Author Archive

Sunday League Day

Sunday League Day is a new concept to promote Sunday League football across the UK, piggybacking on the success of Non-League Day in recent years. The overall objective is simple: to raise the profile of Sunday League football and to get people out of their houses on a Sunday morning to go and watch their local grassroots football team.

Teams usually play in public locations so it’s often free to watch, fresh air is great for physical and mental health, and clubs really value seeing spectators at their games. Getting more people interested and involved in Sunday League football will only help to grow the beautiful game in its purest form, and ultimately increase participation too.

With entry to the majority of Sunday League games free, we are keen to bring a charity element to the occasion and encourage spectators, as well as players, clubs and leagues alike, to raise money towards a good cause. For example, spectators could donate a notional “ticket price” to charity.

Another aim is to dispel some of the misconceptions of Sunday League football from a previous era. Pub teams are still a (great!) thing, and it’s good that people have an opportunity to play competitive, structured football. However, things have changed on a Sunday. The likes of Palmers, SE Dons and Hashtag United (who’ve now switched to storming up the Saturday pyramid), have brought Sunday League football to people’s attention through YouTube. Social Media has given clubs like Caversham United the opportunity to make a name for themselves outside of the local area. Sunday League is interesting to people – a purer form of the game – without VAR for a start. Another misconception is the quality of the football. The standard of the FA Sunday Cup teams would challenge the teams pushing up the Saturday pyramid.

The message to potential spectators is simple: turn up, watch some stripped back football, and enjoy! Sunday League football is way more accessible to potential spectators now, with fixtures online and a lot of clubs are on all the popular social media platforms and sharing fixture details.

Clubs can approach Sunday League Day with the freedom and creativity to mark the occasion however they want to. Sharing the #SundayLeagueDay and #SLD2024 hashtags on socials is a helpful start. Clubs should use the opportunity to try and attract spectators along, which can of course lead to many benefits as a result (more awareness, potential sponsors, etc). As an example, Reading-based side Caversham United have committed to getting involved and have suggested they will likely have a small programme available on the day and some form of refreshments (they are sponsored by a brewery…), whilst raising money for charity by “selling” tickets for a good cause.

We hope that media will engage and give SLD and its teams some coverage too! There’s been a lot of frustration with the elite game in recent years, that extends further down the pyramid too (see recently Reading’s ongoing ownership battle and #SellBeforeWeDai movement). Sunday League has an opportunity to shine, and the time is now!

We would like to encourage everyone to get involved!

If there are any volunteers out there who would like to get involved and support the #SLD2024 (and beyond) campaigns, please send @SundayLeagueDay a DM on X (formerly Twitter) or an email to sundayleagueday@outlook.com

EDITOR’S NOTE: Obviously. I would love all the teams to support @Prostate Cancer but each team/club can choose to support whoever they wish. In the meantime, I hope that you will consider a donation however small to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. Thanks, Steve.

Gillingham FC

60 Years’ Anniversary

Anybody who has stood within 100 yards of me since 1964 (yes 60 years ago!) will know that I have been a Gillingham fan all my life. My first ever game was a 1-1 draw against Doncaster Rovers in Division 4 (now League 2) on 22 February 1964 … a season when we won the league for the first time ever. We were unbeaten at home and only conceded 10 goals all season at the Theatre of Farce that is Priestfield Stadium. Away we were equally tight with only 20 against. We actually only won it because we beat second place Carlisle United at home. Not that I was such a statto then but our goal average was 1.967 and theirs was 1.948. We finished equal on 60 points and even though we had scored 59 to their 113 (!) our minusculely better average gave us the title.

Sixty years later we are approximately 8 places worse off and sitting outside the playoff places after yet another 0-0 versus Stockport County on Tuesday. In between more pain than gain with the infamous Wembley play-off defeat against Manchester City and then the six glory years in the Championship. In all that time we have never ever once played Manchester United!

