Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Marcus Rashford

One of the standout footballers of the last ten years has undoubtedly been Manchester United’s Marcus Rashford. He was born in 1997 and lived literally a few streets away from where I had left a few years previously. Nobody will ever confuse Wythenshawe with Sunningdale or Virginia Waters ….ever! Like most kids on Wythenshawe Rashford grew up with little more than hope. Wikipedia dance round it a bit, “Rashford comes from a working class family; his mother is Melanie Maynard, a single parent who often had to work multiple jobs to feed their family, sometimes skipping meals herself to ensure Rashford and his siblings ate. He has four older siblings: two brothers, Dwaine Maynard and Dane Rashford, both of whom went on to represent him professionally, and two sisters, Chantelle and Claire.” In more recent years, Rashford has opened up about his childhood poverty and has worked consistently on social issues since Covid and been a constant thorn in the Conservative Government’s side. He has supplied tens of thousands of meals and provided food and supplies to many more. One of his most interesting initiatives is his book club. He openly admits to never having read a book until he was seventeen and states that it was a life-changing event.

The Marcus Rashford Book Club Competition 

The Marcus Rashford Book Club is a collaboration between iconic international football player and child food poverty campaigner Marcus Rashford MBE and Macmillan Children’s Books.

The Book Club aims to encourage and nurture a love of reading in children and get free books to the children who need them the most. 6.5 per cent of children in the UK say they do not have their own book at home, which equates to over 500, 000 children in the UK (Book Ownership in 2022).

Marcus read his first book at the age of seventeen, and credits this with changing the direction of his life, which is why the Marcus Rashford Book Club has delivered over 100,000 free books to children living in the most disadvantaged areas.

The Marcus Rashford Book Club 

Let your children embark on an exciting journey beyond the school fence, filled with mystery, friendship, and charismatic creatures. Crafted to captivate hearts and minds of children aged 8 to 11, and brimming with beautiful illustrations, these stories foster creativity, courage, and companionship. Give your young reader the thrill of unwrapping Marcus Rashford’s lively adventure series, where its power, charm, and lessons will echo beyond the pages!

2 lucky winners will receive:

– The Breakfast Club Adventures
– The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Ghoul in the School
– The Breakfast Club Adventures: The Phantom Thief
– You Are a Champion

To enter: head to the link in @macmillankidsuk ‘s bio!

Competition closes on 15 February at 12.00. Open to UK entrants only. Entrants must be 18+. Terms and conditions apply.

Gary Thacker

It is always good when I hear from a follower of The Shirt Project. This weekend I heard from friend, fellow Hispanophile, author and BIG Chelsea fan, Gary Thacker. He is excited about the launch of his latest book, O Jogo Bonito! I am delighted to spotlight it. 1966 was, of course, the English party, Wembley, Hurst’s hat-trick, Nobby’s celebrations etc. The spectators were still in suits and ties and it was in a London of Carnaby Street, pop music and post-war euphoria with nationwide hopes and dreams. The Brazilians who arrived as World Cup holders were fairly cynically kicked out of the competition and failed to progress past the group stage. 1970 marked their re-emergence on the world stage. Gary describes this in detail but at pace.

O Jogo Bonito! is the magical story of Brazil at the 1970 World Cup, and a team that featured the incomparable skills of Pelé, Rivellino, Gérson, Jairzinho and Tostão.

The 1970 World Cup was the first tournament televised live and in colour. It was also the occasion when the Brazilian Seleção Canarinho declared themselves to be the best team ever to lift the Jules Rimet trophy – bringing their own life and colour to the tournament. Yellow shirts as bright as the Mexican sun, blue shorts as vivid as the bright sky, and dancing feet, beating out a hypnotising rhythm that rendered opponents flat-footed by comparison.

Their third success in four tournaments meant that the 12-inch-high trophy would for evermore be the property of Brazil. It was a more than fitting accolade. All teams crowned as world champions before and since, are measured against, and fall short of, the bewitching beauty of that team. It was Brazil’s football in that World Cup that truly defined the phrase the beautiful game (‘o jogo bonito’).

You can learn more here

Gallery

This is not Gary’s first rodeo. He has written two fantastic novels (above) about the semi-pro game in Spain which are two of my favourite books about football. Think Fever Pitch but at a faster pace. Think A Season with Verona but a few levels down (about 8!) He has also written non-fiction books on England in the World Cup, the Dutch and Chelsea. Full details here

It’s Sunday so that can only mean one thing. It’s time to watch Darren’s Vlog of The Week! He had a bit of misfortune with a postponement but in true showbiz style he decided “the show must go on” and found another option.

