Years before there was a third one – that of running a pub – but this was in the day when the footballer player wasn’t the rock n’ roll star that they became in the 70′s. These players were in the limelight and nearly all of them wanted to stay there.

There was an option of taking up management, which meant after spending much of your twilight years sitting on the bench you ended back there yet again. But this time it was in a suit and this time you controlled who gathered the splinters. Upside to this was that you are once again in the public eye. Everybody was looking at you again. Downside obviously is getting your team to win matches.

Some liked this pressure. All of them loved still being in the game. But for some others.. well they could talk a good game…

…As well as play it of course, but when they came to that fork in the road they decided to head towards the bright studio lights instead of the flooded ones.

Side note: Rodney Marsh did some coaching of a few American teams, but never took up the reigns this side of the pond.George Best went the same way as Lineker and Hanson did years later – straight to the comfy sofa.

One of Best’s most notable televisual appearances was with his old mate Rodney Marsh on a Granada TV programme presented by Tony Wilson (some time TV presenter, some time record company mogul, full time big mouth). The show was called “Best and Marsh – The Perfect Match” and featured Wilson taking to Georgie who reminisced (on that sofa) about their time playing football in the 1970′s.

Now usually You Tube is the place to find clips for these sort of things, but sadly this time it has let us down. » There is a TVS (Television South) version of the same format, this time with Mick Channon and Alan Ball, done a couple of years later which you can watch here. It was called… teeth grindingly… “The Channon and Ball Show”.

(For those who don’t get that – there was a comedy double act who were big around that time called Cannon and Ball, so as you can see… the title was a terrible pun on their name.)

As for clips of Wilson with Best & Marsh there’s only this tiny snippet which has Tony Wilson signing off from the show and introducing some clips of Marsh in action:

- Additionally I just found this site: Classic Football DVD’s which has a description of the programme:

22nd Jan 1988 - 18th March 1988 Tony Wilson hosted this eight part series, prompting George Best and Rodney Marsh to reminisce on two 1970′s matches plucked from the archives in each half-hour programme. Although this was a non-networked Granada production, the footage was not exclusively concerned with North West clubs and some other region’s screened it the following year.

The shows were themed as follows: Show 1. George & Rod, 2. Goalkeepers, 3. Great Teams: Derby & Leeds, 4. The Liverpool Years, 5. Local Derby’s, 6. Goalscorers, 7. British Clubs in Europe, 8. The FA Cup.

As it says it was originally just shown in Granadaland (the North West) but eventually and because of the subjects it was seen elsewhere around the country and as mentioned above the format was replicated by TVS with Alan Ball & Mick Channon.

In fact the viewership of the Best and Marsh programme got so high that there was a demand for more. So in the early 90′s the two of them went on the road and did some live shows.

Title music:

The programme needed some music, so who was the producer – and presenter of the show – going to find for this…? Hmm…
It just so happened that he knew of this struggling indie band who owed him a favour…

[See post to listen to audio] » New Order – Best and Marsh [See post to listen to audio] » Best and Marsh (Perkowitz Remix) The track was a B side on… [See post to listen to audio] » New Order – Round And Round (12″ Mix)

Additionally I found the following clip from Best and Marsh which show the band in the process and talking about the of recording this tune. It was this track which led them to do the Englandneworder song…

There were many different versions/interpretations of that song about a few footballers in the 70′s, but when I were a kid/round are way the version we did was about the above individual and his style of walking as well as a certain bit woman’s attire that he allegedly wore.

I thought that one was especially fitting since he look very like the subject of that musical – and because in my youth it was the long haired-Jesus bearded hard drinking-womaniser that I saw.

But that was only the later half of his heyday – Georgie boy had started his playing career in the 60′s and because he had a look that well…pretty much everybody had at the time, but because he was famous was sometimes named as an additional member of a popular beat combo around at the time:

Via Wikipedia:    …Best hit the headlines at the age of twenty when he scored two goals in a European Cup quarter-final match against Benfica in 1966, and his long hair prompted the Portuguese press to dub him “O Quinto Beatle”.

Best’s talent and showmanship made him a crowd and media favourite. Called “the fifth Beatle”, for his long hair, good looks and extravagant celebrity lifestyle, he even appeared on Top of the Pops in 1965.

- His footballing time in the 60′s at Man United:

Best was discovered in Belfast by scout Bob Bishop, whose telegram to United manager Matt Busby read: “I think I’ve found you a genius.” He was given a trial and signed up by chief scout Joe Armstrong.

