November 22nd is a date that is already famous in the annals of history being the day in 1963 that President John F Kennedy was assassinated.

Forty six years on November 22nd will also go down as the date of another assassination – a sporting one.

Oh yes poor Wigan Athletic. Shot down by Defoe, Lennon, Crouch and co as the mighty Tottenham Hotspur ran rampant at White Hart Lane. So where were you as the goals rained in on a Sunday afternoon? Me and the boy Adam were just back from his match (a narrow 3-2 victory). ‘’It’s 1-0 Dad’’ he said switching on to Sky Sports News (we dare not have the luxury of Sky Sports he’d never get any homework done!) 2-1 then 3-1. ‘’Dad its 5-1 and Defoe has a hat trick’’ And so it went on until the final whistle: 9 bloody 1! Oh how we rejoiced. Watching the highlights later (and lets face it there were no lowlights aside from Wigan’s dodgy handball goal) was an absolute joy.

Took me back to the last time nine goals rattled in at the Lane when we beat Bristol City 9-0 on October 22nd 1977. I remember watching that on Match Of The Day at the BedfordTeachers Training Collage just across the road from here. Quick aside: I was there to see The Pirates the old backing band of the late Johnny Kidd with Mick Green on guitar who is still active now, he played on Van Morrison’s 2008 album Keep it Simple album

Anyway back to Spurs in ‘77- then new signing Colin Lee netted four that day. He later had a spell as Wolves manager.

Football. Sometimes it can be the beautiful game, oh and while we are on the subject: yes Mr Linwood quite right it was Mervyn Day not Martin Day who was the West Ham keeper R. Plant rounded (see last weeks diary). Forgive me the senior moment.

Along with millions of other I watched in horror at the devastating floods to hit the small town of Cockermouth. I was most concerned as this is the home of Phil Tattershall, one of the key TBL supporters over the years, doyen of the old Victoria Record Fairs, compiler of the legendary Led Boots bootleg guide, andall round real ale drinking top man.

I quickly sent him an email to find out how he and his lady Hillary had been affected – here’s his reply

‘’Yes, we're fine thanks.  For those who haven't been here, our house is 

quite close to the River Cocker, but on a steep hill well above the 

river, so we'll always be safe.  Our former little house in the town 

centre wasn't so lucky and was under a foot of water at the height of 

the flood. 

Our wonderful brewery has been badly affected; I went to look at it 

early this morning and it's in a real mess.  I can't see us being open 

for quite a while.  Parts of the town are devastated; many walls are 

down and there a gaping holes in some of the streets.  It's going to 

take a lot of effort to put it all right. (NB this is where Phil works)

Cockermouth has a great community spirit though and it's been really 

quite touching to see how everyone is pulling together and helping each 

other out. 

Thanks to you all for your good wishes.’’ 

That was a big relief -  my thoughts go out to Phil and the residents of Cockermouth. here’s hoping they can get back to some normality as soon as possible. 

 Some more pics from the Haynes Led Zep Too gig.

A pint to relieve the rib pain …probably not what the Doctor ordered but it cheered me up!

Back here wrapping TBL 25 text this week – the Nick Drake feature I wrote can now be seen in the current issue of Record Collector. I have another bit of freelance work to complete by next week so plenty on as we move into Christmas. Today it was another trip to the Docs and here it was not so much a case of it might get loud, as it might get sore. Showed the Doc the offending rib and he declared it officially bruised. Additionally he said keep taking the pills for other ailments with the proviso of more tests if whatever is causing me chest pains does not ease. Well unlike Spike Milligan’s classic line ‘’I told you I was ill’’ I’m advising all and sundry now. Here’s hoping the pills do the trick.

And while we are on health issues: here’s wishing Mick Wall a speedy recovery from his tumble a week or two back (see www.mickwall.com)

What is it with all these Zep chroniclers falling over?…the curse of the obelisk?

One more date of anniversary note : November 23rd 1982 – that was the day Coda emerged into our lives on a grey November morning . It was also just around the time the good lady and I first got together – oh yes couple fell in love to the plaintive strains of We’re Gonna Groove. Don’t think it was quite like that, but when I invested in every conceivable format of said album (LP, cassette, US LP, white label promo) I think she got the idea of how things might be. 27 years on well, we’re still grooving. Although I might have to hide the Vultures vinyl when it turns up….

Playlist wise its been selected cuts from Them Crooked Vultures –Elephant really hitting the mark, the Family A andB side CD I got dirt cheap off e-bay featuring the great Roger Chapman, The Faces Best Of (what a band they were, shame Rod’s not rejoining them for their planned reunion) and (appropriately) plenty of Zep 1971 stuff including Wembley and Ipswich tapes. My Christmas playlistis all ready to go as my good friend John Parkin forwarded some goodies including The Beatles Christmas Collection (all their Christmas flexies – have had this on bootleg vinyl for years), The Get Easy Christmas Collection with a lovely lounge line up of Bacharach, Otis, Smokey, Scott Walker etc plus the new Bob Dylan Christmas album. Can’t see the latter being one of the seasonal CD’s the good lady might take in to play at the pre- school she works at. While we are on the subject, there’s been vague talk (surely she can’t be serious) of me being roped into being Father Christmas at the pre-school Christmas party if their regular Santa can’t make it – just another TBL service on offer… better get growing that beard.

Ailments or not, catching up with some of the ex Wallbangerplayers at the weekend as it’s our former midfield dynamo Barney’s birthday.

Here’s a pic of the team from 1978

Wallbangers FC 1978 – note Phil’s fetching Manfred Manns Earth Band sweat shirt top right- there was no Nike sponsorship back then! yes that’s me bottom centre with the Peter Shilton goalkeeper hair

The Knebworth two of Tom and Phil (and happy birthday Phil!) should be in attendance. The latter pair were at Chelsea’s 4-0 drubbing of Wolves (sorry Robert). Only a mere four goals?…you should have been over at the Lane boys. We do things in nines, though I’m sure it won’t be so easy at Aston Villa on Saturday.