This from the BBC Northern Ireland web site. I'll not sleep tonight
The future of Windsor Park as the national stadium is under threat with an expert report set to propose that the South Stand be closed from January.
The report could lead to the stadium capacity being cut by 4,000 to just 9,000 on health and safety grounds.
The move would heighten fears that future international games may have to be played outside Northern Ireland.
Millions of pounds are needed to upgrade Windsor as any new national stadium would take years to construct.
The report was commissioned by Linfield and the Irish Football Association and IFA chief executive Howard Wells told the Sunday Life that "it sounds as though our worst fears are about to be confirmed".
"We are still awaiting a costing on the work required to keep Windsor up to the basic standard required to host international football with no idea where the money is coming from," he told the newspaper.
"Somewhere along the line the Government and our local politicians are going to have to come to a decision on the National Stadium issue."
Debate continues to rage over the site of any new national stadium with the Maze the Government's preferred option.
Smoking was banned only earlier in the year from the South Stand. I was in it in May and was 'shocked' to see that the floor etc is made of wood! There used to be a stand beside it called the "Gold Bond" stand - as it had a big cigarette ad on it and that was pulled down in 1985 in a panic after the Bradford fire. Fact is that the place should be levelled! Too many Freemasons making money outta Norn Iron at Windsor! 15% of everything to the Bloos? Programmes to hamburgers .. you name it! Let's be real... an international stadium that still has intact the piece of terracing that Belfast Celtic's Jimmy Jones was trailed over and assaulted on in 1948 is past its sell-by date. I say open Croker up to NI - I'm sure the bottom deck of the Cusack could accommodate the crowd easily...
surely 9000 is ample for that lot!
Rent them out casement and take thier money. :D :D :D
Quote from: EC Unique on October 08, 2007, 11:28:51 AM
Rent them out casement and take thier money. :D :D :D
Casement? Corrigan Park could probably cope with the crowds and is in a similar shape.......
Dunloy v Loughiel yesterday ... must have been 12,000 at it --- !!! Was there wall to wall media coverage? Nah...............................
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 08, 2007, 11:59:08 AM
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 08, 2007, 11:46:59 AM
Dunloy v Loughiel yesterday ... must have been 12,000 at it --- !!! Was there wall to wall media coverage? Nah...............................
Not unless there was a melee or one of the players was given a bit of abuse for being a different religion.
I was watching UTV news during the week, not a programme I usually watch. Rangers Champions League win the night before was the main sports story, it got about 3 maybe 4 minutes. Geezers appointment as Kildare manager got roughly 25 seconds and Mickey McVeighs retirement got all of 5 seconds.
5 seconds? ::) A slight underestimation perhaps?
The BBC's and UTV's negative reporting upped a notch when they lost the right to live Ulster Championship games to RTÉ, a silly move by the GAA. I'm just wondering what the stance will be now that Sky has poached IFA games and Norn Iron games. I recall BBC NI being extremely angry about this and threatening the IFA. Will their reporing change now too, towards local soccer?
Just on a side note, did anyone else see UTV Live on Friday.. I think it was?
Did you feel that they were making a big song and dance about the fact that Marty Clarke supports Norn Iron over RoI? It was a report about his first year down under.
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 08, 2007, 11:59:08 AM
[
I was watching UTV news during the week, not a programme I usually watch. Rangers Champions League win the night before was the main sports story, it got about 3 maybe 4 minutes.
All three goals, and replays of each shown.
Meanwhile the same night they didn't even bother their arses showing all the goals from the Glentoran-Cliftonville match.
Quote from: MW on October 08, 2007, 01:16:40 PM
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 08, 2007, 11:59:08 AM
[
I was watching UTV news during the week, not a programme I usually watch. Rangers Champions League win the night before was the main sports story, it got about 3 maybe 4 minutes.
All three goals, and replays of each shown.
Meanwhile the same night they didn't even bother their arses showing all the goals from the Glentoran-Cliftonville match.
At least they showed some ;)
Quote from: ziggysego on October 08, 2007, 12:53:11 PM
Just on a side note, did anyone else see UTV Live on Friday.. I think it was?
Did you feel that they were making a big song and dance about the fact that Marty Clarke supports Norn Iron over RoI? It was a report about his first year down under.
Sorry Ziggy just referred to that on the UTV BBC thread. You can see it here:
http://u.tv/utvlive_stream/asx/20071005-hi.asx
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Smoking was banned only earlier in the year from the South Stand. I was in it in May and was 'shocked' to see that the floor etc is made of wood!
