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Keith Meadows passes away

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Keith Meadows, a former sports reporter on the Daily Mirror in Manchester, has died following a long battle against cancer.

Meadows, 69, was NUJ FOC when Robert Maxwell shut down the northern operation in 1988 and played a major part in negotiating pay-offs for the staff.

His non-religious service will be held at Fred Hamer’s Funeral Home, James Street, Rawtenstall, Lancashire on Friday Aug 26 at 1pm. He will be laid to rest shortly afterwards at Rawtenstall cemetery, where he often walked his dogs.

A celebration of his extraordinary life will then take place in his favourite pub, The Black Dog, in his home village of Crawshawbooth just up the road from Rawtenstall from 2pm.

He wasn’t a fan of flowers, just York City, so any donations please to MacMillan Cancer Support or the Bleakholt Animal Sanctuary near Ramsbottom.

Meadows leaves a son, Mark, who is European sports correspondent for Reuters based in London after a four-year stint in Milan.

FWA National Golf Day

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The FWA National Golf Day is back! Thanks to the generous sponsorship of Vauxhall, the 2011 event will be held on Monday October 3 on the New Course at the London Hatfield Golf Club, which is about ten minutes from junction 24 of the M25.

The format will be the same as when the Day used to be held at Mottram Hall. There will be bacon rolls and coffee on arrival before a mid morning shotgun start. A warm buffet will be served afterwards along with prize giving.

The competition will be arranged in teams of four, with the best two Stableford scores (from ¾ handicap) on each hole counting to the team score. There will be an individual prize for the highest scoring FWA member.

Please fill in the form below to complete your application.

PLEASE NOTE APPLICATIONS CLOSE ON FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 9 STRICTLY AT 3pm.

You may apply to enter singly, or with up to three guests to form a team. Guests should be related to the football or newspaper industry, please. Please indicate the handicaps of those for which you apply. In the event that demand exceeds the supply of places, then preference will be given initially to accommodate FWA members.

For those who want to stop over, there is a special FWA rate available from the nearby DeVere Ponsbourne Park hotel, about 5 – 10 minutes drive away, at £29 B&B for Sunday night October 2nd, and £59 B&B for Monday night. There are a limited number of rooms available at that rate (20 each night), and they must be booked by September 15 to get that rate. People who want them should e-mail direct to Sarah Shackleton at the hotel on sshackleton@deverevenues.co.uk England will most likely be holding press conferences at The Grove on Tuesday morning ahead of that week’s international (we anticipate a number of FA staff, possibly including Fabio Capello, will be taking part).

St Mary’s report, July 2011

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The Football Writers’ Association national committee is pleased report that following discussions with John Nagle at the Football League, Southampton have agreed to resume holding post-match conferences upstairs in their excellent former press room rather than in the players’ tunnel, which had become customary but unsatisfactory in the past few seasons. The club have also agreed to an FWA request that opposing managers are brought up separately rather than at the same time.

Brighton and Hove Albion regret the “teething problems” working journalists experienced during their first Championship match against Doncaster at their new Amex Stadium on Saturday, August 6. National committee member Tony Hudd visited the Amex Stadium the following Tuesday and was assured by press officer Paul Camillin that the club were working hard to resolve the few problems.

The general consensus among journalists on the night was that the press facilities were exceptional.

Falmer Stadium Report, July 2011

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Since leaving their beloved Goldstone Ground in 1997, Brighton and Hove Albion endured a nomadic existence, lodging first in Kent at Gillingham’s Priestfield Stadium until 1999 before calling the cramped Withdean “home” until this year.

For supporters and press alike, the wait for a purpose-built stadium has been interminable.

That wait ends on Saturday, August 6 when the Albion kick off the 2011-2012 campaign against Doncaster in their stunning £93 million new home at Falmer. The 22,376 capacity Amex Stadium boasts state of the art press facilities, as FWA national commitee members Brian Scovell and Tony Hudd discovered on a specially arranged guided tour under the auspices of club press officer Paul Camillin.

Press Box

This is situated above the players’ tunnel and contains 50 padded seats. Under each seat is a power socket and ISDN lines are available. The club also intend installing screen monitors for the purpose of action replays. There is ample leg room under each of the desks while access in and out of the press box is easy. It is an exceedingly comfortable press box affording excellent views of the pitch whose dimensions are the same as those at Wembley. While we were there, the club we experimenting with a swipe card that would assist reporters in moving around.

