IT'S not just tennis fans that had reason to curse the weather yesterday. Officials and supporters at Annan Athletic Football Club were busy celebrating entry to the Scottish Football League at their Galabank ground when a heavy downpour put a slight
dampener on proceedings.
Border TV had set up camp at the club following the announcement that Annan had seen off Cove Rangers, Spartans, Edinburgh City and Preston Athletic in the battle to replace Gretna in the Third Division. The channel was hoping to do a live broadcast from the social club for their early-evening Lookaround news bulletin, presumably with a few beer-swilling, loud-mouthed fans in the background doing their best to get on the telly.
But their moment in the sunshine was thwarted by a 20-minute thunder-and-lightning storm that hit the Dumfriesshire town just after 6pm. A bit like the one that hit Vienna last week when the Euro 2008 semi-final between Germany and Turkey was taken off our screens.
Border TV failed to get the necessary satellite link-up and all those at Galabank just had to party in private.
Mixed messages from AdebayorTHANK goodness in this world of over-paid, wannabe celebrity footballers there are those who still have a soul.
Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor, speaking amidst the football fiesta at Euro 2008, said: "I was born in Togo so I never cared about playing for money, my happiness was to play to enjoy myself. That's what I've been doing until now."
Had he been cornered by a reporter whilst enjoying a kickabout with local kids? No, he was fulfilling a contractual obligation for boot sponsors Adidas.
Final has nasty twist for Neves IF YOUR heart went out to John Terry for his penalty miss in the Champions League final, spare a thought for Fluminense forward Thiago Neves who managed to score a hat-trick in his continent's showpiece match but still ended up on the losing side.
Neves helped his Brazilian side to a 3-1 second-leg win over LDU of Ecuador in the final of the Copa Libertadores, but with the scores tied at 5-5 the game went to penalties where 'Big Flu' lost 3-1.
"(My goals] weren't worth anything because we didn't win the trophy," said Neves.
TALES FROM THE TABS: MALONEY IN THE MIDDLETHE tabloids love a good "tug of war" story involving the Old Firm, and yesterday's Sun reported that Celtic and Rangers are embroiled in a fight to sign Shaun Maloney.
The newspaper claims the former Celtic winger remains unsettled at Martin O'Neill's Aston Villa and would be prepared to risk the wrath of Parkhead fans by agreeing to join Rangers.
The Sun also said that Cardiff City are lining up a move for Rangers striker Daniel Cousin and that "Bluebirds manager Dave Jones is ready to table a £2 million bid for the Gabon striker".
The Daily Mail reported that out-of-favour Celtic defender Bobo Balde has turned down another chance to move to England after rejecting an offer from Premier League new boys Hull City. Apparently Bobo is quite happy picking up his £27,000-per-week wage at Parkhead.
Elsewhere, the Daily Express revealed that Villarreal will not play in Motherwell's tribute match for Phil O'Donnell. The Fir Park club are now hoping to book Athletic Bilbao for the 2 August fixture.
The full article contains 576 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
