BigTone

Can we have PK's, CK's & FK's ?

17 hours ago, myol'man said:

Big Tone, should we add you to our list of celebrity supporters along with Trump, Button, Cleese and Robinson?

I don't mix with the Z list

18 hours ago, TV Tom said:

Big Tone started it, he showing off that he's worked with the Hollywood elite and had a "dalliance" with Cate Blanchett 

Not to mention the series of TV ads I did for the State Government Insurance Commission (SGIC) in South Australia back around 1980 and also resident Quantity Surveyor on About The House with Duncan Stewart (Discovery Channel) for several episodes in Ireland circa 2002.  When you're this handsome super stardom comes easy !!!

17 minutes ago, Sleepy1968 said:

You're Brenda Fricker and I claim my 5 Euro.

No fooling you

Just now, Red-Robbo said:

Have you been spying? 

No, she rang me with the news

15 minutes ago, wendyredredrobin said:

Not like John McEnroe having a part in Ryan's daughter?

Not quite

3 minutes ago, ExiledAjax said:

Thangam Debbonnaire (sp?)

Close

4 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

Big Tone mixing with the Hollywood elite, whatever next, what was Colin Farrell like ? He was a bit wild in his younger days 

He was Ok and friendly enough.  Joel Schumacher was the Director and a nicer guy you couldn't meet. Admit to being quite upset when he passed away. Jerry Bruckheimer was the Producer but apart from a few hello's had little to do with him.

8 minutes ago, Red-Robbo said:

 But truth told I'm more than happy with Mrs Robbo.

Lick arse !!!

11 minutes ago, TV Tom said:

Too old ? someone like Gwyneth or Cate Blanchett would do for me despite being in their 50s (slightly less likely than Rovers finishing in the top 2) 

Had a part in a film with Cate Blanchett (and Colin Farrell) a few years back and she is a very nice lady.  Sorry but just had to throw that in !!!

1 hour ago, Davefevs said:

IIRC, there was something in the policy that put the emphasis on Cardiff to inform them of new players to add to the policy, and they didn’t do it,

In that case "stiff s h i t Cardiff"

14 minutes ago, Med/MadHatter said:

Cardiff City 'claiming £104m in compensation from Nantes' over Emiliano Sala's tragic death in 2019… https://mol.im/a/13336207 via https://dailym.ai/android

I really can't believe this absolutely disgusting behaviour from Cardiff, words just fail me

Just absolute filth

1 hour ago, Barrs Court Red said:

I’ve been saying the bubble will burst seemingly forever,  and while “when, not if” is probably going to be accurate in the next millennia - it seems father away now then ever. 
 

For me the end state of this circus is a world league. 

I agree

Cream crackered

8 minutes ago, City oz said:

Just seen the highlights Dave, what a great game and potential for the future. We are currently travelling for two months and making* our way up the west coast from Perth and up to the NT. Keep up the great posts mate.

I lived in Katherine for a couple of years and the Gorge (all 13 of them) is well worth a visit. Used to be safe to swim when we were there but these days the Salties have made it their home.

10 hours ago, Robbored said:

It’s pretty chilly when the sun goes down - currently it’s 7*c in Nailsea. If I was going out I’d have my hands in my jacket pockets.

No different to when it's your round in the pub then Val 

9 minutes ago, Frenchay Red said:

Played well against a play off team. Should have won it, but good point.

Aye, can't complain

I was going to watch on RTV until I realised it's more expensive than a 3 litre box of wine at our local supermarket.  Cheers all !!! 

12 minutes ago, Davefevs said:

Trained with medical team on Wednesday

Now an expert in putting a plaster on a blister.

3 minutes ago, phantom said:

Compared with fidures I've heard about league games, Due to the cheaper tickets, I'd guess upwards of £85k each match 

Pays a lot of overheads / wages.

3 hours ago, Robbored said:

Did anyone else find it difficult to hear what Sykes was actually saying? The background noise was too intrusive for me  and switched off.

 

That's just an age thing Val

40 minutes ago, Jerseybean said:

On 20th April 1976 we were promoted to the top flight after an absence of 65 years. I remember it being a humid evening at Ashton Gate, with City needing a win against already relegated Portsmouth, managed by Ian St. John.

