EAST FIFE FINES; FORFAR MORE?

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49169963


Its a new season and the Scots have got going with the fines' list at East Fife FC. As if the players can afford it! There won't be many fines to boost the club coffers at Eriskay FC, whose pitch couldn't be improved because FIFA recognise it as a "playing surface". This video covers it nicely.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/57KfvBMt3DV20DkmYXNZRww/eriskay-football-club-the-beautiful-game-with-views-to-match



The team is pictured above on their home turf, named as one of FIFA's EIGHT most remarkable pitches.
The club gets a mention in the FIFA Museum, which also hosts a documentary about the club filmed in 2016. Worth looking up the other seven remarkable pitches .....

Eriskay, with a population of around 150, plays in the Uist and Barra League, founded in 1950 and the club also takes part in the Highland Amateur Cup. SIX teams compete in the league: Benbecula, Southend (south Kintyre Peninsular), Lochdar Saints (on South Uist), North Uist, Eriskay and Barra The club has also played in the Island Games, a global tournament first held in 2005.
Here are some of the "clubs"

GUESS THE GROUND

 You must guess the name of the football ground depicted above. This is the present ground of a Premier League club, the cottage standing over the present centre- spot. Answer below.....
This is fairly obvious stuff, the stand lettering gives it away and here is the ground being illuminated for grass growth!

Yes, it is the original Craven Cottage, photographed around 1780, this original building sited by the Thames was burnt down in May 1888. It was a royal hunting lodge, lived in by William Craven, a nobleman, it was sited in Ann Boleyn's hunting grounds. An early resident was Edward Bulwer-Lytton, the author of "The Last Days of Pompeii".

In 1894 Fulham FC got hold of the land and took two years to develop the ground, opening up with a Middlesex Senior Cup tie against Minerva on the 10th October 1896, winning 4-0.

My Charterhouse side was lucky enough to play in the first Independent Schools' FA Cup Final there on May 16th 1993,  losing on penalties  to Forest School after drawing 2-2 aet.
The boys changed in the famous Craven Cottage dressing rooms, bottom right hand corner...not the original building of course.

The ground is also shown in the 1940s with the Craven Cottage changing rooms etc. More covered stands have been added since this photograph was taken in 1938, when Fulham played Millwall in front of nearly 49.500, a record crowd, possible because of the open terraces. It is still possible to stand on top of one of the river side terraces on Boat Race Day and watch the Oxbridge annual row. On some years with Fulham at home, the kick off depending on SKY!, the Varsity rowing race coincides, the start depending on the TIDE.

IAN BUXTON IN DERBYSHIRE

Chris Hardstaff, a regular "reader", one of the few, when we met at yesterday's Packhorse Inn, came up with a brochure from the Ian Buxton testimonial, dated January 1972.
He thoughtfully said it might help me come up with a theme for a "blog", knowing how sometimes getting inspiration is a bit of challenge. Today in nearly on this day in 1948, which was the opening of the London Olympics...so I did have a starter. But this is more fun.

Ian Buxton, as you will know, was one of those "all year" sportsmen, who played football for Derby County and captained county cricket for Derbyshire-1959-73. That leads me onto the joke which starts: "Who played football for Manchester United and cricket for Scotland?....answer....
Denis Law and Mike Denness. Simple!
But dual sportsmen could do that way back-not so now if you are at the top of each game.
There were a few all rounders around in those days....Arthur Milton, Johnny Haynes  (what?? are you sure?, Jim Cumbes, Jim Standen, Willie Watson, Ian Botham.....

It's the Derbyshire link following on from yesterday's day out at New Mills. Ian started life in Matlock  1938 and ended it in Buxton 2010, schooling at Wirksworth Grammar School, lived in Cromford, interrupted by National Service with the RAF.

The Brochure is titled "All Rounder"; Ian played 310 matches in his county career, scoring nearly 10,500 runs at 24.00 and taking 420 wickets at 26 and 176 catches. An all rounder in one sport clearly. No internationals I'm afraid.

He was celebrated by Brian Clough, who mentioned himself about 10 times in his acknowledgement of Ian's career. There was also appraisal from John O'Hare, Ray Illingworth, Roy McFarland, Freddie Trueman, Ian Chappell and many others.

An inside forward. Ian's career started at Derby County in the 2nd Division 1959-67 145 apps, Luton Town, helping the Hatters to the 4th Division title 1967-8, Notts County in the 4th Div, Port Vale with promotion from 4th to 3rd Div 1969-70 and Ilkeston Town FC. He totalled around 216 games and 62 goals.

The brochure was an historic document with adverts on A5 pages from Gun and Moore with their famed Autograph bat (I had one!), Swafega, Double Diamond and Winit Sports Shoes. to name a few.

The testamonial season included a cricket match involving a "Derbyshire XI" v Lesley Crowther's XI at Cromford Meadows  The Chesterfield Cricket Lovers' Society Six-a-sides at Clay Cross, a few more local games and a Dinner Dance at The Green Man Hotel, Ashbourne...get your dicky bow on and no clown uniforms!

