Olympic Football 1

The Olympic Games came to Newcastle on Thursday and was there for Mexico playing South Korea and the Gabon playing Switzerland. I left the ground at half time in the second game in order to return home in time to watch England play at Old Trafford.

I had an early meal of three veggie sausages and a beef burger with the remains of beans and tinned tomatoes with one of the small cans of fizzing drink before leaving the house at noon with a view to arriving at the stadium around one and ninety minutes before the commencement the first game at 14.30. I had no idea of how empty the 52000 stadium would be but there were others going on the Metro train and in the city centre there were small groups of Mexicans in their national costumes of sombreros, moustaches and blankets, attire which I suspected they would not wear at home. I assumed the Mexicans would outnumber those coming from South Korea. I also speculated on how entry would be made into the stadium compared to normal match days

What happened is that roads surrounding the stadium at the Gallowagate end and the East stand were closed off which isolated the Strawberry pub. Before reaching the ground I came across a number of Newcastle Ambassadors, with a couple at the Metro station handing out information to commuters and shoppers on the number of games being played and the availability of tickets. There were others to assist visitors from other countries and other parts of the UK to the city. At the Monument a screen had been erected with deckchairs to enable shoppers take time off to watch events live. Around the perimeter to the ground in addition to the police there were security officers dressed in black separate from the stewards inside the ground.

There was a huge queue for tickets with a report of thousand people still in line when they game commenced and with the promise of a better approach before the next series of two games on Sunday when Japan plays Morocco and Spain Honduras. There was no queue to get in one of the turnstiles into the East stand where my seat was very close to where I had a season tickets for about five years, having previously had one in the North East corner for over a decade although there was a been move to the North West corner during further ground development. I had one year’s experience in one of the seats in the main stand with an attached lounge, about twice the cost of the standard season and which gave you the privilege of a smoked filled bar before and after each game.

It looked as if there was a policy to pack as many people as possible into East stand so the camera would give the overall impression of more people than there were although I had a seat free to one side. There was no one behind until just before the second match and more about that later. It was said that approximately 15000 attended the first game with I suspect less than half this for the start of the second game and even less after half time given the hundreds who like me left at half time.

In the stadium the supporters for the two countries appeared to be closer in number than anticipated with a good contingent of perhaps 100 from the Republic of Korea behind the Gallowgate goal as well as elsewhere in the stadium including one young man sitting in the row in front of me besides a Mexican couple in their forties, could have been older. The Korean Team, as their supporters, were organised and I wondered how many of the supporters were members of the forces rewarded for their conduct and loyalty. This contrasted with the Mexicans who appeared determine to have a good time with their wave being introduced from time to time and a drum which beat incessantly throughout most of the game.

In terms of the game the Koreans dominated most of the game but although they could not take the many chances which came their way. There was little to cheer for the Mexicans fans although they had perhaps the better chances albeit few. The game was 0.0. At half time and at its end. It was not great football but great theatre despite the two thirds empty stadium. Later I learned many had come but left because of the length of queue as kick off approached. I read reports that there would be an attempt to improve the situation for the next double game on Sunday.

Because of the early meal I was hungry and went for the food concessions optimistically. The food concession had been given to one company who provided pies beef, pies chicken curry and pies cheese at £3.60. Chips were advertised but I did not see any sold. There were small tins of Pringles for £1.50 with colds drinks £2.60 and coffee from on one outlet on the East side for £2.20. No receipts given and only cash. I invested in Chicken Balti pie as the couple of beef left were burnt and there was no cheese, a can of Pringles and a coffee cost a total of £7.30, the most expensive snack ever. However needs must. I will adopt a different approach on Sunday.

Although most of the Mexicans and it appeared all the Republic of South Korea supporters left before the start of the second game, the actual football was better between a professional Swiss team and an enthusiastic but not well organised Gabon. The Swiss scored early on and looked as if it was going to be a one sided rout. The Gabon was enthusiastic and adventuresome when the rare opportunities arose to mount an attack on their opponents but they were reward with a goal before interval which delighted the home supporters who took to the underdogs. This ended 1.1 as I discovered on returning home.

I must mention Josh, India, Jasmine and Angelina who sat behind with their parents and who clearly had not been taken to a football match before, competed for the attention of their father whose idea I suspect the decision to take the youngsters to the game because it was the Olympics and who were clearly bored and wanting to be themselves. For the greater part of the game I was knocked as the children passed by and my seat was kicked. Also the young couple so after tolerating this for greater part of the half I turned to the young person involved and asked her not to do it, something which her parents should have done. I am mentioning this because her father then asked her to apologise to me whereas she was just being a child and any apology should have come from him or his wife who appeared to separate herself from her children and made no comment about their behaviour. The father threatened to take one back to the car but this was obviously the kind of threat he had made in the past with little effect on the miscreant although as I say given the age of the children, the miscreants were the parents.

I had a good journey back to South Shields making my way up the hill tired but having enjoyed the experience and looking forward to first game of British men although the team comprises English and Welshmen only with Scotland and Ireland unwilling to participate.

