Mohammedan Sporting Club Dhaka (Bangladesh)

Mohammedan SC Dhaka are a branch of a major nationwide sporting club, based in the Bangladeshi capital of Dhaka. They formed some time in the mid 1930s, although there is some dispute as to exactly when. But 1933 seems to be the safest bet. They are part of the much older Calcutta Mohammedan, whose first foundations came in 1891, making them among the very oldest clubs in India (remember, at that time Bangladesh was at that time part of the wider Indian Empire).

They had a solid but  quiet league career until 1947, when after the partition of India, Calcutta Mohammedan star player Mohammad Shahjahan took charge of the side, reorganising them into a side of some style and skill. By the early sixties they had become regular league winners, finally overcoming their arch rivals Dhaka Wanderers Club, and eventually going on to win the Dhaka League 15 times, and filling the runners up slot on a further dozen occasions before the new B League became the top flight of the national game, where they still play to this day.

They play at the the country's former test cricket ground - hence its rather unusual roundness. They share the hefty 36,000 capacity Bangabandhu National Stadium in Dhaka with no less than eight other teams in the B League - indeed, that's all of the top flight except the three clubs who play in either Chittagong or Feni, which must make drawing up a fixture list something of a bureaucratic nightmare.

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Ceilândia Esporte Clube (Brazil)

Ceilândia Esporte Clube - or CEC to the locals - are from the relatively new city of Ceilândia in the Distrito Federal, some sixteen miles from the capital Brasília. Despite having only been formed in 1979, they are one of the oldest clubs in the region. They play their football in the Campeonato Brasiliense, the equivilent of a state league for team from within 200km from Brasília. It's not a state as such, but you know what kind of geographical confusement these Federal Districts can cause!

The team were founded out of the ashes of the Don Bosco Sports Clube, an outfit formed in 1963 which was based in what was then a shanty village (or Favella) on the outskirts of the country's new capital. But in 1971 the Governor of the Distrito Federal started to get a bit nervy about all these undisirables flocking to the rims of his nice new city, so he set up a spartan new town for these migrants - mostly from the North Eastern part of the country, and called it Ceilândia - the Cei standing for Centro de Erradicação de Invasões or Squatters Eradication Centre! 

What sounded a little like nothing more than a refugee camp soon built itself up into a town bigger than Brasília itself, and it was to here that Don Bosco moved - gradually becoming the best team in the city. When professional football came to the District in 1977, it was clear that the club would have to go full time. But up to that point they existed on the pitch only as a raggle taggle confederation of players, rather than an official club with directors, rules and a constitution. So they kept their black and white strip, but changed their name to the rather more cumbersome Dom Bosco Esporte Clube para Ceilândia Esporte Clube - which in time became shortened to CEC.

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Videos from YouTube. Underlying © lays with the owners of the clips.

Estrela do Norte Futebol Clube (Brazil)

Estrela do Norte Futebol Clube, which translates rather delightfully as the North Star Football Club, are based in the quarry city of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim from the small state of Espírito Santo on the coastal south East of Brazil. They're pretty long in the tooth as far as Brazilian football goes, and were formed in 1916, and now plough their footballing furrow in the top flight of the state league, the Campeonato Capixaba.

But despite their longevity they've never quite made it to the top of the state tree, having been runners up on five occasions - with four of these in consecutive years in between 2003 and 2006. Strangely after all these efforts they were relegated in 2007, but have climbed their way back up to the top flight, and are still hoping on that debut league win.

They've been no slouches in other trophies though, having won the Copa Espitito Santo three times, the State Second Division twice, and the old pre-professional league, the Campeonato Sulino Capixaba six times in the fifties and sixties. Their fans, the Torcida Estrelense, are noted as being among the most happily rabid in the country, and the relative cosiness of their ricketty ground, 12,000 capacity Estádio Sumaré is more than made up for by the pure racket their punters make. They are currently ranked at 134th in the Brazilian football league system by the local FA, but you try telling the fans that they're only the 134th best team in Brazil!



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Videos from YouTube. Underlying © lays with the owners of the clips.

My Matchday - 272 Broadhall Way

Stevenage 3v1 Newcastle United
FA Cup 3rd Round
Saturday 8th January 2011

The FA Cup 3rd round draw worked out nicely for a second successive season, pairing Newcastle with Stevenage, another Football League ground I’ve still to visit.
I had planned to travel to Broadhall Way in February, but delayed booking trains by a week as I had a sneaky feeling that the velvet ball bag would again pair both clubs in a repeat of the infamous fourth round tie in 1998.

