It is commonly remarked that there is no loyalty in modern football, and whilst there are a few exceptions (some of the most notable being Francesco Totti at Roma and West Ham’s Mark Noble), it’s hard for us not to accept that loyalty to a single club is something rather rare in the current era…
Given the global popularity of football, it should come as little surprise that there is a thriving market for football memorabilia. Whether it is old match programmes to match-worn shirts, collectors will regularly look to purchase their own share of footballing history. Many items up for sale will not set you back too much but…
For England fans old enough to remember, the ‘Hand of God’ is a truly infamous incident and one that serves as a painful reminder about just how important VAR is in the modern game. For almost everyone else with even a passing interest in football, however, Diego Maradona’s successful effort to punch the ball out…
Teams from the 10th tier of English football enter the FA Cup and may, though it is highly unlikely, make it through several qualifying rounds and two rounds “proper” to play at Old Trafford in the Third Round. A side from the lower reaches of the National League System (the six tiers beneath the Football…
In the modern era of football, the “one-club man” seems to be a bit of a dying breed. Due to the enormous amount of money in the sport, and the constant transfer merry-go-round that occurs every summer and every January, it is becoming increasingly rare to find a player who manages to stick it out…
Much talk regarding football teams revolves around the players and manager but so many other individuals are part of a club’s success (or failure for that matter). Whether it be physios, coaches, scouts or those working away in offices or the cleaning and maintenance staff, professional clubs tend to have a lengthy list of employees….
You may be aware that professional footballers are prohibited from betting on the sport, and that relates even to matches in which they are not involved. There have been numerous instances of players breaking these rules and facing hefty fines and suspensions as a result. Such cases tend to receive much media attention too, which…
Football clubs have utterly transformed in recent times, with the number of staff required to run them effectively, especially at the highest level, seemingly always increasing, especially as technology continues to improve and the biggest sides have more and more money to throw at things. This change has created opportunities for a number of new…
For many people, becoming a football manager is something of a dream job. It provides an opportunity to play a hugely pivotal part in the success of a team, without having to be any good at actually kicking the ball. It may be a challenging and stressful occupation but for those that are interested in…
For any football game to be fairly officiated, a referee needs to be entirely impartial. If a referee is an avid supporter of the home team, it could potentially end up making them something of a 12th man. Ultimately, the person in black has just as much power to influence the game as anyone else…
