It may have taken half an hour of the hors d’oeuvre clash between Porto and Napoli, but the largely partisan home crowd at Arsenal’s showpiece season opening ‘Emirates Cup’ have finally found a reason to become animated. Often noted for their quiet approach to both triumph and despair, the patrons of Ashburton Grove have laid to one side their sang froid and sputtered into a chorus of boos.
The …
You are the Ref by Paul Trevillion and Keith Hackett
Published by Bloomsbury
2013, £14.99
First of all a confession. At age 14, it was already pretty clear to me that the summit of my ambitions on the football pitch would be confined to occasional run out for the reserves of my local village team. So, while still coming to terms with a complete inability to tackle or head …
They won’t like this but David Beckham’s retirement from football this week put me in mind of a bunch more readily associated with the other half of Manchester, Britpoppers Oasis.
Both came to prominence in the mid to early 90s; Oasis at Glasgow’s King Tut’s Wah Wah Hut and Beckham at Preston North End’s Deepdale ground. Initially, the characteristic that united them can be broadly defined as swagger.…
Prawn sandwiches may be pushing it too far, but with the regular Football League season drawing to a close this past weekend, imagine rolling up at Boundary Park or Gigg Lane next August to find an array of food choices containing only locally sourced meat and vegetables?
Or you could picture arriving at the Pirelli Stadium to find the paper towels of yore have been replaced by those poncy …
Addicted by Tony Adams
Published by Willow
1999, prices vary
ISBN: 978-0002187954
Having read many footballer’s autobiographies over the years, few are seldom worth picking up for a second read. Tony Adams’ account of his life as a professional footballer of over 17 years with Arsenal and England, Addicted, is one of the exceptions to that rule.
What is it that marks Adams story as different to the rest? …
Ben: Sounds like an interesting read - and a useful companion-piece to Tony...
sean smith: Brilliant article. Shared. COYS...
Steve: C.f. Phil Neville on MOTD2 talking about Rosicky's audacious blind pas...
Steve: Excellent article....
Winch: An enjoyable read. I'm not sure they bring back any good memories, but...
