Matt Nation talks about the modern day 'heroics' of footballers and a debut from an unlikely source
Come the revolution, come the incarceration of any journalist found guilty of using the irritating truism ‘heroics’ in their match report. Heroes perform acts of martyrdom, self-immolation and general utilitarianism. They do not merely do diving headers in the six-yard box.
Neil Rose recounts a rare Des Walker goal on 1st January 1992
Des Walker has played over 500 games in his League career. He has scored just one goal. I saw it. I hate him for it.
Mike Ticher reminisces about Chelsea's man who turned down the chance to play Brazil
Alan Hudson played his last game for Chelsea in a 1-0 home defeat by Liverpool in December 1973. That match also led to the departure of Peter Osgood as Dave Sexton’s team self-destructed in a welter of bruised egos, booze-ups and squandered talent.
Graham McColl delves into the lowest – and perhaps slowest – point in Celtic's long history
Jock Stein’s first signing for Celtic was Joe McBride, a consummate striker who, in 1966-67, was Scotland’s leading scorer with 35 goals despite missing the second half of the season. In 1980, Billy McNeill gave a debut to a much talked-about goalscorer with the newest of New Wave hairstyles who looked exciting, fresh and eager when first seen warming up on the Celtic Park touchline – Charlie Nicholas.
John Tandy takes a look at Birmingham's ineffectual midfield linchpin
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. No, OK, it was the worst of times. The Birmingham City chairman Ken Wheldon had just about kept the club in existence after years of financial mismanagement, but he’d done it by cutting every corner known to man: we’re talking amputation here, not chemotherapy.