Today's Origami

School bus...

Hairy Hawthorns

West Brom 0-2 Liverpool

Baggies chief relived the nightmare
Roy, the man the Kop forgot
Suarez axed, up stepped Adam
Banishing all demons from the spot

Goal threat turns assist
El Pistolero with the Red peril
In the run up to All Hallows Eve
Second from the big man Carroll

Lying on the bed of Hawthorns
Henderson skimmed a post at the death
Odemwingie and Scharner rallied late
But the Albion ran out of breath

29.10.11

Number7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com

Ruddy hell - Liverpool 1-1 Norwich

Did Delia prepare the pre match nosh?

Culinary delights stemmed a Red revolt

Skrtel and Suarez kissed the woodwork

Whilst the visitors refused to Holt

As the fierce Liverbird swooped

Pelted with a yellow sponge cake

The Canaries wings were clipped

With Bellamy's shot just before the break

Holt’s bullet header beat Pepe

Centre backs failing to buddy

Dalglish’s army chucked the Kitchen sink

But Lambert’s men were defiant and Ruddy

Number 7

© Emdad Rahman

www.football-poems.com

GMF tribute to Stan Collymore

Liverpool smashed transfer record to bring Stan Collymore to Anfield

By Emdad Rahman

Original article - Stanley Victor Collymore breezed into Anfield threatening to take Liverpool back to the pinnacle of the English game.

Collymore was the epitome of the modern day footballer, with the potential to become a great of the game. He had all the attributes; big, strong, with cheetah like acceleration, and possessed immense finishing quality.

The imposing striker had received positive football tutelage from real football men. At Crystal Palace he waited in the wings and observed the lethal Ian Wright, Mark Bright partnership before coming to the fore at Southend United.

At Nottingham Forest, Stan was tutored by Frank Clark after a £2.2 million transfer, scoring 22 league goals in his final season before a blockbusting British record transfer to Anfield in 1995.

That same season Manchester United had considered Collymore as a long term replacement for Mark Hughes, but opted for Andy Cole instead. Roy Evans was in a similar position with Ian Rush entering the twilight of his illustrious career, and with Everton expressing an interest, stepped in with an £8.5 million bid.

Stan’s first game against Sheffield Wednesday wielded a debut goal and the air buzzed with excitement and anticipation of the introduction of a swashbuckling new hero who would take up Rush’s mantle and spearhead the Reds to glory.

It didn’t quite happen as anticipated. Stan spent two years at Anfield, averaging a goal every two games before a £7million move to boyhood heroes Aston Villa in 1997. His record at Liverpool read 81 games, 31 goals.

Collymore’s partnership with Robbie Fowler is much celebrated, scoring a total of 55 goals between them in 1995/96, but during a transition period for the club it was the players’ 'Spice Boys' off field exploits that courted more publicity. Stan was subbed for Ian Rush during the F.A Cup final defeat to Manchester United that season.

In April 1996 Stan featured in what is arguably the greatest Barclays Premier League game ever. Kevin Keegan’s visiting Newcastle had at one point led the league by 10 clear points in their pursuit of a first title in 69 years.

They needed three points to peg level with leaders Manchester United. Fowler set Anfield alight with the opener, followed by two strikes from Les Ferdinand and David Ginola.

Fowler struck again to make it 2-2, before Faustino Asprilla lofted David James for 3-2. Enter Stan, who struck home Jason McAteer’s assist for 3-3. With the world and his dog settling for a point and share of the proceedings, Collymore snatched an astonishing last minute winner to send the Kop into frenzy.

The goal broke Kevin Keegan, and after the “I would love it if we beat them” rant, the defeat killed off any Geordie hopes of the League heading to Tyneside.

Terry Venables always had a penchant of nurturing mavericks, and he gave Collymore his England debut against Japan in the 1995 Umbro Cup. Sadly, Stan’s England career tailed off with a sub appearance against Brazil a week later and a third and last game for Glen Hoddle’s England in a 4-0 win over Moldova in 1997.

Unable to ward off the controversy that surrounded him, Stan retired at the age of 30 after spells with Villa, Leicester, Bradford and Oviedo. With the support of Oliver Holt, he penned his memoirs; 'Tackling My Demons.'

