We have a combined book review/Mary’s Meals promotion today. Celtic fan and politician, Jim Murphy, has written an excellent book, The 10 Football Matches That Changed The World. It’s in my top three books on the game (as opposed to a player), and gives insight into the deadly intimidation which sparked the Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry, how the game was rescued from oblivion, and England’s public schools, by a handful of communities in the 19th Century, Hillsborough, standpoints against racism in the UK and a whole lot more.
Romantics forever mourn that the great Hungarian team lost the 1954 World Cup Final, but that game changed for post-war West Germany. Then there’s Robben Island, apartheid’s most feared opponents were locked up for decades, denied all but a football. With that ball, teams were built, men were built.
Profits from sales of the book through the link at the bottom of the page go to our Mary’s Meals appeal. Here’s the interview:
Q. OK, Jim, you’ve written a fine book, but I have to open with a question as charged as anything in the world football could be. On meeting then-Rangers chairman, Craig Whyte, you opened with “When do you think Rangers first decided on a ‘No Catholics’ policy?” Did you appreciate the enormity, and rarity, of that question? Would Scotland benefit from being open about what happened inside the game here?
“Looking back it’s hard to believe that the country tolerated that old style sectarianism. Growing up in Glasgow it was treated by far too many as the norm when it was anything but normal. My one and only encounter with the ill-fated Craig Whyte, the calamitous and short-lived Rangers chairman took place in the most unlikely of places. It was in the board room at Celtic Park, at half-time in the infamous 2011 Scottish Cup match.
“As part of my research for the book I decided to ask him about the history of the Club that he would go on to cause so much harm to. I asked Mr Whyte, ‘When do you think Rangers first decided on a “No Catholics” policy?’ He took such a direct question surprisingly well. Perhaps because I was asking him about a Rangers from what now seems like another age. Pretty fairly, he couldn’t place a date on it.
“For decades, his club was probably the only team in the world where the question of which foot you kicked with was more important than how well you could kick. Only a few yards along the corridor, in the Rangers changing room, no one knew how many Catholics were sitting listening to the Rangers manager Ally McCoist’s half-time team-talk. More importantly, no one really cared.
“Thinking back its inexplicable why so many in the media, football, UEFA, politics and others had accepted such a policy for so long. It was from an era when there was little protection against discrimination against ethnic or religious minorities, the disabled or on the grounds of sexuality and even against women. None of those things were right and nor was any sectarianism wherever it came from or who it was aimed at.
“I spoke to some of the best Celtic and Rangers historians there are. Celtic’s origins are rightly and universally celebrated but for decades much less was spoken of Rangers earliest days. But the passions of the Club’s founders the canoeing McNeil brothers had nothing to do with other people’s subsequent prejudices. For years when Rangers had a free Saturday their players sometimes turned up to watch Celtic and were welcomed by the sound of Celtic fans’ applause rather than any boos.
“In 1909 both sets of supporters invaded and rioted on the Hampden pitch after a drawn final. Parts of Hampden were set alight, fans fought with the police and some fireman were set upon when they turned up to save the stadium. Astonishingly there’s no reports in any of the media of rival fans throwing even a single punch at one another.
“But by 1924 events including post First World War anti-Catholic sentiment and the opening of Harland and Wolff shipyard in Govan helped contort Rangers. It was revealing to interview Graeme Souness, the manager who broke Celtic hearts by signing Mo Johnston and in so doing helped break a sixty year taboo. Talking to Billy McNeil about all of this was pretty enlightening.”
Q. Racism was rife in British football in the 70s and 80s and you give some inside into the tide turning after Chelsea fans booing their own black player on a day they won promotion in 1984, but if you look around Britain today, or even some football grounds, do you feel as though we have slid back after recent years or recession and shortage?
“Football has come a long way to challenge the racism that had been tolerated on the pitch and celebrated on the terraces; accepted in the boardroom and in far too many changing rooms. No Club was exempt from the racism, not even Celtic. I remember being at Celtic Park and how angry I felt about the treatment of Mark Walters. We’ve all come a long way since then.
“But there’s still racist and other attitudes to be challenged. Anti-gay sentiment is still considered acceptable by a lot of football people. And football isn’t immune from the anti-Muslim attitudes that survive in wider society.”
