:laugh3:

Have you got any football news jayson

A SOCCER yob has been given a Football Banning Order.

Barrow AFC fan Andrew Leitch, 29, has been banned from every football ground in England and Wales for three years.

Leitch, who has followed the Bluebirds since he was 10-years-old, was on trial at Furness Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

His ban follows repeated warnings from police and Barrow AFC officials over his behaviour at matches, both before and after Barrow returned to Conference football last season.

This makes Leitch the second Barrow fan to receive the order from Furness Magistrates. Brett Cihlar, 37, received a three-year ban last September.

Leitch denied a section five public order offence following disorder at Barrow’s home game against Wrexham on Boxing Day. An injury-time equaliser from the visitors prompted Leitch to direct abuse towards Wrexham fans.

PC Matthew Knott and PC Ian Stables, of Cumbria Constabulary’s task force, gave evidence for the prosecution. The officers saw Leitch run towards the Cross Bar end of Holker Street where away fans were stood, segregated from AFC fans by a metal fence. Leitch proceeded to shout and swear in the direction of Wrexham fans.

PC Knott said: “When Wrexham scored he left the position he was stood at and came towards me and my colleague stood at the corner of the Ray Wilkie stand and Cross Bar. He was using intimidating and
aggressive behaviour.

“I told him to calm down on a number of occasions. He then said: ‘What are you going to do about it?”

Mr Ian Huggan, defending, said that by ‘it’ Leitch was referring to Wrexham fans who had come on to the pitch following the goal. He also argued that spectators at a football game
expect swearing and shouting between fans. Leitch was arrested and escorted out of the ground following the incident.

Detective Constable Craig Barrass, of Barrow police’s Area Intelligence Unit, was working at Holker Street on Boxing Day. He saw Leitch in handcuffs as he left the ground.

DC Barrass told the court: “I know Mr Leitch from working at the football. I saw him in the car park behind the Cross Bar. He was handcuffed and he shouted and swore at me aggressively.”

Leitch, appearing in the witness box for the defence, said: “I probably swore at him (DC Barrass).”

Bad character evidence based on Leitch’s behaviour at Barrow home games against Workington and Farsley Celtic was presented to the court.

The prosecution also referred to Barrow’s play-off semi-final against Telford United in the 2007-8 season, during which Leitch was ejected from Telford’s ground, and DVD footage was played showing Leitch in an exchange with police officers outside the Riverside Stadium following the Bluebirds’ FA Cup clash against Middlesbrough in January.

Mr Huggan, defending, said: “Mr Leitch was not arrested on any of these occasions, only at the Wrexham game. He has been following Barrow since the age of 10 and has been involved with sponsoring matches.”
Leitch, of Gatacre Street, Barrow was found guilty of the public order offence. The prosecution then applied for a banning order to be imposed, which magistrates granted. He was also fined £150, ordered to pay £275 in court costs and a victim surcharge of £15.

Speaking after the trial, DC Barrass said: “Barrow police in conjunction with the UK Football Policing Unit are determined to work together to combat disorder at Barrow AFC games. This court result shows that the courts take such disorder seriously and any person involved in such incidents at Barrow AFC games could be liable to a three year football banning order such as Andrew Leitch’s.

There are plenty of ways to annoy an Arsenal fan. Knocking over his or her pint of London Pride into a freshly-opened bag of cheese and onion, for example. Pointing out that the Invincibles weren't technically, you know, invincible. Naming Dennis Bergkamp in a list of Most Overrated Players in the Premier League Era Top 10. Breaking into their house and stealing their collection of Arsène Wenger Toby jugs. Joining Tottenham.

And Patrick Vieira is ready to risk the Gunners' collective wrath by doing just that (join Tottenham, that is. Not Toby jug theft). Harry Redknapp has offered a one-year deal to the still-leggy-but-probably-a-bit-past-it-by-now Inter midfielder. "He is not afraid of the challenge from Spurs," 'a source' tells the Daily Mail today, a statement that can be interpreted any number of ways if you think about it.

