Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Liverpool: Lacklustre Reds Blown Away by Wanderers

TAO: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Liverpool: Lacklustre Reds Blown Away by Wanderers A lacklustre Liverpool were blown away by Bolton Wanderers in blustery conditions at The Reebok Stadium. Owen Coyle’s struggling side more than deserved a welcome three points as they outplayed, outmanoeuvred and outfought a below-par Liverpool, who produced one of their worst displays since …

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Away Referee For City V Hull City

More than half the games this referee has had this season have resulted in away wins The currently appointed referee for Coventry City’s Championship game against Hull City on Saturday is Paul Tierney from Lancashire. Paul got into refereeing after seeing a poster advertising a referees course at a sports centre. He was appointed to …

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SUPER LEAGUE CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDE

SUPER LEAGUE CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDE Compiled by Ian Laybourn, Press Association Sport Rugby League Correspondent Coach: Mick Potter (since November 2010). Captain (joint): Heath L’Estrange and Matt Diskin. 2011 leading scorers: tries – Shad Royston 10; goals – Patrick Ah Van 87; points – Patrick Ah Van 210. Biggest Super League win: 96-16 (v Salford, 2000). …

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Kieran Trippier signs permanent Burnley deal

Published on Tuesday 3 January 2012 12:12 Burnley Football Club is delighted to announce that Kieran Trippier has this morning signed a permanent three-and-a-half-year deal with the Clarets. The Manchester City defender has been one of the stand-out performers since arriving on a season-long loan from the Etihad Stadium last July. And the two clubs …

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Features

Friday night lights, the form of Sean St. Ledger and the rare possibility of a decent game between Liverpool and Man United is what we’re looking at in the FA Cup this weekend. Could Friday night football take off? It’s something that came to mind when Liverpool played Oldham in the third round: Is there …

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Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Liverpool: Lacklustre Reds Blown Away by WanderersAway Referee For City V Hull CitySUPER LEAGUE CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDEKieran Trippier signs permanent Burnley dealFeatures

Jan
28

Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Liverpool: Lacklustre Reds Blown Away by Wanderers

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anfield Bolton Wanderers 3 1 Liverpool: Lacklustre Reds Blown Away by Wanderers

TAO: Bolton Wanderers 3-1 Liverpool: Lacklustre Reds Blown Away by Wanderers

A lacklustre Liverpool were blown away by Bolton Wanderers in blustery conditions at The Reebok Stadium. Owen Coyle’s struggling side more than deserved a welcome three points as they outplayed, outmanoeuvred and outfought a below-par Liverpool, who produced one of their worst displays since Kenny Dalglish returned to the club more than 12 months ago. Following a disappointing 0-0 home draw with Stoke City last weekend, Dalglish made four changes to his starting eleven, with fit-again Daniel Agger returning along with Maxi Rodriguez, Craig Bellamy and Andy Carroll. But, if the Scot thought the changes would freshen up his side, he was to be mistaken. With the worst home record in all four of England’s top divisions, Bolton were expected to find life difficult again. But, to their credit, Wanderers immediately took the game to the Reds, a tactic which was rewarded after only 4 minutes. A clever flick from former Reds’ striker David Ngog found Mark Davies free 35 yards out. The midfield schemer was able to advance unchallenged into the visitors’ box before calmly slotting the ball past Pepe Reina. Minutes later, Chris Eagles dispossessed the day-dreaming Jose Enrique and brilliantly wriggled his way into the box, before prodding a cross-cum-shot past the far post. Shell-shocked by the home team’s start, Liverpool struggled to get a foothold in the game, with passes consistently going astray. Just before the half-hour mark, they had an appeal for a penalty turned down when the ball appeared to strike the hand of Bolton centre-half Zat Knight, but 60 seconds later, they were picking the ball out of their own net again. Once again the Liverpool marking was non-existent as Eagles was able to break into the box and find Bolton skipper Nigel Reo-Coker, who chested down and finished from close range. Finding themselves 2-0 down, the Reds finally showed some flashes of interest. Bellamy’s pace and directness caused problems as he got round the back of the Bolton defence a couple of times, before Carroll’s clever pass set the Welshman away, only to fire straight at keeper Adam Bogdan. On 37 minutes though, the same combination combined to halve the deficit. Carroll rose highest to flick on for Bellamy to outstrip the defence then coolly despatch past Bogdan. After a torrid first-half, the fact that the Reds only found themselves a goal down was enough to expect a second-half improvement. But within five minutes of the restart, Bolton restored their two-goal lead and effectively killed off the game. Martin Petrov’s out-swinging corner led to David Wheater out-jumping the ineffective Liverpool defence, allowing full-back Gretar Steinsson to superbly volley into the corner to give Bolton their first 3-goal haul against the Reds since 1950. Disgusted with his side’s performance, Dalglish made changes with the disappointing Maxi and Adam replaced by Stewart Downing and Dirk Kuyt. Downing did tee up Carroll, who summed up his Liverpool career to date by failing to connect with a left-foot shot, but, apart from a 30-yard Agger shot which struck the bar, the Reds failed to exert any real pressure on the opposition goal. The win was only Bolton’s third home success of the season and moves the Trotters’ out of the relegation zone. For Liverpool, with top-four rivals Chelsea and Newcastle United both dropping points earlier in the day, this was another missed opportunity. The Reds now face a daunting few weeks, hosting both Manchester sides in the Cup competitions this week, whilst also playing United, Tottenham Hotspur and Everton in the league before the end of February. After a performance lacking in quality, and most worryingly effort and endeavour, Dalglish will be looking for his team to make amends quickly.

View the full story here: The Anfield Opinion

A news article on 2012-01-22 10:34:00 from: The Anfield Opinion

This news item has been reproduced from today’s media. It does not necessarily represent the opinion of Kop That.

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Jan
28

Away Referee For City V Hull City

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1327721107 34 Away Referee For City V Hull City

More than half the games this referee has had this season have resulted in away wins

The currently appointed referee for Coventry City’s Championship game against Hull City on Saturday is Paul Tierney from Lancashire.

Paul got into refereeing after seeing a poster advertising a referees course at a sports centre. He was appointed to the Referees list in 2008.

So far this season, he has had seventeen matches and shown 59 yellows and eight red cards. Of those seventeen game (two of which were Championship matches), the home side has only won four times, with four draws.

The good news is that City have not lost a game he has been in charge of.

His last City game was the 1-1 draw at Middlesbrough back in August and his only other City match was the 0-0 draw at Reading in December 2010

His assistants are Geoff Law from Leicestershire and David Naylor from Nottinghamshire. The Fourth Official is Michael Blackledge from Cambridgeshire.

The first ever Premier League goal was scored by Brian Deane of Sheffield United in a 2? I don't know what this is. Two goals from Adebayor, one from Modric and another from Defoe helped the Spurs climb to 11th place in the standings with 6 points, while the Reds fall to No. The 2009-2010 Premier League Teams: Aston Villa Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Bolton Wanderers Burnley Chelsea Everton Fulham Hull City Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United - 2008-2009 Champs Portsmouth Stoke City Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur West Ham United Wigan Athletic Wolverhampton Wanderers Premier League Fixtures, Results and Tables The league consists of 38 games, each team playing all of the other 19 teams twice, once at home and once away. There are so many vested interests in maintaining the status quo that the only way the situation will change is from the actions of if the hand that feeds the clubs takes action. Wigan shocks Chelsea 3-1 - Wigan snapped Chelsea's perfect record with a 3-1 win at home. Whatever it is that Mark Hughes thinks that his club is actually doing the right thing in pursuing Kaka, I personally cannot swallow the fact that they seem to be flaunting their money as a bait for these established stars. Manchester United (9 points) is tied in first place with the Citizens, but having a better goal average (+10 over +9 respectively) puts them on top. Up next they will face one of the toughest rivals of the season when they play Chelsea at home on Sunday, in the most appealing game of round 5. I am attempting to figure it all out. I can say, however, that to my knowledge, it is quite accurate. Unfortunately for the Gunners, they had no luck and a really great effort left them with nothing. Let's see how their recovery goes. He also gets his fair share of goals too. Comrades will love english premier league if there were not limits. Additionally, you should do this wherever this did contribute to the problem. There was something better than english premier league games online. By all means, after you. A wonderful example is english premier league jerseys but you may discover barclay english premier league being locally sold. Hopefully next season will be even better! That is basically mass produced version of english premier league.

