TV classics - Dream Team

IN OCTOBER 1997, Sky One and Hewland International came together to produce a football drama that no-one can live upto.  For ten years, viewers were gripped by ‘Dream Team,’ a series focusing on the events of a fictional club in the West Midlands, Harchester United.  For the first time ever, viewers got to see the makings of a football club and what really happens behind the cameras.  The show ended in June 2007, after 419 episodes full of murder, explosions, shootings, affairs, gambling addictions, pregnancy, battles for controls, match-fixing, bribery and murder trials.  Yep, Dream Team pretty much covered every base possible.  You wouldn’t want to be around this football club, because ten years of drama at Harchester United feels like the drama of an average family in their lifetime put together!

LOGO: HUFC emblem

     Dream Team began on Tuesday 15 October 1997, initially making two 30 minute episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.  The first series focused on the youth team, but for the following nine series, attention switched to the senior squad.  From series four (2000) onwards, the show moved into a successful one-hour Sunday evening slot.  At the height of its peak, Dream Team was Sky One’s most watched programme, with nearly two million (good figures) for a Sky show tuning into the series four finale, which culminated in the murder of unpopular chairman Prashant Dattani (Ramon Tinkram).

      The match action was used with permission from the FA Premier League and use of the Sky Sports archives, with a lot of the filming taking place at Millwall’s New Den ground.  The show proved the fronting ground for a lot of talented actors and actresses.  Jamie Lomas and Ricky Whittle became Hollyoaks icons, Rob Kazinsky likewise in EastEnders.  Duncan Pow is a hit with the Holby City fans, Stefan Dennis was the owner for a season in his break from playing evil Paul Robinson in Neighbours and Chucky Venice went into a similar show; Footballers Wives, after his Dream Team experience.  There were also a series of guest appearances from familiar football faces including Dennis Wise, Andy Gray, Harry Redknapp, Neil Warnock, Richard Keys and Alan Curbishley.

     The football might have been reality, but the off-field sagas that gripped the show were spectacular enough.  In series five, Harchester's first-team squad was travelling to the airport for the UEFA Cup final against AC Milan when it crashed off the M1.  Three first-team squad members were killed.  The following year, goalkeeper Jamie Parker (Jim Alexander) held the first-team hostage in 'The Siege,' in some of Dream Team's finest and grittiest scenes to be filmed.  After a tense stand-off with police, Parker was eventually gunned down to his death.

      The two most popular characters in the history of Dream Team were Lynda Block and Karl Fletcher.  Played by Alison King (now better known for playing Carla Connor in Coronation Street) and Terry Kiely, they were stalwarts in the show from its early beginnings.  Kiely’s character, Karl Fletcher was in the show from the first series and became instantly known for his ‘playboy’ lifestyle.  His character was a goal machine, helping Harchester to FA Cup success in 1998.  After an unhappy stint in Spain, playing for Real Mallorca, Fletch returned to Harchester and was accused of the murder of Dattani at the start of series five.  At the resulting trial, he was found guilty of his murder, before Lynda came clean at the last moment to reveal it was her who had struck the final blow.  Rather than be angry with her, Fletch and Lynda went onto have a steamy affair, but Sam Irving (Stefan Dennis) found out and called off the nuptials between him and Lynda at the altar.  With Lynda in jail, serving time for Dattani’s murder, Fletch went onto marry physiotherapist Abi O’Leary (Rachel Brady), and looked set to settle down at long last.  However, a crippling tax bill and a power struggle against manager Patrick Doyle (Shaun Scott) led to Fletch departing at the end of the sixth series for Saudi Arabia, in a bid to solve his money troubles.  He eventually divorced Abi, after she had a fling with French footballer Marcel Sabatier.  In series eight, Fletch returned to Harchester unexpectedly, but was struggling for fitness and was never deranged manager Don Barker’s favourite person.  In a showdown for supremacy, Barker murdered Fletcher in the changing room against a coat rail in the penultimate episode of series eight. 

     Lynda Block arrived in series two, as the wife of Chairman Jerry Block.  She got bored with Jerry quickly, and was soon having a sizzling affair with Latino player-manager Luis Amor Rodriguez (Martin Crunes) in one of Dream Team’s greatest ever storylines.  When Jerry’s dodgy dealings were exposed in series three, Lynda took over as chairwoman, but broke up with Luis when he went to play in Argentina for Boca Juniors.  So, Lynda continued her likings in Harchester managers, and went onto bed Ray Wyatt (Mark Moraghan), destroying his marriage.  However, series four was a power struggle for Lynda, with regular run-ins with the unpopular Dattani and a financial crisis that in the end saw her lose control of the club.  To compound matters, her affair with Ray was exposed to the press and sleazy local journalist Paul Hankin.  The resulting stress caused her to lose the baby she and Ray had been expecting.  In the final episode, Lynda’s patience finally snapped and she killed Dattani and ended up in jail at the end of the following series.  Series five was more of the same, with Lynda serving her time in prison after the breakup of her potential marriage to Sam Irving, as she was carrying on with Fletch.  She was released on a technicality three years later, on the day of Harchester’s darkest moment.

