Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

I was talking to FB friend Chris Lee this morning about books, Spain and football. After 60+ years as a bookworm, 20 years in Spain and 60 years following football these are three topics I am meant to know something about. OK, let’s rephrase it. These are three topics I am fascinated with!

Chris has updated the Outside Write “Best Spanish football books, podcasts and blogs.” We were asked to comment.

Let’s look at the “runners and writers” ….sorry, I’ll get my coat

Following the success of our post on the best Italian football blogs, podcasts and books, I have put together a similar collection for another country that gets a lot of interest on Outside Write – Spain. It’s a country I know well, having lived in both Madrid, where I wrote my final year dissertation on Spanish football and regional identity, and Valencia.

Chris, “Here are the best Spanish football books, podcasts and blogs that you need to know about”

Steve, “I am not the right person to comment on podcasts but as for books we are pretty much in agreement! That in itself might be some type of record for football fans who can normally start World War III over the size of the corner flags.”

Morbo

Steve, “If you have not read this, you don’t understand Spanish football.”

Chris, “If you read one book that summarises the entire history of Spanish football, from Spain’s first football club, Recreativo de Huelva, up until the success of the 21^st century, then read Morbo. ‘Morbo’ is a Spanish expression for the tension between two sides, and sums up the intensity that can exist in Spain. Ball chronicles the entire story of Spanish football, putting it in the context of the political, historical, regional and cultural circumstances that have influenced – and continue to impact – the Spanish game.”

Fear and Loathing

Steve, “If you have not read this, you don’t understand Spanish football.” (Yes, again!)

Chris, “The epic rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is brought to life brilliantly by Sid Lowe in Fear and Loathing in La Liga. The reader is taken on a journey from the very first meeting of the two sides in the 1900s, through the Franco era and controversy around Alfredo di Stefano’s signature, through to the democratic, uber-commercial era.

Lowe myth-busts any preconceived ideas around politics and identity and sets them into historical context.”

Los Leones: The Unique Story of Athletic Club Bilbao

Steve, “I absolutely need to read this!”

Chris, “This 2024 release from debut author Christopher Evans is an absolutely superb and comprehensive insight into one of the world’s most historically significant football clubs, Athletic Club de Bilbao. As well as reading Los Leones, please listen to our podcast with Gaizka Atxa, from the Athletic Club peña (supporters’ group), Mr Pentland Club, about the history and culture of Athletic Club de Bilbao.”

La Roja: A Journey Through Spanish Football

Steve, “An excellent read although normally I am fairly indifferent to national sides.”

Chris,” In La Roja, Madrid-born Jimmy Burns tells the story of the Spanish game with some key interviews to articulate how the Spanish game became the unique and admired entity that it is. How has the Spanish game been influenced by affairs off the pitch, and vice versa?”

As you can see, Chris is more incisive than I am! Best bet is to pop over to the blog and enjoy the full overview.

I am going to add a couple too

Gary Thacker’s two books about Spanish Non-League Football are quasi fiction and everything you read is implausible …. but highly probable! Absolutely recommended. Gary has also written non-fiction about English and Dutch football.

Bring Me that Horizon

Written in English by  Miguel L. Pereira, a Madrid-based author, about the PORTUGUESE game. Lots of interesting parallels and, of course, since early days of football many of the very best Portuguese players have plied their trade in Spain. Miguel has also written about Spanish football in Spanish ….and, a little birdie tells me a definitive book about Spanish football is due soon. Publishers, queue up!

Toni Kroos : Anatomia de un genio for Al Poste and published in 2014
Noches Europeas: 1897-2015 for TB Books in 2015
Sueños de la Euro for Panenka in 2021

…and finally, at a tangent,

Ghosts of Spain

No, this book is NOT about football but if you want to understand football in Spain, I would argue that you need to understand modern Spain. Tremlett’s book is “the one.”

The New Spaniards.

Another excellent read about Spain – John Hooper’s book, if read, in conjunction with Ghosts of Spain should give the reader a great overview of Spain in 2024.

Talking about Spanish football, l hope FC Deportivo Galicia are always in your thoughts. This was set up as a migrants’ team in London in the 60s. lt has thrived and is now looking for promotion to Step 5 in the English pyramid. Please remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation 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.

Hungerford Town

Happy Easter everyone. Hope everybody had a great time. There were some BIG games played and Darren Ashley, who is making a name for himself with his fantastic vlogs, took the opportunity to go down to Hungerford Town.

He said, ” I had a bad feeling that it was going to be anything but a Good Friday.

