Tuesday, 5 June 2018

Another early bath*

The blues are still blue
Two iconic photographs appeared on my Twitter feed today. The first is a timely reminder that we're only a couple of weeks away from the World Cup kicking off in the former USSR. England, as per usual, haven't got the slightest chance of getting anywhere near the finals; unlike in 1970 when Alf Ramsey took his squad to Mexico as defending champions - 1966 and all that. And though we came close, we weren't close enough. But I just love this photo - everything, the sky, the lads' tracksuits, even the curtains on the coach, is a shimmering blue. With the exception of Alan Ball's red shirt; there's always one.

The green green grass
Exhibit B is that rare thing - a bunch of thugs looking almost wistful. Leeds Utd were, for much of the seventies, known as Dirty Leeds. They would knock seven bells out any opposition they played on a Saturday afternoon. Bar none. Yet, for five minutes on the training ground they quite literally stood like statues long enough for a team photo like no other. And, just for that literal snapshot in time, they looked like butter wouldn't melt. Who needs Photoshop?

Miles Davis - Blue in Green


* In case you're wondering, here's the original early bath

6 comments:

  1. Nice piccies. Do you remember the squad's official anthem that year, Back Home? More to the point, do you remember that single's B-side ....

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnoD8doRCzQ

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  2. In session tonight, The Wistful Thugs.

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    Replies
    1. I think, for what it's worth, even if you don't like football there is so much to savour in these two photographs.

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    2. I totally agree John, particularly the shot of the England squad. Suddenly I'm 10 years old again, it's 1970 and the world (and World Cup) is in colour. I lost interest in football not that long after to be honest, but, at the time, I was as infatuated with the tournament as the next excitable kid. Carlos Alberto's goal against Italy was and is a wonder to behold. At a stretch I could probably still name almost everyone in the England photo.

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  3. Keep talking: *sound of an open door being pushed*.

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