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Lance Armstrong "did not come clean in the manner I had expected", reveals Oprah Winfrey

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Armstrong 'did not come clean in the manner I had expected', reveals Oprah

By
Mike Dawes

PUBLISHED:

13:42 GMT, 15 January 2013

|

UPDATED:

13:43 GMT, 15 January 2013

Lance Armstrong admitted admitted using performance-enhancing drugs in a TV interview to
be shown on Thursday.

The disgraced cyclist is said to have
confessed in an interview with American TV chat show queen Oprah Winfrey.

Oprah tweeted: ‘I would say (Lance Armstrong) did not come clean in the manner I had expected. It was surprising to me.’

Banned: Disgraced cyclist Armstrong conducted his first interview since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles with Oprah Winfrey

Banned: Disgraced cyclist Armstrong conducted his first interview since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles with Oprah Winfrey

The revelation came after Armstrong visited the staff of his charity the Livestrong Foundation at the Texas offices to apologise for putting their work at risk.

Several employees cried when he told them: ‘I’m sorry.’

'He had a private conversation with the staff, who have done the important work of the foundation for many years,' Livestrong Foundation spokeswoman Katherine McLane was quoted as saying by Reuters.

'It was a very sincere and heartfelt expression of regret over any stress that they've suffered over the course of the last few years as a result of the media attention,' she added.

He promised he would try to restore the foundation’s reputation – before meeting his legal team to prepare for the Oprah interview.

Armstrong reportedly spoke to a room
full of about 100 staff members for about 20 minutes, expressing regret
for everything the controversy has put them through.

He told them how much the foundation
means to him and that he considers the people who work there to be like
members of his family. None of the people in the room challenged
Armstrong over his long denials of doping.

Banned: Disgraced cyclist Armstrong conducted his first interview since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles with Oprah Winfrey

After the interview, Winfrey tweeted: 'Just wrapped with @lancearmstrong More than 2 1/2 hours. He came READY!'

Winfrey
and her crew planned on filming Monday's session at Armstrong's home.
As a result, local and international news crews were camped near the
cyclist's Spanish-style villa before dawn.

Armstrong
still managed to slip away for a run despite the crowds outside his
home. He returned by cutting through a neighbour's yard and hopping a
fence.

Meanwhile, the government of South Australia state said it will seek damages or compensation from Lance Armstrong after his reported confession to Winfrey that he doped during his career.

South Australia Premier Jay Weatherill said the state would seek the repayment of several million dollars in appearance fees paid to Armstrong for competing in the Tour Down Under cycle race in 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Weatherill said reports Armstrong admitted doping during a recorded interview with Winfrey changed the government's view on its entitlement to compensation.

He said Armstrong 'has deceived the cycling community around the world' by repeatedly denying he used performance-enhancing drugs during a career in which he won the Tour de France seven times.

'We'd be more than happy for Mr. Armstrong to make any repayment of monies to us,' Weatherill said.

Shamed: Armstrong has been stripped of his seven tour titles

Shamed: Armstrong has been stripped of his seven tour titles

Weatherill refused to say how much the
South Australian state government paid to Armstrong to secure his
participation in the ProTour race for three-straight years.

Armstrong chose the Australian cycle tour, the first event of the annual ProTour, to make his return to professional cycling in 2009 after a two-year retirement. He also made the six-stage road race his last professional race before his final retirement in 2011.

The South Australian government paid appearance fees to Armstrong to build the profile of the race and promote tourism. That effort was hugely successful and in each of the years Armstrong competed, hundreds of thousands watched the race live and millions more saw it on television.

Armstrong has never tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs and for a decade he strenuously denied doping and resorted to lawsuits to protect his reputation.

The publication of a damning 1,000-page report by the United States Anti-Doping Agency, which placed Armstrong at the center of what it called one of the most sophisticated doping operations in sports, has led to counter-suits against the rider.

Those who had been successfully sued by Armstrong, including Britain's Sunday Times newspaper, are now seeking repayment of the damages they were forced to pay. Others are seeking repayment of sponsorships and prize money paid during Armstrong's career as the world's most famous professional cyclist.

Lance Armstrong "admits" to drug abuse to win Tour de France during Oprah Winfrey interview

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Armstrong 'admits' to drug abuse to win Tour de France during Oprah Winfrey interview

By
Mike Dawes

PUBLISHED:

00:42 GMT, 15 January 2013

|

UPDATED:

00:46 GMT, 15 January 2013

Lance Armstrong last night reportedly admitted using performance-enhancing drugs to win the Tour de France.

