A SHOE IN OR A SHO'OT

Bless him Graham Taylor has been known for some unusual innovations in his career as a football manager, but this one will entertain you. He tackled his first modelling contract in 2011 when "Football Manager" revealed that the former England boss was promoting an item of footware that will stop managers from slipping over in the technical area when they are wearing their smart suit.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vHu3YYLvj7A

Some coaches wear trackies we know, but many are more sartorial are look the business. Dear old Graham has invented the Sho'ot...yes it is a kind of shoe with a boot.Despite its obvious practical advantage it has yet to be seen on any touchlines or even a catwalk.

For some coaches who don't move much (Roy? or Gus?) it has no value as they sit on the bench, but for othersmore mobile...for example, that Chelsea chap, the Sho'ot is a shoe "on".

This might have been a load of old Cobblers of course....name that football league club.

I tried to get a fulllength image of Tony Pulis but failed so perhaps he had donned the Sho'ot without getting permission from the sponsors.

TIME IS TICKING FOR ARSENE

So Millfield School beat Altincham GS 2-0 yesterday in the ESFA School's U18 Cup Final while Farnborough Sixth Form College beat York College 3-2 in the Colleges' Cup. The list of competitions offered by ESFA is impressive and includes youngsters, girls of course and pupils with disabilities. It give football to huge numbers of children.

The Independent Schools FA while not as massive, still accommodates huge numbers of school studying in the private sector. It is worth having a look at their website too. Even if it is just to see how Eton and Harrow get on....remember Millfield School is independent.

Talking about winning "trophies", Arsene Wenger, longest serving Arsenal manager and most successful, is dominating the news and needs just to yes or no to cheer us up.

Herbert Chapman, probably Arsenal's second most successful manager, rarely failed to "get his way" during his reign in the 1930s. His knowledge of coaching methods and tactics was novel and inspirational but on one important issue he was blocked by the Football League.

Chapman wanted to install a 45 minute clock at the Gunners' Highbury Stadium and the FL said "NO" because it would put too much pressure on the referee. Not to be outdone, Chapman installed a "normal" clock, yes the famous one at the South Stand and of course it is still ticking at the Emirates, at a time when there is NO PRESSURE on refs at all!!!

Here's Charlie and the old time piece.
There are many other blogs based on Herbert's successes.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/the-napolean-of-north-london.html

and the new site for it.

BOOM, BANG A BANG!

When Iceland beat England last summer in the Euros-surely you haven't forgotten that?-the outcome nine months later was a baby boom in the island's population. I was amused to read this article in the daily paper.

The Icelanders brought a new rhythm to football with that slow "Thunderclap"; starting slowly with a regular beat, then a build up of pace maintaining the pace and a final bursting conclusion, loud and final. Well that seemed to get the youngsters going back home as hospitals report extra activity in the "maternity units".

335,000 Icelanders have a true "island mentality" which seems to do more for them than for Gareth Southgate's England. There is a community spirit, a survival mechanism, everyone takes part in something, if you can't fish you might starve (healthy diet??), a small island mentality seems to unify.
The money from TV sponsorship is invested in grass roots and not into the pockets of the already relatively rich football clubs or associations.
I have mentioned previously the huge number of "football halls" built in conjunction with Local Authorities, vital under Iceland's climate.
Then there is the ratio of UEFA B Coaches (1:825 approx) compared to England (1:10,000) and coaches are paid.
The government buys land NEXT to schools and develops them into sports' facilities, often with artificial turf bearing in mind the challenges of the climate.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/06/full-houses-in-iceland.html

NOTICE ANY DIFFERENCES? if the FA had spread the £757million finance amongst grass roots, who knows how many youngsters we would have enjoying the great game. At the moment there is a big drive to "catch" more young girls in the football net and give them "elite coaching".

Perhaps Iceland will never win the Euros or World Cup but for one of the smallest nations in FIFA, they have hopped from 133rd to 33rd in the rankings. Where next?

What we do know is that in future there will be a few extra pairs of legs to boost playing numbers after the recent EURO BOOM!

SCHOOLS' FINALS AND THEN HOLIDAYS. HOORAH!

424, not a formation, this is the number of schools that entered the  English Schools FA Hudl Cup for pupils in Year 11-13, way back in September. The final is tomorrow at the Keepmoat Stadium, Doncaster Rovers FC at 12 o'clock. A fitting end to a long season.

Altrincham Boys Grammar school play Millfield School from the independent sector. Millfield have already lost the Independent Schools FA U18 Cup Final.

The draw is made regionally to help with travel, so Millfield made their way through 8 rounds, with one bye, then playing teams from the south west (North Somerset, Dorset, Cornwall, Gloucester until the quarter-finals when they had to travel to Hampton School in Surrey and then met Bedes' School East Sussex, both independent schools and very much "southern".

Altrincham Boys GS met opponents after a bye, playing teams from Doncaster, Bolton. Manchester, Heckmondwike, Liverpool, Chesterfield and South Cheshire.

It would be unfair to suggest that the northern route is tougher! But en route they beat Manchester Grammar School another strong independent school.

Local to me are Shelley College and Penistone GS. Shelley had a bye in Round 1 and were knocked out in Round 2 by Notre Dame Sheffield.
Penistone GS also had a bye to start with and then reached Round 4 losing to Sacred Heart, Sefton.

Have a look at the rest of the fixtures http://www.esfa.co.uk/competitions/?2016/Boys/u18b_st/9
and perhaps look further into the ESFA website which will show you how strong schools football is in our country from youngsters to girls. All are catered for.

Tomorrow at 4pm after the Schools' Final, it is the turn of the colleges when Farnborough Sixth Form College (Aldershot and District) meet York College.

It's a feast of football.

ARIES 2023

I share a birthday with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 1972, Manuel Neur 1986, Gaizka Mendieta 1974, Terry Yorath 1950 and I suspect several other well known footballers, but I do not have time to research anymore. Let's be happy with this small sample. At 66 it is all I can produce these days.

Aries is the star sign and we are often preoccupied with unfeasible ideas, we are a little bossy, but valuable, nurturing, supportive with a gentle nature. I am not sure you will agree. 

Jimmy was born in Surinam, was run over by a car when 3 years old and broke his leg. He recovered, lost his father when a nipper, moved to Holland and eventually played for Leeds, Chelsea, Middlesbrough, Charlton and Cardiff in England. There were many other clubs and plenty of internationals. 

Lucky enough to have a less fraught upbringing, Neuer was the sweeper keeper who played for Germany over 70 times and he was keeper for Schalke 04 all his career. Voted FIFA Balon d'Or third place and Guardian best overseas player in his time. He also was the German voice over of Frank McCay in Disneys "Monsters University" as well as fronting a Catholic Charity raising money for underprivileged children. He is an all time good one!

