Happy? New Year! Rochdale at Home

3rd January: home

So Christmas, the commercial juggernaut has been truly upon us. Twenty four seven TV (and this year, for the first time I notice the preponderance of war films; some of them black and white and inspirational-type ones (The Dambusters), others a more simple glorification of war with heroes and villains easily distinguishable, and others that can be read at a deeper level; or indeed many levels such as Kelly’s Heroes (so far one of my all-time favourite films of any genre).

But also the episodes that have become staple fare (the Dr Who Christmas Special) and so on.

But in addition this year there has been a David Beckham (as UNICEF ambassador) documentary. The concept was to play a “game of football” on each of the Earth’s seven (7: the shirt that Beckham is famously associated with wearing) continents.

I didn’t catch it all, but what I did see has me thinking many things.

First what a great personality this talented footballer is. Both humble and generous he has developed from a shy, awkward TV character to a commanding presence (practice of course) always remembering his roots, his family, apparently keeping his feet on the ground and using his fame for good cause. The concept was to play a “game of football” on each of the Earth’s seven (7: the shirt that Beckham is famously associated with wearing) continents.

Secondly – for me, inevitably – how much did it cost to make this programme? Flying people and kit across the world and all of the additional costs: the trip to Antarctica for example, though stunningly filmed, would have set somebody back a pretty penny. And does the subsequent marketing justify this expenditure? The cause, undeniably brilliant and worthwhile was launched in 2015, 7: The David Beckham UNICEF Fund, is David’s personal commitment to use his voice, influence and connections to raise vital funds and rally for lasting change for children.

Did it do that? His visits to places? The publicity it generated? Or was it just some kind of Hollywood stunt that everybody got carried away with?

From the blurb comes the following: “The first stop saw David visit the highlands of Papua New Guinea where he spent time in a traditional village and learnt about the challenges facing children in the country. In Papua New Guinea, malnutrition is a leading cause of death in children under five. UNICEF, with the support of David’s own 7 Fund is providing treatment for children suffering malnutrition as well as working to educate communities on improved nutrition.

Next, David visited Nepal, where he saw the devastation caused by April’s powerful earthquake. In Kathmandu, David met children at a temporary learning centre established with support from UNICEF. The school is one of 1,500 temporary learning centres that UNICEF has helped to set up after the earthquake destroyed over 34,500 classrooms.

In Djibouti, the third of seven countries, David spent time at a refugee camp meeting children and families including those displaced by conflict and violence in neighbouring countries. In Djibouti, about 1 in 15 children die before their 5th birthday, often from preventable causes. At the Ali Addeh camp, which is home to over 10,000 refugees from Ethiopia, Eritrea and Somalia, David saw how UNICEF is providing life-saving vaccines to protect children from preventable diseases such as polio and measles.

The amazing journey, which also took in Buenos Aries in Argentina, Antarctica and Miami in the United States, culminated 10 days after departure at Old Trafford with the unforgettable Match For Children, which raised vital funds and focus attention on UNICEF work for children in danger around the world.”

The game in Antarctica involved a fortunately sunny window of weather and, reportedly the first ever “international game” of football played in full Arctic gear on a scuffled-flat packed snow pitch.

In the U.S.A Beckham played on each side in a rooftop, artificial pitch game between two women’s teams. The game we call football is usually termed “soccer” in the States and rose to prominence first as a game for women. This also gave the chance for an equality message: much needed across the world.

But, taken as entertainment the programme was well worth watching: not least because the “tour” ended with a bona fide Great Britain against the Rest of the World (with Sir Alex Ferguson returning from retirement to manage the G.B. team) This game was played at Old Trafford on the weekend of the terrorist attacks in Paris. This meant that a number of French players, understandably, dropped out of the game. This was the week we were in Durham ( featured in my own post at https://saddlersfan.wordpress.com/2015/11/22/paris-silences-and-the-blades/ )

But after Christmas the bitter-sweet end of another year, a cracking Rock Big Ben show on TV from Bryan Adams (great duet with Beverley Knight (Wolverhampton lass) and the release of the New year’s Honours List.

This usually features a number of sports personalities and this year includes cyclist Chris Froome. Also there are John Surtees, who won seven world motorcycling crowns before claiming six Grand Prix victories and the 1964 world drivers’ title, was honoured with the title of Commander of the Order of the British Empire in recognition of his considerable contribution to the field of motorsport. Jockey A.P. McCoy also became a knight.

From football Denis Law (most famously of man Utd and Scotland) and Francis Lee (man City and England) are honoured, not only for their sporting prowess but for their contributions to sport and to charity. Recently asked whether the man United team who played in would beat the currently struggling and embattled man united law said his team would have won one nil. Asked why the score line would have been so close he quipped that “most of the team I played in are in their seventies now!”. His sense of fun has clearly not diminished.

 

 

Women’s football was also recognised: two England stalwarts Steph Houghton and Fara Williams being honoured. Genuine recognition and well deserved. How long, I wonder before women are actually playing in mixed teams in an official league? Watch this space!

Before heading out to pick up my brother on the way to the home game against Rochdale I have time to watch some of mid-day football programme Football Focus. It concentrates, sadly, on the Premier league of course, but there is a spot where Gary Lineker is at St George’s Park (half an hour’s drive away and close to the village of Rangemore where I worked once upon a time).

England Under 19s are training in the background … and there, for a moment is Rico Henry. This is January. There is a very good chance that he will be one of our players snapped up during this transfer window where bigger clubs can buy players like, well, like young Rico.

It is one of the sad facts of being a supporter of a league one team that we see talent on its way to bigger and better things … and, occasionally talent going in the opposite direction (Paul Merson being a super example of this).

Tom Bradshaw is only on the bench (bit surprising that) and Henry too. Within the first three minutes the other surprise is that mid-table Rochdale have had three shots and one of them has gone in.

Nobody expected that – and the team settle down to pull it all back. Not looking particularly flustered until Rochdale pack the spaces and we cannot get past their busy players. Lalkovic seems out of sorts up front and Cook is disappointing today. Sawyers seems tired and playing, for me, too far back.

… and we just don’t look to have the energy, the urgency, the invention … for the first time this season.

It is disappointing and frustrating. During the whole game I don’t think we had a single shot on target (I am of course bound to be wrong!); even the late introduction of Morris, Bradshaw and Henry don’t make the required difference and Rochdale are all over us. Their few – loyal – supporters are ecstatic as we file out having lost three –nil.

Despite this Neil Etheridge is the sponsor’s man of the match. Honestly he would have been my choice too. O.K. he let in three, but kept so many others out!

But, let’s hope that’s the blip out of the way: next week we are at Brentford. Ticket allocations sold out, so I wish the lads well … but, look after the squad and back to league business as soon as possible please.