You must have been extremely shocked, probably severely traumatised, so much so that you were seeing things. The floor of the stand isn't made of wood!!!!!!
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
There used to be a stand beside it called the "Gold Bond" stand - as it had a big cigarette ad on it and that was pulled down in 1985 in a panic after the Bradford fire.
Again complete bollix. The covered terrace (opposite the South Stand) was damaged in a fire and was then pulled down to make way for the North Stand, but it wasn't wooden and it's removal had nothing to do with Bradford.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Fact is that the place should be levelled!
Why is it a 'fact'? WP has two modern stands, one not so modern but still perfectly serviceable stand and one unserviceable stand. Hardly grounds for being levelled. How many covered seats does Casement have?
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Too many Freemasons making money outta Norn Iron at Windsor!
That's a fairly serious allegation, I presume you have some evidence to back it up.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
15% of everything to the Bloos? Programmes to hamburgers .. you name it!
On that we can all agree. A truely disgraceful contract which was negotiated by the government.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Let's be real... an international stadium that still has intact the piece of terracing that Belfast Celtic's Jimmy Jones was trailed over and assaulted on in 1948 is past its sell-by date.
Bizarre statement, given that terracing hasn't been used for years.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
I say open Croker up to NI - I'm sure the bottom deck of the Cusack could accommodate the crowd easily...
Excellent idea.
Quote from: SammyG on October 08, 2007, 03:59:55 PM
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
I say open Croker up to NI - I'm sure the bottom deck of the Cusack could accommodate the crowd easily...
Excellent idea.
:D
Quote from: SammyG on October 08, 2007, 03:59:55 PM
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Smoking was banned only earlier in the year from the South Stand. I was in it in May and was 'shocked' to see that the floor etc is made of wood!
You must have been extremely shocked, probably severely traumatised, so much so that you were seeing things. The floor of the stand isn't made of wood!!!!!!
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
There used to be a stand beside it called the "Gold Bond" stand - as it had a big cigarette ad on it and that was pulled down in 1985 in a panic after the Bradford fire.
Again complete bollix. The covered terrace (opposite the South Stand) was damaged in a fire and was then pulled down to make way for the North Stand, but it wasn't wooden and it's removal had nothing to do with Bradford.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Fact is that the place should be levelled!
Why is it a 'fact'? WP has two modern stands, one not so modern but still perfectly serviceable stand and one unserviceable stand. Hardly grounds for being levelled. How many covered seats does Casement have?
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Too many Freemasons making money outta Norn Iron at Windsor!
That's a fairly serious allegation, I presume you have some evidence to back it up.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
15% of everything to the Bloos? Programmes to hamburgers .. you name it!
On that we can all agree. A truely disgraceful contract which was negotiated by the government.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Let's be real... an international stadium that still has intact the piece of terracing that Belfast Celtic's Jimmy Jones was trailed over and assaulted on in 1948 is past its sell-by date.
Bizarre statement, given that terracing hasn't been used for years.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
I say open Croker up to NI - I'm sure the bottom deck of the Cusack could accommodate the crowd easily...
Excellent idea.
I wish to correct you on a number of issues ... the "PARK DRIVE" stand on the unreserved end (NORTH STAND) was burned in February 1982 ... Glens supporters got the blame after a "Big Two" clash... The "Gold Bond" stand was adjacent to the viewing gallery and was knocked down by order (check it out) in 1985! .. for years there was a gap until they extended the South Stand...
............... The South Stand is made outta wood ... (a fairly combustable proportion of it!!) ... Prove to me that the GOVERNMENT negotiated a 100 year contract with LINFIELD ... AND FIND ME A BARRISTER WHO COULD DEFEND IT IN COURT (100 YEAR CARTE BLANCHE CONTRACT .. I ASK YOU) ... Freemasons? ... yes .. disprove it! and the Jimmy Jones incident ... the terrace may not have been used in years but the fact is that it is still there! Really you have a very limited knowledge of your beloved Windsor!!
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 08, 2007, 04:16:49 PMI wish to correct you on a number of issues ... the "PARK DRIVE" stand on the unreserved end (NORTH STAND) was burned in February 1982 ... Glens supporters got the blame after a "Big Two" clash... The "Gold Bond" stand was adjacent to the viewing gallery and was knocked down by order (check it out) in 1985! .. for years there was a gap until they extended the South Stand...
