Red-Robbo

Well, not really, as Turks didn't live in what is now Turkey in the 1st Century. He was probably Greek speaking - you'll note Geogios is a very popular Greek name - but was actually born in a town now in Israel. Let's not go there...

The simple answer is the Order of the Garter adopted St George in the 14th Century and thereafter he became associated with Royal events etc. But he wasn't the patron saint of England until 1552 when Edward IV made him it. I guess the feeling was having a King who'd been assassinated (Edmund) as patron saint sent out the wrong vibes in Tudor times! People associate it with the Knights Templar during the Crusades, but their symbol is a Maltese Cross not a "Greek Cross" as used in the flag of England. The vast majority of Templars would've been French at any rate. France had approximately seven times the population of England during the 13th Century. None of this has anything to do with the Nike England shirt of course, but it's an interesting diversion, and may give pause for thought for those blokes who always turn up to England matches dressed as Genoese men at arms. For no apparent reason.

If you're going to quote the story about Genoa and Richard the Lionheart's fleet sheltering there, that is likely a myth. No contemporary account confirms that or indeed that "English knights"(most of whom would've been Gascons not English) ever wore the St George cross during the Crusades. The first mention of English soldiers having a cross on their shields comes a century after the last Crusade, during the Baron's War and that was just a simple + not linked to St George. St George didn't become the patron saint of England until 1552 (St Edmund had been that during Medieval times) and the St George flag wasn't used by English army and naval forces until the 17th Century.

Folk knows what all these cultural war warriors thought prior to 2002 when our shirts never featured a flag....

I'm not an opposition party but I want an election asap because the "good news: is still piss weak - and is tempered by other stuff the Tory press keep quiet, such as the most UK business closures since the World Financial crisis, and record debt levels, as weĺl as vastly more incoming red tape on imports from April. I want competent people in charge, not shysters and offshore-based disaster capitalists. My last word on this thread on this. (However the fact remains, the timing of the election is a legitimate story that any news outlet would report on and, as it has to come soon, speculate over. The Kate stuff is meaningless fluff, as are all other royal stories. Mindless chewing gum for the mind for those easily distracted from real life)

People DO want to know if we have 2 months more or as much as 10 months of the little shyte, so I'm going to respectively disagree that it isn't something people are interested in. As for "getting a scoop", Sunak and his closest advisors will decide and usually get the GCS to draft a release to all media ahead of Sunak's meeting the King to get him to sign state papers formally dissolving Parliament. It's not a "scoop" matter.

Pulis would've signed him.

Incorrect on #2 - I can't wait to flush the collected turds currently governing this country around the political U-bend. As for #1, there's a lot more speculation about this on social media than there is in "old media". People love a good conspiracy, even if it makes no sense, which is why I've heard pointless speculation about this down the local boozer. Gossip on social media has driven the media stories.

Being an old fart I remember our Division One days!

He was great in Carry On Screaming...

This is true, but then most fans say things like "I'm a Liverpool fan from Essex" or "I'm a Man U fan from Bedford" etc. I'd rather have the delightful self-conferred sense of superiority that comes from supporting your local club - no matter how shit they are.

Yes but - as I remarked to a companion when they beat us at home early in Gary J's reign - however well they do, whatever they celebrate, it won't mask the unspeakable sadness of having to live in Luton....

Some of the most boring games I've watched have been premier league clashes or internationals. Some of the best games I've watched have been non-league - Bath City beating Torquay 4-3. Wells City beating Burnham to take the Somerset Senior Cup. Higher level might mean higher skill but it doesn't necessary mean more exciting football. Cotts (and Danny Wilson) probably delivered some of the most exciting football at AG in recent years, but at third tier level. That doesn't mean we should give up the dream of a return to the top flight and meekly accept possible relegation in order to be "a big fish in a small pond". But it does mean, it would be nice if we played exciting football as well as at least maintaining our Championship status. We're a dull side currently, but that doesn't make us a dull club. Underperforming is the word.

But I've never seen us play in "Division 5"

Doesn't help to be losing 4-1 to clubs like Tonbridge Angels. They are still a full-time professional club. Can see that changing next season, and it would be forced on them if they we're in the Southern League.

He cunningly chose a store that has gone kaput.

Ah, but Arrigo Sacchi, Villas-Boas, Brendan Rogers etc etc.... Surely, it's only a matter of time before LM helms AC Milan?

I'm not sure having brief spells in the top flight in the last 30 years makes a club "not dull". Reading are a dull club in a dull town with a dull stadium and could yet drop into the bottom division. What we are, is the consistently most underperforming club in the land, given some of the advantages we should have.

Hey! Let's not mock the Eastern Counties Premier League. Prem experience, see. (Joking aside, there are a number of successful managers who never made it as professional players. Liam Manning does not appear to be one of that number)

He can play a bit. Wrong sports though.

He's still worth £1.2bn. We could play to an empty stadium and he can still make money elsewhere faster than he'd lose it on BCFC. It's the ego that will be hit, not the pocket.

Working with Australian media groups at present. They all use Vale. It surprised me as well.

Not Raheem Sterling. He has two.

I'm getting the fear!

I understand Hitler wouldn't come out of his bunker after losing 7-1 to Swansea the Russian Army.