Another pre-season friendly and another £14 poorer for the pleasure.
Unlike the Stevenage game we started with a very much second string side with only Ruddy, Ward, Smith, Martin and Jackson realistic contenders for a start against Watford. It showed in the first half as Dagenham passed it round us, and more alarmingly played straight through the middle of our defence on more than one occasion.
Elliott Ward made his City debut and had a few good moments but unsurprisingly was more than a little ring-rusty and Tomlin, the Dagenham number 10, gave him and Tudur Jones the other centre back plenty of problems. George Francomb had a steady game at right back but Remy Gordon really struggled on the other side of the defence. He made three mistakes in the minute leading up to the goal and when Green ran at him he backed off the cross and Tomlin deflected it in. The midfield tried hard but couldn’t really get anything going at all, and I can’t really remember a concerted period of possession in Dagenham’s half.
City livened up in the second half after the cavalry came on, and had more of the possession but didn’t really test the Dagenham keeper. Wes tried hard, Fox looked a useful player again and Oli nearly broke through a couple of times. Dagenham however had their moments as well and could well have added to their lead.
Not the best game I’ve been to, but looking at the positives, Ward got 45 minutes, Ruddy looks to be a good keeper, and Jackson will give us some much needed pace up front. Francombe looks an improving player as well.
Thursday, 22 July 2010
Tuesday, 20 July 2010
See Stevenage and Pay
In common with 400 other City fans, I was not deterred by the £18 admission to see Stevenage vs Norwich and even took my two daughters along as well. The total cost was £28 as the guy on the turnstile “misheard” my elder daughter’s age so not too bad, taking into account the free parking across the road. Can’t think why some enterprising local or some jobsworth councillor doesn’t try and make a few quid from that car park.
It was not the best pre-season friendly I've ever seen, but by no means the worst. City passing it around well in the first half, but not too much end product. Nelson hit the post from a corner and Jackson had a good shot saved. I think I missed another chance as I was talking to Lil from the Rosary whilst in the half time queue for a drink. I also bought a doughnut; a first for me in a football ground, as they had run out of chips.
The highlight of the game was the mega-sub-a-thon after an hour of the game where City made ten changes with some of the players coming on in shirts that were not their own numbers. I was informed that the two mystery players were Michael Ball and Richard Brindley and both youngsters acquitted themselves well.
Gemma took a video of the mega-sub-a-thon and if it’s any good I’ll stick it in on Youtube. The final score was 0-0, and 11-11 on the subs.
The away end was just under half full, a very good away turnout for a midweek friendly. I bumped into loads of old faces, and it was good to see City in action again.
Looking forward to going to 'Nam on Thursday.
It was not the best pre-season friendly I've ever seen, but by no means the worst. City passing it around well in the first half, but not too much end product. Nelson hit the post from a corner and Jackson had a good shot saved. I think I missed another chance as I was talking to Lil from the Rosary whilst in the half time queue for a drink. I also bought a doughnut; a first for me in a football ground, as they had run out of chips.
The highlight of the game was the mega-sub-a-thon after an hour of the game where City made ten changes with some of the players coming on in shirts that were not their own numbers. I was informed that the two mystery players were Michael Ball and Richard Brindley and both youngsters acquitted themselves well.
Gemma took a video of the mega-sub-a-thon and if it’s any good I’ll stick it in on Youtube. The final score was 0-0, and 11-11 on the subs.
The away end was just under half full, a very good away turnout for a midweek friendly. I bumped into loads of old faces, and it was good to see City in action again.
Looking forward to going to 'Nam on Thursday.
Monday, 19 July 2010
Back with a wimper
After a period of early blogging where I wrote something every night for a week, it’s been radio silence for a few months. I thought I should start again and see how it goes. If I had an outside job I wouldn’t mind spending a few minutes in front of a screen to type some words. I do however go through a daily ten hour slog working in software delivery each day so that I can afford to feed my family so the attraction of yet more typing is not hugely appealing.
Last week I had confirmation back from NXEA that they are able to offer us another great deal for season 2010/2011 and the new Capital Canaries fare will be £13 return. The cost includes a small donation to FONCY. Last year we raised £350 for FONCY and I’m hopeful we’ll match this next season.
