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| .....Lindon's photograph on the front of the York City programme, or my photo editing software.....! |
Friday, 6 December 2019
I don't know which is older.....
Tuesday, 3 December 2019
Come On You Preds
Personal circumstances have currently taken
me, already an Exile, a jump further to the other side of the Atlantic,
specifically Nashville Tennessee. Say Nashville and the first thing you
probably think of is country music and cowboy hats. A stereotypical image that
Nashville is keen to shed, judging by the cowboy hat store you pass on arrival at the airport, and the revolving guitars (sorry,
GIT-arrs) in the baggage hall.
Nashville is less well known for sport, at
least in the UK. However come the spring it gains a new MLS franchise and
already has an NFL outfit (of which more maybe anon) and an NHL club that dates
back even further. To 1998, which in AFC Diamonds terms makes it worthy of a
preservation order.
So being at present I’m even less qualified
than usual to comment on matters relating to our beloved Poppies, I need to get
my sporting kicks where I can and that began with my first experiences of ice hockey
via the Nashville Predators.
The Predators (Preds to everyone but a
tourist like me) play at the Bridgestone Arena in downtown Nashville. This
seats 17,000 and is usually mostly full, despite the 41 game home season. Ticket
prices range from the astronomical to around $25 if bought from returns on the
day before. Needless to say it took me at least one game to figure that one out.
Inside, after being scanned and body searched you are met with a continuous
ring of catering concessions and Preds merch on three levels, so by the
time you reach the upper tier (by escalator, obviously) the unwary punter could
be a couple of hundred bucks lighter and about 20lb heavier. The whole thing is
geared to milking cash.
Once inside the bowl the first thing that
hits you is the giant four sided video screen suspended above the rink. This acts as a virtual cheerleader as the minutes count down to the start. Eventually
after a huge amount of build up the teams emerge. You vaguely know from a pub
quiz answer that in ice hockey it’s 6 a side. So how come there are at least 15
out there? Soon all will be revealed.
The game starts. It’s 5 a side football on fast forward. Exhausting to watch.
Presumably to play too, because every few minutes there’s a rotation of
outfield players – five come off, five go on. Only the goalie remains in place.
The subbing seems to be unconnected to the state of the game. Also apparently
by numbers, the big screens pump up the crowd. GET LOUD. The noise goes up.
NOISE METER. A comedy decibel counter heads north. CAN YOU HEAR US ON
THE BOX? Sorry that was just me.
When Nashville score it’s fun but also a
bit choreographed. The big screens cut to a guy in a T shirt wearing a cowboy
hat swinging an inflatable catfish (I think he’s a modern country star but my
knowledge ends with Kenny Rogers). The crowd yell YOU SUCK at the opposition
goalie, and to really rub it in IT'S ALL YOUR FAULT. Family friendly
goalkeeper baiting. Somehow, to British ears being slapped with comments that
carry less sting than a school report doesn’t quite cut it. MUST TRY HARDER?
But having seen a couple of games the
initial whirl is less bewildering. You start to see it less as ping pong, more of a calculated pattern, which of course any game is. Plus in my second crack at it I may have witnessed the latest
ever equaliser (not that they call it that). With Nashville leading 3-2, the
Vegas Golden Knights (don’t ask) levelled with 0.3 seconds left on the clock. And of course won on the golden goal in overtime. There was a tiny cheer
from the dozen or so away fans whilst the home supporters just got up and left, like a film had ended. To be fair, the big screen wasn’t saying GET BOOING, but it felt like another cultural disconnect. I was amused though by the local version of 606 on the drive home. On comes a Vegas fan and of course he has to begin, like they all do, by stating his credentials as a long time supporter. "I've been a fan for 15 years". There was a pause back in the studio. "Buddy, you were only formed 2 years ago..."
Sunday, 24 November 2019
EASY! EASY! EASY!
Before Peterborough Sports Boss Jimmy Dean reads EASY! EASY! EASY! and flies off the handle, I am not referring to our elementary 10-man trimming of his expensively assembled squad, in front of their record attendance (of which we made up 50%).
Even though the game was "EASY! EASY! EASY!" this article isn't about the Trophy game, where we won the match in such an EASY! EASY! EASY! manner. Instead it is about the Supporter Trust instigated EASY FUNDRAISING online option, where you can raise small, continuous amounts of money by doing what we Brits do best - shopping online.
