Boxing Day Football

Arguably boxing day was made for football. Since I was a teenager it's been an integral part of the Christmas period. This years match was an early kick off as a result of AFC Wimbledon v Oxford United being chosen by Sky for lunch time televisation. Somewhat unexpectedly I was asked to write the match report that appears below.

Its been a few weeks since I've seen the Dons, whose form has slumped. It is really a whole new ball game for management,volunteers and spectators. For nine years there has been a relentless surge upwards from CCL to League 2, now we appear to have hit the wall. After boxing day's game the Dons have taken only 3 out of the last 30 points. Early season optimistism has been replaced with either stark realism or calls for changes in personnel.

There are still plenty who realise that League 2 midtable is where we should be, survival in the division is enough. However the quality of performance has suffered and there is a feeling that at the near mid point of the season , we have been found out.

The next couple of weeks, with the opening of the transfer window should reveal a good deal about the Club:

Dons lose again !

AFC Wimbledon 0 Oxford United 2

npower league 2

by Paul Jeater

There was little Christmas cheer at Kingsmeadow on Boxing Day as AFC Wimbledon slumped to another defeat in front of Sky cameras and a near capacity crowd. The Dons defence gift wrapped two first half chances that the visitors, Oxford United, gratefully accepted. In the second half the Dons attempted to get back in the game but were largely thwarted by the performance of referee Andy D’Urso, who accepted the role of pantomime villain with relish turning down numerous penalty appeals, helping the visitors to leave with three points.

After a fairly even opening spell, Oxford took the lead in the 18^thminute , the influential Alfie Potter collected possession from the long clearance, as he weaved his way through the Dons midfield, Lee Minshull and Jamie Stuart attempted to tackle, but their combined effort only sent the ball into the path of Oxford striker, James Constable, who shot with precision low past Seb Brown to open the scoring.

The Dons conceded again just before half time. From a corner poor marking and defensive organisation allowed Oxford’s Asa Hall an uncontested header at the far post. As the teams left the field the Dons players looked as if they had a mountain to climb.

Manager Terry Brown introduced Ricky Wellard and altered the shape of his team, and this had immediate effect when Rashid Yussuff drove into the penalty area only to be upended. To the astonishment of most of those in attendance, the referee who was well placed , turned away penalty appeals. Yussuff’s lack of luck continued when he saw a shot cannon off the crossbar and ricochet to safety.

The Dons to their credit continued to press for the goal that would get them back in the game. Lone striker Jack Midson fell under a challenge in the penalty area as he and his marker came together, while Dons fans optimistically called for a penalty, the referee brandished a yellow card, leaving the hard working Midson to shake his head in bewilderment. Late substitutions made no impact for the Dons in a game where the effort was obvious but confidence and craft appeared to be in short supply.

AFC Wimbledon’s early season form that propelled them towards the play off places is but a distant memory. Three points out of the last thirty has marooned them in the league’s lower reaches, and the focus is now on the form of those below them rather than worrying about who is competing for honours. With two difficult games against high flyers Southend and Swindon on the horizon, fans can only hope that manager Terry Brown is able to do some shopping in the January sales to reinforce the squad and stop the slide.

Dons : Brown 6, Hatton 4, Gwillim 5 (Bush 89),Moore 6,Stuart 5, Mitchel-King 6,Minshull 4 ( Mulley 89),Yussuff 6,Midson 6, Moore 5 , Jackson 4 (Wellard 46, 5)

Thoughts on Singapore

Written between 8th-12th December 2011

Arriving in Singapore late in the evening, you are immediately struck by the traffic, the density of building and particularly the amount of light. Tall apartment blocks lined ten lane freeways, giant office blocks and hotels lit the skyline. In the dark it is hard to see the colonial parts of the city and its main other interesting areas. Yet everywhere there is light.

Perhaps it says something of my political development and thought patterns that the first thing that flashed across my mind is how to they generate all this power ?

Having experienced Manhattan I should not have been overwhelmed by tall buildings, but this is Asia. The climate is tropical, the streets are spotlessly clean, and green vegetation is interspresed with offices and malls.

The British came here first in 1819, and our presence is still felt in language and customs; but there's no forgetting that this is the other side of the world, eights hours ahead of London. Perhaps the sites I'm seeing are opening my eyes to thr fact that Asia will become during the 21st Century the dominant economic player in the world. Signs of globalisation are everywhere, the ethic mix of peoples, restaurants etc sit side by side with the almost inevitable MacDonalds and Starbucks.

After a day of wandering and exploring the colonial remnants of Singapore, we decided to witness its complete opposite with a walk along Orchard Road. Shops, shops and yet more shops, all decked out with bright Xmas decorations, in a society where Buddhists make up the largest religious grouping. The young Singaporesse have certainly embraced shopping, it's Friday night but it's not to bars that the young flock instead the giant indoor shopping malls hold a magnetic attraction. Meanwhile at street level we walk considerably faster than the cars that crawl along Orchard Road.

