DIMINUITIVE WOLF

Happy Birthday Gary Lineker; at 56, you are looking good. Yes, it is the goal poacher's birthday but we know all about him, so why not turn our attention to another birthday boy, Norman Deeley, once of the great late 1950s champions, Wolverhampton Wanderers. Deeley was born on November 30th 1933 and despite his small stature at 4'4", he played for England U15 Schoolboys in 1947 and is recorded as the smallest player to win a schoolboy cap. He then grew a bit.

As an introduction to this, I can just remember watching, on a black and white TV,  Peter McParland of Aston Villa smashing Ray Wood into his own goal during the 1957 FA Cup Final beginning the downfall of Manchester United.
http://sport.bt.com/video/man-utd-keeper-knocked-out-in-1957-fa-cup-final-91363983712008 The following year, the revitalised post Munich disaster, United side suffered the same fate in the 1958 Cup Final when Bolton's Nat Lofthouse bundled Harry Gregg into the net for another goal.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13prB-g5fDU
1959 was the Nottingham Forest defeat of Luton Town. I saw them all.

In the 1960 FA Cup Final, Wolves' Norman Deeley was the man of the match, scoring twice in a 3-0 defeat of Blackburn Rovers. Although his performance at Wembley won him Man of the Match, he had gone into a tough tackle with Rovers' defender Dave Whelan, whose leg was broken. Rovers were down to 10 men as there were no subs and the Wolves ran riot. Some say Deeley was lucky to stay on the pitch after the challenge. This clip does not show the tackle!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SmzON6BVFw

Born in Wednesbury, he was destined to join Wolves where he stayed for 11 years. He made his debut against Arsenal winning 2-1 and then did National Service before making 235 appearances at Wolves scoring 75 goals and winning First Division championship medals in 1958 and 1959. He played 41 out of 42 games in the first winning season scoring 23 goals. In the following campaign he turned out 38 times scoring 17 times. In August 1954 he starred in a pulsating Charity Shield match when WBA and Wolves drew 4-4.

His success with Wolves led to two England full caps on an unsuccessful South American tour. he lost his England place soon after that. Deeley went on to play at Leyton Orient and helped them to promote from the Seecond Division as runners up in 1961-2 only to see them relegated the following season. After Orient he went "west" to Worcester City, then Bromsgrove Rovers and ended his playing career at Darlaston Town. He later was a steward at Walsall FC and ran a community centre nearby

Here is Norman dwarfed by two Wolves......who are they?

Deeley died on 7th september 2007. Gary is still with us.

WAS BERGKAMP RIGHT?

Dennis Bergkamp refused to fly. He had a phobia and if needed at an away game in Europe, he would travel overland. Born in Amsterdam his parents named his after a favourite Denis law, the famous Scottish international. But they insisted on giving him two "n's" as in Dennis because Denis was too close to Denise!

I suspect there are many footballers who do not like European away games because they have to fly and in light of today's sad news I can understand that some may suffer from a fear of flying.

I flew from Quito to Santiago in 2008 with a top team in Ecuador who were playing in an inter-country club match. They were Universidad Catolica and they arrived safely.

Today a shocking air crash has taken the lives of famous South American footballers from the Brazilian club team Chapecoense (ACF). The relatively young club, founded only in 1973, was on a chartered flight, LaMia 2933, carrying 81 passengers and crew, flying to Medellin in Colombia. They were on their way to play the first leg in the final of the Copa Sudamericana against Atletico Nacional, winners of the Copa Colombia.

An "electrical fault" apparently brought the plane down in mountains en route. Three players survived the crash, 27 year old defender Alan Ruschel, Neto and reserve keeper Jackson Follman.

Chapecoense is based in Santa Caterina a city in South Brazil, with a population of 200,000. The club's stadium holds just over 20,000. They now play in Brazil's Serie A having gradually worked their way through the divisions. They now sit 9th in the division ahead of famous clubs such as Fluminese.

Other airplane disasters to have claimed footballers lives include the 1958 Munich air crash with Manchester United players on board, Alianza's 1st team from Lima were killed in december 1987 and in April 1993 the Zambian national team plane crashed near Libreville in Gabon.

Geography on your left.

INNER CITY PITCH NEED STACKS UP

Amanda Levette is a top architect and she runs a studio AL_A. Her company has come up with a strategy to help provide playing areas for inner cities and therefore help regenerate deprived urban space. The provision of small sided football pitches (and other play space) is limited due to lack of initiative, investment and basic space in inner city areas, so her "stacked pitches" design may provide a solution.

The 3 storey carbon fibre construction could be temporary and is easy to install. It is ideal for short term needs such as when there is bigger tournament in town-rather like the five-a-side space in the shadow of Wembley, or for longer term regeneration projects.

Easily packed into shipping containers, the structures can be moved at the drop of a hat and rebuilt where there is demand. There is space for spectators, changing facilities may be added and of course the space can be used for other acitivities such as dance, basketball and well almost anything you fancy, so long as a large area is not required.

So who is going to benefit from this first? Amanda needs an investor and once one (or more) pop up then communities may come together.

WAX AND WAYNE

Nudged by a well known Radio channel and being a bit short of inspiration today, I heard that there were some dodgy "wax works" on show, illustrating our famous footballers. So here they are and thanks to the Radio Channel for giving me the idea and thanks to FourFourTwo Magazine for the pictures.

http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/footballs-25-worst-waxworks-starring-rooney-ozil-pele-hughes?page=0%2C1

I have done a similar page or two on "Statues" which I suspect some of you may not have read. Now is the time to enjoy one or two erections.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/erected-for-ever.html
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/more-erections-good-or-bad.html

These links do not include the great trio of statues at Curzon Ashton, all three footballers born in Ashton under Lyne......remember who?

Thanks to Steve, a loyal HUJFC "dad", by the way who got Steve (Sedgley) form the recent Spurs quiz.

WHERE ARE THEY NOW?

Sedgly, Polson, Moran (sub), Thorstvedt, Hughton, Van den Hauwe, Mabbutt, Gascoigne, Howells, Nayim, Lineker, Moncur (sub),Walsh.

