Book reviews

Xavier Wiggins reports on Wimbledon's lack of action as they search for a new home

As followers of a team that have spent eleven consecutive years in the top flight, won the FA Cup and established themselves as formidable opponents, Wimbledon fans ought be envied by many other supporters. Closer examination, however reveals a club exiled from its own borough for the past seven seasons whose fans, whilst growing in number (a 115% increase since moving from Plough Lane) sit in a ground painted in the landlord’s colours, are stewarded by Palace fans and buy their merchandise in a shop where Wimbledon goods look like they have been put out by mistake. They even sup their pre-match beers in a bar called ‘Crystals’.

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Bournemouth were nearly extinct due to their financial situation, but Rob Trent tells the happy story of their revival

“This afternoon at just after four o’clock the assets of AFC Bournemouth, the stand, the stadium, the name, the players, have all been transferred into the hands of the community club.” Thus spoke Trevor Watkins, the new Chairman of AFC Bournemouth, on 18th June 1997.

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Bolton Wanderers are moving home. Keith Parkinson is impressed by their new ground

Attention all visiting Premiership fans heading for Planet Reebok via junction 6 of the M61. You have been warned. Engage low gear and keep a tight grip on the wheel – if you can. The first sight of Britain’s most expensive pounds-per-seat purpose built sports stadium will take your breath away.

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Matt Nation offers a brief lesson in the correct and incorrect uses of some important footballing terms

There exists a type of elderly gentleman – a neighbour, perhaps, or one’s maternal grandfather – whose singular unpleasantness lends credence to the argument that the good old days were not all they are cracked up to be. Yet when spoken of by third parties, their overall lugubriousness is interpreted as old-fashioned plain speaking that the younger generation cannot even begin to understand. Mercifully, most of these elderly gentlemen are not former footballers, for the additional cap-doffing, spittle-licking and general kowtowing that occurs when anyone of a certain age plays football as well is as widespread as it is obscene as it is wrong.

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Chesterfield fanzine editor Craig Thomas looks back on an astonishing season for his club

Before this year the only chance of Chesterfield playing in a cup semi final at Old Trafford would have been if the Auto Windscreens Shield matches were being staged at big grounds. For until this golden year Chesterfield have the worst FA Cup record of any professional club bar none: no Third Round appearance since 1981, no Fourth Round since 1954, no Fifth Round since 1950. Aside from that the only memories are grim ones, of limp exits at the hands of questionably competent opponents.

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