If you have not noticed the Premier League game tonight is between West Ham Utd and Manchester United. Both teams have a win in their interests; Manchester for Champions League status and West Ham for a Europa League place. More importantly this is the final competitive match at the home of the Hammers. Read this previous blog for a history:
http://baileyfootballblog.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/boleyn-ground-off-with-its-head.html
The club security is concerned that the emotion of the home crowd may get the better of them tonight after the game. They hope that common sense will prevail and individuals will not unscrew their seats or dig up the turf. There is another finale at the weekend.
The sell off of more than 200 items from West Ham's ground in £ss will raise money for the Club's Academy.
Buy a Seat 50
Corner Flag 20
Wooden rattle from 1923 Cup Final 20 (if authentic must be worth more than that?)
White enamel bath from home dressing room 20
Bubble machine used as players walk out 20
"Reserved for Chairman" car park sign 50
"Keep of the Grass" 20
Home dugout sign 100
Match day goalposts and net 500
Part of John Lyall gates 2500 and there's more!!
http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/the-weirdest-lots-from-west-ham-boleyn-ground-auction-the-team-bath-tub-sam-allardyce-old-printer-a3243901.html
If these aren't up your street then how about memories of the three best matches played at the old ground?
v Dynamo Tbilisi: European Cup Winners' Cup 1981 1/4 final first leg lost 1-4 to eventual winners.
v Eintracht Frankfurt: ECWC semi-final 1976 won by West Ham 4-3 after being 2-1 down away in first leg. West Ham reached the final at the Heysel Stadium Brussels, but lost to Anderlecht of Belgium.
The other ties were all played away first:-
v Reipas Lahti (Finland) 2-2 and 3-0
Ararat Yerevan (Armenia) 1-1 and 3-1
Den Haag (Holland) 2-4 and 3-1 (away goals)
v Manchester United: 1992 West Ham relegated but ended Manchester's title bid with 1-0 win.
or arguing about Billy Bond's top team:
Phil Parkes Ray Stewart Bobby Moore Alvin Martin Frank Lampard Trevor Brooking Billy Bonds Martin Peters Alan Devonshire Geoff Hurst Pop Robson. What's yours?
The Club has Played 2163 games at the Bolyen:
Won 1129 Lost 502 Drawn 532 For 4046 Against 2510
Largest crowd: 44,417 v Tottenham (FA Cup) 8 January 1927
I have been there once to watch Cambridge University play Oxford University in the annual Blues' match.
Tuesday, 10 May 2016
Monday, 9 May 2016
JUST SOME FACTS
Callum Styles of Bury FC became the first 21st Century footballer when he entered the field of play for the final 15 minutes of the League game against Southend at Gigg Lane on Saturday. As part of the Bury FC U16 squad he was born on the 28th March 2000 and the FA national archive confirms that no other player born since the Millenium had appeared in the senior league game. Callum replaced 19 year old Anthony Dudley in a Bury victory.
Andy King of Leicester is the first player in 54 years to win titles in the top three tiers with the same club. Premier 2016, Championship 2014 and League One 2009.
Previously, six Ipswich Town players had done the feat between 1957 and 1962 under Alf Ramsey and 17 players have achieved three tiers of titles with different clubs, the latest being Paul Bracewell with everton 1985 (1st Div) Newcastle Unt 1993 (2nd), Sunderland 1996 (2nd) and Fulham 1999 (3rd).
With Burton rising from non-league football in 2009, they have reached the Championship in 8 seasons and only the following have climbed faster than Burton in the era of the four league tiers:
Hereford Utd promoted to the FLeague in 1972, they reached the "second tier" in 1976 (5 seasons). They were then relegated the next season.
Doncaster Rovers did a similar trick, arriving in the FLeague in 2003 and rising to the second tier in 2008 (6 seasons).
Oxford Utd were promoted to the FLeague in 1962 and reached the second tier in 1968 (7 seasons)
Equalling Burton's achievement are Wimbledon FC who joined the League in 1977 and rose to the second tier in 1984 (8 seasons).
When Jamie Vardy scored the first goal on Saturday against Everton it was Leicester's 6824th goal in league history. The club had conceded 6824 goals in their league history. The stats are now: For 6826 Against 6825.
