OLYMPICS WINNERS' MEDALS

We are a few weeks away from the FA Cup Final.
In the early years, the Cup Final was played in March. The first one in 1872 on the 16th, the second in 1873 on the 29th, then it went the 14th, 13th, 11th, 24th, 23rd, 29th, the April 10th, 9th (1881 between the Old Carthusians v Old Etonians), 25th March and ........

on March 31st 1882-3 it was the Old Etonians v Blackburn Olympic at The Kennington Oval when 8,000 folk watched the  Professionals beat the Old Boys 2-1 after extra time.

The OEs played with 10 men after an injury after about 15 minutes. They then had to endure extra time. 
The Olympic, founded in 1878, had been at a special training week at Blackpool before the final and indeed travelled to Richmond to stay "locally" before the big day. Their "condition" was better served in extra time as the OEs clearly suffered from fatigue.

This was the first team from the "working classes" to win the cup.
Apparently "The Field" mentioned that the winner's tactics caused the OEs some discomfort. And we worry about cheating in Australia!

To get to the Cup Final Olympic beat Accrington, Lower Darwen, Darwen Ramblers, Church, Druids and Old Carthusians on 17th March-4-0. very regional......
The OEs beat Old Foresters, Brentwood, Rochester, Swifts, Hendon and Notts County on 17th March 2-1.
The Cup and medals were presented by Major Marindin-see yesterday's blog. Here are the Olympic in 1883. The club folded in 1889.

NO MORE UNTO THE BREACH, DEAR BRECHIN

Brechin City is designated "city" due to its Cathedral. That's what happens from time to time....Chichester City FC e.g.
The Brechin City FC is located in Angus County in Eastern Scotland and the city has a population of just over 7,000. They joined the Scottish League 3rd division when it was formed in 1923 but the division's history has had quite an "up and down" until its recent re-formation.
Brechin have played football since 1906 and settled at Glebe Park after the First World War in 1919 as two local clubs the Harps and the Hearts united. The club can host around 4,000 people.
In 2016-17, the club won promotion by the play offs from the Scottish League One to the Championship, where they are struggling.

Their present record is position 10/10....29 games played a goal difference of -46 with 4 points from 4 draws. Their nearest "rivals" are Dumbarton on 27 points and at the top of the division  are St Mirren with 66 points.
On 24th March St Mirren beat Brechin 20 and condemned them to relegation. Wins this season for City include two pre-season friendlies over Spartans (Non-league) and Montrose, a win over Forfar in the BetFred Cup (aet) and a win over Buckie Thistle in the Scottish league Cup.
They are a few games away from becoming the first UK league club to go an entire season without a league win.

FIRST FA CUP FINAL HAT TRICK

On March 29th 1890, Blackburn Rovers (third in the Football League-at the time this was the only division) beat Sheffield (The) Wednesday (who played in the Football Alliance) 6-1 in the first "Roses" FA Cup Final at the Oval.
Bill Townley scored the first Cup Final hat trick in front of 20,000 spectators. Townley was one nine internationals in the Rovers' team, who were a serious professional unit.
Referee Colonel Francis Arthur Marindin KCMG, officiated his eight and last Cup Final. He was one of the founders of the FA Cup, a founder member of the Royal Engineers FC, twice played in the final, an Old Etonian, captain, ref and administrator. One of the great men to set up our big game. He lived between 1838 and 1900.
He stepped down gracefully from his post as FA President, once he saw that professionalism had taken over football.

On March 29th 1924, Billy Meredith played for Manchester City in the Cup Final against Newcastle United. He was 49 years old and 8 months old, one of the great players.

The Football Alliance was formed in 1889 as an alternative to the Football League that was running, founded in 1882. Twelve clubs originally joined the Alliance, from the north and midlands. The two leagues joined in 1892 to create two division in the F.L.
Clubs included Ardwick, Birmingham St Georges, Bootle, Burton Swifts, Crewe Alex, Darwen, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Long Eaton Rangers, Newton heath, Nottingham Forest, Small Heath, Stoke, Sunderland Albion, The Wednesday, Wallsall Town Swifts.
The Wednesday, Stoke and Nottingham Forest were champions on each of the three years that the F. Alliance ran.

VERY FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL-UNLESS YOU ARE WELSH

In 1990 on this day, the Welsh dressing room at Lansdowne Road, Dublin was broken into during a friendly international match against the Republic of Ireland which the Republic won. Jack Charlton managed the Irish, Terry Yorath the Welsh.

Sussex man Alan Gunn was the referee.

Even more surprising was Bobby Robson's England's win over Brazil 1-0 at Wembley.  Gary Lineker scored his 30th goal for the country and Stuart Pearce kept a potential equaliser out of the goal with what might have been a hand. Still no VAR and the ref was clearly right supported by his assistant.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IC5hHaAFzEM

There is an 11 minute clip here. Lineker scores after 3minutes.

