With change in Southeast Asia inevitable, Nick Grounds examines which elements the region should inherit from its Western friends.

The West has set the blueprint for growth all over the globe and Southeast Asia has joined the list of regions to follow in the footsteps of the West since the great Empires of Britain and Spain in the 19th Century.


Western elements can be found almost anywhere the eye looks. From the impoverished yet beautiful 4000 Islands in Laos, to the hustle and bustle of the Khao San road in Bangkok, traces can be found from London, Paris and New York. The issue I raise is whether this is a good thing for SE Asia?

(Should it be making its own inroads in developing, or is this tagging along the best way forward? I argue that change is both inevitable and necessary, and therefore the nations of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand should take some aspects of the Western world - those that suit their people - but not all.)

For modern day Laos, read Cambodia ten or twenty years ago. Likewise, for Cambodia, see Vietnam in the Nineties. The latter, reeling from the devastation of the Vietnam War, has recovered a great deal and is continuing to develop. A great deal of its development has been as a result of the tourist industry. Tourism in Vietnam and in the aforementioned nations is, from an economic perspective, always a good thing; this is undeniable.

What does get overlooked, however, are the repercussions of tourism. The cultural identity of these places is either in danger of becoming merged with Western influences, or being wiped out all together. Picking up a menu in Da Lat, Southern Vietnam, shades of the Costa del Sol or Ibiza can be seen - rather than the authentic excellence of Vietnamese cuisine. The streets are awash with pizzerias or burger bars. Although you can find traditional dishes, there is an increasing wave of Western bars or restaurants and it will only continue to spread, like a virus, to suit the needs of the traveller, and the pockets of the locals.

This presents a dilemma for the traveller. Miles away from home, there are times when you long for a fry up or a roast dinner with all the trimmings. Indeed, months without pizza can take its toll. However, the entire reason of hopping on a plane to travel over 5000 miles is to sample new cultures and traditions, and this includes sampling new cuisines.

I found the best dishes were the authentic ones, not the Western pretenders. I am not saying that I turn my nose up at burger and chips, for I too am a sucker for a good fry-up as much as the next man. However, whilst out there, a plate of steamed or sticky rice accompanied with a steaming Thai Green Curry and I would be as happy as Larry. It’s either that or a badly attempted, over-priced pizza. I know where my preference would be. Stick to what you know guys!

Vang Vieng, located in Northern Laos, is the greatest example of a town catering for the traveller’s needs. The tourists' desires are met in every way possible, but you cannot help but feel they’re needs are being met in the way the locals believe they should be. Tourism has completely infiltrated local customs and has taken over the town. Restaurants offer DVDs of Friends or the Simpsons, with the occasional Family Guy thrown in for good measure and serve a plethora of western dishes.

This, combined with the main attraction of the area (tubing along the river, stopping off at regular bar pit-stops) made the four days feel rather hollow and empty in hindsight. If the plan was to spend time rubbing shoulders with paralytic-western youths, then a week in Magaluf would have been a far cheaper option. It will not be long before we see a Mc Donald’s sprout up, and all for what? For the good of the tourist? Not in my opinion. The only ‘good’ to come from this circus is the people of Laos are making good money and earning a decent living. Beyond this, there is no ‘good’ to come from this – only the defacing of a national identity and a discoloration of local customs and traditions.

The beauties of Mui Ne in South Vietnam and Laos’ Dondet Island far outweigh the superficial natures of Vang Vieng and Da Lat. Despite being light-years behind in development, their grace, naivety and innocence compelled me and other travellers, drawn in by their natural excellence. Dondet was and is a miracle, a paradise that will enchant me for ever. It was so different to anything I have ever experienced before or since.

Electricity is cut off across the island from 11pm and there is no reliance on TV or video games from their children. If only more were as kind, generous and welcoming as the locals of Dondet. The danger is the island feels compelled to cater for the aliens that encounter their way of life, and in doing so follow in the footsteps of Vang Vieng. In an ideal world, things would stay static and continue to amaze the purists who temporarily seek solace from sometimes material nature of the Western world. However, although the heart wants this, my head tells me in no longer than five years, it will follow the likes of Ko Phi Phi and Ko Samui, Thailand's commercial islands for tourists.

