Latest news with #Halliday
Press and Journal
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Joe O'Neil: The fractured skull forward whose hat-trick fired Aberdeen into 1954 Scottish Cup final - three weeks after he'd been read LAST RITES
Saturday will be the eighth Scottish Cup final between Aberdeen and Celtic. The showpiece finale to the Scottish season promises to be a thriller as Jimmy Thelin aims to secure his first trophy as Dons boss. There have been some remarkable tales surrounding the previous cup final meetings between the sides. The fixture has provided a record attendance for a club game in the first final meeting in 1937, the absence of Eddie Turnbull from the dugout due to illness in the 1967 final and the first final to be decided on penalties in 1990, to name but a few historic moments. But you will struggle to find a more incredible tale than the one of the late Joe O'Neil and the role he played in the Dons reaching the 1954 cup final – only to suffer heartache at missing the big game at Hampden. O'Neil had declared himself fit for the semi-final against Rangers – despite suffering a depressed fracture of the skull three weeks before the match. The incident had happened at Pittodrie in a league match against Falkirk 24 days before the cup-tie. The inside forward, having received medical treatment, got to his feet before staggering uncertainly and collapsing on the pitch prior to being carried from the field and taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. Recalling the injury, O'Neil told the Press and Journal in 1988: 'Centre-half Ralph McKenzie had just recently been transferred from Aberdeen to Falkirk, and I think it was his elbow – although it might have been the goalkeeper – that put a dent in my skull. 'Trainer Davie Shaw led me off round the touchline and I could hear the crowd, but I couldn't see them. My vision had gone and my senses kept drifting in and out. 'I finished up in hospital with a depressed fracture of the skull.' The injury was so grave O'Neil's son Kevin later revealed his father Joe had been given last rites after the game. O'Neil said: 'You have to think of your skull being like a ping pong ball and they had to bore a hole in it to press out the bit that was dented. 'They couldn't put me to sleep and I had the operation with a local anaesthetic.' O'Neil was lucky to be alive and the horrendous injury should have ended his season – but he was determined to play in the semi-final against Rangers. Having been kept in hospital for a week, O'Neil was told he was not allowed to head a football. But he was having none of it, and begged manager Dave Halliday to play him in the semi-final. He said: 'I kept at Mr Halliday every day, telling him I was okay and wanted to play. 'Finally, the manager said that if the surgeon gave me the all-clear he would play me against Rangers.' Halliday had put his player in a predicament. Get the all-clear… or pretend he did. He chose the latter option. O'Neil said: 'I didn't dare ask the surgeon because he might have ruled me out, but I went back to Mr Halliday and told him that the surgeon had said it was okay for me to play.' It would never happen today, of course, but it came to pass O'Neil – if not quite defying medical advice, given he never sought it – declared he was fit to play. What followed would have made Roy of the Rovers blush. The forward scored a hat-trick and won a penalty for his side in an incredible display as Aberdeen inflicted Rangers' heaviest Scottish Cup defeat with a 6-0 mauling. O'Neil said: 'I remember my three goals as if the game were yesterday – the first was a left-foot shot past Bobby Brown from the left-hand corner of the penalty area. 'No. 2 was a header. I never thought twice about using my head because it wasn't giving me any pain and I've always been a daft soul anyway. 'The third was after a Jack Allister free-kick. I made a diagonal run behind the Rangers' wall of defenders and when Jackie hit the ball straight, I was right in the clear and I just cracked the ball into the net.' O'Neil's bravery was commendable, but in a cruel and somewhat ironic twist he injured his ankle ligaments in a league game against Rangers at Ibrox the week before the final. 'Rangers made sure I wouldn't give a repeat performance of that Hampden display' O'Neil recalled. 'There was a fair bit of stick flying about because Rangers were desperate to get their own back for that 6-0 hiding. 'I think it was Willie Woodburn that got me in the ankle and I was never the same after that.' O'Neil's absence from Hampden left a void and forced Aberdeen into a gamble of playing centre-half Jim Clunie in attack. Clunie was not the threat of the man he replaced and the Dons were beaten 2-1 by the Hoops in the final. Alec Young's own goal put Celtic ahead, but the Dons equalised within a minute as Paddy Buckley beat goalkeeper John Bonnar to level the game. However, Sean Fallon's close-range finish secured victory for the Glasgow side. O'Neil said: 'There were no substitutes in those days, of course, and I sat there praying for a draw because I was sure that Mr Halliday would put me in for the replay. 'But I still think the boss was wrong to gamble on Clunie instead of my fitness. 'Without wanting to sound big-headed, I felt I could have played better on one good leg than Clunie could with two.' O'Neil put the disappointment of missing the final behind him as he helped the Dons win the league title in 1955 before moving to Leicester City and then to Bath. He died in 2005, aged 73.