These made up the Spurs' side that last beat Chelsea 2-1 at Stamford Bridge in front of just over 28,000 people.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVTBLpEQMCQ
Chelsea had Beasant, Clarke, Johnsen, Roberts, Wilson, Dorigo, Bumstead, Nicholas, Dixon, McAllister and Wilson. Chelsea fans may know of these from the past.

David Howells scored the first for Spurs after 44 minutes (a diving header) and Chelsea replied in the second half through Bumstead (59), with a standard Lineker back post header to grab victory in the 88th.
This game played on February 10th 1990 was the last win for the Spurs, so 26 years later after 28 games, they try again.

Of the Spurs' side goalkeeper Eric Thorsvedt retired with a back injury and works in TV,
Chris Hughton, at Brighton and Hove Albion, is one of few black managers in the Football League,
Steve Sedgly formed his own construction company called COYS,
Pat Van den Hauwe works at Everton FC, partly on their Walking Footballl Programme,
John Polston had a knee injury, retired and is now a personal trainer,
Gary Mabbutt is a Spurs ambassador and works on behalf of Diabetes Uk, having suffered from it,
Paul Gascoigne we all know about,
David Howells, a local Guildford boy, works at Charterhouse School as a sports' coach and runs his own schools' sports company called PSD in the Guildford area, working with his brother Gareth.
Nayim is at Zaragozza FC and Paul Walsh is a TV pundit.
John Moncur turned to religion to curb his anger and has two sons in the professional game, one at Barnsley and the other at Leyton Orient,
Paul Moran has played and coached in the London area.

If you are a Chelsea fan, then look after your own side! Name these three!

SAD NEWS

I read today that Paul Futcher, former Barnsley and Grimsby hero defender, died on the 24th November, from cancer at the age of 60, a young man. His twin brother Ron, a centre-forward, who starred in the NASL survives him and so does older brother Graham, who also played professionally at Chester City. Paul's son, Ben, is also a professional footballer .

Born in Chester Paul joined the local club in 1972 and then went to Luton Town (131 apps) before signing for Manchester City in 1978 for £350,000, at the time a record for the club and he became the most expensive defender in the Football League. He only played 37 times for the Blues and then played for Oldham, Derby both for short periods before settling at Barnsley in 1983-89, appearing 230 times.

His journey then went through Halifax, Grimsby (132 apps) in 1991, Dundalk, Droylesden, Gresley Rovers and Southport retiring in 2000, where he was player manager. He also managed at Darlington, Stalybridge Celtic and Ashton United.

I also read of the passing of Bobby Campbell (Robert MacFaul Campbell) a Northern Ireland international who died in Huddersfield on the 15th November. Bobby is not to be confused with some other Bobby Campbells who have played professional footballer. Our Bobby spent his last years in the Huddersfield area and prior to that he played for a variety of clubs, totalling over 500 games at the top level, beginning in 1974 at Aston Villa but mainly at Bradford City in the 1970-80s.

A GIANT AT 5'5"

Apologies for missing a day but I was on a mission, visiting the next great footballer in my family, he is only 5 months old, but getting the idea already. The real reason for the trip towards the sun was to see him but the visit south coincided with a kind invitation to visit the Emirates to see the Arsenal play PSG in a Champions League match. It doesn't get much better than that! I accepted.

Arsenal had 6 Frenchmen in their squad and 9 English. PSG had 14 Frenchman and no Brits! There lies a tale. I shall not tell you how many of the above actually started the game or indeed came on as subs. You look at today's papers. It was a good game 2-2, thrown away by the Arsenal but to make up for any disappointment we did visit "Piebury Corner" and outstanding "Pie Shop" close to the ground where I indulged in a "Tony Adams"-steak and ale with gravy-delicious and a local ale.

So what did the programme tell me? It was a European night and we were celebrating the birthday of Johnny MacLeod (known by his mum as John Murdoch MacLeod) who was born on 23rd November 1938. Why? Well, he scored Arsenal's first ever goal in any European Competition-when? 25th September 1963 in the Inter Cities Fairs Cup when the Gunners represented London. Arsenal played Staevnet from Denmark in the first ever tie and beat them 9-4 over two legs. Johnny opened the scoring in a 7-2 win and history was made.

The club only lasted into Round 2 losing to Liege.

Born in Edinburgh, Johnny turned out for Edinburgh Thistle then Armadale Thistle along with Joe Baker, who also played for Arsenal. In 1957 Johnny was signed by Hibernians and he played 101 games for them before being snapped up by Arsenal in 1961 for £40,000, a record for a Scot at the time. He stayed for three years and played 130 games, so as a small and clever winger, he was well thought of by many but not Billy Wright, then the Gunners' manager who favoured others.

Along came George Armstrong and Johnny had to move aside. He went to Aston Villa until 1968 (125 games), went to KV Mechelen in Belgium (116), Raith Rovers and Newton Grange Star, a minor league club in Midlothian before retiring in 1975.

He did make it to the national side and was awarded 4 caps between April and May 1961, including his debut when the Scots suffered a 9-3 beating by England at Wembley, a game many Scots would want to forget.

YOUNG AND OLD

Ernie McGarvey is 81 and the oldest referee in the country. He is retiring from the game, having been in the middle for more than 2500 games. He has been in charge, overseeing generations of footballers in the Broadstairs area in Kent and he clearly states he wouldn't want to be starting the job all over again now! Well he is 81 after all. Since the beginning of his career in 1952, he has come across a wide range of attitudes to his decisions. These days he claims the game is much more feisty and he is less likely to share a beer in the pub after a game with somebody he has just reprimanded than when he began all those years ago. In 2013 the Kent FA gave him the Thanet Sports Award and he has gathered many accolades over the years.

Ernie still walks 10-12 miles a day, making up for the miles lost now that he is retiring from being the man in the middle.

