Monday, 29 September 2008
Uncle Gabriel from Cluj
I was leafing - in a purely digital way - through the BBC website when I came across an old familiar face. It is Uncle Gabriel from my mother's home town. Apparently he is in the Cluj team against Chelsea. Easily stressed as you can see. Only plays in floodlit matches. Not good with crosses. Chelsea's kit is blue but they are not properly blue through and through. Not yet. Give Uncle Gabriel a chance.
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George,
Uncle Gabriel might be interested in the result of the Austrian General Election which is causing quite a flap in the dark corridors of power here in Vienna. I've been requested for my take on current events. The article should appear on 'The Recusant' website's Rostrum page anytime - but hopefully before sunset.
ps - I also support the blues - Blackburn Rovers.
George, I just noticed that Cluj was founded in 1907 so RESPEKT! My Blackburn Rovers (1875)"Cum on yer Bloos" is a founder member of the English Football League and strange as it may seem Rovers Hon. Pres. is Baroness Maggie 'Iron Lady' Thatcher. Too blues together then.
I recall watching Rovers, home at Ewood Park, playing Crew Alexander in a cup tie and defeating them by a massive score. The 2,000philosophical Crew fans at the Darwen End sang Crewe's theme song 'Blue Moon' throughout. A wonderful heart-lifting scene. Don't suppose you have it on You Tube by any chance? By the way, do Cluj have a song I wonder. Here in Vienna is a curious thing; fans of Rapid, the only Austrian Team to have won the Deutsche- Bundesliga, sing Liverpool's 'You'll Never Walk Alone'.
RESPEKT maybe, but in 1907 Cluj was Kolozsvár and a part of Hungary, so perhaps TISZTELET!
I like Blackburn Rovers but Cum on yer Bloos! sounds like a piece of obscene advice to me, PiR. But Lancashire folk will know best.
Cluj had a roughly 40% Hungarian population when my mother was born there. Under Ceausescu it became about 20%. Crafty shifting of populations. Still has a Hungarian university that Ceausescu tried to close down and an important Hungarian theatre and opera that was also under pressure.
George, we can't go on about football without mentioning Preston North End. You wrote a poem about watching them with your dad.
So, here's the latest news from the PNE blog:-
The gaffer says it will be back to winning ways against the Swans.
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I wish I'd been a football manager. Accrington Stanley, some place like that.
It's the way they talk, or used to. Beyond poetry it was. Brian Clough, Bill Shankly, Kenny Dalglish ...
George, Ref the Blackburn chant I take your point and suspect an origin: German verb 'wanken' meaning to waver or falter (according to my Langenscheidts)
Tonight's BIG MATCH
Cluj v. Chelsea
kick-off time: after sunset
Uncle Gabriel will be galumphing through the streets of Cluj in his claret drip dry football shirt tonight ... you have been warned.
Chelsea clueless at Cluj
Cluj 0 Chelsea 0
From his place in the Director's Box after this European Champions League match played under floodlights Cluj's Uncle Gabriel said:
'Hardly a pulsating game.'
Uncle did for Drogba...
I'm reminded now of Norman 'bites your legs' Hunter. It's that sideways leap for poetkind thing George.
Dare one whisper the name Ray 'Drac' Reardon in these hallowed halls? The man's a Clujerer if I ever saw one. Slick on the reds as I recall.
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