THE FRIDAY FIVE – 24.5.2013

1. The Uncluded – Delicate Cycle
2. Texas – The Conversation
3. Mark Owen – Stars
4. Emmelie De Forest – Only Teardrops
5. Margaret Berger – I Feed You My Love

So, this weekend is the European Cup Final at Wembley, an it’s an all German affair.

Any excuse, if it was needed, to celebrate the best in German music.

Sweden last week, Germany this, country specific music charts might become a regular feature. Not long until Canada Day, Independence Day and Bastille Day. Ironically, a Bastille Day charts won’t feature Bastille.

FIVE SONGS BY GERMAN ACTS

1. Nena – 99 Red Balloons
2. Freiheit – Keeping The Dream Alive
3. Modern Talking – Brother Louie
4. Alphaville – Big In Japan
5. Scorpions – Wind Of Change

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 22.2.1997

Roy Keane is the cover star of this edition of Shoot from 1997, as Shoot does a feature on the in-form Manchester United player, listing facts about him and comments from team-mates and opponents.

England’s recent World Cup Qualifying defeat to Italy got a double page spread with the headline “IT AIN’T ZOLA YET” – A pun on the Italian goalscorer, Gianfranco Zola.

With failure to reach USA 94 still fresh in the mind, with only one team in the group guaranteed to qualify, there was a serious risk that England might fail to qualify for the 2nd successive World cup.

Despite being level with England with a game in hand, Italy fluffed this lead with 0-0 draws against Poland and Georgia to hand the initiative to England, who qualified by drawing their last group game 0-0 …….. against Italy, of course. Italy also qualified, beating Russia 2-1 in a play-off.

Shoot’s results service begins by focusing on recent internationals for England (v Italy) and Scotland (v Estonia, in a re-arranged game after the infamous abandoned game the previous October) in World Cup Qualifying action, and friendlies for Wales (v Republic Of Ireland) and Northern Ireland (v Belgium)

In Transfer News that now looks silly : Arsenal want to sign Beppe Singori, Blackburn Rovers want Bobby Robson as manager, and Chelsea want to sign Paul Ince.

Meanwhile, Derby County defender Paul McGrath has put his recent upturn in form down to not drinking alcohol any more.

Jamie Redknapp is now a pundit for Shoot, where readers write letters to him. One reader suggests a European football team. Redknapp dismisses this suggestion but champions a Britain football team.

GREMLINS

I was out on my bike last Saturday, and spotted some new Graffiti in East Belfast, in the alleyway at Parkgate Avenue, where I had previously got some photos in October last year.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have my camera with me, so I headed back on the Sunday to try and get photos of it. I was thwarted by the weather, awful conditions and no natural light. I decided to wait until this weekend and try again.

In the intervening week, I headed out around South Belfast, and got some new Street Art pictures in the Botanic area. I popped into the alleyway round the back of The Globe, and there is a new piece, referencing 1980s movie Gremlins.

Went back to East Belfast today and got some photos of Parkgate Avenue. Apologies for the quality of the pictures, I was unable to get much back lift.

Also, while I was in East Belfast, I got a picture of some Street Art depicting Egon Spengler, from Ghostbusters zapping Slimer.

Photo Album

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 17.5.2013

1. Frank Turner – The Way I Tend To Be
2. Editors – A Ton Of Love
3. The Courteeners – Van Der Graaf
4. Emmelie De Forest – Only Teardrops
5. Andy Williams – The Impossible Dream

So, this is the week ………….. EUROVISION!!!!!!!!

Having seen Cardiff City, Swansea City, Newport County and Wrexham lift trophies this season, BBC are hoping Bonnie Tyler will continue this run of Welsh success. She probably won’t.

What saddens me most about Bonnie Tyler is that she never married former Swansea City player Jason Scotland.

So, to get you in the mood ……. AS IF YOU NEED TO BE GOT IN THE MOOD ……. here’ a Eurovision Top Five.

FIVE EUROVISION SONGS

1. Lordi – Hard Rock Hallelujah
2. Kartina and the Waves – Love Shine A Light
3. Sophie and Magaly – Papa Pingouin
4. Johnny Logan – Hold Me Now
5. Bucks Fizz – Making Your Mind Up

With Eurovision being held in Sweden, it would be rude not to have a chart of Sweden’s musical exports. I get the feeling i’m going to be on the end of a backlash.