Press Lounge

This is even bigger than Wembley’s and Brighton consider it the largest in the country. There is ample room for after-match interviews and to assist working journalists there are 50 power points. It is adjacent to the mixed zone. There is a problem with phone signals in the lounge which the club intend solving by the time the season starts.

Food and drink

Pre-match complimentary teas, coffees and soft drinks are available for the press while homemade pies, sandwiches and cakes will be served at half-time. Reporters from the North or Midlands should be able to purchase a pint of their favourite tipple. For instance supporters and reporters making the trip from Blackpool will be able to enjoy a pint of Thwaites!

Travel

Brighton are attempting to increase car parking space. Reporters using public transport should note that a regular service runs from Brighton to Falmer with a journey time of eight minutes. On alighting the train just walk up the slope and into the ground.

Just about everything in the Amex meets with UEFA specifications.

Be prepared to be amazed.

Carrow Road report, July 2011

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Attended by Joe Ferrari, Head of Media, and his assistant Gemma Gifford and FWA’s Brian Scovell, Tony Hudd and Jim Van Wijk.

We were assured that the club will meet the minimum requirements of the PL and if it stays up, there are plans to either knock down the main stand and build another one or extend it adding 3,000 plus seats including a topgrade press facility.

The glitzy press room, built in 2006, will remain, wifi is to be upgraded, refreshments will be better (copying the Ipswich formula), extra seats for the interview section, no-one to be allowed standing close to the dias to conduct interviews and more security is provided to keep out intruders. Manager Paul Lambert will do 8/10 interviews with rights holders, radio and TV before he comes into the room which will mean him not being interviewed by the written press for an least half an hour, or more. Non-contracted radio reports will have a combined interview in the corridor outside. Lambert is willing to do a Monday’s interviw as well, also access to a mixed zone in the same corridor.

One snag is that photographers will have to continue using the room, which could lead to overcrowding. They normally use the space on the right and it will be rather congested.

The old press box (circa 1986 with its knee crushing knees) will be revamped – long desks are to be replaced and the new ones made deeper with the obstructive box to plug in being replaced by discreet ones, the old metal seats have been oiled and tarted up with padded seats. To meet the PL requirement of 65 seats (including 15 radio positions) extra 15 seats are being put behind the top row, occupying space in a members’ bar for the written press who will be behind glass windows. The main written press section will be on the left facing the pitch and the club warn that national papers are unlikely to given two seats. However, UEFA have insisted 30 seats being installed – in a back row of the opposite stand – reserved for overseas TV and radio people. If the demand falls short, these seats could form an overflow.

CEO David McNally is adopting a tough policy about irresponsible reporting on the club’s activities and BBC (East) and the Daily Mirror have become victims of it.

Our delegation made a strong case about being sitting in with the architects from day one if the club stays up so we can put our views. Joe Ferrari agreed.

We felt this was a very positive meeting and we were all very impressed by the professionalism of Joe and Gemma. Our members will be given a warm welcome, and every possible help.

BRIAN SCOVELL
Chairman of Facilities Committee

The Road to Brazil starts…in Trinidad

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ONE DOWN…831 to go. Belize 5, Monserrat 2 (att 150) was never going to knock Alex McLeish or Luka Modric off the back pages but the game was significant as it was the first 2014 World Cup qualifier.

The road to Brazil started at the Ato Bolden stadium in Trinidad because there is no suitable venue in Monserrat, an island near Antigua which was almost destroyed by the 1995 reawakening of La Soufrière volcano. Deon McCauley claimed a small slice of history with the first hat-trick of the 2014 campaign.

Monserrat coach Kenny Dyer, who had a spell with Dagenham and Redbridge in the mid-90’s, remains confident ahead of the second leg in Belmopan on Sunday.

However, the smart money would be on Belize (formerly known as British Honduras) to finish off the job. Monserrat have only ever won two games since their first international in 1991 and in 2002 they earned the ignominious and unofficial distinction of being the worst team in the world when they were beaten by the Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan to go bottom of the FIFA rankings.

*For the serious anoraks, Bhutan, Guam, Mauritania and Brunei Darrussalam of what Sepp Blatter likes to call ‘the FIFA family’ have not registered for the competition.

Christopher Davies

What Advice Does Chelsea Adviser Hiddink Give?

