Nottingham Forest Reserves 2 v 2 Sheffield United Reserves

Nottingham Forest fought back from 2-0 down and grabbed a last minute equaliser to claim a point against Sheffield United Reserves at Ilkeston. 


The Blades had the better of the early exchanges with Erik Tonne and David McAllister both having shots saved by Karl Darlow. 


The pressure told after nine minutes when Erik Tonne's cross was not dealt with by Danny Meadows, who allowed Danny Philliskirk to nick the ball from him and calmly slot home from six yards. 


Forest did little to fight back and the away side should have doubled their lead four minutes later, as a through ball from Seamus Connelly found Chris Porter in the area, but he shot well over from 12 yards. 


The home side's first chance of the game came on 15 minutes, when David McGoldrick found himself in space 18 yards out, but he couldn't direct his shot on target.


Forest came within inches of an equaliser on 22 minutes, as Andy Reid struck the post from a free kick on the edge of the box after Paul Anderson was fouled. 


However it was the Blades who increased their advantage on the half hour, after Porter brought down a cross from the left unchallenged, and having wriggled away from two challenges the ex-Derby man fired in from ten yards. 


Forest looked to reduce the deficit and enjoyed more possession as half time loomed, and again struck the post on 41 minutes. David McGoldrick did well to shake off Johnny Ertl on the left, coasted into the area and his curling shot came off the inside of the left hand upright.


The second half saw the game open up and chances came and went at both ends in the early stages. 


United should have out of sight within the first ten minutes of the second period, as Philliskirk was played clean through but his shot was well saved by Darlow, and moments later Erik Tonne had a shot blocked from 6 yards after neat interchanges around the edge of the box.


The host's once again hit the woodwork on 61 minutes, though slightly fortuitously as Reid's cross from the left deflected off the top of the bar, and McGoldrick's shot was blocked as the ball was played back in. 


Forest looked increasingly more dangerous and finally grabbed a goal on 74 minutes, as David McGoldrick fired low past George Long into the bottom right corner from 15 yards after Danny Meadows squared the ball back. 


However in the closing stages it looked like the Blades would increase their lead, as Chris Porter was once again played clean through but his effort was well saved by Darlow, and a minute later Philliskirk's goalbound effort was deflected wide.


Forest had a great chance to draw level in the 89th minute as Patrick Bamford sprang the offside trap, but his effort was hit straight at Long. 


There was one last twist in the tail however. When Bamford was fouled 25 yards out, McGoldrick stepped up and curled a delightful effort into the top right corner three minutes into stoppage time. 

Omozusi - Paying the price.

On Thursday Leyton Orient right-back Elliot Omozusi was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after being found guilty in his part of intimidating a witness.

He becomes the second Orient player in only two years to be banged up, after former-O's left-back Aidan Palmer was jailed for 22 months in 2009 for his part in a violent disorder.

As much as the details are fairly blurry, it sounds as if Omozusi was with a group of mates, who belong to the feared London Fields gang, when they were up in Liverpool. The London Fields gang was responsible for the killing of innocent schoolgirl Agnes Sina-Inajoku, for which two members of the gang were imprisoned for life last year. The gang, when in Liverpool, by chance saw one of the witnesses from the murder trial, who was part of a witness protection program - they chased him down the road, before he fortunately ran into police.

The trial of Omozusi concluded that he was part of the group and was found guilty of witness intimidation.

As a professional footballer, Omozusi is meant to be a role model, for fans, for children. A lot has been made recently of the importance for footballers to be good role models, but I sincerely think this is one of the biggest failures by a professional footballer through all your Tevez's, Terry's and Suarez's.

Prison. It's not somewhere you expect a professional footballer to end up. Which is why it's quite hard to make something of it.

I suppose it does show how footballers are not as invincible as they seem. It's baffling how when you are so focussed on playing for your club, all your time consumed on fitness, that you still have time to get involved in gang activities.

Of course, partly is just what group you fall into. Omozusi is originally from Hackney - he's got friends there, but unfortunately the wrong sort - and now he's paid for being part of it.

It's not to say I don't feel sorry for him - he's the same age as I am, and he was a bright footballer. Orient got him from Fulham, and he certainly had a future. But talk about being a professional, this is the exact opposite.

Who knows what the future may hold now for Omozusi - he's had a glorious chance to distance himself from gangland membership, but he didn't. Will he learn now? Or will he give up on football completely? For the sake of football and himself, I hope he returns.

Learning from others who've been in a similar position to him, Lee Hughes, someone I've seen a number of times over the last year, spent three years from 2004-07 after causing death by dangerous driving. He returned to football, and is currently putting his best in for Notts County, where he commands a huge amount of respect from the fans.

The aforementioned Palmer was released from prison and signed for Chelmsford City, who he scored for last weekend in their FA Cup game.