The problem with this team is that unlike the British female squad they have only played one competitive game together and the rules restrict the number of senior players in the squad to three with David Bellamy and Ryan Giggs selected in order to bring in the maximum of Welsh performers and excluding David Beckham who has done much to bring the Olympics to London and had grown up in the East End of London. He wanted to be in the team was and was disappointed at not being selected with led some of the media to attempt a campaign against the decision, the same people I suspect who are against Pearce the British Team Coach as they were against the decision not to appoint Rednapp as the English Manager. Although how much of this campaign was generated on behalf of Harry or to cause trouble can only be speculation. It was a Tottenham player who disgraced himself by withdrawing from the British Team and then playing for his team in a friendly. Gareth Bale was rightly pilloried by the British commentators before the game and should be rightly booed whenever he appears on football grounds in England and Wales during the coming season. He let the UK down badly. Traitor.

The commentators used to partisan and scum nature of football crowds at their worst were also clearly put out by the friendly family Olympic spirit of the crowd at the stadium and had clearly forgotten the difference between sportsmanship and professionalism. Unexpectedly the GB team scored a goal early on with an excellent shot from Bellamy who has matured over the years since his days at Newcastle. However the opponents were a strong team and merited their equalizer in the final moments of the game.

The live action had commenced the previous day with the GB women’s team which was the established English Internationally proven team together with two excellent Scottish players. They not only won their game but did so again last night with an impressive 3.0 victory to guarantee them a place in the quarter finals even if as expected they lose to Brazil, the likely winners, and hosts for 2016 games.

While the Olympic games and my experiences of them will dominate the news for the next 16 days International strife and political life as well as the economic instability continues to be greater importance to the majority of the billions of us who live on the planet and there will be those who condemn the expenditure on the games, question the value and legacy or who are just not interested. It is estimated that 30 million people that is one in two watched the Opening ceremony of the games on Friday night which suggests that in addition to those running pubic transport, the emergency services, in hospital, in the armed forces there was about half the population engaged elsewhere including a majority of these not watching from choice.

One development was the news that the Government and organised a trade summit conference, inviting the Chief Executives of the biggest International companies for a pre Games conference and no doubt free tickets to the Opening ceremony and which coincided with the latest figure indicating a deeper and longer lasting second recession that anyone had forecast and hoped for. This led to the Liberal Lord Oaskshott calling for the replacement of Chancellor George Osborne mentioning the competence of Vince Cable and tow former liberals left the government under a cloud as having the kind of business experience which the country required comparing them to the present Chancellor who and spent his careers within the Westminster bubble. This will never happen as Osborne and Cameron are welded together and if one falls both will so this could be considered end of term political massiveness on the part of a leading member of the LIB Dem establishment for the way the Tories failed to promote the House of Lord Reform legislation.

The media on the look out for disasters and problems was rewarded later when someone in Scotland confused the flag of North Korea for the South Koreans and presented the players on screen with the flag of their hated neighbours. This was a major mistake by someone as the players were not individually introduced on screen at St James park it suggests this was not the fault of those at Hampden Park but of the makers of the software for the player presentation programme. There was immediate political repercussion.

It has also been discovered that it will not be possible for some spectators to see the top of diving stand which will mean money being refunded, another great disaster especially of seats are to be occupied by the travelling families of competitors or other visitors. This an extraordinary mistake and I do not understand while the problem was not spotted before now.

There were also the expected gripes about the coming into effect of the special through road lanes required for the Olympic Games as part of the contract. This is to enable signatory’s participants to move freely across London to and from venues. This is largely nonsense and people trying to get compensation which Home Office staff at Heathrow and elsewhere try on but withdrew when the government stepped in with the intention of taking a High Court injunction. The threat was withdrawn at the last minute with the union lying about the reason for the climb down. Train workers are also trying to increase their special led by the notorious RMT union. It has become the everyone on the make games for many although the sums that have been involved are huge. The other problem was the cable car system at the Olympic village which also failed for a while

Part of the focus on shortcomings is political because the decision to create a separate company for the detailed games management thus attempting to isolate the government and the IOC committee from responsibility when the usual mishaps occur. This device always fails because the current government is also blamed and rightly so.

My other moan was for the BBC coverage of the Torch relay which kept crashing without explanation often at crucial moments. Having said this all 24 additional stations are in operation on the red button or as separate sports channels on Sky. I am going to be overwhelmed.

Go Wiggo Go. The Supremacy of British Cycling

The sun shines again on this Sunday before the commencement of the 2012 London Olympic Games and I am particularly thrilled because Sky is going to show the games in 3D via Eurosport thus it gets over the BBC broadcasting monopoly. The BBC will have one channel for every sport, all 24 as well as endless repeats and highlight programmes. It is going to be amazing. It already is when one of the great events of all time in the history of sporting achievement by a British Athlete took place as Bradley Wiggins rode into the centre of Paris to win the Tour De France.

This is also the day when the nation gets into gear for the start of the Olympic Games on Friday and is also a special day because the Olympic Torch passed through Croydon where I was born and on to Wimbledon via Sutton for the Andy Murray and Venus Williams to parade the Torch around the famous tennis stadium. The live feed crashed out over lunchtime. From the map they went down Duppas Hill from South Croydon to Waddon and along to south Wallington via Beddington Park to Carshalton and then to Sutton.