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Jan
28

SUPER LEAGUE CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDE

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SUPER LEAGUE CLUB-BY-CLUB GUIDE

Compiled by Ian Laybourn, Press Association Sport Rugby League Correspondent

Coach: Mick Potter (since November 2010).

Captain (joint): Heath L’Estrange and Matt Diskin.

2011 leading scorers: tries – Shad Royston 10; goals – Patrick Ah Van 87; points – Patrick Ah Van 210.

Biggest Super League win: 96-16 (v Salford, 2000).

Biggest Super League defeat: 66-4 (v St Helens, 2005).

Ground and capacity: Odsal, 26,019.

2010 average attendance: 13,967 (up 5,531).

Record Super League attendance: 24,020 (v Leeds 1999).

In: Manase Manuokafoa (Parramatta), Keith Lulia (Newcastle Knights), Luke Gale (Harlequins), Jarrod Sammut, Elliott Kear (both Crusaders), Adrian Purtell (Penrith Panthers), Karl Pryce (Wigan).

Out: Patrick Ah Van (Widnes) Shad Royston (Pia), Marc Herbert (released), Andy Lynch (Hull), Gareth Raynor (Featherstone), Cain Southernwood (Dewsbury, on season-long loan), Steve Crossley (released).

Odds to finish top: 50-1 (William Hill).

Prospects: The pressure is coach Mick Potter to avoid another season of under-achievement and the play-offs could once more be out of the Bulls’ reach. Andy Lynch is a big loss for them.

Coach: Ian Millward (since November 2011).

2011 leading scorers: tries – Rangi Chase, Richard Owen, Nick Youngquest 12; goals: Kirk Dixon 84; points – Kirk Dixon 196.

Biggest Super League win: 74-16 (v Salford, 2002).

Biggest Super League defeat: 62-0 (v Warrington, 2011) (also lost 68-12 v St Helens, 2008).

Ground and capacity: The Probiz Coliseum (formerly Wheldon Road), 11,750.

2011 average attendance: 7,156 (up 540).

Record Super League attendance: 11,731 (v Leeds, 2004).

In: Josh Griffin (Huddersfield), Steve Nash (Leigh), Lee Mitchell, Ryan Shaw (both Warrington, on loan, Grant Millington (Canterbury Bulldogs), James Grehan (Limoux).

Out: Nick Fozzard (Dewsbury), Dean Widders (returned to Australia), Willie Isa (Widnes), Greg Eden (Huddersfield), Martin Aspinwall (Hull), Richard Mathers (Wakefield on season-long loan).

Odds to finish top: 66-1.

Prospects: New coach Ian Millward will need to call on all his nous if he is to take the Tigers into the play-offs. They will rely heavily on 2011 Man of Steel Rangi Chase.

Coach: Trent Robinson (since November 2010).

Captain: Gregory Mounis.

2011 leading scorers: tries – Damien Blanch 20; goals – Scott Dureau 92; points – Scott Dureau 233.

Biggest Super League win: 66-6 (v Salford, 2007).

Biggest Super League defeat: 60-12 (v Leeds, 2006).

Ground and capacity: Gilbert Brutus Stadium, 13,000.

2011 average attendance: 8,387 (up 1,573).

Record Super League attendance: 11,122 (v Wigan, 2006, at Stade Aime Giral) (also drew 18,150 for visit of Warrington to Barcelona’s Olympic Stadium in 2009).

In: Leon Pryce (St Helens), Louis Anderson (Warrington), Julian Bousquet (Lezignan).

Out: Ben Farrar (Manly), Sebastien Martins (Lezignan).

Odds to finish top: 14-1.

Prospects: Trent Robinson has made a couple of significant additions to his squad and they look sure to be competitive, especially on home soil. Despite an early glut of injuries, the Dragons could be an outside bet for Old Trafford.

Coach: Nathan Brown (since December 2008).

Captain: Kevin Brown.

2011 leading scorers: tries – Jermaine McGilvary 16; goals – Danny Brough 82; points – Danny Brough 197.

Biggest Super League win: 68-16 (v Leigh, 2005) (also 52-0 and 58-6 v Wakefield, 2010).

Biggest Super League defeat: 86-6 (v Leeds, 1999).

Ground and capacity: Galpharm Stadium, 24,500.

2011 average attendance: 7,147 (down 86).

Record Super League attendance: 15,629 (v Leeds, 2008).

In: Jason Chan (Crusaders), Aaron Murphy, Tommy Lee, Luke George (all Wakefield), Greg Eden (Castleford), Tony Tonks (Featherstone).Out: Darrell Griffin (Leeds), David Hodgson, Graeme Horne, Keal Carlile (all Hull KR), Gregg McNally (Leigh), Josh Griffin (Castleford), Kyle Wood, Andy Raleigh, Danny Kirmond (all Wakefield), Elliott Hodgson, Jamie Simpson (both (released).

Odds to finish top: 16-1.

Prospects: Nathan Brown will be keen to finish on a high as he prepares to return to Australia and the Giants look a shoe-in for the top eight but they do not look as strong this year and another top-four finish looks a tall order.

Coach: Peter Gentle (since November 2011).

2011 leading scorers: tries – Kirk Yeaman 21; goals – Danny Tickle 83; points – Danny Tickle 202.

Biggest Super League win: 82-6 (v Salford, 2004).

Biggest Super League defeat: 64-10 (v St Helens, 2002) – also lost 71-0 at Bradford in 2005 play-offs.

Ground and capacity: KC Stadium, 25,404.

2011 average attendance: 12,431 (down 1,583).

Record Super League attendance: 23,004 (v Hull KR, 2007).

In: Jamie Ellis (Leigh), Aaron Heremaia, Brett Seymour (both New Zealand Warriors), Wade McKinnon (Wests Tigers), Eamon O’Carroll (Wigan), Andy Lynch (Bradford), Tony Martin (Crusaders), Martin Aspinwall (Castleford), Mike Burnett (returned from loan at Harlequins).

Out: Sean Long, Lee Radford, Craig Fitzgibbon (all retired), Martin Gleeson, Ewan Dowes (both released), Cameron Phelps (Widnes), Epalahame Lauaki (Wigan), Danny Washbrook (Wakefield), Sam Obst (Keighley).

Odds to finish top: 20-1.

Prospects: Hull have presented new coach Peter Gentle with a much-changed squad and all look quality additions so an assault on the top four could be on.

Coach: Craig Sandercock (since November 2011).

2011 leading scorers: tries – Kris Welham 24; goals – Michael Dobson 76; points – Michael Dobson 179.

Biggest Super League win: 70-14 (v Wakefield, 2011).

Biggest Super League defeat: 60-20 (v Warrington, 2007 – also lost 40-0 v St Helens, 2010 and 56-6 v Catalan Dragons in 2011 play-offs).

Ground and capacity: Craven Park, 10,250.

2011 average attendance: 8,320 (up 86).

Record Super League attendance: 10,250 (v Hull, 2011).

