Linfield Statement on DR lies

[Guest Lloyd72]

Statement from Linfield Football Club

Posted : 26th June 2017 at 23:29:59

Since last Monday’s Champions League draw, there has been considerable press hyperbole surrounding a possible Second Round tie between Linfield and Celtic. Aside from making some contingency arrangements for this possible game, the Club’s stated position is that our utmost concentration must be on our First Round tie against La Fiorita of San Marino. To do anything other than this would be to disrespect our opponents whom we look forward to welcoming to Windsor Park on Wednesday evening. The Club is providing every assistance to David Healy, his staff and the first team squad in the preparation for these vitally important games.

Linfield feel that we must, however, issue a public response to some of the more hysterical articles that have appeared in the press over the last few days. Even in this era of “fake news” and slashed media budgets, one would have not thought it beyond the capabilities of most reporters to perform some basic fact-checking before sending an article to the presses.

A particularly regrettable piece appeared in the Scottish Daily Record on Saturday 24th June, wherein the former Celtic footballer Joe Miller recalled a friendly match he had apparently taken part in against Linfield at Windsor Park whilst he was on the books of Aberdeen. The interview with Mr Miller, as told to the Daily Record reporter Gordon Parks, included such colourful details as the winger apparently being repeatedly targeted with laser rangefinders and that he and his colleagues, Derek Whyte, Tommy Craig and Roy Aitken were carrying match balls down a street after this game when they passed a public house where they were confronted by angry locals.

The latter detail may cause some bemusement to Linfield supporters, given that even in those pre-redevelopment days, Windsor Park was wholly enclosed from any surrounding streets, and there remains a distinct lack of local hostelries in the area adjacent to the ground. We have played numerous friendly games at Windsor Park over the years against such clubs from Manchester United to Flamengo of Brazil, but have yet to ask opposing players to walk around South Belfast whilst carrying various match accoutrements.

What troubles us most of all, however, is that Linfield FC has no record of having played Aberdeen at Windsor Park or elsewhere in the entire decade Mr Miller refers to, whether in a friendly fixture, training game or otherwise. In fact, it appears that Linfield have never played against Aberdeen at all throughout our entire history.

A particularly concerning allegation made by Mr Miller, printed in the Daily Record and broadcast on social media to tens of thousands of views, was that “there were red dots on us for the whole 90 minutes” of this mysterious game. This fanciful account seems to suppose that the player and his colleagues were being targeted by multiple firearms, and was provided in the context of suggesting that it would be unsafe for Celtic supporters to visit our stadium, should that tie come to pass in due course. Given that Windsor Park was, and is, an almost entirely enclosed stadium, it would have been unlikely that this could have come from outside the ground, had this fixture actually taken place. Given also that neither the then-RUC nor the British Army carried lasers fitted to their weapons as standard, and that in 1995 it would be some years before laser pointers became easily available and affordable to members of the public, one wonders where, exactly, these red dots may have appeared from in this match that didn’t actually happen.

In light of everything stated above we can only suggest that this account is demonstrably untrue.

The Club has now instructed Solicitors to write to Mr Miller and the Daily Record accordingly.

This is just one of the press stories that have appeared in the last week that is easier to rebut. Our Solicitors have also been put on retainer to investigate any further attacks on the good character of this Club and its supporters. In the meantime, we would only ask that the media, like Linfield FC, concentrates on fixtures that have actually been arranged, and that any reporting of past events is conducted to proper journalistic standards.

A statement regarding the possible match against Celtic and the ticketing arrangements for that game will be released in due course, should we win the upcoming tie against La Fiorita.

http://www.linfieldfc.com/latestnews.aspx?id=17709&utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

[TEFTONG 60,072]

Let's hope that Linfield win damages against the liars and this sort of journalism cannot be allowed to exist. 

[hammer93 15,056]

A superbly written piece....maybe our very own club should meet up with the writer of such a piece and hire him to write such letters when our club is getting demonized with blatant lies.

[ZZed 4,510]

Rangers should copy that approach with the press in Scotland.

[Virtuoso 27,180]

That's a brilliant statement. I await the DR's and Millers response 

As an aside, was Miller the author or was he being interviewed?

[Gaz52 11,837]

Those pesky protestants!

