Author Archive

It is that time of the year when everybody is eagerly bandying about their predictions for the coming season. Some, like Gary Lineker, are paid huge amounts for our views whilst others look forward to telling friends and family that “this is going to be OUR season.” The fact that they lost more than they won at the end of the previous season or that they have lost their three best players and had a wretched pre-season with a string of embarrassing results against opposition that could not fill the bench, is a complete irrelevance. It’s what we do every year.

Neil Richardson decided to turn the hot air into something positive. I caught up with him earlier to learn what he and his friends have done. He said, “I am once again running the prediction league for the up and coming season. Same format as before with the money being split 50% to the winner and 50% shared between Demelza and Evelina. Every pundit can put his/her money where his/her mouth is and predict the outcome of the 2021-2022 season.

A group of my friends started raising money a few years back and the first year we raised something like £300. This money was used on buying a load of toys from Argos and taking them up to Great Ormond Street childrens hospital. As the years passed more money was raised and we decided to run a charity night. Millwall Football Club kindly allowed us to use their facilities free of charge and a benefit night that consisted of raffles/auctions etc raised us over £10,000 in 2019. This money was split between Evelina and Demelza , two children charities close to many of our hearts at Millwall.

With Covid arriving we unfortunately couldn’t host an event in 2020, so a few of us decided to try different ways to make money and this was my input. Started last season and it raised £280 for the charities with £280 going to the winner who on this occasion was split £140 between two people who tied on the same number of points, their names were Don Bone and Phil Roberts.”

I was delighted to put my predictions in writing. Some are easy – Arsenal to finish bottom of the Premier League, Gillingham to top League One and Arteta to be the first manager to go. Others needed a bit more thought but my list is in and I hope every football fan around the world will join in. It’s just £10 a go and you have a chance to win hundreds of pounds and HUGE bragging rights among friends and family. Much more important is that two fantastic charities will gain much-needed funds.

To get in touch with Neil and request your prediction form, click here.

Just when you thought that you had seen everything, Bedale AFC “reveal” a new kit. It is possibly the worst kit l have ever seen BUT because they are raising awareness for such a great cause, l absolutely must highlight it. Hopefully you will purchase it from their website or, perhaps more importantly, will learn about their support for Prostate Cancer research. Great work, guys. Respect.

To be honest Bedale AFC did not mean a lot to me but their official website showed that they have previous when it comes to the “wurst” shirt in the land. This relates to a sponsorship arrangement with a food company.

Football on TV

I am always looking at ways to get top quality streams of games. I have tried ITV Hub/BT Sport and many others.

Struggling to get every game at the Euro 2020 championship I decided to search further. I have tried literally dozens of IPTV “solutions” over the past 15 years and have normally been hugely disappointed. The streams are often poor quality with black screens or pixelisation. Alternatively the “company” offers dreadful or zero support. The usual failure is that the company simply disappears.

I have spent the last few weeks looking for a quality service from a reputable company with realistic procing. I am delighted to have found Expat Prime.

They offer:
1) a 14 day free trial with NO credit card details
2) an impressive range of programmes
3) there is no need for any equipment whatsoever (unless you specifically choose)
4) their customer service seems first class
5) their is NO contract required, no pre-payment nor deposit. It is a genuine PAYG service.

I invite you to take a look for yourself. If you like what you see, they also have a free to join referral scheme. You can
recommend the service to friends and family.

Of all the services I have used, I am pleased to say that this is the best to date. The quality of the streams over 4G wifi has been absolutely first class whilst the cost seems very reasonable. I am personally only really interested in the football (I am deaf, so can’t hear TV) but there is also a massive selection of soaps, reality shows,series, current affairs and news programmes. Something for everyone . Yes, even children!

Enjoy

The updated maps from Football Ground Maps are launched for 2021/2022. As always they are very professional and visually appealing

UPDATED 2021/2022 92 Club & National League poster!

Pre-order the new 2021/2022 92 Club & National League poster today! And save 20% with code KICKOFF21.Fully updated for the new season, our poster is double-sided featuring the 92 Club on one side and the National Leagues on the other.This year’s map comes with a design refresh featuring a fresh new colour palette, incredibly detailed shirts and extended statistics including star ratings for atmosphere and overall rating, as voted by our 155,000+ registered users.This is an essential purchase for any groundhopper and is a fantastic educational resource for kids – it looks great on any bedroom or office door or wall!

……and there’s more!

BRAND NEW Scottish Grounds Poster!

Introducing the brand new Scotland Football Stadiums poster!

Our new Scottish poster contains all 42 teams from the top 4 divisions in Scotland – from Annan Athletic and Stranraer in the south to Inverness Caledonian Thistle and Cove Rangers in the north. Tick, cross, colour or highlight the grounds you have been to, and keep track of your progress towards the Scottish 42 Club.

This Scottish poster includes incredibly detailed shirts and extended statistics including star ratings for atmosphere and overall rating, as voted by our 155,000+ registered users.

All posters include FREE UK delivery.

Payments taken by PayPal or credit/debit card.

The new shirts for 2021 are being launched at dazzling speed. Some are destined to be classics – usually the ones styled on earlier classics whilst others should be destined for the dustbin! The beauty of football is that we all have opinions so there are no “rights” or “wrongs.” You decide which ones you love. If nothing else some of the, shall we say, “less traditional” shirts are talking-points!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

A very interesting newsletter came in today from my friends at Copa. It concerns the oldest football club in the world – Sheffield FC in my beloved Yorkshire.