A younger football fanatic is Archie Rhind-Tutt, a young journalist specialising in the Bundesliga. If any youngster fancies his chances in the world of football journalism then have a look at Archie's "academic" path. He has recently posted an article about Oliver Burke, once a 19 year old midfielder at Nottingham Forest, who has made the brave move of signing a five year contract for RB Leipzig. He was tracked by various Premier League clubs but his new team is top of the German league after an exhilarating 3-2 win over Bayer Leverkusen. RB club was only formed seven years ago following investment by Red Bull. They are the first Bundesliga promoted club to remain unbeaten in their first 11 league games. Although Burke is not first on the team sheet recently he did set up the winning goal on his debut against Borussia Dortmand and score against Cologne after making his first "start". 

Have a look at the fuller version of Archie's report on www.thesetpieces.com

Burke was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland but grew up in Melton Mowbray. He chose to play for Scotland although he has made his name in England. With a few dozen games under his belt at the higher level, he is being likened to Gareth Bale, as he has his build and athleticism. At £13 million, the youngster has been bought at a good price by the Germans and Red Bull's investment may have been a wise one. This is a Scottish record and the hope for the international side is that Oliver will have the influence that Bale has had.

HIS 1000th GOAL

While I was getting excited about a "Maverick", Frank Worthington, I forgot to pick YOU up on a deliberate error slotted into the Exeter City blog a couple of days ago. Did you spot the "wrong" nickname. getting carried away with Ancient Greece and Rome, the Grecians is what it should have been. What did I write? That will make you look back won't it. Bit of homework for you.

Yesterday overcome by Shelf FC and Frank, I missed the anniversary of the 1000th goal scored by Edson Arantes do Nascimento, the greatest footballer of all time? This was against Vasco da Gama at the Maracana on 19th November 1969.

Born on October 23rd in 1940 Pele lived at Tres Coracoes, Minais Gerais in Brazil, his father was a Fluminese footballer.
The nickname, Pele, came from his mispronounciation of his favourite footballer, a goalkeeper from Vasco da Gama club known as Bile. (apparently in Hebrew Bile means Miracle!).

Living in relative poverty, he practised keepy ups with a roll of old socks and made his mark in Futebol de Salao, a 5-a-side game. He joined Santos in 1956.

Although only 5' 8" he was a big man on the pitch and wore the number 10 shirt. He only played for Santos (683 times with a remarkble 619 goals) and the New York Cosmos (56-31) and of course for Brazil (91-77). He was the outstanding debut maker in Sweden's World Cup in 1958 and named World Player of the Century in 1999. In 2013 he was awarded the FIFA Ballon d'Or d'Honneur in recognition of his achievements. Here are 20 of his best goals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHG-e9XF8yo

Pele scored 1281 goals in 1363 matches and was named a "National Treasure" by the Brazilian President and was known as the "Black Pearl" and various other handles associated with the lable "King". He played his first professional game at 15, scoring against the famous Corinthians, made his debut for Brazil at 16 and won three World Cups in 1958, 1962, 1970.

He was kicked off the field during the English 1966 World Cup by various opponents in the group stage.

He became an ambassador for football and was involved in many commercial ventures.

Pele's greatest goal was against Juventus. There is no actual footage of the goal but a simulation has been made:-http://the18.com/news/greatest-goal-pele-ever-scored-recreated

MAVERICK ON THE SHELF

Some days I get stuck for a juicy theme and today was one. What to write about? So the old formula is usually what happened on this day in history. There is a splendid book called "Day of the Match" which I sometimes refer to, trying hard not to copy ideas. The book did offer me a reasonable event in history but I decided to see for myself what happened in international football on the 20th November.

I discovered that on this day in 1974 Frank Worthington played his last game for England at Wembley against Portugal and failed to impress in a 0-0 draw. It was by the way, England's 100th drawn match since fixtures began.

Frank had made his debut on May 15th that year against Northern Ireland at Wembley helping in a 1-0 victory.

He then appeared against Scotland (0-2 loss), Argentina scoring a goal against the Argies in a 2-2 draw, refereed I might add by an Argentinan ref!
He went on tour to East Germany (1-1), Bulgaria (1-0 win and Frank scored) and Yugoslavia (2-2). He then turned out against Czechoslovakia at Wembley enjoying a 3-0 win when England was trying to qualify for the Euros.
He won 8 caps overall and scored twice.

We all know Frank was a maverick and was largely ignored by the international selectors as were Charlie George, Alan Hudson, Stan Bowles and so on.
Here is a snippet from Frank's offering to football, playing for Leicester against Ipswich. He could unlock safes!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0z_arXZ8nM

Why am I getting excited about Frank? He played for 24 teams in his career starting at his home  area, Huddersfield Town. Where was he born? SHELF. Where's that? near Halifax (north of Huddersfield) and that is where our U13s played this morning in a standard league game (which we lost).

I notified my fellow U13 coaches/parents once I realised the coincidence and of course Frank is a local hero, He was born, I am told by coach David, at 6 West Street. David knows this because he has Frank's biography, titled "One Hump or Two". Say no more.
I have used Frank as a subject before
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/05/frank-maverick-is-with-us-just.html

SO NO MORNING SEX?

Ivorian international Yaya Toure may not have had intimate relations with his partner after midnight last night (earlier this morning)? As instructed, apparently, by his manager Pepe Guardiloa, City players are meant to be controlling themselves before games and also on day's off. The abstinence will help limit muscle injuries we are told.

It's not all bad though. The message is "just get a good night's sleep", so score before midnight.

By all accounts, Pepe's instruction markedly improved Lionel Messi's  performance (on the pitch) when he was the boss at Barcelona. It must work.............because Yaya scored the first goal for Manchester City today and he had stamina, nabbing a second at Crystal Palace, after a long lay off (so to speak).

Boss Pepe has also banned fruit juice (too sweet) eat fresh fruit, take away food (no cheeky pizzas in the dressing room after a game), full English brekkers, wifi (talk to each other) and daft haircuts.

What has been happening at Sunderland where Jermain Defoe scored his 150th Premier League goal after 34 minutes contributing to the Black Cats' 3-0 win at Hull? Has he been abstaining too? and what have the Tigers been up to in the battle of the pussys? Steady!

