Showing 1 - 10 of 87
It's crunch time: Saints seek Cup inspiration from 50 years ago
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 04/04/2026
» It's time for the quarter-finals in the FA Cup with six Premier League teams in the mix joining Championship side Southampton and League One strugglers Port Vale in the battle to advance to the final four.
Bromley Boys enjoying life in top flight
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 28/03/2026
» The international break at least creates an opportunity to examine what's going on in the lower divisions of the Football League where clubs will still be battling it out today. There have been some intriguing developments particularly in the League Two promotion race.
Another FA Cup opportunity for the Silkmen
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 14/02/2026
» With seven Premier League teams away to lower league sides in this weekend's fourth round of the FA Cup, there is the potential for an upset or two, which is the essence of this competition.
Eagles hope to upset the Sky Blues
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 17/05/2025
» When Manchester City and Crystal Palace line up for the 144th FA Cup Final at Wembley today, there is little doubt that the Sky Blues will start as strong favourites. However Palace, who have not won a major trophy in their entire history, will be no pushover and many neutrals would love to see the Eagles win their first-ever FA Cup title. A new name on the trophy is always welcome.
Playing from the back takes skill
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 19/04/2025
» Back in the old days when football was a straightforward game our school coach had an equally straightforward golden rule for defenders -- "Never pass the ball around in your own penalty area. Just hoof it!" That might explain why we did not win any medals.
Nervous times in England as lower division clubs battle for glory
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 05/04/2025
» As the English football season approaches the business end there are some terrific skirmishes going on in the lower divisions of the Football League. Much depends on how the players can adapt to the pressure of striving for promotion or fighting relegation. It is grassroots football at its best.
When Spurs did the 'Double' in the remarkable 1960-61 season
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 01/02/2025
» Tottenham Hotspur's 2-1 home defeat to relegation-threatened Leicester City last weekend has understandably put a lot of pressure on Australian boss Ange Postecoglou. It was their sixth defeat in seven Premier League games and left Spurs in an embarrassing 15th place.
Law: A legend and icon of Scottish football
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 25/01/2025
» Tributes have poured in for Denis Law, who passed away last week at the age of 84. Sir Alex Ferguson called him "the greatest Scottish player of all time" and few would dispute that.
Liverpool dominate as difficult times befall Manchester clubs
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 03/01/2025
» We're midway through the Premier League season and the top half of the table is not exactly what most pundits would have envisaged at the start of the campaign. It is actually a refreshing situation unless you are a supporter of the two big Manchester clubs who have suffered a particularly unsettling time.
'3 B's' give hope to the smaller clubs
Sports, Nobby Piles, Published on 14/12/2024
» Back in the 1960s as a teenager I would regularly visit Elm Park to watch my home town team Reading in the old Third Division. Among the visiting sides were Brighton, Bournemouth and Brentford. Just like Reading, these clubs looked destined to stay in the lower divisions forever although by some miracle Reading made it to the Premier League in 2006 for an all-too-brief stay.