Clive Whitehead scored in the third minute in front of the open end (now the Atyeo Stand), but it was a nerve jangling 87 minutes to follow, especially in the second half when Geoff Merrick's sliced clearance nearly ended up in his own net.

27,000 fans went bonkers at the final whistle, there was a huge pitch invasion and City management and players took their bow in the directors' box. Alan Dicks ended up fully clothed in the players' bath, and the sports page headlines in the next day's Sun read "Splash! Bristol jump back".

The two games before the Pompey game had seen City at home to Chelsea, drawing 2-2 in front of 26,000, and most surprisingly a 0-0 draw at Eastville against the Rovers, watched by a now unbelievable 26,400!

What are your memories of that evening 48 years ago?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tk8VE4BrlqU

Norwich are still hoping to secure a play-off place and are currently 6th so will be well up for this. They have three matches to secure their spot in the play-offs, as they lead seventh-placed Hull by six points but with the Tigers having played one game less.

The game pitches together the division’s two best teams over the last five games; City have taken 11 points and scored eight goals, conceding once, during that time whereas Norwich have 10 points with seven for and six against.

Fan’s view

Few saw operation play-offs coming in late 2023.

‘What a weird old season this has turned into. And not just because Norwich City have gone from something the dog passed to genuine promotion contenders in the space of four months.

The Carrow Road crowd has also done a full 180 – transforming themselves into Portsmouth’s finest (a Delia joke) when, for the first half of the season, our spiritual home was the place to go on a Saturday afternoon if you needed some quiet time.

(It’s only fair to point out that those who follow City on their travels have been admirably steadfast throughout).

But it doesn’t end there. In November, David Wagner – nice chap that he is – was, in a footballing sense, Norfolk’s public enemy number one.

Even some of those for whom the cup is usually half-full had to reluctantly admit that his useful life at Carrow Road appeared to be nearing its end. At the time the debate was around who would pull the trigger and when. There appeared to be no 'if'.

But here we are, four months hence and Wagner’s star is rising. While he still may not be everyone’s vision of a Norwich City head coach of the future, in the here and now he’s earned the respect of just about everyone of a yellow and green hue for what has happened in 2024. That, in doing so, he’s recently overseen a win over Ipswich certainly did his street cred no harm.

And there’s more. All of the angst around our majority owners and their questionable ability to run the club has been shelved for the time being. Even their most vociferous critics have put on hold their gripes and concerns while a promotion charge is ongoing. Delia’s “20 per cent of our fanbase are whingers” rant has also been temporarily overlooked.

All of these positives are, of course, related. Little would have changed without the transformation on the pitch but, as things stand, we are all currently in the grip of operation play-offs. An 'operation' that's been a while coming.

Not since back in 2001-02 – when we sneaked into the play-offs and lost in the final to Birmingham (in Cardiff) – have we been in this position. Since then, it’s been either automatic promotion, just missing out on the automatics, or missing out on the top-six altogether by some considerable margin.

This is different. From being outsiders for the top-six, this good run has gradually hauled us into the play-off picture and, thanks to all of the above, we’ve stayed there… so far.

There is still work to be done, but even if we somehow conspire to miss out, few expected this season to still be ‘alive’ when we reached game 46. And it will be.

Like I said, weird old times.’

On the first Sunday of December at Ashton Gate we witnessed a very poor game with us conspiring to throw away a one goal lead, thanks to Knight’s first league goal for us, with George Tanner putting through his own goal and then Norwich stealing a winner in the 94th minute. Highlights: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/video/highlights/highlights-bristol-city-1-2-norwich-city/

Guide to Carrow Road: https://footballgroundguide.com/leagues/england/championship/carrow-road-norwich-city.html

PotD is available, https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/pay-on-the-day-at-carrow-road-2/

Their forum: https://forum.pinkun.com/index.php?/topic/156283-bristol-city-saturday/

Match preview: https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/norwich-city/championship-promotion-race/preview/preview-norwich-vs-bristol-city-prediction-team-news-lineups_541569.html

LM grew up in Norwich. Here he is with Mark Sykes, pre the game: https://www.bcfc.co.uk/news/manning-and-sykes-preview-canaries-trip/

Rob Dickie is expected to be in the squad, https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/sport/football/bristol-city-receive-timely-injury-9224257

Their manager David Wagner grew up in West Germany. He made his professional debut with Eintracht Frankfurt in 1990 and played as a striker for several clubs in the first and second division of German football. Son of an American stepfather and German mother, Wagner played for the United States national team, earning eight caps from 1996 until 1998.

