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It could be said that it is a step into the unknown but the opportunity to play an amateur side from Wigan was far too good to miss for the Sports Journalism Football team at UCLAN.
Fresh from a decent first half of the season, Chris Plumb’s team are set to challenge teams from further afield and it could be said of higher quality.
Chairman, Dan Birch has arranged fixtures against Sports Therapy, IQ Kopa (The largest halls at the University) plus an obscure team of a group of friends. However, all these teams are unknown and Wigan Celtic will certainly provide the toughest test.
Formed last year by UCLAN third year student, Paddy Ryan, Wigan Celtic are a new local club in the area who will enter the Lancashire Premier Amateur League next season. Playing in the shirt of Ryan’s native Glasgow Celtic, the squad is mainly full of ex semi professional footballers who have all joined a project, with high ambitions having been raised at the club.
As the first team coach, and captain, Ryan has said that the team aim to win everything going in it’s first season. If they did indeed win the league they will be entering the next season, they would enter the first division of the North West Counties which is just five divisions below the national Conference. That would make it possible for Wigan Celtic to enter the English Football League in six seasons, if they win everything. Scary or not?
Indeed, the club will also operate a reserve team and an Under 18 side which shows their ambitions. As well as obtaining other players from other sides in the league, the club also has a majority of very good footballers who have good reputations. The goalkeeper was a Wigan Athletic reserve keeper last season, plus there a number of ex Athletic and Everton players in the team. Some of the majority however have trained with teams such as Bamber Bridge near Preston.
The most interesting piece of their squad however is the signing of a Canadian reserve international who was due to sign for Colchester United for £300,000 but was not able to obtain a green card (to live in the UK). Therefore, he will sign for Wigan Celtic having been a team mate of the chairman of the club at the famous independent Scottish school, Gordonstoun. The fact, Nottingham Forest are also supposedly after this man certainly shows how ambitious the club actually are building their way to the top and it is certainly no Gretna story for sure.
But what for the Sports Journalism team? Is a match against this supposedly much feared new team full of ambition, a step too far? Not a chance, and the squad will be keen to put on a good performance as well as show their talent to the opposing team, as Wigan will also be on a scouting mission to purchase new players, maybe from the SJ team.
Adding to the loss of Paul Cox and Jonathan Croft, rock and roll star, Thomas ‘Seagull’ Wilson is out once more leaving manager Chris Plumb without any recognised wingers plus a patchy squad of about thirteen to fourteen.
Squad (probable): Anderson (GK), Fleming, Boon, Persico, Haile, Lowson, Plumb, Birch, Hucker, Clark, Squires, Haile, Mackley, Watson
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Hard Fi never lived up to their first album in 2005.
The concept of Music has perhaps not changed much since the start of the decade. However, the way we have listened and shared music has been the greatest change.
If you ask the teenagers and children of today, on how they first got into music, you can no longer just expect a CD, TV show or even Gig. The value of sharing music through media files, with the increasing impact of the internet has changed the way we listen to music.
The majority of my listening to Dubstep for instance has been frequently through rapid share. On social networking sites. That’s right - social networking sites. The fact that music has now converged so much with other people over a screen is something that has made music more accessible more than ever. Clicking on other people’s links and there a ‘tune’ downloads. This is something that was talked about back in 2000 as MP3, a way of uploading files into MP3 players, a new better version than a Walkman. In terms of social networking, even MSN was still basic, and as soon as we hit 12 and 13 ‘pre-teen’, its messaging chat and its way of sharing things (pictures, games etc) became a real purpose for using the internet.
Now it is Facebook, Facebook and Facebook. Social networking has never been a bigger part of our lives. Groups, Events and the like all hype new albums, news and importantly new music. But even before Facebook, was Myspace who were responsible for perhaps kick starting the most important British band of this decade.
The Arctic Monkeys are king of the MySpace trend, and the first mainstream band of using music through the internet. When we now think back to 2005, we think back to Myspace and the Arctic Monkeys. Their first album ‘Whatever People say I am, That’s what I am not’ was great for its musical style and witty lyrics, but the fact was, they were propelled right from their bedrooms to a thousand of people arced field, within the space of just a year.
2004, was also the year of the ipod. Who can forget the multi coloured adverts on television with U2’s ‘Vertigo’ blasting out in the background? People might have thought this was nothing more than an MP3. Just a collection of tunes but in a nicer looking music player. Indeed, it’s colour helped secure it as an accessible fashion trend amongst all ages, much like the mobile phone had done. However, its purpose was far greater than what people would have imagined.
The ipod became the focal point of personalities. People expressing how they felt, and their music on the pod expressed their kind of person. The ability of it’s kind to bring ‘communities’ together, as well, helped a house party experience or gathering give more of a party feel.
The ipod is now a piece of handheld furniture.
One of the obvious points is the downloading music illegally. In the last eighteen months for instance, bands have become more dependent on gigs funnily enough, whereas gig sales have gone down due to the internet and the recession. Rising prices of gigs too have gone up with the economy, with the Led Zeppelin reunion at the 02 Arena costing £150. Unbelievable?
But what of the actual music itself? Some music columists such as Miranda Sawyer this week, have highlighted the fact that music has remained the same. Indeed, there has not been a movement as such like Rave, Britpop or Punk. However it has more been a case, of some music been revived. Mixing the old with the new helping the old audience like the new music just like their children as an example. Though there have been slight movements such as ‘new rave’, these have not fizzed out to be blessed into history. The current wave of Indie bands have followed their predecessors and not been able to follow up a second album in Britpop fashion.
If that has been the case, with the indie world, what about the pop? Only one man can rule that planet at the moment, Simon Cowell.
Can he be stopped? His ‘music’ or more like his ‘money makers’ are also killing the concept of underground genres of dance music in favour of X Factor talent blended in with the chart music.
In the next decade, it will be interesting to see if there is such a reaction to the brand. It rules our television, our dance floors and also practically everywhere in one social form or another, because of the huge convergence of the media. Social characters such as Susan Boyle and John and Edward are now icons.
Can someone fight against this? Well that could be a new movement in the ‘Teenies’.
For Top 50 Albums of this decade, check out: http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2009/nov/17/nme-top-albums-decade-noughties
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The double was not to be as SJFC Year 1 football team’s winning streak of five games came to an end yesterday afternoon.
Moor Park, witnessed for the first in a long time, a scrappy game of football that was mostly played through the middle of the park, with a huge contest to win the ball.
Chris Plumb’s preperations for the game were dealt with several blows with the absence of top scorer, Tom Haile and attacking midfielder, Will Squires. Add to the loss of both keepers, Anderson and Mackley plus talisman, Peter Long and the team on paper lacked in depth. The further absence of a couple of late additions would would have at least given the team some substitutes, meant SJFC had just eleven. Dominic Fleming took the spotlight, making just his second appearance in goal this season, with manager, Chris Plumb and Chairman, Dan Birch both occuping the left side.
With Paul Cox, the winning goalscorer of the famous 2-1 win over the same team, playing up front in a 4-5-1 formation, the SJFC team tried to keep the ball on the ground in the first half. However, it was clear that the opposition had a threat on goal. It was soon 1-0 to them with Rob Bartlett scoring with a fine finish getting past three players before striking the ball home into the top right corner of the net.
However the first year’s slowly crept back into the game and were rewarded with an equaliser, thanks to some fine battling in the box. A Mike Boon headed goal also resulted in a slight facial injury for the commanding centre back, but this was also a fine piece of bravery. The scoreline was now 1-1, and thus that was it was at half time.
The second half was when the game came into life slightly with chances in the first half far and few between, from both teams. Making his first start in goal, Fleming was called upon to make a superb save tipping the ball over the crossbar. Chances came for the first year’s with Jonathan Croft narrowly hitting a shot over the bar after getting past two players. Tom Wilson also hit the crossbar with a good effort.
However, the injuries sustained to Gary Clark and manager, Plumb were perhaps a contributing factor to this defeat. Clark already having sustained a blow, gave the ball away at the halfway line allowing the opposition to score past the onrushing Fleming in goal. The third goal dealt the final killing, with the Year 1 players appealing for offside, thus allowing the opposition to score, with referee, Long allowing play to continue.
Despite this defeat which ends the winning run, stand in keeper, Dom Fleming believed that there was still positives to be taken. ” I just thought we played quite well seeing as we had quite a few players missing ” said the Exeter short wearing journalist. ” When we kept the ball on the ground, we played better than them “.
Dan Birch believed that no substitutes was a key factor in the defeat. ” Obviously when we had players missing, it was going to be hard. We had a few injuries during the match as well. They are a lot more physical than we are and also older. ”
The tournament scheduled ahead is now looking a no go according to the Scotsman. ” It’s not going to happen I don’t think. I spoke to the SU officer (Jonathan Fletcher) and he said that they have not been able to get it going. There will be a league after Christmas maybe, but now its important that they sort something out to rival Leeds and Loughborough’s intra mural leagues “.
