I see a certain ex-striker of Liverpudlian/Iraqi descent failed their medical for a move to Raków Częstochowa. Surely a loan move to League One would be a good move to help him prove fitness and resurrect his career? Ipswich certainly want to get rid of him.

CW - Rangers are still in europe.

Rangers out of Europe already, gets earlier and earlier

New 9yrspodcast up now. A season preview edition OF SORTS, as there has just been so much news this week that Stu and I had way too many other things to discuss – including competitive football as the season got underway with a League Cup tie, something we’re not sure about either, and not just because we endured a turgid, albeit eventually winning, performance against Newport. Alongside a review of that game, we talk Fulham; fixture scheduling and TV nightmares; financial pressures with Bond payments desperately needed; social media views of Aron Sasu; the possible departure of Junior Nkeng; and the PFA seeking higher (!!) wages for lower league footballers. There’s some brief predictions about who will finish at the top and bottom of the third tier this campaign, and The 50.1% Club returns as well. A fun show as always! Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube via [Link]

We treated Dick Graham pretty badly. After several months at the club, he signed a full time contract and sold his supermarket business in Colchester. Three weeks later, the club said they could not afford to pay him full time. A short time later, he resigned saying he could not work with the board.

Spit - no, had a liquid supper!

On Wikipedia by the way

I didn't know that, during Dick Graham's tenure, the club went full time but reverted to part time after 3 weeks or was that referring to his contract?

Most of the time we continue to meet pre-match in the London & South Western which isn't too bad price wise. But I was in the Wetherspoons Leics Square this week - G&T £8 or more, whereas I have seen it for much much less elsewhere, especially outside London. You would expect all their prices to go up in line according to location, but the spirit prices seem to have a life of their own. Must be a very sophisticated algorithm.

Hope all ok in lewes with the train derailed this evening

Did you have the Hog roast DO cup final night in Alex?

Hottest day of the year so far - hopefully tomorrow will be the last time it’s over 30°C until next year….

The Alex was where I went after 88 Cup Final (along with many thousands of others!

Yes I do always try & pop into the Alex as it’s the Pub that my wife after arriving in the UK from Perth in 1992 got a job working behind the bar in & she had accommodation upstairs, I know she has fond memories of working there & like you said it’s a great community pub for Wimbledon

Alex is a bit pricey (also food) by Mick does use some profits to hold a free Chrim lunch on the 25th Dec for those that find themselves alone. So I'm always happy to go there

Spit - vey much so!

WTID - I won’t tell you what we paid for our beers at the Bondi Hotel, the Royal Hotel in Paddington, or the Coogee Bay Hotel in 1981 when I was watching bands such as The Church and Cold Chisel…

Had a good night with some old mates in Epsom spoons last night, you absolutely cannot knock the value for money

Youngs pubs are notoriously expensive nowdays.

The Guinness we get is also brewed in NSW so not even the proper Dublin gear but I’ll be honest with you it tastes no different to me although you’ll get plenty of Guinness snobs who swear it’s inferior

a4e - Yes mate you’re correct, beer prices back home are as ridiculous as here, most places will have a particular beer something like swan lager on a $10 pints all day offer but yes other beers you’re looking at anything between $10 & $16 a pint. I paid $17 for Guinness which seems to be the going rate down under . We are heavily taxed on alcohol, so yes I probably am used to paying that for a beer but I’m 62 now & like a good moan 🤣

Old Rosie (decent farmhouse cider - flat and cloudy and 6.8%) is currently available in a pub near me and is £8.40 a pint.

Modelo is very nice beer. Most of the Mexican lagers are decent tbf. I probably stay away from Sol unless I’m actually drinking it in Mexico. But Doe Equis, Pacifico, even Corona - all very nice especially on a hot summer’s day like this.

WTID - your beer price comment made think about the equivalent in Sydney - whilst this is just the AI answer from Googling, the prices seem not too dissimilar… “The average price of a standard pint of beer (570ml) in a Sydney pub generally ranges between AU$12.00 and AU$16.00. However, depending on the location, the type of beer, and the time of day, you can expect to pay anywhere from AU$7.00 to over AU$20.00” - not sure how realistic that sounds to you?

WTID they read here and saw you coming...