The minimum single fare to Norwich is now £8 so this means the minimum you could travel for is now £16, and this assumes that there are actually any of the £8 tickets available on the train you would like to travel on. I have my suspicions that the cheapest tickets may not really exist!
I have updated www.capitalcanaries.com, done a mail out and posted an update on twitter with the good news.
Tomorrow I am breaking that habit of a few years and going to a pre-season friendly. I’m also off to ‘Nam in the badlands of South Essex on Thursday, and that will be my football fix until the big early kick off on Friday 6th August.
Last week I had confirmation back from NXEA that they are able to offer us another great deal for season 2010/2011 and the new Capital Canaries fare will be £13 return. The cost includes a small donation to FONCY. Last year we raised £350 for FONCY and I’m hopeful we’ll match this next season.
The minimum single fare to Norwich is now £8 so this means the minimum you could travel for is now £16, and this assumes that there are actually any of the £8 tickets available on the train you would like to travel on. I have my suspicions that the cheapest tickets may not really exist!
I have updated www.capitalcanaries.com, done a mail out and posted an update on twitter with the good news.
Tomorrow I am breaking that habit of a few years and going to a pre-season friendly. I’m also off to ‘Nam in the badlands of South Essex on Thursday, and that will be my football fix until the big early kick off on Friday 6th August.
Saturday, 7 November 2009
The last game at Elm Park – May 98 and other memories
The Norwich City matches we attended at the end of the 1997/98 season and those at the start of the 1998/99 season were in the last in our pre-kids era. In season 1999/2000 and 2000/01 I had to take a break for a while as it was hectic at home, we moved houses I was also moving jobs.
Lucy parents live in Burnham and we stayed at their place on Saturday night and went to the game from there. We arrived in Reading early, parked and walked to the ground very slowly as Lucy wasn’t feeling great – she was around 4 months pregnant with Gemma, now ten years old, and three times a Norwich mascot and season ticket holder with me.
We had been to Elm Park before, and sat down in the seats reserved for away fans when we lost 1-2. It was the game when Trevor Morley scored for Reading with an overhead kick and Neil Adams scored their winner with a cracking last minute own goal. This game it was standing only on the end terrace and it was an all ticket game as it was the last ever at Elm Park.
The toilets there were awful – just a huge long trough in a primitive concrete structure at the top of the terrace, they stunk, and the ladies facilities were no better.
We stood near the side which was occupied by the Reading fans as it was closer to the ladies, and the burger bar.
On the terraced side opposite the main stand that was next to us, throughout the game, plenty of wannabe hoolies were climbing up the fence acting like idiots and trying to start something.
After Bellamy scored early in the second half it turned worse as there was a hail of coins coming across at us. We moved back towards the centre of the terrace but were surprised that the cameras of the police were trained on us and not the Reading fans.
As regards what happened in the ninety minutes, all I can recall is that Flecky hit the bar for them and Bellamy scored with a lovely curling shot from the inside left channel after a nice through ball. Apart from that it was a very non-descript game.
Flecky came across at the end to applaud us, but there had been pitch invasion, and he couldn’t get too near the City fans.
For some reason I always associate Nigel Spackman with this game. With Mike Walker’s sacking the week before, there were a number of names in the frame for the City job, and Spackman was one of them having had a spell in charge at Sheffield United. As Lucy and I walked back from Elm Park to our car I recall hearing on a radio that he had either joined another club or ruled himself out of the running for the City job. My immediate thoughts were one of disappointment as I thought that he might have been a decent candidate. Looking back, I think it was a lucky escape for City.
Another Robert Fleck story always reminds me of this match as Reading and Oxford were local rivals. Flecky played for Reading at Ipswich on the day that we were at Oxford – this was at the end of March 1998. City had lost 0-2 in a very ordinary performance to a Francis (La La La La La Freak Freak Freak Freak was his song) goal from a defensive error and a penalty conceded from a stupid tackle by Forbes who came on a sub. Joey Beauchamp scored the pen.
