LINFIELD 2-0 CRUSADERS 28.8.2021

It was perhaps apt that Crusaders should be the visitors to Windsor Park for the beginning of The Era Of Normality. Well, maybe not Normality, certainly not Post-Covid. I’m not quite sure what this period of history will be referred to.

Back in February 2020, when the news headlines were dominated by a virus in China that was nothing to worry about, Linfield beat Crusaders 4-0 in a live TV game. It was a win that ultimately won the title for Linfield, though nobody knew it then. All that Linfield fans were concerned about were upcoming games against Carrick Rangers, Larne and Glentoran, the latter two would never take place.

That win for Linfield was the first of five successive wins over Crusaders. They fancied their chances of making it six in a row, as Crusaders aren’t the force they once were, finishing 5th, and missing out on Europe via two penalty shoot-outs. That’s where they are, and ageing team allowed to grow old together.

If Crusaders faces are familiar, then for Linfield, it was a case of the opposite with a high turnover of players due to a combination of players unable to commit to full-time football, and players returning to, or being signed up by EFL clubs.

Naturally, that has prompted the need for a lot of arrivals, with most of the gaps being plugged in on paper. The problem is, a lot of the players have come from outside the Irish League, so we’re still trying to work out if they an improvement on those that have left.

Ironically, the striking position, not wanting to jinx it, looks like it might be filled by a player already at the club.

It is fair to say that Christy Manzinga endured a frustrating 2020-2021. The ability was there, but everything just seemed to be going wrong.

Circumstance has dictated that he is now Linfield’s main striker, and he has taken the opportunity with three European goals and a hat-trick in a friendly against Dungannon Swifts.

Starting this match, Linfield fans were hoping he could continue this form into the domestic season.

Amongst the substitutes were new signings Sam Roscoe, Martin Donnelly, Matt Green, Andrew Clarke and Ahmed Salam.

As well as getting used to new signings, there was new matchday arrangements. Well, a repeat of those during the the Windsor Park Redevelopment of 2014-2016. If you’ve forgotten, home fans in the North Stand, away fans in The Kop.

One day, one day, we’ll be back in the South Stand.

Linfield started off a bit sloppy, but Crusaders couldn’t take advantage of that sloppiness, the best they could offer was a header from Ben Kennedy.

Eventually, Linfield began to have a period of pressure, looking the more likely team to score without creating a clear opportunity.

That pressure looked like it was going to be rewarded with a Jimmy Callacher header, only to be denied by Jonathan Tuffey’s legs on the goal line.

It took another set piece for Linfield to take the lead, when Trai Hume headed across goal for Christy Manzinga to head home to put Linfield 1-0 up.

That goal was key, this was a game where the first goal was key. Crusaders looked they only had one goal in them, and were set up to frustrate.

However, it was Linfield who were frustrating their fans the most.

Whilst happy with the half-time, they needed to step it up and be more fluent with the ball.

It was an instruction was was being carried out in the early minutes of the second-half, with pressure on Crusaders goal resulting in Billy Chadwick having a shot blocked from close range.

Soon after, Christy Manzinga got in behind Crusaders defence, cutting in and firing home low to make it 2-0. As soon as he went through, there was going to be only one outcome.

That goal gave Linfield breathing space. Barring a capitulation, Crusaders were never going to get back into the game. All they could offer was a Josh Robinson header easily saved.

Linfield took the opportunity to being on Jordan Stewart for Billy Chadwick, as he continues his return from injury, showing some neat touches.

I really miss the guy in the South Stand who thinks he called Gordon, and shouts “Go on Gordon!!” and “Well done Gordon!!!!” every time he gets the ball.

Stewart had a shot blocked, while a Jamie Mulgrew cross had to be cleared off the line as Linfield were looking comfortable with their two goal lead.

Matt Green was brought on for his debut, made some good runs and was denied by a block just when it looked like he was going to mark his debut with a goal.

Martin Donnelly was another debutant, getting a brief appearance in injury time on his 33rd birthday.

One game down, and thirty-seven to go for Linfield.

Due to International Call-Ups, it will be a two week wait for Linfield’s second game, away to Portadown on 11st September.

Missing out on two matchdays made it even more essential to get three points in this game.

Larne and Glentoran will be inactive on Matchday 2, which presents Cliftonville an opportunity to take an early lead.

Thankfully, playing catch-up at the early stage of the season is something Linfield have successfully navigated, having had to do so during the Winter of 2019.

