My Week: Alan M_cKinlay

Posted on January 30, 2012 by FWA News Editor

Mirror assistant sports editor Alan McKinlay on ingrowing toenails, players tweeting during games and the most miserable man on earth…

SUNDAY JANUARY 22
Been looking forward to this day for ages, which kicks off with what, for once, really is a Super Sunday double bill. In fact it is so Super that it is no longer a big enough description. Today is Showdown Sunday, no less. No worries about what we will lead on the back with tomorrow morning. And thanks to Balotelli once again, we have a great story to go with with two classic matches. Off to the Savoy for the Football Writers’ Association Tribute to Gary Neville and Paul Scholes in the evening. This is the event where partners are allowed to come along, so tonight, rather than be on the Mirror table, I am going as the arm candy of my wife Julie, who works on the back bench of the People Sports Desk. Great event, and the Savoy staff are plentiful and hard-working. Haven’t seen that level of uniformed efficiency since Kim Jong-Il’s funeral.

The interview with tonight’s guests of honour a little long I thought, but that could just be because I couldn’t wait to get home to watch my beloved San Francisco 49ers in the NFC Championship game. I did, though, enjoy Gary Neville’s response to Ben Shepherd’s suggestion that he may have followed Paul Scholes’ lead and thought about a comeback, or at least that he had perhaps retired too early. Neville said definetly not and added: “Did you see my last two games?”

MONDAY JANUARY 23
The wee small hours of Monday proved entertaining (last week’s 49ers victory over the New Orleans Saints was the beast NFL game I have seen in 30 years of watching) but ultimately disappointing as the New York Giants beat the Niners thanks to a couple of spectacularly bad plays by the reserve kick returner. I took it badly, but not as badly as my 24-year-old son, who is still in mourning a week later. At least it provided a good topic to write about later in the week, especially as the “guilty man”, Kyle Williams, became the latest sports figure to receive death threats from so-called fans. Today was due to be my gym induction, but that laughable notion was made even more so by my suddenly painful ingrown toenail rendering the putting-on of my dust-laden trainers impossible. The upside? A few more days of not having to go to the gym. The office loved it. My supportive Mirror colleagues are still laughing. Instead of starting a new fitness regime, I attend to failing parts of my body with a visit to the dentist and the chiropodist. Did you know they don’t use anaesthetic when they treat an ingrown toenail?

TUESDAY JANUARY 24
IT’S rare for a story to be greeted in the same way by the warring tribes of football followers, but our back page story “City Fine Tev £9.3m” would surely have provoked the same reaction among all our readers, namely: “Good. I hope it hurts”. Tevez’s list of excuses for his behaviour has changed more often than Manchester United’s 3rd kit. It’s gratifying to know he is not getting away with it.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 25
Craig Bellamy scores the decisive goal as Liverpool complete a remarkable turnaround from the weekend capitulation against Bolton to a vibrant victory over Manchester City. Kenny Dalglish is extraordinary. He has perfected the look of the most miserable man on earth during interviews and after defeats, and yet he looks the happiest man on earth when his team scores or wins. Final Bell is our headline as Bellamy books a Wembley showdown against his hometown team. A post-midnight on-air chat with the talkSPORT Sports Bar team of Andy Goldstein and Ray Parlour provides an enjoyable end to a busy day.

THURSDAY JANUARY 26
The Mirror is about to launch a re-design of its website, which will include a column on American sport. I should probably call it a blog as its online. Today is the deadline for the first one, before we go “live” next week. Even though I’ve always been a production journalist at the Mirror, and football is the greatest sport of all, my addiction to American sport means I’ve been lucky enough to cover 14 Super Bowls as well as a number of other US sports and interviewing the likes of Michael Jordan, Joe Montana, Shaquille O’Neal and Reggie Jackson. One element of the, er, blog, will be a little section entitled Only In America, which hopefully will feature some of the whackier elements of sport across the pond. I like the first one. It was announced that during the Pro Bowl (the NFL’s All Star game in Hawaii played the week before the Super Bowl) the players will be allowed to Tweet DURING the game. Each team will have a designated tweet zone on the sidelines. Could this ever happen in the Barclays Premier League? You can certainly imagine Joey Barton being sent-off and tweeting his disapproval as he disappears up the tunnel.

FRIDAY JANUARY 27
It’s a toss-up between Mario Balotelli’s agent Mino Raiola and Carlos Tevez’s representative Kia Joorabchian as to which one has produced the most ridiculous defence of their client. But this week on Sky Sports News, Raiola out-nonsensed himself to earn him top billing on the Sport On TV column, which I enjoy doing as it offers a chance to do a bit of writing, even if it is only “ a dozen crispies” as our old sports news editor used to say.

I’m often responsible for our Mirror Football eight-page pull-out on Saturday morning, but as tonight’s live games (Watford v Spurs and Everton v Fulham) will take up pages 1, 2 and 3, the opportunity to try to come up with our customarily off-beat cover is denied me. It’ll be back next week though. My last job of the working week is a quick interview with Radio Five’s Doton Adebayo for the Up All Night programme, which is basically a run-through of what we have in the paper the following morning. Apart from the previews of the two “grudge” games (Liverpool-United and QPR-Chelsea) which all the papers lead with on the back, I particularly like the story that Newcastle boss Alan Pardew is taking the Cup so seriously this year that he is even talking about fielding a stronger team in the Cup than in the league to give his team their best chance of winning a trophy.

Maybe Danny Blanchflower’s statement that the game is really all about glory could still be true. Maybe, I start thinking, the Cup really could be on the way back.

SATURDAY JANUARY 28
The busiest day of the week for most FWA members is always a day off for me. As I can’t get a ticket to see my team QPR (offically the worst Cup team in Britain over the last 12 years) inevitably lose to Chelsea, it’s feet up in front of the TV. I am of the generation that grew up believing that the greatest thing you could ever achieve in life was scoring the winner in and FA Cup final. Not World Cup, not European Cup, the FA Cup – and I still love the competition. First QPR go out and then Newcastle, who had immediately become my “second team” in the Cup because of their self-confessed dedication to it, crash out at Brighton. So much for honesty. I discover, when my wife gets home and delivers the early edition of the People, that most of the Newcastle team, plus the manager, were on the lash in the Canaries as part of their build-up to the game. Turns out Alan Pardew is not quite as big a fan of the FA Cup as I had hoped. And they say journalists are the cynical ones.

My Week: Jim van Wijk

Posted on January 24, 2012 by FWA News Editor

Jim van Wijk on a gay Dutchman, a bad back and how a PA reporter’s work never seems to stop

MONDAY JANUARY 16
Day off, which I guess is as good a way to start the week as any. However, with a young family, you are never really, off are you? Today is Daddy Day Care, so help with the school run and then at home with my 3-year-old son, who would, you suspect, rather be at his pre-school than stuck at home – still, Bob The Builder to the rescue. Few errands, including the little man’s first haircut, a snip at £11, which at least keep me away from the latest chapter of Arsenal’s meltdown after their 3-2 defeat at Swansea. Heard George Graham on talkSPORT saying the Gooners needed Chris Samba after his transfer request at Blackburn, while Chelsea sign Gary Cahill for around just what Arsenal could have got him for in the last window. Caught some of the Wigan v Manchester City game on the radio in between Brownies drop-off and pick-up. Win when you are not playing well is the sign of champions.

TUESDAY JANUARY 17
Was back at the Docs this morning, more tests following on from a Lumber Puncture in October. Can’t say I can recommend having fluid drained from your spine. Apparently I am an enigma. Sounds painful. Still, sleep or no sleep, it’s off into Press Association HQ in Victoria for a legal refresher along with my London reporter colleagues. Not often we are all seen in the same place at once, well, maybe apart from the manager’s post-match press conference AND down the mixed zone, but that is a special art. All interesting stuff from PA’s long-serving legal eagle Mike Dodd. Qualified privilege from a press conference is indeed a wonderful thing, although don’t get me started on the minefield which is Twitter. Once managed to defame myself with an infamous “Norwich sign big-Gay Dutchman” intro, but we don’t talk about that any more. Cahill does his first interview with Chelsea TV. “It was never about the money”. It never is son, it never is.

WEDNESDAY JANUARY 18
Duty reporter from home today, covering all of the London clubs, oh and the eastern most outpost in the top flight, which is where the first news breaks with confirmation from Leeds that Norwich are in for captain Jonny Howson. Fee “understood” to be around £2million. Next up, hold the back page as Fulham sign 17-year-old midfielder Jack Grimmer from Aberdeen, as well as “highly rated” Danish Under-17 international Lasse Vigen Christensen from FC Midtjylland. Not content with that, there is also a new contract for evergreen Mark Schwarzer, who targets 2014 World Cup with the Socceroos. Hoover up a bit of Spurs as captain Ledley King tells talkSPORT no-one is talking up a title tilt at White Hart Lane after the euphoria of that battling draw with Wolves. Had hoped our intrepid reporter Simon Peach would pull something out of the bag from what had looked a decent job with Scott Parker at a football centre launch. Would have been nice if he could have actually spoken to the serving FWA Footballer of the Year, rather than watch from afar – along with a couple of national newspaper men and even Sky. PR and disaster spring to mind. Not finished there, though, as some JT doing the rounds, with the Chelsea skipper happy to see desire of unhappy players at warming the bench. Such is the talk of champions, right? FA Cup replays in the evening kind of pass me by, as does El Clasico. Guess there is only so much football one man can take. Watch DVD of Norwich’s UEFA Cup run. Hopefully sweet dreams.