Q. The Real Madrid-Barcelona rivalry is the most intense still alive in the game but its roots, and the roots of both clubs, as you explain, are difficult to pin to a single game. Do you think this is more about the struggle for Spain across the 20th century? Barcelona, as much as any club in the world, have a duty to live up to historical expectations. Do you think this is possible in the modern world?
“No other sporting rivals have been so trapped by the multiple and often tragic identities of their country. As a consequence of the brutality inflicted on Barca and Catalonia by Franco, Barcelona set themselves standards that they are finding it hard to live up to. The allegations on transfer kick-backs, tax problems and ties to Qatar 2022 are out of kilter with the often utopian ideals that Barca sometimes encourage. And now we have the signing of Suarez. I’m not sure the signing of this brilliant but troubled star is in keeping with the spirit of Gamper and Sunyol.
“For the unthinking many of course, there is a sense that Madrid the football club was founded by the forefathers of fascist neanderthals. In truth Real were formed by left-wingers. But at a time when Franco was a pariah, Real were world beaters. He simply sided with Spain’s greatest export. The Real Madrid of the late Di Stefano were transformed into his unofficial global ambassadors.
“In writing about Barca and Madrid I was spoilt for choice about which game cemented the political and cultural conflict that became the story of the two Clubs. The contenders are: 1925, when a British Royal Marine band came to play; 1943, with Madrid’s biggest ever victory; and, lastly, a sending-off in 1970 that never should have been. I opted for the cup semi-final of 1943. Barca were 3-0 up after the home leg and favourites to go through. But after a threatening pre-match visit to their changing room by the Director of State Security Barca managed to lose the return leg 11-1.
“To fathom what happened in 1943, you need to understand something about the one event in Spain’s history that has influenced politics, the nation’s football and culture for decades. For those who lost family it’s the heartbreak of modern Spain. For many football fans it’s the emotional backdrop to the Barca v Madrid rivalry. In his brilliant book ‘The Spanish Civil War’ Antony Beevor wrote of the conflict that, ‘It is perhaps the best example of a subject which becomes more confusing when it is simplified.’ Read his book to see what he means.
“In early 1936 Spain had a democratically elected left wing Popular Front government. It was rocked by an attempted military coup that summer by its right wing opponents. For three years Spain fought and with Hitler’s support Franco triumphed. Barca President Josep Sunyol was assassinated by fascists.
“Franco was vengeful against a defeated Catalonia and often defiant Barca. Its the memories of those horrors that live today for many in Spanish football.”
Q. Football and feelings of national image have had a mostly unfortunate relationship but you tell a different story for the 1954 World Cup Final, between the great Hungarian team and West Germany. Hungary were robbed of a deserved national highlight but you think Germany won more than just a football match?
“We’ve all just enjoyed a great World Cup with Germany winning for a fourth time. The one big surprise was that the hosts conceded more goals than any other nation. Its hard to say what the impact on Brazilian psyche is going to be. But there’s little doubt about the effect on the West Germany psyche of 1954 – the most important World Cup final ever played.
“That Bern final was played against the Puskas inspired unbeatable Hungarians. Franz Beckenbauer, the man who would go on to win the World Cup for West Germany, both as a player and manager, believes that, after their success, ‘suddenly Germany was somebody again’. And reflecting the experiences of his own childhood he knew how an eighty-fourth minute winner by Helmut Rahn changed Germany’s view of itself. ‘For anybody who grew up in the misery of the post-war years, Bern was an extraordinary inspiration. The entire country regained its self-esteem.’”
Q. Football is the sport of the people in South Africa, your childhood home, but the story of the role the game played in the lives of inmates – and future statesmen – on Robben Island in 1967, unfortunately, goes largely untold. How did this game reach into the hearts of Mandela, Zuma and their contemporaries, through such hardship?
“My family emigrated to South Africa in the early 1980’s and I lived there until the South African army came knocking on the door looking for me to serve two years national service. I’m neither a coward nor a pacifist but there was no way I was going to serve in an apartheid army.
“When I lived there Nelson Mandela and so many others were jailed on the former leper colony of Robben Island. Every morning I could see across to the Atlantic Island. There was very little news from the island. Like most people I had no idea about the Makana league that the prisoners had forced the regime to allow them to set up. It was inspired by British football. Aston Villa fan Tony Suze got it going.
“Many of the prisoners idolised Billy Bremner. A lot of the teams were named after British clubs. Current South African President Jacob Zuma was a tough tackling centre-back for a team called Rangers!
