World Cup Scribbles

Below are some of my write ups that have appeared on the True Faith fanzine website..

http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/features.nsf/0/EBB6AA8106DC82FE80257756002BD557?OpenDocument

http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/features.nsf/0/51E73DEF3441758180257756002C25C6?OpenDocument

http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/features.nsf/0/56E6DC57410781CC8025775A005B1DD8?OpenDocument

http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/features.nsf/0/C262E75F2B6CE675802577590025D0C8?OpenDocument

http://www.true-faith.co.uk/tf/features.nsf/0/659CBE693202FA528025774E0052458D?OpenDocument

St. Patrick's Day in Lorca

Click on the link below to see my article published in the Irish World and Northern Cross

http://www.theirishworld.com/article.asp?SubSection_Id=1&Article_Id=13172

THe article is also here in Spanish, thanks to Charly Panes (Europeanirish.com)

http://www.europeanirish.com/news_spanish.php?news_id=2984

You can see a You Tube link below also

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7wtBdQVEXYc

Irish Pub, Lorca, Murcia

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRyADVW0Rj0

Gateshead FC Vrs Luton Town FC

When I am back in the NE of England I like to catch up on the football.

Gateshead Football Club have always lived in the shadow of their “big brother” ,Newcastle United, across the River Tyne. Whilst the Magpies can attract crowds of up to 52,000 the Tynesiders on the south bank of the River Tyne struggle pull in 700 fans. However from time to time “The Heed” can attract crowds of over 1000 and today was one of those occasions for a game against Luton Town. The attendance included a sizable contingent from Hertfordshire.

Luton Town, former football league cup winners and FA Cup finalists, have fallen from grace and have lost their football league status which they are trying to regain this season. Gateshead by contrast , although having had football league status in the 1950’s, have just recently gained promotion to the conference and are struggling at the higher level.

The two teams lined up on a crisp January afternoon. Gateshead bedecked in white shirts black shorts and socks and Luton in bright orange shirts white shorts and socks and with the Easy Jet logo emblazoned across it, the budget airline is based in Luton. Both teams strips prompt one wag in the crowd to shout “This is reminiscent of West Germany v Holland circa ’74”. Referring the World Cup final of 1974 which included such greats as Farnz Beckenbaur and Johan Cruff. Another fan shouts in response “Aye, if you close your eyes!”.

The game started with Gateshead looking sharp and striking the bar in the early encounters. The atmosphere inside the ground was good, in a stadium ,which in my opinion, wasn’t built for football. Gateshead use the towns international athletics stadium for home games, but hope to have their own purpose built ground constructed close to the town centre by 2012. The Gateshead fans, “The Heed Army” have a great array of songs. My own personal favourite to the tune of the Sex Pistols Anarchy in the UK, with the great line “I wannabe Heed Army...”. The “craic” amongst the fans was also excellent very different from the atmosphere at some of the higher standard games that I have attended. You get the feeling nobody takes themselves too serious here.

Halfway through the first half we get the first goal and it goes to the visitors. The goal is one of the most bizarre that I have ever seen in over 30 years of watching football. A mix up in the Gateshead penalty area leads to the ball being poked back to the Gateshead goalkeeper who somehow lets the ball bobble through his legs and trickle over the line. The first half peters out and Luton go into the dressing room one up.

The second half sees a Gateshead full blooded assault on the Luton goal but all to no avail as the Hatters hold on to collect three valuable points in their promotion push. Gateshead on the other hand end the day languishing in the bottom three with a lot of work to do if they are to retain their Conference status.

Tony Higgins

Ojos De Brojo (Eyes of the Sorcerer)

This article appeared in the True Faith (Newcastle United Fanzine) Issue 77.

Ojos De Brujo (Eyes of the Sorcerer) - Sage Gateshead (Hall 1) – 21st November 2009

I think it’s great that the North East of England has become a more cultured and cosmopolitan then it was in my younger days. It’s great that places like The Sage can attract bands from all over the world to the banks of the Tyne.

I went along to see Spanish band Ojos de Brujo (Eyes of the Sorcerer) and was enthralled with what was a truly magical performance. Their music blends flamenco music with the diverse musical genres of today like hip hop and pop, it has an Afro-Cuban rhythm I could even hear Ska and reggae in it too. The sound the energy and the colour made their performance really powerful.