Stevenage is a town and borough in Hertfordshire, which was designated as the first new town on 1st August 1946, as part of the Abercrombie Plan after the War to establish a ring of new towns around London.
Stevenage Borough Football Club originally formed in 1976 following the bankruptcy and resignation from the Southern League of the town's former club Stevenage Athletic.
In 1980 Borough joined the United Counties League, winning the Division One title and League Cup in the club's first year. They joined the Isthmian League in 1984-85 and three promotions in four seasons in the early 1990s saw the club’s promotion to the Conference League in 1994.
After winning the league in 1995-96, they were denied promotion to the Football League due to ground criteria. The club missed out in the play-offs in 2005 before finally gaining promotion to the Football League last season. The club made their debut in the 92 with a new title, after dropping the 'Borough' suffix from their name.
Stevenage have also gained success in the FA Trophy, becoming the first team to win a competitive final at the new Wembley in 2007, beating Kidderminster 3–2 in front of a competition record crowd of 53,262, then again two years later beating York City 2-0.
Broadhall Way was originally home to Stevenage Town from 1961, until the club went out of business and the ground instantly taking over by Stevenage Athletic in 1968.The ground was originally farmland with the first stand built in 1964, a 450 seated structure which stood for 30 years.
After Athletics’ demise in 1976 the ground remaining empty for two years. The pitch was ripped up and the stands partly derelict until the local council re-purchased the ground in 1978, allowing Borough to move in, re-laying the pitch and renovating the existing stands.
Following Stevenage's successful title campaign in the nineties, when promotion was denied to the League due to insufficient ground capacity and facilities, the Hertfordshire club have spent the new millennium upgraded the ground to the sufficient standard in readiness to host League football.

The Main Stand is all-seated and covered, a single tier which runs pitch length with a few glass-fronted club offices and executive boxes at the rear.
Opposite is the covered East Terrace, which again runs pitch length, its main feature is a central gable which has a clock face next to the television gantry.
The North Terrace has cover running three-quarters, with an open section at the east side. The stand was opened in 2001 at a cost of £600,000, with a capacity of 700, which also has a disabled section.
The South Stand is a single tiered 1400 all seated covered stand, which was also opened in 2001 and is the away section. There is an electric scoreboard on the roof facia and similar to the main stand there is a section of white seats with Boro picked out in red.

A new set of floodlights were installed on the eve of the 2007-08 season, then in January 2009 the club signed a 7-figure sponsorship deal with the Lamex Food Group, renaming the ground The Lamex Stadium.
For some reason or another, I can’t quite recollect why, I wasn’t at the ‘98 cup tie. I do remember coming away from Goodison Park after a scrappy Ian Rush goal had booked our place in the next round, racing back to Ian’s car to catch the live 4th round draw.
Unfortunately we missed it, but all the talk on 5 Live was about Newcastle United being drawn away to Conference side Stevenage Borough, with the radio station commented on the game being switched, as it couldn’t be possible for little Broadhall Way to host such a tie.(I’m sure it was that dickwad Alan Green who was shouting the odds)
Freddie Shepherd agreed after a United party inspecting the ground, while manager Kenny Dalglish had a dig in his usual droll manner declaring "We'll play you anywhere, Hackney Marshes, anywhere" responding to jibes that the Toon were basically crapping themselves over the prospect of a potential giant killing.
The tension between both clubs built up the week prior to the match as The Sun newspaper backed Boro by sponsoring the team jerseys, giving away free plastic hats and slagging off NUFC, with negative stories every day in the run up to the game, so by kick off the hostility between both clubs had reached boiling point.
Stevenage hosted the tie after erecting a temporary stand behind the away end, which satisfied the FA, increasing the capacity to 8,100 which gave Borough their record attendance of 8,040.
I watched an uncomfortable ninety minutes at home on the sofa. The game ended all square(Dalglish blaming the bouncy ball) as Stevenage earned a trip to St James Park, before losing 2-1 in the replay, courtesy of an Alan Shearer double (one of which I admit, was a dodgy decision)
Thirteen years later and we meet again, however this time it’s a meeting of two very different clubs. Gone from Newcastle is the motor mouth chairman (now we have one that says nowt!) aloof manager and the multi-million pound squad, while Stevenage are quickly establishing themselves as a League club with a little ground to be proud of.
Just as I had a hunch that United would be drawn against Stevenage, I also had a horrible feeling that the home side would be victorious in this 3rd round tie.
The day started well, a smooth journey down the A1 with the Patrick’s (squad#2&79) with the car being filled with Graham(Squad#88)with his son Hayden, who we picked up en route.
After a brief exchange of words with Kevin Keegan, I enjoyed a 40 minute interview with the BBC outside the ground’s main reception. The interview was part of a new series on Radio 4 called 'The Completists' which is about obsessive collectors. The series features the likes of hoarders of scooters, train timetables, Peter Pan books and of course, some sad sack who collects football grounds. The interview was done by Ian Marchant with multiple Sony award winning radio producer Peter Everett. (Details of the programme will appear on the blog when it’s broadcast)

