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.
Review- Free Diamonds
A review of the album 'There Should Be More Dancing', by Free Diamonds, May 2006, for www.maclifeonline.com (now discontinued):
There is no doubting that the musical brains of the members of Free Diamonds are full of potential. From the first track, each song has its own great identity. You can't get bored with this album, because no song is anything like the previous- but that's where the problems begin.
I can't decide whether I want to get this album on before a night out, get wasted and head-bang to the incessant baseline, or chill-out and have some head-nodding while I'm milling around the house.
That's not to say that the songs aren't quality, though. Chilled songs like Cuban Heels, Cuban Deals never leave your head- there is a Strokes-like quality to the song writing, only told apart from lead singer Dave Smith's unique tones. Then straight away I could be listening to any number of punk bands in the next song What part of Free Diamonds don't you understand? On it's own, each song has the potential to draw a legion of fans, it's just that when it is all put together, which legion is coming?
The more and more I listen to the different songs, the more I like all of them, it's just my mind is in turmoil every time one track ends and another starts. If I owned the album, the 'repeat 1' button would be worn out because I have to choose the song for my mood. The band has covered all the bases.
I'd love to know where the band drew their inspiration. One song I'm thinking Kings of Leon (Lovers Die Young) and then could that be a Ska backing that's poking me and whispering 'Madness, Madness....'?
See, the thing that is bad about this album is the good thing too. Every good band has to have something different; no one wants to be the clone of something that has gone before. Free Diamonds are definitely an entity in their own right. The album typifies the changing moods of everything.
Would I buy it? If you had asked me yesterday I would have said no, but today is another day. It's definitely not a blight on any one's album collection, and I get the feeling that if I'd owned it for months it would be up there with the best in my collection. It's one that has to grow, so if you hear a friend playing a frustrating noise, don't lose heart, because that friend will be recommending the album to you in a week
There is no doubting that the musical brains of the members of Free Diamonds are full of potential. From the first track, each song has its own great identity. You can't get bored with this album, because no song is anything like the previous- but that's where the problems begin.
I can't decide whether I want to get this album on before a night out, get wasted and head-bang to the incessant baseline, or chill-out and have some head-nodding while I'm milling around the house.
That's not to say that the songs aren't quality, though. Chilled songs like Cuban Heels, Cuban Deals never leave your head- there is a Strokes-like quality to the song writing, only told apart from lead singer Dave Smith's unique tones. Then straight away I could be listening to any number of punk bands in the next song What part of Free Diamonds don't you understand? On it's own, each song has the potential to draw a legion of fans, it's just that when it is all put together, which legion is coming?
The more and more I listen to the different songs, the more I like all of them, it's just my mind is in turmoil every time one track ends and another starts. If I owned the album, the 'repeat 1' button would be worn out because I have to choose the song for my mood. The band has covered all the bases.
I'd love to know where the band drew their inspiration. One song I'm thinking Kings of Leon (Lovers Die Young) and then could that be a Ska backing that's poking me and whispering 'Madness, Madness....'?
See, the thing that is bad about this album is the good thing too. Every good band has to have something different; no one wants to be the clone of something that has gone before. Free Diamonds are definitely an entity in their own right. The album typifies the changing moods of everything.
Would I buy it? If you had asked me yesterday I would have said no, but today is another day. It's definitely not a blight on any one's album collection, and I get the feeling that if I'd owned it for months it would be up there with the best in my collection. It's one that has to grow, so if you hear a friend playing a frustrating noise, don't lose heart, because that friend will be recommending the album to you in a week
Review- The Man Who Fell To Earth
Review of The Man Who Fell To Earth, on the release of its 30th Anniversary DVD, April, 2007:
In the world of cinema, there is a thought that goes ‘the best films always stand the test of time.’ Films that pushed the barriers back in the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and now the ‘90s have messages that will forever be appreciated, irrelevant of technology and style.
In 2050 the fresh-faced film buff, complete with silver jump suit and robotic limbs, will still appreciate Audrey Hepburn’s class in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and be in awe of the imagery in Stanley Kubrick’s Clockwork Orange. The sight of a 30ft great white shark bearing down on a small fishing trawler will be forever etched in our fears thanks to Jaws, and the cinema goer of the future will still be paying hard earned pennies to purchase John Travolta and Uma Thurmin swinging to ‘Never Can Tell’ by Chuck Berry when Pulp Fiction claims its 30th anniversary in 2024.
Sometimes those pictures that define an era in movie-making are not appreciated until society has been given a time to digest them. ‘Red’ and his friends at Shawshank Penitentiary were not embraced by the cinema going public in 1995, but now The Shawshank Redemption must be the most cited film in history to be claimed as a person’s favourite.
In 2007, The Man Who Fell To Earth aims to join the illustrious, but overcrowded, band of films that have received a DVD makeover to launch its 30th Anniversary Edition. Of course there will be special features, a director’s commentary and so on. But does TMWFE (a clever shortening for the film’s title) qualify to be revered thirty years after its conception?
The short answer is no. It does not matter however many years the film has matured for, because visiting alien David Bowie’s acting will forever leave much to be desired, the laboured script will forever appear false and wooden, and the film will forever leave its viewers checking their watches after two-and-a-bit hours and wondering what time they should begin prepared their dinner.
mf
Back in 1976, the production crew tried to cover their tracks with philosophical comments. Nicolaus Roeg quoted Voltaire when he said: “I am not interested in the triumph of the immediate.” With this film, there doesn’t seem to be a triumph at all. Sales were never good back in the days of flares and space-hoppers, and if there is a valid message in the confused narrative then it is buried in a melee of poor acting and attempts at groundbreaking cinematography.
The film tells a story of how an alien has travelled to Earth to gather water for his dying planet. The narrative is set in a way that large lapses of time are hardly noticed. This seems to be an effort to show how time may be a different creature from the eyes of an alien, but in reality just prevents the viewers from really joining the characters on their journey, and therefore any emotion in the film becomes stale and weary.
Bowie’s demise in the climax of the film is somewhat slow, and his journey never really touches on reality or resonate with the audience. Of course the story is fantastical, but for this film to work it needed to touch the viewer, something which it failed to do.
Still, the fat cats at British Lion Film Corporation will surely reap a pretty penny from cashing in on the anniversary DVD debacle. Quite how anyone thinks this is in the realm of some Eastwood, Monroe, DeNiro and Pacino classics is beyond me.
In the world of cinema, there is a thought that goes ‘the best films always stand the test of time.’ Films that pushed the barriers back in the 1950s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s and now the ‘90s have messages that will forever be appreciated, irrelevant of technology and style.
In 2050 the fresh-faced film buff, complete with silver jump suit and robotic limbs, will still appreciate Audrey Hepburn’s class in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, and be in awe of the imagery in Stanley Kubrick’s Clockwork Orange. The sight of a 30ft great white shark bearing down on a small fishing trawler will be forever etched in our fears thanks to Jaws, and the cinema goer of the future will still be paying hard earned pennies to purchase John Travolta and Uma Thurmin swinging to ‘Never Can Tell’ by Chuck Berry when Pulp Fiction claims its 30th anniversary in 2024.
Sometimes those pictures that define an era in movie-making are not appreciated until society has been given a time to digest them. ‘Red’ and his friends at Shawshank Penitentiary were not embraced by the cinema going public in 1995, but now The Shawshank Redemption must be the most cited film in history to be claimed as a person’s favourite.
In 2007, The Man Who Fell To Earth aims to join the illustrious, but overcrowded, band of films that have received a DVD makeover to launch its 30th Anniversary Edition. Of course there will be special features, a director’s commentary and so on. But does TMWFE (a clever shortening for the film’s title) qualify to be revered thirty years after its conception?
The short answer is no. It does not matter however many years the film has matured for, because visiting alien David Bowie’s acting will forever leave much to be desired, the laboured script will forever appear false and wooden, and the film will forever leave its viewers checking their watches after two-and-a-bit hours and wondering what time they should begin prepared their dinner.
mf
Back in 1976, the production crew tried to cover their tracks with philosophical comments. Nicolaus Roeg quoted Voltaire when he said: “I am not interested in the triumph of the immediate.” With this film, there doesn’t seem to be a triumph at all. Sales were never good back in the days of flares and space-hoppers, and if there is a valid message in the confused narrative then it is buried in a melee of poor acting and attempts at groundbreaking cinematography.
The film tells a story of how an alien has travelled to Earth to gather water for his dying planet. The narrative is set in a way that large lapses of time are hardly noticed. This seems to be an effort to show how time may be a different creature from the eyes of an alien, but in reality just prevents the viewers from really joining the characters on their journey, and therefore any emotion in the film becomes stale and weary.
Bowie’s demise in the climax of the film is somewhat slow, and his journey never really touches on reality or resonate with the audience. Of course the story is fantastical, but for this film to work it needed to touch the viewer, something which it failed to do.
Still, the fat cats at British Lion Film Corporation will surely reap a pretty penny from cashing in on the anniversary DVD debacle. Quite how anyone thinks this is in the realm of some Eastwood, Monroe, DeNiro and Pacino classics is beyond me.
Review- The Grit
A review for www.headscaffold.com of band The Grit, in Sunderland, October, 2006:
The night didn’t bode well for The Grit as I waited through two hours of shamefully dull attempts to warm up the crowd for the main event. I was so downcast from The Slagrat’s opening that I didn’t even bother to catch the second band’s name.
Luckily, the first two bands were the calm before the storm as The Grit did it all on their own. The subdued audience was thrown right into a blend of Sex Pistols, The Clash and good old Geordie attitude.
Maybe the biggest and best contrast was ‘Little Man Kurt’ on the double bass. Only two hours earlier I had been whinging to my friend about how crap the big bald bloke was on the same instrument, and so the energy put into this latest exhibition was all the more impressive. In short, Kurt put the Slagrat’s double bassist to shame.
One of the best things about The Grit’s songwriting was they knew exactly when to break it down, and then to take the audience back up again. Every song had a good turn to the slow side, reminding me slightly of the way Rage Against the Machine did it (although obviously in a different genre). With ‘Came Out of the Womb/Angry Cunt’ The Grit had the audience guessing and then anticipating the return of the exasperating head-banging punk tunes they had already been treated to, and not before or after time did the guitars and drums kick back in.
The above song was probably the best of the night, but the doubtless writing skills of the band also managed some great tunes including ‘Fear and Consumption’, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ and ‘Surrender’ to name but three.
As the final note of ‘Whoever You Are’ blazed out, the crowd were left feeling content that they had sat through the aforementioned shit before the good stuff came on. It left me feeling that maybe the punk scene does have hope in the UK after all.
The night didn’t bode well for The Grit as I waited through two hours of shamefully dull attempts to warm up the crowd for the main event. I was so downcast from The Slagrat’s opening that I didn’t even bother to catch the second band’s name.
