The Grand Hotel in Brighton was the venue for the opening event of Chris Nash: Sussex Cricketer’s testimonial year. The turnout was excellent; with a supporting cast of fellow team mates including captain Luke Wright, joining in the chat and banter. It is no mean achievement to be offered a testimonial year, normally a player…
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What better way to celebrate St. David’s day than in the company of Welsh footballing legend John Hartson who joined a lunch on behalf of the Sussex cricket Foundation to celebrate the occasion. The former footballer, now turned television soccer pundit on BBC and BT Sports, addressed a keen audience on his career and life.…
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Brighton & Hove Albion are sitting at the top of the championship, expectation around the city is cautiously positive. The Seagulls have knocked on the door of promotion (through the play off’s) three times in the last five years. Last year success seemed finally on the way, yet more heartache. This season confidence is high…
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Graham Taylor was a former Football manager of Watford, Aston Villa, Wolves and England. He was also Chairman of Watford Football Club, having formerly been a football pundit, ex-football manager, and a former player. He was best known as the manager of the England national football team from 1990 to 1993, as well as being…
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Ex footballer Ian Wright plots his rise from a South London Council Estate to Summariser on ‘Match of the Day.’ In his autobiography ‘A life in Football’. He lifts the lid on his career and personal life. In a very honest and self-critical publication. From Sunday morning football to Arsenal legend. Being a professional footballer…
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Observing Ian Botham coming towards you in a very aggressive mood at an airport, is not a pretty site on tour, but this was one of many stories told by darling cricket commentator Henry Blofeld in a short tour of shows with his old BBC Test Match special (TMS) producer Peter Baxter who joined in…
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Arnold Palmer was one of the game of golf’s most colourful and charismatic figures. It was Palmer’s magnificent ability and the way he played the game in the late fifties and sixties that drew the crowds and eventually the TV cameras to the sport. In his career Palmer won 91 professional tour titles including 62…
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The Romford Pelé better known as former footballer Ray Parlour ‘rabona-ed’ an audience of sports fans at Sussex Cricket Club with highly amusing anecdotes from a playing career with Arsenal lasting 12 years (1992-2004). Appearing in 333 games for the club and winning three Premier League titles (1997-98, 2001-02, 2003-04), four FA Cup wins (1993,…
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Having attended a few meetings and late night dinners at The Ivy restaurant & club over the years. It was intriguing to be invited to a small intimate gathering of British Olympic Athletes for a charity sports quiz night event. Raising funds for the Diana Award Charity which is a legacy to Princess Diana’s belief;…
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The only time I played truant as a teenager from school, sneaking back into the house, switching on the TV, was to watch Graham Gooch bat in his first Test Match against Australia at Edgbaston in 1975. No one noticed my brief absence as I was back at school quicker than a Jeff Thompson delivery.…
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Muhammad Ali is the only person in my adulthood, who I queued, three hours in the rain, outside a London bookshop, to briefly meet to get his signature on his latest autobiography. Such was his immense respect, impact and likeability to millions. By then he was suffering from Parkinson’s, his hand with pen was gently…
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Lawrie McMenemy was a man who came from the lower reaches of football to reach the very top. His personal journey is wonderfully told in ‘A Lifetime’s Obsession’ a well overdue autobiography. Saints fans will instinctively love this interesting and thoughtful book, but to enjoy it you don’t have to support Southampton football club who…
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So Manchester United finally got their man. Jose Mourinho becomes the clubs third manager since Alex Ferguson left at the end of 2013 season. Discussions to bring Mourinho to United took over three days, with his agent, Jorge Mendes, and United officials thrashing out a deal. So what was the hold up? The delay in…
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Encouraged by her primary school teacher, Donna Fraser went on to have a successful Athletics career both on and off the track. She is currently the Vice President of British Athletics and involved in Breast cancer awareness with a number of leading charities. Before the starlet took to the stage at the county ground, Tony…
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Four former British World Champion Boxers Alan Minter, Colin McMillan, Charlie Magri and Dave Boy Green visited the Dagenham Roundhouse last Friday to talk about their successful careers as boxing champs, alongside some excellent entertainment. The evening got off to a great start with comedian Colin Cole working the audience in preparation for singer Izzy…
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Having watched football for nearly fifty years I can safely say Leicester City FC winning the Premiership title is the most extra ordinary upset I have ever observed. Until it actually happened nobody could really believe it. But it has. For once the Foxes have out run the hounds of Spurs, Arsenal, Man City, Man…
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Former Royal Marine Commando Neil Laughton, described his day job as business consultant and training executive to over 200 cricket lovers; talking about Antarctic Cricket, Frost Bite and Coastguard Rescues when delivering an informative and interesting talk on his career adventures at Sussex County Cricket Club. British Army Antarctic Cricket Neil mentioned he couldn’t get into…
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Johan Cruyff was regarded as one the greatest players of all time, he won three consecutive European Cups (1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73) with Ajax and went on to play and manage Barcelona to their first European Cup triumph in 1992. Johan Cruyff: Player Manager He was unique as not only as a great footballer winning three…
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