Post by gazz on Dec 3, 2013 12:28:47 GMT
Quidditch
siriusiron
There is a lot of information on the sport found in 'Quidditch through the ages' but I have selected a small piece where it is the making of the grand sport.....
Evolution of Quidditch
The name "Quidditch" is supposedly derived from Queerditch Marsher, the location of the first recorded game. The first ball to be introduced was the Quaffle, then a leather ball quite similar to the modern Quaffle, and hence the only playing positions were Chaser and Keeper. Soon afterwards were included in the game flying boulders that had been enchanted to attack players – the first Bludgers.
At first, the bludgers had no human opponents on the pitch, but Beaters were introduced not long afterwards. As the heavy bats had the unfortunate tendency to shatter the boulders into flying gravel, the first metal Bludgers replaced them almost immediately. They were originally made of lead, but in the 15th century, magically reinforced beaters bats were introduced. They are currently made of iron. The final modification to the original "Kwidditch" was to set up three half-barrels at either end of the pitch as scoring targets (previously trees had been used for this purpose). The one missing element from this ancient game was the Golden Snitch.
Quorn Hall FC.
bringbacklenwhite
Quorn Hall was my Hall of Residence Team at Loughborough College (1972-75). They played in the North Leicestershire League along with local village sides, works teams, such as 3M's and the University 1st XI and the College 3rd XI.
The College's first team keeper played for British Universities and the second team keeper was the British Universities reserve - so no chance of a game there. Why play for the 3rd's and have train 3 times a week when I could play the same standard for the Hall and have 2 extra drinking nights ? No brainer.
The team was made up entirely of ex-U18 county level players, 2 England U18 lads and the English Catholic Schools' centre forward and right back and me. Unfortunately having 15 PE teacher trainees in the squad lead to heated arguements over squad rotation, systems to be played, tactics and worst of all ----who would be penalty taker. If you could drive and had a car you were in the side whatever.
In three years we won the league twice, were runners up once (to the College side) won the cup once and lost the final once (again to the College side after a replay). This upset the locals considerably as they felt we were ruining the competition in the League. The "powers that be" argued, successfully, that we did increase the standard and certainly the intensity of "Town vs Gown" matches. This came to a head when 6 of us were selected to play in the end of season "inter-league representative competition" which we won. They didn't select any for the following two years in a political move to stop other teams from leaving the Association.
Highlights of that time included reaching the semi-final of the Leicestershire Jnr Cup where we lost (after extra time) to a semi-pro side's reserve team when they turned the first team out against us. The locals also resorted to a robust style of play when "playin't student tw*ts". The old adage that skill will always outsmart brawn was never so greatly illustrated.
One game which springs to mind was against Belton Villa who were so far un-beaten after 18 games including a draw against us on our pitch. The away day return was memorable for two incidents.
It seemed like the whole village had turned out to verbally (and physically) pillory us.
As we went 1-0 up the level of abuse turned quite vile and nasty. A real fish-wife of a woman had resorted to screaming from behind the compulsory "two yard tape" beyond the touch line. After 20 minutes of having his hearing seriously compromised our winger (from Norwich - so you can do your own accent here) turned to the harpie and utter the immortal phrase "Ok missus, I give up, where's you parked your broom ?"
5 minutes to go and the referee gave into the personal abuse being levelled at him and awarded a highly dubious penalty. As I faced the league's top goal-scorer (mainly due the fact that he was their penalty taker) I became aware of an octogenarian behind the goal trying to hook my foot with his walking stick through the net !!! Fortunately, the ref. was able to sod him off in time.............. and YES !! I saved the penalty by moving early and coming at least 3 yards off my line. This was followed by lumps of mud being directed my way for being "an 'airy cheating b*st*rd". I had beard and long hair in those days.
We hung on after nearly ten minutes of "genuine injury time" to win 1-0. Needless to say we didn't hang around after the handshakes to get changed, shower or have a drink. It made downtown Brinnington matches look like a Sunday School Picnic. Allegedly the ref. in still hanging from the gallows at the end of the village as a warning to all others.
Quinn, Mickey
dudleyhatter
Never saw him play for county myself, but I do remember him as one of the fattest professional footballers. For me only rivalled by the great ( in size only) Sammy Lee.
