East Lancs now sitting bottom of the 2-tier Lancashire League, after some poor recent seasons .... Playing without a Professional, what's gone wrong at what used to be one of the strongest Clubs in the League ??

So, here's the thing .... The 1st years of 1975, were the last to enter QEGS under the " Direct Grant " scheme. This scheme had an entrance exam, where the top 25% of pupils were offered a " free " place at the school, with assistance for travel/uniform costs if parents were on a low income. This accounted for 30 out of the 120 or so new entrants. The other 90 were offered places, with a sliding scale of fees, based on the parent's income. If your parents earnt little, you paid nothing, and got help with travel/uniform etc, if your parent was a solicitor, bank manager etc, you paid according to their means. 400 took the exam most years for QEGS ... The scheme was abolished by the Labour Government, forcing the schools to choose between going Independent, or reorganising to join the State sector as a Comprehensive. QEGS went down the Independent route. According to your view, " Direct Grant " was elitist and divisive, or a " ladder up " by which a bright child from a humble home could get a 1st Class " academic " education. My Dad grew up on a Council Estate, his father was a Lorry Driver, killed in WW2 when he was 7, his mother a Boots factory worker. He passed the old 11+, went to High Pavement GS, Nottingham, and after National Service, gained a Choral Scholarship to Cambridge ... as you would expect, he was of the second view which is why I was sent there. As for posh, the lads from the wealthy families in Blackburn, tended to go to Rossall, Kirkham or Giggleswick Public Schools ... some of an uncharitable mind, may suggest this was because they weren't academically clever enough to pass the QEGS exam !!

Ossie rarely gets back to the UK, his parents passed a good few years ago, and he was their only child. When he attended the BRUFC reunion, he actually drove to Blackburn via North London, from Florence as he combined the trip with sorting out his late Uncle's affairs ... He was great mates with Allan Nicol, a St Augustine's lad, who's now retired from Lancs Constabulary after 30 years. As Ossie strolled in to our reunion, Allan just walked over, burst into tears, and hugged him .... Allan's probably just shy of 19 stone, it was quite touching .... God knows what Ossie's lovely Italian wife, Elena thought of it !! 😁

Ha,Ha ! Not only is he a Claret, he actually bought a " Communal Hymn Sheet " on Ebay, from the Tottenham v Burnley 1962 Cup Final ... I'd say that's bordering on obsessive !! 😁 I never knew how he ended up without his front " set ", you've educated me there !! Ossie .... markoyoung@onetel.com

Do you mean Mark Williams ? If so, you don't want to meet him in his professional capacity, as well as being a Solicitor, he's now the Assistant Coroner for East Lancashire ! Do you remember Mark " Ossie " Young, lived in Wilpshire ? Original bassist in the " Stiffs ", he's now a Corporate Accountant, and has lived in Florence for nearly 30 years .. another " Claret " Keep well, and let's hope the " Derby " can be resumed soon, ideally in the top flight !!

About 5 years after I left ( 1987 ? ), a mate from Blackburn Rugby Club bought his first place, a rather nice flat on Buncer Lane, and threw a " housewarming " in early Summer. When we turned up, he said " I've invited the older couple from upstairs, they can't complain then if it gets a bit louder later on " ... We went out into the garden , and who should be there but " Jack " Longstaff & his wife ! Instinctively, the three of us began rubbing our shoes on the back of our trousers !! He was charm personified, especially to our respective lady-friends. Paul Heathcote's girlfriend, an especially pretty blonde, approached us from the kitchen with a drink for him, " Is this your Popsy ? " he enquired, and introduced himself with his olde-world manners, " Enchanted, young lady " etc. After a few minutes, he looked at her, and then at Paul, " Just a word to the wise, my dear .... you can do far better than this rascal !! " ...... 😁

B****y Hell, didn't pick up on that, " Revidge ", hope you're keeping safe and well ... I'm usually one for looking forwards in life, not back, but after a few pints of " Hen Harrier " at Blackburn Rugby Club, I was talked into arranging a reunion of the 1982-83 Colts ( Under 19's ) in 2017, so tracked down a few ex-QEGS. Greg Starks ( Mollington Road ) is the Executive Head Chef for Warner Leisure Group, and hasn't touched a fag/pint for over 25 years ( to the surprise of those who remember him ), John Aspin is a Primary School Head in Bacup, Tim Rayner is a retired Dentist. Charlotte Hindle is a TV Producer, most recently on " Songs of Praise ", and Paul Heathcote has a 2nd Career as a " Sparkie ", after having done nearly 25 years in the Royal Marines ..

