Two of British sport's most legendary names have big birthdays this
week, though only Benjamin Lewis Jones is still around
I raised a toast and drank to auld acquaintance on Tuesday. There was a
bitter taste to it, of course, because it would – should – have been
Bobby Moore's 70th birthday had cancer not so wretchedly cut him down at
51, in 1993.
Had he made his three-score-and-10, I wonder what the great, good fellow
would have thought about his lovely uncomplicated game becoming, in the
meantime, so angry and malevolent with itself; or how the most valorous
of all England captains viewed the sulkily tedious machinations over the
captaincy of Signor Capello's current ragbag squad.
I fancy an incredulous, despairing little smile would be playing around
Bob's lips, as it usually did whenever provocatively posturing twerps
squared up to strike airs and attitudes.
Fond, faraway memories of Moore can at least help restore one's faith in
big-time football and its players. Moore's beguiling, unhurried,
clean-cut skills on the field are taken as read and celebrated by
history, and the longer he has been gone the more lustrous shines the
legend for chivalrous goodness and constancy, the more hallowed and
undying his niche in sport's hall of fame.
In the week a new, bold young Masters champion has been anointed I am
reminded of a piece I never tire of quoting by Alistair Cooke in these
very pages half a century ago, about another Bobby, another courtly
nonpareil, Bobby Jones, who inspired the very foundation of the Masters
at Augusta in 1934. The paragraph holds luminously good still for either
Bobby – Jones or Moore:
"What we talk about here is not the hero as sportsman, but that
something which a civilised community hungered for and found: the best
performer in the world who was also hero as human being, the gentle,
wholly self-sufficient male. Jefferson's lost paragon: the wise innocent."
I was blessed as well as lucky in that the last task of my youthful
flibbertigibbet career with Independent Television was at the 1970 World
Cup in Mexico, as Moore's "minder" when he was signed to join our
commentary team after England's calamitous quarter-final defeat against
West Germany in León.
It could only be called a dream assignment for we were both of an age
and he was inevitably the most matily congenial, humorous and wise of
comrades. Minding Moore in Mexico remains one of the most memorable
fortnights of my life.
If English football's tragically lost paragon would have been 70 on
Tuesday, by coincidence the day before, Monday, was the 80th birthday of
Benjamin Lewis Jones.
Four-score and many happy returns to another game's preux chevalier, and
with a similar aura. Is Lewis Jones the most rounded and versatile
British player ever to grace rugby league? Argue if you must but there
is no doubt, surely, that Jones was the very best of any Welshman who
"went north" when amateurism ruled down south.
Can the James brothers – "the curly-haired marmosets" – have been better
than Lewis Jones? Or was Jim Sullivan better or Gus Risman or Billy
Boston or Terry Price or Dai Watkins or Jonathan Davies?
Lewis Jones from Gorseinon went to Gowerton grammar school, where he was
inspired by tales of how the school's teenage prodigies, Haydn Tanner
and Willie Davies, had helped beat the 1935 All Blacks after being
coached as well by the saintly sportsmaster Bill Bowen, whose credo was
solely to correct imperfect technique but never, ever, to interfere with
any boy's innate style, singular outlook or daring.
Lewis Jones had all of these three gifts in abundance. He was only
briefly a fluorescent light which dazzled the union game – two Welsh
seasons and a blinding tour for the 1950 Lions – before Leeds signed him
to transform the 13-a-side code with a skip in his stride and a smile on
his face.
I never saw him play but the imperishable Welsh rugby history, Fields of
Praise, generously produces, as it forever does, the next best thing.
"With a mesmerising variation of pace and stride, hips that oscillated
as if on ball-bearings, and shoulders that shrugged and twisted through
thickets of tackles, Lewis Jones's speciality was an Ali-like double
shuffle, a scissoring movement of the legs which signalled, too late for
his opponents, that he was about to move into a fifth gear."
It was an attribute he demonstrated sensationally for Wales at
Twickenham in 1950 and a few months later even more so for the Lions in
Auckland, then for season after season in rugby league, to embellish the
glittering legend.
Two successive birthdays in April: two immortals to stir the nostalgia
and to give thanks for.
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PFA nominee Charlie Adam backs West Ham's Scott Parker for Player of the
Year award
Charlie Adam is flattered by his PFA nomination - but has backed West
Ham's Scott Parker to win it.