So, as a lifetime fan, you can imagine how excited I was to hear from fellow Gillingham fan James Norley with his Gillingham Legends business recently. He was kind enough to tell me more ……

GILLINGHAM LEGENDS – FOOTBALL IS A WORK OF ART

What started out as a hobby, has now turned into one of the most sought after gifts for Gillingham football club fans throughout the world – artwork of GFC’s legendary players throughout its time! Created by Football Digital Illustrator Jim Norley, who first started to drawing distinctive digital illustrations of former Gillingham players a few years back, has now launched his debut book ‘Gillingham Legends’ which consists of 175 players and staff to date. 

“I’ve been a Gills fan since the age of 8”, says Jim “I’ve experienced both the darkest and most triumphant days in the club’s history. When I first started the posting the pictures, it became an outlet for fans to reminisce about the old days and share their personal stories and memories. It then soon progressed into the ‘legends’ themselves interacting with me and providing their own personal stories and memories too – which then in turn encouraged me to publish the book. Who knew little old  Gillingham would have such an array of great players over the years!”

The A5 hardback ‘Gillingham Legends’ book containing original digital illustrations of 175 of Gills greatest ever players and staff costs £15. And as well as the book, an Andy Hessenthaler gold plated, soft enamel pin badge which comes with an A7 artwork card is now available and costs £5.

All the above products and more are available from his website  

You can also follow the Gillingham Legends social media platforms: Facebook and Twitter

Much has happened in the last 60 years; our beloved Priestfield Stadium has legendary status because of the “Ginger Rogers Stand” also known as the Town End and The Brian Moore Stand, we now have a Podcast, video streaming of every game and a whole host of social media involvement that (a) never existed 60 years ago and (b) as a seven year old kid, I could never have dreamed of anyway!

Singing in the Rain – The Ginger Rogers stand. Temporary since 2002!

So, yes, a sixty year love affair. My heart was broken by Manchester City at Wembley in 1999, hope returned against Wigan in 2000 and then we had the glory years in the second level/Championship including memorable wins against Leeds United, Crystal Palace, Wolves and West Ham among others! Since 2005 there has been little to get too excited about apart from another memorable Wembley against Shrewsbury Town to get us back to the third level/league one. The chairman Paul Scally eventually “left” and a ray of hope arrived with American buyers Brad and Shannon Gallinson. We have a new manager, Steve Clemence the son of Ray Clemence who I met on the cycle tour back in 2010. The manager made over 200 Premier League appearances but this is his first permanent management position.

Clemence was a WINNER with England and Liverpool. Let’s hope his son is at Gillingham – here’s to the next 60 years!

Newcastle United

Well, I covered Sunderland recently so it is only fair that I talk about their noisy neighbours. The rivalry between Newcastle United and Sunderland is fierce but until a few weeks ago they had not met for eight years. A three nil victory for Newcastle United only re-opened arguments! Both sets of fans still claim bragging rights. FACTS show 54 victories and 53 defeats for the Tyneside club but Sunderland fans will scream about the six straight victories in the Premier League. and so it goes on. Most goals? Most away wins? Biggest victory score line. Like Tory politicians and statisticians the world over, fans will “prove” who is the bitter/bigger club! If they are struck for a definitive answer they will comment on the size or the capacity of the stadium, average attendances, number of seasons in the top division, the age of the stadium etc etc Personally, I’d say ….well perhaps I had better not!

One man who knows more than most about Newcastle United is author and fan, Gavin Haigh and we were talking about his latest book this week. I think it is one of the relatively few truly comprehensive books about a single club. So, if you are interested in the history and evolution of the Newcastle United shirt “Black and White Stripes ” is for you.

BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES
The Greatest Collection of Newcastle United Matchworn Shirts
By Gavin Haigh

Be the first kid in your street to own the ultimate Newcastle United shirts book. Order from Conker and you’ll get a free set of four limited-edition Classic NUFC Shirts postcards, too!

BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES is a stunning showcase of the world’s greatest collection of matchworn Newcastle United shirts. It tells the story of one man’s lifelong labour of love as a Magpies supporter and collector – and also works brilliantly, both visually and emotionally, as an informal fans’ history of the club spanning the late 1950s to date.

Every Newcastle United fan will be transported back in time by the historic matchworn shirts featured, each of which recalls a season, a past hero, big-match thrills and heartaches. Through the power of the shirts they wore, BLACK AND WHITE STRIPES puts you in touch with memories of Peter Beardsley and Alan Shearer, Gary Speed and Jonjo Shelvey.

Here is the shirt worn by hat-trick hero David Kelly in the 7-1 thrashing of Leicester in 1993, when the lads were presented with the First Division trophy. The Aertex number nine jersey prepared for the Japan Cup in 1983, but never used. Paul Gascoigne’s well-worn away shirt from the 1987/88 season. And many more…

Foreword by Newcastle United legend David Kelly.

About the author

Gavin Haigh’s life as a passionate NUFC shirt collector began as a seven-year-old in June 1976 with a trip with his mother to Stan Seymour’s sports shop in the centre of Newcastle. He attended his first match in October 1976, standing on the Gallowgate, became a Milburn Stand season-ticket holder in 1992 and continues to attend every home match, his love and commitment to the club never wavering. Gavin’s knowledge of the history of the club and their shirts is second to none, his NUFC shirt collection currently standing at close to 1000, of which 275 are matchworn shirts.

The book is available on The Conker Editions website or on Amazon

My Personal Favourite – Iconic!

I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and I that you will consider a donation however small to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work.

Some clubs consistently punch above their weight. In the Premier League you could probably think Bournemouth and Luton are doing well. Other clubs always surprise you. You look at their history, attendances, potential and wonder why they are where they are. I’d think Sunderland, the Bristol Clubs and Notts County fall into that category. One club that DEFINITELY punches above its weight is Caversham United from Reading. Obviously they are in the shadows of Reading FC but there are other bigger local clubs that can attract both fans and players – Bracknell, Sandhurst Town, Reading City etc etc

So, on my recent visit to Woodley who groundshare with Reading City at Tilehurst I decided to catch up with Caversham United to see what makes them tick.

The first thing you notice is 20,000 Twitter followers! Impressive. Join them here

Caversham United Football Club

Hi thanks for agreeing to this Q&A. I have to say I am impressed with everything I see. Let me know a little more, please. Let’s start with an easy one.

Who are you?

Caversham United Football Club is an amateur football club based in Reading, Berkshire. We now boast three teams at the club, including two men’s sides in the Reading and District Sunday League, Divisions 1 and 4 respectively, and a women’s side in the sixth tier nationally, in the Southern Regional Division 1 North.

Our club is affiliated to the Berks & Bucks Football Association. Caversham United Football Club was founded under current ownership in June 2015, having been most recently known as AFC Palmer. Previous entities of the club include RBC Unison, FC Brettle and Miah’s. This is all history now and prior to the current ownership.

Any famous players?

Probably nobody you’ve ever heard of! We had an Isle of Man “international” in our ranks previously and have been coached by ex-Premier League striker Dave Kitson. A few professional footballers have a Caversham United shirt including Adam Le Fondre and Fran Kirby (“local girl done good.”)

Any famous cup run?

Our Women’s Team were beaten finalists in the Berks and Bucks FA Women’s Trophy in 2022, whilst facing QPR away in the Women’s FA Cup that same season. On the Men’s side, a penalty shootout in the league cup final last season.

Your nickname is The Goats. Why?

Goats because ….? The Goats? Following a Twitter Campaign in November 2018 the club adopted a new nickname of The Billy Goats, decided by the Twitter public. The nickname was not the only thing devised by our 15,000+ Twitter followers though! The current club crest was chosen, as was the club’s kit… and since then we have held an annual #CavUtdKitCompetition where designers can create a new kit and Twitter followers can vote for their favourite!