THURSDAY JANUARY 19
Sadly the thoughts of Jeremy Goss and company did not do the job as I endure another near sleepless night. Still, maybe the boys down at LOCOG’s anti-doping lab in Harlow can come up with a concoction to help. Olympics closing fast, which means more interest for all things London 2012. Will be covering the judo and Taekwondo in the summer (used to be a bit handy myself at the old Ashi-Guruma back in the day), but weigh in with anything around the edges which may come up – and nice to cover a ‘local’ job for a change. Quick dart down the M11 and make it through the heightened security at the GlaxoSmithKline base for a briefing with Sports Minister Hugh Robertson and Professor David Cowan, or “London 2012 anti-doping chief” as he would become in my nightlead. Quick story filed off the press release, “no place to hide for drug cheats” warns Robertson – writes itself really, and then it is off with the video camera (yes, that’s right, now we are multi-tasking, white balance, focus and the lot) through into the lab. All interesting stuff, if you are into that kind of thing. BBC sports editor David Bond is certainly in his element, white lab coat and safety glasses to boot. Story gets decent coverage on national and regional news in the evening. Let’s hope the only positive to come out of the lab in Games times is 6,000 negative tests as they work around the clock to stay ahead of the those who would cheat the very foundations of the Olympic ideal.

FRIDAY JANUARY 20
Off to London Colney for Arsenal press conference with Arsene Wenger ahead of Manchester United game on the Sunday. Arrive around an hour ahead of kick-off as usual, which is later than my video colleague who rolled up at half eight after being told it was a 0930 start by the office. Plenty on the agenda as always. Wenger questioned about gap on the top four, flat bats usual transfer enquiries, some interesting views on feeder clubs, which he feels would go against the ethos of the English game. Inclined to agree with him. Oh, and of course the regular inquiry from Japanese journalists over Ryo Miyaichi. When we break off for the embargoed newspaper briefing, Wenger goes on the offensive over perceived injustices. Some guy in Sweden has done a study which showed if all decisions were correct Arsenal would have been second last season. Erm, okay….. Key question comes from Daily Star’s David Woods, following up from his excellent interview with chairman Peter Hill-Wood. “Would it be a disaster if Arsenal don’t finish in the top four, Arsene?” .. “For me, it would be, yes.” Thank you very much. It’s not over there, though, as on to the “Sundays” section, which again must be held back until agreed slot, which this time is late on Saturday night. Wojciech Szczesny is on the agenda, how was the confident young Pole after shipping eight against United at Old Trafford in August, and a bit about Theo, who had a “bit of a dip over Christmas”. Still worth a new 80K a week deal, though, heh? Bash out Wenger rally cry and bit on feeder leagues, not forgetting team news, then it is back around the M25 just ahead of the Friday afternoon rush. Mrs vW is having a well deserved night off, out at bingo, never know, she might get lucky, so juggle kids and dinner (not literally) before the laptop comes out again to finish off embargoed copy and dig around for some additional material for “early” Saturday slot to run before main piece on Szczesny. Found some Robin van Persie tucked away on website, which will do just nicely, or so I thought…

SATURDAY JANUARY 21
Awake from yet another night of broken sleep – was never this bad when Logan was still feeding – and it is an early start to my home town for the small matter of Norwich v Chelsea. E-mail from the desk alert me to RvP interview in The Sun, which kind of scuppers my plans as covering much of the same ground. Thankfully Arsenal Player save the day again with some Szczesny on Wojciech, which can be padded out with the manager defending his (non)transfer policy which did not get much airtime with everything else from yesterday’s briefing. Listen in while munching a steak & kidney pie in Carrow Road press room (not quite Delia Smith, but tasty nevertheless), and then also bash out the embargoed piece before kick off, as well as page one of five in running copy. “Chelsea striker Fernando Torres was handed another chance to break his goal drought with a start against Norwich at Carrow Road.” 90 minutes later, it was always going to be “Fernando Torres fired another blank as battling Norwich held Chelsea to a goalless draw at Carrow Road.” Even through yellow-tinted glasses, this has been some season by Paul Lambert’s squad. Another solid display, okay against an out-of-sorts Chelsea, but nevertheless things look on course for survival. Hope that’s not the kiss of death. Post-match is usual scramble for manager and follow-up quotes. The old second tape recorder comes into it’s own, as I “pick up” Lambert’s Sundays briefing, while making sure am there when AVB speaks to the Monday papers. Copy again strictly embargoed until Sunday night. But by now, it is all part of the game. No Chelsea players were made available ahead of their sunshine break in Spain, so grab a few words with Norwich defender Zak Whitbread. 6ft 3ins Texan born – and raised in Liverpool. Says it all really. Then it is on with the “live” quotes, as AVB rues over what could well be a costly missed opportunity, or indeed a good point depending on what happens on Super Sunday. Back up the A140 and, for a change, I am home in time for tea with the family, and a rare bit of Saturday night tele before the old girl is fired up again and it’s on with the “follow-ups”… no fewer than two for each club, one with resourceful “leftovers” to make sure PA customers have something ahead of the embargoed copy, which will run later on Sunday evening. Lambert hailing how far Canaries have climbed since he took over at bottom of League One, and AVB on efficiency deficiencies will keep things ticking over nicely, before Norwich keeper John Ruddy gives his take on a wonder save and possibly changing his wedding plans if he does get an England call-up this summer and some strong words from AVB about how fans should lay off Anton Ferdinand in next weekend’s FA Cup tie with QPR. More on that sure to come you feel. All done just in time for MOTD, if I can stay awake.

SUNDAY JANUARY 22
FWA Gala Tribute Evening to honour Gary Neville and Paul Scholes is upon us again. Lots to organise at home ahead of departure with wife for our annual night away, so once rabbit is cleaned out, laundry done, cupboards stocked up & everything sorted for kids usual hectic Monday morning, we set off for what turns out to be a relaxed slow drive into central London. Arrive in time to catch some of Arsenal v Man Utd with none other than esteemed FWA colleague Chris Davies in hotel bar, which goes kind of how I expected – apart from RvP missing a sitter. At least the final result meant our guests of honour who arrive in a decent mood, if a little late. Help out pre-dinner at Savoy, making sure our video man is in place, who provides footage for the association’s new-look website & also gets some copy out on the PA wires (been there, done that!) Finally get a chance to relax, catching up on much-needed quality time with the wife & some old friends – one of whom had just flew back from China, with no dinner suit & had to ‘borrow’ my shoes, which were a size too small. (he is a Norwich fan, so guess understandable). Food was excellent as usual (wonder if the crab was shipped in from Cromer – and if not, why not?) From an organisational point of view evening goes well, with touching tribute from Sir Alex Ferguson & Ben Shepherd hosting Q&A, which the missus said ‘dragged on a bit with all that talking about football’, but guess you can’t have everything – especially at £13 for a vodka & coke. Cheers.

My Week: Richard Tanner

Posted on January 9, 2012 by FWA News Editor

ANOTHER QUIET WEEK IN MANCHESTER

Rooney rumours…breaking embargos…and why Roscoe wants to get out more but can’t

Sunday January 1st
The week actually starts on Sunday morning as all daily sports journalists know too only well. Pick up the papers with some hesitation and Nick Harris’ excellent exclusive in the Mail on Sunday about Wayne Rooney being disciplined by Sir Alex Ferguson for his Boxing Day ‘night out’ confirms my worst fears.

Just glad I had gone easy on the booze the night before. I had an uneasy feeling it was going to be a busy day. Having covered United for 12 years, you get an instinct when something’s not right.

Ferguson’s explanation of Rooney’s absence from the squad to face Blackburn the previous day had left all of us in the Old Trafford press room unconvinced, raising more questions than answers: “Missed some training sessions, few knocks and strains, should be all right for Newcastle on Wednesday.”

At least, it wasn’t the usual “he’s got a virus.” Of course, no chance of questioning Fergie on it any further because he doesn’t do post-game pressers.

Call Ian Monk, Rooney’s press agent, but apart from confirming Rooney had been out on Boxing Day night, and insisting there is no damage to the relationship between player and manager, he says all other information must come from United. Great!

Luckily, other sources are more helpful and confirm that Rooney, Jonnny Evans and Darron Gibson were not fined for breaking any Christmas curfew but for “below-par” performances in training the following day. Thought to myself: good job us reporters don’t get punished for a hangover. Some would be penniless.

By the time I’ve written a Fergie-Rooney inside piece, a back pager, plus a match report on why Fergie must drop De Gea and play Lindegaard, the daylight has gone and I’ve even missed most of Sunderland’s surprise win over City on TV. How lucky are United? The result cancels out their shock loss to Rovers. Go out for a run (ok, a slow jog) to clear my head rather than maintaining any New Year resolution to get fit.

Monday January 2
It’s a preview day – City are playing Liverpool on Tuesday. Drive the 45 minutes to City’s training ground at Carrington on the outskirts of Manchester, it literally backs onto United’s which is very handy because both Fergie and Bobby Manc, as City fans call City’s manager, hold pressers within half an hour of each other on Fridays.

Mancini has calmed down after ripping into his players for their setback at the Stadium of Light. Says he will rotate his squad and make five or six changes, bringing back the big guns, Aguero, Silva, Clichy and Richards as he looks for a positive response. He doesn’t make great audio for TV and radio but that’s their problem. We can always make some sense of it in print.

United preview for their game at Newcastle but no press conference because Fergie doesn’t hold them in midweek unless it’s a Champions League game when he is under orders from UEFA. No chance then to push him on Rooney – but the word is he will be back.

Decide to check out his claim in Saturday’s programme that he couldn’t remember a better first half to a League season in his 25 years as United manager. Spend a couple of hours trawling through the Premier League’s website looking at the half-way tables. And Fergie is actually spot on. Well, he would have been had they beaten Blackburn. A win would have given them 48 points after 19 games. Still, 45 points isn’t shabby – they’ve only bettered it three times in 19 years.

