Great atmosphere, great crowd, three minutes from a really hard fought and deserved victory. Dodgy free kick given results in a corner. They score from it. The referee then adds on another minute. They get another corner. It loops up high and goes straight into the net. The lad who took it hadn't scored for two years. The referee blows his whistle and they think they have won the world cup. He might as well have picked a sword up and finished me off there and then. I drive home arriving back at 2.30 a.m. Kids up for school and wife extremely ill. In summary I think there is no such thing as divine inspiration, either good things happen or bad things happen, and last night it was bad, very, very, very bad.
So what's the next stage? Go to the pub ? No, can't do that as got to look after wife and children. Wreck the house in a fit of rage? No, can't do that as it's rented. Take it on the chin and piece the heart and head back together for Thursday morning? Correct.
CH
Wednesday, 10 February 2010
Monday, 8 February 2010
OCD
Apologies about the lack of blog last night, I travelled back to Oxford, to my second home, that being my hotel. It was room 139 last night which was much better than room 111 (very cold) and also room 219 (a ten minute trek), so far 105 has been the best stable with perfect temperature, close proximity to reception, and with the right configuration of bed to TV, to toilet, to door, to wardrobe. I actually woke up this morning not knowing where I was - just like the old day's! I think it was the constant changes in room set ups that had flummoxed me, in fact I headed to the window in the middle of the night thinking it was the bathroom. Still, it is a lovely hotel and I was quite happy being tucked up last night with another one of Hattie's teddies to keep me company whilst watching the Superbowl. I have also solved the concrete mattress problem, I now carry a suitcase with me containing a memory foam cover and my own 'special' pillow. Yes I do have OCD!,
After training today I nipped back to see Nat at the BBC. I love doing the punditry but found it hard today to comment on T.U.F.C's fortunes. Even picking the paper up to look at the match report is odd - because I'm not in it! It will take a while to get used to, after all it only seems like yesterday that we were celebrating promotion. I do have to move on though as tomorrow night I have a huge game to play in myself.
After the 'Beeb' I popped in to see Richard (Back quack/guru/AC Milan jet setter) for a quick clunk and click and then it was back home to see the family. Four stories, a game of hide and seek, and a chicken curry later and I am now going to relax, oh I must not forget the ice bath, can't wait!.
P.S Hello Jase and Sarah - cook offs and road trips to begin again soon
CH
After training today I nipped back to see Nat at the BBC. I love doing the punditry but found it hard today to comment on T.U.F.C's fortunes. Even picking the paper up to look at the match report is odd - because I'm not in it! It will take a while to get used to, after all it only seems like yesterday that we were celebrating promotion. I do have to move on though as tomorrow night I have a huge game to play in myself.
After the 'Beeb' I popped in to see Richard (Back quack/guru/AC Milan jet setter) for a quick clunk and click and then it was back home to see the family. Four stories, a game of hide and seek, and a chicken curry later and I am now going to relax, oh I must not forget the ice bath, can't wait!.
P.S Hello Jase and Sarah - cook offs and road trips to begin again soon
CH
Saturday, 6 February 2010
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY POP, MARTIN H, A TOP DAD AND A TOP MAN
Well I have just arrived back in Devon (with three Easter eggs and an industrial sized toblerone for the clan) after a good, if a bit frustrating, return to the Kassam stadium. Firstly though I was gutted to see the lad's lose at Hereford today. Like everyone I am concerned at the position the club find themselves in, I think it is time for a war cry to get everybody pulling in the same direction from players, to staff, and of course to the fans. It would be great if the club could put a real push on to get more fans through the turnstiles, maybe reducing the ticket prices for the run in and saying come and support us as we need you.
I know a lot of talk has been of progression at the club and as I have said before I'm all for it, but at the moment I think a bit of blood and thunder football is required, at least to get a few wins on the board and then worry about the performances and the progression later. It is easy for me to talk about it now as I know how hard it is out there, but you can never underestimate the value of team spirit and fight so hopefully next weekend Port Vale will know they have been in a game and will be leaving Devon empty handed.
Now to Oxford, my new club. Today was one of those day's when the ball just did not want to go in the back of the net, plenty of chances just no finish. I was really grateful for the kind reception I got and had really hoped my for a win on my return but it wasn't to be. The effort was definitely there though and it was a game that could have been lost at the end whilst pushing for the victory so all in all we take the point and look forward to a massive game against Luton away on Tuesday. It will be a 10,000 sellout crowd so a great game to play in and an even better one to win.
