Magazines

The Red Passion guide

• Jim Whitley - who lived part of his teenage life in Wrexham - reveals that Francis Lee paid him regular visits when he was doing time for attempted robbery (Total Sport - Sep)
• Editor of Cardiff fanzine, The Thin Blue Line, says the policy of his publication is not to inflame Cardiff-Swansea local derby hatred (WSC - Sep)
• Wrexham are declared the least sack-happy club in Division 2 (only two managers in 10 years - McNeil, Flynn) as against 12 (Stoke), 11 (Man City), 10 (Notts County), 9 (Walsall, Colchester), 8 (Burnley, Lincoln, Wigan, Fulham. Only Macclesfield (2 - Wragg, Mcllroy) and Bournemnouth (3 - Redknapp, Pullis, Machin) can run them close (Total Sport - Sep)
• Top five footballers as failed pop stars: No.2 - Love in Portofino (John Charles) (Total Football - Sep)
• Swansea City fan predicts Watkin & Co will finish "upper mid-table" in Division 3 this season (WSC - Sep)
• Summer diary: LOW Newtown claim a goalless draw againt Wisla Krakow of Poland (WSC - Sep)
• Chris Armstrong is viewed as one of the main reasons that Spurs could be pushing for a place in Europe this season (Total Sport - Sep)
• Big things beckon for Ryan Green (Four Four Two - Sep)
• Cefn Druids gain £40,000 sponsorship deal with Flexys Rubber Chemicals Limited and will now be known as Flexys Cefn Druids (Welsh Football - Oct)
• Editor of Chester fanzine, The Onion Bag, says that last season's Cup clash with Wrexham was a "horribly violent affair" (WSC - Sep)
• Afan Lido win the Performance of the Month Award for their 2-0 LOW victory at Barry (Welsh Football - Oct)
• The Racecourse Ground is voted the 56th best ground in England & Wales for the travelling fan - based on criteria such as price, stewarding, food, view, atmosphere inside and outside the ground and the general treatment of visiting fans. Their rating out of 100 was 68 (it was 64 in 1997 when they were 60th in the same table). In 1998 Chester are 81st, Swansea 79th, Shrewsbury 65th and Cardiff 44th (having risen 14 places on the previous year) (Total Football - Sep)
• Buckley Town have a new ground: Globe Way (Welsh Football - Oct)
• Seven Welsh players make the Football League 100 Legends of the 20th Century: Giggs, Ford, Allchurch, Meredith, Cliff Jones, John Charles - and Rush (Welsh Football - Oct)
• "Reading's new keeper Peter van der Kwaak...cocks up twice in a 3-0 defeat at Wrexham" (WSC - Sep)
• Alun Evans reveals he has reservations about Ebbw Vale's expulsion from the LOW (Welsh Football - Oct)
• Gareth M.Davies argues that Holyhead Hotspur have the potential to become a LOW side (Welsh Football - Oct)
• Dic Mortimer says that Connah's Quay Nomads have a "growing status as a LOW power" (Welsh Football - Oct)
• Editor of Shrewsbury fanzine, A Large Scotch, pinpoints Gary Bennett as one of the main reasons his club's fans hate Wrexham (WSC - Sep)
• Division Two fanzine editors predict that Wrexham will come 6th in Division 2 (1998-9) behind Man City, Fulham, Stoke, Bristol Rovers and Notts County (Colchester, Wycombe, Walsall and Lincoln to go down) (WSC - Sep)
• There is discontent over entrance prices at Paul Roberts' new/old club, Porthmadog (Welsh Football - Oct)
• Adopted Welshman Andy Johnson is very proud of his cream Versace suit (442 - Oct)
• Ryan Giggs changed his name from Ryan Wilson to Ryan Giggs in 1989 to detach himself from his father (rugby league pro Danny Wilson) after his parents' separation
• New Swansea fanzine launched: Mouthful of Lead (WSC - Oct)
• "I've always admired Vinnie for his individual style, and it was a huge bonus that he had enough acting potential to do the part himself." (Guy Ritchie, film director) Total Football - Oct
• "I bloody hate getting sent off. My missus goes mad." (John Hartson, Total Sport - Oct)