Archbishop embarrassed over Wonga link

The Archbishop of Canterbury said he was “embarrassed” and “irritated” that the Church of England invested indirectly in online lender Wonga.

It comes after the Most Reverend Justin Welby told Wonga the Church would try to force the firm out of business by helping credit unions compete with it.

But the CofE later admitted it invested in funds that provided money for Wonga.

I think if this row over Wonga and other pay day lenders has taught us anything it’s that you should always make sure your own house is in order before you come out and criticise.

This is just like Newcastle striker Papiss Cisse who said he wouldn’t wear a shirt with Wonga on it because of his religious beliefs, and he was then spotted in a casino, what’s that phrase those in glass houses. . . . .

Don’t think for a moment that I’m defending Wonga or I’m on their side because I’m definitely not, but a word of advice to Cisse and the Church if you’re going to criticise make sure there’s nothing hiding in the woodwork that can come out and make your criticism redundant.

They say any publicity is good publicity, so if that truly is the case then I bet Wonga can’t believe their luck.

  

Man caught with prostitute says he was trying to buy tomatoes

A man caught with a prostitute in his car told police she was there to show him where to buy tomatoes.

West Midlands Police said officers found the woman sitting inside Muhammad Ikhlaq's car while he withdrew £20 from a cash machine, which he said was to pay for tomatoes.

Ikhlaq, 39, of New Street, Dudley, was found guilty of soliciting and fined £400 at Walsall Magistrates' Court.

It continues to amaze, and amuse, me when people get caught in situations like this, that they still think they can weasel their way out of it by offering up some ingenious excuse that will leave the police flabbergasted and give them no choice but to let them go.

While that’s what might be going through the minds of these people we all know the reality is very different, this story being the latest example.

I know fresh fruit and veg is quite expensive these days, but £20 how many tomatoes was Ikhlaq planning to buy?   

Also as this incident would have taken place at night, Ikhlaq didn’t have to resort to asking a woman he met where to buy tomatoes, I mean if he doesn’t know where to get them at 39 frankly he doesn’t deserve them, he could have just popped into his local Tesco extra.

All Ikhlaq had to do was admit responsibility and that would have been it, but no he had to make up some harebrained excuse and now his story has been covered by all the major news organisations and he’s been made to look like an idiot.

Instead of the judge on his case decreeing that Ikhlaq pay over £1,000 in fines and costs, maybe he should have ordered Ikhlaq to be put in the stocks and pelted with £20 worth of tomatoes, that might teach him a lesson.

London Anniversary Games, why?

Over the next three days London’s Olympic stadium will play host to the Anniversary Games, featuring many stars of the last Olympics, but the question I have is why it is happening at all.

Of all the Olympics I’ve watched I don’t remember everybody reconvening a year later, for a weekend to reminisce and put on a few events again.

These games will never replicate the drama and excitement of the real Olympics, nor will the events be anywhere near as competitive so I’m still really struggling to understand why they’re taking place, because to me it just sounds like a regular athletics grand prix with a fancy name.     

   

Gerardo Martino appointed Barcelona manager

Barcelona have appointed Argentine Gerardo Martino as their new coach after he agreed a two-year contract.

The 50-year-old former Paraguay boss replaces Tito Vilanova, who stepped down as Barcelona manager to continue his treatment for cancer.

He was recently in charge of Newell's Old Boys, who he led to the Argentine Torneo final title last season.

First of all it’s a shame that Vilanova couldn’t continue, but he’s got much more important things to worry about and hopefully he’ll make a return to football in future.

This appointment is interesting because Martino hasn’t risen through the ranks at Barca so I wonder what fresh perspective he’ll bring, because last season, granted there were mitigating circumstances, Barca did look a little predictable and one dimensional.

But there is one glaringly obvious thing Martino can do straight away that would move Barcelona forward and it’s something both Guardiola and Vilanova should have done and that is buy a top-class centre back, and not buy a defensive midfielder and try and turn them into a centre back, because it doesn’t work.

Also interesting that Martino has only been given a two year contract, so Barcelona are already hedging their bets in case he doesn’t work out next season. 

Luis Suarez wants talks with Arsenal

Liverpool striker Luis Suarez wants to hold talks with Arsenal over a potential move to the London club.

He believes Arsenal's offer of just over £40m - which has been rejected - triggered a clause in his contract that allows him to speak to suitors.

Liverpool interpret the clause differently, but Suarez will inform the Reds of his wish to meet with Arsenal.