Some time ago this facility was set-up by serial do-gooder Richard Atkinson, enabling a lot of online purchases to automatically generate donations to the Supporters Trust. As the name suggests, it is really EASY! EASY! EASY! And remember, we're talking about THE EASY FUNDRAISING website. And not the FA Trophy win over our local rivals Peterborough Sports FC. Just to make that clear.
A link to the Poppies section of Easy Fundraising can be found here: -
Poppies Trust Easy Fundraising Page
Using it is simplicity itself. If a site you are shopping on is linked to this scheme an icon pops up asking if you would like the supplier to chip in to the Poppies fund. The amount depends on the supplier and the amount being spent, but, as they say, every little helps.
Admittedly, it does help if, say, you do a lot of online ordering for your workplace, or for numerous people. And you soon spot which companies believe in the scheme, and which host it merely to boost their "caring" image. Toadhall Cottage chucked over £20 into the pot when I booked a week's rental through them, while Flybe will usually throw in enough to buy a Klondike for every return flight booked through their website. But, hey, it's all free money and when more cover appears around Latimer Park, these small donations will have helped.
After 3 years I'm closing in on £100 raised. It may not sound much, but it has been accrued with me literally doing nothing. And if 249 others had done similar, we'd now be standing under our new Tin Hat....
Even though the game was "EASY! EASY! EASY!" this article isn't about the Trophy game, where we won the match in such an EASY! EASY! EASY! manner. Instead it is about the Supporter Trust instigated EASY FUNDRAISING online option, where you can raise small, continuous amounts of money by doing what we Brits do best - shopping online.
Some time ago this facility was set-up by serial do-gooder Richard Atkinson, enabling a lot of online purchases to automatically generate donations to the Supporters Trust. As the name suggests, it is really EASY! EASY! EASY! And remember, we're talking about THE EASY FUNDRAISING website. And not the FA Trophy win over our local rivals Peterborough Sports FC. Just to make that clear.
A link to the Poppies section of Easy Fundraising can be found here: -
Poppies Trust Easy Fundraising Page
Using it is simplicity itself. If a site you are shopping on is linked to this scheme an icon pops up asking if you would like the supplier to chip in to the Poppies fund. The amount depends on the supplier and the amount being spent, but, as they say, every little helps.
Admittedly, it does help if, say, you do a lot of online ordering for your workplace, or for numerous people. And you soon spot which companies believe in the scheme, and which host it merely to boost their "caring" image. Toadhall Cottage chucked over £20 into the pot when I booked a week's rental through them, while Flybe will usually throw in enough to buy a Klondike for every return flight booked through their website. But, hey, it's all free money and when more cover appears around Latimer Park, these small donations will have helped.
After 3 years I'm closing in on £100 raised. It may not sound much, but it has been accrued with me literally doing nothing. And if 249 others had done similar, we'd now be standing under our new Tin Hat....
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| Also EASY! EASY! EASY! Looking at the trajectory of the ball we are going to assume this is Lindon's SECOND attempt at Peterborough...... photo liberally borrowed from Shorty and the Club website |
Thursday, 21 November 2019
Poppies take a practice run at Wembley
We all know the Poppies get to Wembley regularly. Every 21 years, give or take. By our reckoning we are due back there at the end of next season! Woo-hoo! Can't wait!
This means that this season's Trophy "run" is merely a prelude to a successful campaign next term. Surely? We can enjoy this season's Trophy tilt for what it is. A comfortably calamitous failure in waiting.
Given that this season is all about survival in Nationwide North, a Trophy run might be considered a bit of an inconvenience. However, I'd suggest we at least turn the upstarts at Peterborough Sports FC over before we gracelessly bow out of this season's competition. Sometimes you can just take against a football club, and we're starting to take against this club.
They seem a mite uppity for a club that has played under their current name for less than two decades and spends most of their time picking up players that weren't good enough to play for us. This uppityness no more apparent than in the twaddle spoken by their boss.
The full interview is here -
Jimmy Dean spouts random sh*ie
The upshot from this bigshot is that there is "little love lost for Peterborough in Kettering".
What? Really? I don't think anyone from Kettering has really had a negative thought about the city of Peterborough, or even Peterborough United. Over the years we've played them a lot. They've lent us some good players over the years. And Sam Cartwright. And we all love Barry Fry. So, nothing BUT love for Peterborough.
Peterborough Sports website also picked up on the vibe of their Manager, declaring the Poppies to be "local rivals". Local rivals? Way to big yourself up chaps! We've always assumed a local rival is someone from nearby you actually play against from time to time? Or, failing that, a club from the same town or city. I'm pretty sure neither of these criteria have yet been met by Peterborough Sports FC.
