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April 2003 News

This is the latest news of all the players who appeared in the 1970-71

FKS Publishers Ltd Wonderful World of Soccer Stars Album

29 April

Commentators

Just a quick update on some new Bob 70-71 Players spotted commentating. Sir Bobby Robson has over the years has often lent his hand to punditary, but has not been seen too much lately due to his managerial role at Newcastle United. This month he was on the ITV panel for the fabulous Manchester United v Real Madrid match in the Champions League.

Newcastle United were not on duty due to an earlier exit, and he looked chuffed to witness the 4-3 Man U victory on the night, but 6-4 loss on aggregate. I believe he may have been around for ITV during the World Cup 2002 as well.

Also, Bob 70-71 Towers has been almost obsessively watching the Sky Sports News Channel (found at 408 on the Sky Digital service), and the panel that watch the Saturday scores come in, includes the often partnered Rodney Marsh and Frank McLintock (Arsenal). The programme I saw Frank gave a decent review of Leeds United 3-2 home defeat to Blackburn Rovers. Rodney has been spotted at Sky before, but this a new mention for Frank.

Finally, this past week, I'm fairly certain I heard David Pleat (Peterborough United) on one of the multiple games covered by Radio Five Live, which would be a change of channel for him.

And whilst we're at it, Radio Five Live presenter Bob Wilson (Arsenal) has appeared in several more episodes of the children's satelitte television programme Renford Rejects, currently showing on Nickelodian Replay

And as reported elsewhere, BBC radio and television pundit/presenter, Trevor Brooking has taken over as temporary manager of West Ham United ! (See News)

See Commentators

27 April

Mini-Blessed

Probably too late to get a copy now but FourForTwo magazine for May 2003, number 105, has a free mini copy of George Best's book 'Blessed:The Autobiography' written with Roy Collins.

Reducing the book to 144 pages it will doubtless crop up in countless Charity Shops over the next few years. The mini-edition keeps an interesting breakdown of his career statistics.

The book also advertised an August release of a new book 'Scoring at Half-Time', which is a release of Georgie anecdotes.

See 442

Champion 'Arry

A 3-2 home win against Rotherham United today confirmed Harry Redknapp's Portsmouth side as Champions of Division One.This is a probably Harry's greatest managerial achievement to date in terms of silverware.

His honours as a manager so far include: 1984 Associate Members' Cup with Bournemouth, 1986-87 (old) Division Three Championship with Bournemouth, and 1999 Intertoto Cup winners with West Ham United.

This is the first time Portsmouth have won the new Division One title, and they never previously won the old Division Two title.

However, they have previously held the actual Division One trophy in the days before the Premiership and when it represented winning the League Championship, that was in 1948-49 and 1949-50. The same trophy is still used as effectively, they are still champions of the English League Football organisation.

Other Championships for Portsmouth are the Division 3 (South) 1923-24, and the old Division 3 in 1961-62 and 1982-83.

22 April 2003

'Arry's Premiership Return !

Well done to Harry Redknapp, who has led Portsmouth to Premiership promotion. Ironically one of the relegated Premiership sides this season may yet be West Ham United, the team he managed when he was last a Premiership manager. In fact, Harry last won promotion to the Premiership as Assistant Manager to Billy Bonds with West Ham United in 1992-93.

Portsmouth were the first English club to secure promotion this season following a 1-0 home win at home Burnley on 15 April, 2003.

It will be Portsmouth's first season in the Premiership, having last been in the old Division One for a solitary season in 1987-88. Before that their last spell at the top goes right back to 1927 to 1959, an era that saw them win the Championship in successive seasons in 1948-49 and 1949-50, as well as an FA Cup win in 1939. It is a well deserved return for Portsmouth fans baring in mind that from 1978-80 they were in Division Four.

Tribute should also be given to 'Arry's Assistant Manager, Jim Smith (Boston United), who last enjoyed Division One promotion as manager of Derby County in 1995-96, and also achieved the feat in the days of the old Division One and Two, when he was manager of Oxford United in 1984-85 !

N.B. Portsmouth go on to win the Championship, see above

5 April 2003

Craig Writes

It's always good to get an email from my mate, the Celtic great, Jim Craig (Celtic). Today he talks about Celtic's 1968 League Cup win in 1969, er... Though personalised to me, and I delude myself into beleiving it is for me alone, I sadly have to admit anyone can get Jim's updates from www.celticfc.net

April 5 marks the 34th anniversary of a good day in my life.  Most unusually, on that day in 1969, the 1968 League Cup Final was played!  OK, it does sound daft, so I had better explain.

Just before we were due to meet Hibs in the Final the previous October, there had been a fire at Hampden and the match had to be re-arranged. It seemed to suit us, as we won 6-2. The record books tend to concentrate on the fact Bobby Lennox notched a hat-trick, but surely the bigger event was me scoring the sixth goal.

I robbed my opponent on the halfway, went on a mazy run past eight of the Hibs guys, played a one-two off the post, collected the rebound and then stuck it between the goalkeeper’s legs! Even the Hibs players applauded. And the record books say Lennox got a hat-trick?

Further April 2003 news can be found at ...

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