Anyone go to the Derby? It looked awfully wet on the TV - I often go up to savour the atmosphere, but chickened out today…

The Withdean Stadium hasn't been the same since Brighton left there in 2004 and with Withdean 2000 having disbanded they started dismatling the stands. Where you could once get 12000 the capacity now is only 1300 or so.

Just passed withdean 2000 ground it looks small from the train

Last week roasting this week dissolved in the rain Bollox weather

Apparently it’s Flaming June - the horses will be wearing flippers and snorkels at the Derby later at this rate….

Pete - that’s really fascinating stuff, thanks for posting it. I lived in Mitcham for a few years and never knew about this… Here’s a place worth visiting if anyone is interested in medicinal plants, it’s the Chelsea Physic Garden, not far from Sloane Square [Link] They have some very interesting specimens growing there, including ones clearly labelled as poisonous or otherwise inedible… They also have a nice cafe there, but it’s blimmin’ pricey!

Trigg - “I’ve done nothing wrong, and that’s why I’m resigning…” always seems a bit weird….

Alan - wow, was that a nice big win then?

There are 10 weeks between the end of last season and the first pre season game, today marks 5 weeks exactly half way

David Sullivan might have behaved badly? I'm shocked, absolutely shocked!

You learn something every day [Link]

[Link] Big news coming out of West Ham

I'm not a saddo by the way, in knowing what I paid for various things years ago, but my brief has asked me to supply her with evidence of expenditure in connection with my injury and I saw that on a statement earlier today.

A4E, I was in hospital at the time, made the £19.90 for the TV really worth it having the WC on everyday. That Saudi - Argentina match saw me win have fat fingers on a bet and instead of a modest fiver, it turned into a £52 pound wager instead.

Sandy - not to mention Argentina losing to Saudi Arabia in the 2022 World Cup…

*so MANY, not so few!!

Watching a bit of this [Link] and there are so few AFC Wimbledon players as well as JJ on the Charlton staff…

Surely 1962 in Chile was worse, due to a massive earthquake some of the venues were unusually the games had to be rescheduled and the matches themselves were marred by violence especially the battle of Santiago between Chile and Italy

Silk - when Cameroon beat Argentina in Italia 90, I think it was one of the funniest moments in world football.

Great summation of North American sport, nick!

Certainly looking forwards to the games kicking off and hoping that VAR keeps it’s head down for the whole tournament.

I am not going to let the corporate stuff spoil my love of the World Cup. I have decided to ignore all that shit - life is too short to care about that, Back to the football and hopefully seeing some shocks like when Cameroon beat Argentina. More fun that finding stuff to moan about.

Totally agree Trigger, but it’s been many years since the World Cup was primarily a sporting event and just like Oasis gigs and FA cup final tickets, resale is now accepted as the norm. If it was about the contest, I don’t think that the tournament would be hosted by a country where soccerball is very low on their list of favourite sports, behind rounders netball and a chess game where the players wear suits of armour and crash helmets.

It was the reference to “passionate fans” that riled me. Maybe those passionate fans would have preferred to have paid face value for their ticket to watch their country at the World Cup.

Leddy- 3rd placed team options?