Malcolm Allison

I was saddened today to learn of the death of Malcolm Allison. He was one of the real characters of the game and a man with a unique personality.

This lead me to think of the demise of the true “characters” of the game and how this demise was visible on and off the pitch. I can really only speak for the past forty years but I wonder what place the likes of Nobby Stiles, Jack Charlton, George Best, Frank Worthington, Joe Jordan, Rodney Marsh, Stan Bowles, Grobbelaar and more latterly Cantona, Gascoigne and Robbie Fowler would have in Football 2010.

Whether it was Grobbelaar’s famous spaghetti legs or Best’s audacious dribbling runs, these players were DIFFERENT. These players were always going to be causing their managers and directors heart attacks. Whether it was because they ignored team discipline on or off the field, enjoyed a “special” lifestyle or quite simply could be world beaters or absolutely disinterested, all of these players could make their own fans adore them or pull their hair out. They raised emotions wherever they went and needed a certain type of team/manager to control them. Most of them would probably have earned more caps and honours if they had “just” been ordinary players but none of these men wanted anything other than to be “special”. Love them or loathe them ……these guys were special!!

So, back to Malcolm Allison and his famous fedora (and cigars). He is most often associated with the famous Manchester City side of the 60s and 70s….and what a team that was. This was a side that was crammed with household names – Bell, Lee, Summerbee, Corrigan, Coleman and Book. Yes, another group of characters! Allison was the coach who brought out the best in the players skilfully being assembled by Joe Mercer. He did a great job and despite some unpleasantness at the end, he is still revered by many Man City fans. What is often forgotten is that Allison managed/coached over a dozen other teams teams and whilst his days at Palace and Man City will be what he is most famous for, he also managed in Kuwait, Canada, Turkey and Portugal with varying levels of success…. but never far from controversy.

Malcolm Allison September 5 1927 – October 14 2010 R.I.P

All change, please!

As I am sure you will have read, this tour was the first time I had been in the UK for NINE years! Obviously a lot has changed.

Here are a few random thoughts as I compare the UK with Spain and with how the UK was in 2001.

*Prices. I was very surprised and pleased with the prices of most goods. Supermarket specials, BoGoFs etc meant I could eat for almost nothing. Newspapers were much cheaper than Spain and have more supplements.

*Cycling – obviously I would be more aware of the rise and rise of cycling. Huge numbers of cyclists on the roads, cycle lanes, cycle signs (usually incorrect!) Let’s hear it for M.A.M.I.L.S.(Middle-aged men in lycra – not me by the way!)

*Cleanliness. I was constantly amazed how clean the towns and cities were. The shopping centres and retail stores especially were much cleaner than I remember

*Public transport. Everywhere I went I seemed to be passed by buses on a 4,5,6 or 10 minutes route. Impressive …and would have been more so if they were not empty!

*Supermarkets. I could not get over the Tescosation of the UK. There appear to be innumerable supermarkets open 24 hours a day and each town seems to have an insatiable desire for even more. They sell just about everything under the sun and the sheer size of them is incredible.

*Pubs. The death of the pub or at least the death of the boozer. Before I left it was difficult to get a coffee in a pub. Now every high-street is full of Starbucks, Costas etc etc. In the Baker Street area of London you can almost see one from the next one.

*Restaurants. Similarly, the gap between a greasy spoon and a silver service restaurant is slipping. Every high-street now offers an incredible choice of sit-downs and (especially) take aways from the four corners of the globe.

*Optimism. Yes, I felt there was a new-found optimism. Certainly compared with expatshire, people had confidence. There were jobs available and the retail outlets seemed to be doing fine. (Spain has 42% youth unemployment and 1.5 million empty homes!)

*Cosmopolitan! Oh wow! Every town is a mini United Nations. It was a strange feeling being “at home” among so many residents, students and tourists from literally every nation of the world. Felt good!

*Social media etc. I was amused on a couple of occasions when I heard people talk about a “networking opportunity” 10 years ago, it was called, “Going to the pub.” There did not seem such a self-exerted pressure to constantly be exchanging business-cards, be fixated to a mobile or finding someone’s twitter ID!

Of course, some things never change and that’s what gives solidity to our lives. The love for one’s friends and family, rain in July …and, of course, Man City still looking at an empty trophy cupboard.