Even one game into the season, the expected Top 3 have already taken those positions, with Linfield sandwiched inbetween Larne and Glentoran.

Due to this break, my next match will be Linfield’s trip to Shamrock Park on 11th September, which will be my first visit there since February 2016.

Three days before that, Northern Ireland face Switzerland at Windsor Park in a World Cup Qualifier.

At the moment, tickets are being sold as a three match bundle, which doesn’t suit me as i’ll be away in the day of the Italy match.

To be honest, I was already thinking of writing off this campaign and going again for Euro 2024.

Add in the prices for the three match bundle, taking the piss and giving me an excuse to pass on it.

Another reason i’ll be giving the Switzerland game a miss is that I don’t really trust some of the Northern Ireland support. Please note, that’s part of a wide societal problem.

You know the sort, tanked up by teatime and can’t sit in the right seat. I’m not having some spiv coughing all over me while trying to scream “GREEN. AND. WHITE. ARMY!!!!” and then boasting that they’re riddled with Covid but didn’t want to miss out on da craic.

Don’t even try to convince me that wasn’t the case at CHSQ, and it will be the same at Belsonic.

And yet, our whole society seems to be so apathetic. Lots of people will die, what are we like? LOL. Whoospie. At least the pubs are open. The prices are what? THIS IS A DISGRACE!!!! WHY AREN’T PEOPLE DOING SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

Anyway, back to the football, and it’s great to be spending a Saturday afternoon at Windsor Park, the first time since December 2020. Even greater to be celebrating a win.

Hopefully, the only stop-start nature of this season will be due to International Call-Ups.

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DUN LAOGHAIRE STREET ART

Having spotted a story on RTE a few months back about the town of Dun Laoghaire getting spruced up with some Street Art, it would be rude of me not to investigate further and see it for myself, especially when I would be passing through.

Sandwiched on the DART between Dublin and Bray, I didn’t really know much else about Dun Laoghaire, so I thought I would pop along, getting a DART from Bray.

That left me in the Town Centre. All the artwork was easy to find, everything being nice and compact, getting as many photos as I could.

I only had a short amount of time in Dun Laoghaire, so I made the most of it, checking out the Town Centre and Harbour.

With the palm trees, sunshine and architecture, it all felt very Mediterranean.

There’s more to Dun Laoghaire than Street Art, and I’d recommend it if you’re in Dublin and looking for something a bit different.

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BRAY HARBOUR

It really is impossible to take a bad photo of Bray Harbour on a sunny day.

After walking up Bray Head, then having a relax in my hotel room, next up for me on Tuesday lunchtime was a stroll along Bray Harbour.

I got straight to work, getting snaps of the Harbour, with Bray Head in the background, as well as plenty of yachts and swans.

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BRAY HEAD – AUGUST 2021

Not wanting to waste time trying to find Great Sugar Loaf, I decided that my Tuesday morning in Bray would be spent walking up Bray Head.

I’m told that there are spectacular views, not that I saw any.

Walking the same way as the Bray To Greystones Walk, I took a detour upwards along Butler’s Way.

The route was pretty much straightforward, although there a few nettles to navigate around.

This walk isn’t for arachnophobes as there a lot of spiderwebs.

Eventually, I reached the top, and was treated to fog, meaning the views at the top weren’t as spectacular as I’d hoped.

It also meant that getting down would see me in a bit of trouble if I took a wrong turn.

Going down was slippery and slidey, so I just had to take my time.

My best photos came when I was going through the forest.

Of course, the weather changed for the better at lunchtime, when I was on lower ground.

Due to other plans, I wouldn’t be making a return visit on this trip.

It just means I’ll have to go back up the next time I’m in Bray, which I will definitely do.

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BRAY TO GREYSTONES WALK

I could have taken the DART, but that would have been no fun.

Having dumped my bag at my hotel in Bray before I could check in, I had a bit of time to kill.

So, I decided to walk from Bray to Greystones. I’d done part of it twice before. When I say part of it, only a small part. Like literally, a wee bit at the start.

As I walked from Bray Promenade to the starting point, I made sure I was stocked up with the essentials. A bottle of water for hydration and a bar of chocolate for energy. That’s my reasoning and i’m sticking to it.

Walking at the start, I noticed there were a lot of benches. My advice is to make the most of it as there aren’t many other opportunities for a sit down after the point.

DART Passengers get the opportunity to take in some spectacular views on this route, but those DARTs give those on foot the opportunity for spectacular photos as there are great positions to take aerial photos of passing trains.

