Erithacus

Tougher game than I had thought today, as Sunderland were pretty resilient and difficult to break down. Having said that, some City players looked a little out of sync at times and our game lacked rhythm, leading to a bit of an impass. Some good performances from Palmer (until subbed) and Syme in the middle, and the defence was in determined mood, thankfully, as the Black Cats almost got a late equaliser. Our subs came on and immediately lifted the tempo. Crowd of 500 - perhaps some fans would have been playing today as the seasons are now underway. But bottom line: another win, another clean sheet. We're not unhappy about that at all!

You would expect there to be a bit of rustiness in the first games of the season but what a strange set of games! Some bizarre finishes, eventually.

Took advantage of the 'day off' and enjoyed some more venues on Heritage Open Day(s). Saw some ancient relics of Keynsham. More tomorrow and next weekend.

The 103rd NFL season kicked off with the Bills winning 31-10 in the reigning champions' own stadium. Former Rams DB Von Miller sacked Stafford twice and the Bills rushing attack were in determined mood. With a spluttering offense, the Rams looked off the pace for most of the game and turned the ball over several times. So, game 1 is over and a packed weekend awaits! Who do you reckon will be making the plays this time?

Having chatted to some of the staff I understand that some of the old buildings and quite a few mature trees specimens are protected items and are not to be touched by developers. That has made the prospective planning a little more tricky than developers were hoping for and hence has caused some reassessment of the, er, profits. Given a free hand the site would be cleared and the land prices in Clifton would have raised a massive net gain, but that won't happen. Keep an eye on the manoeuvring from here on. Also heard that some of the staff will move to Wild Place, along with some of the volunteers; other permanent staff are due to go to other sites, but there will be some redundancies. I said if there is a spare cage for threatened species, some of the keepers might occupy it.

Try being a tourist in your own city! You might just be surprised at what there is on your doorstep.

I've just 'won promotion' to that division too. It depresses me that I am now elligible for a railcard and discounts at the garden centres. After being stung for a missed connection from Paddington I vowed never to use trains again, although a decent reduction in the fares might just help. Do they work at any times, any routes or restricted to outside the rush hours?

Makes a change from a player taking the p***.

Went the other day to rekindle some ancient memories. Seems a shame that it won't be there anymore, but the world really has changed in that time.

So long as they don't install those terrible video jobs like at the Gate. I am looking at the longer term future when the club has to build new stands and seats - that'll be real progress. Noted Anita Asante spent a lot of time up there, doubtless making observations. A spy in the sky?

The intensely bright boards are a pain, especially at night. What also jars are the animations - they are making the game difficult to digest. I can only assume the massive amount of cash received by the club offsets any fan discomfort. Does anyone know if the players themselves find it a misery? That might explain a few performances...

Over 700 at the HPC - good turnout and above last season's average. It will interesting to see how many are tempted to come to the Gate when the girls play Southampton on Sept 25th. Did notice long queues on the road for the carparking. Overall a good if not sparkling performance; Rovers had little grip on the game for long periods and were kept on the back foot, largely due to City's sharpness and workrate. I thought Bruce did a sterling job at the back, Symes was a vital link player in the middle and Hayles up front showed some lively touches. Given the dominance I was hopeful the Robins would get a few more in the second half but things seemes to fizzle out at times. Good to see Palms get a runout late on. The way she went into a few challenges suggests that she is not worried about her injury, and it will be good to see how she integrates with Symes in the engine room.

Off to a winning start! Even with an unexpected line-up, one goal was enough for the points.

And you were in the 'new' South Stand too. Tempus does indeed Fugit.

Thought Forest had a special new shirt design this season to celebrate their return to the top flight, then I realised it looked unusual because there are no sponsors splashed across it.

Timely piece on the BBC: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-coventry-warwickshire-62384197

