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WINTER'S WORLD
MASTERS FINALS IN BIRMINGHAM
6th September 2010
Bank holiday Monday saw Darlington in action on the night at Barrow and they managed to maintain their unbeaten away record but reports suggest that perhaps they deserved more.
Goal line technology in the Conference is unlikely to ever happen and that actually highlights the dilemma of this age old problem. If, and it is a big if, the authorities sanction a system that is proven then at what levels would it be operational?
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Tuesday was transfer deadline day and I was confident that Boro would finally get their man by reaching agreement with Dundee United for our main summer target Craig Conway. I was also hopeful that at least loans would be arranged to bring in a full back or two!
Unbelievably, nothing happened and in fact it got worse as two players capable of playing at left back left the club on loan! I am annoyed, angry and frustrated, emotions that will be very hard to suppress when we meet up on Wednesday at Gazette office Towers to formulate the next 'Talking Boro' article.
I picked up my media mate and Ibrox syndicate colleague Fraser from Darlington station to head south to Southwell for the evening meeting where our horse was to make a long awaited return to action. It meant passing over another stint on Pools Player to co-commentate on Hartlepool’s JPT trophy game against Northampton. Perhaps I should have gone and witnessed their comfortable 4-0 victory.
The last evening meeting of the year at Southwell, the sunshine has brought the punters out in force.
Horseracing is problematic and uncertain at the best of terms all you can hope for is that the horse runs well and more importantly comes back safe and sound. We had to be hopeful as our horse after a long layoff usually goes well fresh, acts on the track and had Jimmy Quinn on board who has won for us before.
In the first half of the race we were going well but in the back straight it was apparent that he was not picking up and despite reminders from the jockey was not responding.
Jockey Jimmy Quinn in our famous red, white and blue colours with trainer Alan Brown waiting for Ibrox.
The front three went clear as they turned for the final run in. It looked like as at Market Rasen as if Ibrox was going to stay and run on, but quickly Jimmy stood up on him and he cantered in, worrying the jockey immediately. He then jumped off him and it appeared that the horse was lame.
The vets made an initial assessment where nothing was apparent, so an overnight wait so that he can be assessed and possibly be scanned to try and ascertain the exact problem. It could have been a lot worse. But a layoff is likely with additional expense. Oh the perils of racehorse ownership!
When not gadding about watching football, horse racing and speaking I like nothing better than catching upon my catalogue of Sky Plussed TV programmes, especially the soaps, or as my wife refers to them "watching that crap again”.
Sadly this week saw the passing of The Bill. I have not got over the end of Brookside yet, mind you a young Jennifer Ellison made that programme all the more watchable. Also on TV was the moving programme about the life and times of 'Hurricane' Higgins, a tribute to another flawed genius.
Like Bestie, Gazza and many more with brilliance comes often a sad story. Sport is made all the more enjoyable with characters like these involved.
The Sky Masters Grand Final at Birmingham. Former Hartlepool favourite Martin Scott and myself before I reffed their first game in the quarter finals. Then they were off home after losing to Manchester City.
Thursday saw a return to work but not before extensive research on how to get to Valencia for Rangers Champions League game in November. Work in progress as I had to set off to my former 'home'. I was booked to speak at a dinner at Staverton Park Hotel in Daventry, my former base for three days a fortnight for three years. It's the HQ of the Premier League's refs.
I was speaking at a dinner following a meeting of reps and guests of Frontline Solutions, a financial company. They were trying to raise money for a Charity called Childflight who raise money not only to take children suffering with terminal and serious illnesses on holiday but also their families as well.
Many
charities similar to this keep it to a minimum on the family front but not this one, so a very worthwhile cause. I don’t think I have ever seen such an array of raffle prizes, all generously donated. The auction was also went very well and over £3,000 was raised on the evening.
Back home after a five year absence, Staverton Park, Daventry
Friday and onto Nottingham to speak at Meadow Lane at County’s centenary dinner to mark 100 years at their present ground. It was a nostalgic occasion with players through the generations interviewed on stage before I did my bit. The evening was hosted jointly by former BBC commentator Colin Slater and Talksport’s Andrew McKenna.
Saturday and for me an unusual and not preferred way of watching a game. If I can’t go then I much prefer the solitude of my own armchair without a barrage of questions about refereeing decisions. It’s funny how I get the blame for everything the ref does!
The Millhouse pub in Hartlepool, the spiritual home of the website virtualmillhouse was hosting an event based around the TV showing of Pools game at MK Dons. I was invited and will try anything once.
To read my account of the day check out WW Match day 11 report by clicking here.
Pre match and the atmosphere builds up in the Millhouse.
The result may have not pleased the Poolies but news that Darlington had only drawn away to Eastbourne against nine men and a midfielder in goal brought smiles to their faces. From a positive perspective Darlo are still unbeaten on the road and are handily placed in the table.
Pools, even in these early days, are as usual in a position that is a couple of wins away from hoping for the playoffs and a couple of defeats away from relegation worries.
Sunday and off to Birmingham to referee the Sky Masters Grand finals. This was the first time I had done anything like this since my back and neck injections and the first time in two years that I really enjoyed being able to ref without being in pain.
It was a good event. The Sunderland lads travelled all the way to Birmingham only to lose in the quarter-finals. A long way to go for sixteen minutes!
A stop off in a lay-by to do my weekly slot on Talksport and that’s it for the week.
THE WEEK AHEAD
I am off on a cruise so normal service will resume in ten days time. Have a good week.
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