The Blackpool midfielder said: 'I gave my vote to Scott because he's
been terrific all season.'
Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp, though, is in no doubt his star winger
Gareth Bale should be crowned Professional Footballers' Association
Player of the Year.
Bale has been made slight favourite after being named as one of seven
nominees for the prestigious players' union award yesterday.
The 21-year-old caught the eye during an oustanding first half of the
season, particularly in two Champions League games against Inter Milan
in October and November.
A back injury has since limited his impact but Redknapp is convinced he
is already deserving of the prize.
Redknapp said: 'Gareth's had an amazing early part of the season, he was
in great form. He's picked up a bit of an injury recently but the kid
has been absolutely amazing and has got better and better.
'In all honesty he would be my choice, he deserves it this year. He has
been the best player this season out of all the players in the country.'
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Villa were held to a goalless draw at Woodside Park as neither side
managed to gain a psychological advantage ahead of Saturday's meeting
between their respective first teams.
It was a creditable point for Kevin MacDonald's team against a West Ham
outfit featuring England international Kieron Dyer, Mexican winger Pablo
Barrera and the talented Jack Collison.
Senior duo Nathan Baker and Chris Herd combined in the centre of defence
to steer Villa to a clean sheet, while 19-year-old Benjamin Seigrist
made a couple of important saves in the closing stages.
But the away team also created plenty of chances and were unlucky not to
score during an early flurry.
Inside the first 15 minutes, Samir Carruthers went close after arriving
at the back post to meet Daniel Johnson's left wing cross on the volley
and Johnson saw a 25-yard strike deflect wide of the target.
Moustapha Salifou's well-struck long-range attempt was saved by keeper
Ruud Boffin.
When Dyer was forced to clear Gary Gardner's threatening low cross over
his own bar, it appeared to be all one way traffic. But West Ham
threatened through Barrera, who had a powerful shot charged down by
Ellis Deeney, and Callum McNaughton who headed the Mexican's right wing
cross wide from close range.
The tempo dropped in the second period with neither team creating as
many clear cut opportunities. However, Johnson almost caught out Boffin
with a cross-cum-shot and West Ham substitute Callum Driver curled an
effort wide of the target.
Villa introduced Jason Lampkin as a late substitute and he almost won it
in stoppage time with a deflected shot, having met Gardner's neat lay-off.
But despite that late surge, MacDonald's team were thankful for two
excellent late stops from Siegrist. Firstly, the Swiss goalkeeper pushed
away an angled drive from Dylan Tombides and, with six minutes
remaining, he thwarted Dominic Vose with his legs.
WEST HAM: Boffin, Dyer, Ilunga, Abdulla, McNaughton, Reid, Barrera,
Collison, Tombides, Faubert, Wearen. Subs: Eyjolfsson (for Reid, HT),
Wooton, Driver (for Dyer, 74), Vose (for Collison, 61), McCallum.
VILLA: Siegrist, Berry, Deeney, Osbourne, Herd, Baker, Carruthers,
Salifou, Forrester, Gardner, Johnson. Subs: Lampkin (for Johnson, 78),
Barrett, Burke (for Forrester, 90), Graham (for Carruthers, 68), Donacien.
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McCarthy heads for Hammers exit
West Ham United's out-of-favour striker Benni McCarthy has left the
Premier League strugglers by mutual consent.
The South Africa striker joined the Hammers on February 1, 2010 from
Blackburn Rovers for an undisclosed fee on a deal until the summer of 2012.
However, the former Porto striker failed to make an impact at Upton Park
and has faced criticism from the club's management and fans over his
weight. The player was even placed on a specially designed fitness
regime earlier this season to lose weight and get in shape. However, it
appears that the club's hierachy had finally lost patience with the player.
McCarthy, 33, made 14 appearances for United but failed to find the net.
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Blast from the Past: former Charlton boss takes the hot seat
Alan Curbishley is hoping West Ham can pull off another Great Escape
Alan Curbishley had a long and distinguished career as a player and
manager. His playing career stretched from 1975 through to 1993 and
included West ham and Charlton – two teams he then went onto manage.
He was in the hot seat at the Valley for 15 years before moving to Upton
Park where he guided the East London club through a remarkable escape
from relegation in 2007 season. Here he talks to GMF about the latest
predicament his former Hammers are facing....
