Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Royal Wedding Special - Photograph of the week

A little known fact about Prince William is that he once played for Charlton. 25 appeaances, 4 goals from a midfield role. He wasn't bad either, but Charlie stopped him playing as he thought it was a game for commoners.

However Addicks fan Kate Middleton was impressed by his rampaging runs into the box, and after she made her romantic feelings clear, they started going out down the old Woolwich Tramshed after games and the rest they say is history.

Nobby & Ready would like to send the royal pair their very best wishes for Friday. In fact Keith is already in Thailand preparing his guest house and stocking the mini-bar for the happy couple who will honeymooning there.

Team Challenge update - Aussie, Aussie, Aussie

QBE take over at the top of the N&R Team Challenge - remember a sparkly trophy for the boardroom riding on this. Chris Wright and Richard Richards in different divisions have had superb individual seasons and with 4 weeks to go will they be able to hold of Gravity and the mighty Chartis group led by KC and Barry Paull. By the way Richard Stirland is currently occupying the 'buying a curry' position.

In 4th are holders Bluefin with Sav holding their charge back. 5th are RSA, and then the next four are separated by just a few points. 6th HDI Gerling, 7th Tokio led by Neil Wallis, 8th Godders and Danny from JRP and 9th the massed numbers of Aon Benfield brokers.

Last and least is Aon's International team.

The latest table will accompany the weekly email.

Road to Wembley - locals take the honours

Surrey, Sussex, Herts and Bucks were sad places after the FA Cup Semi-Final but Manchester was celebrating as Man City defeated Man United 1-0 to reach the final for 30 years.

Yaya Toure demonstrated power and poise to take advantage of Michael Carrick's mistake to score after 52 minutes and set up another Wembley date against Stoke City in May.

United controlled the first half-hour and Dimitar Berbatov - in for the suspended Wayne Rooney - missed two golden chances in the space of seconds early on.

United, who had Paul Scholes sent off late on for a wild challenge on Pablo Zabaleta, paid the price as City finally gathered momentum to end as deserved winners and sabotage Sir Alex Ferguson's hopes of repeating the historic treble-winning season of 1999.

City threatened through Mario Balotelli, Joleon Lescott and Vincent Kompany before Toure made the breakthrough, with United's only serious second-half response a deflected free-kick from Nani that keeper Joe Hart touched on to the bar.
Afterwards Balotelli incited United's travelling fans before they hit the tube home, Rio got upset and United's FA Cup dream was in ruins.

For Stoke, it is their first ever FA Cup Final in their 148-year history - America was in the height of it's civil war whilst people in Stoke made china plates during the week and watched football at weekend. How, er civil!

Man City v Stoke City has a nice ring to it, and for the first time in many years I might actually sit down and watch the game.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

10 challenge for the title

N&R Play-Off's for the 2010/11 League Title
Well here we are. 4 weeks left to find a new champion of the prestigious Nobby & Ready Fantasy League. And it will be a new champion as none of the 10 Play-Off hopefuls have ever had their name inscribed on the glorious trophy, which will be presented at some point in the summer over copious amounts of ale outside a pub in Leadenhall Market.

So, lets run through the challengers one by one:

Ken Cobbett
A slow start for KC, but he gradually improved and was 9th by week 10. Ken climbed to the summit in week 27 and has led ever since. An underwriter at Chartis, this is Ken's first season, and he holds all the cards at the moment.

Rob Munden
A long-time N&R manager. Once famously caught doing something he shouldn't have been by the window cleaner (Google it). Rob who is the London Manager at Travelers, has had some fine seasons previously but has never swept a major N&R prize. Rob is a Leeds United fan and will be hoping that they follow him into the Play-Off's and we should also congratulate his 2nd team Sutton United on winning the Ryman Premier League title.

Simon Ward
Bingo had a more than average season last time out but has excelled this time and has spent every single week in the top 10. He was top four different times this season and sits just 21 points behind the leader. Wardy is a senior underwriter at HDI-Gerling.

Richard Richards
So good they named him twice. RR is an underwriter at QBE and has had a brilliant first N&R season. He has never led the table but has pushed his way into contention and is one of the league's form managers.

Mark Gregory
Mark is another manager who has excelled in his first N&R season. A middling first week seems like a long time ago and in week 2 Mark sped into 10th place and never looked back. The Gravity underwriter also hit the top spot on three different occasions in this highly competitve Division 2.