Pearce acts after 7 mins or so

Even more surprising was a win for Scotland against (wait for it) Argentina 1-0 at Hampden Park. Stewart McKimmie scored the winner after 32 minutes. Jet lag? Watch the goal now!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=862bITLbc9A

SEASIDERS ANCHORED; KINGFISHERS DIVE IN

Downsizing to the Vase, the latest FA cup tournament has reached the last legs as Thatcham Town beat 1874 Northwich Victoria 4-2 on aggregate. On Saturday Thatcham nicked a 3-2 win following their 1-0 win at home by way of a penalty. 1,693 watched the game in what was described as a 4 star game. The kick off had to be delayed to cater for the large crowd.
The Kingfishers from Berkshire play at Waterside Park, in the Hellenic League, the 9th tier. Graduates include Charlie Austin and Laurie Sanchez.

I have mentioned 1874 before, you may have to use the search facility.
Town's opponents at Wembley will be Stockton Town, a club founded in 1979 as Hartburn Juniors, a 5 a-side team playing in the Middlesbrough area. The named changed in 2003 and it has been an upward journey for the club. The badge includes an anchor, reference to the town shipbuilding and port activities. They play in the Northern league Division One.
Known as the Anchors, Stockton had a two goal advantage over Marske United from the first leg. Both legs were held at the Bishopton Road, the Stockton 3G stadium, because of a waterlogged pitch at Marske. The stadium and complex was completed in 2015. There would have been a pitch advantage no doubt.

Marske, known as the Seasiders, were always chasing the game and never really got to grips with the pitch or the opposition despite scoring after 8 minutes. The Anchors equalised just before half time and then the Seasiders were leading once again after 55 minutes. In what was a tense second half, Stockton hung on, with 1,800 watching.

RAVENS AND SAINTS

Bromley FC were founder members of the Southern League Division Two in 1894, two years after their founding.

Bromley, the Ravens, will play at Wembley in the Trophy Final after beating Gateshead 4-3 on aggregate after a 1-1 draw at "The Heed".
Their last visit to the national stadium was on April 23rd 1949 when they met Romford in the Amateur Cup Final in front of 93,000 spectators. Bromley won 1-0. On their way to final the Ravens beat Leytonstone in the semi-final, the famous Pegasus in the quarters, Barking, Wimbledon and Maidenhead Utd. 2,264 attended.

In 1911, 1938 and 1949 the club won the FA Amateur Cup beating the very famous Bishop Auckland (at Herne Hill 3,000), Erith and Belvedere (at the Den, 33,000) and Romford (at Wembley 93,000) consecutively.
Here are two very scratchy films of the final. the first section is mainly about the pre-match stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTdJ_YaAb0U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4W9WjlKhkk

Bromley meet Brackley Town who reach the hallowed turf for the first time overcoming Wealdstone 3-0 after two legs. 2,008 watched the game.
 The Saints, from Northampton, play in the National League North at St James' Park, and were founded in 1890. In 2016-17 they won through to the Second Round of the FA Cup beating Gillingham and losing 0-1 to Blackpool in Round Two.

BOB'S YER CAPTAIN

Pointless once again gave me inspiration. The question was "English football captains"; who voted for the most obscure candidate?

There were several choices posted by their "initials";
e.g. BC-Bobby Charlton, BM Bobby Moore, DB-David Beckham, JT-John Terry and BW-Billy Wright....I could go on.

Actually Bobby Charlton was captain 3 times despite having been capped 106 times and he was first given the honour in  January 1969. He was not on the list, it was Bob Crompton (pictured above) who was "Pointless".

Compton was the first England captain to score an own goal v Scotland on 6th April 1907.
He was also (probably) the first professional footballer to drive his own car to the national training session in 1908.

Crompton was born in September 1879 and his first team was Trinity FC Sunday School. He won 41 caps and was captain 22 times between 1902-14. His first captaincy was on March 2nd 1903 v Wales at Fratton Park.
He was the first professional player to captain England, prior to that it was an amateur chosen by the FA who believed would behave properly!

In 1911 following his record breaking international appearance (beating Steve Bloomer's record) he was presented with a portrait of himself in oils at Blackburn in 1911.

Crompton spent most of his career at Blackburn Rovers as a full back (1896-1920) making 576 appearances. He captained his club to two Division One championships in 1911-12 and 1913-14. In 1915-16 he guested for Blackpool in the War time regional league, went back to Rovers as a club director, winning the FA Cup in 1928, beating the very powerful Huddersfield Town.

He spent time at Bournemouth in 1935-6 and went to back to Rovers in 1938-9 producing a Division 2 Championship side that season and they won the War Time Cup in 1939-40.
On March 16th 1941 he suffered a heart attack watching Rovers beat Burnley 3-2 and died that evening.

First England captain was Cuthbert Ottoway 30th November 1872 at Hamilton Crescent, Partick v Scotland 0-0. He was an Old Etonian.

COMOROS v WANYAMA

I am listening to Talksport at the moment and being reminded that Bradford City used to be in the Premier League. There are other clubs that many will not believe until you show them the records. I am talking minnows!

I was also looking at the "friendlies" being played this weekend and spotted minnows Curacao v Bolivia (1-1) and The Comoros Islands v Kenya. Anyone know where they are?

