south_tyne

Cheers David, I hadn't thought of that. I have been fascinated by the League of Ireland since I was a kid, I like to follow it closely, and I always played it on Football Manager as a youngster (I've always been very strange!! ). It's always been one of my aims to do all the LOI grounds and tick them off my list...... one day!

You're right there. As a result of this chatter I dug my old Subbuteo stuff out of the lift at my parent's house. Hasn't been touched for 20 years but there were a couple of boxes of stuff, dating from the 1980s (which were passed down to me) and the '90s. I've decided to donate it to the youth club that me mam runs at her church - you never know they might give it a go once they tire of the more fun toys! I had never thought of that. Mind, it still smacks of a club without a plan even if that is the case. The rise and domination of Dundalk is interesting. Do you know whether they have a lot of financial backing behind them? They've obviously stepped ahead of the traditional Dublin heavyweights - Bohemians, St Pats, Shelbourne, Shamrock Rovers etc - and teams like Cork City who have done well in recent times.

Interesting! I have no evidence for saying this, but I do wonder if the buyers now are older collectors and 40+ year old enthusiasts, who played it in their youth, rather than today's kids? Fits a trend of 21st Century 'big boys toys', em just like model railways..........

So Jan Siewert has been sacked already. He's got a terrible record, 1 win in 19, but to give a manager the boot after 3 games of a new season smacks of a club without a plan. Why give Siewert a pre-season and a transfer window and then sack him straight away? Seems completely bizarre. They must have been thinking of making this decision since the end of last season, so why not do the deed in May and give a new man a fair crack of the whip? It is surprising because Dean Hoyle has always seemed a steady hand with a long-term vision but this appointment and subsequent sacking just hasn't worked. It was clearly an attempt to find 'Wagner mark II' but it just didn't have the impact. Interesting to see where they turn next; will it be another similar appointment or will they panic and turn to the merry-go-round of washed-up dinosaurs? Elsewhere Sol Campbell has walked out of Macclesfield. I must admit I never particularly warmed to him, I used to think he had such an ego and inflated sense of self esteem, but I will have to eat humble pie on this one. After years of complaining that he wasn't given the Man Utd/Chelsea/Spurs etc job, he finally bit the bullet and took a job in League 2. He performed a minor miracle in keeping Macclesfield up last year in extremely difficult circumstances and really showed his managerial potential. He hasn't been paid for 8 months and the way he has kept himself and everyone at the club motivated during this period is remarkable and something he deserves massive credit for. No matter how wealthy you are, not being paid for doing a job must be soul destroying and Campbell has clearly reached the end of his tether. I'm sure he will now get a chance elsewhere on the back of this but it's the club and the Macclesfield fans who I feel sorry for and worry for their future. They have maybe fine a little under the radar given what is going on at Bury and Bolton but they are yet another club in trouble.

I have had some thoughts but it is a job for this weekend. I'll get my pencils and doodling pad out! Some creativity is necessary

Simpler times. I wonder what kids of today with their Xbox and PlayStation would think of these type of games. I can't imagine Subbuteo holds much appeal for the girls and boys of 2019.

Ha ha great and nice and healthy too. I will convert all these folk yet!

That is a great start. Pleased to hear that those devious diesels have been chugging backwards and forwards already. I think that's a fantastic idea with the interchangeable buildings for 4mm and then 7mm scale narrow gauge. I have always been fascinated with multi-era and multi-location layouts with the clever use of different structures, vehicles and other scenic items, it can be a really good idea. It can hugely increase the flexibility and operational potential of even the smallest layout and I think it works best for micro-layouts where you could model multiple eras/settings using minimal stock. Your idea takes this concept one step further and it will be fascinating to see how you approach the idea! Really looking forward to following your progress. Dave

Thanks Rob, you're right there. I just wish I could be as productive as yourself! Ah you see, that is the power of the BCC's subliminal advertising!!

