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Football talk
Raoul Simons, Evening Standard14 Feb 2008
Arsenal and Chelsea back plan for overseas games, Daniel Day-Lewis is a lion and Gordon Brown a Lillywhite, while Barnet's star player has a brush with the law
Gunners and Blues both keen to climb upon the 39th step
Arsenal and Chelsea are two of the prime movers behind the Premier League's plan for overseas fixtures. It is understood both Gunners managing director Keith Edelman and Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon spoke very strongly in favour of the move at last Thursday's meeting of all 20 clubs. Another key advocate was former West Ham managing director Peter Storrie who is now at Portsmouth. All three chiefs - from clubs with significant levels of Russian investment - argued that going global is essential for the League to remain competitive in the face of rival sporting attractions.
Day-Lewis nuts about Millwall
Is Daniel Day-Lewis the last of the Bushwackers? The Charlton-born actor spoke of his south London roots during his Bafta acceptance speech on Sunday and described the terraces at Millwall as one of the "playgrounds" of his youth. Do any Lions fans recall Day-Lewis at The Den? Talk doubts the authenticity of one posting on a Millwall website this week which claimed: "Me and Daniel used to share a bag of monkey nuts and a Wagon Wheel before acting out a scene from the Scottish play. It used to go down a storm at the back of the Cold Blow." More Gangs Of New Cross tales are welcome at the email address below.
Spurs are prime candidates
Gordon Brown has revealed a soft spot for Tottenham. Asked by Eamonn Holmes if he followed an English team as well as Raith Rovers, the Prime Minister recalled a childhood admiration for Spurs inspired by their 1960s Scottish contingent of Bill Brown, Dave Mackay and John White. Tartan imports to White Hart Lane have dried up in modern times with the exception of Alan Hutton, who joined from Rangers last month. Given the demands of the day job, Brown won't have seen the Glasgow-born defender play so it would be no surprise, suggests one Westminster wag, if he commissioned a Hutton report.
Etherington's Derby delight
Matthew Etherington may have needed rehab for gambling addiction, but the West Ham winger has fond memories of bashing the bookies. Asked by the Racing Post for his best betting moment, Etherington said: "Backing Westmead Hawk to win the Greyhound Derby both times. The first year he won it I had £5,000 each-way at 25-1." With winnings on that scale (payout: £166,250), imagine how much he may have lost before checking into the Sporting Chance clinic last year.
Puncheon driven to distraction
Barnet's star player, Jason Puncheon, missed his side's 2-1 defeat by Brentford on Tuesday after being stopped by police on suspicion of driving without insurance. The 21-year-old was taken to a police station for questioning and, as a result, manager Paul Fairclough was forced into a late team change. Puncheon was, however, back at the club in time to play in yesterday's behind-closed-doors friendly with Dagenham and Redbridge, which the Bees lost 4-1.
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