Luckily, the first two bands were the calm before the storm as The Grit did it all on their own. The subdued audience was thrown right into a blend of Sex Pistols, The Clash and good old Geordie attitude.
Maybe the biggest and best contrast was ‘Little Man Kurt’ on the double bass. Only two hours earlier I had been whinging to my friend about how crap the big bald bloke was on the same instrument, and so the energy put into this latest exhibition was all the more impressive. In short, Kurt put the Slagrat’s double bassist to shame.
One of the best things about The Grit’s songwriting was they knew exactly when to break it down, and then to take the audience back up again. Every song had a good turn to the slow side, reminding me slightly of the way Rage Against the Machine did it (although obviously in a different genre). With ‘Came Out of the Womb/Angry Cunt’ The Grit had the audience guessing and then anticipating the return of the exasperating head-banging punk tunes they had already been treated to, and not before or after time did the guitars and drums kick back in.
The above song was probably the best of the night, but the doubtless writing skills of the band also managed some great tunes including ‘Fear and Consumption’, ‘Love Thy Neighbour’ and ‘Surrender’ to name but three.
As the final note of ‘Whoever You Are’ blazed out, the crowd were left feeling content that they had sat through the aforementioned shit before the good stuff came on. It left me feeling that maybe the punk scene does have hope in the UK after all.
Review- The Bees
A review of band The Bees, in Newcastle, February, 2007:
Imagine if it was Ringo on the lead, Paul on the bass, John on the drums, and George was second guitar. And then next time you blinked it was John on the lead, Ringo on the trumpet, Paul on maracas and George on bass. Confused?
As the Bees, who hail from the Isle of Wight, played out their surf-happy set in Northumbria University’s pokey Stage Two, it was hard to keep count of the number of times that lead Paul Butler switched lanes with his South Coast compatriots, with a bash on the organ, the drums, the guitar- put an instrument in his hand and a melody will arrive. Can’t quite picture the Beatles being so musically diverse on stage, can you?
Butler wasn’t the only multi-talented musician in the troupe either. As he swapped places, other band members were picking up in his stead. It made for compulsive viewing, even if the less-than-full venue presented an initially anticlimactic atmosphere.
If The Bees’ passion for music wasn’t noticed in their skill and diversity with their wares, then it came to the fore in their creations. You could almost feel the salty Sandown Beach breeze as ‘Got to Let it Go’ slides past your ears. The band has a real sunset on the pier feel to it, a chilled ambience. They are totally comfortable on stage. Their guitars, trumpets, harmonicas, saxophones, drums and keyboard have become an attachment of their bodies, the whole act is incredibly organic.
The sound is a mix of Ska and reggae and, standing with pints in hand (although I wish I maybe had a rum and coke now, listening to echoes of Bob Marley and UB40), the crowd is rising and falling with the gradual chilled beat as heads roll forward and back. ‘Listening Man’ could have been sung by the late Rastafarian crooner himself, although The Bees still managed to inject their own psychedelic elixir into the mix.
mf
The diversity in the instruments was resonated into their music style, with splatterings of blues and jazz reaching into their songs. The performance was a real journey through the musical histories of the band, coming from a small community and yet experiencing the whole world that music had to offer.
The huge trumpeter Aaron Fletcher, dressed in an American trucking cap and chequered shirt, was the star of the show, with his brass input setting the music alight. His vocal offerings were not up to the level of Butler, but the belief he put into his singing convinced the crowd to disregard his shortcomings.
The performance was wrapped up with a version of the band’s flagship song ‘Chicken Payback’ used on a Sure deodorant advert. Again the laid back atmosphere kicked in as they made a mess of the intro. Rather than choking at their mishap, they simply chuckled amongst each other and set themselves going again.
It was more like a family knees-up than a formal gig. The band conversed with the crowd as if they had been comrades for years. So, even if the attendance left a little to be desired, the atmosphere was saved by the pure wit and horizontal nature of the group. What else would you expect from the South Coast lads?
Imagine if it was Ringo on the lead, Paul on the bass, John on the drums, and George was second guitar. And then next time you blinked it was John on the lead, Ringo on the trumpet, Paul on maracas and George on bass. Confused?
As the Bees, who hail from the Isle of Wight, played out their surf-happy set in Northumbria University’s pokey Stage Two, it was hard to keep count of the number of times that lead Paul Butler switched lanes with his South Coast compatriots, with a bash on the organ, the drums, the guitar- put an instrument in his hand and a melody will arrive. Can’t quite picture the Beatles being so musically diverse on stage, can you?
Butler wasn’t the only multi-talented musician in the troupe either. As he swapped places, other band members were picking up in his stead. It made for compulsive viewing, even if the less-than-full venue presented an initially anticlimactic atmosphere.
If The Bees’ passion for music wasn’t noticed in their skill and diversity with their wares, then it came to the fore in their creations. You could almost feel the salty Sandown Beach breeze as ‘Got to Let it Go’ slides past your ears. The band has a real sunset on the pier feel to it, a chilled ambience. They are totally comfortable on stage. Their guitars, trumpets, harmonicas, saxophones, drums and keyboard have become an attachment of their bodies, the whole act is incredibly organic.
The sound is a mix of Ska and reggae and, standing with pints in hand (although I wish I maybe had a rum and coke now, listening to echoes of Bob Marley and UB40), the crowd is rising and falling with the gradual chilled beat as heads roll forward and back. ‘Listening Man’ could have been sung by the late Rastafarian crooner himself, although The Bees still managed to inject their own psychedelic elixir into the mix.
mf
The diversity in the instruments was resonated into their music style, with splatterings of blues and jazz reaching into their songs. The performance was a real journey through the musical histories of the band, coming from a small community and yet experiencing the whole world that music had to offer.
The huge trumpeter Aaron Fletcher, dressed in an American trucking cap and chequered shirt, was the star of the show, with his brass input setting the music alight. His vocal offerings were not up to the level of Butler, but the belief he put into his singing convinced the crowd to disregard his shortcomings.
The performance was wrapped up with a version of the band’s flagship song ‘Chicken Payback’ used on a Sure deodorant advert. Again the laid back atmosphere kicked in as they made a mess of the intro. Rather than choking at their mishap, they simply chuckled amongst each other and set themselves going again.
It was more like a family knees-up than a formal gig. The band conversed with the crowd as if they had been comrades for years. So, even if the attendance left a little to be desired, the atmosphere was saved by the pure wit and horizontal nature of the group. What else would you expect from the South Coast lads?
Review- Starlight Express
A review of the musical Starlight Express, in Sunderland, April 2007:
With all the hype surrounding popular television shows like X Factor and Popworld, you could be forgiven for thinking that theatre was still reserved either for the toffs in their DJ’s sipping brandy, or a one-off treat for the parent celebrating a 50th birthday.
But now Saturday evenings receive a dazzling (albeit camp) sprinkling of the stage, and suddenly star searches on telly such as Any Dream Will Do and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? have brought the classic shows to a fresh popular audience.
Riding on the back of the new-age theatre wave is another reinvention of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1983 extravaganza on wheels, Starlight Express. It has been moulded into a new, slim-line version; gone is the double tiered set and the heart-wrenching ballad Next Time You Fall In Love; in come the 3D glasses, recorded race scenes. Welcome to Starlight Express: The 3rd Dimension.
It is the second time in three years that the Starlight Express has rolled into Sunderland’s Empire Theatre, which could go some way to explaining the empty seats that pepper the auditorium. Nevertheless, there is an excited buzz amongst the crowd as they await the appearance of the greatest locomotives in history.
Since the second reinvention of Starlight Express occurred in 1993, it had seemed that the show was for the theatrical scrapheap when the curtain closed on its 7409th performance nine years later. The 3rd Dimension is evidently a shadow of the show’s former self. The set seems cheaper, the roller-skating stunts less frequent, and the race scenes less gripping.
mfThe two tiered raceway which Electra, Rusty, Greaseball and Nintendo sped around in the ‘90s created frantic, exciting and exhilarating action. In this new version, a projector screen drops down from the sky and the audience is subjected to a Hollywood-esque comedy drama on screen, where a pre-recorded contest serves to take the viewer out of the imaginary bubble of the show and back into the real world.
Aside from the disappointing selling-point of Starlight: The 3rd Dimension, there is luckily still the fun storyline and brilliant score to save the day. Almost all of the old classics are included in the show, and the crowd was evidently brought back to life with the expertly rolled-out dance routines and fantastically written music. What less would you expect from a Lloyd Webber musical?
Star of the show is Mykal Rand as Electra. As soon as he comes fizzing into the narrative, he is seductive, sexy and sublime. He mesmerises the crowd with his opener AC:DC, and is the epitome of his character as he slides along the stage like a pulsing circuit. Flanked by his posse of similarly ice-cool aficionados, Electra offers a dark side to the jovial proceedings.
All the ingredients are still there for a fantastic show. The mix of melodies ranges from hip-hop to blues to country to rock ‘n’ roll. There is something for everyone. Children will still be dazzled by the dancers on wheels, and marvel at the 3D screens. For parents and adults who are not so impressed by the novelty of the projected races, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s fantastical creation should still whet the latest popular theatre-goer’s appetite.
With all the hype surrounding popular television shows like X Factor and Popworld, you could be forgiven for thinking that theatre was still reserved either for the toffs in their DJ’s sipping brandy, or a one-off treat for the parent celebrating a 50th birthday.
But now Saturday evenings receive a dazzling (albeit camp) sprinkling of the stage, and suddenly star searches on telly such as Any Dream Will Do and How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? have brought the classic shows to a fresh popular audience.
Riding on the back of the new-age theatre wave is another reinvention of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s 1983 extravaganza on wheels, Starlight Express. It has been moulded into a new, slim-line version; gone is the double tiered set and the heart-wrenching ballad Next Time You Fall In Love; in come the 3D glasses, recorded race scenes. Welcome to Starlight Express: The 3rd Dimension.
It is the second time in three years that the Starlight Express has rolled into Sunderland’s Empire Theatre, which could go some way to explaining the empty seats that pepper the auditorium. Nevertheless, there is an excited buzz amongst the crowd as they await the appearance of the greatest locomotives in history.
Since the second reinvention of Starlight Express occurred in 1993, it had seemed that the show was for the theatrical scrapheap when the curtain closed on its 7409th performance nine years later. The 3rd Dimension is evidently a shadow of the show’s former self. The set seems cheaper, the roller-skating stunts less frequent, and the race scenes less gripping.
mfThe two tiered raceway which Electra, Rusty, Greaseball and Nintendo sped around in the ‘90s created frantic, exciting and exhilarating action. In this new version, a projector screen drops down from the sky and the audience is subjected to a Hollywood-esque comedy drama on screen, where a pre-recorded contest serves to take the viewer out of the imaginary bubble of the show and back into the real world.
