Free papers - the future?

ON THE WHOLE, the print industry received a boost as the National Readership Survey published its results for the past year.

The real standout performer from the results was the London Evening Standard, which figures show now has an estimated readership of 1,394,000, a huge 133% increase on last year.

These results follow the Standard dropping its price-tag and becoming a free paper, whilst also increasing its distribution, two bold moves from major shareholder Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev.

These figures now mean the Standard is read by more people than some national titles including the Guardian, amongst others. The Metro, another freesheet also rose, 8%, to 3,597,000.

The real question to arise out of the figures however, are the implications they have for the future of the newspaper industry.

Are free newspapers the future of the print industry? Or will continuing to charge for them be a sustainable option? It will be interesting to see if these figures grow once more next year, then a proper analysis can be made.

It is worth noting, that the most-read newspaper remains The Sun, with 7,761,000 readers, a 1% decrease on last year.

It is certainly an indication that freesheets are becoming a more and more popular choice amongst the newspaper reader.

It raises questions as to how Mr. Lebedev will approach the Independent when he finally assumes control, will that become a free paper also?

Time will tell, but the initial signs are definitely promising.

Hyperlocal news: the time is now.

IN RECENT months, the journalism industry appears to have grown another branch, or at the least, extended a previous one.

Hyperlocal news, or blogs, are cropping up throughout the country, and it appears that the time for localised news is now.

With regional newspapers feeling the brunt of the recession, coverage on a localised level has reduced with papers thinning, and staff numbers seriously down.

Hyper-local refers to community-related news content, not typically found in the mainstream news; which ultimately will serve a minor geographic section.

In 2009, almost 30 regional tiles disappeared from existence, which makes the need for hyperlocal 'bloggers' ever-more important.

2010 is certainly the year for hyperlocal news to explode into life, with the Guardian filling three paid positions for journalist to run localised news blogs in Cardiff, Leeds and Edinburgh.

The advert for those positions read “This is a completely new role for the Guardian, which we believe reflects the shifting nature of journalism.” The successful candidates, who will work from home or “anywhere with wifi”, will know their “tweets from their yelps”.

It seems hyperlocal is one of the many new steps industry is taking to stay in touch with the digital revolution.

Grassroot news

A fellow course-mate and I, will be launching a hyperlocal blog for Preston in the coming weeks, at a time when student journalists are having to do or die.

With an industry that appears ever-shrinking, with job cuts, and convergence; as one of thousands of graduates, I must do everything I can to get to the top of the pack.

We are hoping such a site will serve the grassroot communities on news that larger newspapers, such as the Lancashire Evening Post, fail to deliver.

With newspapers declining, fewer staff reporters are spending less time holding the powerful accountable.

Hopefully, that's where hyper-local will come in, only time will tell.

Charging for content - the beginning of the end?

PAYWALLS, a major talking point in journalism right now, are they good or bad? Will they kill or revolutionise the industry?

Alan Rusbridger, Guardian Editor-in-Chief spoke of paywalls this week at the 2010 Hugh Cudlipp lecture at London College of Communication.

Rusbridger is critical of the paywall business model, claiming it would remove the industry from a digital revolution which is allowing news organisations to engage with their readers more than ever before.

I would disagree with this view; I believe that paywalls will actually enhance the two-way relationship between the consumer and the journalist. With applications like Twitter leading journalism into social media, there is constant communication between the reporter and his readers.

A paywall will indeed limit the amount of people who read the news online, but will this filtering not just separate the consumers who are serious about news, from the rest of the bunch?

Surely the quality of communication will be greater between industry and its customers if those purchasing the paper digitally have a genuine interest and love for news?

America has seen a number of papers who have tried it, and opted against it, whereas there has been a number of have taken paywalls on board and stuck with it.

The New York Times for instance has confirmed it too will introduce a paywall to its website by 2011.

Whilst we have no idea how paywalls will work in the UK, there is only one way to find out, and that is to take the plunge and try it.

