Oliver Wilson took a trip to Craven Cottage to check on the form of Damien Duff.
A star at Blackburn, Newcastle and Chelsea, Damien Duff has always met the high standards demanded of a Premier League winger. His pace and skill have left defenders flailing in his wake, but has age caught up with the 31 year old. On Wednesday I watched Duff show Newcastle that he still has some juice left in his tank.
Time has forced Duff to adapt his game to the one he played in his early 20s. Despite his top speed being clipped, manager Mark Hughes has still found a role for the veteran in his starting eleven. Moving Duff onto the right side of the attack allows him to play slightly deeper supporting role, and takes the pressure off Duff to keep trying to get to the byeline. His quick feet and close control remain as good as ever and he can still make weaving runs inside, slipping between defenders and utilising his skill rather then raw pace to beat his markers.
Skill like this will always lead to goals, and Wednesday saw him finally grab his first of the 2010/11 campaign, latching onto Danny Murphy's long through ball and firing past Steve Harper in the Newcastle goal.
Fulham's right side pairing looks strong and in sync, with John Pantsil's defensive security allowing Duff to push forward without fear yet Duff's deeper role in the attack means support is always close for Pantsil when needed.
With 3 points, a goal to his name and a solid performance, Duff has continued the form that has prompted another international call up and forced Mark Hughes to issue a hands off warning to potential suitors back in January. Duff has the intelligence and adaptability to compensate for his ageing body and right now, he doesn't look like a man who will hanging up his boots any time soon.
3 Feb 2011
Inside the Box
2) 2/2/2011 Premier League - Fulham v Newcastle
So after arriving 45 minutes late last Sunday thanks to works on a rail line and a replacement bus service that only just beat walking pace, I was eager to make sure that I arrived at Craven Cottage in good time for my second of three games this week.
However I had not planned to arrive 2 and a half hours before kick off , and I feared the worst (the worst being me alone in the press room for 30 minutes while Fulham staff worked around me, casting judging looks in my direction as they wonder who this kid is and whats he even doing here) as the flood lights of this classic football ground grew ever closer on my walk from Putney Station. On my arrival to the Cottage I tried, in vain, to kill time by taking a walk around the outside of the ground in the search for a good picture of the floodlights and the stadium near the river, but this proved difficult as the enclosed area in which the Cottage stands, makes it almost impossible to get far enough away without recrossing the river for a good snapshot. Finally accepting that I couldn't kill an more time wandering up and down outside the ground, without looking like I might be trying to commit some sort of terrorist attack against Fulham FC, I stepped up to the press office door and pushed, waiting to see an empty room or worse the door to be locked and to be stuck outside looking like a bit of an oddball to the few staff that were outside the ground so early.
To my joy the door opened to a press room containing a handful of other journalists working and chatting, which reassured me that either others like me had planned there travel too well, or that this was an acceptable time to arrive at the ground. Taking a table at the back I opened my bag and pulled out my Mac, beginning final preparations for the game tonight.
Now there aren't many voices that will make your ears prick up when your in a busy press room with a number of people that you sort of recognise from the football world. Garth Crooks is one of them, and I had the pleasure of meeting him last week. But the voice I heard from behind me as I looked at my computer screen, was one that football fans all over the UK have heard for over 30 years almost every week on the BBC. Looking over my shoulder I saw the man himself John Motson picking up his press pass. Not only that but moments after Motson had left the press room Martin Tyler wandered in, chatted with a couple of the Fulham reps, picked up his pass, and headed to the commentary box. Even though I didn't get to speak to two of the greats in the football commentary business, just being in the same room on a professional level really game me a tingle down my spine. It was a great feeling.
After taking some pictures of the ground empty at night (making sure I grabbed a shot of the old wooden seats found in the Fulham press box as proof that they really did exist) I tucked into the lasagne the Fulham hospitality had provided us for the night, did some final checks and read through the match program before finally taking my seat in the stands 10 minutes before kickoff.
The Newcastle's night wasn't a pleasant one and the traveling fans (still obviously hurt by the loss of Andy Carroll to Liverpool as indicated by the “Judas Carroll” banner that appeared as the teams walked out onto the field) were forced to watch a Newcastle side that provided little spark in a very poor first half.
