One long overdue return to a hallowed speedway track and here we are again. I got lucky with this one as I thought I would miss out on seeing Sheffield Tigers at the Foxhall Stadium; they were scheduled to race the week we were up in Sunderland but it got rained off and was rearranged for Monday night. I know, a chance to see Sheffield in action and not on a normal Thursday race night – I was as excited as a very excited thing.
Sport
Well It’s…Back To Schooldays!
With heartfelt apologies to all Graham Parker fans out there, a long overdue return to my childhood passion, although this was of course to Foxhall Stadium (home of the Ipswich Witches speedway team) and not to Sheffield Tigers Owlerton Stadium, who were of course my home team throughout my childhood; however my earliest actual, genuine memory was the World Speedway Championship of 1965, when the great Bjorn Knutson was the victor at London Wembley Stadium and which I attended with my extended family. However, I do remember going to Owlerton in the days of the great Billy Bales, who rode for Sheffield from 1965 onwards, so I’m guessing I must have first gone to watch the Tigers from about the age of nine onwards.
Was It Worth It Then, Prince Abdullah bin Mosaad bin Abdulaziz?
And by “It“, I am of course referring to the money that even a one year stay in the Premiership affords. Not forgetting the parachute payment received after one glorious season in the top flight before a speedy return to the Championship! What first attracted you to the cash cow that is Sheffield United?
Bowler’s Bum and Other Delights
Should have been in Malta but For reasons that I am not prepared to divulge we had to cancel. As some sort of minor recompense, we agreed to a short break in Norwich ‘instead’. Only two nights, but an early departure saw us arrive at the Bowling Alley in time for the ‘nifty fifty’ three hour session. Thoroughly enjoyed it and I scored both the lowest and highest scores of the day. Naturally, as if I didn’t know (or had conveniently forgotten), I was of course struck down with “Bowler’s Bum“, a particularly savage case I have to say but one I fought manfully for the rest of the stay.
Old Haunts and Pastimes
Notwithstanding I have never mentioned how this occurred, but earlier this year Mrs. No Name ‘acquired’ her own bowling ball and a last minute decision to get the holes adjusted for a better fit resulted in a hastily arranged overnight Thursday night stay in Norwich. Went to the tenpin bowling centre and ended up playing tenpin for three hours (in my case picking up a …
Half Empty You Say!!!
On the front page of the site I may have ungenerously but somewhat characteristically made reference to my foreboding for the 23/24 football season. Well, after eight games and one point, I can’t help but try and recall the exact wording….hmmmm……. “Dreading the 2023/24 season though 🙂”. Oh yeah, that.
The League Conundrum
It’s close on two years since I’ve posted anything about the Blades or sport in general. I think it says much about my current sporting ‘malaise‘ that it’s been that long. Probably no positive spin here to be honest, although the post isn’t intended to be wholly negative.
Wilder Woes (Part 2)
Well, I promised and here it is. In truth, there isn’t much to add unless you are very close to the ground. 180 odd miles away, even with the benefit of on-line reporting, official and unofficial output is a little sketchy. I did see a report from the owner briefing that suggested that CW was demanding £4 million to depart but, as far as I …
Wilder Woes
Can not believe my ears, eyes and all other associated orifices! Will reserve judgement until the facts are clearer but, on the surface, possibly the worst decision in living football history. WHAT were they thinking. More when further further details are released….
London and the cricket
Just back from three nights in London at the Park Plaza Riverside hotel (very pleasant with spacious rooms). Managed to fit in a walking trail around old Pimlico followed by dinner with friends in the evening. The Saturday was largely filled with Sri Lanka vs. Australia world cup cricket at the Kennington Oval (a mere 10 minutes or so walk from the hotel) – a …
Homepage Conundrum
Never thought I’d ever have to update the site’s front page! But it looks as though that is definitely what I should be doing next. No more need be said, but a manager called Chris Wilder and his squad had a lot to do with it and Mr. Wilder in particular deserves all the plaudits that have subsequently come his way!!! Watch this space……..
Sporting Vacuum
For reasons to banal to repeat here, I noticed recently I haven’t made a significant entry about sport on this site for well over two years. I began to ponder the reason and realised that, at least by way of generalisation, I’ve become quite disenchanted by the professional sporting world. There are clearly some sporting specifics, and then there are the stories that some would say are peripheral to sporting excellence but for me are symptomatic of a deeper malaise.