Well, well, well. No takers to write this dross for the Blog, so I'm back again. Strange thing is, I started this by looking at my last piece of inane drivel, which was written back in January and guess what the main topic of conversation was back then in the wonderful world of football? Give yourself a point if you said "Kevin Keegan". That's right, the return of the Toon's "Messiah" coincided with a bit of a dry spell, Blueblogwise. On 23rd January we noted the welcomed return of Keegan, and so it seems appropriate to pick up the thread now he has gone again. In this time just what has changed in the world of football. The last week has been crazy at the top level - epitomised by Man City getting bought out by rich Arabs and paying £34M for Robinho (more than Gaz Watts transferred to Ripon for). Money is evermore ruling the game at the top, and the hunger for success is being replaced by the greed of money. Was Keegan right to walk? Was he showing immensely high standards and not prepared to be compromised? Or has he thrown his teddies out of the pram again? The answer may be a bit of both, but in the short time he was back at the Toon, the beautiful game has sold another piece of it's soul. Thank goodness for "proper" football, the sort we see in the lower leagues and down where we ply our trade. We wouldn't sell out for wealth and glamour would we?

After all, just think about it. What would happen if EVERY Premiership club was bought out by people with such wealth. Nothing would change, except for the amount of money going into players' pockets. The results would stay the same, because the big clubs would still be the wealthiest. Football is universally popular because it is a simple game, but the huge influx of money is threatening to finally move it away from being the people's game at the highest level. What difference will it make to the Boroughbridges, Harlow Hills and Spa Athletics of the world? Not the slightest probably, and that is why I love non-league and lower league football. During the week I wondered to myself whether I would be happy if someone with billions came along and bought my home town club, currently playing with reasonable results in Coca Cola League One. In all honesty, I'm unsure. I like things the way they are. We've won a few things in my life; ok, we've won next to nothing, but when we do it is something great as a fan. Actually, it's better than that. The FA Cup is a delight. As is the Johnstone's Paint Trophy. I don't have to worry about falling from grace - we;'ve been there in the Conference fairly recently. Now contrast my lot with that of a Chelsea fan. Everything has been bought and there is only one way to go, now the club is no longer the richest in town. If Abramovic decides he can't be the best (and with only $20 billion compared to $1,000 billion as a war chest, he might decide it's no fun anymore) where would that leave Chelsea? The word is very rude and not suitable for this blog. And that's the problem with selling your soul. There are few richer than the new boys at Man City, but if they get fed up, where will that leave them? They won't have to worry about walking away and wasting their investment, because it's all petty cash to them. That will never be cause for concern for my aforementioned team, or for us down here at Boroughbridge. We might need to be more commercially aware at West Yorkshire level, but we will never have to consider selling out like the big boys do. Phew!!

Sadly, it looks like the weather will wipe us out this weekend. So we can all sit at home and watch England on TV yes? Well, we ALL could if it was on BBC or ITV. Sadly most of the Qualifiers seem to be on Setanta, not exactly the most universally received channel (off to the pub then). Boxing did this a few years ago for money with Pay Per View, and is now becoming a minority sport. The more mature amongst us will remember the Rumble in the Jungle, the Thriller in Manilla, McGuigan v Pedroso and so on, all shown for free at prime time. Will International Football go the same way? Probably not, but the authorities need to look at lessons from other sports. Besides, we can't afford Setanta at the Club and if it had been on Terrestrial we could have made some revenue out of what threatens to be a blank weekend. Once again, the FA is ok though and we don't matter.

I'm reserving judgement on the season's start for us here. A great opening day win at Ripon has been followed by much disappointment, albeit the team are playing well in my view. Slonk's boys look good, and are starting to get it together. Chappy has had a torrid start in management, but his side are young, and if he can get them settled, I'm sure it will be ok. We can't put too much expectation on new boy Tommy Turtle, the latest manager from the Second Ekin Dynasty, but he had a decent first game. Give him time, he'll do just fine. So my tip for glory this year is Tricky and the Sunday team. So close to a cup double last year, surely they can go one better and challenge for the League title. I hope it's not the kiss of death for them, but I really hope they can do it. It would be a just reward for one of the best guys at the Club, and some of his side aren't getting any younger so it would be nice for them to get something too. I might be wrong of course but even if I am, we are certainly witnessing the early years of a manager who will surely go on to be successful for a very long time if circumstances allow. Good on ya, Tricky!!

Gary Mac has stated that he believes Bradford will be promoted into League One next year, and he and his team are confident that they can avoid the West Yorkshire Metropolitan derby match being on the calendar next year. I know he is talking about promotion, but be careful Gary Mac. There is another way the Whites could avoid a Bradford clash if the latter are promoted, and that alternative doesn't bear thinking about for most around these parts!!!

Finally, come on. Be a guest Blogger, even if only occasionally. Your chance to get things off your chest, or to just improve on what is written afore. Email us with your prose and we'll publish, with or without your "byeline" or name in simple speak. Please give it a go, we need more than one view here.