Throughout the second half some guy was standing at the front on the right was yelling at Mike Walker, “WHERE’S ROBERT FLECK? OI WALKER, I CAN’T SEE ROBERT FLECK TODAY. WHERE’S HE GONE? OI WALKER PLEASE TELL ME WHY ROBERT FLECK’S NOT PLAYING TODAY!” This went on for quite some time. It looked as if his wife or girlfriend, who was with him, was shuffling further and further away in embarrassment.
We drove home down the A40, and on the way back we listened to 6-0-6. Danny Baker was the presenter. There had been a running theme of players being given hostile receptions at clubs that hated them. The first caller was a Reading fan who had brought a tape recorder to the game at Ipswich purposely to record the reception that Flecky was given by the Ipswich fans. As the team was announced the booing started as soon as their No7 had been read out. At No8….then all we could hear was a volley of booing and whistling. It was such an awful reception, that the caller played the recording again to much laughter from the studio and from Lucy and me in the car.
And one other old memory; this time, Neale Fenn. I thought looked a decent loan player in his month with us, and thought he might have been a good signing. But after the season ended he went back to Spurs, as we were managerless and it wouldn’t have made sense to sign him. I also heard Spurs wanted a silly fee for him as well. The next time I saw him play was when Lucy and I went to see Norwich City reserves play Spurs reserves at St Albans FC. It was the last game she saw before Gemma was born – November 1998. Neale Fenn was a sub for Spurs that evening, and I’m sure Paul McVeigh scored for Spurs our 1-2 loss. Daryl Russell also played and attracted the attention of a number of scouts, including a friend of mine who works for another London Club. Ian Walker was in goal for Spurs, and I remember him saying in an interview about the game that it was possibly the lowest point in his career. Adrian Coote scored for City that evening.
Lucy parents live in Burnham and we stayed at their place on Saturday night and went to the game from there. We arrived in Reading early, parked and walked to the ground very slowly as Lucy wasn’t feeling great – she was around 4 months pregnant with Gemma, now ten years old, and three times a Norwich mascot and season ticket holder with me.
We had been to Elm Park before, and sat down in the seats reserved for away fans when we lost 1-2. It was the game when Trevor Morley scored for Reading with an overhead kick and Neil Adams scored their winner with a cracking last minute own goal. This game it was standing only on the end terrace and it was an all ticket game as it was the last ever at Elm Park.
The toilets there were awful – just a huge long trough in a primitive concrete structure at the top of the terrace, they stunk, and the ladies facilities were no better.
We stood near the side which was occupied by the Reading fans as it was closer to the ladies, and the burger bar.
On the terraced side opposite the main stand that was next to us, throughout the game, plenty of wannabe hoolies were climbing up the fence acting like idiots and trying to start something.
After Bellamy scored early in the second half it turned worse as there was a hail of coins coming across at us. We moved back towards the centre of the terrace but were surprised that the cameras of the police were trained on us and not the Reading fans.
As regards what happened in the ninety minutes, all I can recall is that Flecky hit the bar for them and Bellamy scored with a lovely curling shot from the inside left channel after a nice through ball. Apart from that it was a very non-descript game.
Flecky came across at the end to applaud us, but there had been pitch invasion, and he couldn’t get too near the City fans.
For some reason I always associate Nigel Spackman with this game. With Mike Walker’s sacking the week before, there were a number of names in the frame for the City job, and Spackman was one of them having had a spell in charge at Sheffield United. As Lucy and I walked back from Elm Park to our car I recall hearing on a radio that he had either joined another club or ruled himself out of the running for the City job. My immediate thoughts were one of disappointment as I thought that he might have been a decent candidate. Looking back, I think it was a lucky escape for City.
Another Robert Fleck story always reminds me of this match as Reading and Oxford were local rivals. Flecky played for Reading at Ipswich on the day that we were at Oxford – this was at the end of March 1998. City had lost 0-2 in a very ordinary performance to a Francis (La La La La La Freak Freak Freak Freak was his song) goal from a defensive error and a penalty conceded from a stupid tackle by Forbes who came on a sub. Joey Beauchamp scored the pen.