It could be seen as rather selfish of me to sample and experience such natural wonders, and not want it to develop for the good of the locals' pockets. However, a compromise must be found.

The happy medium lies in Southeast Asia taking the elements that suit them. Travellers, who come and go like the wind, must not dictate change for the good of a few days indulgence. With tourism inevitable, change and growth in paradise is also. It is how this is controlled that really matters. The fear is they see the dollar signs and build that extra bungalow that will inevitably trigger a first hostel on Dondet.

So, the development continues as I write; onwards and upwards, until paradise is lost. I sincerely hope a compromise is met, but who am I to play God? Who am I to dictate ‘progress? Only time, and money, will tell.

Why this years Premier League is the best yet

Good afternoon, and greetings from Vietnam. Despite this nation not being renowned for its football excellence, the natives have adopted the Premier League as their very own. In fact, the same could be said of several other countries in South-East Asia I have encountered in the past three weeks. They live, breathe and sleep football. No exaggeration. Walking along Nha Trang's main high street today I was regularly stopped and informed that Tim Cahill, whose name proudly adorns my back, is the best player in the world AND that Everton are the best team in England. Now although you would be hard pressed arguing for either cause, they did an excellent job attracting me into their respective bars and restaurants.

It is rather fitting therefore that, whilst I am out in a land where our stars are elevated to even greater heights, this year's campaign is arguably the most compelling yet since its conception in 1992. As we enter February, there is a staggering six points separating West Brom in 20th position to Manchester City, who have recently crept into tenth. Although not too likely, apologies to my West Brom friends, the Baggies are theoretically two games away from not only getting themselves out of the scrap they currently find themselves in, but challenging for Europe - well, at least the Intertoto anyway. Hull, despite tremendous victories in the autumn, most notably the six points they accumulated in back to back away wins against Arsenal and Tottenham, are nervously looking over their shoulders. What seemed like a fairytale season has turned into a drastic dip in fortunes. Despite manager Phil Brown playing down their chances during their purple patch, the Tigers find themselves in eleventh place; just five points off the drop-zone.

Then there are the in-betweeners. Portsmouth, Newcastle, their neighbors Sunderland, and Bolton all find themselves in precarious positions. In previous seasons, occupying sixteenth to twelve respectively would usually carry with it a warning, but also the knowledge that a run of points would apply sufficient breathing space. Not now. These sides, in particular Sundarland and Tottenham, should have nothing to worry about, but with only four points separating Blackburn in eighteenth to Bolton, the race for survival is hotting up.

Competition for Europe and honors is as compelling, if not more so, than ever. Despite the usual suspects being there or there abouts (I refrain from using the label they have acquired from Sky over the years) there are some young pretenders, literally. Ashley Young has arguably been the league's player of the season, and his form has elevated Aston Villa to the lofty heights of third in the table. A great deal of respect and acknowledgement must be bestowed on Martin O'Neill for this, and for only the second time in seven years, the last being Everton in 2005, a side is making a genuine case for Champions League Qualification. Amen to that. Everton, like Villa, have built a side of hungry, talented, young players who are tied down to long-term contracts. The continuity seen at Goodison since David Moyes' appointment in the spring of 2002 has given the Toffees a belief that they too can challenge the monopoly of the 'top four'. (Curse, Sky's marketing strategy has worn me down). In all seriousness, Moyes is doing a fabulous job and long may it continue.

Arsene Wenger's irrepressible desire to breed top, young talent is refreshing, but even his staunchest supporters would find it difficult not to argue they need both experience and guile in midfield and at the back. True, the world finds itself in a precarious financial position, and the credit crunch may or may not have effected the club's performance in both the summer and January transfer windows. It is costing the Gunners big time in terms of honors, and a club of their size and recent history deserves better, some may argue. It is now an incredible four years since Wenger guided his side to FA Cup glory - even that a fortuitous penalty shootout win over Manchester United. Despite Andre Arshavin's belated arrival, Wenger needs to invest in the aforementioned problematic areas come the summer, where they will be fortunate to find themselves in the qualifying phase of Europe's elite cup competition.

