Bye, bye Mr Chairman goodbye I’m in a coma with this TOMA

Over the years I have heard some excellent football songs but this new one by Mark Duffy Music is the best topical football song I have ever heard. 

Click here to hear the song. 

The song is about Leeds chairman Ken Bates and the impatience of fans waiting for him to sell up and clear off, which might in fact happen quite soon now. Rumours have it that the parties are gathered in Monacco to finally complete the sale to Dubai-based GFH Capital.  I just hope the chorus takes off at Elland Road later today when we face Southampton in the Capital One Cup.

Here are the words:

A long long time ago I can still remember how the football used to make me smile. 
And I knew if we had some luck we would soon be going up.

Maybe we‘d be happy for a while.

But the transfer window makes me shudder.

For Christ sake please don’t sell another.

Bad news on the website,

I can’t take no more shite.

I can’t remember if I cried when Norwich said your Captain’s signed.

Something touched me deep inside, it’s time to wave goodbye

Bye, bye Mr Chairman goodbye I’m in a coma with this TOMA*, there’s a tear in my eye, I’m sick and tired of you telling lies, it’s time for you to swallow your pride, time for you to wave goodbye.

Did you write the programme notes and have a go at us moron folks?

Did your conscience prick at all?

Do you believe in what you say?

Do loan deals really save the day?

Can you teach me how that cash really flows?

Well someone must be dipping in. There’s nothing in our transfer tin.

We just don’t like to lose. Man we’ve got those TOMA blues.

We used to be a top flight team and we were held in high esteem,

But we won’t let you kill our dream. It’s time to wave goodbye.

Bye, bye Mr Chairman goodbye I’m in a coma with this TOMA, there’s a tear in my eye, I’m sick and tired of you telling lies, it’s time for you to swallow your pride, time for you to wave goodbye.

For nearly eight years you have owned, our club, our hearts, and our collective souls.

But that’s not how it’s going to be.

Well LUST try hard to keep in touch but even they can’t take too much.

At least they keep their dignity.

So is the deal still going through? Please tell the truth I beg of you.

We just want brand new owners. So sign those papers won’t you?

While smaller clubs were going up we were losing in the Johnstone’s Cup.

It’s time to go so please sell up. It’s time to wave goodbye.

You’ve got me singing bye, bye Mr Chairman goodbye I’m in a coma with this TOMA, there’s a tear in my eye, I’m sick and tired of you telling lies, it’s time for you to swallow your pride, time for you to wave goodbye.

Oh bye, bye Mr Chairman goodbye I’m in a coma with this TOMA, there’s a tear in my eye, I’m sick and tired of you telling lies, it’s time for you to swallow your pride, time for you to wave goodbye.

*TOMA stands for Take Over My Ar*e.

The Closes redevelopment update

Coast and Country Housing have issued the following update on the Closes redevelopment:

October 2012

Dear Resident

We would like to update you on our progress to redevelop The Closes estate.

We have been working hard to ensure that the empty properties are stripped internally, utilities are disconnected and gardens are cleared. Your safety, the cleanliness of the estate and the welfare of the residents waiting to be relocated is our priority In Spring we strengthened the site based regeneration team and we are already seeing a positive impact from the additional caretakers on the estate.

Also we have listened and acted upon feedback from local ward councillors, Cleveland Fire Brigade, Cleveland Police, and other stakeholders to ensure that any concerns are being addressed.

We will be working with a contractor to start the demolition of Phase 1 over the next few months. Phase 1 includes the following addresses:

• Kent Close (1-16, 52-67)
• Mersey Road (133-191 odds)
• Roseberry Road (84 – 106 evens)
• The Meadows (1-32)

Who do I contact if I have an enquiry?

 If you are a Coast and Country Tenant:
 Gail Atkinson 01642 837226 gail_atkinson@cchousing.org.uk
Steph Pew /Angela Blake 01642 771336 steph_pew@cchousing.org.uk or angela_blake@cchousing.org.uk.  

If you are an owner occupier, private landlord or private tenant: Ben Briggs 01642 771377 ben_briggs@cchousing.org.uk

FA lets Dave Jones off with a caution - well what do you expect - we are Leeds

The Football Association has replied to my complaint about Dave Jones's slanderous remarks accusing Leeds fans in general of being "vile animals." It appears that Jones has been spoken to and let off with some words of advice and a caution:

Dear Mr Abbott,

Thank you for contacting The Football Association.

Sheffield Wednesday Manager, Dave Jones, has been reminded of his responsibilities and advised to exercise caution and warned that any further comments could result in disciplinary action.

We do appreciate all of the feedback we receive from supporters. This feedback is collated and used to build a picture of public opinion and is subsequently fed back internally within the organisation. Please rest assured your comments will form part of this feedback process.