I think Reuben Reid at Exeter City wouldn't have just got out of bed when he nipped in with a goal 1 minute after the kick off, away at Carlisle. However the long journey north might have accounted for the Trojans weakening and losing their lead in the 89 minute, resulting in a 2-2 draw.
With Exeter nearly "root" in Div 2 and Carlisle virtually at the top, then an away draw is a good effort for Reid's side, sex or not.

Horizontal acivity never bothered George Best who was having sex, before, during and immediately after matches, allegedly. George, where did all go wrong?

In 2006 the England WAGS allowed into the team camp must have prevented Sven's team from making progress in the World Cup and four year's later Capello's boot camp plan, when they were banned, failed too.

This is what you need. The banana consumed in and around sporting activity does you good. FACT.





The ancient Greeks and Romans positively encouraged sexual activity before the "games" began claiming positive stimulation yet dear old Rocky was not really an "Italian Stallion" before fights because as we know, all boxers got "weak legs" after a round or two outside the ring (or inside it). So the jury remians out.

DEFOE DEFIES HIS AGE.

Sorry to tease you about promising more about the Hungarians. But tomorrow, if Sunderland's Jermain Defoe scores against Hull City on Saturday, not only will he be helping his club to gain a point or three possibly, but he will also reach 150 Premier League goals. Defoe has played for West Ham, Tottenham, and Portsmouth in the Premier League previously, as he gradually moves towards this notable landmark. If he succeeds he will be 7th equal in the all time scorers list (so far).

So the question is...... name the other players who have scored 150+ Premier League goals. The answers are on the link but have a go first. There are 7.
https://www.statbunker.com/alltimestats/AllTimeLeadingScorers?comp_code=EPL

Van Persie is on 144, 11th in the list.
The only present PL player anywhere near these totals is Sergio Aguero on 110 and he is 19th in the list of all scorers. Peter Crouch comes next with 95 goals in 29th place. Daniel Sturridge is 52nd in the list with 69 goals. Lukaku, Walcott and Giroud are somewhere in the top 60 or so.

Les Ferdinand, before he retired, made it to 149 goals playing for 6 clubs and Teddy Sheringham 147 with 5 clubs.

Rooney is 2nd behind Ryan Giggs in most PL assists. Fabregas is 4th in PL assists but way down in goals scored with only 43! So unselfish Fab.

THE GALLOPING MAJOR

I gave centre forwards a mention yesterday and today, moving sideways, I must mention the number 10, or as the player was named "in my day", the inside left.

Probably one of the greatest "withdrawn" forwards was brought into the world by the great post war Hungarian side. He was Ferenc Puskas, the galloping major, who died on this day in 2006 in Budapest. He was 79.

I first "saw" him play when during a wet Wednesday afternoon school PE session, we were not allowed "out" because it was too wet. Our PE man (Ted Palmer, who was a linesman at the FA Amateur Cup at Wembley once) showed us the black and white film of the infamous England v Hungary international, played at Wembley on November 25th 1953. This film footage shows some classic moments from Puskas' career, especially those from a heavy and embarrassing defeat of the English, once regarded as the founders of the game.

Look as:
Puskas completely "sells the dummy" to Billy Wright-a centre back who won 105 caps, so no mug.
It shows the two Hungarian reserves having a fag by the goal and then going all silly after watching yet another goal go in.
There is an extraordinary moustache on show and
The final score was 6-3 to the Magyars. A year later the Magyars beat England in Budapest 7-1!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rZfCDHegItE

Enjoy Puskas and Mighty Magyars who were the leaders in the football field post war, winning the 1952 Olympics but who couldn't win the next World Cup in 1954, losing out to the West Germans 3-2. In an earlier World Cup match the Hungarians had beaten West Germany 8-3. Puskas gained a hairline fracture in the match which he ignored in the final and played on. In 85 appearances for his national team he scored 84 goals. He is so interesting (isn't he?) that I might tell you more about him tomorrow.

p.s. Who else did he play for?

ALUMNI TO THE FORE

It has been a festival of football this week, not just for Gareth and his chaps but for me too. I left the Curzon Stadium on Monday feeling positive about our national game and yesterday travelled to Tonbridge in Kent to watch my old school U18s play in the Independent Schools' Boodles' Cup last 16 against Tonbridge School. These two teams have never played each other at "full" 1st XI before because Tonbridge is mainly a rugby and hockey school in the Autumn and Spring terms.

Of course you will know that Tonbridge is also well known for giving England Colin Cowdery, and his sons, an education and I was privileged to stay overnight in Colin's old "boarding house", Ferox Hall. Many thanks to the Housemaster and his charming family for putting me up!

In the cup tie, Charterhouse won 5-1, but the score flattered them and the home team were well in the game until the last ten minutes or so. All credit to them and to their wildly enthusiastic coaches, one of whom OF COURSE, is an Old Carthusian, so he had been well trained, as so have his players.

(I might mention another cup tie in the Boodles's ISFA Cup between old favourites Eton and Harrow, the first time this has happened. Eton won 3-0.)

So much is the Tonbridge teachers'  love of football, that their staff took us off to Tonbridge Angels last evening, to see the local side play in an FA Trophy replay against Kingstonian. The ground was in immaculate condition, the game was tense but it was the visitors again who ran out winners 2-1.

Why the Angels? From 1947 they played at their first ground, where Kent CCC originally played, known as the Angel Ground (named after a local pub). The footballers eventually moved to the now well appointed Longmead Stadium in 1980. The staff at the ground were also charming, serving good beer and even finding me a pristine programme as a keepsake!

At this point I need to remind you of the past players who cut their teeth at the Angels. Roy Hodgson would be one player, as well as being an international manager.

Neil Emblen, was another international team manager, who looked after New Zealand's squad in the 2012 Olympics. One tournament match he managed was against Neymar's Brazil, which ended in a 0-3 defeat. But Neil says, he "managed" Neymar who didn't score, didn't he!

