In the media

"I heard the on-air resignation of Dave Lee Travis in 1993, I had Radio 4 on in my kitchen when their presenters got Jeremy Hunt‘s surname wrong. Twice. They were gorgeous moments of aural splendour, but they were nothing compared to the breathless, runaway train crash that was Richard Keys defending himself on TalkSport. It takes two grown men the better part of a day to dig a grave. Keys managed it in less than an hour."

Blogger Ian MacIntosh's view on the demise of Andy Gray and Richard Keys. At least until they join ESPN anyways. Read more here.

Photograph of the week

"Cor look at that bit of skirt Keysy?"
"Ooh I'd love to rub my hairy chest onto hers wouldn't you Andy."

Couple of dinosaurs.

Old football kits

Wimbledon 1986 - 1988
Made by Spall
Worn by Vinne Jones, Lawrie Sanchez, Dennis Wise and John Fashanu
A crazy gang special, now reborn as AFC Wimbledon. Wearing this shirt the Dons famously won the FA Cup beating Liverpool at Wembley thanks to a 37th minute Lawrie Sanchez header and a Dave Beasant penalty save from John Aldridge.

In the media

After the Andy Gray and Richard Keys debacle, this is what The Guardian's Paul Hayward had to see:

"As the temperature rose after Sunday's expose it was left to his sister to come on the airwaves and say, in effect, that Keys is not sexist and that some of his best friends are women. He even has some in his family."

"Television does this to people. It raises them to a plane of imagined grandeur. What has this to do with the pair insulting Sian Massey, the assistant referee at the Wolves-Liverpool match"

The full article is here.

Old football kits

Aston Villa 1982/83
Made by Le Coq Sportif
Worn by Andy Gray, Peter Withe, Gary Shaw and Dennis Mortimer
Includes 'Champions of Europe' detail under badge marking the club's famous 1982 European Cup Final triumph over Bayern Munich.

Week 22 review

Another big set of games in week 22.

Firstly in the Premier League, two from Mwaruwari helped Blackburn beat Liverpool, this turned out to be Woy's final game. Bardsley got Sunderland's winner over much bigger club Villa. That was Bardsley's first goal for about 27 years, so good luck if you have him in your team. City and Arsenal drew 0-0, Bolton and Wogan drew 1-1, Everton beat Spurs 2-1 in an entertaining game at Goodison, Wolves beat Chelsea as they continued their woes and West Ham fell on their faces as they got spanked 5-0 by Newcastle.

Remember FA Cup points count. So in the 3rd Round of the FA Cup, the Premier teams were involved as follows:

Arsenal were held 1-1 by Leeds, Blackburn beat QPR 1-0, Bolton got two late goals to overcome non-league York, Wolves drew 2-2 at Championship Doncaster, Kamara banged a hat trick for Fulham as they beat Peterborough, Wigan had a good 3-2 win at Hull and WBA lost 1-0 at Reading.

Saha, Beckford, Coleman, Fellaini, Baines all scored for Everton in their win at Scunthorpe, the only football club in England with a swear word in the middle. Villa won unconvincingly at Sheffield United, Blackpool played their youth team and Jason Euell and lost to Southampton 2-0, Stoke drew with Cardiff and West Ham won! At home to Barnsley. At least they will win twice next season.

Chelsea wore the right boots for once and stuffed managerless Ipswich 7-0, Spurs were very lucky to win at also managerless Charlton. It was 0-0 at half-time, but then 3 quick goals, two from that Judas Cnut Defoe and a screamer from Andros Townsend killed us off. Well done Ready.

Man City were held at Leicester in a fine game, and unbelievably Man U only beat Liverpool 1-0!

There were some shocks. Sunderland losing at home to Notts County with jail bird Lee Hughes getting on the sheet, their rivals Newcastle went one better and lost 3-1 at Stevenage. The game when a Stevenage 'fan' ran on the pitch at the end, larroped one of his heroes and stole his shirt!

