ANOTHER year bites the dust and nowt changes.
Hideously injured players spring to their feet moments later courtesy of a miracle cure. Appalling fouls are committed by players but the managers "deed not see it." Patently correct decisions are questioned by players. For their protests perm any of the following -- blind, fat, stupid, cheating -- plus the expletives not printable before any watershed.
Is it too much to ask that maybe next year things might change a little. Could professionals once again become role models? Could amateur footballers behave with a little more self control -- more referees are leaving the game than those being recruited because of the threat of assault. Could club officials accept responsibility for the actions of their players rather than deflecting criticism elsewhere? And could we all finally accept that constructive dialogue between all parties in the game is eminently preferable to posturing in the media.
As I plan my own New Year's resolutions I personally await other events in 2002. I eagerly look forward to a coherent diagram from Mr Kinder. (In a recent survey 98 per cent of readers mistakenly believed he was a deranged physics professor). I simply cannot wait for Russ Wrigley finally tackling Getting Fir for Shove Alfpenny."
Furthermore, with bated breath I long for Trevor Hanson's nostalgic look back to the part he played in the great Stan Matthews Blackpool team of the fifties.
Last but not least I await the scout at an Ivy Hotel game spotting a local talent who hence becames the player to leave the Comb for the Premiership for a million quid. Applicants for the Park Patrol slot to the editor please.
May God Bless you all this Christmas and I return in January if not bumped off by any or all of the above.
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