Sincere apologies.

Firstly, a happy new year to you all.

Secondly, my lack of care for my blog is clear for all to see when you see that opening sentence being written on January 28th, poor form indeed.

I have neglected my lovely little blog recently, but endeavour to spice it up once more in the coming weeks.

2010 has had a manic start, and will continue in a similar fashion, I've taken over the role of News Editor at Pluto, UCLan's fantastic student newspaper, and am also getting stuck in with a project with the BBC this semester too; this, coupled with my degree means I will be a very busy boy!

I promise to pop in soon.

Honest.

Image editing - Preston North End Football Club

In continuation with the Skills Tests for the Digital Newsroom Module here at UCLan, I had to test my ability with image editing software.

I had to choose one of the following to photograph:
• Lancashire county council
• Preston City Council
• The Flag Market
• The National Football museum
• Preston North End football club
• The University of Central Lancashire

Then I had to edit the image to three different sizes, using cropping tools and resizing. The three sizes were:
• One 100x100 pixel thumbnail in jpeg format
• One 400 pixel wide by 300 pixel high version in jpeg format
• One 200 pixel wide by 500 pixel high version in jpeg format

To take the images I used a Fujifilm FinePix S5000, and to edit and crop them, I used Photoshop Elements 8.0.

This is the original image I took, of Preston North End's Deepdale Stadium, I chose to include the statue of PNE legend, and sporting hero Sir Tom Finney, as I feel it adds more to the image, than just a shot of a generic football stadium.












This is the 100x100 pixel thumbnail version of the photo, I chose not to crop anything, simply to resize, as I liked the editorial content of the original photo, so felt no need to cut any of it out:



This is the 200 pixel wide by 500 pixel high version of the image; in this image, I opted to include the towering floodlights including part of the National Football Museum, whilst keeping the statue of Sir Tom Finney the focus:

And finally, this is the 400 pixel wide by 300 pixel high version of the image, in this image, I decided to not include the floodlights, or anything high up in the shot, but to keep the statue in shot, and show a bit of the side of the home stand, including a map of the stadium, and a half full car park:

'Dick' Griffin...

So tonight was the night the nation waited for, no we’re not talking X Factor or Strictly, we’re talking politics.

Tonight was the night that the BNP Leader Nick Griffin had his and his party’s true colours shown to the world.

After weeks of criticism against the decision to allow the BNP to have their views on BBC’s Question Time, the time had finally arrived.

In all truth, and for what it’s worth, I wholeheartedly agree with the decision to have the BNP on the BBC’s flagship politics show, after all, we live in a democracy and seeing as the party was voted in democratically, they have every right to be on the impartial BBC, no matter how disgraceful their views.

The night was always going to be uncomfortable for Griffin, and he took a real grilling from audience, other panellists and Dimbleby alike.

Quizzed on his views on immigration, the Ku Klux Klan and holocaust denial, amongst other issues; Griffin did himself no favours as he laughed off claims of racism, and arrogantly smirked his way through an uncomfortable hour.

He was visibly shaken by the test of his political mettle, and frequently muddled himself with his words, making a point then contradicting it almost instantaneously.

Hopefully Jack Straw will be proved right in saying the appearance was not an ‘early Christmas present for the BNP’, hopefully it’ll open the eyes of British voters who voted not in knowledge, but in anger.

The BNP thrive on coverage, and they certainly got some in this instance. Fingers crossed that the British public will see Griffin for the slimy, racist creature that he is.

All in all, a good night for Britain, and a positive night for politics.

Democracy, One. Nick Griffin, Nil.

Barack Obama, the greatest leader, ever?

Ever since Barack Obama stumbled onto the political scene, I was mesmerized.

Mesmerized by his charisma, mesmerized by his charm and more importantly, mesmerized by his ability to inspire.

On January 20, Barack Obama made history, and shattered taboos; becoming the first black President of the United States of America.

