Whether we have plenty, or we are in want, it shouldn’t affect our peace of mind. There’s more in the … More
Author: Stewart Bloor
A Draw Often Feels Like A Defeat For The New Saints – Post-Match Interview With Chris Marriott
Having become accustomed to success over the years, even a draw can be a great disappointment for The New Saints. … More
Back To Action In Welsh Football, Followed By A Post-Match Interview With Scott Ruscoe
After the 0-0 draw with Bala Town at Park Hall, I went on the pitch with TNS FC manager, Scott … More
Behind The Scenes, As The JD Cymru Premier Gets Back On Track
With the last competitive game played on December 19 last year, it’s been a long break for The New Saints … More
Thought For The Day – March 7 – Talk With Your Grandparents
If your grandparents are still alive, there’s a specific reason why you’ll regret in later life that you didn’t ask … More
Thought For The Day – March 6 – In Adverse Circumstances, Always Look For The Big Picture
When we enter our promised land, it’s often through difficult times. We need to step back and understand there’s a … More
First Garden Nature Blog Of March
You can follow my latest garden nature blog via the video below. There are some nice photographs in there, courtesy … More
Chatting With Greg Draper And Simon Spender, As We Looked Back To 2016, When The New Saints Set A New World Record
After training yesterday, at Park Hall, I sat down with two players who were part of the record-breaking run in … More
An Early Start On The Staffs/Worcs Canal This Morning
As you can see from the video, I was up very early indeed this morning. The days are getting longer … More
Thought For The Day – March 5 – The Importance Of Discernment
In both negative and positive situations, on a personal level you can never underestimate the value of discernment. There’s more … More
Nice To Catch A Few Fish, It’s Been Tough Lately
It’s been a hard road to walk in the last few days, as far as angling is concerned. However, this … More
First Press Conference Since Mid-December, As We Look Ahead To Welsh Football Getting Back On Track
It was nice to do a press conference this morning with The New Saints’ manager, Scott Ruscoe, ahead of the … More
Thought For The Day – March 4 – The Value Of Personal Commitment
You can never underestimate the importance of commitment on a personal level. There’s more in the video below (55 seconds) … More
As Manchester City Make It Twenty-One Straight Wins, Memories Of When The New Saints Broke The World Record, Then Held By AFC Ajax
Manchester City’s 4-1 victory against Wolverhampton Wanderers yesterday evening, in the English Premier League, means that they have now won … More
A Catch -Up Interview With Chris Seargeant, As We Chat The New Saints Academy, First-Year Professionals And His Own Journey From Player To Coach
Prior to the behind-closed-doors friendly against Bangor City, yesterday, I sat down with Chris Seargeant in the technical area at … More
In A Corridor At Park Hall, Interviewing Scott Ruscoe After The Game Against Bangor City
We’re usually on the pitch but this time round circumstances dictated that we did our post-match interview elsewhere. Ultimately, in … More
The New Saints Hosts Bangor City In The Final Friendly Before The JD Cymru Premier Restarts
It’s back to competitive football this coming Saturday for The New Saints. In the final friendly before the big day, … More
Thought For The Day – March 3 – Life Isn’t A Dress Rehearsal
The life that we have isn’t a dry run, it’s the real thing. There’s more in the video below (1 … More
Thought For The Day – March 2 – The Importance Of Being Sharp
Sharp people will have a positive effect on others. Be with those types and also, more importantly, strive to become … More
A Slow Angling Session? Stationary, More Like – Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus
It was another very cold start to the day, as March kicked-off with an overnight frost. You can follow the … More
Thought For The Day – March 1 – Be Comfortable With Who You Are
It’s all about identity and feeling comfortable within yourself. Dydd gŵyl Dewi hapus, by the way. There’s more in the … More
On The Last Day Of February, A Late Canal Angling Session
It’s not dark now till after 6.00 p.m. which means it’s much easier to fit in angling sessions. The days … More
First Nest In The Garden, Another Bird Tick, Wildflowers And A Visiting Finch
The criteria for the garden bird ticks is that they don’t have to be in the garden itself but I … More
Two Months In, How’s The Diet Going?