     The match-fixing scandal in the 2003-2004 campaign, caused by controversial chief executive Pilar Hernandez (Marem Hernandez) and bitter ex-player Stuart Naysmith (Terence Maynard) led to a chain of events which ultimately conspired to the death of the HUFC squad in Cardiff.  UEFA relegated Harchester United to the Coca Cola Championship and sweeping changes for the pre-season saw the feisty Don Barker (Jon Morrison) come in as the club’s new manager.  From the outset, Barker did things his own way and wouldn’t take any prisoners.  Clyde Connolly (Timothy Smith) couldn’t take it and jumped off the stadium after a Champions League match and Barker eventually lost his job over a sex scandal.  Having taken a position as West Ham’s director of football, Barker’s ultimate aim was to finish off Harchester.  He killed Fletch, revealed the secret of an affair between Ryan Naysmith (Ricky Whittle) and Chelsea Wright (Karen Ferrari) which drove nutty Viv Wright (Phillip Brodie) into a fit before the Championship playoff final.  After Harchester beat West Ham 1-0 to secure their place back in the Premiership, Barker wasn’t going to take it lying down.  So, he drove his cordoned off BMW, with petrol cans and Fletch’s body in the boot into the Harchester team coach.  The coach exploded, killing all but three of the first-team squad.

     Sadly, despite a new look and new characters, the glory days of Dream Team had come to an end.  Storylines either got boring or more sensationalised and in April 2006, it was decided that the show would be axed after a tenth and final series.  The tenth series focused on a storyline which evolved around the ‘Dragonslayer,’ a mysterious individual, exposing the secrets of the club.  The show bowed out with the offices of the Dragons Lair, Harchester’s ground going up in flames thanks to a dropped cigarette.  It was a disappointing conclusion, as no-one knew whether the ground exploded, killing thousands or Harchester won the Premier League title on the last day of the season.

     Dream Team certainly had its day and was quality football drama.  It has every right to be called a ‘TV Classic,’ especially if you liked the match action, attractive women and dramatic cliff-hangers.  Although a campaign for the ten series on DVD to be released has failed, the fictional legacy of Harchester United remains in the blood of many fans of the show.  There may be no revival, but the memories will remain forever.

More information on Harchester United can be found at http://www.harchester.net/ and http://www.harchester.tv/, where the latter continues the story where the TV drama ended for approximately another season and a half.

Big Brother returns - Are you watching?

By Jason Wright (Entertainment Expert)

LAST Wednesday, the deed was done; one of Britain’s worst kept television secrets was exposed.  After being buried last summer by Channel 4, rivals Channel 5 have now resurrected Big Brother from its grave, to return later this year.

FORCE: Richard Desmond has taken a gamble, will it pay off?

     Richard Desmond, the multi-million newspaper investor and owner of the station, agreed a lucrative two-year deal with format makers Endemol to bring back the innovative show from oblivion, beating fierce competition from Sky1 for the show rights after Channel 4 ditched it last year.  The series will begin its rebirth with a celebrity special series, with James Cracknell, Andy Gray, Sienna Miller, Anne Widdecome and Jedward being widely mentioned to compete.  This will then be followed by the standard version of the show in which members of the ordinary public will take part to win £500,000 and a ticket to celebrity stardom.

     Marcus Bentley, who has achieved some course of fame for being the narrator of the show, with his rather dull and depressing take on events, is anticipated to return to the same role on this new version.  However Davina McCall will not reprise her role as host, deciding to concentrate on her successful Channel 4 quiz ‘The Million Pound Drop’ and possibly work on a few new projects for the broadcaster.  Speculation is thus rife as to who will be the new face of the show.  Top of the channel’s wish list is former housemate Brian Dowling whilst also being lined up is Kate Walsh, Denise Van Outen, Steve Jones and BBLB host George Lamb.  On another matter, it is unclear as to whether BBLB (Big Brother’s Little Brother) will return in this revival to air on one of Channel 5’s digital networks.