The disgraced cyclist is said to have confessed in an interview with American TV chat show queen Oprah Winfrey which is scheduled to be broadcast on Thursday.

Armstrong earlier visited the staff of his charity at the Texas offices to apologise for putting their work at risk.

Banned: Disgraced cyclist Armstrong conducted his first interview since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles with Oprah Winfrey

Banned: Disgraced cyclist Armstrong conducted his first interview since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles with Oprah Winfrey

Banned: Disgraced cyclist Armstrong conducted his first interview since being stripped of his seven Tour de France titles with Oprah Winfrey

Several employees cried when he told them: ‘I’m sorry.’ He promised he would try to restore the foundation’s reputation – before meeting his legal team to prepare for the Oprah interview.

Armstrong reportedly spoke to a room
full of about 100 staff members for about 20 minutes, expressing regret
for everything the controversy has put them through.

He told them how much the foundation
means to him and that he considers the people who work there to be like
members of his family. None of the people in the room challenged
Armstrong over his long denials of doping.

After the interview, Winfrey tweeted: 'Just wrapped with @lancearmstrong More than 2 1/2 hours. He came READY!'

Winfrey and her crew planned on filming Monday's session at Armstrong's home. As a result, local and international news crews were camped near the cyclist's Spanish-style villa before dawn.

Armstrong still managed to slip away for a run despite the crowds outside his home. He returned by cutting through a neighbour's yard and hopping a fence.

Alex Ferguson backs David Gill to stamp out racism if elected to UEFA board

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Gill will stamp out racism! Ferguson backs United chief exec to tackle racism if elected to UEFA board

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UPDATED:

23:00 GMT, 14 December 2012

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes his chief executive David Gill will hope to cleanse the European game of racism if he is elected to the UEFA board next year.

Gill is the English FA's nominee for a place on the board and his campaign will reach a conclusion before all 53 UEFA members vote at their annual congress in May.

And Ferguson believes his Old Trafford ally with help UEFA get tougher in racist incidents if he is successfully elected.

This gesture by a Chelsea fan towards Danny Welbeck will not be punished

This gesture by a Chelsea fan towards Danny Welbeck will not be punished

The United boss said: 'I think that being on these committees gives you the opportunity to represent the league in a good way and a strong way and David is well respected and can do that.

'He's a fantastic chief executive. He's straight, 100 per cent, black and white and there's no hidden agenda with David Gill.

'Everyone in the game knows that and hopefully he can make an impact with issues that are presented by England.'

United were informed this week that the fan caught on camera gesturing at Danny Welbeck during the club's win at Chelsea last month will not be charged by the police.

Manchester United's Patrice Evra argues with Liverpool's Luis Suarez

John Terry and Anton Ferdinand argument

The Suarez/Evra and Terry/Ferdinand cases have marred the Premier League

Ferguson added: 'I think it's happening every week at the moment. You need to address that with the police.

'I don't understand that but we're going through a period where everything seems to be falling on football clubs at the moment.

'Hopefully it's just a period and it will clear itself away and we can get back to what English football has been in the last 20-odd years since I came down here.

'Racism has been dealt with brilliantly by the clubs and we hope this little period is just a blip and we get back to addressing our country in the proper way.'

Asked about UEFA's 65,000 fine imposed on the Serbian FA this week, Ferguson was forthright.

'I was thinking about that,' he said.

'It's 65,000 but that kind of behaviour should have warranted more.

'I'm wondering if that was to redress the balance because they think one or two English players maybe didn't behave right and they tried to get the middle ground.

'Uefa are like that. They want to be seen as fair.'

Premier League"s worst divers – according to Vinnie Jones

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Diving has been happening for 20 years… it is up to captains and managers to stamp it out, says hardman Vinnie Jones

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UPDATED:

13:44 GMT, 11 December 2012

Vinnie Jones is explaining how he keeps up to date with events in the Barclays Premier League when the tone of his voice deepens considerably.

The thorny issue of diving has arisen in our conversation and Jones makes no attempt to conceal his disgust. Jones may now live in Hollywood and have a portfolio of 60 movies but, to a certain generation, he was the quintessential football hard man.

As one of the founder members of Wimbledon’s ‘Crazy Gang’, Jones took no prisoners and relished trying to take the big clubs down a peg or two. He was always rough and tough but never did this midfield enforcer rely on the dark arts of trying to hoodwink referees.

