Author Archives: Paul

Yes, he’s a world-class defender. Yes, he plays for Juventus and Italy but now he’ll always be remembered as the player bitten in the World Cup by Luis Suarez. And when thinking of Suarez, he must wonder “Why did you do it?” In the heat of intense competition, it’s not unusual for players to kick, […]

Morris “dance”? Hungarian folk “dance”? Anything people can dance too. But the term generally refers to music played in clubs. Or before that, in discos. I’ve often been asked which tune, when I was a DJ, was the best ever “dance” track. Depends on the gig, the era and the people on the dance floor. […]

John Callanan, for instance, elder brother of my great friend Joe. John lives over in Sligo and makes a modest living as a cartographer, exploring parts of the world most of us don’t even know exist. But every year he returns to this corner of the world to have a Summer Solstice gathering on the […]

And for once, the weather is beautiful. This year, it’s even fallen on a Saturday. In life, so many things – particularly things that depend on the vagaries of the British weather – go wrong. So it’s good to remember and revel in days like today when everything’s gone right. Find some sunshine, find a […]

And are you a girl? If so, this is one of the great “getting ready” records. It declares “Get dressed to kill and knock ‘em dead, girl”. I love early 80s synth-funk and I’m not the only one. Much underrated genre and I know a lot of blokes got ready to it too. Clean shirt, […]

Who knows? Dave Beasant was England’s substitute goalkeeper when England played Germany in that famous 1990 World Cup semi-final. In the 119th minute, with the game clearly going to penalties, should Beasant have been brought on? Peter Shilton was still England’s No.1 keeper but at 40, was well past his peak. Beasant was ten years […]

… to meet my friend Julian. He’s cracking good company and Pellicci’s is my favourite cafe in the world. Unchanged since the 1940s and still run by the same family, it’s a rare relic of the old East End. But whenever I’m in that area, I’m reminded of living in Greenwich and being late for […]

It’s certainly one of them. Nessun Dorma was an inspired musical choice for the BBC’s coverage of the 1990 World Cup, pushing the drama and excitement of football upmarket by comparing it to opera. Suddenly it didn’t seem so rough and threatening. The other reason was the Taylor Report which, post-Hillsborough, recommended safer (and more […]

I hope so. My kids are 19 and 16 now so the “bringing up” is practically done. Like any parent, I’ve done my very best – giving them unconditional love and support without spoiling them or letting them think the world revolves around them. I always followed two rules inherited from my own father: “Never […]

……this has to be today’s tune. England play their first World Cup game tonight and this was the very first hit record by a football team. It was No.1 when I was at primary school and last night, I visited that primary school. It’s being razed to the ground and re-built but, before it is, […]