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Martin Bellamy
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It occurs to me that if the England team had become Marxists earlier we’d have a shed load of trophies by now. 


   
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Come on England.


   
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Martin Bellamy
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All Hail. 2-1 to the Marxists! 


   
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Ken Smith
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Over the top celebrations again, England haven’t won anything yet! But l suppose not many folks remember 1966 or were even born then. And how dare the players and crowd sing “Sweet Caroline” when Castleford Tigers have used Neil Diamond’s hit now for nearly 10 years. Just joking.🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤🤤

This post was modified 3 years ago 2 times by Ken Smith

   
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Martin Bellamy
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@ken Those of us who do remember 1966 surely can’t begrudge a bit of a celebration of finally getting to another final. If winning football matches isn’t a reason to celebrate everyone would be a Boro fan. 😉


   
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Ken Smith
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@martin-bellamy 

I really hope England win on Sunday. In the annals of time nobody remembers runners-up though.


   
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All this talk of 1966 - well of course it was in black and white. I watched the match on Redcar High Street standing outside Currys tV shop along with about 30 others. Happy  days 


   
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Martin Bellamy
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@allan-in-bahrain The full match is being shown (in colour) tomorrow on TV in the UK. 


   
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Ken Smith
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The last time England won the World Cup it was definitely televised in colour, and it went to extra time. It was only 18 years ago so I guess most of us remembered it although the television commentators and pundits seem to have forgotten it altogether. It finished England 17 Australia 14 with Jonny Wilkinson kicking a penalty goal in extra time. 

By the way in Scotland the 2021/22 football season starts this afternoon which I suppose confirms that it is the major sport north of the border considering that the Wimbledon tennis finals haven’t yet finished and that the greatest Golf tournament in the World doesn’t start until next week, and  yet wasn’t it Scotland that invented Golf?

Mind I’m disappointed that 3 football matches have been postponed, but can’t wait to see the results at 5pm. I wonder if Hearts away to Peterhead will be on Match of the Day, but perhaps the Scots will be rooting for England tomorrow. I love a bit of satire, me!

This post was modified 3 years ago 5 times by Ken Smith

   
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Ken Smith
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Posted by: @allan-in-bahrain

All this talk of 1966 - well of course it was in black and white. I watched the match on Redcar High Street standing outside Currys tV shop along with about 30 others. Happy  days 

Yes there seemed to be a clash of ‘colour’ with England playing in black and white, whilst West Germany played in white and black. However colour was restored in the ‘replay’ staged several weeks later when 1 watched it at the Regent Cinema in Redcar.


   
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There's a guy on the internet who says that he bought a ticket for tomorrow's final months ago for £300.

He's now realised that it clashes with his wedding day.  

If anyone on here is interested in taking his place here are the relevant details:

It's at Burnley Registry Office at 4,00 o' clock, and the lady's name is Sharon.


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@allan-in-bahrain

Allan I was in Eastern France in the Jura and watched through a TV rental shop window. Strangely all the French people were supporting Germany... Great atmosphere afterwards though!

UTB,

John


   
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Martin Bellamy
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@ken Rugby World Cup with JW? Too many players for me I’m afraid - I find RU tedious to watch (probably because I’ve never played it at all) - give me RL any day (although I’ve never played that either).

The worldwide audience for a football World Cup dwarfs anything that either Rugby code can muster. 


   
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There were nearly 13M viewers who watched the last Rugby WC final in 2019 which was a record viewing figure for that year I think.

Put into perspective however 20.6M watched the Germany game, 20.9M watched the Ukraine game (26M on TV and/or online) in the UK and a total of 27.6M watched the Denmark game.


   
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I see that the evening gazette are  singing Gareth Southgate's praises. Why did Boro sack him and replace him with Gordon Strachan?

UTB,

John


   
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jarkko
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@john-richardson

We will never know that. It looks waird now. Up the Boro! 


   
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Ken Smith
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The previous fastest England goal was scored after 27 seconds by Bryan Robson in a World Cup group match on the 16th June 1982 against France in Bilbao. However England conceded a goal against San Marino reputably after 2.7 seconds in a World Cup group match  in 1993 but went on to win 7-1.

This post was modified 3 years ago 2 times by Ken Smith

   
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Disgusting behaviour before, during and after the game last night by some so called fans topped off by the on-line racial abuse.

What will be done about it? Absolutely nothing, just plenty of tutting and hand wringing along with a few dollops of apologetic and angry rhetoric from our Politicians. As Keith Lamb might have said, no wonder we have the society that we do.


