The Round Ball Game

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

my misery is complete what a complete lack of bottle they froze and hats off to the red devils who clearly were actually alive on the pitch and deserve their process to triumph ....

i fear for West Ham .... but do not want Blackpool to go down, their cavaliering approach has been a major plus this season ....

[aeolium]

Never a fan of London clubs, I nevertheless hope that AFC Wimbledon make it into the Football League, and ultimately make it to the same division as MK Dons and trounce the carpetbagging opportunists.

Is that AFC Wimbledon the heir to the FA Cup winners of 1988 and onetime Premier League team? Sic transit &c
I remember Swansea City's rise and fall some three decades ago, when in the old four division league they went 4-3-2-1-2-3-4 in almost successive seasons, IIRC. Good to see them back in with a chance of promotion to the top flight.

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

Is that AFC Wimbledon the heir to the FA Cup winners of 1988 and onetime Premier League team?

As I understand it, the old Wimbledon team that rose so high in the 1980s, moved away from their Wimbledon home to other venues in London before seeking a new home elsewhere. There were jokes about them moving to places like Denbigh and Dublin, but they finally settled in Milton Keynes - though the team was still called "Wimbledon" at that time. I presume the (new) name MK "Dons" has something to do with their heritage?
The new AFC Wimbledon was formed by fans who, quite understandably, were disgruntled about their old team's desertion. So it's an entirely different team. So is Accrington Stanley, for that matter.

[EdgeleyRob]

I was driving through Stockport yesterday afternoon and saw some Stockport County supporters making their way to Edgeley Park. I then realised they were going to their last game in the Football League. A very sad day.

I have been away for a few days so didn't make Saturdays game.Speaking to one or two people who were there I believe it was quite eventful and emotional.There was a sit in on the pitch by some fans and a few tears were shed.

[aeolium]

Is Accrington Stanley the only league club named in part after an actual individual (presumably Tottenham Hotspur are not named after the character in Henry IV pt 1?)

[vinteuil]

Is Accrington Stanley the only league club named in part after an actual individual (presumably Tottenham Hotspur are not named after the character in Henry IV pt 1?)

... well, wiki advises:

"In 1882, the Hotspur Football Club was formed by grammar-school boys from the Bible class at All Hallows Church. They were also members of Hotspur Cricket Club. It is possible that the name Hotspur was associated with Sir Henry Percy, who was "Harry Hotspur" of Shakespeare's Henry IV, part 1, and who lived locally during the 14th century and whose descendants owned land in the neighbourhood. In 1884 the club was renamed Tottenham Hotspur Football Club to avoid any confusion with an already established team called Hotspur FC."

[aeolium]

That's interesting, vinteuil. I suppose they could have been called Tottenham Percy, though "Percies v Arsenal" doesn't quite have the same ring.

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

van Persie plays for Arsenal .....

[scottycelt]

Is Accrington Stanley the only league club named in part after an actual individual (presumably Tottenham Hotspur are not named after the character in Henry IV pt 1?)

No, certainly not.

St Mirren was named after the local Scottish saint, and St Johnstone has a looser connection with St John the Baptist, as Perth was originally known by the locals as 'St John's Toun', named after that particular saint.

Hasn't helped their results much though ...

[aeolium]

van Persie plays for Arsenal .....

and a Harry is in charge of the Hotspurs now....

[aeolium]

No, certainly not.

St Mirren was named after the local Scottish saint, and St Johnstone has a looser connection with St John the Baptist, as Perth was originally known by the locals as 'St John's Toun', named after that particular saint.

Hasn't helped their results much though ...

Thanks for that, sc. I don't recall those connections being made in Jonathan Meades' entertaining tour round Scottish football grounds, but I'm sure it's because I wasn't paying attention properly

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

BLIMEY Fulham 1 Liverpool 5 and still going for another 10 mins .... this west lunnun lad's misery is now complete ....

[DracoM]

Yeah, but you've just got one back, mate. How...? Er....well....

[aka Calum Da Jazbo]

..yeh but not enuff innit

[scottycelt]

BLIMEY Fulham 1 Liverpool 5 and still going for another 10 mins .... this west lunnun lad's misery is now complete ....

I'm a Glaswegian and your 'best in the world' Premiership doesn't present much of a problem for us ...

If Wee Sparky gets the boot, and the money's right, I'll sit down and seriously consider the Fulham vacancy .. :cool2: