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Send England Deaf Women’s Team To The World Cup

Political commentator, nemesis of Farage (and other racists), Essex Boy and all round good guy, Simon Harris put this on my Twitter feed this week. What a great appeal this is! Many of you will know that I am functionally deaf so it is very close to my heart (…or ears!)   

Deaf Sports and Football Foundation (DSFF) are currently raising funds to send the England Deaf Women’s Football Team to the Deaf World Football Championships 2023.

Currently, the squad are self-funded and are in need of funds to enable the squad to attend the tournament. Simon is organising this fundraiser on behalf of DEAF SPORTS & FOOTBALL FOUNDATION. This is why it’s so important to share this, donate if you can (here), and DON’T FORGET TO ADD GIFT AID FOR A 25% BOOST!

DSFF and Great Britain Deaf Football are providing support, however to enable this to happen, 50% must be raised by the end of June or the squad cannot go.

Money raised will be spent in the following ways:

– To support their preparations for the World Deaf Football Championships 2023 in Malaysia with training camps in the build up to the competition.

– To help cover the costs for the team to represent England at the World Deaf Football Championships 2023 e.g. flights, hotel, physiotherapy.

*Please note – if sufficient funds are not raised and the squad cannot go, money raised will be used to develop the deaf female football team in preparation for the European Deaf Championships 2024*

All money raised from this appeal will be paid directly to DSFF. With all the money floating around in the Premier League and the talk of Sam Allardyce on £2 MILLION to keep Leeds in the top flight, Saka on £300,000 per week it seems obscene that these heroes need to self- fund. It reminded me of the Blind World Cup in 2010 that I was very happy to support. No Wembley or Olympic Stadium but a 6th Form College in Hereford!

Please see if you can help Simon Harris raise the £50,000 needed. As you can see, you will be in good company!

For full details, click here

Steven Gerrard £5k donation

Gary Neville £5k donation

Gary Lineker £1k donation

The image shows the team at the last World Championships when they competed as Great Britain. For 2023, the home nations are taking part individually. 

A squad of nine walkers from The Commercial Hotel (Accrington) completed a 35.4km walk to raise £2,100 for Young Lives vs Cancer.

The team, led by pub manager John Rogers (now at The Boot Inn (Burnley)), dropped in on four other Wetherspoon pubs – The Grey Friar (Preston), The Twelve Tellers (Preston), The Postal Order (Blackburn) and The Old Chapel (Darwen) – before returning to The Commercial Hotel.

The total raised is a huge dent in the pub’s target of raising £5,000 for the charity by the end of the financial year in April 2023. John (a keen Blackburn Rovers supporter), along with shift leader and fellow Riversiders fan Owen Dootson, was forced to wear the colours of fierce rivals Burnley FC, having lost a bet with friends on which team would win the local derby (Burnley beat Blackburn).

Burnley fans and shift managers Jason Ellison and Adam Duckworth were only too happy to lend them their shirts for the event. John said: “We may have lost the bet, but the football shirts helped us to create a bit of friendly rivalry around the event and hopefully added to the total raised. “I’m very proud of the team. It was a huge effort from everyone. All nine completed the walk.”

Money was raised online and from collection buckets taken round the five pubs en route. Pictured (left to right) are shift leader Amber Pye, shift manager Adam Duckworth, shift leader Adam Smith, bar associate Owen Dootson, kitchen team leader Emma Hamilton, pub manager John Rogers, shift manager Jason Ellison, team leader Chloe Brown and (in the red dress and full nail set) bar associate Connor Fitton. Pictured (inset) are John and Owen, wearing their borrowed Burnley FC shirts.  


BUT BUT BUT …it does not stop there! Owen and the team at the Commercial Hotel are going to climb Scafell Pike Lingmell and Great Gable …… all in one walk. He says, “It’s going to be a tough challenge but hopefully we will raise a lot of money for a great charity that does so much for children with cancer. Please check his page for full details and support if you can.

Palace fans raise £43,000 and counting through Bike to Villa

A group of 33 Palace fans recently made the ultimate away trip by completing a mammoth cycle in aid of the Palace for Life Foundation, raising over £43,000 in the process.

Following the successes of Bike to Bournemouth and Bike to Southampton in previous years, Bike to Villa saw the committed supporters make the gruelling ride to Villa Park, a 140-mile two-day round trip – up from a distance of 100 miles at previous years’ events.

Through their fundraising efforts, the determined group raised an incredible £43,000 – over £10,000 more than previous totals – and counting for the Foundation, who work to improve the lives of disadvantaged young south Londoners.

Although the match at Villa Park itself ended in defeat for Palace, that could not dampen the real victory of the cyclists’ achievements in the name of a brilliant cause.

