You can never escape your football supporting roots. From the fateful day as a kid that you start going to matches and getting behind your team, there’s this unbreakable cord that binds you together for life. Sometimes you’re bound tightly; at others you think you might have escaped, that you’re finally free to live a normal life that’s not dominated by James Alexander Gordon’s pronouncements at 5pm on a Saturday afternoon. But that unbreakable bungee binding you and your team together always pulls you back.
Unless you choose to follow one of the “big” teams then your football-supporting life is likely to have more downs than ups – there are a lot of teams and only a few can win trophies or be promoted each season. But, if supporting a less fashionable outfit what you find is that the highs can be such great moments, largely because of their rarity.
I suppose I’m saying football is an addiction and you always want one more great hit. You have no right to expect you’ll get it, but the problem is there’s always hope. There’s always a secret belief you dare not speak that this season could be the one when everything clicks and you taste success again.
The great thing is that everyone starts every season equal, even if it’s with the classic Eurovision nil point (unless your team’s recently been in receivership). However bad your previous season has been (and there’s been little for a Derby fan to shout about for some time) you can always believe the new one will bring a surprise. Success in football is a lot about building and maintaining momentum – get on a good run and who knows where it will take you.
Derby County never begin a season well and are always playing catchup. Last season, after another dreadful start I was determined not to let the team’s performances get in the way of my day-to-day life. Then we had a brilliant run late in 2010 when we were unstoppable, playing the most attractive football seen at Pride Park for a decade. The bungee cord connecting me to my team reeled me right back in and I found myself going to games home and away. The club stormed from nowhere up to 4th place and I convinced myself promotion was just around the corner. How did things turn out? We finished a miserable 19th in the table, just three places above the drop zone.
Thankfully I spent much of the summer working in North America, still largely a football-free zone (especially when it comes to news of the Championship as opposed to the “English Premier League” or “EPL”). I arrived home, thoroughly jetlagged, about 2pm on Saturday 6th August, just an hour before the new season kicked off. Having avoided it all summer, I turned on Radio 5Live and Derby were the main commentary game.
It’s impossible to sleep on planes so by the time I reached home I’d been awake for almost forty hours. I crawled to my bed with the radio blaring out close to my ear. Fighting and failing to stay awake, the last thing I heard was us going a goal behind. I drifted off to sleep certain in the knowledge of another season of disappointment that I should do my best not to bother about.
The beeps of various texts woke me up. The Rams were victorious. Beating Birmingham City, a team in the Premier League last season, was no mean feat. I felt that elastic band yanking me and my team close together. Roll on Tuesday and the chance to get a second victory under our belts quickly in the Carling Cup at home against lower league Shrewsbury. What could go wrong? My excitement was mounting…
At half-time the score was Derby County 0 Shrewsbury Town 3. I blamed myself – I shouldn’t have gotten my hopes up. Saturday’s result was clearly a fluke. If only I could I should cut this giant bungee cord and walk away. But then we come back. Not enough to achieve a glorious morale-boosting victory, but a final score of 2-3 shows at least there’s hope.
This Saturday, away at Watford we win again. It’s backs to the wall stuff built on dogged defence but the boys are playing as a team – playing for each other. It’s only two wins but when you’re a Rams fan that equals the best league start since 1973 when Nigel Clough was already sitting in the dugout but his dad was in charge. We were third in the The League Table and only below Brighton in third by that narrowest of possible margins – alphabetical order. I’m well and truly back in the fold, the bungee wrapped tightly around me, binding me and my team close.
Win on Wednesday at Blackpool and we could be in an automatic promotion place. Hope springs eternal.
Visit the Keith Mansfield or Johnny Mackintosh (my football-playing hero's books) websites.
