Rape and Unemployment

Sports journalist and role model Charlie Webster

There's been quite a fuss made of the release of footballer Ched Evans, he went to prison for rape but his case is currently being reviewed. There have been demands that he never play football again and two or three people have resigned from honorary positions at Sheffield United FC where he is currently training, though not employed. The main thrust of the outcry is that footballers, supposedly, are role models. Really?

Interestingly a woman called Charlie Webster has led the outcry and is one of those who resigned from her position at Sheffield United. The main thrust of her argument is that he is not a good role model. Well I think this article might suggest that Charlie, a sports journalist, stripping off for a lad mag isn't such a wonderful role model herself.

Firstly I don't accept that footballers are role models. Role models are people in your life who have a real influence on you. Parents, teachers, priests, relatives. In other words people who are real and whose behaviour has a direct influence on people, especially younger people. A man kicking a ball about is just that.  He is one dimensional, he is not 'real'.

While rape is clearly one of the most vile crimes, there are many other vile crimes. If a footballer commits another crime should he never be allowed to work again either? Is it right that criminals in high profile positions should be treated more severely than the rest of us? Does the law no longer apply equally to all men? Should all rapists be forced to pay for the rest of their lives, even after they have been punished? Or just famous ones?

If Ched Evans is never allowed to work again the logical conclusion is that no convicted criminal should ever be allowed to work again because every criminal is a role model to somebody, somewhere whether it be to a son or daughter, a friend, a relative or whoever. If that is the case we have completely given up on rehabilitation and will be creating even more huge problems for the future, problems that will impose painful financial and moral burdens on us in the future.

But I don't think that will be the case. I firmly believe the Ched Evans affair is yet another example of the lynch mob mentality of social media and the desire of so many people today to be regularly morally outraged and offended.

Kick Out Racism

It was good to hear that the politically correct thought police have dropped their persecution of football referee Mark Clattenburg. Girls in Rochdale who were being sexually abused by gangs of Asian men were ignored when they complained to the authorities. But dare make an accusation of racism and the full force of the law cranks into operation. Racism is the new witchcraft.

Chelsea FC seem to be going out of their way lately to prove themselves the chavviest football club in the world. Their refusal now to apologise for making up claims of racism to attack Clattenburg show them to be a  club with no values, morality or honesty. Quite apt that in the sordid world of professional football they should be current European Champions.

The overwhelming majority of people are decent and have no interest in race whatsoever. It seems to me that a tiny minority are racially obsessed. The BNP, as we know, but also the left who see racism in everything. Let's face it, the left use race to divide and rule, throw racism at somebody then call the ethnic minorities into your arms for protection. The left and the BNP, two sides of the same coin.

But who are the real racists? The case against Clattenburg came about because of a complaint from the Society of Black Lawyers. Obviously the allegations weren't investigated by the National Black Police Association, otherwise he would probably have been found guilty instantly.

Change the words 'black' in the organisations above to 'white' and the paragraph immediately sounds like something from 1950s Alabama or apartheid South Africa. This virulent type of racism really should be kicked out.

Racism In Football-Kick It Out

The older I get the less I seem to understand. Earlier I blogged about Police and Crime Commissioners and how I just can't see the point of them. Now it's racism in football and Rio Ferdinand apparently setting up a trade union for black players only. Odd as I thought apartheid was a thing of the past, but so be it.

What I don't understand is why the authorites seem to be allowing virulent racism in football, apparently sweeping it under the carpet much more effectively than professional cycling swept doping under the carpet. Apart from Suarez and Terry behaving like pillocks I'm unaware of galloping racism in football. It seems to me that there are a higher proportion of black players in football today than the proportion of black people in the general population. Or are some clubs actually barring black players? I don't think so.

In the 1970s there were racist chants aimed at black players but the world has moved on and in recent years, watching football virtually weekly, I've been unaware of racism apart from the odd unpleasant individual. Maybe it is rampant in some Eastern European states, but certainly not in the UK.

Rio Ferdinand seems to be in a constant state of rage about race but doesn't stand up and give examples of racism in football. Earning more in a week than most people earn in a few years it doesn't seem to me like racism in football has held Ferdinand, or the many other successful black players.

The more I hear about this rampant racism in football the more I wonder why anybody gets involved with such an unpleasant sport. Maybe we should all boycott until it's cleaned up, as happened with cricket and rugby under apartheid. That Ferdinand should be making such a fortune in such a vile racist industry sickens me. He should walk away and have nothing to do with such a thoroughly unpleasant game. After all, he's probably made enough money from it to live in comfort for the rest of his life.

Hypocrisy In Football

The Professional Footballers' Association have announced their wish to have racist players sacked. The PFA is a trade union, albeit a trade union that represents a lot of extremely wealthy 'workers'.

What I don't understand is what constitutes racism these days. In the heat of battle does calling a player a black/white bastard, or similar, constitute racism? In my view that's juvenile name calling and the player should be told to grow up and stop being a prat by his manager and teammates.

