After a 1-1 draw with Switzerland in their first match, England really got their campaign up and running on this day when they faced up against Scotland for the first time since the annual fixture between the two sides was axed in 1989.
Wembley was rocking when they took to the pitch with both teams fancying their chances of coming away with a victory. The first half was frustrating for both sides as neither team could settle and get much of a rhythm going.
Venables made some adjustments at half time and Shearer was the benefactor when he opened the scoring on 53 minutes.
Sheringham and McManaman both had chances as England started to get into their groove but with just 15 minutes left on the clock Scotland were awarded a penalty, which Gary McAllister stepped up to take it.
He had not reckoned on an Israeli spoon-bender hovering above the stadium in a helicopter though and Uri Geller claimed he used his psychic powers to make the ball move before McAllister struck it. Seaman saved and England held on to the their lead.
Geller said afterwards: “When that penalty kick was taken I willed Dave to dive to the right, and he did. And I willed the ball to move with pure telepathy.
“I tapped into the massive wave of positive vibrations from the England supporters and beamed them down to the players. I was like a receiver and a transmitter – I said before the game if all the fans visualised England winning, they would. The players felt my powers very strongly.”
Before Uri could take all the credit for an England win, Paul Gascoigne seized the initiative minutes after McAllister’s miss.
He ran on to a chip forward by Darren Anderton, and on the edge of the box, flicked the ball over a stunned Colin Hendry and volleyed the ball past his Rangers team-mate Andy Goram in the Scotland goal.
The goal was voted the best ever scored at Wembley in a poll before the old stadium was demolished. Gazza said later: “People often ask me whether that’s the best goal I've ever scored, and it was a memorable one. It was one of the best, although I scored one or two in Italy that never get shown on TV which were just as good.
“In terms of what the goal meant though, you couldn’t beat it. I was playing in Scotland for Rangers at the time. I had taken a beasting about the game, so it was really sweet. And to have 70,000 odd fans singing your name is just unbelievable.”
Source: www.mirror.co.uk
VIDEO: I Predict A Win - FA.com
With just hours to go until England’s crucial European Championship clash against Sweden later today, The Kaiser Chiefs got in the mood by visiting Wembley Stadium and enjoyed a behind the scenes visit into the England changing rooms, posing for photos with their heroes’ shirts. The band, who are big Leeds United supporters, were also presented with a Wembley Way stone to mark their visit and rally the nation’s support for the Three Lions at the Euros.
The stone will take its place in history on Wembley Way alongside a whole host of Wembley legends including England captain Steven Gerrard and 1966 World Cup hero Sir Geoff Hurst. Fans can also show their support for England by purchasing stones to create their own special messages for the national team and leave a lasting tribute at one of the world’s greatest stadiums.
Speaking at Wembley, front man and lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs, Ricky Wilson said: “I normally don’t even get nervous before playing a big gig but being in the England changing room with the shirts hung up put a lump in my throat and definitely got me excited about the Sweden game.”
Bandmate and bass player Simon Rix, added: “Being presented with a Wembley Stone for showing our support was a massive honour. Although we’ve played all over the world, we've never managed to get to play at Wembley and it’s definitely something we’d all like to do one day."
When asked what his score predictions for England’s vital game against Sweden were, Ricky was supremely confident in his prediction of a 9-0 win. Simon echoed Ricky’s enthusiastic prediction and enjoyed posing for the cameras alongside the legendary Bobby Moore statue.
Wembley’s stones are currently transforming the concourse surrounding the stadium creating Wembley Way, a new landmark where fans from all over the world are able to share in the messages and memories of events that have taken place at the stadium. Each of the Wembley Way locations marks an exciting event in the iconic stadium’s history and fans are encouraged to play their part.
Made from the finest grey granite, the Wembley Way stones come in various sizes and cost from £50 - £495. Fans interested in purchasing a Wembley Way stone can visit www.wembleystadium.com/wembleyway for more information.
Source: www.thefa.com
London 2012: Kent councils budget £500,000 for relay - BBC News
Local councils in Kent will spend nearly £500,000 welcoming the Olympic torch as it passes through the county.
A BBC survey found budgets for the torch relay, which will be in Kent on 18, 19 and 20 July, varied from £750 in Gravesham to £210,000 in Maidstone.
Kent County Council will also spend more than £200,000 but has received grants from Olympics organiser Locog and the government to cover £120,000.
