Aberdeen's mystery game vs. Linfield

[Turps]

Interesting statement from Linfield regarding what looks like a completely made up story in the Daily Record.

Statement from Linfield Football Club

Since last Monday’s Champions League draw, there has been considerable press hyperbole surrounding a possible Second Round tie between Linfield and Celtic. Aside from making some contingency arrangements for this possible game, the Club’s stated position is that our utmost concentration must be on our First Round tie against La Fiorita of San Marino. To do anything other than this would be to disrespect our opponents whom we look forward to welcoming to Windsor Park on Wednesday evening. The Club is providing every assistance to David Healy, his staff and the first team squad in the preparation for these vitally important games.

Linfield feel that we must, however, issue a public response to some of the more hysterical articles that have appeared in the press over the last few days. Even in this era of “fake news” and slashed media budgets, one would have not thought it beyond the capabilities of most reporters to perform some basic fact-checking before sending an article to the presses.

A particularly regrettable piece appeared in the Scottish Daily Record on Saturday 24th June, wherein the former Celtic footballer Joe Miller recalled a friendly match he had apparently taken part in against Linfield at Windsor Park whilst he was on the books of Aberdeen. The interview with Mr Miller, as told to the Daily Record reporter Gordon Parks, included such colourful details as the winger apparently being repeatedly targeted with laser rangefinders and that he and his colleagues, Derek Whyte, Tommy Craig and Roy Aitken were carrying match balls down a street after this game when they passed a public house where they were confronted by angry locals.

The latter detail may cause some bemusement to Linfield supporters, given that even in those pre-redevelopment days, Windsor Park was wholly enclosed from any surrounding streets, and there remains a distinct lack of local hostelries in the area adjacent to the ground. We have played numerous friendly games at Windsor Park over the years against such clubs from Manchester United to Flamengo of Brazil, but have yet to ask opposing players to walk around South Belfast whilst carrying various match accoutrements.

What troubles us most of all, however, is that Linfield FC has no record of having played Aberdeen at Windsor Park or elsewhere in the entire decade Mr Miller refers to, whether in a friendly fixture, training game or otherwise. In fact, it appears that Linfield have never played against Aberdeen at all throughout our entire history.

A particularly concerning allegation made by Mr Miller, printed in the Daily Record and broadcast on social media to tens of thousands of views, was that “there were red dots on us for the whole 90 minutes” of this mysterious game. This fanciful account seems to suppose that the player and his colleagues were being targeted by multiple firearms, and was provided in the context of suggesting that it would be unsafe for Celtic supporters to visit our stadium, should that tie come to pass in due course. Given that Windsor Park was, and is, an almost entirely enclosed stadium, it would have been unlikely that this could have come from outside the ground, had this fixture actually taken place. Given also that neither the then-RUC nor the British Army carried lasers fitted to their weapons as standard, and that in 1995 it would be some years before laser pointers became easily available and affordable to members of the public, one wonders where, exactly, these red dots may have appeared from in this match that didn’t actually happen.

In light of everything stated above we can only suggest that this account is demonstrably untrue.

The Club has now instructed Solicitors to write to Mr Miller and the Daily Record accordingly.

This is just one of the press stories that have appeared in the last week that is easier to rebut. Our Solicitors have also been put on retainer to investigate any further attacks on the good character of this Club and its supporters. In the meantime, we would only ask that the media, like Linfield FC, concentrates on fixtures that have actually been arranged, and that any reporting of past events is conducted to proper journalistic standards.

A statement regarding the possible match against Celtic and the ticketing arrangements for that game will be released in due course, should we win the upcoming tie against La Fiorita.

[Fifes Elite]

Seems bizarre. It will be intersting to see what the records reply is.

[Vinnie]

The Daily Record will sweep it under the carpet and pretend it never happened.

[Captain Deadpool]

Yup, 100% fabricated **** from the Record and Miller. The game supposedly took place in 1995. Derek Whyte didn't sign for Aberdeen until 1997.

That's just one of the many inaccuracies. Linfield's (rather fantastic) statement covers the other ones.

I wish clubs in Scotland would come out with such statements when similar bull**** Old Firm pieces are released. The Record have now actually taken down the article, which is a shame, as it was a solid piece of fiction. Aberdeen players inexplicably walking down the street after the game holding footballs was a highlight.

[lambo1885]

That's a quality statement from Linfield, showing the DR in it's true light, poor and lazy journalism (if you could call what they do journalism). 

[Vinnie]

 The Record have now actually taken down the article, which is a shame, as it was a solid piece of fiction.

They kind of had to having been found out.  Last we'll here of it I reckon, like it never happened.

[SanguinePar]

That's hilarious, albeit pretty shocking too. You would imagine the DR's tabloid competitors will be all over this tomorrow (even though they are no better).

[Captain Deadpool]

Whilst it is amusing, it's also really poor and attempting to stir up some pretty nasty feelings, especially with all the stuff about the 'red dots' and the implications around that.

[Turps]

 

[Teuchter]

It is bad enough the Record printing this unverified rubbish, but the question in my mind is just how much of a fantasist bullshltter is Miller to come up with this dross. Not sure about his propensity to lie, but he certainly seems to be a fantasist:

 

[Captain Deadpool]

 That simply can't be real!

[Vinnie]

 That simply can't be real!

Oh... I believe that one.  

Im not sure if Miller is a Smelltic fan, but thats the kind of dross their fans would come out with.  They genuinely dont realise they are a big fish in a ridiculously small pond.

[Teuchter]

"Im not sure if Miller is a Smelltic fan"

The time that he scored the winner for them in a cup final suggested to me that he may have Celtic leanings.

[Guest The Beer Baron]

Daily Record in publishing complete and unsubstantiated lie shock.

[SanguinePar]

 

PMSL! I'm at a work event right now that's about to begin, and it's all very professional here... and I just loudly burst out laughing when I saw this. NSFW tag, surely? ;-)