"When you feel right mentally, you go out onto the pitch a different player" 🙆
Find out how
@BrentfordFC
are optimising potential by focusing on player and staff care 🗣️
#WorldMentalHealthDay
Played 800, managed 1,000 games
Had pleasure to work for him 100 games
Never judge a book by the cover is my precis
Tough, kind, committed, wise, knowledgeable, proud, deeply proud, and keeps his own counsel
I hope we hear his side of things when time allows
Deserving of respect
Annabel Croft has had a brilliant Wimbledon again, and to think her beloved husband died last month from wretched cancer. That’s more extraordinary than any game of tennis. A treasure
#WimbledonFinal
Oh Shanks...Shankly
Watched the sunrise this morning, as we did every day, came in, had a stroke, and died in my arms later.
We walked through every storm, held our heads up high, and he never walked alone. Not going for a walk today
#shankly
Now, everything has changed, but take a look at this
You can name everyone in it, running, just running, with the boss watching on. The simplicity of it is....lovely
30 years later, you still need to run, and run quickly, a lot. I promise you there are no secrets
#graft
Once told me "If an owner is good enough to pay me £150, the very least I can do is try my hardest and be polite"
And he did his best over 20,000 times, and was as polite to a local farmer or person on the gate, as he was to The Queen
The finest of champions
#richardjohnson
Milton Bradley
82 years young
Up at 5 am
Feeds 25 horses
Drives horsebox to races
Saddles three winners
Drives horsebox back to Wales
Marvellous
#discipline
#passion
The unshakeable, unbreakable bond built over years, all unsaid, and nothing can break it, not even a wretched illness. The looks of love, admiration, support, and it gets me every time, and Kevin Sinfield, my word, what a friend
Racing gets beaten up unfairly, it beats itself up, mistakenly, but my word, this pictures captures what it really stands for, a love for horses and people
#cyrname
Dear Racing,
When the courses are full again, can you stage a day when we can salute and applaud Richard Johnson for the person and champion he is. He’d be a bit embarrassed, but he deserves all you can do. Thank you on behalf of a lot of people
How it started, how it’s finishing, sort of. Knew a very young Keith Dalgleish, when he lived in a sauna. Then goes on to train 1,000 winners, reaches 39, decides to head off to the Highlands for a different life. I’d suggest that’s doing life on your terms. Raising a glass
As John Francome once said “if you had to take on the world, you’d want to do it with 20 jump jockeys” And Ruby stepping in to help AP says it all. AP has been up and down the A1 to Newcastle and back all week and he’ll probably do it every week for a while too. Horrendous week
🗣️ "It's been the most horrendous week...It's going to be a long road."
🗣️ "He'll get all the support we can give him."
Sir
@AP_McCoy
updates us on Graham Lee ❤️
In sports news, congratulations to Brian Hughes on being Champion Jump Jockey. IMO (don't shout) it is the least flukiest title in sport. 12 months of solid graft and you get the living shit kicked out of you along the way. Bit of their attitude required now too
#resilient
My word, this could apply to anything, not just golf. Never forget the reasons why you fell in love with something, as you’ll probably outlast others, whatever the rewards.
Worth a listen, and the more we shout, rant, abuse, surround, attack, in the name of "passion", the worse things will get. And dare I say it, how refreshing to see a leading figure speaking in this way. I hope it catches on, no matter how emotional things might be
They came back, they rode, they raised £2.5 m, they helped, they prayed, but they’ve lost their main man tonight. Ireland’s lost their main man tonight
#patsmullen
It’s been a funny old day, and to all those who said kind things, thank you. Make sure you go for a walk tomorrow, preferably not alone. Never walk alone ....
#shanks
All the focus will be on Steven Gerrard, of course, but his best signing was
@MichaelBeale
who will hopefully be having a quiet walk around Loch Lomond. Great coach, even better fella, and won't be his last title
#Rangers
A busy old sporting week and I still think Paddy Brennan’s behaviour in front of the stewards (referee/umpire equivalent) is refreshing. There you go, the joy of sport and sportsmanship
Short story
A while back, in the car with Philip Hobbs, he had four runners
Richard Johnson calls
PH "How are you going to ride these today"
RJ explains
PH "Sounds right, I'll leave it to you, good luck"
They lasted 20 plus years, on a handshake and trust
There's your template
If ever there’s a jockey, competitor who can look himself in the eye, it’s Richard Johnson. He gave it everything, absolutely everything. And proof you don’t need to be a complete bastard to the complete champion
#champion
Everyone works invisible hours in football, sport, and the analysts do their bit, then a bit more. “Five hours” work for five minutes of valuable footage to grab concentration. Raise my hat to all analysts, who also answer every question you ask, even the silly ones
#analysts
As my Dad said “Death is sad Mick, but there is a good death after a good life”. Thought of that last night. After an extraordinary life, being surrounded by your children, family, animals, in your favourite place, after not putting a foot wrong, and peacefully too. What a life
Football, bloody hell eh
Presented with this on arrival, and if they’d given me a Ferrari it wouldn’t have meant as much. Thanks to all players and staff
@BrentfordFC
and all the laps at training are treasured too
#emotional
Joe Fanning: If he’d been say a footballer, he’d have played nearly a 1,000 games, all for the same club, never looked to leave, never caused bother if on the bench, never get sent off, never miss training, and the other players would say he makes the team tick
#GoldCup
If you were a friend, football manager, coach, footballer, cricketer / coach, manager, physio, doctor, rugby player, jockey, trainer, athlete, psychologist, student, actor, tv presenter, business leader, comedian, I hope you enjoyed the walks too, we did, and thank you
#ripshanks
And some people still think you have to be snarling, nasty, loud, arrogant and full of your own self-importance to succeed.
