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.

Royal Ascot 2012

I gave Royal Ascot week some attention this year. There were three reasons. Having won a bet on the Derby which led to winning £200 net when Chelsea won the European Cup I contemplated doing so again. It the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Year and thought one of her horses would win. I have always been fascinated by displays of wealth, despite the lottery and unfairness of those who participate and those of us who do not.

Royal Ascot is after all the perennial major social event of each year in terms of posh dressing, posh nosh and extravagance which anyone and everyone can participate if they have the dosh. The reason why this is a banker event is that the Queen has been attending not just one day but every day of the week, Tuesday to Saturday  and apart from illness, come rain or shine she is there arriving in the first of four state livery open carriages accompanied by her special guests and other members of the Royal Family. Despite the torrents of rain elsewhere she only needed to put up a costume coloured fringed see through umbrella  once and she looked great and happy in several pastel shades throughout the week. She was accompanied by the Duke of Edinburgh, who looked his age and glad to be able to participate after his recent ill health. On one of the days she was accompanied by the ninety four year old former horse racing Peter O’Sullivan so the three of them notched up 270 years between them with the second guest only in his fifties. The cheers were genuine including some spontaneous bouts of three cheers.

Apart from Her Majesty, the owners, trainers, jockeys and BBC commentators in what I understand is the last year when they will cover the event for the time being, I wonder how many of the 50000 a day participating attend more than once, given the essential ingredient that if you are female you do not go wearing the same outfit twice. In addition to wearing a smart dress you must also wear a hat which no one does  usually these days. There are restrictions for the men on when  they can remove their black or grey Top Hat, unless they are from overseas when they wear their national dress,  which sparked one Australian to appear in the traditional bush hat with bobbing corks to ward off the flies. He had the other 5000 Aussis attending  together with the  thousands watching on a  large screen in Melbourne in the early hours of the  morning nearly got their comeuppance as will be reported.

This year while tickets were available at a price to anyone you had to comply to the dress code for each designated area with a glossy brochure with style pictures listing rules and showing the preferred approach. This indicates the serious intent of the course owners to make Royal Ascot even more of a posh event than previous, In the past in the fifties to seventies it was tradition of stars and starlets, up and coming politicians and the whores of criminals to gain international publicity by wearing the most outrageous of outfits to attract the TV Lens and National press, especially on what regarded as Ladies Day. Now there are daily opportunities for anyone with a good media agent to place their photo or film clip before the world if they are prepared to show flesh  however expensively the little of the rest is covered.

The Course proprietors and  advisers from the Palace felt that recently the displays of bare midriff and the fascinators was all getting too much as well as skirts which just about covered the thigh. I did not know about fascinators until they were worn by the Duke of Yorks daughters at the Wedding of William and Kate. According to the Ascot guide fascinators can still be worn by young women between the ages of ten years and sixteen but after than you can wear a small base hat but the preference is clearly for the full head covering with a wide brim.

Having said anyone can go, the one exception is a car park where a place can be handed down generation upon generation unless presumable sold at a price rather like Wimbledon or Lords debenture seats. You have to have been on four previous occasions to purchase entry to the Royal Enclosure which provides a close up view of the Queen arriving in her carriages and an overview of the paddock where owners and trainers give their final instructions to their jockeys after the horses have paraded and the jockeys mounted up as well as victory parade and prize giving for the winning and placed horses. This year the first noteworthy prize giver was Jenson Button before flying off to the Euro Grand Prix in Spain. Two of the races  had prizes  around the half a million mark with others  over £100000, Two bets of £100000 were placed and one of £50000 was mentioned on short odds favourites who both won at ten to one against yielding a profit of £10000 and five to one which yielded £20000 although the latter was nearly caught up at the finishing post demonstrating once and for all that the British Irish Thoroughbred as well as the French and USA are in general a class or two above their Aussi cousins and who won the Ashes back to back recently my beauties?

The grandstand is one of the most spectacular and attractive sporting viewing accommodations in the world and I challenge anyone to provide evidence of better, Sky please note? There are 225 boxes for which full catering must be provided by the Ascot organisation on the top tiers but with the panoramic restaurant topping this. I was not able to find the prices of the boxes but it was possible to find the cost of the various packages  with between £1000 and £1650 for the Panoramic and £550 for a chalet place looking back on to the grandstand and finishing line.
For the DIY inclined or less wealthy, picnic lunches can be provided for between £50 and £75 a person with traditional tea boxes at £50 for two.

The Royal Carriages Restaurant provided one car park place per couple and Grandstand admission with balcony view, Race Card, Royal Ascot Magazine and Racing Newspaper and TV viewing. You can start the day with a glass of champagne or Pimms No 1 accompanied by a Mese en Bouche (usually chef’s tasters for the food ahead) but which in this instance were mature cheese straws and Osaka rice crackers. The starter included poached and smoked salmon with an herb fromage Blanc. The main dish was rump of English lamb with posh nosh veg followed by mandarin parfait and miniature shortbreads, the cheese selection and biscuits, coffee or tea and chocolates strawberry and champagne.

The afternoon tea included smoked salmon cream and chives on brown bread, traditional coronation chicken on white bread, egg and cress and beef horseradish, scones jam and cream, lemon drizzle cake, chocolate éclairs and teas. Oh I nearly forgot the fine wines. I am not sure if you got unlimited champagne served until thirty minutes after the last race or  an unlimited bar but this was so for the highest priced panoramic lounge plus Liquors.  Here there was also an Amuse Bouche of chilled garden peas, buttermilk and snow pea veloute, Serrano Ham and mint blossoms. The starter was the famous Dressed Folkstone Crab and salad, the veg with the beef included shaved truffles, rosemary and jasmine flowers or sea bass and the three Taste of Summer puds included Pink Champagne Sorbet, Lemon Parfait and a Summer Pudding with the cheeses and coffee chocks strawberry champagne as before. The afternoon tea was also similar except of the addition of raspberry and pistachio macaroons. I enjoyed some raspberries for tea today on their own alas.

And of course there is the racing with the great owners with the  Arab Princes powerful and successful and the O’Brien Training dynasty with  the grandson winning jockey and of course the Italian background Frankie Detorri still goings strong at 40 winning against the younger challengers within and without the great Godolphin Racing Empire.

The horse Frankel lived up to all the hype. This inbred horse with the same parent for both the sire and damn third and fourth generation won the 2000 guineas and the Queen Elizabeth II Cup at Ascot in 2011 and came into the Queen Anne Stakes 1/10 odds, winning by a staggering 14 lengths to establish himself as legend. There is speculation that the horse will command stud fees in excess of £150000 and to be worth up to £100 million as a consequence. The big question is whether the horse will run again before going to stud and if so when and where.