Now we've had a little time to reflect... So what happened? Now the tournament is finished, what has been the real result? England (the nation that Gave The World Football) actually won a major trohy. Been a while, and a journey from a wilderness within living memory. There cannot be any disguising or denying that and we should be proud of the achievement. Has it been inevitable, given the complete seachange in the authorities' commitment? No. But it is a sign that things have changed, and may continue to do so in the future. But are these changes for the good? I often wonder if it will be a case whereby Women's football will only be considered a success by some when it replicates Men's football in every important aspect - good and bad. How would people react if the women were (over)paid and (over)idolised as greatly as the men, or had similar dark secrets brought out such as the recent spotlight on abuse? Would bigger gates at women's game inevitably create hooliganism? Or would that be considered 'equality'? Can we have it both ways, or will women's football retain a distinct difference that will keep it apart. I note that when a women's match ends the players are much more keen to stay on the pitch and meet the fans, unlike the men. I accept there is a sage reason for men to disappear and not invite trouble but this difference is making many people reconsider their affinity. Hearts and minds have been won as never before. Women play a game that has all the important ingredients and is impressing new converts. A sign of progress. Overall, the tournament has proven quite a result on may levels. After the FA were awarded the bid and chose the grounds used, it will be happy to realise that the Lionesses could and should have played at Wembley. Of course, the use of other grounds brought the game to more people (who after all are suffering from the general financial crisis) but the sell-outs are indicitive. Even the non-host games were well attended, not neccessarily by nationals. It will be to our credit that the numbers were above expectations. Winners here. It must be appreciated that the crowds are mainly family-based compared to men's, but there seemed to be more single men/mates that also turned up to cheer. Would an increasing proportion of the latter be an indication of a greater acceptance? Much has been made of the atmosphere at the games, mainly as a breath of fresh air and as a place where people come to enjoy, not antagonise. The demographic was, nonetheless, somewhat different this time. In terms of the actual play, there cannot be any denial that the standard was higher than ever seen before. (On a world stage the USA, whose approach is the best in the world still, are the ones to aim for). The European players have shown that the top level produces a highly competitive game, with technical skills, stamina and recogniseable structure that will compare favourably with any other, male or female. England especially have a way of playing that pleased many observers, and their success will not be undeserved. Elsewhere, I felt the games were more competitive, with a few more heavy fouls committed not by clumsiness or inexperience but with deliberate intent. And there were a few more 'fouls won' by some tactics from the book of the Dark Arts - an inevitable evolution? Game management? Professionalism? Again, is this progress? Officiating standards were better, if not yet as good as possible - same might be said of the men's, though. Again, poor decisions are replayed many times, but is this a sign of the modern approach? So what changed? A few things I noted have been a little different this time around. The media coverage was pretty extensive, and mainly to a terestrial audience, compared to the past. More was made of the tournament, but will this extend to the future? World Cup 2023 is in the Antipodes, so can the women capitalise on the attention generated? When the men played in the Euros last year the nation put the flags out. When the women played previously there was barely any sign on the streets, but this summer I saw a few St Georges out here and there (plus a few Union Flags perhaps left over from the Platinum Jubilee). Fan parks - such a male culture - started to spring up for the Lionesses. Elsewhere, many pubs and clubs had large gatherings to watch. Again, the demographics were somewhat different. The victory parade from Trafalgar Square did not feel unnatural; cheeky calls for a national day off were a finishing touch. So now what? Victory will last forever, but the game moves on and we need to sieze the opportunity. If there is a real desire for women's football to benefit then there are plenty of challenges that need to be recognised and met with. There have been many points raised about the game in this country - a game that has delivered on one prime aspect. The present system has created something that had not existed until a few short years ago; inevitably, the sudden growth has also created other issues of a more pragmatic nature. The WSL is replicating the Premiership (as in my earlier point) in that the top clubs are present in both, largely due to the enormous financial resources available. The top clubs are the breeding ground for the international side (which the FA are keen to promote, not autonomous Premier League mandarins); the rest of the top flight clubs are the background against which the stars are highlighted. Sound familiar? Here we must acknowledge that the men's game is run by a three-headed dog and no prizes for guessing which dog has by far the biggest bark. The FA control the women's game in total. What really concerns me is the 'legacy' of this famous victory. There will surely be lots of young girls (and boys, let's not ignore) who will be inspired to play. Where will they go? Who will coach and encourage them? How many will want to join a club but can't find one local to them, or find the club does not have a female section? If legacy means anything, it must surely mean providing an opportunity - for without it the game is dead. Will the powers put the right amount of emphasis on creating and growing the game where it needs it most? I feel the incredible surge of the women's game in this country has produced a worthy 'product' at the elite level but what of the rest? Being of an old-fashioned mind, I believe the national team must be a culmination of a solid and healthy pyramid, and that the success is related to the many players and clubs that support it. As others have pointed out, the system is not perfect and the financial imbalance is a worry. The WSL and the FA are the highly-visible apex of a pyramid that perhaps looks rather narrow-based and top-heavy. If the grass roots game is not allowed to grow properly and organically then there must surely be a time in the future when that pyramid crashes. Grass roots are the very foundation of talent; very few will be brought up in a professional club environment. The job is to ensure the girls are able to express their talent in a welcoming and enjoyable pathway. Apart from the lack of clubs in places, the real shortage in the game centres around female coaches. It took generations to get them to play; it will take longer for women to rise to the levels needed off the pitch and this is the key. Our victory will not be a simple trophy in a cabinet nor a scoreline in the history books - it will be a nation that offers the chance to all that want to embrace the Beautiful Game.

