Archive for category Football
Crystal Palace’s last stand
Posted by Alan in Football, Journalism on June 1, 2010
Crystal Palace fans on top of the turnstiles
‘105 years of history, we will not die without a fight’.
This is the message that greets me as I walk into the beer garden of The Albion pub in South Norwood. This is the message that the Holmesdale Fanatics (HF), a hardcore group of Crystal Palace supporters, wants to deliver as their beloved club stares into the abyss. Read the rest of this entry »
The Club Shed campaign: One man’s attempt to bring the noise back to Stamford Bridge
Posted by Alan in Football, Journalism on March 19, 2010
One of the prevailing features of modern football is the decline in atmosphere. Many causes have been identified. The move to all-seater stadiums, ticket prices and television are all cited as reasons.
At Chelsea fans are doing something about it. In 2007 Jerry Kendix, a Chelsea season ticket holder who was fed up with the lack of atmosphere at Stamford Bridge, set up The Return to the Shed campaign. Three years on I caught up with him to learn more about the campaign and how it is going.
Jerry Kendix fondly remembers the old days, before all-seater stadiums, when the atmosphere at games used to be “electric”. Since the abolition of terracing in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster he has noticed the atmosphere at Stamford Bridge getting steadily worse. Read the rest of this entry »
Bleacher Report Featured Columnist
Posted by Alan in Football, Journalism on February 3, 2010
This month I began work as a Chelsea Featured Columnist on Bleacher Report. Read the rest of this entry »
John Terry: A misdemeanor too far
John Terry could lose the England captaincy following the revelations about an affair with Wayne Bridge's ex-girlfriend
On the pitch, John Terry is the embodiment of the power, passion and dedication that marks out any great leader. Throughout his career at Chelsea and for England, the 29-year-old has put his body on the line. Managers across the world would kill to have some like Terry in their team.
There is no doubt that he is a fantastic player, but as a man he leaves a lot to be desired. Read the rest of this entry »
“F*ck your history, we’re going to Moscow…”
After years of waiting we had finally made it: The Champions League Final
This is something I have been working on for a few months now, when I had the idea of writing an e-book on my experiences following Chelsea from the arrival of Jose Mourinho in 2004 to the present day. Let me know what you think.
I will never forget the night of April 30th 2008. Chelsea 3-2 Liverpool, 4-3 on aggregate. It meant we were going to Moscow and the first Champions League final in our history. The atmosphere at the Bridge that night was unlike anything I have ever heard, then or since. It was incredible and made the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. The Matthew Harding Stand was literally shaking and my vocal chords took one almighty pounding.
After the pain of the semi final defeat in 2007 and the five-hour coach journey back from Anfield this was sweet revenge. If you had said to my Dad 20 years ago that he would have the chance to see his team in a Champions League final he would have thrown his head back and laughed. But in 2008 it became sweet reality. Read the rest of this entry »
Portfolio update
Posted by Alan in Football, Journalism on January 1, 2010
I’ve currently got a month off from university (I go back on 18th) so I’ve decided to give my somewhat neglected website a bit of attention and add to the portfolio section of the site. Read the rest of this entry »
Goodbye to Bleacher Report
Posted by Alan in Football, Journalism on December 20, 2009
After just under eighteen months writing for Bleacher Report I’ve decided to call it a day.
Stoke City 1-0 Portsmouth
Posted by Alan in Football, Journalism on November 23, 2009
Yesterday I covered my first game for Goal.com, and it was the clash between Stoke City and Portsmouth at the Britannia Stadium. The Potters won 1-0 thanks to a second half strike from Ricardo Fuller.
Gael Kakuta seizes his chance to shine for Chelsea
Posted by Alan in Football, Journalism on November 21, 2009
Kakuta finally got the chance to showcase his skills against Wolves this afternoon
Over the last few months Gael Kakuta has been in the headlines for all the wrong reasons. Read the rest of this entry »
Goal.com update
Posted by Alan in Football, Journalism on October 23, 2009
I’ve now got a good number of shifts at Goal.com under my belt and it’s going well so far. I’ve done three shifts writing news for the website. Here’s some of the articles I’ve had published: Read the rest of this entry »