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Not Just Black & White

The passing of Sir Bobby Robson meant so much to so many, not just because of his achievements with England and his unique record of success in four countries, but also because he knew what the game means to fans, at Newcastle of course, at each of the other clubs he played for and managed, and for the rest of us too.

Profits help fund the cancer charity, the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation.

Available from www.philosophyfootball.com philosophyfootball●com sporting outfitters of intellectual distinction WSC No 272, October 2009

A moderate turn-out for Man City’s all stars at Selhurst Park

Contents 4 EditorialHooliganism and the profit motive 6 News watch

A war of the words; crackdown on dissent 8 Shot!

Cowdenbeath, where football and cars mix 10 Sidelines

The BBC reshuffle; Cambridge circus; poaching young players; web pundit palaver 14 NewWembley woe

Selhurst Park is a hulking, iron-pillared reminder of times that weren’t as good as they’re sometimes cracked up to be Match of the month, Crystal Palace v Man City p20

Why the rebuilt stadium just doesn’t quite feel worth the fuss, or expense 16 Adrian Mutu

Five years on the Fiorentina player is still trying to escape his former club 18 European unity

Scottish clubs consider a winter break; why the neutral English fan has lost the nationalist feeling 20 Match of the month

Wounded men p34

Manchester City’s millionaires visit the Palace 24 Shot! archive

Street games and seaside souvenirs of the north-west in the 1960s 26 Sir Bobby Robson

Remembering his legacy at Ipswich

COLOR SPORT

SIMON GILL

28 Relatively speaking

When your brother plays several leagues higher, and is younger than you 29 FA Cup giantkillers

Why Altrincham feel left out 30 Chris Powell

The veteran left-back and PFA chairman talks to WSC about his hopes for the game 32 Euro view

Italian leagues split; foreigners in Moscow 34 Players’ injuries in the 1950s

Before the days of isotonic drinks 36 Football crazy

How the media perception of fans may be affecting the way some behave 38 World view

College entry into MLS; Europe’s first Iraqi; Peruvian peril; free football in Argentina 42 Reviews

Celtic in the Sixties; economic explanations; two tales of Wigan; Dave Jones’s defence 44 Letters

Dear WSC, I couldn’t help noticing... 46 Season in brief

Swiss Nationalliga A, 1988-89