Hunter Davies

3 days ago | newstatesman.com | Hunter Davies

With no Premier League football cluttering up the back pages, the papers can now devote themselves entirely to tennis, cricket and, if necessary, backgammon. But the season isn’t truly over, of course, until we’ve looked back on its highlights, surprises and oddities…Well done to Chelsea for waking up at the end of the season and wining a Euro pot, or whatever it was. High fives to Spurs for finishing a magnificent 17th in the Prem, one place above the drop. And also winning a Euro pot.

1 month ago | newstatesman.com | Hunter Davies

When I look at football, I find my mind wandering all the time. Yet I always watch on my own – not with my son, in case he distracts me with irrelevant comments about other matters, other games, other times. I want to concentrate on this game, now, so if he insists on sitting with me, I tell him to belt up. Yet my mind is a whirlwind, fantasies and thoughts and images sparked off by what I am watching on the pitch.

2 months ago | newstatesman.com | Hunter Davies

Wasn’t it exciting watching England take on the might of Albania at Wembley? And three days later the Lions of Latvia? I was thrilled by Our Boys doing the business, and their new German manager. We will have to get used to his black cloak, if that’s what it is, as opposed to a waistcoat, and his baseball cap, and all that pointing. I liked the fact that he brought back so many pensioners. Me next, I hope.

Feb 26, 2025 | newstatesman.com | Hunter Davies

I’ve never experienced three in a bed, though I bet it happens all the time down in Brighton. That Nicholas Lezard pretends he gets no action, but I am sure he’s just being polite. But I have just experienced the football-viewing version, which is surely every fan’s fantasy: two live games on the box at the same time. Never managed that before. I was fiddling around trying to get Liverpool vs Lille on Amazon Prime. I pay for that and can usually get it on my computer, but it’s a real faff.

Jan 29, 2025 | newstatesman.com | Hunter Davies

Impossible, surely. Aristocrats, elite, giants of the game. Come on. Yet, in my watching lifetime, both clubs have been demoted – Man United in 1975 and Spurs in 1977. But that was then. This is now. These sorts of upsets don’t happen any more. Or do they? One of the pleasures of this season for football fans has been watching Man United and Spurs being rubbish, getting stuffed by lowly clubs. And for a while Man City came off the rails as well. Gosh, what fun.