In the back of a transit van sits a man with satanic sideburns and a packet of Russian Caravan tea. He used to take tablets to keep awake on Grimsby docks, but now survives on the life-affirming fix of the near-death experience. He is the last of the working-class heroes.
For most of the year Guy Martin fixes trucks. Then, for two weeks in June, he is fêted by the thousands flocking to the Isle of Man for the TT festival. “I think it was Laurel and Hardy who said, 'Don't believe the hype,'” he said. “I get a lot of smoke blown up my a*** here, but then I go back to work and the lads don't give a s***. Some go back to polishing their motorhomes; they don't like it when I say that, but it's true.”
The TT still splits opinion. To some it is a twisted mongrel of a race, an outdated throwback of recycled tragedy. To others it is racing in its purest form, along wall-lined roads marked by memorials for those who duelled and died.
Today Martin will meet Valentino Rossi, regarded as the greatest bike racer of modern times. The MotoGP world champion is visiting the island for the first time but he will not be racing. The GP stars have not done so since the TT was removed from the calendar three decades ago after the likes of Giacomo Agostini and Barry Sheene turned their backs on it, bemoaning a death toll now standing at 225.
Martin likes Rossi because he shuns the corporate mores of modern sport, but finds it hard to explain the TT to laymen. “It's so fast and long, the thick end of 200mph, sucking the rabbits out of the hedges,” he said, parked up across the road from the cavernous cemetery in Douglas. “But really, I was driving down the dual carriageway and saw a guy about my age, in a people carrier, kids in the back, bonnet up, steam coming out of the engine, wife at his side giving him all that. What's he do at the weekend? Mow the grass? Wash the car? I mean, how can I explain something like this to someone like that? It's just not in his DNA.”
Martin is the most unguarded sportsman you will come across. Hence, he explains a wager he has struck with his mechanic about whether he can stay celibate for two weeks. He then recalls how he borrowed some tablets so he could stay awake when working on the docks, before segueing seamlessly into a tale of how he worked in a restaurant where the staff had to dance on the tables whenever one of four songs came on. “Every time I hear Build Me Up Buttercup on the radio, I'm away,” he said.
PR-pampered professionalism is anathema to the 27-year-old from Lincolnshire. At a Honda function to mark 50 years of racing at the TT, he turned up in grubby shorts and a grey T-shirt, instead of his team uniform. Was it deliberate? “Aye, it was a bit,” he conceded. “People who are good at a sport, whether it be football or motorcycling, think it's their only way to make money. And to make money they have to say the right things, so any time a microphone comes out, they come out with the same old s***. It's like they're reading off a card.
“Maybe if I didn't go back to the job then I'd lose a lot and be the same. The only GP rider who is not dull is Rossi.” Footballers, he believes, are “poofters who kick a bag of wind” and “as for Formula One, Jesus!”
Martin has been on the podium five times at the TT but has never won and will have to overcome six laps, 227 miles and John McGuinness, the 14-times winner, to break his duck. He has five chances this week on his Hydrex Honda, starting with today's Superbike race, which was postponed from Saturday because of heavy rain. He counted down by waxing lyrical about the merits of tea and showing off his Tea Appreciation Society T-shirt. “The British troops used it [tea] to camouflage themselves in India because they realised their red jackets made them stand out,” he said. “It's part of what Englishness is all about.”
So is the eccentric maverick. Perhaps fittingly, Martin turned to racing on the roads of Ireland after a run-in with a race director at Rockingham Motor Speedway in Northamptonshire. “He was being very smarmy so I slammed his laptop shut on his fingers and told him to stick his championship,” Martin said.
The road ahead is long, winding and potted with potential disaster. “That's what it's all about,” he insists. Had he ever had a close call, where he thought it was over? “Oh my God, yes,” he said and his eyes lit up. “That's the thing that keeps me coming back. That near-death thing. Getting out of a bad moment. There's nothing I've found that gives me the same buzz.”
Racing around a track is like “riding round Morrisons' car park” in comparison. The juxtaposition of Rossi, with his fame, millions and entourage, and Martin, with his transit van, borrowed camper and shared house, is just as jarring. The TT money is good and Martin could make up to £200,000 if all goes well this week, but the racers live in different worlds. “Rossi could learn this place in two years and win,” Martin said. “He's got the natural ability. Trouble is those GP guys are all brought up on health and safety.”
When Martin previously met Rossi they talked about the TT. Martin expects the Italian to find that seeing is still disbelieving. “He had one word for the TT,” he remembered. “Crazy.”
Source:The times
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Rafael Nadal hopeful of defending Wimbledon title
It may be a risky strategy and there are many across the world who will be praying that he has not let his heart rule his head. Rafael Nadal's decision to defend his Wimbledon title has not been made without much soul-searching but ultimately he is big enough to make up his own mind and he would not pass up the chance to return to Centre Court this year if he did not think he could last the entire championships.
The tendinitis which Nadal has endured for a number of years flares every now and again. It was clear, before and during the French Open - where he lost in the fourth round to Robin Soderling, the eventual runner-up - that Nadal was unhappy. He did not practise well, he did not feel the ball coming off the strings well, he did not seem himself.
A couple of days of tests in Barcelona have confirmed that though he is stricken with tendinitis, he can still play tennis and on a grass court, the chances of harming himself are minimalised. If the US Open was upon us, there seems little question that he would withdraw.
What a story is unfolding, with Roger Federer having clinched his 14th grand slam tournament title in Paris and who will enter the All England Club free-wheeling, Andy Murray's improvement on every surface unrelenting, Novak Djokovic determined to make a decent impression on grass and half-a-dozen others who ought to be challenging, if they put it all together for two weeks.
For heaven's sake, Marat Safin was a semi-finalist last year. But Nadal's news is excellent, for himself and for the tournament.
"I have been playing with pain in my knees for some months now and I simply can't go on like this," Nadal, who is suffering from tendonitis in both kneecaps, said. "The pain was limiting certain movements in my body, which affected me mentally as well.
"After the tests, and with the appropriate treatment, we have decided to travel to London. I am going to give 200 per cent to be ready for the most important tournament in the world, the one that I always dream about.
"I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100 per cent ready to play. I have two difficult weeks ahead of me, especially because I won't be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis, but I will be working on my recovery through physiotherapy treatments as well as recovery work on the specific muscular area."
Nadal won his first Wimbledon title last year following an epic five-set battle with Roger Federer. He recently saw his bid for a fifth successive French Open trophy ended by Robin Soderling in the fourth round.
Source:The times
The tendinitis which Nadal has endured for a number of years flares every now and again. It was clear, before and during the French Open - where he lost in the fourth round to Robin Soderling, the eventual runner-up - that Nadal was unhappy. He did not practise well, he did not feel the ball coming off the strings well, he did not seem himself.
A couple of days of tests in Barcelona have confirmed that though he is stricken with tendinitis, he can still play tennis and on a grass court, the chances of harming himself are minimalised. If the US Open was upon us, there seems little question that he would withdraw.
What a story is unfolding, with Roger Federer having clinched his 14th grand slam tournament title in Paris and who will enter the All England Club free-wheeling, Andy Murray's improvement on every surface unrelenting, Novak Djokovic determined to make a decent impression on grass and half-a-dozen others who ought to be challenging, if they put it all together for two weeks.