As far as months are concerned, we are now one-sixth of the way into the year. My intention in 2021 … More
Thought For The Day – February 29 – It’s Just A Date On A Calendar
Once every four years, we gain an extra day on the calendar. There’s more in the video below (53 seconds) … More
Thought For The Day – February 28 – Don’t Judge A Book By Its Cover
It’s important to not form opinions from what we see on the outside. Instead, it’s what’s on the inside that … More
Following The Game Against Stoke City U-23s, Interviews With Ben Clark And Scott Ruscoe
It was a good win for The New Saints against the English Championship side, winning 3-1 come the final whistle. … More
At Stoke City’s Clayton Wood Training Ground, For A Behind-Closed-Doors Friendly
It was a visit to English Championship side, Stoke City, for me today, as The New Saints played their penultimate … More
Thought For The Day – February 27 – In The Age Of Technology, Stay Switched On
Modern technology has great benefits. It also means, though, that we have to stay switched-on more than ever. There’s more … More
Items From A Wales International, The Latest Additions To My Football Memorabilia Collection
With no competitive football in Wales since December 19 last year, I haven’t added anything to my football memorabilia collection … More
When Angling You’re Always At The Mercy Of The Elements And Drinking A Maggot
It was a cold start to the day this morning, and a reminder that although the weather has been great … More
Thought For The Day – February 26 – You Can’t Always Rely On Your Own Conscience
When you determine in your own mind what’s right or wrong, the problem is that your conscience can become seared. … More
A Very Pleasant And Very Enjoyable Afternoon Canal Session
It was a very spring-like day today, and after I did everything that I needed to do, I headed to … More
From The Sky Blues And The Clarets To The Saints
The latest signing at The New Saints FC is Jake Canavan. Previously with Manchester City and Burnley, he has signed … More
Thought For The Day – February 25 – Deal With Things, Don’t Just Cover Them Up
If there’s something in our character that needs dealing with, do exactly that. There’s more in the video below (1 … More
Three Species Of Fish On An Afternoon Canal Session
After a number of consecutive first-light angling sessions, today was dictated by the fact that I got home late yesterday … More
Post-Match Interview With Adrian Cieslewicz, As The New Saints Beat Airbus UK Broughton
Finding themselves 3-0 up after twenty-one minutes, courtesy of a Greg Draper hat-trick, a late brace from Adrian Cieslewicz sealed … More
Following The Game Against Airbus UK Broughton, An Interview With Scott Ruscoe
Although the choice of player changes, depending on what happened during the game, the manager interview is constant, as we … More
High-Flying TNS Beat Airbus 5-0
In another friendly against Welsh opposition, this time the visitors to Park Hall were Airbus UK Broughton. The video below … More
Thought For The Day – February 24 – Sowing Random Acts Of Kindness
There’s a road near where I live, that at times, is difficult to join. Some drivers let you in, some … More
Another Day And Another Early Morning Canal Session
I’m into a certain routine at the moment, waking early and getting a short early morning angling session in on … More
Thought For The Day – February 23 – Invest Well And We’ll Reap What We Sow
They may go back to the seventies, but my Bang & Olufsen record player and Sony headset are both excellent, … More
Starting The Working Week After Perch
It was another first-light canal session this morning, after my favourite species, to kick-off the working week. As I’m on … More
Thought For The Day – February 22 – You Can’t Beat The Great Outdoors
Being out and about is most definitely good for you. There’s more in the video below (55 seconds) with other … More
Second Warbler Species Of The Year In The Garden
I’ve already seen goldfinch from the garden this year – in neighbouring trees – but it was still great to … More
Another Fine Line, But Once Again, On The Right Side
Now that the conditions are improving, I’ve been able to focus on perch, which are invariably my target species when … More
Thought For The Day – February 21 – It Doesn’t Matter What’s On The Front, It’s Where It Takes You That’s Important
It’s that time again, once every ten years, when I renew my passport. There’s more in the video below (1 … More
A Slow Session But It’s Good To Be On The Right Side Of The Line
I woke naturally again this morning, with no need of an alarm clock. It was 5.09 a.m. though, so I … More
Thought For The Day – February 20 – The Importance Of Balance In Life
It goes without saying that balance is importance and that, while we stay passionate, we avoid obsession. There’s more in … More
An Early Morning Canal Perch Fishing Session
I didn’t need the alarm this morning, just the fact that I was going fishing was enough for my body … More
Thought For The Day – February 19 – Being Popular
Most people want to be liked, it’s better than being hated by everyone, and that’s a fact. There’s more in … More
An Afternoon Fishing On The Canal
I’m blessed in that I have access to miles of rural canal stretches within minutes of where I live. The … More
Chatting With Lewis Rees, On His Season So Far
Having signed a first-year professional contract this season, it’s been good to follow Lewis Rees’ career in the last couple … More
Following The Game Against Cardiff Metropolitan University FC, An Interview With Scott Ruscoe
Once he had completed his duties in the dressing room, Scott made his way out for our usual post-match interview. … More
With A Game In The Background, Catching Up With Birthday Boy, Adam Roscrow
Signing for The New Saints in the January transfer window, with TNS welcoming Cardiff Metropolitan University FC in a behind-closed-doors … More
Behind The Scenes, With Cymru Premier Opposition This Time
Following friendlies against Liverpool, Burnley and Chester, this time round it was closer to home, as The New Saints welcomed … More
Thought For The Day – February 18 – Social Media, Good Or Bad?