The crowds throughout the day have been huge and among those carrying the Torch was Patrick Stewart in Croydon, Andy Murray and Venus Williams and Tim Henman. The details of all 8000 Torch bearers is available on the 2012 Torch Relay site except for the name of the individual who will light the Olympic Flame at the Athletic stadium

Bradley Wiggins had ridden flat out for most of the 3000 kilometres apart from to day when in the 50 kilometre of the ride before reaching Paris the riders relax. They then complete a seven times circuit in which the first is more ceremonial before the serious racing in which Bradley and the Team grouped together in order to provide the opportunity for Mark Cavendish the World speed champion to successfully win the final stage for the fourth year in succession. Moreover standing on the platform with the overall winner was the British rider Chris Froome as second. Before this the highest placed rider in the completion has finished 4th. Bradley had become the overall race leader on stage 8 a position which he held throughout the rest of this 20 stage competition made up of mountain climes, time trial, distant stretches and speed finishing. Mark won three speed finish stages with Bradley 2 and Froome 1 with fellow Olympic Team member David Miller riding for a different team also winning stage thus British riders one every three stages in the race. The achievement of Mark Cavendish was also extraordinary as he has now won more stage in this competition than any other speed rider and no one before has won three let alone 4 consecutive stages.

As a school boy I dreamed of owning bicycle and I had to wait until I was thirteen or fourteen and had a cerise Raleigh with dropped handlebars and eventually a double clanger gear change. I used the bicycle first to go to school and back but on leaving school I joined a cycle club and had several memorable trips of over 100 miles in the countryside around London. I was not involved in racing other than getting up early to stand at some junction to wave the rider in a race in the right direction. My closest friend and a relative came on one open meeting when we met up with Catholic cycling clubs from throughout the greater London area. As with many activities and sports there was a unique culture and camaraderie which I have continued to remember with affection As I reached my forties I took up cycling again this time with a stronger and low level cycle rather than lightweight hill climbing multi gear racing vehicle than mine became.

Because of this experience and my interest in achievement in sports I followed the Tour de France for many years until it become enveloped with drug taking and as with Boxing and Athletics decided that it was wrong to support something which had proved such a bad example for young people.

The first cyclist who caught the British imagination in what had remained a minor sport until the 2008 Olympics was Reg Harris a sprint racer on the Track from Birtle nearly Bury in Lancashire. He became a world champion and in 1948 won a silver Medal at the London held games and as well as in the Tandem sprint, He was a voted a top Sportsman by Journalists.

It was Tom Simpson who finished 6^th in the Tour de France until Robert Miller in 1984 who finished 4th who achieved International success in the road racing branch of the sport. He was the first cyclist to win BBC Sportsman of the Year in 1965. He became the Elite Men’s World Champion that year after winning a bronze in the 1956 Melbourne Games.

The next Champion was Hugh Porter who became world pursuit champion in 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1973 as well as two silvers and a Bronze. Born Wolverhampton he combined a track and road, He was inspired after watching Reg Harris. He married the British swimming gold medallist Anita Lonsbrough after meeting her at the Tokyo games in 1964

The next individual in the hall of cycling fame and who can be said to have launched the modern era of British Cycling. Born in 1968 at Hoylake in the Cheshire Wirrral Chris Boardman won a Gold medal in 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona 4000m individual pursuit and he became World Champion for this event in 1994 and 1996. His attention turned to the Tour De France where he won three stages. He developed osteoporosis at the age of 30. The treatment would have involved taking a banned substance so he attempted to continue without the treatment until the 2000 Olympics two years later to end on a high note, He finished 11^th. In addition to his riding achievements he introduced the Superbike when he won gold in 1992. He continues to hold the world record for the covering the greatest distance in an hour both using the old form cycle and the new.

This brings me to the 2008 Olympic Games when Chris Hoy led that extraordinary team with thirteen of the fourteen members gaining a medal and this included eight golds bearing in mind that back in in 1996 the entire British team covering all the sports included gained one Gold Medal which was understandable regarded as a national Disgrace. Chris was knighted and will lead out the GB team on Friday having been voted to carry the flag by a majority of the other British Team Members. Other who became famous in 2008 included Victoria Pendleton and Bradley Wiggins. The most famous until then was Mark Cavendish from the Isle of Man who was World Champion in 2005, 2008 and again in 2011. He proved to be the only member of the 2008 team who returned without an Olympic Medal.

He has become the most successful rider in the Tour De France not just in the UK but almost without Peer in the world has won 23 stages in his career as well as winning the four final stages into Paris in succession as previously mentioned. He will compete for the first medal of the games to be decided this Saturday and if this is achieved he will ignite the goal of the British team to win more medals in more sports than achieved in 2008.

The so far unsung hero of the 2012 Tour de France is Chris Froome born in Kenya of British parents he moved to South Africa and it was only last year that be burst into International attention with a second overall place in the Grand Tour events, He joined Team Sky in 2008,. His achievement finishing second to Bradley Wiggins is even more remarkable having lost a minutes early on because of a puncture and then had a bad crash on stage 3. It was Bradley the year before who broke his collar bone after a crash and had to leave the tour. Froome won his first stage on the Tour this year and is considered a good prospect for being the overall winner in the future.

I should also mention the other stage winner who was not a member of the Sky Team but is a member of 2012 Olympic Squad, David Miller, controversial because he was banned for two year after an admission he had taken a banned substance. He has won seven stages in the Tour De France and has worn all the available Jerseys as some point his during ten year road racing career at International level.

