You can’t be Blue at City’s title success Where are the stones?
I AM a great Manchester United fan and I always feel hurt when we lose a match.
However, I cannot understand how so many fans believe we should never praise another team.
City and their great manager, Pep Guardiola, have played lots of outstanding football most of the season.
They have been consistent and a credit to the game. They have also had many outstanding individuals who have worked hard to make City so successful. They deserve all the accolades for their phenomenal success.
Yes, we all want our teams to win trophies and football matches, but at times we should all have the dignity to say ‘Well done, you deserve your success.’ Harry Singleton, Ashton-Under-Lyne
Striking note on elections
IT’S election time so the tiny Harpurhey Tory party like to denigrate local councillors Pat Karney, Joanne Green and Sandra Collins (M.E.N. Viewpoints, April 5).
Given that Tory cuts have caused real pain and problems for Harpurhey and Collyhurst residents, we will see what happens in the local election on May 3. Of course, they never give their name or address unlike myself, Pat Karney. Coun Wolfgang Mozart IT’S good to hear the new Coronation Street set has got the old Granada Studios cobbles back.
But what’s happened to our cobbles in Albert Square? Hundreds of the granite blocks were removed as part of Metrolink’s Second City Crossing tram works.
At the time we were assured that each and every cobble would be painstakingly photographed by trained workers so they could all be re-laid in the exact same position once the new link was built.
That was nearly four years ago. All we have to show for the ‘big cobble dig-up’ are vast gashes of asphalt looking like horrible scars across the square.
One of our few city-centre visitor attractions has been reduced to a cheap and nasty mess in what’s supposed to be a conservation area.
And I’m amazed that none of our councillors or well-paid council big- wigs seem to have noticed this neglectful act of vandalism on their own doorstep.
So where are those painstakingly photographed missing cobbles?
Have councillors no pride in retaining what little heritage remains in the city centre? Roger Foss, via email
Dog tax is a right mess
ANYONE who thinks that the move against ‘dog do’ in Stockport (M.E.N,
April 13) is motivated by concern for our health is deluded.
Earlier that day the BBC carried the horrific story of a man who had lost half his face, both legs and an arm to an infection carried by ‘bugs’ in dog faeces.
Yet here we have Stockport council insisting that we handle this microbe-ridden material with no mention of protection or the dangers inherent in its handling.
We are expected to bag or wrap up faeces prior to its disposal in our refuse bins to protect the council workers. Let me make my position plain. To create the mess and health danger that dog faeces causes is unacceptable, but to institute a regime of taxing the dog owner as opposed to stopping the problem is unacceptable. Anthony Jones, via email
True legend of speedway
MY immediate thoughts and condolences to the family and friends of former Belle Vue Aces legend, Ivan Mauger, who has just passed away. Ivan is up there with the likes of Jack Parker and Peter Craven who graced the muchlamented and sorely missed Hyde Road track.
He was also an inspiration to the then emerging talent that was Peter Collins. The many memories will no doubt be etched in the minds of those who witnessed his many match-winning performances while wearing the famous Belle Vue Aces bib. Rest in peace, Ivan. David Wild, Rochdale
THE speedway world is in mourning following the death of Belle Vue Aces legend Ivan Mauger.
Described as a ‘pioneer of professionalism,’ the New Zealand icon, 78, won six world championships and is considered to be the greatest rider ever to have lived – and was a member of Belle Vue’s title-winning teams of 1970, 1971 and 1972.
Mauger joined the Aces in 1969 and was the only rider in the sport’s history to win three of his world titles in a row.
On top of that, he claimed three World Longtrack Championships and played his part in New Zealand’s sole World Team Cup win in 1979, as well as their World Pairs victories in 1969 and 1970.
Mauger was awarded an MBE in the 1976 New Year Honour’s list for services to speedway and in 1989 was awarded an OBE, before being Ivan Mauger is presented with the Sunday Mirror Winged Wheel Trophy in 1978; Above right, the six-times world champion in Swindon in 1979 and, right, on the track in 1975 inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1990.
Tributes have poured in from around the world.
Current Belle Vue rider Craig Cook tweeted: “I am proud to race for the world-famous Belle Vue Aces. One man contributed hugely to this legacy and we all follow in his tyre prints. Almost everything in speedway today can be traced back to him. His legend and record will live on. R.I.P. Ivan Mauger.”
Triple world champion and former Belle Vue rider, Jason Crump, said: “A real legend, ahead of his time on and off the track. More importantly a good bloke. Thoughts with Raye, Julie, Kym, Debbie and the whole Mauger clan. R.I.P. Ivan.”
Belle Vue boss Mark Lemon added: “A megastar of our sport that raised the bar in every way imaginable. A truly amazing and inspiring person.
“My deepest condolences and thoughts are with Raye, Debbie, Julie and Kym.”
Mauger – whose bike was goldplated for posterity following his retirement in 1985 – also rode for Wimbledon Dons, Rye House Roosters, Eastbourne Eagles, Newcastle Diamonds, Exeter Falcons and Hull Vikings in the UK.
The Christchurch-born ace had been suffering with dementia for several years and passed away yesterday in Queensland, Australia.
He is survived by his devoted wife Raye and children Kym, Debbie and Julie.