In a global football landscape increasingly studded with state-of-the-art academies, you don’t hear too much talk about street football anymore.

The parallels are striking. For Liechtenstein in Vaduz almost 23 years ago read Gibraltar in the Victoria Stadium on Saturday.

Dougie Freedman has left Crystal Palace and become the new manager of Bolton, the London club have confirmed.

Joycean scholar, gay rights advocate and broadcaster, David Norris became a national treasure some time ago. In the wake of Donal Óg Cusack’s revelations last week, he spoke to Michael Moynihan about his own secret life within the GAA.

FORMER Ireland soccer star Curtis Fleming has urged parents who watch football with their children to help combat racism by instilling a respect for difference in them.

BERNARD DUNNE may no longer be the WBA world super bantamweight champion but he is still Dublin’s favourite son and if he wanted reassurance, he got it at Dublin City Hall yesterday when he was given a standing ovation by representatives of more than 200 sporting organisations from around the city.

KEVIN HUNT, the club legend who captained Bohemians to a memorable double in 2001, could be celebrating a double of a different kind on Sunday.

AS THE familiar figure took his place at the top table behind the microphones, it was almost like deja vu - except of course that, in reality, everything had changed utterly.

Shelbourne have released seven players as manager Pat Fenlon looks to make changes to his squad for next season.

Shelbourne are back in the race to sign Republic of Ireland Under 21 ace Sean Dillon from Longford Town.

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COMMISERATIONS to Shelbourne on their exit from the Champions’ League in Bucharest.

UEFA have vowed to investigate racist abuse directed at Shelbourne players during the Champions League qualifier against Romanian side Steaua Bucharest.

Shelbourne boss Pat Fenlon believes Irish football has progressed significantly in the last 15 years.

Shelbourne will be looking for a repeat of last year’s Champions League heroics when they meet Romanian champions Steaua Bucharest in the second round first leg at Tolka Park tonight.

Shamrock Rovers’ manager Roddy Collins has accused the eircom League of double standards after League officials refused to register Marc Kenny and Brian Shelley in time for last week’s clash with Cork City.

CORK CITY take on Shamrock Rovers at Turner’s Cross tonight in an eircom League top against bottom clash, with City boss Damien Richardson warning that the league leaders can allow no room for complacency.

SHELBOURNE boss Pat Fenlon has hit out at the tight fixture schedule which has forced him to postpone preparations for next week’s Champions League clash with Steaua Bucharest.

Shelbourne boss Pat Fenlon has hit out at the tight fixture schedule which has forced him to postpone preparations for next week’s Champions League clash with Steaua Bucharest.

SHELBOURNE’S David Crawley will be fit to play in the second leg of Shelbourne’s Champions’ League qualifier against Glentoran at Tolka Park tomorrow evening.

Shelbourne manager Pat Fenlon is currently in talks with former Republic of Ireland international Curtis Fleming with a view to signing the 37-year-old on a six-month contract.

Former Republic of Ireland star Curtis Fleming is hoping to secure a move back to his first club St Patrick’s Athletic after starting training with the club.

Darlington boss Dave Hodgson has offered a contract to former Middlesbrough defender Curtis Fleming.

FAI cup champions Longford Town will begin their defence of the cup with a trip to Cork to face non-league Leeds.

Dietmar Hamann returned to a Liverpool side unbeaten in six games, with only three goals conceded, for the FA Cup tie with Crystal Palace.

WHEN Gerard Houllier starts talking in terms of “winning the war” you sense Liverpool are steeling themselves for a charge to glory in the final months of a controversial season.

Middlesbrough have refused to comment on reports linking them to the possible purchase of Manchester United striker Dwight Yorke.

Crystal Palace have completed the signing of Middlesbrough full-back Curtis Fleming for an undisclosed fee.

Curtis Fleming and Stephen McPhail have been called up to the Republic of Ireland World Cup squad for the Group Two showdown with Cyprus.

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Manchester United will be aiming to condemn local rivals Manchester City to relegation from the Premiership tomorrow.

Middlesbrough await fitness tests on central defenders Colin Cooper and Steve Vickers for the trip to Leicester tomorrow.

Veteran Sunderland striker Niall Quinn has been given the perfect chance to set a new goalscoring record after being included in the Irish squad to meet Andorra next Wednesday.

Niall Quinn is back in Mick McCarthy's provisional 30-man squad to face Andorra at Lansdowne Road.

The Republic of Ireland squad flies out to Nicosia today ahead of Saturday's World Cup qualifier against Cyprus.

Curtis Fleming has been brought into the Republic of Ireland squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifying matches against Cyprus and Andorra.

Mick McCarthy has announced his squad for Ireland's World Cup qualifying games against Cyprus and Andorra.