Stan suffered with depression and was often misunderstood and unsupported. It was not a condition that was viewed sensitively in the macho world of football, and led to a series of controversial episodes which threatened to completely derail him.

It is a measure of his resolution that Stan has found the inner strength to defeat the demons and launch a career as one of the most insightful, outspoken, honest and respected commentators and pundits in the game.

GMF tribute to Joe Fagan

Liverpool boss Joe Fagan was 'simply the best'

By Emdad Rahman

Original article - As his authorised biography states aptly, Joe Fagan was a reluctant champion. A potent sentiment expressed by Graeme Souness on the back cover was enough for me to contact the publishers for a copy and research further.

Born in Walton Hospital on 12 March 1921, Joe Fagan was the epitome of the house that Shanks built. Part of the fabled boot room at Anfield, his association with Liverpool spanned the best part of his life.

It was not until his 60's that the ex-Manchester City stopper was summoned to a higher calling and handed the keys to the first team at Liverpool Football Club. 

In the spirit of the boot room, Liverpool promoted from within. An outsider would have swooned at the prospect of stepping into the shoes of an iconic predecessor who had amassed 19 pieces of silverware in nine years.

Fagan took it in his stride. His job description was a simple one liner – keep Liverpool at the top of the football pile.

Recovering from a slow start, Fagan’s Liverpool, bolstered by an incredible 47 goals from Ian Rush won the 1983/4 First Division Championship, completing a first ever hat trick of title triumphs. There was more to come.

The League Cup was secured after 13 games and a Souness pile driver settling the Merseyside final replay at Maine Road.

The 1983/4 European Cup final against Roma was an opportunity for Liverpool to complete a rare treble of League Championship, League Cup, and European Cup.

The Reds had been joined on the colonnade of recent English European Champions by the Nottingham Forest side Brian Clough had fashioned, winning two astonishing European Cups, and Tony Barton’s Aston Villa’s staggering win in 1981/82.

The Stadio Olympico had been the venue for the Reds first European triumph in 1977, and the home ground of Liverpool’s opponents Roma. It was Liverpool’s fourth final.

A crowd of almost 70,000 at the Eternal City watched Phil Neal cancel out Roberto Pruzzo’s opener before England’s finest beat their Roman counterparts 4-2 on penalties.

The triumph reserves Fagan’s proud position between Bob Paisley and Rafael Benitez as managers who steered the good ship Liverpool to success in the most prestigious club competition in European football.

Brussels was Fagan’s swansong and he announced his retirement prior to the 1985 European Cup Final. Kenny Dalglish was also announced as his successor. The Heysel tragedy cast a black shadow over football and emotionally impacted on Fagan. “Good bye, game over,” he uttered on the Aer Lingus flight home. 

Writing the foreword for his recently published biography, Roy Evans wrote about his mentor: “Joe Fagan was the rock. He was there through it all and I honestly believe he was the one person the club couldn’t have done without during this time.

"Without him I’m not sure the success would have continued for as long as it did.”

“Simply the best! To me that’s what Joe Fagan was.”

Adding to the list of testimonials was one from Kenny Dalglish: “When you are in the football business there are only two ways to go and you are better to be a hero than a villain…Joe was definitely a hero.” 

Fagan managed Liverpool from 1983-85, but his impact throughout his love affair with the club stretched to almost 30 years. 

Simplicity and humility were what Fagan was about. Jan Molby said: "I remember when I made my debut down at Norwich. I said to Joe Fagan 40 minutes before the game, 'What do you want me to do?’

"He said, 'Listen, we've signed you because you're a good player, just go and show us what a good player you are.'"

Fagan died of cancer in July 2001, aged 80, and still remains the first manager in English football to win three trophies in a season. On the back cover of his biography - a quote from Souness reads: “Joe was Mr Liverpool during the club’s golden age and his contribution should never be allowed to be forgotten.” 

Fagan may not have received the recognition for his amazing service and achievements but his name remains etched alongside English football’s greatest managers.

Blooming Tower hamlets

Upper North Street, Poplar...

The painted hall – Greenwich

The Painted Hall, probably the finest dining hall in the Western world, is decorated with stunning paintings by James Thornhill, and is part of the King William Court. 