The other star horse at the Royal Ascot meeting, Black Caviar whose colours are garish orange with black spots had travelled from Australia where the odd had become 20 to 1 against after winning a score of successive races and clocking speeds in excess of 44 miles an hour. The horse is big but did not share the fine looks and grooming of many other creatures. It was evident that horse been brought to make a cultural as well as racing point about Australia having grown up and was now equal if not better not the mother country. It just about won after being nearly caught on the line and demonstrated the limitation of the average Australian racing stock compared to that of the UK, France, the USA and Dubai and perhaps Hong Kong although obviously the scale is smaller there.  Frankel versus Black Caviar would clear be no contest

I was also interested to see how the Godolphin Empire performed. This twenty year old racing giant with several hundred horses in its stables moves all those at Newmarket to Dubai for every Winter. Godolphin is approaching 2000 winners in 14 countries with nearly 200 group 1 wins since formed by the Vice President and Prime Minister of Dubai some  twenty years ago. Its longest serving and successful trainer Saeed bin Suroor like their champion jockey Frankei Detorri may be past their prime but still are able to deliver when it matters most. Saeed was four times champion trainer in the naughties while the excitable Dettorie continues to prove he is one of the best of not the best flat race rider of this generation although still had along long way to go to challenge Lester Piggot.

This brings to me back to the Queen with 40 horses in training and whose horse Carlton House, a gift from the Godolphin’s, I thought I had backed each way to win when it came in second only to find I had not so lost half of the remaining original stake money and now rely on England winning the European Cup in a week’s time to keep £200 now spent win intact. She did win the Royal Vase with Estimate on Friday and by coincidence, perhaps, it was the Duke of Edinburgh who had been booked to present the prize, the first time he has done so at Ascot. Rumour has it the horse will be entered for the St Ledger at Doncaster in September although this has been denied.

Was I converted? Sort of, but only if I had the dosh. One thing I am more certain of is that my days of going to Rock concerts and festivals is over although I also believe in never say ever. My attention over the weekend has been with the Isle of Wight Festival which is being shown in 3D as well as on the Sky Arts Channel. Bruce Springsteen plays tonight and I admit I was tempted to go and see him live for a fourth time when he played at the Stadium of Light last Thursday.


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Carl Froch Middlewight's title, Durham Cricket Livem England Win Test, Warrington Wolves Widnes and Robbie's Scer Aid

The week ahead is planned, in fact so are the weeks of the summer ahead but so much is dependent on the outcome of the visit to the Freeman’s hospital on Friday.

The weather continues to be glorious, not Mediterranean although I regret I could no longer cope with intense heat and yesterday I was out and about for the greater part of the day after having stayed up to watch Carl Froch Froch knock out Lucien Bute the International Boxing federation super middle weight so called World title fight of Nottingham.

Professional Boxing has an established history of corruption, involvement of the Mafia and criminal dealings in general. There is money to be made by promoting Boxing events especially with the TV rights involved and through gambling which in turn leads to fighters being persuade to lose. There is also corruption of the officials hired to score events and to referee. There are also five competing bodies all claiming to put on World Title fights. The prize for these competitions apart from the contacted money with everyone getting their cut is gaudy belts,

The World Boxing Association (1962) is the oldest of the present four bodies which sanctions (licences bouts for an appropriate fee) and arose out of the National Boxing Association of the USA. The Association brands champions super if they hold two more of the weight titles from the four association competitions. Each Association has 18 World Champions or super champions according to weight with Minimum and Flyweight 105 lbs 48 kilos   109 lbs 49 kilos through to 200 lbs and 90.7 kilos and heavyweight which are over this amount of 14 stone and 4 lbs. You might therefore conclude that at anyone time there could be 72 World Champions topping bills around the World. In fact there is likely to be more than this because sometimes titles are disputed and the subject of legal and Association wrangle. The WBA has 1 vacant title at present, seven super champions and  can be regarded as a  genuine International body with only five of the weights held by a USA citizen with one of these Andre Ward mentioned last night as having won the  recent Super six contest depriving  Froch of his  previous World Champion Title. Ward now holds titles recognised by three Associations and is the obvious next person Froch should meet

I also have heard and possibly seen one other of their present champions Vladimir Klitschko is the recognised heavy weight title holder by four of the bodies with his brother recognised by the 5th.
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It is the International Boxing Federation (1983) which  presently recognises Karl Froch as Super Middleweight after his  victory against Bute and the only British fighter in their list with three from the USA, has been recognises heaving weight champion by the IBF since 2006. They have two champions since listed since 2009.

The World Boxing Council was established in 1963. They recognise Ward and also the brother of Vladimir as a separate heavyweight champion The IBO was founded in 199 and also recognises Vladimir and heavy weight champion. There is also the International Boxing association which awards titles. The European and International Boxing Unions are organisation which attempt to recognise and unify title competitions. The International bodies also sponsor similar competitions and titles for female boxers.

Froch is therefore the only recognised British champion at the present time. He was considered the underdog in the contest by some commentators in part because he had two previous defeats in his 30 professional fights whereas his opponent had nine and was regarded as someone who could take hard punching to his face and body. Some suggested however that he had been careful to fight primarily in his adopted home country of Canada and after the demolition he suffered he is unlikely to insist on having the contracted return bout if he lost. The undisputed British super champion title holder as this weight was Joe Calzaghe who has since retired.  The number of present and former British boxers known to me   are few with heavy weights Henry Cooper the best known along with Joe Bugner and Lennox Lewis, Ken Buchanon   at lightweight, Freddie Mills, Randolph Turpin, Chick Caldewood, Chris Finnegan and John Conteh Light Heavyweight, Lloyd Honeghan at Welter, Terry Downs and Alan Minter at Middle, Pat Cowdell at superfly, Alan Rudkin at superfly  and  Terry Spinks, and Barry McQuigan at featherweight who was won of the commentators last light.

Amir Khan the Bolton British born boxer won the Olympic Lightweight Medal at the 2004 games when he was only 17. He should have become World BA and IBF light welter champion last year winning on points but being deprived of the title by a referring decision which was hotly contested. The winning boxer has since failed a drugs test before the planned rematch. As I have said the sport has been riddled with criminality of all kinds.

I only had one boxing match when a school boy which was stopped when I entered the Inter House boxing competition on a dare. It was suggested that I should join the Boxing club which I wanted to do but was refused by the aunties.

The Froch fight ended around one am and later in the day I set off to Chester Le Street for Durham’s 40 40 game against Scotland  fearing the worst after the team‘s bad defeat against Surrey in the same competition and the championship defeats against Somerset and Warwickshire all away from home. The wicket was closest to the Members pavilion so I could not sit over the wicked in the new stand development. I had been given the impression that an additional 2500 of fixed seating was going up in time for the one day game in July. There was no sign of this on arrival and the notice is no longer showing on the Club site.