The pressure and expectation at Oxford is very high but it should be, the club need promotion as badly we did in those last few seasons. I want promotion for that club as I wanted it for Torquay so hopefully the same happens as it did for us come the end of a hard seasons work.
I will be travelling back up to Oxford tomorrow for training on Monday and then nipping back to see Nat for a little 'punditry' on the evening. Until then it's a catch up, a walk on the beach, and a Grandma Joan roast. As far as the family are concerned I haven't seen Hattie yet but apparently she is even more obsessed with "Wull" next door (her boyfriend) to the point where she demands to see him every day after school, the school they go to together that is!!. Issy has nearly recovered from the question mark swine flu/glandular fever/tonsillitis/fancy a couple of weeks off school virus! Cam has just reluctantly gone to bed but is looking forward to wearing his new boots and destroying the opposition tomorrow, and finally my wife Fiona was busy checking out Tiffany's entire online collection on my return. Nothing changes really!
Enjoy the weekend one and all.
CH
Well I have just arrived back in Devon (with three Easter eggs and an industrial sized toblerone for the clan) after a good, if a bit frustrating, return to the Kassam stadium. Firstly though I was gutted to see the lad's lose at Hereford today. Like everyone I am concerned at the position the club find themselves in, I think it is time for a war cry to get everybody pulling in the same direction from players, to staff, and of course to the fans. It would be great if the club could put a real push on to get more fans through the turnstiles, maybe reducing the ticket prices for the run in and saying come and support us as we need you.
I know a lot of talk has been of progression at the club and as I have said before I'm all for it, but at the moment I think a bit of blood and thunder football is required, at least to get a few wins on the board and then worry about the performances and the progression later. It is easy for me to talk about it now as I know how hard it is out there, but you can never underestimate the value of team spirit and fight so hopefully next weekend Port Vale will know they have been in a game and will be leaving Devon empty handed.
Now to Oxford, my new club. Today was one of those day's when the ball just did not want to go in the back of the net, plenty of chances just no finish. I was really grateful for the kind reception I got and had really hoped my for a win on my return but it wasn't to be. The effort was definitely there though and it was a game that could have been lost at the end whilst pushing for the victory so all in all we take the point and look forward to a massive game against Luton away on Tuesday. It will be a 10,000 sellout crowd so a great game to play in and an even better one to win.
The pressure and expectation at Oxford is very high but it should be, the club need promotion as badly we did in those last few seasons. I want promotion for that club as I wanted it for Torquay so hopefully the same happens as it did for us come the end of a hard seasons work.
I will be travelling back up to Oxford tomorrow for training on Monday and then nipping back to see Nat for a little 'punditry' on the evening. Until then it's a catch up, a walk on the beach, and a Grandma Joan roast. As far as the family are concerned I haven't seen Hattie yet but apparently she is even more obsessed with "Wull" next door (her boyfriend) to the point where she demands to see him every day after school, the school they go to together that is!!. Issy has nearly recovered from the question mark swine flu/glandular fever/tonsillitis/fancy a couple of weeks off school virus! Cam has just reluctantly gone to bed but is looking forward to wearing his new boots and destroying the opposition tomorrow, and finally my wife Fiona was busy checking out Tiffany's entire online collection on my return. Nothing changes really!
Enjoy the weekend one and all.
CH
Friday, 5 February 2010
Bubble
With so many of today's football clubs either in debt, running at a loss, or in really, really big debt it is a wonder how long the 'football' bubble will continue for. West Ham's new supremo David Sullivan has expressed dismay at the overspending seen at so many clubs even hinting that one may go out of business altogether. I don't see that happening, partly because fan's love the game too much and there are plenty of wealthy fan's out there to bail clubs out. I'm not even sure that there will be a wage cap as the best will always demand more money but two things have happened recently that we have never seen before in football.
Firstly Gordon Brown has voiced his concern that our top clubs find themselves in huge debt, he has described it as irresponsible management. Secondly the 'Pompey' and England goalkeeper David James has said he will fore go his entitlement to a new £2million a year contract - after almost playing the required 20 games this season to get one - so that the club can continue to play him, and so that he can play in the World Cup of course!.
