Shirin Ebadi and AFC Telford United: Difference between pages

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{{Football club infobox |

[[Image:Shirin_Ebadi.png| شیرین عبادی Shirin Ebadi|right|شیرین عبادی Shirin Ebadi]]

clubname = AFC Telford United |

motto = Numquam Obliviscere "Never Forget" |

image = [[Image:Av-34.jpg |AFC Telford United crest]] |

fullname = Association Football Club Telford United |

nickname = The Bucks or Lillywhites |

motto = Numquam Obliviscere "Never Forget" |

founded = [[2004]] ([[1872]] as Parish Church Institute) |

ground = [[New Bucks Head]]<br />[[Telford]] |

capacity = 6300 |

owner = [[The Supporters]] |

chairman = {{flagicon|England}} [[Lee_Carter_AFCTU|Lee Carter]] |

manager = {{flagicon|England}} [[Rob Smith (footballer)|Rob Smith]] {{flagicon|England}} [[Larry Chambers]]|

league = [[Northern Premier League Premier Division]] |

season = 2005-06 |

position = NPL Premier Division, 10th |

pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=|pattern_ra1=|

leftarm1=FFFFFF|body1=FFFFFF|rightarm1=FFFFFF|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000|

pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=|

leftarm2=FF0000|body2=FF0000|rightarm2=FF0000|shorts2=FF0000|socks2=FF0000|

}}

'''Shirin Ebadi''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: &#1588;&#1740;&#1585;&#1740;&#1606; &#1593;&#1576;&#1575;&#1583;&#1740;; born [[1947]]) is an [[Iran]]ian [[lawyer]] and [[human rights]] activist. On [[December 10]], [[2003]], Ebadi was awarded the [[Nobel Peace Prize]], becoming the first Iranian and the first [[Islam|Muslim]] woman to receive the prize.

'''A.F.C. Telford United''' are an [[England | English]] football club based in [[Telford]], [[Shropshire]], playing in the [[Northern Premier League Premier Division]].

They were formed on [[28 May]] [[2004]] by supporters of [[Telford United]] after it became clear that the club would cease to exist. [[Bernard McNally]] was installed as the manager as the team embarked on their first ever season. The club's colours are black and white.

==Life and early career==

Ebadi was born in [[Hamedan]]. Her father was Mohammad Ali Ebadi, the city's chief [[notary public]] and a professor of [[commercial law]]. The family moved to [[Tehran]] in [[1948]].

==Background==

Ebadi entered the [[law]] department of the [[University of Tehran]] in [[1965]], and participated in the entry exam for judges immediately after graduation in [[1969]]. She officially started her career as a judge in March, [[1970]], after a six-month [[internship]] period. She continued her studies in University of Tehran in the meanwhile, and received a master's degree in law in [[1971]]. In [[1975]], she became the first woman in Iranian law history to head a legislative branch.

AFC Telford United are a phoenix club formed from the ashes of [[Telford United]] in 2004. Late into the 2003-04 season, the [[Telford United]] chairman and 100% shareholder Andrew John Shaw's business empire collapsed and all funding for United disappeared, forcing the club he had attempted to bankroll into the Football League into administration.

Ebadi was assigned to a lower position, actually the same branch's secretary, following the [[Iranian revolution]] in [[1979]], when conservative [[cleric]]s insisted that judgement is forbidden for women in [[Islam]]. After protests by her and other female judges, they were assigned to a little higher position, a "law expert." She finally asked for early [[retirement]] when she could not stand her situation.

The club's supporters rallied and raised around £50,000 in two months, however with crippling debts owed to various creditors amounting to over £4million there was little hope for the club and the old Telford United were forced into liquidation on [[27th May]] [[2004]].

Because of rejected applications, Ebadi was not able to work as a lawyer until [[1993]], when she was able to open a lawyer office.

She used the free time to write a few books and many articles in Iranian [[periodical]]s, which made her known widely.

On the same day that the proposed liquidation was announced, the supporters trust (Telford United Supporters Ltd) created and became the sole owners of a new football club - AFC Telford United. In the close season, manager Bernard McNally was appointed and a new squad assembled, the ground lease and assets were secured and the new club was placed in the [[Northern Premier League]] Division One by the FA.

==Ebadi as a lawyer==

[[Image:Ebadi.jpg| &#1588;&#1740;&#1585;&#1740;&#1606; &#1593;&#1576;&#1575;&#1583;&#1740; Shirin Ebadi|left|&#1588;&#1740;&#1585;&#1740;&#1606; &#1593;&#1576;&#1575;&#1583;&#1740; Shirin Ebadi]]

==Performance==

Ebadi now lectures law at the University of Tehran, and is a campaigner for strengthening the legal status of children and women, the latter of which played a key role in the May [[1997]] landslide presidential election of the reformist [[Mohammad Khatami]].