Is social media good or bad? Is being on the internet positive or negative? There’s more in the video below … More
An Early Morning Canal Perch Session To A Moored Boat
It’s good to continue catching perch, and after yesterday’s session, I was back again in the same spot. You can … More
Thought For The Day – February 17 – Making Memories
Memories are precious. Even when you look back at old, grainy photographs, it’s not about the quality of the image … More
An Afternoon On The Staffs/Worcs Canal – I Got There!
Yesterday, I was getting there. Today, I got there. After several blanks, I finally caught a fish! Not just turning … More
Thought For The Day – February 16 – Like Nature, Always Be Ready To Bounce Back With Passion And Enthusiasm
Today’s thought for the day is inspired by a magpie. There’s more in the video below (1 minute 42 seconds) … More
An Afternoon On The River Stour – I’m Getting There!
It’s been a lovely day today and I finished it off, well certainly as far as the hours of daylight … More
Thought For The Day – February 15 – The Difference Between A House And A Home
As we say farewell to our old home, a few thoughts on the difference between a house and a home. … More
Valentine’s Day Fishing, I Certainly Loved It
You can follow today’s short session via the video below, and don’t forget, you can comment on blog entries via … More
Thought For The Day – February 14 – Real Love Is More Than Just A Warm Emotion
On St. Valentine’s Day, a few thoughts on love. There’s more in the video below (1 minute 16 seconds) with … More
A Walk Along The Local Lane – Blessed To Have Some Nice Countryside On Our Doorstep
The conditions remain very cold, and with sub-zero temperatures still ruling the roost, the walk my wife and I took … More
Two New Bird Ticks On The Garden List
I saw common buzzard on a few occasions prior to the New Year. We live near the bottom of a … More
Thought For The Day – February 13 – Personal Social Media Disclaimers Are Worthless
The bottom line is that, if you write it, you’re responsible for it. There’s more in the video below (1 … More
Thought For The Day – February 12 – It’s Good When Possessions Invoke Positive Memories
We all have possessions and it’s good when the things that we’ve gathered around us bring back positive memories. There’s … More
Thought For The Day – February 11 – Understanding Forgiveness
Many think that forgiveness is a sign of weakness, when in fact it’s the opposite. There’s more in the video … More
Brook Fishing In February, A Few Thoughts On Otters
For just the second time this month, I ventured out on the bank. It was a struggle, certainly from a … More
Thought For The Day – February 10 – Hanging Around With The Right People
There’s a life-lesson from a budgerigar in today’s thought. There’s more in the video below (1 minute 7 seconds) with … More
Thought For The Day – February 9 – We Make Our Plans But It Doesn’t Mean We Will See Them Come To Pass
Some thoughts from the sad passing of the Supremes’ Mary Wilson. There’s more in the video below (1 minute 36 … More
Online Seminar With Young Footballers On The Importance Of A Positive Social Media Presence
Although there are no physical meetings between the TNS FC Academy coaches and players at present, nevertheless they have been … More
Thought For The Day – February 8 – Push Yourself But Recognise There Are Times When You Can’t
It’s important to push yourself when you don’t feel too good, but also to recognise there are times when you … More
Thought For The Day – February 7 – Holding A Grudge
We often talk about holding a grudge but in effect it’s the grudge that holds us. There’s more in the … More
Thought For The Day – February 6 – Life’s Seasons Merge From One To The Other
Like the natural world around us, in our own life we don’t find that there’s a convenient switch-over from one … More
After A Week With No Fishing, It Was Good To Get Back On The Bank – In The Words Of Chuck Wood, Seven Days Too Long
I have a Spotify soul music compilation list that I regularly listen to when I’m on the road. One of … More
Thought For The Day – February 5 – You Wouldn’t Believe The Idiot I Came Across On The Road Today
There’s no closing statement to today’s message. You have to draw your own conclusion. There’s more in the video below … More
Thought For The Day – February 4 – Road Rage?
