April 17 1975

ENGLAND’S possible return to Belfast for a home international against Northern Ireland still hangs in the balance.

After a three-hour meeting of the FA executive – attended by the Minister of Sport Denis Howell – it was announced yesterday by secretary Mr Ted Croker that “no decision has yet been reached” whether to play Northern Ireland in Belfast on May 17.

“There is certain other information we require. We want to allow a few more days to see which way the situation develops”, Mr Croker said.

Mr Croker put forward the possibility that the executive committee could finally decide to go ahead with the match and leave the decision as to whether they would play in Belfast up to the players themselves.

While the English team played Northern Ireland in Belfast in May 1975, Scotland refused to do so, only playing in Northern Ireland from 1980 onwards. The Northern Irish team ultimately played ten ‘home’ games in Britain from 1972 to 1978 due to civil unrest.

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“Perfidious Albion”

Sir – I would like to reply to “Old Republican” whose letter was published in the “Irish News” of April 9. “Old Republican” despite his age is very naïve regarding what passes for politics in this political area.

He should surely know by now that you cannot make any inroads or impact in this antediluvian wilderness.

We know only too well what Britain and her pseudo-loyalists think about the Nationalist minority. Joe Devlin, for example, pandered in that direction, promising, inter-alia, Home Rule and homes for heroes for fighting Britain’s wars. The only homes the unfortunate heroes received were in Milltown Cemetery.

The enlightened minority are well aware of Perfidious Albion by now and know her Machiavellian proclivities. Constitutional methods have all failed signally and will continue to do so ad infinitum.

The area is so gerrymandered that the minority have no chance whatsoever. No matter what initiatives are made by them they are spurned by the intransigent usurpers.

The SDLP have produced no earth-stopping achievements and are looking upon as political sycophants.

Letter from Brendan McAllister asserting that you can never trust the British and anyone who has done so, such as Joe Devlin, has only tarnished their reputations.