Going to see Albert Hammond at The Band On The Wall in Manchester tomorrow. " It never rains in Southern California ", " Free electric band " ring any bells.

If you're looking for a good Asian restaurant in central Manchester as opposed to Rusholme try " Zook or Zouk " just off Oxford Rd by the Palace Hotel. It's the place that Ballotelli goes to. I've been a few times and it's great. I've had the " Zook Special Fish Curry " every time , it's brilliant.

Well what a great gig. Superb band on top form and a brilliant little venue. Add that to a Rovers win and I've got a thick head this morning. The only drawback was I went with a pal who had to catch the Leeds train home. Manchester, International class city, and on Saturday night the last train to Leeds is 22.54 ! During the week it's something like 23.20. Why is the last train later midweek that on Saturday night ? It meant we missed the last couple of numbers but it was still a great gig. I've seen plenty of the top guitarists over the years but this guy is as good as any of them.

I got myself a great tee shirt yesterday. It's a drawing of a referee in dark glasses with a guide dog, the ref's holding up a red card. The guide dog is saying " Are you blind ref ? ".

Off to Manchester today. Going to see a band called " Dave Alvin and the Guilty Ones" at the Night and Day cafe on Oldham Street. He used to be in a band called "The Blasters". Check out " Harlan County Line" and "Johnny Ace is Dead" on youtube. He's got some great backing musicians, the woman drummer can really play. Should take my mind off today's game.

Great local derby at Spotland yesterday. The mighty Hornets defeated local rivals Oldham in an old fashioned war of attrition 18-10. Plenty of action and the odd brawl. I would imagine quite a few players from both sides will be up before the judiciary shortly.

It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. My lot ( Hornets ) beat London Skolars, very rare event for both of my teams to win on the same weekend !

Best team I've ever seen Jim, no contest.However England should have got a draw at least, we were the only team to give them a real game. I can't recall a braver England performance. Imagine playing the best team in the world at 12.00 midday in Mexico City in the middle of summer. Bobby Moore and Alan Mullery were absolutely outstanding that day, and who can forget that Gordon Banks save from Pele.

Yeah great player, he made the game look ridiculously easy. Super photograph of him in his prime in yesterdays paper, he was wearing a proper kit with shorts which are short, none of these flapping baggy things players wear today. I'd hate to have to play in those.

I've suffered from it for about 15 years ever since a really messy divorce. I'm good at the moment but who knows what's around the corner. Getting it out in the open is a start,

Groung hog day.

Yeah, we have an International Board whatever that means, the reality is the aussies tell our guys what's going to happen and it happens, as can be seen by the final referee fiasco. I've got to give it to the convicts though, we've never won a series against them in 40 years and they're still not prepared to take any chances with the officials ! Hang on, maybe that's why we're still waiting for a win after all that time. What we could do with is Venkies selling Rovers and buying the Aussie Rugby League, we'd soon be running away with it then.

According to todays Guardian the Aussies have appointed a fellow convict as the ref for Saturdays game . No wonder other codes laugh at Rugby League. In what other sport would the official in charge of a World Cup Final come from one of the two competing nations ? You couldn't make it up ! Aussie's , hang you're heads in shame.

I thought we did well considering we were playing against 14 men.

Nice shirt Ozz. What went on at the press conference ? Maybe they should have got Kean to do it, that's his forte isn't it.

Ray Wilkins at Chelsea ?

That's my take on that piece of film also.

Your heart wouldn't take the sheer excitement.

I wouldn't go if I were you. Any football fan will just be blown away by the committment, intensity and raw power on show, not to mention the lack of play acting. Football will never be the same to you again.

What a weekend. My Football Team gets dicked one day and then next day my Rugby Team gets dicked as well !

Sorry to hear that. I'm off to Keigthly this afternoon hoping for a win that'll take us to the play off finals. A win would make up for yesterdays dross.

Sorry to hear about your grandad. Hope he get's well soon.

I don't agree about the play offs. In Rugby League you get greater rewards for finishing higher up the league. I think that's a good thing. Just don't ask me to explain how it all works.

I believe Wigan played Saints today. Any pie eaters know the score ? My lot ( the mighty 'nets ) won a titanic struggle against Doncaster Dragons at Spotland today. Next week Keigthly away. I never could spell Kiegthly.

A guy stopped me at work last Wednesday - " You're a rugby fan aren't you, do you want some tickets for a final " ? I say O.K thinking Oldham St Annes v Rochdale Mayfield or some other local teams. I say " How much " ? He says " Nothing, they're free ". I say " OK , I'll have two ". He says " I've got four, you can have them all, I'll bring them in tomorrow. Tomorrow comes and I'm dashing out to get a lift home, The guy sees me leaving work and shoves an envelope into my hand, I quickly put the envelope into a small pocket in my work bag and forget all about it. Late Saturday morning I'm emptying my work bag and find the forgotten envelope, belatedly I open it. I find four tickets for that days final !!!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRRR.