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Tag: Travel
Journalism Travel
Worth Reading: An In-Depth NYT Travel Story on Cuenca, Ecuador and the Country's Southern Coast
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Long-time Newley.com readers will recall that about a decade ago I spent a year living and working in the fascinating, staggeringly picturesque city Cuenca, Ecuador, which is situated some 8,000 feet high in the Andean foothills.
I loved my time there, met some great people who remain my close friends, and think of the country often.
Indeed, I still keep an eye on international news about Ecuador, and came across this recent New York Times travel story by Michelle Higgins, headlined "Three Sides of Ecuador":
On our nine-day trip in July we focused on three of these offerings — beaches, mountains and colonial charm. The plan was to head north along the Pacific coast, then head east into the Andean highlands for high-altitude trails before spending time with family in the beautiful colonial city of Cuenca, where my mother was born. (We ended up doing it all, but not in that order, given our detour.)
Many travel pieces about the country focus, understandably, on other places: destinations in the north (the capital, Quito), the east (the Amazon jungle), and/or the far west (the Galapagos).
But this story, I was delighted to find, is not just about Cuenca, but about other areas I know well, like Cajas National Park and towns along the country's southern coast coast, such as Puerto Lopez.
The food, the people, the insane driving conditions, and even the whale watching: there's lots of good stuff here. And there's a slideshow of photos by Meridith Kohut.
Tags Ecuador, nytimes, Travel, travel journalism
Travelfish Founder Stuart McDonald Talks Southeast Asia Travel
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If you're interested in Southeast Asia travel, you might enjoy listening to this podcast interview with Stuart McDonald, founder of the travel site Travelfish.org.
McDonald has been traveling in the region for more than 20 years, and has some interesting thoughts on how travel — and travelers — have changed over time.
He talks mainly about Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar, Vietnam and Indonesia, and suggests an intinerary for a one-month tour through the region. His recommendation might surprise you.
Tags southeast_asia, Travel
NY Times: '36 Hours in Bangkok'
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I often enjoy the The New York Times's "36 Hours in…" dispatches.
The travel pieces usually convey, in perhaps 1,500 words, both the destination's atmosphere and practical tips for visiting.
So I was delighted to see today's "36 Hours in Bangkok," by veteran correspondent Thomas Fuller.
I especially like the lede, because it mirrors much of my affection for the Thai capital:
Bangkok has hit the sweet spot. It's modern but far from antiseptic, filled with luxuries, pampering and great food — but still affordable. In the glare of the tropical sun it can be an ugly sprawl of tangled wires and broken pavement. Yet amid the chaos, visitors find charm and, above all, character. Somehow extremes coexist: skyscrapers and moldy tenements; high-end, cloth-napkin dining and tasty street food stalls; five-star hotels and fleabag guesthouses overflowing with backpackers; libidinous hedonism and Buddhist meditation. To travel across Bangkok is to see several worlds at once. Increasingly it is also convenient. The city of paralyzing traffic now has ample public transportation options ranging from boats to an expanding subway system. But if there is one reason visitors return again and again to Bangkok, it is the people. The anonymity and daily grind of urban life is slowly wearing away at the legendary Thai smile. Yet Bangkok remains one of the friendliest cities on the planet, still infused with the Thai village traditions of hospitality and graciousness.
There's also a slideshow.
Tags Travel
Thai Airways to launch budget airline next year
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MCOT says Thai Airways will launch a low-cost carrier in April, 2012:
The new airline has not yet been given a name. "Thai Silk", "Thai Wings" and "Thai Fly" were initially offered for selection by the public and THAI staff.
Mr Ampon added that the board, meanwhile, approved the extension period of THAI and Singapore's Tiger Airways contract for another three months. If by then Thai Tiger Aiways, earlier planned to be operated by both airlines, cannot yet be set up, Thai Airways International will cancel its joint venture with the Singaporean counterpart.
There are also stories from Reuters, the WSJ and the Bangkok Post.
Tags thai_airways, Travel
A polished version of the vintage Thailand travel poster
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You may recall that I pointed out a striking vintage Thailand travel poster back in January.
The image comes from the Boston Public Library's collection of travel posters, viewable on Flickr.
Here's the poster again:
Fast forward a few months. I received an interesting email yesterday from a Tim in Massachusetts. He wrote:
…I came across your site purely by accident as I was looking for a copy of that SIAM poster that had an unobliterated printer's stamp. I pulled my copy from the Boston Public Library site and then repaired it with Photoshop and did an auto-set color levels and contrast to brighten it up. I wasn't able to find a copy with an undamaged, printer's stamp so I've opted to erase it entirely. Anyhow, I just wanted to pass it on to you if you care to update yours with the one I've fixed up…
Below is Tim's repaired image. You'll notice that the corners have been cleaned up, and the image is a bit clearer. While the vintage version has an interesting, frayed look, perhaps this one is closer to how the original appeared:
Thanks for sharing, Tim.
Tags Art, Travel
Vintage Thailand travel poster
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UPDATE — April 7, 2011: Here's a polished version of the poster.
Here's a very cool, vintage Thailand travel poster from the Boston Public Library. Caption: "Siam. Beautiful Bangkok, the Jewel city of Asia." "Date issued: 1910-1959 (approximate)."
From the library's Travel Posters collection, which contains some real gems.
(Via @babyfishie.)
Image: Boston Public Library, on Flickr.
Thai Airways flight from Bangkok to LA lands safely after bomb threat
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AP: FBI: Flight lands in Los Angeles after bomb threat:
LOS ANGELES — A Thai Airways flight from Bangkok landed safely at Los Angeles International Airport Tuesday evening after a bomb threat written in poorly worded English was spotted on a bathroom mirror on the plane, authorities said.
Airport officials were notified at 7:15 p.m. Tuesday of the alleged threat to Los Angeles-bound Flight 794, FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller said.
UPDATE: There's more from AFP.
Thai Airways chief quits over excess baggage scandal
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The executive chairman of Thai Airways has resigned following allegations that he, his wife and another executive had flown with almost 400 kg of baggage between Tokyo and Bangkok last November.
Wallop Bhukkanasut, the chairman, said most of the more than 40 pieces of luggage belonged to an unnamed but important person and contained fruit to be donated to a Bangkok temple. He tendered his resignation before an internal inquiry could report next week.
The alleged incident, leaked by Thai staff disgruntled at cost-cutting at the lossmaking national carrier, produced widespread outrage in Thailand.
"His resignation has set an ethical standard for the airline's executives on responsibility," Ampon Kittiampon, the chairman of the board, said yesterday.
Mr Wallop has also been accused by Thai staff of ordering his baggage to be delivered to the lost and found baggage office to avoid customs duty, an allegation he denies.
(Emphasis mine.)
Here's more info from the Bangkok Post and the WSJ.
Thailand's PB Air ceases operations
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A quick Thailand-specific aviation note that may of of interest: PB Air has ceased operating. The company's Web site has a simple statement saying that "all flights are suspended until further notice," but no reason for the stoppage is given.
2Bangkok.com noted this news on Nov. 18, and I was curious to know what happened.
Today's Bangkok Post has the answer: PB Air doesn't have any planes to fly.
New aircraft delivery delay downs PB Air
Fight operation put on hold from this month
A delay in the delivery of new aircraft has forced PB Air, an airline founded by Boon Rawd Brewery beer baron Piya Bhirom-Bhakdi, to halt its entire flight operation.
Delivery of the two Saab 340s, leased from the US-based aircraft lessor AeroCentury, was postponed because PB Air found the condition of the Swedish-made turboprops unacceptable.
The first Saab 340 was supposed to be delivered in September and the second in October, but the delivery was put off until "probably" the end of next month, said PB Air chief executive Pornsartid Naruenartwanich.
The airline was forced to suspend all flights, starting this month, as it has no aircraft at its disposal because of the delivery delay and Bangkok Airways repossessing two ATR 72-500 turboprops at the end of October it leased to PB Air.
FlightGlobal.com has more info.
Replicating a first class Pan Am 747 cabin — in a garage
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Fliers nostalgic for the golden era of air travel might want to book a trip to Anthony Toth's garage.
Mr. Toth has built a precise replica of a first-class cabin from a Pan Am World Airways 747 in the garage of his two-bedroom condo in Redondo Beach, Calif. The setup includes almost everything fliers in the late 1970s and 1980s would have found onboard: pairs of red-and-blue reclining seats, original overhead luggage bins and a curved, red-carpeted staircase.
Once comfortably ensconced, Mr. Toth's visitors can sip beverages from the long-defunct airline's glasses, served with Pan Am logo swizzle sticks and napkins, plus salted almonds sealed in Pan Am wrappers. They can even peel open a set of plastic-wrapped, vintage Pan Am headphones and listen to original in-flight audio recordings from the era, piped in through the armrests.
Mr. Toth, a 42-year-old global sales director at United Airlines, has spent more than 20 years on his elaborate recreation of a Pan Am cabin, which includes a few economy-class seats, too. All told, Mr. Toth estimates he has spent as much as $50,000 on the project, which he hopes someday to turn into a museum.
What a story. And don't miss the slide show.
Tags Travel, WSJ


The Gold Coast Opal & Gem Center is located at 25 Surfers Avenue, Mermaid Waters.
Surfers Paradise has many Opal shops and open till late and we are fortunate to have new modern light rail system so if you are in Surfers paradise you can catch the train and go south to Pacific fair shopping centre. The G train stops at the Broadbeach North Stop.
It is 20-minute enjoyable smooth ride and the line finishes infront of Pacific fair shopping centre and then it's just 5-minute walk to our shop.
After visiting our shop, you can then visit Pacific Fair Shopping Centre and enjoy this new development of over 400 shops and new restaurants and cinema, and go back via the light rail or enjoy the beach, as the beaches are also in walking distance about 10 minutes.
For those staying at casino its short 5-minute taxi ride or 25 minute walk which takes you through The walk path by the scenic river front, just a small walk from Pacific Fair shopping center and the Jupiters Casino.


This manicured ray of sunshine reflects the personality of inspirational lecturer and UNC – TV Host Bryce Lane and his 'behind the scenes leading lady'… Sue Lane!
In an hour, Bryce made soil sound so fascinating. We were all so "fired" up about dirt! I had only wished I had heard that talk before heading off to college, I might have chosen Horticulture Science as my major. But instead that lecture changed the way I thought about well… everything! It is the source, the root of the plants we grow, the food we eat! What happens in the soil stays in the soil…I had no idea it could be so down right provocative!
Bryce Lane has received so many awards for teaching and inspiring at NC State University, I can just see him blushing as he reads this.
Bryce shares two Emmy awards with his Garden – the co-star of his virtual classroom on his weekly television program – "In the Garden With Bryce Lane" on UNC TV and his high school sweetheart Sue Lane.
What is the first thing you did on the property?
Removing over 100 Liriope that were planted everywhere! I gave them to the the person who sold me his house for his new home!
Varies significantly, 5 to 20 hours per week. Less now that it is established.
Depends on the month… I have been through many plant stages… Japanese Maples, Datura and Brugmansia, Colocasia, Heuchera, Dwarf Conifers, etc.
AM Leonard soil knife and Felco pruners are the bombs!
Cheapest, most available and what suits my mood at the time of year. I have used pine straw, hardwood bark, yard waste, compost, and soil conditioner.
Driftwood piece from family vacation this past June at Emerald Isle. Fished it out of the ocean with my 4 year old Grandson Ellis.
Water element maybe, I might find 5- 50 acres!! Actually my garden is the perfect size.
Mmm, let me see… Mom's rock garden growing up in Massachusetts.
A part time job in High School at a Garden center…fell in love with plants… the rest is history.
No, not really I love visiting them all, however, if I had to name one I would name one not created by humans…Bristlecone Pine forest at the Inyo National Forest in California.
Can't really name one…so many have influenced my horticultural development… JC Raulston was my colleague, mentor, and friend.
A few places, Our sun room looks out into the garden so sun room time on Saturday mornings is special… feel like we are sitting out in the garden. The patio is also a great place to sit. Kitchen window is also a great vantage point.
See sun room time answer. Anytime I am in my garden working or otherwise, I enjoy it!
In gardening "disaster spells opportunity". And as gardeners we need to honest with ourselves about how much direct sun we actually have!
Perhaps we'll get an advance peak at the latest featured Plant of the week!
Hope to see you in the Garden of Bryce & Sue Lane!
Proceeds benefit the Garden Conservancy and locally the JC Raulson Arboretum!
I first met Mr. Rehder, many years ago volunteering for the NC Azalea Festival. He was directing a motorcade made up of State Troopers on Motorcycles, a slew of limousines filled with national and local celebrities, and a motor home, over some sensitive property, with tactical ease.
Mr. Stanley Rehder, Sr. was memorable – tall & lanky, impeccable dressed, elegant in manner – a true Southern Gentleman. I met him in the years before I gave up manicured hands for the pursuits of gardening.
Husband Phil & I once spent a weekend, Sloggin' & Boggin' through the peat bogs of Holly Shelter, NC and the area known as the "Bays" further inland toward the Sandhills. Under the leadership of Mike Dunn of the North Carolina Museum of Natural Science we were following the Footsteps of B.W. Wells, Botanical Pioneer. It was on this trip I became interested in Carnivorous Plants.
In relating stories of this trip to my friend Julie Rehder, I learned that her dad was known as "Mr. Flytrap!" It was then he became my Horticultural Hero!
Mr. Rehder, who graduated from NCSU in 1947 with a degree in Horticulture, was relentless in pushing forward the 1951 North Carolina Legislation to protect these rare plants – found only in peat bogs along the North and South Carolina coasts.
"To share his love and knowledge of the rare plants," Julie adds, " He appeared on national television shows – "That's Incredible", "Good Morning America", and "The Today Show" where he had the privilege of being interviewed by Barbara Walters.
The first time I visited his Carnivorous Plant sanctuary, Stanley, already in his late 80's, drove like crazy through tall scrub pines. I did all I could to hang on as Stanley skillfully maneuvered his jeep bearing "FLYTRAP" license plates, through the maze wondering if it were wise to be on this "Uncle Willy Ride". Sand sprayed in a wake as Stanley yanked the steering wheel, left, then right, then left, pines barely scraping the sides of the jeep. It was unmistakable that this was how he enjoyed showing his devotees an adventure – clearly a path he had traveled many times. Perhaps it was a way of disorienting one from returning – to protect the plants. I was certain he could do this trip blindfolded.
I was trying to peel my fingers off the" hang on straps", as I could feel the color returning to back to my cheeks. I hopped down, and behold – there spread in front of me, a tapestry of botanical delight and awe.
This endangered array of Carnivorous Plants were save in Stanley's Haven.
The Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden.
Stanley passed away this week – a life well lived, in passionate protection of the land he loved. He walked with celebrities with graceful elegance, of his beloved Sarracenia. A citizen fully devoted to community and nation.
A true World War II Hero and Horticulture Hero, I am honored to call friend.
Rest in Peace dear Stanley.
North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, 131 Racine Drive, Wilmington, NC 28403 for the continued preservation efforts of the Stanley Rehder Carnivorous Plant Garden.


Doug Ho is the President and owner of Classic Coins Hawaii, Inc. and a longtime director of Honolulu's Chinese Chamber of Commerce. He is also the President of Beatrice M. H. Young Foundation, Inc., which supports a variety of programs in education, the arts and Hawaiian culture, from the 1990 Institute's CHINA NOW | For Teachers and the Youth Voices on China contest, to Hawaii's Miss Chinatown Scholarship Pageant and the Hawaii Dragon Boat Festival.
Doug also serves as a trustee for the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation USA. He is a Notre Dame alumni and Vietnam war veteran.


Adjacent to the Second Bank is Library Hall, at 105 South 5th Street. This 1959 reconstruction of the 1790 building was originally built for the Library Company of Philadelphia. It is now occupied by the library of the American Philosophical Society.
Founded by Benjamin Franklin in 1743, the Philosophical Society's library contains an unrivaled collection of Franklin's books and papers as well as those of other great scientists from then until now. Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Hamilton, Thomas Paine, Caspar Wistar, David Rittenhouse, Baron von Steuben, the Marquis de Lafayette and James Wilson were members of the Society.