Of course, when I reached those points, there were no trains passing, and I wasn’t in the mood for waiting, so on I went.

Just like Cavehill and Cregagh Glen, Bray To Greystones is a route that takes a battering when there is rain, which I presume there had been in the days preceding my visit (there was in Belfast on those days) meaning there was still some muck and puddles about even though it was roasting.

At the early stage of the walk, there is a mural identifying all the wildlife there is on the trail, if you wish to keep an eye out.

It is a very narrow path, so it is best to avoid peak times. Travelling on a Monday morning, I did just that.

As with any walking journey, I usually just go for an hour and see where it takes me. This path felt never ending, an hour and a half seeing me arrive in Greystones Harbour.

A brief walk around Greystones Harbour and a bit of lunch, I then jumped on the DART to head back to Bray.

Well, I was hardly going to walk it back, my feet were aching.

That is probably a sign of a good walk, which this definitely was.

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COSTA DEL WICKLOW

The theme of this trip was third time lucky.

I should have been going to Bray in late June 2020, but it got cancelled (It was my hotel that cancelled on me) because of you know what.

But why Bray? Well, I wanted to base myself there to try and blag a ticket for a European Championship game, as it is on the same DART route as Lansdowne Road. Well, they were hardly going to stage it at Carlisle Grounds, as much as i’ve enjoyed the matches i’ve been to there.

If you’re going to a football match in Dublin, why not get a hotel in Dublin? Well, I had a quick look at the draw, as it was a Last 16 game I was hoping to see, and noticed that it could have been England v Germany (Which it turned out to be) so I thought I might take evasive action just in case.

I’ll just let the English, Germans and Gardai have a three way Royal Rumble while I enjoy myself by the seaside.

As you now know, Euro 2020 was put back a year, meaning i’d be going for no reason, but I just kept the booking to give me something to look forward to. I knew I would end up making the most of my free cancellation but I wanted to leave it as late as possible. The hotel ended up cancelling on me because Leo shut all the hotels.

With the announcement of a new calendar for Euro 2021 in June 2020, I was straight online to book a hotel in Bray in anticipation to try and blag a ticket for a Euro 2021 game at Lansdowne Road. A whole year to wait.

By the time June 2021 came along, circumstances had changed.

First of all, Dublin had lost hosting rights to Euro 2021, meaning the football match I wanted to try and blag a ticket for would be held at Wembley instead of Lansdowne Road.

Despite that, I still wanted to go to Bray, because, I hadn’t been away anywhere since early 2020 because of you know what.

However, I was now facing algorithm based difficulties.

You see, I booked my Covid Vaccination as soon as I was eligible. I didn’t need to be bribed with tickets for concerts or Belfast Giants. When I did, they gave me my second date at the same time. It didn’t matter if it suited me or not.

I made a request to move it but I had no response. The deadline for free cancellation was approaching, so I had to cancel it and move it from late June to late August.

Even though I wasn’t going to Bray, I kept my Annual Leave booked, having a staycation, going to North Down Coastal Path on the Monday and Blackhead Path on the Tuesday. Wednesday was Injection Day, so I kept that free just in case.

Both the Monday and Tuesday were absolutely roasting. As much as I enjoyed my visits to North Down and East Antrim, i’d rather have been in Bray.

Especially with the weather being so much. I had a nagging feeling for two months that I was going to be punished with torrential rain for moving my plans. You know how these things work.

Whatever way the weather ended up, I was just glad to get away somewhere. As it turned out, it was three days of sunshine. Result.

The last eighteen months haven’t taught me, but just confirmed, that other people are thick as shit and are not to be trusted. With this in mind, I booked myself on the 6.50am Enterprise to Dublin and then 9pm home to avoid the busier trains. There was barely anyone on it.

When I arrived in Dublin, I headed to a Vintage/Retro Shop i’d previously visited across the street from Connolly Station called Under The Bridge. Funnily enough, because it’s under a bridge, and nothing to do with Red Hot Chili Peppers.

To my frustration, it was closed, it’s opening hours being 12pm to 6pm. That walk would be my only footsteps in Dublin outside of Connolly Station.

It was my intention to avoid Dublin on this trip. I’ll venture back some day, just not now. I mean, they are World Champions in Standing In The Footpath For No Reason Whatsoever. Annoying at the best of times, even more in this climate.

Frustrated with my start to the trip, I ventured back into Connolly Station to head for my destination, my luck picking up when the next train to Bray was an Inter City (Bound for Rosslare) rather than the DART. A lot more comfortable.