A player declaring his intention to injure another player because of his race is a serious issue, as it would be if a club declared it's intention not to sign players of a particular race. But as far as I'm aware there have been no cases of these types of racism in recent years, certainly not in England.

A football player is soon to be released from chokey after serving around half his sentence for killing two children while twice over the drink drive limit. He will be going straight to a new club that he has been training with on his day release in preparation for permanent release.

In 2004, another professional footballer was found guilty of causing the death by dangerous driving of a pedestrian and leaving the scene of the accident. He walked straight from chokey into a contract with another professional football club.

If you would like to see a list of professional sportsmen and the crimes they have committed then click on this link. There is the whole range of crimes listed from credit card fraud to murder. You will find on that list serial offenders who have committed pretty unpleasant crimes, but served their time and gone straight back into professional football.

It's interesting that the PFA don't seem to be so strident about their members who kill people, attack their wives/girlfriends or persistently drink and drive.

Smoking At The Cricket

Cricket is a very civilised game to watch, even when playing Yorkshire. Yesterday I spent the day at Liverpool watching Lancashire play Middlesex. Glorious weather and, after a shaky start, a good batting day for Lancashire. I got chatting to the chap next to me, we then got chatting to the three people in front of us. It's very sociable watching cricket and with games lasting up to four days, from 11-00am to 6-00pm, great friendships can be forged among the spectators.

During the afternoon the chap next to me set off to stretch his legs, it was just coming near to the resumption of play after the tea break. About ten minutes later he came back to the seats carrying five ice creams, one for each of us. Once again I was subject to an act of kindness from a stranger as I had been last week, which I blogged about here. I still don't know the name of my friend the ice cream man, or the other people I spent the day with, but to me the whole day  encapsulated the spirit of cricket.

But then up pops Sky to bring us back to reality. Lord's, the headquarters of cricket, has a very civilised policy which allows smoking in ten percent of the seats. A wonderful policy which treats people like grown ups, if you don't smoke don't go in the smoking areas. Much more civilised than the infantilising and oppressive smoking ban.

But a Sky cameraman  has complained that he copped a whiff of smoke while filming a cricket game. What a great big softy. He should have been taken off the cricket and stuck in a poxy, windowless TV studio filming some bizarre freak show that passes for a television programmee on Sky. Instead Sky has asked the MCC to reconsider the smoking areas at Lord's.

Here comes the next, more sinister part of this situation. Sky pays £100m into cricket each year, and he who pays the piper calls the tune. How long before the MCC tries to bribe its members into voting for a complete smoking ban for fear of losing the Sky money?

One of the reasons I gave up my season ticket for Manchester United in 2005, apart from the Glazers, was that television money had corrupted the game. I only hope that in this relatively small matter the MCC sticks two fingers up at Sky and respects the wishes of its members. Don't sell the soul of cricket the way the soul of football has been sold.

Bread, Circuses And The London Olympics 2012

The Olympc Ideal?

There was a fuss in the media yesterday about people who have been carrying the Olympc torches through the UK putting them on eBay before they've even taken their trainers off and stopped sweating. There was the usual moral outrage with the granny of a sick child who hadn't carried the torch claiminmg it was terribly disrespectful to the sick child.

Another man from Lincolnshire phoned Jeremy Vine on BBC Radio 2 to boast how he had phoned the Olympic authorities to formally complain about this wicked, immoral practice. I had to giggle at the thought of some vulgar Olympic official, dripping in gold and Rolex, whizzing through London in a chauffeur driven limo (maybe a Zil) indulgently tut tutting at the gripes of Mr Lincolnshire as he heads to Heathrow to fly in a private jet to a pre-Olympic junket in Monaco or some banana republic in Africa.

We have heard for months the speculation about whether this, that or the other footballer will make the Great Britain Olympic squad. Nobody questions the morality of footballers earning £100,000 a week or more representing us in the Olympics. But an unemployed joiner from Exeter flogs his torch, which he'd probably paid £200 for in the first place by the way, for a few hundred quid and their is public outrage.

What outraged me was that millions and millions has been wasted on wining and dining (aka bribing) the wealthy and powerful to get this immoral circus to this country, then the tight bastards make the torch bearers pay for £200 their torches. I don't blame them for flogging them. What outraged me was hearing that an East London cafe had been ordered to change its name from 'Olympic' because of sponsorship deals, and the authorities made them do it. The whole vulgar mess outrages me to be honest.

If we had any doubts that our civilisation is in terminal decline the Olympics are the finest visible evidence. How apt that they were bought for this country by a New Labour government, but are taking place under an equally immoral social democratic coalition government.

Stewards In High Vis Jackets

What is it about high vis jackets that turns the wearer into a raging jobsworth at best, a raging fascist at worst?

Maybe it's because too many sporting organisations now use security companies rather than employing their own friendly people.

I've been to two sporting events in the last few days and the presence of stewards is increasingly over the top and often highly provocative. All too often they seem to be seeking confrontation.

The absolutely worst seem to be those that have trite messages on their backs such as: "Here to help". Bollocks they are! They should have on their backs: "Here to mither and provoke people until they get pissed off, then I can throw them out".

Feel better for that.