Set off for City v Liverpool, picking up a journalist friend on the way. But the journey to the Etihad Stadium takes two hours rather than the usual one because of traffic chaos caused by
the high winds. A lorry has been blown over on the Thelwall Viaduct, M6 north has been closed and all surrounding roads clogged up with traffic.

Ever the professional, I’m more worried about missing the delicious carvery served in the City press room than the game itself. Has to be the best food in Premier League, by the way. As it turns out, arrive in plenty of time for both.

Thank God my Merseyside colleague Paul Joyce is with me for the game because Liverpool have just announced they will not appeal the Suarez ban but have had a right pop at the FA. He is handling the story, leaving me to do the game which City win relatively comfortably thanks after being given a flying start thanks to Pepe Reina’s blunder.

Not often that Craig Bellamy gets cheered by opposition fans. But City followers remember his sterling efforts during Mark Hughes’ reign and give him a good reception when he comes on, although Steve Gerrard is roundly booed.

Kenny Dalglish merits a few boos in the press conference as he try to defends Liverpool’s handling of the Suarez affair. Leave Joycey to handle Kenny while I nip into a side room where City have given us James Milner for a follow-up.

Wednesday January 4
Write the Milner piece, throwing it ahead to Sunday’s FA Cup derby battle. Decent, sensible quotes from a decent, sensible pro. Nice line that United’s pain after the 6-1 humiliation would be three times City’s pleasure.

Had to laugh when Robinho warns rebel Tevez in the Corrieire Della Sport “you can’t muck around” if you join AC Milan. Pot, kettle and black come to mind. Watch Newcastle thump United on Sky in the evening. De Gea dropped, Rooney back but to no avail. Send a stream of texts to my north east colleague Niall Hickman, who is covering the game, mentioning stats he probably didn’t want or need – first time Untied haven’t scored this season, first defeat to the Toon since September 2001, last time they lost two on the bounce etc.

Niall sends his thanks but must think I need to get out more.

Thursday January 5
No chance of getting out more because Manchester football reporting is unrelenting at the moment. Mancini has brought his press conference forward 24 hours. So down to Carrington again for 10am. At our behest, press officer Simon Heggie has to remind assorted TV, radio, agency and internet people that the dailies part of the press conference is embargoed until midnight on Friday.

Time and again this season, at both United and City, someone has broken the embargo and tweeted or leaked our stuff. Hard enough to get anything fresh as it is, without that happening.

After spending around £200m in his two years in charge, Mancini wants to spend again in January. He points to the loss of the Toure brothers to the African Cup of Nations, Gareth Barry’s suspension for the United game and several injuries. Hard not to laugh when he claims he might only be able to name 17 players for Sunday’s game. Poor lamb.

Friday January 6
Fergie, in my view anyway, is unusually low-key in his 9.30am press conference. Won’t talk about Rooney, but can’t resist a pop at Liverpool over Suarez, and in true panto season fashion warns City “we’re right behind you.”

Insists reports linking him with Frank Lampard have “no foundation” but doesn’t actually deny that United have made an enquiry.

The embargoed part of the conference for the dailies is getting shorter by the week. Broadcast and agencies are getting 10 minutes, we’re getting about three or four minutes. Collectively, we vow to tackle United on the issue.

Move round the corner to City’s training ground where nice guy Joleon Lescott is put up for the dailies to interview. Reckons Fergie’s regretting calling City the noisy neighbours and that City have now taken over from Liverpool as their biggest rivals.

That will do nicely, Joleon. Spend rest of the day tapping away.

Still playing seven-a-side football on a Friday evening – but, at 55, I’m not the oldest. My old mate John Richardson (Ricco to everyone who knows him) is still puffing away at 58. Inevitably I am known as Roscoe after the tennis player.

On way into Chester for post-match drinks when called by office about Indy front page on Rooney. Quick call to United and Ian Monk result in a statement dismissing the story, so evening not totally ruined.

Saturday January 7
Bliss, a day off. Go for a long bike ride around the Wirral peninsula to get Manchester football out of the system. Still listen to 5Live commentaries later in the day while washing the car.

Sunday January 8
Get to City to be greeted by the news that the rumours were true – Paul Scholes is coming out of retirement and is on the bench. But the week ends the way it started with Rooney scoring twice in United’s 3-2 win, re-affirming his commitment to the club and upsetting Mancini for influencing Chris Foy to send off Vincent Kompany.

If all that wasn’t enough, United are drawn away to Liverpool in the fourth round.

My Week: Ralph Ellis

Posted on January 3, 2012 by FWA News Editor

RALPH ELLIS on good tips, near bankruptcy and what is music to his ears

Monday, December 26, Boxing Day
Some people are out today at 6am waiting for the sales to open. You’d never catch me camping outside the Mall for Next. Instead my Boxing Day begins in front of the Tesco Express at the top of the road just before eight, waiting to buy the papers.

I like to see all five tabloids every day. It was drummed into me by the late but lovely John Pyke back in 1987 when I first joined the staff of the Daily Star that if you don’t know what’s old, you can’t know what’s new. But there’s another purpose today as I have a column to write that goes on the Blog website run by the gambling exchange Betfair. It’s based on what’s in the papers, using the bits of insight provided by so many experts, to try to find a good bet.

Betfair like me to find items away from football when I can, and today I’m struck by an interview with Saracens winger David Strettle explaining why his team can beat Premiership leaders Harlequins tomorrow. So I’m tipping them to do that – and also recommending to lay Quins to finish top of the table. While football’s bottom team at Christmas always gets relegated, I’ve researched some stats that all of the sides who led rugby’s Premiership on Christmas Day have ultimately lost their lead.

Then it’s a chance to join my son and daughter-in-law who’ve just arrived, and unwrap presents. I’m at Stoke in the evening, so the late kick-off means a rare chance to spend time with the family on Boxing Day. When my two boys were little, my wife Sue always ended up building all the new Lego with them. Today I’m leaving home at around 4pm to drive to Stoke. Good job, as it gives me an excuse to leave a big game of Monopoly just before I go bankrupt (having already spent time in jail).

I’m covering Stoke against Villa for the Daily Star, and like to arrive early to do some homework and be ready with facts and figures. Just as well, because there’s a 750-word match report to write, most of which must be filed after 70 minutes, and very little action to talk about. Inevitably the only real incident, when Marc Wilson’s header hits the bar and then might, or might not, have crossed the line, happens two minutes before I’m due to press the button to e-mail my copy.

Fortunately the managers arrive quite quickly to the press conference. I use the Wilson header incident to highlight that FIFA might finally give the green light to goal line technology in 2012, and not surprisingly both Alex McLeish and Dave Kemp, who is doing the talking instead of Tony Pulis, are hopeful it happens. A fresh match report filed, it’s back in the car and the greatest hits of Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers on a CD that was a Christmas present to keep me awake until I get home at about a quarter to one.

Tuesday December 27
Good morning to all at Tesco Express again, and back home for some coffee and a look at the papers. My Betfair Blog column today is a round-up of the Boxing Day games with the aim of spotting some trends for the rest of the season. I’m amazed to read that Chelsea boss Andre Villas-Boas has effectively ruled his club out of the title race after drawing with Fulham, while Roberto Mancini was also moaning about the fixture list following Manchester City’s 0-0 draw at West Bromwich. Meanwhile canny Sir Alex Ferguson is about to deliver on his promise to be top on New Year’s Day. United are more than 2-1 to win the title so I’m telling my readers to back that.

There’s a follow-up for the Daily Star to be written from last night’s game. Alex McLeish has fears that Emile Heskey and Darren Bent could be out for a while, and he’s let slip in his press conference that he might talk to Villa’s owner Randy Lerner about cash for new players. It was this time last year that Lerner suddenly released £24m to buy Darren Bent and I’m pretty sure McLeish will want to remind the powers that be of the positive effect that had on the club.

Next job is to go through the stats from yesterday’s games. I’ve kept my own Exel spreadsheets for the last six seasons that track all the Barclays Premier League teams with how many minutes everybody is on the field, as well as the obvious things like goalscorers and red and yellow cards. Before that they were always in different coloured pen in a big accounting book. You have to be a bit of an anorak in this game.

In the afternoon I’m covering Swansea against QPR for the Daily Star. It’s a 5.30 kick off, which is an odd time, so it’s back in the car at 2pm with my £5.70 in coins ready for the Severn Bridge. I like Swansea’s passing style and they dominate the first-half, but then Adel Taarabt starts to dominate the game and Rangers equalise. The story of the game, however, is another horrendous refereeing mistake as Lee Probert misses an obvious penalty when Armand Traore fouls Danny Graham. Brendan Rodgers is predictably annoyed, and then even Neil Warnock says it should have been given too which makes the top to the match report.

While everybody else is waiting for the press conference, I sneak out with Paul Jiggins from the The Sun to try to talk to Taarabt. He finds another way out of the stadium, but at least we chat to Luke Young who provides a follow-up line with the opinion that the club “would be mad” to sell the Moroccan.

Back home about 10pm – and check Sky Sports News to find that Saracens did indeed beat Harlequins. Good news – I’m never happy unless at least one of my Betfair tips each week is a winner.

Wednesday December 28
Freelancing is an insecure way of life, but the up side is that you don’t need to ask anybody’s permission to take a day off. Today we’re off to Hertford where my brother lives for the family get-together. He’s used a big lump of MDF to turn his table into something from a film set with 16 of us round it, and a jolly time is had by all.

Mind you, that’s not until after I’ve parked myself in the corner of the room with the laptop for an hour to write up the Luke Young story for the Star, and also a piece with Swansea midfielder Leon Britton about how Harry Redknapp helped launch his career. Modern e-mails make mixing work and pleasure so much simpler. I can remember one year when my boys were small we took them on the Severn Railway to visit Santa’s Grotto. While everybody else was queuing to see Santa, I was in the old red phone box at Arley Station dictating the previous day’s match report to a copytaker.

