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.jpg "James Cowen gallery")
Then & NowDATE: 18 February 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
Following on from earlier replies 13 to 16 and 29 I wonder again if any readers may be tempted to write about skiing, snowboarding etc. or in regard to the TV programme The Jump. I notice in the current series (Series 4) there have been just two withdrawals from injuries in preparations prior to competing in the actual competition compared to seven withdrawals in the last (Third) Series and four withdrawals in the first series. Amazingly there were no withdrawals in the second series. I hope this means more care taken with the competitors as against the earlier fears of Eddie the Eagle and many others. I note in the first round this year Josie Gibson, the Big brother winner, was not confident enough to do the Jump itself when confronted with the slope in the competitive jump off. She said it was so much more frightening than what she saw previously on TV, suggesting probably no prior preparation. I like Davina McCall, the programme host, would not like to take part in such a competition, despite doing downhill and slalom races in past days. I started skiing later in life compared with those in the QE skiing parties of old and regret, looking back, that I was not one of their number.
Then & NowDATE: 22 February 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
I see from the latest edition of The Jump that Emma Parker-Bowles was banned from the competitive skeleton race by a safety official after a horrifying practice run down. She was not, however, eliminated from the competition, as she completed the Jump successfully and Robbie Fowler, the ex Liverpool and England footballer, is out after crashing spectacularly on his jump attempt. He says he has enjoyed the whole Jump experience. I would however echo the words of Davina McCall in the Sun TV Magazine The Big Interview: "I take my hat off to anybody who does this show as it takes guts." My wife and I would regard some of our ski runs as daring for us but no way would we ever go down a skeleton run, especially after very little instruction. Nevertheless the show continues to bring surprises in the competition. I enjoyed watching the latest edition shown of Through The Keyhole on TV. One of the homes visited was that of Melinda Messenger, who appeared on the first series of The Jump. She was one of those withdrawn from the programme after being concussed. She had never skied before going on the programme and a lovely sequence was shown of Melinda tearing down a slope and not being able to stop in a proper manner falling over and crashing into a net and loads of other items. She certainly benefited from the programme, as she is now in a relationship with her ski trainer Warren Smith.
DATE: 24 February 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: 1957 entrant
OK James [see Thread 16, reply 20]. Having been born in Hackney, I am a life-long Spurs fan. Greavesie came to us from Italy and was a phenomenon. He scored a hat-trick on his debut against Blackpool. In the late 60's, however, the then manager Bill Nicholson considered him past his best and he couldn't retain his first team place and was eventually sold to West Ham. He was seriously depressed about this and it was during this time that his drinking got out of control and his dependency on alcohol developed. Barnet took him - even an unfit Greaves was as good as other players at that level - but he lost everything, home, money, wife, etc. Happily, however, he fought his demons, dried out, began a new chapter as a TV presenter and got his life together again. Sadly, last year he suffered a massive stroke and is now bed-bound. Spurs have supported him and his family during this time. To me (and countless others) he will always be one of the greatest!
DATE: 25 February 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: 1957 entrant
Footnote to my reply 43 above: Having just checked Greavesie's autobiography I confirm he played for Barnet for a couple of years around 1977, scoring 25 goals. He says he has happy memories of the period and reading between the lines it looks like it was the beginning of his recovery from drink dependency.
Then & NowDATE: 02 March 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
Further to my entry on Thread 16 [reply 20] and your replies put here, Brian, I have looked on Wikipedia and if correct Bradley Walsh was a professional player for Brentford FC playing for the reserves but was on loan to Barnet FC for the 1978 - 79 season, where he made 5 league appearances. Jimmy Greaves made a debut for Barnet in August 1977 and netted 25 goals for Barnet in the 1977-8 season, being player of the season. He apparently left the Bees early in the 1978-79 season, and perhaps that year BW and JG played a little together. Did any OEs witness these games, I wonder? As for JG's relationship with Spurs after he was sold on to West Ham the attitude on JG's part seems to continue to be acrimonious and JG has apparently never been to White Hart Lane since. Recently I have had some indirect relationship with Spurs. One of my friends, Jane McKean was married to Jim McKean, who has recently died. He was disabled and in a wheelchair. He was a keen Spurs supporter and the entrance music in his funeral service was "Glory Glory Tottenham Hotspur" and there is a photo of him outside White Hart Lane with his two grandsons. A rep from Spurs also came and we conversed.