Those numbers are really impressive. I remember sharing the competition last season. I did not entere because I have literally zero design skills. I am mocked in the shirt community because I love the Windsor shirts!

Any quirky facts?

Quirky fact about us ….? Other than reinventing ourselves on social media!? Caversham United has a number of famous friends on Social Media including Bayern Munich, Bayer Leverkusen, Manchester City, AS Roma, Benfica, Hashtag United, John Cena, Shaun Goater and so many more!

Shirts, Favourites, stories etc etc. Please?

Our shirt situation is pretty unique, with the general public designing each of our last 5 shirts. Every year around March time, we put a request out to our followers to send in their kit designs. In 2023 we received nearly 200 entries! Once the entries are in, a panel of club members pick their favourites and they are set against each other in a World Cup style vote on X/Twitter. The club’s home colour is navy, with the current away kit being white. Will the #CavUtdKitCompetition be back this season….? It might just be! Watch this space!

Thanks, you are another club whose results I will look out for. I wish you every success both on the field and with all your social media efforts. Please do keep in touch.

Home 23/24 (above), Away 23/24 (below)

I love the designs and LOVE the mantra!

I hope that everybody is enjoying my tour through the clubs of the UK. Caversham United may be the “smallest” I have spotlighted but absolutely the most “successful. “Congratulations. I hope readers will consider a donation however small to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. Thanks, Steve

If you know, you know!

The guys at We Fix Kits are taking their business to the next level. They are shortly launching a You Tube channel and to celebrate are offering a GREAT prize for new followers. All you have to do is shoot over to their Twitter page and follow the simple instructions.

They say. “To celebrate the launch of our YouTube channel, we are giving away this iconic L/XL England 98 home shirt, complete with the Owen 20 nameset. All you have to do is follow us, like, comment and retweet this post on Twitter The winner will be selected on Friday 23rd Feb.”


We Fix Kits: A New Company That Teaches You How to Restore Your Football Shirts

If you don’t know We Fix Kits they continue, “We Fix Kits is a new company that aims to democratise the skill of restoring football shirts – classic, vintage or current. Whether you want to revive your old favourite shirt, or give a new look to your latest purchase, We Fix Kits can help you with their expert advice and services.

We Fix Kits was founded by a team of passionate football fans who have been collecting and restoring shirts for years. They realised that many people share their hobby, but lack the knowledge or confidence to work on their own shirts. That’s why they decided to create a company that not only offers professional shirt restoration services, but also teaches customers how to do it themselves.

“We believe that everyone should be able to enjoy their football shirts, no matter their age, condition or value. We want to empower our customers with the skills and knowledge to restore their shirts to their former glory, or even create something new and unique. We also want to promote the culture and history of football shirts, and celebrate the stories behind them.” – said Will Hogg, co-founder of We Fix Kits.

We Fix Kits provides step-by-step tutorials on their YouTube channel as well as tips and tricks on their social media accounts (@wefixkits on Instagram, Twitter and TikTok). Customers can also send their shirts to We Fix Kits for a professional restoration service, with a range of options and prices to suit their needs and budget.

For more information, please visit @wefixkits on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok”

PUMA – Switzerland

Perhaps I should put them in touch with Puma and the Swiss team. Remember this? Kit manufacturer Puma said it had traced a problem with ripped shirts for the Swiss team at Euro 2016 to a defective batch of material used only in a limited number of home jerseys for the team. During the goalless draw against France, which saw Switzerland join Les Bleus into the knockout phase, at least four Swiss players had to go to the sidelines to swap their torn tops. Oops.

CASTORE – Newcastle United

Puma are not the only company to have had “challenges” as Newcastle United have had problems with Castore shirts this season so it looks like We Fix Kits have found themselves a nice niche. If you have a problem, get in touch with the guys.