Kind regards,

Adele 

Adele Sannie-Lamptey| Customer Relations

Communications Division

At least it is something I suppose, after all we are Leeds and can't expect much help form anyone outside the club.

Redcar Athletic Fundraising Campaign

To try and raise funds to pay for the final  works on the Floodlights and for additional work around the ground, Redcar Athletic's Wearside League team has organised a series of events starting with -

Saturday 3rd November
Halloween Party at the club
Tickets £2 
Fancy Dress with prizes
Raffle

Saturday 17th Nov 2012

Ladies only Pamper Night at the club

A Special night for ladies only

Eyebrows Tinting/ Waxing/ Shaping Lashes etc

Also Party Lite candles for sale

Free entry,

Raffle

Drinks available

Saturday  Dec 1st 2012

Race Nite

1st Race 8pm

£2 a ticket

Horse owners required £2 a horse

Race sponsors required £20

Saturday December 22nd 2012

Redcar Athletic Xmas Party

New Marske Institute Club

7.30pm

Featuring Showband

ALPHAPLACE

Tickets £5

This is what happened at Hillsborough on Friday line by line

This is my view of what happened at the Sheffield Wednesday v Leeds United game at Hillsborough on Friday line by line: 

I make no judgements but I do wish to show that the behaviour of a minority of SWFC fans was just as bad as that of a minority of LUFC fans.

The Leeds fans were situated in the Leppings Lane end and I attended with my 8 years old grandson, Daniel. The picture right shows the view we had.

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 1 (Bothroyd 43), LEEDS 1 (Tonge 76)

Sheffield Wednesday: Kirkland, Buxton, Gardner, Corry (Mayor 84) Llera, Semedo, Antonio, Jones,Barkley, O'Grady (Madine 84), Bothroyd. Subs: Bywater, Taylor, Pecnik, Johnson, Rodri

Leeds: Kenny, Peltier (Varney 68), Lees, Pearce, White, Austin (Norris 46), Brown,Tonge, Byram,Becchio, Diouf. Subs: Ashdown, Drury, Green, Gray, Hall

Referee:  E Ilderton

Booked: Jones, Gardner (Weds)

KO 7.45. Att: 28,582 (5,300 Leeds)

Up until the SWFC started abusing Leeds Manager Neil Warnock the LUFC fans were quite happy chanting the usual "we are Leeds," and singing MOT. 

There was a prearranged marathon burst of WACCOE which started on 15 minutes. 

About 1000 SWFC fans sang Warnock is a “w*****. 

About 1000 LUFC fans responded with Dave Jones is a “p*********,” 

About 1000 SWFC fans, referring to Jimmy Saville coming from Leeds, began chanting "Leeds is a town full of paedophiles."

About 1000 LUFC fans, as they always do in response to “dirty Leeds” and "your not famous anymore" responded louder and began to sing in praise of Jimmy Saville.

My grandson Daniel (8), who was at the match with me, 

then said to me 'who's Jimmy Saville? He thought he was a new signing. 

About 1000 SWFC fans sang: “Always look out for Turks carrying knifes dudududud etc” 

(This is a reference to Leeds fans Christopher Loftus and Kevin Speight murdered in Turkey).

All 5300 LUFC fans booed and jeered. The noise nearly took the roof off.

A handful of both SWFC and LUFC fans threw coins and plastic coke bottles.

One or more LUFC fans tore an advertising hoarding down 

Half a dozen fans, including Aaron Cawley, the one who pushed the goalie, ran on the pitch as Leeds scored.

Within five minutes of the incident a number of LUFC fans publicly identified Cawley on Twitter using the #LUFC hashtag.

Of course Daniel and I see the goalie laid out and ask each other what had happened. We were too busy celebrating the goal.

In 2010 SWFC fans ran on the pitch and attacked Crystal Palace’s Clint Hill, who took several punches, at the end of a match with Crystal Palace. Palace manager at the time was Neil Warnock.

Neil Warnock is reviled by SWFC fans as he was a long serving Sheffield United manager.

I can’t find what punishment SWFC got if any, after the FA inquiry, but I would wager that LUFC will get pasted again by the FA. Clearly SWFC where just as much to blame.

Complaint sent to Football Association

Copy of a letter sent today to the FA, LUFC and SWFC:

Dear FA,

I write to complain in the strongest possible terms about the slanderous remarks made by the Sheffield Wednesday Manager, Dave Jones, in an interview following the match with Leeds United at Hillsborough on Friday 19th October 2012.

I attended the match with my 8 years old grandson Daniel Abbott and we watched the game from the Leppings Lane end with around 5300 other Leeds United supporters. I enclose a photograph of Daniel applauding the players, at the end of the match, who in turn were applauding us. It is part of the match day experience/ritual that Daniel enjoys. Imagine our surprise, when we heard on the car radio on the way home, Dave Jones criticising the Leeds Manager, Neil Warnock, for encouraging his players to applaud the Leeds fans. In doing so he clearly said the Leeds fans were “vile animals” in such a way that it can only be construed that he meant all Leeds fans. We did nothing to warrant such a smear and take strong exception to it.

