FOOTBALL BIBLE SHELVED
Football’s bible — known in its heyday as the Rothmans — is set to cease publication after 48 years following the loss of its key backer. sky sports are pulling out of their
Football Yearbook title sponsorship, which started in 2003, and publishers Headline are unable to keep the book going without new money, which they have been unable to attract so far. the revered almanac was called the Rothmans Football Yearbook for 33 years and a generation of fans have copies on their bookshelves. sky made their decision last august due to the cost — thought to be more than £10,000 a year — and because of the Yearbook’s declining relevance in the digital age, when so much information is available online. an extra sadness would be the
Yearbook, first published for the 1970-71 season, going under just two years shy of its half-century.
Rothmans backed the publication — a statistical record of the previous season in british football, including all results, appearances, goalscorers and
transfers, and running to more than 1,000 pages — from its launch until legislation restricting tobacco sponsorship forced them out.
For many years the book was edited by Jack Rollin, whose daughter Glenda joined him as co-editor in 1995. The pair’s involvement ended after the 2012-13 edition. TOTTENHAM’s unpopular way of allocating season-tickets for their new stadium is being blamed on the club using 2006-07 — when their latest ticketing system was installed — as the start date for working out priority.
This puts season-ticket holders of 50 years’ standing on a par with fans of 12 years, because the club insist they do not have reliable data pre2006, although it is hard to believe there are no records. A spurs spokesman said their old data are ‘very sketchy’. He added: ‘There is plenty of space available (in the stadium) no matter which phase you are in.’
THE
RFU, who have major problems on the playing front after England’s Six Nations fiasco, now face disgruntlement from the Twickenham ground maintenance crew. They are upset at the short deadline they have been given to agree to leave RFU employment after more than 70 years of combined service and join outside services provider CBRE, who are RFU sponsors. One said: ‘You wouldn’t believe one of the RFU core values is respect, considering the disgusting ways we’ve been treated after so many years’ loyal service.’ An RFU spokeswoman said: ‘We have followed legal regulations in the transfer of staff.’