We all know the term ‘road rage’, I’m sure. It’s become a part of modern life. There’s more in the … More
In A Corridor At Park Hall, Interviewing Scott Ruscoe, As The New Saints Beat Chester FC – Plus A Potential High Profile Friendly On The Horizon
Following the 4-2 victory against the National League North side, I chatted with manager, Scott Ruscoe. We set up in … More
Behind The Scenes, As The New Saints Host Chester FC
With away games against Liverpool and Burnley so far this year, this time round it was back at Park Hall, … More
Thought For The Day – February 3 – The Grass May Be Greener On The Other Side But When You Get There It’s Just As Hard To Cut
Using my own job in football as an example, fulfilment isn’t found in what we do but who we are. … More
Thought For The Day – February 2 – When You’re On The Right Track, Keep Going And Never Give Up
Using Thomas Edison and the light bulb as an example, when you know you’re on the right track, keep going … More
Thought For The Day – February 1 – To Achieve Something In Life You Need To Have A Plan
As we begin the second month of a new year, how many resolutions made on December 31 last year are … More
Thought For The Day – January 31 – The Difference Between A Passion And An Obsession
On a personal level, it’s important that we identify the difference, and especially so if we are on the wrong … More
Two New Bird Ticks And My First Garden Mammal
I saw my first mammal in the garden over the last few days. The grey squirrel made its way along … More
Last Angling Session Of January 2021
I was up bright and early this morning for my final session of the month. In addition, via the video … More
Thought For The Day – January 30 – The Importance Of Balance When It Comes To Thinking
You might not think at all or you can overthink. That’s why balance is very important. There’s more in the … More
With Back-To-Back Penalty Saves Against English Premier League Opposition, A Post-Match Interview With Connor Roberts
He saved a penalty at Liverpool two weeks ago, this time TNS FC goalkeeper, Connor Roberts, did the same against … More
Post-Match Interview With Scott Ruscoe, Following The Game Against Burnley U-23s
Once the final whistle had gone in the match between Burnley and The New Saints, I chatted with the latter’s … More
At Burnley FC’s Training Centre, For A Behind-Closed-Doors Friendly
Due to the UK-wide lockdown, football has been at a bare minimum so far in 2021. The visit to Barnfield … More
Team Bus Tourism Through Cheshire And Lancashire
Football-related travel has been limited in the last month or so, due to lockdowns across the UK. It was good … More
Thought For The Day – January 29 – Don’t Give People An Opportunity To Catch You Out
Be aware that there will be those who will be watching – and waiting – for an opportunity to catch … More
Thought For The Day – January 28 – Every Decision Has A Consequence
We make many choices every day in our lives, without even thinking about it. Some aren’t really that important but … More
Rhyl, September 6, 2025 – Watch This Space…
The date’s in my diary. Oh, and by the way, Wolves ended 0-0. A decent result. All is revealed in … More
Thought For The Day – January 27 – Using Leaving Your Job As An Example, Making The Right Decision
The example of wanting to leave your job is one that many can identify with. It’s all about making the … More
Thought For The Day – January 26 – The Value Of Hobbies In Character Building
One of the big benefits of having a hobby is that it will build your character. There’s more in the … More
Fishing In The Snow On The River Stour
Although I’m always confident, I’m also realistic, and I knew today’s session was going to be tough. That was most … More
Thought For The Day – January 25 – How To Avoid Opposition In Life
Is it possible to avoid personal opposition? More importantly, what to do when it happens. There’s more in the video … More
A Walk Around The Local Streets In The Snow
The car stayed put today, due to the heavy snowfall locally. I went for a walk though, around the local … More
Garden Birding In The Snow, With A Guest Appearance From My Wife…
With heavy snowfall across the area, travel has not been on the agenda today. Still, I took advantage of the … More
Two Species Of Fish This Time From The River Stour
With the England lockdown continuing, although fishing is allowed, it has to be local and that’s why the River Stour … More