Andy King of Leicester is the first player in 54 years to win titles in the top three tiers with the same club. Premier 2016, Championship 2014 and League One 2009.
Previously, six Ipswich Town players had done the feat between 1957 and 1962 under Alf Ramsey and 17 players have achieved three tiers of titles with different clubs, the latest being Paul Bracewell with everton 1985 (1st Div) Newcastle Unt 1993 (2nd), Sunderland 1996 (2nd) and Fulham 1999 (3rd).
With Burton rising from non-league football in 2009, they have reached the Championship in 8 seasons and only the following have climbed faster than Burton in the era of the four league tiers:
Hereford Utd promoted to the FLeague in 1972, they reached the "second tier" in 1976 (5 seasons). They were then relegated the next season.
Doncaster Rovers did a similar trick, arriving in the FLeague in 2003 and rising to the second tier in 2008 (6 seasons).
Oxford Utd were promoted to the FLeague in 1962 and reached the second tier in 1968 (7 seasons)
Equalling Burton's achievement are Wimbledon FC who joined the League in 1977 and rose to the second tier in 1984 (8 seasons).
When Jamie Vardy scored the first goal on Saturday against Everton it was Leicester's 6824th goal in league history. The club had conceded 6824 goals in their league history. The stats are now: For 6826 Against 6825.
Sunday, 8 May 2016
WHAT IS FERRARI PACKAGING?
Wandering through the various play offs and crucial final league matches, I noted that Barnsley came from 0-1 down to win 4-1 against Wigan at the DW, in a match they had to win to ensure a play off. Wigan are already promoted so they may been on holiday, but they might have lost the title as champions, if they lose their final match and Burton win their final game by 17 goals!
I could ramble on about the Football League play offs but my eye was taken by the result Edinburgh City 1 v East Stirlingshire 1 in the Scottish League Two Play Off.
Just over a 1,000 crowd saw this stalemate as Edinburgh City (winners of the Lowland League) try to get into the Scottish League and East Stirlingshire try to remain there. Two goals, a penalty after 15 minutes for City and a reply after 42 for ES were highlights, as well as the sending off of Mbu for City and Donaldson after 90+1 for ES.
The second leg is played next Saturday at Stenhousemuir FC.
East Stirling are based in Falkirk, founded in 1880 and was based on a cricket club based in a village called Bainsford. The club joined the Scottish League in 1900 and has been there ever since. They might be breaking a record next weekend, if they lose the honour of playing in League Two.
Alex Ferguson was manager of the club for 117 days in 1974.
Edinburgh City FC is a semi-pro club presently playing in the Scottish Ferrari Packaging Lowland League. They formed in 1928 as amateurs and played in the Football League during the 1930s and 1940s, eventually going out of business in the 1950s.
The club reformed in 1966 as Postal United and by 1986 the club was renamed as Edinburgh City, now playing at the Meadowbank Stadium in the capital city and hoping to rise a division.
Remaining in Scotland, the famous Queen's Park are a two legged final match away from climbing into the Championship. Forfar are relegated from League One and swap places with East Fife who are promoted from Division Two. So no silly scorelines next season then.
On top of that congratulations go to Burnley, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Northampton, Oxford United, Bristol Rovers who make the step up. Forest Green Rovers are 2-1 winners over Dover and will have a play off final to decide if they might become a Football League club. Their opponent, either Braintree or Grimsby have their semi-final play off today.
Nice club badges eh?
I could ramble on about the Football League play offs but my eye was taken by the result Edinburgh City 1 v East Stirlingshire 1 in the Scottish League Two Play Off.
Just over a 1,000 crowd saw this stalemate as Edinburgh City (winners of the Lowland League) try to get into the Scottish League and East Stirlingshire try to remain there. Two goals, a penalty after 15 minutes for City and a reply after 42 for ES were highlights, as well as the sending off of Mbu for City and Donaldson after 90+1 for ES.
The second leg is played next Saturday at Stenhousemuir FC.
