Yesterday’s Guardian piece on how Luton Town’s partnership with kit manufacturer Reflo is making an impact on sustainability including planting of trees both near and far. https://bit.ly/4pjKsXu It Started With a Kick Episode 86 : Semra Hunter Semra is a broadcaster who has worked for variety of different media including BBC, Sky, talkSPORT, ITV andContinue reading “Guardian piece on Luton Town’s green future / ‘It Started With a Kick’ Episode 86 – Semra Hunter”
Category Archives: Pep Guardiola
‘It Started With a Kick’ Episode 80 – Graham Hunter
It Started With a Kick Episode 80 : Graham Hunter This week’s guest is Graham Hunter who is the fount of all knowledge on Spanish football matters, in fact what Graham doesn’t know about futbol could be written on a postage stamp with something to spare. He has written several books including ‘Barca’ in 2012Continue reading “‘It Started With a Kick’ Episode 80 – Graham Hunter”
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”
FA Cup 17th May 2025 / It Started With a Kick – Episode 57
Forgive my indulgence but this week I had to write about Palace’s FA Cup victory, so here you go.. Wembley Shook and it was Beautiful – What Palace’s FA Cup victory means. Its status has been diminished. Its standing in the game has been slowly but surely eroded over the last few decades. Replays phasedContinue reading “FA Cup 17th May 2025 / It Started With a Kick – Episode 57”
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?”
Arsène Wenger and the Biennial World Cup
Photo courtesy of Nelson Ndongala (@whodunelson) at Unsplash.com Arsène Wenger and Mae West may not appear to be natural allies at first glance. The 71-year-old may be blissfully unaware of West’s collection of pithy sayings but in light of his endorsement of Fifa’s plan to host the World Cup every two years it appears thatContinue reading “Arsène Wenger and the Biennial World Cup”
Decline and Fall of The Super League
The dust barely had time to form let alone to settle when the whole edifice came tumbling down. As fans gathered outside Stamford Bridge to express their opposition to the formation of the Super League there were already cracks appearing within the dozen clubs. The protests had been gathering ever since the news broke onContinue reading “Decline and Fall of The Super League”
Football’s Wasteland: VAR, empty stadiums and fractious fragmentation
As I and many others have pointed out until we’re blue (or in some extreme cases purple) in the face the pure aesthetics of football are being steadily eroded for the sake of minuscule and misguided rulings. At its very best football flows with an elegance that few sports can match but under VAR itContinue reading “Football’s Wasteland: VAR, empty stadiums and fractious fragmentation”
The Football Mine 