My anxiety about the Toon falling prey to a cup giant killing was confirmed earlier in the day, when I heard a very confident Boro manager Graham Westley talk up his teams chances of causing an upset on Talksport.
He had every right to be so buoyant, as his team outfought, outwitted and outclassed a lethargic United side, who badly let down the travelling supporters in the South Stand.
After a tepid first half, Boro took a deserved lead with a two goal burst early in the second half. Stacy Long's strike took a wicked deflection off the head of Mike Williamson before Michael Bostwick struck from the edge of the box via the post.
A miserable day for the Toon was complete when substitute Cheik Tiote saw red for a wild challenge before Joey Barton pulled one back from 30 yards in injury-time to half the deficit.
However it was false hope as Peter Winn restored the two goal cushion, the ex-Heed man slotting home to cap off a memorable day for the Hertfordshire club.
So after 13 years of Geordie hurt, Stevenage finally got their day of reckoning after the exploits of 1998. It’s said Revenge is a dish best served cold, well Boro got what they thoroughly deserved on a wintry January day - bitter revenge, which will haunt us Toon fans for many years to come.



Matchday stats
SFC 3(WilliamsonOG 50 Bostwick 55 Winn 90+3) NUFC 1(Barton 90+2)
att.6644
Admission £30(usually £18)
Programme £3

Ground no.272 Broadhall way - Matchday Web album(15 pictures)

Nos vemos "Eterno 58"

San Jared Francisco Borgetti Echeverría
" El Zorro del Desierto"
269 goles 46 con Selección Mexicana
Debut 1994 - 2011 Retiro
2 Copas Mundiales 02-06
2 Campeonatos 96-01
Bi-Campeón de Goleo 00-01
Campeón Copa de Oro 2003

Decir o dedicar algunas palabras que engloben lo que un aficionado de verdad siente, es difícil, pero trataré de plasmar lo que PARA MÍ, significa el decirle "hasta luego" al jugador que nos brindo mas de 180 goles, 2 campeonatos, una participación en Libertadores, goles hermosos con Selección Nacional y un crecimiento en conjunto con el equipo de nuestra ciudad.

Jared Borgetti "El Zorro del Desierto", nos dice "hasta luego" y se retira de la vida futbolística, en una emotiva conferencia de prensa realizada en esta ciudad.
Enmedio de amigos, familiares, afición y medios de comunicación, Borgetti colgó los chuts y el jersey con el eterno 58 para decirle a la afición y el mundo futbolístico que su carrera como futbolista, había terminado.

Teníamos la esperanza, pequeña, poca, ínfima tal vez, pero esperanza al fin, de que el Presidente del Club Santos Laguna, rectificara su actitud para CON EL ÍDOLO, sin embargo, esto no sucedió y Santos Laguna sólo tuvo la "ocurrencia" de mandar un desplegado de media plana ( ni siquiera de una plana entera) para despedirse del icono que gracias a su gol, obvtuvo SU PRIMER CAMPEONATO ( ese que NUNCA se olvida, como muchas otras cosas).
No se pedía mucho, incluso se llegó a comentar que jugaría casi hasta de gratis, pero Jared lo que quería era despedirse en partidos oficiales con el equipo y tomando en cuenta que es LA ULTIMA TEMPORADA de otro ídolo e ícono como Rodrigo Ruiz, la afición soñaba con que se juntara a la dupla que tantos goles, festejos y alegrías le otorgaron a esta ciudad en aquellos años tiempos inmemorables. Pero no fue así.