FC United of Manchester-A Statement

The board of FC United have now issued a full statement to fans about the fiasco caused this week by West Yorkshire Police and Bradford City Council. I will add my two penneth in after the statement:

Board member Alan Hargrave attended a meeting in Bradford on Monday afternoon on behalf of FC United. Initially we were not invited to this meeting but a post Chorley 2011 edict from the league requires both clubs to be in attendance when match arrangements are being discussed.

This allows us, as we always do, to make representations on behalf of our supporters at an early stage but does not in any way give us control over decisions, which remain the privilege of the home team. Also present at the meeting were representatives of:

BPA - Safety Officer
Bradford City Council Licensing
West Yorkshire Police
League Management

The following key points were raised at this initial meeting:

The police would be busy on Saturday with a number of events in the town including the Bradford City game. However they were happy for the game to kick off at 3pm on Saturday.

The local authority licensing rep expressed a number of concerns having attended previous fixtures between Bradford and FCUM. Firstly that she had witnessed fans entering the running track area from the seating area during the games. Secondly she was concerned that the aisles in the seating areas were blocked and stewards had been unable to enter the seating area to remove lit flares and smoke bombs. She also noted that despite appeals from FCUM the use of smoke bombs and flares had again taken place at the recent semi final. As a consequence she initially wanted to set a capacity for the final at 1200.

AH questioned how a ground with a safety certificate capacity of over 3000 be limited to 1200 and the response was that it was dependent on the event.

The league expressed concern about what they termed ‘the continuing use of fireworks’ at FCUM games but stated that our fans are not a major concern to them.

The licensing officer from the local authority then suggested that if the concerns she had raised could not be addressed she would consider requesting the game be played behind closed doors. AH asked the league if she had the power to do this and they confirmed the local authority had the power to do so.

After much further discussion AH suggested that they limit the capacity of the seating area but allow free flow in the rest of the ground, repeatedly and correctly pointing out that there had never been any trouble between the fans in the past. They agreed therefore to not have segregation. After further lengthy debate it was decided that the original capacity of 1200 be lifted to a figure of 2000. The tickets would be split 50/50 with 1000 going to FCUM. These would contain 500 tickets for the seating area and 500 for the rest of the ground. FCUM would also have to provide some stewards for the seating area.

Changing kick off times or the day of the kick off was also debated but following strong representations from AH and with the backing of the police and the league it was agreed to keep the kick off as 3pm on Saturday 5th May.

We therefore left the meeting dissatisfied and frustrated but sure we had done our best in representing our supporters. The outcome had been far from ideal and fell a good bit short of what we had hoped for, but given we ultimately have little say in the final decision we were confident we had made some gains as a result of our input.

On Wednesday 2nd May 2012, we were informed it had been decided that the fixture could no longer proceed on Saturday at 3pm. An emergency meeting was called and Andy Walsh made the dash across to Bradford to attend on behalf of FC United. Also in attendance were:

West Yorkshire Police
BPA
Bradford City Council Licensing

At this second meeting the police commander reported that all available policing resources would be employed around the Bradford City game against Swindon Town. At a meeting of the Safety Advisory Group (SAG) that morning she had advised that there were insufficient police resources available to cover any incident that may arise from the Play Off Final at BPA. When asked why this was not conveyed at the Monday meeting the meeting was informed that intelligence around the BCFC game had changed. The SAG were unwilling to allow the Play Off Final to go ahead without cover available from the police.

Both BPA and FC United argued that due to the safety record of the previous games between both clubs at the Horsfall stadium that the game should be allowed to go ahead at 3pm on Saturday that arrangements were now in place and that fans will have already booked transport and made arrangements to get to the game.

The case was made very clearly by both BPA and FC United that no trouble had occurred at a BPA vs FCUM game previously and that the game should still be able to go ahead at 3pm on Saturday. The safety officer and BPA raised the same concerns that had been aired at the previous meeting. All efforts to get our allocation of tickets and the capacity increased were rejected.

The possibility of an early morning kick off on Saturday or Sunday was raised, FC United objected to both suggestions due to the inconvenience this would cause to fans and players. A Monday game was opposed by the police due to a lack of available resources.

We further argued that an alternative, neutral venue should be sought, but we were advised that none were available.

We were advised that additional stewards are to be deployed around the ground to stop fans climbing over the fence to gain entry. The point was made that if these stewards were deployed inside the ground then a better crowd management procedure could be established which should allow a larger number of tickets, this argument was rejected.

Ultimately, given the limited choices available to us, reluctant agreement was reached on a kick off at 2pm on Sunday 6th May with our objections noted.

The meeting ended and FC United reiterated that concerns about crowd management would be greatly eased if an additional allocation of tickets were made available to FC United.

At 8:21 on Wednesday 2nd May the Bradford Telegraph and Argus carried the following quote from BPA Director Kevin Hainsworth:

“Within half an hour of us putting our tickets on sale for what we thought was a Saturday game, we were informed that the authorities wouldn’t allow it to go ahead on that day.

