Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Ipswich Town 0 Plymouth Argyle 0
Coca-Cola Championship
Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk
Vital statistics: Admission by season ticket, match programme 3 pounds, attendance 20,095.
Match Number: 1416
posted by chevblue at 7:03 PM 0 comments
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Soham Town Rangers 1 Walsham Le Willows 0
Ridgeons League Premier Division
Julius Martin Lane, Soham, Cambridgeshire
Just to the south of Soham town centre is the Fordham Road Cemetery, which for reasons that I will explain shortly was my first stopping off point during my visit to the Cambridgeshire town this afternoon. It transpires that a famous namesake of mine was laid to rest here in 1932 (stay with me here because there is a somewhat tenuous football link to this part of my report).
The Reverend William Case Morris was born in Soham in 1864, but made his name many thousand of miles away in South America, or more specifically Argentina. Following the death of his mother, his father and four-year-old William moved first to Paraguay and then onto Argentina in search of a new life.
William was so taken aback by the child poverty they witnessed on the streets of Buenos Aires, the Argentine capital that he ended up dedicating his life to helping the streets kids that he saw. The homes he helped found survive to this day and as national hero of the South America republic his name lives on too with railway stations and football stadiums named in his honour.
The purchase of a match programme for £1 proved to be a wise one as it is full of no end of interesting info. For one, Soham Town Rangers' Julius Martin Lane ground is just a few yards away from Mere Side, a road that runs along the edge of what, during Saxon times, was possibly the largest fresh water lake in England. Soham was a thriving seaport during that era and indeed the town’s name translates as “homestead by the sea” in medieval speak. Of course the whole area has long since been drained to form what are now known as the Fens.
The programme also reveals that the team are enjoying their 60th anniversary season and that the club have the celebrated Mr. Vinnie Jones as their President. The former Wimbledon and Wales hard man turned Hollywood hard man is apparently a regular visitor to these parts having first involved himself in the area’s affairs when he sent a letter of condolence to the parents of murdered Soham schoolgirls Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman in 2002.
The derailed locomotive pictured on the cover of the programme is from another of the town’s fateful days. During World War II Soham became known as “The Town That Shouldn’t Be There” following the explosion of a train carrying munitions through the town in June 1944. A fire started in a lead wagon but the bravery of four railwaymen meant that the train had been moved clear of the town centre proper before it exploded. There was still extensive damage to local property, however, and sadly two of the four men died.
Right, football...
Soham were in second place in the Ridgeons Premier Division coming into the game and ended it as League leaders. Albeit having played two more games than their rivals for the title, Needham Market, who were not in action today. All three points were clinched as early as the third minute when the visitor’s keeper failed to deal with a cross and punched the ball into his own net. Both sides had a number of chances to increase the scoreline and Walsham should have equalised in the second period but missed a penalty and with it a chance to claim a point.
This was an enjoyable game. Generally speaking I think the standard of football in this league has improved substantially since the promotion two years ago of AFC Sudbury and Bury Town to the Ryman League. It’s certainly made it more open since the duopoly moved up a tier.
Vital statistics: Admission 5 pounds, programme 1 pound, cup of tea 50 pence, attendance 135.
Match Number: 1415
posted by chevblue at 8:15 PM 0 comments
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
Ipswich Town Youths 3 Watford Youths 1
FA Youth Cup 4th Round
Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk
Vital statistics: Admission free, no programme but team sheet free, attendance 1,205.
Match Number: 1414
posted by chevblue at 11:01 PM 0 comments
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Come on you Hawks!
No real surprise that the FA Cup 3rd Round replay between Havant & Waterlooville and Swansea City is a 4,400 sell-out and I wish the Hawks all the best for this coming Wednesday’s tie. Shame my tour of duty in Hampshire ended last summer as I'm sure I would have managed to weasel a ticket from somewhere and would be headed out to West Leigh Park myself.
