https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/2025/10/14/after-an-eternity-of-idleness-new-blog-coming-soon/2025-10-14T20:01:55+00:00monthlyhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/2019/01/30/standing-on-the-shoulders-of-giants-the-story-of-a-literary-colossus-and-a-giant-amongst-men/https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/0466a2df-8ba7-4fbf-adf4-4d5031f29c5e.jpeg0466a2df-8ba7-4fbf-adf4-4d5031f29c5eFINE MEN HAVE A PENCHANT FOR FINE THINGS... HUGH MCILVANNEY WAS NO EXCEPTION, FINE SUITS, FINE HAVANNA CIGARS, AND ABOVE ALL ELSE, FINE WRITING!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/9a6d196e-99d1-440a-ae40-15f5f87ee85e.jpeg9a6d196e-99d1-440a-ae40-15f5f87ee85e“FOOTBALL IS A FORM OF SOCIALISM (WITHOUT THE POLITICS) WHERE THE ‘HOLY TRINITY’ IS THE MANAGER, THE PLAYER, AND THE SUPPORTERS!” BILL SHANKLY, A FRIEND AND TRUSTED CONFIDANT!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/bc94539c-fb9b-40c6-9805-7282a173fa4a.jpegbc94539c-fb9b-40c6-9805-7282a173fa4aA PROUD MOMENT IN 1996 AS THE GREAT MAN SHOWS OFF HIS OBE AWARDED FOR THE SERVICES TO SPORTS WRITING!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/f03730bb-539d-466e-a401-6813086601cd.jpegf03730bb-539d-466e-a401-6813086601cdAN INDUCTEE INTO THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING HALL OF FAME! HIS REPORTING ON “THE RUMBLE IN THE JUNGLE” & HIS OBITUARY TO THE GREAT JOHNNY https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/8d7a3360-80fd-4966-825c-669ab7ba4e3b.jpeg8d7a3360-80fd-4966-825c-669ab7ba4e3bSHARING A JOKE WITH HIS BROTHER WILLIAM, TWO OF SCOTLAND’S GREATEST WRITERS!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/5ae36946-079a-4e90-9169-722a70001b32.jpeg5ae36946-079a-4e90-9169-722a70001b32TWO GIANTS OF THE FOOTBALL WORLD, ONE FROM THE PRESSBOX AND ONE FROM TOUCHLINE, BOTH WITH A COMMON BOND FORGED IN THE INDUSTRIAL HEARTLANDS OF THE WEST OF SCOTLAND! ALEX FERGUSON MBE & HUGH MCILVANNEY OBE.https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/8212bb13-538f-45f6-a382-a32e1b9e216b.jpeg8212bb13-538f-45f6-a382-a32e1b9e216bHUGH MCILVANNEY RECEIVING THE COVERTED PETER O’SULLIVAN https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/75b49bf5-24ba-4e18-8f1f-30138790c342.jpeg75b49bf5-24ba-4e18-8f1f-30138790c342THE STUDIOUS LOOK & KEEN EYE FOR THE ATTENTION TO DETAIL THAT MADE HUGH MCILVANNEY THE GREATEST SPORTS WRITER OF ALL TIME! 2022-01-13T19:06:19+00:00monthlyhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/2018/11/04/the-boy-with-a-thorn-in-his-side-one-mans-story-of-failed-boyhood-dreams/https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/e52b5bd0-0a4d-425b-a738-f562c22a71e6.jpegE52B5BD0-0A4D-425B-A738-F562C22A71E6THE MAGIC OF THE FA CUP FINAL UNDER THE SHADOWS OF THE TWIN TOWERS OF EMPIRE STADIUM, WEMBLEY. TOMMY DOCHERTY CELEBRATES MANCHESTER UNITED’S FIRST CUP WIN SINCE https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/30a6097d-f249-468a-a794-b308f34f4280.jpeg30A6097D-F249-468A-A794-B308F34F4280THE DRESSERS, ON ANY SATURDAY, IN ANY TOWN, ON EVERY TERRACE. THE ADVENT OF THE ‘CASUAL’ WAS A GLORIOUS WATERSHED IN MY LIFE!