The transfer window closes for Premiership clubs today. The anticipated frantic activity will be even more chaotic in a year’s time as the Football League have accepted defeat in their efforts to stop FIFA enforcing their transfer window restrictions.The transfer window closes for Premiership clubs today. The anticipated frantic activity will be even more chaotic in a year’s time as the Football League have accepted defeat in their efforts to stop FIFA enforcing their transfer window restrictions.

They will now join Premiership clubs in operating under the constraints from this summer onwards.

The Football League wrote to all 72 member clubs last week to confirm that as of next season, transfer windows will apply in this country beyond the Premier League.

The news means that clubs in the Coca-Cola Championship, plus Leagues One and Two, will not be able to transfer players in and out at any time of the year, other than during the close season or the month of January.

In the letter, Football League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney expressed his regret that his organisation had been unable to secure any further concessions from FIFA to allow lower division teams the ability to continue to trade outside of the windows.

Sir Brian also confirmed that the world governing body’s executive committee had now ratified and approved the revised rules governing the “status and transfer of players”, with the intention that these rules apply “universally” and with “no exceptions” from the 2005-06 season.

The League’s board of directors will now form a working party to consider the full extent of the implications for clubs in its three divisions.

Director of operations Andy Williamson told the Press Association: “There’s not going to be any further extended period of flexibility.

“This is the third season where the Premier League have applied transfer windows, where we’ve had an exemption. That will not apply any more.”

Reacting to the news, director of League Two club Bristol Rovers Kevin Spencer said: “This is bad news for clubs in the lower divisions.”

He told the club’s official web site: “All clubs will have to operate with smaller squads, and it will place an even greater emphasis on youth systems, with younger players inevitably having to be called upon earlier than might otherwise be best for them should injuries or suspensions dictate.

“Having to trade only in transfer windows will have a massively negative impact on cashflow for clubs like Bristol Rovers, and the kind of steps that clubs like ourselves took last season by signing so many players on the old transfer deadline day in order to avoid relegation will no longer be possible.”

Of course, the traditional transfer deadline day of the fourth Thursday in March (24 March 2005) will apply for the last time this season.

Injuries at Premiership, Football League and international football matches in England and Wales fell to their lowest recorded level during the 2003-04 season, according to figures released by the Football Licensing Authority this week.Injuries at Premiership, Football League and international football matches in England and Wales fell to their lowest recorded level during the 2003-04 season, according to figures released by the Football Licensing Authority this week.

At one injury per 27,432 spectators, they were significantly down from the one per 20,723 recorded in 2002-03. The rate was less than half that recorded five years ago. Over 90% of these injuries were minor and were treated on the spot.

Quoted in a press release issued by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport, FLA Chief Executive John de Quidt said: “These figures are a great achievement. Going to a football match in this country has never been safer. This is largely due to better safety management and the majority of the grounds being all seated.

“It reflects the hard work and excellent relationships between ourselves, the football clubs, the local authorities and the police. You are now probably less likely to be injured at a ground than at home doing DIY! The challenge now is to maintain the pace of progress and to avoid complacency.”

The main summary of the report is, as follows:
- The downward trend in reported injury rate continued from one injury per 20,732 in 2002-03 to one injury per 27,423 in 2003-04. The overall total fell from 1,729 to 1,408.
- Attendances rose by over 6%.
- The number of injured spectators taken to hospital fell sharply from 205 in 2002-03 to 127 in 2003-04.
- Over 65% of those treated were either ill or had pre-existing injuries sustained outside the ground.

Serie A matches could be played on synthetic pitches as early as next season following yesterday’s announcement by the Italian Football Federation.Serie A matches could be played on synthetic pitches as early as next season following yesterday’s announcement by the Italian Football Federation.

Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, FIGC president Franco Carraro said: ‘We need to check that the latest generation of artificial pitches do not have a damaging effect on the environment or player performance.

“We need to establish whether or not the latest synthetic playing surfaces affect the performances of the players, but if they meet with their approval I think an artificial pitch could be used next season.”

As we reported in November (UEFA Give Plastic Green Light), UEFA lifted its ban on the use of artificial pitches for its international club competitions and now several European leagues are considering the use of artificial surfaces for domestic matches.

UEFA’s decision came after two years of experiments on synthetic pitches in five different countries - Holland, Russia, Scotland, Austria and Sweden - where severe winters can cause problems for natural surfaces.

Tests proved that the surfaces were suitable for competitive matches and were a vast improvement on the early plastic pitches that were introduced in the 1980s.