Thursday December 29
Starting to get into Sunday Mirror mode today. I have an arrangement with them to cover all the Midlands clubs, so need to think about some possible stories this weekend. First, however, there’s a Betfair column to write. The Betfair Blog – you’ll find it on http://betting.betfair.com – has been running four years now and without ever advertising itself has built by word of mouth and thanks to the wonders of Google a readership that many national newspapers would be pleased with. Today I’ve spotted some stories about Zak Hardaker, the young centre who has been given Keith Senior’s
shirt number at Leeds Rhinos. Leeds are reigning champions but long odds for this year’s Super League title, which seems a good bet to me.

The rest of the day is spent making some calls for a gossip with various contacts in the hope of finding some juicy information ahead of the transfer window opening. Sadly, there’s lots of chatter, but so far not too many stories.

Friday December 30
West Brom play Everton on Sunday, so I’ve got to provide a preview for the Sunday Mirror. Roy Hodgson is full of cold at his lunchtime press conference and not keen to do too much talking, but there’s a line with defender Gareth McAuley explaining how Roy Keane helped convince him that, at the age of 32, he was good enough to become a Premier League player. Then it’s in the car (again) to head for Kensington where I do a regular Friday shift as Night Sports News Editor at the Daily Mail.

Big print runs and early edition times always make Friday a busy night, but Liverpool playing Newcastle adds an extra twist. Then reporter Sami Mokbel gets confirmation that David Beckham is about to forget about joining PSG and sign a new contract with the LA Galaxy, so there’s more frantic re-drawing of pages going on. The Mail have an experienced team and all the deadlines are met – just. Head for home shortly after midnight when we’ve seen the first editions of the other papers. Tonight Bob Dylan’s Blood on the Tracks is the CD for singing loudly along with down the M4. Another Christmas present to fill a gap in my collection. Just as well there’s no sound on this
website.

Saturday, December 31, New Year’s Eve
Another day, another drive. We’ve lived in Bristol since 2000 when I spent two years as Bristol Rovers’ commercial director. I love the city as a place to live, but it suffers from being a long way from the nearest Barclays Premier League club, and I drive 40,000 miles or more a year. Today I’m covering Stoke against Wigan for the Daily Star, so the M5 and M6 are the motorways of choice.

Since the closure of the News of the World handed the Sunday Mirror nearly a million new readers the extra print run means a Saturday match report must be filed on the final whistle – not easy when all the action and talking points at Stoke are in the last 15 minutes. How cool is Roberto Martinez? He stayed calm enough to send on his specialist penalty taker Ben Watson, while everybody else was arguing about a soft decision, to earn his 10-man team a late equaliser. And how cool is Watson too, come to that, to step straight off the bench and score with his first kick. It makes a great match report line.

Drive home listening to 606 on Radio Five. Jason Roberts was a young striker when I worked for Bristol Rovers and he’s now becoming an excellent radio pundit. I thought he and Darren Fletcher dealt brilliantly with some emotional calls about the Luis Suarez situation.

Sunday January 1. New Year’s Day
New Year’s Day begins at midnight on Clifton Suspension Bridge watching the fireworks all across Bristol, and sharing with Sue a toast to the New Year. Hope it stays as busy as the last one! But today is a day off, so we finish the giant Wosgij (it’s a back to front jigsaw) that got started over Christmas, while keeping one eye on the telly to see Everton win at West Brom and Sunderland surprise Manchester City. Oh, and put yesterday’s stats into the computer so they are ready to go again at Aston Villa v Swansea tomorrow. What’s the phrase? We never close.

My Week: Christopher Davies

Posted on December 26, 2011 by FWA News Editor

Monday December 19
It is at times like this a guy finds out who his friends are, or even who his friend is. Someone, somewhere will be able to do the Christmas My Week…surely? I’ll ask a few of the lads. Bit of a bind having to keep a Christmas diary even for a great cause like the FWA but I have no doubt I can call up a favour or two from somebody. We all go back a long way.

So here I am starting the Christmas edition of My Week…

My first task of the day was to send last week’s My Week (apologies to the English language) by Tony Incenzo and Matt Scott’s Q&A to Fastwebmedia who produce the site. Still can’t get my head round Tony having all but 10 QPR home programmes since the War in his house which must be called Casa Programme.

Did a phone interview with Sam Delaney and Micky Quinn for talkSPORT’s lunch-time show. Spoke about the weekend’s football and while Manchester City v Arsenal was terrific entertainment, watching Barcelona beat Santos 4-0 in the Club World Cup final was another masterclass from Pep Guardiola’s superteam. We are privileged to be able to watch, thanks to Sky Sports, this perfection-touching side each week.

As I am on talkSPORT’s Breakfast Show with Alan and Ronnie tomorrow so I watched Crystal Palace 1, Birmingham 0. The sort of game I was happy not to have been covering, especially the first-half, but Palace deserved to win and Dougie Freedman is impressing me in his first full season as a manager.

As my alarm will go off (why do we say’ go off’ – shouldn’t it be ‘go on’?) at 5.15 Tonight, Happy Hour ends at 10.30pm tonight.

Tuesday December 20
Swore at the alarm when it went off/on at sparrow’s fart. Usual early morning routine – cup of coffee and bowl of muesli prepared the night before which should elevate me straight to the top of the Saddo League. Read some of the sports pages on line while having aforementioned breakfast, hit the road at 5.45am, driving through the beautiful south [-east London] to arrive at talkSPORT Towers at 6.20 where there is possibly the world’s smallest Christmas tree. Read the papers, made a few notes, quick chat with producer Dave Richards and on air with Alan and Ronnie at 7. Blackburn v Bolton was the main item, winced when I read about Scott Dann’s ruptured testicle. Cannot think of a more painful injury, not that I give a huge amount of thought to such things. There is a macabre interest in this el sackio game – and why do we call them six pointers? Is there a more pointless (sorry) cliché?

I cannot think of another industry where the boss gets so much abuse. Nowhere else would the head honcho turn up for work with thousands outside or inside wanting him to quit with banners bearing his name and the word ‘out’ after it. It is impossible to imagine how Steve Kean feels about the vitriol directed him by Blackburn fans. I think he’s conducted himself superbly under the circumstances but he was over-promoted by Venky’s. I wonder who advised them to sack Sam Allardyce, one of the most respected of Barclays Premier League managers with a consistent record of success, and appoint the untried Kean?

On top of el sackio, we also had the news the FA had found Liverpool’s Luis Suarez guilty of misconduct, fining him £40,000 and handing him an eight-game suspension for comments made to Patrick Evra. I’ll sleep on this one.

Wednesday December 21
Couldn’t wait to read the papers, deciding a bacon sarnie was the only possible accompaniment to see how everyone has treated the Suarez story. Half-way through the papers and sarnie it was announced the CPS will make a statement regarding John Terry this afternoon. With seven Barclays Premier League games, Kean and Suarez follow-ups plus JT sports desks are going to be rather busy tonight.

I am staggered Suarez was not legally advised to say nothing, putting the burden of proof on the FA’s independent regulatory board. By admitting he used the word, because to him it was not offensive, this was the only evidence in the case. Had he kept quiet, with no witnesses it would have been impossible for the FA to find him guilty…one man’s word against another’s. In whichever context Suarez believed he was using ‘negrito’ it still breaches FA regulations on references to a player’s colour. Ignorance is no excuse for breaking a rule/law. I can accept in his mind he probably didn’t use it as an out and out racist term and we have read how the word is non-offensive in South America. I have a mate whose Colombian wife is known as Negra because of her jet-black hair. She is white and her nickname translates to Blackie. But Suarez is in England. And when in…

I still have issues with the FA’s disciplinary system. They allow too many potential leg-breakers to escape punishment, hiding behind a non-existent FIFA rule they claim makes it impossible for them to act if the referee has seen the incident (even FIFA say this is not the case) but it is welcome to see the game’s guardians taking a zero tolerance stance against racism. I suspect the eventual publication of the commission’s evidence will make their decision clearer. For Liverpool players to wear Suarez T-shirts was crass. The guy has been found guilty of making a remark about an opponent’s colour and his team-mates wear T-shirts in support of him.

After Suarez, Terry has also been charged, denying allegations of using racist language towards QPR’s Anton Ferdinand. This is the hottest of potatoes for the FA but little can be said or done until after the trial in the New Year. Tottenham v Chelsea tomorrow – of all the games… It doesn’t feel very Christmassy.

Thursday December 22
Breakfast and back-page racism stories – again. Most of the heavy hitters believe that while there must be a presumption of innocence John Terry should not captain England if the case drags on after the Holland game on February 29. Have to write a column for Japan today and while I think there is much wrong with the FA’s disciplinary system, they are right to take a zero tolerance stance on racism. AVB said eh will support Terry ‘even if he is found guilty’ which many will see as effectively condoning racism.

Tottenham 1 Chelsea 1 was marvellous entertainment, a match that showed the passion, skill and excitement of the Barclays Premier League. Another mistake by Petc Cech which Graeme Souness believed could be a legacy of the head injury sustained a few years ago. Glenn Hoddle uttered a phrase I’d like to see banned – ‘I’ve seen them given for that.’

Friday December 23
Breakfast with Ryan Giggs, well sort of. ‘I risked it all for secret sex with Ryan…now i want Rhodri back’ Natasha, Giggs’ sister-in-law tells the Sun. I am sure that is the best way to repair a broken marriage. She goes on: ‘I hope time can heal the pain I’ve cause.’ Course it will, give it a few weeks. ‘I cheated on my husband with his own brother who just happens to be one of the most famous men in Britain…it was never going to end any way but badly.’ Spot on there, Natasha.