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“It works well with Chelsea. Since I left two years ago I’ve been advising the club on things concerning the squad. Sometimes I become a sounding board. It costs me very little time and I can combine it well with my position with Turkey. There is no conflict at all.” – GUUS HIDDINK

IT WILL be as surprising as night following day when Guus Hiddink is announced as Carlo Ancelotti’s successor at Chelsea. The Dutchman made a positive impression when he was caretaker-manager two years ago though he knows what is expected of him – finishing runners-up to Manchester United did not save Carlo Ancelotti from becoming Roman Abramovich’s latest ex-manager.

Hiddink has been an adviser to Chelsea since he left Stamford Bridge to resume his role as coach of Russia. He’s subsequently moved on to Turkey but his advisory links with Chelsea remain. Exactly what advice he gives Chelsea has not been revealed, apart from him saying “all things concerning the squad.”. It is unlikely he would be contacted about pre-match meals or which hotel to stay in.

The biggest decisions any club makes are transfers and the hiring and firing of personnel. Was Hiddink used as a “sounding board” for the unpopular decision to sack Ray Wilkins? It is unthinkable Hiddink, who forged a close relationship with the likeable Wilkins during his spell at the Bridge, would have given the green light to the former England international’s shock and sudden mid-season departure.

Similarly, it is hard to imagine Hiddink, who knows more than anyone the difficulties of management, would have agreed that it was right for Chelsea to have shown him the door. In fact I’ve yet to hear anyone say Ancelotti got what he deserved.

So what DOES he advise on? Hiddink’s version of his advisory role is spurious. He said: “Every now and then I come and visit to do whatever might be needed but not in an official situation. I have been advising the club since I left Stamford Bridge. I advise them on an occasional basis.”

But on what? Was Hiddink contacted about the arrival of Fernando Torres and David Luiz in January? More recently, Chelsea made a bid for Tottenham midfielder Luka Modric but on whose say-so? They have no manager, no director of football so was it a board decision, Abramovich or was outside advice sought?

It is not unusual for a national coach to be contacted by someone representing a club about one of his players, to find out more about the type of personality he is or his work-ethic but Modric is not Turkish. While not suggesting anything untoward has happened between Chelsea and Hiddink it is a unique and delicate situation. The club can apparently ask Hiddink’s unofficial advice about certain aspects concerning the squad yet cannot speak to him in an official capacity about “other things” as it could constitute an illegal approach.

No doubt more will be revealed in the near future when, as just about everyone expects, Hiddink is promoted from unofficial adviser to full-time manager at Chelsea.

Christopher Davies

Loftus Road report, June 2011

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Brian Scovell and Christopher Davies were the Football Writers’ Association national committee representatives who visited Queens Park Rangers to see media officer Ian Taylor about their new press facilities. If all goes to plan the press box/press room/mixed zone will be excellent. As you will know, Loftus Road does not have too much space but they seem to be making the most of it.

TV INTERVIEW ROOM(s)
One for Sky Sports; one for BBC etc. This does not really concern football writers but the TV interview room is to be where the boutique is, towards the front of the main entrance.

PRESS ROOM
At present it is just to the right as you come down the stairs from the press box. It was adequate for Championship games but not for the extra demands of the Barclays Premier League. It is being moved to where the Platinum Bar is at present – turn left as you come from the press box and it is situated at the end of the corridor, about a 35-yard walk. While not perfect, it is hardly the biggest inconvenience in the world. Inside will be a self-contained radio room rather like Ipswich have at Portman Road. The managers will be brought in and there will be eight rows of eight seats, each with a ‘flip top’ to facilitate a lap-top. There will be around 24 work stations with power plugs, mainly around the perimeter of the room. Sky Sports and ESPN will be available on three decent sized screens. There are male and female toilets.

FOOD and WI-FI
At the moment QPR supply soup and a roll, pies and sandwiches plus coffee, tea and soft drinks. They hope to ‘upgrade’ this to, for example, chili con carne and a jacket potato.

PRESS BOX
At present a nightmare (or an afternoon-mare on Saturdays and Sundays). One long row with access only at each end. The idea is to take out every seventh seat with access from the front to a row of [maximum] seven seats, rather like White Hart Lane. This way only three journalists would be ‘inconvenienced.’ They are taking out a row of ‘season tickets’ seats at the front of the PB to facilitate this. The PB will be tight in numbers – 16 radio and 49 written press – but it conforms with Premier League requirements. There will be four new TV monitors showing games; only when the matches are live on television will there be action replays.