The group also have a very strong social conscience, Ojos de Brujo appeals to the youth by addressing social issues and concerns within their music. The group name, Eyes of the Sorcerer reflects this theme. According to group members, the eyes of the sorcerer look deeper into the issues and reveal the truth.

After the show some of the band went along to the club World Headquarters in Carliol Square for a mixing session, which was full of energy also in great surroundings.

http://www.ojosdebrujo.com/english/index.html

http://www.welovewhq.com/

Spain Vrs Argentina (November 2009)

An edited version of the below article will be appearing in the NUFC fanzine True Faith.

Stadium: Vicente Calderon (Athletico Madrid) Attendance 55,000
2-1 Goal scorers: Alonso (16), Messi (61 pen), Alonso (86 pen)

A few years ago if someone had of said to you that today Newcastle United would be flying high in the league and have two regular Argentine internationals in the team your mouth would of been watering at the prospect. Especially as Gutierrez is one of the first four players down on the managers, Diego Maradona, team sheet. The unfortunate reality of all this is we know the reality. Never mind it’s not every day you get to see a Newcastle Untied player swap the famous black & whites stripes for the iconic blue & white ones of Argentina, so it was off to Madrid for what was billed as “un partido bonito” a beautiful game. Gutierrez wasn’t playing due to an injury he picked up against Peterbough, but he was with the squad. Coloccini was expected to start.
I live four hours away from Madrid, by car, so it was an early start for our party, my mate from Felling, my 11 year old son and me. We made good time and arrived in the Spanish capital earlier than anticipated only to be caught up in the middle of a flag waving noisy demonstration, something about Palestine by the look of it. The demonstrators were blocking the road to our hotel and we had to detour around the back of them which put a dent in our good timing.
With an eleven year old in tow there was no way we were going on a session around the famed Irish bars of Madrid (pity), so we decided to head for the hotel that the Argentine squad were staying in. Security was tight but we got in. The players were staying on the 5th floor but apart from a glimpse of Tevez nothing much was happening, except lots of Argentine press men hanging around the lobby. From there we headed to the Burnabeu, the home of Real Madrid. We decided to do the stadium tour, I had done it before but the others hadn’t. Real Madrid is not a team I particularly like but you can’t help being impressed as you walk around the stadium and soak up the football history that has been played out there.
After the tour we headed back to our hotel to freshen up and get ready for the match that was being played at “The Calderon” the home of Athletico Madrid. As we walked to the metro from our hotel we had to cut through the Lavapies area of Madrid. Not a very nice area, in fact I have visited Madrid on several occasions and have to admit to being a bit underwhelmed by it. As we passed by drug dealers and the like we noticed a bar packed out with North Africans who were watching the World Cup playoff game between Egypt and Algeria, a real grudge match.
We reached the ground about an hour before kick off the atmosphere was electric. Both sets of fans mingled well with each other. Thousands of Argentites live in Madrid and the rest of Spain and they had a huge contingent out for this game. I spotted lots of boyfriends and girlfriends going to the match together one in a Spain shirt the other in an Argentine one. A real fiesta was being enjoyed by everyone including us. Once inside the antiquated ground we made our way high up to our seats, the colour and noise from both sets of fans was a spectacle to behold. Our man, Colo, was starting at right back. The match was played in a very high tempo and no quarter was given, surprising as this was supposed to be a friendly. Seven yellow cards were handed out in total. Some great skills were on display notably from the immaculate Xavi who was replaced on the 60 minute mark by the equally impressive Cesc. The Spaniards definitely were the better team in the opening skirmishes and deservedly took the lead in the 16th minute by former Liverpool man Xabi Alonso, a goal that was worked from the goalkeeper in 23 touches in 23 seconds, amazing. As for Coloccini he actually looked like an international defender. However after clearing one off the line on the half hour, within a minute he was in the refs note book for spectacularly taking out Barcelona star Inesta on the half way line. Spontaneously I shouted out Geordie Aggro hello hello ....much to the bemusement to my Spanish neighbours sitting around me.
The second half was a much more even affair; whatever Maradona said must have worked, and you could even say Argentina shaded it slightly. The turning point for me was the introduction of Tevez (58 min), real quality and his introduction led to Argentina being awarded a dubious penalty in 60th minute. The penalty was converted by Messi, who looks like he came out of the same mould as the great Peter Beardsley. Messi, however, doesn’t perform as well in blue and white as he does in blue and red and the unforgiving Argentine hinchas don’t let him forget it.
As the match drew to close Spain were awarded a penalty for hand ball, from where I was sitting it was hard to make out. Man of the match Xabi Alonso stepped up to convert with 4 minutes remaining. The Spanish crowd at that point started to goad Maradona with cries of “suck on this”. This in reference to Maradona’s remarks to the Argentine press, “que la chupen” after his side narrowly qualified for the World Cup by beating Uruguay in a playoff. Subsequently, for those remarks, Maradona has been fined €16,500 and banned for two months from the touchline. With 2 minutes remaining the fantastic Spanish keeper Ikka Cassillas was substituted so that he could receive a deserved standing ovation for reaching 100 caps. As the final whistle sounded the fiesta continued into the night, the Argentine fans seemingly undeterred by their teams’ late capitulation.
Guardar la fe
Tony Higgins
November 2009