I think that many clubs, and their managers and chairman, are just speculating to accumulate, buying player's they 'hope' will do well, only to often to be left with a 'pink pony' on upwards of 30k a week. So what is the answer? A wage cap may be the way forward and I for one will be happy to accept 10k a week across the board for all footballers across the divisions!!!!!!. I would love to see what Sir John Harvey Jones (business problem solver and more often saver) would say if he were allowed to see a clubs financial state of affairs. The main problem is that the people at the top at a football club sometimes have too much of an emotional pull for the club that they often support and so are blinded by the teams fortunes. That and the demands of the players and their agents.
The other problem is that the players don't often have an emotional attachment to their clubs so it is totally irrelevant to them how much trouble their own club is in. Whilst at Northampton Town I agreed to have my wages cut by 25 percent because I really wanted to stay at the club and knew that financially they were in a tight spot. Was it the right thing to do ? I felt it was at the time but the following season I tried my hand at a bit of house renovation to make up for the shortfall in wages. The result was though that I ended up playing like Tommy Walsh never mind building like him, plastering walls after training and stripping floorboards before games is not the best accompaniment to full time playing!
I just hope that when my son is old enough to play professionally - if that is what he chooses to do - that the wages will still be sufficiently good for him to be able buy his Dad an Aston Martin!.
P.S Due to unforeseen circumstances, including a transfer, two illnesses, a few hospital visits, and a few hundred miles, a big apology goes out to Dan and Jen (next door). Fiona rang me tonight to say that she had, as prompted by myself, sent Hattie to Morgan's (son of Dan and Jen) first Birthday party complete with a Fi-Fi DVD, two In The Nightgarden books and a pink card!
I had mistakenly told my wife before I had left that it was Ellie's birthday party, (daughter of Jen and Dan and two years older) and so to save any further embarrassment I thought I would accept full blame on the blog. Anyway I hope that Ellie enjoyed her pressie you guys and don't worry, Morgan will of course get his present, on Ellie's birthday!!!!!!!
I think it was 'that' set at tennis you fluked Dan, it totally upset my thought process. See you on court next week for more clarity!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORGAN
CH
Firstly Gordon Brown has voiced his concern that our top clubs find themselves in huge debt, he has described it as irresponsible management. Secondly the 'Pompey' and England goalkeeper David James has said he will fore go his entitlement to a new £2million a year contract - after almost playing the required 20 games this season to get one - so that the club can continue to play him, and so that he can play in the World Cup of course!.
I think that many clubs, and their managers and chairman, are just speculating to accumulate, buying player's they 'hope' will do well, only to often to be left with a 'pink pony' on upwards of 30k a week. So what is the answer? A wage cap may be the way forward and I for one will be happy to accept 10k a week across the board for all footballers across the divisions!!!!!!. I would love to see what Sir John Harvey Jones (business problem solver and more often saver) would say if he were allowed to see a clubs financial state of affairs. The main problem is that the people at the top at a football club sometimes have too much of an emotional pull for the club that they often support and so are blinded by the teams fortunes. That and the demands of the players and their agents.
The other problem is that the players don't often have an emotional attachment to their clubs so it is totally irrelevant to them how much trouble their own club is in. Whilst at Northampton Town I agreed to have my wages cut by 25 percent because I really wanted to stay at the club and knew that financially they were in a tight spot. Was it the right thing to do ? I felt it was at the time but the following season I tried my hand at a bit of house renovation to make up for the shortfall in wages. The result was though that I ended up playing like Tommy Walsh never mind building like him, plastering walls after training and stripping floorboards before games is not the best accompaniment to full time playing!
I just hope that when my son is old enough to play professionally - if that is what he chooses to do - that the wages will still be sufficiently good for him to be able buy his Dad an Aston Martin!.
P.S Due to unforeseen circumstances, including a transfer, two illnesses, a few hospital visits, and a few hundred miles, a big apology goes out to Dan and Jen (next door). Fiona rang me tonight to say that she had, as prompted by myself, sent Hattie to Morgan's (son of Dan and Jen) first Birthday party complete with a Fi-Fi DVD, two In The Nightgarden books and a pink card!
I had mistakenly told my wife before I had left that it was Ellie's birthday party, (daughter of Jen and Dan and two years older) and so to save any further embarrassment I thought I would accept full blame on the blog. Anyway I hope that Ellie enjoyed her pressie you guys and don't worry, Morgan will of course get his present, on Ellie's birthday!!!!!!!
