A Footballing History

C5 Battery Electrics and Key Lock

A couple of quick photos of the battery wiring and the key lock still intact, just need to find a battery and see what still works.

You can see the switch for the lights at the top.

Popping Wheelies on a C5

With the help of an able assistant we managed to get the C5 running on pedal power. The first thing my helper did was try and get a wheel off the ground:

The Strip Down Has Started

Started with the strip down of the C5 to get rid of the rust (someone is going to kindly shot blast and spray it for me) and check which parts need replacing and cleaning up.

I thought it would be really difficult, but with the help of a great video on youtube it has been pretty straight forward so far. Putting it back together and getting it working again may not!

Anyway, here are some pics:

The boot off, revealing the motor and electric workings. It is worth noting there was a massive spider in the rear light.

Inside the control box, with a carcass of a spider. Probably one the current resident had finished off.

The little details make all the difference.

NASL Collection on Display

I was recently invited to take part in The Hepworth Gallery's recent 'I Collect' invent and display my NASL memorabilia  They are going to do future 'I Collect' events, so keep an eye out as they want people who collect absolutely anything. I was a great day and you got really looked after. Here is a picture of my collection laid out and there is also a weblink to The Hepworth page.

http://www.hepworthwakefield.org/icollect/72/

A C5 Discovery.

I have been looking for houses to buy recently and in the garage of one of the houses I came across a Sinclair C5! On getting home I realised it was too good of an opportunity to miss and I got my other half to contact the Estate Agent and asked if they were willing to sell the C5. My initial excitement turned to disappointment and a sense of loss when we did not hear back from the vendors (of the house and C5), but this week we received a phone call out of the blue to say it was still there if I wanted it! I did!

Here is a picture of the futuristic vehicle from 1985.

Maybe it is a Problem

Thought I would take a photo of my NASL shirt and apparel collection for posterity's sake. I then realised how much of it I have assembled!

New York Cosmos - What's all the Fuss About?

Last month (July 2012) it was announced that the New York Cosmos had been accepted into the NASL, the division below the MLS, following on from their high profile "We're Back" re-launch with Pele and Cantona in October 2010 and subsequent clothing range. So what is all the fuss about?

In 1971 the Cosmos were formed by Warner Communications executives Ahmet and Neshui Ertegun who had previously created Atlantic Records. They were backed by the owner of Warner, Steve Ross, a self confessed sports addict.

It all started well, playing out of the Hofstra University Stadium, they won their first league title overcoming the St. Louis Stars 2-1 with Bermuda born Randy Horton becoming the first Cosmos fans hero. They reached the semi finals in the following year before drifting off into mediocrity.

With no trophies and dwindling attendances (down to an average of 3, 578 by 1974). Steve Ross decided something needed to be done. The solution was to sign the World's greatest player, Pele. This wasn't done overnight and due to Pele's immense national importance in Brazil it included conversations between the US and Brazil foreign offices. Pele eventually signed for the Cosmos on the 10th of June 1975 on a salary which is still debated today. What is not debatable is that it was a ground breaking sum for American sport, let alone one without a national TV deal. Pele's first game for the Cosmos was against the Dallas Tornado infront of a sell out crowd at Downing Stadium, Randall's Island and was televised nationally, the pitch looking perfect due to the bare patches being spray painted green the day before.

The Cosmos originally moved to Randall's Island in 1974, but moved on to the Yankee's stadium for a season in 1976, where Pele was joined with Lazio's prolific goal scorer Giorgio Chinaglia. When Chinaglia left Lazio it was reported that fans were so distraught they threatened to throw themselves under the wheels of the plane to prevent him leaving. Chinaglia was controversial and always outspoken. The players were once specifically told they would be fined should they go out the night before a match, Chinaglia stood up, asked who were going out with him and paid the fine for them all there and then in cash. Whatever anyone thought of Chinaglia he had a strong bond with Steve Ross and most importantly scored goals and plenty of them, 193 in 213 Cosmos games, scoring 50 of them in the 1980 NASL season.

