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Quite the journey she's been on too, remarkable story:

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-olympic-runner-beth-dobbin-21139174

Lovely bloke Jim Dobbin. Had the pleasure of playing alongside him a number of times, and there's nothing like playing with an ex-pro to make you realise just how terrible you are at football.

It's quite easy to watch games, particularly at League Two / non-league level and think to yourself, "Christ, I wasn't far off that standard", when you were in fact a gazillion miles off that standard. Jim was obviously much better than League Two in his pomp, but it's quite illuminating just how big the gap is between elite players and Sunday league cloggers like me. The technique, the timing, the pace, the vision - absolutely everything just light years ahead, but you almost need to experience it to fully appreciate it.

That's one thing I like about athletics. It's much easier to benchmark just how mindbogglingly far ahead of us mere mortals these athletes are. Case in point - Beth's qualifying time in her 200m heat was 22.78s. That's an average speed of a fraction over 31.3 km/h (notwithstanding the fact she's got to get out of the blocks in that time as well). That's just fúcking mental. If you need a reference point, get yourself on a treadmill and see how far you can crank it up before you fall off the bloody thing, let alone think about maintaining the speed without your lungs exploding. My treadmill only goes up to 20 km/h, and I've never even been close to that for even a few seconds. I don't think my legs go that fast and I have little interest in attempting to find out.

Fingers crossed she can make the final and go on to win a medal, but even getting this far shouldn't be underestimated - it's an absolutely phenomenal achievement.

In other news about the offspring of 1990s Town midfielders: Tommy Widdrington’s son Kai is one of the pro dancers in the next series of Strictly having been on the Irish equivalent.

Try to contain your excitement chaps.

Quoted from KingstonMariner

In other news about the offspring of 1990s Town midfielders: Tommy Widdrington’s son Kai is one of the pro dancers in the next series of Strictly having been on the Irish equivalent.

Try to contain your excitement chaps.

That's a big step up for the lad. I think it's fair to say that the Irish version was a little more low rent...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXwc5Ti3py8

Quoted from Poojah

That's a big step up for the lad. I think it's fair to say that the Irish version was a little more low rent...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXwc5Ti3py8

😂

You think that’s bad. I saw the Finnish version the other year and one of the pros had a bit of a gut on him.

Quoted from Poojah

Quite the journey she's been on too, remarkable story:

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-olympic-runner-beth-dobbin-21139174

Lovely bloke Jim Dobbin. Had the pleasure of playing alongside him a number of times, and there's nothing like playing with an ex-pro to make you realise just how terrible you are at football.

It's quite easy to watch games, particularly at League Two / non-league level and think to yourself, "Christ, I wasn't far off that standard", when you were in fact a gazillion miles off that standard. Jim was obviously much better than League Two in his pomp, but it's quite illuminating just how big the gap is between elite players and Sunday league cloggers like me. The technique, the timing, the pace, the vision - absolutely everything just light years ahead, but you almost need to experience it to fully appreciate it.

That's one thing I like about athletics. It's much easier to benchmark just how mindbogglingly far ahead of us mere mortals these athletes are. Case in point - Beth's qualifying time in her 200m heat was 22.78s. That's an average speed of a fraction over 31.3 km/h (notwithstanding the fact she's got to get out of the blocks in that time as well). That's just fúcking mental. If you need a reference point, get yourself on a treadmill and see how far you can crank it up before you fall off the bloody thing, let alone think about maintaining the speed without your lungs exploding. My treadmill only goes up to 20 km/h, and I've never even been close to that for even a few seconds. I don't think my legs go that fast and I have little interest in attempting to find out.

Fingers crossed she can make the final and go on to win a medal, but even getting this far shouldn't be underestimated - it's an absolutely phenomenal achievement.

