Saturday saw the start to the Formula One season and the Somerset lad from Frome won the first race of the season.
In build up to the race there was a lot of controversy surrounding whether the Brawn GP car, the team that Button races for, was legal or not. It met FIA requirements so was free to race.
It was only Buttons second ever formula one win and this brings into question, is it just the best cars that win? if you go from the evidence of Saturday then you would have to say yes with a Brawn GP One two finish with tem mate Rubens Barrichello in second.
I was happy for Button, one because he is a local lad for me being from Somerset and because I think the argument of having a good car is very helpful. I think that the previous Honda team he was part of were nowhere up to the standards of Ferrari and McClaren.
All the drivers must be in formula one because they are good standard drivers but with last years champion, Lewis Hamilton, seriously playing down his chances of being able to compete for a title this season it does take a bit of the skill away from the sport. His practice laps were not up to usual standard and because of a gearbox failure he started the Australian Grand Prix in last. He did though rise to third and this surely must show the talents of a great driver rather than the car. So there is a fair argument on both sides.
Can Button keep this going? It’s too early to say now but if the Brawn GP Team can keep up with the other cars, Button is a driver capable of winning the championship but so much will happen between now and the last race at Abu Dhabi on November 1st 2009. Brawn GP has the new owner and I’m guessing with money to put towards the team so the capability is there surely for improvements.
It is good to have two Brits (English!) going for the formula one title and both having a chance at winning the Formula One Championship.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Is Football going to beat the recession?
The recession has hit hard on many people, but Football clubs are yet to really feel the bite.
Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney today has said that Football just has to wait until the recession will make an impact.
10 clubs face the possibility of going into administration and will therefore lose 10points. Those 10 points could ruin a dream of promotion that would bring added cash, or a threat of relegation that would see fewer spectators.
If teams can hang on till the end of the season it could change there fortunes around.
Take the example of Luton, Bournemouth and Rotherham. All had points deducted at the beginning of the season, luckily Bournemouth and Rotherham have now caught up but Luton are still behind.
Bournemouth has had points deducted from them twice and overall have lost 27 points due to there finance. The club had debts of £4 million.
Most recently the club faced a winding up order but £33,000, owed to Magic Solutions Limited, has been paid by a local philanthropist, Adam Murry. The club now want to move on and have a few potential owners. That’s a luxury most other clubs don’t have.
Cheltenham Town have put there entire squad up for sale, and have had a loan of £100,000 from the local council. They have managed to cut £8,000 from there squad wage costs. With the market getting worse before it can imagine to start getting better, more clubs will feel the pressure
FA Chairman Lord Triesman has also voiced his concerns with the excess amount of debt by saying: ‘‘Football is obviously carrying a pretty large volume of debt. People will be making business judgements about whether it is sustainable or not, but it is carrying quite a large volume of debt. Those debts will either have to be paid or there will have to be a re-financing deal, and re-financing deals inevitably mean that you package up debt in smaller blocks as people try to minimise the risk.’’
Many other lower league clubs have had there problems as the money seems to stay in the top league due to its popularity across the country and world.
Lord Mawhinney now believes though that it won’t be long until the top leagues see the recession on there doorsteps. West Ham and Portsmouth are both up for sale still but no offer has been made for the clubs due to no one buying at the moment. Mike Ashley had Newcastle up for sale but couldn’t find a potential buyer to match his selling price.
The team I support, Swindon Town have been in administration three times. We were 20 minutes away from liquidation until a director, Sir Seton Wills, paid us out of trouble. If the 10 point deduction rule was in when we were in administration, we probably wouldn’t be in the football league. Now we have the luxury of a financially sound chairman and board of directors who are keeping us a float.
Sadly I think it won’t be long till we see football clubs disappearing.
Links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7965152.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7547284.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7937545.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7656862.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/7953055.stm
Football League Chairman Lord Mawhinney today has said that Football just has to wait until the recession will make an impact.
