Supberbowl XLVII disappointment

In addition to supporting Durham and Surrey County  cricket clubs, Newcastle United, Sunderland, and Crystal Palace in association Football, Warrington in Rugby League, I had followed the Chicago Bears and San Francisco Forty Niners for thirty years and in so doing watched more than half the Superbowls regarded as a World Cup in the USA  despite the fact that only teams from the two Premier Football leagues in the USA compete.

On Sunday night into the early hours I watched Superbowl XLVII when I was  almost in tears before the start as the Sandy Hook Elementary School chorus sang America the Brave with Jenifer Hudson..

I became interested in American Football game when it was first shown on television in the UK and watching a game on a projected large screen during my month at the Henley management Colleges was one of my highlights there. This was the era of the Chicago Bears and the fridge. Because a relative could not find a shirt for the Bears in the shops one Christmas I was given the bright red, white lettering with brown helmet shirt for the San Francisco 49ners instead. This was a shrewd purchase because the 49ners had commenced an extraordinary decade of triumphant under coach Bill Walsh and quarterbacks Joe Montana and Jerry Rice. My enthusiasm was such that I bought a computer game in the days of tapes and also saw  two pre season warm up games at Wembley  with the 49ers playing in one. 

San Francisco won 5 Superbowls between 1981 and 1994 The team has remained in San Francisco throughout its Franchise and for a couple of decades had close rivals the when the Cleveland Rams moved and became the Los Angels Rams 1946-1994, a rivalry similar to that between Newcastle and Sunderland.

It was the arrival of Joe Montana as the Quarterback whose influence helped bring the first Superbowl title in 1981 breaking record after record and in the 1984 season the team lost only one game of the sixteen, winning all the others. And although a 16-0 has been achieved their record of 19 successive wins remains to this day. They beat the Chicago Bears to play in the final and beat the Miami Dolphins to take the title for the second time. Their entire defence was chosen for the subsequent Pro Bowl, the first time.

In 1985 there was the arrival of another legend Jerry Rice a draft pick from Mississippi State university. After winning their third Superbowl with Rice named the most valuable player (Montana was named three times) coach Bill Walsh retired but this did not stop the team continuing their run of success as they gained their fourth title beating Denver 55 to 10, the biggest margin of victory in the competition to-date. They were the first team to win back to back Superbowls under different coaches. The last of the five wins came in 1994 after a number of major team changes.

As the decade and millennium drew to a close family disputes led to legal actions over the controlling interests and which appeared to signal a downturn in the playing fortunes of the club.

The appointment of Jim Harbaugh as head coach in January two years ago and the arrival of Colin Keapernick as first choice quarterback. Has changed fortunes one more and brought the 49ners to the Superbowl once more.

Jim Harbaugh was born just before Christmas in 1963, the son of a college football coach and his brother John is head coach of the Superbowl rivals the Baltimore Ravens, A sister is married to the head coach of the men’s Indiana basketball team. He has had cardio vascular surgery to correct  an abnormal heart beat and is a co owner of Indy car Racing Team, the Panther racers.

I first encountered Jim ( on TV) when after his career in college football he was a first draft pick as quarterback for the Chicago Bear in 1987, He moved to the Indianapolis Colts 1994-1997 and eh also played one season for the Ravens, he continued playing until 2001 but from 1994 he also gained experience as an Assistant coach to his father at Western Kentucky University. He then became quarterback coach for the Oakland Raiders and in 2004 became head coach at the University of San Diego, moving to Stamford University for the 2007 season before his appointment to the 49ners.

A new stadium to replace that at Candlewick Park commenced to be built in 2012 at Santa Clara outside the City although all the titles and legacy will remain when the team moves to the new state of the art premises for the 2014 season, where on the site is already the training facilities and administrative offices.

The game was a great anticlimax as San Francisco made mistakes from almost the first moment when a gain of 20 yards first down was riles out because of an illegal line up formation. They never recovered from this with Baltimore scoring three touch downs and taking a 21 to 6 point lead just before half time. During the  interval between the first and second quarters, the BBC (two) had a American football fan Olympic gold media list rower who was attending his first live game in the USA and was sitting a couple of rose away from  legend Jerry Rice. He was too shy to ask for a photo with the man although the BBC team no doubt arranged for one after saying he should mention was an Olympic gold medallist, The second half guest  while the  entertainment was being prepared was the British Rugby player Martin Johnson who captained the Lions World Cup success in 2003. He had been a strong American Football and 49ners supports having attended their training session where he was introduced as the worlds greatest rugby  union player. He had never seen the team play live and was very disappointed with how things were going. They went from bad to worse as at the kick off by the 49ners the received caught the ball on the one yard line and touched down to make the longest return run in the history of the competition for Baltimore with 109 yards in 11 seconds to lead 28 to 6.  When the lights in part of  the ground and there was a temporary delay I decided enough was enough and went to bed. I was both wrong and right.

In fact the temporary break provided the opportunity for the coach to impress upon he team the need for considerable improvement in he execution of he  play book  Colin Keapernick finds Michael Crabtree who avoids two tackles to reach the end zone and the score becomes 28 to 13 after the conversion. Frank Gore then runs the ball into the end zone to make the score 28 to 20 after the conversion and for the first time the Baltimore fans realise the game is not over. Could this be the greatest turn around in Superbowl history? After another couple of minutes San Francisco are able to add another three points with a field goal and the gap becomes 5 points. 17 points scored in four minutes of field play. This brought to an end the third quarter with everyone now tense as the fourth commenced. Of course by then I knew the outcome as I watched the rerun of the game the following day.