It was  a busy morning beforehand making a salmon salad to eat during the match  together with cherries purchases  the day before and a flask of iced water. I had also prepared lunch with a lamb steak in the oven with the rest of the tomato and beans and three new potatoes in skins purchased as a pack for £1 at the second of two £40 supermarket visits within three days. This was to qualify for a £5 discount and involved quite a lot of stocking up including clothes washing when I discovered they are no longer selling non biological tabs but have switched to liquid sachets. I resisted most goodies apart from a stock of Pepsi Max although I will restrict my use. I also bought a pack of four cornet ices and so far have only enjoyed. I am determined to make the push to below 16.7 now that the weather has improved for the better.  I still need some fish resisting the rise in a new product to its full price having been at half for a couple of weeks. I did buy three large packs of prawns in shell which had been reduced from £4 to £3.

In addition to preparing food I made a visit just after opening to B and Q having send an announcement of 2 for 1 mix and match plants over the weekend. I had come to conclusion that apart from the broad beans the seedlings that have survived would not become productive plants before the end of season and certainly would not provide the kind of patio look I wanted. I was right that even by 10 am the best plants I had wanted had gone. I was after tomato plants and found only three that I considered worth buying. One originally £3.98 was marked for £2 and two marked at £1.84 each were available effectively at half price. I was more successful with salad peppers where I purchased a pack of six plants two each of Green red and yellow. The addition purchase which is regarded as a great experiment in a dozen corn of cob plants marked down for £1, possible because of the time and unlikelihood that the growth will be sufficient to achieve products. I also bought three flowering plants some red trailing impatiens, (busy lizzies), some red salvia and some yellow chrysanthemums.  The flowering plants were  placed on the tables  facing my desk window or  against the wall in the garage area so I can view from the kitchen when the  vehicle in parked outside. I carried out the plantings on returning from the cricket during breaks from watching Leveson on Monday morning.

Back to the cricket I was immediately struck by the strength of the sun and pleased | had remembered to use a strong sun blocker,  wore my hat and brought a jacket to put over my knees as I felt the heat burning through the fabric of my trousers. Durham had won the toss and elected to bowl. One bowler quickly demonstrated that irrespective of the condition he was in a class superior to everyone else. Graham Onion finished his 8 overs with one wicket for 27 runs, remarkable given the nature of the wicked as everyone else was find out. At the other end of the spectrum Liam Plunkett had rungs scored from his six overs with 1 wicket while young Borthwick 6 overs and 48 runs.

I readily admit that given the recent batting performances I speculated that even on a good wicket getting six runs an over for 40 overs would be too much and disaster threatened. Oh of so little faith for Stoneman 136 not out with 18 fours and 1 six broke the back of the runs required and the heart of several bowlers as together with captain Mustard  91 with 11 fours and 1 six the pair put on 207 runs  for the first wicket. It then looked that having reduced  the run rate required to 4 an over Stoneman and Stokes would  carefully achieve the remaining runs by taking singles without pushing the score by attempting big hits. Stokes could not resist one opportunity and at that point with some 20 runs to get I made a leisurely start back to the car. I had struggled  with the heat and tiredness during the match but overall the visit was satisfying. I had a brief sojourn before the interval in the Member’s lounge mainly to catch up with Test score which the announcer  failed to mention and to overhear if there were any comments about the situation at the club overall although on such a day there were few members inside. The one  exchange indicated  a sense of disbelief and shock about what was happening and  a need for surgical change.

Durham with two wins out of 3 are third in table in the second listed of three divisions of the 40 40 competition with Hampshire and Surrey three from three. It will be essential for Durham to start to win their away games as well as beating Surrey when they come of the Riverside if they are to get one of the semi final places open only to the team that heads the table of each division at the end of the 12 match series as well as the overall  best runner up from all three divisions.

There had been much other sport  over the weekend, too much to cope with and most had to be set aside. I did watch the Soccer Aid match from Manchester United’s ground on Sunday evening,. Soccer aid was the idea of  Robbie Williams and his friend and former footballer John Wilkes some four years ago as a means of raising substantial funds for good causes  on behalf of UNICEF and which enabled personalities from other spheres to play alongside former stars on the basis of an England Team versus the Rest of the World at Old Trafford in 2006. Interestingly the matches in 2010 and 2012 also attracted near full stadium crowds while the one held at Wembley stadium in 2008 achieved about half with 45000.

Some of those participating have become regulars Jamie Theaskston, Ben Shepherd, Gordon Ramsay while others on the list of soccer stars  include Gascoigne, Ferdinand (Les), Barnes, Robson, Shearer, Zola, Ginola, and Schmeichael. Maradonna, Dunga,  Paulo de Canio, Figo, Roy Keane, Crespo and Edwin De Saar, Tony Sheringham  and Kevin Phillips.  

Angus Deiton Sergei Federov,, Alistair Campbell, Craig David, Ricky Hatton Olly Murs, Mike Myers, Rupert Perry Jones, Michael Sheen,  Will Ferrell Joe Calzaghe are among the celebs. with coaching staff Sam Alladyce, Kenny Dalgleish, Terry Venables, Ruud Giulet, Gus Poyet, Harry Rednapp, Bryn Robson and Peter Reid having  roles.

Yesterday The Rest of the World went ahead with a brilliant intended goal by Serge Pizzorno an Italian background now British subject guitarist and song writer with the band Kasabian. England responded in the second half with three goals Sheringham, Phipps and  Phillips. More people watched Soccer Aid that the TV BAFTAS on BBC 1.

I started to watch Warrington’s  games  against Widnes on the  festival of Rugby Union when all 14 teams played local Derbies at the Manchester City Ground on Saturday 3 games and Sunday 4 Games. It was such a walkover as not to be interesting 68 point to 4 against a team which looks  destined for the lower division after  a series of calamities. Hull Kingston Roves beat Hull 32  30 in a reported close and exciting game, Wakefield beat Castleford, Leeds Bradford and the Catalan Dragons London Broncos. Salford had a narrow win over Huddersfield while leagues leaders Wigan smashed St Helens.

The top three teams have all lost 3 games Wigan points) Warrington (23) and Catalan Dragons (22) but they have a game in hand so does Hull beaten on Saturday with 19 points and Huddersfield is 4th with 20.

I watched Saturday’s practice of Monaco Grand Prix which is a curious race because no one can overtake so is the size of the track but there are frequent crashes because of driver  error especially when it rains. Starting at the front of the grid is therefore essential.