Aside from the disappointing selling-point of Starlight: The 3rd Dimension, there is luckily still the fun storyline and brilliant score to save the day. Almost all of the old classics are included in the show, and the crowd was evidently brought back to life with the expertly rolled-out dance routines and fantastically written music. What less would you expect from a Lloyd Webber musical?
Star of the show is Mykal Rand as Electra. As soon as he comes fizzing into the narrative, he is seductive, sexy and sublime. He mesmerises the crowd with his opener AC:DC, and is the epitome of his character as he slides along the stage like a pulsing circuit. Flanked by his posse of similarly ice-cool aficionados, Electra offers a dark side to the jovial proceedings.
All the ingredients are still there for a fantastic show. The mix of melodies ranges from hip-hop to blues to country to rock ‘n’ roll. There is something for everyone. Children will still be dazzled by the dancers on wheels, and marvel at the 3D screens. For parents and adults who are not so impressed by the novelty of the projected races, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s fantastical creation should still whet the latest popular theatre-goer’s appetite.
Review- Maximo Park
A review of Maximo album 'Our Earthly Pleasures' in March, 2007:
It was Noel Gallagher that once said, “We’re not arrogant, we just believe we're the best band in the world.” The ever-meek Noel knew how to stroll along the thin line of knowing you were good, without giving people a feeling of agitation that would prevent them offering Oasis the satisfaction of recognition.
But where Oasis gained the right to love themselves by pioneering a new wave of sound and stamping a sizeable ‘F**k off’ sized imprint on 90’s culture, Maximo Park are still at the start of the journey that challenges every band- to strive and create something different.
So when ‘Park front man Paul Smith states, “I think we’ve excelled as a live band”, the right to decide whether or not they have should be owned by the fans. In this age of indie, a word such as ‘excelled’ has to be held back for bands that have already established somewhat of a legacy, which, in this age of indie, hasn’t been done by anyone.
Even the local accent gimmick that Maximo Park have tried to push forward in their new album Our Earthly Pleasures is taken from the Arctic Monkeys’ Sheffield sound. Their nods to local landmarks (By the Monument has to be homage to the Earl Grey memorial in the centre of Newcastle) are lost on the greater public, but they know how to play the ‘hometown’ card on their Geordie contemporaries.
Maximo Park cannot admit to be trailblazers in their art yet, and their new offering to our ears is only consolidating that fact. The band say that the sound comes from music greats as diverse as the Smashing Pumpkins, The Smiths, and that their stage presence can be likened to Iggy Pop. Their latest album is reminiscent of every pop/ indie album of the last five years (was that Kaiser Chiefs or Futureheads I just listened to?) in the fact that every pop/indie album for the last five years just hasn’t hit the mark of previous decades.
mf
Gone are the days of Urban Hymns and What’s The Story Morning Glory and replacing the era of the classic album ensemble are a long line of nearly-mades. The modern band seems to settle for an album that is ‘alright’, but when did the best musicians settle for ‘alright’, and then even worse proclaim themselves as excellent?
So Maximo Park follow up their first album A Certain Trigger (which inevitably sold hundreds of thousands, being a middle-of the-road record that offended no-one), with another album in the same ilk. In fact Our Earthly Pleasures hardly stands out from its predecessor.
In fairness, it is not an album that is hard on the ears. The tracks run seamlessly together in a way that you don’t need to wait for your favourite track. But that is the album’s fundamental problem. No song is strong enough to stand out, no riff will have you tapping your feet for a weekend, no chorus will have you humming over your Weetabix on Monday morning, no beat will have you nodding your head during your lunch on Wednesday. You hear the album, you discard it. It’s like a bus ticket. You use it, you forget it.
It was Noel Gallagher that once said, “We’re not arrogant, we just believe we're the best band in the world.” The ever-meek Noel knew how to stroll along the thin line of knowing you were good, without giving people a feeling of agitation that would prevent them offering Oasis the satisfaction of recognition.
But where Oasis gained the right to love themselves by pioneering a new wave of sound and stamping a sizeable ‘F**k off’ sized imprint on 90’s culture, Maximo Park are still at the start of the journey that challenges every band- to strive and create something different.
So when ‘Park front man Paul Smith states, “I think we’ve excelled as a live band”, the right to decide whether or not they have should be owned by the fans. In this age of indie, a word such as ‘excelled’ has to be held back for bands that have already established somewhat of a legacy, which, in this age of indie, hasn’t been done by anyone.
Even the local accent gimmick that Maximo Park have tried to push forward in their new album Our Earthly Pleasures is taken from the Arctic Monkeys’ Sheffield sound. Their nods to local landmarks (By the Monument has to be homage to the Earl Grey memorial in the centre of Newcastle) are lost on the greater public, but they know how to play the ‘hometown’ card on their Geordie contemporaries.
Maximo Park cannot admit to be trailblazers in their art yet, and their new offering to our ears is only consolidating that fact. The band say that the sound comes from music greats as diverse as the Smashing Pumpkins, The Smiths, and that their stage presence can be likened to Iggy Pop. Their latest album is reminiscent of every pop/ indie album of the last five years (was that Kaiser Chiefs or Futureheads I just listened to?) in the fact that every pop/indie album for the last five years just hasn’t hit the mark of previous decades.
mf
Gone are the days of Urban Hymns and What’s The Story Morning Glory and replacing the era of the classic album ensemble are a long line of nearly-mades. The modern band seems to settle for an album that is ‘alright’, but when did the best musicians settle for ‘alright’, and then even worse proclaim themselves as excellent?
So Maximo Park follow up their first album A Certain Trigger (which inevitably sold hundreds of thousands, being a middle-of the-road record that offended no-one), with another album in the same ilk. In fact Our Earthly Pleasures hardly stands out from its predecessor.
In fairness, it is not an album that is hard on the ears. The tracks run seamlessly together in a way that you don’t need to wait for your favourite track. But that is the album’s fundamental problem. No song is strong enough to stand out, no riff will have you tapping your feet for a weekend, no chorus will have you humming over your Weetabix on Monday morning, no beat will have you nodding your head during your lunch on Wednesday. You hear the album, you discard it. It’s like a bus ticket. You use it, you forget it.
Review- Alice in Sunderland
A review of an exhibition help in Sunderland, UK, in March, 2007:
“Curiouser and curiouser” was how Lewis Carrol’s Alice described her adventures in Wonderland. The same description can be used for the tenuous links that create Brian Talbot’s Alice in Sunderland exhibition.
A collection of comic strips create a journey through the history of Sunderland parodying Carrol’s classic tale. Along the way Talbot, in a cartoon series of alter-egos, throws in a local fable and some references to the streets of the North-Eastern city.
The vague connection made by Talbot between Carrol and the city is central to the theme of the pieces, but more time is taken in a perplexed state figuring where Sunderland fits into the author’s life and of his Victorian contemporaries, who are also mentioned.
Talbot works closely with the University of Sunderland, and his skills as a lecturer definitely come out in this gallery. From the initial series of slides, which incorporate some of the wonder of Lewis Carrol’s imagination and madness, the exhibition gradually take a turn for the worse as you follow the pages around the room.
Clever references to Carrol and lines from Alice in Wonderland are replaced by lecturous verse akin to a Monday morning seminar. The illustrations of Gin Lane and Beer Street are methodically broken down which, by the way, serves no purpose to the greater cause of the work.
The passion for Sunderland is evident in the work, but the style that the exhibition has been created in seems manufactured for the pun in the title. Alice in Sunderland promises a marvellous account of the city from the eyes of imagination and reminiscence, but instead it smacks of a younger sibling craving for attention.
Sunderland often lives in the shadow of its more illustrious neighbour Newcastle, not least for culture and history. To the common observer Sunderland is a city in post-shipyard decline, and even to the average inhabitant the place reeks of demise. What Talbot has done is attempt to instil a little bit of interest back into his subject.
The changes of style as you follow the stories cleverly reflect their subject. The fable of the Lambton Worm is created in a gothic theme. Theatrical shadows are cast across the wise old woman depicted, and the shining night is cast in a stream of light. In the opening sequence, the madness of the mother ewe and white rabbit are humorously combined with Talbot himself as he enters Sunderland’s Empire Theatre.
However, while Talbot tumbles down the rabbit hole into the land of the Mackems, he neglects to take anyone else with him. The connection between Sunderland and Carrol (who, it appears, may have visited Sunderland a couple of times) is lost along the way, and the grand stage that is set in the first collection of illustrations transforms into an educational monologue.
So, class, what has been learnt today? Yes, there is some history to Sunderland hidden in the depths of the River Wear and up the hill to Penshaw Monument. Talbot has told us to start looking, but on this basis I think I will find another rabbit hole to look down.
“Curiouser and curiouser” was how Lewis Carrol’s Alice described her adventures in Wonderland. The same description can be used for the tenuous links that create Brian Talbot’s Alice in Sunderland exhibition.
A collection of comic strips create a journey through the history of Sunderland parodying Carrol’s classic tale. Along the way Talbot, in a cartoon series of alter-egos, throws in a local fable and some references to the streets of the North-Eastern city.
The vague connection made by Talbot between Carrol and the city is central to the theme of the pieces, but more time is taken in a perplexed state figuring where Sunderland fits into the author’s life and of his Victorian contemporaries, who are also mentioned.
Talbot works closely with the University of Sunderland, and his skills as a lecturer definitely come out in this gallery. From the initial series of slides, which incorporate some of the wonder of Lewis Carrol’s imagination and madness, the exhibition gradually take a turn for the worse as you follow the pages around the room.
Clever references to Carrol and lines from Alice in Wonderland are replaced by lecturous verse akin to a Monday morning seminar. The illustrations of Gin Lane and Beer Street are methodically broken down which, by the way, serves no purpose to the greater cause of the work.
The passion for Sunderland is evident in the work, but the style that the exhibition has been created in seems manufactured for the pun in the title. Alice in Sunderland promises a marvellous account of the city from the eyes of imagination and reminiscence, but instead it smacks of a younger sibling craving for attention.
Sunderland often lives in the shadow of its more illustrious neighbour Newcastle, not least for culture and history. To the common observer Sunderland is a city in post-shipyard decline, and even to the average inhabitant the place reeks of demise. What Talbot has done is attempt to instil a little bit of interest back into his subject.
The changes of style as you follow the stories cleverly reflect their subject. The fable of the Lambton Worm is created in a gothic theme. Theatrical shadows are cast across the wise old woman depicted, and the shining night is cast in a stream of light. In the opening sequence, the madness of the mother ewe and white rabbit are humorously combined with Talbot himself as he enters Sunderland’s Empire Theatre.
However, while Talbot tumbles down the rabbit hole into the land of the Mackems, he neglects to take anyone else with him. The connection between Sunderland and Carrol (who, it appears, may have visited Sunderland a couple of times) is lost along the way, and the grand stage that is set in the first collection of illustrations transforms into an educational monologue.