East Stirling are based in Falkirk, founded in 1880 and was based on a cricket club based in a village called Bainsford. The club joined the Scottish League in 1900 and has been there ever since. They might be breaking a record next weekend, if they lose the honour of playing in League Two.
Alex Ferguson was manager of the club for 117 days in 1974.
Edinburgh City FC is a semi-pro club presently playing in the Scottish Ferrari Packaging Lowland League. They formed in 1928 as amateurs and played in the Football League during the 1930s and 1940s, eventually going out of business in the 1950s.
The club reformed in 1966 as Postal United and by 1986 the club was renamed as Edinburgh City, now playing at the Meadowbank Stadium in the capital city and hoping to rise a division.
Remaining in Scotland, the famous Queen's Park are a two legged final match away from climbing into the Championship. Forfar are relegated from League One and swap places with East Fife who are promoted from Division Two. So no silly scorelines next season then.
On top of that congratulations go to Burnley, Middlesbrough, Wigan, Northampton, Oxford United, Bristol Rovers who make the step up. Forest Green Rovers are 2-1 winners over Dover and will have a play off final to decide if they might become a Football League club. Their opponent, either Braintree or Grimsby have their semi-final play off today.
Nice club badges eh?
Saturday, 7 May 2016
£170 MILLION AT LEAST RIDES ON ONE GAME.
14.012.....and counting. I have had one of those great days. Last night I was otherwise engaged listening to the "Nelson Mass" in the Sheffield City Hall and without being distracted I waited until the concert had finished and read my texts to find out that the Hepworth United Under 12s had won their very hard away match against Ossett Town 1-0, against all odds. Rather like Leicester City, these young footballers have pulled themselves up by their bootstraps (what ever they are?) and produced some very good successful football this season.
This morning we travelled to Wakefield again and took on Ossett Albion, a weaker opposition and won 5-1. So we are nearly runners up in the Huddersfield and District Junior Football League, Division 6 ( we have to wait on other results). Brilliant!
I am not sure where the link is, (possibly against all adversity) but Brighton and Hove Albion was my local club and I remember the club's most recent high point, the 1983 Cup Final. I was also lucky to play at the old Goldstone Ground in County Cup Finals and did have a rare turn out for the Albion Youth team. The Seagulls have a place in my "scrapbook".
The new Amexstadium is a cracker, they have an excellent training facility at Lancing and the club is unique in its location. With an average attendance of about 25,000 there is not a huge income, but on the other hand there is not a huge expenditure, their biggest transfer has been Anthony Knockaert at £2.6 million. The club nearly dropped out the league in 1997 and had to ground share at Gillingham, a dark period; but now with the very impressive Chris Hughton at their helm, the club has been close to getting automatic promotion to the Premier League. Sadly this afternoon they failed to take the vital points off Middlesbrough and have to go to the play offs.
It is the nature of football clubs that they should be community linked and the Seagulls have had to share the burden of the Shoreham Air Show disaster in 2015 and the sad death of 79 year old Don Lock who was stabbed near the town.
The club staff are all part of the "promotion bonus pool" and get free breakfast and lunch in the super healthy canteen at the training ground. Here they even send their young players out to local club pitches to get experience of playing on "dirty pitches", something recommended by the Premier League.
Scouting and recruitment have been improved, as has happened at other clubs such as Southampton where their young players have been transfered all over the Premier League. Brighton selling Leo Ulloa to Leicester may have been a mistake although it did bring in some cash!
When Middlesbrough last visited the south coast in December, the club served up "parmo" a Teesside delicasy (fried chicken and cheese), they imported N. Eastern beers, they lit the concourses on the Amex in Middlesbrough colours, showed the visitors' recent games on TVs and even sold their merchandise! They look after away fans.
The club is regarded by a recent Serie A study as "a model of the way forward". Even Roy Hodgson has brought the England team to the facility, when he has St George's Park at his disposal. The Amex's Elite Football Performance Centre has a "running hill " to help injury recovery, a giant not too warm, not too cold indoor pitch, and a climbing wall between the academy and the first team dining rooms to emphasise the need for aspiration. There is also a gate at the training complex that leads to the local airport just in case they need to fly to Manchester or Newcastle for a match.
