Test and T20 has Notts aglow

Nottinghamshire supporters may be forgiven a bit of gloating after stealing the FLt20 limelight and basking in England's Ashes win. (First published on ESPN Cricinfo Supporter's Network)

"Any danger of anyone actually giving us a game in this season's T20?" I shot off into the Twittersphere.

"It's OK, you'll bottle it eventually," came a jealous response from a Leicestershire-supporting mate.

There's an uncharacteristically arrogant swagger amongst us Notts fans right now, five games into the T20 season, as four comfortable wins have fired the Outlaws into second in the North Group, with two games in hand on Lancashire. We are now seen as the team to beat and, if the opening fortnight is anything to go by, the Outlaws may as well put in a request to the tournament organisers that they change the rules to a 20/18 format, just to give the opposition a chance.

Okay, the cockiness may have gone too far now. Although for proof, Notts have only needed a maximum of 17.4 overs to chase any target this season, and that was a blistering 184 in the season's opener against the Foxes.

At the heart of the superb start to the season is the return as captain of Australia's David Hussey, who for the past ten years has been a great servant to the club. Any T20 fan will know what he is capable of with the bat and, indeed the ball, however it's his leadership that marks him out as a top player.

The field seems to know what to do and where to be in every situation, there isn't the need for him to talk to the bowler about what he wants from every ball (an increasingly annoying habit amongst some captains), and you can tell younger players such as James Taylor, Alex Hales and Jake Ball learn from his calm approach each game.

I have to admit, I was one of the many moaners that thought the two-game England T20 series against New Zealand was pointless. And although only one really got played, I shifted my views in a drastically different direction when I saw how Hales and Michael Lumb played in the first match against Leicestershire. That one international game has given Hales back his belief, having scored a good 39, but it also got Lumb's T20 eye in before the domestic competition started, and his form since has been outstanding.

Lumb capped off an excellent opening fortnight with 96 from 52 balls against Durham, the highest-ever score from a Notts player in this format. Though Lumb was initially disappointed that he didn't get his ton, he effectively won the match with the knock.

As for Hales, his rotten season seems to have turned around with a couple of decent innings in the competition. As an international and domestic opening companion for Lumb, dislodging either of them is a daunting task for any bowling attack.

Due to their distinctly average form in the County Championship, it seems likely that Notts will only be challenging in the one-day competitions. Questions may be raised in the coming weeks if the four-day form doesn't turn around - last week's game ending in a draw against Surrey was the fifth on the bounce. Enough to stay up, you'd expect, but not quite the Championship challenge the club was hoping at the start of the season. This week's game against Warwickshire is a chance to turn their mediocre form around.

Whether T20 momentum can translate into the other formats remains to be seen but the positive innings in recent weeks would have done them the world of good.

It would be remiss of me to not mention, as a Notts fan, the small matter of the opening Ashes Test at Trent Bridge. Of course there was Nottinghamshire interest in Messrs Swann and Broad but, as we saw, the atmosphere was phenomenal, the cricket was superb and the tension was, at times, unbearable. The city was transformed this week because of cricket and it is down to Notts to now pick up where the England boys left off.

The seats have been warmed with crowds of over 7,500 in the FLt20 against Leicestershire and the YB40 against Sussex - in which a superb £1 advance ticket offer was taken up by thousands - and the five days of the Test were a sell-out. So, apologies for the smugness, but a club should be applauded when it is going well. As Trent Bridge bathes in sunlight this week, let's hope Nottinghamshire can bask in the limelight once more.

Questions of the high order for Notts

The concern over the top three will become more vociferous should they continue to fail, but when the rest of the team keeps digging in and doing the business with the ball, Notts look good to continue their fine form. (First published on ESPN Cricinfo Supporter's Network)

I enter through the back door to get into the fan's forum on day two of the County Championship game against Surrey. Late as usual, I arrive just in time to see an old lady take to her feet, glaring at Notts coach Mick Newell. "Why can't our openers bat?" she asks, bluntly.

Fair point, I think to myself, as Newell begins to explain how the openers need to find a bit of form, how they haven't got it quite right so far this season, before adding that we actually haven't been blessed with 200-run opening partnerships since the days of Gallian and Bicknell.

It is a growing concern, that aside from an excellent knock of 81 from Ed Cowan against Sussex and Michael Lumb's superb 135 last week against Yorkshire, the top three have just three scores of over 50 between them in the previous eight County Championship innings.