In: David Hodgson, Graeme Horne, Keal Carlile (all Huddersfield), Lincoln Withers, Ryan O’Hara (both Crusaders), George Griffin (Queanbeyan Kangaroos), Micky Paea (Canterbury Bulldogs), Constantine Mika, Shannon McDonnell (both Newcastle).

Out: Clint Newton (Penrith Panthers) Mick Vella (retired), Ben Fisher (Batley), Shaun Briscoe (Widnes), Liam Colbon, Matt Cook (both London Broncos), Peter Fox (Wakefield).

Odds to finish top: 40-1.

Prospects: Rovers have lost a lot of experience and 2012 could be a year of consolidation under new coach Craig Sandercock, especially after losing playmaker Blake Green for much of it with a blood clot.

Coach: Brian McDermott (since November 2010).

Captain: Kevin Sinfield.

2011 leading scorers (including play-offs): tries – Ryan Hall 28; goals – Kevin Sinfield 138; points – Kevin Sinfield 286.

Biggest Super League win: 86-6 (v Huddersfield, 1999).

Biggest Super League defeat: 68-14 (v Wigan, 1996).

Ground and capacity: Headingley, 20,000.

2011 average attendance: 14,669 (down 568).

Record Super League attendance: 23,035 (v Bradford 2003).

In: Darrell Griffin (Huddersfield), Richard Moore (Crusaders), Luke Ambler (returned from loan at Harlequins).

Out: Keith Senior (released), Luke Burgess (South Sydney), Ben Cross (Widnes), Danny Buderus (Newcastle), Kyle Amor, Ali Lauitiiti (both Wakefield).

Odds to finish top: 6-1.

Prospects: No one will under-estimate the Rhinos after last year’s incredible achievement and they will once more be pushing for Old Trafford.

LONDON BRONCOS (formerly HARLEQUINS RL)

Coach: Rob Powell (since November 2010).

2011 leading scorers: tries – Luke Dorn 13; goals – Luke Gale 75; points – Luke Gale 184.Biggest Super League win: 72-8 (v Wakefield, 2005).

Biggest Super League defeat: 82-6 (v Warrington, 2011).

Ground and capacity: Twickenham Stoop, 15,000.

2011 average attendance: 3,132 (down 248).

Record Super League attendance: 9,638 (v Paris, at The Valley, 1996).

In: Craig Gower (French RU), Mark Bryant, Michael Witt (both Crusaders), Antonio Kaufusi (Newcastle Knights), Shane Rodney (Manly), Julien Rinaldi (Wakefield), Jarrad Hickey (Wakefield, to be confirmed), Michael Robertson (Manly), Liam Colbon, Matt Cook (both Hull KR).

Out: Luke Gale (Bradford), Rob Purdham (retired), Andy Ellis, Oliver Wilkes (both Wakefield), David Williams (London Skolars), Mark Burnett (returned from loan spell to Hull), Nick Kouparitsas, Danny Ward, Mark Calderwood (all released), Luke Ambler (returned to Leeds after loan spell), Karl Pryce (returned from loan spell to Wigan).

Odds to finish top: 80-1.

Prospects: After a dismal 2011, the only way is up for Rob Powell’s men in their new guise and, with a host of quality signings, they ought to be pushing for a play-off spot.

Coach: Phil Veivers (since November 2011).

Captain: Stephen Wild.

2011 leading scorers: tries – Jodie Broughton 14; goals – Daniel Holdsworth 68; points – Daniel Holdsworth 164.

Biggest Super League win: 56-16 (v Bradford, 2011).

Biggest Super League defeat: 96-16 (v Bradford, 2000).

Ground and capacity: Salford Community Stadium, 12,000.

2011 average attendance: 4,754 (up 588).

Record Super League attendance: 10,146 (v Catalan 2011).

In: Shannan McPherson (South Sydney), Ben Gledhill, Josh Veivers, Stuart Howarth (all Wakefield), Joel Moon (New Zealand Warriors), Jordan James (Crusaders), Matty Ashurst (St Helens).

Out: Stefan Ratchford (Warrington), Ray Cashmere, Mark Henry (both returned to Australia), Jack Spencer (Wests Tigers), Rob Parker, Adam Clay (both Leigh).

Odds to finish top: 80-1.

Prospects: A new home and a new coach, but it is hard to see a change in fortunes for the City Reds, who will sorely miss departed duo Ray Cashmere and Stefan Ratchford.

Coach: Royce Simmons (since November 2010).

Captain: Paul Wellens.

2011 leading scorers (including play-offs): tries – Jamie Foster 21; goals – Jamie Foster 123; points – Jamie Foster 330.

Biggest Super League win: 78-4 (v Leigh, 2005).

Biggest Super League defeat: 70-0 (v Leeds, 2004).

Ground and capacity: Langtree Park, 18,000.

2011 average attendance (at Widnes): 7,975 (down 3,594).

Record Super League attendance: 18,098 (v Warrington, 1996).

In: Lance Hohaia (New Zealand Warriors), Anthony Laffranchi (Gold Coast), Mark Flanagan (Wests Tigers).

Out: James Graham (Canterbury Bulldogs), Kyle Eastmond (Bath RU), Leon Pryce (Catalan Dragons), Matty Ashurst (Salford), Scott Moore (Widnes), Tom Armstrong (Swinton), Gareth Frodsham (Batley).

Odds to finish top: 10-3.

Prospects: Saints begin life after James Graham at an impressive new home and, despite the loss of their inspirational forward, they are sure to be gunning for a seventh consecutive appearance at Old Trafford.

WAKEFIELD TRINITY WILDCATS

Coach: Richard Agar (since November 2011).

Captain: Steve Southern.

2011 leading scorers: tries – Chris Dean 8; goals – Josh Veivers 22; points – Josh Griffin 62.

Biggest Super League win: 68-6 (v Halifax, 2003).

Biggest Super League defeat: 72-8 (v London, 2005).

Ground and capacity: Rapid Solicitors Stadium (formerly Belle Vue), 11,000.

2011 average attendance: 6,552 (up 568).

Record Super League attendance: 11,000 (v Castleford, 2006).In: Issac John (New Zealand Warriors), Oliver Wilkes, Andy Ellis (both Harlequins), Vince Mellars (Crusaders), Kyle Amor, Ali Lauitiiti (both Leeds), Kyle Wood, Andy Raleigh, Danny Kirmond (all Huddersfield), Ben Cockayne (Featherstone), Peter Fox (Hull KR), Steve Southern (Newcastle Knights), Dean Collis (Cronulla), Danny Washbrook (Hull), Tim Smith (Cronulla), Matt James (Barrow), Paul Aiton (Cronulla), Richard Mathers (Castleford, on season-long loan).

Out: Chris Dean (Widnes), Paul King (York), Tommy Lee, Aaron Murphy, Luke George (all Huddersfield), Julien Rinaldi, Jarrad Hickey (both Harlequins), Ben Gledhill, Josh Veivers, Stu Howarth (all Salford), Glenn Morrison, Matt Blaymire (both retired), Michael Korkidas, Semi Tadulala (both Keighley), Liam Higgins (Sheffield), Kevin Penny (Swinton), Jeremy Smith, Kevin Henderson, Samy Masselot, Ryan Tongia, Greg Johnson (all released), Gareth Moore (Batley).

Odds to finish top: 150-1.

Prospects: Pretty much an unknown quantity, it is all change for the Wildcats under new coach Richard Agar with 18 new signings and it could take time for his new-look side to gel.

Coach: Tony Smith (since March 2009).

Captain: Adrian Morley.

2011 leading scorers (including play-offs): tries – Joel Monaghan 26; goals – Brett Hodgson 121; points – Brett Hodgson 314.