This was planned to be the hospital's dining hall. Wren submitted the designs in 1698, and the roof and the dome above were already in place five years later. Thornhill's decoration, by contrast, took nineteen years to complete. For his ‘great and laborious undertaking’ Thornhill was paid by the yard – and eventually knighted. While Thornhill worked, more and more pensioners were coming to Greenwich.

Pensioners could not eat in the Hall while he was working and it was both too grand and too much of a tourist attraction when finished.

The Painted Hall stood empty until January 1806, when the body of Admiral Lord Nelson was brought here to lie in state: he had been killed at the moment of his victory over Napoleon's fleet at Cape Trafalgar on 21 October 1805.

In 1824 the Hall became the ‘National Gallery of Naval Art’ or Naval Gallery for short – and remained so until 1930s, when its contents were transferred to the newly created National Maritime Museum. By 1939 the Painted Hall was once again in use as a dining room. It remained in daily use until the Royal Navy's departure in 1998. Today visitors share it again during the day as do those who come to special evening events to eat in ‘the finest dining hall in Europe’.

The allegorical theme of the huge and exuberant Lower Hall ceiling is the triumph of Peace and Liberty over Tyrany, and pays due tribute to William and Mary and British maritime power. Within the oval frame are the four seasons - Winter was modelled by one of the pensioners, John Worley, an energetic Greenwich pensioner still being punished for drunkenness and swearing at the age of 96. Beyond the arch in the Upper Hall Queen Anne surveys the continents of the world (America reputedly represented by an image of Pocahontas), while on the west wall her Hanoverian successors, George I and his family, are shown in sober glory. Elsewhere much use is made of trompe l’oeil painting, on the columns, windowsills and in the Vestibule.

Benarasi Fashion Show

Paraa invites you to this exclusive Autumn event
Thursday 24th November 2011
Please see attached e-invite for more info
Early Bird ticket offer – £15

http://www.paraa.org.uk/

Red all over the land

Issue 166 Of Red All Over The Land

ON SALE NOW

Also on sale in The HJC Shop

And Jumbo Records Leeds;

Jumbo Records; 5-6 St Johns Centre

Leeds; LS2 8LQ

Website

Beaumont enjoy cup success

Emdad Rahman

Mile End based Beaumont FC have become the first team in the Bangladeshi Football Association (BFA) Summer League Cup history to win the cup three times in succession.

After the successes of 2009 and 2010, Beaumont played against arch Rivals Stepney FC at a packed Mile End Stadium in front of 300 people, including Ohid Ahmed, Tower Hamlets Deputy Mayor, Chair of the Council Mizan R Chaudhury, and Ward Councillor Abdal Ullah.

The impressive link up play of the Beaumont forwards paid dividends as they took the lead. A succession of slick passes saw Shahed Ahmed give Mamun Choudhury’s side a goal advantage.

Stepney regrouped and equalised, Shadu's exquisite pass was threaded between two Beaumont defenders to allow Ben to hit home.  

Beaumont upped the pace and talismanic forward Javier Riveria half volleyed his side back ahead. Two superb saves from Beaumont keeper Jayduz kept his side’s noses ahead, and ten minutes from time Riveria pounced to complete a cup final brace and Beaumont’s third.

There were mass celebrations at the end of the game. The Deputy Mayor and Chair of the council awarded each team with trophies and medals. Beaumont FC manager Mamun Choudhury said: “It was a pressure cooker of the game. The score flatters us because Stepney matched us in all departments. The difference was the finishing and on that score we were superior on the night. I’m very happy for the boys and our fans.”

Today's Origami

Honours even in "greatest game"

Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United

The "biggest game in club football"
Sees the weakest bench of a title contender
In the race for derrière splints
United had the subs bench blockbuster

Twelve hundred Red goals in the Premier
Giggs crumbles and leaves space free
"Nineteen titles" chant hushed
Five fingered salute and slide from Stevie G

Reina's league appearance record
Sixth Red to join the show
Soon a Mexican eluded a Slovak
Poacher's header from Chicharito

Le Bron James at Anfield
Miami heat River to the Mersey Styx
Still Sir Fergie hasn't beaten King Kenny
Not Since Boxing Day of eighty six

15.10.11

Number 7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com

Silencing sectarianism: football's free speech wars

Sunday 30 October, 12.30pm until 1.30pm, LectureTheatre 2 Lunchtime Debates.

