I Intend To Escape ......................And Come Back

The Death Of Belfast Celtic

Fifty nine years ago today, Northern Ireland's most successful football team, Belfast Celtic, played their last last competitive match.

If you are not familiar with one of football's saddest tales, Padraig Coyle's history is essential reading.

Munich - 50 Years On

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster, when Manchester United players and officials returning from the European Cup quarter final in Belgrade, crashed at Munich airport.

To Mancunians of my age and older, it is a central part of our identity. Those who mock the disaster, or United's desire to commemorate it, are attacking far more than a rival football club. They attack our history and our personal identity.

In 2005 I visited the Red Star Belgrade club museum. In there they have a picture of the United team taken prior to kick off, and a priceless card signed by all the players prior to the game.

I think United should have marked the anniversary by playing a charity game in Belgrade, with proceeds divided between Munich survivors (who were not always well treated by the club) and charities working for reconciliation in the former Yugoslavia. Finding time for such a match in the fixture schedule would not have been easy, but United did find time last month to visit one of the most oppressive countries in the world, Saudi Arabia.

Still, I am hoping Sunday's match versus City will be a fitting tribute.

There are various Munich tribute sites. One of the best is the Munich 58 website.

The Day French Rugby League Was Dismantled

On 19 December 1941 the collaborationist Vichy regime, banned the sport of Rugby League.

Marshall Petain's decree banning the support was instigated by the Rugby Union hierarchy, and backed up by force - Axis troops closed the French Rugby League office in Paris, and smashed up its records.

Happy St George's Day

Uncomfortable Truths No. 376..........

On This Day - 27 December 1997

The INLA add another to their greatest hits collection - shooting Loyalist murderer Billy Wright inside the Maze prison.

On This Day - 25 December

It is best to avoid all television sets at 3pm!

On This Day - 24 December 1919

Anarchist Errico Malatesta was able to re-enter Italy clandestinely. As he had been hiding in Cardiff, there had been little chance of him being found!

On This Day - 22 December 1989

At last - a story with a happy ending. After memorable scenes - including "that Ceausescu moment" - Romanian dictator Nicolai Ceausescu receives what was coming to him!

On This Day - 16 December 1916

In St Petersburg, Rasputin, the mad monk and "confidant" of the Tsarina, was murdered.

On This Day - 15 December 1921

Several American anarchists arrived in Moscow, fleeing repression in the US. They are informed that Emma Goldman and Alexander Berkman have fled the USSR for the USA, fleeing Bolshevik repression!