Arsenal Get the Double

Who says Arsenal don't win trophies. Once again the Arsenal Ladies team win the double. Watched the second half coverage of the Women's FA Cup Final on BBC1 this afternoon from Nottingham Forest's City Ground (att: 24,582). I received the usual stick from The Biffa herself for wanting to watch a Women's game but it sure beats chores around the house. BBC Match report

There was a few pages in yesterday's Observer Sport Monthly..
"The invincibles : Arsenal Ladies are unbeaten in the women's Premier League for three seasons. But is their dominance holding back women's football? " Story. Photo Gallery.

If Arsenal Ladies ever play in Manchester I'd probably go to the game. It would most likely be a cup clash against Stockport County (at Woodley) or Manchester City (at Flixton).

Is it Saturday

Best item in the local freesheet was the story of this chap making another model in matchsticks of Old Trafford. Peter Kenyon bought the last one for £3000 - not a shrewd purchase because he signed up to the Russian gold soon after. Oh, they still sing his name in the Stretford End but not in a nice way. Maybe we'll sing it tomorrow in the big game.

England get beaten 3-0 by the USA, and here is me thinking they could possibly win. FC United only get a 1-1 draw with Woodley Sports. So what I need now is a thumping good 1-0 win over Chelsea tomorrow to brighten up the weekend. At least it didn't rain today.

Oh what next?

At least we got three points at Everton. Is the only activity in the goal area from corners? Where are the strikers? The bloke who is going to grab 29 goals in season...Sporting Lisbon away, and Chelsea at home coming up it's not going to be a goal fest. Only saw the highlights but it doesn't look a bundle of silver cups are on the way..

FC United didn't win at Fleetwood in the FA Cup - lost 2-1, attendance 3112. Still got the more realistic FA Trophy to look forward to, Saturday 6th October with Bradford Park Avenue away. Met Andy Walsh from FC United the other day. He was at a Supporters Direct stall at a conference I attended. Straight talking, friendly and gives you that facts and figures. None of that business jargon or political rhetoric. There was also Mike from AFC Wimbledon and he was the same. You'd be happy to spend an hour shooting the breeze with these two down the pub.

Now can England Women get through the group stages on Monday, think they'll need Germany to beat Japan to help them. Unfortunately at work but I might take in the DAB radio to listen to the coverage on BBC Five Live Extra. It's a bit bulky but I'll get away with it as I'm in charge tomorrow. Loathed to buy a new portable until the future of digital radio gets sorted out. DAB+, DRM or whatever is going to be around for the next ten years.

One of those days

It's my day off work but do a couple of hours in the morning for some lieu time, go to the lotty (allotment) and it looks like some fox or squirrel has been snaffling a couple of sweetcorns and digging...Watch England v. Japan in the Women's World Cup. A gripping match spoilt by a last minute equaliser from a direct free kick in the last minute. Both of Japan's goals come from excellent free kicks they just appear to go straight through the wall like a bullet. The Chinese crowd are all supporting England, you didn't expect them to cheer for Japan did you. Oh well, is this three games and the plane home next week?

FC United are away at Clitheroe. Streaming radio commentary is not working again. Still got technical issues at FCUM.TV. I'll check the Match Updates forum later on. 1-1 and the floodlights fail.

Tonight's football story on the news. Does McClaren play Mr.E.Heskey or Mr.P.Crouch as the striker? Has it come to this - it has.

Just a frustrating day all round.

The other World Cup is in China

The FIFA Women's World Cup kicked off yesterday with 11 goals from Germany, the unfortunate goalie played for Argentina. There are some video highlights, worth watching just for the howler that gives away the first goal. Video.

You have to hand it to the BBC. This is not a big spectator sport but they are giving coverage on the telly, and online with reports, clips and a weblog. That's what they bandwidth and extra frequencies should be used for, and not shopping, repeats of 30 year old bad comedy shows and game play phone-ins for lonely thick people. The FA have finally admitting there is a Women's Game and maybe England could win a trophy one day - a new flashy set of Girls United pages.