From 2011 to 2015 Wagner managed Borussia Dortmund II. In November 2015 he took the manager's position at Huddersfield Town, whom he led to the Premier League via the 2017 EFL Championship play-off final. He left Huddersfield in January 2019, and then had brief spells at Bundesliga club Schalke 04 and Swiss Super League club Young Boys.

Their nine most successful managers: https://footballleagueworld.co.uk/norwich-citys-best-managers-in-order-of-games-won-ranked/

In this fixture last season they came out on top, https://youtu.be/-ibCyMnAw6I

Interesting Radio 4 food programme looking at Delia’s impact on food at NCFC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001jbx9

Head-to-head record

Won: 21

Lost: 39

Drawn:18

They lay claim to the oldest football chant in the world - On the ball, City! Which is 121 years old. 

Talking of ages https://www.onthisday.com/people/adolf-hitler Hitler was born on 20 April.

Officials

Referee: Sam Barrott

Assistants: Jonathan Hunt and Greg Read

Fourth official: Ollie Yates

Defender Dimitris Giannoulis is out having picked up a hamstring injury last month.

In March Ashley Barnes was banned indefinitely from attending horse racing meetings in the UK. Barnes, 34, was placed on the British Horseracing Authority's excluded list because he did not co-operate with an ongoing BHA investigation.

Norwich nonsense

From Medieval times right through to the Early Modern Age, Norwich was second only to the capital in terms of population. Immigrants came from all around to partake in the city’s wool trade and weaving industry.

NORWICH IS THE ONLY ENGLISH CITY LOCATED IN A NATIONAL PARK. The Norfolk Broads is designated an Area of Outstanding Beauty – all 125 miles of navigable lock-free waterways, beautiful countryside and picturesque towns, villages and cities. It’s also mentioned in David Bowie’s hit song Life on Mars.

NORWICH WAS FIRST TO BE PEDESTRIANISED. The city had the first-ever pedestrianised street back in July 1967. At the time giving people priority over traffic was a bit of novelty – so ubiquitous and much-loved had the car become – but other cities caught on to the benefits of restricting traffic and well, the rest is history really…

Pubs ++++ Back in the day (or rather the 17th century), Norwich had 600 pubs. But the 1904 Licensing Act, Second World War and slum clearances in the 1960s saw many forced to close. King Street was the worst hit, with the number of pubs there falling from 58 to one. And the name of that one pub? It’s the Last Pub Standing, of course…

 NORWICH CITY FC’S CLUB SONG IS OLDEST IN UK. Today’s footie fans still sing the song ‘On the Ball City’ at Carrow Road Stadium today. It was written for another team in Norwich back in 1890 before the city’s football team claimed it in 1902.

ALAN PARTRIDGE IS FROM NORWICH. OK, the self-promoting Alan Partridge may be a fictional character, but his creator Steve Coogan is real enough. Partridge is a DJ on Radio Norwich in the series, spouting his ‘words of wisdom’ to the city’s general population.

COLMAN’S MUSTARD IS FROM THE CITY. Jeremiah James Colman started producing mustard at his factory back in 1814 and it’s been going strong ever since. Some of today’s farmers who supply the mustard seeds for the condiment are fifth generation of the original family suppliers.

NORWICH HAD THE FIRST-EVER POSTCODES. Yep, today there are more than 1.8 million postcodes in the UK – every street has one. But, at one time, only streets in Norwich were recalled by a series of letters and numbers. That’s because the GP decided to trial it here back in 1959. Looks like it proved successful then.

SALE OF THE CENTURY WAS FROM NORWICH. One of the most popular programmes on TV from 1971 to 1983, Sale of the Century began every show with “And now, from Norwich, it’s the quiz of the week!” Quizmaster was Nicholas Parsons. It had the same kudos as today’s The Chase with Bradley Walsh.

