Category Archives: Personal

Liverpool: A Very Personal Great Sporting Moment

  By O-Posts Team | May 11, 2013 - 19:19 | , , ,
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Everyone has their own list of great sporting moments which is unique to them. For those who attend live sport regularly this list will probably largely consist of events at which they were present as somehow these are always more meaningful.

There will also always be occasions which may not seem terribly important to the world in general but which have special significance to an individual. I experienced one such great moment back in 1996.

 

The Player

I had been a fan of Stan Collymore for some time and was delighted when he signed for my club, Liverpool. His form had been a little up and down but it had become obvious that he was capable of great things. It is rare to see a player who is powerful, skilful with their feet, has great heading ability and is genuinely two-footed but Collymore was all of things and more. He was a bit of a riddle wrapped up in an enigma but every great team needs one of those!

 

The Match

I was having a serious debate on whether to attend the fixture in question as it had been postponed twice due to FA Cup replays and was now scheduled for a Wednesday night. When you are facing a 500 mile round trip that is a bit awkward but ultimately I decided that as I had tickets and that Liverpool were still in with a chance of winning the league, I should go. After all, sleep is overrated!

As I set off for the game I had a strange tingle of anticipation for no particular reason that I could fathom. It was a match between two teams at the top of the table which would normally produce a tactical and nervy game with few goals but somehow I felt this one might be different.

When I entered the stadium there was a real buzz about the place and an edge to the atmosphere that I had not felt for some time. I think this was a case of the crowd sharing my feelings, a kind of collective telepathy.

We all believed we were about to witness something special and we weren’t wrong!

 

The Moment

This was Liverpool V Newcastle April 1996. It was the game that would be voted match of the decade and for me it was the match of that or any decade! What transpired was a breathless end to end game of extraordinary quality with the stars on the pitch really showing what they could do and no quarter given. There was an extreme intensity to proceedings that I had never witnessed before.

By the time the 90 minute mark had arrived I was emotionally exhausted. The score stood at 3:3 and I was shouting vigorously for the final whistle not wanting an amazing occasion to be ruined by a Newcastle winner. Deep into injury time Liverpool broke forward and then entrance none other than Stan Collymore to smash the winner into the net! I was ecstatic and nearly peed my nudie jeans!

What a night!

 

Home

After a three hour journey I arrived home and immediately put the television on to watch the highlights of what I just witnessed. Since that day I have watched this match again and again and have never tired of seeing it.

In fact I think I am going to have to watch it again now!

 

Byline

Sally Stacey is a regular blogger and ardent football fan who has been following the game for over 30 years.She is currently writing on behalf of Jeanstore.

 

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Fan Memories: Football isn’t what it used To Be

  By O-Posts Team | April 27, 2013 - 20:31 | , , , , , , , , , , , ,
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Football has changed in many ways over the last three decades and not wholly for the better. The big clubs have got stronger, the small clubs weaker and the players are now paid a ludicrous amount of money. Loyalty seems to have gone out of the window and cheating is rife.

Having said that the experience of actually attending a game has improved no end, in fact it is a different world altogether and for that I am grateful.

 

Second Class Citizens

There was a time when football supporters were treated so badly that it is a wonder anyone bothered turning up. I had so many bad experiences involving violence from other fans, poor facilities and being transported like cattle that looking back I can’t believe that it all happened.

I was also unfortunate enough to be present at both the Hillsborough and Heysel Stadium disasters where so many people lost their lives. Both of these terrible tragedies were the result of negligence on the part of the authorities and the police, negligence which certainly had its roots in the prevailing attitude that football fans were worthless.

On one occasion prior to these events I was given a rude reminder of just how poor the attitudes of many police officers actually were.

 

Away Match

I was attending Liverpool’s away match at Stoke City and had failed to obtain a ticket for the special supporters’ train and so had to purchase a full price fare on a normal scheduled service. I didn’t realise it at the time but this train ticket was going to cost me a lot more than it appeared.

The journey to Stoke and the match were uneventful and I left the stadium to walk back to the station expecting a similarly hassle free journey home. As I approached the station a police officer shouted at me to join the queue for the supporters’ train and I explained that I did not have a ticket for that service and need to proceed to the station to take the scheduled service back to Liverpool.

At this point the officer grabbed hold of me and threw me against a wall shouting that I had to join the queue. Unfortunately he threw me head first and I smashed my head on the wall. As I got to my feet there was blood pouring out of my head and I got my bearings just in time to see my friend attack the officer in a rage and get himself arrested! He shouted for me to go home and he would see me later.

I at least had the presence of mind to memorise the officer’s number. I then sat down by some garage doors to recover with blood trickling down my neck.

 

Aftermath

Some fellow fans helped me out and I eventually got home, albeit with a head wound and blood all over my clothes. My friend was released the same day and was not charged with anything. He too had memorised the police officer’s number and his recollection matched mine.

We made a complaint regarding the officer’s conduct only to be told that we were in error as the officer whose number we reported was not working at the match that day. The police had obviously closed ranks and there was nothing we could do about it.