George Cohen of Fulham and 1966 World Cup fame was the club's manager in 1974-5 when the Angels played in the Southern League. Malcolm MacDonald (the well known centre forward of the old school) and Ron Saunders (another well travelled centre forward) have been members of the club. It was rewarding to see the Tonbridge goal being scored by their NUMBER 9 who rose like a salmon and nodded the ball strongly past the Carthusian keeper.

HAMMERS HAVE THEIR INFLUENCE

Practice Friday, Hepworth Adults in the Cup Saturday, U13s win Sunday, Curzon Ashton FC tonight, Independent Schools' FA U18 Cup tomorrow in Tonbridge. Five on the trot. I do love live footy.

I have decided to go across the Pennines to Ashton Under Lyne to watch an FA Cup tie (First Round Proper replay) between Curzon Ashton FC and Westfields.

Westfields, lads from Herefordshire, represent the lowest placed club in the Pyramid left in the Cup. They sit on level 9, playing in the Midlands League Premier, whilst their lofty opponents are Level 6 in the Vanarama National League North.

This is a replay, so we could argue that Westfields have had their moment of glory earning some cash and "winning" a 1-1 draw with Curzon at their Widemarsh Ground. The club nicknamed The Fields, has a nice rural theme to it.

Curzon known as "The Nash", for a reason I could not find, warmed up at the weekend with a 2-0 win over Gloucester City in their league. Their next game is against another catheral side, Worcester City, in the FA Trophy.

Westfields, on the other hand move in less heady circles, have recently beaten Sherwood Colliery in the FA Vase. The Colliery was recently put in its place by my local pyramid side Penistone Church FC. So this puts things into perspective.
Imagine the Church in the First Round Proper of the FA Cup, with about £30,000 in their bank. We dream.

Curzon Ashton FC was founded in 1963 when lads from Curzon Road FC and Ashton Amateurs amalgamated and they joined the Manchester Amateur League. In 2005-6 they were lucky to find themselves located at the luxurious Tameside Stadium, opened by Sir Alex Ferguson and a Manchester United XI. Outside the stadium is a "trio" statue depicting Geoff Hurst (ex West Ham and England and the FA), Jimmy Armfield (ex Blackpool and England full back and broadcaster) and Simone Perrotta (ex Roma and Italy) all born in Ashton.

Westfields got going in 1966 after the World Cup triumph when some local lads played pub sudes and then joined a local Sunday League.

During the momentous year, they chose West Ham colours in memory of the Hammers trio.
Nice link there then!

REMEMBERED MAINLY AND MOSTLY BEST FORGOTTEN

Remembrance Sunday; the 12th November 2016.
Our U13s joined in a minute's respect before their game with Howden Clough "C" in the Huddersfield and District Junior Football league Division 5B. We must remember they are only kids, but they know about the war and the dead, so it is appropriate for them to show their respect and of course when they got playing to remember that they find football a hard game. The beauty was that the two teams played out a splendid hour's footy and athough we won 6-2, both sides showed a lot of enthusiasm.

They also learned two things! (at least) and so did some of the crowd and opposition coaches!! You cannot be offside directly from a goal kick....their coaches were a bit bemused by that, but the ref was neutral and correct!
You will be penalised with an indirect free-kick if you shout out "leave" when the ball is near you even if it at your own player. You have to use a name otherwise it is confusing and unsporting. So there.

So the game was played on a beautiful sunny but cool morning and I remembered the 13th November 2010 when Airdrie United in the Scottish League Div 2 hosted Livingston and produced a match programme dedicated to the Remembrance Day. The club acknowledged their sponsor "Network Rail" and had the logo of "Poppy Scotland" on show, including the legend "Support our Heroes".

Unfortunately the photo of soldiers on a train leaning out of windows were Nazis! The club were assured they were Australians! Check out the collars.

Network Rail withdrew their sponsorship and Airdrie lost 0-1.

PENALTY SAVE BRINGS JOY AS HEPWORTH'S CUP RUNNETH OVER

Whilst basking in the reflective glory of England's win last night, English rugby, the Test match in India, Andy Murray and the prospect of more excitement from the Welsh tonight, I have been indulging in two wonderful football moments. The first was at our local football ground where our new clubhouse is still being built and had it been completed we might have done a roaring trade on sausage sandwiches and cups of tea. Note that I have skirted round the FA Trophy which was also played this weekend.

Hepworth Junior FC held an Under 8 tournament on the "far pitch" of Far Lane, which does not drain well. In fact by the time we got to the end of the morning, after an hour and half of little feet tip toeing on the pitch and some parents big clods also, the pitch had turned into a marsh. We wonder how well the pitches will hold up once everybody wants to play in front of the new "pavilion", several times on a Saturday and Sunday??

This afternoon's entertainment was the club's "Open Age" first team who played a Rosehill Association "League Cup" match, sponsored by Pete's Patisserie against Brinsworth Whitehill. They ply their trade in the division above Hepworth. It was an interesting test for our team, new to the Sheffield and Hallamshire League and cutting its teeth in Division Two North. There was good news for the Hepworth team who outplayed the opposition in the first half and had about 8 chances to score but turned round 0-1 down!

In the second half it was only a matter of time before the equaliser and it came but the game gradually slowed and tired into extra time and by the end of that it was till 1-1.

Penalties it was and Hepworth held their nerve in the shoot out and relied on their goalkeeper to make a great save to win the day! here it is captured splendidly and you can just catch the ball sliding away past the left hand post. A special mention must go to the referee who is not named on the fixture list but who had a really good game.

WILL WE REMEMBER?

It is November 11th and it is Remembrance Day. What better way of reminding the nation and indeed the rest of the World, than by wearing a poppy on a huge stage such a Global TV?

I want to draw your attention to a few footballing heroes who died during the First World War, in the peak of their lives and careers. Photos and comments courtesy of The Sun.

I WANT ENGLAND TO WIN

Big game tomorrow. I'm at an U13 practice 7-8pm so will have dash home to catch the match! I listen to TalkSport quite a lot and a question was put to the listeners; "Do you want England to lose?", so that a high profile defeat might shake up the dithering FA and get something done about English football! I always switch on TV when there is an England match with expectation and walk away in disappointment but I never WANT the team to lose.

