I'd like to raise cash for SASH...

On the 11th March I'm going to sleep outside in the cold, in an aim to raise some money and awareness to homelessness in North Yorkshire.

The money I'm raising for is Safe and Sound Homes (SASH), who are based in York. There a charity that mainly focuses on prevention and any young person’s first experience of homelessness to be their last. They offer a different type of homeless services, they work with dedicated volunteers who can offer a room to accommodate a vulnerable young person, because SASH believe a home environment is the best place for them. SASH don't just stop there, now they have a roof over them that is safe they, also get one-to-one support they need to overcome their problems. To help prevent long-term homelessness the charity work alongside local councils and over agencies to help with unemployment and substance-abuse that can go hand in hand in some cases.

This is me, on my radio show for Radio Scarborough.

So I'm doing one night of this, the only time this has happened where I've been on the streets, was coming back from a coach holiday and our taxi didn't pick us up in the middle of the night in Hull City centre. I remember sitting on our suitcases with my brother and sister in watching what I can only describe are rats the size of small dogs crossing the roads into the city bus station. 

I remember SASH doing this event last year as it was only a few doors down from my house, it must be tough been in this environment one a daily basis. People do t want to live on the streets and because of debt, breakdown in relationships and abuse physical aswell as substance, this is the life of thousands of people up and down the UK.

I was talking to a friend of mine about doing this event, he said "I can't see kids sleeping on the streets, as there organisations in social services" he then added "I'm sure there sleeping on sofas or hostels at least".

I then said "I know you say that, but if there sofa surfing or in hostels there still homeless!"

This is called the hidden homeless, where they might have a roof over their head, but go from sofa to sofa of friends, relatives or even strangers. This really doesn't give them the security they need & certainly isn't safe for young vunrable adults.

I want to end by adding my link that will take you to the page SASH has set up along side Virgin Money to help raise funds for them. So if you have got to here, I would like if you could donate at least a £1 I'd be happy with that, but if you want to donate more that would really help SASH in the future and help them reach their goals.

Thank you in advance

Regards

Ant

Donate here ⬇️⬇️⬇️  www.virginmoneygiving.com/iAmRadioAnt

Jason Rockett Q&A

1, Your one of a few players to make the tricky transition from the playing field to boardroom.

I never intended to move to the boardroom. When my playing days were over I was gutted, but I started coaching part time at Sheffield Utd Academy as well as working in property development. I was coaching youngsters there like Kyle Walker but never thought I would end up coming back to the club in such a senior role. I was offered the Chief executives position after being a director of Scarborough Development Group. It was a difficult decision as football administration is notoriously full of politics and at times very fickle. However, in the end such a position particularly at United was impossible to turn down.

2, While at Scarborough FC, who of your team mates was the biggest joker.

There were a lot of personalities and jokers as you could imagine. Things I could tell you about Wells and Swalesy. I use to travel in a car with Steve Charles, Darren Knowles and Ian Ironside which was a laugh. There was an away game at Torquay where a few players including Mark Calvert and Aidie Meyer (the rest to remain nameless!) completely emptied the hotel room of the physio John Murray. He had to share a bed with Phil Chambers that night! Also we were training on the beach and Ivan Ash came down for a scoop, so Aide Meyer and I threw him in the sea all suited and booted.

3, did you ever try “Rockett Fuel” and have you still got a bottle???

(Jason laughs) I did, it was disgusting. Other players had drinks, like Richie Cola and Iron’s brew which were nicer. I gave away my last bottle a while back but do have a scrap book with a label of Rockett Fuel in it.

4, because you have a few qualifications could you beat brainy footballer and York City defender Clarke Carlisle in a pub quiz?

I’m rubbish at quizzes, I’m too busy to sit down reading Heat and watching Tv, maybe if it was all business related???

I’d give him an arm wrestle.

(Might have to speak to ex Boro players Scott Kerr and Michael Coulson see we can get this on) To be continued…

5, what you think of Scarborough Athletic carrying on the legacy of Scarborough and playing football at neighbours Bridlington? 

I think the club are doing the right thing. It appears very well run now days. I believe Bridlington have been fantastic hosts for Scarborough Athletic. However, I suspect it’s recognised that the club need to get back to somewhere they can call home in Scarborough so as to grow and maximise their potential.

6, you won player of the year in 1996-97 season and scored 13 goals. What do you consider were your best and worst games for Boro and why.

