This is the personal Web Site of Rob Rowley (Robert Rowley) from Oakengates, Telford in Shropshire.

This is Home Page of Rob Rowley from Telford

Robert Rowleys Home Page

Hello & welcome to the personal web page of Rob Rowley (Robert Rowley) from Oakengates in Telford, Shropshire. As you may gather from these pages, both the lovely Jude & I are Manchester United Fans (yes we do go to matches).

Robert Rowleys Home Page

My Heart is Green, My Blood is Red

Jude & I live in Oakengates, Telford & we both work locally. Until recently, I worked full time as a truck driver for a Telford engineering company who also manufacture bus seats at Hortonwood Industrial Estate, Telford and part time for GR Sales, whilst Jude works for Maxell in Telford.

I started work at Rowen Telmac in September 1999 in the paint plant (Telford powder coating section) before moving to the stores & then to the transport dept as a lorry driver. Although Rowen Telmac sell internationally, I tended to be based in the UK but covered the entire country (one day I could be in Glasgow, the next I could be in London) but I always tried to start early & get home the same day.

However; I now work with my brother; Terry Rowley.

Terry owns a local company; who supply & fit quality wooden flooring. Although based in Telford, Shropshire, we (Shropshire Oak) supply & fit floors throughout the UK. Since I have always loved carpentry & "get on great" with Terry, this is really a dream job & so far; things are going very well.

Although I am far from happy about the Glazer take over of Manchester United (in fact I think that it is disgraceful and am absolutely furious about it), I am a member of Telford Reds; the Telford Branch of the Manchester United Supporters Club & I (along with my evil brother; Steve Rowley, & Kevin Genner) always try to attend as many matches as possible. If we cannot get to matches we tend to head for one of the local pubs (usually The Duke of York; Oakengates in Telford, or the Elephant & Castle, St Georges, Telford).

This is a picture of me (Robert Rowley) during my debut at Old Trafford (I wish)

Actually; this is the mighty Wayne Rooney. Wayne is the Scouser who has broken the mould & bettered himself by joining the biggest & best Football Team on Earth; Manchester United. Never again can he be taunted with the Scouser songs for Wayne Rooney is now a Manc`, & Wayne Rooney is a Red; respect is due.

Many people seem to think that there is an intense rivalry between Man Utd & the once mighty Liverpool FC. However this is not quite true as the rivalry goes "hand in hand" with a healthy respect. The thing to remember is that everyone hates Manchester United with a hatred which stems from jealousy. With Liverpool FC it is different because they were once a great team & still have periods of achievement (just a few years they "did their own treble" when they won the FA Cup, the Mickey Mouse Cup & the Euro Disney Cup). As for the European cup; it has now been devalued in that Liverpool are definitely NOT the best team in Europe (they are not even the best team in Liverpool).

There is only one Ronaldo

Actually; there are two (this is the real one). Cristiano Ronaldo has been a revelation since signing for Manchester United & he continues to enthral the Man Utd fans with amazing silky skills & an eye for goal. He is now probably the best player on Earth.

It could be argued that Christiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney are now Man Utd players & both promise to continue the Man Utd tradition of exciting, attacking, imaginative, skill-full football in the mould of such greats as Dennis Law, Ryan Giggs, Eric Cantona & George Best.

This my lovely lady; Jude inside Old Trafford

This is Jude outside The Theatre of Dreams (Old Trafford)

The Manchester United stadium; Old Trafford is also known as the Theatre of Dreams, & is located on Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester. Notice the statue of the Late, Great, Sir Matt Busby in the background. Sir Matt Busby effectively introduced the Man Utd playing principles (as defined above) which the players & supporters have come to extol & expect. Sir Matt Busby & Alex Ferguson are without question; two of the greatest managers ever to have lived.

How to buy Match Day tickets

Since producing this page, many people have asked me how I obtain tickets for Manchester United matches. The honest answer is that it is not easy.

We were full members of Manchester United for many years, and although we applied for tickets, we rarely seemed to receive any, and when we did; they tended to be for the smaller games.

This is because Manchester United operate a ballot system whereby Season Ticket holders automatically receive their tickets to home league games & have priority for tickets to cup games & away games. Any tickets which are left over are then effectively placed in a lottery (ballot) & members apply for these tickets. We found that we were only obtaining 1 or 2 tickets per year. This in turn prompted us to allow our membership to lapse, and the truth is that we bought tickets on "the black market".