Alex Hales' form is obviously the standout blip in the team. On a wicket that saw 1,120 runs in Scarborough, Hales was out for a duck in the first innings, and just 5 in the second. He is currently averaging 11.83 in 12 innings in the County Championship, and there are growing calls from some fans to push Hales down the order to find some form. I'm backing him to do so soon - he has been proven to do it in the past, and it was good to see Cowan saying Hales has the backing of the dressing room to come good soon.

But while Hales still has a way to come, there are a few players who have really kick-started their season in recent weeks.

Where better to start than Samit Patel, whose magnificent innings of 157 against Sussex was complemented with a couple of wickets and extremely tight bowling on the fourth day to secure the draw for Notts. That game was Patel's finest this season, and though he has scored higher this season (256 against Durham MCCU), his first innings knock came at a crucial time - Notts had lost their first three wickets cheaply, and Chris Jordan was ripping through the batting order as if they weren't there.

And while Patel may not have a great average when it comes to bowling this season, the wickets he's taken have been vital - he's claimed Luke Wells on 59, Gary Wilson on 49, and Gareth Batty on 41 in recent weeks, showing he is certainly the first option to throw the ball to when the seamers are struggling with batsmen who are staying put.

Another allrounder who has continued to shine is Paul Franks. I made a point in my previous blog on how he has lingered in the second XI for large parts of the season, but since the England boys have departed he has been one of Notts' star men. He's shown his class with the ball and added a superb 78 against Sussex meaning he is now averaging above the likes of Chris Read and Hales. As Stuart Broad and Graeme Swann look set to be gone for the most part of the season, Franks and Harry Gurney have really stepped up to the mark - a special mention should also be inserted here for Gurney, who, against Sussex, took Notts' first hat-trick since 2006.

Finally, the mercurial talent of Ajmal Shahzad has finally flourished over the past month. I think it's fair to say he has faced some murmurs of unease in the stands of Trent Bridge since his signing in the winter. I've even heard someone describe him as the "Balotelli of cricket", which, despite making me laugh, is hugely unfair. But no-one can criticise his efforts in the opening parts of the season, and though he didn't start convincingly, he's shown in recent weeks the class that Notts brought him into the club for. He's taken three wickets in each of the last three innings, and hit an excellent 56 against Sussex, including a hundred partnership with Patel, which suggests he is also finding form with the bat.

So, many reasons to be cheerful as a Notts fan currently. Unlucky to not claim the win against table-toppers Sussex, a good draw against Yorkshire on a flat pitch, five wins from five in the YB40 and coping well in the absence of the England stars. Questions will become more vociferous should the top order continue to fail, but when the rest of the team keeps digging in and doing the business with the ball, Notts look good to continue their fine form.

Notts find one-day could be their way

After a shaky start in the Championship and a perfect opening to the YB40, one-day cricket could be Notts' best chance of silverware this season. (Published for ESPN Cricinfo Supporter's Network)

They say three is a magic number, and last Sunday saw Nottinghamshire pull off their very own hat trick, as they made it three wins from three matches in the YB40, leaving them top of Group A and finding themselves pondering whether the one-day format could be the way to go this season.

Mick Newell said prior to the start of the season that the County Championship was still the priority, but judging on performances in that format compared to those over the past week, fans may rightly be thinking that the best chance of silverware this season may be in the limited-over competitions.

What was so pleasing last week was the ease in which runs seem to be coming - one only has to observe how fine innings from the ever-impressive James Taylor, consistent Samit Patel, super-smashing Alex Hales and steady Riki Wessels have all guided the Notts side to victory in the YB40.

Juxtapose that against the long haul of the four day Championship and, as a team, they have struggled to find any consistency on good batting wickets in their opening three games - shown by the winning margins of Middlesex and Durham - nine and six wickets respectively.

Obviously when you mention how well the top order have been doing so far, some bloke next to you will inevitably turn to you and say that "it means zilch if the bowlers can't bowl, young man."

Fortunately for said bloke, we've seen the perfect complement so far with the Notts bowlers all chipping in when they need to. Jake Ball has bowled tightly and picked up valuable wickets, Swanny has inevitably shown his class coming back from injury, and Stephen Mullaney's four wicket haul against Kent is arguably the performance of the season in all formats so far.