Sunday, 14 August 2011
Monday, 18 July 2011
Japan win the 2011 FIFA Women's World Cup
History was made yesterday when Japan became the first Asian team to win the Women's World Cup. They beat favourites USA in a thrilling contest that went to extra time and penalties. In Frankfurt the stadium was sold out with over 45,000 people watching the spectacle. In the UK, BBC3 showed it live on TV and Twitter went into meltdown. There were something like 7,000 tweets a second - a new record for the social network site. What was great on Twitter (I was joining in) was the general sense of admiration - from female fans, from sports pundits and from professional male players such as Rio Ferdinand and Cesc Fabrigas. Everyone was commenting on the standard of play, the passion and the understanding of the game both sides showed.
In the first half, USA were dominant and looked likely to win but although they had most possession and plenty of chances they couldn't convert. Then, early in the second half USA's super sub Morgan gave them the lead in the 68th minute. Japan, however, kept calm. They continued their dogged and determined passing game that eventually paid off with Miyama's goal in the 81st minute. Extra time was much more end to end with heroics from both teams' keepers and defenders. Again USA scored (the outstanding Wambach 104th minute) and again Japan replied, this one from the indefatigable Sawa four minutes from the end! to make it 2-2.
So yet another match was decided on penalties with Japan totally outshining a somewhat dejected USA to win convincingly 3-1.
World Cup honours:
Winners: Japan
Runners up: USA
Third: Sweden (AET)
Fourth: France
Golden boot: Homare Sawa (Japan)
Silver boot: Marta (Brazil)
Silver ball: Abby Wambach (USA)
Golden Glove: Hope Solo (USA)
Fair Play award: Japan
Best young player: Caitlin Foord (AUS)
Homare Sawa of Japan
As small consolation England's Alex Scott and Jill Scott were selected in FIFAs 'All Star' team of the tournament. I should also point out that England were the only team to beat Japan!
Other trivia:
- The German referee for the final. Bibiana Steinhaus, had to work overtime to be allowed time off from her job as a policewoman to officiate! Can you imagine that happening in the men's game?
- Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA, was booed by the crowd at the award ceremony. He is unpopular because he has little regard for the women's game and once said he might watch it if the women wore tighter tops. Ignoramus.
- Marta was also on the receiving end of some negativity from the crowd. The golden girl of football (FIFA Player of the Year) displayed a petulance not usually found in the women's game during the semi-final between Brazil and USA.
- England coach Hope Powell was reported to have stirred up a hornet's nest by calling the England team 'cowards' when they allegedly refused to volunteer to take the penalties during the shoot out against France (see earlier blog). It wouldn't surprise me if she were replaced over the next year or so.
- Germany and Norway, two of the top sides in the world, will not be able to participate in the 2012 Olympics owing to their early departure. This seems harsh to me. Team GB qualify because we're the hosts.
Helena Pielichaty http://www.helena-pielichaty.com/
Saturday, 9 July 2011
Three Lions on her shirt - Helena Pielichaty
So another campaign ends at the quarter final stage for England. The brave lionesses were sent out of the Women's World Cup last night after misses by Rafferty and White in a tense penalty shoot out. It was a huge blow. After drawing 1-1 against France in the first ninety minutes and hanging on by a thread through extra time because of injuries to Smith and White I began to think that maybe, just maybe, we might snatch victory especially after Bardsley saved the first penalty. Then there was Smith's conversion to boost hope further. For half an hour she'd been limping, barely able to move to the ball but remaining on the pitch because we had no more subs left. When she walked up to take the third penalty I was amazed. 'Come on! Surely someone else will take it? But I should have had more faith and I should have known the psychology of football better. No way was Smith going to give up this opportunity. This was her Stuart 'Psycho' Pearce moment. She buried it, no messing.
But our two misses to France's one ended the dream of progressing to the semis.
From a neutral's perspective the right team won. France had played the better football, created more chances and shown more flare but England never gave up. They dug in. Bardsley had been fantastic - man of the match for me - saving everything that came at her. So much so that France's equaliser, in the 88th minute, came as a shock. Deserved but a shock nevertheless.
A bigger shock came in the next quarter final. Germany, the hosts and favourites to win, lost to Japan a team England had beaten 2-0 in the group stages. Japan were so tenacious, doggedly absorbing everything the German side threw at them.
The remaining quarter finals are Sweden v Australia and Brazil v USA. Prepare for more upsets!