Let’s hear what he says, “After the early postponement of the match I was meant to attend (Winslow Utd/Buckingham), yesterday, I found a different one to vlog, almost certain to go ahead as it was to be played on a 3G surface.

I turned up at Oxford City’s ground to take in bottom side Long Crendon’s home match with 13th placed Southam United. In the quick research I had done, I discovered that Crendon hadn’t won since the beginning of September.

I had visited Southam earlier in the season, and found them a super helpful club, so, I contacted chairman Michael Davis to see if a interview with manager Richard Kay could be arranged…and of course, the answer was a yes, and, Richard was great with his time for me. What I wanted to really know when I arrived though was, why was Long Crendon, in step 6, groundsharing with a National League team?

I found Tom Folley, the assistant manager, DOF and a committee member at Long Crendon, who happily agreed to an interview on camera to give me the answer.

Tom, like everyone connected with the club who I met yesterday, was fantastic, especially manger Waheed Ramzan, who, before the match, agreed to give me a full time interview, even though, realistically, it had the real potential to be another defeat for his team.

About 15 minutes before kick off, still trying to decide where to film, I got talking to Ben, also part of the staff for the home team, who, unbelievably, told me I could go up on top of the stand, onto the camera balcony, to do match filming from there….honestly, you don’t know how happy that made me.

Some of the Southam players who I had been talking to earlier whilst they were warming up, spotted me up there and gave me a bit of friendly banter.

So, primed in an ideal spot, the match kicked off.

Of course, I won’t tell you what happened, as I want you to watch the vlog below, but, trust me, what I saw, I really didn’t expect…., there were goals and I thought the team of officials were excellent.

So, at full time, I climbed down from my lofty perch, did the pre planned interview with Waheed, and headed into the clubhouse where Crendon chairman Gerald Reilly bought me a welcoming cup of very hot coffee. Once that was sunk, and final link filmed, I headed home, buzzing that I had had another brilliant day out at Non League.

Huge thanks to Long Crendon and Southam United for the generosity they showed me, and also, to Winslow United for calling the game off early enough which gave me plenty of time to rearrange. “

Here is this week’s vlog. I hope you enjoy it and subscribe to his channel.

….but there’s more

Now what Darren did not know was that Oxford City have been an integral part of the Shirt Project dating back to 2009. It was one of the first grounds that Bjørn visited that summer on his cycle epic to South Africa. He was met with such enthusiasm and friendship that Bjørn to this day still talks about his visit. Obviously when I cycled to the 92 clubs in 2010 there was no way that I could not pop in and thank them. I was equally met with great friendship and was even offered the dressing rooms to sleep in as well as the run of the showers etc. A clean Steve and clean clothes. Beautiful. In the way that all football fans do, I have watched out for the Oxford City results ever since.

I wrote at the time (August 2010),

“It’s all about friendship. Really looking forward to going to Oxford CITY today. Colin Taylor and his guys really looked after Bjørn when he was in the “City of Spires” last year and I’d like to go back and say thanks. Bjørn talks a lot about the help he got from the smaller clubs and Oxford City is one he often mentions. One of his/my favourite photos of the last 15 years is at Oxford City.

As expected it was an easy trip to Oxford and apart from playing traffic cop when three cars collided and blocked off one carriageway of the Milton Keynes-Bicester road largely without incident.

I arrived at the neat Oxford City ground to be met by Colin who entertained and educated me greatly about the proud history of Oxford City. Did you know that they were once winners of FA Amateur Cup? Did you know they were once by the late great Sir Bobby Moore “assisted” by Harry Redknapp? This and more can be found here.

I was very interested to learn more about their community schemes and plans for the development of the ground. I bought four shares – one for me, one for Bjørn, one for The Shirt and, as seemed appropriate, one for the sponsor of the day, David Stolz at InfoLogic.

Colin was kind enough to let me stay at their clubhouse and I was locked in with my bike for a good night’s sleep. As you see, he also kindly presented me with a brand-new Oxford City polo which I wore with pride on my journey to Swindon.”

It is interesting but at the same time sad the posts that have got the most traction and comments on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn are about sponsorship and fundraising. It is evident that 99% of us do not support clubs awash with Saudi or American money and that for every Newcastle United there are one hundred Chorleys, Tauntons, Burys etc.

I was pleased therefore to receive a fundraising guide from Rich Stock at Clubforce. He calls it the “Definitive Guide to Club Fundraising” and it is absolutely worth studying if you are at the helm of a club and even more so if your role is commercial.

