Jumpers For Goalposts: 80s & 90s Football

Can you imagine watching six-a-side football on TV? (and no we don’t mean that Baller League shite) Okay let us add an extra ingredient to that question, can you imagine watching the likes of Liverpool, AC Milan, Ajax and Rangers playing six-a-side football on TV? Alright just one more. Can you imagine Liverpool going abroad to play six-a-side football midway through a season that presented their best chance of winning the league title for the first time in seven years? Well in the madcap world of 1997, that’s exactly what happened. This is the story of Liverpool’s Mini-Disc Madness.  The 1996-97 season was a massive one in the fledgling history of the Premier League. As supporters basked in the post Euro 96 glow, the clubs (boosted by a new Sky television deal) went on the sort of spending spree that would make Elton John’s eyes water. Despite spending £3.5million on Czech Euro 96 star Patrik Berger, there was something of local ethos flowing through Anfield as Roy Evans’ side emb...

If you were to think of a game these days featuring a predominantly English side and a team called The Rest Of The World, you could probably be forgiven for thinking about Soccer Aid, ITV’s now-annual charity jamboree that usually sees the internet questioning whether ‘Angry Ginge’ could cut it in the National League (he couldn’t) or providing a memorable moment where your favourite mid-2000s indie guitarist lobs a former England goalkeeper (2012 in case anyone is interested),  In 1987 though the concept took on a very serious meaning as the 1987-88 season was to be one like no other and as The Football League prepared to celebrate it’s 100th birthday, the big guns rolled into town to help mark the occasion.  On August 8th 1987, just a week after First Division champions Everton had claimed the Charity Shield with a 1-0 win over FA Cup winners Coventry City, the eyes of the football world returned to Wembley Stadium as The Football League threw down the gauntlet to some of the...