Of course the four-day competition is still the one most counties would like to excel in, but I do not see any reason how this talented all-round Notts side could not be serious challengers in the one-day formats. And why not relish it? It's been 22 years since they have had any real success in a limited over competition - if you count the 1991 Refuge Assurance League as a success - and you'll have to go back a couple more years to find Notts' name at the top of the pile in the Benson & Hedges Cup. They came close in 2008, but since then a finals day in the T20 competition in 2010 has been the closest they've come.

With the Ashes contingent soon to depart, I fear this Notts side may not have enough to challenge in the County Championship, but the strength they've shown in the opening week of the YB40 suggests to me that they can succeed even without the likes of Swann, Cowan and Broad.

It says a lot about the team's form when the only outstanding concern you can point out is the form of Michael Lumb, who, having had a decent spell at the Big Bash, promised bigger things in our one-day competition, but has so far stuttered to scores of just 5, 11, and a duck on Sunday. I'm confident he'll turn it around soon, but so far his saving grace is his magnificent 123 against Durham in the County Championship, albeit those efforts were in vain.

Maybe I'm getting carried away with the start Notts have had in the YB40, and maybe we fans should say a collective thank you to Messrs Duckworth and Lewis for their algorithmic assistance to help with the victories against Worcestershire and Kent. But remember this time last season, when we'd just lost to a Scotland team who claimed what became their only victory in the whole season?

This season has started at a lightning pace for Nottinghamshire, and at this early stage in the season there is plenty of reason to be optimistic, in the one-day format at least, for the team to carry on as they've begun and become genuine title contenders.

Black managers – the last bastion of racism in football?

The appointments of Terry Connor and Keith Curle as manager of Wolves and Notts County respectively this February meant that for the first time in English football, there were four black managers across the 92 league clubs. A victory then, for diversity and equality campaigners? Not quite. Because while the proportion of black footballers now reaches up to 25%, the percentage of black managers still stands at a paltry 3%. ANDREW BUTLER reports on whether it does matter if you’re black or white.

Ask a fan to name the Premiership’s best ever black football players and they will reply with an illustrious list; Drogba, Henry, Makelele, Ince, Ferdinand.

However, if you asked the same question but about black managers, you will be left with raised eyebrows, thoughtful squinting and chin stroking, before they say, “Oh, who was that guy that chewed the cocktail stick? Jean Tigana!”

The super fan should be able to recall Ruud Gullit’s spell at Chelsea, before going on to say that Paul Ince and Chris Hughton were given no time to impress at Blackburn and Newcastle.

Keith Alexander’s arrival at Lincoln City was supposed to herald a dawning of black managers in the leagues – the first generation of black footballers had now come through their playing careers, and wanted to turn their hand to management.

That was in 1993.

The late Alexander’s son, Matt, believes that while the absence of racism in society has improved, the lack of development in the number of black managers are telling.

The 30-year-old continues: “There needs to be more black managers, not only for the numbers but for what they bring to a club. Every manager has their own different abilities, different backgrounds and different ways of doing things.  

Matt Alexander - now chief scout
at Notts County

“Most black managers would come from a different side of things. In all walks of life people can learn from different styles,” claims Alexander, now working as chief scout at Notts County FC.

The trailblazing path Alexander had forged has dimmed since the mid 1990’s, shown by the number increasing to just three at the end of the 2011/12 season, with Chris Hughton, Chris Powell and Keith Curle flying the withering flag, after Terry Connor’s sojourn into management was brought to an end following relegation – and replaced with the relatively unknown Norwegian Ståle Solbakken.

The hard facts show that whilst there has been a huge influx in the past 30 years of black players into the English leagues, the number of managers has not been reflective of this trend.

Former director of Football Unites, Racism Divides, Howard Holmes, says the issue of the lack of black managers is the last period of racism in football to be tackled.

“It still remains a serious issue. You look at the number of black players compared to the number of black managers, and there’s got to be a lot of questions as to why that is.

“You get people black managers that have taken the courses, done all the necessary steps and then you get managers who turn up without having done courses at all. Having just three black managers does not do credit to the English league at all,” says Holmes.

History

The biggest problem facing black managers in the professional game comes from the history of racism in the English leagues. The past season saw the racism debate rears its ugly head once again with high profile cases involving Luis Suarez and John Terry, and instances in the lower leagues are still being reported regularly.

