Rugby League Challenge Cup Final

This coming Saturday, Tatty and the Tatty clan (but not the hound) will be making their way to Wembley for the Rugby League Challenge Cup final between Wigan (boo, hiss!) and Leeds Rhinos (hooray - anyone but Wigan).

As you may have guessed, we are none too keen on the Warriors, being St Helens (and Whitehaven) supporters in this house.

I have looked through the archives and found British Pathé newsreel footage of finals from years gone by (click on images to be taken to British Pathé website) and there is even one showing Wigan winning (just as they won't on Saturday - we hope!)

WIGAN WIN RUGBY CUP 1965

Wigan beat Hunslet 20-16 for Rugby League Challenge Cup in 1965

RUGBY LEAGUE CHALLENGE CUP FINAL 1927

Rugby League Challenge Cup Final 1927. Huge crowds flock to see Oldham defeat Swinton in a thrilling contest.

WAKEFIELD WIN CUP 1962

 Teams walking out onto the pitch in 1962 - Wakefield Trinity and Huddersfield.

For this one time and one time only, 

COME ON YOU RHINO'S

Non-League Day 2011

In case it had escaped your attention, Saturday 3^rd September 2011, is Non-League Day 2011.

Non-League Day is the brainchild of QPR and Harrow Borough fan James Doe who after going on QPR’s pre-season tour of Devon in 2010, was greatly impressed by the relaxed atmosphere and the friendliness of all the local supporters he encountered. Realising that because of International fixtures, there were no Premier League or Championship games on this corresponding weekend last year, he saw a perfect opportunity to persuade fans of those bigger clubs to check out their local non-league side instead. The event proved to be an enormous success with many clubs reporting a significant increase in the numbers coming through the turnstiles and several even enjoying their highest gate of the season. 

Harrow Borough's "Earlsmead" home

Charlton Athletic were due to play a League 1 fixture away at Exeter on that day, but the club encouraged its fans who did not relish the trip down to St James’ Park (the other one), to go and watch a non-league club closer to home. In hindsight it was probably good advice, as they went down in Devon by an only goal. Chelsea captain John Terry, ruled out of the England match with a pulled hamstring, was seen at Eastbourne Borough’s match with Darlington (his brother Paul was playing for the visitors) and Match of the Day commentator Jonathan Pearce, went along to Lewes’ Dripping Pan where he was even roped into drawing the raffle at half-time.

Lewes' quaint "Dripping Pan" during renovations in 2006

For this year, Macmillan Cancer Support has come on board as the official charity, along with ex-England international Chris Waddle as the official ambassador. The support of the All Party Football Group in Parliament has also been secured.

MacMillan cancer Support bus

James Doe said, “With England playing in Bulgaria on Friday 2nd September and the Premier League and Championship taking a week off, I urge all fans of the big clubs to get out and watch their local Non-League team instead on Saturday 3rd September 2011! Given the current financial climate, clubs outside the Football League need all the support they can get and your presence at a game will be genuinely appreciated. With admission and refreshments at a fraction of the cost, what's stopping you?”

So for that Saturday (and hopefully many other match days throughout the season), please urge your family, friends, drinking buddies, work colleagues - in fact anyone you know, who normally attends a higher level of football (or is an armchair Sky Sports fan), to join in and support Non-League Day. 

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Robbie Keane Flies the Nest and Modification of the Grand National Course

I know this blog is supposed to revolve around the subjects of horse racing and non-league football and I will go on to the subject of the nags in a moment (I promise), but occasionally I like to drift off topic a little and have a rant about something else (OK, quite often then).

The illustrious Mr Keane

I read today that Tottenham Hotspur and Republic of Ireland striker Robbie Keane, has decided to cross the water and join Mr Beckham at LA Galaxy. Is this an admission that he is past it and cannot cope with the rigours of Premier League football anymore? Or maybe has he become a mercenary to the US dollar?

Probably both if the truth be known.

OK, back to the subject at hand. After the dreadful scenes at this year's at Aintree Grand National, the powers that be have announced some modifications to be in place in time for next years race.

For full details, have a look at my article (link below)

Grand National Course to be Modified

Do you have an opinion on the race? Are the fences too stiff and does anyone involved in National Hunt racing really care about the distress the horses may suffer and even the deaths of horses? I'd love to know your opinion.

Tatty is now off to study the form.

How to Handle an Eel.

Coming up towards the end of my holiday in East Dorset and today whilst out fishing on the campsite lake, I caught an eel. 

European Eel (Anguila anguila)

Now it is many a long year since I have found one of these critters on the end of my line and it got me thinking about how difficult they are to deal with when it comes to removing hooks etc. 

I was fortunate that it came off the hook in the landing net of its own accord, so I could return it to the lake easily, but for future reference the following page from the Specialist Eel Angling Group on Maggotdrowning.com gives good advice on how to handle these very wriggly, slippery (and in all honesty not very nice) creatures. 

Unhooking and Handling of Eels

Tatty is now sorting out his fishing tackle.

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Tatty is now going back to bed

The Great Tesco Rip-Off

Today, Mrs Tatty and yours truly popped into Tesco’s to do a bit of shopping. Whilst there, we decided to take up their meal deal offer of a main course, a side order and a dessert for £5.

On the shelf, bordered with banners advertising the deal, we selected a main course of Chicken Pasta bake, along with a side order from the top shelf of 8 Garlic Bread Slices and a dessert of cheesecake (situated on the lower shelf).

A Tesco store (not the one detailed in this story I hasten to add)

After paying at the checkout, I noticed that the deal had not been discounted, and went to the Customer Service desk to ask the reason why not? After the lady had returned from checking, she informed me that the slices were not part of the deal and offered a pack of garlic baguettes instead (which were situated next to the slices). I asked why the slices were located in this section, if they were not part of the deal, but it was abundantly clear that the assistant didn't know.

So I asked to see the store Manager, who I thought may have a vague idea as to what was going on. “He's not here”, I was rather curtly informed, and in that case we decided to ask for, and received a full refund, as we didn’t particularly want the baguette option (and as a matter of principle as well).

Surely if Tesco are going to make an offer in store, they should make it perfectly clear what items the offer consists of and make sure their staff are fully aware when filling the shelves. Is this too much to ask for Mr T?

I must also comment that when I was recently overcharged on a deal in ASDA, not only did they refund the amount, but gave me a £2 shopping card in way of an apology. What am I likely to get from Tesco? Don't forget - every little helps!

I have emailed this story to Tesco’s online customer services department and so far have received an automated email back apologising, saying they will investigate. I would keep you all updated, but I don’t imagine they’ll be a great deal to update somehow.

Moral of the story: If you do shop in Mr T’s emporium, please make sure you check up on how much you are being charged for your purchases, and watch out for them trying to rip you off.

Mr T - the floor is yours......

Tatty is now returning his trolley!

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