“They had gathered information from various FC United fans’ forums and decided there was a risk of trouble. They contacted Bradford Council (owners of the stadium), and it doesn’t matter who is providing the stewarding or who holds the safety certificate for the ground when it come to matters like this so it was off from then"

This was not the reason given to the meeting by West Yorkshire Police.

Indeed we specifically asked what intelligence the decision was based on and were told that the reason for the game being moved is because of issues connected with the Bradford City game.

We do not know why Kevin Hainsworth has chosen to make such a statement at this time but, if an accurate quote, is wholly misleading.

It is the Board’s view that the whole chain of events this week has been unnecessary; that a kick off time at 3pm on Saturday could have been maintained; that a larger allocation of tickets could have been provided and safely managed; that our supporters have been considerably and unnecessarily inconvenienced and that it has put an incredible burden on our hard working staff and volunteers.

The question of whether to accept an allocation of tickets has been considered, but following a resolution submitted to the last AGM there was, despite it not being formally adopted, a clear majority in favour of allowing supporters to choose whether to attend a game and therefore the Board are happy to support this wish. We acknowledge that the wording of the resolution still allows for the Board to make a recommendation on whether to attend, but given the undoubted wish amongst the membership to be allowed the freedom to choose, feel it more pertinent to provide supporters with the facts, allow them to draw their own conclusions and individually decide for themselves whether to attend. Until given direction to the contrary, that will remain Board policy.

To those supporters who intend to go to the game, we know that you’ll get behind the team. To those that choose not to, we understand and share your frustration and only wish such a scenario could have been avoided.

The Board of FC United of Manchester

People waiting for ticket sales to commence at Bradford's ground yesterday were told, around 12-30, by a club official that they were about to start selling tickets but that fans should be aware that the police, acting on intelligence, were trying to move the game to Monday. The Bradford City Council safety officer also left the ground around that time, brusquely refusing to answer questions from fans as she left.

There has never been trouble at FC v Bradford games despite big crowds in some important games. Yes, some FC fans light flares and have repeatedly been asked by the club, and fellow supporters to stop. But is that grounds for denying 1000 fans from Bradford and Manchester the right  game for our clubs?

If the authorities cut the capacity from 3,500 to 2,000 they immediately create a safety and security problem. There is no segregation this week but last week segregation broke down in the semi-final because an unrealistic limit on tickets, arbitrarily set by the authorities, meant that several hundred of us bought tickets for the home section. There was still no trouble, as there rarely has been at FC United games, but still the authorities do not learn.

In the case of Bradford Park Avenue there are many vantage points outside the ground giving a view of the pitch. At last year's final there was a hill outside the Colwyn Bay ground that was occupied by ticketless FC United fans and others. There was a little disorder admittedly, but there was room in the ground for all those on the hill. If the authorities hadn't been so stupid by reducing the capacity those fans could have been safely inside the ground wher there was adequate crowd control.


If I lived in Bradford I would be asking why West Yorkshire Police are incapable of dealing with two football games, on opposite sides of the city, one limited to 2,000 people the other likely to attract no more than 12,000 people.  In 1954 102,569 attended a rugby league game at Odsal Stadium in Bradford. My word, how incompetent the modern police must be if they can't cope with 15,000 fans.

Finally. For a sense of perspective on flares I have never seen more than a couple held aloft at the same time at FC United games. While I don't excuse their use the following footage may put the issue in perspective:

West Yorkshire Police State

West Yorkshire's Chief Constable

In my post below (yesterday) I outlined the authorities' complete disregard for the public in the organisation of a football game, so I won't bore you with all the details again. This post is an update, it got a whole lot worse.

On Monday a meeting of club officials took place with the local council and the West Yorkshire Police. The council, treating the public with the usual disdain, slashed the ground capacity from 3,500 to 2000. That was a stupid move on safety grounds because if you reduce tickets to a well supported club then fans look elsewhere for tickets if their allocation is too small. Commonsense that seems not to exist on Bradford Council.

So today I went to get a ticket from Bradford worrying that I might not get a ticket from my own club's allocation, FC United of Manchester. There is a good relationship between our fans and Bradford's so I knew there would be no problem, and I certainly wouldn't put my 80 year old dad, who comes to games with me, in any danger. Nor is he a danger to people I must add!

I joined the queue but tickets hadn't gone on sale at 12-00 as announced. At 12-50 an official came out and informed those of us waiting that the police were trying to move the match to Monday rather than this Saturday. I got chatting to other fans in the queue and the consensus was that as Bradford City are also at home on Saturday, the police couldn't deal with both games. Bullshit!

Our game is restricted to 2000 spectators, Bradford City will be lucky to get much over 10,000. The clubs must be a good three miles apart. Bradford has a population of around 290,000. If the police cannot deal with two football games, attended by less than 15,000 people, in a city that size then the police force is quite obviously not fit for purpose. If I lived in Bradford I would get out now because it is obviously not a safe place to live.

Well here is the big news. The West Yorkshire Police have had the game moved from this Saturday to Sunday at 2-00pm. The West Yorkshire Police are so crap they cannot police two games with less than 15,000 people attending. That, or they are just fascistic and enjoy throwing their weight around and pissing people off.