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Then & NowDATE: 05 March 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Inmate 1956-63
Ah Brentford! My local team 'The Bees'. Putting Bradley Walsh to one side you might be interested to learn that Billy 'Wakey Wakey' Cotton also signed amateur papers with the team in the early 1920's. After his trial match against QPR in which he scored the only goal the local newspaper reported: " For Brentford a new-comer, W Cotton, knows the value of first time shooting." A few weeks later and to the fury of the Brentford manager Billy Cotton transferred to another amateur team Wimbledon FC who were playing at Plough Lane. This ends everything that I know about football!
Then & NowDATE: 07 March 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
Well I hope those with ball game dyslexia, as in the 37th reply, will forgive me for adding a further posting to this thread. In regard to football Southampton has lost the League Cup Final to Man U 3-2, the same score they lost in 1979, the only other time they were in the Final, to Nottingham Forest, in the days when NF and also Aston Villa were winning this trophy and other trophies also. To [mis]quote another: "To lose once is unfortunate. To lose twice and by the same score seems like carelessness." However I would repeat my comment of the 32nd reply: Isn't it about time football caught up with rugby and cricket and used modern technology for decisions besides the goal line technology? The new player for Southampton had his first goal ruled offside, when it was not, depriving him of a hat trick given his other two allowed goals and possibly making a 3-3 score being taken to extra time and possibly beyond. In regard to rugby I was pleased my wife and I went up to watch the 10th Dashwood Cup between my old college rugby side and the Old Boys the other weekend. Thankfully I did not have to explain the rugby rules decisions, as my wife spent the whole match on the touchline speaking with Mrs Dashwood, the wife of the law professor after whom the tournament is named. I expect Mrs Dashwood was pleased to have someone to talk to besides her husband, who was absorbed in watching the match play, as I was on this cold day. Apparently the college has only won once in the 10 years and they did not win this time. I did feel sympathetic to the college, as they had few reserves, whilst the Old Boys had such a number they could have played 2 teams. No doubt this probably differs from the Old Boys v the School cricket match on Founders Day. As to to knowing the rules of rugby, I was intrigued to see the confusion caused in the Six Nations international match between England and Italy. The tactic of Italy avoiding rucks so they could play anywhere and not be offside was a novel approach for an international, though employed before in club rugby. Some English players needed to ask the referee what exactly were the rules in regard to rucks and the referee said "It is my job to referee. You need to consult your coach how to play" or words to that effect. No wonder mere spectators need help with the rules. The English coach, the Australian born Ed Jones, said after the match that he did not believe it was rugby and spectators should ask for their money back. I doubt if Italy will try it again and of course the English side adjusted themselves to the tactics and won comfortably in the second half.
Then & NowDATE: 10 March 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
I liked the photo of Billy Cotton shouting "Wakey! Wakey!", on Sunday mornings, Vic [reply 46]. It took me back to those days in the '50s and '60s along with thoughts of other shows such as Life with the Lyons, Educating Archie, Meet the Huggetts and the shows with Ken Platt and Jimmy Clithero. My wife Ayleen said that, as soon as this loud cry was made and heard, her Dad used to shoot across the room to turn the radio off. Both Ayleen and I have been known to shout "Wakey! Wakey!" to one another and to our children when any lie in bed and do not get up when necessary to do so. All take it in good part as a family tradition and are not really annoyed by it anymore. However I digress here from the subject of football and sport generally, so returning to the other content of the 46th reply this does show, Martyn, very good historical knowledge on the subject of football and thanks to you for supplying this interesting information. I will now look at Billy Cotton with greater enjoyment.
Then & NowDATE: 14 March 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
As you are an Arsenal supporter, Nick [reply 35], my sympathies go to you in regard to Arsenal's defeat in the Champions League at the same stage as in previous seasons. My commiserations also go to the Manager with his comments about the refereeing of the second leg at home. I would again reiterate my comments about the need for more help needed to the referees and assistant referees from match recordings for the avoidance of blatant errors in line with other sports. However I do agree with the TV review comments of Roy Keane that the players may say they support their manager and want him to continue for another season but they need to show more determination on the pitch, actions to match the words. What a contrast was the fighting spirit of Barcelona against PSG after being down 4-0 from the first leg and what a great tie that second leg was. Similar thoughts about the players' words and actions may be made with Chelsea since the special one went to Man U and with Leicester City FC since the sacking of Claudio Ranieri. I think both Arsene Wenger and Claudio Ranieri deserve football stands named after them, for what they achieved with the players they have had.
