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Il Burnley ( foto ) ha superato i “Blades” dello Sheffield United nella finale dei play-off promozione dalla “Championship” alla “Premier League”. I “Clarets”, seguiti da una tifoseria che è stata definita la più fedele d’ Inghilterra, torneranno  a calcare i campi della massima serie dopo tante annate negative succedutesi a seguito dell’ ultimo dei due titoli nazionali vinti.Gli ultimi novanta minuti della SPL scozzese hanno, invece,  avuto un violento contorno non a Glasgow, dove si temavano incidenti, ma nell’ Irlanda del Nord, esattamente a Coleraine. Sono molti gli abitanti dell’ Ulster che sostengono una delle due formazioni dell’ “Old Firm” ed i tifosi del Linfield  di Belfast hanno un rapporto di amicizia con quelli proprio dei neocampioni di Scozia dei Rangers. Un tifoso dei Celtic è stato ucciso al termine di uno scontro generato da circa una quarantina di soggetti definiti “sectarian thugs”. Il quarantanovenne, il quale indossava una sciarpa dei biancoverdi, è stato colpito da ripetuti calci dopo essere caduto al suolo ed ha così perso la vita. Fiori e sciarpe dei “Bhoys” sono stati lasciati sul posto, divenuto meta di un drammatico pellegrinaggio. Tutti i partiti politici dell’ Ulster, sia di orientamento protestante che cattolico, hanno condannato senza riserve l’ episodio.

The Burnley squad celebrate a well-deserved victory at Wembley on Monday

Wade Elliott’s sensational strike ended Burnley’s 33-year wait for a return to the top flight as they defeated Sheffield United in the Championship play-off final.

“Elliott scored with a curling 13th-minute strike into the top corner that was worthy of winning any Wembley occasion.Indeed, victory for Owen Coyle’s team was fully deserved as their 61st game of a long and successful season culminated in promotion to the Premier League for the first time.The Clarets, founder members of the Football League, played with freedom and ambition – and should have doubled their lead after the break but Nick Montgomery blocked Joey Gudjonsson’s hooked shot while Kyle Walker made a superb challenge with Robbie Blake poised to strike.Burnley created a series of chances and went close from distance several times – in stark contrast to their Yorkshire opponents, whose best hope of an equaliser came from two penalty appeals.The first, for a challenge on Brian Howard, was debatable, but Christian Kalvenes’s crude challenge on Walker after the break was a clear foul.

But Coyle and his squad, who earlier in the campaign came within minutes of reaching the Carling Cup final, have now ensured their season would not be one of near misses with their Wembley victory.Elliott’s winning goal was the first incident of any note.The midfielder’s surging run through the vacant midfield area roused the Clarets supporters and looked full of possibilities but the chance appeared to have gone when Matt Kilgallon blocked Chris McCann’s shot after Elliott laid the ball into his path.However the clearance ran invitingly to Elliott, who superbly wrapped his foot around the ball and found the top corner of the net beyond the despairing dive of Paddy Kenny.

Blades keeper Paddy Kenny has no chance as Elliott pulls the trig

United, who like their opponents were unchanged from their semi-final second-leg victory, too readily resorted to a direct option and the Clarets central defensive duo of Steven Caldwell and Clarke Carlisle dealt comfortably with high balls into the penalty area.

The Blades mustered no chances of note in the opening half and the nearest they came to an equaliser was the penalty appeal after 15 minutes.Graham Alexander, a play-off winner at his seventh attempt, did bring down the largely anonymous Howard with a tackle from behind but Dean waved away United’s penalty appeals. In any case it was borderline whether the tackle was made in or outside the area.Burnley, in stark contrast, seemed unaffected by the occasion and expressed themselves in the manner that has won so many admirers this season.McCann, who limped out midway through the opening half, headed over from a corner while Martin Paterson went extremely close to a second goal with a curling 20-yard strike after cutting in from the right flank.

And in first-half injury time Clarets substitute Gudjonsson almost connected with a Steven Thompson header back across the face of goal.The trend continued after the break – a deft Elliott backheel setting Robbie Blake free while Michael Duff came within inches of converting a Thompson header across goal – as the Blades struggled to cope with their opponent’s superior invention.But for Nick Montgomery’s fortunate goal-line block after 55 minutes the Clarets would have doubled their lead.Gudjonsson, unmarked inside the six-yard box, seemed certain to score as the impressive Thompson headed the ball back across goal towards him but the midfielder’s hooked shot lacked power and struck Montgomery, who was facing the other way and knew nothing about it.