text:
Abdur Rahim Khan e Khan's 's tomb in the two editions of Asar us Sanadid
inBook and Publication, Hazrat-E-Dilli, Medieval Indian History
Here is an example of how the same information was presented differently in the two editions and why edition one which has been translated by me in English for the first time is so important.
Asar-us Sanadid Edition 1 1847
Maqbara Khan e Khana
This tomb is near the Barapullah Bridge and the dargah of Hazrat Nizamuddin Auliya. It is the tomb of Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khana, son of Bairam Khan.
Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khana built this mausoleum for his wife but unfortunately she could not be buried here.
In the twenty-first regnal year of Jahangir, when Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khana left this world at 72 years of age, on his last journey, his mortal remains were buried here.
The tomb was very beautifully constructed and decorated with floral designs, but its marble and stones was mercilessly pulled out.
During the time of Asaf-ud- Daulah, the stone of this tomb was removed, taken to Lucknow and sold, thus destroying its beauty. This tomb is now a bare skeleton of lime mortar and brick. Khan-e-Khana was an important noble from the reign of Akbar and Jahangir.
Even the headstone of the grave itself was not spared. Today it exists in ruins, with cows and buffaloes stationed in its premises. Cow dung is spread all over the place and the stink from it makes it very difficult to venture inside.
Just compare this to the grandeur and magnificence of Khan-e-Khana himself! Verily it is foolish to place importance on worldly things.
He was a Turkman by descent and his grandfather Saifuddin Ali Kosha Ismail had been in the service of Babar and fought the battle of Mawarun Nahr.
His father Bairam Khan Khan-e-Khana held a very high rank in the reign of Humayun. And was involved in all the important decisions in the court.
In Akbar's reign, Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khana was a very important noble, but in Jahangir's reign his fate was very fickle. At times he was respected and at others, humiliated. Eventually he died and now neither respect nor humiliation remains. He was buried under maunds of mud.
He had built this mausoleum to be a testimony to his high station in life but all that remains is this shell.
SubhanAllah! One whose Diwan Khana was scented by the showering of thousands of maunds of rose petals, his mausoleum now stinks from the urine and dung of thousands of cattle.
Fa'tabirû yâ oulî al absâr
Take warning, then, O ye, with intelligence
Edition 2 1856
Maqbara Khan-e-Khana
This tomb is near the Barapullah Bridge and the tomb of Humayun. It is the tomb of Abdur Rahim Khan-e-Khana, son of Bairam Khan. He died at the age of 72 in 1626 AD, and was buried here[i].
The chronogram 'Khan Sipahsalar go' gives the date of his death. The tomb used to be very beautiful and elegant with a marble dome, and rest of it in red stone, with stripes of marble interspersed in between. There was beautiful marble pichi kaari (mosaic) work on it.
[i] Masarul Umara
Medieval Indian History
Decolonising Nawab Wajid Ali Shah
The Flowers that Bloom on Taj Mahal

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


To help get ready for Photo Week 2015 (starting Friday!) we've been highlighting some of our favorite instructors who are part of the event.
We're been sharing with you, everything from their tips and advice on how to make it in the photography business, how to frame perfect shots within their domains, how to create your unique style, and much more.
Today, I got to chat with Hannah Marie, a first-time CreativeLive instructor and professional photographer with an incredible business she's built from the ground up.
Hannah is an international wedding photographer from Waterloo, ON. She's won several awards for her high quality wedding photography, and has had her work featured in Shutter Magazine, the authority on wedding photography around the world.
Here's our interview with Hannah.
Q. When did you feel like you really made it as a photographer?
Q. I love the way you talk about Customer Service being on par with Portrait Quality in terms of raising your prices. Can you tell me how you first implemented this?
Q. What's the best advice you've ever received?
For more of Hannah's advice on growing your photography business & charging what you deserve for your services, join us for the free live broadcast of Photo Week 2015 starting tomorrow.


text:
Once Upon a Girl is a 1976 American live-action/adult animated fantasy comedy pornographic film written, produced, and directed by Don Jurwich. It was animated by a group of animators who had worked for Walt Disney Productions and Hanna-Barbera, according to the director in an interview included with the DVD release.

Plot
A lewd old lady claiming to be Mother Goose (Hal Smith) has been put on trial for obscenity due to telling the "true versions" of famous fairy tales.  Her evidence is presented as a collection of pornographic animated shorts, those of Jack and the Beanstalk, Cinderella, and Little Red Riding Hood.

Cast
Hal Smith – Mother Goose (live action segments)/Giant/additionalvoices
Frank Welker – Jack/Fairy Godmother/Prince/additional voices
Richmond Johnson
Carol Piacente
Kelly Gordon

Home video
On November 14, 2006, Severin Films released Once Upon a Girl on DVD.  The DVD features the uncut version, as Severin surrendered the original X rating for an unrated video release.

See also
List of animated feature-length films

References

External links

1976 films
1976 animated films
1970s American films
1970s English-language films
1970s parody films
1970s pornographic films
American adult animated films
American films with live action and animation
American parody films
Animated anthology films
Censored films
Films based on fairy tales
Pornographic animation

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Jonathan Foley
Articles, Blogs and Podcasts
SPORTING-PATRIOTISM
Originally penned by Jonathan Foley in January 2022
Scooting over to MacCumhaill Park for Donegal games – be it in the National League or the Ulster Championship – is something I've been doing for as long as I can remember.Intercounty games are great for generating a sense of pride in one's county, but how does it work on a more national, and indeed an international, level?
There's an old proverb which states that the 'closer you are to something, the harder it is to see it.' When it comes to national pride, that may bore some truth when we attend GAA matches. The Irish tricolour gets raised aloft, Amhran na bhFiann gets performed and sprinklings of the gaelige language are to be seen and heard over the tannoy and in the match programmes.
And, of course, there's nothing wrong with that. The GAA have never been shy in portraying themselves as being anything other than a sporting organisation who openly carry a strong political and cultural undertone. To their immense credit, they are one of the last bastions in Irish society who continue to develop a wide variety of traditional events and spectacles.
But what about other countries? Are we alone in this quest for patriotism through sport?
Having spent two summers in the United States in my twenties, I enjoyed conversing with their citizens about why they followed the sports they did and how they felt about certain aspects of political undertones in their games. People tend to brand Americans as brash ignorant, but speak to them about what they know and love, and that stereotype becomes redundant.
During those summers in the States, I learned that sometimes you don't need to learn everything from a textbook. As we guzzled cold bottles of Bud amid the wailing sound of traffic and shining neon New York City lights – never forgetting to tip – conversations often cropped with our fellow high-stoolers along the bar about sports.
With it being ever constant on the big screens, it was hard not to get chatting about it.
The general consensus that came from the locals was that baseball was the quintessential and truly American game. It was a cornerstone of social activity where kids 'stickball' on the corners of neighbourhood streets in the likes of Brooklyn. Some elders recounted the day of deviation when their beloved Dodgers packed up and moved their franchise to Los Angeles in 1957.
It also led me to research an interesting development in the late 1970s when the Cosmos soccer team signed Pelé for an extortionate amount of money.
Even though Major League Soccer league wasn't born for a further twenty years, soccer became big business and Pelé's move was widely jeered by baseball fans who felt that soccer was an opponent of a true American game. "Nothing but an aul foreign sport," as you might hear some devout GAA heads utter along the stands of matches here.
In terms of politics becoming linked to American sports, it's clear to anyone watching how the powers-that-be promote patriotism in the pre-game build-up. It's not uncommon to see a military fanfare and marching band take to the field on the day of an American Football match; stars and stripes are unfurled and the Star-Spangled Banner anthem rings out with high decibels.
Although the US National Anthem didn't officially become the song of the nation until 1931, it already had a long-presence at sporting venues long beforehand. It had been purposely utilised to keep morale high during the World War years and resurfaced greatly again in the wake of the 9/11 attacks at the beginning of this century.
While soccer has steadily risen in popularity in America since the country hosted the 1994 World Cup, it's still not expected to ever surpass the devotion most American citizens have towards the likes of baseball, basketball, football and hockey. One might think that this is because soccer is considered to be too low-scoring and pedestrian for American tastes but there's more to it.
The United States of America is built on the foundations of capitalism and free-enterprise. Their games have an unimaginable amount of stoppages and timeouts throughout a given match and this leads to commercial breaks and a chance for those in attendance to divulge their sweet-tooth with hot-dogs and nachos. After all, sports are branded as family events.
I witnessed this firsthand in 2007. When David Beckham togged out for his first game with LA Galaxy, the TV broadcasters curiously cut to adverts and interviews with spectators – including Jim Carey – during the game itself. On a visit to Shea Stadium to see the New York Mets, there were players standing around idle for what felt like ages. Why was this? Ad breaks, of course.
There's no denying that Americans are truly a fanatical sports nation. Even though there's definitely been a growing interest in the playoff series and showpiece events like the Superbowl on these shores in recent times, if you do see their games as slow and too stop-start, there is an underlying reason for patriotism behind that.
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment January 10, 2022 January 10, 2022 3 Minutes
RIGHT ON CUE FOR CELTIC
Originally penned by Jonathan Foley in December 2021.
Friday January 2, 1998: Celtic 2-0 Rangers.
Just as the Hogmanay celebrations subsided, the Celtic faithful were 'Bhoying' themselves up again pretty quickly for the imminent arrival of Rangers to Glasgow's East on January 2nd.
Back in 1998, Celtic were in the early stages of a restructure under new manager Wim Jansen. Despite a rocky start to the season, the Hoops and their plethora of new signings went on a fantastic run throughout much of September and October.
They hit a bit of a sticky pitch in November when they went three games without a win, but crucially in the run, they'd secured a vital 1-1 draw with their crosstown rivals thanks to a stoppage time header by Alan Stubbs. Come January, Celtic were looking to go one better.
Rangers were in hot pursuit of their tenth successive league title that year. Marco Negri had already noticed a staggering 33 goals by the turn of the year, but despite the fact they held a four point lead going into this game, there was a feeling that they were still there for the taking.
One of Celtic's major undoings in previous Old Firm meetings was a leaky defense. Although they could often attack in a dazzling manner in these intense fixtures, their Achilles heal, time after time, was getting caught on the break by Rangers' talismanic figures like Paul Gascoigne and Brian Laudrup to name but a few.
There was a different feeling around Parkhead this time however. It seemed as though Jansen was righting the wrongs of the past by installing a solid and watertight defensive unit through Marc Rieper, Enrico Annoni and the aforementioned Stubbs.
On the day itself, the game was covered by the Sky Sports commentary duo of Martin Tyler and Andy Gray on the gantry. It's hard to imagine now but yes, this pair often covered Scottish football meetings back in those days.
Celtic Park was well underway with its completion but the section we now know as the Jock Stein Stand was still eight months away. A rickety terrace behind the goal, known simply as the 'temporary stand' would have to suffice.
Lesser numbers certainly didn't reduce the atmosphere as the teams took to the field. And credit where credit is due, the Rangers fans in the far corner added brilliantly to the spectacle with an array of colour and cheering of their own.
The game itself started as a fairly edgey affair. Tough tackles were going in – adding much to the noise levels from the crowd – and Rangers felt aggrieved for not being awarded an early penalty when Stubbs put a strong barge into the body of Laudrup.
Gradually, the game opened up. Celtic's new signing Harald Brattbakk was generating huge hopes but he was denied on at least three occasions, in the first half alone, by Rangers goalkeeper Andy Goram.
Typically, Goram always seemed to save his best for games against Celtic.
Following the interval, Celtic burst into life and began to start turning the screw with more severity. Their passing and running was frantic but measured and they came close when Henrik Larsson struck the post from a side footed volley.
Inevitably, there was the traditional sprinkling of questionable refereeing decisions thrown in. A curious offside against Brattbakk and a bewildering decision to stop Paul Lambert's charge on the grounds that the ball was out of play maybe had Celtic fans thinking the worst.
Thankfully, the deadlock would be broken in the 65th minute. A lovely mazy run by Jackie McNamara saw him play a delightfully delicate reverse pass into the path of Craig Burley who struck low and hard, first time, into the Rangers net.
"Well its a magnificent, magnificent goal … it's been on the cards. It's arrived right on cue for Celtic" proclaimed Andy Gray.
Despite the jubilation, there was still a storm to be weathered as Walter Smith unleashed 'Gazza' from the bench. His flute-playing gestures during his warm-up wasn't endearing him to the Celtic supporters.
And yet the Geordie was finding it difficult to adapt to the pace of the game and was lucky not to be dismissed after a tussle with Lambert.
Going into the closing stages, Celtic were on the brink but they knew that nothing can be taken for granted in a fixture like this. Goram wasn't giving up the fight anyway as he brilliantly saved a venomous strike from Darren Jackson.
In the same passage of play though, Larsson's cross to the back post was headed outwards by Alec Cleland. Rangers however still hadn't cleared their lines properly as the ball dropped invitingly to Paul Lambert.
Still at least twenty five yards out and with only one thought on his mind, he went for it. To be fair, I think the commentary team said it best with this one:
"That's Laaambeert!!! … Ohhhhhh, what a way to settle it!! No chance for Goram!! No chance now for Rangers … and it is bedlam at Celtic Park!! (Martin Tyler)"
"It's unstoppable! It's unsavable! It's an absolutely magnificent way for Celtic to finish their afternoon! Take that! You just do not save those! Take a bow, son! That's a great goal! (Andy Gray)"
An absolute screamer that crashed in off the post beyond a hapless Goram.
Songs rang out around the famous stadium for the remaining moments and when the final whistle did go, the victory was confirmed; their first in a New Year game since 1988 and also their first over Rangers for almost three years.
For the moment, Rangers' lead at the top was cut to one and the title race was well and truly back on. More drama was to follow in that season of course but this was a major turning point, at New Year, for Celtic.
@johnnyfoley1984 @ArmchairFanatic
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment December 16, 2021 January 2, 2022 4 Minutes
SUPPORTING LOCAL AT THE HARPS.
Originally penned in December 2021
There's an old saying that goes 'absence makes the heart grow fonder' and with regard to supporting Finn Harps, that was true for me. In the pre-Covid world, I'd only occasionally scoot over to Ballybofey on a Friday night; often finding other ways to pass a Friday night with only sporadic checks on my phone to see how they were getting on. That's all changed now.
By Jonathan Foley.
During the days of games being played behind closed doors and having to avail of online subscriptions to watch them, something struck a chord with me with how much I took attending games for granted. When the turnstiles opened up again, I suppose I made a wee promise to myself to make a better effort to go and show my support for them that bit more.
It's a decision I've not regretted. Sure the evenings on the terraces can be cold and wet but there's a charm to League of Ireland football that has remained despite all the changes to the modern game. It's inexpensive, it's a chance to have a casual chat with friends you may not have seen for a long time and, above all else, there's a sense of community.
