THERE IS A PLACE FOR A RIGHT HOOK

It's the Tour de Yorkshire today and the hundreds of cyclists will flash past our Pennine "village" around 4pm. I put the bunting out this morning but considering the prevalence of rural crime, my investment of £20 might be nicked if I leave it flapping for too long. I had hoped to watch Hepworth United U15s play today at 2pm but I fear I won't get back in time to see the peloton whiz past. Cycling over Football? Boxing over Football?

World Boxing Champion, Anthony Joshua eventually chose boxing over football after he was chopped from football having had trials with Charlton Athletic (he was quick) when he attacked an opponent and was warned about GBH! I don't expect he is too bothered about turning his life round and securing his financial future.

There may be a few Non-League footballers who are considering their futures when they think about signing on new contracts for next season. What has happened to one of my "past" local teams, Petersfield Town FC? Bottom of the Evo-Stick Southern Div One central with 9 points, conceding 127 goals in 42! (the two teams that lost to them and the 3 that only managed a drew will be feeling sick). Closer to my old home is Godalming Town FC bottom of the Ryman Div One South, not quite so desperate as Petersfield but still comfortably 5 points bottom and 128 goals in their net in 46 games.

Thank heavens for Non-Non-League Football and the Old Boys-genuine, pure soccer.
Coming up this week is the London Old Boys' Cup Final at Godalming Town FC, with the Old Carthusians (Charterhouse is in Godalming) looking to nab their third trophy of the season. I watched them overwhelm the Old Reptonians eventually in the Arthur Dunn Cup Final at the brilliant Old Merchant Taylor's School (Northwood), which hosted all the Arthurian League finals. The OC 1st team went 0-1 down in the first half but kept their nerve and squeezed past the Reptonians 3-1 on a superb pitch,playing excellent football that G.O. Smith would have been proud of.

The OCFC 1sts hold onto the Arthur Dunn Cup
On the neighbouring pitch (also very good), the OC 3rds beat the Old Westminsters 4-3 in an extraordinary game that swung here and there, as did a player's right hook which resulted in a sending off! Tempers ran hot-passions should be controlled.

G.O. would also have not approved of the use of naughty language evident in both matches.


Here are the 3rds.

Finally, I met the impressive David Bauckham, another Sussex lad, who produced that excellent Blog referred to recently. Not doubt his next blog will about yesterday.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/04/bend-it-like-bauckham.html

BEND IT LIKE BAUCKHAM

Since Hepworth United FC is in the business of raising a new club house, I found this marvellous report of a "small town" club in Hampshire that has many similar interests to us. The author of this web link clearly has non-non-league at heart.
https://dbauckham.exposure.co/on-the-borderline?more=true

David Bauckham (could be his real name) takes excellent photographs and celebrates the "little" clubs, so you will find his "blog" stimulating.

I shall meet him tomorrow at the Merchant Taylors' School in Northwood (near Watford) as I watch the Old Carthusians play the Old Reptonians in the final of the Arthur Dunn Cup. I shall not bang on about the OCs, if you are a regular reader then they will be familiar to you, but the ORs are worth a mention, Repton School is the establishment that nutured the wonderful C.B. Fry. If you don't know who he is then shame on you.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C._B._Fry

He is so famous, he even has his own cigarette card. An FA Cup finalist 1902.
The school also produced Will Hughes, the Derby County midfielder.

I shall not have time to write the blog tomorrow, I shall be 7 hours on the motorway when I could have been watching Grimsby Borough v Penistone Church in the next play off to make the step up in the Toolstation NCELeague. Ho hum.

Tour de Yorkshire on Sunday's leg passing through the Cotes de Carle before the finale at Fox Valley, Stocksbridge.

WHO PUT THE LIGHTS OUT?

Maltby Main FC is a club named after the local colliery. If you drive from the gritstone hills of west Yorkshire, it takes about half an hour to get onto the "concealed" coalfield near Rotherham. The football club was founded in 1916 to entertain the miners and it was called Maltby Miners Welfare originally.

The ground is at Muglet Lane alongside the cricket club. Why am I getting all geographical? Well, I was driven there last night by chauffeur David to watch the final of the Sheffield and Hallamshire League Divison Two North play off. The winner goes to Division One! Hepworth United Adults 1sts were playing Stocksbridge Reserves, a team they have met before during the season.

In 1989 the club had floodlights erected to help the club rise up through the pyramid, In 1996 the club adopted the "Maltby Main" name, dropping the Welfare though the Welfare Club still exists nearby!

The game kicked off at 7pm and the first half went well with Hepworth eventually taking the lead 1-0. The light was fading and the floodlights came on. This was encouraging, HUFC were in the ascendency and then BOINK, the lights went out. The young referee and his assistants did what all neutrals should do, that is think about the safety of players and possibly the welfare of the crowd of a hundred or so.

Lights on at MMFC! or is it a star in the sky?

They (we) waited for a repair, a new fuse, more coal but none came and as the night fell, the referee abandoned the match. Not sure what happens next but Hepworth must be confident that they can do this successfully again.

For more on the History of Floodlights:
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/09/let-there-be-light.html

and here are some cracking "abandoned" matches if you have time to spare:
http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/Articles/DidYouKnow01.htm

JB DISHONOURED; JB HERO

Joey Barton with an addiction has been dragged through the red tops today and it looks as though he may have played his last serious game of football. Shame???!!!

James Beattie on the other hand proved himself a hero, as he was a central figure in a boat rescue in Dorset yesterday. I know the Studland to Sand Banks chain ferry well and although the journey is short and across a shallow inlet, the currents run quickly and the water could be treacherous, especially to youngsters.