 

Shocking

Looking back it seems crazy that there was a time when football fans were treated so badly and that a police officer could get away with such an assault so easily. I am sure that things like this still happen but it is much rarer now. In those days it was commonplace.

I guess that I should also add that what happened to me on that day in Stoke on Trent was more shocking than it appears as I am a woman and at the time of the assault I was a teenage girl.

 

Byline

Sally Stacey is a keen blogger and football enthusiast who has spent over 30 years visiting football ground across Europe. She is currently writing on behalf of The Plastic Depot.

 

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The Secret Footballer: The Ultimate Insight

  By O-Posts Team | March 6, 2013 - 20:04 | , , , , , , , , , , ,
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If you, like me, have always been intrigued by what goes on behind the scenes in Premier League clubs and football clubs in general, then the secret footballer is absolutely the ideal book to buy. If you are unfamiliar with the secret footballer, well there isn’t much to know, it’s an anonymous professional footballer talking about his experiences in the beautiful game, and it is one of the few books that I’ve been truly devastated by the fact I’ve finished reading it.

The player shares stories and gives his opinion on a wide range of topics. His childhood as a passionate fan of the game, his adaptation into being a professional player, and perhaps most interestingly, his battles with depression. A lot of the tales he tells are predictable, and are similar to what those you’d imagine professional footballers at young ages do when they are essentially showering in money.

However, others are much more thought provoking and surprising. The player describes his financial issues that came about due to his own carelessness, as well as some opinions which many inside the game are almost too scared to share.

The book isn’t just stories either. He gives his own views on a range of taboo subjects such as homophobia, racism, gambling and mental health problems within the game. Reading his views are refreshing, and part of me feels that the player, whoever he is, would make a better FA or FIFA representative than a rich, elderly businessman. Although some of the player’s gripes could be seen as childish and out of touch with ordinary people who can only dream of being a professional footballer, the player justifies every one of his claims.

For example, describing how painful being a professional footballer is at times may seem an ungrateful and unappreciative at first, but upon further reading, you begin to worry for the player’s livelihood, and make you question what these players do when the full time whistle blows.

Don’t worry though, the player’s story does paint the life of a footballer as ludicrous, and as wild as many people expect and dream of it being. Some of the stories told are genuinely shocking, and the player tells tales of the obscene amounts of money spent on certain nights out, the extreme gambling addiction of two of his old teammates, and what a day in the life of the footballer during his depression consisted of. Parts of the book makes the footballer’s lifestyle seem idealistic, in one of the later chapters, he lists some of his purchases he made during his most financially blissful years.

It makes you think, if a Premier League footballer lives like this, what must the billionaire businessman and entertainers live like? However, this feeling of almost envy swiftly turns to pity and horror as the realities of depression bought about due to personal problems, injuries and other things are detailed. I’m sure many others, whether they are rich or poor can relate to his fears and feelings of uselessness.

‘’The secret footballer’’ is not all tales of wild parties, it’s a story of life, beliefs, talent and morals. What toll does professional football have on him? Living his life so recklessly by his own admission and then his spiral into financial troubles and the remarkable story in how he got out of potentially being homeless.

The training ground stories of players and managers being late and duly punished, as well as the often viscous bullying of younger players by experienced heads are all fascinating and at times shocking insights. A brilliant book that has given me a thorough and genuine insight into the life of a player in today’s game.

A selection of the book’s best quotes (without wanting to spoil anything):

“On Dwight Yorke’s first day as a Manchester United player, Roy Keane fired the ball deliberately hard so Yorke would be unable to handle it ‘’welcome to Manchester United’’ Keane said.

“I sat in that chair because I knew that once I did, I wouldn’t have to get up and do something I couldn’t face’’ (on his depression)

‘’ (John) Terry may as well have a whistle such is his influence on matches. The man gets away with murder on the football pitch”.

 

Written by Joshua Sodergren

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Montevideo: The Overlooked City of Football

  By O-Posts Team | December 19, 2012 - 22:31 | , , , ,
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As I read through a script in the memoirs from the mind of the young and guiltless Ernesto Che Guevara, I come across him pondering over a thought as he takes in the scenic beauty of Machu Picchu in Peru:

How is it possible to feel nostalgia for a world I never knew?

Montevideo – a seaside city, the most populated in Uruguay, has a history of its own in the football realm. If history is any bit important in this domain that we live in, then the niche that keeps us entertained as we try to move on through this life should be significant as well. And it is.

The fact that all the games for the inaugural World Cup in 1930 were played in the city, has little to no exposure to the global footballing community. Prodigious stadiums in the form of Estádio do Maracanã (Brazil), Wembley (England), Estadio Azteca (Mexico) and La Bombanera (Argentina) exist in our minds, but have we heard of Estadio Centenario in Montevideo?

Listed as one of the classics by FIFA, similar to how UNESCO categorizes a heritage site, the stadium, which is still in use, was built in 9 months. Cities barely manage to get a stadium developed within 9 months with the modern infrastructure that currently exists today, so one can imagine the process in 1920’s.

