Fitba Hell

In response to: "Remembrance, Old Firm-style" 8 days old
by Andy T [Visitor]

Very eloquently put in that last paragraph. Agree completely. more…

In response to: "Hit the north" 8 days old
by Andy T [Visitor]

Don't know about that Rendall, football always meant pies to me.A Yorkie before kick off and a pie at half time washed down with a bottle of orangeade.

Although I remember a giant hot dog at some non-league cup game on a dark weeknight that went down well. more…

In response to: "Remembrance, Old Firm-style" 9 days old
by rendall [Member]

Thanks for your comment. I know lots of people in Ireland, both in the north and the south - my wife is Irish. They shake their heads when they see visit and see this sort of stuff. more…

In response to: "Remembrance, Old Firm-style" 9 days old
by Rampage ^team

How right you are, they are both sick.

I grew up in Ireland and was therefore brainwashed into believing that Celtic were the virtuous group of the two, whereas in reality, they spout just as much vile rhetoric and vitriol as Rangers. more…

In response to: "Hit the north" 11 days old
by rendall [Member]

Aye, Fort William must be annoyed at those newbies Strathspey Thistle muscling in on their territory ... more…

In response to: "Hit the north" 12 days old
by neilpeach [Member]

I would heartily recommend the Highland League. It's cheap, you get to see some cracking towns that you wouldn't normally go to, and it's just good fun earwigging in on diehard fans who have stood toes a-freezing on the edge of the pitch for a good many years.

Plus, you appreciate good tea after supping beige polystyrene tasting hot more…

In response to: "Charmless" 13 days old
by rendall [Member]

Colm - what happened in Ireland was similar to what the non-Old Firm clubs in Scotland were trying to do a few years earleir. The likes of Motherwell were speculating (wildly) to accumulate in an attempt to keep up with Celtic and Rangers - in the era when £12million was fittered away on Tore Andre Flo - with predictable consequences.

more…

In response to: "Charmless" 14 days old
by Andy T [Visitor]

No doubt football's always been ruled by economics to some extent but now it's institutional. With the nearly closed club of the "champions" league and ridiculous TV money the big clubs get richer and the gap increases. Soon they'll have their super league and/or abolition relegation or some other to guarantee the income of a few people at the top more…

In response to: "Hit the north" 14 days old
by rendall [Member]

Hi Andy T. If you're open to diversifying from the standard pie, Dunfermline do (or certainly did the last time I was there) a fantastic bridie:
http://www.blog.co.uk/admin/b2browse.php?blog=58215&tag=290424 more…

In response to: "Hit the north" 14 days old
by Andy T [Visitor]

Spent many a freezing afternoon at Allan Park, the consolation being the most delicious pies I've ever tasted in any league. (Worst - Dundee Utd) more…

In response to: "How good is Marlon King?" 18 days old
by kevinwilson ^Pro

good comment - and thanx for the invite to join your community! keep it coming! more…

In response to: "Sidney Govou and the 'Well youngsters " 67 days old
by rendall [Member]

Absolument. He was in my worst-behaved class. Did OK, though, didn't he?! more…

In response to: "Calderwood and the Ibrox Disaster Song" 67 days old
by rendall [Member]

Err, I think if you read it again you'll see there's no suggestion that this is a song sung by Celtic fans. With regards to this particular ditty, my beef is with fans of my own club, Aberdeen.

more…

In response to: "Calderwood and the Ibrox Disaster Song" 68 days old
by David [Visitor]

In 14 years of following celtic ive never once heard this so - called 'ibrox disaster song' .

I think youll find it was aberdeen fans singing it, not us, so don't try and drag us down to the depths of the rangers knuckle draggers.

more…

In response to: "Sidney Govou and the 'Well youngsters " 70 days old
by Colm Furey [Visitor]

Really? Was this at the famous Roche Arnaud? more…

In response to: "Charmless" 73 days old
by Colm Furey [Visitor]

Money is taking over the game.It shows how bad things are that Richard Dunne, a proven international defender and a good player for Man City, has been forced to leave the club so Mark Hughes can blow more funds on players of questionable ability ( excluding Shay Given, who is a great signing for them).

