Much to the annoyance of Three Lions fans, Germans do not consider England to be their biggest sporting rivals. Supporters in Europe’s largest country (economically and demographically), the continent’s most successful Football nation as defined by FIFA World Cup trophies and the subject of the name of this very blog simply have Continue reading
A pleasing feature of Dutch Football is the extraordinary names that professional clubs choose for themselves. Many forsake a simple combination of city plus uninspiring suffix for names that are far more creative. Ajax, Excelsior, Go Ahead Eagles, Heracles and Sparta are excellent examples of clubs whose titles bare no resemblance to the city they call home. But one Dutch Football club trumps the lot.
SC Telstar Continue reading
There once was a time when most European nations were governed by monarchies. Royal families (often related to one other) wielding almost limitless political power maintained the status quo by offering virtually zero social mobility to their peasant subjects. Revolutions in the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries transformed the political landscape on the continent that was the first to industrialise and subsequently colonise the rest of the world. Only a small handful of European nations in the 21st century hold on to their Royal Families, and one Continue reading
From Boothferry To Germany 