In their first season, the club began with indifferent form, with a lack of consistency leaving them in mid-table and out of both the [[FA Cup]] and [[FA Trophy]]. However, following a 1-0 away defeat at [[Willenhall Town F.C.|Willenhall Town]] on [[December 30]] [[2004]], the side never lost another league game all season, challenging for the title before eventually finishing third place, three points behind the champions [[North Ferriby United A.F.C.|North Ferriby United]]. In the subsequent playoffs, they defeated [[Eastwood Town]] 1-0 before defeating [[Kendal Town F.C.|Kendal Town]] 2-1 in the final to clinch promotion. The final was attended by 4,215 people, a record in that league.

As a lawyer, she is known for taking up cases of liberal and dissident figures who have fallen foul of the judiciary, one of the bastions of hardline power in Iran. She has represented the family of [[Dariush Forouhar]], a dissident intellectual and politician who was found stabbed to death at his home. His wife, [[Parvaneh Forouhar|Parvaneh]], was also killed at the same time.

Midway through their second season, Telford found themselves wallowing in second from bottom position of the table. Under much supporter unrest, McNally was removed as manager, with [[Sean Parrish]] taking over the duties as caretaker. Results improved immediately, and the side were unbeaten under Parrish's guidance.

The couple was among several dissidents who died in a spate of grisly murders that terrorized Iran's intellectual community. Suspicion fell on extremist hard-liners determined to put a stop to the more liberal climate fostered by President Khatami, who has championed freedom of speech. The murders was found to be committed by a team of the employees of the [[Iranian Ministry of Intelligence]], of which the leader [[Saeed Emami]] committed [[suicide]] in jail before being brought to the court.

On Thursday 16 February, the new management team was announced: Rob Smith assisted by Larry Chambers. The pair had been managing [[Willenhall Town F.C.|Willenhall Town]]. The team's results have since improved dramatically and after an unbeaten run after the installation of the new management duo, they finished the season in 10th place.

She also represented the family of [[Ezzat Ebrahimnezhad]], the only officially accepted case of murder in the [[Iran student protests, July 1999|Iranian student protests]] of July [[1999]]. It was in the process of this case that in [[2000]], Ebadi was accused of distributing the video-taped confession of [[Amir Farshad Ebrahimi]], a hardline hooligan who claimed that prominent conservative leaders were instigating physical attacks on pro-reform gatherings and figures. She claimed that she had only taped the confessions in order to present them to the court. She received a suspended jail sentence and a professional ban (which was later lifted). Her case brought increased focus on Iran from human rights groups abroad.

After a frenzied summer of transfer activity during which virtually the entire squad was renovated, the club entered it's third season in much better shape to take the Unibond Premier division and mount a serious challenge for the title. After enjoying the club's most successful start to a season, and the most successful start of any Telford side in history, AFC Telford United topped the Unibond Premier League table after 15 games whilst racking up the best goal difference of any senior team in the British Isles. After an impressive start and 4 points against 2nd placed local rivals [[Hednesford Town F.C.|Hednesford Town]] form began to slip.

Ebadi has also defended various cases of [[child abuse]] cases and a few cases dealing with bans of periodicals (including the cases of [[Habibollah Peyman]], [[Abbas Maroufi]], and [[Faraj Sarkouhi]]). She has also established two non-governmental organizations in Iran, the [[Iranian Society for Protecting the Rights of the Child]] and the [[Centre for the Defence of Human Rights]].

==The New Bucks Head==

She also drafted the original text of a law against [[physical abuse]] of children, which was passed by the [[Majlis of Iran|Majlis]] in [[2002]].

AFC Telford United's [[New Bucks Head]] stadium is arguably the best non-league ground in the country, also putting many football league grounds to shame.

==Nobel Peace Prize==

[[Image:Ebadi-lecture-e.jpg|Shirin Ebadi|left| &#1588;&#1740;&#1585;&#1740;&#1606; &#1593;&#1576;&#1575;&#1583;&#1740; Shirin Ebadi in Oslo December 10, 2003 ]]

On [[October 10]], [[2003]], the [[Norwegian Nobel Committee]] in a press release [http://nobelprize.org/peace/laureates/2003/press.html] announced its decision to award Nobel Peace Prize for 2003 to Shirin Ebadi. Later on [[December 10]], Ebadi was officially awarded in [[Oslo]], [[Norway]].

Construction of the new stadium commenced in 2000, replacing the Bucks Head ground which had been home to Wellington Town and later [[Telford United]] for over a century. Although the Bucks Head held a special place in the hearts of many supporters, it was in desperate need of renovation. The terraces were a mixture of concrete steps and cinder banking, one of the stands was built from wood and the toilet facilities left a lot to be desired.

