FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: June 18th
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Jakko M. Jakszyk - Son Of Glen
  • Rigid Soul - Rigid Soul
  • Robin Trower - Oran Mor, Glasgow
  • Gypsy Pistoleros and The Outlaw Orchestra - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
  • Ned Evett (May 2025)
  • Bill Nelson - Quit Dreaming And Get On The Beam (Deluxe Edition)
  • Don Airey - Pushed to the Edge
  • Gypsy Pistoleros - Church Of The Pistoleros
  • 2025 Reviews>
    • Dean Owens - Spirit Ridge
    • Félix Rabin - Blue Days EP
    • Simon McBride - Recordings 2020-2025
    • Dim Gray - Shards
    • Steve Hackett - Live Magic At Trading Boundaries
    • James O'Hurley - A Certain Stranger
    • Mud - The Rak Years 1973-75
    • Thorbjørn Risager & The Black Tornado - House Of Sticks
  • 2025 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Erja Lyytinen - Smell The Roses
    • The Damn Truth - The Damn Truth
    • The Adventures - Once More With Feeling
    • Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - Live Perpetual Change
    • Jason Bieler & The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - The Escapologist
    • Black Eyed Sons - Cowboys In Pinstriped Suits
    • Dream Theater - Parasomnia
    • Jethro Tull - Curious Ruminant
  • 2024 Reviews >
    • Robert Fleischman - Emotional Atlas
    • Lazarus Heights - Papillon
    • Toby Lee - House On Fire
    • Innes Sibun - The Preacher
    • Ned Evett - Strange Kind Of Freedom
    • DeWolff - Muscle Shoals
    • The Southern River Band - D.I.Y
    • MYPD - Basssik
    • Toby and the Whole Truth - Look Out! Vol.1
    • Blue Nation - The Ordinary People
    • The Round Window - Fram EP
    • Mike Ross - Electric Smoke
    • Mississippi MacDonald - I Got What You Need
    • The Dictators - The Dictators
    • Matt Steady - Flight Of The Raven
    • Various Artists - Tributes : Songs For Neil Vol 5
    • The Sheepdogs - Paradise Alone EP
    • Then Comes Silence - Trickery
    • Caitlin Krisko & The Broadcast - Blueprints EP
    • Deep Purple =1
    • Arielle - Reel To Real
    • Raintown - Acoustic Heart
    • Ivan Drever - Covered
    • Rich Young - Prozac Diary
    • The Dave Foster Band - Maybe They'll Come Back For Us
    • Mr. Big - Ten
    • Jill Jackson - Curse Of The Damned
    • Daryl Hall - D
    • John Oates - Reunion
    • Gagarin - Komorebi
    • Paul Mallatratt - The Planets; Screaming Thru Heartache
    • Quinn Sullivan - Salvation
    • Edit The Tide - Reflections In Sound EP
    • Attic Theory - What We Fear The Most
    • Stone Angels - Up In Smoke
    • Ramblin' Preachers - Sins & Virtues
    • The Treatment - Wake Up The Neighbourhood
    • Ben Hemming - Darkness Before Dawn
    • The Now - Too Hot To Handle
    • Kelowna - Better Day EP
    • Tom Killner - Borrowed Time
    • Beaux Gris Gris And The Apocalypse - Hot Nostalgia Radio
    • The Milk Men - Holy Cow!
    • The Toy Dolls - The Singles
    • Turbulence - B1nary Dream
    • It Bites FD - Return To Natural
    • Blue Öyster Cult - Ghost Stories
    • Hawkwind - Stories From Time And Space
    • These Wicked Rivers - Force Of Nature
    • Alice Di Micele - Interpretations Vol 1
    • Walter Trout - Broken
    • Silveroller - At Dawn EP
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Battles
    • Little Lore - Seven Stories EP (Part One & Part Two)
    • Elles Bailey - The Night Owl & The Lark EP
    • Blue Nation - Reflections EP
    • Rick Wakeman - Live at the London Palladium 2023
    • Chris Wragg and Greg Copeland - The Last Sundown
    • Sons Of Liberty - The Detail Is In The Devil
    • EBB - The Management Of Consequences EP
    • Thunder - Live At Islington Academy 2006; Live At Leeds 2015
    • Robby Krieger And The Soul Savages
  • 2024 Featured Album Reviews>
    • Austin Gold - Ain't No Saint
    • Cats In Space - Time Machine
    • The Outlaw Orchestra - La Familia
    • Mojo Thunder - The Infinite Hope
    • Beth Hart - You Still Got Me
    • Eclipse - Megalomanium II
    • Al Stewart - Past, Present & Future (50th Anniversary Edition)
    • Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Dirt On My Diamonds Volume 2
    • Scalet Rebels - Where The Colours Meet
    • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Red Moon Rising
    • Elles Bailey - Beneath the Neon Glow
    • Jon Anderson & The Band Geeks - True
    • The Commoners - Restless
    • Brave Rival (Fight Or Flight)
    • Al Di Meola - Twentyfour
    • Focus - Focus 12
    • Big Wolf Band - Rebel's Journey
    • Robin Trower - Bridge Of Sighs (50th Anniversary Edition)
    • Vanden Plas - The Empyrean Equation of the Long Lost Things
    • Troy Redfern - Invocation
    • Amigo The Devil - Yours Until The War Is Over
    • Preacher Stone - V
    • Bison Hip - Welcome To The Rest Of Your Life
    • Waysted - Won't Get Out Alive 1983-1986
    • SiX BY SiX - Beyond Shadowland
    • Dan Patlansky - Movin' On
    • Jane Getter Premonition - Division World
    • Today Was Yesterday - Today Was Yesterday
    • Steve Hackett - The Circus And The Nightwhale
    • Mama's Boys - Runaway Dreams 1980-1992
  • 2023 Reviews
  • 2023 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Blue Deal - Can't Kill Me Twice
    • THEIA - The Wet Die Young EP
    • The Round Window - Everywhere & Nowhere
    • Long Road Home - Are We Invisble?
    • Dolly Parton - Rockstar
    • Various Artists - Shake That Thing! The Blues In Britain 1963-1973
    • Kenny Wayne Shepherd - Dirt On My Diamonds Vol. 1
    • The Blue Lena - Darkwood
    • LALU - The Fish Who Wanted To Be King
    • Celebrate It Together : The Very Best Of Howard Jones 1983-2023
    • Stray - About Time
    • Skinny Knowledge - twentytwo
    • Robin Trower (featuring Sari Schorr) - Joyful Sky
