When Saturday Comes No 442 May 2024
Contents
28
REGULARS 5 Editorial
There’s no justification for raising ticket prices 6 Sidelines
A fixture backlog has Dunston on tour; pyro controversy in Ireland; Old Firm away fan ban in the SWPL; AFC Wimbledon’s last-minute joy 12 Shot!
Wakefield AFC host Louth Town 15 Harry Pearson column
The secret to eternal youth? Become a assistant referee
18 17
12
27
A L A M Y
,
I M A G E S
G E T T Y
,
S C P H O T O S
/ W
/ PA U L T H O M P S O N
M AT T L I T T L E R
24 The perfect shot
Billy Whelan’s poignant moment at Old Trafford 30 World view
Porto fans consider a change; MLS get their way with the Open Cup; Rayo Vallecano resistance 38 Books
Al-Fayed’s Cottage industry; analysing Japanese football; the state of play in the women’s game 42 Letters
Kev asked me to throw the ball up for him… 46 Season in brief
Worcester City win the Southern League in 1979
FEATURES 16 Hot under the collar
Nike’s “playful” England shirt design has got all the usual suspects excited 17 Paying the penalty
Despite sitting out this summer in Germany, there’s optimism for Wales 18 Fine print
County and Forest fans join forces; the photo zine curating the game 20 Match of the month
Shrewsbury Town welcome play-off chasing Oxford United to Shropshire
The game begins and so does the drum, which, for lovers of rudimentary percussion, doggedly sustained, is when the fun starts Shrewsbury Town v Oxford United p20
27 Long time coming
Party time at Ochilview as Stenhousemuir secure a first title 28 Professional style
The new fashions of Sunday league 34 Leafy surrounds
The joy of trees in football grounds 36 Seconds out
How some of the laws of the game have been allowed to lapse 40 Object lessons
A tournament trophy won thanks to an inglorious deception