On the field-of-play, Harps have arguably had one of their best seasons. They played with a sense of confidence and adapted progressive and forward-thinking tactics. They often passed the ball very well and showed that they had players who could find the net on a regular basis; Adam Foley and Tunde Owlabi in particular.
Even when they go for the long ball approach nowadays, it seems that they are actually trying to pick out a player in an advanced position as opposed to the more traditional plan of hoofing the ball anywhere and everywhere. The players played as a cohesive unit and worked well together and never really left fans leaving the ground bemoaning their lack of effort and commitment.
Whether or not many of those same faces will be at the club next season remains to be seen. Séan Boyd and the aforementioned Foley have already said their farewells for pastures new, but things like that are an annual conversation amongst the Harps fanbase at the end of every season, but one thing that is for sure is that the supporters will remain and possibly even grow.
It's been great to look around the stands of the ground and notice how many young people are choosing to spend their evenings, boys and girls, at the matches. During the recent clash with Derry City, a friend pointed out to me how an aging, but young at heart, parish priest still comes along to the games to cheer the side on. Never descending to any choice language, of course.
Parents are bringing their kids along in greater numbers than before and, while that may not look like much, one cannot forget how special any family event really is. It's an endearing sight to see a parental figure share a greasy bag of chips and a mineral while cheering on the team from the sidelines.
Friday nights are an ideal time for a game too. It gives you something to look forward to during the working week. Monday to Fridays are consumed with early morning rises, trying to eat well during your lunch breaks while still making sure you take time to get some form of exercise during the evenings.
On a Friday night on Navenny Street though, you can get that reward feeling on the go.
After you've draped the blue and white scarf across your shoulders, there's a sense of anticipation as you make the drive towards Ballybofey. Usually, the Highland Radio DJ will take a breather from shouting out requests to let us all know that "we'll be going over for live coverage of the Harps at eight o'clock, so stay tuned for that. Now back to the tunes."
The next major question is where the best parking spot would be. After much deliberation, I personally want to thank the staff at Scoil Mhuire primary school for not adopting a clamping system even though their sign reads that the car park is for staff and church-goers only. Cheers folks.
As you see the lights of the ground peering over the rooftops when you ascend the bridge that runs across the River Finn in Stranorlar, the temptation of the chippie draws ever closer. It's the start of the weekend so all sense of guilt is swiftly eradicated. Owing to the fact that you have the car means that it's only a fizzy drink or a non-alcoholic beer in 'Cheers Bar' on the corner.
You'd never know who you'd meet here. Last time I was in, the noise that greeted me when I walked in the door was from a pair of Scousers attempting the "we're really on our way" chant. While their vocal chords were a little raspy and their knowledge of the lyrics wasn't great, you had to admire their enthusiasm.
After all, they'd flown over from England to watch their brother play.
Not long later, it's time to make the short walk down Navenny Street where the noise of the drum bangs slowly in the distance. "Are ya for the shed side or the Aldi side the'night?" might be a question. You gotta love that there's still a place in twenty-first century football where you can choose so easily where in the ground you want to watch the match from.
Not only that, but even at the halftime interval, the fact that you can temporarily vacate the ground to nip for a halftime coffee and bar of chocolate in the Centra shop across the road is just something that you can't do at matches in most other parts of the world anymore.
As alluded to earlier, it's all part of the charm of League of Ireland football. And what's more is that you're home in no time afterwards.
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment December 8, 2021 4 Minutes
FROM GORTLEE TO BERLIN
BERLIN: YOU HAD ME AT 'HALLO.'
Originally penned in November 2021
Last month, I took advantage of the mid term break by taking a wee scoot over to the German capital of Berlin. As modern and trendy as this famous city is, it still is something of a geek heaven Graceland for a History teacher like me.
By Jonathan Foley
Berlin puts on the face of a modern-day hipster vibe. A place that shows itself to be highly tolerant and progressive. This draws back to the city's immersion with creative arts and entrepreneurial spirit after the Second World War.
Make no mistake though. It's not a place to see your 'typical Germany.' The idea of seeing stout men in lederhosen swigging an enormous frothy beer or blonde girls with braided pigtails singing 'Edelweiss' won't be found in the capital.
It's modern, fast paced and high-tech. Having said that, there are some wonderful old buildings and churches found throughout the city. Each one with their own unique story to tell.
Upon one of my many strolls, I passed by the Berlin Cathedral. At first glance, one could assume it is centuries old. Something that might be similar in age to the Basilica in Rome or Notre Dame in Paris, but don't be fooled.
This gem was built as recently as 1905. Legend has it that Kaiser Wilhelm had grown a tad envious of similar structures he'd seen when traveling Europe and, just maybe, he just huffed and pouted until he got one too.
As a sports fan, there was no way I could miss out on the Olympiastadion. To the untrained eye, it's where Hertha Berlin play their home games and where Zinidine Zidane was infamously sent off in the 2006 World Cup Final.
More than that, however. It's also the venue where the 1936 Olympics were centered. The games that will forever be linked to how Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime used sport as a means of showcasing their supposed superiority to the world. Until Jesse Owens came along.
The wall, which had divided the city until November 1989, or at least what remains of it, can be found in smatterings across the city. I first spotted it at Beckaneurstrase which was where the first blocks of the wall were erected, overnight, by the occupying Soviet forces in 1961.
At this site, you can stand where a 'no man's land' will show how scaling the wall was only part of the job for escapees. Numerous other obstacles including tripwires, land mines and lookout towers were just some of the other barriers that had to be faced.
There's always time to enjoy some of the artwork around Berlin. The Brandenburg Gate and Victory Column will give you a taste of the days and successes of the old Prussian Empire while Checkpoint Charlie and the Reichstag will give you a feel for the more modern.
What I found interesting about the Reichstag is that it now has a glass dome on the roof. Apparently, this is to symbolize the parliament becoming more transparent and visible to the people compared to the past. And they never did quite find out who burned it down in 1932. Hmm?
Foodwise, I must confess I'm not a huge fan of German grub. Currywurst – if you can call that German – is probably the signature dish of the city. A pretty basic sausage and chips drowned in curry but it goes down great with a large, cold beer.
For a pint, chances are you'll only be spending about €4 a go which, compared to Dublin, is a bit of a steal. A lot of locals do fear though that if prices keep going up, the city will fall victim to inflation and gentrification which will lead to everyone being charged 'tourist prices.'
German people themselves are very courteous. They may not be as openly warm and affectionate the way the Italians or the Spanish are but they are very respectable, often highly intelligent and, despite the stereotype, they can be a right good laugh too.
One girl I met, Marina, explained that Germans are well aware of their tropes, but she admitted she embraces her devotion to punctuality and being organized. She put it best when she said:
"In other countries, friends will say 'I'll give you a call someday or let's meet up soon.' Here in Germany, I admit we are more specific and will say things like 'let's meet, tomorrow, at six, at this place' and we won't be late either!" she joked.
During my pre-trip research – aside from Googling 'what pubs are good?' – I did come across some articles stating that although the Wall has come down, there still lies a stark difference between easterners and westerners who share the city.
Perhaps due to their years under communism, the easterners tend to see themselves as 'true Germans.' Ones who avoided being lured by the ideals of capitalism and foreign influence.
On the flip side, while there is no real animosity between the two, the westerners seem to perceive their neighbours to be radical to the point of xenophobia and racist.
While I'm led to believe that places like Munich and Cologne are more quintessentially German, Berlin still has a lot to offer. Especially if you're into learning about its, still relatively recent, history.
There's a lot of cool museums and galleries where you can learn about the inventiveness of the people who tried to scale the Berlin Wall. There are also some reminders and memorials to those who suffered the Holocaust.
And if you find yourself scratching your head and pondering why tourists all flock to a simple car park in an apartment building, fear not. This is the site which once was Hitler's underground bunker.
Don't underestimate how big the city is though. It's essentially the old East and West joining to make one big city. Thankfully though, public transport is cheap and it all runs on a very regular basis.
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment November 24, 2021 4 Minutes
ALL YOU NEED IS LIVERPOOL
Originally penned September 2021
Now that travel is slowly but surely returning with some degree of normality, it was hard to resist the opportunity to not hop on a plane and explore a city. Granted, Liverpool is merely a hop and a skip away compared to some of the more far flung and remote parts of the world I've visited in the last five years, but even with that, it's a city that's good for the soul.
Although I'm better known for being a Celtic fan in many circles, I've never denied the fact that when it comes to English football, I've always been a Red deep down. With the restrictions easing on attendances at matches across the channel, the Liverpool vs Chelsea fixture at Anfield had to be taken in once the sights and the sounds of Merseyside had been done.
While it was my late father who passed on his enthusiasm for LFC to me, it was my mum who did likewise with her love of The Beatles. And although I'd been to the city numerous times before, mainly for trips to other matches, this was really the first time I ever took an extra day to wander the city streets and famous dock areas that make the place what it is.
As an Irish History graduate, there's no denying that when it comes to our country's history of migration, predominantly from the mid-nineteenth century, the port of Liverpool is just as much a part of our heritage as anywhere else. While on a stroll around the district of Everton, I couldn't help but notice that I passed a local Catholic church with a road sign for Roscommon Street.
Having nipped for a pint the night before – well, maybe a few more than that – I'd also got chatting to two local and fairly-elderly Scousers who went by the surnames of Mahon and McDermott. A pair of easy going and light-hearted lads who informed me that they both had grannies who came from Dublin. This gave rise to the famous old gag:
"What's the true definition of a Scouser? He's a Dubliner who could swim well!"
Perhaps one of the best features about the city is that everywhere is fairly walkable. Matthew Street was noticeably busy on Friday evening as the pubs and clubs filled up with stag parties, hens and ones looking to start the weekend off in style. This being the same street that's home to the Cavern Club and the statue of a young John Lennon created an ideal photo opportunity.
The aforementioned docks, now known more commercially as Pier Head, is within walking distance. While it's become much more touristy with its fancy cafés and souvenir shops since the city's rejuvenation as 'City of Culture' in 2008, there still remains here a chance to take in the sea air and see for yourself the dockside that once made the city flourish in the old days.
As good as the sights are, it's the sounds and the energy which drives the city. Liverpudlians certainly have their own distinct high-frequency accent which is unlike anywhere else in the United Kingdom. Like the people, it's welcoming, endearing and humorous while a love of live music and conversations about football are prioritised over anything else.
Love them or hate them, there's no denying that Liverpool's ground at Anfield produces a special atmosphere. Having been away from stadiums for so long, and with all the uncertainty brought about by the pandemic, the pre-match rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone' was notably spine-tingling and even a tad emotional.
On a personal level, Covid-19 has carried a real and ongoing threat to my own career plans these past 19 months, but places and songs like these possess an uncanny ability to put things in perspective. They make you realise that you're far from being the worst off person in the world, you become thankful for what you have and sure, as they say, money can't buy me love.
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment September 24, 2021 September 24, 2021 3 Minutes
LORDS OF THE WING!
"..AND IF YOU KNOW YOUR HISTORY!"
LORDS OF THE WING
With Celtic fans lording over the recent signing of Kyogo Furuhashi, and with good reason too, there is perhaps scope to question just how much the Hoops' followers seem to embrace one position on the field above all others; that of the Wingers.
Last month's defeat to Rangers at Ibrox saw manager Ange Postecoglu confess that he should've played the Japanese forward in a more central role. It still oesn't deny the fact that, in an overall sense, the recent summer signing from Vissel Kobe is a dab hand at showing his talents while charging down the flanks. This is not entirely new at Celtic.
Jimmy 'Jinky' Johnstone will always live in the hearts of Celtic fans. His dazzling dribbling ability and sultry skills in the wider areas of the field earned him the reputation as perhaps being the club's greatest ever player. In a time of damp and mud-soaked pitches, the wee man from North Lanarkshire won 19 major honours with Celtic, including the European Cup in 1967.
With 135 goals to his credit during his time at Paradise, Jimmy Johnstone's name will forever resonate with the Celtic faithful. His precocious and mercurial talents were noticed on a global scale while his small stature, gapped teeth, fuzzy red hair and quick-witted humour made him as normal and approachable as the everyday man on the street.
While he had many famous goals and performances, there are some parts of his life that remain the stuff of legend. His late goal at Ibrox to win the league title at the home of their fiercest rivals or twisting and turning the Inter Milan defence while giving them guff about how their Ambre Solaire gel was going to set their hair on fire, so they should maybe "phone yer maw, big man!"
In slightly more recent times, one might also recall a certain dreadlocked Swede who also wore the number seven jersey. Henrik Larsson went on to become Celtic's third place all-time leading goalscorer, but it's worth noting that when he signed from Feyenoord in 1997, the original plan for him was to play off the main two strikers up front; Andreas Thom and Darren Jackson.
While 'the Bhoy who would become King' was molded more into more of a frontman, there were many times during his Celtic career where he showed his capabilities to drift towards the wide areas. Here, he could send in crosses, make runs towards goal himself and still service the latter partnership of John Hartson and Chris Sutton in attack. Winger or striker? It matters not!
It's reasonable to suggest that in Larsson's second season (1998-99), the arrival of Slovakian-born winger, Lubomir Moravcik, possibly allowed him the freedom to go and take up the striker role. With Lubo now taking over the responsibility of supplier from the left-flank, Larsson had more freedom to focus on scoring goals.
For his part, Lubo 'God' Moravcik, was simply a joy to watch. Scoring two goals against Rangers on his full home-debut was just the start. Already well into his mid-thirties, he was the ultimate two-footed player, who was an absolute master of the dead ball, when it came to free kicks.
He could entertain too.
Who would have thought controlling a ball, dipping from the sky with your rear-end was possible? By the time he was 36, he was still starting in victorious Celtic teams in the Champions League; famously nutmegging Pavel Nevded of Juventus in 2001, and letting his Czech counterpart know all about it by sticking his tongue out at him, in a schoolyard-like manner.
Of course there were other wide players whose names were sung from the stands of Celtic Park down the years: Alan Thompson, Didier Agathe, Jackie McNamara, Aiden McGeady, Emilio Izzaguere, Scott Sinclair, Kieran Tierney et al.
There's one man who still stands out in the memory, after all these years, and that's another Japanese star who pulled on the famous green and white hoops; Shunsuke Nakamura.
'Naka' signed in 2005. Little was known of him at the time, but the fans were in for a treat. After a slow start initially, he adapted to life in Scotland and his sublime skill and incredible work-rate endeared him to the Celtic faithful. In his four seasons with the club, he lifted the SPL trophy three times, as well as the Scottish Cup in 2007, but that's just part of the story.
With celebrity status back in Japan, Nakamura made regular television appearances there where his party-piece was kicking footballs from a Yokohama alleyway which would find their way through the one open window of a moving bus. Banzai! Celtic would certainly reap the rewards of his technical ability and there were certainly some iconic moments thrown in along the way.
During a tense Champions League clash with Manchester United in 2006, Naka sent Celtic Park into delirium when his 35-yard free-kick sailed over the United wall and found the top corner of Edwin van der Saar's net. Six months later, he did likewise with the dead-ball, when his stoppage-time free-kick curled around Kilmarnock's wall, hit the net, and the title was sealed.
And that's not forgetting his other long-range special. This time in a win-or-bust clash against Rangers, in 2008. To this day, people still can't fully explain how he struck an escaping bouncing ball with such veracity that somehow managed to change direction midway through the air and, basically, burst the net. If it was anyone else, you wouldn't have believed it, but this was Naka.
Sure, we love goalkeepers, centre-halves, holding midfield players, but at Celtic, there seems to be something magical about some of the Bhoys who lord the wing.
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment September 9, 2021 January 21, 2022 4 Minutes
'The Gorbals Irishman' – Charlie Gallagher.
Last month, Celtic FC bade farewell to one of their heroes from the past. Charlie Gallagher's cortège made its way past the front door of Celtic Park itself so that supporters could pay their last respects. But what did we know of the man?
Charlie Gallagher enjoyed a 12-year stint at the famous Glasgow club between the years 1958 and 1970; making 171 appearances and scoring 32 goals in the process.
More than that, he acquired a clean sweep of Scottish domestic honours and, although he wasn't on the field that day in Lisbon, he was an instrumental figure in Celtic's 1967 famous European Cup success story. Although to say his successes came overnight couldn't be further from the truth.
Born of Donegal parents, Dan and Annie (Gaoth Dobhair), Charlie also became the first Scottish-born player to represent the Republic of Ireland. In a 2017 interview with TheCelticView, Gallagher discussed how he had grown to love west Donegal, having spent many of his summer holidays there when he was a child.
He was well regarded for his ability to pickout pinpoint crosses from wide areas and set-pieces. One of his most famous assists is probably the delivery he sent in for Billy McNeill to rise up over Alex Ferguson to head in Celtic's opener in the 1969 Scottish Cup Final rout of Rangers. As we will see, that was just one of many famous set-ups for his captain.
He was also the cousin of another former Celtic player, Pat Crerand, who was well-known for his precocious talents and aggression on the field for such other teams he played for, including Manchester United and Scotland. And if the local rumblings speak true, some will tell you that Crerand also played in a number of summer cup games for the Gweedore sides under a pseudonym, but hush, no more.
When Charlie Gallagher joined Celtic, the club was deep in transition. Rangers were utterly dominant and success was proving to be very elusive for the Hoops. Legendary figure and all-time leading club goalscorer, Jimmy McGrory, wasn't enjoying the same successes as a manager, but such was his reputation, very few fans were calling for his head during this period of drought.
Frustrations were more so aimed at the board, then chaired by Robert Kelly.
In 1961, Gallagher made his debut in a League Cup victory over Raith Rovers and come the end of the season, aged just 21, many would've been expecting him to collect a Scottish Cup winners medal. Celtic went into this showpiece event as huge favourites against Dunfermline, but the Pars, managed by a certain Jock Stein, threw the script out and rejoiced in a surprise 2-0 win following a replay.
For success, Charlie Gallagher would have to wait.
Celtic were trophyless in the early 1960s and Gallagher was regularly rotated in and out of the starting eleven. His finest performances came in 1964 when he put in a dazzling display in a Cup Winners' Cup semi-final victory over MTK Budapest.
The Hunagrains would overturn the tie in the second leg, however, and Gallagher openly claimed that this night as the most disappointing of his career. He would put in another stirring performance five months later though when Celtic pulled off an unexpected 3-1 win over Rangers in the league.
One year later, 1965, Jock Stein returned to Celtic as manager and Gallagher became something of a regular in his early sides. Despite a lowly eighth place finish in the league that year, Celtic did reach the final of the Scottish Cup again where they would meet Dunfermline for the second time in four years.
Many fans still regard this game as a pivotal turning point in the club's history.
Having twice trailed in the match, Celtic levelled each time and eventually won the encounter courtesy of a 3-2 scoreline. Charlie Gallagher's superb ball in from a corner set up McNeill's winning goal and, alas, the Hoops ended an eight-year barren run of no trophies. Following that, Celtic FC were about to embark on something truly special in the following years.
They became the dominant force, not only in Scotland, but across the European continent as well.
