SPORTING TIMES WELL PLAYED, BOYS!

WYVERN PLACE THIRD AGAINST OVER 20 SCHOOLS IN COUNTY RUGBY TOURNAMENT

By Joshua Devereux

As the morning sunshine grew over Rugby club, Mr McCracken and Mr Mitchell and their Wyvern team set out for their first event as a team for a while. After having pooled Bay House, Westgate and Bitterne Park in their group, the Wyvern team stepped out onto to the pitch under the captaincy of Cormac Oliver ahead of their first match against Bayhouse.

After a brief conversation with the ref about rules and regulations, the to the winger left a two on one Devereux saw a lineout on the rugby was underway with Wyvern situation which was impossible for corner flag. It was well caught by kicking to Bayhouse. The game Harry Kemp to sort out despite a Toby Wolverson and the combined started well for both sides and there good effort and this saw the winger braun power of him and Jack was some great rugby from either dot down over the try line. But Devereux saw Wyvern edge towards team. It was Bayhouse who took an straight away, Wyvern equalised; a the try line but some illegal play early lead though, some hands down good kick from fly-half Joshua from the Bayhouse lock saw a Turn to Page 2... EXTRA! EXTRA! READ ALL ABOUT IT! Year 9 Boys Football Team win District Tournament at Mountbatten School! Full Story on Page 8!

1 Rugby THIRD IN COUNTY TOURNAMENT

Wyvern continued their morning dominance through to the afternoon games as they managed to claim third place after being put into the death pool with all the mornings group winners.

...Continuing from Page 1 However, Westgate were on for a they went into the afternoon fightback. Having dummied half of the unbeaten. penalty try awarded to the boys in red Wyvern team, Westgate’s scrum half After a brief lunch, news spread that and blue. Both teams reset but it scored the try and with minutes left we had pooled Houndsdown, wasn’t too long before Wyvern were at Westgate were on the attack. After a Arnewood, Springfield and Tiffs in our it again. A sensational run from Adam controversial decision, Westgate group as they were all the other group Kenway saw him break away to race scored another try to level the scores winners. Having known that these towards the try line for Wyverns in what resulted as a 10-10 score line. upcoming matches would be very second score of the match. This put Although they thought that they had hard, we began to warm up ahead of Wyvern 10-5 up. Minutes later Wyvern just been robbed of a victory, Wyvern some really tough challenges yet to sealed the deal with another try. A had to reset their mind-sets and get come. fabulous dummy by Jack Devereux left ready for the next match against the Bayhouse defence confused and We were on first and with the team Bitterne Park. With a pretty unchanged stranded as he comfortably scored the consisting of Cormac Oliver, Harry team Wyvern scored the first try very try for a 15-5 win for Wyvern. Kemp, Harry Mann and Kye Donovan quickly and it was through Adam Lyn, we looked quite strong to begin Despite a few things needing sorting Kenway once again. Shortly afterwards with. However, Arnewood began to out, Mr McCracken was pretty happy Harry Mann was in for another try for play some very good rugby and this led with the performance but there was Wyvern as he ran from his own half to to them scoring two successive tries. no time to hold hands and kiss as score his first try of the tournament. Despite some Wyvern heads dropping, Wyvern were shortly on again against Wyvern were playing some fantastic Adam Kenway’s head certainly didn’t one of the favourites, Westgate. Grant rugby through the likes of Toby as he scored a very good try which Aitken and Sam Foster were some of Wolverson, Billy Terry and Harry Kemp lifted the spirits of the Wyvern boys. the changes brought on for Wyvern at and their dominance was soon The score stood at 10-5 Arnewood but centre and prop. Wyvern started the rewarded with another try for Adam then two quick tries from the boys in game very well and the match quickly Kenway, his fifth of the event. His brown left the Wyvern lads battered. saw its first try. Some great passing 100m ability evident with his Even in the last few seconds, some from Cormac Oliver, Harry Mann and electrifying speed. To wrap up a outstanding tackling from Wyvern Kye Donovan Lyn saw the ball drop to sensational -4 0 victory, some great reduced what could have been a Adam Kenway; if you’d blinked you rucking from Alfie Hennon, George bigger deficit. The final score resulting would have missed him go straight Milton and Harvey Irwin saw Jack as 20-5 to Arnewood. over the try line for the first points on Devereux perform one of his tactical the scoreboard. A great catch from dummies once again and left several After a word with coach Mr Sam Foster at the restart and having Bitterne players flabbergasted and McCracken, it was quicker than we taken it into the tackle the ruck was kicked forward. After several attempts realised until we were on again. With dominated by Alfie Hennon, Davey of kicking the ball away from the Captain Cormac Oliver nursing a little Smith and George Milton. Harry Mann Bitterne Park full-back, a lucky bounce niggle, Josh Devereux took over the as scrum half played the ball down the saw Number 8 Jack Devereux dot kicking and Wyvern kicked to nd line and Adam Kenway scored once down over the try line. The final Houndsdown in their 2 match of the again thanks to his dazzling speed. whistle went 4-0 Wyvern and it meant afternoon. The game began a little