He made his first team debut, aged 17, on 14 September 1963 against West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford in a 1–0 victory. He was too young to contend for a first-team place for much of the first half of the season. His second appearance came on 28 December against Burnley. This First Division match saw Best’s first goal for United in a 5–1 win. Matt Busby used Best much more after the New Year and by the end of the season, Best had made 26 appearances, scoring six goals. Manchester United finished second, four points behind Liverpool.

In his second season, Best and Manchester United claimed the league title.

The 1966–67 season was again successful, as Manchester United claimed the league title by four points. The following season, Best became a European Cup winner after scoring in the final against Benfica. United won 4–1 and Best was later crowned European Footballer of the Year and Football Writers’ Association Player of the Year.

More in a moment, first a few words from our sponsors…

[See post to listen to audio] » George Best – Tyne Tex Anoraks & Coats

[See post to listen to audio] » George Best advertises grooming aids » Link to video

- In 1970, at the height of his fame, a documentary was made. It was called The World of Georgie Best and it followed the footballer’s story from Belfast to the dressing rooms of Old Trafford. The programme was written and narrated by the great sports journalist Hugh McIlvanney.

Years later in one of the other many documentaries George reflects on his time playing for Man U and about a house he had at the time which became a tourist attraction…

[See post to listen to audio]

» George Best’s Dreamhouse

- In that programme was a song composed and sung by The Sorrows lead singer Don Fardon:

- Don Fardon – Belfast Boy

- Additionally there’s this other track, which also has the title “Belfast Boy” but is a different song from the one above. This very strange one is sung by the possibly unfortunately named Chocolate Barry…

After he left Man U there was a short period in the (footballing wilderness) before finding himself in the United States, first at the (Elton John partly-owned) Los Angeles Aztecs for a short period. But returning to the UK and playing for Fulham he enjoyed a bit of an Indian summer playing alongside his old drinking mate Rodney Marsh.

United States

Best played for three clubs in the United States: Los Angeles Aztecs, Fort Lauderdale Strikers and later San Jose Earthquakes; he also played for the Detroit Express on a European tour. Best revelled in the anonymity United States afforded him after England and was a success on the field, too, scoring 15 goals in 24 games in his first season with the Aztecs and named as the NASL’s best midfielder in his second…

After another brief return to the UK, this time to play for Hibs:

…Best returned to the USA to play for San Jose Earthquakes in what was officially described as a “loan”, though he only managed a handful of appearances for Hibs in the First Division in the following season.

…In his third season in the States, Best scored only once in 12 appearances. His moves to Fort Lauderdale and San Jose were also unhappy, as his off-field demons began to take control of his life again.

Then by the time the 80′s rolled around the veteran once household name was a shadow of his former self. He was turning into a journeyman footballer who was pitching up at various football clubs anywhere in the world, looking for a game.

His last stand was in late 1982 when Bournemouth manager Don Megson signed the 36-year-old Best for the Third Division side, and he remained there until the end of the season, when he finally retired from football at the age of 37.

Best was still a well known personality after he stopped playing and could be seen regularly in the nightclubs as well as on the telly.

- In the 80′s along with his then girlfriend Mary Stavin (Miss World 1977) created a music and fitness program, released on record with a free booklet with photographs of Best and Stavin doing all the moves. It was called Shape Up and Dance.

Stavin was one of the many “dolly birds” that George went out with…

» George Best – My Ideal Woman [See post to listen to audio] » Lucy – Georgie [See post to listen to audio] » Her – Georgie You’ve Broken My Heart [See post to listen to audio]

The other quote that everybody remembers was the one with him in a hotel room with loads of cash on the table, bottles of champagne and a naked Miss World in the bed. Upon seeing all of this the room service waiter said to him: “George, where did it all go wrong…?”

Lastly for now and coming back to the bit at the beginning – As mentioned he had a resemblance to a biblical character with that long hair and beard…

With eternal and grateful thanks to Stu Davis, without whom nearly everything posted here wouldn't have been possible.

	[See post to listen to audio] » Harmony Blend – Blue City (Paloma Blanca)
	[See post to listen to audio] » The Dollies – Rah Rah Rah for Manchester United

The Man City song was original found and posted by Left and to the Back whose self torture seems to be in finding old records which were (for the most part) rightfully ignored.

