Featured in the January 2007 edition of the largest British rugby magazine, Rugby World, London:
They say a woman's hair is her crowning glory and the same is true of some rugby players, whose barnets have made a big impact. We count down the greatest dos- or should that be don'ts?- that have graced the game
10. Joe Worsley
Some might say it was an experiment that went drastically wrong, and most would agree.
When London Wasps and England back-rower Joe Worsley stepped out at Twickenham for the 2001 Middlesex Sevens, spectators were more concerned with his strange spiked barnet than his rugby. The Sun's Tony Roche described the style as "the daftest hairdo in English rugby". He wrote that Worsley "turned heads with a spiky cut that must have had some of the RFU's old brigade squirming in their armchairs."
The new do failed to distract Wasps' opponents at the sevens, however, as they lost their opening match to the British Army to bow out of the tournament. Worsley's experiment was confirmed to the depths of his barber's floor.
9. Will Greenwood
Never one to shirk a contentious decision, Harlequins' Will Greenwood shocked many when he bleached his hair in October 2000- and it proved a successful move.
The centre was the star of the 2001 Six Nations campaign, scoring a superb hat-trick for England against Wales at the Millenium Stadium. He touched down in the first four fixtures before Ireland ruined the Grand Slam party in a rescheduled showdown at Lansdowne Road the following autumn.
The white locks stayed for that summer's Lions tour, Greenwood saying: "The bleach was originally done for my birthday party in October to scare a few people. I had a reasonable run of luck and now my mother won't let me change it."
Greenwood retired last season after helping Harlequins return to the Guinness Premiership, and the only colour he provided in his new job as Sky TV pundit is confined to his forthright views.
8. George Smith
The most famous dreadlocks in rugby disappeared from our game in the summer of 2006 when George Smith decided it was time for his first haircut in eight years. "It wasn't the pulling, I felt it would be good to get rid of the long hair," says Smith, who saw his hair pulled by England captain Pat Sanderson in June.
"It just got too hard to manage," he adds, "It's been a long time since I've had a haircut, so I thought it was about time."
When it all came off there were 105 braids in total, Smith putting them to good use by combining with Sydney's The Daily Telegraph to auction some of them off for Canteen, the Australian organisation that supports young people with cancer.
7. Trevor Leota
After he joined Wasps in 1997, Samoan hooker Trevor Leota soon became a crowd favourite, thanks to his distinct yellow and black striped hair.
Over the years Leota experimented with many colours, but his most outrageous blend came at the 1999 World Cup when Samoa faced Japan. A nauseous mix of yellow, blue and pink graced his hair that day.
And his explanation of the colouring: "I've been doing it for ages. It was meant to be blue and red against Japan. I think the red doesn't mix with the blonde and it went pink. I'm just glad it washed out.2
Leota left Wasps last year to play for Western Force in the Super 14.
6. Rupert Moon
Llanelli captain Rupert Moon won the first of his 24 Wales caps in 1993, after waiting on the bench for more than a year as Robert Jones held the No 9 jersey. Unluckily for Moon, Rob Howley came onto the scene soon after, limiting his chances. Whereas Howley has the skill, Moon was a leader. As the Llanelli Star put it: "Moon's pass has never been the greatest, but he makes up for that with all his other dynamic qualities."
Moon's biggest mistake might have been this haircut in 1994, though. Maybe he had to leave before the barber could finish shaving the top.
5. Paul Sampson
Former England wing Paul Sampson has gone through a number of styles in his career, as if 10.48 seconds for the 100 metres wasn't enough to get him noticed!
Like most rugby players, at one stage he had a shock of blonde hair and, of course, the close-cropped look.
But the one we liked the best was his attempt at a red Freddie Ljungberg go-faster style, while the much-travelled back was at London Wasps. Sampson sported it when Wasps travelled to Bath in 2002, and it seemed to do the trick as he scored a try in the 24-22 victory.
4. The Hair Bear Bunch
Christened "The Hair Bear Bunch" by their legion of fans, Adam and Duncan Jones, who are not related, have become a hairy anchor to the Ospreys and Wales scrums.
Duncan, the older and blonder of the two, was first capped for the Principality in November 2001, before Adam joined him in the Wales front row two years later.
They first played together against Scotland in August 2003 and, as the scrum packed down, it was a sight to behold as the curly-haired pair sandwiched Robin McBryde. The South Wales Evening Post said the duo gave "the impression that their pre-match preparations consist of putting fingers in the dressing-room power point."
3. Shane Byrne
There have been many famous mullets in sport- Chris Waddle and Kevin Keegan spring to mind- but there has to be only one that has held back a player's international career. Hooker Shane Byrne was first picked for an Ireland squad in 1994, but wasn't capped until 2001, and it seems his mullet won him few fans in the selector's camp.
