Sporting Bengal Veterans 1 v West Ham Utd (Academy Staff) 3

Due to the adverse weather conditions this showpiece game continued albeit with lots of changes in the team line ups. Many of the West Ham Academy team had to withdraw and it was left to the younger members of the team to fill in. 

Sporting veterans did well to take to the changing rooms at half time with the score at 0-0. 

The younger and fitter West Ham charges though scored three second half goals to ensure a comfortable victory. Under 12's coach Ross Kleintfell, head of academy recruitment Dave Hunt and academy goalkeeper coach Billy Lepeen were the Hammers scorers. 

The moment of the match was when Sporting right back, Bangladesh Football Association Vice Chair and football presenter Imrul Gazi scored a stunning 25 yard pile driver to half the advantage after West Ham Academy had raced into a 2-0 lead. 

He said: "We were not able to play against some ex Hammers legends due to the weather but nevertheless it was a good work out for our old legs! 

"Tonight was all about building relationships between both parties for future collaborations that can benefit the community and if we can play some competitive games in the process then that's a nice bonus."

On his wonder goal Gazi added: "It sat up perfect and was begging to be struck. I caught it perfectly, especially as I could have typically hit it into row Z. It's easily one of the best goals I have scored."

Jamal Hussain from the BFA was at the game and described the goal as a "thunderbolt."

The game was played in good spirits and was a great example of the steps West Ham United as a club are taking to foster sound working relationships with local grassroots organisations. 

One, two, three from the Magician

Liverpool 4-1 West Brom

Sublime game for the Anfield genie
Dark, dashing, dangerous and gutsy
On a day the Magician struck three
Prompting rosy words from John Henry

Three skinned to get the ball rolling
"Sublime," quipped a stunned Steve Clarke
With Boaz Myhill still stuck on his line
Eighteen yard header which lit up the park

After Pistol had pilfered the match ball
Conjured another by the League’s top scorer
Brendan beamed at the Reds dance hall
"Steven is a top, top, top, top, top player,"

26.10.13

Number7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com

Shadwell Eid Festival draws large weekend crowd

Residents from all areas of Tower Hamlets and the surrounding boroughs enjoyed a fun filled day out as the Darul Ummah Community Centre in Shadwell hosted an Eid festival on Saturday. 

There was a festive mood as the centre hosted a kids Zone, bouncy castles, food stalls and a very popular young performers talent presentation. 

Organiser Noor Ullah said: "We have enjoyed hosting this fun filled day and I want to thank everyone for their support, especially the volunteers for their hard work." 

"Everyone is happy, and I'm proud to be one of those attending," said Khoyrul Shaheed from Human Relief. 

"I really loved the henna stalls said Sumaiyah, who was showing off the intricate patterns on her hands to everyone who she came across. 

Tower Hamlets Executive mayor Lutfur Rahman attended the event and spent time presenting the you g poets, singers and storytellers with their winning prizes. He said: "Ours is a rich community and I'm grateful for the invitation to today's event. 

"The spirit of Eid is a great thing to behold and it is very pleasing to see a range if visitors attending today who have enjoyed a great day out in harmony and safety. 

"Tower Hamlets is a community that forms a rich tapestry and I'm very happy to see you all here today. I have been very impressed with the talent of your young people and it has been particularly satisfying to see so many smiles on so many faces."

Glow Neon Fun Run 2013

About 200 of us strangers took part in the UK’s first Neon Glow run in aid of Team RNIB's services for blind and partially sighted people in London and the UK.

The location was Mile End Stadium and all runners took to the track terrain to walk, skip, run, jog and dance the 3k target.

 

London fundraising manager Sophie Batchelor and I had a quick chat before my run. Sophie had spent a hectic week arranging the organisation of the run and I was there to witness the culmination of an excellent job. The organisation was clinical and the friendliness of the organising support team was brilliant and thoroughly complimented the fun mood of all the participants at the stadium.

 

“This run has been inspired by the colourful full moon parties held in Thailand”, said Sophie. “Were not doing the luminous paint but the sound system and the creative DJ has really got everybody fired up. The feedback has been one hundred percent positive and we are really pleased with the response.