Pubs

There is no designated away team pub in Norwich. This is due to one too many issues of damage being caused to the Compleat Angler that means they no longer accept away fans. Furthermore alcohol is not served in the stadium to away fans. Sometimes the Waterfront pub or Stadia (both close to the ground) permit away fans but this is very hit and miss. Places to consider are:

The Wildman, 29 Bedford Street, Norwich, NR2 1AG, https://www.wildmannorwich.co.uk

Prince of Wales, 8-14 Prince of Wales Road, Norwich, NR1 1LB, http://www.inapub.co.uk/venues/the-prince-of-wales/norwich/nr11lb/1937

The Coach and Horses, 82 Thorpe Road, Norwich, NR1 1BA, https://www.facebook.com/thecoachthorperoad and http://www.thecoachthorperoad.co.uk

Light and airy tap for Chalk Hill brewery (tours available) with eight own brews plus guests, food from baguettes up including lunch deals, Sat brunch and imaginative weekly specials, friendly staff, L-shaped bare-boards bar with open fire, pleasant back dining area; sports TVs, gets very busy on home match days; disabled access possible (not to lavatories), front terrace, open all day.

Revado Hotel, Restaurant and Bar, 2 Stracey Road, Norwich, NR1 1EZ, https://revadohotels.com

The Rose Inn, 235 Queens Road, Norwich, NR1 3AE, https://www.facebook.com/RoseInnNR1/

Adam and Eve, https://m.facebook.com/theadamandevenorwich/?locale2=en_GB 17 Bishopgate, NR3 1RZ Norwich (a 25 minute walk from the ground)

The oldest pub in Norwich dating from at least 1240 when used by workmen building the cathedral, has a Saxon well beneath the lower bar floor and striking Dutch gables (added in 14th and 15th c); old-fashioned small bars with tiled or parquet floors, cushioned benches built into partly panelled walls and some antique high-backed settles, well kept ales such as Adnams and Wolf, Aspall's cider and around 40 malt whiskies, traditional pubby food (not Sun evening) from baguettes up, friendly service; background music; children allowed in snug till 7pm, no dogs inside, picnic-sets out among pretty tubs and hanging baskets, open all day.

Duke of Wellington, http://www.dukeofwellingtonnorwich.co.uk

91-93 Waterloo Road, Norwich, NR3 1EG (8 minute drive from the ground)

Rambling corner local with huge range of well kept quickly changing ales including Fullers, Oakham and Wolf, many served from tap room casks, foreign bottled beers too, no food apart from sausage rolls and pies (can bring your own, cutlery is provided) and weekend summer barbecue, real fire; live music and traditional games; well behaved dogs welcome, small back terrace, open all day.

Edith Cavell, https://www.stonegatepubpartners.co.uk/run-a-pub/pubs/Pages/edith-cavell-norwich.aspx 7 Tombland, Norwich, NR3 1HF (6 minute drive to the ground)

Corner pub-restaurant named after the gallant World War I Norfolk nurse; popular if not especially cheap food with emphasis on steaks cooked on hot rocks, three real ales including a house beer from Wolf, friendly helpful service, smallish bar, upstairs restaurant (and loos); diagonally across from Erpingham Gate leading into cathedral green, open all day (till 1am Fri, Sat).

Fat Cat, https://www.fatcatpub.co.uk 49 West End Street, Norwich, NR24NA (10 minute drive from the ground)

Heaven for real ale lovers, this cheerful town pub lies tucked away in a residential area just west of the city centre. With bare floor boards throughout, the no-nonsense furnishings include plain pine tables and simple solid seats, lots of brewery memorabilia, bric-a-brac and stained glass; board games. The knowledgeable Mr Keatley and his hospitable staff can help guide you through the extraordinary choice of 32 perfectly kept and quickly changing beers. On handpump or tapped from the cask in a stillroom behind the bar ' big windows reveal all ' are their own beers (Fat Cat Bitter, Honey Ale, IPA, Marmalade Cat, Tom Cat and Wild Cat), as well as guests such as Adnams Mosaic, Crouch Vale Yakima Gold, Dark Star American Pale Ale, Fullers ESB, Green Jack Mahseer, Greene King Abbot, Oakham Bishops Farewell and Citra and Timothy Taylors Landlord ' and many more choices from across the country. You'll also find 15 draught lagers and craft ales, over 20 international bottled beers, ten malt whiskies, ten rums and 22 ciders and perries. There are pavement tables outside. No children under the age of 16.