Byrne explains: "This selector said, 'You look like an eejit. Get a hair cut or you'll never play for your country.' It annoyed me that someone would hold something that stupid against me. I decided I wasn't going to tow the line. I didn't realise how much was at stake- nearly ten years in the wilderness."
Byrne now has more than 40 caps and three for the Lions.
2. Andrea Lo Cicero
Andrea Lo Cicero's chequered haircut was the penance he had to pay after his first call-up for Italy in 1999. At 23, he was uncapped when he made it into the squad for the World Cup. As the youngster of the group, he was picked on by skipper Massimo Giovanelli and prop Franco Properzi-Curti. They were responsible for this dazzling hairdo and forced him to serve them coffee in bed every morning during the RWC camp.
"I didn't particularly like what they did to my hair," says Lo Cicero, "I left the chequers on for a couple of days, the just shaved the whole lot off." It must have brought him luck as he won his 60th cap last month against Canada.
AND RUGBY'S BEST HAIRCUT GOES TO...
1. John Taylor
Basil Brush, as John Taylor became known, was part of the Wales dynasty that dominated rugby in the 1970s. Journalist Patrick Collins described the ex-Wales and London Welsh flanker as having "hair like an exploding mattress."
Taylor won Grand Slams and Triple Crowns, but his most memorable moment came against the Scots in the 1971 Five Nations. With minutes to go on the clock, it was down to Taylor to slot a conversion from the corner to hand Wales a 19-18 win. Basil stepped up and the ball duly sailed through the posts.
In 1974 he refused to go on a Lions tour to South Africa, showing his disgust of the apartheid system.
Since leaving his playing days behind, Taylor has been a television pundit and commentator-and, luckily for viewers, he has swapped the mop look for a classic short back and sides style.
Monday 7 April 2008
Sidebar- Rugby World Magazine- 'Sidelines'
Article written for Rugby World Magazine, London (October 2006):
Welsh rugby legend Geoff Wheel has gone from shifting pianos on a rugby field to playing pianos at his church, writes Graham Reid.
Wheel played 32 times for Wales and helped them win two Grand Slams and four Triple Crowns whilst plying his club trade with Swansea, whom he later coached.
Nowadays, though, the Swansea-based Wheel, 55, is a regular organist at three local churches, Kilvey, St Illtyd's and Fabian Bay- and he's finding it a world away from the bruising game that he used to play for Wales from 1974 to 1982.
"I've been playing the organ for about five years," says the ex-lock, "I've played the accordion, banjo and guitar, so I know a bit about music. I go to church because of my faith, and because we were short of an organist, I ended up doing the job."
Wheel has reached grade four standard on the organ, and is studying hard for grade five. "It's hard going, I think I've taken a few too many knocks playing rugby!"
Wheel's voluntary work around the local area- which includes a role as deputy chairman on the governor's board at Danygraig Primary School- earned him a community award earlier this year.
Brian Salmon, chairman of the Dockers Club, says: "As well as playing the organ, he organises charity functions at the club in aid of the church roof. He's excellent and you couldn't wish to meet a nicer guy."
Wheel is optimistic about Welsh rugby's future. "We did well in Argentina. Every team is looking to develop young players and Wales is the same. It's good to see Swansea boys involved, such as Richard Hibbard and Alun Wyn Jones."
Welsh rugby legend Geoff Wheel has gone from shifting pianos on a rugby field to playing pianos at his church, writes Graham Reid.
Wheel played 32 times for Wales and helped them win two Grand Slams and four Triple Crowns whilst plying his club trade with Swansea, whom he later coached.
Nowadays, though, the Swansea-based Wheel, 55, is a regular organist at three local churches, Kilvey, St Illtyd's and Fabian Bay- and he's finding it a world away from the bruising game that he used to play for Wales from 1974 to 1982.
"I've been playing the organ for about five years," says the ex-lock, "I've played the accordion, banjo and guitar, so I know a bit about music. I go to church because of my faith, and because we were short of an organist, I ended up doing the job."
Wheel has reached grade four standard on the organ, and is studying hard for grade five. "It's hard going, I think I've taken a few too many knocks playing rugby!"
Wheel's voluntary work around the local area- which includes a role as deputy chairman on the governor's board at Danygraig Primary School- earned him a community award earlier this year.
Brian Salmon, chairman of the Dockers Club, says: "As well as playing the organ, he organises charity functions at the club in aid of the church roof. He's excellent and you couldn't wish to meet a nicer guy."
Wheel is optimistic about Welsh rugby's future. "We did well in Argentina. Every team is looking to develop young players and Wales is the same. It's good to see Swansea boys involved, such as Richard Hibbard and Alun Wyn Jones."