2 slow to what others might have match beginning, Kye Donovan Lyn and George Milton in the second-row thought but Houndsdown were in for dotted down over the try line. Some with Grant Aiken coming in at scrum- their 1st try of the match. It came from great hands down the left hand side half. The match began with a bang, some lovely hands down the line and left the wingers in acres of room to Adam Kenway scoring another great the ball dropped to the Houndsdown score Wyvern’s first try of the match. individual try with his ’Usain Bolt’ winger who sprinted over the line Shortly, after it was thanks to some speed. Wyvern were pretty dominant despite some good defence from more great passing from Josh throughout the entire game and their winger Harry Kemp. Meanwhile, Devereux and Cormac Oliver which defence proved very strong with the Wyvern were determined not to let gave Adam Kenway room to score his likes of Harry Mann and Jack Devereux Houndsdown score another but 8th try of the tournament. Despite making some superb tackles. But despite some fantastic try-saving having support from Harry Kemp on sooner rather than later, the next try tackles from Kye Donovan Lyn, Adam the outside, Kenway didn’t need him. for Wyvern came. Some great play Kenway and Harry Mann, Houndsdown With Wyvern 10-0 up with minutes from Jack Devereux relying on pure were able to score another try. But this left, they sealed the deal with another brawn to bulldoze his way through the ended up being the final score which great try from centre Adam Kenway. Tiffs defence and unselfishly popping stood at 10-0 Houndsdown. The match resulted in a superb victory the ball to fly-half Josh Devereux for for Wyvern 15-0. his first score of the tournament. The Even though we hadn’t won a game in result was 10-0 Wyvern. Some the afternoon yet, our hopes were all The final game of Wyvern’s successful fantastic rugby on show to finish off a but over as the team we were tournament was against Tiffs. After fantastic day of rugby. scheduled to face next had just been strong performances in their previous given a battering by Houndsdown. games, this was a battle for 3rd place in Player of the Tournament: With combined ideas of Mr Mitchell the tournament. Wyvern set out a and Mr McCracken, we set out a very strong team with some changes from Adam Kenway strong team and within seconds of the the previous couple. Fabian Luc Petzer By Joshua Devereux

A fantastic team effort from the Year 9 rugby team led by Mr McCracken and Mr Mitchell

3 Football BLUE MOON RISING

Eight years on from the club’s historic takeover, avid Manchester City fan Zack Duthie explores the meteoric rise of the blue side of Manchester in his debut feature for Sporting Times. Man United fans… Look away now!