NEW MILLS AFC

 We were off to Derbyshire today; a mere few miles over the Woodhead Pass. It's my better half's annual Swanwick Grammar School (Derbyshire) reunion. Enterprising couples from her year group arrange a gathering each year, which involves a bit of a walk and a pub lunch. Some make a weekend of it...depends on the availability of Real Ale. During the lunch I discovered that I had played against an Old Swanwickian....Keith A Carby then of St Edmund Hall, who was playing for Oxford University against Cambridge at Wembley! His lot lost 0-1, the winner scored by a college pal of mine, Jerry Wallwork....who also learned his footy trade (and one or two others) in Chesterfield, Derbyshire.

So today, midst rain, we ventured over the Pennines, not too far to Lyme Park, a stately home and grounds and then to the local pub in New Mills, a town of 12,000.

It is coal, iron and cotton country. These raw materials were the basis of the local industry where cloth was produced from imported cotton, feeding the mouths of lads and lasses.

Founded in 1886, the New Mills AFC joined the Manchester League and worked its way through the various "steps" eventually going no further, being disturbed by World War 1. They disbanded of course and later reformed as New Mills St George's, enjoying their freedom, winning local cups and drawing crowds of several thousands.

During WW2, the club declined again, playing in the Cheshire County League at the time and after, with peace, joined the North West Counties League when the club reformed as the local Birch Vale and Thornsett FCs merged. The pub we visit is the Pack Horse Inn, sited at Thornsett and near Wistle.
To be recommended-the pub that is but hopefully for you on a sunnier day.

In 1977, playing in the Manchester League, The Millers developed its Church Lane ground and inspired by this, the club won 2nd Division League Championship Cup in 2006-7, the League Challenge Cup in 2008-9 and became champions of the North West Counties League in 2010-11. Celebrating their 125th year, New Mills hosted a Manchester United XI managed by Alex Ferguson. The club seemed to have a rosy future! Not so.....2014-15 saw a relegation although the club was reprieved.

During the 2015-16 season, the club was playing in the then "Evostick sponsored"  League, but lost 26 out of 26 league and cup matches on the trot and only ended up with 3 league points from 3 drawn matches, a Northern League low and no cups!

New Mills AFC, known as The Millers, now play in the Hallmark Security North West Counties League, Division One South. Step 6.

In season 2016-17, The Millers won their first match, beating Cammell Laird, their first victory for 18 months. More managerial changes occurred and newly appointed manager, Calum Sykes from Stockport Town FC, brought the entire Stockport Town squad with him but this ploy didn't work and he saw the team relegated again. Local comedian wrote a book about their season called "Winless". Morale was not high. Their plight made the BBC news! The BBC got involved and bless them The Millers still grind on.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/35959714

WHAT'S IN A NAME?

On Easter Saturday, 20th April 1957, Charlton Athletic lost to Arsenal 1-3 in a league match at Highbury and the Charlton goal was an own goal scored by Arsenal defender Stan Charlton. Cliff Holton scored one for the Gunners and Derek Tapscott 2.

One of Bobby Moore's middle names was Chelsea. The other was Frederick.

In the 1970s, Sunderland briefly had a player called Thomas Barrie Wardrobe, who took a bit of trouble getting round, couldn't work out why his team mates kept throwing their kit at him.
Born on 3rd July 1963, in Newcastle upon Tyne, he also played for Hartlepool and Gateshead, ending up selling house in the North-east.

Arthur Longbottom, who was a journeyman footballer from 1954 to 1965, turned out over 200 times for QPR, spent 52 games at Port Vale, then Millwall, onwards to Oxford United for over 300 apps in the early 1960s, then Colchester Utd and finally Scarborough. He changed his name by deed poll to Arthur Langley in his retirement.

David Beckham's middle names are Robert and Joseph.

A Madagascan club, Mpiasa Mpianatra Mirka once played a friendly against Turkish club Makina Kimya Endustrisi Ankaragucu. Chants from the terraces were long and involved.

WARNING: Below are some naughty words; read at your peril

https://www.openplay.co.uk/blog/top-27-funniest-names-in-football/

THE OLDEST SCOTTISH CLUB

Queen's Park FC is a Scottish amateur football club, the oldest in Scotland (since 1867), that has played its home matches at Hampden Park since 1873. This stadium is a 51,800 seater stadium, obviously far too big for a Scottish league club playing in Division Two.The Scottish FA want Queen's Park out of Hampden as soon as possible so  they can get on with using the stadium for more prestigious football matches and QP may benefit from a £5 million sale..

The Scottish FA are hooking up with the Glasgow City Council to make things work. The Council invested money into the stadium in the 1990s and is represented on the Hampden Park Ltd board.

Named after a Scottish Civil War hero, John Hampden, the stadium presently hosts Scottish national matches, rugby, concerts and the like, to help pay for its existence.

Queens Park now play at the Lesser Hampden, having been there since the 1920s, a ground virtually on the same site as its "big brother". In fact there have been three Hampdens, but that's another story

Located in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, the stadium once held a 149,415 crowd for a Scotland v England international in 1937. Located at its present site since October 31st 1903, it was built as the biggest stadium in the world and could hold 150,000 by the 1930s.