I contacted Hungerford Town & their manager Danny Robinson midweek to see if it was ok to film my vlog for their home match v Bracknell Town. As I’ve always found in Non League, they were happy for me to do so and were warm with their responses.

Now, all week, it just hadn’t seem to stop raining, and on Thursday, Hungerford announced on their X account that they were to be holding a 9.00 am pitch inspection. Credit to them for doing it early, but, to be honest, I kinda thought, this will be off, so I started to have a look elsewhere where there may be a game, but, to my surprise, the following morning, they announced GAME ON!

The great Easter getaway on the roads…don’t you just love the thought of driving in that but, to be fair, traffic in my direction was pretty good…unlike the opposite direction.

Turned up at the ground then, where it was raining so heavily that it was best to stay in the car until, hopefully it would pass….which it did within 10 minutes, and by the time I recorded the opening part of the vlog, it was beautiful.

I was met at the gate by the very friendly Dean and Gemma. Gemma introduced me to her partner/hubby Chris, who, that week had stepped in as temporary chairman of Hungerford Town FC.

Obviously, I’m always sniffing an opportunity for an interview, but Chris told me..in his words, “ I’d rather not as I have a face for radio”!!!

After some chat, Chris introduced me to media man Martyn, and asked Martyn to show me around.

Martyn was brilliant, a really good guy, and he showed me all around the club.

I was advised that, as Hungerford have an award winning burger…the Bulpit Burger Beast ( something like that), it was best to get it early, as it was very popular and big queues would form.

I declined for now, as I wasn’t hungry, but regretted trying it later on when there was a space in my stomach that needed filling….shame it shut by then .

Met some more nice people, including Danny the manager, and Jordan Ive, his Bracknell counterpart.

They, again, were really nice guys and obliging for a quick on camera interview.

On to kick off now, and a really strong wind was blowing, with ever changing weather throughout the 90 minutes.

Now, I don’t usually give spoilers regarding the game, as it would be great if you watched the vlog found in the comments below, but, the strong wind contributed to the opening goal of the game…a hopeful pass upfield from the Hungerford player, from inside his own half, that bounced a couple of times before bouncing over the Bracknell goalkeeper…who, incidentally, had a cracking match.

That’s it for spoilers.

90 minutes later, game was over, filming and interviews done, it was time to eat this award winning burger.

Oh well, next time. A kind lady gave me a recommendation where to eat in Hungerford high street, so, it was time to go.

So, that was my Non League day out.

Hungerford had been on my radar to do for a while, and was so glad I went because, the people around the club were so lovely to me, and, you would love a day out at their quirky, yet charming Bulpit Lane ground, and if you ever go, or have been, please let me know what THAT burger is like

Oh, one other thing, whilst milling around the ground, a chap called Jeremy approached me, we had a chat, he said nice things about watching the vlogs, and, he has invited me up to Matlock Town to film. So, not sure when that will be, but , that’s another one I have pencilled in at some stage, along, Soham Town Rangers ,Sherborne Town and Belper Town…and, with Kettering Town to do this Saturday, I’m open to more offers.

In the meantime, here is the You Tube of Darren’s trip to Hungerford. You can see the vlogs of all his previous games this season and also register/subscribe free of charge so you will always be the first to see his games. Enjoy!

Photo © Hans Henrik Appel 2024.

Notts County

Every football fan anywhere on the planet will know one thing about today’s team. “Notts County Football Club is a football club in Nottingham, England, and also the oldest professional association football club in the world.” Many will recite that it was founded in 1862 and a few continue that it should be Nottingham County and Notts Forest as County is based in Nottingham City and Forest yards (literally) over the boundary in Nottinghamshire. Whatever. It is a club with a LOT of history behind it yet currently languishing in the level four. Indeed, in 2019 they suffered the ignominy of being relegated to non-league football and there they stayed for four seasons. The official Notts County Database notes, ” With a total of 15 promotions and 17 relegations, no club has moved between the divisions of the Football League and National League on more occasions than Notts County. Promotion years – 1897 1914 1923 1931 1950 1960 1971 1973 1981 1990 1991 1998 2010 2023 Relegation years – 1893 1913 1920 1926 1930 1935 1958 1959 1964 1984 1985 1992 1995 1997 2004 2015 2019.” Something of a yo-yo club, you could say!

Anyway, what’s all this about? Well, today I met a very interesting Dane on Facebook Hans Henrik Appel, who like Christian and Darren delights in visiting the English grounds and writing about them. We chatted and he kindly offered to share an exceptional blog about Notts County. Meadow Lane was the very first professional ground I visited way back in 1962 or 63 for a schoolboy game between Nottinghamshire and Northamptonshire. I can assure you that it was VERY different to what Hans Henrik saw. What has not changed is that County definitely consider themselves a community club and that is something both Hans Henrik and I applaud.


