The Durham Miners' Association, which is rightly demanding the return of the Wearmouth Miners' Lodge Banner that hangs in the Stadium of Light over the former mineshaft, is not short of a bob or two.
It continues to put on the Gala every year, and it co-owns the Morning Star, which still comes out as a daily paper despite also publishing its entire content on the Internet.
Watch that space.
Meanwhile, Sunderland was part of County Durham in
September 1943, when the Durham Light Infantry was part of the army that
landed at Salerno, Reggio and Taranto, thereby beginning the liberation
of Italy.
That city's football club therefore has until 3rd September 2013, the seventieth
anniversary of the start of the Italian Campaign, to be rid of this
person.
Or let all hell break loose from the Tyne to the Tees two months
later on Remembrance Sunday.
This is the inevitable outcome of the ignorance of the growing numbers of foreign owners of our football clubs. They buy clubs either as personal trophies or playthings, or as a means of extending their business interests. They have no interest whatsoever in the history of the club or the sensibilities of the fans. A classic example is that of the new owners of Cardiff City who are Malaysian. After 100 years of tradition, they ‘rebranded’ the club’s colours and crest and changed the shirts from blue to red which is a more acceptable colour in the far East. The feelings of the home fans in Wales who attend the games was not a consideration.
ReplyDeleteThe Sunderland owner, Mr Short, made his fortune in the money markets and is based in Dallas. What does he know, or care, about the miners of Durham or the DLI? The DLI landed in Italy in September 1943 and were still there at the end of the war. They took part in the battle of Monte Cassino, one of the toughest battles of WWII. Montgomery described the DLI as a magnificent regiment, steady as a rock in battle, and absolutely reliable on all occasions. He said that the fighting men of Durham are splendid soldiers.
Compare these heroic qualities with those of Mussolini who fled to Switzerland in 1902 in an effort to evade military service. His forces invaded Ethopia in 1936 and used mustard gas in the capture of Addis Ababa. Adolf Hitler was inspired by Mussolini's achievements and he wanted to work closely with him.
Il Duce or the Durham miners? I know what my choice would be.
Very well said.
ReplyDeleteMy father was in the Italian Campaign in the Black Watch.