Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Global average air temperature near the Earth's surface rose 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.3 ± 0.32 °F) during the past century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes, "most of the observed increase in globally averaged temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations,"[1] which leads to warming of the surface and lower atmosphere by increasing the greenhouse effect. Natural phenomena such as solar variation combined with volcanoes have probably had a small warming effect from pre-industrial times to 1950, but a small cooling effect since 1950.[2][3] These basic conclusions have been endorsed by at least 30 scientific societies and academies of science, including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists is the only scientific society that rejects these conclusions,[4][5] and a few individual scientists also disagree with parts of them. [6]
Climate models referenced by the IPCC project that global surface temperatures are likely to increase by 1.1 to 6.4 °C (2.0 to 11.5 °F) between 1990 and 2100.[1] The range of values reflects the use of differing scenarios of future greenhouse gas emissions and results of models with differences in climate sensitivity. Although most studies focus on the period up to 2100, warming and sea level rise are expected to continue for more than a millennium even if greenhouse gas levels are stabilized. [1] This reflects the large heat capacity of the oceans.
An increase in global temperatures can in turn cause other changes, including sea level rise, and changes in the amount and pattern of precipitation. There may also be changes in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, though it is difficult to connect specific events to global warming. Other effects may include changes in agricultural yields, glacier retreat, reduced summer streamflows, species extinctions and increases in the ranges of disease vectors.

