HULL CITY’S NEW TIGER STRIPES HOME SHIRT & 25 OTHER THINGS WE LOVE
Our monthly round-up of what made us smile, including Alan Shearer eating some spaghetti
Lukas Podolski opening his second kebab shop in Cologne. The best football food news of the month.
With less games to argue about, football Twitter during the summer months is brilliant. Hats off to @jonnygabriel for his Alan Partridge tweet about the Carabao Cup draw, and @ben_machell for his Evangelist Ian Rush tweet. Hopefully they’ve pinned them. Plus Football Manager Hair on Politicians (@visualsatire), including Chuka Umunna with Neil Warnock’s barnet. Also give a follow to Football Images That Precede Unfortunate Events (@Cursedfootball) and finally No Context Football (@Fwithoutcontext), which is strangely mesmerising.
Gary Lineker is very funny. He recently shared this classic memory with us: “I was playing against Kenny Burns when he was at Birmingham, and we were just chatting on the halfway line while the ball was in my own team’s area. When it was cleared and was coming towards us, he gave me the biggest, most violent elbow to the temple. I was flat out. When I asked him why he’d done that, he just replied, ‘Why not?’”
Meeting a Manchester United fan at a party, who regaled us with stories of his parents being friends with Alex Stepney. As a kid, he was ambushed in his own home by Jimmy Greenhoff wearing an Emu puppet on his arm.
Chernobyl on Sky Atlantic – gripping drama, featuring the superb Jared Harris and Ralph Ineson (aka Finchy from The Office).
@footiethrowbacks on Instagram, featuring Alan Shearer eating a plate of spaghetti (above right).
Terrace’s Retro Football Kit colouring book in aid of CALM – complete with 12 FREE colouring pencils! Jonathan Woodgate getting his chance in management and bringing Robbie Keane with him. Eden Hazard cheekily asking for the Real Madrid No.10 shirt, despite it being owned by reigning Ballon d’or winner Luka Modric (who refused).
Qatar playing at the Copa America – not for any political reasons, just for its sheer randomness. Hull City’s new tiger stripes home kit (top left) – it’s GRREAAAAATTTTT!
The mural of Formiga (above) in her home of Sao Paulo. The 41-year-old has been playing for Brazil since 1995 – a time when Robson & Jerome were considered a credible pop act, and Blackburn were fancied to do well in the Champions League.
The shirt of Palestinian team Aida Celtic, as sent to us by the company a number of names* (above left).
World Cup games ending 13-0 – forget intriguing tactical battles, every major tournament should feature one absolute drubbing.
Luka Jovic getting his chance at the Bernabeu – the Bundesliga Billy Sharp tore it up at Eintracht Frankfurt.
Icelandic crime series Trapped makes you want to go there on holiday straight away (despite all of the murders and stuff).
Roy Hodgson’s obsession with Warhammer on the Athletico Mince podcast.
Amateur side Duckpond FC hiring an open-top bus to celebrate winning the Colchester and District League. Tom Grennan’s great album Lighting Matches.
The crest of Romanian minnows CS Poseidon 2 Mai, featuring the Greek god wielding a trident (left).
Nick Cansfield’s book Slab Life, about following Aldershot Town. Our outgoing MD Al Lewis loves it.
The superb job that Justin Edinburgh did at Leyton Orient – their return to the Football League will always be his legacy.
THINGS WE DON’T LIKE
Television companies refusing to show pitch invaders.
THINGS WE MISS
Matches played in fog so thick that you can only just make out where the ball is or what the hell is happening.