The capacity has been reduced to 80,000 and the stadium was fully renovated in 1999. It also is the home of the Scottish FA, the Scottish FA Hall of Fame, and the Scottish National Football Museum.

Since September 2018, the Scottish FA agreed to buy the stadium from Queen's Park when the lease runs out in 2020, the intention to ensure the future of the country's national stadium.

Murrayfield Stadium waits in the shadows, in case things don't work out and the rugby stadium has already hosted some Scottish football, including Celtic's European matches in 2014, as well as other events such, European Rugby, Edinburgh Pro 14 and Heart of Midlothian when their stadium was being renovated and various rock concerts.

Here are the Queen's Park Club;
1874 Scottish FA Cup winners.
Remember that Queen's Park (The Spiders) also won the English FA Cup in 1884 and 1885.
 "Ludere Causa Ludendi"....."To Play for the Sake of Playing".
True amateurs.

THE HOMELESS WORLD CUP

The 17th World Cup takes place in Cardiff during late July and August, an annual event that brings over 50 countries and 64 teams to South Wales. Men and Mixed teams account for 48 and Women 16. All British nations are represented as well as most of the  and more distant nations including Zimbabwe, South Korea, Colombia, Pakistan and Australia. More details can be found here:
https://homelessworldcup.org/cardiff-2019-news/

Michael Sheen is the "host" and he can be found supporting the event on the BBC website.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMKmDASowYI Video by Michael.

Bute Park hosts the event which includes more than just "Street Football". Music, theatre, lectures and exhibitions, about "Homelessness" will entertain competitors and visitors from all over the world. The local university halls of residence are providing a home for the homeless!


Founded in 2001 by Mel Young and Harald Schmied the first tournament took place in Graz, Austria. It has been to Edinburgh, the HQ for the organisation, and Glasgow. To qualify as  "homeless" in this case, means participants must be 16 years old at least, earns money through being be a street paper vendor, so mot employed, could be an asylum seeker and/or be in rehab from alcohol or drug related issues.

Teams include 4 on the pitch (astro) one of which must be a goalie and 4 rolling subs. Brazil and mexico, unsurprisingly, have won the tournament 3 times each.

A docu-film was released in 2006 during the South African tournament, with Colin Farrell leading the commentary.

Bs in LANCASHIRE

Hearing that Bolton Wanderers FC are having problems fulfilling friendly fixtures through a lack of money for wages and that Bury FC also are having a struggle, I am reminded of the fight that Blackpool FC had with the debt men recently.


At the moment, the "Seasiders" seem to be running smoothly, the other two Bs are not. The Blackpool club was founded on July 26th 1887 as St John's (Church) FC....busying the men when they weren't working-see below??!!
They joined the Lancashire League, which seemed to be fashion at the time and then joined the Football League in 1896. The Tangerines had their finest moments post WW2 when they lost the FA Cup twice and won it once between 1948 and 1953. Stanley Matthews, of course, was integral in their success. By the 1980/90s the club lounged in the Fourth Division.



Bury FC was founded in 1885 with the anvil, shuttle, fleece and papyrus plant (for paper) motto "Vincit Omnia Industria" work conquers all, on their badge. The once Lancashire town (now Greater Manchester) had a history in cotton manufacture and the name, Bury, means a castle, fort or similar, forming the basis of  the settlement description "borough". It was the seat of Sir Robert Peel's family.

Playing at Gigg Lane, not a large ground, they have a ground record of 35,000 for their local derby against Bolton on January 9th 1960.

The Shakers played in the Lancashire League before joining the Football League in 1894. Enjoying the Second Division, they won promotion immediately joining locals Bolton, Blackburn, Preston and Burnley.

In 1900 they beat Southampton 4-0 in the FA Cup and then set a record in 1903 by beating Derby 6-0 in the final. That score held until last season (2019) when Manchester City beat Watford by the same score.

In 2005, the club scored their 1000th Football League goal, the first in the top four tiers, and also Bury was the first European club to sign a player from Indian Sub-Continent, Baichung Bhutia. Colin Bell started his career with the Shakers and Bruce Grobbelaar ended his at 40 years and 337 days.


Bolton Wanderers, another Lancashire (Greater Manchester) "B" was founded in 1874 by the Reverend Wright, originally as Christ Church FC. This was another plan to keep the chaps out of the pubs. In 1877 the club had to move from their original venue and hence the addition Wanderers to their name. They played in the Lancashire League before joining the Football League as a founder member in 1888.

SONG GONE FOR A EARLY BATH, TWICE

The 1994 FIFA World Cup was held in the USA and before the kick off there was controversy as the Cameroonians threatened to go on strike unless they were paid promised bonuses from the qualifying rounds. Rigobert Song, a centre half, was playing for Cameroon club side, Tonnerre Yaounde.

At the Stanford Stadium, on Friday June 24, they drew their first match v Sweden 2-2, then never stood a chance against a full blown Brazil team who beat them 3-0. With 84 minutes gone, Rigobert Song, at 17 years 358 days, was sent off , becoming the youngest player to be sent off in a World Cup Finals' match.
The Cameroonians lost their last group match to Russia 6-1 and flew home.
During this tournament Roger Milla also played for the "Indomitable Lions" aged 42 years and 35 days, winning 137 caps.
The age gap between Song and Milla is the greatest in any World Cup squad.

