Cyril the Swan falls for the dark side of the media as AS Thomas reports
I know a young boy who is paralysed from the neck down after a horrific road accident. He currently resides at Swansea’s Singleton Hospital and is a Swans fanatic. In fact the local press recently had pictures of him being visited by some of the players and the now-famous mascot, Cyril the Swan. At the time he was promised by the club that should he want Cyril to come up for his birthday, then it would be arranged.
A tale of football, betrayal and a kangaroo. Sam Beckwith reports on the peculiar case of Bohemians Prague
British fans looking for a second home in Prague could do much worse than visit Bohemians’ D’olnicka stadium. The stadium – Bohemians’ home since 1932 – fits your image of a classic football ground – the crowd is squeezed right up against the pitch, creating a good atmosphere even if the attendance doesn’t often top 4,000. There’s a large grandstand to one side, and vociferous support from the terrace behind the goal. But the chance to see a game there could already be gone, as Bohemians fans face some unattractive, but familiar, aspects of the modern game – cold-blooded redevelopers, and an enforced move from their home.
Part -time TV soap star look alike, part-time adventure explorer – Craig Gurney looks at Swindon Town's chariman
Distinguishing Features He used to look a bit like Coronation Street’s Les Battersby in a sharp suit. But not even Tricky Rikki can cheat the ageing process and he is now starting to look like the middle-aged businessman he surely is; more bloke down the golf club than bloke down the pub. The Battersby motif still has some mileage though. Les, you may recall, has made a fool of himself over professional blonde scouser, Margi Clarke. Hunt has a love of all things scouse; himself for a start. He stood by another blond (if receding) scouser, Steve McMahon, much longer than he should have. Even now, Hunt will not hear a bad word spoken against the manager who brought us two years of disastrous mid-season slumps.
A quick history with all things football in Wigan, courtesy of Mike Wareing
1932 Wigan Athletic are born. Previously there was Wigan Borough (slung out of the League in 1931), Wigan Town, Wigan United and Wigan County – none survived. Fingers are crossed for the future success of the new club as the town is rapidly running out of names.
How one man attempted to bring his club down to flames, literally. Andrew Spiers and Ray Gilbert report
Ken Richardson, ex-benefactor (his choice of word) of Doncaster Rovers, was found guilty of conspiracy to commit arson by a unanimous verdict at Sheffield County Court in the last week of January. Judge Peter Baker said Richardson could expect a custodial sentence and he was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing. Sentencing was delayed as his barrister was ill.