Ragu

The game of football was introduced to Italy by the English in the 1890s and the first club to form was in Genoa where the cricket and athletic clubs joined in 1897 to create a winter sports club.

The Italian Federation (FIGC) joined FIFA in 1905. There was a tier system established, with over 3,000 teams in a pyramid systems of divisions. (San Marino teams were also members of FIGC)

By 1978, all teams in the Federation were professional, with the three top divisions of Serie A, B and C. Serie D had nine regional divisions, further broken down into five - Excellenza, Promozione, Prima, Seconda and Terza.

Ragusa in Sicily boasts ASD Pro Ragusa in the Promozione Division, but has had many ups and downs and been in and out of business. They play at the Stadium ENAL. Ragusa is one of many towns in south-east Sicily that feature in the Italian detective series, Inspector Montalbano - that may have been more of a pull for the female members of our holiday party. A further attraction was a reasonable value lunch, laughingly called Express, at the Ristorante Duomo. Amusing menu items included Truffle Ice Cream Sandwich, and a wine, Zibbibbo, which smelt of the farmyard, yet was surprisingly refreshing once you got past the nose.

What chance, say you, of us following ASD Ragusa away to Porto Palo (south east tip of Sicily) for this weekend's fixture ? We need to find some more Montalbano settings to get away with it....

POLICEMAN KILLED FOOTBALL CLOSES

Sicilian sides only joined the Italian Championship in 1921-2. The two major clubs to have graced the major leagues are US Citta di Palermo founded in 1900 and Citta di Catania (1908). Another team on the island, Messinese, was also formed in 1900. The two main clubs have only been in the same division on limited occasions. Their first Derby, a Coppa Italia tie, occurred on Christmas Day 1935 when Catania beat Palermo 1-0.

The first league meeting was in November 1936 in Serie B and this resulted in a 1-1 draw. The clubs have met ten times in Serie A with Catania holding the advantage of 5-4 wins and one draw.

Most notorious of their derbies was on the 2nd of February 2007 when a 40 year old policeman, Filippo Raciti, was killed having been involved in calming the inter-fans riots outside the Catania Stadio Massimino. The original match was due to be held on the 4th of February.

A 6pm kick off had been arranged to avoid clashes with religious celebrations in Catania for St Agatha's day and prior to the match there was a minute silence to mark the death of a club official from the lower league Sammartinese Club. He had been beaten to death at a Terza Categoria league match earlier. 

Catania were 5th in the league and Palermo 3rd so it was a prestigious match and passions were high. 

Visiting fans could not get into the stadium until the second half owing to "administration errors" and this didn't go down very well. When they arrived their team was already 0-1 down to a "controversial goal".

Smoke bombs and flames were thrown by the hyped up fans and this drifted onto the field affecting the players, so the referee suspended play for 40 minutes. The fans were even more incensed and fighting began. Tear gas canisters were fired by the police at the "Ultras" and one thing led to another with clashes between the visiting supporters and the police. 

Play restarted and as the game wore on Catania drew level and Palermo snatched a late winner in the 83rd minute again through a controversial goal. 

The FIGC (Italian Football Federation) suspended league fixtures for the following weekend and cancelled the national team's international match with Romania. Catania's ground was closed and various readjustments were made to the facilities as well as major readjustments to the national game.

It was reopened for the new season on September 2nd for a league game against Genoa. Raciti's widow attended the game and a minute's silence was held. 

Catania wake up- show your indignation!

TOTTY IN SUPPORT OF TOTTI

Having shopped for 8 in Conad Super dooper market somewhere near Scicli, a charming town on the Sicilian coastline, I was diverted by the other male members of our travel club to Adriano's, a small cafe, ironmongers, bar in the town centre. It made sense, we had been to the local port for fish, the ladies had had enough journeying and all decided to go back to the villa for coffee and it was midday. By the time we got to Adriano's, a convective storm was brewing and I opened the bar's newspaper, La Sicilia, dated Martedi 27 Settembre 2016. Sport. The headlines read "Totti-Spalletti, Ilary scatenata contro il technical <Picolo up on bravo a parole>". 

Spalletti is the Roma manager, Ilary Blasi, Totti's wife and the sentiment was sharing her husband's 40th birthday with the rest of the country but also lamblasting the Roma manager for treating her husband with a small man's mentality last February, when he dropped her husband from the team. This past weekend, Totti scored his 250th first class goal for his club in their 1-3 defeat by Torino. 

Francesco was born in September 1976 and has stuck with one club Roma for 763 games, scoring 306 goals. He has played 58 times for the Azzuri contributing only 9 goals surprisingly and he retired from the national side in 2007, much against the wishes of many close to him.

Totti holds endless awards and records, becoming the youngest club captain in Serie A ever, he has won 11 Oscar Del calcio presented by the IFA and was named by Pele in the FIFA top 100 players ever. 

Goal celebrations enlighten the public to his childrens' birth when he either shoved the match ball up his shirt after netting and pull it out whilst lying on his back or by sucking his thumb.

There is much else he has achieved particularly appearing on TV shows, especially Italia 1's hit Le Lene, raising money for charity and generally being an all round nice guy. He and Ilary are known as the Italia Beckhams. His manager may not think the same.

BUILDBASE BUILD A BASE FOR THE VASE

We all know the FA Vase started life in 1974 following the merging of amateur and professional football. The Vase was open to smaller clubs, including village teams and the more serious clubs took part in the Trophy. 220 clubs played in the first round and Hoddesdon Town beat Epsom and Ewell 2-1 in front of 9,000 people. In 1976-7 the "oldest" club, Sheffield FC (founded 1857) almost made a dream winning appearance in the final but they lost to the rampant Billericay 1-2 after a 1-1 draw at Wembley. The Essex club was a regular finalist in the early years. It wasn't to be.