This one… is there a scale of obscureness…? Because this one is something like 9/100th obscure.

Left and to the Back writes…

“The title “Blue City” should have been a screaming giveaway of course, but I’m thick like that. In a way, I’m glad I did take this one home – the single appears to be a Euro-disco soccer-based take on “Una Paloma Blanca”, complete with Linn drum “peooing!” noises, used here to an effect not heard since Anita Ward’s “Ring My Bell”. Clearly the market for disco-loving Manchester City fans was no stronger in 1978 than it is today, as the single flopped.”

He goes on to write about John Schroeder (who’s been previously featured on here) and his link to Creation Records and the brothers Gallagher who… etc.

The Man Utd song I have zero information about. It sounds like something recorded in the 60′s and it helps any poor illiterate EmYou fan out by spelling out the name of the club for them.
- Bonus bit at the end: Audio from an old episode of Coronation Street with Stan and Hilda Ogden.

It was where their chase for the title took a kick to the head when they drew at Crystal Palace.

With this result and the loss of their talismanic (or just manic as it was) captain for the rest of the season, their grip of the trophy slipped and the Championship went to Blackburn Rovers that year.

Remember that so-called fan (who will not be named, it’s better if he lives in ignominy), remember what he claimed, after he got out of his seat and ran down to the hoardings, to have shouted ?

He claimed that he said:

“Off, off, off, it’s an early bath for you, Cantona…”

Which has got to be the most polite berating ever heard. At a rugger game maybe, but never at a football match. What he actually said was: “‘You dirty French bastard. Fcuk off back to France.”

That moment of madness for Eric the red was captured not only by camera, but audibly too. It’s memory lives on because of the commentator Jonathan Pearce, who I think was still on Capital Gold Sport at that time, in his description of the event that unfolded in front of him.

PhilB, who has been featured on F&M previously with his England (& KLF) Mini Mix, took this Jono Pearce moment and added some music:

[See post to listen to audio] » PhilB – Cantona Oh My Goodness Me

As mentioned above PhilB did a KLF Mini-Mix and there’s a link here with Cantona and another track which was originally thought to be something from the KLF but in the end wasn’t. Or was it ?
Via Wikipedia:

” KLF were themselves apparently the victims of a “hoax” when an outfit called “1300 Drums featuring the Unjustified Ancients of M.U.” released a novelty single to cash-in on the popularity of Manchester United footballer Eric Cantona. 1300 Drums even made a KLF-style Top of the Pops appearance, with the “band” wearing Cantona masks. The authorship of “Ooh Aah” remains unresolved: at least one source maintains that Drummond and Cauty were 1300 Drums.”

[See post to listen to audio] » 1300 Drums & Unjustified Ancients of M.U – Ooh Aah Cantona

More Cantona:
- Oh This Is Bad: Part 2

Extra Reading:
- The Guardian > Cantona’s kung fu kick
- Sporting Deviance > Eric Cantona versus Crystal Palace

(Willie) had two spells with the club and managed to fall out with chairman Bob Lord during both of them, no mean achievement, and went on to play league football until the age of 37 before finally hanging up his boots….

… Morgan established himself as one of the best wingers in the league. He had great close control, could beat defenders almost at will and was a superb crosser of the ball…

… Such was his form that he was called up for Scotland, only the third Burnley player to be capped by the Scots…

… His debut for United came on the right wing – the forward line that day was Willie Morgan, Brian Kidd, Denis Law, Bobby Charlton and George Best…

… He signed for United at a time when they were about to go into a decline although Morgan blossomed despite the lack of honours. He was relegated with United in 1974 but was in the side that bounced straight back and even scored against Burnley that season in a League Cup tie. United, a second division club, beat first division Burnley.

That promotion was the first honour at club level for him but he was involved in the highly publicised court case against manager Tommy Docherty and left United to return to Turf Moor.

» Take a moment to read the whole thing.

As for the song…

Whoever recorded the following song: “Willie Morgan On The Wing” also thought it would be a jape to call themselves Tristar Airbus. (Geddit… wing…Airbus…Nah it’s not funny at all) And now thanks to this moment of brainfartiness we’ll never know who it was. Which is probably a good thing.