Feature- From Skanky to Swanky
Feature written for DN Magazine, Sunderland and also feature in Weard magazine (May 2006):
Students everywhere are flocking to clinical trials, to make a quick buck. But, is there a way of making some easy cash, without ending up with a face like the Elephant Man? Graham Reid takes a look into less risky ways of getting into the black:
Most people would say that being poor come with the territory, when you’re a student. Before I came to university, I had visions of heavy debts, nights with no heating, spending my last tenner on alcohol. Add to that a diet of beans on toast and you could say that I am living the dream.
It doesn’t have to be like that. While the rest of the world looks on in disgust and our parents check their ever-decreasing bank balances, students are starting to take their finance into their hands.
Ever since six volunteers for drug trials had their heads doubled in size, students have been queuing up for their weekly dosage of never-used medicine, safe in the knowledge that they will receive a meaty cheque at the end of it all. To be honest, though, I don’t really fancy the idea of risking a face expansion. There are other options available to the lowly student, and here they are:
Get on a game show
Easy. All you have to do is answer a simple question on the telephone to get put in the draw for ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire.’ Only problem is the question tends to be “Which pharaoh liked to only play snooker on mild days?” or something similarly vague.
Alternatively, you could wait until a university edition is produced and then they might be asking you to appear, rather than you begging for the chance. In 2003, Penn State student, Mark Lovin, managed to win $64,000 during the US College version of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’, which must have come in very handy when it came to loan repayment. Plus, he probably got himself a world cruise, a new car, swanky clothes etc, etc, etc.
Sell loads of stuff on eBay
Some of you illegal ones might already be copying your CDs, then selling the originals on eBay, for a tidy profit. Of course, I can’t condone this, although the dirty money that maybe ‘accidently’ gets sent this way wouldn’t be a sin.
Criminal activities aside, students tend to have loads of stuff that they don’t really need. Most of my loan went on ‘stuff’ I didn’t really need and the portion that wasn’t liquid could easily be flogged on the world’s premier auction site. Old mobile phones go for anything from as little as £30 up to £200. Furthermore, if you want rid of your old ‘Celtic Vibes’ CD, expect to pocket 50p or, if that dusty Limited Edition Def Leppard Collector’s Box is just sitting in the corner, you could swap that for £50!
If worst comes to worst, basic needs, such as breakfast cereal, can fetch as much as £7 (provided it has been discontinued in a country where everyone wants it back- I miss you, Lucky Charms).
Even that beautiful WWf Smackdown Duvet Cover that Nan bought you for your twentieth birthday can fetch as much as £30- just take my advice and keep the actual duvet, a mistake I have lived to regret on Sunderland nights.
Put your loan (or what’s left of it) in an independent savings account
Now before you fall asleep, ISAs actually represent a lot of business sense for the poor student. Rather than that rubbish no-interest student account you already have, why not max out that overdraft and put all that money, coupled with the loan, into an ISA, with as much as 5% interest? If I had been shrewd enough to do that before I didn’t have any overdraft left, I could have made as much as err…. £170 in two years. Okay, it’s not that much, but it’s £170 you haven’t got now!
Alternatively, you could do the same thing but stick it all in Premium Bonds. The interest is only about 3%, but that’s £102 for nothing to begin with, and plus you’ll ‘probably’ win the Premium Bonds lottery and become a millionaire during the course of your degree.
Journalism student Michael Mould split his pot into an ISA and bonds. He said: “You just have to get off your arse and be bothered to do it in the first place. You can give the bank back their overdraft at the end and plus you will have gained a bit of interest.”
So, number three is obviously the more sensible option so far, the problem is you have to get a job and still live like a student when you’re a student. It’s part of the life building experience I suppose.
So what if you’re just a dumb student, scraping deadlines and reading the minimum that you have to? Why not try and be an entrepreneur like the following:
Alex Tew, of Million Dollar Homepage fame
Just last August, Alex was in the same boat as the rest of us. Apart from he had the ingenius idea of setting up a blank page and selling each pixel for a dollar. Not really expecting much to come of it, imagine Alex’s surprise when a month later he was a millionaire! He summed it up with: “It’s all been a bit surreal.”
If none of that interests you, then just go and get your leg amputated, then sewn back on. That’s a quick £1,500. Or take an experimental pill (you can earn anything from £200 to £2,000). Just don’t come running to me when you’re walking with a limp and an ear is growing out of your head.