This fact alone tells you many things, not only the one-dimensional views of the country he now controls, but also Obama's love to take on a challenge, and succeed.

Barack was born into a family of challenges. His parents divorced when he was aged just two, he then saw his father just once more after the split, before he died in a car accident.

Throughout his childhood, Barack was moved from school to school, lacking stability and continuity, he lived with his Grandparents aged ten, until graduation, then lost his mother to ovarian cancer in 1994.

Obama reflects on his childhood struggles as a young adult to reconcile social perceptions of his multi-racial heritage; attributing his mutual respect for different cultures and beliefs to his Hawaii upbringing.

His inauguration speech alone was enough to win me over, a speech that will go down in history with Martin Luther King Jr.'s 'I have a Dream'.

In his first days as President, he identified a number of issues as key on his presidential agenda, the closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention camps and the withdrawal of troops from Iraq; he also took steps to reducing carbon emissions, and aims to reform the American health system.

Obama is also making positive steps in assisting in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza; and it is refreshing to hear such positive comments about the American President, after having George W. Bush in office for so long, almost every word that Barack mutters is a work of art.

Barack Obama has, without a doubt, a chance at being one of the most influential, and successful Presidents of all-time, and I for one hope he achieves everything he sets out to achieve.

Customising a Google Map.

For one of my Digital Newsroom module assignments, I have to prove my ability to perform as a multi-skilled journalist.

For this individual part of the assignment, I had to show my proficiency at using Google Maps, creating a custom map, using stories I found in the Lancashire Evening Post, then locating the online article, and linking it to my custom map.

Below, is the result.

View Map Skills Test in a larger map

5 tips for writing online headlines...

As part of the BA (hons) Journalism course here at UCLan, we delve into a module called Digital Journalism, which takes a look at optimising the internet for Journalistic use.

In last week’s workshop, we looked at effective headline writing for the web, and an article by “the guru of web usability” Jakob Nielsen.

We were set the task of writing five tips for the perfect headline.

Rule No.1 – and in my opinion, the most important, reveal as much information as possible. A lot of the time, be it RSS feeds, or one your mobile phone, the headline will be all you see, it needs to sell you the entire story in a sentence.

Rule No.2 – it should be understandable out of context, as referred to in my first rule, sometimes people don’t have the time to consume the entire story, at times a headline is all they will see, it needs to be understandable and revealing.

Rule No.3 – and in my opinion the most important, for the internet. The headline needs to optimise search engines. Headlines with words such as ‘a’, ‘the’ are pointless, as engines such as Google will simply filter it out; which leads me onto Rule No. 4.

Rule No.4 – make every single word count. Use ‘4’ instead of ‘four’, ‘PM’ instead of ‘prime minister’. Save every character, make it count. Use as few words as possible.

Rule No.5 – the headline should be front-loaded with information, for me personally this is paramount. Due to my wannabe i-Phone, ‘Samsung Omnia; when visiting an RSS feed, I can’t see the entire headline, so in order to get a real gist for the story, I need the key information immediately. This is true on the web too, as those in a hurry won’t hasten to skip by a headline which is too lengthy to read.

Feel free to comment whether you agree, or indeed disagree!

UK takes positive steps towards a low carbon future.

Britain is set to join the high speed railway craze that is sweeping the globe.

The plans to build a network of high-speed railway, linking London to Scotland in just three hours, is unquestionably overdue.

The United Kingdom has significantly less high-speed rail provision than other major countries across the globe, with just 113km of rail.

Japan currently has the most high-speed rail laid, with 2452km nationwide, 21 times more than Britain.

The new plans would not only cut journey times significantly, but it would also play a major role in a low carbon future.

Even Britain’s closest neighbour France, are putting us to shame. France has over 400 high speed trains across 1,100 miles of new high-speed lines linking the English Channel to the Mediterranean, and has numerous more planned.