 

“It’s Friday night and we are grateful for everybody’s support.”

 

The Glow Neon Fun Run kicked off when the sun went down at 7pm. There were neon lights and an array of dazzling outfits and colours. I had to go to football so completed my 3k within 20 minutes before making a dash to join my 5 a side crew at Mulberry School.

 

RNIB carries out some fantastic work with blind and partially sighted people in London and the rest of the UK.

 

Every day 100 people in the UK start losing their sight. Right now RNIB can only reach one in three of the people who need our help most. To support Team RNIB and help reach them all please visit www.rnib.org.uk

Red or Dead by David Peace

Emdad Rahman: BBC Radio 4 was what bought this novel to my attention. Intrigued I tuned in to avidly listen to Allegra McIlroy's production read by Gary Lewis.

David Peace, acclaimed author of the 'Red Riding' series, 'GB84' and 'The Damned United', had now turned his attentions to a football folk hero and pulled "Bill Shankly out of the football world and into the mainstream." Peace’s latest book tells us the story of the man, not just the manager who he has describes as "one of the greatest men who ever lived."

Years before he appeared for Glenbuck Cherrypickers in East Ayrshire, Shankly's main passion was football. His background fuelled his socialism, his view of the world and his view of football: "The socialism I believe in is everyone working for each other, everyone having a share of the rewards. It's the way I see football, the way I see life."

Red or Dead is a revolutionary novel about a revolutionary man; Bill Shankly, perhaps the first great football manager of the Modern Age.

With Jock Stein & Matt Busby he formed the Trifecta of working roots Scots who rose to the pinnacle of the beautiful game. In light of Sir Alex Ferguson's new autobiography and the slamming reserved for many of football's greats it's refreshing to note that Red or Dead recounts the story of an inspiring figure whose noble persona has almost become mythical in today’s modern game.

The subject of the book is one of the greatest managers to have come from these shores. Peace’s pen panache is simply amazing and the reader will complete over 700 pages of flowing verses, highlighting in vivid depth almost every significant happening in the life of the legendary Scotsman – from the precise moment he was handed the keys to the Anfield empire till his death and departure from life itself.

As Red or Dead touches on the story of the growth of Liverpool Football Club and Bill Shankly the novel offers momentous accounts of Bill Shankly as manager of Liverpool FC and of Bill Shankly after retirement from Liverpool FC.

Shankly was a Socialist and his life mantra was based on incessant and scrupulous toil. Hailing from a mining village allowed him to relate his experiences and worked diligently towards instilling a hard working ethos into the lives of his players and his colleagues. It wasn’t just about football – these values and disciplines would serve his young charges excellently in the outside world too.

Shankly drilled it into anyone who would listen that there was no magic wand and one made their own fortune through sheer hard toil. The onus therefore focussed on tackling ones day to day issues, the daily cycle of life’s mundane chores. If anybody focussed on these ever occurring rituals and worked at them hard, then significant and positive changes could be bought about in any person's life. This mode of positive thought was not exclusive to Shankly himself but to great effect, his natural magnetism and force of personality sold it as an easily achievable, simple and exquisite philosophy.

Shankly transformed the fortunes of this amazing British institution. A floundering and underperforming Liverpool were languishing in the lower realms of the second Division until he came along. With a powerful sweep of his broom Shankly set in motion a change in attitude, fortune and unrivalled success that would shake the footballing world. It was upon Shankly’s cornerstone which was built the platform where Red gladiators would make their mark, as the Merseyside club would like an unstoppable juggernaut steamroll the best of their rivals. In 15 glory years Shanks laid the foundation for three First Division Championships, the UEFA Cup and a brace of F.A Cup wins. He unearthed gems of the calibre of Ray Clemence, Emlyn Hughes, Ian St John and Ron Yeats.

As a high energy individual the first 110 pages or so really tested my concentration levels as it took me time to get into the unique rhythm of the narrative writing style. Once I had settled into the rapidity and pulse the gratification I was already experiencing rose a few degrees.

