Setting the bar high
I remember a drunken discussion in a pub, considering combining two sports together as one new sport. Diving weightlifting could make a big splash, but 
wrestling golf and swimming darts could be interesting, while boxing motor racing would be far too dangerous. However, in this video, football gymnastics was tried – but failed. https://twitter.com/i/status/1754607074221138044
Skating on thin ice
North Shields are locked in mid-table of the EBAC Northern League Division One. On Friday 8th March, they are holding their Ska night before facing Seaham Red Star the next day. A few wins would push into the edges of the play-off spots, but it might be one step beyond them. Perhaps it’s madness even to consider promotion at this stage.
Nicking a win
Stockton Town are top of the Northern Premier East Division. Thanks to a late goal by Adam Nicholson, they won 1-0 away to North Ferriby, keeping a six-point advantage over second-placed Belper Town. Belper Town had no hiccups, as they also won 1-0 at Consett. Meanwhile, Belper United in the United Counties League lost by the same scoreline to Boston Town.
Worcester Source
In Review 100, we asked whether anyone was old enough to remember Worcester City’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Liverpool. We had always assumed the demographic of our readers was more Gen Z than old fart, but one reader, known as Ringworm, remembers the event as though it was yesterday. He recalls the 3rd round tie in front of 15,111 spectators at St George’s Lane. The first goal was scored by Tommy (“Skuse Me”) Skuse and the second, courtesy of an own goal. Geoff Twentyman’s penalty was not enough to save the mighty Reds. This leads us to whether a footballer with a higher number than twenty has played in non-League football.
Two-digit clubs
Sticking with numbers, there are a handful of clubs with numbers in their name – 1874 Northwich, Cammell Laird 1907, but two-digit numbers are a 
rarity. The most senior non-League club with ‘ten’ its name is Cheltenham Saracens, but are there any others? Well, Clanfield 85 is the best we can come up with. Why would a club formed in 1890 have 85 in their name? It transpires that they reformed in 1985, but did not copy the likes of Darlaston 1874 and Cammell Laird 1907 and settled for 85. They are also doing pretty well this season and are currently on a run of five wins from the last six games. They sit in second place in the Wessex League Division One. On Saturday, they defeated Moreton Rangers, a club with ‘ton’ in its name. Sporting Lisbon, I mean Sporting Club Inkberrow, await in their next league fixture.
Beeing more careful
Last week, you may recall the fascinating story of Brian (maybe Bryan, but let’s stick with Brian) and Bee Shannon, who played for Histon Reserves in the 1960s. Our anonymous reader famously remembers Brian and Bee for an extraordinary coincidence. In the days when you used to play the same team home and away over the Christmas period, Brian and Bee made their way into the history books. In the first game, Brian scored in the right net, and Bee scored an own goal. You’ve guessed it – in the second game, Bee scored in the right net, and Brian scored an own goal. Impressive, but as any Charlton supporter will tell you, beating Plymouth 6-4 and then losing 6-4 to Plymouth over Christmas in 1960 is far more impressive. Anyhow, more tales of Brian and Bee next week.
Rebel rouslers
Tim Flowers, yes, that Tim Flowers, had his first game in charge of Bromsgrove Sporting in the Southern League Premier Central Division last weekend. They faced St Ives Town, the Cambridgeshire side, on a remarkable run despite their low league position. In their previous three games, St Ives defeated the top three sides in the division: Redditch, Needham Market, and Mickleover. However, Tim inspired the Rouslers to a 2-0 win over St Ives Town with goals from Miro Granjal Martins Pais and Peter Abimbola. The winning entry for the competition to find the best anagram of Miro’s name will appear next week.
Sea shanty
If your ideal double bill would have been Lou Reed and Leo Sayer, you would have been in for a treat if you had seen the Bowers & Pitsea v Lowestoft Town Isthmian League game at the weekend. Lowestoft Town maintained their place at the top of the North Division with a 3-1 win. The three goals for the Trawler Boys came from Reed and two from Sayer. For Bowers & Pitsea, the show must go on; for Lowestoft, it was a perfect day.
Rolling the dice
I don’t spend too much time studying club badges, but when I glanced at the Grays Athletic badge, I misread the letters in the ornate font as ‘craps’. Perhaps the club was owned by a high-rolling gambler at some point, although I doubt that. The Isthmian League North Division side are at the wrong end of the table and would welcome a kinder roll of the dice right now.
Spurred on
I hadn’t realised until this week that Tottenham Hotspur has much to answer for. There are two clubs with Spurs in their name. They are Newton Abbot Spurs and Fleet Spurs. How are these clubs doing? Fleet Spurs are bottom of the Uhlsport Hampshire League Senior Division, losing last weekend 16-0 to Sway. Newton Abbot Spurs are mid-table in the Kitchen Kit South West Peninsula League. Tottenham supporters are probably feeling more downhearted than the fans of Fleet Spurs, I suspect.