For heaven's sake, Marat Safin was a semi-finalist last year. But Nadal's news is excellent, for himself and for the tournament.
"I have been playing with pain in my knees for some months now and I simply can't go on like this," Nadal, who is suffering from tendonitis in both kneecaps, said. "The pain was limiting certain movements in my body, which affected me mentally as well.
"After the tests, and with the appropriate treatment, we have decided to travel to London. I am going to give 200 per cent to be ready for the most important tournament in the world, the one that I always dream about.
"I will not go out and play, especially on the Wimbledon Centre Court, if I am not 100 per cent ready to play. I have two difficult weeks ahead of me, especially because I won't be doing what I like doing most, which is to play tennis, but I will be working on my recovery through physiotherapy treatments as well as recovery work on the specific muscular area."
Nadal won his first Wimbledon title last year following an epic five-set battle with Roger Federer. He recently saw his bid for a fifth successive French Open trophy ended by Robin Soderling in the fourth round.
Source:The times
Lions call up Ryan Jones to replace injured Stephen Ferris
Stephen Ferris, the Ireland back-row forward, has been ruled out of the Lions tour of South Africa with a knee injury and Wales’s Ryan Jones has been called up as his replacement.
The loss of Ferris, who damaged ligaments in his right knee during training on Monday, is a serious blow to the Lions, because the Ulster flanker had been in exceptional form and with tries against the Golden Lions and the Cheetahs had put himself in contention for a starting spot in the Test side.
Ian McGeechan, the Lions head coach, said: “He [Ferris] had the scan on Tuesday morning that showed he had a grade two tear to his medial collateral ligament.
“This usually requires a four to six-week recovery period and is severe enough to mean he will miss the rest of the tour.Therefore, with six matches left on tour after Wednesday’s match against the Sharks, we believe we need to fly out a replacement as cover for the back-row.
“Ryan is on the stand-by reserve list and has been playing for Wales over the last few weeks in the USA and Canada. He will fit right in as he knows a lot of the players and he was a Lions replacement on the 2005 tour to New Zealand.
“In fact, on that tour he showed how competitive he is as an individual by forcing his way into the Test side for all three matches against the All Blacks.”
The Lions also have an injury concern over Leigh Halfpenny, the Cardiff Blues wing, who has had a scan after suffering a recurrence of the thigh strain that kept him at home for the first ten days of the tour.
Halfpenny would not likely have figured in the Lions' first-choice starting line-up and has been withdrawn from Wednesday night’s match against the Natal Sharks at ABSA Stadium. At this stage there is no suggestion he will leave the touring party.
Source:The times
The loss of Ferris, who damaged ligaments in his right knee during training on Monday, is a serious blow to the Lions, because the Ulster flanker had been in exceptional form and with tries against the Golden Lions and the Cheetahs had put himself in contention for a starting spot in the Test side.
Ian McGeechan, the Lions head coach, said: “He [Ferris] had the scan on Tuesday morning that showed he had a grade two tear to his medial collateral ligament.
“This usually requires a four to six-week recovery period and is severe enough to mean he will miss the rest of the tour.Therefore, with six matches left on tour after Wednesday’s match against the Sharks, we believe we need to fly out a replacement as cover for the back-row.
“Ryan is on the stand-by reserve list and has been playing for Wales over the last few weeks in the USA and Canada. He will fit right in as he knows a lot of the players and he was a Lions replacement on the 2005 tour to New Zealand.
“In fact, on that tour he showed how competitive he is as an individual by forcing his way into the Test side for all three matches against the All Blacks.”
The Lions also have an injury concern over Leigh Halfpenny, the Cardiff Blues wing, who has had a scan after suffering a recurrence of the thigh strain that kept him at home for the first ten days of the tour.
Halfpenny would not likely have figured in the Lions' first-choice starting line-up and has been withdrawn from Wednesday night’s match against the Natal Sharks at ABSA Stadium. At this stage there is no suggestion he will leave the touring party.
Source:The times
Paul Deacon shows unerring accuracy
Bradford Bulls 36 Wakefield Wildcats 22
Remarkably, this was only Bradford Bulls' fifth win of a fraught season but it at least lifted them out of the bottom two in the engage Super League. It was their first league success since they beat the same opponents during last month's Magic Weekend at Murrayfield.
Inevitably, with a side struggling for any sort of consistency, it was one blighted by errors and mishaps. They were fortunate, too, in encountering opponents similarly consumed by self-doubt.
Wakefield matched Bradford's five tries, including a sparkling first-half hat-trick by Sean Gleeson, but whereas Paul Deacon was successful with all the Bulls' conversions, as well as three penalties, Danny Brough was off target with four of his five efforts at goal.
Bradford have not finished outside the top five since 1996, but remain seven places and seven points adrift of those heady heights, while Wakefield are struggling to retain their top-six spot after losing five games out of six.
England must sweat on the availability of Sam Burgess for Saturday's international against France in Paris after the forward was sent to the sin-bin for throwing punches, along with Wakefied's Jason Demetriou, during a second half scarred by often pedantic refereeing. “It was a penalty-a-thon and an error-a-thon,” John Kear, the Wakefield coach, said.
Gleeson, deputising at centre for Ryan Atkins, who was rested before the England match, sustained Wakefield in a nervy first half with his 15-minute try spree. But second-half tries by Julien Rinaldi and Chris Nero, the latter his second of the match, allied to Deacon's marksmanship proved enough to see Bradford home.
Scorers: Bradford Bulls: Tries: Nero 2, Menzies 2, Rinaldi. Goals: Deacon 8. Wakefield Wildcats: Tries: Gleeson 3, Snitch, Grix. Goal: Brough.
Bradford Bulls: D Halley; R Sheriffe, P Sykes, C Nero, S Tadulala; B Jeffries, P Deacon; A Lynch, T Newton, N Scruton, S Menzies, S Burgess, J Langley. Interchange: C Kopczak, J Rinaldi, E Whitehead, M Worrincy.
Wakefield Wildcats: M Blaymire; M Petersen, T Martin, S Gleeson, S Grix; J Rooney, D Brough; R Bibey, S Obst, O Wilkes, D Ferguson, S Snitch, J Demetriou. Interchange: B Drew, J Stosic, T Leo-Latu, M Korkidas.
Referee: T Alibert.
Source:The times
Remarkably, this was only Bradford Bulls' fifth win of a fraught season but it at least lifted them out of the bottom two in the engage Super League. It was their first league success since they beat the same opponents during last month's Magic Weekend at Murrayfield.
Inevitably, with a side struggling for any sort of consistency, it was one blighted by errors and mishaps. They were fortunate, too, in encountering opponents similarly consumed by self-doubt.
Wakefield matched Bradford's five tries, including a sparkling first-half hat-trick by Sean Gleeson, but whereas Paul Deacon was successful with all the Bulls' conversions, as well as three penalties, Danny Brough was off target with four of his five efforts at goal.
Bradford have not finished outside the top five since 1996, but remain seven places and seven points adrift of those heady heights, while Wakefield are struggling to retain their top-six spot after losing five games out of six.