In 1998 you would think that Song would have learned a lesson, matured? NO! In a petulant 1-1 draw against Chile, in Nantes, at the Stade Atlantique, he was sent off almost four years to the day          (Tuesday 23 June), when he elbowed Salas in the 51st minute. Team mate, Lauren, joined Song in the second half, 47 minutes later, after a very high tackle, ON the same player!
With 9 men the Cameroonians held out for a 1-1 draw, but this was still not enough points to prevent the early plane home trip!

Song was the first player to be sent off in TWO World Cups.
Zidane equalled this, being sent off in two World Cups, 1998 and 2006. The "Lions" never qualified for the 2006 World Cup Finals.

In the 2010 World Cup, Song played in South Africa, losing to Japan 0-1, Denmark 1-2 and the Dutch 1-2.

Song was signed by Gerard Houllier for Liverpool on January 26 1999 from Salernitana in Seria A. Song never settled at Anfield and was off loaded to West Ham in November 2000 and later played at Koln, Lens, then at Galatasaray and Trabzonspor in Turkey. His nephew, Alex, plays at the high level too. Rigobert now manages the national side.

Song appeared in over 400 matches for various club sides.

ONLY HALF WAY HARRY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwFK1JlbpjE
Harry Kane v Juventus at the weekend, helping the Spurs to a 2-3 win.

and here are a few more half way goals and embarrassed goalkeepers from 2017:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYhtE056sCE

I think "box goals" are very nice, especially when the ball ripples the net from it enters the goal just under the cross bar.

MOON LANDING

On July 20th 1969 the first human boot was planted on the moon, a significant moment in away fixtures. Yes, I am struggling to find something really interesting to write about on this famous day, BUT don't despair, I found a footballer called Kevin Moon who was born in Perth, Scotland and made his way round the Scottish teams with unusual names such as St Johnstone, Forfar Athletic, Alloa Athlectic, Raith Rovers and finally Stirling Albion. He included a short spell at ECU Joondalup SC in Western Australia, yes in the City of Wanneroo, at the Gumblossom Park, Quinn's Rock a suburb of you guessed it, Perth. A much complicated c.v.

I did try quite hard to get "Moon" name connections and of course,  the Club Song "Blue Moon" was an obvious link, but whilst everyone will say it's Manchester City's song, it should be known that Crewe Alexandra also enjoy the famous chant. Apparently it reflects the colour of their away strip and a response to the "gloomy days" at Gresty Road during the mid-1900s.

Don't despair; I knew I had seen "Moon" somewhere and of course it was in the Corinthian history that I saw the name Billy Moon, who played as a goalkeeper and the great G.O.Smith described him as "sturdy and someone who gave as good as his got, in the matter of  charging". Moon played 7 times for England from 1888-91. He was a wicket keeper who played at Hampstead CC and occasionally for Middlesex. In a game at Vincent Square against the Old Westminsters. GO playing for the Old Carthusians collided with Moon who was knocked out, but GO broke Moon's cheekbone and eye socket. Moon had a younger brother, Leonard, who played at inside-left and also cricket for Middlesex.
This is Billy's brother, Leonard J Moon, a cricket Blue at Cambridge and a Soccer Blue too. Like his brother, he was at Westminster School and Pembroke College, playing for the University between 1897-1900. In 1905-6 Leonard played cricket for England against South Africa. A schoolmaster, he was killed at Salonica, Greece in the First World War (23/11/1916) aged 38.

To bring the whole this down into a poor reputation, I could go on into Mooning; Dave Gaskell (Man U) and Jimmy Dunne (Fulham) were brought before the courts in the 1960s for dropping their shorts on the pitch. Sammy Nelson did the same against Coventry in 1979. Eight Wimbledon players did the same at half time during a testimonial match in May 1988-the players were fined £750 each.

WHY ROYAL GOLF COURSES ARE "ROYAL".

Lord Arthur Kinnaird was born in 1847 and unfortunately as an FA administrator, died before the new Wembley was opened in 1923. Born in Kensington, his father, Lord Kinnaird, and mother were Scottish, having a home in the family seat in Perthshire. He went to school in Cheam, then at Eton College and after at Trinity College, Cambridge University, becoming a banker for a bank that eventually founded Barclays Bank.

Kinnaird played in the second FA Cup Final in 1873, for the Wanderers, as an outfield player (sometimes in goal) and then took part in a further 8 finals, either for the Wanderers or the Old Etonians. Indeed he played in the 1881 final against the Old Carthusians, (old boys of Charterhouse School) losing 0-3.

He played in the "unofficial" England internationals v Scotland in the early 1880s and also played for county sides and The North!
Kinnaird later joined the FA administration  and refereed (umpired in those days) two FA Cup Finals in 1887 and 1889.