Biggest Super League win: 62-0 (v Castleford, 2011) (also 66-6 v Halifax, 2003).

Biggest Super League defeat: 72-2 (v St Helens, 2002).

Ground and capacity: Halliwell Jones Stadium, 15,000.

2011 average attendance: 11,149 (up 411).

Record Super League attendance: 14,206 (v Wakefield, 2004).

In: Trent Waterhouse (Penrith Panthers), Chris Hill (Leigh), Stefan Ratchford (Salford).

Out: Matt King (South Sydney), Louis Anderson (Catalan Dragons), Jon Clarke (Widnes), Lee Mitchell, Ryan Shaw (both Castleford on loan).

Odds to finish top: 9-4.

Prospects: Tony Smith has sensibly kept changes to a minimum and the Wolves look the team to beat in 2012. If they can keep their nerve when it comes to the play-offs, they could be celebrating a maiden Grand-Final victory.

Coach: Denis Betts (since November 2010).

2011 finish: 5th in Championship.

2011 leading scorers: tries – Steven Tyrer 12; goals – Steve Tyrer 69; points – Steve Tyrer – 186.

Biggest Super League win: 46-10 (v Hull, 2003) (also won 52-22 v Halifax 2002).

Biggest Super League defeat: 70-4 (v Hull, 2004) (also lost 74-24 v Bradford, 2005).

Ground and capacity: Stobart Stadium, 13,350.

2011 average attendance: 3,744 (up 886).

Record Super League attendance: 9,825 (v Warrington, 2005).

In: Willie Isa (Castleford), Shaun Briscoe (Hull KR), Ben Davies, Ben Cross (both Wigan), Frank Winterstein, Rhys Hanbury, Lloyd White, Hep Cahill (all Crusaders), Chris Dean (Wakefield), Patrick Ah Van (Bradford), Jon Clarke (Warrington), Scott Moore (St Helens), Anthony Watts (Sydney Roosters), Stefan Marsh (Wigan on season-long loan), Cameron Phelps (Hull), Sione "John" Kite (Melbourne).

Out: Richard Varkulis (Whitehaven), Danny Hulme, Lee Hudson, Chris Lunt (all North Wales), Chaz I’Anson (Swinton), Matt Gardner (Leigh), Danny Sculthorpe, Gareth Haggerty, Shane Grady, Dean Gaskell, Dave Houghton, Greg Scott, James Coyle, Daniel Heckenberg (all released), Tangi Ropati (Featherstone), Anthony Thackeray, Steve Tyrer (both (Halifax).

Odds to finish top: 200-1.

Prospects: Denis Betts has a difficult task in moulding all his new faces into an effective unit and it could be a long, hard summer on the Vikings’ return to the top flight.

Coach: Shaun Wane (since November 2011).

Captain: Sean O’Loughlin.

2011 leading scorers (including play-offs): tries – Sam Tomkins 28; goals – Pat Richards 115; points – Pat Richards 314.

Biggest Super League win: 78-4 (v Workington, 1996).

Biggest Super League defeat: 70-0 (v Leeds, 2005).Ground and capacity: JJB Stadium, 25,004.

2011 average attendance: 15,287 (up 110).

Record Super League attendance: 25,004 (v St Helens 2005).

In: Ben Flower, Gil Dudson, Rhodri Lloyd (all Crusaders), Epalahame Lauaki (Hull), Anthony Gelling (Auckland Vulcans).

Out: Joel Tomkins (Saracens RU), Ryan Hoffman (Melbourne), Ben Davies, Ben Cross (both Widnes), Paul Deacon, Andy Coley (both retired), Eamon O’Carroll (Hull), Stefan Marsh (Widnes on season-long loan), Kark Pryce (Bradford).

Odds to finish top: 5-2.

Prospects: The Warriors are not as strong following the departure of some experienced personnel but new coach Shaun Wane will have them knocking on the door of Old Trafford.

:: Odds courtesy of William Hill.

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Jan
28

Kieran Trippier signs permanent Burnley deal

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1327718708 28 Kieran Trippier signs permanent Burnley deal

Published on Tuesday 3 January 2012 12:12

Burnley Football Club is delighted to announce that Kieran Trippier has this morning signed a permanent three-and-a-half-year deal with the Clarets.

The Manchester City defender has been one of the stand-out performers since arriving on a season-long loan from the Etihad Stadium last July.

And the two clubs have now agreed an undisclosed fee that will see the 21-year-old remain at Turf Moor until the summer of 2015.

Clarets boss Eddie Howe said: “We are absolutely delighted to have Kieran on board.

“He has been a really huge part of our team, how we have played this year and how we want to go forward.

“He has just got better and better and I can’t speak highly enough of him as a person and as a footballer.

“We are extremely grateful to Manchester City for trusting us and allowing Kieran to come here in the first place.

“In the majority of cases, whenever we take loan players it’s with a view to taking them permanently because I think that’s the best way to use the loan system.

“The only debate was whether Manchester City were prepared to let him go. That was always going to be a sticking point, so we are absolutely delighted to get him.”

Trippier, who becomes the first signing of the January transfer window, is currently the club’s only ever-present outfield player this season, scoring twice in 29 appearances.

And Howe sees the former Barnsley loanee as an important part of his ongoing rebuilding plans at Turf Moor.

He added: “The fact Kieran wants to come here on a long term deal means it’s a two-way thing.

“We are equally delighted that he wants to be here and pledge his long-term future to us.

“That speaks very highly of what we are trying to do and how others see us.

“It’s positive news on a lot of fronts and another part of the jigsaw and I am sure everyone connected with the club will be delighted at the news.”

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Jan
28

Features

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1327716328 97 Features

Friday night lights, the form of Sean St. Ledger and the rare possibility of a decent game between Liverpool and Man United is what we’re looking at in the FA Cup this weekend.

Could Friday night football take off?

It’s something that came to mind when Liverpool played Oldham in the third round: Is there room for Friday night football in the Premier League?

The clubs involved in Europe would no doubt have something to say about it, but on weeks when there is no Champions League or Europa League, Friday night football could certainly work as an alternative to Monday nights, or even the early fixture on Saturday mornings.

The majority of people attending matches themselves wouldn’t have to worry about work the next day, while over here, Premier League football is a far better alternative than the Late Late or Tallafornia on a Friday night, even though it would clash with Airtricity League matches a little further down the line.

This weekend, Everton v Fulham and Watford v Spurs are both on Friday night and although it is just a notion at this stage, it is worth bearing in mind for Premier League bosses in the future.

A shot in the arm for Wenger and Arsenal?

For the second time this season, fans are up in arms at Arsene Wenger after three defeats on the trot saw Arsenal’s title challenge slip away for yet another season.

The Gunners need a win against Aston Villa to get out their current rut and of all the clubs in need of a cup run right now (Liverpool are too, but they have the Carling Cup), Arsenal and Wenger need some faint hope of success to cling onto and the FA Cup is by far their best bet.

Saying that, that was also the case last season until the Carling Cup Final, and we all know what happened next.

Trapwatch: Sean St. Ledger

It’s been a good thing for Sean St. Ledger in the past that playing football for your club isn’t actually a pre-requisite for playing at international level for Ireland. Thankfully for the Ledge, however, he’s actually getting a run of games for Leicester City at the moment, despite having all but packed his bags earlier in the New Year.

The little known wind-blower in the surface at the Walkers Stadium is obviously working a treat

He was particularly impressive against Southampton on Monday night and with Sol Bamba still on African Nations Duty, he should keep his place for the FA Cup clash with Swindon this weekend. At the moment, he’s in pole position to partner Richard Dunne in the summer and the more he plays between now and then, the less chance there is of somebody taking his jersey before the Euros.

