Controversial book about Bradford's Ointment football hooligans to boost burns research unit funds (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
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City fan Kevin McDonnell's book Getting a Nasty Shock - the Bradford Ointment Story will benefit hospital unit
5:03pm Monday 22nd October 2012 in News By Steve Wright, Crime Reporter
A controversial book about Bradford football hooliganism is set to benefit the city’s burns research unit, set up after the Valley Parade fire disaster.
Bradford City fan Kevin McDonnell has written Getting A Nasty Shock – The Bradford Ointment Story, which charts the violent history of the Bradford City Ointment gang, from its heyday in the late 1970s and early 1980s to the present day.
The book, being launched in the city, features former hooligans and is described by the publishers as “not for the faint-hearted as you are taken through a journey of extreme violence and shocking acts of brutality.”
For every book sold, £1 will be donated to the plastic surgery and burns research unit, based at the University of Bradford.
Today the offer of charitable donations from sales of the book was cautiously welcomed.
Professor David Sharpe, the unit’s director, who treated many Valley Parade fire victims, said he was conscious that people would not want to receive money from groups currently associated with criminal behaviour.
“But there is no reason why people who are reformed characters, who wish to donate money to a good charitable cause, for a legitimate reason, should not have their money accepted. I don’t have a problem with that,” said Prof Sharpe.
“I know nothing about the organisation, I thought the name referred to some sort of medical treatment! The background may offend some people. It is like some sordid thing that football hooligans got up to.”
The Plastic Surgery and Burns Research Unit was set up following the Valley Parade disaster, on May 11, 1985, in which 56 people died. Many more suffered serious burns.
Bradford City joint chairman Mark Lawn said: “No-one can condone what happened years ago, but football has cleaned up its act. Some people may feel uncomfortable about this, but it is an independent book that has nothing to do with Bradford City Football Club.
“I support Prof Sharpe. If donations go to a good cause, that’s a good thing.”
Author Kevin McDonnell said: “Most of the people in the book were at Valley Parade on the day of the fire. Some of them are in their late 50s now and haven’t been involved in violence for decades. They asked me to make the donation to the unit. It’s a charity that touches everybody’s hearts.”
e-mail: steve.wright @telegraphandargus.co.uk
Comments(30)
locky1667
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6:16pm Mon 22 Oct 12
ctid1980
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6:17pm Mon 22 Oct 12
ctid1980
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6:20pm Mon 22 Oct 12
bcfc1903
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8:45pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Wanna Have
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8:46pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Used to go with other young lads, no parents or family stands in those days.
You know what, throughout all this time never had a moments trouble, saw fighting at times but very rare and the odd stone flew over my head at VP.
Point I'm making is you can blow a storm up about anything to suit your political viewpoint and take the worst examples on offer.Bit like binge drinking in town centres on Friday nights you can make that look bad but no real trouble there either.
Miss the passion that used to exsist in football and the characters on the terraces, its dull now, just a load of diving players and condencending jobsworth adminstrators putting politics in football.
bcfc1903
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9:24pm Mon 22 Oct 12
Wanna Have
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10:31pm Mon 22 Oct 12
bcfc1903 wrote:Yep when tinnion scored it certainly got the hornets nest going, it was great in that corner section the whole 35,000 Leeds going barmy at 1,800 city,tinhat time, was stood by the fence next to the lowfields leeds lot, you've never seen people clear so quick from our area when city scored,the clanking of coins etc against the fence, you don't get that partisan rivalary now.
Yeah, i used to go over to Elland Road when BCFC played the scummers, great atmosphere both at Valley Parade and at there place. Best ever away game was when Tinnion scored the equalliser around 1990 at there place. Regarding football violence, if you went looking for it, you'd find it in the 80's, in the 70's it found you in the ground especially away from VP as by the mid 70's very few away fans came to Bradford such was the reputation of it's supporters, no segregation and few if any police at games. Southport lads refused to get off their coaches on Midland Road in 72...Chesterfield got chased out of VP in 75 in an FA cup game, they'd come over mob handed (butchers coats and boots were their garb of the day) after BCFC fans had previously taken the Chesterfield end twice in a season two years previous, one being an FA cup game, those are just a couple of sanitized versions, a Bradford fan had got killed in a row on the outskirts of Southport in Ormskirk in 72 leading up to a particularly nasty incident on Midland Road in the return game, it actually turned out that it was Everton fans involved in Ormskirk but a couple of Bradford City fans had also been hospitalised at the away game besides one lad being killed outside a pub in Ormskirk after the game. So feelings were running high, clockwork orange garb was the fashion on show by the BCFC'fans that day in may 72.
