More than a story
On the eve of El Clásico, Peterjon Cresswell visits Barcelona – and Budapest, where a new book and separately produced film celebrate the dramatic life and achievements of three players did much to create the club’s legend. The book, a memorial to Sándor Kocsis, is having its Catalan version launched on Tuesday – in a […]
Friday night fever
Spring is in the air and leagues across Europe are reaching the business end of the season. But in Ireland, football has only just sprung back into life after its winter hibernation. This Friday evening sees Dundalk, crowned champions last October, host the Dublin club they wrested the title from, St Patrick’s Athletic. Peter Doyle […]
Go west
When record Irish champions Shamrock Rovers host MLS champions LA Galaxy this Saturday, it not only means a return to Tallaght for national icon Robbie Keane. The pre-season fixture has echoes of the summer of ’67, when Rovers took part in a pioneering league in the States. Peter Doyle speaks to Rovers club historian Robert […]
Capital gains
Football in Edinburgh is more than just Hibs and Hearts. While its two main clubs battle to regain top-flight status, just below the league pyramid, unbeaten Edinburgh City look set for a play-off place. Across town, Spartans FC are one game away from a Scottish Cup quarter-final with… Hibs. Peter Doyle reports. For the […]
Lwów revived in Lviv
Lviv hosts Champions League football on February 17 when Bayern Munich take on Shakhtar Donetsk there. The Arena Lviv has become the de facto home ground for Ukraine’s title-holders – but Lviv was also home to pre-war Polish champions Pogon Lwów. Peterjon Cresswell reports on Pogon’s recent revival – in the city known as the cradle of […]
Full steam ahead
Fifty years ago, a group of football-mad shipyard welders passed round a tin to buy strips for a team they wanted to build. This year, the team launched by the shipyard that launched the Titanic is embarking on the next leg of an extraordinary football voyage. Peter Doyle meets the dedicated men who steered Harland […]
Rouble trouble
It’s a cold Christmas for Russian football. With the country in financial crisis, on December 24, the 16 clubs in Russia’s Premier League agreed an exchange rate for the rouble – in order to pay their want-away foreign stars. Andy Potts reports. The rouble has turned to rubble after a dramatic slump in the exchange […]
Homage to Don Patricio
Today’s match between Betis and Racing Santander is being played in honour of Patrick O’Connell, the Irishman who managed both clubs before the war. Under O’Connell, Betis won their only Spanish title 80 seasons ago. Now the forgotten Irishman, also saviour of FC Barcelona, is being fêted thanks to a memorial campaign led by his […]
Clash of the giants?
This Sunday sees the clash of two once dominant clubs in the English game, Liverpool and Manchester United. While United are slowly picking themselves back up after a disastrous 2013-14, Liverpool have just been dumped out of the Champions League. Domestic form has been mediocre at best. Tony Dawber speaks to Liverpool fan group The […]