So, class, what has been learnt today? Yes, there is some history to Sunderland hidden in the depths of the River Wear and up the hill to Penshaw Monument. Talbot has told us to start looking, but on this basis I think I will find another rabbit hole to look down.
Northampton Saints- internet articles
For articles produced for the Northampton Saints Rugby Club website go to the following links:
http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/3831_798.php
http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/3831_823.php
http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/3831_798.php
http://www.northamptonsaints.co.uk/3831_823.php
Northampton Saints- Your Chance to Vote
Included in the Northampton Saints versus Leicester Tigers match day programme (April 2006):
With the end of the Saints' 2005/06 campaign looming, awards season is set to begin. The club is giving its supporters the chance to vote for the Northampton Saints' Player of the Year, sponsored by Persimmon, and Saints Review has suggested six players who you might like to consider, although the choice is entirely up to you. There is also a chance to vote for Saints' Young Player of the Year, sponsored by Hasmead, and Try of the Year, sponsored by Pro-Cut.
Two forwards who have stood out this season are lock Damien Browne and flanker Paul Tupai. Browne has accepted a lot of responsibility this season. He has called the lineouts and was named as captain against London Irish in February. He has made the most forward appearances this season.
Kiwi Tupai arrived after Christmas but has already made a big impact. He has been hard to shift from the team sheet and is consistently a niggling presence around the breakdown.
In the backs, the arrival of Carlos Spencer has grabbed most of the headline. He has not failed to disappoint with his running lines baffling defences across the Guinness Premiership.
Another newcomer is wing Sean Lamont. He will be remembered for his record-breaking four-try haul against Saracens in February.
Lamont's partner on the wing Ben Cohen has also delivered this season. He is leading the way with 13 tries so far this season. He also gained his 50th cap for England against Italy.
Saints Review's last suggestion is centre Jon Clarke. He has stormed back from injury this season to take on a new position at centre and to only miss one game. He also has seven tries to his name.
For the Young Player of the Year award, the Northampton Saints Academy has put together a shortlist of four players.
Worcester recruits Dylan Hartley and Mark Hopley are the first on the shortlist. Hartley had a tough debut at Leicester this season, but impressed as hooker. He also won a Grand Slam for England in the U21s Six Nations. Hopley has captained both the Academy and Wanderers sides, and scored in the 125th Anniversary match for the Academy against Leicester's development team.
Paul Diggin is a self-proclaimed "local lad done good". Born and bred in Northampton, the winger has made five appearances this season and has made real progress in breaking into the 1st XV.
Finally, No. 8 Mark Easter has been picked out for his performances in is five 1st XV appearances this season. He scored his debut try against Gloucester in March and scored last weekend's winner against Bath.
You can also vote for your try of the season from a shortlist chosen by the coaches. To vote, click on the Player of the Year button on the home page of the club's website at www.northamptonsaints.co.uk or fill in the coupon in the Chronicle and Echo. Closing date for votes is Sunday, April 30, 2006.
With the end of the Saints' 2005/06 campaign looming, awards season is set to begin. The club is giving its supporters the chance to vote for the Northampton Saints' Player of the Year, sponsored by Persimmon, and Saints Review has suggested six players who you might like to consider, although the choice is entirely up to you. There is also a chance to vote for Saints' Young Player of the Year, sponsored by Hasmead, and Try of the Year, sponsored by Pro-Cut.
Two forwards who have stood out this season are lock Damien Browne and flanker Paul Tupai. Browne has accepted a lot of responsibility this season. He has called the lineouts and was named as captain against London Irish in February. He has made the most forward appearances this season.
Kiwi Tupai arrived after Christmas but has already made a big impact. He has been hard to shift from the team sheet and is consistently a niggling presence around the breakdown.
In the backs, the arrival of Carlos Spencer has grabbed most of the headline. He has not failed to disappoint with his running lines baffling defences across the Guinness Premiership.
Another newcomer is wing Sean Lamont. He will be remembered for his record-breaking four-try haul against Saracens in February.
Lamont's partner on the wing Ben Cohen has also delivered this season. He is leading the way with 13 tries so far this season. He also gained his 50th cap for England against Italy.
Saints Review's last suggestion is centre Jon Clarke. He has stormed back from injury this season to take on a new position at centre and to only miss one game. He also has seven tries to his name.
For the Young Player of the Year award, the Northampton Saints Academy has put together a shortlist of four players.
Worcester recruits Dylan Hartley and Mark Hopley are the first on the shortlist. Hartley had a tough debut at Leicester this season, but impressed as hooker. He also won a Grand Slam for England in the U21s Six Nations. Hopley has captained both the Academy and Wanderers sides, and scored in the 125th Anniversary match for the Academy against Leicester's development team.
Paul Diggin is a self-proclaimed "local lad done good". Born and bred in Northampton, the winger has made five appearances this season and has made real progress in breaking into the 1st XV.
Finally, No. 8 Mark Easter has been picked out for his performances in is five 1st XV appearances this season. He scored his debut try against Gloucester in March and scored last weekend's winner against Bath.
You can also vote for your try of the season from a shortlist chosen by the coaches. To vote, click on the Player of the Year button on the home page of the club's website at www.northamptonsaints.co.uk or fill in the coupon in the Chronicle and Echo. Closing date for votes is Sunday, April 30, 2006.
Northampton Saints- Vilk sidebar
Included in the Northampton Saints versus Leicester Tigers match day programme (April 2006):
Northampton Saints centre Andy Vilk returned home this week following a narrow loss to Fiji in the Singapore Sevens final, but at least he had a Commonwealth Games silver medal to show for his five-week trip which had left England toe-to-toe with the Fijians for the overall Sevens crown.
Earlier this month, Vilk was part of the England side that won its fourth successive Hong Kong Sevens title, when they beat Fiji 26-24 in the final. It went some way to eliminating thoughts of the Commonwealth gold medal the squad had hoped to win in Melbourne.
On winning the tournament, Vilk said: "It's hard to describe how I feel right now. We went close against Samoa and I didn't think we could get any closer than that but we managed it against Fiji. To come away with a win after that was just fantastic."
He added: "I'm happy we won. It definitely rates as number one in my career right now and certainly helps the disappointment of not winning the gold in the Commonwealth Games."
Northampton Saints centre Andy Vilk returned home this week following a narrow loss to Fiji in the Singapore Sevens final, but at least he had a Commonwealth Games silver medal to show for his five-week trip which had left England toe-to-toe with the Fijians for the overall Sevens crown.
Earlier this month, Vilk was part of the England side that won its fourth successive Hong Kong Sevens title, when they beat Fiji 26-24 in the final. It went some way to eliminating thoughts of the Commonwealth gold medal the squad had hoped to win in Melbourne.
On winning the tournament, Vilk said: "It's hard to describe how I feel right now. We went close against Samoa and I didn't think we could get any closer than that but we managed it against Fiji. To come away with a win after that was just fantastic."
He added: "I'm happy we won. It definitely rates as number one in my career right now and certainly helps the disappointment of not winning the gold in the Commonwealth Games."
Northampton Saints- Bruce Reihana
A piece produced for the Northampton Saints versus Leicester Tigers match day programme (April 2006), involving professional rugby player Bruce Reihana:
It is no secret that Saints are going through somewhat of a transitional phase this season. They have lost the likes of Matt Dawson and Nick Beal to Wasps and retirement respectively in recent years and with Paul Grayson and Budge Pountney moving into coaching roles, Saints have turned to a new set of leaders to build a fresh team around.
One of those players is Bruce Reihana, who this season has made the step from player to co-captain in one easy move. Reihana has been a leading light this season, having missed only one game and scoring eight tries, as well as taking the responsibilities as kicker.
He said: “It is a huge honour to be made captain. I didn’t expect it, but I am very proud.”
Reihana added: “I haven’t found it hard being made captain. I have always tried to lead in the way I play. I have tried to make the hard decisions by words as well as by actions. There are plenty of leaders like Carlos Spencer, Mark Robinson and Ben Cohen which makes my and Steve’s job a lot easier.
“I’m enjoying the extra responsibility-it is an exciting challenge.”
It is no surprise that Reihana has become a fans’ favourite since joining from Waikato in 2002. He has scored 30 tries for Northampton and scored more than 450 points, as well as picking up the Zurich Premiership Overseas Player of the Year, PRA Players’ Player and Saints Player of the Year awards at the end of the 2003/04 season and last year’s Try of the Year award. He celebrated his 100th game for the team against Newcastle last month, and is very proud of his achievements since moving from New Zealand. No wonder he decided to stay at Saints rather than return to Waikato, as he had planned.
“The feeling here at Northampton is amazing. The people, the stadium and the set up are fantastic.”
But has the atmosphere changed at all with his one time team-mate Paul Grayson coaching the team?
“Not at all. It was very good to be playing with someone I really respect. He has a great knowledge of the game and now to be coached by him is fantastic. He has been there and done it as a player, and even though he is young and starting out in coaching, he has a huge future ahead of him.”
It is obvious that Reihana is very happy at Franklin’s Gardens, and optimism is high for the future. He talks of a mentality and toughness in the side that was borne out of last year’s relegation battle. Hopefully, this can be used to find some real success at Northampton. But Bruce also realises that rugby is not the be-all and end-all, a fact that hit home when his brother passed away recently.
He said: “Losing my brother had made me realise that you never really know when your life is going to end. I now know that I should live each day to its fullest and don’t take anything for granted.”
Reihana’s enthusiasm for the game will be vital if Saints are to push for a GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP play-off semi-final, which is a realistic aim according to the flying Kiwi.
“My ambitions are to get three wins from the final three games. I want to keep my game to the highest level it can be, and help keep Saints going up the Premiership ladder.”
First in his sights are Leicester Tigers, who were the team he made his debut against in 2002, and who have already beaten Northampton twice this season. Reihana knows that Saints need to be on top of their form to beat their Midlands rival, but is confident a win is possible.
“It is always a hard battle against Leicester. There is huge rivalry between the two clubs, and both sides have a massive will to win. But we have trained really well this week, and worked hard. If we can take our chances we have a really good chance of winning.”
If Reihana does manage to lead the team to a famous victory, you can be sure to hear the “Bruce, Bruce, Bruce” chants going around Franklin’s Gardens-something that has become commonplace this season. Not since Harvey Thorneycroft has one player been singled out for the crowd’s singing practise, and Reihana is very thankful to the Saints’ faithful.
He said: “I’m very honoured to hear people chanting my name. It really does drive me on in a game. I want to play hard for the team and for the fans. It is a fantastic feeling in a game when the crowd are behind you. I’m overwhelmed.”
Let’s hope that name will be ringing around the ground tonight against Leicester.
It is no secret that Saints are going through somewhat of a transitional phase this season. They have lost the likes of Matt Dawson and Nick Beal to Wasps and retirement respectively in recent years and with Paul Grayson and Budge Pountney moving into coaching roles, Saints have turned to a new set of leaders to build a fresh team around.
