The Archive

Contrary to the beliefs of the Phoenix League "reformers", Roger Titford argues that other European countries are moving towards the structure of our League

We dullards who are forever against wonderful in­novations like the Phoenix League are often en­couraged to look abroad and draw inspiration from the Continent. There, it is said, we will find more rational and streamlined ways to organise football leagues, which are not dragged back by the need to maintain an unwieldy four national divisions of professional clubs. The debate of late seems to be led by issues about div­iding up TV money. The more fundamental question should be about league structures.

Read more…

In a brief spell at Middlesbrough, he won the hearts of the fans and the local TV celebrity, if you believe the gossip. Harry Pearson recalls a German cult hero

No doubt there are many players whose careers illustrate Rupert Pupkin’s maxim “Better a star for a night than a schmuck for a lifetime”, but on Teesside none illuminates the point quite so brightly as a former Germany Under-21 international who was brought in from Kaiserslautern by Bryan Robson.

Read more…

Is women's football is due to make a big breakthrough on to the UK sport scene? Two writers have conflicting opinions

Yes ~
“Football is all very well as a game for rough girls, but it is hardly suitable for delicate boys.” So said Oscar Wilde. If the women’s game continues to develop at the pace wit­nessed during the past decade, this observation could soon gain common currency.

Read more…

The blueprint for the European Cup was laid down in pre-war Budapest, Vienna and Prague. Cris Freddi recalls the mayhem and magnificence of the Mitropa

The name derives from Mittel Europa (central Eur­ope) and the Cup was the baby of Hugo Meisl, international referee turned secretary of the Austrian FA and manager of the national team. After the Second World War, it couldn’t compete with first the Latin Cup, then UEFA’s three major club competitions and, al­though it staggered on in one form or another until 1992, ended up no better than an Intertoto.

Read more…

Ian Plenderleith reports on the unexpected legal fallout from Notts County's first round FA Cup match against Cambridge

The webmaster of a small, non-profit making Notts County website was surprised to receive a ro­bust letter from the Football Association re­cently. His crime was to feature a video high­lights clip from the FA Cup first round match against Cambridge United. The FA were not happy at all.

Read more…