It's quite a coincidence – a film about hooliganism has come out just before Euro 2004. David Stubbs finds barely a redeeming feature in people who really should know better

As evidence of the mindset of fevered gormlessness in which this film was forged, director Nick Love says he wanted to make a film about the white working-class men “who make up 70 per cent of this country”. That demographic howler speaks more about a disproportionate fascination with hooliganism, its cama­raderie, its violence, its blood and honour, than about reality, about which The Football Factory proudly says next to nothing.

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What is the easiest route into management? Ask Claude Anelka, who has just bought Scottish First Division side Raith Rovers. Neil White looks at what to expect from the club's new manager/owner/benefactor

A dangerous precedent has been set at Raith Rovers. Where once wealthy investors were content with puppeteering from the boardroom, the Scottish First Division club have let their latest benefactor into the dugout. And this is no ordinary benefactor. This is Claude Anelka, the brother of Nicolas and the man much vilified for his role in brokering the £22 million deal that took his sibling from Arsenal to Real Madrid in 1999. Since then, Claude has flitted between homes in London and Miami, before deciding that true happiness lies in the sleepy Fife town of Kirkcaldy.

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Despite only losing once all season, Rhyl FC only wrapped up the Welsh Premier title on the last day of the season, before completing the Welsh 'treble' within a week. Paul Ashley-Jones reports on their excellent season

Rhyl FC may not have managed to emulate Arsenal’s feat of going unbeaten in the league all season, but they came out on top when it came to winning silverware. The start of May saw the club clinch the Welsh Premier Championship, the Welsh League Cup and the Welsh Cup all in the space of eight days.

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Paul Merson's season at Walsall, which was widely expected to be his last, didn't quite go to plan as he finished the season as player-manager, watching his side plummet into Division Two. Paul Giess looks at the task facing the league's most unlikely manager

After several half-hearted attempts to consolidate in Division One, there was a feeling that Walsall had finally got it right last July when Paul Merson signed up. Sky turned up to cover his arrival – suddenly the Saddlers had a big name on their books for the first time. His plan was to play through a two-year contract while working towards coaching qualifications. The thought of a man who struggled to manage his own daily routine taking charge of someone’s club seemed absurd at that time. 

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England go into Euro 2004 confident that they can finally live up to expectations, with the steps taken to prevent violence likely to stop the country being embarassed by its supporters as in previous years. But is enough being done to control their mouths, as well as their fists?

Cautious optimism seems in order for England, on and off the pitch, as they head for Portugal. The team’s prospects are considered as good as they have been for a major tournament since before Euro 88 – but we all know how that ended. More, though, has been done than ever to try to ensure that England are not embarrassed by their support. Everyone knows there is a risk the team could be sent home unbeaten due to violence from a minority of fans and at last some ser­ious steps have been taken.

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