Book reviews

Cup fever is often a passing affliction, but Colchester will move to a new ground thanks to the passion created by the Chelsea game, as Graham Dunbar explains 

For Colchester United these are the best of times being played at the worst of places. Since the demise of Cambridge United a year ago introduced the Conference to the Abbey Stadium’s old-school charms, the unofficial mantle of “League’s worst ground” has passed on to Layer Road – and that is just the home-town opinion. (Which also points out that Layer Road’s immaculate pitch is a perfect stage for Champions League football while the Stamford Bridge surface would suit most League One sides.) 

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Cambridge United’s slide out of the League threatened to bring a renewal of derby hostilities against Cambridge City. But, writes Andrew Bennett, suddenly prospects are bleak for the Conference South side, now fighting for survival as a separate club

There’s no such team as “Cambridge Football Club”. And if the supporters of the seat of learning’s two senior sides, City and United, have their way, there never will be, despite current talk of a possible merger. But, as one club fights for its existence, the question arises: when is a “merger” not a merger?

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Ron Greenwood passed away leaving behind him a distinguished career. Darron Kirkby remembers the former England manager

England’s 6-3 defeat by Hungary in 1953, their first by an overseas side at Wembley, must have been a humiliating experience. But, for one fascinated spectator, the match crystallised a view of the game that was to manifest itself in English football’s most glorious afternoon.

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After winning League One you would think that Mike Newell would be over the moon. As Neil Rose finds out, the Luton manager is still his old, dour self

It feels strange to come over all protective about your team’s manager, but that is how I feel about Mike Newell. Here is a decent and honest man who has found himself at the centre of a bewildering furore. Publicly he’s bullish and holding up well enough, but I would still like to give him a hug and tell him everything will be all right.

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It’s war at the Britannia Stadium, after manager Johan Boskamp found his authority undermined from the stands by Stoke’s director of football. Andy Thorley reports

November 1, 2005 and Stoke City win a crucial game away at the Ricoh Arena. It might not seem the sort of match to begin a feud between the club’s managerial staff that is likely to see at least one of them leaving his job. However, this is the sort of thing that passes for normality at the Britannia Stadium.

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