I hope that you will consider a donation however small to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. Thanks, Steve.

PS Perhaps I should tell Puma and Castore I will take this down if they make a donation! Anybody got a contact there?

What I have noticed over the past seven weeks of this tour is the power of video. Back in 2010, it was nowhere near as powerful or welcome but as the years roll on, the need for video in every blog becomes more apparent. See tomorrow’s. It is ALL about video! So, over the past two months it is no surprise that Darren Ashley’s weekly vlogs have been so popular.

This week he has been in Lutterworth and his story continues.

Lutterworth Athletic FC

“The power of the Non League Football Facebook group led to an invite from Lutterworth Athletic co-owner Lee English to vlog their UCL division 1 home match v Radford. I have to say quickly, that, when Lee contacted me last Sunday, I asked if he was a fan or had connections with the club.

Anyway, accompanied by a couple of mates Thunder & Fieldy, we arrived just after 1.30.

What struck me initially was, it was quite a large premise, with building work to improve facilities also going on. We were met by Lee, who then introduced us to co-owner, chairman…and dad Mike!

Mike took the time from his clearly busy schedule to show us around, talk about the building work going on, aspirations for the club and how vital for the community it was for youth age footy to be played on the site. I then did some filming and got a quick pre match interview with manager Ash Brown.

Now, before the interview and off camera, one of my mates, who really likes his food, commented that his name sounded like Hash Brown! Ash sighed, he had heard it before, but, this was a problem for me, as the seed was planted, I was really going to have to try hard not to call him Hash in the interview…I think I succeeded. (Cue – Basil Fawlty )

Just before game time, Mike gave us permission to film the match from the balcony, which was in the middle of being built to extend it, so, up we went. Game starts, and it turned out to be a really good half, lots of action, too much actually to make the vlog. 2 good footballing sides made it easy on the eye.

Half time comes, more filming, then, down to the main entrance where Lutterworth were providing plenty of free food…not just for us, but for everyone. A real class gesture. I know some of the Radford fans I spoke too were delighted with this.

Second half starts then, with belly’s full!!

Now, I had been desperate to get Mike on film for an interview, but he was super busy on the day , however the opportunity came, on the balcony as the 2nd half was about to start.

I asked Thunder to film it and to film bits of the building work as Mike was talking. As we wrapped up the very quick interview, out of the corner of my eye, I could see Radford had a really promising attack. You will be able to see me pointing for Thunder to film the pitch, but….too late…GOAL!!

He only had one job. (Cue – Oceans Eleven)

The second half wasn’t as exciting as the 1st, but it was still a decent watch.

Full time comes, down from the balcony, offers of more free food, and I managed to track down Radford manager David for a quick post match interview.

It was soon time to go, where I had to find Lee and Mike to thank them for their amazing hospitality and generosity…they also happened to to be a couple of really decent fella’s too.

Lee was working hard behind a heaving bar, and Mike was quite difficult to locate, until I found him settled with half a beer in his hand. I told him I hoped the finished vlog will show off the club in the light it really deserves, and we would love to return.

So, that was that then, Thunder, Fieldy and I made our way separately home…if you can imagine the map at the start of Dads Army, that was basically us!!

If any ground hoppers haven’t been to Lutterworth Athletic, it’s hugely recommended to do and, it won’t do any harm to contact the club to let them know your intention

Quickly, a big thumbs up too, to the very vocal away following, they really were in fine voice.”

Thanks for sticking with this for this long, and, to see the finished vlog, click HERE

Thanks again, Darren and I am looking forward to see whether you will be taking your colleagues with you next week! Lee also confirmed on the FB group that they have printed programmes, badges and public transport to the ground. A hopper’s dream stadium!

In the meantime, I hope that you will consider a donation however small to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. Thanks, Steve.

