TALES FROM THE PIT POND (23)

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Despite the fact the Northern Amateur League had been secured for the first time in over twenty years, I was leaving West Allotment, having endured a miserable season. Mr Smailes, however, was of a different opinion, which was fine, but, he wasn’t the manager, Les Jackson was and he had made pretty clear that I wasn’t needed. I trained with loads of different clubs, but, no matter wherever I trained that damned Wimpey van would turn with with Mr S in it, he wasn’t giving up, why he was so keen for me to stay completely baffled me. He gradually wore me down and I duly returned to hallowed turf of Backworth Park.

My pain was slightly eased by the fact that Daz Ridley and Micky Richardson had left Smith’s Dock to join the Allotment, which guaranteed that things were going to be a lot more lively. In many ways it was the last throw of the dice for “Daz” now 27, he had sacrificed a potentially brilliant career for a Dolce Vita lifestyle (that is if you can have a Dolce Vita lifestyle in North Shields). Mr Smailes has now got me taking me a few training sessions (what’s that all about) in a vain attempt to keep me motivated.

The season gets underway, I’m on the bench, which is an upgrade on the previous season, we get away to a flyer, the team is performing brilliantly, there is no way that I’m going to get any playing time, when the Allotment captain Derek Stoneman sustains a bad injury. Suddenly I’m in, enjoying an extended run in a team that is on fire, I’m thinking this cannot last, but, amazingly it does. Just after the Christmas we’re sitting top of the league when Derek Stoneman returns to the side that now includes yours truly. On a horrible pitch up at Marley HIll, Derek lasts only half a game when his injury flares up again keeping him out till the last few games of the season. The team marches on, Ridley is unplayable scoring goal after goal, we win the League in a canter, plus 2 cups, it should have been 5 cups, but, don’t get greedy just enjoy what has been a memorable season, The Allotment decide to join the Northern Alliance, a big step up in class, although I’ve enjoyed a great season my lack of confidence tells me I’m going struggle in that League so time another change and another mistake, Mr Smailes tells I’m making a monumental error in judgement, I don’t listen and move on, I should have listened to Mr S because as it turned out, he was dead right.

SHIRTS

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OH,MY GOD

There’s a photo of the legendary jazz trumpeter, Miles Davis, in Jason Jules and Graham Marsh’s fabulous coffee table book “Black Ivy, A Revolt in Style”. In the picture, Davis is wearing a classic long sleeved popover shirt, made from a soft jersey fabric, it’s a peerless piece of gear, as usual Davis, looks effortlessly cool, achieving a look that us mere mortals can only aspire too. This sublime shirt has inspired ivy specialist Graham Marsh to recreate this shirt as part of his “Vintage Ivy Collection” for the much admired Japanese shirt maker Kamakura.

Now, as followers of this blog will know The Frozen Northerner is a big fan, not only of Graham Marsh, he is also a big fan of Kamakura shirts. I have a couple of these classy shirts in my wardrobe which were purchased five years ago, in 2019 to be precise at their now defunct shop on Madison Avenue, New York.

So, when I walk into All Blues Co in Leeds and see this sublime popover shirt for myself, you can be sure that I ain’t leaving without one, or maybe two. Produced in their Kanemasa, Wakayama factory in Japan the shirt is made from white cotton jersey, it also features a four button placket, shell buttons, pocket, button down collar, button cuff and that all important Made in Japan label.

As Graham Marsh quite rightly points out this shirt is the “cats whiskers” it’s a beautiful piece of understated elegance, that once again demonstrates superb Japanese craftsmanship. As The Frozen Northerner pointed out way back in Blog Notes 176 when it comes to making and producing ivy style clothes the Japanese are simply killing American brands who are now making inferior clothing.

Labels for me always had to have the all important Made in America and Made in England tags sown into the clothes I bought, now I look first for clothes that lovingly tell me they are Made in Japan.

Can The Frozen Northerner get the gentlemen of the Northumberland Riviera to turn Japanese, well, it’s challenge, but, hopefully I can influence one or two. Buying Graham Marsh’s awesome shirt won’t make you look as cool as Miles Davis once was, but, there is no harm in trying. Buy without hesitation.

SHOPS

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ROCKY MOUNTAIN FEATHERBED PARKA

The weekend break in Leeds was really brilliant and one of the highlights was to visit a shop called, All Blues Co, a place that I have only seen on the internet, which as you well know is absolutely no good to The Frozen Northerner. Situated in Corn Exchange, this small independent store is an absolute peach of a shop loaded with the good stuff. Whenever, I come across shops as good as this, there is only one word to describe it, Nirvana. The store itself opened in 2016 and all credit to the owners who have carefully sourced some very interesting goods from around the world, stocking brands that you will struggle to find anywhere outside of London.

All Blues Co are taking their work seriously, here, revered French footwear brand J. M. Weston, sits comfortably alongside the seminal American shoemaker Alden and English loafers specialists Baudoin and Lange. Vintage ivy shirts from Japanese maestro’s Kamakura ( not sure if there is any other shop in the U.K that stocks Kamakura, but, please correct me if I’m wrong) knitwear from South Korea in the shape of Bellief, boy, I could go on and on, but what I really want, is for you to visit the shop for yourself.

Much as I like the hard to find foreign bands, All Blues Co, they also feature some great brands from home such as Drakes, John Smedley and Harley of Scotland and I’m just scratching the surface here. I could stay in this shop all day long, however, The Contessa is starting to roll her eyes, a sure sign that my allotted time is up.