Montevideo, at present, is a bustling city of 1.3 million people and has a beautiful combination between the old colonial feel and that of a city with a hustle of a modern city.

And the striking aspect of all this is that the city being smaller in density compared to the likes of London or Madrid is the home of 14 of the 16 domestic first division clubs in the Primera division of Uruguay. The big three being Peñarol, Nacional and Danubio. Iterating the fact again: 14 of the top division clubs in Uruguay come from Montevideo.

As my thought lingers away from the sport and all its innovativeness, I come back to wondering what if Che had managed to include this city in his pan South America trip. But for now as I read through all things Montevideo, a tweaked version of Che’s pondering thought comes to my mind.

How is it possible to feel nostalgia for a city I never knew?

 

Written by Shuaib Ahmed

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Feature: My Top 3 Greatest Players Of All Time

  By O-Posts Team | December 16, 2012 - 17:17 | , , , , , ,
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As an Arsenal fan, times haven’t been that great for me recently, which is why I’ve decided to avoid the drama of warring opinions to instead focus on other matters. Like who the greatest player ever is. I couldn’t really decide so I’ve gone ahead and picked my top 3. Enjoy.

Recently, Lionel Messi went on to break a 40-year record for goals scored in a calendar year, beating Gerd Müller’s previous record of 85 (though some have contested the validity of this record, claiming that other players have scored more, and that Lionel Messi hasn’t broken it at all).

As there is no concrete evidence to support these claims (not yet anyway), people continue to praise Lionel for breaking the record. This, inevitably, has led to a barrage of media men, social media users and general internet people, labelling the Argentinian star as the ‘greatest ever’.

What irks me is the fact that people use his record as an example of why he’s the greatest ever. Personally, I’m of the opinion that facts do not make footballers the greatest, rather opinions do, as do personal preferences on what you want from footballers as a spectacle; be it entertainment, fulfillment or a sense of amazement and disbelief that a player can be so good.

For me, I look for entertainment; a professional who has mastered their craft. A one-touch reverse pass timed perfectly to deceive the opposition defence is just as enjoyable as a dazzling 40-yard run, weaving in and out of the defence, finishing it off with a smart finish.

In a way, we all look for a combination of the 3, and maybe more aspects too, but it’s ultimately based on what you perceive to be magical. Which is why opinions form a list of the greatest ever footballers, as opposed to facts. And it’s also why many people can never agree, or name different footballers in each discussion they have.

Anyway, now I’ve explained how I believe the greatest ever is determined, allow me to move on to the reason I’ve written this in the first place: to share my top 3, in no particular order, greatest footballers to ever play the beautiful game, starting with a troubled, yet angelic Brazilian; the Alegria do Povo – Mané Garrincha.

Many will look back at the great Brazil World Cup teams of the past and remember the likes of Pelé, Zico or Socrates to name a few. But one man who sticks out for me, is Garrincha. Perhaps the most naturally gifted Brazilian of all time, he was a marvel on the pitch; the king of dribbling, some would say.

It was his carefree attitude, his innocent style and his pure love for football and entertainment that endeared him to the Brazilian public. It was the 1962 World Cup where people really saw just how vital Garrincha was, and how, just maybe, Pelé wasn’t their star man after all.

The latter succumbed to injury and missed most of the tournament, and it was there where Garrincha shone. He went on to become WC ’62 top goalscorer (along with fellow Brazilian Vavá and others) while also being voted as player of the tournament.

People knew of his talent beforehand but he’d used to play with Pelé, who, at the time, was probably the greatest striker in the world. But when Brazil played without the help of their superstar striker, Garrincha stood up to be counted and allowed the world the joy of witnessing the most incredible footballer there ever was.

Garrincha had a troubled life. He was born with birth defects (one leg shorter than the other), suffered with alcoholism, like his father, and shall we say, ‘enjoyed the company of females’. Despite his troubles, he was a likable fellow, an approachable superstar, and a man whom many fell in love with.

There’s a story that a dog which ran on to the pitch during the ’62 World Cup game between Brazil and England, after being caught by Jimmy Greaves, urinated on Greaves’ shirt. Garrincha found this so amusing that he later kept the dog as a pet (though it was later revealed that the dog was raffled off, Garrincha won, and named the dog “Bi”).

He’s a true great, arguably the best Brazilian to ever play, maybe even the best dribbler of all time. He deserves recognition of the Messi, Pelé, Maradona, Zidane level, but so rarely gets it. Mané Garrincha, the Angel with Bent Legs, one of the greatest ever. The Joy of the People.

From a Brazilian to a Frenchman – Thierry Henry.

Who else could it be? I grew up watching this guy, and I even attempted to copy his style of play. I’d drift out to the left to receive the ball, sprint past an opponent then completely muck up the finish. Naturally.

There’s not much to say about Thierry other than he was a fantastic footballer, a true competitor with a passion for winning and an absolute hero. How many footballers have played in a stadium with a statue of themselves situated outside?