As an Arsenal fan all I can say is that I don’t understand why on earth we are pursuing Suarez, yes he’s talented but if we were to sign him we’d have to pay at least £50m, he’d be banned for the first six or seven games of next season, and he is the most hated player in the Premier League.

I also don’t understand why we didn’t just go ahead and sign Higuan when we had the chance.

I don’t know what’s happened to a number of clubs this summer but they all seem to be making very bizarre transfer choices, whatever the cause it’s making the transfer window even more chaotic than usual. 

Florida Footballer arrested over ‘dog bark’

A Florida university footballer has been arrested for barking at a police dog and resisting arrest, police say.

An officer and a dog were investigating a vehicle in Gainesville early on Sunday when Antonio Morrison, 19, barked at the animal, police said.

Florida law makes it a crime to “harass” a police dog while the animal is “in the performance of its duties”.

Mr Morrison, who plays linebacker for the University of Florida "Gators" team, said the dog had barked first.

Have you ever read anything so stupid, yet so hilarious, I can’t believe that written into Florida law is a clause that you mustn't distract a police dog, not officer, dog while it’s doing its duty.

If that’s the case and barking at a dog is considered ‘harassing it’ then by that logic are you not allowed to talk to the police officers in Florida for the same reason.

I’d love to tell you what happened and what the suspect looks like but I can’t because if I talk to you, you’ll have to arrest me for harassment.

Imagine if this guy is sent to prison, actually jump back a step can you imagine this being played out in court, with lawyers cross examining the man, the officer and the dog to establish a version of events.

But if he is sent to prison and someone says what are you in for? Assault, burglary, drugs, no I barked at a dog.  

If a sitcom writer came up with this it would be instantly dismissed as being to implausible and absurd and yet it actually happened amazing.

I’ve never read anything so ridiculous, I’m sure I have but I can’t remember, this has to be one of the finest examples of a stupid law that needs changing and one that should never have existed in the first place.  

Cesc Fabregas not for sale

Barcelona have told Manchester United that Cesc Fabregas is not for sale.

United confirmed on Monday that they had submitted an improved bid - understood to be £30m plus add-ons for the midfielder – but reports Spain claim that has been turned down.

“Fabregas is not for sale,” a Barcelona source said on Monday. “The president (Sandro Rosell) has been very clear with Man United.”

When I first heard the news that United had bid for Fabregas I thought it was a joke, but then it turned out to be serious which made it a much better joke.

Yet I was amazed at how many football reporters were convinced that a deal could be done and Fabregas would indeed be at Old Trafford next season, it just beggars belief how they can get it so wrong with all the information available to them.

Anyone with any interest in football could have told you that having sold Thiago and with Xavi entering his autumn years, football wise, Barcelona couldn’t afford to sell Fabregas, and one of the reasons they brought him back was to eventually replace Xavi in midfield.

As the transfer window is still open for another six weeks you’d think there wouldn’t be the need to waste everybody’s time reporting on United bidding for Fabregas.

Although, inadvertently, having done so it has highlighted how desperate United are, in that they are bidding for a player that they were never ever going to get.

Moyes has only been in the job three weeks and already things aren’t looking very good. 

Dolphins ‘call each other by name’

Scientists have found further evidence that dolphins call each other by “name”.

Research has revealed that the marine mammals use a unique whistle to identify each other.

A team from the University of St Andrews in Scotland found that when the animals hear their own call played back to them, they respond.

There’s always a story like this every few months ‘scientists’ studying an animal will say we believe they give each other names, and it’s all nonsense they just don’t.

According to the study dolphins respond to their own whistle, how does that prove they give each other names? All that shows is they recognise their own noise! How is a whistle any different to a dog barking?

Playing devil’s advocate for a moment let’s say dolphins do give each other names, what practical application does this information have, none.   

When young children show an interest in science and potentially pursuing it as a career, they should be warned, warned and warned again not to end up researching frivolous stuff like this.        

Chris Froome closes in on Tour de France win

Chris Froome moved closer to securing Tour de France victory after finishing with his nearest rivals on the 19th stage to Le Grand-Bornand.

The Briton is five minutes 11 seconds ahead of Alberto Contador with one more day to survive in the high mountains.

“I definitely had a sigh of relief after getting today out of the way - this was one of the stages I was most worried about,” Froome said afterwards.

I did plan to write a bit more about this year’s Tour, but apart from a mini-wobble a few days ago it’s been quite comfortable for Froome, he cruised through the first week then kicked on in the mountains, has won three stages and has a five minute lead.

