Blew money on szmodics? WTF!

I get the criticism of the ref on this occasion. He waves play-on initially and only seems to blow after Haaland back up. On the wider point of the 'old boys club'. There is an arrogance amongst pro footballers that only those who have played the game have a valid view. Most of us have played the game - it's not rocket-science to translate our experience to the pro game. Clearly a pro footballer's insight adds value as well. Tbf to Leon Osman he did make the point right at the end that generally the ref had a good game and yet they were focussing on the big mistake.

Brentford always seem to give them a good game. Not much tip-tap playing from the back - good defenders and then getting the ball to quick, strong forwards seems to be their style from what I see (admittedly only on MOTD)

and Trav probably has 'a piss in him'!

Can only see this ending one of three ways - 1. we get to Premier League and are sensible (like Luton) and use the money to stabilise 2. we get to the Premier League and bet the bank on loads of players and then watch as that goes pear-shaped 3. we suffer death by a thousand cuts until we eventually do (at best) a Wigan or (at worst) a Bury - or somewhere in between (like Bolton) Afraid my bet is on number 3.

Once saw a post-match interview with Peter Reid (I think he was manager of Sunderland at the time). He started by having a go at the referee who'd made a mistake that cost a goal. Then stopped, laughed and said something along the lines of - 'mind you I wish my defenders had only made one mistake in the game that cost a goal - not the 3 they actually made!!'

Certainly best international game I've ever seen. The Italians had scraped through the first group if I remember correctly. Then got Maradona sent off. Certainly masters of the dark arts but their will to win was formidable as well. Made all the sweeter for me as I had drawn Italy in the school world cup sweepstake!

I was moving to live in Newcastle-under-Lyme a long while ago. Was talking to a salesperson in DFS in Hanley and she asked 'why on earth are you moving to a place like Stoke!' I said actually I'm moving to N-u-L - and she replied 'oh that's alright then - you really wouldn't want to live in Stoke!!' The A500 is the big divide!!!

Clearly a mashup between Baxenden and Rossendale! My granddad worked for a rival Rossendale bakers (Cordeys I think) and taught us this as kids: Hollands Pies, full of flies Concrete bottom, rubber sides Rusty meat and iron jelly All to go inside your belly Happy memories!!

It's always happened in the Riverside since it was rebuilt. However it is really obvious when the way out is by the front of the stand. If I was a bit tight for time I used to walk down to the corner but still stayed and watched until the final whistle (along with many others. Plenty of people leave from the other stands as well - just not as obvious.

Not so sure my mum always agreed about how great my dad was 😉 'We need tea at 4pm today as have to leave by 5 tonight' would sometimes be his parting shot at breakfast. Or 'can you make us some sandwiches for later' when we were off to football in the afternoon followed by speedway (or another match!) at night!!

Always a time to think for me. My Dad died 6 days before Jack and today is my birthday. Sharing the Walker years with my dad will always be one of my greatest joys. Travelled the country together during the lean years - with some great ups and downs. Standing on the Bee Hole End trying to look glum as we went 3-0 up against Burnley , the Coventry and Villa cup ties and Gigg Lane in 1980, watching Preston blow it for us vs Swansea in 81, FMC in 87, the Villa 3-2 with Archibald, the despair at Palace 89 and then the total joy at Wembley 92. And that's just the Rovers stuff. He gave me a great appreciation of football (and sport in general) - European nights at City and Utd, Rossendale Utd through the massive ups and downs (glad he didn't get to see their demise!), when Rovers were (too far) away we just picked what looked like the best game locally which meant some memorable games - a Bolton/Newcastle cup tie in the mid-70's is probably the best non-Rovers match I've seen live- Lancashire cricket, Hornets rugby league, Belle Vue speedway. To follow all that up with the 8 years of Jack was just brilliant. Just such a shame they both missed Cardiff in 2002!

My dad was unconvinced by the Shearer signing. Thought it was way too much money. At half time he turned to me, grinned, and said "he'll do I suppose"

Car broke down on the way to Ewood so had to listen on the radio!

Leagues with fewer teams will generally be less competitive in these terms. The best teams play the worst teams more frequently. That (partly) explains the discrepancy in the Women's leagues.

19 for me - forgot about Witschge and Alan Wright

The mates who went on to do all the Scottish grounds - I take it they hadn't discovered girls at that point! Did they ever? 😉

Thinking about how easy it was back then to go to matches brought back a memory of 3 games in a day with my dad on a Good Friday back in the late 70's / early 80's. Wigan Vs Bury 11am at Springfield Park, Rovers Vs somebody maybe Derby, Sunderland?) at 3pm. Back home for tea and then up to Dark Lane to watch Rossy Utd in a local derby at 7.30. My mum must have been very understanding...or had just given up by then! Was later than I thought - 1987. Wigan beat Bury 1-0, Rovers beat Derby 3-1

Add Maidstone United, Dagenham&Redbridge, and Yeovil to that list. Then go lower down for Kidderminster, Hereford, Chester, Darlington, Southport, etc. Quite a few of the clubs mentioned are reformed after the originals went out of existence.

In the real world that's true. I'm guessing with the 'clever' world of football finance there's a loophole!!

Apologies Boz - my mistake. Every day's a school day! The 1889-1890 season was bizarre. They drew 4 and lost 13 of the first 17 and then won 4 and drew 1 of the last 5! Suspect they got some new players as they also came good in the Lancashire Cup beating us in the final. I guess we were distracted by winning the FA Cup instead 🙂

Burnley didn't seek re-election. They had to win on last day to avoid relegation from Div 4. If I remember correctly it was the first season of relegation from the League to the Conference (now National League). Much as I enjoy it when we beat Burnley (and enjoyed bragging rights at school when they were in the 4th Div) it would have seemed a bit unjust for them to get relegated on their first time at that level when teams like Rochdale and Hartlepool and many others had finished bottom multiple times but been saved by the 'old boys' network. I'm sure there will be some on this forum who disagree 😉

And afterwards, if you want to go home by train, they can go in the Cut!

Lots of teams in there fallen on hard times - Wrexham (until recently), Grimsby, Oldham, etc. Not a great year for the city of Bristol either. By the end of the season must have been a interesting race to see who finished next to bottom - the most-depressing bragging rights ever!! Never realised before but if Preston had drawn with Swansea they'd have stayed up at the expense of Cardiff and stopped Swansea going up - that'd made them popular in S Wales!

Been away from the area too long and didn't realise what was happening to Hornets. What has happened there? Always look for the results (used to go with my Dad years ago - the JPL final in the 70's being one of my earliest sporting memories) and was looking forward to seeing them at Llanelli this season - until I found out the South Wales team has folded. Feels like dark days for the lower levels of the pro game.