At the half time break I scampered from my seat back the the press room to find Katie. Katie, as I mentioned on Monday, works for Fulham and is responsible for handing out the mixed zone passes that allows journalists to get post match interviews with the players. As I approached her she recognized me from Sunday and was pleased to offer me the yellow sticker for my press I.D. that
granted me access to medias interview area. After a brief chat with Garth Crooks again (asking him if he was here as a fan or with the press as he'd been at the Cottage both that night and on Sunday but seemed to have no note or microphone, Garth replying with “I'm always working son, always working”) I went back to my seat for the second half.
With Duff scoring and Phil having asked me to have another crack at the article I wrote on the Irish man after last Sunday, I was desperate to get a brief chat with the scorer of Fulham's winner after the game. With the final whistle blown a hurried down to meet Katie to ask her to try and bring Duff down to me as I waited with the other journalists in the cold by the tunnel. We all chatted while the players were busy in their dressing rooms, mainly looking at how bad Newcastle were and should they be worried about slipping into the drop zone. Steve Sidwell and Kevin Nolan were brought down to us after about 20 minutes or so, and as Katie departed with the Fulham midfielder she told me that Duff had done some TV interviews and wouldn't be coming down to talk to us. Myself and David Smith from the Evening Standard waited to find out else who was available to come down and chat with us and in the end Mark Schwarzer, playing for the first time in a Fulham shirt after his departure to represent Australia in the Asia Cup, joined us for a few words about his return and that nights performance.
Having waited for so long outside for the players I had missed the managers press conferences, so with the Schwarzer interview over I left the Cottage and rushed to get back to Putney Bridge station for the long journey home.
Saturday will be my first trip to White Heart Lane to see Spurs take on Bolton. Match report will be up on Saturday night and Inside the Box will return Sunday, as I have a look at the differences between the small but scenic Craven Cottage, and the daunting home of Tottenham Hotspur.
So after arriving 45 minutes late last Sunday thanks to works on a rail line and a replacement bus service that only just beat walking pace, I was eager to make sure that I arrived at Craven Cottage in good time for my second of three games this week.
However I had not planned to arrive 2 and a half hours before kick off , and I feared the worst (the worst being me alone in the press room for 30 minutes while Fulham staff worked around me, casting judging looks in my direction as they wonder who this kid is and whats he even doing here) as the flood lights of this classic football ground grew ever closer on my walk from Putney Station. On my arrival to the Cottage I tried, in vain, to kill time by taking a walk around the outside of the ground in the search for a good picture of the floodlights and the stadium near the river, but this proved difficult as the enclosed area in which the Cottage stands, makes it almost impossible to get far enough away without recrossing the river for a good snapshot. Finally accepting that I couldn't kill an more time wandering up and down outside the ground, without looking like I might be trying to commit some sort of terrorist attack against Fulham FC, I stepped up to the press office door and pushed, waiting to see an empty room or worse the door to be locked and to be stuck outside looking like a bit of an oddball to the few staff that were outside the ground so early.
To my joy the door opened to a press room containing a handful of other journalists working and chatting, which reassured me that either others like me had planned there travel too well, or that this was an acceptable time to arrive at the ground. Taking a table at the back I opened my bag and pulled out my Mac, beginning final preparations for the game tonight.
Now there aren't many voices that will make your ears prick up when your in a busy press room with a number of people that you sort of recognise from the football world. Garth Crooks is one of them, and I had the pleasure of meeting him last week. But the voice I heard from behind me as I looked at my computer screen, was one that football fans all over the UK have heard for over 30 years almost every week on the BBC. Looking over my shoulder I saw the man himself John Motson picking up his press pass. Not only that but moments after Motson had left the press room Martin Tyler wandered in, chatted with a couple of the Fulham reps, picked up his pass, and headed to the commentary box. Even though I didn't get to speak to two of the greats in the football commentary business, just being in the same room on a professional level really game me a tingle down my spine. It was a great feeling.