It is a 24 page downloadable guide crammed with ideas and recommendations that have been proven over many years and with many clubs. You can download the guide here at no cost. I trust it is valuable and I will welcome any and all feedback.

That being said, I am a great believer in that nobody has a unique claim to knowledge and I would be very happy to read about your fundraising successes and failures. Fire away.

As always, 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.

Can you believe it? Yes, it’s Saturday again. That can only mean one thing. Football. Huge local derby with FC Deportivo Galicia at home to Brook House. As the song goes, “This could be heaven or this could be hell.” On their day, Brook House are unstoppable and unplayable. Sadly for them, their days seem to be Sundays and Fridays as on other match days they have struggled recently. Sad as they are a good set of lads …… and on a direct bus from me!

On Sunday, I am thinking of a trip to Gunnersbury to support Clapton CFC where their ladies have an interesting game against Actonians Reserves. I am a member/owner at Clapton (£5 per season!) and I like to catch them when I can. The Hub is easy by foot from Acton Town on the Piccadilly Line. (Options via Gunnersbury too or even South Acton. As always on a Sunday check TfL!)

The Pride of Fulham – Johnny Haynes

I could not continue from QPR on Day 37 to anywhere else than Fulham, I guess. The iconic Craven Cottage is walking distance to QPR’s Loftus Rd. Unlike, say, Millwall and West Ham, there is a healthy respect between both sets of fans which is always good to see.

Fulham treated me well when I cycled there in 2010. First full day in the saddle Fulham, Chelsea, Brentford and QPR in the dark if I remember and then a long trek to Watford to find a room!

I wrote, “Next stop was Fulham’s Craven Cottage. It has always been a favourite ground and although it is so olde worlde, the fans are really proud of this season’s achievements. The guy in the shop thought I was mad and came out to be photographed with the scarf you see. Sad memories of what might have been against Atletí a few weeks before.”

It was a bit of a glory time for Fulham (“The Cottagers”) as they finished twelfth in the top flight, got to the sixth round of the FA Cup and the final of the UEFA League under, who other than, Roy Hodgson. He left at the end of the season to take over at Liverpool. Who knows what he might have achieved if he had stayed. Instead there have been a dozen managers, the Championship and a more recent period of consolidation in the Premier League. Shahid Khan took over as chairman in July 2013 and there has been much done to the ground but always the “What if?” in the background.

Recently, I have been exchanging memories with Ian Prime who told me of an upcoming event at the ground and as you can see, it’s a bit different from the usual!

Ian says, “I’ve been going to Fulham since I was 5 and that’s a long time ago now. Every time I’ve left the ground I’ve gone home to a warm, safe home and bed sometimes elated with the result but more often than not a little frustrated !!

….. and yes that is me in the photo !

On the 21st March I’ll be doing something different and sleeping overnight at Craven Cottage (or trying to sleep) as part of Fulham FC Foundation’s first Stadium Sleepout. (Details below……)

Why ? because not everyone is as lucky as I am

If you can support me on this challenge it would be fantastic – even just £1 would make a difference and it will help Fulham FC Foundation, by building better lives through sport.

Here’s the sponsorship link – https://fulhamfc.enthuse.com/pf/9d13e#!/ ”

I was happy to support and hope you will be too ….and if you have any memories of Fulham or Craven Cottage please let us know. Thanks.

Stadium Sleepout

21 March 2024 – 22 March 2024

Craven Cottage, Stevenage Road, Fulham, SW6 6HH

Stadium Sleepout 2024 

Brave the elements and join us for our first ever Stadium Sleepout! 

On Thursday 21st March Craven Cottage will be opening its doors overnight for the first ever time in support of Fulham FC Foundation. 

At Fulham FC Foundation we are passionate about building better lives through sport. We deliver programmes 7 days a week to a broad range of the community, supporting disabled young people, refugees, socially isolated adults, people with mental health challenges and many others. We help change the lives of over 10,000 people every year, using sport as a tool to improve both the physical health and mental wellbeing of our participants. 

Before you brave the elements there will be entertainment and opportunities to get food to fuel you for the night ahead! This is an inaugural event for Fulham FC Foundation, so you will not want to miss out on being one of the first ever people to sleepout overnight in the Stadium. This is set to be a truly unique event, and we would love to have you join us. Spaces are limited, with access only to adults aged 18 and over, with those registered fundraising towards Fulham FC Foundation’s work in our community.

Wrap up warm and help us on our mission to build better lives through sport! Register here

I was talking to a Facebook friend today about loyalty. I mentioned that next week marks 60 years for me supporting Gillingham. Justin has a similar love affair with Queens Park Rangers and kindly agreed to tell all.

