What goes thud, thud, thud? Sound of a small container vessel skating along a quayside in an erratic departure?
Of course not, it is the sound of those footballs going in the back of the net kicked by the England team in a penalty shoot-out against Germany. The World Cup Final - yes, yes, yes! !
Anyway, it is upon us and so for all of you with a team in the contest and an interest in it the best of luck.
Commiserations to those of you, like everyone in Wales and Scotland, who don't have a "national" interest?Our hearts bleed for you!
It has been said that football can make grown men behave very sadly and I can confirm that.
Would we love it if TOC was in Hamburg after England had beaten Germany in the World Cup Final? It would be childish to contemplate such a thing?yes, yes, yes!
Actually as it happens, the maritime journalistic fraternity is very supportive of football. During one former World Cup a phone call was received from David Cheslin of Dunelm P.R fame asking if it was possible to attend a press gathering on the very same night England were playing.
The answer was nearly curtly given off several lips when Chessie with more than a little mirth explained the venue for "the gathering" was Wembley Stadium where the Rolling Stones were playing. The journalistic ethics suddenly became seriously challenged?football or Rolling Stones?. football or Rolling Stones? The PR man solved the problem - hey that is what they are supposed to do.
The place to perch at Wembley was a private box equipped with our very own television. Mick and Keith on the ears and England in the eyes, now we are really getting down to work! Where are you now Chessie we don't mind more work like that? You have never seen Mick Jagger so confused as when a big roar cut through his vocals - had his trousers come down, not this time, it was England scoring, not him!
Will it be that good this time - listen, with a Swedish Coach and Rooney's foot on the mend how can we fail. Semis at least, here we come, move over Argentina (you know what to do with that hand of God), move over Germany we are not doing penalties anymore and back-off Brazil we have got Beckham who can bend it.
Yes it is relevant, when I was at Conference recently I spoke to the CEO of one major ports organisation who was being hosted by MSC at the World Cup and (how did he manage this) subsequently at the Americas Cup Race in Valencia. We want to point out to the people in the MSC senior management team that we direct the magazine to that our telephone number is in the very front.
You won't miss it - lets hope we don't!