England must sweat on the availability of Sam Burgess for Saturday's international against France in Paris after the forward was sent to the sin-bin for throwing punches, along with Wakefied's Jason Demetriou, during a second half scarred by often pedantic refereeing. “It was a penalty-a-thon and an error-a-thon,” John Kear, the Wakefield coach, said.
Gleeson, deputising at centre for Ryan Atkins, who was rested before the England match, sustained Wakefield in a nervy first half with his 15-minute try spree. But second-half tries by Julien Rinaldi and Chris Nero, the latter his second of the match, allied to Deacon's marksmanship proved enough to see Bradford home.
Scorers: Bradford Bulls: Tries: Nero 2, Menzies 2, Rinaldi. Goals: Deacon 8. Wakefield Wildcats: Tries: Gleeson 3, Snitch, Grix. Goal: Brough.
Bradford Bulls: D Halley; R Sheriffe, P Sykes, C Nero, S Tadulala; B Jeffries, P Deacon; A Lynch, T Newton, N Scruton, S Menzies, S Burgess, J Langley. Interchange: C Kopczak, J Rinaldi, E Whitehead, M Worrincy.
Wakefield Wildcats: M Blaymire; M Petersen, T Martin, S Gleeson, S Grix; J Rooney, D Brough; R Bibey, S Obst, O Wilkes, D Ferguson, S Snitch, J Demetriou. Interchange: B Drew, J Stosic, T Leo-Latu, M Korkidas.
Referee: T Alibert.
Source:The times
Jamie Peacock given all-clear for France match
Jamie Peacock has been cleared to play in Saturday's Gillette Fusion international against France. The England captain and Sam Burgess, the Bradford Bulls forward, had the threat of suspension hanging over them lifted yesterday.
The RFL's match review panel found that the pair had no case to answer - Peacock for an alleged high tackle on Greg Bird, the Catalans Dragons captain, in Leeds Rhinos' 32-30 defeat on Saturday and Burgess for his role in a brief fracas during Bradford's 36-22 victory over Wakefield Wildcats on Sunday.
However, Tony Smith, the England coach, drafted in Joe Westerman in time for the 19-year-old Castleford Tigers loose forward to join the squad on their flight to Paris after the withdrawal of Sean O'Loughlin, the Wigan Warriors captain.
Westerman, the 2008 engage Super League young player of the year, could be one of four England debutants alongside Scott Moore, the Huddersfield Giants hooker, Ryan Hall, the Leeds wing, and Sam Tomkins, the Wigan stand-off.
England are injury-free otherwise, with Ryan Atkins, the Wakefield centre, set to win his third cap, despite missing the match against Bradford with a slight shoulder problem.
Bobbie Goulding, the France coach, will name his side tomorrow and is hoping to persuade Christophe Moly, the Carcassonne half back, who had ruled himself out because of “exhaustion”, to play in a side that will be jointly captained by the Catalans pair of Jérôme Guisset and Olivier Elima.
Widnes Vikings, the Co-operative Championship club, have suspended two unnamed players for a week pending an investigation into an incident in a bar in the town. “I would like to apologise to the owners, staff and customers of Bar Reef, as well as to the police, who were called to deal with the incident,” Terry O'Connor, the Vikings sporting director, said. “We will not tolerate behaviour of this kind.”
Source:The times
The RFL's match review panel found that the pair had no case to answer - Peacock for an alleged high tackle on Greg Bird, the Catalans Dragons captain, in Leeds Rhinos' 32-30 defeat on Saturday and Burgess for his role in a brief fracas during Bradford's 36-22 victory over Wakefield Wildcats on Sunday.
However, Tony Smith, the England coach, drafted in Joe Westerman in time for the 19-year-old Castleford Tigers loose forward to join the squad on their flight to Paris after the withdrawal of Sean O'Loughlin, the Wigan Warriors captain.
Westerman, the 2008 engage Super League young player of the year, could be one of four England debutants alongside Scott Moore, the Huddersfield Giants hooker, Ryan Hall, the Leeds wing, and Sam Tomkins, the Wigan stand-off.
England are injury-free otherwise, with Ryan Atkins, the Wakefield centre, set to win his third cap, despite missing the match against Bradford with a slight shoulder problem.
Bobbie Goulding, the France coach, will name his side tomorrow and is hoping to persuade Christophe Moly, the Carcassonne half back, who had ruled himself out because of “exhaustion”, to play in a side that will be jointly captained by the Catalans pair of Jérôme Guisset and Olivier Elima.
Widnes Vikings, the Co-operative Championship club, have suspended two unnamed players for a week pending an investigation into an incident in a bar in the town. “I would like to apologise to the owners, staff and customers of Bar Reef, as well as to the police, who were called to deal with the incident,” Terry O'Connor, the Vikings sporting director, said. “We will not tolerate behaviour of this kind.”
Source:The times
Fantasia on song for French recovery mission
Good form of Luca Cumani stable increases confidence in filly's bid for the Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday
Newmarket's erudite Italian has a ready explanation for his globetrotting policy. “English races are for prestige, foreign races are for money,” Luca Cumani said yesterday. But while most of his marquee horses are being prepared for far-flung destinations, Cumani has pressing concerns closer to home in the coming days.
First, he heads to France, seeking to secure a classic win for his beautifully-bred filly, Fantasia. Then, through an unbeaten horse from Greece that embodies the cosmopolitan outlook of his trainer, he will aim to end a 12-year barren spell at Royal Ascot.
Cumani could hardly be in better form for the projects. Since Cima De Triomphe won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes last month, he has been operating with a strike-rate of almost 40 per cent, instilling a confidence at Bedford House that translates to Fantasia's bid for the Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday.
A facile winner of the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, she was only third at odds-on in the French 1,000 Guineas but Cumani is forgiving. “I wasn't disappointed with the filly, only that she was unable to express herself,” he said.
“It wasn't run to suit her at all - there was a slow gallop which turned into a sprint. We had always planned to find out if she'd stay further than a mile and, as the Diane is only ten furlongs, this seems like a good moment.”
Frankie Dettori retains the ride on Fantasia but it will be William Buick who partners Ialysos, Cumani's principal Ascot hope. It is on the advice of Buick that the Golden Jubilee Stakes on the final day has been chosen ahead of the King's Stand on the first.
“William is a bright boy and he thinks he'll be better over six furlongs,” Cumani said of the “Greek freak”, who won all seven of his starts on a sand surface in his native land before landing a listed race at Haydock on his first run in England.
“His owner has had horses here for years and she sent him over as no one wanted to take him on any more in Greece. He's a lovely-looking horse but he's the only sprinter I have, he's been working with milers and it's hard for me to say how good he might be. It will be exciting to take him to the Golden Jubilee against all the other overseas runners but it will be sad if he loses that unbeaten record.”
Cumani has the ante-post favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup in Riggins but reports that he will miss the race. “He didn't come out of his win at Goodwood well,” he explained. “I'll run Axiom in the Hunt Cup instead but, otherwise, we'll be thin at Ascot.”
Presvis misses the Prince of Wales's Stakes and is resting before an autumn campaign, while Curtain Call and Cima De Triomphe are both being considered for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 28.
Mad Rush is heading to Ireland for the Curragh Cup later this month and Bauer, runner-up in the Melbourne Cup last November, is back in work and will run in England next month before heading back to Australia for a second attempt on the elusive prize.