Q. Looking at the bottom of the table, how do you see the relegation
fight developing?
A. A lot of the teams at the bottom are all looking around wondering
where the points are going to come from. Blackpool are on a losing run
which they need to end. It is very tight and I can see some clubs
getting out of it but I think there will be clubs in it right up to the
last day of the season. It is going to the wire this season.
Q. You were in similar situation with West Ham a few seasons ago, how
does it compare?
A. If anything, we were in a worse situation. We lost to Spurs at home
in March 4-3 and we were 11 points behind Sheffield United with only
nine games to go. We went on a run and we kept five clean sheets and it
went to the last game against Manchester United. It is a lot tighter
this season.
Q. You were beating Spurs 3-2 with five minutes to go and lost 4-3. Did
you think that was the end that day?
A. I didn't but I know quite a few people didn't give us a chance. In a
strange way we actually played well against Tottenham and we got back a
bit of belief. I also think that the pressure came off us because
everyone thought we were down.
Q. Can you put your finger on how you managed a run of results after
such a poor run?
A. Looking back there were a number of factors. I think in those last
games I was able to keep a settled side. I think I only used 13 players
and I also had a lot of local lads in the side. The other thing is
confidence started coming back and we got a bit of momentum. We also
kept those five clean sheets and won a few tight games 1-0
Q. Every manager talks about confidence. Can you explain how it comes
and goes?
A. Results help. But one example stands out for me. We were playing
Manchester United on the last day of the season and Anton Ferdinand has
got the ball on the left hand side of the pitch in our half and sees
that there is not a lot on.
He's under pressure but turns with the ball, flicks the ball between his
legs and goes out the other way. A few weeks before he would have simply
launched the ball up the field. When you are confident you try things.
Q. What was that last game at Old Trafford like?
A. Where do I start? Off the field, the Tevez affair was kicking off and
Neil Warnock was going on about the top teams playing weakened sides. I
know a lot of people say it was the longest 90 minutes ever but it
wasn't for me.
We started well and got the goal before half time through Tevez. Even in
the second half I looked at my watch and thought the time was going
quickly – that is until the last ten minutes. Then it seemed liked
forever. The relief at the end. Phew.
Q. Was that one of the highlights in your managerial career?
A. No. I felt that I had contributed to the club being in that position
so it was not something to be proud off. I vowed after the Manchester
United game that West Ham would never be in that position again while I
was in charge. I think the players didn't get the recognition they
deserved because of the Tevez affair and the top teams playing weakened
teams.
Q. What was your take on the weakened team debate?
A. Manchester United made four changes against us that day from the
previous game. The previous week they played Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.
Then the next game on the Saturday they made eight or nine changes and
nobody is saying anything about a weakened team.
Alex had all the so-called big hitters on the bench that day against us
and brought them on so I think the West Ham players didn't get the
recognition they deserved.
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Benni McCarthy gobbles up £1.5m pay-off to terminate contract and end
West Ham nightmare
Benni McCarthy will walk away with £1.5million after agreeing to
terminate his contract with West Ham.
The striker made just 14 appearances and failed to score a goal after
his £2.2m move from Blackburn Rovers in January last year.
The South African, 33, would have received a further £2.3m if he had
opted to sit out his £38,000-a-week contract until it expired in June 2012.
West Ham club tried to send him out on loan in January but Championship
sides were put off by his high wages. He was fined £200,000 after
failing to adhere to a weight-loss regime and was left out of Avram
Grant's 25-man Premier League squad.
Meanwhile, Carlton Cole is to contest his FA charge for improper conduct
following his Twitter 'race' jokes.
The West Ham striker has until 6pm tonight to respond to the charge for
comments during England's friendly against Ghana that some people
complained were racist.
He tweeted: 'Immigration has surrounded the Wembley premises! I knew it
was a trap! Hahahaha.'
Sources close to Cole last night claimed the centre forward would
respond before this evening's deadline. West Ham officials have reminded
Hammers players of their responsibilities when they use Twitter and
other social networking websites.
West Ham co-owner David Gold is planning to watch their home game
against Aston Villa on Saturday, his first outing to Upton Park since he
recovered from cholangitis and septicaemia.
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