Jerseybean

Three more festive offerings.

Programme: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/magic-murray-the-robins-online-programme/

Here are 10 brutal truths that every single person needs to hear. 1. You're going to die and you have no idea when. Stop pretending that you're invincible. Acknowledge the fact of your own mortality, and then start structuring your life in a more meaningful way. 2. Your material wealth won't make you a better or happier person. Even if you're one of the lucky ones who achieves his or her materialistic dreams, money only amplifies that which was already present. 3. Your obsession with finding happiness is what prevents its attainment. Happiness is always present in your life--it's just a matter of connecting to it and allowing it to flow through you that's challenging. 4. Donating money does less than donating time. Giving your time is a way to change your perception and create a memory for yourself and others that will last forever. 5. You can't make everyone happy, and if you try, you'll lose yourself. Stop trying to please, and start respecting your values, principles, and autonomy. 6. Your achievements and successes won't matter on your deathbed. When your time has come to transition from this reality, you won't be thinking about that raise; you'll be thinking about the relationships you've made--so start acting accordingly. 7. Your talent means nothing without consistent effort and practice. Some of the most talented people in the world never move out from their parent's basement. 8. Nobody cares how difficult your life is, and you are the author of your life's story. Stop looking for people to give you sympathy and start creating the life story you want to read. 9. Investing in yourself isn't selfish. It's the most worthwhile thing you can do. You have to put on your own gas mask to save the person sitting right next to you. 10. Time is your most valuable asset--you need to prioritize how you spend it. You have the power and responsibility to decide what you do with the time you have, so choose wisely.