Probably the most exciting final to date was the 1992 one when Wimborne Town beat Guiesley 5-3 and in 2007 a record attendance of 36,000 at the new Wembley saw Truro City beat Totton 3-1.

Last year Morpeth Town (est 1884) beat Hereford United 4-1 in what might have been one of those great fairy tales of the "Hereford" Phoenix rising from the ashes. It wasn't to be......

For the First Qualifying Round this year there were 194 ties and in the Second Round 169 spread over this weekend. I went to watch Penistone Church take on West Didsbury and Chorlton from Over the Pennines. Their visitors play up a level from Church. I watched through till a few minutes from the end of full time with Church throwing away a lead and they were 1-2 down. Their very tall centre back might have scored a hat trick from set pieces to put the game to bed, but he didn't. I nipped out to avoid the rush from the car park, as the locals were baying for subs to be brought on and there was much questioning of the home team's performance. When I got home and checked the results, Church had equalised in the last embers of the match and in extra time won 3-2. Oh ye of little faith! Me and the hard core fans......I thought it wasn't to be....but it was!

Church have earned themselves £800 prize money courtesy of Buildbase and the FA. 

Shoreham from the south coast had a 10-0 victory over Oakwood FC from the Sussex league, the lowest scoring tie was Southend Manor 0-0 Canning Town  with the away team winning on pens 4-5 (don't count them in score lines!).

It has been noted by my West Country correspondent that Congleton Town scored 7 to Bacup Borough's 3 and Desborough Town beat Wellingborough Whitworths 6-3 in one of the longer named games. So that's it for the high scorers.

The club with the historically oldest ground, Hallam FC thumped Nostell WM Club FC 8-1, there were two walk overs as Carterton FC and LPOSSA FC couldn't get a side together and Haverhill Borough thumped Haverhill Rovers 1-0 in what might be the most local derby.

I live the Vase, the clubs are so interesting. If the font changes midway I don't know why!

1000 up Tony Pulis

Tony Pulis completed his 1000th game as manager of a football league club today. He was born in Pillgwenlly in Wales in January 1958. His playing career began in 1975 at Newport YMCA leading on to Bristol Rovers, Happy Valley?, Newport County, Bournemouth and Gillingham up till 1992, totalling 326 games with a massive total of 9 goals.

He had his UEFA Licence at 21 years old and managed at Bournemouth from 1992, then Gillingham, Portsmouth briefly, Stoke (twice), Plymouth, Crystal Palace and WBA through to the present.

His 1000th match ended in a creditable 1-1 draw against Stoke....who else?

In his spare time he raises money for charities by running marathons and rowing long distances. A devote Catholic, Tony Pulis is well known for his disciplined approach to coaching and his ability to get average teams playing above their best. His record is P1000 W 361 D 301 36% success.

And he dresses how he wants to....cap, tracky top and bottoms, white trainers! He is a law unto himself.

I'M PROGRAMMED ON A FRIDAY MORNING

A Friday morning in Holmfirth can be rewarding and once I have bought cake from the excellent High Street bakery, got my paper and mooched around the charity shops, my last port of call is usually the Oxfam Book Shop and the sports' section, though rarely do the books on the three football shelves change from week to week. I have a lot of these books anyway.

The History of the Huddersfield and District League signed by Frank Beaumont, a local legend, priced at £7.99 keeps grabbing my eye BUT I have been promised a copy by the League Secretary whose excuse for not yet sending me it, is that he has been busy with the new season's fixtures. Now we are several weeks into the season, I live in hope.

My Friday morning chum tells me I should stop being so tight and buy the book! It is for charity after all.

BUT today was a triumph because on the front window sill, for all to see was the Leeds United v Manchester United Football League match played on Saturday 17th October 1970. The programme originally cost One Shilling (5p as noted on the front cover). I paid £2.49 for it. So much for inflation, though it may be regarded an investment which my son may benefit from once he inherits the collection-the coincidence was the game was played on the date of his birth (not the year).

Inside the programme is the "Football League Review" which usually adds weight to any flimsy programme produced by the clubs. This edition had a natty photograph of Lincoln City's team included Ray Harford and the "Ground Call" was Bloomfield Road. There were various "letters" from the fans and a short piece on Jeff Astle in his prime.

The club programme boasted the two team "rostas" and I dare you try to name the two sides-11 men named (subs not named).
Then there were loads of adverts and the half time score board. The game eneded in a 2-2 draw. So far United have won 46 and drawn 35 out of 107.

There was a photo of a Fulham club secretary aiming an air gun at pigeons and a couple of quizzie things one of which was asking for the "highest", in altitude, ground in the FLeague. We all know that don't we!

I had fun sharing all this with my chum, I almost stopped him from talking about politics for a while!

Remarkably he two clubs had not played against one another before 1922-23 when they met each other in the FL Second Division. Prior to that Leeds City FC was formed in 1904 but had problems surviving and famously (GET THIS) on October 17th 1919 the entire playing staff and other assets were auction to pay debts. The whole lot raised £9250.

Leeds United took over the mantle the following year and there is still a team called Leeds City playing in the local county league today.

IT'S ALL WRIGHT, HE'S OVER AGE.

