Going quiet
Posted by Alan Collins on Wednesday, May 14th, 2008 at 10:24

In the next six weeks I have a grand total of 17 (yes, count them, 17!) exams - three resits, two resits of January resits and 12 new exams.

I am currently sat in front of 48 pages of CPT2 (Computing) past exams, slowly working my way through, answering questions I can answer, making notes in the margin on those I cannot. I am on page four!

My full exam timetable is on my Google Calendar (see Alan’s Diary), in case you are interested, but, with the exception of half term and planning applications (one this week, I will publish it tonight), I will almost cease posting on this website and concentrate on my exams.

However, I am not entirely content with allowing my blog to go too quiet, and thus stale. So, over the next six weeks, as I write practice essays for Government and Politics (my last exams), I shall post them on here for continual fresh content.

So keep checking back and I promise I’ll post as much as I can!

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RSH: The “personal” vote
Posted by Alan Collins on Monday, May 5th, 2008 at 19:37

In three days’ time the people of Rochester South and Horsted will go to the polls to elect a replacement for former Councillor John Ward. Over the next couple of days I hope to publish various articles looking at aspects and political theories of the campaign in-depth (unless my Spanish oral preparations get in my way, which is highly likely).

Today I am focusing on the all-important “personal” vote, the group of hardcore supporters who will vote for a particular candidate because they know them well and like them. The “personal” vote transcends party politics - a traditionally Labour voter may vote for two Labour candidates and a Conservative because the Conservative candidate has met with them on a number of occasions to discuss, and successfully resolve, local issues.

There are those who will suggest that the “personal” vote is nothing more than a theory, an idealistic approach which presents a greater opinion of the voters: that they would vote for a person because of their actions and hard work, rather than a party because of the national picture. And there are those who believe that the “personal” vote cannot exist, even in theory.

However, in 2007 the “personal” vote could be seen quite clearly in action. Cllr Sylvia Griffin was new to the ward and polled an impressive 1,518 votes, a healthy plurality of 518 votes over fourth-placed Labour candidate Joyce Esterson.

Continue Reading “RSH: The “personal” vote” »

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Gillingham have been relegated
Posted by Alan Collins on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 at 17:01

Medway’s only league football team has been relegated (Invicta FM were aptly playing All Good Things (Come to an End) during stoppage time*) - and it is hardly surprising. When a team has to rely on the performance of five others to ensure its standing is retained, there is always going to be a struggle.

Many fans will now turn to find people to blame. The obvious target will be Chairman Paul Scally, followed by Manager Mark Stimson. Neither man deserves the anger of the fans: both have tried to make the best of the terrible situation the club found itself in and both have failed not because of their own deliberate fault but because of the class of palyers in League One which the majority of Gills players were unable to rival.

The next step for the club should, in my opinion, be to stand back and assess the situation as it stands. Scally is looking for sponsors for a new stadium, when he should be looking for people to invest in the team instead. Stimson has done a fantastic job as Manager, despite being thrown in the deep end, and should be retained. The players themselves deserve to be congratulated for their performances this season, as well as the fans for never failing to be vocal (regardless of what they were calling - that’s right, I heard you from the comfort of the kiosks!).

There is no reason why, next season, the Gills cannot be promoted back into League One. However, it is going to take the right funding and players.

Final League One standings (bottom six)

Team Pts

Cheltenham 51
Crewe 50
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Bournemouth 48
Gillingham 46
Port Vale 38
Luton 33

* For all despondent fans, here is the aforementioned song’s video:

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Rolling football scores
Posted by Alan Collins on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 at 15:35

Latest scores (full time)

Carlisle 1 - 1 Bournemouth

Cheltenham 2 - 1 Doncaster

Crewe 1 - 4 Oldham

Leeds 2 - 1 Gillingham

League One

Team Pts (Pre-game Pts)

Cheltenham 51 (48)
Crewe 50 (50)
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Bournemouth 48 (47)
Gillingham 46 (46)

Half time verdict

The chances of survival for the Gills were given a boost by Jackson, but they need to hold onto their lead and for Doncaster to put two past Cheltenham, which is quite unlikely. I thought Doncaster would be pushing harder, but will probably do so after a stern half-time talk, as they now reside in the play-offs, overtaken by Nottingham Forest.

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Crunch-time
Posted by Alan Collins on Saturday, May 3rd, 2008 at 15:30

Very rarely have I focused on football on this blog, however today I think warrants such a focus.

Gillingham football club are currently up at Leeds, playing what is potentially their last game of League One football for a while. They are sitting in the relegation zone, and only a win can pull them out of it.

Success also depends on the performances of four other teams. Bournemouth mustn’t win against Carlisle and Cheltenham have to lose against Doncaster. This alone puts the Gills’ standing in jeopardy.

Cheltenham have the home advantage, but they are playing a team which needs to win to secure automatic promotion to the Championship, and so will be firing on all cylinders. I believe that this will be a Doncaster win.

Bournemouth don’t have the home advantage and are also playing a team which, if they win, could secure automatic promotion to the Championship, and so will also be firing on all cylinders. Again, I believe that this will be a Carlisle win.

The Gills are playing a side whose play-off place is secured and which cannot secure automatic promotion, even with a win. Leeds won’t be stretching themselves too far, saving their energies for the play-offs, however they won’t want to lose, and will start to tighten their grip on the game if the Gills get the better of them. I believe that this will be a draw, meaning relegation for the Gills.

Keep checking this site as I update it with rolling scores and an update bottom of the table.

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