THERE’S A PERIOD, probably between the ages of 12-20, when you’re not supposed to like the Late Late Toy Show.
But let’s be honest, you never really dislike it.
The 2017 edition is back tonight and it got us thinking in the office about our favourite sporting Christmas toys as kids.
“Mine was Pro Action Football which was Subbuteo with notions. I’ve never taken care of a toy as well as that one until a friend of mine chewed one of the mini footballs.”
TOMY SUPER CUP FOOTBALL - I liked it so much I even painted the spare nudey players into my own team.”
“I have fond memories of a little net that you could fix to any table and ping pong paddles… But we had a round table at home.”
My little brother got a foosball table one year. It was incredible. Except we later learnt that each of the little men came in about five pieces which had to be constructed – feet, legs, top, head AND hair. ‘Santa’ was up until about 4am getting it all sorted. Roughly an hour before my brother woke up!”
“I bought an American football helmet one year in November and my mam gave me the money for it so it would be my gift that year. She took it off me on Christmas Eve to wash it and make it look new.”
One year I got something called a 10-in-1 game station. It was a table that converted into a pool to table, ping pong, table tennis, air hockey etc. It changed my life and made me a better person I think.”
But that’s enough about us, what about you? Let us know your favourite childhood sporting Christmas toys in the comments section below.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
Phew, the big away games aren’t until 2013…..hopefully finances will have recovered from Pokraine by then.
Could be in a really strong qualifying position by then too. Win home, draw away.
it really is a very very difficult group
Would have been a lot easier if the draw took place in December as has always been the norm. They made the draw three months early when we were third seeds. We are second seeds now.
This is one of the hardest qualifying groups that we have had in a long time. Its not going to be easy to get out of that.
We play with our heart and soul….thats what makes us stand up from the rest….is not easy but we will get there…
Will keane,duff,dunne and given retire after euro12 ?, if so i cant see us qualifying…hope im wrong though.
Cork – Amsterdam – Almaty – Astana. €1500 for the flight to kazakhstan, not many takers at that price id say.
With Aer Lingus starting a Cork-Frankfurt route it would only require Cork-Frankfurt-Astana, no?
The agents will charter direct flights…..often cheaper for such destinations.
Trappatoni will try his best to convince the old guard to hang around, to the detriment of the future and current set of young players vying to make the squad. Players like Coleman, McCarthy, Brady, Clifford, Meyler, Rooney will see little to no international action while Trap is in charge. Also worthy players such as Hoolahan, Pilkington, Reid(Steven), Kenny, Garvan, Stokes, Best will not receive any recognition for their efforts.
You need a good mixture of youth and experience. trap has brought a lot of new faces into the fold over the past four years. Happy with where the squad is going into the Euros.
Has a ground been set for the Germany away match?
We are spoiled for quality strikers ATM so we will manage the transition minus Keane. Duff is starting to slow & prone to injury with Seamus Coleman a promising replacement. I don’t see a like for like replacement for Dunne yet, same for Given. I hope all four stay involved for WC qualifiers but it’s time now to start blooding their replacements.
by 2013 the youth will be in the team. no more Keane Duff etc. time for Coleman Clark and the likes to step up to the mark. second place looks likely. but with us you never know. it will be slap bang in middle of a transitional period too.