Let’s stand up for the 90-minute bigots

Far from being a symbol of ‘deep hatreds’ in Scottish society, sectarian abuse at Celtic/ Rangers games is just footballing fun.

by Kevin Rooney

The back cover of Open Season by George Galloway tells us that this new book (come political pamphlet) is about ‘bombs, bullets and bigots’ and ‘how Neil Lennon refused to bow to sectarianism’.

Click here to read more...

A Season of Bangla Drama 2011

Check out the trailer

Saturday 5 November 2011

Dakshinee-Kolkata/Dakshinayan UK presents Panchadeepmala - Five Lamps to Light

Lyrics and original text by Rabindranath Tagore

Duration: 100mins

The Five Lamps (Panchadeepmala) examines the lives of five heroines in the rare dance-theatres of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. They all travel with a lamp in hand and each has a story to tell. Shyama - The Seductress who has lost everything she has loved and has deceived.  Kamalika- The Beautiful Princess of Madra - reborn after a curse from heaven and waiting to be reunited with her ugly disfigured lover. Kalmrigaya- The Wood Nymphs who warn the lonely hermit child of the impending perils in the forest. Karuna- The Queen of Kashi who burns down every hut around the river to give her warmth after a cold dip in the river. Shrimati - The Buddha Follower - who sacrifices her life at the stupa of Buddha defying all orders of the Ruler!
 

Friday 11 November 2011

SRJB52 presents Rokter Dakk – Called for Blood

Written by Proshenjit Dutta

Duration 60 mins + 15 minutes Q & A

Since 1950, the East Pakistani people were divided into two groups on the state language of Pakistan ; most students, progressive political parties and activists were of one voice on the state language of East Pakistan – that it should Bangla.  This unity created fear, paranoia and uncertainty with the Pakistani Government. An illiterate mother sends her son to be educated, she refuses to talk or learn Urdu; her values and ideology were passed on to her son who is studying at Dhaka University . With independence from the British still fresh in the memories of people, students vocalised and protested to keep their mother language and made a historic movement to keep Bangla language anyhow. Political leaders took the stance not to break Section 144 at 20 February 1952… but students refused and revolted the decision by sacrificing their lives - 21 February symbolises Martyr’s Day and the language movement was born.  The play looks into the struggle of the students and their desire for recognition and identity through language.

Saturday 12 November 2011

Onusheelon presents Koto Rang –The Colours of Life

Written and directed by Dr Mukid Choudhury

Duration of play: 90mins

Presented in the classical Indian style, Koto Rang is a compact tale of Bengali Hindu middle-class marriage, and the blurred line between vigilantism and empowerment. What begins as simple spirals out of control in this village tale of betrayal, pride, and vengeance? The risks involved pit father against daughter, friend against friend, and young love against the forces of society.

Koto-rang explores the many images that exist of Hindu Bengali in Bangladesh . In the media forced marriage is perpetuated by presenting stereotypical images over and over. And in social situations forced marriages are thought acceptable if made with the addition of "Family cannot accept love marriage and you are condemned forever conceiving  the idea” Koto-rang presents five interrelated acts that portray the face of love, forgiveness, and oppression of a Bengali Hindu family with elements of Shakespeare’s star crossed lovers tale at the outset.

Sunday 13 November 2011

Monchoshoilee drama wing of Bishwo Shahitto Kendro presents The Wrath of God

Adaptation of poems by Rabindranath Tagore

Duration of play: 50 mins

An affluent man, preparing for a pilgrimage across the sea. A large number of people are included in the voyage. As the voyagers set for the journey, a young widow, Mokkhoda, begs Moitra to take her along. Moitra agrees, but points out that she has a child. Mokkhoda assures Moitra that her son, Rakhal, is very fond of his aunt Annada and can live with her. But young Rakhal is fascinated by the idea of a sea voyage, and refuses to get off the boat when it sets off. Failing to control the persistent boy, Mokkhoda angrily utters, "well then, let me sacrifice you to the sea."

Upon return from the pilgrimage, the boat is stricken by a violent storm. The superstitious and self-centred passengers of the boat remind Mokkhoda that she had promised the sea god her son, and the god has raised the storm to make his claim.

The drama helps unmask those of the honourable society and depicts a primeval side of human nature when protecting own interest becomes a priority. ‘The Wrath of God’ will be presented with theatrical dance illustrations and dramatic atmospheric live music.