Wishing you a great Christmas too Dave

Seasons greetings fellow Reds. It’s on the red button. NP pre-match comments: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/squad-update-ahead-of-potters-clash/ and Kal Naismith had this to say: In August, after a poor start to the season, they sacked Michael O'Neill, who won 55 of his 143 games in charge of Stoke. The Potters had won one of their first five league games when he was relieved of his duties after almost three years at the helm. Former Bristol City manager Dean Holden took interim charge, for just one game, before he departed too. O'Neill recently returned for a second spell as Northern Ireland manager on a five-and-a-half year contract.The 53-year-old will take charge for the forthcoming Euro 2024 qualifying campaign, succeeding Ian Baraclough who was sacked from the post on 21 October. They appointed Alex Neil as manager following his departure from Championship rivals Sunderland. Bellshill born Neil, who began his managerial career with Hamilton Academical in 2013, only moved to Wearside in February. The 41-year-old Scot became the Potters' fourth boss on a permanent basis since they were relegated from the Premier League in 2018. “The backing of the club is why I came here," said Neil, who left Sunderland to sign a three-year contract at the bet365 Stadium in August. "It's really as straightforward as that. The best thing that's happened to Stoke City from my perspective is the Coates family, who if anything have been overly generous in terms of what they've tried to give the club over a number of years for different reasons.” "When you come down your basic task is to get back up. Naturally as years go by, circumstances change. I think what the family has done is say, 'Whatever you need, here you go, go and get us out of the league.” Earlier this year it was estimated that the Coates family has poured £338m into Stoke City since resuming ownership in 2006, https://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/stoke-city-financial-fair-play-7230553 Their Chairman Peter Coates was born in Goldenhill, Stoke-on-Trent, the youngest of 14 children. He was brought up by his sister, Irene, after his mother died when he was two. His father, Leonard was a miner and World War I veteran who had a keen interest in football, where they regularly attended Stoke City's Victoria Ground. Coates signed for the club on amateur terms in the 1950s, but admitted he was "not quite good enough" to make it as a professional; instead he went on to play for local non-league sides Goldenhill Wanderers and Kidsgrove Athletic. He stopped playing football at the age of 23. Coates left school at age fourteen to work in an office to help his family make ends meet.This lasted until he was old enough to join the Parachute Regiment for his National Service. After leaving the army he took a job with the Wimpy restaurant chain, eventually rising to the position of regional manager. Using his restaurant background as a springboard, Coates founded Stadia Catering. Their specialty was catering events at football grounds, and they would eventually merge with competitor Lindley Catering. He used the increase in revenue to purchase a chain of betting shops that he dubbed Provincial Racing. He also founded the local radio station Signal 1 in 1983. bet365 was founded in 2000 in a portakabin in Stoke-on-Trent by the Coates family, led by his daughter Denise. Denise Coates developed a sports betting platform and trading team to launch the business online in March 2001. The business borrowed £15 million from RBS against the family's betting shop estate which had been started by Peter Coates in 1974. bet365 sold its betting shop chain in 2005 for £40 million and paid off its loan to RBS. bet365 has grown into one of the world's largest online gambling companies, with its reported figures to March 2010 showing amounts wagered on sports at £5.4 billion, revenues of £358 million, and an operating profit of £104 million. Peter Coates holds the position of chairman of bet365. Denise Coates, joint chief executive, continues to run bet365 with her brother, John. Their squad headed off for a week-long training camp in Dubai during the World Cup break. Referee: Geoff Eltringham, it’s actually his first championship game of the season after he’s reffed in the championship for years. Eltringham was appointed on to The Football League list as an assistant in 2008, before being upgraded to referee just a year later in 2009. A self-confessed Sunderland fan, the former season ticket holder made his football league debut as a referee for the Morecambe v Hereford game in League Two on 8 August 2009. Assistant Referee: Graham Kane. Assistant Referee: Rob Smith. Fourth Official: Keith Stroud. At the end of last season Stoke City released defenders James Chester and Tommy Smith and forwards Tom Ince and Steven Fletcher. Aden Flint joined them on a one year deal, he’s made 9 appearances so far this season, https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-stoke-robins-season-7209667 Stoke have received an initial allocation of 2,031 tickets. They have had a difficult first half of the season and currently occupy 19th place with one point less than us. Last season we beat them 1-0 home and away. There is also this beauty from Marvin Elliott from 2007 in another 1-0 victory: pic.twitter.com/j71uozCBOp Our head to head record is won 19, lost 26 and drawn 15. Special anniversary for Scott Murray will be acknowledged, https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/celebrate-scotty-murray-s-25th-signing-anniversary/ https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/hall-of-fame-scott-murray/ My good friend, Bill, who is a long-standing Stoke fan offers these insights. Five months ago we were looking good. We had players such as Harry Souttar, Nick Powell and Tyrese Campbell returning from injury, we had in the previous season an emerging 15 goal a season striker in Jacob Brown and then brilliantly we signed Dwight Gayle from Newcatle and Delap on loan from Man City (the son of our longtime hero and coach Rory), we even signed Aden Flint as a backup defender and renewed Jagilelka's contract. We were looking good. The adjective disheartening does not do what happened next justice. Dwight Gayle put the ball in the back of the net seven times in his first 10 games. All were disallowed. He is yet to score. Nick Powell is re-injured, Jacob Brown has scored once, Delap the same. Souttar has played twice and we have leaked goals. Our England under 21 goalkeeper Bursik would struggle to play for Jersey and his replacement Bonham, with a previous career in the lower leagues, demonstrates that history does not deceive. So we sacked Micheal O'Neill who had rescued us two years before from relegation and appointed Alex Neill. At the time we were fourth from bottom. If we lose against you we could be in the bottom three. There is in all of this a real truth. We are just not good enough. We are, despite spending millions of pounds and breaching all the fair play rules (and getting away with it), a team that would do ok in League One. Which is really disheartening. Especially, as I remember Alan Hudson, Jimmy Greenhoff, Gordon Banks, Peter Shilton, Peter Dobing, Harry Burroughs, Mike Pejic, Alan Bloor, Lee Dixon, Lee Chapman, Garth Crooks, Mick Marsh, Dennis Smith, John Ritchie and oh PeterThorne who scored the winner in the Auto Glass Trophy in 2000 against you lot.

Three more seasonal sniggers

Update on short term stadium situation: https://www.coventrytelegraph.net/sport/football/football-news/coventry-city-cbsarena-ashley-25729255

Indeed so, best for all parties according to Simpson: https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/bristol-city-duncan-idehen-carlisle-7919418

A hat trick of festive funnies….

He is 85 and insists on taking his wife’s hand everywhere they go. When he was asked why his wife kept looking away, he responded, “because she has Alzheimer's”. Then he was ask, will your wife worry if you let her go? He then replied, ′′she doesn't remember anything, she doesn't know who I am anymore, she hasn't recognized me for years.” Surprised, I said, “and you have continued to guide her every single day even though she doesn't recognize you?" The elderly man smiled and looked into my eyes and said, ′′she may not know who I am, but I know who she is, and she is the love of my life”.

As NP said post-match it was scrappy….https://youtu.be/NaxnGcz5TEA

Full time scenes: https://fb.watch/hkDIGqkP1r/

Pepe misses! Good bye Portugal! Well played Morocco.

That’s the big game of the day won then ? a huge shout out to the 500 + traveling City fans, great support, get home safely.

Here comes AS

Yes, Pring from a great Scott cross - against the run of play

Wow and wow again there go Brazil out of the WCF

1-1

From After Life, phew? and ?https://fb.watch/hi_7B2jONV/