“One of the ANC’s former island political prisoners I interviewed Dikgang Moseneke was clear about how football helped keep hope alive. ‘It was the great escape from imprisonment. I don’t think the governor and wardens understood the full meaning of the football that they allowed us to play. Very few people came out of Robben Island broken, very few, And some went on to become leaders.’
Q. It is clear that you enjoyed writing the book but the final chapter, Liverpool v Nottingham Forest, 1989; the Hillsborough Disaster is haunting. More than the sectarianism which through football was institutionalised in Scotland in 1924, or the Soccer War game, between El Salvador and Honduras, it reaches inside the reader to touch regret and sorrow, in particular with Trevor Hicks account. What was the Justice for the 96 campaign up against, as they set about trying to change the world?
“Put bluntly the ‘Justice for the ’96’ campaign was up against large section of the British establishment. With the official inquests going on at the moment I have to be careful about what I say. Back then a media that was willing to repeat lies, too many police complicit in a cover up, a government too quick to blame the innocent and a country where many were initially willing to believe the worst of Liverpool fans. But over time the lies unravelled. Celtic’s solidarity with the campaigners is well known. What is less well known is that it wasn’t until a UK Cabinet meeting in Glasgow in 2008 that the campaign got its much yearned for political breakthrough.
“When I wrote the book I decided I wasn’t going to stitch anyone up; and I didn’t. But there’s one person who it’s impossible not to be angry with – the odious then Sun editor, Kelvin Mackenzie. Even today he gives mediocre middle aged men the world over a bad reputation. His malevolence is matched only by his unjustified arrogance.
“But the fact that the campaigners have now got to the truth means that they might just be on the cusp of getting justice as well. Theirs is a story of working class solidarity and of a city that refused to give in. As one campaigner put it to me. ‘We always believed that the law and the establishment would always win. As The Clash would say, ” I fought the law and the law won”.’ But on this occasion, mercifully, it appears they haven’t.
Q. There is so much in the book I didn’t know about the game, specifically, including that in the early 19th century it had all-but disappeared, apart from outposts in Orkney, Shetland, Workington, Cornwall and Jedburgh, before it was colonised by Britain’s public schools and Army messes. 200 years ago, it was a game, but not a game of the people. Your story starts with how people reclaimed football and lived their lives through it. Is this the real story of football over the last two centuries?
“Football almost died. How it survived is a little known truth and is the secret that the sport rarely recognises. A single match helped rescue the sport, and, with one unexpected victory, it finally broke free from its ghettos in the nation’s public schools and British Army officers’ messes. The ailing game had been violent, with very few agreed rules. It was run by and for the elite and, in a nation with very few sports fields, had been banned from public streets. In England, the FA Cup (partly funded by Scotland’s Queens Park) was colonised by university, public school, and regimental teams.
“In the 1883 FA Cup final, the former pupils of Eton College lined up against Blackburn Olympic at the Oval cricket ground. The Lancashire team won in extra time and the trophy went home with them which was further north then ever before. It coincided with Britain’s second Industrial Revolution and meant that when people left these shores they took with them a newly proletarian sport with them.
“A new breed of football innovator was born. They were more in the image of Blackburn Olympic than Old Etonian. In South America, British railway workers helped introduce the sport to Colombia, Uruguay and Argentina. A school-teaching Scot, Alexander Watson Hutton, set up the Argentine FA. In Chile, British sailors, and in Venezuela, British miners were amongst the first to play. In Spain, Brazil and Italy, Britons also planted their working class footballing roots.
“This change in football came in time for the First World War. It meant that football was one of the few things that the working class soldiers and their public school educated officers fighting in the Western Front trenches had in common. It’s an integral part of the story of how the 1914 football Christmas Truce came about. But that’s a different story and is the one match in the book which didn’t change the world.”
If you order the book through this link, with the promotion code: CELTIC, all profits will go to Mary’s Meals.
551 Comments- Pages:
- «
- 1
- ...
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- »
weeminger
09:00 on
18 July, 2014
Every law is open to abuse and abusers.
That`s why the separation of the powers is such an integral part of a civilised society.
Mate,I`m not advocating “big brother.”
macjay, I’m sure you would agree the principle remains the same.