     When Big Brother launched back in 2000, it quickly became a national phenomenon.  It made several household names out of the ordinary people that dared to step into the house such as Brian Dowling, Kate Lawler and the late Jade Goody.  It also was very controversial, always hitting front-page headlines for outrageous events.  The racism row between Goody and Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty in the 2007 celebrity series was most damaging, receiving worldwide condemnation and even then Prime Minister Tony Blair was forced to fly to India to deliver a national apology.  After that, BB went into rapid decline as people could no longer trust the show and Channel 4 finally gave it the axe in 2009, airing what would have been its final series last year.

     This is without doubt as massive coup for Channel 5 as it has long needed a signature show for which it could be easily recognised for.  Richard Desmond has said that this is only just the beginning for big changes ahead at the broadcaster.  The one question is will it pay off?  I think it will personally struggle to captivate the audience watching.  However, only time will tell. 

News of the World makes public apology over phone scandal

PRESSURE: The News of the World is set for a challenging time

THE NEWS OF THE WORLD has officially apologised to those celebrities caught up in the phone-hacking scandal that has dogged the newspaper for the last year.  News International, who owns the News of the World look, set to payout millions of pounds in damages to celebrities including the actress Sienna Miller, disgraced football commentator Andy Gray and the former culture secretary Tessa Jowell.

     Despite the apology made in copies of today’s newspaper, many are still questioning why it has taken so long for the word ‘sorry’ to be used.  The compensation payout still doesn’t let the phone hacking story disappear, as the police continue to investigate why this happened.  On Friday, the owners released a statement confirming their guilt;

     “News International has decided to approach some civil litigants with an unreserved apology and an admission of liability in cases meeting specific criteria.  It is now apparent that our previous enquiries failed to uncover important evidence and we acknowledge our actions then were not sufficiently robust.”

     

     The world’s largest Sunday newspaper has insisted that it will deal with compensation for cases that were involved during the years 2004 and 2006.  Currently, lawyers for News International are believed to be thrashing out these deals behind the scenes.  However, the News of the World has insisted that it will fight any cases that lack any merit or creditability.  Only last week, the chief reporter and former editor of the newspaper were arrested over the allegations of phone tampering.  Both have since been released on police bail. 

     

     Former Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott has called for the takeover bid by News International on BSkyB to be halted during the investigation process.  An angry Prescott appeared on the topical programme 10 O’clock Live on Channel 4 on Thursday night, clearly riled by the behaviour of journalists for the newspaper;

     “It doesn’t just involve the celebrity, or the successful individual.  I’m not against investigative journalism, but what the paper seems to be saying is that if a successful individual appears in the celebrity world, they are open to phone hacking!  You connect to the family, repeat their personal messages and then sell them to the damn press!  That’s what you do for a bloody living!”

        

However, if the News of the World thinks that the overdue apology will end the matter, they can think again.  Sienna Miller is already believed to have rejected the compensation package and her lawyers are seriously considering taking the paper to court.  Alongside News International omission, and more damming evidence being revealed by the Sunday Telegraph today, the police investigation by the Metropolitan Police, which has been criticised before is likely to be placed under scrutiny again.  Shadow Welsh Secretary Peter Hain told The Andrew Marr Show this morning that the investigation must be dealt with thoroughly;

    “It is a vital that a proper investigation of this takes place.  The police must pursue this till the end.  Until recent times, they have frankly, been very tardy and have not been bringing criminal proceedings when necessary.”

     

REPAIR: Is the newspaper industry going to recover?

     There is no doubt that this is a developing story that will continue to rumble on.  With a police investigation on the march, more celebrities coming forward with possible evidence and calls for all newspaper editors to reveal if they have been sending reporters into these dodgy situations, the future of the newspaper industry could be severely damaged beyond repair. 

Disgraced duo return to broadcasting

SPORTS radio station TalkSport will welcome ex-Sky Sports presenters Richard Keys and Andy Gray back to broadcasting on Valentine’s Day.  The disgraced duo left BSkyB less than three weeks ago, following the sexism football row which dominated the national headlines. 

BACK: Richard Keys and Andy Gray return to broadcasting next week

Gray was sacked after being caught making off-air sexist jibes to female presenter Charlotte Jackson, and making offensive comments about the appointment of female line official Sian Massey for the televised Wolves v Liverpool match on January 22.  Keys resigned 24 hours later after his close friend lost his job, after also making offensive comments off-air about Massey and the chief executive of West Ham United, Karen Brady.  Before his departure, he went on the airwaves to speak exclusively to TalkSport about the scandal, because he trusted their integrity.  Now, from Monday morning, between 10am and 1pm – the pair will be reunited to front a daily weekday show on the football events around the world. 

