UEFA Champions League Semi-Finals, 2nd Leg - The dream final

THE destination is Wembley on May 28, and it is the final that all the neutrals really wanted.  English league leaders Manchester United will take on La Liga champions and the best side in the world, possibly even ever, Barcelona.  It will be a repeat of their 2009 final and here’s hoping it will be a better contest than it was in Rome, when the Catalans romped to a 2-0 victory. 

     There is distinguished history within the setting for both teams too.  Barcelona won their first European Cup at Wembley in 1992, when a Ronald Koeman free-kick beat Sampdoria in extra-time.  Manchester United achieved a similar feat in 1968, with a Bobby Charlton inspired team overcoming Benfica 4-1, likewise in extra-time at Wembley.  Sir Alex Ferguson will lead his side out on Europe’s premier stage for the fourth time in his reign as boss – whilst Pepe Guardiola was in the Barca team that won the 1992 Wembley final, and will become the youngest coach ever to win the Champions League twice should he succeed.

     In midweek, both teams made light work of their second leg semi-finals, after handsome wins in the first games last week.  Barcelona drew 1-1 with Real Madrid at the Nou Camp on Tuesday, in a game that was only slightly better behaved than the first game was.  Jose Mourinho didn’t even turn up; he watched the game in a hotel room and he will be doing that more often next season; now that UEFA have given him a five-match touchline ban for his insulting comments at the post-match press conference last week.  For the record, Pedro put Barcelona infront in the second half and although Angel di Maria did equalise on the night, Barcelona were the better team throughout both games.  The eight point margin they have over Madrid currently in La Liga is very good value.

EASY: Anderson beats Neuer to put the seal on an easy tie

     Manchester United had the opportunity to rest the likes of Giggs, Vidic, Ferdinand and Rooney and still beat hapless Schalke 04 4-1 at Old Trafford on Wednesday night.  The 6-1 aggregate win didn’t flatter United; in fact, they could have won 16-1, if they’d put all their chances away!  Schalke are below midtable in the Bundesliga, and despite accounting for Benfica, Valencia and Inter Milan in the competition this season, they have been shown up for their real quality in these two matches.  Schalke are the worst ever side to have competed in the semis of the UEFA Champions League.  There can be little doubt about that.  Antonio Valencia, Darren Gibson and two goals from the dynamic Anderson registered on the evening for the home side, and despite Jose Manuel Jurado’s bullet strike before half-time, the German side offered very little resistance throughout.  Even the unflappable Manuel Neuer made two mistakes for two of the goals on Wednesday, which summed up Schalke’s performance, forgettable!

     The dream final has been set-up then, and let’s hope the 2011 UEFA Champions League final lives up to the spectacle that it promises to be.

The AV vote - Making the right call

NEXT week, Britain goes to the polls again.  This time, it could well decide how the country votes in future elections.  Thanks to Nick Clegg and his failing party – we have to decide whether we want to keep the current voting system, or go for the ridiculous idea of numbering party candidates by first choice, second choice and so on.  Are you confused by the AV system, do you even care?  I don’t think people do to be honest, but all the same – it gives me the chance to express my thoughts on such a crucial system.

LISTENING: Cameron looks on as Reid gives his reasons

     Last week was a funny one, to see political rebels on the same platform as one another, promoting their views on AV.  Prime Minister David Cameron shared a stage with former Labour Home Secretary John Reid.  When Cameron said; ‘There aren’t many things me and John agree on,’ can you imagine what must have been going through Reid’s head.  Talk about stating the bloody obvious!  Cameron, Reid and the BNP leader, Nick Griffin are in the ‘No to AV’ camp.  I must admit – I’m in the same camp.  Yes, you heard it here first – I actually agree with something that Nick Griffin says and that makes me feel dirty inside!

     The current voting system works fine.  Okay, it doesn’t favour minority parties such as UKIP, the BNP, Green Party and others and it would mean another century of either ‘hung parliaments,’ or Conservative and Labour majority governments.  However, what’s so bad about that and I think, after the Liberal Democrats dramatic fall from grace in the past twelve months, many feel its bad enough they are part of a coalition at the moment, let alone if they governed the country solely.

