The news that the Maze has been confirmed as the only viable site for a new stadium has been greeting with predictable dismay amongst parts of the sporting community. Rugby and football fans are equally up-in-arms, while GAA fans seem muted on the issue (possibly because they don’t feel ownership of the project). As someone who thinks it’s high time NI had a decent-quality stadium of its own, I’m slightly dismayed at the apparent reaction, but I guess people have …
As if we didn’t already know it, the NI team won’t be heading to Germany for 2006, despite an improved performance and a late defeat to Poland. Perhaps the green and white army can set up some sort of consultancy, teaching other fans something about true support. I didn’t see all of the game tonight, but everytime I did, the Polish camera crew were cutting to the NI fans for a bit of excitment! Incidentally, some aren’t too happy at …
Congratulations to Holywood boy Rory McIlroy on winning the West of Ireland Open Amateur Golf Championship at Rosses Point in Sligo, at the grand old age of 15. Last time I saw him, he’d just flown back from Florida with his dad where they’d been reccying a course in preparation for the the World Under Tens Championship (back in 98, I think) in time to grab a bite to eat and up and out onto the Holywood course. At the …
AFTER much apparent progress to kick sectarianism off the terraces at Northern Ireland football matches, it looks like some fans just can’t keep their bigotry to themselves outside the stadium. Many fans have voiced their disgust at some of the singing in the Botanic Inn and elsewhere, and the whole sorry episode has caused a stir in Our Wee Country.Getting off a flight at Aldergrove yesterday, there were a few NI supporters just arrived back from Manchester and in fine …
If a four nil defeat for NI in Manchester can be look upon as good performance, then the Republic’s one all draw in Tel Aviv, looks like carelessness. A win would have seen them capitalise on an earlier excellent draw in Paris and go top of their group. The 40,000 crowd were kept relatively quiet by a competent Irish performance until a lapse of concentration let Bnei Sakhnin Abbas Suan through in the last minute to snatch a draw. The …
On the subject of top-quality fans, you have to give credit to the great supporters on the Our Wee Country site. In the face of indifference in some quarters to the fate of the NI team, some enterprising people have commissioned some green and white ‘WE EXIST’ wristbands, which you can purchase to showcase your support of Lawrie’s boys. The artist’s impression looks pretty cool, better than the Nike ones.Before we get any complaints – I haven’t ordered one myself, …
So, apart from the 16 minutes where the 4 goals went in, not an appalling performance from Northern Ireland. There’s such an inherent gulf in quality between the players, you can’t really expect anything more than heart, and we got that. A bit of heart in the next game against the world’s minnows wouldn’t go amiss. The NI fans sung the English fans off the park for much of the game, and that’s what really counts… Aaron Scullion
But if it’s football you’re talking about then Tony Cascarino agrees with George Best that Irish unity on the soccer pitch is the only sensible way forward. 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
Thanks to Dave Lee for the heads up on this one. (A very rough looking) George Best has called for the football associations north adn south to take a deep breath and join forces to put together a world class soccer team. Meanwhile, Lawrie Sanchez prepares for the England match on Saturday.The irrepressible Iain Dowie reckons Northern Ireland has a chance: Latvia’s miraculous qualification for Euro 2004 is a model for the likes of Northern Ireland. ‘Absolutely,’ enthuses Dowie. ‘There’s …
Had enough bad news about Ireland’s rugby washout on Saturday? Well Brendan Fannings been brooding about how Landsdowne Road limited seating is being bought up by wealthier away fans turning it increasingly into an away ground. He doesn’t see prices dropping with the new 50,000 seater. Indeed one of the revolutions of the big Italian stadia like the San Siro, is that’s it’s brought cheap seats to big sport. Now, there’s always Croker! Mick FealtyMick is founding editor of Slugger. …
DESPITE a late attempt at a comeback, Ireland’s six nations rugby hopes ended a few minutes ago. Fair play to the Welsh, who put on a great performance today and throughout the competition – their first Grand Slam in almost 30 years. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
I’ve been of the opinion that we had been riding our luck in recent matches.. today, that luck ran out.. next week – Wales. Pete Baker
It was close, far too close.. and some might say Ireland were lucky to get the win.. but it was a win!. Two tough games still to come – France, at Lansdowne Road, on Saturday 12th March.. and Wales, in Cardiff, the week after. Pete Baker
NOW that the Maze site has got the official nod for the new sports stadium, what will we call it? Should the Government hold a competition? Talkback has had a few suggestions phoned in – The Pinnacle, The Oasis, The Amazing (geddit?) – but none seemed to capture my imagination. My prediction? The Coca Cola Stadium, if you’ll excuse the cynicism. Can Sluggerettes do better? Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
SPORT is big in today’s news, and – as first revealed on Slugger – it seems as though the Maze Prison site is well ahead in the race for the location of the new NI sports stadium. While a decision has yet to be finalised, cross-party agreement means that the Belfast site is unlikely to get a look in now. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
A PROBE into security arrangements at last night’s high profile Brandywell football match between Linfield and Derry City is to take place after the PSNI admitted it failed to prevent some minor trouble. Minor trouble flared as Linfield fans left on buses, and as the PSNI is not welcome in the Bogside, a private security firm had been employed to provide security near the grounds. A sad end to what had been a promising and groundbreaking day. Belfast Gonzosluggerotoole.com
It was sad to hear that there was trouble at last night’s historic game when Linfield returned to the Brandywell after 36 years. The game ended with a 1-1 draw with little trouble in the stadium. However after the match buses taking the Linfield supporters home were damaged when missiles, mainly stones and fireworks, were thrown by hooligans. Luckily nobody was seriously injured, but buses were damaged and several people were treated for shock. Football fans attacked after game Ambrose …
Angela Smith, the current minister with responsibility for Culture Arts and Leisure, has confirmed the shortlist of three sites for the proposed £55m multi-sports stadium – the Maze Prison site, the North Foreshore of Belfast Lough and the Titanic Quarter in east Belfast. (BTW check out the welcome page of DCAL) Pete Baker
And now for something completely different…. “The Defence Minister of Dubai, Sheik Mohammed Al Maktoum has won the Al Wathba Cup 160km long distance race on a horse he bought in Northern Ireland last September.” NI Horse Gallops To Dubai Success Ambrose Uprichard
Congratulations to the Ulster rugby team, after fending off some serious pressure from Edinburgh they manages to stay ahead and grab all the points at Ravenhill this evening. Still they remain a long way off the top (and trailing Connacht by three points) in the Celtic league 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, …