This brings me to Bradley Wiggins both 28^th April 1980, Bradley has an English mother and an Australian father added to which he was born in Ghent where his father was professional cyclist. His mother and father separated when he was only two years of age and he paid tribute to her winning the Tour as well as in a special documentary which has featured on ITV 4 over the past week. He was brought up in Kilburn by his bother, stepfather and grandparents, He has a half brother.

He joined the famous Herne Hill Cycling club at the age of 12 years and rode for Camden in the London Youth Games. At 20 he came third in the team pursuit at 2000 Olympic Games. In 2004 he became the first British Athlete to win three Medals at one game since Mary Peters 40 years before including an individual gold and team gold plus a bronze. He was made an OBE in the New Year Honours. And he won these same two Golds again in 2008. He has six World Championship Medals, three silvers and a bronze. His OBE was converted to a Commander in 2009.

The success of Team Sky came about because of the genius of the main had managed the British Cycle team in 2004 and 2008 and who will do so again this week, David Brailsford. Born in 1964 be commenced a professional cycling career at 19 and then commenced a degree in sports sciences and psychology and then followed this up with a Master in Business studies. Awarded an OBE in 2004 this was increased to a CBE in 2008 when he was also awarded the BBC Sports Personality Coach of the Year. He is the next most likely candidate for a knighthood although it can be expected that Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish will also find themselves recognised in similar fashion when their careers end if not before. I should also mention Sean Yates the Sky Team Director of Sport with experience of riding in 9 Tours de France and a British National Road Race Champion.

The enlarged British Olympic Team is not expecting the same level of dominance as in 2008 because other teams have progressed with the technology of the bicycles, the preparation which including nutrition and psychology to same level. However it is unlikely any other sport will be as successful, including rowing and sailing.

Tennis Marray and Murray at Wimbledon

Sunday July 8th could have proved as memorable a day as was Saturday when through the amazing efforts of the ground staff at Emirates Durham Cricket Ground at the Chester Le Street Riverside, the waterlogged playing area was drained, dried and watched over until 1.30 am before returning at 4.30 am to achieve a start at 10.45 and a professional England Victory which gave the home side a 3.0 taking of the 5 match series with one game already cancelled because of the weather. The last game in the series at Old Trafford Manchester has been delayed because of the wet weather with a pitch inspection at 3 pm for the afternoon evening day night game. The game did get a start at 5 pm with a reduced number of overs from 50 to 32.

Australia batted first after England won the toss and only Bailey 46 offered resistance as the visitors had another bad batting day ending their 32 overs at 146 for 7. Bopara had 2 wickets for 8 runs off his four overs while Treadwell had two for 32 off his 7 overs. The England innings was disrupted by a further rain break which reduced their innings to 29 overs and a revised target according to the Duckworth Lewis formula. Captain Cook with 58 and Bopara with 53 not out, the man of the match broke the hearts of the Aussi’s and England comfortably gained the required runs in 27.1 overs and with 7 wickets to spare thus gaining a 4.0 win. The win gives England a 1 point lead over South Africa at the top of the world rankings with Australia now pushed into third position.

It also proved a good Tuesday especially as there was a 3D replay of replay of Monday’s game in 3D when Warrington beat the Catalan Dragons, the most improved Rugby League side in the Premiership, by 15 points to 6 in a hard fought top notch game. This brought Warrington second and in good shape for their Challenge Cup semi Final next weekend. Talking of Premiership both ESPN and Sky have published their opening live games. Throughout July and in early August ESPN are showing the friendly games of Newcastle, Man City, Arsenal and Liverpool. Newcastle game against Monaco on Monday opens the broadcasting of 20 Friendly Internationals involving the top Premiership Clubs


For Newcastle’s home game against Spurs on Saturday August 18th for is on ESPN (1) followed by the away game against Chelsea on the following Saturday (2). Sunderland’s game against Liverpool is on the 15th of September (3) the week after the visit to the Paralympic games. On the Monday 17th Everton’s game against Newcastle is on Sky (4). On October 6th Man City’s game against Sunderland(5)  followed by Newcastle home to Manchester United(6), Sunderland entertain Newcastle  Sunday lunchtime 21st October(7) with Newcastle at Liverpool(8) on November 4th. Sunderland are then at Fulham on 18th November (9). Thus for 9 of the first 14 weeks of the season either Newcastle or Sunderland are showing and with Newcastle’s opening games being shown I will be able to judge if I want to see a live game at the ground before the cold sets in. There will also be the International fixtures where Newcastle will aim to do exceptionally well.

In addition to the England win on the Saturday morning there was further triumph to be enjoyed on Saturday evening when Jonathan Marray of England won the men’s doubles championship at Wimbledon for the first time since 1936. Jonathan was born 10th March 1981 in Liverpool with ambitions to be a professional singles player reaching a ranking of 215 in 2005 after having reached the third round at Queens in 2004. He failed to make further progress in part because of injuries and developed his game as a doubles player in which he has had some success and prior to the Wimbledon competition. Given that he was not only unseeded but had to be given a wild card invitation because of the failure to submit forms with his original partner his emergences at a top 20 ranked player in the world is remarkable. He moved up to 21st from 76 while his Danish partner moved from 87 places to 24th. The Danish partner had signalled his intention to concentrate on his singles’ career but it will be interesting to see what he now does given the increase in potential earnings his role as a Doubles Grand Slam champion offers.