Celtic Soul Brothers ....on the Tyne

This article, that I wrote, has just appeared in the latest addition of the True Faith, Newcastle United supporters fanzine. www.true-faith.co.uk Isuue74

Edited versions of the article also appeared in the October issue of the Northern Cross and The Irish World newspaper.

The legacy of the Irish on Tyneside is ingrained and approximately 40% of the population can claim Irish decent. Thousands of Irish immigrants came to work here during the industrial revolution attracted shipbuilding and coal mining jobs. They helped shape the Tyneside we know today. During WW1 thousands from the Tyneside Irish Brigade were slaughtered at the Somme and their banner still stands proudly in St. Mary’s RC Cathedral. The "Blaydon Races" (1862) gives a hint of the mood; "They called on me to sing a song, and I gave them "Paddy Fagan"" - he's referring to a society where being "Irish" or "English" was less important than being Geordie.

In Gallowgate the Tyneside Irish Centre serves a reminder to this heritage and is a popular Mag watering hole. Bill Corcoran (TIC): “Anyone can join (TIC) and be welcome; and why the warrior traditions of hospitality, love and brotherhood that unite the ancient kingdoms of Bernicia and Ireland - the Land(s) of Saints and Scholars - continue in all of our hearts. Oh aye and we do karaoke in the lounge on Fridays and the Guinness is cheap.”

Irishmen have worn B&W with distinction. Shay Given, Aaron Hughes, Damien Duff, Andy and Liam O’Brien, Kevin Sheedy, Tommy Wright, Mick Martin, John Anderson, Tommy Cassidy, Iam McFaul, David Craig and many others. Belfast’s Bill McCracken was the Baresi of his day and with Geordie legend Colin Veitch was the bulwark upon which three Championships and an FA Cup win was built in the 1900s. In the 50s, Ulsterman, Alf McMichael racked up the club’s record number of appearances. It has all been one way either with the great Jackie Milburn remaining a revered and legendary figure from his time as Player-Manager with Belfast club, Linfield after he'd hung up his boots at SJP in the late 50s. Currently at the academy Callum Morris, Stephen Folan, Michael McCrudden, Patrick McLaughlin and Shane Ferguson hail from Ireland and during the Tyneside Irish festival there will be a NUSC talk- in at the TIC - NUFC the Irish Connection.

Shipbuilding areas such as Walker, Wallsend, Jarrow, Hebburn and Felling have strong Irish connections. Many immigrants brought their culture and music and Irish dancing remains popular. There is evidence of the Irish divide - the Orange Lodge in Hebburn is within walking distance the Iona Club; however sectarianism has been rare. This may be because on Tyneside the Irish were given a fair chance. The Irish brought Gaelic games; Gaelic Football and in 1885 a Gaelic Athletic Association was set up in Wallsend.

While most Irish immigrants strove to establish clubs promoting Gaelic games across the UK, geography made it difficult to develop on Tyneside with the cost of travelling making competition prohibitive as the Irish assimilated and took up English games.

Gaelic football is described as a cross between association football and rugby but Gaelic came first. Like Rugby there are fifteen players but like football a round size 5 ball is used, but which heavier than a soccer ball. You are allowed to head the ball but you don’t see it much due to it’s weight! The goalposts are a cross between a football goal and rugby posts. In Ireland Gaelic football remains a huge sport attracting attendances of up to 80,000 for some matches. Croke Park in Dublin, the home of the GAA is one of the finest in Europe. There are over 2,500 GAA clubs and teams in the USA, Australia, New Zealand and Europe.

