Born in the USA
I am in the USA and Canada for a week or so. I mentioned to a group of people in a bar that the USA cricket team had just lost to Papua New Guinea. This led to an explanation about cricket and that it was a bit like baseball but with far more skill. Another asked what Papua New Guinea was. “Sounds like an illness”, one suggested. “Did you say Pappy Nuganny?” said another while convulsing with laughter. This game was between nations with populations of 320 million vs 9 million. I recall that China beat San Marino 3-1 three years ago in a football match. The imbalance in populations for that game was 1300 million against 33,000.
Oh Worky Worky
I didn’t bring Workington any luck in my Virtual FA Trophy trail. The
FA Trophy kicked off last Tuesday with Runcorn Linnets coming away from Cumbria with a 2-1 win, thanks to an injury time penalty, converted by the assistant manager, Jamie Rainford. Workington had taken the lead just before half-time, but the Linnets came back strongly and now face North Shields in the next round. I scoured the internet to find some fascinating facts about Runcorn. The best I could find was that a local historian discovered that the post office now occupies the site of the Lord Nelson pub. Apparently, ancient records showed the number of beer glasses at the pub. Further, it explains why the road next to the post office is called Nelson Street. If you want more of this, just drop me an email.
New Salamis slice through WGC
The Southern team that I am following this year is New Salamis. They are an interesting club formed in 1971 by Cypriot supporters of New Salamis Famagusta. They have worked their way up from local leagues to their current place in the Isthmian League North Division. In 2016, they were winners of the FA Sunday Cup. Their visit to Welwyn Garden City proved successful as they came away with a 2-1 win. They now have a home tie against the winners of the delayed tie between Gorleston and Coggeshall Town. Gorleston is next to Great Yarmouth, but I needed Google Maps to inform me that Coggeshall is a few miles west of Colchester. And, if you want to know more about garden cities, well, that is covered in detail in the book From Hashtag United to Wembley. Suffice it to say, Letchworth Garden City has a big sign at its railway station indicating that it is the original garden city.
Six of the worst
Langley have been thrown out of the FA Vase after beating Chalfont St Peter 6-1. Langley fielded an illegible player who could have played under League rules but not under FA Vase rules. Chalfont St Peter will now face Rayners Lane in the next round. St Peter is, amongst other things, the patron saint of those with foot ailments. Judging by the scoreline, they will need him against Rayners Lane.
Rebel rousers
The FA Cup 2nd Round Qualifying draw paired Slough Town and Worthing last weekend. There’s nothing unusual about that until you realise both clubs share the Rebels as their nickname. Indeed, it goes further, as both teams became ‘rebels’ for disputes with their leagues. Slough Town were reluctant to rejoin the Spartan League and led a breakaway movement to form the Corinthian League just after the Second World War. Worthing’s nickname comes from a point of principle regarding a rule change to the West Sussex League in 1920. Worthing went on to form the Sussex County League and became known as the Rebels. As for the game, Slough Town led 1-0 for most of it until Worthing scored three goals in the last eight minutes. Worthing now have a home tie with another coastal team from Sussex, Eastbourne Borough.
Nobel Prize
There were three complaints last week; they all centred around the 
Doncaster Belles snippet in last week’s review. Two complained about the appalling pun on bell, which was “so, I’m tolled”. Yes, I know. The other was a little more aggressive and questioned whether I knew that Doncaster Rovers Belles used to be called Doncaster Belles. Well, of course, I did. It raises the question of whether the writer knew their original name was a sort of pun in itself, as they were initially called Belle Vue Belles. However, I intend to close the matter with everything relating to Doncaster Rovers Belles Ladies Football Club. I think I need one of those bells that go ‘ting’ when you hit the top of the bell and shout “next, please”.
