Tom Finney was a really exceptional player. Up there with the best. He could play in every position all along the front line and look top class. He did play number 9 from time to time. Dougie was playing mostly on the right wing in the 2-3-5 team, although he played inside left during the 1960 FA Cup run once Roy Vernon had left for Everton. A season or two later on when the 3-3-4 /4-2-4 system evolved Bryan played in the midfield two alongside Ronnie Clayton.

The outside forwards, or wingers, rarely swapped wings. Most players played in their zones but the centre forward would still run the channels in an attempt to evade the centre half. Inside forwards would interchange from time to time. Obviously the wing half would follow the inside forward he was marking. Regarding gloves, I think that was in the 1960’s. As far as I know there was no rule to prevent it at any time. The first one I remember was Sepp Maier the German keeper who wore comically big gloves.

How football worked in the Stone Age. I E when I first started watching and playing. Line ups in a 2-3-5 formation. Goal keeper ( no number on the jersey and no gloves, sometimes wore a flat cap on sunny days ! ) 2 Right Back - 3 Left Back 4 Right Half - 5 Centre Half - 6 Left Half 7 Outside Right - 8 Inside Right - 9 Centre Forward - 10 inside Left - 11 Outside Left What happened once the game started was the centre half dropped back to play between the two full backs. His main role was to play the opposing centre forward out of the game. He wasn’t expected to create much. Centre halves rarely crossed the half way line. The full backs played quite wide so they could mark the opposing wingers ( 7 and 11 ) very closely. The full backs role was to play the opposing wingers out of the game. When they got the ball they were expected to pass the ball to either the winger, wing half, and inside forward on their side of the pitch. Keep it simple. Overlapping runs forward by the fullbacks were not encouraged but did happen from time to time. The wing half’s role was first and foremost to mark their opposing inside forward out of the game. After that they were expected to receive the ball and pass it forward to the winger or inside forwards. Sometimes they’d even put a long ball forward for the centre forward. They were also expected to take all the throw ins on that side of the pitch. Occasionally they’d even venture forwards and score a goal ! Inside forwards were expected to fetch and carry, receive the ball from the back half of the team and turn defence into attack. They would feed the wingers and centre forward and join in with the attack. They were expected to get a fair share of goals. The wingers role was to receive the ball and attack the opposing full back. Get outside him and provide crosses and other goal scoring opportunities for the centre forward and inside forwards. Normally they took all the corners on their side of the pitch. They were expected to chip in with their share of goals. As you can see the game was quite rigidly structured. For instance if I was playing right back ( 2 ) I’d watch the opposing outside left ( 11 ) in the kick in and see what feet he favoured etc because I knew I’d be marking him. 4 marked 10, 6 marked 8 etc. Marking was really tight all over the pitch and tackling was fierce. Later on one of the wing halves dropped into the back three to make a four. At the same time teams played one of the inside forwards alongside the centre forward creating the 4-2-4 system. The best Rovers team I ever saw played a variation on that with a sometimes 3-3-4 system that morphed into a 4-2-4 line up. Anybody else like to comment - feel free.

You said in your second sentence above - “ ideal conditions to bowl”.

Timmy Thomas - Why Can’t We Live Together

Bryan Hyland - Ginny Come Lately

Season too far for Jimmy ? We talk a good game but talk is cheap. What has Wood got to do to get a game ?

Billy Lee Riley - Red Hot

Bloody hell we’re making a habit of bringing centre halves through ! Can’t any of them play up front ?

Just tuned in for the cricket, I see we won the toss, why aren’t we batting ?

The Fantastics - Something Old, Something New.

Sam The Sham And The Pharaohs - Little Red Riding Hood

That’s a long tail with Broad coming in at number 8.

Q-Tips - I’m Looking For Some Action

The Jive Five - What Time Is It

Of course, you just need a Time Machine though.

Here’s one dinosaur right now. I’ve got some really good magic beans if anybodies interested ? No ? How about these black tulips ?

I’ve got to admit, I never was an Elton John fan. Same with Stevie Wonder. Top class musicans I’ve no doubt, but I just don’t connect with them. Possibly the best single live performance I’ve ever seen was “ Queen “ at Live Aid but I have no CD’s of them at all in my very large collection. I just can’t identify with them. Ditto Elton and Stevie. I read today’s review of the Cat Stevens set and I’m sorry I missed it.

I’m watching it Gav but it’s all a bit “ Karaoke “ for me. OK I suppose for a guy who’s roughly my age.

Too much “ Magic “.

Limmie And Family Cookin - You Can Do Magic

Johnny Rivers - The Poor Side Of Town

Two reasons for the back spin - deceive the keeper and sit it up for the striker. If Jansen had have been on the end of my pass there would have been no need to apologise.

Yeah, it had a message on it - it said “ Here, put this in the back of the net “ . Only once in my career did I get one as right as that, and the striker put it over the bar ! Every time I see him in town he still apologises.

Prince La La - She Put The Hurt On Me