Stakeholder

The most technically gifted footballer in the English Premier League over the last 20 years? Very, very possibly – with honourable mention going to Dennis Bergkamp and Gianfranco Zola. One of the best three midfielders in the English Premier League during that time? Almost certainly, along with Roy Keane and Steven Gerrard. The worst tackler [...]

It kind of got lost in the wave of triumphalism that has carried Manchester United to a record 19th league title and within touching distance of a fourth Champions League trophy. The second leg of their semi-final victory over German side Schalke saw manager Sir Alex Ferguson make nine changes and play a virtual second [...]

It’s going to be difficult but I am not going to use the ‘h’ word about the events of the past week. First and foremost because a visit by the British Head of State to the Republic of Ireland was  embarrassingly long overdue. The physical ties of family, language, trade and tourism have always existed. [...]

I’m not ashamed to admit that I love freebies. Samples at the supermarket (isn’t free food just the best), those tiny sewing kits in hotel rooms,  hell I even get excited by those CD’s in the Sunday papers. So I could barely contain my excitement when I received not one, but two, free t-shirts for [...]

Excited yet? Have the elections set your blood racing? Have you been down to the bookies to get odds on the next First Minister? For the record at Paddy Power the odds as to who will be the next First Minister are Peter Robinson 1/12, Martin McGuinness 11/2 while Margaret Ritchie and Tom Elliott is [...]

Just yards away on the touchline, Barcelona coach Pep Guardiola, usually the epitome of stylish serenity, was remonstrating dramatically with the fourth official, arms flailing as he frantically questioned another decision by the referee. On the pitch, the Barca players swarmed German ref Wolfgang Stark almost every time he blew his whistle, as niggly foul [...]

It was like watching a 15-year-old playing against the under-11s. At that age, of course, the extra four years of physical development are hugely significant in terms of a footballer’s pace, strength and awareness. This, however, was a very different scenario – a 21-year-old Welshman playing in what was only his fourth Champions League tie [...]

Nowadays, of course, the Saturday afternoon viewing experience for the UK football fan has moved on considerably. Thanks to the imagination of Sky Sports’ ever-popular Soccer Saturday offering, we can sit in our own living rooms and watch Jeff Stelling watching a panel of ex-pros watching the Barclays Premier League action on their monitors and [...]

One week on since I confessed to stealing from ‘the man’ and you’ll be glad to hear I’m still in a job. Not surprisingly I haven’t been sent to collect goods from the man’s car so financially I’m not as well off but maybe this is a sign I’ve finally taken that step up the [...]

I have just returned from the wake of an elderly relative.  Hard as her loss was for her family, it followed the natural ebb and flow of a long life. She got married, had a family, worked, was widowed and lived to see her grandchildren grow up. The fact that she was buried on Mother’s [...]

Me vs the man Starting off in a new company, a new city and a new industry is a daunting task for anyone. Throw in the need for a translator for the thick ‘nordy’ accents and there’s never a dull moment. Moving to Belfast from Dublin I thought I knew what I was in for [...]

Do you really wake up in the morning and worry about who will be First Minister of Northern Ireland? I suspect not. Unlike politicians most of the public either understand that the Office of First and Deputy First Minister is a joint office or they could not care less. Certainly, since taking office together the [...]