10 clubs face the possibility of going into administration and will therefore lose 10points. Those 10 points could ruin a dream of promotion that would bring added cash, or a threat of relegation that would see fewer spectators.
If teams can hang on till the end of the season it could change there fortunes around.
Take the example of Luton, Bournemouth and Rotherham. All had points deducted at the beginning of the season, luckily Bournemouth and Rotherham have now caught up but Luton are still behind.
Bournemouth has had points deducted from them twice and overall have lost 27 points due to there finance. The club had debts of £4 million.
Most recently the club faced a winding up order but £33,000, owed to Magic Solutions Limited, has been paid by a local philanthropist, Adam Murry. The club now want to move on and have a few potential owners. That’s a luxury most other clubs don’t have.
Cheltenham Town have put there entire squad up for sale, and have had a loan of £100,000 from the local council. They have managed to cut £8,000 from there squad wage costs. With the market getting worse before it can imagine to start getting better, more clubs will feel the pressure
FA Chairman Lord Triesman has also voiced his concerns with the excess amount of debt by saying: ‘‘Football is obviously carrying a pretty large volume of debt. People will be making business judgements about whether it is sustainable or not, but it is carrying quite a large volume of debt. Those debts will either have to be paid or there will have to be a re-financing deal, and re-financing deals inevitably mean that you package up debt in smaller blocks as people try to minimise the risk.’’
Many other lower league clubs have had there problems as the money seems to stay in the top league due to its popularity across the country and world.
Lord Mawhinney now believes though that it won’t be long until the top leagues see the recession on there doorsteps. West Ham and Portsmouth are both up for sale still but no offer has been made for the clubs due to no one buying at the moment. Mike Ashley had Newcastle up for sale but couldn’t find a potential buyer to match his selling price.
The team I support, Swindon Town have been in administration three times. We were 20 minutes away from liquidation until a director, Sir Seton Wills, paid us out of trouble. If the 10 point deduction rule was in when we were in administration, we probably wouldn’t be in the football league. Now we have the luxury of a financially sound chairman and board of directors who are keeping us a float.
Sadly I think it won’t be long till we see football clubs disappearing.
Links:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7965152.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7547284.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/bournemouth/7937545.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/7656862.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/cheltenham_town/7953055.stm
Thursday, March 19, 2009
''The Grand Daddy of them all''
The 25th Anniversary of Wrestlemania is fast approaching, but has WWE messed up this anniversary like they did Wrestlemania 20?
The Card for the event doesn't excite anyone as the matches have either been done before or just not interesting. The Raw Rating has continued to drop in the last few weeks and this has to be related to the Wrestlemania build up.
Let’s start with what is probably going to be the main event. Triple H versus Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. It was being done just after last year’s Wrestlemania for several events before Orton's injury at One Night Stand. It was done when Orton won the title back in 2003 for the first time. They have put a new angle on it and made it more 'personal' but it’s still the same wrestlers. The angle has brought a new life to the story but it doesn't grab my imagination. I am a big fan of Randy Orton, I think he is a great wrestler and a great talker on the mic, and in recent weeks has had the crowd on his side too. Triple H himself hasn't won a match at Wrestlemania since Wrestlemania 19 when he beat Booker T for the World Heavyweight Title so will WWE give the title to Triple H this time? The atmosphere this match might bring could be interesting with Orton gaining more fans and it could be evenly split in the crowd in Houston which would make it more interesting to watch.