My interest stems from four years ago - in Italy on holiday in the summer suffering from footie withdrawal symptoms. Eurosport covered the games with English commentary. It was like a methadone treatment to get through until the new season.

World Cup in China

It's the England Women's Team in the World Cup, and the FA have actually made an effort with their website - see China 2007. Promising reports, photos, diaries etc...Already noticed changes to the match schedule so the first three games are :
Tuesday 11 Sep 07 England v. Japan , Shanghai, 1300h BST; BBC2
Friday 14 Sep 07 England v. Germany, Shanghai, 1300h BST; BBC2
Monday 17 Sep 07 England v. Argentina, Chengdu, 1300h BST; BBC2

All games should also be on Eurosport, and some will be on BBC Interactive and online. Highlight programmes will be shown at midnight on BBC2. As ever check LiveSportOnTv nearer the time.

Arsenal Win Another Cup

A 0-0 draw is enough. 3,467 crowd at Borehamwood FC's Meadow Park. A win against Charlton Athletic on Monday in the FA Women's Cup Final and they've won the quadruple.
The only goal of the tie on YouTube - 90th minute of the 1st leg.

The other World Cup

The Women's Game, which I've been following from the sofa, now that England are doing well...
World Cup Group A,
Tue 11 Sep 07 1300h, Shanghai
JAPAN v. ENGLAND

Fri 14 Sep 07 1300h, Shanghai
ENGLAND v. GERMANY

Tue 18 Sep 07 1000h, Chengdu
ENGLAND v. ARGENTINA

Supporting Arsenal Now

Arsenal won't be winning a trophy this year. Well apart from the Women's team who are sweeping up all the silverware - the League (12 clubs), the League Cup (beat Leeds) and they're in the final of the FA Women's Cup too. This Saturday they have a crack at Umea of Sweden in the UEFA Women's Cup Final. First leg being shown on Eurosport 1300h kick off. Return leg Sunday 29th April.

You get the impression that Women's football is a different sport. Classified below rowing, fencing or curling in the media unfriendly "Other Sports" category. It takes place but you have to be very keen to follow the results. Full marks to Arsenal for showing what can be achieved by signing the best players. Can't see the owners of Manchester United doing anything similar - err where the profit?

England Women's Football in China

1. Friday morning completely missed the first game against China. Didn't get up early, didn't set the DVD Recorder. Lost 2-0.

2. Sunday morning the second game against USA. Stumble downstairs, tired, hangover and dehydrated. It's 0810h, have a brew and let's see if the game is actually being broadcast live. Takes me a minute to realise I should be watching Eurosports 2 (Sky 411) and not some sport in snow. Drink tea, watch up until half time, set recorder and go back to bed. 1-1 draw.

3. Tuesday morning - it's a 0530h GMT kick off against Germany. Have set the DVD Recorder this time. Find out the result and the match report about 1030h - this tournament is a bit slow to appear in the news. It's a 0-0 draw. Flick through the video later on. England play some good football against one of the best Women's team.

4. Hope the kick-offs in the Women's World Cup will be at later hours when it'll be mid-morning here.

England Early Start

If you want to get up very early in the morning (0530 is early) you can watch the England Women's team in the Four Nation Tournament in Guangzhou, China. Guangzhou used to be called Canton in the news and on maps until recently. It's a warm up for the forthcoming Women's World Cup Finals also in China. It's being carried by British Eurosport 2 (Sky Channel 411 & ntl:Telewest Ch 525). Normally Eurosport doesn't start broadcasting until 0730h. It's still dark at that time but those are my days off work..so maybe a cup of tea, dressing gown and stretched out on the sofa....naw, set the DVD recorder, it's 8 hours ahead out in the east and these 1330h local time kick-offs will be a little too much.

Friday 26 January 0530h China v. England
Sunday 28 January 0800h England v. USA
Tuesday 30 January 0530h Germany v. England