He writes, ” It is about time I get to see a match at Notts County. They are the oldest league club – from 1862. They were the first league club to become a limited company in 1890 (Small Heath, now Birmingham City, had done it in 1888, but they were not a league club at the time). And they are one of the inaugural 12 football league clubs. And probably the main reason for being chosen among the 12, was their football ground.

The league was set up by the leading professional clubs from the Birmingham FA and the Lancashire FA. When you look at the teams invited to join them – Everton, Stoke, Derby County and Notts County – they had all hosted FA Cup semi-finals in the preceding couple of seasons. And the league needed teams that could attract as well as accomodate large crowds.

Notts County were playing at the Trent Bridge cricket ground. It had been chosen as venue for a succesfull 1884 FA cup semifinal, and was therefore chosen again the following season, although this time the Notts County Cricket Club decided to block the planned semi-final between Blackburn Rovers and the Old Carthusians to protect the pitch. This semi-final was moved to the Castle Ground in Nottingham instead, but in 1887 Trent Bridge was chosen again.

In the next couple of years, Trent Bridge saw major developments after the Cricket Club purchased the ground in 1884. A new boundary wall on Gainston Road side with a permanent stand in 1884, a new Trent Bridge Inn in 1885, a new pavilion (in the ”Queen Anne’s style”) in 1886. Also in 1886, the Notts County Football Club erected a covered stand along the eastern boundary wall for their matches. And in this way the ground had developed into a state-of-the-art ground in 1888, when the founding fathers of the league assessed potential new members. Therefore, I find it appropriate to begin my visit at the Trent Bridge. I start with a walk around the ground. The football pitch bordered up to Fox Road and Hound Road, and I recognize a lot of the houses in these streets from the background in old photos of football at the Bridge. I take a walk around the Forest ground – or rather as much of it as I can, because the car park behind the Brian Clough Stand is locked off. Well, if they have to lock off one side of the ground, they have chosen the right one. It is almost brutalist in style. From the outside it does not have many redeeming features. But the Trent End with the river giving it a beautiful setting, and the Bridgford stand and main stand surrounded by terraced housing, look really good. It is probably my last sight of the old main stand, as it is about to be replaced – although only the previous day, I heard something on the news about the negotiations between club and council having stalled, with the possibility of a ground move lurking.”

Photo © Hans Henrik Appel 2024.

Hans Henrik has chose a game against Salford City …. a club as new to league football as County are old and he describes his day and the stadium. It finishes with an unexpected turn of events. He meets Ryan Giggs!

Three grounds in one shot. City Ground in the middle. Floodlights of Meadow Lane can be seen on the left, floodlights of Trent Bridge Cricket Ground on the right. Photo © Hans Henrik Appel 2024.

“I stay behind after the final whistle, while the stewards check all the seats. The supervisor takes me to the main stand. He goes inside and asks if I can be allowed a look around. I don’t know if he had hoped to take me upstairs, but I am just allowed inside the reception to see a trophy and the blue plaque commemorating County being an inaugural member of the league. As I leave the reception, there is a small crowd outside waiting for autographs. I just have time to think that maybe there is a reason why the matchday programme is matte, writable paper, and why the supervisor has taken me to the main stand. I turn around – and there is Ryan Giggs leaving just behind me. After all those years waiting for him in vain after matches at Old Trafford, of course I had to get his autograph here in Nottingham – in the triangle of historic sports grounds.”

Ryan Giggs Photo © Hans Henrik Appel 2024.

Thanks! What a terrific read, Hans Henrik. I hope you will allow me to showcase some of your other articles. I particularly enjoyed your articles about Stockport County and Welford Rd so I may well squeeze your arm over the coming weeks!

To read the blog of his trip to Nottingham in its entirety, please jump over to his website and if you like it, do feel free to subscribe at no cost. Please also note that all his photos are copyrighted.

Now a plea:

Kindly remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for my local club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation to support FC Deportivo Galicia and/or Prostate Cancer UK If everybody chipped in with just £1 I would easily hit my target of £10,000 and life would be easier in West London whilst the charity could continue their great work. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can.

It was good to hear from Christian Obray yesterday and he advised me that he had been on the road again. Like Darren Ashley he is promoting the non-league game by visiting various non-league grounds and spotlighting them. I know that he is enjoying his trips and that mr readers are enjoying following Christian and Darren. Here is his Stafford Rangers, for example.