More misery for the Blades with Jamie Ward’s late sending

Another glorious chance came their way 10 minutes later when Thompson sprung the offside trap, raced down the right flank and squared the ball to Robbie Blake.The Burnley forward seemed certain to score but Walker, one of United’s two impressive young full-backs, made a brilliant covering challenge.The Blades were again frustrated with a penalty appeal after Kalvenes clumsily barged Walker to the floor. It was a clear foul – and definitely took place inside the area. Their ire increased when substitute Ward saw red after picking up his second booking for a handball but there can be no complaints it was the right decision. The last few minutes were tense but Burnley closed out the final in relative comfort, much to the delight of their delirious supporters.United’s misery was compounded when substitute midfielder Lee Hendrie was shown the red card for foul and abusive language after the final whistle.”

( BBC Sport )

Football fan murdered by sectarian mob after Rangers and Celtic matches feared for his sons’ safety

By Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 6:21 PM on 25th May 2009

Kevin McDaid, 49, was attacked in Coleraine after football matches involving Rangers and Celtic

“A Catholic father-of-four kicked to death by sectarian thugs in Northern Ireland was looking for his sons in case they were caught up in post-football match violence, police have said.Kevin McDaid, 49, a community worker dedicated to bringing both religious sides together in his hometown of Coleraine, Co Londonderry, was ‘brutally beaten’ by a 40-strong gang following Celtic and Rangers matches which decided the Scottish Premier League.Celtic scarves were tied on railings and flowers left close to the scene of the savage attack.His wife Evelyn was also targeted and sustained bruising and cuts to the head, while another man is battling for life in hospital.Mr McDaid’s son Ryan, 22, said: ‘My father was a well-known man. He never did anybody any harm.’He was well-loved. He was a 100 per cent father.’The former plasterer and youth worker worked closely with the police. Flags had been recently removed from the area, Somerset Drive, a mainly Catholic estate, police said.A neighbour said: ‘They kicked him as he lay on the ground, they are just scum.’Neighbours said he was out looking for his children, Ryan, Mark and Lee.Damien Fleming, 46, was also taken to hospital with serious injuries after being assaulted in nearby Pates Lane during the disturbances. He is understood to have been targeted by a gang which arrived in cars from outside the area.Police are treating the incident as attempted murder but warned it could yet be a double killing.Rangers beat Dundee United 3-0 yesterday to take the Scottish Premier League from Glasgow rivals Celtic.

Forensic police officers at the scene where Mr McDaid was killed

Detective Chief Inspector Frankie Taylor confirmed the motive was sectarianism and said the victim was well-known and well-liked.He added that Mr McDaid worked very closely with the police to try to improve the area.’He has been described to me as a man who would do anything for anybody,’ he said.He appealed for no retaliation but for people to bring any information to police. Police were in the area at the time responding to disturbances.Neighbour Peter Neill, who had a cut on his forehead after last night’s violence, said of Mr McDaid: ‘Kevin was a family man and he was loved by everybody. He never had any bitterness in him and he was attacked by scum.’He was a gentleman. He was just the best big man you could have met.’At Mr McDaid’s home a black police tent had been erected in the back yard of the terraced house. Forensic officers dressed in white suits and wearing masks and purple gloves combed the scene for clues, photography officers were inside the houses while detectives and uniformed officers stood by the cordon.Residents in night-clothes stood around stunned.White lilies had been left. The note said: ‘Kevin, you were one of the best.’

The celebrations of the Rangers football team were marred by the death of Mr McDaid, 49, after he was attacked following the games

The area has been relatively calm since violence flared last summer over a republican internment bonfire.Hazelbank Presbyterian Church minister Alan Johnston said: ‘We are truly stunned and shocked by the news.’We condemn murder and violence of any kind. It does not belong in the society we live in.’He added that people had been drinking in the town following the football matches.Nationalist SDLP Assembly member John Dallat said: ‘This is the second time that this kind of lynching mob has been involved in Coleraine.’Democratic Unionist Party MP Gregory Campbell said there had been anti-social behaviour in the past and appealed for anybody with information to go to the police.Sinn Fein deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness also condemned the attacks.’Despite the enormous progress we have made over the recent past, sectarian hatred continues to blight many areas and loyalist paramilitaries continue to orchestrate sectarian violence,’ he said.’We need to see clear and unequivocal condemnation of this sectarian murder from the political leaders of unionism from across the spectrum.’Politicians must lead by example and, through a clear commitment to a future based on partnership and equality, demonstrate that sectarianism and bigotry have no place in our society.”