FIVE SONGS BY SWEDISH ACTS

1. Roxette – Joyride
2. Ace Of Base – The Sign
3. The Cardigans – Lovefool
4. Robyn – Who’s That Girl?
5. Emilia – Big Big World

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 22.3.1986

It’s 1986, and Tony Woodcock, in dispute with his club Arsenal, is the cover star of Shoot, as the 1985-1986 season reaches it’s final straight.

Bryan Robson, having just scored his 18th international goal at the age of 29, gives an interview where he declares that he wishes to break Bobby Charlton’s goalscoring record for England (49, a record which stands to this day)

Robson fell short (by a bit) after retiring in 1991 with 26 goals.

He did acknowledge that Gary Lineker had a more realistic chance of being England’s all time top goalscorer. Lineker retired on 48 goals, just 1 short.

Trevor Brooking gets a double page spread to give his analysis of the five title challengers (Manchester United, Liverpool, Everton, Chelsea and West Ham United) and predicts that Everton will win the title. Liverpool ended up winning the title.

The letters prediction page predicts that Derby County, then in the Third Division, could be back in the First Division within two years. This was based on ambitious signings by manager Arthur Cox, who had made a bid for Nottingham Forest striker Nigel Clough.

Derby were promoted to the top flight in 1987, and Nigel Clough did join the club ……… as manager in 2009.

Jim Leighton is the subject of a player profile, where he revealed that he supports Rangers, and worked in a Dole Office before becoming a footballer, and that his favourite bands are Queen and U2.

The countdown to the World Cup is on, and includes an interview with Rachid Harkouk, a Londoner of Algerian descent playing for Notts County, looking to break into Algeria’s squad.

Pat Jennings, nearing the end of his career, gets a page of tributes from former team-mates such as Pat Rice and Bill Nicholson.

Jennings ended his career later that year, playing his last game in June, on his 41st birthday against Brazil in the World Cup.

Talking of Northern Ireland, Ron Soldi from Wollongong writes to Jimmy Greaves to ask why Northern Ireland don’t include George Best.

Despite being 40 when the tournament starts, and not played a competitive match in 2 years (for Tobermore United), Jimmy Greaves agrees with the letter writer.

The big game of the weekend in Scotland, Celtic v Dundee United, gets a full page profile. Celtic won the league that season on Goal Difference, with Dundee United finishing third.

On the back cover, there is a poster of Norman Whiteside, Sammy McIlroy and Billy Hamilton celebrating a goal, with the headline ‘MEXICO MEN’, as the World Cup gets closer.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 10.5.2013

1. Beady Eye – Second Bite Of The Apple
2. Phoenix – Entertainment
3. Editors – A Ton Of Love
4. David Bowie – The Next Day
5. B*Witched – Love And Money

So, the line-up for Radio 1′s Big Weekend, or Raydio Wan’s Bug Weekend, as it’s being hosted by Derry~Londonderry, now using a ~ instead of a /, was announced.

I’d love to get a ticket, especially for the Sunday, so if you know of any spares going, feel free to sort me out.

To get you all in the mood, here’s a chart made up of those performing

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS PERFORMING AT FRIDAY OF RADIO 1′S BIG WEEKEND

1. Calvin Harris – Acceptable In The 80s
2. Wiley – Cash In My Pocket
3. Dizee Rascal ft Calvin Harris -
4. Breaks Co-Op – The Otherside
5. Katy B – Anywhere In The World

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS PERFORMING AT SATURDAY OF RADIO 1′S BIG WEEKEND

1. Biffy Clyro – The Captain
2. Ellie Goulding – Under The Sheets
3. The Vaccines – If You Wanna
4. The 1975 – Chocolate
5. The Saturdays – Up

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS PERFORMING AT SUNDAY OF RADIO 1′S BIG WEEKEND

1. Olly Murs – Army Of Two
2. Paramore – That’s What You Get
3. Everything Everything – Photoshop Handsome
4. Haim – Don’t Save Me
5. 30 Seconds To Mars – Kings & Queens

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : SHOOT – 23.1.1993

There’s a Welsh theme to this week’s cover of Shoot, as Gary Speed and Dean Saunders, battling for possession are the cover stars.