The climate system varies through natural, internal processes and in response to variations in external forcing factors including solar activity, volcanic emissions, variations in the earth's orbit (orbital forcing) and greenhouse gases. The detailed causes of the recent warming remain an active field of research, but the scientific consensus [9] identifies increased levels of greenhouse gases due to human activity as the main influence. This attribution is clearest for the most recent 50 years, for which the most detailed data are available. Contrasting with the scientific consensus, other hypotheses have been proposed to explain most of the observed increase in global temperatures. Among these hypotheses are that the warming is caused by natural fluctuations in the climate or that warming is mainly a result of variations in solar radiation. [10]
None of the effects of forcing are instantaneous. Due to the thermal inertia of the Earth's oceans and slow responses of other indirect effects, the Earth's current climate is not in equilibrium with the forcing imposed. Climate commitment studies indicate that even if greenhouse gases were stabilized at present day levels, a further warming of about 0.5 °C (0.9 °F) would still occur. [11]
Greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
The greenhouse effect was discovered by Joseph Fourier in 1824 and was first investigated quantitatively by Svante Arrhenius in 1896. It is the process by which absorption and emission of infrared radiation by atmospheric gases warms a planet's atmosphere and surface.
Greenhouse gases create a natural greenhouse effect, without which mean temperatures on Earth would be an estimated 30 °C (54 °F) lower so that Earth would be uninhabitable.[12] Thus scientists do not "believe in" or "oppose" the greenhouse effect as such; rather, the debate concerns the net effect of the addition of greenhouse gases, while allowing for associated positive and negative feedback mechanisms.
On Earth, the major natural greenhouse gases are water vapor, which causes about 36–70% of the greenhouse effect (not including clouds); carbon dioxide (CO2), which causes 9–26%; methane (CH4), which causes 4–9%; and ozone, which causes 3–7%. The atmospheric concentrations of CO2 and CH4 have increased by 31% and 149% respectively above pre-industrial levels since 1750. These levels are considerably higher than at any time during the last 650,000 years, the period for which reliable data has been extracted from ice cores. From less direct geological evidence it is believed that CO2 values this high were last attained 20 million years ago.[13] "About three-quarters of the anthropogenic [man-made] emissions of CO2 to the atmosphere during the past 20 years are due to fossil fuel burning. The rest of the anthropogenic emissions are predominantly due to land-use change, especially deforestation."[14]
The present atmospheric concentration of CO2 is about 383 parts per million (ppm) by volume.[15] Future CO2 levels are expected to rise due to ongoing burning of fossil fuels and land-use change. The rate of rise will depend on uncertain economic, sociological, technological, natural developments, but may be ultimately limited by the availability of fossil fuels. The IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios gives a wide range of future CO2 scenarios, ranging from 541 to 970 ppm by the year 2100.[16] Fossil fuel reserves are sufficient to reach this level and continue emissions past 2100, if coal, tar sands or methane clathrates are extensively used.[17]
Positive feedback effects such as the expected release of CH4 from the melting of permafrost peat bogs in Siberia (possibly up to 70,000 million tonnes) may lead to significant additional sources of greenhouse gas emissions[18] not included in climate models cited by the IPCC.[1]
The effects of forcing agents on the climate are complicated by various feedback processes.
One of the most pronounced feedback effects relates to the evaporation of water. CO2 injected into the atmosphere causes a warming of the atmosphere and the earth's surface. The warming causes more water to be evaporated into the atmosphere. Since water vapor itself acts as a greenhouse gas, this causes still more warming; the warming causes more water vapor to be evaporated, and so forth until a new dynamic equilibrium concentration of water vapor is reached at a slight increase in humidity and with a much larger greenhouse effect than that due to CO2 alone.[19] This feedback effect can only be reversed slowly as CO2 has a long average atmospheric lifetime.
Feedback effects due to clouds are an area of ongoing research and debate. Seen from below, clouds emit infrared radiation back to the surface, and so exert a warming effect. Seen from above, the same clouds reflect sunlight and emit infrared radiation to space, and so exert a cooling effect. Increased global water vapor concentration may or may not cause an increase in global average cloud cover. The net effect of clouds thus has not been well modeled, however, cloud feedback is second only to water vapor feedback and is positive in all the models that contributed to the IPCC Fourth Assessment Report.[19]
Another important feedback process is ice-albedo feedback.[20] The increased CO2 in the atmosphere warms the Earth's surface and leads to melting of ice near the poles. As the ice melts, land or open water takes its place. Both land and open water are on average less reflective than ice, and thus absorb more solar radiation. This causes more warming, which in turn causes more melting, and this cycle continues.
Positive feedback due to release of CO2 and CH4 from thawing permafrost is an additional mechanism contributing to warming. Possible positive feedback due to CH4 release from melting seabed ices is a further mechanism to be considered
Solar variation
Variations in solar output, possibly amplified by cloud feedbacks, may have contributed to recent warming.[21] A difference between this mechanism and greenhouse warming is that an increase in solar activity should produce a warming of the stratosphere while greenhouse warming should produce a cooling of the stratosphere. Reduction of stratospheric ozone also has a cooling influence but substantial ozone depletion did not occur until the late 1970's. Cooling in the lower stratosphere has been observed since at least 1960.[22]
Other phenomena such as solar variation combined with volcanoes have probably had a warming effect from pre-industrial times to 1950, but a cooling effect since 1950.[1] However, some research has suggested that the Sun's contribution may have been underestimated. Two researchers at Duke University have estimated that the Sun may have contributed about 40–50% of the global surface temperature warming over the period 1900–2000, and about 25–35% between 1980 and 2000.[23] Stott and coauthors suggest that climate models overestimate the relative effect of greenhouse gases compared to solar forcing; they also suggest that the cooling effects of volcanic dust and sulfate aerosols have been underestimated.[24] They conclude that even with an enhanced climate sensitivity to solar forcing, most of the warming during the latest decades is attributable to the increases in greenhouse gases.
From the present to the dawn of human settlement
Global temperatures on both land and sea have increased by 0.75 °C (1.4 °F) relative to the period 1860–1900, according to the instrumental temperature record. This measured temperature increase is not significantly affected by the urban heat island. Since 1979, land temperatures have increased about twice as fast as ocean temperatures (0.25 °C per decade against 0.13 °C per decade).[25] Temperatures in the lower troposphere have increased between 0.12 and 0.22 °C (0.22 and 0.4 °F) per decade since 1979, according to satellite temperature measurements. Temperature is believed to have been relatively stable over the one or two thousand years before 1850, with possibly regional fluctuations such as the Medieval Warm Period or the Little Ice Age.
Based on estimates by NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies, 2005 was the warmest year since reliable, widespread instrumental measurements became available in the late 1800s, exceeding the previous record set in 1998 by a few hundredths of a degree.[26] Estimates prepared by the World Meteorological Organization and the Climatic Research Unit concluded that 2005 was the second warmest year, behind 1998.[27][28]
Anthropogenic emissions of other pollutants—notably sulfate aerosols—can exert a cooling effect by increasing the reflection of incoming sunlight. This partially accounts for the cooling seen in the temperature record in the middle of the twentieth century,[29] though the cooling may also be due in part to natural variability.
Paleoclimatologist William Ruddiman has argued that human influence on the global climate began around 8,000 years ago with the start of forest clearing to provide land for agriculture and 5,000 years ago with the start of Asian rice irrigation.[30] Ruddiman's interpretation of the historical record, with respect to the methane data, has been disputed.[31]
Pre-human climate variations
Earth has experienced warming and cooling many times in the past. The recent Antarctic EPICA ice core spans 800,000 years, including eight glacial cycles timed by orbital variations with interglacial warm periods comparable to present temperatures.[32]
A rapid buildup of greenhouse gases caused warming in the early Jurassic period (about 180 million years ago), with average temperatures rising by 5 °C (9.0 °F). Research by the Open University indicates that the warming caused the rate of rock weathering to increase by 400%. As such weathering locks away carbon in calcite and dolomite, CO2 levels dropped back to normal over roughly the next 150,000 years.[33][34]
Sudden releases of methane from clathrate compounds (the clathrate gun hypothesis) have been hypothesized as a cause for other warming events in the distant past, including the Permian-Triassic extinction event (about 251 million years ago) and the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (about 55 million years ago).
Climate models
Scientists have studied global warming with computer models of the climate. These models are based on physical principles of fluid dynamics, radiative transfer, and other processes, with some simplifications being necessary because of limitations in computer power. These models predict that the net effect of adding greenhouse gases is to produce a warmer climate. However, even when the same assumptions of fossil fuel consumption and CO2 emission are used, the amount of projected warming varies between models and there still remains a considerable range of climate sensitivity.
Including uncertainties in the models[citation needed]and in future greenhouse gas concentrations, the IPCC anticipates a warming of 1.1 °C to 6.4 °C (2.0 °F to 11.5 °F) between 1990 and 2100. Models have also been used to help investigate the causes of recent climate change by comparing the observed changes to those that the models project from various natural and human derived causes.