Amongst some accounts of fiction there are mentions of several factual minutiae of the games played under Shankly’s reign from 1959 to his stunning resignation in 1974, by which time the Reds had with relentless success been transformed into the most successful team in England. Bill Shankly by this time had become widely acknowledged as a reformer. He changed the perception of those he came into contact with and gave hope and encouragement to the masses.

Red or Dead is a requiem, a passionate epistle dedicated to a type of mettle and temperament that is rarely seen these days.

Bill Shankly lived and breathed a brand of footballing socialism. It was the medium he used best to inspire millions.

Bill Shankly made the people happy.

This is another amazing football book by David Peace – one of a rare breed of writers who are able to mesmerise the reader with sheer no frills penmanship alone. Peace has a distinct habit of bringing about that effect on the reader and I’m struggling to name another writer with his determination, persuasion and ardour.

"I have written about corruption, I've written about crime, I've written about bad men and I've written about the demons. But now I've had enough of the bad men and the demons. Now I want to write about a good man. And a saint. A Red Saint. Bill Shankly was not just a great football manager. Bill Shankly was one of the greatest men who ever lived. And the supporters of Liverpool Football Club, and the people of Liverpool the city, know that and remember him. But many people outside of football, outside of Liverpool, do not know or do not remember him. And now – more than ever – it's time everybody knew about Bill Shankly. About what he achieved, about what he believed. And how he led his life. Not for himself, for other people." David Peace

Unlikely neighbours :)

Isle of Dogs...

Barking Muslims celebrate Eid Al Adha with community event

Muslims in Barking & Dagenham celebrated the Eid Al Adha by organising a community fun day at the Oasis events hall in Thamesview.

Hundreds of men, women and children from different nationalities came together to offer the obligatory Eid prayers which was followed by a sermon and the family fun day. Activities included wrestling with a sumo, bouncy castle, food and snacks, calligraphy, origami and traditional board games. Participants were awarded certificates.

Event volunteer Shumina said: “It was an exciting experience, with so much fun activates for the kids to do. It was nice to see the children running around having so much fun and it made the day truly unforgettable.”

Khushnood Ahmed, the secretary of the Riverside Muslim Association (RMA) was one of the event organisers and volunteers. She commented: “RMA has made this Eid a most memorable and joyous day. People from different ethnicities attended and many of the women were very happy to participate.

 

"Eid in Oasis was enjoyed the most by the children who had never celebrated Eid like this and I am really looking forward to the next fun day, especially since I have received so many requests to arrange another one."

Hafizur said: “I loved the diversity most of all. One of the best things was the children freely enjoyed themselves.”

BFA Awards Night 2013

Annual awards celebrates the rise of grassroots talent

Emdad Rahman: Amidst much glitzy glamour, the Bangladesh Football Association (BFA) squeezed in almost 1000 guests as it held its annual awards night at Stepney’s Troxy hall. The much feted event has become one of the most important nights in local grassroots football.

On that same day the BFA had featured prominently in a Sky Sport despatch whereby an excellent feature report was broadcast to highlight the exceptional grassroots effort taken by the management and volunteers to train local youngsters in helping them achieve dreams of playing professional football.

BFA coach Imrul Ghazi said: “We teach children about values, about respect, about healthy lives. We ask parents to become more involved. One day young people from these fields will grace pitches in all leagues and with that in mind we work to ingrain hard working ethics within them.”

Ex West Ham United, Sheffield Wednesday, Bristol Rovers and Dagenham & Redbridge captain Anwar Uddin leads the flagship Sporting Bengal Academy and is also a patron to the BFA.

Taking to the stand Uddin highlighted his hopes of Asians making the professional grade in mainstream football and is hopeful of rising stars: "The contribution of coaches and parents is significant and I want to acknowledge those who spend their time and effort day in and day out to help the next generation of footballers.

"The Premier League is very competitive and players compete within a global market. I see no reason why we can't have a crop of young Asians making the grade in the Championship; League one, League 2, and even non League.