After taking some pictures of the ground empty at night (making sure I grabbed a shot of the old wooden seats found in the Fulham press box as proof that they really did exist) I tucked into the lasagne the Fulham hospitality had provided us for the night, did some final checks and read through the match program before finally taking my seat in the stands 10 minutes before kickoff.
The Newcastle's night wasn't a pleasant one and the traveling fans (still obviously hurt by the loss of Andy Carroll to Liverpool as indicated by the “Judas Carroll” banner that appeared as the teams walked out onto the field) were forced to watch a Newcastle side that provided little spark in a very poor first half.
At the half time break I scampered from my seat back the the press room to find Katie. Katie, as I mentioned on Monday, works for Fulham and is responsible for handing out the mixed zone passes that allows journalists to get post match interviews with the players. As I approached her she recognized me from Sunday and was pleased to offer me the yellow sticker for my press I.D. that
granted me access to medias interview area. After a brief chat with Garth Crooks again (asking him if he was here as a fan or with the press as he'd been at the Cottage both that night and on Sunday but seemed to have no note or microphone, Garth replying with “I'm always working son, always working”) I went back to my seat for the second half.
With Duff scoring and Phil having asked me to have another crack at the article I wrote on the Irish man after last Sunday, I was desperate to get a brief chat with the scorer of Fulham's winner after the game. With the final whistle blown a hurried down to meet Katie to ask her to try and bring Duff down to me as I waited with the other journalists in the cold by the tunnel. We all chatted while the players were busy in their dressing rooms, mainly looking at how bad Newcastle were and should they be worried about slipping into the drop zone. Steve Sidwell and Kevin Nolan were brought down to us after about 20 minutes or so, and as Katie departed with the Fulham midfielder she told me that Duff had done some TV interviews and wouldn't be coming down to talk to us. Myself and David Smith from the Evening Standard waited to find out else who was available to come down and chat with us and in the end Mark Schwarzer, playing for the first time in a Fulham shirt after his departure to represent Australia in the Asia Cup, joined us for a few words about his return and that nights performance.
Having waited for so long outside for the players I had missed the managers press conferences, so with the Schwarzer interview over I left the Cottage and rushed to get back to Putney Bridge station for the long journey home.
Saturday will be my first trip to White Heart Lane to see Spurs take on Bolton. Match report will be up on Saturday night and Inside the Box will return Sunday, as I have a look at the differences between the small but scenic Craven Cottage, and the daunting home of Tottenham Hotspur.
Duff Demoralises Toons
Newcastle failed to impress and added to their striker worries last night as Damien Duff's second half strike handed 3 much needed points to Fulham.
After a poor first 45 under the lights at Craven Cottage the 25,000 in attendance were treated to a second half of flowing attacking football littered with chances. Unfortunately for the traveling Toon Army they had to watch their beloved Newcastle struggle to create chances and eventually succumb to Fulham's pressure.
Newcastle's woes continued off the pitch as an early collision with Steve Sidwell retired Shola Ameobi for the night, a potential 5 weeks out with a fractured cheek bone being the diagnosis. Aside from that the first half provided little in the way of entertainment, Dempsey's strike on the turn and a early strike from Duff, the only attempts on goal that threatened to break the deadlock in a half that lacked any flow, final balls or clear cut chances.
While Newcastle could only provide a threat from Barton's set pieces, Fulham found the form that has seen them grab 3 wins in their last 3 home games. Murphy and Sidwell provided service from midfield for Dempsey and Dembele as the Whites attacking play began to compliment the solid defensive play from Pantsil, Hangeland, Baird and Hughes.
Duff should have opened the scoring twice inside the first 5 minutes of the second period, firstly having his effort blocked, and then missing the easy rebound from a Dempsey strike 5 yards out. Dempsey had another effort saved after Dembele's through ball set him free down the left, but finally on 67 minutes Fulham had their goal. Danny Murphy's long ball was met by a perfectly timed run by Duff after the Irishman turned and held off Sanchez. With nothing in front of him Duff hit a first time strike past Harper to give Fulham the decisive edge.
Newcastle continued to struggle to create chances from open play while the introduction of Fulham's new on loan striker Gael Kakuta was able to add to the attack, almost scoring on his debut on a couple of occasions. Nile Ranger, brought on for Ameobi early on, almost made Fulham pay for their missed chances, but Schwarzer, back from Asia Cup duty, was able to smother the close range strike.