The selection of Ebadi by the Norwegian Nobel committee is thought by some observers to represent an implicit criticism of [[United States|American]] policy in the [[Middle East]], in particular the [[2003 invasion of Iraq|2003 Invasion of Iraq]]. [[George W. Bush]] has referred to Iran as a member of the ''[[axis of evil]]'', and Iran has also been suggested as a possible invasion target.

At a press conference shortly after the Peace Prize announcement, Ebadi herself explicitly rejected foreign interference in the country's affairs: "The fight for human rights is conducted in Iran by the Iranian people, and we are against any foreign intervention in Iran.." [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A21850-2003Oct13.html]

[http://www.workingforchange.com/article.cfm?itemid=15804]

In the 1999-2000 season, demolition work began on the Railway End terraces, albeit slowly at first. The following season, the new stadium slowly began to take shape. [[Telford United F.C.|Telford United]] played with only two terraces in operation, with a small temporary stand situated on what is now the East Terrace and portacabins in the car park were used for changing rooms.

On the other hand, some observers also view her selection as a calculated and political one, along the lines of the selection of [[Lech Walesa]] and [[Mikhail Gorbachev]], among others, for the Peace Award. They claim that none of Ebadi's previous activities were directly related to the stated goals for the award of the Nobel Peace Prize, as originally stated by [[Alfred Nobel]], and that according to the will of Alfred Nobel the prize should be awarded "to the person who shall have done the most or the best work for fraternity between the nations, for the abolition or reduction of standing armies and for the holding and promotion of peace congresses". Among surprises, [[Mohammad Khatami|President Khatami]] has been among the latter group, mentioning that although the scientific Nobels are important, the Peace Prize "is not important and is political".

The stadium was finally completed in 2003 and can now hold up to 6,300 supporters.

==After the Nobel prize==

In [[November]] [[2003]], she declared that she would provide legal representation for the family of the murdered freelance photographer [[Zahra Kazemi]].

[[As of 2004]], she lives with her husband, an [[electrical engineer]], and has two daughters who are university students.

==Current First Team Squad==

==Publications==

{{football squad start}}

Books written by Shirin Ebadi which translated into English:

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* ''History and Documentation of Human Rights in Iran'' (New York, 2000, ISBN 0933273401)

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=GK| name=[[Stuart Brock]]}}

* ''The Rights of the Child. A Study of Legal Aspects of Children's Rights in Iran'' (Tehran, 1994)

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=GK| name=[[Damien Stevens]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Richard Beale (footballer)|Richard Beale]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Dean Craven]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Andy Jones (footballer)|Andy Jones]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Inderpaul Khela]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Dennis Pearce]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Steve Pope]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Richard Teesdale]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Jimmy Turner]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=DF| name=[[Dave Woodvine]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Lee Chilton]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Chris Cornes|Chris Cornes (Loan)]]}}

{{football squad mid}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Gary Fitzpatrick]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Steve Palmer (footballer)|Steve Palmer]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Carl Rodgers]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Jai Stanley]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Ben Twigger]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Lee Vaughan]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=MF| name=[[Scott Willis]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=FW| name=[[Tyrone Barnett]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=FW| name=[[Steve Foster (footballer)|Steve Foster]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=FW| name=[[Justin Marsden]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=Scotland | pos=FW| name=[[Lee Moore (footballer)|Lee Moore]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=FW| name=[[Dean Perrow]]}}

{{fs player| no=-- | nat=England | pos=FW| name=[[Gary Birch ]]}}

{{football squad end}}

See also: [[History of Iran]], [[Politics of Iran]]

===Goalscorers this Season===

* '''Steve Foster''' 17

* '''Lee Moore''' 14

* '''Dean Craven''' 8

* '''Justin Marsden''' 6

* '''Gary Birch''' 5

* '''Jimmy Turner''' 4

* '''Lee Vaughan''' 4

* '''Tyrone Barnett''' 3

* '''Andy Jones''' 3

* '''Dean Perrow''' 3

* '''Richard Beale''' 2

** Gary Hay 2 (Now at [[Bromsgrove_Rovers_F.C.|Bromsgrove Rovers]])

* '''Carl Rodgers''' 2

* '''Richard Teesdale''' 2

* '''Ben Twigger''' 2

* '''Inderpaul Khela''' 1

* '''Steve Pope''' 1

* '''Jai Stanley''' 1

** Glenn Tolley 1 (Now at [[Newtown_F.C.|Newtown AFC]])

* '''Scott Willis''' 1

*'''Indicates player is still at the club.'''

**Indicates player has now left the club.

* Goals counted include those scored in The Unibond League Premier Division , The FA Cup , The FA Trophy , The Shropshire Senior Cup and The Unibond League Challenge Cup. Goals scored in friendly matches are not counted towards totals.

