G'ol矇!: The Official film of 1982 FIFA World Cup (1983)

Steaming In: Journal of a Football Fan by Colin Ward (Simon & Schuster 1989)

The first half and the fairy tale continued. Leatherhead went two-nil ahead with Kelly scoring one, making the other goal and generally tormenting Leicester without mercy. At half-time all that could be seen was the 'Kelly Shuffle' and the drinking (and spilling) of beer. In the second half the slaughter continued for a while. Kelly went round the goalkeeper and should have scored, but the ball was stopped on the line. I can still close my eyes and remember him going round the Leicester keeper and shouting 'Goal!' I don't think Leicester would have come back from three-nil down, but as it was this was the turning point of the match. Leicester scored, then destroyed a tiring Leatherhead, finally winning three-two. Nevertheless, the cheers at the end were all for Leatherhead. We left the ground disappointed but privileged to have witnessed one of the greatest performances ever by an amateur team.

Leicester fans approached Leatherhead fans in the street, shaking their hands and saying 'Great match' and 'Cor, what a game.' Had we won the match it is more likely that they would have been waiting to smash our heads in. In an instant, we would have been transformed from the quaint amateur team who had provided entertainment into the bastards who had humiliated and knocked Leicester out of the FA Cup.

A crowd of over 37,000 had witnessed the game and those present will never forget it. To this day everyone who was there talks about Kelly's miss. That night on Match of the Day on BBC 1 Jimmy Hill interviewed Chris Kelly. 'We'll be back next year, Jimmy,' said Chris - although sadly this was not to be. Nevertheless, Leatherhead have the proud record of never having lost to a professional team on their own ground, and have since beaten Cambndge United and drawn with Colchester United and Swansea City.

'The Tartan Army - in need of a strong drink since 1954.'

Via Facebook.

"A picture has surfaced from the 1982 Spain World Cup, of a famous banner displayed at the Scotland v Russia game."

Still my favourite World Cup, if truth be known. Eder . . .  Socrates . . . Gerry Armstrong . . . Algeria gubbing West Germany . . . Narey's toe-poke . . . The French midfield . . . Tardelli's celebration for his goal in the final . . . Schumacher's attempted murder of Battison.

Picture via a Scottish SPGBer on Facebook, who happens to be one of the miscreants in the above picture. I believe him. SPGB Glasgow Branch . . . combining alcoholism and (real) communism since 1924.

Socrates - RIP

I was always Eder in the playground but I always had a soft spot for Socrates. I remember this goal as if it was yesterday:

Socrates - RIP.

Miller . . . Hansen . . . oh shit, Shengelia

Weekly Bulletin of The Socialist Party of Great Britain (30)

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the 30th of our weekly bulletins to keep you informed of changes at Socialist Party of Great Britain @ MySpace.

We now have 1158 friends!

Recent blogs:

Russia was never socialist - and why

The Futility of Reformism

The Cause of Violence

This week's top quote:

"Governments are not social organizations that represent all people. They are class institutions. They do the work of the class that owns and rules." J.A. McDonald, Western Socialist, 1960.

Continuing luck with your MySpace adventures!

Robert and Piers

Socialist Party of Great Britain