Summer Football . . . .

Hello All ,

Well, the World Cup has gone and it's pre-season time already. It's been wonderful that so many teams have come over to the States . . . including our beloved United.

What's been pleasing for me living here in the States is that the teams have given a really creditable display. Philly were quite impressive against United. We recorded the Red Bulls' game against Spurs . . . don't tell me how they went on!

It's been pleasing to hear that F.I.F.A, under the auspices of the legend in his own mind Herr Blatter, have finally caved in and decided to extend the experiment with extra officials behind the goals for the Champions League.

The time for change is NOW. We really do need technology to help officials. Extra officials is a start, but in 2010 we have the technology to get replays instantaneously. The extra official can watch the video and communicate with the referee. It's not rocket science! There's too much money at stake today for this not to happen. I'm not saying this as a disgruntled Englishman! Having said that, England didn't deserve anything from their performance . . . anyhow, that's all done and dusted now, time to forget the World Cup - oh, one last thing, vuvuzuelas: good in South Africa, not good in England!

If anyone thinks that football is this big, corporate event that has strayed too far from its traditional working class roots, the New York Times recently ran an article featuring photographs taken by a Belgian born photographer called Jessica Hilltout. She took pictures all over Africa of children playing football. The photographs really made me wish they had a bigger platform - time for me to write this blog! I'll post a link to it soon. Like I say, her name is Jessica Hilltout. Another thing to check out - maybe via Youtube, is "The Lost World of Mitchell and Kenyon". This is a wonderful DVD we have celebrating working class life in England at the beginning of the 20th century. It shows footage of people coming out of factories at 12 noon and goingto the match - that's why the traditional English kick-off time is 3pm. More later.

See you next time and enjoy your football - it is the people's game!

Eddie