If you're sick of football...

WHAT A thing to say! As if anyone could be sick of football, what with the World Cup on 24 hours a day, the fixtures for next season already doing the rounds...

I guess you see my point. For those who don't worship that certain round ball game, you do have salvation this summer. Hoping the weather will hold for some decent cricket this summer, be it the village game (all those simmering rivalries and the like), the county cricket scene or the Test Match Special variety, that the leather on willow game will be entertaining this season, even if the highest level do have alot to live up to (Small matter of the Ashes to play for once again later this year).

Also the time has come for Wimbledon, which begins at the All England Lawn And Tennis Club (SW19, isn't it?) this coming Monday, 26th June. Can Henman, Rusedski or Murray bring home (so to speak) the big prize in the men's game? Messrs Federer, Nadal, Roddick et al will no doubt have their own plans for the tournament. As for the Ladies' tournament, Venus Williams will be looking to retain her Rose Plate (I think that is the description for the top prize in the Ladies' game), whilst Maria Sharapova (pictured above) will be looking to repeat her triumph of 2004. Best of luck to all involved, whatever your game.

Showbiz News...

AND why not. This blog has been a bit 'football overload' recently, so I decided on a change for today.
The picture on the right celebrates the recent Marriage of musician Zac Hanson, 20, who married his long time girlfriend Kate, 22, in Georgia, USA, on June 3 2006. Zac is one third of the band Hanson, who had five hit singles in 1997 - 1998, taken from their album 'Middle of Nowhere', which was followed by the albums '3 Car Garage: The Indie Recordings', 'Snowed In' (a collection of Christmas songs) and the live concert recording of 'Live From Albertane'.

The three Hanson brothers who make up the band (Isaac: guitar & vocals, Taylor: piano/keyboard & vocals, Zac: drums, percussion & vocals) followed up their success with the album 'This Time Around' in the year 2000, which brought two singles: 'If Only' and 'This Time Around'.

A dispute with the record company Island DefJam saw Hanson go their seperate ways and form their own label, 3CG Records, through which saw the UK release of their album 'Underneath' through licensing to Cooking Vinyl in 2005, which gave Hanson two more chart hits, 'Penny & Me' and 'Lost Without Each Other'.

So join me, raise your glass to Zac and Kate, wish them all the best... and hope you have learned a little more pop music history too - Cheers!

Thanks for the memories, Simmo

TOMORROW (Monday) sees Paul Simpson take up the post of Manager of Preston North End Football Club, after leaving Carlisle United Football Club this weekend. Simpson,39, joined Carlisle United as a player in 2003 under the reign of Irish Manager Roddy Collins. After a dismal start to the 2003 - 2004 season, Collins was sacked and Simpson was given the role of Manager as a caretaker, having been Manager at previous football clubs. Simpson was appointed full time Manager of Carlisle United in late 2003, engineering a turnaround in the club's failing season, from relegation certainties to the brink of safety, sadly the club was relegated to the Conference.

This was not to be a setback to Simpson and his team, as they fought throughout the season 2004 - 2005 in the Conference to the Play Off Final at the Britannia Stadium, Stoke, May 2005, in which United returned to the Football League by beating Stevenage Borough one goal to nil (Scored by Peter Murphy).

Simpson's team in Coca - Cola League Two hit the ground running - and despite a stutter in September 2005, United got their season on track with a 1-0 win over Mansfield Town at Brunton Park on October 15, followed by their biggest warning shot to all in the League: The 6-0 demolition of Stockport County at Brunton Park on October 29. The New Year saw the big scores roll in: 4-0 against Bury at Brunton Park, 5-0 at Boston, 5-0 against Chester at Brunton Park, as well as Rushden & Diamonds, finishing the cricket scores with the amazing 5-0 win over Darlington at the TFM Arena.

Nothing more can be said for United's trip to the Millennium Stadium, which was an experience, Cumbria to Cardiff and back again, all in one day. Adam Murray with United's goal that day.

The season closed with vital wins over Grimsby and Notts County, a 1-1 draw at Mansfield (Karl Hawley goal) secured promotion to League One, a 2-0 win at Rochdale made United Champions Elect, a no score draw at Stockport handing the League Two Championship to Carlisle United Football Club on the last day of the season, May 6 2006, that evening Brunton Park witnessed the presentation of the Championship trophy to the team. A moment to which I recall I was there.

Since season's end, United have signed the striker Kevin Gall, rumours abound Simpson was in the running for the managerial position at Derby County, Hull City, Preston North End. All originally batted away by Simpson and United, finally PNE FC making the breakthrough and luring Simpson away from his hometown club.

So what becomes of United as they look forward to the return of the playing staff on July third? Danny Livesey of the United defence was told the news of his Manager's departure whilst on holiday in Egypt. Who will step into the shoes of Simpson? And what of the backroom staff, Dennis Booth, Russ Richardson, even Billy Barr? So many questions, only this summer will reveal the answers.