Farewell Harry – one of the greats
How sad to hear Harry Keough had passed away. I was lucky enough to interview him along with another legend Tom Finney in the run-up to the 2006 World Cup and I never forgot his warmth and generosity.I probably took up more of his time than I should ha...
Watching Jay Rise & Shine
On a weekday night early on in Watford's Premier League season of 2006-'07, I stood on a street corner in North London and told Jay DeMerit his story was remarkable."It would have ended perfectly if you'd been picked for the World Cup," I joked. "But seriously, have you thought about writing a biography?"Jay looked stunned...
Spector eyes Blues Euro test
Jonathan Spector's Birmingham City take on Slovenia's SK Maribor at St Andrews tonight, knowing their Europa League odyssey will come to an end if they fail to win."We are making a good run of it, " Spector told NSC, "so hopefully we can advance to the group stage. We definitely want to make...
Jurgen moves on from Brussels with love
Jürgen Klinsmann loves his job. And that is good.I am used to England managers on the edge of a nervous breakdown, and the last time I watched Klinsmann in a press conference, before the 2006 World Cup, he was defensive and at times brittle as German...
Jack’s back to chuck Blazer a grenade
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the Caribbean...Jack Warner, the infamous former CONCACAF boss and FIFA Vice-President, is back in the news.Still smarting from his banishment in June after almost three decades in the corridors of foot...
Only nine months to go
The EPL is back, though it barely went away.
And after only one game, Manchester United, with Wayne Rooney's new tonsure to the fore, look most likely to win it again, despite a defence already succumbing to injury.
I was delighted to see Ashley Youn...
It’s only a game
Q. Which English Championship team's fans were chanting 'USA, USA' yesterday...?
A. Cardiff City's, in tribute to West Ham's former England goalkeeper Robert Green, whose side lost 0-1 to the Bluebirds at Upton Park in their first match under Sam Alla...
Don’t mess with Teixeira
"The islanders (the English) are the pirates of the world, a bunch of pirates...I will make their lives hell... In 2014, I'll be able to get away with anything. The most slippery, unthinkable, Machiavellian things - denying press credentials, barring access, changing game...
Spec singing the Blues
Jonathan Spector penned a two-year deal with Championship side Birmingham City yesterday, his fourth English team.With only three days to go before the Blues' season begins, the Illinois-born defender/midfielder put pen to paper on his free transfer.Th...
A clean FIFA is still a long way off
I never thought I would be saying it, but I feel a bit sorry for Mohamed Bin Hammam.Banned for life from football and with all his friends now deserting him. A few months ago it had all looked so rosy as he dreamed of handing the 2022 World Cup over to...
Running numbers
A dozen footballing figures which caught my eye this week...0 - The number of times Bolivia were caught offside in this month's Copa America.3 - The number of Zinedine Zidane's sons enrolled in Real Madrid's academy.7 - The goals netted by the 2014 Wor...
2012 Olympic Soccer – mark your diaries
If the Womens World Cup whetted your appetite, make a date for the 2012 Olympic Games here in London.As I said, the football has not sold out and once the global ticketing machine returns its spares, there should be seats available next summer, particu...