All a bit tongue in cheek ….but genuine observations over the four months on the road. I would value your thoughts too.

Another day, another sport

One of the great pleasures of the whole project is hearing from people who Bjørn and/or I have met along the way. It was therefore very exciting to hear how well La Vila Rugby are doing this season. Bjørn and I went to visit them almost exactly a year and we enjoyed a day in the sun watching a great game of rugby. I shut up about my true love (rugby league) and Bjørn loved the agression and non-stop 80 minutes even if the finer nuances were missed.

This week, I asked La Vila’s Pocket Dynamo of a PR Lady, Jo Le Roux to let us all have an update. She writes,

“GREAT START TO SEASON FOR LA VILA RUGBY CLUB

Local sports club, Rugby La Vila, is well into the start of it’s the 2010-2011 premiership league season, and what a start it has been. The club’s senior team, which started pre-season training in early August, has won each of its five fixtures so far and is placed second on the league table.

Founded in 1982, La Vila is a semi-professional club playing in the Spanish Division of Honour Premiership League, which consists of the top ten teams in Spain. It was founded by none other than its present-day president, Ignacio Davila. Today, after years of tender loving care, Ignacio and his wife, Mayka, have the pleasure of presiding over a professional, efficiently run rugby club, which is included in the highest league in Spain – all housed in a pristine, international-standard rugby stadium.

In order to keep up with the competitive demands of the Division of Honour, La Vila contracts professional players from around the globe, many of whom are British lads over for some sun and a slightly different kind of rugby experience. These players spend their days and evenings training hard under the watchful eye of head coach, Mark Hewitt. That said, after a hard week’s training and a tough Sunday rugby match, you might find the boys letting off steam at one of Benidorm’s beach bars (Heartbreakers is a usual suspect!).

After La Vila’s incredible success last season, finishing second in the league, there are high hopes for another impressive season!

La Vila Rugby Club together with COOL FM will be hosting a special Family Day on Sunday 24th October 2010. Popular Benidorm performers, Sister Act and Maverick Country Rock will be providing live entertainment, and a bouncy castle and face painting will be provided for the kids. A traditional Spanish paella lunch, with wine included, will also be served.

The Division of Honour Premiership game C.R. La Vila vs E.U. Santboiana will be played at 12:30, with entertainment and lunch to follow.
Free transport is included in the deal, with private coaches running from Benidorm, El Campello and Albir. Tickets, which include return transport, entrance to the game, paella, wine and entertainment, cost as little as 10 Euros. They are available from Cool FM, La Vila Rugby Club, Yorkshire Pride 1 or 2 (Benidorm) and Aussies Bar (Albir). In the spirit of a real family day, under 18’s get in free, so bring the kids along for a
day of fun, sun and entertainment!!

For more information, please feel free to contact Jo le Roux at publicrelations@rugbylavila.net”

So, if you are in the Benidorm area please make yourself known to Jo.

My Way – Frank Sinatra/Steve Hall

Songwriters: Revaux, Jacques; Anka, Paul (Eng Lyr); Thibaut, Gilles; Francois, Claude;

Lyrics courtesy of ELyrics.com

And now the end is near
And so I face the final curtain
My friend I’ll say it clear
I’ll state my case of which I’m certain

I’ve lived a life that’s full
I traveled each and every highway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Regrets I’ve had a few
But then again too few to mention
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption

I planned each charted course
Each careful step along the byway
And more, much more than this
I did it my way

Yes there were times I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew
But through it all when there was doubt
I ate it up and spit it out, I faced it all
And I stood tall and did it my way

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing
And now as tears subside
I find it all so amusing

To think I did all that
And may I say not in a shy way
Oh no, oh no, not me
I did it my way

For what is a man what has he got
If not himself then he has not
To say the things he truly feels
And not the words of one who kneels
The record shows I took the blows
And did it my way

Yes it was my way

As many of you will know, I am not a fan of music. In fact to be honest, I actually dislike it but I often found myself singing what I could remember of Sinatra, Simon and Garfunkel, Piaf, Diana Ross songs. Apologies to them all. I am to singing what Man City are to consistency!