N&R Cup 2nd Round Draw

Earlier I ripped up an old quote, tore it into 32 pieces, wrote everyone's name on a piece, then screwed them up and put it into a coffee cup on my desk. And then would you Adam and Eve it, Maradona walked in with Pele and they made the N&R Cup 2nd Rd draw, as follows:

Neville White v Mark Dewberry
James Ashworth v Neil Reynolds
Andrew Cassell v Ken Cobbett
Mark Simmons v Barry Paull
Barry Plummer v Tim Harris
Ian France v Chris Wright
Neil Wallis v Lee Baughan
Alex Byatt v Simon Newport
Steve Merchant v Ryan Saveall
Rob Munden v Alan Oakley
Alex Boswell v Aaron Barden
Ben Guarino v Hilary Flynn
Richard Richards v Davor Duvancic
Peter Doyle v Mark Gregory
Ian Kennett v Simon Ward
Ricky Wood v Greg Foulger

All games to be played over week 24, i.e. this weekend. The winners will go through to the last 16, any replays will be done as soon as possible.

Ties of the round? Simmons v Paull? Richard Richards v Davor looks a good one? Merchant v Saveall? The all Benfield tie between Jimmy and Neil? Or what about Francey v Chris Wright?

Good luck all.

Photograph of the week

London's Olympic Stadium. Now already a iconic scene in the heart of Stratford. But what will happen to it after the 2012 Olympics? Tottenham and West Ham will make their final submissions to the the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) on Friday, with a recommendation to be made next week.

This recommendation has to be ratified by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Department of Communities and Local Government - and the London Mayor's office, with a decision expected by the end of March.

West Ham have pledged to retain the running track while Spurs intend to rebuild the stadium without the track. Both plans have supporters, but Spurs fans don't seem keen to move their historical home out of north London, and West Ham's fans are worried about playing in a soul-less 60,000 stadium 100's of feet from the pitch.

The Olympic committee want the stadium's legacy to keep a track and Tottenham's bid relies on them rebuilding the National Sports Centre at Crystal Palace.

Meanwhile Palace has announced plans to move to the NSC too, and redevelop it, but this may also include a track.

Very complicated, very confusing but very interesting. Watch this space.

P33NNT = C5NT

Jermaine Pennant was contacted by his former club Real Zaragoza recently after he abandoned a Porsche at the railway station in the Spanish city five months ago – and promptly forgot that he owned it.

According to an article published in the Spanish newspaper Marca, Pennant said that he did not remember having owned the car when Real contacted him. The club then opened the car, discovering the keys on the seat within.

The car had a customised licence plate with the registration "P33NNT". The former Arsenal and Liverpool star signed for Zaragoza on a free transfer in the summer of 2009 but he struggled to make an impact with the La Liga side. During his spell in Spain he infuriated coach Jose Aurelio Gay after turning up late for training three times in the space of two weeks.

Last August, he signed for Stoke City on a four-month loan deal, which was then made permanent in December, to the delight of the player. "The atmosphere around the place is brilliant, so I am looking forward to the fact that I am here at Stoke now for the long term and back in the best league in the world."

Bingo!

N&R FL Division 2 - Week 22

Big news in week 22 as Bingo FC went top, climbing over Good on paper and FFC 4Ever. 1- points separates these 3 - and it hasn't gone unnoticed that they are the 3 biggest scorers over the two divisions.

Back in 4th is KC's Clowns, with Bobby Z in 5th. The Capello Index move upto 7th and Blunty drops to 11th.

Double Parked was a climber as was Stocky's Starlets.

Bottom glued to it is Tony's Hammer Nation. 142 points behind next from bottom Mad Ricks XI, who fell two places in week 22. Muzza and Razor should play-off to see who is the worst N&R FL manager. Make it happen, make it happen I can hear you say.

Leeds, Leeds, Leeds

N&R FL Division 1 - Week 22

Boys on tour move back into 2nd, 22 points behind To Elland Back, and 22 points away in 3rd are Brox Banditos. Racing Hiccups are up to 4th, Loads of Roubles 5th and then Paris Eagles and Keep the faith.

It has now been 4 weeks since any other manager had an effect on the top 7 in Div 1. That as Gooner win league, who are now back in 11th.

AON United, Soozie's Sizzlers and Lazarus United are other teams that have gone backwards.