The editorial for this edition looks at recent postponements, and dismisses the idea that English football should have a Winter break. Seems some debates never die.

Posters included in this week’s edition are a random bunch : Don Hutchinson, Lawrie Sanchez, Dundee United team, Martin Keown and Jorginho.

It’s the weekend of the FA Cup 4th Round, and Manchester United take on Brighton at Old Trafford, in a repeat of the 1983 Final. Steve Foster, in a second spell at Brighton, played in the replay (He was banned from the final) and was interviewed about the game, and his memories of 1983.

In Jimmy Greaves Letters Page, a reader from Corby writes in to question QPR’s 5 million pound valuation of Les Ferdinand. In 1995, Les Ferdinand left QPR for Newcastle for a fee of 6 million pounds.

Shoot dedicates a double page spread to reviewing the standard of punditry on BBC, ITV and Sky Sports.

Gary Lineker is described as “His attempts at humour are like Ian Botham on A Question Of Sport (ie – not funnny at all)” – I could not possibly comment.

Shoot also mocked Andy Gray for his frequent use of the term “That’s a great example for all the kids watching”

Meanwhile, Kevin Keegan is given a platform to showcase his four point plan for the future of English football, which includes reducing the Premier League to 18 teams (It was reduced to 20 teams in 1995), Professional referees, five subs (This was introduced to the Premier League in 1996) and games being split into four periods of 25 minutes.

Oh well, three good ideas out of four aren’t bad.

Neil Webb, having rejoined Nottingham Forest from Manchester United gets a double page profile about the move.

Shoot did a series during this season where they visited clubs to see who could win a 100m Sprint, Hardest Shot, Long throw.

There was a shock at Dundee as goalkeeper Paul Mathers had the hardest shot. Unfortunately, his score for Longest Throw and Hardest Shot weren’t enough to get him in the overall Top Three, taken from all the clubs who had participated so far.

Maybe it was that article which convinced David Jeffrey to sign him for Linfield in 1999?

Harvey Lim of Gillingham (Longest Throw) and Neil Masters of Bournemouth (Hardest Shot) were the leaders, since you ask.

PHOTO OF THE SEASON – 2012-2013

With the 2012-2013 season over, this blog has already looked back at a season worth of photos on a month by month basis.

So here, is a compilation of the best. Feel free to vote.

SEAVIEW

Taken at half-time during the UEFA Cup tie between Crusaders and Rosenborg, I just love the composition of this shot.

SUBS

Taken during the pre-season friendly between Orangefield OB and Linfield, this was one of the few good shots I got from the game, of the Orangefield bench watching the game.

I got a similar shot of Derriaghy CC’s bench last season.

I just love the composition of it.

THE WELDER

Taken during a pre-season game between Harland and Wolff Welders and Linfield, I love how this guy is so content with life, sitting in a chair in the sun, watching football.

He had an official club tie, so I assume he is an employee/volunteer. A perk of the job I guess.

THE OVAL

The Oval, half an hour before kick-off of the first Big Two clash of the season in September

BURNS

Billy Joe Burns taking a throw-in during an Irish League clash between Dungannon Swifts and Linfield in October

WINDSOR PARK

Windsor Park, at half-time during the World Cup Qualifier between Northern Ireland and Azerbaijan in November.

SHIELD

Crowd shot from County Antrim Shield Final. Composition, framing and light just came together at the same time.

GETTING A VIEW

Composition and framing just works on this one. Had to go to back of stand at side of the pitch for it.

MOURNEVIEW CORNER

Linfield had a lot of corners in this game at Glenavon in December, I was going to get lucky with one shot. Decided to experiment with a different angle, and got this. Love the composition.

HATS

If started off as a test shot as i’d moved over to this end from The Kop, the collection of hats, and composition of the shot, as supporters had their eyes fixed on the football in front of them, just worked.

QUINN

Niall Quinn taking a corner during the Irish Cup tie between Linfield and Crusaders at Seaview. Got lucky with the composition, and catching Quinn in motion as he takes the corner.