Ian Wright MBE has made a career for himself out of football, both as a player and in retirment. So when I heard that he was at a book signing at the Tollington Pub, Islington, I had to have a look. (on the www. that is not actually going there).
www.tollingtonarms-holloway.co.uk/ian-wright-at-the-tollington

He will be happy for this advert so why not go out, buy the book and read about his life? Ian, now 52, has been a well known international player (33 caps for England) and more recently a regular feature on TV, radio and on paper (writing for The Sun!).

I met him in 2009 when he asked Charterhouse footballers (posh kids) to play a match against the Young Offenders' team at Portland, an experiment to see if football could change lives (of the offenders I gather rather than my "privileged" kids). We played at the prison on the "Isle" one hot summer's afternoon and had a very enjoyable and challenging experience. You might find the programme lurking somewhere in Sky1, it was called "Football Behind Bars". The link came from Gary Lineker, a great friend of Wrights and George Lineker was in our team. (see left)

Ian Wright has had a roller coaster of a life; a difficult upbringing and indeed served a short period in Chelmsford prison after failing to pay a fine. Having started his career at Dulwich Hamlet FC.
Nobody will forget his super sub appearance at Wembley for Crystal Palace v Manchester United when he scored within minutes of coming on in the Cup Final. He then went to Arsenal, West Ham, Celtic, Burnley and Nottm Forest before becoming Director of Football at Ashford Town FC and then coached at MK Dons.

Since hanging up his boots he has been involved in many, MANY different roles, including Match of the Day, Top of the Pops, Top Gear, Friday Night's All Wright and for his services to football he was awarded the MBE.

His two sons Bradley and Shaun have both played professional football with some success.
Wright is an infectious character who has brought joy to many young lives.

GILLS JUST IN

When I were a lad, there were two boys who lived on our estate and they were born and bred local West Sussex lads. They were the first kids I had known who supported football clubs. 

One supported Aldershot, the other Gillingham. I know not why they chose these although they probably had some relation who lived near the clubs or perhaps the favour was plucked out of the "blue". Aldershot, to be fair, was not far away from our village, Gillingam was in another universe. The Gills however are the only Kent based team in the Football League, so this may have been an attraction....??

In 1989-1992 Maidstone United made it to the top level and became the Gills main rivals. They soon left the Football League.

I have always looked for their results even after all these years. Aldershot, who are no longer a Football League club, are not featuring in the EPL Cup tonight, but the Gills are and who are they playing? Spurs!

The beautiful coincidence is that the Gills are managed by an old Spurs favourite, Justin Edinburgh. His  c.v. Includes managing Billericay, Fisher, Grays, Rushden and Newport. Justin was made Gills boss in December 2014.

Gillingham FC was founded in 1893 and were originally named Chatham Excelsior FC, then New Brompton FC, finally known as Gillingham FC in 1912. The club played in the Southern League as founder members from 1894, until election to the Football League in 1920. Their success varied and in 1938 were relegated from the FL to the Southern League being replaced by Ipswich Town. In 1950 they returned to the top layer when the League was expanded to 92 clubs and joined Division Three South. 

Most well known (to us mortal men) players who have turned out in the blue and white shirts are Tony Cascarino and Steve Bruce. Many Gills fans will say it can only be the legendary Andy Hessenthaller.

Recently, player Brent Sancho became the first Gills player to score in a World Cup when in 2006 he scored an own goal "for" Paraguay when he represented Trinidad and Tobago in the finals. 

STAGGERING FOOTBALL

Some years ago a teaching colleague went to Austrlia on a teaching exchange. He was a Welshman who played rugby in his prime. When he took to plunge to visit the other side of the world, he joined the local rugby club veterans and told me on his return that every player was categorised into decades and ecah decade had to wear a particular shorts. The oldest (80 years+) wore gold shorts and were not allowed to be tackled! Imagine.  

I thought of this story when I read yesterday that Manchester City FC has set up a new team with a combined age of 700 years and more. They play "Walking Football" and the idea is to encourage elderly footballers (men and women) to be coached by their staff at the Premier League's Etihad complex.

Well I play Walking Football but my "stadium" is rather less sumptious, being the small astro at Penistone Church FC. Well it does not matter, we play football, relive our dreams and you never know we might get scouted.

The City squad ranges from 50 (WF is aimed at 50+ years) to 83!   To help you cannot run and there are no passes over head. The local authority and NHS are involved in promoting this encouraging people to remain fit and healthy. There is a chance to meet friends regularly and maintain confidence. Some of their grandchildren think their grandpas (and 'mas) are members of Manchester City; well why not, they do play for them don't they?

BULLARD TO GIVE BEEF TO THE TANNERS?

Following a youth career at West Ham United and then Gravesend and Northfleet, Jimmy Bullard went on to play for Peterborough, Wigan, Hull, Fulham, Ipswich and MK Dons, retiring at the ripe old age of 37.

He has since been starring in "Soccer AM" where he has taken on various training drills with a different club each week. Add to this an appearance in "I'm a celebrity, get me out of here" and of course that amusing acting role when Phil Brown booted his underperforming team out of the changing room v Manchester City when he had nothing to say to them. Jimmy mimicked PB to everyone's amusement as part of a subsequent goal celebration.

Always the joker, Jimmy now has taken on the role of Ryman Premier Leatherhead's manager. Presently second to bottom in the division, the team from Fetcham Grove need somebody to put a smile of the club members' faces. We shall see who has the last laugh!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukn0D5DLYxg

The Tanners were founded in 1909 playing friendlies as Leatherhead Rose whilst Leatherhead United formed in 1924 playing at Fetcham Grove. After the war the two clubs merged and if you can remember the Leatherhead Lip, Chris Kelly, the club has had some terrific Cup runs in the past, including the 4th Round of the FA Cup in 1974-5, two Amateur Cup Semi-Finals between 1971 and 1974, an FA Trophy Final in 1977-8.