   
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jarkko
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Posted by: @redcarred

Disgusting behaviour before, during and after the game last night by some so called fans topped off by the on-line racial abuse.

What will be done about it? Absolutely nothing, just plenty of tutting and hand wringing along with a few dollops of apologetic and angry rhetoric from our Politicians. As Keith Lamb might have said, no wonder we have the society that we do.

An technical expert of the Finnish TV summed the match up: "Both teams were sympathetic. Some English fans tried to spoil the show and possibly the better team won by a fine margin."

I think there is something wrong in the English society nowadays. Abuse is seen far too often, even hatret. The country is too devided and there are some problems similar to the USA. A lot of good will is lost toward others and rasism is visible. Care and understanding of others are lost by some.

As RR said, something should be done to stamp this out. I cannot see always the same England I falled in love with during the end of last centenary.

But still love Boro, Yorkshire and Southgate. Up the Boro! 


   
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@jarkko

Last night we got the First payment for our lack of discussion over anything that the English manager says or does. He is not right about everything, no one is! And he got the penalty shootout as wrong as it could get. We will forgive him not bringing on Grealish (but it cost us) Big time, we will forgive him sitting in our own penalty area forever letting them try to get the ball in our net (without much idea) Grealish would have been just fine on the halfway line (not offside) two or three men needed to control him. Do not mention penalties, to select your penalty takers without regard to the circumstances, and pick youngsters who were lightweight at best is bad, but, to bring then on the field cold without any contact with the ball two minutes before they had to deliver was madness. Did he know that his first debutant would try a wizard stunt, Cold Turkey? Why have his two Young Boys go last, first! they would not have known the perils they faced. We had three heroes, both fullbacks and Henderson plus Kane and Maguire. Of course we also had Grealish who is fearless and had to watch two little boys walk all the way to that goalmouth and take a penalty with the side of their foot, the six foot six goalkeeper had an easy evening.         

t .   o     


   
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Martin Bellamy
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@plato Southgate out!?


   
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Ken Smith
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I don’t like penalty shoot-outs but apart from having a replay I can’t think of an alternative. But last night I felt it would have been a travesty if England had won by that method. I also don’t like end of season playoffs either in their present guise. But football has changed and if Boro gained promotion by either method I would be happy, but also sympathetic to the fans of our opponents. Gareth is a gentleman who knows what it is like to lose, but he is dignified in defeat and supportive of his players, and why shouldn’t he be? The trouble is that the media have built up so much euphoria that they they believe England have a right to expect us to be World Champions never mind European Champions, although at least they are in agreement that Italy richly deserved to win and echoed most of public opinion that Gareth has a fine blend of young players who did their best but just fell short. 

I can understand young children finding it hard to lose and are so disappointed to do so, but disappointments are part of growing up and they’ll endure greater disappointments in life than losing a football match. Bill Shankly once stated that “football is a matter of life and death, but it’s more serious than that”. He was wrong then, and is still wrong today as the  World has endured a coronavirus pandemic which although not as catastrophic as two World Wars, has nevertheless been the worst trying time that most of us have ever endured. But will some of those of more mature years ever grow up, especially now that they can remain safe   behind social media to spout their hatred of anyone or anything that doesn’t fit into their thinking. I make no apologies for repeating some of the words of Rudyard Kipling in his poem entitled “IF” :- 

If you can dream, and not make dreams your master;       
If you can think, and not make thought your aim,     
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster,         
And treat those two imposters just the same;    
If you can bear to hear the truth you’ve spoken        
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,       
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken     
And stoop and build them up with worn-out tools.        
If you can walk with crowds and keep your virtue,      
Or walk with Kings nor lose the common touch,    
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,    
If all men count with you, but none too much;       
If you can fill the unforgiving minute       
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,       
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it,      
And what is more, YOU’LL BE A MAN, MY SON!

The trouble is that some people will never grow up. St Paul in his epistle to the Corinthians ended with the words FAITH, HOPE AND LOVE, but the greatest of these is LOVE. Being a Boro fan all my life, like most people I know all about the first two, but loving thy neighbours such as Sunderland and Newcastle is harder for most Boro fans but never has been for me. We’re all League clubs from the North East, so although not a League of Nations we are a League of Northeasterners. Similarly even after Brexit we’re a League of Europeans and to hear England supporters booing through opponents’ National Anthems is a mark of disrespect for foreigners and especially black people whom the uneducated seem to thing should ‘go back to their own Country’. Well I’ve got news for them. This is their ‘own’ country to anyone born on this island. Is this why racialism is still rife in this Country? 