Curacao may be found in the lesser Antilles, sort of north-east South America and for The Comoros, look in the Indian Ocean.

The Comoros first played Aruba in 1924 and the FA was formed in 1979. The first international match was against Mauritius in August 1979 away losing 0-3. They became members of FIFA in 2005. Their used to be in an association with Aruba, Bonaire, Saba, Sint Eustatius and Sint Maarten contributing.

Kenya saved embarrassment thanks to Victor Wanyama of Spurs, who scored 2 to ensure a 2-2 draw against these minnows.

Comoros, presently ranked 132nd in FIFA, played their last game v Madagascar in the India Ocean Island Games, in November 2017, away in France, drawing 1-1. Local island rivals include Mauritius, Seychelles and Maldives. With fewer than a million in population, the team bats above its average, mainly.

WALTER TULL

Many thanks to a derby fan, David Charlton who does not come from the long line of Ashington Charltons but nevertheless takes a full interest in soccer and has sent me this link from the BBBC Sports pages:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43504448

You will not doubt have read my other references to Walter over the years (2015 and 2016) but it does no harm in reviewing the subject in hand and celebrating his deeds as a footballer and war hero.
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2015/11/viv-whizz.html
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/07/lest-we-forget_93.html

BALE'S RECORD; WILSON GOOD BET

Gareth Bale is Welsh! it is a shame but then there is nothing to be done about it. He has just broken the national goal scoring record by slotting 3 past the hapless Chinese side in Nanning, Guangxi yesterday. The score ended 6-0, so one way traffic but a win is a win especially after a long journey to join in the China Cup.
Bale scored early doors and with the help of Sam Vokes and Liverpool Academy youngster on loan to Hull City, Harry Wilson, ran up a half dozen, on his 21st birthday.

This takes Ryan Gigg's team into a final to meet either Uruguay or the Czech Republic on Monday.
Bale's record 29 in 69 games, now beats Ian Rush on 28/73, Trevor Ford on 23/38 and Ivor Allchurch 68/23 with Dean Saunders 22/75 not far behind.
Do you think you can name some others coming in the top ten?

All time records include:
Wilson is the youngest debut player at 16 years and 207 days and Liverpool's youngest international debut player. His maternal grandfather bet £50, with William Hill, that his grandson would play international football when the boy was 18 months old..... he won £125,000.
Bale youngest to score a goal at 16 years 315 days.
Oldest player is Billy Meredith at 45 years and 229 days. He played mainly for the two Manchester sides in 1894-1924.

GONG GONE

A Rotherham family has made an appeal to a thief who robbed their home recently and stole among other valuables, the treasured FA Cup Winners medal won in 1912 by Barnsley FC player Philip Wright Bratley. The grandson of Philip is Keith Moxon who inherited the medal and kept it in his Moorgate home. The wider community has been asked to keep an eye for the heirloom that might be sold on the antiques market.
Bratley was a member of the Barnsley team that beat West Bromwich Albion 1-0 in a replay on the 24th April, after a 0-0 draw at the Crystal Palace on April 20th. A crowd of 54,556 saw the first game and 38,555 turned out for the replay at Bramall Lane, Barnsley having won the toss of a coin for the venue.
Barnsley "battled" their way through twelve cup ties conceding only 3 goals, including four matches against neighbours Bradford City, who were cup holders.
They beat Birmingham City twice after a replay,
Leicester Fosse,
Bolton Wanderers,
Bradford City x 4,
Swindon Town x2 in the semi-final
WBA x2 in the final. Spot Bratley in the team!

The win made the Tykes the third second division club to win the cup.
For the third season running the final went to replay and this game was won by a runaway goal scored by inside right Harry Tufnell two minutes from the end of extra time. In front of Tufnell's run was the Albion captain, Jesse Pennington, who as last defender might have brought him down, but in those days they didn't think of such things. Pennington had won 25 England caps and played over 500 games for Albion.
The Barnsley captain was Archie Taylor pictured in his "civvies" in his own backyard.

THROUGH THE LENS

Easy day today. The sun's out, the lambs have been let into the pastures with their mums, the snow is hanging on around walls and in sheltered spots and Stuart Roy Clarke's photos are being advertised in a national paper. He is also shown at the brilliant National Football Museum in Manchester. You may have been? If not, it is definitely one for the "bucket list"!

Here are some of Stuart's photos. He also had a gallery in Ambleside, Cumbria. It is late March and as I have done for 43 years I am heading to the Lake District for a few days, having a look at Stuart's Gallery may well be on the timetable, if he is still there.
https://www.theguardian.com/football/gallery/2018/mar/20/the-game-football-through-the-lens-of-stuart-clarke-in-pictures


Lone Huddersfield Town supporter at Roots Hall, Southend Utd FC.
If you can get this video to work then there is a bit more for you to take in:
https://www.homesoffootball.co.uk/

STANLEY' DEBUT

On 19th March 1932, Stanley Matthews made is first team debut for his local club, Stoke City against Bury in the English Second Division. He went to Blackpool in May 1948 at 32 years old and returned to Stoke in 1961 playing until he was 53, remarkable however he was a fitness fanatic who looked after himself in all aspects. 