FUN IN THE FENS

I kept up my 100% attendance of this season's FA Cup ties by trailing to St Ives FC, thankfully the Cambridgeshire version, to see Cambridge City (founded 1908) play Slough Town in the 2nd Qualifying Round. It was a 3pm ko. City and Slough share the same league and level on the pyramid.  Surprisingly there were a good number of away supporters, I would guess at least a coach load and the home team were loyally represented too.

With St Ives FC also in the same division as Cambridge, they have to decide who gets the home dressing room when there is the local derby. I bet St Ives dig their heels on that one. But I wonder which set of "officials" run the bar and so on?

Sadly, it was bottled ale only in the bar, though I could have had some nasty gassy stuff in my plastic cup  if I really wanted. On several occasions the announcer reminded us that this was an FA Cup tie and as a result any alcohol had to be consumed in the bounds of the club house. So I felt naughty popping my plastic "glass" on top of the bin by the dug outs as I chatted to locals and took the odd photo. I was not arrested.

ps If anyone can translate the "motto" let me know.......sudore sopore?

I met the home team programme editor who proudly showed me his research and I asked him if he remembered Cambridge City pitching out a team to play Cambridge University in October 1970. He knew that there would have been such a game, there always was one as part of the University's build up to the Oxford in the Varsity match in December.

The match against City was not a good occasion for the Blues, mostly young men of my age with limited experience of the semi-pro game! We lost 0-7 and our goalie the tall Chris Koral certainly had a long way to bend down to pick the ball out of the back of the net.

It didn't matter in end because Chris kept a clean sheet at Wembley, the Light Blues won 1-0 with a cleverly taken goal by one Jerry Wallwork, a product of Chesterfield and its environs. If you ask him he will tell you exactly what happened to give him the greatest moment of his footballing career.

So unfortunately I did not bring luck to City, they lost 1-3 against a decent lot from the Eton suburbs.
Their crowd were amusing, knowledgeable and would have sunk a few tinnies on the way home I bet.

IT'S A HAZARDOUS EXPERIENCE AT THE DENTIST

If you were aware of football in 1982 you will have remembered Tottenham Hotspur winning the FA Cup against QPR in front of 92,000 at Wembley. Micky Hazard was part of the Spurs team that drew in the first game 1-1 and won with a Glen Hoddle penalty in the replay 5 days later. It was Spurs' centenary year, Terry Venables was manager and Ardiles and Villa were in the team. In 1984 Hazard played in the UEFA Cup Final as well, eventually notching up 170 games for the club. He also played for Chelsea, Portsmouth and Swindon.

Wind forward to the present FA Cup Round due this weekend and Hazard is manager of Hadley FC, from Arkley (Barnet) who play in the Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division, a team that has only recently been able to upgrade their ground at Brickfield Lane, spending £400,000 on improvements. Prior to this they were ground sharing with Potter's Bar FC.

9th Tier Hadley, founded in 1882, have had a rapid rise since the turn of the century, have won the Hertfordshire Charity Shield in the year that Hazard was appointed, found their highest league position and this is their best FA Cup run. So Micky is making a difference.

Having played three rounds already the club has earned £6425 and this round will give them another £4500, should they win over 7th Tier Southern League Premier side Kings Langley.

Previously the team has beaten Brantham Utd 0-1 away in the Extra Qualifying Round, then Hertford Town 0-1 away in the Prelim Rd and London Colney 1-0 in the First Round.

Hazard who donated his FA Cup medal to the Tottenham club dentist who has a Spurs' shrine at his practice, is unpaid as Hadley's manager, though he cannot make every game because he is committed to Spurs in hospitality at home games!

LILYWHITE AND GAVE THE DUTCH A FRIGHT

I shall bang the drum for Dundalk FC, the League of Ireland Premier Division team from County louth. I have given them space before on:
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/08/martlets-they-have-branches-everywhere_74.html which you can access and if you wanted to there is another mention but I shall let you search that out yourself.

So this evening as my other half and I were recovering from a MacDonalds (she had the veggie version) at Leicester Forest East, I thought of the Foxes' great effort in the Champions League this week and then by another coincidence heard that Dundalk FC had achieved another major surprise in the Europa League by holding AZ Alkmaar from Holland to a 1-1 draw. It's a great effort you know, and to make it even more impressive the Irish boys were 0-1 down after 60 minutes and had lost Stephen O'Donnell, who had mustered 2 yellow cards and was given his marching orders.

Not ones to give in easily, the Lilywhites fought back and nicked an equaliser with 89 minutes gone, following a free kick from Daryl Horgan who supplied Ciaran Kilduff with a header.

The goal is worth 120,000 Euros they tell us. In two weeks they meet Macccabi from Tel Aviv.

AMBITIONS BURNED

I managed to entertain the Ampthill 41 Club yesterday evening in a very pleasant local pub that served us a three course dinner and proper ale. Needless to say it was football on the speech menu and I spoke to about 20 gentlemen of my age, all of whom, do charitable things in the Bedfordshire county. My brother who is a leading light in the "club" is responsible for "talks and some social events" so there you have it. He is a busy boy.

What I failed to mention to these fellows, as time was slipping away (and so were some of the audience, a few out the door and others into the "land of nod"), was some detail about slide 13 which showed the East Surrey Regiment, First World War soldiers, going over the top, chasing a leather football at Contalmaison. Along side them were the 9th Yorkshire Regiment, The Green Howard's. The military leaders believed that using several footballs would stir the troops into fast running.