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/e0fb9682-6fe6-42ae-a0d0-bf4fba5271e8.jpegE0FB9682-6FE6-42AE-A0D0-BF4FBA5271E8MARCO VAN BASTEN WALKS AWAY WITH THE SPOILS OF WAR DEEP IN THE HEART OF ENEMY TERRITORY!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/efd3f16b-ed31-4f32-bd44-d276bd0950dd.jpegEFD3F16B-ED31-4F32-BD44-D276BD0950DDPROBABLY ONE OF THE FINEST ENGLISH CLUB SIDES EVER ASSEMBLED, HOWARD KENDALL’S EVERTON TEAM OF THE EARLY NINETEEN EIGHTIES! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/8b673aa2-ed67-4532-bf40-084403acb9ae.jpeg8B673AA2-ED67-4532-BF40-084403ACB9AETHE DEATH OF THE BEAUTIFUL GAME ON THE HEYSEL STADIUM TERRACES! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/8282138f-bc30-4b5c-a8d7-e6d53f0ba3c4.jpeg8282138F-BC30-4B5C-A8D7-E6D53F0BA3C4THE TRUSTY OLD CLASSIC WOULD BE BANISHED TO THE ATTIC- THE KING IS DEAD, LONG LIVE THE KING! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/ed2471ba-8e75-449d-983e-d6199261b3ee.jpegED2471BA-8E75-449D-983E-D6199261B3EEI GUESS THAT’S WHY THEY CALL IT THE BLUES, MANCHESTER CITY DEPART THE FIRST DIVISION! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/318497cd-ce9c-44e1-b3b9-56f419231d79.jpeg318497CD-CE9C-44E1-B3B9-56F419231D79DEIGO MARADONA GETS THINGS UNDERWAY ON AN UNBELIEVABLE NIGHT AT OLD TRAFFORD!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/15a362ff-d9c2-413a-9e90-dcbd0ce820cc.jpeg15A362FF-D9C2-413A-9E90-DCBD0CE820CCVALENCIA’S VERY OWN ARGENTINIAN SUPERSTAR MARIO KEMPES SETS ABOUT BREAKING MY HEART THOUSANDS OF MILES AWAY! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/89fe1c45-5036-496b-87d2-0a22acff85c4.jpeg89FE1C45-5036-496B-87D2-0A22ACFF85C4THE VASTLY UNDERRATED MARTYN BUCHAN & A MAN AHEAD OF HIS TIME, CYRILE REGIS 2021-11-08T23:05:48+00:00monthlyhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/2019/01/02/christmas-time-mickleover-wine-the-story-of-festivities-football-and-the-search-for-nine-points/https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/545F0078-E89A-47C8-ABE7-7F1D9F341CF1.jpeg545F0078-E89A-47C8-ABE7-7F1D9F341CF1EMPTY DREAMS... THERE WAS TO BE NO NINE POINTS OVER CHRISTMAS AND NO NEVER ENDING TIN OF QUALITY STREET! CHEERS SANTA, IT SEEMS YOU’RE NOT A MIRACLE WORKER AFTER ALL! ! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/E202C6DD-23CE-4BEF-A1BB-294F88DD648C.jpegE202C6DD-23CE-4BEF-A1BB-294F88DD648CON THIRTEEN (UNLUCKY FOR SOME) MINUTES, THE ONLY GOAL OF THE GAME IS CELEBRATED BY SCORER, NATHAN JARMAN AND THE EFFERVESCENT SHAQUILLE MCDONALD! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/128B80BA-C5A5-4546-996B-637D70D6C8A8.jpeg128B80BA-C5A5-4546-996B-637D70D6C8A8JON CAPLE, THE MAN FROM THE VALLEYS, HIS EPIC JOURNEY NORTH WASN’T TO BE REWARDED, BUT THERE’D BE OTHER DAYS! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/3FA9BA84-20F0-4098-9103-C7694F77A787.jpeg3FA9BA84-20F0-4098-9103-C7694F77A787MAN DOWN... MARINE MIDFIELDER STEVE IRWIN RECEIVES TREATMENT AFTER SOME CLOSE ATTENTION FROM THE MICKLEOVER SPORTS PLAYERS! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/B7B5FE66-13B7-4906-B195-BBEBC6B49541.jpegB7B5FE66-13B7-4906-B195-BBEBC6B49541THE MASSES CALLED TO ARMS! BOXING DAY AT THE IRONGATE AND THE HOPE OF THAT ALL IMPORTANT ‘AWAYDAY VICTORY’! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/D52147B9-EB9E-4823-8143-FD5F5B444DBC.jpegD52147B9-EB9E-4823-8143-FD5F5B444DBCTHE BIG MAN IN THE LONG RED COAT PONDERING OUR REQUEST OF NINE POINTS FOR THE MIGHTY ‘M’ AND A NEVER ENDING TIN OF QUALITY STREET! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/0C894A01-876A-4E9A-9A94-02D1EED4B7D4.jpeg0C894A01-876A-4E9A-9A94-02D1EED4B7D4BEVERAGES CHOSEN, ITS TIME TO LOOK FORWARD TO BAMBER BRIDGE AND MICKLEOVER... OH YES, AND CHRISTMAS, MUSTN’T FORGET CHRISTMAS!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/A58B4237-ABA7-44C0-AA22-AC53B6292F86.jpegA58B4237-ABA7-44C0-AA22-AC53B6292F86ON THE EDGE, CHARLIE EDGE TORMENTS THE BRIG DEFENCE DURING THAT ELUSIVE AWAYDAY VICTORY!2019-01-02T12:20:54+00:00monthlyhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/2018/12/08/are-you-going-to-scarborough-away-parsley-sage-rosemary-and-thyme-the-story-of-life-on-the-non-league-road/https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2a69528f-d304-4700-9c04-0a5880bc2b2b.jpeg2A69528F-D304-4700-9C04-0A5880BC2B2BTHE GUILTY PARTY, A MAN WHO SEES THINGS THAT DIDN’T REALLY HAPPEN! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/094cd459-9c37-4b97-8773-7700d1ae9ba8.jpeg094CD459-9C37-4B97-8773-7700D1AE9BA8DER KLEINER SCHLINGEL AWAITS PIZZA. HER WAIT WILL PROVE TO BE A LOT SHORTER THAN MY WAIT FOR ANOTHER MARINE ‘AWAYDAY VICTORY’! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/dc0e570c-c636-45bf-a460-ced71ac10102.jpegDC0E570C-C636-45BF-A460-CED71AC10102THE DEERSTALKER IS PUT TO REST, THE HARDY TRAVELER REFRESHED & THE SEARCH FOR THAT MAGICAL AWAYDAY VICTORY CONTINUES https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/420daa46-d933-46b9-923d-b710555c8c42.jpeg420DAA46-D933-46B9-923D-B710555C8C42TRANSPORTED BACK IN TIME AND ITS 1974 AND THE WARRING PARTIES DO BATTLE IN PEASHOLM PARKhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/ceb18bc3-ea89-48be-ad1c-d566fd30ca8a.jpegCEB18BC3-EA89-48BE-AD1C-D566FD30CA8A16:55 SATURDAY 17TH OF NOVEMBER AND THE VICTORS AND THE VANQUISHED EXIT THE ARENA!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/d8df1151-ab24-46c3-9b5a-e33ac43961f9.jpegD8DF1151-AB24-46C3-9B5A-E33AC43961F9THE STAPLE REQUIREMENTS OF THE NON LEAGUE FOOTBALL FAN!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/7b26039d-d893-4013-97a5-32108da28ed5.jpeg7B26039D-D893-4013-97A5-32108DA28ED5SIR, YOUR LUNCH IS SERVED!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/2759d6d7-675f-469d-89d4-1d7064b83b77.jpeg2759D6D7-675F-469D-89D4-1D7064B83B77NEXT STOP, SCARBOROUGH AND A MUCH NEEDED FAMOUS AWAYDAY VICTORY! 2018-12-08T09:31:43+00:00monthlyhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/2018/10/09/getting-close-to-seasons-end/https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1d86b568-6543-4b60-b5c4-d115769cbf06.jpeg1D86B568-6543-4B60-B5C4-D115769CBF06DERWENT PARK IN THE CUMBRIAN BACKWATER OF WORKINGTON, WHERE THOSE CHAMPIONSHIP CHASING COMETS HAVE BEEN PACKING THEM IN ALL SEASON!