colin penfold

Sadly I think there's no help for Millwall as a club or as an area. It's a hotbed of racism and I recall going there as a police officer and being posted in the "family enclosure" wathcing a three/four year old child yelling "you black $$$$" at an opposition player. Under 10s are untouchable legally but you have to think a) where do they learn that B) how come their parent allows it and c) what on earth is going to happen when they grow up ( they probably unfurl a racist banner years later) Sure the club tries hard but they cant swim against the tide can they?

Morning all - off to Spalding - by train, hence the early start (ouch!) Hope it's a good one edit, sorry forgot the weather report - pitch dark and chucking it down with rain

as a dipper in and out of this fine group, rather than a regular contributor, I notice there's a fair amount of trouble afflicting some of you good folks. Perhaps this "cautionary tale" will put things in perspective - certainly for the chaps! http://www.youtube.com/embed/2kpjnGWPmj0

Hening Berg has saved Hollie and 'Arry from a fate worse than death. Interesting Berg aparrently said on TV what many of us have said, that no manager of any quality would take the Blackburn Job. Good luck with the Blackburn job, Henning. http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=henning%20berg&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&ved=0CDEQqQIwAQ&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.telegraph.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Fteams%2Fblackburn-rovers%2F9648045%2FHenning-Berg-reassesses-Blackburn-Rovers-credibility-as-he-makes-U-turn-and-hails-ambitious-owners-Venkys.html&ei=KXuSULvtC4Sg0QXkk4HIAQ&usg=AFQjCNHUtnmNOplHCcIVgub9fy7P8nNfkg

Nope, it being Haloween and Nani being a very bad Michael Jackson impersonator, he had to be the villain in a Thriller

Today I am doing some armchair modelling, going through my book collection gathering references for locos that worked on my chosen line. Found a marvellous ballast photo. Sorry I cant share it because it's in a book (copyright) but if you can get hold of a copy of "on Didcot Newbury and Southampton Lines" by Kevin Robertson, page 21 has a photo of Highclere Station in the early 60s. The platform lines are two different colours altogether - brown on one line, and quite pale grey on the other, almost the colour of foam underlay. The reason is that the latter had just been re-ballasted. Prototype for everything!

Don't know how this will go, but I was wondering about the football headlines that never got written such as: (Event) Sheffield United Manager goes to Southampton – (Headline) Danny Wilson, St.Mary’s Prayer Another Everton midfielder leaves after his contract expires – Leon Bosman Lionel’s younger brother signs for Barca – Another fine Messi Joey comes back to the UK to play for Notts County - Barton upon Trent Anyone else care to add?????? (edited for text size)

rumours today on Sky of Hollie being under consideration for the Blackburn Job. Holly, in case you don't read the papers "DONT DO IT MATE"

That's all people were saying, but your initial reaction did seem a little aggressive but ok to chant "Ashley Cole is a waiter" throughout. (think I heard it right ) Given the unpunished choc ice remark which is vicious between two black people I'd imagine Rio would have expected it. Don't really think there's a moral high ground to be had here on either side, do you? If you want to have the last word you can. I value this forum and the way it is usually conducted and don't want to get drawn into any unpleasantness

Nah, dont think so. Didn't even cost you the game seeing as the "goal" Macheda scored was handball. Call it 1-0. Thats what Fergie calls things balancing themselves out over time. Just listen to the neutrals on here or on TV and there was no balance today.

Thanks Phil, I wanted to say something but feared I would be accused of bias - my team were well the equals of the 11 men in red, but you cant beat bad luck and bad refereeing. Contrast the two balls coming back off the post, and the two fouls involving players through on goal. Sprinkle with a blatant offside winner and you have my day in a nutshell. Unfortunately as soon as i saw Twattenburg was the ref I saw it coming - the man just seems to like to court controversy instead of doing his job. On the plus side the intricacy of footwork and passing that Chelsea's front three are capable of I can't wait to see it when they get a better understanding - it can only get better. The spirit in the team is incredible and we are still on top of the league. Refereeing cant take that away from us.

Just watched yesterday's Reading Fulham game on telly. Pulsating second half, excellent entertainment, goals in the 88th and 90th minute and goalmouth scrambles during injury time. Add to the above it costs an awful lot of money to watch PL football, dearer than most entertainment on a per-hour basis. So, given my last two statements can anybody sanely explain to me why so many fans left before the end??????

Found this cow guarding Hungerford Common one day, didn't have the heart to tell her that Hitler had invaded her homeland (Guernsey) and that the war was now over.

I shall keep my fingers crossed for you. I have a real soft spot for Holly because he's one of a very few people that are madder than I am. I thought Blackpool were a breath of fresh air in the premier league and in fact they have been trend setters for the likes of Swansea too. Seen them play on telly a couple of times this season and they are still great value. Shame your chairman can't see that he has a good product there and the risks involved in not making any investment are greater than those arising from "throwing money at it wholesale."

Well Dave, I know its wrong of me, but I have to admit a fair dose of jealousy. That looks a smashing space - I hope you have great fun filling it up. Looking forward to seeing WW reincarnate.

Following a plea of guilty today Sky Sports News reports that he got 4 months imprisonment and a five year football banning order (banned from all grounds) Leeds followed up the court punishment with a lifetime ban from Elland Road.

Happy to bung in my two pennyworth. As an ex met officer who worked more than my fair share of "football" dutues (speech marks because lots of it was Crystal Palace who bear little resemblance to football most of the time) I am shocked that they failed to arrest him on the night. For officer and general safety I understand they would not want to dive into the crowd to pull him out at the time, but with the benefit of CCTV he should have been nicked as he left the ground. It's easy for the likes of me to say so from my comfy armchair, but that is a serious failure by the boys in blue. I do expect that it's a failure they will put right in the next day or two.

HI Oggy! Rearrange the following " sweet cold revenge served best is dish a "

Just wanted to say how awful the scenes at the under 21 game in Serbia were. Platini warned them if there were any more problems with racism they would be thrown out of qualifying - hope he follows through on that. Also quite apalled by the lack of sensitivity and understanding shown by the referee in sending Danny Rose off after the final whistle for kicking the ball into the crowd. I sincerely hope that decision is rescinded and the referee is punished for his stupidity and sent on a racism awareness course before he's allowed to officiate again. If he can't understand what was going on in the young lads head and react with sensitivity and compassion he's not fit for the job.

SOoooooo generous of them to save anybody from being silly enough to buy a new one for £28.50 from the HM website LOL. Wish there was some way to warn the unsuspecting.

great stuff. I looked at photos 2&3 and wondered why the platforms ended at a sheer rock face. Then I realised that's the wall of your railway room - bet that's a nice place to be!

I'm in for a morning at the kitchen showroom finalising how we are going to spend loads of money on a new kitchen However, that means the kitchen going into a big room we never really managed to use for anything else, the old kitchen becoming a nice snug study, and (fanfare) allowing me to reinstate the steps down to our cellar where finally after 50 years on the planet I shall have a dedicated modeling space :danced: So I shall smile thoughout my morning in the cloud whilst imagining how much railway I'll be able to squeeze into the silver lining. May even earn some brownie points with the lovely wife along the way.

lots of sliding tackles?

Just watched chelsea roast a few canaries on telly. That really was men against boys. Ref obviously felt sorry for them too and let two obvious penalties go. Blue is the colour........

Glad Simon's happy but sorry for Geoff. Blackpool were an absolute breath of fresh air in the premier league and I hope they (and Holly) come back very soon. Simon where's my rock???????