A Pair of County Quinns
hatter in macc
My initial reading of Dudley's post (well...it was late last night) saw me mistake his 'fattest' descriptor as 'fastest'!! And there is, as it happens, more than a touch of irony in that - given the quip by Micky Quinn himself that he was "the fastest player over a yard"!
I did have the pleasure of watching 'The Mighty Quinn' play for County a few times, back in the days when I worked in North Wales and had to drive at speed along the A55 in order to get to EP, for my Friday evening entertainment, on time. Quinny may have looked too unfit even for parks football, and some not-inconsiderable hard living off the pitch wouldn't have helped his cause much either, but - by God - he was a natural goalscorer (39 goals in 63 games for County)...and the Edgeley faithful loved him, both while he was with us, and when he went on - some would say remarkably - to achieve at the highest level. His autobiography, Who Ate All the Pies, is one of the best football books I have read: not only for the entertaining tales of his love for pints, pies and women; but also for the down-to-earth and honest way in which he recounts them. The term, 'cult hero', is perhaps bandied about too often in football - but, for me, Micky Quinn fitted the bill absolutely. What a character. What an unlikely hero.
Contrast with James Quinn, who joined County, as a loan-player of great promise, from Blackpool in 1994. He featured in a solitary game, during which he succeeded in doing precisely nothing, before crying off training with a headache, and b*gg*ring off back to Bloomfield Road. Somehow, he went on to be capped fifty or so times for Northern Ireland - but, as my Granny would have said, he was really just 'a bit too strong for light work'...
QUEENS PARK RANGERS (FA Cup, 3rd Round), Home: 8th January 1994
hatter in macc
One of the greatest matches that Edgeley Park has hosted in (relatively, bearing in mind the perspective of younger Heaveners!) recent years almost didn't go ahead on the scheduled day, due to the bitterly frosty conditions. Grateful thanks were due to Referee Peck for making the pre-match call there - as, frankly, our top-flight opponents really didn't fancy it when they saw quite how 'grim oop north' it was that afternoon.
Like others who were there, I recall proudly the way County (at that time a Second Division - 'League One', in today's money - side) fought back - courtesy of, firstly, Big Kev and, second, Preecey's thumping volley - after going behind early doors. I also remember Ray Wilkins: doing his level best to try and run the game on the Ref's behalf; forced to be running around a bit for, possibly, the first time in his career, when his team were up against it; but also being graciously willing to give an autograph for every young County fan who queued up for one.
It was the shock result of the afternoon, and received top billing on Match Of The Day that evening. After the game, and a good-natured, post-match pitch invasion (we all wanted to stand on the spot from which Andy P had unleashed his classic of a winner!), I adjourned happily to 'The Horseshoe' in High Lane, to celebrate with my good buddies, Stalybridge Hatter and HL Hatters 1 and 2, before staggering back to HLH 1's house in time for MOTD. We videoed the County footage, in the way that folk did in those days, too: the match-action being preceded by shots of Mr Peck running up and down the pitch to test the ice that lunchtime, and of Danny Bergara, "on his way to work", walking out of a terraced home adjacent to Hardcastle Road. And, once the four of us had watched all of this 'live', we re-ran it again...and again...and again, combining the twenty or so repeated views with a sort of drinking game, which required us all to down more beer every time when Preecey's goal went in (and slurringly debate about whether he might possibly, in fact, "miss it next time") and when The Man from Uruguay appeared at the white front door of what we simultanously had, each time and in drunken unison, to proclaim loudly was "Danny's House!" .
I don't remember much about getting home that night - although at least I only had a short walk down the A6 to Disley. Stalybridge Hatter, from what I was told afterwards, had a great deal more of a struggle!
And, over eighteen years on, I haven't, at matchdays, and even during the worst of times for the Club, been able to walk past that little, white-doored, mid-terrace dwelling without a big grin and a warm glow
Quirky, Quality Quotations
bringbacklenwhite
"My job involves general duties driving a police patrol car," "You won't find me walking the beat - why walk around for 12 hours when you can drive a car?" Kevin Francis.
"He was so infectious and he was the main reason I joined the club. Every story you may have heard about Danny was 100 per cent true. He wanted to get players to fit into his team and built this jigsaw." Kevin Francis
"He has a very very good tactical sense, he is a great motivator of players, he works particularly well with young players and brings them on, which is important at a club the size of Motherwell, and he has boundless enthusiasm".— Motherwell Chairman John Boyle, speaking of Gannon's appointment
"I don't think the manager (Jim Gannon) likes me and, to be honest, I don't like him" Port Vale’s Gary Roberts
"If I didn't take the job, this club would've had a real chance of dying... I'm not proud to be the manager of a club that loses 7–0... but this is my team now... It has always been my club, so it's my responsibility to make things better, and over time we will“ Jim Gannon.
