A summer of unprecedented World Cup hype has done nothing to slow down the football juggernaut. We invited three critics, Simon Inglis, Alyson Rudd and John Williams, to ruminate on the shape of things to come
The onset of the football boom in Britain is usually dated from the 1990 World Cup. Two tournaments on from there it still appears to be racing ahead at ever greater speed. Are there any indications that the boom is nearing its end?
Andrew Fraser explains how a recent court case involving a Stockport steward highlighted widespread concern about ground safety
Football safety experts fear a renewed smug-ness about stadium safety, plus financial restraints on clubs outside the Premiership, could threaten a new Hillsborough in English grounds.
Ray Spiers explains some new arrivals in the Doncaster boardroom
Doncaster Rovers fans are beginning to think that the nightmare of recent seasons might be over. The morning after Channel 5’s revealing documentary on last season’s sick comedy was shown, the club announced that the “Irish consortium’s” takeover from Ken Richardson and his Dinard Trading Ltd would be completed on July 31st.
With their team expected to struggle in the Second Division, Oldham Athletic fans are preparing for a season of protest against the board, as Steve Ragg reports
Easter Monday 1994: Oldham Athletic, occupying 16th place in the Premier League, go down 3-2 at Old Trafford, in a dress rehearsal for the following week’s FA Cup semi-final.
With player power becoming a bigger issue in football, Rutger Slagter explains how the Dutch FA's ruling kept a lid on a potentially huge can of worms, for now
At the end of July, a Dutch FA tribunal presided over the most important case since the Bosman ruling. If the De Boer brothers Frank and Ronald won the right to tear up their contract with Ajax, players around Europe would be able to follow suit. Football in general would be in danger.