Like all heroes in the Victorian period he was multi-talented, sprinting for his school, getting a Cambridge Blue at Real Tennis and he also represented Cambridge at Fives, swimming, enjoyed international canoeing and was a member of the MCC.
He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, a member of the House of Lords, a JP, president of the YMCA and had various roles in the Royal Engineers and the Church of Scotland. He was of course a genuine amateur footballer....mind you he could afford to keep that status.

On July 20th 1885, the Football Association permitted "professionalism", something Kinnaird would have voted for. Before that many clubs made "payments" to some of their players to maintain the club's competitiveness. The original FA Rules formed in 1863 insisted on clubs abiding by the laws of the amateur FA code.

The Perth Golfing Society, Scotland, was founded in 1824 during a gathering of men at the local Salutation Inn. Kinnaird was not born then.
Its sixth captain was Lord Arthur Kinnaird, who, using his contact with Royalty, persuaded King William IV to give the golf society his patronage and so the golf club gained the status of the Royal Perth Golfing Society, the first in the country to gain this honour.

Various clubs have gained the Royal patronage; The Royal and Ancient, St Andrews in 1834, Royal Port Rush founded in 1888 was dubbed "Royal" in 1892. The Royal North Devon was honoured in 1864 and various clubs abroad in Australia, in Zimbabwe, the Czech Republic, Wales and of course England eg Liverpool 1871 have gained the honour! There are 66 clubs bearing the Royal title.

Just to get another sport into this Blog, I heard that over arm bowling in cricket was first used officially on this day, some time ago...anyone know the exact date?

CHARLES MILLER

The oldest football club in Brazil was founded on the 19th July 1900.The Sport Club Rio Grande plays in the Campeonato Gaucho, the regional Second Division, at the Arthur Lawson Stadium that hold 5,000. Here is the badge...almost a beach ball?

In 1894 Charles Miller arrived from England with two footballs, some kit and a set of Hampshire FA  "rules". Miller was born in Sao Paulo to an English father, Scot John Miller, a railway engineer, and a Brazilian mother; very much part of the coffee and commerce elite of Sao Paulo. He was sent to England for his education, to a school called Bannister Court on Hampshire. He played football for the school team and the Corinthians as well as the recently formed local professionals, St Mary's, later Southampton FC.

Returning to Brazil, he played for the Sao Paulo Cricket Club and persuaded his friends to play a "winter" sport, football. The first matches in 1895, were played on land scrubland, east of the city where mules grazed. The beasts of burden were used to pull city trams. The mules were chased away and replaced by lads called Sao Paulo Railways, playing The Gas Team from a local gas company.

In 1897, Hans Nobiling, a German immigrant, landed in Sao Paulo with German rules and some status of playing in Hamburg. A stranger, he couldn't get a game with Sao Paulo AC, so he gathered "excluded" non-Anglo immigrants and formed AC Internacional. More clubs formed included an exclusively Teutonic SC Germania, a team formed by American students from the local Mackenzie College and CA Paulistino a sports' club made of the city Brazilian elite.

By 1901 the club played friendlies, for example in May against some English sailors and by 1902 an extensive league programm (1st League), the Liga Paulista and city championship was staged. Brazil's National Football Day is held on July 19th to celebrate the club's founding.

GIANCINTO FACCHETTI

The very famous and formidable Italian defender was born on July 18th 1942 in Treviglio, a town in Lombardy. Facchetti was eventually known as one of Italy's greatest players who played for Inter Milan (Internazionale) and became club president after his retirement from playing in 1978.


Starting with local club Trevigliesse in 1956 he was brought to Inter Milan by Helenio Herrera who manged the side in the 1960s. As a full back, Facchetti fitted well into Herrera defensive strategy which included the "Catenaccio" which mean "sliding bolt". This system was based on a 5-3-2 with a "sweeper" or "libero" who patrolled the back four and mopped up any errors.

La Grande Inter Milan won Serie A four times during that period (1962-71) and two European Cups in 1964 and 1965. They also bagged a Coppa Italia and 2 Inter-continental cups.
He turned out for Inter 629 times scoring 75 goals through to 1978.
In 1965 he was elected second in the Ballon d'Or and his "Number 3" shirt was retired when he did.
Generally as a well  behaved played he was sent off only once for hand clapping sarcasm. Too clever for his own good!
He was 6'3"...spot him?
He represented his country, the Azurri 94 times and won Gold for the UEFA Euro Championships in 1968, when he was captain, and a Silver runners up medal in the World Cup, when despite being voted in the tournament's top team, his team, Italy, lost to Brazil 1-4.

Facchetti was president of Inter from 2004 who sadly died from cancer in September 2006.

He was voted one of 14 Italians named in Pele's top 150 footballers of all time published in March 2004 and of course, elected to the Italian Hall of Fame as well as many other recognitions.

PELE'S LIST!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIFA_100

KICKS FROM THE PENALTY SPOT

Remember these penalty takers? Know the bloke with the bag over his head?

On another occasion on today's date (17th July) 1994 in the Rose Bowl, Pasedena, in the FIFA World Cup Final, Brazil beat Italy 3-2 on pens after a 0-0 draw.

