Connections Puzzle #817 πͺπͺπͺπͺ π¨π¨π¨π¨ π¦π©π¦π¦ π©π©π©π© π¦π¦π¦π¦ I know jack all, I work for a song, I act as a punching bag and Iβm single. What went wrong?
Promotor and collector of all things referee. My book & magazine collection: https://www.libib.com/u/benbalin Will do research too if you ask nicely π Amateur mushroom photographer
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Connections Puzzle #817 πͺπͺπͺπͺ π¨π¨π¨π¨ π¦π©π¦π¦ π©π©π©π© π¦π¦π¦π¦ I know jack all, I work for a song, I act as a punching bag and Iβm single. What went wrong?
Wordle 1.539 3/6 π¨β¬π¨π¨β¬ π©π¨π¨π¨β¬ π©π©π©π©π© Three. Feels like floating on air. Or water.
Thank you. That's a follow!
Excellent cartoon! π
Found this beauty among a pile of books: Association #Football and How to Play it, by John Cameron. Cameron was a former player of @tottenhamhotspur.com and wrote this book as the secretary of the Players' Union. Includes a chapter on #refereeing. Highly prized collectible, sadly in poor condition.
Harold Davey did indeed move around quite a bit earlier in his FL career although almost always around Nottinghamshire aside from the 1967-1968 season in Verwood in Dorset. He worked in the building trade which might have influenced the moves. This is a very good profile of him from Jan 1972.
Negen maanden nadat Ajax de Champions League had gewonnen, werden er 205 Jariβs geboren sportgeschiedenis.nl/sporten/voet...
Connections Puzzle #816 π©π©π©π© π¨π¨π¨π¨ π¦π¦π¦π¦ πͺπͺπͺπͺ Not the hardest episode. If you know a little French, that is. Parbleu!
Wordle 1.538 4/6 β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬ β¬π¨β¬π¨π¨ π©π©π©β¬π© π©π©π©π©π© Four. Not bad after no letters in the first try. Gonna mix myself a drink!
So peak hooliganism was in the 80s, with earlier incidents. Thanks, guys.
I do think it started earlier, no offence. My dad, a life-long Feyenoord supporter, stopped going after Tottenham Hotspur βfansβ ran riot at the second leg of the UEFA Cup final in 1974.
The start of the English hooligan problem? Or was that rampant already?
Totally. I looked through my collection of press photos, thinking heβd be among them, but no. Harry New and Gordon Hill, yes. Gordon Kew, noβ¦
Harold Davey from Hucknall. Iβve never heard of him, regrettably.
Gordon Kew. I knew the face, but not the name. Story of my lifeβ¦
Looks like the actor from βYes, Ministerβ, Paul Eddington π But I canβt place him, sorry
The face looks very familiar but Iβm afraid I need more cluesβ¦
The Entire History of Football, episode 4: the brilliant Uruguay of the 1920s, winners of two Olympic golds and the first World Cup. www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPwX...
The #referee in this first leg of the Super Cup is Sergio Gonella (Italy). In 1978, he reffed the World Cup final between hosts Argentina and the Netherlands.
Dracula flower π± What is that 2nd photo? Looks cute but might be sinister? Yeah, Iβd love to add a macro lens to my OM-5 camera, but I need to save up first. By the way, you should submit your photos to nature magazines. Besides being awesome, theyβd make for fascinating accompanying articles.
By date and event. My photos are flowers, insects and fungi, and unfortunately I donβt have occasion to go out and take photos often. Still manageable.
Oh, excellent idea! Genitals-resembling parts of nature always do well. That ought to be a recurring feature.
Connections Puzzle #815 π©π©π©π© π¨π¨π¨π¨ π¦π¦π¦π¦ πͺπͺπͺπͺ I watched Alf on VHS, danced to MTV and played games on my NES. Halcyon daysβ¦
Wordle 1.537 4/6 π©β¬β¬β¬π¨ π©β¬π¨β¬β¬ π©π©β¬β¬β¬ π©π©π©π©π© Four. The equivalent of a dog returning a ball: it always comes back.
