As a child growing up in the 1970’s, my aspirations for adulthood were to mirror my then hero Allan Clarke. A fledgling dream to lead Leeds United’s (LUFC) strike force to domestic and European honours, like Clarke, clad in Puma football boots and gleaming number 8 sock tags. Unfortunately, they were existential desires that were never fulfilled. As the aging process took it’s natural course, I learned you need more […]
There’s few things that rankle with a Yorkshireman more than defeat by sports teams representing the House of Lancaster. Witnessing Lancastrian ‘troops’ returning west over the Pennine Hills with a battle victory lodges in their trachea like a carelessly swallowed wish bone. Yesterday evening was a perfect example of this disenchantment by players and supporters of the white rose county’s cricket team. Despair manifesting from the sight of seeing Lancashire […]
Summer evenings don’t get much better than a tea of fish and chips from St Michael’s Fisheries, then a short meander down the road to the Emerald Headingley Stadium to witness a t20 Blast cricket match. A scene that, in the company of my son Jonny, came to pass yesterday afternoon. In my book, a belly full of fish and nerks (as my dad had a tendency to call them), […]
I was amongst the crowd at Emerald Headingley Stadium yesterday evening. Along with the other spectators, my mission, should I choose to accept it (which I did), was to witness the safe return of two T20 blast points by the Yorkshire Vikings cricket team. Barring the Tykes path a dangerous nemesis who’d ventured north to the stadium, once graced by the likes of Verity, Wardle, Hutton, Illingworth, Boycott, Close and […]
I was saddened yesterday to read of ex-Leeds United utility man Paul Madeley’s death at the age of 73. A consummate professional footballer, Madeley displayed career long loyalty to the team who played a few hundred yards from his childhood home. For eighteen years, a class act on and off field, representing both club and country with distinction, loyalty and skill, earning him manager Don Revie’s laudation of displaying the […]
As I commence this offering, I’m sitting in what’s classed as the Popular Enclosure at Emerald Headingley cricket stadium. In the absence of my laptop, I’m typing this narrative on my mobile phone – An onerous task but not as difficult as, say, writing this with a leadless pencil, or Cheesestrings***. *** – Other processed cheese snacks are available – Be aware, though, they’re equally inept for use as a writing […]
Sunday 27th May – One of the first televised football matches I recollect from childhood occurred on Saturday 11th April 1970 – The showpiece FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Leeds United. Unlike it’s contemporary version, an era when claiming the premier cup competition in England was more aspirational to the games big-hitters. From memory it was a game dominated by Leeds United, with fleet of foot winger Eddie Gray […]
