The Blog of Richard Nightingale
St Augustine, FL - 10.22.2020
This blog was born out of boredom. Cooped up in St Augustine, FL, sitting out the pandemic and running out of options on Netflix and Amazon Prime Video. The corporate training in me should outline a vision for the blog, something along the lines of an idealistic emotional future statement, but that ain't happening.
I'm going to collate several blogs that I have written over the years for different media into one spot and, for the most part, write new content about Soccer. The culture, business, and people of the game. Don't be surprised if occasionally I go off on a tangent and write about a random topic or slap up a quote. Apologies in advance if any of the content in the stories I recount is flawed. Not intentional.
Ultimately, this will be therapy for me personally, and I hope for you, bring a smile to your face and even inspire a comment for you to leave me.
And if you enjoy what you read, recommend it to a friend, and pay it forward!
2015: President of Pittsburgh Riverhounds (USL) ... watching them on TV in the bar at Highmark Stadium, loosing away at St Louis FC, with minutes left. Salvaged a 1-1 draw. Houdini would have been proud. Can't remember who scored for us; know he didn't the rest of the season. Lovely fella though, and took some time off during the season, claiming he was having fitness issues. Seriously! Was good of him to spare the fans having to watch him. I recall he showed up for pre-season a good 10 pounds overweight, seemed to always have the nosebag on ... never saw a pie he didn't eat. Eventually released, mutual parting of ways.
JERUSALEM ... William Blake (1757 - 1827)
1. And did those feet in ancient time
walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy lamb of God
on England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the countenance divine
shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
among those dark satanic mills?
2. Bring me my bow of burning gold!
Bring me my arrows of desire!
Bring me my spear! O clouds, unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire!
I will not cease from mental fight.
nor shall my sword sleep in my hand,
till we have built Jerusalem
in England's green and pleasant land.
The unofficial anthem of English fans worldwide. No more stirring and emotional experience than hearing and watching the St George flags being waved before the start of an England game.
As of writing 7/11/24 England have just beaten Netherlands to reach Euro 2024 Final. Got a really dubious penalty, and then a spectacular winner from Ollie Watkins. England fans have been remarkable, both in their criticism and support of the Three Lions. It's never been easy to follow England, they can snatch defeat from the jaws of victory at any moment. We have not won a major trophy since 1966, a drought of 58 years. Having just turned over the Tories after 14 years of mediocrity, I hope we can continue the momentum and see off a very good Spain team. Sunday's game should be a great showcase. As a country a win would be an unbelievable spark to the lives of so many ordinary people. Momentum is everything in sports and the hope is that even if just for an hour, a day, a week we can galvanize as a country.
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