Mendieta retired from Middlesbrough's squad after helping them to win the League Cup and took a house in Yarm! Why? Having spent his life in Spain and Italy it seemed a strange move. But he also appeared in the Secret Tournament TV commercial directed by Terry Gilliam which involved several other footballers refereed by Eric Cantona. 

Terry Yorath was a good egg but lost some favour towards the end of his career. He played for Leeds, Coventry, Spurs, Vancouver and Bradford. He also managed several clubs, most unusually Lebanon and Margate until 2009. His daughter is probably more famous than he although you cannot argue with the 59 caps he earned for Wales. 

So you see there is nothing in common with this lot. Happy B'day all you 27th people.

ENGLAND v DENMARK 1979

My little lads got beat 2-8 this morning and they played well. Remember they are in Div 5B and they are under 13, so there is much to consider as they do their best coping with a full sized pitch, 11 v 11 and large goals. Bless.

One of the dads gave me a Wembley programme 40p 1979, Joe Brown on the back page advert! Wednesday 12th September, European Football Championship Group 1 Qualifying competition
ko 7.45 v Denmark. Name the team?

In the squad three England players were based with European clubs. Ron Greenwood was the manager (1977-82) resigning after the '82 World Cup Finals.

I do know that 85,000 watched the game, captain Keegan scored in the 17th minute (see below).

In 1978, England's qualifying had started with a win Denmark away 4-3 (scorers Keegan 2, Neal, Latchford). The match is on film:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q1-yk7TyCBE

They drew with the Republic of Ireland 1-1 away (Latchford) and in February 1979 they beat Northern Ireland 4-0 (Keegan, Latchford 2, Watson).

There was further qualifying in June 1979 away in Bulgaria winning 3-0, Denmark 1-0 (the programme game), N.Ireland 5-1 and Bulgaria again 2-0. One more win against ROI 2-0 saw England through to the finals in Italy June 1980, grouped with Belgium 1-1, Italy 0-1 and Spain won 2-1. That was that.

Unsurprisingly Italy, Czechoslovakia, Belgium and West Germany played in the semis; the Germans beat Belgium in the final.

If I were to sell the programme on EBay it would fetch £3.79. It's safely in my collection.

BEHAVE AGGERS, YOU HAVE A WEEKEND OFF.

I met Steve Agnew this weekend, by chance and I remembered his shiny bald pate reflecting the Oakwell lights as he played over 200 games for the Tykes, scoring barely 30 goals. But he was a clever, intelligent footballer, not controversial and a family man with the job of guiding Middlesbrough to safety as caretaker manager. He takes the reins following Karanka's dismissal and did the same for the club when Gordon Stachan got the boot in 2010.

Gordon might be on the end of another exit if Scotland don't perform this weekend.

Agnew was born in Shipley, Yorkshire and his roundabout of clubs included a very successful start at Barnsley (1983-91), then Blackburn Rovers for two years, when he became their most expensive signing at £700,000. Rovers were on the up and Steve gradually got eased by more expensive signing at Ewood Park. He went on loan to Portsmouth, helped Leicester to promotion and Sunderland too. His playing career fizzled out in 2002 at York and Gateshead, totalling just over 400 appearances over all. He only scored 46 goals; yes he was a schemer!

As a coach/assistant/manager, he cut his teeth at Gateshead, he has been at Middlesbrough in the academy, then went to Leeds, Hartlepool, Leeds again, Middlesbrough, Hull and Middlesbrough up to now!

No league fixture this week, so he has taken a rest in South Yorkshire. His nephew is Jordan Rhodes-know him?

SUGAR DADDY, BIG BROTHER

Ricay or the Blues were a Essex county league club a few years ago and now they are in the news because they have a "sugar daddy" who is investing for promotion.

Founded in 1880, the club is now a member of the Ryman's Isthmian League Premier. At tghe end of the 1960s and into the 70s Billericay seemed to hit a hot spot and were FA Vase winners three times (1976-79). Promotions ran parallel with this cup success.

Glen Tamplin has a few pounds to invest in his local club and matters have improved. The club is on the edge of promotion back to the National League having been relegated in 2012-3.

So in the news are signings such as Jake Robinson, a 30 year old striker from Hemel Hempstead Town, who cost £24,000. The Tudors are playing in the National League South and hopefully will invest that windfall sensibly? Robinson has a club list as long as his arm, the last one being Whitehawk.

Paul Konchesky and Mark Wright (yes The Only Way is Essex!) have been attracted to Billericay, as has Jamie O'Hara, late of Gillingham, who also played at Spurs, Portsmouth, Wolves and Blackpool. Signed for an undisclosed record fee, O'Hara also spent a bit of time on "Celebrity Big Brother" over the NewYear, when he must have thought his career was up! A local Essex boy he has been given a lifeline. His contract reads that he will not be paid if he is injured and he is free to leave if he wants!

Wright, a remnant from Southend, has a 20% investment in the progressive club, so might buy his place in the tea?

Konchesky, once of West Ham and several other clubs, was signed from Gillingham and the club manager at the time, long serving Craig Edwards resigned, so the owner took over. Perfect! There was a difference of opinion.

Konch's Kafe in Brentwood is a Pie and Mash shop own by the ex-international, something for Paul to fall back on should he not make the grade.

Billericay have had a winning run recently and hope to make it into the play-offs. If they don't make it, will the wheels drop off?

RED'S HERO, RED NOSE

I was going to write about Ronnie Moran, but I reckon you will have done that already if you have read today's papers or listened to Talksport (or any other serious sports' channel).
http://www.thisisanfield.com/2009/06/no-99-ronnie-morans-testimonial/

Instead, having had my ear to the radio earlier today, David Baddiel was being interviewed and "Phoenix" came up as one of his and Frank Skinner's great series. It's a ibit corny but there are some fabulous snippets for you to entertain yourself as the weather comes in and tea time is nearly upon us. Have a look at this one to get your appetite up.
http://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/9-best-phoenix-flames

He also does good work and since Red Nose Day is upon us why not donate? The Hepworth United FC U13s are raising money with a Red Nose training session on Friday. We shall gather about £40 during the evening having fun and games.
https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/3148735/the-red-nose-day-african-convoy-bbc-one-celebrities/

WEST OR EAST, IT'S THE GERMANS

Matches between Germany and England date as far back as 20th April 1908 when England Amateurs visited Germany (amateurs) and won 5-1. Ahh, memories of that great 1-5 World Cup result at the Olympiastadion, Berlin on the 1st September 2001. I was at a friend's 50th birthday party and we celebrated with much sparkling wine!