One of the most popular “days” on the tour so far was Day Eleven. It was Christian Obray’s excellent article about “The Rise Of Non-League Football.” I thought it was so good and so timely that I asked him if I could reproduce it and he kindly agreed. We kept in touch and I was delighted to learn that his blog Through the Turnstile had gone live. He kindly (again!) allowed me to reproduce part of his review about Chatham Town. Again this proved very popular with followers of this tour and he kindly (yet again!) allowed me to share this week’s club overview of Coventry United. I have to be quite honest, I knew almost nothing about the club, I have never been to the ground and nor did I know anything about the all-important shirt. All will be revealed. Thanks Christian. I hope people are following Through The Turnstile in numbers.

THROUGH THE TURNSTILE @ COVENTRY UNITED

Coventry United

Welcome back to Through the Turnstile, the series that shines the light on some of non-leagues leading stars. This time we are heading to the West Midlands to take a look over what could be one of the youngest teams which will ever be covered by ‘Through the Turnstile’, Coventry United. So without further ado, let’s have a look the history of this young club and find out a little more about how it came to be formed as well as how it is doing today

A brief history of the Club

Coventry United Football Club emerged in 2013 following the acquisition of Coventry Spartans. Edwin Greaves continued as the first manager, guiding the club to a debut league victory and a promotion, despite finishing as runners-up. They also reached their inaugural cup final but suffered a defeat. The subsequent season witnessed their triumph in the league, securing a comfortable lead and advancing in the Non-League Pyramid.

In 2016, Greaves departed, and Terry Anderson stepped in, leading the team to an impressive winning streak of 11 matches, culminating in a title win. Anderson and his assistant, Luke Morton, then assumed permanent roles. The club’s relocation to Butts Park Arena in 2017 marked a significant milestone in their history.

Under the ownership of Joe Haggarty from 2020, the club maintained its status as Coventry’s top non-league entity despite being reassigned to the United Counties League Premier Division South due to restructuring. However, managerial changes ensued, notably with Russell Dodds and Darren Acton resigning in 2021.

By 2022, Haggarty resigned as chairman and manager, leading to interim leadership by Nigel Ward, a devoted club supporter. Ward’s interim tenure focused on stabilizing the club both on and off the field, resulting in significant progress. Subsequently, Michael Kavanagh assumed the role of chairman, with John Goodman as Vice Chairman.

Carl Nolan was appointed manager for the 2022/2023 Season taking over from Ivor Lawton and under Carl’s management he guided the club to a respectable 8 place finish.

On the 1st December 2023 the club appointed a new manager, Ellis Alleyne who is still in charge today. Under Ellis the team have played 12 – won 5, drawn 3 and lost 4, mid-table form which is a very respectable run of results from what has been very much a period of stablisation for the team/club. Here is hoping that next year the team could be looking to push on up the table and maybe even challenge the play-off spots…

(Source acknowledged)

Stadium info

Based in the heart of the City, Coventry United play their games games at the Butts Park Arena, a multi-use stadium with its primary team being Coventry R.F.C (Rugby).

“For the level of football we play at a great Stadium the Butts Park Arena you wont see many stadiums as good as this at the level & even higher up the leagues.”

David Garton – Media Manager for Coventry United

Stadium Shop

Located at the entrance to the stadium with the ticket office the stadium shop is the place to grab all of the merchandise the club has to offer. The branded snoods is not something that you often see on offer from a club and one which I think is a really good idea. Of course the hope is that one day the club is in a position where they can also offer replica kits to buy along with their other merch, but in the meantime why not treat yourself to a beanie and snood.