He signed for Arsenal in 1999 and, to this date, is Arsene Wenger’s greatest signing. Pace, power, intelligence, skill, accuracy, charisma – you name it. Titi had many qualities and would wreak havoc on defences all around Europe. He will probably always be my favourite ever Arsenal player. What separates him from other strikers is he had grace. He was an all-round footballer. Assists and goals – he’d contribute them both.

With 228 goals in his Arsenal career, including during a second stint last season, it’s hard to pick his best one. But for me, the greatest and most memorable is that goal at the Bernabéu, in a 1-0 Arsenal win. Taking on 4 Madrid players successfully, before slotting the ball home past Casillas with his left foot, will happily remain a memory for life, and will be cherished.

Heroes come and go. Some stay forever. Others go, then come back, then go again, then (hopefully) come back again. The King returned before and shall return again, I’m sure. It still shocks me that he never won the FIFA World Player of the Year Award. And remember, “Sometimes in football you have to score goals.”

So, who else could make this list? There’s only one other option really. Another Brazilian: Ronaldinho.

Not many footballers have the grace, the unpredictable nature and innocence of this man. He’s the perfect example of a sportsman; always smiling. Such a joy to watch. Capabale of embarrassing any defender, scoring goals of all sorts, mesmerising fans all over. What a player. Even the Real Madrid fans appreciated the man, giving him a standing ovation in a match between the 2 rival clubs in 2005.

It was 2002 when I first saw him play. It was against England, where he lobbed David Seaman with that free-kick, then set up Rivaldo to score after a fantastic run. I loved watching him play ever since that day and he’s one of the main reasons I fell in love with the Brazilian way of playing ‘futebol’ and still watch the national team to this day.

The two-time World Player of the Year Award winner would so often produce wonderful moments on the ball, with his uninhibited, flamboyant style of play. From a seemingly dead end, surrounded by defenders, he manages to create something special. His goal at Stamford Bridge being a prime example.

He may not be at the same level nowadays, but as the old saying goes: class is permanent. He still has magic feet, great craft and the ability to create goalscoring opportunities for his team-mates. I don’t think we will ever see a player like him. He’s unique, special, an unrivalled footballing heavyweight. He is Ronaldinho.

There’s been so many wonderful footballers for us to marvel at over the years. We’ve been witnesses of joy and true professionals at the top of their game. There will be many, many more footballers in years to come that, maybe when we’re all old, grey grandparents, we can tell our grand-kids all about them – the same way our parents, and grandparents, share their memories with us. I see it as our duty to pass on the viewing pleasure of such players to our future families.

For all the criticism it receives, football is such a wonderful sport, isn’t it? I really hope you enjoyed reading and would appreciate any comments, giving your favourite ever player.

Thank you for reading.

 

Written by Ryan Goodenough

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Feature: The State of the Welsh national team- after the tragic death of Gary Speed

  By O-Posts Team | September 24, 2012 - 20:33 | , , ,
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Gary Speed

After the tragic passing of a true football great Gary Speed, Welsh football was left with a huge hole to fill.

Under Speed Wales played attractive, free flowing and effective football. The players were motivated and enjoyed playing their football as much as the fans were watching it.

However when all that changed, the FAW were tasked with finding a way of continuing the success Speed had brought to the team and fans.

The FAW had their list of candidates, and chose Coleman. A little sceptical from the start, but happy to give him a chance, we went into the first game of his tenure against Costa Rica, Gary Speeds testimonial. It was an extremely emotional night and the 1-0 loss was a side story to the tributes to Speedo that night.

The next game, an intercontinental friendly against Mexico on neutral soil in New York. From the outset we were under pressure, we lacked any conviction in attack, something that has become a trend under Coleman, and were bombarded with Mexican attacks.

The defence held out well and kept us in it until the last but it was a sign of things to come, as we offered little threat but hung on in to keep the score down and could hold out hope for a brighter next game.

Next game, Bosnia-Herzegovina, another 2-0 loss, Bosnia played some good football to create chances forcing Myhill into some early saves and took less that 25 minutes to break us down. An early second half goal made it comfortable for them, however the preformace was good, we still lacked the ability to break them down, even with some of our best players on show.

Leaving us with the question, will Coleman get it right for the start of the World Cup qualifiers…..The answer was a resounding no!

Much was said about the class the Belgium had when they came to Wales; Hazard, Kompany, Vermaelen etc. Despite this we were still full of hope.

Allen was a late pull out, and would have certainly started, and we were without Bellamy.

We started brightly, and contained their play and passed the ball but without any end product.

This changed when Collins, who had started well-dealing with the multi million pound attack Belgium posses, threw himself into a needless tackle and saw red. Belgium took over, however it took a corner to break us down, Kompany rising high against, questionable defence to score.

Happy to go in only one down as we would taken a draw from the game, but concern as to where any equaliser was going to come from. At times in the second half we passed the ball well, with Bale and Ramsey linking up, but never really threatening. We looked to be doing well and threatend in patches from Bale free kicks and the occasional corner.

However when we looked to be in the ascendancy, Coleman made what where in my opinion negative changes Bringing off Steve Morrision when he was in need of a partner to help him out up top.

