Tranmere Rovers were relegated from the Football League to the Football Conference this weekend when the mighty Greens beat them 3-2. That ended a 94 year stay in the League. It would have been more appropriate if it was a one hundred year stay which was ending, as it would tie in nicely with their total disregard of the celebrations commemorating the start of the First World War.
Tranmere used a field as their training ground, which adjoined Prenton Park, their home stadium. The field was a memorial to the men who lost their lives during the First World War, and who had been educated at the Birkenhead Institute. Those people included the well known war poet, Wilfred Owen.
The Club sold the field for a housing development, a decision which was furiously challenged by local people. The government of the time saw little reason to reject the planning application and the sale has now been completed.
How apt then that this relegation may be the first step on the path to oblivion for the club. The field may be no more, but, as Tranmere are now discovering, you mess with history at your peril.
Wednesday, 29 April 2015
Wednesday, 15 April 2015
Messsage in a bottle
It's been a while since SWMBO and I have been out to a gig, so it was a pleasure to pitch up at the Manchester Arena on Monday for Paul Simon and Sting together on stage. It seemed an odd coupling when we booked the tickets, but the partnership worked well.
They did several sets together and solo spots designed to allow them a rest. No such luck for the audience as they went three hours non-stop. It was a score draw between the Police fans and the S & G fans as to who could sing along loudest!
Paul Simon still has the voice, but his range has become shorter. This was admirably compensated for as Sting was only too happy to sing the high notes in the wonderful rendition of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' which was their finale. That song has great memories of adolescence for me, Early girl chasing and live performances of 'Bye Bye Love' in The Polish Club, off Mutley Pain in Plymouth. The police were also involved then too, as they raided the place one night as there was underage drinking and the club did not have a license!!
Interestingly Paul Simon outlined the time when he was doing the Northern club circuit which was when he wrote 'Homeward Bound'. All in all an excellent night.
On the sporting front, the Wallasey Seniors did get the expected spanking at Vale Royal Abbey 2.5 to 5.5, but got our season back on course on Monday with a 7-1 win against Leasowe. The New Brighton v Birkenhead Park local rugby derby was a bit of a damp squib, with Park winning easily to clinch their promotion, and almost certainly guarantee New Brighton a first season relegation. Twickenham, on the other hand, managed to beat Guildford and so set up a winner takes all relegation decider against Cobham on Saturday.
The mighty Argyle hang on to the last play-off place in League 2 and now need only two wins form their last three games, but it is looking tough for Brentford in the Championship as a defeat last night in Sheffield see's them lose touch with the sixth place team and only three games remain to be played there too.
Now it's time to focus on the outdoor activities in the garden while the dry weather stays. There is still plenty to do inside as well before the S Club descend on us , but that can wait until the April showers arrive. That said, we are half way through so they better hurry up.
They did several sets together and solo spots designed to allow them a rest. No such luck for the audience as they went three hours non-stop. It was a score draw between the Police fans and the S & G fans as to who could sing along loudest!
Paul Simon still has the voice, but his range has become shorter. This was admirably compensated for as Sting was only too happy to sing the high notes in the wonderful rendition of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water' which was their finale. That song has great memories of adolescence for me, Early girl chasing and live performances of 'Bye Bye Love' in The Polish Club, off Mutley Pain in Plymouth. The police were also involved then too, as they raided the place one night as there was underage drinking and the club did not have a license!!
Interestingly Paul Simon outlined the time when he was doing the Northern club circuit which was when he wrote 'Homeward Bound'. All in all an excellent night.
On the sporting front, the Wallasey Seniors did get the expected spanking at Vale Royal Abbey 2.5 to 5.5, but got our season back on course on Monday with a 7-1 win against Leasowe. The New Brighton v Birkenhead Park local rugby derby was a bit of a damp squib, with Park winning easily to clinch their promotion, and almost certainly guarantee New Brighton a first season relegation. Twickenham, on the other hand, managed to beat Guildford and so set up a winner takes all relegation decider against Cobham on Saturday.
The mighty Argyle hang on to the last play-off place in League 2 and now need only two wins form their last three games, but it is looking tough for Brentford in the Championship as a defeat last night in Sheffield see's them lose touch with the sixth place team and only three games remain to be played there too.
Now it's time to focus on the outdoor activities in the garden while the dry weather stays. There is still plenty to do inside as well before the S Club descend on us , but that can wait until the April showers arrive. That said, we are half way through so they better hurry up.
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