The Community Shield 2025 and a history of muddle-headed meddling

When Crystal Palace face Liverpool this coming Sunday, 10th August they will be contesting their first Community Shield in the 103rd edition of the new season’s traditional ‘curtain raiser’. The Community Shield, or its ancestor Charity Shield, dates back to before Palace were formed as a professional club. Throughout the early years of the match’sContinue reading “The Community Shield 2025 and a history of muddle-headed meddling”

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”

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”