He won 54 caps for England which does not seem a lot considering his longevity but England did not play as many internationals in those days. He did appear in two World Cups, 1950 and 1954, was Knighted when still playing the game (unique), was European Footballer of the Year, the Football Writers player of the Year, the oldest player to play in the top division, the oldest to play for England (probably the oldest in any international team) and was installed in the English Football Hall of fame.

Stanley played in three cup finals with Blackpool in 1948 losing 2-4 to Manchester United, in 1951 losing to Newcastle United and then beating Bolton 4-3 from 1-3 down in what was known as the Matthews' Final.

In 1965 he started on a managerial campaign with Port Vale which lasted only three years. Port vale as you know is the only league club not to be named after a real place. In total he played nearly 700 games and scored 71....there is no record of his assists.

In 1975 Matthews was still involved with football, carrying the game into Soweto where he formed an "All Black XI" that promoted the game in South Africa.

He died on February 23rd 2000 and was my "hero".

ROBINSON'S CRUCIAL

https://inews.co.uk/sport/football/best-goals-goalkeepers/

Just for fun and seeing as snow is forming "dunes" up against my house and car I am letting you enjoy Best Goals Scored by Goalkeepers. It's a quicky since I was watching Paul Robinson score on Brian Seal's excellent blog http://tdifh.blogspot.co.uk/

Best of luck....!

Here's Paul in one of his other "goals"........

WIGAN PIES

With £360,000 the bait for quarter-final winners this weekend, Wigan Athletic are up for their contest with Southampton. Athletic are riding high, second in League One, three games in hand and 5 points behind local rivals Blackburn Rovers.

Will Grigg, who has scored seven goals in his side's campaign, including two against West Ham and one against City is a local hero and so much so that the local delicacy, PIE has been adapted to suit his temper, hot and fiery. The Rolling Pin Bakery is churning out a cheeky, chicken and chorizo with onion number, something to warm the Wigan crowd on a cold Saturday.

One way or another the FA have published figures of the increase in social media hits following Grigg's rise to fame. Apparently views in Iraq have been up 900%! In Lebanon 772%, and Myanmar over 10,000. Remarkable! There were also some hits in Antarctica come on you penguins.

Wigan have been the scourge of Premier League sides, knocking out Bournemouth, West Ham and surprisingly Manchester City in the fifth round. Crowds watching the Latics have risen through the rounds from just over 3,000 to 19,242 in their 1-0 beating of City.

Earlier victories include win against Crawley in round one, and AFC Fylde, another local derby, 3-2 after being help 1-1.

Total earnings have amounted to £750,000 and Will grigg has been mentioned in 10,000+ social media hits.

He deserves his pie.

A charity match between Wigan legends, organised by Roberto Martinez, Isidro Diaz and Jesus Sebastian and Manchester City legends will take place at local Ashton Town FC on May 12th to raise money for Joseph's Goal to raise money for the condition, Non-Ketotic Hyperglycinemia a rare condition affecting a local supporter who is 8 years old. 

MALDIVES

Having tucked away Mauritius recently I saw an advertisement for a holiday in the Maldives. I didn't think there would much of a call for footy on the islands but sure enough there is an FA, the international team is called the Red Snappers and the national team is ranked 150th in FIFA.

There are two club divisions that include the Dhivehi Premier League which uses one stadium that holds nearly 12,000 spectators. The season is between August and May when 8 Premier League teams end up playing each other twice. There is relegation to and promotion from the Second division. In 2018 the leagues will expand to 10 clubs each.

The national team plays mainly in the South Asia Football Federation Gold Cup. They meet Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka and the like generally finding themselves in a semi-final game or in the final, so their general standard is high.

In 1979 their first international match was against the Seychelles losing 0-9. They then beat Mongolia in Male 12-0 in 2003 their highest score and and in 1997 Iran inflicted a 17-0 defeat on the Snappers.

Darren Stewart is head coach and his career was spent mainly in Newcastle, New South Wales and he has been in charge since 2016.

Made up from around 1190 atolls (coral islands) in the Indian Ocean, the population is around 1/3 million. Tourism is a major earner, as is fishing of course.

STANLEY ON THE WAY UP

Accrington Stanley have appeared several times on my blog over the years. Today they sit TOP of Sky Bet Division two, pursued by more fashionable clubs like Luton and Shewsbury. Accrington Stanley has often been the butt of jokes (Milk Adverts and Ian Rush?) but with 10 games to go they could get promotion and find themselves playing Sunderland and Birmingham city next season. They may have the last laugh.
With a weekly budget of £15,000, the joint lowest in the Football League, Andy Holt, a local businessman dealing in the plastic industry, has owned the club for the past 3 years; he controls the finances.
The club has avoided administration and Holt has not had to sell his best players over the summer. He even acquired Harvey Rodgers from local Fleetwood Town.,
One fly in the ointment is that they have to train a mile from the ground at the local leisure centre at Hyndburn, on a 4G which is controlled by the local authority. Stanley may not get first "dibs" on the pitch which makes planning tricky.
The club's top three scorers, Billy Kee, Kayden Jackson and Sean McConville, have a greater goals scored and assists total this season than the present famed Liverpool Trio.
Manager Sean Coleman is in his second spell with the club, covering 17 years. He has a good induction ceremony for new signings who are challenged by him to a 50 yard dash with £50 at stake. Needless to say the lads will fancy their chances against the older man but the catch is they have to drink a half pint of water half way down the track. Even then the young lads will still consider themselves to be favourite UNTIL they discover that the half pint of water is boiling hot! All good fun then!
Refounded in 1968, Stanley play at the WHAM Stadium which has a capacity of just over 5,000.