Not satisfied with winding up their London neighbours, Spurs are also getting right up Everton's nose. Redknapp has gazumped David Moyes' bid for Sheffield United's Kyle Naughton by offering a hefty £11m for Naughton and fellow Blades defender Kyle Walker. Everton will make themselves feel better with a big box of Quality Street and a £6m move for Marseille's Lorik Cana.

In other OTT double swoop news, Phil Brown is ready to offer £10m for Cardiff's Joe Ledley and Ross McCormack. "Joe Ledley, Ross McCormack and [Sunderland striker] Daryl Murphy are all names who have been bandied around but it is important that we do our business behind the scenes," said the Hull manager, bandying names around rather than doing his business behind the scenes. Brown, though, will miss out on £4m-rated Valerenga striker Mohammed Abdellaoue, who is ready to join Steve Bruce at Sunderland.

Frank Arnesen's first job as Chelsea's sporting director will be to persuade Zlatan Ibrahimovic that west London is the place to be and Xabi Alonso is choosing exactly which font to use for his transfer request at Liverpool after Rafa Benítez demanded he put it in writing. Comic Sans is thought to be among the favourites.

Aston Villa hope to complete a £24m double move for Darren Bent and Stewart Downing this week, while Martin O'Neill will dangle the juicy carrot of Nathan Delfouneso in front of Leeds in order to tempt the sale of Fabian Delph.

Hameur Bouazza + £2.5m = Jonathan Greening and his lovely hair to Fulham.

And finally The Sun reckons Leicester are considering a £750,000 bid for Norwich striker Sammy Clingham - we think they might mean Norwich midfielder Sammy Clingan (yes, pots, kettles, glass houses etc and so on) - and a £1.5m move for Gillingham's Simeon Jackson, while Sheffield United want Kasper Schmeichel to replace the soon-to-be-banned-by-the-looks-of-it Paddy Kenny.

Real Madrid star Raul has likened the impact of Cristiano Ronaldo's arrival at the club with that of David Beckham.

Real are a club who have become accustomed to welcoming world stars in recent times and Raul believes the former Manchester United pair generated a similar amount of hysteria.

The Spanish giants are in Dublin preparing for the new season, with world record £80million signing Ronaldo set to make his debut against Shamrock Rovers at the Tallaght Stadium on Monday.

"I was as excited when Beckham started to play with us as I am with the arrival of Cristiano," Raul said.

"I was very happy when I worked with Beckham and I think Cristiano is going to bring a lot of happiness to all the supporters. He will bring very good things and make a great contribution to the team."

Ronaldo has gone on record as saying he was worth the money Real president Florentino Perez spent to sign him, and Raul agrees.

"As regards the price paid for Cristiano, that's the price in the market," he added.

"There are not many Cristiano Ronaldos in the world and Real Madrid has made a great financial effort but Real Madrid wants the best team in the world.

"Cristiano behaves like all the rest of the team, he's a very well-loved player, one of the best players in the world.

"Women and children, they ask him for autographs and he always complies very nicely. What's important is he plays good football and he's very committed and whatever he does in his private life is his own business."

Real do not appear to have finished their summer spending spree yet and continue to be linked with Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso.

Raul said on the subject: "I suppose that's a question for the technical team and the coach. They have to decide what's best for the Real Madrid team.

"Me personally? I would love Alonso to play with us. I think he's a great player."

Nope, but am enjoying reading yours :thumbs:

I'm on the look for some now :laugh:

Heres some little news coming up...

Portuguese giants Sporting Libson have ruled out the possibility of selling captain Joao Moutinho.

The Portugal midfielder has reportedly been a long-term target of Everton, while lavish-spending Real Madrid have also been linked with a move.

Sporting have rejected approaches from Everton for Moutinho, who is understood to have a release clause in his contract in the region of £31million, in the past.

The 22-year-old is thought to be viewed as the player who can help Everton break into the top four in England, but Sporting insist he is not for sale.

