BECKHAM’S PATIENCE & 29 OTHER THINGS WE LOVE
Your monthly reminder that the world is awesome, even if James Corden’s in it
Spanish football going back onto terrestrial television with ITV4.
‘Dave’ Beckham’s patience during the James Corden LA Galaxy statue prank, with the great man keeping it together while being presented with a deliberately godawful replica and then having to suffer ‘the big reveal’ from comedy’s sub-brent spiderpig. Funny TV but far too much Corden bubbling and giggling like a vat of bad soup.
The steak kitchen at the CF Lloreda cantina in the Catalonia Under-9s league. All clubs there have excellent canteens with meat and veg a million miles away from the botulism wagons of the British Game. (Adam Porter, Barcelona)
The Blue Trebor Extra-strong Spearmints. Perfect pre-match meal for a midweek night game.
All of the new MLS soccer kits re-designed by Adidas. ALL OF THEM!
The catering at Old Lyonians, Southern Amateur League Senior Division Three (that’s our standard). Beautifully seasoned roast potatoes and chicken legs, top-notch pasta... it’s the finest post-match meal known to amateur footballers.
Manchester United fan Shaun Ryder’s lyrics book Wrote For Luck being out now, published by Faber.
Ajax’s revival.
James Collins of Luton Town and Padraig Amond of Newport County making the Republic of Ireland squad after featuring and being interviewed in our EFL Top 51 players countdown.
Homeless recycling collectors on the walk to Hamburg’s Volksparkstadion at Alistair Last’s stag do. They even get a cut from the city council. Nice.
Learning that a swift whack with a metallic water bottle will reboot knackered five-a-side floodlights.
The new Lyle and Scott football kit jumpers that are coming soon. (Neal Heard, Newport)
Fenerbahce’s attendances going UP while the team slide DOWN the Turkish Super Lig. Loyalty.
On Twitter, Parody Bamford’s love of tapestries, elderflower, decanters and truffles @patrickbamford_ .
Sergio Ramos’ documentary team capturing his despair as he watched Real Madrid being knocked out of the Champions League in a match that he had deliberately got himself banned from playing in.
Bumping into Paul Weller [left] near the Fourfourtwo office.
Illustrator Peter O’toole’s ever-changing kit prints. Buy one now. https://peterotooleart.bigcartel.com/
Adrian Durham’s defence of Darren Moore and constructive fury at his sacking on TALKSPORT Drive.
The thrilling thwack of ball on crossbar – it’s when missing the goal doesn’t matter.
@stadiumsfromaplane on insta. Your photos of grounds from the air – why did it take so long for anyone to come up with this?
The boneless chicken lunch at Dave’s Grill, Praed Street, Paddington, London. Worth getting sent off early for.
Eintracht Frankfurt taking 15,000 fans to the San Siro for their Europa League victory over Inter.
The rooftop five-a-side pitch overlooking Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. (Matt Best, Japan)
Roy Keane and John Terry being pulled apart on the touchline during Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa.
Lukas Podolski loving sumo wrestling.
The Oystons gone! Well done, Tangerine Knights.
Penalties that don’t reach the keeper.
And finally... SPOTTED: pundit Chris Sutton coming out of Paddington (the station, not the bear); midfielders James Mcarthur of Crystal Palace and Ben Watson of Nottingham Forest at All Star Lanes bowling alley in Brick Lane, London, probably discussing the glory years at Wigan; Leeds manager Marcelo Bielsa wandering the streets of Wetherby with a rucksack on his back and Sainsbury’s shopping bag in his hand.
Tell us the things you love, your favourite matchday food and the players you’ve spotted, to fourfourtwo@futurenet.com or @Fourfourtwo on Twitter. The best entries will win a six-month subscription.