What kind of focus do you mean? My idea would be to keep collages themed and single shots mysterious. And explain later what it is we see :)
Running up with play, the #referee is Theo Boosten.
The slightly anxious looking #referee is Norman Burtenshaw. He suffered a calf injury during the match and was seen sinking to his knees seemingly celebrating Arsenalβs win after his final whistle. He was just happy he didnβt have to ref a rematch, because he wouldnβt have been able toβ¦
Or should I post more #odd life?
Just show it all: pretty, ugly, grim. Itβs all life and it needs to be documented.
Or do I focus on #pretty? The world can be a beautiful place, if you look at it a little at a time.
Do you like the photos of stuff that looks a bit #scary
All of them.
Why choose? Do both!
Or stick with a main focus on #zombie fungi content?
Today, on It Was What It Was, the football history podcast, how women's football in England went form the ban to winning the Euros... podfollow.com/1745066482
Gyro-X, the two-wheeled self-balancing vehicle. π² The Gyro-X is a two-wheeled, gyroscopically-stabilized prototype vehicle constructed in 1967. Proposed as a possible solution for future transportation. π€ #cars #automobile #technology
De Friese voetballegende Abe Lenstra overleed op 2 september 1985. Veertig jaar later komen we Us Abe overal tegen. Lees meer in #rugnummers van @jurryt.bsky.social en @michapeters.bsky.social: www.sportenstrategie.nl/rugnummers/v...
A little while ago, my parents' cat Bridget went missing. As the weeks dragged on, they became extremely worried. My dad devised a way to distract himself: he began to paint Bridget's adventures, imagining her travelling through time and popping up in some of art and music's most iconic scenes.
Connections Puzzle #814 π¨π¨π¨π¨ π¦π¦π¦π¦ π©π©π©π© πͺπͺπͺπͺ Happy with the result but again the US bias is showing, this time in blue and, in particular, green.
Wordle 1.536 3/6 π©β¬β¬β¬β¬ β¬β¬π¨π¨β¬ π©π©π©π©π© Three. Showing off my prowess πͺ
The #referee is Frans Derks (the Netherlands).
Happy Bβday! π₯³
Connections Puzzle #813 π¨π¨π¨π¨ π©π©π¦π© π©π©π©π© π¦πͺπ¦πͺ π¦π¦π¦π¦ πͺπͺπͺπͺ Too many Americanisms in blue and purple.
Wordle 1.535 5/6 π¨β¬β¬π¨β¬ β¬π¨π¨π¨β¬ π¨β¬π¨π¨β¬ π¨π¨π©π¨π¨ π©π©π©π©π© Five. Not in the slightest happy with that.
As tomorrow is transfer deadline day you're being treated to a Sunday VAR Review! Looking at: π Fulham's disallowed goal π Chelsea's handball penalty π Man United's cancelled penalty π Burnley offside π Amad penalty π Sunderland-Brentford holding www.espn.com/soccer/story...
Quite.
Connections Puzzle #812 πͺπ¦π¦π© π¨π¨π¨π¨ π©π©π©π© πͺπͺπͺπͺ π¦π¦π¦π¦ Irregular plurals couldβve been a category as well. Thatβs blue, I guess
Wordle 1.534 4/6 π¨β¬β¬β¬β¬ β¬β¬π¨β¬π¨ π©π©π¨π¨β¬ π©π©π©π©π© Four. Not exactly a bed of roses.
Though I cannot discern him in the photo, the #referee is Ad Voermans.
True. We shouldnβt focus on the examples in the quote. Technology intended to lessen our mental effort is likely to cause fewer brain connections to form, lowering our cognition.
Obviously. But most trips people go on tend to go over familiar roads. As a passenger, Iβm always amazed by people turning on GPS for the road homeβ¦
Good point. For most trips by car I know 90-95% of the way, itβs only the final bit that tends to be difficult. I usually study that on the map before I leave, still donβt need GPS that way.
