every so often you realise the journey is worthwhile

No, I'm afraid I'm not talking about something deeply profound, just football!!!

On Saturday I went down to Milton Keynes to watch Chesterfield. It was a fantastic game, which the BBC's report really doesn't do justice to. Both teams played some brilliant attacking football, which made for an open, and thoroughly entertaining game.

By the time it got to stoppage time, Chesterfield were leading 2-1, but it still felt like anything could happen. And it did. The Chesterfield fans were all standing at the end where MK Dons were attacking, the MK Dons fans were therefore, on the whole, at the other end of the stadium. MK Dons were attacking, about two minutes into the four minutes of stoppage time which had been announced. One of the MK Dons players managed to get the ball into the back of our net, the referee, with the help of his assistant, quickly ruled it out for handball. All the MK Dons fans, down at the other end thought that a legitimate goal had been scored. They all started cheering, thinking they had salvaged a draw from the game. Also oblivious to the referee's actions was the stadium announcer, who having assumed that the goal had been scored fairly, pressed the button to start MK Dons goal celebration music playing (Chelsea Dagger by the Fratellis).

So imagine the scene, the MK Dons fans are singing and dancing along to the catchy "der de der, der de der, der de der de der de de" chorus of the aforementioned song, and having realised the comedy of the situation, all the Chesterfield fans starting singing and dancing along too. After a good ten or fifteen seconds, the stadium announcer realises what has happened, and sheepishly faded out the music, the MK Dons fans bring their celebrations to a swift conclusion, but the Chesterfield fans all keep singing even louder, dancing more exuberantly than before, until breaking down into hysterics, at what has possibly become one of my all time favourite football moments.

The 220 mile round trip was most definitely worth it.

Oh, did I mention that MK Dons were top of the league....

why did i ever think it would be any different

I mean really, whatever made me think that England would pull it out of the bag tonight. I mean they even got our hopes up in the second half, coming back from 2-0 down, to equalise at 2-2, putting us within touching distance of making it to the European Championships. But no. They had to blow it.

I shouldn't be surprised really. After all, what gives us the right to think that we have the right to get to these major championships. We're England. That's all. Nothing more, nothing less. We're just one country, whose professional football infrastructure has sold out to major corporations, looking to make a quick buck from our beautiful game.

I could go on, but I'm guessing the smattering of people who read this blog don't read it for intricate football comment. I'm off to watch Chesterfield away at MK Dons on Saturday, with our Australian and Hungarian centre backs.

alas.....

It was always likely to happen wasn't it. Well, at least since we lost the ability to play for a whole 90 minutes. That's right, the mighty Chesterfield F.C. are not quite so mighty any more.

At approximately 3.45pm on Saturday afternoon, things looked good, Chesterfield were beating relegation rivals Bradford 2-0, and our near neighbours Rotherham (already doomed to relegation) were beating Cheltenham 2-1. Chesterfield were relying on Rotherham to do us a massive favour, and keep our hopes of staying up alive, by beating Cheltenham. But it wasn't to be. Despite Chesterfield going on to win 3-0, Cheltenham pulled it round, and beat Rotherham 4-2, meaning that they stayed up, and we slipped to the 4th tier of English football.

Oh dear.

Oh well.

Bring on Mansfield.

no promises, but.....

.....I'm gonna try and get back into blogging.

I know, I know, it's been a while, and who's to say I won't get bored and stop again, but I'm gonna give it a try anyhow.

Just in case you were wondering what I've been up to recently, well.....I've just started work again after having been away on the Costa del Skeg (aka going to Spring Harvest). Had a really good time. Have come back feeling refreshed - refreshed due to the having had a break, but also refreshed by some of the things I have heard said at an (evangelical) event such as Spring Harvest.

The theme of the week was one people - one, holy, catholic and apostolic church. There was some really encouraging stuff said, in particular about sensible (imho) attitudes towards agreeing to disagree, as well as about what we can learn from the way other religions practice, and acknowledging that all people are flawed, all people are different, and that all people are made in the image of God. It just felt right to me - it felt as though there was a new level of openess, of honesty of acceptance. It felt good.

A couple of weeks ago I also went to see Faithless at Sheffield Arena. They were excellent.

In less good news, it looks very, very, very much like the mighty Chesterfield F.C. are going to get relegated, thus making them not so mighty.