The club, Accrington, was an original member of the Football League in 1888, the club resigned five years later in 1893.
A team called Stanley Villa existed, based in the Stanley Street Working Man's Club. When Accrington failed, Stanley Villa adopted the name of the club joining the Football League in 1921 until 1962 and then played in the Lancashire Combination until the club dissolved in 1966.

The club was revived in 1968, eventually playing home games at the Crown Ground in 1970. Local businessman Eric Whalley invested money in 1995 in the club's ground and when the club was relegated in 1999, John Coleman was appointed manager. Brett Ormerod's transfer to Blackpool and then Southampton enabled "sell on fees" to line the Stanley's coffers and help them win the Northern Premier League in 2003.This led to a period in the Conference with an initial league match against Aldershot Town, another "re-formed" club (August 10th 2003).
The Accies were saved from bankruptcy by local Ilyas Khan in late 2009. The club was promoted back to the Football League in 2006 after an unbeaten run of 19 matches.

Talks are ongoing at the moment about a move from the present "shabby" Crown Ground (Wham Stadium) to a new stadium at Church, a bordering town.

ITS THE SCOTS-10 YEARS LATE.

On this day in 1873 the Scottish Football Association was formed, 10 years after the English! The clubs below were the founder members having already got themselves playing friendlies, such as Clydesdale who emerged from their Cricket Club in 1872 and were good enough to beat the famed Queen's Park 2-0 in the Scottish Cup Final.
Dumbreck, who played at Ibroxhill, were one of the 16 clubs to take part in the first Scottish FA Cup.
Photo is of Third Lanark, 1904 Glasgow Cup Winners. They won the SFA Cup in 1889 and 1905. In 1923 the club toured Buenos Aires and Montevideo, playing the national side on June 24th. Shown below entering the field of play. They were that good. These days they exist as an amateur team in the West of Scotland League.

Vale of Leven were a team from west Dunbartonshire and won the Scottish FA Cup in 1877/8/9 and even beat the Wanderers 2-1 in 1878 at the Oval. Along with Renton they were the best in the country. Founded in 1872-1929, they were reformed in 1939, now playing in the West of Scotland League.
Kilmarnock FC were playing matches but only sent a letter to the FA to say they would be interested in taking part in a league.
Eastern from Glasgow, played from 1873 till 1885 when they dissolved.
Granville FC was also a Glasgow team that lastest from 1872-8. They did supply a W. Ker (no joke) for the first Scottish International team that played England in 1872, in a 0-0 draw.
Professionalism arrived in the Scottish FA in May 1893.

LOUGHBOROUGH GUNNED DOWN

On a day when the death of Ken Dodd, aged 90, is announced I did look him up to see if he was big footy fan. I think he spent Saturday afternoons in Diddy Land because the best I could find was a comment he made which went like this; "I don't care who beats Manchester United", yes he was a scouser, as if you didn't know.

It is hard to believe that he didn't have a big love of one of the Liverpool clubs but then it is difficult to believe that Arsenal (well Woolwich Arsenal) once played Loughborough Town FC in the Second Division.
 Woolwich Arsenal, once known as Royal Arsenal joined the Football League from the Southern League in 1893. On December 12th 1896 Loughborough thumped the Arsenal 8-0 in the league, the Gunners' greatest defeat. This is the match report:
http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/Articles/ArsenalRecordDefeat.htm

The Gunners eventually appointed a new manager, Harry Bradshaw, who took over in August 1899 and then began Arsenal's rise to glory. Bradshaw's boys  took on Loughborough twice in March 1900, winning 3-2 away on the 9th and then won 12-0 away on Monday 12th.
The match was played at the Arsenal home Manor Ground at Plumstead (below) and is Arsenal's greatest league win. This proved to be Loughborough's last season in the league as financial issues led to the club dissolving.

Loughborough Town won one match against Burton Swifts that season. They drew 6 matches and lost 27 scoring 18 goals and conceded exactly 100. Points 8 (6 x 1 for a draw and 1 x 2 for a win).
Woolwich Arsenal came 8th with Wednesday and Bolton getting promotion the First Division.

MAURITIUS FOR LES DODOS AND PAMPLEMOUSSES

Watching TV today (Sunday), yes I know I should have been watching MOTD with Gary Lineker and friends, but I was in need of UVs so it was the Travel Show that took my eye. Today there was a very nice article on Mauritius...where?
There is an FA...Equipe de Maurice de Football, locally known as Club M or Les Dodos. Why Dodos? Surely you know why? Here is Prince Maurice of van Nassau, whom the island is named after; the Prince of Orange (Dutch to you lot), in 1598.

