So as shared by somebody on the Amiga Addict Discord, today is the day that – if you play Championship Manager 97/98 for 30 seasons, on the 15th July 2026, you get an endgame screen, and encouragement to sign up as a play tester and a researcher for future games.1
I played Champ Man 97/98 loads growing up, and really got into the 97/98 version. I would have been 14 when it came out, the cusp of France 98, and me starting to follow Colwyn Bay Football Club, I was at probably my peak fandom. I used to scour the leagues and guides for hidden gem signings (waves at Rob Taylor from Brentford), dress up for cup finals in a shirt and tie, and believed it was bad luck to watch the final.
Anyway, with the universe death of the greatest football game of all time, it’s safe to assume that no football from this day forward counts. It’s true, not just me being a bitter Welshman. Sorry England.
Incidentally, I did this role myself when I was the social media manager for Colwyn Bay about 10 years later. Mainly it was confirming the club colours, crest and various elements were true. Very much a highlight of the season, though sadly I never got into the credits for it! ↩︎
I had a weekend in Colwyn Bay last weekend with my family. As part of our trip we headed to do the Y Promenad parkrun on a gorgeous Saturday morning, on it’s 16th event. I did the first event and got a time of 33:38. Which is a solid time for me (sub 34 minutes is my par).
Sadly I don’t get anything for a pair (the “Doppleganger” achievement only occurs when you do it in consecutive weeks at the same event). Still, it was a fun little thing that became a talking point for me for the rest of the day weekend.
Look at those straight lines!
I do like the graph on the Parkrun app, which is a solid straight line for me at Y Promenad. Of course, with my weird brain, it’s meaning I’m not wanting to do that parkrun again this year. I’d like to keep the line, please and thank you.
I am the 378th quickest runner ever at the Y Promenad, Llandrillo-yn-Rhos Parkrun (at the time of writing).
On Saturday I got up 6:30am from a tip off from my brother the week before. There was rumours that Rhos-on-Sea, a suburb of my hometown, was starting a parkrun that day. Previously being an achievement on the 5k App, attending the first parkrun in a location is not quite as prestigious as before – it’s not promoted to stop the newbie run directors being overwhelmed with people coming to attend. So much so, that it felt a little bit underground, a bit hush hush attending the event. Like a drinker in a prohibition era United States, as murky as my half 6 start in Newton-le-Willows.
Although the weather was terrible when I set off, the drive to North Wales was constantly getting better, so it was a cold crisp morning as I parked up. Word had got out a bit, as about 500 parkrunners and walkers showed up at the event. They were ushered into the garden next to the tourist information to get the first timers briefing. With everybody was a first timer nobody was skipping it. After folks were briefed I said a quick hello and goodbye to my brother who showed up with his dog and set off on the route.
The route is perfect for personal bests, running along the Colwyn Bay promenade, from Rhos-on-Sea, past Toad Hall pub, under the pier and just by Porth Eirias before doubling back again. I was surprised that the coast I walked many a time was only 2km or so. It feels a lot longer, certainly looked it. There is a loop but it’s largely flat and concrete – with only sand deposited from the North Sea causing issues. There’s even 2k marked out in the promenade’s mosaic to somewhat time yourself.
Anyway, it wasn’t a day for a personal best due to the numbers attending. I did get rather close though. Probably about a minute back on my personal best. I did push it too hard too early on (I managed my first 1k and 1 mile to be under the goal of a 30 minute 5k), meaning I was struggling towards the end, but I got home in a respectable 33:30 – really only hampering. My goal was to get a photo of the token to proudly declare that I was in X best runner in this blog post, as they had only 450 tokens in total.
Which I did.
It’s nice to have an email with 1 and a name as on the inaugeral parkrun page although the 5k App still lists the run as “Unknown” for now, meaning although I didn’t get the elusive “Y” for my Parkrun alphabet, I did pick up the U!
Overall, the time wasn’t the goal today, it was just to attend, and support, and just be a part of something good for my home town. It gets a bit of stick and having a parkrun there is another thing it’s got going for it. It’s a gorgeous location and looking forward to attend again.
I was today years old to realise that the music for the Commodore 64 game “Lazy Jones” music is the sample used by Zombie Nation’s “Kernkraft 400“.
Kernkraft 400 became Wales’ anthem after a match away at Belgium in the mid-2010s when the DJ played it at half time. I think the favourable conditions for Wales and the 48 hours of Leffe Blonde meant it was swiftly added to Y Wal Goch’s playlist, so much so that it was played in bars as I travelled around France in Euro 2016, usually the ones filled with the Welsh. We were no trouble, like.
You would have thought I’d have become aware of it, given my love of retro games. But no, I was told today. Thanks Matt!
it is quarter to 7 on day 2 of the Ashes test and England are already 7 down in their second innings, with a lead just shy of 200.
It is 6:47 in the morning, and I have been awake for about half an hour and in that time Carse and Atkinson have put up a dogged resistance.
I have therefore determined in my brilliant, Aggers-like analysis of the game that England only play well when I am awake.
This isn’t good, as I like my sleep and I am not a night owl, but if it means beating the Aussies on their home turf, I may pull a few all nighters. This is important for me and the country, so I am willing to do my duty.
….nevermind, Carse was just caught behind. Back to bed I go.
