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Jan 12

Darlington
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Dead as a Darlo?

Variation on the ‘dodo’ theme, but let’s hope extinction isn’t just around the corner.

Whilst, one club, Weymouth, gets a firmer footing and will revert back to full-time status after a torrid time, poor Darlington lurch from crisis to crisis.  I have feared the same fortunes for my beloved County.

Darlington could cease to trade this week, unless a new owner is forthcoming, according to administrator, Harvey Madden.  White knights are not as prevalent these days!  Darlo are in administration now for the third time in recent years.  The Administrator comments: “Things are still dire. We have not had any definite interest. We have seen a hell of a lot of people interested in the last week. No one has taken it a step further and quite a few have withdrawn. Without money, the club will not survive. I will have to make decisions by the end of the week and assess it.” Deja vu – Stockport County?

Jan 3

GA

R.I.P GA

Saddened to learn of the premature death of former Stockport County Manager, Gary Ablett, at the youthful age of 46. Personally don’t think he had anything other than a ‘poisoned chalice’ at County – in that period of decline, demise and whilst penniless at the Club.  On all accounts a nice fellow who deserved better and a longer life.  He passed away after a 16-month fight with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

Dec 26

Mardinspor

World Language

It’s an old adage but “football is a world language”.  How often have I referred to this, with a comment on football being just the ice-breaker to remove any barriers in conversations or warm up a new acquaintance in commerce.   I recall my times in Aarhus and Copenhagen (Denmark) when amongst MDs I discovered the ‘Wembley Club’.  My own book has this as a recurring theme.

My last encounter was the Owner/Designer at Loka jewellery.  On learning that I was married to a Turk, support Kocaelispor in Turkey (obviously to a lesser degree than County!) and had bought my Son, a cim bom shirt for Christmas – he emphasised that even Barcelona would be defeated by his home team in Mardin.  The explanation that followed suggested such a slope on their home pitch (Mardinspor) and on the edge of a ‘mountain’ that the fear and vertigo would undermine even the best team.  Must look into this Ground in more detail – but a nice story anyway.

Dec 15

Stuff Turkey

Stuff Turkey

A festive anecdote – though associated this time with a less joyous occasion.  I had to ‘bite my lip’ today, when listening to a talkSPORT phone-in on the radio.  It surrounded the events last night, when Besiktas defeated Stoke City in Istanbul. 

An over reaction and inappropriate characterisation of all Turks as hooligans was apparent, by supporters claiming to be knowledgeable, and others fuelled by media coverage and/or here say.  Was it racist that items were hurled onto the pitch around certain players?  Or was it merely that these players were in proximity of the opposition’s fans when celebrating – thus enticement?  My experiences are that racism is not prevalent and indeed certain players like Amokachi and Nouma have been worshipped.  The one thing I will say is though, that such activities, which can be construed as hooliganism – are more easily witnessed through the divisions by the respective Turkish followers than their English counterparts.  Once again, Turkey has to get its footballing house in order.  But what can we expect when one of its leading football clubs still encourages merchandise welcoming teams to ‘hell’!

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