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
The foothills of Ben Nevis rise up behind Fort William’s Claggan Park. Iain Ferguson/Alba Photos
After propping up the league in 15 seasons out of the last 20, including conceding 184 goals in 2017-18, demotion has allowed the club to make a fresh start
Mark Noble carries Ander Herrera off the pitch; Jordan Pickford performs his trademark flop; Alessia Russo keeps the ball in the corner as England hang on to a 2-1 lead in the Euro 2022 final. Offside, Alamy, Getty
Running down seconds during a match is no longer simply a case of taking the ball to the corner, with the famous Pickford Flop one of many modern methods
Arsenal goalkeeper Pat Jennings holds aloft the champagne presented to him to celebrate 1,000 appearances. Alamy
After a trophy-laden spell at White Hart Lane ended in shock relegation the supposedly declining Northern Ireland No 1 found a new lease of life at Highbury
Munching on the sweetie version of a veteran reserve goalkeeper, magazine editor Andy Lyons, writer Harry Pearson and host Daniel Gray discuss players’ Indian Summers, from Horst Hrubesch to Wilfried van Moer via untucked shirts and Pools Panel hotel trifle. WSC Deputy Editor Tom Hocking talks us through the pages of magazine edition 417, including Big Match Festive Specials and issues around colour blindness in football. Record Breakers brings crooning from Cagliari, plus Steve McManaman’s iconic hands and Maurice Fussey’s wig.