If you think the authorities in this country, be that the local council or the police, work in your interests then get real, they don't. How long until people say enough and fight back?

Nanny State-Bollocks To Authority

Home of Bradford Park Avenue

I have a problem and am angry. The older I get the more the powers that be in this country seem to just want to piss us off and treat us like shit. To those who don't like football this may seem small if not irrelevant, but in my view it sums up the stifling bureaucratic nature of modern life.

On Saturday FC United of Manchester play Bradford Park Avenue at Bradford's Horsfall Stadium in the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League play-off final. Promotion would mean moving into the Conference North.

Last Saturday FC United beat Chorley in their semi-final in front of a crowd of 2,700. Bradford beat Hednesford in front of 600 people. According to this entry in Wikipedia Bradford's ground holds 3,500 people. Last season FC United were in the semi-final of the play-offs at Bradford. Over 2,700 of us were there.

Yesterday Bradford, and FC United's officials met with the local police and 'local authority safety officials' to discuss arrangements for the game. Yes, for a bloody non-league game! On the 'advice of the safety authorities' the game will be limited to 2,000 people.

So in a ground that holds 3,500, with around 1800 seated, for a game that last season drew a 2,700 crowd, with not a hint of trouble as there never has been when these two clubs meet, the 'safety authorities' have limited the crowd to 2,000. Both clubs will get an allocation of 1,000.

I would say that FC United could sell around 2,000 tickets and Bradford probably 1,000. Still under the 3,500 stated capacity. Having visited that ground on three occasions I know that 3,000 could be comfortably accomodated, remember there were over 2,700 of us there last season, no problem

All the 'local safety authorities' have done is remove the opportunity for over 1000 people to enjoy a football game. They have also deprived the players from both clubs, all part-time, the chance to play in front of a big crowd creating a wonderful atmosphere on what should be a wonderful day for all. They have also created the danger of 1,000 people potentially turning up without tickets trying to gain admittance to the game.

Now tell me the authorities in this country work on our behalf.

FC United of Manchester-Real Football

It's been some time since I wrote about FC United of Manchester so here goes, a bit of an update for you.

Our club was formed when the Glazers took over Manchester United. Don't get me wrong, that wasn't the sole reason. For years we had seen football being screwed by money men who had turned big clubs into huge corporations so far removed from the idea of a sports club that you could barely recognise them. I say 'our club' because it is owned by the fans. If a rich Arab wanted to buy the club 51% of us would have to vote yes. We had a vote about having a shirt sponsor. We voted no. It's quite simple and it works, if you're interested in real football and the ethics of your club rather than selling your heritage and soul to buy a trophy or two.

Does anybody think Abramovitch woke up every Sunday morning from childhood desperate to find out how Chelsea went on the day before? No, it's his play thing. That's another thing too, football on a Saturday afternoon. Remember those days? If you don't there was a time when football games kicked off at 3-00pm on a Saturday, or midweek on a Wednesday night. When Newcastle play Southampton on a Monday night do the authorities actually give a toss about the supporters? Course not, they get more cash from the telly than those mugs who buy tickets.

Today FC United are playing in the Evo-Stick Northern Premier League. We had rapid promotion from the North West Counties League, where we started life in 2005, and lost the play-off final last season to Colwyn Bay, who are now doing very well in the Conference North. We're away to Henesford Town today and I'll be picking up one of the supporters' coaches around 11-30 in the shadow of Old Trafford, a sweet irony. Hednesford is a huge game as they are up there in the play-off spots where we are fighting to be. There will be well over 1000 fans at the game when the average in this league is around 250. Our home games usually attract around 2000 and we have over 3000 members.

"So what's it like giving up your season ticket at one of the world's biggest clubs to watch non-league?" I get asked a lot. And I always answer that I haven't enjoyed my football as much as I have these last seven years in decades. When I was travelling to watch United in Barcelona, Florence, Athens, Prague, Turin and many more wonderful European cities, I never dreamt that I would soon be travelling to Northwich, Whitby and North Ferriby instead, and loving it!

So if your sick of the sterile atmosphere, the ridiculous price of a leather-burger let alone the astronomical ticket prices at your league club get down to your local non-league club. You'll probably pay well under a tenner, find a cosy clubhouse selling proper, affordable beer and you can have a bit of banter with the other fans without facing a line of yellow jacketed jobsworth stewards and hyper-twitchy robocops in riot gear. In other words, a proper Saturday afternoon. You can even swap ends at half time.

Bloody hell, is that the time? Better get ready to drive to Old Trafford to get the coach to Hednesford Town FC. . It's a true promotion six pointer. Will we win promotion this season? It would be nice, but if we don't it will mean another trip to Whitby (if they don't blow it and get relegated) next season for fantastic fish and chips before the game. Now that beats tapas before a game at the Nou Camp any time.

Chelsea v Tesco In The Champions League Quarter Final

At least if Chelsea draw Tesco in the last eight of the European Champions League we are guaranteed one English club in the semi-finals. It was  especially encouraging to hear that like Chelsea a week or so ago, Tesco have just got rid of their boss after a poor run of results since Christmas.

