Friendlies with benefits – midweek matchgoing

[Jobi1]

Obviously not a huge amount going on this midweek, but…

York City Wembley Twice 2012 v. York City All Stars – benefit match for long-serving defender Daniel Parslow, who had to retire earlier this year due to a serious concussion. As posted elsewhere, the club initially weren't going to do anything for Dan, over some piffling technicality about the length of his separate spells not being long enough in unbroken service to "officially" qualify for a testimonial (he did almost 12 years with the club in total), but changed their mind in the face of a fair barrage of criticism.

Anyway, it'll be one of the last night games at Bootham Crescent, and some of the proceeds will be going to Headway, a brain injury charity, so a few decent reasons for attendance.

[HORN]

Is that new stadium finally nearly almost practically ready? It must be well over ten years since they got the ball rolling.

[Jobi1]

Is that new stadium finally nearly almost practically ready? It must be well over ten years since they got the ball rolling.

Yep, the deal including the FSIF loan/grant that was used to buy Bootham Crescent back off one of our evil former owners that included the caveat that the money would eventually go towards a new all-seater stadium happened in 2004, so it's gone really well. Someone at the council has just today said the stadium will actually be fully finished by the end of this calendar year now, but I've heard a few rumours that Steve Watson is not keen on moving the team mid-season, so still no clearer when any football will actually get played there.

[Southport Zeb]

This afternoon I watched the women's under 19 Euro qualifier between Moldova and Wales. Given that the attendance peaked at around 25, it was perhaps appropriate that this was played at Solitude, the home ground of Cliftonville. Both sides were already eliminated, having both lost to Norway and hosts Northern Ireland. Wales deservedly won, although they had to wait until the start of the second half to open the scoring. This was followed by a second soon after, a free kick seemingly stopped by the Moldovan keeper but then more or less thrown in. A third in stoppage time secured the win for the Welsh.

This evening I watched the Champions Hockey League match between Belfast Giants and Lulea. For much of the game it was fairly comfortable for the Swedes, taking a 3-0 lead into the final period. However Belfast finally took advantage of Lulea's repeated penalties and scored two power play goals in the first few minutes of the third period. Hopes of a comeback were sniffed out almost immediately though, as Lulea scored a further two goals in the next couple of minutes. There remained one further goal for each side to give Lulea a 6-3 win, which sees the Swedes through to the knockout stages and eliminates Belfast.

[Jobi1]

Wembley Twice 4 All Stars 7.

We were treated to 45 minutes of Jon Parkin in goal, and a 10-minute turn at full back by a surprisingly svelte Gary Mills. Just over a thousand in, nice evening all round.