Having been to Bray before, I know my way about, so it was easy to find my hotel from Bray Train Station, being slightly distracted when I walked past an Ice Cream Vendor, making a purchase. Well, it was Ice Cream Weather.

You will never be stuck for ice cream in Bray. It felt like every second building was an Ice Cream Shop.

Eventually, I arrived at my hotel, The Martello, which I like to pretend is named in tribute to Marti Pellow.

Too early to check in, I left my bags in Reception, and headed towards the Bray To Greystones Walk to occupy my time.

In keeping with the theme of Third Time Lucky, i’d walked a wee bit of the start of it to get some photos of Bray when I was over for a concert in 2014.

Then, in July 2019, I was having a long weekend in Dublin, I snuck to Bray on the Friday for a football match, and walked a wee bit more, getting some photos.

I stated that I would do the full walk when I returned. I had planned that would be in 2020 rather than 2021.

The walk felt long and never ending, close to an hour and a half. That time not helped by the amount of stopping to take photos.

There’s a separate blog covering that.

The reward was spectacular when I reached Greystones, having a nice walk along Greystones Harbour before some lunch.

After lunch, I was on the DART back to Bray to check in.

Well, I was hardly going to walk it back. My feet were aching.

The DART between Bray and Greystones is renowned for it’s views, and it did not disappoint. Ironically, i’d been mostly frustrated by the lack of trains when trying to photograph a train while walking the first leg. If that makes sense.

Checked in, I went for a walk through Bray Town Centre to have a nosey before heading for a bite to eat.

The plan for Monday night was to walk along Bray Promenade and get some sunset photos.

Those plans would be shelved.by the fact it was foggy.

The fog would continue through to the following morning, when I walked up Bray Head. Due to this, the photos when I reached the top weren’t as good as I hoped for.

It was easier going up and down, very slippy and rocky, having to be careful and take my time.

I guess i’ll have to come back again some time and walk it with better visibility so I can get better photos.

On the Tuesday, my Dad headed down, so I met up with him after lunch, getting the DART to Greystones, taking in Greystones Town Centre, which I didn’t get a chance to do on the Monday and Greystone Harbour.

My original plan on Tuesday was to visit Great Sugar Loaf.

Looking online, it was hard to find clear information on how to get there, which is why I went to Bray Head instead, as it was a lot easier to find. I guess i’ll just have to do that on a later visit.

Bray Head should have been my Wednesday morning adventure, but having done it the day before, I used the free time to stroll along Bray Harbour before getting the DART to Dun Laoghaire.

My reason for going to Dun Laoghaire was to check out the Street Art that had appeared in recent months (There’s a separate blog for that) but I went for a walk through the town before a spot of lunch.

I really enjoyed going through the town, with the palm trees and architecture made it look Mediterranean (the sunshine might have helped and/or impeded my judgement) as if I was in Spain or Italy.

As I stared out the window of the DART going to and from Bray, I was struck by how many stops on the way were right beside a beach. You were spoilt for choice when it came to Coastal Walks.

Given my close proximity to Dublin, it would have been tempting to make a visit. However, with all these activities and walks on offer, there was no need to.

I do enjoy visiting Dublin, but i’ll give it a miss until the R Number drops. It’s a bit, how you say, busy.

Looking ahead, and a bit ahead, Dublin will be hosting the 2024 UEFA Cup Final.

I’ll be planning to go, but instead of staying in Dublin, I might base myself in Bray.

In 2022, the July Holidays will be on a Tuesday and a Wednesday.

My plans are to go away somewhere, either Sunday-Wednesday or Monday-Wednesday.

At the moment, i’m thinking of going to Waterford on those dates but Bray has now come into contention.

After all, I do have unfinished business. That being, walk up Bray Head and get some photos that aren’t dominated by fog, and to find Great Sugar Loaf and walk up it.

In short, I loved Bray, and recommend a visit. I’ll definitely be back some time, I just don’t know when.

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 27.8.2021

1. Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want
2. UB40 – Don’t Break My Heart
3. Arlo Parks – Too Good
4. Dermot Kennedy – Better Days
5. Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under

THE FRIDAY FIVE – 20.8.2021

1. Blossoms – Care For
2. Chvrches – The Killing Moon
3. Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under
4. Roger Taylor ft KT Tunstall – We’re All Just Trying To Get By
5. Duran Duran – More Joy

MAGAZINE ARCHIVE : MANCHESTER UNITED – MAY 1997

Breakout star of the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is the cover star of Manchester United’s official magazine in a month where United are hoping to win a second successive title.

