That's all I said. "You love it don't you?" It was a short Twitter message in response to @InsidertheM60 - the author of an earlier message reporting what protestors on Market Street in Manchester were doing yesterday:
"Starting to get a little lively chanting and one very small brick thrown at Vodophone window."
The typos aren't mine, I am being very careful and quoting accurately.
Here is the response:
1. "What is your problem?"
2. "yes we do because unlike many news organisations we welcome all opinions and views"
3. "we are standing up for the ordinary person you are trying to defend the people who got us into this mess in the first place"
4. "love it if you actually started to care about the real people of mcr instead of the fortune few who think they run the city"
Honestly, how do you respond to a stream like that? Part of me is tempted to laugh and get on with my Sunday. Another part of me thinks I may have brought this on myself and should just apologise for all the trouble I must cause in the world. I'm a Catholic, I confess my sins, this doesn't worry me unduly.
But no. First of all Inside the M60 is "a news site for the people of Manchester".
So here are my responses.
1. I don't have a problem. But, as you can gather, I was rather irritated by the protest. I don't see the point in reporting on 40 protestors basically harrassing Saturday kids at Top Shop, Vodafone and Boots.
2. In the light of the rather hysterical response to my five word tweet, I doubt very much that Inside the M60 "welcomes" any view other than a left wing one. I doubt such a chippy and blow by blow account of the protest by the English Defence League would appear. So, that is a silly argument.
3. I don't know where to start with this one. When was it the job of a "news organisation" even a two-person band, to "stand up for" the "ordinary person"? And in what way is a small protest of a handful of people an example of that? And in what way, any way, have I defended "the people who got us into this mess"? Where? Anywhere, show me where I have done that? I'm baffled. That's even before we begin a debate about what "got us into" this mess. Public sector profligacy? Poor regulation? Consumerism? Easy credit? Who wanted that? The millions of ordinary people who spend borrowed money in Manchester city centre.
4. "The fortune few?" I'm wasting my time, aren't I? This is such a nasty and personal attack I rather think whoever made it needs to stop and consider who I am, what I do and how little they actually know about me and what I care about. But although it assumes a lot about me, all of it wrong, I think it actually says ever so much about Inside the M60, doesn't it?
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Saturday, December 04, 2010
Two quick thoughts on the World Cup bid
OK, Germany hosted in 1974, then again in 2006. Mexico in 1970 and 1986. Brazil is getting it again in 2014. But why should a country that has hosted once have another chance? There are 208 countries in FIFA. It has been said that giving it to Eastern Europe and the Middle East was a way of sharing the tournament around the world. I think that's plausible, but if it was such an overwhelming and compelling reason for giving it Russia and Qatar, why was anyone else encouraged to waste so much time, energy and effort? I think the answer is the bidding process generates so many offers of "vital assistance" to national federations and associations that they need to keep that pretence. It's not the winning, it's the taking part.
And isn't it rich with pathos that the England bid team distanced themselves from the exposes of FIFA corruption by the Sunday Times and the BBC's Panorama, but now bleat about, er, corruption and collusion.
And isn't it rich with pathos that the England bid team distanced themselves from the exposes of FIFA corruption by the Sunday Times and the BBC's Panorama, but now bleat about, er, corruption and collusion.
That's better
Blackburn Rovers needed a good performance today against Wolves. The players needed to show the home fans everything they lacked at Old Trafford last week: character, courage, hope, guts and guile. Even after a shaky start they managed to carve out a solid 3-0 win that never looked in any doubt. Highlights for me were Pedersen and Givet - both injured last week for the drubbing at United - and a brilliant goalkeeping performance from Paul Robinson who made SEVEN very good saves.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
Wide Open Road
Travelling to Liverpool tonight I tuned into Radcliffe & Maconie on Radio 2. Great show, great chat, great music. Their chain featured a wonderful link from Prefab Sprout's Don't Sing to The Triffid's Wide Open Road. Two songs that both mean a lot to me. I would have found a link from The Triffids that involved their home town, Perth, Western Australia, where I lived for a while. INXS for a start, who got going there on the pub rock circuit.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Putting people together
I chaired an event last night for Pro Manchester: Suits Meet Ponytails and Anoraks. The idea is to look at what professional services people can do for creative and digital businesses.
Pete Rush, The Pitch Doctor, has written a very kind and well observed account of what happened.
Pete says this: I went to a highly informative Pro-Manchester event hosted at KPMG’s city centre offices last night. Sean Fensom of Manchester Digital welcomed an expert panel-based discussion skillfully orchestrated by Michael Taylor, editor of NW Insider. Michael sees part of his mission to bring Manchester’s digital people and the professional community together. He asked hard and intelligent questions and set the tone for the night just right. And what a clash of cultures there is.
The rest is here.
Pete Rush, The Pitch Doctor, has written a very kind and well observed account of what happened.
Pete says this: I went to a highly informative Pro-Manchester event hosted at KPMG’s city centre offices last night. Sean Fensom of Manchester Digital welcomed an expert panel-based discussion skillfully orchestrated by Michael Taylor, editor of NW Insider. Michael sees part of his mission to bring Manchester’s digital people and the professional community together. He asked hard and intelligent questions and set the tone for the night just right. And what a clash of cultures there is.
The rest is here.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
A World Cup worth winning?
How dreadful is FIFA? I mean, really? What a horrible and corrupt organisation. The bribes, the backhanders and the greed of officials is bad enough, but the contract that host countries have to sign up to was the single biggest thing that appalled me about Monday's Panorama. So, there's a chance now that the bid will be lost. And already they're lining up to blame "the British media" and the investigative reporter Andrew Jennings, a long time critic of FIFA who has waged a war against the organisation.
Jim White in the Daily Telegraph asks - was that it? - World Cup 2018: only loser is the BBC as Panorama programme fails to deliver knockout blow.
But as Paul Hayward asks in the Guardian - Do we really want to pay this price to host the 2018 World Cup?
This is a balanced and reflective piece from the Daily Maverick in South Africa.
I think it will be fun to have the World Cup here. And Manchester will be a central location for major games. On balance I still hope England wins. The decision will be broadcast in a live screen in Exchange Square in Manchester on Thursday. Then there are plans for parties around town. Or wakes. I suspect the only party will be at St Petersburg restaurant.
Jim White in the Daily Telegraph asks - was that it? - World Cup 2018: only loser is the BBC as Panorama programme fails to deliver knockout blow.
But as Paul Hayward asks in the Guardian - Do we really want to pay this price to host the 2018 World Cup?
This is a balanced and reflective piece from the Daily Maverick in South Africa.
I think it will be fun to have the World Cup here. And Manchester will be a central location for major games. On balance I still hope England wins. The decision will be broadcast in a live screen in Exchange Square in Manchester on Thursday. Then there are plans for parties around town. Or wakes. I suspect the only party will be at St Petersburg restaurant.
A few more links for the end of the month
Blair v Hitchens. Is religion a force for good. I think the odds were rather stacked against TB.
A Phil Townsend jigsaw. Right, that's Christmas sorted. For the record, I really like Phil. I think he's a genuine bloke and hope he can take a joke.
New issue of Proper is out soon.
A Phil Townsend jigsaw. Right, that's Christmas sorted. For the record, I really like Phil. I think he's a genuine bloke and hope he can take a joke.
New issue of Proper is out soon.
How the Irish stimulus package works
My pal Tim Murphy forwarded me this, allegedly from the Irish Independent....
IT IS a slow day in a sleepy little Irish town. The rain is beating down and the streets are deserted.
Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
On this particular day a rich tourist is driving through the town, stops at the local hotel and lays a €100 note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.
The owner gives him some keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the €100 note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.
The butcher takes the €100 note and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer.
The pig farmer takes the €100 note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.
The guy at the Farmers' Co-op takes the €100 note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the pub.
The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him "services" on credit.
The hooker then rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the €100 note. The hotel proprietor then places the €100 note back on the counter so the rich traveller will not suspect anything.
At that moment the traveller comes down the stairs, picks up the €100 note, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.
No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the stimulus package works.
IT IS a slow day in a sleepy little Irish town. The rain is beating down and the streets are deserted.
Times are tough, everybody is in debt, and everybody lives on credit.
On this particular day a rich tourist is driving through the town, stops at the local hotel and lays a €100 note on the desk, telling the hotel owner he wants to inspect the rooms upstairs in order to pick one to spend the night.
The owner gives him some keys and, as soon as the visitor has walked upstairs, the hotelier grabs the €100 note and runs next door to pay his debt to the butcher.
The butcher takes the €100 note and runs down the street to repay his debt to the pig farmer.
The pig farmer takes the €100 note and heads off to pay his bill at the supplier of feed and fuel.
The guy at the Farmers' Co-op takes the €100 note and runs to pay his drinks bill at the pub.
The publican slips the money along to the local prostitute drinking at the bar, who has also been facing hard times and has had to offer him "services" on credit.
The hooker then rushes to the hotel and pays off her room bill to the hotel owner with the €100 note. The hotel proprietor then places the €100 note back on the counter so the rich traveller will not suspect anything.
At that moment the traveller comes down the stairs, picks up the €100 note, states that the rooms are not satisfactory, pockets the money, and leaves town.
No one produced anything. No one earned anything. However, the whole town is now out of debt and looking to the future with a lot more optimism.
And that, ladies and gentlemen, is how the stimulus package works.
Sunday, November 28, 2010
An apology to my children
The most extreme optimist in me anticipated making an apology to you this weekend. I had a few invites to Old Trafford for the Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers match, but I chose one that didn't include any of you. I chose instead to go with a mate in an executive box, have a few drinks, have a chinwag and had all the best intentions of witnessing a good match. So, in the back of my mind I had that pang of guilt that you might miss out on the one game when Rovers sprung a surprise. Fat chance.
In life we all have choices. I hope you feel you have had the choice of football team to support. Three of you have followed my preference with great enthusiasm. One of you isn't bothered at all and one of you has bravely chosen to support another team entirely. In doing so that declaration comes with baggage. In this case, you support a team that has been battered by the team that most of your mates at school support. Because of that choice you will have to face all manner of jibes at school on Monday. Sorry.
I hope I've always been honest and realistic about what Rovers means to me and what it can mean to you too. A "small town in Europe" has been as good as it's got for us in your lifetimes. And some semi-finals. Brave, plucky, occasionally surprising, but always dogged and honest. I see some of that in the way the two keenest Rovers fans amongst you play football. Never fear anyone, stand up to bullies and give all you've got.
Oh dear. The Rovers performance at Old Trafford had none of that. Instead it was awestruck, gutless, leaderless, incompetent, weak, defeated, pitiful and humiliating. Sorry.
All I can say is that it's the worst I've ever seen. I first saw Rovers in 1975. I've been going regularly since 1977. The previous worst result was a 6-0 defeat at Manchester City in 1983, but that was a one-off, we had a good season that year and finished sixth in Division 2. I can't promise a bright future, but it will get better. Stick with it.
In life we all have choices. I hope you feel you have had the choice of football team to support. Three of you have followed my preference with great enthusiasm. One of you isn't bothered at all and one of you has bravely chosen to support another team entirely. In doing so that declaration comes with baggage. In this case, you support a team that has been battered by the team that most of your mates at school support. Because of that choice you will have to face all manner of jibes at school on Monday. Sorry.
I hope I've always been honest and realistic about what Rovers means to me and what it can mean to you too. A "small town in Europe" has been as good as it's got for us in your lifetimes. And some semi-finals. Brave, plucky, occasionally surprising, but always dogged and honest. I see some of that in the way the two keenest Rovers fans amongst you play football. Never fear anyone, stand up to bullies and give all you've got.
Oh dear. The Rovers performance at Old Trafford had none of that. Instead it was awestruck, gutless, leaderless, incompetent, weak, defeated, pitiful and humiliating. Sorry.
All I can say is that it's the worst I've ever seen. I first saw Rovers in 1975. I've been going regularly since 1977. The previous worst result was a 6-0 defeat at Manchester City in 1983, but that was a one-off, we had a good season that year and finished sixth in Division 2. I can't promise a bright future, but it will get better. Stick with it.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Rosso - my verdict
It's taken one year, two days and a few false starts, but I finally got to eat in Rosso restaurant yesterday. I have tried to go, but they had a burst drain, as I explained here.
Rio Ferdinand and the Khamani brothers have made a bit of a splash. At the weekend it's quite the place for a certain crowd. And you might remember AA Gill gave it a stinging review, link from here, which Roger Cashman valiantly defended here.