Baltimore can only get a field goal themselves tot take the score to 31 to 23 so San Francisco need  a touch down with a two point conversion to tie the game. The clock is running down. San Francisco get another touch down. Is history to be written? Unfortunately the two point conversion attempt fails. It is 31 to 29. The Ravens retaliate with a field goal but the difference is only five points so the 49ers ruin the field clock down to the two minutes before making their push for a winning touch down. The play is brilliant and they get with six on the fourth which fails. The coach claims he player was held back but his pleas are ignored. Baltimore concedes a safety and two points. They know what they are doing. The final score is 43 to 32. In fairness  the 49ners never took the lead and were always chasing the game after such a s disastrous start, There  is always next year.   

Newcastle V Chelsea Febuary 2nd 2013

I listened to Newcastle playing Chelsea at St James Pak on Saturday afternoon February 2nd 2013  on BBC Live 5 via the TV and then watched the whole game as Sky’s match of the day at 8.25 and then the highlights and analysis on Match of the Day. Newcastle started confidently with Gouffran having a shot in the first minute and Cabaye in the third who had two more  attempts in the 21st minute as well as one before in the 19th. However it is Cisse who had the better opportunities in the 4th and 19th, Moussa Sissoko was playing well but no indication of the performance to come. Juan Mata and Frank Lampard for Chelsea were  threatening but as yet finding it difficult to get into the game. I, and I suspect many other supporters in the ground was becoming concerned that with all this dominance but no goals, the team would go behind when Chelsea got themselves into full gear, I have witnessed so many game where if dominance fails to be converted into goals, the game is drawn or lost. A third of the game has passed without an indication of the excitement to come.

There were then two incidents which changed the game. Jonas Gutierrez, who has been captain this season indicated to the club that he wished to return to Argentina for personal reason before the Winter Transfer period but has been persuaded to remain until the end of the season. As if to mark this development he scored a rare goal, with his head, glancing it into the corner beyond the reach of the Chelsea goal keep in the 41st minute. This was fair reward for Newcastle after controlling much of the first half. However this was marred  when  Demba Ba about to head the ball into the Newcastle net received a kick to the nose which in most circumstances would have resulted in a penalty and a sending off. After being patched up he returned to the play but was forced to leave in the 42nd minute to be replaced by £50 million man Torres.

Chelsea were ordered out early onto the pitch at half time and scored two goal in the 55th and 61st minutes which were outstanding and unstoppable. The first by Frank Lampard dipped into the goal and the second from Juan Mata swerved into  the corner, At that point it looked as if  my premonition about playing well but not converting opportunities would prove accurate.  I am not sure when it was the TV commentator made the point that given their recent  arrival, especially Sissoko who not played many games recently their substitution was likely but after a great piece of moving play, the Chelsea goal keeper palmed the ball into the path of the Frenchman who calmly poked the ball into the net away from the goalkeeper in the 67th minute. This lit his and the crowd’s touchpaper and where in fairness the crowd has remained loyal and supportive despite the recent setbacks.

A few minutes later there was the first of two star performance runs by the player. In one, playing on the right hand side of the field he out run and manoeuvred one of the best English defenders to have his shot saved by the goal keeper and  in the other he made another run against a defender on the left side of play to also have his show saved with John terry stopping the corner from Cabaye who than had a  shot coming in from the wing just past the outside of the goal post. Both teams then had chances with Cabaye for Newcastle, Meta and Lampard for Chelsea.

It was then the legend was made when in the 89th minute Moussa Sissoko who had  placed himself in the centre of the play received a pass from the wing and drilled a  powerful  lowball into the back of the net to win the game for Newcastle 3.2. In order that the crowd could show their appreciation the manager substituted Moussa a few seconds later although there was 4  minutes of extra time to defend with two shots having to be saved by the Newcastle goal keeper.

Needless to add the home crowd had become delirious and players did a full lap  of honour around the ground to about a half the stadium who stayed to enjoy the experience. The whole game, the Newcastle win and performance by Sissoko was then praised by all the commentators and news reports. While this is only two wins out of two, for many the season has now begun and relegation no longer appears the threat it still remains.

Next weekend Newcastle are at fourth placed  Spurs and the game is covered by Sky while ESPN are showing the first knock out stage home tie in the Europe League on the 14th with the return leg a week later at 6pm and I have booked a ticket for the 1.30 but not the televised home game against relegation strugglers Southampton on the following Sunday and after that we shall see the progress, (or otherwise) before booking further tickets and with Sunderland, Liverpool and Arsenal coming as visitors and Man City, in form Swansea, relegation fighting QPR and also on the slide West Ham as away fixtures, Wigan and WBA are also away with Fulham and Stoke at home. There are no easy fixtures or points. But the hope, anticipated excitement of a return to glory days which I felt last season, returns.

The French invasion of Newcastle United 2013

For the first time in weeks I gave undivided attention to two sporting events on television although I went to bed in the early hours shortly after the second half commenced of the Superbowl between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens.