Now coveted as one of the elite pound bid that matched the another shock transfer but this teams in the , supremacy of their neighbours time leaving the club; it was the Manchester City are ‘expected’ to Manchester United, who had just manager Mark Hughes. As far as win at least one piece of completed a last-minute deadline the board were concerned, he silverware a year. With the top day deal for striker Dimitar had done his time at the club and players and managers that should Berbatov from Tottenham for it was time for him to move on be an easy task. But top players over £30m. You probably couldn’t and for City to employ a trophy- and managers don’t come cheap find a City fan that wasn’t happy winning manager with real these days with spending at City with the signing of Robinho. He pedigree. totalling at £565,650,000 since brought a new style of play to Replacing him was Roberto Sheik Mansour took over. That’s Manchester City; an attacking and Mancini, a man who had proved 51 Lamborghini Aventadors! I’m stylish appearance to their play. himself in Italy and was ready for sure City would have loved that And other players followed, all the challenge of the Premier kind of money back when they signed during the Mark Hughes League. His first season started were battling for promotion into era. Bellamy. Lescott. Tevez. with an incredible FA Cup final League 1 back in the late 80s-90s. Adebayor. De Jong. Toure (Kolo, win over Stoke City. And the second season ended with that not Yaya). All proven Premier It is just amazing how a team amazing “Aguerooooooooooo” League talent eager to become a about 10-15 years ago were goal making Manchester City struggling for points to now, part of the City project. Just a history and securing them their when they are winning titles, year after Robinho was signed, first league title in 44 years. It games and trophies. It just goes to show how much money can change a football team or “AGUEROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!” anything really. This is the meteoric rise of Manchester City! Sheikh Mansour has almost single handily brought Manchester city in to the big time. Mansours reign began with the shock signing of Robinho, arguably one of the best footballers around at the time in 2008. It was a rival multi-million

4 wasn’t just the fact that they won two Capital One Cups and reached own style of football; a style of the league; it was also the way the Champions League semi-final. football like no other. It is a mix of they did it. With 5 games to go I think that Pellegrini would still ‘tiki taka’ and playing out to the they were 9 points behind be at Manchester City had it not wings. It’s a strange one but it Manchester United so it was as been for the news that came out seems to work for him. He is also much United’s mistakes as it was late 2015 that Guardiola would be a proven winner as he has won 21 City’s great recovering form. The leaving Bayern Munich and joining titles in seven years… INCREDIBLE! goal was incredible with Balotelli Manchester City. It was after that That’s why I’m sure that he is the getting his only assist for City, news that City’s formed dipped right man to take the City job setting up Aguero. But it wasn’t all and they seemed to lose the right now. He will bring new times smiles. He had some downs as passion and desire. City needed a to this club; times that it deserves well as ups, such as when Mario change! But his spell wasn’t all after living in the shadow of Balotelli played up on several bad, and it’s important to note Manchester United. Their time is occasions causing a lot of that Pellegrini currently has had full of potential. A time when disruption in the dressing room. the highest win percentage for a Manchester City can finally prove City manager EVER!!! they are a big club that can The Pellegrini era came next. It compete with the best teams in was a time of ups and downs too. Now, we’re at the time of Pep Europe. City scored loads of goals and won Guardiola. A time that is just quite a few trophies in his time. beginning. He is arguably the best By Zack Duthie They won the Premier League, manager in the world. He has his

Manchester City’s Etihad Campus: a ground-breaking, £200m feat in football training and development

5 Swimming “Just Keep Swimming!”

In her debut feature for Sporting Times, Erin Keenan dives deep-down underwater to unearth her love of swimming...

Well, swimming makes me feel free. to swim. It’s been amazing so far. only spent one lesson in the first It helps me to push all the nasty group, I expect I was only in there for I enjoy swimming because it helps things away and really enjoy myself. one lesson because I was strong and me understand some things in life. It Swimming is kind of passion for me. confident and also the teachers also helps me exercise; so say I ate a Some days I’d want to do it but some wanted me in the upper group pizza before that lesson, then when I days I don’t. Some days I am stressed because I didn’t need much help in go to that lesson… then swimming and grumpy. I don’t want to go but if the hour of that lesson. will burn all the fat I just gained. It I feel extremely happy then I’d go to also tones the majority of the I recommend swimming lessons or enjoy myself. muscles in your body. I mean, how just swimming in general because it’s My experience with swimming is that many sports can you think of that do good for your health. It’s also I have been with all sorts of that? exercise. People should do swimming teachers, I’ve been with swimming because not only is it Personally, I like swimming, I go horrible teachers who have kept me important but it’s also great fun and because I want to be a confident in that teacher’s group for at least a it helps you learn so you don’t swimmer and I want to be strong like year. I have also been with teachers drown. Ellie Simmonds, one of the most who have only kept me in that group famous swimmers in the world. In my opinion everybody should for a week. In the days I’ve been in learn to swim. swimming lessons I’ve grown a lot of When I started swimming it was in confidence and improved my ability 2012 when I was in year three and I By Erin Keenan

Ellie Simmonds OBE is a four-time Paralympic champion

Did you know? The most popular swimming stroke is Front Crawl.

