On Ilkla Moor

Spare a moment’s thought for newly formed football team “Yorkshire International Football Association” (YIFA) who last week joined the Confederation of Independent Football Associations (Conifa). So a seemingly proud, if oppressed folk, disillusioned with London-centric politics, decided to go it alone.

1st game up and a decent draw against Ellan Vannin (Isle of Man). Only shame was that Yorkshire anthem "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at" failed to boom from the PA.

YIFA probably has it in for the FA too and who’s to blame them? The English FA have decided to take a general template of European Football and graft its methods onto the Englishman’s psyche. Yep out with Lard and in with Southern Europe’s Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The problem with the FA and Olive Oil in general is that it just doesn’t stick.

It’s all been a waste of time of course and I suspect the good folk of Yorkshire cottoned onto this a longtime ago. Isn’t it just as plausible that the recent success seen at junior levels internationally owes more to the various annually released FIFA games than any guff coming from the FA? “Frameworks to success” (Urgh) or “Best Practice” – pass me the bucket!

So it does nothing to enhance the flavour of your roast potatoes or the enjoyment of the Sunday Roast (real templates of success). Now of course when one visits Wembley Stadium, the biggest cheer of the night is saved until when anodyne proceeding instigate people to routinely fold match pamphlets to make paper aero planes that occasionally land onto the field of play. Hurray!!

Of course such youth teams are well oiled and drilled but by enlarge it’s as dull as dishwater to watch. So insipid has it now become that Yorkshire, a county that can endure the never ending nothingness of Cricket has simply had enough?

I naturally digress. Onto todays chilly encounter away to Esher Wizards Blues. The Knights may have been fractured upon arrival but fully unified upon departure. Tormenting this decent Esher side with some of the finest football Sunday league has to offer. The defense, standing sentry, witnessed a midfield quartet tear away at the Wizards as if they stood for something ethically wrong.

So the game ended Esher 0 Hampton & Richmond Knights 6

Notables: MOTM Joel Marshall scoring 3 after coming off the bench. Other goals from Bertie 1, Jacob & Seb 1. It takes a real team performance to get a result like today! Nice.

Song: "On Ilkla Moor Baht 'at" Enjoy

Wheear 'ast tha bin sin' ah saw thee, ah saw thee?
On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at
Wheear 'ast tha bin sin' ah saw thee, ah saw thee?
Wheear 'ast tha bin sin' ah saw thee?
On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at
On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at
On Ilkla Mooar baht 'at
Tha's been a cooartin' Mary Jane
Tha's bahn' to catch thy deeath o' cowd