The Advertiser
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
'Not your average drop': Legendary critic clears out his impressive wine cellar
It's not your average wine auction, that's for sure. Renowned wine critic, author and commentator James Halliday is selling the last of his impressive wine cellar through an online auction this month. Not surprisingly, it won't be for those looking for a bargain. The James Halliday's Private Collection online auction has been open for a week or so now on the Langton's website, closing on May 25 at 9pm. This final auction will see an astonishing 100 lots of Halliday's personal passion - French producer Domaine Armand Rousseau - up for bidding, with each bottle signed by the wine critic himself. The collection includes a 1999 Clos des Ruchottes Monopole, Ruchottes-Chambertin, 1976 Clos de la Roche and 1990 Grand Cru, Chambertin. Highly desirable stuff. Halliday last sold a portion of his treasured collection in 2020, which included the largest single collection of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti that the Australian market had seen. He has confirmed this auction will be to clear out the final bottles in his cellar in the Yarra Valley's Coldstream Hills, while he relocates to Sydney. "Having long since sold the last of my DRCs, my Rousseaus are the best wines in my cellar, led of course by the Chambertins from top vintages," Halliday said. Here are a few other tasty morsels that are sure to attract the interest of collectors. One of Australia's most respected riesling producers, Robert Stein Wines, has officially transferred ownership to third-generation custodians Jacob and Gina Stein. The couple, who have been instrumental in the business for over 17 years, now take full ownership of the Mudgee winery, vineyard and farm after his father, Andrew, decided to step down as general manager. Established in 1976, the property is nine kilometres north of Mudgee and spans 202 hectares, which includes a 20-hectare vineyard featuring nine grape varieties, a working farm with livestock and crops, a state-of-the-art winery, cellar door, restaurant, and the original family homestead. In recent years, with Jacob as chief winemaker, Robert Stein Wines has achieved unprecedented acclaim, including three Best Riesling Trophies in the past five years at the Sydney Royal Wine Show and more than 80 trophies and 100 gold medals across national and international competitions. It's not your average wine auction, that's for sure. Renowned wine critic, author and commentator James Halliday is selling the last of his impressive wine cellar through an online auction this month. Not surprisingly, it won't be for those looking for a bargain. The James Halliday's Private Collection online auction has been open for a week or so now on the Langton's website, closing on May 25 at 9pm. This final auction will see an astonishing 100 lots of Halliday's personal passion - French producer Domaine Armand Rousseau - up for bidding, with each bottle signed by the wine critic himself. The collection includes a 1999 Clos des Ruchottes Monopole, Ruchottes-Chambertin, 1976 Clos de la Roche and 1990 Grand Cru, Chambertin. Highly desirable stuff. Halliday last sold a portion of his treasured collection in 2020, which included the largest single collection of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti that the Australian market had seen. He has confirmed this auction will be to clear out the final bottles in his cellar in the Yarra Valley's Coldstream Hills, while he relocates to Sydney. "Having long since sold the last of my DRCs, my Rousseaus are the best wines in my cellar, led of course by the Chambertins from top vintages," Halliday said. Here are a few other tasty morsels that are sure to attract the interest of collectors. One of Australia's most respected riesling producers, Robert Stein Wines, has officially transferred ownership to third-generation custodians Jacob and Gina Stein. The couple, who have been instrumental in the business for over 17 years, now take full ownership of the Mudgee winery, vineyard and farm after his father, Andrew, decided to step down as general manager. Established in 1976, the property is nine kilometres north of Mudgee and spans 202 hectares, which includes a 20-hectare vineyard featuring nine grape varieties, a working farm with livestock and crops, a state-of-the-art winery, cellar door, restaurant, and the original family homestead. In recent years, with Jacob as chief winemaker, Robert Stein Wines has achieved unprecedented acclaim, including three Best Riesling Trophies in the past five years at the Sydney Royal Wine Show and