Marray reached the third round of the Wimbledon doubles five years ago, his highest success in a major Grand Slam competition until now He reached the third round at Wimbledon again in 2009 which enabled him to achieve a ranking within the top 200 double players in the world. He played in the French open in 2010 with his brother Jamie losing in the first round. He was beaten in the second round at Wimbledon in 1011 and won two rounds in the USA open partnered by Jamie Delgardo and this partnership has proved successful on three ATP tours where he won five of seven finals reached. This year he lost in the first round of the Australian open and in the French he again lost in the first round with a new partner Dustin Brown.

With his new partner, the Dane Frederick Neilsen he reached the final of one competition which they lost in three sets. He was to have competed with someone else at Wimbledon but they did not get their paper work competed in time hence the allocation of a wild card. He has played with a wide range of other players on the Professional tour winning a number of championships sufficient to enable him to make a good living in terms of the expense of travelling and accommodation required training and other support staff.

On the way to the final they beat two seeded players, making three in all. They had a chance of winning the match in the fourth set which they lost on the tie break 6-7. The won the deciding fifth set 6.3. The win enabled him to break into the top 50 doubles ranking for the first time and he can now be regarded as the British number 1 doubles. He and his partner each won $200000. It was evident from his interviews after winning on the Saturday and then on the Sunday  that he is yet to grasp the full significance of being the only male Winner of a Gram slam game for men, singles, mixed doubles and doubles since 1936. His performance was overshadowed by the anticipation of an Andy Murray victory. It is to be hoped that Jonathan will now receive the recognition his achievement is due.

I debated staying home to watch the final between Andy Murray and Roger Federer on the 3D TV until finding it was not being shown until 3.30 presumably not to undermine the 3D showings in the cinema at both Odeon’s and Cineworld with scheduled showings listed as 1.45 although from the experience of watching the World Club I anticipated that it might be only a few minutes before the commencement of the arrival of the players on court that the relay would commence. I was still hesitant about going to the cinema after finding there was no scheduled showing at Bolden although several other Cineworlds were listed. The Odeon at Silverlink was listed but several attempts to book tickets on line failed. I then rang through to the Telephone and it appeared that the show was on with tickets available.

I decided that I would visit early in the morning with sufficient time to get home if there was no show or all seats had been taken. I was able to use the prepaid disk to use the Tyne Tunnel at reduced cost noting that I had a low credit warning. I was confident I had enough for the return journey although as a precaution I did have cash to ready when I made my way home. I will add additional funds when this writing is complete.

The Silverlink shopping area is located just off the roundabout after the Tyne Tunnel on the AI as it crosses the dual carriageway out of Newcastle eastward to Whitely Bay. When one enters the large car park areas with space for 1500 cars and with the stores on two sides one does not immediately gain an impression of the size of the individual stores which makes them the largest I have seen as single storey buildings.

There is Marks and Spencer’s, Boots, JD Sports. Halfords, Mothercare, River Island, SCS Furniture, Sports Direct, Outfit, Next, Comet, Argos, Bens Beds, Halfords and Pound Store, plus We got it and New Look with PC World. There are also three restaurants McDonalds as one enters the site and Frankie and Benny’s and Pizza Hut either side of the Odeon Cinema which dominates the site at a raised level at the far end of the site.

I parked by the cinema and then after a short queue wait decided on a Premier seat at the premium price of £14.50. I had brought my own glasses. The Premium seats are wider with arm rests which can be raised and plenty of leg room. Given that the minimum price for a seat at the final is over £100 plus the travel and accommodation costs and that debenture seats were being exchanged for several thousand pounds I decided to treat myself in preparation for a disappointment.

I then made my way for a standard MacChicken Meal with Pepsi drink to take out and enjoyed in the car having stopped at the supermarket on the way for a copy of the Sunday Telegraph at £2. The total expenditure was therefore £25 including Tyne Tunnel fees plus ice cream during the match plus petrol. I mention the cost in this instance as I would win £20 if Federer won and £115 if Murray plus return of my stake of £40

I had made an initial bet with Ladbrokes of £25 for Murray to win at odds of 5 to 1. The same odds are available for the Olympic Games

I had opened an account with Ladbrokes to make use of the £25 free matching bet and invested this on Murray beating Chilic at odds of 1 to 4 on. This only produced a win of £6.25 as the free bet stake is not returned

I therefore made a new stake of £15 using £3 of the win for an £18 stake for Murray to win 4 to 9 against Ferrer in the next round yielding a net win of £8 return of stake £16 and £3.25 still in credit.

I then bet £27 for Murray to beat Tsonga at 4:9 and win £12 with return of stake and £2, 25 in credit. This was the most speculative of the additional stake bets as Tsonga had shown great form at the French but Murray had beaten the Frenchman several times. He had won the first two sets in imperious manner but then Tsonga came to life  taking the third and looked good in the fourth before Murray was able to take command again and became the first Brit to reach the Men’s final for seventy four years. Of course I wanted to Murray to win as did the majority of the British nation although Tennis is not as popular a sport as many others.

