CONGRATULATIONS TO BARCELONA FC

They are worthy champions!

As for Manchester United, they seemed to be in the match for a mere ten minutes, with Ronaldo making some good attempts before Samuel Eto’o goal and Cristiano’s Catalan nemesis Lionel Messi scored in each half, which put the game out of Man U’s reach.

I realised it was going to be a tough match, after seeing how Barcelona scored a last-minute goal against Chelsea a few weeks ago.

Unusual for Manchester United, they were simply outplayed and outclassed.

My brother Jeffrey Greaves was happy with the result as it was his birthday yesterday and he’s a Liverpool fan.

Seeing his bitter rivals get soundly beaten was his icing on the cake!

Credit is due to Barcelona who, as they did at Stamford Bridge against The Blues, played with a mixture of skill, passion and ability – this shined through again at Rome yesterday.

They were outstanding and deserved to be winners of the Champions League.

Being a British citizen, I couldn’t help but feel nauseated when the final whistle blew and I didn’t stay at the McQuian’s pub in Kenton to watch Barcelona lift the Cup – that would have been too much for me (thank goodness I wasn’t on reporting duty).

So after finishing the rest of my drink, I slipped out the pub, just like most of the MUFC supporters, including my (female) mate Jasjot, who’s on the international side of the broadcast journalism course, which also leads to a Masters of the Arts (MA).

The other half, who clearly supported Barcelona, stayed on to enjoy their success. I’m glad there was no violence in the pub at all, with both sets of fans appreciating each other’s side - I'm glad to say that the fans of both teams were sitting side by side.

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I was a football steward at the West Ham home match against Middlesborough on Saturday 23 May.

As you could expect, tensions were high as it was known that the visiting team were facing regulation to the First Division – better known as the original Division Two to many.

Before the Premier league was formed, it was well known that some teams, like Sheffield Wednesday and Crystal Palace, would bounce between the two divisions.

But now, the standards needed to be and remain in the Premier league is so high, it’s going to be hard for any team to stay if they don’t have players, marketing and a strategy to boot.

It didn’t help that when West Ham won the match 2-0 their fans taunted the opposing team and their fan base by singing “Cheerio” to them!

Nevertheless I was surprised that Newcastle are now going down with Middlesborough, as I thought they'd survive after Man U beat Hull earlier that day. So Sunderland live to fight another day!

As for West Bromwich Albion (WBA), I think that by Christmas 2008, their form and success rate was so poor; nobody realistically expected them to remain in the Premier League at the end of this season.

All the best for Wolverhampton Wanderers – better known as Wolves - and Birmingham City.

A big hello to Burnley, who haven’t been in the top flight since the 1970s.

These are the new teams joining the big league but unless they start spending that hard earned extra cash on new – meaning Premier league standard - signings, then like WBA, they will go straight back down to Division One next year.

As constant Premier league wannabe team Queens Park Rangers found to their cost, who were exiled after selling Les Ferdinand to, ironically Newcastle in 1995, once you’re out – they were relegated the following year - it’s hard to get back!

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Former professional footballer Mario Celaire has confessed to murdering his ex-girlfriend seven years after originally being cleared of her murder and manslaughter at the Old Bailey.

Mario Celaire, now 31, also faces life after admitting to attempting to murder his ex-lover Kara Hoyte, 19.

The same court heard how the ex-Maidstone United defender hit Cassandra, 19, continiously over the head at her mum’s home in Norbury, South London, in 2001.

She choked on her own vomit while unconscious, which is how she died.

He would have got away with it, as he was originally acquitted of her murder in 2002, if it weren’t for the change of the double jeopardy ruling which provided the opportunity of former girlfriend Kara to give evidence against Celaire this month, after her beat her with a hammer in 2007 after she, like Cassandra, left him.

It was thanks to Mario cockily admitting to killing Cassandra to Ms Hoyte that Celaire eventually confessed to both crimes.

He will be sentenced on July 3.

Many complain that you don’t see ethnic WAGs but looking at the tragedy of what Celaire did to these two beautiful black women, well this just shows the importance of simply finding a good person to settle down with, regardless of race.

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Speaking of which, I read Harry Redknapp’s recent attack on the WAG culture.

He talks about how much it’s changed for players to find a good partner and stay out of trouble.

But to look on the flip side, nobody has forced a premier league footballer to date, say serial WAG, Danielle Lloyd.

And looking at the state Tottenham Hotspur captain and defender Ledley King was in when he was arrested outside a London nightclub for alleged racially aggravated assault earlier this month, as well as the problems Harry's nephew Frank Lampard is having regarding his private life, perhaps it’s not surprising that he wanted to get a few things off his chest.

I for one was touched by the refreshing honesty displayed by Mr Redknapp in the interview, which also marked a turning point; gone are the days where football managers just dealt with getting the right players, the right results and arguing with the club chairman over spending.

Read it for yourself, in the Telegraph newspaper edition: www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/celebritynews/5322684/Harry-Redknapp-criticises-footballs-WAG-culture.html

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I’m glad to see that women’s football is finally starting to get the recognition it deserves in the newspaper back pages.

So congratulations to the Arsenal Ladies Football Team for winning the FA’s Women’s Premier League on Sunday 10 May.

I’ve yet to see the men’s team - even when they had legendary striker Ian Wright around - wining 11 trophies in four years, which is exactly what the lady’s team has done!

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So now the season’s over, it’s time to look at who’s staying and who’s going, either from the Premiership league or moving to another club, within the premiership.

But considering I’ve got more stuff to hand in – i.e. university deadlines, I’ll have to say bye for now, as that will be for another blog entry.

Don’t forget to visit my other internet site: http://www.andriagreaves.com/

But if you want to leave a comment for me, it will have to be on this site!

Until next time

Light and Peace

Andria

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