Well it’s been another funny old week in this current world of non-football.
Our players are back at Colney in an environment of socially distanced, non-contact training in strictly limited groups and maybe the intensity levels will be stepped up next week. Maybe.
Of course, it’s now straight home for them to get a shower and a meal, just as it was for myself back in the days of our Sunday “Press Gang” side who played on Hackney Marshes.
Me and my mate Chris turned up in our kit and left the tracky bottoms and trainers in the car, put them back on in it afterwards and pegged it home. Those showers would have put more muck on you than they took off.
Fortunately our squad has shown a clean bill of health on the Covid-19 front which pleases me greatly. As does the sight of Timm Klose and Onel Hernandez joining in with the seemingly gentle sessions – there’s nothing not to like there.
Little steps for little feet, as my old boss used to say.
But it does make me wonder what we [players, staff and supporters alike] would have felt like at the end of the last century without a truly functional internet.
It kind of keeps me going really. Without it there would have just been the daily paper, snippets on Radio Norfolk and not a lot of NCFC coverage on the TV. There was no way of contacting family and friends without a landline or an extremely primitive mobile. Skype? Zoom? What were they?
As much as some of us [ok, just me] do not willingly embrace all elements of modern technology such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, I’ll freely admit that I would have been completely lost without the Internet over the past few months.
In the last couple of days I’ve discovered that the Newcastle takeover deal is now only awaiting the much-vaunted rubber stamp. By the Good Lord their long-suffering fans will be glad to see the back of Mike Ashley and I don’t blame them one jot. Some of us [ok, me again] moan about Delia but that Sports Direct geezer has been peerless in the cr*p category.
I also learned that Watford have up to six players who refuse or are unable to train under current circumstances.
Sadly said internet also suggests that there are seven gay Premier League footballers who still don’t feel they are able to come out. I wouldn’t know if that is true or not obviously, but it’s a shame if that particular “story” does hold credence.
However the best little gem I stumbled across is this, which I somehow managed to find on a Port Vale fansite via NewsNow.
I genuinely don’t remember the game but I sure recognise most of those on the pitch – hi Gunny, Chippy & Flecky. Watch if you dare…
Video: watch Port Vale put six past Norwich City in 1996 – onevalefan.co.uk
I really enjoy online chats with my footy mates – a particular group of us are having one right now that is veering towards the pros and cons of the Lee Enfield rifle believe it or not – and also the comments on MFW, even if a couple of them are from Leeds fans. I don’t mind.
But 20 years ago we couldn’t have enjoyed these little luxuries and would doubtlessly gone seriously stir crazy.
So I guess we’ll have to go with the flow until we know how everything will pan out.
Which could yet be quite some time. And stop pushing it Leeds. That means you, Angus Kinnear. Do it on the pitch.
Best to all.
I was there that day Martin, in the Directors Box area courtesy of my then employer Nationwide BS, with a Vale supporting Client. The standard of the ‘corporate hospitality’ was about as good as our defending. Truly appalling. And unlike the Colchester 7-1, it was not a turning point!
Hi Dan.
I nearly put in a line to ask if any of our readers were there – you’ve obviously proved that I didn’t need to!
I was in the Directors Box at Carrow Road once [too long and boring to describe how and why] back in the 1990s when Chase was on the run and we had to pay for our own H-T drinks. Honest.
Jimmy Jones was the only Director there that day but he spoke to my mate and I very pleasantly. His son Albie was there with him and he was very much okay too.
The only time I’ve moved in those circles away was at Bradford where my work colleague John B got us into their directors’ lounge before a match and I have to say it was a really good experience. John wasn’t a director but had quite a high profile matchday role with the Bantams in the hospitality sector. Club tie essential – for him!
Cheers.
My one and only Director’s box experience came at Reading. A customer of mine invited me along!
It was memorable for one reason. It was the night we signed Robert Earnshaw and I watched him sign.
We lost 4-o that night, if I remember correctly, and I recall wondering whether he ever wondered what on earth he was doing!
Hi DP3.
I always found the Earnshaw signing a little bit strange. Obviously we spent half of the £7million we got for Dean Ashton on him but I cannot think of two more different strikers.
Thoughts around at the time said that he could only play off Peter Thorne. And we all know what happened when we eventually acquired Thorne.
Mind you Earnie did score a few though. Another one with rotten luck when it came to injuries, of course.
Thanks.
Nice read martin I cannot remember that port vale game its one of a very few teams I haven’t seen us play. God knows where the next few weeks are goin to take us but want really erks me is talk of legal action by teams that don’t like certain decisions when people are dying it stinks must be a judge somewhere say that courts wouldn’t entertain claims in this situation keep well
Hi Kevin
I reckon it’s a bit like “where there’s a will there’s a relative” to the lawyers.
Whatever happens they’ll lap it up, believe me. City’s official legal partners are Fosters on Bank Plain who I use myself when I have to. Nothing criminal in my case [far from it] but you see all sorts in the waiting area!
I must say they are very quick, great to deal with and good value but they ain’t cheap. I’m sure every club in the land has retained solicitors too – we cannot be alone.
Let’s hope all this doesn’t degenerate into a legal battle cos if it does there will only be one winner as you suggest.
