European Football… The tide has turned 30 Jul 201631 Jul 2016 Michelle: What do you prefer? Astroturf or grass? Rodney: I don't know, I've never smoked AstroTurf It's been almost ten years since I started The Ball is Round. Back in…
England… 1966 and Not All That 30 Jul 2016 In celebration of the 50th anniversay of our greatest ever footballing day as a nation, below is an extract of the chapter I wrote for Mark Perryman's excellent book '1966…
European Football… The Seven Year Itch and how England can’t scratch it 1 Jul 2016 After the short hop across the Channel to Lens on Tuesday I was heading back again a few days later to visit Lille for the fifth Second Round game of…
European Football… Young Turks bounce the Czechs 26 Jun 201625 Jun 2016 My original ticket application for the European Championships was divided into two distinct trips that would essentially have taken in a game in every venue, working my way up the…
England… Teargas and tantrums in the South of France 15 Jun 2016 There's nothing unusual about stories of strikes affecting public services and transportation in France. As far back as I care to remember there's been stories of blockades at ports or…
Denmark… I heard a rumour 10 May 201611 May 2016 "Have you seen John Terry?" As random questions go, this was up there with some of those uttered from my parents. I was queueing to get some more beer underneath…
European Football… The Ayr that I breathe 22 Feb 2016 Standing in the pouring rain on a terrace that has seen better days watching Scottish third tier football doesn't sound like a particular fun way to spend an early Saturday…
European Football The unknown rule makers 16 Oct 2015 Many watchers of the beautiful game may not realise the part that Great Britain still has in setting the rules of the game across the world. Virtually everyone thinks that…
European Football… Just who made the decision to play that side? 8 Aug 20159 Aug 2015 I could be accused of being mellow-dramatic but I believe that last night could have been the last time for a generation that West Ham played in a major European…
European Football… Failing to prepare is preparing to fail 31 Jul 201531 Jul 2015 Two weeks ago I wrote about the lack of tactics and what appeared to be a naivety in the way West Ham approached their first leg Europa League tie against…
European Football… Just bloody shoot! 17 Jul 2015 West Ham United 1 Birkirkara FC 0 - The Boleyn Ground - Thursday 16th July 2015 For the second consecutive Europa League home game, West Ham flattered to deceive against…
European Football… So where could West Ham United be off to next? 17 Jul 2015 The draw for the 3rd Qualifying Round of the Europa League will see West Ham head to either Scotland or deepest, darkest Romania assuming they avoid defeat next week in…
European Football… So where are we going next – Birkirkara FC 11 Jul 201510 Jul 2015 After the low-key win in Andorra it was a relative surprise that our next opponents turned out to be Birkirkara from Malta. After their goal-less draw in Malta two weeks…
Andorra… And so the countdown starts 4 Jul 2015 So after a break of just 5 days it was time to get back into the swing of a new season. And what better way to kick off proceedings than…
European Football… The best bar in the whole goddam world 29 Jun 2015 "Best pub in the world, Stu" said Danny, wafting a printed sheet of A4 under my nose bearing a photo of an average looking bar. "Says who?" "Lonely Planet", underlining…
The Ball is Round 