On Tyneside Gaelic football is making a comeback and this is down to Irish students around the NE. Their team is the: Cú Chulainn's GAC.

The team is named after a warrior of ancient folklore, the Ulster Hound. They play in the Yorkshire League., Cú Chulainn's have actually won the championship. Home games are played at West Lane, Killingworth and was formed in 2007 by secretary Ciaran McPeake and his friends Eddie O’Gara and David O’Sullivan. Ciaran is keen to point out the help received from the TIC and sponsors Washington Developments. Cú Chulainn's play in Black, Red and White shirts - a deliberate mix of the region’s football colours.

Ciaran is planning a year’s world travel with his Ashington girlfriend but he hopes the club will continue growing by attracting Irish in the area but locals too . He has coached Gaelic football in schools and ran tournaments for children at his teams’ home ground in Killingworth. Competition from football, rugby, and cricket presents a challenge but Ciaran is assisted by ex-Sunderland trainee Finbar Lynch, who coaches Gaelic Football in South Tyneside.

Amongst the Irish lads at NUFC is 18 year old N. Ireland international Shane Ferguson. Back home in Derry, Shane has a cabinet full of county and Ulster championship medals from Gaelic Football. At 15 Shane chose Association football over Gaelic. Mags may be glad of his decision as Shane looks an accomplished left sided player.

Ciaran and I caught up with Shane and we asked about his “old” sport. Ciaran and Shane hold a deep passion for Gaelic Football and we were joined by another NUFC starlet Michael McCruudden who played Gaelic back in Derry. Although Shane is enjoying Newcastle, which is a “bit livelier” than Co. Derry, he still misses Gaelic football. Shane is kept up to date by his Dad and Satellite TV. Shane was aware there was a Gaelic team in Newcastle and glad we made contact with him. He intends to watch the Cú Chulainn's and is sure United’s Irish lads would too although playing is strictly off limits

For more information or to help with sponsorship contact club secretary Ciaran McPeake on 07791775626 or emailciaranmcpeake@hotmail.com or visit www.cuchulainnsgac.com

Coinnigh an Creideamh (Keep the Faith in Gaelic)

Tony Higgins

Thanks to Mark Hannen (NUFC), Shane Ferguson (NUFC), Bill Corcoran (TIC), Ciaran McPeake (Cú Chulainn's GAC) and Michael Martin of TF Fanzine

Singin' I'm No a Billy He's a Tim – Tyneside Irish Centre (Wednesday 21 October 2009)

This Article appeared in the November 2009 edition of the Northern Cross.

A healthy crowd made their way to the Tyneside Irish Centre for what was to be the first airing; this side of the border, of the anti-sectarian play Singin' I'm No a Billy He's a Tim. The controversial play has already taken audiences in Scotland by storm and is being used as an educational tool in some schools.
Produced by the unfunded Glasgow based NLP Theatre Company, with a low-budget set, the play has just enjoyed its second sell-out tour of Scotland. The play written by Des Dillon is about, quote “What happens when you lock up a Celtic fan with a Rangers fan on the day of the Old Firm match?”
The characters names in the play have sectarian connotations, Billy (King William of Orange) a Rangers fan and Tim (Tim Malloy was used as a generic term for a catholic Irish immigrants) a Celtic fan are thrown in jail together for none payment of fines. The inevitable sparks start to fly as they are marshalled and refereed by “Turn Key” (Warder) Harry.
The play demonstrates, in a very funny way, the absolute pointlessness of sectarian hatred and division. Both Tim and Billy are shown to be victims of the society they have been brought up in. Both demonstrate ignorance not only for their rivals’ traditions but also their own. The play covers the aspects of family, racism and sexual orientation as the pair attempt to find some common ground. Do they have more in common then they think and are there more things to life than football, Celtic and Rangers? This is all brought to light against a backdrop of Harry, the Warder, who is going through a family crisis, which he eventually shares with both lads. At one point both Tim and Billy end up offering a shared prayer for Harry and his troubles.
The play is peppered with the strongest language imaginable, but in my opinion it would have lost its hard hitting edge without it. For me, it was very enjoyable night. The audience, who were largely of the “Tim” persuasion and many bedecked in Celtic shirts, it seemed to go down well with them too. I hope some lessons are learnt, as both clubs are trying hard to eradicate the ingrained sectarianism hatred from their respective organisations. I wish them both the best of Irish...and British Luck!

Tony Higgins