As a Palace supporter I find it difficult to contain the thrill of going to Wembley this weekend for the club’s fifth appearance in an FA Cup semi-final. While for the fans of our opponents Chelsea and the other semi-finalists, Liverpool and Manchester City, this is much more routine. It is all part and parcelContinue reading “Palace’s FA Cup semi-final : a chance to celebrate”
Author Archives: richardfoster60
Is the Premier League Manager of the Month cursed?
NB This is a fuller version of the piece published in the Guardian on 7th April, with added information A myriad of myths that swirl throughout football, some of which hold credence, such as ‘The Law of the Ex’ that dictates more often than not that strikers will score against their former clubs. Another ofContinue reading “Is the Premier League Manager of the Month cursed?”
Qatar 2022 – The most unusual of World Cups
The twenty-second World Cup Finals will be unusual in many ways. Not only will Qatar become the first Arab nation to host the World Cup but also the first to have never qualified (with the exception of Uruguay who were the hosts in the inaugural tournament in 1930). With a population of just under 2.9Continue reading “Qatar 2022 – The most unusual of World Cups”
Own Goal of the season – the Richard Dunne trophy
Stats c/o premierleague.com Inspired by the prospect of the 1,000th Premier League own goal being imminent towards the end of last season I wrote several pieces on football’s brand of self-inflicted wounds. Starting with this one in February https://bit.ly/3dNMEo4, followed by Part two in March https://bit.ly/3cr5Rem and culminating with the finale in April https://bit.ly/3uWihkQ. HatsContinue reading “Own Goal of the season – the Richard Dunne trophy”
O captain, my captain: does it matter who wears the armband?
There was much wailing and gnashing of teeth around Old Trafford on Tuesday night after the home side were knocked out of the Champions League by Atlético Madrid. The contrasting fortunes of the two clubs was encapsulated in a few minutes towards the end of the second half. With ten minutes remaining Atlético’s captain JorgeContinue reading “O captain, my captain: does it matter who wears the armband?”
Grenfell Athletic: How a football club brought hope to a devastated community.
Images c/o Sebastian Barros Instagram @sebbarros The Middlesex County Football League is one of the fifty leagues operating at Step 11 in the pyramid of English football with almost 1,000 clubs represented. Every Sunday morning, hundreds of matches dotted around the country are contested but there is one club, that stands out from the crowd.Continue reading “Grenfell Athletic: How a football club brought hope to a devastated community.”
Life after Football – when Academy players are released Part Two
Following on from last week’s piece on Palace’s innovative and much admired after-care programme [https://bit.ly/33245hS] here’s more detail on the South London club’s work as well as a look at what other clubs and organisations are doing. Having spent a fair amount of time in the last year talking to player care/welfare officers and headsContinue reading “Life after Football – when Academy players are released Part Two “
Life after football – when academy players are released
Last week Crystal Palace launched the first ever comprehensive after care programme for released academy players. The Football Mine will cover this subject in two parts, Part 1 looks at the key issues and Palace’s bold initiative. Over the next few weeks hundreds of teenage academy players will find out if they are going toContinue reading “Life after football – when academy players are released”
We Need to Talk About Kevin (Friend and his friends)
There are few things more tiresome than supporters complaining about refereeing decisions and the injustices suffered by their own club. Consequently I hesitated in joining the clamour surrounding Kevin Friend and his VAR wingman Craig Pawson for a series of contentious decisions during Palace’s game with Liverpool on Sunday. However, emboldened by the almost unanimousContinue reading “We Need to Talk About Kevin (Friend and his friends)”
There’s Only One Martin Hudson – In Memoriam
Main picture: Hudson with a group of township kids in South Africa during the 2010 World Cup where he helped run football training sessions. I have not encountered many people who match my obsession with football. My late brother Stephen was certainly of the same ilk and I would apportion a fair share of theContinue reading “There’s Only One Martin Hudson – In Memoriam”
The Football Mine 