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.”
Author Archives: richardfoster60
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”
Botafogo and Crystal Palace: From Rio to South London – a match made in Heaven?
[Thanks to Tomas Martinez for the photo of Botafogo Bay c/o Unsplash.com and also to Robbie Blakeley @rio_robbie for his insight] John Textor’s investment in Brazilian club Botafogo has led to an unlikely transatlantic alliance between Rio de Janeiro and South London. After Textor announced his interest a few weeks ago there was a rashContinue reading “Botafogo and Crystal Palace: From Rio to South London – a match made in Heaven?”
Arsenal’s century of Premier League red cards:- Winterburn to Gabriel
Gabriel’s second yellow card in the space of a few minutes against Manchester City on New Years’ Day handed the champions the initiative in a match in which they had struggled to assert their customary superiority. The successive yellow cards were reminiscent of Arsenal’s first red card in the Premier League when Nigel Winterburn receivedContinue reading “Arsenal’s century of Premier League red cards:- Winterburn to Gabriel”
Friday morning Nuggets Matchweek 20
Liverpool had been on a run of 21 consecutive successful penalty conversions (Mo Salah scoring 15 of those) before Kasper Schmeichel saved his spot kick on Tuesday. His previous miss was over four years ago against Huddersfield on 28 October 2017. Mark Noble did not miss from the spot against Watford and his 27th successfulContinue reading “Friday morning Nuggets Matchweek 20”
Monday morning Nuggets – Matchweek 19
Yesterday’s win over Leicester was Man City’s 35th in 2021 and with 47 points at halfway stage could still break the 100 barrier as they did in 2017/18. City last conceded three goals at the Etihad in September 2020 to none other than Leicester who on that occasion beat them 5-2. Wilfried Zaha’s sending offContinue reading “Monday morning Nuggets – Matchweek 19”
Boxing Day 1963 and how fortunes switched dramatically two days later
As the frenetic Christmas calendar swings into action English players are very much in the minority amongst major European leagues in readying themselves for the customary glut of games squeezed into the tightest of holiday schedules. While the Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 are embarking on at least a fortnight’s winter break, Premier LeagueContinue reading “Boxing Day 1963 and how fortunes switched dramatically two days later”
The Football Mine 