The changes did little to improve our fortunes as in the final ten minutes of the game, after our attacking spark had died out, Vertonghen hammered a free kick in to seal it for Wales.

This was a game that, even with 10 men, we could still have got something out of, if the tactics and set up had been adapted after losing a man and we had found a way to best use the players at our disposal.

Colemans most recent game in charge was away to Serbia, Wales finally scored goal under the new management, a wonder free kick from Bale, however conceeded SIX down the other end, making a hat-full of defensive mistakes in the process. Shambolic, embarrasing and all in all hard to watch for any Welsh fan.

A decent first ten soon pettered out into nothing as Serbia grew quickly into the game. One and two came in quick succession, and when Bale struck to make it 2-1, we were fooled into thinking a comeback may be on. This didn’t happen and Serbia got one 10 minutes later.

Two half time substitutions, both defensive, proved usless as the second half was ‘men against boys’. Wales could not keep the ball for any period of time, and Serbia got another 3 to enforce their dominance. By the time the 6th went in, the players minds were already on the plane home! Our first competitive goal under the new regime, only to completely crumble in defence!

Our next game is at home to a Scotland side, who in our last meeting we out played and tore apart 3-0 at home. Somehow I can’t see the same result.

Coleman has been out of work for a while, has no real understanding of international tactics and hasn’t applied a single thing he has learnt from the 3 friendlies prior to the opening of the WCQ. In my opinion he lacks ideas and the understanding of the game needed to make effective changes.

I fear we will have to endure another qualifying campaign of under achieving with a squad full of top level players, untill Coleman either gets the push or walks away leaving the fans rueing another campaign that promised so much and delivered so little.

 

Written by Luke Bradwick

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Feature: Living in an anti-football world

  By O-Posts Team | September 22, 2012 - 20:36 | , ,
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Anti-Football

If you are reading this article chances are you enjoy football. Whether you watch casually, are a fan, or a fanatic, football is probably a big part of your daily life. I am (along with a lot of other people) not so privileged.

I am a guy growing up in South Africa, Port Elizabeth to be exact, where men are basically expected to be cannibals. We have to pretend to be strong to impress everyone, which leads to the popularity of the biggest sport in South Africa: Rugby.

Every young boy in my community is expected to play rugby and make his dad proud by scoring a try. In one sentence, without being racist, here if you are white you play rugby, if you are black you play soccer.

South Africas first league is the best example. White professionals are few and far between.

Personally I have been forced my whole life to play rugby, because that’s what men do. If you mention soccer the first reaction is always: “Those moffies(homosexuals) that can’t take a punch and just fall around on a field”. Even now that I have been playing for a club for a whole year, every new person that finds out I play soccer can’t believe it.

It works the other way around too. Very few people consider me a good player solely on the fact that I am not dark-skinned. It may sound strange and controversial, but here it is a plain reality.

Soccer is considered to be a sport for the poor kids in the townships and that every player had to play his way out of the townships and his bad circumstances. Little or no middle-ground is ever found.

That’s why I want to change the views and ideas of spectators and just general people. By playing and writing articles about the game that I love.

I have had to fight to get into club football and I feel very privileged to be able to play my favorite sport daily.

I am honored to be someone that is changing the way people think about the sport and that’s what motivates me every time I step on a pitch.

 

Written by Deon Beauzec

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Feature: Being Manchester City Football Club

  By O-Posts Team | September 22, 2012 - 17:26 | , , ,
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Man City crest

If you chat with any seasoned Manchester City fan, they’ll be able to give you an in-depth description of what are more commonly known among Blues as ‘the dark days’.

As a sixteen-year-old, I may be somewhat unqualified to write this article, but, here it goes.

If you search ‘Manchester City 2-2 Liverpool 1996′ into Google, you’ll be presented with over 2 million results. Clawing back a two goal deficit to Liverpool may be considered to be no shame given City were fighting relegation, however.

“I am confident we will stay up, because we have prepared well and we are ready.”

These were Alan Ball’s words prior to that fateful match. Having gone two-nil down, to two own goals, City score two at the right end through Uwe Rosler and Kit Symons.

We were level on points with both Southampton and Coventry going into the game, but both had superior goal difference, so not even a win would guarantee City’s safety.

The feeling was though that, in all likelihood, a win would have sufficed. And it would have done.

Word made its way to City’s bench that Southampton were losing! If I were to attempt to paraphrase Alan Ball, ahem, “Whack it in the corner, boys! And don’t let the f*cker out!”

If Southampton had lost, then of course a draw would have been enough for City, but comically, both they and Wimbledon drew blanks at The Dell. 0-0. Coventry also drew. City needed a win. They didn’t get it. City were down.

It seems that despite all his preparations, Alan Ball had forgot to put “Buy a radio” on his ‘to-do list’. Typical City.

Ball was sacked not long into City’s 1996/97 campaign, only for his successor, Steve Coppell to resign just 33 days into the job. To this day few know why. After Phil Neal’s sacking in the same year, the former Nottingham Forest boss, Frank Clark took his place in the hot seat, and led City to a fourteenth placed finish – in Division One.