TalkSport saw an opportunity to poach the pair, once negotiations with Al-Jazeera had stalled.  When asked by the media about the appointments, the programme director for TalkSport Baz Dee seemed delighted with the new acquisitions; “Andy and Richard are iconic broadcasters with massive TV careers and I know that will have an impact on national radio.”

It won’t be the first time that Keys and Gray have worked on radio.  Richard started his distinguished career as a sports editor at Piccadilly Radio before landing the anchor role of Sky’s Premier League’s football coverage in 1992.  Before his departure, he had presented over 1,000 live televised games for the network, now in its 20^th year of established broadcasting.  Gray worked as a radio summariser for BBC Radio 5 Live at the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea. 

Whether the pair should have second chances in the media industry, especially after what was said remains open to debate.  However, it is bound to boost TalkSport’s ratings.

National Television Awards 2011 - A night of expected winners

By JASON WRIGHT (Entertainment expert)

WEDNESDAY night saw a host of stars from British television descend on London’s O2 Arena for the National Television Awards.  Now in its 16th year, it promised to be the best staged yet.

BIG WINNERS: Another successful night for EastEnders

As it turned out, the successful shows and stars of the night were just as who everyone had predicted.  EastEnders were the big winners, with three gongs.  Ricky Norwood picked the ‘Best Newcomer’ for his role as troublemaker Fatboy, Lacey Turner retained her ‘Best Serial Drama Performance’ award for Stacey Branning and the BBC1 soap itself won through in the live vote-off for ‘Best Serial Drama.’  Many felt it should have gone to rivals Coronation Street, but the Walford drama came through and the crew looked surprised.  So, not even a tram coming down on top of Weatherfield was enough for it to receive any recognition which is certainly rough justice.  Hopefully it will get what it deserves come the British Soap Awards in May.

Popular ITV1 duo Ant and Dec were also among the successes again.  The Tyneside-born pair added yet another two NTA’s to their cabinet for ‘Best Entertainment Programme’ with I’m A Celebrity and scooping up the ‘Best Entertainment Presenter’ award for the tenth time in a row.  Speaking live in Cardiff, where they are filming auditions for Britain’s Got Talent, they understandably gave credit to everyone who helped them succeed not just this year but the ten years they have achieved the Entertainment accolade at the awards.

HONOURED: Sir David Jason added to his collection

Other shows and famous faces that were winners on the night were ITV1 comedy Benidorm, earning the ‘Best Comedy Programme’ award for the second time in three years.  Sir David Jason was honoured with the ‘Best Drama Performance’ award for his final case in A Touch of Frost.  The E4 mega-hit The Inbetweeners beat hot rivals Glee to the inaugural ‘Best Digital Choice’ award, which celebrated the best programme offering from digital channels and This Morning were the victors of the ‘Best Topical Magazine Programme’ award.  After years of struggle and turmoil for the daytime offering, the popular partnership of Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby is ensuring that it is finally returning to the glory days of the nineties.  As an added beneficiary, viewers were able to see resident chef Gino D’Acampo cook naked on the following day’s edition, as he pledged to do so if the show won.

With the football sexism scandal caused by the disgraced Richard Keys and Andy Gray fresh in the air, it was being talked about a lot by those in attendance.  Even host Dermot O’Leary referred to it many times during the ceremony but it was Top Gear who had the last laugh and when they picked up the award for ‘Best Factual Programme.’  James May made a rather funny though obviously crude remark about it and it led to Jeremy Clarkson jokingly sacking him on the spot.  That’s what they call comedy around here!

The X-Factor proved to be the dominant force in the award for ‘Best Talent Show’.  Despite the controversy surrounding the previous series and that there were fears that people would rebel and vote against it, the ITV1 competition held on to win for the third time in four years.  No doubt this made Simon Cowell one very happy chap again.

The biggest shock and disappointment of the night was no awards for Doctor Who.  Although its popularity was slightly reduced after Matt Smith’s timid debut last year in the title role, it was still expected to win ‘Best Drama Programme.’  However it lost out to popular school drama Waterloo Road.  To add insult, Smith lost the Drama Performance to David Jason.  This will without a doubt call the show’s viability into serious question.

FINALLY: Bruce Forsyth get a deserved recognition

The biggest cheers though of the night went to the legendary Bruce Forsyth.  After over 50 years in showbiz, the soon-to-be 83 year old was finally given credit with the ‘Special Recognition Award.’  He sent the crowd into dismay and then hysteria by seeming to announce his retirement but then quipping one of his famous one-liners, “but I’m not bloody going to.”   It proves there is still life in the veteran yet.

