I haven't always loved football. I was a young kid when England won the World Cup in 1966, but I have absolutely NO memory of it at all. I got into it a few years later when I was about 11, and have been following it ever since. My dad used to take me to Molineux to watch Wolverhampton Wanderers, and a good deal has changed since then. The offside rule has been tinkered with a few times, there are now four officials instead of a referee and two linesmen - oh, and there were no seats on the terraces so we stood up for the whole match. Happy days.
When I met my husband, he was a Spurs supporter. He still is - and he's a very satisfied one these days (except he doesn't like Palacios and thinks Harry should sell him). We used to go to White Hart Lane when we lived in Cambridge, but now we're back in the Midlands, we go to Molineux instead. Watching Wolves is a bit of an ordeal, though. The tension in the stadium is unbearable when you're in the bottom three, especially when you hear that your rivals in the relegation fight (West Ham) are winning, too. The Sunderland result was great stuff.
My husband and I are also members of Englandfans and have been to all the home games for the last four or five years, as well as to Portugal for Euro 2004. The World Cup this year was such a disappointment though - not just England. but some of the other teams, too. And I must admit, I'm waiting for England to impress me again before I make the long journey down to Wembley from Shropshire.
My name's Narinder and you can check out my football series 'The Beautiful Game' at narinderdhami.com
Tuesday 30 November 2010
Monday 29 November 2010
FA Cup Draw Round 3 Helena Pielichaty
It was the draw for the FA Cup third round yesterday. When Huddersfield Town were drawn at home to Dover Athletic Pete and I both groaned. Dover Athletic are a non-league side and they're always tricky ties. Far from being a foregone conclusion anything can happen. Come January, everyone will be turning their attention on us, rooting for the underdog and the 'magic' of the FA Cup. Dover will be well up for it, hoping for a giant killing. In fact, they're probably a bit disappointed not to have been drawn against someone higher in the leagues. A fixture for a lower league side against someone like Man City or Chelsea ensures record attendances and gate money. That one dream tie could fund the rest of the season, win or lose. Town, of course, will not want to lose. We will be hoping for another solid win, such as the one against Macclesfield on Saturday (6-0). Who knows what could happen in the fourth round then. We could be drawn against Leeds, providing they beat Arsenal...
http://www.helena-pielichaty.com/
http://www.helena-pielichaty.com/
Local Pride On The Line - Dan Tunstall
Today is a red-letter day for Leicester City fans like me. It's our biggest home game of the season. Unless the dodgy weather intervenes, Notts Forest are coming to the Walkers Stadium tonight. The thing is though, I'm not so sure it's a red-letter day for Forest fans. They've got the Rams of Derby to butt heads with. Leicester aren't such a high priority.
The problem for us Leicester fans is that we haven't really got local rivals. To the east, Forest and Derby have got one another, and to the west the big game for Coventry fans is Aston Villa. According to my Cov mate Steve it is, anyway. I haven't got the heart to remind him Cov and Villa haven't seen much of each other recently, and that Villa fans are more preoccupied with Birmingham City anyway.
Whatever Forest fans feel about Leicester though, for us, Forest is The Big One. I think we're desperate to get one over them because of all the success they had in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. While we yo-yoed between the top two divisions, Forest won the old First Division, two European Cups and various other bits of silverware. Strangely enough, Forest's fall from grace in the mid-90s coincided with Leicester spending six seasons in the Prem and winning a couple of trophies. The pendulum had swung the other way.
Over the last few years, East Midlands football has been in a bit of a slump. Leicester and Forest have been pretty much level pegging. We both lost out in the Championship Play-offs in May and we've both started patchily this season. Really, there's not much to choose between us. It would be nice to get three points tonight, but I'd settle for one. And maybe the next time Forest come to town, we could both be back in the big league.
Right then. Let's see what that weather is up to...
http://www.dantunstall.com/
The problem for us Leicester fans is that we haven't really got local rivals. To the east, Forest and Derby have got one another, and to the west the big game for Coventry fans is Aston Villa. According to my Cov mate Steve it is, anyway. I haven't got the heart to remind him Cov and Villa haven't seen much of each other recently, and that Villa fans are more preoccupied with Birmingham City anyway.