The second main event is The World Heavyweight Champion Edge v John Cena v Big Show. First thing that I hope pops into your mind is...Why Big Show? Big Show hasn't had much build up at all since his defeat to Floyd Mayweather at Wrestlemania 24. He has had no great feuds, only with Undertaker and if we want to talk about over done, them two in a match is the definition. Cena v Edge was a great rivalry a few years ago and was done for a year nearly on and off. This match at first was great due to the fans who don't like John Cena being able to rely on the opportunist Edge who would knick wins but then we all knew that it would eventually end with Cena as champion because otherwise some kid somewhere would cry. So I’m not sure why include the Big Show, he won't add anything to the match except slow and boring wrestling where his only move is a punch, even Hulk Hogan does more moves! The Vickie Guerrero love triangle with Big Show and Edge isn't a vague bit interesting, who cares about Vickie Guerrero? I fully expect Cena to walk away with the title and then move to Smackdown in the draft, but then wrestling is always unknown!
The other big match is the Undertaker v Shawn Michaels. Now, this does have my attention. Two Legends back in the ring together. When they were number one and two in the 2008 Royal Rumble I think everyone loved the atmosphere it brought. I hope that WWE continue to build this up well in the coming weeks using the cocky Shawn Michaels we all prefer. Will the undefeated streak come to an end? I don't think so. I don’t know who it would help having taker lose it after all this time to Shawn Michaels who himself isn't the future of the WWE. Unless this is going to be Undertakers last Wrestlemania? Let’s hope if it is, he doesn't cry like Ric Flair did! Now that would ruin his character.
Other match I have to mention is the Chris Jericho v the legends of Piper, Steamboat and Snuka. What an awful match to ruin Chris Jericho’s momentum he gained from last year. He was over with the fans, deservedly got the title and had a run. He bought something new to wrestling and now they want to ruin him against three legends that can barely walk? If Mickey Rourke comes in to it is just going to be a joke. Why do WWE persist with making the legends look great when they have left and ruin the reputation that there current wrestlers have, surely you want your current wrestlers to look good!? If Jericho does win, great, but then I wouldn't see the point in the match. I think everyone was in the back of there head thinking, Austin, maybe Hogan? And maybe it was but it hasn't come to fruition. Austin I’m sure will make an appearance at Wrestlemania as it is in his hometown of Houston, Texas. I think it will just be when they announce who is in this year’s hall of fame and they come out and have a good old wave. Whoever Jericho would have faced out of the ones mentioned it wouldn't have been that exciting. Austin was always a long shot as he is struggling with injuries.
Other matches include the Money In the bank that have two people in Mark Henry and Kane who can't get onto a ladder I’m sure. I’m hoping Christian will win and that WWE use his character and popularity with the fans already. They have ruined his return; now let’s not ruin the fact that they have signed him back. What would have been the point of signing him back? That will be my question. One shock I do have is that Rey Mysterio isn't in it, why not? He is great for these sorts of matches. I’m not a fan but I do appreciate his high flying ability of course, why not put him in to improve the match? Not Mark Henry would have any chance of winning or climbing anything at any point.
Jeff Hardy v Matt Hardy - well, it’s been done and I’d have rather seen them both in money in the bank as they both have the capability of winning I reckon. It was built up after the rumble for a week, then stopped for a month and now is back all of a sudden? How odd and random!?
Diva Battle Royal – I know when I’m going to have my toilet break this year, this is truly awful and will only ruin my eyesight.
WWE AND World Tag Titles: John Morrison and The Miz v The Colons - Boring. Next.
More matches I think will be added, including a match with JBL for the intercontinental title at it is in Houston, Texas his original hometown but we will see. I’m assuming that’s why they gave him the title as CM Punk is in money in the bank anyway.
Wrestlemania is not going to the grand daddy of them all but lets hope WWE can put in some surprises to make it an event or at least some good wrestling which has been lacking recently in recent pay per views. Is this the year we will see money in the bank cashed in on the night? Now that would make it interesting!
Wrestlemania 25, April 5th, Enjoy!
The Card for the event doesn't excite anyone as the matches have either been done before or just not interesting. The Raw Rating has continued to drop in the last few weeks and this has to be related to the Wrestlemania build up.