The use of high-speed, electric railway, can eradicate the use of short-haul flights that just add to the nation’s ever-growing carbon footprint.

It’s about time that Britain joined the high-speed revolution, and hopefully Labour can leave behind a legacy to be proud of.

If you smoke, I smoke.

One of the best decisions our government has made, in recent years, was to ban smoking in all enclosed public places, but I for one think they need to take it one step further.

The legislation, that came into effect on the 1^st July 2007, made smoking in public or at the work place illegal, ensuring non-smokers can enjoy a second-hand-smoke free lifestyle.

Choosing to smoke is an individual’s personal decision, and one I don’t begrudge them for, however, taking away other’s right to a smoke-free environment is what really yanks my chain.

The legislation has done wonders in ensuring pubs, clubs, football stadiums, even bus-stops, are smoke-free at large.

As a sufferer of asthma, albeit very mild, I don’t appreciate walking down the high street and inhaling someone elses cloud of toxins.

I personally feel that smoking should be an activity that is undertaken in one place, and one place only, at home.

Since the 2007 ban was brought into place, England has seen the largest ever fall in smoking rates.

In the first year of the ban, about 400,000 people quit smoking and scientists have estimated that the new laws will prevent about 40,000 deaths from smoking-related diseases over the next decade.

We are constantly shown statistics showing how smoking causes consequences of unthinkable proportions, yet the slightest tweak in leglisation could potentially affect the decisions of millions.

21 percent of the population of Great Britain choose to smoke; but 66% of those who do, claim they want to give up.

Being unable to smoke legally outside their own homes, would aid the 66% who feel smoking is a luxury they can afford to drop.

Smoking is the cause of one-in-three of all cancers, and 87% of lung cancer cases, and every year 120,000 die because of their habit, but the figures do not stop there.

Second-hand smoke increases a non-smokers risk of getting lung cancer by a quarter, and it kills around 11,000 innocent people in U.K. every year, in the form of lung cancer, heart disease and strokes.

Research has shown that even 30 minutes of exposure to second-hand smoke can reduces blood flow in a non-smokers heart.

There are two types of tobacco smoke; mainstream smoke and sidestream smoke. Second-hand smoke consists mainly of sidestream smoke, which comes from the burning tip of cigarettes.

Should members of the public be forced to inhale this deadly cocktail of poisonous gases?

Sidestream smoke is four-times more toxic than mainstream smoke, so whilst smokers inhale their puff of tobacco, non-smokers are subjected to the poison-filled, cancer-causing toxic cloud.

In sidestream smoke, there is three times more highly toxic carbon monoxide and up to 70 times more ammonia, than in mainstream smoke.

For me there’s two options, smoke at home, or don’t smoke at all.

Is the health of the nation worth risking just so smokers can get their nicotine as and when they wish?

I think not.

The greatest sporting event in the world...

Today sees the start of one of the most physically enduring, mentally testing sporting events the world has to offer.

The 96^th Tour De France covers an incredible 3455km over the course of 23 days, consisting of 21 stages, with 10 flat stages, seven mountain stages, one medium-mountain stage, two individual time-trial stages, and one team time-trial stage.

The epic, gruelling race gets underway in Monaco, and reaches its climax in Paris.

There are several key battles in the prestigious race, and these are symbolised by coloured jerseys.

The yellow jersey, also known as the Maillot Juane, is for the race leader.

The green jersey, the Maillot Vert, is for the best sprinter, with Britain’s very own Mark Cavendish staking a serious claim for this.

A polka dot jersey will be worn by the king of the mountains, the Maillot a Pois Rouge, and the white Maillot Blanc is for the best rider under the age of 25.

The riders are amongst the fittest athletes in the world, burning a staggering 7000 calories a day, and getting the balance between intake and output is key to completing the full race.

This year race is special for a number of reasons, however the most exciting component being the return of cycling legend, and inspiration to so many, Lance Armstrong.