As the trip wore on, I found myself digging deep sometimes for inspiration and Abba’s “Mama Mia”, “The Eagle”, Slade’s “Dapple Rose” or Wizard’s “Oh, I wish it could be Christmas Every Day” all had me thinking back to my teens and forgetting the hill ahead. Happy Days!

“My Way”, was and still is special to me. I guess I am a bit of an “Outsider” and somebody who is prepared to stand up for what he believes in.
I do what I BELIEVE in and I BELIEVE in this project. I BELIEVE in BJØRN and I BELIEVED I could do the 92 clubs.

Were there easier ways? Yes
Did I make mistakes? Yes
Would I do it again? Yes
Would I make mistakes again? Yes
Would I make the same mistakes again?
I hope not!

I am sitting quietly, planning the next stage of the project and trying to duplicate the good and ditch the bad. Let’s see!

Regrets I’ve had a few
But then again too few to mention

Kill All Negative People

When I was cycling along I often used to sing songs to myself

This was a “favourite”

Gee, but it’s great to be back home
Home is where I want to be
I’ve been on the road so long my friend
And if you came along
I know you couldn’t disagree

It’s the same old story
Everywhere I go
I get slandered
Libeled
I hear words I never heard in the Bible
And I’m one step ahead of the shoe shine
Two steps away from the county line
Just trying to keep my customers satisfied
Satisfied

…….slandered, libeled? Yes, often but never enough to upset me

BUT I’d hate if anybody called me negative so I do have a certain sympathy with this estate agent. (Steve having any sympathy with any estate agent must be a world first!) The photo probably does not do justice to the garish colours!

Apparently Managing Director Ivor Dickinson was inspired by a presentation from Tim Smit, founder of the Eden Project.

“Tim said that his mantra at the Eden Project was ‘Kill All Negative People’. I so empathised with this statement because let’s face it, there is no room for negativity in this world that we live in, that I decided to adopt it at D&G.”

Unfortunately, the journalists writing for the national press do not seem to have heeded Mr Dickinson’s warning. Both the Daily Mail and Guardian lead with the story of the biggest UK monthly house price fall since records began.

(Story/Photo from Global Edge, words Paul Simon, sarcasm mine. all mine!)

Today one of the local papers Euro Weekly News picked up my story.

Steve Hall successfully completes the “92”

127 days and 3,060 miles in the saddle would not be high on the list of many a mortal. For one local Torrevieja gent, it’s been a mission that he felt needed to be done. That man is Steve Hall and four months later, after being knocked off his bike, spending a day or two in hospital and riding in more rain than he has experienced in a dozen or more years, his quest finished at the home of Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, West Ham United, on September 23. On the way, Steve managed to visit all 92 English League football clubs along with a smattering of local and non-league teams too. The reason for all this effort was to raise awareness of the plight of the world’s 45-million refugees, something that FIFA, UEFA and the supporters of English League clubs now know more about than ever before.

We asked Steve how it all started.

“During the summer of 2009, I started to help promote the efforts of my friend and former professional footballer Bjorn Heidenstrom on his mission to cycle from Oslo to South Africa to raise awareness of the world’s 45 million refugees. Bjorn was collecting hundreds of football shirts as he cycled all over Europe and into Africa. These were sown together to make one gigantic shirt with had its own Marquee tent at the opening of the world cup. For my small part, I also decided to try and raise awareness, although on a smaller scale, by cycling around England and Wales.”

During the trip Steve received tremendous support from different and sometimes surprising sectors of the community. He slept on friends’ floors and sofas, in bed bug infected hostels, a few lovely hotels, a few not planned days in hospital and all on a ‘refugee’ budget of 20 euros per day. He always stresses that no matter how uncomfortable he might have felt during his trip, it is nothing compared to the millions of refugees, many of whom had to drop everything and flee their homes to escape certain death or abuse, mainly in the war ravaged countries of the African continent. Apart from being knocked of his bike he also suffered his own loss as a mysterious fire on the Costa del Sol destroyed everything that he owned and had collected over the years, including furniture and clothes to his prized collection of football programs and football souvenirs, which had been collecting from the age of six.

