…so I think the Tour de France should be the subject of today’s picture… don’t you? I doubt any other world-class sporting event is going to come within a few feet of my front door again. Of all the ones I got today I like because of my friend Simon’s smile, and also the fact it has the yellow jersey on it — he’s just visible in the centre.
The first two days of the Tour de France pass through Yorkshire this year, and on Sunday 6th July the race goes right past my front door, literally. The associated publicity campaign has already begun, with a noticeable increase in the number of bicycles to be seen on any given public holiday — as today was. There will be more, I am sure.
Impossible to get a shot that was both photographically interesting and which captured the drama of today’s events at the City Ground, Nottingham. This picture is as good as I could manage to capture the tension that was released by Leo Ulloa’s 92nd minute goal, one already burned into the memories of all Brighton & Hove Albion fans I am sure. If you want to read more about that, go to this page. I am too drained. Seagulls!!
Happened to be passing The Shay this morning, home of Halifax’s two professional sports teams, Halifax Town AFC and Halifax RLFC. Which one of the two this guy plays for I do not know, but I assume it was one or the other, what with his carrying a sports bag and all.
Incidentally, today constitutes a ‘photowhack’ — akin to a Googlewhack, in which one and only one result is obtained from a Google search, a photowhack is a day on which I get a totally acceptable Photo of the Day with the first, last and only photo I take on the day. This has happened only 2 or 3 times in all the days I have done the blog, but today was one. As soon as I got this pic I knew it would be the one.
Built in 1997, this is the home of Bolton Wanderers FC, who today lost 2-0 at home to the mighty Brighton & Hove Albion (blog followers have seen prior evidence of my interest in the victors). This picture was taken long before kick-off. I like the sense it gives, of waiting for things to start. The gate could be more symmetrical — but never mind.
Chris Neal, goalkeeper of Port Vale FC (with the rest of his team in white and black) tips a shot over the bar while assorted players of my beloved Brighton & Hove Albion FC look on, in today’s FA Cup 4th round match between the clubs. Brighton were 2-1 up at this point, and went on to win 3-1. Which is nice. In fact since the beginning of November (Doncaster) I have been to five games and seen five wins. And there’s another match coming up on Tuesday night.
They came, they saw, they conquered. Blackpool FC (‘The Seasiders’) 0, Brighton & Hove Albion FC (‘The Seagulls’) 1. This picture taken from the away end at Bloomfield Road stadium, during one of longueurs which characterised the match — not a great one, it has to be said, but the right result. For the seagulls, anyway.
I am a Brighton & Hove Albion fan but I am also a football fan, I just like going to games whoever is playing. When the work colleague with whom I’ve come to Moscow pointed out that we would be there when CSKA were hosting Manchester City in the Champions League, we decided we would go. She is a City fan but I was neutral in the matter. I just wanted the experience of going to a big game abroad, which I have only ever done once before (Benfica v FC Porto, December 1990).
Experience it definitely was, and a good one. It was also a cold one, below zero for most of it, including the last 15 minutes during which these 200 or so CSKA fans bravely took their shirts off. I apologise for the technical deficiencies of the shot but bear in mind this was taken at an angle, with a very long zoom, through plexiglass.
I should also point out that I have seen stories on my return regarding alleged racist chanting by the CSKA fans. As someone who was actually at the game, neutral, and understands basic Russian, I have to say that these allegations are at best dubious. In my informed and objective opinion there was no ‘racist chanting’ whatsoever evident at this game.
I’m not a fan of Liverpool FC – this is obvious from this blog. I do not believe they have some divine right to success, or to be better thought of than other clubs. And today’s result, which I forebear from mentioning here, was disappointing – to say the least.
However, you would have to be a total cynic not to feel a little moved by the sight of the Kop End while ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ is playing. I am glad I was able today to pay a visit to one of the truly legendary venues of world football, still here, not yet torn down to be replaced by some identikit stadium on an out-of-town site, better for the moneygrabbers who now determine the course of the sport, but with no history, no soul. Anfield might be cramped, and rather old-fashioned these days, but it definitely has soul. There is no denying it.
Twenty years I have lived in Yorkshire. And much as I like the place, and like Leeds as a city, I have SO developed a complex about the fact that my team (Brighton) have not won here since I arrived. Twenty years I have had to put up with last-minute equalisers and condescension from the local Leeds fans. Twenty years I have had to live in the midst of an arrogant fanbase who despite several recent seasons in the third tier still seem to be living on the fact that in the 1970s they may have won a title or two.
Well – NOT TODAY. Today we WON, 2-1 with a last-minute goal – which as this photo is taken, has just gone in. And yes, you could say I’m rather happy this evening.
Being 42 