No contact: Santi Cazorla wins a penalty for Arsenal despite there being debate as to whether Steven Reid made contact

No contact: Santi Cazorla wins a penalty for Arsenal despite there being debate as to whether Steven Reid made contact

Going down: Cazorla goes over close to Reid and wins a penalty

Going down: Cazorla goes over close to Reid and wins a penalty

So when he is asked for his views about the theatrical antics that have become commonplace each weekend – the latest being Arsenal midfielder Santi Cazorla’s risible tumble against West Brom – Jones, typically, does not hold back.

'I was filming in New York last week for an episode of Elementary and I was in my trailer watching Celtic in the Champions League, in between scenes,’ said Jones, who also played for Chelsea, Sheffield United, Queens Park Rangers and Leeds before ending up in Tinsel Town.

'Anyway this geezer from Spartak Moscow gets tackled but goes down as if he had been shot in the calf with a 12 bore shotgun. He was only doing it to get the Celtic lad booked. He goes off the field after a bit of treatment then he’s running around with no problem.

Theatrical: Luis Suarez goes down while under pressure from Vincent Kompany

Theatrical: Luis Suarez goes down while under pressure from Vincent Kompany

Taking a tumble: Suarez goes down against Arsenal

Taking a tumble: Suarez goes down against Arsenal

FIVE WHO WOULDN’T GO DOWN

‘There were so many good lads playing in my day you were always guaranteed a battle. If I had to pick the hardest out I’d go for Bryan Robson, Steve McMahon, Terry Hurlock, Roy Keane and Carlton Palmer. Why Carlton He was so big, he’d run away from you and you’d never catch him!’

'Well, in my view, the referee should have booked him when he got up. All this is starting to creep up on clubs. You hear this talk of Gareth Bale but he’s not doing anything that David Ginola wasn’t doing. He was 6ft 4ins and you’d see him rolling all over the place.

'It’s terrible. It’s out and out cheating. This debate keeps rearing its ugly head every three or four years but nothing seems to happen.

'Everyone says it is down to the referees to sort it out but that isn’t fair. Referees are under such pressure now. Why are they getting stick from managers Managers and captains should be setting the example and other players should follow their lead to stamp it out.

'I’ll tell you a story: when I was at Wimbledon, one of our players – who shall remain nameless – went down with a dive in the area. I walked over, picked him up by his hair on the back of his neck and told him “we don’t do that here, son. Got it” I promise you he never did it again.’

No contact: Gareth Bale has been accused of being a serial diver

No contact: Gareth Bale has been accused of being a serial diver

Unbelievable: Bale has been booked for simulation four times this season

Unbelievable: Bale has been booked for simulation four times this season

Jones is in full flow now. From recounting how Wimbledon defied the odds in 1988 to beat Liverpool in the FA Cup final to speaking of his pride that Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch – his first acting roles – remains in the top five British movies of all time, the chat is never dull.

His is a quite remarkable story – the one time hod-carrier who joined the a Hollywood A-list – but even though his career has changed dramatically, his passion for football burns as intensely as it did when he was going toe-to-toe with the best around.

Fittingly, Jones has just become an ambassador for Warrior Football – the manufactures of Liverpool’s kit – and he describes England captain Steven Gerrard as befitting the image of the brand; a player who would never give up.

No nonsense: Vinnie Jones was known as a tough tackling midfielder

No nonsense: Vinnie Jones was known as a tough tackling midfielder

Unfortunately, though, he feels there are too few characters in the modern game.

'I said this would happen 20 years ago,’ he continues. ‘All this diving around isn’t new. I said the Premier League would get flooded with foreign players but people at the time said we needed them. I always felt it would be to the detriment of the national team.

'I feel sorry for Roy Hodgson. Harry Houdini couldn’t get England to win a tournament now. But I still watch the Premier League religiously. We probably see more games in America live than you do at home. We just need to see more of these honest players going in blood and thunder.’

Screen stars: Vinnie Jones and Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini (below) star in the new Warrior Sport advert

Screen stars: Vinnie Jones and Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini (below) star in the new Warrior Sport advert

Marouane Fellaini

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Vinnie Jones is an Ambassador for Warrior Football

Three teenagers to be charged with manslaughter by for allegedly taking part in an attack on a linesman in Holland

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Three teenagers to be charged with manslaughter after attack on a linesman in Holland

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UPDATED:

18:33 GMT, 4 December 2012

Three teenagers will be charged with manslaughter by Dutch prosecutors for allegedly taking part in an attack on a linesman at a youth football match.