Was enthralled by games like these.
Salty Bantam
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12:07am Tue 23 Oct 12
thelastmanstanding
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12:54am Tue 23 Oct 12
pockman wrote:Well then Pockman, if you get badly burnt in a fire, I expect to see you refusing treatment.
In fact, if these characters were truly reformed they wouldn't want this Book to be published. Just a book about "the good old days" in which we no doubt can read how they only targetted other "firms", public not targetted, etc etc. Involving the Burns Unit Appeal leaves a nasty taste as it seems a cynical ploy to boost sales - so I say "Don't buy the book but send your donation direct to the Unit Appeal. Oh, and don't say I shouldn't pre-judge or comment on a book I haven't read ! The content is evident - trash reading for dopes !
Accepting treatment from them after they have received funds from such horrid people would leave such a nasty taste in your mouth that guilt would fry you.
Andy2010
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9:01am Tue 23 Oct 12
bcfc1903
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10:17am Tue 23 Oct 12
Wanna Have wrote:I was pretty near the fence myself, didn't see any movement due to that section i was in being like sardines in a tin, think BCFC got 1,200 tickets and there was obviously many more BCFC fans who paid into the home sections of Elland Road...a recipee for mayhem if i remember correctly..... did collect plenty of coin though, very good of the Leeds fans to pay for my trip home lol. Remember going absolutely mental when Tinnion scored lol....great days.
bcfc1903 wrote:Yep when tinnion scored it certainly got the hornets nest going, it was great in that corner section the whole 35,000 Leeds going barmy at 1,800 city,tinhat time, was stood by the fence next to the lowfields leeds lot, you've never seen people clear so quick from our area when city scored,the clanking of coins etc against the fence, you don't get that partisan rivalary now.
Yeah, i used to go over to Elland Road when BCFC played the scummers, great atmosphere both at Valley Parade and at there place. Best ever away game was when Tinnion scored the equalliser around 1990 at there place. Regarding football violence, if you went looking for it, you'd find it in the 80's, in the 70's it found you in the ground especially away from VP as by the mid 70's very few away fans came to Bradford such was the reputation of it's supporters, no segregation and few if any police at games. Southport lads refused to get off their coaches on Midland Road in 72...Chesterfield got chased out of VP in 75 in an FA cup game, they'd come over mob handed (butchers coats and boots were their garb of the day) after BCFC fans had previously taken the Chesterfield end twice in a season two years previous, one being an FA cup game, those are just a couple of sanitized versions, a Bradford fan had got killed in a row on the outskirts of Southport in Ormskirk in 72 leading up to a particularly nasty incident on Midland Road in the return game, it actually turned out that it was Everton fans involved in Ormskirk but a couple of Bradford City fans had also been hospitalised at the away game besides one lad being killed outside a pub in Ormskirk after the game. So feelings were running high, clockwork orange garb was the fashion on show by the BCFC'fans that day in may 72.
Was enthralled by games like these.
KnightMcCall
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10:21am Tue 23 Oct 12
Andy2010 wrote:Are you for real. "aside from the football they were sound lads". That's a bit like saying that aside from the murdering; Shipman was a good doctor or aside from the Genocide, Hitler was a good politician.
I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the book
This is a book about pathetic, mindless thugs and cretins. Animals who think that violence makes a man of you...neanderthals who belong to a distant and best-forgotten past.
KnightMcCall
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10:25am Tue 23 Oct 12
bcfc1903 wrote:These people you refer to are not football fans whether it be Southport or Everton; this has nothing to do with football and everything to do with cowardly criminal activity. People who feel brave in a crowd after too much alcohol and would run at the first sign that they might get hurt. Pathetic...these are the scummers.
Yeah, i used to go over to Elland Road when BCFC played the scummers, great atmosphere both at Valley Parade and at there place. Best ever away game was when Tinnion scored the equalliser around 1990 at there place. Regarding football violence, if you went looking for it, you'd find it in the 80's, in the 70's it found you in the ground especially away from VP as by the mid 70's very few away fans came to Bradford such was the reputation of it's supporters, no segregation and few if any police at games. Southport lads refused to get off their coaches on Midland Road in 72...Chesterfield got chased out of VP in 75 in an FA cup game, they'd come over mob handed (butchers coats and boots were their garb of the day) after BCFC fans had previously taken the Chesterfield end twice in a season two years previous, one being an FA cup game, those are just a couple of sanitized versions, a Bradford fan had got killed in a row on the outskirts of Southport in Ormskirk in 72 leading up to a particularly nasty incident on Midland Road in the return game, it actually turned out that it was Everton fans involved in Ormskirk but a couple of Bradford City fans had also been hospitalised at the away game besides one lad being killed outside a pub in Ormskirk after the game. So feelings were running high, clockwork orange garb was the fashion on show by the BCFC'fans that day in may 72.
bcfc1903
says...