The nation's football is answerable to FIFA, CONCAF and their head coach is Francisco Filho. They play in the African Cup of Nations and in the Indian Ocean Island Games. The first ever international was against Reunion Island in 1947. The Triangulaire included Madagascar, the third island in the local competition.

Passions run high, for in 1999 in a match between the Port Louis Sporting Club (The Scouts Club) and the Pamplemousses (The Fire Brigade Club), a controversial penalty decision brought about a 2-1 win for Fire Brigade which led to a deadly riot and a ban of domestic football which caused a major decline in the Island's football. The Mauritian Island League, founded in 1930, continue to be played.

Matters were settled and by 2011 the island won through to the IOIG Final losing to the Seychelles on penalties. This signified a resurgence in Club M's (the national side) fortunes. and recent qualifying matches include games against Comoros, Angola, St Kitts and Nevis, Mongolia and most recently Togo away, losing 6-0. The next match is on the 27th March away at Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar. Check your Atlas.

Home international matches are played in a village venue, Belle Vue Maurel, a settlement of a 6,000 inhabitants! at the Stade Anjalay to thew north of the island. Capital Port Louis. Island pop: 1.2mill

BAME? BARMY! ROONEY?

At last a black football manager has been awarded Manager of the Month in the Premier League. Congratulations.
Chris Hughton, once a Spurs player, has won the award after a successful February with Brighton and Hove Albion. At 59 years old he brought the Albion up from second place in the Championship to the PL last season. The Seagulls are holding their own so far.

Chris has been a PL manager for 121 games (today) with Newcastle, Norwich and with Brighton consecutively and his team is comfortably placed in the division and is awaiting a FA Cup quarter-final tie with Manchester United, having been unbeaten in 7 games this month.

There is a handful of names of black managers in the PL with Ruud Gullit the first as he took over from Glen Hoddle at Chelsea in 1996. Gullit was successful but was sacked after a year and then at Newcastle he led them to the FA Cup Final, although again his stay was short lived.

Frenchman Jean Tigana won promotion with Fulham after 3 years from 2000 and led them to the UEFA Cup. Paul Ince was the first English black manager at Blackburn for 17 games and several others, Terry Connor and Chris Ramsey failed at Wolves and QPR. Opportunities are limited from Black, Asian, Minority and Ethnic managers.

Other MANE managers, past and present, include Keith Curle at Carlisle, Jimmy F Hasselbaink at Northampton, Fabio Liverani, once at Leyton Orient, Ricardo Moniz (once at Notts County), Nuno Espirito Santo (Wolves), Jack Lester (Chesterfield), Keith Alexander, deceased (once at Macclesfield and others), Chris Kamara (last at Stoke 1998) would you believe it? Chris Powell (Southend).

We hope that the Rooney Rule makes a difference although many BAME footballers do not want to be subjected to being appointed to fulfil a "quota".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rooney_Rule

SWIFTS, POOLS AND PANIC

On this day in 1895, Newton Heath FC (know them?) wallopped Wallsall Town Swifts 14-0 in a Second Division match. Joe Cassidy scored 9.
The Swifts were quick to complain about the state of the pitch and a replay was ordered for the following Wednesday. Newton Heath won 9-0 this time and Cassidy notched 6. The Swifts ended up third from bottom and Newton Heath third from top. Bury won the division nine points clear.

In 1936 the Football League, two weeks into a new season, reverted to their normal fixture card following a doomed effort to beat the Pools industry. They had suspended their normal programme, only informing clubs of their opponents and venues on the Friday night before the Saturday match. This made club planning a nightmare and of course caused a few ripples in the Pools.

In 1943 33 people were killed and over 500 injured when a crush barrier collapsed at Bolton Wanderers ground, Burden Park. There were many failings in the stadium structure and arrangements, including a broken padlock on a gate that allowed extras to flood in. Soon after the Government insisted on "Licensed" grounds.
The game was a cup tie against Stoke City with Stanley Matthews a major attraction. The game was halted, bodies removed from the pitch and the police advised the officials to carry on to avoid a panic. The game ended 0-0 but Bolton progressed following a 2-0 win in the first of two ties. YES it was an aggregate score and the first year that this was introduced, apparently to help make money for clubs suffering from the War and recession. There were 65,000 or more in the ground, potentially a money maker. But to what end?

WATT? COSTELLO AND ABBOTT-THAT'S WHAT

AN EXTRA ONE TODAY BECAUSE IT'S WORTH IT.......
You will no doubt have heard about ex-Arsenal youngster, Sanchez Watt's problem with the referee, Dean Hulme, in the match between Sanchez's Hemel Hempstead Town and East Thurrock United in the National League South? No? well, here is the story:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/43314870

The Guardian made fun of it of course and many will remember this timeless classic from Abbott and Costello.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sShMA85pv8M&utm_source=esp&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=Fiver+2016&utm_term=266705&subid=21632127&CMP=EMCFTBEML853

CHARLTON "ATHLETIC" STILL

Well here he is, one of the Charlton brothers, all Northumbrians who have helped mould the shape to English football. We all know about the Sir Bobby (now 80), big brother Jack, the rangey centre half and fisherman (now 82) BOTH WORLD CUP WINNERS and Tom a minor ex-"miner" who is 71-the babe.
Tom is making the news because he is still playing for the Mature Millers, Rotherham United Walking Football team part of the football club's "Community Trust".