"My philosophy is good passing football, it is how I believe the game should be played and it brings out the best in players. It inspires them and motivates them to play football in the right manner.” Jim Gannon speaking in February 2010.
"Whilst a deal has been agreed, it is subject to the Melrose Consortium obtaining landlord approval. This is a positive step to safeguarding the club's future." Paul Reeves (Leonard Curtis)
"We have got two possibilities for this club, one is the Premiership, the other is the Conference. "When this possible move was first suggested the majority of the letters we received and comments on the internet were supportive. "For those who see Edgeley Park as a sacred ground, I would reply there simply aren't enough pilgrims there," Brendan Elwood.
“Stockport’s late goal doesn’t change a thing. We are in the game“. Paul Lambert.
“We were fortunate because there were one or two challenges on our players that could have resulted in serious injury” Jim Gannon
“I worked tirelessly and passionately to conclude this deal. I’m extremely disappointed to be leaving as I continue to believe that the Club can have a strong future both on and off the field“ Tony Evans.
"It’s a real boost for the City of Salford to have an elite Club from both codes within it’s boundaries". David Tarry. Salford Chief Executive on the news Sale would be moving to The Willows.
Quixall, Albert
archie
Apart from the aforementioned Quinns, Albert is the only other 'Q' listed as a County player in the 2000 Encyclopaedia. For those that don't know about him, he was a 50s Golden Boy of English football. An inside forward (midfield in new money), he made his debut for Sheffield Wednesday in 1951 at the age of 17 and won 5 England caps at 19. He was a part of Matt Busby's rebuilding after Munich, signing for United for a then British record fee of £45000 in 1958 (he remains the only player to play for County who commanded a record fee during his career) and winning an FA Cup winners medal in 1963 before moving to Oldham in 1964. He moved to County in 1966, ending his professional career in 1967 after just 14 games for the club.
siriusiron
There is a lot of information on the sport found in 'Quidditch through the ages' but I have selected a small piece where it is the making of the grand sport.....
Evolution of Quidditch
The name "Quidditch" is supposedly derived from Queerditch Marsher, the location of the first recorded game. The first ball to be introduced was the Quaffle, then a leather ball quite similar to the modern Quaffle, and hence the only playing positions were Chaser and Keeper. Soon afterwards were included in the game flying boulders that had been enchanted to attack players – the first Bludgers.
At first, the bludgers had no human opponents on the pitch, but Beaters were introduced not long afterwards. As the heavy bats had the unfortunate tendency to shatter the boulders into flying gravel, the first metal Bludgers replaced them almost immediately. They were originally made of lead, but in the 15th century, magically reinforced beaters bats were introduced. They are currently made of iron. The final modification to the original "Kwidditch" was to set up three half-barrels at either end of the pitch as scoring targets (previously trees had been used for this purpose). The one missing element from this ancient game was the Golden Snitch.
Quorn Hall FC.
bringbacklenwhite
Quorn Hall was my Hall of Residence Team at Loughborough College (1972-75). They played in the North Leicestershire League along with local village sides, works teams, such as 3M's and the University 1st XI and the College 3rd XI.
The College's first team keeper played for British Universities and the second team keeper was the British Universities reserve - so no chance of a game there. Why play for the 3rd's and have train 3 times a week when I could play the same standard for the Hall and have 2 extra drinking nights ? No brainer.
The team was made up entirely of ex-U18 county level players, 2 England U18 lads and the English Catholic Schools' centre forward and right back and me. Unfortunately having 15 PE teacher trainees in the squad lead to heated arguements over squad rotation, systems to be played, tactics and worst of all ----who would be penalty taker. If you could drive and had a car you were in the side whatever.
In three years we won the league twice, were runners up once (to the College side) won the cup once and lost the final once (again to the College side after a replay). This upset the locals considerably as they felt we were ruining the competition in the League. The "powers that be" argued, successfully, that we did increase the standard and certainly the intensity of "Town vs Gown" matches. This came to a head when 6 of us were selected to play in the end of season "inter-league representative competition" which we won. They didn't select any for the following two years in a political move to stop other teams from leaving the Association.
