WE’RE THE FAMOUS MAN UNITED

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OLD TRAFFORD IN THE ’80s: THE PLAYERS’ STORIES

With: Bryan Robson, Frank Stapleton, Gordon McQueen,

Arnold Muhren, Alan Brazil, Clayton Blackmore, Gary Bailey,

Arthur Albiston, Bill Garton, John Gidman and Ron Atkinson

NEW PAPERBACK EDITION!

Published by Vision Sports Publishing, Out Now!

RRP £7.99, ISBN 9781907637094

The 1980’s was certainly a barren decade for Manchester United as far as league titles were concerned, but they did bag two FA Cups during that time. The teams that conquered did so with grit, determination and some seriously dodgy perms. Eleven key players from that time have been tracked down by author Andy Mitten to tell their own stories in this new book.

They played hard on the pitch, and many played just as hard off it. Working class lads who got to live their childhood dreams by playing for the biggest and most glamorous team in the country. There are 11 chapters in the book, each one a mini-bio of the players involved. Through their stories we get the chance to build up a picture of what life was really like at Man Utd.

The football, the fights, the boozing sessions and the childish pranks are all recorded for posterity. This was an era when footballers were still one of us, they lived alongside the fans who turned out to watch them and went for a pint after training. These footballers weren’t celebrities and played for the love of the game, as there wasn’t much money to be made back then. When they retired they were lucky if they had a few medals to show for their efforts.


Rovers Going Inca

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IncaTrek2011

Rovers Going Inca

NSPCC Childline service.

Several members of Doncaster Rovers football club, players and management have decided this year to do something different in the hiatus between seasons. Instead of relaxing with family, they are flying to South America to take the Inca trail through the Andes. On the 5th of June the intrepid adventurers, led by their star midfielder Mark Wilson, will be reaching altitudes of 12,000 ft to raise funds for the NSPCC Childline service.

Joining Wilson will be James O’Connor and James Coppinger. They will be supported by 5 members of the Rovers’ management team, and 2 Rovers’ fans who are also local businessmen. This is no easy way to earn money for charity, as the Inca trail is a 62 miles trek upwards until they reach the roof of South America. The threat of altitude sickness will be a major factor as there are points on the trail that reach a mighty 15,000 ft. They plan to complete the walk in 6 days, not a task for the faint hearted.

Mark Wilson has said that they are taking on the challenge to raise public awareness of the NSPCC and Childline and raise much needed funds to enable them to finance it. This is something that Wilson has been thinking about doing for a while and wants to do all he can to help to stamp out child abuse.

“The other lads are just as keen as I am to get involved and even the ones who are not taking part have pledge money out of their wages to the Trek. Players like a challenge and to do this has given them that focus to help the NSPCC. They are really looking forward to it and know that it will be a test for us all as it will challenge us in different ways. Its going to be no picnic as we are doing an alternative route reaching heights of over 12,000ft. We land at high altitude them climb up to 15,000ft at the highest point of the trek. We will all have to watch out for altitude sickness as we are as high as some airline fly!. All of us are giving up our holidays to take this challenge on because its at a time we usually go with our families on a break, because when we get back it will be pre-season training ”

“This is a project we want the whole community in and we want every fan to get involved in any way plus any local business who want to get involved. We will be having special events all though the year including a special night for the ladies, so watch out on the clubs official website plus a new dedicated website and donations site we are setting up”

Steve Uttley, Media Manager “For me this is one the biggest challenges that I have undertaken but one I could not refuse when asked. I have a year to get myself up to fitness levels needed but If what I do saves one child’s life it will be worth all the pain and effort put in not only by me but by the rest of the team. I will be the oldest so will be the one who has the most punishing training regime but I have already started by walking in the Peak District as I build up”

FIFA election up in the air

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FIFA election up in the air After two powerful figures in football were accused of forking over close to £20,000 to officials for bribes, FIFA officials have received calls to cancel the presidential election next week. Mohamed Bin Hammam one of the candidates for FIFA president and Jack Warner, Vice –President have been charged, in the most serious crisis of corruption to hit the governing body, with bribery.

The MP, Damian Collins, who named two other members of FIFA in Parliament as having received alleged bribes for the World Cup 2022 Qatar bid, has requested that FIFA abandon elections.

Saying that if Bin Hammam is suspended then Sepp Blatter would be a shoo-in to win the presidency so there should be a new election with new candidates coming forward to run for the election. There also needs to be a proper investigation and because of the time constraints for the election this cannot happen so the election should be cancelled.

Both Warner and Bin Hammam will face the ethics committee for FIFA on Sunday and face potentially long bans from football. Both have denied any part in any wrongdoing. The election between Blatter and Bin Hamman is scheduled for Wednesday and Bin Hamman has declared that the charges are an attempt by Blatter to increase his chances.

FA backlash for not voting for FIFA boss

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FA backlash for not voting for FIFA boss The FA has been criticised for their decision to abstain from voting for the new FIFA president, according to one of the candidates. Mohammed Bin Hammam says that if the FA stick to their decision, they will be forfeiting their right to affect any changes from within, and ultimately have little or no say in future consultations. The FA announced last week that they would be abstaining from the vote on the 1st of June.

The battle for FIFA supremacy is between Bin Hammam, the Chief of the Asian confederation and Sepp Blatter, the 13 year incumbent. Former Chairman David Triesman has told a parliamentary enquiry that England’s recent bid to hold the World Cup had been blighted by corruption. Bin Hammam posted on his website that he was disappointed and surprised by the decision by the FA to abstain.

He wrote that the footballing family was both diverse and vast, probably more than anyone could truly comprehend, but that was one of the greatest strengths of the sport. He said it was disappointing that someone had chosen not to engage with the others, and that the decision of one of FIFA’s national nations has taken the decision not to attempt to affect any changes.

Watch the big match or sleep with a supermodel that is the question

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Watch the big match or sleep with a supermodel that is the question Every footballing fan across Europe dreams of seeing their team in the final of the Champions League, the top prize in European football. Now the question has been asked, how far would you actually go and what would you give up if it would guarantee your place taking their place in the Wembley showpiece.

One Poll recently ran a poll for Heineken that sheds some light on the extreme lengths that football fans would go it, and it goes along way to proving that football is ‘the other woman’ in the lives of many men. Half of the fans questioned said they would happily forfeit a date with a supermodel to see their team in the final. Not only supermodels miss out though; friends and family would also take second place to lifting the trouble.

Friend’s weddings, stag parties, meeting their girlfriend’s parents for the first time and the birth of a child were also events that footie fans would be happily prepared to miss for the moment of glory at Wembley. It may sound extreme, but it seems that footie fans take their sport very seriously indeed. Although if you had to give up the chance of a date with any of these lovely ladies it might be best not to let on about it. Many would tell you to keep your head down and wear some dark sunglasses. No one wants to be known as that football fan who gave up the chance of a date with a supermodel. Over 5000 fans across the globe were surveyed, and Hans Erik Tuijyt admitted even he was surprised at how important the sport they call the ‘beautiful game’ is to the ardent fans.