We've had a quiet summer here at the Westy, well since the King Blues packed up and headed off after giving us an amazing performance back in July, but September is just around the corner and with it the music scene in our little corner of Aldershot starts to gather pace again.

The first month see an amazing mix of music, from Americana heart-throb Rachel Harrington on Fri 17 Sep, to Leeds pop-punk quartet Sky Larkin the very next day. Folk sensation Jackie Oates on Wed 22 Sep, precedes The Brute Chorus on Thurs 23 Sep - it's mad, but it works for us!

Continue reading "New season's gigs"

We arrived in Bloemfontein three hours before kickoff for what was to be England’s last 2010 World Cup match with some hope that the three lions would actually start to play football. But rather unsurprisingly we were utterly obliterated by Germany.

Their tactical prowess was stunning. Germany displayed all the attributes I had longed for England to bring to the game; pace, movement, cunning and killer instinct in front of goal. England on the other hand, as we all know, were utterly dreadful. We were almost the opposite of Germany barring a small period at the end of the second half, ultimately poor with possession and positionally all over the place.

Continue reading "Reflections on Bloemfontein and a failed generation"

As I write this blog me and the two friends who have stayed out in South Africa for the whole tournament are driving from Beaufort West to Bloemfontein where the Free State Stadium awaits us for the massive clash between England and our old rivals Germany.

As I look to the left there are open plains of nothingness, bush, scrub and savannah that stretch as far as the eye can see. To the right there are huge towering mountains which have surrounded us on South Africa’s N1 motorway ever since we left Cape Town. Dead ahead are endless straight roads that cut right through the heart of South Africa taking us to our destination.

Continue reading "Roadtrip to Bloemfontein for the big one!"

The dream is still alive for England fans after a much better performance against Slovenia. The score line of 1-0 somewhat flattered Slovenia in my opinion. England for the first time in this world cup put in a very good performance, even with Rooney, dubbed to be our star player at this world cup, again underperforming.

The scene was set perfectly at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Port Elizabeth for England to get their world cup campaign back on track.

Continue reading "We're not going home!"

If the unspeakable happens and England play as poorly as they did against Algeria, who should we turn to? If England fail to make it through to the next stage of the competition there are many teams to choose from.

As I am in Africa my thoughts initially turned to a home nation, but the prospects of an African nation progressing to the later stages of the competition are dwindling, particularly after Portugal's drubbing of North Korea this morning, meaning the Ivory Coast need to win their last game by 9 goals to have a chance of qualifying.

Continue reading "Just in case we go out..."

I was somewhat astounded after the England Algeria game. The sheer amount of fans that turned out at Green Point Stadium was immense and for the team to put in such a torrid, tired, one-dimensional performance was quite utterly disgraceful.

Fans were so disgusted after the game that a few boos were ringing around the stadium. It’s something that I didn’t personally take part in, but after that performance you can see why it happened.

Continue reading "Dreadful... simply dreadful"

Being on the South West Cape of an entire continent has its downsides as I have discussed with the freak climate this slither of mountainous land provides as weather fronts what it has in compensation is what only can be described as jaw dropping and awe inspiring scenery.

Over the last couple of days I have driven around the Cape of Good Hope down to Cape Point. It is described as must see in all the guide books, and boy it lives up to its reputation!

Continue reading "A once in a lifetime trip to the Cape of Good Hope"

Welcome to a superb blue-sky Friday in Cape Town!

As I await England’s clash with Algeria at the Green Point Stadium the weather is great.

Continue reading "Weather - All clear!"

We flew into Cape Town earlier on this week and it has been a roller coaster ride ever since we arrived.

As soon as we touched down next to the famous table mountain we knew we were in a special place. Cape Town is a tourist’s paradise, surrounded by mountains, blue seas and white beaches as far as the eye can see.

Continue reading "Cape Town - WOW!"

Okay, okay the result and performance was far from what we wanted. But the first of the games to be played in Rustenburg was brilliant. For many there was animosity surrounding the clash between England and USA, with the game being dubbed as a security risk. But after we went through fairly rigorous security scanners to get into the stadium the atmosphere was electric.

Continue reading "Rustenburg – what an opener!"

My South African World Cup adventure is not just about watching world class football, but a cultural and historical voyage of discovery. Being 20 km away from the Pilansburg game park it would have been rude not to take advantage of the possibility of seeing Africa’s big 5.

Continue reading "South African savannah safari"

Exhausted but happy after a 23 hour journey we are now in the heart of the action! My travelling chums and I ignored the calls of exhaustion and swept straight into Sun City this morning , near Rustenburg, and within seconds met up with the favoured African team of The World Cup – Ghana!

Continue reading "There’s only one Sulley Muntari!"

I was hit in the arrival lounge at Johannesburg airport by the buzz of the vuvuzela horns that you will have heard if you have watched any of the World Cup action so far – after 11 hours in the air it was a shock to the system, but it meant that I was finally in South Africa!

Continue reading "South Africa – A different World…"

I have been a member of englandfans for some years now and have travelled to countries that have, let’s say, complex security issues. In particular I can remember being anxious about travelling to Israel with increasing animosity in the Middle East.

So when I received the email from englandfans detailing the allocation of an England- follow your club ticket (a ticket to every game England participate in), I was delighted. That was until the national press started detailing the dangers tourists face in South Africa. In this edition of my blog I will look at the issues, or lack there of, that fans face when they arrive at the first World Cup on African soil.

Continue reading "South Africa – crime capital or country of hope?"

The buzz of the world cup is upon us and the journey begins here. Shops are filling with England merchandise and flags are starting to pop out of windows.

In just over one weeks time England will begin their World Cup final campaign against the USA and I will be there reporting back all my experiences, from the reaction of fans to activities and cultural traits of the various cities I visit.

Continue reading "The World Cup buzz is on us!"