Green Shirt Mush

 From Marseilles 23 years ago, wandering calmly clutching his pints onto a pin badge and sticker. Unintentional cultural icon. Green shirt mush. 

Subbuteo '94

World in Motion

It's quarter of a century to the day one of the greatest footie songs was released. And World in Motion had it all - an anti violence message sung by a band who were popular amongst the casual movement, World Cup song lyricsmith Fat Les aka England's Irie aka Keith Allen amongst the ranks, ray bans and those iconic 1990 England shirts, and, of course, John Barnes "unique" rap.

It remains a popular tune 25 years later, and usually pips Three Lions to number one spot when the music channels do their top World Cup songs every four years.

It could have been so different though. New Order were tricked into doing it by manager Tony Wilson, the Factory Records supremo claiming he'd been approached by the FA (he'd actually pleaded his bands cause to Lancaster Gate). Then the lyrics could've changed - the FA wanted 'loves' to be replaced by 'we've got the world in motion) and Allen wanted to play on the acid house scene at the time, calling the E is for England. And finally Barnes only taking his role after winning a rap off with Paul Gascoigne, Peter Beardsley and Steve McMahon. Imagine Gazza doing it? I mean it's pretty cringey now (albeit fucking deadly when you're drunk).

Best Football anthem ever though? Whether yes or no, band member Bernard Summer described it as "the last straw for Joy Division fans"...

Gascoigne (The Film)

Twenty-five years ago today World Cup Italia 90 kicked off, giving England's most gifted, yet flawed, midfield genius stroke madman a platform to perform (in more ways than one). After some iconic displays of dazzling skills, self destructive tackles and child like tears, a quarter of a century later Gascoigne the film is in cinemas for one night only. The legend's story - in his own words. It's going to be emotional.

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.

West Auckland Town vs. Hartlepool United

West Auckland. The home of the first World Cup winners. Twice. And they love to go on about it - the road sign as you arrive at the town proudly tells you. For any of you who don't know the tale, Thomas Lipton's dream was to create a international trophy and he did so in 1909 - inviting the best from Italy (Torino), Switzerland (Winterthur) Germany (Stuttgart) and, inventors of the sport, England - a club version forerunner of what would eventually become the World Cup. When it come to the choice of the finest team in England, legend has it, he couldn't remember the name of the best club but knew their initials were 'W' 'A' - thus a band of coal mining part timers from County Durham were invited along... First Division Woolwich Arsenal would have to wait a bit longer for European competition.

If that sounds ridiculous, what happened next sounds like myth. West Auckland turned up at the competition, having borrowed, begged and pawned to raise funds, and promptly won it - 2-0 in semis to Stuttgart and by the same scoreline in the final to Winterthur. They returned home heroes.

The myth then turns fairytale when the club were invited back in 1911 to defend their crown. And did so with aplomb. Winning the semis by a now familiar 2-0 score (vs FC Zurich), they then trounced Juventus 6-1 in the final. Mr Lipton said they could keep the trophy, but a few years later the financial implications of the traveling abroad hit home and the club sold anything it could to keep afloat - including the trophy. The eventually got it back in the 70s, only for it for be stolen in a burglary on the clubhouse in 1994. It's never been found.

The Town, and indeed the the club, seems stuck in a timezone well before 1994. A glorified pit village situated on the edge of the Pennines feels like the edge of humanity - if you go beyond it you've drop off the the world. Saying that I use the term 'humanity' quite loosely - my Durham City supporting pal was recounting tales of chew on with the West locals when visiting with the Citizens. And as we took up our place on the terrace with the West hardcore we noticed a few curious stares as kick off approached.

I always enjoy Durham Cup games (despite the fact it's usually youth/reserve level for Pools) as it's cheap, ensures a visit to a ramshackle Northern League ground and it's always under the lights. This time though excitement was at fever pitch as Marlon Harewood was starting (plus a few other first teamers) with a couple of trialists.

The game was fairly even, worryingly as this was supposedly a strong Pools line up, with United probably edging it on chances created. Dutch left winger trialist Sidney Schmeltz, formerly of Oldham, showed some good pace and low crossing, but big striker Harewood fluffed a handful of decent chances that he really should have put away. West broke away late in the half after a poor back pass and former Durham striker Stephen 'Speedie' Richardson coolly slotted home.

Half time and we walked behind the other goal, proving what a lonely existence being a Pools fan can be at these ties - we were the only ones at that end. Our blind loyalty (or stupidity) was rewarded three minutes after the restart when Harewood sprung the offside trap and converted a one on one right in front of us. A congratulatory message of 'Get the fuck in lad' was returned with a 'cheers mate' from the big man, which delighted me even further.

The game descended into a end to end type affair, but by end I mean the edge of the 18 yard area, with neither side really looking like taking the initiative. The pitch certainly didn't help, with upwardly rising slopes at either end - the only time I've seen a match played in a semi circle. As extra time approached a Pools defender was penalized for handball, Alex Francis stepped up from 30 yards and scored one of those free kicks that your side never seems to score -  a pile drived curler right into the upright. Unstoppable. It may have been only for the next round of the Durham Cup, but that free kick would have been worthy of winning the World Cup. Unfortunately for West Auckland, it's unlikely they'll get invited along again...

Roy Race's World Cup

With England long gone by the time most second group games kicked off, I was prompted to seek some England glory elsewhere. This came in the form of the parallel universe that England's greatest striker we never had plyed his trade - namely Roy of the Rovers.

This annual is a collection of those World Cup moments from the Roy of the Rovers comic strip - from the black and white originals were Race (and by default Melchester Rovers and England) never lost, right through to the more realistic 90s, when Roy was managing England B, with the press and fan pressure it brought. Naturally he still won the tournament.

Mundial

Mundial magazine. A one off mag that celebrates everything good about the world cup - the clobber, the stickers, the underdogs, the memories and even the dopey mascots.

Has to be said I thought this magazine, despite being produced by the likes of STAND, Proper and CC, would be (like most of the tournaments England have taken part in) a bit disappointing. The hype surrounding the mag, like any World Cup the Three Lions enter, was unbelievable and I didn't think Mundial could live up it, even with the list of credible contributors.

But I'm literally blown away by it, it's as satisfying as a Scotland defeat to Costa Rica. Only 2014 copies world wide which are each named after a player from World Cup history. I've landed 1315 Toni Turek. A German keeper from days of old. Disappointed it wasn't Gazza. But he did make an appearance in the excellent CC/Peter O'Toole collectors cards, twice. And unlike Gazza there'll only be tears of joy with this mag.