More Than Mind Games

A beautiful video tribute to Gordon Banks: [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DE4O2FRjt_M] You can read more about Don Mullan’s brilliant Banks biography here.

Pretty much what it says on the tin. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ok07djiTy30]

Is football becoming middle class? It’s not that simple. The old industrial north from which professional football sprang is gone. That “working class” exists only in the lives of its elderly surviving members. You have to stake your claim to being working class nowadays. But the idea of what being middle class was has also…

Given the lack of association football in Wodehouse (plenty of cricket, rugger, amateur athletics, tennis, golf and racing of course) it might not seem the obvious thing to come up with a PGW soccer eleven. But you never know when you might need one. Here’s mine, with accompanying comments from the selectors. GOAL: Sir Roderick…

Not much, at least not necessarily. The principle change to football kit since 1905 has been in the shape of progressively lighter, less protective, more weather-stable and weather-adaptable boots. These were a Brazilian innovation, taken up by Stanley Matthews after the 1950 World Cup and further developed since then by European companies. The ball has…

When I hit the wall, made of two-ton concrete blocks, it hurt. The car stopped dead with the engine underneath it, hard up to the broken wall. My right shinbone had a couple of hairline cracks and it was six weeks before I could walk. But I could still drive – just. A physiotherapist enabled…

Short and sharp opinion from Herbert Chapman’s worthy successor: The great swami of the Emirates was asked what he thought of the concept of technical director, the role in which the previously obscure Comolli has apparently achieved such power at Tottenham that we are told the new manager, whether it indeed proves be Juande Ramos…

The first inside stories of events within the England camp at the Rugby World Cup are coming out, and they aren’t pretty. Laurence Dallaglio’s in particular. This is one of the best pieces of thoughtful writing involving a sportsman that I’ve read. A few of the more experienced guys got together: Phil Vickery, Mike Catt,…

First Mourinho, now Jol. The most successful managers in their respective club’s recent history, sacked by wealthy club owners who expect too much. And want it too soon. Championship Manager Chairmanship, trumping potentially Champions League Management. I’d be surprised if there was any fan, of any club, who didn’t in his heart of hearts believe…

Online clips featuring Brian Clough are exasperatingly thin on the ground – and those of Peter Taylor.. so this excellent Youtube post simply has to feature here. [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKLyEFThdLo] Autochrome colour photography was invented before the First World War, but no one thought to take a camera into the East End. Kodachrome and workable colour film…