Sad weekend for British football as Nottingham Forest Owner Nigel Doughty was found dead in his home yesterday. He was 54. According to a statement released by the club, Doughty was found dead in his gym.

"It is with enormous sadness that Nottingham Forest announce the death of the club's owner Nigel Doughty, Mr Doughty, who was 54, was found dead earlier today in his gym at his home in Skillington, Lincolnshire.

A little gallows humour can go a long way. Kettering Town's patchwork team played Gateshead in the Blue Square Premier in Tuesday night. Another crowd of under one thousand, another critical evening in a relegation battle that may yet prove to be highly important should the club somehow scrape through its current woes.

Welcome to Offbeat Wednesday, where we cover the wacky and gossipy side of football! In today's edition, read about Lukas Podolski's second car accident, David Beckham's new editorial, Luca Toni's fatherly pride and Sara Carbonero!

We kick things off with David Beckham's new editorial spread in Men's Health magazine!

By Saf Hossain, writing hours after returning from Craven Cottage

Attending a live match is, obviously, an entirely different experience to watching on TV. When you are free of the director's control, you might choose to follow an individual on the field for long periods of the game.

I was lucky when I first used to go to Manchester United matches, over fifty years ago. Although the team was in the painful early stages of recovery from the Munich Air Crash they still often managed to play wonderfully expressive football in keeping with the finest traditions of the club.

What is UP, Arshavin! According to Spanish newspaper, Sport, occasionally loco striker Andrei was seen on Monday in Barcelona, ??where he went to shoot a sports commercial (just like Neymar did last week) in the city. And you can officially put the 'Arshavin to Barcelona?

Manchester City are weighing up a sensational £60 million move for unsettled Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney in a deal which will shock British football. Rooney is at the centre of a bitter row with United boss Sir Alex Ferguson after the Scotsman axed him from the team to face Blackburn Rovers at the end [.

The FA Cup Third Round this weekend sees a handful of fascinating ties for the non-league clubs still in the competition, with Blue Square Premier title chasers Fleetwood Town taking on Blackpool, Tamworth travelling to Goodison Park to play Everton and Salisbury City of the Blue Square South making the journey to Bramall Lane to play Sheffield United.

The head of European football's anti-racism group has urged the Football Association to charge Liverpool with bringing the game into disrepute over their response to Luis Suarez's eight-match ban.
Piara Powar, executive director of European football's anti-discrimination body FARE, said Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish's comments had been ''undignified'' and that their reaction had damaged the club's brand across the world.

Sir Alex Ferguson, the esteemed manager of Manchester United, has broken his silence on the racism saga engulfing Liverpool Football Club and his own club. The two players involved, Luis Suarez of Uruguay and Liverpool and Patrice Evra of France and Manchester United, had up until now also kept a reserved silence, deciding to leave the entire affair in the hands of the British football regulatory authorities, the FA.

Blind loyalty at Liverpool and Chelsea will not help beat racism | Ian Prior

Football has fought a long campaign to fight prejudice in the game, but the reaction of two clubs to recent allegations has been shortsighted and damaging The pictures above were taken less than five months apart.

RIP Gary Speed

For a few hours on Saturday, Tottenham were second in the Premier League, until Phil Jones scored the only goal of a turgid affair between Manchester United and Aston Villa.

But if Spurs continue to turn in the sort of sumptuous performance that secured a 3-0 win against Bolton at White Hart Lane on Saturday and a sixth successive Premier League win, what's to say Harry Redknapp's side can't flirt with the highest reaches of the top flight for at least a little while longer?

Manchester City secured a place in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup as Sergio Aguero punished Arsenal on the break to give Roberto Mancini's side a 1-0 win at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal, protecting an unbeaten home record against City that stretched for 36 years and encompassed 28 games, were the superior side in a contest between two much-changed teams, but after being denied by some superb goalkeeping from Costel Pantilimon were undone by a ruthless finish from Aguero after 83 minutes.

When I was writing about the evolution of the football programme a few weeks ago I mentioned a Hibs v Liverpool Fairs Cup programme from December 1970 that carried an interview with Bill Shankly.
I can't remember seeing an interview with a visiting manager in a programme before.

Chelsea v Liverpool: Fernando Torres and Andy Carroll hoping to make League Cup XIs

In pics: Chelsea and Liverpool careers of British football's two most expensive signings hoping to make League Cup XIs.

View the full story here: The Telegraph

A news article on 2011-11-29 15:09:21 from: The Telegraph

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

'He showed me what British football was about' Footballers' Twitter tributes to Gary Speed

From Xabi Alonso to Phil Neville, football stars pay tribute to Wales boss

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-27 16:12:55 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

'He showed me what British football was about' Twitter reaction to death of Gary Speed

From Xabi Alonso to Phil Neville, football stars pay tribute to Wales boss

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-11-27 16:12:55 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Wales continued their recent run of impressive results with an emphatic four-one win over Norway at the Cardiff City Stadium. Goals from Gareth Bale, Craig Bellamy and Sam Vokes earned Wales their fourth win in five games. Whilst the team on the pitch overran their Scandinavian visitors, though, the fans in the ground were largely otherwise occupied, trying to make a stand against Team GB.

Former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore has controversially claimed that Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson is a superior manager to Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley.
Collymore, who also claims that Man United wanted to sign him in 1994, argued:
"Through the years there have been plenty of top bosses; Jock Stein, Brian Clough, Bill Shankly and Bob Paisley have all written their names into history books, but Fergie is on a different level altogether".

CNN reports on the celebration of Alex Ferguson's 25 years at Manchester United.
The Scot is the most successful manager in British football, and his status as the longest-serving one in United's history was cemented when the English Premier League champions renamed the biggest stand at Old Trafford in his honor.