Although I expected Newcastle United to lose against  the European, former Premier League  and F A Cup winning Champions, Chelsea I wanted to view how the new arrivals from France were performing after an excellent win, the first away win of the season against lowly Aston Villa last Tuesday evening, The commentators had noted the rally by the Villa in the second half and suggested that the Newcastle would find Chelsea a different proposition because of the defeat against Swansea in the FA Cup and the succession of recent 2.2 draws.

To mark the French invasion of new players into the squad the club shop had ordered 1000 berets and these had quickly sold out and the pub next to the ground the Strawberry was  reported to  have changed its letter board to the French equivalent. There has been these kind of marketing stunts before, some of which have taken off but given the dramatic loss of form this season compared to last and the selling of Demba Ba to Chelsea something was desperately needed to move the club out of the relegation zone.

Ba was replaced by Frenchman (1)Yuan Gouffran  b 1986, with 69 goals to his credit, 12 this season to date and European playing experience. I thought his performance was very encouraging, Newcastle’s problem this season has been the comparative failure of Papiss Cisse  from the French speaking player from Senegal who has still scored 7 time but missed a host of chances and whose all round play is also being questioned. They join the locally born Ameobi brothers and one other Englishman (Ranger)

The Newcastle midfield was already dominated by Frenchmen with one of the most creative players in the Premiership, capable of  dazzling runs (2)Hassam Ben Arfa b1987 who scored a brilliant goal during one of my few visits to the ground last season, scoring 7  in total  with 3 more this year (32 career total). His return eagerly is anticipated after two months of injury to which he appears prone. He has played 13 times for his national side. (3)Yohan Cabaye b 1986 can also score goals, often long range shots which delight the crowd and who also has played for his country 19 times. He has scored 42 goals in total with 4 for Newcastle this  season.

(4)Gabrial Obertan b 1989 is more  of a holding midfield player with 7 goals, 1 for Newcastle and is commanding a  regular first team  place,  (5)Silvain Marveaux can also score goals 19 in total with 2 for Newcastle in his 23 appearances this season, joining the club last January, (6) Romain Amalfitano b 1989 has played  5 times for the club this season from Reims. I will write more about the other new signing from France bringing the total  number of midfield Frenchmen to 6 alongside  Dutchman Anita, Gutierrez- Argentinean, Tiote-Ivory Coast, Vukic-Slovinian  and. Birgirimania- Burundian.


In the defence there is (8)Mapou Yanga -Mbiwa b 1989 from Montpelier club and who has played three  time for his country this year.  (9) Massadio Haidara  by 1992  from Nancy club is only 20 and is yet to play for the first team (10) Mathieu Debuchy b 1985 from Lille club has played for France 13 times, (4 this year) and played  4 times for Newcastle. They join six Englishman including local man Stephen Taylor, one form Northern Ireland, the Argentinean Coloccini and the Italian Santon while regular first team goal keeper Krull is from Holland with Englishmen Harper and Elliot.

So with ten French outfield players in the squad it is no exaggeration to talk of a French invasion.

Gouffran, Cabaye, Debauchy lined up on Saturday afternoon with the new midfield man  and immediate Tyneside legend Moussa Sissoko  born 1989 from the Toulose Club where he scored only 23 goals in 200 appearances, Yanga M’biwa and Marveaux came on as substitutes,

Ryder Cup 2012

Monday October 1^st 2012 I awoke around 8.30 still enthused by the spectacular win by the European Team in the Ryder Cup in Chicago before a vociferous and unsporting American crowd, who booed and uttered other taunt at the visitor this win was even that more stupendous. The visitors had been inspired throughout by their Spanish Captain Jose (Ollie) Maria Olazabal who had been a great friend of his Spanish team made Seve Ballesteros who died from cancer and Ollie in turn inspired the rest of the team so that against all odds I reckon the Americans caved because for once they knew that God was not on their side. Between them the two Spanish players have won 12 Ryder cup points out of 15 matches played but only lost two as the other two games were halved. The next European pairing to do well was Nick Faldo and Ian Woosnan with 6 points.

There was sympathy for the USA team who must have believed that after taking at 10 4 lead as the second progressed and that even with the final match win to the Europeans on Saturday the 10 6 lead was more than sufficient to take the tie by 14 and half point. The visitors needed 14 point to draw the match and retain the cup as the holders of the trophy. While the game was played in the USA on a ground which was prepared to suit the American team with razor sharp greens all but three of the European Team play on the USA circuit so have some familiarity with the conditions including crowd behaviour.

