The odd detractor (they're always odd) occasionally accuses WSC of devoting too much space to articles about obscure countries such as Outer Mongolia. This one's for them. Charles Philpott takes up the story

No account of Mongolia would be complete without a reference to Ghengis Khan. There, it’s out of the way now. For, when talking Mongolian football, there will be no story of Mongol hordes emerging out of the East to take the football world by storm, no parallels to the exploits of the Great Khan.

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Footballers keep doing things that bother Matt Nation, but in the long term they'll thank him for pointing it out

In an attempt to outline just how difficult it is to be a footballer, Brian Clough once drew parallels between the respective lots of a cameraman and a centre forward. The cameraman, he reckoned, could spend an age perfecting his angles, positions and profiles, but then see the whole lot disappear down the toilet as a result of somebody deliberately knocking everything over just as he reaches for his clapperboard. Similarly, Cloughie’s number nine could spend an equal amount of time perfecting his shooting position (particularly if the number nine in question is Justin Fashanu) and then be brought down in one fell swoop by a carefully-aimed kick to the Achilles tendon.

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Having expressed his fears about Derby's new home, Tony Davis returned to check on the progress so far

A crowd of 200 has gathered in foul weather on the edge of an industrial estate on the outskirts of Derby to watch an unveiling. The photographers snap away as the cord is pulled back, local councillors applaud and Rammy the Ram waves his mittens in the air. It’s the foundation stone for Derby County’s new stadium. Rising up in the distance are the framework of two stands, hastily erected to give the visitors something to look at. Owner Lionel Pickering, uncomfortable in the public glare, makes a terse speech matched by club captain Igor Stimac, suspended for that afternoon’s match, “This is to be an exciting time . . . it’s a new ground . . . let’s go and beat Middlesbrough.”

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Richard Darn pays tribute to Bradford's HSG stand which would be even better if you could actually watch the game

Got a swish ground yet? New stands, dazzling snack bar menu, toilets with hand lotion? Well, if you’re an Arsenal or Manchester United supporter you’ll probably answer yes. But as a die-hard traditionalist watching my footie in the lower divisions you can keep your corporate-style entertainment and £20 admission fee and just give me a decent view of the game.

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Manchester bids to become the new natioanl football centre even though the odds are firmly stacked in Wembley's favour. Adam Brown reports

It is now a year since the Sports Council made the curious decision of asking Manchester and Wembley to revise and re-submit their bids for the national stadium. The ‘race’ for the national stadium saw the final, final bids re-entered on 6th November.

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