I think it was 'that' set at tennis you fluked Dan, it totally upset my thought process. See you on court next week for more clarity!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MORGAN
CH
Thursday, 4 February 2010
Day's off
With my back in place - bed much better last night so no displaced discs - I trained with the lad's this morning. Having only played 30 minutes so far I got a little bit of stick, deservedly so, for rolling up on a Thursday having had a few day's off, but as I told the lad's it was a good 30 minutes!
There are a few old faces from my earlier time at the club, Billy 'I will shout at my defenders all game long even if they are doing well' Turley is still there, as are a few of the backroom staff including Alan 'five decades in football' Hodgkinson, but otherwise it is a different place on and off the pitch. Two things that have remained constant however are Andrea's brilliant post training food and Lindsey's (fitness guru/kit man/decent bloke) bone dry banter.
It still seems strange being away form T.U.F.C but in football you have to expect the unexpected. I find myself writing today's blog in a golf and country club near the training ground (it was a necessity to find weights to hammer and coffee to drink) and although very nice this new life is going to take some getting used to. I am used to having Harriet trying to pull the key's off the laptop or WW3 exploding upstairs.
I am getting through phone credit at will as staying in touch with my wife at all times is paramount (are you eating well/ who is that in the background etc etc!!!) and for a 6ft tall 13st man I am also safe in the knowledge that Harriet has given me her Cow to keep me safe - I wonder what the maid thinks when she sees it sat on my pillow!
Tomorrow it's a vist to a few old freinds but for now it's a stroll through 'Morse' land.
There are a few old faces from my earlier time at the club, Billy 'I will shout at my defenders all game long even if they are doing well' Turley is still there, as are a few of the backroom staff including Alan 'five decades in football' Hodgkinson, but otherwise it is a different place on and off the pitch. Two things that have remained constant however are Andrea's brilliant post training food and Lindsey's (fitness guru/kit man/decent bloke) bone dry banter.
It still seems strange being away form T.U.F.C but in football you have to expect the unexpected. I find myself writing today's blog in a golf and country club near the training ground (it was a necessity to find weights to hammer and coffee to drink) and although very nice this new life is going to take some getting used to. I am used to having Harriet trying to pull the key's off the laptop or WW3 exploding upstairs.
I am getting through phone credit at will as staying in touch with my wife at all times is paramount (are you eating well/ who is that in the background etc etc!!!) and for a 6ft tall 13st man I am also safe in the knowledge that Harriet has given me her Cow to keep me safe - I wonder what the maid thinks when she sees it sat on my pillow!
Tomorrow it's a vist to a few old freinds but for now it's a stroll through 'Morse' land.
Wednesday, 3 February 2010
Hotel
Belated well done to my bro Mark, more top marks and more light shining through at the end of the tunnel.
I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who couldn't quite believe the final result last night, another late goal conceded means more lost points. It will change in the end but it's the in between stage that hurts the most.
Tonight I am heading off to my on/off home for the next few months - room 105! I have certainly spent a few nights in hotels over the last twenty or so seasons, some good and some bad. I have to say that this one is very nice apart from the concrete mattress and the ice cold room temperature. I am determined to work out the air con system tonight though and I will also be on the hunt for a softer mattress as last week I ended up playing with a shattered vertebrae, frozen shoulder, and locked neck.
I must quickly (very quickly) mention that Dan - next door neighbour and surf extraordinaire - managed to get a set off me (tennis) the other day. Well done mate but it will never happen again. You played very well but I was well, well below par!
The children are annoyed at me going away, Cam will miss beating me at any X-Box game ever invented and he will miss our constant banter - he has abandoned his surf hair cut tonight and gone back to his old school look, thank-you Amanda (next door neighbour again but this time hairdresser extraordinaire) for rescuing the job, the wine is on it's way.
Hattie will miss hide and seek, fighting, stories, painting, eating competitions, kissing, hugs, and den building, and Issy, well come to think of it Issy won't actually miss me at all , she is 9 years of age after all. As far as my wife is concerned I am dispensable as Grandma Joan (her Mum) is currently staying. Grandad Iain however has gone. After exhausting all the odd jobs needing doing here he has returned home...... to do more odd jobs there!
I bid you farewell and will be on my merry way.