” I never played football much as a child.  My dad was more rugby focused and I started playing rugby aged 5.  Besides, any organised football in the 1970s was mostly via the cubs and scouts.  At school we did knock a ball around but that was about it.  I was born with very flat feet so it was suggested I join my sisters at ballet classes, not something you’d find many 1970s west London boys doing, a less talented version of Billy Elliott (although I did end up on stage at the London Palladium twice!).  But the bullies were seen off when I found out Kevin Keegan did some ballet to help him get up in the air.

I wasn’t really sure who he was but when he moved to Southampton in 1980, they became my team.  Fast forward to 1983 and my brother in law, a fully paid up QPR fan, asked if I wanted to go to see QPR Southampton.  A 4-0 home win saw what little allegiance I had quickly shifted.  Besides, QPR were the second nearest club to home and that win was followed in consecutive home matches by 2-0 over Arsenal and 1-0 over Ipswich.  They also wore those cool Adidas shirts with the Guinness sponsor on them.  I was hooked.

I had seasons of attending almost every home match and many away ones, then years later moved to Scotland so started attending games at Sunderland, Newcastle, Hull, Bolton, Rotherham, Huddersfield, and other northern towns, with the occasional home game for good measure.

There have been lots of peaks and troughs as you always get with such clubs.  Losing to relegated Oxford United in the League Cup final fights for bottom spot with FA Cup defeat to Vauxhall Motors, relegation to the third tier wasn’t great either.  But beating Chelsea 6-0, seeing Alan McDonald getting a last minute equaliser against Man Utd in the cup, and beating Liverpool in a two legged semi-final, sits very nicely with watching the likes of Trevor Francis, Ray Wilkins, Les Ferdinand, David Seaman, Andy Sinton, Trevor Sinclair, Charlie Austin and so many more players.  Some on the way up, some on the way down, and others at their peak.

But there is one highlight, and despite the premise of these tales, it wasn’t even at the mighty Loftus Road.  Instead it was 24th May 2014 at Wembley as experienced QPR weathered a sending off to grab a 90th minute winner against younger, nimbler Derby County.  Bobby Zamora was immediately deified for his stunning strike, a goal that saw me, thousands of feet above the pitch behind the goal in the penultimate row, hug a stranger.

Every time football gets mentioned in front of my mother she asks if QPR is still my club.  Well, you don’t really shake off clubs like QPR.  They never were and never will be fashionable and I hope they never move from the small, compact Loftus Road, surrounded on all sides by housing.  

I never wear colours to games – I attended too many London derbies in the 1980s to feel comfortable – but do own a shirt that was a job leaving gift, customised with a name and number that means loads to me and probably nothing to anyone else, and it has pride of place.  And you need pride to dominate the lower reaches of the Championship.

And in case anyone is interested, my goal is to one day have a Loftus Road box for my business to use.  It’s a small business but the way things are going at the club I might be able to afford it sooner than later!  If anyone wants to seek out tips, reviews and guidance about visiting London, or needs a bespoke and very detailed itinerary then please do check out https://www.londonitineraries.co.uk/ “

Happy memories! I have always had a soft spot for QPR. I remember a game in the mid 60s when they taught Gillingham a lesson for 90 minutes but had to settle for a draw! Lesson #1 for a ten year old – Life is not always fair! I also remember some of their players with affection – Stan Bowles, Rodney Marsh, Dave Thomas and they even came close to signing the mercurial (being polite) Robin Friday. (below)

Just in

Bucket shake at the Norwich City game. Please be generous

It’s a different one! Got an SOS from FB friend Shaye Jay Grant

Good evening everyone, I hope this message finds you well. I’m reaching out with a heartfelt plea. My football club Buckinghamshire United F.C, is currently facing a crisis situation with our men’s first team in the Aylesbury & District Football League Div 1 Saturday league. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Unfortunately, we’ve been struck by a severe bout of long-term injuries, coupled with some players struggling to commit regularly due to various reasons and other reasons beyond our control. This has left us in a precarious position, teetering on the edge of folding and I cannot let this happen.

But here’s where you come in. We’re in desperate need of passionate players who are willing to step up and join our club. Whether you’re a casual player looking for some extra game time, or even if you’ve been out of the game for a while but itching to get back on the field or you’re actually looking for a long term club – we want to hear from you!

Club management and I are doing everything within our power to ensure this club survives and thrives, but we can’t do it alone.

If you know anyone who fits the bill or if you yourself are interested in joining our squad, please don’t hesitate to reach out to me directly. Your assistance could make all the difference in the world to us.

