Getting ready for the football last night

This was our local pub yesterday getting ready for the football. 

Despite England being out of the FIFA World Cup final they were clearly hoping plenty would turn out for the third place match which they won 6:4.

I hope that Spain win in the final and President Trump says nothing.

Football - NOT amateur radio

Although I rarely go to a football (soccer) match, I take an interest. 

Coventry and Luton were at Wembley battling for a place in the Premier League. It was a hard fought match that Luton eventually won after extra time and a penalty shoot out. 

This was very tense and your heart bleeds for Coventry man who missed his penalty. It was a very close fought match that both teams deserved to win.

England v. Germany (football) - NOT amateur radio

England played Germany in the knockout stages of the delayed Euros at Wembley. For the first time since 1966, England managed to win. 

Although I am not a great football (soccer) fan, I watched the game, as did many in England. 

After the last year or so, we deserve a bit of good news.

Soccer: UK FA cup - NOT amateur radio

Although not a great football fan, I watched the FA cup yesterday between Chelsea and Leicester.  Leicester won the game 1:0. It was good to see them win. They surprised many a few years ago by topping the Premier League and have done pretty well this season.

Football money - NOT amateur radio

Writing in The Times newspaper today, Matthew Syed argues that owners and not clubs should be banned. Recently, a famous UK soccer team was banned from a European competition for 2 years for breaking rules. Syad states (allegedly) that one of Manchester City's owners, a wealthy middle east sheikh, has not attended a club game since 2010!

This is the trouble with some sports these days: it is more about profits than gamesmanship. Owners can be detached and have little knowledge of, or interest in, the game.

Personally, I would like to see limits on ownership and caps on wages for players. If this results in smaller profits so what? Surely there is enough untapped talent around.

I would like to see a ban on owners purely interested in personal gain. No idea on policing, but I have a hatred of people in it for personal gain. Soccer is a game, not a business.

Soccer managers - NOT amateur radio

One job that has zero security is managing a UK soccer team. Leicester have sacked the manager who led them to become Premier League champions last season. In this season they are just above the relegation zone.

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39070927

Football: Plymouth Argyle - NOT amateur radio

A few years ago this would be the stuff of dreams but this evening Plymouth Argyle are top of League Division 2.  Keep this up and they could even be promoted at the end of the season. Lots of games to go and a lot can happen, but how fortunes are transformed!

It is years since I last saw them play live, but at one time they were my local club. I wish them well. My second cousin has a season ticket. Peter Horn must be a happy man today. So different from a few years ago!

See http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/teams/plymouth-argyle .