Let’s start with what is probably going to be the main event. Triple H versus Randy Orton for the WWE Championship. It was being done just after last year’s Wrestlemania for several events before Orton's injury at One Night Stand. It was done when Orton won the title back in 2003 for the first time. They have put a new angle on it and made it more 'personal' but it’s still the same wrestlers. The angle has brought a new life to the story but it doesn't grab my imagination. I am a big fan of Randy Orton, I think he is a great wrestler and a great talker on the mic, and in recent weeks has had the crowd on his side too. Triple H himself hasn't won a match at Wrestlemania since Wrestlemania 19 when he beat Booker T for the World Heavyweight Title so will WWE give the title to Triple H this time? The atmosphere this match might bring could be interesting with Orton gaining more fans and it could be evenly split in the crowd in Houston which would make it more interesting to watch.
The second main event is The World Heavyweight Champion Edge v John Cena v Big Show. First thing that I hope pops into your mind is...Why Big Show? Big Show hasn't had much build up at all since his defeat to Floyd Mayweather at Wrestlemania 24. He has had no great feuds, only with Undertaker and if we want to talk about over done, them two in a match is the definition. Cena v Edge was a great rivalry a few years ago and was done for a year nearly on and off. This match at first was great due to the fans who don't like John Cena being able to rely on the opportunist Edge who would knick wins but then we all knew that it would eventually end with Cena as champion because otherwise some kid somewhere would cry. So I’m not sure why include the Big Show, he won't add anything to the match except slow and boring wrestling where his only move is a punch, even Hulk Hogan does more moves! The Vickie Guerrero love triangle with Big Show and Edge isn't a vague bit interesting, who cares about Vickie Guerrero? I fully expect Cena to walk away with the title and then move to Smackdown in the draft, but then wrestling is always unknown!
The other big match is the Undertaker v Shawn Michaels. Now, this does have my attention. Two Legends back in the ring together. When they were number one and two in the 2008 Royal Rumble I think everyone loved the atmosphere it brought. I hope that WWE continue to build this up well in the coming weeks using the cocky Shawn Michaels we all prefer. Will the undefeated streak come to an end? I don't think so. I don’t know who it would help having taker lose it after all this time to Shawn Michaels who himself isn't the future of the WWE. Unless this is going to be Undertakers last Wrestlemania? Let’s hope if it is, he doesn't cry like Ric Flair did! Now that would ruin his character.
Other match I have to mention is the Chris Jericho v the legends of Piper, Steamboat and Snuka. What an awful match to ruin Chris Jericho’s momentum he gained from last year. He was over with the fans, deservedly got the title and had a run. He bought something new to wrestling and now they want to ruin him against three legends that can barely walk? If Mickey Rourke comes in to it is just going to be a joke. Why do WWE persist with making the legends look great when they have left and ruin the reputation that there current wrestlers have, surely you want your current wrestlers to look good!? If Jericho does win, great, but then I wouldn't see the point in the match. I think everyone was in the back of there head thinking, Austin, maybe Hogan? And maybe it was but it hasn't come to fruition. Austin I’m sure will make an appearance at Wrestlemania as it is in his hometown of Houston, Texas. I think it will just be when they announce who is in this year’s hall of fame and they come out and have a good old wave. Whoever Jericho would have faced out of the ones mentioned it wouldn't have been that exciting. Austin was always a long shot as he is struggling with injuries.
Other matches include the Money In the bank that have two people in Mark Henry and Kane who can't get onto a ladder I’m sure. I’m hoping Christian will win and that WWE use his character and popularity with the fans already. They have ruined his return; now let’s not ruin the fact that they have signed him back. What would have been the point of signing him back? That will be my question. One shock I do have is that Rey Mysterio isn't in it, why not? He is great for these sorts of matches. I’m not a fan but I do appreciate his high flying ability of course, why not put him in to improve the match? Not Mark Henry would have any chance of winning or climbing anything at any point.
