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Features
Time to pretend Even with the presence of VAR, play-acting seems worse than ever
Reverse manoeuvre His struggle to settle at Manchester United isn’t Jadon Sancho’s fault
Live fast, Dai Yongge Reading fans’ frustration at their owner has seen protests escalate
Match of the month Crawley Town and Salford City aim to move up the League Two table
World beaters Franz Beckenbauer’s ups and downs; remembering Mário Zagallo
Table setting How Jimmy Hill’s three points for a win concept spread around the world
Object lessons A face in the crowd at Blackpool
Inside job Life as a volunteer groundsman; is it the end for turnstile operators?
Police state When players brush with the law

Regulars
Editorial The Premier League will continue to resist the EFL’s attempts to narrow the gap between them
Sidelines Turbulence at Edinburgh City; ACL injuries causing pain down the women’s pyramid; the TikTok footballer; tribute to Luigi Riva
Shot! Nantwich Town welcome Witton Albion
Harry Pearson column The dream of seeing a ball burst the goal net
The perfect shot All eyes on Alex Ferguson at the Manor Ground in 1986
World view A lack of action on match-fixing; time up for José Mourinho at Roma; India need to move forwards
Books How mental health affects fans and players; the story of Jack Leslie; revisiting Arsène Wenger’s Double win
Letters Two decades later we still wear our socks…
Season in brief Burton Albion take the Conference title on the final day