Source:The times
Newmarket's erudite Italian has a ready explanation for his globetrotting policy. “English races are for prestige, foreign races are for money,” Luca Cumani said yesterday. But while most of his marquee horses are being prepared for far-flung destinations, Cumani has pressing concerns closer to home in the coming days.
First, he heads to France, seeking to secure a classic win for his beautifully-bred filly, Fantasia. Then, through an unbeaten horse from Greece that embodies the cosmopolitan outlook of his trainer, he will aim to end a 12-year barren spell at Royal Ascot.
Cumani could hardly be in better form for the projects. Since Cima De Triomphe won the Brigadier Gerard Stakes last month, he has been operating with a strike-rate of almost 40 per cent, instilling a confidence at Bedford House that translates to Fantasia's bid for the Prix de Diane at Chantilly on Sunday.
A facile winner of the Nell Gwyn Stakes at Newmarket, she was only third at odds-on in the French 1,000 Guineas but Cumani is forgiving. “I wasn't disappointed with the filly, only that she was unable to express herself,” he said.
“It wasn't run to suit her at all - there was a slow gallop which turned into a sprint. We had always planned to find out if she'd stay further than a mile and, as the Diane is only ten furlongs, this seems like a good moment.”
Frankie Dettori retains the ride on Fantasia but it will be William Buick who partners Ialysos, Cumani's principal Ascot hope. It is on the advice of Buick that the Golden Jubilee Stakes on the final day has been chosen ahead of the King's Stand on the first.
“William is a bright boy and he thinks he'll be better over six furlongs,” Cumani said of the “Greek freak”, who won all seven of his starts on a sand surface in his native land before landing a listed race at Haydock on his first run in England.
“His owner has had horses here for years and she sent him over as no one wanted to take him on any more in Greece. He's a lovely-looking horse but he's the only sprinter I have, he's been working with milers and it's hard for me to say how good he might be. It will be exciting to take him to the Golden Jubilee against all the other overseas runners but it will be sad if he loses that unbeaten record.”
Cumani has the ante-post favourite for the Royal Hunt Cup in Riggins but reports that he will miss the race. “He didn't come out of his win at Goodwood well,” he explained. “I'll run Axiom in the Hunt Cup instead but, otherwise, we'll be thin at Ascot.”
Presvis misses the Prince of Wales's Stakes and is resting before an autumn campaign, while Curtain Call and Cima De Triomphe are both being considered for the Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud on June 28.
Mad Rush is heading to Ireland for the Curragh Cup later this month and Bauer, runner-up in the Melbourne Cup last November, is back in work and will run in England next month before heading back to Australia for a second attempt on the elusive prize.
Source:The times
A life in the day: Chris Hoy
I roll out of bed at 7.45, go down and put my coffee machine on. I love my coffee. I’m a fanatic about it. I make mine with fresh Arabica beans that I grind myself. While it’s on, I make fresh juice; I use two apples, one orange, one carrot and a bit of ginger. The fruit and veg is often organic, but not always. I have cereal with semi-skimmed milk, banana and honey.
I’ve bought a house just outside Manchester, close to the Velodrome where we train. I’m on my own right now, but my fiancée, Sarra, who’s a lawyer, will be moving down from Edinburgh to be with me soon. No pets: I’m allergic to cats and dogs. I can just about handle a goldfish.
It’s been an incredible year since I won gold in Bejing. The Games were so well organised, and I was happy with my form. Every race I was winning: 15 times in five days, I didn’t lose a race. The success of the whole GB team there got so much attention from the country.
There’s not been a typical day since. I could be having an airplane named after me, or walking out on to the pitch to present the ball when Scotland played the All Blacks. But if it’s a mid-season training day, I get to the Velodrome at 10. If I need to be fresh, I drive — I have a black Jaguar XKR. If not, I cycle the 20 minutes there; it’s a good warm-up.
In the gym I lift heavy weights for two hours to develop the muscles you need to be a sprint cyclist; my programme is written by Dave Clark from the Scottish Institute of Sport. I have a protein shake, which gets nutrients into your body quickly. Then I get lunch — a tuna or turkey-salad sandwich, beans on toast, or baked potato and salad — something easy to digest. Between mouthfuls I make calls and give phone interviews: it might be a cycling publication, a TV crew or local paper, sponsors or charities. Once or twice a day I talk to Charlie Reid, who handles my diary and PR.
I snack on energy bars during the day. I’m not on a strict diet: I might have a burger or a cake. It’s about moderation. But for six months before the Olympics, I didn’t have one beer or a glass of wine. If I had, and I’d stood on the podium and got second or third, I’d have wondered if things might have been different.
At 2, we go to the track centre. There’ll be from 3 to 20 team-mates training with me. I pick up my bike from the mechanics. It has my name on it; now it has “Sir” in front. It was incredible to be knighted for riding your bike, and a huge honour.
As a kid I loved bikes: that scene in ET when they’re on BMX bikes is what inspired me to ride. Now I see the bike as a tool. The rest is down to your legs, heart, lungs. Our bikes are carbon-fibre, wind-tunnel technology; they only have one gear, so I select the gear for the training we’re doing — say, acceleration or standing starts. We do a 20-minute warm-up on the track, which is 250 metres. The motorbike sets the pace. We start at 30 kilometres per hour, building up to 80 kilometres per hour. You train to produce lactic acid — the burning feeling you get when you work the muscles hard.
We stay on the track till 5. Training is painful, gruelling and monotonous. Some sessions leave you on your hands and knees, wanting to vomit, thinking you’re going to die. After others you have just a mild ache. Each session takes you towards your goals, such as the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year. The main one for me right now is London 2012.
I’ve just got back into training since my injury in Copenhagen in February. It was the worst crash of my career. I had a degloving injury [the skin became detached from the underlying tissue] to the hip, and I had to keep it immobile. Cycling is a low-risk sport generally; I’d broken the odd bone but never been laid off. It was frustrating, as my chances in the cycling world championships were blown for this year. But the way I see it, if it happened last year it would have been a disaster.
Around 5.30 I have some food to get me home. Three times a week I have a physio session or massage at the Velodrome. When you’ve pushed your body that hard you need to maintain it or it will break down.
I get home by 7 and rest, then have a shower. I cook dinner: stir-fried chicken or prawns with veg, or curry — fairly basic dishes. Sarra’s a good cook, though. Midweek I eat alone, but it’s not lonely. I’ve been with people all day, so it’s good to switch off. I’ll watch The Simpsons, The Sopranos, Top Gear or comedy. I love rugby and motor-racing.
I get ready for bed at 11. Brush my teeth, wash my face. If it’s cold I wear a T-shirt. I get into bed and relax by reading a novel or I listen to music on my iPod shuffle. I write out a list of things to do the next day; it helps me to sleep easier. I usually sleep well, though, and I can fall asleep almost anywhere: on a plane or on a train — but never on a bike.
Source:The times
I’ve bought a house just outside Manchester, close to the Velodrome where we train. I’m on my own right now, but my fiancée, Sarra, who’s a lawyer, will be moving down from Edinburgh to be with me soon. No pets: I’m allergic to cats and dogs. I can just about handle a goldfish.
