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That old chestnut of club versus country is rearing its ugly head once more, not so much in that players are being injured while on International duty, more that the ordinary fans are being denied entry to the top games. Take England’s match today, Wednesday, only a small percentage of fans will be able to watch the match live at the stadium, while the T.V. audience will be greatly reduced as the match is being shown live on Sky T.V. Sure the pubs and clubs will do a roaring trade, not to mention off-licences as well, but surely that’s not the main criteria. Once the national game loses the support of the ordinary fans, then I’m afraid it’s on the slippery slope to disaster. Norn Iron on the other hand, whether by accident or design, are keeping their fans ‘sweet’ as their games are televised by the local ‘free’ (as long as you’ve paid your licence fee, that is), channels and long may this policy continue. The English F.A. have sold out to the highest bidder, all they can see at the end of the tunnel, is the match fees from the television companies. They are in short losing sight of the bigger picture, much more important to keep ‘grass roots’ fans happy than earn a quick buck from T.V. Without grass roots fans, there is no continuance of the production line, which sees youngsters taking up the beautiful game, mainly because their fathers (and some mothers too), were dedicated fans of their national team. It’s a sad reflection on the International game that England’s only real goalkeeping choice, is Spurs custodian Paul Robinson (this is no reflection on the Spurs man’s credibility). What a change from a few years ago, when England could boast of having most of the best goalkeepers in the world and most ot them were qualified to play for England. In an ironic twist they still have most of the best goalkeepers in the world in the English Premier league, but they are from almost every other country in the world. We were told some years ago that so called ‘foreign imports’ would boost our national game and improve our players ten fold, I’m afraid I can’t see it. In closing I’d just like to say to the four National associations, do your best to show your games to as many fans as possible, after all it’s in your own best interests!

P.S. My column is a day early this week as I’m hoping to be celebrating yet another Norn Iron victory at Windsor Park tonight, anything else doesn’t bear thinking about, 'stand up for the Ulstermen!