MIXED ZONE
This will be conducted pitch-side in the tunnel area with a designated player(s). The mixed zone (on a Saturday) is essentially for the Mondays and the idea is for the Press Association, a Monday national representative plus a local journalist from the home and away clubs to be present. This will always be an area of contention and we will never get what we want because different people want different things. This is probably as good as it gets, though.

Exclusive – What An Exclusive Really Is

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A WELL-RESPECTED football writer told me when I was making my way in what we still call Fleet Street that there are usually about five meaningful -exclusives per season.

‘Get one and you’ve done well.’ he said. ‘Two and you’ve done really well. Three, prepare for an award.’

Of course the word ‘exclusive’ is used like confetti these days, for an ankle strain to a transfer that usually doesn’t come off.

The football writer in question explained his definition of an exclusive as ‘a story which no one expected’ and has ‘will today’ in the intro.

Footy hacks would have been going through what they had written about Chelsea and Andres Villas-Boas when the news broke on Monday evening. Many, indeed most, had linked the former FC Porto coach with the job – he has never been out of the first three in the betting – but to the best of my knowledge no newspaper, on Monday, had the story ‘Chelsea will today move to make Andres Villas-Boas their new manager with the FC Porto coach expected to be confirmed tomorrow.’

Now THAT would have been an exclusive. Most of us, yours truly included, had expected Guus Hiddink to be Carlo Ancelotti’s successor.

A grudging well-done to Chelsea for keeping the appointment as secret as possible. Football writers rarely miss much. While it may be more difficult, putting it mildly, to build up a relationship with managers and players as could be done in the Seventies and Eighties, the secret is to know the people who know the people. And contrary to what some believe, not every story is bought in. Good old fashioned journalism, phoning around contacts, still reaps rewards.

When I was on the Daily Telegraph the then football correspondent Colin Gibson told me the secret can often be out-thinking the opposition…asking the right person the right question. Think of a topical theme…telephone the Football Association, Premier League, UEFA or whoever and fire away. In my experience, sporting bodies cannot lie. The spokesperson may be reluctant to go on the record but the proper ‘steer’ will do. Aware that giving false information will rebound on them, they would prefer to say ‘no comment.’ In football writerspeak that is usually taken as a confirmation that the story they are checking is correct. After all, it hasn’t been denied, has it?

Christopher Davies

Who could England face at Euro 2012?

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WILL ENGLAND QUALIFY?
Well, despite their mediocre display against England should reach the Euro 2012 finals one way or the other.

ONE WAY OR THE OTHER…?
The nine group winners qualify automatically plus the best runner-up. As things stand Montenegro, second in Group G behind England on goal-difference, would qualify as the ‘fastest losers.’

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO IS THE BEST RUNNER-UP?
It is not quite as straightforward as seeing who has the most points. Some groups have six countries, some have five. In groups with six teams only the results against the sides finishing first, third, fourth and fifth are taken into consideration. England are in a five-team group but, for example, Group C has six countries. Italy are the runaway leaders with Slovenia second. Whoever finishes second to Italy would ‘lose’ their points against San Marino who I confidently predict will finish bottom.

IF THE PLAY-OFFS DRAW WERE TODAY WHO WOULD TAKE PART?
Belgium, Russia, Slovenia, Belarus, Sweden, Croatia, Denmark and the Czech Republic.

ARE THE PLAY-OFFS AN OPEN DRAW?
No, They will be seeded. The four runners-up with the best coefficient in UEFA’s national team ranking will be seeded. The seeded teams play the second play-off tie at home, traditionally a significant advantage.

WORST CAST SCENARIO, WOULD ENGLAND BE SEEDED IN THE PLAY-OFFS?
Yes.

AND IF, NO LET’S BE OPTIMISTIC, WHEN ENGLAND REACH THE FINALS WILL THEY BE ONE OF THE TOP SEEDS?
No. There will be four groups of four. The four top seeds will be joint-hosts Poland and Ukraine, holders Spain plus almost certainly Germany who are second behind Spain in the current European rankings. England would at best be second seeds along with Holland and Italy plus one other side. But as the coefficients take into account the 2012 qualification programme Fabio Capello’s side could be overtaken by Greece, Russia or France.

SO IF/WHEN ENGLAND REACH THE FINALS THERE IS A CHANCE THEY COULD BE THIRD SEEDS?
Yes. That would mean they might be in a group with Spain and Italy or Germany and Holland. To paraphrase Sir Alex Ferguson, that would be serious squeaky bum time.

Christopher Davies