Friday showed the contrast between the old and new Singapore, but the remainder of our stay showed many appealing aspects of life here. Firstly the friendliness, helpfulness and politeness of the local people. It's a very orderly society with an apparent strong work ethic. It took me a couple of days to appreciate the efficiency of the MRT system of public transport. The respect shown to others boarding trains and the way the public left sits designated for the old, injured or disabled.

Life starts later in the morning and work finishes later at night. A lifestyle that would be difficult for someone like me accustomed to an early start to adjust to. I'm left with the impression of a young society, the proportion of people under 30 seems much greater than in the UK.

It would be ridiculous not to mention the sites that have drawn us here - the Zoo,Bird Park and Night Safari. The seed of this visit was planted some years ago when I was talking to an Australian and I said that we always went to Australia via the USA, and I foolishly dismissed stopovers in Asia. It was then that he mentioned the Night Safari, and my interest was aroused.

Singapore will long live in my memory for the collection of primates, especially the family groupings of orangutans. How I enjoyed watching and filming them. The toucans and hornbills at the Bird park were another highlight, and the chance to witness nocternal creatures at the Night Safari was then the icing on the cake.

Singapore is religiously and racially mixed, the chance to see Buddhist Temples is a memory to cherish. Overall so much exceeded my expectations. Singapore is very much a bilingual society, but it also showed once again the futility of racism and the narrowness of eurocentric thinking.
How ironic that the interest shown by the people of Singapore in the EPL contrasts so sharply with the growing mood of isolation and insularness of Britain at the end of 2011.

Australia (politics and more)

Written while flying to Singapore 8/12/11

As a young boy growing up in Tooting,South london I had two young friends who I used to play with, they lived across the road. It must have been about 1959 when my parents told me that they were moving to Australia. I'm not sure I had much of a clue as to where that was. However back then it was still very much a one-way ticket, only later did I discover what was meant by the term "ten bob pom"

As I gre up Australia became a place of interest, and in fact deep interest every couple of years when the Ashes took centre stage in my life. I still remember the summer of 1961 when my father took me to the Oval to see England led by Peter May take on Australia led by Ritchie Benaud. My first test match, but that's another story. The chance to visit Australia in fact never materialised until I was 50.

The decision of my mother in law and step father in law to emigrate to the outskirts of Sydney has made frequent visits necessary as they have become older. This was our sixth visit, on the first visit I felt like a tourist wanting to see everything that Sydney has to offer, however with every subsequent visit I have reacquainted myself with modern Australia. As an avid newspaper reader I soon brought myself up to speed with the current political debates and developments.

Perhaps not surprisingly some of the discussions mirrored those taking place in the UK ( pension age/contributions and retirement age). Australia has so far however evaded the worst of the financial crisis, nevertheless the economic boom that centres largely on Queensland and Western Australia has shallow foundations and is built on the back of mining and mineral extraction. This boom has been export led and has forced up the value of the Australian dollar making other export industries uncompetitive and of course makes Australia increasingly expensive for visitors from the Uk.

The current labor government won the narrowest of victories in 2010. It seems widely accepted that victory was taken for granted , this view is now regarded as truth by the party elite. Meanwhile the opposition coalition of Liberals/Nationalists have adopted the "oppose everything" strategy.

In recent months the ALP government have introduced a carbon tax and my arrival coincided with a vote to introduce a tax on the profits of the mining corporations. These policies fundamental in tackling both climate change and the imbalance in the economy and presented as U turns by Australian prime minister Julia Gilliard.

In December the ALP held its conference in Sydney, while the government wanted the main focus to be on economic affairs and particularly "jobs", it was the motion to accept same sex marriage that attracted the most media attention, with street demonstrations supporting and opposing any change.

In addition the conference also discussed selling uranium to India, again controversial as Australia is committed to nuclear non proliferation. So why the discussion of same sex marriage and the introduction of a carbon tax. One view being put forward is that Labor is losing its grip on its old inner city heartlands. The once strong trade union movement is in decline, and many young Australians have turned against the illiberal march of the ALP.

The only party to consistently support same sex marriage is the Greens, and although they nationally still poll in single figures, they are gaining in strength in cosmopolitan inner city areas. Having won a seat in Melbourne in 2010 they are poised for further breakthroughs in what could be deemed "post-Labour" communities.

The parallels with the UK are only too stark, the real issue in the next couple of years in both Australia and the UK is one of electoral credibility. In both countries Labo(u)r is floundering , its lack of opposition in the UK is breathtaking, while in Australia its policy initiatives on the environment are welcome but clearly have not been sols to a wide enough cross section of the population.

You can't say that ( Review of Ken Livingstone's memoirs)

Written 8/12/11

Before departing for Australia I bought Ken Livingstone's memoirs from Amazon, within days I was asked if I'd submit a review. It's a large volume weighing in at 680 pages, the perfect book for holiday reading as long as you've got surplus weight in your luggage.

From the outset it's worth mentioning that I have a certain affinity to Ken. We were part of the same movements for many years, we both grew up in South London, just a few years and miles apart. We both joined the Labour party and through that experienced local government. As a result the chapters of the book that deal with the GLC years bring back many memories.

As Ken points out he comes from a time when class defined politics and ideas and policies were what mattered rather than style and how you present yourself in often shallow "soundbites" on TV. It is convenient therefore to divide the book into two halves, the years leading up to his election as MP for Brent East and then the rise of New Labour and Ken's years as London Mayor.