To encourage locals to join the club they throw a Christmas Party at the Amex with a skating rink and real reindeer. Promotion to the PL will boost the local economy of course and there is a small matter of £290million if Brighton goes up and survives the first year, not to mention parachute payments and the TV money.
This morning we travelled to Wakefield again and took on Ossett Albion, a weaker opposition and won 5-1. So we are nearly runners up in the Huddersfield and District Junior Football League, Division 6 ( we have to wait on other results). Brilliant!
I am not sure where the link is, (possibly against all adversity) but Brighton and Hove Albion was my local club and I remember the club's most recent high point, the 1983 Cup Final. I was also lucky to play at the old Goldstone Ground in County Cup Finals and did have a rare turn out for the Albion Youth team. The Seagulls have a place in my "scrapbook".
The new Amexstadium is a cracker, they have an excellent training facility at Lancing and the club is unique in its location. With an average attendance of about 25,000 there is not a huge income, but on the other hand there is not a huge expenditure, their biggest transfer has been Anthony Knockaert at £2.6 million. The club nearly dropped out the league in 1997 and had to ground share at Gillingham, a dark period; but now with the very impressive Chris Hughton at their helm, the club has been close to getting automatic promotion to the Premier League. Sadly this afternoon they failed to take the vital points off Middlesbrough and have to go to the play offs.
It is the nature of football clubs that they should be community linked and the Seagulls have had to share the burden of the Shoreham Air Show disaster in 2015 and the sad death of 79 year old Don Lock who was stabbed near the town.
The club staff are all part of the "promotion bonus pool" and get free breakfast and lunch in the super healthy canteen at the training ground. Here they even send their young players out to local club pitches to get experience of playing on "dirty pitches", something recommended by the Premier League.
Scouting and recruitment have been improved, as has happened at other clubs such as Southampton where their young players have been transfered all over the Premier League. Brighton selling Leo Ulloa to Leicester may have been a mistake although it did bring in some cash!
When Middlesbrough last visited the south coast in December, the club served up "parmo" a Teesside delicasy (fried chicken and cheese), they imported N. Eastern beers, they lit the concourses on the Amex in Middlesbrough colours, showed the visitors' recent games on TVs and even sold their merchandise! They look after away fans.
The club is regarded by a recent Serie A study as "a model of the way forward". Even Roy Hodgson has brought the England team to the facility, when he has St George's Park at his disposal. The Amex's Elite Football Performance Centre has a "running hill " to help injury recovery, a giant not too warm, not too cold indoor pitch, and a climbing wall between the academy and the first team dining rooms to emphasise the need for aspiration. There is also a gate at the training complex that leads to the local airport just in case they need to fly to Manchester or Newcastle for a match.
To encourage locals to join the club they throw a Christmas Party at the Amex with a skating rink and real reindeer. Promotion to the PL will boost the local economy of course and there is a small matter of £290million if Brighton goes up and survives the first year, not to mention parachute payments and the TV money.
Friday, 6 May 2016
34 MORE VIEWS FOR 14000!!
Yes, only 34 more of you needed to wast a few minutes of your lives by reading this and I clock up 14,000 views.
May 6th 1961 Tottenham Hotspur beat Leicester City at Wembley to win the FA Cup Final 2-0 in a dour game, that was efficient rather than exciting. I remember watching it in black and white TV.
It was the first time since 1897 that the Double had been achieved. Ironically it was Aston Villa who had done that previously all those years ago.
In 1960 the Spurs won their first 10 league matches, drew the 11th and then won the next four games. It was the seventeenth fixture that they lost to Sheffield Wednesday. After a dodgey spell mid season, Wolves almost caught them up but it was a final win against Wednesday on April 17th that won them the league. I was lucky enough to see them play at WHL a couple of times that season. They won the league by 8 points ansd scored more goals than anyone 115. Burnley scored 102 and came 4th, Wolves again scored 103 coming 3rd, swednesday were second (78 goals!)
Danny Blachflower, an Irishman, was captain and he led important signings such as Dave MacKay, John White, Bill Brown, all Scots and Cliff Jones, a flying Welsh winger. In 1958-9 when Bill Nicholson took over as manager, his first victory was by 10-4 over Everton, But even after that start, the Spurs narrowly missed relegation. The following season they had thrown away the league to unfashionable Burnley 54 points (Wolves came second 53, Spurs third 52) and so by August 1960 Danny and his men knew they needed to set an example. And they did. After this success there was a surprise.