Friday 18 November & Saturday 19 November 2011

The Rokeya Project presents A Poem Herself

Adaptation by Claudia Haley

Duration of performance: 60 mins

Published in 1924, Padmarag (the ruby with the lotus hue) is a tale still relevant to today about a young woman, of an unknown tragic past, and her quest for something better with her fellow female comrades. A wonderful celebration of Rokeya’s faith in a universalistic society; where women reject the tyrannical patriarchal society for a life devoted to improving their destiny. With biographical undertones relating to Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain, The Rokeya Project wish to present a hopeful yet realistic fiction using different storytelling methods such as puppetry, movement, dance and theatre. With specially composed music, the use Tagore’s work will be present as a source of inspiration, celebrating 150 years of Tagore.

Sunday 20 November 2011

Theatre Folks, Oxford presents Tale of Two Friends

Written by Masum Reza        Tickets £8.00 and £5.00 concs.

Duration of play: 60 mins

Tale of Two Friends is a story about two childhood friends, Amir and Salman. They aspire to become cricketers and decide to apply for a training scholarship at the Cricket Academy of India. Although both receive the scholarship, Salman’s family does not allow him to go to India – leaving him frustrated and angry after his friend leaves for the training. Within a short while, he falls prey to a circle of religious extremists. Can he escape this trap?

Friday 25 and Saturday 26 November 2011

Soulfire Theatre presents Wishing On A Star

Written by Hussain Ismail

Duration of play: 90mins

Once a year a new star is born in our galaxy, the Milky Way. And, they say, if you make a wish at the very moment of its birth it will come true. Around this moment three stories explore tensions and anxieties about the future of three modern Bangladeshi British couples.

Shirin and Jamal have sailed across the sea to a beautiful but isolated island deep in the Bay of Bengal .  Shirin prepares herself to make a wish under the light of the newborn star. But she can never tell Jamal.

Shadia and Akthar are set to move into their new house in Redbridge leaving behind a leaky council flat in Whitechapel. But Akthar is too obsessed with world events to think about moving anywhere. In sudden anger Shadia makes a wish.

  

Selina and Kamal are locked in a furious battle of will in a cell deep underground somewhere in the rapidly changing landscape of the Middle East . Selina offers Kamal one wish.

Can their destinies be changed by just one wish?

Saturday 26 November 2011

Tamarind Theatre Company presents ‘Purnima’s Travels’ (free event)

Interactive Theatre at the Whitechapel Idea Store, Whitechapel Rd , London E1 2.15pm (Children’s Library)

Adapted by Rezaul Kabir

Duration: 30mins

A mother and daughter set out to change their lives.  On their journey they make friends, enemies and meet a sleeping prince.... but who will save them from the spells of the witch and her enchanted necklace?

Sunday 27 September 2011

Bangladesh Udichi Shilpi Goshti UK presents ‘Khoab Shah Ekhon Bilethe’

Written by Sayeem Chowdhury

Duration of play: 75mins

In a village called Lohabhanga, a Zamindar (Landlord) challenged that a cleric cannot be granted special power from God, that only people give them the power by believing in them. Eventually the power created by the Zamindar turns out to be more powerful than him and the people of Lohabhanga tie themselves in the belief that ‘Khoab Shah’ holds the religious miracle and he is the man of fortune. Khoab Shah now has made a journey to UK ....

The story continues with the confrontation between Khoab Shah’s supernatural power as a safeguard for the sufferers and those who believes there is no such power other than exploitation.

Exhibition
11 November–2 December 2011 

Nation-Stage: Bangladeshi Theatre, Archives & Performance Art

Curated by Hamja Ahsan

In conjunction with the theatre season, artist and curator Hamja Ahsan has curated a special exhibition built around his archive of theatre posters, performance art and other related material. Participants include include Prachayanat - a theatre collective based in Dhaka consisting of over 100 people, early graphics from artists and musician Harold Rasheed, DRIK based photographers, and contemporary artists-run space Porapara performance art workshops. The designs also reinterpret the Western theatrical canon such as Ionesco's Rhinoceros and Moliere's Tartuffe in a Bangladeshi context.