As I bask in Everton's epic performance on Wednesday night, defying all logic by overcoming their Mersey-Millionaire neighbors over two games of FA cup heart-in-the-mouth stuff, I also revel in this season's Premier League. So too do my friends over here. With at least three matches screened on a Saturday evening and into Sunday's early hours, I will have no problems in sitting back and watching the business end of the season unfold...to the sweet taste of Tiger beer. Oh, the hard life.

K.P Must Relinquish Pride to Save England

English cricket is in a state of mourning. Recent weeks could best be described as a farce and if England harbour any chance of regaining the ashes come the summer, it is a period both the players and coaching staff should look to put behind them. One man in particular will be looking to rebuild his reputation following this inexplicable public dispute. Kevin Pietersen has certainly seen better days and the only way he can begin his equinox is by knuckling down, keeping as low a profile as possible, and proving to his teammates he is capable of moving on by performances both in training and on the cricket field. At this stage in time, the jury is still out on K.P. the man; however, his calibre as a cricketer is without question. This is the route he should pursue for public salvation. The one thing stopping him? The same thing that hindered Hitler, Stalin and Mugabe. Pride.

There is an argument in sport that if you were to take away the one part of an individual’s personality that keeps it ticking, it would hinder them when they cross the white line. Countless times Sir Alex Ferguson has said of his tenacious forward Wayne Rooney that if he were to quell his appetite for the game, and channel his aggression away from the sport, it would lead to Rooney being half the player. Although Pietersen does not possess such an aggressive quality as Rooney, or Andrew Flintoff for that matter, he has this individualism and roaming spirit that needs to be unleashed. Who can forget his reverse sweep that went for six against Sri Lanka at Edgbaston in the second test in 2006? Pure genius (sigh). Such maverick skill, so unconventional and difficult to execute, is rarely seen and was rightly celebrated.

Is such a personality suitable for the role as England cricket captain, one might ask? I would be inclined to suggest it is not. But what makes a captain? Strength of character is an attribute I would bring to the table. KP certainly has this; the public dispute with Moores proves he is firm in his thinking. It is just rather ironic that he has given up the captaincy to stick with such beliefs. Excellence in the particular field one is leading, and there is no questioning Pietersen excels at the sport. Leadership, and until this fiasco I would say he showed glimmers in his short spell. Leading his team out to India despite the security concerns following the tragic terrorist scenes in Mumbai was no easy course of action, and this brings me onto my next attribute: bravery. Such an act proves he is willing to fight for his adopted county when needs must.

Loyalty is the final quality Pietersen offers when dissecting this individual’s worth in the England fold. His allegiance to England, born from his displeasure at the racial quota system in place in the South African national side, is unquestionable. In the 2004-05 tour of Zimbabwe, several players voiced their disapproval with Robert Mugabe’s regime. Steve Harmison withdrew for “sporting and political reasons”, whilst Freddie Flintoff, after voicing is concerns with the moral justifications behind the tour, was “rested”. Pietersen jumped at the chance to represent England and, in the face of adversity, hit an average of 104 in the five match ODI series, helping England to a 4-0 series whitewash. In his first encounters against South Africa, only called into the squad following injury to the aforementioned Flintoff, KP was subjected to boos and catcalls from hostile wherever he played. Labelled a traitor he said:

“I knew I was going to cop a lot of stick...I expected stick at the start of the innings, and I'm sure it will carry on through the whole series. But I just sat back and laughed at the opposition, with their swearing and 'traitor' remarks... some of them can hardly speak English. My affiliation is with England... In fact, I'm going to get one of (Darren) Gough's tattoos with three lions and my number underneath...No one can say I'm not English”

Enough said on allegiance.