Steve Merchant
Steve came 31st last season but has never been lower than 5th in Division 2 this year. A fantastic season from the Fac broker from Aon Benfield and another one of 8 managers that has led the Div 2 table at some point in the season. Big Fulham fan too.

Neil Wallis
Another N&R newbie and another Fulham fan as well - not often you see two Fulham fans together. Neil has also been flying high almost all season but has not cracked the top 3. Can the Tokio senior underwriter put together a title run with 4 weeks left?

John McGowan
One of, if not the most consistent manager we have ever had. The Chelsea fan will finish his 5th consecutive season with a top 10 finish but the question is can the senior Aon Benfield Fac broker beat his 3rd place in 2007/8, or can he turn over a 69-point deficit and take the title?

Barry Paull
Another manager who has nearly always collected some kind of prize money but has never taken the title. Barry who has worked in London, New York and Paris (not yet Peckham) still dotes on his Palarse boys and is one Chartis most senior global engineers. He has quite a bit of ground to make up but no doubt will, as always, cleverly use his remaining transfers.

Neil Bixby
The final Play-Off qualifier. The Bluefin broker is also in his first N&R season and can already be proud of his acheivements. Neil made the Div 2 top 10 in week 22 and has gone from strength to strength. 94 points is probably too much to make up but there is more prize money the higher you climb and he will I am sure be looking for a good finish to great first season.

White on

Promotion race - week 36
We know KC's Clowns, Bingo FC, Capello Index, Good on paper, FFC 4Ever, Bobby Z World Class and Baron Greenback Rangers all have bigger fish to fry and I would stick my neck out and say are probably promoted, but this Div 2 is good, really good.

Neville's Still not a chance bound into 10th in week 36 knocking Calculated Risk out. Blunty 11 have also fallen out of the top 10 but are just 6 points short.

Sons of pitches need to find another gear but promotion does look a little beyond Brighton Blues and Sadlers Superstars, even though they have vastly improved in recent months.

For Frank & Beans, Stocky Starlets and The No-Hopers it will take some weekly scoring of John Higgins proportions - snooker player Tim, like pool with bow ties.

Sausage roll

Relegation battle - week 36
A focus on the relegation battle from Div 1 to Div 2 with four weeks to go.

Soozie's Sizzlers made a great leap out of the bottom 10 after many weeks looking doomed. Sooz is just one point ahead of Arsene knows, who are back in the mire.

Potentially the others are gonners, but Pete's SYRFLTL Pk had a better week which will give the double ex-champ hope. It would be a real turn up if Pete (like Danny) starts next season in Div 2. Glasgow Kiss are also making a burst for it and Rhubarb & Custard had a good week 36 but I have to say the others looked doomed, even ex-champions 2Infinity & beyond and Fabio's flops.

Life of Brian


Week 36 - Manager of the Week
Rutts happily bobbing around in the lower half of Division 2, probably with a pint of Fosters in his hand appeared from no where in week 36 to collect the MoW fiver. Well done Brian.

42 points for Rutts then, 41 for Ready making a late burst for any sort of prize. N&R Cup semi-finalist Neville White pushed himself into promotion place with a 40 and Steve Black continued his familiar late run with a 38.

Steve's old colleague Michael Stout along with little petal Kirsty (you started your new job yet?) both scored 37, with Sweaty and his (mine also) long time ago boss Muddy Waters both notched 36.

35 for marathon runner Jason, and 34 for Godders, Chris Wright, Francey and title chaser Richard Richards.

Dewbs, Andy Cassell, Sarah and Neil Wallis also slipped in with a 32.

Just 4 points for Chris Waterman, the 61st best score of the week.

Money, money, money

Some interesting stats about some of the world's highest paid teams and players from sport.

Top 5 Highest paid sports teams:
1 Barcelona, La Liga, Ave annual salary: $7,910,737, Average weekly salary: $152,130
2 Real Madrid, La Liga, Ave annual salary: $7,356,632, Ave weekly salary: $141,474
3 New York Yankees, MLB, Ave annual salary: $6,756,301, Ave weekly salary: $129,929
4 Los Angeles Lakers, NBA, Ave annual salary: $6,540,690, Ave weekly salary:$125,782
5 Orlando Magic, NBA, Ave annual salary: $6,367,114, Ave weekly salary: $122,445

Click to see the Top 200

The top paid sportsman or woman from each country.