Best games were under Waddy (Mick Wadsworth) the team really played well. Had a good game against former club Rotherham in 1998 where I split my head open. Cardiff the first game of 96/97 season and Cambridge the start of 97/98 were good ones and Carlisle when I scored a late equaliser. The latter even stopped the manager giving me grief for a week. I felt I played well in the play offs as well, we just met a side bang in form. There were more highs than lows over the years and I hope my performances were fairly consistent.

Worst game we lost 7-1 at Wigan and the game at Fulham where I gave a back pass to Ironside that he made a right hash of. It got repeated on an old Nick Hancock video “football bloomers”. Thankfully he got blamed but it was a bad pass off my left foot which was only for standing on. There’s always the odd game where your legs just don’t work with your brain no matter how hard you try. Thankfully I have forgotten those ones unless they are on video!

7, Does it hurt you that a club you put so much effort into is no longer there.

Yeah it does, I visited the town in the summer for a few days and had to stop at the ground. I’ve taken a picture at the gates with my 6yr old son and found it hard to tell him that’s where I use to play. I moved on long before the demise of the club but it was still a very sad day. Most of all for the supporters, staff and other people associated with the club that had invested so much time, money and emotion over many years. 

8, Was it a feat for scarborough FC to get up to that level, do you believe that a team from the town can do the same once again?

The current club have a good hard core fan base. If they get back to the level Scarborough were and get the right backing from sponsors and local businesses anything is possible. Look at Aldershot, Accrington Stanley and AFC Wimbledon. Back then it was hard work to stay in Division 2 because of resources. However, Scarborough made two play offs and were respected by all other clubs in the league. The club could get back to where they were if it’s correctly run but unfortunately the old club was mismanaged for many years. I think the key for any club now is to grow their own talent and attract the best young players with potential in the area.

A giant amongst men, my tribute to Jonah Lomu

In this day and age there are great sportsmen & women. From David Beckham, not only what he has achieved on the pitch, but he has become a fashion icon & humanitarian raising millions for children around the world. On the women side Jess Ennis-Hill what she has also won in her sport after overcoming early injuries and last year regaining the World Championships and only giving birth and raising a child with training on top she must be forged from the same steel her home is famous for. 

But with them two mentioned and all the other sports personalities around the globe, there is but a true giant in the game and he is Jonah Lomu. Standing at 6ft 5in this Auckland born Māori, must of put fear not just to opposing half backs, but the whole team when coming against him. 

He broke records early on in his rugby career as he was the youngest player to represent his school Wesley College, while playing for the team there he was told by his coach that he should start getting use to been this. As not to long after that he was the youngest All Back at 19 years old and with only two international caps he was set loose on to the World stage at the 1995 World Cup in South Africa. He may not have helped New Zealand win in the final as that was South Africa's time. But with his running game, my earliest memory of him is ripping though the English defence. It reminded me of a David Attenborough nature programme where a pride of lionesses are jumping on top of a stampeding wilder beast and the lions are just getting shrugged off, that is such the power, strength & speed of the guy.

It was at the end of 1995 when Jonah was first diagnosed with Nephrotic syndrome he was on dialysis due to the deterioration in his kidney function. He had a Kidney Transplant in 2004.

Jonah scored tries against every major test playing nation in World Rugby except South Africa (12 matches) and Wales (3 matches), he now jointly still holds the record  of 15 tries in World Cup tournaments, which was equalled by South African Bryan Habana at this years World Cup in England. I have to say I am saddened by his passing, but I do think that his shadow will last long over the Rugby world who will mourn this Māori warrior who gave everything into all that he loved & who loved his greatness, Rest in peace big guy. 

Real World Football

I've just watched a non league football match that will live long into the memory, for anyone who watched it & was there. That was Salford City first FA Cup 1st round match against Notts County & founder member to the Football League also The Worlds Oldest League club. They had the likes of 38 year old keeper & Northern Ireland Legend Roy Carroll, ex Leeds & Manchester United Alan Smith & joint top scorer in last seasons FA Cup with 5 goals Jon Stead. Salford on the other hand had a Gas Man in defence in Chris Lynch, this tough defender on match days has hardly any sleep, as after the matches he has a quick shower then pops off to work filling gas bottles. Paul Scholes on of the owners has quoted in saying “This lad would tackle a transit van.”

Others in the team are Physio's in the Manchester Hospitals, Students and footballers go to job fitness instructors. As I watched this match it was hard to see who were the professional team, as Salford City pressed a high tempo match for around 90% of the match. Most of the Manchester side had been working that day & they made sure Notts County time there was going to be tough. Even owner Gary Neville ordered the pitches width be scaled down, they had a game plan and they stuck to it by the letter.

Over time clubs from the football leagues are going to fear coming to places like Moor Lane as non league team are becoming more organised and long may it continue.