Climate models can produce a good match to observations of global temperature changes over the last century, but "cannot yet simulate all aspects of climate."[35] These models do not unambiguously attribute the warming that occurred from approximately 1910 to 1945 to either natural variation or human effects; however, they suggest that the warming since 1975 is dominated by man-made greenhouse gas emissions.
Most global climate models, when run to project future climate, are forced by imposed greenhouse gas scenarios, generally one from the IPCC Special Report on Emissions Scenarios (SRES). Less commonly, models may be run by adding a simulation of the carbon cycle; this generally shows a positive feedback, though this response is uncertain (under the A2 SRES scenario, responses vary between an extra 20 and 200 ppm of CO2). Some observational studies also show a positive feedback.[36][37][38]
The representation of clouds is one of the main sources of uncertainty in present-generation models, though progress is being made on this problem.[39] There is also an ongoing discussion as to whether climate models are neglecting important indirect and feedback effects of solar variability.
Attributed and expected effects
Some effects on both the natural environment and human life are, at least in part, already being attributed to global warming. A 2001 report by the IPCC suggests that glacier retreat, ice shelf disruption such as the Larsen Ice Shelf, sea level rise, changes in rainfall patterns, increased intensity and frequency of extreme weather events, are being attributed in part to global warming.[40] While changes are expected for overall patterns, intensity, and frequencies, it is difficult to attribute specific events to global warming. Other expected effects include water scarcity in some regions and increased precipitation in others, changes in mountain snowpack, adverse health effects from warmer temperatures.
Increasing deaths, displacements, and economic losses projected due to extreme weather attributed to global warming may be exacerbated by growing population densities in affected areas, although temperate regions are projected to experience some minor benefits, such as fewer deaths due to cold exposure.[41] A summary of probable effects and recent understanding can be found in the report made for the IPCC Third Assessment Report by Working Group II.[40] The newer IPCC Fourth Assessment Report summary reports that there is observational evidence for an increase in intense tropical cyclone activity in the North Atlantic Ocean since about 1970, in correlation with the increase in sea surface temperature, but that the detection of long-term trends is complicated by the quality of records prior to routine satellite observations. The summary also states that there is no clear trend in the annual worldwide number of tropical cyclones.[1]
Additional anticipated effects include sea level rise of 110 to 770 millimeters (0.36 to 2.5 ft) between 1990 and 2100,[42] repercussions to agriculture, possible slowing of the thermohaline circulation, reductions in the ozone layer, increased intensity and frequency of hurricanes and extreme weather events, lowering of ocean pH, and the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. One study predicts 18% to 35% of a sample of 1,103 animal and plant species would be extinct by 2050, based on future climate projections.[43] Mechanistic studies have documented extinctions due to recent climate change: McLaughlin et al. documented two populations of Bay checkerspot butterfly being threatened by precipitation change.[44] Parmesan states, "Few studies have been conducted at a scale that encompasses an entire species"[45] and McLaughlin et al. agreed "few mechanistic studies have linked extinctions to recent climate change."[44]
Some economists have tried to estimate the aggregate net economic costs of damages from climate change across the globe. Such estimates have so far failed to reach conclusive findings; in a survey of 100 estimates, the values ran from US$-10 per tonne of carbon (tC) (US$-3 per tonne of carbon dioxide) up to US$350/tC (US$95 per tonne of carbon dioxide), with a mean of US$43 per tonne of carbon (US$12 per tonne of carbon dioxide).[41] One widely-publicized report on potential economic impact is the Stern Review; it suggests that extreme weather might reduce global gross domestic product by up to 1%, and that in a worst case scenario global per capita consumption could fall 20%.[46] The report's methodology, advocacy and conclusions has been criticized by many economists, primarily around the Review's assumptions of discounting and its choices of scenarios[citation needed], while others have supported the general attempt to quantify economic risk, even if not the specific numbers[citation needed].
In a summary of economic cost associated with climate change, the United Nations Environment Programme emphasizes the risks to insurers, reinsurers, and banks of increasingly traumatic and costly weather events. Other economic sectors likely to face difficulties related to climate change include agriculture and transport. Developing countries, rather than the developed world, are at greatest economic risk.[47]
A number of groups have begun calling attention to the security implications of global warming, with particular attention being paid to this issue in 2007. On April 15, 2007, the Military Advisory Board, a panel of retired U.S. generals and admirals released a report entitled "National Security and the Threat of Climate Change." The report predicts that global warming will have significant security implications, in particular serving as a "threat multiplier" in already volatile regions.[48] Just two days later, on April 17, the U.N. Security Council held a debate on the security implications of climate change, during which Britain's Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett argued that “An unstable climate will exacerbate some of the core drivers of conflict, such as migratory pressures and competition for resources.”[49] And several weeks earlier, U.S. Senators Chuck Hagel (R-NB) and Richard Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill in the U.S. Congress that would require federal intelligence agencies to collaborate on a National Intelligence Estimate to evaluate the security challenges presented by climate change.[50]
Mitigation and adaptation
The broad agreement among climate scientists that global temperatures will continue to increase has led nations, states, corporations and individuals to implement actions to try to curtail global warming or adjust to it. Many environmental groups encourage action against global warming, often by the consumer, but also by community and regional organizations. There has been business action on climate change, including efforts at increased energy efficiency and (still limited) moves to alternative fuels. One important innovation has been the development of greenhouse gas emissions trading through which companies, in conjunction with government, agree to cap their emissions or to purchase credits from those below their allowances.
The world's primary international agreement on combating global warming is the Kyoto Protocol, an amendment to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), negotiated in 1997. The Protocol now covers more than 160 countries globally and over 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions.[51] The United States, the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter; Australia; and Kazakhstan have refused to ratify the treaty. China and India, two other large emitters, have ratified the treaty but, as developing countries, are exempt from its provisions. This treaty expires in 2012, and international talks began in May 2007 on a future treaty to succeed the current one. [52]
Issue debate and political processes
Increased awareness of the scientific findings surrounding global warming has resulted in political and economic debate. Poor regions, particularly Africa, appear at greatest risk from the suggested effects of global warming, while their actual emissions have been negligible compared to the developed world, reports The New York Times.[53] At the same time, developing country exemptions from provisions of the Kyoto Protocol have been criticized by the United States and been used as part of its justification for continued non-ratification.[54] In the Western world, the idea of human influence on climate and efforts to combat it has gained wider acceptance in Europe than in the United States.[55][56]
Fossil fuel companies such as ExxonMobil have spent large sums of money for public relations to downplay the risks of climate change,[57][58] while environmental groups have launched campaigns emphasizing its impacts.
This issue has sparked debate in the U.S. about the benefits of limiting industrial emissions of greenhouse gases to reduce impacts to the climate, versus the effects on economic activity.[59][60] There has also been discussion in several countries about the cost of adopting alternate, cleaner energy sources in order to reduce emissions.[61]
Another point of debate is the degree to which newly-developed economies, like India and China, have a right to increase their industrial emissions, especially since China is expected to exceed the United States in total greenhouse gas emissions by 2010,[62] though the U.S. has less than one-fourth of China's population.[63]
Related climatic issues
A variety of issues are often raised in relation to global warming. One is ocean acidification, the ongoing decrease in the pH of the Earth's oceans. Increased atmospheric CO2 increases the amount of CO2 dissolved in the oceans.[64] CO2 dissolved in the ocean reacts with water to form carbonic acid resulting in acidification. Ocean surface pH is estimated to have decreased from approximately 8.25 to 8.14 since the beginning of the industrial era,[65] and it is estimated that it will drop by a further 0.14 to 0.5 units by 2100 as the ocean absorbs more CO2.[1][66] Since organisms and ecosystems are adapted to a narrow range of pH, this raises extinction concerns, directly driven by increased atmospheric CO2, that could disrupt food webs and impact human societies that depend on marine ecosystem services.[67]
Another related issue that may have partially mitigated global warming in the late twentieth century is global dimming, the gradual reduction in the amount of global direct irradiance at the Earth's surface. From 1960 to 1990 human-caused aerosols likely precipitated this effect. Scientists have stated with 66–90% confidence that the effects of human-caused aerosols, along with volcanic activity, have offset some of global warming, and that greenhouse gases would have resulted in more warming than observed if not for these dimming agents.[1]
Ozone depletion, the steady decline in the total amount of ozone in Earth's stratosphere, is frequently cited in relation to global warming. Although there are areas of linkage, the relationship between the two is not strong.

