Uilleam

It's ca'ed puddin' ba', in ma hoose, Frankie.

Just got worse

Ha ha ha ha ha!! Apparently being reported as a 'a keeper's blunder'..... Of course, none of their awards are in any way 'debatable': they need, they get, and that is unarguable.

FROM THE ARCHIVES How The Times covered 66-goal Boxing Day bonanza of 1963 Spurs waste lead, Man United in a muddle and free-scoring Liverpool – believe it or not, this story is not about this season but about a remarkable day of festive football 61 years ago How The Times covered 66-goal Boxing Day bonanza of 1963 Charlton was one of a huge list of goalscorers during a record-breaking set of festive fixtures Tom Clarke, Sports Editor Wednesday December 25 2024, 12.00pm, The Times Boxing Day football. Whether just another match for a loyal fan, a yearly tradition for the family or just an excuse to get out of the house, it’s a wonderful fixture in the festive calendar. Apart from last year, when I sat in the cold, watching my team lose 1-0, in the 89th minute, at home, while playing with ten men. But the less said about Lincoln City 0 Bolton Wanderers 1, the better. Far more remarkable and interesting results occurred on Boxing Day 1963, a set of scores often shared on social media each year. So this year we decided to see how the Times reported on these results with the help of The Times archive team. What we found was a Tottenham side throwing away a two-goal lead, a Manchester United team making tactical changes and paying the price and a home win for free-scoring Liverpool. I would say some things never change but I’ve personally never known Fulham to win 10-1 and it’s been a while since Blackburn were 1st in the top flight. Transcribed below are extracts from the reports on those matches and images from the page of The Times, edition Friday December 27 1963… First Division Blackpool 1 Chelsea 5 Burnley 6 Manchester United 1 Fulham 10 Ipswich Town 1 Leicester City 2 Everton 0 Liverpool 6 Stoke City 1 Nottingham Forest 3 Sheffield United 3 Sheffield Wednesday 3 Bolton Wanderers 0 West Bromwich Albion 4 Tottenham Hotspur 4 West Ham United 2 Blackburn Rovers 8 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 Aston Villa 3 ‘Sixty-six goals in First Division alone’ From Our Association Football Correspondent A mixture of icy conditions in some places, rain and slush in others, five matches postponed, another abandonment at Bristol at the interval, and a rush of goals to the head — particularly in the First Division — provided a Boxing Day feast for the Football League. It is a long time since there was such free scoring. The ten matches of the First Division alone provided a haul of 66 goals. Outstanding here was Fulham’s 10-1 victory over poor Ipswich Town. This was Fulham’s best win since their 10-2 triumph over Torquay United in the Third Division back in 1931, and the first double figured score in the top drawer since Tottenham Hotspur beat Everton 10-4 at White Hart Lane in season 1958-59. ‘Tottenham’s polish cracks under pressure’ West Bromwich Albion 4 Tottenham Hotspur 4 West Bromwich Albion goalkeeper Ray Potter, right, saves at his near post from Tottenham Hotspur’s Bobby Smith ALPHA PHOTO PRESS AGENCY Tottenham Hotspur managed to secure one valuable point from their match against West Bromwich Albion at the Hawthorns yesterday, but only after a desperate struggle. Early in the second half the visitors were two goals ahead and seemed to have the game well within their grasp, but as the pressure increased, their smooth polished play disappeared. Only by grim determination and, occasionally desperate tactics were they able to prevent Albion from stealing victory. ‘Revised attack muted by rampant Burnley’ Burnley 6 Manchester United 1 The most perplexing aspect of yesterday’s match at Turf Moor was, perhaps, not the surprising result, nor its bearing on the Championship, nor the dismissal of Crerand, but the strange formation of the Manchester United team. Charlton, England’s outside-left, played at centre forward, Herd, once Scotland’s centre forward, was at inside left, and Brennan, usually a full back, played on the left wing, a position he filled temporarily in the days immediately after Munich. This reshuffling of the pack caused a few anxieties to the Burnley defence, in which Miller and Elder in particular dealt capably with almost every thrust that came their way. There were fleeting moments in the first half when Charlton drew Talbot and slipped dangerous passes through to Herd, but that was rarely a forward line of telling ability. It was even less potent in the last quarter of an hour or so, after Crerand had been sent off for an infringement against Towers. Crerand is the fifth Manchester United player to be dismissed this season in competitions of one sort or another. ‘Seasonal fantasy at Fulham — apprehension drowned in goals’ Fulham 10 Ipswich Town 1 “Allow me”: Graham Leggat, right, picks up the ball for tired Ipswich goalkeeper Roy Bailey after the third of the four goals he scored in Fulham’s ten ALAMY Conditioned though they are to surprises Fulham’s supporters could scarcely have expected the pleasant shock that came their way after a quarter of an hour’s play at Craven Cottage yesterday. The four goals that arrived in the next five minutes were an excuse for the thumbing of records for the season. But the thought that, by the end, the history books would also have to come out to find the last time Fulham scored ten goals was in the realms of fantasy. But they did it — for the first time since the 1930s — and it might have been 11 or even 12. For Leggat, having scored three goals in four of those five almost unbelievable minutes, shot wide of an open goal, a shot by Cook stuck in the mud as it was crossing the line and Key hit the bar. They had considerable assistance from the Ipswich goalkeeper, Bailey, who had a most miserable afternoon, helping a corner from Howfield into the net and seeming too encumbered by a soft pitch to move smartly out for the centres. But Fulham deserved a wide if not prodigious margin. ‘West Ham defence riddled’ West Ham United 2 Blackburn Rovers 8 Blackburn’s Bryan Douglas slides the ball past Jim Standen to score his team’s second goal S&G AND BARRATTS/EMPICS SPORT' It was a murky Boxing Day morning at Upton Park, but the football was never in the shadows. Blackburn Rovers, who have crept almost surreptitiously to the top of the Football League, demonstrated that they have an attacking potential equal to any team in the country. They produced a feast of goals, four in each half, which was unpalatable only to the weak West Ham defence. West Ham, who have not won a League match since November 2, were outclassed, of course, but not outpaced. Their forwards, with Byrne as leader, were as persistent as those of Blackburn, but the difference lay in the opposition which faced them. The Blackburn defence was rugged and quick-tackling, whereas West Ham’s was slipshod, slow and thoughtless. “Too much Christmas pud”, was the succinct summing up from one frustrated supporter. ‘Liverpool change their tactics’ Liverpool 6 Stoke City 1 A tactical move ordered during the interval by their discerning manager, Mr W Shankly, completely turned the tables in Liverpool’s favour yesterday after their had been held to 1-1 in the first half. Mr Shankly clearly took the view that the Stoke right back, Asprey, was not showing the balance or confidence of his partner at left back, Allen. In any event, Liverpool turned their attentions to their left wing and were amply rewarded with five goals and an impressive victory.

