THING OF THE WEEK
CATHEDRAL OF FOOTBALL… The Pools is 100 this year and has kicked off the century celebrations in style by hosting what it claims is the first ever football match to take place inside a cathedral. Liverpool’s Anglican Cathedral was the setting for the game; fitting given that the Pools was born in the city in 1923. The fixture featured an array of ex-Liverpool and Everton stars, trying not to break stuff. John Barnes, Steve McMahon, Sammy Lee, Mark Wright, Neil Mellor, Peter Reid, Neil Ruddock, Colin Hendry, and Michael Ball all turned out. Neil Mellor opened the scoring for the Reds before Peter Reid levelled things up for the Toffees thanks to a penalty awarded by the Dean (of Liverpool, not Mike). The match was decided on spot-kicks, with Sammy Lee bagging the winner for Liverpool, slotting past former England goalkeeper Rachel Brown-Finnis.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak confirmed the cancellation of HS2’s Northern leg on Wednesday. Credit: House of Commons, CC-BY 3.0; bit.ly/3g0ER6a.
TRAINS… The Tories are so on their game when it comes to transport proposals that they have already completed one of the projects that formed part of the £36bn Network North, announced on Wednesday. The Metrolink line extension to Manchester Airport was completed in 2014, some nine years before it was announced. This kind of efficiency is sure to soften the blow of HS2 being unceremoniously canned.

The station has completed on time despite the collapse of the contractor leading the project. Credit: via LCRCA
SILVER LINING… Unbelievably, it has not been all bad news for transport this week. Amid the maelstrom of emotion that accompanied the Prime Minister’s decision to amputate HS2 from the hips upwards there was some positives. Kirkby’s long-awaited Headbolt Lane station has finally opened. Liverpool City Region Mayor Steve Rotheram couldn’t resist a dig. “Away from national government, there is genuine investment happening in our railways. Tell me again how devolution doesn’t work.”
FLEETWOOD BACKS… Momentum for Bolton’s bid to host the 2035 Ryder Cup is building. This week, fresh from glorious victory for Europe in the 2023 edition of the biennial golf competition, Tommy Fleetwood was announced as an ambassador for Bolton’s Hulton Park bid. “I’ve studied the proposals for Hulton closely and seen the site for myself – it is an amazing landscape and the prospect of a purpose-built stadium course here would be fantastic for everyone concerned – for golf, for the tournament, and for the game in England,” he said.
Fleetwood, who was 11 the last time England hosted the Ryder cup in 2002, is also excited about what the project could do for the North West as a whole. “I can see that it would inspire more people in the North West to take up the game and for those who don’t play golf, it will also bring jobs, investment and tourism to the region and open up a huge new green space for the community.”
ALTERNATIVE LIGHTING… We have to hand it to the Knight Frank table at Place Party for coming up with this bright idea. Candles are cool, but glowsticks? Well, they’re a vibe. Kudos to Place Party sponsor Close Brothers Property Finance for gifting each table with neon illumination.
Curious as to what happened to the candles? The candles (electric, mind you) we had on the tables made their way out onto the dance floor. We were particularly impressed seeing one person use them to make their air traffic control dreams come true and guide another ‘flying’ dancer into place.
PICCOLINOS… The affluent wining and dining set in Manchester property, so prudent when it comes to securing a special offer, are rushing to cash in their points and nervously waiting to see what will replace the famed Piccolinos reward scheme. Past rules – earn points on business and spend them on family – have even gone out of the window with some panic eaters spotted using their points for working lunches. Whatever next!?
TALKING ‘BOUT REGENERATION… Turns out Greater Manchester is doing just that. A new report from ING Media analysing online postings has found that within nearly all GM boroughs, regeneration and urban renewal factors is one of the five most popular topics of conversation. So there you go folks. Your work is prime dinner party conversation.
Careful- Razor won’t like being mistaken for Sammy Lee!
By Gene Walker