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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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March 2008 Archives

2008 John Smith's Grand National: The Verdict

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 31, 2008 10:15 PM

John Smith's Grand National

40/1 D'ARGENT FOR GRAND NATIONAL GLORY?


national_logo.jpgWE’VE got the shortlist. Now, it’s a case of picking the winner. Here’s a look at each of the shortlisted horses (in alphabetical order):

Marine U7s 2, Fleetwood Juniors U7s 1

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 31, 2008 10:52 AM

Marine FCTHE Gaffer put the jinx on our Jack. Moments after she made her 2008 debut on the touchline (together with her fairweather friends Emily and Paddy), Jack was substituted.


Thankfully, he came back on a few minutes later to bolster the defence as the mini Mariners won in the spring sunshine.

2008 John Smith's Grand National Tips: Part 5

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 23, 2008 6:00 PM

national_logo.jpgWITHOUT getting bogged down in explaining how each horse either qualifies or not, or whether or not a shortlisted horse has a 100% perfect profile in all categories, here's my shortlist for 2008 (in alphabetical order).


CLOUDY LANE
COMPLY OR DIE
D'ARGENT
McKELVEY
NAUNTON BROOK
POINT BARROW
ROYAL AUCLAIR


As I write, two of these horses are trading at more than 100/1!

2008 John Smith's Grand National Tips: Part 4

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 23, 2008 6:00 PM

national_logo.jpgSTATISTICS can help reduce the risk. They cannot eliminate it.


The shortlists for the 2008 race currently doing the rounds feature mostly the same names although there are a few variations depending on how much of a ‘trends purist’ the compiler is.


The lists in 2007 consistently contained the name of the eventual winner, 33/1 outsider Silver Birch. Only doubts about whether the horse had fully recovered from injury and settled with his new trainer in Ireland put off serious punters.

2008 John Smith's Grand National Tips: Part 3

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 23, 2008 6:00 PM

national_logo.jpgOVER the years I have heard umpteen theories on how to pick the Grand National winner. However, the most compelling and reliable theories are those based firmly on facts.


There is no doubt that every year there are at least 20 runners from the 40-strong line-up that can be immediately discounted, unless there is a Foinavon-style pile-up. Once-a-year punters will still back them, but those who consider themselves ‘in the know’ will not touch them.

2008 John Smith's Grand National Tips: Part 2

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 23, 2008 6:00 PM

national_logo.jpgTHIRTY years on from me cheering Red Rum to his historic third Grand National victory, Jack is developing the same interest in the race.


We watched the 1977 race on YouTube today. Peter O’Sullevan’s commentary took me back to watching it live on our old Rediffusion TV in the front room and the excitement the victory created. No doubt similar scenes were played out in homes up and down the land.



(Just click on the image above to see a YouTube video of Red Rum winning the 1977 Grand National)

2008 John Smith's Grand National Tips: Part 1

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 23, 2008 6:00 PM

national_logo.jpgIT’S tough enough picking a Grand National winner with one fence to jump – so imagine trying to work out the winner weeks in advance when there’s more than 100 horses still standing. Well, here goes…


I’ve been lucky to enough to cover the Grand National as a journalist since 1989.


Alongside reporting on the triumphs, tragedies, washouts, cock-ups and terror threats, I have enjoyed some betting successes (and plenty of losses) while watching the dramas unfold from the privileged position of the media enclosure at the top of the main stand, next to giddy owners and anxious trainers.

Everton: Fairest of Them All?

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 16, 2008 5:11 PM

EFCTHE annual Premier League 'fair play' table could see Everton crowned champions for 2007/8.


It is a crudely put together table, awarding one point for every yellow card and three points for a red card, and does not take into account how many fouls are committed by teams.


The team with the lowest points tally can be considered the fair play winners.

Champions League draw fixed?

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 14, 2008 1:14 PM

Liverpool Echo forum


AMAZING thread on the go at the Liverpool Echo's LFC forum.

Of course, it could be coincidence? When the Russians are involved and there's money to be made, nothing is a surprise.

Take a look by clicking here

This sort of thing is often claimed on football forums, but at least this guy has got it spot on against all odds.

UEFA will dismiss it as nonsense, but the story will run...

P'raps they've already boxed off Liverpool to beat Man Utd in the final. 5-0? Or will it be six?

Wikio - Top Blogs - Sport

2008 Grand National Tips from Red Rum

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 3, 2008 10:34 PM

RED Rum could make you a fortune at this year's Grand National on April 5.


Just click below and get a free tip, straight from the horse's mouth....


Leave a comment with the name of the horse Rummy picked for you. We'll see how the old boy did after the race. No registration or email address required. You can even make up a pseudonym...

Marine U7s 3, Northfield U7s 1

Posted by Peter Harvey on March 3, 2008 10:06 AM

Marine U7s 3, Northfield U7s 1

Marine FCTHE Mini Mariners continued their good run when the eventually ran out deserved winners over a well-drilled Northfield side.


In blustery conditions Marine were a little off the mark allowing Northfield the upper hand in the early exchanges. With only minutes on the clock Northfield stunned Marine when an excellent long range effort found the top corner giving the keeper no chance.


Marine were stung into action and began to haul themselves back into the game. Despite taking more control of the game it wasn’t until well into the first half that Marine equalised with a well taken effort from Peter Silcock.

This page contains an archive of all entries posted to Touchline Dad in the March 2008. They are listed from oldest to newest.

February 2008 is the previous archive.April 2008 is the next archive.

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