Thanks – see you next year by the look of it just now!
Hi Martin
In days gone we would not have known intantly someone travelled 280 miles and had it 24/7 calling for him to resign but there has been no comment of the 50 odd Media camped on his doorstep with no social distances between them.
Footballers and supporters are trying to act in a reasonable way and yes in all walks of life you will get people that will go against procedures and think that draconian rules don’t apply to them.
We have all missed our footballing fix and hope that it can return soon in a safe environment for all that participate in these games, some people that are hoping for the league to be void could be worried that just possibly clubs at the lower end that have been hit with tremendous injuries could start with winning a few games city now will have a full squad to call on so could the miracle be on.
Just like the top of the league clubs like Spurs will have Kane, Son and others wanting a top 4 finish so will put out a strong side, LIVARPOOL on the other hand just might put out an U23 side once they get the title and they play a few clubs that are looking over their shoulder at the bottom 3 so the integrity of the league could be suspect.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Keep safe and well in these testing times
Hi Alex.
Some interesting thoughts in there.
My two cents on Covid-19 are not worth much but I do at least know from my daughter that it’s real, whether another invented disease or not.
Everyone’s pi$$ed off staying in but if we’re out with the dogs so be it. Part of life has to go on. But public transport, getting too close to people in supermarkets or even thinking of returning to Carrow Road [even if I were allowed to] are not on my agenda just now.
You know what the paparazzi are like so their behaviour doesn’t surprise me. It’s all about $$$ as always for them. Best shot equals: winner takes all.
I don’t take easily to being told what to do by people I don’t respect but I think people of our age have an inherent sense of discipline if the need for it is cogently explained to us. I’m just doing what I feel I can without exposing others to risk tbh.
All my elderly relatives went yonks ago as did Sue’s so we can be a little more pragmatic and get out and about as much as we can.
As far as I’m concerned the integrity of the Premier League has ALWAYS been suspect.
Nice one – you stay good too.
Hi Martin;
I too could not remember the game against Port Vale, and having now seen the clip, it was in all honesty a pretty good miss.
Let’s face it, unless we are all in Boris’s inner circle, we will not be watching any live football as we would want to until 2021. Yes, I’m missing it too, but as time goes on, and never having paid the Sky/BT ransom, I seem to be missing it less and less. That’s the worrying thing; when it comes back, will I want to go to a sparsely populated and socially distanced Carrow Road; will my head be turned by more local football, or will it be a run on the beach for the dog, and listen to Chris Goreham or whoever for the latest updates on the drive home?
Whatever, it’s a scary outcome.
Keep well, and stay safe everyone.
O T B C
That’s a fine speech John.
I only found the Port Vale clip by accident – I’m always up at 0600 for the dogs and unashamedly spend the first hour of the day having a look through NewsNow Norwich before Mrs P emerges from the pit.
Kudos to Dan [above] who was there and remembers it – I sure didn’t.
I flatly refuse Sky and BT too – always have – but I’m seriously wondering if I’ll return to Carrow Road at all. I have back and leg issues and it’s become more of a chore to get there game by game recently if I’m honest.
“Will I want to go to a sparsely populated and socially distanced Carrow Road” as you say?
Not if there’s a lottery on who can and cannot attend matches. Flip me, after 32 consecutive seasons I somewhat sadly feel I do have a divine right to be there but maybe it’s time for somebody younger to take over from me. We’ll see.
Great comment as always.
Martin
Must congrats Daniel Farke on his 3 year anniversary and what a 3 years it has been
Year 1 a lot of hit and misses and some calling for his head
Year 2 promotion to the not so promised land
Year 3 just like year 1 but in the Premiership and injuries causing big team selection problems and some still calling for his head.
So happy anniversary Daniel and hopefully many more to come.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Keep safe and well
I know Farke doesn’t always get it right – who could with our squad – but I really hope he and his team sign an extension with us. Same with SW of course.
He’s made our football FUN.
Well at least ipshite wont have to worry about social distancing they been doin it for years at portaloo rd as for fosters martin be sinking a few later prefer ale though ??
Ha!
Fosters was never on my agenda but I think they sponsored us for a short while.
I love Hobgoblin but wouldn’t fancy it in this weather 🙂
LP is now suggesting that the clubs get a bale out from the government why should they no one helped Bury out in their hour of need
Sue’s number two son is a sparky currently deployed in the workshop because he can’t go on site to effect installations just now.
He’s pretty resilient and is glad he’s working and still getting a fair bit of overtime although not doing the job he previously enjoyed.
Sometimes my sympathy for the football industry is a little bit limited tbh.
Probably yourself and several MFW readers know what we would get if we held out the upturned palm to the Government.
Thank God I’ve been retired for seven or eight years.
I hope Blackpool’s as nice as Norfolk is just now 🙂
Blackpool is bathed in sunshine we took a little drive today to give our D in Law her birthday present also a 1st anniversary present and my son his cards for his 40th in 3 weeks and really it was to see our granddaughter.
My D in law couldn’t be bothered to even come into the garden and say thank you for the effort left it to her 5 year old to say mummy has a headache but thank you she likes to receive but not give just like some clubs if the government bales them out with a provision of having to pay it back the excuses would fill all the volumes if encyclopedia britanica.