This week the spotlight turns on Southam United near Coventry. He says, “This time we are venturing through the turnstile looking at Southam United, based in Warwickshire.

Great Photo, Christian

Southam United, established in 1905 through the merger of two village teams, boasts a rich history of success in various leagues and cup competitions. From dominating the Coventry and North Warwickshire League in the 1940s and 1950s to achieving notable victories in the Midland Combination, the club has seen its share of triumphs and challenges.

Key highlights include winning the Coventry Evening Telegraph Cup and securing titles in the Midland Combination. Despite setbacks such as relegation due to pitch size issues, Southam United persevered, eventually reclaiming their place in Premier Division football.

Bob Hancocks stands as the club’s all-time leading goalscorer and appearance holder, recognized for his remarkable contributions with the FA Long Service Award. In 2001, the club merged with Southam Town FC, further expanding its reach and development initiatives, particularly in youth and women’s football….

The full article is here. Read it to see the all important drinks and food reports too. Where are Southam in his Snacks League?

Sadly, FC Deportivo Galicia do not have a game today but we are at home on Monday againsy our old friends from Molesey. 11,30am k.o. All welcome!

Please remember that the purpose of this day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation 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.

Newcastle

Well, after Sunderland it would be wrong oof me not to pop next to Newcastle. So, that is what I have done. By a coicidence best explained by the Facebook and Twitter algorithams who should pop up but my friend Matty? Matty is another great artist and has a whole bunch of Newcastle United products including a new keyring.

He says, “So after loads of feedback from you guys I’m officially putting these into production just after the bank holiday… 200x Available @ £7.00 each Size 50mm (5cm / 2″) Enamel / Nickel plated Everyone please hit repost and get them orders in ASAP Remember there’s still loads of £1 Prints in the shop as well as Limited Edition Prints, Canvases, T-Shirts, Mugs & Hoodies.”

You can check all his products for a huge number of clubs here – Matty723

Of course, thinkiing about Newcastle, I have top remember my trip there during the 2010 cycling tour I wrote, ” Today was my first real day out and I decided to have a quiet day sightseeing in Newcastle and Sunderland. It’s a long, long time since I had free time here and I really enjoyed travelling around the area. For just 8 pounds you can get a whole day pass that gets you on the buses, the excellent metro and the ferry. I took good advantage of the ticket! I was wandering around near Newcastle United’s St James’Park and stumbled over The Back Page which is a veritable Alladin’s Cave of memorabilia. It claims to be the “World’s largest football memorabila and bookshop”. I have certainly seen nothing better and it dwarves Sportspages. It has far more non-mainstream books and literally thousands of programmes from every club in the UK and many international teams too. I had a happy 30 minutes here and will be back on Monday when I will have more time. Happy Days!”

Well, the good news is that the shop is still in the centre and they have even opened a new one at the Metro Centre, Gateshead.

They say, “THE BACK PAGE is the largest website of it’s kind. Many items from our huge retail shops stock is added on a daily basis as the site continues to grow rapidly. Buy with confidence as we have been trading since 2003, specializing in Football Books, Memorabilia/Souvenirs as well as a huge range of North East Gifts and Books. As well as stocking a huge range Official Football Licensed Merchandise from Europe’s top clubs we also produce and sell a huge range of Bespoke Football items exclusive to us. We hope that the website will one day be fully stocked thus giving a true reflection of our World famous shops – The Back Page.” 

Shop Addresses The Back Page, 56 St Andrews Street Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 5SF
Their website is here – The BACK page Website

Please remember that the purpose of this day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation 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.

92 HAIKU – Andy Powell

Yesterday we talked about the “power” of Facebook. Today it is Twitter I saw a random post with the number 92 in it. 92 is one of those significant numbers like Lucky 7 or 666 and I clicked. It led me to a chat with Andy Powell the author of “Doing the 92 Haiku.” He says, “92 has always been the magic number in football. 92 tabs of pressed cardboard being moved religiously up and down league ladders every Sunday morning. 92 tribes praying for the magical rising intonation of their score line on TV or radio, a mere semitone making or breaking an entire week. 92 sets of turnstiles beeping and clacking their mechanical permission for eager supporters to congregate again.”

So what is the book? He says, “Doing the 92 Haiku is one man’s quest to take the essence of all 92 English and Welsh professional football league grounds and distil each into just 17 syllables – all in strict 5-7-5 formation.

Every stadium is unique. From the architecture to the artefacts, each club’s story of highs and lows manifests in the place it calls home.

