The humiliation of being the last person picked for a team tends to stay with you
HARRY PEARSON COLUMN
Earlier this month my mum handed me a large orange carrier bag containing traces of my life. Among the contents was Bobby Charlton’s 1968 autobiography This Game of Soccer, which I ordered with my seventh birthday money. It was the first grown-up book I ever read. Not that I confined myself to simply reading it. Dissatisfied with the oblique style of the author’s captions I filled in missing information, so that the photo showing the England No 9 about to unleash one of his thundering shots titled simply “The famous left foot in action” has “Bobby Charlton (man utb)” written next to it in pencil. The photos throughout are in black and white except for the ones that have been “hand-tinted” using crayons (a lack of a light blue plainly the explanation for Manchester City’s mint green shirts).
It wasn’t just me who made reading the book an interactive experience either. On the diagram showing the team formation for the World Cup final, for example, somebody – probably my friend Deano who was a year older than me and had the burgeoning self-confidence that comes with being eight – has written “is pumpy” next to the name “Hunt”.
This story is from the January 2018 edition of When Saturday Comes.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 2018 edition of When Saturday Comes.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
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.
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.
Pot Of Gold
A rare meeting between two local rivals brought FA Cup fever – and a useful financial boost – to one corner of Hertfordshire
Digital Divide
From earnest post-match punditry to being used in actual players’ matchday preparations, the virtual game is becoming increasingly blurred with reality.
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
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.
Room With A View
Hampden Park
Not In The Script
ARSENAL FILM
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
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.
