Surely no better use of a spare £23.00 you may have about your person!
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PATGOD-Poppies-Gates-Dawn-23-issues-/120754084421?pt=UK_SportsMemorabilia_Football_Memorabilia_ET&hash=item1c1d811a45
Makes you wonder how much they'd be worth if they were any good!
Friday, 29 July 2011
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
If you speak better Dutch than me.....
...you may find the following article of interest!
http://doingthe116.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/kettering-diamonds/#more-2115
http://doingthe116.wordpress.com/2011/07/21/kettering-diamonds/#more-2115
Tuesday, 26 July 2011
Things that make me laugh - Leicester City fans
Other than a few years of Premier League survival presided over by the kick and rush tactics of Martin O'Neill and Emile Heskey, Leicester City have never really done much. They've finished as Champions of England, or FA Cup winners exactly the same number of times we have. They like to think of themselves as "sleeping giants", and suffer from "big club" syndrome (see Newcastle United). Of course, the upshot of this delusion is that you never have to actually do anything except bottle the chances when they come along (see Leicester in the 1960's and their FA Cup finals, or again, see Newcastle United)
Their supporters are equally good at being "big-time Charlies" as my Granddad used to say. They rolled up to Rocky Road, all swaggery, pumped-up, and swigging from lager bottles, like big boys. They rapturously applauded the most blinding obvious square ball any player in blue kicked all evening. They cheered when Steve Howard touched the ball (both times), in an all-action display which put me in mind of Adam Cunnington, without the potent goal threat. They made rude gestures to the home fans when they managed to get an equaliser when we were temporarily down to ten men. They made exaggerated "OOO!" sounds anytime a meagre Leicester effort dribbled feebly wide of our goal.
 |
| Please God! One XXXXXL shirt needed, stat! |
Their supporters are equally good at being "big-time Charlies" as my Granddad used to say. They rolled up to Rocky Road, all swaggery, pumped-up, and swigging from lager bottles, like big boys. They rapturously applauded the most blinding obvious square ball any player in blue kicked all evening. They cheered when Steve Howard touched the ball (both times), in an all-action display which put me in mind of Adam Cunnington, without the potent goal threat. They made rude gestures to the home fans when they managed to get an equaliser when we were temporarily down to ten men. They made exaggerated "OOO!" sounds anytime a meagre Leicester effort dribbled feebly wide of our goal.
They even tried a few chants for God's sake! Singing at a pre-season friendly has always struck me a bit of a social taboo. Just like french-kissing relatives (sorry to break that news to our new fans from down the A6), or admitting you watch "Big Brother". This didn't stop the Leicester diehards from Kettering and Market Harborough giving it a go until they realised their team couldn't even beat a Poppies team with an untroubled Koo-Boothe at the heart of its defence.
Worrying times for the Foxes!
Respect?
Back at Imraan's Wicksteed rally I recall a moment when Imraan almost wobbled and lost his audience. Buoyed by the way the meeting was turning heavily in his favour he seemingly over-reached himself for a moment.
He wanted the Poppies to "respect" the former tennants of our new ground. Perhaps name a stand after Dale Roberts (something his own club didn't actually do...) He also floated the idea of a badge change, and the posibility of a name change if an unspecified level of support was not forthcoming from the people of Kettering.
Fortunately for Imraan, any further probing on these points was drowned out by vocal elements of the numpty brigade who were so joyously intent on moving to Non Park with its comfy seats and fine banqueting facilities, they were nursing half-bars all night long.
On Radio Northampton last night Morrell echoed Imraan's earlier statements.
It strikes us that this is a dangerous path to tread at this time. Northampton Town are making a concerted effort to attract former Direones, but aren't offering to change their name of colours. NEITHER SHOULD WE!
By no means all the Poppies fans are sold on the Non Park move. Most are of the, "We'll give it a go for the first few games" opinion. An opinion that could quickly be altered if our team take to the pitch running out of the Duane Darby Stand, to the sounds of "Diamonds are Forever", playing in a red and blue kit, with a picture of a cyclops on the club badge!
Imraan does not want to completely alienate any Direones who are considering attending their old stadium - fair enough. BUT, does he really want to hoover up a few stragglers who only really liked the stadium rather than the team, at the risk of losing his own hardcore support?
By attempting to tread a middle ground he could very well lose Kettering and Direones alike. This is football - there is no middle ground. It's one or the other. Imraan would do well to remember that from time to time.
He wanted the Poppies to "respect" the former tennants of our new ground. Perhaps name a stand after Dale Roberts (something his own club didn't actually do...) He also floated the idea of a badge change, and the posibility of a name change if an unspecified level of support was not forthcoming from the people of Kettering.
Fortunately for Imraan, any further probing on these points was drowned out by vocal elements of the numpty brigade who were so joyously intent on moving to Non Park with its comfy seats and fine banqueting facilities, they were nursing half-bars all night long.
On Radio Northampton last night Morrell echoed Imraan's earlier statements.
It strikes us that this is a dangerous path to tread at this time. Northampton Town are making a concerted effort to attract former Direones, but aren't offering to change their name of colours. NEITHER SHOULD WE!
By no means all the Poppies fans are sold on the Non Park move. Most are of the, "We'll give it a go for the first few games" opinion. An opinion that could quickly be altered if our team take to the pitch running out of the Duane Darby Stand, to the sounds of "Diamonds are Forever", playing in a red and blue kit, with a picture of a cyclops on the club badge!
