Showing articles from the year 2009
Clear filterSo Wigan Athletic’s Marlon King has been jailed for 18 months after breaking a woman’s nose because she spurned his advances in a nightclub. He’ll not be missed. We’re not saying people aren’t deserving of a second chance in life but King had 13 previous convictions and we wouldn’t want him at our club.
We’ve heard from a number of Sunderland fans today who’ve been told by the club that they’re receiving bans following the now infamous Central Station incident. In brief, four fans were hospitalised and many more injured (no police were hurt) as supporters returning from their club’s pre-season tie with Hearts were met by Northumbria Police. You can read more on the campaign around Sunderland fans at Central Station here.
It’s been a busy day at Newcastle United with news that owner Mike Ashley has decided to take the club off the market, after no bids matched his £80m price tag. Ashley also pledged to invest a further £20m and confirmed Chris Hughton will be permanent manager until the end of the season at least after taking the Magpies to the top of the Championship.
It’s not very often we write about men with odd shaped balls but we’re willing to make the odd exception when it’s for a good cause – and the National Association of Disabled Supporters’ involvement with rugby league’s Wigan Warriors certainly falls into that category. Back in January we explained how the Never Watch Alone initiative would allow fans with disabilities to attend their team’s matches through a network of volunteers built up in Wigan.
We first heard of Section 27 (from the Violent Crime Reduction Act of 2006) in November 2007 after dozens of Stoke fans contacted us complaining of its use. The Act gives police the power to effectively ban individuals from specific areas for 48 hours. The FSF argued its use had been unlawful and eventually police compensated Stoke fans. It was a big victory and showed what can be achieved by normal fans.
There’s not much we can really add to Darren Bent’s bonus ball winner against Liverpool, is there? We have learned two things from the incident though. Firstly, it shouldn’t have stood. Secondly, Rafa can be very gracious in defeat – maybe it’s all the recent practice he’s had.
Imagine our surprise this morning when we flicked through the papers and spotted that Leeds United have banned The Guardian from Elland Road. This is on the back of a series of articles bringing the club’s ownership into question by the paper’s David Conn – a sportswriter so good we only went and gave him our Football Writer of the Year for 2009 award.
John Portsmouth Football Club Westwood is arguably the best known football fan in England. Not only does he follow Pompey week in, week out but – as you might already have guessed – he even changed his name by deed poll just in case you couldn’t work out who he supported. But news reaches us that on Saturday he was thrown out, along with five or six other Pompey fans, during his team’s home game with Spurs. And the reason given to Westwood for his eviction? “Taking the Mickey out of the stewards.”
Every week we have our column in the Daily Mirror’s Saturday Mania section which gives us the chance to flag up fan issues that otherwise might slip by the mainstream media. See below for the latest piece and let us know if there’s anything you think we should be reporting on.
Welcome to a quietest version of The Week That Was for some time. International weeks are usually bad enough, but with the majority of the qualifications for the World Cup already decided, there was even less to talk about, apart from whether you actually shelled out to watch England on your laptop.
Free Lions 97 and 98 covered England’s crucial, era-defining, all or nothing World Cup qualifiers away to Ukraine and home to Belarus. Ok, ok – they weren’t exactly make or break but that doesn’t mean you want to miss out on either issue.
Free Lions 97 and 98 covered England’s crucial, era-defining, all or nothing World Cup qualifiers away to Ukraine and home to Belarus. Ok, ok – they weren’t exactly make or break but that doesn’t mean you want to miss out on either issue.
Word reaches us that European champions Barcelona are to speak at Supporters Direct’s (SD) upcoming conference in Birmingham this Friday October 16th. Barca are, of course, the world’s most famous fan-owned club and have history with SD – in the nicest possible way.
The collectors among you might remember that last month we told you about the charity auction organised by the National Association of Disabled Supporters via the bid4sport website. You could even get your hands on a signed Kieron Richardson photo (hold back baying masses!) alongside plenty of other must have goodies. Their auction is due to close tomorrow (Thursday October 15) so this is your last chance to bid for items which include shirts signed by the squads of:
Pay up Pompey, Pompey pay up. The South Coast club narrowly avoided administration as Ali Al Faraj stepped in to take over from Sulaiman Al Fahim who did have enough cash. Then didn’t. Then did. Then didn’t need it because someone else stepped up to the plate. We think. Football’s a confusing business, our head is spinning and please God can we have a decent fit-and-proper-person test?
Over the past week or so we’ve heard from a lot of Burnley fans who are rightly angry that their club’s Premier League trip to Ewood Park has been designated a ‘bubble match’. Bubble matches are games where ALL away fans must travel on designated transport from a specific pick up point. No independent travel is allowed, although supporters’ coaches may be used, and fans are usually given match tickets en route to the game.
Every week we have our own column in the Daily Mirror’s Saturday Mania section giving us the chance to voice the fans’ consensus on the day’s hot potatoes and highlight issues which could otherwise slip by.
The phone has been buzzing off the hook today with news that England’s World Cup qualifier in Ukraine on Saturday is going to be broadcast on the internet only. If you want to watch the Three Lions play an uncompetitive competitive game (if you catch our drift) you’re going to have to fork out at least £4.99, and that price will rise Easyjet-style the closer it gets to the game, up to £11.99 on Saturday.
The phone has been buzzing off the hook today with news that England’s World Cup qualifier in Ukraine on Saturday is going to be broadcast on the internet only. If you want to watch the Three Lions play an uncompetitive competitive game (if you catch our drift) you’re going to have to fork out at least £4.99, and that price will rise Easyjet-style the closer it gets to the game, up to £11.99 on Saturday.
Europe dominated the football landscape this week, and we’re not talking about a return of the 80s power balladeers responsible for The Final Countdown playing a stadium tour. Here’s our at-a-glance guide to the English teams’ performances in continental compeition this week:
