AROUND THE GROUNDS

WELCOME

Being the new boy isn’t easy – whether

AARON RAMSEY

“I was 17 years old and I was getting voicemails from both Sir Alex Ferguson and Arsene Wenger – it was all a bit mad”

THE MIXER

THE BEST OF FOOTBALL

UPFRONT

Playing off the last defender, it’s the big-manlittle-man partnership of football and funnies

GAMES THAT CHAnGED MY LIFE

“TO WIN THE WAY WE DID, AND AGAINST

THE ULTIMATE QUIZ

Test yourself with our latest set of teasers, featuring puzzlers on Italians, Spice Girls, records and relegations

JULES BREACH

The TNT Sports presenter is giddy as Brighton look to take Europe by storm

CHRIS SMALLING

The Englishman was shunted out of Old Trafford in 2019, but has since become key at Roma

MEAnWHILE In…

...Brazil, Ronaldo has pacified angry fans in the obvious way: with a fox on a quad bike

THE DEBATE

Which Premier League team has had the best transfer window?

RICE BABY

Recent months have been memorable for England’s rapping midfielder – after lifting a European trophy in his last game for West Ham, he joined Arsenal for a club record £105m in July. As he tells FFT, he’s determined to guide the Gunners to glory

“WHY DIDN’T I LEAVE ARSENAL? I’M A LIFELONG SUPPORTER, SO IT WAS MY LOVE FOR THE CLUB”

Eddie Nketiah has been reunited with his pal Declan Rice at the Emirates this season, and tells FFT why he surprised many by opting to stay put a year ago

PREMIER LEAGUE RECORD BUYS: RAnKED!

Declan Rice became Arsenal’s most expensive player ever this summer, but every one of the other 50 clubs to have played in the Premier League have also spent big. FFT ranks each side’s record buy in the top tier since 1992, from the terrific to the tragic and even the one who managed to insult a whole town

NO GIRLS ALLOWED

HOW SARInA WIEGMAn ROSE TO THE TOP

THE KLAKSVIK MIRACLE

Alone in the middle of the North Atlantic, the Faroe Islands were once the continent’s whipping boys – now one club in the archipelago have reached a first European group stage, thanks to an unlikely bunch of part-timers...

'DES LYNAM SAID, ‘DRURY, YOU’RE LUCKY. YOU CAN WALK INTO SAINSBURY’S AND NOBODY KNOWS WHO THE HELL YOU ARE’

After 30 years of turning football into poetry, Peter Drury has stepped into Martin Tyler’s sizeable shoes this term – from Tshabalala to Manolas, Sky’s new commentator relives some of his most famous moments, and tells FFT why he’s happier out of the spotlight

BASQUE In THE GLORY

Four decades ago, Athletic Club took the fight for Spanish supremacy to Real Madrid and Barcelona. Showing spirit and skill, the Bilbao boys won La Liga… and then defended it, too

“FIn ALLY, A GAME WHERE THE REFEREE DOESn ’T RULE OUT MY GOALS”

EA Sports releases a new game under a new name this month, following the end of a 30-year partnership with FIFA. From Sol Campbell to Avril Lavigne and a Polish MMA fighter, it’s an era that’ll live long in the memory

JAMES BEATTIE

The ex-Southampton, Everton and England striker picks an attack-minded line-up full of players from his Saints days, plus a Stokie blessed with a wand of a left foot

ENGLAND U21. GOLF. BORO.

Once a walking yellow card, Lee Cattermole has discovered his inner peace on the golf course since retirement, and he might be even better than Gareth Bale

SUTTON UNITED

Dan Taylor from Sutton blog Gandermonium recalls cup magic, ‘Piegate’ nightmares and a lifetime FIFA ban...

“WHAT DO YOU MEAN, YOU DON’T SERVE WORMS HERE?”

No invertebrates on the menu at Northampton, but they’re one of several clubs with the son of a famous dad

THE MASKED WINGER

When a lucrative football tournament in Ireland offered stars of the sixties an opportunity to pocket a bit of extra cash, Celtic legend Jimmy Johnstone and his pals couldn’t resist the temptation to turn up in disguise...

THE PLAYERS LUINGE

GEORGE BOATENG SHAY GIVEN PABLO HERNANDEZ GEOFF THOMAS

“I’D LOVE TO ASK rOY IF HE WISHES HE DIDn’T WALK OUT I n2002. HE MUST REGRET IT”

The Ireland stalwart between the sticks remembers Saipan, his Manchester City spell and Magpies magic with Sir Bobby

“I PUT THE BALL BETWEEN ALVES A NDPUYOL AN DSMASHED IT PAST VALDES – AN I NCREDIBLE FEELIN G!”

Leeds’ favourite magician recalls developing with David Silva, destroying Pep’s Barça and winning silverware at Swansea

“AFTER THAT MISS AGAINST FRAN CE, I NEVER TRIED T OCHIP A KEEPER I NMY CAREER AGAIN ”

The tireless midfielder talks FA Cup heartbreak and finds common ground between himself and Pele (er, sort of)