Manchester City face Newcastle United today on the 10th anniversary of the most significant moment in the club’s history — not the lifting of a trophy or a title win but the day that Sheikh Mansour first announced his Abu Dhabi United Group had bought the club from Thai owner Thaksin Sinawatra to begin one of football’s great projects.

President Mary McAleese has met with Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Sinawatra in Bangkok today as part of a four-day trip to south-east Asia to develop trade and diplomatic ties.