I am in charge of the family dinner. Cooking is my passion. I have been to cookery classes including a Masterchef course; today I prepared the turkey crown with chestnut stuffing wrapped in bacon.

Went to Waitrose at Bromley…I have this theory that as many people visit others at Christmas and therefore won’t be cooking the supermarkets and shops should be no busier than at any other time. Like many of my theories it is a load of cajones.

Mark Cavendish Sports Personality of the Year has good coverage today. I have never been able to equate personality with sporting skill, though. What does personality have to do with sport? It is the most ridiculous title. There is a strong case for Cav to be Sportsman of the Year but Personality almost disregards his huge achievements.

Saturday December 24
No games today. What I really mean is no match fee. Sob. A day off so a chance to finalise my Chrissie shopping. Well, do it actually. The entire population of the universe seemed to be in Bromley but I shop better under pressure. Bought a rather splendid shirt for my son that will no doubt be on sale for half the price I paid come Boxing Day.

Yuletide television tends to be the same shows as we watch the rest of the year with the word ‘Christmas’ or ‘Special’ in the title, sometimes both. The worst is when they broadcast a Christmas Special repeat. How special can it be when it was shown last year? The other word to beware of is ‘Celebrity’ – thankfully I have not [yet] noticed a Celebrity Whatever Christmas Special.

Sunday December 25
The Sunday Times (Santa Times?) is published today, the first time I can remember a newspaper on Christmas Day. I cannot believe it is profitable, given how few retail outlets are open and how much it costs to distribute.

No work today (apart from this). Family Christmas, couple of pints in the Ramblers rest, Chislehurst, my turkey crown washed down with liberal lashings of Barolo. Pressie opening, bought my mother tickets to see Jackie Mason in March. ‘You are my favourite son,’ she said.

I am an only child…

My Week: Tony Incenzo

Posted on December 19, 2011 by FWA News Editor

How Queens Park Rangers have taken over his house, visiting 1,736 football grounds and attending his 986th consecutive QPR home game

Sunday December 11th
After a good Saturday night out socialising, it’s time to catch up on the weekend’s football action. I have recorded all the highlights and goals from the Barclays Premier League and Championship so I sit down to watch them. Contemporary football fans no doubt take this extensive television coverage for granted. But when I was a kid growing up in London, things were much simpler. We only saw two games on Match Of The Day on a Saturday night back then. Then on the Sunday afternoon, ITV’s The Big Match had a main London game plus two regional fixtures. And Wednesday night saw a cup tie (European competition, League Cup or FA Cup replay) screened by either BBC1’s Sportsnight With Coleman or ITV’s Midweek Sports Special. If you watched all that – which I did – then you knew everything about football for the week. It is all so different nowadays.

Monday December 12th
I am working on a history feature for the QPR club programme. It concerns a couple of fixtures from the great 1975/76 season where Rangers missed out on the League title by a point to Liverpool. So I dig out the scrapbooks that I kept at that time and read a number of match reports. I find 35 year old articles by the likes of Brian Madley in the Sunday People, Alex Montgomery in The Sun and Jeff Powell in the Daily Mail. When I was at school, other lads used to laugh at me because I diligently kept football scrapbooks. Now the cuttings are invaluable to me. I also have all but 10 QPR home programmes dating back to the Second World War, which I am constantly referring to as research tools. This football archive has taken over my house. Four of the spare bedrooms are stuffed full of memorabilia. I wonder how much a loft conversion will cost as I am desperately running out of space.

Tuesday December 13th
I put the finishing touches to a 5,100 word focus on Queens Park Rangers for the AirAsia in-flight magazine. This airline company are one of QPR’s new sponsors and so they want to introduce their passengers to the club. It is an interesting project for me as it is not aimed directly at football fans. So I have to write in a way that will hopefully interest a broad spectrum of people sitting on a plane. I outline the history of Rangers, the players’ pen pictures, reports on three of the club’s greatest matches, a focus on the Loftus Road stadium, plus interviews with Neil Warnock and Stan Bowles. Bowles is my favourite all-time player. I idolised him when I was a child. I find it amazing that I can now ring him up for a chat and he is always pleased to hear from me.

Wednesday December 14th
More programme articles today – this time for Watford FC. I compile a two page Diary Of A Groundhopper for all their home games. This focuses on my visits to football grounds around the country. Recent columns have varied from reviewing Brighton’s new stadium to attending a fixture in the London Airport Midweek League. I have watched matches at 1,736 football grounds to date so it is quite a passion of mine. The Groundhopper feature seems to be well received by Watford’s supporters and a couple of other clubs have already contacted me about including it in their programmes for next season.

Thursday December 15th
Today I am working on an article for FC Business Magazine about AFC Totton’s new stadium. This venue was showcased on ITV recently for a live FA Cup Second Round tie against Bristol Rovers. I interview Totton’s chairman to find out the benefit of their ground relocation and type up 1,500 words.

Friday December 16th.
I awake to see three inches of snow settling in my garden. My first thoughts are on how this will affect the forthcoming football fixtures. But I have to be prepared – come what may. So it is my stats day and I thoroughly immerse myself in the two matches I am scheduled to cover at the weekend. I plonk myself down in front of the computer and research goalscorers, appearances, past meetings, bookings, red cards, suspensions and quirky links between the teams involved. All this information is readily available on the internet of course. How did we ever survive before the world wide web? The only team news back in the old days was on Ceefax, Clubcall or in the papers.

Saturday December 17th.
I am booked to report on Swindon Town versus Morecambe for Sky TV’s Soccer Saturday programme. I set off for the West Country by train and arrive early so have time for a lovely pasta lunch in the hotel restaurant opposite the railway station. The match itself sees Swindon comfortably win 3-0 and their manager Paolo Di Canio gives an entertaining press conference afterwards.

Sunday December 18th.
I set off for Shepherd’s Bush with the trembling anticipation of a young child on Christmas Day. It is Queens Park Rangers versus Manchester United – probably the biggest game at Loftus Road for 15 years – and I am the touchline reporter for talkSPORT. But a Wayne Rooney goal in the opening minute dampens the home crowd’s excitement and United are worthy 2-0 winners at the end. This is the 986th consecutive QPR home game I have attended (League, cups, friendlies and testimonials) dating back to April 1973.

My Week: Matt Dickinson

Posted on December 12, 2011 by FWA News Editor

We find out what The Times’ Matt Dickinson got up to during a week that took him to Spain and El Clasico.

Monday December 5
Monday morning. Column day. Some Mondays you wake up with a few scratchy thoughts and a dauntingly empty page to fill. Thankfully this is not one of them. Today Platini gets it, with both barrels. Load, aim, fire…

The decision to award the 2022 World Cup to Qatar is far and away the most outrageous and illogical in my time covering sport. I remember visiting Doha before the vote and laughing out loud at the idea that a World Cup could come to this tiny Emirate where people die either of boredom or heatstroke.

For Michel Platini to have voted for Qatar will forever compromise him and he’s been blathering about it again. One of the easier columns I’ve had to write. And I suspect it won’t be the last time I return to that subject. Only 10 years of campaigning left….

In between writing that column, it’s a drive to Gerrard’s Cross to meet Chrissie Wellington, Britain’s four-time world champion at Ironman. Chrissie is a great interviewee; bright, robust with plenty to say, especially about the BBC SPOTY furore. Quite understandably, she is angry about the absence of a woman on the shortlist and even more so at the failure to have any women on the voting panel. It’s a huge cock-up by the BBC.

Tuesday December 6
Write up the Wellington piece, all 1700 words of it. Again, one of those articles that flows easily (I wish they were all like that) because there is a newsy issue and so many great quotes, from her
disdain for Gary Lineker over the SPOTY row to her explanation of how on earth you keep going for more than eight hours in an Ironman. And then there’s the stuff about how you make emergency toilet stops but you probably don’t need that here…

Head to Chelsea against Valencia in the Champions League. I’m at Stamford Bridge as the feature writer which means having to engage brain before kick-off about likely themes. Thankfully Didier Drogba, a walking melodrama, is in the mood, scoring twice, setting up another. It’s a great win for Chelsea though eyebrows are raised in the media room afterwards when Andre Villas-Boas says that the win is a “slap in the face” for his critics. Steady on, AVB.

Wednesday December 7
It’s a train to Manchester for City against Bayern Munich. It isn’t a bad game, and there’s a tale to be written because, for all the squillions spent by City’s Arab owners, they are heading out of the Champions League. But occasionally you know that you are not where the real action is taking place and the news that Basle have taken the lead against United confirms it.

City and United are dumped in the Europa League and suddenly we are all looking up when the final of that competition will be played (May 9) and where (Bucharest). Thursday nights just got busier.

Thursday December 8
Day off which means travelling back from Manchester, making various phone calls, tweeting (which remains annoyingly addictive even on the days when you despair at the abuse) and researching a book. This is a job which easily expands to fill all the hours in the day.

Friday December 9
Up at 5am for a flight to Madrid to preview the clasico. It’s going to be my fourth clasico of 2011. The first three have produced nine goals (four for Messi), five red cards (plus Mourinho dismissed), two mass brawls and enough fireworks to mark a new Millennium. So here’s hoping.

Plane is delayed by an hour and a half so land in Madrid, sprint through the airboard, dive into a taxi, dash to the training ground and….. Jose isn’t turning up. Not really a surprise given that he’s been on best behaviour since the eye-poking at the Super Cup. But disappointing nevertheless. Aitor Karanka, his assistant, is not a man who is going to sell newspapers.

Dinner in Madrid with Marc Aspland, the best sports photographer in the business, Sid Lowe of the Guardian and Guillem Balague. Perhaps a little too much Rioja consumed.

Saturday December 10
El Clasico. The biggest club game in the world. Not a bad climax to a busy week. There’s a mad scrum outside the Bernabeu as I’m walking around. Rafael Nadal has just arrived. This is a game that everyone wants to see.

