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Touchline Dad

Touchline Dad

TOUCHLINE Dad is written by Peter Harvey, a newspaper editor with Trinity Mirror Merseyside. Father-of-three Peter, 40, was a writer for the Liverpool Echo during the 1990s and has been editor of Trinity Mirror titles the Crosby Herald, Bootle Times and the Advertiser Series, West Lancashire. Touchline Dad is a lifelong Liverpool fan.

Our Jack...

Jack with his first Man of the Match award

JACK Harvey is seven, going on seventy-seven. He's a dependable, no-nonsense defender for Marine FC's U7s. He's played in the Bootle and Netherton league and Hightown league in north Merseyside. Jack has also played for Crosby Stuart. He is being encouraged to appreciate both Liverpool AND Everton...for now at least.

The Gaffer

The Gaffer

THE Gaffer is a true Blue. She's now swapped her Gwladys Street season ticket for one at the new Liverpool One shopping complex. She still gets steamed up thinking about Graeme Sharp in his skimpy shorts.

Not forgeting...

Emily

EMILY is five and has no interest in football. Her kicks come from dressing up, make-up, bangles and beads. Oh, and shoes. She changes them at least five times a day. Likes ballet, swimming and shopping. Cross her at your peril.

And finally...

Paddy

PADDY inherited a mini Everton kit from Sam down the road. No doubt 'Pads' will also get Jack's pass-me-downs, so that will narrow his allegiance to Real Madrid, Juventus, Republic of Ireland, England, Everton and Liverpool. Loves pirates, Shrek and Wall-e. He's got the second worst temper I know...

Marine AFC

FORMED in 1894 and based in Crosby, north Mersyside. The first team plays in the Northern Premier League and were champions in 1994 and 1995. 220.jpgThey had a famous FA Cup run in the early 1990s, eventually being knocked out by Crewe 3-1 in the 3rd round. Roly Howard was manager for a record 33 years (1972-2005), although he will always be remembered by some fans as Kenny Dalglish's window cleaner. TV presenter Ray Stubbs once asked: "How's business, Roly?" to which Roly replied "Oh you know - ups and downs."

Snapshots

Jack and his Marine U7 teammates
Jack, Carra, Emily, Touchline Dad and the European Cup
Jack, Emily and Paddy
Jack at Goodison Park, 2007
Jack at Anfield, 2007
Jack (stripes) in action for Crosby Stuart
Jack's former team Crosby Stuart U7s

Crosby Stuart

THIS was Jack's first club. It was formed in the early 1970s in north Liverpool and is now one of the biggest and most successful junior football clubs in the North West. Crosby StuartFormer players include Michael Ball (Everton and Rangers) and Stephen Wright (Liverpool and Sunderland). The club motto is 'To Enjoy, Not Destroy.'

Football Crazy

"JACK stood before me in his Buzz Lightyear pyjamas, hands on hips. I kicked him hard in the shins. Instead of falling to the carpet and rolling in agony, he laughed. 'Do it again, Dad. Do it again. We’ll trick Mum.' I didn’t fancy chancing our comedy double act with The Gaffer, so instead Jack clambered into bed still wearing his new 'shinnies.' 'Maybe tomorrow, eh dad?' he asked as he closed his eyes to see his Premier League heroes greet him."

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September 2007 Archives

Chelsea Boss: January 1, 2008?

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 27, 2007 11:01 PM

ONE of the biggest surprises of the season will be if Crazy Frog lookalike Avram Grant is still in charge at Stamford Bridge in the New Year.


As appointments go, this one's got caretaker written all over it. Three 'big' names are being linked with succeeding the Premier League's newest manager - Lippi, Van Basten and Hiddink.


Guus HiddinkChelsea FCAvram Grant


But which one, if any, is going to get the poisoned Chavski chalice?

Torres v Rush: Who's the Best?

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 27, 2007 9:40 PM

Liverpool ECHOIan Rush Stevie G welcomes Fernando to Anfield


LFCAFTER such a scintillating start to his Anfield career, comparisions between Fernando Torres and Ian Rush are inevitable.


Before he'd even kicked a ball for the Reds, some pundits observed that Torres has an air of Rushie. His instinct, pace and finishing should give Liverpool a genuine chance of winning the Premier League next May.