Whatever Forest fans feel about Leicester though, for us, Forest is The Big One. I think we're desperate to get one over them because of all the success they had in the 70s, 80s and early 90s. While we yo-yoed between the top two divisions, Forest won the old First Division, two European Cups and various other bits of silverware. Strangely enough, Forest's fall from grace in the mid-90s coincided with Leicester spending six seasons in the Prem and winning a couple of trophies. The pendulum had swung the other way.
Over the last few years, East Midlands football has been in a bit of a slump. Leicester and Forest have been pretty much level pegging. We both lost out in the Championship Play-offs in May and we've both started patchily this season. Really, there's not much to choose between us. It would be nice to get three points tonight, but I'd settle for one. And maybe the next time Forest come to town, we could both be back in the big league.
Right then. Let's see what that weather is up to...
http://www.dantunstall.com/
Sunday 28 November 2010
Helena Pielichaty : Women's Super League
The FA has announced further details of the women's super league which is launching in April 2011. This is a new initiative by the FA to improve the profile of the women's game. There is nothing like the money pumped into the women's game as the men's but this fresh start should give the game a real boost. Details can be found on: http://www.thefa.com/Leagues/SuperLeague/NewsAndFeatures/2010/FAWSL1110
I like the new logo. It has good strong colours and a distinctive design.
There will be 8 teams in the super league: Arsenal Ladies, Birmingham City Ladies, Bristol Academy Ladies, Chelsea Ladies, Doncaster Belles, Everton Ladies, Lincoln Ladies, Liverpool Ladies.
Arsenal come to the league with a formidable reputation although Doncaster 'Donny' Belles have the longer pedigree in the current era. By current era I mean since 1970-1971 when the FA allowed women to play on their grounds again after banning them in 1921. The ban followed complaints of 'misappropriation of funds.' Women then played for charity and monies from some matches were alleged to have gone missing.This was unproven and widely seen as an excuse to prevent the women's game rising in popularity. By banning women from playing on their grounds, the FA effectively killed the game off in a professional sense for 50 years. It is far from dead now, though, and its popularity among young girls and women throughout the world is rising all the time. I'll be following Lincoln Ladies in the new super league. Come on you Imps! (http://www.lincolnladiesfc.co.uk/)
There will be 8 teams in the super league: Arsenal Ladies, Birmingham City Ladies, Bristol Academy Ladies, Chelsea Ladies, Doncaster Belles, Everton Ladies, Lincoln Ladies, Liverpool Ladies.
Arsenal come to the league with a formidable reputation although Doncaster 'Donny' Belles have the longer pedigree in the current era. By current era I mean since 1970-1971 when the FA allowed women to play on their grounds again after banning them in 1921. The ban followed complaints of 'misappropriation of funds.' Women then played for charity and monies from some matches were alleged to have gone missing.This was unproven and widely seen as an excuse to prevent the women's game rising in popularity. By banning women from playing on their grounds, the FA effectively killed the game off in a professional sense for 50 years. It is far from dead now, though, and its popularity among young girls and women throughout the world is rising all the time. I'll be following Lincoln Ladies in the new super league. Come on you Imps! (http://www.lincolnladiesfc.co.uk/)
0-0 at Reading
The Championship
A goalless draw at Reading might not seem like something to celebrate, but I was thrilled. I punched the air.
Leeds are on a good run. Six games without a defeat. But...
...before that we lost 4-0 at home to Cardiff, 6-4 at home to Preston (who are bottom of the league) and 5-2 at Barnsley.
A clean sheet and a point at a decent side like reading suits me fine.
The First World War
I am writing a book based in 1914-1919. It features a man who fought in the trenches, survived and went on to score England's first full international goal post-war.
It is hard. I have only written books set in the present before. I need to find out lots of stuff about stations and trenches and front rooms in 1914. Luckily I am writing the book with an expert on all those things.
I have not written a book with another person before. I thought it would be hard. But George is brilliant to work with. And I am learning a lot!
