Different era, same trauma. For Séamus Coleman 2017 read Jimmy Holmes 1979.

Manchester City’s new role as football’s great entertainers could be the unique selling points and key identifier which delivers not only success on the field but also an opportunity to challenge the global profile of Manchester United, Real Madrid, and Barcelona.

It takes a strong man to come back from adversity to succeed again after being mercilessly mocked for failing at the highest level, but it takes a very special kind of man to do that without any trace of bitterness, anger or regret.

Larry Ryan dons his Santa hat to dole out Christmas presents to the sporting world.

I have to say that, all those centuries past, it was very far-seeing and considerate of his ancestors to arrange for the new England manager to come among us in 2016 with a ‘gate’ already appended to his surname, thus sparing journalists the effort of having to add the same four letters if – when? - his reign goes, as it were, south.

Can there possibly be a more mouth-watering prospect in the whole of the 2015 football calendar than Barcelona v Bayern Munich at the Camp Nou tonight?

One major selection dilemma haunts Alejandro Sabella ahead of the clash with Belgium; will he stick with calamity centre-half, Lorenzo?

Former captain Rio Ferdinand accepts a “naive” England did not deserve to stay in the World Cup, but is confident the young squad will grow stronger from the disappointment of Brazil 2014.

As the World Cup gets into full swing, Robert Hume throws a spotlight on the Irishman who in 1890 invented the penalty kick — soccer’s most famous rule

It’s time again to dust off the joke book and dig up those old enmities.

World-renowned physicist Professor Stephen Hawking has taken a swipe at "ballerina" Luis Suarez after producing a formula to guarantee England World Cup success in Brazil.

Meet the new bosses, rather different to the old boss — and with a fair few new orders.

Chris Waddle does not believe England’s weakness at retaining possession will ever be resolved until attitudes towards children’s football changes radically.

POT MEETS KETTLE

IF it was a surprise that GiovanniTrapattoni left James McClean outof his latest squad in the first place, then it’s perhaps an even bigger one that the manager has now suddenly decided to call up the in-form Sunderland winger for the friendly game against the Czech Republic on February 29.

ACCORDING to a study carried out by the CIES Football Observatory — a shadowy bunch of stattos based in Switzerland — Arsenal are reigning Premier League champions.

England depart for South Africa with a World Cup good luck message delivered through tears of pain from Theo Walcott.

BLACKBURN boss Sam Allardyce has warned the vultures hovering over Phil Jones that it will take an eye-watering offer for him to even consider allowing the youngster to leave Ewood Park.

UPSETS are what sport is all about.

IT was 2003 when England last didn’t have at least one representative in the semi-finals of the Champions League. It could easily happen again.

THEO WALCOTT insists he won’t listen to his critics and has blamed his poor form this season on a horrendous run of injuries.

CHRIS WADDLE has launched a withering attack on Theo Walcott, accusing the Arsenal winger of lacking a “football brain”.

Chris Waddle has questioned Theo Walcott’s England credentials and claims the Arsenal winger “doesn’t understand the game”.

FOOTBALL, as we are so frequently reminded, is a game of opinions and in the Premier League, there is no better example than in the debate surrounding Michael Owen.

WHEN Bobby Robson spoke, invariably there was passion in his voice, a twinkle in his eye and laughter rarely far away.

MANCHESTER UNITED legend Gary Pallister and Sammy McIlroy yesterday expressed surprise at the way which Manchester United manager set his team up for Wednesday’s Champions League final defeat to Barcelona

The Professional Footballers Association have announced plans to host a game featuring a host of international and English legends at Eastlands Stadium on December 2.

IT’S the one that we want! Ooh! Ooh! Ooh! Eh, sorry about that. You just caught me doing my John Travolta impression.

ALEXANDRE GAYDAMAK chose his first public appearance as Portsmouth’s new co-owner to warn supporters: ‘Don’t compare me with Roman Abramovich.’

PAUL GASCOIGNE last night insisted the players and staff at Kettering Town were behind him as he vowed to attend tonight’s match at Alfreton and eventually regain control of the club.

Paul Gascoigne tonight insisted the players and staff at Kettering Town were behind him as he vowed to attend tomorrow night’s match at Alfreton and eventually regain control of the club.

Keith Duffy and Johnny Giles today announced a Keith Duffy Allstar team will take on the might of the Johnny Giles Legends on Sunday April 10 at Tolka Park in this year’s O2 Challenge in aid of Childline.

Chris Waddle has backed Graeme Souness in the public row between the Newcastle manager and Craig Bellamy.

THE Football Association have scrapped thousands of copies of a DVD claiming to feature the best post-war England internationals as it did not include a single black player.

The Football Association has apologised after a DVD which claimed to feature the greatest post-war England internationals did not include a single black player.

The Beatles’ track Ob-La-Di, Ob-La-Da has been voted the worst song of all time.

Tottenham midfielder Simon Davies has targeted Sunday’s Barclays Premiership clash with Norwich to begin his comeback after a frustrating year of injuries.

Former England and Newcastle winger Chris Waddle believed it would be a mistake if Alan Shearer returned to the international arena.

Former Sunderland winger Chris Waddle believes Howard Wilkinson faces a tough job in winning the fans over at the Stadium of Light.

BOBBY ROBSON admits a shiver will run down his spine when he returns for the first time to the scene of his biggest footballing disappointment tonight.

Matthew Le Tissier ends 16 years as a Southampton player with a testimonial at St Mary’s tomorrow, still not regretting his decision to spend his entire career on the south coast.