     This referendum on the voting system was agreed in the coalition package last May, and was one of Nick Clegg’s critical reforms in his party manifesto.  So, he stuck to one of his pledges in pushing for something.  Such a shame he didn’t think the same way, when it came to tuition fees.  Students always saw the Liberal Democrats as their ‘natural’ party.  They were the only party that seemed interested in making higher education and University tuition fees a thing of the past.  Labour introduced them and the Tories were only interested in raising them.  So, when Clegg and current Business Secretary Vince Cable had their chance to rebel their point, they blew it and lost a load of staunch supporters.  Clegg doesn’t seem to regret it, but he should.  Last year, the Lib Dems were the crème of the crop and could have forged a major surprise in the General Election.  Fast-forward twelve months and the party has been battered at numerous by-elections, looks set to be thrashed at next week’s local and council elections and isn’t very liked within society.  Maybe ‘Yes to AV’ is a fairer voting system – but is it necessary?  Politics might be in a complete mess nowadays, but I think it would be in a worse state should ‘Yes to AV’ be passed. 

UNPOPULAR: Ed Miliband will do well to turn around his fortunes

     Plus, if you didn’t need any more convincing about the ‘Yes to AV’ being the wrong idea, Clegg’s biggest supporter is the Labour leader Ed Miliband.  Ed Miliband seems to be about as popular as a micro chip!  His party doesn’t seem to like him already and let’s be honest – what has he done since he was elected leader of the opposition last September, absolutely nothing!  If Miliband ever got into Downing Street, the consequences could be unimaginable.  What were the Trade Unions thinking when they backed Ed over David in the leadership contest last autumn!  David Miliband would have given Labour a more positive future, after the backwards steps it took in Gordon Brown’s later days.  In Ed Miliband, they have the wrong man in the job, when Labour could make big steps forward – especially when the coalition’s popularity is not very high in society.  Miliband backing Clegg doesn’t surprise me and it convinces me enough that ‘Yes to AV’ is the wrong way to go.

     In summary, the AV vote is not the most exciting thing to have ever gripped the country, but it is still valuable, especially with future elections in the balance on what happens at the ballot box next Thursday.  Whatever the nation ends up deciding, it will and with good grace.  I just hope you use your vote wisely and think of the possible outcomes before making your mind up.    

Prosecutions over Potters Bar rail tragedy

NETWORK RAIL and former maintenance company Jarvis Rail faced unlimited fines over the Potters Bar rail crash.  The tragedy, which occurred in May 2002, left seven people dead and many more seriously injured.  Today, an enquiry into the disaster ruled that the two companies in the dock were found guilty of breaches in Health & Safety Law regulations.  The ORR (Office of Rail Regulation) also said that it will be launching criminal proceedings against Jarvis Rail and Network Rail.

The verdict will please the victims of the dead and the TSSA which represents the union of people in regards to transport and travel.  An inquest was held earlier this year, which came back with seven counts of accidental death, which angered families.  The director of rail safety in the ORR Ian Prosser said; “there is enough evidence in the public interest,” to prosecute Network Rail and Jarvis under health and safety regulations.

DERAILED: The aftermath of the train following the crash

A previous health and safety executive report into the tragedy blamed negligent maintenance for the point’s failure which led to the train being derailed on May 10 2002.  Six people on the train and one passenger at the station were killed in the crash.  Railtrack was in control of the British rail system, before Network Rail took over the running in the autumn of 2002.  Since the incident, Network Rail has carried out the required safety recommendations made by the crash report. 

In response to the charges today, Network Rail added this in a statement; “The railway today is almost unrecognisable since the days of Railtrack and the Potters Bar tragedy of 2002.”  Jarvis Rail, the contractor who was responsible for maintenance on the Potters Bar network went into administration earlier this year.   

Higgins Cleared of Match-Fixing

Former world snooker champion John Higgins has been cleared of fixing matches, but has been fined £75,000 and banned from the sport he loves for six months.  In May this year, Higgins was secretly filmed by the News of the World, agreeing to fix frames on purpose in Kiev. 

The meeting had been set-up by Higgins manager Pat Mooney.  However, the match-fixing allegation was thrown out, after investigators accepted Higgins explanation that he only agreed to the deal, because he was in a “intimidating atmosphere” and had no intention whatsoever of following the deed through.