One of those players is Bruce Reihana, who this season has made the step from player to co-captain in one easy move. Reihana has been a leading light this season, having missed only one game and scoring eight tries, as well as taking the responsibilities as kicker.
He said: “It is a huge honour to be made captain. I didn’t expect it, but I am very proud.”
Reihana added: “I haven’t found it hard being made captain. I have always tried to lead in the way I play. I have tried to make the hard decisions by words as well as by actions. There are plenty of leaders like Carlos Spencer, Mark Robinson and Ben Cohen which makes my and Steve’s job a lot easier.
“I’m enjoying the extra responsibility-it is an exciting challenge.”
It is no surprise that Reihana has become a fans’ favourite since joining from Waikato in 2002. He has scored 30 tries for Northampton and scored more than 450 points, as well as picking up the Zurich Premiership Overseas Player of the Year, PRA Players’ Player and Saints Player of the Year awards at the end of the 2003/04 season and last year’s Try of the Year award. He celebrated his 100th game for the team against Newcastle last month, and is very proud of his achievements since moving from New Zealand. No wonder he decided to stay at Saints rather than return to Waikato, as he had planned.
“The feeling here at Northampton is amazing. The people, the stadium and the set up are fantastic.”
But has the atmosphere changed at all with his one time team-mate Paul Grayson coaching the team?
“Not at all. It was very good to be playing with someone I really respect. He has a great knowledge of the game and now to be coached by him is fantastic. He has been there and done it as a player, and even though he is young and starting out in coaching, he has a huge future ahead of him.”
It is obvious that Reihana is very happy at Franklin’s Gardens, and optimism is high for the future. He talks of a mentality and toughness in the side that was borne out of last year’s relegation battle. Hopefully, this can be used to find some real success at Northampton. But Bruce also realises that rugby is not the be-all and end-all, a fact that hit home when his brother passed away recently.
He said: “Losing my brother had made me realise that you never really know when your life is going to end. I now know that I should live each day to its fullest and don’t take anything for granted.”
Reihana’s enthusiasm for the game will be vital if Saints are to push for a GUINNESS PREMIERSHIP play-off semi-final, which is a realistic aim according to the flying Kiwi.
“My ambitions are to get three wins from the final three games. I want to keep my game to the highest level it can be, and help keep Saints going up the Premiership ladder.”
First in his sights are Leicester Tigers, who were the team he made his debut against in 2002, and who have already beaten Northampton twice this season. Reihana knows that Saints need to be on top of their form to beat their Midlands rival, but is confident a win is possible.
“It is always a hard battle against Leicester. There is huge rivalry between the two clubs, and both sides have a massive will to win. But we have trained really well this week, and worked hard. If we can take our chances we have a really good chance of winning.”
If Reihana does manage to lead the team to a famous victory, you can be sure to hear the “Bruce, Bruce, Bruce” chants going around Franklin’s Gardens-something that has become commonplace this season. Not since Harvey Thorneycroft has one player been singled out for the crowd’s singing practise, and Reihana is very thankful to the Saints’ faithful.
He said: “I’m very honoured to hear people chanting my name. It really does drive me on in a game. I want to play hard for the team and for the fans. It is a fantastic feeling in a game when the crowd are behind you. I’m overwhelmed.”
Let’s hope that name will be ringing around the ground tonight against Leicester.
Writing for InTouch Magazine #1- Rugby Relegation
A feature written for InTouch magazine (May 2007), which I produced by myself during my time at university. The full magazine included a variety of features, interviews and information. This can be produced should you require to view it.
As the end of the season looms, there is one debate that arises again and again amongst the Guinness Premiership clubs- relegation.
For the clubs at the top of National League One, there is a shining beacon of success, television revenue, sponsorship deals and star signings to hope for and look ahead to. For the clubs languishing at the bottom of the Guinness Premiership, there is the dread of bumpy pitches, scrappy rugby, an exodus of big name players, team rebuilding and lost revenue.
Whether relegation should be included is a long-running issue. The Southern Hemisphere has long adopted a closed top tier, with the Super 14 franchises enjoying being included in an exclusive group. It is the same for the Magner’s League.
But does it improve the standard of rugby? Ex-England international and BBC Rugby Commentator Brian Moore thinks so. He fervently stated: “The fact is that the non-development of English-qualified talent is a serious impediment to international success. Without overseas quotas, enforceable only to non-EC nationals, or without relegation being removed, the imperative success is simply too strong for clubs to sign, coach and play promising young talent when experienced foreign players are available.”
There is some disagreement over whether this is down to the set-up of the English league. Phil Western, who is Head of Media at National League One side Cornish Pirates, has a different view to Moore:
“If we couldn’t get promoted, what would be the point in playing in the league? We are not here just for fun, it’s a business and we want to be successful. We want to be able to get promoted.”
He added: “We work hard to bring up our own players because we don’t have the money or pulling power to get the big players in.”
If there was to be an introduction of a closed Premiership, it could mean the demise of the lower leagues in the country. Having said that, in New Zealand the National Provincial Cup is still thriving, and the players from the Super 14 often return to their clubs for cup games. Southern Hemisphere players such as Justin Marshall are critical of the English league system.
Commenting last year whilst in a Leeds side on the brink of relegation, he said: “It’s a real shame that a team of our calibre- or the calibre of Saracens or Bath or Bristol- have to suffer relegation, because I don’t believe it makes a competition any stronger.”
Another problem with the introduction of a closed league is that there will always be sides that miss out on the lucrative top tier. Friction in Wales and Scotland over which clubs would join the sealed Celtic league was, for the most part, solved by the introduction of regions. The National Irish team has prospered since the introduction of their four regions, and the beginning of the exclusive Celtic competition.
Richard Deane, Financial Director of current Premiership strugglers Northampton Saints, doesn’t think such a system could work in England. He said: “I can’t see that happening. The clubs in England are too proud and have too much prestige and history. Plus, can you see Saints fans going to watch a Midland’s region play at Welford Road (home of arch-rivals Leicester Tigers)? I know I definitely can’t! It just won’t work here.”
Sky Sports Rugby Commentator Stuart Barnes is a keen advocate of relegation. He said: “In an unpleasant way relegation keeps the season alive for fans of the struggling teams. If you are 20 points adrift of a Heineken qualifying place, the scrap for survival becomes the defining element of the season as many teams and supporters will admit.
“This Premiership would be making a terrible long term mistake for selfish short term gain were it to succeed in the long cherished dream of a closed premier league.”
As ever, money is a big factor in the whole sordid business. Teams such as Rotherham (now Earth Titans), Bedford and Orrell are now shadows of their former glories in the top league, while Richmond had to reinvent themselves as Harlequins to compete once again. Worcester’s Financial Controller Jamie Evans is under no illusions what relegation would do to the club’s balance sheets. He said: “Getting relegated would be a big blow for us. It means less money, the team we are building will be split up, we’ll lose a lot of big name players and basically we will have to build up from the bottom again.
“Financially it means cutting wages, gaining less revenue from ticket sales and less sponsorship from television etcetera.”
It seems that along with the club versus country row that the relegation debate is one of those issues that will never be fully resolved. As ever, it will take seasons to sort out if anything is ever done about it. Whatever decision is made will affect some teams for the better and some for the worse.
As the end of the season looms, there is one debate that arises again and again amongst the Guinness Premiership clubs- relegation.
For the clubs at the top of National League One, there is a shining beacon of success, television revenue, sponsorship deals and star signings to hope for and look ahead to. For the clubs languishing at the bottom of the Guinness Premiership, there is the dread of bumpy pitches, scrappy rugby, an exodus of big name players, team rebuilding and lost revenue.
Whether relegation should be included is a long-running issue. The Southern Hemisphere has long adopted a closed top tier, with the Super 14 franchises enjoying being included in an exclusive group. It is the same for the Magner’s League.
But does it improve the standard of rugby? Ex-England international and BBC Rugby Commentator Brian Moore thinks so. He fervently stated: “The fact is that the non-development of English-qualified talent is a serious impediment to international success. Without overseas quotas, enforceable only to non-EC nationals, or without relegation being removed, the imperative success is simply too strong for clubs to sign, coach and play promising young talent when experienced foreign players are available.”
There is some disagreement over whether this is down to the set-up of the English league. Phil Western, who is Head of Media at National League One side Cornish Pirates, has a different view to Moore:
“If we couldn’t get promoted, what would be the point in playing in the league? We are not here just for fun, it’s a business and we want to be successful. We want to be able to get promoted.”
He added: “We work hard to bring up our own players because we don’t have the money or pulling power to get the big players in.”
If there was to be an introduction of a closed Premiership, it could mean the demise of the lower leagues in the country. Having said that, in New Zealand the National Provincial Cup is still thriving, and the players from the Super 14 often return to their clubs for cup games. Southern Hemisphere players such as Justin Marshall are critical of the English league system.
Commenting last year whilst in a Leeds side on the brink of relegation, he said: “It’s a real shame that a team of our calibre- or the calibre of Saracens or Bath or Bristol- have to suffer relegation, because I don’t believe it makes a competition any stronger.”
Another problem with the introduction of a closed league is that there will always be sides that miss out on the lucrative top tier. Friction in Wales and Scotland over which clubs would join the sealed Celtic league was, for the most part, solved by the introduction of regions. The National Irish team has prospered since the introduction of their four regions, and the beginning of the exclusive Celtic competition.
Richard Deane, Financial Director of current Premiership strugglers Northampton Saints, doesn’t think such a system could work in England. He said: “I can’t see that happening. The clubs in England are too proud and have too much prestige and history. Plus, can you see Saints fans going to watch a Midland’s region play at Welford Road (home of arch-rivals Leicester Tigers)? I know I definitely can’t! It just won’t work here.”
Sky Sports Rugby Commentator Stuart Barnes is a keen advocate of relegation. He said: “In an unpleasant way relegation keeps the season alive for fans of the struggling teams. If you are 20 points adrift of a Heineken qualifying place, the scrap for survival becomes the defining element of the season as many teams and supporters will admit.
“This Premiership would be making a terrible long term mistake for selfish short term gain were it to succeed in the long cherished dream of a closed premier league.”
As ever, money is a big factor in the whole sordid business. Teams such as Rotherham (now Earth Titans), Bedford and Orrell are now shadows of their former glories in the top league, while Richmond had to reinvent themselves as Harlequins to compete once again. Worcester’s Financial Controller Jamie Evans is under no illusions what relegation would do to the club’s balance sheets. He said: “Getting relegated would be a big blow for us. It means less money, the team we are building will be split up, we’ll lose a lot of big name players and basically we will have to build up from the bottom again.
“Financially it means cutting wages, gaining less revenue from ticket sales and less sponsorship from television etcetera.”