Anyway, it hasn't changed too much from when it was Establishment, a fairly lavish restaurant that closed down. The overwhelming elements are still the quite magnificent domed ceilings and the marble surfaces. If they have spent some more, then I didn't spot the difference apart from rather tacky photos on the wall of the footballers and various celebrities who've been in.
To try and be fair to the food I ordered a prawn starter and a Vitello a la Milanese, my house favourite at Piccolino. Neither were as flavoursome or well cooked as the original. One of the lads I was with had a splendid seafood medley for a starter, which I thought was a bit over the top. He expected smaller. For his main he had a huge Dover Sole while the other lad had tuna steak. We all had tomato salad, which wasn't up to much. But on the whole the food was "OK".
Service was attentive and swift when it needed to be. Though one waiter spilled some water.
The ability to have a conversation sat in an alcove was a definite plus. I would commend Rosso for that. Piccolino and San Carlo are so noisy and full of atmosphere you have a headache straining to concentrate some times.
Yes, I'd go back. But I'd be tempted to test the menu a bit more and possibly to see the circus of a weekend evening.
Rio Ferdinand and the Khamani brothers have made a bit of a splash. At the weekend it's quite the place for a certain crowd. And you might remember AA Gill gave it a stinging review, link from here, which Roger Cashman valiantly defended here.
Anyway, it hasn't changed too much from when it was Establishment, a fairly lavish restaurant that closed down. The overwhelming elements are still the quite magnificent domed ceilings and the marble surfaces. If they have spent some more, then I didn't spot the difference apart from rather tacky photos on the wall of the footballers and various celebrities who've been in.
To try and be fair to the food I ordered a prawn starter and a Vitello a la Milanese, my house favourite at Piccolino. Neither were as flavoursome or well cooked as the original. One of the lads I was with had a splendid seafood medley for a starter, which I thought was a bit over the top. He expected smaller. For his main he had a huge Dover Sole while the other lad had tuna steak. We all had tomato salad, which wasn't up to much. But on the whole the food was "OK".
Service was attentive and swift when it needed to be. Though one waiter spilled some water.
The ability to have a conversation sat in an alcove was a definite plus. I would commend Rosso for that. Piccolino and San Carlo are so noisy and full of atmosphere you have a headache straining to concentrate some times.
Yes, I'd go back. But I'd be tempted to test the menu a bit more and possibly to see the circus of a weekend evening.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Some good telly
By jove there's some good telly kicking around at the moment.
First of all, there's this tourist video made by Michael Winterbottom for the NWDA called The Trip. From what I've seen so far it's Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan doing impressions and just talking and then taking in some incredible scenery. I'm curious as to whether this can sustain itself, but I rather suspect it can.
Second, the new Jimmy McGovern series The Accused got off to a barnstorming start with a mesmerising morality tale starring Christopher Eccleston. There was little love and no humour, which felt wrong, but it made for a greater impact.
Thirdly, I probably would have enjoyed Any Human Heart on Channel 4 much more if hadn't been on Channel 4. Sorry, but I was tired, it was a late night and the adverts just made it drag on. The next one I will watch on the V+ recorder and skip the ads. Thanks for new technology even an idiot like me can work. That aside it was clever, funny, observant and expansive. Brideshead meets Our Friends in the North. Epic.
Finally, I really, really enjoy Match of the Day 2 on Sunday nights. Obviously I really enjoyed this week because Rovers' win over Aston Villa was on (last, of course, last out of two, but still last). The presenter and pundits are SO much better than the smug old farts on Saturday's version.
I insulate myself from cooking programmes, reality TV, Pop Factor, Jungle Fever and all of that utter, utter crap. Life is too short, it really is.
First of all, there's this tourist video made by Michael Winterbottom for the NWDA called The Trip. From what I've seen so far it's Rob Brydon and Steve Coogan doing impressions and just talking and then taking in some incredible scenery. I'm curious as to whether this can sustain itself, but I rather suspect it can.
Second, the new Jimmy McGovern series The Accused got off to a barnstorming start with a mesmerising morality tale starring Christopher Eccleston. There was little love and no humour, which felt wrong, but it made for a greater impact.
Thirdly, I probably would have enjoyed Any Human Heart on Channel 4 much more if hadn't been on Channel 4. Sorry, but I was tired, it was a late night and the adverts just made it drag on. The next one I will watch on the V+ recorder and skip the ads. Thanks for new technology even an idiot like me can work. That aside it was clever, funny, observant and expansive. Brideshead meets Our Friends in the North. Epic.
Finally, I really, really enjoy Match of the Day 2 on Sunday nights. Obviously I really enjoyed this week because Rovers' win over Aston Villa was on (last, of course, last out of two, but still last). The presenter and pundits are SO much better than the smug old farts on Saturday's version.
I insulate myself from cooking programmes, reality TV, Pop Factor, Jungle Fever and all of that utter, utter crap. Life is too short, it really is.
Thoughts on the new Rovers owners
I've had a chance to sit down and compose a few thoughts on the takeover at Blackburn Rovers. Rather than repeat myself, here is what I wrote on the Insider blog.
In summary, the whole deal is so much less about what Venky's can do for Rovers, and more about what Rovers can do for an ambitious Indian business keen to be talked about in the upper echelons of international business.
As a fan, rather than as a journalist, you have to remain optimistic that the primary concern should lead to a responsible and sustainable stewardship. Nothing more.
As for the idea to rename Ewood Park? I'm dead against it. Bad move on every level. No club has EVER renamed their ground. They may have moved to new grounds, like the Britannia, the Reebok and the Emirates. I cannot think of a traditional stadium that has been renamed. The name change from the JJB to the DW doesn't count. There's this here.
In summary, the whole deal is so much less about what Venky's can do for Rovers, and more about what Rovers can do for an ambitious Indian business keen to be talked about in the upper echelons of international business.
As a fan, rather than as a journalist, you have to remain optimistic that the primary concern should lead to a responsible and sustainable stewardship. Nothing more.
As for the idea to rename Ewood Park? I'm dead against it. Bad move on every level. No club has EVER renamed their ground. They may have moved to new grounds, like the Britannia, the Reebok and the Emirates. I cannot think of a traditional stadium that has been renamed. The name change from the JJB to the DW doesn't count. There's this here.
Saturday, November 20, 2010
East Fife 5, Forfar 4
I noticed that East Fife played Forfar today. The score was 3-1.
Apparently they've never given James Alexander Gordon cause to read out that score, but according to this, the result has gone the other way with Forfar netting 5 to East Fife's 4. In 1963.
Apparently they've never given James Alexander Gordon cause to read out that score, but according to this, the result has gone the other way with Forfar netting 5 to East Fife's 4. In 1963.
Friday, November 19, 2010
A new era for Blackburn Rovers
So, we have new owners now. And the Rao family now has a unique chance to make Blackburn Rovers a sustainable and successful club. I've had my reservations, but it's time to welcome the new owners and give them all the help and understanding they'll need to make it a success.
The outgoing Walker Trustees seem to think they've found good owners. Paul Egerton-Vernon, chairman, said: "We are very pleased to be passing on the Rovers to the Rao family. We have been impressed with their enthusiasm for the Club and their plans and ideas for developing it further. We are particularly pleased that the Club will continue in family ownership and that the existing management team at the Rovers led by John Williams will continue unchanged. We would like to express our gratitude and admiration for the great job John and his team have done for the Club whilst it has been part of the Trust."
Anuradha J Desai, the Chairperson of Venky’s, said: “We are delighted, proud and humbled to be associated with Blackburn Rovers, a team with whom we share many values and ambitions. Going forward we plan to focus on leveraging the global influence in establishing Blackburn Rovers as a truly global brand. We absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy and will be actively supporting the organisation to ensure that Blackburn Rovers remains one of the best run clubs within the Premier League.”
The outgoing Walker Trustees seem to think they've found good owners. Paul Egerton-Vernon, chairman, said: "We are very pleased to be passing on the Rovers to the Rao family. We have been impressed with their enthusiasm for the Club and their plans and ideas for developing it further. We are particularly pleased that the Club will continue in family ownership and that the existing management team at the Rovers led by John Williams will continue unchanged. We would like to express our gratitude and admiration for the great job John and his team have done for the Club whilst it has been part of the Trust."
Anuradha J Desai, the Chairperson of Venky’s, said: “We are delighted, proud and humbled to be associated with Blackburn Rovers, a team with whom we share many values and ambitions. Going forward we plan to focus on leveraging the global influence in establishing Blackburn Rovers as a truly global brand. We absolutely respect the Jack Walker legacy and will be actively supporting the organisation to ensure that Blackburn Rovers remains one of the best run clubs within the Premier League.”
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
A few web gems from round and about
Here are a few links to some poignant, thoughtful and inspiring things I've seen in the last week.
Helen Newlove has started a blog in her role as the champion for active, safer communities.
A mountain I'm willing to die on. A mother's thoughts on bullying. Hat tip: Toby Scott.
A warm and revealing profile on Christopher Hitchens by Andrew Anthony.
Social enterprises and public service delivery. From the Guardian today.
Richard Littlejohn gets mugged on his own show by Johann Hari. Hilarious. Even though Hari is an irritating dweeb, this is great.
A very good new blog I've found from Solly. The egotistical musings and mutterings of a tabloid journalist with too much time on his hands who is determined to post a new blog every day for a year without mentioning football. Hat tip: Ear I Am.
Jay Rayner on The Trip.
Yotam Ottolenghi. That is all.
I was going to review the new "i" newspaper, which I quite like. But this review says it all. Hat tip: Bracknell Blog.
Technology addiction. From Fast Company.
What did God give us, Neil? God gave us life, Nigel? Tribute to Half Man Half Biscuit from Ear I Am.
Finally, business, the big society and Bolton. From North West Business Insider.
Helen Newlove has started a blog in her role as the champion for active, safer communities.
A mountain I'm willing to die on. A mother's thoughts on bullying. Hat tip: Toby Scott.
A warm and revealing profile on Christopher Hitchens by Andrew Anthony.
Social enterprises and public service delivery. From the Guardian today.
Richard Littlejohn gets mugged on his own show by Johann Hari. Hilarious. Even though Hari is an irritating dweeb, this is great.
A very good new blog I've found from Solly. The egotistical musings and mutterings of a tabloid journalist with too much time on his hands who is determined to post a new blog every day for a year without mentioning football. Hat tip: Ear I Am.
Jay Rayner on The Trip.
Yotam Ottolenghi. That is all.
I was going to review the new "i" newspaper, which I quite like. But this review says it all. Hat tip: Bracknell Blog.
Technology addiction. From Fast Company.
What did God give us, Neil? God gave us life, Nigel? Tribute to Half Man Half Biscuit from Ear I Am.
Finally, business, the big society and Bolton. From North West Business Insider.
San Carlo Cicchetti
I went to the new San Carlo Cicchetti today. It was described to us by the waiter as an Italian Tapas bar.
There were lots of small portions of things to share and everything was delicious - calamari, scallops, lamb chops in egg, livers, prawns and meatballs. As a spot for lunch I was impressed. That's even after they cocked up our order a bit. Some spicy sausage pizza never arrived, but it was on the bill, and there was a misunderstanding over our coffees.
The crowd were more casual shoppers and wealthy looking ladies who lunch, but I imagine they'd like to get more business lunch people dropping in. The blokes I went with were directed across the road from the main San Carlo, which wasn't a bad ploy. I also hear they do breakfasts. Sharp move, I like it.
So, well done San Carlo, another winner.
There were lots of small portions of things to share and everything was delicious - calamari, scallops, lamb chops in egg, livers, prawns and meatballs. As a spot for lunch I was impressed. That's even after they cocked up our order a bit. Some spicy sausage pizza never arrived, but it was on the bill, and there was a misunderstanding over our coffees.
The crowd were more casual shoppers and wealthy looking ladies who lunch, but I imagine they'd like to get more business lunch people dropping in. The blokes I went with were directed across the road from the main San Carlo, which wasn't a bad ploy. I also hear they do breakfasts. Sharp move, I like it.
So, well done San Carlo, another winner.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
The day I went to Neil Diamond's house
Watching Neil Diamond on TV doing the Electric Proms has rekindled a memory so bizarre that it almost doesn't feel real.
In my previous job - 12 years ago! - I used to get to the USA a couple of times a year to cover a couple of trade shows. I became good friends with Colleen O'Mara, the editor of a magazine in Hollywood, who went on to start her own PR company and we stayed in touch.
In the summer of 1997 we went on holiday to California and made the effort to contact Colleen. I got on really well with her boyfriend, Matt, and she invited us to a 4th of July party at Matt's parents' yacht club in Marina del Ray. Which was nice.
