Former England goalkeeper Dave Beasant almost made a dramatic return to action at the age of 55 after being picked as a sub for Stevenage at Carlisle on Saturday.
Beasant, who saved a John Aldridge penalty in Wimbledon’s famous 1988 FA Cup final win over Liverpool, was chosen by Stevenage manager Graham Westley to provide cover for Chris Day.
The club’s goalkeeping coach would have become the oldest player to ever appear in the Football League had he come on, beating a record set by Neil McBain who appeared as a 51-year-old for New Brighton against Hartlepool in 1947.
Strachan hails ‘best-ever display’
Gordon Strachan claimed his Scotland side turned in the best performance of his tenure as they picked up their first three Euro 2016 qualifying points with a 1-0 win over Georgia at Ibrox.
The home side started with pace and purpose but it took an own goal in the 27th minute to ultimately bring victory.
Strachan said: “That was a magnificent performance. That was the best hour, 65 minutes, we’ve had as a football team since I’ve been here. You need to win, you need to get the points.
“They’re capable of it but I didn’t know they could play that kind of free flowing football with such ease and break down a good defensive side and create so many chances.”
Kolarov blasts abusive Serbia fans
Serbia fans should keep their anger in check over the national team’s poor results and be more supportive, defender Aleksandar Kolarov said after the team’s 1-1 Euro 2016 qualifying draw at Armenia.
Fan message boards were littered with abusive comments after the Serbs barely avoided defeat with a late Zoran Tosic goal in the Group I match on Saturday and Kolarov lashed out at the critics.
“I have been here for a while and I can say that we have never had the right kind of support,” he said.
“It seems people in Serbia can’t wait for us to falter so they can insult us. It’s annoying although I don’t have a problem with it.
“Most of them are using their keyboards to vent their frustrations.”
Greek Cypriot plays for Turk-Cypriot side
A soccer player became the first Greek Cypriot to turn out for a Turkish-Cypriot club in almost 60 years on Saturday.
Demetris Vassiliou played the last twenty minutes for second-tier Turkish-Cypriot side Degirmenlik in a hard fought 2-1 victory against rivals Duzkaya.
“My team mates, the opposition, the crowd and even the match officials were superb. That was my only real reservation for playing in the north, the reaction of the locals, but they were all very supportive,” Vassiliou said.
Unhappy Jelavic quits Croatia
Croatia striker Nikica Jelavic has quit the national team because he was unhappy with being an unused substitute in Friday’s 1-0 win in Bulgaria, coach Niko Kovac said.
“I am sorry things panned out like this and I am really surprised by Jelavic’s course of action, but I accept his decision,” Kovac said.
“I wish to thank him for everything he has done for the national team and I can only wish him the best of luck in life and in the rest of his club career.”
The 29-year old striker scored six goals in 36 appearances for Croatia having played second fiddle to Mario Mandzukic throughout his international career.
Mourinho rejected Paris SG twice
Jose Mourinho has revealed he has turned down Paris Saint-Germain twice in the past and said he would only consider taking charge of the club in the future if he was sacked as Chelsea boss.
Mourinho said both previous approaches had come during former PSG sporting director’s Leonardo reign, indicating that he had first been offered the job in 2011, before Carlo Ancelotti took charge, and then again in 2013, prior to the appointment of current coach Laurent Blanc.
“I turned down Paris twice,” he told TF1. “I think I can say I was the first option for Leonardo. Before Carlo Ancelotti?
“Yes. Before Laurent Blanc? Yes. I really thought about it, but I was at Real Madrid the first time and the second time I returned to Chelsea.”
City relying on my players – Mancini
Roberto Mancini believes he deserves much of the credit for Manchester City’s success because he helped to build the side that won the Premier League and the League Cup last season.
Mancini was sacked as City manager in May 2013 after three-and-a-half years in charge at the Etihad Stadium, during which time he won three trophies.
The Italian signed some of Manuel Pellegrini’s key players, including Yaya Toure, David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Samir Nasri and Edin Dzeko.
“I think that we started to build this team five years ago,” he said.
“In two years we won the Premier League, the FA Cup – we won everything in England.
“And this team are playing nine of my players all of the time. I am very happy with that because I know these players.”