The last 72 hours or so have been a bit frantic, with the priority reporting and commentating being not about the threat of yet more Russian aggression or the latest dismal news concerning Covid or, indeed, that today marks Her Majesty the Queen`s 95th birthday.   No, none of that - it`s been about football....or the pursuit of power....or maybe corporate greed?   It was all a far cry from the game whereby 22 players run around a field trying to stick a pig`s bladder into an onion bag.   Whatever, I`m just glad it all seems to be calming down a bit - if only temporarily.

I`ve got mixed feelings about the fact that the moguls of `elite` football clubs have shied away from their current proposal to form a midweek European Super League.   On the one hand, I`m glad that it appears to be going nowhere for the time being, thanks to the combined outcries of other clubs, managers, officials, players and - most importantly - the fans - you remember,  those people who used to be fans before they became customers.

But on the other hand there`s just a hint of disappointment that those self appointed, self serving `elite` clubs have not succeeded in going their own way and leaving the rest of the football world in peace.  As time goes by - and especially given the events of the last few days and my disappointment at Southampton not bothering to turn up at the FA Cup semi-final - I find myself drawn yet more to those struggling, honest, hard working `smaller` clubs where the spirit of the game is revered in places like Stoke Gabriel.

It was the late, great Sir Bobby Robson who said, "What is a club in any case?  Not the buildings or the directors or the people who are paid to represent it.  It`s not the television contracts, get-out clauses, marketing departments or executive boxes.  No, it`s the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging, the pride in your city.  It`s about a small boy clambering up stadium steps for the first time, gripping his father`s hand, gawping at the hallowed stretch of turf beneath him and, without being able to do a thing about it, falling in love."

He wasn`t wrong.   Just a pity the corporate executives don`t understand it. But, as Don McClean wrote, "They didn`t listen, they did not know how.  Perhaps they`ll listen now."