Articles from When Saturday Comes. All 27 years of WSC are in the process of being added. This may take a while.
Fans complain about everything these days
It may seem a bit churlish, given that fanzines generally and When Saturday Comes in particular started as and remain vehicles in which to voice concerns over how football is run, but we can’t help thinking that complaining has gone too far these days. Not over serious matters – the survival of clubs, the overarching influence of television, racism and the lack of a decent cup of tea at most grounds – but in the smaller details.
Sunday 1 Arsenal are back on top after a stormy 2-1 win over Man City. Nicolas Anelka scores the latter’s goal in the 90th minute but is sent off before the restart for a bundle in the goalmouth. Surprisingly, his sparring partner Ashley Cole is only booked. Chelsea just about stay in touch, needing a late winner from Glen Johnson to beat Blackburn 3-2. Sir Alex, meanwhile, faces a decision: to climb down in his court case or finally file papers with the judge in Dublin…
BBC coverage of the African Nations Cup fails to excite, reports Tom Davies
If there was a hint of desperation in the way the BBC hyped its first foray into covering the African Nations Cup, two years ago, there was at least a sense this year that it’s beginning to grow into the job. Of course, any broadcaster is hostage to the quality of the event and the 2002 ANC was a grim, joyless tournament whose dullness the Beeb couldn’t quite bring itself to admit, whereas Tunisia 2004, though patchy, greatly exceeded its predecessor for excitement and unpredictability.
English Football and its Finances report makes 30 recommendations. Roger Titford argues that they are flawed and too idealistic
I remember lobbying MPs in the 1980s about the supporters’ identity-card schemes and being appalled at how out-of-touch and reactionary MPs were then. This report, English Football and its Finances, bears testimony to the sea-change in MPs’ attitudes to football and how much ground the “fans’ agenda” has captured. Sadly, this may be its only achievement.
Religion and football remain a potent and unpleasant mix. Robbie Meredith examines the problems on both sides of the border in Ireland
In 1998, in a routine attempt at male bonding, I took my son to his first international at Windsor Park to see Northern Ireland play Moldova. Our players wore green, but numerous fans sported Rangers scarves of red, white and blue or the purple and orange colours of the Orange Order. Many bellowed “No Surrender!” in the midst of the national anthem, while The Sash, the Protestant marching song, was sung regularly.