What started as a semi-drunken thought on the way into Southampton’s St Mary’s ground one fateful Friday evening became an obsession. Why else would you travel half the length of the country to witness Grimsby Town defeated in front of just 703 fans?

There’s just one small caveat: stadia are subjective. Please be aware that your footballing cathedral might be my soccer slum. And vice versa.”

Me, I started a blog, this blog back in 2010 when I set out to cycle to all the 92 clubs and Andy decided to go another road and write about it. He also decided to describe each of the 92 grounds in just 17 words. Impressive.

He continues, “You never forget the assault on your senses the first time you walk into a ground. The chatter and chants. The Bovril and beer. The green and the grey, of pitch and terrace, and the club colours you’ve worn since a baby.

If, like me, it was love at first sight, you quickly become comfortable in your newfound footballing cathedral, familiarising yourself with the lucky turnstile, the best view, the spot where your number 9 takes in the goal-scoring adulation.

And then, seemingly without warning, a second ground will hove into view. Maybe an away day, a pre-season friendly or a game grabbed on a weekend out of town. A new clunk, dissonant songs, a stand that cantilevers and rakes like an unfamiliar mathematical formula. On that concourse, you have something to compare. And your formative confirmation bias dictates that it can’t match the beatified patch of grass you call home.

Years later, you’ll make a fatal error. You will count how many grounds you’ve been to. Too late sucker, you’re on your way to an obsession, a membership you can’t tear up, an anger every time a league two part-timer moves into a new out-of-town identikit stadium and knocks one off your 92 total. I was in my 30s (grounds) and 40s (age) when I made this stupid mistake. Already travelling to most away games with my lifelong team, I started groundhopping as a neutral, poring over fixture lists whenever my game moved for TV and freed up a Saturday, and don’t get my wife started on how we were only taking holidays during international breaks.

Then one Friday night, I walked towards Southampton’s St Mary’s Stadium several beers into an away day, and a thought formed. Would it be possible to distill the character of all 92 grounds into just 17 syllables at a time – in strict 5-7-5 formation? Curse you ale. I emerged from the underpass that reveals the St Mary’s symmetry. Six syllables. Dammit. Symmetry Mary. Five. We’re on.

That night, we lost, our manager got sacked and there were no trains home. Oh well, all the more material to work with. This introduction probably contains as many syllables as the rest of the book to come.

There’s just one disclaimer. Please remember, these are my own personal reflections. Sometimes of just one trip to your stadium, sometimes of many joyous victories, or that bogey ground that’s nothing but a painful chore. An infinite number of fans at infinite keyboards would generate an infinite number of haiku – all from the same 92 sources.”

…. and he repeats the warning

Stadia are subjective. Your cathedral might be my soccer slum. And vice versa.

You can learn more and order the book here

So, what is your favourite stadium? Remember, of course, that all answers other than Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium are incorrect!

The Majestic Priestfield Stadium – see more on Papilios Creative

Please remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation 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.

Sunderland AFC – Cecil Irwin

Yes, I know we all hate Facebook but if we are honest, we love it too! Yesterday was a loving day as I had the pleasure of “meeting” the grandson-in-law of one of Sunderland’s Legends, Cecil Irwin, in a football group. As often happens, the conversation develops and we learn that Cecil is not enjoying the best of health …. and that it’s his birthday soon.

Ben said, “Hi folks, bit of a long shot here but does anyone have any magazines, articles, memorabilia etc pertaining to Cecil Irwin who played for Sunderland in the 50’s & 60’s. Cecil is my wife’s grandad and is suffering a bit with dementia and other ailments, however loves to see and talk about things from his playing days. He has no problem remembering those days, so trying to get as much as I can for him.”

I have dug a few bits out and they are winging their way to Cecil as we speak. There were an impressive 74 comments, messages of support and a massive number of fond memories. The power of Facebook!

In the meantime, I called David Blight, my great friend and 60 year fan of Sunderland who said, “All I remember about Cec Irwin is the promotion team that he was part off in the early 60’s that remains imprinted on my mind… Montgomery…Irwin, Ashurst… Harvey, Hurley, McNab… Mulhall, Herd, Sharkey, Crosson, Usher I may have got which side the wingers were on mixed up – Mulhall and Usher; right or left – otherwise… to me, Cec Irwin was the biggest, baldest, full back in the league! Until Dick Malone came alone that is.” David kindly did a Sunderland overview recently….. here I have fond memories of Sunderland from the days of my cycling tour. It was indeed the first stadium I visited after the road “accident.”

