Bans leave a bitter taste

IN THE spirit of the times, and after much soul-searching, I have recently taken the decision to ban all forms of takeaway curry from my dinner plate.

On more than one occasion in recent weeks, the consumption of this food group has caused considerable distress not only to me and my wallet, but also others within my immediate circle.

Blanket prohibition may seem a drastic step to take. But chicken balti is an unforgiving mistress — particularly when consumed the night before a work day — and the time has now come to take a firm stand against cartons of food with subcontinent origins.

In a similar vein, but without as much merit on grounds of logic and reason, comes the news that BBC Radio Humberside have been slapped with a ban on accessing players, coaches and staff of Hull FC rugby league club.

Chief executive James Rule outlined the reasons for the blackout in a statement far too pompous, long-winded and tedious to repeat in full here.

To summarise, the club’s argument goes a little like this: the nasty man on the radio said some bad things about us and made us all upset. The fact that Hull FC’s statement also included a massive plug for an alternative local commercial station is, it goes without saying, entirely unrelated to the issue at hand.

Media bans are nothing new and reporters and photographers all over the country are constantly being barred from one ground or another, forced into the stands with concealed notebooks or on to the roofs of nearby terraced housing with powerful telephoto lenses.

Examples abound. Crystal Palace recently prevented the Croydon Advertiser from covering matches as a result of their printing negative fan reaction to a new kit design, while Hartlepool FC’s barring of photographers from the Northern Echo a couple of years ago brought a wonderful response as the newspaper instead illustrated match reports with Roy of the Rovers-style cartoon strips.

Perhaps the Chronicle should consider similarly inventive means for covering a certain non co-operative local cricket side.

An ‘Oldham’s Got Talent’ contest to find a new Rolf Harris to describe the action through pictures, perhaps — or an ‘Oldham’s Got Beer’ challenge to instantly clear the ground in order to sneak a reporter in without anyone noticing. Just an idea.


CRISTIANO Ronaldo doesn’t half get some stick, but put yourself in his position.

You’re playing for Manchester United in a local derby and the manager decides to put on a substitute in your place. How on earth are you supposed to feel?

Ronaldo himself didn’t seem too sure what was going on, swaying his head from side to side in the dug-out as if desperately trying to shake together a coherent thought.

At least the touchline drama made for great viewing, as opposed to the match itself which was about as thrilling as a bowl of porridge.