As today is the last ‘real’ stage where there still could be one last hurrah from a few of his rivals, we can’t proclaim him the winner just yet, but it’s looking pretty good, pretty, pretty, pretty, pretty good.

If he, and given the way he’s ridden I imagine he will, successfully negotiates today’s final mountain stage then he can cruise into Paris tomorrow and win the Tours 100^th edition, not bad eh.  

Also as Froome is five years younger than Wiggins, there’s every chance he can not only defend the jersey next year, but become one of the great Tour riders.          

Flip-flops ‘ban’ for Plymouth City Council staff

Council workers have been told not to wear flip-flops and other inappropriate clothing to work during the hot weather.

Plymouth City Council told staff they “shouldn't be showing too much flesh and flip-flops are a definite no-no”.

Unions said staff were working in “uncomfortably hot” offices.

I don’t care about this story, although I must concede I’m with Plymouth Council, I simply highlighted it because it presented me with the opportunity, which I have always took and will always take, to discuss, actually rant, about my fervent hatred of flip-flops.

They are the most annoying most stupidest item of footwear ever, and the sooner all flip-flop manufacturers go out of business and rid the world of them the better.

After a few seconds googling apparently they were invented by a New Zealander by the name of Morris Yock in the 50s, who as a result of this has now leapt into the top 10 on the list of my most hated people ever.

I don’t know why I hate an inanimate object so much, but I do and nothing would give me more pleasure than standing watching all the worlds’ flip-flops being dumped onto a giant bonfire, gleefully rubbing my hands together while they’re all reduced to a big pile of ash.

That way I’ll never have to hear that incredibly irritating noise coming at me from all directions during the summer.   

JK Rowling angry with law firm over leak

JK Rowling has said she feels “very angry” after finding out her pseudonym Robert Galbraith was leaked by a legal firm.

The Harry Potter author was revealed as the writer of crime novel The Cuckoo's Calling in the Sunday Times.

She found out the leak came from law firm Russells, whom she had assumed she "could expect total confidentiality from".

While the law firm shouldn’t have said anything, let’s be honest it would have come out anyway, and it actually saved Rowling a great deal of embarrassment because before the leak was made the book had sold 1,500 copies, but within hours of the leak it jumped more than 5,000 places to the top of the Amazon sales list.

Which proves not only that there are a lot of gormless individuals out there who will buy anything just because it’s got here name on it, but also that the book can’t have been that good, as anybody who tried to read one of the Harry Potter books will testify, because the law firm involved felt the need to leak that it was written by her to get it to sell. 

Christmas shop opening in Truro

Climbing temperatures, which triggered a “level three” heatwave warning in the South West, have not put off the opening of a new Christmas shop.

The shop in Truro, Cornwall, will sell nativity sets, decorations and advent calendars.

Leased by Truro Cathedral, it will be opened later by its dean, the Very Reverend Roger Bush.

Or should that be the very ill-informed about retailing Reverend, why he has decided to greenlight the opening of a Christmas shop in middle of a heatwave god only knows.

Good luck buying an advent calendar from that place you’ll get a yard down the road and all the chocolate will have melted, and can you imagine someone in a heatwave walking past you with some tinsel under their arm, you’d think they’ve lost the plot.

Will there be a story in a blizzard during the winter about how this shop will start to sell sunglasses, shorts and sandals? I wouldn’t put it past them!

This shop really will need a bit of divine intervention if anything is to be sold anytime soon. 

R&A’s Dawson admits ‘men-only’ club concerns

Golf chief Peter Dawson says the issue of men-only policies at golf clubs is becoming “increasingly difficult”.

Muirfield, which hosts the Open this week, does not allow women to join.

Dawson, chief executive of the R&A, said: “Obviously the whole issue of gender and single-sex clubs has been pretty much beaten to death recently”.

In the build up to this year’s Open this story has received far more coverage than anything else associated with the tournament, and I was going to write something about this issue yesterday, but I forgot so I’m doing it now.

So here goes, Dawson is right to have concerns, I understand the argument that it’s a private club and it can set the rules it wants, but I think it’s time some of these clubs brought their rules into the 21^st century.

A golf club would rightly never get away with a policy that only white members can join, so it’s surprising that clubs are still allowed to exclude, well anybody really.

While this issue certainly won’t overshadow my enjoyment of this year’s Open, as like many sports fans I prefer it when political, social, religious, or any other kind of issues aren't the main talking point, but I do think it’s time the R&A sat down with clubs like Muirfield and said it’s time to change your membership rules.       