Jeff Hardy v Matt Hardy - well, it’s been done and I’d have rather seen them both in money in the bank as they both have the capability of winning I reckon. It was built up after the rumble for a week, then stopped for a month and now is back all of a sudden? How odd and random!?
Diva Battle Royal – I know when I’m going to have my toilet break this year, this is truly awful and will only ruin my eyesight.
WWE AND World Tag Titles: John Morrison and The Miz v The Colons - Boring. Next.
More matches I think will be added, including a match with JBL for the intercontinental title at it is in Houston, Texas his original hometown but we will see. I’m assuming that’s why they gave him the title as CM Punk is in money in the bank anyway.
Wrestlemania is not going to the grand daddy of them all but lets hope WWE can put in some surprises to make it an event or at least some good wrestling which has been lacking recently in recent pay per views. Is this the year we will see money in the bank cashed in on the night? Now that would make it interesting!
Wrestlemania 25, April 5th, Enjoy!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
England Storm Europe
All four English teams have made it through to the Champions League Quarter Finals.
Manchester United and Liverpool did it with ease, Chelsea made it abit difficult and Arsenal got by on penalties but all teams made it through.
The Premier League surely now must be the best league in the world? The foreign clubs are struggling to keep up. Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus and Roma have suffered at the hands of English clubs and all in the past have been strong teams in Europe.
The only real threat i see to an all English champions league final for the second year in a row is Barcelona. They have the class to go all the way for sure, with the likes of Messi, Eto'o, Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, Valdes, just to name a few world class players. Other teams like Bayern Munich, even on the back of there 12-1 aggregate demolition of Sporting Lisbon, don't look like if they had to face Liverpool on there day could match up.
When Liverpool made the champions league final in 2005 v AC Milan, we didn't think we would see an English club in the champions league final again for years, but we have had an English representative in every final since. Before Liverpool, there was a six year gap after Manchester Uniteds dramatic win over Bayern Munich.
What can the Premier League put this dominance down too? I say its foreign players and the quality of the Premier League.
Foreign players have been an integral part of the premier league for years now and if English clubs pick up more silverware, more world class players will want to join and win silverware. Big transfer fees are becoming a part of the game and the big wages, and these easily attract the best players. The best players if put together and work together are going to be the best, ask Real Madrid that it is easier said than done but it is something that has been done in the Premiership.
Manchester United show this. They have players that may not be the best in the world, and United could go out and buy the best, but they concentrate on a team that can work together best. It has paid off, with Manchester United big favourites to do the quadruple. You look at forign clubs and they have good players but look at individuals rather than a team. AC Milan suffered last season and are now in the UEFA Cup, Real Madrid on Tuesday against Liverpool were easily beat but do have a group of world class players who dont play well together.
The other issue with this is, if most of the squad are foreign, what does this say about English football? I say that if England want to be the best, they need to develop the best and sadly at the moment we are not creating as good a players as abroad.
People think we have great players but yet we couldn't make the European Championships! The influx of foreign players is going to start to make the english players see how good they need to be if they want to be the best international team. People moan that the English players should be played ahead of foreigners but managers want the best players and thats it. Our players at the moment just aren't as good, simple as, and to blame the foreign players is a scapecoat from the situation.
It would be great if our English clubs were made up of English players and could win the champions league but it just wouldn't happen.
Lets get behind the English Teams and come May 27th we will be celebrating the Premier Leagues Dominance.
Manchester United and Liverpool did it with ease, Chelsea made it abit difficult and Arsenal got by on penalties but all teams made it through.
The Premier League surely now must be the best league in the world? The foreign clubs are struggling to keep up. Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Juventus and Roma have suffered at the hands of English clubs and all in the past have been strong teams in Europe.
The only real threat i see to an all English champions league final for the second year in a row is Barcelona. They have the class to go all the way for sure, with the likes of Messi, Eto'o, Iniesta, Xavi, Puyol, Valdes, just to name a few world class players. Other teams like Bayern Munich, even on the back of there 12-1 aggregate demolition of Sporting Lisbon, don't look like if they had to face Liverpool on there day could match up.