Newcastle head back north having lost another striker and failing to impress while Fulham extend their home form to 4 wins from 4 and move 5 points clear from the bottom 3.
After a poor first 45 under the lights at Craven Cottage the 25,000 in attendance were treated to a second half of flowing attacking football littered with chances. Unfortunately for the traveling Toon Army they had to watch their beloved Newcastle struggle to create chances and eventually succumb to Fulham's pressure.
Newcastle's woes continued off the pitch as an early collision with Steve Sidwell retired Shola Ameobi for the night, a potential 5 weeks out with a fractured cheek bone being the diagnosis. Aside from that the first half provided little in the way of entertainment, Dempsey's strike on the turn and a early strike from Duff, the only attempts on goal that threatened to break the deadlock in a half that lacked any flow, final balls or clear cut chances.
While Newcastle could only provide a threat from Barton's set pieces, Fulham found the form that has seen them grab 3 wins in their last 3 home games. Murphy and Sidwell provided service from midfield for Dempsey and Dembele as the Whites attacking play began to compliment the solid defensive play from Pantsil, Hangeland, Baird and Hughes.
Duff should have opened the scoring twice inside the first 5 minutes of the second period, firstly having his effort blocked, and then missing the easy rebound from a Dempsey strike 5 yards out. Dempsey had another effort saved after Dembele's through ball set him free down the left, but finally on 67 minutes Fulham had their goal. Danny Murphy's long ball was met by a perfectly timed run by Duff after the Irishman turned and held off Sanchez. With nothing in front of him Duff hit a first time strike past Harper to give Fulham the decisive edge.
Newcastle continued to struggle to create chances from open play while the introduction of Fulham's new on loan striker Gael Kakuta was able to add to the attack, almost scoring on his debut on a couple of occasions. Nile Ranger, brought on for Ameobi early on, almost made Fulham pay for their missed chances, but Schwarzer, back from Asia Cup duty, was able to smother the close range strike.
Newcastle head back north having lost another striker and failing to impress while Fulham extend their home form to 4 wins from 4 and move 5 points clear from the bottom 3.
1 Feb 2011
Inside The Box
A little look inside the press boxes of professional football.
1. 30/1/2011 FA Cup – Fulham 4 – 0 Tottenham
So after weeks of waiting, I've finally managed to get a chance to go inside the world of sport journalism week in week out. Thanks to a press pass from the Premier League I can now apply for tickets to go to any press box in the country (as long as there is enough room in media areas) in both league and cup competitions. For my first game I chose to take a visit to London to watch Fulham play London rivals Tottenham in the 4th round of the FA Cup at Craven Cottage.
Having been to a couple of media events I knew before Sundays match what sort of things to expect. Head to the ground about 90 minutes before kick off, have some complementary food and make sure all preparation is done pre game, chat with the other journalists present, head to the seat in the press box, watch the game, listen to the managers press conference, and finally either write up an article there and then or head off home.
However this was the first time I had been to a game in the press box on my own, and I can tell you as a 22 year old rookie to the journalism world, the prospect of going solo was quite ominous. My pre game nerves were not helped by the London transport system. Thanks to work on the line no trains were running from Clapham Junction (my base camp for the weekend) to Putney. Instead a replacement bus service was running and, as you would expect, it was running 30 minutes late in the busy London traffic. So arriving at the ground a good 45 minutes after I wanted too I was already a little edgier (and sweatier) then I had hoped to be on arrival to the press room. Opening the door to the office I was immediately taken a little by surprise to see BBC pundit Garth Crooks sat straight ahead of me about 5 yards away.
Now Garth Crooks is your stereo typical BBC football pundit. Squeaky clean, very polite, and smartly dressed. The opposite of Sky's more casual relaxed atmosphere in their studios.