The following season, now at the legendary Giants Stadium, with new signings Carlos Alberto and 1974 World Cup Winner Franz Beckenbauer the Cosmos won their second Championship in Pele's third and final season. The Cosmos went onto win three more in 1978, 1980 and 1982.

While Pele raised the profile of 'Soccer' immensely in the USA, it can be argued that it acted as a blue print for other teams whose owners did not have the financial muscle of Steve Ross. Many a high profile player crossed the Atlantic to join other NASL franchises, Johan Cruyff at the Washington Diplomats, George Best joined the LA Aztecs and Rodney Marsh became the talisman of the Tampa Bay Rowdies. Other notable players were Gordon Banks and Trevor Francis.

It could not last and it didn't. Over paying for players and too many teams in the league caused the collapse of some franchises, considerable decline in attendances and no TV deal. It was inevitable.

Or was it? Steve Ross felt America need a renewal of enthusiasm in Soccer, that would come in the form of the Fifa World Cup. The biggest sporting event on the planet held in America and televised the World over. It was achievable too, Colombia were due to host the 1986 World Cup but withdrew due to financial problems. Steve Ross lobbied Fifa, the Governing body for World football and they awarded it to Mexico, who had already hosted it in 1970. Within a year the NASL folded. When Fifa eventually awarded the World Cup to USA in 1994, it was on the strict condition that America created a professional soccer league.

So there is the history, so what of the new New York Cosmos? In true Cosmos tradition the re-launch was dramatic and delivered what it promised, for a short time anyway. Englishman Paul Kemsley was the driving force, on borrowed money, which he could not pay back. With talk of ex-Liverpool Chief Executive Rick Parry taking charge the Cosmos fell into the hands Saudi Arabia based Sela Sport who promise a much more careful and considered approach to the ultimate goal of entering the franchise into the MLS.

The day of the Cosmos at the top of US Soccer may be a long way off, with issues of building a soccer specific stadium in one of the World's most difficult and expensive places to buy real estate. To address it is not going to be an easy ride. If history tells us anything, it will be an entertaining one.

Chicago Sting - 1978

This is a 1978 Chicago Sting shirt that was brought over from the US in the 1970's. I managed to acquire it from a guy in Sheffield who had owned it since then.

If you wanted to replicate an original 1970's NASL soccer shirt, you could just not pull it off like this. I just need to purchase some flares to go with it!

NASL Shirts

Possibly, probably, nay definately the best place on the net for information about NASL football shirts.

Cannot speak highly enough of it.

http://www.nasljerseys.com/Jerseys/Sting_Jerseys_NASL.htm

Colin Jeavons as Inspector Lestrade

This is a video I made to celebrate the quality of Colin Jeavons acting as Inspector Lestrade in the excellent Granada interpretation of Sherlock Holmes, played by the much loved Jeremy Brett.

Jeremy Brett is rightly celebrated for his portrayal as the worlds most famous detective and there are many videos out there on YouTube.

If you do get chance to read the Arthur Conan Doyle books you'll realise just how perfect Jeavons is as Lestrade.

Pele's 1st Game for the New York Cosmos

Whoever uploaded this deserves a reward. It is Pele's first match for the New York Cosmos.

At the time the Cosmos played on Randall's Island in New York. They wanted to impress Pele with the pitch so sprayed the dirt patches green. After the game Pele reportedly said he would not play again as the pitch was covered in fungus! Fortunately he did. It was not long before the Cosmos moved into Giants stadium.

The game is against Dallas on the 15/06/1975.

Enjoy.

Washington Diplomats

Continuing the old NASL theme I cam across and excellent blog about the Washington Dips, home of the legendary Johan Cruyff. The link to the blog should be on the right hand side.

Anyway, this set me off on another journey and I stumbled across some highlights of a Dips game Vs the Portland Timbers.

http://youtu.be/2GUHGAwJ-GY

I also found this great goal from John Cruyff which makes in look all so easy.