Sepp Blatter wants 2022 World Cup switched

FIFA president Sepp Blatter is determined to switch the 2022 World Cup to the winter because of the intense Qatar summer heat.

The head of world football's governing body plans discussions over the change, which would cause major disruption to various domestic leagues, with his executive committee in October.

He said: “We still have enough time”.

I tell you what there is also time for, there’s time to realise that awarding the World Cup to Qatar was a stupid idea, and there’s time to look around for a proper host that can stage the tournament without any problems.   

Qatar has no footballing traditions, the 50c heat in the summer will mean that the games would be of a very poor quality, and now FIFA, well Blatter, has come up with the gem of an idea to host it in the winter and disrupt all the domestic leagues, the word clueless come to mind.

Taking into account all the various criteria a host needs to fulfill to stage a World Cup I’m still amazed that Qatar even made the shortlist let alone won the bid, makes me think that something untoward went on, no no that’s preposterous of me to suggest FIFA would fix it so that certain bids won, preposterous I tell you. 

FIFA loses free-to-air World Cup TV battle

FIFA and UEFA have lost an appeal against a European ruling that the World Cup and Euro Championships must be shown on free-to-air TV in the UK.

In 2011, the European General Court said the UK could keep the events on a list of “protected” events of national sporting interest broadcast for free.

It means the two tournaments cannot be sold exclusively to pay-TV firms.

Finally a sensible ruling from a European court, you’d think both FIFA and UEFA would want as many football fans as possible to have the opportunity to watch the finest players playing on the biggest stage, but what am I saying of course they don’t want that all they care about is wrenching every last penny out of the game in exchange for its soul.

Thankfully they’ve been thwarted in their latest attempt at this and the World Cup and Euros will remain where they belong, on terrestrial TV. 

Yohan Blake out of World Championships

Reigning world 100m champion Yohan Blake has withdrawn from August's World Athletics Championships in Moscow with a hamstring injury.

The 23-year-old Jamaican pulled out of his country's national championships last month having been troubled by the injury since April.

Blake won the 2011 title in Daegu, when compatriot Usain Bolt false-started.

Compatriot Asafa Powell and American Tyson Gay have withdrawn from the event after positive dope tests.

Well the athletics, particularly the 100m, has certainly taken some huge hits to its reputation in the last few days, you had both Powell and Gay two of the fastest men in history testing positive and withdrawing from the World Championships, and now the defending champion, who also failed a drugs test early in his career, has pulled out due to injury.

I bet when it was confirmed that Moscow would host the worlds that the Russians wouldn’t have expected to be looking at a situation where three of the biggest names in the showpiece event wouldn’t be there.

But on the bright side Bolt will still be there, fingers crossed, and all these withdrawals could well mean that James Dasalou, who nobody have ever heard of ever before the British trials this weekend, could not only make the final but also win a medal, particularly if he runs close to the 9.91 he ran on Saturday.

Primary pupils in England could be ranked nationally

Primary school pupils in England could be ranked directly against their peers across the country, under government plans to change performance measures.

Pupils aged 11 would be ranked in 10% ability bands and parents told where their children are placed.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said: "For children to achieve their potential, we need to raise the bar."

This announcement is an odd one because this government, Michael Gove in particular, have made numerous declarations that league tables and ranking systems will be done away with. 

But I fail to see how ranking 11 year olds into bands of 10% will do them any good, all it will do is create a divide as all the best and brightest will be handpicked by the best secondary schools and all the others will be left to fight it out for what’s left.  

This government, Michael Gove in particular, are determined to change something about the education system, I just wish they could all agree on, and then get on with implementing just what that something should be.  

UK immigration backlog ‘tops 500,000’ say MPs

The backlog of unresolved immigration cases has grown to more than 500,000, a group of influential MPs has said.

The Home Affairs Committee said that at present rates it could take 37 years to clear.

In its latest report into the system, the cross-party committee questioned whether splitting up the UK Border Agency would change anything.

Which judging by these figures it clearly hasn’t, how can there be a backlog of this size, surely when the total figure topped 50,000 the powers that be would have got together and said maybe we should make some inroads into this and get that number down.

What’s even worse about this is the Home Office disagrees with the figure and says the backlog is only around 460,000, as if saying that would make everybody suddenly go oh it’s only 460,000 that’s not so bad I’m sure they’ll clear that in a jiffy, 35 years to you and me. 