Another John Terry handshake saga

Like it or not, but all the build-up to this weekend’s clash between QPR and Chelsea is going to focus on whether or not Anton Ferdinand shakes John Terry’s hand. We’ve been down this road before, of course.

We’re not going to go into the ins and outs of what exactly happened between the pair late last year (that has been done to death already), but it seems a pity that one little gesture is going to overshadow what could be a pretty decent encounter, although it’s hardly going to be a “celebration of football” as was suggested by both clubs during the week.

If history is anything to go by, there’s an opportunity for QPR to capitalise on all the hype because Terry hasn’t exactly performed well under fire in the past. He was hopeless against Arsenal immediately after the Ferdinand scandal broke earlier in the season, while after the Bridge episode a few years back, Chelsea were beaten 4-2 by Man City at Stamford Bridge.

If QPR do win and Terry is at fault, let’s just say it couldn’t happen to a nicer bloke.

Forget the bitterness, any chance of a good game of football?

Because of the whole Evra/Suarez debacle, there will be an extra level of spice added to the already bitter Liverpool/Manchester United rivalry this weekend, but forget that for a second; what are the chances of a decent game breaking out?

Not much, if recent encounters between the pair are anything to go by. They tend to be incredibly tense and boring (the 1-1 draw earlier in the season) or one-sided (Liverpool’s 3-1 victory last season) and rarely do the talking points revolve around something other than an incident that antagonises at least one set of supporters.

Some readers might not remember this, but something along the lines of the cracking 3-3 draw between the sides at Anfield way back in 1994 is what we’re hoping for.

It might be too much to expect, but the FA Cup hasn’t disappointed so far this season, so fingers crossed.

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Jan
28

The Rugby Football League buys Odsal Stadium to safeguard Bradford Bulls’ immediate future

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1327715108 11 The Rugby Football League buys Odsal Stadium to safeguard Bradford Bulls immediate future

The RFL has paid an undisclosed sum in an arrangement that will allow Bradford Bulls to remain at their spiritual home as tenants.

RFL chairman Richard Lewis said the move would bring security to Odsal, which has recently been the subject of predatory approaches.

“This arrangement is absolutely the right thing to do because it safeguards the future of one of the sport’s most famous stadia,” said Lewis.

“Odsal is famous throughout the world and it would be a tragedy were the venue to be lost to the sport in the way that other evocative rugby league venues have already been lost.

“We have paid market value for the stadium and the Bulls will pay market value rental to the RFL to play their home fixtures at Odsal.”

Although plans to turn Odsal into the ‘Wembley of the North’ have been circulating since the 1940s, the RFL has no immediate plans to develop the ground as the sport’s national stadium.

Instead, ownership of Odsal by the RFL will safeguard the stadium at a time when the economic downturn has seen the planned redevelopment of a sporting village concept put on hold.

The RFL already has an established and constantly changing property portfolio which includes ownership and/or interests in many other professional and community rugby league stadia. As a matter of course the governing body regularly sells on and redevelops stadia if it is deemed to be in the best interest of the current tenants and the game as a whole.

Bradford Bulls chairman Peter Hood said the sale of Odsal to the RFL would enable the club to face the future with confidence.

“This is excellent news for Bradford Bulls, for the Bradford district and for the sport,” said Hood. “Odsal is an iconic rugby league venue and is strategically important to the Bradford district, located as it is at the head of the city’s principal access corridor.

“The sale to the RFL safeguards our immediate future and keeps all the options open once the economy recovers from recession.

“On behalf of everyone in Bradford I would like to thank the RFL board of directors for their vision and support by investing in Odsal in the way they have.”

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Jan
28

Soccer shorts – The Irish Times – Thu, Jan 26, 2012

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1327713913 34 Soccer shorts The Irish Times Thu, Jan 26, 2012The Irish Times – Thursday, January 26, 2012

A round-up of today’s other stories in brief

Bilyaletdonov to return home 

EVERTON have agreed a fee to sell winger Diniyar Bilyaletdinov to Spartak Moscow, the Premier League club announced yesterday.

The moves marks a return to his home country for the Russian 26-year-old, who moved to Goodison Park from Lokomotiv Moscow in August 2009.

He has made 77 appearances for the club since, scoring nine goals in the process, but has never fully settled and made a regular starting berth his own on Merseyside.

Phelan says Evra will play against Liverpool 

MANCHESTER UNITED assistant manager Mike Phelan has confirmed Patrice Evra will not be spared the trial of playing at Anfield on Saturday.

United’s FA Cup fourth-round tie with Liverpool will be the first time they have faced their old rivals since Evra levelled racism allegations at Luis Suarez that ended with the Uruguay forward landing an eight-match ban.

Suarez will still be suspended this weekend, a fact that is only likely to heighten the normal antagonism for United from the Kop.

Earlier this season, Alex Ferguson left Wayne Rooney out of his starting line-up to face Liverpool due to the adverse reaction the striker receives in his home city, whilst last season, the United boss did not even take his star forward to former club Everton.

However, it seems Evra, likely to continue as captain in the absence of Nemanja Vidic with a season-ending injury, will be involved.

Saad keeps Libyan dreams alive 

LIBYA kept alive hopes of an African Nations Cup finals fairytale by holding Zambia to a 2-2 draw in their Group A match yesterday.

Veteran striker Ahmed Saad scored twice for the north Africans, who overcame the obstacle of last year’s civil war to qualify for the tournament, being co-hosted by Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

It was the first point for Libya, who must now beat Senegal in their final match at the weekend to have any chance of progressing to the last eight.

Libya lost to Equatorial Guinea in last Saturday’s opening game.

Zambia had to twice fight back in a game delayed by more than an hour because of a torrential downpour that left the pitch virtually unplayable.

Dos Santos set to leave Spurs 

GIOVANI Dos Santos’ spell at Tottenham could be coming to an end after Villarreal and Granada both claimed they are in talks with the Mexican over a move to Spain.

Dos Santos was hailed as one of the brightest prospects in world football when he signed from Barcelona four years ago, but struggled to make an impact and has had subsequent loan spells at Ipswich, Galatasaray and Racing Santander.

The forward, who has made just 15 starts during his time at White Hart Lane, scored and helped set up two more goals in Spurs’ FA Cup win over Cheltenham earlier this month, but is not in Harry Redknapp’s long-term plans and the player himself wants to leave.

Villarreal’s vice-president told elperiodico mediterraneo: “The negotiations are going well and it seems the player wants to come to Villarreal.”

Uefa warn clubs over huge debts 

EUROPEAN clubs were warned yesterday they are running out of time when it comes to financial fair play, as Uefa threatened to impose player bans and points deductions for the continent’s worst offenders from the 2014/15 season.

Figures released by European football’s governing body revealed that clubs lost more than €1.6 billion in 2010 – a 36 per cent increase and the worst statistics on record.

A survey of 665 clubs found that 56 per cent posted losses in the 2010 financial year, with 78 spending more than 100 per cent of their income on wages.

Uefa general secretary Gianni Infantino revealed figures which show that only four of the top 30 leagues in Europe are breaking even, compared with 15 two years previously.

He told a briefing in Nyon: “This is the last wake-up call for everyone, this trend has to change very quickly to safeguard European football.”

Martinez lands Beausejour 

WIGAN Athletic have completed the signing of Chile international midfielder Jean Beausejour from Birmingham City.

The 27-year-old has joined for an undisclosed fee, agreeing a two-and-a-half-year contract with the relegation-threatened Premier League club.

Wigan manager Roberto Martinez told his club’s website yesterday: “Jean is a player we have been tracking for a long time since he made a huge impression on us with his role for Chile in the World Cup.”

