
A football memento with a hidden secret received as a promotional gift serves as a reminder of family bonds and glimpses into the world of the press box
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A football memento with a hidden secret received as a promotional gift serves as a reminder of family bonds and glimpses into the world of the press box

TRUK United line up with Dulwich Hamlet Women before their friendly in March. Alamy
The Alternative Football League and clubs such as Manchester Laces show demand is there but players still face huge hurdles to wider participation

Rod McDonald goes down with cramp as Crewe Alexandra look to protect a 2-1 lead against Northampton Town. Getty Images
Battles of attrition and tedious timewasting in the lower leagues are increasingly a turn-off for supporters, whose entertainment is sacrificed for points

Illustration by Matt Littler
Returning to non-League after 2020’s enforced absence heightened the senses of matchday, as told in this extract from the new book The Silence of the Stands

Lee Clark tries to keep the ball in play as Newcastle United are defeated by Monaco in the UEFA Cup Quarter final at St James’ Park. Alamy
After playing a key role in Kevin Keegan’s promotion-winning Newcastle side, the midfielder repeated the trick with Sunderland – before things turned sour