Volunteer linesman Richard Nieuwenhuizen died in hospital on Monday, a day after he was beaten and kicked by players from Amsterdam team Nieuw Sloten.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen’s son had been playing in the game, which was held in the town of Almere.

Shock: Members of the soccer club Buitenboys are briefed by board members after the death of a linesman

Shock: Members of the soccer club Buitenboys are briefed by board members after the death of a linesman

Attack: Richard Nieuwenhuizen died after being attacked by three teenagers

Attack: Richard Nieuwenhuizen died after being attacked by three teenagers

And prosecutors said the three males, two 15 and one 16, would be arraigned on Thursday on charges of manslaughter, assault and public violence. Their identities were not released.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen’s team, Buitenboys, have not announced the exact cause of his death, but Dutch TV station RTL said he had brain damage.

Mr Nieuwenhuizen left after Sunday’s match and was not aware anything was wrong. He returned to his club later that night and collapsed.

‘You can’t believe this could happen. That kids of 15 or 16 are playing football, you come to watch and see something like that,’ said Buitenboys chairman Marcel Oost.

Tribute: Flowers are left on the side of the pitch

Tribute: Flowers are left on the side of the pitch

‘He did it every week. He enjoyed doing it. He was a real football man – he was always here.’

FIFA president Sepp Blatter said in a statement he was ‘deeply shocked’ by Mr Nieuwenhuizen’s death.

‘I would like to express my sadness and distress on hearing of the death of assistant referee Richard Nieuwenhuizen,’ he said.

‘I was deeply shocked to learn of this tragic incident.

‘Football is a mirror of society and, sadly, the same ills that afflict society – in this case violence – also manifest themselves in our game.

Sadness: The whole of Dutch football is shocked by the news

Sadness: The whole of Dutch football is shocked by the news

‘Nevertheless, I remain convinced that football – through the example set by the tireless efforts of people like Mr Nieuwenhuizen – is a force for good, and we must continue use its positive example to educate people against these wrongs.’

Dutch sports minister Edith Schippers said: ‘It is absolutely terrible that something like this can happen on a Dutch sports field.’

Meanwhile, all amateur fixtures in Holland have been postponed this weekend as a mark of respect to Mr Nieuwenhuizen.

Respect: Buitenboys fly their flag at half mast

Respect: Buitenboys fly their flag at half mast

The Dutch Football Association, the KNVB, announced all amateur games this weekend have been called off while professional matches will be preceded by a minute’s silence with all players and referees involved wearing black armbands.

KNVB director of professional football Bert van Oostveen said: ‘It is inconceivable that anything like this occurs on a football field.

‘These are the volunteers that we build our sport on, that we cannot do without. Without respect, no football.

‘That is why we in professional football want to show our support in this terrible situation.

‘Our thoughts go out to the family of Richard Nieuwenhuizen.’

Tom Cruise switches helicopters at The Oval

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It's just not cricket! Tom Cruise arrives in London via helicopter… and parks it at The Oval

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UPDATED:

19:08 GMT, 30 November 2012

The Oval is used to playing host to the stars.

Kevin Pietersen and Sachin Tendulkar are just two of a plethora of world renowned cricketers to have graced the hallowed turf of one of the world's most famous grounds in recent years.

Cover drive: Tom Cruise (above left) arrives at The Oval early on Friday morning

Cover drive: Tom Cruise (above left) arrives at The Oval early on Friday morning

Cover drive: Tom Cruise (above left) arrives at The Oval early on Friday morning

But a Hollywood actor parking a helicopter on the outfield Surely not.

Well, that is exactly what happened on Friday morning when A-lister Tom Cruise landed his chopper near the long on boundary before trotting off to the deep extra cover rope to climb into a Chinook and disappear off into the south London sky.

It's just not cricket: Cruise switches into an RAF Chinook

It's just not cricket: Cruise switches into an RAF Chinook

The usual setting: The Oval is used to hosting more serene events

The usual setting: The Oval is used to hosting more serene events

Cruise is currently in Britain filming his latest movie 'All You Need is Kill', and it is thought that the switching of helicopters at The Oval has something to do with the making of it – or at least we hope so.

Club members would have certainly been aghast had they witnessed Cruise's arrival, but the outfield should have plenty of time to recover before the next county season commences in April.