Muchos dijeron "ya esta viejo", "ya no aporta" "¿a quién sientas?" ¡QUE CHINGADOS IMPORTA!, cuando se trata del jugador EMBLEMA por excelencia y que por mas que haya pasado por muchos otros equipos, la gente, los medios y la afición en general, lo veía siempre como una simbiosis perfecta entre Santos/Borgetti.
Y mas se exclama esa frase cuando ves que en terreno de juego y en la banca, vemos que muchos otros, ni aportan y eso que ni viejos estan, al que le quede el saco, que se lo ponga.

"No quiso venir cuando estabamos descendiendo" afirman los que "creen" saber mas, que raro que ninguno mencione que cuando este equipo estaba EMBARGADO gracias a las ocurrencias y las ligas de Carlitos Ahumada, muchos rumores también corrían diciendo que Borgetti y varios de sus compañeros se hicieron cargo (monetariamente hablando) de algunos PAGOS para que la gente que trabajaba en las instalaciones junto a ellos cobraran su sueldo al ser los de mas necesidad...
¿A poco nadie escuchó eso?...mira que casualidad.

Jared Borgetti,  MERECÍA haberse retirado jugando con el equipo de sus amores, en la cancha pero al parecer era mucho pedir para el mandamás albiverde, que montado en su macho, le dijo no al que AYUDO A CIMENTAR la historia de esta institución que esta creciendo a pasos agigantados pero todo gracias a esos fuertes cimientos que fueron vaciados por mucha gente antes de su llegada.
Se prefiere dejar en la nómina a otros jugadores que poco ( o nada ) aportan al equipo,y que seguramente cobran mas que un Borgetti en decadencia futbolística ( y que aún así le valió para meter 6 goles en la primera "A" sean DE PENAL --no como otros "ídolos" que les tiembla la patitas al ir a los 11 pasos--o en jugada normal.). Nada de eso valió para ser considerado por el presidente del equipo, del cual, así como agradecemos su visión de crecimiento en favor del club, también le señalamos que esto que acaba de hacer NO ESTA BIEN.

Es triste ver como se retira una persona que junto con sus compañeros PUSIERON A SANTOS EN EL PLANO INTERNACIONAL,y es que antes de los Irraragorri y su majestuoso TSM ( que también se aplaude) existía esa dupla que TODOS CONOCÍAN pero que nadie era capaz de pararla...
De Borgetti se podrán decir mil y un cosas por la envidia de sus detractores ( o los nuevos aficionados borreguitos ), pero lo que no pueden tapar, es que este señor ES EL MAXIMO ANOTADOR del equipo, bicampeón de goleo, campeón en dos ocasiones con Santos, entre muchas otras cosas que engloban el nombre de Jared Borgetti con Santos Laguna, ambos crecieron juntos, y hoy, uno le da la espalda al otro.
No se vale, pero lo hecho hecho está, y será una mancha IMBORRABLE en la gestión del Licenciado Irraragorri ya que despues de UN AÑO DE SONADOS FRACASOS ( dos subcampeonatos SEGUIDOS no son logros y si creen que lo fueron, son unos CONFORMISTAS ya que la nómina, grupo y calidad de gente que tienen, son para campeonar si o sí ). Tuvieron en sus manos congratular A UN GRANDE y no quisieron, tuvieron en sus manos darle un gusto a la afición  la cual, --o al menos en mi caso-- se encuentra dolida y decepcionada luego de ver EL PAPELON que hicieron en Monterrey, y simplemente...
NO QUISIERON
¿Por qué? sólo en sus mentes y su conciencia, pero al menos para un servidor, esto es una muy mala decisión por parte de la directiva santista, se vieron demasiado mezquinos e hipócritas.

Jared, tu reconocimiento, lo tendrás DIA A DIA, cuando camines por las calles de esta ciudad que te quiere y te aprecia en todo momento, no tengas duda que en la mente del aficionado, tus goles, tus festejos, tus enojos, gritos y regaños así como todas tus acciones serán recordadas, pues están grabadas en piedra.
Seguirás estando en la mente de todos nosotros que vimos como te levantabas para anotar un bello gol de cabeza a pase de Nicolas Ramírez para darnos la inmensa alegría del PRIMER TITULO.
O recordaremos cuando tu a espaldas de la portería sacabas de la chistera ese cabezaso preciso y precioso para anotarles a los italianos, como olvidar que te echabas el equipo al hombro para anotarle a la Selección  Estadounidense en el Azteca durante una eliminatoria riesgosa y con ello salvarle el cuello al hipocrita de Aguirre como todo un delantero de garra y natural, no como los de ahora que --a excepción de chicharito-- les falta ese algo para llamarse grandes, tal y como tu lo eres, como no recordar cuando dejabas en el camino a defensores uruguayos para luego con tu derecha vencer a su portero en un bello gol en copa américa entre cientos de goles mas que no terminaría de estar enumerando.
La frase "centro a Jared que llega con remate de cabeza" siempre terminaba en GOL, de ahí el eterno grito que te acompañaba en las tribunas "Gol, gol, gol...Jared, Jared, Jared". Hoy, dices adiós, tal vez no de la forma en que querías, pero tu no bajes la mirada, al contrario siempre observa al frente porque hoy mas que nunca TU LEGADO no se despide, ahora empieza la leyenda que muchos contaremos a las próximas generaciones.