10:37am Tue 23 Oct 12
KnightMcCall wrote:I think that is a poor analogy, you can't of course condone what went on. To make sweeping statements about football violence and the thought process behind every individuel involved in it is not correct either. Of course it's an opinion but it doesn't correlate with my thinking.
Andy2010 wrote:Are you for real. "aside from the football they were sound lads". That's a bit like saying that aside from the murdering; Shipman was a good doctor or aside from the Genocide, Hitler was a good politician.
I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the book
This is a book about pathetic, mindless thugs and cretins. Animals who think that violence makes a man of you...neanderthals who belong to a distant and best-forgotten past.
Andy2010
says...
12:31pm Tue 23 Oct 12
bcfc1903 wrote:Exactly...The lads I knew have gone on to be businessmen, Doctors and even one is now running a solar energy firm in the Maldives. Yes they liked a fight but in general they kept the fighting between other firms and if no members of the public are involved who cares if they beat the cr4p out of each other
KnightMcCall wrote:I think that is a poor analogy, you can't of course condone what went on. To make sweeping statements about football violence and the thought process behind every individuel involved in it is not correct either. Of course it's an opinion but it doesn't correlate with my thinking.Andy2010 wrote: I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the bookAre you for real. "aside from the football they were sound lads". That's a bit like saying that aside from the murdering; Shipman was a good doctor or aside from the Genocide, Hitler was a good politician. This is a book about pathetic, mindless thugs and cretins. Animals who think that violence makes a man of you...neanderthals who belong to a distant and best-forgotten past.
ctid1980
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1:21pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Salty Bantam
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2:05pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Andy2010 wrote:You seem to think that anyone who goes into business has done good!
bcfc1903 wrote:Exactly...The lads I knew have gone on to be businessmen, Doctors and even one is now running a solar energy firm in the Maldives. Yes they liked a fight but in general they kept the fighting between other firms and if no members of the public are involved who cares if they beat the cr4p out of each other
KnightMcCall wrote:I think that is a poor analogy, you can't of course condone what went on. To make sweeping statements about football violence and the thought process behind every individuel involved in it is not correct either. Of course it's an opinion but it doesn't correlate with my thinking.Andy2010 wrote: I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the bookAre you for real. "aside from the football they were sound lads". That's a bit like saying that aside from the murdering; Shipman was a good doctor or aside from the Genocide, Hitler was a good politician. This is a book about pathetic, mindless thugs and cretins. Animals who think that violence makes a man of you...neanderthals who belong to a distant and best-forgotten past.
Once a mindless thug, always a mindless thug. Football hooligans are utter arrseholes.
Salty Bantam
says...
2:07pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Andy2010 wrote:They were scum.
I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the book
Salty Bantam
says...
2:08pm Tue 23 Oct 12
ctid1980 wrote:Read? You mean look at the pictures, surely.
any how pay day this friday gunna buy the book and read on the way down to burton cant wait
irish bantam
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2:26pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Salty Bantam wrote:salty bantam ......obviously you have a lot to say about the lads involved over the years as stated above.......from arse holes to scum.
Andy2010 wrote:They were scum.
I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the book
Hope to see you down at the book launch then you can tell a few of them to their faces.......as very many of these still follow city home and away each week and will be present.If you dont like the book then dont buy it, its not the first football firm book and it certainly wont be the last, and it is how it was back in the days firm against firm ....not beating up old women or attacking innocent people. glad the burns unit is getting something from it too.
Andy2010
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2:45pm Tue 23 Oct 12
irish bantam wrote:Alas Salty Bantam will just come back with some rubbish they have read on the internet and resort back to it
Salty Bantam wrote:salty bantam ......obviously you have a lot to say about the lads involved over the years as stated above.......from arse holes to scum. Hope to see you down at the book launch then you can tell a few of them to their faces.......as very many of these still follow city home and away each week and will be present.If you dont like the book then dont buy it, its not the first football firm book and it certainly wont be the last, and it is how it was back in the days firm against firm ....not beating up old women or attacking innocent people. glad the burns unit is getting something from it too.Andy2010 wrote: I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the bookThey were scum.