This Women's World Cup has been a joy. The standard of football has improved drastically over the last few years; so much so that it is now a spectacle worth watching. Gone are the days of heavy defeats and embarrassing moments. These women can play as crowds of over 20,000 per match (72,000 in the opener) testify.
Thursday, 2 June 2011
The End of Football? - Tom Palmer
Do you feel it on Saturdays? That lack of something.
My wife picks up on it. What's the matter with you? she asks. Have Leeds lost again?
No, I tell her. It's worse: they're not even playing.
But don't despair. There IS football. It's the Women's World Cup from 26 June. And England are in it to win it.
http://www.fifa.com/womensworldcup/matches/index.html
If you want to know more about the women's game, you are better listening to Helena Pielichaty than me. I hope she will be blogging about it here. She writes the Girls FC series and it is very good. Her daughter
used to play for West Brom.
I love football, so I will love watching England's women. But I still have my eye on 17 June, when the Leeds fixtures are out and on 31 July, when I am taking my daughter to Leeds v Newcastle, the pre-season game.
Tuesday, 31 May 2011
League One Play-off Final 2011 Huddersfield Town 0 Peterborough United 3
I blame Tom Palmer. If I hadn't bumped into him at Harshead Moor Services on the way to the match we wouldn't have lost. Having coffee with a Leeds United fan ahead of an important game like that was bound to influence the outcome.
It began so well, too. The atmosphere outside the ground was buzzing as 31,000 Town fans and 17,000 Posh fans descended on Trafford Way, our combined blue and white colours morphing into one. The air resonated with the sound of fans' singing and the pungency of fried onions from the numerous burger vans lining the surrounding streets. People took it in turns to take photographs beneath the iconic statue of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton outside the main entrance with Town fans having bragging rights as Denis was one of our players before Man U.
Despite its vastness compared to the Glapharm, Old Trafford is easy to navigate and we found our seats in the Stretford End nae bather. It does take your breath away as you come up the stairs and out into the 'ampitheatre' of dreams - especially when blue and white instead of red is the dominant colour. Dean Hoyle, chairman of HTAFC, bless him, had made sure the fans each had a 'Believe' t shirt on their seat to greet them. We were in one of the blue sections. It all added to the day.
The first half was OK. Not brilliant but OK. Peterborough probably edged it with their ace striker Craig Mackail-Smith proving a handful. Luckily Antony Kay was on full alert and made some timely tackles to prevent him scoring. At half-time our unbeaten run of 27 matches without loss was intact. Hopes were high. Town are renouned for coming out all guns blazing in the second half.
The play-off final proved no exception. We ran it. For 30 minutes we ran it. If you watched it on TV you'll know we ran it. Hunt, Roberts, Ward and Afobe were immense. making incisive runs into the box with Hunt's cross on 58 minutes coming so close to scoring the opener and a great chance for Afobe on 75. Then disaster. We gave away a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area. It took a slight deflection off Naysmith and Rowe scored on 78. We could have coped - we would have equalised, I'm sure - but two minutes later they scored again. Mackail-Smith (who else?) from a deflection off Kay. That second goal on 80 minutes was the killer. Town slumped. Heads went down. Tackles became less cautious in dangerous areas. Peter Clarke's foul set up their third on 85 minutes. Game over.
I barely noticed. I was distracted by things landing on my head from the upper tier. Dean Hoyles' t shirts were being lobbed by some 'fans' in disgust. Higher up to my right a fight had broken out. A fight! Among our own fans! Disgraceful scenes followed before stewards stepped in to eject the idiots. According to Twitter five or six men had been obnoxious all match, kicking off big time after the second goal. When people complained they turned on them, with one woman being spat at full in the face and a guy having his head kicked in - in front of horrified families. It beggars belief. I hope the bunch of morons are banned for life. Town, like every club, has always had a cretinous element among the rank and file of decent fans; it's just a pity they were allowed off their leashes for the final.