[See post to listen to audio]» Tristar Airbus – Willie Morgan On The Wing

To accompany that one about a Scotia winger at Old Trafford – this is by another unknown (Scottish) singer:

[See post to listen to audio]» Unknown Artist – United, United

It is an early start for me, but an even earlier one for the home supporters who have to drive up the M1/get the first train from Euston/fly from Dublin.       [got one in early there...]

Sadly though even with Sky bigging up the match we will not see all the players on stage for this play; Robinho has an ankle, Adebayor will probably be banned, Crock Santa Cruz has just returned to training and the main protagonist in this particular footballing soap opera episode will also be sitting in the stands. Which means either Bellamy up front on his own or even…whisper it… Benjani back in there.

At the other end of the pitch there will still be a score to settle even with the “big names” missing. Utd still see themselves as the dominant force and will want to show that money doesn’t always buy you happiness.

There was a compilation album released quite a few years back (who’s title I borrowed for this post) and I’m using this as inpiration by choosing acts who are from there and who have sang about there.

[See post to listen to audio] » The Fall – City Hobgoblins

[See post to listen to audio] » Elbow – Forget Myself

[See post to listen to audio] » Oasis – Round Are Way

[See post to listen to audio] » Ian Brown – Longsight M13

[See post to listen to audio] » Doves – M62 Song

and finally…
[See post to listen to audio] » The Beautiful South – Manchester

This is only a few of the many that I could have chosen from.

Additional: If you are wondering where I got those images with the dog and the teams, I found them at this excellent website. Although I created the Man City with their new 3rd shirt myself.

I haven’t done a list of my favourite footie movies, but if I did this would be in a UEFA Europa Cup place. Maybe even a Champions League spot.

Parminder Nagra in: BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM

Oh and I believe Kiera Knightly was in there somewhere too…

The film – apart from the usual dreams of playing in the big leagues/beats all the odds/setbacks, etc to get there – also had many other subplots thrown in.

For anyone who still hasn’t (seen it) yet, here’s a brief synopsis:

Like most everyone else in England, Jessmindar “Jess” Bahmra [Parminder Nagra] idolises David Beckham. But Jess is different from most fans; she’s a talented player in her own right. Unfortunately, her traditional Indian parents have other plans for their youngest daughter. They expect Jess to follow in the Indian tradition like her sister, Pinky.

When Jess meets Jules [Keira Knightley], who plays for a local female football team, she pursues her dream and begins to play, keeping her participation a secret from her parents and often leading to disastrous results. To complicate matters even more, both Jess and Jules are enamored with their coach, Joe [Jonathan Rhys Meyers]. Ultimately, Jess has to decide whether to live life on her terms or act in accordance with her parents’ wishes.

Via Rotten Tomatoes

Wasn’t just a footie movie, but an excellently viewed look at a multi-cultural life in Britain and was a springboard for the stars who both went to Hollywood.

As for the match sequences in the film, I think they pulled it off. They looked believable and not staged. I think they got actual football players in and not just actors. But the actors themselves pulled it off, Parminder Nagra especially with the scene when putting the washing out in the back garden and trying to curl one around the clothes hanging on the line.

The Soundtrack:

Is decent… It has a couple of ex-Spice Girls on there. Including yes, even rare outing from Posh herself.

Mel C’s “Independence Day” makes the list but another song of hers – “I Turn To You” – which was in a key scene of the film, didn’t.

There were a few other tracks on the film and didn’t make soundtrack. No idea as to why.

A particular absent one was Curtis Mayfield’s Move On Up. Why didn’t they include that ?

But what was on the CD was some funny lines from the movie…
[See post to listen to audio] “It’s Beckham’s corner”
[See post to listen to audio] “Can’t make round Chappatis”
[See post to listen to audio] “The offside rule is…”

…as well as a fantastic Bhangra version of familiar Soca music tune previously featured on F&M, which was used on the end titles of the film and featured the cast members dancing along to the tune:

[See post to listen to audio] » Bina Mistry – Hot Hot Hot

- But the most outstanding track on the CD is this one which gets me up dancing (yes that’s right, even me) every time I hear it, is this one:

[See post to listen to audio] » B21 – Darshan

Good film, great music.
Have to go and watch it again now.

Look don’t blame me. I am only the messenger.

Ok the advanced warning is given, time to insult your ears with this musical homage to another player, which like yesterday with Juninho, is regarded as a messiah at the club.

You don’t need me to tell you about Eric.

