Pick Gers

My pal Cam is a die hard Gers fan. Never had him down as a photographer but loved these pics he snapped at recent Rangers away games at QotS and Cowdenbeath. Sums up football from yesteryear, travelling hoardes, standing room only and crumbling stadia - football as it should be.

Loaded Icons

 Loaded has had many iconic covers in its time, but many of my favourite icons have appeared on the front of the lads favourite. Here's a few...

Football Italia

Goooooalazzzzzo!

Anyone who remembers that iconic goal shout will remember channel fours biggest sporting achievement - bringing glamerous Italian Serie A football to terrestrial television sets.

It's actually only been seven years since the Football Italia programne finished in 2008 (2002 on C4), but it seems longer as it was far removed from it's mid 90s heyday.

Back then it had everything. Saturday mornings the suave James Richardson sat crossed legged enjoying a leisurely alfresco breakfast whilst dissecting the Italian sports pages for us. Interviews with world class players plying their trade in the then best league on earth. And then goal round ups from previous weekend, with seemingly all involving high skill and/or spectacular finishing.

Sunday afternoons really were Super Sundays, free televised full match of something like the Milan derby. No Stoke v Hull being billed as 'Super' and charging £40 a month.

There'd often be a few ex pats on display as English geniuses like Gascoigne, Platt, Ince and, er, Dorigo left our dull old game to put their wits against Maradona, Baggio, Vialli, Maldini, Zola et al. Pundetry would be Mr cool again, Richardson, but Italian football connoisseurs like Paul Heaton and Elvis Costello would occasionally show up to provide their expertry.

The fans were unreal too. Far left and far right and seldom in between, cauldrons of noise, flares and flags. Support taken to ultra level.

Pink strips. Never seen those before. Palmero and Juventus (away) proudly trotting out in 'salmon'. Cool. Fiorentina sponsored by Nintendo. And their away kit with the Nazi swastika hidden in it. Squad numbers in the 30s and 40s was a foreign concept too given the English football league was still using 1-11.

In short mid 90s Italian footie had glamour, class, wealth and style. And it was all epitomised by Football Italia. Bellissimo.

Harvest From The Deep

New magazine venture produced by some North Shields connoisseurs. Sport, fashion, music and the simple things in life. And it's northern. Out soon.

Watch this rather amusing space @hftdmagazine for more deets.

Pegg and Frost

By evilcorp.tv 

 

Dressed to Kill

Finally sourced a copy of Dressers. Cracking read, with some honest and unexaggerated accounts of Motherwell's finest going toe to toe with Aberdeen and Hibs etc. However really enjoyed the extensive clobber section towards the rear. Thought I'd share some of the pages for those who haven't read this cult gem.

Ince Ready For War

Found him in a charity shop for ten bob and thought I'd rejuvenate him to his blood and guts battling best.

You'd think that with a full time job, two small kids to raise, a holiday to pay for and the threat of eviction looming, I'd have better things to do. But apparently not.