Indeed, this is a far cry from the constant barrages of abuse that led John Barnes to have to kick bananas from the pitch, or Garth Crooks to endure seeing racist posters from opposition fans, or Paul Canoville having to hear abuse from even his own support.

League Manager’s Association chief executive Richard Bevan says the game is heading in the right direction.

Bevan adds: “It is clear that since the 1960s and 1970s, football has made major steps forward in eradicating racism from the pitches and terraces of football.

“This process could be shown as stages in a journey towards a point where roughly the same proportion of football managers are black as football players. It starts from the terraces, then eradication of racism on the pitch, then into management.”

The historical nature of racism has no doubt harmed the willingness of black players to go into coaching. One may have expected that since the influx of black players happened in the 1970’s and 1980’s, we should have seen this generation in management already. However the LMA report into the issue identifies the ‘lost generation’ of black coaches that have failed to find league employment.

Institutionalised racism?

‘If all your gatekeepers are white, it will always be hard for a black person to come through to these key roles,’ so said former FA chairman Lord Triesman last year. The hierarchy of football is another major sticking point when looking into why there is a lack of black managers.

Holmes feels it is institutionalised racism that is holding back black players into becoming managers.

“The boardroom is probably the most prominent place holding back black managers coming into positions of authority. Why aren’t there more black people in positions of authority? There’s still only one black person sitting on the 100-strong FA Council.

“You could call the lack of black managers the last bastion of racism in football. The game’s still got a long way to go before it can call itself truly free from all forms of racism.”

The stereotypical viewpoint of boardrooms being old, conservative and white may be increasingly outdated, but there is still merit to this claim. If the number of black managers is causing an issue, the number of black people in any position of authority at a football club is possibly even more worrying.

This is a view supported by ex-Chelsea striker Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink, who is now first team coach at Nottingham Forest.

“If the people interviewing for the jobs are from the older generation are not giving interviews to black managers, then it is wrong. However, if black managers are not applying for a job, then this is a different matter,” says the former Dutch international.

“If the boardrooms are from the older generation, we must realise that a lot of white people in the 1970’s didn’t have black friends.

“In football, the majority of clubs go for people that they know. That’s how it works. If they don’t have anybody in that circle that is black, then it’s unlikely that black managers will come in.”

 Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink explains his view on coaching

Lack of success

As with all major shifts in perception, adoption and acceptation, time is what is required. However, it is time that some black managers feel they are not getting.

Bevan notes that it is telling most black managers in the last 10 years have been in their first job, stating: “There have been five black managers who have managed in the Premier League, these include Ruud Gullit, Jean Tigana, Paul Ince and Chris Hughton.

“The only black managers from the United Kingdom to have been appointed to an English Premier club are Paul Ince and Chris Hughton. It’s striking that none of the managers have as yet established themselves as long-term Premier league football managers.”

Many feel that once one black manager has had a long spell at a top Premiership club, perceptions may change. Chris Hughton is the most likely to take up this mantle, having been assistant manager at Spurs, as well as manager at Newcastle, and now Norwich.

Veteran broadcaster Colin Slater has been working in the game for over 50 years, and feels it is a problem that lies at the top of the game, and not one you can observe in the lower leagues.

“If it seems to be the case that clubs at the higher levels are reluctant to appoint black managers, lower league clubs do not seem to find this a problem. The career of Keith Alexander is the best proof of this.

“He was a popular and respected figure in the game and came near to achieving real success.

“Other black former players have also had their chances but have not lived up to huge – probably too high – expectations. Notable among these is Paul Ince who has been at many clubs without coming anywhere near his success as a player.”

However the argument that black managers on a whole are unsuccessful are based on false premises. A closer look at the history of black managers throughout the English league shows most have enjoyed periods of success at their respective clubs. [See panel] 

The Glass Ceiling Effect

Despite the major incursion of black players to the English leagues in the past 30 years, the number that have gone into coaching following it has not followed this trend. From the 1,300 coaches that hold the UEFA B license – one below professional standard – only 4.8% are black.

Hasselbaink explains that this may not be a problem to do with race.

“Many players do not want to become coaches. You have a lot of players who say they don’t want to be in football because it’s long hours. Everybody thinks it’s easy but it’s not.

“Players who have just finished their career want freedom to do what they want. If you continue into coaching or management, you’re still being dictated your time.”

Ex-Torquay and Brentford manager Leroy Rosenior said that there is a ‘glass ceiling’ effect for black managers in the game. The effect allows black coaches to get to a certain level of management, without being able to get the top job.

Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink - the legendary striker is now
assistant manager at Nottingham Forest

However Hasselbaink feels this theory can only go a certain way to describe the difficulties, as there would be no point in trying to manage if black coaches were the subject of a glass ceiling.

“I want to achieve the highest of the highs as a manager. If I believed there was a ceiling, then it would be better for me not to compete. You just have to give the job to the right person.

“If I thought there was something holding me back, there would be no point in getting out of bed in the morning.”

It is a view supported by Alexander, who sites examples where management roles have become colour blind.

He says: “You look here at County we’ve got Keith Curle. I didn’t know him that well before he came to the club, I knew he was a good coach and he did well with everyone around him.

“It wasn’t until he came here that I saw that he could be green and he would be a successful manager. He’s just that type of person. He brings positive people around him and he makes everyone around him feel good.

“I don’t care whether you’re black, white, green or yellow, it’s irrelevant. If you bring that quality to the table it doesn’t matter.”

A real problem?

It is quite clear that the lack of black managers is an area that has been identified by many in the higher echelons of the game as being an issue that needs to be addressed. However for the regular fan in the stands, it seems as if though this is not an issue at all.

After surveying 105 people on the issue, 61% stated that it did not matter to them whether the manager was black or white, but rather they just wanted the best man for the job. [See panel 2]

Does this mean then, that for the majority of football fans, it is not seen as a major issue? Therefore is it something that only bureaucrats and authorities feel should be dealt with?

Towards a solution

Highlighting the problems surrounding the lack of black managers shows the depth of the issue. However when you ask anyone within the game what to do about it, you find yourself left with a resounding, “I’m really not sure. It’s tricky.”

One way to solve the problem is to encourage organic growth in the numbers. The evidence for improvement has already been apparent, with 23% of coaches enrolled on all coaching courses from a black and ethnic minority. This, alongside a £3 million government grant solely to encourage black coaches into the game when the National Football Centre opens later this year, should mean that from grassroots level up, there will be a change.

A way forward? Notts County now have a
number of black coaches

For Holmes, this is the best solution.

“We have to force the authority’s hand in some ways, and the best way to do this is to get coaches trained. More money obviously means more black coaches will be able to get trained up.

“We need to raise the awareness of it as well. Education, awareness and money are the most important things in addressing this issue.”

For Alexander, a radical overhaul of the archaic system of selection is what is required.

He claims: “The only way things are going to change is if a black player – someone who has earned millions from the game – buys a club.

“I remember speaking to my dad about this, and he said this would be the only way to change things. I know if my old man won a £5 million lottery, £4.9 million of it would go on buying a club. He’d be running it, managing it and he’d be kit man.”

But with the dawn of foreign ownership, it seems as if the stereotypical hierarchy has already been shaken – yet the situation for black managers has stayed the same.

Rooney Rule

Forget Wayne, the only Rooney many black managers are concerned with is Dan Rooney. The owner of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers was the first to notice that in American Football, something must happen to encourage more black general managers. Therefore in 2002 it was legislated that at least one black candidate had to be interviewed for a management vacancy at any NFL franchise.

“The Rooney rule is so polarising in American Football, but it has undoubtedly made an improvement for equality,” states Holmes.

“Over there you’re either for it or against it. Here there’s more of a consensus to take measures to change behaviour in society. It would definitely have a chance to work in the English game, but it would need to be adapted from the NFL.”

The number of black coaches in the NFL rose from 6% in 2002 to 22% in 2008, and saw the first black coach to win a Superbowl, after Tony Dungy took his Indianapolis Colts to a famous win in 2007. The theory behind the Rooney rule without doubt increases equality, but some have questioned whether it is just positive discrimination. Others question the merit it would have in English football.

Alexander is unsure about how this could be implemented.

“American football and English football are totally different things. Anyone that has been in football knows that it is unlike anything else in the world.

“Don’t get me wrong, we could use parts of the Rooney rule, but we have to devise our own way of doing things over here.”

The Rooney rule is the only solution for many campaigners to increase the number of black managers. But what do the fans think? The survey found that just 12% thought a Rooney rule would be appropriate, and there should be no reason for the preferential treatment of black managers.

The lack of black managers is without doubt an issue that needs to be resolved in the modern game. Football is one of the shining examples of how racism can be removed from many factions of the game, but the disproportionate number of black managers is certainly worrying – especially given the distinct lack of progress that has been made over the past 20 years.