In the second part he explains astutely that the Labour leadership group in 1997 including Blair lacked the experience of running anything. While traditionally aspiring politicians cut their teeth in local government, here was a group who had bypassed that route. As a result many ministers walked into government departments without the necessary skills and grounding.

The latter chapters detail his role in the campaign to bring the Olympic games to London, the impact of 7/7 and finally his defeat by Boris Johnson. It is impossible to read these sections and indeed the early chapters on the GLC without mentioning the sustained press attacks that have riddled his political career. The fact that he has been regularly elected says much for the fact that many Londoners see a different person to the editors of the Mail, Standard and Sun.

"You can't say that" as a memoir is not the perfect balanced account of a life in politics; it is an opportunity to tell it from his point of view. Refreshingly he has always tried to separate his political life from his personal life which he has been at pains to keep away from the media spotlight. However in his memoirs he deals with these matters in a refreshingly honest way.

Although Ken rejoined Labour in time to be elected for the second time as mayor as the Labour candidate, he does not analysis to any extent how someone with his views can co-exist with the modern Labour Party that seems light years from the movement to which he was a central part in the 1980s.

Nevertheless to anyone who is interested in modern Labour history, London or local government this is near essential reading. Its publication is timely ahead of Ken's campaign to regain the mayoralty of London in 2012.

Champions League, you're havin' a laugh !

Written 7/12/11

Watching Champions League football in Australia means getting up ready for a 6.45am kick off. Of course you are at the mercy of the Australian broadcaster SBS as to what game they want to show. After a couple of weeks it's clear they have a preference for what they call the EPL, unless Barcelona have an attractive game.

It's the day before we leave Australia, and it's the chance to watch Manchester United v FC Basle. The Australian analysts and of course the English commentators all expect and want United to get the point necessary for qualification.

I'm sure however back home there will be some rejoicing as United lost 2-1. Now all those United fans in the South East will have something to do on Thursday evenings as they negotiate their way through the Europa League. In terms of viewing figures it will provide a bonus for C5.

Basle of course wore red and blue stripes ,the same strip as Barcelona, perhaps Ferguson can make an excuse out of that.

Port Macquerie

Written 6/12/11

How different is a New South Wales seaside resort to those at home in England. After Sydney's at best indifferent weather, Port Macquerie was bright and on the whole sunny. The shorts that i had brought to Australia finally made their way out of the suitcase. There were still seagulls, but also pelicans who seemed to target our white car at regular intervals.

The town was well planned, the beaches wre sandy and wide, but it was what was missing no tacky souvenirs, no amusement arcades and no overt drunkenness.

The highlight of our stay was a Sunday afternoon river cruise on the Hastings river. Sitting on the upper deck, watching the river flow into the sea. Good fortunate in that we had the chance to see a Sea Eagle perched in a tree, on the return trip this bird was joined by its partner. A spectacular sighting.

On Monday morning I set out to accomplish something that I had long wanted to do. For some months off and on I've been running, before the summer at this gym, now was the chance to run on a beach. I'd hoped for a warm morning, but sadly I was again let down. I set off soon after 6am, but the wind blew and the beach was near deserted but for around a dozen brave surfers in wet suits who took on the waves on Town Beach.

As the waves crashed against the break waters I started to appreciate the skill of the surfer. I grew up in inner city London,I can count the number of times I visited the local swimming pool on the fingers of one hand. As I watched the surfers I thought that if I'd grown up in Australia how much more likely it would have been for me to have developed a more positive relationship to swimming and water in general. As a 58 year old who can manage little more than a width in a swimming pool, I looked on in admiration of those who go out on boards to take on the waves. Growing up in London offered me many advantages, surfing wasn't one of them.

Clarkson

Written 3/12/11

The only item of UK news that has found its way into the Australian media is the televised comment of Jeremy Clarkson that public sector workers on strike should be shot in front of their families. Now obviously Clarkson's comments should be condemned, although I doubt whether any progressives in the UK harboured any doubts about Clarkson's political views even before this tirade.

It is interesting to note the difference in the approach of the BBC. Not that long ago Jonathan Ross and Russell Brand were seriously disciplined for some at best comments in "bad taste" on a late night radio show. Yet here is Clarkson on peak time TV offering the feeblest of apologies.

However I think there's a more important aspect to the whole affair. During the summer riots, two young men were imprisoned for more than just a token sentence for posting a message on facebook that they wanted to start a riot in Northwich. However Clarkson goes on national TV and proposes the murder of two million Uk citizens in front of their families and the Prime Minister dismisses it as him as "just being silly". Clarkson says " it was a joke". Strange the two men in Northwich used the " it was a joke" argument in court. It didn't wash with the judiciary, why should Clarkson get preferential treatment ? Unless of course he's a personal friend of Cameron and belongs to the Chipping Norton set.

When the NOTW was exposed for phone tapping, many companies withdrew their advertisements. It would be good if companies now refused to stock Clarkson's books and DVDs. If the BBC won' take the moral high ground, perhaps others should step up.