Clark was sacked the following February, replaced by Joe Royle. Although, by that time, most of the damage had already been done. Losses to local rivals such as Stockport and Bury must have hit the Blues hard. Football is an escape from problems, but I don’t think any quantity of cans could rid fans of the gutting feeling caused by these results. And the mockery in the media that often followed.

At home to QPR, in the penultimate game of the season, the score was 1-1 and the stage was set for what, in brutal honesty, was a ‘majestic’ goal. Jamie Pollock clipped the ball over a Rangers’ player and headed the ball over the goalkeeper, into his own net. Although, Lee ‘anticlimax’ Bradbury levelled for the Blues, their fate was out of their own hands, and on the final day, despite winning 5-2 at Stoke, we were relegated.

This time to Division Two – the third tier of English football.

Eye-witness accounts and tales of the 1998/99 season are not for the faint-hearted with losses to the likes of Wycombe and Lincoln…and York. There is somewhat of an ongoing joke about ‘York away’ among older City fans. It’s that when asked, most will jokingly, vehemently affirm “YES!” It’s a light-hearted test of how Blue your blood is.

Even Noel Gallagher has since claimed to have been there. He said in an interview on Q Radio; “I was there. York away, Friday night.” It was a Saturday, Noel.

Although, the official attendance was 7,527, really that figure is about 100 short. Truly dark days.

Man City during the ‘dark days’, in the third tier of English football.

However, on 30 May 1999, City were to play Gillingham at Wembley Stadium, with a place in the second tier of English football at stake. Two very late City goals took the tie to penalties, where Nicky Weaver was the hero, saving two penalties.

My earliest memory is indeed a memory of a football match. 7 May 2000 – last game of the season at Ewood Park. We were battling for promotion, and we achieved it, winning 4-1.

Goodness knows how, they absolutely peppered Weaver’s goal in the second half, but we did. I can hazily recollect fans on ‘the hill’ and masses of Blues on the pitch come the final whistle. And I mean masses. Christ, there were a lot of fans that day: The Darwen End, Jack Walker Stand, and Blackburn End – all full of Blues.

Although, the season that followed we were again relegated.

Kevin Keegan then took over from Royle, and spiced things up a bit. With players like Ali Benarbia and Eyal Berkovic, we were playing some really nice stuff. The season climaxed with Stuart Pearce holding the Division One Champions trophy aloft.

Although, ‘Pyscho’ as he was affectionately known in English football, missed a penalty that would have brought up a ton for career goals, in his professional last game.

After a couple of pulsating years in the Premiership under Kev, Stuart Pearce took over and what followed were some of the dullest and most lifeless displays I’ve ever seen from a top-flight team, and we’ve all seen Steve Bruce’s Wigan and Birmingham teams.

We had some good players: A pair of centre-backs capable of playing in some capacity for about 70% of other Premier League teams, and behind them the England international goalkeeper in David James. Yet, Pearce had the most defensive, long-ball reliant tactics I’ve seen; really, really awful stuff.

We did ok, I suppose, but this is a man who had spent six million pounds on a striker in Georgios Samaras, yet decided to keep him on the bench against ‘Boro in 2006 when we were in search of a goal. Instead, he subbed on Nicky Weaver and thrust David James up front. Sure, James won us a penalty (that was missed), but that’s just dumb luck.

These were my dark days. Horrible for me as I’ve no idea how older City fans coped during the nineties. A lot of lager? I suppose though, once you’ve selected a faith, it takes a lot to deter you from that faith. That’s what supporting a football team is like, having faith.

Good things come to those who wait though. I needn’t educate you all on our recent history: An FA Cup and League Title – Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero. It’s fantastic. That’s why, on Tuesday night, no result, no number of goals conceded could have deterred me from the romanticism that football fives you.

From Bootham Crescent to the Bernabeu, against Franco’s boys in Madrid – it’s romanticism that no other medium can give you, not even literature and cinema can give you that feeling because – in the main – your disbelief in the stories has foundation. It may take moments to comprehend moments like Aguero’s winner against QPR, or even Dzeko’s goal on Tuesday, and I’ve heard Blues say that they found themselves on their knees, crying at that moment.

The good times.

But in the end, the scenes are real, the emotions are real.

There’s no doubt that moments like Andrew Dawson’s goal, and Steve Lomas in the corner flashed before the eyes of many City fans on Tuesday, but it’s with good reason. In midweek Mourinho referenced the DNA of his team.

All of these moments, all of these emotions contribute to the DNA of a Manchester City fan: The humour, the loyalty, the frustration, the joy. They’re all part of the DNA and they’re all characteristics inherited by young Blues like myself.

Again, although these words may seem somewhat empty given my age, I can only thank older Blues for their commitment to City fourteen years ago. Because without those fans, the club wouldn’t have the identity it holds today.

 

Written by Josef O’Brien

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Arsenal: In Arsene We Trust

  By O-Posts Team | September 22, 2012 - 14:48 | , ,
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In Arsene We Trust

“In Arsene We Trust.”

