Hoping to keep the Red flag flying high

YOU can verify the following assertion by visiting any Manchester pub at knocking-off time: to your Proper English Bloke, there are only two subjects that are of universal interest for manly discussion: Affairs Of The World, usually expressed through politics, and football (sorry, girls: you come a distant third, and are barely holding off the challenge of ‘Popular Music’ at that).

These are what we spend most of our time chuntering on about, over however many pints it may take, and thus the next few days are going to be like several Christmases come at once as we witness the climaxes of the British General Election and the Premier League title race.

An utterly unprecedented achievement is temptingly glimpsed for both political and footballing Reds: a fourth successive victory.