Colin Randall - SAFC Blog - Page 37 of 572

Accrington Stanley Who are You?: ‘borrow a bigger ground? Would SAFC borrow St James’ Park?’

December 6, 2018December 6, 2018 by Colin Randall

Peter Leatham: ‘we lost a generation of supporters when the club folded in 1962’

Monsieur Salut writes: we are delighted to welcome Peter Leatham*, chairman of the Accrington Stanley Supporters’ Club, to this season’s classic series of Who are You? interviews. We expect other clubs at this level to raise their game when they play us, since we have ‘big club’ stamped on our foreheads. But our League One interviewees are reaching lofty standards, too. I loved Peter’s response to my suggestion that Stanley might have moved this match to a bigger ground than one holding just over 5,000 to accommodate our fans! …

Aiden McGeady up for player of the month. You can vote here to help him win

December 5, 2018December 5, 2018 by Colin Randall

HAS ANYONE EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS TRYING TO VOTE USING THE CLICK-AN-IMAGE OPTION AT THE END OF THIS POSTING? LET US KNOW PLEASE …

Given his recent run of form – and goals – it is hardly surprising that Aiden McGeady should be in the running for the League One fans’ choice as player of the month.

Sixer’s Checkatrade Sevens: comfortable win against Notts County

December 4, 2018 by Colin Randall

I thought we’d need a second goal when Jon Stead came on. We didn’t but we got it anyway. The real bonus, however, is that Duncan Watmore played 3/4 of the game. Pete Sixsmith will tell us how he did in due course. For now here’s his two instant seven-word verdicts on the whole game.

Accrington Stanley vs SAFC Guess the Score: the club that wouldn’t die

December 4, 2018December 4, 2018 by Colin Randall

Pete Sixsmith, having begun his annual Santa duties, has a special gift to offer: that unwon copy of Managers, the third column of Sunderland books from Tales From the Red and Whites. Read on …

Our headline reflects the proud declaration that sits atop the home page of Accrington Stanley FC’s official website.

And many readers will be familiar with the “who are they?” mantra, as exemplified by this exchange from an old milk advertisement quoted at Wikipedia:

Boy 1 (wearing Liverpool top): “Milk! Urghh!”
Boy 2:(also wearing Liverpool top) “It’s what Ian Rush drinks.”
Boy 1: “Ian Rush?”
Boy 2: “Yeah. And he said if I didn’t drink lots of milk, when I grow up, I’ll only be good enough to play for Accrington Stanley.”
Boy 1: “Accrington Stanley, who are they?”
Boy 2: “Exactly.”

Sixer’s Cup-tie Sevens: Walsall and Sunderland both make the 3rd round draw.

December 1, 2018December 1, 2018 by Colin Randall

Pete Sixsmith wasn’t at the game but he’d arranged for a sub to do his match report and for a seven-word text to be despached at the final whistle. It wasn’t certain I’d get it, however, so Malcolm arranged to send another, which will sub for the sub until M Salut can take restorative action.

Ken’s Kategories: Your chance to rate the ref at Walsall

December 2, 2018December 1, 2018 by Colin Randall

Ken Gambles: let’s hear it for – and against – the man with the whistle

John McCormick writes: Ken Gambles posed an interesting problem on Thursday. How do we rate refereeing? More explicitly, How do we rate refereeing in League One?

A few of our readers liked his idea and the 10 point scale he suggested so we’ve decided to give it a go.

The First Time Ever We Played Your Team: Walsall meet a legend

November 30, 2018November 30, 2018 by Colin Randall

John McCormick writes: Pete Sixsmith takes us back to the time when I was just getting into football. Some of …

Keith Charlton RIP: ‘in heaven getting Stokoe and Porterfield’s autographs’

November 29, 2018November 29, 2018 by Colin Randall

It is rare to be moved so much by the death of someone you did not know, Monsieur Salut writes.

Keith Charlton’s passing has had that effect. I am sure lots of others who didn’t know him personally will look at the photographs of Keith, the first secretary of the SAFCSA Boldon branch and a member for 23 years, and recognise a man they saw at games home and away.

My condolences go to his family and, clearly, many friends. Since, as I admit, Keith and I never met, let others tell the story:

League One referees: ‘they don’t all know what they’re doing’

November 29, 2018November 29, 2018 by Colin Randall

Ken Gambles: let’s hear it for – and against – the men with the whistles

Monsieur Salut writes: ‘you’re not fit to referee’, ‘you don’t know what you’re doing’, ‘the referee’s a w*****’. How often have we heard and/or joined in such chants? I even recall my brother piping up once in the Sunderland away end and he’s a qualified ref (albeit in rugby). It hardly seems to matter that even the most incompetent match officials tend to make fewer mistakes than players; a blatantly wrong penalty, sending-off or offside decision can feel a lot more cruel than a missed sitter or goalkeeping howler.

Yet Ken Gambles, in common with many SAFC supporters coming to terms with life in the third tier, has been appalled at the low standards and rank inconsistency of match officials. He suggests a regular Salut! Sunderland vote to rate each of the refs we encounter as the season continues. While we work out how and whether such an exercise could work, let Ken set the scene with some highly positive comments about the man in charge of our games, Andy Madley …

Walsall Who are You?: (2) FA Cup memories of Stokoe, Shankly and Alan Buckley

November 29, 2018November 29, 2018 by Colin Randall

Richard Hall, or rather a kindred spirit fond of Old World wine, perhaps listening to Shostakovich’s fifth at the same time

Monsieur Salut writes: by common consent, Richard Hall‘s* interview as a Walsall fan ahead of last week’s league game was as good as these things get. We knew, of course, that an FA Cup tie would follow a week later and, since organising Who are You? features can be time-consuming and frustrating, we cheekily asked Richard to handle questions relating to this Saturday’s game, too.

In fact we may get him to do all the Who are You?s remaining this season, no matter the club. Those who said they were looking forward to this second instalment will not be disappointed …