The Malaysian plane crash
Firstly my heartfelt sympathy and prayers for all the people who were killed in this and may their relatives one day find peace.
Deniabhoy may you and yours find peace after your tragic loss
I have been in Singapore with my family on a holiday visit to relatives for the last 2 weeks and will return home to Glasgow next Thursday. We flew a Malaysian Airlines Airbus A380 from London to Kuala Lumpur and we flew over the Ukraine. I was concerned at the time flying over the Ukraine. In war all evils are possible especially in a factious war and why the Ukrainian airspace was treated as safe by most airlines is a question that will need answered
This tragedy has brought back to me a memory I prefer to forget so I would like to share with the blog an experience I had on my travels which I can only describe as good fortune.
I was flying out of Columbo Sri Lanka in 1986 after some work for the Maldivian government in Male helping build a new harbour for the local peoples fishing boats.
I had to wait in Columbo for a week before my flight because Air Lanka in Male screwed up my flight times. Eventually I got them to accept responsibility so they put me up in a hotel near the airport.
I was the only person in a 200 bedroom hotel a surreal experience but not when you consider the country was practically in a state of war with a shoot on sight curfew operating after dark in some areas.
On the Air Lanka Tristar flight to London I was seated next to a French diplomat accompanied by his wife and 2 young children. At the time the Tamil Tigers were very active numerous suicide bombings within the capital and one could only describe the chaos at the airport as a scene of panic and fear with most foreigners leaving the country because of the deteriorating condition.
After about 30mins into the flight and while drinks were being served the French diplomat asked me would I join him for a drink and after a few sips he told me something that shocked me to the core.
He said they had received intelligence at their Embassy that the Tamil Tigers were actively planning to put a bomb on an Air Lanka airliner including the flight we were on. He explained he had to share his concern with me because of his wife and children who were oblivious to the threat.
I guess with such information you would need to share it with someone to ease your fear.
So there we were me and my French fellow passenger counting down the minutes as the plane flew towards London at 30 thousand feet, I admit I said a few prayers but I genuinely felt more for my fellow passenger he had more to loose than me. I remember looking at his 2 children a boy and a girl and his wife hoping and praying they would be okay.
After over 2 hours into the flight he said I think we have made it. I expect he knew most bombs go off on a plane within a couple of hours into a flight.
We touched down safely in Gatwick London I shook the Frenchman’s hand and I wished him and his young family bon voyage.
The airplane we were on I believe was called the St Christopher it returned to Colombo Sri Lanka and the next day it was delayed on the tarmac before its flight to the Maldives.
While waiting a bomb exploded, blowing the tail section off the plane killing 20 passengers.
God rest their souls
The bomb was believed to be timed to go off while the plane was in the air
http://www.nytimes.com/1986/05/05/world/bomb-on-sri-lanka-jet-was-in-cargo.html
Will visit the Singtims pub with the missus tonight for a pint
Good Morning All.
Murdochbhoy
Re the wrongful convictions article — I did not look at the freemasonry aspect though if I recall correctly there was a proportion — around 20% I think — of the West Midlands Serious Crime Squad who had declared themselves Freemasons.
Obviously, this is principally a football site which is why I write some none football stuff over on the Strandsky blog which is my own wee archive of witterings and wordy rubbish.
I have no great desire to get into the Israeli/Palestinian debate on here although I suspect many will know my basic views.
However, I found this a really interesting we video piece and its message is worth considering.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y58njT2oXfE&feature=youtu.be
Some interesting teams in the draw today — from my point of view there are some good stories to be told depending on who comes out of the hat.
Dharma Bam \o/ stands up for Neil Lennon
09:10 on
18 July, 2014
If by that you mean D.N.A. tests for all,I would be absolutely in favour.
Don’t you just love CQN!
The site of Irish/Middle Eastern/ yet Scottish politics is frowned upon at first mention.
Sometimes I wonder at loonies and asylums!
Deniabhoy – sorry to hear of your families loss in what appears a dispicable act.
WeeFra – sorry to hear of your mums passing. She is at peace now buddy. Take care.
MWD still says AYE
Thindimebhoy
09:10 on
18 July, 2014
Essentially the airspace was only open above 32k ft because the Ukranian aviation authorities didn’t think the opposition was capable of operating above that level. Unfortunately it looks like the rebels were equipped in the last week or so (based on other aircraft that have been shot down) with ‘better’ weaponry.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
08:54 on
18 July, 2014
Absolutely no problem with that basic premise.