Kremlin security agency to buy typewriters ‘to avoid leaks’

Russia's agency responsible for the Kremlin security is buying typewriters - a move reportedly prompted by recent leaks by WikiLeaks and Edward Snowden.

A 486,540-rouble (£9,860) order for electric typewriters has been placed by the FSO agency on the state procurement website.

The FSO has not commented on why it needs the old-fashioned devices.

If this is true, which I do hope it is, this is an interesting way to try and prevent serious leaks of confidential information.

In fairness this idea has its merits, for starters it means the Kremlin will save money on its electricity bills.

But why stop at typewriters, why not go back even further to carrier pigeons, or tattooing messages on to people’s heads.

It would the ultimate irony of there was a leak of important Russian documents in the wake of this story, which left everybody at the Kremlin rushing around burning piles and piles of paper documents that were re-introduced in a bid to prevent leaks.  

Head teachers urged to ban packed lunches

Head teachers in England are being urged to ban packed lunches to increase the take-up of school dinners and promote healthy eating.

A government-commissioned school food review by two founders of the Leon restaurant chain says take-up is low at 43% despite huge quality improvements.

The authors of the School Food Plan say packed lunches are nearly always less nutritious than a cooked meal.

This is a stupid, stupid, stupid proposal, its great school meals have improved but I don’t see why that should lead to a ban on packed lunches.

Packed lunches are cheaper for a start, and this point that they’re less nutritious than a cooked meal is also misguided because the kids will be getting a cooked meal at home in the evening, so why would they need two per day.

As I said it’s great that the quality of school meals has improved, but you don’t need to go any further and say all kids must eat them and ban packed lunches, that’s a step too far. 

Watchdog to back £6,000 MP pay rise

MPs’ pay should be increased by £6,000 to £74,000 a year from 2015, the Commons expenses watchdog has said.

But the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) also recommends cuts to perks such as meal allowances and taxis and a less generous pension scheme.

And “golden goodbyes” paid to retiring MPs could also be trimmed.

Once again our dear friends in Westminster show that all they care about is themselves and to hell with everybody else.

In a time when pay rises everywhere are limited to a tiny amount or are being frozen altogether, MPs have decided now is the time to demand an almost 10% pay increase, and have made the minimal sacrifice of cutting a few perks, which the pay increase will probably cover anyway.

What’s even more annoying about this is MPs are currently paid £66,396, with that figure due to rise to £67,060 in April 2014 and by a further 1% the following year to £67,731.

I’m ok with that kind of rise because it’s sensible and in line with what’s happening across the public sector, so this call for a 10% pay rise further demonstrates that with regards to this issue MPs are clueless and greedy.

Channel 4s The Murder Trial was fascinating

The Murder Trial broadcast on Channel 4 last night was bold and brilliant television, it condensed the five week trial of fruit and veg wholesaler Nat Fraser as he seeked to be acquitted for the murder of his wife in 1998.

The way the court proceedings where interwoven with interviews from family members, witnesses and both counsels was handled with skill and provided a great insight into the inner workings of the courts.

I urge anyone who missed it to make some time in your schedule for it you won’t be disappointed, and while I won’t give anything away I was surprised, namely I didn’t agree, with the verdict the jury reached, but the programme was five weeks worth of proceedings condensed into two hours so that has to be a factor.

This programme certainly made a case for televising more trials in future, The Murder Trial was the most riveting two hours of TV I’ve watched in a very long time.  

Cafe owner ‘warns’ customers she is black

A cafe owner has put up a sign telling customers she is black because she is fed up with people walking out when they see the colour of her skin.

The sign on the door of Yeanon Cafe in Ossett, West Yorkshire, reads: "I am a black woman... If you are allergic to black people, don't come in."

Martha-Renée Kolleh said she put it there because of the way she has been treated by some customers.

The first thing I read of this article was the sign and I have to say I found it rather amusing, but then you read on and it gets increasingly more depressing, and I don’t understand why some people in Osset are surprised that a black woman runs a cafe, and why when they discover this fact they leave, makes no sense to me whatsoever.

However, I think that this idea of putting up a sign outside shops, cafes etc. telling customers about the owner would make the high streets a more interesting place.

You walk past your local greasy spoon and there’s a sign saying owner is a two-chinned heavyset man with a dicky heart and the food he serves will clog all your arteries and put you at risk of heart attacks and diabetes, come on in.    

F1: Media banned from pit lanes

The FIA has banned media and ‘non-essential personnel’ from Grand Prix pit lanes after a cameraman was injured at last Sunday’s German Grand Prix.