A goal for Real after 23 seconds sets up a great night of football. If Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t in abject form, perhaps it might have been different but Barcelona hold their nerve, trust in their possession game and eventually dominate a match they might have won by more than 3-1 to leapfrog Real at the top of La Primera Liga. Mourinho talks afterwards about bad luck but even he must know, deep down, that Real have been comprehensively outplayed. A short piece for online is my only requirement so I can enjoy the spectacle.

Sunday December 11
Fly home. Write up 1000 words of Clasico report. Someone has seen that I’ve been to the Bernabeu and tweeted “you have a great job”. After a week like that, I wouldn’t dream of disagreeing.

My Week: John Richardson

Posted on December 5, 2011 by FWA News Editor

Sunday Express writer and close friend of Gary Speed, John Richardson, writes about his difficult week in the aftermath of the Wales manager’s death.

Sunday November 27th.

A lovely Sunday morning, the traditional walk with my wife Sue – I don’t know how she puts up with me either – by the river in our home city of Chester which must encompass a bacon or sausage bap in our favourite waterside cafe.

It’s one of the delights of being a Sunday newspaper man – Sundays completely to yourself. If you’re lucky maybe Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays as well. If Sports Editor is reading this, just joking.

What’s this, a missed call from Chris Bascombe of the Daily Telegraph? What does he want on a Sunday morning? Maybe he just wants to check something out.

Nothing personal Chris but it’s probably the worst return call I’ve made in my life. He informs me very hesitantly knowing the likely impact that there are rumours circulating about Gary Speed. “Like what?” I enquire a little nervously. “That he’s hung himself,” answered Chris.

My mind is in a complete whirl. Speedo is a big mate. I’ve got three chapters of his autobiography sitting in my bottom drawer. We often meet in his local for a chat, both living in the area. He and his lovely wife Louise joined us on a boat on the River Dee to help celebrate our wedding just over four years ago.

This has got to be one of the sickest rumours that has ever circulated around the football world…surely? But the fact that Chris had heard it from two different sources put me on edge.

I rang a mutual mate, fellow Welshman Ian Rush. He would be able to nail these stories. He was in Dubai and the way he answered his phone suggested the worst case scenario. Normally he would be ready with a quip. This time it was a solemn “Hi Ricco.”

“You’ve heard the rumours Rushy about Speedo?” I replied. “Yeah, I think they’re true mate,” were the words I will never forget.

Right, there’s only one way to prove everyone is barking up the wrong tree. I’ll ring Speedo. His mobile rang out – there you are it’s not switched off, he’ll answer in a moment. I’ll be able to tell him there’s some sick people out there. It went into message. “Do us a favour pal can you ring me back. I’ll then put you in the picture about some gossip doing the rounds.”

There would be no ring back. Within half an hour the news is out. Gary Speed who appeared to have the perfect life had ended it all at the age of 42.

I couldn’t handle it. All I could think of was the numerous conversations we had about the two boys Ed and Tommy who he absolutely doted on. I sobbed and then felt guilty that I hadn’t felt this bad when my lovely mum died in May. She was 86, had enjoyed a full life and was suffering from dementia. Speedo had the world at his feet at a relatively young age.

Took the father in law out for a meal as planned but it was a surreal afternoon. Originally told Sue I don’t care if he has to miss out on a pudding I want to get back for the Liverpool-Manchester City game on Sky Sports.

Now I couldn’t care less if he wanted to go through the card. Football was inconsequential. Arrived home at half-time. Watched the second half in a daze. Saw Mario Balotelli get himself sent off. But yesterday Speedo was alive, today he is isn’t…

Monday November 28th.

Went swimming after buying the normal mound of newspapers. There’s my mate all over them, a poignant reminder that it hadn’t been a nightmare that you wake up from.

Everywhere you go people – many of whom aren’t even interested in football – are talking about why somebody as rounded and principled as Speedo would end it all.

Never had so many text messages or spoken to so many people in such a short time – all about the one subject.

Had an interesting chat with Kevin Ratcliffe, a former Wales international and mutual mate who had played golf with Speedo on the Thursday. We were going around in circles, why? why? why?

For a few minutes we puncture the gloom by recalling the time when Speedo used to, or probably more correctly, didn’t deliver newspapers to then Everton star, Ratcliffe. “No wonder I never gave him a tip at Christmas,” Rats chuckled. “He was ruddy hopeless.”

For his book Speedo had admitted that if he was running late or his bike developed a puncture Rats, being one of the last people on the round, would miss out.

Sat up late unable to read the deluge of tributes in the papers just wondering whether I could have done anything to have prevented this tragedy. Had there been any signs of a change in Speedo’s character? I know I wasn’t alone in examining the previous weeks.

After all he had appeared on BBC’s Football Focus on the Saturday exuding all that charisma which lit up rooms.

Tuesday November 29th.

Typical of a so called journalist, I’m struggling to write the sympathy card to Louise and the boys. Can hear Speedo in my ear wondering why he had chosen me to help him write his autobiography when according to him I couldn’t even spell.

A few weeks ago a couple of financial problems surrounding the Wales team had got him down and he was fleetingly talking about making a stand and maybe resigning. I asked him where he was calling from. He replied he was at the Trafford Centre with Louise shopping. I told him he could be shopping every day if he quit.

“You’re right,” he chortled. “I’d better stay working.”

I know one day this week I will have to write my personal tribute for Sunday’s paper. Can’t face it right now. To be honest I’m struggling to piece together my week’s schedule. A light has gone out, football and life isn’t the same at the moment.

Have tickets to watch one of my favourite bands, an Irish group called The Saw Doctors in Liverpool. Sue and I go ahead and thankfully for two and a half hours the gloom is lifted.

Wednesday November 30th.

Thankfully this is the last day of my personal Ramadan. It’s been a tradition for a number of years now that myself and a group of mates don’t touch a drop of alcohol in November. Safe to say I can always tell you what date we are in this month as it seems to last longer than a John Ley intro.

Already made plans for lent to end the next night in the local with a good pint of Cheshire Cat.

Having been in Liverpool the previous night I had recorded the Carling Cup quarter-final highlights. Watch them with interest especially Chelsea’s latest demise against Liverpool.

Received a lot of stick for calling Chelsea manager Andres Villas-Boas “an imposter” on the Sunday Supplement. That might have been a bit strong but have you ever seen a manager look so out of his depth?

Was told that Steve Bruce was on his way at Sunderland after a meeting with owner Ellis Short. Not out yet but one thing’s for certain the story isn’t going to last until Sunday.

Watch Manchester United tumble out of the Carling Cup against Crystal Palace. Want to see some of these Palace youngsters for myself. Not disappointed. It’s great for the Championship which is almost forgotten, especially by the BBC who show it during the graveyard shift on a Saturday night.

Thursday December 1st.

What a marvellous day, the first day of December. Already made plans to visit the local, Harkers, in the evening for that first pint. Better do some work first. Can’t put it off any longer, deliver 1,000 words for my Gary Speed tribute. It just came from the heart.

Make several calls to contacts for pieces for my column but of course the conversations were dominated by you know who.

Finally it’s that time – off to the pub with wife and step daughter who can always sniff out a free meal.

Break off to speak to some of the regulars in their corner – a place where Speedo would often pop in for an hour or so on a Monday evening. Plenty of hugs and tears. Great lads who are hurting.

Four pints down the hatch aided and abetted by fish finger sandwiches – don’t laugh, they are all the vogue now. Crikey we’ll soon be having egg, sausage and chips for our January Tribute dinner at the Savoy. And why not?

Friday December 2nd.

Off to Manchester for a double date with Sir Alex Ferguson and Roberto Mancini. For Sunday purposes it’s all about Champions League previews. En route while flying down the M56 I’m talking live – and hands-free – with Rob McCaffrey, former Sky Sports host who has TV and radio shows in Dubai.

It’s his radio show which is full of middle of the road pop crap – don’t worry I’ve told him and his listeners about the motley collection of records. Makes Ken Bruce seem like John Peel. At least one week he managed to find a Bruce Springsteen track to try and pacify me. After all there’s only so much Chirpy Chirpy Cheep Cheep you can take while waiting to express your views.

Fergie in good mood although I cop it when I’m out of the blocks too quickly for the Sunday conference which follows his top table briefing with TV and the dailies. “Richardson, where are you going?” he barks at least with a smile. Had enough hair dryers over the years to open up a hairdressers.

Always more relaxed with the Sundays mainly because we’re prehistoric and he has pity that we are still roaming the football world.

Off next door to see Bobby Manc. He is more relaxed now and starting to understand the English media. Talk about the forthcoming game with Bayern Munich. He’s confident City can still remain in the Champions League. His team seems unstoppable in the Premier League.

Told football is off in the evening. I know, don’t laugh…still playing at my age along with Roscoe Tanner of the Daily Express. Something about pitch maintenance. Go swimming instead. Anyway always a chance of chatting up some decent totty in the sauna instead of listening to Roscoe dribbling on.

Saturday December 3rd.

The day from hell. On the road before 7am to travel up to Tyneside for Newcastle v Chelsea knowing I’ve then got to drive down to London to appear on Sunday morning’s Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement. Vanity sometimes gets in the way.

Never enjoy covering Newcastle – kick every ball as well as trying to concentrate on compiling a half decent match report. Feeling okay until walking down to St. James’ Park after parking up and see a billboard on a lamp-post advertising the Gary Speed tribute programme. Whack, I’ve gone again, God knows what I will be like when they hold the minute’s applause?

Actually I’m okay until I see Newcastle coach John Carver crying his eyes out being comforted by fourth official and top guy Mark Halsey.