The exhibitions also features photographs from Wasfia Nazreen - a Bangladeshi mountaineer who recently conquered Kilimanjiro as part of Seven Summits. Shlok - Bengali poetry magazine from Dhaka printed entirely on a T-shirt is also exhibition. Ahsan explore other patterns of Bangladeshi migration such as the migrant artists network based in Seoul , Korea led by film director Mahbub Alam.  A number of emergent artists have also been selected to engage with issues around contemporary culture wars  in Bangladesh and other flows cross-cultural exchanges.

This exhibition is part of a wider project called Bangladesh curatorial conversations - critically engaging with questions around nationalism and performance, and working with different disciplines - see website for details: www.otherasias.com

Film Screening

I Do Form To Be Deformed (Gothito Hoi Shunne Milai) by Fauzia Khan

Date, time and venue to be confirmed (Free event)

Duration: 47 mins

Since its establishment in 1972 Dhaka Theatre had been mostly staging original scripts. Later on, this group took the initiative of reconstructing the national theatre form based on the script of traditional forms and styles and began a long struggle. Keeping in line with this effort Dhaka Theatre has broken out of the theatre style based on European form and proscenium and continues to depict the Bengali life in a narrative, musical epic format. The members of this theatre group vowed to rediscover the tradition of Bangla theatre and the lost link of history. Shimul Yusuf, the main character of this documentary is one of them.

Shimul is an artist-a singer, a music director, a dancer, a choreographer, a costume designer. Combining all these she is an actress. Perhaps this is why she has become an ideal inheritance of oriental school of acting. She is conscious of history and tradition while she is modern too. She has applied the technique and philosophy of traditional Bangla acting blending it with modern taste and creativity. Her acting in modern Bangla theatre has been very popular with the audience and at the same time received huge appreciation from the critics. Here lies the rationale behind making this film.

Seminar

Thursday 17 November 2011

Brick lane Circles Seminar: Mainstreaming Bengali drama and playwrights: challenges and opportunities explored by Valerie Doulton and Mukul Ahmed

Duration of Seminar: 90 mins (Free event))

The seminar will include a short read performance from Tagore's 'The Post Office' by Valerie Doulton's Live Literature Company, history of Bangla Drama and question and answer session.

 Unless otherwise stated all performances are at the Brady Centre, tickets cost: £5.00 and £3.00 concs.

To book tickets please email festivalsandevents@towerhamlets.gov.uk  Box Office 020 7364 7900

Anfield expects Liverpool triumph

Liverpool desperate to get one over rivals Manchester United

By Emdad Rahman

Original article - The weekend will see hostilities resume in what is arguably one of the biggest games in the football calendar.

Liverpool versus Manchester United is one of football’s great and historic rivalries, and two of British football's biggest ever personalities will lock horns in their bid to secure crucial points for the respective clubs they manage.

It is anticipated that Kenny Dalglish will welcome back Steven Gerrard to his starting eleven at Anfield on Saturday. The club skipper's recovery from injury and return for this massive clash is a huge boost for his team mates.

Gerrard has made appearances in victories over Wolves and Everton and may make his first start in seven months in Saturday's lunchtime kick off at Anfield. Ironically, his last start was in March when Liverpool blitzed United 3-1.

The Liverpool captain aggravated a groin injury during the game which resulted in the recent and lengthy lay off. Gerrard is still Liverpool's talisman. He boasts five goals against Sir Alex Ferguson's men and his return to the starting eleven will be a huge boost for the Reds.

Ferguson's team are still unbeaten this season and lead their Merseyside rivals by six points. Liverpool's shooting stars will note that despite possessing the best shot conversion rate (26 percent) in the League and conceding five goals, David De Gea's goal has been peppered by with 97 shots so far - more than any other Barclays Premier League club.

With the absence of Rio Ferdinand and a not fully fit Nemanja Vidic, the Red Devils rearguard may lack the experience to deal with a fiery derby day attacking onslaught.

Jonny Evans was one of the reasons Gerard Pique was released by United, and the Irishman's defensive prowess, along with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling will be a very important factor in the game. Vidic returned midweek for Serbia, so it is likely he will return to shore things up at the back.

Liverpool are the United captain's bogey team, having been sent off three times against them, though chief tormentor Fernando Torres is now a memory at Anfield. Much will also hinge on Wayne Rooney continuing his purple patch, and the head to head between Jose Enrique and Luis Nani.

