LONDON’s top clubs had a mixed start to the 1971-72 season. Not everyone was surprised, however, for despite the capital city scooping all the domestic prizes and a European trophy, the football establishment still looked to the north of England as the hub of the game in the early 1970s. “I wonder sometimes if the London lads are as dedicated,” commented Huddersfield Town manager Ian … Continue reading 72 Classic: London’s lost cup
ONE OF the privileges of being born in the late 1950s was that your formative years, from a footballing perspective, were the late 1960s and early 1970s. This was a great time for English football as the nation basked in the glow of World Cup 1966. As the passage of time moves on, and history plays tricks with the memory, sometimes you have to remind … Continue reading 1971: Geoffrey and Gordon
JUST before Christmas, I spotted former Chelsea star Alan Hudson outside Fulham Broadway station selling his biography on a stall. I was a little shocked by seeing this rather forlorn figure hawking his book in this way, but if you read his story, you’ll understand that Hudson’s life has not worked out quite like one would have expected. As someone who saw Hudson in … Continue reading Football Read Review: Played-out ballet
ACCORDING TO Deloitte, Stoke City are among the top 30 football clubs, bigger than the likes of Ajax Amsterdam, four times European champions. Of course, this is attributable to the remarkable level of wealth that exists in the English Premier League rather than Stoke’s success on the field of play. Although one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888 – they finished … Continue reading Great Reputations: Stoke City 1972-1975 – Clued-up with Mr Waddington and Mr Hudson
Stoke City and Sunderland bored the pants off 27,000 people this weekend and even the locals look fed-up with the way Tony Pulis’ side is plying its trade these days. I have to admit to being a little biased against Stoke. I witnessed their supporters in action at the 2011 FA Cup final, where neutral fans, enjoying the showpiece occasion that is still the cup … Continue reading The Pulis style is stoking up debate
