June 22 2006

The Football League

Football, football, football... some folk hate it but Jamesey revels in two or three World Cup doses a day.

Isn't the World Cup wonderful? The home season ends and by the time the play-offs and various cups are decided, we go neatly into football's crowning glory, the World Cup.

By the time this fascinating orgy of footballing is finished we are on the threshold of a few friendlies and another season to relish.

And even while the World Cup was at its half-way stage, June 22 saw the publication of the 06-07 fixture list so we can anticipate where we will be on Boxing Day, New Year's Day, etc.

As far as CPFC is concerned, after a slight aberration to give us a home start to the 05-06 season, the FA's computer has reverted to the norm again.

Yes folks, away to Ipswich (Aug 5) for the start and away to Colchester (May 6) for the finish.

I can't even speculate what we will be agonising about or celebrating by May 6 of next year but with Peter Taylor in charge my hopes are high.

One interesting oddity that the computer has thrown up involves two greatly respected ex-servants of Crystal Palace - Steve Coppell and Gareth Southgate.

Creating a coincidence of the sort that makes football such a delight to follow, Reading (managed, of course by Steve) play their first-ever top-flight game at home to Middlesbrough (now managed by Gareth) on Aug 19.

I think that Gareth was in his early teens and a member of our youth set-up when Steve arrived at Selhurst in 1984.

Like many before him and, indeed, after him, I watched Gareth progress upward through the ranks until he became a first-choice midfielder.

I would sometimes see him in the players' lounge after a game, and before he filled out to full maturity he always had a rather goofy look about him which belied the intelligent and articulate person he really was.

Gareth was always ambitious and like most of the team, after the "Smith" relegation in 95 he was off, quite justifiably, to pastures new, those pastures being Aston Villa.

At some point, he metamorphosed from an aggressive midfielder to a centre back, a position he filled for club and country with great skill for the rest of his career.

Enough has been written about Steve Coppell (quite a bit of it by me!) on this website to fill a few bookshelves, so I won't add too much more.

Just as he did with CPFC he has lifted Reading to the top division with, to be honest, equally limited resources. I wonder if he can keep them there for a few seasons?

Whatever trials and tribulations the Premiership has up its sleeve, the best of luck to two men who in their day played a massive role in the success of our own club.

Email Jamesey with your comments to Jevans3704@aol.com

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