It’s been an incredible year since I won gold in Bejing. The Games were so well organised, and I was happy with my form. Every race I was winning: 15 times in five days, I didn’t lose a race. The success of the whole GB team there got so much attention from the country.
There’s not been a typical day since. I could be having an airplane named after me, or walking out on to the pitch to present the ball when Scotland played the All Blacks. But if it’s a mid-season training day, I get to the Velodrome at 10. If I need to be fresh, I drive — I have a black Jaguar XKR. If not, I cycle the 20 minutes there; it’s a good warm-up.
In the gym I lift heavy weights for two hours to develop the muscles you need to be a sprint cyclist; my programme is written by Dave Clark from the Scottish Institute of Sport. I have a protein shake, which gets nutrients into your body quickly. Then I get lunch — a tuna or turkey-salad sandwich, beans on toast, or baked potato and salad — something easy to digest. Between mouthfuls I make calls and give phone interviews: it might be a cycling publication, a TV crew or local paper, sponsors or charities. Once or twice a day I talk to Charlie Reid, who handles my diary and PR.
I snack on energy bars during the day. I’m not on a strict diet: I might have a burger or a cake. It’s about moderation. But for six months before the Olympics, I didn’t have one beer or a glass of wine. If I had, and I’d stood on the podium and got second or third, I’d have wondered if things might have been different.
At 2, we go to the track centre. There’ll be from 3 to 20 team-mates training with me. I pick up my bike from the mechanics. It has my name on it; now it has “Sir” in front. It was incredible to be knighted for riding your bike, and a huge honour.
As a kid I loved bikes: that scene in ET when they’re on BMX bikes is what inspired me to ride. Now I see the bike as a tool. The rest is down to your legs, heart, lungs. Our bikes are carbon-fibre, wind-tunnel technology; they only have one gear, so I select the gear for the training we’re doing — say, acceleration or standing starts. We do a 20-minute warm-up on the track, which is 250 metres. The motorbike sets the pace. We start at 30 kilometres per hour, building up to 80 kilometres per hour. You train to produce lactic acid — the burning feeling you get when you work the muscles hard.
We stay on the track till 5. Training is painful, gruelling and monotonous. Some sessions leave you on your hands and knees, wanting to vomit, thinking you’re going to die. After others you have just a mild ache. Each session takes you towards your goals, such as the Commonwealth Games in Delhi next year. The main one for me right now is London 2012.
I’ve just got back into training since my injury in Copenhagen in February. It was the worst crash of my career. I had a degloving injury [the skin became detached from the underlying tissue] to the hip, and I had to keep it immobile. Cycling is a low-risk sport generally; I’d broken the odd bone but never been laid off. It was frustrating, as my chances in the cycling world championships were blown for this year. But the way I see it, if it happened last year it would have been a disaster.
Around 5.30 I have some food to get me home. Three times a week I have a physio session or massage at the Velodrome. When you’ve pushed your body that hard you need to maintain it or it will break down.
I get home by 7 and rest, then have a shower. I cook dinner: stir-fried chicken or prawns with veg, or curry — fairly basic dishes. Sarra’s a good cook, though. Midweek I eat alone, but it’s not lonely. I’ve been with people all day, so it’s good to switch off. I’ll watch The Simpsons, The Sopranos, Top Gear or comedy. I love rugby and motor-racing.
I get ready for bed at 11. Brush my teeth, wash my face. If it’s cold I wear a T-shirt. I get into bed and relax by reading a novel or I listen to music on my iPod shuffle. I write out a list of things to do the next day; it helps me to sleep easier. I usually sleep well, though, and I can fall asleep almost anywhere: on a plane or on a train — but never on a bike.
Source:The times
SFA had no choice in Olympics row
Few should really be surprised that, at the end of quite an almighty fuss, football’s Team GB at the 2012 Olympics will consist of just English players, with no Scots, Northern Irish or Welsh taking part.
It has been quite a political rammy, all this, with the SFA, like the Welsh FA and the Irish FA, beginning to feel like an endangered species during the debate. And all because Gordon Brown wanted the Scots to play their “British” card for the sake of the London Olympics.
The facts remained pretty clear. The SFA may have looked insular and parochial in their desire not to take part, but they had good reason for their cold pragmatism. There is resentment across the 200-strong Fifa family of nations over the otherwise paltry SFA’s influence at international football’s top table, and it would take any excuse to have them wiping Scottish football’s governing body off the map. A Team GB at the Olympics would have been just such an excuse.
The resentful nations in parts of Europe, Africa and CONCACAF ask this: how come a singular, sovereign state like the United Kingdom gets to wear four different hats in world football? And how come they get to boss the rest of us around on the International Football Association Board (IFAB), where the FA, the SFA, the WAF and IFA have a vote each, while the rest of Fifa — the other 200 nations — rotate the remaining four votes among them?
You can see from this it is not a democracy. And you can see also why the SFA has had to tread extremely carefully over Team GB.
The calls yesterday for the head of Gordon Smith, chief executive of the SFA, over the whole debacle, sounded absurd. The SNP MSP, Christine Grahame, who chairs the Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee, and who has hollered for Smith’s head, evidently doesn’t know what she is talking about.
Smith has no hang-ups one way or another about Scottish footballers playing for a Team GB in the Olympics. Indeed, personally, he might even fancy the idea. But other Scots who have walked the corridors of power in football — David Will at Fifa and David Taylor, presently at Uefa — have both warned him and the SFA about such a deal. They have both said that the SFA would be compromised on the world stage.
Taylor, indeed, went so far as to tell the SFA: “Don’t touch it with a barge pole.” Is Smith really supposed to ignore such advice from someone who is in touch with the international politics of football every day of his life?
It is a great pity, and it looks bad, but has the SFA had any other choice in this matter?
Source:The times
It has been quite a political rammy, all this, with the SFA, like the Welsh FA and the Irish FA, beginning to feel like an endangered species during the debate. And all because Gordon Brown wanted the Scots to play their “British” card for the sake of the London Olympics.
The facts remained pretty clear. The SFA may have looked insular and parochial in their desire not to take part, but they had good reason for their cold pragmatism. There is resentment across the 200-strong Fifa family of nations over the otherwise paltry SFA’s influence at international football’s top table, and it would take any excuse to have them wiping Scottish football’s governing body off the map. A Team GB at the Olympics would have been just such an excuse.
The resentful nations in parts of Europe, Africa and CONCACAF ask this: how come a singular, sovereign state like the United Kingdom gets to wear four different hats in world football? And how come they get to boss the rest of us around on the International Football Association Board (IFAB), where the FA, the SFA, the WAF and IFA have a vote each, while the rest of Fifa — the other 200 nations — rotate the remaining four votes among them?
You can see from this it is not a democracy. And you can see also why the SFA has had to tread extremely carefully over Team GB.
The calls yesterday for the head of Gordon Smith, chief executive of the SFA, over the whole debacle, sounded absurd. The SNP MSP, Christine Grahame, who chairs the Scottish Parliament’s health and sport committee, and who has hollered for Smith’s head, evidently doesn’t know what she is talking about.