more than 80 trophies and 100 gold medals across national and international competitions. It's not your average wine auction, that's for sure. Renowned wine critic, author and commentator James Halliday is selling the last of his impressive wine cellar through an online auction this month. Not surprisingly, it won't be for those looking for a bargain. The James Halliday's Private Collection online auction has been open for a week or so now on the Langton's website, closing on May 25 at 9pm. This final auction will see an astonishing 100 lots of Halliday's personal passion - French producer Domaine Armand Rousseau - up for bidding, with each bottle signed by the wine critic himself. The collection includes a 1999 Clos des Ruchottes Monopole, Ruchottes-Chambertin, 1976 Clos de la Roche and 1990 Grand Cru, Chambertin. Highly desirable stuff. Halliday last sold a portion of his treasured collection in 2020, which included the largest single collection of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti that the Australian market had seen. He has confirmed this auction will be to clear out the final bottles in his cellar in the Yarra Valley's Coldstream Hills, while he relocates to Sydney. "Having long since sold the last of my DRCs, my Rousseaus are the best wines in my cellar, led of course by the Chambertins from top vintages," Halliday said. Here are a few other tasty morsels that are sure to attract the interest of collectors. One of Australia's most respected riesling producers, Robert Stein Wines, has officially transferred ownership to third-generation custodians Jacob and Gina Stein. The couple, who have been instrumental in the business for over 17 years, now take full ownership of the Mudgee winery, vineyard and farm after his father, Andrew, decided to step down as general manager. Established in 1976, the property is nine kilometres north of Mudgee and spans 202 hectares, which includes a 20-hectare vineyard featuring nine grape varieties, a working farm with livestock and crops, a state-of-the-art winery, cellar door, restaurant, and the original family homestead. In recent years, with Jacob as chief winemaker, Robert Stein Wines has achieved unprecedented acclaim, including three Best Riesling Trophies in the past five years at the Sydney Royal Wine Show and more than 80 trophies and 100 gold medals across national and international competitions. It's not your average wine auction, that's for sure. Renowned wine critic, author and commentator James Halliday is selling the last of his impressive wine cellar through an online auction this month. Not surprisingly, it won't be for those looking for a bargain. The James Halliday's Private Collection online auction has been open for a week or so now on the Langton's website, closing on May 25 at 9pm. This final auction will see an astonishing 100 lots of Halliday's personal passion - French producer Domaine Armand Rousseau - up for bidding, with each bottle signed by the wine critic himself. The collection includes a 1999 Clos des Ruchottes Monopole, Ruchottes-Chambertin, 1976 Clos de la Roche and 1990 Grand Cru, Chambertin. Highly desirable stuff. Halliday last sold a portion of his treasured collection in 2020, which included the largest single collection of Domaine de la Romanee-Conti that the Australian market had seen. He has confirmed this auction will be to clear out the final bottles in his cellar in the Yarra Valley's Coldstream Hills, while he relocates to Sydney. "Having long since sold the last of my DRCs, my Rousseaus are the best wines in my cellar, led of course by the Chambertins from top vintages," Halliday said. Here are a few other tasty morsels that are sure to attract the interest of collectors. One of Australia's most respected riesling producers, Robert Stein Wines, has officially transferred ownership to third-generation custodians Jacob and Gina Stein. The couple, who have been instrumental in the business for over 17 years, now take full ownership of the Mudgee winery, vineyard and farm after his father, Andrew, decided to step down as general manager. Established in 1976, the property is nine kilometres north of Mudgee and spans 202 hectares, which includes a 20-hectare vineyard featuring nine grape varieties, a working farm with livestock and crops, a state-of-the-art winery, cellar door, restaurant, and the original family homestead. In recent years, with Jacob as chief winemaker, Robert Stein Wines has achieved unprecedented acclaim, including three Best Riesling Trophies in the past five years at the Sydney Royal Wine Show and more than 80 trophies and 100 gold medals across national and international competitions.