Having retired from professional cycling four years ago, cycling fans will be rubbing their hands in glee at the prospect of seeing the heroic Armstrong back on the bike.

Lance Armstrong has won the Tour de France seven times, more than any other competitior. Lance won these Tours in consecutive years, and considering the battles and challenges he fought just to stay alive, his success on the bike is all that bit more special.

In October 1996, Lance was diagnosed with testicular cancer, which then spread to his abdomen, lungs and his brain. He was given just a one-in-five chance of survival, at best.

The likeness between the Tour and cancer was uncanny for Lance, having to remain mentally strong at all times, and overcome a huge physical battle you could only begin to imagine.

Bout after bout of chemotherapy swept across Lance’s cancer-ridden body, cleaning up the various sites where cancer had settled.

Lance used the bike as means of escape, having been beaten by his step-father as a child; he would cycle for miles at a time, just to get away.

He continued to cycle throughout his therapy, despite his doctors warning him against pushing himself too hard. Lance learned to love his bike, before it was a means-to-an-end, a way of making money because he was good at it; now, he needed his bike.

Finally in late 1998, he got the all-clear, and just a year later, was celebrating his first Tour de France success, the first of seven.

Before the cancer, Lance was a stocky well-built cyclist, after his strenuous treatment he was just a frail frame of skin and bones, he had to start again from scratch.

Lance Armstrong is an inspiration to millions, he fought the dreaded disease so many of us face, and came out strong, going on to achieve unprecedented levels of success.

He has documented his story to the world, showing those who suffer that there is light at the end of the tunnel. He has also raised millions of dollars which has been used to aid research and try and combat the deadly disease.

As the Lance Armstrong Foundation states, “Unity is strength, knowledge is power and attitude is everything” and Lance is a shining example of this, and what can be achieved when you truly set your sights on it.

My greatest respect goes to Lance Armstrong, my idol both in the sporting world, and out of it.

Glastonbury, a truly magical place.

I was lucky enough to be one of the two-hundred thousand festival-goers at the world-renowned Glastonbury festival last week, and boy was I lucky!

Upon returning to my native Reading this summer and discovering a distinct lack of jobs, I decided to opt for a more unusual way of earning myself some hard-earned cash this summer, by stewarding at festivals!

I got to witness one of the world’s greatest music festivals, whilst being paid for the whole experience, cushty set-up I think you’d agree?

It wasn’t until I got to Glastonbury that I realised what a truly amazing place it really is.

For those that don’t know, Glastonbury music festival is situated in between two small villages in Somerset, called Pilton and Pylle.

It is located on Worthy Farm, which is fully operational for the remainder of the year.

The real magic behind Glastonbury is the sheer size of it, and the diversity it offers, it really has something for everyone.

I challenge anyone to go for a weekend at Glastonbury and be bored, there is literally so much to see, it is impossible to witness it all in just three or four days; which is why so many people keep coming back year after year.

Even the weather isn’t enough to put you off!

The festival not only offers unbelievable entertainment for its punters, it also raises a lot of money for various charities in the meantime.

Founder Michael Eavis, who has been nominated as one of Time’s 100 most influential people of all time, is keen for the festival to keep its traditional roots.

Eavis only takes a small salary from the event, reported to be the same amount it would be if he ran his dairy farm as normal.

Eavis and co, do an absolutely outstanding job in putting the festival on for us music lovers every year, whilst splitting half of the profits with charities such as WaterAid, Oxfam and Greenpeace, the other half is reinvested into the next year’s festival.

The festival also sticks to its original roots by being environmentally friendly, heralding the ‘Love the Farm, Leave no Trace’ campaign, urging attendees to consider their carbon footprint and leave minimal trace.

2009 was hailed as one of the best, and most successful festivals since the very first ‘Pilton Festival’ took place in 1970.

Neil Young, Bruce Springsteen and Blur were the guys given the huge responsibility of headlining the hallowed Pyramid stage, a job not to be taken lightly, and they did a cracking job of it.