Alf Ramsey brought his minnows Ipswich Town from Third Division South champions in 1956-7 to win the Second Division title in 1960-1 and then in 1961-2 the First Division League Championship beating Burnley (again 2nd) and Spurs 3rd. Wolves floundered to 18th however Ipswich's bubble burst the next season when they came 17th and sadly BOTTOM in 1963-4. SO watch out Leicester.
The Ipswich achievement was one of the best and only Liverpool 1905, 1906, Everton 1931, 1932 and Spurs 1950, 1951, had managed to win the Second Division and First Division titles in consecutive years.
Alf's boys!
May 6th 1961 Tottenham Hotspur beat Leicester City at Wembley to win the FA Cup Final 2-0 in a dour game, that was efficient rather than exciting. I remember watching it in black and white TV.
It was the first time since 1897 that the Double had been achieved. Ironically it was Aston Villa who had done that previously all those years ago.
In 1960 the Spurs won their first 10 league matches, drew the 11th and then won the next four games. It was the seventeenth fixture that they lost to Sheffield Wednesday. After a dodgey spell mid season, Wolves almost caught them up but it was a final win against Wednesday on April 17th that won them the league. I was lucky enough to see them play at WHL a couple of times that season. They won the league by 8 points ansd scored more goals than anyone 115. Burnley scored 102 and came 4th, Wolves again scored 103 coming 3rd, swednesday were second (78 goals!)
Danny Blachflower, an Irishman, was captain and he led important signings such as Dave MacKay, John White, Bill Brown, all Scots and Cliff Jones, a flying Welsh winger. In 1958-9 when Bill Nicholson took over as manager, his first victory was by 10-4 over Everton, But even after that start, the Spurs narrowly missed relegation. The following season they had thrown away the league to unfashionable Burnley 54 points (Wolves came second 53, Spurs third 52) and so by August 1960 Danny and his men knew they needed to set an example. And they did. After this success there was a surprise.
The Ipswich achievement was one of the best and only Liverpool 1905, 1906, Everton 1931, 1932 and Spurs 1950, 1951, had managed to win the Second Division and First Division titles in consecutive years.
Thursday, 5 May 2016
PLENTY OF DRAMA AT THE VANARAMA
There is a serious Vanarama National League play off tonight between Grimsby Town and Braintree Town. The prize is the opportunity to join Cheltenham in the Football League Two next season.
Cheltenham who left the Football League last season, scored 101 points whilst winning the League and they quite rightly go up automatically. Their top scorers Dan Holman (30 goals in the season) and Daniel Wright (21) led the way to the top of the league. Tranmere who were also relegated out of the Football League last season were two points short of the play offs.
Forest Green Rovers from Nailsworth (runners up in the league) and Dover Atheltic (5th) have already played out a first leg of the semi-final with FGR winning 1-0. They play the second leg at FGR on Saturday evening televised on BT Sport.
Braintree (3rd in the division) and Grimsby (4th) play off their first leg semi this evening in Blundell Park,Cleethorpes at 7pm, being shown on BT and then the second leg on Sunday afternoon is at Cressing Road, Braintree, which will decide who goes on to the final.
The final for a lucrative place in the Football League Two takes place at Wembley on the 14th May at 4pm.
Falling out of the top National League are Altrincham, Halifax Town, Kidderminster Harrriers and Welling United.
My old club, Sutton United, coasted to their National League South title by 6 points and go to the National League automatically. Soilhull Motors won the North section out right.
Cheltenham who left the Football League last season, scored 101 points whilst winning the League and they quite rightly go up automatically. Their top scorers Dan Holman (30 goals in the season) and Daniel Wright (21) led the way to the top of the league. Tranmere who were also relegated out of the Football League last season were two points short of the play offs.
Forest Green Rovers from Nailsworth (runners up in the league) and Dover Atheltic (5th) have already played out a first leg of the semi-final with FGR winning 1-0. They play the second leg at FGR on Saturday evening televised on BT Sport.