As the Scot, world champion twice has been suspended from the sport since the allegations broke cover in the days leading up to the World Snooker Championship final in Sheffield, he is clear to play again from November onwards.  Mooney has since resigned his position for his role in the scandal.  After the two-day hearing, Higgins read out the following statement:

"This has been a traumatic time for me and those close to me."  "I am pleased (it has been) concluded after a thorough investigation that I was not guilty of any dishonesty and had no intention of fixing a match and no intention of doing anything corrupt.  "In November I will return to snooker with a stronger determination to succeed and I plan to hold up many trophies and the coming years."

There is no doubt that John Higgins has lost a load of fans and mutual respect from some of his closest friends in the game.  However, his explanations seem valid and I hope he has learned his lessons from this scandal which is something that the sport simply didn’t need.

Five Years On From One Unbelievable Night In Istanbul

It is five years on today, from one of the greatest nights ever in the prestigious history of Liverpool Football club.  No Liverpool fan present in the Ataturk Stadium in Istanbul, nor the millions listening on radios and watching on giant TV’s across the city, in bars and clubs and in home throughout the country will ever forget the night Rafa Benitez’s Mighty Reds became European Champions in the most unbelievable manner.  It is time to reminisce the over-riding joy of such an epic night full of emotions.

It is Wednesday 25^th May 2005, and it is a beautiful summer’s day across the country, whilst in Turkey, Liverpool’s date in Istanbul in the 2005 UEFA Champions League Final, against the mighty Serie A giants, AC Milan.

The 2004/05 domestic season for Liverpool had been a struggle.  Crippling injuries and a dire away record left Liverpool finishing the season a disappointing 5^th beaten in the final table by our domestic neighbours from Stanley Park, Everton.  This meant a season of UEFA Cup football was set to follow at Anfield, toppled with the fact that we finished nearly 40 points behind the new champions, Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea.  Our best form had been saved for the Champions League.  

Who could forget Steven Gerrard’s stunning strike against Olympiakos in the group stages, which kept us in the competition by the skin of our teeth, the slaying of Italian champions Juventus, then the controversial ‘goal’ that shattered Chelsea’s treble dream and loosened Mourinho’s grip on the European Cup during a nail-biting early May night at Anfield.  For the first time in twenty years, Liverpool were heading to a European Cup final, could we pull out one more historic performance and complete the most unlikely of triumphs.

The first half was forgettable, not because we were so bad, more the case of Milan playing football out of this world, that no-one could live with.  Milan skipper Paolo Maldini volleyed his side infront inside of 50 seconds, and then Chelsea loanee Hernan Crespo scored a quick fire double to leave Reds fan devastated.  With a dejected Harry Kewell limping off before half-time and Steve Finnan forced off at the interval, everything seemed to be going against Liverpool.  In six crazy minutes, Liverpool roared back into the final, with quite probably, the greatest ever sporting comeback ever seen.

Ten minutes into the second half, Steven Gerrard headed in a deep John Arne Riise cross and pulled the scoreline back to 3-1.  Suddenly, doubts crept into the back of AC Milan minds; manager Carlo Ancelotti was chewing his gum far harder than he had just two minutes earlier.  Moments later, substitute Dietmar Hamann found Vladimir Smicer and in his final Reds appearance, the Czech hit an optimistic shot which the unconvincing Dida spilt through his grasp and into the net.  Now, the comeback was well and truly on, miracles are well and truly possible!  Then, Gerrard links up with the frustrating Milan Baros and is tripped by Gennaro Gattuso.  No doubts from the Spanish referee Gonzalez, who points to the spot, Gattuso lucky to stay on the pitch.  Step up Xabi Alonso, with a chance to equalise for Liverpool.  The penalty was pretty tame and Dida saved it, but Alonso snapped up the rebound and lofted the ball into the top of the net.  Mission impossible had been accomplished.  Five minutes earlier, Liverpool had been 3-0 down – now they were on level terms.

For the rest of the game, Milan looked shell-shocked, but started to gain a sense of control again.  With the match edging closer towards penalty, Brazilian Serginho whips a dangerous ball into the penalty area, which is met by Ukraine goal machine Andrei Shevchenko.  Surely, he must score!  However, he didn’t as somehow, Jerzy Dudek denied him twice.  Even now, Dudek probably doesn’t know how he kept Shevchenko now, and quite probably, neither does Sheva himself.