Throughout the second half some guy was standing at the front on the right was yelling at Mike Walker, “WHERE’S ROBERT FLECK? OI WALKER, I CAN’T SEE ROBERT FLECK TODAY. WHERE’S HE GONE? OI WALKER PLEASE TELL ME WHY ROBERT FLECK’S NOT PLAYING TODAY!” This went on for quite some time. It looked as if his wife or girlfriend, who was with him, was shuffling further and further away in embarrassment.
We drove home down the A40, and on the way back we listened to 6-0-6. Danny Baker was the presenter. There had been a running theme of players being given hostile receptions at clubs that hated them. The first caller was a Reading fan who had brought a tape recorder to the game at Ipswich purposely to record the reception that Flecky was given by the Ipswich fans. As the team was announced the booing started as soon as their No7 had been read out. At No8….then all we could hear was a volley of booing and whistling. It was such an awful reception, that the caller played the recording again to much laughter from the studio and from Lucy and me in the car.
And one other old memory; this time, Neale Fenn. I thought looked a decent loan player in his month with us, and thought he might have been a good signing. But after the season ended he went back to Spurs, as we were managerless and it wouldn’t have made sense to sign him. I also heard Spurs wanted a silly fee for him as well. The next time I saw him play was when Lucy and I went to see Norwich City reserves play Spurs reserves at St Albans FC. It was the last game she saw before Gemma was born – November 1998. Neale Fenn was a sub for Spurs that evening, and I’m sure Paul McVeigh scored for Spurs our 1-2 loss. Daryl Russell also played and attracted the attention of a number of scouts, including a friend of mine who works for another London Club. Ian Walker was in goal for Spurs, and I remember him saying in an interview about the game that it was possibly the lowest point in his career. Adrian Coote scored for City that evening.
Thursday, 29 October 2009
Samson, Dartford and Amy’s nemesis.
It was a frustrating day at base today. Nothing much happened apart from an investigation into how much interest a few clients should have received on some accounts with very little money in them which pay a negligible rate which only complicated matters more. Two hours work to find 47p. It was a bean counters dream.
The mood of our team perked up when a tin of Celebrations were left on the desk opposite. A cuppa and a couple of mini chocs always lift the spirits. And across the office there was a box of Krispy Kremes, donated a part of the fines system they have when something doesn’t quite to go plan. Sometimes there are more than a dozen boxes on their round table…
Amy had a tennis tournament today. She has progressed to mini-orange otherwise known as the Satsuma Standard. The SS’s are around 8 years old and play on a two thirds sized court with tennis balls that are not as bouncy as mini-green, but livelier than min-red. It’s a progression to get the little ones hit the ball harder but as the balls are softer they don’t go as far. Easy.
Amy won two out of four encounters, and lost her final match, which if she had won, may have meant she finished top of her group. The crucial last game was against Amy’s nemesis, a sweet girl called Dominque who has a sporting pedigree which was much closer to home than I realised when Amy and she initially met.
Amy first played Dominque in a Kenton tournament last year, and won narrowly in her first and only victory over her. I got chatting to her Dad, and I recognised him from somewhere but I wasn’t quite sure where. After we had introduced ourselves we made some small talk and he mentioned that he had played for Spurs youth and also Wealdstone, and his name was Samson. It was then that I recognised who he was and I said his surname, Olaleye, before he had the chance to fully introduce himself.
Back in the late eighties I was a frequent visitor to Lower Mead. I couldn’t afford to get up to Norwich so going to see Wealdstone was the next best option, much cheaper, and only a couple of miles away as opposed to well over a hundred. I saw Samson play quite a few times one season. He was a tall, gangly but athletic player who scored quite a few goals. When he scored we were treated to an obscene dance called the “Samson Boogie”. It was a series of very unsubtle pelvic thrusts in the direction of the home supporters.
His most memorable goal was at Dartford. It was a nothing game for Wealdstone, who were mid-table but an everything game for the Darts. Two wins would have seen the team, managed by Peter Taylor, promoted to the Conference. Samson scored the only goal of the game, Wealdstone hung on for a memorable win and that loss left the door open for Merthyr Tydfil to win the league and promotion at the expense of Dartford which they duly did.
I’ve no idea why the Stones played so well that day, but it was just one of those games.