Yesterday a 25 foot yacht became entwined with the ferry chains which run under the surface and was in danger of being pulled under the water. Beattie, on the ferry having bought a ticket for his white lamborghini, rushed to help the mother of two young children who were lifted from the yacht before any danger came to them. He jumped the barrier near the ramp at the front of the ferry and with other passengers brought the mother and young childen to safety.

A rope thrown to the father on the boat helped tow the boat clear of any further danger. Phew!

A tweet from James.

Some people on the ferry were more interested in taking photos (see car!) at the time of the emergency.

So James Beattie? he was a gifted schoolboys swimmer who was second in the country in his age group at 100 metres freestyle.

Born in Lancaster and educated at Blackburn's Independent School, Queen Elizabeth's GS, Beattie was a successful schoolboy footballer who played for the ISFA Select team during his time at school. I remember watching him in the national trials.

He joined Rovers in 1996 after "O" Levels and played for Southampton, Everton, Sheffield United (twice), Stoke, Rangers and Accrington Stanley, as a player-manager, joined the coaching staff at Swansea with Gary Monk and followed him to the coaching staff at Leeds Utd.
He scored the fastest Premier League goal (12 secs) and played for Blackburn Rovers as a youngster.
He played 5 times for England including a debut in the friendly against Australia which England lost 1-3! He played 498 league matches and scored 141 goals. Mr and Mrs below.

PFA AWARDS, SNOW, WINDSCREEN WIPERS, CUP FINAL

On World Penguin Day, we have had snow, hail and more hail so far, BUT to warm me up, let me send many congratulations to The Spurs' boys who were singled out at the Professional Footballers' Association Awards yesterday. Harry Kane (short listed for Players' Player) and Dele Alli (chosen as Young Player, twice now) have earned their individual accolades and appear in the Premier League Team of the Year with Kyle Walker and Danny Rose who were also selected for the team, as full backs.

The PFA awards have been featured for some years now (Norman Hunter of Leeds United was the first recepient in 1973-4) and in the past the Spurs had a sprinkling of players receiving recognition:-
Previously top awards were given to Pat Jennings (1975-6), Clive Allen (1986-7), David Ginola (1998-9), Gareth Bale (2010-11 young award, 2011-12 and 2012-13).

Manchester United have had 11 top award winners, Liverpool 6 and Spurs 5 since its foundation.


Harry Kane (2014-15) Dele Alli (2015-16, 2016-17) have recently received Young Player awards.

As well as those Spurs mentioned above, the following have been selected for the PFA team of the year since 1973-4:-
Hoddle YPA and team place 5 times, Ardiles, Waddle, Klinsmann, Stephen Carr (remember him?), Lineker twice, Gascoigne, Berbatov, Campbell, Scott Parker, Vertonghen. Alderweireld, Rose and Kyle Walker (YPA).

The Spurs had several players representing the Best Division Two (as was) Team in 1977-78, but we are not going there; too embarrassing even if awards were made.

Lucy Bronze Manchester City (below) won Women's Players' Player and Jess Carter of Birmingham City Young Player of the Year.

Below is a link to the early History of the PFA. It is a very pleasant cruise through the PFA early timeline.
https://www.thepfa.com/thepfa/timeline

On April 25th 1908 18" of snow fell on Oxford and the Thames Valley was full of blizzard. Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle met in the FA Cup at Crystal Palace. Newcastle suppporter, Gladstone Adams, had to stop his car frequently as he drove home (a long way!!) to clear the snow. Eventually he gave up and "folded down" the windscreen to face the elements head on. This led him to invent the windscreen wiper which he patented in 1911 and the first working model is on show at the Discovery Museum in Newcastle. I did blog about Mr Adams in May 2015. Read more:
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/cup-final-day-brings-snow-and-wedding.html

Wolves won 3-1.

ALL LONDON CUP FINALS AND THE NUMBER 7 ETC.

I have been raiding The Times, Football section today.
There has been, for the first time, a London derby tie in each of the FA Cup rounds from the Third to the Final;
Chelsea/Brentford, Spurs/Fulham, Arsenal/Sutton, Spurs/Millwall, Chelsea/Spurs, Chelsea/Arsenal. None in the First and Second Rounds this season sadly.
The last all London FA Cup Final was 2002 Arsenal v Chelsea.
The First (assuming the "amateurs" don't count) was 1967 Spurs v Chelsea.
West Ham v Fulham was in 1975 and
West Ham v Arsenal in 1980,
then Spurs v QPR 1982.

Tottenham's loss on Saturday is the first time a club has lost 7 FA Cup semis in history. They won their 7 previous league matches and this, seven weeks after Arsenal (who play at the opposite end of the Seven Sisters' Road) became the first team to lose seven European Cup or Champions League "Round of 16" ties in a row.
David Stockdale's two own goals is the first by a keeper in English League history.
Messi might have scored his 499th and 500th goals for Barca, but Billy Sharpe always in the box, scored his 201st goal for Sheffield United, already promoted!
Leyton Orient are relegated to the National League and will play there next season, assuming they have an investor. This is the first time in 112 years that the club has not been a Football League club. Their place will definitely be taken by Lincoln City who beat Macclesfield 2-1 at Sincil Bank on Saturday and played in front of 10,000 supporters. They were also the first non-league club to reach the quarter-finals of the Cup in 103 years. Last team? QPR 1914, see below.

Away from the Cup, Marine drew 5-5 with Buxton in the Northern Premier League, Premier Division in front of 439 people!
Scoring goes:0-1, 0-2, 1-2 (half time) 1-3, 2-3, 3-3, 3-4, 4-4, 4-5, 5-5 in the 90th minute Marine have had 13 draws this season and Buxton 12, the most in their division, Banker?