Not content with completing and surviving ‘Doing the 92’, he’s now having a few days well earned rest and hopefully returning to Torrevieja, albeit possession’-less, for even more networking and to catch up with close friends. What’s next? Steve says “The Big One. I intend to cycle from Spain through Europe and up to Norway to meet Bjørn Heidenstrøm. Then it’s a Trans-Atlantic cruise liner (spinning in their gyms, of course!) before a trip of a lifetime cycling from New York through Mexico, Central America and on to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup finals! This will be a two-year challenge and one which I trust will end with Spain retaining the World Cup! I am already looking for my first 1,000 supporters (@ just one pound) who will follow me (virtually, of course!) during my quest.”

For more information, please visit www.theshirt2010.co.uk, catch him on Facebook and hopefully if we all can do something, no matter how small, in our own lives that might help raise awareness of the refugee problem, then Steve has achieved and succeeded in making a difference.

Thanks to my best IRL friend and professional journalist, Keith Nicol for the article.

Bjørn has been in the news again

The Mega Shirt is now back from South Africa and has been on tour in Norway. This week it has been at Vålerenga, Brann (Bergen), Viking (Stavanger) and Haugesund. On the 17th it is at Odd Grenland. Would you like to see it at YOUR club? Would you like Bjørn to talk to your fans? Just let me know.

Back to the keyboard

It’s been a long time since I have felt inspired to write. I left the UK safely after my last BNI meeting at Vision (Southgate) and have had a few days to chill, relax and look at the world. The journey definitely took more out of me than I thought and some of the news I have received in the past week has kicked me hard too. So, it’s good to feel fresher and motivated and start back on the keyboard. Not to dwell on the negative, I lost all my possessions in a Storage Company blaze in Spain. Sadly they have not come through with the insurance money and they are now telling me to claim against a third party electrical company! I see hassle with a capital “H”. Glad I have great solicitors.

One of the people who has motivated me this week is Vin Cox. I have only just heard of him and he definitely goes into my super-hero list.
He has cycled the entire world this summer and this amazing feat has now officially been ratified by the Guiness Book of Records. He is the new holder of the Guinness World Record for circumnavigating the world by bicycle in 18,225.7 miles through 17 countries in 163 days, 6 hours, 58 minutes! Let’s put this is perspective that’s only 35 days more than I took to cycle around the UK! Respect to him!

Today, my good friends at Round Town News also ran an update. They have been following me since day one and I thank them for their constant support.

The Party’s Over…….as the song goes.

I set out to visit all 92 league grounds in England and Wales …….and I did it! Yes, after 127 days in the saddle when I experienced every emotion under the sun (and rain!) I cycled up to the famous Upton Park home of West Ham United to complete the tour. In the morning, I had got absolutely soaked to the skin doing grounds 90 and 91 which were Leyton Orient and Dagenham & Redbridge respectively and then it was just the short trip to the historic Upton Park ground where I had been promised a media circus. So it was to be: lights, camera, action. I was photographed and videoed from every angle and asked every question possible about the journey. I was presented with a signed pennant from the current West Ham squad and then I was on my way. That was it: done, dusted, hecho and immediately a feeling of emptiness filled me. Fortunately, I had three talks to give in the next 24 hours which gave me something to focus on but it was nevertheless a strange sensation. The London commuter traffic got heavier as I headed for the first of the talks and my mind was soon occupied with avoiding buses, taxis and bikes.

London must now be challenging Amsterdam as the bike capital of Europe and after 10 years away from the UK the sheer volume of bikes on the road and the number of cycle routes, cyclists and cycle shops is quite amazing. I suppose after 127 days and 3780 miles I am now part of the cycling phenomenon that is evident in the UK. I am not a “Mamil” (Middle-Aged Man In Lycra!) which was an acronym I had never heard before a few weeks ago but I must say that I am taken by the sport, hobby, method of transport, insanity or however you consider cycling.

Certainly in the last few days of the tour, I had felt much more confident and was covering more miles, more quickly which is just as well as I had the little matter of 18 clubs to visit in 14 days. I have made many mistakes on the tour and I realise I have a lot to do as far as route-planning is concerned but when all is said and done I achieved what I set out to achieve and whilst I was involved in a near-fatal road accident and lost all my possessions in the storage centre fire I am here to tell the tale. I would not have been able to do this without the incredible support I have received from so many people and I have a few days ahead of me updating and thanking everybody. That’s going to be one of the more pleasurable parts of the journey!