Students everywhere are flocking to clinical trials, to make a quick buck. But, is there a way of making some easy cash, without ending up with a face like the Elephant Man? Graham Reid takes a look into less risky ways of getting into the black:
Most people would say that being poor come with the territory, when you’re a student. Before I came to university, I had visions of heavy debts, nights with no heating, spending my last tenner on alcohol. Add to that a diet of beans on toast and you could say that I am living the dream.
It doesn’t have to be like that. While the rest of the world looks on in disgust and our parents check their ever-decreasing bank balances, students are starting to take their finance into their hands.
Ever since six volunteers for drug trials had their heads doubled in size, students have been queuing up for their weekly dosage of never-used medicine, safe in the knowledge that they will receive a meaty cheque at the end of it all. To be honest, though, I don’t really fancy the idea of risking a face expansion. There are other options available to the lowly student, and here they are:
Get on a game show
Easy. All you have to do is answer a simple question on the telephone to get put in the draw for ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire.’ Only problem is the question tends to be “Which pharaoh liked to only play snooker on mild days?” or something similarly vague.
Alternatively, you could wait until a university edition is produced and then they might be asking you to appear, rather than you begging for the chance. In 2003, Penn State student, Mark Lovin, managed to win $64,000 during the US College version of ‘Who Wants to be a Millionaire’, which must have come in very handy when it came to loan repayment. Plus, he probably got himself a world cruise, a new car, swanky clothes etc, etc, etc.
Sell loads of stuff on eBay
Some of you illegal ones might already be copying your CDs, then selling the originals on eBay, for a tidy profit. Of course, I can’t condone this, although the dirty money that maybe ‘accidently’ gets sent this way wouldn’t be a sin.
Criminal activities aside, students tend to have loads of stuff that they don’t really need. Most of my loan went on ‘stuff’ I didn’t really need and the portion that wasn’t liquid could easily be flogged on the world’s premier auction site. Old mobile phones go for anything from as little as £30 up to £200. Furthermore, if you want rid of your old ‘Celtic Vibes’ CD, expect to pocket 50p or, if that dusty Limited Edition Def Leppard Collector’s Box is just sitting in the corner, you could swap that for £50!
If worst comes to worst, basic needs, such as breakfast cereal, can fetch as much as £7 (provided it has been discontinued in a country where everyone wants it back- I miss you, Lucky Charms).
Even that beautiful WWf Smackdown Duvet Cover that Nan bought you for your twentieth birthday can fetch as much as £30- just take my advice and keep the actual duvet, a mistake I have lived to regret on Sunderland nights.
Put your loan (or what’s left of it) in an independent savings account
Now before you fall asleep, ISAs actually represent a lot of business sense for the poor student. Rather than that rubbish no-interest student account you already have, why not max out that overdraft and put all that money, coupled with the loan, into an ISA, with as much as 5% interest? If I had been shrewd enough to do that before I didn’t have any overdraft left, I could have made as much as err…. £170 in two years. Okay, it’s not that much, but it’s £170 you haven’t got now!
Alternatively, you could do the same thing but stick it all in Premium Bonds. The interest is only about 3%, but that’s £102 for nothing to begin with, and plus you’ll ‘probably’ win the Premium Bonds lottery and become a millionaire during the course of your degree.
Journalism student Michael Mould split his pot into an ISA and bonds. He said: “You just have to get off your arse and be bothered to do it in the first place. You can give the bank back their overdraft at the end and plus you will have gained a bit of interest.”
So, number three is obviously the more sensible option so far, the problem is you have to get a job and still live like a student when you’re a student. It’s part of the life building experience I suppose.
So what if you’re just a dumb student, scraping deadlines and reading the minimum that you have to? Why not try and be an entrepreneur like the following:
Alex Tew, of Million Dollar Homepage fame
Just last August, Alex was in the same boat as the rest of us. Apart from he had the ingenius idea of setting up a blank page and selling each pixel for a dollar. Not really expecting much to come of it, imagine Alex’s surprise when a month later he was a millionaire! He summed it up with: “It’s all been a bit surreal.”
If none of that interests you, then just go and get your leg amputated, then sewn back on. That’s a quick £1,500. Or take an experimental pill (you can earn anything from £200 to £2,000). Just don’t come running to me when you’re walking with a limp and an ear is growing out of your head.
Feature- Weard Magazine
Feature produced for Weard magazine, Sunderland (November 2006):
For lecturers, the periodical spells of rain and snow must top off the day, after having to try and teach a class of hung-over zombies how to get by in the ‘real world’. Surely you can’t wait until May/June when you can say goodbye to the shackles of working life and get away from it all!
What is more fitting then, for someone working in the ADMC block, than to theme a holiday around a film? I’m not talking about carting yourself off to Universal Studios to see the ‘Back to the Future’ set of spending a fortune jetting off to New York to see where the ‘Fame’ kids leapt about, there is so much more closer to home.
