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Stories
A study by the Football Observatory shows that percentage of players migrating before age of 18 has doubled with England top destination
Frustration growing at The Hawthorns but there are glimpses of a bright future
27 August ~ If West Midlands football seems to struggle for attention in the face of the national media’s obsession with north-west and north-east clubs, West Bromwich Albion sometimes seem to be overlooked even in a local context. This was understandable 20 years ago, when Aston Villa were always at least one division higher, Wolves and Birmingham were loudly targeting promotion or expensive signings, and the most exciting news from The Hawthorns tended to be of the “Stacy Coldicott signs new one-year deal” variety. It is less so now that Albion are the region’s only top-flight club and in the midst of a takeover headed by Chinese businessman Guochuan Lai.
After six years in non-League the Mariners pulled together under Paul Hurst
4 August ~ “Clap, clap, clap, clap… Fish!” is still reverberating around my head a couple of months after Grimsby’s play-off final victory and return to the Football League. It doesn’t seem over six years since I wrote about going to work past the street named after Mariners legend Jackie Bestall and how he would be turning in his grave as we slipped into non-League. There is a whole generation of Grimsby fans (my own boys included) who had never experienced promotion, only relegation.
Supporters Direct asking members for opinions on reorganisation
5 June ~ On May 19 the Football League put forward proposals to reorganise the domestic system into five divisions of 20 teams from the 2019-20 season. The League claim that clubs would not be financially worse off despite having fewer games, while it would also help to ease fixture congestion. The suggestions received a mixed response from both those running and supporting clubs in the divisions that would be affected. Now Supporters Direct are asking their members’ opinions on the proposals – you can take the survey here.