Nobbut Laiking, by Ross Brewster
Why? It’s a question they must have asked themselves many times. Why do it when most of them could live comfortably without all the stress?
I happened to be reading a weighty book I re-discovered the other day. It was a volume of essays and excerpts from newspaper articles by eminent football writers. I bought the book donkeys years ago and then lost it. It turned up the other day at the back of a wardrobe.
In it was an article by Hugh McIlvanney, one of the true greats of sports literature, about the tragic death of Scotland manager Jock Stein on the touchline in Cardiff where his team were playing for the point that would clinch a place in the World Cup.
He surmises that Stein’s death was a combination of factors. Previous heart trouble, a narrow escape in a car crash and the stress of managing an international side which evokes such passion in its followers.
Back then there were no defibrillators at every big ground. Nothing that might have kept Stein alive until they got him to hospital.
It made me think of Paul Simpson and what he might be feeling last Saturday morning after his departure from Carlisle. He was, when it comes down to it, sacked. They couched it in milder language, saying he had “left” the club. But in reality, like so many in football management before him, he was fired.
He carried a huge burden in the eyes of Carlisle supporters because he had done so well previously. Just over a year before he took them to Wembley in the play off final. He was regarded by many as a legend of the club, almost infallible. In fact he’s just human.
But fans are one-eyed. There is no sympathy for the football manager. In Simmo’s case it was hero to zero with nothing in between.
I hope he’s enjoying a nice holiday somewhere warm with Mrs Simpson. He’ll be following the Carlisle games online no doubt. It must seem very strange not to be at a football match on a Saturday in the season.
You wonder at times. Why do they do it? Put themselves through the wringer. When one leaves there is always a queue to follow on the treadmill.
Ultimately hardly any managers, no matter how successful they’ve been, leave their job contented or happy. It’s the nature of the game. Even for legends.
This mess could have been avoided
The Government’s disastrous attack on pensioners with the withdrawal of the winter heating allowance suggests their political antennae are badly out of kilter. Not wise of Ange to go bopping to a sunshine island when there’s talk of old people being unable to heat their homes.
I do think that there are many old folk who have sufficient money to live quite well and they don’t need the allowance.
However Labour have dug themselves into a hole quite unnecessarily. This will be brought up time and time again by their opponents. With such a large majority, and the Tories in chaos, they can afford a certain arrogance. But whoever convinced them this was a good idea?
Governments rise and fall not on major issues but on scandals that no-one predicted. Sometimes these scandals cannot be forecast but other times they are a racing certainty.
Like the coming cold months bringing the first death of a pensioner who was denied the winter fuel allowance. It’s not a question of if, but when. Suddenly a lot of Labour supporters will feel acute embarrassment and shame. I bet the Daily Mail has got the headline written already.
Hardened Labourites are feeling rebellious. Heaven help us, some even want Jeremy back.
The interminable wait for justic
What is it with this country and interminable inquiries that rarely lead anywhere we weren’t already aware of?
The Grenfell inquiry finally reported seven years after the event, but then people involved learnt that it may be the end of the decade before compensation is sorted. And how long will it take to determine if prosecutions are to ensue?
There is a history of lengthy inquiries procrastinating. The Saville inquiry into Bloody Sunday lasted 12 years, the Chilcot investigation into the Iraq War seven and the almost forgotten Covid inquiry is reputed to have already cost £160m. Then there’s the blood scandal which began in the 1970s. The first compensation payments are due to be paid by the end of this year.
It’s no wonder really. These inquiries are a godsend for lawyers who can earn up to £1,000 a day. It’s in their interests to spin them out.
What is the saying, justice delayed is justice denied.
This fountain of youth is just dribble
Wow, so there’s this magic pill that will open the door to immortality. Or not. There have been wonder pills before and, at 77, I don’t look in the mirror and see myself getting younger.
Too late is the cry from us oldies. What one newspaper declared to be “the fountain of youth” is just a dribble.
It may be great news for people with diabetes and lots of other ailments. But as for living forever, I’m not convinced.