Highlights of that time included reaching the semi-final of the Leicestershire Jnr Cup where we lost (after extra time) to a semi-pro side's reserve team when they turned the first team out against us. The locals also resorted to a robust style of play when "playin't student tw*ts". The old adage that skill will always outsmart brawn was never so greatly illustrated.
One game which springs to mind was against Belton Villa who were so far un-beaten after 18 games including a draw against us on our pitch. The away day return was memorable for two incidents.
It seemed like the whole village had turned out to verbally (and physically) pillory us.
As we went 1-0 up the level of abuse turned quite vile and nasty. A real fish-wife of a woman had resorted to screaming from behind the compulsory "two yard tape" beyond the touch line. After 20 minutes of having his hearing seriously compromised our winger (from Norwich - so you can do your own accent here) turned to the harpie and utter the immortal phrase "Ok missus, I give up, where's you parked your broom ?"
5 minutes to go and the referee gave into the personal abuse being levelled at him and awarded a highly dubious penalty. As I faced the league's top goal-scorer (mainly due the fact that he was their penalty taker) I became aware of an octogenarian behind the goal trying to hook my foot with his walking stick through the net !!! Fortunately, the ref. was able to sod him off in time.............. and YES !! I saved the penalty by moving early and coming at least 3 yards off my line. This was followed by lumps of mud being directed my way for being "an 'airy cheating b*st*rd". I had beard and long hair in those days.
We hung on after nearly ten minutes of "genuine injury time" to win 1-0. Needless to say we didn't hang around after the handshakes to get changed, shower or have a drink. It made downtown Brinnington matches look like a Sunday School Picnic. Allegedly the ref. in still hanging from the gallows at the end of the village as a warning to all others.
Quinn, Mickey
dudleyhatter
Never saw him play for county myself, but I do remember him as one of the fattest professional footballers. For me only rivalled by the great ( in size only) Sammy Lee.
A Pair of County Quinns
hatter in macc
My initial reading of Dudley's post (well...it was late last night) saw me mistake his 'fattest' descriptor as 'fastest'!! And there is, as it happens, more than a touch of irony in that - given the quip by Micky Quinn himself that he was "the fastest player over a yard"!
I did have the pleasure of watching 'The Mighty Quinn' play for County a few times, back in the days when I worked in North Wales and had to drive at speed along the A55 in order to get to EP, for my Friday evening entertainment, on time. Quinny may have looked too unfit even for parks football, and some not-inconsiderable hard living off the pitch wouldn't have helped his cause much either, but - by God - he was a natural goalscorer (39 goals in 63 games for County)...and the Edgeley faithful loved him, both while he was with us, and when he went on - some would say remarkably - to achieve at the highest level. His autobiography, Who Ate All the Pies, is one of the best football books I have read: not only for the entertaining tales of his love for pints, pies and women; but also for the down-to-earth and honest way in which he recounts them. The term, 'cult hero', is perhaps bandied about too often in football - but, for me, Micky Quinn fitted the bill absolutely. What a character. What an unlikely hero.
Contrast with James Quinn, who joined County, as a loan-player of great promise, from Blackpool in 1994. He featured in a solitary game, during which he succeeded in doing precisely nothing, before crying off training with a headache, and b*gg*ring off back to Bloomfield Road. Somehow, he went on to be capped fifty or so times for Northern Ireland - but, as my Granny would have said, he was really just 'a bit too strong for light work'...
QUEENS PARK RANGERS (FA Cup, 3rd Round), Home: 8th January 1994
hatter in macc
One of the greatest matches that Edgeley Park has hosted in (relatively, bearing in mind the perspective of younger Heaveners!) recent years almost didn't go ahead on the scheduled day, due to the bitterly frosty conditions. Grateful thanks were due to Referee Peck for making the pre-match call there - as, frankly, our top-flight opponents really didn't fancy it when they saw quite how 'grim oop north' it was that afternoon.
Like others who were there, I recall proudly the way County (at that time a Second Division - 'League One', in today's money - side) fought back - courtesy of, firstly, Big Kev and, second, Preecey's thumping volley - after going behind early doors. I also remember Ray Wilkins: doing his level best to try and run the game on the Ref's behalf; forced to be running around a bit for, possibly, the first time in his career, when his team were up against it; but also being graciously willing to give an autograph for every young County fan who queued up for one.