Overall it was another night of impressive celebrations and accolades, proving just how much Britain really does say about the nation’s TV.  Here is to what should be an amazing 2011 of television and who knows who will come out on top in 2012?  These next 12 months will tell all.

Keys says sorry, then resigns

THE sexism row in football took another twist yesterday, after Richard Keys resigned from his role as the main football presenter for Sky Sports.  Keys faced the cameras yesterday for the first time since he was caught off-camera making sexist jibes about women not understanding the offside rule.  He said sorry to those he offended, before heading to Sky offices in London to confirm his departure.

In a statement released by Sky Sports, he said; “I am deeply sorry for my remarks and the offence it has caused; it was wrong and it should never happened.  I have thought long and hard and reached the decision that it is time to move on.”

Keys long-time Sky partner in crime Andy Gray, was sacked on Tuesday after new video footage was released seeing the former Everton striker suggest that female presenter Charlotte Jackson should ‘tuck his shirt in’ during a rehearsal for a Monday Night Football game in December.  More YouTube footage appeared yesterday of Keys asking Sky pundit Jamie Redknapp whether he had “smashed it” with an ex-girlfriend.  This seems to have been the final straw for the Coventry City supporter, who has fronted Sky’s groundbreaking football coverage for the past two decades.

Yesterday, Gray also apologised in a statement through his lawyers and admitted he was “devastated by losing the job that I love.” 

The presenters downfall started when they were caught making off-air comments about female assistant Sian Massey not understanding the offside rule in the build-up to Saturday’s Sky lunchtime clash between Wolves and Liverpool.  West Ham chief executive Karen Brady was also a victim to the vulgar comments.  A tape was passed onto the Mail on Sunday and the storm began.  On Sunday, neither made an apology during the televised match between Blackburn Rovers and West Brom, which turned out to be the pair’s last appearance on Sky Sports.  On Monday, the pair was disciplined and suspended by Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis from presenting this week’s Monday Night Football clash involving Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea.  More footage was later released of Gray’s tirade at Massey with Sky reporter Andy Burton, who has also been suspended by Sky for his part in the scandal.  Andy Gray was sacked on Tuesday evening, after the third act of his comments about Charlotte Jackson leaked onto the internet.  Sian Massey, the innocent party in the sexism storm was withdrawn from her line official job at Tuesday’s League Two game at Crewe Alexandra and has been appointed to a Blue Square Premier match at the weekend.  She has tried to keep out of the public spotlight as best as she can, whilst the media continue to hound her.  Ironically, she made an outstanding call in the game at Molineux on Saturday; judging correctly that Raul Meireles had been played onside by Wolves full-back Ronald Zubar, which led to Liverpool’s first goal in a 3-0 victory. 

SORRY: Richard Keys on TalkSport yesterday (courtesy of TalkSport)

Richard Keys took to the airwaves on the sports talk radio show, TalkSport.  See below for some of what he had to say.

“I want to reiterate what I said to Sian Massey during the second half of the Blackburn v West Brom game, not as reported at 5pm on the Monday evening.  I rang on behalf of Andy and myself on Sunday afternoon.  I made an official apology, which Sian accepted.  She and I enjoyed some banter together and we left on very good terms.  I can’t tell you anymore about the conversation beyond saying she was in good spirits and I expressed my disappointment that Andy and I, misguided having some fun had got it wrong.  There is no excuse anywhere for anybody to make a judgement on someone’s else ability to do a job because they are male or female.  “I apologised on the Sunday.  Now, there are some dark forces at here.  I having done that asked whether we could make the public aware that we’d done that, we’d had a conversation and both parties felt it was right to move on.  I was told no and 24 hours passed.  By which time, the world had gone mad.  Now, I don’t know why I was told no, why I was told to stop people from telling them that’s what I had done and I remember saying this to Sian; Sian, I need to make this official.  On behalf of Andy and myself, we unreservedly apologise for our behaviour.  It was wrong.”

Listen to the first 15 minutes of the interview at; http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/audio/2011/jan/26/richard-keys-talksport-interview-audio

Hopefully his departure will bring an end to the embarrassment that Sky Sports has suffered over the past five days.  Can Sky’s football coverage stay strong without these two figureheads?  That remains to be seen.  However, both Richard Keys and Andy Gray have paid the price and rightly so.  There is absolutely no place in the world for these sexist comments, whether they were banter or not.  

Sky sack Andy Gray

ONE of the most highly acclaimed pundits in football, Andy Gray has been sacked by Sky Sports after a weekend of shameful and inappropriate behaviour.  The ex-Wolves and Everton striker, 55, had his contract terminated tonight after more video footage appeared of lurid behaviour by the Scot.  