The best paid sportmen or woman by sport.

Ready's Benfleet Bet - 6th Round

This is the FA Cup predictions table up and including the 6th Round. Quite incredibly I am joint top with Neil Bixby and Francey, so an exciting finish is in prospect. Remember a cash prize to the winner, which wil be shared if there is a tie.

The scores below are the totals over all the rounds with the 6th Round in brackets.

Ready's Benfleet Bet table
1= Nobby 61 (3)
1= Neil Bixby 61 (5)
1= Francey 61 (6)
4= Doyley 56 (no scores)
4= Ken Cobbett 56 (3)
6= Ready 55 (6)
6= Barry Plummer 55 (4)
8. Addington 54 (2)
9. Jason Syrett 52 (1)
10= Alastair Bigg 51 (2)
10= Barry Paull 51 (5)
12. Ben Guarino 48 (no scores)
13= Ryan Saveall 47 (2)
13= Tim Harris 47 (3)
15= Mrs Sav 46 (3)
15= John MacGowan 46 (4)
17. Brian Rutter 43 (1)
18= Dewberry 42 (5)
18= Kirstie Baillie 42 (5)
18= Neil Reynolds 42 (no scores)
21= Oakers 41 (1)
21= Neville White 41 (1)
23= Mark Gregory 40 (no scores)
23= Steve Black 40 (no scores)
25= Ricky Wood 39 (no scores)
25= Danny Rose 39 (3)
27= Alex Boswell 38 (no scores)
27= Steve Merchant 38 (no scores)
27= Rob Munden 38 (2)
30= Aaron Barden 37 (no scores)
30= Ian Kennett 37 (no scores)
30= Richard Richards 37 (2)
33. Godders 35 (no scores)
34. Paul long 34 (1)
35. Greg Foulger 33 (1)
36. Henry Williams 23 (no scores)

N&R Cup Semi-Final draw

My balls were given a good shake this morning and the following names popped out of my silk purse:

N&R Cup Semi-Final draw

Ricky Wood v Rob Munden
Neville White v Ian Kennett

The two mouth watering ties will not be played at Wembley but in proper old fashioned Cup style, they will take place on neutral grounds. Ricky and Rob will travel to Accrington Stanley and Neville and Ian will take the tube to Barnet.

Both ties will be decided this coming week 38. Good luck to the four of you.

Photograph of the week

A rather awkward moment for hundreds of QPR fans as they celebrate promotion to the Premier League on the pitch at Loftus Road but 8 minutes into added on time at Carrow Road Norwich score their 12th injury time goal of the season to mean that Rangers will have to wait another week. QPRhahahaha!

It will however take a gigantic cock-up by QPR to fail and promotion should be a formality. Norwich and Cardiff will fight it out for the other automatic place.

Week 36 review

It was Cup weekend in week 36. Man U lost to a Toure goal at Man City and Stoke absolutely slaughtered sorry Bolton 5-0.

In the Prem, West Ham lost at home to a late Agbonlahar goal, Chelsea beat WBA 3-1 despite going behind to a Odemwinkel goal. Osman and Baines were Everton's scorers in their win over nervous looking Blackburn at Goodison and Wigan won a huge 3 points against Blackpool.

Birmingham beat Sunderland to ease their relegation worries, and on the Sunday in a match that resembled a NBA game, i.e. you only needed to watch the last few minutes, first Van Persie gave Arsenal the lead from the spot in the 98th minute and then in Emmanuel Eboue fouled Lucas Leiva to allow Dirk Kuyt to grab a Reds equaliser from the spot in the 112th minute. Cue demented rant from Arsene, who is showing less and less composure as the years go by.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

London Marathon #2

News comes to us that Jason Syrett also ran on Sunday. He finished in 3hrs 26mins and came in a bloody brilliant 3,469th place.

Well done Jason.

Any more runners. Keith you run? Rutts? Oakers?

Ready's Benfleet Bet - 5th Round results

The results are slightly delayed, but this is the Predictions Table after the FA Cup 5th Rd matches. The 5th Round scores are in brackets.

Nobby leads with Bixby and Pete close behind.