I do have a problem with the guilty unprosecuted.
Surely another miscarriage of justice.
——
I’m unsure how you arrived at the ‘guilty unprosecuted’, surely the whole justice system in a civilized society is based on bringing a person/s to trial, without a trial there can be no judgement on guilt or innocence.
What we must guard against is some political/media gung ho driven agenda that would demonize a whole section of society because they are perceived as the enemy.
Deniabhoy, so sorry for your loss.
Wild world these days.
YNWA.
There are plenty ‘vocal’ Celtic fans who go to the games that are pro Palestine in their outlook.
Nir Biton posted the prayer of the IDF within hours of 4 wee boys playing football on the beach getting blown up.
Trouble ahead. Something has to give.
What should happen is that Biton gets shown the door. (after all……. football and politics etc. etc. etc.)
What will happen is that any supporter found in possession of a Palestinian flag will get photographed, arrested and banned from football matches. (after all football and politics……)
Macjay, subtle change there. Those who advocate dna fingerprinting and police and national security employees should be the first in line to be registered. “Nothing to hide, nothing to fear.” I don’t see it happening any time soon.
thindimebhoy
FFS! No words for that mate.
MWD says AYE
Deniabhoy
Thoughts and prayers with your family.
LB
I haven’t been on the blog for a few days, work getting in the way!
I just wanted to thank all of you who have donted to my niece’s appeal. She set off this morning just over an hour ago for the first hike on the Camino de Santiago in memory of Wee Oscar, raising funds for the NI Hospice.
Please keep her and her friends in your thoughts and prayers.
https://www.justgiving.com/niamhhoranbuchanan/
——-
Deniabhoy – my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. God Bless.
mobteblanco
Not trying to be facetious and I also do agree with your sentiment.
But should Tony Stoke be afforded the same treatment for his public comments tagging in IDF. Bit on is Israeli. Has family, friends and an upbringing that’ll will likely be indoctrined from birth.
I just wish all our footballing employees would refrain from political natured comment.
MWD says AYE
Thindimebhoy
09:10 on
18 July, 2014
Thanks so much for sharing that.
Major carriers.That`s what I tell my kids.
Statistically safer.
Minxy
I’ll donate on payday. Enjoy your holibags.
MWD says AYE
BRTH & Macjay
Thanks for the correspondence – I’ve got to leave now and all I’ve got to say ..
Peace be with you all!
Murdoch.
This is what started the discussion.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
01:20 on
18 July, 2014
tully57
00:55 on
18 July, 2014
Justice,you cry.
Cancer you cry.
Any chance of justice for the two Aussies murdered in Belgium?
Just one example below.
Lots more if you wish.But then you know that.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3j1T1dcWKAk
Re Biton… Many Celtic fans are happy to defend Stokes’ pro IRA opinions, on the basis that he’s Irish.
Surely then we should afford Biton the same leeway?
Or, perhaps this whole episode is a good example of why many Celtic fans, myself included, would prefer that the players did not broadcast their political views, particularly when doing so is likely to sharply divide opinion?
Moonbeams
Neither Stokes nor Biton will be shown anything (although Stokes was publically humiliated by the Club previously)
But when a paying supporter has an opinion………
MWD – Thanks bud! Hope you and yours are well
weeminger
The airlines and their respective governments have questions to answer imo, On the ground you have basically rougue military elements with weapons your average terrorist could only dream of.
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan
I used all my spare cash to phone Air Lanka in London to get them to accept responsibility when I went to get my flight there was a check point that you needed to pay 10 yankee dollars to pass through.
I was broke and could not pass as I was walking around the airport wondering what to do I spotted the crew of a British Airways jumbo bound for London. I approached the captain and explained my circumstances to him. He led me through the staff access to my departure gate I was so grateful to him.
09:34 on
18 July, 2014
mobteblanco
Not trying to be facetious and I also do agree with your sentiment.
But should Tony Stoke be afforded the same treatment for his public comments tagging in IDF. Bit on is Israeli. Has family, friends and an upbringing that’ll will likely be indoctrined from birth.
I just wish all our footballing employees would refrain from political natured comment.
MWD says AYE
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
Yes my friend stick to the major airline companies if you can their security is so much better
Suggestions that Biton should keep his politics to himself.Agreed.