6 Skateboarding TEENAGE KICKFLIPS

In her debut feature for Sporting Times, Victoria MacLennan shares her passion for skateboarding… Flippin’ marvellous!

It seems that today children and that all over California surfers tried faster and cooler than a skateboard so teenagers are on their BMXs and bikes surfing on land. They wanted most celebrities lost a lot of fame and but what ever happened to something similar to surfing to do on their personal relationship to the skateboarding? Whenever I go to the land when the waves were flat. I guess sport. skate park I am introduced to a whole a lot of people got the idea at the same My personal relationship with the different community of people. time, or maybe skateboarding had sport started when I saw people doing Whether they’re board grinding or previously been invented in an earlier tricks on their boards in the park. Since simply just hanging out, one thing all of time period. then I have picked up a few tricks like us have in common is our love for board sliding and dropping in on the However, skateboarding was created skateboarding. In this article I will tell ramps. My dream of being able to drop one thing is for sure the peak of its you what happens in this community in on the really high ramps and also popularity was in the eighties when a and how it was created. inspire more female skaters to come new talent was on the table; Tony out and have fun in the skate parks. If Personally I love skateboarding and Hawk. Most of you have probably you want to get into skateboarding a have been doing it for a couple of heard of Tony Hawk. In the eighties, good local place to go is Knowle Park years and always love cruising around fans referred to him as the greatest because it’s local and the ramps are on my board, so much that I decided skateboarder ever. He has even had not too high and also remember that that I wanted to know more about the PlayStation games named after him in the fear of falling is worse than falling. However, there are many more across sport. Did you know that skate the 90s. Nowadays, he is just a name Southampton, including Hoglands Park, boarding was created in the 1950s in that used to be famous. What Bitterne Park, and Totton Skatepark. California by…? Exactly… No one happened? Well when BMX bikes and knows! The most common theory is quad bikes came out they were newer By Victoria MacLennan

In his prime, pro skater Tony Hawk performed in front of thousands of skateboarding fans across the globe

7 Football TWO-TIME DISTRICT CHAMPIONS!

With an introduction from Wyvern football coach Mr Watson, team captain and goalkeeper Keenan Hunt shares his experiences of winning this prestigious tournament at Mountbatten for the second year running...

Fantastic news! We had 3 opposition schools: to keep our hopes alive of More success in football for this Westgate School, Perins School winning the whole tournament. year group, with thirteen Year 9 and the hosts, Mountbatten During the match, we started boys winning the Mountbatten School. We had to play each team strongly with a fantastic free-kick Tournament on 16th November twice so had a total of six games. from Harry Stevens. We led for 2016! The boys played We started of the tournament a most of the game until the very fantastically well and were a bit slow with a 0-0 draw to end, a last minute goal from credit to the college with the Westgate but then came alive in Mountbatten out of nowhere manner in which they approached the second game to beat the resulting in a -1 1 draw. A each game and the effort they hosts 1-0 thanks to a great goal disappointing result but we still gave throughout the whole from Dan Assadi. were favourites to win the tournament. Below is an extract Next up were Perins; a game with tournament, only needing a win from the captain for the day many chances but also ended to take the trophy home. Keenan Hunt, describing how goalless. At this point, we had to However, if we failed to win, events unfolded leading to play every school once and Westgate would have only Wyvern eventually winning the therefore we were up against needed a win to snatch it from us tournament. Westgate for a second time. They right at the end. proved to be our toughest So it all came down to the final Well-deserved and congratulations! Enjoy the opponents so far, but we came game and once again a goalless medals. out on top thanks to Tristan draw with Perins ended our Heaton-Wright with the only goal tournament as the only unbeaten Heading to the tournament we to snatch a 1-0 win. Due to the team throughout the whole had good vibes. The team we had win against Westgate, our next tournament. Mountbatten had to were full of great players and I game became important against beat Westgate for us to become knew we were going to do well. Mountbatten, with a win needed champions, and they did just that with a surprising 2-0 win. The Wyvern Year 9 Football Team pictured with the prestigious tournament trophy Wyvern won the Mountbatten tournament for the 2nd year running thanks to great management by Mr Watson and team work from the boys. As Captain, my player of the tournament is Tristian Heaton- Wright for creating loads of counter attacks and goal scoring opportunities.