Both of these have shown there is life after prison for footballers, and I hope Omozusi can follow this example. 

"Hosting an Olympics means making history"

"Hosting an Olympics means making history."

Do you know who said that? It was Pierre de Coubertin – I know this name probably won’t make it any clearer, but Pierre de Coubertin was the man we all have to thank for bringing the Olympics to London in 2012. Way back in 1896 was the first of the modern Olympic Games which Pierre de Coubertin set up.

Anyway, enough of the history lesson. My point is with the Olympics coming up next year, it’s one of the best chances we can all have to make a little bit of history.

It’s unfortunately likely to be the only time in our lifetimes that we will get the greatest show on earth in our own back yard, which is why we should all make the most of it.

Some of you may hate sport. Those cold, icy Monday mornings doing P.E. are enough to put any of us off for life – but I can assure you that having the Olympics in London will be a rare chance to be able to all come together and celebrate sporting excellence as the whole world.

So, how does this fit with Youth Alpha? Well, how often is it that we think that when we can talk to a mate about Jesus, we can make history?

Whenever someone becomes a Christian they make history. And God loves it. Hopefully you know enough about Youth Alpha to know that it is such a great way to tell people in your school, area, youth club about the good news of Jesus.

So why not use Youth Alpha when the Olympics comes next year? As that man Pierre de Coubertin said, it’s a chance to make history. As we see the most historic sporting event in the world to come to the UK, why not use it as a chance to make some history of your own?

Top 5...Berlusconi's Greatest Hits (last word not an anagram)

Perhaps the upside of the economic and eurozone crash is the fact it is lifting leader such as Silvio Berlusconi out of the power they've craved and gained for so many years.

Berlusconi is unique. And not necessarily for a good reason - but here follows some of the absolutely bonkers, crazy, and totally bizarre stories that you may have missed in his tenure.

5. Calling Angela Merkel an un****able larda***

So, you've driven your country on the brink of collapse economically. Your only hope is to get a bail out. Who could possibly bail you out and help you out of this mess? That's right, Germany can. So, when you meet the leader of the country that can get you out of the brown stuff, be polite. But that's just not the Berlusconi way! Of course Silvio, go on, say what you think of Angela Merkel. A what? An un****able lard****? Remarkable. After calling Barack Obama 'suntanned' a few years back (no joke), this is a great gaffe.

4. Meglio 'na Canzone


Oh, sing it Silvio. Berlusconi used to be a cruiseship crooner, another tremendous true fact. And he was supposed to release his latest album this past week, until this inconvenient economic collapse happened. But Meglio 'na Canzone is just a taste of what the man is capable of. 'No flaws, like mad I wanted to see you' is one of the lyrics, and a translation suggest he also mentions students - which is something I will not mention myself...we'll leave that to the judges.

3. Berlusconi takes Milan Cathedral to the face

Ever the showman, he took it like a man. It was shocking, pretty unpleasant but he probably had it coming to him. A member of the public, through crowds, managed to launch a miniature model of Milan Cathedral and managed to catch Silvio square in the face. No doubt an incredible shot, but also a pretty horrible attack. Berlusconi took it to the face, and still stayed on his feet, seeming to want to find the guy and take him down. Wow.  



2. Getting told off by HRH Queen Elizabeth II

Incredible scenes at Buckingham Palace during the G20 summit when taking a photo, our man Berlusconi calls out to Barack Obama. Too loud for Her Majesty, and rightly so. You don't mess with Q-Tip, especially in her own back yard. The exchange went along the lines of:
Silvio: "OBAMA, OBAMA"
Queen, turning to Berlusconi: "Why do you have to talk so loud?"
The video is here, and so worth a watch. I've never seen the Queen agitated before.

1. Berlusconi buys new penis for office statue

Without doubt his finest moment in office. Berlusconi had a statue in his office (funny enough), but it was a traditional, Italian statue, and it was sadly wangless. The 1800 year old Mars sculpture took up residence in Silvio's office, and apparently his gentleman veg fell off in AD175. So, in November 2010, Berlusconi looked up at it once, and must have thought, "Something's missing."
Now, we all know about Berlusconi's penchant for his own johnson, but he must have been keen on restoring Mars' to restore it to it's former glory. So he got it a new one.
On the Italian taxpayer.
Oh yes, it gets worse. Using €70,000 of Italian taxpayers money, he didn't dig into his own coffers, he took it on expenses! Among the features of the new wang included it also being retractable. Magnetic, Silvio could decide from day-to-day whether it was on, or off.

Silvio Berlusconi. May be in jail in a couple of months, but you have to wonder if that will ever stop him being a barmy man. 