NEON LIGHTS BRIGHT ENOUGH FOR THE GIRLS

Getting girls to commit themsleves to football is sometimes a challenge. It's a rugged game and boys can be a bit of a nuisance. All girls' football may help girls begin to appreciate the game and at the University of Bolton a new scheme has been provided so that girls "can play" without fears of making errors and getting embarrassed. It involved the girls wearing "luminous" kit or make up and of course neon lights, in an ultra-violet tournament. They can play "under cover" in the darkness but may see team members and oppostion who sport different luminous colours. It is part of the University Sports' Week supported by the Premier League who have provided lighting and kit.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39681321

The rest of this link will introduce you to the many initiatives provided by the FA. For example:-

At the other end of the country AFA Bournemouth have an outreach scheme that gets into local schools and invites girls back to their academy for "girls' only sessions" and if they want, mixed football. This supports the huge effort made by the FA to raise awareness amongst girls and their families and who knows this might lead to some making the step towards a career in football.

There are schemes that include events aimed at refugees, improving literacy, walking football, raising confidence and many more.

The Hepworth U13s, having just won their last game of the season 6-2, include two girls in their squad, both very able and one who scored today to add to our total.  She was awarded the "Moment of the Match" award.

It has been a weekend of goals with the U13s scoring 6, the Hepworth United 1st XI winning 5-1, in their important play-off, the Old Carthusians 1sts winning 6-1 in their final league game (already league champions) and Penistone Church getting mauled 1-6 at Glasshaughton, a game that may have been "thrown" to ensure a decent next fixture in the play offs? Oh yes, Tottenham lost 2-4. Maybe they should have worn luminous kit?

IMPRESSED BY IMPRESSING IMPRESSIONISM

I had fun last night at the Penistone Church FC Sportsman's dinner. Shaw Lane Sports' complex, Barnsley was the venue and we were feasting on a flakey pastry meat pie, mushy peas and chips, apple sponge and custard. £25 per head including a very funny compere and Kevin Connelly, impressionist famed for "Dead Ringers" and other shows.  This is worth a few minutes viewing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiJ5S9gAavg

It was a good evening, £2600 was raised and plenty of lagers were consumed but not by the players present, who were preparing their bodies for a vital play game against Glasshoughton ewelfare. Yes, the team they beat this week in the League Cup semi-final.

I'm off to watch Hepworth United 1st team play another vital league game in their campaign as they head for play off places.

Our U13s play their last game of the season tomorrow against Cumberworth who are root in our division, miles behind everyone else so i shall be fascinated about how our little chaps and lasses sort out the game which would be lovely to win! Our recent run of defeats is the stuff of a side ready to fall out of the relegation bottom! Actually we are mid-table but.....it would be nice to finish well.

HEART BREAK

I was saddened this morning to hear that Ugo Ehiogu had not survived a cardiac arrest yesterday and had died early this morning. A 44 year old athlete, Ugo was a strong and fit footballer who just succumbed to a heart failure at the Tottenham Hotspur training facility, where he was part of the club's coaching staff.

Born in Homerton, London, in 1972, he started his career at the well known Senrab club (Barnes Street backwards) before playing professionally at West Bromwich Albion, where he appeared briefly between 1989-91. The 6'2" centre back eventually made his mark at Aston Villa, turning out 237 times and winning the League Cup, beating Leeds 3-0 in 1996 and an FA Cup runners up medal in 2000 losing to Chelsea.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Senrab_F.C. facts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjjvD2sFcGg  nice video

In 2000 he went to Middlesbrough where he stayed for 7 years, playing in defence along with Gary Southgate, winning another League Cup in 2004 beating Bolton.
After 126 games he went to Leeds on loan, then Rangers for a year (in 2007 he scored a spectacular overhead goal in the Old Firm game, voted the club's goal of the season) and then on to Sheffield United for another season until 2009.

In his prime he played four times for England, scoring once (against China in Beijing) and he also won a few U23 and "B" XI caps. He also helped coach the younger England international teams.

In 2014 Tottenham Hotspur brought him into their coaching team (U21s) and he died doing the job he loved and was very good at.

In 2012 he signed for Wembley FC agreeing to play in any FA Cup games they had, along with Ray Parlour, Martin Keown, Brian McBride, Claudio Caniggia and Graham Le Saux. In the First Preliminary Round only Caniggia and Ugo turned out, so Wembley lost- shame, end of a dream.

Ugo was married to Gemma and they had two young children. He was co-founder of the music label "Dirty Hit" producing the Brit Indie band 'The 1975'.

CUP FINALS, PLAY OFFS AND STAND OFFS

I watched my local team Hepworth United play Bawtry last night and they won 2-0. That result means they will go into "Play Off" season with a home advantage. They hope to get promotion from the Pete's Patisserie sponsored Sheffield and Hallamshire Division Two North by winning through their next ties. Games are stacking up.

Penistone Church (higher in the pyramid), another local club that attracts me, won into the Toolstation North Eastern League Cup Final at Bramall Lane this week, beating Glasshaughton Welfare 3-2 in the semi-final. They were 3-0 up and gave us a bit of squeeky bum in the second half half.

The Old Carthusians FC, a non-non-league club, south of the Watford Gap, are Arthurian League champions, have just won into the Arthur Dunn Cup Final, have the London Old Boys' Cup Final to look forward to and did lose the AFA Senior Cup Final recentle; but they did get there! Thay have much to play for.

And then there are the Spurs! A Semi-Final tie v Chelsea at Wembley coming up, heading for the top four in the Premier League, they are proud of their season so far.
ALL MY TEAMS HAVE HAD GOOD SEASONS. (except for my U13s but they enjoy turning out).

