Soccer’s frightening concussion spectre

Whether it’s the smell of a new pair of boots, the smooth texture of a new ball unblemished by the thousands of hours of play yet to come or that sense of excitement that comes with donning the latest replica kit for the first time, sport clearly isn’t just about the joys accrued from playing or watching it.

The incidentals are often what we remember most when our playing days are done.

For this column, nothing ever topped the purchase of an adidas Tango ball that came in the colours and with the crest of Manchester United back in the late ’80s. It didn’t last long. One errant kick sent it into the bushes behind the house soon after and it was never found. Maybe it’s still there, rotting away in tandem with the club’s soul.