And (even though I know the film studies lecturers will probably already be thinking this), there is so much more to see at the setting for classic films, not filmed in a giant multi-million dollar set surround by reams of computer cables and IT designers. Hollywood is great, if you are looking to be wowed by the glitz and the glamour, but I sense that lecturers, and a lecturer’s wage, are not too fond of that idea.
So, while Britain does have plenty to offer in the way of film history (Pinewood etc.), real culture can be found further afield. One lecturer, who has already latched onto the idea, is Susan Pickering, who enjoyed a ‘Sound of Music’ tour in Salzburg.
She even goes as far as to say, “My best ever holiday was in 2004 when I went with some friends on a Sound of Music tour of the Austrian lakes.”
The tour is more than just a look at some famous places, it takes in some breathtaking scenery and architecture (much of which is seen in the film). Susan saw Nonnberg Abbey- where the film begins, Leopoldskron Castle- the home of Baron Von Trapp and his family, as well as many more sights. All the settings are surrounded by magnificent lakes and hills too. The tour doesn’t break the bank either. On the internet, four star accommodation for a week costs as little as £270, and a three star hotel could be £150 a week. The ‘net offers amazing deals, with some hotels offering almost a third off their prices!
If a relaxing holiday isn’t for you, ten all you have to do is think of a film you liked and there is probably a tour for it. Action films usually offer the most action packed locations, like cities or more daunting landscapes.
The Italian Job was a film that sprung to mind when I thought about action, and it’s in a great holiday location too! Turin, surrounded by the Alps, and steeped in a massive deal of history, was the host to the 1969 heist movie. Like most places in Europe these days, it isn’t too expensive to get there and the accommodation is cheap if you look in the right places.
If you want to be right on the scene for the Italian Job history, then the Piazza Castello is the place to be. It is one of the main sections in Turin, and there is plenty to do on your doorstep. You can follow the streets where the famous Mini Coopers raced around, as well as relax with some of the best food and drink in Italy.
Turin is the home to some of the best chocolate in Italia. Lavazza, the nation’s favourite coffee, is also based there. If you fancy something stronger, then why not try some Martini straight from the source? Another famous name to hail from the city.
What Turin is really famous for, though, is the cars. If you want to experience more Italian Jobhistory then get yourself to the old Fiat factory. It still has the old rooftop test track that was used in the film, and you can still walk around it and then finish off with a stroll through the Fiat museum, which is fascinating for automobile enthusiasts.
Talking of cars, you would probably want to hire one so you could sample the amazing countryside around the city. The famous ending to the Italian Job film was on a crevasse, and you can see it for yourself if you take the 40 mile drive to Ceresole Reale, a small town up in the mountains. It’s a bit colder but the views are breathtaking. Car hire costs around £8 a day, or for a week it can be £42.
Back in the city, more macho interest can be found in the massive Stadio Delle Alpi, which is home to the ‘Old Lady’ of Italian football, Juventus (football trivia- they stole their black and white striped kit from Notts County!).
To save some money, a Torino Card is recommendable. It costs £11 for two days, and gives you access to over 100 free museums in the area; one of the most notable is the Museum of Ancient Egypt. It is the largest museum of its kind outside of Cairo, and boast some magnificent ancient artefacts such as tombs are sarcophagus’.
How much will it all set you back? Flights to Turin, booked in advance, can be £60 return. Again, the internet can be your saviour because it knocks so much off accommodation prices! Double rooms in cheap and cheerful hotels can be as little as £40 per night, and Italians are prepared to haggle if it’s a family run establishment.
So, neither of those films appeal to you? To find the best media-themed location for you, all you have to do is think of a film you liked, and then look it up! It’s as easy as that. The world-wide-web seems to be the answer for cheap deals, and flights around Europe come at a pittance! Happy Holidays.
For lecturers, the periodical spells of rain and snow must top off the day, after having to try and teach a class of hung-over zombies how to get by in the ‘real world’. Surely you can’t wait until May/June when you can say goodbye to the shackles of working life and get away from it all!
What is more fitting then, for someone working in the ADMC block, than to theme a holiday around a film? I’m not talking about carting yourself off to Universal Studios to see the ‘Back to the Future’ set of spending a fortune jetting off to New York to see where the ‘Fame’ kids leapt about, there is so much more closer to home.
And (even though I know the film studies lecturers will probably already be thinking this), there is so much more to see at the setting for classic films, not filmed in a giant multi-million dollar set surround by reams of computer cables and IT designers. Hollywood is great, if you are looking to be wowed by the glitz and the glamour, but I sense that lecturers, and a lecturer’s wage, are not too fond of that idea.
