Foursquare

First, there was Facebook. Then, there was Twitter. Now, it might be Foursquare's turn. Never heard of it? Then you're not alone, because the number of people using it in the UK is still pretty small and mostly smartphone-bound.

In a nutshell, Foursquare is a social media game which allows you to 'check-in' to bars, restaurants, pubs, offices, shops and pretty much anywhere else that you're in at a given moment in time. By checking-in you score a certain number of points and unlock 'badges', all of which gives Foursquare its competitive nature. You can also leave 'tips' at locations to recommend (or warn off) certain products/drinks etc.

Sounds utterly pointless and another of those new social media things that won't go anywhere? Pretty much yes, but then that's what people said about Twitter around 18 months ago and look at it now - i'd love to see how many people followed Gordon and Sarah Brown's exit from Downing Street on TV vs Sarah's Twitter feed.

A friend first introduced me to Foursquare back in January at which point I had an initial play, got bored and then chucked it away for a few months. I didn't get it, couldn't be bothered and didn't have any friends to foursquare against anyway.

But just like Twitter last year, I've now come back to it and slowly am becoming hooked. I scarcely go places now without checking in (much to the irritation of some of my friends), am constantly checking the leaderboard to see how I'm doing, and am eagerly hunting down all the mayorships and badges I can in constant competition with my housemate.

Will it catch on? Maybe, though I'm not sure it's ultimately going to be as useful to people as Twitter has proven, or as fun as Facebook has become and that's what may hold it back.

If it does though, then I can finally say that after 26 years I'm actually one of the early adopters of a new technology - which is one more box ticked on the 'things to do before 30' list.

Report no 2 from the field of dreams

The second instalment from a less than heroic bunch of 20-something footballers:

Perennial drinkers and serial average achievers, the H&K Booze Hounds, played their latest game in the London Bridge league on Tuesday night. Despite one columnist recently mocking the “scary sounding” opposition (Duffers), the match proved far from a cakewalk and if anything was the Hounds toughest encounter to date.

All round athlete Nick Woods was welcomed back to the fold, quickly donning the bizarrely undersized goalkeeping gloves (acquired by an unnamed, small-handed teammate) and pulling off a string of early saves as the Hounds were pushed back from the off. A lack of shape and some lax defending quickly saw the fourth floor’s finest 0-2 down, however they managed to pull the score back to 4-4 at half time through some gutsy attacking play. Chambers also dragged his body over the halfway line to score a memorable first goal in the league – a long range effort which may (only may mind you) have taken a sizeable deflection on route to the net.

Tired, broken, but full of spirit, the Hounds kicked off the second half but again were quickly behind as the Duffers sizeable striker got the better of two or three Hounds to rifle one home into the net. It was at this point that something clicked though, as first Woods and then Battersby tore into the opposition with renewed fervour.

Hauling themselves back into contention once more following some good link up play between Mullen and Jones, the Hounds then suffered a sickening blow as the latter fell awkwardly under pressure. Slowly rising to his feet, Jones could only watch as Duffers stormed downfield and made it 7-8 with only a couple of minutes left on the clock.

The Hounds needed a break, and thankfully, they got one. When one final attack on goal broke down just past halfway, Duffers chose the sensible option and passed the ball calmly back towards their goal. In a cruel twist of fate (at least for them anyway), the ball was seemingly drawn towards the bottom left corner of their net, with a keeper exhausted by the Hounds incessant fightback unable to reach it. Cue pandemonium from the watching support(er) and the sight of Woods charging round the pitch in excited delirium.

And with that, the final whistle sounded with the scores well and truly deadlocked at 8-8. Hounds remain above Duffers near the top of the table, but it’s clear the fight for the title is far from over….

Report no 1 from the field of dreams

I've recently started playing in a 5-a-side football team at work on Tuesday nights. Not only is this great fun, but it's an excuse to go to the pub afterwards. It's also an excuse to do a bit more non-work writing and as such, below is a copy of our first match report (though not the first match - I was a bit lazy for the first couple!).

Ignoring the slightly rose-tinted tone, we actually did play genuinely well, especially for a bunch of blokes with little to no skill and a chronic lack of anything approaching suitable fitness. Anyway, enjoy:

The H&K Booze Hounds, football’s equivalent of an irrelevant yet newly powerful minor political party, last night secured victory in a tense, hard fought encounter against Incognito thanks to a last minute coalition of their own.

An 11th hour deal, which drafted in stylish leftie John Tilbrook and 5th floor veteran Joe Dawes, bore fruit as the former banged in four sizzling goals and the latter put in a titanic, backs to the wall performance at the heart of the midfield.

The Hounds started in confident mood, quickly building an early lead with a series of excellent strikes on goal. Dawes, playing the opening minutes in goal, also demonstrated his cat-like ability, leaping across his box early on to deny a clear goalscoring opportunity.

Complacency set in midway through the first half however, and two nutmegs, one penalty and some slack defending later the score was 5-3 and the half-time oranges were on their way. Gasping for breath (or possibly alcohol), the Hounds gathered on the centre circle, cursed themselves and then launched a second half comeback started by a Dawes thunderbolt straight from the kick-off.

Tilbrook then proceeded to show his quality, advancing down the left before slotting home, high in the net from a tight angle. Elsewhere Battersby dived in with his customary appetite for work and Mullen continued his adroit hold-up play, delicately gliding a series of first-time flicks off his muscular legs.

Jones meanwhile held his temper in check until midway through the second half when he let go his customary foulmouthed rant at the referee, gesticulating wildly about mutants and the inadequacies of the handball rule. Chambers for the most part sat at the back, enjoying the spectacle and making frequent use of his vocal cords to remind the Hounds of the joy of “getting tight on the arse” of the opposition.

With minutes to go the scores were level, but a final battle cry from the Hounds, some slick two-touch football and another excellent finish ensured the unbeaten start to the season continued as the game ended 9-8. So it’s second place with 4 games gone and one in hand on the vanquished leaders from last night. Next up is the scary sounding ‘Duffers’ 6 days from now…..