Wikipedia does not offer too much but David did find a these fascinating articles “A Love Supreme” and “Northern Echo” (John Charles – who?)

11v 11 yielded this for the 63/64 season. The programme is for the last match of the season. Promotion was already assured as the Black Cats had wrapped it up with a home win over Charlton Athletic the previous week although Cec missed that match but he did start in 39 of the 42 games.

League Division Two table at close of 1963-64 season

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAvg	GD	Pts
1	Leeds United	42	24	15	3	71	34	2.088	37	63
2	Sunderland	42	25	11	6	81	37	2.189	44	61
3	Preston North End	42	23	10	9	79	54	1.463	25	56
4	Charlton Athletic	42	19	10	13	76	70	1.086	6	48
5	Southampton	42	19	9	14	100	73	1.370	27	47
6	Manchester City	42	18	10	14	84	66	1.273	18	46
7	Rotherham United	42	19	7	16	90	78	1.154	12	45
8	Newcastle United	42	20	5	17	74	69	1.072	5	45
9	Portsmouth	42	16	11	15	79	70	1.129	9	43
10	Middlesbrough	42	15	11	16	67	52	1.288	15	41
11	Northampton Town	42	16	9	17	58	60	0.967	-2	41
12	Huddersfield Town	42	15	10	17	57	64	0.891	-7	40
13	Derby County	42	14	11	17	56	67	0.836	-11	39
14	Swindon Town	42	14	10	18	57	69	0.826	-12	38
15	Cardiff City	42	14	10	18	56	81	0.691	-25	38
16	Leyton Orient	42	13	10	19	54	72	0.750	-18	36
17	Norwich City	42	11	13	18	64	80	0.800	-16	35
18	Bury	42	13	9	20	57	73	0.781	-16	35
19	Swansea Town	42	12	9	21	63	74	0.851	-11	33
20	Plymouth Argyle	42	8	16	18	45	67	0.672	-22	32
21	Grimsby Town	42	9	14	19	47	75	0.627	-28	32
22	Scunthorpe United	42	10	10	22	52	82	0.634	-30	30

26 Dec 1963	Leeds United v Sunderland	D	1-1	League Division Two
28 Dec 1963	Sunderland v Leeds United	W	2-0	League Division Two
04 Jan 1964	Sunderland v Northampton Town	W	2-0	FA Cup
11 Jan 1964	Sunderland v Bury	W	4-1	League Division Two
18 Jan 1964	Manchester City v Sunderland	W	0-3	League Division Two
25 Jan 1964	Sunderland v Bristol City	W	6-1	FA Cup
01 Feb 1964	Sunderland v Swindon Town	W	6-0	League Division Two
08 Feb 1964	Cardiff City v Sunderland	W	0-2	League Division Two
15 Feb 1964	Sunderland v Everton	W	3-1	FA Cup
19 Feb 1964	Sunderland v Norwich City	D	0-0	League Division Two
22 Feb 1964	Sunderland v Derby County	W	3-0	League Division Two
29 Feb 1964	Manchester United v Sunderland	D	3-3	FA Cup
04 Mar 1964	Sunderland v Manchester United	D	2-2	FA Cup
07 Mar 1964	Sunderland v Middlesbrough	D	0-0	League Division Two
09 Mar 1964	Manchester United v Sunderland	L	5-1	FA Cup
14 Mar 1964	Newcastle United v Sunderland	L	1-0	League Division Two
21 Mar 1964	Sunderland v Preston North End	W	4-0	League Division Two
27 Mar 1964	Sunderland v Rotherham United	W	2-0	League Division Two
30 Mar 1964	Rotherham United v Sunderland	D	2-2	League Division Two
04 Apr 1964	Sunderland v Swansea Town	W	1-0	League Division Two
06 Apr 1964	Leyton Orient v Sunderland	W	2-5	League Division Two
11 Apr 1964	Southampton v Sunderland	D	0-0	League Division Two
18 Apr 1964	Sunderland v Charlton Athletic	W	2-1	League Division Two
25 Apr 1964	Grimsby Town v Sunderland	D	2-2	League Division Two

Now that’s what I call promotion form!

A win for Grimsby would have saved them – NO mercy!

I whipped over to The Fans Museum (shouldn’t every club have one?) and the Sunderland Who’s Who book “All The Lads.” He is featured with a comprehensive bio.

A local lad, with a long career at Sunderland. Are those days gone by? A partner with Len Ashurst who later became a Gillingham manager so another link with the Priestfield men. Yesterday it was Bradley Dack Who will it be tomorrow!