Kent will host two overnight stays, in Dover and Maidstone.
John Burden, leader of Gravesham Borough Council, said it was spending £750 of its taxpayers' money but had also received a grant from the government.
Spending by council
- Ashford - £15,500
- Canterbury - £12,000
- Dover - £90,000
- Gravesham - £750
- Swale - £21,000
- Shepway - not calculated
- Tunbridge Wells -£20,000
- Tonbridge and Malling - £10,000-£15,000
- Thanet - £30,000-£40,000
- Sevenoaks - £20,000
- Medway - £33,000
- Maidstone - up to £210,000
"It think it is excellent value for money. It is a very good event to be supporting," he said.
"We have to the local community doing food and entertainment and we have 50 volunteer marshals. It is a fabulous opportunity and people should go to see the torch."
Sandra Matthews-Marsh from Visit Kent said the Olympic torch was spending more time in Kent than any other county.
The tourism organisation has estimated the publicity and global coverage of the torch relay will be worth £324m over the next four years.
"We actually get the torch before it gets to London so I think the tension is going to mount as we get to that point," she said.
Andrew Bowles, leader of Swale Borough Council, said it estimated up to 20,000 people would visit Faversham to see the torch relay.
"I am absolutely convinced it will bring money into the local economy, if all those spend £10, which isn't very difficult," he said.
"It would be irresponsible for us to expect 20,000 people to turn up and not to spend the necessary money on first aid facilities, emergency car parking and crash barriers.
"We do have a duty of care."
Conservative-run Maidstone Borough Council said it had a budget of up to £210,000 but hoped to spend less.
Councillor Fran Wilson, leader of the Lib Dem opposition, said she believed the council should have been more frugal.
"I think we should have been a little bit more circumspect, but having said that. we are the county town so I would expect us to spend more than most other places," she said.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
Kent: Return of councillor who left malicious voicemail for bisexual colleague ‘an insult’ - pinknews.co.uk
A bisexual councillor in Kent has said it is ‘shocking’ that a Conservative colleague who told him he hoped he would ‘get Aids’ will rejoin his party’s team following a six-month suspension.
In May, independent councillor John Worrow received a voicemail from Conservative Ken Gregory which said: “With a bit of luck, you’ll get Aids.”
After a police investigation, Mr Gregory was cautioned for malicious communication and suspended from the Conservative group for six months.
But Mr Worrow told PinkNews.co.uk this afternoon there was anger at the prospect of Mr Gregory returning to the council at all.
Mr Worrow said: “Many residents feel that the decision for him to remain in the Conservative Party is an insult to those in the area who are living with HIV AIDS.
“On the same day as this shocking decision to allow Ken Gregory to rejoin the Conservatives in six months’ time, I received anonymous hate mail telling me I am going to hell for being bisexual.”
Mr Worrow said residents had called for a protest outside Thanet council offices on 12 July at 6pm, an hour before a public council meeting that Mr Gregory is attending, to call for him to resign.
The Conservative group leader had not responded to a request for comment on Mr Gregory’s suspension by the time of publication.
Thanet District Council became the first local authority in Kent to support equal marriage rights for gay couples in April. It was the second council in England, after Southwark, to affirm such a position.
Discuss this →Source: www.pinknews.co.uk
Sir Elton John to play for peace day - BBC News
Sir Elton John is to play a concert in London to support a campaign to persuade those in war zones to lay down their weapons for a day.
The pop superstar will headline a concert at Wembley Arena for the Peace One Day charity, which is promoting the Global Truce 2012 campaign.
The campaign hopes to "create the largest global reduction of violence ever recorded on one day".
The event, co-produced by actor Jude Law, takes place on 21 September.
Peace One Day was founded in 1999 by film-maker Jeremy Gilley to establish an annual day of ceasefire and non-violence.
The United Nations adopted Peace Day in 2001 and the charity says it has led to significant reductions in violence in countries like Afghanistan.
That, in turn, has allowed activities such as aid workers getting into normally inaccessible areas of Afghanistan to vaccinate 4.5 million children against polio since 2007, the charity said.
Sir Elton said: "When Jeremy and Jude came to see me and told me about Peace One Day and the Global Truce 2012 campaign, I had to get involved and support them."
The Wembley concert will follow a similar show starring Pixie Lott and Imelda May in Londonderry on 21 June to mark the opening of the London 2012 Festival.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
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