The first international between England and Scotland was held in 1870 at the Oval and it was a truly "amateur" game with London based players dragged in by friends to make up the Scottish team. It was however the start of something big. Score 1-1.

The first official match was held on 30th November 1872 (St Andrew's Day) when England and the Scots drew 0-0.  Scotland only had ten clubs at that tme, so their team was diluted to say the least and entirely made up from Queen's Park players. 4,000 paying a shilling witnessed the game at the West Glasgow Cricket club.

The latest fixture between the two was in November 2014 when England won 3-1. There have been 112 fixtures and England has won 47 and drawn 24.

In 1928 the Wembley Wizards from north of the border wiped England all over Wembely winning 5-1. Arsenal's Alex James was one of the great influences in the game that time. He scored twice.

In April 1950 Scotland lost to England 0-1 and thereby refused to take part in the Brazilian World Cup the following summer. England went to Rio having "qualified" from Britain and many will know they did not fare too well. There were more WC qualifiers between the two nations in 1954 and 1968.

I remember watching England on TV embarrass Scotland at Wembley in 1961 putting 9 goals past a hapless Frank Haffey, the Scot's goalie. They scored three in return but Jimmy Greaves notched a hat trick, Bobby Smith scored two, Johnny Haynes 2, Bobby Robson and Bryan Douglas one each. The team was full of stars. Frank had a nightmare.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFqrBatm8No

The Scots claimed a "title" as World Champions after beating the World Cup winners (England) in 1967, again at Wembley. The Scots' side included four players from the new European Champions from Celtic, Dennis Law, Billy Bremner and Jim Baxter. Some side. Some pitch invasion.

In February 1973 the two teams met at Hampden to celebrate the Scottish FA's Centenary but the English spoiled the party with a 5-0 win.

After another victory on English soil, the Scots invaded Wembley in June 1977 when goalposts were broken by the crowd as they celebrated their team winning 2-1.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFqrBatm8No

The Home Championships were wound up in 1984 with the last fixture in this competition being held at Hampden Park, quite rightly the game was drawn 1-1. Since then there have been friendlies and a short lived competition called the (Stanley) Rous Cup which brought the two teams together. It now takes a WC or Euro qualifier or friendlies to pitch the two nations against one another.

1996 conjours up Gascoigne's dentist chair and his brilliant goal with a 2-0 win in the Euros at Wembley, there was fixture in 2013 when the FA celebrated their 150th Anniversary and the next tie in the World Cup qualifying in at Hampden Park on June 10th 2017.

MEXICANS AND THEIR DEFENSIVE WALL

Having nearly got over Brexit, I have been hit again by TrumpIN and although I try not to be too involved with politics at home or abroad, I couldn't help noticing that there is an international friendly fixed for this week to bring the festivities to an end. You couldn't make it up.

Yes, it is the USA v Mexico to be played on Friday 11th November at the Crew Stadium, Columbus, Ohio, a venue that has seen the Americans victorious on several occasions in WC Qualifiers, especially recently with the USA winning four times 2-0: "Dos a Cero".
http://www.espnfc.com/team/mexico/203/index

This match is another CONCACAF World Cup qualifying fixture. The fixture known as the Cold War (La Guerra Fria) has developed a special reputation and this week the description of a defensive wall may have another connotation.

Mexico's squad includes 4 Spanish based players, 4 in Portugal, 2 in Germany, 1 in the Netherlands and 1 in Italy as well as the rest playing at home of course. The Americans are more worldly with only 8 playing at home in the MSL.

The first meeting of the two teams was in 1934 in qualifying for the World Cup in Italy. The USA won 4-2. Over the years Mexico has dominated the fixture with 34 wins in 66 matches. Since the 1990s this has turned round with the more professional USA National Team victorious in 13 compared to 6 by Mexico.

The US professional league formed in 1921 folded in 1933, so there was not a huge tradition of soccer in the States, though this has changed since the 1990s. In Mexico the main league Liga MX was formed in 1943 and is regarded as the 20th strongest league in the world.

A documentary called "Gringos at the Gate" released in 2012 tells of the rivalry between the two nations.

More challenging this week may be the WC Qualifying contest between Brazil and Argentina. Sort of puts the England v Scotland match into perspective.

SHARP, SHARPEST KNIFE IN THE BOX.

Duncan Sharp lived in our village. He was an ex-Barnsley footballer, playing between 1953 and 1962 and he was regarded as one of the toughest half backs in the Football League, though he never received any punishment or sending off.

An intelligent man, who had been a pupil at Barnsley Grammar school, he obviously timed his tackles well and never fouled! In those days I think the decision making by refs was a little different compared to today, but nevertheless Duncan was tough but fair.

He joined the Barnsley club from Woolley Colliery FC at 17 years old in 1950. He played against the likes of Stanley Mortenson at Blackpool, John Atyeo of Bristol City and John Charles at Leeds, typically tough nuts to crack. He even sent a youthful Brian Clough to the other side of the pitch in a match against Middlesbrough and by 1960-1 Duncan had his best season, playing 44 times and scoring 10 goals from what would be regarded as a defensive midfield position.

Duncan was the club captain during their famous FA Cup run in 1960-1, when they won through to the quarter-finals as a Third Division side.
They beat Gateshead (then a League side), drawing away and winning at home.
Then in Round 2 won away at Bradford City.
Next, Rd 3, drawing away at Reading and winning in the replay.
Beating Huddersfield away in R4.
Luton at home (the previous year's cup finalists), in R5.

The Tykes eventually lost in the Quarter-Final to Leicester City 2-1, after another draw away and extra time in the replay at Oakwell, before 40,000 supporters.
The Foxes went onto the final where they met the eventual Double Champions, Spurs, losing 2-0.

Duncan's record shows that he had a spell at Bedford Town FC (1962-3) before he retired from the game at a young age of 29. He started his own haulage business and sold the firm in the late 60s, setting himself up in comfort in Carlecotes Hall, with hunting and polo horses, helped by his wife Patricia, their children and grandchildren.