If there was a criticism of the Roy Hodgson era it was that away from home we never really seemed interested in attacking. Hodgson denied that we played differently on our travels, but anyone who watched the team scuffle to horribly attritional narrow defeats in those seasons knows better: we kept everyone behind the ball and hoped that inspiration might strike.

By Chris Wright

Gareth Bale has posed in the new kit that the British football team will be sporting at the Olympics next year as part of an Adidas promo campaign and it's safe to say that the Welsh FA are particularly happy about it.

Their chief exec, Jonathan Ford, told the BBC:

"Gareth can make his own choices and make his own decisions.

Dominic Matteo admits blowing £1m on horses

Former Leeds and Liverpool player Dominic Matteo has admitted to blowing £1million when he was gripped by the gambling 'epidemic' still rife in British football.

View the full story here: The Mail

A news article on 2011-10-27 09:38:18 from: The Mail

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

The FA is currently 'investigating' Patrice Evra's recent allegation against Luis Suarez, but even if the Uruguayan striker is found guilty, what difference will it make? It's highly unlikely he'll be 'convicted' and banned; like every other instance of alleged racist abuse in top-flight football over the last 30 years or more, it will be brushed under the carpet, and the vicious cycle of prejudice will continue.

By Alan Duffy

Bolton Wanderers 0-2 Sunderland Premier League 22 October 2011

Goals from Stephane Sessegnon and Nicklas Bendtner gave Sunderland their first way win of the season and consigned Owen Coyle's sorry Bolton side to yet another defeat.

Racism still haunts British football Earnshaw

Cardiff and Wales striker claims he is still abused at certain grounds

View the full story here: The Mirror

A news article on 2011-10-20 21:30:36 from: The Mirror

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

By Chris Wright

"Err, Stuart...you've got a bit of a 'tuft' situation going on up top pal"

It's been announced this morning that England U21 coach Stuart Pearce and England Women's manager Hope Powell will be jointly charged with leading the Great British football team (should it ever actually come into existence) at the London 2012 Olympic games.

Patrice Evra has told Sir Alex Ferguson he wants to pursue his allegation of racism against Liverpool striker Luis Suarez.
Evra was fuming after Manchester United's 1-1 draw at Anfield on Saturday, claiming in an interview with Canal Plus that Suarez had racially abused him on a number of occasions during the game.

No work today I'm getting my fitness back Former Liverpool star Robbie Fowler has become quite the journeyman. After leaving British football he spent two years in Australia with North Queensland Fury and then Perth Glory, before this season ending up at Muang Thong United in the Thai Premier League.

Match Preview: Liverpool vs Manchester Utd

Twice a season the two most successful teams in British football history come together in a fixture so significant that it attracts enough viewers to circle the earth almost 20 times over. Tomorrow, the first leg of this epic encounter takes place at Anfield, where the atmosphere is sure to be electric.

'Sir Alex Ferguson's success with Manchester United due to money, not mind games' former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The Spaniard has hit out at his old foe's psychological approach, claiming the most successful manager in British football couldn't have done it without enjoying the club's wealth

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-13 18:33:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

'Sir Alex Ferguson's success with Manchester United due to money, not mind games' former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The Spaniard has hit out at his old foe's psychological approach, claiming the most successful manager in British football couldn't have done it without enjoying the club's wealth

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-13 18:33:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

'Sir Alex Ferguson's success with Manchester United due to money, not mind games' former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The Spaniard has hit out at his old foe's psychological approach, claiming the most successful manager in British football couldn't have done it without enjoying the club's wealth

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-13 18:33:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

'Sir Alex Ferguson's success with Manchester United due to money, not mind games' former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The Spaniard has hit out at his old foe's psychological approach, claiming the most successful manager in British football couldn't have done it without enjoying the club's wealth

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-13 18:33:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

'Sir Alex Ferguson's success with Manchester United due to money, not mind games' former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The Spaniard has hit out at his old foe's psychological approach, claiming the most successful manager in British football couldn't have done it without enjoying the club's wealth

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-13 18:33:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

'Sir Alex Ferguson's success with Manchester United due to money, not mind games' former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The Spaniard has hit out at his old foe's psychological approach, claiming the most successful manager in British football couldn't have done it without enjoying the club's wealth

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-13 18:33:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

'Sir Alex Ferguson's success with Manchester United due to money, not mind games' former Liverpool boss Rafael Benitez

The Spaniard has hit out at his old foe's psychological approach, claiming the most successful manager in British football couldn't have done it without enjoying the club's wealth

View the full story here: Goal

A news article on 2011-10-13 18:33:00 from: Goal

This news item has been reproduced from today's media.

Brazil nuts over Tevezgate, plus afro KO for Goodman

Alan Brazil's reaction to Tevezgate on Talksport? Easy. The Argentinean was described as "a disgrace" who "should never play in British football again". Alan Brazil's reaction when a caller pointed out that Brazil's own autobiography contains him admitting he once refused to come on as a sub for Tottenham while feuding with his manager?

Patience brings its own rewards, and the press release issued this afternoon confirming that agreement has now been reached to ensure the take-over of Wrexham Football Club by the Wrexham Supporters Trust is certainly news that has been worth waiting for. Over the last year or so, this club has been the source of one of British football's hardest soap operas, featuring a series of twists and turns which has, at times, seemed so bizarre as to be scarcely credible.

He'll win in the long run but we've been jostling for top spot in the prestigious "British Football Clubs" category all day and at various other moments in the past few weeks. Not that I've been checking Amazon every five minutes. Of course not.