It may be said that their Captains believed that the footballs "distracted the young soldiers from the impending German machine gun fire". The young lads, many of whom joined up through the Football Club PALS battalions had no chance. Nor should have the balls, though one was retrieved and sat on show in the Grase 1 listed Palladian pile, Clandon House, near Guildford for decades, only to be lost in a fire at Lord Onslow's home recently.

Classic, isn't it, that both important members of the great game had to perish under such unnecessary circumstances, players and balls.

On TV News, Bradford Park Avenue FC, was mentioned as the home club of Donald Simpson Bell, who is the only professional footballer to have been awarded the VC. Having trained as a teacher at Westminster College, he played briefly for Crystal Palace and then Newcastle United. He was at Contalmaison on the 5th of July 2016 at Horseshoe trench, near the town of Albert. He went over the top and took out some vital are enemy gun places. Five days later the married, 25 year old tried the feat again taking several hits, dying a hero's death on the 10th of July. His Yorkshire Regiment remembered him this weekend and to mark the occasion the Bradford Park Avenue club visited Albert with some players from the Yorkshire Regiment to play the local team. An important gesture from both sides of the channel. 

The Head Boy and Head Girl from his old school, Harrogate GS, laid wreaths on his grave and Bradford was well represented especially by members of the club committee.

On the same day, on BBC News TV North and as part of a short Radio 4 drama, Bradford was in the news. The drama on radio was about the dreadful fire at Valley Parade when many Bradford City fans died as their old rotting grandstand was burned to the ground. The city has much to remember.

Bell's medal was auctioned by a London Medal specialist and fetched £252,000, bought by the Professional Footballers Association who have displayed it in the National Football Museum in Manchester. a book, "A Breed Apart" by Roland Leake (2008) tells Bell's story.

I'D PUT MY SHIRT ON A COINCIDENCE

It's too much of a coincidence again but my spirit has been lifted as once again I have something to write about.

It was "Cold Feet" last night that got me going when James Nesbitt and his "family" try to go to Old Trafford to watch a United game. Actually things don't work out because they happen to acquire dodgy tickets. So they all end up in a pub but the point is Nesbitt's son in the drama is wearing a number 7 "Best" shirt. 

On 13th September 2006 George Best's no 7 shirt, the one he wore when he scored 6 in the 2-8 drubbing of Northampton Town in the 5th Round of the FA Cup on February 7th 1970, went up at auction and fetched £24,000.

https://www.google.co.uk/search?rlz=1MDAPLB_en-GBGB569GB569&gs_lp=EgppcGhvbmVhcHAyIiNnZW9yZ2UgYmVzdCBnb2FsIHYgTm9ydGhhbXB0b24gVG93bjIGCAAQKSgB0gEZMTk2NjU1M2pqampqampqMWpqampqamo4MugBAYAC5/8KqAIBsAIB&q=george%20best%20goal%20v%20Northampton%20Town&biw=1024&source=mobilesearchapp&oq=george%20best%20goal%20v%20Northampton%20Town&hl=en_GB&channel=iss&pbx=1&qsubts=1473782152537&iosrequestid=DC927FC2-19A0-46AA-8BB9-B666AD0F9AB3&vse=1&ion=0&ie=UTF-8&ctzn=Europe/London&bih=748&ioshw=iPad3,6

(Remember I am talking to a few Ampthill FC supporters tonight, whose team were knocked out of the FA Vase by Northampton Sileby Rangers at the weekend). You can't make it up!

Originally the shirt was put up as a prize in a national newspaper and after ten years the owner stuck it into Christies for auction. Not a bad return for the price of a newspaper. 

Other memorabilia at the same sale included Bobby Moore's last Fulham league shirt, selling at £3,600 and in 1970 an FA Cup winners medal won by Ron Chopper Harris of Chelsea, which went for £13,200.

A VASE HALF FULL OR HALF EMPTY

I shall be in Flitwick tomorrow evening enlightening a gathering of locals on the History of Football. It is a huge topic, which I believe is due to be delivered after "dinner" in a pub, where no doubt there will be a few bevvies in tow. How long dare I speak?

The nearest Pyramid Club is Ampthill Town FC who are a Step 6 side and they play in the Spartan South Midlands league with local teams from Bedford and Hatfield and the like. On Saturday they met their match in the FA Vase First Round Qualifying  against Northampton Sileby Rangers from Step 5, who just beat them 2-3. Sounds like a good cup tie though.

194 Vase fixtures took place over the weekend with some fantastic results including a 13-0 demolition of Ellstown and Ibstock United  by Bromsgrove Sporting FC. The FA website suggested that penalties were involved but I couldn't work that one out unless the ref decided to do the best out of 25? Bromsgrove should be decent having emerged from the ashes of Bromsgrove Rovers who folded with debts and all the rest. The Rouslers, as Sporting are known, were formed in 2009 and play in the Midlands Football League. Good on them and good on Sean Brain who scored FOUR including 3 penalties....see previous blogs.


Other cracking scorelines include Brandon Utd 0-7 Chester le Street, Newcastle Benfield 8-1 Alnwick Town and Rothwell Corinthians 8 Burton Park Wanderers 0. Loads of history there then.

As the name suggests, Bemerton Heath Harlequins is formed from three clubs in 1989, whereas Downton FC from Wiltshire (it must be the local team from the village of the drama) was founded at the suggestion of the Reverend Phillips (I don't remember him in the cast list) in 1905. No doubt to keep the estate workers out of the local inn. It worked because they play in the Wessex League, however the team of 3 clubs won 7-0 and their chairman's son notched a hat trick. Look on the bright side chaps you could get a part as an extra.


