non League Saturday
With no Premiership or Championship fixtures at the weekend, I went along to watch my local non league club, Kingstonian FC, play on Saturday afternoon.
Kingstonian play in the Isthmian League which is a regional league below the Conference (sponsored by Ryman so also known as the Ryman League) and were hosting Margate.
It was great to be able to saunter round to the half way line and watch the match from behind the dugouts. It was great to hear the coaches urging their players on and engaging in gentle banter with the match officials - 'Here Lino - that [offside] had to be bloody close !' It was refreshing to be able to walk into the bar and get a drink at half-time.
Unfortunately, the football served up in the first half was rather nondescript with Margate having the bulk of possession but creating relatively few chances.
After the break, Kingstonian offered a little more threat, particularly down the left side through full back Tom Bird and midfielder Dean Lodge and Margate were thwarted by a couple of great saves from Rob Tolfrey in the Kingston goal.
Against the run of play but to the delight of the assembled 400 home spectators, Kingstonian nicked a goal and 3 points with a well taken goal from Lodge after 84 minutes. Kingstonian are now joint top of the Ryman League, trailing local rivals Sutton United on goal difference.
Deutschland - eine Entschuldigung
The British media may have given the impression in recent weeks that we considered the German national tootball team to be a rather workmanlike, efficient, collection of young talent coupled with experienced internationals but lacking in imagination and devoid of much creative talent.
Some less respected elements of the British media may have given the impression that England's recent, comprehensive 4-1 defeat by Germany was somehow a freak result that was purely the result of a refereeing error that denied England an equaliser.
However, after Germany's dismantling of Argentina and yet another comprehensive 4-0 thrashing of Diego Maradona's team packed full of world class striking talent, we are pleased to correct our previous error and apologise for any offence caused.
We now acknowledge that Germany are the best footballing nation in the World, rivalling the wonderful Brazil size of 1970.
We would like to issue a heartfelf apology to Bastian Schweinsteiger for all those silly jokes we made about the translation of his name ('Pig Porker').
We would like to retract fully the 'Typical Germans' comment made by a certain Sir Alex Ferguson of Stretford, near Manchester after Bayern Munich had eliminated Manchester United from the Champions League.
We would also like to offer a fulsome 100% apology to Miroslav Klose who has now equalled the number of goals scored in World Cup tournaments by Gerd Muller. We withdraw fully the thinly veiled, insane accusation that Emile Heskey would somehow produce more goals during this tournament.
We also would like to clarify the endless piss taking about the oh so stylish blue polo neck shirts sported by the German manager, Joachim Loew. The blue polo neck sweater is a stylish fashion statement and reflects the smart, modern but casual manner of the way Germany plays the beautiful game. Contrast this with Fabio Capello's featureless, dour, stiff grey suit.
Die deutsche Fußballnationalmannschaft - World Cup semi-finalists yet again. We salute you !
But we still hate Michael Ballack.
Wayne Rooney's World Cup diary
Tuesday 1 June
Mr. Capello announces the final squad of 23 players for the World Cup. There was the odd surprise and some devastated players as we say a tearful farewell to Huddza, Johnno, the Scott-Meister, Les (Dawson), Dazza The Bender, Walcottza and the quiet one (I think his name was Leighton Baines).
Saturday 5 June
Rio and Heskey have a argument over Wii Tennis that carries over into a training match. After winning a defensive header, Rio tells Heskey 'Dunno why you're still here. I've scored more international goals than you.' Heskey retaliates by sliding in by the corner flag and sitting on Rio's left knee.
Sunday 6 June
Rio has done medial ligaments and Mr. Capello is very cross. He had put his name down for the Wii Tennis tournament and no-one told him when he was on. Mr. Baldini reads the riot act and Rio goes to hospital.
Mr. Ferguson rings me and is screaming so loud I have to hold the receiver away from my sunburnt ear. He wants me to get Emile Heskey to sit on me so I can miss the World Cup and get sent home to Manchester.
Monday 7 June
Crisis meeting mainly for the defenders but we all have to go which is a shame as I was beating Joe Hart 79-71 in a Noughts and Crosses marathon session in the hotel lobby.A young fair haired lad called Dawson turns up. No-one really knows who is he or why he's here. I think he might be an undercover reporter or Joe Cole's agent. Anyway, Mr. Baldini says he is replacing Rio in the Wii Tennis tournament.
Mr. Capello wants to sort out the communication between the back four and the rest of the team. Rio used to call me 'Wazza', JT 'Tezza', Stevie G 'Gezza' etc so it was all quite easy. However, the young fair haired lad can't learn all these nicknames in time. Mr. Capello wants us to use 'Senor Rooney' but this takes too long. Baldini suggests shortening this to 'Rooney' which wins 20-5 in a vote.
After 37 minutes, plunged in silent, deep thought, Sean Wright-Phillips says something: "What about Joe Cole and Ashley Cole ? They will now both be called 'Cole'."
Mr. Capello is annoyed at this interruption as dinner is nearly ready and he asked for his favourite - Spaghetti Hoops - tonight so he quickly ends the discussion: 'Right - Ashley will be '55 grand' and Senor Cole will be 'Cole'.
Gareth Barry says that 'Cole' sounds a little but like 'Goal' but Mr. Baldini says that won't be a problem.
Tuesday 8 June
Papers giving me a lot of stick for reckless challenges, getting booked and telling a referee to 'Feck Off' in a friendly against John Terry's All Gold Platinum All Stars. I am summoned to a meeting with Mr. Capello and the new captain Steve Gerrard. David Beckham is also present - his main role was to coach Theo - but now he just has to check no-one is wearing flip-flops and keep Rio's spirits up.
Have a chat with Steve Gerrard and Jamie Carragher by the pool. They are a little hard to understand (even for me) but they are in high spirits. Steve reckons we can go all the way and win it this time. He keeps saying 'Listen, eh - la. Good things come in threes. Rio's injury gave me the captaincy. Rafa was sacked by Liverpool so this must mean we are going to win it and Stevie Me will lift the World Cup, instantly treble my value and get my dream move to Chelsea, sorry Real Madrid.
Happy Anniversary
This year's Carling Cup Final between Aston Villa and Manchester United will take place at Wembley on Sunday 28th February 2010.Curiously, this date marks the exact 34th anniversary, to the very day, of Manchester City's last trophy.
After United defeated Millwall 3-0 in the 2004 FA Cup Final, all the United players changed into shirts numbered '36' in a tribute to the young player, Jimmy Davis, who had recently died in a car accident.
Today I have written to the club to see whether United could do something similar to mark the anniversary of Dennis Tueart's spectacular overhead kick that beat Newcastle in the 1976 League Cup Final. My proposal is for United to sport shirts sporting a MASSIVE '34' while Dennis Tueart could be the club mascot for the day, wearing a pale blue and white retro scarf.
34 years
'When we go to Old Trafford, we will take that banner down. This is the last year it will be displayed because we will win.'
Roberto Mancini - 6 January 2010
