I was also born between Leigh and Wigan. We played both codes at school. Games master for Union was Fran Cotton and League was an ex Wigan player Pete Smith. Sadly the grown ups heading the RFU and RFL didn’t really like the two codes mixing at representative level, even at school age. I was once thrown out of my local RU club because I’d played my first few professional League matches. Even though I’d played at the RU club since the age of 9. How stupidly silly and immature these old men were. I was denied the opportunity to play RU for England at school boy level (16) although having originally been selected because earlier in the year I’d represented Great Britain at rugby league. As a sport mad 16 year old I couldn’t understand the mentality of these people. Fortunately two years later things changed and Shaun Edwards became the first schoolboy to represent his country at both codes. He was actually captain for both teams.
I still enjoy watching both codes apart from the scrums in RU. Such a waste of time certainly for the spectators, they spend ten minutes getting the scrum straight, properly bound etc. and then the scrum half feeds the ball to the second row’s feet. What’s the point?
I was at West Park when Joe Cohen was Head of Sports. He went on to coach St Helens to a Challenge cup victory
That’s so unfair, especially at that level.
Where does it end… except in depression, or disgust, or rejection? - or action
“In early July, an Israeli bomb killed Mohamed al-Wahidi, a Palestinian aid worker who organised screenings of World Cup matches in Gaza.
The strike, just before the game between Egypt and Argentina, also killed brothers aged eight and 10, and a second man. The Israeli military confirmed the attack but said it had not targeted al-Wahidi.”
Well that’s Ok then - M’lud I smashed her over the head 21 times, but I wasn’t targeting her. An honest mistake, anyone can make.
This isn’t a good epitaph to the tournament. According to the Times Infantino and Trump have cooked up something to sell stakes in the World Cup. It involves Americanising it, selling shares to football organisations and wealthy people and one of the people running it would be Josh Kushner, brother of Trump’s SiL. The fans seem to be completely left out of it, let’s just monetise everything. Oh, and Infantino could earn ten times what he earns now.
It doesn’t sound good to me. 
Pedant here, ‘Tennent’s’ with a second e.
Last pint I bought on Byres Road the day before leaving Scotland for France .
£2. Ah, the good old days.
edit to add, I’ve just this minute seen on the news that FIFA wants to set up a private company to run world football. Uefa re livid. I smell Infantino.
edit edit Didn’t see your post till now, Jennifer11.
I’ve had many an evening there.
Time UEFA made a permanent break from FIFA, I think it’s getting more likely. They could have a rival World Cup.
We probably would recognise one another.
Well maybe not, I left in 2004. Less hair now. 
Well, I was getting pints at Wetherspoons for £2 earlier this year! They are on their 4th profit warning mind.
And it wasn’t Tennents (thank god actually - I was never convinced.
Now, the 80/- at the Diggers at Dalry Edinburgh - heaven. Rumour had it the pub was supplied direct by pipeline from the fountainbridge brewery. No more…
I’m a real ale man usually and Tennent’s bar actually had a decent selection but I’m ambidextrous when it comes to beer. Except certain brands of course.
A friend was once told ‘We don’t serve lager’ in the Athletic Arms (Diggers).
But times change, and the Diggers eventually had to stock McEwan’s Lager (buerk) and was dropped from the Good Beer Guide.
This isn’t right, Debby. You and I are talking football, which I don’t know much about tbh, and the men are talking about beer. 
I know very little about football but I used to know quite a bit about beer 
Not you as well.
It’s well known that beer and football go hand in hand, even if you don’t want to get blootered.
blattered ?
Sepparately.
But not in front of the Infantinos.
Ha, one of your better one’s (?)- very good!
Oops…been a long time 