Sharp was fearless on the pitch but learned and quiet off it. We met him often when he would take his constitutional walk through the village and back, smoking a cigar, which we think he was not allowed to indulge in the house! He had never smoked as a player! I would chat to him about the great players of the 1950s and 60s, Matthews, Finney,Wright, which he seemed to enjoy.
He tried to keep himself fit but suffered from the various mental illnesses of old age and sadly died on 27th October 2016. His funeral is on November 22nd at 11am in Cawthorne. He was 83.

WOOD WOULD BE GOOD, FOOD WON'T BE PUD

Forest Green Rovers have ploughed their own furrow amongst the rich soils of the National League and you may have read the blog below about FGR and the club's environmentalism. Owner, Dale Vincent, is a leader in this field.
Yes the grass is always greener at FGR a small village near Nailsworth, Gloucestershire.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2014/07/eco-power-will-keep-rovers-charged.html

Formed in 1889 by the local Nonconformist Church, the club joined the Mid Gloucestershire League in 1894. A hundred years later the club grew in stature and won the FA Vase and Hellenic League titles in 1981-2. They were finalists in the FA Trophy 1998-9 and 2000-1.

The club plays at the New Lawn at the moment near their original ground The Lawn. They are top of the Vanarama National league, ahead of Lincoln City by 7 points, having lost twice and drawn four times in 19 games.

FGR makes the news through its environmentalism and is a member of the "Ecological Management and Audit Scheme". It is known for its strict club food rules (see previous blog), its "Sustainability in Sport" Terrace, the organic pitch, solar panels (contributing to 10% of the ground's energy needs) and the Robot lawn Mower. In 2012 the club was given the Institute of Groundsmanship award. The ground presently has a pub The Green man", a gym, dance studio, conference facilities and seven hospitality boxes.

All this is about to change though as there are plans to build an all wooden stadium as a centre piece to an Eco Park development, just off the M5. The company Zaha Hadid Architects who built the 2012 Olympic Aquatic Stadium and who are also responsible for one of the Qatar World Cup stadia, were awarded the contract. The facility will include the club stadium, training pitches and a sports science hub and is worth £100 million.

About 4,000 jobs are to be created with businesses sited alongside the football club. Dale Vince's company Ecotricity will be on site, needless to say.

27th CONSECUTIVE VICTORY SWEEPS AJAX CLEAN

Chilly day today, though the little Hepworth United U13s played through the challenging morning and won against local rivals Hade Edge 6-3. Hepworth made more of the breeze and skiddy pitch than Hade Edge did.

Further north East Kilbride FC, a club in a Scottish "new town" (the largest town in South Lanarkshire) plays in the Ferrari Packaging Lowland League and have beaten a "consecutive wins" record this weekend, previously held by AJAX of the Netherlands.

 The 1971-2 Dutch champions with Cruyff, Neeskens, Rep and co. on board were the previous World record holders for the most number of consecutive football wins.

The Dutch club has been keeping an eye on the Scottish minnows, who eventually beat their record yesterday by clocking up their 27th win, beating BSC (Broomhill Sports' Club) Glasgow, 3-1 in the league, on their astro pitch. BSC were founded in 2014.

So excited were the Dutch heroes that they sent a message from Edwin van der Saar and 27 cases of "beer" (probably that fizzy stuff) and two bottles of Champagne. Edwin is the Marketing Director of the Ajax club.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/10646476/east-kilbride-break-ajaxs-record-for-consecutive-victories-with-3-1-win

East Kilbride were founder members of the Lowland League, playing in the Scottish fifth tier. They became founder members of the new league in 2013 and were eventually affiliated into the Scottish FA, which allows the club to take part in the Scottish Cup.

Formed originally in 1871, the club had varied success and folded way back, only to be resurrected by John Hartson (Celtic ex) and John Brown (Rangers ex) recently. They club plays a pre-season friendly against a chosen club to raise money for John Hartson's Testicular Cancer Charity.

DUD FIREWORKS AT VALLEY PARADE

I did go to Bradford City and found myself actually being able to hear the players "talking" to one another on the pitch during eerie silences, midst a sparse crowd. Their voices echoed around the lovely stadium that was Valley Parade, now it should be known as the Northern Commercials Stadium.

The Stanley lot (a thousand?) were put as far away from the main stand as possible and in a place where they couldn't easily see the new scoreboard, mainly because it was round the corner and they had the sun in their eyes! The board was functioning and jolly nice is was too. No replays yet; I guess they are waiting for the big opening against Rochdale. There they are! Mosque in the background.

Bradford City lost 1-2. I don't know what the %s were but the home team certainly dictated play and must have had much of the possession.  This was the first time that the two clubs had met in the cup, although of course history leads us up the garden path a bit as the team I saw in red today was not the original Accrington Stanley. Bradford and the original AS had previously met 100 years ago in the cup and Bradford won 1-0.

In 1911 when Bradford City won their one and only FA Cup Final, Stamford FC made their first appearance in the FA Cup. Tomorrow when they host Hartlepool.

The oldest cup "rematch" is Bolton Wanderers v Grimsby, a tie which first took place 120 years ago and ended in a 0-0 draw. Bolton eventually won through, this time 1-0.

Westfields from Herefordshire, playing in the Midland League Premier Division, are the lowest stepped club STILL in this round and they are playing their 7th FA Cup tie this year, one more than usual clubs need to win the final! Meeting Curzon Athletic from the National League North, they drew 1-1 and survive to be in the draw for the next round.

So it was a fun trip to Bradders and the sun did shine. Sadly for the Bamtams the tie did not go off with a bang, more  damp squib.

ILLUMINATIONS? WHAT ARE THEY?

It is a bit late in the day and I could have used the excuse for not writing this earlier that I have been watching the first ties of the Emirates FA Cup, but I haven't. Eastleigh and Swindon played out an exciting 1-1 draw and Millwall beat Southend 1-0 in a South-east derby. I could have travelled south, but NO I have been to listen to the Halle Orchestra in Sheffield! Even missed the U13 practice as the youngsters prepare for a local derby on Sunday v Hade Edge.