A culture shock for Meridian FC from Charlton (yes South London) was too much for the lads when they faced Shoreham town in the shadow of Lancing College Chapel and the local airport. They must have been gazing in awe and seeing too many images as they got mullered 8-0.

And the final big one was Desborough Town from the United Counties League popping ten past Woodford United who could only manage nought in reply.

The prize fund is worth around £600 for a first round win.

ONCE IS UNFORTUNATE, TWICE IS CARELESS, THREE TIMES IS DOWNRIGHT CRAZY

Today it is saving penalties day. In the Dundee United  match at Dunfermline, Cammy Bell (presumably Cameron?) saved three penalties in "open play" to earn his team three points and a 3-1 victory.

He made saves from the spot in the 9th, 27th and 32nd minutes at East End Park. The keeper had been released by Rangers early in the season and his team won despite being reduced to 10 men in the game.

The first time this feat was recorded was by Walter Scott for Grimsby Town in 1909 v Burnley. More recently,

Matt Glennon (who happens to coach the Hepworth United Junior Goalies) did the same for Huddersfiled v Crewe in 2007.

Gary Bailey made three penalty saves for Man Utd against Ipswich in 1980, as his team scored 6 in open play.

Other efforts include Adam Bogdan for Liverpool v Carlisle in 2015 and Jean-Francois Gillet of Mechelen v Anderlecht in Belgium creating a 1-1 draw.

OK this isn't during open pay but yu have to watch this penalty save video-it will cheer you up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F9jXYOH2c0

PK INVENTED IN MILFORD

Reading the daily newspaper, it makes no excuses for the Championship match between Reading and Ipswich, which ended in a 2-1 win to the Royals and three penalties that were the only things to brighten up an otherwise lifelesss match. A penalty at half time for the home team, then an equalising penalty after 50 minutes, followed by a spot kick winner in added time, brought three points to Reading, but that was about it as far as entertainment went.

On the 14th February 1891, before spot kicks had been invented, in an FA Cup quarter-final, the Notts County defender Hendry stopped the ball on the line with his hand. The resultant free kick was so close to the goal that the Stoke goalie, Toone, smothered the ball and no score was made. County went on to win the final.

The law changed and the first penalty kick in the Football league was awarded to Wolves for whom John Heath scored against Accrington Stanley on Monday 14th September 1891. The penalty kick, or death penalty, was invented by William McCrum from Milford County, Armagh a year before. As a member of the Irish FA, he held much sway in the development of the law.

Many players regarded the awarding of a penalty as a suggestion that the footballers were "ungentlemanly" and of course they would never do anything to warrant a penalty kick. The Corinthians of England, true amateurs and gentlemen, would be offended if such a penalty was awarded, either for them or against them, They would either stand aside the goal and allow a free shot to go in or would deliberately miss if they were awarded a penalty.

The following season Stoke City were victims again when on November 21st, losing 2-1 to Aston Villa, they were awarded a penalty. The ball consequently had been kicked out of the ground by a Villa player. Rumour has it that it landing in a rail truck and got carried off somewhere! By the time a ball had been found to replace said match ball the referee blew for time. The Law changed to allow added time to take any penalty.

On the 27th March 1989, referee Kevin Morton awarded five penalties in 27 minutes when Crystal Palace played Brighton (a derby!). Palace missed three out of four given to them and Albion scored their one. Final score 2-1 to Palace.

FA A BORE UNTIL SYLVIA GORE

Sylvia Gore is a legend in Women's football, not just in England but Worldwide. Her recent death has stirred the country's media to recognise her achievement and also laud Women's football in the nation. It took a long time for the FA to undo the ban they put on Women's football in 1921. This short film covers her more famous moments.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/37201105

There are a number of references in the blog to Women's football, such as this one:
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/women-to-fore-at-last.html

UPS AND DOWNS OF THE DERBY

The Manchester Derby on Saturday is the most expensive match in history wth players likely to turn out being worth over £600 million in total. Mourinho's United are worth over £328m (with Ibrahimovic on a free) and Guardiola's £289+ (Zabaleta only £6.5m). In the stands of course is Aguero and his elbow worth £38m.

The first derby between the Manchester clubs was held on 12th November 1881. The match was between West Gorton (St Marks) now City and Newton Heath LYR I(Lancashire and Yorkshire railway), well known as United. Remember those ardent United fans wearing the old colours of yellow and green when they were fed up with the administration of the club?

City lost 0-3 and the Ashton reporter described the game as a "pleasant one". The teams played in the short lived Football Alliance until eventually joining the Football League in 1892-3, with Ardwick in the 2nd Division and Newton Heath the 1st.

Newton Heath struggled in the early days and came bottom of Division One two years running and were eventually relegated. By 1894-5 newly named Manchester City played Newton Heath in the 2nd Division.

In 1898-9 City were promoted to Div One and Newton Heath stayed in the lower division becoming known as United in 1902-3. During this season United played derbies in the same division as City who hade been relegated in 1901-2. In 1902-3 City quickly returned to Division One and met United in 1906-7.

In 1908-9 City went down only to come straight back winning the Second Division championship in 1909-10. In 1910-11 United were First Division champions, City came 17/22.

In 1913-4 United came 14 and City 13th in Division One with equal points separated by the equivalent of goal difference.

Then came the War. So far City have won 49, United 71 and drawn 51.

NATIONAL TRUST NOT TO BE TRUSTED

We are all looking for more pitches to play on, especially on once pristine local school pitches or parks, but these are shrinking rapidly as local council finances dwindle.