    • Trevor Rabin - Rio
    • Vega - Battlelines
    • Downes Braide Association - Celestial Songs
    • High Pulp - Days In The Desert
    • Starlite & Campbell - STARLITE.ONE
    • Matteo Mancuso - The Journey
    • Oli Brown & The Dead Collective - Prelude & Prologue EPs
    • Extreme - Six
    • Bison Hip - Older Stronger Better
    • Joy Dunlop - Caoir
    • Mike Ross - Third Eye Open
    • Martin MIller - Maze Of My Mind
    • Cruachan - The Living and The Dead
    • King Kraken - MCLXXX
    • Heavy Metal Kids - The Albums 1974-1976
    • Anchor Lane - Call This a Reality?
    • Doomsday Outlaw - Damaged Goods
    • Hayley Griffiths - Far From Here Hayley Griffiths Band - MELANIE
  • 2022 Reviews
  • 2022 Featured Album Reviews >
    • Moon City Masters - The Famous Moon City Masters
    • Steve Hill - Dear Illusion
    • Kira Mac - Chaos is Calling
    • EBB - Mad & Killing Time
    • The Commoners - Find A Better Way
    • Rebecca Downes - The Space Between Us
    • Erja Lyytinen - Waiting For The Daylight
    • Chris Antonik - Morningstar
    • The Milk Men - Spin The Bottle
    • SiX BY SiX - SiX BY SiX
    • Jeff Berlin - Jack Songs
    • Keef Hartley Band - Sinnin' For You The Albums 1969-1973
    • Toby Lee - Icons Vol.1
    • Montrose - I Got The Fire : Complete Recordings 1973-1976
    • Orianthi - Live From Hollywood
    • Valeriy Stepanov Fusion Project - Album No. 2
    • Dan Reed Network - Let's Hear It For The King
    • Ali Ferguson - The Contemplative Power Of Water
    • Edgar Winter - Brother Johnny
    • Joe Satriani - The Elephants Of Mars
    • Dave Cureton - State Of Mind
    • Larry McCray - Blues Without You
    • Tears for Fears - Tipping Point
    • Kris Barras Band - Death Valley Paradise
    • Dan Patlansky - Shelter of Bones
    • Black Lakes - For All We've Left Behind
    • Wille & The Bandits - When The World Stood Still
    • LALU - Paint the Sky
    • Various Artists - Revolt Into Style 1979
  • Selected 2025 Gig Reviews >
    • Erja Lyytinen - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Troy Redfern - Backstage, Kinross
  • Selected 2024 Gig Reviews>
    • Silveroller - Backstage, Kinross
    • Dave Arcari - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Gypsy Pistoleros - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Kira Mac - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr; Matt Pearce & The Mutiny - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • The Davey Pattison Band - Backstage, Kinross
    • Verity/Bromham Band - Backstage, Kinross
    • Moving Pictures - Venue 38, Ayr
    • The Countess Of Fife - Harbour Arts Centre, Irvine
    • Connor Selby - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Rebecca Downes - Backstage, Kinross
  • Selected 2023 Gig Reviews >
    • Ben Poole - The Ferry, Glasgow
    • Moving Pictures - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Hamish Stuart & James Bown Is Annie; Hamilton Loomis - Darvel Music Festival
    • Amigo The Devil - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Davey Pattison Blues Band - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Joe Satriani - O2 Academy, Glasgow
    • Walter Trout - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Stereo, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - The Classic Grand, Glasgow
    • Focus - The Ferry, Glasgow
    • Elles Bailey - The Caves, Edinburgh
    • The Blackheart Orchestra - Hotel Utopia UK tour
    • The Wilson Brothers - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
  • Selected 2022 Gig Reviews >
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender - Troon
    • Jack J Hutchinson - Bannermans, Edinburgh
    • Paul McCartney - Pyramid Stage, Glastonbury 2022
    • Daryl Hall - Ryman Auditorium, Nashville
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Dan Patlansky - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Eric Gales - Oran Mor, Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations 2025>
    • Sandi Thom (February 2025)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2024>
    • Mississippi MacDonald (December 2024)
    • Walter Trout (October 2024)
    • Albert Bouchard (August 2024)
    • Robert Berry - August 2024
    • Troy Redfern (May 2024)
    • Dan Patlansky (March 2024)
    • Connor Selby (February 2024)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2023>
    • Del Bromham (November 2023)
    • Sari Schorr (October 2023)
    • Suzy Starlite & Simon Campbell (September 2023)
    • Ali Ferguson (August 2023)
    • Leoni Jane Kennedy (August 2023)
    • Joy Dunlop (May 2023)
    • Dan Patlansky - April 2023
    • Hayley Griffiths (February 2023)
    • Steve Hill (January 2023)
  • Muirsical Conversations 2022>
    • Rebecca Downes (December 2022)
    • Chris Antonik (November 2022)
    • Pat Travers (October 2022)
    • Robert Berry (August 2022)
    • JW-Jones (August 2022)
    • Mike Ross (July 2022)
  • Selected Muirsical Conversations From The Archive>
    • Bernie Marsden (December 2021)
    • Robin George (November 2021)
    • Dennis DeYoung (June 2021)
    • Robert Berry (March 2021)
    • Dan Reed (February 2021)
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
  • Muirsical Articles >
    • 2019AB?
    • All the World's a Stage (and people falling off it) – 2015 in Review
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Home of a Ramblin' Band (Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum)
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • Laser Love - Blue Oyster Cult Glasgow Apollo 29-04-78
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Preaching to the Glasgow Choir Slade 26-03-1982
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings >
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Letter to Danbury Mint (2001)