The USA had been in the ascendancy from the start and a mentioned were leading 10 4 when in foursomes on the Saturday before Europe gained the next through Garcia and Donald before Ian Poulter with Rory McIlroy gained the last, as Poulter birdied the last five holes to reverse the lead of their opponents. While in 1999 also in thee USA the home side had reversed a European score of 10 6 to gain the Cup this was an exceptionally well balanced USA team desperate to win after losing the previous competitions, My understanding is that the order of play was agreed between the players rather than laid down by the captain with the call to go out fighting and try and claw back the lead in the early games. Luke Donald beat Bubba Watson 2 and 1 to take the match 10 to 7 Ian Poulter the hero of bat Webb Simpson by 2 to take the tie 10 8 Saturday evening beat Rory McIlory beat Keegan Bradley 2 and 1 to move 10 10.9 while Justin Rose beat Phil Mickleson on the last hole having come from behind 10 10 and then magically the older Phil Lawrie of Scotland 5 and 3 so that Europe went ahead 11.10 Zach Johnson of the USA then levelled 11 11 when he beat Nicholas Colesearts while his brother Zach Johnson also won beating Graham McDowell 2 and 11 12 11 to the USA. Sergio Garcia of Spain then beat Jim Furyk at the last hole 12 12 with four matches to go. Jason Dufner beat Europe’s Peter Hanson by 2 holes 13.12 but Lee Westwood was strong taking his game 3 and 2 against Matt Kutchar 13.13. It was the German Martin Kaymer who beat Steve Stricker who had holed a magnificent long putt on the 18^th to require Martin to hole another medium size putt to ensure the trophy stayed this side of the Atlantic. With ecstasy and disbelief rebounding around the greens and club house it was left to Tiger Woods to take the final tie hole or share the hole as he was 1 up. He failed to make a very short putt so his game was a half and Europe won the event 14 and half to 13 and half points. Wondrous, amazing the words failed as emotion gripped everyone who had played or managed the team, was present there, in the studio or at home watching as the midnight hour approached Europe has retained the cup since losing in 1999 with the 2001 competition cancelled because of 9/11 and Europe then won in 2002, 04, 06, 08, 10 and now in 2012. I watched the BBC highlights between 8 and 9 pm and they were just as good as those of Sky.

Paralympic weekend and Closing Ceremony

This is a retrospective memory of a fabulous weekend visiting the Paralympic Games to watch Ellie Simmonds swim and the closing ceremony. It is written on September 25^th 21012, two weeks after the weekend of 7^th-10^th September.

I now regret not planning to visit the games when tickets were readily available as the decision to go arose after winning £200 from a long shot bet that Chelsea would become European Champions. With the benefit of hindsight I should have made the Paralympics my main trip of the Olympic period or at least given similar consideration although in fairness I was governed by the escalation in accommodation costs and finding myself allocated two football tickets over a period of four days.

In the event I had to pay more than usual for accommodation and travel for my weekend visit back to Croydon but not significantly. I also booked a later train than usual which then arrived late because of signally problems and where the time was not made up because of further delays waiting for platforms which could take a twelve carriage train.

I was able to gain a seat where I could use my lap top and was able to test out the recently acquired internet on the move USB device. However I was yet to work out that in order to override the dominant source such as the British Rail service or that at the Travel Lodge you have to disconnect on the soft ware. It was not until the return train journey that I was able to listen for long periods without interruption to Five Live overcoming the electrical interference which prevented listening to the pocket radio.

I was able to reflect on what had been an amazing week until then. There had been some reaction to the Channel Four coverage of the opening ceremony when advertisements were included although inserted at points which did not affect the overall enjoyment of the impressive show. The problem for many is that they had been spoilt by the BBC with its dedicated channels for each sport and with the main channel bringing the highlight events without advertising.

Channel Four is a commercial station dependent on advertising and which in fact became a significant aspect in terms of promoting individual athletes and treating them as the professionals they are no different in this respect from those who are able bodied. The sponsorship of key individual also mean they will begin to achieve the financial lifestyles of the able bodied and play a part in t eh cultural life of the country alongside Dame Grey Thompson who has made it all the way to the House of Lords and to the sub committee which vets sports men and women for national honours

The main feature of the excellent Channel Four coverage was the use of disabled people as presenters, a feature which I would like to see continued. They had only three dedicated channels which meant it was not possible to view many of the sports live although given the return to school of children; it was unlikely there would have viewers to have merited the expenditure involved.

I did not watch the after show hosted by disabled people for disabled people and others which took an irreverent view with a nightly challenge asking questions you dare not ask setting new boundaries of what is and is not acceptable. I watched the show towards the end of Paralympics, the last I believe, and admit it was good and regretted not viewing before. Several Olympic teams stayed up after their bedtime curfew to watch, according to one report.

I spent a good twenty minutes trying to find a recording of the Opening ceremony to refresh my memory but without success and unfortunately I appear to have unintentionally deleted the recording made on the Sky box. Later I discover there is one on You Tube but by then I have written and moved on. I have only few visual memories with the opening sequence which had the great paraplegic philosopher and scientist Stephen Hawkings introduce the event with a powerful overview of human development and endeavour and an aerial moment where a number of former leading athletes including Lady Grey Thompson highlighted some of the key sports. The emphasis was on the role of science in promoting human development, on exploration of our world and of ourselves including overcoming barriers and challenges seen through the eyes of one young girl.

A full house was expected fort he opening event and it was quickly evident that those attending were going to show the same level of support for the British Team as happened during the Olympics a month earlier. To the credit of those submitting the bid and designing the Olympic Park, the stadiums and the accommodation had been designed for use by Paralympians so that only limited changes were needed to some stadiums to increase the space for those with disability and a feature of my visit was the huge special parking areas for wheel chairs and for baby and child carriages at each of the venues. It is possible these were also provided for use by spectators.

There was an early start on the Saturday morning with tickets for swimming and seeing Ellie Simmonds in her heat for the 50 meter freestyle event. She functions better in the long events free style and medley where she is able to make effective use of her powerful freestyle which more than compensates for the lack of starting drive because of her lack of reach due to lack of height and short turn arounds.