If it’s your first time at the ground either in support of said Hawks or to cheer on the Jacks here’s a couple of panorama’s to give you an idea of what the Blue Square South sides gaff is like (click on either of the two images for the full view).
posted by chevblue at 12:43 AM 0 comments
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Ipswich Town 1 Stoke City 1
Coca-Cola Championship
Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk
Last week, before the Pompey FA Cup game, the hallowed turf was covered, presumably to protect it from frost. Yesterday it was covered again, presumably to keep the rain off. A friend took a couple of photos, one of which is shown above - shows a different side of Portman Road.
Vital statistics: Admission by season ticket, match programme 3 pounds, attendance 20,346.
Match Number: 1413
posted by chevblue at 8:50 PM 0 comments
Friday, January 11, 2008
Riot At The Den
Saturday, March 11th, 1978
Millwall 1 Ipswich Town 6
FA Cup 6th Round
The Den, Cold Blow Lane, London
En route to the 1978 FA Cup Final Town thrashed Millwall 6-1 at The Den. It was the largest away win in the FA Cup 6th Round since Manchester City had beaten Orient by the same scoreline fifty-two years earlier. Although three of Town’s goals came in the dying minutes of the game this was not a flattering scoreline, this was Bobby Robson’s men at their very best. Sadly events on the field overshadowed those on it as Millwall fans literally ran riot. Coaches carrying Blue’s fans to Cold Blow Lane were ambushed prior to the game, Town fan’s in a seated area of the ground were subjected to a hail of concrete and glass missiles (I was standing in the opposite corner of the ground looking on in disbelief - this was scary stuff), and when George Burley’s thunderbolt strike put Town ahead after just 10 minutes the fighting took to the field...MORE
posted by chevblue at 10:04 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam
Wednesday, May 20th, 1981
AZ ’67 Alkmaar 4 Ipswich Town 2 (Ipswich won 5-4 on aggregate)
UEFA Cup Final 2nd Leg
Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam
In 2001, to mark the 20th anniversary of Town’s historic UEFA Cup win in Amsterdam, photographer and Ipswich fan Julian Germain (some of whose works are catalogued here) put together an article for a Dutch football magazine called ‘Johan’ (presumably after a certain Mr. Cruyff). I’ve never seen a copy of the article, but I understand it included a four double page spread on two of the best players ever to have donned the blue-and-white of Ipswich – the Dutch pair Arnold Muhren and Frans Thijssen – who were instrumental in a 5-4 aggregate win in the two-legged final and indeed of getting Ipswich there in the first place
Julian borrowed the pictures that you see above and here for, I’m led to believe, inclusion in that article (he had originally discovered the photos over on our big brother site). It took him a while to return the originals, some time the following year I seem to recall, by which time I’d lost interest and I never did get around to asking whether the snaps were included in the article or not. Perhaps someone out there has a copy of the May 2001 issue of said magazine and could let me know.
posted by chevblue at 8:39 PM 0 comments
Saturday, January 05, 2008
Ipswich Town 0 Portsmouth 1
FA Cup 3rd Round
Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk
Today’s cup-tie between Ipswich (unbeaten at home for close to a year) and Portsmouth (almost invincible away from Fratton Park) should have been a great, evenly balanced game. But, following the dismissal of Liam Trotter after 24 minutes, what we got instead was an inevitable victory by the visiting Premiership side (three great saves by David James not withstanding).
Trotter’s tackle on Pedro Mendes was a foul – no question. It certainly warranted a talking too by the referee - Mark Halsey had kept up with play and was within a few yards of the incident - and perhaps a yellow card. But, after a twenty/thirty second delay after he had obviously received instructions from the fourth official via his earpiece, and to every ones amazement, Halsey showed the young Ipswich born midfielder red.
How much of that was as a result of Portsmouth coach Joe Jordan leaping up and down on the touchline screaming for a dismissal or because of Mendes play acting – he rolled over twice, after Trotter made contact, holding his leg – we will never know.
Vital statistics: Admission 20 pounds, match programme 3 pounds, attendance 23,446.