[Goianegra 4,680]

How can they actually get away with such nonsense. The term "found out" doesn't even begin to describe the situation but the worst of it is, despite such a brilliantly written statement, it will likely be brushed aside and forgotten about. Brassneck bastards.

Good laugh if anything else, well done Linfield. 

[Virtuoso 27,180]

Maybe Linfield would also like to ask the Odious Creep to explain himself. From his Sunday Times column:

Quote

No Celtic fan's in Belfast? It's depressingly necessary

In football, or anywhere else for that matter, it is always depressing when bigotry or tribalism wins. But that is exactly what has happened in Celtic's decision not take supporters to Belfast if they face Linfield in the Champions League qualifiers.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland [PSNI] had made clear their concerns about potential trouble between fans, so Celtic have declined officially, at least to take supporters over.

Should Linfield advance to the second round, their match against Celtic is due to take place amid those hotbed calendar dates of July 11 and July 12. A new date has now been set at July 14, with a 5pm kick-off.

Celtic, frankly, want to avoid the risk, and are probably doing the right thing in not taking fans, as regrettable as such a stance is.

[Virtuoso 27,180]

Quote

Statement from Linfield Football Club
Posted : 26th June 2017 at 23:29:59

[ ]...The interview with Mr Miller, as told to the Daily Record reporter Gordon Parks, included such colourful details as the winger apparently being repeatedly targeted with laser rangefinders and that he and his colleagues, Derek Whyte, Tommy Craig and Roy Aitken were carrying match balls down a street after this game when they passed a public house where they were confronted by angry locals.

...and that in 1995 it would be some years before laser pointers became easily available ... [ ]

That would be some feat by Derek Whyte considering he was still playing for Middlesburgh in 95. He never signed for Aberdeen until 97 

[coopsleftboot 5,512]

http://www.<No links to this website>/sport/football/football-news/former-celtic-winger-joe-miller-10678493

[RAFREG 471]

6 minutes ago, coopsleftboot said:

http://www.<No links to this website>/sport/football/football-news/former-celtic-winger-joe-miller-10678493

Shat it ?

[mrmojorisin 13,608]

2 hours ago, coopsleftboot said:

http://www.<No links to this website>/sport/football/football-news/former-celtic-winger-joe-miller-10678493

 

[standup 829]

Is the rhecord available for comment. Will they boycott Lingfield and fully support their fearless journalists.

[KBOO72 4,359]

Is that link not working for anyone else? 

[BRITNEY IS NOT FEELING IT 8,293]

13 minutes ago, KBOO72 said:

Is that link not working for anyone else? 

Aye 

[Terry Hurlock Loyal 12,133]

Every time I recall Joe Miller, I'm always reminded of this episode at Clyde - why the DR gave him any credence, says it all about the journalistic standards thesedays at that rag.

 

https://www.google.co.uk/amp/www.scotsman.com/news/football-manager-wins-163-30-000-award-in-racist-slur-tribunal-1-907112/amp

[Inigo 32,526]

Was just reading todays DR piece on the potential match. Clearly designed to back up the sellic Board's decision not to take tickets. 'Most Linfield fans are fine... some are stuck in the dark ages because they go on Orange walks...A sash bash will be like a "red rag to a bull" to sellic fans...hinting that UEFA are in the wrong, not sellic, for previous censures of their fans' behaviour...' etc, etc.

Yes, that's right. Linfield singing songs in their own back yard will be the red rag to the mhanks, as opposed to the mhanks singing about the IRA in a place blow up by said IRA being a red rag to the Linfield fans. Denigrating the local culture as well. Mhanks are normally fine but could be goaded into something is essentially the tone, you know, just like when they're goaded into singing about the IRA by nasty Inverness and Ross County fans. Scummy sellic minded rag.

[Bristoe1872 2,540]

https://mobile.twitter.com/Linfield_FC/status/880020110307729408?p=v

[Band of Brothers 10,303]

1 hour ago, Bristoe1872 said:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Linfield_FC/status/880020110307729408?p=v

Some crackers on that 

Heard they were all scored with his head because he had been shot in both ankles whilst taking a throw-in near the home support.

Joe miller built the hospital he was born in and was present when his dad met his mom in primary school Fact

One of the goals was scored from the subs bench after he went off.