In 1889 The Cheshire Cup Final between Crewe Alexandra and Northwich Victoria was won by Victoria 3-0. At the nearby station, Middlewich, both teams had assembled on opposite platforms. There was a lot of banter until one man challenged his opposite number in an aggressive manner. The two lept onto the rails and fought until separated by staff.
The Northwich team then ran across the tracks to storm the Crewe places with neutrals running in all directions.
When the local police arrived the Northwich lads had gained possession of the Crewe platform. The Crewe players were escorted onto the train many of them carrying marks which "will distinguish them for some time". It's a passionate game  but this is what it is all about.

YOUNG AGAIN

I celebrated Alex Young's death way back; he died on February 27th aged 80. Why his obituary is published today in my paper I don't know? It seems a long time back. So you can read my blog on Alex and I am adding a few more treasures for your education:
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2017/02/alex-young.html

By signing for Heart of Midlothian at 18, he saved himself from a life down the local pit, where his father worked.
His brother was killed by a car when he was playing near a road. His mother became very protective of Alex and used to fortify him for home matches with a concoction of egg white and sherry.

Hearts played Hibs at Tynecastle with 50,000 watching. The footballer's wage was not much more than that of each member of the crowd.
He bought a new MG sportscar with his saved wages and immediately ran it into a lamp post. He had to pay the council £20 to pay for repairs to the lamp post.

In 1956 he helped Hearts to their first Scottish Cup win in 50 years. Dave MacKay was in his team.
Two years later, having been runners up in the league the year before, Young scored 24 goals in 34 matches as Hearts romped away with the title gaining 62 points out of 68. They only conceded on 29 goals in 34 matches and scored 132-still a record in Scotland.
Occasionally he enraged his managers by his "nervous" approach to some games. Following a severe ticking off by his manager he left the club to go to Everton. Young had scored 103 goals in 194 games for the Edinburgh side. He was only 21.

He thought he was always respected more at Everton although and he was dropped by manager Harry Catterick some fans roughed up Catterick outside the ground.
In 1966 Everton won the FA Cup beating Sheffield Wednesday 3-2 from 0-2 down. Everton reached the final without conceding a goal. That Cornishman Trebilcock scored 2.
Young left Everton in 1968 scoring 89 goals in 275 games.
Young only won 8 Scottish caps, seven of them in 1960-1 and scored 5 goals. Not everyone fancied him!
Ken Loach made a documentary about him, a film involving some fans who worshipped "The Golden Vision".
In 1999 he was named in the top 100 League players of the 20th century.
On visits to Goodison, Young remembered these as "going to church".

DARLO

Darlington Football Club would be one of those clubs that most kids in my childhood would say, "Yeh I like them, I like the name." Their major rivals are Hartlepool United and along with Accrington Stanley were well known by us youngsters who saw these clubs as constant under achievers. Re-election was a word we knew.

Founded in 1883, the club originally played at Darlington Cricket Club until 2003 when the club's last league match was against Leyton Orient (another under achiever?).
I visited the ground one day and it was one of those "big" spaces with the cricket pitch lurking to one end of the ground. Much has changed. the Cricket Club still exists, the football "stadium" has been knocked down.

Having played in local leagues, "Darlo" were founder members of the North Eastern League in 1889 and turned professional in 1908. The club then joined the Football League, Third Division North, in 1921. The club is associated with the Quaker movement and steam trains, hence the club badge. I think there was a bit of coal mining involved too.

Darlo played in the Football League until 1989 when they were relegated to the Conference, returning to the FL in 1990, winning the Fourth Division title in 1991. There have been various financial complications which has "stunted their growth".

The club was dissolved in 2012 and came back under supporter loyalty as Darlington 1883 and by then had moved to Blackwell Meadows, their present ground, having been to other "homes" in between.

The club was reformed in 2011-12 like Chester City and Halifax Town have been, rising like the Phoenix.

They played in the Northern League, won promotion to the Evo-Stick First Division North, then Premier and eventually won promotion to the National League North in 2016 and recently were allowed to refer to their original club name having become financially secure.They are in the play offs spot at the moment. BUT......

Inevitably the FA's National Ground Grading Category B steps in the way of Darlington's further promotion, stating that the club's ground has to have a minimum of 500 covered accommodation places of which 250 must be seated, including committee and press seats! Blackwell Meadows does not meet requirements. No encouargement for the Quakers then.

In the National League South, Hungerford Town and Poole Town have suffered similar fates and will not be in the play-offs unless their appeal is successful. It's all a bit of a mess.

CORNISH TASTIES

Subject for your blog; Cornish football clubs and players. A suggestion from my brother.
Why?
He met somebody who is a Manchester United supporter from Worthing, who now lives in France, whose wife comes from Cornwall. Of course-obvious!

So having played against Cornwall Schools FA when we played in the annual Easter ESFA Tournament and having my mucker from Charterhouse, Richard Lewis, take our U15s to the peninsular to play Truro School in an ISFA U15s Cup match, I thought why not?
My non-league interests also cover Truro City, not a bad club, surviving in a county rich in rugby union. I do remember watching Penzance Rugby Club a couple of years ago-ooooo aaarrrrr!!!

Try skimming through the Football Pyramid for a Cornish club? Guernsey might be the highest and the closest!

There are no Football League clubs coming from the county, with the highest level being the Carlsberg SW Peninsular League Premier Division (Step 6) with Saltash United the top team from Cornwall (at the moment), followed by Bodmin Town and St Austell.
There are 56 teams in this league, feeding the Toolstation Western Premier League but Cornish clubs have not risen that high.

Under the SW Premier are Division One West and East, including Bude Town (the scene of our family's first family holiday) and Porthleven FC, a club I have visited-saw them play Truro City Reserves. Truro had their second team manager playing who threw his toys at losing and I read in the local paper that he resigned that night!