I therefore decided to hedge bet using the £40 made up of £15 additional stake and £25 winnings on Federer to beat Murray at 1:2 yielding a win of £20 plus credit wins £1.25 and return of £ 40 which is the total amount of personal money betted.

The last time I was here for a sporting event I became agitated over the delay before the game was screened unaware that for the 3D events there was to be a separate broadcast unlike the HD relays of previous rounds where the TV edition with the build up was used. I was therefore relaxed and it was others attending who became anxious when 1.45 arrived and there was nothing on the screen. Eventually someone explained that they were waiting for the official relay to commence which did so shortly after this with build up film and comments by the former British Canadian Greg Rudeski.

It took sometime to adjust to camera angles of the 3D relay. For the BBC the cameras are above head level so it possible to see the ball when it reaches the ground across the net.  Here the camera are more at the level of the rackets from the server viewpoint  so you get a full measure of the speed and the ability of players to hit a ball from below the net, get it over and down all in one single movement. Every shot was repeated sometimes switching between server and receiver cameras after the point was played out. I found this added to my understanding of the skill of the players.

I became very excited as the first set progressed with Andy breaking serve, Federer breaking back but then Murray breaking again to take the set 6 to 4 for the first time in Grand Slam final have been defeated  3 sets to none in each of the  three previous final he had contested, including 3.0 defeat to Federer. Murray played some great confident Tennis. Federer appear the nervous one and was making an extraordinary number of unforced errors.

Murray and two good opportunities to break Feeder’s serve in the second set both with two break points. Federer seemed to step up several gears to fight on and then took the set himself to one set all. It was during. Then it commenced to rain and the court covered before the roof was closed. The supporters on the big screen hill were drenched and I compared their experience to my own. The screen is on the far side of Wimbledon close to what is now the Number 1 court. I took the opportunity of the delay to go my car for the phone which I had left in the vehicle and to buy the ice cream as well as comfort visit. I sense the moment had passed and feared the worst because  Federer is more comfortable in a closed environment and he became faultless and inspired where as Murray expressed his grow frustration and lack of confidence with a series of failed first serves. The third set was lost and failure loomed when he was broken midway during the fourth. He then appeared to make a courageous go for broke attempt but by then Federer showed no sense of being threatened and brought the game to an end. Murray was understandably upset and made a brave effort to congratulate the winner and to thank his team his family and the public for their support.

I returned home to find that Durham had only been able to tie their 20 20 game against Lancs and had failed in their bid to win a quarter final place in the competition.  I had looked at the PC speakers and Cinema Sound speakers at the PC World but deferred a purchase until the outcome of the match became known. I continued to read the Sunday paper over the following two days.

4th one day International Cricket match between England and Australia 20122

Yesterday Saturday 7th July 2012 was a great day for British Sport as was the Friday but alas Sunday turned into disaster and speculation of what might have been. There was no ecstasy as a spectator but some agony yesterday which I will attempt to encompass in one piece covering the three days as there is so much of political interest that has occurred over the past three weeks and continues to do so. Other TV included the Sopranos, Prisoner of War, the New Wallander with Kenneth Branagh, Antiques Road Show and films experienced and much else will have to wait although with no cricket to watch this week I hope to write a piece a day until next weekend when my attention will be devoted to participating in the Mouth of the Tyne of Festival at Tynemouth.

Saturday was an important day for English Cricket and its major rivalry with Australia and in particular for Durham County Cricket Club. The day went perfectly despite the atrocious weather beforehand and my guest who had braved the road conditions to travel from the Midlands was able to participate in what proved to be a celebration of  the new standard of world class professionalism on the part of the English Cricket Team and of a true coming of age of the Durham Cricket Club ground with an almost full house of 15000 with tickets costing £55, every Box and hospitality area take and huge profit made by the concessions providing alcohol with beer and cider £4 a pint and Laithwaites wine from £22 to £26 a bottle and £5 a 175 medium size glass. There was much to note in addition to the cricket.

The weather forecast had been ominous with a month’s rain forecast to fall in the 24 hours before the game and overnight. Fortunately this rain was concentrated in the South West and although there was a period of continuous rain in the region it was nothing like as heavy as recently experienced and over by late afternoon. This enabled the ground staff to clear the outfield to make it playable and for a prompt start at the scheduled time of 10.45. This amazed everyone with the game at Nottingham abandoned without a ball being bowled and the first two matches delayed because of rain.

When the first one day and Test match International events were held at the Riverside ground there were problems with private vehicles attempting to reach the ground at the same time and traffic became banked up on the A1M motorway and on to the slip roads down to the roundabout which leads to Chester Le Street town centre and the Riverside ground. With the introduction of Park and Ride this was greatly reduced and the potential for crowds being held up and not reaching their seats in the time for the start of the match.

I was determined to set off early and although a little later that planned was on the way by 8.45 to reach the ground around 9.30. Driving along the main road to the commencement of the AIM a warning light indicator showed up on the dash board so I stopped and misinterpreted what was in the manual but fortunately it is a problem which can be serviced and arrangements were made to day for Thursday including the two replacement tyres which were advised at the MOT.

I was surprised at the good flow of traffic to ground but missed out on the few hard standing places on the main car park closest to the ground but was given a place on banking at the back which enabled a good short run on to the track on the way out. Some of the lower grassy areas were left empty with owners parking at there own risk of having problems if more rain fell and the soaked ground quickly turned into mud glue.