That soured things further to say the least. However, unlike some 'fans' - I'm having to use inverted commas a lot here - I stayed until the end. I clapped our lads. They'd given their all, not just today but throughout the season. Peter Clarke was in tears. Clarke, our toughest guy, our hard nut defender, crying his eyes out. Proof, if needed of how much he cared. Proof, if needed, that Town will be back, refreshed, regrouped and gunning for automatic. So yes, the 2010-11 season is officially over. In the words of the great philosopher, Vinny Jones, it's been emotional.
Roll on August!
Helena Pielichaty
PS Sorry about lack of images - I took loads of photos but Blogger's being awkward and won't let me download them. Will try again later.
It began so well, too. The atmosphere outside the ground was buzzing as 31,000 Town fans and 17,000 Posh fans descended on Trafford Way, our combined blue and white colours morphing into one. The air resonated with the sound of fans' singing and the pungency of fried onions from the numerous burger vans lining the surrounding streets. People took it in turns to take photographs beneath the iconic statue of George Best, Denis Law and Bobby Charlton outside the main entrance with Town fans having bragging rights as Denis was one of our players before Man U.
Despite its vastness compared to the Glapharm, Old Trafford is easy to navigate and we found our seats in the Stretford End nae bather. It does take your breath away as you come up the stairs and out into the 'ampitheatre' of dreams - especially when blue and white instead of red is the dominant colour. Dean Hoyle, chairman of HTAFC, bless him, had made sure the fans each had a 'Believe' t shirt on their seat to greet them. We were in one of the blue sections. It all added to the day.
The first half was OK. Not brilliant but OK. Peterborough probably edged it with their ace striker Craig Mackail-Smith proving a handful. Luckily Antony Kay was on full alert and made some timely tackles to prevent him scoring. At half-time our unbeaten run of 27 matches without loss was intact. Hopes were high. Town are renouned for coming out all guns blazing in the second half.
The play-off final proved no exception. We ran it. For 30 minutes we ran it. If you watched it on TV you'll know we ran it. Hunt, Roberts, Ward and Afobe were immense. making incisive runs into the box with Hunt's cross on 58 minutes coming so close to scoring the opener and a great chance for Afobe on 75. Then disaster. We gave away a free-kick on the edge of their penalty area. It took a slight deflection off Naysmith and Rowe scored on 78. We could have coped - we would have equalised, I'm sure - but two minutes later they scored again. Mackail-Smith (who else?) from a deflection off Kay. That second goal on 80 minutes was the killer. Town slumped. Heads went down. Tackles became less cautious in dangerous areas. Peter Clarke's foul set up their third on 85 minutes. Game over.
I barely noticed. I was distracted by things landing on my head from the upper tier. Dean Hoyles' t shirts were being lobbed by some 'fans' in disgust. Higher up to my right a fight had broken out. A fight! Among our own fans! Disgraceful scenes followed before stewards stepped in to eject the idiots. According to Twitter five or six men had been obnoxious all match, kicking off big time after the second goal. When people complained they turned on them, with one woman being spat at full in the face and a guy having his head kicked in - in front of horrified families. It beggars belief. I hope the bunch of morons are banned for life. Town, like every club, has always had a cretinous element among the rank and file of decent fans; it's just a pity they were allowed off their leashes for the final.
That soured things further to say the least. However, unlike some 'fans' - I'm having to use inverted commas a lot here - I stayed until the end. I clapped our lads. They'd given their all, not just today but throughout the season. Peter Clarke was in tears. Clarke, our toughest guy, our hard nut defender, crying his eyes out. Proof, if needed of how much he cared. Proof, if needed, that Town will be back, refreshed, regrouped and gunning for automatic. So yes, the 2010-11 season is officially over. In the words of the great philosopher, Vinny Jones, it's been emotional.
Roll on August!
Helena Pielichaty
PS Sorry about lack of images - I took loads of photos but Blogger's being awkward and won't let me download them. Will try again later.
Monday, 23 May 2011
For some of us the season isn't over...