A loose wheel from the car of Red Bull's Mark Webber struck cameraman Paul Allen, breaking his collarbone.

The ban, issued by Formula 1’s ruling body, covers “anyone other than event marshals and team personnel”.

Given the amount of negative coverage F1 has received in the last few months, this decision is understandable but I think the FIA have been overly cautious.

Yes the incident where Paul Allen got hit by a tyre was very nasty, but instead of banning the media altogether to me it would have made more sense for them to make all media personnel working in the pit lanes to wear the appropriate safety gear.

Additionally if you look at the incident when was the last time a similar thing happened, it’s unfortunate but it’s a very rare and hardly warrants a dramatic change in the rules.

You also have to feel for Pirelli because the tyre changes they made for the German Grand Prix made for a great race, and restored some of their damaged reputation, but even amongst all that one of their tyres nearly took a cameraman’s head off. 

Killers’ life terms ‘breached their human rights’

The European Court of Human Rights has ruled the whole life tariffs given to murderer Jeremy Bamber and two other killers breached their human rights.

The judges ruled by 16 to 1 that there had to be both a possibility of release and review of their sentence.

However it said this did not mean there was “any prospect of imminent release”.

On the issue of whether Britain should stay in the EU I believe we should, and when David Cameron says he plans to renegotiate our relationship with Europe I would hope that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) is first thing on his list, because its rulings continue to undermine British law with this as the latest example.

ECHR makes our laws pretty much irrelevant because anyone in Britain who is unhappy with the judge’s ruling in their court case can appeal and appeal and appeal, and even if those appeals are rejected and the original decision is upheld they can still appeal to ECHR, who will invariably overturn the original decision.

I fail to see how giving the most dangerous of individuals a whole life tariff breaches their human rights, you can try to be rational and say that anyone is capable of change but as I see it there are some people who are just evil and will never change and shouldn’t be entitled to a review or any possibility of release.

In fact I would go one step further and bring back the death penalty for those deemed the most dangerous, and I am well aware that studies have shown that it doesn’t act as a deterrent, but my argument is an economic one.

Instead of spending however much it costs to keep the most dangerous housed for x number of years, wouldn’t it make more sense to sentence them to death and redistribute the money saved back into rehabilitation programmes for those who’ve actually got a chance of reforming.      

Abu Qatada deported from UK

Radical cleric Abu Qatada is being held in a high security jail near the Jordanian capital Amman, after being deported from the UK.

His plane left RAF Northolt at 02:46 BST for his home country, where he appeared in court to be charged with terror offences, which he denies.

Prime Minister David Cameron said he was "delighted" at his removal.

After all the excitement of the sporting success Britain has enjoyed over the weekend, this was an added bonus that the government have finally got rid of this vile scumbag, and we’ll never have to see or hear from him ever again.

But now he’s gone, at a cost of £1.7m and a period of eight years, it’s now time to re-assess the process by which the government can deport an individual because this case time and time again highlighted numerous problems, and at times was quite farcical.     

Getting rid of Qatada was a great first step, changing the law to streamline the process and ensure future deportations aren’t as lengthy and costly would be a great leap.  

Andy Murray wins Wimbledon

Andy Murray won his first Wimbledon title and ended Britain's 77-year wait for a men's champion with a hard-fought victory over world number one Novak Djokovic.

The Scot, 26, converted his fourth championship point in a dramatic final game to win 6-4 7-5 6-4 and claim his second major title.

I remember when I first started watching Wimbledon all I ever heard was a Brit won’t win it ever again, and over the years the repetition of that sentence conditioned me into thinking well maybe they it won’t happen, but thankfully that hasn’t turned out to be the case and what a performance it was by Murray.

After the way the match started I was expecting a five hour, epic, and although I wasn’t surprised Murray won, I was surprised he did it in three.

Djokovic was worn down from that unbelievable semi-final on Friday and after Murray fought back and took the second set it looked to me like he didn’t believe he could come back and do it in five.

Murray’s win capped a remarkable weekend for British sport, you had the Lions win their first tour in 16 years, then Chris Froome putting in two huge efforts in the mountains to be in the yellow jersey, McDowell winning the French Open and we’re favourites for the Ashes that start on Wednesday, not bad eh.

Back to the tennis and now it seems with Nadal’s injuries and Federer starting to fade, this certainly won’t be the last final we see between Djokovic and Murray, in fact I’m sure all bets are already off for them meeting in the final of the U.S. Open.

But for now the long wait has been ended and I can finally say I saw a Brit win Wimbledon.