Here are a couple of views of the two Sunderland stadiums of the last 60 years from Papilios Creative that hopefully will bring back happy memories.

Roker

Please remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation 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.

Alan Shearer and Jack Walker celebrate the Premier League Title

Aidan Wilson introduced himself to me on a Facebook group recently and explained that he was in need of some anonymous responses to a university survey. He is in his final year of university and is researching social media’s impact on football fan culture. He adds, “If anyone could spare a few minutes to answer a short survey, that would be massively appreciated.” I said I was happy to help and offered to add the link HERE

It is completely free and anonymous so I would be very grateful if you could all assist him in a very short general survey about football in 2024.

Aidan is a massive Blackburn Rovers fan but being of student age wasn’t born in the last glory years of the club. After finishing fourth in 1992–93 and runners-up in 1993–94,^[22] they went on to win the Premier League title in 1994–95 He kindly did a brief overview.


Blackburn Rovers were founded in 1875 and were one of the founding members of the football league in 1888. The East Lancashire club have won 6 FA cups, 1 League Cup, as well as 3 league titles including a famous premier league victory in 1995 under the support of superfan Jack Walker. With the investments and passion put into the club from Jack Walker along with a fantastic team that involved the great Alan Shearer, Rovers became known as the club that matched the big boys. Unfortunately, however, Jack Walkers passing and new ownership has led to many challenges on and off the pitch. Since Venky’s bought the club in 2010, the club has experienced some difficult years, including a relegation to the championship in 2012, and a further relegation to league one in 2017. But despite bouncing back to the championship in the first season down, Rovers have never been able to kick on and record a top 6 finish, even when it seemed almost impossible to throw a playoff potion away. Today, the club finds itself looking over their shoulder at the relegation zone again, and with new financial restrictions on the club’s Indian owners, Venky’s, the future for now looks rather uncertain for a once proud football club.

Alan Shearer – forever adored in East Lancashire

Reproduced with kind permission of Gillingham Legends. Do you want a Bradley Christmas Card?

Whilst Aidan might not have been there “that day” he does remember one of my great heroes, a certain Bradley Dack who was/is a TRUE legend at Gillingham. Bradley is without doubt one of my very favourite players of all times and I was broken when he was sold to Blackburn Rovers. I even went to West Ham United v Blackburn Rovers in the cup last season just to see him …. and he did not disappoint! Since then he has moved on again and is currently at Sunderland in the Championship although it has not been an altogether happy time there. He’s always welcome back at the Priestfield ….preferably in our colours!

Gillingham Legends – who would you add? Check with Gillingham Legends

So, a couple of quick reminders. Please complete Aidan’s short university survey. Please also remember that the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation 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.

You had one job, Darren.

Here we are again. It’s Sunday. Non-League Day has come and gone and by all accounts was once again a success and Darren Ashley’s Vlog hits my inbox. I know that a lot of you also enjoy Darren’s trips to the Non-League grounds and I am delighted that he has once again allowed me to share it. The absolute highlight of the vlog is, of course, the karma. Some will remember that his friend Thunder failed miserably recently when Darren gave him a fairly simple task. Well, the boot is on the other foot, today as it were. Read on!

Gavin Hurren (l) and Darren

” Non League Day 2024…..as soon as they said they would love to have my mate Thunder & myself back, I just HAD to return to Stratford Town FC, to vlog their home match v Long Eaton United.

We had previously been there in mid January, where we were treated brilliantly, and had seen a thriller v Barwell FC.

It was almost a déjà vu day, again, we were treated brilliantly, and, again, we saw a thriller…this time though, against different opponents.

I was keen to arrive at the ground nice and early, for two reasons in particular…1, I always always struggle with the opening on the vlogs, and need to record it quickly to get it over with, and 2, we would be probably be chatting for quite a bit to people we had met before.

So, we arrive at, as Thunder moaned, the ridiculously early time of 12.45

First person we bumped into, was chairman Jed McCrory We chatted for quite a while about everything from personal life stuff, plans for the football club and his opinion on this new regulator coming into football. I have to say, after hearing his thoughts on that, I would be quite keen to do an in depth interview on that subject, as I was taken aback on his thoughts on how it affects step two and lower clubs.

After catching up with many more familiar faces, it was time to do some more filming before taking our seats for kick off. Now, when I decide where best to sit, I tend to take in factors such as the position of the sun and, the end where I think there would be more action. I got this right in the first half, but let me tell you, it was soooo bloody cold with a really strong wind, I was struggling a bit with the recording.