One law for the players.
Different law for the supporters.
Edit somehow I got bits of another post in there
weeminger
The airlines and their respective governments have questions to answer imo, On the ground you have basically rougue military elements with weapons your average terrorist could only dream of.
Moonbeams WD. Wee Oscar’s our Bhoy and Kano’s our mhan
I used all my spare cash to phone Air Lanka in London to get them to accept responsibility when I went to get my flight there was a check point that you needed to pay 10 yankee dollars to pass through.
I was broke and could not pass as I was walking around the airport wondering what to do I spotted the crew of a British Airways jumbo bound for London. I approached the captain and explained my circumstances to him. He led me through the staff access to my departure gate I was so grateful to him.
MWD says AYE
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
Yes my friend stick to the major airline companies if you can their security is so much better
I think we have to think seriously Israel is Nir Bitons homeland probably where all his family live and his friends and the Bhoy only spoke up for his homeland it strikes me if it were Scotland under attack many of us would feel the same way as Nir.I dont want to appear to take sides as I do not have the knowledge of the rights and wrongs in the area however,I will say bombs and rockets will not solve anything both sides need to talk to each other and come up with a lasting solution a long shot I know but it is the only way in my opinion.H.H.
macjay1 for Neil Lennon
08:56 on 18 July, 2014
‘Those who have nothing to hide………………………………….
I was speaking about surveillance’
###
Would you agree to the security forces having a camera in your home?
I can’t see why not.
Unless you have something to hide.
After reading how the Nazis dubbed the French Resistance as ‘terrorists’, the word is now meaningless as far as I’m concerned.
Ernie
Reluctant as always to risk your abuse.
However,I`ll take the chance.
I have already said that I am not talking about “Big Brother.”
The Israelis are simply foolish. They should know better than anyone that you can’t crush a people regardless of what military might you possess. Right now as I type this I have no doubt there are hundreds and possibly thousands of Muslim youths all over the world crying with rage and frustration. These will provide the new battalions of radicalised recruits who will carry out terrible attacks in the years ahead. Violence begets violence, there are no winners. Eventually there will have to be a political solution, a Palestinian homeland where people are kept in perpetual poverty in glorified refugee camps, where their imports & exports are constantly monitored by their powerful neighbour is not a solution. The Palestinians need a viable State where they can have some measure of control over their own destiny.
Opponents for Qualification Round 3
Legia Warszawa (POL)/Saint Patrick’s Athletic (IRL)
Cliftonville FC (NIR)/Debreceni VSC (HUN)
ŠK Slovan Bratislava (SVK)/The New Saints FC (WAL)
Valletta FC (MLT)/Qarabağ FK (AZE)
Aalborg BK (DEN)
Draw at 11.00BST/12.00CET
Corkcelt
Simple clear wisdom personified in your post. Shame we can’t bottle it and send it the the protagonists.
HH jamesgang
As a Celtic supporter with strong political views,I will keep them to myself,I realise that as our club is open to all others will have views that I will not share.I am amazed that when Celtic insist on confidential agreements when members of staff leave in strange circumstances they do not include a clause when a player signs for the club ie. No political or religious comments etc. on social media.
DownForSam
08:44 on
18 July, 2014
Watching coverage from Israel and Palestine over the past few days. More especially yesterday and the 4 young boys on the beach. Pearse’s speech at Glasnevin kept coming to mind. Have the Israelis learned nothing from the conflict in Ireland.
You fools, you fools you have left us our Palestinian dead.
Just like Ireland, unless the US acts with complete impartiality on the matter, Israel and Palestine will be knocking friar tuck out of each other for another hundred years.
Thindimebhoy
09:50 on
18 July, 2014
I agree but I was just passing on why it was still being used as a normal airspace. Guy from the European body was on R4 this morning saying there was 100 flights a day doing through Ukranian airspace prior to yesterday.
Is there not an argument that Israeli governments prefer their country to be in a state of ‘semi-war’ ?
Will Celtic who were apparently quick to have a word with Stokes about some of his off the park activities, act similarly in respect ot Biton.
The problem with Celtic is that it is selectively non political.
Live CQN Q&A with Tony Blair would be welcomed.
He is the man responsible for bringing peace to the Middle. east.
He is doing a grand job.
Perhaps, he should be invited to chair the meetings between board and Green Brigade.