Seventh division English club FC United will step up security when building work starts on its new stadium, after a spate of attacks, according to the MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS. Attackers burnt out a 10-foot letter spelling out "No to FC Utd" on the land in Moston, poured concrete into goal posts and sprayed anti-FC United graffiti on a container in an attack branded "pathetic" by council chiefs. The club has been "given planning permission to build a 5,000-capacity stadium." However, a residents' group "opposed to the £3.5M ($5.5M) plans," Residents United Residents Association, is seeking a judicial review. It issued papers to the Manchester council, which has now responded. It is now up to the group to decide "whether to mount such a challenge at the High Court." RURA now has until the end of September to consider the council's response. RURA Chair Annette McGovern said, "The council has responded and we are not going to back down. We will take this as far as we can" (MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS, 8/27).
WHAT'S MY NAME?: The Hyderabad Cricket Association "has named the north end of the Rajiv Gandhi Int'l Cricket Stadium at Uppal after VVS Laxman," who announced his retirement form int'l cricket last week. The HCA also plans "to install a statue of Laxman," who plans to play for Hyderabad in the Ranji Trophy (PTI, 8/23).
