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My Story
by Perry Groves with John McShane
John Blake, £17.99
Reviewed by Jon Spurling
From WSC 240 February 2007 

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As Arsenal’s new age breed of teetotal, sinewy robots dazzle opponents with the speed and accuracy of their passing game, George Graham’s functional but highly successful collection of home-grown Englishmen and rising lower-league stars belong to a bygone era. In the 14 years since his departure from Highbury, Groves, a £75,000 snip from Colchester, has been granted cult-­figure status. In the (frequent) long silences at home games, the “We all live in a Perry Groves world” chant – sung to the tune of Yellow Submarine – is occasionally aired, and there are two websites dedicated to Graham’s first Arsenal signing. In recent weeks, there has been a concerted campaign by numerous Arsenal sites to ensure that Groves’ tome outsells Ashley Cole’s autobiography; a battle which is being won fairly comfortably.

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The Burns Report changes are finally implemented at the FA. Bruce Wilkinson reports

Almost three years since Lord Burns was asked to put together a report into the structure of the FA, 21 months after it was presented and seven since it was ratified, the governing body’s shareholders have finally voted for the changes. When Burns originally looked at the governing body he immediately realised that its Byzantine structure made quick and incisive decision-making almost impossible. He declared that the FA Council was not representative of the diverse interests of the game and was out of touch with modern thinking. The author also highlighted a number of conflicts of interest among voting members.

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Tom Davies on clubs in crisis

The supporters’ campaign to force Mansfield Town owner Keith Haslam to relinquish control of the club has been ratcheted up in recent months, with demonstrations, boycotts and even a plane fly-past display at the away game at Notts County. Haslam announced that the club was for sale on March 19, but there is widespread scepticism about the substance of this offer: the owner has form for frustrating previous expressions of interest by not ­providing enough information to bidders.

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Howard Pattison looks ahead to Manchester United's trip to the other St James Park

On the day of Exeter City’s FA Cup replay against Manchester United, a football liaison officer from Devon’s police force warned of strict punishment for anyone caught touting tickets outside the ground. “It is an offence to tout tickets for designated matches where it may lead to away supporters being in the home sections and cause trouble,” he remarked. Leaving aside the apparent admission that there are some games where it’s perfectly fine to sell tickets at inflated prices, this also leaves you wondering who on earth he thought was going to fill the home terraces at St James Park.

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David Wylie explores what lies ahead for Northern Ireland

Quitting the international game to re­turn to club management is in vogue. If speculation is to be believed, Sven-Göran Eriksson is considering the lure of Abramovich’s millions at Chelsea. Meanwhile, emphasising the worlds between them, Sammy McIlroy has resigned from the Northern Ireland post to become the boss of Stockport County. Eriksson has just delivered qualification. Sammy Mac, on the other hand, has pre­sided over the worst spell in his country’s footballing history. Yet amaz­ingly, he wasn’t sacked; indeed the opposite. Believe it or not, only a short time before leading NI to a dismal three points, no wins and no goals from our latest campaign, Mc­Ilroy signed a new two-year deal.

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