Into the drama and tension of a penalty shootout, and its Milan who go first.  Serginho’s first penalty belonged in the ‘House of Horrors!’ It was a shocking kick, and Andrea Pirlo’s lame effort was stopped heroically by Dudek.  Dietmar Hamann banged his kick home, as did super sub Djibril Cisse.  Liverpool, 2-0 up, now the dream was looking like a real reality.  Jon Dahl Tomasson made no mistake, and nor did Kaka for the Italians, despite Dudek’s best attempts to put the kickers off by copying the ‘wobbly legs’ format that Bruce Grobbelaar had successfully achieved in the 1984 final.  In between this, Dida did enough to push Riise’s effort around the post.  Still, Liverpool were in control and Smicer made it match point, dispatching his penalty with efficient calm.  What it meant now was that Shevchenko, who had scored the winning penalty in the diabolical 2003 final at Old Trafford, had to score.  The weight of the world was firmly on his shoulders, and his kick wasn’t the best.  Dudek pulled off a terrific stop and the European Cup was returning to England, and to Anfield.  LIVERPOOL ARE CHAMPIONS OF EUROPE AGAIN!!

The most extraordinary final, had a most incredible final twist.  Liverpool had their hands on the European Cup again, and this time, it was for keeps.  Their fifth success meant that this version of ‘Old Big Ears’ was going to have a permanent storage in the Anfield trophy cabinet.  Liverpool had won the European Cup back in the most unbelievable manner.  It is a night that no-one will ever forget, one of those ‘Where was I’ moments in history.

Five years on, and the fire of this success still burns strongly and deeply with everyone connected with Liverpool Football Club, ‘One Unbelievable Night in Istanbul.’

Bradford Remembers The Horror of Twenty-Five Years Ago

As a football club, Bradford City has had their high moments in its distinguished football history.  Who will forget David Wetherall’s spectacular header which beat Liverpool on the final day of the 1999/00 Premiership season.  Unbridled joy at Valley Parade followed when the supporters realised that they had beaten the drop, and Wimbledon went down instead.  However, they have a horror low moment, which today still ranks alongside sport’s biggest tragedies, twenty-five years on.

On Saturday May 11^th 1985, the Bantams day started full of celebration.  The club paraded the Third Division title just before their final match of the season, against Lincoln City.  With the score at 0-0, five minutes before half-time, the main stand at Valley Parade was ignited by a raging fire, that swept through the stand in next to no time.  From a small controllable blaze, to something of the greatest magnitude, as it took little under four minutes for the entire stand to be completely ablaze.  Supporters rushed onto the pitch in panic and fear, completely shocked to the core of the destruction that had just taken place.  Tragically, the gates at the back of the stand had been locked, to prevent people without tickets sneaking into the game.  Even more so, the stand that caught ablaze in dramatic fashion was due for demolition in the summer of 1985, for a more updated version.  56 people, hoping to see a day of celebration and ecstasy lost their lives in the Valley Parade inferno, and over 270 were injured, some with severe burns that see the scars still hurt today.

The club had to go on and play their Second Division games for the following season at Leeds Elland Road and in Huddersfield, before setting up camp at Odsal Stadium, now home to the Super League side, the Bradford Bulls.  Following a staggering amount of donations, Valley Parade reopened in December 1986, but those 56 will never be forgotten.  The cause of the fire is largely unknown, though many believe that it was a dropped cigarette or match that ignited rubbish underneath the main stand, which had been clustered together over a significant number of years.  The heat of the blaze could be felt across the ground, as the venomous smoke lit the sky.  Yorkshire TV, who was filming the game, chose never to release the footage, as a tribute to those who lost their lives.  Having seen pictures and the odd video on YouTube of the horror, I cannot imagine the nightmare that fans were experiencing and for the veteran commentator, John Helm, who was commentating on the game for ITV Football League programme.

Today, Bradford stood silent to remember the fifty-six who perished at the city’s Centaury Square.  Some 2,000 mourners attended the outside memorial, which included a singing of ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone,’ before a one-minute silence.  With the Heysel tragedy just a mere three weeks later, the Bradford fire is one of those forgotten tragedies in sport, but it is one of the worst for sure.  Today, we must remember those fifty-six and the scores injured, who went to see a carnival, only to be caught in a horror nightmare. 

To the Bradford 1985 fifty-six, R.I.P.         