The Premier League
The Premier League is interesting, even for a Championship supporter. What's going on at Chelsea? How have Man U suddenly hit 7-1 sparkling form? Why do West Brom lose 3-0 at home to Stoke one day, then win 4-1 at Everton the next? And why didn't people listen to me when I said Jermaine Beckford was no a Premier League striker?
The FA Cup
It's the FA Cup draw today. Last year Leeds (div 3) drew Man U (Champions) and beat them at Old Trafford. I used that result for a year now, talking to tens of thousands of Man U fan children. I just dread drawing them again.
I'd like a nice home tie against someone not from the Premier League. For starters.
I hope you get the draw you want for your team (unless you support a Premier League team and get Leeds.)
A goalless draw at Reading might not seem like something to celebrate, but I was thrilled. I punched the air.
Leeds are on a good run. Six games without a defeat. But...
...before that we lost 4-0 at home to Cardiff, 6-4 at home to Preston (who are bottom of the league) and 5-2 at Barnsley.
A clean sheet and a point at a decent side like reading suits me fine.
The First World War
I am writing a book based in 1914-1919. It features a man who fought in the trenches, survived and went on to score England's first full international goal post-war.
It is hard. I have only written books set in the present before. I need to find out lots of stuff about stations and trenches and front rooms in 1914. Luckily I am writing the book with an expert on all those things.
I have not written a book with another person before. I thought it would be hard. But George is brilliant to work with. And I am learning a lot!
The Premier League
The Premier League is interesting, even for a Championship supporter. What's going on at Chelsea? How have Man U suddenly hit 7-1 sparkling form? Why do West Brom lose 3-0 at home to Stoke one day, then win 4-1 at Everton the next? And why didn't people listen to me when I said Jermaine Beckford was no a Premier League striker?
The FA Cup
It's the FA Cup draw today. Last year Leeds (div 3) drew Man U (Champions) and beat them at Old Trafford. I used that result for a year now, talking to tens of thousands of Man U fan children. I just dread drawing them again.
I'd like a nice home tie against someone not from the Premier League. For starters.
I hope you get the draw you want for your team (unless you support a Premier League team and get Leeds.)
Thursday 25 November 2010
World Cup 2018
One week to go before we find out if England is going to host the 2018 World Cup Finals. But there's trouble brewing.
How old are you now? Ten? Twelve? Forty-three? Add eight years to that an imagine a summer of football festivals all around the country, watching Brazil, Spain, etc. Meeting fans from every corner of the world and having a drink with them.
It'll be amazing.
But will we get the finals? It's looking doubtful. The English media has done a lot to unearth grave dodginess at FIFA and some of the dodgier ones at FIFA are not all that chuffed about it. BBC Panorama are doing a FIFA special early next week and people are worried that it'll undermine our bid.
So we'll see. If we don't get it I am going to set my football detective, Danny Harte, on the trail. Stamp out dodginess in football!
http://www.tompalmer.co.uk/
How old are you now? Ten? Twelve? Forty-three? Add eight years to that an imagine a summer of football festivals all around the country, watching Brazil, Spain, etc. Meeting fans from every corner of the world and having a drink with them.
It'll be amazing.
But will we get the finals? It's looking doubtful. The English media has done a lot to unearth grave dodginess at FIFA and some of the dodgier ones at FIFA are not all that chuffed about it. BBC Panorama are doing a FIFA special early next week and people are worried that it'll undermine our bid.
So we'll see. If we don't get it I am going to set my football detective, Danny Harte, on the trail. Stamp out dodginess in football!
http://www.tompalmer.co.uk/
Dan Tunstall
As this is the first time I've contributed to this blog, I'll kick off with a bit about myself. My name is Dan Tunstall, I'm from Leicester and I'm a writer of teenage fiction. My first novel, Big and Clever, was published last year.
My love of football is closely tied to my love of my hometown team, Leicester City. I went to my first match back in the dim and distant autumn of 1978. The football bug had started to bite me earlier that year, when I watched Ipswich beat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, and it really dug its teeth in during that summer's World Cup in Argentina - Archie Gemmill, Mario Kempes and all that ticker-tape...
Leicester were, in fact, pretty terrible during 1978/79, but by some strange coincidence, my dad managed to take me on one of the rare Saturday afternoons when it all came together. We stuffed Brighton 4-1, and I've been hooked ever since.