.JPG "Nick Dean gallery")
DATE: 16 March 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 1964-71
I was at the Emirates for both the Bayern match and the FA Cup 6th round v Lincoln City. Quite unusual to have five goals scored against you in one game and then score five yourselves in the next one; and 11 goals in two matches makes quite a change. I'm not really a Wexit man myself. Most clubs don't get to the KO stage of the Champions League in the first place, and, despite a poor patch recently, we're still up there or thereabouts in the Premier League. And there's the FA Cup, with probably the best available draw for the semi-final, after the remarkable achievement of drawing non-league sides in both the 5th and 6th rounds. Accentuate the positive!
Then & NowDATE: 25 March 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
As regards soccer in connection with the Champions League of course Arsenal were not the only English club with players showing poor performance. Manchester City players squandered their 1st leg league against Monaco by their poor performance and this was reinforced by Pep Guardiola raging on the touchline. Following that defeat, Pep Guardiola seemed very pleased with the 1-1 draw by his players against Liverpool in the Premier League, despite some missed chances by 2 of his players. He said they had recovered well from the humiliation in Monaco. And remember, these comments should be taken along with his not losing at this stage before with his earlier clubs. I liked the comments of Jurgen Klopp, the Liverpool manager. He said Pep is Spanish and gets more emotional than we Germans.
Then & NowDATE: 25 March 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
I find it interesting that in the Daily Mail we do not just have the usual football reporters, including current and ex players, but also have an opinion on the referees' decisions by Graham Poll, one of the Premier League's well known referees. In regard to the recent Spurs v Southampton match he thought that if it was right to give a penalty to Spurs for Dele Ali tripping over a Southampton player's leg, then a similar event by a Spurs player later in the match also deserved a penalty. He lamented the lack of consistency in the officials' decisions, as is so often the case. Southampton lost 2-1 and I know Spurs like to have the three points in chasing after Chelsea but Southampton could well have done with the one point if a goal had been scored from that penalty. That's another whinge over by me except for, leaving partisan opinions aside, let us hope in future referees get more help either from other officials or from resorting to technological help, though to some extent rugby officials can sometimes be inconsistent in their decisions also.
Then & NowDATE: 03 April 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
In regard to the recent Six Nations rugby I enjoyed watching the France v Wales match, when France came through at the end of 100 minutes to get the try and conversion to win the match. I was able to see Prince William of Wales and Kate watching the match and in line with my not having to explain the rules of rugby to my wife in Cambridge I wonder if William was able to convince Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, adequately why the match went beyond the usual allotted time of 80 minutes to 100, how a player sent off to the sin bin was able to return and how a French player could come on in the last minutes to replace another with an alleged head injury from an earlier bash. Certainly this was a very unusual game.
Then & NowDATE: 08 April 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
Further to my reply 45 I see from my copy of a recent Daily Mail that Jimmy Greaves has made a nostalgic visit to White Hart Lane for a last look before the stadium that saw his best days faces demolition. The 77 year old ex-footballer, who scored 266 of his record 366 club goals for Spurs was pictured there with his family as he continues his recovery from that life- threatening stroke of 2015, mentioned in another reply. The pictures may be viewed on the Daily Mail website. Whether he is entirely reconciled with his old club I do not know.
Then & NowDATE: 11 April 2017
CONNECTION WITH QE: Pupil 56-63
I enjoyed watching on TV this week the ITV sports/comedy game show Play to the whistle. Shown on it as one of the clips was one where Saint and Greavsie (Scotsman Ian St John and Englishman Jimmy Greaves) appeared together with a much younger Donald Trump. The ex-soccer playing duo were apparently visiting the USA in the 1991-92 season to see how the country was preparing for the 1994 FIFA world cup. Whilst there Jimmy and Donald did the Rumbelows Cup draw for the quarter final of the competition. It was a pleasure to view it all. The Saint and Greavsie show appeared from 1989 to 1992 but ended when Sky obtained the soccer contract. The duo also appeared in an FA Cup Final special in 2009.