Forgetting to get a newspaper to read of Andy Murray’s success in beating Tsonga to get to his first Wimbledon Final having reached and lost semi final contests in the previous three years, I made a quick visit to the Member’s lounge to be allowed in only for a quick cup of coffee or tea. The area was divided to provide decorated hospitality tables by the entrance area before the balcony space. Balcony seats had been made available to members only by ballot at £75 compared with £50 for my ticket with a £5 concession on the price to the public. The purpose of my visit was to see of the club was keep up the tradition of providing members with a selection of regional newspaper. They did not. I greeted some members I knew who had gained seats on the balcony and who were enjoying a coffee at the tables inside before going out. I made a visit to the Gentleman’s before going to the  our seats which were allocated to the area which I had requested and two rows from the back of the ground level tier of the Durham County Stand adjacent to the Media centre.

The seat provide a good view from the third man boundary about 45% from the off side of the wicket and with an excellent view of both club scoreboards although Sky had  added its own in  the corner to the other side of the media centre and next to the new stand with both balconies fully occupied. Although the seating was only half full by the 10.45 start it became at least 95% full with only one area at the back of the temporary stand and a small block in the area between the electronic scoreboard and the Member’s balcony showing vacant seats. I wondered if these were hospitality seats and those who had purchased placed decide to watch from behind glass.

England won the toss and elected to bat on a wicket where there was still moist damp from having been covered over the past three days and with a touch of green together with the heavy overcast atmosphere meant that the ball could be expected to swing and would prove a challenge to whoever batted first. So it proved to be. Australia was only able to score 14 runs over the first 10 overs for the loss of two consecutive wickets. Finn had Warner LBW for 2 runs when the total was 6 and he had Forrest dismissed in the same manner off his first ball. Australia were 2 wickets down for six runs and at this level the game could be considered over all things being equal in the rest of the match.

I thought the tourists did well to reach 200 given their poor start and had been 96 for 6 before a stand of 70 runs between Brett Lee and David Hussey.  Watson had showed defiance with one six and two fours was next to go  bowled by Bresnan for 28 (57 for 3) and Bailey was bowled by Bopara for 9 when the total was 68 It was when Hussey joined captain Michael Clark that it looked they were going to make a fist of it. Clark was playing solidly making 43 off 85 deliveries when bowled by Finn (96 for 5) Next new man Wade came in and was caught by the wicket keeper Kieswetter off Finn again with his first ball. Kieswetter had to leap full stretch into the air to his right and just about held the catch and for the second time in the match Finn had the opportunity for a hat trick. He completed his ten overs with 2 maidens and 4 wicket for 37 runs and deservedly was awarded the man if the match prize.

Brett hit high into the air to be caught by Stuart Broad off Anderson for 27 having hit a six and two fours to entertain and annoy the crowd while McKay was also caught in the deep off Bresnan for 8. Hussey went in similar fashion caught Anderson off Bresnan for 70 off 73 balls with 9 fours. Pattison was not out 8 with Hiferhaus when the innings closing at 200   for 9.

The sun came out after the mist cleared and although we were sitting the opposite end to the glare, sun hats were required and limbs uncovered quickly caught the sun but the atmosphere was very pleasant with only a touch of breeze and warm without being hot. This was amazingly given what was happening elsewhere and the continuation of flood warning with in the south west at level red. It was the best day of International cricket experienced in terms of facilities, weather and the standard of but of course could not compared the Headingly and Oval games seen in the Botham’s Ashes series, watching Peterson and Flintoff play at Edgbaston, or that first Ashes Test at the Oval in 1948, celebrated as the last innings played by Don Bradman in England before his retirement out for 0 and only a few runs short of achieving a Test average of 100.

I had carefully prepared picnic food the evening before with a soft cool bag hamper containing filled rolls with Ham, Prawns and Salmon with leaves of crisp lettuce. There was an apple turnover which I enjoyed shortly after arrival with a cup of coffee, enjoying a second cup with my first roll. There was a shared carton of juice deep red cherries after the second roll was eaten.  Later during the afternoon when the third roll was consumed there was an Eccles cake and Cornetto ice cream and at some point a small portion of iced carrot cake. A veritable feast of indulgence. I had brought water on plastic bottles in a cool bag with two cans of coke which were not allowed in but were replaced with two plastic container bottles. The liquid consumption was modest even frugal by what was happening all around particularly in front  where there was a family based party of 12 where every member appeared to take responsibility for a round of drinks during the day, a venture which cost as much as their ticket. None of the party appeared worse for drink despite the level of consumption.

It is also fair to comment that that seven young men dressed as bears together with another young man dressed as Goldilocks also appeared well behaved throughout, removing their protruding head gear when seated not to obstruct the views of those behind. There was noise and boorish chants from the barmy army in the distance. There was also the effort to create the Mexican wave in a lull in entertainment play during the England innings which fortunately did not last for long. I can understand children liking this sort of thing but the excited participation of adults continues to puzzle as well as irritate.

