Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

IT'S the season of goodwill but in football that doesn't always mean that there are wise men about.

Take the Aston Villa and England striker Darren Bent for example. He was unavailable to play for his team in their home game against Liverpool because of injury.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

THE Chelsea midfielder Frank Lampard got a bit miffed on Saturday.

Not only did he get a blow in the mouth causing him to bleed, but a nasty television cameraman had the nerve to move in for a close-up whilst the England player was receiving treatment on the touchline.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

I've just had the opportunity to catch via YouTube on the offence which got Wayne Rooney sent off in the Euro 2012 Championship qualifier against Montenegro in October.

So it with some bemusement that I read that the England forward has got a three match ban reduce to two which means he will now be available for England's third group D game against Ukraine in the finals next summer.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

IT'S not very often that I praise the Football Association but they definitely deserve a pat on the back for their bid to halt the decline of men playing the 11 a side game.

A £200m investment scheme in grass roots football includes improving access and quality of pitches.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

NEXT time you think times are a bit tough, spare a thought for Gary Parkinson.

The former Middlesbrough footballer was head of youth development at Blackpool when he suffered a severe stroke last year. The 43 year old has locked-in syndrome which means he is fully aware of what's going on around him but is totally paralysed apart from being able to use his eyes.

Football Diary

by Patrick O'Connor

A vision of football in the future emerged last week and although on the face it seemed a miserable prospect, there could be a hidden bonus.

The president of Spanish giants Barcelona Sandro Rosell was quoted as saying that the English Premier League needs to be cut by four teams to help the Champions League.