A few snaps of the new kit

Baird signs new 3 year deal

Northern Ireland right back Chris Baird, whose contract was due to expire at the end of the season, has signed a new 3-year deal at Southampton. He said:

“I am really pleased to have got it all sorted and now I am already looking forward to next season. This is the longest contract I have had; previously it has always been a two-year deal. But the chairman has given me a fantastic contract and I am very grateful.
“Obviously there could be a lot of changes for next season but I am very happy that I will be part of it. I love it here. It is a great club and a good place to live and I did not want want to move, but I did need to be playing first-team football.
“The new manager has come in and given me a chance and I feel I have taken it. I have played a few different roles too, even covering at centre-back and in midfield. Ideally I would like to try and hold down the right-back slot next season but I will play anywhere the manager needs me.The gaffer came in and gave everyone a chance and when Alex Ostlund got injured then I got a run of games and I have managed to stay in the side. I have enjoyed it and the last few weeks have gone very well for me. There were other clubs interested but I have been here all my career and did not want to move.”

News for the past week or so

I’ve been away for the last while, here’s some of the stuff that’s been going on:
Gareth McAuley named in the PFA League Two Team of the Season
Portadown defender Darren Kelly set to join League Two strugglers Stockport County
Lawrie Sanchez may have no Premiership players to call on for Norn Iron’s US tour
Although he may well take Sammy Klingon
But definitely not Jeff Whitley who’s Northern Ireland career seems to be more over than it already was

News for the past week or so

I’ve been away for the last while, here’s some of the stuff that’s been going on:
Gareth McAuley named in the PFA League Two Team of the Season
Portadown defender Darren Kelly set to join League Two strugglers Stockport County
Lawrie Sanchez may have no Premiership players to call on for Norn Iron’s US tour
Although he may well take Sammy Klingon
But definitely not Jeff Whitley who’s Northern Ireland career seems to be more over than it already was

Liechtenstein 1 – 4 Norn Iron (U21)

Our first competitive Under-21 match in two years was a roaring success, with Northern Ireland coming back from a goal down to effectively end the tie as a contest, with the second leg still to come on the 10th of May at Windsor Park.

Ex-Stute man Sammy Morrow got a brace
The home side took the lead after 10 minutes when keeper Michael McGovern let a backpass from Lincoln’s Jeff Hughes roll under his foot, but Sammy Morrow equalised on 33 minutes.
Our boys took the lead on 58 minutes through Bryan Gilfillan. Morrow then got his second and David Scullion made it 4.
Match Reports: IFA | BBC

Liechtenstein 1 – 4 Norn Iron (U21)

Our first competitive Under-21 match in two years was a roaring success, with Northern Ireland coming back from a goal down to effectively end the tie as a contest, with the second leg still to come on the 10th of May at Windsor Park.

Ex-Stute man Sammy Morrow got a brace
The home side took the lead after 10 minutes when keeper Michael McGovern let a backpass from Lincoln’s Jeff Hughes roll under his foot, but Sammy Morrow equalised on 33 minutes.
Our boys took the lead on 58 minutes through Bryan Gilfillan. Morrow then got his second and David Scullion made it 4.
Match Reports: IFA | BBC

Under 21 squad for Liechtenstein

No Davis – common sense prevails:
Goalkeepers
Michael McGovern (Glasgow Celtic), William McFrederick (Ballymena United)
Defenders
Sean Ward (Glentoran), Brian McLean (Motherwell), Mark McChrystal (Derry City), Emmet Friars (Notts County), Jamie Ward (Aston Villa), Rory McArdle (Rochdale), Jeff Hughes (Lincoln City), Kyle McVey (Coleraine)
Midfielders
David Scullion (Dungannon Swifts), Kieran McKenna (Tottenham Hotspur), Sammy Clingan (Nottingham Forest), Bryan Gilfillan (Gretna), Richard Clarke (Newry City)
Forwards
Sammy Morrow (Livingston), Kyle Lafferty (Burnley), Thomas Stewart (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Daryl Smylie (Newcastle United

Saturday Round Up

Birmingham, with Northern Ireland stalwarts Maik Taylor and Damien Johnson, drew 1-1 with Wigan to move out of the relegation zone in the Premiership. However despite their recent resurgence they are far from safe and the teams below them all have a game in hand.
Northern Irish players on target for their clubs today were Stuart Elliott (in Hull’s 3-2 defeat to Sheffield United – Keith Gillespie an unused sub) and Grant McCann (from the penalty spot in Cheltenham’s 3-3 draw with Stockport).
Dean Shiels comeback didn’t happen today, in fact he didn’t even make the bench as Hibs lost 1-0 at Aberdeen. Danny Griffin came on as an 87th minute substitute to shore things up for the Dons.

Shiels could make first-team return tomorrow

Dean Shiels’ return to the Hibs starting lineup may come earlier than expected due to the injuries that have hit the Hibs sqad – who travel to Aberdeen tomorrow. Tony Mowbray:

“Dean has finished all his visits to Manchester where he has been seeing a consultant and now he is just trying to get his fitness levels back to where he can produce the kind of performances he was a year ago”
“He got a goal and the full 90 minutes for the reserves [yesterday against Kilmarnock] and I’m delighted for him as he’s been working very hard.
“I would think there is every chance we will see him back in action before the end of the season and he will be there or thereabouts for tomorrow. Whether tomorrow comes too soon or not really depends on what else we have available and that is something I’ll decide later on today.”

Davis to play for U21s!

Steve Davis, one of our best players, with 11 caps to his name, has been included in Roy Millar’s Under-21 squad for the two-legged tie against Lichenstein we need to win to qualify for the group stages of the European Championships.

Ringer
And according to the Belfast Telegraph, Villa are unsurprisingly Not Happy. ‘Beaco’ points out that it would be like Ingerland U21s selecting Wayne Rooney.