Meanwhile, Rangers manager Ally McCoist has confirmed the Scottish Premier league club have rejected a bid thought to in the region of €8 million from West Ham United for striker Nikica Jelavic.

The offer from the English Championship leaders failed to meet the Scottish champions’ valuation of the Croatian.

Jelavic is the club’s top goalscorer with 17 goals this season and has also been linked with Liverpool, West Brom, Fulham and Queen’s Park Rangers.

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Jan
28

.:: Yanks Abroad – International Soccer, Made in America ::.

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pixel .:: Yanks Abroad International Soccer, Made in America ::.Zak Whitbread and Norwich City look to continue in the FA Cup as they take on West Bromwich Albion, while Jonathan Spector and red hot Birmingham City play Sheffield United in cup play as well. West Bromwich Albion – Norwich City Zak Whitbread and Norwich City travel to play West Bromwich Albion in an FA Cup clash this weekend. Whitbread is a regular starter for the Canaries and has featured in the FA Cup. The center back is likely to play on Saturday. City is on a hot streak right now, as they have gone unbeaten in their last five games. In that streak they defeated Burnley 4-1 in the FA Cap. West Brom is coming off a win over Stoke City this past week and beat Cardiff City in their last round win in the FA Cup. The two teams last faced off earlier this month in Premier League play, with the Canaries winning 2-1. Marc Tierney, James Vaughan, Elliot Ward, and Declan Rudd look to miss for Norwich. Christopher Brunt and Zoltan Gera could be sidelined for West Brom. Sheffield United – Birmingham City Jonathan Spector and Birmingham City play Sheffield United in FA Cup action. Spector is a regular starter for the Blues and he could get the start once again this weekend. City goes into the game on a hot streak, having gone unbeaten in their last eight games in all competitions. They beat Watford last week and now are in a playoff spot in the Championship. United lost to Charlton Athletic last week but had won three games straight prior to that. They have only lost two games in their last thirteen. Fans hope that their strong league play translates to FA Cup success. James Beattie will miss due to suspension for United, while Ryan Flynn could return to action after missing time because of illness. Hartlepool United – Carlisle United Frank Simek and Carlisle United take on Hartlepool in League One action this Saturday. Simek is a regular starter for the Cumbrians and should be in the lineup once again this weekend. Carlisle goes into the game on a seven game unbeaten run and hope it continues with a win. They tied against Walsall last week. Hartlepool tied Sheffield Wednesday last week and finds themselves in 14th place in the league. They are ten points above the relegation zone. Newly signed loanee Ben Parker could get his first minutes for the Cumbrians this weekend. Notes Brad Friedel looks to get some rest as all signs point to Tottenham’s backup

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Jan
28

Harry Potts Way

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1327710313 11 Harry Potts Way

The 31st August 1946 was a special day for English football. Not only was it the opening day of the season but the opening day of the first season since 1938/39 because of World War II.