Braintree (3rd in the division) and Grimsby (4th) play off their first leg semi this evening in Blundell Park,Cleethorpes at 7pm, being shown on BT and then the second leg on Sunday afternoon is at Cressing Road, Braintree, which will decide who goes on to the final.
The final for a lucrative place in the Football League Two takes place at Wembley on the 14th May at 4pm.
Falling out of the top National League are Altrincham, Halifax Town, Kidderminster Harrriers and Welling United.
My old club, Sutton United, coasted to their National League South title by 6 points and go to the National League automatically. Soilhull Motors won the North section out right.
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
END OF SEASON JOY? IT IS LIKELY NOT TO BE.
I am now overloaded and fed up with Foxes' stuff, I still think hunting is a good idea, even if it only gives me an excuse for a bevvie on Boxing Day at the local pub. And jodhpurs are a good thing too.
Now concentrate! There are proper fixtures on tonight including:
Vanarama National League pay offs: semi-final
Dover Athletic v Forest Green Rovers 1st leg. Forest Green have just beaten Dover 1-0 in a standard league game in Kent, with both teams making loads of changes to team selection knowing that the play off was iminent.
In the National League NORTH Play-offs semi-finals 1st legs:
Boston Utd (once a Football League club) v North Ferriby Utd and Harrogate Town v AFC Fylde.
In the SOUTH:
Whitehawk v Ebbsfleet Utd and Truro City v Maidstone Utd (Once a Football League Club).
Promotion beckons those who are brave.
Another ex-Football League Club, reformed after a collapse in 2014, is Hereford United who have just won their Midland League Championship beating Coventry Sphinx 4-0. The club has just earned a place in the League Cup Final after beating Stourport Swifts. That is not the end of it.
The Bulls recently won 5-1 in the Herefordshire County Cup Final v Westfield and then there is the small matter of the FA Vase Final at Wembley v Morpeth on National Finals Day, May 22nd. They hope 20,000 fans will be making the journey east.
Since the last Vase semi-final second leg tie against Salisbury on March 19th, the Bulls have played 16 times. Games have been coming thick and fast.
Don't you just love Non-League football? If you happened to go anywhere near Newcastle Benfield near the anniversary of William Shakespeare's death and had either a well known saying to quote, Elizabethan dress or a copy of one of the Bard's works you would have saved £6 entry fee.
Apparently the club which has endured a "winter of discontent" and is slumming it at the wrong end of the Northern League. Promotion? It is likely not to be.
Now concentrate! There are proper fixtures on tonight including:
Vanarama National League pay offs: semi-final
Dover Athletic v Forest Green Rovers 1st leg. Forest Green have just beaten Dover 1-0 in a standard league game in Kent, with both teams making loads of changes to team selection knowing that the play off was iminent.
In the National League NORTH Play-offs semi-finals 1st legs:
Boston Utd (once a Football League club) v North Ferriby Utd and Harrogate Town v AFC Fylde.
In the SOUTH:
Whitehawk v Ebbsfleet Utd and Truro City v Maidstone Utd (Once a Football League Club).
Promotion beckons those who are brave.
Another ex-Football League Club, reformed after a collapse in 2014, is Hereford United who have just won their Midland League Championship beating Coventry Sphinx 4-0. The club has just earned a place in the League Cup Final after beating Stourport Swifts. That is not the end of it.
The Bulls recently won 5-1 in the Herefordshire County Cup Final v Westfield and then there is the small matter of the FA Vase Final at Wembley v Morpeth on National Finals Day, May 22nd. They hope 20,000 fans will be making the journey east.
Since the last Vase semi-final second leg tie against Salisbury on March 19th, the Bulls have played 16 times. Games have been coming thick and fast.
Don't you just love Non-League football? If you happened to go anywhere near Newcastle Benfield near the anniversary of William Shakespeare's death and had either a well known saying to quote, Elizabethan dress or a copy of one of the Bard's works you would have saved £6 entry fee.
Apparently the club which has endured a "winter of discontent" and is slumming it at the wrong end of the Northern League. Promotion? It is likely not to be.
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