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 Andrew MCKIRDY

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Andrew MCKIRDY
Andrew McKirdy is a sports writer for The Japan Times. His main beat is soccer, but he has also covered rugby, tennis, volleyball, golf and even tug-of-war. A native of the Scottish Borders, he has written for The Scotsman newspaper and organized filming for a program on Japanese soccer for ITV television.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 10, 2013
Ugajin sends Reds to second consecutive triumph to start season
Urawa Reds maintained their strong start to the new J.League season with a 1-0 win over Nagoya Grampus on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Mar 7, 2013
Tradition there to be broken as new season gets started
The start of the 2013 J. League season last Saturday brought with it the chance for a new beginning, but some teams were more determined than others to break with tradition on the opening day.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 3, 2013
Marquinhos scores twice as Marinos rally past Bellmare
Yokohama F. Marinos spoiled Shonan Bellmare's return to the J. League first division with a late comeback for a 4-2 win as the 2013 season got under way on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / 2013 J. LEAGUE PREVIEW
Mar 2, 2013
Hiroshima, Sendai won't contend for title
Highlighting the top nine finishers from the J. League last season in the second part of this two-day preview.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / 2013 J. LEAGUE PREVIEW
Mar 1, 2013
Tokyo, Antlers hoping to climb ladder
FC Tokyo leads a host of teams looking to improve their fortunes during the 2013 J.u2009League campaign.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 28, 2013
Cerezo on familiar ground after return to Antlers hot seat
Just over seven years have passed since Toninho Cerezo ended his first glittering reign as Kashima Antlers manager, but after returning to the club for a second stint, the Brazilian is pleased to find that not everything has changed in his absence.
Japan Times
SOCCER
Feb 27, 2013
Shimizu's Ghotbi confident young squad will excel
S-Pulse manager Afshin Ghotbi aims to take club to a higher level this season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 26, 2013
Culpi pining for Kagawa as Cerezo target J. League title
Cerezo Osaka manager Levir Culpi believes his team is capable of challenging for the J. League title this season, but the Brazilian wishes former protege and current Manchester United star Shinji Kagawa was still around to help him.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 25, 2013
Stojkovic looking for fresh start after painful year for Grampus
Nagoya Grampus manager Dragan Stojkovic insists he never considered quitting after a traumatic 2012 season for the former J. League champions, preferring instead to concentrate on reclaiming the crown over the coming campaign.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 24, 2013
Sato strike sends Sanfrecce past Reysol in Xerox Super Cup
Reigning J. League player of the year Hisato Sato lit up the Xerox Super Cup with a spectacular goal to give league champions Sanfrecce Hiroshima a 1-0 win over Emperor's Cup holders Kashiwa Reysol in the 2013 season curtain-raiser on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 23, 2013
Sanfrecce, Reysol ready to sqare off in Xerox Super Cup
Sanfrecce Hiroshima manager Hajime Moriyasu urges his team to forget last year's historic J. League title triumph and start afresh in Saturday's 2013 season curtain-raising Xerox Super Cup match against Kashiwa Reysol.
Japan Times
SUMO
Feb 20, 2013
Harumafuji dreaming big after overcoming early setback
Yokozuna Harumafuji insists the prospect of being forced to retire never once crossed his mind ahead of last month's dominating victory at the New Year Grand Sumo Tournament, but the Mongolian refuses to speculate on how much more success he can achieve before he calls it a day.
Japan Times
SUMO
Feb 19, 2013
Harumafuji saddened by bullying incidents
Yokozuna Harumafuji on Monday condemned the recent incidents of corporal punishment that have shocked Japanese society, but insisted parents must take responsibility for ensuring their children are able to stand up for themselves.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Feb 8, 2013
Firebrand Okubo targeting title at new home Frontale
Yoshito Okubo is looking forward to a new challenge after joining Kawasaki Frontale ahead of the new J. League season, but the fiery forward is not about to tone down his style just because of a change in surroundings.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 31, 2013
Japan looking to lay down marker for 2013 in Latvia friendly
Japan will face tougher tests over the year ahead than next Wednesday's season-opening friendly against Latvia, but with World Cup qualification virtually secured more than 16 months before the tournament begins, manager Alberto Zaccheroni will be keen to start building momentum on the road to Brazil....
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 24, 2013
Tokyo goalkeeper Gonda sets bar high for coming season
FC Tokyo goalkeeper Shuichi Gonda is far too modest to accept the plaudits that have come his way after a string of fine performances for club and country last season, but there is certainly nothing humble about his ambitions for the year ahead.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Jan 20, 2013
Hosho captures high school soccer title in shootout win over Tachibana
Hosho of Miyazaki came through a penalty shootout to win the National High School Soccer Championship for the first time with a 5-3 victory over Kyoto Tachibana after a 2-2 draw in Saturday's final.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League / J. LEAGUE NOTEBOOK
Jan 17, 2013
Promoted teams hoping to buck trend with J1 survival
Teams around the J. League have been busy parading their winter recruits this week, but if the recent travails of several promoted sides are anything to go by, this year's J1 new boys will need all the reinforcements they can get.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Jan 10, 2013
Kagawa returns to changed landscape at high-flying United
Shinji Kagawa will not have expected anything to come easy when he joined Manchester United last summer, but having returned from injury over the holiday period to a team that has been winning in his absence, the forward will have to work overtime to establish himself at Old Trafford.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Dec 30, 2012
Reysol, Gamba advance to Emperor's Cup final
Kashiwa Reysol set up a New Year's Day Emperor's Cup final showdown with Gamba Osaka after beating Yokohama F. Marinos 1-0 on Saturday.

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