I enjoyed meeting Matt's Dad, Harvey. He was an interesting character who knew lots about lots. He also had a very fetching Neil Diamond casual tour jacket. I shared my own personal stories about how the great man provided the soundtrack to my youth as my parents were also big fans.
On the drive back to West Hollywood one of the other couples broke the news. Harvey was Neil Diamond's brother. Whaaaaat! I started reeling, wondering what I might have said that could have caused offence. Oh shit, did I say that Urge Overkill improved Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon? Did I?
The answer came the next morning when Matt, not Colleen, called me at our hotel and asked if we fancied coming over for a barbecue with his parents, who liked us. Where? His Uncle's house in Malibu!
So, long story short, we enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon eating food overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the balcony of Neil Diamond's house with a bunch of lovely friends of my new pal's parents. I swam in the sea and said hello to the young lad from the house next door who was cooling off. John Cusack. As you do. Neil, I should clarify, was at his other house. In Aspen.
A few years later Matt and Colleen got married and we went back for the wedding in San Francisco, this time with Joseph, then 18 months old. We got to meet Neil, who was a very kind man, but I wasn't quite as shameless and brash then and didn't get in his face the way I would now.
But what stuck in my mind was how he was also really encouraging to Susanna, the sister of another of our LA pals, who is a Canadian folk singer and musician. She performed a few of her haunting numbers and he was very impressed. I tell a story about meeting her and her father here.
Showbiz is around every corner in California, and you get very blase about it. The group of friends we hung out with over there see it all the time, many of them work in entertainment, but ultimately, at a family wedding he was just my friend's Uncle. And as time goes on, you look back and think - crazy times.
In my previous job - 12 years ago! - I used to get to the USA a couple of times a year to cover a couple of trade shows. I became good friends with Colleen O'Mara, the editor of a magazine in Hollywood, who went on to start her own PR company and we stayed in touch.
In the summer of 1997 we went on holiday to California and made the effort to contact Colleen. I got on really well with her boyfriend, Matt, and she invited us to a 4th of July party at Matt's parents' yacht club in Marina del Ray. Which was nice.
I enjoyed meeting Matt's Dad, Harvey. He was an interesting character who knew lots about lots. He also had a very fetching Neil Diamond casual tour jacket. I shared my own personal stories about how the great man provided the soundtrack to my youth as my parents were also big fans.
On the drive back to West Hollywood one of the other couples broke the news. Harvey was Neil Diamond's brother. Whaaaaat! I started reeling, wondering what I might have said that could have caused offence. Oh shit, did I say that Urge Overkill improved Girl You'll Be A Woman Soon? Did I?
The answer came the next morning when Matt, not Colleen, called me at our hotel and asked if we fancied coming over for a barbecue with his parents, who liked us. Where? His Uncle's house in Malibu!
So, long story short, we enjoyed a very pleasant afternoon eating food overlooking the Pacific Ocean on the balcony of Neil Diamond's house with a bunch of lovely friends of my new pal's parents. I swam in the sea and said hello to the young lad from the house next door who was cooling off. John Cusack. As you do. Neil, I should clarify, was at his other house. In Aspen.
A few years later Matt and Colleen got married and we went back for the wedding in San Francisco, this time with Joseph, then 18 months old. We got to meet Neil, who was a very kind man, but I wasn't quite as shameless and brash then and didn't get in his face the way I would now.
But what stuck in my mind was how he was also really encouraging to Susanna, the sister of another of our LA pals, who is a Canadian folk singer and musician. She performed a few of her haunting numbers and he was very impressed. I tell a story about meeting her and her father here.
Showbiz is around every corner in California, and you get very blase about it. The group of friends we hung out with over there see it all the time, many of them work in entertainment, but ultimately, at a family wedding he was just my friend's Uncle. And as time goes on, you look back and think - crazy times.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Justin Moorhouse is Zack
My mate #9 - Jason Isaacs
As well as organising the event in the run up to it, I also compered proceedings on the night. Part of which was a chance to introduce the chairman of the club, my mate Jason Isaacs, pictured left with me and speaker Fred Eyre. Here's a rough summary of my intro to him last night and how we know each other as part of this ongoing series of blogs about my mates.
When my eldest son was playing for the Under 8s, one day a different bloke turned up to take training. Joe was full of it, "Jason showed us this, Jason showed us that." As a Dad, you can get a bit jealous of other male role models encroaching on your "My Dad, My Hero" space.
A few weeks later, me and Rachel turned up at the 2006 footy club Christmas do. All the Mums were telling us that this Jason character was a bit of face around Marple back in the day and that he was quite the catch as a young lad. Ok, right. The Dads who grew up round here said he was a good footballer as well.
Then this lovely woman came over for a chat: funny, attractive, welcoming. Who's that? Yes, you guessed it, Jason's wife, Marion.
Changing the subject I asked what the entertainment was going to be that night. Came the reply: "Jason's band". Please tell he's the drummer, I said.
The band, A Few Good Men, with Jason on lead vocals and guitar were brilliant and we've seen them loads of times since. They're a superb covers band and they always put on a good show and change their set every time.
Since then, we've both got involved in the club, Jason as chairman, me as media monkey and we've had some good laughs along the way. He's also taken over Joe's team as they've moved into 11-a-side and played his part in turning my son into a very good footballer, much better than I ever was. Not that I'm jealous.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Down to the sea in ships
I hosted an event on Wednesday at the Port of Liverpool building at Pier Head. It is a remarkable building, quite stunning and quite majestic. I was immediately struck by the inscription in the atrium, a quote from Psalm 107: "They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters; These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep."
And to give it a full exposition: "For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven."
I was interviewing the owner of the building, George Downing, who is a real character and worthy holder of Insider's Property Personality of the Year Award. If you get the chance, drop in. Downing Developments have done a marvellous job preserving the stained glass windows and restoring the natural light into the atrium from the domed ceiling.
Coverage of the event is here. Everton and Liverpool should share a new stadium, says George. And by George, he's right.
And to give it a full exposition: "For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof. They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble. They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wits' end. Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses. He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still. Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven."
I was interviewing the owner of the building, George Downing, who is a real character and worthy holder of Insider's Property Personality of the Year Award. If you get the chance, drop in. Downing Developments have done a marvellous job preserving the stained glass windows and restoring the natural light into the atrium from the domed ceiling.
Coverage of the event is here. Everton and Liverpool should share a new stadium, says George. And by George, he's right.
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Chicken feed
David Conn writes on the Blackburn Rovers takeover in the Guardian today, link is here.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has been typically hard headed and realistic about it. He thinks it feels wrong. I agree. And I wonder if for football this isn't a deal too far.
What are the alternatives? Well, the trust have explored these and there aren't any, it would appear. But should the deal go through to sell Blackburn Rovers to Venkys, then I must confess to feeling a little empty about it all. They are making all the right noises about Asian support and the values of the club, but at the end of the day it’s a profile raiser for them. And they ain’t in the same league as Abramovich or the Abu Dhabi mob who bought Manchester City, so not much will change on the financial front, except the trustees in Jersey will be a shut of an asset their benefactor created all of £25m of value.
Maybe I'm looking at it too emotionally. I chose to support Blackburn Rovers as a cosy homespun and traditional Lancashire club. And never in my wildest 11-year old dreams in 1977 did I think I’d be taking my kids to see Rovers play in the top division, to cup finals, semi-finals let alone in Europe. It’s been an amazing 20 years and we all enjoyed the Walker years.
But it saddens me to think that Blackburn Rovers will become some kind of marketing arm of a chicken manufacturer from India.
There was surely the opportunity to convert the interest of the Walker Trust into a community mutual. And if this deal doesn’t go through, then I for one would support that as the next step, rather than this slightly humiliating public auction we’ve endured for the last 6 months and the uncertainty in the 10 years since Jack died.
Anyway, we're beating the barcodes. And that's always a good feeling.
Wigan chairman Dave Whelan has been typically hard headed and realistic about it. He thinks it feels wrong. I agree. And I wonder if for football this isn't a deal too far.
What are the alternatives? Well, the trust have explored these and there aren't any, it would appear. But should the deal go through to sell Blackburn Rovers to Venkys, then I must confess to feeling a little empty about it all. They are making all the right noises about Asian support and the values of the club, but at the end of the day it’s a profile raiser for them. And they ain’t in the same league as Abramovich or the Abu Dhabi mob who bought Manchester City, so not much will change on the financial front, except the trustees in Jersey will be a shut of an asset their benefactor created all of £25m of value.
Maybe I'm looking at it too emotionally. I chose to support Blackburn Rovers as a cosy homespun and traditional Lancashire club. And never in my wildest 11-year old dreams in 1977 did I think I’d be taking my kids to see Rovers play in the top division, to cup finals, semi-finals let alone in Europe. It’s been an amazing 20 years and we all enjoyed the Walker years.
But it saddens me to think that Blackburn Rovers will become some kind of marketing arm of a chicken manufacturer from India.
There was surely the opportunity to convert the interest of the Walker Trust into a community mutual. And if this deal doesn’t go through, then I for one would support that as the next step, rather than this slightly humiliating public auction we’ve endured for the last 6 months and the uncertainty in the 10 years since Jack died.
Anyway, we're beating the barcodes. And that's always a good feeling.
Sunday, November 07, 2010
Marple fireworks - amazing
The Marple fireworks were awesome this year. Brabyns Park lit up beautifully. Here's a quality pic from Fans should own football
Prior to the Rovers match against Wigan I had a quick catch up with Proper Journalist David Conn. The Guardian journalist and sometime Insider contributor was at Ewood Park to ask around about the imminent takeover. There'll be more to come on this in the next day or so, but it was good to hear his tales from the night before in Rochdale. David had been at Spotland to see FC United of Manchester win a dramatic FA Cup tie.
There can't be many football fans who don't have admiration for what the Rebels have done. Fed up with corporate football, fed up with being ripped off to service the debt of the American owners, they started their own club. I like the integrity of non-league football and the raw ambition to build a new club here. I know a couple of the lads involved and it's a great coalition of interests and characters. Communists and rapacious capitalists, joined by a passion to make it all work.
As Rovers stand on the brink of a new era of ownership, we reflected on what a missed opportunity it appears to be.
There can't be many football fans who don't have admiration for what the Rebels have done. Fed up with corporate football, fed up with being ripped off to service the debt of the American owners, they started their own club. I like the integrity of non-league football and the raw ambition to build a new club here. I know a couple of the lads involved and it's a great coalition of interests and characters. Communists and rapacious capitalists, joined by a passion to make it all work.
As Rovers stand on the brink of a new era of ownership, we reflected on what a missed opportunity it appears to be.
Take it away Morten
So, there we were at the world's worst service station, Rivington on the M61. We were on our way back from Blackburn Rovers v Wigan and alongside us in his BMW X6, a ludicrous car, is Morten Gamst Pedersen. Pic here.
It was a great opportunity to tell him just what we'd been talking about in the car a few minutes earlier.
Pedersen, you are a lightweight fancy dan in a muscular team of hoofers. At best you'd see a role as a midfield sweeper upper, picking up a loose ball and playing a neat short pass to one of the Dioufs. But you don't even do that well. Your long balls are too long, you can't tackle, you're not brave and you pull out of challenges. Wigan scored a goal that was ruled out. It should have counted and it was your fault. You lost the ball in the middle of the park, which led to the free kick, which led to their goal. You should have scored a headed goal as well. But the keeper saved it. Head it down, man, not up. What do you do in training, because you never get any better?
And then you scored a screamer. A free kick that caused mayhem that floated in at the back post. Did you mean it?
Do you really think we said any of that to him. A middle aged man with his 11 year old son? Articulate in private, mildly star struck in person. No, of course we didn't. We didn't say anything in fact. MGP seemed happy. But then you would wouldn't you?
And one of the reasons is there's this very amusing advert for fruit. This enigma is a superstar in Norway, he gets to do adverts for fruit. What's that all about?
Here's his own blog here. Where, in his words, "we played a shit first half".
It was a great opportunity to tell him just what we'd been talking about in the car a few minutes earlier.
Pedersen, you are a lightweight fancy dan in a muscular team of hoofers. At best you'd see a role as a midfield sweeper upper, picking up a loose ball and playing a neat short pass to one of the Dioufs. But you don't even do that well. Your long balls are too long, you can't tackle, you're not brave and you pull out of challenges. Wigan scored a goal that was ruled out. It should have counted and it was your fault. You lost the ball in the middle of the park, which led to the free kick, which led to their goal. You should have scored a headed goal as well. But the keeper saved it. Head it down, man, not up. What do you do in training, because you never get any better?
