Category Archives: Blog
The festival belonged to Barca
As FC Barcelona’s 17 year-old Lamime Yamal celebrated his goal against Real Madrid, a one-word text reached me from an enduring Barca fan : ‘Festival !’ As Clasicos go, the latest encounter between two giants of La Liga and historic football club icons of the global game, certainly earned its place in the history books. From a Barca perspective it brought back memories of the golden days of Johan Cruyff, of Guardiola, of the magical moments of teams inspired by the likes of Ronaldinho and Messi. But it also fuelled …
Una final de la Eurocopa angloespañola
Una final de la Eurocopa angloespañola en Berlín Escribe Jimmy Burns Marañon Nací en Madrid, hijo de madre española y padre inglés, educado en Inglaterra, pero criado bilingüe y en constante intercambio entre los dos países que heredé. Soy angloespañol de corazón y alma, y mi lealtad en lo que respecta al fútbol nunca está definida por los prejuicios nacionales sino por mi amor por un juego jugado al máximo, con pasión, belleza y decencia. Ciertamente, como aficionado al fútbol angloespañol, no podría haber esperado una gran final internacional mejor. …
An Anglo-Spaniard’s Euro Final
An Anglo-Spaniard’s Euro final in Berlin I was born in Madrid , the son of a Spanish mother and English father, educated in England, but brought up bilingually and in a constant interchange between the two countries I inherited. I am an Anglo-Spaniard in heart and soul , my loyalties when it comes to football never defined by national prejudice but by my love for a game played at its best , with passion, beauty and decency. Certainly , as an Anglo-Spanish football fan, I couldn’t have hoped for a …
Stonyhurst Memories
Stonyhurst Memories by Jimmy Burns Here follows some further Stonyhurst memories of my own prompted by my contemporary John Mulholland and his thoughtful memoir Ferulas and Thuribles– “Although we were all in it together, each individual journey was different.” World Cup 1966 -my first year at Stonyhurst. As I write in one of my football books , La Premier League ( published last year in Spanish , English version due out towards the end of this year) I was in London and recall going to the Royal …
British intelligence in twilight of Empire
The subject of my new book A Faithful Spy , the late MI6 and MI5 officer Walter Bell was at the heart of the US/UK WW2 and Cold War intel relationship. His hitherto undisclosed private papers , on which the book draws , also covers his posting to Kenya 1949-1952 , to Delhi in 1952-57, West Indies in 1958-1960 , Kenya again in 1961-1967 where he was involved operationally, as British intelligence monitored soviet influence on anti-colonial leaders and played a crucial role in the passing of political power while …
A Faithful Spy
I am delighted that my latest book A Faithful Spy ,on the life and times of MI6 and MI5 officer Walter Bell is being published this autumn . (published by Chisebury October 1 , available in bookshops and amazon.) When Bell died in January 2004, aged ninety-four, the details of his life – not least of his professional career in the British secret services during a defining period in the history of modern espionage and security – remained a well-kept secret. He had been decorated with the US Medal …
Race & Spanish Football
I struggle to find any justified excuse for the abuse suffered by the Real Madrid star Vinicius junior and the way in which a certain high-up in the Spanish La Liga has reacted. The racist nature of chants by a large group of local fans suffered by the young Brazilian during Real Madrid’s game against Valencia last Sunday was only too evident. So was the emotional impact it had on the player who was red carded by the referee after being caught up in a tussle provoked by a …
Good Friday Agreement remembered
A Personal Memory by Jimmy Burns The author, who covered Northern Ireland during the 1990’s as a journalist with the FT , remembers the key final stages of the peace process that led to the historic deal. With the approach of the 25th anniversary of the Belfast Good Friday agreement, and what promises to be a make or break in terms of the latest attempt to settle stormy waters in the province with a planned visit by President Biden later this month (April), personal memories flood back of …
