Unfortunate
The news on Friday afternoon of Dean Ashton's retirement from football at the tender age of 26
was not a shock to anyone. It was met sadness within the game and beyond, with observers ranging
from Piers Morgan to Aresne Wenger quick to offer their sympathy and support to the West Ham
striker.
England's 2018 World Cup bid team have revealed the names of the 12 cities that will be part of
their campaign:
Birmingham (Villa Park), Bristol (New Ashton Vale),
Leeds (Elland Road), Liverpool (Anfield or New Anfield),
London (Wembley, Emirates Stadium, New White Hart Lane/Olympic Stadium*),
Manchester (Eastlands, Old Trafford), Milton Keynes (Stadium MK),
Newcastle (St James' Park), Nottingham (New stadium),
Plymouth (New Home Park), Sheffield (Hillsborough),
Sunderland (Stadium of Light)
*Fifa rules state one city can have a maximum of three stadia in London either a new White
Hart Lane or the 2010 Olympic Stadium will get the nod
As someone who grew up in Plymouth, I'm delighted that it has made the final list.
It is now a week since Kings Lynn Football Club was put out of its misery at court. The club's
record, however, still hasn't yet been expunged by the Unibond League and a sense of inertia hangs
over the league's reaction to it all. Five days after the league made an official announcement was
made stating that "a decision regarding the playing record of Kings Lynn will be announced by the
League shortly", no decision has been made.
