Thought For The Day – Wednesday 10th July 2024
Big Finish. Go Well.
Above: The final race at Sports Day 2024.
Today is our non-uniform day in aid of the following local charities and organisations: Thirst Youth Café, Grove Cottage, Bishop’s Stortford Food Bank and U.K. Aid (which supports people in Ukraine). We support one another’s non-uniform and ensure our standards, and ethos, are good as ever.
The European men’s football championship finals continue this evening. 19 of the competing nations in the finals have been represented at TBSHS. There have been many compelling narratives, not least Spain’s Lamine Yamal, who is sixteen years of age, and led Spain to the final yesterday. The orchestral version of the official song of this “Euros”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OIwxgcBA3TI
Tonight, England play the Netherlands in the second semi-final. North Holland and South Holland are two of the 12 provinces of the Netherlands. Their colour is orange, like our Twyford House.
In the last fifty years, the Netherlands, the pass and possession experts, have massively influenced football in playing and coaching, particularly across Europe, including Spain. A Dutch coach, Sarina Wiegman CBE, was and is absolutely vital to the successes of the Lionesses, for instance. England themselves have an influential and respected history and in this tournament have had to show resilience.
This match itself has a significant past. In the 1988 European championship finals, again in Germany, a fine Dutch side, who would be the eventual winners, outplayed England 3-1. In the 1996 tournament, at Wembley, England, with their current manager playing, delivered one of their best ever displays to win 4-1, as they would progress to the semi-finals. In the 1990 world cup, a 0-0 draw was significant because England experimented with a tactical system that would see them reach the semi-finals. England did not qualify for the 1992 Euros owing to a goal by the current Dutch manager.
Like our wonderful Sports Day, where supporters and players inspired each other, may all players and supporters engage and participate well, give their best, with integrity and respect, on and off the field, showing equality, diversity and inclusion. The game and spirit is the most important thing.
Also today, in another sport, at “the home of cricket”, James Anderson OBE, at 41 years of age still the best bowler in the country, begins his 188th and final test match, as he seeks to add to his 700 wickets.
Like us this term here on the final days of the school at London Road, James Anderson will charging in for the last time in the morning, in the afternoon and in the evening, leaving everything out there.
Big finish. Go well.
