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.

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.

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

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF A FOOTBALL SEASON : 2012-2013

Barring something dramatic, the 2012-2013 season is over for me in terms of football attending.

The season began in June at the Amsterdam Arena, and ended in May at Clandeboye Park.

Unsurprisingly, most of the Linfield matches I attended weren’t particularly enjoyable.

There wasn’t much in the way of curiousities (last season, I saw two twins on opposing sides) apart from going to two matches in once day – twice, and there being a power failure at a match I was at.

Amazingly, it was an FA Premier League game, rather than an Irish League game.

So here, is a statistical look back at my 2012-2013 football season :

Matches Attended : 52

Goals Seen : 147 (should be 149, but I missed 2 goals in 2 different matches due to being late)

Red Cards : 11 (Plus also 2 players sent-off in dressing room for on field incident)

Hat-Tricks : 2

Matthew Tipton (Orangefield OB v Linfield, Linfield v Coleraine)

Penalties Missed/Saved : 7

Highest Scoring Match : 7 (Linfield 5-2 Coleraine, Falkirk 3-4 Hibernian AET)

Countries Seen Matches In : 5

England, Holland, Northern Ireland, Republic Of Ireland, Scotland

Teams Seen Play : 35

Australia (1st time), Azerbaijan, B36 Torshavn (1st time), Ballinamallard United (1st time), Ballymena United, Bangor, Cliftonville, Coleraine, Crusaders, Donegal Celtic, Dungannon Swifts, Falkirk (1st time), Fulham, Glenavon, Glentoran, Harland and Wolff Welders (1st time), Hibernian, Heart of Midlothian, Holland (1st time), Israel, Linfield, Lisburn Distillery, Luxembourg (1st time), Manchester United, Northern Ireland, Norwich City, Orangefield OB (1st time), Portadown, Queens Park Rangers (1st time), Rangers, Reading (1st time), Rosenborg, Shamrock Rovers (1st time), Scotland, Tobermore United (1st time)

Competitions Watched : 11

County Antrim Shield, European Cup, FA Premier League, Irish Cup, Irish League, Irish League Championship 1, Scottish Cup, Scottish Premier League, Setanta Cup, UEFA Cup, World Cup,

Stadiums Visited : 20

Amsterdam Arena, Ballyskeagh, Clandeboye Park, Craven Cottage (1st time), Cregagh Sports Ground (1st time), Easter Road, Ferney Park (1st time), Hampden Park, Ibrox (1st time), Loftus Road (1st time), Mourneview Park, Old Trafford, Seaview, Shamrock Park, Stangmore Park, Solitude, Tallaght Stadium (1st time), The Oval, Tillysburn Park (1st time), Windsor Park,

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON – NOVEMBER

A few wee trips this month of football.

My first game, was at Solitude, to see Linfield put in a pitiful defeat. Usual phototaking arrangements at Solitude. Some ok shots, nothing special

A few days later, I was at Windsor Park for Northern Ireland’s game against Azerbaijan, which had a mixed bag photowise, but I got a good crowd shot at half-time

Ten days later, I was in Manchester for my first trip of the season to Old Trafford. I managed to get some shots of football related stickerart in the city centre.

Unfortunately, United’s goals that day came down the other end, but I did get some nice shots of the game.

Three days later, I was at The Oval for the County Antrim Shield final, which didn’t go to plan, but I did get some good shots, mostly in extra-time and the penalty shoot-out.

Cliftonville v Linfield

Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan

Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan Photo Album

Linfield v Glenavon

Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers

Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers Photo Album

County Antrim Shield Final

County Antrim Shielf Final Photo Album

PHOTO DIARY OF A FOOTBALL SEASON – JUNE/JULY

For me, the 2012-2013 season began just two and a half weeks after the 2011-2012 season ended.

I had thought about going to the Holland v Northern Ireland game when it was announced, but I was going to Amsterdam in February 2012, so the idea was put on the shelf.

In March 2012, I won free flights with an airline. I had to redeem my prize within three months. Looking through the possible destinations, a trip to Amsterdam for the Northern Ireland match soon became a no brainer.