Further amateur matches were played in England in March 1909 (9-0 to England), April 1911 (2-2)  in Germany and on 21.3.1913 England won in Germany 3-0. England did tour Europe but only as amateurs.

Obviously the War prevented further matches for a considerable time, so on 10th May 1930 Germany hosted us to a 3-3 draw. It took another 8 years for the two countries to come together and it was controversial. The venue on May 14th 1938 was the Olympiastadion, Berlin and England won 6-3.But I think the team that included Stanley Matthews, Eddie Hapgood and Cliff Bastin was probably motivated by having to give the Nazi salute in front of Hitler and 120,000 Germans! Old Carthusian, Charles Wreford-Brown was the FA Official who conveyed the news that the team should carry this out otherwise there would be an international incident! The players were furious. WAR HAPPENED!

The next game was against West Germany in December 1954, a friendly at Wembley, England beating the World Champions, 3-2 in a friendly. In 1956 England beat them again 3-1 in Berlin.

In 1963, an East Germany team was beaten 2-1 in Leipzig with further matches against the "new country" in 1970 (3-1), 1974 (1-1) and 1984 (1-0). The country was later unified.

in 1965, West Germany lost 1-0 in Nuremberg (Terry Paine scored) and before the World Cup West Germany and England met in a friendly at Wembley (Feb 23rd 1966), Nobby Stiles scoring the only goal. I won't mention the match in July 1966. The last game against West Germany was on September 1987 (a), a 1-3 defeat.

There was the 1990 World Cup Semi in Turin 1-1: loss on pens.
Matches against the "new" unified Germany started on September 11th 1990, a 0-1 loss.
Remember 1996 Euros Semis: 1-1 loss on pens. Gascoigne should have scored!

There have been some other games,like the Mexico City tournament or the US Cup BUT surprisingly only 30 matches.

DEFOE DEFIES HIS AGE

Bradley Lowery, a 5 year old, who supports Sunderland FC was in the news recently when he was visited in hospital by Jermain Defoe, his favourite footballer. The positive side of footballers is not often reported but occasionally good news reaches the national papers when they carry out their charitable "duties" bringing joy to youngsters. Bradley was very happy and for a while forgot about his rare form of cancer.

Jermain has something to enjoy also, as he has been brought back into the England national squad as they prepare for the upcoming "international" week, His last game was on 15th November 2013 v Chile, as a used substitute in a friendly at Wembley.
Jermain, born on 7th October 1982, was picked at 34 years and 165 days, so he might be regarded as a senior. But should he actually get on the pitch and score, he has a long way to go to match some of England's previous "geriatrics".

Stanley Matthews of Blackpool, is the oldest English international goalscorer who on 6th October 1956 scored in a 1-1 draw with Northern Ireland, his 48th appearance. He was 41-248 days old.

Tom Finney of Preston NE comes next. On 4th October 1958 he scored in a 3-3 draw with N Ireland, his 75th cap. He also holds the oldest English international penalty scorer against the USSR in the World Cup (8th Oct 1958).

Teddy Sheringham at Manchester United scored on 6th October 2001 v Greece (2-2): 35-187 days in his 42nd appearance.

Frank Lampard of Chelsea on 29-5-13 scored in a 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland: 34-343days
Then Jack Charlton (Leeds) 10.12.1969 1-0 v Portugal: 34-217days
JERMAIN SLOTS IN HERE IF HE PLAYS AND SCORES
Bob Kelly from Huddersfield Town 31.3.1928 v Scotland in our 1-5 defeat: 34-136days.
Jimmy Moore (Derby County) 21.5.1923 4-2 v Sweden at 34-10days on his one and only appearance,

Gary Lineker is the oldest hat trick scorer 12th June 1991 v Malaysia at 30 years and 194 days.

Ashly Cole tried hard in his 107 caps but never scored an international goal,
Wayne Rooney is the youngest England goalscorer at 17-317 days v FYR Macedonia on 6th September 2003.

Lily Parr scored for Dick Kerr's Ladies (regarded as England at the time) v France Ladies in a 5-1 win on 26th April 1905!

JACK WHITLEY

John Jack Whitley died in July 1955, just after Chelsea had won their First Division League Championship. A chance reading of Albert Sewell's "Chelsea Champions" revealed the location of the grave.

Jack, shown here as the "trainer" with the cap, died at 77 years old and was buried in a "common grave" with no headstone or marking.
He is the only player to be buried in the Brompton Cemetery next to Stamford Bridge.
Jack played in goal for the club from 1907-14 and worked at the club as "trainer" until 1939, 32 years of service.
Chelsea FC supporters are determined to raise money for an engraved headstone/flat slab to mark the grave suitably. Historian Richard Glanvill has done the researched and there is a website for the "Just Giving" Charity. Chelsea fan? Definitely give!
https://chelseasupporterstrust.com/1510-memorial-to-jack-whitley/

ERIC IDLE v LONGITUDE "0" IN THE VASE FINAL

If you dip into the FA Vase results this weekend you will come across four clubs who have very different histories.

South Shields FC-you all know where that is don't you?- have just obliterated Coleshill Town from the Midlands 6-1 on aggregate. 2-1 up after the first leg, they notched a 4-0 victory at home at Mariners Park. South Shields FC dates back to 1889 as a football club playing "casually" and they were not affiliated to the FA until 1905. The club existed as South Shields Athletic fron 1897, then were known as South Shields Adelaide (heavens knows why?) and applied to the Football League in 1913 but received no votes, so were not elected. After the Great War they joined the Football League Division 2 in 1919, were relegated to the Third Division North in 1928 but folded in 1930 when 7th on the Division-what a waste!. They were "taken over by Gateshead. The name Shields comes from Schele whihc means a small settlement where fishermen live. Famous old boy? Eric Idle......

Coleshill Town FC has played football since 1885 when local tailor, Alfred Dabbs supplied dark navy blue shirts, white knickbockers and blue and white caps. They were known by the nickname "Rabbits" because their hospitality after a game was usually a delicious rabbit pie. In 1894 they were formerly founded and joined the Midland Combination in 1967. If you happen to know your Midland football, then Gary Shaw (Aston Villa) came from the club as did Danny Hagen ,who went to Wolves in 1970. The club has motored on in the Midland League Premier but were soundly beaten on Saturday.

The other semi-final saw Bromsgrove Sporting lose to Cleethorpes Town 2-1. The club was formed in 2009 and play in the Midland Combination Division One. The previous club was Bromsgrove Rovers that had to be "bought out" from administration by supporters in 2009.

