhere near Southampton tomorrow, watch out for the crowds heading to Ten Acres, a small stadium that will host nearly 5,200 supporters of The Spitfires and Bolton Wanderers for a Third Round FA Cup tie.

Eastleigh FC, known as the Spitfires, because the famous plane made it's maiden flight from the local aerodrome, are taking on the Trotters.

As if to celebrate the importance of the Spitfire in the closure of WW2, the football club was founded in 1946. Known originally as Swaythling Athletic, the club developed under the watchful eye of local mastermind Derik Brooks, who gives his name to the club mascot, Brooksy the Bear.

The unreliable mascot of Spitfire the dog, slipped into obscurity as Brooksy took over. A Hampshire league club in 1950, Eastleigh have worked their way up the pyramid, with investment by Stewart Donald and careful management from Welshman, Chris Todd. He has recovered from leukaemia and been almost pecked to death by emus for charity on Soccer AM! There is nothing he can't handle.

Presently 4th in the Conference, the Hampshire club might just have an Indian sign over Bolton Wanderers, who are £173 million in debt; aren't easily able to pay players wages; have to rely on their loyal supporters to form a trust to raise money; are under a winding up order by HM Revenue and Customs; have a transfer embargo placed on them and will have to travel a long way south to the intimidating small stadium to attempt to preserve their dignity. Of course they will be OK! But never forget that this is the weekend when bigger clubs fear a fall from grace.

Meanwhile Exeter City, host Liverpool at St James' Park, this evening. TV schedules arrange for the match to be played on a Friday evening, kicking off 90 minutes after the last train leaves for the north. Heaven knows what the Liverpoool fans will do with themselves over Friday night and the weekend, unless, of course, they all head for the nearest B&Bs at Exmouth. Hold on to your daughters, you men of Devon. Coaches will carry the few thousand fans who don't get hooked up with the locals, back to Merseyside with a rendez-vous around 3.30am.

At Scunthorpe, the thoughtful club is laying on a big Screen in the club's Iron Bar, for a £1 entry, to accommodate all their supporters who can't make the game. Around 1400 are heading to Stamford Bridge hoping that Mark Robins' Scunny will catch Chelsea brooding after the loss of Jose and bruised from various training ground scraps. Unlikely. The last time they met was in London, in the cup in 2005. Chelsea won 3-1.

It may be West Ham's last cup tie at the old Boleyn ground.  Wycombe Wanderers may catch Villa cold and then there is Swansea away at Oxford (see yesterday's blog).

Hartlepool, who broke Salford hearts, have to face Derby, high in the Championship, on a roll and financed by the founder of the Candy Crush video game. Money is no object.

Dagenham and Redbridge, with their third manager of the season and winless at home this season (so no excuses about wanting home advantage) have little chance against Everton, away. Jamie Cureton, 40 years old and in the game for 22 years, has never played at Goodison Park. He is with his 14th club and debuted in 1994 against Everton for Norwich. Spookey?

And where shall I be?...Oakwell. Barnsley v Fleetwood......Johnstone's Paint trophy, Northern Final, 1st leg. Two games and then Wembley! £5 a ticket for all comers. Luxury.

IS OXFORD'S NUMBER UP?

At last, it is near enough to the weekend for me to start on the FA Cup Third Round "blog", one of the most exciting weekends of the footballing year.

Oxford United take on Swansea, with 40 year old, well travelled, Michael Appleton, leading his "modernised" club into the battle. Having been in charge at Oxford for 18 months, he is a manager who spends a lot of time on detail. With many ideas to improve footballers and clubs, he spent his best playing period at West Bromwich where he developed a fine reputation as coach and indeed was care-taker manager for 6 days, until Roy Hodgson was appointed. Appleton wanted a challenge, so he went to Portsmouth (almost a year), Blackpool (65 days) and then Blackburn (67 days); three jobs in less than a year and a half, which ruined his reputation. Each club let him down in one way or another, You should know what I mean.

Oxford gave him a chance to get re-established, in the summer of 2014 and he is applying his ideas to a club that has an eye on the future.

Oxford has a full time analyst, not many League Two clubs can boast that. There is a Head of Logistics, a psychiatrist and Appleton has taken a pay cut to fund his extra back room staff. These "tools" he knows are vital for progress.

The home changing room is set up for defenders to change together and attackers also; I know of some managers who made the away dressing room as unfriendly as possible. "L" shaped, small, narrow, lacking in good facilities, flat warm up balls. As if!?

For £200,000 he had the Kassam Stadium pitch narrowed to suit the demands of his players, paying the wembley turf specialists to carry out the contract.

He breaks the league season down into units of five matches, in which a set of matches is given a target number to achieve of every statistic in football...shots on goal, crosses conceded; "starting with the end in mind". Apparently, every 50-50 challenge players win in a game correlates with the number of points the team will win in the promotion race.

The Cup tie comes as Oxford sit third in League Two. Swansea are in the Premier doldrums. It could be interesting.

BTW, Ron Atkinson holds the club record for most number of team appearances (560) and if you glance at the website, there have been some very famous players passing through the club's doors. Ron's brother Graham holds the club's scoring record 107.

