Martin meets Gordon Banks

Three weeks back Chesterfield FC said a fond farewell to their home ground. I called it Saltergate, it is also known as Recreation Ground - less poetic but still an evocative title for a special place. Chesterfield can nobody's idea of a glamorous football location but if you are a coniseusseur of goalkeepers Chesterfield is a veritable centre of the universe.

John Lukic, Bob Wilson, Jim Brown and Alan Stevenson are legends of game and the six yard box and are deeply rooted in the Mythology of Chesterfield and their goalkeeper fixation. However the most significant Goalie Spirite is Gordon Banks. The most beloved and revered of keepers started his career at Chesterfield playing between 1955 and 1959 and very much learning his trade. Many years later he achieved world wide fame for his role in winning the World Cup with England and defying the almighty Pele at altitude in Mexico 70.

So what an honour for Martin Toal to have his picture taken with Green Jumpered Royalty. Martin was present to add some operatic gravitas to the solemn closing and farewell to Chesterfield's erstwhile home. What a lovely welcome he had and what a beautiful performance he gave.

It is a simple matter of fact and fate

Martin Toal an operatic tenor from Altrincham in the United Kingdom has a 100% record when it comes to singing the national anthem "God save Queen" at England football internationals. 100% wins.

On each occasion at a series of locations where he has sung, the England team have gone on to win the match. Never conceding a goal, always scoring 2 goals or more in the process.
These are football facts.

This blog is the source of a campaign to get Martin on the plane to South Africa and on the pitch for the key match that will require this huge leap of fate. There is that other football fact that England have not won a World Cup in 44 years. On key moments they have not had the rub of the green or been able to cross the final line. Turin 90, Wembley 96 Gelsenkirchen 2006. In key tournaments the gods have not been with England.

In one fell swoop we hope to turn that around. Plane Ticket to Cape Town. All will be well.

Join our heart felt campaign to turn the tides of 44 years bad luck and nearly moments