Cleethorpes Town FC have reached the final at Wembley. Founded in 1998 "The Owls" were established as the Lincolnshire Soccer School Lucarlys, joining the County League, they transferred their allegiance to various other leagues until most recently they won promotion to the Northern Counties East League Premier in 2014. At the moment they are top of the league. So the seaside town is getting revved up to play on Non-League Day, 21st May at Wembley, a great venue for the FA Vase.
Fact...the town lies ON the GREENWICH MERIDIAN and is one fo the "driest" sites in the country.

Of course Grimsby Town play IN Cleethorpes at Blundell Park.

ICE TREATMENT

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/men/active/cryotherapy-the-cutting-edge-technology-that-could-be-the-secret/

You should have a look at this cryotherapy article which came to my attention this morning on the BBC sports news. This article shows that Leicester have been having the ice treatment for a while. I think a hot cup of tea and a biscuit would do me.

WARBURTON v ROWETT -ITS' ALL IN THE PERCENTAGES

Tomorrow hosts one of the league's exciting local derbies between Nottingham Forest and Derby County. Brian Clough Way will be thronged with supporters. But it is not the clubs that bring interest to this game particularly, it is the meeting of managers.

Home club Forest are now in the hands of Mark Warburton, a schoolmaster who worked at Latymer Upper School in London and continued to pursue his teaching career at St Clement Danes School, Chorleywood, when he worked at Watford. As a youth player at Leicester City he was under Frank McLintock but when Jock Wallace took over, Warburton lost his love of the game as the Scot treated the players like "marines". So Warburotn came out of the professional game and played at Enfield and Boreham Wood experiencing success with an FA Trophy win with Enfield and success in the Alliance Premier League between 1981-3. He also had a short spell in Charlotte, Chicago, USA.

He then decided to "travel Europe" watching others coach and from that learning experience he joined Brentford under Mark Benham, an owner interested in mathematical modelling. If you have ever seen "Moneyball" then we are talking about using facts and figures to judge players performances and that is exactly what was happening in North-west London. This did not run smoothly with Warburton who eventually got involved in a "Warburtongate!" when he fell out with Benham's policies, despite seeing unfashionable Brentford promoted to the Championship in 2014-15.

During his time there he hooked up with David Weir who continued to work with him when he was called to Glasgow Rangers in 2015 and is now at Forest. As a manager Warburton has overseen 160 games with a winning % of 58.75.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/s-hornets-bees-and-gers.html

At the Derby is Gary Rowett, a product of the Cambridge United Youth system and with most clubs he has had success. In 1991-2 the Us came 5th in Division 2, the best they have achieved, they reached the play-off semis and had their best ever League Cup run to the quarter-finals.
At Everton in March 1994 the club won the FA Cup but he did not take part in any cup games, but surely his presence was enough!

He spent time at Blackpool, Derby for three seasons, Birmingham City where they went to the play-offs, Leicester, Charlton and Burton where his playing career ended. He managed in 2012 taking the Brewers to 4th in Division 2 losing the play off semi and again to 6th place losing in the final. The club also had its best ever League Cup run in 2012-13. In 2014-15 he took Birmingham City from 21st to 10th in the league but was sacked when they were in 7th place in December 2016.
At Derby since Steve McLaren bit the dust he has not had a lot of time to establish his philosophy and with a 42.6% win percentage over 105 games, he is clearly not the favourite, statistically

TONY COTTEE

Tony Cottee was the subject of "Sporting Lives" some time on Talksport during the night. I listened to it and was sure that there was something that would lightened my blog, but in the light of day, I was not really enlightened.

Tony Cottee was born in Plaistow, London and is 51 years old now, working as a TV pundit. He played from 1982-2001 at home club West Ham, Everton and Leicester. On his "way down" he was at Birmingham City, Norwich, Millwall and Selangor in Malaysia. He was player-manager at Barnet.

After 212 appearances and 92 goals with the Hammers, in 1988 he was transferred to Everton for at the time, a record fee of £2.2m to a British club. He scored a hat trick on his debut and scored 99 in 205 for the Toffees (1988-95).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ey2q-hom5i0

Cottee and Everton lost the FA Cup Final to Liverpool in 1989 3-2, also lost the Full members Cup to Nottingham Forest 4-3 (Cottee scored 2), lost the Football League Cup 1998-9 to Spurs but won the League Cup with Leicester in 2000 beating Tranmere Rovers 2-1. Cottee scored 16 goals during the season, a club record eventually equalled by Jamie Vardy in 2015-16.

In season 2000-1 Cottee played for FOUR different clubs in FOUR different divisions;
Leicester-Premier (Sept 2000), Norwich-Div 1 (Sept 2000), Barnet-Div 3 (Oct/2000) and Millwall-Div 2 (Oct 2000).

This record had stood since Eric Nixon, a goalkeeper in 1986-7 who played for Wolves in Div 4 in August 1986, then Bradford City in Division 2 Nov/86, then Southampton 12/86 Div 1 and Carlisle Div 3 in January 1987. Eric is still at Chesterfield as a goalkeeping coach.

Tony Cottee played 712 games and scored 293 goals. He was capped for England between 1986-9 7 times.

In his retirement he admits to have kept scrapbooks of all his goals. He did not say much about the Worthington Cup Final tickets scam in 1999 when Leicester played Spurs and many Leicester tickets ended up in Spurs' hands. He personally fined £12,500 and banned from having tickets for 3 years.
Several other club members were treated similarly.

BUILDBASE THE FOUNDATION OF NON-LEAGUE FOOTBALL

Too much excitement following thre FA Cup past weekend and now the European stuff, so I am just reminding you that the FA Trophy is at the Semi-final stage with four top Non-League clubs fighting it out to get to Wembley and earn themselves £50,000 as Cup winners. A semi-final win brings £16,000 to the clubs. Worth having a go innit.

The competition is open to Step 1-4 clubs, so South Park FC have made the greatest "progress" in the competition for a club from Step 4 were eventually knocked out by Tranmere Rovers. Prior to meeting the club from the Isthmian Division One South, Tranmere had beaten Wrexham AFC, then they met Chelmsford City and Barrow AFC in the Quarter-finals.

Tranmere and Macclesfield drew 1-1 in the semi-final first leg. Macclesfield played Dulwich Hamlet, to get there, Forest Green Rovers, AFC Sudbury and Altrincham.

In the other half are York City, already 2-1 up over Lincoln City. York met Brackley Town last, Nuneaton Borough, Harlow Town and Worcester City. Lincoln City beat Nantwich Town first, Gateshead, Welling United and Boreham Wood in the Quarter-finals.