Smith has no hang-ups one way or another about Scottish footballers playing for a Team GB in the Olympics. Indeed, personally, he might even fancy the idea. But other Scots who have walked the corridors of power in football — David Will at Fifa and David Taylor, presently at Uefa — have both warned him and the SFA about such a deal. They have both said that the SFA would be compromised on the world stage.
Taylor, indeed, went so far as to tell the SFA: “Don’t touch it with a barge pole.” Is Smith really supposed to ignore such advice from someone who is in touch with the international politics of football every day of his life?
It is a great pity, and it looks bad, but has the SFA had any other choice in this matter?
Source:The times
Tiger Woods fights back to sound warning to US Open rivals
Tiger Woods won his fourth Memorial Tournament title yesterday after a final round of 65, seven under par, sent a message that he will be the man to beat at the US Open in two weeks’ time.
The victory in Dublin, Ohio, was the 67th career PGA title for the world No 1, who finished 72 holes on 12 under par, one stroke ahead of Jim Furyk, his fellow American, and four better than Mark Wilson and Jonathan Byrd, also from the United States.
Woods had seven birdies, two bogeys and an eagle to secure the second victory since his comeback after knee surgery. “It was just about being patient with it,” he said. “It was a matter of time, because I was able to start practising after rounds again.”
A stunning birdie-birdie finish by Woods confirmed that he is back to his best form after making his return from an eight-month layoff and is ready to defend the US Open crown he won limping through a play-off against Rocco Mediate last year.
“I knew it \ was coming around,” Woods said. “I haven’t been as consistent as I wanted to be. That cost me tournaments. I was just glad to clean that up.”
Woods won his first victory of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. “Some expectations had to be lowered when I first came back,” Woods said. “It was nice to get a win so early, but it is nicer to get one now that I can hit more shots.”
Woods, who had won in 1999, 2000 and 2001 at the Memorial, hit all 14 fairways off the tee, completing one of the strongest driving performances of his career. He missed only three in the first two days and his 18 fairways hit in a row is his longest such streak since 2003. “The driving was nice this week,” he said. “It was nice to put it together.”
Starting the round four strokes off the pace, Woods birdied four of the first seven holes, including the 2nd and par-three 4th, as well as the par-five 5th and 7th, before having a bogey at the par-three 8th.
A stunning chip-in brought an eagle for the second day in a row at the par-five 11th and put Woods among the leaders. His birdie at the 15th was followed with a bogey at the 16th, but his stunning finish won the day.
After rolling home a testing birdie putt at the 17th, Woods dropped his approach at the 18th hole inches from the cup and tapped in to complete a spectacular comeback.
Furyk birdied the 18th to finish one behind, but Wilson and Byrd were the only other rivals within six strokes.
Source:The times
The victory in Dublin, Ohio, was the 67th career PGA title for the world No 1, who finished 72 holes on 12 under par, one stroke ahead of Jim Furyk, his fellow American, and four better than Mark Wilson and Jonathan Byrd, also from the United States.
Woods had seven birdies, two bogeys and an eagle to secure the second victory since his comeback after knee surgery. “It was just about being patient with it,” he said. “It was a matter of time, because I was able to start practising after rounds again.”
A stunning birdie-birdie finish by Woods confirmed that he is back to his best form after making his return from an eight-month layoff and is ready to defend the US Open crown he won limping through a play-off against Rocco Mediate last year.
“I knew it \ was coming around,” Woods said. “I haven’t been as consistent as I wanted to be. That cost me tournaments. I was just glad to clean that up.”
Woods won his first victory of the season at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. “Some expectations had to be lowered when I first came back,” Woods said. “It was nice to get a win so early, but it is nicer to get one now that I can hit more shots.”
Woods, who had won in 1999, 2000 and 2001 at the Memorial, hit all 14 fairways off the tee, completing one of the strongest driving performances of his career. He missed only three in the first two days and his 18 fairways hit in a row is his longest such streak since 2003. “The driving was nice this week,” he said. “It was nice to put it together.”
Starting the round four strokes off the pace, Woods birdied four of the first seven holes, including the 2nd and par-three 4th, as well as the par-five 5th and 7th, before having a bogey at the par-three 8th.
A stunning chip-in brought an eagle for the second day in a row at the par-five 11th and put Woods among the leaders. His birdie at the 15th was followed with a bogey at the 16th, but his stunning finish won the day.
After rolling home a testing birdie putt at the 17th, Woods dropped his approach at the 18th hole inches from the cup and tapped in to complete a spectacular comeback.
Furyk birdied the 18th to finish one behind, but Wilson and Byrd were the only other rivals within six strokes.
Source:The times
Jenson Button moving into 'Michael Schumacher territory'
Ross Brawn believes that Jenson Button is driving better with every race as the World Championship leader continues his charge to the drivers' title in Formula One.
After the Briton's crushing victory in the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on Sunday - his sixth win in seven races - the team principal of Brawn GP said that there was no advice he could give Button other than: “Carry on as you are.”
“He's driving so well, there's nothing I can add to his performance,” Brawn said. “It was absolutely perfect on Sunday. It was very smooth, very controlled and he is getting better and better. This was the best performance I have seen this year.”
Having spent years working with Michael Schumacher at Benetton and Ferrari, where the seven-times world champion compiled the best record in the modern era of the sport, Brawn is in a better position than anyone in the paddock to distinguish a great driver from one who is merely outstanding. Clearly Button does not have the same steely intensity as Schumacher, nor the German's win-at-all-costs mentality, but Brawn is happy to talk of them in the same class.
“I had a long time, 15 years, working with Michael and this is only my second year with Jenson,” he said. “It's difficult to compare, but what I see in Jenson is the dedication, the commitment, the focus and he is superbly fit. He really enjoys his fitness work and that is similar to Michael.
“There's also the winning mentality. Michael acquired it and Jenson is getting it. What's nice is that Jenson is still keeping the same attitude and the same balanced approach as a person.”
If Button is doing everything right, so is the car that Brawn and his designers have given him. Brawn oversaw the conception and campaigning of the 2004 Ferrari that, in Schumacher's hands, won 12 of the first 13 races and the BGP 001 is not far off it, he believes. “You know when you've got a good car,” Brawn said. “The thing that I'm very encouraged by is that the incremental changes we are making are improving the car.”
While Button basks in success, other drivers farther down the grid were stepping into the budget-capping row with the FIA. Felipe Massa, the Ferrari driver, said that the dispute between the teams and the sport's governing body was a “disaster” for Formula One, adding that if the FIA continues to try to force a spending cap on the sport, the teams will leave and race elsewhere.
Fernando Alonso, of Renault, was equally outspoken. “I [would] prefer to race in any other category before the new Formula One,” he said. “You cannot suddenly move from a budget of €500 million [about £435 million] to one of €45 million a year.”
Source:The times
After the Briton's crushing victory in the Turkish Grand Prix at Istanbul Park on Sunday - his sixth win in seven races - the team principal of Brawn GP said that there was no advice he could give Button other than: “Carry on as you are.”
“He's driving so well, there's nothing I can add to his performance,” Brawn said. “It was absolutely perfect on Sunday. It was very smooth, very controlled and he is getting better and better. This was the best performance I have seen this year.”