When Liverpool made the champions league final in 2005 v AC Milan, we didn't think we would see an English club in the champions league final again for years, but we have had an English representative in every final since. Before Liverpool, there was a six year gap after Manchester Uniteds dramatic win over Bayern Munich.
What can the Premier League put this dominance down too? I say its foreign players and the quality of the Premier League.
Foreign players have been an integral part of the premier league for years now and if English clubs pick up more silverware, more world class players will want to join and win silverware. Big transfer fees are becoming a part of the game and the big wages, and these easily attract the best players. The best players if put together and work together are going to be the best, ask Real Madrid that it is easier said than done but it is something that has been done in the Premiership.
Manchester United show this. They have players that may not be the best in the world, and United could go out and buy the best, but they concentrate on a team that can work together best. It has paid off, with Manchester United big favourites to do the quadruple. You look at forign clubs and they have good players but look at individuals rather than a team. AC Milan suffered last season and are now in the UEFA Cup, Real Madrid on Tuesday against Liverpool were easily beat but do have a group of world class players who dont play well together.
The other issue with this is, if most of the squad are foreign, what does this say about English football? I say that if England want to be the best, they need to develop the best and sadly at the moment we are not creating as good a players as abroad.
People think we have great players but yet we couldn't make the European Championships! The influx of foreign players is going to start to make the english players see how good they need to be if they want to be the best international team. People moan that the English players should be played ahead of foreigners but managers want the best players and thats it. Our players at the moment just aren't as good, simple as, and to blame the foreign players is a scapecoat from the situation.
It would be great if our English clubs were made up of English players and could win the champions league but it just wouldn't happen.
Lets get behind the English Teams and come May 27th we will be celebrating the Premier Leagues Dominance.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Will Hooliganism Ever Go Away?
English Football has its reputation for its Hooligans and troubles, but what makes people do these acts?
In 1985 because of Football Hooligans, English clubs were banned from playing in the European cup until 1990. In the 1985 European cup final between Liverpool v Juventus, 39 Juventus fans were crushed to death after Liverpool fans broke through a police barrier and attacked the Juventus fans. Many of which were families not even people who wanted to fight back. During the fighting a wall collapsed and killed some Juventus fans. This incident is widely known as the Heysel Stadium Disaster.
What encourages people to continue going to football games and doing these sorts of acts on people? Do people think it makes them a 'better' supporter?
The Hooliganism in football isn't as bad as it once was, but the problem is still there. Films have even been made about the subject including Football Factory and Green Street. I have watched both and don't see how these films are enjoyable and all I can see it doing is provoking people to go out and copy the actions in the film.
The reason behind me talking about this issue is because I have witnessed or been involved in football related incidents of violence and it angers me every time I see it.
Just last week when walking back to the train station after a game between Swindon (who I support) and Tranmere at Tranmere, a gang of around 30 kids aged 16-22 decided to head butt and punch me because of who i support. They won the game and I had said nothing to provoke the attack. If i hadn't had mentioned I was a Swindon supporter they would have just gone.
People think that adults are the fault for hooliganism but kids are now getting more involved and looking up to adults for inspiration. Kids as well will easily get away with it due to there age and because they will target other younger people who are less likely to go report it.
I have seen kids being hit by coins which is definitely not on and Kids being the ones throwing coins and objects.
In a derby match between Swindon and Oxford, play was delayed for 30 minutes due to crowd trouble and coins being thrown at opposition players. These are scenes that Football shouldn't be associated with.
These acts of violence use to be limited to local derbies but not anymore, i got attacked after a game between Swindon and Tranmere which is around 4 hours apart. Swindon 'fans' attack fans of other clubs like Bournemouth, Plymouth, Leeds, and Leicester. There is no rivalry between these teams but people fight anyway for there club, as they put it.