More Than Just Hot Air

Coursework piece - feature article for MA

Having completed his school career, Dom Joyce had a job and a house lined up, all set for a move down to Bristol. That was until he noticed the anti-wind turbine campaign in Southwell had no opposition. Now, the 18-year-old environmental campaigner looks to lead a youthful campaign in favour of renewable energy across the county.

“You can’t just say no to wind turbines and expect it to be unchallenged.” explains Joyce, who speaks with eloquence and clarity far beyond his year.

“80% of wind turbine proposals start an objection campaign – but not many have campaigns supporting them.”

Far fewer supporting campaigns are started by the youth of a town – but Joyce knew that something had to be done.

Earlier this year the Brackenhurst campus of Nottingham Trent University in Southwell drew up plans to erect two wind turbines on the site – to power the campus but also provide energy to the surrounding area. This was met with critical reaction, and it seemed that many locals were against the proposals.

The Halloughton Wind Turbine Action Group is the main opposition group to the proposals, and is concerned by the effect the wind turbines will have on a range of factors. Their website states: “The mid-Nottinghamshire farmlands, with the nearby dumbles characteristic of this area, together with a rich ecology, need to be maintained as an area of high amenity. A much-used bridle path is close by. Our local bats and birds will be disturbed, or worse.”

However, Joyce was suspicious of this reaction. Coming together with a group of school friends, the first thing they did was to make a banner challenging the protest.

“We put up a big banner simply saying ‘If Not Then What?’ basically saying, if you are against this proposal, come up with an alternative.”

The original name stuck, and as momentum grew for the group, the voice was being heard. Drawing on the youthful exuberance of the campaign, an innovative Facebook campaign was set up to raise awareness.

“We got photos of people supporting the campaign and put them on Facebook. The idea was for them to tag themselves, it attracts attention to a massive audience to spread the word.”

The core group meets monthly at Joyce’s house to discuss strategy and ways to further the campaign. On tonight’s agenda however is money. Whilst the energy they are campaigning for is sustainable, finance for their cause is not. And with such a young group, sourcing £600, a figure quoted by Joyce for leaflets, flyers and an improved website, is hard to come by.

Inventive methods of finding this cash come from members of the group – cake sales, bag packing and selling old and unwanted CDs are all put forward. The group clearly take the issue seriously.

For the moment the campaign focuses on the proposed turbines in the local area of Southwell – but once this one has finished Joyce promises more.

“The plan is to get groups all over the area – this specific one works because universities especially have green agendas and targets,” says Joyce, excited by the ever-increasing prospects.

But what of the opposition to the turbines – those who have lived in Halloughton their whole lives?

“I can understand. As far as they are concerned, this structure will affect the house they’ve worked so hard to build. But this site is as good as any. If they can offer an alternative way of saving 400 tonnes of CO2 that’d be great.”

The brochures and leaflets of the Halloughton Wind Turbine Action Group, opposed to the wind turbine proposals, challenges them on the basis of destroying heritage, affecting wildlife and the sound impact of the students based at Brackenhurst. Joyce remains unconvinced.

“We went to Brackenhurst during their Fresher’s week and did a petition. We got 200-300 signatures. Trent University also did a survey of their students, and 96.2% were in favour.”

Nottingham Trent University environmental officer Grant Anderson is responsible for the proposals. He said: “The controversy is really all around the impact on heritage. There has been a little bit of opposition from the local village but it is completely outnumbered by the pro-wind campaigners.”

The youngest of five children, Joyce admits that he is alone in his family in taking an environmental issue this far. Having spent a lot of his youth at the nearby Hockerton Housing Project with his best friend, he is using the wisdom he learnt from “hardcore environmentalists.”

The passion grew during his International Baccalaureate he gained this year from Bilborough College in Nottingham, and looked all set to move to Bristol, where he had a job and house ready for him. So in an unstable economic climate and youth unemployment looking set to top the million mark, why did he forgo this opportunity?

“Two weeks into the If Not Then What campaign I was getting too many emails from people I didn’t know! So I decided to stay so that I could see where the campaign could go.”

The group is clearly organised with professional input, from environmental groups such as RSPB and Greenpeace.

Speaking to RSPB conservation officer Colin Wilkinson, he echoed the group’s stance, saying: “We’ve looked at the environmental impact assessment that has been done and it meets the best practice guidance we expect all such studies to meet. The results don’t suggest at all that there would be any significant threat to the bird population.” 

Talking at length as to why the wind turbines are appropriate, the difference between a linear and cyclical energy route, and how much each type of renewable energy can contribute to the earth’s survival, Joyce clearly knows his stuff. And under his leadership he is inspiring more people, not only youth, to take responsibility for their planet.

The final decision from the district council to approve the wind turbines is set to be during December, having been accepted by the Southwell town council already.

