Neil Gits On Track

I try not to write on here about every single one of my football trips, or even mention them on air too much, as “The Old Gits Soul Show” would soon turn into “The Old Gits Soccer Show” and my “Cool Soul” blog would evolve into a weekly footy one ! However, I do have some very interesting adventures along the way driving all over the country to matches. On Good Friday, I found myself at the Horsfall Stadium in Bradford to watch a match between the town’s Park Avenue team and Southport which turned out to be a much more enjoyable afternoon than I had expected. The venue is a community facility, originally used primarily for athletics, with a running track around the pitch, which normally means spectators don’t get their usual ‘up close & personal view’ of the match as is the norm at Non League games – and leads to some top banter between fans & players !

I chose to sit in the main stand for the first 20 minutes or so, with a good elevated view of the pitch and it turns out the white seats we were sitting on had been obtained somehow from the famous Lords Cricket Ground ! To get my usual close-up action shots I moved pitch side by half-time and was pleased to discover that unlike other clubs who play in athletics stadiums, which are still used for running events where the track is protected from hundreds of pairs of football fans’ feet, here you can watch your footy within a couple of yards of the white line on three of the four sides. From my new viewpoints, I happily snapped away getting some good pictures in-play to go along with my main photoshoot of the ground & surroundings which accompanies a write up I do for a Facebook Group.

On my way home, I thought about all the other football grounds I’d been to with a similar scenario and realized that this must have been the first time in my life I had set foot on a proper athletics track in my life. At school, I was never particularly gifted sports-wise (not even at football!) and any running I had to take part in during PE would have been on the school field within the white lines painted on the grass each summer. However I believe I do hold one track record which may stand to this day – the first person ever to run the 100 metres in OVER one minute !!! And that is one of many reasons why I have spent a large part of my life sitting in radio stations playing music …

You can hear me introducing this week’s soulful selections by heading for the “Listen Again” section on this website and choosing from any of my shows broadcast over the last 28 days, where in addition to bringing you some terrific tunes from the 70s 80s & beyond, I occasionally share some fascinating tales of my life outside of the radio station …

The Tunes – Monday 10th April 2023

Diana Ross – Getting’ Ready For Love

Dianne Reeves – Sky Islands

Royalty Duo – This Is Of The Most High

Incognito – Don’t You Worry Bout A Thing

Detroit Spinners – Do I Do

Jean Carne – Early Morning Love

Commodores – Say Yeah

Luther Vandross – Wait For Love

Funkapolitan – As The Time Goes By

Sugarhill Gang – Rappers Delight (Alternative Re-edit)

Gloria Gaynor – I Will Survive (Groovefunkel New Disco Mix)

Barbara Mason & The Futures – Make It Last

Martha Reeves/Vandellas – Come & Get These Memories

Angela Johnson – Hurts Like Hell

Cameo – She’s Strange

Paul Hardcastle – Don’t Waste My Time

Rose Royce – Is It Love You’re After

Soulperfreesia – Saving All My Kisses

Groove Association/Deborah Bell – Pretty Brown Eyes

En Vogue – Give It Up Turn It Loose

Peabo Bryson – I’ve Been Down

Janet Jackson – Nasty

Gamble & Huff Orchestra – Is It Something I Said

Feel free to get in touch with your soulful request or just for a mention on the show – put a post on “The Old Gits Soul Show” page on Facebook, text (01268)833978 or message me via e-mail : [email protected].

The Old Gits Soul Show is broadcast LIVE from 7pm–9pm every Monday, repeated on Saturday evening from 5pm–7pm, on Gateway 97.8FM in Basildon & East Thurrock and available nationally via the Radio Player at Sky TV as well as online via www.gateway978.com You can listen on your smart speaker or your phone too … plus you can hear it again anytime you like via the “Listen Again” button on the Gateway website – just search “Cool Soul” !