The day before had been exceptionally hot and two more days were forecast so I went only in shirt and trousers but taking my new GB Team bag with me. The journey into London via St Pancras and then on the Javelin train the Olympic Park was without incident although I forgot to get a photo of Javelin on my new touch screen photo phone and then decided to leave taking other photos until after the swimming event. Although the Aqua centre is the closest building to the main entrance getting to the entrance involves quite a walk and over a bridge as the stadium is raised on an island in part because there will be a public swim baths on the lower level or for use my the professional swimmers ass well as the main pools above. I thought the lower pool was where the Athletes warmed up but in fact many also used the main pool perhaps because of the overall numbers involved.

My seat was to one side away from the start and finish line where one bonus was that lights. one for first and three for third, come up with the touch of the competitors something which is not evident on the TV where the camera concentrated on the pool below. The downside from my location about midway up the top tier but at an aisle was the inability to see the large screen at the end of the pool on which there is information on participants of the race itself. We had a much smaller screen where it was difficult to read the result as well as into and one had to be guided by the British Flag and the flags of other participants alongside the names. The other draw back was the absence of information about contestants when because of number of the heats, two or three for each race category there was no time for individual introductions. Fortunately the British swimmers all wore red skull caps which enabled their immediate identification.

Ellie was already one of the undoubted stars of the Games as she had been in run up and with a large portrait of her on the side of a building at the shopping centre and visible from the Park. Unlike the able bodied she and the other swimmers lived up to expectations.

Ellie won the most extraordinary of races in her opening event the 400 meter freestyle where she was behind the young American woman who had won her appeal against being reclassified. Disabled athletes are not graded according to their disability but according to measured performance and then grouped so that in theory all participants in a particular category have a chance of winning. In this instance the young woman in question had recovered from a coma and was regaining strength and movement which led to reclassification. The reversal of the decision resulted in one of the most memorable swimming races of all time because the girl was well ahead in the opening length of the eight lap event. Fortunately Ellie was able to take back the gains made on the turn arounds so that as the final 100 metres of the four was reached she was within striking distance but it was not until last twenty or so meters that it looked she would be able to win which she did but only with her last strides towards the touching the pool end. Only the 80000 cheering on Mo Farah and the noise in the cycling arena equalled that on this occasion.

Ellie broke down in tear of relief and joy and signalled that unlike the able bodied this girl was here at the top for the duration. A few days later she repeated this triumph in 200 metre medley where from being way behind she took a commanding lead which she maintained. It was therefore not surprising that she could only achieve silver in her third event and then bronze in to 50 metre event final. Although she was able to win her heat by a long distance breaking her own world record so did the next two athletes in the second heat thus signalling how the final might end.

Camera men were located on terraced area across from my seating while the athletes then made their way to where journalists from different media stations were waiting to interview including channel Four and BBC Five Live Radio. I have mixed feeling about this aspect which is OK if an Athlete wins or achieves best performance however it must be difficult for those who lose or fail to do well.

The most moving and impressive moment of the morning was not the performance of Ms Simmons but a young man without legs from above the knee who made his way up on to dais without assistance for the dive into the pool. The pool at the winning end side away from me is flush with the water to enable athletes to get out without assistance if they wish. In his instance I had missed that he had arrived on his artificial legs which he had placed by the pool exit and which he now refitted before striding off to increasing applause as he made his way to be interviewed. Although I watched with amazement on TV as I have in previous years seeing the athletes close up and live was a very moving experience. Those who are visually disabled had assistants holding stick with flat material at he end to tap the swimmers to alert they were reaching the pool end. It was the visually disabled athletes who throw themselves in the air to long jump and hop skip and jump who impressed most of all for the courage mixed with professional ability. Final word of praise goes to Ellie has to be for Ellie who is only 17 years and still at school and already as Rio in mind.

I enjoyed a portion of fish and chips for lunch albeit expensive at £8.50 with a cool drink and visited the mega store where I acquired a hat for £2 which looked awful but stopped the sun frying my head. I then found somewhere in the shade before visiting the Orbit again where entertainment was provided because the queues in part made worse because of the number of people who were able to make a visit via the gate and able to go straight to lifts for a viewing.

The act on arrival was a young man singer song writer with a guitar with Tyler part of his name and a Facebook page although a quick search failed it did lead to discovering full You Tube recording of the Closing ceremony after repeated problems on the Channel Four Player. The young man finished his set and was replaced by an aging Mexican Band complete with Sombreros which they loaned to those who wanted to be photographed, I was unaware at the time that the group are well known from their participation in a video for Doritos usually associated with sporting and other entertainment programmes. Even later I found that they appeared in the film One Day. When making my way down from the top viewing platform to the second I discovered the group had come up in lift and were playing to a crowd and obviously enjoying their outing and determined to take the view.

It was such a clear day that I was able to some great photos compared to the rain and cloud of my previous visit. After the early start and with the heat I decided against staying for Live showing of the evening finals having checked that there were no last minute tickets on offer and made my way back to Croydon at leisure and had to lay down to recover after enjoying an ice cold drink and a ice cream. Later still refreshed and having watched Ellie get her bronze medal I enjoyed a starter of chicken wings and a pizza in the Travel Lodge restaurant and having had difficulties logging on in the room used the free service to check on emails and plan the following day.

The following morning I enjoyed a full English breakfast with Orange Juice, a cereal and the large helping of sausages, eggs scrambled, bacon, tomatoes and mushrooms. This was followed with by two rounds of toast with blackberry jam and lashings of coffee. I was set up for the day.