Since breaking into the top four in spectacular fashion Tesco have become complacent and are planning a complete revamp of their ageing squad. Indeed I saw their right winger Hartlepool Branch yesterday and it was looking very tired and lethargic, and that was on a Tuesday morning, how it could cope with the full rigours of a Saturday afternoon with a huge crowd I don't know.

Personally I would like to see a final involving those two entertaining giants of Europe Barcelona and Nestle. After spending years as a slumbering giant, as were Real Madrid in the late 70s and early 80s, Nestle are back on centre stage and are once again serious contenders for European honours. Pep Guardiola could be leaving Barca at the end of the season and what a grand finale for him. It is rumoured that Chelsea could be luring Guardiola to Stamford Bridge but but don't discount him replacing Brasher as boss at Tesco.

But my money is on a late swoop by newly renamed Manchester Arsenal FC to take Guardiola to the Etihad Stadium on a salary that neither Chelsea, Tesco nor even Sainsbury could match. My spy tells me that Manchester Arsenal are planning to take every member of staff from Arsenal FC over the summer, including the tea lady, leaving Arsene Wenger to start rebuilding for a glorious new era.

OK I've made that up. But that's how I feel about English football. Two huge corporations like Chelsea v Manchester City excites me as much as reading about Tesco pipping Sainsbury in the battle for Christmas sales. It's all about money. Big deal.

Why Nick Clegg's A Clown-He's A Lib Dem In A Nutshell!

Another Monday morning and more patronising pap from Comrade Clegg and his ever dwindling band of Lib Dems. You know him, the useless failure who managed to lose the Lib Dems seats at the general election but ended up as Deputy PM. I suppose that's what he calls equal opportunities in practice.

Today he's whingeing about free schools and profit. He thinks profit is socially divisive. He doesn't seem to understand that the only reason government has money is because people, somewhere, somehow make a profit. Then up pops the likes of Clegg to steal a chunk of it. How divisive is that? And what they can't thieve off us they go out and borrow, from other people who make money.

There's a difference between equality of opportunity and uniformity. Comprehensive education is sameness. The old system of selection was true equality of opportunity. Every child sat an exam at eleven and went to the school most suited to his/her talents, regardless of social background. Let's face it we're not all academic and we aren't all budding mathematicians. Fact. So why pretend we are all the same when it comes to education?

Let's take Clegg and his Lib Dems nonsense about equality to the logical conclusion. There should be at least one fat bald fifty year old playing for Manchester United, a sixteen year old girl and somebody with a disability.

But let's face it, Premier League football clubs are probably the most elitist employers in the country. Which is why it's the best league in the world. That's just logic.

Michael Jackson at Fulham FC-A Fitting Monument to the Premier League

How fitting that the Phoney Pharoah, the most vulgar man in British business, should erect the most vulgar statue of the most vulgar pop star the world has seen, outside the ground of a club in the most vulgar sporting league in the world. If Woolworth's had sold pieces of 7' tat like the statue to the left left they would have gone belly up many decades before they actually did.

But the most obscene thing was to hear a so-called Fulham 'supporter' claiming that the Phoney Pharoah had put £160m into the club so he could do what he wanted, the 'supporter' didn't care. And other 'supporters' said similar. Fayed insisted that any fans criticising his piece of tasteless vulgarity were idiots who should go and watch Chelsea.

So they should troop a couple of miles to watch a club that's the plaything of a dodgy Russian oligarch instead? Do me a favour. At least go and watch Liverpool, the club that's bought and sold by American millionaires like a cheap tart on the streets of Toxteth. If you don't fancy that then go and watch United and help pay off the £500m debt dumped on the club by the Glazers who wanted to buy the club, but didn't have the readies. Or why not go and watch Man City. You know, the club that claims to be Manchester's real club? Except they've sold their soul to a bunch of Arabs for what? Lifelong City fans? I doubt it, a pot of cash eventually more like it.

Just about sums up English football.  

Racism in Football

Once again Gordon Taylor of the Professional Footballers' Association is in the news for talking tripe. This is the man whose Trade Union represents the likes of Wayne Rooney, John Terry and all the footballers on multimillion pound a year contracts. So he knows about life at the rough end obviously.

This time he's demanding that as there are only two black managers out of 92 football league clubs, black candidates should be guaranteed an interview for any vacancy. He doesn't say how he would have dealt with the over representation of Scotsmen in football management over the years. Presumably he would advocate a cap on them applying for jobs.

But strangely he justifies his pretty murky views by criticising the number of foreign managers brought to the UK rather than black managers being given a chance. Even more strangely he supports his argument about imaginary racism by actually naming two foreign managers who have allegedly blocked the progress of black managers in the UK. They are Ruud Gullit and Jean Tigana. One of them's black, and other one? Well, he's black too actually.  

And people say those in football aren't very bright.

From the BBC.

Blackpool Councillor Simon Blackburn Should Resign. Or Should He?