In the League of Ireland, Droghed more…

In response to: "Should have gone to Specsavers" 86 days old
by rendall [Member]

Sorry I never replied to this - had a bit of a hiatus from the whole blogging thing and never saw it. About 16 months later, the answer is still 'No'! more…

In response to: "Gaelic Goals" 558 days old
by Colm Furey [Visitor]

Aye, was a bit confused by this myself. Gaelic football in Scotland? It has to be said, though, that the big GAA matches in Ireland are hard to beat for atmosphere and excitement, especially a trip to Croke Park. Each summer, we humble Donegal fans hope that the team will give us a big day out in Croker! more…

In response to: "Should have gone to Specsavers" 577 days old
by Ballis [Member]

So should Iain Brines. Have you recovered from the QoS debacle yet?

Ballis more…

In response to: "Gaelic Goals" 837 days old
by Oldskool [Visitor]

It could be worse you could have been up watching Major League Soccer and have been bombarded with stats over how many throw ins one player has completed this season. more…

In response to: "Gaelic Goals" 874 days old
by rendall [Member]

Sorry, didn't make myself clear - by Gaelic fitba rather than football, I was meaning a (regulation) football match that happened to be played in a Gaelic-speaking part of the country. Apologies for the ambiguity. more…

In response to: "Gaelic Goals" 876 days old
by ballis [Visitor]

I used to quite enjoy Gaelic football some years ago, on channel 4 probably. Mind you, the Irish games can draw huge crowds and have a great atmosphere. Wasn't aware there were any teams in Scotland. more…

In response to: "Davie and Madeleine" 896 days old
by Ballis [Visitor]

Fit like, Rendall?

In case you missed it, I thought you might be interested in reading this - a very good article in my view. Hope the country is gradually getting back to normal.

http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/books/2007/06/harry_potter_bookmarks_wont_he.html

Makes me think of adding to something I said before: more…

In response to: "Davie and Madeleine" 899 days old
by rendall [Member]

I would tend to agree with everything you've written. The wee girl's dad is an articulate man who's doing everything he can to get his daughter back - including courting the media. The more disreputable factions of the media, whose usual dealing with tragedy-hit families amounts to brief access at sporadic press conferences, can't believe their luc more…

In response to: "Davie and Madeleine" 899 days old
by Ballis [Visitor]

Hi Rendall,

Interesting post. Brave comments on this. I wouldn’t be surprised if you get some flak for it nor me for what I am about to say. I think your main point here is about sport and politics. Let me first state that I think the argument that sport and politics should never mix is poor and weak. Politics involves moral issues ad more…

In response to: "Will this do?" 926 days old
by madalchemist [Member]

Yeah, he used to put the boot into the English but he must have had a strict telling off by the big boys at the Beeb, more's the pity. more…

In response to: "The Death of English Football" 946 days old
by kevinwilson ^Pro

i agree with you but i can't see any way out of the cycle we're in, where money buys everything, and if you haven't got it...welcome to the intertoto cup!

luckily for me, i've been a man utd fan since i was a boy.
so i suppose it's easier for me to feel a bit more relaxed about it. but i still don't like it.

keep up more…

In response to: "Blame the Fans" 1018 days old
by rendall [Member]

Nae bother - glad to be an outlet for your ire! more…

In response to: "Blame the Fans" 1029 days old
by  [Visitor]

indeed, and sorry if this sounds a bit harsh or an unfitting comment for so may words of yours, but Ferguson is an average player and a little shit who back stabs in the dressing room and causes rifts and divides.

p.s I am not a rangers fan, but a Newcastle United fan, must go ive got my own club to moan about.

thanks
more…

In response to: "Infiltrating Tynecastle" 1044 days old
by Ballis [Visitor]

Hi Rendall,

It's been a poor season for Baby Depor as they are now known - after scouting the country in search of promising young talent from other club's B-teams. It's an interesting development but not one that is likely to lead to short-term success as fans of most SPL teams now. However, last week's win over Real Madrid has cheere more…