1. Nobby 58 (7)
2= Neil Bixby 56 (4)
2=Doyley 56 (10)
4. Francey 55 (3)
5. Ken Cobbett 53 (6)
6. Neil Addington 52 (4)
7= Barry Plummer 51 (4)
7=Jason Syrett 51 (6)
9= Ready 49 (5)
9= Alastair Bigg 49 (4)
11. Ben Guarino 48 (3)
12. Barry Paull 46 (4)
13. Mr Sav 45 (4)
14. Tim Harris 44 (4)
15. Mrs Sav 43 (7)
16= Neil Reynolds 42 (4)
16= Rutts 42 (4)
16= MacGowan 42 (5)
19= Oakers 40 (1)
19= Mark Gregory 40 (3)
19= Neville White 40 (3)
19- Steve Black 40 (4)
23. Ricky Wood 39 (5)
24= Boswell 38 (no scores)
24= Steve Merchant 38 (4)
26= Aaron Barden 37 (no scores)
26= Dewbs 37 (5)
26= Kirstie Baillie 37 (4)
26= Ian Kennett 37 (7)
30= Danny Rose 36 (6)
30= Munden 36 (5)
32= Godders 35 (no scores)
32= Richard Richards 35 (4)
34. Paul Long 33 (no scores)
35. Greg Foulger 32 (4)
36. Henry Williams 23 (no scores)

The 6th Round scores will be posted soon.

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

London Marathon

Our very own Alex Boswell completed the London Marathon in 4 hours, 36 minutes and came 13,401. A truly superb effort.

He was running for the MacMillan Cancer Support Charity and it is still not too late to donate and I am sure Alex would appreciate it as he recovers from his little jog!

This is the link to Alex's charity page: http://www.justgiving.com/Alex-Boswell

Well done again Alex.

Friday, April 15, 2011

A rookie champion?

N&R FL Division 2 - Week 35
KC's Clowns are looking good. Can Ken win the coveted title at the first attempt? What about Bingo? Now that would be a turn up.

Good on paper have looked strong for a long while. The Capello Index has spent every weej bar one in the promotion spots and I wouldn't back against either Richard, Mark or Ken sweeping the title in their first season.

Bobby Z might find it tougher but Neil is on course for the Play-Off's. Steve's FFC 4 Ever have been solid and currently occupy a Play-Off berth. So does another newbie Baron Greenback.

Chart This Int'l, FC Wood and Calculated Risk are all knocking on the door. I think Blunty, Still not a chance and week 35 MoW Sons of Pitches have too much to do but mustn't give up the battle for promotion. Remember the promotion and relegation fight will still go on, side by side with the title race!

At the bottom Hammer Nation are absolutely rock bottom but will fight it out with Red Roy for the 'prestigious' 2nd worst overall season score. Why we give a prize for this we'll never know!

Munden & McGowan in - who else?

N&R FL Division 1 - Week 35 To Elland Back are still out front and are heading for the Play-Off's, so are Loads of Roubles but Paris Eagles need to watch over their shoulders.

G
uinness & eggs have been averaging some good scores in recent weeks and has been a strong finisher in recent seasons. Dewbs' Racing Hiccups are also on the up and are an in-form team.

Gooner win league might just have too much to do. Hannoi Utd could always pull a great week out of the bag as could Boys on tour, but Greg might have gone a bit early.. again!

Old Bodeans, Jimmy 5 Bellies, Keep the faith, AON United, Harry Houdini and Nortius Maximus might all have to settle for mid table boredom. Relegation is almost certain for Red Roy, Morgans Machines, surrisingly ex-champ 2Infinity & beyond and Lazarus United.

We reckon Fabio's flops, Rhubarb & Custard (who are on a good run), Glasgow kiss and Torres Rosso are still alive and kicking.

But SYRFLTL Pk and Soozie's Sizzlers have the best chance of survival with spouse Sav and Hip Hip Hooray in big danger as are Arsene Knows.

Ben over

Week 35 - Manager of the Week
Ben once assistant manager to Francey has found it tough this season. In Div 2 I would have had Ben down as a promotion favourite, as it is he still has a bit to do to crash into the top 10 with 5 weeks of the season left. He is only 11 points of the pace though after a MoW performance in week 35. Ben scored 57 points, 9 more than his nearest rival and the current incumbent of the 10th promotion place, Davor Duvancic.

Another prize chaser was next in the best weekly scores. Neil Reynolds scored 45 with his boss Rutts getting 44, Brian's best score since early February. On 43 was Chris Wright, then 42 was Michael Stout who has a very slim chance of promotion but is a known closer.

