Short Changed!

For the hundreds of Sky Blue fans who made the trek to Coleraine yesterday for the annual derby match against the 'scum', I have nothing but sympathy. You witnessed a credible display by both teams on a pitch that was not worthy of the name, but you had a pathetic view afforded by the only viewing point, apart from the stand, the covered terracing behind the goals. Cliftonville, Coleraine and Portadown are three of the clubs who will probably feature in the new 12 team league being proposed for next season. What have they all got in common (nothing to do with Marty Quinn I assure you)? They each have banished the majority of visiting supporters to watching the match from behind the goals. Portadown had allowed us to enter their terracing in the last couple of seasons, but that facility has been flattened and we will be banished to a stand that is 50 yards from the goal-line for our next visit. I had a stand ticket for yesterday's game which I didn't use, but may in future have to avail of that option as I didn't enjoy the action in yesterday's game, as I couldn't see most of it. If someone was to tell me now that United didn't score an equaliser, I couldn't argue the point as I didn't actually see the ball enter the net and as for the scorer, neither I nor my fellow supporters could tell for sure who it was. All this talk by the I.F.A. about grounds being of a certain standard seems to ignore the most important people, the fans. If the fans can't see the action from a decent viewpoint, they will soon lose interest and as I have witnessed from past experience, once you lose fans, it's bloody hard to get them back. Admittedly our own ground wasn't always the best place to watch a game from, as we had wire mesh all round the ground. Now that has been removed and we have a first class stand and are going to extend the visiting stand's capacity, we are definitely moving forwards, but I'm afraid most other clubs and especially the aforementioned three, are actually going backwards. So I.F.A. take note, get your collective fingers out and get this sorted, give the 'fans' value for money, if you short change us, you may well pay a heavy price!

Stepping Back!

When United made the trip to Suffolk last Saturday, I felt like I was stepping 'back in time'. Their ground from a spectator's point of view is a joke, not only is their no cover for visiting fans, there's practically no terracing and in what is turning out to be synonymous with Belfast grounds, only Portaloos for use as toilet facilities. These facilities are basically meant for temporary use and if used regularly need to be cleaned and disinfected quite often. The stench pervading from the ones at the D.C. ground was almost unbearable and bore testament to a dearth of cleaning, forcing United fans to use alternative methods. According to reports the D.C. have been told that they have a good chance of being invited into the new Premier league set-up next season, while most amateur league clubs have been told their ground doesn't quite measure up and I can assure you it's nothing to do with toilet facilities. Most clubs fail on provision of exits from the playing surface, their are reportedly in need of one every 25 meters, needless to say D. C. have no such regulations to consider. I wonder then,that if they are drawn against junior opposition in the Irish cup, we could have the laughable situation, where the junior club cannot claim home advantage because their ground is not up to date, but it could be played at Celtic's ground, which is probably even more basic than their opponents. We keep saying it, 'it can only happen in the Irish league', don't they realise we have a much higher profile now with Sky TV televising the odd game and this antiquated behaviour will just not do. So come on lads, get your heads together on this and hammer out a deal, which is fair and square, I realise this will be tough for you, as you are deeply ingrained in your old thinking, but do it you must, the alternative is not worth contemplating!

Fat Control!

Big Davey Jeffreys was a worried man, here he was the manager of the most successful Irish league club, Linfield, but how was he to attract the best talent to Windsor Park. Linfield, contrary to popular belief, are not the biggest payers in our wee province, plus despite a lot of effort (well they try to make you think they're making an effort), they are still a 'bigoted' sectarian club. He went crying to his bosses at Linfield (sorry the I.F.A., one and the same after all) and they came up with the ludicrous idea of an under-23 Irish league select team under the management of the 'fat controller himself'. With three away games and three home games Davey was confident of getting the best possible chance to 'run the rule' over developing talent and convincing the 'cream' that Windsor was the best place to develop their talent. This is the only logical conclusion I can come to as why else would he include our keeper Paul Murphy on his panel of players. I somehow don't think that Murphy will opt to play for Norn Iron if the chance arises, so why bother with him at all. The reason once more is the fact that Big Davey is short of goalkeeping cover at Windsor Park and Murphy would fit the bill very nicely. United Captain Albert Watson has been under the Linfield microscope for some time now and he is due out of contract in August next year. That means the United board will have to be careful in their dealings with their team Captain, one slip by them and the 'Belfast Blues' will be ready to pounce. Or will they I wonder, if they had wanted Albert, I believe they'd have taken him already, he may in fact be the 'lure' to catch an even bigger fish and may be left 'high and dry' come the summer, either way one can be sure, Linfield will not miss out!

Honest Joe!

Lisburn Distillery manager Paul Kirk, a hero of mine from his days as a striker at the Showgrounds, falsely accused United manager Tommy Wright of influencing referee Arnold Hunter last Saturday to abandon the Carnegie Premier league match at New Grovesnor. The United supremo is completely innocent on this occasion as he was in fact about to make a double substitution when the game was prematurely halted. The referee did however consult the fourth official and he advised him to suspend the game as the safety of the players was in jeopardy. Sky Blue Sport took the view that the match result would stand, pointing to a misconception that a rule existed where if a game had passed a certain time the result stood, Whites manager Paul Kirk was of the same opinion, but probably for different reasons. Myself and the rest of the 'Sport team have since found out that no such rule exists or ever existed and the matter in fact lay firmly in the hands of the I.F.A.. The I.F.A. have since decreed that the match was 'null and void' and must be replayed within 28 days. In view of this decision and confirmation from the referee that the United manager didn't influence his decision to suspend the game, I expect Lisburn Distillery manager, Paul Kirk, to offer a full and frank apology to the United manager. Paul Kirk as a player was a big bustling centre-forward, he took punishment and he dished it out, but he was as honest and straightforward as the day is long and for that reason, I expect him to offer a quiet apology to the United manager. Anybody can make a mistake, but it takes a 'big' man to admit and Kirky is a 'big' man, after all 'honesty isn't only the best policy', it's the only policy!