It seems that along with the club versus country row that the relegation debate is one of those issues that will never be fully resolved. As ever, it will take seasons to sort out if anything is ever done about it. Whatever decision is made will affect some teams for the better and some for the worse.
Writing for InTouch Magazine #2- Sean Lamont
Interview with professional rugby player Sean Lamont for InTouch magazine (May 2007):
Northampton Saints are on the verge of two unthinkables; Heineken Cup glory - which after toppling Biarritz in an error strewn match is peering through the gap of possibility at the men in green; and relegation from the Guinness Premiership - an occurrence that would shake the roots of this old and respected club.
One man whose job it is to make sure that the former happens and the latter doesn’t is Scotland star Sean Lamont. The big, bleached winger has still managed to shine in a stuttering Saints team that is languishing at the bottom of the league table, claiming five tries in thirteen starts.
He also shone for another bottom placed team as Scotland were handed the wooden spoon in the 2007 RBS Six Nations. Lamont, with an air of calm around him that doesn’t betray the pressure that must be upon him, is methodical in his assessment of the two teams’ failures this season.
“With Saints, I think we really just haven’t clicked in the second half of the season. There has been so much pressure on the team and, as the end of the season approaches, the pressure keeps building up. Most of the players are just trying so hard - maybe too hard - and it means we are always playing on edge.
And with Scotland?
“I have to say that overall it was a good fun Six Nations, although obviously we’re disappointed about where we came in the championship table.
“But it all hinged on small and silly things. We made a lot of silly mistakes against England, and ended up on the wrong side of a nasty drubbing.
“With Italy, three tries in the first seven minutes was a total fluke, and again it was down to our mistakes. Against Ireland we just lacked a bit of composure towards the end. We only lost by one point, and on another day, we might have won by one point. Against France we put up a decent battle but they were simply too good. In the second half we seemed to fall apart and that game was disappointing for us.
“We got the wooden spoon which isn’t a proud achievement, but if we had had a bit more composure against Italy and Ireland then one win (against Wales) could have been three. So we can take a lot of positives from this Six Nations tournament.”
The winger is confident that he hasn’t let either side down. He earned himself the Famous Grouse Scottish Player of the Year Award in March for his international performances over the past year, including classy tries against Australia in the autumn and France in the Six Nations.
He became the first winger to win the award, streaking past other strong contenders such as Simon Taylor, Kelly Brown and Chris Paterson.
Again, a coy Lamont doesn’t let any excitement or pride show as he discusses his achievement: “It was a nice little surprise. I got a phone call from Famous Grouse in the middle of the week, telling me I had won it. I had to go up to Edinburgh to receive it, and it was a good experience.
“I don’t know if I deserved the award. For me, Chris Paterson was probably the player of the year. He really drove the team forward and his kicking quality was there for all to see.”
Personal praise isn’t something that is needed for the Scot. With the pressures surrounding Northampton and Scotland, he is understandably modest on recognition for his playing performances:
“It wasn’t that I did anything particularly special during the Six Nations, I just didn’t make many mistakes. I just stuck to our game plan and it seemed to work for me. It is good to receive an award for my effort, but it was for the team, and it is a team game. I would rather the team won something than just me.”
Without the formalities of a Scottish award, Lamont has plenty to look forward to and worry about. On April 22nd Saints will run out at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena to face Wasps in the Heineken Cup semi-final, a week after facing them in the Guinness Premiership.
“We just need to concentrate on each match as it comes. We need to beat Wasps twice, once to make sure we are in contention to stay up in the Premiership, and again to get ourselves into the Heineken Cup final. It is a big ask, but we need to look at each match one by one.”
If Northampton were relegated yet won the Heineken Cup, it would be one of the most unexpected events in the history of the game, as Biarritz was already the biggest upset in European competition. If results go the right way, they could end up against their biggest rivals - Leicester Tigers.
“I would absolutely love to beat them in the final, we already beat them this season, so why not?”
And if that wasn’t enough, then there is a small competition coming up in November that is on any professional rugby player’s mind - the World Cup.
Lamont, when fit, is one of the first in Scotland’s team, but can’t afford to be complacent as Scottish compatriots such as Simon Webster are knocking on the door of a starting place.
He said: “At the moment, the World Cup is definitely in mind because it isn’t far away at all. For myself, I need to consolidate my starting place. There are a lot of talented guys contesting my place in the team, and that is a good pressure to have. So if I can put in some good performances for the rest of the season, I can help Saints as well as my international hopes. Of course, I need to hope that I don’t take too many bad knocks.
“I know all too well what rugby can do to your body. Recently both Steve Thompson and David Quinlan (both at Saints) have had to retire prematurely from the game because of injury. It’s terrible for them, and I also hope the same thing doesn’t happen to me.”
There is a massive test for Scotland as they tackle tournament favourites New Zealand in their group, and then face a rematch with Six Nations rivals Italy, two games they will probably have to win to make it out of Pool C.
“For the team, I think it is a must that we get out of the group stage. If we don’t, then it will be a great disappointment, especially in my first World Cup. After that we can try and go as far as we can.
“We have come across the teams in the group a few times before. There are the All Blacks, and everyone can see the brilliant rugby they are playing at the moment. I played against them in the 2005 Autumn internationals and they were brilliant, but we gave them a few problems too. Hopefully we can cause the same problems in the World Cup and turn it into a win and points.
“I think we feel we can beat Italy. They are a good team, but we made our own problems in the Six Nations. We are confident we will put together a more assured performance in November, and have a good go at beating them.
“Our team is settled, we just need to make that we are gelling well and come the World Cup we can take Scotland as far in the cup as possible.”
And so, with a wry smile and a firm handshake, Sean Lamont goes on his way. It is as if he doesn’t have a care in the world, and with the performances he has been putting in for club and country, why should he?
If he performs to the best of his ability you will see him charging down that wing at the World Cup and scoring plenty of tries, whether his scores can take Scotland into the latter stages of the cup remains to be seen, the Scots can only hope.
Northampton Saints are on the verge of two unthinkables; Heineken Cup glory - which after toppling Biarritz in an error strewn match is peering through the gap of possibility at the men in green; and relegation from the Guinness Premiership - an occurrence that would shake the roots of this old and respected club.
One man whose job it is to make sure that the former happens and the latter doesn’t is Scotland star Sean Lamont. The big, bleached winger has still managed to shine in a stuttering Saints team that is languishing at the bottom of the league table, claiming five tries in thirteen starts.
He also shone for another bottom placed team as Scotland were handed the wooden spoon in the 2007 RBS Six Nations. Lamont, with an air of calm around him that doesn’t betray the pressure that must be upon him, is methodical in his assessment of the two teams’ failures this season.
“With Saints, I think we really just haven’t clicked in the second half of the season. There has been so much pressure on the team and, as the end of the season approaches, the pressure keeps building up. Most of the players are just trying so hard - maybe too hard - and it means we are always playing on edge.
And with Scotland?
“I have to say that overall it was a good fun Six Nations, although obviously we’re disappointed about where we came in the championship table.
“But it all hinged on small and silly things. We made a lot of silly mistakes against England, and ended up on the wrong side of a nasty drubbing.
“With Italy, three tries in the first seven minutes was a total fluke, and again it was down to our mistakes. Against Ireland we just lacked a bit of composure towards the end. We only lost by one point, and on another day, we might have won by one point. Against France we put up a decent battle but they were simply too good. In the second half we seemed to fall apart and that game was disappointing for us.
“We got the wooden spoon which isn’t a proud achievement, but if we had had a bit more composure against Italy and Ireland then one win (against Wales) could have been three. So we can take a lot of positives from this Six Nations tournament.”
The winger is confident that he hasn’t let either side down. He earned himself the Famous Grouse Scottish Player of the Year Award in March for his international performances over the past year, including classy tries against Australia in the autumn and France in the Six Nations.
He became the first winger to win the award, streaking past other strong contenders such as Simon Taylor, Kelly Brown and Chris Paterson.
Again, a coy Lamont doesn’t let any excitement or pride show as he discusses his achievement: “It was a nice little surprise. I got a phone call from Famous Grouse in the middle of the week, telling me I had won it. I had to go up to Edinburgh to receive it, and it was a good experience.
“I don’t know if I deserved the award. For me, Chris Paterson was probably the player of the year. He really drove the team forward and his kicking quality was there for all to see.”
Personal praise isn’t something that is needed for the Scot. With the pressures surrounding Northampton and Scotland, he is understandably modest on recognition for his playing performances:
“It wasn’t that I did anything particularly special during the Six Nations, I just didn’t make many mistakes. I just stuck to our game plan and it seemed to work for me. It is good to receive an award for my effort, but it was for the team, and it is a team game. I would rather the team won something than just me.”
Without the formalities of a Scottish award, Lamont has plenty to look forward to and worry about. On April 22nd Saints will run out at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena to face Wasps in the Heineken Cup semi-final, a week after facing them in the Guinness Premiership.
“We just need to concentrate on each match as it comes. We need to beat Wasps twice, once to make sure we are in contention to stay up in the Premiership, and again to get ourselves into the Heineken Cup final. It is a big ask, but we need to look at each match one by one.”
If Northampton were relegated yet won the Heineken Cup, it would be one of the most unexpected events in the history of the game, as Biarritz was already the biggest upset in European competition. If results go the right way, they could end up against their biggest rivals - Leicester Tigers.
“I would absolutely love to beat them in the final, we already beat them this season, so why not?”
And if that wasn’t enough, then there is a small competition coming up in November that is on any professional rugby player’s mind - the World Cup.
Lamont, when fit, is one of the first in Scotland’s team, but can’t afford to be complacent as Scottish compatriots such as Simon Webster are knocking on the door of a starting place.
He said: “At the moment, the World Cup is definitely in mind because it isn’t far away at all. For myself, I need to consolidate my starting place. There are a lot of talented guys contesting my place in the team, and that is a good pressure to have. So if I can put in some good performances for the rest of the season, I can help Saints as well as my international hopes. Of course, I need to hope that I don’t take too many bad knocks.
“I know all too well what rugby can do to your body. Recently both Steve Thompson and David Quinlan (both at Saints) have had to retire prematurely from the game because of injury. It’s terrible for them, and I also hope the same thing doesn’t happen to me.”
There is a massive test for Scotland as they tackle tournament favourites New Zealand in their group, and then face a rematch with Six Nations rivals Italy, two games they will probably have to win to make it out of Pool C.
“For the team, I think it is a must that we get out of the group stage. If we don’t, then it will be a great disappointment, especially in my first World Cup. After that we can try and go as far as we can.
“We have come across the teams in the group a few times before. There are the All Blacks, and everyone can see the brilliant rugby they are playing at the moment. I played against them in the 2005 Autumn internationals and they were brilliant, but we gave them a few problems too. Hopefully we can cause the same problems in the World Cup and turn it into a win and points.
“I think we feel we can beat Italy. They are a good team, but we made our own problems in the Six Nations. We are confident we will put together a more assured performance in November, and have a good go at beating them.
“Our team is settled, we just need to make that we are gelling well and come the World Cup we can take Scotland as far in the cup as possible.”
And so, with a wry smile and a firm handshake, Sean Lamont goes on his way. It is as if he doesn’t have a care in the world, and with the performances he has been putting in for club and country, why should he?
If he performs to the best of his ability you will see him charging down that wing at the World Cup and scoring plenty of tries, whether his scores can take Scotland into the latter stages of the cup remains to be seen, the Scots can only hope.
Writing for InTouch Magazine #3- Rugby Rivalry
A feature written for InTouch rugby magazine (May 2007), which was produced by myself during my time at university:
What the f**k is that piece e’ shite roond ye neck?” is the gracious greeting I am met with as I walk up the stairs into the sizeable bar at a traditional East Midlands rugby club.
Rather naïvely I had chosen to wear a scarf emblazoned with the English Rose, a mark on which they spit in Corby. That’s because in this small town borne out of the steelworks in the 1970’s, Scottish is the native tongue and Irn Bru is the drink of choice.
This drop of Scotland in the middle of England adds a bit of spice to a local rugby rivalry, between the Scots of Stewart’s and Lloyd’s RFC (S and L) in Corby and the English of Kettering RFC just eight miles away.
Hatred rules in this place of two towns, as ex- S and L fly-half Phil Lewis, 41, describes: “I remember the first derby I played in between Kettering and us and it was carnage. The ref struggled to control the match, which was more of a brawl than a game. Every ruck someone was putting in a cheap shot and it would flare up. That was in 1987, and I was only 21.It wasn’t something I was surprised with, though.”
The rivalry between the two towns stretches much further than the rugby. Each town is roughly the same size but, while Kettering has prospered, Corby has gone downhill since the closure of the steelworks in the 1980’s.
It means that maybe Corby has something to prove. Lewis elaborates: “There’s always a running battle between us and them. Our footy team is crap, I mean, so is their’s, but they can beat ours easily. With the rugby we are a little bit closer, so it always feels good to get one over on them.”
It wasn’t always that way. S and L have been in the shadow of their red and black shirted neighbours for the best part of the last 60 years, starting with Ralph Bainbridge’s unbeaten side of 1954. Notable trouncings have been received by S and L, such as 1976 (42-16 to Kettering) and 1992 (62-3).
Kettering’s current first team coach, Doug Bridgeman, is enjoying relative success at the moment. Kettering are pushing for promotion from the Midlands Division Two, while S and L are languishing in seventh place in Midlands Division Three South.
The balding, massive figure that is Bridgeman thinks that Kettering can only get better: “If we can get promotion this year, which I think we can do, then I reckon we can hold our own in Midlands One.”
The mention of S and L brings a wry smile: “I don’t think we’ll have to play them again any time soon. We only meet them now and again in the cup these days. I can’t see them climbing out of their league, and we are only going up!”
S and L can take some solace from the fact that their few victories over Kettering have been notable ones. In the semi-finals of the 1973 East Midlands Cup, the Corby side won 12-6 to progress to the final and in the end managed to take the silverware.
Kettering obviously weren’t too pleased about this, and packed their trophy cabinet in 1975 with the local Evening Telegraph Cup, the East Northants Cup and the East Midlands Cup. Dominance ensued, and S and L wouldn’t beat Kettering again until 1985 where they squeezed past their opponents 7-6 in the East Midlands Cup.
So, back in the dark, wooden panelled club house of the Stewarts and Lloyds RFC, I am surrounded by a spattering of old men, red nosed and whisky drinking, who have something to say about their beloved club. As Lewis speaks, he is greeted by either a grunt of approval or a mumbled correction. I am told that if there is one man worth listening to, and that’s Chairman Evan Martin.
“Aye son”, the 70 year-old man, with a harsh Scottish accent, begins. “We meet be a couple e’ leagues below them, but it doon’t half make it better when we dee thi bastards in thi cup!”
And you thought that rugby wasn’t life and death.
What the f**k is that piece e’ shite roond ye neck?” is the gracious greeting I am met with as I walk up the stairs into the sizeable bar at a traditional East Midlands rugby club.
Rather naïvely I had chosen to wear a scarf emblazoned with the English Rose, a mark on which they spit in Corby. That’s because in this small town borne out of the steelworks in the 1970’s, Scottish is the native tongue and Irn Bru is the drink of choice.
This drop of Scotland in the middle of England adds a bit of spice to a local rugby rivalry, between the Scots of Stewart’s and Lloyd’s RFC (S and L) in Corby and the English of Kettering RFC just eight miles away.
Hatred rules in this place of two towns, as ex- S and L fly-half Phil Lewis, 41, describes: “I remember the first derby I played in between Kettering and us and it was carnage. The ref struggled to control the match, which was more of a brawl than a game. Every ruck someone was putting in a cheap shot and it would flare up. That was in 1987, and I was only 21.It wasn’t something I was surprised with, though.”
The rivalry between the two towns stretches much further than the rugby. Each town is roughly the same size but, while Kettering has prospered, Corby has gone downhill since the closure of the steelworks in the 1980’s.
It means that maybe Corby has something to prove. Lewis elaborates: “There’s always a running battle between us and them. Our footy team is crap, I mean, so is their’s, but they can beat ours easily. With the rugby we are a little bit closer, so it always feels good to get one over on them.”
It wasn’t always that way. S and L have been in the shadow of their red and black shirted neighbours for the best part of the last 60 years, starting with Ralph Bainbridge’s unbeaten side of 1954. Notable trouncings have been received by S and L, such as 1976 (42-16 to Kettering) and 1992 (62-3).
Kettering’s current first team coach, Doug Bridgeman, is enjoying relative success at the moment. Kettering are pushing for promotion from the Midlands Division Two, while S and L are languishing in seventh place in Midlands Division Three South.
The balding, massive figure that is Bridgeman thinks that Kettering can only get better: “If we can get promotion this year, which I think we can do, then I reckon we can hold our own in Midlands One.”
The mention of S and L brings a wry smile: “I don’t think we’ll have to play them again any time soon. We only meet them now and again in the cup these days. I can’t see them climbing out of their league, and we are only going up!”
S and L can take some solace from the fact that their few victories over Kettering have been notable ones. In the semi-finals of the 1973 East Midlands Cup, the Corby side won 12-6 to progress to the final and in the end managed to take the silverware.
Kettering obviously weren’t too pleased about this, and packed their trophy cabinet in 1975 with the local Evening Telegraph Cup, the East Northants Cup and the East Midlands Cup. Dominance ensued, and S and L wouldn’t beat Kettering again until 1985 where they squeezed past their opponents 7-6 in the East Midlands Cup.
So, back in the dark, wooden panelled club house of the Stewarts and Lloyds RFC, I am surrounded by a spattering of old men, red nosed and whisky drinking, who have something to say about their beloved club. As Lewis speaks, he is greeted by either a grunt of approval or a mumbled correction. I am told that if there is one man worth listening to, and that’s Chairman Evan Martin.
“Aye son”, the 70 year-old man, with a harsh Scottish accent, begins. “We meet be a couple e’ leagues below them, but it doon’t half make it better when we dee thi bastards in thi cup!”
And you thought that rugby wasn’t life and death.
Writing for InTouch Magazine #4- Ben Cohen
An interview with rugby player Ben Cohen, written for a magazine produced by myself during my time at university (May 2007):
A lot has happened in ten years. Tony Blair took over as boss of Britain, Manchester United won a football treble, fears about the Millennium Bug came and went, Cardiff built itself a new, world class stadium and disasters aplenty occurred in the shape of 9/11, New Orleans and the Tsunami. There have been ups and downs, peaks and troughs, good days and bad days.
As Ben Cohen celebrates his testimonial season with Northampton Saints he can look back on a decade in which he has visited the extremes of elation and the boundaries of utter despair.
A born-and-bred Northampton boy; the massive, shaven-haired winger makes a surprisingly unimposing figure as we sip tea surrounded by Saints’ fabulous, new, state-of-the-art stadium.
In his heights, Cohen was in a world beating England side, winning a Heineken Cup and starring for a Northampton Saints side knocking on the door of domestic triumph in the league and cup.
Cohen has also seen dark depths in the last decade too. None more so than the death of his father in November 2000, just nine months after his fiery international debut against Ireland, where he scored a brace of tries.
“I nearly gave up rugby that year,” Cohen remembers, “It was so hard to deal with the death of my dad, and it made nothing else seem important. It put rugby into perspective. But what it also did was made me come back stronger. I could enjoy my rugby more and it took a bit of the pressure off that I was always putting on myself.”
Cohen’s dad, Peter, had been involved in a nightclub incident and suffered fatal head injuries. For Cohen to pick himself up from that was going to be a challenge. He withdrew from the subsequent England squad to face Australia that autumn, before returning for England’s latest Six Nations blunder in 2001. The shining head of Keith Wood was enough to halt Cohen and his team-mates a Grand Slam in a competition halted by foot-and-mouth disease.
The millennium was definitely a professional success for ‘Big Ben’, a Powergen Cup final loss to Wasps being erased by a nerve-jangling 9-8 win over Munster in the Heineken Cup.
“That is definitely the high in my club playing career. Being at Saints has never been dull. We have been in finals in many of the seasons, and then when we haven’t been challenging for titles we have been battling relegation. It definitely isn’t quiet around here!”
In the last five or so years, Cohen has gone from being disputably the premier winger in the world to merely on the fringes of the national set-up. One of the first on the England team-sheet, he was a stalwart in the victorious England team of 2003. Along the way he has fought off competition from a menagerie of brilliant speedsters, including the likes of Dan Luger, James Simpson-Daniel and Austin Healey. So where did it all turn sour for the Northampton lad?
Cohen pulls no punches in his self-appraisal: “I just haven’t performed to the standard I want to be playing at. I have been really disappointed in my own performances this season just gone.
“I have been hit by some setbacks, such as an injury near the start of the season, and being dropped by England did affect me, I admit that. But it is up to me to get noticed again and get picked by Brian Ashton again.
“I need to concentrate on my own game for the rest of the season, and put all my effort into Northampton staying up, then in theory the international calls will follow.
“I know my game has been lacking, but I do think that I am good enough to be in the team. It is now my mission to get Brian (Ashton) to pick me- and time is running out for the World Cup.”
It will be tough to get back into the national side following encouraging displays from the likes of David Strettle, Mark Cueto at Sale and the returning Jason Robinson.
Nevertheless, in an indifferent season for the towering England winger, one great point is he claimed his 100th try for his club against Bristol.
“That game was brilliant. I had gone a couple of games on 99 tries, and the pressure was on to get the ton. That made it all the more nerve-wracking for me and then when I got it, it was absolutely fantastic.