David Bruton and Craig Mann ?

TJ " Prod " Longstaff passed away last year at 98, there was a 300+ post thread on " Up the Clarets " with reminiscences, stories etc from ex-QEGS of our vintage. Regrettably, the mods removed it, I think because of references to a couple of " Fred Talbot " like cases ... you'd have enjoyed it. I'm Chris Rawson, moderate scholar ( by QEGS standards of the time ), but enjoyed the Rugby .... Still in touch with Alastair Newman, Paul " Eggy " Heathcote, Nigel Atherton, Roger Verlander & one or two others .. Hope you're keeping well ...

Claret in peace as ever ... I left QEGS in 1982, last year of the " Direct Grant " in-take, otherwise I'd never have gone there ... Didn't need to be Poirot to work out who Herbie6590 was but intrigued by you .... were you Tim Rayner, John Aspin, Dave Skidmore's year ?

One for the Grey-Beards here .... Can anyone enlighten me on what actually happened before this game ? I've heard various stories, that Dougan led the players threatening not to play in a row over Bonus's or that he put in a transfer request the day before the final ... Does anyone have a definitive answer ?

In all seriousness, it looks a very even Championship this year, they'll probably suspend FFP, so your backers in India will be able to put funds in .... the relegated sides don't look particularly good, nor do the promoted ones. Of the bigger Clubs, Forest, Derby, Boro', QPR and Birmingham all have various issues ( mainly Financial ), Stoke are struggling and Sheffield Wednesday are starting at -12 .... If you finish above Swansea and Norwich, I think you've every chance ..... We, on the other hand, need to carry on as normal, tie some players down to extended deals, pick up wins against the lesser ranked teams and get a couple of eye-catching results such as our 0-2 win at Old Trafford, and the 1-1 at Anfield .... but I'd take 17th now if I was offered it !! Enjoy your evening, all !

I'd be ordering the Trophy " Ribbons " and booking the open top bus now if I were you, ladies and gents !!

I was waiting for that ! It does show t'Rovers in a play-off spot as well, can't believe I've been so generous ....

You can actually buy these again from a retro site on E-bay .... It'll be good to see Barrow on one of those little tabs again !!

If Brentford go up, they will be the 50th Club to enjoy at least 1 season of Premier League Football !

Many moons ago in the mid 1990's, Danny Baker described the Championship ( League 1, then ) as being like the " Borgia's " ..... everyone killing each other off, people coming back when you thought they died, suicides, knifing each other when they're about to take the throne ....... He wasn't wrong then, and it's not changed !

In peace .. what's his salary ? I'm sure I read on here at one point it was £2,000 a week + Bonus ? Can't be right surely ?

This is great news .... here's to a continued recovery !! Godspeed, my friend !!?

I'm sure I speak for all of the Claret & Blue persuasion in sending our best wishes to " @pk1875 ", and indeed everyone else affected by this horrible virus. Keep safe, one and all !!

If I recall correctly, didn't Chris Sutton fall out with Glen Hoddle, after being asked to play for England " B " ....... I know the notion of Chris Sutton falling out with someone will come as a surprise to us all ... ?

Hmm .... Collymore and Sutton ? Four England Caps and zero goals between them, more " Vin de Table " than " Vintage " imho ...... ?

I think that completes the Nine, not Ten, David May never got a cap !! Adam Blacklaw FL Career 1956 -1970 3 Scottish Caps Andrew Cole FL Career 1989 - 2008 15 England Caps John Connelly FL Career 1957 -1973 20 England Caps Gordon Cowans FL Career 1976 - 1997 10 England Caps Shane Duffy FL Career 2009 - Present 32 Eire Caps Alan Mahon FL Career 1997 - 2010 2 Eire Caps Andy Marriott FL Career 1989 - 2010 5 Welsh Caps Steven Reid FL Career 1998 - 2015 23 Eire Caps Paul Robinson FL Career 1998 - 2017 41 England Caps Unless of course, you know different ! In peace as ever !

I think we May need an inquest, I don't think he did ... called up v Mexico, but never played if you trust Wikipedia !

Well played, Sir !