Match Report by Keenan Hunt Introduction by Mr Watson

8 Football SIMS STARS AS SAINTS EDGE EVERTON

A MOTM performance from newbie Josh Sims ensured his side took all three points from Everton who had recorded only one victory in eight Premier League games! A pretty miserable return for Ronald Koeman!

After their disappointing loss to Sparta the ball over the crossbar finding row Z. youngster played in Charlie Austin at the Prague in the Europa League, back post who was just inches away from Southampton were constantly piling on the Southampton made six changes to their getting his second of the night. pressure but once again, another great side bringing in Cedric Soares, Captain Jose chance fell to Everton; a lovely waited ball Southampton maintained their brutal Fonte and at the back in in from the right flank found Ross Barkley dominance in the game and almost had place of Cuco Martina, Maya Yoshida and only for the Evertonians’ fan favourite to another. A fantastic ball in from the right Sam McQueen. In midfield, head the ball well wide of the hand side to found Charlie Austin whose and debutant Josh Sims come in for Jordy Southampton goal. The rest of the 1st half powerful header was fantastically saved by Clasie and Jay Rodriguez whilst upfront was just a patience test as the ball was former Saint Martin Stekelenberg, denying Charlie Austin started instead of Shane constantly being passed around by either Southampton a second and keeping the Long. side looking for a goal. deficit at 1-0. Everton however, after their 1-1 draw with Half-Time: Southampton 1-0 Everton. Despite Southampton’s constant search for Swansea, only made one change; bringing nd a second, Everton were eager to get a in Gareth Barry for James McCarthy in The 2 half started as the first ended. leveller. Pressure began to mount on midfield. Everton boss Ronald Koeman was Instantly, both sides trying to find a goal. Southampton and shots were being taken back at his club and if he was hoping for a But it was Southampton who brought the at the home side’s goal. Each shot was nice reception, he certainly didn’t get one! next save. Some great build up by the rebounding off bodies in the Southampton Referee Craig Pawson brought both teams Saints saw a shot from James Ward-Prowse penalty box but superb blocks kept the out onto the glorious St Marys turf infront spill with Charlie Austin there to pounce. score at 1-0 Southampton. With the final of 31,000 fans and the game was soon After taking it around the keeper, Charlie whistle edging ever closer the home fans underway. Austin played the ball in to an unmarked called for the full time whistle. Finally, after James Ward-Prowse who wasted the Southampton started the better team and some tense nail-biting, the referee blew his opportunity. instantly gained possession from a poor whistle. Another defeat under Ronald Everton kick-off. Good link up play from Meanwhile, there were more and more Koeman whilst Southampton continued to Hojberg and Cedric Soares saw the ball chances coming for Southampton. A climb up the table. delivered into the 18-yard box where the fantastic run by Josh Sims from inside his Final Score: Southampton 1-0 Everton. ball fell to Josh Sims. He simply put it on a own half right through to the penalty area. plate for Charlie Austin who dispatched the After holding the ball up well, the By Joshua Devereux ball into the back of the net. Just 43 seconds was on the clock, one of Southampton’s quickest recorded goals breaking the deadlock, giving the Saints a 1 -0 lead. A first Premier League assist for Josh Sims.