I cannot give the results because someone at the BBC’s has made a pigs ear of the results but can confirm that Lewis Hamilton is now 4th in the drivers championship with Jenson  7th  and still in the mix while their combined points leaves McLaren Mercedes second in the constructors table 108 points to Red Bull Renault on 145. Alonso head the drivers list with Vetted and Webber 2 and 3

The Rugby Union Cup took place at Twickenham and was on 3D TV Harlequins beat Leicester. Britain won three Gold’s and headed the medals table in the world rowing championships but Steve Red grave was far from happy, expecting much more. Britain male gymnasts beat Russia to take the Team Gold in the European championship an unthinkable result not so long ago.

I also managed to keep one eye on the second Test Match against the West Indies  at Nottingham which England won unexpectedly by nine wickets today. I say unexpectedly because England after being 300 for 3 only went to make 428 after Strauss was out for 141 and Petersen 90 with a stand close to 100 for the third wicket. Yorkshire’s Bairstow was given a short ball torrid time going for 4 after Roach and stopped  the no balling of the previous day.  However the Windies then collapsed on Sunday evening (while I sweated watching Durham) to 66 for 6 overnight. Today the last 4 out made 100 more leaving England to get 111 runs to win. Strauss made 45 before being dismissed falling just short of 200 runs for this match and two centuries in the first games proving the backbone batsman as well as excellent captain he has always been.

Alas just as I was ready to consider a walk in sunshine it clouded over marking the end  of the sun  with  cloud and some showers forecast for the week.

Chelsea European Club Champions and I win £200

Some serious reflections on Sunday May 20th 2012 begin with a little success for as previously mentioned I made a £20 bet on Chelsea winning the Champions League. This was not my money but that of the bookmaker when first placing a bet on the Grand National. I still have the original placement money after several winnings and losses. The odds were 10.1 so the net gain is £200 as understandably the original bet is not given as it was their money and not mine.

Despite the being there atmosphere of 3D I switched off in the 84th minute when they went down 1.0 after struggling throughout the game and where the home side playing in their own stadium squandered a number of chances to put the game beyond redemption. Didier Drogba then scored a bullet header in the 88th minutes taking the game into extra time.

I missed this goal and then the penalty he gave and its saving by the Chelsea goal keeper one of several heroes on the night. I watched the last 30 minutes or so of extra time but could not bear to watch the penalty shoot out after the German Team out the first in to the net. German teams, especially the national side had a reputation of always winning penalty shoot outs against British teams and while Chelsea had lost all their previous penalty events the home side had done the opposite.

I switch channels again to see the team celebrate just after Drogba and won the competition 4.5 on penalties on the night. The last German kicker hitting the post with the ball then running back into the field of play. With Manchester City winning the Premiership there has been two weekends of great football excite. This afternoon just after 4pm I watched the players and backroom staff parade in a blue bus with the banner Champions of Europe.  There was a second bus for families of friends of the players and given that most of those in Germany were in the process of returning home the tens of thousands who packed the streets were impressive and genuine in their excitement. Even more so were the players who jumped up and down and sang out for about an hour over the mile and half hour the journey took to Parson’s Green as the parade stopped various congested pointed to enable people to take photos. Here the players chanted in raucous voices, The Russian owner, chief executive and manager were at the back of the bus enjoying themselves throughout the ride. At one point the club captain encourages the players and supporters to please with Drogba to stay with the club as rumours have traversed the sport’s media that he was on his way having allegedly asked for a two contract extension when the club was only prepared to offer one. Similarly all the commentators and pundits pressed for the interim manager to be given a full contract having won the FA cup and the Europeans Championship in his first season with only three defeats during his reign of a few months. The Chief Executive on camera said they would make the decision as previously state once the season had ended.

I shall use the winnings for a weekend in London to view the paralympics with one million tickets on sale tomorrow morning

An amazing end to 2011 2012 Football Season

I commenced to write about the Football Association Premiership Championship on the first Saturday of May 2012 and when the weekend was forecast to be cold with a ground frost inland threatening to destroy hundreds of thousands of bedding plants and continued to ruin the cricket season where Durham had another disastrous day and already looked doomed for relegation to Division two of the First class Championship.

It was the FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Liverpool in the afternoon with ESPN showing in 3D and with Chelsea knowing that irrespective of the result of the Champions League final they will have a place in the Europe League Competition, similarly Liverpool already have a place having won the League Cup. Liverpool have won the FA Cup one more time that Chelsea so the incentive for the teams, unlike Sunday’s clash between Newcastle and Manchester City is no more than a great day out at Wembley for their supporters and for Chelsea some silverwear with both potentially finishing outside a Champions League place next season, the first time that this has happened for yonks.

It was not a memorable game although there were moments of excitement and great tension for both sides. Chelsea appeared to take a commanding 2.0 lead and Liverpool played badly during the first half but came into the game as the second half progressed and when the score became 2.1 all looked possible. The key moment was a header by the former Newcastle centre forward Andy Carroll when he had opportunity to head the ball into the left and nearest side of the upper goal only for the goalkeeper to punch down rather than out at a slight angle and the TV frame by frame evidence revealed that the ball was on the line when handled by the goal keeper and outside the line when it hit the ground with no one available to push the rebound into the net. Chelsea therefore won their first major trophy of the season and has the opportunity of a double with the European Champions League final game next Saturday at the time of writing.

On Sunday everyone’s attention turned to the Premiership. I had intended to travel to Newcastle by Metro train but discovered that my annual pass had expired and this year I do not remember receiving a renewal notice. I therefore elected to travel by bus which doubled the length of the journey from half an hour to one hour. In fact because of the absence of traffic on a bright and warm Sunday morning the journey could have taken less time but published timetable had to be adhered to so we stopped for a few minutes several times.

The first part of the journey through South Shields and Jarrow covered familiar routes but then the bus made a considerable tour of Hebburn, first travelling to the Father Walsh multi disability centre, the background story of which is worth repeating in that the centre was first established in a redundant school building which was expanded through extensions and became a very popular facility among a host of different interest groups. Then the members pressed for the a new facility given its success coinciding with a Ministerial visit. The local politicians were advised to press for the project to be included in the capital programme which eventually agreed through the local and then national system and too considerable surprise permission to build a new establishment of a substantial size, matching a similar centre which had been one of the first in the UK to be built by the former local authority of South Shields.

I mention this because of the way such projects tend to go in cycles. In the early 1970’s there was a considerable momentum to  increase public awareness and services for the range of adults and children with disabilities and where responsibility had previously been divided between the local Education service for children and the National  Health and Local Authority Health services for Adults. These were now brought under the umbrella of the new Local Authority Social Service Departments and there was considerable priority within the new departments and again in 1974 by the new local authorities to meeting they to the needs of disabled individuals than ever before.  A brilliant campaign had been led by Jack Ashley, himself deaf; whop became Lord Ashley and recently died with Members from all sides and both Houses remembering his contribution.