So, while Britain does have plenty to offer in the way of film history (Pinewood etc.), real culture can be found further afield. One lecturer, who has already latched onto the idea, is Susan Pickering, who enjoyed a ‘Sound of Music’ tour in Salzburg.
She even goes as far as to say, “My best ever holiday was in 2004 when I went with some friends on a Sound of Music tour of the Austrian lakes.”
The tour is more than just a look at some famous places, it takes in some breathtaking scenery and architecture (much of which is seen in the film). Susan saw Nonnberg Abbey- where the film begins, Leopoldskron Castle- the home of Baron Von Trapp and his family, as well as many more sights. All the settings are surrounded by magnificent lakes and hills too. The tour doesn’t break the bank either. On the internet, four star accommodation for a week costs as little as £270, and a three star hotel could be £150 a week. The ‘net offers amazing deals, with some hotels offering almost a third off their prices!
If a relaxing holiday isn’t for you, ten all you have to do is think of a film you liked and there is probably a tour for it. Action films usually offer the most action packed locations, like cities or more daunting landscapes.
The Italian Job was a film that sprung to mind when I thought about action, and it’s in a great holiday location too! Turin, surrounded by the Alps, and steeped in a massive deal of history, was the host to the 1969 heist movie. Like most places in Europe these days, it isn’t too expensive to get there and the accommodation is cheap if you look in the right places.
If you want to be right on the scene for the Italian Job history, then the Piazza Castello is the place to be. It is one of the main sections in Turin, and there is plenty to do on your doorstep. You can follow the streets where the famous Mini Coopers raced around, as well as relax with some of the best food and drink in Italy.
Turin is the home to some of the best chocolate in Italia. Lavazza, the nation’s favourite coffee, is also based there. If you fancy something stronger, then why not try some Martini straight from the source? Another famous name to hail from the city.
What Turin is really famous for, though, is the cars. If you want to experience more Italian Jobhistory then get yourself to the old Fiat factory. It still has the old rooftop test track that was used in the film, and you can still walk around it and then finish off with a stroll through the Fiat museum, which is fascinating for automobile enthusiasts.
Talking of cars, you would probably want to hire one so you could sample the amazing countryside around the city. The famous ending to the Italian Job film was on a crevasse, and you can see it for yourself if you take the 40 mile drive to Ceresole Reale, a small town up in the mountains. It’s a bit colder but the views are breathtaking. Car hire costs around £8 a day, or for a week it can be £42.
Back in the city, more macho interest can be found in the massive Stadio Delle Alpi, which is home to the ‘Old Lady’ of Italian football, Juventus (football trivia- they stole their black and white striped kit from Notts County!).
To save some money, a Torino Card is recommendable. It costs £11 for two days, and gives you access to over 100 free museums in the area; one of the most notable is the Museum of Ancient Egypt. It is the largest museum of its kind outside of Cairo, and boast some magnificent ancient artefacts such as tombs are sarcophagus’.
How much will it all set you back? Flights to Turin, booked in advance, can be £60 return. Again, the internet can be your saviour because it knocks so much off accommodation prices! Double rooms in cheap and cheerful hotels can be as little as £40 per night, and Italians are prepared to haggle if it’s a family run establishment.
So, neither of those films appeal to you? To find the best media-themed location for you, all you have to do is think of a film you liked, and then look it up! It’s as easy as that. The world-wide-web seems to be the answer for cheap deals, and flights around Europe come at a pittance! Happy Holidays.
Match report- Sunderland Academy #1
Match report produced for Sunderland AFC match day programme, October 2006:
The young Black Cats consolidated their place at the top of the U18 league with a scrappy 3-1 win over Derby County.
Joshua Home-Jackson opened the scoring after thirteen minutes, nodding in at the near post from a Jordan Henderson cross. The lead was short lived though, as Derby striker Karl Ashton latched onto a through ball to equalise.
Most of the first half was under Sunderland’s control. First Nathan Luscombe hit a lofted ball from Michael Liddle first time, only for the ball to veer wide, then, with Sunderland looking to regain the lead, a thunderbolt from Jack Colback cannoned off the crossbar.
With mist and wind picking up in the second half, much of the play was in the midfield, with both teams grappling for the ball. Midway into the half, Kevin Ball’s side started to take the initiative, heralded by a Jamie Chandler shot and goal-mouth scramble.
On 65 minutes the Black Cats finally took the lead. Both full backs linked up superbly with Liddle heading home a cross from Michael Kay.
Less than ten minutes later the home team sealed the win with another cross and header, this time Luscombe glancing in a corner.
Derby pressed for some consolation in the dying moments, and caused some discomfort with an attacking free kick as the final whistle approached. Sunderland’s defence held firm, and the match ended with a well earned three points.
