This feature is part of A Tale of One City Are you sitting comfortable? Then I’ll begin. Today I’m going to tell you tale of darkness and wonder, inspiration and heartache. We…
This feature is part of The Fleeting Fraternity What is tragedy? In modern-day usage, it is defined by an event of monumental human suffering, shrouded by pathos and disaster. In dramatic arts’…
The summer of 2008 was Andrey Arshavin’s summer of ’69. The fabulously gifted midfielder was approaching his peak age as a professional footballer, his club side Zenit Saint Petersburg had battled their…
This feature is part of The Fleeting Fraternity As defining moments go, having a spike pierce your backside is one of the less edifying. As the carefree long-haired 20-year-old fell off the roof,…
Illustration by Dave Flanagan IT IS THE SUMMER OF 1978 in the baking heat of a Marseille suburb, and AS Caillolais are 1-0 down to title rivals Vivaux-Marronniers. Only a win will…
This feature is a part of A Tale of One City Welcome to Manchester. After Carlos Tevez’s infamous multi-million pound move from Manchester United to cross-town rivals Manchester City, his new employers erected…
This feature is part of A Tale of One City The Gold Room at the world famous Hermitage museum in Saint Petersburg is a sight to behold; the very symbol of opulence at the…
This feature is part of A Tale of One City Éamon Zayed burst between the two centre-backs hoping for a through ball to latch onto, more in hope than expectation. His new side…
THE BAGS AROUND HIS EYES droop like a weary basset hound. Liver spots creep steadily across his brow and cheeks. Although there are still some wispy strands of silver atop his head,…
This feature is part of A Tale of One City The balding man with whisps of thinning grey-speckled hair looked oddly familiar. His assuredness and graceful movement seemed at odds with his companions…
This feature is part of A Tale of One City You could easily be tricked into thinking Vienna is a peaceful, passive city; a breezy cultural beacon of Eastern Europe. Indeed, it’s superb and…
This feature is part of The Academy Way Invading the pristine St Mary’s pitch in their thousands, Southampton fans swarmed with a feverish energy towards the visiting Burnley faithful. Smoke grenades, plastic bottles…
This feature is part of The Academy Way WHAT DEFINES A GOLDEN GENERATION? It ought to be the glorious manifestation of the very peak of youth development; not just a gem or…
This feature is part of The Academy Way Qatar don’t do things by half. Ever since its first offshore oil field was discovered in 1960, the tiny Gulf state’s stature has simply exploded…
This feature is part of The Academy Way WHEN THE TITANIC HIT AN ICEBERG AND BEGAN ITS DESCENT into the punishingly icy waters off Newfoundland on 14 April, 1912, the world’s most…
Sometimes you are so perfectly positioned that a pivotal moment slows down a fraction. Weaving through a sea of maroon, grey, red and black, Matt looked up 30 yards out, paused, and wrapped his…
This feature is part of A Tale of One City John O’Shea’s grimace said it all. As a wisp of bleached hair flicked past his sweat-lined brow, it was all he could do to manhandle…
SMALL LANDLOCKED COUNTRIES TEND NOT TO GET INVOLVED WITH INTERNATIONAL CONFLICT, and Paraguay is no different. During the Second World War, the league system continued virtually unaffected as Higinio Moríñigo’s government officially remained…