Dewbs was next and he is desperate to make the play-off's with Neville fighting for promotion also ending the week with 41. Lee Horne and Wardy both scored 37 and title leader Ken, Barry Plummer and Glenn all scored 36. Week 35's lowest score was relegation certainty Scott Morgan, who maanged a paltry 6.

Congratulations to Brighton


With apologies to the two Barry's, congratulations to Brighton & Hove Albion for their well deserved promotion to the Championship this week.

I am pleased for Brighton, any true football fan should be. This season they have been very consistent, played an excellent passing game under a great manager, who took only half a season to assess his players, bring in some leaders and transform them and they follow a well worn path of League One champions Swansea, Leicester and Norwich who each won the title by playing good football and have thrived a division higher.

My parents are half an hour from Brighton's new ground at Falmer and I often pass it and it looks terrific. It is 14 years since they lost their Goldstone Ground thanks to the ineptitude and irresponsibility of a club chairman and they’ve had far too many years in the wilderness playing first 75 miles away at the dreadful Priestfield and then the Withdean, possibly one of the least atmospheric grounds in the country. West Ham fans take note.

Francey told me he is off to Walsall Saturday for the title game. Enjoy your day mate and congratulations to both you and Paul Long and his son, the exiled Seagulls in Chicago.

Week 35 review

Blackburn and the Blue Noses drew 1-1, Bolton thrashed West Ham, who appear to be going backwards after a good spell of form, malouda scored as Chelsea beat Wigan and Man U extended their lead at the top beating Fulham 2-0.

West Brom continued their revival under Roy Hodgson beating Sunderland at the SOL 3-2, Spurs beat Stoke 3-2 in an exciting game at the Lane and Everton thrashed relegation threatened Wolves 3-0 away from home.

Arsenal won at battling Blackpool on Sunday 3-1, van Persie shining and scoring whilst Villa got a vital win over Newcastle. On Monday a blistering Liverpool stuffed an uninterested Man City 3-0. Carroll scoring twice plus Kuyt.

Play-Off's - final week before they begin

The last week before the N&R Play-Off's then and this is how we stand:

1 KC's Clowns, 1,258
2 To Elland Back, 1,237
3 Bingo FC, 1,231
4 Good on paper, 1,230
5 The Capello Index, 1,223
6 FFC 4 ever, 1,221
7 Bobby Z is World Class, 1,194
8 Loads of Roubles, 1,190
9 Paris Eagles, 1,173
10 Baron Greenback Rangers, 1,156


Just behind these 10 all within striking distance are Guinness & eggs, Brox Banditos, Racing Hiccups, Gooner win league, Chart This Int'l and FC Wood. Good luck with the last push.

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

N&R Cup Correction

With apologies to Ricky and Neil, I got their N&R Cup score wrong in week 34. It should have been:

Ricky Wood 47-40 Neil Wallis

Therefore it is Ricky that qualifies for the semi-finals, to be drawn by the Premier of Bermuda Friday afternoon.

I met this bloke down the pub....

A mate of mine recently admitted to being addicted to brake fluid. When I quizzed him on it he reckoned he could stop any time.....

I had a mate who was suicidal. He was really depressed, so I pushed him in front of a train. He was chuffed to bits.

I went to the cemetery yesterday to lay some flowers on a grave. As I was standing there I noticed 4 grave diggers walking about with a coffin - 3 hours later and they're still walking about with it. I thought to myself - these buggers have lost the plot!!

I was at a cashpoint yesterday when a little old lady asked if I could check her balance. Not being one to disappoint, I pushed the old dear over.

A new middle east crisis erupted last night as Dubai Television was refused permission to broadcast 'The Flintstones'. A spokesman for the channel said 'A claim was made that people in Dubai would not understand the humour, but we know for a fact that people in Abu Dhabi Do.'

My son's been asking me for a pet spider for his birthday, so I went to our local pet shop and they were £70!!! B*ll*cks to this, I thought, I can get one cheaper off the web.

Statistically, 6 out of 7 dwarves are not happy.

Just heard there was an explosion at a pie factory in Huddersfield - 3.1415927 dead.

I was walking in a cemetery this morning and saw a bloke hiding behind a gravestone. "Morning" I said. "No" he replied, "just having a dump."