Two great sportspeople, two fine men, two good farmers
I know I go on about my dog, no apologies there. But these are therapy dogs, waiting to visit children who are unwell. We’ve changed, my word, everything’s changed, but their loyalty and willingness to give, help, lift, remains unchanged. Good day for a walk
If "old school" means being:
Polite
Being on time
Saying thank you
Listening to another point of view
Not talking over you
Writing letters
Count me in, please
#oldschool
#hughmcilvanney
Ally McCoist was on air at 6 am, and he’s still going at 10 pm, and he’s as good at 10 pm, as he was at 6 am. Just being his likeable, enthusiastic self
Well Shanks was followed by Paisley, and this is Paisley, who follows my Shanks.
I hope he never walks alone either, and should make his debut in May. Walk on, and on
#paisley
I doubt he'll get "nominated" but
@dickyjohnson77
is my SPOTY, again, because
A Champion
Grafter
Tough
Polite
Supportive of others
Kind
Never about him
Humble
Thankful
That's all, thank you
#SPOTY
I know, I know..
Everyone rightly praising W Indies, Pakistan and Australia for coming over to play, live in bubbles, travel.
But so did
@Irelandcricket
with all restrictions etc
Won a game too
Just reminding
#bubblelife
And Sir Bobby’s mum, in their backyard in Ashington…and not sure even the most luxurious academy in the world can ever recreate what they had in the streets and parks, even your Mum tackled you
#sirbobby
Two fine men, two good people to work for (what luck), both sad to lose their roles at their home townclubs…but these two lovely photos show that when the stress is taken away, they look….better, healthier, happier. I hope they have a good rest
#leadership
Having sat / stood on the Western Terrace yesterday, if there is a more knowledgeable, funnier, more musical set of supporters than the
@TheBarmyArmy
please get in touch. Thank you
#StokesAshes
In other sports news, head coach
@BrentfordFC
at final whistle...
His gratitude is to Steve, who had worked tirelessly in isolation to keep the pitch, pitches, going and growing. It was immaculate last night
#invisiblehours
If Brian Hughes was to blow his own trumpet any less, it wouldn’t ruffle a feather. And to win 3 Jump Jockeys Championships, you’re basically made of granite. Phenomenal achievement in a sport full of grafters
#championjockey
Whatever sport, whatever day, whatever facility, the analysts are forever giving and working. Unfailingly polite, unbelievably helpful, and my word they know their stuff. There you go
#grafters
I’ve attended many jump jockeys funerals, some a celebration of life, some far too early. They are a remarkable group of men and women, beyond tough, but not immune to dark days. Keep asking, just keep asking, for help
#support
In Cheltenham news, John Kiely (left) has the favourite in the Bumper. When working for him in 1988, I rode work with him once and on pulling up he said “I think you can do the cows tomorrow” A truly wonderful man, still can’t thank him enough. He’s 85 now and as fit as his horse
Away from phones, cameras, people even, Adil Radhid spent 20 mins with young Irish leg spin bowler late on Tuesday night, when he probably least felt like it. I saw it, and it was bloody lovely. Just saying
#reflection
Never too late for a new venture or adventure, so here's mine.
And after all I've seen, heard, learned, read, watched and asked, it will always be about people. Off we go.
#JustCaulfield
Three years after being told he'd never walk again, Ed Barrett will do a circuit of Newbury Paddock on Saturday. On
@IJF_official
holiday I saw him "train" and could almost hear him say "I will walk, I will walk", and he is. What a man
A 10 year old girl called phone in hosted by John McEnroe last night asking for advice on how to improve as she was a national "champion". He said, play lots of other sports, not too much tennis, have fun doing other sports, and have fun in general, not just play tennis. Oh yes
Heartbreaking news for his family and army of friends in racing
Jump Jockeys are the toughest, bravest people I have ever met
But they are also the most vulnerable
We must, simply must, keep talking and listening, and understanding
#liamtreadwell
He’s only gone and bloody done it, again
Longest match of his career
Two sets down
Finished 4.05 am
Forget your theories, you simply can’t put in what God left out, a heart the size of a frying pan
Treasure him while we can
Hope he enjoys his breakfast
#andymurray
Met Brian Clough, aged 15, in his office, with my late dad
Clough looked up “Young man, get your haircut, wear a tie, goodbye”
I went to leave, he called me back, wide smile
“Good to meet you Michael, but don’t be scruffy”
I’ve never forgotten it
#briancloughanniversary
I’ve done my bit, followed the science, triple jabbed, live quietly, but the way they’ve frightened the life out of everyone, again, is a wretched way of governing and leading, wretched. Hysterical fear everywhere, and it will cause untold and unseen damage. Going for a walk
Think it’s fair to say he can look himself in the mirror in the morning and say “I gave that everything”. Can’t do more than that. Well played Leighton Aspell
#longevity
This sums up jump racing
Two friends
Two competitors
1,000 winners each
1,000’s of losers
100’s of falls
On a Sunday
No fuss
Not much to eat
Onto the next day
Proper
#grafters
Just one thing, if Women’s Euros proved one thing, though it proved many things, football doesn’t have to be associated with hate, abuse, anger and nastiness, and my word they wanted to win. It is a beautiful game, and even more beautiful when joy replaces anger. Going for a walk
A lot of love and respect in this gorgeous picture…..(and stories), and as Francome once said “you could take on the world with 20 jump jockeys”, and you could
#friendship
In other news, I think Brian Hughes would have received a great ovation
@Sandownpark
today with
@dickyjohnson77
leading the way as he’s that sort of chap. Well played Brian Hughes, first Northern champ since Jonjo
#champions