Obviously once they've thumped us at the weekend they will crow about it, Jimmy Dean will cream his pants, and they'll probably run off a couple of dozen commemorative T-shirts (celebrating the win, rather than Jimmy's soiled underpants.) But you'll still not be a rival, local or otherwise, and we're sorry if that hurts....
This means that this season's Trophy "run" is merely a prelude to a successful campaign next term. Surely? We can enjoy this season's Trophy tilt for what it is. A comfortably calamitous failure in waiting.
Given that this season is all about survival in Nationwide North, a Trophy run might be considered a bit of an inconvenience. However, I'd suggest we at least turn the upstarts at Peterborough Sports FC over before we gracelessly bow out of this season's competition. Sometimes you can just take against a football club, and we're starting to take against this club.
They seem a mite uppity for a club that has played under their current name for less than two decades and spends most of their time picking up players that weren't good enough to play for us. This uppityness no more apparent than in the twaddle spoken by their boss.
The full interview is here -
Jimmy Dean spouts random sh*ie
The upshot from this bigshot is that there is "little love lost for Peterborough in Kettering".
What? Really? I don't think anyone from Kettering has really had a negative thought about the city of Peterborough, or even Peterborough United. Over the years we've played them a lot. They've lent us some good players over the years. And Sam Cartwright. And we all love Barry Fry. So, nothing BUT love for Peterborough.
Peterborough Sports website also picked up on the vibe of their Manager, declaring the Poppies to be "local rivals". Local rivals? Way to big yourself up chaps! We've always assumed a local rival is someone from nearby you actually play against from time to time? Or, failing that, a club from the same town or city. I'm pretty sure neither of these criteria have yet been met by Peterborough Sports FC.
Obviously once they've thumped us at the weekend they will crow about it, Jimmy Dean will cream his pants, and they'll probably run off a couple of dozen commemorative T-shirts (celebrating the win, rather than Jimmy's soiled underpants.) But you'll still not be a rival, local or otherwise, and we're sorry if that hurts....
Saturday, 16 November 2019
Shows what we know......
It looks like we might have been slightly premature with our calling off of today's game.....
Thursday, 14 November 2019
I'm booooooooooooored.....
Even as early as Wednesday we all know the chances of Saturday's home game going ahead are precisely zero. If that.
Even with the Herculean efforts with the pitch at Latimer Park we still know that a carelessly discarded cup of tea can cause flooding, and no rain for a couple of days and the surface is an unplayable dust bowl.
Given the forecast for the next couple of days is for incessant rain we thought we'd fulfil the "public interest" element of our blogging charter and come up with a few suggestions of how you could spend your Saturday, other than watching (and we're not getting carried away you understand) the Messiah Paul Cox's all-conquering Poppies.
Even with the Herculean efforts with the pitch at Latimer Park we still know that a carelessly discarded cup of tea can cause flooding, and no rain for a couple of days and the surface is an unplayable dust bowl.
Given the forecast for the next couple of days is for incessant rain we thought we'd fulfil the "public interest" element of our blogging charter and come up with a few suggestions of how you could spend your Saturday, other than watching (and we're not getting carried away you understand) the Messiah Paul Cox's all-conquering Poppies.
Poppies FA Cup Wall of Fame
Might as well give 'em your money anyway....
The Flicks
Sure, it costs an arm and a leg to sit in an uncomfortable seat for a couple of hours listening to other people each Nachos and check their social media every two minutes. But nothing beats the magic of the cinema, does it?
Personal recommendation? Doctor Sleep
Follow-the-sheep suggestion? Joker
Avoid like a Diamonds family reunion? Terminator: Dark Fate (all you will do is rush home and watch 1 and 2 again to remind you this franchise used to be sooooo good!)
The Theatre
Lighthouse Theatre is hosting "Jackson - Live in Concert", with a chap called "CJ" performing as the King of Pop. We trust the show will be all Thriller dances, perfect pop and Moonwalks, and none of the more, ahem, backroom shenanigans....!
Activities
Swimming Pool
General swim between 3pm and 4.30pm. Same length of time as watching the Poppies, and, on Saturday, just about as wet!
Kettering Museum and Gallery
The Museum has, with killer timing, a display about being "Out to Play" in Kettering.
The Art Gallery has a craft display, hosted in conjunction with an unpronounceable Nordic organisation.
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| Alternatively, the game might actually be on.... |
Saturday, 2 November 2019
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