In the quest for a minimum top four standing this season, Liverpool need the three points more than their bitter rivals. United are unbeaten in their quest for yet another title, whilst Liverpool seek a Champions League spot at the very least. 

Despite many calling the game a draw, history and north-west bragging rights will see both teams take the game on at extreme full throttle.

Anfield is ready, Anfield awaits, Anfield expects.

Today's Origami

 

They did not pass!

Interview with Battle of Cable Street veteran Max Levitas

I’m shuffling my feet and perspiring just inside the entrance of the Whitechapel Idea Store. The security operative glances at me occasionally.

Foolishly thinking I’m being funny, I give the gentleman a goofy grin and flash him my T shirt. “Cable Street – They shall not pass” it reads. I decide to take a stroll upstairs and fortunately catch my target in the lift on the way down. For once being too lazy to walk down one flight of steps has reaped dividends.

I’m meeting a real East End legend. Meet 96 year old Max Levitas, a survivor of the 1936 Battle of Cable Street. Levitas was a community activist during a period of history that is reminiscent of modern day Britain. The only difference though was the scapegoats. Darker elements within British society opposed immigration and blamed the Jews for taking up all the jobs, houses and opportunities. It’s a chilling echo of the reality of today, whereby the value of having immigrants is ignored as they face frequent and undisguised racism. It’s pretty much the same mantra today. The hostility is further spread by fear mongering by politicians and the media. Racism it seems has a more acceptable face in 2011.

Levitas was part of the mass mobilisation of protesters that barred the British Union of Fascists (BUF) from passing at Cable Street. The young Levitas had long been a thorn in the rear for Oswald Mosley’s BUF, having been arrested and fined £10.00 in 1934 for using Nelson’s column as a graffiti noticeboard, calling on the masses to unite and reject the fascists.

Levitas, who after the Second World War served Stepney for 15 years as a Communist party Councillor believes Cable Street was a turning point in the history of this country.

He said: “It was a giant step forward for all of us, but had taken a long time to come. We had been opposing fascists since 1930. As a proud Communist party member, I watched as we joined together with the London trade union movement to bring about a force of 100,000 to confront and oppose Oswald Mosley at Hyde Park.

“News arrived that Mosley and his Blackshirts intended to march through the East End. We were both worried and angry and called on the Synagogues to join us. The Communist party of Great Britain was at the forefront of the planned protest against the Fascists and became involved in discussions with the Jewish Board of Deputies, who worried of safety had encouraged people to stay at home and not join in the protests.

“Our efforts began to pay off. I was a factory shop steward with a large work force and with the Labour movement and trade unions, we approached businesses and tenant associations. We leafleted and organised public speaking events and loudspeaker rallies. We didn’t have the Internet but we all worked hard for our beliefs and were committed to spreading the message that fascism must be opposed. In this way we reached thousands of people.”

The Blackshirts faced an impenetrable wall of steel comprising of over 100,000 united workers, locals, Communists, Irish and Jews. Levitas recollected the events of the fourth of October 1936.

“The Dockers stood shoulder to holder with East Enders. We barricaded our streets, even overturning a tram to block entry into a road. The Fascists were met with the full force of the East End. They were pelted and even with horses they could not get through.

“Their march failed and the Commissioner of Police said that if his officers had not intervened then there would have been fatalities.

“Never again will they be able to march here.”

Levitas say’s that education is key in fighting racism: “Education is the fuel for tolerance. This country has seen a wave of immigrants, the French, Jews from Eastern Europe, Irish, Bangladeshi, Somali, Arabs and Eastern Europeans. This is a tolerant country and as long as we work hard and respect each other, this country will prosper and be the envy of the world.”

The veteran believes that racial intolerance, civil unease and the recent turmoil in the shape of the UK riots has been partly fuelled by an irresponsible government.

“Today we have the lib Lab government coalition making drastic cuts against working people. They are closing down industry and strangling people of their air supply. The government is responsible for making life hell for the likes of people in Tower hamlets.

“If you don’t fight the government cuts then the crisis will deepen and racism and fascism will increase because people will look at others to blame for their bad luck. This is how fascism increases and becomes powerful.