Red Roy's Rovers are making a farce of the Div 1 and 2 divide, currently 129 points adrift at the bottom. Rhubard & Custard are struggling too, but Hannoi Utd and Soozie both came out of the drop pack in week 22 and were replaced by Tanus Terriers and 2Infinity & beyond.

So good they named him twice

Week 22 - Manager of the Week

Sorry I have been waiting all season to use that. Richard Richards continues to put pressure on the top managers in the Div 2 after a MoW winning week 22 score of 83. A fiver to The Capello Index then. Well done RR.

Ready had a change in form as Hannoi Utd move out of the relegation zone for the first time in 15 weeks, Keith hi 77, the same as Bobby Z and one more than Sadler's Superstars.

Emma has struggled in her first N&R FL season and has been hardly super but she has now had two cracking weeks collecting 147 points in the process. Keep it up sister. Stocky is another one. Frankly rubbish up until 2 weeks ago but 156 points in a fortnight hurtled Stocky's Starlets up the Div 2 table with promotion still an outside possibility.

Guinness & eggs did well, with 75 points, Soozie Sizzlers and Paris Eagles both smacked 75 points, and Fabio's flops waded in with a 71.

Jimmy 5 Bellies and FC Wood both scored 70, and it was a 69 for Megan & Hannah's bears (also a season's best) and KC's Clowns.

Even the worst scores were half decent with Morgan's Machines 15 and Red Roy's Rovers 18, almost a season's best for the struggler.

Photograph of the week

Well that livened up the transfer window. £24m in total Villa have paid Sunderland for the former Charlton, Ipswich and Spurs striker Darren Bent. Some may say he is limited but his record speaks for itself:
Premier League goals since 2005:
Drogba 82
Rooney 82
Bent 81

Christmas and New Year

We have put the two festive weeks together (20 and 21) into one update. A lot of points were scored in those two weeks despite the postponement of many games due to the snow.

As a reminder later in the season the leading team's will play-off for the 2010/11 N&R FL title. Plus relegation and promotion issues will be decided. We will also have the 2nd Rd of the N&R Cup will take place this coming weekend (week 24).

Munden on top

N&R FL Division 1 - Week 20 and 21
26 points is the lead To Elland Back has over tied for 2nd Brox Banditos and Boys on tour. Just behind then is Loads of Roubles with Racing Hiccups in 5th.

Then there is a gap to Paris Eagles and 4 points behind Barry is friend and sometimes foe Keep the faith. Hip Hip Hooray have move stealthly up the table to 8th, as has Aston Globetrotters. Henry licking his lips at the arrival of Darren Bent no doubt.

AON United have slipped off the pace a bit, so have Gooner win league. SYRFLTLPk have dallied with the relegation zone these last two weeks but are currently out of it but in it remain the familiar names with Red Roy's Rovers over a 100 points adrift at the bottom.

10 points separate top 3

N&R FL Division 2 - Week 20 and 21
Two weeks of hundreds of points of scoring and the top 8 placings didn't even change. However just 4 points now separates Good on paper and FFC 4Ever, and then Bingo are just a few points from them.

A big gap then exists to 4th and KC's Clowns, with Bobby Z in 5th. Chart this Int'l remain 6th with Sons of pitches in 7th. Blunty is in 8th but Calculated Risk does jump over The Capello Index into 9th.

After the Christmas and New Year break the bottom three remain untouched, thus Hammer Nation, Megan & Hannah's Bears and Sadler's Superstars.

Road to Wembley - Devon cream

Two teams about as far apart in English geography as you can get but the cream rose to the top in Devon as EUNAN O'KANE scored the only goal of the game as our Road to Wembley team League Two Torquay dumped League One Carlisle out of the FA Cup.

The Northern Ireland Under-21 midfielder struck with a thumping right-foot shot after six minutes. Carlisle goalkeeper Adam Collin did well to save twice from Torquay's leading scorer Elliot Benyon.

Scott Bevan was also tested twice by Cumbrians dangerman Francois Zoko and the Torquay goalkeeper palmed away Matt Robson's dipping 25-yard free-kick.

Attendance: 3,005

Torquay manager Paul Buckle was hoping for a big game in the 4th Round but they got drawn at home to giant killers Crawley Town.