Much is being made here and elsewhere of the Blackpool councillor who referred to fans of the town's football club as 'donkey botherers'. Councillor Simon Blackburn happens to be a supporter of Blackburn Rovers and made the remarks when Blackpool took a two goal lead against Blackburn. That's Rovers not the councillor. Councillor Blackburn is also leader of the Labour Group on Blackpool Council.

If any football fans are so shocked and dismayed at the remark then I can only assume they have just come to football after years of watching opera, or maybe polo. I suggest you get to a proper football game, be that your local park or a Premier League ground and spend a few minutes listening to the spectators. Actually, if you find 'donkey botherers' so vile it warrrants the resignation of the name caller you perhaps shouldn't you poor delicate flower, and please never go near a Manchester Derby or a game involving English teams playing Scottish teams.

Football is a passionate game and yes, sometimes the rivalry goes too far. But please let's keep a sense of perspective.

I can't believe it, I've just defended a Labour councillor!

Manchester United and the Glazers

The Glazers are up to more tricks, and the footballing authorities, as they have done for years now, just sit back and let corporate plunderers destroy what's left of the professional game in this country. Here's what the Glazers are up to now:

By Paul Kelso 8:40PM GMT 02 Feb 2011

Delaware is rated the most secretive financial location in the world, and the change means that it will be even harder for supporters and media to establish the implications of the club’s corporate structure.

The most pressing issue concerning Manchester United’s highly-mobilised fanbase is how the Glazers managed to clear £249.1 million of payment-in-kind (PIK) loans that had been incurring interest at more than 16 per cent before it was abruptly paid off in November last year.

Delaware’s secrecy rules mean that the directors, officers and shareholders of the new company are unknown, as is the source of the money used to repay the PIKs.

The PIKs were controversial because they were secured against the Glazer family’s shares in United’s holding company, meaning that ultimately the club could have been passed to the hedge-fund lenders in the event of default.

The Glazers have declined to say how they paid off the PIK loans, and whether any debt incurred to do so is still secured against the family’s shareholding in the club or related entities.

Financial analyst Andrew Green, who blogs on football finances as Andersred, said the move suggested the Glazers were trying to obscure the source.

“It is almost as if the Glazers are trying to keep information about the PIK repayment secret,” he wrote. “Naturally we can’t ask the Glazers anything about this as they won’t talk to the fans and their employees in M16 don’t appear to know. In my view that is not how the biggest football club in the world should be managed.”

US-based sources have suggested that the Glazers have taken a new loan at a cheaper rate to clear the PIKs rather than turning to third-party investors or using personal cash. It is unclear what security they have offered against the loans, and with United apparently their most valuable asset there remain concerns that the club revenues could still be required to service the loans.

According to UK regulatory filings lodged with Companies House the new Delaware company, Red Football LLC, now owns 100 per cent of the shares in the club’s UK parent company Red Football Shareholder Limited (RFSL).

RFSL was the vehicle by which the PIKs were paid off, but is now hidden behind the new structure in Delaware.

Last November two new shares in RFSL were issued at a combined value of £249m. RFSL then bought two shares in its subsidiary Red Football Joint Venture, which owned the PIKs, and the money was used to pay off the loans.

Manchester United and the Glazer family declined to comment on the changes, but a spokesman said the Glazers remain the ultimate owners of the club.

From the Telegraph Online.

I don't have a dreamy idealised view of the past. I don't look back at the way football was being run prior to PLCs and Russian, Arab and American corporate raiders sailed in with their skull and cross bone flags flying. I remember United being owned by the Edwards family, City having old Mr Alexander in charge. But they, and the footballing authorities of the day, ensured that football clubs were sports clubs, first and foremost. They genuinely loved the clubs and, although not perfect, knew they needed the local communities behind them if the club was to progress.

I recently spoke to a multi-millionaire who owns one of our bigger clubs. He hates football and only attended two games at his club last season. He left both at half-time, bored. Can he really have the interests of that club at heart?

Did the Arab prince who owns Manchester City wake up every Sunday or Thursday of his life desperately wanting to know how City had got on the night before against Stockport County or Gillingham? I couldn't resist that one. Did the Glazers go to their American football club's games with little radios glued to their ears listening to United's games on the BBC World Service praying that one day they would own the club?

The Premier League, Premiership or whatever it's branded as today is a mirage. 'Customers' are paying an arm and leg to watch mediocre football because, let's be honest, take away the hype and the product is not brilliant. Witness the empty seats in the last round of the FA Cup. Manchester City, the world's richest football club could only muster 27,000 fans in the FA Cup against Leicester. Witness the empty seats at last night's games. A friend of mine was amazed that she could buy a ticket at Anfield for Liverpool playing at nearby Blackburn. Not only were they on open sale but over 1000 weren't even sold.

Last week I heard the depised David Gill, CEO of Manchester United, refer to United as "the biggest franchise in the world". So there we are, in the eyes of the people who run United, up there with KFC and McDonalds. It made me sick.