The Garth Crooks sat in front of me was something totally different. Next to a very attractive press assistant for Fulham, Crooks wore jeans, a shirt covered by a black jumper and topped off with a black leather flat cap, a leather jacket draped over the chair behind him. This didn't look like squeaky clean BBC. This looked.....well.... kinda badass, something I never thought I would say about the man. So after processing this new information in my head I signed in, grabbed my press pass and stepped into the room. Finding a seat at the side of the press area I put my bag and coat down and tried to settle in to this new environment. Looking around the room it was fairly obvious that I was in the big leagues and I was a little out of my depth. Here was a small room filled with a number of people, who had done this job for a fair few years, all familiar with one another and all with more background knowledge then I could dream of. Being right in the middle of the season also meant that all the journalists in the room had met at some point that year. I was an anomaly, and I seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. Dressed in a shirt, jeans, suit jacket, smart shoes and overcoat I looked much smarter then anyone else in the room (the shirt jeans and old man jumper the attire of choice for most) yet I was about 15 years younger then anyone else and was obviously trying a little too hard to look the part.
Determined not to sit in silence for the hour before kickoff I went back to the main table at the entrance to find out just where I could go and who I could talk to with the pass I had. I discovered that currently I couldn't talk to players post game, but could still go to the mangers post match press conference. It was however possible to try and ask a young lady called Katie for a mixed zone pass that would allow me to to grab a few words from some of the players post game, but this would only be available to a limited number of people, and the chances didn't look too good.
Ian, another representative of Fulham who liaises with the media at home games, took me on a tour of the ground after I explained it was my first time going alone at a game and first time at the Cottage. Chatting as we went he introduced me to a number of important members of staff, and showed me the lounge where post match press conferences would take place.
After the tour it was time to get back to the media room, make sure all my prep was sorted and ready to go, and watch the last 20 min of Man City v Notts County and the 5th round draw of the FA Cup.
10 minutes before kickoff I was in the press box in the stand opposite the dugouts at Craven Cottage. The old rickety wooden chair with no tables were a stark contrast to the Molineux press box I had visited last season, but having no one in the row in front of me meant I had a clear view of the monitors on the front bench of the press area. I also had two seats spare before the aisle of the stand so I was able to have a little room to manoeuvre in as I write in my note pad that match incidents and talking points. The use of the notepad was another indicator to the rest of the journalists that maybe I didn't belong. Most journalists were using their laptops to update their websites or send live messages to their readers or production studios as the game went on. Others were writing their match reports before the game had finished. I on the other hand was using a pen and note pad, old school style. This was because a) I didn't want to have a bright shiny screen allowing someone behind to read my unedited, uneducated rubbish that I may have written, and b) my typing skills lack the proficiency to be able to type and watch the game at the same time. The pad allows quick notes and a slight bit of privacy while I work letting me develop my own technique and style before being judged too harshly.
Unfortunately in my slightly nervous state that day I had forgotten to pack a spare pen. Yes thats right, the most rookie error of all time, the thing your taught to do from GCSE exams or even internal school exams from year 8. HAVE A SPARE PEN! Well I didn't, so 5 minutes into the second half the obvious rookie of the bunch became the dunce of the class as I leaned forward to ask the “real” journalist in front of me if “I could borrow a spare pen because my F**king one has packed in”. The shame and embarrassment I felt was a new low, but luckily I also knew that only this chap in front new of my mistake, and as long as he kept his mouth shut it would all be fine.
He did.
The rest of the day had a number of highlights. Getting my dictaphone in a prime position on the table at the press conference was one of them just because it meant the material recorded was of a very high quality and easy to get quotes to send to my boss. Just getting to watch a live top class football match from inside the ground was a pleasure I haven't enjoyed in a long time. But the top moment of the day came from the man himself Mr Garth Crooks.
11 minutes into the first half, Clint Dempsey picked off Dawson's poor pass and broke into the Tottenham penalty area before being bundled over by a clumsy challenge from Alan Hutton. As Danny Murphy stepped up to the spot I felt someone leaning over my left shoulder. Looking up I saw Garth looking into the monitors in front of us to see a close up of the incident. Looking down at me he said “doesn't look like he gets any of the ball there does he?”