Contaremos historias de cómo un hombre delgado y alto se vestía de verde y blanco y anotaba de todas formas posibles, que cómo te cargaste en el hombro a un equipo y a una nación, que tu perfil bajo, no era motivo para pasar desapercibido, al contrario, demostraba mas tu nobleza y tu humildad a sabiendas de que eres como todos nosotros, de como nunca negabas un autografo por mas cansado u ocupado que estuvieras con tu familia al lado, sabías que te debías a la gente y lo aceptabas, no como otros, que ahora se sienten intocables.
Relataremos como PUSISTE LOS CIMIENTOS para lo que ahora es Santos Laguna, y cómo te convertiste en nuestro bicampeon de goleo, de cómo tu y tu eterna pareja Rodrigo Ruiz, formaron una dinastía inolvidable en este joven equipo lagunero formando la dupla que todos los defensas y tecnicos rivales conocían pero que nadie podía parar.
Tu número 58, siempre perdurará en la mente de la gente, tu legado no solo consiste tambien en goles, y mucho te has de dar cuenta, al detonar y bautizar a mas de un niño con el nombre "Jared" en agradecimiento que muchos aficionados tienen hacia su ídolo.
No olvidaremos como en aquel encuentro contra nuestros odiados rivales, tú nos anotabas pero por respeto a esta ciudad y afición NO FESTEJABAS ( y estoy al 100% seguro, que ni ganas de hacerlo tenías) al contrario, agachaste la cabeza porque nos dolía tanto a tí, como a nosotros, como pidiendo perdón por lo que habías hecho, y nosotros lo comprendimos fríamente y con dolor en nuestro orgullo.

A los directivos Señor Irraragorri, les daremos solo un pestañeo en el recuerdo, a los IDOLOS como tú Jared,, les dedicaremos noches enteras de bohemias con los amigos, esas noches tan sabrosas hablando de futbol y de como en nuestra Laguna existió UN GUERRERO que se convirtió en una leyenda santista, que sigue y camina aquí entre nosotros, en nuestra ciudad, que nunca dijo adios, sino como todo amigo, solo nos dijo con lágrimas en los ojos un...

¡HASTA LUEGO!

Con cariño al Eterno 58 - Darle click al wallpaper

Un pequeño Homenaje de la mejor forma que yo se hacerlo.

Señores, empieza el futbol y...

Como todos saben, cada torneo de futbol mexicano es una oportunidad para divertirnos como chamucos haciéndole al técnico en el torneo virtual, no ganamos nada, pero ps lo bailado nadie nos lo quita. 

Y este torneo, no será la excepción, así que ya está listo el grupo: 

SANTA GRANDEZA:CLAUSURA 2011, 

el número para unirse al grupo es: 

710400918

Ahi los esperamos, y todo listo para el arranque del nuevo torneo Clausura 2011, donde Santos empieza recibiendo a los nuevos Potros del Atlante que quieren iniciar bien el torneo.

Hello and Welcome!

You've stumbled upon Chic Pixel, a blog for all of my eclectic nerdy interests! Here you will soon find everything from video game reviews to craft ideas and pictures of things I've eaten recently (I like to take pictures of my food, what can I say). Over the next week or so I hope to be getting this site more polished so I can begin making some real posts, including a review of Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing I have in the works, so stay tuned!

For now, have a list!

Currently playing: Ookamiden (DS), Sonic and Sega All-Stars Racing (PS3), Folklore (PS3)

Currently watching (i.e what I rented from the video store that I need to watch): Terminator 2, V for Vendetta, Sex and the City season 3

Currently reading: 90 Day Geisha by Chelsea Haywood