Thanks Jim, that's fascinating. If I recall correctly, in the '70s the NASL also changed the offside rule to counter sides playing an offside trap. I think the 'line' was moved from half-way to about mid-way in the defending teams half. I don't know what kind of impact it that. They also utilised the better known ice hockey penalties (rather than a dead ball from 12 yards) and decided drawn games with a penalty shootout. Edit: double-checked and the offside line was moved to 35 yards. FIFA evidently put a stop to it in 1982!

That's triggered my memory.... we had a similar one, there were magnets on the player bases but to pass the ball you pushed the head of the player down to squeeze the base and fire the ball. It was great fun and far better than Subbuteo! Similarly I think the goalies were on a stick. Cannot remember the name of that one though.

To be honest, I never really 'got' Subbuteo. I liked the concept and idea more than the reality. It might be sacrilege to say but I found it incredible boring! Maybe I just didn't have the attention span

I know the Brighton fans were somewhat upset to lose Hughton, or at least we're disappointed by the manner of his departure, but I think Potter is a positive appointment. I know people will say it is only Sweden, but he did miraculous things in the Allsvenskan in competing with the traditional heavyweights of Malmö, AIK, IFK etc, who have relatively such massive resources compared to Östersunds. He also did relatively well at Swansea in very difficult circumstances. Judging by the first weekend, I think a number of clubs potentially at the bottom will have a go. Norwich, Villa, Sheff Utd, Brighton will all play football for better or for worse. I was pleased to see Dan Burn play as part of a back three. I always keep an eye on him as he started at Darlo and I saw him play a few times there before he moved on to bigger and better things.

Thanks! You're right, getting track down feels like a real positive and I always think that getting a little bit of greenery planted and some buildings mocked up quickly starts to bring a scene to life.

Excellent start Johna. These kind of projects are great - low cost, compact, manageable and achievable - and are also a way of practising skills and techniques. I will be following your progress with interest! Dave

That's the problem isn't it. We have taken decisions away from what is discernable with the human eye and within a timeframe that can be processed by the brain and handed it to a computer quibbling over millimetres. It has also lost that mindset of giving the benefit of the doubt to the attacker. Don't get me wrong, I like the use of technology when it benefits the game but I am sceptical as to whether VAR in its current incarnation does so. Human error and falability is a part of sport, it always has been. Whether that is the players on the pitch, the officials or the coaching staff. VAR is attempting to make an inperfect game perfect and I don't think it's possible. We need 99% of decisions to be right, but contentious decisions have always been part of football. Let's face it, when so many calls made by referees and linesmen are subjective, fans will never be happy when a decision goes against their team! ...... and that is why we just love football!! Agreed! It's just changing the dynamics of watching a game from the terraces. Thankfully it will be a long time until VAR reaches the GIS and NLN but I do feel sorry for fans of Premier League clubs (and I rarely say that!) On a more positive notes, I see that your lads are now playing total football after the more attritional style and functional approach of the last few years. Let's hope it is a good decision come May!

No problem Mike, it will be a pleasure to pitch in and assist

Made some canny progress over the last week or so. The track has now been laid, wired, painted, ballasted and weathered. I've strengthened around the hinged baseboard joint by adding PCB sleepers and soldering the rails to it. I might hide this with some kind of barrow crossing to make it a little more inconspicuous. Also been experimenting with the traverser/cassette contraption. It is not the most highly engineered piece of kit - bit of a bodge to be honest from ply, foamboard, aluminium angle and a some small offcuts of other wood - but it seems like it might do the job. Need to have a think about the buildings next. I have explained a little more about the basis/setting for the layout and there will be a few factory buildings needing to be constructed. The use of a pipe gantry for a scenic break seems to have got the thumbs up, so I think I will run with that idea.

Definitely! My thoughts have been preoccupied with ideas about logos and branding!

I agree but I am just not convinced the way it is being implemented is right for the flow of the game. You also need a bit of common sense to come into play, giving someone offside when their fingernail is ahead of the defender is pretty ridiculous (in my humble opinion). Mind the Wolves goal being ruled out wasn't the fault of VAR, it is down to the silly change to the law.