In Shugborough, Staffordshire there is an issue. The Shugborough Estate is now owned by the National Trust administering over 900 acres of Grade 1 19th Century Historic Listed Landscape.
This is not the clubhouse.


Previously owned by the Earl of Lichfield, the Staffs County Council now controls the 49 year old lease for the sports grounds that runs out by the end of October. Andy Beer is the NT spokesman who says that the hire of pitches does not make enough money and he is determined to re-use the ground with a greater financial return. the two clubs have to make way.

The Great Haywood FC with two pitches (a football pitch is approximately 100 yards x 50 yards in area) and the local cricket team (the cricket ground maximum 90 yards in radius) rent the space at the moment  but they are going to have to move.

Chris Silverstone is dismayed since the football club has been hosting matches on the estate for over 30 years but now the lease is up, so club has to move. He says that the inconvenience of moving to Stafford might cause the club to collapse. (I can't imagine the chaps will give up if they have to travel a few miles to play, will they?).

01 AND 18st

I should really have written this yesterday but got side tracked, so today is the anniversary + ONE day of the foundation of Tottenham Hotspur Football Club (5th September 1882). Hotspur FC as they were known was formed in North London by players of the Hotspur Cricket Club whose players attending two local schools. The name Tottenham was added in 1884 and the club was playing in the non-league Southern League until 1908.

Original using the local Tottenham Marshes, on public pitches, the first "derby" against Royal Arsenal was played there, in 1898. Spurs were leading 2-1 when the game was abandoned due to poor light. The opponents had arrived late for the kick off.

The club moved to Northumberland Park briefly until another North London derby versus Woolwich Arsenal led to such a huge crowd it could not be accommodated safely. In 1899 the club moved to land once occupied by the Charrington's brewery nursery alongside the White Hart public house. A stand was brought from the previous ground and the first opponent was Notts County. That has been their home since.

In 1901 the club won the FA Cup, the only side to do this following the founding of the Football League in 1888. Playing Sheffield United at the Crystal Palace on the 20th April they led 2-1 in front of a crowd 110,00 and more. A shot was fumbled by Spurs' goalie George Clawley (too much of a coincidence isn't it?) and he pushed the ball round the post avoiding the feet of an attacking player. United expected a corner, the ref waved aside the lineman's advice, so Clawley assumed it was a goal kick. The referee, one Arthur Kingscott, pointed to the centre circle and gave an equalising goal.
Note William "Fatty" Foulke in the United goal, weighing in at 18 stone.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrwI1AVrSa4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dp3dgYob_I

The replay at Burnden Park was only watched by 20,000 or so because the railway company would not give cheap excursion tickets to the southern supporters. Spurs won 3-1.

In 1961 the Spurs did the Double (Cup and League winners), the first time in the 20th century and also two years later became the first British side to a European trophy beating Athletico Madrid to win the European Cup Winners' Cup.

Winning the League Cup in 2008 meant that Spurs had won a major trophy in each of the six past decades, a feat only matched by Manchester United.

The Spurs have won the FA Cup in 1901, 1921, 1961, 1981, 1991 and at other times but the "1" became a bit of a luck charm!

IS AGENT A GENT?

Just a short blurb from me today because I heard this snippit on Talksport this morning and thought it was worth passing on.
It is about a "super" agent Mino Raiola, whom one of his clients described as looking like a member of the Mafia. One way or the other, legal or not, he has made a fortune and also represented his clients to the max. This means players' fees, wages and Agent's fees!

If you happen to be looking for a career or have a bit of time on your hands why not join in the trade.
http://talksport.com/mino-raiola

Mino was born in Salerno, Italy 1967  and moved with his parents to Haarlem where he joined the local table tennis club and he was awarded best player over 90 kgs!

He also hooked up with HFC Haarlem as a player briefly and having studied Law in the club's business. He joined a Sports' Promotions company and then formed his own business, eventually getting Ibrahimovic from Ajax transferred to Juventus, earning himself  a percentage of 16m Euros.

Then there was the Pogba saga which earned him 25m Euros.

HOW TO MAKE A MALTESE CROSS.

It's an old music hall joke based on the reliance of the UK on Malta as a strategic base in the Mediterranean during the 2nd WW. How do you make a Maltese Cross? (which is their national emblem by the way), but the joke gets interpreted as "how to upset a Maltese inhabitant?"..... stick a poker up his whatsit is the amusing response.

The country, once very much part of the British Second World War campaign, was awarded the George Cross by our King George VI for its "bravery", below!

and sports the Maltese Cross, an ancient national emblem as their flag. Below!!

Right now, down to business as Scotland are beginning their World Cup campaign near the ancient city of M'dina, a "village" called Ta'Qali, today. This enterprise is a multi purpose complex which will host the match. Attractions in this areea include the national vegetable market and the National Park.

The Maltese squad, selected from a national population of nearly 450,000, will include Luke Gambin, a 23 year old, who plays for Barnet FC. There is another squad member who plays for Boa'vista and someone from an Italian club, Arezzo, but the rest are home nurtured. Valetta and Hibernians Cliubs may be familiar to you.

Scotland should not fear the Maltese however having never lost to them, although their first encounter in a 1988 friendly ended in a 1-1 draw and in 1997 the Scots sneaked a 3-2 win away; there have been three other wins for the Scots.

Presently ranked at 176th by FIFA their highest rank was in 1994/5 at 66th. Hard to imagine how? In World Cup fixtures the country has played 92 times, won 2 drawn 9 and scored 30 goals, letting in 275, so there is no excuse. The Maltese in March did draw with Moldova 0-0 in a friendly.

