THIS is a story in three parts. The first chapter was written in springtime Paris in 1981 in an era when English football was ascendant as its teams swept all before them across Europe.
A note of caution – as if it were needed – for the SPFL club officials who will vote on the introduction of VAR later tomorrow came from Saturday evening's African Champions League between holders Al Ahly and Raja Casablanca.
ASK those of a Crystal Palace persuasion which player has been their most important this season and there will be a near-unanimous response.
The thorny issue of player pathways at Scotland's biggest clubs raised its head again last week when Ben Doak left Celtic for Liverpool. In doing so, the 16-year-old became the latest talented youngster to leave Lennoxtown for one of Europe's biggest clubs, following in the footsteps of Liam Morrison and Barry Hepburn, who joined Bayern Munich (2019 and 2020), and Josh Adam who left for Manchester City in August 2020.
WHEN Stuart Atwell peeps his whistle for the last time at the end of tomorrow's Carabao Cup final between Chelsea and Liverpool, a match will have been played, a team will have won, before a trophy and medals are handed out.
IT's been a hectic week for Graeme Mathie but that's just how the new Ayr United managing director likes it.
THE Tenner Bet had a chat with a journalist colleague during the summer.
A multi-use football pitch sits at the back of the Teatro Moderno on Corso Renato in the northern Italian town of Fusignano.
SO, which direction do we head in now?
A LITTLE less than a fortnight after they departed the Scotland international camp wearing broad smiles.