Tuesday, May 1, 2007

BOB WOOLMER (1948-2007)

Robert Andrew Woolmer (14 May 1948 – 18 March 2007) was an international cricketer, professional cricket coach and also a professional commentator. He played in 19 Test matches and 6 One-day Internationals for England and later coached South Africa, Warwickshire and Pakistan.
Woolmer died in Jamaica, in circumstances investigated as murder, while Early career
Bob Woolmer, who was born in 1948 in the hospital across the road from the cricket ground in Kanpur, India, was the son of Clarence Woolmer, a cricketer who played Ranji Trophy cricket for United Provinces (now Uttar Pradesh). Woolmer was educated in Kent, first at Yardley Court in Tonbridge and then The Skinners' School in Tunbridge Wells. At the age of 15, Colin Page the coach and captain of the Kent second XI converted him from an off-spinner to a medium pace bowler. His first job was as a sales representative for ICI and his first senior cricket was with the Tunbridge Wells club and with Kent's second XI. In 1968, at the age of 20, he joined the Kent staff and he made his championship debut against Essex. His ability to move the ball about at medium-pace was ideally suited to one-day cricket in which form of the game he became a specialist. He won his county cap in 1969. Woolmer began his coaching career in South Africa in 1970-71 at the age of 22 and by 1975, when he made his Test debut, he had become a teacher of physical education at a prep school in Kent as well as running his own cricket school - at the time one of the youngest cricket school owners anywhere.
Playing career
Bob Woolmer played English county cricket for Kent, initially as an all-rounder. He graduated to Test cricket with England in 1975 again, at first, as an all-rounder, having taken a hat-trick for MCC against the touring Australian cricket team with his fast-medium bowling. But he was dropped after his first Test, only reappearing in the final match of the series at The Oval where he scored 149, batting at number five, then the slowest Test century for England against Australia. Further batting success followed over the next two seasons, including two further centuries against Australia in 1977. Rarely for an Englishman since the Second World War, all his Test centuries were made against Australia.
Woolmer was also a regular in England ODI cricket from 1972 to 1976. But Woolmer's international career stalled after he joined the World Series break-away group run by Kerry Packer. Though he appeared intermittently in the Test team up to 1981, he never recaptured the form of the mid 1970s. He also took part in the South African rebel tours of 1982, a move that effectively ended his international career.[1]
Coaching career
Woolmer obtained his coaching qualification in 1968.[2] After retiring from first-class cricket in 1984, he emigrated to South Africa, where he coached cricket and hockey at high schools. He also became involved in the Avendale Cricket Club in Athlone, Cape Town. He preferred to join a 'coloured' club rather than a 'white' one in apartheid South Africa. He was an inspiration to Avendale and was instrumental in assisting the club to grow and be successful. Because of him, there is still an annual programme for a talented Avendale cricketer to spend a summer at Lord Wandsworth College in Hampshire.[3] He returned to England in 1987 to coach the second eleven at Kent.[2] He went on to coach the Warwickshire County Cricket Club in 1991, the side winning the Natwest Trophy in 1993, and three out of four trophies contested the next year. He continued his success by leading Warwickshire to Natwest and County Championship success in 1995, before taking on the Post of South African National Coach.
Woolmer is thought to be the only man to witness both Brian Lara's innings of 501 not out vs Durham (1994) and Hanif Mohammed's 499 in Karachi in (1958).
Woolmer was known for his progressive coaching techniques. He is credited with making the reverse sweep a more popular shot for batsmen in the 1990s, as well as being one of the first to use computer analysis, and trying to adapt the knowledge of goalkeepers to wicketkeepers in cricket.[4] He later attracted attention at the 1999 World Cup by communicating with his captain Hansie Cronje with an earpiece during matches. The practice was later banned.
He was appointed coach of South Africa in 1994. Initially his team performed poorly, losing all six matches on his first outing in Pakistan.[4] However, in the next five years, South Africa won most of their test (10 out of 15 series) and One-day International matches (73%).[3] However, the side failed to win either the 1996 World Cup or the 1999 World Cup, despite having the highest ODI success rate among international teams in that period.
At the 1996 tournament on the Indian subcontinent, his team won all their preliminary group matches before succumbing to the West Indies in the quarter finals.
At the 1999 tournament, South Africa faced Australia in the final match of the Super Six round; Australia needed to win to qualify for the semifinals, whereas South Africa had already done so. Australia boasted a superior recent record in must-win matches against South Africa. Media speculation was focused on Woolmer's team being less adept at handling high pressure situations. In the 1997/98 Australian international season, they had lost all four of their qualifying matches in a triangular tournament and conceded a 1-0 finals series lead, before recovering to take the series 2-1. The Super Six match saw Australia win the match in the last over, after Herschelle Gibbs dropped Australian captain Steve Waugh in a premature celebration of a catch. Waugh went on to score an unbeaten century and score the winning runs. The semifinal rematch saw a late Australian comeback culminate in a tie, when with match scores level, South African batsmen Lance Klusener and Allan Donald had a mix up, with Donald dropping his bat and being run out. As a result South Africa were eliminated due to their inferior performance in the earlier matches.[5] and Woolmer resigned.
Woolmer was a strong candidate to replace David Lloyd as coach of England in 1999 but wanted a break from cricket and was reluctant to lead England in a tour of South Africa so soon after having relinquished the South Africa coach job.
He later returned to Warwickshire, and gained attention when he called for the removal of a life ban on South African captain Hansie Cronje for match-fixing. Woolmer spoke openly about Cronje and match fixing in an interview on the BBC TV programme "Panorama" in May 2001 [1]. He then worked for the International Cricket Council in helping with cricket development in countries where the sport was not well established.[4]
He was appointed coach of the Pakistan team in 2004. This came after Javed Miandad was sacked when the Pakistanis conceded a 2-1 Test and 3-2 ODI series loss on home soil to arch rivals India, their first series win there in two decades. He was feted when his team reversed the result in early 2005 on their return tour to India, drawing the Tests 1-1 and winning the ODI series 4-2. However, in early 2006, he helplessly watched Pakistan go down in a 1-4 home ODI series defeat against India.
2006 ball-tampering row
In August 2006, on the eve of Pakistan's Twenty20 international against England in Bristol, Bob Woolmer was forced to defend his reputation when it was claimed South African players lifted the seam of the ball when he was in charge of the team.[6] Former International Cricket Council match referee Barry Jarman alleged that during the 1997 triangular one-day tournament involving South Africa, Zimbabwe and India, a match ball, still in Jarman’s possession, that was confiscated after just 16 overs showed evidence of tampering by Woolmer’s team. Woolmer could not recall any such incident and he denied advocating ball-tampering. He also indicated that he contacted the match officials from that game who also could not recall any such incident.[6]
Woolmer stated in 2006 that he believed that ball-tampering should be allowed in cricket and that a modification to existing laws should be made.[7]
participating in the 2007 Cricket World Cup as the coach of Pakistan.
Death during 2007 World Cup
Main article: Bob Woolmer murder investigation

This article documents a current event.
Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.
On 18 March 2007, following Pakistan's unexpected defeat by Ireland in the 2007 Cricket World Cup a day earlier, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room at the Jamaica Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica. On 22 March, Jamaican police confirmed that a murder investigation has been launched due to the circumstances of Woolmer's death, specifically that he had died of asphyxia. The investigations into the murder of Bob Woolmer, the late Pakistan coach, are reported to have reached a significant breakthrough with a likely suspect being identified through footage from the hotel security camera. According to a report in the UK-based The Independent, detectives from Scotland Yard and a team of 30 officers studied the digitally-enhanced footage and the suspect was understood to be a male, though police were unable to confirm his identity. The cleaned-up images from London show at least one individual of considerable interest to the inquiry, a source close to the investigation told the paper. "The time of the footage and its location mean that this individual must be considered a suspect. Further work is being done on statements given by individuals to look at any inconsistencies. It is good progress."
Woolmer was found dead in his hotel room in Jamaica on March 18, a day after Pakistan's loss to Ireland, and though the cause of death was determined, the authorities had struggled to develop lasting leads in the murder case. On 30 April 2007 it was confirmed that Woolmer had been poisoned before he was strangled, as a toxicology report stated that samples taken from his blood, stomach and urine had shown the presence of a foreign substance.
An inquest into the murder was scheduled for April 23 but had to be postponed owing to 'significant developments' into the case. Twenty witnesses were due to provide evidence but a statement from the Jamaican justice ministry on Thursday said the hearing would be postponed following advice from the coroner.
On April 30, the BBC televison programme Panorama revealed that their investigations indicated that Woolmer had been poisoned by a drug that left him helpless to fight off a combination of strangulation and smothering by assailants.
Awards and Honours
One of five Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1976.
Posthumously honoured with the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence), a high ranking civil award of Pakistan, for his contribution to Pakistan cricket.[8]
See Also
Death of Bob Woolmer

Batting style
Right-hand bat
Bowling type
Right-arm medium

Test / ODIs
Matches 19 / 6
Runs scored 1059 / 21
Batting average
33.09 / 5.25
100s/50s 3/2 / -/-
Top score 149 / 9
Balls bowled
546 / 321
4 / 9
Bowling average
74.75 / 28.88
5 wickets in innings
- / -
10 wickets in match - / n/a
Best bowling 1/8 / 3/33
10/- / 3/-
As of 1 January 2006

                                                           XICE MUSIC ON YOU TUBE                                            ...