I had the good fortune to meet Baroness Masham, who interest in the disability issues is internationally recognised on two occasions. I organised a day long seminar for Members and officers of Cheshire County Council for her to advise on issuing which the local authority address and then she also visited South Tyneside a decade later. One of her interests has been Riding for the Disabled and she remains involved with  a score of  disability charities to this day where she continues to serve in the House of Lords as a cross Bencher.

In the new local authority of South Tyneside which brought together the distinct and separately government communities of South Shields, Jarrow and Hebburn together with the Boldens there was understandably considerable tension and rivalry that resources over the distribution of resources between the participating areas. South Shields had its John Wright disability centre which was a pioneering facility nationally and later become more significant in having a bar lounge adjacent to the chapel, in which he Bishop of Durham was to take a Sunday service and commented that it was the first time he had been able to move from presiding over a service to then drink a pint before lunch.

On visiting the brand new purpose built Heath centre, one of at least three in the Borough I noticed that the John Wright centre was closed. There had always been differences between the Shield’s groups concerned with the visual and audio disability and the visual had developed their own centre through charitable means and recently I noted a similar facility with hearing disabilities, Two purpose built centres for those with mental disabilities had been provided together with a range of centres for the elderly so that the primary role of John Wright was to provide occupational activity for those with physical disability.

Then a new generation of those with physical disability wanted to be given the opportunity to participate alongside the able bodied rather than restricted to specialising centres.  In Jarrow the movement as for a centre covering both the disabled and able bodied outside the direct management of the local authority although considerable funds in support were to be provided. Thus there had been three multi purpose centre within what had been the smallest of the metropolitan authorities and where most authorities  were willing only to provide one facility within the authorities with under  a population of half a million. Given the existence of other centres providing occupational and social activity it was inevitable that there would be some rationalization when the pendulum swung from public to private service management and then private funding.

The bus continued passed the new Hebburn Health centre which looked as splendid as the two in South Shields, the one I use at the bottom of the hill and the other on the way out of Shields towards Cleadon Village and only a short distance from the General Hospital services site.  The bus had passed by the Palmer’s Memorial Hospital Service which had been retained and developed despite the pressure there had one been to concentrate all the institutional and residential hospital. services in one complex. I assume there is a similar enhanced community medical and nursing facility within the Boldens (East West and Bolden Colliery (although the colliery is long gone) and which reflects in my view the original understanding and commitments of the politicians about the nature of the communities in this unique area.

The bus then passed the remaining major bone of contention for the Hebburn community, the absence of a local shopping centre and supermarket. As I frequently mention there are three major supermarkets (Morrison, Asda and Tesco) in South Shields as well as a number of small units.  There  is a full size Asda Wallmart supermarket, multiplex and restaurant area (Burgers, American diner and Pizza restaurant with an English style Pub 2 for 1 restaurant) at Bolden and Jarrow has a  huge Morrison attached to the pleasant and expanded Viking Shopping centre which includes a Wilkinsons and had a Woolworths before the chain closed. The Hebburn was small and dilapidated given the size of the community. There is now a small to medium size supermarket but the community are second class citizens compared to the rest of the Borough in respect of shopping facilities.

The bus then went in the opposite direction passing the Civic Centre where I noticed the adult centre for those with learning difficulties was also closed and  then had a long tour of the housing estates to the south of the this former borough including the impressive Catholic Secondary school. Hebburn is distinct for having a substantial homogenous Catholic community and there is some truth in the belief that in the old days political decisions were taken at the Catholic Labour club after mass on Sundays. The old dilapidated Conservative Unionist Protestant club as been done up and renamed the Conservative Protestant club dropping the Unionist, I suspect the name rather than the political allegiance.

With the closure of Reyrolles and the ship building yards Hebburn remains a strong vigorous local community under considerable economic pressures. I did notice a welding apprenticeship centre attached to the further education and training college once separate but now part of the South Tyneside College network where marine technology and training has been an internationally recognised specialism and where there is now also a strong relationship with the contemporary Art courses   provide by Sunderland University. As we travelled through Hebburn and then into Gateshead I noticed the extent to which other passengers greeted each other.

In one instance an adult daughter and grandfather talked with the grandfather appearing to lead an active life visiting social clubs and entertainments centres as an regular part of his life and proposed to visit the central Labour Club/Irish club (I cannot remember which) in Newcastle before the match because it was possible to take in the grand son (both facilities are near each other on the walk to the stadium).

Gateshead has been to Newcastle what Hebburn remains to South Shields. Since the demolition of the famous Get Carter  multi story Car Park the new supermarket and shopping centre and residential units  structure has sprung up and looks to transform the centre adjacent to the impressive Metro and Interchange bus centre, the Borough boasting two such centres with that at Hewarth including the railway line to Middlesbrough.

I got off the bus in the city centre rather than the terminus which was a mistake as after the watching the match I considered returning by the bus I could not find the departure point on either of main areas of bus stands. I had left the ground early deciding not to witness the walkabout thank you by the players and their families. I was able to walk into the Metro station without the usual queue out of the station and decided to invest in a £3.10 one way ticket which was a good decision given how tired I commenced feel as South Shields approached.

I have written extensively about other things than the match itself because of its disappointment. I had an excellent seat to one side of the goal mouth although there were several regulars in the row who had evidently been on the beer before the game started, arriving late and then went to both the toilet and for refills throughout the game. This made have the caused by the tension of anticipation and the drowning of sorrows as it appeared evident the most which could be expected was a draw.

Newcastle with their win away against Spurs and with Arsenal and Chelsea also slipping up were in the driving seat for a fourth place in the Premiership division. They had to face would be champions Manchester City, arguably the best British team on a par with Barcelona for individual talent and organisation and then away to Everton who as with previous seasons was ending the football year on a strong note. If Newcastle won both games they succeeded.  However beating the would be champions was a big ask and I had placed bets for a draw as well as win.

On Sky bet I had made a £5 bet after joining for Norwich and Arsenal to draw at 6.1. They did and I was £35 in credit placing the £10 free bet for Newcastle to also draw their game. Alas Manchester City were exceptional and although Newcastle concentrated defence and had occasional opportunities they were no match for the individual brilliance of the opposing players who appeared able to pass balls to feet with amazing accuracy. The two goals scored by the visitors were exceptional; the latter as the game ended although from my perspective the result was never in doubt. All the other results went against me and having ring fenced by recent winnings at £40 the amount I had originally invested in the Grand National, all my latest bets went negative. I now relay on the free bet of £20 made on Chelsea to win the Champions League at 10 to 1 next Saturday evening to end the venture on a good note.