Having spent years working with Michael Schumacher at Benetton and Ferrari, where the seven-times world champion compiled the best record in the modern era of the sport, Brawn is in a better position than anyone in the paddock to distinguish a great driver from one who is merely outstanding. Clearly Button does not have the same steely intensity as Schumacher, nor the German's win-at-all-costs mentality, but Brawn is happy to talk of them in the same class.
“I had a long time, 15 years, working with Michael and this is only my second year with Jenson,” he said. “It's difficult to compare, but what I see in Jenson is the dedication, the commitment, the focus and he is superbly fit. He really enjoys his fitness work and that is similar to Michael.
“There's also the winning mentality. Michael acquired it and Jenson is getting it. What's nice is that Jenson is still keeping the same attitude and the same balanced approach as a person.”
If Button is doing everything right, so is the car that Brawn and his designers have given him. Brawn oversaw the conception and campaigning of the 2004 Ferrari that, in Schumacher's hands, won 12 of the first 13 races and the BGP 001 is not far off it, he believes. “You know when you've got a good car,” Brawn said. “The thing that I'm very encouraged by is that the incremental changes we are making are improving the car.”
While Button basks in success, other drivers farther down the grid were stepping into the budget-capping row with the FIA. Felipe Massa, the Ferrari driver, said that the dispute between the teams and the sport's governing body was a “disaster” for Formula One, adding that if the FIA continues to try to force a spending cap on the sport, the teams will leave and race elsewhere.
Fernando Alonso, of Renault, was equally outspoken. “I [would] prefer to race in any other category before the new Formula One,” he said. “You cannot suddenly move from a budget of €500 million [about £435 million] to one of €45 million a year.”
Source:The times
Orange dream is over as Netherlands crash out of World Twenty20
Shahid Afridi starred for Pakistan with the ball as the Test side ensured the end of the Netherlands's fairytale performance at the World Twenty20 at Lord's.
Leg-spinner Afridi took four wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs - the fourth best return in all Twenty20 internationals - as 2007 finalists Pakistan won by 82 runs to book their place in the second phase Super Eights.
The Dutch, shock four-wicket winners over England at Lord's in Friday's tournament opener and with a better run-rate at the start, needed to make 151 to get through and so deny Pakistan the minium 25-run margin of victory they required.
But Afridi, well supported by fellow spinner Saeed Ajmal (three for 20), sparked a collapse that saw the Dutch decline from 42 for one to 93 all out.
Victory saw Pakistan, beaten by 48 runs by England at the Oval on Sunday, join the hosts in the second phase after they had made 175 for five with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who later made four stumpings, top-score with 41.
By contrast, no Dutch batsman made more than Alexei Kervezee's 21. The Dutch chase started briskly with Darron Reekers striking fours off left-arm quicks Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Aamir.
But Afridi struck with his first ball when he bowled former Sussex batsman Bas Zuiderent for 13. That left the Dutch 42 for two in the eighth over.
It was the start of a collapse from which they never recovered. Tom de Grooth, who made 49 against England, could not repeat his heroics this time and was bowled by Afridi, better known as a hard-hitting batsman, who took three wickets in the space of 10 balls.
Source:The times
Leg-spinner Afridi took four wickets for just 11 runs in his four overs - the fourth best return in all Twenty20 internationals - as 2007 finalists Pakistan won by 82 runs to book their place in the second phase Super Eights.
The Dutch, shock four-wicket winners over England at Lord's in Friday's tournament opener and with a better run-rate at the start, needed to make 151 to get through and so deny Pakistan the minium 25-run margin of victory they required.
But Afridi, well supported by fellow spinner Saeed Ajmal (three for 20), sparked a collapse that saw the Dutch decline from 42 for one to 93 all out.
Victory saw Pakistan, beaten by 48 runs by England at the Oval on Sunday, join the hosts in the second phase after they had made 175 for five with wicket-keeper Kamran Akmal, who later made four stumpings, top-score with 41.
By contrast, no Dutch batsman made more than Alexei Kervezee's 21. The Dutch chase started briskly with Darron Reekers striking fours off left-arm quicks Sohail Tanvir and Mohammad Aamir.
But Afridi struck with his first ball when he bowled former Sussex batsman Bas Zuiderent for 13. That left the Dutch 42 for two in the eighth over.
It was the start of a collapse from which they never recovered. Tom de Grooth, who made 49 against England, could not repeat his heroics this time and was bowled by Afridi, better known as a hard-hitting batsman, who took three wickets in the space of 10 balls.
Source:The times
Tube strike gives England fans a stark choice: long walk - or a refund
England’s World Cup match at Wembley tomorrow night risks descending into farce after ticket-holders were warned they face several hours of transport misery or a long walk home.
The Football Association have confirmed that England's tie against Andorra will be open to supporters despite a planned strike on the London Underground, but there will be no extra buses or trains to assist 70,000 spectators trying to get home.
“We are advised that no additional transport will be available on the evening and trains will not be stopping at the Wembley Overground station,” said Ian Whatmore, the chief executive of the FA.
“Given the strike, the journey home will be difficult, and supporters should make their own arrangements and not rely on public transport.”
Nobody without pre-paid permits will be able to park within two miles of the ground and, with options severely limited, an FA spokesman said: “If they lived locally, I suppose they could walk home.”
The FA is set to lose tens of thousands of pounds after announcing this afternoon that refunds would be available to supporters unwilling to risk travelling to the game.
Officials held talks with the Metropolitan Police and the local council this morning where they considered the worst-case scenario of having to close the stadium to all spectators.
Mr Whatmore said: "The match will kick-off at 8.15pm as planned. But it will not, I repeat not be played behind closed doors. Supporters should be prepared to travel as early as possible to avoid disruption.
“We are obviously disappointed that our supporters are going to be inconvenienced in this way.”
London will be beset by traffic problems for 48 hours because of a strike, which is due to begin at 6.59pm this evening. The London Underground and the RMT union were holding last-ditch talks to avert the action this afternoon.
Asked if the union would take into account the plight of the football supporters, an RMT spokesman said: “It’s not a consideration. I mean what’s next? There’s Michael Jackson or Britney Spears at the O2? There’s always something happening in London for Christ’s sake. The concern of the RMT is reaching a settlement.”
The FA took the decision last week to halt ticket sales and asked Brent Council for help with additional parking, but that suggestion was rebuffed.
Transport for London have put in place some contingency plans to help commuters in the rest of the capital getting to and from work, including extra buses, taxi-sharing and schemes to lead cyclists across the capital, but it is unclear what they could do to help people home from the football.
Around 100 extra buses will run during the day but it is not thought any will be re-routed to help disperse the crowd.
A spokesman Metropolitan Police would not disclose whether any additional officers would be employed to help but said: “We have an appropriate policing plan in place. Whether the match is played behind closed doors is a matter for the FA.”
Source:The times
The Football Association have confirmed that England's tie against Andorra will be open to supporters despite a planned strike on the London Underground, but there will be no extra buses or trains to assist 70,000 spectators trying to get home.
“We are advised that no additional transport will be available on the evening and trains will not be stopping at the Wembley Overground station,” said Ian Whatmore, the chief executive of the FA.
“Given the strike, the journey home will be difficult, and supporters should make their own arrangements and not rely on public transport.”
Nobody without pre-paid permits will be able to park within two miles of the ground and, with options severely limited, an FA spokesman said: “If they lived locally, I suppose they could walk home.”