Up and away: Cruise departs after a quick changeover

Up and away: Cruise departs after a quick changeover

Up and away: Cruise departs after a quick changeover

AFC Wimbledon should bury hatchet with MK Dons, say Crazy Gang members

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It's time to bury the hatchet with MK… so long as they ditch the 'Dons', say original Crazy Gang ahead of grudge match

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UPDATED:

17:57 GMT, 29 November 2012

It may have been 24 years ago but when the FA Cup comes around, it still stirs passionate emotions among the most famous football mavericks of them all – the Crazy Gang of Wimbledon who shocked the then mighty Liverpool to lift the famous old trophy at Wembley in 1988.

And those passions are no less fiery due to the nature of this weekend’s second round games that pit the reborn AFC Wimbledon against the hated club they call the franchise robbers who stole their birthright – MK Dons.

It was when the original Wimbledon, founder members of the Premier League, died and their League place in the fourth tier was snapped up by the Milton Keynes outfit, headed by opportunist chairman Pete Winkelman, that a vow was taken to restore the old club.

The upset to end all upsets: Lawrie Sanchez heads the winning goal in the 1988 FA Cup Final at Wembley

The upset to end all upsets: Lawrie Sanchez heads the winning goal in the 1988 FA Cup Final at Wembley

Legends: Dave Beasant (centre) and Bobby Gould (bottom) celebrate with the famous old trophy

Legends: Dave Beasant (centre) and Bobby Gould (bottom) celebrate with the famous old trophy

So successful has that been that AFC have climbed all the way back from the Combined Counties League and back into the Football League – and now have the draw that the game would lick their lips over – though AFC fans have warned they won’t set foot in the place that forced them to start all over again on a park pitch.

But the old Dons heroes, the REAL Dons, who won that FA Cup, believe it is time to bury the hatchet with MK – as long as Winkelman agrees to drop the Dons from their name and renames them City, Town, United or some other.

Goalkeeper Dave Beasant, who comes only behind FA Cup Final scorer Lawrie Sanchez in the pantheon of Wimbledon legends by saving a penalty on the great day, led the call last night to call a truce.

Beasant said: ‘There is a lot of bitterness from AFC fans that Wimbledon lost their League status. They think that MK didn’t go about it the right way, when they should have only gained a place in the League by qualifying through non-league football.

‘You understand the bitterness but it’s been done, it was a while and the position isn’t going to be changed. And MK Dons are a progressive team, having gained promotion to League Three, just as AFC have progressed into the League proper.

Dons folklore: Beasant dives to his left to save a penalty from Liverpool striker John Aldridge

Dons folklore: Beasant dives to his left to save a penalty from Liverpool striker John Aldridge in the Final

‘I know a lot of fans won’t forget about it. But this is now a Cup match, the two teams are meeting for the first time. And AFC getting there from where they started is what Wimbledon’s history is all about.

‘We were never a big club but got a big name through winning the FA Cup. It’s a game that will be talked about because of the way MK attained their League status on the back of Wimbledon losing theirs.

FA Cup Final 1988 – Match Facts

Wimbledon: Dave Beasant (c); Clive Goodyear, Eric Young, Andy Thorn, Terry Phelan; Alan Cork (Laurie Cunningham 56), Vinnie Jones, Lawrie Sanchez, Dennis Wise; John Fashanu, Terry Gibson (John Scales 63)

Manager: Bobby Gould

Goals: Sanchez 37

Liverpool: Bruce Grobbelaar; Steve Nicol, Gary Gillespie, Alan Hansen (c), Gary Ablett; Ray Houghton, Nigel Spackman (Jan Mlby 74), Steve McMahon, John Barnes; Peter Beardsley, John Aldridge (Craig Johnston 64)

Manager: Kenny Dalglish

‘Of course I have more of a feeling for AFC because they represent the foundations that Wimbledon came from. I don’t know how many fans went with MK or how many stayed. I know a few did and one or two became directors.

‘But I do feel they should stand on their own two feet now as Milton Keynes – forget calling themselves Dons.’

Beasant, now a part-time coach with Bristol Rovers and previously Glenn Hoddle’s academy in Spain until it finished, added: ‘If they would drop the Dons from their name, I do feel that would go some way to appeasing Wimbledon’s current fans.’

In looking back to those great days of the Crazy Gang, Beasant says: ’We weren’t given the credit we deserved as individual players because of the way we played. But look how many of us did move on to bigger clubs after the Cup triumph – myself, the likes of John Fashanu, Dennis Wise and Vinnie Jones.’

Yet through the mists of time he sees one man as the original Crazy Gang founder – current West Ham coach Wally Downes. Beasant explained: ‘He was the original before myself and Alan Cork joined in. Then the likes of Fash, Wisey and Vinny became associate members.’

