Paul Hodkinson

Got any Vera’s?

[Michael Rayner @MikeyR_83]

‘England 2006: The Golden Generation’ was a good watch.

Full of nostalgia for a world that doesn’t exist anymore. Instead of smart phones and social media there were still newspapers and magazines that ruled the roost. Quaint by comparison.

As for the football it was as dire as I remember it. The circus and euphoria that surrounded us both at home and abroad was orders of magnitude greater than it warranted. At the time it seemed normal though.

In many ways the hype leading up to it for a number of years was like late stage capitalism. It eventually ate itself. Nothing has really been the same since we got knocked out by Portugal on that sultry day of 1st July 2006.

Something died that day. Not just for English football but for the culture of the country as a whole. It marked a demarcation point that even with the Southgate years hasn’t been replicated.

The passing of time is a strange and ever evolving thing

#England

[Andy Bush @bushontheradio]

Agreed. World Class this.

[Skint Eastwood @Skint_Eastwood1]

BBC Teases Nicola Sturgeon Interview… Then Plays Wee Jimmy Krankie 🤣

“Where going to be joined by Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.”

They then run a video Wee Jimmy Krankie. 😭

They then quickly apologise:

“I’m sorry we’ve very clearly run the wrong pictures.”

Brilliant 😂

[John Walker @johnwalker_1986]

48-Team World Cup Analysis 🧵

The largest World Cup preview on social media, 500hrs of analysis & each teams "Style of Play" video:
> Attacking Play
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Thank you again to my incredible sponsors ❤️

Let's Dive In 👇

[Dan Walker @mrdanwalker]

I will never forget Gary Speed’s last show. That is a programme I still think about all the time. I know his death had a profound effect on so many people and it remains a tragic and important milestone in how we talk about mental health. That’s one of the things Focus was always able to do. We never shied away from the serious stuff and I think the viewers knew and appreciated that.

I loved our outside broadcast from Camp Bastion in Afghanistan too. We dreamed big and pulled it off and even the Prime Minister at the time (David Cameron) flew in to be part of the show! I remember speaking to loads of Afghan soldiers out there who hardly spoke any English but knew all the players in the Premier League. It was a reminder of the power of football to unite us all - even in warzone. I travelled out there with Kevin Kilbane and Big John Hartson and that will remain one of the best programs we ever worked on.

So, as I think about the last ever Football Focus this weekend, I am sad that it’s over but incredibly thankful to be part of a programme that still means so much to so many.

[Dan Walker @mrdanwalker]

This weekend sees the last ever episode of Football Focus broadcast on the BBC.

One of my colleagues sent me this earlier this week. A montage of some of the stuff we did on the show and it brought back so many lovely memories ❤️

I can tell you exact spot where I was standing on the old runway at Turnberry golf club when I got the call to see if I wanted to become the presenter of Football Focus. I was covering The Open in 2009 and it was one of the best conversations I have ever had. For a kid who had grown up watching the show every week with my dad it was an amazing privilege to know that I would be hosting a programme which had always been such a big part of my weekend. I called my dad immediately and he was just as pleased as I was.

When the news was announced I had a phone call from the one and only Bob Wilson. He was so warm and encouraging, as he always is, and said “Dan, you are gonna love this job. There is nothing like it… make sure you take care of it”. I hope I did. As a former custodian of the couch, Bob knew how special it was and I felt the same way when I handed over the reins to the brilliant Alex Scott when I left Focus after 12 seasons.

People still talk to me about the show all the time. Focus is stitched into my life and I know there are still so many fans who really care about it which is why it’s such a crazy decision to get rid of it. Move it to Saturday morning, tinker with the format but, in a world where there is such a premium on reliable and trusted brands, why would you throw away over 50 years of hard work and history?

It carries weight. I remember interviewing Pele years ago and I told him I was from Football Focus and he said “I know all about Football Focus” with a big smile. When we were filming a show about the history of Barcelona at the Nou Camp we were about to sit down to talk to Eusebio and Johan Cryuff (I had to pinch myself about that one) and Sir Bobby Charlton walked over and said to them, “You can tell this is important gentlemen… the team from Football Focus are here”. When I called Noel Gallagher to talk about an idea we had to get him to interview Mario Ballotelli at Manchester City he rearranged his world tour to be there. Obviously Balotelli was a draw but Noel said “I’d do anything for Football Focus”.