Tomorrow's cup fixtures left me with several choices. If a chum of mine had said "yes", I would have gone to Stockport County to see them take on Woking in a classy First round tie, But he couldn't, so I then thought next nearest? Well across the Pennines there is Bury v AFC Wimbledon, plenty of scope there for an historic rant, or Bolton v Grimsby and then possibly Oldham v Donny. Hmmm not convinced.

Further north-west there are some splendid cup ties with the stand out match being Southport v Fleetwood, how much more Lancashire can you get? (the cockles derby?) Blackpool are at home to Kidderminster and Morecambe host Coventry. The M6 and M58 will be heaving over the weekend, probably because of the Blackpool illuminations?

In the end it is the unofficial opening of the Bradford City new illuminated LED scoreboard that is going to get the nod. £150,000 invested through the Bradford City bantams family and supporters board, has had the new scoreboard erected between the TL Dallas and Midland Road stands at Valley Parade. Following on from the dreadful "fire", such investment is important to this brave League 1 club as they continue to upgrade their stadium.

Remember their cup run last year? Chelsea, Sunderland and finally losing to Reading  after a draw in the 1/4 finals. How much joy did that bring to all neutrals (especially the 4-2 thumping of the Blues at the Bridge).

So we are getting a sneak preview of the Bradford "illuminations" which will show films before games, involve social media and generally cheer everyone up. The official opening is next Saturday before the Rochdale game.

Accrington Stanley from League 2 are the cup opposition tomorrow and they have won less in the way of major football honours than the Bantams. Bradford City did win the FA Cup in 1911. The Bantams have been up and down the leagues since their founding in 1903 but poor old Stanley having been ousted from the FL in 1966 have fought their way back, with little to show for themselves than survival. They do have the honour of being one of the original Football League members and of course there is the famous advert.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgYP1d5nN2o

FLICKING MARVELLOUS

I was writing yesterday's blog, which I know many of you will have enjoyed, especially the Catholics and Italians. If you haven't read it then you have missed a treat both in history and sport. Jude Law and Diana Keaton even got a mention, so I might include show business and glamour as well..

As my digits flew across the keyboard I received an email from the Chairman, Secretary and as far as I can work out also the accountant/solicitor/player of the Old Carthusian (Old Charterhouse Schoolboys) Football Club, Chris Jenner.

If you have know idea who the Old Carthusians are then you are not a soccer anorak and you will not know that it was an OC who first used the word "soccer" (Charles Wreford Brown) and the School captain in 1863 (R. Hartshorne) attended the first FA meeting when the laws were drawn up and OCs won the FA Cup in 1881 (beating the Old Etonians 3-0) and they won the Amateur Cup in la,la,la,la......... Do you want me to stop?

The email was forwarded to those OC club members interested because a young Italian "anorak" called Marco Villa, had come across the Old Carthusian kit on a Subbuteo website and he wanted to "be the club" and needed a replica shirt to wear when he played.  Naturally he was offering to pay for the cost of the shirt and postage.

Yes the Old Carthusians as FA Cup winners in 1881 merit having a place on the Subbuteo Game and here are the photos of the little men on their wobbly bottoms to prove it.

So there is the evidence and below are various KIT websites that will lead you on to other Historical kits and names of clubs that you may never heard of before. Ever reckon Ardwick or Gainsborough had a Football league club?

http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Articles/Olde_Curiosity_Shoppe.htm

http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/English_Football_League/FA_Cup_Finals/1880-1889.html

http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Articles/Updates-2009.htm

You might have a look at this one too....it's Italian and Subbuteo......happy flicking.
https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=Subbuteo%20Blog%20Old%20carthusians

THERE'S HOPE WITH THE POPE

I caught up with the new series, the Young Pope, on Sky Atlantic last night when I should have been down the local pub watching Manchester City thumping Barcelona on BT. Starring Jude Law, he gradually made the story worth watching and when the ladies in the Vatican were shown playing football, soccer, calcio....which ever the Italians call it....I was engrossed. It was the calcio not the "sisters" that got me going, honest! Diana Keaton was starring in the series, so I had to reminisce.

The Vatican City, founded in 1929 under the Lateran Treaty, has seen organised football being played since 1947, and has a national football team, founded in 1972. Early matches were too violent and noisy, so the "competitive matches" were disbanded, to be revived in 1966. The V.C. is one of 8 sovereign states not in FIFA.

Being very much an amateur football state, the V.C. played its first official match in 1985 against an Austrian Journalists' XI. The team has been coached by Giovanni Trapatonni (October 2010) and he has a bit of a c.v. One game on his watch was against the Italian Financial Police. No bets or bungs on the game then? Today Gianfranco Guadagnoli is the gaffer.

In 2000, Pope John Paul II (who admits to hvavng played in goal in his native Poland) established a Sports' Department in the Vatican, stating that the sport of football was a "good vehicle for education". Indeed the "club" has invented a BLUE card in place of red and yellow which is shown for unsporting behaviour and the player is sin binned! Very appropriate and part of a learning curve. (worth seeing yesterday's blog on this subject).

When you consider that 42 players in the final stages of the 1990 World Cup had been under Salesian training, each one could have played for the V.C. being Catholics. Bearing this in mind, the V.City could put out a decent team. But since there is a matter of nationality, the selector(s)...him up there?....the Pope?....is limited to pick only people who work in the V.C.  The City has a population of 900 and of course the potential players have to look after the Pope, including the Pontificial Swiss Guard. So putting out a team does have its problems.

NICE KIT?
Despite this issue with selection, the V.C. has played San Marino (reserves), Monaco (several times), SV Vollmond (from Switz) and Palestine's Catholic Priests (won 6-1). There is an internal competition called the Vatican League (Campionato Vaticano di Calcio), formed in 1973 involving teams from the Vatican staff and there is also the Clericus Cup which invites teams from Roman Colleges. This has its own social media and TV coverage.

Football (Calcio Fiorentino- a brutal form of mob football) has been played in the "Cortile del Belvedere" since at least 1521, although the Pope is a bit miffed when the Italian leagues insist on matches played on Sundays when his Catholics should be otherwise engaged.