I agree on the GPS thing but photos? If you take time to frame photos for subject, lighting, etc., thatβs a highly conscious and cognitive effort. Simply clicking about with your phone cam is another matter, though.
The only music I wasnβt afraid to dance to in my youth. Still love #ska and The Specials in particular.
β¨οΈThe Specials β¨οΈ A Message to You Rudyβ¨οΈ #TheSpecials #Ska
βVaak denk ik: dat had ik beter kunnen doen, daar had ik scherper op kunnen zijn.β De eerste aflevering van een serie interviews met de lijsttrekkers is met @laurensdassen.voltnederland.org. www.nrc.nl/nieuws/2025/...
My comments are always a veiled reference to the word π
Connections Puzzle #811 π©π©π©π© π¦π¦π¦π¨ πͺπͺπͺπͺ π¦π¦π¦π¦ π¨π¨π¨π¨ Tough one. Lots of red herrings. And Iβve never heard βeatβ being used in this meaning.
Wordle 1.533 5/6 β¬β¬π©β¬π© β¬π©π©β¬π© β¬π©β¬β¬β¬ β¬π©π©β¬π© π©π©π©π©π© Five. Does not make me happy.
Connections Puzzle #810 πͺπͺπ¨πͺ πͺπͺπͺπ¨ π©π©π©π© π¨π¨π¨π¨ πͺπͺπͺπͺ π¦π¦π¦π¦ Hmm.. yesterdayβs Wordle word featured in todayβs Connections. Coincidence? Just couldnβt find the fourth. Green and yellow to the rescue!
Wordle 1.532 4/6 π©β¬β¬β¬β¬ π©π¨π¨β¬π¨ π©π©π©β¬π© π©π©π©π©π© Four. But I feel a little dirty, as though I accepted a kickback.
Rubbing his nose, the #referee is Tsvetan Stanev (Bulgaria).
New today on @playingpasts.bsky.social the concluding part of @dralexanderjackson.bsky.social's series on the life of Clarice Vizard "A man may be useful, but a woman is essential, in a pub.β Link π bit.ly/3HH3vKJ @bssh.bsky.social #Football #WomensFootball @nfmofficial.bsky.social #WomenInSport
Final part of the Clarice Vizard story here. Really pleased to hear the pieces have proved popular so far on the Playing Pasts website.
Connections Puzzle #809 π¨π¨π¨π¨ π©π©π©π© π¦π¦π¦π¦ πͺπͺπͺπͺ Gonna put on the kettle. Could use a cuppa.
Wordle 1.531 3/6 π¨π¨β¬β¬π¨ β¬β¬π¨β¬β¬ π©π©π©π©π© Three. Iβm divided: should I brag or should I not?
Saw this guy flying around this morning π thought it was a bumble bee until it landed so took a couple shots anybody know what he is? #photagrphy #nature #outdoors #outdoors #photagrphy #bugs #insects
Excellent photograph π€© Thank you!
@refbooks.bsky.social @kenstephenson.bsky.social
Pardon my French, but they look eerily alien and suggestive at the same time. Beautiful fungi, though.
He looks familiar, I think you've posted him before. The hairdo reminds me of Bert Newsome. Is it him?
Another #referee for @refbooks.bsky.social to identify - a Division 4 match between Cambridge United and Northampton Town from 1975-76.
Inderdaad vreemde maar leuke mix. Het FINA-boekje is nog regelmatig op Marktplaats of Boekwinkeltjes te vinden. Ik heb er drie, waarvan een incompleet.
Those freckles π
Connections Puzzle #808 π©π©π©π© π¨π¨π¨π¨ πͺπͺπͺπͺ π¦π¦π¦π¦ Yay! Rather black&white categories today. Or should I say black&red?
Campaigns to try and instil sportsmanship and respect for the #refereeβs decisions are as old as football itself. Hereβs an example from 1933 in the Netherlands.