New dawn: Wimbledon's league place was taken by the newly-formed MK Dons in 2004

New dawn: Wimbledon's league place was taken by the newly-formed MK Dons in 2004

New dawn: Wimbledon's league place was taken by the newly-formed MK Dons in 2004

Injury prevented Downes from sharing in the FA Cup glory but he was there from the start as an apprentice Crazy Gangster.

Another who came through that route was Cup Finalist Andy Thorn, up until recently the Coventry manager before his heroic struggle to keep them from being relegated to Division One gave out.

Thorn, who is now eager to get back into the managerial fray after settling compensation, remembers the kind of stunt the Gang were famous for. He said: ‘We used to go everywhere in this minibus, lads all piled in the back, feet up on the kit like a bunch of schoolboys. That was the way we went to White Hart Lane to play our FA Cup semi-final against Luton.

‘It was a minibus I remembered well after my first experience of the senior team, a trip to Leyton Orient when I was probably 13th man.

VIDEO: Dean Holdsworth's FA Cup memories

‘After we won, I was ordered to get to the nearest off licence in Leyton High St to get the beers in. I duly brought armfuls of cans back, handed them over, upon which the back doors were slammed in my face and they roared off leaving me stranded in the middle of the high street!

‘So I was left to get a couple of buses and trains back home on my own.

‘But it was all part of the growing up, the toughening up. We don’t go out of our way to see each other these days but it’s as though we’ve never been away when we do bump into each other. It seems we’re all following the same pattern of life, a few divorces, and we’re all moving on.

‘On the big game, I regard them as two
completely separate clubs now. But with Wimbledon, the way we battled
from where we came from to get as far as founder members of the Premier
League, what we had to overcome, the supporters of the new AFC have done
exactly the same thing. It epitomises what Wimbledon are all about.’

Phoenix from the flames: AFC Wimbledon have risen through non-league football to League Two

Phoenix from the flames: AFC Wimbledon have risen through non-league football to League Two

Phoenix from the flames: AFC Wimbledon have risen through non-league football to League Two

Cup Final winning manager Bobby Gould regards himself as an honorary Crazy Gang member and recalls hilarious times. Gould, who now has a regular show on Talksport, said: ‘I originally joined Wimbledon as a player after the sack from Chelsea as a coach in 1981 when I answered an advert from then manager Dave Bassett for a centre forward. It was 40 a week and 20 expenses.

‘When I was manager the one who was always up to something was Dennis Wise. I could never take my eyes off him.

‘The players used to have what was known as The Circle when a dispute needed settling. They would form a circle and the two players who had a problem with each other would have a grapple, like wrestling – but no punching or biting!

‘After a few days there, Wisey shouted: ‘’Circle’’. I said: ‘’Who’s in it’’ He said: ‘’You are Gouldy, you’ve upset me’’. So I couldn’t back down,

‘We started to fight and all of a sudden I land on his fist and crack a rib. I had the physio Steve Allan in and said: ‘’Get me up the stairs to the dressing room before I faint because at the moment I’m winning’!

‘But I had fought Wisey in the circle. We laughed and we never stopped. But the beauty of them was they knew when they wanted to do the job and went about it the right way.’

VIDEO: We are Wimbledon

Gould will be supporting AFC this weekend, though admits: ‘I started off supporting MK in the early days, simply because I wanted Wimbledon to survive in some form or other. But once AFC came on the scene, starting up from a Sunday kickabout, my allegiance changed to them.

‘On the day I’ll be wearing my lucky tracksuit that I wore the day we won the FA Cup. I agree with Dave Beasant that now MK should do the decent thing and drop the Dons part of their name. Why not be City, United or whatever. They don’t need it, they’ve handed back all the trophies so they recognise that Wimbledon are the true Dons.’

Alan Cork, who can proudly claim that he played for Wimbledon in every division of the old Football League, sadly does not connect with AFC as much as some of the others. He said: ‘I don’t have a club to go back to in Wimbledon like I can with Sheffield United, because it’s not the same one I played for. I know a lot of the boys do associate with AFC but as far as any dispute with MK Dons is concerned I don’t have a serious view.’

Cork, formerly a No 2 for Gary Megson at Bolton and now a part-time scout for Stuart Pearce’s England Under 21s, added: ‘MK have an excellent stadium and a thriving club. The cup tie I won’t be supporting either, as my loyalties now are to Southampton where my son Jack plays and is doing very well.