With the presence of the EDL is Levitas worried about the future of race relations? “The East End I know has always united against injustice. Look at the history of this country. It has thrived because of the contribution of visitors. Humans are strange creatures and I dream that we are capable of balancing ourselves out and live in unity and harmony.

“The East End was united then, and it shall remain united now and in the future. I may not live to see it but I am confident that tolerance will win the day. We can live together, we can live in peace. “

To

Bird of prey gets poached and a pair of easy T shirts...

GMF tribute to Jimmy Case

Liverpool - Jimmy Case will always be fondly remembered at Anfield

By Emdad Rahman

Original article - In the year this Liverpool star was named European Young Player of the Year, his 1977 volley on the spin against Manchester United is etched into history as one of the best goals scored in an FA Cup Final.

Born in 1954, Jimmy Case was a hard as nails midfield enforcer from Allerton, and shares the distinction of being a neighbour to Paul McCartney. The local lad established a central midfield berth during the all conquering Liverpool team of the 1970s. 

Case possessed a tough streak that was symptomatic and necessary during that era. Playing for Liverpool required a little more than the ability to land your opponent on their backside, and Case possessed sound vision and chipped in a fair quota of goals from midfield.

In his column for Live4Liverpool ex-Liverpool defender Neil Ruddock recently wrote: “You ask a footballer who the genuine hard men in football are and you wouldn’t hear the usual host of clichéd names of Jones and Fash, but players like Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Cyrille Regis, or for me the hardest of them all Jimmy Case who I was fortunate to play alongside at Southampton.

“Everyone was scared of Jimmy, who not only was as hard as nails, but as his success showed at Liverpool he could also play a bit as well.”

Case’s no nonsense midfield play was honed at dock side Blue Union and then South Liverpool from which Bill Shankly plucked him from in 1973, though his debut would come under Bob Paisley. The young apprentice electrician’s prime ability though was a continued willingness to improve and a ravenous hunger to succeed.

In 1974/75 the big day arrived and aged 20, Case made his Liverpool debut in a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers. Paisley was impressed and the new boy became a regular, notching almost 40 appearances for the Reds the following season. Moreover the youngster's shooting boots began to make an impact as he contributed 12 goals.

Case was a vital cog for Paisley. He was a grafter and enforcer rolled into one and his thunderous boots make him one of the hardest strikers of a ball seen at Anfield. 

One of his greatest moments was the 1977 European Cup Final against Borussia Mönchengladbach, where Case and his teammates stood firm against the German might of Bertie Vogts, Rainer Bonhoff, Uli Stielike and Allan Simonsen to bring home Liverpool’s first European Cup.

By 1980 Case was jostling for a first team slot and his berth was eventually granted to a fresh faced Sammy Lee.

During the summer of 1981 he was transferred to Brighton & Hove Albion, returning to haunt his old teammates in 1981 by scoring the winner at Anfield and knocking his beloved Liverpool out of the FA Cup.

He later joined Southampton and continued plying his trade till the ripe age of 41.

Brian Hall once said of Jimmy Case: "Jimmy's contribution during that period was an enormous one, he scored some goals, his energy was terrific but again he epitomised what putting on that red shirt on your back was all about."

Case played 276 games for Liverpool and scored 45 goals. He achieved the dream of winning three European Cups, four League Championships, four Charity Shields, a League Cup, Super Cup and a UEFA Cup winner’s medal.

He was not a glamorous football star, but Case was without doubt one of the finest exponents of his position in Europe.

It is shocking when one realises that international honours with England eluded him.

A view from the (Tower) bridge

Overdue Library book

Doh! Gosh I'm going to be in trouble for this one...

Wish I had a rich neighbour like that!

Porsche in my old neighbourhood - Blimey, times have changed...

No Mersey for Toffees

Everton 0-2 Liverpool

Premier duel with the most reds
Cards, not the outfit from across the park
Dalglish returns to Goodison
Eight goal draw the last benchmark

End of the Rod for Jack
Martin Atkinson in the firing line
Howard foils Kuyt from twelve yards
To the rescue comes that Sweet Carroll Nine

Adam’s buckshot kisses the bar
Gerrard returns as chief of staff
Toffees transfer spend flung from the Gwladys Road end
But Pistol Luis has the last laugh

01.10.11

Number7
(c) Emdad Rahman
www.football-Poems.com