5th August 1970: The first penalty shoot out in England decided the Watney Cup Final, between Hull City v Manchester United at Boothberry Park. It was 1-1 at full time and 1-1 after extra time. Denis Law missed his pen which was saved by keeper McKechnie , so did Hull's Wagstaff. McKechnie then hit the bar and Morgan scored the winner.
20/6/1976: The European Championship (nations) Final was won by Czechoslovakia who beat West Germany 5-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw. The winning penalty was taken by Antonin Panenka who did just that, chipping the diving Sepp Maier
14/5/1980: European Cup Winners Cup Final Valencia beat Arsenal 5-4 on pens after 0-0.
30/5/1984: European Champions League Final Liverpool beat Roma 4-2 on pens after 1-1 and Grobbelar's wobbly knees.
17/7/1994: FIFA World Cup Final Brazil beat Italy 3-2 on pens after 0-0.
25/2/2001: Football League Cup Liverpool beat Birmingham City 5-4 on pens after 1-1.
21/5/2005: FA Cup Final Arsenal beat Manchester United 5-4 on pens after 0-0.

and the history of penalty kicks is:
https://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com/2016/09/pk-invented-in-milford.html

LIFT OFF

Memorably, on July 16th 1969, The Americans, a nation not involved in the FIFA World Cup, were making history by launching a manned space rocket, Apollo 11, at 13.32 UTC, aimed at the MOON!

Three years earlier, England, hosting the World Cup, were over the moon, beating Mexico 2-0 on July 16th 1966 at Wembley in their second group match. Two goals came via Bobby Charlton and Roger Hunt.
https://video.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search?fr=yhs-pty-pty_extension&hsimp=yhs-pty_extension&hspart=pty&p=england+v+mexico+1966+on+youtube#id=1&vid=a1a566a22729e60944d364aa191851d6&action=click

Earlier on July 11th, England had drawn 0-0 with Uruguay, the South Americans fielding an 8 man defence. The Uruguay goalkeeper, Mazurkiewicz, became the first foreign goalkeeper to prevent England from scoring at Wembley! Things were looking a little shakey.

Hunt then got a double against France in a 2-0 victory to top the group. Greaves gave way to Hunt, who didn't score another goal and sadly Greaves sustained an injury against France and waved bye bye to his World Cup.

On July 16th, other ties included, Argentina who drew violently with West Germany 0-0, at Villa Park in a rough tie. Their half back Jorge Albrecht was sent off following firstly a high tackle on the German, Weber and then a rugby style tackle on Haller.
The Argentinians had set a trend for violence, that they took with them to play England in the quarter-final; remember Rattin and all. Ramsey cleverly brought in Geoff  Hurst and he scored the only goal and winner at 78 minutes.

On the same day, Portugal showed their class with a 3-0 win over Bulgaria at Old Trafford, when Vutzov headed a spectacular own goal and Eusebio, who was soon to be heralded as a new star, added one, as did Torres.
The Soviet Union beat Italy 1-0 at Roker Park, thanks to a Chislenko goal.

England then met Argentina in a violent quarter-final winning 1-0, West Germany  beat Uruguay 4-0, Portugal thumped North Korea 5-3 (Eusebio and co were 0-3 down) and the Soviet Union beat Hungary 2-1.

The rest is history for England: Portugal then West Germany. The Americans still had their finale to experience.

CONIFA SPORTSBET EUROPEAN CUP

 The smart badge of the Republic of Artsakh, yes you guessed, in the South Caucasus, is part of Azerbaijan. This state hosts the Sportsbet 2019 Conifa European Cup, a tournament held every 2019.
Recently, the hosts have been Padania in the county of Nice, 2015 and Northern Cyprus 2017.

Minority states, stateless people and regions who are not affiliated to FIFA are included and matches have been played since June 1st. 12 teams opted to play but four pulled out, so 8 teams ended up with South Ossetia (from Georgia not Yorkshire BUT see link below), won overall,
 Western Armenia (E.Turkey) runners-up and
Abkhazia (Eastern Black Sea, NW Georgia) 3rd.

Hosts cities were Stepanakert, Martakert, Martuni and Askeran: none of which I have heard of.

Twelve teams were sorted originally as:
Artsakh, Abkhazia, Padania (N.Italy), Szekely (Roumania)
County of Nice (withdrew), Donetsk PR (withdrew), Sampi (northern Scandinavia-the Sami tribe), W. Armenia.
Chameria (Epirus Greece), Luhansk PR Russia, Sardinia (both withdrew) and S. Ossetia.

In the end, 8 states competed in two divisions.
Abkhazia won their division, Chameria second
S, Ossetia won theirs with W. Armenia second.

Semi-final:
Abkhazia lost to W Armenia on penalties 0-3 after 1-1 (7000 watched this)
S Ossetia beat Chameria 6-5 on pens after 0-0 (500 watched)
Abkhazia drew with Chameria 0-0 and won on pens 5-4 (6,200) for third place on June 8th
W. Armenia lost to S. Ossetia 0-1 in the Final (12,000 watched) on 9th June.

https://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.com/2018/01/yorkshire-caps.html  Come on Yorkshire.
Other potential states could be Cornwall, Jersey, Greenland, Monaco, Sardinia and the Romani!

