The Archive

A guest editorial from Colin Moneypenny, secretary of the Merseyside branch of the Football Supporters Association

Lord Justice Stuart-Smith’s scrutiny of new evidence relating to the Hillsborough disaster has lead him to conclude that there was insufficient reason to reopen the inquest. Anyone involved in the aftermath of Hillsborough had their suspicions that this would happen but many of the bereaved families were still astonished when Jack Straw made his announcement to the Commons, in the process not just denying a further inquiry but seemingly preventing any further investigation whatsoever into the events of April 15th 1989.

Read more…

Apparently buying a ticket is no longer enough in the Irish capital, as Davy Millar explains the problem of fakes being illegally sold

With Wimbledon’s proposed move back in the news, there is something that potential visitors to Dublin should know. That match ticket in your back pocket, the one you purchased at an official outlet and which has a seat number printed on it; don’t count on that being enough to get you into the ground. In the Irish capital, a ticket merely represents a desire to see a game, not a right to be there.

Read more…

John Marshall profiles the Hibernian chairman who has never invested a penny in the club and remains an unpopular figure among supporters

Distinguishing Features Lex is always well coiffured. In fact rumour has it that what he has on top may not be all natural. He dresses well, like a senior civil servant, and so it will come as no surprise that for many years he was exactly that. The current issue of the fanzine Mass Hibsteria has Lex’s picture alongside that of camp Aussie comic Bob Downe. Picture Bob and you’ve pictured Lex though it’s a toss up as to which is the comedian.

Read more…

Mark Foreman discusses the sheer quantity of football books that are ready to hit the shelves

It was only when I was told that bookshops are expecting over 30 new titles to appear on the shelves in time for the World Cup that the full scale of the football publishing boom hit home. These days it would seem that no player, club or fan’s eye view is too ‘marginal’ (a phrase all too common to anyone with a shoe box full of rejection letters) for big name publishers to print.

Read more…

Manchester United are the team of the 1990s but don't have an independent magazine. Paul Windridge reveals how his attempts to change this were blocked

We all realise that to win at football you will probably need a bit of luck along the way. But when you play the game, there is a certain equality of opportunity – two teams of 11 players each, changing ends at half-time etc. – in short, a level playing field. Does that hold true for the business of football too? I think you can guess the answer.

Read more…