Kings Head, http://www.kingsheadnorwich.com 42 Magdalen Street, Norwich, NR31JE (7 minute drive from the ground)

Traditional Victorian local with good friendly atmosphere in two simply furnished bare-boards bars (front one is tiny), up to 14 very well kept changing regional ales, good choice of imported beers and a local cider, no food except pork pies; bar billiards in back bar; dogs welcome, open all day until late.

Plough, https://www.grainpubs.co.uk 58 St Benedicts St, Norwich NR2 4AR (9 minute drive from the ground)

Small city-centre pub owned by Grain, their ales and guests kept well, good wines and cocktails, food limited to sausage pie, cheeseboards and summer barbecues, simply updated split-level interior with bare boards and open fire; background music, occasional DJ; good spacious beer garden behind, open all day.

The Ribs of Beef, https://ribsofbeef.co.uk 24 Wensum St, Norwich NR3 1HY (7 minute drive to the ground)

Comfortable and welcoming riverside pub; nine real ales including Oakham, two traditional ciders and good wine choice, generous well priced food such as burgers and wings, roasts on Sun (no food Sun evening), quick cheerful service, traditional carpeted bar with river views, smaller downstairs room; live music Sun, quiz every other Thurs, sports TV; children welcome, limited seats outside on narrow waterside terrace, open all day.

St Andrew’s Brew House, https://www.standrewsbrewhouse.com 41 St Andrews St, Norwich NR2 4TP (7 minute drive from the ground)

Interesting place visibly brewing its own good beers (can tour the brewery), also plenty of guest ales, craft kegs and bottled beers, utilitarian bare-boards interior with exposed ducting, rough masonry walls and eclectic mix of seating including some button-back booths, popular sensibly priced food from British tapas and sharing boards up including special theme nights, busy efficient staff, upstairs function room; background music, sports TV; children and dogs welcome, pavement tables, open all day.

Wig and Pen, http://www.thewigandpen.com 6 St Martin-At-Palace Plain, Norwich NR3 1RN (6 minute drive from the ground)

Popular 17th-c beamed pub close to cathedral; half a dozen well kept local ales including Adnams, Wolf and Woodfordes, well priced wines and good value food from sandwiches up, Sunday roasts, prompt friendly service; background music, sports TVs, spring beer festival; metal café-style furniture on large terrace at front, open all day (till 6.30pm Sun).

 

 

Condensed Version

Norwich:

Pubs

There is no designated away team pub in Norwich.

COYR

6 minutes ago, 22A said:

Think back to  the early 90's just before the Prem started. Div 4 & 3 had 24 clubs in each, Divs 2 & 1 22 each. The lower wo divs were considered Associate Members and for voting had four four votes between them. The top two divs were Full Members and had a vote each. The Associate members requested one vote each and the clubs then in Div 1, got together and suggested a formula that the rest of the League accepted. Div 4 clubs - 1 vote each, Div 3 - 3 votes each, Div 2 - 6 votes each and the Div 1 clubs would have 12 votes each. The 22 Div 1 clubs working together would out vote the other seventy  clubs in the League.

At the same meeting they pushed through "Each club will keep 100% of gate receipts". Until then gate receipts were split three ways. The majority went to the home team, some to the visitors and a third portion into a central pot submitted to the League. The central pots from each team were added together and at the end of the season split into 92 equal portions, one for each team.

Let's all take a vote on that

16 minutes ago, cityexile said:

Thinking in hindsight it but might have been better to just let the buggers go to the super league and have been done with it.

100% agree. Let them all **** off and allow British football to return to sustainable reality. You've got my vote.

44 minutes ago, Dredd said:

What about the other 700 odd clubs who enter the FA cup? Why are they being dictated to by the Premier League, more than likely 6 clubs within the Premier League. It's a disgraceful decision. 
Should have let them **** off to their European Super League and left us to it. 

Exactly and how true is that sentiment !!!    I still live in hope.