You can watch highlights from the event, and donate here.

The first day of the ride began early in the morning, with the riders setting off from Selhurst Park and pushing themselves to complete 100 miles in one day.

Amongst the cyclists were Crystal Palace official DJ Jay Knox, Crystal Palace Chief Financial Officer Sean O’Loughlin, and Palace for Life staff Tom Richardson, Tom Prance and Arnaud Zadi.

After a stop off for lunch in the Hertfordshire countryside, evening fell and the cyclists arrived at their hotel in Warwick, exhausted but proud of the day’s ride. They enjoyed a well-earned dinner, drinks, and rest before facing the final leg of their journey on Saturday.

Day two saw the cyclists back on the saddle to complete the final 40 miles to Birmingham, finishing up at Powerleague where they were presented with their medals and congratulated on their mission.

Bobby Webbe, Senior Fundraising Coordinator at Palace for Life, said: “Bike to Villa was another fantastic weekend, with a mixture of new and familiar faces in the saddle for Palace for Life.

“Day one was a tough 100-mile ride in chilly conditions, but seeing the incredible physical effort put in by each of our riders, and the camaraderie between them all was so inspiring to see. There was an immense sense of pride in the air as everyone crossed the finish line on Saturday morning.

“I’d like to give a huge thank you to all of our riders and sponsors for contributing to another record-breaking event for the Foundation – we can’t wait to see where we’ll be cycling to in 2024!”

This was the third cycling challenge in a series that began with Bike to Bournemouth in 2020, which saw the group cycle to the Cherries’ Vitality Stadium despite the game getting cancelled halfway through the ride due to the pandemic; and then onto Southampton in 2022, which ended in a stoppage-time Wilfried Zaha goal to put the icing on the cake of a brilliant weekend.

DONATE HERE

It’s back – one of the FUN events of the year and all for a great cause.

You can help tackle bowel cancer!

Football Shirt Friday is just a few days away on Friday 21 April! Don’t forget to sign up and join us to raise money for bowel cancer research.

Now more than ever, we need the generous support of incredible people like you. 100% of the money raised from Football Shirt Friday will fund our pioneering bowel cancer research. It is only through research that we will find better ways to prevent, detect, diagnose and treat bowel cancer.

Join England men’s captain, Harry Kane, Arsenal and Scotland star Jen Beattie, presenter Liam MacDevitt and broadcaster and DJ Adele Roberts, by clicking the relevant sign-up button below.

When you sign up, you’ll receive:

• Your very own Giving Page to fundraise online
• An email with your downloadable fundraising pack, full of ideas for you and your friends, family and work or school

There are so many simple and fun ways to fundraise, whatever you do – make sure to wear your favourite football shirt, share on social media and donate to help support the fight against bowel cancer. And don’t worry, if you already have plans on Friday 21 April, simply choose another more convenient day.

Thank you for your continued support,

The Bobby Moore Fund Team

More details HERE

Sign Up HERE

PS Sponsor me for £10, euro or USD and I will wear an Arsenal shirt for the day! Sponsor me for £20, euro or USD and I will wear an Arsenal shirt in public! Sponsor me for £30, euro or USD and I will offer you the shirt! (…. but first come, on the £30, of course)

I picked up the excellent Matchday Programme for Merstham FC recently. They play in the Pitching In Isthmian South Central Division but sadly look favourites to drop to the Combined Counties where they may well play FC Deportivo Galicia next season. They play at The worldflow Stadium in Merstham so that’s a ground I look forward to visiting soon. There was an interesting advertorial in the programme about a novel written by Merstham Director Chris Pullen who warmed the bench behind Dave Beasant for Wimbledon in the Crazy Gang days.

These days he has abandoned his goalkeeping gloves to wield a pen. His first novel, Playing for Keeps, is out now.

These days Merstham Director Chris Pullen is more likely to be found in the boardroom at the worldflow Stadium rather than standing behind a defence bellowing instructions, but he has drawn heavily on his playing days in his new book, ‘Playing for Keeps.’ Indeed the main protagonist, Matt, is an Isthmian League goalkeeper trying to climb into the big time .

As a Non-League goalkeeper, Chris’s chance of football stardom came when he was asked to help out at Plough Lane. He explains:

“Wimbledon had a goalkeeping injury crisis, and I was lucky enough to get a call to help out. It was in the ‘Crazy Gang’ era, which was ‘interesting’ to observe first hand! I had Dave Beasant in front of me, who also came from non-league football originally, and he never missed a game- so it was reserve team football for me. I’d just left university, so I eventually decided to pursue other avenues, rather than stay at Wimbledon. In truth, I’m not sure I was quite good enough, but it gave me a fascinating insight into the professional game.”