With more than 700 acts playing across over 80 stages, you’re sure to be entertained!

Roll on the 40th anniversary of the world’s greatest festival, I for certain will be returning to those muddy fields of Worthy Farm!

Blogs...

I love blogs.

Blogs give you that little place you can go to and have a bit of a rant, or share a view, without really having to put too much effort into it.

You can debate something serious, or perhaps act a little juvenile, but it's entirely up to you.

The main reason I love blogging so much is exactly that, the random content of them.

You can go from blogging about the state of British politics, and a neo-Nazi party, to a man who claims to be able to turn a picture of an elephant, into the Brazilian football legend Pele, using only a marker pen.

Yep, you heard right, check this out.

Britain in turmoil...

British politics is in a worrying state.

With all this debarcle about expenses, I am in the minority who fear the worst for our ‘great nation’.

I worry that Gordon Brown and friends are taking their eyes off the ball somewhat.

With growing frustration from the British public, and elections in the near future, I am fearful for the results.

It is without a doubt that Labour are finished at the helm of British politics, but the burning question is, who is set to replace them?

With both Labour and Conservatives caught up in the expenses mess, British voters may look to think outside the box, and for me, this is a worry.

Us Brits are known for being patriotic, and letting our hearts do our thinking, but I am calling for rationality in the upcoming European elections on June 4, and in the imminent general election.

My main concern is that voters are going to take out their frustration on the main three political parties, by voting for someone entirely different, and with choice limited, there is a chance that a poor decision, with terrible consequences could be made.

The party I am talking about is, of course, the BNP.

The British Nationalist Party is, for those who don’t know, a far-right, whites-only party, fuelled by a view that Britain should be, quite frankly, for Brits.

The BNP, according to its constitution, is “committed to stemming and reversing the tide of non-white immigration and to restoring, by legal changes, negotiation and consent the overwhelmingly white makeup of the British population that existed in Britain prior to 1948.”

They promise ‘firm but voluntary incentives’ for immigrants to return home.

From the basis of their constitution, the BNP sends alarm bells ringing all over the shop for me personally; with a manifesto which sounds awfully familiar.

They literally call for those who aren’t British, to leave Britain, claiming it does not regard non-white people as being ethnically British, even if they have been born in the UK and are naturalised British citizens.

The BNP are opposed to mixed-race relationships, claiming racial differences must be preserved. It claims that when a white-person has a mixed race child, “a white family line that stretches back into deep pre-history is destroyed.”

The BNP stinks of Nazi-esque values, with calls for an all-white country, and removal of those any different, their views on mixed-race relationships bears frightening similarlity to the Nurnberg Laws during the holocaust, the BNP as a whole is frightening.

I know we live in a world of free-speech, and I usually welcome views of others, but what the BNP calls for is unacceptable.

The BNP are a racist, white supremacist, fascist party, one which will damage Britain unreservedly.

Nick Griffin is the modern-day Adolf Hitler, and he must not be allowed to influence the minds of the British people.

Help make the difference, and vote anti-BNP, in both the European elections, and those to follow.

A narrowly avoided 'merking'.

Before I start, I'd just like to add, that I have no problem with any group, demographic, or the individuals that make up society.

In fact I value every single one and welcome the different types of people that society brings.

Variation is always good, in fact without it, can you imagine how bland our lives would be?

It is refreshing to be able to step out into Reading town centre and watch the world go by, witnessing the various array of people the town brings with it.

However, I do have a major problem with those silly little school girls who dress up like silly tarts, pull their hair to one side, speak as if they are half-cockney and half Jamaican, and wear gold jewellery like there is some sort of prize.

They are a blotch on society, and a minority I detest immensely.

I really do not understand why exactly one would like to dress like, speak like, and act like the way these girls were; if this is how society dictates us to look, then there's a serious problem with society.