He takes a tumble occasionally and it was a broken leg as a youngster that slowed his progress and then a broken knee cap at 23 years old that stopped him entirely.
Recently walking football has reinvented him, as WF has done for a number of us. I was due to play at Penistone Church FC this afternoon, where a bunch of oldies gather for an hour to relive the past, but snow has wrecked our fun.
We travel to Doncaster Rovers FC once a month to play in a round robin tournament organised by the Sheffield and Hallamshire FA. Rotherham put a side in, so perhaps I have already played against young Tom? Would I have known?

Tom came "south" 33 years ago to work for the Miners' Rescue Service at the South Yorkshire coalfield and as a grand dad of 4  he is still very lively. His pedigree cannot be doubted with his mother a Milburn from Ashington, whose family included "Wor" (our) Jackie, the famed England centre forward (353 apps and 157 goals for Newcastle United) and his brothers Stan, George and Jimmy.

Rotherham oldies meet at the club's facility at Eastwood on Wednesdays at 12.30. Penistone Church FC meet at the Memorial ground Thursday at 4pm, weather permitting! Walking Football will be happening in your area-just get in touch with your local FA.

AUSSIE SEAGULLS IN HUGE NUMBERS

Brighton and Hove Albion have been pleasantly successful in England maintaining Premier League status and in Melbourne (this is my last reference to Australia for a while) Brighton Soccer Club is known as the biggest in Victoria State and has more girls and women playing than any other Aussie club. Check out the website.
http://www.brightonsc.org.au/files/7983/files/Documents/Year%20by%20Year%20History%20of%20BSC.pdf

Why a shout out for Brighton? Well, old pal Chris Bayman, whom I know from Charterhouse and who played a role in the school's football (soccer) reads this blog all those thousands of miles away, has two children who play the round ball game at Brighton. There are 92 teams and over 1100 players from juniors to Over 45 men and plenty of girls and women playing too.


In 1924 the club was formed and in 1926 junior teams were started. The senior men were promoted through the FFof Victoria divisions to Division One in 1931, two years later they won their first Dockerty Cup, the Victorian Premier Cup, first played for in 1909, and after the war three club players made it into the national side.
Times rapidly changed and despite their successful history, the club fell down the ladder to Division 4, although their Juniors continued to do well bolstering the club's reputation.
However, in 1992 the senior team collapsed, lost its status but four years later there was a renaissance starting with 8 teams and 146 players and in 2011 the club was the largest in the State with players from "mini-Roos" (U8) to girls, men, women and Over 35s.
 Do not confuse this club with the Brighton Football Club of Tasmania or the Brighton Football (Aussie) Club of Melbourne formed in 1885 which eventually became known as Caulfield Football Club (including a colour change from maroon to blue and white stripes....bit like the Seagulls-soccer) which eventually folded in the late 1980s after various financial difficulties.

Tomorrow-walking football!

KING KENNY AND MARINA

OK so the 4th of March was yesterday (actually 2 days ago southern hemisphere time) but we must help Kenny Dalglish celebrate his birthday; born in 1951, Kenneth Mathieson in Dalmarnock, Glasgow and then lived in the shadows of Glasgow Rangers, whom he supported. He played for Glasgow schoolboys and won trophies with them as well as playing for Scottish schoolboys, his team was undefeated in the historic Victory Shield involving "Home" nations.
His first club was Cumbernauld when he was loaned out by Glasgow Celtic as he worked as an apprentice joiner.
When Jock Stein visited his home to persuade the talented youngster to sign forms, Kenny ran upstairs to strip his bedroom of Rangers pictures. He joined the club and played for their Reserves in a team known as the "Quality Street Gang" with David Hay, Danny McGrain and Lou Macari on the team sheet.
His playing career included Celtic up to 1977, playing 204 games with 112 goals. He went to Liverpool in 1977-1990 (355-118). He included player-manager on his c.v. with Liverpool from 1985-91, then Blackburn Rovers from 1991-5, Newcastle Utd 1997-98 and back to Celtic for one season 2000. After a decade he came back to manage Liverpool briefly 2011-12 being called out of retirement to fill a gap left by Roy Hodgson's dismissal. During that 10 year period, Dalglish concentrated on raising money for the Marina Dalglish Appeal for cancer care.
He works in the Liverpool club as a non-executive director, had a stand named after him at Anfield and was awarded the MBE for his services to football and charity. He played 102 times for Scotland and scored 30 goals.
Marina was also awarded the MBE and recovered from her illness and their efforts in raising money enabled the Centre for Oncology to be built at the University Hospital Aintree.