The other good news for the Scots is that Darren Fletcher is making a come back as captain having recovering from his bowel problem and taking over from the retiring Scott Brown this year. So very good luck to him.

HYDE AND SEEK

It is wonderful, football. I hope I feel the same way tomorrow at around 7pm when Sam's team have squigged Slovakia into a pulp.

Today I ventured almost to the dark side, I was in Greater Manchester, if you know your county boundaries, at Hyde. This was a sort of old fashioned Lancashire derby against Colne (40 miles away near Burnley) in the FA Cup. It was a qualifying round and no holds barred.

By the time Mrs B had suggested that I drive to Glossop and get the train at £1.70 return to Newton for Hyde, there was a plan. Dintin, Broadbottom, Godley, Hattersley, the station names are reeled out like a Flanders and Swan sing song. I got off at Newton for Hyde.

I walked to the Ewen Fields, taking ten minutes or so, and found a very tidy stadium with a largish seater grandstand, each other side of the pitch covered for standing, a club shop, bar, food place plenty of lavs and I was pestered for half time tichkets, time of first goal (I was 7 minutes out) a substantial programme and an OAP entry fee.

By the time I had consumed a pint of Hyde United bitter (it was good) and chatted to some regular bloke and his daughter, wife, sister, cousin-couldn't tell, I was suddenly aware that the FA Cup meant more to Hyde than to the many other clubs competing in the tournament. 26-0 he reminded me.

One of my Facebook friends suggested 36-0 once I had posted where I was but he was ten goals out-he was of course remembering Arbroath v Bon Accord, but "good on him" for having a go.

Yes Hyde had lost to Preston North end in a record beating 26-0 in 1887 (actually I guessed that date in the bar). After the 26-0 win they all asked the Hyde goalie for his autograph because he had played so well. Eight of their team scored.Preston lost the final in 1888 to WBA 2-1.

So Hyde FC began in 1885 in the local White Lion Pub, went to Ewen Fields in 1906, merged with Hyde St Georges, joined the Lancashire Combination, folded in 1917 due to the war and then reformed in 1919 when the local "Forty Gang" and "Discharges soldiers and sailors" got together,

Since then they have been a well run and successful club playing in the Northern Premier League Div 1.

I looked at the sward and thought, my word that is some grassy pitch, but it turned out to be Astro and in perfect nick. All their teams train there, the club is full of action all week and therefore money coming in, Good effort.

Today they won 1-0.

Never forget!

GOLDEN BALLS DEBUT

Well it wasn't quite the exact day but on the 1st september 1996 David Beckham made his international debut against another East European team, Moldova. Only five years independent, Moldova was a young nation, formed at the break up of the USSR and their side very much in its "infancy" too.

Glen Hoddle also made his managerial debut on the day and so did Andy Hinchcliffe of Everton, the first of his 7 caps.

Beckham went on to earn 115 caps, with the odd moment of controversy, but in the Moldovan capital Chisinau (formerly Kishinev) that evening, he was very much part of a dream. The 1998 World Cup was not far away and this qualifier played in front of 9,500 people should have been the start of a very successful run for the footballing artist Glen Hoddle, the juggler Gascoigne and his young pretender Golden Balls.

We all know things didn't quite work out that way, but to distract you from the historic disappointment, name these players in the England starting XI.

The game was a bit special nevertheless, and here are the goals. Martin Tyler still on the mic.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NT2u1mkBA8A

On the 10th September 1997 the return tie was held at Wembley and England won 4-0. Brighton born comedian Tony Hawks (you would recognise him if you saw him) was in a drinking contest with fellow comedian Arthur Smith who bet Hawks that he couldn't beat every one of the Moldovan football XI at tennis. Don't ask!!?? The contest took place and resulted in a book and film titled "Playing the Moldovans at Tennis". The film was released in September 2012.

1st SEPTEMBER 2001

I know what I was doing on Saturday 1st September 15 years ago (2001). I coached at the local football club in the morning, played cricket next door for Farncombe Wanderers CC, with a chum RV Lewis. Guess which of us two was a county cricketer?). Lew got a few and I batter for 52, so we were both happy.

Then to cap it all, my dear wife and I were summoned to a friend's 50th birthday party in Farnham, a big affair with a marquee and all those sorts of things. Better still there was a TV on as we arrived showing Michael Owen's hat trick and England thumping Germany 5-1 in Munich. This was not a valueless friendly but a World Cup Qualifier! Gulp!! We had lost to them at Wembley in the previous October 0-1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XiBxyPqV1BY

In June 2000 the England team had beaten Germany 1-0 in Charleroi in the European Championship Group A, Shearer scored but the group table showed Germany bottom with one draw, us next with that one win. Portugal and Romania both beat us 2-3 and went through. Remember that?

During the rest of the World Cup qualifiers in 2000-1, we drew 0-0 with Finland away, beat them at home 2-1 and beat Albania away. In the next test, Beckham and Scholes scored against Greece in Athens, then came the Munich marvel. What ever happened in that match who knows, but the Germans were clearly not themselves?

Continuing our assault on the 2002 World Cup, having beaten Albania at St James' Park, then came the last crucial tie versus Greece at Old Trafford, Beckham's home and you know what happened then don't you?

We then went to Japan and drew with Sweden and Nigeria, beating Argentina. Then came Denmark in the second round 3-0, finally losing to Brazil in the Quarters.

(In October than year we played Slovakia in Bratislava in a European Championship Qualifier-2-1 win)