When Saturday Comes | The half decent football magazine

The Scottish play

When struggling to secure promotion to the Football League, Wigan attempted to join the Scottish pyramid. Owen Amos explains more

Wins may be scarce, but the Premier League fixture list offers consolation for Wigan Athletic: Manchester United one week, Liverpool the next. But if things had gone to plan in 1972, it could have been quite different: more like Stranraer one week, Stenhousemuir the next.

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 - Book reviews

Heart problem

Mark Poole explains that even though their club is owned by a millionaire, one group of SPL players are not having their wages paid regularly

Last month the Scottish Sun reported that Hearts midfielder Ian Black had taken on casual work as a painter and decorator to pay for his children’s Christmas presents. It was perhaps the most evocative example so far of the current turmoil at Scotland’s third biggest club. For three consecutive months, the players’ wages have not been paid on time. Their October wages weren’t paid until weeks after they were due, and their November pay arrived in their accounts a month late. At the time of writing they are still waiting for their December pay.

Wednesday, February 1st, 2012 - Book reviews

Terrace talk

Taking their lead from the Bundesliga, Celtic fans are campaigning for the return of standing areas, reports Mark Poole

Terracing could soon be returning to top-flight British football. Celtic are conducting a feasibility study into installing safe standing areas at Celtic Park, following a proposal from the Celtic supporters’ trust. The board seem well disposed to the proposal and Neil Doncaster, the Scottish Premier League chief executive, says it is an option he “would like to see explored”. Unlike in England and Wales, Scottish law doesn’t prohibit terracing, but SPL and SFA rules would have to change before any top-flight clubs could bring back standing areas.

Sunday, January 1st, 2012 - The Archive

Star struck

Alex Anderson enumerates the different ways clubs symbolise their trophies and the confussion it can generate

During the TV coverage of the Premier League’s finale last season, I was puzzled that Manchester City had three stars on their jerseys when they were going for their third title. It turns out that the stars are purely decorative, not above the City crest but part of it. I am no longer confident about what’s symbolised by any stars sewn onto any jersey.

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 - Book reviews

Balance of power

The continent’s richest clubs are attempting to wrestle wealth and influence from more traditional places, reports Alan Tomlinson

In the context of Sepp Blatter’s stated intention to push through reform of FIFA practices, various groups have been claiming to be the true voice of football, none more robustly than the European Club Association (ECA). This is the self-proclaimed “nuclear family of the football society”, the successor to the elite G-14 group established in 2000, which was expanded to 18 in 2002 and disbanded six years later.

Wednesday, December 21st, 2011 - The Archive

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The Scottish play

When struggling to secure promotion to the Football League, Wigan attempted to join the Scottish pyramid. Owen Amos explains more

Heart problem

Mark Poole explains that even though their club is owned by a millionaire, one group of SPL players are not having their wages paid regularly

Terrace talk

Taking their lead from the Bundesliga, Celtic fans are campaigning for the return of standing areas, reports Mark Poole

Star struck

Alex Anderson enumerates the different ways clubs symbolise their trophies and the confussion it can generate

Balance of power

The continent’s richest clubs are attempting to wrestle wealth and influence from more traditional places, reports Alan Tomlinson