Omar's moving finger writes...

As this Saturday is a ‘rest’ day for Irish league teams (we don’t need a rest, we just need to start playing), I thought I’d air my views in the great debate about the ‘siting’ of the proposed national stadium. It seems a handful of Norn Iron fans have taken exception to it being situated outside Belfast. I can see their point of view, our antiquated roads system is at least a little better near the city centre, but is still a long way from ideal. If the ground was to be built in the Titanic basin (the old shipyard), one could possibly use the existing M 3, but it would still be a nightmare scenario, traffic wise. Public transport is also somewhat better in the city centre, but maybe by the time the stadium is erected, Translink could get its act together and run a railway siding from Lisburn, which is adjacent to the proposed site at the maze. But I wonder if it’s the aforementioned problems that are the ‘crux’ of the matter as regards Norn Iron fans. Is it not more to do with ‘laziness’? Over the years they have been spoiled with making the short trip to Windsor Park, where for the vast majority it is virtually within walking distance. Windsor Park does have a great atmosphere; it is an intimidating venue to visit for opposing teams and fans, but it is also a venue where some members of potential Norn Iron fans, feel decidedly unwelcome. I can well remember attending an International at Windsor back in the seventies, wearing a green woolly hat, only to be told that ‘green and white’ should be tramped in smelly stuff, by a so called Norn Iron fan. This sort of ‘sectarian nonsense’ still can be heard at Windsor, although it must be said it’s not as prevalent as it once was. But it is there just the same and if we are to continue to have an International team we need to be playing to bigger crowds than Windsor Park can accommodate. The maze, near Lisburn may not be ideal, but it’s the only ‘show in town’ at the moment, I believe we should embrace it with open arms. Linfield will lose their big ‘pay days’, but considering the sectarian nonsense that has gone on there for years, maybe that’s not a bad thing!