Thought For The Day – January 24 – Thoughts From The Deathbed
Although there’s reference to the deathbed, it’s not meant to be morbid, rather reflective and motivational. There’s more in the … More
In Conversation With Louis Bradford, As He Extends His Loan Deal At Aberystwyth Town
Football-related interviews have been thin on the ground recently, as Welsh football has been non-existent since before Christmas. However, with … More
Thought For The Day – January 23 – Even In The Depths Of Winter, There Are Signs Of Spring If You Look Closely
Like the natural world, we also have seasons of winter, when the going is hard. No matter how tough things … More
Even On The Coldest Of Days, As Long As Your Bait’s In The Water, You’ve Got A Chance
The heading says it all, really. Regardless of the conditions, you’ll never have a chance of catching unless you go … More
Thought For The Day – January 22 – There’s Always Light, Even At The End Of The Darkest Tunnel
Today’s devotion is another one based on the natural world. ‘The night is about over, dawn is about to break’ … More
Fishing In Storm Christoph And I Didn’t Even Know
I didn’t even know we had another named storm passing through until I got home and checked the news. Not … More
Thought For The Day – January 21 – Never Give Up, Keep Battling, A Life Lesson From A Common Buzzard
Today’s thought comes from the natural world and in particular, a common buzzard. There’s more in the video below (56 … More
A Fishing Memory From Almost Half A Century Ago
While out fishing, I was reminded of an angling memory from many years ago. So, while waiting for my first … More
Thought For The Day – January 20 – Deal With It And Move On
How do we respond when hurt or bad things in general happen in our life? There’s more in the video … More
Two New Bird Species On The 2021 Garden List
Compared to the start of the year, we’re in a much milder spell at the moment. It’s affected the birds … More
Thought For The Day – January 19 – What Happens When You Point The Finger At Others
Avoid being a finger-pointer, as every time we do that, there are three pointing back at us. There’s more in … More
Happy To Be Alive And Catching Small Roach
I stayed local, as once again I fished the River Stour. Although we’re limited, due to lockdown, nevertheless we can … More
Thought For The Day – January 18 – Learning From Our Mistakes
It’s not so much if we make mistakes in life, but rather, do we learn from them. There’s more in … More
Thought For The Day – January 17 – Don’t Be Affected By That Which Is Beyond Your Control
If you’re a football fan, no doubt you’ll relate to the message below. It’s not just the beautiful hand though, … More
Following The Black Country Derby, Fishing On The River Stour
Following the big Black Country game, which was live on TV, I headed for the local River Stour for an … More
Thought For The Day – January 16 – As Long As Your Bait’s In The Water
As long as your bait’s in the water, you always have a chance. It’s not just a principle for fishing … More
Thought For The Day – January 15 – Having Possessions
There’s nothing wrong with having possessions, it’s when they have is that the problems begin. There’s more in the video … More
Time-Lapse Long-Tailed Tit Footage From The Garden Feeding Station
The long-tailed tits are regular visitors to our garden now, making several appearances each day. It’s hard to count the … More
A Short Canal Angling Session Late Afternoon
It was nice to get back on the bank this afternoon for a short session up to dark. I do … More
Thought For The Day – January 14 – Release Worry From Your Life, It’s Negative Energy
Worry adds nothing at all to our lives, in fact it takes away. It’s very destructive. There’s more in the … More
Following The Game At Liverpool FC’s AXA Training Centre, Interviews With Paul Harrison, Kwame Boateng And Scott Ruscoe
Once the players made their way out of the dressing room following the TNS FC game against Liverpool U-23s, we … More
First Game Of 2021, At Liverpool FC’s Training Centre
With no football so far this year in Wales, the visit to the AXA Training Centre, in Kirkby, was my … More
Thought For The Day – January 13 – Fear Is An Incredibly Destructive Emotion
Negative emotions will wreak havoc and none more so than fear. There’s more in the video below (32 seconds), with … More
In Conversation With Mike Harris, The Chairman Of The New Saints FC