So, if this little overview has whetted your appetite and you want to see their shirt or find out whether they produce a programme, please shoot over to Christian’s excellent Through The Turnstile

In the meantime, I hope that you will consider a donation however small to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity continued their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. Thanks

Bring Me that Horizon

I had a nice surprise this week when a friend of a friend introduced himself to me. Since then we have been messaging about Portuguese football (about which I know embarrassingly little), Spanish football (about which I am meant to know more than something) and, well, life! So, welcome to The Shirt Family, author Miguel Lourenço Pereira. Our mutual friend, Gary Thacker, was spotlighted here with the launch of his book about the Brazilian victory in the Mexico 1970 World Cup whilst Miguel tells me he has just released a new book in English about Portuguese football. Obviously I said I’d be happy to help.

By a strange coincidence, it is also published by my friends at Pitch Publishing. I am told, “Bring Me that Horizon is a quest into the heart and soul of Portuguese football. From Eusebio’s glorious career to Cândido de Oliveira’s adventures as a British intelligence agent, the book reveals a nation that already had fantastic tales to tell before it became the flavour of the month for football hipsters at the turn of the millennium. There’s much more to Portugal’s football heritage than Ronaldo and Mourinho.”

It offers the reader:

• Fascinating journey into Portugal’s history, day-to-day life,
  gastronomy, culture and sporting world
• Quest to understand the nature of Portugal’s biggest clubs
  and football personalities, from the past up to the present day
• Insight into the lives of iconic figures such as José
  Mourinho and Cristiano Ronaldo
• Exclusive opinions by some of the world’s leading
  sportswriters and journalists, including Simon Kuper, Sid
  Lowe, Marti Perarnau and many more
• Author’s seventh book after writing on the lives of Johan
  Cruyff and Diego Maradona as well as the history of the
  Euros, World Cup and European club competitions
  
• You can learn more and order the book here
  
• Miguel is described as, “Miguel Lourenço Pereira is a Portuguese journalist and football historian. Author of several sporting books, including Noites Europeias, Sueños de la Euro and Cruyff: Anatomy of a Genius, his work has been published in Portugal, Spain and Brazil for more than a decade. He has also written for Panenka, Libero, Futebol Magazine, In Bed With Maradona and Corner.”

It was good to hear from Tom Saunders thanking me for yesterday’s post. Nice tie in with the day before’s too because Marcus Rashford from the previous day had actually donated a shirt to the Ben Saunders Foundation (#respect.) If you have not voted for the Ben Saunders Foundation (zero cost!) please pop over there now. Tom assures me that EVERY vote counts!

Today’s post is going to be short and sweet but nevertheless heartfelt. Some of you will know that I have not cut my hair for 3 and a half years! I was “encouraged” to grow it by a nurse who was looking after me in hospital back in 2020. It is for the Little Princess Trust who make wigs for girls with leukaemia. I had vaguely heard that hair was needed but having regulation short back and sides realised I was no use to them. I read up about the charity and was pleased to grow my hair to my elbows for this GREAT cause.
Cancer is cruel. Cancer is evil. There is NO best or worst type of cancer but I do think that children with cancer is perhaps the saddest. Anyway, I read up and applied and so it came to pass that I got my hair cut at Academy Salon in Cobham yesterday. What is needed?

I quote:
“The Little Princess Trust provides free real hair wigs to children and young people, up to 24 years, who have lost their own hair through cancer treatment or other conditions.

We also fund childhood cancer research searching to find kinder and more effective treatments. 

Hair and Hope

We work closely with a trusted network of accredited wig fitters to ensure our wig recipients never have to travel far for their wig fitting.

We know that the children and young people we support may be facing many challenges, so we make the process of requesting a wig as easy and as straightforward as possible.

Providing free real hair wigs is at the heart of what we do, but we also want to support the development of less aggressive and less toxic cancer treatments.

In 2016, thanks to the huge efforts of our fantastic fundraisers, we were able to begin funding scientists researching paediatric cancer.

We have now funded 128 research projects searching for kinder and more effective treatments for all childhood cancers as we continue to follow our vision to give Hair and Hope to every young person with cancer until there is no longer a need for what we do.”

How could I not support?