Congratulations to Narinder Dhami and her team Wolves' Great Escape yesterday on Survival Sunday but hard lines to Ian Holloway's plucky Blackpool team who were relegated. However, for some of us the season continues. The mighty Huddersfield Town march on. This coming Sunday we meet up with Peterborough United at Old Trafford to decide who takes the last remaining place in the Championship. I hope you'll all be watching! I'll wave to you from the Stretford End if you do. We've sold 26,000 tickets already and two fans are travelling over from New Zealand.
It should be a great match. Sir Alex Ferguson's son, Darren, has done a fine job as manager of Peterborough. His side romped home in the second play-off semi-final leg against MK Dons. Town's match against Bournemouth was much more evenly balanced and went to penalties. Argh! Talk about tense. My nails are only just recovering.
Anyway, watch this space. Lee Clark's barmy army are on our way. Come on Town!
Helena Pielichaty
http://www.helena-pielichaty.com/
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
An Opportunity Missed - Dan Tunstall
So another season for Leicester City has come to an end.
Our final match was a 4-2 home win against Ipswich on May 7th, but the season effectively finished on Good Friday when we lost 3-2 at local rivals Nottingham Forest in a game we needed to win to have any realistic chance of making the Play-offs. Ironically, Forest's winner resulted from a goalkeeping howler by fans' favourite Chris Weale, recently restored to the team in place of the erratic Ricardo.
Looking back on the last nine months, 2010-2011 has to be considered a disappointment. A missed opportunity. There were no outstanding teams in the Championship this year, no Newcastles or West Broms, and after coming within a fluffed penalty kick of the Play-off final in 2010, hopes were high for this campaign. But things just didn't work out. Why? Well there are lots of reasons.
Parting company with Nigel Pearson in the summer was a big blow, and the short, disastrous reign of Paolo Sousa didn't help. The arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson got our season under way again, but we'd left ourselves too much to do. In the end we were like the runner who fell over on the starting line, ran like a maniac to catch up with the pack, but was too tired to kick on round the last bend. Considering we were bottom of the table after ten games, to finish tenth was a decent achievement. But really, we were hoping for so much more.
Perhaps our biggest problem was our inconsistency. Two statistics sum up Leicester City in 2010-2011. Firstly, we scored more goals at home (48) than any other side in the Championship. But balanced against that, we conceded more goals away from home (44) than Preston and Sheffield United, two of the teams relegated to League One.
All in all though, I'm not too downhearted. I've seen worse. Much, much worse. And as the transfer speculation starts to mount, I can't help thinking this is going to be an interesting summer.
Roll on August...
www.dantunstall.com
Our final match was a 4-2 home win against Ipswich on May 7th, but the season effectively finished on Good Friday when we lost 3-2 at local rivals Nottingham Forest in a game we needed to win to have any realistic chance of making the Play-offs. Ironically, Forest's winner resulted from a goalkeeping howler by fans' favourite Chris Weale, recently restored to the team in place of the erratic Ricardo.
Looking back on the last nine months, 2010-2011 has to be considered a disappointment. A missed opportunity. There were no outstanding teams in the Championship this year, no Newcastles or West Broms, and after coming within a fluffed penalty kick of the Play-off final in 2010, hopes were high for this campaign. But things just didn't work out. Why? Well there are lots of reasons.
Parting company with Nigel Pearson in the summer was a big blow, and the short, disastrous reign of Paolo Sousa didn't help. The arrival of Sven Goran Eriksson got our season under way again, but we'd left ourselves too much to do. In the end we were like the runner who fell over on the starting line, ran like a maniac to catch up with the pack, but was too tired to kick on round the last bend. Considering we were bottom of the table after ten games, to finish tenth was a decent achievement. But really, we were hoping for so much more.
Perhaps our biggest problem was our inconsistency. Two statistics sum up Leicester City in 2010-2011. Firstly, we scored more goals at home (48) than any other side in the Championship. But balanced against that, we conceded more goals away from home (44) than Preston and Sheffield United, two of the teams relegated to League One.
All in all though, I'm not too downhearted. I've seen worse. Much, much worse. And as the transfer speculation starts to mount, I can't help thinking this is going to be an interesting summer.
Roll on August...
www.dantunstall.com
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