Many players across the country were making their Football League debuts. Turf Moor was no different and one of the debutants was 25 year old Harry Potts at inside-left. Harry had played some war time games for the Clarets but like many others his league career was starting late. His start was in the Second Division.He wore the number 10, the inside-left always did. Not only were there no squad numbers but the numbers always related to the player’s position. He played in 40 of the 42 league games that season and scored 15 goals, making him leading scorer. He also played in all nine FA Cup ties culminating in a Final appearance at Wembley against Charlton Athletic which was lost 1-0.It was a successful season for Harry and the Clarets, not only did we reach the FA Cup Final but finished runners up in the league to Manchester City. It was a long season and didn’t end until 7th June after the worst winter for years.A special day that season for him must have been 21st September as the Clarets won 2-0 against Newcastle United at St. James Park. Harry, from Hetton-le-Hole, Sunderland, scored his first Burnley goals which for a Sunderland man must have given him even more pleasure.He took the step up to the top division in his stride and was again a regular as we ended the season in 3rd place. His contribution was 14 goals in 38 games. In a spell during November and December he scored in six consecutive league games.He continued to show top form during the next two seasons as Burnley became a mid-table team in Division One and on 3rd December 1949 scored his only Clarets hat trick in a 5-1 against Everton at Turf Moor. He ended the season with a goal in a 3-2 win against Middlesbrough.Maybe that hat trick was to be more significant than anyone at the time thought because less than a year later he said goodbye to Turf Moor and moved to Goodison Park in a £20,000 transfer. His last game for Burnley was another 5-1 win, this time at home to Charlton Athletic on 14th October 1950. He hadn’t scored a goal that season and so that goal against Middlesbrough proved to be his last goal for Burnley. He had scored 47 goals in 165 league games and 3 goals in 16 FA Cup games for Burnley.There was huge debate as to who might replace him for the trip to Roker Park to play Sunderland the following week and then manager Frank Hill gave his number 10 shirt to an 18 year-old Irishman he had signed from Glentoran, Jimmy McIlroy.Harry had gone and after a successful time at Everton he moved on to Wolverhampton Wanderers as coach. That was followed by a spell as manager at Shrewsbury Town before Burnley called him back to Turf Moor in February 1958 as the new manager.His first game in charge was a 3-2 win at Sunderland. Two players who were to provide him with many goals over the next few years were both on the mark that day, Jimmy Robson with two and Ray Pointer. The first Burnley team he selected was: Colin McDonald, John Angus, Doug Winton, Bobby Seith, Jimmy Adamson, Les Shannon, Doug Newlands, Jimmy Robson, Ray Pointer, Albert Cheesebrough, Brian Pilkington.We ended the season in 6th position and the following season, Harry’s first full season in charge we were 7th. What was to happen next was real fairy tale stuff, never to be forgotten by anyone with any interest in Burnley Football Club. Not long into the season he spent a small sum to bring in another Irish player from Glentoran, left back Alex Elder. He was his first cash signing, it was to be another eight years before he made his next, Frank Casper from Rotherham United.It was a fantastic season with some memorable games. Nottingham Forest came to Turf Moor in November and were beaten 8-0 with Jimmy Robson getting five of them. Everton conceded five at Turf Moor as did West Ham on their own ground. There were also fours against Manchester City, Wolves, Bolton, at home and Arsenal at Higbury. It wasn’t all plain sailing and we did lose 6-1 at Wolves. We were in the top group of clubs all season but as the lead changed over on several occasions we never quite made it to the top. The season’s last day was 30th April and we drew 0-0 at home to Fulham. Wolves were top, we were second but we still had a game to play away to Manchester City. It was played on the following Monday evening at Maine Road. If Burnley drew or lost Wolves would be the first double winners of the 20th century. It was to be our day though, our year and goals from Brian Pilkington and reserve team player Trevor Meredith took us to a 2-1 win in front of a crowd of 65,981.Burnley Football Club were, for the second time in their history, Champions of England and Harry Potts had achieved what so few managers ever do achieve.To this day the Championship trophy has never been back to Turf Moor but that wasn’t the end of the excitement. The following season saw us represent the country in the European Cup. We were only the third English Club to do so after Manchester United and Wolves. There were great matches against French champions Rheims and finally West Germany’s SV Hamburg in the quarter-final. We were FA Cup semi-finalists, semi-finalists in the inaugural season of the new Football League Cup and still managed to end the season in fourth place in the league.The 1961/62 season came close to being the best ever. It was only in the very last week of the season that the double was lost and we finished second in both. What a season though and a look back at the results show that we scored seven against Birmingham, six on four occasions, five once and four in another four games. After a 6-0 win against West Ham in early March we were looking unstoppable but a loss of form saw Ipswich come through to win the league before Spurs beat us at Wembley in the FA Cup Final. Harry Potts became the first to play in and manage a Burnley team at Wembley. To this day it has been equalled on just one occasion, by Brian Miller.Twice in the next four seasons we finished third but as players had to be sold to balance the books the glory days were all but over. Harry’s worst time at Burnley came in January 1963 when he placed Jimmy McIlroy on the transfer list and subsequently sold him to Stoke City. There were even banners showing “Potts Out” but in fact he was doing no more than carrying out the instructions of chairman Bob Lord.The 1966/67 season did bring European football back to Turf Moor for the second and last time. If only the rules had been different then we would have had a run for years in the European competitions. This time it was the European Fairs Cup (later the UEFA Cup). There were wins against VFB Stuttgart (West Germany), Lausanne Sports (Switzerland), Napoli (Italy) before we went out to West German’s Eintracht Frankfurt. The game that will always be remembered is the second leg of the 3rd round game in Naples. Having won the first leg 3-0 we held them to a 0-0 draw in Italy with an inspired performance from goalkeeper Harry Thomson. At the end of the game all hell broke loose, we had been warned about the volatile Italians, and sub goalkeeper Adam Blacklaw having been attacked was finally arrested (presumably for his own safety). The Burnley players and officials were locked in the stadium for some time before being allowed to return to the airport under armed guard. I wonder what Harry really made of all that. The game was covered locally by two journalists Keith McNee and Granville Shackleton. One of them, Granville I think, penned the headline the day after, “See Naples and Die – and Burnley almost did!”. There weren’t many supporters there but how they got out safely I do not know.It’s difficult to believe now in a football world where manager’s change so often, but as the 1960s came to an end Harry Potts was still manager of Burnley. That was soon to change and on 21st February 1970 Steve Kindon scored a hat trick in a 5-0 win against Nottingham Forest at Turf Moor. It was to be Harry’s last game in charge. The team that day was: Peter Mellor, John Angus, Jim Thomson, Brian O’Neil, Martin Dobson, Sammy Todd, Frank Casper, Ralph Coates, Arthur Bellamy, Dave Thomas, Steve Kindon.By the following week Jimmy Adamson had taken over and Harry became General Manager. It was fitting that the new manager should be a player from the great Championship winning team of 1959/60. A second member of that team, Brian Miller, was on the coaching staff and a third, John Angus, was the remaining member of that team still to be found on the team sheet ten years on.After just over two years in a role that nobody really understood, probably none more so that Harry, he left Burnley Football Club for a second time. Just a few months later though and he was back in football as manager of Blackpool. And who did they play in his first game in charge? You’ve guessed it, Burnley, on Boxing Day 1972. The Clarets, having been relegated in the first season under Adamson’s management were marching back to the first division with some style. Blackpool were one of the better sides in the division but the Clarets won 2-1 that day at Bloomfield Road as two Blackpool players were sent off. Professionally Harry would have been disappointed but that part of him that always remained Claret and Blue would have had a smile.A three year spell back in the top flight was Burnley’s reward after promotion. The first two seasons were a delight but the third became a struggle that ended with relegation and our days as a top division club to this day have never returned. Jimmy Adamson had been sacked after an FA Cup 3rd round defeat at Blackpool although rumour had it that he had gone for non footballing matters. If that was true he wasn’t the first to leave for falling out with Bob Lord. Joe Brown had taken over as boss and in the summer of 1976 he brought Harry back to Turf Moor as Chief Scout.We were struggling in the Second Division and by February Joe Brown was sacked and Bob Lord turned to Harry to become manager for the second time. We hadn’t won a league game since 6th November (14 games), our only win had come in an FA Cup 3rd round replay at Lincoln on 12th January, and had then gone out of the FA Cup to lowly Port Vale. Harry had taken over with a second relegation looking a real possibility. On 26th February 1977 Harry named the following side for a home game against Carlisle: Alan Stevenson, Keith Newton, Ian Brennan, Peter Noble, Jim Thomson, Billy Rodaway, Terry Cochrane (Billy Ingham), Paul Fletcher, Brian Flynn, Tony Morley. Despite our poor run of form his return was celebrated with a win, by 2-0. Terry Cochrane and Peter Noble were the goal scorers. Relegation was avoided almost comfortably in the end but Harry’s second spell as boss wasn’t destined to be a great success.The 1977/78 season was even more disastrous than the previous season. There were just six wins up to the beginning of March when suddenly everything changed with five successive wins and seven in eight games. It was almost like the old days as we scored four against Sheffield United, Oldham and Cardiff and three against Hull. We ended the season in the top half of the league.The following season was the opposite, a good start which tailed off at the end to leave us in 13th place. However there was some success and on 12th December 1978 we lifted the Anglo Scottish Cup. We had beaten Preston and Blackpool and drawn with Blackburn in the pre-season group before beating Celtic in the quarter-final. Who will ever forget the Celtic match at Turf Moor when referee Pat Partridge had to take the players off as the Celtic fans rioted? Some minutes before the players came back Harry Potts came back onto the field and was helping youngsters and older people back into the safety of the terraces, they had initially fled onto the pitch to avoid the Celtic fans.I wonder if his mind went back to 1967 and Italy at that moment. Having beaten Celtic in both legs we saw of Mansfield in the semi-final in the Club’s first ever penalty shoot out. We were good at taking penalties then and won the shoot out 8-7 from 8 penalties each. It was Oldham in the final and although the second leg was lost on the Turf a 4-1 win at Boundary Park guaranteed the cup. The team in both legs of the final was: Alan Stevenson, Tony Arins, Ian Brennan, Peter Noble, Jim Thomson, Billy Rodaway, Brian Hall, Billy Ingham, Paul Fletcher, Steve Kindon Leighton James.In the summer of 1979 Harry Potts made his fourth and last signing during his second spell as manager bringing Martin Dobson back from Everton. Two of his three other signings, Steve Kindon and Leighton James were returning players. Didn’t someone once say that Burnley players were like homing pigeons?What happened at the start of that season Harry Potts did not deserve. After eleven games we had drawn five and lost six and his time was up. If anyone ever deserved to leave Turf Moor in a blaze of glory it was Harry but it wasn’t to be. After a 2-0 home defeat against Cardiff City he was replaced by Brian Miller and his days at Turf Moor were finally over. It was fitting that again he handed over to a member of that Championship winning team. The last players to play for Harry Potts were: Alan Stevenson, Derek Scott, Joe Jakub, Peter Noble, Jim Thomson, Billy Rodaway, Brian Hall, Martin Dobson, Jeff Tate (Steve Kindon), Kevin Young, Leighton James.Harry’s final involvement in football was with Colne Dynamoes during the late 1980s as they moved up the leagues before disappearing faster than they had climbed. He never turned his back on the game though and before he became too ill was often seen at Burnley games.I think most people knew Harry was ill but on 16th January 1996 the town was shocked to hear of his death at the age of 75. He was to make one last visit to Turf Moor as his funeral cortege made its way down Brunshaw Road. The section of road outside Turf Moor was closed to traffic and the cortege came to a stop outside the ground. The pavement was lined down both sides with Club officials, staff and players, a who’s who of former players including virtually all of the Championship side and many, many supporters. They were all there to say farewell to Harry Potts the Club’s finest ever manager.Harry Potts was never forgotten and now has now been granted a further spell at Turf Moor with the road outside to be renamed “Harry Potts Way”. It is a fitting tribute to a great Burnley FC man and in fact a great man. This time his stay will be forever.Welcome home Harry

This artlcle was originally published on the Clarets Independent Supporters Association web site in February 2001 on the occasion of the renaming of Brunshaw Road to Harry Potts Way.