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis confirmed the decision in a statement; “Andy Gray’s contract has been terminated for unacceptable behaviour.  After issuing a warning, we have no hesitation in taking this action after being aware of new information.”  Gray had been a lynchpin of Sky’s football coverage alongside Richard Keys and Martin Tyler for the past 20 years.

Today, video emerged of Gray and Keys preparing for the presentation of their Monday Night Football programme between Manchester City and Everton on December 20.  In the incriminating clip, Gray is seen to make suggestive comments to female colleague Charlotte Jackson.  He asks Charlotte to “tuck his shirt in,” in reference to a microphone wire.  It was crude and Jackson seemed unamused.  Yesterday, Andy, along with Richard were suspended by Sky Sports from presenting the MNF clash between Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea after they were recorded off-air making sexist comments about females in football.  They were aimed at line official Sian Massey and West Ham chief executive Karen Brady.  The unprofessional pair claimed that women did not understand the offside rule, which Massey would then prove wrong to them, by making a brilliant decision in allowing Raul Meireles to play on and set-up Fernando Torres for Liverpool’s first goal in Saturday’s 3-0 win at Wolves.

More video was released yesterday, which showed Gray continuing his tirade at Massey during a conversation with Sky Sports reporter Andy Burton, who has also been suspended for his part in the exchange.  Richard Keys future is still unclear with the broadcaster, although he telephoned Massey on Sunday night to apologise for his part in the comments.  Massey has accepted and is keen to move on from the controversy, which might mean that Keys gets a second chance.  Gray hasn’t made any public apologies since the news broke on Sunday, which might have played a part in his downfall.  Some Journalism students at the University of Northampton think that the action on the pundit has been harsh. 

Shane Scanlon said; “I find it all quite funny actually.  I know if I was caught offside by a female official, I’d react the same way as if it was a male in charge.  A fine and a suspension would have been enough punishment.”  Tamika Short agreed with this view; “Everyone is allowed their own opinion at the end of the day.  Yes, they should have had their microphones off, but if they had turned it off, no harm would have been done.”

Gray isn’t the first pundit to lose his job in these circumstances.  In 2004, Ron Atkinson resigned from his role as co-commentator at ITV Sport after being caught making an off-air racist remark about French defender Marcel Desailly.  Sky Sports Rodney Marsh lost his job a year later, for making a sick joke on the Asian tsunami on Gillette Soccer Saturday.

DISGRACED: Andy Gray's broadcasting career looks to be at an end

As Sky Sports attempt to find a long-term replacement for Andy Gray, the Scot now surely has to think of an alternative career as it is unlikely that another corporation will employ him due to his high wage demands and now, his appalling behaviour.  It is a sad and sorry end to a distinguished career in football, but Andy Gray only has himself to blame and had to pay the consequences for this string of incidents.  

FA Barclays Premiership Report (22nd - 24th January)

WHILST Richard Keys and Andy Gray have made the headlines of all the wrong making in the past 72 hours, other go on about their business quietly.  Manchester United remain unbeaten, some top class strikers returned to form and other ridiculous rules saw refs on the run from furious bosses, AGAIN!  Here’s the round-up of the weekend’s action in the Barclays Premiership.

Saturday 22^nd January: Aston Villa 1-0 Manchester City

PRICELESS: Darren Bent made a dream debut for Aston Villa

RANDY Learner splashed the cash in midweek to bring Darren Bent in from Sunderland for £18million and he scored on his debut for struggling Villa, earning them a priceless victory.  His first involvement in the game was to score the solitary goal in the 18^th minute, tapping in from close range after Joe Hart let slip a tame Ashley Young shot.  City looked poor all night and although Nigel de Jong hit the post in the closing stages, it was a very happy evening for the home side and their new star striker.

Monday 24^th January: Bolton Wanderers 0-4 Chelsea

ON A night where Bolton paid tribute to the legendary Nat Lofthouse, Owen Coyle’s side continued their poor run of form, as they were easily brushed aside by a Chelsea team, that look back to form.  Once Didier Drogba found the back of the net in sensational fashion on eleven minutes, the game was the visitors for the taking.  Florent Malouda doubled the lead in the dying stages of the first half from a narrow angle and Nicholas Anelka also netted on his return to the Reebok in the second half.  Brazilian Ramires completed the rout with twenty minutes to go, his first goal for Chelsea, who consolidate their place in the top four.  Bolton slide down to tenth on the back of this battering.