Thirty-two years on from that first match, it's fair to say I've had an eventful time as a Leicester fan. I started counting the promotions and relegations I've witnessed, but ended up running out of fingers. It's been the proverbial rollercoaster ride. The jury is still out on the new regime at Leicester. Sven Goran Eriksson is bringing a flavour of cosmopolitan sophistication, while a lot of fans are still hankering after Nigel Pearson's up-and-at-em style. In the end though, it's results that will decide. And if we're welcoming Arsenal at the Walkers Stadium next August, I don't think anyone will be moaning.
http://www.dantunstall.com/
My love of football is closely tied to my love of my hometown team, Leicester City. I went to my first match back in the dim and distant autumn of 1978. The football bug had started to bite me earlier that year, when I watched Ipswich beat Arsenal in the FA Cup Final, and it really dug its teeth in during that summer's World Cup in Argentina - Archie Gemmill, Mario Kempes and all that ticker-tape...
Leicester were, in fact, pretty terrible during 1978/79, but by some strange coincidence, my dad managed to take me on one of the rare Saturday afternoons when it all came together. We stuffed Brighton 4-1, and I've been hooked ever since.
Thirty-two years on from that first match, it's fair to say I've had an eventful time as a Leicester fan. I started counting the promotions and relegations I've witnessed, but ended up running out of fingers. It's been the proverbial rollercoaster ride. The jury is still out on the new regime at Leicester. Sven Goran Eriksson is bringing a flavour of cosmopolitan sophistication, while a lot of fans are still hankering after Nigel Pearson's up-and-at-em style. In the end though, it's results that will decide. And if we're welcoming Arsenal at the Walkers Stadium next August, I don't think anyone will be moaning.
http://www.dantunstall.com/
Monday 22 November 2010
What a Weekend!
What a weekend in the Premier League!
I listened to Arsenal 2 Spurs 3 on Radio Five while rearranging our small cellar for my wife. I have to admit I wanted Arsenal to win. If anyone can stop Man U or Chelsea winning the league, it's them. But I was disappointed.
My wife gives me jobs to do on Saturdays. She knows I'd like to spend the afternoon indoors, listening to the football on the radio. So, whatever she gives me to do, I do it. To illustrate that... I also had to drain a large plastic container of mud, making it into wet soil, then add some ash from the stove to it, before spreading it on the garden.
Why, I ask you?
Mud or no mud, I wasn't really interested in the Premier League. It was Norwich v Leeds that had my main attention. It had me agitated all afternoon.
I hate that feeling when the commentator says
"AND THERE'S BEEN SOME ACTION AT AT CARROW ROAD..."
Because, for a few seconds, you are left in the dark. Have Leeds gone 2-0 up and secured the points? Or have Norwich equalised? What mood am I going to be in for the rest of the weekend.
It was the latter. But a draw at Norwich is still a good result.
http://www.tompalmer.co.uk/
I listened to Arsenal 2 Spurs 3 on Radio Five while rearranging our small cellar for my wife. I have to admit I wanted Arsenal to win. If anyone can stop Man U or Chelsea winning the league, it's them. But I was disappointed.
My wife gives me jobs to do on Saturdays. She knows I'd like to spend the afternoon indoors, listening to the football on the radio. So, whatever she gives me to do, I do it. To illustrate that... I also had to drain a large plastic container of mud, making it into wet soil, then add some ash from the stove to it, before spreading it on the garden.
Why, I ask you?
Mud or no mud, I wasn't really interested in the Premier League. It was Norwich v Leeds that had my main attention. It had me agitated all afternoon.
I hate that feeling when the commentator says
"AND THERE'S BEEN SOME ACTION AT AT CARROW ROAD..."
Because, for a few seconds, you are left in the dark. Have Leeds gone 2-0 up and secured the points? Or have Norwich equalised? What mood am I going to be in for the rest of the weekend.
