OUR nation's sporting hopes were dashed over the past week or so with a string of disappointing defeats; the football, rugby, cricket and now the tennis, as Tim crashed out of Wimbledon.

We've heard all the usual excuses and the media has presented us with various villains and scapegoats to try to ease our pain, but the reality is we are just not good enough. Sometimes it is better to hold our hands up and proclaim this fact, but we all know how much the truth hurts.

In fairness to Henman, his honest approach to his defeat to the unseeded Mario Ancic was most admirable and contrasted greatly to the excuses of soggy penalty spots and the unfairness of the Swiss referee muted by members of the England Squad.

Yes, the pain of Sol Campbell's disallowed goal was excruciating for us all and expletives were no doubt bleated at television screens around the country, but decisions like this happen all the time in football.

We saw this week in and week out at York City last season, but you have to think that it is all swings and roundabouts; you win some, you lose some. People will talk about bad luck and being jinxed, but I believe that in sport you make your own luck and you can't depend on anyone to win the game for you, especially not the referee.

We all have a right to voice our displeasure at refereeing decisions, but 16,000 abusive emails and death threats is going too far. The Swiss referee Urs Meier made a bad decision, but it is a sorry state of affairs when the Swiss shopkeeper has been forced to close his business and is in hiding in fear for his safety.

Surely in true football tradition, the question of his parentage and reference to the colour of this refereeing attire should be sufficient retribution for this human error. We now have to look towards the Olympics in Athens for some chance of sporting success, we live in hope.

THIS week the annual review of Prince Charles' accounts was published for all to see and for the first time Camilla Parker Bowles has made her way into the 48 page document listing the heir to the throne's income and expenditure.

The Prince spends £231,000 each year on his lady friend from the proceeds of his Duchy of Cornwall estate, with £25,000 spent on gifts and jewellery and £18,000 on personal grooming.

What grooming you may ask?

Camilla's mention in the accounts is a significant movement in her relationship with Prince Charles. From years of lingering in the background, she is now being seen as a formalised, permanent fixture. The transparency of the Royals in this case should be commended and it is good to see Camilla's lifestyle is not being funded by public money, but I think Prince Charles' PR department still has a lot of work to do to ensure Camilla is accepted by the British public.

Camilla will always be in the shadow of the almost saintly Princess Diana and will always be thought of as the other woman and the wicked temptress. In reality, we all know it isn't that clear cut and there are often various contributing factors to the break-up of a marriage, but Diana's tragic and untimely death has ensured this myth will continue.

The news of the Prince's accounts comes in the same week as the £3.6 million memorial to Diana was unveiled in Hyde Park. The cold and uninspiring granite circle filled with water doesn't seem to reflect the image of the Princess who was glamorous, flamboyant and warm. However, the creators are insisting the Princess would have approved, as young children are encouraged to paddle in the fountain and it has been proclaimed a prize picnic spot.

In a show of solidarity, it is interesting to see the Queen will be officially opening the memorial and the event will be attended by Prince Philip, Prince Charles, William, Harry and Earl Spencer.

Is this a sign of forgiveness and remembrance or is the intention one of closure and it's time to move on? Now Diana's memory has been officially set in stone could there be another more discreet royal wedding on the horizon?

Sophie McGill is communications director of York City Football Club and one of the youngest boardroom executives in football. She has donated her fee for this column to York City FC Youth Development.

Updated: 15:46 Friday, July 02, 2004