Despite such a strong loyalty and commitment to the England cause, making him a prime candidate to replace Michael Vaughan last summer, there are elements of his character which made him a dubious decision for captaincy. Teamwork is a quality a captain must have in abundance and despite spectators not being afforded the luxury of the England dressing room, Pietersen’s character suggests he is at his best as an individual. He plays to the rhythm of his own tune and what this fiasco proves is that he cannot cope with the pressures of leading a group.

Professionalism is another element which has been open to question with Pietersen. Whilst rumours of a rift between the England captain and coach surfaced this winter, KP was sunning himself in southern Africa. Instead of sorting out the indifferences that were obviously apparent man to man, face to face with Moores, Pietersen seemingly looked to avoid the situation, leaving it to simmer until it reached an irreconcilable boiling point.

Kevin Pietersen is a world class cricketer, both in test cricket and in the shorter forms of the game. His indifferences with Peter Moores exploded onto the public radar recently and the repercussions are still being felt. Andrew Strauss will lead England forward, and one hopes such a kerfuffle will not hinder the team too much as the Ashes approach. If England are to get the best out of its star, it will be as a squad player, rather than as captain. For Pietersen, this may well end up being the best thing to have happened to him, as the shackles of captaincy have been lifted. Expect fireworks the next time he pulls on the three lions jersey, for he more than anyone will be looking to set the record straight. England and cricket fans the world over will be hoping for more magic over the coming years from this nonconformist. However, he must put aside his differences with the ECB and look to the future if this is to be the case.

How the True Spark of the FA Cup Remains

14th April, 1999 – perhaps not a date that immediately triggers a response. If I were to say it was the date a flying Welshman picked up on a misplaced pass from one of France’s greatest centre midfield players of the modern day, it will certainly reawaken the memory. Ryan Giggs’ trickery, balance, composure and his venomous left footed drive that bedazzled the watching millions, let alone the majority of the Arsenal team, helped United on the way to an unprecedented treble. The greatest FA Cup goal of all time? That is open to some debate. What is without question is that ever since this moment of wizardry, the cup seems to have lost its edge...until now.

Returning to Wembley has certainly helped fuel a renewed interest and excitement in the Cup. English football’s showpiece event, despite being in safe hands in Cardiff’s impressive Millennium Stadium, was beginning to stagnate. I am not saying the alternative venue was the sole reason for the cup’s diminishing profile on the world stage, far from it. One must extend their deepest thanks to those at the upper echelons of the Welsh FA for allowing their neighbours the breathing space to dig their way out of the farce that was the new Wembley’s belated development. However, despite the 74500 capacity proving more than an adequate platform for an event of such magnitude, it just was not the same. No climbing of the stairs to lift the cup, no twin towers, and confusion up and down the land with how to slip in ‘Cardiff’ or ‘Millennium’ into those Wembley chants. The move to Cardiff, despite a decent contemporary venue, was merely a contributor to a slumber that had its wheels in motion for some time.

After guiding his side to a since unrivalled treble in 1999, Sir Alex Ferguson withdrew Manchester United from the FA Cup to concentrate on the World Club Championships in Brazil. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it was a ridiculous notion at the time, and with the valuable hindsight, an even more ridiculous decision. From Brazil, the obstinate Ferguson commented:

“It's been fantastic here - what a chance for us to come out and get some sun," he told the BBC. "Back home we would have been freezing our toes off. Playing in the Maracana stadium - that's an experience that probably 90% of the top players in the world don't get.”

Whilst I agree with the last sentiment, the above excuse for why he swapped arguably the biggest club cup competition in the world for an up and coming world club championship – that has since been rescheduled to a diluted version in order for no future clashes – does not cut it with me. A chance to get some sun? Give me a frozen pitch and Bovril any day ahead of a retreat to the Maracana in the pursuit of the FA Cup. The fact that Ferguson thought otherwise proved the magic of the cup was beginning to elude some. He was not alone.