“Nothing would make me prouder than to play a hand in delivering a crop of readymade footballers to mainstream football.”

Tony Carr MBE, the current Director of Youth Development at West Ham United football club's youth academy is widely recognised as one of the most influential figures in English football. During his illustrious career, Carr, who as a fledgling striker cleaned the boots of Bobby Moore, Martin Peters and Sir Geoff Hurst, has trained Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael Carrick, Jermain Defoe, Glen Johnson and John Terry.

Carr was invited to share his experiences: "I was born and bought up in the Devons Road area so like you all I'm very local.

"The likes of Anwar had a good football education with us and he definitely won't be the last Bangladeshi footballer to make the grade. It's just a matter of time and my advice is simple - keep practising, keep working hard and you never know who's watching."

Sporting Bengal manager Mamun Choudhury MBE spoke about his pride in managing the boroughs senior team: "Ours is a unit that is made of all nationalities and I believe we accurately represent the make up of the borough. It's a great pleasure to manage Sporting and I give you my commitment that we will continue to strive and strive until we reach the highest levels of excellence."

Zakir Khan's contribution to the BFA was recognised by current chairman Aroz Miah. In his acceptance speech he said that he still had the same desire to support his community just as he had as a sprightly youngster.

Khan thanked the BFA management and in a welcome gesture invited all the BFA management and volunteers up onto the stage to enjoy a loud round of applause from the huge crowd of guests.

John Garwood from Canary Wharf Group pledged future support: "The Canary Wharf group are always proud to support the BFA and the fantastic work they do. With my West Ham hat on I’d like to ask the community to take up Anwar Uddin's challenge and I look forward to the day when a local Bangladeshi youngster can complete his journey from the training pitches of West Ham United to the Olympic stadium."

Community coach Rashid Abba from West Ham spoke about his beginnings with Leicester City. Abba added that his expertise gained with the Foxes whilst at Filbert Street had held him in very good stead in east London. He was joined on stage by Tower Hamlets Councillor Rofique Ahmed.

Tower Hamlets Mayor Lutfur Rahman is the only BME Mayor in Europe. He spoke of his immense pride at the achievements of the footballers and thanked parents, management and the BFA for the progress being made: “Football is a unifying medium. It is intense, nervy and provokes passion. These are key ingredients in the makeup of an ideal and positively contributing citizen. I am confident that with the BFA making such efforts it is only a short time before young people from this room take the step onto the bigger professional leagues.”

M1 Claims Management very generously provided all the trophies for the event and fellow sponsors Hunter & Bloomfield and Sonali Bank UK joined them in presenting awards to winners. The contribution of the role of the sponsors in supporting grassroots football was mentioned and acknowledged.

Baby delight keeps Reds up top

Liverpool 3-1 Crystal Palace

Benjamin and Delfina on the pitch
Family pose in front of the Kop
Fort Anfield still remains so rich
Suarez gives the Eagles the chop

Palace "won the second half"
Holloway "bemused" by the penalty
Dispatched by Brendan's Chief of Staff
Fifteen goal-den years for Stevie G

Switch from family man to chainsaw fiend
Gayle's goal and a water bottle attack
Sturridge struck his eighth in between
"This is your last trip to Anfield" the call back

05.10.13

number7
© Emdad Rahman
www.football-poems.com

Battle of Cable Street veteran Max Levitas joins Stepney FC

Yesterday was the anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street which took place on Sunday 4 October 1936 in Cable Street in the East End of London.

Max Levitas is a veteran of that momentous day when east enders and anti-fascists, including local Jewish, socialist, anarchist, Irish and communist groups saw off the British Union of Fascists, led by Oswald Mosley.

Spurs fan Max, who is now 98 years old, accepted my invite to watch Stepney FC juniors train and gave an amazing short talk on his memories of the battle of Cable Street.

He said: "We all come came together that day; Jews, non Jews, the whole community.

We showed them that hate would not be tolerated just as the community showed again a few weeks ago.

"They couldn't pass - they were not allowed to pass."