Category Archives: News

Manchester City 3-1 Sunderland: Comeback Sees Pellegrini’s Men Claim Season’s First Silverware.

Originally published by Ace Magazine on-line on 3rd March 2014.

In 1999, just after Manchester City had gained promotion via the playoffs and Manchester United had won the Champions League, there was a suggestion cheekily suggested by some journalists the national papers that there was something in the water to have produced two thrilling moments in football history. For Manchester City it was the start, a true beginning back to the land of redemption after years of lacklustre and almost abject football. Times change, City no longer have the tag of being a big time laughing stock but they don’t half cut it close to becoming so at times.

Manchester City 3-1 Sunderland: Comeback Sees Pellegrini’s Men Claim Season’s First Silverware. full post

(1719 words, estimated 6:53 mins reading time)

David Hockney: Early Reflections–Walker Art Gallery. Art Review.

Previously published at wordsofwhitenoise.wordpress.com

‘The modern man I sing’ – goes Whitman’s famous dictum, and much of the work on offer in this thin slice of David Hockney’s early work sings something of a similar tune. Indeed, the notion of modernity – both in the sense of a shifting social landscape emergent in the mid to late 1960’s, (the period from which most of the work here dates), and the demands made on visual artists to negotiate the high modernism of the early twentieth century, informs much of the work made available here at the Walker Art Gallery until 16th March.

David Hockney: Early Reflections–Walker Art Gallery. Art Review. full post

(566 words, estimated 2:16 mins reading time)

Much Loved Artistic Director Of The Unity Theatre To Retire.

Graeme Phillips, Unity Theatre’s Artistic Director has announced his retirement after 33 years at the acclaimed Hope Place venue. A seasoned well-respected member of Liverpool’s artistic community, director, designer and mentor to many local, regional and national theatre companies; he will step aside in July 2015.

Much Loved Artistic Director Of The Unity Theatre To Retire. full post

(578 words, estimated 2:19 mins reading time)

Women’s Football: Great Britain 1-0 New Zealand. London Olympics 2012.

The glitz and glamour of the opening ceremony to the 2012 London Olympics is still two days away but try telling that to the two sets of women representing Great Britain and New Zealand in the football tournament.

Just one look at the faces on the footballers’ faces would be enough to confirm the passion and the absolute pride in taking part in the opening game of the Olympics. The Millennium Stadium in Cardiff may have seemed like a strange place to start a major games, especially with Team GB being comprised of a virtually English team with a couple of Scottish players thrown into the mix for good measure and balance.  However, even if the crowd was not as full as it would have been for some of the famous games that have taken place in the Welsh capital, there was no denying that it provided an excellent venue to kick off London 2012.

Women’s Football: Great Britain 1-0 New Zealand. London Olympics 2012. full post

(833 words, estimated 3:20 mins reading time)

The Netherlands Beat Argentina In The Women’s Hockey Final. London Olympics 2012.

The woman’s final of the 2012 Hockey tournament saw the Olympic holders Netherlands take on the team that took Germany apart in Athens in 2004, the impressive and dominant Argentina.

The Netherlands were aiming to emulate the great Australian team of 1996 and 2000 and become only the second woman’s side to retain the Olympic gold medal spot. The Netherlands would have surely been buoyed by the sight of their male compatriots thrashing the Great Britain side the night before in the Riverbank Arena and although many would have had Argentina down as strong favourites, there would have been no doubting the resolve in the Dutch line up.

The Netherlands Beat Argentina In The Women’s Hockey Final. London Olympics 2012. full post

(870 words, estimated 3:29 mins reading time)

Germany Retain Olympic Crown In Men’s Hockey Final. London Olympics 2012.

First published by L.S.Media. August 12th 2012.

All things being equal, this was probably the best final possible. The Olympic gold medal holders against the best team in the competition, Germany V the Netherlands, the tension and the excitement were palpable and electric. No matter the sport, no matter the tournament, The Netherlands V Germany is a fixture that has history, a little slice of the needle that makes sport so interesting and vital.

As the two national anthems rang out over the Riverbank Arena, there couldn’t have been anyone who present inside the arena or watching on television around the world who was not chomping at the bit and eager for the game to start.

Germany Retain Olympic Crown In Men’s Hockey Final. London Olympics 2012. full post

(749 words, estimated 3:0 mins reading time)

Glover And Stanning Win Britain’s First Gold of 2012.London Olympics 2012.

First published by L.S. Media. August 1st 2012.

It’s possible; actually more than likely, to believe that Eton Dorney will not see history made like this ever again.

Great Britain has a built a reputation over the life time of the Olympics for their prowess in the rowing. For years the men’s teams, double skulls, fours and eights have run the gauntlet of winning gold after gold. The women’s team has never produced a gold medal, now in Heather Stanning and Heather Glover, the bubble of international women’s rowing has finally been burst and the two women also have the honour, the greatest accolade of being the first British participants to get the top prize in this year’s Olympic Games.

Glover And Stanning Win Britain’s First Gold of 2012.London Olympics 2012. full post

(402 words, estimated 1:36 mins reading time)

South Korea Win Third Gold In The Archery At Lords. London Olympics 2012.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 3rd 2012.

Although the interest for the British archers had finished short of making into the final session at Lords, the crowds stayed in abundance to see the final part of what has been an enthralling competition.

The archery has been near enough dominated by the South Koreans and the Asian countries and the last eight line up in the men’s individual event see only two people from outside the Eastern archery empire. The men’s finals had been dramatic all the way through but only the most hopeful of souls could have imagined either the Netherland’s Rick Van der Ven or the Ukraine’s Viktor Ruban make inroads to what should be a comfortable win for the Japanese or the Koreans.

South Korea Win Third Gold In The Archery At Lords. London Olympics 2012. full post

(451 words, estimated 1:48 mins reading time)

Great Britain’s Tim Brabants Gives All In Olympic Final. London Olympics 2012.

Originally published by L.S. Media. August 8th 2012.

Amongst all the glory, the heartbreak and personal stories that the Olympic Games has thrown up in the last ten days or so, none can be incredible as Great Britain’s canoeist Tim Brabants.

There will be other athletes who have come back from injury to compete and make their countries proud of them, no matter their placing in an event, but when your injury requires surgery on the very part of your body that is needed to succeed at you chosen sport then all you can do as a spectator is cheer them on even harder for just having the courage to get back into a canoe again.

Great Britain’s Tim Brabants Gives All In Olympic Final. London Olympics 2012. full post

(395 words, estimated 1:35 mins reading time)

Ashton Eaton Leads At Halfway Stage In Men’s Decathlon. Olympics 2012.

Originally published by L.S. Media.  August 8th 2012.

It ended as a day of disappointment for Britain’s legion of athletics fans as Daniel Awde’s challenge to the men’s Decathlon crown ended in frustration and injury during the first half of the two day event.

After a cracking start by the Briton in the 100 metres event, in which he ran a personal best time and lay seventh by the end of all four heats, the crowd at the Olympic Stadium, which has been incredibly vocal was hushed by the sight of Daniel Awde limping in obvious pain out of the sandpit in the long jump. He had already red flagged twice and his final jump left him short of pushing Ashton Eaton and Trey Hardee who were already looking like running away with the overnight leader board.

Ashton Eaton Leads At Halfway Stage In Men’s Decathlon. Olympics 2012. full post

(334 words, estimated 1:20 mins reading time)