And then you scored a screamer. A free kick that caused mayhem that floated in at the back post. Did you mean it?
Do you really think we said any of that to him. A middle aged man with his 11 year old son? Articulate in private, mildly star struck in person. No, of course we didn't. We didn't say anything in fact. MGP seemed happy. But then you would wouldn't you?
And one of the reasons is there's this very amusing advert for fruit. This enigma is a superstar in Norway, he gets to do adverts for fruit. What's that all about?
Here's his own blog here. Where, in his words, "we played a shit first half".
Thursday, November 04, 2010
Some cool stuff
Look at this - Makeamixa - make a mix tape, just the like old days - but with a modern digital twist. From those wonderful people at Magnetic North in Manchester.
My pal Charlotte Bacci has opened a wool shop in Manchester. Check out Purl City Yarns.
Don Draper says "what" a lot. Hat tip: The Word
Some lush winter knitwear from Albam Clothing. Toasty. They sell a few Albam pieces in Oi Polloi on Tib Street.
New wool Wier Hats from the Casual Connoisseur.
Roger Cashman's spirited defence of Rosso.
Tomorrow's World introduces the possibility of the world's first mobile phone in 1978. (Hat tip: The Word)
Some pics and stuff from a day trip to Lancaster by Red Bricks and Coal.
My pal Charlotte Bacci has opened a wool shop in Manchester. Check out Purl City Yarns.
Don Draper says "what" a lot. Hat tip: The Word
Some lush winter knitwear from Albam Clothing. Toasty. They sell a few Albam pieces in Oi Polloi on Tib Street.
New wool Wier Hats from the Casual Connoisseur.
Roger Cashman's spirited defence of Rosso.
Tomorrow's World introduces the possibility of the world's first mobile phone in 1978. (Hat tip: The Word)
Some pics and stuff from a day trip to Lancaster by Red Bricks and Coal.
Tuesday, November 02, 2010
Cafe Culture in Marple - love it
There's been a bit of competition in the foodie scene in Marple. I would hazard a guess it isn't anything like as acrimonious as the store wars in Rose Hill.
Toast deli has opened a new shop on the corner of Derby Way, just along from All Things Nice, itself a recent opening. Both are run by lovely passionate people who want to serve new and interesting food. I've been enjoying some bacon butty banter with the owner on Twitter and he's taken up a suggestion to punt his wares on a daily basis on the social networking site.
I do love All Things Nice. The owner, who also runs an outside catering business, The Travelling Gourmet very kindly shares recipes and tips. There's a lovely buzz in the cafe and the deli whenever I go in, which is too infrequently.
Also good news is that Toast has turned the Market Street shop, which was always too pokey for my liking, into a lovely, moody wine emporium. The staff also seem to know what they're talking about. I enjoyed a aromatic Barolo 1994 from there last week. They also stock the wine that defied the infidels - Chateau Musar, from Lebanon. Beautiful.
One casualty appears to be that Deli Select on Hollins Lane has closed. Does anyone know what has happened here?
PS - Update 4/11/2010 - The guy at Deli Select is in business with the guy at Toast.
Toast deli has opened a new shop on the corner of Derby Way, just along from All Things Nice, itself a recent opening. Both are run by lovely passionate people who want to serve new and interesting food. I've been enjoying some bacon butty banter with the owner on Twitter and he's taken up a suggestion to punt his wares on a daily basis on the social networking site.
I do love All Things Nice. The owner, who also runs an outside catering business, The Travelling Gourmet very kindly shares recipes and tips. There's a lovely buzz in the cafe and the deli whenever I go in, which is too infrequently.
Also good news is that Toast has turned the Market Street shop, which was always too pokey for my liking, into a lovely, moody wine emporium. The staff also seem to know what they're talking about. I enjoyed a aromatic Barolo 1994 from there last week. They also stock the wine that defied the infidels - Chateau Musar, from Lebanon. Beautiful.
One casualty appears to be that Deli Select on Hollins Lane has closed. Does anyone know what has happened here?
PS - Update 4/11/2010 - The guy at Deli Select is in business with the guy at Toast.
Get well soon Danny Baker
This blog wishes Danny Baker all the very best of luck in his battle with cancer. His statement was full of the wit and wisdom we've come to love him dearly for: "Once the quacks have soundly thrashed this thing I shall return like a rare gas and as if out of a trap."
North face - Spooks in far fetched shocker
As the current series of Spooks drives headlong into a dramatic conclusion can I confess to feeling a little out of patience with the script writers. It is a ludicrous complaint to level at a series built on the very foundation rock of preposterous flights of fancy, but I just can't buy into the current Lucas North story.
Let me explain. Spooks is essentially a character-based drama set in a workplace. As it's a domain that deals with issues none of us have any experience of, we have to suspend any sense of realism or believability. No, that's not my issue. I just can't get my head around the simple identity theft of Lucas North's life by "John". It doesn't square with any of the actions and desires and sacrifices hitherto made by the same character. Or MI5's vetting procedures. As a storyline it has lost its way completely.
This is shame, I like Iain Glenn's character Vaughn Edwards, good murky wheeling and dealing at the fringes of Spookdom. Glenn is also superb at the bluff and double bluff he brings to each scene.
So, I'm still hooked, still buzzing from it and can't wait for next week's episode.
As for Harry and Ruth. Get a room. Please.
Let me explain. Spooks is essentially a character-based drama set in a workplace. As it's a domain that deals with issues none of us have any experience of, we have to suspend any sense of realism or believability. No, that's not my issue. I just can't get my head around the simple identity theft of Lucas North's life by "John". It doesn't square with any of the actions and desires and sacrifices hitherto made by the same character. Or MI5's vetting procedures. As a storyline it has lost its way completely.
This is shame, I like Iain Glenn's character Vaughn Edwards, good murky wheeling and dealing at the fringes of Spookdom. Glenn is also superb at the bluff and double bluff he brings to each scene.
So, I'm still hooked, still buzzing from it and can't wait for next week's episode.
As for Harry and Ruth. Get a room. Please.
Saturday, October 30, 2010
That's why they're champions
There really will be very little to stop Chelsea this season. Blackburn Rovers out played them and harried them for the first half, but lost a lead. In a more even second half, a winner looked more likely from Rovers than the champions. But they have Anelka, Drogba and any number of sharp eyed attack minded midfield players. Rovers had Jason Roberts. I've said before that several passages of Rovers match reports can be written before the game - Grella limps off injured, Pedersen ineffective, Robinson brilliant, Roberts misses one-on-one with keeper and blasts wide.
My eldest lad plays at left back and we both kept a close eye on Ashley Cole today. He was incredible. When Chelsea attack he plays very far forward; more an out and out winger than an overlapping left back. The other player for them that stood out was Mikel. Nothing fancy, nothing fussy, but he passes so well.
My eldest lad plays at left back and we both kept a close eye on Ashley Cole today. He was incredible. When Chelsea attack he plays very far forward; more an out and out winger than an overlapping left back. The other player for them that stood out was Mikel. Nothing fancy, nothing fussy, but he passes so well.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
Parc Life revisited
At the risk of sounding like I repeat myself, my verdict on Center Parcs is pretty much the same as it was this time last year after our half term break. The link is here, but I said the staff are great, the other people are nice, but it's starting to get a bit tatty. Well, it's even more in need of love and attention and a bit of investment. On the plus side it has universal wi-fi now, but the other changes were all cost cutting measures. The canyon slide in the pool is now an unmanned free for all, which is fine.
Ironically, the news over the weekend was a hint that the Forestry Commission would sell off land to leisure developers like Center Parcs. Ecological vandalism, it has been called. Honestly, I think the Whinfell Forest is pretty well looked after. But it seems like an odd idea.
Ironically, the news over the weekend was a hint that the Forestry Commission would sell off land to leisure developers like Center Parcs. Ecological vandalism, it has been called. Honestly, I think the Whinfell Forest is pretty well looked after. But it seems like an odd idea.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
An open letter to Balaji Rao and the Venky's people
Let's go round again. In June I wrote an open and welcoming letter to Saurin Shah, one of the supposed bidders for Blackburn Rovers. In August, I wrote a slightly updated one to Ahsan Ali Syed. Even then I had a natural suspicion of anyone who blabs before a takeover is complete and felt something wasn't right. Bizarrely, he has been probed, prodded and investigated and looks like he has not been able to complete the deal afterall. However, he has made some very generous donations to Blackburn charities.
Here's an open letter to the latest bidder, reported as Venky's, an Indian-based poultry company. And here is Alan Nixon's story in the Mirror, detailing the strategy. There is talk of a tie up with an international agency. This is a worry. But, hey, forever positive, here goes.
Good luck in your efforts to buy our wonderful football club! I just wanted to mention a few things that might not pop up in your commercial due diligence.
First of all, thank you for conducting your negotiations with grace and privacy. The other lot made a mockery of our club by sounding off. Your interviews have also been polite and respectful, without bravado. That is the way of our club and I think it puts a positive marker down.
Fans are realists, we know football is changing. We know football is a global industry with television audiences expanding in your home country. But don't be fooled into thinking anyone will want to come and play in front of empty seats. Make sure the club is looked after too.
Our fans are the future of this club. Their loyal support has kept this club in a special place. To make it work for you, you need to engage with them and help that support grow even more. That doesn't mean walking round the pitch shaking hands and signing autographs, it means involving supporters in the running of the club as a community asset. Be open to any positive suggestions that may come your way on this.
The fans are frustrated at the moment because there haven't been any new signings. The manager is frustrated too. But make sure we sign the right players.
Exciting young players connected with an emerging sports agency are one thing, players who play with pride are another altogether. Don't let agents and middlemen turn your head. And please don't use this club as a feeder club or be used as a commission earner for these sharks.
Be patient. Our local talisman, David Dunn, is an injury prone genius. Our goalkeeper was a reject who was written off but has missed out on the World Cup because he plays for an unfashionable club. But they are stars. Our stars. So is Phil Jones - a teenager from Chorley. They are adored. And Steven N'Zonzi, our player of the year, is a young man plucked from obscurity, who has just signed a new contract.
Our fans are usually right. When Jack Walker owned the club he didn't like a certain type of flash player and blocked some transfers. There are players who just aren't Rovers players, learn about that and treasure it as a core value. Rovers fans like a solid centre pair, a free scoring forward and attacking football. We're not getting that at the moment, which is frustrating the fans.
The season can seem long and a grind. When we lose at Liverpool, draw at home to Sunderland and lose at Stoke it tests your faith. We're fourth from bottom. So, you will look at these wealthy players who don't seem to be able to perform and despair. But you have to stick with it. Form can dip, the manager can seem negative and grumpy, but at heart he's a good man. There are voices amongst the fans who want him out, Don't listen to them. Stick with it. He has a good scouting network, he finds gems, like our player of the year. Don't get your head turned by younger managers with fancy methods, something good is building at Rovers. The Academy at Brockhall is a treasure trove. Extend it. Make it the place the best kids want to come to. That's the place where investment is needed.
Blackburn is a multi-racial town, but Rovers supporters are mainly white working class men. This has changed a bit over the years, but don't expect to see much of an affinity with the local Asian population without a long hard effort to win hearts and minds and don't expect them flocking overnight. The current marketing and management team have been focused on shoring up what we have, but with your help greater links with India, with Asian communities and with other sports can expand Rovers as a brand.
You will have seen other owners of football clubs in the Premier League see their dreams shattered because they splash the money and lose it. Rovers have a heart and soul and a family spirit that is very much in touch with the roots of East Lancashire life. But it is just one aspect of our community. Build on that, extend deeper into that, and build the links with your own heritage - it could well yield commercial rewards and enable this club to move further forward.
Be realistic about what that could be. Be modest, be strong, value quality and there is a good chance that in the future there could be a statue of you next to the one of Uncle Jack.
Here's an open letter to the latest bidder, reported as Venky's, an Indian-based poultry company. And here is Alan Nixon's story in the Mirror, detailing the strategy. There is talk of a tie up with an international agency. This is a worry. But, hey, forever positive, here goes.
Good luck in your efforts to buy our wonderful football club! I just wanted to mention a few things that might not pop up in your commercial due diligence.
First of all, thank you for conducting your negotiations with grace and privacy. The other lot made a mockery of our club by sounding off. Your interviews have also been polite and respectful, without bravado. That is the way of our club and I think it puts a positive marker down.
Fans are realists, we know football is changing. We know football is a global industry with television audiences expanding in your home country. But don't be fooled into thinking anyone will want to come and play in front of empty seats. Make sure the club is looked after too.
