I went to Twickenham to watch the above match. After the Falklands war I expected the English fans to be supporting Australia but it seemed that most of them were supporting Argentina. When I asked why that was it was because Australian fans were arrogant and took every opportunity to criticise England. It was a bit strange though. There was a girl in front of me, who was from South Africa, who had an Argentinian flag yet when Australia scored she'd wave her flag enthusiastically.
The Falklands War was 34 years ago so it would not be an issue for people today. Many people in the crowd would not have been born then and a sizeable chunk would have been too young to remember it. As an aside, I think it was always called the Falkland Conflict for some reason...made it sound like a marriage guidance issue.
Interesting incident http://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/rugby-union/10610811/phipps-pushes-physio
Peter, the accounts for 15/16 have been released. We've been awaiting your translation with baited breath. You were suspected dead.
I didn't get a notification from Companies House! I'm pretty busy but the highlights are: Turnover down from £84m to £42m Amounts payable upon promotion to the Premier League (I assume bonuses) £10m Loss in 2015-2016 £20.7m as opposed to profit of £11.5m in 2014-2015 (this is due to reduced turnover and the bonuses) Financial Fair Play Rules - to avoid a fine there will be an equity contribution by the holding company of £3m Turnover changes include: Attendance income - down from £9m to £7m Other match day income - down from £6m to £2m TV & FL distributions - down from £60m to £30m Commercial income - down from £7.1m to £1.7m Staff costs - wages & salaries - down from £50.1 to £26.5m Player costs: Costs: At 30/06/15 £65m Additions £10m Disposals £(13m) At 30/06/16 £62m Amortisation: At 30/06/15 £27.3m Charge for year £20.7m Disposals £(6.3m) At 30/06/16 £41.7m WDV @ 30/06/16 £20.1m WDV @ 30/06/15 £37.7m Debtors arising from player transfers - up from £6m to £12m Creditors < one year: Bank loans - new £23m from nothing in 2014-2015 Creditors arising from player transfers - down from £14.6m to £8.5m Creditors > one year: Creditors arising from player transfers - none in 2015-2016 from £3.4m in 2014-2015 This is what relegation does to you.
staff wages down from 50 to 25 million is pretty impressive. No wonder some past clubs have struggled with no relegation clauses inserted in contracts. Suppose wages are back up now to over 50 million though. Christ I had to move seats cos I wouldn't pay a grand for me and the lad. Different ****ing world
Interestingly, looks like we made all player sales for cash up front. Not bad if the reported figures are close to true.
Yes, people never go on about events from over 34 years ago, do they? Like Bannockburn, sending an English king home to think again,the Battle Of The Boyne, songs from the time of the French Revolution. No mention of us having to feel apologetic about what our great, great, great, great, great grandparents did (whilst other countries aren't expected to feel apologetic about what theirs did).
Although I agree with your sentiments I do think that most young people of today don't see history as having any relevance. When I was into music in the 60s and 70s I would still listen and hunt out music before my time. Nowadays people sit back and only consider what is pushed down their throats/eyes/nose/whatever.
Not everyone singing about the RAF and German bombers and two World Wars and one World Cup are old fogies like us, Pete. BTW, amazing crowd for a game involving two other countries. I wonder what they would have got for a RL game involving those two countries?
Yes, I looked at the ticket website and there was only a few seats available but then when I got inside I saw that they hadn't opened up the top tier and one end and one side were only half full or the middle tier with the bottom tier full. It does seem that rugby union fans just go along for the entertainment.
I remember Australia, reigning World Champions, playing a World Cup game at the Boulevard in front of a crowd of 3,000, many of them there on tickets which had been given away. Earlier that day City had played Mansfield in a Div 4 game in front of over 9,000.
In the sixties I used to go to reserve matches at Boothferry Park and they would get more than 3,000.
For many people rugby internationals have become just another event for the well-heeled to tick off the list. I saw this morning that Glastonbury 2017 had sold out within an hour when no-one knows the lineup yet. It's become a holiday destination rather than a music festival!