On dear! That will be a few officials off the roster for the next game or two, I shouldn't wonder. They will be running out of one eyed jhokers at this rate.

Because it doesn't need to.

This drab sounds as amusing as frozen vomit on a Sunday morning sidewalk. Susie McBokeFace, then, sez I.

A win on Sunday, and a few good performances, bringing good results, especially in the upcoming Europa ties, with a few goals on the way, and the Young Team may have to change its banner to - 'MAKING RANGERS GREAT AGAIN'

Iggy Iggy Iggy Oi Oi Oi

Clearly that is an Offensive Communication under the terms of the Act. Expect a chap on the the door, at a totally unreasonable hour.

Mince; not prime quality Aberdeen Angus steak mince; not even middle of the road economising mince; but the sweepings from the butcher's floor mince.

Big Ig.

Okay, but when did you flounce out of the room?

They rarely learn from experience.

I've heard worse (I think, but I really can't remember when), and I suppose if you are a fan of Lavrentiy Shankland...

Yeah, he could have a stroke, die, and leave the Club in the hands of a psychopathic Georgian.

Another triumph, or disaster, and I incline to the latter, for

Oh well. Hope nobody ventured a chunky bet on the proposition

Don't shoot the messenger.... From our man on the rails Clement has left by mutual consent. Alex Rae will take interim charge for Nice and St Johnstone at the weekend. Mcinnes, Gerrard and Potter are rumoured to be the top 3 candidates for the job. Official statement on Clements departure expected around 6pm this evening

We really need someone who can defeat the Romulans.

Patrick Stewart? At least it's not William Shatner.

We hear from our connections down Gourock way, that Offord is a 'Good Guy', and a Bluenose . RANGERS could be set to name Malcolm Offord as their new chairman. SunSport understands that the 60-year-old is the leading contender to replace John Bennett as the Ibrox side's new permanent chief. John Gilligan stepped into the role on an interim basis after Bennett was forced to take a step back on health grounds. And now Greenock-born businessman Offord is ready to step into one of the biggest jobs in the Scottish game. And we understand he has already been involved in discussions with potential replacements for James Bisgrove as Rangers chief executive. That key role has been vacant ever since Bisgrove dropped the bombshell news that he was leaving the club for Saudi Arabia. Offord, who carries the title Lord Offord of Garvel, is a current member of the House of Lords. He has a background in politics and business, having been Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Department of Business and Trade from April 2023 to July 2024. He graduated in Law from Edinburgh University in 1987 before embarking upon a 25 year career in The City of London. The Conservative Party donor returned to Scotland in 2014 and established the private equity boutique Badenoch & Co. Well connected in the City of London - which should help in attracting outside investment - he is a regent of Edinburgh University and a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

Is it me, or does he look like Starmer? Whatever; he resembles Starmer more than we do a football team.

Ah've aye hid him doon as a schemie, ken. Aiblins Ah wis wrang.

Can someone tell me what difference this will make to performances -and to results- on the field of play, this season.