It almost got even better for the 19 year- old when the ball was crossed in from the left flank and Sims found himself unmarked in the 18-yard box only to strike the ball right at Stekelenburg. Southampton’s dominance was still growing but it was Everton who had their chance on goal. A lovely ball in from Seamus Coleman saw the ball drop to Idrissa Gueye who skied Sims makes light work of Toffees centre-back, Ashley Williams

9 Comment THE TEACHERS TALK SPORT Wyvern teachers and staff share their favourite sporting memories and achievements... out on a Friday after a gruelling let one by him, before Mr Whitehouse controlled assessment catch-up could (hey, he doesn’t teach at Wyvern, No Holds hear the shouts drifting off the MUGA. that’s not fair) rifled a second home. Some would even stop to watch, their fingers clawing the mesh of the MUGA Things were looking bad for the Baa- fence, hoping to spot the rare sight of Baas. Mr Eldridge had been stopping Baaaa-ed! a Weaver goal, or just mesmerised by everything in goal. He was like a bald Kerslake’s giraffe-like legs. gorilla, beating his chest in triumph By Mr Langdon until a floated cross from Gregory was And it was marvellous. But only for a met with a glancing header from If you want my honest assessment, bit. Soon people cried for more. Just Langdon which found the back of the staff football had grown old and stale kicking a ball about on a Friday wasn’t net. The comeback was on. And you by 2013. Metaphorically, the level of enough. We needed a new challenge. could see the pressure had got to competition had deteriorated to a How about one person picks his best Postlethwaite when he handled in the lonely child repeatedly kicking a ball to MUGA team and plays the rest? Great area. To everyone’s surprise, the himself against the side of a garage idea. Who should captain this team? person nobody really wanted on their wall on a rainy day. Sure, the small The newest, youngest member of staff. team strode up to take the penalty and made no mistake. Good on you, child was a 6 foot 3 inch tall English Langdon. and Media teacher, but you get the Clayton. idea. Apparently one Friday after And so it happened. On a cold day in With blind panic fuelling their every school, the only people that turned up January, the Barbarians took to the move, the Spartans rushed forward in to play were Mr Short and Mr MUGA to face the rest, the Spartans. I the hopes of turning the tide. But it Postlethwaite and they got so tired of picked my team like this: Lines was all in vain. With only minutes to waiting for more friends, they had to (dependable), Gregory (little but go, Zealander latched onto a loose ball eat a cone and some MUGA crumb to skilful), McCracken (angry), Zealander at the back post to make it 3-2. And to keep them occupied. (sneaky), Atkins (machine-like), Carey everyone’s surprise, the first one (beardy) Kerslake (finisher), Clayton wasn’t a total fluke for Clayton as he But, as luck should have it, 2014 was (don’t know, he just turned up). to be a vintage year. Mr Lines arrived, drilled in the Baa-Baas’ fourth. It was as did Mr Dickinson, and yours truly. But things didn’t go well. Before we over, and history had been made. Suddenly, the MUGA was alive with knew it, we were two goals down. And this was the greatest sporting competition again. Students trudging Gregory proved too little in goal and moment of my life.

AFC Wyvern following another highly competitive Barbarians vs. Spartans fixture

10 and unsettle opposing teams. Such The fifteen men in white seemed to England Vs. was the fury and passion inspired by grow in stature and for eighty the Haka that many teams - like the minutes they played with fiery poor Scots just the weekend before - intensity and icy precision. Any time New Zealand were a broken outfit even before the the red roses wilted, the strains of referee’s first whistle. ‘Swing Low’ poured again from the By Mr Lines eighty-thousand-as-one. On this occasion though, there was th the hint of rebellion and bulldog Who scored in England’s magnificent Twickenham. 27 November 1993. resilience in the air. This Twickenham victory? I couldn’t tell you. I can tell A slate grey sky. A forbidding crowd would not allow the home you though, that I have never cauldron. An historic afternoon for team to be bullied and belittled. As experienced such an adrenalin- England Rugby. the first strains of the haka were fuelled environment at any sporting bellowed, so the chorus of ‘Swing low event. It was the perfect wave of The visitors? The Mighty All Blacks: a Sweet Chariot’ surged from the athleticism and talent; confrontation team crammed with legendary and throats of 80,000 Englishmen. and defiance; and sheer, unbridled iconic players. Amongst their Whether the All Blacks were daunted, passion! numbers, the archetypal behemoth or spurred to new menace, it was on the wing: Inga Tuigamala. hard to see as the venerable old Bad luck New Zealand. Bravo England. And Inga the Winger it was who stadium was rattled by the Encore Twickenham! would lead the Blacks in their reverberations of the roar. Vision was intimidating Haka. The war chants blurred, flesh goose-bumped and When can their glory fade? had evolved over the recent decades English hearts super-charged. Oh the wild chant they made! from an embarrassing dad-dance into The All-Black’s Inga Tuigamala a menacing spectacle to undermine Noble and faithful!