However; we have now discovered that the secret to obtaining tickets is to join the local Manchester United supporters club, & to also become a full (ticket) member of Manchester United (tell the Manchester United membership office that you are a member of the local supporters club). This allows the supporters club to obtain tickets on your behalf; problem solved.

Where to park on Match Days

If you are travelling with your local supporters club, you will usually travel by coach so there will not be a problem.

If you are travelling by car, do not be conned into paying one of the people who stand by the side of the road holding a sign advertising parking space & then tell you to park by the side of the road or in an alley. They will simply take your money (usually £3) and do do not look after your car. We usually park at a local (Manchester) school. This means that the car is securely within the school ground, and the schools earns extra cash.

Favourite Match Day Pubs

The closest pub to Old Trafford is The Trafford Arms. On match days, this is extremely busy but there is always a good atmosphere, the beer is good & there is additional space in the courtyard if the weather is OK.

However for match day atmosphere, the Bishops (on the same side of the road and to the left of Lou Macari`s chip shop) is simply awesome, but do not expect to find a seat, and always get more than one round of drinks when you go to the bar.

This is a picture of me (Robert Rowley & Sabre "The Wolf")

Jude says to make the point that I am on the right. Note how Sabre (The Wonderful Wolf) is primed ready to leap for the ball. This picture was taken in the section of the Robert Rowley garden in Oakengates, Telford which we use for playing wolf type games (such as "fetch the house brick", "chase the motorbike" & "bury the bus") with Sabre.

Covered in fur with a mouth full of teeth, Sabre ("The Wolf") is the size of a small pony & although gentle with those he knows, "The Wonderful Wolf" would never starve if ever released into the wild.

Note; my brother (Steve Rowley (not the Steve Rowley who is chief scout for the Gooners), but the real Steve Rowley; from Donnington in Telford) must be part Taiwanese because he says that a dog is not just for Christmas; If you are careful you`ll have enough left over for boxing day as well.

Steve Rowley wants to be a painter & decorator when he grows up & lives in Donnington, Telford. He is married to Cheryl and says that he is happy for me to mention that Cheryl is the best pool player in their house. However, I have promised not to say that Cheryl is the best pool player in their house (out of common decency to Steve), because if people thought that Cheryl Rowley (from Telford) is a better pool player than Steve Rowley (from Telford), this could mean that the Steve Rowley who works as chief scout for the Gooners is possibly also a better pool player than my brother (it`s a long story).

Not long ago; I phoned my brother (Steve Rowley) at home, & the phone was answered by his young daughter. Being in a silly mood, I said to her; "hello, can I speak to the best pool player in the house please" & I then heard her shouting out; "Mommy; some ones on the phone for you!"

One of my favourite stories about Thor (the Viking god of thunder)

Thor because bored with life in the Viking heaven; Valhalla. So he disguised himself as a human & travelled to a small village in Norway.

Whilst in the local bar, Thor met a beautiful young girl, & after a wonderful rowdy night, they went back to her hut where they make love non stop for six days & six nights. Thor was insatiable & being a god; he was awesome in bed.

On the morning of the seventh day, he got out of bed without waking her & returned to Valhalla.

As he was eating breakfast, Thor was approached by Odin (King of the Viking gods) who asked "where have you been for the last six days & nights"?

When Thor finished telling the tale of his passionate affair, Odin "exploded" with rage, saying "You are a god & you have given this woman passion like she can never know from a mere mortal. She believes you to be human & will spend the rest of her life searching for a man who can make love to her as only a god can. I order you to return to that village & tell her who you really are".

Thor (although taken aback by Odin`s rage) knew that he was right & immediately returned to the village, & knocked at the girls door. After a few moments, the door opened & she stood before him, radiant in the morning sunlight.

"Please forgive me" he said "I have a confession to make; I am Thor"

"What?" she said "You are Thor? I can hardly pith!".

The Sperm

Two sperm are swimming along together. The first sperm turns to the second & says "I am knackered! Just how far is to the fallopian tubes"?

"I don`t know" said the second sperm "but it must be a long way. We have only just gone past the tonsils"!