FC United of Newton Heath

So, news broke this week that the site for FC United's own ground will be on Ten Acres Lane (pronounced Ten Acre Lane, I believe), Newton Heath. Back in Manchester, back in the district where it all began.

The emotion surrounding this is, of course, extremely high. It means so much to all involved at the club to be taking such an important step forward whilst, at the same time, taking a few steps back as well. The significance of taking root in Newton Heath is the final nod of where FC United came from in the first place - if the ties with MUFC do fade over time, then at least we will always have this one magnificent link with the past.

Of course, the hard work is still to be done. We need to raise around £250,000 ASAP to get things moving. With that in place we will be significantly closer to making this dream a reality.

There's so much more that could be said, but I'm still struggling to find the words. It's something beautiful, This Thing Of Ours, and we're all going home.

I'm just showing off now...

But I've won something! Well, I don't get a prize, but any of you lucky sods going to Salford RLFC's game against Celtic Crusaders on Friday will hear three tunes picked by my good self. Oh yes.

"This Friday also sees the first of our Playlist Winners. We’ve been asking our fans on Facebook to choose some of the music they’d like to hear pre-match and we asked you to come up with three local tunes to bring the team out.

This week’s winner is Michael Holdsworth with James – Sometimes, The Courteeners – Not Nineteen Forever and New Order – True Faith.

Michael’s playlist will get its airing before the game and half time.
Watch out for the Playlist competition ahead of the Bulls game on the 26th."

http://reds.originalreddevils.com/2010/02/10/super-league-party-dont-miss-it/

Fandabbydozy!

Harbinger

Well, updating this thing on a regular basis kinda went out of the window, didn't it? Ho hum. Although you have had some photo updates, if you've been paying attention.

So, the Glazer debt is finally in black and white and there for all to see, even if you've been burying your head in the sand for the past five years. It's a pity things have had to get this far for the majority to sit up and take notice, but better late than never and you won't get any self-righteousness or "I told you so" style posts from me. Solidarity is the order of the day (as shown by the flag below) and we all need to stick together on this one, with no more infighting. This may have been predicted in 2005 and we may now have people saying "oh, you were right after all" but now's the time for pointing fingers and being smug.

Which is why I'm all in favour of the green and gold campaign. The sight of people across OT and Manchester in general wearing green and gold/yellow (why are people nit-picking at what colour it should actually be, who cares?) should warm the heart of even the most hardened United fan from any side of the 'divide'. Whilst boycotting season tickets is the only real solution to hurt the Glazers where it counts and drive them out, this is, at least, a start. Something for people to galvanise and get behind. A way for everyone in the ground to show their distaste for the current ownership and see that they aren't really on their own.

There's been plenty of green and gold on display at FC United's past couple of matches as well, which really does warm the cockles of my heart. One in the eye for the "you're not real United fans" bridgade, although I believe plenty are still sniping. FCUM, as they say. Two Uniteds, one soul, one aim. Glazer out.

A brief mention, too, of the Test Series in South Africa (is it really that long since I wrote something?!) Whilst it was disappointing to lose the last game, if someone had said beforehand we'd win the one day series and draw the Test series, I'd have bitten their hand off. Marvellous stuff, although it does seem to still be papering over some cracks. Bring on the Bangladeshis!






The image above is Copyright Michael Regan/Getty Images. I know it was naughty of me to use it, but I'm skint and I'm hardly profiting from it, am I?

Nantwich Town

Apparently there was a game on yesterday... Somewhere.

Durham City

Durham in the sun... And snow.

Snow, snow, snow...

Snow, snow, snow..., originally uploaded by MichaelGT.

We were only saying the other day, after I'd been out in a five minute blizzard, that we don't get snow like we used to around here anymore. You get five minutes of strong snow that sticks and then... Well, it stops snowing and before you know it everything's gone.

Hmm. So much for that idea. No one in our street is going to work today as you can't get out of the driveway. Good on one hand, shite on the other. Oh well.

At least it was nice and sunny in South Africa as England managed to scrape a draw in the first test. I'll do a full, proper post on that later, but for now, let me just say that things don't look that bad if a) Bell finds some form b) Bell gets told to go home or c) Pietersen realises he's not the big "I am" and pays attention to his team mates. Kevin, if you're reading this (yeah, right), the non-striker makes the calls about running. Not you after you've just played the shot. If he shouts no, stay there, don't be a dick and get yourself out. I'm just glad Trott got his bat down.

Full marks to Colly once again for an heroic performance.

Right, I'm off for some pavement skating, if I don't post before (and I probably won't) then have a good Christmas everyone. Eat, drink and get rat-arsed.

Happy Lancashire Day to you all

A brief post this time (just to let you know I'm still alive...) to celebrate Lancashire Day.

TO: THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND COUNTY PALATINE OF LANCASTER


GREETINGS!


Know ye that this day, November 27th in the year of our Lord Two Thousand and nine, the 58th year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Duke of Lancaster, is Lancashire Day.

Know ye also, and rejoice, that by virtue of Her Majesty's County Palatine of Lancaster, the citizens of the Hundreds of Lonsdale, North and South of the Sands, Amounderness, Leyland, Blackburn, Salford and West Derby are forever entitled to style themselves Lancastrians.

Throughout the County Palatine, from the Furness Fells to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines, this day shall ever mark the peoples' pleasure in that excellent distinction - true Lancastrians, proud of the Red Rose and loyal to our Sovereign Duke.



GOD BLESS LANCASHIRE AND

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN,

DUKE OF LANCASTER.

As I've said before, I'm not the Queen's biggest fan, nor the biggest fan of the Royal Family in general, but that's not the point. The point is that today is a day to celebrate this wonderful County and it's people, it's culture, it's history and it's landmarks. A true land of beauty stretching from the River Duddon to the River Mersey, from the Irish Sea to the Pennines. Don't believe what many tell you about the County now being smaller - Cumbria (parts of), Cheshire (parts of), Merseyside and Greater Manchester were all created as administration areas, nothing more. It's about time people realised that.

Still, many do and it's a day to wear your Red Rose with pride. Squeeze in a pint of Wainwright if you can, as well! And I'll leave you all with the following 'tale'...

An American decided to write a book about famous churches around the world. So he bought a plane ticket and took a trip to Orlando, thinking that he would start by working his way across the USA from South to North. On his first day he was inside a church taking photographs when he
noticed a golden telephone mounted on the wall with a sign that read "$10,000 per call".

The American, being intrigued, asked a priest who was strolling by what the telephone was used for. The priest replied that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 you could talk to God.

The American thanked the priest and went along his way.

His next stop was in Atlanta. There, at a very large cathedral, he saw the same golden telephone with the same sign under it. He wondered if this was the same kind of telephone he saw in Orlando and he asked a nearby nun what its purpose was. She told him that it was a direct line to heaven and that for $10,000 he could talk to God.

"O.K., thank you," said the American.

He then travelled to Indianapolis, Washington DC, Philadelphia,Boston and New York. In every church he saw the same golden telephone with the same "$10,000 per call" sign under it.

The American, upon leaving Vermont decided to travel to England to see if they had the same phone. He arrived in Lancashire, and again, in the first church he entered, there was the same golden telephone, but this time the sign under it read "40pence per call."

The American was surprised so he asked the priest about the sign.

"Father, I've travelled all over America and I've seen this same golden telephone in many churches. I'm told that it is a direct line to Heaven, but in the US the price was $10,000 per call. Why is it so cheap here?"

The priest smiled and answered, "You're in Lancashire now, son - it's a local call".