Republic of Ireland U21 and Sunderland midfielder Thomas Butler has today committed himself to the Wearside club for the near future. He was holding back on a new and improved contract which was offered to him a couple of weeks back, pending Peter Reid's guarantee of first team football for the forthcoming season. West Ham showed a keen interest on the Ballymun midfielder in the last couple of weeks also, as the Dubliner is one of the top prodigies to cross the sea of late.
However Sunderland player/coach, and Irish all time goal scorer Niall Quinn , was prioritising keeping Butler at the Stadium of Light. The three-year contract will keep Butler at the Stadium of Light until 2005. Butler made it into the first team at Sunderland with impressive performances on the left wing against Charlton and Derby last season. - © Owen O'Reilly, Newcastle upon Tyne
More bad news for Liam George
Former Republic of Ireland U18 UEFA Champ. 98 winner, Liam George , will not be playing his football at Sheffield United’s Bramall Lane next season. The Luton born Irish-man three-week trial has come to an end, with no further interest from Blades boss, Neil Warnock. George has had his fair share of both injury and bad luck, during his short professional career. Turned 23 in February, he has graced the stage at Youth International level but domestically it has been completely different.
After turning down a new contract during the summer 01', Liam stayed at Luton Towns’ Kenilworth Road, on a week-to-week basis. His contract was then paid up by mutual consent and he left Bedfordshire in the search for a new club. Since his injuries he has had trials with Clydebank, Cambridge, Colchester, Gillingham and Rushden and Diamonds to name but a few, but failed to impress. Warnock was however pleased with Liam’s performances, more recently his goal in the Sheffield’s pre-season 1-14 win over Hope Valley League - Derbyshire outfit “Baslow”. But unfortunately Liam is surplus to requirements, with five first team strikers already in place. - © Owen O'Reilly, Newcastle upon Tyne - Filed 01/08/02'
Carr certainly on the mend
In Tottenhams pre-season friendly away to Palace at Selhurst, Republic of Ireland and Spurs rightback Steve Carr played his first "full 90 minutes", in what is more than twelve months out of the football circuit. The Dubliner showed no ill affects with his recurring knee problem, and this will surely some as music to Mick McCarthys ears with the European Championship 2004 qualifiers drawing nearer by the day. Gary Doherty played the first 45 also.
Team Spurs: Hirschfeld, Steve Carr , Taricco, Bunjevcevic, Gary Doherty (Perry, 45), Richards (Gardner, 21), Anderton, Davies, Acimovic (Redknapp, 44), Rebrov (Qu Bo, 60), Iversen.
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