Nice post BTW
bcfc1903
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3:24pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Andy2010 wrote:Yeah, good post fella.
irish bantam wrote:Alas Salty Bantam will just come back with some rubbish they have read on the internet and resort back to it
Salty Bantam wrote:salty bantam ......obviously you have a lot to say about the lads involved over the years as stated above.......from arse holes to scum. Hope to see you down at the book launch then you can tell a few of them to their faces.......as very many of these still follow city home and away each week and will be present.If you dont like the book then dont buy it, its not the first football firm book and it certainly wont be the last, and it is how it was back in the days firm against firm ....not beating up old women or attacking innocent people. glad the burns unit is getting something from it too.Andy2010 wrote: I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the bookThey were scum.
Nice post BTW
RollandSmoke
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7:16pm Tue 23 Oct 12
KnightMcCall
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7:37pm Tue 23 Oct 12
Andy2010 wrote:Whilst i understand that you may suggest that fighting amongst themselves is not as bad as attacking "innocents"; it's a sad state of affairs to suggest that violence has any justification; it doesn't. Not only is it pretty sad that people had to fight in a ganglike way; it's the fact that they somehow claimed to be attached to my football club....so actually, I care. It's not a poor analogy either; it's hyperbole designed to make a point.
bcfc1903 wrote:Exactly...The lads I knew have gone on to be businessmen, Doctors and even one is now running a solar energy firm in the Maldives. Yes they liked a fight but in general they kept the fighting between other firms and if no members of the public are involved who cares if they beat the cr4p out of each otherKnightMcCall wrote:I think that is a poor analogy, you can't of course condone what went on. To make sweeping statements about football violence and the thought process behind every individuel involved in it is not correct either. Of course it's an opinion but it doesn't correlate with my thinking.Andy2010 wrote: I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the bookAre you for real. "aside from the football they were sound lads". That's a bit like saying that aside from the murdering; Shipman was a good doctor or aside from the Genocide, Hitler was a good politician. This is a book about pathetic, mindless thugs and cretins. Animals who think that violence makes a man of you...neanderthals who belong to a distant and best-forgotten past.
As for what they went on to do later; Lance Armstrong has made millions for charity...he is however a fraud and a cheat. Would you suggest that some good deeds mean that the bad deeds can be forgotten. That's also a sad state of affairs. Jimmy Saville did plenty of good deeds too; I bet you don't think that his crimes should be disregarded as a result do you?
These people were criminals and should be treated as such.
bcfc1903
says...
7:58pm Wed 24 Oct 12
KnightMcCall wrote:It's a poor analogy, how is it hype, that makes even less sense than your poor analogy tripe. I certainly never justified my actions, and quite honestly would find doing that totally futile. Hopefully you never go faster than 30 mph in a 30 mph zone lol. People in glass houses and all that. I'll be buying the book.
Andy2010 wrote:Whilst i understand that you may suggest that fighting amongst themselves is not as bad as attacking "innocents"; it's a sad state of affairs to suggest that violence has any justification; it doesn't. Not only is it pretty sad that people had to fight in a ganglike way; it's the fact that they somehow claimed to be attached to my football club....so actually, I care. It's not a poor analogy either; it's hyperbole designed to make a point.
bcfc1903 wrote:Exactly...The lads I knew have gone on to be businessmen, Doctors and even one is now running a solar energy firm in the Maldives. Yes they liked a fight but in general they kept the fighting between other firms and if no members of the public are involved who cares if they beat the cr4p out of each otherKnightMcCall wrote:I think that is a poor analogy, you can't of course condone what went on. To make sweeping statements about football violence and the thought process behind every individuel involved in it is not correct either. Of course it's an opinion but it doesn't correlate with my thinking.Andy2010 wrote: I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the bookAre you for real. "aside from the football they were sound lads". That's a bit like saying that aside from the murdering; Shipman was a good doctor or aside from the Genocide, Hitler was a good politician. This is a book about pathetic, mindless thugs and cretins. Animals who think that violence makes a man of you...neanderthals who belong to a distant and best-forgotten past.
As for what they went on to do later; Lance Armstrong has made millions for charity...he is however a fraud and a cheat. Would you suggest that some good deeds mean that the bad deeds can be forgotten. That's also a sad state of affairs. Jimmy Saville did plenty of good deeds too; I bet you don't think that his crimes should be disregarded as a result do you?
These people were criminals and should be treated as such.
KnightMcCall
says...
10:20pm Wed 24 Oct 12
bcfc1903 wrote:Hyperbole you muppet...not hype. look it up as you might learn something. And dont compare a minor traffic offence with thuggish violence.
KnightMcCall wrote:It's a poor analogy, how is it hype, that makes even less sense than your poor analogy tripe. I certainly never justified my actions, and quite honestly would find doing that totally futile. Hopefully you never go faster than 30 mph in a 30 mph zone lol. People in glass houses and all that. I'll be buying the book.
