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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 / SOCCER SCENE
Apr 23, 2009
Unorthodox Morimoto could be remedy for Japan's ills
On the face of it, Catania striker Takayuki Morimoto's recent comments that he has no interest in playing for Japan should give national team supporters cause for concern.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 22, 2009
Renatinho header lifts Frontale to ACL triumph
KAWASAKI — Kawasaki Frontale virtually guaranteed themselves a place in the Asian Champions League knockout phase with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Central Coast Mariners on Tuesday night.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 19, 2009
Davi delivers winner for Grampus against Reysol
KASHIWA, Chiba Pref. — Brazilian striker Davi halted Nagoya Grampus' losing slide in dramatic style with an injury-time goal to give his side a 2-1 win over Kashiwa Reysol on Saturday.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Apr 15, 2009
Hulk's meteoric rise to fame adds feather to J. League's cap
Anyone who saw Brazilian striker Hulk terrify defenses during his 3 1/2 years in the J. League knew he was destined for greater things, but the speed with which his star has risen since moving to Europe last summer is remarkable nonetheless.
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Apr 7, 2009
Korean wave adds weight to J. League's Asian ambitions
When the J. League allowed clubs to add an extra Asian player to their foreigner quotas at the end of last season, fans were probably hoping for a little more diversity than the influx of Koreans that materialized.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Apr 5, 2009
Quick strikes lift Frontale to win
KAWASAKI — Kawasaki Frontale jolted their season into gear and halted Nagoya Grampus' unbeaten start on Saturday with a 3-1 win at Todoroki Stadium.
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 30, 2009
Okada unruffled by missed chances
SAITAMA — National team manager Takeshi Okada has defended his side's goalscoring record after watching Japan miss a slew of chances in Saturday's 1-0 win over Bahrain.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 29, 2009
Nakamura-led Japan beats Bahrain
SAITAMA — Shunsuke Nakamura hauled Japan to within touching distance of a fourth successive World Cup with a trademark free kick to give his side a 1-0 win over Bahrain on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / World cup
Mar 28, 2009
Japan aims for another victory against Bahrain
SAITAMA — National team manager Takeshi Okada is determined to settle his side's rivalry with Bahrain once and for all in Saturday's World Cup qualifier at Saitama Stadium.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 26, 2009
Okada reaps the benefits as Hasebe builds on potential
Shunsuke Nakamura and Yasuhito Endo will be expected to provide the artistry in Japan's World Cup qualifier at home to Bahrain on Saturday, but no player can build a cathedral without someone to carry the bricks.
Japan Times
SOCCER / SOCCER SCENE
Mar 19, 2009
Golden age becomes a distant memory for jaded Jubilo
While Kashima Antlers' start to the new J. League season has not been as imperious as it was shaping up to be, the Ibaraki club's troubles are nothing compared to those facing old rival Jubilo Iwata.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 15, 2009
Home support inspires Reds against FC Tokyo
SAITAMA — Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke warned he intends to turn Saitama Stadium into a fortress after his side beat FC Tokyo 3-1 on Saturday to collect its first points of the J. League season.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 8, 2009
Defending champion Antlers defeat Reds in intense opener
KASHIMA, Ibaraki Pref. — Kashima Antlers landed the first blow of the 2009 J. League season as the reigning champions beat Urawa Reds 2-0 in a ferocious opening-day battle of the big guns on Saturday.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 7, 2009
Antlers favored for third straight J. League crown
The following is the second of a two-part J.League preview for the upcoming season. Team-by-team previews of the nine top-ranked teams competing in the first division are listed.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 6, 2009
J. League also-rans looking to change gear
The following is the first of a two-part J. League preview for the upcoming season. Team-by-team previews of the nine bottom-ranked teams competing in the first division are listed.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 5, 2009
Miyamoto returns to pass on experience
Tsuneyasu Miyamoto's time at Red Bull Salzburg may not have been as successful as he would have liked, but the former national team captain is determined to use the experience to benefit his new Vissel Kobe teammates.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 4, 2009
Stojkovic confident Grampus will be contender again this season
Nagoya Grampus' challenge for the J. League title last season may have come as a shock to most observers, but manager Dragan Stojkovic insists he saw it coming all along.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 3, 2009
JEF United aiming to use last season's adversity as stepping stone
Alex Miller packed more emotion into his seven months in charge of JEF United Chiba last season than most coaches manage in their entire careers, but the Scotsman believes the experience may prove the making of his team.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 2, 2009
Supporters driving force behind Finke's Reds reclamation project
New Urawa Reds manager Volker Finke might not have been smitten with the team he saw play twice last season, but the German admits his first taste of the Saitama Stadium crowd was love at first sight.
Japan Times
SOCCER / J. League
Mar 1, 2009
Antlers trounce Gamba Osaka in curtain-raiser
Kashima Antlers sent out a warning to those who covet their J. League crown with a 3-0 thrashing of Gamba Osaka in the Fuji Xerox Super Cup on Saturday.

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