Why England must NEVER turn to a foreign boss again

I remember December 17, 2007, as though it was yesterday. And to adapt and sanitise an old Frank Carson gag ... you know what a terrible day yesterday was. On the left flank of a top table in a London hotel suite sat Trevor Brooking, with the sort of demeanour a father might have at his daughter's wedding to the local scoundrel.

EXCLUSIVE John Motson interview: Four decades, 1700 matches... and countless sheepskin coats!

Dear old Motty's notes went flying, a table on the gantry overturned and microphone leads were ripped from their sockets. Somehow, amid the bedlam, John Motson managed to convey the drama of David Beckham's ­stoppage-time free kick against Greece, which sent England to the 2002 World Cup finals, into the nation's living rooms.

Jamie Lawrence Academy 4 UKFF 3

An extremely proud and historic day for UK Football Finder occurred on Saturday 3rd September 2011. At one of the oldest senior clubs in the country, Colliers Wood FC, a new era began as members from UK Football Finder came together to form a side to compete against the Jamie Lawrence Football Academy – the academy of an ex Premier and International footballer.

1st September: As football fans across the country enjoy the start of the season, a new survey by The FA has revealed a staggering 54% of guys aren't enjoying regular kick-abouts with their friends.

On average, men feel compelled to hang up their boots due to a wide range of reasons including work commitments (37%), friends dropping out the game (20%) and the arrival of children (19%).

We are proud to announce the first of many UKFF Pro Trial Challenge Matches.

You'll be representing the UK Football Finder brand, against the best players from the Jamie Lawrence Academy, so don't embarrass yourself. Exceptional players only.

Please bring £10 for the pitch, no pay, no play, and that is final.

The England legend Trevor Brooking, who works for the FA as their Director of Football Development, watched the England U21s draw their second successive game at the U21 European Championships, and bemoaned the fact that the young Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere wasn't there to add "creativity and subtlety" to the team.

A man's errors are his portals of discovery

One by one they walked off, the golden generation. Jermain Defoe shirtless; Joe Cole man of a match he would never wish to remember; Paolo Di Canio staring straight ahead, perhaps contemplating his pledge to commit suicide if West Ham were relegated.

Let it never be said that GhostGoal is afraid of tackling the really big issues in football today. Here's Oli Baker ...

English football is almost unrecognisable from 20 years ago. All these changes have been very well documented and argued ad nauseum. One development has been criminally overlooked.

Good morning all,

we now know our Carling Cup final opponents. There is to be no catharsis for the misery inflicted on us by Trevor Brooking and his stooping headering ways back in 1980 as West Ham, 3-1 up at half-time, went out 4-3 in extra time to Birmingham.

Won't that be fun? Those smashers of Crozilians, stampers of Sagna, managed by a man who looks like a some kind of bellowing ginger testicle and with fans who still sing the name of a man who ruined another's career.

This week's episode of Friday Flashback Videos takes a trip back to 1969 to a match played between West Ham United and Manchester City on a slippery pitch at Upton Park.

The match features some legendary English footballers such as Manchester City's Francis Lee, Mike Summerbee and Colin Bell against West Ham United featuring Geoff Hurst, Harry Redknapp, Frank Lampard Sr.