This is clearly actionable and it surely brings the game into disrepute. Daniel and I live in Redcar and many of his school friends are Middlesbrough supporters. I do not want him to be taunted by this smear and I call on the Football Association to take action to ensure that Mr Jones withdraws his remarks about Leeds United fans in general and apologises without delay.

Yours sincerely
Chris Abbott

Dave Jones should apologise for his slanderous comments about Leeds fans

Sheffield Wednesday manager Dave Jones should apologise for his slanderous comments about Leeds fans at Sheffield Wednesday last night or face a charge of bringing the game into disrepute. No Leeds fan is excusing what one mindless idiot did but my grandson Daniel (8) applauding the players after the match is not a vile animal as Jones would have us believe.

After the match at Sheffield Wednesday last night Daniel and I stopped for a minute to pay our respects to the Hillsborough 96.

Why are we called anything but Redcar?

I cannot believe the stupidity of calling the new health centre in Redcar the Langbaurgh NHS Medical Centre. It just does not make sense. What on earth possessed them to call it Langbaurgh?

Have they no better imagination than to name it after the silly title given to the local Council that was abolished in 1996? Since 1968 there have been eight names for local government in Redcar:

Redcar Borough Council
North Riding County Council
Teesside County Borough
Cleveland County Council
Langbaurgh District Council
Langbaurgh Borough Council
Langbaurgh on Tees Borough Council
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council

Each time other organisations named themselves after the name of the Council and we were referred to as the people of the Council name. Not the people of Redcar. We are whatever name is dreamt up for the local Council and some damn silly ones there have been.

Not long before the abolition of Langbaurgh Council, it was decided to add the words "on Tees" because a Councillor had gone to a conference and had been asked if Langbaurgh was somewhere in Wales.

In addition, depending on the vested interest of whoever it is saying it, we are also referred to as the people of Teesside, Tees Valley, East Cleveland, Cleveland or even the north east, anything but Redcar.

As far as I am concerned we are Redcar, Yorkshire and I accept nothing else. 

It is so bad that major towns like Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar are only signposted when you arrive at the town. We are all lumped together as Teesside. This is because the Highways Agency have not changed their signing policy since Teesside County Borough was in existence. It was abolished in 1974. Small towns like Thirsk, Northallerton and Wetherby are well signposted but not Middlesbrough, Stockton and Redcar. About 15 years ago they promised to add these towns to road signs on the A19 as and when the existing signs are replaced but have not kept that promise.

Lib Dems welcome Council Tax freeze

The Liberal Democrat Group on Redcar & Cleveland Council is urging the Council’s Labour bosses to accept a freeze in Council Tax next year if it is offered.

This year Labour raised Council Tax by 3.5%, the highest in the country.

This came despite the Government’s offer of £1.4 million to the Council if it had frozen its council tax in 2012-13.

At the Conservative Party conference last week, the Communities Secretary, Eric Pickles, announced that councils which wish to increase Council Tax by more than 2% will have to hold a referendum.

He also announced that £450m would be available for councils to help offset the freeze, an amount equivalent to a 1% Council Tax increase for local authorities.

Councillor Glyn Nightingale said:

“Local people are facing higher bills, but few are receiving higher incomes. Council Tax is already an unfair tax and any attempt to increase it in Redcar & Cleveland would just magnify the unfairness.

“Labour didn’t accept the Council Tax Freeze last year but we hope that this year they will see sense. Labour Party bosses need to pay attention to peoples’ wishes and circumstances.

“Recent internal and external audits of the Council’s finances have revealed poor economic management – it is not acceptable to make working people pay for the Council’s financial incompetence.”

Labour wasting our waste say Lib Dems

Liberal Democrats in Redcar & Cleveland are asking why the Labour council gives away the cardboard and plastic it collects whilst other councils manage to sell it.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Abbott asked a question about this in July’s council meeting. He was told that the Council gets no money for the plastic and cardboard collected from households in the borough.

It costs the Council £245,950 a year to collect these items. It is then handed over free to a firm in Hartlepool who process and sell it, with no income at all coming back to the Council.

However, the Council has today admitted that other authorities do manage to sell waste cardboard and plastic.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Chris Abbott commented:

“It is ridiculous to give cardboard and plastics away free if they can be processed and sold.

“Once again Labour is wasting taxpayers’ money.

“This year Labour gave local people the highest council tax rise in the land.

“That surely gives them an obligation to use resources in the most effective way possible.

“This is yet another slap in the face to hard working taxpayers.

“Labour clearly finds it easier to just put up council tax rather than run services more efficiently.”