I doubt very much if Mansfield is twinned with Accra but these days the two can surely feel each other’s pain.

Ah, beware the kindness of friends… Planning my journey to Paris three years ago for the game which would go down in infamy as the one touched by the ‘Hand Of Gaul’, I cheerfully followed the advice of a colleague and booked into what sounded like a nice, friendly, conveniently located hotel on the left bank of the Seine.

WHEN seventies giants The Eagles broke up amidst mutual threats of “ass-kicking” in 1980, Don Henley announced through gritted teeth the band would only ever play together again “when hell freezes over”.

RONNIE WHELAN believes FIFA were right not to impose any kind of sanction on Thierry Henry and says that the French striker’s notorious handball in the World Cup play-off against Ireland in Paris was just part and parcel of the game.