Clay Pot Rice

4 05 2014

ImageEvery now and then, I get asked how to cook clay pot rice. Put rice in a clay pot and cook it! OK, the first step is to throw away your rice cooker. If you never cooked rice on a stove top before, it’s going to be hard to explain. It’s really just using a claypot instead of any other pot to cook rice. Personally, I prefer stove top rice over rice cooker rice. I never bought a rice cooker. I don’t own a rice cooker.

ImageIf you enjoy steamed food, you put your raw ingredients into the clay pot after the boil when you don’t see the water line anymore. If you like sauteed, stir fry your ingredients first. Turn down the heat to the middle range. After 15 or so minutes, turn the heat down to low range. After another 10 or so minutes, your pot is ready.

The amount of water is dependent on the type of rice you use. So refer to your box/bag.

The exact time is relevant to your stove and pot. Learn your pot and stove to make it perfect. It usually takes me a couple tries to get it right on a unfamiliar stove.


Unravelling the red tape – Mirandes and Lugo Pay the Price of Success

It has been reported recently that the Spanish Second Division teams: CD Mirandes and CD Lugo, may be expelled from the Division for failing to meet financial obligations. So, exactly what have these clubs done wrong? The answer of course is nothing. Both teams have existed happily in the lower leagues for many years and have been well-run with little or no debt; they have formed good relationships with local sponsors and businesses and have enjoyed strong support form the local communities. So why are they now on the verge of being punished so harshly?

The answer is that they have become victims of their own success. The transition from part-time minnows to potential La Liga competitors is a massive one for these clubs and in order to play with the big boys they must hatchet their way through a mass of Government red-tape. To compete for a second season in the division they must first change the legal structure of their clubs.

In 1990, the Spanish authorities sought to adopt a common economic and legal model for all sporting teams competing at the highest level. The aim was to allow the clubs to participate in share trading on the stock market, establish a clear and transparent administrative control system over ownership issues, and to ensure the interests of the public and future investors are protected. To conform to these guidelines football clubs that are not already registered must convert to a Sociedad Anónima Deportiva (SAD). In order to do this the clubs must cover the administration costs for the conversion. Because Mirandes and Lugo are new to this level of football (Lugo reached the Segunda in 1992 but were relegated after one season), they have never been converted to an SAD.

For a small team like CD Mirandes, who have been operating on a budget of 500,000 euros a year, this means they have to raise nearly 2.5 million euros in order to pay for the conversion. This money is demanded by the Governments Sports Council (Consejo Superior de Deportes, CSD) and is non-negotiable – unless of course you happen to be Athletic Club Bilbao, FC Barcelona, Real Madrid or Osasuna, who were allowed to retain their non-commercial statuses for historical reasons.

The implications of non-payment are clear; the teams will be relegated from the Segunda Division. The President of Lugo, José Bouso, declared that: “The club is optimistic about completing the conversion.” However they have received a 900,000 euro contribution from the council, and a further 600,000 euros from the City of Lugo, leaving just under one million euros to pay.

CD Mirandes are finding things a bit more difficult as they have received no regional or provincial support and need to find the money themselves. So far they have raised only 15% of the amount needed and have until 30th June to declare their status.

The situation could deter potential investors from looking at smaller non-SAD clubs, as any progress on the pitch could lead to an unwanted encounter with bureaucracy.

(The expulsion of CD Guadalajara from the Segunda Division amid doubts over their SAD status is currently in the middle of a legal process)

The Incredible Sporting Prowess of Jose Maria Yermo Solaegui

jose-maria-yermo-solaegui-tnBorn in Las Arenas in 1903,  Jose Maria Yermo Solaegui (known simply as “Yermo”) was a Spanish footballer who played as a striker for Arenas Club de Getxo during the 1920s and 1930s.  He also captained the Spanish national team and in 1928, became the first player to score a hat-trick for Spain. However, his sporting achievements were not limited to the football pitch.

As well as being a talented footballer, Yermo was a member of the Spanish national cycling team and competed at the Olympic Games in athletics, cycling and football. He was the Spanish record holder for long jump and triple jump, and also competed in high jump, rowing, hammer-throwing, hockey and motorcycling.

His sporting exploits are a prime example of the proud Basque tradition for showcasing acts of physical strength and endurance. A practice that caused many footballers from the region to compete in other sports; such as the the four Arenas Club players, led by another club legend, Pedro Vallana, who went on to become the Spanish 4 x 250m relay champions in 1923.

Arenas de Getxo Football Club were founded in 1909 and soon became one of the biggest names in Spanish football – winning many regional tournaments and dominating the sport in the Basque Country. In 1914, they met Barcelona in a series of friendly games and won them all. In the following years, they went on to become champions of Northern Spain and the Basque Country, and they competed in three Spanish cup finals.

It was the Director of Arenas Club de Getxo, Jose Maria Acha, who first proposed the idea of a national league at a meeting in 1927 – an idea that became reality in 1929 when La Liga was formed. Arenas Club competed at the top level for the first 7 seasons of La Liga and many of their players went on to represent Spain at national level. They were eventually relegated in 1935 and have never returned to the top flight.

The first time Yermo competed in the colours of Arenas Club was as a teenage athlete. He was known for his jumping abilty and in 1923, became the Spanish long jump record holder with a jump of 6.23m. A year later, he became the first Spaniard to break the 13m barrier in the triple jump, recording a  distance of 13.48m. As a result, he was selected to represent Spain at the 1924 Olympic Games in Paris but he was unable to compete due to injury.

Between 1923 and 1925, Yermo won multiple medals at the Spanish national athletic championships, including three silver and two bronze medals in his favoured long and triple jump events. In 1926, he became a cycling champion, winning the Basque speed championship and was also a runner-up in the Spanish championship. This earned him a place in the Spanish team for the World Championships but they were unable to secure a medal.

By 1928, Yermo was an established striker for Arenas Football Club and was chosen to captain Spain at the summer Olympic Games in Amseterdam. It was there that he became the first Spanish player to score a hat-trick in a 7-1 demolition of Mexico. Unfortunately, they were then beaten by the same score-line in the Quarter-final match against Italy, with Yermo scoring the only goal for Spain. Incredibly, at the same tournament, he also became the first Spaniard to represent his nation at Olympic cycling, finishing a commendable 12th in the 1km time trials.

Yermo began his football career in the youth ranks at Arenas Club and spent his entire career playing for the Basque Country side before finally retiring in 1935. As well as many appearances at regional level, he also made 51 appearances in La Liga, scoring a total of 30 goals – a contribution that secured his place in the club’s book of legends.

In the summer of 1932, Yermo made the news again after becoming the first person to row the course of the river Ebro from Aragon to the Mediterranean. He completed the course despite being capsized and battered against rocks in Sastago.

After leaving football, he retained a strong interest in rowing and cycling and, inspired by the Tour de France, became a key player in the inauguration of the now famous Vuelta a España (Tour of Spain) cycling race. He lived to see the race grow into a prestigious global event before passing away in 1960 aged just 57.