I know I’ve rambled on a bit as is my won’t, but perhaps “You’ll ever walk alone” should replace nationalistic pride and “Somehere over the Rainbow” become the international anthem for the future. But my future on this Earth is limited and sometimes I need to give my opinions before it’s too late. I’m too tired now to carry on much further as life has become a bore. Perhaps soon in the words of Charles Wesley I might be able to say “My chains fell off, my heart is free”.

This post was modified 3 years ago 2 times by Ken Smith

   
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@ken, all very true especially adapting You'll never walk alone, it's certainly a lot more upbeat and inspiring!


   
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I thought England did very, very well even to make the final. There were four or five nations out there with better XIs in my view but having topped our group and beaten Germany, the draw opened up nicely for us.

I see Harry Kane as our only genuinely world class player - probably the only senior player who would interest the most elite clubs outside of England, whereas France for example have several top players but fell well short - though the future looks bright with some of the younger talent in the squad if they continue to develop.

Ultimately Italy were not only the better team from the second half onwards but the best team throughout the tournament despite not having too many superstars themselves and fully deserved the trophy.


Martin Bellamy
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It seems to me that there’s a lot of truth in this article by Barney Ronay:

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/jul/12/england-the-country-not-the-football-team-needs-to-take-a-look-at-itself?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other


   
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@ken

Hi Ken

i was looking at the current England team and thinking of the Boro connection with the manager. It also led me to think how involved Middlesbrough FC have been involved with England over the years.

They used Rockliffe as a training base and played their first warm up games at the Riverside.

Our players have consistently represented England at all levels and continue to do so.

Gareth Southgate was the England Captain and Boro Captain when they played at the Riverside and one of my most enjoyable experiences at the ground.

Paul Merson played for England whilst Boro were still in the second tier.

Stuart Downing Gary Pallister the list is endless.

The 1966 World Cup winners we had Jack Charlton as manager and Nobby Stiles as a player.

George Hardwick was the first captain of a GB team.

perhaps with your knowledge Ken and your analysis it could provide a new series of articles 

BORO and England 

OFB


   
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Posted by: @original-fat-bob

@ken

Hi Ken

i was looking at the current England team and thinking of the Boro connection with the manager. It also led me to think how involved Middlesbrough FC have been involved with England over the years.

They used Rockliffe as a training base and played their first warm up games at the Riverside.

Our players have consistently represented England at all levels and continue to do so.

Gareth Southgate was the England Captain and Boro Captain when they played at the Riverside and one of my most enjoyable experiences at the ground.

Paul Merson played for England whilst Boro were still in the second tier.

Stuart Downing Gary Pallister the list is endless.

The 1966 World Cup winners we had Jack Charlton as manager and Nobby Stiles as a player.

George Hardwick was the first captain of a GB team.

perhaps with your knowledge Ken and your analysis it could provide a new series of articles 

BORO and England 

OFB

OFB, you missed out Harold Shepherdson!!!!!!

 


   
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@redcarred

He was on my list and Mrs OFB was shouting me to come and see her in the garden!

To think I missed him after knowing him so well after being a ref for his trial matches then an In2view with his daughter !

I hang my head in shame……

 

OFB


   
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Ken Smith
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@ OFB 

Also Yorkshire and the Northeast provided the most players of the current England squad. Harry McGuire, Kyle Walker and Dominic Calvert-Lewin were all born in Sheffield, John Stone in Barnsley, Calvin Phillips in Leeds and Jordan Pickford in Sunderland. Maybe no Middlesbrough born players, but Gareth Southgate has lived in his £3M mansion in Harrogate for 20 years stretching from his time at Boro and was awarded with honorary Yorkshire citizenship by the Yorkshire Tourist Board in 2018. It has often been quoted that a strong Yorkshire cricket team means a strong England cricket team, even more so in recent times. Well now it would appear that if there was a combined Yorkshire born football team its strength is reflected in a strong England football team. 

Also Boro were the only club to provide more than one player in the Victory International when Great Britain beat the Rest of Europe 6-1 at Hampden Park in 1947, Wilf Mannion as well as George Hardwick who in all his appearances for England in wartime as well as peacetime internationals captained his country although caps were not awarded for the wartime internationals.

This post was modified 3 years ago 2 times by Ken Smith

   
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@ken

Certainly quite a northern-born England squad this time to which you can add Aaron Ramsdale / Sam Johnstone, Dean Henderson, Jordan Henderson, Marcus Rashford, Kieran Trippier, Connor Coady and Phil Foden.

 


   
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