The "Junior" cup, the FA Vase is for clubs from Step 5-7. At ther semi-final stage;
Bromsgrove Sporting (Midland League Div 1) meet Cleethorpes Town (Northern Counties East Div 1) with the score 1-1 from first leg.

Coleshill Town Midland League Premier) play South Shields (Northern League Div 1) with the score 1-2 from the first leg.

The Buildbase National Non-League Finals day is May 21st at Wembley. One ticket, two cup finals, worth considering as a treat for a youth team.

KOPA-FROM COAL TO CHAMPAGNE

Just Fontaine scored 13 goals in the World Cup Finals in Sweden won him an accolade but the supplier of passes into him came mainly from Raymond Kopa, the "Napolean of Football". France came third. In the 1954 Finals in Switzerland Kopa was voted the Young Player of the Tournament. At the time he was starring for the French side, Stade de Reims.

In 1956 he was tranferred to Real Madrid alongside Puskas and di Stefano part of an outstanding team that was Spanish Champions and then European Champions when the European Cup was started. he was known as Koipta.

His family (Kopaszweski) migrated from Poland to France after the First World War and his father worked in the coalmines of the north east. He and his brother played local football and "found" his first football whilst German soldiers played football on the local pitch. He then worked in the mines until a rockfall injured his hand and he had to find other work, signing for SCO Angers a local Second Division side. As he became an outstanding player, he was sold to Stade de Reims in 1951, a club in the heart of the Champagne country; the club was known to play champagne football. As an obsessive "dribbler" he was soon chastised and told to change his ways otherwise he would be dropped.

Rather like Jimmy Hill (not in the footballing ability sense) Kopa co-founded the "Players' Union" in 1963 as he regarded footballers as being exploited like slaves; for his various demonstrations he was banned for 6 months. He continued his campaign and in 1968 there was a players strike; a year later the system changed in favour of the footballers.

On the field he starred with Reims but lost in the first ever European Cup Final (1956) to Real Madrid 4-3. The following year Real Madrid snapped him up and he scored against Manchester United in the next European Cup semi-final at Old Trafford, knocking out Matt Busby's blossoming side.

Despite Kopa's successful allegiance with Fontaine, the French team lost to Pele's hat trick and Brazil in the World Cup semi-final 5-2 in 1958 but the French then demolished West Germany 6-3 for third place. After this he was voted European Player of the Year Ballon d'Or). Kopa retired in 1964 and ran the Kopa Sportswear brand.

Raymond Kopa died on March 3rd aged 85. He is on the left as you look...name the others from Real Madrid 1958?

SCORING AT AN OLD AGE.

There is hope yet. Stanley Matthews' record of being the oldest professional footballer to have scored a goal was broken this weekend in Japan. Here is the goal scored by Miura in the Japanese league, at 50 years and 14 days.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/mar/12/kazuyoshi-miura-oldest-professional-scorer-beats-stanley-matthews-record

Prior to this, England's Stanley Matthews at the ripe old age of 50 years 5 days was still playing for Stoke City. Matthews made his name with Blackpool but in 1961 he returned to his home club, Stoke, and played for them for four years. Matthews had led Stoke to promotion from Division Two (old league system!) in 1932-3 and then he inspired them to do the same in 1962-3.

He made his final appearance for the club on February 6th 1965 in a 3-1 win against Fulham.
During his last season with Stoke he played 13 games (9 league 4 cup) and scored one goal at the age of 49 years against Swansea in the 5th Round of the FA Cup. This helped Stoke to draw with Swansea but the Potters lost the replay.

In his career Matthews was not a goalscorer, playing 783 games and hitting the net only 80 times. He was of course a magnificent provider for other goalscorers and perhaps more importantly, he was unselfish.

The oldest goalscorer prior to Matthews was the winger Billy Meredith who in 1924 was playing out his career at Manchester City when he scored at 49 years and 245 days against Newcastle United in the FA Cup semi-final which City lost.
I met Matthews, my schoolboy hero, in Morecambe at a football festival and again in London on a patch of grass outside the House of Lords at a coaching demonstration.

Before that Meredith had been at Manchester United where he became the oldest United player to play for them at 46 years and 281 days and to make it a hat trick he played for Wales at 45 years and 229 days, still the oldest Welsh international.

So well done Miura, the sushi diet is working well.

FIRST ONLY AND FINAL GOALS AT THE LANE.

I had to check the facts having heard a commentator mention the "first" and "last" goals to be scored at White Hart Lane. I am not sure he was right, or my research on www. missed something. Maybe a Spurs anorak will be able to help me.

Today the last goal scored in the 6-0 demolition of Millwall was by Son Heung-min in the 90' + 2', it couldn't have been more terminal!
It completed his hat trick and this will be the last FA Cup tie to be held at WHL. Spurs now go onto play at Wembley in the Semi-Final. of course White Hart lane will "be no more" next season.

The first was on 9th February 1901 against Preston North End in an FA Cup 1st Round tie, with Sandy Brown contributing his goal in a 1-1 draw in front of 15,223 fans. Tottenham beat Preston away 4-2 and then beat Bury (in those days a decent First Division side), Reading, WBA and Sheffield United in the final winning the cup as a Southern League club in front of 110,820 crowd at Crystal Palace (2-2 draw Brwon scored 2) and then 3-1 (Brown scored 1) at Burden Park attendance 20,470.

Tottenham Hotspur originally played at Tottenham Marshes, then Northumberland park before the land was sold off and White Hart Lane was home.There was a friendly match first played at WHL against Notts County, at the time a First Division club on September 4th which Spurs won 4-1 with Tom Pratt scoring the first goal. I wonder who will score the last goal ever at WHL?

ps I have scored at WHL, a penalty at the right hand end as you come out of the tunnel! Ha ha ha....

Spurs joined the Football League, Second Division, in 1908 replacing Lincoln who were "relegated" in 1908 and rejoined the FL in 1909.

Here is WHL in 1899.

LIONS HOPE TO GIVE PLENTY IN THE QUARTERS

Who has been in the Quarter-Finals most? Well it is Everton with an impressive 45 times. Arsenal come second with 43, Manchester United  42, 3rd and Spurs 39 times 4th. Who ever goes furthest between Arsenal and United will be the most successful club so far. They both have 12 overall wins, both have been in 19 finals and both have reached the semis 28 times.

Millwall are the first club from the third tier to make the quarters since that amazing run by Bradford City in 2015. Millwall have been to the quarters 10 times in total, three times in past 14 seasons, the last four years ago.

Spurs and  Millwall met first 106 years ago in the First Round proper, Spurs winning 2-1. Millwall Rovers (1885) and then known as Millwall Athletic (1889), did not join the Football League until 1920-1 when the new Third Division was formed. By then they were known as Millwall FC. The two London clubs met again in 1967, when Spurs beat them in Round 3 (1-0 after a 0-0 draw) and went on to win the Cup.