All correct but nothing to do with what you originally said!!
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
............... The South Stand is made outta wood ... (a fairly combustable proportion of it!!) ...
You said the floor was wooden, it isn't.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Prove to me that the GOVERNMENT negotiated a 100 year contract with LINFIELD ...
Do a search of any of the newspaper articles? The Thatcher governmenet did the the deal with Linfield in return for the North Stand. They were worried that the IFA would want to move and the NS would be wasted so they forced the ridiculous 100 year contract through.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
AND FIND ME A BARRISTER WHO COULD DEFEND IT IN COURT (100 YEAR CARTE BLANCHE CONTRACT .. I ASK YOU)
I'd be amazed if any barrister (or even any blok off the street) could or would try to defend the contract. That's what all the discussions are about at the minute.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
... Freemasons? ... yes .. disprove it!
How the fcul can you disprove a negative? You made a statement, so you must be basing it on something.
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
and the Jimmy Jones incident ... the terrace may not have been used in years but the fact is that it is still there!
As per my previous comment, WTF has that got to do with anything?
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 07, 2007, 11:07:46 PM
Really you have a very limited knowledge of your beloved Windsor!!
So you talk bollix and then change your story and that means that my knowledge is limited. Ok fair enough. ::)
Quote from: Hurler on the Bitch on October 08, 2007, 04:16:49 PM
the "PARK DRIVE" stand on the unreserved end (NORTH STAND) was burned in February 1982 ... Glens supporters got the blame after a "Big Two" clash...
I'm not familiar with this idea ???
QuoteProve to me that the GOVERNMENT negotiated a 100 year contract with LINFIELD ... AND FIND ME A BARRISTER WHO COULD DEFEND IT IN COURT (100 YEAR CARTE BLANCHE CONTRACT .. I ASK YOU) ...
The disgraceful contract was, as far as I know the story, negotiated with Linfield by the IFA at the behest of the government of the day who apparently thought this was the right course to take as they'd put public money into the (IFA owned) North Stand.
Sorry Mate ... lost the will to live here ... PLEASE POST THE ARTICLE REF THATCHER'S DEAL WITH THE IFA AND LINFIELD!! I THOUGHT WITH THE FALKLANDS AND THE MINERS ETC, HMG MAY HAVE MISSED THAT DEAL!
BTW I had to ensure the South Stand for the first time in 11 years at the Shield semi final last week, and I have to say I saw it as pretty unfit...the construction on which the seats rest does appear to be wooden...
Oh and Sammy,,, "and the Jimmy Jones incident ... the terrace may not have been used in years but the fact is that it is still there!
As per my previous comment, WTF has that got to do with anything?"
Name me an international stadium that has still not got it's terracing upgraded (or turned into a stand) in 59 YEARS!!!!! Face it! Windsor is a PIT!
'Too many Freemasons making money outta Norn Iron at Windsor!'
That's a fairly serious allegation, I presume you have some evidence to back it up.
Wasn't part of the problem with the Keith Gillespie incident on the plane back from Iceland that he and other players were pissed as farts. The reason they were pissed as farts was the fact, unlike other professionally run teams who get the first available flight back after matches, was that these self-same freemasons (ie the travelling committee members of the IFA) were - as they are wont to do - enjoying the gratis hospitality
laid on by by their hosts or paid for out of IFA expenses, and the team could fly back home only when they'd stuffed their fat arses with grilled puffins, whale meat and all the hooch they could stomach.
PS Why do people insist on calling Windsor a 'national' stadium and 'international' venue? You have to be a 'country' to qualify for such terms...
The Lower Bullens at Goodison Park has wooden slats in place of, well, a floor. It ain't original, but Woodison Park has some meaning.
Quote from: red hander on October 08, 2007, 05:05:02 PM
'Too many Freemasons making money outta Norn Iron at Windsor!'
That's a fairly serious allegation, I presume you have some evidence to back it up.
Wasn't part of the problem with the Keith Gillespie incident on the plane back from Iceland that he and other players were pissed as farts. The reason they were pissed as farts was the fact, unlike other professionally run teams who get the first available flight back after matches, was that these self-same freemasons (ie the travelling committee members of the IFA) were - as they are wont to do - enjoying the gratis hospitality
laid on by by their hosts or paid for out of IFA expenses, and the team could fly back home only when they'd stuffed their fat arses with grilled puffins, whale meat and all the hooch they could stomach.