The young Black Cats consolidated their place at the top of the U18 league with a scrappy 3-1 win over Derby County.
Joshua Home-Jackson opened the scoring after thirteen minutes, nodding in at the near post from a Jordan Henderson cross. The lead was short lived though, as Derby striker Karl Ashton latched onto a through ball to equalise.
Most of the first half was under Sunderland’s control. First Nathan Luscombe hit a lofted ball from Michael Liddle first time, only for the ball to veer wide, then, with Sunderland looking to regain the lead, a thunderbolt from Jack Colback cannoned off the crossbar.
With mist and wind picking up in the second half, much of the play was in the midfield, with both teams grappling for the ball. Midway into the half, Kevin Ball’s side started to take the initiative, heralded by a Jamie Chandler shot and goal-mouth scramble.
On 65 minutes the Black Cats finally took the lead. Both full backs linked up superbly with Liddle heading home a cross from Michael Kay.
Less than ten minutes later the home team sealed the win with another cross and header, this time Luscombe glancing in a corner.
Derby pressed for some consolation in the dying moments, and caused some discomfort with an attacking free kick as the final whistle approached. Sunderland’s defence held firm, and the match ended with a well earned three points.
Match report- Sunderland Academy #2
Match report produced for Sunderland AFC match day programme, November 2006:
It was a physical Wear-Tees derby at the Academy of Light, as Sunderland and Middlesborough battled to a draw.
Neither team took hold of the game in the first twenty minutes. There were half chances for both sides, the best being a charged down shot from England U19 international Nathan Porrit.
The deadlock was broken after 23 minutes by the visitors, with right-back Jason Honeyman taking a return pass before gathering his own shot off the post and stabbing home.
With Sunderland now pressing for an equaliser, tough tackles were flying in left, right and centre. Bookings for Boro’s Herold Ghoulon and Sunderland’s Robbie Weir sandwiched a chance for Dave Dowson, which flew over the bar.
Two minutes before the break the young Black Cat’s finally got back on level terms. Jordan Henderson found himself in some space down the right flank, and sent in a fantastic cross for Joshua Home-Jackson to nod into the bottom corner.
The second half was just as physical as the first. Sunderland started brightest with shots from Weir and Henderson being blocked. Middlesborough went ahead again thought due to some misfortune for Sunderland’s Michael Kay. As the ball was flashed across the front of Sunderland’s goal, Kay attempted to clear only to find the back of his own net.
Sunderland would not be beaten though, and their endeavour was rewarded when a stunning strike from Dowson sailed into the goal from the edge of the box. This encouraged Sunderland who went on to dominate possession. Sadly, two gilt-edged chances for Henderson and a one-on-one for Dowson could not create the win for the home side.
It was a physical Wear-Tees derby at the Academy of Light, as Sunderland and Middlesborough battled to a draw.
Neither team took hold of the game in the first twenty minutes. There were half chances for both sides, the best being a charged down shot from England U19 international Nathan Porrit.
The deadlock was broken after 23 minutes by the visitors, with right-back Jason Honeyman taking a return pass before gathering his own shot off the post and stabbing home.
With Sunderland now pressing for an equaliser, tough tackles were flying in left, right and centre. Bookings for Boro’s Herold Ghoulon and Sunderland’s Robbie Weir sandwiched a chance for Dave Dowson, which flew over the bar.
Two minutes before the break the young Black Cat’s finally got back on level terms. Jordan Henderson found himself in some space down the right flank, and sent in a fantastic cross for Joshua Home-Jackson to nod into the bottom corner.
The second half was just as physical as the first. Sunderland started brightest with shots from Weir and Henderson being blocked. Middlesborough went ahead again thought due to some misfortune for Sunderland’s Michael Kay. As the ball was flashed across the front of Sunderland’s goal, Kay attempted to clear only to find the back of his own net.
Sunderland would not be beaten though, and their endeavour was rewarded when a stunning strike from Dowson sailed into the goal from the edge of the box. This encouraged Sunderland who went on to dominate possession. Sadly, two gilt-edged chances for Henderson and a one-on-one for Dowson could not create the win for the home side.
Match report- Newcastle Reserves
Article produced for Sunday Sun, Newcastle, March 2007:
Newcastle United Reserves versus Liverpool Reserves
A miserable month continued for Newcastle Reserves as they crashed to their fourth defeat in five matches against a persistent Liverpool side, at Kingston Park.
Three late goals from the visitors gave them the points they deserved. The Magpies looked jaded- passes were not going where intended, tackles were clumsy and no real chances were made.
