Weekend Watch: Champagne, Fireworks, Footie

By: Bob | December 29th, 2006

Most of the leagues in the world actually give their players some time off this time of year, but fortunately for those of us who use football like it is crack there are some matches scheduled during the long weekend. Here are a few worth keeping your bloodshot holiday eyes on while you light off some Zidanes.

Saturday

Tamworth vs. Morecambe – Somebody has to be in last place in the English Nationwide Conference. That somebody goes by the exotic name of Tamworth FC, a club that is living up to its nickname, the Lambs.

PSV Eindhoven vs. ADO Den Haag – PSV is nine points clear on top of the Dutch Eredivisie and fittingly ADO Den Haag is close to the, um, bottom.

Alloa vs. Forfar – The Wasps of Alloa might be mired in the obscurity known as the Scottish Second Division, but their black and yellow hoops kits are among the finest shirts you’ll find anywhere.

Sunday

Central Coast Mariners vs. Melbourne Victory – The Australian A-League closes out the year before the rest of the world and the smart money is on a Victory victory. The club is 13 points clear at the top of the table.

Hapoel Kfar Saba vs. Betar Jerusalem – Dick Clark, Times Square and Israeli football. Ah, the traditions. Hapoel Kfar Saba, by the way, has tapped into the Ghana pipeline and features three players from the African nation.

Monday

Newcastle Jets vs. Sydney FC – It will still be 2006 in some parts of the world when these two Australian teams square off in the first match of 2007. Confusing, eh?

Tranmere vs. Rotherham – Apparently the American band Orson are big fans of the English League One team Rotheram, but that hasn’t been enough to keep the Millers from all kinds of financial problems and the possibility of relegation. If only they were supported by a band that people actually have heard of!