If you want to learn more, please pop over to the Little Princesses Trust website.

Academy Salons

Now, there is a special way the hair needs to be cut for a wig. The Trust gave me a number of local contacts but they either did not reply or did not cut men’s hair (?) so I was glad to find unisex Academy Salons in Cobham. Sadly not on my doorstep but less than 2 hours by three buses and I was there. I amde a day of it and had a wander in Kingston on the way there.

I have to say that it was the first time in my life that I had been in such a luxurious salon! I was met by two charming receptionists who took my coat, sat me comfortably and they beavered away. They made light of the fact that I am deaf and knew exactly how the hair has to be cut for the wigs. They had the instructions to hand and had clearly done it before! Now where I normally go, Raz or Ahmed have never taken more than 15 minutes I am sure, nor have they washed my hair or conditioned it. Their shop is always busy and people are buying vapes, phonecards etc etc. There are a dozen TV screens showing a dozen channels, from a dozen countries! Buzz, buzz, buzz, snip, snip, snip. In and out. Done, hecho, fatto. Not at Academy. It was 75 minutes in a calm, relaxed atmosphere. I saw a few of the previous clients leaving all looking delighted with their choice of styles. Now, I had no choice how it was cut but then with all the ponytails off, they set about making me look half-human. I am totally impressed. No George Clooney or Sean Connery but that was never going to happen! Highly recommended.

It would be rude of me not to give them a shout. So, take a bow, Academy Salons, Cobham. Website, booking site? Yes, here it is.

PS. Before I even got there, I was impressed with confirmation of appointment emails etc. Not something I am used to. If there is a spare seat at Chez Raz you grab it and know you will be out in thirty minutes max and that he will have been on his mobile for most of your time in the chair!

PPS If anybody makes a donation to Little Princesses, I will upload before and after photos!

It was good to hear from Tom Saunders today. He is the ex manager at Chippenham Town FC and led them to the top five of the Dr Martens Premier Division, via two promotions, three cup wins and a Vase final at Wembley. He is also the Chairman of the Ben Saunders Foundation. Tragically his son Ben died at the age of only 18.

Tom wrote,

Please spend 20 seconds and nominate my sons foundation on the original post. Ben played for Bath City and it would be wonderful for Non League supporters to nominate. Ben Saunders Foundation

We have received over 320 nominations this event over the last few days, it is a honour that so many people have taken time out to do this for Ben. Last year it was incredible to be selected, there are so many worthwhile charities looking for nominations, to keep Bens name in the frame is wonderful for us. Thank you. YNWA Ben”

Always happy to help any member of the football family I said that I would be happy to share too. So, here goes

Nominations for the Band in a Barn 2024 third main beneficiary are open!

To nominate your favourite charity, please comment below, then like and share this post.

The charity with the most nominations by midnight on 21st February 2024 wins!

PLEASE NOTE: ONLY NOMINATIONS MADE IN THE COMMENTS ON THIS ORIGINAL POST ON THE BAND IN A BARN PAGE WILL BE COUNTED ….Here is the direct link.

Ben wrote:

The Ben Saunders Foundation (BSF) has been started to raise funds to support Children and Young adults with cancer within the UK.

I (the founder) Ben Saunders was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer sarcoma attached to my heart which I have been fighting since October 2019. It has spread into my lungs and I have faced many challenges along the way. These include two major open heart surgeries, 6 rounds of very intense chemotherapy’s which I am now currently back on!

These are just some of the things I have experienced along my cancer journey and I am looking to help and offer whatever I can alongside my family and the foundation to offer support to young people with cancer like myself.

I have been fortunate enough throughout my journey so far to have received the support I have, whether that being mentally, physically or a short holiday with friends recently to Centreparcs. I feel everyone in these circumstances deserves to be given as much support and happiness through the very difficult times they will come across.

Any nominations for the BSF as above would be gratefully received. Thanks.