Obviously, I want to thank Round Town News for their great support throughout the last four months. I mean this most sincerely. It’s a great feeling to know that those “back home” are supporting me. Now, I hope I can count on the paper’s and its readers support for the next four years. Why? Well, as wrote in RTN last time, I am already planning the next stage of this project and am looking to ride from the very north of Norway to the very south of the country in 25 days next summer. That’s over 100 kilometres per day through some of the most challenging landscapes in Europe. There is no way I can achieve this without improving my fitness and acquiring a professional bike so after a few days out of the saddle, I will be back in training from this weekend.

Then, it is “The Big One.” I intend to cycle from Spain through Europe and up to Norway to meet Bjørn Heidenstrom who was the man who inspired me to get involved in the whole project. Then it’s a Trans-Atlantic cruise liner (spinning in their gyms, of course!) before a trip of a lifetime cycling from New York through Mexico, Central America and on to Brazil for the 2014 World Cup finals! This will be a two year challenge and one which I trust will end with Spain retaining the World Cup they won in South Africa this summer.

The support of all the Round Town News readers has been hugely appreciated this summer and I trust that I count on your continued support. So, please continue following me on www.theshirt2010.co.uk where I will update all the way through to Brazil.

Keeping the best until last!

It is invidious to say that one or another chapter of BNI was better or best but I definitely need to thank Norma Morris and her team for a GREAT Welcome at Vision BNI (Southgate). Thanks! Most of the members were wearing the shirts of their favourite teams to add colour to my visit. They also presented me with a signed Barnet shirt from their local club courtesy of the Barnet chairman, Tony Kleanthous. Thanks to all involved in sourcing the shirt. Norma has been one of the rocks on which I have built this trip and I was not surprised with the great reception and attention to detail. HUGE THANKS!

So, that’s it. The party’s over (as yet another song goes) and the trip was completed successfully. Well, successfully to the extent that I visited all 92 clubs but it was very frustrating to learn that the total number of refugees actually increased as I was on my journey from some 43 million to an estimated 45 million. One can thus see the enormity of the project. All I can hope is that my efforts in some ways went to help raise awareness for the project. If THAT happened then I can definitely say that my trip was successful. Those who know me well will confirm that I am hugely self-critcial and that I will analyse every aspect of the trip over the next few days.

I cannot thank you enough for following me and without your support this trip would definitely not have been possible. Please do continue to follow the updates on this site and follow me on Twitter and Facebook where you will read about the next stages of this project. Enjoy!

I also heard today that Bjørn’s mega shirt was to be on display at the Vålerenga Brann game on Sunday. Fantastic to see the momentum being continued.

That’s it …… it’s all over

The Photo I have been waiting for

YES! Leyton Orient and Dagenham became clubs 90 and 91 before West Ham United became club 92. After three days of a glorious Indian Summer the heavens absolutely opened and I was soaked to the skin before I got to Orient, a drenched rat by the time I got to Dagenham and as I saw the Upton Park ground I was only vaguely aware that the rain was eventually easing off a little! I think I was enured to it.

I had been in touch with the West Ham PR and Media department during the week and to meet videographer, photographer and be interviewed pitchside was a superb end to the tour. A very professional conclusion and it was great to finish with the club that gave us Sir Geoff Hurst, Sir Bobby Moore and Sir Trevor Brooking. I would also like to thank Leo at Leyton Orient for laying out the red carpet too and making me welcome there too. He knew of Bjørn and his spell at Brisbane Road but I am not sure that Bjørn would recognise the ground. In fact, I think Orient get the vote for the most improved ground. I’ll think on that but I am fairly sure that certainly in the lower divisions only Wycombe could give Orient a run for their money as far as refurbishment goes. Impressive! That said, it’s people who have made the tour and Leo’s welcome was as effusive and genuine as any I have found anywhere.

Proving the point that there is no rest for the wicked, I had to rush from Upton Park to the monthly Ecademy meeting where I gave a short presentation with Penny Power herself. Ecademy have been great supporters of the journey and it felt right (and good) that I should do this presentation immediately after the end of the cycle tour.

Yes, there are so so many people to thank and I can see a busy week ahead just thanking all those that have supported me. THANKS to all who are reading this too.