FOOTBALL IDOL – The Enduring Legacy of Claudio ‘El Litri’ Barragan

Photo: elchecf.es

With SD Ponferradina currently pushing for a play-off place in the Segunda league; it seems like a good time to take a look at the man at the helm. A man who wears the status of legend like a favourite shirt.

Earning the status of a club legend is no easy feat for any footballer. You don’t have to be the most talented player but you must give something so empyreal to the fans that they feel the need to pass it on to future generations. You must inspire them, you must represent them and you must connect with them. Most importantly, you must give them a sense of romance.

When Claudio Barragan Escobar (known simply as “Claudio”) arrived at Levante in 1980 aged just 16, few would have predicted that the thin lad from Manises would go on to be an idol at more than one football club. In fact, the unassuming but talented youngster lurked quietly in the shadows as another footballing legend, Johan Cruyff, arrived at Estadi Ciutat de València in early 1981. Despite his young age, he did manage to break into the first team but a niggling knee injury hindered his progress, and he was subsequently loaned out to AgD Cueta and UD Las Palmas to work his way back to fitness.

In 1984, Claudio signed for newly-promoted Primera club Elche CF, where he would go on to earn the nickname “El Litri” (roughly translated as ‘The Dandy’) after the famous bullfighter Miguel “El Litri” Baez. He was recommended by former Coach Evaristo Carrio who famously said in a radio interview with Santiago Gambin: “If this kid does not play for the national team, I will cut my hand off.” A few years later, Carrio’s prediction came true and his hand was spared.

Claudio was not the most skilful striker and he was certainly not the most prolific, but he gave everything. His style of play was aggressive and intelligent, and he was a natural leader on the pitch. In his first season at Elche, his substitute performances were impressive enough to earn him a regular first team place, and he managed to score two goals, including the first of many he would record at Real Madrid’s Bernabéu stadium. Unfortunately, the season ended in relegation to the Segunda Division.

The following two seasons saw much upheaval at the club, with Managerial and Presidential changes that would hold back the progress of the team, but by 1987-89, things were looking up. Claudio was now playing alongside Sixto Casabona Martínez with Milijov Bracun linking up, and the three of them formed a formidable goal threat that would propel Los Franjiverdes back into the topflight of Spanish football. Claudio was the architect of the team and provided 11 goals; he also set up many for Sixto who scored an incredible 21, earning himself the nickname of “Sixtogol”. Bracun, who was a defender by trade, also scored 12 goals. This season was one of the most memorable in the history of CF Elche and the legend of ”El Litri” had been preserved in amber.

Once again, Elche would only manage one season at the top level but “El Litri” continued to impress with his battling style of play and a seven-goal tally which included his obligatory strike at the Bernabéu. His performances caught the eye of Mallorca and a transfer was agreed, much to the dismay of the adoring Elche fans who were losing their idol – a warrior on the battlefield whose passion and ardour was matched only by their own.

Claudio spent two seasons at Mallorca, and in 1991 they reached the final of the Copa del Rey, eventually losing 1-0 to Atletico Madrid after an extra-time goal by Alfredo. He was then courted by Cesar Augusto Lendoiro, the President of newly-promoted Deportivo La Coruna, who convinced him that the club was at the beginning of an amazing odyssey.

The Following years were incredible for Claudio and for Deportivo, as the team from Galicia emerged from many years in the wilderness to become a force of European football. Lendoiro was very ambitious but short on funds so he had to be smart in the transfer market, buying in cheaper experienced players (Lopez Rekarte, Paco Liano, José Luis Ribera, Adolfo Aldana, Donato) and picking up promising youngsters to build a team capable of surviving that first season back in La Liga. Claudio made his debut against Valencia on 31 August 1991 and went on to score 10 goals, as Depor retained their La Liga status after overcoming Real Betis in the play-offs.

The arrival of striker Bebeto and midfielder Mauro Silva sparked a new era for Deportivo and Claudio thrived alongside the Brazilians. Claudio and Mauro Silva provided the work-rate and fighting spirit that became the hallmark of the team, and Bebeto provided the flair. Claudio gained a reputation for being a bit hot-headed and would never shy away from a challenge. Despite being a striker, he always fought hard to regain possession, making him the perfect foil for Bebeto, who played the role of a more traditional striker.  Their goals took Deportivo to the top of the table where they remained for much of the season. However, they eventually had to settle for third place behind Barcelona and Real Madrid. Despite their disappointment at missing out on the title, Super Depor still secured a place in European competition for the first time in their history.

As predicted by Carrio, Claudio was called up to the Spanish National team and although he only made six appearances, he was never on the losing side. He made his debut in the 0-0 World Cup qualifying match against Northern Ireland in 1992.

In the 1993-94 season, Deportivo dominated the league and went into the last match of the season needing only a win at home to Valencia to secure the title. Claudio was out injured, but the team were confident they could overcome an inconsistent Valencia side that were sat safely in mid-table. The game was unbearably close and it seemed like a goal would never come until Depor were awarded a late penalty after a foul on Nando. Regular spot-kicker Donato had been taken off and Bebeto did not want to take it, so Djukic stepped up. Unfortunately, he fired a weak shot straight at the goal keeper and Deportivo were denied the title.

Claudio finally won a trophy with Deportivo in 1995 with victory in the Copa del Rey. The squad had been strengthened by the arrival of Salinas, Kostadinov and Manjarín and first-team chances were restricted for Claudio. At the age of 31, he had proved himself to be top-level footballer and he still had plenty to give, but it was time to move on. To the fans at Riazor, he left as a legend.

When he returned to Depor the next season in the colours of UD Salamanca, Claudio was greeted with emotional chants of his name that reverberated around the stadium, bringing tears to his eyes. Once again, his cult status amongst the supporters was confirmed. In what would be his final season in La Liga, Claudio netted 11 goals for the team from Castile and León, but it was not enough to prevent relegation back to the Segunda.

The following season began badly when he picked up a broken nose in a game against Levante. The injury kept him out of the team for several weeks and on his return he found it hard to gain a regular starting place. This alerted several clubs, including Elche, and in December 1996 he made an emotional return to his former club.

The return of “El Litri” gave a massive boost to the fans of Elche, who had watched the club struggle through financial difficulties and failed promotion attempts during the 1990s. Their idol had returned; a man of strength, quality and inspiration who could prove the difference when it came down to the wire.

The first season back was turbulent one which saw three different Coaches at the club. Despite this disruption, Elche made it to the play-offs and  everything came down to the last game of the season at Barakaldo CF. They needed to win, but also needed Cordoba to avoid defeat at Deportivo “B”. After a tense game, victory was sealed with a single goal from Enric Cuxart, while Cordoba prevailed at the Riazor meaning promotion was secured. Many fans still recall the image of an emotional Claudio falling to his knees at the end of the match with tears of joy in his eyes.

The following season Elche were dealt a further blow when they were relegated again but in the 1998-99 season they fought their way back into the play-offs with a team that included current Barcelona Coach, Tito Villanova. Once again it came down to the wire, with a win in the final match in Melilla needed to secure an immediate return to the Segunda league. For the 200 Elche fans that made the trip to the Moroccan coastal enclave, it was a night of destiny.