The FA is set to lose tens of thousands of pounds after announcing this afternoon that refunds would be available to supporters unwilling to risk travelling to the game.
Officials held talks with the Metropolitan Police and the local council this morning where they considered the worst-case scenario of having to close the stadium to all spectators.
Mr Whatmore said: "The match will kick-off at 8.15pm as planned. But it will not, I repeat not be played behind closed doors. Supporters should be prepared to travel as early as possible to avoid disruption.
“We are obviously disappointed that our supporters are going to be inconvenienced in this way.”
London will be beset by traffic problems for 48 hours because of a strike, which is due to begin at 6.59pm this evening. The London Underground and the RMT union were holding last-ditch talks to avert the action this afternoon.
Asked if the union would take into account the plight of the football supporters, an RMT spokesman said: “It’s not a consideration. I mean what’s next? There’s Michael Jackson or Britney Spears at the O2? There’s always something happening in London for Christ’s sake. The concern of the RMT is reaching a settlement.”
The FA took the decision last week to halt ticket sales and asked Brent Council for help with additional parking, but that suggestion was rebuffed.
Transport for London have put in place some contingency plans to help commuters in the rest of the capital getting to and from work, including extra buses, taxi-sharing and schemes to lead cyclists across the capital, but it is unclear what they could do to help people home from the football.
Around 100 extra buses will run during the day but it is not thought any will be re-routed to help disperse the crowd.
A spokesman Metropolitan Police would not disclose whether any additional officers would be employed to help but said: “We have an appropriate policing plan in place. Whether the match is played behind closed doors is a matter for the FA.”
Source:The times
Alan Shearer left in limbo as Newcastle put up ‘for sale’ signs
Club make whole squad available for transfer
Newcastle United have delivered another painful snub to Alan Shearer after effectively putting their entire first-team squad up for sale.
Sixteen days after their relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship, Newcastle remain in turmoil, with no manager and no summer transfers in place. They invited further ridicule by inviting offers for the club by e-mail.
Shearer, their increasingly frustrated manager-in-waiting, returned from a four-day break in Portugal yesterday still eager to embrace the challenge of restoring lustre to his home-town club, but has no meetings planned with Mike Ashley, the owner.
Last week Shearer was granted a single conversation with Derek Llambias, the managing director. He had hoped to hear on Friday that Barclays Bank had effectively extended the club’s overdraft, making £40 million available as working capital — to buy players and pay wages — but has been told nothing. “Alan is completely in the dark,” one associate said.
Shearer was attempting to discover last night whether Ashley’s backing for his appointment has waned, as the club’s dallying would suggest. He will not impose any deadline on Newcastle and nor will he walk away while there is a possibility of the job materialising, but he wants every opportunity to make it work.
That includes having the means to restructure the squad and Shearer will be dismayed to learn that his blueprint for achieving promotion next season, which included building a side around the likes of Steven Taylor, Steve Harper and Sébastien Bassong, has been ignored.
A number of agents, as well as other clubs, have been informed that offers would be considered for Newcastle’s entire playing staff. It has also been reported that First Artists, the agency, has been charged with finding buyers for high earners including Obafemi Martins, Joey Barton and Fabricio Coloccini.
After his only day of face-to-face negotiations with Shearer, Ashley described hiring their former striker for the final eight games of the season as the “best decision” he has made, while Llambias stated that “we want him to be the manager 110 per cent”. It is an opinion still held by supporters, who recognise that Shearer provides them with credibility as well as offering emotional resonance.
In the immediate aftermath of relegation from the Barclays Premier League, Shearer continued to work for the club without pay, speaking to players and agents about potential signings and compiling a programme for pre-season. His treatment since then appears shoddy and fans, who will receive their season-ticket packs this week, have called for the owner to end the impasse. “It is vital that Mike Ashley acts quickly to quash the rumour and hearsay that surrounds the appointment of Alan Shearer as our manager,” Newcastle United Supporters Club said in a statement.
Yet Ashley’s regime continues to provoke embarrassment. Yesterday the club — who are set to lose 120 members of staff — confirmed on their website that “the club is for sale at the price of £100 million”. Interested parties were asked to “contact Newcastle United at admin@nufc.co.uk”, which led to them being inundated with abusive e-mails from Sunderland fans.
Sources close to the sale have suggested that Ashley will be lucky to attract £80 million for a club he bought for £134 million two years ago and in which he subsequently invested a further £110 million to reduce debts.
Source:The times
Newcastle United have delivered another painful snub to Alan Shearer after effectively putting their entire first-team squad up for sale.
Sixteen days after their relegation to the Coca-Cola Championship, Newcastle remain in turmoil, with no manager and no summer transfers in place. They invited further ridicule by inviting offers for the club by e-mail.
Shearer, their increasingly frustrated manager-in-waiting, returned from a four-day break in Portugal yesterday still eager to embrace the challenge of restoring lustre to his home-town club, but has no meetings planned with Mike Ashley, the owner.
Last week Shearer was granted a single conversation with Derek Llambias, the managing director. He had hoped to hear on Friday that Barclays Bank had effectively extended the club’s overdraft, making £40 million available as working capital — to buy players and pay wages — but has been told nothing. “Alan is completely in the dark,” one associate said.
Shearer was attempting to discover last night whether Ashley’s backing for his appointment has waned, as the club’s dallying would suggest. He will not impose any deadline on Newcastle and nor will he walk away while there is a possibility of the job materialising, but he wants every opportunity to make it work.
That includes having the means to restructure the squad and Shearer will be dismayed to learn that his blueprint for achieving promotion next season, which included building a side around the likes of Steven Taylor, Steve Harper and Sébastien Bassong, has been ignored.
A number of agents, as well as other clubs, have been informed that offers would be considered for Newcastle’s entire playing staff. It has also been reported that First Artists, the agency, has been charged with finding buyers for high earners including Obafemi Martins, Joey Barton and Fabricio Coloccini.
After his only day of face-to-face negotiations with Shearer, Ashley described hiring their former striker for the final eight games of the season as the “best decision” he has made, while Llambias stated that “we want him to be the manager 110 per cent”. It is an opinion still held by supporters, who recognise that Shearer provides them with credibility as well as offering emotional resonance.
In the immediate aftermath of relegation from the Barclays Premier League, Shearer continued to work for the club without pay, speaking to players and agents about potential signings and compiling a programme for pre-season. His treatment since then appears shoddy and fans, who will receive their season-ticket packs this week, have called for the owner to end the impasse. “It is vital that Mike Ashley acts quickly to quash the rumour and hearsay that surrounds the appointment of Alan Shearer as our manager,” Newcastle United Supporters Club said in a statement.
Yet Ashley’s regime continues to provoke embarrassment. Yesterday the club — who are set to lose 120 members of staff — confirmed on their website that “the club is for sale at the price of £100 million”. Interested parties were asked to “contact Newcastle United at admin@nufc.co.uk”, which led to them being inundated with abusive e-mails from Sunderland fans.
Sources close to the sale have suggested that Ashley will be lucky to attract £80 million for a club he bought for £134 million two years ago and in which he subsequently invested a further £110 million to reduce debts.
Source:The times
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