I'm really pleased for him: he deserves it.

Also, the last time he signed a new contract, he had a blinder against Chelsea in the league (remember him with JFH in his pocket at SJP) the next day. Hope it works tomorrow!

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Answers

Nothing to do with the contract, Dougal, but I thought of you while watching the match last Sunday. Tons of Aarondite close-ups. ;-)

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

...5 more years at double his current money. Well deserved, he's had a good season.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Dougal I bet you're counting the days until it's Hughie's month on the 'calendar'. (!) I see we're stuck with Dyer this month - bless him. Better photo than Nobby and his trumpet though!

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Actually, Lynda, I always worry about the Curse of the Calendar ;) Ciara, it was very pleasant!

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

I hadn't heard about that but I'm well chuffed.

He's been a star this season.

-- Anonymous, March 01, 2002

Actually, I note that he still hasn't signed it. In fairness, doubling his money probbaly makes him on less than Marcelino, but I hope he'll sign soon. Didn't have the best of games against Pires but I think we all expected that, really...

Separately, there's a nice tale in this month's Mag. Some lads serving in Cyprus decided to go along to cheer a home nation when Ploand played Northern Ireland in Cyprus recently. They decided to stay to watch the players warming down but only one player out of two international squads came to warm down: Aaron Hughes. He had a bit natter with them and told them to meet him later for more chat and photos and there's a nice photo of the lads with Hughes and, wait for it, Keith Gillespie. The lads were dead impressed that Hughes was the only one who was professional enough to warm down but also that, after a heavy defeat, he stopped and had a natter with some English lads, one sporting a Toon top, the other an England top.

-- Anonymous, March 03, 2002