"Joao is essential to our project. He is captain and we are not interested in the sale," the club's president Jose Eduardo Bettencourt told Portuguese media.

"Rumours are expected at this time, but Sporting have a very made a very clear decision - Moutinho is indispensable."

Carlos Tevez has been unveiled as a Manchester City player (wearing a rather fetching doily on his head) and he claims that he never received texts from Man United boss Sir Alex Ferguson. He said: "I was there for two years and Sir Alex never called or sent any text messages in that time. It doesn't seem that this is the way to treat a player in two years at the club."

Lille president Michel Seydoux has revealed Michel Bastos is on the verge of completing a move to Lyon after the Ligue 1 giants made an "exceptional offer".

Bastos has spent three seasons at Lille but only really burst onto the scene last campaign when he fired in 14 goals from midfield.

The Brazilian's impressive form attracted the attention of several clubs, in France and abroad, but Lyon's reported offer of 18million euros (£14m) appears to have clinched the deal.

"We're close to an agreement with OL," Seydoux told L'Equipe TV. "This will be done in the next few days.

"I've opened a window for this player because we received an exceptional offer.

"After three years of good and loyal service, I want to see him continue his progression.

"But he will be absolutely the only departure."

Bastos has yet to win an international cap but Brazil coach Dunga revealed recently he is considering the 25-year-old for the future.

Habib Beye is the latest Newcastle player to speak out against the club's current predicament, saying he feels he must leave for the sake of his career.

The defender was willing to stay and help the Magpies bounce back to the remier League but with the club still no closer to being sold and no manager in lace as a consequence he admits he has little choice other than to move on.

The 31-year-old has established himself as a firm fans' favourite in his two seasons at St James' Park but it now appears he could be set to follow Michael Owen out of the door.

"When I joined from Marseille two years ago, I was so excited to be joining such a big club, it was a dream move," he told The Sun.

"I'd like nothing more than to stay and help the team get back to where it belongs but there is no chance of us being promoted the way things are going.

"Training has been good and no one is slacking or taking it easy. But there is a sense that everything is just drifting.

"This cannot go on it really can't. I feel for the good of my career I have to get away because it is dragging me down."

Beye believes the Magpies should be looking to reappoint Alan Shearer as manager but adds that not even the Magpies hero knows what is going on.

"I'm really upset by what has or rather has not been going on this summer," he confessed.

"It was hard enough dealing with the disappointment of being relegated but things just seem to be going from bad to worse.

"I've spoken to Alan Shearer and I know how much he wanted to get Newcastle back to the Premier League. He is a top man and someone the players believe in.

"He had told us about what he expected when we returned to pre-season training and I left for my holiday fully expecting him to be in charge when I got back.

"But it hasn't happened and he doesn't seem to know what's going on much more than anyone else."

And some more, i'm not sure if its been posted yet.

WAITING GAME FOR ALONSO

Xabi Alonso is edging closer towards a move out of Liverpool to Real Madrid but the midfielder may have to first hand in a transfer request to force through the transfer.

The Spaniard, according to a host of daily nationals as well as the Liverpool Echo, has informed Rafa Benitez that he wants to leave Anfield. However, Real Madrid have yet to offer more than £27m for Alonso and Benitez is reputedly determined to hold out for more than £30m.

The Echo says that 'Alonso could try to force the issue by handing in an official transfer request but the midfielder believes that he deserves to be able to have his future sorted out without taking such formal measures after giving five years of service to the Reds'.

Meanwhile, The Daily Mail reports that the telephone call to Benitez in which Alonso informed the Liverpool manager of his desire to leave was made 'less than 24 hours before he married his long-term girlfriend Nagore Aramburu in his home city of San Sebastian on Saturday, where the guests included former Liverpool team-mate Luis Garcia and Everton midfielder Mikel Arteta'.

Mention of Arteta gives F365 the perfect excuse to decorate this story with a picture of the Everton midfielder arriving for the ceremony in the company of his girlfriend, Spanish model Lorena Bernal.