The closing ceremony ticket was scheduled 7.30 so on the basis of other events where the stadiums were opened one hour before this I aimed to travel to the Olympic Park to arrive no later than 6.30 prepared to be early and avoid the rush than late. It remained a gloriously hot day but with and end expected to be close to 11pm, the opening had gone on later, and a problem with everyone leaving at he same time I was prepared for the cold and for the possibility of a shower. I had checked that my key ticket worked as I anticipated arriving back between one and two am.

I cannot remember when I set off although it was close 5 than 5.30 pm and I was able to get a good seat as well as on the Javelin which was full but nothing like as crowded as on the previous day. I was struck by the crowds queuing at the restaurants between the shopping centre and the main entrance to the Park. This suggested people eating after shopping or my likely that I was indeed early or as it transpired the show did not in fact begin until 8.30. There nevertheless a large crowd making their way or so it seemed to me and therefore I concluded I had not left too late.

According to plan my entrance was on the far side of the stadium opposite to the Orbit which meant going past the bridges closest to main thoroughfare, however although people were progressing past entrance C when I and other went further a one of games Makers advised we could not go no further and an to use C It was only after reaching area below my seating did I appreciate there was direct access to the bridge for vehicular traffic for the Olympic Committee, the VIP’s and the entertainers. There was also a bridge with direct access to the Olympic village for the Athletes. As I approached the particular numbered entrance for my ticket I reached the VIP and Media entrances which contrasted with the rest of the stadium with attractive doorways with attendants. I was directed to an outside stairway which took up to the upper tier which I anticipated but only to find that I had also been allocated a free standing chair against a long media desk with electrical and internet points beneath but with room for ten people in an area where in the rest of the stadium there would have been twenty, moreover in addition to the depth of the desk there was plenty of room behind for passage and There was also uninterrupted view into and across the stadium because of the banking so one had to bend over the desk to see those sitting immediately below and behind there was separate boarding at the top of which was a band of lights whereas in the rest of the stadium these were place between the seats. There were perhaps a bank of half a dozen more levels between me and the roof space and other side were media/stadium control boxes fitted into the roof space. The area of the desks space extended on either with a length of at least 50 meters if not more.

When I arrived close to seven there were only a few thousands inside and Jon Snow in the TV programme which reviewed highlights of the games before ceremony said there were about 12000 in place by 7.30. There was entertainment via an exceptionally loud audio system and films on two screens below the roof level across from where I sat with no doubt two above me at either end of the arena from where I was sitting.

There was also opportunity for the Athletes to make their way into the stadium from two entrances and then to four large areas of seating within the athletics field with the former running track outside them covered for use by large vehicles and to hide the electrical connections for the lighting attached to their searing. They therefore had a good view of the ceremony reminding of the way members of the public were part of the opening event for the Olympic Games. Given that the last event in the stadium occurred the evening before there was work during the night and some rehearsing in the afternoon and during the pelimins with use made of vehicles made into fantastical contraptions as well as created stage areas with one for the main music band Coldplay who were an intrinsic part of the event coming on some 40 minutes after commencement and continuing to perform during the next two hours. I am not a fan of the band that are loud and without the kind of well known and enjoyable numbers which a host of other artists could have provided. What those from a number of other nations made of it I can but speculate?

In the build up I was joined by two and then three ladies to my right and by a single girl to my left whose photo I took for her on her camera. As the evening progressed it was evident that some of my neighbours had not come through my route but from other ticketing sources I was provided with a double sided programme of the event passed on by one of the neighbours from stewards and among the last in his possession so that others at our level and higher up and some below went without.

The programme is in the form of letter from Kevin Gavin the Artistic Director, He explains that throughout our history fire is seen as symbol of beginnings and ends and the Festival of the Flame celebrates the extraordinary journey that commenced seven years before when it was announced that London was to be the host city for both games in 2012 and comes to a joyous spectacular end on the night.

The nation that is the British nation is associated with Festivals from harvest to music, comedy and film festivals. I like the concept of festivals and regret not participating when I was younger. Now the concept remains a good one but I would to have the funds to be able to participate in relative comfort and I am not sure I could cope with prolonged intensity.

Mr Gavin said that the Festival of the Flame played tribute to gatherings which infuse the spirit of the nation drawing on the ever changing seasons that define us (although given the weather over past 24 months our seasons appear to be merging or in the case of summer non existent). The event is intended to celebrate some of the ancient and modern traditions that have gathered down the ages. He gives a special mention to the participation of Coldplay as part of a cast of nearly 2000. There would be tributes to the 70000 volunteers with some 1300 in the stadium on the night. The last sentence asks that the last person in stadium turn out the lights.

Situated across from the Orbit it was great to see it lit up at as the night and I felt a great sense of once only occasion never to be repeated and pleased that I had managed to visit both key stadiums before they are changed. The wings of the swimming stadium are to be removed while the future of the main stadium remains uncertain with a number of bids including from West Ham United. It would be a pity if London was not to retain a major Athletics stadium in the capital as that at Crystal Palace is OK but not World Class. The problem is that with Wembley stadium for football and associated big sporting events and Twickenham for Rugby Union there is no need for another huge stadium although Spurs with ambitions to join Arsenal and Chelsea made a bid. The obvious candidate is West Ham a club with a good local crowd but in small playing area stadium with spectator’s right to the field with a feeling of being close to the action. This is difficult to achieve with an athletics track and a large field for Athletic events plus long jumps, water jumps and such like. It has also been stated that the stadium and Park site is also being considered for a London based Grand Prix event. There is already talk of a London street race taking in some of the main sights of the Capital.