20 SECONDS IS ALL IT TAKES

It is amazing the stuff you can find on the WWW. I'm looking for something to use as a theme today and I came across this..........
http://the18.com/soccer-videos/italian-magazine-voted-worst-20-seconds-soccer-ever-played
and then understandably, I came across this.....
http://the18.com/soccer-entertainment/most-exciting-goal-ever-watford-vs-leicester-city

and now you have a website to entertain you! Happy reading and watching either Best's moments, Banks' saves or the weather girls.

HOOF HEARTED AND NORFOLKENCHANTS-HORSES!

It might be one of those days when I am struggling for a theme. Spending a day on the Bellarine Peninsular, yes you know where that is.....I looked out for local sports clubs with training or matches on a Saturday. No luck. It's all happened or maybe there is a match or two tomorrow. So next best thing? Horse racing! The International Express ran a page in their review section on Horse Mad celebrities. Judi Dench, Liz Hurley, Ronnie Wood were outnumbered by three footballing giants.
We all know Sir Alec Ferguson's involvement with race horses having been a part owner with United shareholder John Magnier. Their relationship was strained over the ownership of the spectacular Rock of Gibraltar. Fergy gave Magnier the hair dryer for £110 million but settled for £2.5m! He was of course once part owner of a horse called "Hairdryer"!

Michael Owen is famous for owning, training and even riding race horses. His stables at Mount House, Cheshire occupied his time during the final seven years of his playing career and then made a professional debut in a charity race at Ascot last November.

Wayne Rooney bought a number of horses from Owen including Switcharooney and Pippy. he aimed to rename them Hoof Hearted and Norfolk Enchants but the jockey club spotted the fun and gave him a yellow card. In 2012 Yourartisonfire won Wayne a few bob at Haydock!
There's a bit more here for you ruminate on.
http://www.goal.com/en/news/cheltenham-festival-which-football-players-and-managers-own-race-/f75ubzsw1ret1ou4fozxt7p02
IT DOES NEED WATCHING!

MELBOURNE DERBY - NOT HORSES

It was the Melbourne "Classico" last night and Victory were victorious over City. The first derby ever was on the 8th October 2010 which City, then known as Melbourne Heart won 2-1.
These two clubs have had a mention before:
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com.au/2016/02/so-close-to-derby-and-yet-so-far.html

The game was described in the press as "incredible" and having watched most of it live, I am likely to agree. There was:-
a first minute VAR decided offside, when an opening goal scored by Kiwi international, Besart Barbarouses was disallowed (it would have been the fastest in the league's history) because fellow player, Albanian,  Barisha was offside;
Barbarouses then score after 12 minutes;
a penalty caused  by Leigh Broxham's hand, scored by City's Uruguayan, Bruno Fornaroli;
a wonder assist from Broxham leading to Leroy George's headed winning goal;
an all-in brawl at half time; and at the end
Victory's Socceroo, James Troisi, missed a gaping goal when City's keeper, Bouzanis, was in the opponent's penalty at a last minute corner corner trying the level the game. PHEW!

The game took place at AAMI Park (also known as the Rectangular Stadium) in Melbourne. This was the third A-League meeting between the two, with Victory winning two games at the AAMI 2-1 last night and 1-0 on December 23rd. City got the win at their Etihad Stadium (Docklands) in October 2-1. Each of the twelve teams plays the other team 3 times...that's two homes and one away; which changes the following season.
City lie in 3rd place in the Hyundai A-League with 33 points, Victory 4th with 32 points, this league consisting of 10 teams. One New Zealand team, Wellington, plays in the league. It is planned to expand the league to 12 clubs next season.
The Champions go through to the Asian Federation Conference Champions League (ACL).

City were founded in 2009 and Huddersfield's Aaron Mooy cut his teeth at City. Victory was formed in 2004 and have Harry Kewell and now head coach Kevin Muscat on their past roster.

SPURS BEAT THE SNOW MAN AND THE DALE

I watched Spurs play Rochdale last night on a warm night in Victoria, watching snow fall gently over Wembley, snow shovellers efficiently clearing lines and the Dales dreams slowly fade away like melting snowflakes.
Rochdale of course are non-league opposition and they put up a good fight until Llorente turned up with a perfect hat trick-right foot, left foot and a headed goal.

It is the first time in 10 years that the quarter-finals of the FA Cup include eight teams with not one club name beginning with a vowel! Who gets this stuff?
Spurs go to Swansea in the last 8 and become the first "top flight" club to play twice away in Wales in the cup-remember brave Newport?
Spurs will face another club that they have never met before for the 4th successive round; AFC Wimbledon, Newport County, Rochdale and Swansea.
Fascinating ain't it?!

More stuff-on this day:- WBA beat Chatham in the 3rd Round of the Cup 10-1. The Baggies had beaten Burnley 5-1 in the previous round, and Small Heath 3-2 before that. They then lost to PNE, eventual winners, in the semi-final.

In 1903 Portsmouth provided the professional captain of the England national side, R. Crompton, v Wales, a game they won 2-1. The club had previously also provided  and the first amateur captain, VJ Woodward.