Helland Road

2001 seems a long time ago, this was the year Leeds made it to the UEFA Champions League. Since then this once mighty club has free falled its way down to it lowest position to League One. 

After a promotion back into the championship & Ken Bates selling up, we thought the dark days at Elland Road was behind us when Mr Massimo Cellino took over from GFH. But people need to remember the first thing he did when he acquired the West Yorkshire club was to sack Brian McDermott after a heavy defeat, only to reinstate him a few weeks later. Since the arrival of the infamous Italian, we have gone though 5 managers since April 2014. Cellino isn't called "The Coach Eater" in his native country for nothing. 

We should of seen the writing on the wall with this, but as fans we have been blinded with the hope of securing promotion back to the promise land, The Premiership. It's looking more unlikely that this once mighty club will ever get to play on the biggest stage in football anytime soon, especially under the stewardship of Cellino.

Now we have Steve Evens as the head coach and this guy may have done well for Boston United, Crawley Town & Rotherham United with getting these clubs promoted but even he comes with a dubious past with a suspended sentence for tax evasion. Only time will tell if he will be the man for the job, or will he just be the 6th manager on the roundabout of destruction for my club Leeds United, only time will tell? 

RIP Hulkamania

As of last night everything to do about the Hulkamainia movement has just been erased from WWE history.

Hulk Hogen back in the day

Hulk Hogan's profile has also been removed from the site & from the Hall of fame.

There are now only two judges on the reality programs "Tough Enough" thats Daniel Bryan & Norwich's very own Paige.

Bryan (left) Paige (right)

But why has 30 years of saying our prayers & taking our vitamins just simply disappeared over night???

It turns out the leader of the Hulkamainiacs, Hulk Hogan has gone on an offensive rumoured racist rant. As a child I use to love the WWE (WWF-World Wrestling Federation) back in the day, I use to sit with my grandad on a Saturday catching up with the action. I'd be lying to you if I wasn't mesmerised with the glamour & bright lights of this new world my grandad had shown me, it sure beat what we had with World of Sport with Big Daddy & The Giant Haystack. 

So to see hulk Hogan memory to be banished like that I am a little sad, but also stand by Vince Mcmahon in the fireing of such an idol to kids young & now in our 30's. 

The Boss Vince Mcmahon 

The WWE are trying to keep a clean image after some big stories in the press, the biggest on was Chris Benoit's when he shot his whole family then killing himself. They know no one is bigger than the WWE Universe and I think they have shown this by running riot over Hogen. But what would be next for such a massive icon not only in the squared circle but also made the path clear for wrestlers such as The Rock to breakthrough on to the big screen, could rival wrestling company TNA Employ his services again or would this be a hot potato to much???

The Twelfth Man - Pre Season Friendlies Part 2 The Silver Royd Games

Ok just after I launched my last blog the next set of fixtures were realised. In this blog I'll cover 2 of the 3 matches that will be held at Scarborough Rugby Football Clib, Silver Royd.

Silver Ryod, home to Scarborough RUFC

Tuesday 21st July 7:30pm, Accrington Stanley FC at Silver Royd (Scarborough RUFC)

This club from Lancashire was made famous from an old Milk advert on TV. Every time I hear someone say Accrington Stanley, I just want to shout "WHO ARE THEY?".

Stanley are a club with a long history and tradition. They were also nearly wiped out of existence, but their loyal fans have stuck by them thick or thin.

This will be the highest league club Athletic will play this pre season & they will be a very tough team to break down in defence & midfield. Even if manager John Coleman doesn't bring his top players, they will still be a formidable team to play against. In the Stanley team  there is a midfielder who goes by the name of Josh Windass, he is the son of former Seadog Dean Windass. So I do hope for a big crowd to the match and cheering our boys on.

Josh warming up before a match with Accrington Stanley

Saturday 25th July 14:00, Tadcaster Albion Silver Royd (Scarborough RUFC)

Tadcaster Albion are under new manager Billy Miller and he has been quick to shore up the defence by bringing in Ex Leeds United defender Matt Heath, after Denny Ingram moved to Pickering Town FC. He's also brought in a midfielder aswell as he has secured the services of former Scarborough Athletic's Jimmy Beadle. But the threat doesn't stop there as there Ate a few familiar faces in The Brewers team from Paddy Miller, Andy Milne, Josh Greening and Tom Claisse's it's going to be a match that day.

 Also the Taddy fans follow their team in big numbers so expect the fans to be a great equaliser to the match atmosphere as I'm sure the song "Tad all over" will be heard on the wind at the rugby club.