Our fans are the future of this club. Their loyal support has kept this club in a special place. To make it work for you, you need to engage with them and help that support grow even more. That doesn't mean walking round the pitch shaking hands and signing autographs, it means involving supporters in the running of the club as a community asset. Be open to any positive suggestions that may come your way on this.
The fans are frustrated at the moment because there haven't been any new signings. The manager is frustrated too. But make sure we sign the right players.
Exciting young players connected with an emerging sports agency are one thing, players who play with pride are another altogether. Don't let agents and middlemen turn your head. And please don't use this club as a feeder club or be used as a commission earner for these sharks.
Be patient. Our local talisman, David Dunn, is an injury prone genius. Our goalkeeper was a reject who was written off but has missed out on the World Cup because he plays for an unfashionable club. But they are stars. Our stars. So is Phil Jones - a teenager from Chorley. They are adored. And Steven N'Zonzi, our player of the year, is a young man plucked from obscurity, who has just signed a new contract.
Our fans are usually right. When Jack Walker owned the club he didn't like a certain type of flash player and blocked some transfers. There are players who just aren't Rovers players, learn about that and treasure it as a core value. Rovers fans like a solid centre pair, a free scoring forward and attacking football. We're not getting that at the moment, which is frustrating the fans.
The season can seem long and a grind. When we lose at Liverpool, draw at home to Sunderland and lose at Stoke it tests your faith. We're fourth from bottom. So, you will look at these wealthy players who don't seem to be able to perform and despair. But you have to stick with it. Form can dip, the manager can seem negative and grumpy, but at heart he's a good man. There are voices amongst the fans who want him out, Don't listen to them. Stick with it. He has a good scouting network, he finds gems, like our player of the year. Don't get your head turned by younger managers with fancy methods, something good is building at Rovers. The Academy at Brockhall is a treasure trove. Extend it. Make it the place the best kids want to come to. That's the place where investment is needed.
Blackburn is a multi-racial town, but Rovers supporters are mainly white working class men. This has changed a bit over the years, but don't expect to see much of an affinity with the local Asian population without a long hard effort to win hearts and minds and don't expect them flocking overnight. The current marketing and management team have been focused on shoring up what we have, but with your help greater links with India, with Asian communities and with other sports can expand Rovers as a brand.
You will have seen other owners of football clubs in the Premier League see their dreams shattered because they splash the money and lose it. Rovers have a heart and soul and a family spirit that is very much in touch with the roots of East Lancashire life. But it is just one aspect of our community. Build on that, extend deeper into that, and build the links with your own heritage - it could well yield commercial rewards and enable this club to move further forward.
Be realistic about what that could be. Be modest, be strong, value quality and there is a good chance that in the future there could be a statue of you next to the one of Uncle Jack.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Enron - How?
Doing what I do, the story of Enron and its collapse like a house of cards into a sea of oil was the most incredible story of our times. It was all the more remarkable that it took business magazine journalist Bethany McLean to first ask the question that no-one else would - is Enron overpriced?. Not an analyst, a regulator, a bank, or even a whisteblower from within, but a magazine journalist from Fortune.
The story has been made into a feature length documentary and a stage play. I saw it at the Lowry last night and it's terrific. A brilliantly staged production with some powerful devices to tell the story - the monsters in the cellar to represent the off balance sheet SPVs that Andy Fastow set up, for example.
It's a test for us as storytellers to make these tales compelling, but a test too to keep asking questions. Ironic that one of Enron's slogans was "Why?" the question that keeps being asked retrospectively is "How?"
The story has been made into a feature length documentary and a stage play. I saw it at the Lowry last night and it's terrific. A brilliantly staged production with some powerful devices to tell the story - the monsters in the cellar to represent the off balance sheet SPVs that Andy Fastow set up, for example.
It's a test for us as storytellers to make these tales compelling, but a test too to keep asking questions. Ironic that one of Enron's slogans was "Why?" the question that keeps being asked retrospectively is "How?"
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The first cut is the deepest
There's nothing to celebrate about the government's deficit reduction plan. The billing that this was the moment that the public sector workers would learn their fate was always fanciful - it's not government by Radio 5 Live. There will be much to work through now, and much more detail to implement. But there is some comfort in the fact they're getting on with it. It had to happen. Every party supposedly understands the need to make the cuts. The question the Labour Party can't answer is which departmental spending cuts would they support now, and which ones they wouldn't implement. That's the beauty of opposition though. It's not a privilege afforded to the Liberal Democrats, many of whom aren't naturally inclined to govern, just to make speeches.But they're now going to have their resolve tested.
Speaking of which, these set piece occasions always skim the surface and lead to pundits uttering the inevitable - "the devil is in the detail."
Science budgets are protected, but the projects that were named were all in the South. It hopefully tilts the argument towards carbon capture and other green technologies being centred on the North.
There was a nod in the direction of rail improvements, but with price increases for tickets. The projects that have been identified initially were for electrification. I'm not sure that's the best use of resources. What about the Todmorden Curve, or the small improvements for massive gain that the Northern Hub will deliver? Details, details.
And what about those exciting plans for Local Enterprise Partnerships? They must have been in his speech when the sound went down. Or maybe not.
Speaking of which, these set piece occasions always skim the surface and lead to pundits uttering the inevitable - "the devil is in the detail."
Science budgets are protected, but the projects that were named were all in the South. It hopefully tilts the argument towards carbon capture and other green technologies being centred on the North.
There was a nod in the direction of rail improvements, but with price increases for tickets. The projects that have been identified initially were for electrification. I'm not sure that's the best use of resources. What about the Todmorden Curve, or the small improvements for massive gain that the Northern Hub will deliver? Details, details.
And what about those exciting plans for Local Enterprise Partnerships? They must have been in his speech when the sound went down. Or maybe not.
Monday, October 18, 2010
A sorry lot
AA Gill in the Sunday Times (behind the paywall) has re-ignited the Manchester Food Is Crap debate again. He reviewed Rosso, Rio Ferdinand and Mahmoud Kamani's Italian restaurant at the top of King Street, chosen one assumes, because it's a living breathing symbol of that blingy, WAG, faux gangsterish side of the city centre. "A sorry lot," he observed. First, I've not been to Rosso, so I'm in no position to defend it. Second, he's clearly a bit of an arse, but he plays the role well and would therefore have enjoyed the backlash in the Manchester Evening News, here and on Manchester Confidential, here.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Pendle prepares
Rachel's home town features in the Observer today. Nelson's demise is charted with some trepidation as the government prepares cuts. Despite Housing Market Renewal, the efforts of Ant and Vet to offer a bright future for Pennine Lancashire, jobs haven't been created and the place hasn't found a fresh purpose in the modern age. Re-reading the report seems apt now. It spoke of bottom up community action to revitalise the area as much as top down large statements and icons. More than ever it needs bold thinking.
My mate #8 - Jon Johnson
Another of our "crew" back in the day in Perth was an amazing character called Roy Jopson, who I shared a house with. Roy died in 2004. As I've chatted to JJ on Facebook this weekend he's recounted the detail of Roy's demise. It must have been a painful experience for Jon and other friends as they watched Roy bewildered in hospital as he reeled from brain cancer. Memories are one thing, but staying in touch with friends is much better and makes it more real.
Back on Facebook
I've registered with Facebook again. I got round to thinking I couldn't ignore it any longer. Anyway, it was instantly proven to be a good decision. I'm back in touch with an old pal now living in Tasmania. We had failed to find one another using other social media and searches, but bang, there he was. Another mate has started a new job in Dubai, and clearly uses Facebook to keep in touch much more than he uses email.
I also had a couple of chats last night with a mate in Morecambe and a bloke I know in China.
I'm going to keep it very social, much as I do with this blog I suppose. But look forward to staying in touch.
I also had a couple of chats last night with a mate in Morecambe and a bloke I know in China.
I'm going to keep it very social, much as I do with this blog I suppose. But look forward to staying in touch.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Some random October links
Tony Blair and Christopher Hitchens to debate the future of faith.
Finnish news reader gets sacked for this. Harsh.
There's a very excellent music video website I've discovered. Muzu TV.
I remember the RCP. This is where they went. Nutters.
Truly great interview with Gore Vidal in the New Statesman.
A magnificently stupid polemic by John Pilger in the New Stateman.
A website that is so brilliant it defies description. But look.
Norman Geras on leftish miscalculation.
Philip Blond interviewed by Ed West in the Catholic Herald.
Finnish news reader gets sacked for this. Harsh.
There's a very excellent music video website I've discovered. Muzu TV.
I remember the RCP. This is where they went. Nutters.
Truly great interview with Gore Vidal in the New Statesman.
A magnificently stupid polemic by John Pilger in the New Stateman.
A website that is so brilliant it defies description. But look.
Norman Geras on leftish miscalculation.
Philip Blond interviewed by Ed West in the Catholic Herald.
The Marple underworld - car causes obstruction
I was rather taken with the stunt from Greater Manchester Police to highlight EVERY incident that is reported over a 24 hour period. Apart from learning that a car caused an obstruction in Marple, we were able to sleep in our beds safely here in leafy land.
Here are the stats:
"Between 5am on Thursday 14 October 2010 and 5am, today, Friday 15 October, the force has dealt with 3205 incidents and posted details of every single one on Twitter."
The cops reported it had been a success too. Here's the MEN report. Here's the BBC.
It ticks a lot of boxes about accountability and accessibility. More of that, please. It also gets across a harsh truth that the "hard working taxpayers" don't always like to confront. Not only are there a small and irritating number of horrible people out there doing a lot of horrible things, there are also a lot of very stupid people wasting time.
But I also noticed that the chief constable mentioned the decline of local media as a reason to use new technology like the social media channel Twitter. This is a good point. The facts bear it out too. I'm sure there was a heyday when the local daily paper, the local BBC and Granada would touch everyone. All the chief had to do was make a statement and it would be reported. Everyone would share the experience, most people would have a view. It's just not like that now. There may be many more outlets, including the daily news service in our office where a hive of activity spreads a dozen or more regional business stories every morning. But overall, we know so much less.
Knowledge and engagement about public services, indeed, anything that goes on around us has never been poorer. In a world where we supposedly can know everything about a bunch of rescued miners in Chile, or the takeover of Liverpool Football Club, we are surprised and outraged at what our local police have to do on a daily basis. There have never been as many ways to tell us stuff, but there actually seems to be less understanding of more things.
Here are the stats:
"Between 5am on Thursday 14 October 2010 and 5am, today, Friday 15 October, the force has dealt with 3205 incidents and posted details of every single one on Twitter."
The cops reported it had been a success too. Here's the MEN report. Here's the BBC.
It ticks a lot of boxes about accountability and accessibility. More of that, please. It also gets across a harsh truth that the "hard working taxpayers" don't always like to confront. Not only are there a small and irritating number of horrible people out there doing a lot of horrible things, there are also a lot of very stupid people wasting time.
But I also noticed that the chief constable mentioned the decline of local media as a reason to use new technology like the social media channel Twitter. This is a good point. The facts bear it out too. I'm sure there was a heyday when the local daily paper, the local BBC and Granada would touch everyone. All the chief had to do was make a statement and it would be reported. Everyone would share the experience, most people would have a view. It's just not like that now. There may be many more outlets, including the daily news service in our office where a hive of activity spreads a dozen or more regional business stories every morning. But overall, we know so much less.
Knowledge and engagement about public services, indeed, anything that goes on around us has never been poorer. In a world where we supposedly can know everything about a bunch of rescued miners in Chile, or the takeover of Liverpool Football Club, we are surprised and outraged at what our local police have to do on a daily basis. There have never been as many ways to tell us stuff, but there actually seems to be less understanding of more things.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Celebrate 25 years of Marple Athletic at our Gala Dinner
I'm involved in organising a 25th anniversary dinner for Marple Athletic Junior Football Club.
The basic idea is it's a reunion dinner for players and managers from over the last quarter century in November.
The evening will be a chance for players to get together from over the years, as well as managers and coaches and anyone who has been involved in the club since Alan Rainford and Geoff Ryan started it all in 1985.
One of the players from the first ever line up is Tim Ryan, now the player-assistant manager at Stalybridge Celtic, who has enjoyed a career in professional football.
The guest speaker will be Fred Eyre, local football legend, BBC Manchester broadcaster, manager of many clubs in Greater Manchester grass roots football.
We've also got Justin Moorhouse, star of Phoenix Nights, Key 103 radio and a top stand up comedy performer.
The dinner will be held on Friday the 12th of November 2010 at Stockport County Football Club. Tickets are priced at £35, with discounts for a table of 10. There will also be a memorabilia auction, a DJ for dancing and hopefully a few other special guests.