Following a weekend where heavy rainfall and snow affected Serie A’s games, the debate surrounding synthetic pitches is particularly poignant in Italy.

Many of the top clubs do not own their stadiums and are forced to share facilities with other teams. The most obvious example is the pitch at Milan’s San Siro stadium - home of AC Milan and Inter Milan - who frequently blame the uneven playing surface for injuries suffered by their players.

Milan spokesman Alfonso Cefaliello commented: “If the Italian Federation gives us the go-ahead then we would be ready to go. It would solve a lot of problems and halve the costs of maintenance.”

Inter’s Luciano Cucchia added: “We were very sceptical but at the moment an artificial San Siro pitch is something we can’t help but consider. As the field is criticised by our own players and coaching staff, it’s clear we have to do something.”

The Milan clubs training grounds - the Milanello and Appiano Gentile - already have synthetic surfaces.

The notable increase in academic research into football over recent times has now seen the appointment of Kevin Moore - Director of The National Football Museum - as the first Director of the International Football Institute at the University of Central Lancashire.The notable increase in academic research into football over recent times has now seen the appointment of Kevin Moore - Director of The National Football Museum - as the first Director of the International Football Institute at the University of Central Lancashire. Both organisations are based in Preston.

Speaking to UClan’s official web site, a delighted Mr Moore said: “Much has already been achieved by the Institute. In September, Dr Jonathan Magee led a highly successful conference which attracted over sixty delegates from the UK and overseas.

“My role is to build on this success so that the International Football Institute becomes one of the leading centres of its kind in the world. Cutting edge research taking place at both the University and the Museum will be made available not just to academics, but also to the general public, through exhibitions, events and publications.”

Dr Graham Baldwin, UCLan’s Dean of Academic Innovation, commented: “In establishing the International Football Institute in partnership with the Museum, the University recognised the outstanding opportunity that the presence of The National Football Museum in Preston represents.

“The Museum is not just of national significance but has strong international links, with bodies such as FIFA and UEFA. This was demonstrated when Joseph S. Blatter, the President of FIFA, visited the Museum in September to open the FIFA Centenary Exhibition.

“England is recognised worldwide as the home of football, and this is why the work of the Institute is not just national but also international.

“The International Football Institute has achieved a great deal over the past year. Under Kevin’s leadership, we will build on this success.”

The IFI is a partnership between the UCLan and The National Football Museum which aims to develop research on all aspects of the game.

Our photo shows another successful Preston team - the North End squad that won the Second Division championship in 1950-51.

Arsenal are due to leave Highbury at the end of next season and the club are to commemorate the move by swapping their traditional red and white shirts for a claret version - the same shade as worn during their first season at Highbury in 1913.Arsenal are due to leave Highbury at the end of next season and the club are to commemorate the move by swapping their traditional red and white shirts for a claret version - the same shade as worn during their first season at Highbury in 1913.

Officially described as redcurrant, they will be used for home games during the 2005-06 season only prior to the Gunners’ move to their new £357million Emirates Stadium in August 2006.

The white sleeves have been part of Arsenal’s home kit since 1925. The new shirts can be viewed at the club’s official web site.

Our photo shows the Arsenal line-up from the 1948-49 season and, for a selection of previous Arsenal shirts, please click on the Toffs logo below.

UEFA have named their Team of the Year 2004. The selection reflects Porto’s success in the Champions’ League but surprisingly overlooks Greece’s triumph in Euro 2004.UEFA have named their Team of the Year 2004. The selection reflects Porto’s success in the Champions’ League but surprisingly overlooks Greece’s triumph in Euro 2004.

The team is compiled with the votes of over 1.2million www.uefa.com users and is the fourth annual selection.

Porto’s representation from their Champions’ League winning squad includes players Ricardo Carvalho and Maniche as well as coach José Mourinho.

Carvalho is one of the four players who are now employed by Premiership clubs. Italy’s Serie A boasts the largest contingent though with five players.

Arsenal’s Thierry Henry maintains his ever-present record since the awards’ introduction in 2001. Six players are named for the first time.

The full line-up is:

Coach: José Mourinho (Chelsea)

Goalkeeper: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus and Italy)

Defenders: Cafu (AC Milan), Ricardo Carvalho (Chelsea and Portugal), Alessandro Nesta (AC Milan and Italy), Ashley Cole (Arsenal and England)

Midfielders: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United and Portugal), Maniche (FC Porto and Portugal), Ronaldinho (Barcelona), Pavel Nedved (Juventus and Czech Republic)

Forwards: Thierry Henry (Arsenal and France), Andriy Shevchenko (AC Milan and Ukraine).