Lincoln City make history as they reach the Quarter-Finals, being the first Non-league club to achieve this status since the current structure of the top two divisions being exempt until the Third Round 92 years ago. (As I write Arsenal have just scored against Lincoln City! End of the dream? 1-0 at half time)

It is 11 seasons since the quarters were made up from just top flight teams.

In 1880-81 the quarter finalists were Stafford Road v Old Etonians 1-2. , Darwen from Lancashire 15- Romford 0, Old Carthusians (OCs) 3-1 Clapham Rovers aet. YEP only three ties!! In the semi-finals the OCs beat Darwen 4-1 aet and the Old Etonians got a BYE.

Just thought I would mention that one the OCs have won their way through to the Amatuer Football Alliance Cup Final, to be played on April 8th. A rare occurence.

MASSIVE STINT FOR THE IMPS.

With 241 FA Cup campaigns on record, this is the first time Arsenal and Lincoln City have met. Lincoln are appearing in the Quarter-finals for the first time and are the first non-league club to reach this far since QPR in 1914. The Imps have equalled the record of most League clubs beaten by a Non-leage club in one FA Cup run. Telford United did it in 1985 and Tottenham Hotspur in 1901.

In the early rounds they beat Altrincham at home 2-1, then I saw them overcome Oldham Athletic at Sincil Bank-simple. Next they beat Ipswich, Brighton and Burnley (away). It's only Arsenal next! at the Emirates.

There is an "Imp Invasion" in Lincoln's store of Ann Summers (don't ask, use your imagination),

red and white scarves are selling fast (both teams share the same colours), The Lincoln Imp pub is moving to the Holloway Road, the chief commentator for BBC Radio Lincolnshire has cancelled his holiday to Costa Rica, the Wig and Mitre pub is putting Imps' branded French Champagne on ice in the event. I think the locals will consume that one way or the other. Asda has sold out of tin foil as fans make their own FA Cup replicas.

In 1972 Graham Taylor started the revival of the club and made comments in his programme notes about the need for Lincoln to "arise" and like the Imp on the city Cathedral roof, the club has achieved a great height. But Lincoln City is not seeking safety, the club is taking the challenge to the Gunners. Just as the Imp was sent to the clergy by the devil to cause havoc, then 9,000 supporters and the team squad are heading to Highbury to turn Arsenal to stone.

BIG COMEBACK

Following the big comeback by Barca last night, which I missed, here are some other European turn rounds!

Bayer Uerdingen, who from 5-1 down rattled off six goals in the final 32 minutes of a 1986 Cup Winners’ Cup quarter-final tie against Dynamo Dresden.  The first leg went 2-0 to Dresden at home and they scored first in the second leg (3-0). Then it went 3-1, 4-1, 5-1. Bayer woke up and scored from the 58^th minute, eventually winning  7-5.

Kilmarnock, who in 1964 were 0-3 down after the first leg, then four adrift of Eintracht Frankfurt with 77 minutes remaining in the Inter Cities’ Fairs Cup second leg before launching a thrilling five-goal recovery. In the next round the Scots went out to Everton 1-6; no surprises then

OR

Third equal alongside FK Partizan Belgrade’s four-goal chasing down of QPR in the 1984-85 Euro Vase. The Yugoslavs scored a 4-0 victory at their stadium after losing to QPR 6-2 in the London leg, played at Highbury (due to the QPR pitch at the time being astro). The Yugoslavs went through on away goals.

OR

Leixões of Portugal overtaking La Chaux-de-Fonds from Switzerland in similar style in the 1961-62 Cup Winners’ Cup, Preliminary Round. Losing 6-2 from the first leg, Lexioes demolished the Swiss team 5-0 in the return, eventually going out in the Quarter-finals.

OR

Real Madrid, who overturned a four-goal deficit against Borussia Mönchengladbach in the 1985-86 UEFA Cup 3^rd Round. 1-5 down after the German end of the tie, Los Blancos won 4-0 at home and progressed.

IWD TODAY

I hope you have noticed that it is International Women's Day today. What better therefore than to mention the most influential women in British Football. In no particular order:

Jacqui Oatley a freelance broadcaster was the first women to work on Match of the Day, contributing since 2007. She has worked on BBC and ITV using her knowledge as a qualified FA Coach to support her observations. She has also promoted the organisation Women in Football.

Vicky Kloss is the Chief Commercial Officer at Manchester City and that includes the sister clubs New York City FC and Melbourne Heart, working on their behalf for 13 years. Recently she was banned from the tunnel in an FA Cup tie against Notts County....not wise.

Kelly Smith is probably the best known English women's footballer, playing for England 115 times, Arsenal and starring in the American Pro League. She has been elected to the top FIFA team five times. You may find more about her in a previous blog.

Hope Powell has long been a servant to British football coaching England and GB and holds the UEFA Pro Licence, the first to do so. Amy Fearn was the first to referee in the Football League, a game between Coventry and Notts Forest in 2010.

Karren Brady has been the MD at Birmingham City since 23 years old. She is now VC at West Ham Utd, has been CEO of the Year voted by the magazine fc business.

Heather Rabbatts is a non executive director at the FA and also acts for Millwall FC. A barrister she has been the first women on the  FA Board, particularly on the Inclusion Advisory Board.

Casey Stoner is England captain and plays for the Arsenal Ladies. She sits on the FA  amazement Committee and played for GB in the 2012 Olympics.

Kelly Simmons is a director of the National Game and has been a Game Changer, also she has an MBE for her services to national football. She also sits on the UEFA Grassroots Panel and the FIFA Woems Committee. 

Let me throw in also Margaret Byrne CEO Sunderland FC, FA Council, Premier League Advisory Board, FA International Committee.

Karen Wilmington senior women in Sky Sports News since its inception. 

Sian Massey Premier League Assistant Referee, World Champions League Final and Euros Final, remember she was the target by the well known Richard Keys and Andy Gray debacle in 2011.

Caroline McAteer a sports journalist who remade beckham's image after 1998 and also promoted Freddie Ljungberg's underpants advert, PR for Walcott and Drogba too.

Kenny Dalglish's wife Marina should be championed for her work towards Cancer Care and Margaret Aspinall who works tirelessly on behalf of the Hillsborough Support Group.

DULL? HAMLET

.I'm not a million miles from Dulwich this evening, whose club Dulwich Hamlet, are playing away tonight at Macclesfield in the FA Trophy quarter-final following a postponed replay due to snow. The Hamlet managed a draw in the first game 2-2 watched by a crowd of over 2,800 at Champion Hill their historic home ground.