Whether or not a Rooney rule, or similar, will be implemented, it is clear that the situation is not easily resolved – perhaps the reason why a viable solution has not been available as yet. When it comes to an answer to the lack of black managers, we are all left with raised eyebrows, thoughtful squinting and chin stroking.    

When the invisibles become noticed - reflections of a Games Maker

"Your role will be invisible. By that we mean we expect you to do your job so efficiently that people won't even notice you're there. The events will run like clockwork."

This was one of the first pieces of information we were given as Games Makers during training prior to the Olympics.

OK, it's hard to be invisible in a completely distinct purple and red tracksuit, but we understood what they meant - our roles, however unglamorous or difficult, will be out of the eye of spectators, athletes, and officials.

However, perhaps the only part of the Olympics the organisers didn't judge quite right was the reaction and impact the Games Makers were going to have over this summer of sport - it exceeded all expectations of how much the Games Makers would be noticed across the Olympic venues.

Who would have though they would receive a standing ovation at the closing ceremony? Who would have thought there would be a Royal Mail stamp recognising their service - thus putting them alongside the likes of Hoy, Ennis and Farah?

The service of the volunteers even brought Eddie Izzard to tears.

Now, I'm not interested in theorising about whether or not this is the Big Society in action (as I said to a journalist who asked me) - I like to think this sort of thing transcends petty political point scoring. I've been part of sports clubs throughout my life and I understand how vital volunteering is to any grassroots level sport.

No, it's not the Big Society in action (not least because I had my first interview prior to the 2008 election), but it shows how when people pull together for a common cause, they can achieve something magnificent.

Will we ever see anything like it again? Like the Olympics, probably not. But whilst one can dwell on the past, it's always better to care for the present to make a brighter future. The ground work has been done and it is up to normal people around the country to get stuck in. Volunteer anywhere - sports clubs, shops, community groups. It works.

However, you may have to accept that your role will be invisible.

If you want your football team to do well, don't let me live there.

It was last weekend when a mate of mine pointed out to me: "Butler, wherever you move, the football team always gets worse."

He provided me proof and evidence of the statement, and I had to agree. I think I'm a curse on the football teams I follow and support.

Let's look at the evidence:

1989-2005 - East London era

I grew up in East London, Forest Gate followed by Walthamstow. I'm an avid Leyton Orient fan, and during this time they spent the first six years in Division Two. Not bad, but in 1995 Orient were on the brink of bankruptcy, after chairman Tony Wood lost his tea-making money in the Rwandan genocide. This led to relegation, and sitting in the duldrums of fourth division football for 11 years.

2005-2010 - The Southampton years

I moved down to Southampton with my family in 2005. At my new school, my new mates would joke that I supported Orient, a club very few had heard of. I would try to defend myself, and in fact would joke with them that in 'a couple of years we'd be playing you (Southampton)'. Incredibly, the first year I moved down to the South coast, the Saints were relegated from the Premiership, after a 13 year stint there.
Fast forward a year, and lo and behold Leyton Orient, the area I had left, got promotion for the first time in 11 years. Just one division between O's and Saints, and my prediction soon became an incredible reality, as Saints were relegated at the end of the 2008-09 season, to League One.

2008-2011 - Oxford, the university era

Probably the only area to buck this trend. Oxford, who ironically Orient relegated at the same time as they got promoted in '06, were langushing in the Conference until the end of the 2010 season, when they got promoted. The only time I went to see Oxford United play was at the end of the the 2010-11 season, when they actually beat Lincoln 2-1.

2010-present - Nottingham

My family moved up from Southampton to Nottinghamshire in February 2010, with immediate impact. Southampton, in League One for two seasons, got promoted at the end of last season, and are now flying high at the top of the Championship. But what about the clubs I now live around? Well, Nottingham Forest, who had finished 3rd and 6th in the respective previous seasons, now lie 20th in the Championship - having lost two managers (Billy Davies and Steve McClaren) in the past 12 months.
Notts County? Fair slightly better, though just avoided the drop last season.

So, in conclusion. Where am I now? Still in Nottingham - Orient lying stable in League One, Southampton flying high in the Championship, and Oxford in the play-off places in League Two.

If anyone from Nottingham wants to have a whip-round and pay for me to leave the city, feel free.

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.