How not to save amateur football

rite of passage np. An unpleasant, sometimes traumatic experience which serves no purpose in life other than to teach you not to do it again.

That Damned movie

BACK to Brian Clough, and also to Duncan Hamilton. While reading Hamilton’s book on Clough, I was thrilled to discover that I shared with the author an interest in the writing of BS Johnson.

Save this

STOCKPORT County now know that, whatever else may befall them, at least they won’t have to start with an outfield player in goal at Bristol Rovers tomorrow. The signing of Conrad Logan on a seven-day emergency loan from Leicester has solved a short-term problem.

But there are still an awful lot of medium and long-term troubles to sort out – such as steering clear of administration.

A man worth knowing

I’VE been reading Duncan Hamilton’s book on Brian Clough, Provided You Don’t Kiss Me. I don’t need to tell you it’s good: it won the William Hill sports book of the year award in 2007.

Last on MOTD: Driving cattle down the M5

FACT one: Gary Megson was the Lord of the Manor of West Bromwich in 2002, a title he was awarded for getting Albion promoted to the Premier League.

The curious case of Danny Mills

MANCHESTER City will be without their No 18 when they face Aalborg in the UEFA Cup tonight. Danny Mills will be confined to a role as a television co-commentator at the Energie Nord Arena. It is in no way a surprising piece of team news: Mills hasn’t played a first-team game for City in two-and-a-half years.

Last on MOTD: Pepperoni Phil

I DID enjoy the story Hull boss Phil Brown told a few weeks ago about the headset problems he had when he was Sam Allardyce’s assistant at Bolton.

It’s not synchronised dancing

KARREN Brady’s column in the Sun was a little more measured this morning. But Birmingham manager Alex McLeish could still be forgiven for wondering if he needs all the hassle.

Luton on the ball, not the balloon

LUTON Shelton has already left Manchester City deflated once. Tomorrow night, he will get the chance to do it again.

Refer and refresh

INDIGNATION is a key ingredient of the sporting experience. It is impossible, I believe, to truly enjoy a sporting event unless there is something to have a good moan about. How many newspaper articles, how many sporting blogs, do you come across where the writer is happy to trill on about how marvellous everything is?