==Club Records==

*'''Record Home Win:''' 4-0 vs [[Belper_Town_F.C.|Belper Town,]] 12/04/2005

** 5-1 vs [[Market_Drayton_Town_F.C.|Market Drayton Town]], 18/04/2006 (Shropshire Senior Cup Semi-Final 2006)

** 5-1 vs [[Leek_Town_F.C.|Leek Town,]] 30/09/2006

** 4-0 vs [[Gateshead_F.C.|Gateshead,]] 11/11/2006

*'''Record Away Win:''' 7-0 vs [[Runcorn_FC_Halton|Runcorn FC Halton,]] 17/04/2006.

*'''Record Home Defeat:''' 6-3 vs [[Bradford_Park_Avenue_F.C.|Bradford (Park Avenue),]] 03/09/2005

*'''Record Away Defeat:''' 5-1 vs [[Shrewsbury_Town_F.C.|Shrewsbury Town,]] 27/07/2004 (Shropshire Senior Cup Final 2004)

** 4-0 vs [[Witton_Albion_F.C.|Witton Albion,]] 26/12/2005.

*'''Record Home Crowd:''' 5710 vs [[Burscough_F.C.|Burscough FC,]] 28/04/2007

*'''Record Away Crowd:''' 3005 vs [[Hednesford_Town_F.C.|Hednesford Town,]] 01/01/2007

*'''Unbeaten Run''' 37 games, 21/1/2006 to 9/12/2006

*'''Best League Finish:''' 10/22, [[Northern_Premier_League_Premier_Division|Northern League Premier Division]] 2005-06.

*'''Best FA Cup Performance:''' 2nd Qualifying Round vs [[Nuneaton_Borough_F.C.|Nuneaton Borough]] 24/09/2005 (1-3)

*'''Best FA Trophy Performance:''' 3rd Qualifying Round (Replay) vs [[Worksop_Town_F.C.|Worksop Town]] 29/11/2005 (1-2)

*'''Best Shropshire Senior Cup Performance:''' Final - 3 Times,

**Best result vs [[Shrewsbury_Town_F.C.|Shrewsbury Town,]] 25/07/2006, (1-1 - Shrewsbury Win 3-1 on penalties)

*'''Best Unibond Challenge Cup Performance:''' 3rd Round vs [[Witton_Albion_F.C.|Witton Albion,]] 07/01/2006 (0-1)

*'''Best Unibond Chairman's Cup Performance:''' Semi-Final vs [[Kidsgrove_Athletic_F.C.|Kidsgrove Athletic,]] 05/03/2005 (1-3 AET)

*'''Record Goal Scorer:''' [[Kyle_Perry|Kyle Perry]], 32 goals. (September 2004-July 2006)

*'''Most Goals In One Season:''' [[Kyle_Perry|Kyle Perry]], 23 goals (2004-05)

*'''Most Appearances:''' [[Stuart_Brock|Stuart Brock]], 130 Appearances. (July 2004-Present)

*'''Longest Serving Player(s)''' [[Stuart Brock|Stuart Brock]] (2004- Present)

** [[Dean Craven|Dean Craven]] (2004-Present)

*'''Record Signing (Inward):''' [[Lee Moore (footballer)|Lee Moore]] from [[Tamworth_FC|Tamworth]] on 08/12/06 for a fee of £5000.

*'''Record Signing (Outward):''' [[Duane_Courtney|Duane Courtney]] to [[Burnley_F.C.|Burnley]] on 31/08/05 for a fee of about £33,000 along with a sell-on clause.

==External links==

===Official websites===

{{wikiquote}}

* [http://www.shirinebaditelfordutd.ir/co.uk Ebadi'sOfficial officialAFC websiteTelford (inUnited Persian)website]

* [http://www.shirinebaditust.ir/about.htm Ebadi'sorg shortTelford autobiographyUnited (inSupporters Persian)Ltd]

*[http://www.unibondleague.com/tables.php Unibond League Official Website]

* [http://www.nobel.se/peace/laureates/2003/ebadi-bio.html Shirin Ebadi's biography on the Nobel Prize website]

* [http://www.nobel.se/peace/laureates/2003/ebadi-lecture.html Shirin Ebadi's Nobel lecture]

===Unofficial websites===

*[http://www.the-bucks.co.uk The Bucks]

*[http://www.bbc.co.uk/shropshire/sport/telford/index.shtml BBC AFC Telford United]

*[http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/clubguides/telford/ Shropshire Star AFC Telford United]

{{Northern_Premier_League}}

[[Category:1947 births|Ebadi, Shirin]]

[[Category:Iranian judges|Ebadi, Shirin]]

[[Category:Iranian lawyers|Ebadi, Shirin]]

[[Category:Nobel Peace Prize winners|Ebadi, Shirin]]

[[Category:English football clubs|Telford United]]

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