Stories | When Saturday Comes

Rumour has it

A new website tracking the accuracy of transfer rumours has started up. Adam Powley assesses the implications for football journalism

It’s the silly season, and while some fundamental questions are raised about the media, police and political establishment, it is business as usual for football. The contrivances of the transfer windows mean that almost as soon as a season ends in May, the speculation and gossip about which millionaire wants to play with which other group of millionaires begins to flow. It is easy to just blame the journalists, but there is undoubtedly a public appetite for human dramas of ambition, loyalty and greed that the business entails.

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 - The Archive

The bottom left hand corner

Gareth Nicholson reports on interesting developments in the south-west football scene

A footballing summer in Devon and Cornwall is generally a sleepy affair, punctuated more by tutting about the poor fare offered by pre-season friendlies than talk about player arrivals and departures. Not this summer, though, as the region’s teams reflect on seasons of highs, lows and future uncertainty.

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 - Book reviews

Serious trust issues

Simon Menary discusses the future of Supporters Direct in the wake of unfortunate publicity and threats to their funding

Supporters Direct (SD) has been briefly reprieved after an unfortunate series of tweets from its former chief executive nearly killed it off (as referred to in the editorial in WSC 294). But its long-term future remains unclear. In May, chief executive Dave Boyle celebrated the elevation of fan-owned AFC Wimbledon to the Football League with a Twitter rant at those responsible for the relocation of the original club to Milton Keynes.

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 - The Archive

Wishful thinking

Some simple ways to make the 2011-12 season more palatable. Badge kissing, coloured boots and the the inanity of Mark Lawrenson all require immediate attention

Before we begin to list our hopes for the new season, it should be noted that nothing we ask for ever comes to pass, often because that would require adjustments to the Laws of the Game or to the Indecent Displays Act (1981). So there almost seems to be no point in, for example, expressing the hope that one day a referee will send off a player who makes the shushing or ear-cupping gesture to opposing fans when they’ve scored. Or that anyone over school age wearing a jester’s hat inside a football ground should be required to do community service, with the punishment extended if the wearer has a previous conviction for waving a giant foam hand.

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 - The Archive

Global gathering

Georgina Turner went to Germany to watch the 2011 Women’s World Cup, which had underdog winners, individual skill and a welcoming atmosphere

I don’t make a habit of arm-wrestling strangers for the bar bill, but we’ve been in Wolfsburg for hours, and Robert and Tilo haven’t let anyone else buy a round yet. People are in town for the Women’s World Cup and in FIFA’s fan mile – essentially an oversized wedding marquee, with widescreen TVs and a Beatles tribute act (“All you need is luff, la la lalalah”) – the mood is wunderbar.

Wednesday, September 21st, 2011 - The Archive