We've won the Olympics

Would you believe it, we beat the French again. Even more amusing after the recent diatribes of Jacques Chirac! Channel 4 made me laugh last night when they said his menu at the royal meal would be humble pie followed by sour grapes.

Anyway, I think it will be great for the country but awful for grass roots sports - I've been saying this for a while in that all the money that was available (which wasn't for Chalfont St Peter or the areas - well except Gerrards Cross as they have a lottery director on their board and have had 3 big lottery grants in ten years) will now be sucked up by the Olympics. So ironically just when all the athletes and sports people will be requiring backing they might find the money has gone elsewhere.

The Daily Express reporter was saying something similar on BBC news 24 last night - however, he also mentioned the fact that England Hockey couldn't afford to run its own pitch at Milton Keynes how will they run the new one in Stratford. Well he needs to be clear of his facts, it was a monumental cock up by England Hockey that screwed that one up - somehow even though all clubs gave money to the stadium - which almost broke Chalfont St Peter Hockey Club at the time - it never owned the stadium I believe.

Speaking of England Hockey being a complete waste of money - one of my favourite topies - all those regional directors of hockey employed by Hockey England - who practically never come in contact with us - and who we pay close to £2k a year for the privelidge of - they have further withdrawn services I noted in a recent email:

"....Active Sports funding in Bucks will end in March 2006 and Bucks will therefore need to look for ways to continue to fund development locally. One idea is to set up District Development groups who would each employ a "Community Sports Coach" and thereby greatly assist those clubs who become involved in the scheme. The way to achieve such Development groups is the focus of discussion at the meeting."

Amusingly when I spoke to Rich Beer he was telling me how much they did but they have to spread their resources thinly across the South East - well if no one is getting any benefit from their services - why bother at all - save grass roots the funding problems and let them plough it back in to lower membership fees or match fees - which would surely encourage more people to join.

Dug out the Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon LP to listen to - vinyl is nowhere near as good as CD - not sure why people say it is better. Also been listening to Ministry of Sounds Clubbers Guide to 2005 again - an awful Guns 'n' Roses Sweet Child of Mine cover, Sweet Dreams and a couple of other covers. I'm feeling old...