THE NAPOLEAN OF NORTH LONDON

The last game ever watched by the legendry Herbert Chapman was an Arsenal 3rd XI fixture at Guildford City FC. It was a cold and miserable night on the 3rd January 1934. Chapman had picked up a heavy cold the previous Saturday and was advised not to travel by his doctor.
Returning from the game he went straight to bed and died on Saturday, the 6th, from pneumonia.

The Blue Plaque on his Hendon home.

His players heard the news as they arrived at Highbury for their league match against Sheffield Wednesday. The players had a minute's silence before the game, played Wednesday, still stunned by the news and hung on for a 1-1 draw.

Arsenal, who were League Champions from 1933, lost the next three league matches but eventually caretaker manager, Joe Shaw, steadied the boat and led the Gunners to the top of the division, winning the Championship again, pipping Chapman's previous club, Huddersfield Town, into second place. In the end the Arsenal won three championships in a row.

News of Chapman's death only made the lower paragraphs of the Observer newspaper and took seconde place to a report on Stan Milton of Halifax Town who had set a record for the Third Division North by conceding 13 goals, on his debut, to Stockport County.

Other references to Herbert Chapman are linked below.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-1351575/Herbert-Chapman-words-I-slackness--dog-racing.html
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/let-there-be-light.html
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/1934-was-very-good-year-not-dunlop.html
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/01/vase-cup-and-champions.html

LOCK, STOCK AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY VINNIE JONES

Vinnie Jones is 51 today and still in good nick. The hard man was born in Watford, his father a gamekeeper, which maybe where his interest in guns developed. At 19 years old he was playing for semi-pro side Wealdstone and continued his work as a hod carrier on local building sites. At 21 years old he was playing for Wimbledon FC (77 games), who paid £10,000 for him. He also had a spell in 1986 for IFK Holmsund in Sweden, where he helped them to their Third Division championship.

On his debut for the Crazy Gang, he scored against Manchester United in a 1-0 win on 29th November 1986.

By 1989, Vinnie helped Leeds United to promotion from Division Two, then, a year later, played for Sheffield United, there was a year at Chelsea and back to Wimbledon for 177 games (1992-8) and ended up at QPR.
In 1994-7 he played for Wales, 9 times, qualifying through the nationality of his maternal grandmother. He is recorded as getting the fastest booking in football history after 3 seconds in an FA Cup tie, though he claimed the tackle could not have been late after only 3 seconds of the game!

On several occasions he fell foul of the club officials for his "mosquito brain" behaviour and by the FA who objected to his attitude on and off the pitch. He claims they should reward him for taking the violence off the terraces and onto the pitch.

Never forgetting where his fame developed, in 2010 he donated his FA Cup Winners medal to the Wimbledon FC fans, to be held in their clubhouse at Kingsmeadow.

He is well known for his hard man film and TV roles, which began in 1998 with "Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels" and for his appearance on "Celebrity Big Brother 7" on his 45th birthday. His list of roles is impressively long, ranging from the "Magnificent Seven" planned for 2016 and "Gone in 60 Seconds" in 2000.

In real life he has been arrested for two "physical" offences, one against a neighbour and another whilst drunk on a plane. Through his conviction, the local police revoked his fire arms' licence and took away his weapons.

His son, clearly interested in firing guns too, joined the Life Guards in 2008 and did it legally.

Jone is currently Club President of Soham Town Rangers.

IN OR OUT? SHAKE IT ALL ABOUT

There is much of interest for the English football fan tonight on SKY, and if the German Fans have the stomach for it, them too. The history bods in SKY Sports' research have been on the go over Christmas and have come up with a celebration of 1966. Not quite 50 years ago yet but why not brighten up evening tele in these dark evenings, post Christmas.

The big issue of course is "was it a goal or not?". With Goal Line Technology solving all goal issues on SKY today and helping the dear old ref too, life is much easier for the officials, especially if you happen to come from Azerbaijan and have to wear a belt to keep your shorts up.
Poor old Tofik Bakhranov, linesman, was the centre of attention for a few moments in The World Cup Final 1966 and has been the subject of pub quizes ever since. Sep Blatter attended his funeral in Baku recently, when a statue was raised in the linesman's memory.
Was Geoff Hurst's telling strike against the Germans at Wembley in? The lino said "yes" and pointed to the centre spot, with 90,000 Englishmen in the stadium looking on!

 All will be revealed tonight as the SKY team use hi-technology to solve the issue.

Was Frank Lampard's strike in the South Africa World Cup? Just!

Goal Line Technology (known as the Goal Decision System) has been approved by the reliable FIFA in 2012 and stated in the Laws of the Game, that is "may permit its use but not require it". The World Cup 2014 had it and so did the 2015 Women's World Cup and now the Premier League-it works! 
There are various schemes:
A German made Goal Control (cameras), Hawkeye (triangulation from cameras) designed in Romsey Hants), The Cairos GLT System with Adidas (Magnetic field and wires under the penalty area, sensors in the ball), GoalMinder (cameras built in the bar and posts), Goal Ref (magnetic sensors in the posts and bar).  
So there is plenty of choice, though all are very expensive. They lose the understanding of human judgement as specified by the original laws. When has a ball crossed the line?