You can download a form on the club website.
The basic idea is it's a reunion dinner for players and managers from over the last quarter century in November.
The evening will be a chance for players to get together from over the years, as well as managers and coaches and anyone who has been involved in the club since Alan Rainford and Geoff Ryan started it all in 1985.
One of the players from the first ever line up is Tim Ryan, now the player-assistant manager at Stalybridge Celtic, who has enjoyed a career in professional football.
The guest speaker will be Fred Eyre, local football legend, BBC Manchester broadcaster, manager of many clubs in Greater Manchester grass roots football.
We've also got Justin Moorhouse, star of Phoenix Nights, Key 103 radio and a top stand up comedy performer.
The dinner will be held on Friday the 12th of November 2010 at Stockport County Football Club. Tickets are priced at £35, with discounts for a table of 10. There will also be a memorabilia auction, a DJ for dancing and hopefully a few other special guests.
You can download a form on the club website.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Three cheers for Jimmy Armfield
I've always liked him. He always talks sense and is always fair minded. I remember him being linked with the Rovers job once and was quite excited, but he packed it in after spells at Bolton and Leeds. The only bad word I ever heard about him was at Bolton, where it was alleged by an ex player that he got rid of old photos as the club was living in the past.
Anyway, I could only find one link to the award as a story, here, in the Blackpool Gazette.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Who Let the Dog Out?
So here are the boys and Martha, in the foreground, at one of our local marvels.
What a view, eh?
Real ale, the Lakes and a ramble round Ambleside
There's a cracking blog post from a pal, over here. Just as it says in the header.
And some belting photos...
And some belting photos...
Wednesday, October 06, 2010
Downtown - everything's waiting for you
There's a feature on the Downtown Manchester in Business newsletter called Who Are Yer. Anyway, it's my turn this week. Nothing revealing, but it's here.
In praise of Bowers and Wilkins
I think I have discovered the company with the best customer service in the world, Bowers & Wilkins. My speakers were making a humming noise. I tried everything to fix it, but it wouldn't go away. I contacted them and they have made it right. More than that though, they were delightful to deal with. At every stage I've been kept informed and updated. And the speakers are bloody brilliant as well. I can't account for musical taste, but as I type Tom Petty's Free Fallin; has never sounded so gorgeous.
Nobel prize winners at University of Manchester
Two scientists who discovered graphene at The University of Manchester have been awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics. There's some news here, from Wired, as to why.
Professor Andre Geim and Professor Konstantin Novoselov got the highest accolade in the scientific world for their pioneering work with the world’s thinnest material. Graphene was discovered at the University in 2004. It has rapidly become one of the hottest topics in materials science and solid-state physics.
This is great news. A real boost to this fine institution. I'm just ever so slightly sad that Professor Alan Gilbert didn't live to see this day. He'd have been so proud.
Professor Andre Geim and Professor Konstantin Novoselov got the highest accolade in the scientific world for their pioneering work with the world’s thinnest material. Graphene was discovered at the University in 2004. It has rapidly become one of the hottest topics in materials science and solid-state physics.
This is great news. A real boost to this fine institution. I'm just ever so slightly sad that Professor Alan Gilbert didn't live to see this day. He'd have been so proud.
Monday, October 04, 2010
An open letter to...
There is chatter at the Rovers that a new bidder is soon to emerge. This time it's the Mahindra Brothers. I'll polish off that open letter again, but maybe I'll wait until they've actually done a deal. Happily, they won't comment on speculation.
Sunday, October 03, 2010
Why local papers are in decline
I buy the Stockport Express most weeks. I believe in local media. I want to support it too.
Now, last week, in Marple there was a festival. No-one got glassed, there wasn't a fire and no animals were harmed in its making. It was just a load of people eating food, listening to music and enjoying a fine community spirit. In fact, the week before the paper got into the mood by plugging it, here.
Would you know this from reading the local weekly paper this week? No, there is no mention. Surely this is a good story, a source of pictures, feel-good district news? The pie competition had a brilliant outcome - the winner was made from crayfish caught in the local canal. That's a good story on lots of levels.
And there is hardly any local junior sports coverage now. I'm beginning to wonder if it even exists in Stockport, and yet I know it is thriving.
Critics from the blogging fraternity will argue that this void will be filled by bloggers and citizen journalists. It won't. I'm a local blogger but I haven't written about it. I was away on a lad's trip to Munich. It has to be part of a systemic, organised and disciplined news organisation with values and priorities. And resources.
There is also a school of thought that says that community organisations, through the internet, will disseminate their own information through their own channels. Well, they haven't done so here. The Marple festival website is a guide to something that has happened. It's over. There are other sites promoting it, but not covering it.
Discuss.
Now, last week, in Marple there was a festival. No-one got glassed, there wasn't a fire and no animals were harmed in its making. It was just a load of people eating food, listening to music and enjoying a fine community spirit. In fact, the week before the paper got into the mood by plugging it, here.
Would you know this from reading the local weekly paper this week? No, there is no mention. Surely this is a good story, a source of pictures, feel-good district news? The pie competition had a brilliant outcome - the winner was made from crayfish caught in the local canal. That's a good story on lots of levels.
And there is hardly any local junior sports coverage now. I'm beginning to wonder if it even exists in Stockport, and yet I know it is thriving.
Critics from the blogging fraternity will argue that this void will be filled by bloggers and citizen journalists. It won't. I'm a local blogger but I haven't written about it. I was away on a lad's trip to Munich. It has to be part of a systemic, organised and disciplined news organisation with values and priorities. And resources.
There is also a school of thought that says that community organisations, through the internet, will disseminate their own information through their own channels. Well, they haven't done so here. The Marple festival website is a guide to something that has happened. It's over. There are other sites promoting it, but not covering it.
Discuss.
Choked at Stoke
Three times in 18 months I've been to the Britannia Stadium to see Rovers play Stoke. Three times I've seen us fail to score. Three trips, three defeats. If it wasn't for the fact that the hospitality is so good and the trip is a relatively short one, I'd not bother next time.
It was frustrating, again, because I just don't think Stoke are much cop. The margin between victory and defeat can be narrow, yesterday it was too. They were there for the taking and at times Rovers were well on top in the first half. But Sam seems to think we have to compete with teams like this on their terms. So he drops the skillful Kalinic and goes for more hoofball.
Andy Cryer in the Lancashire Telegraph blog talks about the need for investment being crucial. He says the signing of Kenwyne Jones is proof that Stoke have a narrow edge over Rovers. I disagree. It's not about money, it's about tactics and attitude. You could pass around Stoke for fun, a few balls to feet and the likes of Huth and Shawcross would be in knots. Kalinic doesn't play, new Diouf is invisible. Old Diouf is our best threat. He gets taken off. We try more hoofball.
There's also this second half thing going on. Kevin Gallacher was in our lounge before the game and said pretty much the same thing. I don't know if it has anything to do with Sam being in technical area in the second half, but the difference in performance and tactics was noticeable.
Amazingly, it wasn't last on Match of the Day.
It was frustrating, again, because I just don't think Stoke are much cop. The margin between victory and defeat can be narrow, yesterday it was too. They were there for the taking and at times Rovers were well on top in the first half. But Sam seems to think we have to compete with teams like this on their terms. So he drops the skillful Kalinic and goes for more hoofball.
Andy Cryer in the Lancashire Telegraph blog talks about the need for investment being crucial. He says the signing of Kenwyne Jones is proof that Stoke have a narrow edge over Rovers. I disagree. It's not about money, it's about tactics and attitude. You could pass around Stoke for fun, a few balls to feet and the likes of Huth and Shawcross would be in knots. Kalinic doesn't play, new Diouf is invisible. Old Diouf is our best threat. He gets taken off. We try more hoofball.
There's also this second half thing going on. Kevin Gallacher was in our lounge before the game and said pretty much the same thing. I don't know if it has anything to do with Sam being in technical area in the second half, but the difference in performance and tactics was noticeable.
Amazingly, it wasn't last on Match of the Day.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
EXCLUSIVE: Rose Hill Spar owner speaks out
The owner of the Spar shop in Marple, Mel, has commented exclusively on this blog about the intense competition his family have faced from the Premier shop opening next door. He has responded to comments on his smoking, his treatment of kids and the vicious price cutting by his competitors. More than anything though he has thanked his loyal customers saying his future lies in the hands of the people of Marple.
NB: MT quoted below is not me.
The original blog, with comments, is here.
His comment is here:
As the owner of the Spar store in question, can I first say a huge THANK YOU for your overwhelming support. The last few months has been the most stressful period we have ever been through but your kind comments and words of encouragement have kept us going.
I have been monitoring blogs, forums and people kindly setting up support groups, but I shall limit my response to the comments raised on this blog. I accept my smoking may offend, and as my wife is a non smoker I have always done it outside. Point taken. Feelings have been running quite high with next door trying to accost passing customers, offering to undercut our prices. Me being outside seemed to put a stop to it the outburst that MT witnessed was a result of them taunting and laughing at my wife. My sincere apologies.
As to the outstanding fare,our shop is very small and while we try our best to cater to everybody's needs, space does not allow. Can I take the opportunity to thank you for overlooking our shortcomings and offering your support and rest assured we will do better.
I have come across a couple of remarks about us selling wine next to Wine Rack and you're right we never intended to do so. The decision to do so was only taken when we knew that First Quench (the parent company for Wine Rack, Threshers and The Local) was heading for failure and the store closure was imminent.
The decision to limit the number of kids into the store was only taken after huge losses through theft, the majority of the kids are great and a credit to their parents. I accept I spend a lot of time outside but it's not to intimidate. I have not only my family, my home and my business to look after but also the jobs of five local people to protect. I need to know what next door are selling, to who and why, to see if we can adapt to survive, this we can only do with the continued support from the local community. As to it being cheaper, you can easily sell at a loss for as long as it takes when you have fifteen other stores to spread the losses, which we can't do. As you can see our fate is in your hands.
Thank you one and all.
Kind Regards Mel
NB: MT quoted below is not me.
The original blog, with comments, is here.
His comment is here:
As the owner of the Spar store in question, can I first say a huge THANK YOU for your overwhelming support. The last few months has been the most stressful period we have ever been through but your kind comments and words of encouragement have kept us going.
I have been monitoring blogs, forums and people kindly setting up support groups, but I shall limit my response to the comments raised on this blog. I accept my smoking may offend, and as my wife is a non smoker I have always done it outside. Point taken. Feelings have been running quite high with next door trying to accost passing customers, offering to undercut our prices. Me being outside seemed to put a stop to it the outburst that MT witnessed was a result of them taunting and laughing at my wife. My sincere apologies.
As to the outstanding fare,our shop is very small and while we try our best to cater to everybody's needs, space does not allow. Can I take the opportunity to thank you for overlooking our shortcomings and offering your support and rest assured we will do better.
I have come across a couple of remarks about us selling wine next to Wine Rack and you're right we never intended to do so. The decision to do so was only taken when we knew that First Quench (the parent company for Wine Rack, Threshers and The Local) was heading for failure and the store closure was imminent.
The decision to limit the number of kids into the store was only taken after huge losses through theft, the majority of the kids are great and a credit to their parents. I accept I spend a lot of time outside but it's not to intimidate. I have not only my family, my home and my business to look after but also the jobs of five local people to protect. I need to know what next door are selling, to who and why, to see if we can adapt to survive, this we can only do with the continued support from the local community. As to it being cheaper, you can easily sell at a loss for as long as it takes when you have fifteen other stores to spread the losses, which we can't do. As you can see our fate is in your hands.
Thank you one and all.
Kind Regards Mel
An audience with Rod Aldridge
I'll post a link on here when I write it up a bit more in a wider piece I'm putting together on what this "big society" might look like. Is is it a gimmick, or the radical alternative to bloated state?
In the meantime, there's some good things about him here.
Munich, a very smart city
The occasion? Dom Coupes (pictured) had his birthday bash and we visited the celebratory festival of Northern Europe's premier cultural binding pastime - Oktoberfest. Highly recommended. I even liked the food.
Thursday, September 23, 2010
That musical journey
I'm still chipping away at my top 1000 songs, dropping odd bits of dross, adding new gems. The latest burst of brilliance, courtesy of The Word, is CW Stoneking, and a gorgeous rendition of an old calypso track Brave Son of America.
Bandwagon sectors and Manchester's creative ambition
Pumped with excitement from a few different media events about the ambition of Manchester's creative sector, I did a talk to a networking event this morning.organised by the delightful team at Barnardos.