Newcastle is screaming for a shop like this, but, that’s not going to happen anytime soon. So in the meantime hop on the train, catch a bus, or drive down to Leeds and visit All Blues Co you won’t be disappointed.

CITY BREAKS (LEEDS)

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OULTON HALL

The Frozen Northerner is not averse to the odd city break, which, this weekend has taken us to the west Yorkshire city of Leeds. The Contessa has chosen the four star Oulton Hall Hotel for our short break, which, is about about 20 minutes from Leeds city centre.

This grade 2 listed building was built in the eighteenth century and was once the home of the well to do Blayds/Calverley family, now it belongs to the Q Hotel group who have turned it into a golf and spa resort. I have to say with it’s beautiful gardens and superb interior it looks like The Contessa has come with another winner. It’s an ideal place to chill out and relax after spending the day in Leeds itself. As a shopping venue I think Leeds is pretty good, lots of shops to keep the women happy and one or two places that I enjoy. Places like the Corn Exchange with it’s quirky little shops (especially All Blues Co) is a must to visit, as is the Victoria Quarter, with it’s breathe taking arcades and slightly more upmarket shops (Harvey Nicks etc), but avoid Trinity mall which is bloody awful.

After spending a good day shopping, you are going to need food and drink, you can head up Greek street where there are loads of pubs and restaurants or go down by canal where there is more of the same, personally I’m heading to ” Friends of Ham” a very nice award winning charcuterie, not too far from the station. With it’s wide range of craft beers and delicious food you can’t go wrong, after leaving there we head to “The Head of Steam” for more good beer (the place has a great range of Belgian beers). As it’s a Sunday it’s jazz night, this week featuring Brendan Duffy’s Jazz Collective, the place is buzzing, as Mr D works a bit of Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan, into the mix, myself and The Contessa have had a great day and we head to our hotel’s champagne bar to finish off the evening with a cocktail.

Now, Leeds might not be everyone cup of tea, but, on a Sunday it really is a great place to be.

BOOKS

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Normally I don’t read too much on holiday, however, on my latest trip abroad to Ortigia I have managed to get through two books. The first, Calcio by John Foot has already been reviewed.

The second book that I got through took me has took me away from my relentless football obsession, down to Mississippi and the deep south where only one man excels in that part of the U.S. and that is John Grisham. There was a time when The Frozen Northerner was an avid Grisham follower, but, over the years my interest in his stories (normally legal dramas) has dwindled, not that that has had any effect on the sales of his books, which, continue to sell in the millions.

The magic of his books for me is that there is very little profanity, with a minimum amount of sex, Grisham never tries to shock instead he tends to engage us in the courtroom, where all the drama unfolds on tales, on focus on the eternal battle of good v bad. This simple formula is something that Grisham has successfully worked to death over the years, the books maybe at times a tad predictable, but, in his defence it has never alienating his audience, who always come back for more.

The Boys From Biloxi is no different, two boys (Keith Rudy and Hugh Maloc) who come from east European immigrant families, grow up as pals, in the gulf coast town of Biloxi, they bond from an early age, however, their path through life will take different routes, one lawful, the other one anything but. Grisham takes his time to paint a vivid picture of what has brought the two families to this inevitable courtroom showdown. As usual with Grisham’s books its a good read and let’s be honest. when it comes to holiday reading, Grisham takes so beating.

BOOKS

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BAMBINO d’ ORO

(THE GOLDEN BOY)

With the weather being so damned hot in Ortigia, I am unable to take in any walks during the day, although disappointing it gives me a chance to catch up on some reading so in order to fight off any type of boredom that this searing heat may bring, I’m lying by the pool reading a very interesting book on Italian Football.

I have always thought that Italian Football is something you either love or hate, personally for me there has never been a dull moment since it’s humble beginning back in the1890’s. The Frozen Northerner first became aware of Italian Football way back in 1964 (aged 9) when Helenio Herrera’s magnificent Inter Milan side tore apart the legendary Real Madrid side of Di Stefano, Puskas and Gento. Five years later (now a very mature 14 year old) I was even more enthralled when watching the great Gianni Rivera orchestrate a superb win for A.C. Milan against Johann Cruyff’s up and coming Ajax side.

There was something different about the Italian sides, their strips looked classier, their boots looked like carpet slippers, they were suntanned, wore gold necklaces around their necks, Italian players, unlike their English counterparts looked cool and sophisticated and the more you saw them, the more you wanted to be like them. Therefore, when I’m presented with a 600 page book called “Calcio” I am in football heaven. John Foot’s excellent book on the history of Italian Football has it all, players, managers, power, politics and perhaps most interestingly scandals.

Foot’s book give a fascinating insight in the glamourous, but, often murky world of Calcio, the book allowed me to droll over players like Rivera, Riva and Rossi, managers like Rocco, Herrera and Sacchi, powerbrokers, Agnelli and Berlusconi, all great stories but, what I suspect will really captivate you is the story of Luciano Moggi, a man that took football corruption to a new level.

As Foot candidly points out, everyone in Italian football knew what Moggi was up too, they just chose to ignore it. Being a confirmed Italophile The Frozen Northerner is of the opinion that Italy is a country that can seduce with it’s style and culture, but as Foot notes, that when it comes to football, Italy has a dark underbelly which is reflected strongly in the deceitful antics used by Luciano Moggi. Overall Foot’s book is an essential read for anyone interested in the colourful world, that is Italian Football.

LUIGI RIVA

PAOLO ROSSI

MEAZZA

LUCIANO MOGGI (MR FIXIT)