Business Wire
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Momentum Environmental Announces Acquisition of The Environmental Service Group
BUSINESS WIRE)-- Momentum Environmental, LLC ('Momentum'), a vertically integrated provider of environmental and industrial services, announced today the acquisition of certain assets of The Environmental Service Group, American Recyclers Co., and Genesee Soil Recycling (together, 'ESG'). The acquisition, completed in partnership with ESG President Nicholas Halliday, expands Momentum's capabilities and operational presence in Western New York and supports the company's broader growth strategy in contiguous geographies. Momentum Environmental's investment in The Environmental Service Group marks its third acquisition since 2024, advancing the company's goal of building a robust and scalable regional platform for environmental services. 'ESG represents everything we look for in a partner—deep expertise, operational strength, and a commitment to service,' said Bill Hunter, CEO of Momentum. 'By uniting our teams and capabilities, we're expanding the scale, sophistication, and speed of the solutions we offer to our customers in our core operating geography.' This transaction marks Momentum's third acquisition since 2024, advancing the company's goal of building a robust and scalable regional platform for environmental services. The investment increases Momentum's territorial reach and adds operational capacity to better serve industrial and commercial clients in New York. With this acquisition, Momentum now operates three New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC)-permitted waste processing facilities and maintains five branch locations in Bath, Lancaster, Rochester, Syracuse, and Tonawanda. Founded in 2003 and headquartered near Buffalo, New York, ESG is a leading environmental services provider specializing in waste processing and environmental services. Its client base spans both public and private sectors and includes long-standing relationships with manufacturers, environmental service providers, engineering firms, municipalities, and general contractors involved in transportation, energy, and infrastructure development. Known for its regulatory compliance, technical expertise, and high-touch customer service, ESG has earned a reputation as a trusted partner for complex environmental challenges in Western New York. As part of the acquisition, ESG President Nicholas Halliday will serve as Senior Vice President of Momentum. In this role, Halliday, now a shareholder in Momentum, will support integration efforts and help lead strategic initiatives to enhance Momentum's environmental service offerings. 'Partnering with Momentum enables ESG to offer more than ever before,' said Halliday. 'Together, we're delivering a broader, more integrated environmental services experience, driving meaningful value for our customers.' Momentum is backed by Nonantum Capital Partners, a middle-market private equity firm. Momentum's growth strategy includes additional acquisitions and the development of permitted waste processing assets to build a best-in-class environmental services company. Momentum is searching for other complementary businesses to acquire in the environmental services space. If interested in learning more, please contact Bill Hunter. About Momentum Environmental Momentum Environmental is a vertically integrated provider of non-discretionary waste processing, industrial cleaning, emergency response, and field services in the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic. The company has locations in Bath, Lancaster, Rochester, Syracuse, and Tonawanda, New York. For more information, visit About Nonantum Capital Partners Founded in 2018 by a team of experienced private equity and management executives as a spin-out from Charlesbank Capital Partners, Nonantum is a Boston-based private equity firm. Nonantum focuses on investing in family and founder-owned businesses, corporate carve-outs, complex situations where personal partnership is critical, and opportunities exist for significant equity value creation. For more information, visit
BBC News
20-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Farewell to Lincoln bridge with iconic cathedral view
Work to demolish a pedestrian bridge in Lincoln has been Bridge, on Melville Street, was brought down over the work was part of a Lincolnshire Co-op scheme to build a new hotel and residential development at the nearby former City Square shopping bridge was a popular spot for photographers due to the scenic views it provided of the city's cathedral. Earlier this month, members of Dunholme Camera Club visited the bridge to bid Halliday said he understood that redeveloping the area was important, but he said the bridge was an "iconic place" that offered direct views of the Co-op said last month that it was in "advanced negotiations" with an international hotel developer and operator, and there had also been interest from several developers for residential properties on the rest of the site, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Listen to highlights from Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North or tell us about a story you think we should be covering here.
Sky News AU
15-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
James Halliday's rare Domaine Armand Rousseau Grand Cru Chambertin, Domaine G. Roumier Grand Cru Bonnes-Mares 1999 and more go up for auction
The wine sage James Halliday is living proof that quality wine is a pretty good investment. In a lifetime of collecting he amassed a large cellar. Along the way he quaffed the very best. In 2020 he reportedly sold around 5,000 bottles for $2 million, double what he paid for them. Some of the bottles fetched $2,200 and $30,000 each. They were pinots from the fabled Burgundy estate of Domaine de la Romanée-Conti. Mr Halliday, 87, whose elegant prose decorated The Australian's weekend colour magazine for many years, is selling another 1,800 bottles through Langtons, the fine wine auction house. They are expected to fetch more than $200,000. Some are being offered in an online auction for $20 and less. 'It was a massive wine collection,' said Michael Anderson, head of auctions at Langtons. 'Over the years we have sold thousands and thousands of bottles from James Halliday's private cellar. 'This sale will mark the closure of a great cellar that was decades in the making.' Age has caught up with Mr Halliday, a former partner at Clayton Utz who later became a merchant banker. He is selling his home at Coldstream Hills Winery in Victoria's Yarra Valley to move to Sydney to live with his daughter Caroline. 'His health is not what it once was,' Mr Anderson said. 'He is old. His home at Coldstream Hills overlooking the winery he established in 1985 is on the side of a hill and has a steep driveway. And there are many stairs.' Coldstream was Mr Halliday's second foray into winery ownership. He built Brokenwood Wines in the NSW Hunter Valley in the 1970s with two legal colleagues and still has great affection for the brand. Mr Anderson said oenophiles now have the chance to own many of Mr Halliday's 'unicorn' wines that would be hard to source. The latest sale includes vintages of Domaine Armand Rousseau Grand Cru Chambertin (2005, 2009, 2010) and a bottle of Domaine G. Roumier Grand Cru Bonnes-Mares 1999. These bottles may fetch between $5,000 and $6,000. 'Having long since sold the last of my DRCs, my Rousseaus are the best wines in my cellar, led - of course - by the Chambertins from top vintages,' Mr Halliday said in a statement. 'Clos de Beze is a worthy second, Clos de Jacques, the wine often offering outstanding value for money. Rousseau now fills the shoes left by the impossible-to-find DRCs.' Mr Anderson said champagne and German riesling was up for sale. 'Highlights from the collection include a Billecart-Salmon Cuvee Nicolas Francois Billecart Brut from the exceptional 1996 vintage, a 1997 Dr Loosen Wehlener Sonnenuhr Riesling-Spätlese and a 1980 Domaine Clape,' he said. 'Closer to home, Halliday's collection also includes a House of Arras E.J Carr Late Disgorged Methode Traditionnelle 2000 Magnum from Tasmania, 1997 Bindi Block 5 Pinot Noir from the Macedon Ranges and 1992 vintage Charles Melton Nine Popes Grenache Shiraz Mourvèdre from the Barossa Valley.'' Various vintages from top Australian producers Penfolds, Henschke, Tyrrells, Clonakilla, Seppelt, Tahbilk, Vasse Felix, Taylors, Peter Lehmann and McWilliams are also offered. And there are cheaper options. A sampler: Plantagenet Mount Barker Shiraz 1993 ($30), Wirra Wirra Scrubby Rise Kuitpo Semillon 1994 ($15), Jolimont Liqueur Tokay, Rutherglen NV ($21) and Hamilton's Richard Hamilton Old Vine McLaren Vale Shiraz 1992 ($16). Mr Anderson said the auction didn't only attract serious collectors. Everyday wine enthusiasts often pool their money to buy a top bottle share over dinner. He said several famous winemakers (he declined to identify them) had already logged bids. So, too, had sommeliers from prominent restaurants. Mr Halliday isn't selling everything he collected at Coldstream. 'He kept back 30 or 40 boxes to send to his new address in Sydney,' Mr Anderson said. Mr Halliday is also selling his collection of wine books. There are 700 of them, many rare first editions. There are 40 that the winemaker wrote himself.