Goalkeeper Chris Pullen in his playing days

His time in the Non League game has been far more of an inspiration for the book that his spell with the Dons. His hero, playing for the fictional Isthmian side Reigate Athletic, is a semi-professional with a full time job and a complicated love life. A successful cup run brings him to the attention of a Premier League scout and…well, you’ll have to go out and get a copy to find out what happens. Let’s just say that the course of footballing success, alongside the course of true love, doesn’t run entirely smoothly.

What inspired him to write a book based on the Non League game?

“I have always liked ‘against all odds’ stories, especially sports stories. I think there are certain aspects of non-league football that encapsulate that concept perfectly. For example, there is that dream that many non-league players have of being spotted by a pro club and becoming a professional footballer – the classic Jamie Vardy story that everyone in football loves; from playing non-league football to then suddenly being signed by Leicester and going on to have a stellar professional career. It can and does happen, and that is the dream. It is one that I could relate to from my playing days. There is also a romance to non-league football, where teams that the rest of the country has never heard of go on headline-grabbing runs in the FA Cup every year, which catapults players, teams and towns into the limelight. The story tries to capture that dream of players and clubs alike. The second reason was that I’d often noticed how few football novels there were out on the market, which always struck me as quite odd, given the popularity of the game, so I felt there might be an opportunity to do something a little different. Time will tell if I was right!”

‘Playing for Keeps’ can be purchased from the Amazon book store by heading here. And if you’d like to take your copy along to Merstham during the season, we’re quite sure that Chris will be happy to sign it for you!

If you like the novel and the football theme, you may well like Gary Thacker’s excellent non-league (Spain!) novels, The Games People Play and A Whole New Ball Game

I was on Twitter the other day – not a surprise. I saw some great art – Oh, what a surprise!

Yes, I was casually abusing Brexiteers and Arsenal fans the other day as is my wont, when I saw some terrific images filling my timeline. Obviously, I have introduced my readers to my friends Dave Baldwin at Papilios Creative and Jim at Gillingham Legends but this was somebody new with a different style.

I connected with Matty on my Twitter and was delighted to see more of his work and hear more of his story. He offers “Prints, Postcards, Clothing, Merchandise & More. Designs include Lionel Messi, Mohamed Salah, Zinedine Zidane, Missy Bo Kearns, Erling Haaland, Casemiro & more from the world of football.” He also accepts commissions.

Take a wander to his Matty723 website to check an interesting gallery of art. Enjoy!

I got a message from George AKA “The Oldham Groundhopper” with a request to share a message to Real Madrid FC.

It seems a great cause, so here I go, “

I NEED YOUR HELP! SHARE THIS POST

Of course we are not expecting the likes of Benzema or Modric to rock up in Lancashire. But I think it would be great if Madrid could send some type of team over.”

Wikipedia tells me …

100 Years ago next month now 10th tier Nelson became the first English team to beat Real Madrid in Spain. On 15 May 1923, Nelson achieved a 4–2 victory against Real Madrid at the Campo de Ciudad Lineal, two of the goals coming from Dick Crawshaw, who had been signed towards the end of the previous campaign. In doing so, Nelson became the first English club to defeat Real Madrid at their home ground.

After speaking to those involved at the club based near Burnley on Thursday night, they would love to have a re – match against Real Madrid to celebrate 100 years since the clubs met but unfortunately haven’t heard anything back.

Nelson Football Club is a football club based in Nelson, Lancashire, England. Originally established in 1882, the club played in the Lancashire League, North-East Lancashire Combination, Lancashire Combination and Central League before becoming founder members of the Third Division North of the Football League in 1921. They were Division Three North champions in 1922–23 and were promoted to the Second Division. However, they were relegated back to the Third Division North after a single season.

In 1931 the club lost their Football League status and returned to the Lancashire Combination, where following reformation in the summer of 1934 they played on until ceasing football activities in 1936. A new amateur club, Nelson Town, was quickly formed in the town, playing at Seedhill until the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. Following the resumption of football at the end of the war, Nelson FC reformed again in 1946. The reconstituted club joined the Lancashire Combination, playing in that league until it merged with the Cheshire County League to form the North West Counties League in 1982. They dropped out of the league between 1988 and 1992, playing in the West Lancashire League. Although the club left the league again in 2010, they returned the following year, and are currently members of the North West Counties League Division One North, playing home matches at Victoria Park.

The A-Z of Weird & Wonderful Football Shirts: Broccoli, Beer and Bruised Bananas

Our friends at Stanchion Books sent an interesting list of Easter reads this week and one that immediately caught my eye was “The A-Z of Weird & Wonderful Football Shirts” by Richard Johnson. Interested in all things shirt, I shot over to their website to discover more!

