Walk4Matt 2010 launch, Man Utd prove too good and My thoughts on the transfer Deadline day!

So on Friday I made it down to Oxford after my show to attend the Walk4Matt 2010 launch, the charity event that I am lucky enough to be involved in, as a Vice President of Special Effect, a charity that will directly benefit from this amazing event.

Matt Hampson has proven a real inspiration to me over the three years I have had the pleasure of knowing him, and I’m sure he will carry on inspiring people for a lot longer, but what always surprises me about Matt is just what a patient, nice, and downright funny guy he is! If you would like to read about Matt’s incredible story, a young England rugby player whose life was forever changed after breaking his neck in an U21 games, an incident that left him completely paralysed from the neck down, you can do so in full here.

Playing for your country at any level, and at any sport, is an incredible achievement, especially in Rugby where the standards are so high, but it is what Matt has achieved since his accident that has truly made me think about how I approach life. Matt did not take a backward step, and has lived his life as he played his rugby, with a high intensity, dedication, and also with a cheeky smile. It is so easy to moan, and think yourself hard done by in this world, and yet when you see people who have faced real adversity, like Matt, or any of the kids I have met through the Teenage Cancer Trust (that I'm also incredible fortunate to be involved with), it makes you realise what is truly important, and I just hope, that one day I might be as inspiration to other as Matt and many other people are to me.

He has dedicated himself to raising money for people who have found themselves in a similar position to him, either from birth, or via a tragic accident, and to see the work of Special Effect in action, in developing software and interactive systems that allow people with disabilities to use them, something that we take for granted n a daily basis, always amazes me..........even if I often end up getting my arse kicked at some of the games............the guys were just too good! I say all of this, knowing that if I said it Matt’s face, he would probably rip the Mick out of me or just tell me to shut up, as he is a such a humble guy, but it’s not often you meet someone like Matt, who makes you realise just what life is really about. Matt’s life is pretty much constantly on the go, as he is not just spending his time now raising money for others, and to supports himself, he is also a rather good rugby journalist, and you might see his interview in Rugby World, and he puts me to shame!!

Take the Walk4Matt that the great man organises each year, it’s a 110 mile walk from Rugby ( the home of his favourite sport) to the Premiership Final at Twickenham, with the idea to raise as much money as he can for the Charities he s involved with, and there are a few! Each year, lots of superstars from the world of rugby, including Martin Johnson and Dusty Hare last year, as well as players from every Premiership team, joined in one the route. You can walk the whole route, staying on one of the Barges that accompanies the walk (although not the Guinness one, as Matt says that’s his steam boat.............i.e. the boat that gets every one steaming!), or just join in for one day, either way it’s great fun, and being an event organised by a rugby player, there is no shortage of liquid refreshment, and each night there is lots of awesome entertainment planned at the stop of points, to make sure you can top up on some of that morale if needed!

I was lucky enough to have a quick chat with Matt at the launch, and I will post the video in this Blog later in the week!

Anyway, I suppose what I am saying is, if you want to get involved in an awesome charity event, meet some superstars and some very inspirational people, and have a damn good time doing it – you can sign up for the Walk4matt 2010 here.

Right, next it’s all about My beloved Arsenal.......and how we were played off the park by Man Utd on Sunday, honestly, watching that game, as much as I hate to see us lose to anyone, especially the plastic Manc's, well all I could think of was, Man Utd not only deserved that, they at times walked it.

See, as passionate as I get, I believe in putting your hand up at times and saying, yeah, we were outplayed, obviously not to give up, but to realise where you have gone wrong, and what needs to be done. Wenger may be the greatest ever Arsenal manager, but he could do with a lesson in humility sometimes. Anyway, Nani, actually looked world class for once, and as for Rooney, well I am just glad he is English, and not pretty enough to be a pin up for society so that he can get on with what he does best, playing some awesome football.

I really thought that we may have had an outside chance at the title this year, and hell we can still string a few results in there and be in the mix, but wow, unless the players raise their games on for matches like this, we have no chance, and I can see this being a two horse race, between United and Chelsea, and while I would have gone for Chelsea 2 weeks ago, there is no doubt Sir Alex’s men are starting to peak at the right time once more, as they always seem to do
.the gits.

Moving swiftly on, I was glued to my phone and laptop on Monday hoping to see some massive, and frankly hoping for some outrageous transfer day deadline moves, but no, none really happened, with the two best moves seemingly being Man City buying a very classy young home-grown winger from ‘Boro in the form of Adam Johnson, who I think could really shine with some great players around him that he will no doubt have at Eastlands.............if he gets his chance, and the move from Robbie “Every club is my boyhood favourite” Keane..........well to his boyhood favourite club Celtic.

Keane will score for fun in the SPA, and that’s not from my mouth, but from “Super” Johnny Hartson’s, a Celtic goal scoring legend, who has admitted he wouldn’t have got half as many goals in the Premiership.

Otherwise though, apart from my cousin Dave going on loan to the Dog & Fox for two weeks as he chinned their goal keeper in the pub on Friday, and being as he is quite large they think his bulk might keep out a few shots, there really wasn’t much else doing.

Still, something that is exciting me massively is the Six Nations, and I will blog back at the end of the week with my preview of the Northern Hemispheres premier rugby event!!

Bring it on!!