In 2001 a letter was written to Danbury Mint (the collectibles & memorabilia company) thanking them for their offer to provide a Gold Medal memorabilia piece to celebrate and commemorate Englands 5-1 victory over Germany in an International football (soccer) match.


The letter was also sent to other like-minded individuals, friends, associates, sports related sites and eventually found it's way across the globe from Hong Kong to California.
Not exactly world famous, but famous around the world nonetheless.
   

The subject of the Danbury Mint commemorative medal was certainly addressed but the letter itself was really aimed at all the media 'experts', tabloid pundits, sporting journalists and jingoistic pontificators who make responses such as this necessary in the first place.

It was also aimed at the BBC and/ or BBC Sport who should be providing impartial or at least balanced news commentaries, and certainly should be prioritising the real news over the sporting/ trivial.

But what kicked this particular game off was the fact Danbury Mint directed their England Medal Offer to those on their mailing lists who had probably purchased collectables from the company before.

Fair enough. But the problem was they aimed this marketing mail-shot to those they felt were "like-minded sports fans" 
– in Scotland...    


25th September, 2001

F.A.O. Robert Olswang
Danbury Mint
Cox lane,
Chessington,
Surrey.
 
Dear Mr. Olswang
 
OFFER OF COMMEMORATIVE MEDAL (YOUR FLYER, RECEIVED 24/09/01)
 
I thank you for the kind offer which would enable me to pay out twenty five pounds plus postage to own a commemorative medal relating to a football game, which England won.

Please note however, I will not be pursuing said offer, which will I feel would be the likely response from quite a number of football fans ‘north of the border’, should they ever be made aware of it.
In fact if a poll were taken to establish the approximate number of sales up here, I would suggest that minting the medals would put you at a serious loss.