The mood of our team perked up when a tin of Celebrations were left on the desk opposite. A cuppa and a couple of mini chocs always lift the spirits. And across the office there was a box of Krispy Kremes, donated a part of the fines system they have when something doesn’t quite to go plan. Sometimes there are more than a dozen boxes on their round table…
Amy had a tennis tournament today. She has progressed to mini-orange otherwise known as the Satsuma Standard. The SS’s are around 8 years old and play on a two thirds sized court with tennis balls that are not as bouncy as mini-green, but livelier than min-red. It’s a progression to get the little ones hit the ball harder but as the balls are softer they don’t go as far. Easy.
Amy won two out of four encounters, and lost her final match, which if she had won, may have meant she finished top of her group. The crucial last game was against Amy’s nemesis, a sweet girl called Dominque who has a sporting pedigree which was much closer to home than I realised when Amy and she initially met.
Amy first played Dominque in a Kenton tournament last year, and won narrowly in her first and only victory over her. I got chatting to her Dad, and I recognised him from somewhere but I wasn’t quite sure where. After we had introduced ourselves we made some small talk and he mentioned that he had played for Spurs youth and also Wealdstone, and his name was Samson. It was then that I recognised who he was and I said his surname, Olaleye, before he had the chance to fully introduce himself.
Back in the late eighties I was a frequent visitor to Lower Mead. I couldn’t afford to get up to Norwich so going to see Wealdstone was the next best option, much cheaper, and only a couple of miles away as opposed to well over a hundred. I saw Samson play quite a few times one season. He was a tall, gangly but athletic player who scored quite a few goals. When he scored we were treated to an obscene dance called the “Samson Boogie”. It was a series of very unsubtle pelvic thrusts in the direction of the home supporters.
His most memorable goal was at Dartford. It was a nothing game for Wealdstone, who were mid-table but an everything game for the Darts. Two wins would have seen the team, managed by Peter Taylor, promoted to the Conference. Samson scored the only goal of the game, Wealdstone hung on for a memorable win and that loss left the door open for Merthyr Tydfil to win the league and promotion at the expense of Dartford which they duly did.
I’ve no idea why the Stones played so well that day, but it was just one of those games.
Tuesday, 27 October 2009
Teed Off
I have been at work this week. I didn’t want to be at work this week, but circumstances beyond my control have meant that I have had to report in to base at 7.15am each day to get on with things. The project I have been working on has over-run very badly on the other side of the fence. Not our fault, but as we are a partner with our client we all share their pain and do our best to get through to implementation.
I do feel sorry for myself but more so for those over the road who are under much more pressure than us to deliver a solution, at minimal cost and impact to the business, with immediate savings to the current cost base and an enhanced customer experience.
And what is my reason for not wanting to be at work? It’s half term, and a most other Dads in the office are using up their annual leave with their family doing things that Dads do at half term. Having fun, going to the park, going out and acting the same age as the kids.
My elder daughter Gemma has recently joined Stanmore Golf club and I wanted to take her to a golf tournament on Friday, and I wanted to see her play today. I also wanted to help her with her swing (file note: this sort of help is often considered a hindrance) as she is pushing the ball out to the right at the moment. I could have also helped Lucy with the taxiing round and got involved with all the other parent type things that go on in the school holidays.
Alas, none of this was to be, and I had to be satisfied with a verbal report on her round. I was informed that she didn’t manage to get a par, but scored a four on one of the long holes (?!), plenty of sixes, four eights, and a five and a seven. I calculated that she was round in around 112 shots, not bad for a ten year old. Her target is to be under a hundred by the spring.
Gemma now has a handicap which is thirty six. I’m not sure how this is calculated as I thought the juniors were allowed a few more shots than the seniors, but according to the certificate thirty six it is. I’ve played for years and never ever had a handicap so she's now officially ahead of me in the world of golf
I do feel sorry for myself but more so for those over the road who are under much more pressure than us to deliver a solution, at minimal cost and impact to the business, with immediate savings to the current cost base and an enhanced customer experience.
And what is my reason for not wanting to be at work? It’s half term, and a most other Dads in the office are using up their annual leave with their family doing things that Dads do at half term. Having fun, going to the park, going out and acting the same age as the kids.
