Losing My Favourite Game: ’10th of October, Ninian Park’ with Russell Todd.

Contrary to unpopular opinion, for many of us football isn’t just about twenty-two people kicking a bag of air back and forth for ninety minutes every week until the end of time. For some it’s an opportunity to spend quality time with friends and family, shouting obscenities at the referee and drinking unwise amounts of […]

The Kids Are Coming: What’s Behind The Resurgence of English Youth Prospects in the Premier League?

“You look at Under-16s or Under-17s and it’s absolutely riddled with foreign players. What chance does that give to young English players? It gives them virtually no chance.” Paul Scholes, speaking to the Daily Mail in 2015 It has become a staple of football quizzes in Britain. ‘How many non-British or Irish players started in […]

Love Letters to the European Union: Put ‘Em Under Pressure

On the 29th March 2019, the United Kingdom is (currently) scheduled to exit the European Union. To celebrate forty-six years of peacetime and prosperity in Europe, this season we’ll be profiling the footballing history of each remaining member of the EU, looking at some of their most iconic matches and the players that have left […]

A New England. UEFA Nations League Hitters & Shitters.

Despite its best efforts, international football still faces indifference outside of major tournaments, with the third break of season met with the usual sighs, tuts and eyerolls from certain quarters. Fortunately for UEFA, Theresa May was happy to step in this week and release details of her final withdrawal deal from the EU to distract […]

Championship Vinyl: Leek Town, Bands FC, and Football’s Relationship with Music Iconography.

“Football is Music” according to Italian multi-instrumentalist Eros Ramazzotti who, when he isn’t collaborating on genre-bending projects with the likes of Andrea Boccelli, Joe Cocker and Cher, can be found singing compositions of another kind at Juventus’ Allianz Stadium. It’s difficult to disagree with the four-time World Music Award winner when considering the artistry of […]

Cherry-Coloured Fun: How AFC Bournemouth Are Becoming a Finishing School for Young British Talent.

“I think we’re capable of beating anybody when we’re on the top of our game. I don’t think we were on top of our game today, so that’s good because there’s room to grow and improve.” Eddie Howe’s comments after Bournemouth’ last outing before the international break spoke volumes about the high standard the Cherries […]

Can’t Stop The Rock: UEFA Nations League Hitters & Shitters

The second international break of the 2018/19 season arrived this weekend like an untimely bout of hemorrhoids, just as the European club season had started to get into full swing. Not even an unseasonally balmy Saturday afternoon could ease the absence of top flight football, while fans of non-league clubs had to put up with fairweather […]

Apathy In The UK: What’s So Bad About a ‘Team GB’ Anyway?

Earlier this month FIFA announced that Great Britain will field a women’s football team at the Tokyo Olympics in 2020. The news has reignited the debate surrounding singular representation between the fans and football associations of all four home nations, as well as stirring the pot in South America and Africa. We spoke to fans […]

Still Waiting: Why England’s future stars won’t be thrust into the limelight.

Now we’re in that strange period of limbo in which the international break hasn’t quite finished and the full programme of club football is still a few days away, we’re taking the opportunity to reflect on England’s post-World Cup comedown against Spain, and catch-up with the progress of the youngsters that enjoyed a record breaking […]

World Cup 2018: The Hitlist

Previously we covered ten of the worst things about Russia 2018, from Neymar’s histrionics to the fact this might be the last acceptable World Cup for eight years, but that’s enough scorn-pouring for one summer. Despite the premature calls that this World Cup was set to go down as one of the worst ever, a […]