The Cornwall FA was formed in 1889 with Dunheved College, Liskeard, Millbrook, Penzance, Porthcurnow, Probus, Truro and Torpoint founder members. The Senior Cup was first played for in 1893 when Penzance beat Launceston. Looking at the FA website there are loads of teams playing in a variety of leagues, many youth and girls' league, futsal, veterans and disability facilities.
One such league, the Duchy League (level 14-19) has 73 teams including Lostwithiel Reserves and Week St Mary's. The Trelawny League West (level 13-17) has 70 teams with the Camborne School of Mines an interesting member.

You could include the Isles of Scilly League as Cornish?? with 2 teams and 2 cups to play for each season!

For the future, the Cornwall Youth FA (U18s) reached the final of the FA County Youth Cup this season. They lost to Middlesex FA at Barnet FC in what was the first time the county reached such a lofty place in national competitions.

A handful of professionals are Cornish born: three are Mike Trebilcock (1966 FA Cup Final-Everton), Nigel Martyn-goalkeeper (23 England caps) and Matthew Etherington (426 FL appearances lastly at Stoke City).

WHITE ROSE RISING REACHES THE BROADSHEET

It may be a sheer coincidence or possibly one of the Sunday Times sports' reporters has been reading my blog but the article (below) featured in today's paper and it covers a fair bit of ground I mentioned yesterday. So rather than fill your heads with another new feature, I thought you might like to have a read of what Ian Whittell has to say about the White Rose county's football.

It will also allow me to indulge all the Premier League football on telly, including Moreno's attempt to score into an empty net (Foster had more chance) and the preamble for Chelsea v United.

AN ANNIVERSARY OF ALL THE SEVENS

Its only 50 years ago! April 15th 1967 when Scotland came to Wembley and beat the World Champions, England, 3-2 in front of a 99,063 crowd. The England team was very much the 1966 WCup team with Greaves in for Hunt. This was an UEFA Championship qualifier. Later in 1968 England drew 1-1 in Scotland, but qualified for the finals.

This clip of 11 minutes or so celebrates one of the great "mavericks", Slim Jim Baxter, who seemed to run this game (if you follow the number of touches he had in this series of clips). A heat map (had they been inv ented at the time) would show Baxter picking the ball up in almost always the same place on the pitch, loads of space and on his left foot. Does he actually use his right foot at all?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJMtw3J8VoM
If you do nothing else, look at the last minutes where Jim decides that the English marking was so poor, he could play a bit of keepie up before hooking a pass on to Dennis Law which resulted in a Scottish goal.

BUT the 1967 side included Jack Charlton playing with a broken toe and since there were no substitutes allowed Jack went up front and scored! Ray Wilson was also injured and Greaves was injured too but there was no excuse for the rest of the team not getting anywhere near Jim. Hurst scored our second. Law, Lennox and McCalliog scored for Scotland.

This next clip is not an exact anniversary of the 1977 match at Wembley (it was played on June 4th and 98.103 saw it) but the match played 10 years later had a significant effect on English football! and the Wembley goalposts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HGLrfSn4dvc

Overall results England win 48, Scotland 41. Drawn 24=113:
There was a 0-0 in 1987, in 1957 Scotland won 1-2,
On April 12th 1947, the two teams met for the first official time post War a 1-1 draw at Wembley.
In 1937 England won 3-1, 1927 Scotland won 2-1, 1907 1-1, 1897 England 2-1, 1887 England 3-2, 1877 England 3-1.

WHITE ROSE RISING?

Is Hull in Yorkshire? Yes it is, just and as the City of Culture it has much to celebrate. Lying 17th in the Premier League however means that they need a good finish to the football season to avoid relegation. They are the soul representatives from the White Rose county in the top division.

Is Yo-Yo club, Middlesbrough, in the county? Yes, apparently in North Yorkshire. They are worse than Hull at 19th out of 20 places in the PL and did I tell you I had caretaker manager Steve Agnew in our holiday let over the "international weekend?!!

As I write though, in the Championship, true West Yorkshire Huddersfield are 2-2 with Preston having gone one behind at home. The Terriers are hanging on to 3rd place at the moment (10 points behind Newcastle) and with a game in hand they should be assured of a play-off place.
Leeds play Newcastle tonight and need points to stay in 5th place with a guarantee of a play off.
Sheffield Wednesday are 6th and not so secure.
Barnsley in 13th place are not challenging for anything much apart from mediocrity whilst dear old Rotherham are down and out by a long way, with only 17 points from 41 games, they are way off the pace.

In League One Sheffield United are clearly top by 9 points and champions, Bradford City lie 4th and Scunthorpe 5th. Barring a disaster both will be in the play offs. Chesterfield and dear old Coventry are 23rd and 24th and destined to be relegated. Coventry were a Premier team 16 years ago. In 1981, Coventry's ground, Highfield Road became the first all seater stadium in the country. In 2001, after 34 years in the top tier the club was relegated to the Championship. The club moved to the Ricoh in 2005.  In 2012 they went to League One and this season have won the EFL Trophy at Wembley, 30 years after beating Spurs in the FA Cup.

League Two leaders Doncaster Rovers are 6 points clear and heading towards the "champion" plinth, all being well.

Spare a thought for Leyton Orient, a top flight club in 1962-3 (their only visit there!), are bottom of the Football League and possibly out of football altogether with financial issues.
Above them are Newport County (7 points between them) who have "been out of the Football League and out of "business" before in 1989" but have recovered from obscurity (back to the FLeague 1013-14), so perhaps Orient may rise like the phoenix. Barry Hearn where are you? (at the Crucible!!)