SJFC: Fleming (gk), Lowson, Persico, Boon, Plumb, Croft, Hucker, Wilson, Clark Birch, Cox
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SJFC Manager, Chris Plumb faces a goalkeeping crisis for tommorow’s quickly arranged encounter with the Third Year’s.
First choice keeper, Chris Anderson will be unavailable due to commitments with UCLAN 4th’s, with back up, Stefan Mackley also ruled out, swapping his goalkeeping gloves for a note pad and pen. With the other possible choice, Edward Bretherton refusing to return in goal, Dominic ‘Shorts’ Fleming will swap from full back to goalkeeper, for his start in between the sticks. Fleming’s only other appearance in SJFC colours was in a 4-0 win against Team Random back in October.
Plumb will also lose two further players to UCLAN with creative attacking play maker, Peter Long and defender, Jake Watson both on Uni sport duty tomorrow afternoon. However, Will Squires will make a welcome return to the squad after recovering from his latest battle with his long term ankle duty.
(Squad):
Fleming, Lowson, Boon, Haile, Persico, Birch, Plumb, Squires, Croft, Cox, Clark, Hucker, Haile, Wilson
=== History ===
Sept 09: Lost 1-5
A first ever game for the first year’s with a vastly different line up back in the day. Greg Hall proved to be the toast of Moor Park getting all five goals for the third years, and this helped him give the confidence to break the goalscoring charts in Moor Park folklore this season.
Nov 09: Won 2-1
A triumphant display of pride, passion and belief. Beating a team two and three years older, the SJFC team under Dan Birch didn’t take it to heart going a goal down, with a Mike Boon header and Paul Cox screamer blending in with a superb display of passing football in a rain fest.
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First year manager, Christopher Plumb will have every right to feel ecstatic after his team marched on with a fifth consecutive win, this time against the Second years.
A hat trick from defender turned striker, Tom Haile plus a Luca Persico headed goal separated the two sides. However it was clear that throughout this encounter, SJ Year 1 had been the better team creating more goal scoring opportunities.
Haile opens the scoring at Moor Park
Pre match, it was the clear that this talented group of players were looking to build upon a fine 5-0 win against Journalism, the previous Friday. Despite the absence of Will Squires, it was clear for all to see that was strong depth in the squad with Will Hucker resuming his central midfield spot. In came, Jake Watson, a UCLAN third team player into central defence, for his debut on a pitch in the very lurky shadows of Preston North End.
SJ Year 1 attacking down the slope in the first half had the advantage in windy conditions. The team made sure they made the most of the opportunity when they took the lead, minutes after the start. A good pass from Paul Cox on the left found Tom Haile in the box and Haile found himself space before slotting it past the keeper with a good finish.
Plumb’s team were looking to build upon the opening goal. More chances came with Pete Long’s lob going narrowly wide past the keeper. Tom Haile also had his superbly struck shot tipped wide. SJ Year 2 were not able to create a golden opportunity on goal with the back four of Fleming, Persico, Watson and Boon looking solid.
SJ Year 1 then increased their lead with a Persico header going past the keeper, to make it two goals in two games for the centre back. The score made it 2-0 but the opposition managed to pull a goal back with a long distance shot from Harry Moore taking a deflection off the hands of substitute keeper, Stefan Mackley to stunningly past the goal line, thus reducing the lead.
Mackley who had come on for Chris Anderson, due to the latter having to leave early, managed to recover from the error to pull of a brilliant save which kept his team in the game. Mackley made the save to tip the ball from a powerful shot onto the crossbar, just as it was looking it would go in and arguably it was the save of the match.
Cox goes for the challenge while Clark in blue and on floor, Mike Boon look on.
With SJ Year 1 going up the hill for the second half against the crashing wind, it was never going to be easy. There were chances in both ends, with Cox looking threatening out wide and Peter Long in an attacking midfield role, the undoubted playmaker of the side. Halfway through this half, Tom Haile got a scrappy goal, from a cross, hitting the ball past the keeper to snatch a third, after getting in front of an opposition defender.
The Second Year’s then pulled a goal back with a free kick by Patrick Watson fumbling off Mackley, past the goal line once more. This meant the game was still very much there for the taking. It was clear that Chris Plumb was keen not to tamper with the tactical system which had been superb in the game, and throughout the last four games.
Haile eventually completed his hat trick with a shot going through the legs of the keeper. This has sent the Darlington striker go top of the goal scoring charts with seven goals, to his credit. Remarkable indeed in his transformation from centre back to team striker, in the course of eight games.
