Well we play Bournemouth on Tuesday, but we have looked over the town with a fair to middling tooth comb, so let's move on to Crawley, as we must. The early Saxons called the area Crow's leah, a clearing infested by Crows. So we can see the origin of the name quite easily. The area was just on the edge of what we now call the High Weald, that delightful region between the South and North downs. It was mined heavily by prehistoric man, the Romans used it for iron working too. The town grew and prospered by virtue of it's location, by the 18c the construction of the turnpike road, being virtually equidistant and enroute to London and Brighton it became an ideal location to stop and enjoy a bite to eat and change horses, etc; Does anyone know of a famous Crawley resident made good? My Nan had a friend who lived in Furnace Green, but I'm struggling.
Well Meow, two of the Sussex Sharks team soundly beaten by Hampshire Royals yesterday..., Will Beer and Ben Brown, were both born in Crawley in 1988. Also, I vaguely remember the Boxer who made some unfortunate racist comments, Alan Minter, was associated with Crawley.
He got destroyed by Marvellous Marvin, so that was his comeuppance. Sussex, bar Lukey, got destroyed by everyone yesterday. Hampshire look good for a domestic double to me. As I speak Bopara has just cleaned up Amla, can you believe it!? I love cricket
Daley Thompson used facilities in Crawley to train for the Olympics in 1980 and 1984. - good old wiki
Ok here goes. Yet again. Walsall began life as a small Saxon village. First mentioned in the early 11th century. The name Walsall possibly from the words Walh halh, which means Celt's valley. Perhaps Walsall was a valley or cosy nook of land where Celts lived, before those rotten bullies from Saxonia kicked them out. Alternatively it may have been a halh or small valley belonging to a Saxon called Walla. I digress. By the early 13th century Walsall turned into a small market town. From 1220 Walsall had a weekly market/wagon tailboard sale. It also had an annual fair. In the Middle Ages fairs were like big markets but they were held only once a year. Buyers and sellers would come from all over the West Midlands to attend a Walsall fair. After 1339 Walsall had 2 fairs. By the 14th century it also had a mayor. By our grand standards Medieval Walsall was very small. Its exact population is not known but it was no more than 1,500. The town consisted of just half a dozen small streets. At first many of the people in Walsall made a living from farming but increasingly Walsall became an industrial centre. By the 14th century there was a metalworking industry in Walsall. It gradually grew in importance. Also by the 14th century coal was mined near Walsall. Ironstone was also mined in the area. With raw materials locally available it is no surprise that in the 16th century, 17th century and 18th century the metal working industry in Walsall flourished. The craftsmen of Walsall were known for making equipment for horses such as stirrups, bits and braces. They also made nails and other domestic items such as pots, pans and locks. However despite the growth of industry Walsall was really a market town of no great importance in those years. Meanwhile a grammar school opened in Walsall in 1554. The population of Walsall slowly grew and by the mid 17th century it was probably about 2,000. It was then a small town. However from the late 18th century the industrial revolution transformed Walsall from a market town to an industrial city. In 1799 a branch canal was dug to Walsall. All this had led to exactly the same result as in Oldham. Industrial revolution, men bestriding about the place, in the highest of stove pipe top hats. A population that increased to c80,000 over a couple of centuries. Which certainly landed them in the same boat as Oldham, a considerably bigger craft than the 3 man version Jerome K Jerome, (arguably the town's most famous son) wrote about.
Back in January 2010, my Ex made me leave her house fairly early, she lived lived in Birmingham and by this time made it obvious she was going to dump me (for no apparent reason.... and I never did find out why) and my train, which was pre-booked, wasn't till about 8pm that evening and it was about 1ish. So I had about 7 hours to wait and nothing to do but it turned out it was the FA Cup 3rd Round. Both Walsall and Aston Villa were playing at home (Walsall in the league), so I thought I might go to one of the matches, something to do after all. So I spent a while trying to decide whether to go to Villa or Walsall. In the end I went to Villa, just as well really the game at Walsall was postponed due to the cold weather! True story.
A Walsall fan booking their train ticket today will pay £35 each way from Walsall to Fratton Depart Walsall 8:13. Change at Birmingham New Street and Southampton Central (don't forget to pull the flush in the station). Arrive at Fratton 12:42; time for a bite to eat and a pint before the game. Depart Fratton 17:31 (or 18:31). Change as above. Arrive Walsall 21:38 or 22:38
Swindon, XTC, Magic Roundabout. [video=youtube;V0yxJsW0wX8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0yxJsW0wX8[/video]
I remember going to Swindon away for the very purpose of seeing that roundabout. Well it couldn't have been for the stadium or the football as it was cold and wet, and we lost 1-0. But who needs one roundabout when five can do the job.
Hi Pompeymeowth. I have enjoyed reading your info on the origin of the places Pompey's opposition come from but what is the story for Portsmouth. We Saints lads usually close the book if we come across Portsmouth written any where on a page so we know nothing about your place other than it is towards the land of the rising sun. PS For some obscure reason my grandchildren thought it was fit and proper that I should accompany them to Gunwharf Quay today on a birthday shopping trip (not my birthday I hasten to add). Nice shops and attractive location but the place where they decided we should eat was a chinese workers' canteen. It was noisy, the food was horrid and I have had indegestion ever since. No wonder your fans are so stroppy if they can't get a decent meal and end up with stomach cramps.
Nottingham. I shall draw a very swift veil over the usual Robin Hood tomfoolery. HP sauce was invented here, by a certain F G Garton, who traded away his rights to the recipe to pay off a debt. It was called HP because he believed the Houses of Parliament served something similar in their restaurant. It's also known as Wilson's gravy, after the great Labour statesman, as Harold was rumoured to cover his meals from the HP bottle, liberally with relish. William Lee, a Calverton clergyman, invented the first stocking knitting machine in 1589. Queen Elizabeth I worried it would cause mass unemployment. Lee was therefore pressed into taking his frame to France. And we all know what happened after that. Ask any lady whether she would prefer stockings from Paris or Mansfield. Shin guards for football players were first worn by Nott's County's fancy Dan neighbours. It was a tough old game in those days. Hacking of shins, tripping and elbowing were positively encouraged and the goalkeeper could be charged out of the way of a shot even if he was nowhere near the ball. What would Didier make of all that!
