THE
“Celtic Family” branded themselves as: “The Greatest Fans In
The World”, I laughed. Because the GFITW title, for my money,
rightly resides some miles south of the Tweed Estuary.
"Wor Jackie" Milburn - Newcastle have won very little since his 1950s glory days
Newcastle United
have not won the FA Cup since 1955, when Jackie Milburn put them in
front with a first-minute goal. They have not been Champions of
England, by winning the League – in their case the old First
Division, in 1927. They have one major European trophy to their name,
when they won the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1969, although they
did win the Intertoto Cup outright in 200 and the Anglo-Italian Cup
in 1973, before winning back-to-back Texaco Cups in 1974 and 1975, in
the days of Bobby Moncur.
Sunderland last
won the English League in 1936. They won the FA Cup the following
year, under the captaincy of Raich Carer, since when, apart from
1973, when Ian Porterfield's goal saw off Leeds United in one of the
great FA Cup upsets, and thus won Sunderland the BBC's Team of the
Year trophy, they have won zilch.
Mind you,
Sunderland were “World Champions” in 1895, when they beat Hearts
5-3 at Tynecastle, in surely the only football World Championship
decider in which everyone on the park, 22 payers, plus referee and
linesmen were Scottish. But, when you have to put that triumph on
your Wikipedia entry, it's a sure sign of little success.
Ian Porterfield (left, half-hidden by Norman Hunter) beats David Harvey to win the FA Cup for Sundrland in the 1973 final - the club's last genuine big win.
However, in spite
of such a paucity of real trophies to celebrate, both clubs continue
to attract huge followings; a sure sign of a passion for football –
either that or their following of two so-unsuccessful clubs, plus the
North East of England region's overwhelming vote for Brexit is proof
positive of collective lunacy.
But, you have to
contend, the Geordies and the Makems, have more-right to be
considered as the UK's contenders in any Greatest Fans In The World
competition. I remember, when working in England in the 1970s,
driving from London back to my then home in Yorkshire, back up the
M1, and seeing a steady stream of coaches, laden with the Toon Army,
heading south for games at Cambridge United, Leyton Orient, Luton and
Millwall, when, in their minds, they should be taking-on Real Madrid,
the Milan club or Bayern Munich. That's a dedication in the face of
adversity the Celtic Family or the We Are The People supremacists
across Glasgow will never have to face.
So, I wish Chris
Coleman all the very best as he leaves his job as Manager of Wales,
for the storm-tossed waters of the Stadium of Light and the
Sunderland job – he will need it. Coleman did a great job as Welsh
boss. Football has long played second fiddle to Rugby Union in the
Valleys, but, Coleman, helped by coming to the job just as the finest
crop of Welsh football talent in over half a century – Gareth Bale,
Aaron Ramsey and Co, came to maturity, did a wonderful job in Wales.
Chris Coleman - has taken on a huge job, and, an even bigger gamble
But, giving
credibility to Welsh football is nothing compared to the kudos he
will receive if he can get the Black Cats back to the Premier League
and even, in time, into Europe and contending for the major honours.
As can be seen
from the list of those who failed, managing Sunderland has become
something of a poisoned chalice, let's hope Coleman is given the time
it will take to turn this club around.
WITH
the Sunderland job taken, there remain but two poisoned chalices to
pick-up, the vacancies at Hampden and Ibrox. Well, getting those
positions filled will keep the stenographers busy right up to
Christmas, and probably beyond.
Michael O'Neill is
favourite to succeed WGS. By the way, did the SFA put a “gagging”
clause on the wee ginger whinger? I'd have expected such a proven
caustic critic to be back on the Match of the Day sofa before now.
Any way, back to O'Neill.
His comparative
success with Northern Ireland has caught the eye of the Hampden
suits, and, I reckon he would be as good a choice as any for the
Scotland job, given that, for as long as the system is as
fatally-flawed as is Scottish football, nobody will ever have the
tools to take Scotland to where the SFA and the fans think we should
be. But, a man can try.
Graeme Murty - I somehow think this might be quite a regular feeling
As for the Rangers
job. Well, what can we say? The reality is, the club is skint,
dependant on the generosity of some directors and well-heeled fans
for the funds to keep the lights on and things ticking-over. The
playing squad is overflowing with under-achieving dead wood which has
to be got rid of. There is an overwhelming sense of entitlement on
the terraces – We are Rangers, we should be winning every week.
It's an impossible
to square circle. A wee bit of honesty from the men at the top of the
marble staircase, and a lot more commitment and effort from the
players is required. No sensible, big-name manager will go near
Rangers. Sure, from afar it looks like a great gig, but, once the due
diligence starts, and provided any applicant gets honest answers from
the men in charge, things change.
You know, Graeme
Murty has the ball at the moment. If he can get them into second
spot, challenge Celtic, even beat them at least once this season –
Ibrox, if not the world, is his oyster.
AND
FINALLY, good luck to the teams competing in today's William Hill
Scottish Cup, third round ties. In particular, I will be thinking of
my local village team, the mighty Glenafton Athletic, who travel to
face Championship high-flyers Livingston at Almondvale.
The Glenafton Party Army in full cry, as they will be this afternoon at Livingston
On paper, Livi
should win, but, they will find out this afternoon, the Glen can play
a wee bit and I hope my big neighbour Alex, and the rest of the Afton
Party Army enjoy their day out, which win or lose they will.
The Glen, by the
way, have already had a win in this tie, with Livi reducing the cost
of entry. Well done that club.
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