Here’s a piece I wrote for the Guardian about the Lost Boys Taskforce, an initiative to help provide guidance to teenagers, mainly males, who are in danger of ‘going off the rails’ as Paul Barber, CEO of Brighton & Hove Albion, who is leading the task force can relate to as he almost did soContinue reading “The Lost Boys Taskforce / It Started With a Kick Episode 76 – Seth Bennett”
Category Archives: Sheffield Wednesday
It Started With a Kick Episode 67 – Keith Hackett
Keith Hackett was one of the top referees 1970s/1980s until his retirement in 1994 after over 30 years service, refereeing hundreds of games in the English top flight, at Olympic Games and at European Championships. Towards the end of his refereeing career he was involved in the famous ‘You Are the Ref’ cartoon strip thatContinue reading “It Started With a Kick Episode 67 – Keith Hackett”
‘It Started With a Kick’ Episodes 61 and 62
It Started With a Kick – Episode 61 : Chris Lee Chris is an author, writer and podcaster and the man behind the excellent Outside Write magazine which takes readers to various nooks and crannies around the world in search of what defines football culture through its history and especially its politics. Chris describes himselfContinue reading “‘It Started With a Kick’ Episodes 61 and 62”
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”
The 2022 Play-Offs: Return of crowds, Records and Redemption
If any evidence of the popularity of the Football League Play-Offs was needed, it was provided this week by the Sunderland Sheffield Wednesday tie. On Friday night the record for the highest attendance of a semi-final was broken by over 4,000 as 44,724 gathered at the Stadium of Light for the first leg. An impressiveContinue reading “The 2022 Play-Offs: Return of crowds, Records and Redemption”
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 Kids are Alright
The FA Cup third round is often portrayed as the most exciting weekend of the football calendar. It’s when David gets to meet Goliath as the Premier League clubs join the fray and non-league clubs have the chance of playing against the elite. This year’s competition threw up a few such contests with the mostContinue reading “The Kids are Alright”
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”
The Football Mine 