At half time we went inside to warm up a bit….but, early into the second half, I was soon cold again and my fingers started to numb……so, that is my excuse for missing recording a vital goal in the 2nd half.

95 mins then, and the game comes to an end, and, like I said above, we witnessed a thriller.

As you know in these mini reports, I won’t mention the outcome of the match as I would like you to watch the vlog, which you can find here. You can also see all my previous vlogs including my previous visit to the stadium.


Back inside then to wrap up the filming, with more links and an interview. Once that was done, Thunder and I hung around for a while longer, talking to players, staff and fans about the club and match. Honestly, there is such a feel good factor about the place that it’s really hard not to be drawn into having a connection with “The Bards”…..in fact, I for one will now always be a bit of a fan from afar.

Time to leave the Arden Garages Stadium, where, once again, Thunder and I were reflecting on the journey home at what a brilliant place we have just visited again, and, if Stratford make the play offs, manager Gavin Hurren ( pictured above) has invited us back….and we have video evidence of that offer!!!!!

Thanks for reading. Until next time, Darren.”

Fantastic, Darren, although it would have been fantastic to see the missing goal. Perhaps you had better leave it to Thunder next time. I know my readers are enjoying your vlogs. I know I am. So, dear readers, please shoot over to see the vlog and try to imagine the goal that Darren inexplicably failed to capture for posterity. Don’t worry, Darren, we all make mistakes. It did not do the great Chris Kamara any harm, did it? Don’t recall the famous Fratton Park “miss?” Here it is

So, please remember the purpose of this 90 day challenge is to raise funds for the club and an equal amount for Prostate Cancer. As always, I HOPE you are all enjoying the tour of the UK and that you will consider a donation 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.

Non-League Day

Yes, it’s Saturday tomorrow and a very special Saturday. We have an international break and James Doe’s seed of an idea has flowered and grown into Non-League Day 2024.

I will be at FC Deportivo Galicia v Oxhey Jets and as we scored seven last time we were at home, I sense goals again tomorrow. Where will you be?

In the evening England take on Brazil at Wembley but it’s all got a bit crazy this week. Nike have decided on a “playful update” on the St George’s Flag on back of the England shirt. It has not gone down well with the PM, the PM in waiting, fans and the FA all wading in.

This is what everybody expects.

This is what Nike have presented

The FA respond to calls from fans to scrap the new England kit over Nike’s ‘playful update’ with the St Georges cross.

The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, warned about against tampering with national flags following Nike’s alteration of the St George’s Cross colour on England’s new shirt. Sunak says kit manufacturers “should not mess” with the St George’s Cross as he waded into a row over the new England shirt

The unveiling of England’s Euro 2024 kits this week features a white home kit and a purple away strip., but the row came when Nike announced the modification of the iconic red cross to include purple and blue stripes.

Nike referred to it as “a playful update” to the shirt for Euro 2024, drawing inspiration from the training kit worn by England’s 1966 World Cup champions.

Keir Starmer somewhat surprisingly made a powerful speech condemning the “update” whilst fans have started a petition in disgust. The Labour leader joins calls to replace the “playful update” of the St George cross on the back of the new England football kit with the original, after Nike switched it from its usual red and white to a red, purple, blue and black cross, ahead of the Euro 2024 tournament in June. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also called on Nike to “reconsider” its decision, as the symbol was a “unifier”.

While Labour’s shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry said it was “peculiar” and pointed out people wouldn’t expect the heraldic Welsh dragon to be swapped “to a pussycat” or the French tricolour to be changed.

I wonder what the Scots would say if Adidas decided that the Flag of St Andrew would look good with yellow bananas or perhaps change the dark blue to lime green!

What do you think?

Enjoy the weekend!

A PLEA

I would like your money, just £1 of it! I am struggling to reach my initial target £500 for FC Deportivo and Prostate Cancer at £20 or £50 so this is a bit of a test/a trial if you like. I wonder how many of you would be happy to add just £1? I would be very grateful if you would consider a donation however small to support  Prostate Cancer UK  If everybody chipped in £1 I would easily hit my target of £5,000 and the charity would continue to fund their great work. Every single penny goes DIRECT to Prostate Cancer UK. A HEARTFELT thanks, if you can donate. If you can’t you can still help massively by sharing this page about the work of Prostate Cancer. If you prefer to support FC Deportivo Galicia, their link is here Let me know that you have done that and I will be happy to pay you in on Saturday v Oxhey Jets at 3pm.


PS I could also mention that the Italian national side’s new away kit is causing some debate too. Gli Azzurri are I Bianchi with a splash of …..

Better than their previous paint-splattered effort, in my opinion!