With the game level at 1-1 and half time approaching, the decisive moment came. Tito Villanova floated in a free-kick from the right and the ball was knocked back into the path of Claudio. The outcome was inevitable; it had already been written.

The goal put the visitors ahead and –  despite the expulsion of Villanova with 17 minutes to play – they managed to hold on and win the game.

Claudio finished the season as top-scorer and had now led Elche to three promotions. He played on for another year and helped Elche to consolidate their place in the Segunda league.

After hanging up his boots, he returned to Elche once again in 2004 as a member of the Coaching staff and remained there until 2009 when he eventually left after a brief spell as Head Coach. He arrived at SD Ponferradina as Coach in January 2011 but was too late to avoid relegation to Segunda “B”. The following year – in typical Claudio style – they bounced right back and secured promotion via the play-offs.

Now, the impossible dream of reaching La Liga seems like a tangible reality. Claudio makes people believe. The fans are his idols and he is theirs. Another day, another legacy.

The magic of the Copa del Rey alive and kicking in Spain

Guest writer Neil Moran explains why romance is not dead in the Copa del Rey…..

With the recent trend of top sides putting out weakened teams for their domestic cups, an act claimed to be devaluing the competitions and taking away that cup magic, it could not be more different in Spain where last year’s Copa del Rey final was fiercely fought in Valencia’s Mestalla stadium by the giants of Spanish football Barcelona and Real Madrid.

Fuelled by Jose Mourinho’s desire to wrestle some trophies away from Pep Guardiola’s Barca, who it seems just want to win every prize put in front of them, it appeared a new found competitiveness had revitalised the Copa del Rey.

The eyes of the world fall on the Camp Nou tonight with the Catalans and Madrileños doing battle once more, this time in the second leg of their cup quarter final. But last night, over 500km up the road, in Miranda de Ebro, a city bordering on the wine-swilling La Rioja region, 6,000 locals were packed inside the Estadio de Anduva hoping to raise their glasses to one of Spanish footballs big giant-killing stories.

Third division Mirandes find themselves in the quarter finals having already knocked out La Liga rivals in the shape of Villareal and Racing Santander – not a bad run for a side that have never played higher than the third tier and just 15 years ago found themselves playing non-league football. A first leg 3-2 defeat against Mauricio Pochettino’s Espanyol gave them every chance of progression to the semi finals thanks to the two away goals they scored at Cornellà-El Prat, a feat that the mighty Barca could not achieve when dropping two points there in a League visit just a couple of week before.

As the supporters made their way to the stadium by the banks of the River Ebro they had reason to be optimistic, with an home record of 10 wins, two draws and just the one defeat they found themselves sitting as sole Leaders of their group with an healthy lead over second placed Ponferradina, a side whose big cup adventure came to an end two rounds ago in the Santiago Bernabeu, being swept away by Real Madrid 7-1 on aggregate. When Espanyol’s Portuguese striker Rui Fonte put them ahead shortly after the break to open up a two goal lead, the writing was on the wall as the visiting fans began to dream of an all Catalan final. Pablo Infante then gave the home side hope, leveling after 57 minutes with a Roy of the Rovers strike, but the final half hour was a long one with both sides coming close to scoring. Mirandes Coach Carlos Pouso had nothing to lose and threw the kitchen sink at their La Liga opposition and was rewarded when all had seemed lost.

With the game well in to injury time, journeyman centre half César Caneda headed home to make the tie 4-4 on aggregate, the two away goals giving the underdogs the advantage and sending their fans delirious. The full time whistle was greeted by looks of disbelief on the faces of the courageous heroes who were in turn greeted by the customary cup pitch invasion. The vino flowed into the early hours as the 40,000 residents of the city toasted their team as they continued their march in to the unknown.

The third division club find themselves in the cup semi final, an achievement only seen once before in Spanish football when in 2002, Figueres were beaten in the semi finals by Deportivo la Coruña, having already knocked out Barcelona on the way. Only the winners of Atletic Bilbao and Mallorca stand between Mirandes and a dream cup final against one of Spanish and European football’s big guns. 2012 looks like being a vintage year in this corner of the province of Burgos and who would bet against them pulling off another giant-killing? Long live His Majesty’s cup…

About the author: Neil Moran has been living in Madrid for over 7 years and finds himself in the thick of Spanish football, involved from the very top to the very bottom of the Spanish league pyramid. Neil does commentary work for Real Madrid TV as well as writing on the Atletico Madrid website. As a keen football coach he works with children in the city whilst managing FC Britanico de Madrid, the number one English speaking team in Spain who are currently playing Spain’s eight tier. @fcbritanico @neilmadrid @premierfutbol

When the Lions of Bilbao met the Renegades of Budapest

Budapest Honved SE in 1956

Football and war have had a strange relationship over the years and have often come together in the most unlikely of circumstances. One famous example is the now legendary (and somewhat mythical) First World War truce in no-man’s land when despondent troops from opposing trenches supposedly stopped on Christmas day for a good-natured kick-about.

Football has even been implicated in the outbreak of international conflict. The infamous “football war” between Honduras and El Salvador in 1969 certainly inflamed an already tense situation that existed between the two nations, and ultimately led to a bloody military battle.

A more recent example of war and football crossing paths happened during the Belgrade “Eternal” derby on March 22, 1992 when the fiercely violent opposing fans of Red Star and Partizan Belgrade briefly forgot their own bitter terrace war to cheer in unison at the conquest of Croatian territory by the Serbian army.

Another story worth recounting involves a match between Athletic Bilbao and Budapest Honved SE, and tells of how the early days of the European Cup were also affected by the turmoil of war and revolution.

In 1956/57, Athletic were making their debut in the competition, and after overcoming FC Porto 3-2 on aggregate in the preliminary round, they were drawn against Budapest Honved SE – the team of the Hungarian Army. The side from Budapest included several key members of the famous Hungarian national team known as the “Mighty Magyars”, which made it to the 1954 World Cup final and famously defeated England 6-3 in front of 105,000 people at Wembley Stadium in 1953. Names such as Puskas, Bozsik, Kocsis and Czibor formed the nucleus of that Golden team of the 1950s and they were considered to be the best team in the world at the time.

Los Leones of Bilbao were themselves a major force to be reckoned with, and were one of the most successful teams in Spain with 6 La Liga titles and 19 Copa del Reys already under their belt. That season, they had just won the Liga and Copa double under the guidance of legendary journeyman Coach Ferdinand Daucik and the squad contained talented players such as Mauri, Orue, Marcaida, Merodio, Carmelo, Canito, Garay, Maguregui, Arteche, Arieta and Piru Gainza. The match promised to be a spectacular battle between two giants of world football.

The first leg of the tie was due to be played in Budapest on November 7 with the return match due to take place at the Sam Mames stadium in Bilbao. To prepare for the match, Honved had embarked on a series of tour matches in Western Europe, unaware of the terrible events that were unfolding back in their home country.

