Vulgar commercialism aside, the European Cup’s lustre is built on a monopoly

1 June ~ Liverpool v Milan in 2005 then 2007; Manchester United v Barcelona in 2009 and 2011; then, on Saturday, Real Madrid defeated Atlético Madrid in the Champions League final for the second time in three years. UEFA competition has become a boring fait accompli, yet I still love the European Cup final. A marathon of cynical commercial tat, including some of the preening participants, it remains the most genuinely heavyweight fixture in club football – and an unmissable date with the television.

We are pleased to announce the return of the annual WSC writers' competition, in memory of contributor David Wangerin. Entrants are invited to submit an article of between 800 and 1,500 words, about any aspect of the 2018-19 football season. The award was David's idea and he requested that it should only be open to amateur writers, ie those who don't make their living from writing. DEADLINE EXTENDED! The closing date for submissions is Monday, June 3, 2019.

Please read the rules and the declaration before submitting your entry. By entering the competition you declare that you have read and agreed to the terms specified in the rules and the declaration.