Edware Town kit design from the excellent supplement from Rover magazine. Published a long, long time ago!

Edgware Town, one of many non-league clubs that make up the large pyramid that leads to the "best league in the world".

They were founded just before the Second World War and have spent all 68 years of their existence playing at the White Lion Ground in Edgware (however the pub the ground was named after was demolished in 1997). This is quite a feat for a non-league side, many of whom are shifted from pillar to post with regards to where they play their football. In fact recently it looked likely Edgware Town would be evicted from their ground and made to share at Harrow Borough.

Despite their relatively low position in the English footballing world they can boast some decent players. David Beasant, Scott McGleish and Brian Stein (his transfer fee paid for the floodlights at the White Lion Ground) have all donned the green and white of Edgware Town - unfortunately they no longer play in quarters. But the most interesting player to have played for Edgware Town is probably the excellently named Bedford Jezzard.

Bedford Jezzard played all of his professional career at Fulham and played two matches for England. One of the matches was one of England's heaviest defeats of all time. A 7-1 reverse at the hands of Hungary. Despite this loss Jezzard was included in England's 1954 World Cup squad but didn't play during the tournament.

There's a great article about the man at the link below:
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_20050526/ai_n14642776

Oooh! Danny Dichio

In my opinion Major League Soccer takes quite a lot of unfair stick in the British press. It often faces critisism on grounds of being "too American", "overcommercialised" and "supporting the awful franchise system."

On the first count, of being too American, it's going to be difficult to avoid. It is of course, overcommericalised, but so is pretty much every top league in the entire world. And the Franchise system is something that is deeply ingrained into the American sporting psyche. I just don't think they could cope with a large league ladder such as in England or Italy.

I've been taking quite an interest in Major League Soccer, not because of the obvious pull of Mr Beckham but because of ex-Wolves, Norwich City (and most important to me) Wales midfielder Carl Robinson.

Robinson plays in the MLS East for Toronto FC, one of the newest teams in Major League Soccer. The manager there is ex-Scotland striker Mo Johnstone and there are familiar faces throughout the team. Danny Dichio (more about him later), Jim Brennan, Colin Samuel, Ronnie O'Brien and Andy Welsh have played in British football leagues.

Toronto FC's took five matches to score their first goal in MLS. It came in the 24th minute, scored by Danny Dichio (unfortunately for Dichio he was sent off later in the same match!). Now, every match that they play the Toronto fans sing the quite marvellous Danny Dichio song when the scoreboard hits 24 minutes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WloBJ9wihcc

All of the videos I have seen regarding Toronto's participation in the MLS seem to suggest that their fans are passionate, loud and very interested in soccer. The idea of singing a song on the 24th minute of every game that is played is a lovely one, I'd like to think it will continue for years to come - even if Dichio leaves the club.

Forget about Becks, let's hear it for MLS and Danny Dichio!

Danny Dichio, Danny Dichio, Danny Dichioooooooooooooooooooooooooo!

Serie B may have lost giants Juventus, Genoa and Napoli to Serie A and Hellas Verona to Serie C1 but there's still a lot of interesting clubs competing in the Italian second flight.

Four teams were promoted to Serie B replacing Hellas Verona (who finished fifth bottom and lost what the Italians call a play-out to Spezia), Arezzo, Crotone and Pescara. Replacing them from Serie C1/A are Grosetto and Pisa, with Avellino and Ravenna joining Serie B from Serie C2/B.

Here's an overview of each team in turn and a little about each club.

Grosetto - Serie C1/A CHAMPIONSGrosetto fans

This will be Grosetto's first ever season in Serie B. Having spent the majority of their history in the amateur leagues the Tuscan club were promoted with a goal from Australian international Carl Valeri.

Grosetto are a small club by Italian standards and their ground only holds 8500. They are nicknamed "grifone" after the Griffin that is prominent on their badge (rather than a cunning marketing ploy to cash in on the popularity of the Harry Potter books).

Ravenna - Serie C1/B CHAMPIONS

Ravenna fans celebrate their return to Serie B

Ravenna won the Serie C1/B title with a game to spare to secure their place in the 2007/2008
Serie B.

Current Atalanta and former Chievo, Palermo, Porto and Roma manager Luigi Del Neri managed the northern club during the early 90s. He's changed jobs 11 times since his stint at Ravenna.

Pisa - Serie C1/A - Playoff winners

Pisa 1979 before their Anglo-Italian Cup final win over Barnet

Pisa will be a familiar name to many English football fans. As once Chelsea footballer and now media pundit Paul "don't mention Dean Saunders" Elliot played for them in the mid 80s alongside Brazilian World Cup winner Dunga.

They are probably the most prestigious of all of the promoted clubs having won the Mitropa Cup twice in the 80s (I think I'll have to write a blog entry on that) and can boast the likes of Wim Kieft, Christian Vieri and eyes-bulging-best-ever-World-Cup-Final-celebrating Marco Tardelli.

Avellino - Serie C1/B Playoff winners

Avellino seem to have a lot of players with moustaches.

Avellino had an impressive ten year stay in Serie A during the late 70s and early 80s. The "wolves" beat recent Serie A side Foggia in the playoff final to reach Serie B.