September 1st 2001.  Oh yes, the game in Germany, where England did indeed play superbly, bolstered by the correct attitude and a tactically astute manager. They beat a poor German team in a game which:
Did not earn automatic qualification to the World Cup;
Did not automatically put Germany out of the World Cup Qualifiers;
Did not lead to any trophy, medal or championship being won.

I therefore find myself at a loss to explain why you would wish to create a medal for such a game, as it surely cannot be because you simply hammered Germany on their own turf in a game of footy.
Do you lose that often to them in bigger games that it warrants this sort of media exposure?
Actually, now that I think of it…

However I seem to recall a particular victory against (then West) Germany in 1966, which thankfully the BBC, sorry EBC (English Broadcasting Corporation) continue to show/ repeat/ highlight whenever there is the slightest excuse, in case we forget. Surely that merits more of a ‘memory’ item?
All credit to England, they played well throughout and although not the first or last team to benefit from being hosts, they did have the bonus of being the first team to win with the help of a two-goal hat trick.
(That in itself deserves a medal).

Maybe presenting this medal to those who deserve it would be a better idea:
Geoff Hurst, scorer of previously mentioned record setting hat trick;
John Motsom, the English football commentator who can bring up the topic of 1966 in any commentary or subject you care to mention, and usually does;
Jimmy Hill (a favourite up here), TV pundit and football 'expert' who wishes it was still 1966;
Bobby Charlton, ex-England International who played in the 1966 final and one of the many who believes it should be 1966 every four years.
Or Sven Goran Eriksson, the England Coach who, as you correctly point out, was the architect of England’s recent successes.

Considering the flak the English F. A. received for having the nerve to go outside the green and pleasant lands to find somebody not perceived as “a turnip” (and the initial tabloid disgust), it’s a miracle he bothered to stick it out, and/ or say yes in the first place.
But here he is, the darling of the English International Soccer world.

It still seems incredulous that a foreigner had to be chosen, when you consider that within the English Premier League
 – "the greatest league in the world" I'm reliably informed – there are a number of highly rated and successful managers of fine meat and potato’s stock:
Messrs Ferguson, Houllier, O’Leary, Wenger… no, wait... Scottish, French, Irish (born in London though
 – does that help?) and French again. Bugger. Sorry.

And from our own point of view, I don’t recall any thoughts of medals or commemorative memorabilia for our own boys when they came back from Germany in 1974 as the only undefeated team, nor the consecutive World Cup appearances which started that same tournament (something our illustrious neighbours’ didn’t manage).
Or for Archie Gemmil’s goal in 1978 against Holland, still regarded by many football experts and aficionado’s around the globe as one of the best World Cup goals ever.
And of course, the little matter of Wembley 1967 when the current World Cup holders were… well, let’s just say were beaten, and leave it at that.

Since 1966, England have won the same major honours as Scotland at International level
 – none.
However we know our limitations and though passionate and dedicated don’t take ourselves too seriously.
At this moment in time Scotland are a poor side in need of solid guidance and I for one wish the names were in fact McOwen, MacGerrard, etc.

In conclusion, I find the offer and the item itself quite sad as it is, after all, "only a game."
I can think of many in New York for example that would be better served with medals 
– in fact the date 11th September 2001 is the only day we should remember in the ninth month of that year.

But I apologise for digressing 
– I was discussing football, which is a trivial matter in comparison to 9-11 and I therefore leave you with these thoughts...

The reason the Scots (and a lot of our Celtic brethren in Wales and Ireland) love to watch England playing football
 – in the hope they get gubbed – is a long story for another time, but it can be summed up with the following two, quite genuine, comments.

During the last European Championships, a sporting radio show had conducted interviews with various fans in Britain and were asking the question why the Scots would usually shout for whoever England happened to be playing.
One answer 
– “I sat down to watch the first England game, with no real bias, until Des Lynam came on with his  ‘Hi, Des here, the Championships may have already started, but tonight they kick-off for real.'
"Off off went the television and I went out to cut the grass.”

Another one which featured on a documentary was “I’m sorry, but if England are playing the Invading Alien Martian Spiders in a pre-season friendly, I’m shouting for the guys with eight legs.”

There are other great moments of course – The Hand of God goal by Diego Maradonna in 1986 for one (interesting amongst all the cries of "we were robbed" and "cheat!" the second goal where he ran round the entire England team twice including a stop for a pie and a pint before slipping the ball into the old pokey is handily forgotten).

So, did I mention no thanks on the medal thing?
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Ross Muir  
Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved