Latest news with #Cantona
Sydney Morning Herald
13-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Sydney Morning Herald
Harry Gill, Warnie and the Flying Man: Crowd interactions unite us like little else
Harry does so and ... the ball sticks! GOT HIM, YES! Mahvellous catch, that. The cameras pan to Harry, as the whole thing is played in slo-mo on the big screen, and it is realised he didn't even spill a drop of the grog. The perfect catch. Oh, how the crowd roars, and the nation has a rare moment of complete unity. 'The catch was phenomenal,' Tom Birmingham of the Hello Sport podcast sagely observes. 'Two cans in the hand means he's an alpha male. He looked excited and pleased with himself, but also, in a way, like he does it all the time. This will be shown forever, like that guy smoking the dart behind the sight screen.' And you, Harry? What did you make of it? 'Happy with it,' he says with a smile. 'My phone is blowing up ... I wish I had a durry in my mouth.' And a star is born. Another way to fame for fans, of course, is when they interact with the players in a way that causes headlines. In Australian sport, an infamous occasion was five decades ago when the third streaker that day jumped the fence to disrupt the second Test between Australia and New Zealand at Eden Park. Our own Greg Chappell, frustrated beyond measure, chased the fellow – Leonard Bruce McCauley – and gave him a couple of smacks on the backside for his trouble. Marvellous stroke that. (McCauley sued for assault, lost and was fined for disorderly conduct. I'd like to think he declined to take his seat for the short court process, for comfort's sake.) And a globally famous episode was three decades ago, when Manchester United were playing against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, in January 1995, and Man U's Eric Cantona was sent off, only to receive a gobful of abuse from a spectator, in the front row, one Matthew Simmons. Something in Cantona snapped, and he launched a kung-fu-style kick right at him, connecting, and causing the immortal headline in the News of the World the next morning: 'THE SHIT HITS THE FAN!' (Cantona, was given a nine-month suspension and a £20,000 fine.) But, back to the catches. For my money, there'll never be a better fan catch than what happened one night during an NFL match between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. When, on September 11, 1995, Chicago's Kevin Butler kicked a field goal– call it Frank Hyde, for the old days – It's high enough, it's long enough, and it's straight between the posts – the ball kept lazily spinning, arcing towards the stands. Suddenly, from the front row, a young Chicago fan, Mike Pantazis, leapt into the abyss to actually catch it, before plummeting some five or six metres to the ground, still with ball in hand! He tossed the ball to an official and resumed his seat, as the crowd went berserk. You honestly have to see it to believe it. Very, very occasionally, the fan who catches the ball already has a fame to rival the players. Such was the case in a tennis match between Roger Federer and Andrew Murray at the Australian Open in 2013, when Federer attempted an impossible return from a Murray lob, only for the ball to fly into the crowd.
The Age
13-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Age
Harry Gill, Warnie and the Flying Man: Crowd interactions unite us like little else
Harry does so and ... the ball sticks! GOT HIM, YES! Mahvellous catch, that. The cameras pan to Harry, as the whole thing is played in slo-mo on the big screen, and it is realised he didn't even spill a drop of the grog. The perfect catch. Oh, how the crowd roars, and the nation has a rare moment of complete unity. 'The catch was phenomenal,' Tom Birmingham of the Hello Sport podcast sagely observes. 'Two cans in the hand means he's an alpha male. He looked excited and pleased with himself, but also, in a way, like he does it all the time. This will be shown forever, like that guy smoking the dart behind the sight screen.' And you, Harry? What did you make of it? 'Happy with it,' he says with a smile. 'My phone is blowing up ... I wish I had a durry in my mouth.' And a star is born. Another way to fame for fans, of course, is when they interact with the players in a way that causes headlines. In Australian sport, an infamous occasion was five decades ago when the third streaker that day jumped the fence to disrupt the second Test between Australia and New Zealand at Eden Park. Our own Greg Chappell, frustrated beyond measure, chased the fellow – Leonard Bruce McCauley – and gave him a couple of smacks on the backside for his trouble. Marvellous stroke that. (McCauley sued for assault, lost and was fined for disorderly conduct. I'd like to think he declined to take his seat for the short court process, for comfort's sake.) And a globally famous episode was three decades ago, when Manchester United were playing against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park, in January 1995, and Man U's Eric Cantona was sent off, only to receive a gobful of abuse from a spectator, in the front row, one Matthew Simmons. Something in Cantona snapped, and he launched a kung-fu-style kick right at him, connecting, and causing the immortal headline in the News of the World the next morning: 'THE SHIT HITS THE FAN!' (Cantona, was given a nine-month suspension and a £20,000 fine.) But, back to the catches. For my money, there'll never be a better fan catch than what happened one night during an NFL match between the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears. When, on September 11, 1995, Chicago's Kevin Butler kicked a field goal– call it Frank Hyde, for the old days – It's high enough, it's long enough, and it's straight between the posts – the ball kept lazily spinning, arcing towards the stands. Suddenly, from the front row, a young Chicago fan, Mike Pantazis, leapt into the abyss to actually catch it, before plummeting some five or six metres to the ground, still with ball in hand! He tossed the ball to an official and resumed his seat, as the crowd went berserk. You honestly have to see it to believe it. Very, very occasionally, the fan who catches the ball already has a fame to rival the players. Such was the case in a tennis match between Roger Federer and Andrew Murray at the Australian Open in 2013, when Federer attempted an impossible return from a Murray lob, only for the ball to fly into the crowd.
The Sun
12-08-2025
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Man Utd fans say ‘if only we were as good as our kit designs' as Red Devils unveil stunning new third kit
MANCHESTER UNITED have unveiled their new third kit - and fans absolutely love it. The black strip has yellow and blue details with the Adidas Trefoil logo and a shield around the club badge. 3 3 3 It is a reimagination of the legendary away kit worn by the club between 1993 and 1995 - a period which coincided with their first Double win. United have described it as "a tribute to timeless style and football heritage" with Dimitar Berbatov leading the promotional video. The new kit has drawn a fantastic reaction from supporters, with one person taking to X to write: "If only we were half as good our kit designs." Another commented: "This is the best kit there is." A third said: "Love the retro vibe! Reminds me of the Cantona era when I first became a fan." While a fourth wrote: "This is the best jersey in decades, and needs King Cantona wearing it." Man Utd kick off their Premier League campaign on Sunday at home to Arsenal. Head coach Ruben Amorim has added four new players to his ranks so far in the transfer window. Matheus Cunha, Diego Leon, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have all joined this summer in time for the new season. Sesko became the latest addition when he signed on Saturday. The striker said: "The history of Manchester United is obviously very special but what really excites me is the future. "When we discussed the project, it was clear that everything is in place for this team to continue to grow and compete for the biggest trophies again soon. "From the moment that I arrived, I could feel the positive energy and family environment that the club has created. It is clearly the perfect place to reach my maximum level and fulfil all of my ambitions. "I cannot wait to start learning from Ruben [Amorim] and connecting with my team-mates to achieve the success that we all know we are capable of together."
Irish Independent
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Man Utd legend Eric Cantona set for live appearance at Louth venue
An Evening with Eric The King Cantona will feature the French football icon in conversation, offering insights into his playing career, personal philosophy and post football ventures. Organisers have confirmed this will be Cantona's only scheduled appearance in Ireland this year. Cantona, who played a central role in Manchester United's dominance during the 1990s, is known for his leadership on the pitch and his outspoken personality off it. He was instrumental in United's resurgence under Sir Alex Ferguson, winning four Premier League titles and two FA Cups between 1992 and 1997. The Drogheda event will follow a theatre style format and is expected to cover key moments from Cantona's career including his time at Leeds United, his move to Old Trafford and his eventual retirement from professional football in 1997. While there will be no open audience Q and A, premium ticket packages such as the Gold Package offer attendees enhanced seating and potential opportunities for a meet and greet. Tickets are available now via official channels including the venue's website and prices vary depending on seating and package tiers. Organisers have encouraged early booking due to high demand and limited capacity. Cantona's visit to The TLT marks a notable moment for Irish football fans offering a chance to hear directly from one of the sport's most compelling figures. His influence both on and off the field continues to resonate with supporters around the world.
BBC News
02-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Is 'bad attitude' useful? Fans on Cunha signing
We asked for your views on Matheus Cunha signing for Manchester are some of your comments:Nick: I'm happy with this. We're creating, but not scoring, so getting someone in who has experience scoring in the Premier League can only be a good I think it is a fantastic signing in this struggling Manchester United era. I see hope because he can play in so many positions in Ruben Amorim's 3-4-3/3-4-2-1 and United need goals, that's all they Cunha has the skills but does he have the temperament for the most 'under the microscope' and 'under pressure' club currently in the world? I hope so but so much needs to change around him to get the best from him. Let's hope Amorim's plan gets the support from the boardroom. I'm still holding my At last; the right player, at the right price and at the right age. What could go wrong?Karl: Definitely a step in the right direction. His stats say he has everything we've been missing - awareness, speed, balance, a finishing edge and above all, confidence. Can't wait to see how he works alongside the likes of Amad, Fernandes and Yes, he's renowned for his 'bad attitude' but that's just because he wants to win, which is an attitude sadly lacking in quite a few of our current squad. I seem to recall a certain Mr Cantona was slated for his attitude when we signed him!
