New signing.

We have signed forward Michael Crocker from the Melbourne Storm for next season on a 3 yr contract.
He's a top class player, no doubt about it, but has had injury problems, and apparently is a bit of a bad lad (or has been) on the pitch. A parking space at Red Hall then for easy access for disciplinary meetings then! (Next to Stanley's lol)
If he keeps fit we have a gem. Unfortunately, we haven't been too lucky in that department of late.
Welcome to the madhouse Michael! :)

Well done Kirsty!

My youngest daughter Kirsty handed in her last essay yesterday. so she's finished her degree! She has worked so hard and I'm very proud of her. We're pretty sure she has a pass, as marks are built up over the course, but will have to wait what sort of pass she has. If it is a good one she has a place to start a Masters degree next year.
I left school at 16 and didn't have the chance of further education. We had to get to work and start bringing money in. So I'm proud that both my daughters have had the chance. One thing that is scary is the amount of debt they both are in with student loans etc. I have posted before how much a disgrace it is that my girls are in debt for trying to educate themselves, if they lived in Scotland, their University education would be free.
We have to invest in our future, saddling young people with thousands of pounds in debt just for trying to do better for themselves, and as a result, bettering the country as a whole, is just wrong. We have plenty invested in the 'no goods', who can't be bothered to work etc don't we?

New Coach at the FC

Richard Agar, assistant to both Peter Sharp and his predecessor John Kear, has been given the top job with a 2 and a half year contract.
A few fans are underwhelmed, but I'm not so sure. You used to see time and time again in especially football (ie Liverpool) that an appointment from within can be very successful indeed. In fact where Liverpool are concerned when that process stopped, it could be argued they haven't been quite the same. I've always been of the belief that certain clubs need a man at the helm that 'gets it' They understand the clubs culture and what it means to the fans. Garry McAllister is one that springs to mind at Leeds Utd.
The last time I saw the FC have a decent attack was when Agar took over from John Kear in our Grand Final season in 2006. I know Sharpy led them out on final day, but even he admitted he had done very little, and had left things the way Richard had decided on.
Only 36, we have taken the chance on a British coach. I wish him well.

What a bloody disastrous day!

Both my teams where beaten yesterday. By far the most sickening was Leeds Utd's defeat, I was absolutely gutted.
The FC, even though they lost to St Helens, worked bloody hard. The one glaring thing wrong with us all season is the lack of ideas in attack. Manly because both our main half backs have hardly played through injury.
I think league wise our season is over to be honest, we'll just have to win the cup then! :)

I found this clip on You tube of the pre game singing of 'Marching on Together' yesterday, it made me smile. (Hope this cheers you up too Mick if you see it!)

Onto more important things........

in my eyes at least. No matter how well my home town football club have done today, my real focus will be tomorrow when the Mighty Whites take the 1st step back up that ladder, and back where they belong!
I honestly can't contemplate them loosing, I can't imagine it. We have this long and heartbreaking history of falling at the last hurdle. But having said that, when things do come together it is fabulous!
Come on lads, I want to hear a great rendition of
'15 points who gives a f*ck,
Were super Leeds and we're going up!'
Oh and 'Fook off to the Football League' too!!
MARCHING ON TOGETHER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Good luck to the FC tomorrow night in their match against Saints. They're gonna need it!!

Well done City!

As you may know my football allegiances are elsewhere, but I have to say well done to Hull City for gaining promotion to the Premiership. The thought of Chelsea, Liverpool, and yes, even the Red Gerbils coming to play at the KC is quite a surreal thought. I would be very suprised if they last more than a season in the top flight, but that doesn't take away the fact that it's the 1st time they have made it. I hope the club and the fans enjoy the ride!

Seeing 'real' Predjudice

I have always been interested in American politics, so have followed this years Presidential race on the net and American news channels on Sky.
What has struck me with quite some horror, is how Hillary Clinton has been treated in the American media. In the way it has been inferred that she should give up and call it a day, and let the men take over. You see her called a bitch, a witch, and all those old chestnuts that are rolled out when a strong woman starts to do well.
I hated everything that Margaret Thatcher stood for, but she used to get the same sort of treatment in a way. Even in 'Spitting Image' she was portrayed in a mans suit and smoking cigars.
Hillary gets 'witty' comments on her preference for trousers. I wear trousers all the time because they are damn comfy, I would think she thinks the same.
The thought of an intelligent able woman becoming President of the US fills me with pride. She may not win, but it would be nice if she got a fair shot! Good luck Hillary, do it for the girls!