The magazine reports on organisational problems at United’s away European Cup game against Porto, with a series of questions that the club believe need answered.

The second leg against Porto gets reviewed, with matters on and off the pitch being covered, as well as a preview of the Semi-Final against Borussia Dortmund.

United’s other games in March get reviewed, League matches against Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Everton.

We even get a rare treat in this edition, a Paul Scholes interview.

The magazine ends with a Q and A with Chris Casper.

MANCHESTER UNITED 5-1 LEEDS UNITED 14.8.2021

I had resigned myself that 2021 would be the first year since 1992 that I wouldn’t visit Old Trafford, but the opportunity to take in the opening game of the season against Leeds United came up, so I went for it, even though I did have anxieties about attending such a large scale event.

A lot of things have changed since my last visit to Old Trafford in January 2020, a 2-0 defeat to Burnley. It was grim.

My recent United watching record isn’t great, with two defeats in my last three visits to Old Trafford, and just one win in four under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

He’d won every match in charge before I turned up against Burnley in January 2019. Don’t look at me as it it’s all my fault.

Things were to change a week after that Burnley with the signing of Bruno Fernandes. It’s not just his footballing ability, but his character, which has driven United forward.

That is what United have needed, a bit of balls and a bit of arrogance. In 2017-2018, they beat every side in the Premier League, then beat Juventus and PSG the following season, yet still seemed inhibited, allowing themselves to be gaslighted by Scouse Journalists that they were a club in crisis, a club in decline.

Liverpool were scraping 4th on the last day of the season, but sticking slogans on buses and acting like they’ve won The Treble every year for a decade.

It’s amazing what a positive mental attitude can do. It’s felt like at times that teams have been scared of Liverpool and Manchester City.

United needed to issue a few thrashings early in the season, although a 1-0 lead would have sufficed in this fixture.

This wouldn’t be my first time seeing Leeds at Old Trafford. Curiously, the previous time i’d taken in this fixture, it was on Saturday 14th August as well, in 1999.

Back then, David O’Leary’s young team were going to be the team were going to be the Team Of The 21st Century, taking on the newly crowned Treble winners.

That game too was a lunchtime kick-off, although I only found that out when I got my ticket the day before. It was moved on Police advice, as it wasn’t broadcast live in the UK, so i’d assumed it would be 3pm.

Leeds were actually the better team but it was two quickfire goals from Dwight Yorke that secured the points for the home side on a day which saw both sunshine and torrential rain.

This would be my first time seeing Bruno Fernandes in the flesh, but it wouldn’t be my first time seeing Edinson Cavani in a United shirt, with a late return after the Copa America and Quarantine ruling him out.

There would be no new signings in United’s starting eleven, beginning with players who were at the club last season.

Just before kick-off, Raphael Varane walked out onto the pitch to introduce himself to United fans, his transfer now being officially official.

You can’t be too sure. I was there when Ruud Van Nistelrooy was unveiled as a United player, only for concerns to be raised about his knee during a medical which caused United to pull out of a transfer. Although, it was all eventually sorted a year later.

At least Varane didn’t go out in a tracksuit top and shorts, juggling a football like Michael Knighton.

Involvement in England’s Euro 2021 campaign meant that Jadon Sancho had to make do with a place on the bench alongside Tom Heaton. It just would have been rude not to mention Tom Heaton amongst United’s Summer signings.

Inside the first couple of minutes, Scott McTominay burst forward and had a shot saved, obviously determined to repeat his early double in this fixture last season.

United’s biggest attacking threat in the early stages was Mason Greenwood, usually involved in everything, being available for a pass, and scaring Leeds defenders by running them. A few shots easily saved was a warning.

Greenwood was one of three Yorkshire born players in United’s starting eleven. They all seemed especially up for it, typified by Dan James going in for a crunching tackle inside the first five minutes.

United’s early pressure looked like it was going to be rewarded when Paul Pogba was played through, set himself up with the keeper closing him down. but fired wide when Old Trafford was expecting a goal

More agonisingly for United was the number of crosses that were just evading the oncoming attacker.

Leeds weren’t totally anonymous as an attacking threat, the best they offered was a shot from Mateusz Klich that was turned out for a corner.

Eventually, United’s pressure was rewarded when Bruno Fernandes was played in behind Leeds defence, his first time shot eventually sneaking into the net, just as it looked like Leeds keeper had done enough to save it.