Bumper week

Week 21 - Manager of the Week
This bumper week between Christmas and the New Year often produces the season's best score. This season it didn't but a lot of the week's scores will dominate the top 10 (see below).

Married man Ryan Saveall and unmarried man Peter Godfrey share the fiver with each walloping 97 points. Alex Byatt waded in with a terrific 96, with John McGowan again right in the mix with 94, the same as Greg.

Henry Williams showed again some title form with a 91, current champion Ready got 88, Neil Bixby, Davor and Plummer all hit 86.

Andy Cassell scored 85, Tim Harris 82, and then four managers Dewbs, Chris Wright, Scott and Danny Stock (don't look so surprised) all bundled in from close range 81 points.

Aaron and R Richards can be proud of their 80 points, Mark Simmons and Richard Nathan less so with 42, the week's lowest score. Something Razor must be getting used to.

Season's best weekly scores

Plenty of good scoring in week 21 then, but Barry Paull's week 14 stays on top.

Here is the updated top 10 of Best Weekly Scores:

1. Barry Paull, week 14, 107 pts
2. Simon Ward, week 14, 98 pts
3= Ryan Saveall, week 21, 97 pts
3= Peter Godfrey, week 21, 97 pts
5= Steve Merchant, week 14, 96 pts
5= Alex Byatt, week 21, 96 pts
7. Barry Plummer, week 14, 95 pts
8= John McGowan, week 21 94 pts
8= Greg Foulger, week 21, 94 pts
10. Henry Williams, week 21, 91 pts
Upto week 21

Week 21 review

A bumper festive week 21

Tuesday 28th December
A full day as the snow finally started to clear. Lee Bowyer got a late goal to stop United winning at St Andrews, Balotelli got a hat trick and then got sent off as Citeh thrashed relegation threatened Villa 4-0.

Baird got Fulham's goals in a surprise away win at Stoke, likewise Blackpool winning 2-0 at Sunderland. DJ Campbell got both. Newcastle under Pardew lost again, this time at Spurs 2-0.

Kalinic scored a brace for Blackburn at West Brom, who are darting down the table at a rate of knots, while West Ham and Everton shared the spoils at Upton Park.

Wednesday 29th December
Malouda got the all important goal in Chelsea's first win for a while. They beat Bolton 1-0. Laughing stock Liverpool lost at home to Wolves, and a Squillaci own goal gave Wigan a late point at home to the Arse.

News Years Day
Arsenal came back from that late upset to beat Birmingham 3-0 away, a late Joe Cole scramble gave the Scousers something to cheer at Anfield as they beat Bolton 2-1 after being behind. City beat Blackpool 1-0, Johnson scoring, Stoke beat the erratic Everton and Sunderland stuffed Blackburn 3-0.

Bale got Spurs winner at home to Fulham, Man U won at the Hawthorns and finally West Ham had a massive win over Wolves at Upton Park and moved out of the bottom 3.

Sunday January 2nd
9 players were booked in a 6-goal thriller between Villa and Chelsea and Newcastle won 1-0 at Wigan.

Photograph of the week

What a farce eh? The Academy? More like The Sopranos.

Week 20 review

Boxing Day
Van der Vaart continued to show what a good buy he has been by scoring both goals in Spurs 2-1 win over Villa, Stoke beat Blackburn away 2-0. Does Steve Kean have photos taken in a curry house late at night?

Bolton had another fine home win, 2-0 over West Brom, the Hammers shocked everyone not least their own supporters by beating Fulham at Craven Cottage 3-1. That lazy git Carlton Cole getting two. Berbatov also got two in United's 2-0 win over Sunderland, as did Tevez in Citeh's win at St James and Wigan won 2-1 at Wolves.

Monday
Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-1 to keep the Gunners in the title frame, as Chelsea fell out of it.

Old football kits

Wigan 1995-98
Made by Puma
Worn by now manager Roberto Martinez, Jesus Seba, and Chris Lightfoot.
Another team that have change their home colours on a regular basis, this shirt was the last to feature the old club badge, and was worn when the side won the Division Three title under boss John Deehan

Appointments

Japan-based Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance's Lloyd's syndicate 3210 has promoted Chris Bottomley and Richard Nathan to the posts of underwriting manager for property and head of corporate property.

