In November 1997 an aspiring journalist arrived at Selhurst Park on a work internship. No sooner had Dominic Fifield started than things changed. “Originally I was only meant to be there for a month as the editor went on a four-week trip to Australia, but I was kept on as his assistant after he returned.”AndContinue reading “The madness of Lombardo, Goldberg and Palace: An interview with Dom Fifield”
Author Archives: richardfoster60
Pulis, Pragmatism and Points deductions
When Tony Pulis arrives at your club in November it usually means you are in a bit of trouble and in need of the footballing equivalent of Red Adair to come to the rescue. Sheffield Wednesday are the latest club to enlist the services of a manager who has famously never been relegated. Considering WednesdayContinue reading “Pulis, Pragmatism and Points deductions”
Escape to Victory : HMP Prescoed FC
Racking up a goal difference of +247 from an eleven-club division is no mean feat. It goes without saying the club in question won every one of their twenty matches. As they have topped the division ten times in the last fifteen seasons their dominance is on a par with Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United whoContinue reading “Escape to Victory : HMP Prescoed FC”
A Return to Plough Lane: Andy Brassell on a 29-Year Wait
On many occasions Andy Brassell would have been extremely busy trying to keep the BT Sport audience abreast of the goals as they rained in across Europe. Liverpool’s 5-0 demolition of Atalanta was put into the shade by Borussia Monchengladbach’s shellacking of Shaktar Donetsk, and on it went. 36 goals in just eight Champions LeagueContinue reading “A Return to Plough Lane: Andy Brassell on a 29-Year Wait”
Jeremy Wisten: A life cut short
On Wednesday night Mason Greenwood scored his first goal in the Champions League with United’s opener against RB Leipzig. After scoring such a momentous goal his first thoughts were not about himself or this landmark achievement. He dropped to his knees and pointed to the sky in honour of Jeremy Wisten, who died a fewContinue reading “Jeremy Wisten: A life cut short”
The Beautiful Game or a Trigonometry test.
In response to the hairline decision delivered by the VAR gods in Stockley Park that ruled out Jordan Henderson’s injury time goal against Everton, Match of the Day commentator Guy Mowbray tweeted: “Said it many times and still think it – if you have to forensically draw lines to try to establish offside then it’sContinue reading “The Beautiful Game or a Trigonometry test.”
Greed: Gecko vs Holloway
“The point is, ladies and gentlemen, that greed, for lack of a better word, is good. Greed is right, greed works. Greed clarifies, cuts through, and captures the essence of the evolutionary spirit.” When the owners of Manchester United and Liverpool – two clubs implacably opposed to each other – dreamed up the title ofContinue reading “Greed: Gecko vs Holloway”
Goals galore – No case for the defence
Whilst it is always a mistake to use early season form as a barometer of what is going to unfold during the rest of the season – particularly in current extraordinary circumstances – there is something afoot in the Premier League. With Match Week 4 rounded off by Liverpool’s shellacking at Villa Park, the mostContinue reading “Goals galore – No case for the defence”
Handball law is damaging: “It’s destroying my enjoyment of the game of football,” Roy Hodgson
When Leicester were awarded their third penalty of the match against Manchester City on Sunday it was the 20th spot kick in the 25th Premier League game this season. If that ratio continues, there will be 304 penalties this season and, considering that the most in a Premier League season to date stands at 106,Continue reading “Handball law is damaging: “It’s destroying my enjoyment of the game of football,” Roy Hodgson”
Football’s Endgame: How clubs now face a grim fight for survival this winter
In my first blog post in late August I wrote about how eerie and soulless football was without fans after being among forty-odd people watching QPR play Sheffield Wednesday: “The likelihood is that this will be the way matches are going to be played out for the foreseeable future. Josh Scott, QPR’s Operations Manager, toldContinue reading “Football’s Endgame: How clubs now face a grim fight for survival this winter”
The Football Mine 