Having played much of his time in the midfield area alongside Bobby Murdoch, Stein's remoulding of Bertie Auld's role – often regarded as one of his managerial masterstrokes – meant that again, Gallagher's appearances became a bit more sporadic. Celtic were roaring, both domestically and in Europe, so getting into that team would've been a task for anyone.
With Auld and Murdoch holding the midfield and Jimmy Johnstone and Bobby Lennox taking up the wide areas, this was the most famous midfield which Celtic ever had. When he was called upon though, Gallagher was also more than capable of lending more than just a little help for the cause.
In the New Year meeting with Rangers in 1966, Gallagher thundered in a wonder-strike as the Bhoys routed their old rivals 5-1. A season later, in the quarter-final of the 1967 European Cup run against Vojvodina Novi Sad, his stoppage time cross found McNeill's head (again) and his majestic finish sent the famous Parkhead stadium into raptures of delight.
In a time when only one substitute was named on a team-sheet and where he could only be deployed in the event of an injury, Charlie Gallagher did remarkably well to stay in the plans of Jock Stein as Celtic embarked on, what is still, the most successful and revered period in their entire history.
He was there that day at the Estádio Nacional when Celtic famously beat Inter Milan 2-1 to become the first team from the northern half of Europe to lift the famous trophy. Although he didn't get a run out on the field, his role within the camp was regarded as important as anyone else's.
He was known to have been very proud of the fact that he got to represent Ireland on the international stage. The country of his ancestry thanks to his Donegal heritage. He may have only got two caps during his career, but it must be remembered that he was competing with none other than the talents John Giles (Leeds United) for that position in the team.
Following his departure from Celtic in 1970, Gallagher finished out his career with Dumbarton before hanging up the boots in 1973. He would return to the East End of Glasgow to work as a scout between 1976 to 1978 and was often spotted still attending games and club functions right up until very recent times. A Celtic man, through and through.
Charlie Gallagher, 'the Gorbals Irishman' 1940-2021.
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment August 11, 2021 5 Minutes
THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT ROY.
Originally penned in June 2021
Love him or loathe him (and believe me, as an Ireland fan who still harbours the thoughts of 'what could've been' after he departed Sapian, I have feelings of both), there's still no denying that this country has an unusual obsession with a now fifty-year old, Roy Maurice Keane.
As a player, the Corkman had a reputation of holding a fiery temper. A man whose leadership qualities inspired a 'do or die' attitude amongst his teammates and management alike. Adored by his fans and feared by his opponents.
In his younger days as a midfielder with Nottingham Forest and Manchester United, his energy allowed him to have more of an attacking role.This often saw him being actively involved in the goalscoring process. In his latter years, some wear and tear had set in, but he remained as ferocious as ever in his new role as a more defensive midfielder.
In a technical sense, Keane wasn't the most gracious of players.
He wasn't one for mazy dribbles or thirty-yard screamers. His lack of height meant winning aerial battles or scoring headers was also something of a rarity, but one cannot deny his natural ability to break up opposition attacks as well as how talented he was at urging his own team forward against the best of English and European opposition.
He played a key role in United's rejuvenation in the 1990s; a captain and a leader. And his winner-takes-all mindset and sentiment was shared by his then manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, making them a manager-captain combination which could steer the team to success at an almost unstoppable rate.
All good things come to an end, however. Keane and Ferguson had a very public fallout in 2005, thus ending the Irishman's tenure with the Red Devils, and the two couldn't resist adding extra pot-shots at each other in their autobiographies and media interviews for a long time afterwards.
Nowadays, after a few fairly calamitous stints as a manager himself, Keane has since become something which he famously wrote we'd all be allowed to shoot him for if he ever became one – a television pundit. And it seems that no matter what he says in the Sky Sports studio, he becomes instant clickbait. Mainly from Irish people.
Keane's fallout with Mick McCarthy at the 2002 World Cup training camp caused an unprecedented media sensation in this country.
In newsrooms, it was even held with the same regard of 'newsworthiness' that was on a par with the death of Princess Diana or the 9/11 attacks on the United States. Only this time, people were taking sides in the argument and this caused an unusual civil war like tension in the country.
Even though there was only a primitive form of social media in those days, Conor O'Callaghan's book 'Red Mist: Roy Keane and the World Cup Blues' (later revamped as a talking heads documentary) perfectly charts how the man from Mayfield, in County Cork, became a talking point in almost every aspect of Irish society from then on.
Nowadays, almost two decades on, that ripple effect still seems to resonate and it seems that no matter what Keane says, he'll be trending on social media just minutes later.
This past few year alone, his claims that "DeGea shouldn't be allowed on the United bus after that." "Villa celebrating avoiding relegation? It's not like they won something", "Liverpool have been Bad Champions" and "Spurs are a tough watch" have gathered an unimaginably high number of likes, views and shares across the social platforms.
Some fans feel that such statements encapsulate that winning spirit which he showed in his days at United. Others feel that it's all part of a caricature which Keane has invented for himself since starting his television work. Both sides of the fence in this argument hold water, to be fair.
It shouldn't be overlooked though that Roy Keane, who often gets depicted as this monstrous, hard-tackling and obsessive machine, is only a half-truth.
Since he hung up the boots in 2006, not only does he do great work for guide-dogs charities, he's shown himself to be witty and light-hearted in the television studio, he's started his own show with 'football's Mister Nice Guy", Micah Richards, and he's recently become an instagrammer himself. Monster? Do me a favour!
On the whole, nobody can ever deny his talent as a player and it does feel that he is box-office entertainment when working as a pundit. Don't forget though, that a lot of these so-called 'rants' of his are often blown out of proportion as clickbait during a time when Sky Sports no longer rule the roost in football broadcasting.
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment July 14, 2021 3 Minutes
Celtic's 'Millennium Bug' Reappears.
Originally penned in May, 2021
In a season that promised so much – hopes of continued domestic domination and with the champagne cooling on ice for the unprecedented '10 in a Row' parties – very little was harvested.
Across the city, Rangers have undoubtedly improved, but there was still a potent feeling that the majority of Celtic's demise was brought on, not by others, but primarily by themselves.
History, as we all know, often has a bemusing ability to repeat itself. Up until now, many supporters for the green-and-white looked back and shuddered at the ill-fated 1999-2000 campaign. Upon reflection, this past campaign drew some uncanny resemblances to that particular season.
In the summer of 1999, the biggest pop acts going were the likes of Travis, Stereophonics and Britney Spears. Robbie Williams had rocked Slane Castle at the tail end of the summer and his lyrical flow about stars directing our fate was a fairly constant feature on the radio airwaves back then.
Bill Clinton was still, albeit controversially, dwindling to the US Presidency. People in Donegal were still using punts as their currency and, even in a world devoid of social media, the biggest fear was that on New Years' Eve, global computer systems would all fail and planes would fall from the sky. Honest!
In Glasgow, Rangers were fresh off the back of a domestic treble from the season before and Celtic pinned their hopes on a ('Return of the King') Kenny Dalglish who was coming back as General Manager. Alongside him, his mentee and fellow-Liverpool legend John Barnes, taking on the reins as Head Coach.
It was a bold move, given Barnes's inexperience as a coach, to say the least.
From the off, it seemed as though Celtic meant business. Splashing out big money on drafting in Olivier Tebily, Eyal Berkovic, Stephane Bonnes, Rafael Thied Scheidt, Bobby Petta, Dmitri Kharine and – the one saving grace he brought in – Stilyan Petrov.
On the field, at least at first, things looked promising.
Celtic's dynamic duo up front in Henrik Larsson and Mark Viduka were firing on all cylinders. Going into the autumn, they won 11 of their opening 12 games, had made early headway in the League Cup and disposed of Hapoel Tel-Aviv in the Uefa Cup's opening round.
Saturday 16 October, 1999, was a day where the fans were treated to a masterclass performance.
A 7-0 showpiece victory over Aberdeen at home – with both strikers netting a hat-trick apiece – provided genuine optimism for the season ahead.
The fact that Barnes was something of a novice at this level seemed immaterial. For the time being at least.
The fans who left Celtic Park on that mild and somewhat sunny afternoon were not to know that it was all about to emphatically unravel.
A few days later, Celtic would lose their talismanic dreadlocked striker for the rest of the season following Larsson's catastrophic leg break away to Lyon.
In his absence, Barnes resorted to his contacts book and rushed in and an aging Ian Wright on a loan spell from West Ham. Initially, he seemed a fairly suitable stop-gap but that too would prove to be a false dawn.
Into November and Lyon compounded Celtic's misery with a comfortable victory in Glasgow. The absence of Larsson was starting to show and one team were never likely to show them any mercy for their predicament lay in waiting.
On a gray and overcast Sunday afternoon at Ibrox where they briefly snuck into a 2-1 lead, Celtic capitulated in first-half stoppage time. Rangers winning a dubious penalty was bad enough, but when captain Paul Lambert didn't get up after his tackle on Jorg Albertz, it soon emerged that he'd been severely concussed, lost some teeth and was in need of urgent medical attention.
Albertz knee had collided with Lambert's mouth as he went to ground. While the German was able to dust himself from the challenge and score the equalising penalty on the brink of the interval, his opponent was still being ushered away by a team of paramedics. Rangers went on to acquire a comfortable and fairly telling 2-4 victory.
With the new millennium having passed without a hitch and no planes falling from the sky, Celtic's season, in its own way, nose-dived and crash-landed in early February. A 2-0 lead at home to Hearts looked like plain-sailing until a monumental cave-in ensued and the Jambos silenced Parkhead by turning the game on its head and running out 2-3 winners.
Worse was to follow.
The following Tuesday night was the final straw. The Scottish Cup had offered a lifeline for Celtic to salvage something from this fire-wreck of a season, but when lower-division Inverness Caledonian-Thistle dumped them out of the cup in a humiliating 1-3 defeat in front of a sparsely-attended crowd, enough was enough.
Circulating rumours rang out that Mark Viduka had refused to go out for the second-half amid a tumultuous and angry dressing room proved to be true. Mass protests gathered outside the ground and chants of 'Barnes Must Go!' rang out long into the night. The Board responded with a prompt termination of his contract but it didn't end there.