Saturday 22^nd January: Manchester United 5-0 Birmingham City  

TREBLE: Berbatov starred again

THIS was the best performance of the season from Manchester United, as they outplayed and outclassed a very poor Birmingham side.  Dimitar Berbatov’s golden touch continued, as the Bulgarian turned in his third hat-trick of the season.  The first was a tap-in inside of 90 seconds and a second on the half hour with another basic finish.  The lethal striker completed his treble in the second half, with Ryan Giggs and Nani also getting onto the scoresheet in this riot.  With Giggs instrumental and Wayne Rooney near his best, it will be difficult to see anyone stopping the leaders.

Sunday 23^rd January: Blackburn Rovers 2-0 West Brom

STEVE Kean’s first match in permanent charge as Rovers boss bought a comfortable win, as West Brom lost their seventh away match in a row in all competitions.  In an even first half, it was Blackburn who broke the deadlock on 41 minutes.  David Dunn’s dangerous cross was steered into his own net by the uncertain Gabriel Tamas.  Rovers doubled their lead soon after the restart; David Hoillett’s swerving shot viciously beat Boaz Myhill to seal the match for the home side.  Paul Robinson produced two good save to deny the threatening Jerome Thomas in the second half, as Blackburn move into a solid seventh in the table.  Once again, defensive errors cost Albion dear.

Saturday 22^nd January: Arsenal 3-0 Wigan Athletic

FIRST: Hat-trick in the Premiership for Robin Van Persie

DAVID Beckham was an interested spectator as Arsenal produced a home masterclass against a Wigan team that look more Championship material with every passing week.  Robin Van Persie scored a hat-trick; his first came on 21 minutes from an Alex Song pass.  The second was a picture book pass from Fabregas that was accurately put in by the Dutchman.  Van Persie went on to horribly miss a penalty, after Steven Caldwell was sent off for bringing down Fabregas.  However, the rocking Dutchman made up for it, by squeezing the ball past Ali Al-Habsi’s near post to complete his first Premier League hat-trick and move the Gunners into second spot in the table.

Saturday 22^nd January: Everton 2-2 West Ham United

NOBODY expected Avram Grant to be in charge of this match, probably even Avram himself.  However, his side showed a load of character at Goodison and should have won, had it not been for a ridiculous regulation in the laws that need urgent attention.  The Hammers took the lead on 26 minutes; Luis Boa Morte pulling the ball back for Jonathan Spector to score his first goal in the Premiership.  They then proceeded to miss a hatful of chances and substitute Diniyar Bilyadetinov made them pay with a nice finish from the edge of the area.  West Ham looked to have won it, when Frenchman Frederic Piquionne headed home from Wayne Bridge’s terrific cross.  Piquionne’s celebration for jumping into the travelling supporters saw him sent off for two yellow cards.  Grant called the red card a ‘joke’ and few could disagree with him.  Everton made the extra man count, as Maroualine Fellani popped up to break West Ham’s hearts in stoppage time to rescue a point for the home side.

Saturday 22^nd January: Wolves 0-3 Liverpool

SMILE: Kenny Dalglish could look on with satisfaction at victory

WHILST Richard Keys and Andy Gray were showing how unprofessional they really were, Liverpool showed real professionalism in seeing off Wolves, leaving the home club in low spirits and giving a happy Kenny Dalglish his first win back in caretaker charge.  Fernando Torres was back in the goals, with a double.  Both of his goals were tap-ins, in the first half from Raul Meireles pass, after line official Sian Massey made a correct borderline call and the second from Dirk Kuyt’s usual persistence.  This brace came either side of a Portuguese pile driver from Meireles, with a superb strike as Liverpool dominated throughout, and move seven points clear of the dreaded drop zone.

Saturday 22^nd January: Fulham 2-0 Stoke City

THINGS are beginning to look up for Fulham, as they continued their march up the table.  Clint Dempsey had the Cottagers infront on 33 minutes, finishing inside the six yard box after Andy Johnson had skimmed Ryan Shawcross.  Shawcross miserable day continued, as he saw red for hauling Dempsey to the ground in the second half.  The American converted the penalty with glee.

Saturday 22^nd January: Newcastle United 1-1 Tottenham Hotspur

ANOTHER week and another two points squandered by Newcastle United.  Fabricio Coloccini scored a rare goal on 59 minutes, producing control that Alan Shearer would have been proud of.  Carlo Cudicini should have done better, but the Argentine’s lovely skill deserved a bit of luck in the finish.  In an entertaining match, the Magpies were on top for most of the match, but conceded again in injury time, as Aaron Lennon’s shot beat the despairing Steve Harper.