I was sat on a bus on the way back from the town centre yesterday afternoon, and I was 'fortunate' enough to be sat behind two young girls, who decided to speak loud enough so that the whole bus could join in with their conversation too, how kind.

The two girls, who couldn't have been much older than 11 or 12, had that delightful hairstyle that all young teenage boys apparently seem to find attractive, you know which one I mean?

The girls were discussing their dislike for a girl in their year at school; and called her just about every name under the sun.

One girl even went as far to say she really 'enjoyed punching her the other day' and went on to say how she 'loved pulling her hair until she cried', charming.

The other girl described to the other how she had been round to said girl's house to confront her about alleged bad-mouthing; she told the girl, and half the bus, how she had kicked the door until her parents came out and threatened to call the police, to which she replied, “I don't give a sh*t about the police, I've got my reasons for being here, I've already got two criminal records anyway. Do your worst!”

It was at this point I laughed, quite literally, out loud and got very suspect looks from the group of girls.

Thankfully, they got off at the next stop, otherwise I fear I may have got a 'merking'.

Silly teenage girls should stick to what they do best, gossiping.

Not dressing up like something I've just trodden in.

Rant over.

Over and out.

The return of the Messiah?

This post was originally about unexpected news at Reading Football Club this morning, but led me to debate, once more, the worrying state that the game is in.

I awoke this morning to the news of a loan signing for my beloved Reading.

Glen Little, who left the club after relegation last summer, has returned after just 6 months away from the Madejski Stadium.

Glen, who is described by many Royals fans as the 'White Pele', could well be the make or break moment in the club's bid to return to the promised land.

At first I was overjoyed, as Glen is one of the most talented and technically gifted players ever to grace the hoops, however the move did get my mind thinking.

Glen is one of many footballers who has made a move away from a club, and returned within a short space of time.

Jermain Defoe is another, who left Spurs for Portsmouth just to make the trip back to London soon after.

Robbie Keane, another of the mass exodus from White Hart Lane last summer, returned after an unsuccessful spell at Liverpool.

It got me questioning how much these footballers really think about the transfers they are involved in?

Do they just see the big pound signs in their eyes and sign on the dotted line?

Does loyalty to a club still exist in this day and age?

Or are there more important things influencing our professionals?

How rare is it to see an example of a player who has stuck by a club through thick and thin?

At Reading just one player springs to mind, Club Captain Graeme Murty, but other than that loyalty is a rare commodity.

In the Premier League, how many players can you name who have stuck by their club for years? Other than a very select few, namely Ryan Giggs, there are very few willing to spend their careers at one club.

In English football at least.

We frequently see players turning down huge money moves abroad, to spend their days at the club their hearts lie with.

Brazilian trickster Kaka, for example, turned down ridiculous amounts of money so he can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Paolo Maldini and end his days at the San Siro.

Argentinian wonder kid Lionel Messi is another example. Constantly linked with moves away from the Nou Camp, Messi has signalled his clear intentions to finish in Catalonia.

Closer to home we see players who are synonymous with the clubs they play for, Steven Gerrard for example, seemingly ready to throw away his heritage and boyhood dreams, just for that big money move.

Pascal Chimbonda is another shining example, after moving to newly promoted Wigan in their first season in the top-flight, Chimbonda made a name for himself, and on the last day of their inaugural season in the Premier League, he told the manager Paul Jewell and the rest of the players that 'he wanted to play for a bigger club'.

With international players even paid to play for their country in the major competitions nowadays, it does make one question the motives of footballers, with it becoming a rarity to find someone who just enjoys playing football.

With millions of aspiring youngsters willing to give anything to achieve even a fraction of some of these footballers' success, I wish some would come down a notch and start acting just a little bit humble.

To quote Mike Bassett in his inspirational half-time speech, “If you don't want to wear the shirt, then f**k off! There's f*****g thousands of kids out there who would f*****g die to put that f*****g shirt on!!”

His words, not mine.

But too bloody right, Mike, too bloody right!