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/62490046-c08e-4ff5-8281-c5f5b41bbe38.jpeg62490046-C08E-4FF5-8281-C5F5B41BBE38https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/8284e2f7-fc56-4e6e-b9d7-e1c567f6e741.jpeg8284E2F7-FC56-4E6E-B9D7-E1C567F6E741THE IMPRESSIVE MOTO ARENA IN TORUN, POLAND WHERE ONCE AGAIN A GRAND PRIX MEETING WOULD FAIL TO IMPRESS THE CAPACITY CROWD IN A SEASON OF GRAND PRIX DISAPPOINTMENTS!https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/45384f7e-6296-4d1a-bf8c-2f293a973c45.jpeg45384F7E-6296-4D1A-BF8C-2F293A973C45ONCE YOU STEP THROUGH THE DOORS OF THIS FINE DRINKING ESTABLISHMENT EVERYTHING WILL CHANGE FOREVER! THE BARRELS, BERWICK-ON-TWEEDhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/09db0229-a7bd-4533-8c39-a506164d07e8.jpeg09DB0229-A7BD-4533-8C39-A506164D07E8https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1ed24062-c492-4577-8d7e-6d61e92cc5bb.jpeg1ED24062-C492-4577-8D7E-6D61E92CC5BBDERWENT PARK ON A SATURDAY EVENING PROVIDING ME WITH MY WEEKLY FIX OF SPEEDWAY! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/1ff277f0-2976-4b11-9d60-82526ad9d8d7.jpeg1FF277F0-2976-4B11-9D60-82526AD9D8D7THE APTLY NAMED ‘BITTER END’ PUBLIC HOUSE IN COCKERMOUTH, WHERE ENDLESS PINTS OF LAKELAND GOLDEN FLOW WITHOUT COMPROMISE! https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/d2c6ddfa-d2ac-477b-94fe-7a4b533e6b19.jpegD2C6DDFA-D2AC-477B-94FE-7A4B533E6B19THE BIG ‘C’, THE BIG SHAVE AND LITTLE, BIG BRAVE HEARTED KATY, THREE CONSTANTS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR! 2018-11-03T12:47:44+00:00monthlyhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/2018/10/12/its-the-end-of-the-world-as-we-know-it-a-speedway-grand-prix-too-far/https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2db455ca-a51e-426b-a43d-e4321739fca4.jpeg2DB455CA-A51E-426B-A43D-E4321739FCA4BRASSO FOR BAD BACKS https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/ab9d1680-1063-44e6-9764-ed09f567d2cb.jpegAB9D1680-1063-44E6-9764-ED09F567D2CBST JOHNS CATHEDRAL IN TORUŃ WHERE THE BELLS CALL THE FAITHFUL TO MASS https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/9d727beb-7dc4-4d5d-899c-2ea7653ea69c.jpeg9D727BEB-7DC4-4D5D-899C-2EA7653EA69CTHE NEW WORLD CHAMPION TAI WOFFINDEN ALONG WITH SILVER AND BRONZE MEDAL WINNERS BARTOSZ ZMARZLIK AND FREDDIE LINDGREN https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/bdb064a5-1ee8-47d3-94a9-c10a7259f1ba.jpegBDB064A5-1EE8-47D3-94A9-C10A7259F1BATHE BEAUTIFUL BACK STREETS OF ANCIENT TORUŃhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/fac0c9c3-12ef-4222-8895-c3d8552c34d8.jpegFAC0C9C3-12EF-4222-8895-C3D8552C34D8THE TRAIN STANDING ON PLATFORM SIX IS THE 13:37 TO TORUN https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/975c8e36-f19a-4191-8b9a-5cf76662e5ba.jpeg975C8E36-F19A-4191-8B9A-5CF76662E5BATHE LAST DECENT DRINK FOR THREE DAYS!2018-11-03T12:44:29+00:00monthlyhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.com/contact/https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/person-smartphone-office-table.jpegPlaceholder Image2018-10-08T17:36:33+00:00weekly0.6https://thissportinglifedotblog.com/2018/10/08/the-journey-begins/2018-10-08T17:36:33+00:00monthlyhttps://thissportinglifedotblog.comdaily1.02025-10-14T20:01:55+00:00