My wife was hinting about what she wanted for our upcoming anniversary. She said, ‘I want something shiny that goes from 0 to 150 in about 3 seconds.’ I bought her some bathroom scales.

Went around to a friends house today. His wife was sat there with their newborn baby. She asked if I'd like to wind it. I thought that was a bit harsh so I gave it a dead leg instead.

I start a new job in Seoul next week. I thought it was a good Korea move.

A Scottish paedophile has raised a dispute with eBay. He claims that the Wii GameBoy he received isn't what he was expecting.

I got some new aftershave today that smells like breadcrumbs. The birds love it!

I was driving this morning when I saw an RAC van parked up. The driver was sobbing uncontrollably and looked very miserable. I thought to myself ‘that guy’s heading for a breakdown’.

The lead actor in the local pantomime, Aladdin, was sexually abused from behind on stage last night. To be fair the audience did try to warn him

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Photograph of the week


Javier Hernandez put Man U on their way to the Champions League semi-finals and the treble is still on. As for Chelsea, well Torres was substituted at half time and Mr Abramovich will no doubt be on the blower to his lawyer to ask him to draw up Carlos Ancelotti's resignation letter.

Monday, April 11, 2011

Transfer reminders

Some of you do have transfers left. If you have forgotten how many, then email me.

The deadline is every Tuesday at 5pm. A sale now of an out of form player, or an injured one for a fantasy point scorer could be the difference between winning nothing or quite a bit.

Email me your changes. Thanks

Wardy and Merchant continue excellent seasons

N&R FL Division 2 - Week 34
It's close in Div 2. Only 21 points separate KC's Clowns, The Capello Index and Good on paper, but all three look good for the Play-Off's.

Bingo continus his excellent season in 4th. Never out of the promotion places for Wardy, and the same for Steve and his FFC 4Ever, who are in 5th. Bobby Z, Baron Greenback, Chart This Int'l and FC Wood all fight for one of the Play-Off spots.

Blunty, Calculated Risk, Brighton Blues, Still not a chance and Sons of Pitches all strive for promotion and even outside bet Sadler's superstars should not give up!

Munden clear

N&R FL Division 1 - Week 34
To Elland Back
are now 50 points clear in Div 1 and a Play-Off place is guaranteed. Loads of Roubles are 2nd with Paris Eagles 3rd. Guinness & eggs are doing what they do every season and come with a magnificent late run. Hannoi Utd, the current title holder, is now up to 5th with Boys on tour in 6th and a point behind Brox Banditos in 7th. Racing Hiccups, Old Bodeans and Gooner win league have a lot to do.

The bottom 10 are unchanged.

Sadler up

Week 34 - Manager of the Week
Emmmmmmma. Yes! A fiver to you my dear and it has been coming for a while after many fine weeks of improvement. Promotion may just be out of sight but Miss Sadler will hopefully be encouraged by her first ever N&R prize. 56 for Emma then in week 34, 53 for colleague Henry and 51 for Ready.

A half century for title chaser Rob and Cup hopeful Ian Kennett. 49 was the score of choice for Dewbs, Saveall with Bixby hitting 48,
Ricky Wood 47 and Steve Black 45. The lowest was Muddy with a rough 7.

Week 34 review

The Arse were held at home by Blackburn, which put a nasty spike into their title hopes, Birmingham improved their situation beating Bolton 2-1, Bent scored twice at Villa drew at Goodison 2-2 and injury hit Newcastle thrashed Wolves 4-1.

Stoke held Chelsea 1-1, Torres did not score! Fact! Woy got wevenge as his West Brom side beat his old Liverpool side 2-1. Brunt with two pens.

Rooney scored a hatrick and swore on the field of play. After me.... naughty, naughty, naughty Wayne. West Ham were beaten 2-4 after being 2-0 up.

Wigazzzzzzz drew with Spurs 0-0. I fucking hope those northern monkeys go down and return to playing Widnes at Rugby on ITV just before the wrestling on a Saturday afternoon.

Also that weekend Man City somehow contrived to score not just one goal but five against Sunderland, the new Charlton as it was pointed out this week, i.e. they reach 38 points and give up. Sadly Charlton are still doing that in League poxy One.... a lesson there to Sunderland.

Fulham kept Blackpool looking over their shoulders as they thrashed the Tangerines 3-0.

N&R Road to Wembley - If you know you're history....

Our N&R team is now Man United and they come head to head this weekend with their local rivals Man City.

