More places confirmed, and my thoughts on a dark night for football

Hello again! Today's been a good day in parts, as I've been able to book tickets for my visits to Oxford, Cambridge, York (again), Thornaby, Leeds (again), Birmingham, London and Falmouth: and for less than £40, I'll have you know. Add this to the fact that I've found a place to stay for free in Cambridge, and I think we can agree that I've had a pretty productive day: though from a week tomorrow onwards I'll have a lot on my plate!

However, despite the fact that Spurs have yet again gone to Yorkshire, walloped their opponents 5-1 (it was Doncaster this time) and gone home again, I am not an entirely happy football fan. As you may well have seen, Upton Park and the surrounding area saw a number of violent clashes take place between West Ham United and Millwall fans last night: I say fans, but with any luck, the people involved will be banned from going to watch football for life, and will therefore no longer be fans.

I am aware of the rivalry between the two fans: my Gran lives quite close to Millwall's ground, and I know a few West Ham fans personally. But COME ON! How many of you work for rival dockyard companies these days? Or work for the Krays or the Richardsons, come to that? It really is quite depressing: admittedly Spurs and Arsenal fans are supposedly bitter rivals, but over the years I like to think we've come to admire their style of play; whilst they've beaten us so many times recently that they don't mind our taunting in the slightest.

The fact that someone got stabbed; that the game wasn't stopped; that both clubs haven't been banned from competing in the Carling Cup for at least a year; all of these are pretty worrying. If Great Britain actually wants to show the world it's the best at sport, then it could at least start by not trying to have a pitched battle right next to the future Olympic Village!

So sort it out West Ham and Millwall: your rivalry was relevant 60 years ago, but no-one was impressed then, and they're certainly not impressed now.

Rant over :) Thanks for reading, Gloucestershire's section in T-minus 10 hours!
Chris