“From the first woollen jumpers to the latest ultra-light jerseys, football shirts have always been a huge part of a football club’s identity. Seeing your team take the field in their traditional colours instils a great sense of pride in a fan. But what if your heroes ran out looking like the Incredible Hulk, or as if they’d been skinned alive? How about a team of giant hotdogs, or 11 broccoli florets?

The A-Z of Weird & Wonderful Football Shirts documents one man’s vast collection of the most iconic and unconventional offerings, spanning the 80s to the present day. It features not only an overview of groundbreaking classics and all the coolest curios but also a glimpse into the future of football kit design.

Richard Johnson is the co-founder of football nostalgia blog, The Football Attic. He has been obsessed with football shirts for nearly 35 years, is a regular guest on kit podcasts and has appeared on the radio to talk about football shirts numerous times. He has written for the Coventry City matchday programme and Backpass magazine, and has contributed football shirts from his own 700-strong collection to several national exhibitions.”

I was interested to see that several of the highlighted shirts had been featured here on TheShirt2010 and as I work through the book, I am sure I will be pick put others. Don’t wait for me …. shoot over to the Stanchion Books website and grab your copy!

Russ Pearce has been a friend for many years. He is a huge football fan and as well as being generally knowledgeable he is also passionate about Brighton & Hove Albion FC and Real Betis in Spain. Like myself he has been following the phenomenon that is ChatGPT. Unlike me, he has started to work with it diligently and has now written an anthology of poems. To be more precise he has let ChatGPT write them for him. I read some this week and was hugely impressed and frankly amazed. I thought they deserved more eyeballs. So, I proudly present, “The Poems I Never Wrote.”

Oh, and ChatGPT also wrote its own introduction: “The Poems I Never Wrote” is a captivating collection of poetry written by the brilliant ChatGPT. These poignant and thought-provoking poems explore the depths of the human experience with raw emotion and lyrical grace. As an AI language model, ChatGPT has a unique perspective on the world, and this is reflected in every verse of this stunning collection. From love and loss to hope and despair, the poems in this book cover a range of topics that will resonate with readers of all backgrounds. Whether you’re a poetry lover or just looking for a beautiful read, “The Poems I Never Wrote” is a must-read. With its vivid imagery and powerful message, this book will leave you feeling inspired, enlightened, and deeply moved. Get your copy today and discover the poetry you never knew you needed.

Russ Pearce is an English teacher, world traveller, blogger (www.anythingbutpaella.com) and photographer currently residing in Alicante, Spain. With a passion for exploring new cultures and meeting new people, Russ has travelled extensively throughout Europe, Asia, and South America, capturing breathtaking moments through his camera lens. As an online English teacher, Russ uses his love of language and communication to connect with students from around the world and help them achieve their goals. Whether he’s hiking in the mountains or enjoying a local dish at a cafe, Russ is always looking for new adventures and experiences to inspire his photography and teaching. (ChatGPT wrote that too!)

Universal Amazon link at https://mybook.to/thepoemsineverwrote

Walk a marathon with Jeff Stelling in honour of Wycombe Wanderers’ fan, Bill Turnbull. Help beat prostate cancer.

Join Jeff Stelling’s Football March

Join Sky Sports presenter, Jeff Stelling on a 26.2 mile march from Wembley to Wycombe, on 17 September 2023. You’ll be helping to raise money to fund lifesaving research to diagnose men sooner and improve the lives of men affected by prostate cancer.

Jeff Stelling will spearhead a special one-day football march. He’ll be marching in honour of his friend and fellow Prostate Cancer UK supporter, broadcaster and Wycombe Wanderers’ fan, Bill Turnbull, who sadly died of prostate cancer in August last year. “Bill was a legendary broadcaster and most importantly a superb human being. But his life was cruelly cut short by prostate cancer. This march is for Bill and for everyone affected by prostate cancer. It’s going to be great fun, lots of football chatter and an enormous sense of achievement as we cross the line together at Adams Park. See you there!”

By joining Jeff Stelling’s Football March you’ll receive:

• A unique experience walking with Sky Sports’ Jeff Stelling
• A Football March t-shirt
• Training and fundraising tips
• A fully marshalled route
• A Football March finisher’s medal presented pitch-side
• Food included (breakfast, lunch & dinner)
  
  
  REGISTER HERE

If you’d be more comfortable marching on your own or in a smaller group, why not organise your own Football March in your local area?

Our team has lots of useful information on how to get started. For more information or to speak to the team please visit our Prostate FC Club to Club page…