I note the club has moved to celebrate the Lionesses' victory in the Euros by knocking 15% off the ticket price for the girls' first five games, inlcuding the match v Southampton at the Gate.

Kelly recreated the moment in World Cup 1999 when USA's Brandi Chastain took her shirt off after scoring in the final. I'll leave it to more informed minds as to what that means in today's football.

And finally, we win a final. Extra time, but a win is a win. All credit to the players, the coaches, the trainers, the physios, all the crew. Especial credit to Sarina Weigman, who has managed the side and the tournament superbly. (I can't think we would have fared as well with Neville at the helm.) As the game goes on the risks and rewards change and we got the first goal. However, the Germans did what German teams have done for generations and didn't give up. Either side could have made the crucial breakthrough in the final minutes but extra time it was. As the legs tired, gaps opened up and marking became fragmented on both sides. It then became a matter of who fatigued first, and the desire and determination the Lionesses showed today was the difference - a difference we had not really seen before. The short history of the WSL (and the previous leagues before that) have proved the work and effort put in to the women's game. Some people at the top may look back at their decisions and reflect. Great scenes at Wembley, perhaps mirrored in other places. Fan parks at a women's game? You'd better believe it. We applaud the Lionesses and celebrate their historic achievment. Now football has finally Come Home. We need to make sure we keep it home.

All square at the half and it's been a really intense match. Both teams have got stuck in and tried to implement the gameplan, even at the cost of a card or two. After a good start from England I felt the Germans started to settle a bit more into their traditional style. Perhaps the fragile Popp pulling up in the warm-up caused a bit of a shock. They shut off a lot of the midfield channels although they forfeited some of their own. Given the balance of play being finely balanced, chances at either end have been a touch sparce. With players on a card in the first half, it will be interesting to see if the coaches will make some forced changes. As it is the midfield is the key battleground; Oberdorf might just be a key component one way or another. Good to see England corners going deeper and longer to Bronze to counter the Germans' zonal marking. We've had a couple of half chances and it will only need one to go in. First goal, as ever...

Weigman names an unchanged starting XI, to little surprise. She clearly likes a side that needs to be in a comfortable shape and familiar pattern, which is great when there is so much talent on the bench to call upon in any circumstance. England has the opportunity to really make their presence felt at international level today, and hopefully this will be a springboard in the future for all levels of the game. The Germans will have a gameplan and the players with the ability to take us on at our own game and I will be keen to see how the midfield battles unfold. If we can start strongly, but characteristically slowly, enough and remain in control we have every chance to win it. Stay competitive and time will be on our side and I look to a stronger finish. Germany has won this championship many times before and will not be fazed; however, I wonder if they will have played in front of such a huge crowd. They will have the mental strength that comes with their traditions, but will we stand strong too? Cue the Twelfth Woman. Finally, there is the prospect of extra time and possibly penalties. We've been here before, but then again we haven't. Time for a new chapter.

A closely-fought game, with both sides showing just what they are about. The French were looking for the flair and style, but tended to underuse their speed down the flanks. The Germans were, well, German: solid, organised, disciplined and with a gritty determination. A 'Result Machine', with a whole greater than the sum of the parts. Oberdorf was a real battler and perhaps was lucky to remain on the pitch with a number of calculated fouls. Around her were some like-minded friends and almost every time a French player made a move forwards, there were at least two white shirts in close company. That was how the French were shut down for long periods. But overall, this was a really close game and both sides can look to moments where they enjoyed a slight edge. In these sorts of games it eventually boils down to fine margins (to coin a phrase). Tonight, the French slowly wilted and Popp proved the decisive player with two goals that highlighted just how hungry and determined she is. We'll look forward to the Sunday final.

Intriguing game. Both are well known to each other even though they have not played each other that often of late. Hence there has been a good deal where they cancelled each other out. The French have plenty of possession and speed up the left with Karchaoui and Cascarino, but there was not much real activity in the penalty area. Reynard has patrolled the back line with authority for much of the time, it's the rest of the defence that are the worry. The Germans have arrived with discipline and application, swarming around their opponents and barely give them any room. With the ability to stifle the opponents and then mount meaningful attacks it is how Germans play. I felt the first goal would be crucial but a great, if opportunist, strike by Diani has brought the half to a gripping close. Who will have the strategy and the guile to book their ticket to Wembley? Extra time, anyone?

And if you think it's all about cricket then think again. If you think cricket is run for and played by the 'elite' then Freddie wants to change that. But the real purpose of the effort is to provide an outlet for the more underprivileged (of Preston). Hence it it more about giving the idle and hapless a chance to change their lives, not just play a game. Three episodes are a brief look at the way of life for some.