Sports
When Saturday Comes
Pirate Transmission
Broadcasters around the world are paying huge sums to screen football, but they will not be willing to invest if they cannot be protected.
3 min |
December 2019
When Saturday Comes
Scandi Drama
Years before it was screened live in the UK, England’s Football League was building a cult following abroad thanks to a visionary broadcaster.
5 min |
December 2019
When Saturday Comes
Pot Of Gold
A rare meeting between two local rivals brought FA Cup fever – and a useful financial boost – to one corner of Hertfordshire
3 min |
December 2019
When Saturday Comes
Digital Divide
From earnest post-match punditry to being used in actual players’ matchday preparations, the virtual game is becoming increasingly blurred with reality.
4 min |
December 2019
When Saturday Comes
Haringey Ladder
The decision to walk off in the face of abuse has shone a national spotlight on a community club with a progressive approach
3 min |
December 2019
When Saturday Comes
Bournemouth 0 Norwich City 0
Dean Court may have received a Premier League facelift but against today’s visitors the home team fail to live up to their status, although the low-quality draw they play out is still somehow reassuring.
8 min |
December 2019
When Saturday Comes
Room With A View
Hampden Park
3 min |
January 2018
When Saturday Comes
Not In The Script
ARSENAL FILM
3 min |
January 2018
When Saturday Comes
Out Of Place...
After another unsuccessful qualifying attempt Martin O’Neill is under pressure, while a poor Republic of Ireland squad is only getting weaker
3 min |
January 2018
When Saturday Comes
Uncomfortable Truth
At the end of April Sheffield United surprised many people by re-signing Ched Evans, who, following a retrial, has now been found not guilty of the rape charge for which he spent two-and-a-half years in prison.
3 min |
June 2017
When Saturday Comes
Flushing Meadow
Amid the anger at the stadium’s sale, wild rumours of future plans and disagreements over whether Leatherhead was too far for an indefinite period of groundsharing (there was a banner), Kingstonian’s final game at Kingsmeadow snuck up on many, K’s fans or otherwise.
3 min |
June 2017
When Saturday Comes
Top dogs
Easter weekend in Hamburg and, at a large kulturhaus called Kampnagel, one of the more inclusive football tournaments is starting.
3 min |
June 2017
When Saturday Comes
VAR fetched
Video technology was hailed as the saviour of football, until the next day when it was a shambles. Maybe the change we really need is in the culture of blaming the referee.
4 min |
March 2018
When Saturday Comes
Enigma code
It was in October 2010 that Rio Ferdinand wrote an open letter in support of England’s ultimately doomed World Cup bid.
3 min |
March 2018
When Saturday Comes
Nations Saving Grace
UEFA could never be accused of favouring the smaller nations when devising the qualifying procedures of the Champions League.
3 min |
March 2018
When Saturday Comes
Holt – Who Goes There
Accrington Stanley are perpetually the 91st-best-supported team in the top four divisions but their owner is optimistic for the club’s future – though he isn’t so glowing about those who run the game in general.
5 min |
March 2018
When Saturday Comes
Nice One Cyrille
A raw talent who thrilled crowds, Cyrille Regis overcame vicious racism to begin changing attitudes and inspire later generations of black players.
3 min |
March 2018
When Saturday Comes
Diverse views
Managers from BAME backgrounds should naturally be emerging but they are still being held back, so the FA are finally stepping in to improve the situation.
3 min |
March 2018
When Saturday Comes
Stars In Their Eyes
From cricketers to athletes, plenty of sportsmen have tried to carve out a career in football – though few have switched disciplines with much success.
4 min |
March 2018
When Saturday Comes
Unknown Fate
Manchester United were not the only team to be devastated by the Munich air disaster – England also lost some of their best players, changing the course of the 1958 World Cup and, potentially, the whole national game.
4 min |
March 2018
When Saturday Comes
Triple Threat
The winners may have been predictable, and many of the owners dodgy, but there was plenty to enjoy in 2016-17.
10 min |
July 2017
When Saturday Comes
Shay Engine
After years of struggle to remain in it, Halifax are finally enjoying life outside the League.
3 min |
July 2017
When Saturday Comes
Moyes Don't Cry
Sunderland’s latest manager struggled from the start at the Stadium of Light, and relegation to the Championship is evidence of the club’s more long-term problems.
4 min |
July 2017
When Saturday Comes
Cathartic Release
Fifty years on from the demise of one of Scotland’s earliest champions, there is a hope that Third Lanark will return to the country’s senior leagues.
3 min |
July 2017
When Saturday Comes
Fighting An Uphill Battle
Many people make sacrifices to become professional footballers, but the mental strain it takes to block out everything else in life can cause long-term damage, especially when players reach retirement.
4 min |
July 2017
When Saturday Comes
Roman Legions
Below the world famous rivalry between the Italian capital’s biggest two teams are plenty of others battling to become the city’s “third” club, their histories full of struggles to establish themselves in a tough environment.
7 min |
July 2017
When Saturday Comes
The Wembley Way
What have a Spartan South Midlands League club and the FA got in common? Too much, according to the latter.
3 min |
February 2018
When Saturday Comes
Panic Measures
Swansea reached the Premier League by doing things differently but they are now becoming just another struggler flitting between managers.
3 min |
February 2018
When Saturday Comes
Pros And Cons
Changes to the women’s game are intended to make it more competitive but instead increase its reliance on rich men’s clubs.
4 min |
February 2018
When Saturday Comes
Barnet 2 Morecambe 1
Barnet are in a swish new stadium with facilities that feel far above the football their forlorn team are playing. Still, Morecambe are also struggling so there is always hope – and if all else fails, a nice warm bar for supporters.
7 min |