So, I thought to myself what does the FA do to try and prevent Football Hooliganism?
The FA following the violence at Euro 2000 where over 100 England Fans were arrested introduced measures including giving life bans from football, having family friendly stadium atmospheres and giving police more power to arrest and convict hooligans.
All seem effective ways and variable ways to combat the problem. Figures have shown that year by year football related arrests are falling which is good news but the problem is still there and I’m not sure the problem will ever go away.
Will we ever get the day when you can walk down the road with your football team’s shirt on and not have to worry if some guy thinks you deserve a head butt because you are wearing a different team to him? Who knows?
Another question to think about is, are these people football fans? Or just fighters? There is no place for people who say they are football fans to condone then going to beat someone up cause of who they support. All fans go to games and banter and have a go at the other team during the game but when it comes to meeting those fans you then don't punch one of them. When it comes to local derbies you are going to get a lot of heated action and chanting but it’s about bragging rights not fighting rights.
Let’s hope one day Football is just about the Football.
In 1985 because of Football Hooligans, English clubs were banned from playing in the European cup until 1990. In the 1985 European cup final between Liverpool v Juventus, 39 Juventus fans were crushed to death after Liverpool fans broke through a police barrier and attacked the Juventus fans. Many of which were families not even people who wanted to fight back. During the fighting a wall collapsed and killed some Juventus fans. This incident is widely known as the Heysel Stadium Disaster.
What encourages people to continue going to football games and doing these sorts of acts on people? Do people think it makes them a 'better' supporter?
The Hooliganism in football isn't as bad as it once was, but the problem is still there. Films have even been made about the subject including Football Factory and Green Street. I have watched both and don't see how these films are enjoyable and all I can see it doing is provoking people to go out and copy the actions in the film.
The reason behind me talking about this issue is because I have witnessed or been involved in football related incidents of violence and it angers me every time I see it.
Just last week when walking back to the train station after a game between Swindon (who I support) and Tranmere at Tranmere, a gang of around 30 kids aged 16-22 decided to head butt and punch me because of who i support. They won the game and I had said nothing to provoke the attack. If i hadn't had mentioned I was a Swindon supporter they would have just gone.
People think that adults are the fault for hooliganism but kids are now getting more involved and looking up to adults for inspiration. Kids as well will easily get away with it due to there age and because they will target other younger people who are less likely to go report it.
I have seen kids being hit by coins which is definitely not on and Kids being the ones throwing coins and objects.
In a derby match between Swindon and Oxford, play was delayed for 30 minutes due to crowd trouble and coins being thrown at opposition players. These are scenes that Football shouldn't be associated with.
These acts of violence use to be limited to local derbies but not anymore, i got attacked after a game between Swindon and Tranmere which is around 4 hours apart. Swindon 'fans' attack fans of other clubs like Bournemouth, Plymouth, Leeds, and Leicester. There is no rivalry between these teams but people fight anyway for there club, as they put it.
So, I thought to myself what does the FA do to try and prevent Football Hooliganism?
The FA following the violence at Euro 2000 where over 100 England Fans were arrested introduced measures including giving life bans from football, having family friendly stadium atmospheres and giving police more power to arrest and convict hooligans.
All seem effective ways and variable ways to combat the problem. Figures have shown that year by year football related arrests are falling which is good news but the problem is still there and I’m not sure the problem will ever go away.
Will we ever get the day when you can walk down the road with your football team’s shirt on and not have to worry if some guy thinks you deserve a head butt because you are wearing a different team to him? Who knows?
Another question to think about is, are these people football fans? Or just fighters? There is no place for people who say they are football fans to condone then going to beat someone up cause of who they support. All fans go to games and banter and have a go at the other team during the game but when it comes to meeting those fans you then don't punch one of them. When it comes to local derbies you are going to get a lot of heated action and chanting but it’s about bragging rights not fighting rights.
Let’s hope one day Football is just about the Football.
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