Match Number: 1412
posted by chevblue at 9:19 PM 0 comments
Friday, January 04, 2008
Football Statues
No 7 (in a series of several): Bobby Moore (1941-1993)
This bronze statue of the late Bobby Moore was erected outside the main entrance to the new Wembley Stadium in May 2007. The former England, West Ham and Fulham defender is of course most famous for his role as captain of the victorious 1966 World Cup side. In addition to this statue the tunnel between Wembley Park underground station and Wembley Way is named in honour of Moore and, as you would expect for a man who made almost 550 league appearances for the Hammer’s, there is a plaque and bust at the Boleyn Ground in his honour. A further statue featuring Moore - with the Jules Rimet trophy - being held aloft by Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, and with Ray Wilson looking on, sits a few yards away from the main entrance to the Boleyn Ground on Barking Road.
Picture taken prior to the first FA Cup Final at the New Wembley on Saturday May 19th, 2007.
More football statues here.
posted by chevblue at 11:02 PM 1 comments
Wednesday, January 02, 2008
Northern Spirit FC
Friday, January 15th, 1999
Northern Spirit 4 Marconi Fairfield 0
National Soccer League
North Sydney Oval, Sydney, New South Wales
Tueday, January 26th, 1999
Northern Spirit 1 Perth Glory 0
National Soccer League
North Sydney Oval, Sydney, New South Wales
In early 1999, and at great expense to my then employers, I was dispatched not once but twice down under for tours of the companies offices in the Antipodes. I spent six weeks in total split 50/50 between Sydney in Oz and Auckland in New Zealand’s North Island. Some pretty memorable places were visited, and great experiences were had, during time off and if I’d bothered to take a camera with me (quite unbelievably I didn’t) I’d probably bore you now with loads of pictures of wonderfully exotic places.
As it is you’ll have to make do with scans of two match programme covers, both from games played – and attended by yours truly – by the now defunct Northern Spirit at the North Sydney Oval. This was the Spirit’s second year in the National Soccer League having come into existence in 1998 partly as a result of the success enjoyed by the opposition in the second of those two matches – Perth Glory.
Until the late 1990’s most Aussie clubs owed their existence to support from immigrant communities in Australia’s main population centres, Sydney Olympic with its links to the Greek community in New South Wales being one example. But the Perth club had successfully tapped into a growing interest in Soccer from mainstream sports fan’s down under and the Northern Spirit’s owner’s hoped to do likewise.
And for a while it worked. On the back of a great first season, in which they reached the play-off’s, the side regularly enjoyed crowds of 15 – 16,000 and set a national record attendance of 18,985 for a regular season game, a record that stood until 2005.
However, the club never bettered its debut season, league positions faltered in subsequent years, and with dwindling crowds came dwindling revenues and the Spirit eventually folded in 2004. Perhaps the final nail in the coffin was a brief period of ownership by SPL side Glasgow Rangers.
Attending a game of football at the North Sydney Oval is somewhat akin to watching a match on a village green. Albeit with stands on two sides. The NS Oval, as it’s name suggests, is traditionally a cricket venue – although rugby, Australian Rules football, and American Football have all been played there – first seeing leather-on-willow action back in 1867.
Overhung at it’s northern end by fig trees and with a large grass bank along the south to south-east boundary for picnicker’s the 20,000 capacity venue is a real gem. Getting there from central Sydney is no chore either with travel by train or road both taking you over the awesome Sydney Harbour Bridge which offer’s equally awesome views out over the harbour itself to the iconic Sydney Opera House.
Next time I’ll most certainly take a camera.
posted by chevblue at 7:24 PM 0 comments
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Ipswich Town 2 West Bromwich Albion 0
Coca-Cola Championship
Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk
An 11th home win of the season for Ipswich sealed in some style by goals from defender David Wright and captain Jason De Vos. West Bromwich, who led the table at the start of play, enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges, but the Blue’s gradually took control of the game and thoroughly deserved the win. We had to wait until the 75th minute for a breakthrough however, Wright bursting forward to head home Liam Trotter’s cross, and a second header, this time from De Vos, settled matters six minutes from time. Town’s current run of home league games without defeat now stands at an impressive 17, but there’s still some way to go to match the run of 33 games, set between October 1979 and March 1981.
Vital statistics: Admission by season ticket, match programme 3 pounds, attendance 24,000.
Match Number: 1411
posted by chevblue at 9:27 PM 0 comments
extreme groundhopping
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