You do..? Just a little bit then:

The now retired enfant terrible spends his time with the occasional acting gig and managing the France beach soccer squad. He has been offered a coaching job back at Old Trafford (because yeah, there’s no difference between beach soccer the and Premier League), but has refused because of the Glazer family. Although the word is that he has softened with age and is now thinking about it.

- -

A song that somehow got out, was done by some unknown “artists” and the name they chose for the occasion – appropriately enough – was “Beach”. The song title is a strange one too. Did he suffer some (unreported) memory loss ..?

[See post to listen to audio]
» Beach – You Are Cantona

Hey stop throwing the shoes, I told you it isn’t my fault.

I need to distract you from the abysmal effort above…. ah how about this one… it actually mentions Cantona in the lyrics:

[See post to listen to audio] » Black Lace – I Am The Mimic Man

*ducks a major barrage of footware heading this way*

OW ! Ah come on it worked didn’t it ? You’ve now forgotten about the first song. But are now not forgiving me for that one…

All right I’ll make it up to you.

Here’s a track from Ash done in 1996. They got permission to use the photograph from that incident for the single’s cover:

[See post to listen to audio] » Ash – Kung Fu

Nothing…? .. not a single goal..?

What I did see Ronnie Ronaldo falling down every time he was challenged, I should have done something with the prediction league where the players had to guess how many.

- Oh I did promise to post something from the winners didn’t I.   Me and my big mouth…

I was hoping that the other side would have pulled off an upset because I had a really good bad one lined up for them. There was a tenuous connection to them with the singer purportedly being a fan of the team, but I’ll have to save that for the next time they appear in a cup final.

Whatever decade that will be…

*zing !*

But they didn’t and the other ones did so let’s have a dig through the bin here and see what I’ve got…

Ah ! One from The Georgie Boys (gee not dee) and a 60′s sounding tribute to Fergie and his boys – including Lee Sharpe, Brian McClaire, Paul Parker and others. So that will give you an idea of the period it was recorded.

[See post to listen to audio]
» The Georgie Boys – Red Devils

- and here’s a repost from last October, because it seems appropriate after watching (most of) this match:

[See post to listen to audio]
» ALRN – Another Wasted Afternoon

This gives us the chance to see the new Clown Prince of goalkeepers in action…

…Before he puts his boots back on again for Sunday.

(Cudicini is cup tied for the League Cup Final, but is eligible to play in the UEFA cup. Redknapp though is wisely saving Carlo for the Prem league run in which will be a relegation 6-pointer at home to Middlesbore the following Wednesday.)

- I want to post one for each team but I was having difficulty choosing something for Spurs because of a certain musical act associated with them.

So what I’ve done is gone back to one I posted last May when old Hurry up ‘arry was in another Cup Final with another team…

In that post (if you can’t be arsed clicking that link) I added one done by the late great Ian Dury.
The reason being (obviously) is that the song is called “Hurry Up Harry” and in the lyrics it sings about going up the Wembley Way.

Now I know neither the song or that line is about either of these things (if you do want to find out try here) but it was convenient for the occasion and is a flag of convenience again with a remixed version I stumbled across:

[See post to listen to audio] » Ian Dury & The Blockheads – (S)mash It Up Harry (Remix)

I think that the Blockheads are probably more associated with the residents of Upton Park than of White Hart Lane, so this could be an insult to some Hammers fans. But in my defence Redknapp was the boss before he jumped ship to Southampton (and then to Pompey) before going back to the Saints and then back yet again to Pompey until he abandoned them for….

Now for the other team.

Again I wanted to find something local* to them and happened upon something done by another established English musical act who call themselves loyal supporters:

*Well to their fanbase in Guildford at least…

The Forest Hill, London born Francis Rossi with his partner in Quo – the Woking, Surrey born* Rick Parfitt, did this one for their 1994 FA Cup Final appearance:

*See I told you.

[See post to listen to audio] » Status Quo & The 1994 Manchester United Squad -Come On You Reds

Some fun facts for you fact fans !

- The song was a rewritten version of Burning Bridges (you know it – the one with; “…On and of and on again…” Burrm burrum. “…On and off again…”)

- This was technically the last number one single Status Quo ever had. (Technically because the single was release as: “by Manchester United”)

- Some interesting lyrics to begin the song:

I will of course next week post a song for the winners and I think that it is the first time I wish that – looking at the other stuff I have from both teams – that nobody actually wins on Sunday…

Is it possible to cancel the final because of lack of interest….?