Wordle 1.530 3/6 π¨β¬β¬β¬π¨ π©π¨π¨π¨β¬ π©π©π©π©π© Three. An impenetrable fortress, is what I am, with a turret at each corner.
Een gesigneerd shirt van Maradona, of van Wesley Sneijder? Ook in Nederland is er tegenwoordig een markt voor. Het kost wat, afhankelijk van de naam, maar dan zijn fans in hun eigen huis wel een stukje dichter bij hun idolen. buff.ly/qdR8vQj
#fungifriends
In this photo, Hackney looks very much like Dutch referee quiz legend Dick Visser.
The #referee is Neville Ashley. For a moment, I thought it was Ray Lewis. Slightly similarity.
Really? Iβd not have recognised him.
From the 1982 Charity Shield-LiverpoolVTottenham.The #referee is dealing with an incident between Graham Souness and Garth Crooks. Over to @refbooks.bsky.social & @refereeretro.bsky.social to identify the ref & the L/man who I think will be a FL ref as he appears to be the Senior with the red flag.
@refbooks.bsky.social Here is Hackney speaking to two players in a QPR V Tottenham match from the 1975-6 season.
@refbooks.bsky.social Here is another screenshot of #referee Harold Hackney.
Just for the sake of completeness, the #referee is of course Roger Kirkpatrick. @refereeretro.bsky.social beat me to it on the names of the linesmen.
I won't insult you by asking you to identify this #referee so yous can identify the two Linesmen! From the 1975-76 season. @refbooks.bsky.social & @refereeretro.bsky.social
The pictured linesmen are Dennis Drewitt (Hove) & Dave Patten (Yateley, Hampshire). Dennis Drewitt is best remembered for an earlier appearance at Highbury when he tore a muscle early in the game and was replaced by Jimmy Hill who was part of the ITV commentary team.
Connections Puzzle #807 πͺπ¨π¦π© π¨π¦π©π© π¨πͺπ¨π¨ π¨π¨π¨π¨ πͺπͺπͺπͺ π©π©π©π© π¦π¦π¦π¦ Ouch, only just. Obligatory cross-category on first try. Wind in the Willowsβ¦ Creeped me out, green and blue did. Bugged me no end.
Wordle 1.529 4/6 β¬π¨β¬β¬π¨ β¬β¬π¨π¨β¬ π©β¬β¬π©β¬ π©π©π©π©π© Four. Iβm getting better at guessing the possible outcomes. But I should add as an appendix that Iβd like to need fewer tries.
Connections Puzzle #806 π¦π¦π¦π¦ π¨π¨π¨π¨ π©π©π©π© πͺπͺπͺπͺ How small are pom-poms, really?
Wordle 1.528 5/6 β¬β¬β¬β¬β¬ β¬π©β¬β¬π¨ β¬π©β¬π©β¬ β¬π©π©π©π© π©π©π©π©π© Five. No merriment for me.
Connections Puzzle #805 π©π©π©π© π¨π¨π¨π¨ π¦πͺπ¦π¦ π¦π¦π¦π¦ πͺπͺπͺπͺ Urban Dictionary lists a booty snake. But I donβt think thatβs what was meant by the creator of this puzzleβ¦
Wordle 1.527 3/6 π¨β¬β¬β¬π¨ β¬π¨π©β¬π¨ π©π©π©π©π© Three. Hoping to spread my joy like seeds on the wind
Hoping to add a refereeing museum to the list π€
Added a few books from my recent trip to Japan to my collection (www.libib.com/u/benbalin). Including two by artist MomiageOmiyage and two regular books on the laws of #football, one for young players. ππ
Coming soonβ¦
Connections Puzzle #803 πͺπ¨π¦π© π©π©πͺπ© π¨π¨π¨π¨ π©π©π©π© π¦π¦π¦π¦ πͺπͺπͺπͺ The obligatory all-colours errors first. And Iβve learned American card games are not my thing.