If you are an ardent follower of the Arsenal football club, that inscription is what you’d always find around the corridors of the Emirates Stadium.

Having managed teams like AS Monaco and Nancy in France and Nagoya Grampus Eight in Japan before heading to North London, he has developed to a world class coach having won different titles with the Gunners and more importantly has developed world class players like Henry, Bergkamp, Sol Campbell, Fabregas, Nasri, Alex Song, Nwankwo Kanu, Adebayor and some other great players.

Tacticians like Wenger don’t come so easily, he’s not a coach that can be pushed around because he knows his onion and commitment to effect a desired change in any top football team in the world.

Often criticized for his lack of trophies over the past 7 years, honestly, I can’t see any manager in world football today who could’ve managed to keep a club in constant Champions League qualification as well as hitting a few finals here and there with the budget Wenger has- It is truly amazing.

The last 2 seasons were marred by the sale of Fabreas, Nasri and a host of other regular players and very recently with the sale of Alex Song & Van-Persie. Unarguably these are some of EPL’s most finest players and one will wonder why such players could be sold to rival clubs such as Man City, Barcelona and Man United, respectively. During the recent transfer market, speculation and emotions were high greeted by the prospect of losing Van Persie.

A lot of Arsenal fans would rain curses at Wenger and Ivan Gazidis for adding world class players to the fold as requested by Van Persie.

No doubt, the sale of Fabregas & Nasri affected the free flowing Tiki-Taka of the team last season but the recent acquisition of players like Carzola,Giroud & Podolski is the required spark missing in the team and would only get better with time. After 4 EPL matches, Arsenal have only conceded 1 goal with 8 goals to their credit. And with the return of Wilshere, Sagna and Frimpong it means Arsenal are here to challenge for titles and not mere pretenders.

I’ve always been a fan of Wenger. He’s done so much for the club but sometimes goes unappreciated by the majority of its fans. He has changed the face of the club and has made the club the 3rd biggest club in England with regards to trophies as well as one of the topmost clubs in Europe by all standards, both in football and finance.

One thing I know is that this Arsenal team can cause upset in the UEFA champions league and EPL because they are better than what they had last year even with a good bench as substitutes. They can go all out with credit to the Professor at the Emirates.

 

Written by Frankie Ahusiem

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Football: Is it really that important?

  By O-Posts Team | September 12, 2012 - 16:02 | , ,
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The famous quote by the great Bill Shankly..... But is it, really?

The famous quote by the great Bill Shankly….. But is it, really?

It’s easy to say football is more than life or death, and while everything is rosy and lovely that may well be true, but every now and then there’s something that makes you think.

It makes you feel lucky. As humans we can be strong and resistant but at the click of a winger, we can become fragile.

Football is just a part of life, and it’s a part that we all cherish so dearly. We see those who participate as heroes, and villains on occasions, so when they’re vulnerable we feel a sense of vulnerability ourselves. Heroes are perceived to be those who save people, whether they’re wearing a cape, a high-vis jacket or a firefighters’ uniform.

Footballers? They’re seen as overpaid monkeys running on a field doing nothing but kicking a ball. There’s an element of truth to that, but footballers are humans; no different to us.

Below are 5 incredible stories, and it’s these type of harrowing stories that open the eyes of many, many people.

 

Ståle Solbakken

Before being named new Wolves boss, Ståle Solbakken was the manager of 3 other teams but even before that, was a midfielder for 5 different clubs, including English side, Wimbledon. He was something of a goalscoring midfielder for his two clubs, HamKam and Lillestrom. In 2000 he signed for Danish club Copenhagen. And after just 14 games he had to cut his time there short.

In 2001, aged 33, Ståle suffered a heart-attack during training. Club doctor Frank Odgaard immediately rushed to Ståle’s side and without the proper equipment proceeded with a cardiac massage and artificial respiration until an Ambulance arrived. Solbakken was fine just minutes before, then in the blink of an eye he fell unconscious and was clinically dead.

No one knew if he’d survive or suffer subsequent brain damage, but thankfully he did and he now has a pacemaker fitted in.

It was due to a previously undetected heart defect that he suffered this. He was lucky to even have the option to announce retirement, let alone go on to manage his two previous sides, HamKam and Copenhagen, German side FC Köln and now currently, Wolverhampton Wanderers.

 

 

Éric Abidal

In March of last year Barcelona confirmed that left-back Abidal was diagnosed with a tumour in his liver, and he underwent surgery 2 days later. Details of this aren’t very well-known as the privacy he requested was respected, but after a win in the Champions League final versus Manchester United, Carlos Puyol, Barcelona’s Captain, offered Abidal the armband and allowed him to lift the trophy in front a packed Wembley Stadium.

A year after the initial announcement, it was announced that Éric would need a liver transplant because of unresolved problems with the previous operation. He underwent surgery and after being released from hopsital, doctors said that he could go on to play again, if he wished.

The reaction to this news was heartwarming. Fans from all over the world, despite club allegiances, wished him well and are all ecstatic that he will be able to play again.