When Reading took their side to Old Trafford in the fifth round of the cup in the February of 2007, few could argue with Steve Coppell’s decision to field an under strength team. They were newly promoted to the Premier League, and their priorities lay with cementing their status as a top flight side. However, would this have happened before the financial rewards of staying in the top tier arose? I would be inclined to suggest not. As it was, Coppell’s side managed to pull off a 1-1 draw to force a replay, so our argument does suffer a slight setback. However, once more, what this does prove is that managers were not showing the FA Cup the respect it deserves. The once cherished road to Wembley was seemingly set to lose its panache, and stagnate to an extent where managers were not fielding their strongest eleven. That sparkle that once existed was beginning to dim. Cue the renaissance.

This weekend saw several David versus Goliath encounters, and not one proved to be as conclusive and as straightforward as form and class would suggest. Everton, riding on a crest of a wave that has seen them re-establish themselves as a top six Premier League outfit in recent weeks, travelled to lowly Macclesfield, currently mid table in league 2 and sixty-eight places lower. Despite a moment of brilliance from Leon Osman that sent Everton through to a mouth-watering fourth round tie with local rivals Liverpool, further adding gloss to this year’s competition, Macclesfield produced a display that deceived their lower league status, and could well have earned them a replay.

On Monday, non-league Blyth Spartans took on Blackburn Rovers, winners of the competition six times. This should have been a whitewash. Instead, the minnows produced a dogged display that belayed their semi-professional status, and gave the millionaires a run for their money. If only Andrew Wright had converted five minutes from time to earn Blyth a replay, and hopes of a similar cup run they experienced in 1978, where the club made it to the fifth round.

Elsewhere, more pertinent shocks took place. Southend secured a lucrative replay at home to Chelsea by looting an injury time equaliser at the Bridge. Forest Green, currently in the relegation zone of the Blue Square Premier League, gave Championship side Derby a scare in a 7 goal thriller, before finally succumbing 3-4. Middlesbrough could only beat Barrow at home 2-1, Forest trounced Manchester City 3-0, and Jeff Stelling’s Hartlepool humbled Premier League boys Stoke 2-0.

Who said the magic of the cup had disappeared? This weekend’s fixtures proved that on the day, anything can happen, and despite the gulfs in supposed class and lifestyles, football is a game played by eleven against eleven, on grass and not paper. Unfortunately a spark has left this year’s competition, with Mark ‘Sparky’ Hughes’s side completely humiliated at home by Nottingham Forest. However, the true spark of the FA Cup remains and I for one look forward to witnessing the march to the twin towers, urm sorry, the arch.

Why The Beckham Circus Must Go On

This weekend, David Beckham was unveiled as an AC Milan player during the Rossoneri's 5-1 home victory over Udinese. While it is yet another example of Brand Beckham embarking on a new project, as the boy from Leytonstone further cements his status as a global icon, the move is essential for Beckham the player. The star will be looking to regain his match-fitness and prove to Fabio Capello he is worthy of a place in the next England squad for the qualifier against Ukraine. If selected, he will pick up his 108th cap and in doing so equal Bobby Moore's outfield record.

Much has been said and written regarding Beckham's unerring quest to continue to represent his country. There are some claiming his desire to clock up as many caps as possible is to reach yet another milestone, to add a further achievement and celebrity, and that his selection by Capello in recent qualifiers has been purely for sentimental reasons. But why should he give up his dream of representing his country? His services to our nation, both on and off the field, not to mention his truly amicable charity work, places Beckham in a category that few can be associated with. He is a great and as long as he is fit and playing well in Milan, surely he deserves to oust Moore whilst there is the opportunity to do so.

But is this the right thing to do? It may be for humanitarian reasons, but is it the best thing for England? There is no doubting that very few can strike the ball as good as Beckham, and certainly there are few better who can deliver a cross with as much menace and accuracy. However, Capello's decision to play him eight times, and more recently as a cameo substitute, could be called in for scrutiny. There are plenty of talented young right-sided players waiting in the wings (no pun intended). Theo Walcott, David Bentley, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Aaron Lennon, James Milner and Ashley Young will all be looking to replace the monopoly Beckham occupies on the right flank long-term.