Imraan does not want to completely alienate any Direones who are considering attending their old stadium - fair enough. BUT, does he really want to hoover up a few stragglers who only really liked the stadium rather than the team, at the risk of losing his own hardcore support?
By attempting to tread a middle ground he could very well lose Kettering and Direones alike. This is football - there is no middle ground. It's one or the other. Imraan would do well to remember that from time to time.
Monday, 25 July 2011
Naming and Shaming in Corby
Corby Town fans have been busy voting on a name for the latest ground they have been given for free. We have, you won't be surprised to learn, managed to source the results of the vote ahead of the decision being announced.
1st with 28% of the vote - "The We Hate Kettering Town, and have no real feeling for Corby Town beyond Shouting out Sheepshaggers whenever we play them, Stadium"
2nd with 22%of the vote - "The Underage Drinking Stadium."
3rd with 14% of the vote - "The Fenian Stadium"
4th with 12% of the vote - "The Braveheart Re-Writing of History Stadium"
5th with 9% of the vote - "The King Billy of Orange Stadium"
6th with 4% of the vote - "The Pre-teen Mothers Stadium"
7th with 4% of the vote - "The Pyromaniacs Stadium"
8th with 3% of the vote - "The Junkies' Needle Stadium"
9th with 2% of the vote - "The Chip-on-the-shoulder, Plastic Jock Stadium"
10th with 2% of the vote - "The This-will-do-until-someone-pays-for-yet-another-ground-to-be-built-for-us-ungrateful-buggers, Stadium"
1st with 28% of the vote - "The We Hate Kettering Town, and have no real feeling for Corby Town beyond Shouting out Sheepshaggers whenever we play them, Stadium"
2nd with 22%of the vote - "The Underage Drinking Stadium."
3rd with 14% of the vote - "The Fenian Stadium"
4th with 12% of the vote - "The Braveheart Re-Writing of History Stadium"
5th with 9% of the vote - "The King Billy of Orange Stadium"
6th with 4% of the vote - "The Pre-teen Mothers Stadium"
7th with 4% of the vote - "The Pyromaniacs Stadium"
8th with 3% of the vote - "The Junkies' Needle Stadium"
9th with 2% of the vote - "The Chip-on-the-shoulder, Plastic Jock Stadium"
10th with 2% of the vote - "The This-will-do-until-someone-pays-for-yet-another-ground-to-be-built-for-us-ungrateful-buggers, Stadium"
Wednesday, 20 July 2011
When is a "K" not a "K?"
This photo posted on Poppynet by Timbo of our potential new home unleashed a wave of conflicting emotions in me.Firstly, and rather shamefully, I had a brief frisson of pleasure at seeing seats arranged in a "K" for Kettering. Why this has never been done at Rockingham Road in the forty years we have had our mighty main stand must forever remain a mystery. I guess it might have cost a few pennies, so, obviously sank to the bottom of the list of priorities, behind refurbishing the boardroom, creating the Sid Chapman Terrace hoarding, and paying Lee Fowler to sit on his fat arse and bad-mouth the club.
My second thought was, "Why is the "K" in blue?" This was immediately answered by my third observation. This was no "K" at all, but rather the "R" of Rushden with the top loop of the "R" being replaced with red seats, or worse still, digitally!
Have a close look. I guess this will be confirmed when we see what they do with the "D" on the next block of seats. What with the outside of the ground still looking as though the Direones are about to return for pre-season training, I can't escape typing "I have a bad feeling about this", to quote various characters from the Star Wars films (the real ones, not the newer shite).
Sunday, 17 July 2011
The Unthinkable Draws Ever Nearer
With our removal to Non Park less than a month away there are still a couple of niggling issues outstanding (among dozens of other little and large niggles of course...)
Anyone who has driven past Non Park can't have failed to notice the old Diamonds livery and wording still plastered all over the stadium. I'm not sure if Imraan considers this important, but I fear he may well be underestimating feeling in the Poppies camp if he expects us to turn up there to be greeted with such emblems still in place. Our larg
e number of waverers won't need much to sway them against the move, and this may be enough.
Something else Imraan should address as a matter of urgency is the promise he made on the official site a few weeks ago: -
Anyone who has driven past Non Park can't have failed to notice the old Diamonds livery and wording still plastered all over the stadium. I'm not sure if Imraan considers this important, but I fear he may well be underestimating feeling in the Poppies camp if he expects us to turn up there to be greeted with such emblems still in place. Our larg
e number of waverers won't need much to sway them against the move, and this may be enough.Something else Imraan should address as a matter of urgency is the promise he made on the official site a few weeks ago: -
"The board has also agreed that supporters voted in favour of the move to Nene Park on the basis that the name Kettering Town FC would remain unchanged and so are planning to amend our articles to ensure this is the case. It has been proposed that the name can never change unless 90% of our supporters vote otherwise, regardless of ownership of the club."
If nothing else, this action will help settle the nerves of many of us who fear a name change and loss of identity could befall us. I truly hope Imraan understands the enormous leap of faith we are taking here, and that we NEED these assurances and changes to Non Park.
This could be a move unprecedented in senior football in this country. Lots of clubs move to new grounds, but has any club taken over a ground, outside their own location, which used to belong to their fiercest rivals? I can't think of a comperable example.
It may never feel like home, but he must ensure that any and all reminders of the Scum are removed before we are expected to blindly troop down the A6.
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