There's plenty of competition for Manchester; places purporting to be great centres of creativity. Like these:
"With its 950,000 inhabitants, the area boasts a high standard of living, a specialised and markedly international production system, qualified human resources and a close-nit and vibrant creative community."
That’s Bologna.
"The partial transformation of the harbor into a modern business and residential district is an important urban planning project to position the city as a center for the creative industries, including advertising, art and media, in Europe."
That’s Dusseldorf.
"Creative industries are one of the fastest growing sectors of our regional economy. Our council works with our partners on a project called Creativity Works which offers advice, support, information and networking opportunities. There are annual Creativity Works awards raising the profile of this valuable economic sector."
That’s Blackburn.
And then there's London. I couldn't help myself, but I ended with this again:
"In the North West it rains and it rains. And yet we managed to produce the industrial revolution, trade union movement, the Communist Manifesto and even the computer. And Joy Division, Oasis, M People, The Smiths, Elbow and the Happy Mondays. Down south, where the sun never sets, you took all our money and what did you produce? Chas and Dave."
Tony Wilson. Gone, but never forgotten.
There's plenty of competition for Manchester; places purporting to be great centres of creativity. Like these:
"With its 950,000 inhabitants, the area boasts a high standard of living, a specialised and markedly international production system, qualified human resources and a close-nit and vibrant creative community."
That’s Bologna.
"The partial transformation of the harbor into a modern business and residential district is an important urban planning project to position the city as a center for the creative industries, including advertising, art and media, in Europe."
That’s Dusseldorf.
"Creative industries are one of the fastest growing sectors of our regional economy. Our council works with our partners on a project called Creativity Works which offers advice, support, information and networking opportunities. There are annual Creativity Works awards raising the profile of this valuable economic sector."
That’s Blackburn.
And then there's London. I couldn't help myself, but I ended with this again:
"In the North West it rains and it rains. And yet we managed to produce the industrial revolution, trade union movement, the Communist Manifesto and even the computer. And Joy Division, Oasis, M People, The Smiths, Elbow and the Happy Mondays. Down south, where the sun never sets, you took all our money and what did you produce? Chas and Dave."
Tony Wilson. Gone, but never forgotten.
What have I been up to this week
Spooks is back, Spooks is ace
We really enjoyed the new series of Spooks this week. Sir Harry Pearce, as ever, was the star of the show. His wise counsel, his depths of self doubt, his love for Ruth and his razor sharp judgement completely overshadowed some real shortcomings.
Let's deal with these first. The new girl was wooden, the non-speaking extras made the tense scenes with the Somali terror cell seem calm. The tight shots on the tanker seemed to highlight the constraints of the budget - they never even pretended they were at sea. And the rubbish CGI of the submarines going up the Thames were far inferior to what my 8 year old can create on his Nintendo DS.
But it's still ace. So much action. Contemporary politics, undercurrents of mystery, and how can you fault a programme with a line like this. Asked if an interruption to the internet in the South of England was a price worth paying for interrupting the terrorists Sir Harry said this: "So the country will have to struggle on without pornography and Minesweeper for a couple of hours. Do it."
Or this:
"This is my ‘I want some good news’ face."
Let's deal with these first. The new girl was wooden, the non-speaking extras made the tense scenes with the Somali terror cell seem calm. The tight shots on the tanker seemed to highlight the constraints of the budget - they never even pretended they were at sea. And the rubbish CGI of the submarines going up the Thames were far inferior to what my 8 year old can create on his Nintendo DS.
But it's still ace. So much action. Contemporary politics, undercurrents of mystery, and how can you fault a programme with a line like this. Asked if an interruption to the internet in the South of England was a price worth paying for interrupting the terrorists Sir Harry said this: "So the country will have to struggle on without pornography and Minesweeper for a couple of hours. Do it."
Or this:
"This is my ‘I want some good news’ face."
Sunday, September 19, 2010
Oi ref!
So, yesterday I watched Rovers get a goal that wasn't because that horrible scrote El Hadji Diouf deliberately cheated. Fulham get away with a handball and Rovers concede a free kick the players were still whining about as Clint Dempsey rose to equalise. Seen again from several angles on Match of the Day (last again, I notice), the referee is dismissed as an idiot.
Earlier I watched the eldest son in an Under 12s match. The referee was a 15-year old lad, brightly turned out in his new kit. He was being monitored by one of the local veteran refs from these parts and did well. He will have missed a couple of things, he will have had an obscured view of marginal offside decisions - he doesn't have linesmen for these, just a Dad spotting throw ins - but he did well. Blissfully, the morning went without rancour, but in the future it will. He's one of 40 lads coming through the system, of which most will give it up within two years because of abuse from parents and gobby managers and, depressingly, players. Despite the Respect campaign, and the tabloid press seeming to support initiatives like Ray Winstone's excellent video, the problem is endemic.
The reason lies on the Match of the Day sofa and in the manager's interview. It all feeds a terrible sense of entitlement to appeal each decision a referee makes. So, while I saw a fantastic game in the morning, full of all the drama and endeavour which makes football a beautiful game, by the end of the day the ugliness comes crawling through.
Earlier I watched the eldest son in an Under 12s match. The referee was a 15-year old lad, brightly turned out in his new kit. He was being monitored by one of the local veteran refs from these parts and did well. He will have missed a couple of things, he will have had an obscured view of marginal offside decisions - he doesn't have linesmen for these, just a Dad spotting throw ins - but he did well. Blissfully, the morning went without rancour, but in the future it will. He's one of 40 lads coming through the system, of which most will give it up within two years because of abuse from parents and gobby managers and, depressingly, players. Despite the Respect campaign, and the tabloid press seeming to support initiatives like Ray Winstone's excellent video, the problem is endemic.
The reason lies on the Match of the Day sofa and in the manager's interview. It all feeds a terrible sense of entitlement to appeal each decision a referee makes. So, while I saw a fantastic game in the morning, full of all the drama and endeavour which makes football a beautiful game, by the end of the day the ugliness comes crawling through.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Britain's Got the Pope Factor On Ice
I've been hovering over the keyboard intending to glumly reflect on the Pope's visit to Britain. I did fear the worst, a lot of sniping, defeatism from Catholics and spiteful triumphalism from the Dawkins mob, not that I care. There's also been a wrong headed stubborn trench mentality - like this - which misjudges the deep anger over the cover-up of priestly abuse.
But listening to what the Pope has to say about Britain, tolerance, modern Christianity, reason and aspiration, rather than what the circus has to interpret, is very refreshing. That's all I have to say.
But listening to what the Pope has to say about Britain, tolerance, modern Christianity, reason and aspiration, rather than what the circus has to interpret, is very refreshing. That's all I have to say.
On inspirational leaders
I've been honoured to spend time this week with some towering figures in British life, Sir Alex Ferguson and Sir Terry Leahy.
The Tesco boss was speaking at a finance conference in Liverpool this morning, which I chaired. Fergie was the guest at the office opening of Morson's new headquarters in Salford, organised by my good friend Paul Horrocks. There were only business press invited and we kept a respectful distance. I did see the FT man Andy Bounds hovering around him, but that was to get him to sign his son's birthday card. Anyway, the story is here.
I did sit next to Leahy though and introduce his speech. I can't claim that he's my new best mate or anything, in fact I suspect he thought I was a chippy pain in the arse. I asked him, in front of 350 people, about the Everton stadium, which he seemed a bit bored by. He also wasn't that enamoured by one of the other people on the panel talking too much and made a swift exit at the end of the session.
So, one learns from such experiences. One also cannot fail to be impressed by Leahy's observations. Irrespective of his dry delivery, he's inspirational. Despite his position as boss of an all conquering retail brand, he seems empathetic to the issues facing fast growing companies of much smaller size. It might seem obvious, but he says if you want to succeed in business, then you set out to be the best, and if you do, then you get big. That brings its own challenges.
Both men have been successful in their own walk of life. People hang on their every word, what they say matters. What they feel matters too. The good news from Leahy is the recovery seems real. He'd know.
Neither try too hard to play it for laughs either. They don't need to. A mild anecdote brings the house down. Leahy's was that his speech would be like the Everton game v Man United - all the best bits will be at the end.
My biggest laugh of the day came after I introduced the very nice man from the Bank of England, John Young. Insider named him the 100th most powerful man in the North West, which I mentioned. He said he ought to point out that the person at 99 is in fact dead. He is, it's him.
The Tesco boss was speaking at a finance conference in Liverpool this morning, which I chaired. Fergie was the guest at the office opening of Morson's new headquarters in Salford, organised by my good friend Paul Horrocks. There were only business press invited and we kept a respectful distance. I did see the FT man Andy Bounds hovering around him, but that was to get him to sign his son's birthday card. Anyway, the story is here.
I did sit next to Leahy though and introduce his speech. I can't claim that he's my new best mate or anything, in fact I suspect he thought I was a chippy pain in the arse. I asked him, in front of 350 people, about the Everton stadium, which he seemed a bit bored by. He also wasn't that enamoured by one of the other people on the panel talking too much and made a swift exit at the end of the session.
So, one learns from such experiences. One also cannot fail to be impressed by Leahy's observations. Irrespective of his dry delivery, he's inspirational. Despite his position as boss of an all conquering retail brand, he seems empathetic to the issues facing fast growing companies of much smaller size. It might seem obvious, but he says if you want to succeed in business, then you set out to be the best, and if you do, then you get big. That brings its own challenges.
Both men have been successful in their own walk of life. People hang on their every word, what they say matters. What they feel matters too. The good news from Leahy is the recovery seems real. He'd know.
Neither try too hard to play it for laughs either. They don't need to. A mild anecdote brings the house down. Leahy's was that his speech would be like the Everton game v Man United - all the best bits will be at the end.
My biggest laugh of the day came after I introduced the very nice man from the Bank of England, John Young. Insider named him the 100th most powerful man in the North West, which I mentioned. He said he ought to point out that the person at 99 is in fact dead. He is, it's him.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Danger: genius at work
I was handed the dubious honour of introducing Rory Sutherland at a dinner in Manchester tonight to relaunch the MPA (the Manchester Publicity Association). I have to say, the man is a force of nature, a true genius of his field. I know all this because I read his Wikiman column in the Spectator. But tonight I saw him as one of the best business speakers I've ever seen. His energy, wit and ideas are mesmerising enough, but ability to weave a thread of a theory for an hour was very impressive indeed. However, he spoke for an hour, before dinner, and the technology broke. Twice. It was tough to keep the audience through that, but he did it.
One of the ideas he shared was framing. How different products sell in the context. Stick a Rolls Royce in a car showroom and it's a tough product to shift. Put it alongside Lear Jets and yachts at a luxury goods fare and it will.
Rather like a speech from a creative advertising man. At a conference, just before lunch, after a gentle build up - I'd pay to see that.
One of the ideas he shared was framing. How different products sell in the context. Stick a Rolls Royce in a car showroom and it's a tough product to shift. Put it alongside Lear Jets and yachts at a luxury goods fare and it will.
Rather like a speech from a creative advertising man. At a conference, just before lunch, after a gentle build up - I'd pay to see that.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Smash the state
With the TUC in Manchester calling for action, and the BBC siezing on every outpouring of protest, there's very little sensible debate in the news about what the alternative is, or whether this is actually a good idea irrespective of the need to cut the deficit. It called to mind a comment by Ferdinand Mount at a Conservative Party conference fringe debate on the need for public sector cuts: never let a good crisis go to waste. Julian Glover in the Guardian today makes a good point: The coalition government has been accused of trying to reduce the state, and that is good. They should just say so. Everything I see and hear tells me the public are up for this and ready to take the medicine required.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Shopping in Marple - an update
There's nothing like competition to get trade moving. I mentioned here that two virtually identical shops were now trading next to one another, pictured, just opposite Rose Hill train station in Marple. A Spar, which has been here a while, and a Premier convenience store which opened in August.On the face of it the opening of such direct competition couldn't have come at a worse time for the family that opened the Spar. For the last 6 months Marple has been locked down in the evenings for essential work on the main road in and out, thus cutting off passing trade. A bigger store, offering half price newspapers, free energy drinks and incredible discounts on milk and bread looks formidable.
We've already established that this is not a planning issue, it's a free market one. The winner takes all and the fight is very much on.
Well, I've never seen Spar the shop as busy as it is now. There seems to be a groundswell of loyalty, with punters declaring loudly and proudly they are boycotting the Raja Brothers store. The Spar owners also go out of their way to thank people for their custom, even standing outside having a cigarette, making a few punters unlikely to then swerve into the competition.
The Spar have also got the support of a Facebook page, here, and the balance of the positive sentiment on the Marple website here.