A fine 4-2 victory in this hard working encounter at Moor Park means SJ Year 1 have now won five games on the trot. A superb feat and the team will be looking to stamp their authority in the forthcoming 11 a side tournament at PSA on Saturday 5th December.
SJ Year 1: Anderson (Mackley 19), Fleming, Persico, Watson, Boon, Croft (Wilson 90), Clark, Hucker, Long, Cox, Haile
Not used: Plumb, Birch, Lowson
Photographs: Stefan Mackley
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A 2-1 defeat at Tannadice once again confirmed Celtic to another disapointing defeat in what has been a depressing season, for everyone concerned at Parkhead.
Darren Dods with the last minute winner against the Hoops.
So as the SPL table now stands. Rangers are top with twenty five points, Celtic on twenty four, and yet both the ‘other’ contenders, Hibernian and Dundee United are only two points behind both on twenty two points.
The Old Firm talk about a move to England to get out of what is supposedly the hell hole known as the SPL. It is true that both Celtic and Rangers, would get without doubt millions of pounds just for competing in the English Premier League. The reality is, however that both Old Firm clubs would struggle to compete and would occupy the bottom half of the table, with the likes of Portsmouth and Blackburn.
Critics and fans alike have said it has been a depressing year all around for Scottish Football. The results have been there for all to see, but it is still refreshing to see both Hibernian and Dundee United still in there. Both teams have taken points off the Old Firm this season, as have a very young fifth place, Motherwell team that have travelled to both Ibrox and Celtic Park and already nicked 0-0 draws, off both of them.
Indeed, a current look at the squads that Hibernian and Dundee United have show that players from both those teams could easily make the Old Firm. There is no denying that the current crop of players that were on show for Celtic today at United, are not good enough. Would the likes of Glenn Loovens, Gary Caldwell, Daniel Fox and Marc Antione-Fortune got into the Martin O’Neil Celtic team that included Henrik Larsson? I think not. On today’s scale, how many of the United players would get in the Celtic team? 22 year old full back, Paul Dixon would probarbly get into the starting eleven following his recent performances, and so probarbly would the revived former Hearts and Wigan defender Andy Webster. Both players will be pushing for Scotland call ups under the next manager to take charge of the national team.
Levein has done wonders at United
While it is true Craig Levein is a possible next manager of Scotland, his team on the other hand are not as talented as that of Hibernian. Levein has done well with the resources he has on a small scale budget, but he could not argue with John Hughes at Easter Road who perhaps has greater quality, particularly on the striker’s front.
Would Derek Riordan be getting a game for Celtic now? Most likely, and he would probarbly be getting a fair share of the goals as well. With five goals to his credit, he has scored more than both Samaras and Fortune at Parkhead put together. He is arguably along with Kris Boyd, the best Scottish finisher we have and no doubt, if he was back at Celtic Park, he could convert most of the chances that are put through to the strikers at a high level.
A move to Liverpool for Bamba was on the rumour mill scene.
Sol Bamba, the centre back for Hibs has been superb at the heart of the defence and could walk into the Celtic team ahead of Caldwell and Loovens. Ian Murray, the former Rangers player is a leader on the park - a missing ingredient at Celtic. Liam Miller, was at Celtic Park before he went to Manchester United. Now he is at Hibernian, and Celtic fans would kill to have him ahead of the ineffective Scott Brown. Not forgetting Anthony Stokes, another striker with Premiership experience.
Scottish Football is at its poorest ebb, with the worst Old Firm teams at least in the life of this Blog writer. However, with the likes of Hibernian and Dundee United managed by arguably by Scotland’s next crop of young, talented managers, messrs, Hughes and Levein, surely there is hope?
No money in the game, but team work can do a lot for you.
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Former Germany goalkeeper, Robert Enke has died at the age of 32 years old.
Hannover 96 president, Martin Kind announced the death this afternoon, which has apparently been suicide. German source, Morgenpost Online has pointed early signs to suicide. A spokeperson from the Hannover Police said “ Enke has thrown himself under a train at “ Neustadt am Rubenberge “.
Enke who was currently playing for Hannover 96, also played for Barcelona, and won eight caps for Germany. He is survived by his wife, Teresa.
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The case of Hibernian F.C.
You could be forgiven when it is a season to forget for Scottish Football. However, the case is there. Both Old Firm clubs are struggling and both bottom respectively of their European groups. It has been low before, but never this bad. However, there is indeed one team where there is sunshine in Leith.