Never high-five a Rabbi...

Jimmy Carr is a comic genius.

His dry wit, dark humour and extreme sarcasm create a combination any comedy fan cannot resist.

I saw the second night of his show 'Joke Technician' at Preston Guild Hall, this evening, and thought it was excellent value for money, twenty well-spent pounds for a session of laughter my stomach didn't envisage.

Forget the gym, for washboard abs you need a ticket to see Jimmy Carr.

Jimmy is crude, downright offensive and absolutely hilarious.

He is one of the hardest working comedians on the circuit, performing live to over 500,000 people in the last three years, and that figure doesn't even include his current tour.

Once described as “Comedy's overgrown schoolboy”, Carr delivers punchline after punchline, on a variety of controversial topics.

Tonight's topics included all the sort of content you would expect in one of his shows; sexually-transmitted diseases, the world's second most hated Austrian Josef Fritzl, gay Bishops and the Holocaust.

His bid to offend as many as possible in Preston's Guild Hall as possible was definitely successful, clear from the crowd's groans and uncomfortable, uncontrollable laughter.

Jimmy describes Preston as a 'man's town' claiming he has never felt so 'soft and southern'.

His shows are definitely a must for anyone with an admiration for a quick wit and those without a moral compass.

The sign of a true comedian is their ability to conjure up hilarity on the spot, and Jimmy does this every single time, without fail.

Heckling throughout the show didn't sabotage his nerve, shrugging off any awkward question or comments with his usual sense of poise, composure and humour.

He even took time to sign autographs and pose for photographs after the show, to thank those for coming to see him, despite the fact he has another gig in Milton Keynes tomorrow evening.

As Jimmy says himself ,“Not to be missed, unless it's not your thing.”

A fantastic performer, and a true gent.

The problem with football...

The, so-called, beautiful game has never been so ugly.

I say this having witnessed it first-hand as a player, supporter and referee.

It is no surprise the game is in decline when you look at some of the role models aspiring youngsters get to look up to. Footballers who are more interested in their celebrity lifestyle than what actually goes on in the pitch.

Take, for example, Ashley Cole, the prima-donna Chelsea left-back. Ashley was, once again, in the wrong place at the wrong time in the early hours of Thursday morning, arrested for being 'drunk and disorderly'. Good work Ashley. Perhaps you could try a little harder to earn your whopping 80k a week. Rather than spending the early hours in George Michael's favourite haunt.

It doesn't help the state of the game when players like Cole spend every week berating referees either.

That said, The F.A. arguably shot themselves in the foot a couple of seasons ago, when they scrapped one of the most effective laws to grace the game.

The ten yard 'dissent' law that, in the style of Rugby Union, allows referees to move a free kick ten yards nearer to the oppositions goal every time dissent occurs; this rule did wonders to deter aimless official abuse. A free kick in the oppositions half could quite easily end up on the edge of your six yard box if a petulant, child like tantrum over-ran.

The F.A. are trying to implement their 'RESPECT' campaign from grass-roots and build up, but surely it doesn't take a genius, or anyone with a brain cell to realise the only way to truly affect grass-roots level is to start from the top?

Kids playing on playgrounds with jumpers for goalposts are much more likely to follow suit of the example set by a Premiership footballer, than that of a spokesperson from the F.A. telling them guidelines of a campaign that is upside down.

It boils down to key decisions made at the Football Association HQ in London. Recent brainwaves include, the appointment of Steve McLaren, arguably the worst England manager in the country's glittering history.

It is about time the F.A. appointed someone with a football brain to head the association. Brian Barwick is set to leave Soho Square, but is due to be replaced by Ian Watmore; a man with no more football knowledge than any average joe on the street.

If English football is ever to see the improvements it's fans crave, and reach the dizzy heights it is capable of, common sense must prevail.

As Baddiel & Skinner once famously said, "30 years of hurts. Never stopped me dreaming."

To the next thirty!