26/04/2009 by Russell.

All to play for and all to lose, will United be the bride or the bridesmaid over the next month?

Penalty! some are given others not, united had a stonewall penalty agaist Everton - I was there at Wembley sitting over 60 yards away and of course in the red end, we screamed penalty only to denied by Old Mother Riley, yesterday we all repeated ourselves in the East Stand - penalty - and this time it look conclusive until apparently tv replays from ‘n’ angles disproved.  We saw it at the same speed as the ref, our concern was whether Gomes would be sent off.  Thank goodness he wasn’t otherwise there would be more hot air wasted over the penalty. i.e. video replays for refereees etc. One week you get a pen the next you don’t, as they all claim it evens itself out over 8 moths.  yesterday was United’s evening out.  Penalty - Ronaldo - goal.. nuff said.

United win 5-2 and it is about time they played like Champions, they have been searching for performances like this for 15 home games.   Now can they sustain it for at least 7 more games?

Off to OT for the Champions League Semi on Weds versus Arsenal, hopefully it will be as nerve wracking and exciting as Saturday versus Spurs.

Can they do it? yes! will they do it? yes! will it be close? yes! will I have egg on my face? yes! - thats the unpredictability of sport.

Last U14 boys get together on Saturday 2nd May - player of the year awards ceremony, who will win? wait until Sunday.

Then theatre to see ‘An Inspector Calls’ with Emily and probably to Derbyshire for hedge trimming etc.

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/picturegalleries/5220449/Premier-League-action.html

Posted in Ronaldo, Man Utd, chesham strides, Emily | No Comments »

15/04/2009 by Russell.

What a great service, very touching for those who remember the tragic events of the day 20 years ago.

I particularly enjoyed listening to Mr Hicks, who lost two daughters that day, the words he found to say were very challenging to football supporters and yet uplifting, it is individuals such as he who continued to fight for justice. I also remember the documentaries at the time and he (Hicks) was clearly central to seeking justice.

At the service he even read out a concluding statement from Lord Justice Taylor’s report and it was as damning then, as it is today. Hicks challenged football supporters to never forget it was becasue of standing at football matches that 96 people died, not because of seated stadia. He implored people to use the seats for sitting on. At Old Trafford, there are occasions where we all stand for the duration of a game, forgetting that we should be seated, and he is right.  Sit down for safety.

I remember the day quite well -coming in from a match at Chesterfield, and hearing about the events up the road at a ground I had played on.

I do remember my immediate thoughts that the Police would have had some involvement, they still are (see recent G20 protests in London for recent evidence) and were awful at crowd control even in those days.  Wherever you went in those days (1970’s & 80’s), the Police were uncomfortable with crowd management. It was always football supporters who were to blame. It could never be anyone elses fault. Thus a blameless society was born, no-one will take responsibility for their actions anymore. Will Blair ever own up about WMD? doubt it.

More can be read at the Hillsborough Support group web-site, not for the faint hearted:
Hillsborough Support group website

No football fan should die because of going to a match, and yet they still do, and will continue to do so, even as recent as 30th March 2009 at a World Cup Qualifier in the Ivory coast (Didier Drogba’s country), 19 people died.

What will happen in South Africa in 2010….

Posted in Liverpool, Hillsborough, Football | No Comments »

12/04/2009 by Russell.

Is your daughter’s hair worth £87? ask Emily.  I was expecting say £50 tops, but 2hrs later my pockets were much lighter. The salon is Keith Hall in Chesterfield, smart job done, and she’s happy.

Here she is with Greg:

Posted in Chesterfield, Emily, Greg, Uncategorised | No Comments »

12/04/2009 by Russell.

Me with Bronze Statue December 1999 in the World Trade Center Gardens

Then this happens - 9/11 - and he is shaken but not harmed:here we are re-united March 2009, 10 years later…

Posted in Nick, New york | No Comments »

08/04/2009 by Russell.

Here are some snapshots.

The pic of me with my bronze man is a survisor of 9/11….more on this to follow.

Berlin was t-shirt weather, but the evenings cool.  I found the museum of the resistance to the Third Reich in a small museum.  It was very detailed of how the German population really objected to Hitler and his cronies, one notable name amongst 20th century leaders was a young Wily Brandt.  He conducted his campaign from Norway of all places against Hitler.  There was of  course Von Staffenbergs attempt to assassinate Hitler with a bomb (a recent fim documents this event starring Tom Cruise) Von Staffenberg’s office was here aliong with the courtyard where he was shot.  Over 600 people were arrested in response to the assassination attempt. Tragic.  It was a free museum with narrative, beat that British Museum!

Tired now.

my boys lost the final game of the season 7-2, heads were down after a long seaason, but we probably scored our goal of the season, a determined run and cross by Louis and Ben hit it on the volley over his shoulder, great goal, pulling us back to 2-2, then in a blink it was 3-2, downhill from there…

Off to OT tonight for the Champions League versus Porto, c’mon United.

Posted in Berlin, New york, Louis, ben Standish, Uncategorised | No Comments »