‘It’s hard to get to watch him because I am normally at another game. I was recently at Italy v. Spain Under 21s for Stuart. Italy are in our group in the championship finals next summer. Spain have got quite some side….’

Different Dons with differing views but the old boys will all have memories of great past deeds this weekend.

VIDEO: The best FA Cup second-round shocks

Paul Taylor arrested following Ipswich pub brawl, two injured

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Ipswich striker Taylor arrested following pub brawl which left two injured

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UPDATED:

13:06 GMT, 21 November 2012

Ipswich Town striker Paul Taylor has been arrested following a pub fracas in which two members of staff were assaulted and injured.

Taylor, 25, joined the Tractor Boys in a 1.75 million move from Championship rivals Peterborough in August.

He is expected to miss the remainder of the season after surgery on a broken foot sustained in only his third game for the club.

Fracas: Taylor has been arrested after an incident at an Ipswich pub

Fracas: Taylor has been arrested after an incident at an Ipswich pub

A police statement confirmed that Taylor and a 24-year-old woman from Liverpool, believed to be his girlfriend, were arrested following an incident in an Ipswich town centre pub on October 16 at 12.15am.

The statement added: 'Two male members of staff within the premises were assaulted. One victim suffered a broken rib and the other a fractured eye socket and a broken finger.'

The couple have been released on police bail pending further enquiries until January 16 2013.

It is not the first time that Liverpool-born Taylor, who launched his career as a youth player at Manchester City, has been in trouble.

On the move: Taylor joined Town from Peterbrough in the summer

On the move: Taylor joined Town from Peterbrough in the summer

Four years ago, when he was at Chester City, he was banned from playing for six months after traces of cocaine were found in a random drugs sample.

He moved to Belgian lower league outfit Montegne before his goals alerted giants Anderlecht, for whom he signed in December 2009. He returned to England to join Peterborough in February last year.

An Ipswich Town statement said: 'We are aware of an alleged incident that took place in the town recently involving one of our players that is currently being investigated by the police.

'We are in communication with the police authorities over this matter but will be making no further comment at this stage.'

Hearts given tax bill extension by HMRC

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Hearts given brief respite by HMRC allowing tax bill payment extension

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UPDATED:

20:39 GMT, 13 November 2012

Hearts have been given more time to pay their outstanding tax bill by Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, lifting the immediate threat placed on them.

The Edinburgh club tonight said in a statement that they had been granted until December 3 to settle their debts, with their owed amount of 449,692,04 being split over two payments.

The club have also provided HMRC with assurances that future payments would be made in a 'timeous manner'.

Safe for now: The immediate threat to Hearts has been quelled after the club were granted an extension

Safe for now: The immediate threat to Hearts has been quelled after the club were granted an extension

Hearts were last Wednesday served with a winding-up petition and given eight days in which to pay what they owed, putting their future in severe danger.

Hearts revealed the decision was also made possible after a number of senior first-team squad members offered to defer their November salaries, due on Friday, to a later date.

Director Sergejus Fedotovas said: 'We are pleased that we have been granted this extension as it acknowledges the strenuous efforts that are going on to ensure this club continues to contribute to employment, society, community and football in Scotland.

'We have a lot of hard work ahead of us in order to fully rectify our financial position but with further backing and ongoing fundraising by supporters we know that we have a very positive opportunity to create a strong club for the future.'

Thanks: Players agreed to defer their November salaries until a later date

Thanks: Players agreed to defer their November salaries until a later date

The case is just one of many financial issues at Tynecastle and a 1.75million tax case was revealed when a 1.79m share issue was recently launched.

Fedotovas praised the response of supporters to the scheme, which could ultimately lead to supporter ownership, and implored the backing to continue.

The news has come on a day when it was revealed Hearts majority shareholder Vladimir Romanov rebuffed an offer for the club from a group established long before the current perilous position was highlighted.

Why can”t the R&A see sense on women members? – Derek Lawrenson

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If Augusta can see sense on women members, why can't the R&A

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UPDATED:

22:59 GMT, 12 November 2012


Open season: R&A chief executive Peter Dawson will be under fire

Open season: R&A chief executive Peter Dawson will be under fire

Watching grown men defend the indefensible is never a comfortable experience and so it was with Billy Payne, Chairman of Augusta National, at the Masters this year.