Splitting the Old Firm, for many people is still doubt despite the standards raised by the big two this season. The last team to do that were Hearts in 2006, who despite having severe off the field issues, in sacking a handful of managers that year still managed to split the Old Firm, coming second.
The latest heir to the throne now includes Hibernian. John Hughes has revitalised the team from Leith with some important signings. They have looked the real deal this season, drawing away at Rangers 1-1, showing there is hardly a difference in class.
There is no doubt that the Hibernian team under Mowbray was perhaps a tad more talented. If that team had stayed together they would have been right up there with Celtic. That Mowbray team of 2006, included players like Scott Brown, Gary O’Connor, Gary Caldwell, Kevin Thomson and Derek Riordan, but one thing that team lacked was consistency. Though they won a cup the following year, under John Collins, Hibernian fell down to bad depths. This team though are slightly different and seem to be doing the opposite and helping players resurrect their careers as well as introducing teenagers.
The prominent case of Derek Riordan is seen as a big example of the project at Easter Road. It is typical Scottish trait that he is still being talked about with potential, despite being 26. His first spell at Hibernian, showed his talent with forming the best striking partnership with Gary O’Connor. However, getting arrested and being disorderly in Edinburgh nightclubs was never a good sign. This blended with a move to Celtic where Riordan had two years out of his career, being left on the bench. However his return to the club has seen him get his head down, and play arguably the best football of his career. George Burley also seems intent on giving Riordan another Scotland chance, and everyone hopes the striker will get a chance to prove himself on the international stage next week against Wales.
But there are other cases. What about Liam Miller? Formerly of Celtic and Manchester United fame. His career seemed to go worse when he was released by Roy Keane at Sunderland. Loan moves to Leeds United and QPR in the English Leagues didn’t come off. Now he is playing a starring role, in midfield and also internationally for the Republic of Ireland. We are also talking about a player here that played regular first team football at Manchester United, at least for a season. Yes, with the likes of Rooney, Ronaldo, Ferdinand and Van Nistelrooy, Miller was showing why Sir Alex had bought him in the first place.
Ian Murray, another Easter road returner from Rangers, is another player. Then there is Anthony Stokes. Legendary for scoring 15 goals in just 16 games during a loan spell at Falkirk, Stokes like Miller was also binned by Keane at Sunderland. However at £2 Million, he could easily be playing for the Old Firm.
With a solid backbone of the team which includes Graham Stack, the Irish goalkeeper and Sol Bamba, the big centre back, this is a team that can challenge the Old firm this year. There are also talented youngsters like 17 year old, David Wotherspoon and Paul Hanlon, a Scotland under 21 regular.
The Negativity in Scottish football surrounds the old firm, but if Hibernian can start challenging for Honours, then we could see something happening. There is small hope of a ray of light in the doom and gloom that is Scottish Football.
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Who could think it? The presence of several high profile DJ’s including Bryan Gee and the well renowned, DJ Hype gracing the Lava club on a Tuesday night.
However such was the last minute booking of this superb line up that many students didn’t get to find out about the night. Emails went across the University network the day before the event, but on the night, only a shocking fifty to sixty people turned up. It was a great shame no doubt.
Still for those that went along and paid the bumped up price of £7 will have witnessed an event that was as educational as enthralling. DJ Hype’s drum and base set got the crowd dancing in a proper rave like fashion. As a founder of the music genre, ‘Jungle’ which has now become today’s drum and base, DJ Hype was also the first person to incorporate break beat into hardcore. The set progressed throughout the night with the presence of the MC’s mixing in with the groove of the song
Another well known DJ, Bryan Gee also performed. A former DJ of the ‘Old Skool’ Hardcore scene in the early 90’s, Bryan along with DJ Hype was as influential in the movement of Drum and Base.
A couple of second year UCLAN students believed the night was a success, and wished that more people had been able to come to the event. Most today’s commercialised scene of chart pop hits, which are now frequently dominating the dance floor around towns in Britain but the students believe that the event helped bring dance music back to its roots, and hope to see more of the same in the future.
The vibe was there on the dancefloor and it is hoped that the likes of Lava and others can help bring further events of stature to Preston, with further notice of course.
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With no blog posts in August, I am back in full swing at the start of September. The Leeds Festival article will need editing, but don’t be put off. The site probarbly still has its cheap look, but as long as the information is paragraphed and intact, then that will keep sane.
With no more school, University beckons and it should be an interesting experience. But as I am a student, and still young, the party must go on…