Before the first leg, on October 22, a student demonstration against the Soviet-inspired policies of the newly-formed communist state, turned into a revolt after the State Security Police opened fire on protesting students. Violence and disorder quickly spread across the country leading to revolution and on November 4, in an attempt to halt the uprising, Soviet-led forces were deployed.

As Soviet tanks loomed on the Capital, it was clear that the first leg could not take place in Budapest and it was switched to San Mames in Bilbao, with the venue of the return leg to be decided at a later date. The Hungarian players decided not to return home even though many had wives and children back home and were unaware of their whereabouts or safety.

It seems incredible today that the match still went ahead but the Hungarian players had to make a living and, as well as the European Cup tie, they also had several lucrative friendly matches organised. They could not return home for fear of imprisonment, and the money earned from these games would be enough to help get their families safely out of Hungary.

In the second half, the team from Budapest began to claw their way back into the match and after 75 minutes, the pressure eventually paid off when Budai scored, setting the scene for a frantic last 15 minutes. As Honved pushed forward they became more and more exposed to the counter-attack, and seven minutes later Athletic scored again through Arieta. However, Honved didn’t give up and when Kocsis scored after 85 minutes to make it 3-2, it seemed like the tie could go either way. In a dramatic finale, it appeared that Honved had equalised only for the goal to be disallowed by English referee John Husband. Moments later, the final whistle went and the match ended 3-2 in favour of the Basque team.

There was much speculation about the venue for the second leg with Paris, Valencia and Madrid considered before it was finally decided that the Heysel stadium in Brussels would stage the game on December 20. In the meantime, unable to return home, the Honved players decided to continue their makeshift tour of Europe. Many had now been reunited with their families some of whom had fled Hungary on foot.

The legendary tour produced some remarkable moments in football history, beginning with a 5-5 draw in Madrid, when Honved faced a combination of players from Atletico and Real Madrid including Di Stefano, Gento and Joaquin Peiro. The next game took them to Barcelona where the Hungarians prevailed 4-3 and were reunited with their legendary compatriot Laszlo Kubala, who had fled Hungary in 1949 and was now representing Spain. The third game of the Spanish leg of the tour saw another unlikely union, as the players of bitter rivals Sevilla and Real Betis joined forces to beat the Hungarians 6-2. Further friendly encounters in Italy and Portugal helped to keep the players in shape ahead of the second leg in Brussels.

It was a cold and foggy night at the Heysel stadium but the atmosphere was electric. More than 30,000 fans packed into the stadium, aware that this may well be the last chance to see the exiled legends of Honved play together in an official match. Both teams attacked from the outset and after just two minutes Merodio scored for Athletic. Then, just four minutes later, Budai equalised for the Hungarian team. The game remained finely poised until a turning point early in the second half, when Bilbao forward Arieta collided with the opposition goalkeeper Lajos Farago. As a result, the keeper was forced to leave the pitch with a damaged collarbone.

With no substitutions available, Czibor was chosen to take Farago’s place between the goalposts. Athletic capitalised, and after 72 minutes they were 3-1 ahead thanks to goals from Arieta and a second from Merodio. Incredibly, Farago returned to the pitch for the final minutes, as goals from Budai and Puskas left Honved needing just one more goal in the final 4 minutes to complete a remarkable comeback – a feat they were unable to complete.

The tie was over and Athletic went on to face Manchester United in the next round, a match they eventually lost 6-5 after two more pulsating legs of football. It would be 28 years before they would win their domestic league again. Meanwhile, Honved were left in limbo, unable to return home and without a league to play in, they continued their tour with a trip to Brazil to play Botafogo and Flamengo. Unfortunately, these unofficial exhibition matches were not approved by FIFA and they took the decision to ban the renegade team from world football, and also threatened to expel Brazil from the next World Cup.

A golden era had come to an end and upon returning to Europe the team went their separate ways. Some returned to Hungary but others, such as Czibor, Kocsis and Puskas, refused to go back, preferring instead to seek refuse elsewhere – a decision that saw them issued with two-year bans from UEFA.

Eventually, Czibor and Kocsis both joined Barcelona while Puskas signed for Real Madrid where he enjoyed eight successful years before retiring. His nomadic adventure didn’t end there however and he went on to manage football clubs on six different continents before finally returning to Hungary in the 1990s.

The Improbable Legacy of Los Matadores

Real Betis and the Irish Rover

Patrick O'Connell

Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. will line-up in La Liga again next season after a two-year absence. The troubled Andalusian club will return with renewed optimism and a symbolic name change for their 82-year-old stadium.

The 52,000 capacity venue had already been re-named in 2000 after renovation works and a subsequent ballot of season ticket holders. As a result, the arena was named Estadio Manuel Ruiz de Lopera after its controversial President who was eventually removed following fraud charges and a court case in 2010. His departure prompted another council referendum and, after a majority vote, the stadium reverted back to its former name Estadio Benito Villamarín.

Benito Villamarín remains the clubs most famous and revered President having led the Verdiblancos between 1955 and 1965. During his spell in charge, the club returned to the top flight and achieved a top-three finish. His appointment brought to an end the worst period in the club’s history during which they fell to the Tercera Division.

However, somewhere in a parallel universe, there might just be a stadium in Seville bearing the name of an enigmatic Irishman.

Betis won their one and only La Liga title (as Betis Balompié) in 1935 under the guidance of former Ireland captain Patrick O’Connell. As a result, the journeyman coach remains a legendary figure at the club, despite the fact that he went on to lead their city rivals Sevilla FC.

O’Connell was always a controversial figure – as a player he was involved in the famous 1925 match-fixing scandal involving Manchester United and Liverpool. However, he was never charged for his alleged involvement and continued to play for Manchester United.

He was a man who lived for football, so much so that he gave up his family life in England to pursue his passion for the game after being offered a job at Racing Santander in 1922. The coaching role in Cantabria would prove to be the first of many successful spells in charge of top Spanish clubs. His career path eventually led him to Betis where he cemented his burgeoning reputation by leading the team to La Liga glory.

After his success in Seville, O’Connell continued his adventures as Head Coach of Barcelona. He led the Catalan side to success in the Campionat de Catalunya and the Copa de España but his La Liga ambitions were curtailed by the Civil war.

In the absence of a national league, Barcelona competed in, and won, the Mediterranean league title before heading off on a lucrative tour of North America. The tour was a success, however, only four of the twenty-man squad returned to Spain, with the rest preferring to remain in exile abroad.

He returned to Seville in 1942 to coach the team in red and white – leading them to a second-place finish in the league – before taking up his final coaching job back in the north of Spain with Racing Santander.

His family knew little of his exploits and received hardly any communication from him except for the occasional cheque. He was eventually tracked down in Seville by his son Daniel in 1950. After a cold encounter, Daniel became convinced his father had a second family in Seville but never gained the courage to ask. He knew that the truth might break his mother’s heart.

Daniel left his father in Spain, where he spent his time frequenting bars and drinking heavily. When he eventually ran out of money, he returned to England and lived out his final years in poverty on the streets of London.

Daniel O’Connell once asked his Father: “How is Seville?” His father replied: “Seville is a place where the people live today as if they will die tomorrow.” He was clearly a man who took this philosophy to his heart.