Almost everyone knows about the Manchester derby, and whilst it may not match the air of malevolence that swirls round its Glasgow counterpart, and for years didn't even take place, in recent seasons this game has at long last rekindled some proper derby tensions. However I have done a bit of digging and whatever happens this weekend, the undercurrents will still not compare to the Manchester derby 104 years ago.

Newton Heath and Ardwick, forerunners of United and City, had first met in the FA Cup in 1891 and had grown along largely religious lines (Catholic United, Church of England City). They had co-existed happily, however, until the latter were involved in the first great football bribes scandal at the end of the 1904-5 season.

An investigation led to five of City's best players, including the game's first superstar, Billy Meredith, being banned from playing for the club again. Worse, they eventually went across the city and formed the backbone of United's first championship side in 1907-08. You can imagine the emotions pulsing through the 35,000 crowd at Clayton that day when Meredith, Herbert Burgess and Sandy Turnbull appeared for the enemy in a derby for the first time. Nani will have it easy by comparison.

Turnbull, a character designed to give managers grey hair, would later become the first player to be sent off in a derby. He was also banned sine die by the Football Association for betting irregularities and was killed serving in the Manchester Regiment in the trenches of Arras in May 1917.

Later the inter-war period is known as the yo-yo years in Manchester. United were relegated in 1922, 1931 and 1937 and City in 1926 and 1938, the last downfall setting a precedent for their "cock-up" reputation because the Sky Blues managed to lose their top-flight status despite being the division's top scorers with 80 goals. But while the clubs were slipping past each other in the League they did manage their only FA Cup semi-final, City winning 3-0 in 1926.

The post Second World War period saw a thawing of relations when City allowed their neighbours to use Maine Road for an annual rent of £5,000 because Old Trafford had been destroyed by the Luftwaffe. City's reserves, meanwhile, played at The Cliff, which was United's training ground until their recent move to Carrington.

But if there was a cordial landlord-tenant relationship through the Fifties - an atmosphere helped by the appointment of a former City player, Matt Busby, as United's manager - that was shattered in May 1963. Denis Law had gone from Moss Side to Trafford Park via Torino and, as if that was not intriguing enough, the clubs were locked in a First Division relegation struggle just a point apart at second and third bottom. Hard to imagine isn't it?

City were by far the better side in the early stages and went ahead after nine minutes through Alex Harley and had another "goal" disallowed for a hair's-breadth offside. Tempers were barely kept under control and before the interval Pat Crerand and Dave Wagstaffe were booked after an ugly confrontation.

Later it was revealed in the newspapers that Wagstaffe was laid out by an unnamed United player in the tunnel during half-time and perhaps that played a part in one of the most controversial climaxes to a Manchester derby. City were four minutes away from an important victory when Wagstaffe played a suicidal back-pass, Law nipped in and was brought down in the area by Harry Dowd. "It was a penalty," Law recalled in his autobiography. "The goalkeeper had hold of my legs, but I would never have scored. I was going away from the goal and had lost the ball. It was a lucky break for us."

It was an unlucky break for Dowd and his team-mates because Albert Quixall's penalty earned United a point that would mean the difference between their safety and City's relegation at the end of the season. Worse, as far as Maine Road was concerned, Law would be the outstanding player when United won the FA Cup final 3-1 against Leicester City a few days afterwards.

City would gain ample compensation five years later when their 3-1 win at Old Trafford proved pivotal as they finished two points ahead of their great rivals to win the 1968 championship, but the ultimate revenge came in 1974.

Tommy Docherty had sold the now veteran Law back to Maine Road, but United were scrapping to avoid relegation when City arrived in April. Little happened until the 81st minute when Colin Bell found Francis Lee who, in turn, passed to Law. His position, with his back to goal near the penalty spot, was not promising but with typical impudence the former "King of Old Trafford" brilliantly back-heeled past a startled Alex Stepney. In old television pictures the following is legend (watch here) Law made to celebrate, realised what he had done, then walked, head bowed, off the pitch and down the tunnel, leaving the game to go on for a few minutes before a second crowd invasion brought it to a premature end.

His last touch in League football, which virtually ensured United's relegation, had been his saddest. "It was no more than a reflex action," he said, "and I felt sick. I have never felt so depressed in my life as I did that weekend."