Kaka, Carra and Cafu in Pub Team

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 25, 2007 10:54 PM

A TEAM of Brummie boozers are striking fear into opponents after putting together a fantasy football dream team.


CafuKakaSkipper Ian FlettCarra


When Lynam Athletic (no, they're not named after Dessie) pin up the team sheet it reads...

Rafa Right or Rafa Wrong?

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 25, 2007 9:59 PM

LFCRAFA Benitez couldn't lose tonight's League Cup clash against Reading.


After resting, dropping or simply not picking Fernando Torres for Saturday's 0-0 draw against Birmingham at Anfield, the Reds manager got some flak. Quite right. It was a bad mistake which could cost Liverpool dear. Time will tell.

Seven Up for Mariners

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 24, 2007 7:47 AM

220.jpgLITTLE to do for Jack in central defence in his latest game. He complained that he only touched the ball three times. I said Jamie Carragher dreams of only having to make three clearances.


As autumn sets in, there will be plenty of cold, wet Saturday mornings to give him something else to complain about.

Do You Know The Way, Jose?

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 20, 2007 7:07 AM

Chelsea FCJose and Rafa


JACK was watching Breakfast News and asked me why Mourinho had quit.


"Well, sometimes if a team's not playing well, people blame the manager and say horrible things about him.

Cetius, Altius, Fortius...Save Us!

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 19, 2007 9:26 PM

AS a kid I loved the Olympics Games - even though it brought a realisation that Great Britain did not rule the world.


Suddenly, people from unheard of countries like America were 'faster, higher and stronger' than our chaps, even the pale-faced stick insects from the USSR and East Germany somehow pipped us in a 100-metre dash.


 Holy Ed MosesDavid WilkieAlberto JuantorenaOlga Korbut

Wake Up and Smell the Goals

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 18, 2007 11:55 AM

ON a schoolday Jack could sleep till midday. On a Sunday his sixth sense boots him from his bunk bed at 7.39am.


Why? Because of his beloved Match of the Day. It's one of the highlights of his week.


Alan HansenMatch of The DayGary Lineker

All Aboard The Mighty Mariners

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 17, 2007 9:42 AM

Marine FC under-7s


220.jpgJACK and some of his team-mates have signed up for one of the UK's best-loved non-league clubs, Marine.


The Crosby club, who's senior team plays in the Unibond Northern Premier League, were keen to launch their own under-7s and Jack and boys were happy to climb aboard.

Birthday Blue

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 16, 2007 10:58 PM

The Binman and RushieEverton celebrate their 1984 FA Cup win


EFCBIT worried about The Gaffer's obsession with Everton's 1984 FA Cup winning team. During a rare moment of quiet, reading the Sunday papers (God, I haven't done that for years), I thought I'd quiz her over some celebrity birthdays.


You see, The Gaffer likes to think she's good at guessing people's ages. It's a woman thing.

Yellow Peril

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 13, 2007 11:27 PM

SOME months after Jack joined Crosby Stuart, a lot of his schoolmates formed a new team - Marina Sands.


They play in a different league to Jack, but often at the same time on nearby pitches.


Marina Sands

When the full-time whistle blows, one of Jack's first questions is always 'How did Marina Sands get on?'

Zorro Unmasked

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 1, 2007 7:22 PM

How the ECHO celebrated Zorro's displayZorro TorresFernando strikes against Derby


LFCTHE answer to Liverpool's goal-scoring problem has finally been revealed in the form of Fernando Torres.


In the space of just a few games, the Spaniard has shown his expertise at putting defences to the sword with the clinical zip and pizazz shown by his fellow countryman Zorro.

Top of the World (...well, England)

Posted by Peter Harvey on September 1, 2007 5:32 PM

LFCJACK'S eyes nearly popped out of his head and his gummy grin was ear-to-ear as I showed him the Premier League table on the BBC Sport website.


Although he was irritated that I had interupted his Saturday teatime sword fight with fellow topless pirate Paddy, he peered over my shoulder.

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Touchline Dad in the September 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.

August 2007 is the previous archive.October 2007 is the next archive.

Many more can be found on the home page or by looking through the archives.