“None of it at all really Garth” I replied and turned back to the game to watch Murphy slot away the resulting penalty. This was a pretty cool moment. Here was a guy, who's reached a very high level in the broadcasting world, asking me for my opinion on the incident. Sure it wasn't for a television broadcast or an article in a magazine, but it was a small sign that this guy saw me on a similar level to him in some way, either as a fan or as a sports analyst.
This was not the best moment of the day, put merely part of the build up to it. 4 minutes later Dawson pulled back Dembele in the Spurs penalty box, and Referee Phil Dowd game another penalty and Dawson his marching orders. As before I felt someone leaning over me to view the monitor, and again it was Garth. The well spoken BBC pundit turned to look at me before giving his oh so BBC style analysis on the incident.
“This ref is having a f**king mare here. He killed this game as a contest. What a f**king joke”
And with that he was gone. I didn't chat with Garth for the rest of the day, I watched the rest of a great, if a little one sided, game of football, watched the post match press conferences and left Craven Cottage itching to get back there on Wednesday night for Fulham's league tie against Newcastle. An incredible day and a fantastic experience I would love to repeat over and over again. And as for Garth, well he just goes to show that what you see on TV isn't always what you get, nor can you remove the passion of a fan from analysts or ex-players, and I can't wait to get to see more of this side of the game as the season continues.
1. 30/1/2011 FA Cup – Fulham 4 – 0 Tottenham
So after weeks of waiting, I've finally managed to get a chance to go inside the world of sport journalism week in week out. Thanks to a press pass from the Premier League I can now apply for tickets to go to any press box in the country (as long as there is enough room in media areas) in both league and cup competitions. For my first game I chose to take a visit to London to watch Fulham play London rivals Tottenham in the 4th round of the FA Cup at Craven Cottage.
Having been to a couple of media events I knew before Sundays match what sort of things to expect. Head to the ground about 90 minutes before kick off, have some complementary food and make sure all preparation is done pre game, chat with the other journalists present, head to the seat in the press box, watch the game, listen to the managers press conference, and finally either write up an article there and then or head off home.
However this was the first time I had been to a game in the press box on my own, and I can tell you as a 22 year old rookie to the journalism world, the prospect of going solo was quite ominous. My pre game nerves were not helped by the London transport system. Thanks to work on the line no trains were running from Clapham Junction (my base camp for the weekend) to Putney. Instead a replacement bus service was running and, as you would expect, it was running 30 minutes late in the busy London traffic. So arriving at the ground a good 45 minutes after I wanted too I was already a little edgier (and sweatier) then I had hoped to be on arrival to the press room. Opening the door to the office I was immediately taken a little by surprise to see BBC pundit Garth Crooks sat straight ahead of me about 5 yards away.
Now Garth Crooks is your stereo typical BBC football pundit. Squeaky clean, very polite, and smartly dressed. The opposite of Sky's more casual relaxed atmosphere in their studios.
The Garth Crooks sat in front of me was something totally different. Next to a very attractive press assistant for Fulham, Crooks wore jeans, a shirt covered by a black jumper and topped off with a black leather flat cap, a leather jacket draped over the chair behind him. This didn't look like squeaky clean BBC. This looked.....well.... kinda badass, something I never thought I would say about the man. So after processing this new information in my head I signed in, grabbed my press pass and stepped into the room. Finding a seat at the side of the press area I put my bag and coat down and tried to settle in to this new environment. Looking around the room it was fairly obvious that I was in the big leagues and I was a little out of my depth. Here was a small room filled with a number of people, who had done this job for a fair few years, all familiar with one another and all with more background knowledge then I could dream of. Being right in the middle of the season also meant that all the journalists in the room had met at some point that year. I was an anomaly, and I seemed to stick out like a sore thumb. Dressed in a shirt, jeans, suit jacket, smart shoes and overcoat I looked much smarter then anyone else in the room (the shirt jeans and old man jumper the attire of choice for most) yet I was about 15 years younger then anyone else and was obviously trying a little too hard to look the part.
Determined not to sit in silence for the hour before kickoff I went back to the main table at the entrance to find out just where I could go and who I could talk to with the pass I had. I discovered that currently I couldn't talk to players post game, but could still go to the mangers post match press conference. It was however possible to try and ask a young lady called Katie for a mixed zone pass that would allow me to to grab a few words from some of the players post game, but this would only be available to a limited number of people, and the chances didn't look too good.
