Surprising frontrunner for the job of England women’s manager sums up the FA’s continuing bumbling approachWhat an amusing inevitability to learn that Phil Neville is the frontrunner for the job of managing the England women’s side. I very much enjoyed my colleague Louise Taylor’s report into the matter, which stated: “It is understood the 40-year-old’s name was initially suggested to the Football Association in a lighthearted manner by a well-known broadcaster at a drinks reception last month.”This is my favourite How Job Applications Work story since George Osborne’s friends asked the former chancellor for his advice on their pitches for the Evening Standard editorship. Sorry, guys – he had a look at your proposals, but in the end the opportunity...
Society moves forward when brave individuals question the status quo – and now the FA has its own chance to be courageous by undergoing radical reformAs a mixed-heritage young Englishman, one of the best days of my life and proudest moments of my career was representing my country at under‑21 level, being a part of an occasion where we played in the first match at the newly built Wembley stadium.Stepping out on to the hallowed turf, wearing that white shirt and hearing the national anthem in front of my family, both black and white, still gives me goose bumps and fills me with pride at not only representing the country I am proud to be a citizen of but also...
Martin Glenn should be among the casualties after select committee inquiry shines light on shameful failings in handling discrimination allegationsGreg Clarke got his handshake from Eni Aluko in the end. After a devastating four‑hour parliamentary hearing that fully illuminated the Football Association’s shambolic handling of her allegations of discrimination, it was a confused gesture of goodwill. “I want to meet with you properly,” he said. “Don’t worry, I’m not going to try anything, it’ll all be above board.”That the chairman of the FA felt he had to give such assurances to a wronged party, particularly one who played for England 102 times over a glittering 11-year international career, shows what a miserable mess this saga has become. That meeting may...
The huge media attention generated by the England manager’s sacking has demonstrated women’s football is now operating at a different levelAs spring drew to a close, many opinion pieces sang about this being the breakthrough summer for women’s sport. With Euro 2017, the women’s Rugby World Cup and the cricket World Cup taking place unobscured by a major men’s competition, coupled with some of the most competitive England teams in recent history, expectations were rightfully high. And the sport did not disappoint. Thrilling performances took place in all three as coverage of women’s sport reached an all-time high. Each England team came away from this summer with their heads held high. Rightfully, the relevant sporting bodies hoped to capitalise on...
Semi-final defeat by Holland has raised questions about manager’s approach and the old failing of ball retention proved key once moreOn the stroke of 8am, a uniformed attendant parked his van alongside the FanZone and surveyed a grisly scene. After pausing momentarily, he began painstakingly clearing the mini-mountain of litter scarring a usually serene patch of grass, bisecting a pleasant square.Bit by bit the polystyrene cartons, beer cans, cigarette ends and empty pizza boxes scarring this corner of downtown Enschede disappeared. Around 90 miles to the west, another type of Friday morning cleanup was similarly underway at England’s Utrecht base. As Holland fans partied late in the FanZone following the Oranje’s 3-0 semi-final deconstruction of Mark Sampson’s side here on...