“It was at home too and I remember the whole crowd cheering. I’ll never score that try again. It means I’ll have to get 200, hopefully that won’t take too long!”
If Cohen is damning about his own game during the 2006/07 campaign, he is just as so when talking about the way Saints have performed this term.
He agrees with many of his team-mates that the side hasn’t clicked this season, but defends comments from pal Matt Dawson that Franklin’s Gardens has become merely retirement home for Southern Hemisphere players.
“Look at the players we have brought in over the past few years from the Southern Hemisphere,” Cohen begins defiantly, “Bruce Reihana and Carlos Spencer have been electric in the backline, and the likes of Andrew Blowers and Corne Krige were superb for us during their stay.
“We have had a lot of fantastic players leave us also, though. They have been hard for us to replace. It is a bit like England when all those players retired after the World Cup, you have to rebuild from the bottom again. Since our Heineken Cup win in 2000, we have lost Tim Rodber, Paul Grayson, Budge Pountney, Nick Beal, Matt Dawson…and the list goes on.
“We need to find some continuity, which has been hard with injuries to key players like Bruce (Reihana), Carlos Spencer and Jon Clarke. If we can get some belief back into the side, then we will be a lot stronger.”
It is noticeable that the teams that are prospering at club and international level have had a core squad for years. Ireland has had the same lot of players for as long as seven years, with a backbone of Ronan O’Gara, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, John Hayes and Malcolm O’Kelly.
It hasn’t just been players, but also coaches for Northampton that haven’t kept the same. Since the Heineken Cup win, they have employed John Steele, Wayne Smith, Alan Solomons, Budge Pountney and now Paul Grayson is at the helm. Almost one coach a season can’t be good for any club, let alone a struggling one.
“Having so many coaches over the past few years has been unsettling for the team. Each one brings with him a personal touch and style of play, which means we are constantly being set new goals for the way the team will be shaped.”
Cohen is supportive of his ex - team-mate and now the new man in charge: “Grays (Paul Grayson) has been left to pick up the pieces from all the other coaches, and it must be hard for a relatively new and inexperienced coach.
“Personally I like the way he does things, and I think what we need to do now is persevere with him, whether we are relegated or not. We need to help him with our playing performances.
“If we go down it is not down to him. He has done a great job under the circumstances.”
With the end of the season looming, surprisingly for Saints, relegation is not the only thing on their minds. European glory is in the offing with a semi-final coming up against Wasps in Coventry, and after Cohen played a vital part in thwarting Biarritz Olympique’s dazzling attack in San Sebastian, he is rightly proud.
“It is a great achievement for us,” he says, “With all that is going on in the league most people expected us to get battered in France. They were the favourites for the whole competition and we beat them. It gives us a lot of belief back in the league. It’s the confidence boost we needed and hopefully it can drive us off the bottom of the league table.”
With all the furore of possible European trophies and relegation on the lips of every green, black and gold supporter at the moment, it is testament to Ben Cohen’s stature at the club that his decade at the club hasn’t been overshadowed in any way.
Ticket sales for his testimonial dinner have gone through the roof, with hundreds of fans wanting to see their local hero yet again in the limelight.
The support isn’t unnoticed: “I have grown up supporting this club. It’s a fantastic place, with fantastic supporters and staff. I’m from around here so it feels great to have been at my club for ten years.
“I really appreciate everything that has been done for me here, the way the club have looked after me and the fans helped me, through the hard times like with my dad. I’ll always be thankful for that.”
From club to country, Cohen must now look forward to the next ten years, and what ups and downs might await him. His future, as always, is down to him.
A lot has happened in ten years. Tony Blair took over as boss of Britain, Manchester United won a football treble, fears about the Millennium Bug came and went, Cardiff built itself a new, world class stadium and disasters aplenty occurred in the shape of 9/11, New Orleans and the Tsunami. There have been ups and downs, peaks and troughs, good days and bad days.
As Ben Cohen celebrates his testimonial season with Northampton Saints he can look back on a decade in which he has visited the extremes of elation and the boundaries of utter despair.
A born-and-bred Northampton boy; the massive, shaven-haired winger makes a surprisingly unimposing figure as we sip tea surrounded by Saints’ fabulous, new, state-of-the-art stadium.
In his heights, Cohen was in a world beating England side, winning a Heineken Cup and starring for a Northampton Saints side knocking on the door of domestic triumph in the league and cup.
Cohen has also seen dark depths in the last decade too. None more so than the death of his father in November 2000, just nine months after his fiery international debut against Ireland, where he scored a brace of tries.
“I nearly gave up rugby that year,” Cohen remembers, “It was so hard to deal with the death of my dad, and it made nothing else seem important. It put rugby into perspective. But what it also did was made me come back stronger. I could enjoy my rugby more and it took a bit of the pressure off that I was always putting on myself.”
Cohen’s dad, Peter, had been involved in a nightclub incident and suffered fatal head injuries. For Cohen to pick himself up from that was going to be a challenge. He withdrew from the subsequent England squad to face Australia that autumn, before returning for England’s latest Six Nations blunder in 2001. The shining head of Keith Wood was enough to halt Cohen and his team-mates a Grand Slam in a competition halted by foot-and-mouth disease.
The millennium was definitely a professional success for ‘Big Ben’, a Powergen Cup final loss to Wasps being erased by a nerve-jangling 9-8 win over Munster in the Heineken Cup.
“That is definitely the high in my club playing career. Being at Saints has never been dull. We have been in finals in many of the seasons, and then when we haven’t been challenging for titles we have been battling relegation. It definitely isn’t quiet around here!”
In the last five or so years, Cohen has gone from being disputably the premier winger in the world to merely on the fringes of the national set-up. One of the first on the England team-sheet, he was a stalwart in the victorious England team of 2003. Along the way he has fought off competition from a menagerie of brilliant speedsters, including the likes of Dan Luger, James Simpson-Daniel and Austin Healey. So where did it all turn sour for the Northampton lad?
Cohen pulls no punches in his self-appraisal: “I just haven’t performed to the standard I want to be playing at. I have been really disappointed in my own performances this season just gone.
“I have been hit by some setbacks, such as an injury near the start of the season, and being dropped by England did affect me, I admit that. But it is up to me to get noticed again and get picked by Brian Ashton again.
“I need to concentrate on my own game for the rest of the season, and put all my effort into Northampton staying up, then in theory the international calls will follow.
“I know my game has been lacking, but I do think that I am good enough to be in the team. It is now my mission to get Brian (Ashton) to pick me- and time is running out for the World Cup.”
It will be tough to get back into the national side following encouraging displays from the likes of David Strettle, Mark Cueto at Sale and the returning Jason Robinson.
Nevertheless, in an indifferent season for the towering England winger, one great point is he claimed his 100th try for his club against Bristol.
“That game was brilliant. I had gone a couple of games on 99 tries, and the pressure was on to get the ton. That made it all the more nerve-wracking for me and then when I got it, it was absolutely fantastic.
“It was at home too and I remember the whole crowd cheering. I’ll never score that try again. It means I’ll have to get 200, hopefully that won’t take too long!”
If Cohen is damning about his own game during the 2006/07 campaign, he is just as so when talking about the way Saints have performed this term.
He agrees with many of his team-mates that the side hasn’t clicked this season, but defends comments from pal Matt Dawson that Franklin’s Gardens has become merely retirement home for Southern Hemisphere players.
“Look at the players we have brought in over the past few years from the Southern Hemisphere,” Cohen begins defiantly, “Bruce Reihana and Carlos Spencer have been electric in the backline, and the likes of Andrew Blowers and Corne Krige were superb for us during their stay.
“We have had a lot of fantastic players leave us also, though. They have been hard for us to replace. It is a bit like England when all those players retired after the World Cup, you have to rebuild from the bottom again. Since our Heineken Cup win in 2000, we have lost Tim Rodber, Paul Grayson, Budge Pountney, Nick Beal, Matt Dawson…and the list goes on.
“We need to find some continuity, which has been hard with injuries to key players like Bruce (Reihana), Carlos Spencer and Jon Clarke. If we can get some belief back into the side, then we will be a lot stronger.”
It is noticeable that the teams that are prospering at club and international level have had a core squad for years. Ireland has had the same lot of players for as long as seven years, with a backbone of Ronan O’Gara, Paul O’Connell, Brian O’Driscoll, John Hayes and Malcolm O’Kelly.
It hasn’t just been players, but also coaches for Northampton that haven’t kept the same. Since the Heineken Cup win, they have employed John Steele, Wayne Smith, Alan Solomons, Budge Pountney and now Paul Grayson is at the helm. Almost one coach a season can’t be good for any club, let alone a struggling one.
“Having so many coaches over the past few years has been unsettling for the team. Each one brings with him a personal touch and style of play, which means we are constantly being set new goals for the way the team will be shaped.”
Cohen is supportive of his ex - team-mate and now the new man in charge: “Grays (Paul Grayson) has been left to pick up the pieces from all the other coaches, and it must be hard for a relatively new and inexperienced coach.
“Personally I like the way he does things, and I think what we need to do now is persevere with him, whether we are relegated or not. We need to help him with our playing performances.
“If we go down it is not down to him. He has done a great job under the circumstances.”
With the end of the season looming, surprisingly for Saints, relegation is not the only thing on their minds. European glory is in the offing with a semi-final coming up against Wasps in Coventry, and after Cohen played a vital part in thwarting Biarritz Olympique’s dazzling attack in San Sebastian, he is rightly proud.
“It is a great achievement for us,” he says, “With all that is going on in the league most people expected us to get battered in France. They were the favourites for the whole competition and we beat them. It gives us a lot of belief back in the league. It’s the confidence boost we needed and hopefully it can drive us off the bottom of the league table.”
With all the furore of possible European trophies and relegation on the lips of every green, black and gold supporter at the moment, it is testament to Ben Cohen’s stature at the club that his decade at the club hasn’t been overshadowed in any way.
Ticket sales for his testimonial dinner have gone through the roof, with hundreds of fans wanting to see their local hero yet again in the limelight.
The support isn’t unnoticed: “I have grown up supporting this club. It’s a fantastic place, with fantastic supporters and staff. I’m from around here so it feels great to have been at my club for ten years.
“I really appreciate everything that has been done for me here, the way the club have looked after me and the fans helped me, through the hard times like with my dad. I’ll always be thankful for that.”
From club to country, Cohen must now look forward to the next ten years, and what ups and downs might await him. His future, as always, is down to him.
BUNAC Diary Entries
Whilst travelling, I have been supplying the British Universities North America Club (BUNAC) with regular diary entries.
To view an ongoing example of my writing, follow this link: http://www.bunac.org.uk/uk/workcanada/diary/GrahamReid.aspx
To view an ongoing example of my writing, follow this link: http://www.bunac.org.uk/uk/workcanada/diary/GrahamReid.aspx
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