In the National League York City are 19th and North Ferriby United 23rd, both in danger of heading to the second "layer". So ALL the White Rose clubs are rising and falling!

JUST A QUICKIE

Gavin Stokes will never be as famous as he has been today after he scored the "fastest goal in soccer history" when he scored direct from the kick off for Maryhill v Clydebank in 2.1 secs in the West of Scotland Super league tie, a non-league fixture and a 3-0 win.
http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/maryhill-juniors-player-scores-one-10196877

Nawaf Al Abed's goal playing for Al Hilal v Al Shaolah in 2010 was timed at 2.72 secs although the timing mechanism could not be guaranteed. Nawaf's team won 4-0.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ruz5SFZlDxY

Vuk Bakic of GSP Polet scored in 2.2 secs against FK Dorcol in the Serbia Junior League setting up a 4-1 win in 2012.

Mark Burrows in 2004 scored for Cowes Sports in 2.56 secs (so the ref said) beating Eastleigh Reserves 5-3 in a Hampshire League game. It was wind assisted his home fans claimed.

Jim Fryatt for Bradford Park Avenue (yes,once a League team) netted in 4 secs against Transmere in 1964 in a Football League match, but there was no film proof, only the ref's word and watch.

Ledley King scored in 10 secs in 2000 against Bradford City in the Premier League at Valley Parade. The match ended 3-3.

The fastest World Cup goal is down to Christian Benteke for Belgium against Gibraltar in October 2016 scoring in 8.1 secs and curiously Davide Gualtieri for San Marino notched against Graham Taylor's England at Wembley in 8.3 secs in 1993. This game ended in a 7-1 win for England but they needed a seven goal margin and for a bit of luck in the other group tie. Neither happened, England didn't qualify and Taylor walked.

Hakan Sukur scored in 10.89 secs for Turkey when they beat South Korea 3-2 in the World Cup Finals.

DICKIE BIRD

It's been a fascinating day with a visit to Barnsley which is "In Bloom". There is lots of civic pride both in the obvious form; flower beds, statues and so on. But also amongst the people who are definitely proud of their town.

I ventured into the Town Hall to see the new Dickie Bird exhibition and also saw the very fine display of Barnsley FC. I made the most of the interactive facilities. Dickie also played football enjoying the captaincy of Raley Seconday Modern U15s that won the local schools' cup. This is not surprising since he played with Arthur Rowe the shot putter, a 1960 GB Olympian and Tommy Taylor, an England international star of Manchester United, who tragically died in the 1958 Munich Air crash.
Dickie is central front row. Can you work out the other two? The headmaster was called Henry Bird!

I then met a very nice man with a plastic bin liner in his hand, who showed me round the Council Chamber, where there is going to be "a film crew performing this afternoon" he told me.

Dickie might have played football to a higher level but for a knee cartlidge injury which he sustained in a match for the YMCA v Dodworth. He was due to play for a Barnsley XI that day in the Northern League, but that was postponed so he went to play locally and got nailed!

This probably put pay to his first class cricket (he did play 93 first class matches for Boycott and Parkinson's Yorkshire), so he chose umpiring instead and he ended up with 66 Tests and 69 ODIs and other accolades.

Harold Dennis (Dickie) Bird was born in Staincross on 19th April 1933, we forget how aged he is! from a mining family, he too went down the mine but was saved by his cricketing career.

His statue is sited on the town's ring road and had to be "raised up" to dissuade Saturday night revellers from hanging unmentionables on Dickie's raised finger!

It has been a good day!!

HOBBY OR HOBBY?

Many thanks to a good friend who has deep interests in balls, organs and birds. These might even be known as HOBBIES and why not? 

The bird, the Eurasian Hobby is a small. slim falcon (Falco Subbuteo) shown left. Hobby comes from the Old French "Hobe" or "Hobet".

The species name subbuteo is from the Latin sub, meaning "near to" and buteo,  means "buzzard" . Almost a buzzard?

The name was eventually used as the trademark for the well known "table top football game"  credited by the Subbuteo games' company. 
After the word "hobby" was not available, being already used for too many other leisure activities, the creator Peter Adolf (1916-1994) made the clever decision to use subbuteo. He even has a plaque where it all happened!

Leaving the RAF after the war he adapted an already established game called "Newfooty" and the history of this can be read through this link. It is worth reading how the players changed physically for example.
Imagine flicking a lead based washer as the player base.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subbuteo

Needless to say there is always a link with another "piece of soccer" and not too long ago I brought to your attention the Subbuteo game that included the Old Carthusians in their teams. Why does such a small non-league club get attention? Well you know why! 

They won the FA Cup in 1881 and that is enough to qualify the club (founded in 1876) for a place in the Subbuteo catalogue.

http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/flicking-marvellous.html

How do you insert a streaker into the game?

and why not chuck on the Halesowen dog to chase the ball?
Why Halesowen? read a recent blog!!

CONSECUTIVELY

On the 10th April 1880, Clapham Rovers beat Oxford University in the first FA Cup Final to be played in April in front of 6,000. It was played at The Oval. Clopton Lloyd-Jones scored the winner with just 6 minutes left in the match. There was "vociferous cheering and throwing up of hands and other demonstrations of delight" when the goal went in.Reginald Halsey Birkett, Rovers' goalkeeper was the first man to represent England at both soccer and rugby.
At 21 years and 150 days old, Clopton became the youngest goalscorer in an FA Cup final until EG (Teddy) Wynyard scored for the Old Carthusians in 1881; he was 20 years and 8 days old. "Prinsep threw the ball well in and Wynyard kicked it between the posts".

In previous years (back to 1872) matches were played in March, the earliest being on the 11th March 1876, when the Wanderers drew 1-1 with the Old Etonians. The OEs won the replay 3-0 a week later.

