I once visited the old ground of Accrington Stanley back in the mid 80s. It was small, quaint, and strangely deralict stadium, literally choked in weeds and waiting for a decent offer from a property developer. The club, which left the English Football league under the cloud of bankrupcy in 1962, as the Guardian leader notes, has now returned. It is a testimony to the abiding mutuality of soccer, particularly in the lower leagues. Others to keep an eye on …
Bertie Ahern has appealed to UEFA not to impose a regulation on Northern Irish players that they must travel on British Passports, saying that it should be a matter for individuals to decide, rather than a sports organisation. Interestingly he puts his appeal in the context of the increasingly defunct Belfast Agreement. Interestingly, it comes at a time when interest in local soccer amongst Northern Irish nationalists is at a low ebb. And if this conversation on a Ulster Rugby …
It seems Sonia O’Sullivan managed to get herself fast tracked for dual nationality in time to compete for Australia in the Commonwealth Games. However she’s had to withdraw from Saturday’s 5000 metre final after sustaining a hamstring injury. The original loophole will be closed after this games. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, …
PA carry a story announcing that Belfast’s City Airport is to be renamed after the footballing legend from Cregagh! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
It’s not long since Rugby Union finally swallowed its pride and followed its sporting twin Rugby League to become a professional code. But, Matthew Engel argues, with that professionalism has come the downgrading of the status of the Captain now that real power (on and off the pitch) is moving in inexorably towards the coach. Indeed he goes further saying that all English code team games are rapidly following the American style ‘machine’ model. And the captain is rapidly becoming …
It shouldn’t be underestimated what a coup it is for the Belfast GAA club St Galls to make it to the All Ireland Club Final. Much of the recent effort has gone into building hurling capacity in the county. Born in the City Hospital (and therefore technically in Co Antrim), I’ve always taken an interest in Antrim football, but rarely been inspired by it. I’m more likely to pay good money to see Donegal or Down. However one initiative is …
This request from reader David Slattery: I was on the net looking for information about the Gallagher Cup, a GAA schoolboy competition in Northern Ireland, and came aceoss your Slugger O’ Toole site.And even though its a long shot, I just thought i would ask you if you could help me out…. I am trying to find out who the Gallagher Cup was named after, cant find much on the net, and the GAA head office dont have a clue, …
Interesting piece from Ciaran Barnes who interviews yesterday’s Dublin march, Willie Frazer. Daily Ireland’s reports points to the extent of broken cross community relations caused by a bloody cross community ‘war’: �I was captain of the Whitecross under-13 side. I played full forward and was quite good. I was one of the side�s top scorers,� but had severed links with the GAA after a series of murders in south Armagh around 1973-74. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He …
Eight – Five. Ulsterman Andrew Trimble has just opened up the Welsh defence to allow Ireland to camp on the Welsh try line. Wallace has put Irish noses in front, though O’Gara missed the conversion. Still too many unforced errors from the Irish. Looks like a tight game to the end. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and …
Possibly connected to the previous post, possibly.. Irish Eagle declares an interest while noting the Irish National Baseball Team and the Sunday Times’s article on the haphazard history of America’s national sport in Ireland and the making of the movie of that history. John also links to the blog of the movie, currently showing in the US. Pete Baker
Kieran Deeney has a letter in today’s Newsletter supporting the Maze bid, arguing that Belfast is not Northern Ireland: It is now about time that this whole mindset is made redundant ie that “Belfast is Northern Ireland” and that everything, and all, should be built or provided in our city. Of our 1.7 million people, 350,000 approximately reside in Belfast (ie just 20.5 per cent of our population) and, therefore, approximately 1,350,000 (or just less than 80 per cent) live …
The row over the proposed new stadium for football, GAA and rugby rumbles on.. today, in the Belfast Telegraph DUP MP Jeffrey Donaldson declares his support for the Maze site, the paper also trails tomorrow’s instalment, when the former Assembly Sports Minister, the UUP’s Michael McGimpsey, will put the case against. Meanwhile a seperate, but not unconnected row is emerging – UUP leader Reg Empey is calling for Secretary of State Peter Hain to intervene in the appointments to the …
Brian Kerr talks about the racialist abuse he’s had from ‘supporters’ berating him for including black Irish players in his team. Paul at Northern Irish Magyar has the report. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and Europe. Twitter: @MickFealty
Although the IFA has approved the plans for a new stadium to be built at the site of the Maze Prison, the backers of a rival bid to have one built in Belfast have argued that their bid is still live. There is some political resistence to the move in Belfast City Council. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular …
Discussions in Derry City Council has discussed gifting another GAA club a parcel of seven acres of land, in the Waterside. Unionist councillors estimate that the value of the combined deal would come to £300,000. Gregory Campbell: “Within two weeks, we have two Gaelic clubs, both in Londonderry, both getting effectively free gratis, either land or land at a nominal rent, and other sporting disciplines have major applications in before the council that have not yet been decided upon.” Mick …
Officially nothing has been confirmed, but, as the Irish Examiner reports, it now seems likely that the new manager of the Republic of Ireland football team will be Steve Staunton, and he’ll be joined by Sir Bobby Robson in a full-time advisorial role – if the negotiations are successful. The Guardian also has the story and notes that Staunton, who has no experience in a senior manager’s post although he’s spent this season as a coach at Walsall FC, was …
Proponents of an All Ireland soccer league, were dealt a blow when the Chair of Northern Ireland’s top team this season (by some considerable margin) argued that a slimmed down version of the IFA’s Premiership is the way forward in improving general footballing standards. Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written papers on the impacts of the Internet on politics and the wider media and is a regular guest and speaking events across Ireland, the UK and …
Great piece on George Best by Eammon McCann in today’s Irish Times. He mentions two of his cohorts, Alec Higgins and Van Morrison who have also famously wore their celebrity uncomfortably. By Eammon McCann It was Van Morrison who put George Best into proper context, which was apt. “Too long in exile,” sang the Man on the title track of his hugely underrated 1993 album. “Just like George Best, baby…just like Alex Higgins.” Three of maybe half a dozen authentic …
It feels like an unbearably sad day. Whatever time is left to him, George Best is not coming back from this one. He may have been a drunk, endlessly foolish, and unconscionably unkind to his family, but I defy anyone to deny that when he played he made you feel two foot taller, just because you were from Belfast, Northern Ireland or just plain Irish. I don’t want to steal anyone else’s thunder today, so I’ll just ask the other …
Lets hear it for Eddie O’Sullivan. Not only is David Humphries starting the game on Saturday against Romania, but he’s to lead the team. Arguably this is the first chance he’s had to take risks with the team, but New Zealand’s superlative performances demonstrated that you need to a squad not simply a single team to compete in world rugby. Let’s hope his change of strategy pays dividends on Saturday! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. He has written …
