Sporting Triangles

I can’t remember if it were the legendary Jimmy Greaves, the chirpy host Nick Owen or just the lame jumpers they used to wear. “Sporting Triangles” was ITV’s attempt to beat the BBC at it’s own game, immitating “A Question of Sport” in the sense that it was a quiz about sport. Emlyn Hughes joined the fray having being replaced on the latter by perma-tan superstar, Ian Botham.

There were all kinds of nonsense things going on: a computerised board, different colours, twists and turns and they even produced a computer game and a board game. Certainly a lot better than the latest Family Fortunes, that’s for sure.

Andrei Kanchelskis

We all remember the former Manchester United genius. Even though we hated his team, we liked him. Never had an attitude, fast, exciting and full of flair. We all felt sorry for him when he got sent off for handling on the line in the 1994 League Cup final and liked that he fell out with Red Face Ferguson.

His career took a disturbing trajectory. From Man U to Everton to Fiorentina to …um, Rangers. Then it was Man C (??) and one ill-advised appearance in 2003 for Southampton (hands up who recalls? No one? Oh.). No shocks as he finished up his career in Saudi Arabia and Russia.

Where is he now? He was last seen at the City of Manchester Stadium playing in the England v Rest of the World charity game, looking every bit the fat, retired player he has become. Honestly, what a belly!

Luton Town

They’re quite rubbish now (as is Luton, allegedly). But I used to love Luton Town growing up. Paul Walsh and his mullet, David Pleat and his dance (and his pleated pants), Brian Stein, Ricky Hill. They came up to the top division in 1982 under David Pleat and despite a crap ground, a plastic pitch and a rather spiritless ban on away fans following a totally unpredictable pitch invasion by Millwall’s wonderful support, were well liked by the neutral.

Even after Pleat left in 1986 to manage Tottenham and crawl kerbs, John Moore, Ray Harford and Jim Ryan kept Luton up until Pleat returned in 1991 to, erm, relegate them. But one of the great cup shocks came in 1988 when Luton’s beat a rampant Arsenal 3-2 in the League Cup final, coming from 2-1 behind in the final 10 minutes. They got to the final the next year but were beaten by a rather good Nottingham Forest side.

Now they are in administration, lost their manager and his coaching team, selling players all over the place and haemorrhaging money. As coincidence would have it the consortium bidding to take them over is led by Sporting Triangles megastar, Nick Owen. Howzat for full circle!?