The week in sport

No.65 - FRIDAY. 27/10/23
We are 'well chuffed' to announce that the sixth issue of our magazine is now available to pre-order. It features the inaugural Pitch Best in Sports Awards among other things, and (we think) it's pretty special. But of course we'd say that, so don't be afraid to check it out yourself.
In this week's newsletter, bronze medal matches get squared up, a legend remembered and Ajax struggle for points. Enjoy :)

OPINION / RUGBY

Andy Afford offers up 100 words on rugby’s third/fourth place play-off. Let’s just say he’s not a fan…

You can stick it. Not just at the Rugby World Cup. At every event where the sport’s governing body sees fit to include such a thing.

In terms of competing, losing in a semi-final has to be right up there in terms of things to avoid across a career. Alongside a double hernia and a high-speed blowout.

At least if you make a final it’s at the very worst ‘a brilliant day out’. But knocked out in the semis is different. It should mean just shuffling away to lick your wounds in private.

For the rugby players of England and Argentina to find the motivation to put it all on the line again, after what feels already like a couple of months of intense competition, seems monstrous. If it’s about the awarding of a bronze medal, then give them all one.

After losing so narrowly to South Africa, it will take a superhuman effort for England to again beat Argentina. For Argentina – after getting outplayed by the All Blacks in their semi – it’s the chance of a do-over. Either way, it’ll feel like watching the shit cart come out BEFORE the Lord Mayor’s show, and not after it. Quite literally, something no-one wants to see.

Andy Afford is Pitch's Editor in Chief. Follow us on Instagram for more opinion, analysis and insight. Plus the odd candid photograph. 

PROMOTION / PITCH

New Release!

Inside our Winter 2023 Issue we celebrate all that’s good, bad, and ugly. Taking sport in the round, appreciating its brilliance through our shared wonder...

Featuring… Stuart Broad through the eyes of his kith and kin. Newcastle United’s black (‘n white) gold. Mikaela Shiffrin on ice, a bluffer’s guide to the Africa Cup of Nations, your best winter warmers, and to top it all off, Andreas Wank features in Sporting Misnomers.

Plus! Wiff-waff, golf, tennis, F1, cricket, pundits, and Ice Hockey. It’s all here so don’t miss the boat.

Plus! Plus! Our magazine has just been nominated for two British Society of Magazine Editors Awards. It's a massive deal for us as an independent title. And to celebrate we're gifting free copies of our first issue to new subscribers while stocks last. When it's gone it's gone. 

Spruce Up Your Coffee Table Today

FOOTBALL / WILLIAM SHILDAUER

Crisis in Amsterdamn

The 36-time champions of the Netherlands, AFC Ajax, currently find themselves second from bottom in the Eredivisie, entering the deep murky waters of the relegation zone. Sunday’s 4-3 defeat at Utrecht leaves the four-time European champions with just one win from their first seven games and the harrowing realisation of this being their worst-ever start to a season. Nightmare-ish stuff.
 
Captain Steven Bergwijn addressed the enraged Ajax fans at full-time, but it was to no avail. Failing to win in their last eight, it is the longest run without a win in Dutch football history, dating back to 1954. One could only imagine what Johan Cruyff would be thinking.

Sports' winners 'n losers get drawn up on inside Pitch Issue No. 6. It's the Best in S

ports Awards and you don't want to miss out.

FOOTBALL / SIR BOBBY CHARLTON

Professor Roderick Smith writes in The Guardian, "shortly after the Munich air crash in 1958, my father took me to watch a game at Old Trafford – the first of scores of visits. Boys stood at the front of the terrace, heads just about level with the pitch. At some point during the game, the ball bobbled down into the gutter and stopped in front of me. Bobby Charlton came to retrieve it. As he bent down, on impulse, I reached out to touch his arm. He gave me a wide, warm smile. That moment defined my young life and I cherish the memory still.

Many years later, I was in Tokyo being vetted by the family of the girl I wished to marry. The head of the family was an elderly, serious and rather forbidding retired judge. ‘From Manchester?’ he asked. I nodded. ‘Manchester, Bobby Charlton.’ Things went swimmingly after that."

FOOTBALL / AL-ETTIFAQ

Some of this week’s football gates…

Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq lost to Al-Riyadh this weekend in front of 696 fans. 702 fans went to watch Clitheroe v Newcastle Town in the 8th tier of English football on Saturday. 3,195 was the attendance at Bury v Wythenshawe Town in the 9th tier. And, in the Vanarama South, this Tuesday, 6289 attended the Yeovil v. Weymouth derby – a record for the league.

FOOTBALL / EVERTON

School's Out

Everton supremo Bill Kenwright, who died this week, went to Liverpool Institute High School For Boys, the same grammar school as George Harrison, Paul McCartney and newsman Peter Sissons.

The BIG Quiz

Scotland have qualified for the European Championship twice this decade. When was the last time that happened?
Answer in next week's newsletter.

Last week's Answer: Spurs' last trophy came in 2008 when they won the League Cup.