I’m not sure that applies to all ex pros. I played against Mick Czucman and he was no better than anyone on the pitch. I’ve reffed a lot of ex pros in semi pro levels, Joachim talked a good game for example but again was not that great. Gary Croft though was outstanding.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

I’m not sure that applies to all ex pros. I played against Mick Czucman and he was no better than anyone on the pitch. I’ve reffed a lot of ex pros in semi pro levels, Joachim talked a good game for example but again was not that great. Gary Croft though was outstanding.

I played against European Cup winner John Robertson in a Sunday League game and he was sh*t.

I also played at University against one of the Baird brothers (I forget which one but they were both at Leeds for a while) and he made me look like a mug. I got him 'trapped' on the bye line and he nutmegged me and then flopped over my outstretched leg for a penalty. Which he scored.

I believe there was a discovery of a vault under the Dublin library. They found a book entitled. Irsh dancing, what to do with your arms.

Quoted from Theimperialcoroner

I’m not sure that applies to all ex pros. I played against Mick Czucman and he was no better than anyone on the pitch. I’ve reffed a lot of ex pros in semi pro levels, Joachim talked a good game for example but again was not that great. Gary Croft though was outstanding.

I played with Mike Czuczman for Submarine in the early 80s. He didn't run about much but his range of passing, the ability to hit a ball and his all round awareness separated him from anyone else in our league, never mind our team.

Quoted from Poojah

Quite the journey she's been on too, remarkable story:

https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-olympic-runner-beth-dobbin-21139174

Lovely bloke Jim Dobbin. Had the pleasure of playing alongside him a number of times, and there's nothing like playing with an ex-pro to make you realise just how terrible you are at football.

It's quite easy to watch games, particularly at League Two / non-league level and think to yourself, "Christ, I wasn't far off that standard", when you were in fact a gazillion miles off that standard. Jim was obviously much better than League Two in his pomp, but it's quite illuminating just how big the gap is between elite players and Sunday league cloggers like me. The technique, the timing, the pace, the vision - absolutely everything just light years ahead, but you almost need to experience it to fully appreciate it.

That's one thing I like about athletics. It's much easier to benchmark just how mindbogglingly far ahead of us mere mortals these athletes are. Case in point - Beth's qualifying time in her 200m heat was 22.78s. That's an average speed of a fraction over 31.3 km/h (notwithstanding the fact she's got to get out of the blocks in that time as well). That's just fúcking mental. If you need a reference point, get yourself on a treadmill and see how far you can crank it up before you fall off the bloody thing, let alone think about maintaining the speed without your lungs exploding. My treadmill only goes up to 20 km/h, and I've never even been close to that for even a few seconds. I don't think my legs go that fast and I have little interest in attempting to find out.

Fingers crossed she can make the final and go on to win a medal, but even getting this far shouldn't be underestimated - it's an absolutely phenomenal achievement.

Gold star from me, nearly dropped my fried egg and bacon sandwich reading that informative running stat!!

Played against Mike brolly and Tommy Watson who played for bridge. I was a winger and end up nutmegging brolly. His reply was a hard Grimsby Town tackle I think I embarrassed him haha.

I played with Tommy Watson for Clee working mens for a few games and he was ok but nothing special. I went on a coaching course with Mick Brolly and one of the drills was a 40 yard pass.. I was only about 17 and a donkey centre half and it was totally embarrassing...his weight and accuracy of pass was unbelievable. Passes just gently landed on your kicking foot.

I played in one of those Chairman Challenge matches about 14-15 years ago, started at right-back marking Alan Buckley. He hugged the left touchline. First touch was always immaculate. Barely ran (to be fair, think he was comfortably in his 50s at the time).

Decided to move to centre back towards half time, swapped with someone more attack-minded than me. Was up against Woodsie. Couldn't for the life of me anticipate how he was going to turn. His balance made him hard to read.

I remember thinking Stuart Watkiss was much faster than I ever thought he would be (I'm no slouch and he probably had the edge on me) and when shepherding the ball out for a goal kick, Dave Moore gave me the hardest shove I've ever received in any sort of match.

I didn't achieve much in that game, other than successfully playing the offside trap against Woodsie twice!