Manager Gavin Rose has given the club new life raising attendances from around 200 to 2,000 since 2009.

Pay what you like games have been attractive leading to four figure attendances, work in the community has given the club a higher profile, U13s enter free if they are with an adult, students, teenagers, NHS workers pay £4. Local schools are given family tickets, so mum and dad might spend money in the bar, clubhouse or shop. If they like what they see they might come back. Lots of mums are evident on Saturdays and all this was rewarded by the Non League Paper's award of Football Foundation Community Club of the year.

Last season the club played FC Assyria raising funds for refugees and they also host proudly games against the LGBT club Stonewall. Last Wednesday their juniors played against a team of youngsters from Centre Point, raising money for the homeless.

When they play on March 11th, be it in the Trophy Final or a league match, the team will wear purple kit to mark International Women's Day.

Next year the club celebrates its 125th Anniversary and the famous Pink and Blues will celebrate with a game in Germany against Altona93.

All they need is planing permission to build a new stadium, developing the Champion Hill ground. 

To support the club's survival visit www.dhst.org.uk and look for the support our stadium.......

GAY LOVE NOW GAY MEADOW?

After bringing to your attention some film and book news yesterday, I admit I hesitated to use the word "gay" for fear of upsetting somebody. Today I am confident that I am not going to be controversial because I want to tell you about Gay Meadow, the old home of Shrewsbury Town FC, on the bank of the River Severn, England's longest. The ground's name may have originated from the fairs, circuses and celebrations held on the town's green riparian pasture or possibly because it may have been owned a family called Gay.

I was watching Jeremy Paxman's "Rivers" programme on the telly last night. Jeremy didn't talk much about football-he didn't partake much in sport at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, despite his "public" school, Malvern College, having a long reputation for playing good soccer. Jeremy might even have been a "wet bob" (rower) probably a cox!! Instead I suspect he read books and went to lectures.

Gay Meadow was Shrewsbury's home from 1910, a pitch sited on the bank of the River Severn. When the ball was slogged over the Riverside Stand, somebody had to retrieve it.

Jeremy became involved in a charity event on the river, a sort of coracle handball game, where he managed to maintain his dignity but couldn't manouever the boat very well-bless him.

At the original ground, Fred Davies was detailed to sit in his coracle (a small local made boat) during the game and retrieve the ball as and when.

The last coracle was built by Fred in 1992 at the Acton Scott Historic Working Farm. Tim Speller who worked at the farm donated the coracle to the club after the original one had been given to the National Football Museum in Manchester. If you have not been to the NF Museum then shame on you.

Here is Fred and his family-doing their jobs!

The good news is that the club has now moved to New Meadow, up the hill a bit, where there is no fear of losing the ball in the river, but somebody is out of a job.

GAY LOVE IN A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT OR.....

I missed a friend's birthday on Friday and mine is coming up. So if I had been on the ball and maybe had earlier access to this weekend's book reviews, I would have bought my chum Ross Raisin's "A Natural" published by Jonathan Cape at £14.99.
Ross was born in Keithley, went to Bradford GS and read English at Kings' London and followed that with a Creative Writing post-grad degree at Goldsmith's. He is a popular author.
Perhaps somebody may come up with the bright idea of getting me the book later this month. Not that I am short of football books to read!

The book is about a young footballer, Tom, who, once with a Premier League club, set in the North-west, finds himself at 19 years old, knocking around the lower divisions of the Football League in the south, far away from home, playing for "Town".

Failing to make one's way in the big league, presents young footballers with the choice of dropping down through to the Non-League, which is perfectly acceptable of course, which pays less of course but always presents the opportunity to rise again by being scouted.  Jamie Vardy?

The other option is to jump ship, using the qualification that he might have acquired through the PL club's education programme (a Sports' Science Btec maybe?) and get a proper job. Tom's full time education was lost a while ago when the glitsy attraction of football was his main aim.

To join his new club, Tom has to move away from home, and still finds himself on the fringe of his new first team but inevitably is sent on "loan". At Town, Tom begins a relationship with the club's groundsman Liam. Since Justin Fashanu, Britain's first openly gay player, took his life, there are no openly gay players in the top divisions of the FL. Tom has to deal with his sexuality knowing that discovery would surely end his career. Needless to say the relationship with Liam is complicated.

The other side of the story is the dreary existence in a lower league club; long, tedious coach journeys, cheap hotels. bullying managers, being sub, the end of season "review", loans, the club captain's broken leg and so on.

OR

You could go to the cinema to see "Don't Take Me Home"12A, 85 minutes film. This is Jonny Owen's documentary following the Wales squad during the Euros in 2016. We all followed and admired their remarkable achievement (including their reaction to England's loss to Iceland), so although this might be a bit of an extended MOTD, it will be fantastic fun for football film fans.
I have not yet seen a film about England's time in France!
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/welsh-football-movie-shown-paris-12688937

WIDE GAPS APPEARING AT THE BOTTOM

The Football League was formed after a letter from William McGregor, a Scottish director at Aston Villa, to various clubs in the Midlands and North of England. This was sent on March 2nd 1988. A meeting on March 23rd brought the various clubs together for a conference and the following clubs joined in:-
Blackburn, Bolton, Preston, WBA, Villa, Accrington, Burnley, Derby, Everton, Notts County, Stoke and Wolves. The new venture was to be called the Football League, hoping to attract some Scottish teams.

On April 17th, the League was formed and five months later it began. McGregor's Aston Villa won five titles by the end of the century!!

Today, with Chelsea (1st in the Premier League) and Tottenham (2nd) both have not yet played this weekend, the gap between the two is 10 points-as far as top slot is concerned, is it job done?

The north-east is in danger of losing PL three teams through relegation; Sunderland, Hull and Middlesbrough teetering.

Newcastle have just gone ahead at Huddersfield in the Championship game, which should they win would take them 11 points clear of the Terriers who were in third place.
Brighton sit between the two at the moment 2 points behind the Magpies but maybe losing touch?

Poor Rotherham are miles behind at the other end, having played 34 and gathered a puny 17 points (4 wins and 5 draws). Wigan are 14 points above them.

In League One, Sheffield United, with 69 points, are flying high, 5 points in front of Fleetwood (who have made remarkable progress in recent years) and 8 ahead of Scunthorpe.
Good to see these two clubs in the ascendency.

At the other end of the division Coventry City are "root" with a measley 26 points, 5pts under Chesterfield and 9 under Port Vale.

In League Two, Doncaster are 4 points ahead of Plymouth and 9 ahead of Carlisle (after these two played each other today, Plymouth winning 2-0).