Going, going gone.

Hull FC coach Peter Sharp has left the club with mutual consent. I feel sorry for the bloke, because he worked really hard, and had some terrible luck with injuries. But it has to be said that he didn't seem to be able to adapt the team to a situation like you see with other coaches. I wish him the very best of luck though, and will miss 'Sharps soundbites!



Just a word about Richard Whiting (on the right of the pic) who sadly broke his leg at the game against Quins yesterday.
Now the bad luck that has plagued Richard this season, sort of illustrates the luck of the club as a whole injury wise. Rich broke his arm in a pre-season friendly, he's been back about 2 weeks, and broke his leg in the last minute of yesterdays game!
I have always rated Richard from the first time I set eyes on him (I'm also a bit biased as I once got one of the most loveliest of smiles from him after a game!) He has great ability and a good rugby brain. I wish him a full and speedy recovery, the injury is by all accounts a very bad one.
Best wishes Richard!

Good News at Last!!!

Leeds Utd are in the play off final, after a 2-0 win tonight at Carlisle. (3-2 on aggregate)
After all what has happened over the last few years, and even this season. We start the season on -15 points, loose first our 1st team coach, then our Manager, have had to settle under a new management team, and if we win at Wembley next week, promotion!
Back to the game, we played brilliantly well, both goals scored by Jonny Howson (pictured right with Jermaine Beckford) a local lad and only 19 to boot.
I'm just coming down off the ceiling, the Hubster and I scared the hell out of the cats when that last goal went in lol.

Marching on together!! (This clip was from the 1st leg on monday)

Dissappointed again!

Yes the Sith did it again and beat us at Cardiff. Now I will say that some of the refereeing decisions where a disgrace, (yes, and that means you Mr Ganson!) but that doesn't change the fact that although we worked very hard, and defended brilliantly at times, the attack was woeful. We seem to have no idea whatsoever at times. Now we've had this running excuse of all the injuries which was true, then we had the excuse that we hadn't had a lot of time on the training pitch which was again true. I have to say though these reasons are wearing pretty thin!
If we had a team of dopes all this could be understandable, put we have a bloody good team on paper that should be doing a lot better than this!
A lot of us FC fans have been very patient and fair, no one can say I haven't been fair, especially to coach Peter Sharp, but if things don't start picking up soon our season will be over. I was just looking at our remaining Superleague fixtures, and on this form we'll have trouble winning any of em!!
It's shape up time methinks, or certain people will be out on their ear!

N.B. I just want to say that I do not question the teams commitment one bit, they worked very hard yesterday, it just doesn't seem to be channelled in the right way.

Derby time once again.

Yes it's that time again, 'Lets bash the Sith' It's Millennium Magic over the weekend, where all the Superleague games are played over the weekend at the Millenium Stadium, Cardiff. Most games are set up as local derbies, so Hull FC play the Sith, Saints play Wigan, Leeds play Bradford, etc. Should be a good weekend of rugby!!
Someone on a forum I go on pointed out the chorus in this track by Madness called 'Ghost Train' It goes like this:
'Don't try to hide it,
It's Black and White..'

Come on you Dobbins fans, you know it makes sense really, come and join us to keep The Faith!

A year on.

There has been a lot of coverage in the last day or two about Madeline MCcann case. It's quite amazing that it's been a year since she went missing. I didn't see the documentary that was shown on TV last night, but I've listened to conversations on radio about the tragedy.
And a tragedy of massive proportions it is. I wouldn't wish what that family have gone through on anyone.
BUT,
I was listening to an interview on the radio with the documentary maker yesterday, and she admitted she had left her young children in a hotel room whilst she and her partner had been having dinner in the restaurant.
Now I don't you about you, but I NEVER left my children on their own. I just didn't get out very often when they where little, and when we went on holiday we stayed in of an evening. This isn't a holier than thou comment, but it's a true one. Not only was Madeline left alone, but her younger brother and sister where left alone too! A lot of people forget that point.
I hope to God that little girl is found safe and well. The MCcann's made a terrible mistake, one that will never leave them.