Saturday 22^nd January: Blackpool 1-2 Sunderland

LIFE after Darren Bent started well enough for Sunderland, as Kieran Richardson stepped upto the plate at Bloomfield Road.  Richardson scored a double in the first half, his first Premiership goals since October 2009.  Blackpool bombed forward and as ever, gave the opposition goalkeeper plenty to do, but Charlie Adam’s late penalty counted for little for the Seasiders.  Blackpool’s next test will be to keep hold of Adam, who has handed in a transfer request and is under close scrutiny from the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa.

Gray and Keys suspended by Sky after sexist female jibes

BARRED: Neither Keys, nor Gray will present at the Sky MNF game tonight

RICHARD Keys and Andy Gray have been suspended today by Sky Sports, after being caught making sexist comments about women in football in an off-air sound recording.  The pair left their microphones on in a commercial break during the build-up to Saturday’s Sky lunchtime match at Molineux between Wolves and Liverpool.  They made sexist and offensive female jibes about line official Sian Massey, referee Wendy Toms and West Ham United chief executive Karen Brady. 

Although the public didn’t hear the comments, the recording was leaked to the Mail on Sunday yesterday and their fate was sealed.  Neither apologised or mentioned the incident during yesterday’s televised match at Ewood Park and although they apologised via Sky Sports yesterday, Sky has decided to drop them from presenting the Monday Night Football tonight between Bolton Wanderers and Chelsea.

SEE TRANSCRIPT BELOW OF THE ILL-FATED CONVERSATION

Richard Keys: Well, somebody better get down there and explain offside to her.

Andy Gray: Yeah, I know. Can you believe that?  Female linesman. Forget what I said – they probably don't know the offside rule.

RK: Course they don't.

AG: Why is there a female linesman?  Somebody's f##### up big.

RK: I can guarantee you there'll be a big one today. Kenny [Dalglish, Liverpool's manager] will go potty. This is not the first time. Didn't we have one before?

AG: Yeah.

RK: Wendy Toms.

AG: Wendy Toms, something like that.  She was f###### hopeless as well.

RK: [exasperated groan]

AG: [inaudible]

RK: No, no, it's got to be done, it's good.  The game's gone mad.  See charming Karen Brady this morning complaining about sexism?  Yeah.  Do me a favour, love.

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis confirmed the suspension in a statement this afternoon.  “I have spoken directly this morning to both Richard Keys and Andy Gray this morning.  It has been made clear to each of them that their comments were totally unacceptable.  They are inexcusable from anyone by Sky, regardless of their role or seniority.  We have dealt with this matter by taking immediate disciplinary action.”

SPOT ON: Sian Massey officiating at the Sunderland v Blackpool game last month 

The female linesman who was at the centre of Keys and Gray’s remarks on women not understanding the offside rule was Sian Massey.  Massey, 25 was running the line at Wolves at the weekend, her second match in the top flight of English football.  Sian went onto embarrass the high-profile Sky presenters in the game, when she got a borderline offside decision spot on and allowed Raul Meireles to play on and set-up Fernando Torres for Liverpool’s first goal in a comfortable 3-0 victory.  She isn’t the first female in the game.  Last year, Amy Fearn took charge successfully of a Championship clash between Coventry City and Nottingham Forest, whilst Wendy Toms, also ridiculed by Keys and Gray has also excelled as a very successful match official in the past.  Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand is all for females being in the game.  On his Twitter account, he wrote; “What’s wrong with a woman being an official in a football game?  I’m cool with it.  All that counts is do they get the decisions right.”

Former referee Graham Poll ripped into Richard and Andy in his Daily Mail column today; “Andy Gray and Richard Keys clearly think that they are experts in all matters of football, and you only have to listen to their smug declarations to see that 20 years as Sky Sports ‘kingpins’ has done nothing to help their humility.  As a result, there will be few sympathetic callers.”

They aren’t the first to be caught having an off-mic moment.  Last year, Gordon Brown was caught called Gillian Duffy a ‘bigoted woman’ on a Sky News microphone following a stand-off in Rochdale during his doomed General Election campaign.  Back in April 2004, Ron Atkinson was forced to resign from his role as main commentator on ITV Sport, after being caught by Asian viewers making racist comments about French defender Marcel Desailly following Chelsea’s Champions League semi-final defeat to AS Monaco.

For me, sexism is just as bad as racism in football and I am disgusted with the behaviour of two such well-known presenters, who have led Sky Sports football coverage for the past two decades.  I am pleased to see Sky has taken strict action against Richard Keys and Andy Gray and hopefully, they will have learnt their lesson from this shameful tirade.