It appears that certain cases have made english premier league undesirable. Liverpool visit Stoke City in what should have been one of their easiest matches. I think that you are now ready to hear my partially formed words as it relates to premier league results. In this article, I'm going to cover a few things that will certainly go a lot smoother with english soccer news yet after a few minutes or so, the problems with english premier league winners will begin to surface. During the years the premier league has played host to some of the most gifted and truly brilliant foreign players in the world, and below I have decided to compile a list the best ever foreign players in the premier league. I have to be suggestive of being joyful. It was just 4 minutes into the second half and Vermaelen showed all of us that he could not only score with his head, but with his feet as well. Although Blackpool is relegated, Adam? This is an ideal way for calculating that. I hope that somebody somewhere finds this article and feels a small sense of nostalgia themselves, and remember that childhood memories should never be sold off, the adult world may be big and bad but don't put a price on everything!Compared to the Premier League and La Liga giants Bayern chief financial officer Hoffner said with confidence: "I'm not worried about the collapse of the euro, by the loss of our property and our accounts run to be healthy, we engage in speculative things. Two goals from Aguero after 46 minutes were giving Manchester City a 2-0 win over Fulham, but the Cottagers didn't give up and fought for the equalizer, which they got to through Zamora's and Murphy's goals. I had imagined that I would give more, take less. Right after that, the Londoner squad took control of the rhythm of the game and managed to win with a final goal by Denilson at the 87th minute. Similarly, Everton and Aston Villa, so promising last year in completely differing ways, must think that if they can find a 10% improvement then the Champions' League beckons.

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Jan
27

Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp ‘threatened to sue over bung claims’

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1327707919 35 Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp threatened to sue over bung claims

The Tottenham Hotspur manager also said Milan Mandaric “don’t know what he is f****** talking about” in a 2009 telephone conversation with a News of the World reporter.

In short extracts read out to a jury at Southwark Crown Court, Redknapp told Rob Beasley he had “the best accountants in England”, claiming the Inland Revenue was fully aware of his dealings in Monaco.

Mr Beasley spoke to Redknapp days after a telephone interview with Mandaric, the former Portsmouth FC chairman.

When Mr Beasley described how Mandaric said the money sent to Redknapp’s offshore accounts were investments outside football, the Tottenham Hotspur manager replied: “He don’t know what he is f****** talking about. What is he talking about? It is a bonus.”

Explaining that the payments surrounded profit made on the sale of Peter Crouch from Portsmouth to Aston Villa, Redknapp added: “If it was something dodgy I would have gone over there and brought it back in a briefcase.”

When Beasley asked him whether he had paid any tax in the UK on it, Redknapp replied: “Haven’t been asked to, Rob.”

He told him he would “sue the b******* off him.”

Redknapp said “there ain’t nothing crooked in it” as the telephone conversation went on, the court heard.

“Don’t say bung,” Redknapp said. “It’s nothing to do with a bung. It’s paid by the chairman.

“How can it be a bung when the chairman of the football club paid me?”

He added: “What’s a bung? It’s a f****** sick word.”

According to the transcript, he told Mandaric: “I don’t want to have a problem with the tax man.”

“They was aware of it from day one,” he added.

When asked about the bonus clause in his contract, Redknapp said: “My accountant has got my contract … I’m not going to f****** show you.”

He added: “The Inland Revenue know all about it. I’ve got nothing to defend, Rob.

“I ain’t done nothing wrong … I ain’t done nothing wrong, Rob. I got paid a bonus … everyone is aware of it.”

He later added: “Everyone knows about it, there ain’t nothing crooked in it.”

Earlier the court heard Redknapp “feigned ignorance” during the Lord Stevens inquiry into football bungs and failed to declare his offshore bank account for six years.

He previously only mentioned the Monaco account as he was quizzed during the Premier League-led investigation, jurors were told.

John Black QC, prosecuting, said Redknapp “was feigning almost complete ignorance of its existence” as the Quest inquiry under former Metropolitan Police Commissioner Lord Stevens took place in 2006.

Mr Black asked jurors to consider whether “is it the case that Mr Redknapp could be unaware of the bank account” when he had flown out to Monaco just a couple of years earlier to set it up in the name of his dog, Rosie.

Despite two separate inquiries into his finances – the first launched in the wake of his receipt of a £300,000 “gift” after Rio Ferdinand signed for Leeds United from West Ham – Redknapp only registered the account to tax inspectors after his arrest in 2008.

Mr Black told Southwark Crown Court: “The existence of the bank account was not registered to Revenue and Customs for a period of six years, two months… after Mr Redknapp was first arrested and questioned in the course of this investigation.”

Mr Black urged jurors to consider “had Mr Redknapp really forgotten that he had flown to Monaco to set up the account?”

He showed the panel a string of letters between lawyers in the wake of Redknapp’s arrest.

The first mention of the offshore account came when Mandaric was asked by the Quest inquiry to provide details of payments to Redknapp, Mr Black said.

“It’s clear that it was only at this time that Mr Redknapp brought to the attention the existence of the Monaco bank account, feigning almost total ignorance of its existence, its operation and its contents,” he added.

The comments came on the second day of the Tottenham Hotspur manager’s trial on charges of tax evasion.

On Monday, Redknapp was accused of being a “hard-headed businessman” who, alongside co-defendant Milan Mandaric, obscured the money trail for years. The court heard he received almost £600,000 in commission payments from transfers involving Peter Crouch and Rio Ferdinand.

The jury at Southwark Crown Court heard allegations of a complex network of offshore payments, then worth around £187,000, made to Redknapp by former Portsmouth chairman Milan Mandaric in relation to Crouch, a further £100,000 in declared commission, and a £300,000 payment received when he was manager of West Ham in relation to Ferdinand.

The court was told that as well as a four-year police investigation into his business affairs while manager of Portsmouth which led to the current trial, Redknapp was also the subject of a two-year civil tax inquiry arising from the sale of Ferdinand to Leeds United when he was manager of West Ham.

Today, Mr Black said tax inspectors were informed of the bank account “only within the context to declare a small amount of credit interest” in 2008.

Mr Black showed the jury of eight men and four women newspaper cuttings from 2003, which detailed Redknapp had received a £300,000 gift for the £18 million transfer of Ferdinand to Leeds United.

Redknapp – who had managed West Ham before joining Portsmouth – was said to have described the cash he received as a “personal present”.

Mr Black said the fact Redknapp paid tax on the gift was proof he knew future payments would be tax liable.

The Tottenham Hotspur manager is accused of banking transfer bonuses worth £189,000 during his time managing Portsmouth.

One of the payments was said to have been sparked by the £3 million profit the South Coast club made on the sale of England star Peter Crouch.

Redknapp first flew out to Monaco – a tax haven – in April 2002 to set up the account, the Crown claims.

He named the HSBC account Rosie 47 – a reference to his dog’s name and the year of his birth.

Mr Black said “both parties must have known” they were avoiding taxes.

“These payments were a bung or offshore bonus that the parties had absolutely no intention of paying taxes for,” he said.

Redknapp and Mandaric deny two counts of cheating the public revenue when he was manager of Portsmouth Football Club.

The first charge of cheating the public revenue alleges that between April 1 2002 and November 28 2007 Mandaric paid 145,000 US dollars (£93,100) into the account.

The second charge for the same offence relates to a sum of 150,000 US dollars (£96,300) allegedly paid between May 1 2004 and November 28 2007.

Redknapp, 64, who underwent minor heart surgery last year to unblock his arteries, is the most successful English manager in the modern game, having led Portsmouth to FA Cup success and Spurs to last season’s Uefa Champions League quarter-finals.

Serbian Mandaric, 73, is now chairman of Sheffield Wednesday, having previously worked at Leicester City.

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