British Soap Awards 2010 - The Nominations

Soap's biggest TV night of the year is coming very soon, with the announcement today of the nominations for the annual bash, The British Soap Awards.  The forces of EastEnders, Emmerdale, Doctors, Hollyoaks and Coronation Street will lock horns once again, to see which soap the public has voted the creme of the crop in the past twelve months.


Below are all the nominations for the nine panel-based categories.  The Best Actor, Best Actresses, Sexiest Male, Sexiest Female and Villian of the Year will be announced on the night (The public have been voting on these awards since February)

Best Comedy Performance

Craig Gazey (Graeme Proctor, Coronation Street)

Nina Wadia (Zainab Masood, EastEnders)

Dominic Brunt (Paddy Kirk, Emmerdale)

Bronagh Waugh (Cheryl Brady, Hollyoaks)

 

Best Dramatic Performance

Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow, Coronation Street)

Lacey Turner (Stacey Branning, EastEnders)

Danny Miller (Aaron Livesy, Emmerdale)

Glen Wallace (Malachy Fisher, Hollyoaks)

 

Best Dramatic Performance from a Young Actor or Actrees

Alexander Bain (Simon Barlow, Coronation Street)

Ami Metcalf (Sapphire Cox, Doctors)

Maisie Smith (Tiffany Butcher, EastEnders)

Oscar Lloyd (Will Wylde, Emmerdale)

 

Best Exit

Reece Dinsdale (Joe McIntyre, Coronation Street)

Charlie Clements (Bradley Branning, EastEnders)

Maxwell Caulfield (Mark Wylde, Emmerdale)

Jamie Lomas (Warren Fox, Hollyoaks)

 

Best Newcomer

Sophie Abelson (Cherry Malone, Doctors)

Marc Elliott (Syed Masood, EastEnders)

Lyndon Ogbourne (Nathan Wylde, Emmerdale)

Bronagh Waugh (Cheryl Brady, Hollyoaks)

 

Best On-Screen Partnership

Katherine Kelly & Simon Gregson (Becky & Steve McDonald, Coronation Street)

Jan Pearson & Chris Walker (Karen & Rob Hollins, Doctors)

Sid Owen & Patsy Palmer (Ricky & Bianca Butcher, EastEnders)

Nick Miles & Nicola Wheeler (Jimmy King & Nicola De Souza, Emmerdale)

 

Best Storyline

Peter's Alcohol Addiction (Coronation Street)

Zara's Revenge (Doctors)

Who Killed Archie Mitchell? (EastEnders)

Aaron's Sexuality (Emmerdale)

 

Spectacular Scene of the Year

Joe Drowns To His Death (Coronation Street)

The Siege (Doctors)

A Car Crashes Through Home Farm Shop (Emmerdale)

Skydiving Disaster/Sarah Plummets To Her Death (Hollyoaks)

 

Best Single Episode

Peter's Drinking Gets Out Of Control (Coronation Street)

'Master Of The Universe' - The Siege (Doctors)

The Live Episode/Archie's Killer Is Revealed (EastEnders)

Aaron Confesses That He Is Gay (Emmerdale)

 

Best British Soap (voted by the viewers)

Coronation Street

Doctors

EastEnders

Emmerdale

Hollyoaks

 

Despite a barrage of criticism from many, it is to many surprise that Emmerdale has the honour this year of earning a nomination in each panel-based category.  It doesn't guarantee success though, as Hollyoaks found out last year, when they had similar treatment, but walked away empty-handed.  Emmerdale has 9 nominations, Coronation Street and EastEnders have been nominated for 8, with daytime soap Doctors scooping 6 nominations and Hollyoaks a disappointing 5.

The awards ceremony will be on Saturday night at BBC Television Centre and will be hosted by This Morning anchorman Phillip Schofield.  The ceremony will be broadcast on ITV1 on Wednesday 19th May, a week later than planned, due to Fulham's involvement in the UEFA Europa League final.

Best of luck to everyone who has been nominated!

The General Election - The Race Is On!

      

So, quite possibly the worse kept secret in UK politics is out.  Gordon Brown did his duty today and gave us the expected date we were waiting for.  Thursday 6^th May will be the day when the 2010 General Election takes place, the day when we visit the polls, the day when we get our say to decide whether we want change or continuity.