ANY CHANCE OF A CHANT

With friendlies being played all over the world; Perth Glory v Man Utd, Barrow AFC v Blackburn Rovers 1-2 at Holker Street, I was reminded of football chants. I had forgotten how inventive they can be when far enough away from the bloody irritating "England Official Band" that seems to play eternally the "The Dambusters" theme. Somebody bomb them!

With Peter Crouch recently in mind, Stoke City fans were often heard chanting "We only score from throw ins", with Rory Delap and Crouchy somewhere near the club, it is not surprising.
At Bolton who often seemed to be on the end of some tough referee calls, would give it large on "Let's pretend we've scored a goal".
While at Grimsby Town the chant "We only sing when we are fishing". With the Mariners in lowly League Two (17/24th last season), it is quite understandable that their fans need some reason to sing; it must work, their most recent pre-season match yesterday being an 0-8 win at mighty Cleethorpes.

Darlington also have dreams of better days and chant "The Football League is upside down", after a number of miserable years their supporters would continue:
We are going up with Carlisle and Hartlepool are going down.

Liverpool had a time when they sang about Sotirios Kyrgiakos, a 30 years old signing by Rafa Benitez, who gave the Scousers the opportunity to sing;
"Its a shame, We cant pronounce his name, Kyrgilaaaaa, Kyrgilaaaa,"

With Liverpool fans also chanting that they have won the European Cup "Instanbul Five Times", Wigan Athletic would respond with "We've won it two times, Auto Windscreen Shield, We've won it two times", despite the fact that the competition was previously called the "Freight Rover Van Trophy", but picking up a white van for their trouble.

Spurs had one legged Ledley King as a favourite; "Ooohh Ledley, He's only got one knee, He's better than John Terry, Oooh Ledley, ohhh Ledley"

With Swindon Town eventually destined for falling out of the Premier League in 1993-4, with 42 games and 100 goals conceded, the Everton Fans were heard to chant "Going down, going down, going down", to which the Swindon fans would reply "So are we, so are we...".

Here are few more:
https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/50-best-football-chants

CROUCH END?

In 1883, Balmoral FC, Crouch End was formed and by September 1891 took part in their first FA Cup match against Ashford United winning 6-2. They lost in the next round to Chatham. By 19th September 1896 Balmoral FC morphed into Crouch End Vampires FC as two clubs merged and in that season the club played their first London League match against Thames Ironworks losing 0-3. Their opponents, of course, soon became West Ham United,

In 1897 the newly formed CEV FC , now sited at Muswell Hill, joined the Amateur Football Defense Council, a new association which later became the Amateur Football Alliance, The AFA is an organisation that exists today, providing football for many at Non-League level, mainly in the South-east.
Crouch End Vampires were one of the original three founding members of the AFA, the others being Alleyn's Old Boys (old boys of a South London school) and the Civil Service. These two clubs also still play today.

Crouch End Vampires play in the Senior Division Two of the Southern Amateur League, having won promotion last season.
Yes its Crouch End again (note colour scheme) as Peter retired today at the ripe old age of 38. Here he is with wife since 2011, model Abbey Clancy. Crouch at 6'7" had his own style of play and team role as he drifted through being a ball boy at Stamford Bridge, a junior at Tottenham, on loan to Dulwich Hamlet and  IFK Hassleholm, then full time at QPR, Portsmouth, Aston Villa, Norwich City, Southampton, Liverpool, Portsmouth again, Tottenham, Stoke City 2011-19 (225 apps) and lastly Burnley. Total 599 apps 145 goals.

Crouchy is now retired to his £4.5 million home along with his lovely wife (model) and family, where they practise his "Robotic" dancing. He played 42 times for England scoring 22 goals. He also is the proud owner of a Leisure and Tourism GNVQ gained during his "educational commitment" at Tottenham.

ACCRINGTON STANLEY-QUI SONT-ILS?

I cannot imagine how much excitement there was in Toulon recently, as Championship team Barnsley FC met Sporting Toulon VAR in a pre-season friendly. A week's training camp for the Yorkshire team, hosted by OGC Nice prepared the Tykes for a friendly at Toulon and despite conceding two goals, Barnsley scored 4 to finish winners in a worthwhile outing.

The Toulon Football Club was founded in 1944, following the various upsets of the war, when two local sides merged to create a decent "national" team which plays in the Championnat National 2A (Third Division). Once promoted in 1959 to the Ligue One, they were immediately relegated from their highest position, the following season.  Too much for Toulon.

In 1998-9 financial issues caused the club to become amateur and so to escape that embarrassment the club changed its name into Sporting Toulon VAR and then proceeded to win three promotions in 4 seasons, Inevitably then they had had some ups and downs and a merger with local SC Toulon Le-Las before reaching their present position promoted to the "Championship" as champions last season under the name of Sporting Club Toulon.

Equally, it is Accrington Stanley FC, (who are they?) last season 14th in League One (England!) who have entertained the Ligue 1 outfit Olympique de Marseilles, who lie 5th in the French league and are playing in the Europa League this season. The Mediterranean club were at a training camp at St Georges', Burton and planned the Stanley game as a pre-season confidence booster....not so!
"Droit au But" means "Straight to Goal".