Chelsea win 3-0 but only after somehow David Luiz is given a yellow card instead of red. See one of the best ever goalkeeping displays from Newcastle’s Tim Krul. Impressed by how Villas-Boas handles himself in after match press conference.

After four and half hours finally arrive at the Marriott, Heathrow – my traditional overnight stay when appearing on the Supplement. Just have enough time to visit the local McDonalds for a quick take-away before getting back to the room in time for Match Of The Day.

There’s an obvious language problem. Ask for large Fiesta Chicken. Get a Latte. No large please, don’t even like coffee. Finally believe I’ve made a breakthrough and eagerly take my package with orange instead of coffee back to room. Somehow the Fiesta Chicken has transformed into what looks like a Big Mac. So hungry by now could have eaten a horse – probably have!

Sunday December 4th.

Never sleep well before Supplement duty so awake before alarm goes off at 6.45 am. Picked up by car and into Sky to meet host extraordinaire Brian Woolnough and producer Dave Wade. Honestly feel Woolly is one of the best presenters on TV and a top bloke to boot. (If that doesn’t continue my appearances, don’t know what will). On with two mates which always helps – Rob Beasley and Paddy Barclay.

Good knockabout stuff although receive a gentle telling off for telling Beez that he’s a “tight arse” after he admitted he doesn’t tip his postman at Christmas. Trouble was it’s picked up live after coming back from an advert break. Not exactly a Richard Keys-Andy Gray job though is it?

Drive back to Chester listening to Andy Dunn on Five Live or is it Five Dead! Come on Dunny raise your game. Seriously as usual he talked a lot of sense. Good to have him back on the Sunday Mirror.

Quick meal with my good lady and it’s off to Manchester to watch Coldplay at the Arena. Why is it that, unlike football, you never know when the group or singer you have gone to see are going to come back on stage? Finally Chris Martin and the crew bounce on stage at 9.15 pm. Enjoy a rousing 90 minutes but takes nearly as long to get out of the car park.

Arrive back home at 12.30 am, the missus asleep in the car even though The Stranglers are on full blast.

Pogo to bed.

My Week: Janine Self

Posted on November 28, 2011 by FWA News Editor

You can read the winceyette pyjama-wearing, long distance driving Janine’s glamorous job in the People and Daily Mail.

Sunday November 20
Door to door, the commute takes about 30 seconds. Roll out of bed, stagger down corridor, enter office, plonk down in front of PC. None of this “what shall I wear” malarky. Winceyette pyjamas and hair rollers meet the dress code at Self Towers. Hah, you thought this job was glamorous? My first task of this working day (weekends are working days, generally) is to put the finishing touch to part of my match order from the previous day.

Having already written 750 words after the game for The People, I am now on Daily Mail duty, completing the Monday morning Match Zone box. I need to find a Top Tweet from the West Brom v Bolton game. Easy in theory, ridiculously hard in practice. Finally, after sending out a series of Twitter maydays, I’m pointed in the direction of someone who I’m assured is the real Phil Gartside. Hope so anyway, although his tweet is so banal it can’t be fake. Can it?

Match Zone sent, breakfast consumed (croissant and coffee) then it’s time to write a 400 word match report which will go on Mail on-line at 10.30pm. Pressures of space mean that there is simply no room for most Saturday matches in the Monday paper.

Now for the second part of my working day. I’m off to the Mail office to do a night news desk shift. The commute is slightly longer and I decide against turning up in either the winceyette pyjamas or the hair rollers. Door to door it’s 145 miles one way and the journey becomes a pigging one thanks to thick fog. Arrive in Kensington for 5.0ish. The simplest way to describe the job is that you are a conduit between reporting staff and the production desk. The only late sport tonight is the tennis at the O2 – Rafa Nadal’s press conference starts at past midnight and the Mail’s erudite tennis correspondent, Mike Dickson, is on the case. Leave the office at 1.0am for the short drive home. At least the fog has cleared.

Monday November 21
Knackered. Then again, I tumbled into bed at 4.0am. Unlike the song, I actually quite like Mondays. It’s usually an invoice-sending, money-chasing, books-updating slob-out day of catching up except when I’m on podcast duty (more of that later).

First though, I log on to socqer.com to answer a couple of questions. It’s one of the projects that I’m involved with – a football questions and answers site, which has been launched quite recently. Questions range from the in-depth to the inane and so do the answers.

After that I have one more task. I am on the committee of the Sports Journalists’ Association and every week the website publishes the week’s sporting quotes. Usual contributor, Ian Cole, is up to his neck in organising the SJA’s prestigious Sports Awards lunch on December 7 so I have stepped off the bench. My favourite is Gary Neville’s brilliant description of David Luiz – he looks like he’s being controlled by a ten-year-old on a Playstation. My day finishes in front of the tv, watching Tottenham toy with Aston Villa.

Tuesday November 22
A morning of leaf-sweeping, an afternoon as a domestic goddess and then it’s Birmingham v Burnley for the Mail. Arrive early, tuck in to cajun chicken, sweet potato fries and Mediterranean vegetables – excellent fare considering that the club have no money and are in the Championship. The press room is virtually empty – many journalists have decamped to the FA Cup replay at Stourbridge. Nice to catch up with Darren in the Burnley press office and to poke fun at the slugs on the upper lips of Chris and Andy in the Birmingham press office. Birmingham win 2-1 with an injury-time goal – some 20 minutes AFTER I have sent my match report. I pick up the phone and talk the goal through with the sub-editor who is handling my copy. Wait for managers – both excellent value – then do a 350 word re-write and head home. I’m always hyper after a night match so stay up and watch the Champions League highlights. Napoli are quite good.

Wednesday November 23
Day off – apart from answering socqer.com questions, exchanging twitter banter, taking several phone calls and speaking to a man about a book. And does watching Chelsea labour in Leverkusen count as work?

Thursday November 24
Alarm goes off at 5.0am. A crazy day. First, podcast. This is my chance to sit on a red sofa and pontificate with the BT Life’s A Pitch panel and mine host, the multi-faceted Michael Calvin. Mike’s show is bi-weekly and there are a dozen or so journalists who contribute regularly. I’m a late stand-in today and my fellow “pundits” are Ian Ridley, author extraordinaire, and old chum John Cross of the Mirror. There is one logistical problem. I live in the Midlands and the BT headquarters is next to St Paul’s tube station. And I have to be there for 9.30am.

I hit the road at quarter to six, breathe a sigh of relief that there is no fog, ice or rain, just pitch-blackness and pull up at Perivale tube station at 8.30am, giving me time to check the morning headlines. Then it’s 35 minutes on the Central Line. The guys at BT are great. Opt for a strong cup of coffee but decline the offer of a sausage sandwich as we talk about what we’re going to talk about. Today Chelsea crisis, Manchester United blip in Europe, Crystal Palace, Birmingham City, transfer watch and manager of the season, so far (I go for Chris Powell at Charlton). We head to the studio around 10.0am then it’s make-up, lights, action.

As soon as we finish, I am off. The Mail have asked me to cover Mick McCarthy’s pre-match press conference, at Wolves’ training ground, at 2.0pm. Wolves are playing Chelsea, after all. I drive away from Perivale tube station at midday, which means I am not so much cutting it fine as embarking on mission impossible. Luckily, the way MM operates is to speak to the tv guys first, then radio, and finally written. I arrive at Compton at 2.25pm to find Mick still talking to the cameras. Phew.

Mick’s on fine form, too, accepting with good grace that he will spend a lot more time on the subject of Chelsea than the subject of Wolves. He gives the written press 20 minutes, finishing off with a message of encouragement for Matt Jarvis, whose form has dipped since his England call-up. The consensus is to keep the Jarvis line for Saturday morning as the match preview.

I realise as I’m driving home that I have not actually eaten anything but a banana all day. Thankfully there is a cold sausage lurking in the fridge when I get home. So far my working day has been 13 hours long and I’ve driven about 320 miles. Write my Wolves story for the Mail and crash out.

Friday November 25
While I am a freelance (available to work for anyone, in other words), my two regular newspaper gigs are for The People and the Mail. This weekend Aston Villa play at Swansea on Sunday so I’m on preview duty for The People, which means a trip down to Villa’s training ground – A SHORT DRIVE AWAY.

Last week we spoke to Alex McLeish about Spurs so today the club have made defender James Collins available to the Sunday papers. I know Collins from covering Wales and he is a very good talker. He is brutally honest about his own and Villa’s shortcomings in the defeat at Spurs. It will make a good read for Sunday. Bump into Alex McLeish on the way in and he looks at my boots and my gilet and asks: “Have you left your horse outside?”

He’s being peppered with insults and criticism from every angle but McLeish is a class act as a person even if I am now questioning his sense of humour. Consider bowling up in winceyette pyjamas and hair rollers next time.

Saturday November 26
Match day. West Brom v Tottenham and I’m really looking forward to seeing Spurs “in the flesh”. Food at The Hawthorns is of the pie and pastie variety with delicious creamy things and the strongest, most undrinkable coffee imaginable. Make the fatal mistake of mentioning the diary to the troops. Monday – did the ironing. Tuesday – vacuumed. And so on. Men will be boys, after all. My match order is 750 words on the final whistle and same again, with quotes, at 6.0pm. After a ropey start, Harry Redknapp’s team start to strutt their stuff although West Brom contributed fully to a great match. Even better, both managers are in the press room to give the post-match verdict very quickly. Email the re-write just before 6.0 and head home.

Sunday November 27
On the road 5.30am. Gale force winds and driving rain make the journey more interesting . Back down to London, this time for a day news desk shift on the Mail. Groundhog day for this diary. Miles driven this week – over 1,000. Days worked – most of them. And you thought this job was glamorous.