Liverpool gained revenge on Chelsea who fielded a weakened side mid week and attention changed to yesterday when all the games were to be played at 3pm. The plan was listening to the Newcastle game at Everton while watching the split screen of the games between Manchester City at Home to Queens Park Rangers who needed a draw to be certain of avoiding relegation and between Manchester United away at the Stadium of Light. I had no doubt that the progress of the other games would be announced with each goal achieved. It all went wrong very quickly.

There were few games on the day of no significance. Chelsea following their loss against Liverpool if they won could only finish in sixth place a point behind Newcastle if Newcastle lost. While Blackburn were already relegated to the Championship. Chelsea was likely, as they did, to field another weakened team although they had a number of top players in the side because these were ineligible from playing in the final because of yellow cards. Chelsea won the game nevertheless 2.1.

Pride was also only at stake for Norwich who hosted Aston Villa. The Villa has gone downhill since the departure of Martin O’Neill and the 2.0 loss against the Canaries was not a surprise. If QPR beat Man City and Bolton also won the Villa could have been relegated, I fancy Villa to face the prospect of relegation next season unless there are significance changes to the playing squad. Their manager is the first end of season casualty as his resignation with immediate effect has been announced.

Norwich in contrast have shown that with a great team spirit and good organisation by the manager plus the ability to attack without fear a newly promoted team can do well and they finished in 12th position in mid table having expected to be in the lower half and in threat of relegation at some point in the season.

Swansea is the other newly promoted team who have done exceptionally well despite their own expectations. They finished in 11th position with a 1.0 victory against Liverpool, Andy Carroll proved that his temper has not been harnessed and it was brilliant business of Newcastle to sell him.

Wigan was also safe even if they lost against bottom of the table Wolves who have had a disastrous season ending six points adrift of Blackburn and 13 points from safety. Wigan has shown what can be done winning the majority of games in the last quarter having appeared destined for the drop at Christmas. In a closely fought game they won 3.2. This left six games where the Premiership, Champions League and relegation was in question and some outcomes were not known until the dying seconds.

The most interesting of the games was that between QPR and Man City. Man City went ahead in the first half to the ecstasy of their fans and groans from the United fans at the Stadium of Light who had gone one up against Sunderland early on. The score line remained so throughout the rest of the game although United had several good chances. If they had scored more it would still have been in vain because of what happened at the City.

QPR not only scored to equalise but went ahead 2.1 and remained in charge as the game progressed towards its conclusion. The stress among the supporters of Man City was evident just as the excitement at Sunderland. Then incredibly City scored twice in the extra time of the game. The previous swings in emotions were such with switches by camera between the two games that no one who witnessed could remain neutral and as in my case I contradictory felt for both sets of fans although pleased that Man City had won the trophy after a gap decades. It will be argued that the trophy has been bought with Arab funds but the closeness of the result on goal difference shows that money alone is not sufficient. The selection of a manager who had previously won championships for other European clubs was one important feature. It is also important to mention the gulf between these two giants from one City in Lancashire and the rest with some 19 point difference.

With Man City winning QPR became at risk of relegation dependent on the result of the game between Bolton away at Stoke. Bolton has an excellent manager in Owen Coyle and the team achieved considerable public support when one of the team suffered a heart attack and stoppage which lasted close to an hour. The player was resuscitated and has recovered sufficiently to appear before the crowd at a recent game, intended to inspire the team and its supporters. Unfortunately while Bolton managed to draw with Stoke 2.2 they needed a win to have survived. I am sorry about this. I have nothing against London Clubs and have visited QPR on one occasion and found the club friendly and community based. My concern is the imbalance which is developing between London and other parts of England and Wales.  London now has Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Fulham and QPR in the Premiership with only Crystal Palace and Charlton in other divisions. If West Ham wins their play off game against the excellent Blackpool on Saturday afternoon the position will be further changed so I will be supporting Blackpool although my instinct is that West Ham will win.

Now I come to the issue which affected Newcastle. Disaster in that within a short period of the beginning of matches Arsenal went one up and so did Spurs and so did Everton. Everton were 2.0 up at half time and 3.0 shortly after the interval. I ceased paying attention. And the gamed ended in a 3.1 defeat.  In fact things became very difficult for Arsenal who like Manchester United was in danger on ending the season without one of the five trophies that had been open to them when the season commenced. However they won their away game at West Bromwich 3.2 and therefore finished third in the table with a guaranteed Champions League place. Spurs finished fourth after a 2.0 win a home against the London club Fulham. They now rely on Chelsea losing on Saturday to keep the Champions League Position.

Wear Bromwich in 10th became the highest placed of the Midland clubs and with once leading clubs. Birmingham, Coventry, Nottingham Forest and Notts County, Derby, Leicester and Chesterfield all in lower divisions, the region as with Yorkshire remains in the doldrums. Yorkshire of Leeds and the Sheffield clubs have none in the Premierships although Sheffield Weds have made it into the Championship, Sheffield United have made the play off final on Saturday to join Weds along with Huddersfield who tomorrow have a 2.0 lead in their second game leading to the play off final in they win.  Rotherham and Bradford are in the second divisions, while Doncaster is down from the championship to one.

On match of the day on Sunday the best goals for each month were replayed to establish the best of the season.  Sunderland had two and Newcastle three with those from Ben Arfa and Papiss Cisse considered two of the three best with that of Peter Crouch. Alan Shearer and Alan Hansen agreed, for once, that the Cisse’s goal was the best while Gary Lineker put in a word for Crouch.

It has been agreed by everyone that this has been the best and most exciting of Premiership seasons in its short twenty year history with the finale breath taking and unpredictable as the best of thrillers.

My final word goes to the behaviour of Joey Barton of QPR who appeared to have conquered his violent and irresponsible behaviour. On Sunday he made I can only describe as two vicious violent assaults for which he has now been charged with violent conduct by the Football Association. In my view his behaviour should be investigated by the metropolitan Police.

Papiss Cisse and Mike Ashley on way to become legends

On Wednesday evening 2nd May 2012 there as an event which created the warm glow of wonder, amazement and triumph. Not of any significance in the grand scheme of things but meriting abandoning what I intended writing on the following day.

First having already eaten humble pie by returning to watch Newcastle United while Mike Ashley owns the club I must go further and say not only is all forgiven but well done. I assume he and his Chief Executive had to sanction the purchase of Papiss Cisse for a reputed £10 million having sold local scoring sensation but troubled young man Andy Caroll to Liverpool for £13 million the previous season. In addition during this season the club acquired Demba Ba  on a free contract recently voted by other football managers the buy of the season, and Yohan Cabaye (undisclosed) who is proving  a great talent having the previous year brought to the club Hatem Ben Arfa  another amazing talent together with Titote, the iron man in central midfield.