United were on a roll, with Dan James just firing wide, looking to silence chants from the away ned of “You’re too shit to play for Leeds”. He was doing well enough in this game for United.

Luke Shaw was continuing his good form, being mostly based on the left hand side, just outside Leeds penalty area, such was the one way traffic as United went into the break 1-0 up.

A satisfactory first-half for United, but they needed a second (maybe even a third) goal just to have of breathing space.

There would be a goal early in the second-half, but it would come for Leeds, a long range strike from Luke Ayling that nobody saw coming to make it 1-1.

Now this was a test for United. Which way was this going to go?

Too many times in the past eight years, it has gone the wrong way.

The response from United was emphatic.

Within a matter of minutes, they were back in front when Mason Greenwood got in behind Leeds defence and fired home. There wasn’t even a debate about the outcome, despite the wide angle.

It was a continuation of Greenwood’s impressive form at the end of last season. Even more impressive that it was an injury that disrupted him inbetween as opposed to the close season.

Long may that continue, especially with Marcus Rashford and Edinson Cavani currently unavailable.

Soon afterwards, it was 3-1, when Bruno Fernandes dummied to shoot, took Leeds keeper out of the game, despite an attempted clearance by a Leeds defender, who was behind the line rather than on it.

Due to this, there was a slight delay in Old Trafford’s celebrations.

And then, it was 4-1, Bruno Fernandes got in behind Leeds defence and smashed home. Start as you mean to go on.

1-1 to 4-1 in eight minutes. Now that’s what I call a statement of intent..

United weren’t finished there, as Fred fired home to make it 5-1, and four goals in sixteen minutes, an average of a goal every four minutes.

If they started the game like this, they would have won 22-0, and might have made it 23-0 depending on the amount of injury time. Might as well find something to complain about.

Do you remember when Paul Scholes scored a volley from a corner against Bradford City?

Well, time to feel old. That’s the day that Jadon Sancho was born.

With the three points in the bag, it was time to bring him on. He showed some neat touches, but the attacking intensity was there like it was earlier in the game due to the game being won. A nice way to ease yourself in.

It looked liked Leeds were going to get a goal back when Raphina fired wide with only De Gea to beat.

So, a good start for United. Long may it continue.

It is important to dish out a few thrashings to bring about a fear factor, so this was welcome.

When will I be back at Old Trafford? I’m not sure.

I do have my eye on the Brighton game before Christmas, but i’ll monitor how things are going before deciding.

It was hoped that this would be my second United game of the season, after taking in the European Super Cup Final against Chelsea.

The less said about why United weren’t playing in that, the better.

Hopefully, this will put Windsor Park in a good position to bid to host the Euro Conference Final in the next few years.

And talking of the Euro Conference, for crying out loud Linfield, just put the ball in the back of the net. We should have beaten Fola Esch comfortable.

To make it worse, we got denied a Thursday afternoon game I could watch while working. The dream. Oh well, onto Crusaders at the end of the month.

Normally, at this time of year, I go to Edinburgh, but I gave it a miss as the city will be a free for all. I do hope to visit Scotland at some point in the next six months. I think i’ll live at missing out on Hibs v Kilmarnock and Edinburgh City v Hearts B.

As i’m going to Brighton in November, it means i’ll miss out on Northern Ireland v Italy as I leave that day.

I’ll take it on a game by game basis for Switzerland and Lithuania.

Honestly, I can’t say i’d feel totally confident at being around some of our support in this current situation.

You know the sort, The Rugby Brigade. Football matches are the only time they’re allowed out of the house, so they get so full they can’t walk an hour before kick-off, shout “GREEN AND WHITE ARMY” out of tune and can’t sit in the correct seat. Probably think they are a “geg”.

Definitely go on the Beer Bikes once a month and RT posts by LAD. Geg.

Eighteen months into this, i’m pretty good at identifying people who look they are riddled and to be avoided. They fall into that category. An absolute embarrassment.

I know that every team has embarrassing supporters, but this lot are next level.

Let’s face it, Eventsec won’t do anything about them.

Finally, i’m quite excited about visiting Harland and Wolff’s new ground.

The big opening should have been a few weeks back, but they’ve been switching their games.

Good job I spotted that on Twitter as I was tempted to go to their match against Newry a few weeks back.

The new date is set for September. I’m sure things will align where they will be at home when Linfield have a free Saturday.

Pre-season for Linfield will conclude with a friendly against Dungannon Swifts on Saturday. I’ll give that a miss.

Now, if they could arrange one away to Bray when i’m there next week.

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