My Week: Colin Young

Posted on November 21, 2011 by FWA News Editor

The non-breakfasting Ireland correspondent of the Daily Mail takes us behind the scenes of the Republic’s qualification for Euro 2012…

Monday November 8
An international week with the Republic of Ireland always starts at Newcastle airport, followed by the joys of a certain low budget airline. Thankfully I always manage to fall asleep on planes as soon as they start to taxi, so I have no idea what all the fuss is about. Myself and my colleague Damian Spellman from the Press Association, another North East football hack, arrive in wind-swept Dublin after midday and head straight to the White Sands Hotel, our regular base for these trips, which is a pleasant mile walk along the coast to the training ground.

First up for the week is a meeting with Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni in Malahide United’s clubhouse. He is in feisty mood at the start of a long week, and he keeps repeating the mantra that Ireland are not favourites. Like us, the Estonia coach will not believe a word of it, but his assistant Marco Tardelli will repeat it also later in the week. After a short break, we head to the Grand Hotel in Malahide for a mixed zone with members of the Ireland squad. Jon Walters appears first for the daily newspapers and his interview will appear in tomorrow’s papers. The words of Stephen Kelly, Stephen Ward and Paul McShane will be held for editions over the next few days.

Tuesday November 9
I missed breakfast this morning but then we had a late start.

It was midday before we made our way back to the training ground and a meeting with Shay Given. Only there is a problem, the Aston Villa is absent from training with a neck strain and has stayed at the team hotel. When the players head straight to the bus after training, it’s clear we don’t have a player to interview. Assistant Marco Tardelli confirms Given’s injury. Turns out he has rested along With Richard Dunne, Keith Fahey and Keith Andrews. None serious, but we have our news story, especially for the back pages of the Irish editions.

Shay can’t provide us with an interview but he gives us a newsline. His absence from the media rota means a shifting in the running order from the mixed zone. So Fulham’s Stephen Kelly, who will start in place of the injured John O’Shea, moves from Wednesday to Tuesday and will be run alongside the Paul McShane interview.

My Irish Daily Mail colleague Philip Quinn sat in on the Ward interview, I sat in on Kelly and McShane, so I have a busy afternoon in my makeshift office with Mr Spellman above the White Sands reception area. With news coming from Sunderland on Connor Wickham’s injury, we both spend several hours tapping away furiously before retiring to the hotel bar for a well-earned pint of the black stuff. Or two.

Wednesday November 10
I missed breakfast today but we had a shot-gun start and a meeting with Mr Given in the clubhouse.

With wind and rain battering us, it was decided, quite rightly, to head indoors for the interviews, which were also carried by TV and radio. After training, Marco was around too with better news of the injured four, who all trained. The final decision Trapattoni must make is whether to start with Walters or Cox upfront as partner for Robbie Keane who is fit again.

The Irish Daily Mail is carrying five pages on the play-offs tomorrow, plus a short back page story, and between us Quinner and I deliver the lot, on top of an interview with Middlesbrough’s Tarmo Kink. So another busy afternoon in the White Sands bashing away at the keyboard. With Mr Spellman en route to Tallinn, I decided to go for a run down the coast road, which was bracing to say the least. Then just as I laid my head in the bath, news came through of Newcastle’s decision to change the name of St James’ Park…

Thursday November 11
I missed breakfast this morning because the kitchen was not even open when I left my hotel.

It was darker when I left this morning, than it was last night when I went to bed. I was very good and went to bed early last night but my alarm clock, which is a replica of the chimes of Big Ben, still had to belt out several `Bongs’ before I emerged from a deep slumber. Still, at least I will sleep on the plane. We are heading to Tallinn this morning, which is one of my favourite cities from 12 years of covering the Republic of Ireland, but not with the team who flew out yesterday. A couple of hours after our arrival we will head to the A Le Coq Stadium for a press conference with Robbie Keane and Giovanni Trapattoni. The veteran Italian has done a tremendous job with limited resources player-wise and is like the grandfather of the game, but boy can he be difficult understand on these occasions, with his mixture of Italian, English, Irish, German and Portuguese. Or Trappish as we call it.

Thankfully, for the English and Irish editions, today I will be mainly concentrating on Keane, who has been enjoying himself in the States with LA Galaxy. The Ireland captain will play, despite being virtually ruled out by Trap a month ago after he was forced to miss the final group win over Armenia. In the pre-match press conference, with his manager sat beside him, the former Spurs man is in great form. And the message is quite simple. Ireland have worked too hard, been hurt too many times, particularly in Paris, to throw this all away now. And Robbie is desperate to lead his country in Poland or Ukraine.

Friday November 12
I missed breakfast this morning because match day is always one of quiet contemplation and relaxation.

That, and a late finish in one of Tallinn’s trendier bars, suggests breakfast was never really going to happen in the first place. So after a pleasant snooze, a delightful lunch in a medieval hall in the centre of town (wild boar soup followed by a sea full of smoken fish) myself and some colleagues head to our hotel spa area. Never have I felt so cleansed and cleaned and refreshed. There were enough jacuzzis, saunas, massage showers and pools to float a navy, including a salt sauna, which involves smothering oneself in rock salt and sitting in searing heat. A definite first, but when in Tallinn…

Then finally to match time. And after covering Ireland for 12 years across the globe, I have become accustomed to tension, anxiety and nerves. And that’s just to get the wi-fi working. While the technology lets us all down in the alleged techno capital of Europe, the team and Il Trap do not. Although a little fortunate with one or two refereeing decisions, Ireland blow their opponents away 4-0 and by full-time they are within touching distances of next summer’s finals. It is party time.

Saturday November 13
I made breakfast this morning, although that was only because the breakfast bar had opened by the time myself and several of my Irish newspaper colleagues were heading to bed.

Yes it was that kind of night, although in our defence we left the A Le Coq Arena at one am local time, and the bars of Tallinn were only too pleased to take our custom.

But when the bongs went off on my alarm half an hour ago, it was not particularly pleasant. And the prospect of a three-hour flight to Dublin, a Trapattoni press conference within half an hour of our return, does not exactly set the pulse racing.

However, we will all be professional to the end, we will all be present for the great man’s observations on a very very good night. Just don’t expect him to get carried away.

Sunday November 13
I missed breakfast this morning because it was another late start at a wind-swept Malahide United training ground. No point spoiling a well-deserved lie-in.

I did contact home several times in the morning for running reports on Deerness Valley Under 15s’ game against South Tyneside Jets, and my lad Tom’s team came out 5-0 victors. Who needs their manager eh?

And there were junior games on the many pitches at Malahide too, but we were there to see Marco Tardelli who met us in the car park and was surrounded by a crowd of journalists hanging on his every word through the howling gale. Four hours later, we were back at the Grand Hotel to see Keith Andrews, Stephen Hunt and Simon Cox.

Understandably the mood in the camp is good and light-hearted, which is reflected in the interviews. And that’s just the journos – although one or two of my colleagues are looking rather tired.

Last night was the PFAI annual awards’ dinner. I was down to attend but when guest speaker Roy Keane pulled out, so did I. Some of my colleagues landed at six, went straight from the airport to the Grand to meet Mr Trapattoni for his press conference and then headed out, suited and booted, to the black tie event on the other side of Dublin. The last award was presented just before midnight, by which time some of our number were falling asleep at their table.

There is news of a possible friendly against England in Dublin next June, providing the two avoid each other in the Euro Finals draw on December 2.

Monday November 14
I didn’t make breakfast this morning. But only because I didn’t want to break the habit of the week.

I did grab a croissant from the shop next door after an early start because today is another busy one. It is the North East FWA annual awards dinner next Sunday and as one of the organisers there is work to do, even from here. Nothing major, just sponsors, top table, comedian, MC, auction and raffle, tickets, guests. There are, as Mr Trapattoni would say, small details to cover but they need to be done for the event to, hopefully, run smoothly.

At lunchtime there is a meeting with Richard Dunne. Ten years ago he was one of three unused outfield players in Japan and South Korea. In the summer he will be one of the first names in Trapattoni’s starting line-up. `I can’t stop smiling,’ he said in the Malahide clubhouse. He is one of the Ireland players who really understands what it means to be back at the European Championship finals and his words will make a nice piece tomorrow.

After a very pleasant lunch with my friend and colleague Paul Hyland from the Herald, we head back to the Grand for the latest instalment from Trap and Keane. He names the team – Hunt, Doyle and O’Shea come in for Kelly, Walters and McGeady – and he announces that Robbie Keane has turned down the chance to return to LA Galaxy so he can play (and no doubt celebrate) tomorrow night. The current captain’s decision is in contrast to that of his predecessor and namesake Roy who returned to Manchester United after the first leg win over Iran ten years ago, pulling out of the second leg in Tehran because `the job was done.’ Should make for some interesting copy from my Irish colleagues tomorrow.

Tuesday November 15
I didn’t make breakfast this morning as I didn’t want to spoil my early morning run – incredibly the fourth of this 10-day Euro 2012 adventure.

I am running a marathon for the Cystic Fibrosis Trust next year (venue still to be confirmed and to fit in with the Euro Finals once Ireland have sealed qualification) and the long, long road to fitness has started this week. The run down the coast and around the beaches into Malahide is one of my favourites, providing you can negotiate a route past the fellow joggers, speed walkers, dogs and prams.

After checking up on a couple of stories from the North East patch as usual, it is the traditional late lunch – chicken wings at the Elephant and Castle – followed by a gentle walk down to Lansdowne Road, or the Aviva Stadium as it is now known. The build-up of green-shirted punters in the many bars in the roads leading to the ground suggests the stadium really will be a sell-out tonight, although I’m sure they say that every month.

It should be a party atmosphere, it should be a straight-forward game and three different match reports for the English and Irish editions (plus back page and player ratings for Dublin). But this is Ireland . . . though no one shed any tears when Trap’s team only drew 1-1.

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Category Archives: My Week