This was heady stuff for Stanley who won 2-1 with goals from Sean McConville (hint of French there) and Offrande Zanzala (no idea). The much travelled French team's boss, Andre Villas-Boas, witnessed the defeat along with 1266 fans at the AJ Bell Stadium and ex Premier League player Dimitri Payet from the French ranks couldn't affect the result.  Goalkeeper Yohann Pele apparently did not live up to his famous name.

Pre-season for the Accies include Sligo Rovers, Bala Town, Warrington Town FC and Morecambe before their first league game v Lincoln City.

THE KICK OFF

The kick off is a fairly uncomplicated affair, it starts the game off with what is known as a "placekick", it helps start the second half and of course when there is a goal the side who has just conceded gets to have possession. Easy! In the old days teams would also change ends at the event of every goal, just to be fair!

The kicking side must be behind the ball when the ko is taken, the ball must be kicked forward (1886) or it has to be retaken (1903). The ball must move and until 1997 it had to move a full circumference. The player first kicking off must not touch the ball immediately for a second time. Opponents have to be 10 yards from the ball-hence the centre circle.

Of course the kick off has been modified recently now and you will note that the ball must be passed backwards to the kicker's own player.

A team that is chosen to kick off at the start of a game cannot kick off for the second half but of course may kick off again having conceded a goal. In the early days, the team that had scored the goal had the honour of kicking off too.
The Reverend Vidal of the famous Wanderers, heroes of the 19th Century game, once dribbled through the opponents to score three goals in succession (1870s) but now the only time the goal scoring team gets to kick off having just scored is when the half time whistle blows immediately after a goal is scored and the scoring team has been asked to kick off for the second half....understand that?

Athlone Town scored against Limerick in the Irish league just before half time and there was no time for Limerick to kick off (August 1972). Athlone therefore had the honour and scored straight from the kick off. Wycombe Wanderers scored twice without their opponents, Peterborough United, touching the ball. (September 2000). The half time whistle went immediately after Jamie Bates had scored from a free-kick and Jermaine McSporran (I am not making this up) scored within ten seconds of the second half restarting.

A bizarre kick off  happened at Wimbledon in October 1984. Alan Cork put his side ahead and then Wimbledon scored again without touching the ball. Portsmouth kicked off and the ball was played back to Pompey's Noel Blake who slotted the ball past his own keeper without a Womble anywhere near it!

From 1997 a goal could be scored straight from the kick off, whereas previously this had not been possible. In fact one of my school team players, captain Fraser Payne, did this in a vital U18 school fixture away against Bradfield College from Berkshire, making us 1-0 up within seconds! Charterhouse won 4-1.

In January 1998 the Daily Telegraph recorded that Steve Hill of Pub side the White Hart did the same deed in the Hatfield Sunday League in December 1997.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF A ROMARK FORM

I don't think Paul Pogba would have enjoyed the 1933-4 Manchester United season, as the club was just saved from relegation to the financial wilderness of the Third Division (North) thanks to a last day victory at Millwall.
Before kick off, United were in 21st place in Division 2 (as it was in those days), a point behind The Lions. United's 2-0 victory in the Lions' Den preserved their Second Division status, as the Lions sunk to the lower division.

History almost repeated itself in 1989-90 with United surviving in the old First Division. Alex Ferguson's team was in free fall until they met Millwall at the Den. United were a goal down until they rallied and managed a 2-1 turn round, sending Millwall down.

It was shortly before Christmas in 1975 when Crystal Palace lead the Third Division by 7 points under Malcolm Allison. The flambouyant Allison told everyone that his team was the best ever to play at that level and he was offered  the services of hypnotist Ronald Markham, stage name Romark! Allison didn't need such boosts and declined, so Romark, hurt by the rejection, offered his services to Gordon Jago's Millwall who were very much mid-table. Romark also put a curse on Allison and Palace! Millwall hit form snatching a third promotion spot behind Hereford and Cardiff, while Palace limped in 5th!

Bristol City became the first Football League Club to be relegated in three consecutive seasons when they plunged from the First Division (top one in those days) to the Fourth Division between 1980 and 1982. Wolves did the same between 1984-1986.

In 1993 the Gillingham FC narrowly avoided relegation to the Conference.
Its hard to imagine, but in a revival after some investment in 1998-9, Gillingham were trying to reach the highest tier in their history. It was a Second Division play-off final against Manchester City and the Gills were leading 2-0. With barely a minute to go City scored and forced extra-time which the Gills ended up at 2-2 and they lost on penalties 5-1 (a hammering).

The Gills were back at Wembley the following year for a similar play off, which they won with two late goals overhauling Wigan Athletic 3-2 and making to the First Division.

Gillingham were founded in 1893 as New Brompton and they joined the Football League in 1920. In 1937-8 they were voted out of the league after some poor finishes and were replaced by Ipswich Town. Twelve years later they rejoined the when the FL expanded from 88 to 92 clubs; the Gills were one of the lucky four to be invited to join.