Cultured Football #72
Cultured Football #72
STATS! The English Patient. Yorkshire Terriers. Andrea Pirlo. Tanzania
I have to admit that most of this week has been spent watching Mick Lynch calmly take down opposing commentators but I’ve still managed to find five articles (and the usual something extra) that I think you’ll enjoy reading.
English Premier League 2021-22 Stats
By Peter McKeever for the Analyst
The 2021-22 season might already be old news but there’s still plenty to analyse. And, with data like that released by the Analyst it is possible to get some interesting insights.
8 Minute read
The English Patient
By Steve Menary for Josimar
I’ve always had a rather romantic view of non-league football as the last domain in English football for those willing to put in hours of unpaid work purely for the satisfaction of it all. Sadly, it seems that others have a more sinister view of the game at this level using a number of shadowy (although not-strictly illegal) tactics to exploit it for betting purposes.
8 minute read
Yorkshire Terriers: Inside 25 years of the oldest team in Britain's LGBTQ+ league
By Emma Smith for Goal
This thoroughly fascinating (and, at times, rather emotional) piece on the oldest team in the Gay Football Supporters’ Network (GFSN) League is quite something. An article that, ultimately, is about football and friendship.
9 minute read
Andrea Pirlo’s greatest 12 months: Milan, Juventus, Euro 2012, England and God
By Emmet Gates for Gentleman Ultra
“When Andrea told me that he was joining us, the first thing I thought was: ‘God exists.’ He allows you to dream when he has the ball at his feet,” remarked Gianluigi Buffon not long after the midfielder joined Juventus in 2011. Incredible to think that AC Milan had decided to let him go.
7 minute read
‘I stumbled across it’: the push to help Tanzania’s untapped football talent
By Ed Aarons for The Guardian
I genuinely don’t know how to feel about stories like this one. On the one hand, it is great that there are people who are willing to sacrifice everything to help others. But, on the other side, I can’t but wonder whether there’s a bit of naivety in thinking of finding an unpolished gem (not to mention concepts like white saviour complex). Still, I heartily suggest you read this (ultimately uplifting) piece and help if you can.
7 minute read
Something Else We Loved This Week
Archie Willis, the editor of the wonderful magazine Futbolista, spent last season following Scottish club Kilmarnock in what what their first season outside the top flight after twenty eight years. He recorded it with a series of photos documented their tumultuous season and has shared these in a lovely photo essay.
The comments supporting each photo are as enjoyable as anything else in this essay. Take this to describe the photo above: Hamilton Academical 2-3 Kilmarnock: A crowd of just over 800 watch Killie centre half Jack Sanders net a late double to take the Ayrshire side into the semi-final of the Scottish Challenge Cup – a competition formerly known as the Irn Bru Cup, the B&Q Cup and the Tunnock's Caramel Wafer Cup.
Last Week’s Most Read: Transfer guide for every Premier League club in 2022/23
By Various Authors for iNews
If you want to know what every Premier League club is looking for this summer, then you won’t find anything better than this. A mammoth exercise that looks at each club, what they need, why and what the most significant rumours are.