I had a great weekend in Amsterdam, and having been there before was so useful in getting around. Fantastic city, fantastic stadium, unfortunately, Holland have a fantastic football team (though they didn’t show it at Euro 2012)

The seat I had wasn’t that great for match photos, but I still managed to get some good shots.

My next football shots, came off the pitch in late June, as a new mural in Sandy Row celebrated the life of local heroes, including those who’ve had football careers such as Tommy Dickson and Joe Bambrick.

July started with European football, going to Linfield and Crusaders home matches.

The Crusaders match, v Rosenborg, was the most productive of the two in terms of phototaking, with the closeness to the pitch and a bright night making for good conditions.

The month ended with the Pre-Season Friendly between Orangefield OB and Linfield. It was a mixed night in terms of phototaking, but I got a good one of Orangefield’s bench.

Holland v Northern Ireland

Holland v Northern Ireland Photo Album

Linfield v B36 Torshavn

Crusaders v Rosenborg

Crusaders v Rosenborg Photo Album

Orangefield OB v Linfield

NORTHERN IRELAND V ISRAEL PHOTO SPECIAL

Was at Windsor Park last night for the World Cup Qualifier between Northern Ireland and Israel at Windsor Park. It was a familiar story to the other group games.

The frustrating thing about this game was, Israel were there for the taking. Israel are usually the 3rd team in most groups they play in. They give 1st and 2nd a tough game, but can sometimes slip up away to lower ranked teams.

Walking into Windsor Park, the atmosphere seemed quite subdued, and stayed that way through the game. The start of the game was “touchy feely”, to use a punditry phrase, before Northern Ireland started to get on top.

Steven Davis forced the Israeli keeper into a great save during the first-half. I was in The Kop and thought it was a bad miss, only realising it was a great save when watching a TV replay later on.

In truth, that was the only save he had to make, but he was put under pressure. Not enough pressure in my opinion, as far too many crosses were caught by him unchallenged.

When Israel got their first clear sight on goal, they finished it. There was no way back from that as the stuffing was knocked out of Northern Ireland. They never recovered.

As good as the finish for Israel’s second goal was, Jonny Evans really should have done better in stopping the corss.

So that’s it, another game where we can console ourselves that we gave it a go, and deserved more than we got. I do believe progress is being made under Michael O’Neill, and that it is a long term job, but it would be nice to get onto a winning run.

The worst part about international football is, there are so few games, so every game must be taken advantage of.

Was in the Lower Deck of The Kop and got some ok photos, nothing special.

Enjoy

Photo Album

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 22.3.2013

1. Bastille – Pompei
2. The 1975 – Chocolate
3. The Wonder Stuff ft Rankin Roger – Save It For Later
4. Biffy Clyro – Biblical
5. The Wonder Stuff – Oh No!

First of all, apologies for not having a Friday Five last week. It was due to “Technical Reasons*”

* Technical Reasons, being, I forgot, as I was busy getting ready to head to Manchester on Friday morning. I know.

As a result of “Technical Reasons”, I forgot to do a St Patrick’s Day chart. Better late than never I guess.

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM NORTHER IRELAND

1. Baltimora – Tarzan Boy
2. The Adventures – Broken Land
3. Relish – Rainbow Zephyr
4. The Undertones – Wednesday Week
5. Snow Patrol – How To Be Dead

FIVE SONGS BY ACTS FROM THE REPUBLIC OF IRELAND

1. U2 – The Fly
2. Aslan – Crazy World
3. Boomtown Rats – I Don’t Like Mondays
4. JJ72 – Oxygen
5. The Thrills- Big Sur

So, anyone watching The Big Reunion on ITV2?

No, well, you’re missing out. Pity there’s an S Club 7 shaped hole in it.

FIVE (OR, 5IVE) SONGS BY ACTS ON THE BIG REUNION

1. Liberty X – Song 4 Lovers
2. 5ive – Got The Feelin
3. Honeyz – Finally Found
4. Blue – One Love
5. B*Witched – Cest La Vie

And finally, while The Big Reunion is on our TV screens, let’s take a moment to remember Girls Aloud, who sadly split up this week.