“We are honored to announce to have agreed a multi-year partnership with Sheffield FC, the World’s First Football Club, to become the club’s new on-field partner. Formed in 1857, Sheffield FC have played the game and honored its traditions continually for 164 years. They regard themselves as custodians of the beautiful game, fully committed to preserving the time-honored values associated with the beloved game. These characteristics, this DNA, is very closely related to our own.

The inspiration for the first Sheffield FC x COPA teamwear collection comes mainly from the very first kit the club wore 164 years ago. It’s all about how it once started. We have used that classic pattern in our designs, but we have added our own modern twist. It is our tribute to the present, past and future of this magnificent club.

“At Sheffield FC we call ourselves a living breathing antique and a modern forward thinking football club, which is why we think COPA will make a perfect partner. A nod to the past, respecting heritage in design and look to the future with modern products in fabrics and production techniques.Our values of integrity, respect, community and the fact that we believe that the game should be available to everyone, irrelevant of age, race, religion or ability, are shared by COPA.”
Richard Tims, Chairman of Sheffield FC

The first Sheffield FC x COPA range is now available through the Sheffield FC (online) store, copafootball.com and in the COPA Flagshipstore in Amsterdam.

Discover all on-field playing kits and side-line apparel now.”

• 

• 

• 

• 

It is always kind when people congratulate you on The Shirt ride. It is equally humbling when you see somebody doing something much more impressive.

Today I “met” Tom Crossland on Twitter. Like me, he is a Univeristy of Hull student. Unlike me, he is running 75 marathons in just 90 days. That’s just a touch south of 2,000 miles!!

Tom’s Story

This June, I am taking on an epic 1,900 mile run around the coast of England and Wales, to raise awareness of the needs of survivors of trafficking. The goal is to raise £50,000 for the TRIBE Freedom Foundation, a charity inspired by a 1,000 mile run to set up the first UK home for trafficked children. Watch the run which inspired TRIBE Freedom Foundation here .

I was born with cerebral palsy. I was not able to walk until he was over 3 years old and as I grew up I found it difficult to maintain my balance and stay on my feet. Running never came naturally to me.

Setting off from Henley on Thames on 2 June 2021, I will run the equivalent of 75 marathons in 87 days, supported by friends, family and members of the TRIBE community. I would love for you to join me and you can take part in the virtual challenge here: https://resultsbase.net/event/5739

All funds raised will be going directly to TRIBE Freedom Foundation, a UK charity that works to fight modern slavery across the UK, by raising awareness, providing funding and support for frontline projects to fight modern slavery and working on projects which equip survivors with the long-term support to overcome their previous exploitation.

Learn more about TRIBE Freedom Foundation here: https://tribefreedomfoundation.com/
You can also follow Tom on Twitter

You can learn more and donate on Just Giving

As a lifelong (1964- to date) fan of Gillingham, I was disappointed to hear that our goalkeeping legend, Big Jim Stannard needed an urgent operation. It would have been rude of me not to try to help. I hope you can too.

Jim played over 120 games for Gillingham and a further 400+ games at Fulham in a long and successful career between the sticks. Sadly, he now needs an operation for a prostate issue and a Just Giving has been set up to assist in raising £10,000. With the ongoing Covid crisis, the NHS waiting list is over one year, hence the need for funds for private treatment. I am proud to say that Gillingham Football Club generously offered £1,000 and other amounts large and small are pouring in. There is a way to go and if you can help, please visit the official Just Giving page here

I am always delighted to support Prostate Cancer UK and, obviously, when it involves cycling I am even more keen to promote their events.

Cycle the Month this August

Cycle the Month: Choose Your Challenge is a virtual challenge for cyclists everywhere. Cycle 100, 200 or 300 miles your way throughout August. Complete your miles over a day, a weekend, a week or a month and help beat the most common cancer in men. Take on the challenge alone or in a team and track and share your progress using Strava to keep an eye on your mileage. Whether you’re a keen rider or a cycling novice, Cycle the Month and help fund lifesaving research to beat prostate cancer.

The money you raise by taking part in Cycle the Month will fund lifesaving research and support services for men and their families affected by the disease, like Asif.

Asif was inspired to cycle 100 miles his way for Prostate Cancer UK after losing his dad, Abul, to prostate cancer in 2019.

Joined by a team of friends, Asif tackled last year’s challenge and saddled up again back in May in his dad’s memory.

“My dad was my rock,” he said. “I could sit and cry about my dad, but he wouldn’t like that – he wasn’t that sort of guy. He always told me to do the best I can in whatever I do. If I could show him what I’m doing, he’d be tickled pink.

“There are so many stories of prostate cancer – it affects so many men. Cycle the Month helped process my feelings of loss and it turned a negative into a massive positive.”

Full details here Prostate Cancer UK

I see thousands of shirts each season. Maybe one day I will try to work out how many but let’s say a thousand or more. Occasionally, just occasionally one screams at me. Class. Quality. Classic. This season’s home shirt from Pentwynmawr Athletic did that when I saw it on twitter this week. It is, in my humble opinion, I shirt of true beauty. I take my hat off to the club and also the designer/manufacturer at Tor Sports

It is available to purchase here.

I am looking forward to seeing many more 2021/2022 shirts in the next few weeks. I doubt that more than a handful will match this beauty!