The way Papiss Cisse scores goals as well as the frequency of his scoring and work rate makes him the most exciting new player to come to the UK for a generation and potentially becoming the best goal scorer of this generation. He was born 3rd June, 1985, Dakar, Senegal, playing for Douanes Dakar, Metz, Cherbourg (loan), Chateauroux (loan), SC Freiburg before joining Newcastle on 17th January, 2012, from SC Freiburg on a five-and-a-half year contract.
 
Newcastle manager, Alan Pardew, is reported to have chosen to ease the striker gently into Premier League life, so gave him a place on the substitutes' bench against Aston Villa on 5th February, but Cisse was soon called upon following an early injury to Leon Best. He capped an impressive debut with a wonder strike which turned out to be the winner in a 2-1 victory at St James Park receiving a cross from the left wing. Cisse took a touch on the edge of the box before firing an unstoppable, rising, left-footed half-volley into the top corner at the Gallowgate End. Since then all his goals are worth seeing for their brilliance.

Yesterday Newcastle went to rampant Chelsea where they have not won for at least twenty five years. Chelsea play in the F Cup against Liverpool on Saturday and then in the European League Championship Cup game later in the month. Should they win that game I will win £220 having placed a £20 free bet when the odds were 10.1? Bayen Munich is the present favourites to win the game. Chelsea needed to win last night to have any chance of getting a top four place which will enable them to compete in the top European competition next season unless they win the Cup, By a quirk of fate by Newcastle winning the game and Chelsea winning the Cup, the team finishing fourth in the Premier League will not now qualify.

This means that Newcastle have to win against Man City Sunday lunch time and away to  Everton the following Sunday and that both Arsenal third and Spurs have to draw at least one of their two remaining games for Newcastle to gain third place and  become eligible for the Champions League next season. If Chelsea loses the Champions League Final then only Arsenal and Sours have to draw a game for Newcastle to get the fourth place but only again if they win their last two games.  There are other scenarios although it is rare for a top team to slip up more than once in their last games of the season.

However this was all academic if Newcastle lost night. This looked the situation after the first few minutes when Chelsea appeared all over the defence with £50 million pounds striker Tores continuing in the form which saw him score a hatrick in his previous outing. After the first quarter Newcastle steadied, move the ball around looked the same class as Chelsea and for the rest of the game Newcastle appeared to be in control midfield but Chelsea were always dangerous in attack with one headed clearance from the line late on. This was offset by a well practiced corner which resulted in Demba Ba having a fearsome strike which rocked the top of the goal mouth before ricocheting out.

There was also a stoppage of some ten minutes when Tiote who had been booked at seven minutes clashed senseless and required seven stitches back in the dressing room but he was held and carried off with an oxygen mask. He is said to have fully recovered and likely to be available to play in Sunday’s fixture of the day against Manchester City.

Newcastle won the game 2.0 because of two extraordinary strikes by Cisse. In the first he seemed to hold a pass, flick the ball up off the ground and then thump with his left foot into the back of the net giving the goal keeper, any goal keeper, no chance. It was his 12th goal in 12 starts since his arrival. With the long period of extra time in second half underway the Manager and the Newcastle visiting supporters appeared well content to settle for the 1,0 victory. Then Shola Ameobi who had come on as a substitute threw in the ball to the feet of Cisse some twenty or more yards out to from the left field. Cisse hit the ball with force and appeared likely to be going over and to the left of the goal when it dramatically swerved passing over the bemused goal keeper a down into the other side of the netting. There was horror disbelief on the part of the home crowd, delighted disbelief on the part of the manager and ecstasy on the part of the Newcastle fans. The commentators then and since have struggle to find superlatives as the goal is replayed over and over again  on national news channels, on Sky Sports news, shortly on the regional news. I could only hear the commentary live but was able to watch the highlights after the Spurs visit to Bolton was over. These have now been recorded.

I rarely purchase regional newspapers these days but could not resist. The Gazette features Newcastle and Sunderland because of the divided loyalties within the town could not resist “ Papiss never Cisses to amaze,” “Strike star takes breath away” and “Best Ever” while the Journal “Wonder striker secures victory” and “Untouchable Cisse silences the Bridge in clinical style” with the front page banner “More Cisse Magic sees off Chelsea.”

I had decided to place a bet on Newcastle winning using £10 at odds of 11/2 of the £17 still in the account which netted £55 plus the stake, £65 in total. I also had a £6 bet on Bolton beating Spurs which feel as they  lost 4.1. I then invested £30 on 2278 Mr Ashley is in danger of becoming.wps Newcastle beating Man City on Sunday at 9/2  which if they win add £135 to the account and there is that free bet of £20 on Chelsea winning Champions League at 10/1 although odds have significantly reduced since then. I have a ticket for Sunday although the game is being shown live on TV and in 3D. The recording has already been set. I momentarily debated a season ticket which is now on general sale. The price for an elder is reasonable but then I remembered the Winter afternoons and the evening games and that I have the large screen 3D TV to enjoy a large chunk of the season in comfort and close up views. Depending on how they progress it will be more difficult to get a reasonable seat for individual matches at the beginning and end of the season when the weather is generally better. A ground frost is forecast and it is May!

The arrival of Cisse has eclipsed that of the season’s previous best buy Demba Bar who signed for the club on 17th June 2011, on a three-year deal, making his club debut on 13 August 2011 in 0–0 draw against Arsenal. His first goals for the club came on 24 September 2011 with a hat-trick against Blackburn Rovers in a 3–1 home win. A second hat-trick came in a 3–1 away win at Stoke City, taking his league total to 8 and maintaining the club's 11 game unbeaten league start, taking them to 3rd in the league. No one anticipated that the club would be able to sustain its position or he the foal scoring. This was true as the club commenced to have a poor run of games with some bad heavy defeats as they had last Saturday. However Ba’s goal scoring form continued and saw him picked in ESPN.com's Premier League Best XI for the first half of the season, and named Premier League Player of the Month for December 2011. By the time Ba left to play in the January international tournament the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations his league tally had reached 15, making him second top scorer in the league behind Arsenal's Robin van Persie. He left for the tournament on a high note, scoring the first in a 3–0 home win over Manchester United on 4 January 2012, the team's first victory against the league champions in over a decade. Such was their form, Ba and club mate Cheick Tioté's departure for the African Cup was said to be big miss for Newcastle going into the second half of the season.

While at the tournament, Ba's Senagal team-mate Papiss Cissé also signed for Newcastle. Ba and Cisse returned earlier than expected after Senegal finished bottom of their group, with Ba having missed three Premier League games and two 2011–12 FA Cup games, the second of which saw Newcastle knocked out of the cup. He returned to action against Aston Villa on their visit to St James' Park on 5 February 2012, his return proved to be a goal scoring one as he netted the opener in the game which Newcastle won 2–1. He was voted as the best signing of the 2011–12 season by Premier League managers in March 2012.