IBROX

Taken outside Ibrox prior to the friendly between Rangers and Linfield.

A fantastic and photogenic stadium.

Took a few shots of the exterior, and this one worked the best.

SAFETY

Taken from my final game of the season, Bangor players celebrate the late goal which save them from relegation to Championship 2.

The contrasting emotions between both sets of players, and Bangor’s keeper running to join in the celebrations are why I love this photo

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON – APRIL/MAY

April began, like February, with two matches in one day.

Unlike when I was in London, I knew where I was going. I went to both Irish Cup Semi-Finals as a neutral.

The Glentoran v Portadown game wasn’t very good, and I didn’t get much in the way of photos. Crusaders v Cliftonville was a batter game with better photos, the Sydenham End of The Oval being a lot more photo friendly

The following midweek, I was in Glasgow for the friendly between Rangers and Linfield. The match wasn’t great, but it was a friendly, so I was hardly expecting both teams to go for it, especially with it being towards the end of the season (ie – if it was in pre-season, it would have been a lot more intense, with teams working towards the new season)

Ibrox is a fantastic stadium, architecturally stunning on the outside and inside. Managed to get some fantastic shots of the ground. Not so much match action, as I was closer to the corner flag when Linfield had their bets spell of attacking, in the second-half.

I stayed in Glasgow for a few more days, and went to the Scottish Cup Semi-Final between Falkirk and Hibernian. A brilliantly crazy game for a neutral, maybe not so much if you supported one of the two teams. Got some ok photos, Hampden PArk, as fantastic stadium as it is, isn’t very photo friendly.

Upon my return, I went to Linfield’s last two games of the season. Fixture fulfillment really, and making sure I got my money’s worth out of my Season Ticket.

I would have got more Value For Money if i’d stayed at home.

But that wasn’t the end of the season. The following week, I went to Clandeboye Park to see Bangor beat Tobermore United and avoid relegation.

And with that, my season was over.

Glentoran v Portadown

Glentoran v Portadown Photo Album

Crusaders v Cliftonville

Crusaders v Cliftonville Photo Album

Rangers v Linfield

Rangers v Linfield Photo Album

Falkirk v Hibernian

Falkirk v Hibernian Photo Album

Linfield v Ballinamallard United

Linfield v Crusaders

Bangor v Tobermore United

Bangor v Tobermore United Photo Album

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON – MARCH

March, like February, began in another country. Though, unlike February, there was no two games in one day shenanigans.

My first game in March was the Setanta Cup tie at Tallaght Stadium between Shamrock Rovers and Linfield. My main reason for going to this game was that i’d never been to Tallaght Stadium (think the UCD Bowl is the only main Dublin stadium I haven’t been to)

Unfortunately, I made it there just in time for kick-off, so didn’t really get much in the way of good photos, though Linfeld’s lack of attacking situations didn’t really help.

The following Saturday, I was at Linfield v Lisburn Distillery. A match so bad, I got no worthwhile pictures whatsoever.

The following weekend, I made my second visit to Old Trafford of the season to see United take on Reading.

I was in the Stretford End and got some ok pictures in what was a poor game.

Having originally thought I would miss this due to being in Manchester, Sky moved Linfield’s trip to Seaview to a Monday night, meaning I was able to go. Not really sure why I bothered.

Managed to get some nice shots of Seaview. You have to clutch at straws for positives when you’ve spent two hours in the freezing cold watching your team lose 3-0.

The following weekend, Northern Ireland’s World Cup Qualifier against Russia was postponed, and due to the attempts to play the game on the Saturday afternoon after a Friday postponement, I didn’t even have an opportunity to try and get a picture of a snow covered Windsor Park.

The following Tuesday, I was at Windsor Park for the match against Israel, and got some ok photos.

Five matches, four competitions, three countries. A real mixed bag of a footballing month.

Shamrock Rovers v Linfield

Shamrock Rovers v Linfield Photo Album

Manchester United v Reading

Manchester United v Reading Photo Album

Crusaders v Linfield

Northern Ireland v Israel

Northern Ireland v Israel Photo Album