Ian, another representative of Fulham who liaises with the media at home games, took me on a tour of the ground after I explained it was my first time going alone at a game and first time at the Cottage. Chatting as we went he introduced me to a number of important members of staff, and showed me the lounge where post match press conferences would take place.
After the tour it was time to get back to the media room, make sure all my prep was sorted and ready to go, and watch the last 20 min of Man City v Notts County and the 5th round draw of the FA Cup.
10 minutes before kickoff I was in the press box in the stand opposite the dugouts at Craven Cottage. The old rickety wooden chair with no tables were a stark contrast to the Molineux press box I had visited last season, but having no one in the row in front of me meant I had a clear view of the monitors on the front bench of the press area. I also had two seats spare before the aisle of the stand so I was able to have a little room to manoeuvre in as I write in my note pad that match incidents and talking points. The use of the notepad was another indicator to the rest of the journalists that maybe I didn't belong. Most journalists were using their laptops to update their websites or send live messages to their readers or production studios as the game went on. Others were writing their match reports before the game had finished. I on the other hand was using a pen and note pad, old school style. This was because a) I didn't want to have a bright shiny screen allowing someone behind to read my unedited, uneducated rubbish that I may have written, and b) my typing skills lack the proficiency to be able to type and watch the game at the same time. The pad allows quick notes and a slight bit of privacy while I work letting me develop my own technique and style before being judged too harshly.
Unfortunately in my slightly nervous state that day I had forgotten to pack a spare pen. Yes thats right, the most rookie error of all time, the thing your taught to do from GCSE exams or even internal school exams from year 8. HAVE A SPARE PEN! Well I didn't, so 5 minutes into the second half the obvious rookie of the bunch became the dunce of the class as I leaned forward to ask the “real” journalist in front of me if “I could borrow a spare pen because my F**king one has packed in”. The shame and embarrassment I felt was a new low, but luckily I also knew that only this chap in front new of my mistake, and as long as he kept his mouth shut it would all be fine.
He did.
The rest of the day had a number of highlights. Getting my dictaphone in a prime position on the table at the press conference was one of them just because it meant the material recorded was of a very high quality and easy to get quotes to send to my boss. Just getting to watch a live top class football match from inside the ground was a pleasure I haven't enjoyed in a long time. But the top moment of the day came from the man himself Mr Garth Crooks.
11 minutes into the first half, Clint Dempsey picked off Dawson's poor pass and broke into the Tottenham penalty area before being bundled over by a clumsy challenge from Alan Hutton. As Danny Murphy stepped up to the spot I felt someone leaning over my left shoulder. Looking up I saw Garth looking into the monitors in front of us to see a close up of the incident. Looking down at me he said “doesn't look like he gets any of the ball there does he?”
“None of it at all really Garth” I replied and turned back to the game to watch Murphy slot away the resulting penalty. This was a pretty cool moment. Here was a guy, who's reached a very high level in the broadcasting world, asking me for my opinion on the incident. Sure it wasn't for a television broadcast or an article in a magazine, but it was a small sign that this guy saw me on a similar level to him in some way, either as a fan or as a sports analyst.
This was not the best moment of the day, put merely part of the build up to it. 4 minutes later Dawson pulled back Dembele in the Spurs penalty box, and Referee Phil Dowd game another penalty and Dawson his marching orders. As before I felt someone leaning over me to view the monitor, and again it was Garth. The well spoken BBC pundit turned to look at me before giving his oh so BBC style analysis on the incident.
“This ref is having a f**king mare here. He killed this game as a contest. What a f**king joke”
And with that he was gone. I didn't chat with Garth for the rest of the day, I watched the rest of a great, if a little one sided, game of football, watched the post match press conferences and left Craven Cottage itching to get back there on Wednesday night for Fulham's league tie against Newcastle. An incredible day and a fantastic experience I would love to repeat over and over again. And as for Garth, well he just goes to show that what you see on TV isn't always what you get, nor can you remove the passion of a fan from analysts or ex-players, and I can't wait to get to see more of this side of the game as the season continues.
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