Old football kits

Tottenham Hotspur 1980-82
Made by Le Coq Sportif - are they still going?
Worn by Glenn Hoddle, Garth Crooks, Micky Hazard and Ossie Ardiles.
Worn on the run to the club's seventh FA Cup victory when they beat QPR 1-0 in a replay thanks to a Glenn Hoddle penalty

Photograph of the week

Whilst Fernando Torres has scored as many Chelsea goals as me, and he has played more games, new Kop hero Andy Carroll bagged a couple tonight in their stroll over sad billionaires Man City.

N&R Cup Quarter Final Results

Week 34 was N&R Cup Quarter Finals day and they all resulted in away wins.

N&R Cup QF Results:

Ricky Wood 40-47 Neil Wallis
Aaron Barden 25-29 Neville White
Steve Merchant 30-50 Rob Munden
Ken Cobbett 35-50 Ian Kennett

A real turn up with Kennett beating KC. Fcuk me, Ian might actually win something!!!!

Munden continued his superb season, and can he carry it on to finally make something of himself? Neville will be as shocked as the rest of us that he made the last four, and Neil Wallis makes the 4th Semi-Finalist after dispatching Ricky Wood in a close one.

Watch out for news of the N&R Semi-Final draw and when it will played.

The N&R FL Play-Offs are coming

Next week, week 35, will be the last week before we break for the first ever time into the N&R Play-Off's. Now are you ready?

Simply, effective week 36 the best scoring 10 managers across Div 1 and 2 go into a 5-week Play-Off Final with the winner at the end of the season being awarded the best prize money and the coveted N&R Championship trophy.

As at week 34 the top 10 managers are:
1. Ken Cobbett 1,222

2. Rob Munden 1,210

3. Richard Richards 1,201

4. Simon Ward 1,194

5. Steve Merchant 1,190

6. Neil Wallis 1,165

7. John McGovern 1,160

8. Barry Paull 1,139

9. Neil Bixby 1,131

10. Steve Black 1,116


This is quite a change from what it was just a few weeks back and it could change again. Ready, Foulger, Chris Wright, Alastair Bigg and Ricky Wood all have a good to outside chance of forcing their way into the top 10 in the last week of games.


The top 10 managers will compete in a mini-league for the title of 2010/11 N&R FL Champion. All 10 Play-Off finalists will get cash prizes.

N&R Div's 1 and 2 will continue with a prize awarded to the final winner of each Division.

Also, of course, we have the little matter of pride and the top 10 managers from Div 2 will be promoted at the expense of the bottom 10 managers from Div 1, who will be relegated. This ignominy current faces no less than 3 previous N&R Champions.

There will be other prizes such as the 2nd worse total score, the best and worst weekly score plus some others that we'll make up if we have any money left.

Any questions, then please refer to you N&R FL manual page 94. Available at WH Smiths and all good bookstores.

Bull Terrier

Week 32 - Manager of the Week
A second MoW for Lee Horne in week 32. Well done Lee. 47 points was enough for a fiver with Richard Richards next with 45 points, ahead of Steve Black (44), Ben Guarino (43) and Oakers, Chris Wright, Dewbs and Neil Addington all on 42.

Lowest score of week 32 was Richard Stirland with 11.

A focus on relegation

N&R FL Division 1 - Week 32
The top 3 are unchanged after week 32. Brox moves into 4th and Guinness & eggs 5th. Boys on tour lose a bit of ground as Old Bodeans make a big leap into 7th at the expense of previous champions Hannoi Utd and Gooner win league.

Let us focus on the bottom of Div 1 though.

Red Roy
, Morgan's Machines, Rhubarb and Custard and ex-champ 2Infinity & beyond look relegated already. Lazarus United, Fabio's flops and Glasgow kiss all need the kiss of life whilst I think SYRFLTL Pk, Torres Rosso and Soozie's Sizzlers have a chance of safety. Meanwhile Arsene Knows, Aston Globetrotter, Tanus, Nortius Maximus, Hip Hip Hooray and Houdini are all looking over their shoulders.

Bingo back into 2nd!

N&R FL Division 2 - Week 32
KC
still leads Div 2 with Bingo back into 2nd. Good on paper and FFC 4Ever tie for 3rd. Lower down
Baron Greenback hurdles Chart This Intl into 7th. Still not a chance, Sons of pitches plus my two Chicago brethren Calculated Risk and Brighton Boys remian firmly in the promotion race.