Don’t worry though, they will be appearing on the 2022 series of The Big Reunion, performing in Qatar at the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup, and go on a tour which includes a date at The Venue in Ebrington, which was renamed Nadine Coyle Hall in 2017

FIVE SONGS BY GIRLS ALOUD

1. The Promise
2. Biology
3. I’ll Stand By You
4. The Show
5. Life Got Cold

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS OF A FOOTBALL YEAR

Having done a statistical analysis of the 2011-2012 season, I thought i’d do one for my football watching in 2012, with today having been my last match attended of the year.

Here is the breakdown.

Games : 48

Goals Seen : 149

(Should have been 151, but I managed to miss two goals this year. Was late for second-half of Linfield v Portadown on 27.10.2012 and missed a goal. Missed the start of Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan on 14.11.2012 and missed a goal)

Red Cards: 10

(Doesn’t include red cards awarded in the dressing room to David Armstrong and Terry Fitzpatrick during Dungannon v Linfield on 13.10.2012)

Missed/Saved Penalties : 4

Hat-Tricks : 3

Aaron Burns (Linfield v Dungannon Swifts)
Peter Thompson (Linfield v Newry City)
Matthew Tipton (Orangefield OB v Linfield)

Teams Seen : 33

Ajax (1st time), Australia (1st time), Azerbaijan, B36 Torshavn (1st time), Ballinamallard United (1st time), Ballymena United, Carrick Rangers, Cliftonville, Coleraine, Crusaders, Donegal Celtic, Dungannon Swifts, Excelsior Rotterdam (1st time), FC Utrecht (1st time), Glenavon, Glentoran, Harland and Wolff Welders (1st time), Heart of Midlothian, Hibernian, Holland (1st time), Linfield, Lisburn Distillery, Luxembourg (1st time), Manchester United, Newry City, Northern Ireland, Norway, Orangefield OB (1st time), Portadown, Queens Park Rangers (1st time), Rosenborg, Scotland, VVV Venlo (1st time)

Stadiums Visited : 16

Amsterdam Arena (1st time), Ballymena Showgrounds, Ballyskeagh, Easter Road, Ferney Park (1st time), Gibson Park (1st time), Mourneview Park, Old Trafford, Seaview, Shamrock Park, Solitude, Stangmore Park, The Oval, Tillysburn Park (1st time), Windsor Park, Woudestein (1st time),

Competitions : 9

County Antrim Shield, Eredivise, European Cup, FA Premier League, Irish Cup, Irish League, Scottish Premier League, UEFA Cup, World Cup

Curiosities

4th February – Watched a match in a stand named after Robin Van Persie

18th February – Twins (Aaron and Andrew Burns) on opposing sides in a competitive game

2012 IN PICTURES – NOVEMBER

November began slowly, but ended with a trip to Manchester and a penalty shoot-out.

My first big photo adventure came as part of Belfast Music Week, when I got some photos of a concert in The Limelight which featured Wonder Villains.

As part of Belfast Music Week, a plaque dedicated to Terri Hooley was erected in tribute to his contribution to music in the city, so I headed out to get some photos of this.

Football wise, it was a mixed bag. My first match of the month was at Solitude. The less said about the match, the better. A mixed bag phototaking wise, it always is at Solitude.

Went to the Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan game and got one good photo and a lot of bad ones. Later in the month, I headed to Old Trafford for the match against QPR, and had mixed results, but mostly pleasing.

Got some photos of the newly erected statue of Sir Alex Ferguson, but it’s not in a great position for amateur photography.

And finally, I graced the County Antrim Shield with my presence, but it was not much help as Linfield lost to Ballymena United. Managed to get some good crowd and portrait shots of The Oval.

Enjoy

Belfast Music Week

Pretty Child Backfire Photo Album

Wonder Villains Photo Album

Cliftonville v Linfield

Hooley

Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan

Northern Ireland v Azerbaijan Photo Album

Linfield v Glenavon

Manchester Sticker Art

Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers

Manchester United v Queens Park Rangers Photo Album

Ballymena United v Linfield

County Antrim Shield Final Photo Album