Alistair Cook the captain and Ian Bell have become the established opening partnership for the growing successful English One day side in a team which had previously won eight consecutive games and is building up strength for the world one day series. With England the leading world team in Test Cricket which will be challenged by South Africa in a three Test series shortly which commenced in the week before my visit to London for the Olympic Games and the current 20 20 World champions who were won under the captaincy of Paul Collingwood? Paul who has recently been appointed the captain of Durham in succession to Phil Mustard, a timely development as the club attempts to say off relegation to Division two. Paul was at the game and was interviewed on the ground and was also available for a question and answer session which the public were invited to participate in a separate area of the ground. Graham Onions who the English Test and County Cricket Board spent over £200000 keeping him on the books during his eighteen months of injury provided a demonstration of the preparation which fast bowlers engage in before taking part in games with the help of three female members of the Durham Academy who each bowled an over attempting to hit the area marked on the pitch which can cause batsmen the greatest difficulties. This event took place during the intervals between innings.

The two England openers put on 70 runs before Cook appeared to aim a catch directly at the substitute, one of two who came on to replace  two Australian bowlers and therefore weakened the side. Cook had made 28. It then looked as if Bell with Trott would see England win comfortably. Australia had appealed for decisions against the umpire without getting a review and then losing the only review which is allowed in the game. However it was possible to get a review in relation to run outs if the umpires were so minded. Just when Bell looked set for a 100 he sliced a ball onto his own wicket at 69 giving McKay his second wicket, and the only Australian bowler to take wickets in the innings. Bell had scored 9 fours. Trott and Bopara then saw England to victory with 64 runs (4 fours) and 33 runs (3 fours) in the 48th over. The pair took no chances and this bored some of the crowd who wanted 20 20 fireworks. The reaction failed to take account of the conditions and importance of England getting the target without undue risk. It was a tremendous performance.

I have mentioned the party of twelve in front. Next to us on one side were the parents of a Durham cricketer who came over to see they were well placed before the match commenced and between innings. In keeping with key 101 policies and practise the identity remains confidential. They did advise that Steve Harmison was being loaned to Yorkshire for a month as part of the effort to return to the first division. It is to be hoped that they will likewise assist if Durham fails to remain in the first division itself. Today it was announced that the South African Myberg has agreed to continue to play for Durham after his success with the 20 20 side. This could make an important difference.

Alas the 20 20 team failed to gain one of the two third place teams to compete in the quarter final. Yesterday at the same time as the Men’s Final at Wimbledon Durham played Lancashire and had an outside chance of gain one of the places if they won. The match was tied with each team gaining a point and thus they missed out on the Quaterfinals. Yorkshire and Sussex are in the next round.          

There was one other aspect of the game on Saturday that should be mentioned. There were two seats next to us occupied by two older men who came to ground separates as the first was contacted by the other. They came and appeared to give the game some attention attempting to engage in conversation with the people in front and then with us. They left individually about an hour into the game, again separately and we did not see them again until shortly before the match ended and they then returned briefly to their seats  again separately and then left separately shortly afterwards. One of the party in front asked directly where they had been and they said at the bar. I assumed that this meant some hospitality although they could of course have been journalists going up to the media centre. It was interested and odd.

I as not in the mood for a rush away as some but only a minority did as the end of the game approach as England had looked in command throughout. As a consequence I feared there would be a prolonged wait to get out of the car park but in the event this proved to be closer to a quarter of an hour than a half and again surprised. .

It was possible to view part of the Sky highlights of the game upon returning home. I had intended to watch the full show during to day but other programmes gained my attention as SKY 3D replayed all four of Trevor McDonalds Queen and Country programmes in succession over a four hour period although the individual programmes appear to me to be no longer than 40 minutes. I enjoyed reading the programme which included the 2013 schedule of International Cricket in the UK. New Zealand come between May and June playing 10 matches including 2 tests three I day games and 2 at 20 20. Australia then arrives at the end of June and play 5 Tests with the fourth at Durham, 5 one day games again and two 20 20 games including one at Durham so that over the two years Durham will have hosted a Test, a 1 day and a 20 20 against the Australians. What I cannot get any information on other than the dates of the preliminary matches between the 6th and 17th June and semi Finals also at the Oval and Cardiff and the Final at Edgbaston is the ICC Champions Trophy, that is, the 1 day world championship. England also defend their 20 20 World title in Sri Lanka later this year. The volume of international matches is extraordinary which also gives some justification for the argument that there needs to be a large squad of specialist players for each form of the game to ensure a competitive team of he best inform players and to cover for injuries juries and illnesses, This argument becomes stronger with the ambition early realised of being the best in the world at each and every of the three forms of the game. There is also justification for including more one day games at 50 overs because now the one day game played at County level is restricted to forty over.

Finally I want to say something about Durham’s challenge to remain in the first division and the forecast weather which is grim at least for the rest of July and likely for the rest of this summer. An examination of the present table and remaining matches with still half the season to go suggests that survival is possible. Durham are at Worcestershire this week and need to win although the weather is against them and they are at Sussex the following week with a home game in the run up to my visit to the Olympic Games when they play Middlesex also a game which they have  the opportunity to win but where the weather is a factor, I have a double football game in Newcastle on the 16th the day before  the Middlesex game begins and then a game on the 29th during the match It is going to be an interesting and important three weeks weather permitting. Next my attention is was on watching Andy Murray play in the men’s championship final at Wimbledon on the large cinema screen and in 3D.