When I interviewed Jurgen Klopp in the tearoom at Exeter City before an FA cup tie the lovely ladies serving brews were wedged into the corner while we spoke. I introduced them to Mr Klopp afterwards and he apologised for stealing their space; “Don’t worry about that” they said. “We’ve just been on Football Focus! Wait until we tell the family about this!”.

I know the game has changed and the way we consume it has changed but there is still an audience there if you find the right place for it, promote it, ‘take care of it’ and give fans the chance to be part of the conversation on an informed, thoughtful and entertaining show about the sport we all love.

I am gutted it’s going but also so thankful for all the amazing people I got to work with over the years. They remain life-long friends and I still can’t quite believe I got to sit alongside the people I grew up watching play the game at the highest level. I remember when Alan Shearer called me “Dan” on one of the first shows I worked on. The little kid inside me thought “Alan Shearer knows my name!”. It was a pleasure to work with so many brilliant pundits and it was great to watch Alex develop on Focus and then go on to host the programme so well.

I was asked this week to pick a favourite moment from my 12 years on the show. It’s a very hard question because I have a huge catalogue of wonderful memories. I always look back on our on-the-road shows because we were taking Focus out to the fans; their club was the canvas and we got to paint a beautiful picture together each week about what the place meant to the community, the history, the culture and all the things that were part of that.

[Match of the Day @BBCMOTD]

🗣 "He was just unreal!" 🤩

Who was the best player from England's 'Golden Generation'? 👥🟡✨

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

Did 'fake relationships' and big rivalries hinder England's World Cup dreams?

Rio Ferdinand, Alan Shearer, Wayne Rooney and Steve McClaren discuss the dynamics of the 2006 World Cup squad, and how it manifested on and off the pitch.

▶️ England 2006: The Golden Generation | Watch on BBC iPlayer

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

Watch England 2006: The Golden Generation on BBC iPlayer 👇
https://t.co/cUsyZDJMdJ

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

Rio Ferdinand doesn't hold back when talking about England's so-called golden generation.

[BBC Sport @BBCSport]

The story of how England's Golden Generation unravelled on the world’s biggest stage.

▶️ Watch England 2006: The Golden Generation on BBC iPlayer from Monday 11 May

[National League on DAZN @DAZN_NationalLg]

Here's the story of last season's National League Play-Offs 🎞️

This year's kick off tomorrow night, sign up at https://t.co/17IGNhwWu5 to watch every match live 📺

[DJ Kev Williams @WilliamsKevin]

Salford playing Kung Fu when they’re not rolling around doing Tom Daley impressions #oafc

[Mike Keegan @MikeKeegan_DM]

⚠️FOOTBALL HAS NOT STOPPED
🏟️Report from a wild night at Boundary Park
🗣️'You can smell the grass, speak to the players'
❌'There's no VAR - we can celebrate goals'
✅'Proper' chips, proper atmosphere and life outside the Premier League
https://t.co/NvmggdOddA #oafc #ncfc

[Shatics @Shatics]

FTFY. #oafc

[Crewkerne Gazette @CrewkerneGaz]

After a long day in police custody, Prince Andrew was released on bail earlier this evening. Naturally, his thoughts turned straight to pizza.

{satire}

[Harrison ⚽️ @Harrison_1895]

@Leobrfc_ https://t.co/lzdLQe12kz

As HD as it comes Mr. Lockyer

[Mike Keegan @MikeKeegan_DM]

If you think the standard of refereeing in the PL is bad take a look at this deliberate elbow in League Two tonight - which resulted in a yellow for both players. 🤦‍♂️

[Paul Hodkinson @stanleylatic]

@Official_BRFC He shouldn’t be surprised that Quigley missed his chance given he’s already missed a few like that this season. He also scored 0 goals in the NL last season. Evans himself said that he’s not a striker that scores lots of goals when he signed him. Think he’ll be decent for Gas tho

[Paul Hodkinson @stanleylatic]

@R8rhh48rbr7 Should be on the pitch doing shuttle runs right now with Hammond then. But he isn’t. Will we see him again?