But for Joyce this may just be the start. 

Friday Fun: Does Darren Mackie need new PR? Yes, he does.

I wasn't sure what to blog about today, and it will not really bring thoughts afresh, but I have just seen this surface on Twitter, and it really has to be shared.

Darren Mackie, for those that don't know (people that do know should probably get out a little bit more) is a striker for Aberdeen FC. That is why you really shouldn't know who he is, but anyway, we all know footballers like to prove that they don't just train for a couple of hours a day and get paid loads. So they get involved in community projects, charity work or other activities.

It's good PR for them, and I expect for a place like Aberdeen any footballer will be very well known. Which is why it's no surprise why Mackie is on this website, but it is a huge wonder why they let him do this.

Here is a screen shot, but I suggest you follow the link

 So it is a website for the local school, and they have 'Reading Champions', people in the school or local community that champion reading as a source of knowledge. I don't think Mackie has quite got the grasp of it. Leading to huge hilarity at his expense.

Footballers are not given great press re: their intelligence, so when given this kind of opportunity they really should take it. But this only enforces the stereotype to a new level.

I suggest Mackie gets new PR. Pretty rapidly.

If you want to see quite how bad it is, compare it to 'Emma', a pupil at the school who is also a reading champion. 

Is there a line I can draw between repulsive and repugnant?

Earlier on today I tweeted this:

"Just seen lad wearing t-shirt saying 'I have plenty of change, you worthless piece of ****. Thanks for asking.' How utterly repulsive."


I really couldn't believe my eyes. I just couldn't understand how someone could wear such a t-shirt. To brand themselves in such a way as to actually make a point of saying they hate homeless people. It was while I was waiting at the bus stop, and though I wasn't there for long, I spent a while on the bus cursing my own middle-class, polite, don't-want-to-cause-any-trouble -ness. I should have asked the guy about why he was wearing a t-shirt like that, and whether he feels so strongly about it. 


But I didn't. 


I had to check that the shirt actually said what I thought it said, because I thought it couldn't be that bad. It was. What is it that drove him to wearing this shirt? Had he been given a terrible time by a homeless person one time, and that has caused this immense hatred of them? Talk about radicalisation, if that was the case. 


It makes me think deeper about why people would wear shirts that immediately creates such fierce feeling immediately. Of course, I saw the shirt, and I immediately created a picture of what I thought he would be like. I wondered what other members of the public would think if they saw it. 


Obviously, controversial t-shirts are not something new. Topman was recently forced to pull some of their t-shirts as they were deemed to be explicit and offensive. You can regularly see t-shirts that don't particularly say nice things, but I'm sure to the wearer they might be funny to their senses - it's a matter of taste, I might not find it funny but they might, so I'd respect it. 


But this t-shirt was just repugnant. Homeless people, no matter how many times you may think that it is their own fault, or they 'prefer being on the streets', have been dealt a rough hand. They may have been turned away by family members, not willing to give them shelter. They may not even have family. So to show such a passionate hatred for the down and outs of society is nothing short of kicking them further into a gutter which is harder and harder to get out of.  


How I would love to see the guy actually be asked for change by a homeless person on the street! The scenario would be similar to that of one I've seen a few times - when someone has said something racist, only to notice that the man behind them at the bar was black. The times I've seen that they've backtracked so much they had actually walked out the bar and halfway down the street.


If there could be some line drawn to how repulsive, or repugnant, this blokes t-shirt was, I would love to know. If I see him again, be sure that I will talk to him. And I actively wait for it. 


My mood was made slightly better stepping onto a bus when the pleasant bus driver calmly said: 'Aye up duck.' It's a benefit of East Midlands buses.


*A friend I know from Oxford has done extensive work with homeless communities there, and inspired her artwork. I highly recommend checking it out.*  

Billy's boy and Dad's dedication

'This is a minute's applause to celebrate the short life of Billy and Jade's son Louie Jacob Sharp.

'Born 27th October.

'Taken by the angels on the 29th.

'Sleep tight son.'

This message was read out at the Keepmoat Stadium this evening, a heartwrenching memory and tribute to Doncaster striker Billy Sharp's two day old son, who tragically died on Saturday. 

The incredible thing is that Sharp played this evening. And he scored. Though his goal on the scoresheet was in vain as Middlesbrough came out victorious on the night, it was certainly not in vain in a most wonderful memorial and tribute to Sharp's son. 

Billy Sharp is a fine striker, but besides this it really shows everything in football in a different light. Whilst fans may sometimes think that if their team wins it is a matter of life or death, when faced with such realities it shows that this thinking is nonsensical. 

Sharp has shown tonight not only unbelievable professionalism, but also to the rest of the football world that when faced with tragedies, sometimes the best thing you can do is make your life a true dedication to those whom you love.