One minute he was waxing lyrical about all the initiatives the club were doing to grow ‘the great game of golf.’ The next he was being skewered by a very reasonable question: ’If you’re that keen on growing the game, why haven’t you got any women or junior members’

Let’s say this about Mr Payne. Sure, he squirmed and shifted in his seat and tried to save face, like so many of his predecessors. But here’s the difference. He then went away and made sure he was never put in such a position again. A month later, the first two women members were invited to join the club and Billy Payne had put right the obvious hypocrisy.

Now we come to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. They are already bracing themselves for unfavourable headlines next year. A men-only club taking The Open to another men-only establishment in Muirfield At least over the past week they’ve had a warm-up, as one former Minister of Sport in Colin Moynihan and then present incumbent Hugh Robertson laid into them over their anachronistic stance.

Breakthrough: Augusta National, home of the Masters, which was won by Bubba Watson in April, have now admitted women members

Breakthrough: Augusta National, the world-famous home of the Masters, which was won by Bubba Watson in April, have now admitted women members

Peter Dawson, the R&A’s chief executive, believes this subject to be simply a Press obsession, that most golfers couldn’t give two hoots, and he’s at least partly right. Most golfers couldn’t care less.

But it doesn’t make the R&A’s stance right. There’s no hiding from the fact it is embarrassing for the sport to have a governing body who don’t have any women members, and that will not change until the R&A do. It’s all well and good to allow juniors to attend The Open for free but what message are you sending out if you then take the event to clubs that don’t allow juniors to join

And so next summer, like so many before it, we’ll watch grown men defend the indefensible – and pray silently for the day when the R&A finally comes up with its own Billy Payne.

Another side to the glamour game

‘Rory McIlroy leads a galaxy of stars to Hong Kong’ proclaimed the main headline on the European Tour’s website on Monday. He also leads a cavalcade of dead men walking.

No disrespect to the leading players like Rory at either the Hong Kong Open or the South African Open being played at the same time on another continent this week, but these final full-field events of the regular season are all about the men at the other end of the table.

Men like the English trio, Tommy Fleetwood, Jamie Elson and Richard Bland, all within agonising touching distance of the top 115 who keep their cards for next year but in need of a good last week to seal the deal.

Last year in Hong Kong I sat in a courtesy car with two of the fallen, Nick Dougherty and Oliver Wilson, and the devastation they were feeling at missing out was plain.

No-one would seek to minimise the pressure that McIlroy so adeptly copes with as the world’s No 1. But that is surely a nice kind of pressure. Down among those worried about keeping their jobs, the pressure exerted by a game that is supposed to be all about relaxation must be hell.

Quote of the Week

’When Luke Donald won both money lists last year we thought “how good was that” Now Rory has done it and won a second major as well at the age of 23. The sky really is the limit.’

Eight-time Order of Merit winner Colin Montgomerie eloquently sums the feelings of a sport regarding the extraordinary Rory McIlroy.

Remarkable talent: Life just gets better and better for Rory McIlroy

Remarkable talent: Life just gets better and better for Rory McIlroy

Challenge Tour goes East

The Middle East has become such a vital part of the regular European Tour over the past two decades it is surprising that no event is staged in the region on the Challenge Tour.

That will all change next year when the Sultanate of Oman joins the party, with the National Bank of Oman Classic becoming the penultimate event, complete with a very respectable 200,000 prize fund.

One nice thing about the tournament is that there will be a reciprocal arrangement with five other Challenge Tour events during the season whereby promising Arab National players, both amateur and professional, will have the opportunity to gain some invaluable experience.

Beljan's Miracle moment

They say the traditional closing event on the US Tour might not take place next year, which would be a great shame. ‘Where Dreams Come True,’ declares the slogan outside the gates at Walt Disney World in Orlando, and so it has proved these past two years at the Children’s Miracle Network Classic.

Last year, Luke Donald complemented the fireworks seen at the Disney theme parks with some of his own, as he won the final event when nothing else would do if he were to clinch the US Tour money list.

Fairytale: Charlie Beljan won the Children's Miracle Network Classic

Fairytale: Charlie Beljan won the Children's Miracle Network Classic

This time it was 28-year-old American Charlie Beljan making the headlines. On Friday, he was rushed to hospital after suffering a panic attack on the course that left him fearing he might die. Two days later he was in heaven all right, as he claimed his maiden victory to end all thoughts of anxiety for at least the next two years.

‘You never know what’s going to happen in this game or this game of life,’ he said. ‘You just keep plugging away.’

Keep plugging way like this, Charlie, and you might even become that rarest of creatures. A famous Beljan.