Since 2005 I haven't stepped foot in a professional football ground. Like thousands of others I now follow FC United. Yes I sometimes get pissed off with certain elements of FC United, mostly the politics, but that's what happens when a group of idealists get together. I know others who left United in 2005 when the Glazers arrived but are now following their own local non league clubs. And I doubt that any of us would ever go back to the professional game.

Somebody accused me this week of being a traitor and turning my back on my club. I was born in Manchester, followed Manchester United all my life attending my first game in 1965 and have watched them all over England and Europe. But I'm not an idiot. If I keep getting ripped off in a shop, I stop shopping there. If I get the squits every time I visit a restaurant I stop eating there. If the Glazers ask me to bend over while they shaft me I get out of their pretty damn quickly.

To me the ones who still pay to watch top flight football are mugs, but I still can't bring myself to call them traitors because I know and understand why many thousands of genuine fans just can't walk away from their clubs. Likewise I think the genuine fans understand why we have walked away from top flight football.

The ones who call us traitors and turncoats are invariably the plastic fans who jumped on the football bandwagon when Sky and the PLCs bought English football's soul. But don't worry, they'll be away from football when the hype fades and another sport becomes the cool thing to become a customer of.

Just read the article above by Paul Kelso again. Then give it a bit of thought.

You might also like to read The Beautiful Game? by David Conn. He might be a City fan who writes for The Guardian, but if you have any interest in football his book is a must.

Russia, Quatar and Football

So now Sepp Blatter, top man at FIFA, suggests that gays who decide to go to the World Cup when it trundles around Quatar shouldn't indulge in sexual activity. He was being frivolous but as it stands homosexuality is illegal in Quatar, as is alcohol, and Israeli passport holders aren't allowed into the place.

Russia has some of the most racist fans in world football, and some of the worst hooligans too. After years of Soviet Socialism it's infrastructure is crumbling and will not be fit to host a tournament of that size in the foreseeable future.

So when the footballing authorities, UEFA and FIFA claim that they want to eradicate racism, homophobia and hooliganism from football remember that FIFA chose Russia and Quatar to host World Cups.

Also remember that the authorities do not acknowledge footballing countries such as Portugal and Holland as being big enough to host international tournaments without bidding jointly with neighbours. Quatar is half the size of Wales with half the population and not a single stadium this stage.

Apart from a trip to Oslo in 2007 to watch Lyn Oslo I haven't watched professional football since 2005 when the Glazers shafted Manchester United. Sky began the corruption with matches moved to Sunday and Monday nights to suit TV and stuff the fans. Prices still soared despite all the TV cash. Atmospheres at grounds faded as corporate areas displaced real fans and so on and so on.

If you want to still pour your hard earned cash into paying misfits like Wayne Rooney over £200,000 a week, and lining the pockets of the stinking businessmen who are bleeding football dry, then so be it. But personally I work too hard to squander my cash on scum.

FA Cup Replay: FC United of Manchester v Brighton

It's now time to start praying that the weather next Wednesday is a little better than it is this week. The FA Cup replay at Gigg Lane, Bury is not all ticket but tickets are going on sale to ease entry to the stadium on the night (Wed 8th Dec).

If you've yet to watch FC United this is the ideal first game. A bumper gate, probably a record, the chance of a giant killing act and lots of noise ad colour which will mean one of the best atmospheres you're likely to experience at a football game .Following are the details:

As previously stated, the FA Cup sponsored by E.ON second round replay versus Brighton & Hove Albion will be played on Wednesday 8th December with kick-off at 7.45pm.


This match will not be all ticket but, as a larger than average crowd is expected, FC United will be selling tickets in advance to try and speed up entry on the night.


If you wish to guarantee entry to your preferred stand it is advisable to purchase your ticket in advance.


Prices for all parts of the ground will be Adults £8, Over-60s £5 and Under-18s £2.


Selling arrangements


The Manchester Road End, Main Stand and Cemetery End will be set aside for FC United supporters. Tickets will be on sale from the Bury FC ticket office (next to the main reception) at Gigg Lane, Bury, between 10am and 3pm from Wednesday 1st December and Wednesday 8th December (NOT including Sunday 5th December)


For those who cannot get to Gigg Lane, tickets can also be purchased by telephoning the FC United club office between 10am and 4pm on 0161 273 8950  and paying by debit or credit card up to 4pm on Friday 3rd December 2010. A £2 booking fee will be charged to cover card and recorded delivery postage costs.


Unfortunately, due to the short timeframe we cannot accept payments by cheque.


Tickets will not be on sale to personal callers from the FC United office.

FC United will send all tickets by recorded delivery but we CANNOT take responsibility for any items that go missing in the post.


29-11-2010 at 18:45

For more infrmation visit the FC United website.

Ice Hockey, A Man's Game

Last week I went to see Manchester Phoenix for the first time this season, and it was a great night. The next time you see a Premiership footballer rolling around clutching his leg or head, remember the video below and laugh. I wonder how long a team of footballers would last against a team of ice hockey players? I reckon the footballers would run a mile before even getting on the ice.

The fight below is not just a great fight, but is two brothers fighting!



Think I'll gorge myself next weekend and go straight to the Phoenix game after watching FC United.