The opening section of the ceremony is headed Windstorm with machine blowers and vehicles fantastical designs entered the stadium. The youngest son of the Queen as patron of Paralympics was joined by the Chairman of the governing committee in a vehicle with an attached platform for the singing of the national Anthem by someone who is blind, Lisa Hermans, and who also suffered from Autism. Two former soldiers wounded and disabled also participated in the section Raising the Flag and is designed to honour servicemen and support Help for Heroes. This is not as incongruous a section as might be first thought given that the Paralympic were started in the UK in 1948 alongside the Olympics games in London the hospital for spinal and other serious injuries to soldiers in the Second World War.

The Heart of Many Nations

was led Rory Mackensie on a raised platform some 40 feet above the stadium ground, a former army medic, was recruited for audition after he had undertaken several daring adventures since losing a leg in a roadside bomb at which an 18 year old colleague died. He has leaned to Ski and participated in a crossing of the Atlantic, rowing, and in race conditions. The Flags of the 164 Nations entered the stadium and later left. There was much endeavour in the centre of the arena while this was taking place so that before the section Truck Invasion what is described as crop circle took fire and the smell of firework powder filled the air. It was then a large number of fantastical trucks entered the stadium and which I will see close up when I view the whole of the ceremony on You Tube.

In Spirit of the Games Dr Whang Youn Dai, a champion of the Paralympic Movement presented award to two Paralympians, then five Paralympians gave presents to five games making volunteers and the six new members of IPC Athletics Council were introduced. It was then time for Coldplay to arrive for Autumn with a four number set which included Us against the World and Up in Flames. They played three further numbers to mark Winter with movement and dancing elsewhere in the arena.

The British Paralympics Orchestra and Rihanna elevated on a wire participated with Coldplay for Summer which included their most well known piece to me Viva la Vida. It was then time for the handover ceremony of the Olympic Flag by Boris Johnson the London Mayor to the Mayor of Rio with a great cheer for him. With the raising of the Brazilian Flag and the playing of their national Anthem, As in Beijing, it is then the host city for 2016 which gives a taster called Joy. This included a group of four blind young women who have been trained as ballet dancers and who were interviewed on the TV the night before.

The evening then drew to a close with the Final Flame as Sir Philip Craven the President of the International: Paralympics Committee and Lord Sebastian Coe Chair of the London 2012 Organising Committee made speeches before the Cauldron was extinguished with one of those involved Ellie Simmonds. Throughout the evening there had been much use of fire as there was during this part which ended with Cold Play, Rihanna and Jay Z involved with Run this Town

Coldplay continued to play during the Firework Finale and at one point there appeared to be a roof over stadium of fire works. Given that I was located furthers from the Javelin Train, I therefore start to make my way before the end but by the time I get down and start to make my way round the inner circle everyone else commences to make their way. I walked fast rather than run and decide against going to the toilet which fortunately I had done before the start and making my way up.

I continued a fast walking pace through to the queue for the station where I was held up just before the entrance was insight and alas there was to be a long wait of half an hour before the next train. The enthusiasm of the Games Makers at this hour was extraordinary and I wondered what time they would be getting home.

Having moved to the front end of the platform on reaching St Pancras I was able to catch the next train to East Croydon with a number of others which came in within moments of reaching the platform. This was about a quarter to Midnight. It will remain a matter of conjecture if I had taken the advised route to West Ham Station or a line from Stratford to central London and Victoria if I would have arrived in East Croydon sooner. Certainly those waiting on the Platform at London Bridge were in panic as there appeared to be no room on the train with cries of concern at the doorways from within the train as it set off. There were also lots of tired people waiting for train connections at East Croydon as his majority of those leaving the train headed for the trams and buses. Despite the delay at Stratford International I was at the Travel Lodge around 12.30 which was amazing all things considered and earlier than I had anticipated as a started off at the end of the event.

While finding myself with a space, a chair at a desk was interesting and provided an excellent viewpoint. One felt separate from the majority of those in there stadium and the younger ones who wanted to dance appeared self conscious in their comparative isolation.

The following day I packed leisurely and made my way without a rush back to St Pancras over to Kings Cross when I found a seat and listened to preparations for the Victory Parade when a huge fleet of vehicles would take all the British Olympians in convoy according to participating sport with Paralympians and Olympians. Although I had some difficult starting off and one point later I was able to listen to Five Live throughout most of the Journey and at Newcastle station I was able to see something of the end with the fly past in the bar alongside the main entrance. I needed to get home to shop and for Newcastle on the telly later. I will write further on the legacy issued sand on the individual athletes and their success as I have still to do for many of the Olympians.

