LaticsChris

Ergo we are the bigger club. Winner.

I've gone for the large section only, but as I recall on many of the occassions that we've handed over the full RRE has it not been at the request of the police? I fail to see what good it does, but if the police request it, as seems likely to me, they'll get the full RRE. We'll just have to gargle cough mixture and sing like we've never sung before in the Main Stand & Chaddy.

Brief mention in the Guardian, they don't exactly sound convinced of our chances. Linky

It wasn't a red for me, a caution for dangerous play at the worst. However for an appeal to be successfull there has to be a huge miscarriage of justice it seems, this won't be seen like that. Hopefully he'll get away with just a one match ban... He was sent off for the excessive force (which I'd argue was unavoidable in the circumstances) I suppose rather than VC.

Vintage complaining.

Tell them not to worry. Whilst it might not happen in our lifetimes I'm sure they'll get to see a new stand eventually.

You raise some good points here and touch on some thoughts I've had about Dickov and the future. It seems to me that it takes a very talented man to bring a bunch of lads together, foster an excellent team spirit and then have it in him to discipline players and not be one of the lads when necessary. Most managers are only going to be good at half of that, you're either going to be the players' friendly Uncle or the strict headteacher. At our level you could argue (tentatively I suppose) that a more pragmatic long/medium term plan would be to have a few years under a manager such as Dickov, (who I don't think many of us would argue can spot a player - whether or not he can get him playing) where our young team is put together and bonds into a tight unit, then when results really get bad enough (i.e. possibly now/end of this season) a more hardline manager comes in, probably one with more experience, to give the team a kick up the arse and get them playing in a disciplined manner. Just a thought anyway. Totally ridiculous I suppose because football club chairman don't think like that.

I'm pretty sure in Corney's recent video blog/interview he said they'll 'definitely' break ground by/at (can't remember which) the end of the season. He seemed very sure of it, but then I get the impression Big Si is sure of everything.

The real scandal here is that hundreds of kids will have their Christmas ruined by spending two hours at Boundary Park on Boxing Day.

Franco?

I thought it was Westhulme Street as well, but on second look I don't think it is. If you look at the mill on Street View the detailing such as stonework and heads & cills, whilst very similar, are different to that in the picture. The mill in the picture also looks significantly longer.

Aye I'd heard that about the rail tickets, but I had to pick my match ticket up at the stadium, so never mind, it was only about €2.70 anyway! I'd also had the same concerns as you as far as half empty stadia goes, so I made sure I got my seat in the middle of the Ostkurve and joined in with the chants I could understand ("Scheiss St Pauli!"). They really made a hell of a din, not a bad effort considering they were trying to fill a half empty athletics stadium with noise! And when I say half empty....40,000 at a second tier game versus a mid table team? Not bad at all! One surreal thing I experienced was the Hertha fans singing along (auf Deutsch of course) to 'We Are Sailing' after the match. Very odd.

They are! After buying the ticket, paying for the international payment charge and buying a rail ticket from central Berlin to the Olympiastadion I had still paid less than I would for a ticket to a Latics home game.

I went to Hertha last month to take in the St Pauli game and completely fell in love with German football. I won't be back at Boundary Park until Boxing Day and I'm worried it will be even more of a disappointment than usual after savouring the atmosphere in the Ostkurve at such an amazing stadium. The Germans are bloody lucky football fans.

Seems legit.

I was delighted to read on the official website that the reserves took maximum points at "St Geroge's Park"

If you're referring to the game being moved for TV then we're definitely on. But there is still this potential move to accommodate other local games. However with nothing being mentioned all week - not even a 'keep you're eyes peeled' on the fishul - I dare say we're looking at a good old 3pm Saturday game.

I hadn't really noticed that until now. It makes the second half of the season more interesting, but it also dishes out a couple of expensive months with two or three tasty away days!

That is really poor journalism. Everyone knows you should never say 'Notts Forest'

From that video I can't even see a foul from Hume to be completely honest. The two players challenged for the ball, Brown got caught on the ankle. In fact I think Hume pulled out of the challenge. Maybe the yellow was for man handling Brown after all?

I can't see a company bothering to sponsor the ground until refurbished, but I'd have absolutely no problem with selling the naming rights. I'll most likely always call it Boundary Park anyway. As for the effect of sponsoring football grounds and their stands, I don't think its as simple as encouraging three thousand home fans to buy a new burglar alarm. Sponsoring gets the company's name out there into wide®spread use, possibly subliminally making you assume they're a good, reputable company because you seem to hear their name a lot etc. Having said that I'm far from a marketing expert. So my thoughts on the subject are worth slightly less than a Greek pension.

Wow, looking at that postcode on google maps I see that for my first ten years watching Latics we parked up for every home game next to the site on which the club was formed! Who knew! (not me)

I can't recall where 'Pine' came from. (possibly a local club/pub/factory?) but the Villa was a nod to the great Aston Villa team of the time.

Where does WWE come into all this?