Kenny Dalglish, perhaps feeling responsible for all that had gone on, took over as interim manager.
A March Old Firm clash, under the lights, with Rangers was the last chance to restore some pride at least.
In a typically frantic and bad-tempered game, Rangers won it with an 89th minute bundled but effective effort by Rod Wallace. A goal iconically remembered for the ball boy, behind the goal, kicking out at the ball in frustration. He was allegedly reprimanded, but who could blame the fella?
A League Cup final win at Hampden provided mere consolation but, from a PR perspective, Dalglish's renowned distrust of the press took a new road. He, rather oddly, ordered that a press conference be held at Bairds Bar – a regular Gallowgate watering-hole for Hoops' fans – and while all this circus was all going on, there was hope that Larsson (and Lambert) would soon return to the fray and settle things.
Mark Viduka would officially pack his bags and depart, under a bit of a cloud, and joining Leeds United for £7 million. Quipping to the media that he only had to play to 70% of his ability to get into the Celtic starting team to the media as a nasty parting shot. Ian Wright would later remark that he detested living in Glasgow, although that was not intended as direct jibe at the club.
In comparison with this past season, one can perhaps notice the similarities that rose up. False promises, fallouts between players and management, injuries in key positions, fan protests, embarrassing cup defeats to lower-league opposition at home, a mid-season sacking leading to an interim role and a disastrous relationship with the media. It all seems oddly familiar, doesn't it?
The one guiding light that stayed flickering for Celtic in May 2000 was that Larsson did reappear as a late substitute on the final day of the season. He even made it to the Sweden squad for the Euros that summer.
Back at base, Celtic looked to make amends by announcing Martin O'Neill as manager.
And we all know how that turned out. So maybe, just maybe, hope does spring eternal.
@JohnnyFoley1984
@ArmchairFanatic
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment May 11, 2021 May 12, 2021 5 Minutes
INT'L FOOTBALL Part 3: Nazism versus 'The Paper Man.'
Originally penned by Jonathan Foley in March, 2021.
Italy's success at the 1934 World Cup had not gone unnoticed by the Nazis.
Benito Mussolini had shown how a spectacle such as this could be used for great political advantage and with the 1936 Olympics set to be held in Berlin, it should come as no surprise that Adolf Hitler sought to portray German superiority on such a grand stage.
There was just one problem when it came to football. The German national team, in the 1930s, weren't particularly good.
In 1931, they had played their neighbours Austria twice and been on the receiving end of a 6-0 and a 5-0 hammering. Unlike the Germans, the Austrian 'Wonder-Team', as they were known, were highly admired and revered for their style of play. Something which surely goaded 'Der Fuhrer', even if he was an Austrian native himself.
On the political front, 1933 saw Germany withdraw from the League of Nations. In essence, Hitler was showing his resistance to democracy, but rather than be seen as an aggressor, he used the power of football to convey a sporting and friendly side of the national character.
In December 1935, despite some anti-fascist demonstrations outside the ground at White Hart Lane, England beat Germany 3-0 in a challenge match, but the game itself was merely a charade for what was lurking underneath the surface.
Reports from the match – including some wrinkly old film footage – consistently refer to the German players being somewhat overly-sporting in their behaviour. Regularly shaking hands with their opposition, never being drawn into a foul and smiles all round in what the press hailed as "a most sporting match."
All done, under Nazi orders and instruction to shed the country in a positive light, as it was discovered later.
"The Triumph of the Will."
The Berlin Games in 1936 provided an ample opportunity for an exhibition of Nazism. The opening ceremony was made to look as a beautiful spectacle while the 'Triumph of the Will' film by Leni Riefenstahl raised the hearts and hopes of the nation. Over the course of the next few weeks, no country won more medals than the host nation.
These games will inevitably be remembered for the enchanting success story of American athlete, Jesse Owens, throwing out the script to win the medals he did, but in keeping with football, Hitler was to observe another moment which undoubtedly dismayed him greatly.
Generally speaking, most historians tend to agree that when Hitler was invited along to attend Germany's match with Norway, he was assured of a victory. Something that would no doubt please him after Owens' successes.
Norway, however, didn't tow the line. Despite being perceived as a 'lesser nation', they ran out comfortable winners over their German counterparts. Perhaps what perplexed the Nazis even more is that Austria – a fellow German-speaking nation – were going from strength to strength and they had one player who caught their eye in particular.
"The Paper-Man."
Matthias Sindelar, known to his adoring fans as "the Paper-man", was seen by many as the greatest centre-forward in the world at that time. His talents on the field inspired works of poetry and, long before footballers became celebrities, he starred in a feature film. In 2001, he was proclaimed as 'Austria's Greatest Sportsman of the 20th Century.'
As we saw in the previous article in this series, he was mainly denied a place in the 1934 World Cup Final due to coercive refereeing that favoured the Italians. Nevertheless, his reputation grew stronger, but when he caught the attention of the Nazis, his mercurial talents would be blighted and exploited beyond belief.
In March of 1938, the Anschluss was complete. The Nazis had effectively annexed the Austrain state, forcibly usurped any political autonomy it once held and brought it into the realm of the new, and ever-growing, German sphere of influence.
As a proud Austrian nationalist – even if Czech by birth – Sindelar despised Nazism. Part of which had stemmed from 'Aryan Only Policy' when invading troops forced Jewish employees and officials at his club, Austria Vienna, out of their jobs during the period of occupation.
The Austrian national team would soon become no more than a memory as it had to amalgamate with Germany, but while some reluctantly accepted the fate of their nation, Sindelar remained headstrong and used football as an act of defiance.
During the same year, Austria were scheduled to face Germany in what was essentially a 'farewell game' before the amalgamation of the two teams officially took place.
It's widely believed that the plan was for the Germans to win the game. A way of showing their superiority in a symbolic manner and historical references do cite that at half-time, with the score at 0-0, the Austrian players were told to follow suit with this plan.
Refusing to collaborate, Sindelar scored early in the second-half to give the Austrians the lead. He then assisted a second goal and during the celebrations, he visibly taunted the Nazi hierarchy in the VIP section of the crowd. They were not amused. Within a year, Sindelar would pay dearly for his act of defiance.
In a BBC interview, his friend and former clubmate, Egon Ulrich recalled the night of 23rd January, 1939.
"We were playing cards and gambling in the coffee shop. There was plenty of drink taken. Some Nazi soldiers came in and invited themselves to join in the game. They were teasing Sindi all through the evening and, when he finally called it a night, that was the last I ever saw of him."
Sindelar was found dead the following morning. It's perceived that the apartment he was sleeping in that night with his girlfriend, was leaking gas fumes and the inhalation suffocated him. His biographer, Wolfgang Marderthaner, believes it may have been a suicide brought on by the shattering of his spirit in the aftermath of the Anschluss.
Either way, be them directly or indirectly responsible, the Nazis shouldered the blame.
An inquest into his death was carried out, but the reports of which were later 'mislaid.'
As a symbol for Austrian patriotism, dispute and speculation still ring out about the actual cause of his death. Perhaps to keep order, the Nazi administration did allow for a state funeral to take place where some 15,000 Austrians bravely bade farewell to their fallen hero.
"Peace In Our Time?"
The famous words echoed by British Prime Minister, Nevile Chamberlain, when he held aloft the letter proclaiming that he and Adolf Hitler had signed a peace agreement.
At the time, Chamberlain was held up as a hero. A man who would spare a return to conflict just a generation after the Great War. It was to be a false-dawn.
As part of the policy of appeasement towards Germany, England sent a team to Berlin to take them on in a game billed as another friendly between two peaceful nations. Many felt that the English should've refused to play the game, but in keeping with the goodwill measures set out by the government, they simply had to play it.
The game itself is remembered for the iconic and somewhat startling image of the England team lining up and giving the Nazi salute. What's more surprising is that Hitler wasn't even present. Against their wishes, the players did raise the right arm. Something which many of them deeply regretted for a very long time.
On the political front, the two countries signed the Munich Treaty. Effectively, this meant that the British would not interfere with the ideals it of German expansion.
In the quest for 'lebensraum' (living space) and having already acquired the Austrian state, Hitler was now free to invade the state of Czechoslovakia and thus, add to his growing territory.
Shortly after, attention soon turned to the 1938 World Cup in France. An opportunity for the Nazi regime to banish the memories of previous defeats on the football field.
When Hitler rallied support for the new and improved German side – with its acquisition of Austrian and Czech talents – and declared that "Sixty million Germans will play in Paris!", it became a chilling precursor to the Nazi invasion of France just two years later.
In the tournament itself, however, underlying cracks within the team began to show. In a first round replay against Switzerland, all looked rosy as Germany – now with its five Austrians – led 2-0 at the break.
As the game wore on into the second half, it became evidently more clear that there were deep internal divisions within the camp. Austrians would not pass to Germans and Germans would not pass to Austrians. Switzerland duly pounced on this lack of cohesion and turned the game on its head. They won 4-2 in the end.
Another embarrassing failure for Adolf Hitler on the footballing front.
Even with Germany's disappointment, Mussolini's fascist movement was still gaining support through footballing success. They had won – albeit in a contrived manner – the previous World Cup and this time around, they were showing real promise again.
Symbolically, in Italy's second round meeting with host nation France, Mussolini ordered that – in the face of a hostile home crowd – the Italy team would abandon their traditional colours of blue and white. Instead, just as the foot-soldiers of the Fascist takeover had done, the footballers adorned the Blackshirts.
They would defeat the French 2-1 on their own soil and would then later go on to beat Hungary in the final. It seemed as though Fascism was still the powerhouse but there was one country which was noticeably quiet during this era, but they were soon to be awoken as a political and footballing force.
That country being Spain, who we will look at in more detail in our next article in the series.
johnnyfoley1984 Uncategorized Leave a comment March 28, 2021 March 28, 2021 7 Minutes