To get to the 1880 final Clapham Rovers (who had lost the 1879 Final to the OEs) had to play 5 rounds unbeaten, of course, and then having a BYE in the semi-final! Oxford University beat Nottingam Forest 1-0 in their semi. Clapham beat Romford, South Norwood, Pilgrims, Hendon and the Old Etonians en route.

To date Tottenham Hotspur are on a 9 game unbeaten streak, last losing on February 16th. The run includes a 5th Round win over Fulham, a Q-F drubbing of Millwall and a win over KAA Gent in the Europa Cup.
Sunderland have gone 675 minutes without a goal and Fabian Delph scored his first Premier League goal for City since 448 days ago.
Middlesbrough are the only English League team to go without a win in 2017.

Continuing the consecutive win theme, The "Pointless" jackpot winning streak of 7 wins in a row came to an end this evening. Alexander and Richard were disappointless!

Deeds rather than words.

CLUBS AND CLUBHOUSES

The Hepworth Juniors U13s played in front of their new club house this morning for the first time. The building is not yet the finished article, nor are the U13s. Downhill with the wind and with two greyhounds up front we took advantage of the slope and breeze turning round 2-0. Final score 3-5 down! The oppo were a good passing side, we relied on what should be our strengths but we couldn't score (should have been 6-0 at half time) and defending was a challenge as the little people tired! Enough of that, both teams tried hard on a hot day and Kirkburton deserved their win.

The club house is part finished and I can imagine next year having a hot tea and bacon sandwich whilst watching several of our young teams perform on a Saturday or Sunday morning.

So bearing in mind clubhouses, HUJFC have had a financial input from the Football Foundation via the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA. The club house looks nice but we won't be using it for a few months yet. We await the official opening.

Have a look at this link to Melksham FC (Wiltshire) who have a new stadium, Oakfield at Woolmore Farm.
http://www.melkshamtownfc.com/photos/new-mtfc-stadium-at-woolmore-farm-602543.html

They are in the Toolstation Western League Premier Division (step 5-6) and holding their own.
The £7 million stadium paid for with Football Foundation money is shared with Melksham Rugby Club. They left the Conigre Stadium where they had played since 1926. Founded in 1876, the club now has the privilege of playing at a state of the art football ground. Lucky "Town"...yep that's their nickname. HUJFC soon!

POLY TECHNICAL BETTER

The AFA Senior Cup has been played since the 1907-8 season. The Casuals (before the club merged with the Corinthians) beat the Old Carthusians in the first AFA final. The OCs reached the final again over 100 yearslater in 2010-11, throwing away a 2-0 lead to lose to the Old Salesians 2-3.

Polytechnic have not won the cup before but this season they are top of their league and by today's performance a better side than the Carthusians. The Polytechnic is an open club whilst the Carthusians is closed and they stick to their "rules" rigidly.

It was a determined and direct game, won by the "Open Club" 4-1. They went 3-0 up in the first half, but each goal might have been prevented with a little more expertise and organisation. Polytechnic were strong and big, the pitch hard and bouncey and they controlled the game better. They conceded a silly goal through goalkeeper error and then scored a belter to seal the game.

The OCs will be disappointed with the result, but they never stopped working and believing, however they will appreciate the difference between the level of opposition that they meet week in and week out in the Arthurian league (clubs are closed), a less competitive league than the "open" Southern Amateur League.

Poly have played at Buckingham Palace in celebration of the FA's 150th anniversary (2103); playing an official SA League match against the Civil Service on a pitch especially prepared at Prince William's request! Look at yesterday's blog for a few more historic gems.

Many thanks to the Old Owens' Sports Club for hosting the match and to the AFA for arranging everything else. I drove 350 miles to enjoy the game on a wonderful sunny day in Potters' Bar.....bliss.

Next for the OCs,

the Arthur Dunn Cup (semi-final) and the London Old Boys' Cup Final.....busy club. The mob above are the real OLD BOYS....

AMATEUR FOOTBALL ALLIANCE CUP FINAL

The Old Carthusians have had an illustrious history and 2016-17 is adding to the club's impressive list of achievements. Already Arthurian League Premier Division Champions, they are also in the finals of the Arthur Dunn Cup and the London Old Boys Cup. An impressive three some.

On Saturday (8th April) they play the Polytechnic FC in the AFA Senior Cup Final at the Old Owens' Ground, Potters' Bar. This would be regarded as one of the top amateur competitions in the south!

The London Polytechnic was founded originally as the Young Man's Christian Institute in 1882 by Quintin Hogg.(anyone who knows their political history will know who he or his ancestors are).

Have a look at this link to see what was achieved.
http://polytechnicfc.co.uk/poly-history-quintin-hogg/

The Polytechnic FC formed in 1875 (possibly 1873) as Hanover United, which apparently is the first use of "United" in football club names. (the club also claims the first netball team in the World! 1907?? correct me if I am wrong) as well as other sporting and human clubs.

In the FA Cup, the club's best achievement was in 1884-5 reaching the 3rd round but more recently they have been in the Southern Amateur League Cup, the AFA Middlesex Senior Cup and appeared as Amateur Football Alliance Runners Up, so there is a bit of history in cup ties.

Bear in mind that the Poly have met the OCs before in the FA Cup Round 1 (IN 1887-8) when the OCs beat  Hanover United 5-0. I suspect the game will be a bit tighter this year. Good luck to both teams.

MAKING A POINT

Your team might be lounging in the relegation slot of its league but there may be time still to capture a few more points for safety.

