Sproule wins award

Ivan Sproule has been given the Best Individual Performance of the year Award by BBC Scotland’s Off the ball program for his hattrick against Rangers. You should be able to listen to the awards show here, but the link doesn’t seem to be working at the minute.

IFA online shop finally open

http://www.irishfa.com/shop
“Currently we have a limited range of goods in the online shop, but leading up to and after Christmas we will be adding new products”

Hibs 2 Rangers 1

Ivan Sproule started for Hibs against Rangers at Easter Road and set up the first goal within 18 minutes, giving Derek Riordan a tap in. Garry O’Connor doubled the lead on 25 minutes before Ferguson pulled on back for Rangers on 59 minutes. Morrow came on with 2 minutes left and Shiels came on in the last minute. Hibs are now 11 points ahead of Rangers, 3 points behind Hearts and 4 points behind Celtic.

Saturday Round Up

Davis scores a screamer for Villa in their 1-0 win over Charlton. Brian McLean got his first goal for Motherwell against Hearts, but Hearts scored in the last minute to claim a draw. Healy had a last minute shot deflected in to give Leeds a 1-0 win over Millwall. He says it was going in anyway, however it’s gone down as an own goal.

“I come from Castlederg and I found it hard enough to settle in Edinburgh”

Why there was never any chance of Ivan going to the Ukraine:
“No way, I come from Castlederg and I found it hard enough to settle in Edinburgh. Take it from me, it was never on the cards and neither is it ever likely to be.
“I did play well twice against Dnipro so perhaps that had something to do with it.
“I must say the price tag was impressive. To think I only joined Hibs from Institute in the Irish League 11 months ago for £5,000. From that to £1 million in such a short space of time is some leap.”

Falkirk after Morrow

Seen this a few days ago, but forgot to post it:
FALKIRK are set to launch a £20,000 raid for Hibs star Sam Morrow in January.
The Northern Irish striker is out of favour at Easter Road and has fallen down the pecking order.
And that has alerted Falkirk manager John Hughes who wants to take Morrow for a cut-price fee.
The 20-year-old former Ipswich Town ace made five starts last season for Hibs and came off the bench 17 times.
It is understood Morrow would jump at the chance of a move to Falkirk.
Link
Morrow has scored 6 goals for Hibs reserves this season.

Steve Davis to Man Utd?

Villa poised for talks with Davis to ward off outside interest
Stuart James
Thursday November 24, 2005
The Guardian
Aston Villa are set to begin contract talks with Steven Davis in an attempt to fend off interest from Manchester United in the coming transfer window. The 20-year-old Northern Ireland international, who made his first Premiership start only 12 months ago, has been in outstanding form for Villa this season.
Davis signed a three-year contract last March but moves are already underway to extend that deal on much improved terms as reward for his progress.
United, who are understood to have watched Davis on several occasions this season, are likely to monitor the situation closely. Sir Alex Ferguson is keen to add to his squad and Davis’s profile would fit with the new generation of talent that the United manager is seeking to bring through. Davis has yet to miss a game for Villa this season while his four goals make him the club’s joint top-scorer along with Kevin Phillips.
The Villa manager David O’Leary recently said that “if Steven plays well, so do we” but it was his display against England in Belfast, when he set up David Healy’s winner, that did most to raise his profile. The following month he scored his first international goal in the 3-2 defeat against Wales.
Davis’s ability to break from midfield together with his quiet off-field persona have seen comparisons with Paul Scholes, and Lawrie Sanchez, who gave the youngster his senior debut for Northern Ireland against Canada in March, believes that he can emulate the Manchester United midfielder by playing at the highest level.
“What he has added to his game this season is scoring goals,” Sanchez said. “If he continues to do that he can play wherever he wants to – and I don’t think he would look out of place in any Premiership side.”
(via ILF)

We’re Not Brazil We’re Northern Ireland mp3

Courtesy of Irish League Forums:
Jackie Fullerton and George Jones singing we’re not Brazil we’re Northern Ireland. 2.7MB.
Sadly there are no plans as yet to actually release the song, but there is a campaign to get it done.

(Buy this badge)

We’re Not Brazil We’re Northern Ireland mp3

Courtesy of Irish League Forums:
Jackie Fullerton and George Jones singing we’re not Brazil we’re Northern Ireland. 2.7MB.
Sadly there are no plans as yet to actually release the song, but there is a campaign to get it done.

(Buy this badge)

Feeney on Birmingham interest

Apparently Birmingham had a scout watching Wazza score against Portugal. He says in today’s BT:
“I heard about Birmingham’s interest at the club. And I must say it is very flattering when a Premiership side takes an interest in you. But I won’t get too carried away with news like that. I will keep my feet firmly on the ground and get on with my football. Things are going very well for me at club and international level and I will have to work hard to make sure that continues.
“Every player wants to play against the best players and they are in the Premiership, but I have a job to do at Luton. I have started every game for them – that’s 21 so far – and I have six goals but I want more. All I’m worrying about is helping Luton to win matches and making sure I play regular football for them and hopefully, Northern Ireland.”
“After the England game we have been on a high and that is continuing. Despite suffering two defeats against Wales and Austria, we now know we can match and even beat teams like Portugal.”