It will certainly be interesting to see whether a fully fit Beckham is chosen in April ahead of these talented Premier League players. Certainly Walcott has done enough recently to deserve his selection. However, with the young Arsenal man suffering with a dislocation of the shoulder, it looks as though it will be a fight between Beckham and the remaining candidates for the number 7 shirt. Bentley is only just beginning to find form at Whit Hart Lane since his big money move from Blackburn, as is Lennon; and the two certainly look like they are much more comfortable under Harry Redknapp than Juande Ramos. Wright-Phillips has always flattered to deceive in an England shirt, Milner must cement himself in the Villa line-up first and Young, whilst impressing recently for the Villans, is still a work in progress. Come April, if Beckham's move to Milan is proving to be a success, I know who my money will be on to fill in on that right hand side.

Although Beckham has had his fair share of criticism during his career, he has always managed to rise above it. Rebbecca whose? France 98 saw him become one of England's most despised individuals. He responded by helping United win an unprecedented treble the following season, and the next year saw him appointed England captain by the stand-in manager Peter Taylor for a friendly in Italy. He has since shone in Madrid, and despite the America adventure not entirely going to plan, he has certainly boosted the profile of 'soccer' across the pond and will continue to do so whilst out there.

David Beckham is all set for his next challenge, and while his people will be looking to ensure the Italian job runs smoothly, the pretenders will be waiting in the wings. Perhaps Trademark Theo, Product Shaun, Label Lennon or even Variety Young may be the next marketing schemes to tackle to global market. But for now, the Beckham circus must go on. Golden Balls for 108? For now, it is a nobrainer and, more crucially for Brand Beckham, a certainty.

Bit late, but here's my team of Euro '08

I appreciate this may be a tad late in the day/month/year, but I had time on me hands, got all nostalgic, and thought hows about giving this a go. There were some truly Stella performances this summer and, as an England supporter, may I just add how refreshing it was to sit back and enjoy the cream of the Europe's top talent compete against one another at the highest level. Well, World Cup aside.

Here are my eleven, no doubt many of you will have your own say, and feel free to post your own thoughts in the comments section.


Iker Casillas
The Real Madrid stopper had an excellent tournament, keeping three consecutive clean sheets in the knock out stages to lead his side to their fist trophy in 44 years. A standout performance in Spain's penalty shootout victory over Italy in the quarter-final stages.

Sergio Ramos
The young full back had an outstanding tournament, bombing up and down the right flank offering both offensive and defensive excellence. After finally seeing off his predecessor Míchel Salgado, the Real Madrid man is sure to be a firm fixture in the national setup for many years to come.

Carlos Marchena
Yet another Spaniard. The Valencia Captain grew in stature as the tournament developed. Renowned for his man-marking ability, this hard-nut was not to be crossed and was integral to their solid defensive displays.

Pepe
The Euros elevated this Portugezer to new heights with his impressive displays at the heart of Luiz Felipe Scolari's back line. Solid in defence, the Real Madrid player also proved a nuisance in opposition's penalty areas, getting on the score sheet in his side's opening victory against Turkey.

Philipp Lahm
Not blessed with Crouchy-esque height, this nipper from Bayern Munich proved why Sir Alex has been casting a watchful eye over him lately. Assured on the ball, he hit the crucial injury-time winner versus Turkey at the semi-final stage. One for the future as well as today.

Andre Arshavin
Received interest from Europe's elite clubs following his outstanding attacking midfield displays. The Zenit St. Petersburg magician turned matches and heads and is largely responsible for Edwin Van der Saar's premature retirement from international football with his man of the match display in their 3-1 extra time victory over Holland.

Cesc Fabregas
Despite starting the vast majority of the games on the bench, the Arsenal prodigy appeared from the touchline to produce some mesmerising displays. Comfortable in possession of the ball, the Spanish starlet was a key component in their eventual triumph. Hit the winning penalty in the shoot-out against the Italians.

Marcos Senna
Unquestionably the unsung hero of Luis Aragonés side. This midfield general marshalled his side to glory, providing an excellent shield to an already impressive defence. The Villarreal man was crucial in dead ball situations, able to deliver the ammunition to Torres and Villa.