Struggling Newport County have 26 points, with only 5 wins and 11 draws out of 34 (the same record as Coventry) 6 points below bankrupt Leyton Orient who are lurking 5 short of Notts County. Orient had a great win today though SADLY away at poor old Newport.

In the Vanarama National League, Lincoln City are top but only by 3 points, a respectable margin, though the Imps have a game in hand. It's tight at the other end with Southport, York City and North Ferriby in danger of falling out of the division.

In the Vanarama Northern League, highly invested AFC Fylde are leading highly invested Salford City by 11 points, who with 59 points share a points total with Kidderminster Harriers and Chorley.

At the bottom Worcester City are on the edge of the relegation zone, but 14 points ahead of Stalybridge Celtic and 16 ahead of Altrincham, who must be doomed.

In the Vanarama Southern League, Margate are being left behind, Bishop's Stortford, 7 points ahead, almost out of sight.

GOOD TO SEE NONE OF THE ORIGINALS IN TOO MUCH BOTHER.

10-4 NOT HIGHWAY PATROL

Tottenham v Everton tomorrow and one match stands out for me in this fixture, first played in 1908 and that is the 10-4 win for Spurs 50 years later on 11th October 1958. I kept the newspaper headlines and match report for years in a scrapbook. It was Bill Nicholson's first match as the new "manager" having been coach before. He was given the job on the morning of the game at White Hart Lane. The previous manager was Jimmy Anderson who "resigned" leaving Spurs one place off the bottom place of Division 1, then the top division. They ended up 18th with Everton 16th.

Scoring went 1-0, 1-1, 3-1, 6-1 ht: 6-2, 8-2, 8-3, 9-3, 9-4, 10-4 End.
Spurs scorers:-
Bobby Smith 4, Alf Stokes 2, John Ryden, Terry Medwin, Tommy Harmer, George Robb.
Jimmy Harris scored three for the Toffees and Bobby Collins scored Everton's last goal.

England centtre forward Bobby Smith scores his 4th.

On the legacy of the famous "push and run" side of the early 1950s, Tottenham went on to do the Doiuble in 1960-1, the first of the 20th Century. It was a remarkable rise in success following Nicholson's appointment.

The Spurs team was:
Hollowbread, Baker, Hopkins, Blanchflower, Ryden, Iley, Medwin, Harmer, Smith, Stokes and Robb.

George Robb went on to coach football at Ardingly College in Sussex, where I played against one of his sides when I visited with Collyers GS towards the end of the 1960s!

SAVE, RAVE, DECEASE, RAISE (a glass)

The Consett AFC's goalkeeper, 30 year old Peter Jeffries, pulls off this interesting SAVE in his team's game against South Shields, but his heroics could not prevent his team from losing 1-3 this Durham Senior Cup semi-final on Tuesday.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/12094/10786564/consett-keeper-peter-jeffries-makes-mind-blowing-save

15 years ago Denis Bergkamp scored a wonder goal for the Arsenal  at Newcastle United.
http://www.skysports.com/football/news/15118/10786516/how-dennis-bergkamp-scored-his-arsenal-wondergoal-at-newcastle

Sadly, Tommy Gemmell who played a huge part in Celtic's successful European Cup run in 1966-7 has died and the club is mourning his passing.
Tommy played over 400 times as a full back for Celtic and scored 63 goals. One of those came in the  European Cup Final against Inter Milan in Lisbon. His equalising goal led to a 2-1 victory and Celtic became the first British club to win a European title, fondly known as the "Lisbon Lions".
2017 is of course the 50th anniversary of the famous win.

Gemmell scored for Celtic against Feyenord in the 1970 European Final, but this time there was a defeat 1-2 after extra time. He is the only British player to score in two European Finals.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xM4ydShTw54  watch the referee in the second goal and keep an eye out for a couple of other random events.

He played 18 times for Scotland, scored one goal (a penalty) and was there when the Scots beat the World Champions, England, 3-2 at Wembley in 1967.

After Celtic Tommy went to Nottingham Forest, Miami Toros, Dundee and then managed Dundee and Albion Rovers.

And finally, today, somewhere on the Sandbanks "housing estate" Harry Redknapp is celebrating his birthday, born March 2 1947. Let's hope he isn't driving.

WHERE THERE IS HOPE THERE IS FOOTBALL

I apologise if yesterday's blog on Alex Young was scrambled. I was working away from home (almost in Scotland actually) on an Ipad and well I.T. aaaarrrghh. I have edited it now, so it may be readable thjough an important photo from Bill has failed.

So conveniently Scotland remains in my mind and as I was listening to my favourite source of football trivia, Talksport, driving down the A1, the name Andy Mitchell came up. Andy is a well known author of books on Scottish football history and he has used a fair bit of Charterhouse and Old Carthusian archive to help him bring together publications on England v Scotland internationals and other productions.

Today he has brought to my attention, the history of the Foot-Ball Club of Edinburgh.
http://www.ed.ac.uk/news/2014/football-030614

John Hope, born at Dalry House in 1807, was a student lawyer at 17 years old, who in his school days kept note books with detailed instructions of how to "make a football" and how to play the game, as he saw it. Hope managed to refine the game as early as 1833, noting 6 rules, involving the playing area, 39 players and the fact that there should be no tripping. 4 small pocket books and 3 bundles of notes, dating from 1824-41, have been found and kept in the National Archive of Scotland. They also referred to "sticks to mark goals" and allowing pushing, holding and lifting the ball, overseen by the "Chairman" to us known as the referee. These predate the Cambridge University Rules of 1848.

A foundation date of 1824 suggests that the Edinburgh Foot-Ball club was organised and playing to specified laws decades before the Scottish FA and the English FA codified theirs.

Born into the New Town  "educated" classes in Edinburgh, Hope brought his "well heeled" friends together to play a civilised form of football on Saturday afternoons at the Dalry Park (now Dalry Place) in the South-west of the city. The club moved to Greenhall Park in 1831, then went to Grove Park, but had a short history but signed on 78 members before it dissolved in 1841. Subs were 1s 6d and the hire of the "pitch" 6 shillings. A vibrant football culture survived in the city after the demise of the club.

The club has reformed this year joining the City's Sunday League, playing matches as Edinburgh Foot-Club,166 years, with its first prestige match at Tynecastle against a Hearts XI. There is also a Ladies team.

John Hope in his senior years!

Charles Kirkpatrick was a member of the club in 1831 and he inspired his son James to captain Scotland in the first international against England in 1870 and to play in the 1877 FA Cup Final for The Wanderers.

Hibernian  FC, of Edinburgh, of course were the first British club to play in European competition.

and here are the original rules..........