The third major signing of the season was that of Yohan Cabaye from Rennes on 10th June 2011 with a five-year undisclosed deal. Cabaye described the move to Newcastle as "fantastic" while also stating "I have enjoyed great times with Lille, but the time is right now to test myself against the best and playing for Newcastle United in the Premier League does just that". Cabaye played his first game for Newcastle in a pre-season friendly against Conference National side Darlington after coming on as a substitute in the 12th minute. He was a direct replacement for Kevin Nolan in the number 4 shirt who departed with former bad boy as it appeared the decision had been taken to move out disruptive influences but that they were replaced with players of greater skill and overall quality is remarkable and suggest that having decided to stay Ashley and his Chief Executive are set on making Newcastle into one of the top teams in the UK

Cabaye scored his first goal for Newcastle on 22 October 2011 against Wigan Athletic. Four days later, he netted his second goal for the club in a 4–3 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in the Football League Cup.[54] On 17 December, in the team's 0–0 draw with Swansea City, Cabaye covered the most distance by any Newcastle player all season in the match having travelled over 11.6 kilometres (7.2 mi) A fortnight later, Cabaye scored his third goal for Newcastle netting the team's second goal in a 3–0 win against Manchester United after a 30 yard free kick. On 6 April 2012, Cabaye assisted on both team goals, scored by Papiss Cissé, in Newcastle's 2–0 victory over Swansea City. On 21 April, Cabaye assisted a Papiss Cisse goal and scored two other goals in a 3-0 home victory against Stoke City, lifting Newcastle into the Champions League positions in the table.  This was an important turning point in the season which indicated the team’s early season performance was not going to be a one off.

I had commenced to note the overall team work rate and cohesion, the improved defence and the flashes of footballing brilliance from more than one team member.


This came from one of the two additions tot he squad in the previous season. On 27 August 2010, Hatem Ben Arfa agreed to personal terms with Newcastle and, the following day, the club confirmed that it had signed Ben Arfa on a season-long loan. He received the number 37 shirt and made his debut on 11 September 2010, appearing as a substitute in a 2–0 defeat at home to Blackpool. He scored his first goal for Newcastle on his full debut on 18 September in the 1–0 victory against Everton. On 3 October, Ben Arfa suffered a broken tibia and fibula in his left leg while playing in a league match against Manchester City. The injury came as a result of a tackle by opposing midfielder Nigel de Jong. On 5 January 2011, Marseille and Newcastle both confirmed on their websites that they had reached an agreement for the permanent transfer of Ben Arfa to Newcastle with the player agreeing to a four and a half year contract. The transfer fee was undisclosed.

Ben Arfa spent most of his rehabilitation in his home city of Paris recuperating at the Clairefontaine academy. In January 2011, it was reported by the English media that Ben Arfa had undergone another surgery in November 2010 to repair complications that were preventing his shin bones from healing properly. On 23 February, Newcastle manager Alan Pardew confirmed that Ben Arfa was running and could return to the team in April. However, days later, Pardew revealed that he wasn't prepared to rush the player's rehabilitation process and that Ben Arfa probably wouldn't be available until May, stating "I am going to protect him. I can't just throw him in". Ben Arfa returned to training with Newcastle on 5 April. He participated fully in warm-ups with the first-team, but spent the majority of the training session doing light training and fitness work. [88] Ben Arfa ultimately failed to make any more appearances with the team in the 2010–11 seasons.

So in effect he became a new signing for this season after showing flashes of brilliance in the performance which he made reminding of the on the ball skills of one Peter Beardsley. After continuing his rehabilitation during the summer, ahead of the 2011–12 seasons, Ben Arfa began participating in friendly matches with the senior team. He made his return to the team on 15 July 2011 in a match against Conference National club Darlington. Five days later, in the team's pre-season tour of the United States, he sustained an ankle injury in a match against Sporting Kansas City. Ben Arfa ventured back to his home country to rehab the injury and returned to Newcastle on 18 September. He was, subsequently, named to the first-team to participate in the team's Football League Cup tie against Nottingham Forest on 21 September. 

He made his season debut in the match against Nottingham Forest appearing as a substitute. Three days later, he made his Premier League return, coming on as a substitute in a 3–1 win over Blackburn Rovers On 26 December 2011, after going the majority of the autumn campaign without scoring a goal, Ben Arfa scored his first goal of the season in a 2–0 away win over Bolton.

On 7 January 2012, Ben Arfa scored Newcastle's opening goal in its FA Cup third round tie against Blackburn Rovers. The goal, described by BBC Sport as "magical", drew the match 1–1 and Newcastle later went on to win the tie 2–1. On 22 January 2012, Ben Arfa scored in Newcastle's 5–2 defeat to Fulham at Craven Cottage. Two months later, Ben Arfa scored the opener in Newcastle's away league match against Arsenal. The hosts, however, won the match 2–1. On 25 March, he scored one goal and provided the assists on the other two goals in a 3–1 victory against West Brom. Two weeks later, on Easter Monday, Ben Arfa scored again against Bolton Wanderers. The goal, described as "a moment of genius" by British publication The Independent, was the opener and Newcastle went on to win the match 2–0. As previously mentioned this marked my return to St James Park for a match.

That season he was joined by Tioté a fee of £3.5 million after he was granted a work permit. He has been the iron man of the midfield making a number of professional fouls in the process.  He made his debut on 18 September 2010 against Everton at Goodison Park. His debut was very successful – completing all of his 64 passes. He also made two interceptions, completed all five of his attempted tackles, and his only shot was on target. He started all of the rest of the Magpies' games, putting in strong performances against Manchester City and in the 2–1 away win over West Ham. Tioté received man of the match for his performance in the 1–0 away victory against Wigan Athletic.

He was sent off in the 3rd Round FA Cup tie against Stevenage suffering a three match domestic ban, but scored a memorable first goal on his return, scoring a 25-yard volley for the late equaliser in a 4–4 draw against Arsenal, a game the Magpies trailed 0–4 at half time.

On 25 February 2011 Newcastle United announced that Tioté had signed a new six-and-a-half year contract to show his commitment to the club, keeping him at Newcastle until 2017. Upon signing his new deal, Tioté said 'The experience of playing in the Premier League has been better than I ever hoped it could be. This is a great club and the fans have been brilliant – I have never known support like it.

I have let him have the last word, because if he thought the fans were great just wait until the reception the team will have on Sunday, come rain or shine and whatever the outcome. This is a better team than that of Kevin keegan by a long way and may prove to become of the greatest teams if not the greatest team in the history of the Club. If you achieve that Mr Ashley then you also will become a legend.