I'm less impressed with the tactics of the Premier store. The tacky dayglo handwritten posters offer schoolkids a "free energy drink" with lunch and sweets. That's not right. In fact it's horribly wrong on every level. They even make a claim that they're doing their half price paper offer for "customers" and "not profit".
There's a third effect that this stand off is having. More than a few people I know have avoided both.
Saturday, September 11, 2010
City v Rovers - great day
Me and the youngest lad went to Man City v Rovers today. We were with a few other media people as guests of City's corporate hospitality team. We had to sit on our hands when Niko Kalinic took the lead for Rovers in the first half. We also had to be restrained at the final whistle when we celebrated a point won.Sometimes there is joy to be had from a decent defensive performance, especially after two defenders go off injured. But some solid goalkeeping and, at times, some heroics and hardy jostling in the midfield from Phil Jones and MGP saw us through.
I still think City can win the title, but they will need to be more ruthless and direct. I thought Adam Johnson was going to rip us apart, but he didn't, thankfully. SWP was clueless. But who knows who they'll buy, or who the best eleven is. What I do sense is they missed a Bellamy today. And Roque Santa Cruz must be very out of favour if Jo keeps him out of a game. He was rubbish.
But there's only one story for Match of the Day tonight: Dirty negative Rovers thwart luckless City. Don't believe a word of it.
Keyboard warriors
I have a thing about messageboard etiquette and the posting of anonymous comments.
Earlier this week Simon Binns of ManCon got the owner of the Britannia Hotel to speak about the threat of a compulsory purchase order on the Old Fire Station, a building that could be a civic treasure, but is in a shocking state. Owner Alex Langham has his say, Manchester City Council reply. Context is provided, but comment is not. It's called reporting.
The story is here.
In the comments underneath there's one from Anonymous, as follows:
"Hardly the most illuminating of interviews. Has someone cut mancon's claws? Where's the demands for an explanation of how this company has allowed a building like this to rot for 25 YEARS!!! pardon the shouting, but come on - this reads like Trevor macdonald interviewing the queen. I hope you asked "is there anything else mr langsam would like to add?". Brittannia's actions have been shameful and the sooner this landmark site is taken off them the better."
Is it just me, but doesn't this display in one paragraph the delicious irony of an anonymous poster lecturing an experienced journalist on matters of courage? And doesn't it also show the value of honest balanced enquiry as opposed to shrill demanding outrage. Afterall, who got Langsham to speak and raise the issue again? Exactly.
Earlier this week Simon Binns of ManCon got the owner of the Britannia Hotel to speak about the threat of a compulsory purchase order on the Old Fire Station, a building that could be a civic treasure, but is in a shocking state. Owner Alex Langham has his say, Manchester City Council reply. Context is provided, but comment is not. It's called reporting.
The story is here.
In the comments underneath there's one from Anonymous, as follows:
"Hardly the most illuminating of interviews. Has someone cut mancon's claws? Where's the demands for an explanation of how this company has allowed a building like this to rot for 25 YEARS!!! pardon the shouting, but come on - this reads like Trevor macdonald interviewing the queen. I hope you asked "is there anything else mr langsam would like to add?". Brittannia's actions have been shameful and the sooner this landmark site is taken off them the better."
Is it just me, but doesn't this display in one paragraph the delicious irony of an anonymous poster lecturing an experienced journalist on matters of courage? And doesn't it also show the value of honest balanced enquiry as opposed to shrill demanding outrage. Afterall, who got Langsham to speak and raise the issue again? Exactly.
Friday, September 10, 2010
Rovers takeover latest - Ali comes out fighting
Following the allegations in the Radio Five Investigates programme on Sunday Mr Ahsan Ali Syed has responded with a statement.
The full text is here on the Lancashire Telegraph site, no doubt with the usual mindless babble in the comments box underneath.
As I've gone on record in expressing my doubts, here, and comparing him to Michael Knighton, here, it's only fair to include the relevant points stand as a reply here too.
So, in response to allegations made on the BBC Radio 5 Live Investigates broadcast on 5 September 2010, Western Gulf Advisory (WGA) dealt with the flat, the unpaid council tax and where he comes from in India. I always thought this was tittle tattle. As for whether he studied at the London School of Economics, well, he doesn't address that point.
The statement does address the probity of WGA and the analysis on the programme of the annual report:
"The conclusions drawn in the programme regarding WGA B.S.C (Bahraini Shareholding Company)’s accounts are false and misleading and have been independently audited by BDO. Like any similar financial institution, WGA does not need to keep significant cash positions as it does not have large liabilities or operating expenses. Furthermore WGA’s Bahraini business is a separate entity to its European businesses, which are responsible for executing all of its investments."
Introducing BDO into the mix is important and ups the ante for me. I still think 7 days is a very short period to audit a business of such size and complexity, but then I'm not as familiar with local audit law.
The statement ends with a fairly sturdy defence and a restatement of intent.
"WGA is a well capitalised business and has the sum of $850 million available in liquid assets for investment purposes. As previously stated, WGA remains committed to expanding its investment activities in the UK.
"Any attempt to suggest that Mr Ali has a questionable track record in business and is therefore unsuitable to take over Blackburn Rovers is a false and damaging allegation.”
Wow. That's fighting talk. Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough, as they used to say on the Blackburn End.
But none of this should ever have got to this stage. It has created a circus around our football club. Again, in my experience deals are done in private and major statements are not bandied around for public dissection before a deal is done. The same goes for sheep stations in Australia and property companies in Ireland. Certainly the long list of deals that WGA lists on its website were conducted well below any radar I have access to. Having had a taste of the British press, maybe Mr Ali wishes he'd kept this one low key too.
The full text is here on the Lancashire Telegraph site, no doubt with the usual mindless babble in the comments box underneath.
As I've gone on record in expressing my doubts, here, and comparing him to Michael Knighton, here, it's only fair to include the relevant points stand as a reply here too.
So, in response to allegations made on the BBC Radio 5 Live Investigates broadcast on 5 September 2010, Western Gulf Advisory (WGA) dealt with the flat, the unpaid council tax and where he comes from in India. I always thought this was tittle tattle. As for whether he studied at the London School of Economics, well, he doesn't address that point.
The statement does address the probity of WGA and the analysis on the programme of the annual report:
"The conclusions drawn in the programme regarding WGA B.S.C (Bahraini Shareholding Company)’s accounts are false and misleading and have been independently audited by BDO. Like any similar financial institution, WGA does not need to keep significant cash positions as it does not have large liabilities or operating expenses. Furthermore WGA’s Bahraini business is a separate entity to its European businesses, which are responsible for executing all of its investments."
Introducing BDO into the mix is important and ups the ante for me. I still think 7 days is a very short period to audit a business of such size and complexity, but then I'm not as familiar with local audit law.
The statement ends with a fairly sturdy defence and a restatement of intent.
"WGA is a well capitalised business and has the sum of $850 million available in liquid assets for investment purposes. As previously stated, WGA remains committed to expanding its investment activities in the UK.
"Any attempt to suggest that Mr Ali has a questionable track record in business and is therefore unsuitable to take over Blackburn Rovers is a false and damaging allegation.”
Wow. That's fighting talk. Come and have a go if you think you're hard enough, as they used to say on the Blackburn End.
But none of this should ever have got to this stage. It has created a circus around our football club. Again, in my experience deals are done in private and major statements are not bandied around for public dissection before a deal is done. The same goes for sheep stations in Australia and property companies in Ireland. Certainly the long list of deals that WGA lists on its website were conducted well below any radar I have access to. Having had a taste of the British press, maybe Mr Ali wishes he'd kept this one low key too.
Sunday, September 05, 2010
That Tony Blair book
The Tony Blair book A Journey is fascinating. Rachel has grabbed it first and is rattling through it. I keep dipping into the index and randomly looking at it. I can't believe how he's approached it, writing in a laid back, "gosh, look at me" style.
There's a good review, or mention, from Norman Geras here. And a reference to the fact that it's selling very well, here, on Harry's Place.
There's a good review, or mention, from Norman Geras here. And a reference to the fact that it's selling very well, here, on Harry's Place.
The Indian Michael Knighton stalks Rovers
I just don't feel good about the proposed takeover of Blackburn Rovers by Ahsan Ali Syed.
I make the comparison with Michael Knighton here.
And we cast a sceptical eye during the Blackburn Rovers unofficial podcast here.
Tonight's BBC Radio Five Live Investigates has done a good job of picking through the evidence. I'm sure Rovers fans will be listening in a state of anger and confusion.
Here's what concerns me now: not that there is truth in the allegations and that the deal can't go through. I don't like the cut of his gib so far; it's all wrong. My instincts tell me this is doomed. But if he's successful and loaded, I still don't see a good outcome. If he's successful and isn't as wealthy as he makes out, then the humiliation will be complete.
I make the comparison with Michael Knighton here.
And we cast a sceptical eye during the Blackburn Rovers unofficial podcast here.
Tonight's BBC Radio Five Live Investigates has done a good job of picking through the evidence. I'm sure Rovers fans will be listening in a state of anger and confusion.
Here's what concerns me now: not that there is truth in the allegations and that the deal can't go through. I don't like the cut of his gib so far; it's all wrong. My instincts tell me this is doomed. But if he's successful and loaded, I still don't see a good outcome. If he's successful and isn't as wealthy as he makes out, then the humiliation will be complete.
Wednesday, September 01, 2010
Tony Blair knew
I'm looking forward to reading Tony Blair's book which I bought today, and watching the Andrew Marr interview this evening.
Here's where I was the day he left office.
Now, I knew Gordon Brown would be a terrible prime minister and I'm just a bloke from Marple who watches the news. But so, it appears, did Blair. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I remember his clunking fist speech at David Cameron and thought at the time: "nah".
But doesn't it show a lack of leadership that he didn't try to stop Brown?
Here's where I was the day he left office.
Now, I knew Gordon Brown would be a terrible prime minister and I'm just a bloke from Marple who watches the news. But so, it appears, did Blair. Hindsight is a wonderful thing, but I remember his clunking fist speech at David Cameron and thought at the time: "nah".
But doesn't it show a lack of leadership that he didn't try to stop Brown?
Support your local teams
This Saturday has been designated Non-League Day.
"WITH ENGLAND PLAYING THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONSHIP TAKING A WEEK OFF, I URGE ALL FANS OF THE BIG CLUBS TO GET OUT AND WATCH THEIR LOCAL NON-LEAGUE TEAM INSTEAD ON SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER. GIVEN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, CLUBS OUTSIDE THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT THEY CAN GET, SO YOUR PRESENCE AT A GAME WILL BE GENUINELY APPRECIATED. WITH TICKETS AND REFRESHMENTS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST, WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?"
We've already embraced this with visits to Woodley Sports and Droylsden this season, making them my 128th and 129th grounds on which I've watched football. I'm going to try and take in matches at Stalybridge Celtic, Curzon Ashton, Glossop North End and Salford City in the next few months.
The organisers get it bang on when they say: "There is a richness and depth to the non-league game that should be experienced while we have the chance, and with more and more clubs facing hardship or folding every season, there has never been a better opportunity to "adopt" a second team."
Do your bit for semi-pro and grass roots football, and get out and support your local team. Who knows, you may even enjoy the experience enough to return again...
There's a link to a very helpful website on the day here.
"WITH ENGLAND PLAYING THE NIGHT BEFORE AND THE PREMIER LEAGUE AND CHAMPIONSHIP TAKING A WEEK OFF, I URGE ALL FANS OF THE BIG CLUBS TO GET OUT AND WATCH THEIR LOCAL NON-LEAGUE TEAM INSTEAD ON SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER. GIVEN THE CURRENT FINANCIAL CLIMATE, CLUBS OUTSIDE THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT THEY CAN GET, SO YOUR PRESENCE AT A GAME WILL BE GENUINELY APPRECIATED. WITH TICKETS AND REFRESHMENTS AT A FRACTION OF THE COST, WHAT'S STOPPING YOU?"
We've already embraced this with visits to Woodley Sports and Droylsden this season, making them my 128th and 129th grounds on which I've watched football. I'm going to try and take in matches at Stalybridge Celtic, Curzon Ashton, Glossop North End and Salford City in the next few months.
The organisers get it bang on when they say: "There is a richness and depth to the non-league game that should be experienced while we have the chance, and with more and more clubs facing hardship or folding every season, there has never been a better opportunity to "adopt" a second team."
Do your bit for semi-pro and grass roots football, and get out and support your local team. Who knows, you may even enjoy the experience enough to return again...
There's a link to a very helpful website on the day here.
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