Football in Sweden

I recently found this excellent blog on watching football in Sweden and felt that it required sharing. Kudos should go to the bloggers, excellent work.

'The Home of Swedish Football in England':

http://footballinsweden.wordpress.com/

Barnsley Supporters FC - WorldNet 2011 Montage

It might well have been a year in the making (or waiting to be made), it may not be the best BSFC montage to date, but it is here, in all it's glory.

New York Cosmos Season Review 1977.

I must admit that I am somewhat obsessed with the New York Cosmos and this week  the new installation of the franchise has been admitted to the NASL (the division below the MLS) for the 2012/13 season. So the Cosmos are back playing competitive games!

The Cosmos were arguably the first Galacticos, with Pele, Carlos Alberto, Chinaglia and Beckenbauer in their side.

Anyway, that got me thinking of the original Cosmos from 1977 and I found that someone has kindly uploaded the complete review of Pele's last season. Which is well worth a watch.

An excellent piece on the Sports Illustrated website about the New York Cosmos, their turbulent relaunch and entering the NASL.
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/grant_wahl/07/13/new-york-cosmos/index.html

Barnsley Supporters FC

Barnsley Supporters FC are a football team that was set up in 2004 to take part in the Internet Football Association's (ifa) annual summer tournament WorldNet.

The aim of the ifa is to bring groups of supporters together in a positive way, going against the perceived traditional rivalry between opposing fans. Fixtures are ideally played in the morning before the two professional outfits meet up in the afternoon. If a professional team does not have a corresponding fans team then the opportunity for an alternative fixture is utilised.

Since 2004 Barnsley SFC have played fans teams from Peterborough, West Brom, Sheffield United, Preston, Burnley, Whitby Town, Buxton, Tranmere, Arsenal, Charlton, Coventry, Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Dundee United, Ayr, Hearts and Rotherham to name just a few!

In 2008 the decision was taken to commence filming the games and making highlight films. The 2009 being the first to be fully filmed:

In May 2009 Barnsley SFC were honoured to be invited by the Tranmere Rovers fans to play on Prenton Park. Here are the best bits from that day:

Barnsley Supporters FC's Official Website:
http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/barnsleysupportersfootballclub/

Barnsley Supporters FC's Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Barnsley-Supporters-Football-Club/114689941682?ref=ts

Barnsley Supporters FC on youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/r8films

IFA: http://www.internetfootball.org.uk/

Overthorpe Nativity - Circa 1984/85

Of interest surely for only those who play a starring role.

There are 3 short clips available to watch on youtube.

Clip 2:

Clip 3:

The full version comes in at around 1.18GB and lasts approximately one hour. It is split into 6 parts and each part is downloaded for free from filefactory, the links are as follows:

http://www.filefactory.com/file/3tipxi3yd4av/n/Ov_Nativity_Full_Length_part1_rar
http://www.filefactory.com/file/4sripmj1rsyn/n/Ov_Nativity_Full_Length.part2.rar
http://www.filefactory.com/file/8alsr5g8h0l/n/Ov_Nativity_Full_Length_part3_rar
http://www.filefactory.com/file/1lk7aarg9aap/n/Ov_Nativity_Full_Length_part4_rar
http://www.filefactory.com/file/67rnzisv3c1p/n/Ov_Nativity_Full_Length_part5_rar
http://www.filefactory.com/file/54qepwhdam85/n/Ov_Nativity_Full_Length.part6.rar

Barnsley Supporters FC 2010-11 Season Montage

A video I made from all the best bits of action from the 2010-2011 season. Set to "Rule the World" by "The Courtiers"

BBC World Cup 2002 - Headers Montage

A short and forgotten headed goals montage from World Cup 2002 in Japan and South Korea.

Ossett Town Juniors - Circa 1995

A bit of old footage I found on a recent clear out.

Filmed quite badly on a camcorder borrowed from a relative.

We watched it on the TV using a real size video cassette which fitted the small DV cassette inside it. Those were the days.

Up close, the kit was an intricate red and white design that appeared pink to anyone stood more than a metre away.