Congratulations to regular N&R FL manager Richard Nathan and to once manager Botters. Both successfully waited around long enough whilst everyone else left Mitsui to become the last two people in the office.

In Razor's own words..... An infallible strategy!

Also new to Mitsui is another old N&R FL friend and previous champion (and another Seagull), Jonathan Poole, who has joined from Chubb as Claims Director.

Good luck all.

Clown faces

Week 20 - Manager of the Week

Ken Cobbett kept up the trend of new managers winning the MoW fiver. 54 points for KC, John McGowan was next up with 49 and Mark Gregory with 47, and then came a much improved performance from Tim & Dennis in week 20. They scored 46, the same as Rob Munden and Francey.

On 45 came Ben Guarino followed by Alastair Bigg and Mark Simmons on 44. Others who impressed in week 20 were Wardy, Barry Paull and Sweaty plus a whole host of managers on 40 points.

The week's lowest score was achieved by Richard Nathan, and in fact the word 'score' would be exaggerated his efforts as it was 0.

London football supporters map

This is interesting. An attempt to work out where London's football club's supporters come from. To those that don't know there are 15 football clubs in London playing professional football. Compare this to one (American) football team in Chicago and two in New York.

The map shows traditional heartlands and not glory boys.

Click on the map to make it bigger.

RIP Richard Butcher

It has been a terrible time for Macclesfield Town, after losing manager Keith Alexander 10 months ago, today 29-year old midfielder Richard Butcher died suddenly at his home.

How a 29-year old sportsman can die so young is beyond me, but it is not right nor fair. If indeed there is a heaven, then hopefully Alexander, Butcher and another young player Adam Stansfield, who died in August, can share a pint watching Match of the Day in the sky discussing tactics.

A club statement read: "It is with great sadness that we have to announce the untimely death earlier today of Richard Butcher. He was an exemplary professional and a thoroughly likeable young man. Our thoughts are with his wife and family at this very difficult time."

Butcher also played for Lincoln, Oldham, Peterborough, Northampton and Notts County during his career.

Photograph of the week

King Kenny takes over at Anfield after Woy Hodgson gets the boot in sack season in English football. Whether he can get the best out a pile of crap squad remains to be seen but at least the wailing Scousers should give him more time.

Rob extends lead in weather affected week

N&R FL Division 1 - Week 19
To Elland Back extended their lead at the top of Div 1 to 26 points. Brox Banditos move into joint 2nd with Boys on tour.

4th is Racing Hiccups with Loads of Roubles 5th and Gooner win League and Paris Eagles are joint 6th with Keep the faith 7th and Aon United 7th.

All quiet in 2

N&R FL Division 2 - Week 19
Little movement in Div 2. FFC 4Ever does close the gap by a point on Good on paper. Bobby Z moves into 4th after his non-MoW award! And Brighton Blues move up to 10th at the expense of Calculated Risk.

Sorry Neil

Week 19 - Manager of the Week
Despite a pretty incredible 27 points from a 3-game week, Neil Wallis won't be passing Go and collecting a fiver.

As everyone knows Rule 66b clearly states that there has to be more than 5 games played.

Byatt 19, Munden 17, Sheron 14 and Wright 13 all did well considering the weather.

Likewise Francis' -2 pts will also not be included in the worst weekly score.

Old football kits

Crystal Palace 1972/73
Made by Admiral
This is going back. Palace have worn all kinds of colours over the years but this sky and dark blue number was worn by a young Jim Cannon and striker Don Rogers.
Despite beating Man United 5-0 at Selhurst Park and a 2-0 win over Chelsea, this Palace team in which Don Rogers scored 15 goals was relegated from the old 1st Division whilst managed by Bert Head.

Week 19 review

In a weather affected programme, only three Premier League games were played.

At a sunny and clear Stadium of Light Sunderland beat Bolton 1-0, and at Blackburn, managerless Rovers beat soon to be managerless West Ham 2-1.

On Monday Tevez withdrew his transfer request and sulked around the pitch as City lost at home to Everton 2-1.