P.S Tomorrow I aim to find the most random WiFi cafe in Oxford from where I will randomly blog.
CH
I'm sure there are plenty of you out there who couldn't quite believe the final result last night, another late goal conceded means more lost points. It will change in the end but it's the in between stage that hurts the most.
Tonight I am heading off to my on/off home for the next few months - room 105! I have certainly spent a few nights in hotels over the last twenty or so seasons, some good and some bad. I have to say that this one is very nice apart from the concrete mattress and the ice cold room temperature. I am determined to work out the air con system tonight though and I will also be on the hunt for a softer mattress as last week I ended up playing with a shattered vertebrae, frozen shoulder, and locked neck.
I must quickly (very quickly) mention that Dan - next door neighbour and surf extraordinaire - managed to get a set off me (tennis) the other day. Well done mate but it will never happen again. You played very well but I was well, well below par!
The children are annoyed at me going away, Cam will miss beating me at any X-Box game ever invented and he will miss our constant banter - he has abandoned his surf hair cut tonight and gone back to his old school look, thank-you Amanda (next door neighbour again but this time hairdresser extraordinaire) for rescuing the job, the wine is on it's way.
Hattie will miss hide and seek, fighting, stories, painting, eating competitions, kissing, hugs, and den building, and Issy, well come to think of it Issy won't actually miss me at all , she is 9 years of age after all. As far as my wife is concerned I am dispensable as Grandma Joan (her Mum) is currently staying. Grandad Iain however has gone. After exhausting all the odd jobs needing doing here he has returned home...... to do more odd jobs there!
I bid you farewell and will be on my merry way.
P.S Tomorrow I aim to find the most random WiFi cafe in Oxford from where I will randomly blog.
CH
Tuesday, 2 February 2010
Reputation
A very odd time to post a blog tonight but with our game (Oxford that is!) called off - Cambridge have to play in the F.A trophy match - and with me having been given a few day's off I have some welcome time on my hands. Cam has been dispatched to football, Harriet is watching crocodiles on TV with Issy, and Mrs H is shopping (Internet!!) so I am free for half an hour.
The big news to dominate the front pages has obviously been John Terry's off field misdemeanors. On the pitch it was business as usual but off it JT has landed himself in hot water by doing the dirty on one of his team mates, Wayne Bridge. It was interesting to see that some of Bridge's Man City team mates wore 'Team Bridge' vests at a recent game - some meaning non of Terry's England colleagues!.
I think Capello would be a brave man to strip Terry of the England captaincy but to be honest I think it would be a good move if he did. You keep him as England captain and you are basically saying 'Anything goes', you take the captaincy away and you are saying 'You have gone too far this time'. No one will care if he ends up lifting the World Cup but in today's high profile, high earning game I think the often heralded 'Man's man' Terry has certainly crossed the line and he definitely has not lived up to the reputation that comes with being 'One of the lad's'. Poor play all round John my son!.
I will be travelling up to Oxford again tomorrow in preparation for our game against 'Kiddy' at the weekend. As we know all games are important at this stage of the season and this one is no exception, a win is needed to keep the challenge up. Talking of needing results, T.U.F.C kick off in around ten minutes so it's good luck to the lad's from me and hopefully a win for the travelling fans.
CH
The big news to dominate the front pages has obviously been John Terry's off field misdemeanors. On the pitch it was business as usual but off it JT has landed himself in hot water by doing the dirty on one of his team mates, Wayne Bridge. It was interesting to see that some of Bridge's Man City team mates wore 'Team Bridge' vests at a recent game - some meaning non of Terry's England colleagues!.
I think Capello would be a brave man to strip Terry of the England captaincy but to be honest I think it would be a good move if he did. You keep him as England captain and you are basically saying 'Anything goes', you take the captaincy away and you are saying 'You have gone too far this time'. No one will care if he ends up lifting the World Cup but in today's high profile, high earning game I think the often heralded 'Man's man' Terry has certainly crossed the line and he definitely has not lived up to the reputation that comes with being 'One of the lad's'. Poor play all round John my son!.
I will be travelling up to Oxford again tomorrow in preparation for our game against 'Kiddy' at the weekend. As we know all games are important at this stage of the season and this one is no exception, a win is needed to keep the challenge up. Talking of needing results, T.U.F.C kick off in around ten minutes so it's good luck to the lad's from me and hopefully a win for the travelling fans.
CH
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