THE BERT TRAUTMANN TROPHY

nonleaguedaily.com reports, Vodkat North West Counties League club St Helens Town have confirmed that they've arranged a match against the Manchester City Legends team which will take place on Sunday, 15th November 2009 (1pm kick-off) at the Regional Athletics Stadium adjacent to the City of Manchester Stadium.

The fixture will commemorate the 60th Anniversary of Bert Trautmann's transfer from St Helens Town to City which took place on 7th October 1949 (60 years today).

Admission will be £4 Adults and £2 OAPs/under-16s. There will be a commemorative matchday programme which will include an introduction from Bert Trautmann.

Proceeds from the event will be shared between the Trautmann Foundation, St Helens Town and a charity nominated by the Legends team.

For further information on this event please contact: John McKiernan on 07976 059404

International Break, The Bigger Picture

Well well well, you could say City, City's players and us City fans have got what we expected.

From extra extra time gifted to opposing clubs to opposing fans and players targeting our players with sexual and racial abuse, even our stewards come under fire from projectiles.

Was it worth it? defintely with a top 4 position and a game in hand.

But what about the knocks our players have aquired from opposing clubs who have resorted to rough play treatment?, tiredness within the ranks?

Two words, INTERNATIONAL BREAK will give them time to recover.

Could you ask for anymore as present?, I know I can say for sure I am extremely happy with our progress on and off the field.

although Mark Hughes and his team are doing a great job, there is one point I wish to understand though i probably never will.

Mark Hughes and his squad selection and substitution issue?, why on earth did he allow Shaun Wright-Phillips to continue against Aston Villa's Carew?

Clearly Hughes could have taken Shaun off in place of Martin Petrov, pushing Bellamy over to the Right to combat Carew?.

What are your opinions on the matter of Selection and Substitution?.

Arsenal Fans Should Have Been Punished And Used To Highlight Violence Within Football

It is one thing to throw abuse at someone, it is on a whole other level when it forms into racial or sexual abuse and violence. Whether football players celebrate or not, there is no excuse for such disgusting and violent retaliation.

Any fan caught throwing racial and sexual abuse at anyone is a complete disgrace to their fellow fans and club and should be banned from attending football matches until they can grow up and learn from their actions positively.

The other subjects are throwing projectiles and invading football pitches, those are the actions of someone trying to cause riots and those people should be banned for life as they are just as bad as football hooligans, actually they are football hooligans.

Player Celebrations are part and parcel of the game, passion and emotion is part of football and it is upto football fans to not allow passion and emotion to boil over into abuse and violence.

Adebayor was not guilty of anything other than celebrating his goal like many other football players have done around the world, Adebayor did not even deserve a fine or suspended ban because the reactions of the Arsenal fans were utterly disgraceful and ultimately they should have their heads tucked between their legs in shame.

When Robin Van Persie celebrated infront of Manchester City fans, there was no projectiles, no intent to invade the pitch or any racial and sexual abuse, that is how football fans should behave so take a page out of the City fan book before you lower yourself to such disgraceful standards.

If it was not for Arsenal fans treating the player with such contempt while at Arsenal this probably would not have happened in the first place and I always say, its the problem that needs to be solved and the problem is abuse and violence.

Kick racial, sexual abuse and violence out of Football, punish the guilty party.