 

Fabrice Muamba

Fabrice’s story is well-known. His unfortunate incident was worldwide news and it shocked everyone. Many have said that Fabrice was the fittest player in Bolton’s squad; always running with the most energy. What happened to him shows that feeling healthy should not be taken for granted.

During an FA Cup match against Tottenham, he was running from the penalty box when  all of a sudden he collapsed. Players, fans, pundits and social media all just stopped as he lay there lifeless. It was touch and go and he was technically dead for 78 minutes. His partner and son, his family, friends, the whole of football were on the brink of losing him.

Thankfully, he pulled through and although he has retired, he smiles every day and thanks the miraculous medical team and God for his survival.

His recovery brought tears to the eyes of the hardest people and his smile screams happiness, making everyone happy with him.

 

Salvador Cabañas

Salvador’s story is incredible. He was the poster boy of the Mexican domestic league and a key figure in Paraguay, hoping to lead his nation to the 2012 World Cup. He was a strong, technically gifted, natural finisher. But in 2010, during a row in a Mexican bar, drug lord Jose Balderas Garza shot Cabañas from close range in his head.

He was submitted to a craniotomy, but due to the risk involved the bullet stuck inside his head was not removed, and remains there to this day. His recovery was extraordinary. He left intensive care in February of the same year, and was hoping to be fit in time for the World Cup; he wasn’t included in the squad.

He has short-term memory loss and is still recovering, although just 16 months after the incident he played in a tribute match for him between his nation and club side.

He joined Paraguayan side, 12 de Octubre in 2012 and one header of the ball could kill him.

Yet he continues to play.

 

Piermario Morosini

Morosini’s story is the saddest and most traumatic I have read. Not only did suffer a heart-attack resulting in death, he had to deal with the death of his family. His mother died when he 15 years old, and his father dies just 2 years later, and that was followed by his disabled elderly brother leaving him with just his disabled elderly sister.

On the 14th April Piermario was playing for Livorno and in the 31st minute, he suffered a cardiac arrest, stumbling to the ground before losing consciousness. He was rushed to hospital in an attempt to save him but died before he could reach the destination. It was not long after Muamba’s incident so it was not only shocking, but worrying.

The sadness that surrounded left a mark on Italian football, and football around the world looked on in horror.

Football is always looked down upon by people who aren’t really into the sport. Even some fans hold a negative opinion of footballers, I do too, but one thing we cannot forget, is they’re all just regular people. Regardless of your opinion on the sport, there is nothing more important than health. It may sound stupid and obvious but as fans we do sometimes forget what we’re watching when we tune into a game.

Many footballers have overcome personal tragedies to succeed: Dortmund’s Polish midfielder, Jakub Błaszczykowski, was just 10-years old when he witnessed his father murder his mother. At any age that is a shocking thing to witness, let alone at 10. He’s gone on to become a footballer for the German champions and has captained his country. He overcame a shocking sight and one I imagine will be etched in his memory forever. And recently Aston Villa’s Stiliyan Petrov was diagnosed with acute leukaemia and is currently in remission.

Ajax’s Lorenzo Ebecilio suffered the death of his father in 2005, and several months afterwards he suffered a heart-attack and required a defibrillator to be surgically implanted. Since that day he has thankfully had no other heart concerns. Nwankwo Kanu also had heart surgery after a serious heart defect was found and his aortic valve was replaced.

Former Arsenal youngster, Sam Kanu, had to retire from football at a young age due to a knee injury. He set up a local club for young footballers coming from the streets and was employed as an entertainments officer for the London Mayor. And on his way to the shop, a journey he’d have done countless times, he was brutally attacked in a confirmed race related attack.

He suffered severe brain damage and required 24 hour care; wheelchair bound and without the use of his voice. It may have been after his career that the attack took place, but the fact remains: he was once a promising footballer, now he’s not even able to do the basics of life.

Sam Kanu…. Senselessly attacked.

I could go on and on. John Hartson, Andrés Escobar, Juan Carlos Silva to name 3 more are others that bring home the vulnerability of our existence, and perhaps in Escobar’s case the importance of football to some; the way the sport can be overvalued by the general public. We all love the sport and will do as long as it remains, but there’s more to life than the beautiful game. Footballers in the past have suffered many setbacks and some have revealed depression.

The general reaction epitomises the naive perception of the sport: they’re famous and have money, what do they have to be depressed about? It makes me mad that some people genuinely have that opinion. Feelings are natural and no amount of many can replace that- Gary Speed’s story is a poignant reminder.

Football to me is very important. It has lifted my spirits when I’ve been down and my beloved Arsenal have always been there to make me smile. However, the importance of football can not be equated to the importance of life.

So ask yourself: What is the importance of football? Can money and fame help them overcome these shocking tragedies, and many more that have not been mentioned? The psychological battle faced as a person and the successful fights against tragedy are nothing short of supreme human strength and courage.

Of course, normal civilians face these battles too, and I suppose that’s my point: they are just normal civilians with a talent participating in the most recognised sport in the world.

 

Written by Ryan Goodenough

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