Rob/Mike, Great to hear that Sheep Lane is going to a new home and even better that it is going to be residing with Mike and will be doing the rounds in the North East. It is in a very safe pair of hands and I am really pleased that I will get to see it now without travelling to the deep south! As I have said before, your wonderful work has inspired me to get back into modelling, and for that I am very grateful. Looking forward to seeing the layout later in the year. David

Thanks for you kind comments guys. It's all a flight of fancy and a product of my overactive imagination but there's nowt wrong with a little dreaming after all! Rob, the jokes write themselves! Hopefully my 'history' will pull the wool over some people's eyes (see what I did there!!)

I was a champion of VAR. I thought it would be good for the game to get the critical decisions right. I've changed my mind. It's taking all of the joy and spontaneity out of the game. Look at the ecstasy in Daniel James' face and reaction to his goal yesterday. That's what we want to see in football. VAR means that every time a player scores there will be a doubt in the back of the mind and it ruins that shared moment between players and fans.

Who needs a manager after all!?! That's very true. It's funny I don't equate quality to entertainment when it comes to football but I do when it comes to my other hobby/interest. I'm a musician but I would never go and listen to a group/ensemble who were not of a high standard. I just couldn't face it! Maybe that because I play, so I completely understand the technical qualities and proficiency needed to perform at a high level, whereas with football, although I have played it was never to any great standard so maybe I am not so picky. Having said that, a large part of the joy of football for me is found in the social aspect, the friendships, the cameraderie of going to the match, rather than particularly in the 22 blokes kicking the ball around on the field! What I love is the history and tactical analysis of the game, the collective spirit and links that cross generations. I know I'm very strange though and definitely not reflective of the norm ( @Hobby probably things I am even more of a weirdo now!! ) but it's everything surrounding the football that makes me love the game. Mind I will still be at the GIS all season cheering my lads on..... bring on Bradford PA on tuesday night... Haway the Heed!!

I said I would explain a little more about the background and premise for this diorama and the proposed 'proper' layout to follow. So welcome to my fantasy world...... In the aftermath of the Second World War, the Labour government was keen to promote the health and well-being of the country by ensuring that the population was eating well. Years of rationing were gradually coming to an end and the politicians wanted to improve the diet and nutrition of the nation, particularly for children and young people. As part of this, it is a little known fact that amongst the various organisations nationalised in the late 1940s, Clement Attlees' Labour government set up the British Cereal Corporation (or BCC) in 1948. This brought together numerous organisations into a collective nationalised group, providing cereals to the nation and promoting the importance of breakfast as a start to the day. Factories were established in County Durham and Suffolk, to serve the north and south of the UK, with a number of regional distribution depots also being set up across the country. The BCC gradually grew and expanded with significant investment again being pumped into the collective by the Labour administration of the mid-1960s under Harold Wilson. The factories had their own internal rail systems and each of the distribution depots were served by private sidings. A number of second-hand locomotives were acquired by the BCC when it was established, mainly ex-WD austerity tank locomotives but also some locos of earlier vintage from various sources. In the early 1960s, a handful of new Ruston diesel shunters were bought to supplement and gradually replace the steam locomotives as and when they became life-expired. Despite this, many of the sites continued to operate steam locomotives into the early 1970s, with the last examples only being withdrawn in 1977 after spending the last couple of years as spare locomotives. Some internal user rolling stock was used at various locations, assisting with the day-to-day operation of the sites. The finished cereal products were usually loaded into standard BR vans and transported to exchange sidings for onward distribution throughout the UK. As I said, it is this concept that will provide the basis for my layout. I intend to model one of the distribution depots on a larger scale in due course; the timeframe for modelling will be the late 1960s and early 1970s, after the end of mainline steam but with industrial steam still being very much in evidence. At the moment I am I drawing up ideas for that, as well as very slowly building and acquiring stock for the project. However, for the time being, this micro-layout will capture a tiny corner of one depot and allow me to practice my skills and modelling techniques. The working title at the moment is 'Cereal Sidings'