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for your support and understanding during this challenging time.

Thank you,

Shaye Grant.

shaye@buckinghamshireunitedfc.co.uk

One of the most popular “days” on the tour so far was Day Eleven. It was Christian Obray’s 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 have kept in touch and I am delighted to confirm that his blog Through the Turnstile is now live. He kindly (again!) allowed me to reproduce part of it. It’s a great read about Chatham Town a club living in the shadows of a “big” club (Gillingham – well they WERE in the Championship!) and how they are not only surviving but growing.

He says, ”

THROUGH THE TURNSTILE @ CHATHAM TOWN

Welcome to Through the Turnstile, this series of features are intended to shine the light on some of non-league’s leading stars. The series is not intended to be about me, I am merely the impartial host who will be putting them all together for you to hopefully enjoy!

During each feature we will look back at the history of the club and the journey they have taken to be where they are today. The infrastructure at the club including the stadium, the staff, key players and the fan base. Of course, one of the main interest points is the matchday! So on every club we will look at what this looks like and how much £ it would set you back, from your ticket, a programme and a pint.

Finishing off with the clubs plans for the future. So without further ado let’s kick off the series with my very own hometown club: Chatham Town.

A brief history of the Club

Chatham Town Football Club, based in Kent, England, currently competes in the Isthmian Premier Division and is known as “The Chats.” Established in 1882 as Chatham United, the club has a rich history, including hosting the debut matches for both Portsmouth and West Ham United. Initially playing at “The Lines,” they moved to Maidstone Road Ground in 1889, prompted by a successful FA Cup quarter-final run. This move influenced the Football Association’s decision to mandate fully enclosed grounds for future FA Cup matches.

Throughout its history, Chatham experienced financial challenges, voluntary relegations, and league changes. After World War I, they won the Kent Victory Cup and re-joined the Southern League. Financial strains led to withdrawals, voluntary relegations, and a return to amateur status in the 1930s. Post-World War II, the club merged with Shorts F.C., adopting the name Chatham Town. Shifting between leagues, they joined the Southern League in 1983, but financial……

Now to read the rest CLICK HERE You are going to love the burger table! (Shout out for Woodley United!)”

As always, 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

FUNDRAISING

As regular readers will have noted, we have had several blogs this week about sponsorship.
One thing comes through LOUD and CLEAR ….. every grassroots and junior club needs MORE money. It might be for the very first kit, maybe a replacement kit. It could be for cones and bibs or it could be for something more substantial like a tournament abroad. Paul Stephens at PhotoDay contacted me and showed me a way how EVERY club can fundraise in a fun and quick manner. He kindly sent details today.

Working with football clubs nationwide

We at PhotoDay work with football clubs across the UK to create unique and memorable images of individual players & their teams. 

We shoot studio quality images of every individual from which we digitally assemble team images, including a bespoke team image for each & every player where they uniquely feature front & centre of the team….your STAR player image.  

We then place all team & individual images onto a variety of backgrounds which are personalised to your club using your club colours & badge.

Once the photoshoot is complete it will take us a few days to process the images & get them uploaded to a secure gallery for each subject.  Once ready, we’ll notify parents of their unique link/access code so they can view & order their exclusive set of images including their unique STAR player team shot. There is absolutely no obligation to buy.  If parents do want to purchase a photo of their child we have individual items to suit all budgetsand also great value packages. We can also create bespoke sibling/buddy or parent & child images on request.

Why Choose Us

For Your Club Football Photos

Firstly and most importantly, we’re FREE. In fact it can be a great FUNDRAISER!

We understand the budgets of football clubs aren’t huge. Clubs often rely on sponsorships and parent support to get by. So there’s no charge to come along and take the photographs.

No hidden costs at all, when we say we’re free we mean it…

Secondly, we use bespoke technology you won’t find with any other photography company. We are the nationwide industry leader. We have unique software which allows us to create a unique team image for every team member where they feature front & centre as the STAR of the team. Finally, we give FREE team photos & sponsor team shots to further support your club & raise its profile in your community.

Contact us today to find out about the FUNDRAISING opportunities that come with our photoshoots!

ABOUT

PhotoDay formed in 2017 by a group of photographers who have worked for a collective 30+ years in an around youth sports clubs and schools

We offer  high quality, original Team & Individual photography to schools, clubs & their parents while also creating a no-risk fundraising opportunity

Action photography is a speciality at school & club events, with onsite printing to delight your guests 

NB. As you would expect all our staff are DBS checked to enhanced level & we operate a child protection policy

Please contact Paul for more details and for an estimate of how much you could raise for club funds.