Andy2010 wrote:Whilst i understand that you may suggest that fighting amongst themselves is not as bad as attacking "innocents"; it's a sad state of affairs to suggest that violence has any justification; it doesn't. Not only is it pretty sad that people had to fight in a ganglike way; it's the fact that they somehow claimed to be attached to my football club....so actually, I care. It's not a poor analogy either; it's hyperbole designed to make a point.
bcfc1903 wrote:Exactly...The lads I knew have gone on to be businessmen, Doctors and even one is now running a solar energy firm in the Maldives. Yes they liked a fight but in general they kept the fighting between other firms and if no members of the public are involved who cares if they beat the cr4p out of each otherKnightMcCall wrote:I think that is a poor analogy, you can't of course condone what went on. To make sweeping statements about football violence and the thought process behind every individuel involved in it is not correct either. Of course it's an opinion but it doesn't correlate with my thinking.Andy2010 wrote: I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the bookAre you for real. "aside from the football they were sound lads". That's a bit like saying that aside from the murdering; Shipman was a good doctor or aside from the Genocide, Hitler was a good politician. This is a book about pathetic, mindless thugs and cretins. Animals who think that violence makes a man of you...neanderthals who belong to a distant and best-forgotten past.
As for what they went on to do later; Lance Armstrong has made millions for charity...he is however a fraud and a cheat. Would you suggest that some good deeds mean that the bad deeds can be forgotten. That's also a sad state of affairs. Jimmy Saville did plenty of good deeds too; I bet you don't think that his crimes should be disregarded as a result do you?
These people were criminals and should be treated as such.
bcfc1903
says...
2:22pm Thu 25 Oct 12
KnightMcCall wrote:Hey clown, doing over 30mph in a 30mph zone can kill children, adults or even pensioners...it not a minor offence it's irresponsible driving muppet, driving over 30mph in a 30mph zone has killed far more people in this country than football violence. I guess you think your above the law.... prat. Sorry about that.. i forgot, it's a high horse you ride....my mistake. Hype is short for hyperbole you crettin lol. And it's still a poor analogy.
bcfc1903 wrote:Hyperbole you muppet...not hype. look it up as you might learn something. And dont compare a minor traffic offence with thuggish violence.
KnightMcCall wrote:It's a poor analogy, how is it hype, that makes even less sense than your poor analogy tripe. I certainly never justified my actions, and quite honestly would find doing that totally futile. Hopefully you never go faster than 30 mph in a 30 mph zone lol. People in glass houses and all that. I'll be buying the book.
Andy2010 wrote:Whilst i understand that you may suggest that fighting amongst themselves is not as bad as attacking "innocents"; it's a sad state of affairs to suggest that violence has any justification; it doesn't. Not only is it pretty sad that people had to fight in a ganglike way; it's the fact that they somehow claimed to be attached to my football club....so actually, I care. It's not a poor analogy either; it's hyperbole designed to make a point.
bcfc1903 wrote:Exactly...The lads I knew have gone on to be businessmen, Doctors and even one is now running a solar energy firm in the Maldives. Yes they liked a fight but in general they kept the fighting between other firms and if no members of the public are involved who cares if they beat the cr4p out of each otherKnightMcCall wrote:I think that is a poor analogy, you can't of course condone what went on. To make sweeping statements about football violence and the thought process behind every individuel involved in it is not correct either. Of course it's an opinion but it doesn't correlate with my thinking.Andy2010 wrote: I shall be buying. Grew up knowing quite a few of these lads and football aside they were sound lads. Nice to see who's in the bookAre you for real. "aside from the football they were sound lads". That's a bit like saying that aside from the murdering; Shipman was a good doctor or aside from the Genocide, Hitler was a good politician. This is a book about pathetic, mindless thugs and cretins. Animals who think that violence makes a man of you...neanderthals who belong to a distant and best-forgotten past.
As for what they went on to do later; Lance Armstrong has made millions for charity...he is however a fraud and a cheat. Would you suggest that some good deeds mean that the bad deeds can be forgotten. That's also a sad state of affairs. Jimmy Saville did plenty of good deeds too; I bet you don't think that his crimes should be disregarded as a result do you?
These people were criminals and should be treated as such.
TirNaNog
says...
12:57am Fri 26 Oct 12
ctid1980
says...
6:25am Fri 26 Oct 12
Salty Bantam wrote:but pics can tell a thousand words cant they?
ctid1980 wrote: any how pay day this friday gunna buy the book and read on the way down to burton cant waitRead? You mean look at the pictures, surely.
pockman says...
5:22pm Mon 22 Oct 12