“It is the story of a vast superiority, sacrificed through stupidity, shortsightedness, and wanton insularity. It is a story of shamefully wasted talent, extraordinary complacency, and infinite self-deception.”

Stars from the world of football and beyond paid tribute to the former footballer and presenter Jimmy Hill who died at the weekend aged 87.

Report finds Ireland to be the best country in Europe for offering business owners a second chance

Here's our pick on what to watch on the box tonight.

Après Match of the Day has the comedy crew delving into Ireland’s glorious soccer history on Monday.

No matter what else the television sports year offers up, we think we saw its most delightful touch last Saturday night.

At half-time, nobody had expected this contest to be so one-sided.

Having rocked them in the Dáil, as the Sawdoctors had it, Michael D certainly rocked them in the Guildhall, and beyond, when he announced during his visit to London that he would be supporting England at this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

No one who went to a football match in England on Saturday, April 15, 1989 is likely to forget what happened that day.

The day before the day of days. Soon, that protracted qualification tournament held in London last summer will have produced an overall winner.

What’s not to love about Fulham Football Club? There’s the location, location, location for a start.

The multiple apologies issued by Liverpool FC employees on Sunday must have come as a relief to the majority of the club’s fans.

THEY have the best-named fanzine in football – ‘There’s Only One F In Fulham’.

ROY KEANE’S reputation rests on being notoriously hard to please, but the Sunderland manager appears to be mellowing in his old age.

MANAGER sacked at the end of a brutal campaign? Check. Critics charge that he was woefully inept and inexperienced and should never have been installed in the first place? Check. Players accused of being prima donnas who don’t perform like the national shirt means anything to them? Check. Outraged fans flood phonelines and websites to demand that blazers’ heads roll too? Check. Roy Keane puts the boot in? Check.

Legendary Manchester United goalkeeper Harry Gregg has ’lost a great friend’ in the Red Devils’ 1963 FA Cup-winning captain Noel Cantwell, who has died in Peterborough aged 73.

IT’S one of those Irish football yarns that is so delicious you almost have to assume it’s apocryphal. But here, from the horse’s mouth, is confirmation that every word of the great Terry Mancini ‘national anthem’ legend is true.

Nearly one third of Scots say they will be supporting England during Euro 2004, according to a newspaper poll.

JIMMY HILL last night launched an astonishing defence of disgraced commentator Ron Atkinson by insisting that racist comments are simply a matter of “fun” between footballers.

Gary McAllister will face ‘‘an appallingly difficult task’’ to return Coventry to the top flight if he takes over as City manager, according to former chairman Jimmy Hill.

After 34 years walking the relegation tightrope, Coventry have finally fallen off after a dramatic finale at Villa Park.

Teddy Sheringham has added the Professional Footballers' Association player of the year prize to the football writers' gong he won last week.