The Archive

Ian Plenderleith ploughs through the ruminations of Setanta's pundits

I once worked for a website that took contributions from professional footballers, but the only player who regularly sent us copy was so inane that the impossibility of turning his column into something interesting or readable caused you to take the only option available – to bury your head in your hands and weep. Another player we approached who had written some sensible blog entries on his own personal site turned us down politely on the grounds that writing a blog had been fun for the first few weeks, but then it had started to seem more “like homework”.

Read more…

Dear WSC
The checklist of things to look out for in the Football League in WSC 259 brought to my mind the imminent passing of one of the great grounds. Ninian Park is every-thing a stadium was supposed to be: old-style floodlights; a terrace the length of one side of the pitch; seagulls taking flight in panic at the surge of electricity up the pylons; a club shop with no new kit in stock before the start of the season. Some even put our relatively low attendances in recent years down to the rusty roof, crumbling concrete and general air of neglect. Terraced houses? I bet the locals were delighted to hear we were leaving. Imagine their disappointment as the new ground started going up just over the road. I’m well aware that all of the above are the very reasons some supporters use as excuses not to come, but it does sadden me that there will be a whole generation of fans who will grow up in all-seat stadiums. For better or worse, Ninian Park truly is the last of its kind. Whatever anyone’s feelings towards Cardiff City, anyone who has been attending football since pre-1992 will join me in acknowledging the approach of a landmark moment. But this being Cardiff, it would be remiss of me not to mention the prospect of a good old-fashioned pitch invasion. I’m sure I’m not alone in being secretly glad that Swansea got promoted last year, just to send the old place off in style.
Gareth Dix, via email

Read more…

A recent case involving Wigan chairman Dave Whelan is set to change the way clubs pay for policing on matchdays, writes Bruce Wilkinson

Earlier this year, Wigan lost a High Court battle with Greater Manchester Police over the costs of matchday policing, which could change the way all clubs are charged for their security. Until now they have had to pay only for policing within the ground and the immediate vicinity. In court, GMP successfully argued that it should also be paid for controlling the area surrounding the JJB Stadium, setting a precedent that could allow police authorities to increase charges dramatically.

Read more…

The campaign for respect for referees is targeted at managers and players, but, Michael Whalley wonders, wouldn’t it be better directed at broadcasters such as Andy Gray and Eamonn Holmes?

Sky Sports News – the channel that only considers sporting events to be truly newsworthy if they have the rights to show them – was a bit stuck during the Olympics. But on the day American swimmer Michael Phelps won a record-equalling ninth gold medal, it cleared its afternoon schedules – so that Eamonn Holmes could talk to John Terry about respecting ­referees.

Read more…

Trabzonspor make their debut, a significant event as they went on to take six titles in nine years and break the dominance of the big three, writes Alp Ayhan

The long-term significance
Brazilian World Cup winner Didi had taken over as Fenerbahce coach in 1972, finishing second in his first season, taking the title in 1974 and again the following season. Fenerbahce wouldn’t win two in a row again until 2005. This was a bleak period for local rivals Galatasaray, who were to go 14 seasons without winning a championship, a run they broke in 1987. Both Istanbul clubs were to be overshadowed over the next decade by the Black Sea side Trabzonspor, who made their 1. Lig debut in 1974-75 and went on to take six titles in the next nine years.

Read more…