We salute.... Club badges

In our series paying tribute to the elements of the game often overlooked, the lads pay tribute to football club badges.

Lakes - Scunthorpe United

A lot of people don't like it, but has there ever been a stronger badge in the history of football?

Leaping off the chests of the players and out into three dimensions, the iron bar leaves you in no doubt of the club's nickname - the Iron.

The massive fist, grappling the bar, seems to be yielding power, and text curves round at the bottom to finish up a very tidy design.

It almost feels like it has communist undertones, which is a bit scary, but I like it because it's different.


Turls - Bristol Rovers

My favourite football badge has got to belong to the mighty Bristol Rovers.

For me, it's got everything a club badge needs: a bit of colour, a bit of history, some knowledge (when they were formed) and an impressive looking pirate wielding a sword! What more can you ask for.

It's fantastic in that the pirate has controlled the ball with a certain touch of class and he is clearly pointing to his team-mates (Long John Silver and Blackbeard perhaps?) where he wants them to go.

He dares the opposition to try and stop the inevitable outcome. Anyone who dares defy the mighty pirates must be prepared to face the consequences: their towns ransacked and their wives and children pillaged*

(*It must be noted that Turls does, in no way, condone pillaging children).

Nobes - Doncaster Rovers

It seems like clubs these days are always keen to put their club badge into some shield or circle shape. It's great to see a club with something distinctive as a badge therefore, and Doncaster have the most original around.

The Viking, wielding his sword, is a symbol of power and strength. Of course, Donny's forgotten nickname is the Vikings, because of their connections with the area.

The cape provides the background for the shield which neatly ties up everything - the white rose of Yorkshire along with the club's initials and playing colours - the red and white hoops. It's almost as beautiful as Rovers' football.

Football club badges.... Soccer AM/MW salutes you!

Prediction League - Week Seven

A single point, gathered by Nobes for Boston's draw at Bradford Park Avenue, was all the lads had to show for their forecasts of the midweek action. Nobody foresaw Preston's loss at Scunthorpe or Forest drawing at Ipswich.

Nobes extended his advantage at the top to two points therefore, but plenty of points up for grabs again this weekend, with all three teams at home in league action.

Nottingham Forest vs. Blackpool

Lakes: Forest 2-0 Blackpool
Nobes: Forest 1-1 Blackpool
Turls: Forest 2-1 Blackpool

Preston North End vs. Coventry City

Lakes: PNE 1-0 Coventry City
Nobes: PNE 1-1 Coventry City
Turls: PNE 2-1 Coventry City

Boston United vs. Whitby Town

Lakes: BUFC 0-1 Whitby Town
Nobes: BUFC 2-1 Whitby Town
Turls: BUFC 2-0 Whitby Town

Big Match Preview

League Two

Darlington vs. Bournemouth

Saturday September 19, 15:00, Northern Echo Arena

Top play bottom in League Two this week as Eddie Howe's high-flying Bournemouth side make the long trip up north to face beleaguered Darlington.

Over 300 miles separate the two towns at opposite ends of the country, and the two clubs couldn't be further apart in the league. Darlo have claimed just a single point from their first seven games, whilst the visitors have already registered six wins to sit at the summit.

Both are united in their financial problems though. The Cherries are still under a transfer embargo, and have been unable to bring in any players to Dean Court after last season's battle against the drop.

Colin Todd's side meanwhile only came out of administration on the eve of the new campaign. A turbulent summer in the North East saw the club come perilously close to going out of business altogether, and Todd having to re-build almost an entire new squad.

Unsurprisingly, it's been a slow start to the campaign for the Quakers, with just a 1-1 draw at home to Cheltenham to show for their efforts so far this term. Last time out they went down 2-1 at financially-striken Accrington, one of four away games they've lost this season.

The squad boasts good experience at this level though, targetman Lee Thorpe has been around the basement division for over a decade, and striker partner Kevin Gall won promotion from this level with Yeovil.

Todd's assistant is Dean Windass, who he worked with when the pair were at Bradford, and the veteran striker has also found his way onto the pitch this season, although he is yet to score.

Perhaps most important for Todd though was holding onto key central defensive duo Steve Foster and Ian Miller, the only two players who remain from last season. On their day, there are few better partnerships in the division.

At opposite ends of the table, but Colin Todd and Eddie Howe
both know about managing with financial restrictions

Struggling at the wrong end with financial problems is something the Darlo manager's opposite number on Saturday can well sympathise with.

Howe became the youngest manager in the Football League when he took over on the South Coast in the New Year. The club appeared to be losing their fight to stay in the Football League having begun the campaign on -17 points due to their financial situation.

However, a revival under the new manager saw Bournemouth pull clear of the drop zone and survive, and they've continued this season where they left off last term.

An emphatic 3-0 win at Bury on the opening day was followed by wins over fellow early pace-setters Rotherham and Crewe. A 2-0 loss at Northampton is the only blot on their record so far, with 18 points gathered from the first seven matches.

Forward Brett Pitman, with three goals to his name, has already been a key figure again for the Cherries, and veteran striker Steve Fletcher continues to be a big presence up-front.

Experienced campaigner Sammy Igoe also chipped in with two goals in last weekend's 3-1 win over Lincoln, and the side has a good mix of experience and young talent like midfielder Danny Hollands.

It promises to be a difficult test for Darlington therefore. Bournemouth are a side brimming with confidence and goals, and they should rack up another three points at the Northern Echo Arena this weekend.

Nobes' Prediction: Darlington 0 Bournemouth 2