Pitch invasions could be joyous eruptions of glee if not for idiots who reflect a Them and Us world of rising violent crimeRoker Park, the final game of 1989-90. Sunderland were sure of their place in the playoffs; Oldham knew they would miss out, largely because of the strains of an extraordinary season in which they had reached the League Cup final and the FA Cup semi-finals. Oldham won 3-2 and, as the final whistle went, home fans invaded the pitch.Slowly they made for the corner of the Roker End where the away fans were housed. I was on the terrace a few yards away and remember clearly the sense of sudden anxiety as my dad gripped my arm and...
As Vale fight to stay in League Two supporters are protesting against Norman Smurthwaite, the owner once feted as a heroFor apathetic Port Vale supporters, the promotion party on the pitch at Wycombe on the final day of the 2012-13 season when fans donned Smurf costumes in homage to their owner, or the moment they chaired Norman Smurthwaite round a Burslem pub, feels a lifetime ago.These days they are in no mood for fancy dress; Vale are in a relegation battle for the third consecutive season, their 100-year run in the Football League under threat. There is a fractious relationship between swells of supporters and the owner, who was assigned Karl Oyston, the much-maligned former Blackpool chairman, as a mentor...
Yaya Touré is no Johan Cruyff but they are mild compared to the keeper who caused chaos for Celtic and against StokeIt is getting to the stage where we are going to have to accept Yaya Touré is no Johan Cruyff. Shame, really, because the Ivorian had the right idea. Whether served with an upturned bowl of steaming hot bile or a platter of cold hard truths, the revenge of the jilted footballer can be an entertaining force. None of the sport’s great orators, from Bill Shankly to Claude Puel, has ever given a team talk as inspirational as a well-nurtured grudge.In 1910, the magnificent Leigh Roose set an example that may never be matched but we will get to...