It was the latter. But a draw at Norwich is still a good result.
http://www.tompalmer.co.uk/
Thursday 18 November 2010
Helena Pielichaty
Hello. My name is Helena Pielichaty (pronounced pierre-li-hatty) and I am writing a series of books about girls’ football. It’s called Girls FC and you can visit my website on www.helena-pielichaty.com to find out more. There will be 12 books altogether and I am just finishing book 10.
The team I support is Huddersfield Town. I have been watching them play since 1981 which is when I met Pete, my future husband. He has supported them all his life, being Huddersfield born and bred. Before I met Pete I liked football but never went to any matches. When I was little I followed Leeds, like Tom, because I lived near there. Maybe if I’d been taken to the matches as a kid I would still be a Leeds supporter, or if my family hadn’t moved around so much. Who knows? It wasn’t until I moved to Huddersfield when I was 17 I realised there was so much rivalry between the two clubs.
The first Town match I went to was away to Wimbledon FC and I loved it. Attendance was pretty male dominated in those days and I quite liked that too, especially going for a game of pool and pie and peas afterwards. I was never one for all the lippy and hairdressers stuff. Town are having a pretty good season at the moment. If we can get a consistent run together we might be in line for promotion. Lee Clarke, the manager, seems to know what he’s doing.
I also follow the women’s game. England Women are better than the men’s in terms of world rankings. They qualified for next year’s World Cup in Germany much easier. I don’t have an affiliation to a particular league team but I do have a soft spot for OOH Lincoln Ladies as they are local to where I live and my daughter used to play for them (more of her later). I also follow the Lincoln Griffins FC, another Lincoln team. They helped me with my Girls FC books. The women’s game is going through huge changes at the moment. I’ll tell you more later.
I’m really excited about this blog. I hope you enjoy it, whoever you support.
http://www.helena-pielichaty.com/
Wednesday 17 November 2010
England v France - Tom Palmer
My name is Tom Palmer. I write football stories. And... I support Leeds United.
As I write England are losing 2-0 to France at home. And it's poor. It's worse than poor. Unless you're French.
I am watching it on TV in a Welsh hotel room. Tomorrow I have to talk to 200 Wales fans at Cardiff City's stadium. That's going to be fun, isn't it? Especially as Leeds lost 4-0 to Cardiff a couple of weeks ago.
But I can take it.
And look at the team. Apart from Ferdinand and Gerrard... and maybe Milner, none of these players would be first choice.
That's what I'll say to the Welsh mockers tomorrow.
But, really, England don't move me too much. Not like Leeds. I watch every assault on Leeds' goal like someone is twisting a knife in my stomach. With England it's more like a weak stomach ache.
Club versus country: how do you feel about it? Please comment at the bottom.
Maybe if there were some Leeds players in the team, I'd be more interested. But that's not likely just now...
http://www.tompalmer.co.uk/
As I write England are losing 2-0 to France at home. And it's poor. It's worse than poor. Unless you're French.
I am watching it on TV in a Welsh hotel room. Tomorrow I have to talk to 200 Wales fans at Cardiff City's stadium. That's going to be fun, isn't it? Especially as Leeds lost 4-0 to Cardiff a couple of weeks ago.
But I can take it.
And look at the team. Apart from Ferdinand and Gerrard... and maybe Milner, none of these players would be first choice.
That's what I'll say to the Welsh mockers tomorrow.
But, really, England don't move me too much. Not like Leeds. I watch every assault on Leeds' goal like someone is twisting a knife in my stomach. With England it's more like a weak stomach ache.
Club versus country: how do you feel about it? Please comment at the bottom.
Maybe if there were some Leeds players in the team, I'd be more interested. But that's not likely just now...
http://www.tompalmer.co.uk/
Welcome to Goal Lines - Tom Palmer
Lots of people like football.
Children's authors are people.
Therefore... lots of children's authors like football.
And this website is here to prove it. The plan is for a group of children's authors to blog their thoughts on the beautiful game. Several times a week a new writer will tell you:
(1) what they think of the latest football news
(2) who they support
Here goes.
Children's authors are people.
Therefore... lots of children's authors like football.
And this website is here to prove it. The plan is for a group of children's authors to blog their thoughts on the beautiful game. Several times a week a new writer will tell you:
(1) what they think of the latest football news
(2) who they support
Here goes.
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