Spare a thought for Dumfries YMCA in the South of Scotland league, who may have alrady accepted defeat......resting 59 points behind league leaders Wigtown/Bladnoch who have 60 points, winning 19 and drawn 3 games, who with 4 matches left they might be champions.

The YMCA have one match left and only have ONE point,conceding 155 goals against 20. But like all good YMCA members they are still playing, sticking to the faith and no doubt putting up with silly opposition comments about playing like red indians or similar.

Not much better are poor old Woodkirk Valley U13s who play in the parallel division to my lot, that is, Huddersfield and District Junior league Division 5A. (mine play in 5B).
Woodkirk have played 20 games on Sunday mornings, won NONE, drawn NONE, lost 20, scored 17 and conceded 278 GOALS, bless them. They are still turing out when many would have given football up for girls, or shopping in Town or for a paper round. Woodkirk Valley is a well resourced club and is very proud of its teams.
The U13s best score was against an Ossett Town team losing 2-4 and their worst v Batley at 0-25. Since their ground is addressed at "Opposite St Mary's Church, Dewsbury Road".....well God Bless! maybe it is time for divine inspiration.

But these are kids. What about Ellistown and Ibstock (Step 6) in the East Midlands Counties League, THREE points in 37 matches, 19-135 goals. not quite so bad are Petersfield Town in the Evo-Stick Step 4 who have earned just 9 points in 38.
Just for entertainment, when Everton won the "old" First division in 1984-5, they scored 90 points, 23 ahead of the next rival. Bottom club Stoke City managed 17 points from 42 games.

As the various leagues unfold over the next few matches, we hope at least the root teams will survive to play again next year, even it is in another division.

STRIPES v STRIPES

Do you know where Brigg is? The ground is called the Hawthorns. Penistone Church FC are playing there tonight; an important Toolstation Northern Counties East Division One match where three more points will be vital in their attempt to get to the play-offs.

Brigg is further away from me than Scunthorpe-70 miles-a step further will take you into Grimsby, it's a long way to drive. I'm not going! I hope the Church gets the points, they have deserved the reward of at least a play-off. Brigg lie below half ay in the division, PCFC lie 5th.

This important match coincides with me reading this week's Non-League Paper, only to discover that Brigg are in trouble.

Known as the Zebras, the club was formed in 1864, very old considering the foundation of Notts County and Sheffield Hallam etc. The club is so called because the club's colours are black and white striped shirts. The club is reputedly the oldest "town" club in continuous existence and the oldest club to sport those specific colours. (check out Notts County?).

The Zebras have had good times, having won the FA Vase in 1996 and 2003, and in 2011 were in the play offs to reach Step 3. How the mighty have fallen from grace, now lurking in Step 6 with Penistone Church, who coincidently also wear black and white stripes?

Brigg are in danger of "folding". Needless to say, this is due to some dodgy past management and of course poor investment has left the club in debt. (who hasn't been at a club where finances have been mucked up by poor investors?)

The club owes the local electricity company £8000, so power has been cut off; there are numerous demands for other bills to be paid and the bank has its eye on the club's land under the Law of Property Act.

Help!

IT'S A DOG'S DAY IN HALESOWEN

No doubt you will have read about this pitch invasion and I know I have written about pitch invasions before, but the amusement caused by this charming Beagle at Halesowen must be seen, even if you have already done so.

The reaction by the commentator is enough to cause a giggle and keep watching as even the keeper, with huge gloves on, fails to make a catch! Actually, a seven minute break in a game is enough to cause an upset, as you will see it didn't affect the home team too much.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrscpcgGSto

The dog, owned by Halesowen player, Asa Charlton, ran riot for seven minutes and his owner couldn't explain how he had got loose. In the end, The Yeltz, as they are known, won the game 1-0! Asa eventually trapped the hound and at the ripe old age of 38, that was an achievement! (for Asa that is).

Founded in 1873, Halesowen Town FC is one of the oldest in the country. Once a local Birmingham league side, they now play in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier League, Premier Division, having been promoted in 2013-14. The Yeltz have played at their ground,The Grove, since being founded. It was also a cricket ground and the club has gradually added facilities to make it into a decent stadium.

WORKINGTON AFC

I should have done a blog on Coventry's win at wembley yesterday. Who says the Checkatrade Trophy is a waste of time? Not the 80,000 fans who turned up to watch last year's Wembley finalists, Oxford United and the Sky Blues play out the EFL Final. Well done to Coventry City for winning their first silverware since 1987. Don't mention that FA Cup Final again! BUT I have been distracted in the county of Cumbria, you know lakes, mountains and Jennings Bitter. I did pass Workington AFC, one of the ex Football League clubs that held their own for a while, then faded. Barrow did the same, maybe they will get back one day?

Workington AFC has a very nice website which may be viewed on this link:
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/workingtonafc

Known as Workington Reds, the football club has to distiguish itself from the rugby league club that shares the same "stadium", Borough Park, with a massive capacity of 3,000. There is still a "folk" or "mob" game between the "Uppies" and the "Downies" played nearby. As you know from previous information these sorts of games took place all over the country and some were "lethal".

From April 1755 there has been a report of this game known locally as the "Cumbrian paquet". Times have changed and a type of football was played in the 1860s. Some steel workers from Charles Cammel and Co, Dronfield in Derbyshire arrived in the town in the 1880s and introduced a more formal game. Dronnies formed the team in 1888. The club folded in 1911 and revitalised in 1921.

Workington AFC did not get into the Football League until 1951 replacing New Brighton. For a few months in 1954-5 the team was managed by Bill Shankly. Their stay lasted until 1977 when they were not re-elected and their place taken by AFC Wimbledon. Their most recent result in the Northern Premier was against Ilkeston (last but one) who could not raise a team and so the match was postponed.
Come on the Reds!