My elder daughter Gemma has recently joined Stanmore Golf club and I wanted to take her to a golf tournament on Friday, and I wanted to see her play today. I also wanted to help her with her swing (file note: this sort of help is often considered a hindrance) as she is pushing the ball out to the right at the moment. I could have also helped Lucy with the taxiing round and got involved with all the other parent type things that go on in the school holidays.
Alas, none of this was to be, and I had to be satisfied with a verbal report on her round. I was informed that she didn’t manage to get a par, but scored a four on one of the long holes (?!), plenty of sixes, four eights, and a five and a seven. I calculated that she was round in around 112 shots, not bad for a ten year old. Her target is to be under a hundred by the spring.
Gemma now has a handicap which is thirty six. I’m not sure how this is calculated as I thought the juniors were allowed a few more shots than the seniors, but according to the certificate thirty six it is. I’ve played for years and never ever had a handicap so she's now officially ahead of me in the world of golf
Monday, 26 October 2009
Up the Back Passage
It was a long but enjoyable day at the office, involving many cups of tea, a number of ginger biscuits, a visit to my favourite client, and some heads and chickens that were in varying degrees of proximity to each other later on in the afternoon.
I nearly didn’t get into the office today. This was because my special pass, which allows me to go up the back passage (no jokes please) and saves a couple of minutes walking time stopped working. Over the weekend all the passes had to be re-registered for some reason or another and despite a number of beeps on the thing by the door, the computer was most definitely saying “No”.
Luckily the front door was open and Dave sorted me out, and my back passage credentials were restored. Good job it was this weekend as we are working late next Friday and all day Saturday and the back passage is the only our only out of hours point of entry.
In the morning we had a meeting over the other side of Liverpool Street with my favourite client about a new project. They are a decent bunch, and a real “old school” city type firm. Work hard, but play even harder. Their owners know they have a real diamond of a company on their hands, and hopefully they’ll continue to let them do what they do best which is managing money better than their competitors. And of course, spending money with us.
Being out of the office for a couple of hours meant I had some serious catching up to do. It was just before noon and I had only drunk one cup of tea, so it was straight to the kitchen to get back on track.
The afternoon was spent doing some analysis for another client based round the corner and by around 4.00pm I’d worked out most of I was planning to recommend to them. Not the most interesting piece of work I’ve ever done to be honest, but cherry-picking the good projects isn’t an option and as I was sitting next to their account manager and I mistakenly mentioned that I knew (sort of) how to help them I was in the frame to do the work.
Just as we were approaching golden hour the ginger biscuits made a guest appearance (32p a packet at Tescos), and we all perked up and another cuppa saw us through to after 5.00pm.
I nearly didn’t get into the office today. This was because my special pass, which allows me to go up the back passage (no jokes please) and saves a couple of minutes walking time stopped working. Over the weekend all the passes had to be re-registered for some reason or another and despite a number of beeps on the thing by the door, the computer was most definitely saying “No”.
Luckily the front door was open and Dave sorted me out, and my back passage credentials were restored. Good job it was this weekend as we are working late next Friday and all day Saturday and the back passage is the only our only out of hours point of entry.
In the morning we had a meeting over the other side of Liverpool Street with my favourite client about a new project. They are a decent bunch, and a real “old school” city type firm. Work hard, but play even harder. Their owners know they have a real diamond of a company on their hands, and hopefully they’ll continue to let them do what they do best which is managing money better than their competitors. And of course, spending money with us.
Being out of the office for a couple of hours meant I had some serious catching up to do. It was just before noon and I had only drunk one cup of tea, so it was straight to the kitchen to get back on track.
The afternoon was spent doing some analysis for another client based round the corner and by around 4.00pm I’d worked out most of I was planning to recommend to them. Not the most interesting piece of work I’ve ever done to be honest, but cherry-picking the good projects isn’t an option and as I was sitting next to their account manager and I mistakenly mentioned that I knew (sort of) how to help them I was in the frame to do the work.
Just as we were approaching golden hour the ginger biscuits made a guest appearance (32p a packet at Tescos), and we all perked up and another cuppa saw us through to after 5.00pm.
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