It was the shock result of the afternoon, and received top billing on Match Of The Day that evening. After the game, and a good-natured, post-match pitch invasion (we all wanted to stand on the spot from which Andy P had unleashed his classic of a winner!), I adjourned happily to 'The Horseshoe' in High Lane, to celebrate with my good buddies, Stalybridge Hatter and HL Hatters 1 and 2, before staggering back to HLH 1's house in time for MOTD. We videoed the County footage, in the way that folk did in those days, too: the match-action being preceded by shots of Mr Peck running up and down the pitch to test the ice that lunchtime, and of Danny Bergara, "on his way to work", walking out of a terraced home adjacent to Hardcastle Road. And, once the four of us had watched all of this 'live', we re-ran it again...and again...and again, combining the twenty or so repeated views with a sort of drinking game, which required us all to down more beer every time when Preecey's goal went in (and slurringly debate about whether he might possibly, in fact, "miss it next time") and when The Man from Uruguay appeared at the white front door of what we simultanously had, each time and in drunken unison, to proclaim loudly was "Danny's House!" .
I don't remember much about getting home that night - although at least I only had a short walk down the A6 to Disley. Stalybridge Hatter, from what I was told afterwards, had a great deal more of a struggle!
And, over eighteen years on, I haven't, at matchdays, and even during the worst of times for the Club, been able to walk past that little, white-doored, mid-terrace dwelling without a big grin and a warm glow
Quirky, Quality Quotations
bringbacklenwhite
"My job involves general duties driving a police patrol car," "You won't find me walking the beat - why walk around for 12 hours when you can drive a car?" Kevin Francis.
"He was so infectious and he was the main reason I joined the club. Every story you may have heard about Danny was 100 per cent true. He wanted to get players to fit into his team and built this jigsaw." Kevin Francis
"He has a very very good tactical sense, he is a great motivator of players, he works particularly well with young players and brings them on, which is important at a club the size of Motherwell, and he has boundless enthusiasm".— Motherwell Chairman John Boyle, speaking of Gannon's appointment
"I don't think the manager (Jim Gannon) likes me and, to be honest, I don't like him" Port Vale’s Gary Roberts
"If I didn't take the job, this club would've had a real chance of dying... I'm not proud to be the manager of a club that loses 7–0... but this is my team now... It has always been my club, so it's my responsibility to make things better, and over time we will“ Jim Gannon.
"My philosophy is good passing football, it is how I believe the game should be played and it brings out the best in players. It inspires them and motivates them to play football in the right manner.” Jim Gannon speaking in February 2010.
"Whilst a deal has been agreed, it is subject to the Melrose Consortium obtaining landlord approval. This is a positive step to safeguarding the club's future." Paul Reeves (Leonard Curtis)
"We have got two possibilities for this club, one is the Premiership, the other is the Conference. "When this possible move was first suggested the majority of the letters we received and comments on the internet were supportive. "For those who see Edgeley Park as a sacred ground, I would reply there simply aren't enough pilgrims there," Brendan Elwood.
“Stockport’s late goal doesn’t change a thing. We are in the game“. Paul Lambert.
“We were fortunate because there were one or two challenges on our players that could have resulted in serious injury” Jim Gannon
“I worked tirelessly and passionately to conclude this deal. I’m extremely disappointed to be leaving as I continue to believe that the Club can have a strong future both on and off the field“ Tony Evans.
"It’s a real boost for the City of Salford to have an elite Club from both codes within it’s boundaries". David Tarry. Salford Chief Executive on the news Sale would be moving to The Willows.
Quixall, Albert
archie
Apart from the aforementioned Quinns, Albert is the only other 'Q' listed as a County player in the 2000 Encyclopaedia. For those that don't know about him, he was a 50s Golden Boy of English football. An inside forward (midfield in new money), he made his debut for Sheffield Wednesday in 1951 at the age of 17 and won 5 England caps at 19. He was a part of Matt Busby's rebuilding after Munich, signing for United for a then British record fee of £45000 in 1958 (he remains the only player to play for County who commanded a record fee during his career) and winning an FA Cup winners medal in 1963 before moving to Oldham in 1964. He moved to County in 1966, ending his professional career in 1967 after just 14 games for the club.