Liverpool were just as guilty, and the match offered no real entertainment, save for the spectacular 30-yard opener from the Reds’ Jay Spearing in the 73rd minute.
With the away side pushing for a goal, Newcastle were under pressure, and as the ball came to youth team captain Spearing near to the edge of the box, there was only one destination for the swerving bullet that his right foot released.
Newcastle’s heads lowered as soon as Spearing’s picture-perfect effort sailed in, and it was an inevitable result from then on. The striker was involved again six minutes later when he played in Craig Lindfield, who doubled Liverpool’s advantage.
Victory was consolidated with one minute of normal time remaining. Great pace and a neat finish from Ray Putterill completed the delayed scoring rout.
It had took until the second half for any clear-cut chances to emerge. Liverpool mainly dominated the first period, while only creating half chances against a stubborn Newcastle defence. The best opportunity came after 15 minutes from a fumbled Robbie Threlfall cross, but Newcastle ‘keeper Fraser Forster recovered to clear the danger.
After a fractured opening quarter, both teams had resorted to long balls to break down the opposition, with no real effect. The home side’s best chance came from Matthew Pattison, but his shot hit off Andy Carroll and deflected away.
Newcastle regained some control in the match as the break approached, and both teams looked content to while the last few minutes away.
Early on in the second period, Mark Bertram came on to replace Mark Doninger, and straight away began causing problems for Liverpool’s Emiliano Insua down the right flank. On more than one occasion Doninger steamed down the wing, forcing a corner from a dangerous cross and pushing to break the deadlock.
His endeavour was short-lived, however, and as the 60th minute approached, Liverpool began to stamp some authority on the game. Their cosmopolitan defensive pairing of Gabriel Paletta and Ronald Huth started to deal with Newcastle’s attacks, and the Reds’ front two began to look lively.
Paul Huntington and Peter Ramage, who have both had a fair sprinkling of first team experience this season, began to look shaky after their resilient first half, and Liverpool first went close on 66 minutes as a vicious cross was missed by everyone in the box. Threlfall could have finished the loose cross as he charged in, but his shot went wide and another chance went begging.
With only a quarter remaining, Spearing opened the floodgates for Liverpool and condemned Newcastle to a winless March.
Newcastle United Reserves versus Liverpool Reserves
A miserable month continued for Newcastle Reserves as they crashed to their fourth defeat in five matches against a persistent Liverpool side, at Kingston Park.
Three late goals from the visitors gave them the points they deserved. The Magpies looked jaded- passes were not going where intended, tackles were clumsy and no real chances were made.
Liverpool were just as guilty, and the match offered no real entertainment, save for the spectacular 30-yard opener from the Reds’ Jay Spearing in the 73rd minute.
With the away side pushing for a goal, Newcastle were under pressure, and as the ball came to youth team captain Spearing near to the edge of the box, there was only one destination for the swerving bullet that his right foot released.
Newcastle’s heads lowered as soon as Spearing’s picture-perfect effort sailed in, and it was an inevitable result from then on. The striker was involved again six minutes later when he played in Craig Lindfield, who doubled Liverpool’s advantage.
Victory was consolidated with one minute of normal time remaining. Great pace and a neat finish from Ray Putterill completed the delayed scoring rout.
It had took until the second half for any clear-cut chances to emerge. Liverpool mainly dominated the first period, while only creating half chances against a stubborn Newcastle defence. The best opportunity came after 15 minutes from a fumbled Robbie Threlfall cross, but Newcastle ‘keeper Fraser Forster recovered to clear the danger.
After a fractured opening quarter, both teams had resorted to long balls to break down the opposition, with no real effect. The home side’s best chance came from Matthew Pattison, but his shot hit off Andy Carroll and deflected away.
Newcastle regained some control in the match as the break approached, and both teams looked content to while the last few minutes away.
Early on in the second period, Mark Bertram came on to replace Mark Doninger, and straight away began causing problems for Liverpool’s Emiliano Insua down the right flank. On more than one occasion Doninger steamed down the wing, forcing a corner from a dangerous cross and pushing to break the deadlock.
His endeavour was short-lived, however, and as the 60th minute approached, Liverpool began to stamp some authority on the game. Their cosmopolitan defensive pairing of Gabriel Paletta and Ronald Huth started to deal with Newcastle’s attacks, and the Reds’ front two began to look lively.
Paul Huntington and Peter Ramage, who have both had a fair sprinkling of first team experience this season, began to look shaky after their resilient first half, and Liverpool first went close on 66 minutes as a vicious cross was missed by everyone in the box. Threlfall could have finished the loose cross as he charged in, but his shot went wide and another chance went begging.
With only a quarter remaining, Spearing opened the floodgates for Liverpool and condemned Newcastle to a winless March.
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