This is shaping up to be the closest General Election since 1992, certainly for many, the closest in generations.  Voting figures have lowered over the last three elections, largely following Tony Blair’s landslide victory in 1997, followed by years of continuous dominance from the Labour party, whilst the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats went through lean periods of decline and obscurity.  Now, things have closed up, meaning the possible majority of a Home Parliament should shake the fear into anyone.  For this country to move forward, following the dark days of the recession and MP’s expenses, it is essential we end up with a majority parliament.

Since inheriting power from Blair, when he decided to walk in 2007, Gordon Brown has had a rough and rocky ride for sure.  There are many judgements that have been made, many more that can be made.  However, he is sure to do his damnest to keep Labour in Downing Street.  Consequently, with Labour trailing in most opinion polls by around ten points, his impact on the leadership debates, to be televised live by ITV, the BBC and Sky News could have a massive influence on the final outcome.  Labour’s campaign message is based firmly on the economy and the recovery that we are meant to be in.  They are determined that change will ruin the country completely, although whether that is the case is unknown.

Labour’s determination to increase the National Insurance tax has angered their rival parties and the Liberal Democrats are convinced that after sixty-five years of Tory and Labour government, they deserve a proper say in the country.  Nick Clegg certainly gives the party their best chance at a General Election for nearly twenty years.  He is the fresh, prompt face that the Liberals needed after the ageing Menzies Campbell.  Despite reports of coalition with the Tories, Clegg is determined to do things his own way, which is brave, but could well reap results for the Liberal Democrats at the polls.

Many believe that David Cameron is the man to lead Britain into this second decade.  Cameron is fresh, opinionated and strong-minded and has incentives and drive that may be missing from the Brown administration.  His impact on politics seems similar to Barack Obama over in America, but he is the man who is quite possibly under pressure the most.  The Conservative party are the slight favourites to inherit power from May 7^th onwards.  However, that doesn’t mean they will win, just ask Labour’s Neil Kinnock, who was the long-term favourite in 1992, yet was gazumped at the post by John Major. 

The campaign trail has already begun and for the next four weeks, the party leaders will travel the full width and breadth of the country in an effort to persuade voters that their vision is truly the way to go.  Attacking and defensive strategies are already being applied by the parties, keen to win key seats, unexpected and expected seats.  The battle lines have been drawn – let the race to May 6^th and Downing Street begin!

Railstrike Averted By High Court - But The War Is Not Over!

Thursday’s high court ruling of a national rail strike was averted, but the war is far from over, as the RMT Union has insisted they are still prepared to strike in the future.

The high court ruled in favour of Network Rail, who granted an emergency injunction against the RMT Union.  With a threat of a rail strike out of the way, Gordon Brown is now firmly widely expected to call an expected May 6^th date for the General Election on Tuesday.  The TUC chief, Brendan Barber is blaming the Chancellor Alistair Darling for him to reduce the country’s budget deficits.  He has warned that if not, more strikes could be the way of action this year, following the Network Rail action and the recent cabin crew strikes from British Airways.

Millions of passengers would have been affected by the four-day strike, which would have started on Tuesday morning.  If the strike had gone ahead, only one in five trains had been expected to run.  In the ballot last week, 54% of those who took part in the RMT ballot voted in favour of a strike, but Network Rail’s claims were reliable that the ballot had been unconventional and unreliable.  Only 112 of 4,556 rail signallers were balloted, which showed a complete lack of inaccuracy.  Network Rail suggested that ‘Ghost Votes,’ were used for the ballot.  Some votes used even included signal boxes that have not been opened or used since the 1960’s.

Signal workers can now not strike on Tuesday and a few hours later, maintenance workers also called off their strike.  It means that now delays and cancellations after the Easter weekend are now very unlikely.  Network Rail said it had unearthed massive inaccuracies in the RMT ballot and that the Union had failed to comply with the 1992 Trade Union and Labour Relations Act.  Over 300 potential votes were not cast.  Areas such as Rugby were not balloted, whereas South Tottenham was.  At South Tottenham, eleven signallers were asked to vote, but Network Rail discovered that only three are employed in the area.

Meanwhile, no resolution is in sight with the British Airways cabin crew strike.  The crew have already taken part in seven days of strike action, and talks between the two parties, Unite Union and BA have grounded into deadlock again.  Both are still blaming one another and more chaos is predicted. 

For now, the rail strike is off, but it is far from finished.  Network Rail may have won this battle, but the war is far from finished.