Warrington to Man U ?Newcastle win but, England Cricket Collapse and Boring F1 Singapore

Earlier to day as 14.50 I reported that I had brought in the two good tomatoes plants and enjoyed a cuppa soup with crackers. Switching channels after watching the start of the Singapore Grand Prix which while not boring because of some incidents is nevertheless a procession as forecast with Hamilton keeping out of trouble from the start and Button managing to gain their position behind Vettel who he is chasing hard in order to free Hamilton at the front. Schimacher goes into the back of another car raising questions about reactions due to age and their have been other shunts with varying consequences. However I missed the moment when Hamilton was forced to retire because of gearbox failure. This let in World Champion Vettel who moves to second position in the Driver’s Championship table with 165 points to close the gap on World Champion Alonso with 194 points. Hamilton drops to fourth staying on 142 whereas he would have consolidated his position in second place had he won. Jenson Button therefore came second in the race and is now 6^th in the championship.

I was interested by the performance of Spanish sounding Paul Di Resta who drives for the Force India Mercedes team and who claimed fourth spot in the race and is now 11^th in the table in his first season. Although he lives in Monaco he was born in Scotland with his step father a former profession footballer. He is a cousin of the Franchitti racing driver families. He managed to finish 6^th in the Singapore race last season his first full season then aged 25 years and 13^th in the driver championship with 27 points. His 10 points fourth place gives him 44 points this and 11^th position. With six races to go and 150 points max there is everything to play for in the individual championship race as there is in the constructors with Mclaren 37 points behind Red Bull, a gap which would have closed considerable if Hamilton’s car had not failed.

There was a good orchestrated show of solidarity between Man U and Liverpool clubs at the first home game at Anfield since the publication of the Truth report on the unlawful killing of 96 spectators at Hillsborough and where Man U supporters have taunted Liverpool fans and their City in the past. Sir Bobby Charlton presented former Liverpool player with a bouquet of 96 red flowers while the two captains released 96 red balloons and two stands marked out the word Truth and Justice along the their whole length. As for the game I did not see the first two goals just after the second half started with Gerrard on 46 minutes and Rafael 61. There was great fuss when first Shelvey was red carded for a foul on Johnny Evans who played for Sunderland on loan when I last attended matches on a regular basis and then Glen Johnson fouled Da Silva to give Man U a penalty in the 80^th minute but there was a long delay because of injury to Kagawa and then Van Persie won the game for the visitors. This places the new Liverpool Manager under great pressure with 3 defeats and two draws from their five games and in the relegation zone at the bottom of the table. However Liverpool did play well which in my view underlines their problems

Listened to Newcastle’s home game against Norwich on headphones while watching closing stages of the motor racing and the football and the starts of England’s 20 20 game against India. Newcastle did not start well as they have throughout the season so far but a reported brilliant pass for Ben Arta found Demba Ba who scored a great goal. There were countless chances after that include an undisputed penalty which Cisse hit over the bar raising questions of why the player who scored 14 goals some of them wonder games has lost confidence. Whereas from the highlights of the Sunderland at West Ham game Sunderland a draw was a fair result given the chances falling to both sides, Newcastle dominated until the latter stages when Norwich senses they had the chance to get a draw I also watch the last minutes of the fist half of the Man City game against Arsenal just in time to see a great header from Lescott to a corner kick beat the man standing by the post to give City a 1.0 in the 38 minute. I was also delighted to learn that QPR opened the scoring at White Heart Lane with a goal from Bobby Zomora when deep inside the penalty box however they lost in the end as Spurs scored twice to take the points. Pity.

England won the toss put India in to bat before the best crowd to-date in the competition. India made 170 for 4 an average of 8.5 in their innings. Then woe is me England seemed to lose all inhibition and were dismissed for 80, having been 60 for 9 at one point, The less said about this game the better.

3 D cricket and second Newcastle game on TV within four days september 2012

 I missed England's 

last 20 20 game with South Africa which because of bad weather in the afternoon was reduced to 11 overs under the flood lighting at Old Trafford. The commentary team suggested that 10 runs an over was the benchmark target but which looked unlikely until Somerset’s pint sized wicket keeper batsman Josh Taylor started the 10^th over and his 30 runs with three sixes, two fours, and two twos in an over which had two no balls and where his 31 was made while facing 10 balls. South Africa had no one to match this and finished 28 runs short at 90 for 6. Kieswetter scored 50 from 32 opening the innings.

The Newcastle game was frustrating because despite the heat of 29 degrees and a rock hard uneven pitch which created problems with the ball bounce and a poor start over the first 15 minutes Newcastle had many chances with two ball strokes hitting goal posts and half a dozen if not more good opportunities during the rest of the first half and the greater part of the second half. However it was the home side that came close to scoring in 81^st minute. Alan Pardew has little European experience and given that the team played on Monday night have an away game against Norwich and then a mind week League Cup game away to Manchester United

Liverpool also with their junior side had had exciting game against the Young boys, taking the lead three times but for Liverpool also with their junior side had had exciting game against the Young boys, taking the lead three times but for the home side to equalise. However they scored their fourth and fifth goals late on to return home with all three points justifying the decisions of the manager.

22.05 Watched the Sky Atlantic film on the Sky Team winning the Tour De France. It was great to relive the experience plus several previously unbroadcast interviewed and comments on issues which arose including the position of Froome and Cavendish. Given what happened with the Olympics and Paralympic one forgets the enormity of this team success. Measuring this against the winning of the USA and an Olympic Gold medal by Andy Murray and the winning of the 5000 and 10000 metre my Mo Farah make the choice of Sports person of the year impossible and what of Denise Lewis, Ellie Simmonds and Nicola Adams together with David Weir should make the top ten short listed.