As a PE teacher living and working about 20 miles Towers loomed ever larger. The sun went down My Journey: West of London I was engrossed in Euro ’96 like and natural light started to fade. Floodlights most of the country. We actually had a wonderful gradually shone ever brighter and the atmosphere From Ewood Park to team blessed with the likes of Alan Shearer, Paul created by 80,000 fans was electric. Wembley Stadium Gascoigne and the current England manager I will never forget singing the National Anthem Gareth Southgate. followed by the Three Lions Anthem. It was one of By Mr Stocks Could we actually win? ‘30 years of hurt’ was the those ‘you had to be there’ moments. battle cry from Baddiel and Skinner. My recollection of the game is not particularly

Tickets to the England games were few and far great, but the defining moment came during extra As a child, like most of the lads at my school, I was between and when we reached the semi-final, to time. With the score at 1-1 and with the ‘Golden football mad, and like them I wanted to be a play Germany, the hype was unbelievable. Goal’ rule in operation for the first time in a major professional footballer and follow in the footsteps It really was a Willy Wonka ‘Golden Ticket’ competition it really was nail biting stuff. of Simon Garner, Noel Brotherston and Glenn moment when a friend (a fellow PE teacher I With 12 minutes of extra time left the ball was Keeley. trained with at University) phoned saying he had knocked across the penalty box by Shearer and acquired 2 tickets for the match the following day Gazza slid in. To this day when I watch it on and did I want to go? What a ridiculous question! YouTube or highlights programmes I still think he is In lessons the following day students and staff going to get a toe on it. were green with envy and this was accentuated by Sadly not, and the rest, as they say, is history. the fact the team were staying at Burnham Gareth Southgate missed the final penalty and we Beeches hotel, less than 10 miles from us. A went out 6-5 on pens with the Germans going on number of the students would wait outside the to beat the Czech Republic in the final. hotel to wave them off before each game. Our train journey home was surreal. An eerie Expectation prior to the game was massive. silence. Travelling to the game was fantastic. As we I can only dream of having had the opportunity changed from one train to the next and onto the Gazza had that night and as a reasonable left tube the number of England fans grew and winger in my day I wonder if I would have Blackburn’s Noel Brotherston in action everyone had a view on who should be playing, converted that chance… Dream on. tactics etc. All in all, a night I will never forget. We walked down Wembley Way and the Twin Who, I hear you cry! Clearly not a football fan then! These players were part of the Blackburn Rovers The moment Gazza almost took England to the Euro ‘96 final against the Czech Republic… team of 1982 and sporting legends in my eyes. As a season ticket holder that year I went to every home game with my father and there was nothing more special than watching a live match at Ewood Park. Standing on the perimeter fencing to get a better view; the rush of fans when a goal scoring opportunity presented itself (normally slotted home by Garner!) the smell of Bovril…. Some things you can’t forget. I particularly loved evening games and as I played more in the years to come there was something special about playing or watching games under floodlights. From long shadows cast across the pitch, to steam rising off the player’s backs, to sliding tackles on a greasy surface. Happy memories. Sadly, as I went to Secondary School it was obvious I was never going to make it as a professional footballer, but I did become a PE Teacher. Not a bad substitute - if you will excuse the pun. Fast forward to the Summer of 1996...

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