My football adventures all over the world
A trip through the East of Scotland Conference X as well as trying to make sense of the Scottish pyramid system, with an article submitted to Football Weekends for potential publication by the end of August. Do you recall the earliest date in the year that you have been at a game? Even a friendly … Continue reading The X Men
On the third Thursday of June the curtain finally came down on a predominantly fan free professional Calcio season. Despite the lack of tifosi, the Italian game was one of the shining lights of the lockdown era, with truly exhilarating action. It was absolutely absorbing stuff. If the top tier had delivered a changing of … Continue reading US Alessandria -The Grey days are gone
A much longer piece on the Euros of 1996 is posted below, capturing the flavour of our 8 games during the group stages, but with England playing Scotland again at the delayed Euro 2020 competition, I pull out this particular days diary entry by way of reliving the last time around. SATURDAY 15th JUNE This … Continue reading EURO’96. A Diary vignette
I have been lucky in life, a journey that has included watching games at five World Cup Finals. Curiously those five editions of the self coined “greatest show on earth” rendered me merely six matches, with the 2018 edition in Russia only the second time I had a ticket with my name on it, and … Continue reading EURO’96. A Diary
Twenty three years! Ok an additional year of agony has been added due to the pandemic, but for those who left dismayed in St Etienne after being mauled 3-0 by Morocco in 1998, despite that embarrassing score, no one would have thought it would have taken so long to get to a Finals tournament once … Continue reading Bordeaux, 23 years on. A recollection
If you have ever flown from Northern Europe to Bologna, for those familiar with the towns in its proximity, as the plane banks ready for landing, you’ll get a view of Modena. It is the first city north of Bologna headed in the direction of Parma or Milan. Modena is a mere 15 to 25 … Continue reading Modena, Nessun Dorma
This short piece on the stunning city of St Petersburg is scheduled to be printed in Football Weekends at the end of the month as part of the guide to Euro 2020/1. Unfortunately few, if any fans from Belgium, Finland or Denmark will be able to visit, but it has been decided to go ahead … Continue reading Санкт-Петербург, Евро-2020/1
As the Pandemic in Europe at any rate, finally shows signs of easing, perhaps come the start of the new football season fans will be allowed back into stadia. Doubtlessly in limited numbers at the start, but hopefully things will open up completely, and those drawn up lists of places to visit, games to see … Continue reading Hidden gems of Italy
If you have a peek at the former league champions roster in any given land, you’ll largely find an unusual name or two that doesn’t compute to the modern era, where those monied same old brigade keep dominating the landscape. In England, Huddersfield Town (3 titles), Burnley (2), Portsmouth (2) have all tasted success back … Continue reading Vercelli Glory
This is a 99% complete article which will be submitted to Football Weekends magazine as a celebration of the 80 year history of Cesena FC. Upon completion of the match on 2nd February versus Perugia I will update, and submit with photos from this big Serie C promotion tussle. During these pandemic days, with fans … Continue reading Cesena FC at 80
Football Adventures with James Rendall 
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