PS Why do people insist on calling Windsor a 'national' stadium and 'international' venue? You have to be a 'country' to qualify for such terms...
how is it a serious allegation to say that some people are Masons? Not exactly calling them members of paramilitary organisations (or am I dealing with forces that could destroy me?) ... tell me if the Masons Ring is not very prominent in Windsor Avenue ...
Are you sure it's the Freemasons and not this dangerous crowd?
(http://img.groundspeak.com/cache/81633_500.jpg)
Quote from: red hander on October 08, 2007, 05:05:02 PM
PS Why do people insist on calling Windsor a[n]...'international' venue?
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 08, 2007, 06:47:40 PM
I dont think Homer would play in Windsor Park Ziggy, but it is COmical to call it an International venue
Cal me ccrazy, but I'm reptty sure international football is played there ::)
Off to the corner with the dunce's hat on, there's good lads...
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 09, 2007, 05:18:57 PM
MW, Internationals may be played at Windsor, but it would be disingenuous to describe it as an "International Venue".
Why, for all it's problems (and there are many) it's considerably better than many other international venues across Europe?
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 09, 2007, 05:18:57 PM
It is hardly fit for the Irish league.
Actually that's a major part of the problem. It's more than fit for the Irish League, which is Linfield's main interest. So they've no incentive to upgrade the facilities for international.
5ivetimes, Do you have some sort of checklist as to what sort of venues, which host international football games, may be classed as international venues?
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 09, 2007, 06:00:32 PMObviously you guys are going to stick up for Windsor, it is your home ground after all,
Who's sticking up for Windsor? I think the state that the South and Railway stands have been allowed to get into is a bloody disgrace.
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 09, 2007, 06:00:32 PM
but it is in a bit of a state, in fact it wasnt in much better condition when I was last there in the early 90s (Linfield v Newry Town).
Agreed
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 09, 2007, 06:00:32 PM
I have been to quite a few of the major Stadia throughout Europe and even a few in North America and nothing has every been comparable to Windsor park.
You obviously haven't been to many international grounds around Europe. A sizeable number are considerably worse than WP.
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 09, 2007, 06:00:32 PM
At a time when a lot of the major grounds throught Europeare being redeveloped or replaced, Windsor is falling apart and no one seems to want to do anything about it.
I wouldn't say no-one wants to do anything about it. The problem is a mix of the incompetence of the IFA, the greed of Linfield and a 100 year contract negotiated by teh government and nobody wants to blink first.
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 09, 2007, 06:00:32 PM
The IFA should grab the new stadium being offered by the Government and let Linfield look after their own affairs.
Aye your right we should move from a stadium with problems to one with even bigger problems. That's going to solve everything.
And that's before you consider the fact that the Maze won't be ready for 6 or 7 years, even if it does get built. So it doesn't have any bearing on the current problems.
Do the assembly not have the power to shut down the 'stadium'?
Quote from: doofus on October 09, 2007, 08:10:44 PM
Do the assembly not have the power to shut down the 'stadium'?
On what grounds?
health and safety
Quote from: doofus on October 09, 2007, 08:17:17 PM
health and safety
It has H&S certificates in place and was only given a FIFA/UEFA licence a couple of months ago. If grounds were going to be closed on H&S grounds there'd be a long list ahead of WP.
Oh, it must be safe then :-\
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 10, 2007, 04:31:32 PM
Quote from: SammyG on October 09, 2007, 07:45:44 PM
Quote from: 5iveTimes on October 09, 2007, 06:00:32 PM
I have been to quite a few of the major Stadia throughout Europe and even a few in North America and nothing has every been comparable to Windsor park.
You obviously haven't been to many international grounds around Europe. A sizeable number are considerably worse than WP.
I dont think I have ever been to a ground worse than Windsor Park. Rather than have me name all the grounds that I have been to I think it would be much easier if you were to name any Stadia that you think are worse than Windsor. By the way Solitude and Shamrock park dont really count.
Windsor park is like The Millenium Stadium when compared to The Oval. Why do Shamrock Park and Solitude not count? They are both grim.
5ivetimes, whatever your opinion on the state of the stadium, it is still an international venue.
Claiming if "disingenuous to describe it as an "International Venue"" is a ridiculous comment.
it IS an international venue - despite your thoughts.