Robbie Fowler is hopeful a frustrating run of injuries is behind him, allowing him to play his first game for North Queensland against Wolves on Wednesday.

The 35-year-old former Liverpool striker has endured a succession of groin and hip injuries since joining North Queensland last February, but coach Ian Ferguson has confirmed his star signing will get a long-awaited run-out against Wolves.

The Fury only arrived in Perth on Monday and were soon put through a light training session where Fowler appeared to be moving freely, untroubled by the recent hip complaint.

"I just got off a plane so just getting the legs going, it feels not too bad to be fair," Fowler said.

"Obviously in terms of fitness, I'm probably miles behind the rest of the lads, (but) as everyone probably knows, you get fitter and a little bit sharper by the more games you play, so I'm hoping to be involved in the game.

"It's been horrible. Anyone will tell you, you go to a new club, you go to a new place, you want to get yourself involved straight away in terms of kicking balls.

"Unfortunately I've not been able to do that so there's a bit of light at the end of the tunnel."

Fowler denied reports he was considering a move back to England with Tranmere to play under former Liverpool team-mate John Barnes.

He said: "You come to a new club and I've sort of kept my head down and not done many interviews the past month, so I just wanted to come and try and get myself fit.

"If people want to write stories, then that's nothing to do with me, the good thing was I came out and quashed it straight away.

"My family have only been in Townsville a week, so those reports saying they're unsettled, I've obviously not got a clue where it comes from.

"But it's a lovely place and I've been there three months and I've enjoyed every minute of it, apart from the injuries."

Think that's it for today on football news

LOL, im trying to get to 4k posts again, Mark or James haven't fixed the problem yet :sad:

I was so close to 10000

Do you reckon anyone with a 10k award became under 10k cause of it?

No i dont think so

but i know ninastar went under 5000

Dang :shocked:

Stupid City..

Adebayor Deal Could Be Worth £70m

Manchester City are reputedly determined to push through the transfer of Emmanuel Adebayor by offering the Arsenal striker a double-your-money deal at Eastlands.


Just over 48 hours after City announced they were no longer pursuing Samuel Eto'o, it is understood that talks between Arsenal and City over Adebayor opened on Monday afternoon. Neither club has yet to comment on the speculation but it's believed that City have offered £20m for the Togo striker.

Determined to hold out for £25m, Arsenal are mindful of AC Milan's interest in Adebayor and one complication in the proposed deal may be the player's reputed preference for moving to Italy. Whether that would remain the case in view of the wages apparently on offer in Manchester remains to be seen. According to The Daily Mail, 'The Togo forward is expected to open talks on a five-year deal worth £170,000 a week' and 'the deal could even be completed today'.

If those figures are correct then the total cost of the deal would be in excess of £70m - a staggering outlay given that the club have already spent over £100m in transfer fees alone this year after completing the purchase of Carlos Tevez on Monday.

The newspaper goes on to speculate that Arsene Wenger is willing to sell because 'has grown tired of what he perceives to be Adebayor's poor attitude'. It is more likely that Wenger is willing to cash in on Adebayor in order to fund further redevelopment of the Gunners' rearguard while pursuing Bordeaux's Morocco striker Marouane Chamakh.


1) 20m Simply isnt enough for someone who can score 20 league goals especially if Alsonso is worth 28m.
2) Chamakh isn't a good replecement.
3) I was extecting the price to have gone up when i read the title but nothings changed.
4) I hope he doesn't leave.

I think we have a chance to come top 3 this season, without him i think we would struggle to stay in top 4.

I Hope Arsenal can make good of this season, we do have depth.

More than Utd and Liverpool seem to have at the moment.

Chelsea will win this season i reckon.

With Arsenal/ liverpool/ man utd 2nd, could easily go to any of them.

Have we bought anyone yet? <_<

Arsenal brought a youngster at the end of last season

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/foot...ty/8150856.stm

what is he wearing?

Idiot.

At this rate Everton might knock Arsenal down to 5th place..

Andy, just think about Everton being in the Champions League..
The money, the live tv games..