Wesley Sneijder
When Holland topped Group C comprising of France, Italy and Romania, much of what the Oranges did well came through the Ajax graduate. Now at Real Madrid, Sneijder demonstrated why he is regarded as one of Europe's finest playmakers, scoring key goals in their victories against Italy and France.

David Villa
Took the tournament by storm in Spain's opening fixture, putting Russia to the sword with an impressive hat-trick in their 4-1 triumph. Despite only adding one more to his tally for the competition, he terrorised opposition defences and was the perfect foil for the equally dangerous Torres, who just misses out on my eleven.

Roman Pavlyuchenko
Now finding his feet at White Hart Lane, the Russian forward hit an impressive three goals as the Russians continued to defy the odds in their route to the semi-final. With eloquent grace on the ball for one so tall, he was able to bring team-mates into the game as well as score important goals. As the Harry Redknapp revolution gathers pace, Premiership defences beware.

The Constant Gardner

This Sunday, something beautiful happened. Lewis Hamilton became the youngest ever Formula One World Champion and, in doing so, gave the British public something to cheer about; the same which could not be said about our current crop of rugby league players carrying the flag down under. However, beauty is to the beholder, and I observed something that, although not obviously beautiful, brought a smile to my face, restored my faith in sport, and I believe eclipses Hamilton's achievement. This was the beauty that radiated from the the Reebok Stadium as Bolton ground out a 2-0 victory over Manchester City and, in particular, from one man: Ricardo Gardner.

At half time, the score stood at 0-0 in this mundane North-West derby, with the only real endeavour coming from those dishing out the pies and bovril to help keep those poor souls who turned up to this 'contest' satisfied. However, the second half proved to be a much greater spectacle, largely due to the introduction of the aforementioned Jamaican. Both of the host's goals can largely be accredited to the wide man, with him netting the first and providing the assist to Richard Dunne's own goal for the second. He sparked the contest into life and proved one thing to the millions no doubt watching the game from around the world: that you don't need the millions of a tycoon to win Premier League football matches.

Who better than to prove this point to than against Manchester City, the latest club to be bought by billionaire owners? In the 1998/99 season, Gardner was bought for a respectable £1,000,000 from the Jamaican outfit, Harbour View FC. Since then, he has gone on to clock up 292 appearances and 16 goals. Now, although his goals tally could be bettered, his service to Bolton spanning over ten years is refreshing in an age where money dictates so much, and players move to the tune of the big spenders.

He is approaching 300 appearances for a club who, at best, are seen as a stable Premier League outfit, but, more often than not, have flirted with the lower reaches of the division. Indeed, Bolton have plied their trade in what is currently known as The Championship for three of the years Gardner has stuck around. Quite conceivably, he may have asked for a transfer in this period, in the hope to better his career. However, far from in keeping with what a large number of Premier League footballers have done in recent years, Gardner has demonstrated a loyalty and a professionalism that more than merits the testimonial he will receive in the near future.

Gardner is not alone in his campaign demonstrating true allegiance to his football club. This summer, Joseba Etxeberria of Athletic Bilbao signed a contract effectively meaning he will play out his final season in professional football for free. Contracted to the Basque club since his transfer from Real Sociadad in 1994 at the age of 17, the midfield ace hopes to reach the landmark of 500 appearances for the club who only has players born in the Basque region on their books. Modestly, he remarked on signing, "I wanted to do this gesture but never did I want to set a precedent."

Both Gardner and Etxeberria are of course not alone. There are countless others who have demonstrated a dignity and an integrity whilst at a football club that have lasted less than ten years, or even beyond. Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville and Paul Scholes from Manchester United alone all fall into this category. However, they have received countless plaudits over the years which has seen United win 10 Premier Leagues, 4 FA Cups and 2 Champions League trophies. At risk of sounding like a broken record, I though I would leave these legends alone for now, and focus on a dread-locked Jamaican from Bolton. Much of his eleven seasons have been spent in the shadows, and very rarely has Gardner received the plaudits his play and loyalty deserves. Until now. Bravo Ricardo Gardner, the unsung hero of the Reebok.