It’s been a while since we did one of our Thoughts Of Chairman Mike interviews. The latest one comes from … More
Thought For The Day – January 12 – Not All Habits Are Bad Ones
Not all habits are bad and the creation of good ones in our lives is a massive positive. There’s more … More
First Interview With Adam Roscrow, As He Moves From AFC Wimbledon To The New Saints FC
I always enjoy the first interview, as we welcome a new signing to Park Hall. This time round it was … More
Behind The Scenes Video Diary Media Insight, As Adam Roscrow Signs From AFC Wimbledon
It’s currently transfer window and today The New Saints announced the signing of Adam Roscrow. I’ve been keeping a video … More
Three Quality Ticks To The Garden Birding List
The day started off very well indeed, as I made my way across the lawn to top up the feeding … More
Thought For The Day – January 11 – Never Underestimate The Power Of Encouragement
It doesn’t have to be an essay, a few kind words will do. Never underestimate the power of encouragement. There’s … More
It’s A Massive Day For Marine AFC, Adam Hughes And Josh Hmami, As They Take On Tottenham Hotspur – Live Blogging
1.00 p.m. There’s so much football on television that it’s possible to become fatigued. I certainly feel that way, as … More
Thought For The Day – January 10 – When We Stumble In Life, There Are Two Choices
It’s not so much will we slip and stumble on life’s journey, but rather, how do we respond when we … More
Catching Up With Ex-Liverpool Forward, Louis Robles, On His Season To Date With The New Saints
Having spent a number of years with his hometown club, Liverpool, Louis Robles has been with clubs such as Wigan … More
The Feeding Station Is A Hive Of Activity
The recent harsher weather has certainly brought the birds to the garden in numbers. From dawn to dusk, the feeding … More
Thought For The Day – January 9 – Live Each Day Like It’s Your Last
Live each day like it’s your last – but with a word of caution. There’s more in the video below … More
Back On The Bank – Thanks To The Angling Trust
Although fishing was not originally permitted in the lockdown announced earlier this week, great work from the Angling Trust ensured … More
The Transition From Player To Coach – In Conversation With Ex-Wrexham AFC And Wales International, Steve Evans
It may have been minus-5 at Park Hall, the home of The New Saints FC, but that didn’t stop us … More
Thought For The Day – January 8 – Don’t Tell Yourself You Can’t, You Can
Inspired by my dog, Orville the duck and Keith Harris also came to mind. There’s more in the video below … More
No Angling, But Walking Is Still Allowed – A Lockdown Stroll Around Cotwall End Nature Reserve
Just like the first lockdown, there’s no angling allowed* in this one either. I don’t agree with the decision but … More
Thought For The Day – January 7 – The Rat Race
We’ve all heard the term ‘the rat race’. There’s more in the video below (1 minute 2 seconds), with other … More
Garden Birding In The Snow And Another New Tick For The Year
With the snow falling this morning, combined with the fact I was at home, it was an ideal opportunity to … More
Following Training, A Catch-Up Interview With Leo Smith
One of The New Saints’ summer signings, it was good to chat with Leo Smith after training this week at … More
Thought For The Day – January 6 – Inspiring Others, Even When We Aren’t Aware
Twinkle, my Bedlington Terrier, inspires me very much, even though she isn’t aware. There’s more in the video below (1 … More
Four New Bird Species Visit The Garden
When we moved into our new home, right from day one we established a feeding station in the garden. We … More
Thought For The Day – January 5 – What We Were, Where We Are Now And What We Want To Be
Always strive to be a work in progress. It’s dangerous to think we’ve made it, because there’s always room for … More
First Interview Of 2021, With The New Saints FC’s Manager, Scott Ruscoe
With everyone back at Park Hall today – following an extended Christmas break due to the COVID-19 situation – before … More
Back To The Training Ground, What Did Santa Bring The Players?
Although I’m still in my seventh full season with The New Saints, 2021 means that I’ve touched eight years of … More
Thought For The Day – January 4 – Don’t Let Age Hold You Back
Just because we get older, we don’t necessarily have to be dictated to by the accumulating years. There’s more in … More