One of the sporting talking points of the last week has been the prodigious talent of 15 year-old golfer Michelle Wie and what the future may hold for her. Here in the AFS office, that set us thinking what became of some of football’s youngest-ever players? Fortunately, the answer soon came to hand.One of the sporting talking points of the last week has been the prodigious talent of 15 year-old golfer Michelle Wie and what the future may hold for her. Here in the AFS office, that set us thinking what became of some of football’s youngest-ever players? Fortunately, the answer soon came to hand.

Having missed out in last week’s Sony Open in Hawaii, Michelle still has the ambition to become the first female golfer to make the cut at a PGA Tour event since Babe Zaharias in 1945. She undoubtedly has an exciting future in her sport but, by comparison, how many of English senior football’s 15 year-olds have gone on to enjoy a long and successful career?

Coincidently, AFS member Stephen Byrne has recently been looking into the subject and his findings will be published in full in the forthcoming AFS Report.

Stephen’s interest was fuelled when Bristol Rovers’ Scott Sinclair became the 25th player to appear in the Football League before their 16th birthday when he came on for the closing minutes of Rovers’ game against Leyton Orient on Boxing Day.

A perfect example of such an early opportunity being an unreliable indication of the future career prospects comes from the two youngest debutants in Football League history.

Ken Roberts made his debut for Wrexham against Bradford Park Avenue on 1 September 1951 (age 15 years 157 days) while Albert Gelderd made his senior bow for Bradford Park Avenue against Millwall on 16 September 1929.

Stephen points out that was Ken’s only appearance for Wrexham and he went on to play in just 38 FL games for Aston Villa before retiring with a knee injury at the age of 22.

In contrast, Albert won four England caps and a FA Cup winners’ medal (with Everton in 1933) before making his final appearance for Bolton Wanderers in April 1947 - career span of almost 18 years.

Two more 15 year-old debutants went on to play for England - Ronnie Dix of Bristol Rovers and Ray Parry of Bolton Wanderers. Like Albert, Ray did the England / FA Cup winners double. Glyn Pardoe of Manchester City also went on to become the proud owner of a FA Cup winners’ medal.

At the other end of the scale, Nigel Dalling (Swansea City) played in only eight League games. Stuart Chapman managed only nine outings for Port Vale while fellow Valiant Malcolm MacKenzie’s career ran to eight games in the Football League.

Joining Scott Sinclair, the current Football League players who made their debut before their 16th birthday are Matthew Etherington, Moses Ashikodi (both West Ham United) and Lee Holmes (Derby County).

It’s not unknown for three brothers to play in the same team but we believe a unique event in English football occurred recently when three Holsgrove brothers all scored in Windsor & Eton’s 3-3 draw with Heybridge Swifts in a Ryman League Premier Division game on Saturday 8 January.It’s not unknown for three brothers to play in the same team but we believe a unique event in English football occurred recently when three Holsgrove brothers all scored in Windsor & Eton’s 3-3 draw with Heybridge Swifts in a Ryman League Premier Division game on Saturday 8 January.

Big brother Paul - the 35 year-old former Reading centre-back who is currently assisting manager Dave Carroll - levelled an early Swifts goal after 8 minutes. An exciting start continued with the visitors soon regaining the lead at Stag Meadow before youngest brother Peter - a 22 year-old former Wycombe Wanderers midfielder - made it 2-2 after only 44 minutes.

In only his second appearance for the Royalists, 25 year-old Lee - another ex-Wycombe midfield man - put W&E ahead after 66 minutes but the boys’ perfect afternoon was dashed by a late Heybridge equaliser.

It’s not the first time the three lads have lined up together as they were all at Hayes last season. They come from a true footballing family as their father - John Holsgrove - will be remembered by many as a fine centre-half at Wolverhampton Wanderers and Sheffield Wednesday.

We are aware that examples of three brothers in the same team date back as far as November 1878 when Notts County’s Harold, Ernest and Richard Greenhalgh faced Nottingham Forest in a FA Cup tie. Others since then include Andy, George and Tom ‘Boy’ Browell (at Hull City in 1910-11), Sam, James and Jack Tonner (at Clapton Orient in 1919-20) and, more recently, Danny, Rodney and Ray Wallace (at Southampton in 1988-89). But have three brothers scored in the same game before?

The Slough Express’ Windsor & Eton reporter Ian Lucas believes it’s extremely rare, but is it unique?

If you think it has happened before, we’d be delighted and grateful to hear from you. Please forward the details to mark@11v11.com