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I have backed last year’s winner (as mentioned earlier) and have gone in again. I will back something else on the day, probably the King George winner.
However, if it is to be back to back victories, I hope it is not greeted by either radio silence or sycophantic interviews with Cromwell and McManus. Serious questions should be asked.
I see Richard Hoiles is the latest racing commentator to take the bookmaker shilling, in an excruciating advert for Betway which also features Paul Townend.
That is true but it was in a constituency where they had no chance of winning and a lot of their supporters will have switched to Reform. Whereas Labour had held the seat and its predecessors for about a century and couldn’t even finish in second place.
I forgot to add to the above that Labour also seems to be losing another of its core blocks – the student vote. I know from my own time in Manchester over thirty years ago that parts of the constituency has a large student population. That vote also appears to be turning Green.
I recently finished re-reading a classic history book, first published in 1935 – “The Strange Death of Liberal England”, written by George Dangerfield.
Modern historians have tended to reject its central thesis but the fact the book is still cited and responded to (when most history books are forgotten within months of publication) is proof of its importance.
I suppose it was only one by-election but the thought occurred to me: will a historian in a few years time be writing “The Strange Death of Labour England”? Because it seems to me that Labour is in danger of losing much of its support, under a weak leader who impresses no one.
Its traditional working class vote is heading for Reform, over issues such as illegal immigration and Labour seeming to care more about marginal causes rather than core concerns. Starmer is bitterly unpopular within that constituency.
On the other hand, Labour is losing the Guardian reading, middle class vote because it is deemed to be be insufficiently left wing and ideologically impure. That vote is going Green.
And most worryingly for Labour, the Muslim vote it used to be able to take to the bank is deserting it over reasons concerning foreign policy. At the last General Election and the recent by-election, the Islamic vote has shown it is more than willing to vote for its own candidate (or for the Greens) when their numbers are large enough to win. If that happens across scores of seats, Labour is in a lot of trouble.
Well, that was all rather good!
Yeovil were much the better side for the first 20 to 25 minutes. They had two good chances and should have scored.
After that we worked our way back into it and had one or two half chances. And then we go and gift them a goal just before half time via a woefully short back pass.
I thought it was going to be a struggle. We were too slow and predictable and easy to defend against. But fair play to Neil Danns, he must have given them an inspiring team talk because we emerged like a team transformed.
We created a few decent chances without scoring and it began to look like the game was getting away. Then Danns made two good substitutions, bringing on Lloyd and Gnahoua – and they changed the game.
Sze missed a gilt edged opportunity from a rebound five minutes from the end and I wondered if our chance had gone. But two minutes from time, Ted Lavelle scored a goal for the ages. An unstoppable effort into the top corner.
We had a goal disallowed in added time and then won the shoot out 4-2. Yeovil missed the target with two of their kicks. After Lavelle had his kick saved, it was left to Danny Lloyd to seal the deal – and he absolutely buried it! Cue a pitch invasion.
Our neighbours Marine have qualified as well, along with Southend and Wealdstone. Could we have the latter at home, please? And then Marine in the final.
Southport now favourites with the bookmakers! 21/20 is the best price, with Yeovil out to 2/1.
I know it doesn’t take much money to shift niche markets but it is quite a move. Maybe a football tipster has tipped us?
Or maybe it was my bet yesterday that started the avalanche? Mike would have cashed out by now..
The two stands are sold out, so it looks like it is going to be the largest crowd at Haig Avenue for many years today.
I think we have a real chance. Yeovil are favourites but they are only one place above the relegation zone in the league above.
I just hope we put on a good show. There will be a lot of people from the town there today who do not usually attend, so we need to spark some interest to make them want to come back.
In other news, I noticed Bury defeated Lower Breck 3-0 last night to consolidate their place at the top of Northern Premier League West. (Breck are in second place). I think Bury will win the division now and be in the NPL next season.
They have Southport to thank. Two of their goalscorers – Mo Touray and DJ Pedro – both played for the Sandgrounders this season.
I am going to see Kraftwerk at the Liverpool Empire in June, or what remains of them nowadays. The last time I saw them was back in 2017 at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall and they were brilliant, as ever.
It is the Philharmonic Hall next Thursday for (amongst other pieces) Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony (the “Pastoral”) under the conducting of the excellent Ariane Matiakh.
And because I mentioned him on a different thread earlier, here is Mr Tom Lehrer’s finest two minutes:
Unfortunately, people not liking each other very much is part of the human condition, no matter what anyone may like to think.
A wise and brilliant man we lost last year at the age of 97 satirised it in one of his best songs. Although just as much the target of his satire was the people who like to think they are above that sort of thing.
Mr Tom Lehrer and “National Brotherhood Week”, with “When You Are Old And Grey” as a bonus.
I’d proffer that the bigotry present in (some) Indians – or (some) South Asians more generally – is more likely to be of a religious nature than based on skin colour.
There is also the influence of the caste system in India, which I believe was officially banned on independence but the effects of which still linger on into the present day:
Yeovil won 3-2 last night. They were 2-1 down heading into stoppage time and turned it around. They played something like 15 minutes added time across the two halves, which I hope has left its mark!
I watched South Liverpool v Warrington Rylands in the Liverpool Senior Cup last night. South are at Tier 5, while Rylands are two steps above and towards the top of the Northern Premier League.
The difference in ability is plain to see. Rylands were fitter, quicker, stronger and with far more ability on the ball. South did well to hold them to 0-0 at half time but it ended 3-0 to the Warrington side. I think they have a bit of money behind them, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see them in National League North next season.
I logged into my Hills account a few minutes ago and found there was money in it. To my surprise, they had settled the “Constitution Hill to only win one Champion Hurdle” bet.
I thought I was going to have to wait until the horse was formally retired, with Hills arguing there was a possibility he might yet go back over the obstacles.
I expect Mr Davies has bought a few extra packets of hobnobs this week..
It has to be a concern that racing cannot find a sponsor for a race broadcast on terrestrial television at the most high profile meeting of the year outside of Grand National day.
Are lots of companies now reluctant to sponsor a race at the festival out of fear of having their name associated with a social media backlash if there is a fatality?
A great win for Southport against Radcliffe last night. A pity that a few of the other results did not go our way but all we can do is win our own games.
It sends us into the FA Trophy quarter final with some confidence. According to the commentary last night, ticket sales have been strong. It could be a 3,000+ crowd.
Alfreton and Hereford; and Kings Lynn and Oxford have to play each other on Saturday. And Peterborough Sports have to play South Shields, so I am hopeful some of the teams below us will lose ground.
Having said that, we are playing far better than a relegation side now. When we can put something like our best team on the pitch, we are a match for anyone in the division. Radcliffe are in fourth place and we have beaten them three times this season! We also beat Fylde in the Trophy, beat Merthyr in the league and have drawn twice with Kidderminster. If only we hadn’t got off to such a bad start!
